AA vs KK is a Coin Flip

Ooh... I remembered one. I'll keep it short.

Listening to Poker Road Radio last week (catching up on the 5 Diamond Episodes). One of the guests (though it may have been Barry Greenstein) was breaking down a hand and they made a good point that, if I can keep this frame of reference, will help with tilt. When thinking about hands you played, think about the ones that *DON'T* play themselves. A hand like AA vs KK plays itself most of the time. If you get it all in preflop, generally speaking, that hand played itself. It was just a coinflip on who had the Aces and who had the Kings. This time it was your opponent, next time it could be you.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

I Need To Take Better Notes

I keep thinking of ideas for blogging, poker and non poker related, I write them down, but then I lose my notes.

I carry my iPod Touch with me where ever I go. You'd think I'd utilize it better.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

WSOP Main Event

This was the first time in 3 years I followed the WSOP Main Event on ESPN. It's nothing against it, I just didn't have cable for a few years. The last year I watched was Jaime Gold's year. I followed Yang's year online, but it wasn't very interesting. I tried to watch 2008 on PokerTube, but found the coverage boring. Don't tell me who wins, I'm only on episode 28. Or something like that.

I was very interested in 2009, but didn't look for it online, just followed it as it happened. I was disappointed, as were most, when Ivey got booted.

Finally, this year, I followed all the episodes (thanks to a good deal with Comcast). While I enjoyed the coverage, and I liked that most of the players were experienced players (even though they were unknowns), I was very disappointed in the lack of other events. Sure, sure, I understand there's not a lot of mass appeal for non- Hold 'em games, but through one in. Through in the short handed NLHE game. Or even the heads up. They get a few more weeks of additional new content and I get more poker.

What I really liked was the ESPN3.com's coverage of the live final table (I'm about to stream me some Cricket!). I watched HOURS of that. First on the computer, then via Xbox's new ESPN Channel. I loved it. I didn't need the hole cards. I hope they do that again. I'll make a day of it.

That's the TV Coverage. My interest in the entire WSOP this season was low, and I think a lot of that had to do with Poker Road Radio. I don't want to bad mouth them. They have a great idea, but I felt their coverage this year was lacking. I'm not sure if it was Jeremiah Smith as host, or the lack of Sebok and Gavin Smith, but it just seemed... un-enthused. For the PRR crew, Huff, Stapes or even Ali Nejad are better suited for the show. PRR is more about comedy than anything else, and that's not Jeremiah's strong suit.

I love Poker Road, but it seems like Sebok is getting ready to let it go. He has a great concept, I just hope he can figure a way to make money off of it.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

Nobody Folds A Flush Draw.

Actually played some poker tonight; Slappy's home game.

The structure has changed slightly. $10.00- You get 4000 chips, blinds start at 25/50 and go up 15 mins. Roughly about double the chips as before. Also added was a $5 bounty on everyone.

I played two 6 handed tounraments. The first one, I couldn't get anything going. I got JJ but everyome folded. My last hand, the blinds were 400/800, I was on the button with about 3500 chips (< starting stack). I have 22 on the button after 1 limper. BB calls with TT and I'm out.

Second tourney, early on (50/100), I get QJo in middle position. I limp and button raises to 200. BB calls, I call. Flop comes a beautiful 89T (2 spades). Bb checks, I check. My thought process is that if anyone has a flush draw, in this game, I think most people will call almost any bet with a flopped flush draw (or re-raise), so I checked to control the pot and to put money in on the turn when they might fold. The button checks. Turn is a 7s, completing the flush draw. BB bets 150, I make it 300, and button than makes it 1000 total. BB tanks but calss. I tank but call, hoping to get to showdown cheap. The river is a blank. BB cbecks, I check and the Button moves all in. BB folds. I tank. The button is probably the worse player in the game. Super slow and at one point was no longer invited to the game. I really start thinking about what I could beat. I could see him doing this with AT with A of spades. Though I don't think he checks the flop. That really should have been a clue. In the end, I put him on the bottom end of the straight 67 or even 56, or As6x. Really thoilugh, no way he had 67 or 56 with a min raise preflop. The problem is I don't want to believe he has the flush, I don't put him on any hands I lose to.

I call and ask if he has the flush. He says "Yes." and shows the QsJs. So he flopped all kinds of goodness and I'm out early on.

I've been running bad/playing bad at Slappy's home game recently. I really need to change that.

