To the two readers I have left:
I appreciate your patience while I'm away. I promise you a post by Tuesday that will hopefully cover my excursion to Atlantic City, including a recap of playing with the lovely and talented Lady Falcon.
For now, I leave you with this thought: Those that don't learn from their own mistakes are what we in the poker community refer to as "fish."
Excuse me whilst I go clean my tank.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Hiatus
19 MAY 06
Little hiatus coming up as I try to leave my mark (but not my cash) on Atlantic City. For now, a few answers to Tripjax’s questionnaire.
1. What is the biggest mistake people make at a NL table? – Not pouncing on weakness.
2. What is the biggest mistake people make at a Limit table? – Poor table selection
3. Why do you play poker? – Best rush since playing racquetball – better, even.
4. If you weren't playing poker, what would you be doing? – Saving lives.
5. What is your favorite poker book and why? – Instructional – Lee Jones (the first book I ever read about poker). Entertainment – Either Positively Fifth Street by James McManus or Shut Up and Deal by Jesse May
6. Who is your favorite poker player and why? – Possibly Sam Farha – he’s fearless. He can play any two cards (and usually does) and will outplay you, no matter who you are. Close behind are Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey and Annie Duke.
7. Which poker player do you dislike the most and why? – Saying Hellmuth is too easy. Probably Gus Hansen because he has spawned too many maniacs.
8. Do your coworkers know about your blog? – No, and I hope to keep it that way.
9. What is the most you have won in a cash game or MTT (both live and online)? Live - $1200+. Online – Probably $200, but I stopped playing online about 6 months ago.
10. What is the most you have lost in a cash game or in one day total (both live and online)? Live $1100. Online $1600.
11. Who was your first poker blog read? Dr. Pauly – still the first poker blog I read every day.
12. What satisfies you more, your aces holding up for a big pot or a bluff working for a big pot? - I never bluff, so…
13. Why do you blog? – It satisfies a creative itch, and gives me an outlet for my huge ego.
14. Do you read blogs from an RSS reader like bloglines or do you visit each blog? – What’s an RSS reader?
15. Would you rather play poker for a living than do what you currently do for a living? – No. I love being a doctor. Poker will always be just a hobby.
16. Do you wear a tin foil hat on occasion? – I own several, but would never admit to wearing them.
17. If you had to pin it down to one specific trait, what does a great poker player have (or do) that separates them from an average player? Courting risk.
18. Is Drizz the coolest person on the planet for naming his baby Vegas? – Without a doubt.
19. What is your primary poker goal and are you close to accomplishing it? – Be a steady winning player. Not there yet.
20. What is your primary online site and why? – Used to be Pokerstars, when I cared to play online.
21. What site do you dislike and why? - None. I love everybody.
Little hiatus coming up as I try to leave my mark (but not my cash) on Atlantic City. For now, a few answers to Tripjax’s questionnaire.
1. What is the biggest mistake people make at a NL table? – Not pouncing on weakness.
2. What is the biggest mistake people make at a Limit table? – Poor table selection
3. Why do you play poker? – Best rush since playing racquetball – better, even.
4. If you weren't playing poker, what would you be doing? – Saving lives.
5. What is your favorite poker book and why? – Instructional – Lee Jones (the first book I ever read about poker). Entertainment – Either Positively Fifth Street by James McManus or Shut Up and Deal by Jesse May
6. Who is your favorite poker player and why? – Possibly Sam Farha – he’s fearless. He can play any two cards (and usually does) and will outplay you, no matter who you are. Close behind are Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey and Annie Duke.
7. Which poker player do you dislike the most and why? – Saying Hellmuth is too easy. Probably Gus Hansen because he has spawned too many maniacs.
8. Do your coworkers know about your blog? – No, and I hope to keep it that way.
9. What is the most you have won in a cash game or MTT (both live and online)? Live - $1200+. Online – Probably $200, but I stopped playing online about 6 months ago.
10. What is the most you have lost in a cash game or in one day total (both live and online)? Live $1100. Online $1600.
11. Who was your first poker blog read? Dr. Pauly – still the first poker blog I read every day.
12. What satisfies you more, your aces holding up for a big pot or a bluff working for a big pot? - I never bluff, so…
13. Why do you blog? – It satisfies a creative itch, and gives me an outlet for my huge ego.
14. Do you read blogs from an RSS reader like bloglines or do you visit each blog? – What’s an RSS reader?
15. Would you rather play poker for a living than do what you currently do for a living? – No. I love being a doctor. Poker will always be just a hobby.
16. Do you wear a tin foil hat on occasion? – I own several, but would never admit to wearing them.
17. If you had to pin it down to one specific trait, what does a great poker player have (or do) that separates them from an average player? Courting risk.
18. Is Drizz the coolest person on the planet for naming his baby Vegas? – Without a doubt.
19. What is your primary poker goal and are you close to accomplishing it? – Be a steady winning player. Not there yet.
20. What is your primary online site and why? – Used to be Pokerstars, when I cared to play online.
21. What site do you dislike and why? - None. I love everybody.
How to NOT Play a Short Stack
18 MAY 06
In the larger game of bankroll management, $100 left of a $700 buy-in is still YOUR $100. It’s also part of the larger bankroll sitting at home in your sock drawer. Giving it away with hands like Q2 sooooted and 42 off-suit, when nearly every hand is capped 4 or 5 way preflop should be viewed as an assault on the larger bankroll, not just the chips in front of you.
Or at least, that’s what I should have told myself last night.
Final thought: MUST re-read Felicia’s thoughts about poker psychology.
In the larger game of bankroll management, $100 left of a $700 buy-in is still YOUR $100. It’s also part of the larger bankroll sitting at home in your sock drawer. Giving it away with hands like Q2 sooooted and 42 off-suit, when nearly every hand is capped 4 or 5 way preflop should be viewed as an assault on the larger bankroll, not just the chips in front of you.
Or at least, that’s what I should have told myself last night.
Final thought: MUST re-read Felicia’s thoughts about poker psychology.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Random and Stumbling
17 MAY 06
Stolen (and abridged) from Dawn Summers, who stole it from Bunniblog:
The original quote:
“When I was in college, I developed the theory that in every class, there is one student who makes you question how they got in, and I don't mean the admissions process, I mean how did he figure out how to open the door to get into the room?”
And my bastardization:
“After years of playing poker, I developed the theory that in every game, there is one player who makes you question how they got in, and I don't mean the stake, I mean how did he figure out how to open the door to get into the room?”
Rapid and ugly gear change…
I just read this from Dr. Pauly:
And as far as reading blogs go... I almost quit cold turkey. Watching too much bad TV messes with your head. So does reading poorly written vanity projects... especially about poker. (Emphasis mine)
That’s what this blog has become. He’s probably not referring to me because I’m not even on his radar, but still…
I’ve got two options – quit or improve.
Let’s hope it’s #2.
Stolen (and abridged) from Dawn Summers, who stole it from Bunniblog:
The original quote:
“When I was in college, I developed the theory that in every class, there is one student who makes you question how they got in, and I don't mean the admissions process, I mean how did he figure out how to open the door to get into the room?”
And my bastardization:
“After years of playing poker, I developed the theory that in every game, there is one player who makes you question how they got in, and I don't mean the stake, I mean how did he figure out how to open the door to get into the room?”
