Yep. Home game at R’s tonight. I had talked to R earlier in the day and he assured me that there would be 11 or 12 players for the tourney, so I figured there would be plenty of players for the cash game afterwards. (My regular readers may remember that I prefer to play only the cash game inasmuch as in the dozen or so times I have played the tourney, I have never monied, while the cash game is typically a +EV evening.)
I counted the cash in my pocket, figured that I’d drop nearly a sawbuck on provisions, and would have one standard buy-in, $50, left over. It’s a .50/1.00 game. And then I thought again. I know that P likes to come to the table with $100, Ralph plays loose, as does F and M. I stopped at an ATM for another $100, just in case.
The ride over to R’s house takes about 20 minutes. For the most part, it’s a ride through the country on back roads. A relatively warm night, I had the window down and blues on the radio. Rounding the final few curves in the road, I was feeling right comfortable with the familiar, like the paltry few horses in my four-banger rig knew the way.
I recognized several of the cars and trucks. R’s Irish Setter, Sally, greeted me as I pulled in the driveway. She’s a sweet dog, and I assume she remembers me each time as she never barks and is ready with her head for a scratch. I could see through a window that the tourney was still in full swing. Sally made it clear that she wanted to go into the house post haste, so in we went, and there, sitting at the kitchen table was a sight I had never seen at R’s: a forlorn young boy who looked to be about ten years old.
“Hi.” I said.
“Hi.” He didn’t look at me, preferring to keep his eyes fixed on an unopened can of Doctor P.
“Hi bastin!” Ah, the gang was all here. I went in to say hello, see who would be the first to give me shit and then I would seek out our gracious host. There were a few people I didn’t recognize: a guy with a sizable stack, a blonde woman and a kid who looked to be about… hell, I didn’t know… 14? 18? He looked up at me.
I had to ask. “Are you old enough to be playing poker?”
“Yes,” he said with a tinge of defensiveness.
Mr. Big Stack says, “Tell him how long you’ve been playing.”
“Eight years.”
Okay then. I’ll be in the other room. There’s a youngin’ that needs entertained and since I now had a topic, I need to start composing my next blog entry.
I asked the kid in the kitchenwhat his name was. Man, he was miserable. After all, who the fuck brings their kids to a poker game, let alone a tourney that can go on for hours? The kid had my heart from the get-go.
As I made a pot of coffee, I tried to think if I had anything in my rig that I could pull to entertain this kid. Something to read? What, I was going to read this kid a bedtime story? No, and I drew a blank anyway. I said, “Why don’t we see what kind of trouble we can get into.”
As I walked over to the table, I caught sight of Ralph. “Are you out?”
“Yeah.”
Then I asked the kid, “Do you know how to play poker?”
He lit up. “Yeah.”
“Well then, let’s get a game going.” Ralph obliged, counted out some short stacks for us, and away we went, play money poker.
No sooner had we sat down, R was out for the third bi-weekly game in a row, having what must be the worst run in the history of his home game. And shortly thereafter, my new friend’s brother joined us and asked, “When is the cash game?”
I answered, “When we have four players.”
His response: “We have four now.”
“Then when there are five players.”
The play money game went on a bit longer, and the kid must have asked two more times about the cash game. The blinds in the tourney were going up and folks started getting knocked out. The young stud busted out of the play money, so I gave him my stack and said “Play my stack.” so I could go outside and call my Dear Wife to say, “You won’t believe this.”
She couldn’t,
When I saw numerous people milling about and it was clear that I could no longer hold out playing cash with this kid, I went back inside. The kid was to my immediate right and he had about $40 in front of him. Thanks Dad.
It didn’t take long. I was allowed to see a flop in the BB with 35s. The kid had limped as well. 3c6c3d. The kid bet $5 and I double it. To my surprise the kid doubles my bet. Shit. I tanked, for whatever reason, I’m not quite clear. Well, of course, everyone knows why. I wasn’t about to let some adolescent get the best of me. Finally, it dawns on me to see if I could get a tell on the kid. “Do you have a 3?” He wouldn’t look at me. He just stared off into space. No hard swallow, nothing. No read, shitty kicker, a possible limp with pocket sixes, I let it go.
The kid asks, “Could you beat two pair/” and then smiles in a way that tells it all. I may not be able to read an adult’s bullshit all of the time, yet this cliché of poker was a sure thing. The kid had sixes in the hole.
“Can’t bullshit an old man.”
Language, bastin, language! Fuck it. The kid wants to play poker with us. If I slip, so be it. Still, being the all-around nice guy that I am, I curtailed, hoping that his Dad, now heads up in the tourney, would take it down or lose so we could bid all of his clan adieu. Yet, everyone else seemed to share my initial sentiment, caring not a lick about the lad’s tender years, and he got an earful anyway. He got schooled. In spades. Literally.
The kid loved to lead out with $5 on the flop. This worked a couple times, yet he seemed unaware that when someone called, another $5 bet on the turn was not a hindrance. Ralph caught his gut on the river and took pity on the kid. Still, there goes a bit of his stack. P is on his right and he tries the same thing after P checks. P calls the flop and turn bets and then leads out big on the river. The kid tanks and eventually folds. P shows the bluff with AKs. The clock starts to tick on this kid’s tender constitution.
I limp UTG+1 with red pocket 2s. Ralph in the CO raises to $6. R, on the button calls, P in the SB calls, the kid in the BB calls, so I figure I have to call. As R burns and grabs the next 3 cards, I see a 2c plus 8s9s. P checks and the kid throws in his last $20. I go all-in for $48 and say to the kid, “I’m giving you protection.”