Just A Little Hit

I'm jonesin'! Can't seem to get any in. The league hasn't started up... or their ignoring me... maybe they don't want me to Threepete. I could really use some cheap poker on a regular basis right now.

I did have a home game a few weeks back. The re-buy tourney (9 players- so I guess technically a SnG) followed by a low stakes cash game after. I couldn't get much going in the tournament. I had two rebuys. Two of the worst players did the best, they couldn't miss a flop. I got low and pushed with A5 and a big stack bully woke up with QQ. I couldn't catch an ace and I was busted around the middle of the pack.

The cash game (.25/.50) was a little different. One hand I had QQ UTG+1 and limped after the UTG (Slappy) straddled. I limped figuring him for a raise from his straddle. He did (I believe there was another limper or two). I popped it to 3 I believe, but he threw in a 5 and for whatever reason I was thrown off. I thought he put in 5. I made it 15. He thought, then called. At this point, the pot was over $30 and I had about 18-19 left. The flop came A-T-x. UGGG... He checked and I pushed, despite the ace. He tanked. Someone mentioned that he was practically pot committed and had to call with anything like KJ. Slappy agreed and called with KJ. I faded the 2 remaining Q's and doubled up. That might have been additionally painful for Slappy since it was his money that I had borrowed to stay for the cash game.

Shortly there after Slappy heads out. I got involved in another hand where I had AA UTG and limped because the tourney winner with a big stack now was raising a lot of pots. Two limpers and big stack raises. He does make it $5.00. I make it $15. He doesn't think much and calls. The board was JT9. Big stack puts in a bet, and I come over the top, pushing all-in. He ends up calling with an under pair.

In the end, the cash game got me even from the tournament, enough to pay back Slappy for the small loan and paid some Fantasy Football fees I owed. After a few hours of poker, I netted a whopping profit of $10.00.

I need some more poker.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

Take Away My Poker Card!

First I take a chop in a SnG when I had a slight chiplead. Then I come into some quick cash (thank you, Grand Vegas), and instead of taking it online (where I would slowly or not so slowly throw it away) or heading to Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun (where I'm a little more +EV), I take the money and buy a new Kindle. What is wrong with me?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod

Some Recent Activity

A few months ago, I took a few bucks to play poker at Foxwoods. I hadn't been there in years, not since the Mohegan Sun opened their poker room. The room was just as I remembered (huge) and it didn't take too long to sit down at a 1/2 table.

I was there for about an hour, when they called for a $120 SnG. I decided to buy-in… also something I hadn't done in years. I remember that I bluffed this one chick off the first hand when i totally missed with sooooted connectors. It was a C-bet, followed by bluffs on the Turn and River.

That girl and I got into A LOT of hands. I wasn't gunning for her, it just turned out that way. Another hand with her, I returned all the bluffed money and then some when I flopped a set but paid her off on the river when she spiked a 4 card straight.

I eventually lost most of my chips when we were five handed, but played tight until 2 more people busted. We got to 3 handed (me, some dude and the chick) and I was down to one BB. I even folded that on the button, hoping they'd get into a big pot on that hand. They didn't. I was all-in blind on the next hand, but won and tripled up. I pushed on the next hand and won that. At one point, the chick had a huge stack and I thought the other guy did too. We got into another hand where I was all in and called by both players. I managed the win. And was somewhat surprised to see that I had he dude JUST covered. Heads Up and we were about even in chips. The chick asked if I wanted to split and I said "No thanks." We chatted a lot throighout he game and even joked that it was fitting we ended up Heads Up since we got involved in so many pots together.

I ended up winning the blinds on the 2nd hand of heads up. I had a slight lead but decided to split the prize at this point for 2 reasons:
1) I trust my heads up play, but the blinds were pretty high
2) another SnG was about to start and we both wanted to play in it.
So official I took second but we split the cash.

The 2nd SnG was not as fun. The chick busted on the first hand. She flopped a set of Q's but called off her stack on a rivered flush. I never got any hands and had a very aggressive dude to my left. It almost never got to me with him raising first. When I finally decided to come over th top of him with a soooooted ace, he donkishly called with KK. I was out in 5th.

At that point it was about 1:30 am. I got a coffee and got ready for my hour drive. In the end, I netted about $200.

That was at the beginning of August and I haven't played poker since. There's a home game next week and the league may start up again in a few weeks. I'm not sure about the league, but I think I'm going to go for the three-pete in the league.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod

Are You Ready For Some Football!

That's right. It's the best time of the year.