Rapid and ugly gear change…
I just read this from Dr. Pauly:
And as far as reading blogs go... I almost quit cold turkey. Watching too much bad TV messes with your head. So does reading poorly written vanity projects... especially about poker. (Emphasis mine)
That’s what this blog has become. He’s probably not referring to me because I’m not even on his radar, but still…
I’ve got two options – quit or improve.
Let’s hope it’s #2.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Taking a Shot
16 MAY 06
Damn peer-pressure.
Seattle John has been telling me to take a shot at the higher limit. Lady Falcon just stepped up with great success.
Why not me?
I washed out of the Monday night tournament early. It was a $135 buy-in bounty tournament. I got pocket 10’s and Kings early and nearly tripled up. Unfortunately, my attempt to bully the table ran into several better hands, and I was out early.
The list for 10/20 was huge, but there was an open seat at 20/40. I walked over and there were several faces I recognized from the 10/20 game. They were 6-handed and even slid out the chair for me. I told them I didn’t bring a big enough stake to sit in that game.
Hello, Mr. ATM.
I post $20 behind the button. I’ll raise with almost any two cards here if I see no aggression early. Sure enough, it’s folded to me. I raise and the big blind three bets. We are heads up and I see a flop of A 6 5. I’ve paired my 6. Big blind bets. I raise. He re-raises and I call. The turn is a Queen. He checks. I bet and he check-raises me. I let it go.
I was my first hand at the table and I’m already down $160. It’s gonna be a short experiment.
I made two HUGE mistakes. Both times I capped the turn with the second nut straight. I didn’t give credit for the nuts because both times my gut shot also completed their gut shot. Once was against a drunk who preflop raised my big blind with QJ. I had A 8 and called. A nine on the turn gave me the 10-high straight, but gave him the nuts. I bet the flop because it paired my ace and he raised me with nothing and caught. I can’t put him on the hand, but I wasted a bet by capping.
The same dude also went runner-runner quads on me when I flopped the nut flush. Now THAT was expensive.
I finally settled down, caught some cards, made some big laydowns, and left up over $1000 for the night.
Jesse May wrote a great book called “Shut Up and Deal.” Mickey, his main character, is asked, "What’s the difference between the lower stakes and higher stakes?" His reply:
“Different color chips.”
There were other differences, too, but I have to do some critical thinking before I’m willing to say I’m a regular in that game.
For now, I’m just calling this a successful short-term experiment.
Damn peer-pressure.
Seattle John has been telling me to take a shot at the higher limit. Lady Falcon just stepped up with great success.
Why not me?
I washed out of the Monday night tournament early. It was a $135 buy-in bounty tournament. I got pocket 10’s and Kings early and nearly tripled up. Unfortunately, my attempt to bully the table ran into several better hands, and I was out early.
The list for 10/20 was huge, but there was an open seat at 20/40. I walked over and there were several faces I recognized from the 10/20 game. They were 6-handed and even slid out the chair for me. I told them I didn’t bring a big enough stake to sit in that game.
Hello, Mr. ATM.
I post $20 behind the button. I’ll raise with almost any two cards here if I see no aggression early. Sure enough, it’s folded to me. I raise and the big blind three bets. We are heads up and I see a flop of A 6 5. I’ve paired my 6. Big blind bets. I raise. He re-raises and I call. The turn is a Queen. He checks. I bet and he check-raises me. I let it go.
I was my first hand at the table and I’m already down $160. It’s gonna be a short experiment.
I made two HUGE mistakes. Both times I capped the turn with the second nut straight. I didn’t give credit for the nuts because both times my gut shot also completed their gut shot. Once was against a drunk who preflop raised my big blind with QJ. I had A 8 and called. A nine on the turn gave me the 10-high straight, but gave him the nuts. I bet the flop because it paired my ace and he raised me with nothing and caught. I can’t put him on the hand, but I wasted a bet by capping.
The same dude also went runner-runner quads on me when I flopped the nut flush. Now THAT was expensive.
I finally settled down, caught some cards, made some big laydowns, and left up over $1000 for the night.
Jesse May wrote a great book called “Shut Up and Deal.” Mickey, his main character, is asked, "What’s the difference between the lower stakes and higher stakes?" His reply:
“Different color chips.”
There were other differences, too, but I have to do some critical thinking before I’m willing to say I’m a regular in that game.
For now, I’m just calling this a successful short-term experiment.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Reflections
15 May 06
When I’m running well, I’m a conceited, full-of-myself, egomaniacal sonofabitch.
No real point to this post. Just trying to be honest.
When I’m running well, I’m a conceited, full-of-myself, egomaniacal sonofabitch.
No real point to this post. Just trying to be honest.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
My Bad
14 May 06
It was my fault.
I decided to change up my game a little. Instead of my normal polo t-shirt and St. Andrews ball cap, I decided to wear a really loud Tommy Bahama-type shirt and the Full-Tilt hat I won as a bounty from the Poker Geek. My thought was “Dress loud. Play tight.”
So, it’s a ½ Kill (which is stupidly 15/25). I’m under the gun and I look down at 8 10 of diamonds. So of course I muck.
Yeah, right.
Raise!
I’m running really hot up to this point and I have most of the table on tilt. It’s re-raised and capped before it gets back to me. I call, and seven (!) of us see a flop of 2 6 7 rainbow.
Crap. Now I have a gut-shot and the correct odds to call. One MP guy bets and all 7 of us call. That’s right. There is $525 dollars in this stupid pot already before we see the turn.
9
“Train wreck on table 7! I think the 6 seat just messed himself!!”
Unbelievably, the button, who is LAST to act, bets right out. I’m first to act here, so instead of betting, I just check. It checks all the way to the button, who does in fact bet. I say, “Let’s stop the madness right now. I raise to $50.” The button says, “Do you have 8 10?” I reply, “Wouldn’t that be sweet?” I still get 4 callers.
The turn is a blank. I have the mortal nuts. I bet, and my 4 buddies come right along for the ride.
$825
Single. Largest. Pot. Ever.
It was my fault.
I decided to change up my game a little. Instead of my normal polo t-shirt and St. Andrews ball cap, I decided to wear a really loud Tommy Bahama-type shirt and the Full-Tilt hat I won as a bounty from the Poker Geek. My thought was “Dress loud. Play tight.”
So, it’s a ½ Kill (which is stupidly 15/25). I’m under the gun and I look down at 8 10 of diamonds. So of course I muck.
Yeah, right.
Raise!
I’m running really hot up to this point and I have most of the table on tilt. It’s re-raised and capped before it gets back to me. I call, and seven (!) of us see a flop of 2 6 7 rainbow.
Crap. Now I have a gut-shot and the correct odds to call. One MP guy bets and all 7 of us call. That’s right. There is $525 dollars in this stupid pot already before we see the turn.
9
“Train wreck on table 7! I think the 6 seat just messed himself!!”
Unbelievably, the button, who is LAST to act, bets right out. I’m first to act here, so instead of betting, I just check. It checks all the way to the button, who does in fact bet. I say, “Let’s stop the madness right now. I raise to $50.” The button says, “Do you have 8 10?” I reply, “Wouldn’t that be sweet?” I still get 4 callers.
The turn is a blank. I have the mortal nuts. I bet, and my 4 buddies come right along for the ride.
$825
Single. Largest. Pot. Ever.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Donkey Poker!!
10 MAY 06
I played like an absolute donkey yesterday. I’m serious. I was playing hands like 10 2 and 7 8 like they were suited Aces (yes, I know that’s not possible, Dad).