Ralph thinks. Ralph is not only loose, he also figures odds. I learned this about him the first time I played with him. If he has any sort of odds, he’s in there. “I think I have to call here.” He does so.
Great. The turn is a J and the river is a 6. No spades but coordinated enough to feel my heart sink. The kid turns over a red J and 7, and who cares what Ralph had (I can’t recall). I take down a huge pot, and most importantly, yes, I’ll admit it, I felt the kid. Jamming with a gutshot…maybe my trip 3s earlier were good. Oh well. Thanks Dad.
Just about at the same time, Dad takes second, payouts and goodnights are exchanged, and two kids sulk out the door.
Eventually, I broach the subject. “R, are minors going to be playing in the future?”
“Well, this was first in two years, but the kid was 16. If his dad wants to stake him, I don’t see a problem.”
“No, he was 13. And in fact, he said that tomorrow was his birthday and he would be 14.”
The sole woman at the table agreed with me, while all of the guys, except her hubby, said that at least the guy was spending time with his kids.
“He was? No, he was playing poker. Not the same as spending time with his kids.” Who knows if these guys I play with have kids, and if they do, what kind of relationship they have with them. Yeah, the kids tonight “know” how to play poker, but still…go see a movie and get a pizza.
My word count is at 1500+ right now, and believe it or not, I have another story from tonight’s game. But it’s after 4 o’clock in the morning and I have to get some sleep because my dear wife and I have a date tomorrow evening and I want to be well-rested. As a matter of fact, we are going to see a flick and get pizza.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
My Lord, this poor child
As is my daily habit, I cruise Craig's List looking for relevant part time gigs.
HELLO
I'M CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A GOOD TUTOR TO TAKE MY SON IN ANY OF THE LISTED BELOW SUBJECTS...
+MATHS
+ENGLISH
+FRENCH
+SPANISH
+GERMAN
+ITALIA
+HINDU
+CHINESE
+COMPUTER SCIENCE
+PHYSICS
+CHEMISTRY
+BILOLOGY
+ARTS
+SINGING
+DANCING
+BIBLE STUDY
+TAE KWON DO
+MORALS
+PHILOSOPHY
+HISTORY
+MARKETING
SO APPLY NOW IF YOU CAN TUTOR ANY OF THE ABOVE SUBJECTS AND THIS IS MY EMAIL....xxxxxxx@yahoo.com
THANKS
Addendum: Evidently this is a lark or scam as it seems to be posted all over Craig's list. Still...
Tutor Neeeded For my Son ($50)hr
HELLO
I'M CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A GOOD TUTOR TO TAKE MY SON IN ANY OF THE LISTED BELOW SUBJECTS...
+MATHS
+ENGLISH
+FRENCH
+SPANISH
+GERMAN
+ITALIA
+HINDU
+CHINESE
+COMPUTER SCIENCE
+PHYSICS
+CHEMISTRY
+BILOLOGY
+ARTS
+SINGING
+DANCING
+BIBLE STUDY
+TAE KWON DO
+MORALS
+PHILOSOPHY
+HISTORY
+MARKETING
SO APPLY NOW IF YOU CAN TUTOR ANY OF THE ABOVE SUBJECTS AND THIS IS MY EMAIL....xxxxxxx@yahoo.com
THANKS
Addendum: Evidently this is a lark or scam as it seems to be posted all over Craig's list. Still...
Interlude before tonight’s home game
I’m waiting for something to happen, inspiration, to have a good run, a time when I don’t flop two pair against a set. It’s tough to overcome such a mindset, the grind for naught. Perhaps I should go burn a brush pile; it is too late in the day to start such a venture. Instead I will close my eyes and listen to music.
The photo was taken from my room at the Red Rock in Summerlin, Nevada a couple years ago. It's title is "LV".
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Early observation
I'd say right off the bat that Omaha suits my temperament: patience and paranoia. Two qualities that serve each other quite well. After my straight and K high flush went down to a boat and nut flush, I think I get it.
PokerStars Game #21801235744: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.01/$0.02)
Table 'Clarissa' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: HelloLinz ($7.36 in chips)
Seat 2: Copper1696 ($1.79 in chips)
Seat 3: RSXAirman1 ($1.50 in chips)
Seat 4: A~Believe~A ($1.15 in chips)
Seat 5: jackdewipper ($3.94 in chips)
Seat 6: jein9119 ($3.25 in chips)
Seat 7: bastinptc ($3.62 in chips)
Seat 8: GUST1931956 ($2.97 in chips)
jackdewipper: posts small blind $0.01
jein9119: posts big blind $0.02
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bastinptc [Ts Ks Ad 5s]
bastinptc: calls $0.02
GUST1931956: folds
HelloLinz: folds
Copper1696: calls $0.02
RSXAirman1: calls $0.02
A~Believe~A: calls $0.02
jackdewipper: calls $0.01
jein9119: checks
*** FLOP *** [9c As Jh]
jackdewipper: checks
jein9119: checks
bastinptc: checks
Copper1696: checks
RSXAirman1: checks
A~Believe~A: checks
*** TURN *** [9c As Jh] [7s]
jackdewipper: checks
jein9119: bets $0.02
bastinptc: calls $0.02
Copper1696: calls $0.02
RSXAirman1: calls $0.02
A~Believe~A: calls $0.02
jackdewipper: calls $0.02
*** RIVER *** [9c As Jh 7s] [9h]
jackdewipper: checks
jein9119: checks
bastinptc: checks
Copper1696: checks
RSXAirman1: checks
A~Believe~A: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
jackdewipper: shows [7d Tc 4c Jd] (two pair, Jacks and Nines)
jein9119: mucks hand
bastinptc: shows [Ts Ks Ad 5s] (two pair, Aces and Nines)
Copper1696: mucks hand
RSXAirman1: mucks hand
A~Believe~A: mucks hand
bastinptc collected $0.24 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $0.24 | Rake $0
Board [9c As Jh 7s 9h]
Seat 1: HelloLinz folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Copper1696 mucked [3h Kc Kh Qd]
Seat 3: RSXAirman1 mucked [Qs 8h 2s 5c]
Seat 4: A~Believe~A (button) mucked [Js 2d 6c 6d]
Seat 5: jackdewipper (small blind) showed [7d Tc 4c Jd] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Nines
Seat 6: jein9119 (big blind) mucked [3s Qc 8s 6s]
Seat 7: bastinptc showed [Ts Ks Ad 5s] and won ($0.24) with two pair, Aces and Nines
Seat 8: GUST1931956 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
LOL
I'm kidding.