I did poorly in all but one of my fantasy football leagues... That's not true. I did bad in that one, too. My opponent did worse though.

On the upside, my Dolphins beat the Bills. I'm not too excited, I mean it was the Bills, and it wasn't by much.

I might be going to the Bills @ the Pats game. I'll be rooting for both teams to lose.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod

Laak's Crack Eyes

I was watching last weeks Poker After Dark The Cash Game. WTF is up with Phil Laak's eyes?! The dude looked fucking scary.

I Have No Idea Why I Tilt

I think my poor play tilts me the most. I've been on a downward spiral since my last post. Loss after loss. Tilting my small balance away. I make a few bad plays, a few set up hands and I can't get out of the funk.

I started the night around $35. I played a SnG and a couple of cash games tables. Started off OK, took a few beats and bad plays. I had my starting buy-in at one cash game, and had doubled my buy-in at another. Next thing I knew, the wheels fell off and I was felted on both, and out of my SnG.

Next thing I knew, I had $20 bucks in my account. I said 'FUCK IT' and jumped into a short handed, $6.50 SnG. I knew I was tilting, but thought I could offset my tilt with a .01/.02 cash game. Just playing how I wanted with $1. The table didn't go well, lost my buy-in. I focused on the SnG. I started off slow, losing a few chips on hands that didn't pan out. I stayed patient, and I got a few hands. One big hand, I raised 3x on the button with A7 when it folded to me. The BB called. The flop comes AA5. I decided to lead out with a pot sized bet. Figuring it would look weak. It worked. BB went all-in. I called and he had just 77. From there, I had 2nd biggest stack. I had 88 on the button. A smaller stack pushed all in (he had just under 10x) ahead of me. The blinds were getting high, so I called. I was surprised to see the BB also call. I had both of them covered. I didn't really mind seeing AK vs AQ. My eights held up and I busted two players. At that point it was smooth sailing. I took the SnG and managed a small profit for the night.

So the moral of the story? Patience pays off? Variance works itself out? No. Even the sun shines on a dog's ass some times.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

Spoke To Soon?

Had a cash game net win of a whopping $1.00. Lost two buy-ins at one table but made up for it at another table.

I played 2 SnGs at the same time. A six-handed turbo and a 18 person turbo. I won the 6 handed turbo. In the 18 player game, I enter the final table the 2nd shortest stack... less than the starting stack. The short stack and another went busto. I had about my starting stack. Then a big hand among the 2 big stacks and a middle stack, with the biggest stack knocking out both players when he made his flush.

I made the top 4, still the lowest. The 2nd smallest chip stack went busto and now I had 3rd place, which is just about the same for winning the 6 handed. I ended up getting even with the big stack, but made a HORRIBLE call on the river. I had bottom pair (3's) and a flush came on the river. The guy went all in (a HUGE over bet) on the river and I insta-called with just my lowly pairs. He shows the flush. I'm crippled and can't make another comeback. Even though I went all in, (with AJ) got both calls. River a straight. They checked down to the river. The big stack tanks when it's his turn to act. He bets out and of course he has the 6. Other guy folds and he has T6.

All in all a successful night (with the exception of that horrible call at the end). My bankroll jumped up, from the measly $.60 I had, to just under $60.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

The Sinkhole that is Microlevel SnGs.

Still "grinding." I'm not jumping up in levels, still playing low, but I'm not playing as often.

While before, I could count on the low stakes SnGs to increase, now it's been the short handed ring game. A few nights where my cash game profits went directly into losing SnGs. I stopped getting hands, and it's hard to do much. I get a little low and the blinds are high, I push with JJ and of course someone wakes up with KK.

Their kings hold up, whereas, the other night, looking at my hands, you'd think I got slapped in the face with the deck. KK 3 times in 10 hands. Results... 1) Chopped pot with a straight on board to the J. 2) Lost to KQ- though I played it poorly. 3) Won the blinds.

Here's how the KQ hand went. I raised from mid position with KK and get 3 callers. Button, SB and BB. The flop came, x-Q-Q. Checked around. The turn is a blank and I bet about 1/2 pot. It checks around again and the Button bets about 1/2 pot. SB calls, and I decide to pop it. I don't think a raise in the mistake, it's just that I hit POT and made the pot too big to fold. A min raise would have worked just as good. I get the button to fold, but the SB pushes all in. I have him covered and his raise is probably about 20% of pot. I pretty much have to call and he shows KQ. The downside to using the POT button and not controlling the size of the pot.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

Losing Skill?