The good news is that Brian sat down one to my right. There’s nothing a maniac likes better than seeing another maniac sit down on their right. I asked to see one hand he lost. Brian was betting and raising. When the 8 seat made a crying call on the river, Brian tried to muck his hand without showing. Since I had already asked to see it, the dealer flipped over his 10-high. No pair and only a busted gut-shot draw.
Thanks for the info!!
I knew I could outplay this guy after the flop on just about any hand. He wasn’t an idiot – he could lay down a hand. He just always seized the initiative and was relentless unless he met resistance. Unfortunately, he beat my AK with his Q2. It was capped pre-flop and on the flop when he paired his 2. It held up.
Well, sometimes the gods of karma decide that too much aggression is no good. I became the lucky recipient. We both flopped Aces, but my 3 paired on the river. There were at least two other hands where I was betting and raising all the way and he never showed.
Then came the hand of the night.
I announce to the table, “This is my last hand.” I then look down and see AA. Uh oh.
Raise!!
It’s re-raised before it even gets to Brian, who caps it. Thanks!!
Four of us see a flop of K J 10. Not a great flop for AA, but let’s see where I’m at. I bet. Raise and re-raise and three of us see the turn – another King.
Crap.
Brain checks. I bet and get one caller before Brain does the old check-raise play on me.
At this point, I announce to the table, “That’s the first time you check-raised me. I think you have me beat, but I’m not smart enough to get away from this hand.” My thought is that with some of the crap he's been winning with, he could have anything. Boy was I wrong.
River – Ace. Thank you gods of karma!!
Brain says, “I think that Ace killed me.”
I reply, “Wouldn’t it be sweet if I had pocket Aces?”
He looks at me and bets. I shout, “Raise!” and the table cracks up. Brain calls with his Kings full of Jacks and I drag a $500 pot. Yes, I hit my two outer on the river. Brain was very cool about it and shook my hand.
Side note – both Ryan and Seattle John were at my table!! JD was waiting for his seat in the 50/100 game. He came by a couple of times after he got his seat in the big game and saw my ever growing chip stack. He kept chiding me to get into the 50 game. Part of me wanted to go. Fortunately, I was honest with myself. The reason I had the huge chip stack was because I got very lucky. Relying on luck in the 50 game is a recipe for disaster.
Instead, I took my 3+ racks of red and went home.
I played like an absolute donkey yesterday. I’m serious. I was playing hands like 10 2 and 7 8 like they were suited Aces (yes, I know that’s not possible, Dad).
The good news is that Brian sat down one to my right. There’s nothing a maniac likes better than seeing another maniac sit down on their right. I asked to see one hand he lost. Brian was betting and raising. When the 8 seat made a crying call on the river, Brian tried to muck his hand without showing. Since I had already asked to see it, the dealer flipped over his 10-high. No pair and only a busted gut-shot draw.
Thanks for the info!!
I knew I could outplay this guy after the flop on just about any hand. He wasn’t an idiot – he could lay down a hand. He just always seized the initiative and was relentless unless he met resistance. Unfortunately, he beat my AK with his Q2. It was capped pre-flop and on the flop when he paired his 2. It held up.
Well, sometimes the gods of karma decide that too much aggression is no good. I became the lucky recipient. We both flopped Aces, but my 3 paired on the river. There were at least two other hands where I was betting and raising all the way and he never showed.
Then came the hand of the night.
I announce to the table, “This is my last hand.” I then look down and see AA. Uh oh.
Raise!!
It’s re-raised before it even gets to Brian, who caps it. Thanks!!
Four of us see a flop of K J 10. Not a great flop for AA, but let’s see where I’m at. I bet. Raise and re-raise and three of us see the turn – another King.
Crap.
Brain checks. I bet and get one caller before Brain does the old check-raise play on me.
At this point, I announce to the table, “That’s the first time you check-raised me. I think you have me beat, but I’m not smart enough to get away from this hand.” My thought is that with some of the crap he's been winning with, he could have anything. Boy was I wrong.
River – Ace. Thank you gods of karma!!
Brain says, “I think that Ace killed me.”
I reply, “Wouldn’t it be sweet if I had pocket Aces?”
He looks at me and bets. I shout, “Raise!” and the table cracks up. Brain calls with his Kings full of Jacks and I drag a $500 pot. Yes, I hit my two outer on the river. Brain was very cool about it and shook my hand.
Side note – both Ryan and Seattle John were at my table!! JD was waiting for his seat in the 50/100 game. He came by a couple of times after he got his seat in the big game and saw my ever growing chip stack. He kept chiding me to get into the 50 game. Part of me wanted to go. Fortunately, I was honest with myself. The reason I had the huge chip stack was because I got very lucky. Relying on luck in the 50 game is a recipe for disaster.
Instead, I took my 3+ racks of red and went home.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Priceless
6 MAY 06
Getting dealt pocket 7s in middle position - $20
Saying outloud, “It’s been a while since I flopped quads…” – Actually, this one is free.
Actually flopping quad 7s – Awesome
Getting paid by two flush chasers all the way to the river – priceless.
How did I celebrate Cinco de Mayo?
With my biggest cash ever at the Muckleshoot, tenqberrymuge.
Getting dealt pocket 7s in middle position - $20
Saying outloud, “It’s been a while since I flopped quads…” – Actually, this one is free.
Actually flopping quad 7s – Awesome
Getting paid by two flush chasers all the way to the river – priceless.
How did I celebrate Cinco de Mayo?
With my biggest cash ever at the Muckleshoot, tenqberrymuge.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
My Brother Drives This Way
3 MAY 06
It’s like the old joke. Driving with my buddy Earl, he keeps flying through red lights. I’m cringing and holding the armrest for dear life, and all he says is, “It’s okay. My brother drives like this.” Red light after red light we keep flying through until we finally come upon an actual green light. Earl slams on the breaks and we come to a screeching halt. “WTF Earl?” I exclaim.
Earl’s reply? “My brother might be coming the other way.”
I saw 2 3 soooted win twice last night. The surprising thing was that once it was held by my buddy Ryan, who was playing very tight up until that point. He made a great read and stuck with it the whole way. The other time was against my TPTK when the 8 seat flops the 4-flush and rivers the straight.
I saw another great rush of cards – including winning 4 or 5 hands in a row at one point. I developed a great table image and was able to get a couple of folds when I knew I held an inferior hand. The 4 seat made a horrible mistake by folding AJ face up to an EP flop bet on a board with an Ace.
Huh?
After that, I raised any pot he limped into, even if there were other players. He folded to any aggression, and I took about $100 free dollars off of him with that play alone.
Seattle John sweated me for one hand, which was pretty cool. In late position, I call a bunch of limpers with A2 off-suit, with the Ace of clubs. The flop is 3 clubs for the nut-flush draw. It checks around to me and I bet, and get three callers. No club on the turn and it checks to me again. I bet and get called just by the blind. No club on the river and the blind checks.
Do you bet here?
If you think he’s on a club draw, you bet. There’s a chance that Ace high is the best hand, but that’s kind of wishful thinking. I had squandered my table image a little, so there was a better than average chance that I’d get called. I bet and he called with top pair after the flop. It was a good (not great) call, and I didn’t have to show anyone but John. If nothing else, the bet on the river with nothing but Ace high enabled me to milk an extra bet on two separate later hands when I held the nuts.