Intriguing game.
PokerStars Game #21801270582: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.01/$0.02)
Table 'Clarissa' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: HelloLinz ($7.36 in chips)
Seat 2: Copper1696 ($1.57 in chips)
Seat 3: RSXAirman1 ($2.39 in chips)
Seat 4: A~Believe~A ($1.31 in chips)
Seat 5: jackdewipper ($3.86 in chips)
Seat 6: jein9119 ($3.17 in chips)
Seat 7: bastinptc ($3.90 in chips)
Seat 8: GUST1931956 ($1.99 in chips)
Seat 9: noahdog73 ($1.21 in chips)
noahdog73: posts small blind $0.01
HelloLinz: posts big blind $0.02
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bastinptc [Jh 6c 6d 9s]
Copper1696: calls $0.02
RSXAirman1: calls $0.02
A~Believe~A: calls $0.02
jackdewipper: calls $0.02
jein9119: folds
bastinptc: calls $0.02
GUST1931956: calls $0.02
noahdog73: calls $0.01
HelloLinz: checks
*** FLOP *** [Qd Qs 3d]
noahdog73: checks
HelloLinz: checks
Copper1696: checks
RSXAirman1: checks
A~Believe~A: checks
jackdewipper: checks
bastinptc: checks
GUST1931956: checks
*** TURN *** [Qd Qs 3d] [6s]
noahdog73: checks
HelloLinz: checks
Copper1696: checks
RSXAirman1: checks
A~Believe~A: bets $0.08
jackdewipper: calls $0.08
bastinptc: raises $0.12 to $0.20
GUST1931956: folds
noahdog73: folds
HelloLinz: folds
Copper1696: calls $0.20
RSXAirman1: folds
A~Believe~A: calls $0.12
jackdewipper: calls $0.12
*** RIVER *** [Qd Qs 3d 6s] [2d]
Copper1696: checks
A~Believe~A: bets $0.04
jackdewipper: calls $0.04
bastinptc: raises $0.16 to $0.20
Copper1696: calls $0.20
A~Believe~A: calls $0.16
jackdewipper: calls $0.16
*** SHOW DOWN ***
bastinptc: shows [Jh 6c 6d 9s] (a full house, Sixes full of Queens)
Copper1696: mucks hand
A~Believe~A: shows [3s Qh Jc 7c] (a full house, Queens full of Threes)
jackdewipper: mucks hand
A~Believe~A collected $1.71 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $1.76 | Rake $0.05
Board [Qd Qs 3d 6s 2d]
Seat 1: HelloLinz (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 2: Copper1696 mucked [Ah 4s 5c As]
Seat 3: RSXAirman1 folded on the Turn
Seat 4: A~Believe~A showed [3s Qh Jc 7c] and won ($1.71) with a full house, Queens full of Threes
Seat 5: jackdewipper mucked [3c Ts 3h Th]
Seat 6: jein9119 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: bastinptc showed [Jh 6c 6d 9s] and lost with a full house, Sixes full of Queens
Seat 8: GUST1931956 (button) folded on the Turn
Seat 9: noahdog73 (small blind) folded on the Turn
Now, that's more like it.
PokerStars Game #21801235744: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.01/$0.02)
Table 'Clarissa' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: HelloLinz ($7.36 in chips)
Seat 2: Copper1696 ($1.79 in chips)
Seat 3: RSXAirman1 ($1.50 in chips)
Seat 4: A~Believe~A ($1.15 in chips)
Seat 5: jackdewipper ($3.94 in chips)
Seat 6: jein9119 ($3.25 in chips)
Seat 7: bastinptc ($3.62 in chips)
Seat 8: GUST1931956 ($2.97 in chips)
jackdewipper: posts small blind $0.01
jein9119: posts big blind $0.02
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bastinptc [Ts Ks Ad 5s]
bastinptc: calls $0.02
GUST1931956: folds
HelloLinz: folds
Copper1696: calls $0.02
RSXAirman1: calls $0.02
A~Believe~A: calls $0.02
jackdewipper: calls $0.01
jein9119: checks
*** FLOP *** [9c As Jh]
jackdewipper: checks
jein9119: checks
bastinptc: checks
Copper1696: checks
RSXAirman1: checks
A~Believe~A: checks
*** TURN *** [9c As Jh] [7s]
jackdewipper: checks
jein9119: bets $0.02
bastinptc: calls $0.02
Copper1696: calls $0.02
RSXAirman1: calls $0.02
A~Believe~A: calls $0.02
jackdewipper: calls $0.02
*** RIVER *** [9c As Jh 7s] [9h]
jackdewipper: checks
jein9119: checks
bastinptc: checks
Copper1696: checks
RSXAirman1: checks
A~Believe~A: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
jackdewipper: shows [7d Tc 4c Jd] (two pair, Jacks and Nines)
jein9119: mucks hand
bastinptc: shows [Ts Ks Ad 5s] (two pair, Aces and Nines)
Copper1696: mucks hand
RSXAirman1: mucks hand
A~Believe~A: mucks hand
bastinptc collected $0.24 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $0.24 | Rake $0
Board [9c As Jh 7s 9h]
Seat 1: HelloLinz folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Copper1696 mucked [3h Kc Kh Qd]
Seat 3: RSXAirman1 mucked [Qs 8h 2s 5c]
Seat 4: A~Believe~A (button) mucked [Js 2d 6c 6d]
Seat 5: jackdewipper (small blind) showed [7d Tc 4c Jd] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Nines
Seat 6: jein9119 (big blind) mucked [3s Qc 8s 6s]
Seat 7: bastinptc showed [Ts Ks Ad 5s] and won ($0.24) with two pair, Aces and Nines
Seat 8: GUST1931956 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
LOL
I'm kidding.