I haven't played online much. I did hit the rare home game, last week, but that ended badly. Between a $20 tournament followed by a small cash game, I blew about $100. I didn't do anything in the tournament, since I didn't get a hand. I bluffed one hand and won, but then didn't get a damn thing the rest of the night. Managed to make it through the re-buy period and had a few more chips than I started with, so I didn't have to rebuy. I continued to get nothing, and the rare times I was in the hand, I didn't hit anything.

My final hand was 22. I raised, got 1 caller. It was about 25% of my stack. Flop came K55. The caller, bet, pretty much putting me all in. I knew I had to be beat, but had to hope for the AQ/AJ making a move on a short stack. He wasn't, he had KQ. I was the first one out (though a few other people did rebuy, so at least I was only down $20).

I hung around the cash. When there were four of us, we started. I chalk most of my losses in the cash game to unlucky. I definitely didn't play great, but one of the weaker players in the game, kept getting hands. The guy is notorious for betting his missed straights on the end. THis time though, he made straight after straight, after flush, after set.

In the end, I just couldn't get any hands. At one point the guy had over $100. He proceeded to give it all away. Just not to me. In the end, I figured over 5 hours of poker, I won maybe 5 hands.

Not to say I played great, I didn't. Far from, actually. But I'm starting to pick up on one of my leaks. The money. It's not a lot, but right now, I don't have much free money to play with, so if I lose what I have, I'm done. Between the limited live cash, and the tiny bankroll online, I fear losing, thus things like continuation bets, and pushing clearly weak hands off are hard to do. I have to find away to just not care about the funds anymore.

The league hasn't started up yet, but should shortly. Email have gone out to get a count. Not sure if I'm going to do it, but I did say I was interested. I think it will be a game time decision. If there are a lot of people (8 or 9) I may play, otherwise, with only 5 or 6, it may not be worth it.

Hopefully, I can get back into the right frame of mind to play, and with that will come more posts. I think I also might have to review some of my poker books, and even check out some new ones. I might need to get back into the fundamentals.

Until then... My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

Still Going

OK, it's been over a month, but I've still been playing. I went to Florida for vacation, but didn't hit the poker room in Ocala. Just wasn't in the right mind.

I continued to play online. That 20 bucks got up to 30, but then down to my last 6+. I tilted and instead of grinding I through the entire thing into a $6 Turbo short handed SnG. I took that down and was back over $20. I proceed to work it up to over 50 bucks. I dropped down to 30, and back up. Currently I'm around $50. I'm still playing the $2 SnGs, with the occasional $6 SnG. I've jumped up to the $.05/$.10 short handed cash game.

I've recently found myself tilting a little more again, so I think I'll be playing a little less over the next few days. Playing micro limits is tough.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

Back In The Saddle Again

Well I recently logged onto my Full Tilt account and realized I had a whopping $0.62 in there. I played and doubled up twice. I switched tables and bought in for the minimum. At the same time, I also jumped into a $1+.20 SnG. The cash games ended badly, losing all my buy-ins. The SnG was my last shot. I managed a win and had $4+ in my once empty coffers.

I hopped on the next night and did the same thing, though this time I lost the SnGs and all but one cash game. Luckily at that .01/.02 table someone had a big pile of cash (over 6 bucks) and was donating. He was calling all the way down with 2nd, 3rd or 4th pair. I pretty much got all his money. I ended the night and my bankroll was at $9 bucks.

The next night I played some more, but it wasn't so up & down as the other nights. I won a $2 SnG which boosted my bankroll. I broke even in the cash games.

Currently, my $0.62 turned into $20. Not a bad return. How long before I meltdown and start calling all my chips with A high? Or get impatient and put my entire bankroll in one SnG or a bigger cash game?

Time will tell.

Casino Night

I took my poker winnings and headed off to Mohegan Sun. Slappy was already there and shortly after getting there a spot at his table opened up. I moved over. I won a few bucks with QQ. But not much after that.

A spot opened next to Slappy and I moved. I wasn't a big fan of the table. There were 3 friends who completely soft played each other. They'd bet other people out of the pot, than stopped playing showed what they had and checked down. No one said anything (including me- this was the first time I witnessed anything like this- next time I will say something) including the dealer.

I continued to do very little and lose chips. At one point I had top pair with a flush draw. I got there and doubled up to back even. Unfortunately, I donked off most of my chips wih KJ on a board of K74. I called a tight player down every street when he flopped a set of 4's. I sheepishly folded and said I flopped 2 pair.