A note about implied odds. I posted the mandatory $15 for one of my many kill pots. Ryan raises from late position and I call with 96 off-suit. Heads-up, we see a flop of 5 7 8, all clubs, for a vulnerable straight. I check-raised the flop and he three bets. I think I bet the turn and he called. When I bet the river, he raises and I ask, “Did you flop the flush?” When Ryan replies, “No. Did I need to?” I knew I had the pot. Defending the kill is similar to defending the blinds. I’m getting 5:1 pre-flop (the small and big blind = 1 bet. His raise is 2 more. My call is #4 and he will always bet the flop for #5).
Final thought: Thanks again to Ryan for pointing out another mistake I made. I talk a lot when I’m playing, especially when I’m playing well. At one point, I was asked why I didn’t bet on the river. I replied that the only person that calls my river bet is someone that has me beat. Ryan smiled and said, “No poker instructions, please.”
He (and Mike Caro) are absolutely right. Why would I want to teach the fish how to play better against me? Sorry ‘bout that.
It’s like the old joke. Driving with my buddy Earl, he keeps flying through red lights. I’m cringing and holding the armrest for dear life, and all he says is, “It’s okay. My brother drives like this.” Red light after red light we keep flying through until we finally come upon an actual green light. Earl slams on the breaks and we come to a screeching halt. “WTF Earl?” I exclaim.
Earl’s reply? “My brother might be coming the other way.”
I saw 2 3 soooted win twice last night. The surprising thing was that once it was held by my buddy Ryan, who was playing very tight up until that point. He made a great read and stuck with it the whole way. The other time was against my TPTK when the 8 seat flops the 4-flush and rivers the straight.
I saw another great rush of cards – including winning 4 or 5 hands in a row at one point. I developed a great table image and was able to get a couple of folds when I knew I held an inferior hand. The 4 seat made a horrible mistake by folding AJ face up to an EP flop bet on a board with an Ace.
Huh?
After that, I raised any pot he limped into, even if there were other players. He folded to any aggression, and I took about $100 free dollars off of him with that play alone.
Seattle John sweated me for one hand, which was pretty cool. In late position, I call a bunch of limpers with A2 off-suit, with the Ace of clubs. The flop is 3 clubs for the nut-flush draw. It checks around to me and I bet, and get three callers. No club on the turn and it checks to me again. I bet and get called just by the blind. No club on the river and the blind checks.
Do you bet here?
If you think he’s on a club draw, you bet. There’s a chance that Ace high is the best hand, but that’s kind of wishful thinking. I had squandered my table image a little, so there was a better than average chance that I’d get called. I bet and he called with top pair after the flop. It was a good (not great) call, and I didn’t have to show anyone but John. If nothing else, the bet on the river with nothing but Ace high enabled me to milk an extra bet on two separate later hands when I held the nuts.
A note about implied odds. I posted the mandatory $15 for one of my many kill pots. Ryan raises from late position and I call with 96 off-suit. Heads-up, we see a flop of 5 7 8, all clubs, for a vulnerable straight. I check-raised the flop and he three bets. I think I bet the turn and he called. When I bet the river, he raises and I ask, “Did you flop the flush?” When Ryan replies, “No. Did I need to?” I knew I had the pot. Defending the kill is similar to defending the blinds. I’m getting 5:1 pre-flop (the small and big blind = 1 bet. His raise is 2 more. My call is #4 and he will always bet the flop for #5).
Final thought: Thanks again to Ryan for pointing out another mistake I made. I talk a lot when I’m playing, especially when I’m playing well. At one point, I was asked why I didn’t bet on the river. I replied that the only person that calls my river bet is someone that has me beat. Ryan smiled and said, “No poker instructions, please.”
He (and Mike Caro) are absolutely right. Why would I want to teach the fish how to play better against me? Sorry ‘bout that.
Monday, May 01, 2006
May Day!!
1 MAY 06
I was going to take today off in solidarity with my fellow immigrants, but I didn’t think having my dad born in Canada counts.
Anyway, a series of 5 (or less) outers brought me back below the break even line. I’m tempted to tell some bad beat stories, but I’d have to pay each of you two dollars, and my poker fund just can’t take another hit right now.
Instead, I’ll just say thank you to Otis for recommending “Shut Up and Deal,” by Jesse May. I’ve just started reading it, and it’s that rare thing in literature – a unique voice. It takes a little getting used to – almost like someone is dictating the story as opposed to writing it down, but it grows on you.
The first chapter really added some clarity to how I’m feeling right now.
Here is the review from Amazon:
The vignettes in Shut Up and Deal are a bizarre mingling of Damon Runyon and David Mamet. Mickey, the book's narrator, is always playing cards with people who have monikers such as Uptown Raoul, Hot Mama Earl, Johnny World, and Vinnie the Greek, and he himself generally wears at these card games something like "yellow pants and a green double-breasted jacket from the seventies and a green and yellow flowered shirt with dark sunglasses" in order to sucker the unsuspecting mark into maybe thinking that he is not such a good poker player and that his money can be easily won, which it usually cannot. Yet the dialogue, reflecting life on the professional poker circuit, is stark and brutal, as in Mickey's advice to a dilettante who is considering following in his footsteps: "All I can tell you is that it's lonely out there, real fuckin' lonely, and your play doesn't matter so much as how tough you are and whether or not you fall apart."
If you need me, I’ll be trying not to fall apart tonight at the ‘shoot.
I was going to take today off in solidarity with my fellow immigrants, but I didn’t think having my dad born in Canada counts.
Anyway, a series of 5 (or less) outers brought me back below the break even line. I’m tempted to tell some bad beat stories, but I’d have to pay each of you two dollars, and my poker fund just can’t take another hit right now.
Instead, I’ll just say thank you to Otis for recommending “Shut Up and Deal,” by Jesse May. I’ve just started reading it, and it’s that rare thing in literature – a unique voice. It takes a little getting used to – almost like someone is dictating the story as opposed to writing it down, but it grows on you.
The first chapter really added some clarity to how I’m feeling right now.
Here is the review from Amazon:
The vignettes in Shut Up and Deal are a bizarre mingling of Damon Runyon and David Mamet. Mickey, the book's narrator, is always playing cards with people who have monikers such as Uptown Raoul, Hot Mama Earl, Johnny World, and Vinnie the Greek, and he himself generally wears at these card games something like "yellow pants and a green double-breasted jacket from the seventies and a green and yellow flowered shirt with dark sunglasses" in order to sucker the unsuspecting mark into maybe thinking that he is not such a good poker player and that his money can be easily won, which it usually cannot. Yet the dialogue, reflecting life on the professional poker circuit, is stark and brutal, as in Mickey's advice to a dilettante who is considering following in his footsteps: "All I can tell you is that it's lonely out there, real fuckin' lonely, and your play doesn't matter so much as how tough you are and whether or not you fall apart."
If you need me, I’ll be trying not to fall apart tonight at the ‘shoot.
Friday, April 28, 2006
That’s Not a Knife…
28 APR 06
I’ve always wanted to quote Crocodile Dundee.
While waiting for my 10/20 seat, I wasted time at the 4/8 game (again). I remember reading something from Phil Gordon about sucking out. His point was that good players rarely suck out (but are often sucked-out on) because they usually get their money in with the best hand.
Well I did some serious sucking yesterday.
In actuality, there was a reason for my madness, but I’m sure it didn’t seem that way to Hat Boy.