Intriguing game.
PokerStars Game #21801270582: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.01/$0.02)
Table 'Clarissa' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: HelloLinz ($7.36 in chips)
Seat 2: Copper1696 ($1.57 in chips)
Seat 3: RSXAirman1 ($2.39 in chips)
Seat 4: A~Believe~A ($1.31 in chips)
Seat 5: jackdewipper ($3.86 in chips)
Seat 6: jein9119 ($3.17 in chips)
Seat 7: bastinptc ($3.90 in chips)
Seat 8: GUST1931956 ($1.99 in chips)
Seat 9: noahdog73 ($1.21 in chips)
noahdog73: posts small blind $0.01
HelloLinz: posts big blind $0.02
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bastinptc [Jh 6c 6d 9s]
Copper1696: calls $0.02
RSXAirman1: calls $0.02
A~Believe~A: calls $0.02
jackdewipper: calls $0.02
jein9119: folds
bastinptc: calls $0.02
GUST1931956: calls $0.02
noahdog73: calls $0.01
HelloLinz: checks
*** FLOP *** [Qd Qs 3d]
noahdog73: checks
HelloLinz: checks
Copper1696: checks
RSXAirman1: checks
A~Believe~A: checks
jackdewipper: checks
bastinptc: checks
GUST1931956: checks
*** TURN *** [Qd Qs 3d] [6s]
noahdog73: checks
HelloLinz: checks
Copper1696: checks
RSXAirman1: checks
A~Believe~A: bets $0.08
jackdewipper: calls $0.08
bastinptc: raises $0.12 to $0.20
GUST1931956: folds
noahdog73: folds
HelloLinz: folds
Copper1696: calls $0.20
RSXAirman1: folds
A~Believe~A: calls $0.12
jackdewipper: calls $0.12
*** RIVER *** [Qd Qs 3d 6s] [2d]
Copper1696: checks
A~Believe~A: bets $0.04
jackdewipper: calls $0.04
bastinptc: raises $0.16 to $0.20
Copper1696: calls $0.20
A~Believe~A: calls $0.16
jackdewipper: calls $0.16
*** SHOW DOWN ***
bastinptc: shows [Jh 6c 6d 9s] (a full house, Sixes full of Queens)
Copper1696: mucks hand
A~Believe~A: shows [3s Qh Jc 7c] (a full house, Queens full of Threes)
jackdewipper: mucks hand
A~Believe~A collected $1.71 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $1.76 | Rake $0.05
Board [Qd Qs 3d 6s 2d]
Seat 1: HelloLinz (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 2: Copper1696 mucked [Ah 4s 5c As]
Seat 3: RSXAirman1 folded on the Turn
Seat 4: A~Believe~A showed [3s Qh Jc 7c] and won ($1.71) with a full house, Queens full of Threes
Seat 5: jackdewipper mucked [3c Ts 3h Th]
Seat 6: jein9119 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: bastinptc showed [Jh 6c 6d 9s] and lost with a full house, Sixes full of Queens
Seat 8: GUST1931956 (button) folded on the Turn
Seat 9: noahdog73 (small blind) folded on the Turn
Now, that's more like it.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Can’t have everything
That morning cup of coffee, after noon.
I stayed up late last night. Real late. I was entranced by the election results and I was working my way through 3 straight days of poker losses.
Where shall I begin?
Those little Stars $1.10 double or nothing SnGs: 2 wins/4losses. Flop trips with better kicker, opponent hits kicker. AJ vs A6, 6 comes on flop. And on and on. Sit down at 10NL. Table is tight except for one player I have in my sites. Draws out on me twice. I hate when sets go down in flames.
Sets... more of a rarity than usual. Just not coming. Same with draws. Odds are there. Cards are not. And when the 11 outer does hit, it’s second best. Oops. More pairs. No sets. I’m getting twitchy.
Yesterday, Poker Academy and Pub Tourney are disasters. Play some more 10NL at Stars while watching my PA buy-in fade away into a second. Been grinding for what seems like hours on Stars with nothing to show for it. A new cowboy (his avatar) sets down to my right. I get J 10c on the button after the cowboy has just posted. I raise, he’s the only caller, I C-bet with air, he calls, I give up. Cowboy proceeds to push the table around. He’s on the button and raises to $1 after two limpers. I have 3s in the SB and call. Flop is J2J, he bets and I raise. He calls. Turn is my 3. All in. Yeah, he had a hand. Queens. I double up and pack it in.
Went upstairs to catch the early numbers on Wall Street and to see which way the wind was blowing for the financial pundits on CNBC. Fell asleep on the couch, and dreamed about Doug.
Doug runs the Tuesday Night Pub Tourney. He gets $20 a week to do so from the bar owner. That money goes into the video slots three cents a spin. I have wanted to write about Doug for quite some time, yet I have never been quite sure how to proceed, and I am not sure I can do him an injustice without some of the mess splashing back on me.