In the end I lost my first buy-in on a "bad beat.". Though I was short so I didn't have enough to make the guy fold. My second buy-in, I bought in short. Never got a had and took another beat because I got short and my opponent figured he wouldn't lose much if he called me.

I took the beats well but was tired and didn't want to waste my final buy-in, so I walked around for an hour, than left. I love that the poker rooms are smoke free, but forget the rest of the casinos are not. By the time I got home I reeked of smoke. Yuck.

That's been all my recent poker. I may head out again soon, but try Foxwoods. I haven't been there in about 2 years.

First, we're heading to visit my family in Florida, so I'll probably play at Ocala Pokerroom again.

I'll post if I do.


-- Post From My iPod Touch

In Between

In Between week 15 & the final week, I played in Slappy's home game. The structure bothered me more than normally, but I think that has more to do with the fact that I haven't won there in a while. And ultimately the games are about hanging out with friends for a few hours. If you bust out early a new game is only an biur away. They introduced a new twist... Bounties. Each person pays an additional $5 that you give to the person who busts you.

As I stated, I didn't do much and only got 3 bounties all night.


-- Post From My iPod Touch

The End is Nigh

I know it's been a while, but better late than never, right? Week 15 ended good for me. Host was out first, followed by Tilty. I'm out next and Drunky and New Kid battle heads up and Drunky taked it down. The good news about the night is that I gain even more points vs the host.

Technically, I also lock up second place. Host is 9 points behind me, but so is New Kid. Basically, if they can convince Muscles to bring his pussy-whipped ass back for a game (in his defense I think he's dating a former playmate), I go out first, then Host or New Kid have to win. Winner gets enough points to beat me and the other doesn't thus getting me 2nd.

Muscles doesn't show, so I clinch first without even having to show. Second time in a row. I would prefer if, each time, the people who agreed to play the season, played the entire season, but I definitely benefited from having people quit the game.

In the end, as usual, Host, New Kid and I are the last 3. I finished 3rd and I think New Kid wins, taking 2nd overall.

While I want to play again, 16+ weels is a long time. I'm taking a "season" off.

-- Post From My iPod Touch

2 Weeks To Go

We finished up another game. Again, 2 people don't show. The league has become a bit of a joke. 4 people? Seriously?

This time it was me, host, new kid and drunky.

The game actually started early. I really wanted to put some points between me and the host, but with Drunky, it was unlikely. He plays fast and loose and likes to bluff. Host is patient and can wait for the big hands. Also, with 2 people out, the first person eliminated still gets 3 points to the winner's 6.

I only pick up a few medium hands, and quickly find my way down to about 2/3 my stack. Host is fairing worse, and has about 1/2 his original stack. Host ends up getting super short (limping in with weak hands and folding to a raise) and finally pushes in with a marginal hand. He gets called by Drunky. And is busted. I'm happy because it means I'm gaining at least a point on him tonight, but my stack hasn't been growing. 3 handed, I turn up the aggression a bit, and get some decent size pots. Next thing I know, New Kids is short, and I'm about even in chips.

He's in the BB and a few blinds left. I'm thinking he's practically pot committed in the BB, so I'm very excited with TT on the button. He push and he thinks about folding, but finally decides to call. She flips A9. Perfect. No race. My odds improve with a flopped set when a T hits. Unfortunately he goes runner-runner for a straight (with the 9) and doubles up. I still have a healthy stack though.

Drunky goes out a few hands later.

A few hands later, I push him off a raise, when he tells me he has only 28 behind after he raises to about 15. After I counted it out and pushed all in, figuring I still had him outchipped if he doubled up, he corrects his count and tells me he had 48. Now, if I paid attention to his actual stack I would have clearly seen that he had 2 stacks of 20, not 1. But I didn't look over, I just relied on his info. My mistake. But I was still steaming, but couldn't say anything or he might call and he was definitely contemplating a fold. In the end, he folds and I increase the chip lead. The final hand, I manage to come from behind. I had T8 sooooooted. We see a cheap flop of 6-5-3, 2 of my soot. He's short, so I push and he calls with 54. I get there on the turn, but it's a 6s so he has outs. He doesn't boat up and I manage my 2nd win in a row.