Hat Boy came in with his cool pull-down Pac Northwest hat and bought in for $60. Sniff – is that dinner, I smell? He calls in early position. I’m one to his left and I call with 8 7.
The flop is A 10 6, all hearts. I don’t have any hearts. I just have a weak gutshot. Hat Boy checks, I bet and he raises. Huh?
The raise here says, “Please don’t suck out. I’ve got a hand, but I have no hearts.” At this point, I think I can get him off the hand. I call, and see a blank card on the turn. He bets. I raise. He reraises. Now I put him on a set. The right move here is to call, but he’s really nervous, so I cap it. He calls, and we see a heart on the river.
The 9 of hearts.
He slaps his hand on the table, and checks. I quickly bet, thinking he’ll fold. He calls and shows his flopped set of 6’s. I say, “Oooh. This is gonna hurt,” and I show him my hand – the suckout straight on the river. No hearts for him either, so I drag the pot. In fairness, I really thought he'd fold. Wasn't it Ross Perot who talked about that "giant sucking sound?"
One other hand of note. Dark Sunglasses boy (don’t you just love these guys), raises from the button. When an Ace falls on the flop, it’s checked around to him. He bets, everyone folds and he shows his 10 6 for the bluff.
Nice one, sir!
That hand set up this play. It’s a “full kill” (8/16) two hands later, and I call in early position. Sunglasses Boy raises to $16. I call and we see a flop of 9 10 J. I check, he bets and I call. The turn is a Queen. Now I bet right out. He raises and I reraise. He just calls and we see the river – King. No flush.
Now, there is a straight on the board. I bet right out and smile at him through his dark sunglasses. He thinks a long time before mucking his board straight.
I lay my pair of threes down right in front of him – face up.
Now THAT’s a bluff.
I’ve always wanted to quote Crocodile Dundee.
While waiting for my 10/20 seat, I wasted time at the 4/8 game (again). I remember reading something from Phil Gordon about sucking out. His point was that good players rarely suck out (but are often sucked-out on) because they usually get their money in with the best hand.
Well I did some serious sucking yesterday.
In actuality, there was a reason for my madness, but I’m sure it didn’t seem that way to Hat Boy.
Hat Boy came in with his cool pull-down Pac Northwest hat and bought in for $60. Sniff – is that dinner, I smell? He calls in early position. I’m one to his left and I call with 8 7.
The flop is A 10 6, all hearts. I don’t have any hearts. I just have a weak gutshot. Hat Boy checks, I bet and he raises. Huh?
The raise here says, “Please don’t suck out. I’ve got a hand, but I have no hearts.” At this point, I think I can get him off the hand. I call, and see a blank card on the turn. He bets. I raise. He reraises. Now I put him on a set. The right move here is to call, but he’s really nervous, so I cap it. He calls, and we see a heart on the river.
The 9 of hearts.
He slaps his hand on the table, and checks. I quickly bet, thinking he’ll fold. He calls and shows his flopped set of 6’s. I say, “Oooh. This is gonna hurt,” and I show him my hand – the suckout straight on the river. No hearts for him either, so I drag the pot. In fairness, I really thought he'd fold. Wasn't it Ross Perot who talked about that "giant sucking sound?"
One other hand of note. Dark Sunglasses boy (don’t you just love these guys), raises from the button. When an Ace falls on the flop, it’s checked around to him. He bets, everyone folds and he shows his 10 6 for the bluff.
Nice one, sir!
That hand set up this play. It’s a “full kill” (8/16) two hands later, and I call in early position. Sunglasses Boy raises to $16. I call and we see a flop of 9 10 J. I check, he bets and I call. The turn is a Queen. Now I bet right out. He raises and I reraise. He just calls and we see the river – King. No flush.
Now, there is a straight on the board. I bet right out and smile at him through his dark sunglasses. He thinks a long time before mucking his board straight.
I lay my pair of threes down right in front of him – face up.
Now THAT’s a bluff.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
More Trickery
25 APR 06
In my ever expanding bag of tricks, I came up with this one on the spot.
I’m in the Big Blind. There are 4 callers and I get to see a free flop with 96 off-suit. The flop comes 345, giving me the open ender. One early bet gets called by all five of us. The turn is a nine giving me top pair. There is one bet and one raise. I reraise and 4 of us see the river, which is a 2. Sweet.
But wait, there’s more.
Everyone checks to me. Huh? Okay – watch this…
I flip over my 9 and say, “I’ve got top pair. I’m betting it.”
The first Ace-holder raises. The second Ace-holder calls. I reraise, and at this point, the caller knows he’s beat, but the first ace-holder hasn’t got the memo.
He reraises.
Moron ace-holder #2 calls again and I cap it.
Devin (the dealer) gives me a look and says, “Turn over your 6.” I’m happy to comply. The expression on my two new best friends was priceless.
In my ever expanding bag of tricks, I came up with this one on the spot.
I’m in the Big Blind. There are 4 callers and I get to see a free flop with 96 off-suit. The flop comes 345, giving me the open ender. One early bet gets called by all five of us. The turn is a nine giving me top pair. There is one bet and one raise. I reraise and 4 of us see the river, which is a 2. Sweet.
But wait, there’s more.
Everyone checks to me. Huh? Okay – watch this…
I flip over my 9 and say, “I’ve got top pair. I’m betting it.”
The first Ace-holder raises. The second Ace-holder calls. I reraise, and at this point, the caller knows he’s beat, but the first ace-holder hasn’t got the memo.
He reraises.
Moron ace-holder #2 calls again and I cap it.
Devin (the dealer) gives me a look and says, “Turn over your 6.” I’m happy to comply. The expression on my two new best friends was priceless.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Reflections on 100 Posts
20 APR 06
One hundred posts. Sheesh!! Recently, Pauly took a break after 1176 posts. I can’t imagine another thousand of these, but I sure am having fun with it for now.
First off – thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogsphere. For whatever reason, you decided to spend a little of your day visiting me, and I appreciate it. An Extra Thanks to my top referrers:
http://www.upforanything.net/poker/
http://www.whiskeytown.blogspot.com/
http://www.seattlejohn.blogspot.com/
http://www.thisisnotapokerblog.com/
http://iamhoff.blogspot.com/
http://nickleanddimes.blogspot.com/
To celebrate my 100th post, I decided to figure out how to use Sitemeter. Check this out:
Google searches that brought people to my blog:
“Nguyen interview with Scotty" – This search was from the google.co.hu site, which is from Hungary. I’ve also had visitors from Sweden, the UK and Finland.
“320 pound 7' 4" woman Holland” – this one is strangely legit. See here
“costa rican supermodel” – Yeah, baby!
“anatomical locations behind back of knee” – another legit search. See #46 here
“hunter silvastorm” – someone searched for author-extraordinaire Hunter and found me instead – sweet!
A Canadian searched for “flawless poker win every time” and came to my site.
And finally, my favorite (note – this entire thing was pasted into the search window)
“An Australian sheep farmer was puzzled at the disappearance of sheep on his farm. After a few weeks of sheep disappearing the farmer decided to put up an electric fence”
So, if you ever want to find out about Huge Dutch Women, Costa Rican Supermodels, Great Authors or Disappearing Sheep, look no further than your friendly neighborhood poker playing doctor. It’s what I live for.
One hundred posts. Sheesh!! Recently, Pauly took a break after 1176 posts. I can’t imagine another thousand of these, but I sure am having fun with it for now.