Don’t get me wrong. Doug is a nice guy. He’s a harmless, gentle soul who will call a 5 X BB with a naked Ace against my Queens.
Before I even bet, Doug has his little pudgies on his stack. He’s just itching to play. I have to make the bet sizable because I have two limpers behind me.
“500.”
“Call.” The limpers fold.
I tell LeRoy, the electrician and the button to my left, “Doug has a naked Ace.” The flop brings that Ace. Doug, in the BB, checks. I C-bet and he calls. “Yep, he has an Ace.” I am content to check it down and Doug show A6c.
“Shit, Doug. How much should I bet? Would you call and $600 bet? An $800?
“Maybe. A6c is a good hand.”
“Well, keep playing that way. I’m coming after you. You’re going to be gone in, oh, let’s see, six hands.” You might think that I’m tilting at this point, and you’d be correct. You might also be asking why I would get so upset. One simple reason that you might anticipate: this wouldn’t be the first time Doug has gotten lucky on me. In fact, just a few weeks before I remember my Aces going down to his K5o when he hit a 5 on the flop and a K on the turn.
“I’m coming after you, Doug.”
But, of course, I go card dead. Meanwhile, Doug limps with 69o and gets a flush. “It was cheap.”
A few hands later, blinds now at $200, Leroy bets $1000 from the button and Doug calls. Leroy gets two pair with his AK, Doug hits a flush with the 8d that accompanied his Ac.
Meanwhile, I’m blinding out. With an M of 6, I jam on the button with J 10o, hoping to just take the blinds, but get called by AA and AKo. My rebuy fared just as badly.
I was home in time to hear Obama’s speech in Grant Park.
I stayed up late last night. Real late. I was entranced by the election results and I was working my way through 3 straight days of poker losses.
Where shall I begin?
Those little Stars $1.10 double or nothing SnGs: 2 wins/4losses. Flop trips with better kicker, opponent hits kicker. AJ vs A6, 6 comes on flop. And on and on. Sit down at 10NL. Table is tight except for one player I have in my sites. Draws out on me twice. I hate when sets go down in flames.
Sets... more of a rarity than usual. Just not coming. Same with draws. Odds are there. Cards are not. And when the 11 outer does hit, it’s second best. Oops. More pairs. No sets. I’m getting twitchy.
Yesterday, Poker Academy and Pub Tourney are disasters. Play some more 10NL at Stars while watching my PA buy-in fade away into a second. Been grinding for what seems like hours on Stars with nothing to show for it. A new cowboy (his avatar) sets down to my right. I get J 10c on the button after the cowboy has just posted. I raise, he’s the only caller, I C-bet with air, he calls, I give up. Cowboy proceeds to push the table around. He’s on the button and raises to $1 after two limpers. I have 3s in the SB and call. Flop is J2J, he bets and I raise. He calls. Turn is my 3. All in. Yeah, he had a hand. Queens. I double up and pack it in.
Went upstairs to catch the early numbers on Wall Street and to see which way the wind was blowing for the financial pundits on CNBC. Fell asleep on the couch, and dreamed about Doug.
Doug runs the Tuesday Night Pub Tourney. He gets $20 a week to do so from the bar owner. That money goes into the video slots three cents a spin. I have wanted to write about Doug for quite some time, yet I have never been quite sure how to proceed, and I am not sure I can do him an injustice without some of the mess splashing back on me.
Don’t get me wrong. Doug is a nice guy. He’s a harmless, gentle soul who will call a 5 X BB with a naked Ace against my Queens.
Before I even bet, Doug has his little pudgies on his stack. He’s just itching to play. I have to make the bet sizable because I have two limpers behind me.
“500.”
“Call.” The limpers fold.
I tell LeRoy, the electrician and the button to my left, “Doug has a naked Ace.” The flop brings that Ace. Doug, in the BB, checks. I C-bet and he calls. “Yep, he has an Ace.” I am content to check it down and Doug show A6c.
“Shit, Doug. How much should I bet? Would you call and $600 bet? An $800?
“Maybe. A6c is a good hand.”
“Well, keep playing that way. I’m coming after you. You’re going to be gone in, oh, let’s see, six hands.” You might think that I’m tilting at this point, and you’d be correct. You might also be asking why I would get so upset. One simple reason that you might anticipate: this wouldn’t be the first time Doug has gotten lucky on me. In fact, just a few weeks before I remember my Aces going down to his K5o when he hit a 5 on the flop and a K on the turn.
“I’m coming after you, Doug.”
But, of course, I go card dead. Meanwhile, Doug limps with 69o and gets a flush. “It was cheap.”
A few hands later, blinds now at $200, Leroy bets $1000 from the button and Doug calls. Leroy gets two pair with his AK, Doug hits a flush with the 8d that accompanied his Ac.
Meanwhile, I’m blinding out. With an M of 6, I jam on the button with J 10o, hoping to just take the blinds, but get called by AA and AKo. My rebuy fared just as badly.
I was home in time to hear Obama’s speech in Grant Park.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Maybe, just maybe
I sat down this morning with a cup of coffee, checked email and saw there were a couple more comments to yesterday’s blog entry. After reading the dozen or so blogs I start my day with, checking the Poker Academy forum, looking at the stock market, catching up on the latest election coverage, tracking my blog’s readers on Site Meter and getting a second cup of coffee, I started to respond to the comments I had received.