Good news is that I gained 3 points on the Host. Putting me 7 points in the lead. Which means, no matter what happens in Week 15, I will go into the final week with AT LEAST a one point lead, even if I don't show up and get 0 points.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

3 Weeks Remaining

I know I still haven't been posting much, but I have been playing the league game every week. We took a 2 week break for the weekend before Xmas and the week after. This worked out very nicely for me, as I was probably going to miss each of those.

My last post on the 11/29 looked to be a day before our week 8- Double Week. Honestly, I don't remember too many hands at this point.

I know I got to heads up against the New Kid. We were about even in chips and I need a cash inflow, so I agreed to a chop (as 2nd place BARELY gets their money back) and play out for 1st vs 2nd. It's only 2 point difference but 2 points is 2 points.

A big hand developed, which crippled me. On a Q high flop, I get it all in with KQ. Unfortunately, New Kid had flopped 2 pair. That left me with 50 chips out of 720 total chip. He played tighter than he should with that big of a chip lead and miraculously, I came back to win and get the 2 extra points. In the end, he seemed to think it was ridiculous to play so long for 2 points, but I knew I needed them. At that point, I had a bunch of 3rds and 4ths while New Kid and Host were gettings 1st and 2nds (Both also had a couple of early bust outs). I was in 3rd place overall, and this week gave me a big catapult closer to Host, as he finished 4th (gained 6 points on him).

A week later I went to the monthly home game (showed up late) on Saturday and didn't do anything in any of the 3 games we played. The next day I went to play week 9 of the League. Just like usual, I finished 3rd to New Kid's 2nd and Host's 1st.

The following week (Week 10) I managed a 2nd place to Drunky with Host and New Kids being the 1st two out. Unfortunately, 2nd place only paid $10, so I still lost for the night. Though, this somehow put me in 1st place by 1 point.

We had the 2 week break and then Week 11 . The first game of the new year. I had high hopes. No New Kid... nice time to get some points. Host finishes in 3rd, I managed 2nd to Tiltbox, gaining an extra point on the Host. Unfortunately, 2 people no showed, which means 2nd place gets NADA!

Week 12, again, 2 people don't show. New Kid busts 1st, Host busts 2nd. I'm heads up with Drunky, putting yet another point between Host and I. This heads up match went back and forth. I slowed played 2 pair on the flop and got it all in when Drunky turned the Wheel. Again, no money, but a valuable point.

I go into Week 13, with only 1 win under my belt, but a small lead in points. We have, what has now become a full game. 5 players, as Muscles has quit. Drunky and Tiltbox are the first 2 out, leaving the usual 3 people (Me, New Kid and Host). New Kid has a MOUNTAIN of chips. Host has me covered, and I have less than my starting stack. I haven't had a hand all night. I wina big pot 3 handed, when I call a big bet on the flop with the a jack-high flush draw. I get there on the turn and check hoping New Kid bets. He checks. The river is a blank and New Kid goes all in. I think about folding (the kid is tight). But figured I called the flop hoping to hit my flush. I did and the river was a brick, why would I fold? I call and get a nice double up when the New Kid shows the straight. In the meantime, Host is tilting a bit. He's flopped a couple of big hands, but loves to slowplay and has lost two big hands because of it. One to New Kid and one to me. In my hand, I had QJ and limp in on the button. I probably should have raised, but I was playing tight. Flop comes 578. It checks around. Turn is a 9. Again, it checks around. The river brings a beautiful T. Host checks, I bet the pot and he calls. Another hand he loses 2 pair to a rivered something. A few hands later, I fold the SB, (with K5 sooooted) when Host (button) raises (blinds are 5/10) host makes it 20. New Kid calls. Flop comes KQJ. I forget the action, but all the chips get in. Host shows KQ for 2 pair, and New Kid has AT for the straight. Host can't believe is bad luck. Sure the host had 3 outs (since I folded a K- and let him know). He turns the case K and busts New Kid.

Heads up I'm at a chip disadvantage. But manage to slowly chip up. One of the final big hands (still @ 5/10), I have J8 sooted and hit middle pair with the 8. We both check. A Q comes up and he bets 20. I call. A K on the river and he bets 40 (this leaves him with just under 40 chips). I think, but really think I have him. I call and show the 8. He mucks. 2 hands later, he goes all-in blind. I look and see K9 and call. He shows K4 and I bust him.

Only my 2nd win of the season, but I'm in 1st. I have 64 points, to hosts 60. New Kid... I think he has about 55. 3 weeks left. We'll take the final week off, as it falls on Super Bowl Sunday.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.