First off – thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogsphere. For whatever reason, you decided to spend a little of your day visiting me, and I appreciate it. An Extra Thanks to my top referrers:
http://www.upforanything.net/poker/
http://www.whiskeytown.blogspot.com/
http://www.seattlejohn.blogspot.com/
http://www.thisisnotapokerblog.com/
http://iamhoff.blogspot.com/
http://nickleanddimes.blogspot.com/
To celebrate my 100th post, I decided to figure out how to use Sitemeter. Check this out:
Google searches that brought people to my blog:
“Nguyen interview with Scotty" – This search was from the google.co.hu site, which is from Hungary. I’ve also had visitors from Sweden, the UK and Finland.
“320 pound 7' 4" woman Holland” – this one is strangely legit. See here
“costa rican supermodel” – Yeah, baby!
“anatomical locations behind back of knee” – another legit search. See #46 here
“hunter silvastorm” – someone searched for author-extraordinaire Hunter and found me instead – sweet!
A Canadian searched for “flawless poker win every time” and came to my site.
And finally, my favorite (note – this entire thing was pasted into the search window)
“An Australian sheep farmer was puzzled at the disappearance of sheep on his farm. After a few weeks of sheep disappearing the farmer decided to put up an electric fence”
So, if you ever want to find out about Huge Dutch Women, Costa Rican Supermodels, Great Authors or Disappearing Sheep, look no further than your friendly neighborhood poker playing doctor. It’s what I live for.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
One Last Shot
19 APR 06
My buddy Stefan decided to take one last crack at 10/20 before heading back to Texas. He’s glad he did.
I sat in first and started in with my usual shtick. It was funny, because Ryan was dealing again. Apparently, he’s been reading my blog because he was quoting several of my best lines back to me. I got a laugh out of it at first, but then I realized that other people at the table may have been listening. If they figured out what we were talking about, I may have been handicapped a little. Fortunately, either no one figured it out, or they didn’t care. I talked my way into a few pots and was up about $300 when Stefan finally got a seat.
Now, Stefan is a buddy of mine, but when he’s sitting across the felt he becomes a potential victim. Sure enough, I raised in position with J8 and he calls from the big blind. I hit my Jack on the flop (I think there was an overcard). He calls my flop and turn bets and when we get to the river, he checks to me. I bet and say, “Don’t call. I’ll show you,” and I hold my cards out towards him face down. He flips over his QJ and mucks. True to my word, I show him my inferior hand and drag the pot. If he just read my blog before he sat in, he might have made that call!!
Well, that was about the only hand he played badly last night. In the span of about 2 hours, he ran his $500 up to over $1200, and we both cashed out winners for the night. On the ride back to his hotel, he was floating on a cloud, but he asked me to critique his game. I gave him a few pointers (at several points he was calling into a multiway pot post-flop when he should have been raising or folding), but how do you offer pointers to someone that played nearly flawless poker?
I guess we can all benefit from a few pointers now and then. I know I can.
My buddy Stefan decided to take one last crack at 10/20 before heading back to Texas. He’s glad he did.
I sat in first and started in with my usual shtick. It was funny, because Ryan was dealing again. Apparently, he’s been reading my blog because he was quoting several of my best lines back to me. I got a laugh out of it at first, but then I realized that other people at the table may have been listening. If they figured out what we were talking about, I may have been handicapped a little. Fortunately, either no one figured it out, or they didn’t care. I talked my way into a few pots and was up about $300 when Stefan finally got a seat.
Now, Stefan is a buddy of mine, but when he’s sitting across the felt he becomes a potential victim. Sure enough, I raised in position with J8 and he calls from the big blind. I hit my Jack on the flop (I think there was an overcard). He calls my flop and turn bets and when we get to the river, he checks to me. I bet and say, “Don’t call. I’ll show you,” and I hold my cards out towards him face down. He flips over his QJ and mucks. True to my word, I show him my inferior hand and drag the pot. If he just read my blog before he sat in, he might have made that call!!
Well, that was about the only hand he played badly last night. In the span of about 2 hours, he ran his $500 up to over $1200, and we both cashed out winners for the night. On the ride back to his hotel, he was floating on a cloud, but he asked me to critique his game. I gave him a few pointers (at several points he was calling into a multiway pot post-flop when he should have been raising or folding), but how do you offer pointers to someone that played nearly flawless poker?
I guess we can all benefit from a few pointers now and then. I know I can.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Talking the Talk
13 APR 06
I’ve talked myself into about $300 over the last 3 sessions, and I feel pretty darn good about it. John talked about it on this blog (referring to his buddy Aaron). The key is variance. Sometimes, when I’m acting strong, I have the worst hand. Other times it’s just the opposite. The key is to make sure people are paying attention, and to show down a couple of hands (be they winners or losers).
Here are a couple of my favorites:
“I’ll show you.”
It’s a 4/8 table and I raise with A 10 after one MP limper just calls. The flop is AA3. Limper checks and I check. The turn is a 6 and the limper bets. I raise and the limper just calls. The river is a Jack, and the limper bets.
I raise saying, “Don’t call, I’ll show you,” then I move my cards over towards her in preparation for showing her my flopped trips (after all, she just limped into this hand – I know she doesn’t have anything better than what I’m holding).
She folds her AK face up.
“This is my wheelhouse.”
It’s 10/20 and I raise in early position with 7 9 (I’m not justifying the move here. Just go with me). The button calls and we see a flop of 7 8 J. I bet and the button raises. I put him on a weak Jack, but he’s capable of making this move with the 9 for the open ender. I call. The turn is blank and I bet. He raises again, and now I put him on QJ or KJ. Maybe AJ. I have 6 outs (two 7’s and four 10’s), so I look at him and say, “This is my wheelhouse. Are you sure you want to bet here?” I see the look of doubt in his eyes, and I think I may be able to steal this pot if any scare card comes out. The river is a 7 and I check raise the river on him. As he’s calling my raise, he says, “Your 7 is good.”
Thanks, but I already knew that.
“You didn’t stay with A x of diamonds, did you?”
This one is more obvious. Experienced players will see this for what it is – calling out your made hand.
Again at 10/20, I complete the big blind into a multiway pot with A8 of diamonds. The flop pairs my 8 with two diamonds. I bet and get raised and called by three others. The turn puts a scary straight card on the board. I check and 3 of us see the river – 2 of diamonds. I’m first to act, and I bet out, saying the question above. My thought is that this may convince the table that I was slow playing my straight, but I’m nervous about the river card. It’s very confusing. The bet represents the flush but the talk represents the straight. Confused players will call out of curiosity. Both players called – one with the straight and one with 2 pair.
That’s why I love this game. The intangibles make it really interesting.
I’ve talked myself into about $300 over the last 3 sessions, and I feel pretty darn good about it. John talked about it on this blog (referring to his buddy Aaron). The key is variance. Sometimes, when I’m acting strong, I have the worst hand. Other times it’s just the opposite. The key is to make sure people are paying attention, and to show down a couple of hands (be they winners or losers).
Here are a couple of my favorites:
“I’ll show you.”
It’s a 4/8 table and I raise with A 10 after one MP limper just calls. The flop is AA3. Limper checks and I check. The turn is a 6 and the limper bets. I raise and the limper just calls. The river is a Jack, and the limper bets.