My dear Sis had directed me to look at the 2+2 Forum and their discussion on the Donkey Test. I did so, and also read what was said about the test at the Noted Poker Authority. She also suggested that I read the “extensive” forums on that site. I then intended to respond, and even wrote the thing, yet I got distracted by a few things, thought I’d posted the comment and somehow lost it to the ether. Just as well, because my response, a bit on the pithy side, was incomplete.
Basically, I wrote to convey that even though the test may not be inclusive or lack significant insight to all on which poker play “depends”, I felt the conclusion was fairly accurate. On both forums I had read, others had made similar assessments, and in addition, someone on NPA wrote that the person who created the test was some online wiz. Yet, what I had really keyed on was that word, “extensive.” I thought to myself, “Yeah, like I have the time. I already …
We interrupt this meditation on poker with a message from the second floor of the house. The roof is leaking. I repeat, the roof is leaking.
Great. We had a new roof put on three years ago. We’ve had some problems around the dormers in past rainy seasons, and it looks like we’re going to again this year. Tomorrow morning (it is now dark) I will have to go up on the roof and stare at the area of the leak until I am absolutely certain that I don’t have a clue about where the actual leak starts. Then I will call the contractor, and he’ll get out here in a week or so and we’ll be changing pans of water and going up into the attic to see if we can find other leaks…
After we get that task out of the way, I’ll go out and put the ducks out for the day in a new paddock that I spent part of today readying for them to spend winter. Then I’ll run errands, and if the weather is not too bad, I’ll finish the birds’ new shelter. And all the while I’ll be thinking about poker.
Not. I’ll be thinking about writing.
My blog is about more than just poker because my life has more to it than poker, and I want to try and write every day. Therefore, I write about a leaky roof and think that if I try a bit harder, spend more time with what I write, that I may be able to riff on the leaks and draw parallels to leaks in my poker game. But then I would have to come up with some sample hands, and in that none immediately come to mind, I’d have to go looking through hand histories, or even go play a couple hundred hands or however many it takes to get a good example and then spend another hour writing about it, when it’s just much, much easier to take the more expeditious short cut that I just have.
If I combine my play time, my current reading time and writing time, poker already takes up about eight hours of my day. Every day. Something has got to give if I am to add more reading time. That’s not going to happen, unless, of course, I cut back on my play and substitute a chapter or two from Harrington or from several other books I have bought but have yet to crack. I could then write book reviews. I’m sure my current readers would find that compelling reading.
I had a specific goal when I started this blog. I hoped that once I got enough poker-related posts under my belt and developed a readership, I might then be able to pitch my services to the multitude of poker-newsy sites and periodicals, and hope-of-all-hopes, get paid to write about poker. Not necessarily about poker strategy; more like the softer side of poker, color commentary and the emotional aspects of the game. Something like that. Hell, I’d even be content to blog live during a big tourney. Based on what I read by those who have such assignments, I have a feeling that I may be a few years late to that party. It may not happen. Yet, this does not mean that I will stop writing the blog because I haven’t seen a pay-off (let alone more than 12 regular readers) in the four months I have been at it. I am once again enjoying the practice of writing on a daily basis, and here is where it currently and primarily manifests.
That’s all well and good, but there’s a lingering issue. Right now I need to get paid. Thank God for the one client I have, as he’s keeping us in COSTCO provisions, and me in cheap scotch. Still, it’s not enough, and to be quite honest, it’s not always the kind of writing I want to be doing. However, if I can get more of it, I’ll take it, even if it means cutting back on my poker-related avocation. (There’s that word again from the subtitle of this blog. Remember, I write about questionable avocations.) Yes, something has got to give.
I just heard my dear wife come down to the first floor, so I went upstairs to get an update on the leakage. She said she noticed that it intensified with a heavier rain. I’m going to take comfort in that for the time being, for maybe, just maybe, I can isolate the source, and I can hope the rain lessens through the night. We also talked about a good time for dinner, taking into consideration what both of us are doing now and what we want to get done tonight. I’m cooking (in about a half hour). I mentioned that I was writing a post, told her what was about and the issues I was trying to figure out as I wrote, ending with the quandary I have just presented:
“Something has got to give.”
“How so?”
“I play poker, I read about poker and I write about poker, and I was hoping that by now I’d have some other opportunities to write about poker and get paid to do so. But the blog doesn’t seem to be going viral like I hoped it would.”
“How about contacting some of the poker news sites and referring them to your blog?”
“I was just writing about that. That market seems to be at full capacity, and I guess I still have some doubts about whether or not my writing is good enough.”
“Honey, you’ve written some wonderful pieces, don’t you think?”
“Sure, and others have said so, despite my meager (but loyal, thank you) audience.”
“Who has time to read all of the blogs on a topic of choice? Pitch the writing, not the readership.”
See, this is just another reason she is a Dear Wife.
So, I’ll add another activity to my already-crowded day.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
My dear Sis had directed me to look at the 2+2 Forum and their discussion on the Donkey Test. I did so, and also read what was said about the test at the Noted Poker Authority. She also suggested that I read the “extensive” forums on that site. I then intended to respond, and even wrote the thing, yet I got distracted by a few things, thought I’d posted the comment and somehow lost it to the ether. Just as well, because my response, a bit on the pithy side, was incomplete.
Basically, I wrote to convey that even though the test may not be inclusive or lack significant insight to all on which poker play “depends”, I felt the conclusion was fairly accurate. On both forums I had read, others had made similar assessments, and in addition, someone on NPA wrote that the person who created the test was some online wiz. Yet, what I had really keyed on was that word, “extensive.” I thought to myself, “Yeah, like I have the time. I already …
We interrupt this meditation on poker with a message from the second floor of the house. The roof is leaking. I repeat, the roof is leaking.