I raise saying, “Don’t call, I’ll show you,” then I move my cards over towards her in preparation for showing her my flopped trips (after all, she just limped into this hand – I know she doesn’t have anything better than what I’m holding).
She folds her AK face up.
“This is my wheelhouse.”
It’s 10/20 and I raise in early position with 7 9 (I’m not justifying the move here. Just go with me). The button calls and we see a flop of 7 8 J. I bet and the button raises. I put him on a weak Jack, but he’s capable of making this move with the 9 for the open ender. I call. The turn is blank and I bet. He raises again, and now I put him on QJ or KJ. Maybe AJ. I have 6 outs (two 7’s and four 10’s), so I look at him and say, “This is my wheelhouse. Are you sure you want to bet here?” I see the look of doubt in his eyes, and I think I may be able to steal this pot if any scare card comes out. The river is a 7 and I check raise the river on him. As he’s calling my raise, he says, “Your 7 is good.”
Thanks, but I already knew that.
“You didn’t stay with A x of diamonds, did you?”
This one is more obvious. Experienced players will see this for what it is – calling out your made hand.
Again at 10/20, I complete the big blind into a multiway pot with A8 of diamonds. The flop pairs my 8 with two diamonds. I bet and get raised and called by three others. The turn puts a scary straight card on the board. I check and 3 of us see the river – 2 of diamonds. I’m first to act, and I bet out, saying the question above. My thought is that this may convince the table that I was slow playing my straight, but I’m nervous about the river card. It’s very confusing. The bet represents the flush but the talk represents the straight. Confused players will call out of curiosity. Both players called – one with the straight and one with 2 pair.
That’s why I love this game. The intangibles make it really interesting.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Schooled
10 APR 06
My buddy broke his 10/20 cherry yesterday at the Muckleshoot. It was cool to witness. I just wrote about my first experience at 10/20, and I’m guessing his experience is going to stay with him for a long time.
I watched him nearly double his $500 buy in with some solid play and a few good hands. There was one hand where he had KQ. He flopped his queen and turned his king, only to run into a set of queens. It happens, but he was still way up for the night.
I had to leave for dinner, so I didn’t witness the rest. About 2 hours later, I get a call.
“Dude. I raised under the gun with AK. The big blind is the only caller. The flop is 777…”
You know the rest of this story. Big blind had 7 2 off suit for the flopped quads, and, as they say, “tilt happened.”
He actually lost only part of his buy in for the night. As I reviewed a few key hands with him, I realized he made good decisions and didn’t play scared (which was my big problem when I started). He’s good enough to play at this level. We’ll see if he ever ventures back into the mid-level games.
Final thought: The Muckleshoot – where, if you dream it, your cards will come.
My buddy broke his 10/20 cherry yesterday at the Muckleshoot. It was cool to witness. I just wrote about my first experience at 10/20, and I’m guessing his experience is going to stay with him for a long time.
I watched him nearly double his $500 buy in with some solid play and a few good hands. There was one hand where he had KQ. He flopped his queen and turned his king, only to run into a set of queens. It happens, but he was still way up for the night.
I had to leave for dinner, so I didn’t witness the rest. About 2 hours later, I get a call.
“Dude. I raised under the gun with AK. The big blind is the only caller. The flop is 777…”
You know the rest of this story. Big blind had 7 2 off suit for the flopped quads, and, as they say, “tilt happened.”
He actually lost only part of his buy in for the night. As I reviewed a few key hands with him, I realized he made good decisions and didn’t play scared (which was my big problem when I started). He’s good enough to play at this level. We’ll see if he ever ventures back into the mid-level games.
Final thought: The Muckleshoot – where, if you dream it, your cards will come.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Happy Birthday
6 APR 06
Last night, I gave myself exactly what I wanted for my birthday. Against all odds, I eliminated #28 FAR earlier than I expected.
So this is what it feels like to be a winning poker player.
Last night, I gave myself exactly what I wanted for my birthday. Against all odds, I eliminated #28 FAR earlier than I expected.
So this is what it feels like to be a winning poker player.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Playing Your Rush
3 APR 06
First off – I wrote this first thing on Friday. I was going to post it Saturday, but we did the “Become Your Favorite Blogger” thing for April 1st. My favorite was Joe Speaker’s take on Factgirl, but Drizz did a number on Bobby Bracelet. Both are worth a read. Enjoy.
So, I have fans. Well, technically, I have readers I didn’t know about, but I choose to call them fans because it makes me feel kind of famous. And, you know my ego isn’t big enough already…
After my write-up about Colette, I finally ran into her. She was extremely gracious. She really could have made me feel like a creep, but instead she seemed genuinely flattered, and I was touched. She’s still hasn’t sent me any photos from Costa Rica, but those seem secondary now. If I get them, great. If not, well that’s cool, too.
I was confused when she told me she read my blog, because I never told her the name of the website. It turns out she found me from a link on another Muckleshoot blog. Another dealer at the ‘shoot (Ryan), read John’s blog and found me, then told Colette.
Now we come full circle. Ryan was seated one to my right in the very first game of 10/20 I ever played. I was scared money, and he knew it. I bought in for $200, and played very weak-tight. I finally looked down at AK of spades, but Ryan raised it to $20. I just called and the flop came K 10 6. Ryan bet, and I remember being scared straight.
I had been watching Ryan and another regular (Peter) go at it for about an hour. Both were clearly comfortable with this level of play and I was jealous. I wanted to be like that, but at the time, I didn’t know how. They were raising and reraising their turn and river bets and winning with hands like 45 and J9. Who the hell plays 45 in 10/20? Don’t these idiots know that’s a lot of money???
I was getting ready to call Ryan’s bet when, out of the blue, Ryan says, “Don’t bet, I hit my set.”
Huh?
I had not seen this play from him. Why would he tell me this? I was getting ready to call, when he said, “Look, I’ll show you one card.” He flips over a 6. I’m frozen. I really don’t know how to react. I’m looking back and forth between Ryan, the exposed 6 and my chips. Is he allowed to show his card? Should I bet anyway? What’s that warm sensation running down my leg?
Then he flips over the other 6. He turns to me with a big smile and says, “I don’t want to take your money.” He points to Peter and says, “I want to take his money.” Both Peter and Ryan start laughing. I nervously laugh along, but I realize I’m WAY outgunned at this table. I lost the rest of that buy in and limped away with my tail between my legs.
I think about that hand and that session often. Ryan’s carefree attitude has been something I’ve tried to emulate every time I sit in the 10/20 game. It’s only recently that it’s started to work. I don’t think I’d ever show a fish (and I was a fish back then) my flopped set, but I understand why he did it. I remember thinking, the only reason he did that is because he wants me to have fun so I’ll come back in the future and lose even more money to him. The actual effect was to further my resolve to be comfortable at this level, so that I could go back and beat his brains out at the table. I (and my bankroll) owe him some thanks.
So ends what I wrote on Friday. But wait, there's more...
Now, fast forward to Saturday. Ryan was dealing my 10/20 game! I relayed the above story to him and we had a good laugh about it. He seemed shocked that he exposed his hand like that. I actually expected him to remember the hand, but it was clearly a much bigger deal to me than to him.
To complete the circle, I had my best rush of cards ever. At one point, I won 5 hands in a row (including a kill pot where I raised preflop with 23 and caught a wheel on the river). In those 10 minutes, I won over $600.
And I owe it all to Ryan. Well, I owe a bunch to Lee Jones and Doyle Brunson and David Sklansky, but Ryan deserves at least some of the credit.