Great. We had a new roof put on three years ago. We’ve had some problems around the dormers in past rainy seasons, and it looks like we’re going to again this year. Tomorrow morning (it is now dark) I will have to go up on the roof and stare at the area of the leak until I am absolutely certain that I don’t have a clue about where the actual leak starts. Then I will call the contractor, and he’ll get out here in a week or so and we’ll be changing pans of water and going up into the attic to see if we can find other leaks…
After we get that task out of the way, I’ll go out and put the ducks out for the day in a new paddock that I spent part of today readying for them to spend winter. Then I’ll run errands, and if the weather is not too bad, I’ll finish the birds’ new shelter. And all the while I’ll be thinking about poker.
Not. I’ll be thinking about writing.
My blog is about more than just poker because my life has more to it than poker, and I want to try and write every day. Therefore, I write about a leaky roof and think that if I try a bit harder, spend more time with what I write, that I may be able to riff on the leaks and draw parallels to leaks in my poker game. But then I would have to come up with some sample hands, and in that none immediately come to mind, I’d have to go looking through hand histories, or even go play a couple hundred hands or however many it takes to get a good example and then spend another hour writing about it, when it’s just much, much easier to take the more expeditious short cut that I just have.
If I combine my play time, my current reading time and writing time, poker already takes up about eight hours of my day. Every day. Something has got to give if I am to add more reading time. That’s not going to happen, unless, of course, I cut back on my play and substitute a chapter or two from Harrington or from several other books I have bought but have yet to crack. I could then write book reviews. I’m sure my current readers would find that compelling reading.
I had a specific goal when I started this blog. I hoped that once I got enough poker-related posts under my belt and developed a readership, I might then be able to pitch my services to the multitude of poker-newsy sites and periodicals, and hope-of-all-hopes, get paid to write about poker. Not necessarily about poker strategy; more like the softer side of poker, color commentary and the emotional aspects of the game. Something like that. Hell, I’d even be content to blog live during a big tourney. Based on what I read by those who have such assignments, I have a feeling that I may be a few years late to that party. It may not happen. Yet, this does not mean that I will stop writing the blog because I haven’t seen a pay-off (let alone more than 12 regular readers) in the four months I have been at it. I am once again enjoying the practice of writing on a daily basis, and here is where it currently and primarily manifests.
That’s all well and good, but there’s a lingering issue. Right now I need to get paid. Thank God for the one client I have, as he’s keeping us in COSTCO provisions, and me in cheap scotch. Still, it’s not enough, and to be quite honest, it’s not always the kind of writing I want to be doing. However, if I can get more of it, I’ll take it, even if it means cutting back on my poker-related avocation. (There’s that word again from the subtitle of this blog. Remember, I write about questionable avocations.) Yes, something has got to give.
I just heard my dear wife come down to the first floor, so I went upstairs to get an update on the leakage. She said she noticed that it intensified with a heavier rain. I’m going to take comfort in that for the time being, for maybe, just maybe, I can isolate the source, and I can hope the rain lessens through the night. We also talked about a good time for dinner, taking into consideration what both of us are doing now and what we want to get done tonight. I’m cooking (in about a half hour). I mentioned that I was writing a post, told her what was about and the issues I was trying to figure out as I wrote, ending with the quandary I have just presented:
“Something has got to give.”
“How so?”
“I play poker, I read about poker and I write about poker, and I was hoping that by now I’d have some other opportunities to write about poker and get paid to do so. But the blog doesn’t seem to be going viral like I hoped it would.”
“How about contacting some of the poker news sites and referring them to your blog?”
“I was just writing about that. That market seems to be at full capacity, and I guess I still have some doubts about whether or not my writing is good enough.”
“Honey, you’ve written some wonderful pieces, don’t you think?”
“Sure, and others have said so, despite my meager (but loyal, thank you) audience.”
“Who has time to read all of the blogs on a topic of choice? Pitch the writing, not the readership.”
See, this is just another reason she is a Dear Wife.
So, I’ll add another activity to my already-crowded day.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Slow down, you move too fast.
I became involved in a lobby chat at Poker Academy the other day. A fairly new player (to the site, apparently not so new to poker — playing for 2 or 3 years, like I have) was having problems in the lower buy-in rooms, and particularly in the freerolls (no surprise). I was counseling patience and to think of poker as a pursuit, not one session’s result. The advice was appreciated.
Advice is easy.
The player then asked me if I had ever taken the test at Donkeytest.com. I said that I hadn’t, but I would find the time to take it. He then asked me if I could email him my results, and if I did email him, he might have some other questions for me.
Why me? Most of my blog readers know me from Poker Academy. Admittedly, I have a reputation at that site as one of the more successful players. I was the #1 ranked player for a fairly long time, and am now, I believe, still #4. I have cut back on my play there as bastin as I have 100 buy-ins for the top cash game provided (400NL), and have taken on two other nicks in order to practice bankroll management. One of those nicks is now in the top 100 players, and all three nicks are at all-time personal bests in terms of rolls. Pretty good, huh? So yeah, I have a solid rep with some chops to back it up. I know that I’m not as good as some other players, and I’m more than okay with that, as I believe, I’m respected, maybe even feared (as far as play money is concerned). Yet I’m also known as an affable guy who, when he can, will advise newcomers who seem to be sincere in wanting to improve their game. It is, after all, an Academy.
I took the test. “Average player. Likely to gradually lose in raked games but winner in home games.” Was I devastated? No. Was I embarrassed? A bit. More confused than anything else. Not by the results, for the assessment seemed accurate, but by what seems to be the perennial conflict for me: If I do so well at PA, how is it that I in fact lose gradually in raked games (and, yes, I do consistently win at the home game)? The test site offers an extensive analysis of one’s game based on the test for $9.95. Perhaps I should take the test again and purchase the analysis. I can drop $200 bucks with pocket Aces to Q8o in a flash, so comparatively, it might be a good investment.
Did you catch the humor there? Of course you did.
I emailed the PA player, informing him of my test results, and suggested that he might want to look elsewhere for poker advice. I haven’t heard back from him yet, and I suspect that he also did better than me on the test.
Now, of course I may be giving unmerited authority to the test results, even though the synopsis appears accurate. What is apparent, if not only because it should be a constant pursuit, is that I must take a closer look at my game. For instance, I know, even without the advantage of analytical software, that I am losing large amounts with big pocket pairs. Can’t, won’t lay them down. That is the most glaring error. I am aggressive post-flop regardless of when the betting patterns suggest that I slow down. On the bright side, in that I have recognized these tendencies, I have taken steps to diminish the negative results. Not everyone is calling with a gutshot to the river. As I also suggested to that new player, the absolute nuts just don’t happen that often.
When people compliment me on my success at PA, I typically respond that my game is merely adequate. Granted, compared to the purely recreational player, I am damn good; yet, compared to the old farts who inhabit the local casino and have been playing for forty years, or to the 24-tablers online, I am a novice. It’s been less than three years and 200K hands. A drop in the bucket. I have read very few poker books, which, I know, also puts me at a disadvantage, the School of Hard Knocks notwithstanding. I am, at best, a B- student.
So, where does that leave me?
“Patience, Grasshopper.”
Yes, I’m probably getting ahead of myself, and here’s how: The success at Poker Academy is a bit of an anomaly, and not an accurate determinant of skill. The bulk of the players are in fact recreational, content to kill some time with a game they enjoy. In the casinos, and at online money sites, the vast majority of players have skills equal to or better than mine. Therefore, there are no laurels upon which to rest, as if there ever should be.
I’m getting a little redundant here, so it’s probably a good time to let this go, resolve to finally get around to reading Harrington, stick to the 10NL, which I can beat readily, build that bankroll back up so I can continue to regale you with the occasional poker-related tale, and not be so results oriented. You got to make the money last.
Thank you for this indulgence.
Advice is easy.
The player then asked me if I had ever taken the test at Donkeytest.com. I said that I hadn’t, but I would find the time to take it. He then asked me if I could email him my results, and if I did email him, he might have some other questions for me.
Why me? Most of my blog readers know me from Poker Academy. Admittedly, I have a reputation at that site as one of the more successful players. I was the #1 ranked player for a fairly long time, and am now, I believe, still #4. I have cut back on my play there as bastin as I have 100 buy-ins for the top cash game provided (400NL), and have taken on two other nicks in order to practice bankroll management. One of those nicks is now in the top 100 players, and all three nicks are at all-time personal bests in terms of rolls. Pretty good, huh? So yeah, I have a solid rep with some chops to back it up. I know that I’m not as good as some other players, and I’m more than okay with that, as I believe, I’m respected, maybe even feared (as far as play money is concerned). Yet I’m also known as an affable guy who, when he can, will advise newcomers who seem to be sincere in wanting to improve their game. It is, after all, an Academy.
I took the test. “Average player. Likely to gradually lose in raked games but winner in home games.” Was I devastated? No. Was I embarrassed? A bit. More confused than anything else. Not by the results, for the assessment seemed accurate, but by what seems to be the perennial conflict for me: If I do so well at PA, how is it that I in fact lose gradually in raked games (and, yes, I do consistently win at the home game)? The test site offers an extensive analysis of one’s game based on the test for $9.95. Perhaps I should take the test again and purchase the analysis. I can drop $200 bucks with pocket Aces to Q8o in a flash, so comparatively, it might be a good investment.
Did you catch the humor there? Of course you did.
I emailed the PA player, informing him of my test results, and suggested that he might want to look elsewhere for poker advice. I haven’t heard back from him yet, and I suspect that he also did better than me on the test.
Now, of course I may be giving unmerited authority to the test results, even though the synopsis appears accurate. What is apparent, if not only because it should be a constant pursuit, is that I must take a closer look at my game. For instance, I know, even without the advantage of analytical software, that I am losing large amounts with big pocket pairs. Can’t, won’t lay them down. That is the most glaring error. I am aggressive post-flop regardless of when the betting patterns suggest that I slow down. On the bright side, in that I have recognized these tendencies, I have taken steps to diminish the negative results. Not everyone is calling with a gutshot to the river. As I also suggested to that new player, the absolute nuts just don’t happen that often.
When people compliment me on my success at PA, I typically respond that my game is merely adequate. Granted, compared to the purely recreational player, I am damn good; yet, compared to the old farts who inhabit the local casino and have been playing for forty years, or to the 24-tablers online, I am a novice. It’s been less than three years and 200K hands. A drop in the bucket. I have read very few poker books, which, I know, also puts me at a disadvantage, the School of Hard Knocks notwithstanding. I am, at best, a B- student.
So, where does that leave me?
“Patience, Grasshopper.”
Yes, I’m probably getting ahead of myself, and here’s how: The success at Poker Academy is a bit of an anomaly, and not an accurate determinant of skill. The bulk of the players are in fact recreational, content to kill some time with a game they enjoy. In the casinos, and at online money sites, the vast majority of players have skills equal to or better than mine. Therefore, there are no laurels upon which to rest, as if there ever should be.
I’m getting a little redundant here, so it’s probably a good time to let this go, resolve to finally get around to reading Harrington, stick to the 10NL, which I can beat readily, build that bankroll back up so I can continue to regale you with the occasional poker-related tale, and not be so results oriented. You got to make the money last.
Thank you for this indulgence.
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