First off – I wrote this first thing on Friday. I was going to post it Saturday, but we did the “Become Your Favorite Blogger” thing for April 1st. My favorite was Joe Speaker’s take on Factgirl, but Drizz did a number on Bobby Bracelet. Both are worth a read. Enjoy.
So, I have fans. Well, technically, I have readers I didn’t know about, but I choose to call them fans because it makes me feel kind of famous. And, you know my ego isn’t big enough already…
After my write-up about Colette, I finally ran into her. She was extremely gracious. She really could have made me feel like a creep, but instead she seemed genuinely flattered, and I was touched. She’s still hasn’t sent me any photos from Costa Rica, but those seem secondary now. If I get them, great. If not, well that’s cool, too.
I was confused when she told me she read my blog, because I never told her the name of the website. It turns out she found me from a link on another Muckleshoot blog. Another dealer at the ‘shoot (Ryan), read John’s blog and found me, then told Colette.
Now we come full circle. Ryan was seated one to my right in the very first game of 10/20 I ever played. I was scared money, and he knew it. I bought in for $200, and played very weak-tight. I finally looked down at AK of spades, but Ryan raised it to $20. I just called and the flop came K 10 6. Ryan bet, and I remember being scared straight.
I had been watching Ryan and another regular (Peter) go at it for about an hour. Both were clearly comfortable with this level of play and I was jealous. I wanted to be like that, but at the time, I didn’t know how. They were raising and reraising their turn and river bets and winning with hands like 45 and J9. Who the hell plays 45 in 10/20? Don’t these idiots know that’s a lot of money???
I was getting ready to call Ryan’s bet when, out of the blue, Ryan says, “Don’t bet, I hit my set.”
Huh?
I had not seen this play from him. Why would he tell me this? I was getting ready to call, when he said, “Look, I’ll show you one card.” He flips over a 6. I’m frozen. I really don’t know how to react. I’m looking back and forth between Ryan, the exposed 6 and my chips. Is he allowed to show his card? Should I bet anyway? What’s that warm sensation running down my leg?
Then he flips over the other 6. He turns to me with a big smile and says, “I don’t want to take your money.” He points to Peter and says, “I want to take his money.” Both Peter and Ryan start laughing. I nervously laugh along, but I realize I’m WAY outgunned at this table. I lost the rest of that buy in and limped away with my tail between my legs.
I think about that hand and that session often. Ryan’s carefree attitude has been something I’ve tried to emulate every time I sit in the 10/20 game. It’s only recently that it’s started to work. I don’t think I’d ever show a fish (and I was a fish back then) my flopped set, but I understand why he did it. I remember thinking, the only reason he did that is because he wants me to have fun so I’ll come back in the future and lose even more money to him. The actual effect was to further my resolve to be comfortable at this level, so that I could go back and beat his brains out at the table. I (and my bankroll) owe him some thanks.
So ends what I wrote on Friday. But wait, there's more...
Now, fast forward to Saturday. Ryan was dealing my 10/20 game! I relayed the above story to him and we had a good laugh about it. He seemed shocked that he exposed his hand like that. I actually expected him to remember the hand, but it was clearly a much bigger deal to me than to him.
To complete the circle, I had my best rush of cards ever. At one point, I won 5 hands in a row (including a kill pot where I raised preflop with 23 and caught a wheel on the river). In those 10 minutes, I won over $600.
And I owe it all to Ryan. Well, I owe a bunch to Lee Jones and Doyle Brunson and David Sklansky, but Ryan deserves at least some of the credit.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Guest Blog
1 APR 06
Editors Note: Occasionally, I allow other’s to guest post on this here blog. Today’s guest is extra special because we both got something out of it. As a physician, I have a unique perspective into poker, but I rarely need my doctoring skills. Today’s guest needed a favor, and I was happy to comply.
Live blogging the drunk… day at the hospital
6:30 am – What the hell kind of time of day is this? Who the fuck gets up at 4:30 in the morning to go to work? I need a shot of SoCo. If it wasn’t for the free shit, this whole guest-post experiment would have to wait until a more reasonable hour – like noon.
6:35 am – Cute nurses. Hmmm… I may have to hold judgment for a bit.
6:40 am – Cute nurses asking me to undress. Even better.
6:45 am – The CAT scan table is kind of cold, but I’m kinda digging the whole “let’s play doctor thing.” Hey, what’s that tube for?
6:46 am – “You’re gonna put that WHERE?”
6:47 am – Unnnnh. Nnnnnhhhhh. Ggggghhhfffff…. Did you put that barium in the fucking fridge before you squirted it up my ass?! You people are sick!
6:50 am – Whirring noises. Table moving. My tongue is fuzzy, and not in a good way. Who the fuck is laughing out there? I’d swear I just heard someone say the ass-tube wasn’t necessary for this exam. You’d better be fucking kidding!
7:20 am – I just spent the last 20 minutes shitting out white satin paint, and I know I’m not even close to done. I’m walking like I’ve been riding a horse and I can hear a faint squish. Ooohh, that’s not good.
7:50 am – So, my liver looks good. Well, technically, the good Dr. Chako says it looks like shit, but it’s still there, so I’m calling it a wash. Now I’m headed back to Chez Chako for a beer and a nap. Does anyone have some Excedrin?
Squish. Squish. Squish.
And so, the guest post ends almost as soon as it began. Thanks to Al for the experience. I’d don’t think Chez Chako will ever be the same. And, thanks again to Drizz for the cool idea.
Editors Note: Occasionally, I allow other’s to guest post on this here blog. Today’s guest is extra special because we both got something out of it. As a physician, I have a unique perspective into poker, but I rarely need my doctoring skills. Today’s guest needed a favor, and I was happy to comply.
Live blogging the drunk… day at the hospital
6:30 am – What the hell kind of time of day is this? Who the fuck gets up at 4:30 in the morning to go to work? I need a shot of SoCo. If it wasn’t for the free shit, this whole guest-post experiment would have to wait until a more reasonable hour – like noon.
6:35 am – Cute nurses. Hmmm… I may have to hold judgment for a bit.
6:40 am – Cute nurses asking me to undress. Even better.
6:45 am – The CAT scan table is kind of cold, but I’m kinda digging the whole “let’s play doctor thing.” Hey, what’s that tube for?
6:46 am – “You’re gonna put that WHERE?”
6:47 am – Unnnnh. Nnnnnhhhhh. Ggggghhhfffff…. Did you put that barium in the fucking fridge before you squirted it up my ass?! You people are sick!
6:50 am – Whirring noises. Table moving. My tongue is fuzzy, and not in a good way. Who the fuck is laughing out there? I’d swear I just heard someone say the ass-tube wasn’t necessary for this exam. You’d better be fucking kidding!
7:20 am – I just spent the last 20 minutes shitting out white satin paint, and I know I’m not even close to done. I’m walking like I’ve been riding a horse and I can hear a faint squish. Ooohh, that’s not good.
7:50 am – So, my liver looks good. Well, technically, the good Dr. Chako says it looks like shit, but it’s still there, so I’m calling it a wash. Now I’m headed back to Chez Chako for a beer and a nap. Does anyone have some Excedrin?
Squish. Squish. Squish.
And so, the guest post ends almost as soon as it began. Thanks to Al for the experience. I’d don’t think Chez Chako will ever be the same. And, thanks again to Drizz for the cool idea.
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