Open shoved or 3-bet into AA six bloody times last night.
Oh yeah, also auto-folded AA on the button when I ran to take a piss. (Had been raised in mid position, too, aaargh).
Terrible terrible night overall. I'm a donk. Min-cashed in one of the Daily Doubles, but aggro donkish play on my part near the bubble cost me cashes in the Bodog $5R (which I was in to for three rebuys and add-on), and the $6k guarantee.
Came back from having until around 91 chips (from starting stack of 1,500) in a PokerStars HORSE tourney to having nearly 5k, only go again go totally aggro donk on the 3rd round of Razz. My only saving grace there was that it was only a $1.10 MTT.
Ended the night with a very bad attitude, to where the Good Doctor Mondo told me to leave the room and call her when I was in a better mood. Fortunately, airings of Escape from Planet of the Apes and Matrix Reloaded did the trick, those damn dirty pokerapes.
So the downswing continues. On the other hand, I've been doing a better job of reading good spots to open shove with short stacks, and managed to pick up several pots by cowboy-ing up with ATC, so the night wasn't a total loss.
Rehearsal tonight, no poker for the next couple of days...
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
All Quiet on the Blogging Front
Very quiet times, indeed, at least on this lil' page. I suppose I could be writing more, but then, I haven't done anything lately even close to what this luckbox has been scoring. (way to go, btw!). I also haven't quit my job like this donkshover did this week.
Somehow, I believe both of them are sitting in very +EV spots right now.
Anyway, I've only played in one poker event since last Tuesday, and there was absolutely nothing at all worth mentioning on that. I called too many pf raises out of position with small pocket pairs, having forgotten to turn on my setmining boomswitch, and shoved A2 soooted into A9 soooted shortly after first break, when I was already at 1/2 average stack.
Oh yeah, it appears as if I have finally found a new musical outlet. Well, not new, but new to me. They've been playing around Denver on and off for about ten years or so. The outfit's called New Ben Franklins, and it's basically whatever musicians Dave DeVoe puts together for a stretch. After a couple of loose jam rehearsals on some old NBF's material, it seems as if Dave and I are natural musical matches. We also have a drummer who looks to stick; maybe we'll be able to start playing shows in a couple months, but that means less pokering, for certain.
I would describe the New Ben Franklins as some sort of mashup of alt-country with occasional big britpop/shoegaze sensibilities, in terms of things such as effects and phrasing. If you're so inclined, you can check out some earlier recordings here (in particular "Braids" and "Gonna Be Alright", as examples of the weird melding of styles)
Anyway, tonight is Tuesday, which means it is my one real online poker night of the week. No doubt I'll be in the usual Bodog events tonight ($10+1, $20+2, $30+3, $5R), and likely a couple others. I'm going to start sitting out the PLO and Limit O8 events I've been playing at Full Tilt, simply because I'm running so bad in those for the last two months, it feels like I've giving money away.
Maybe I'll live blog if I get bored, or if my beloved Rockies tilt me into turning off the telly tonight. In the meantime, I'm pulling for a trade for Justin Duchscherer, we'll see if it happens or not.
Somehow, I believe both of them are sitting in very +EV spots right now.
Anyway, I've only played in one poker event since last Tuesday, and there was absolutely nothing at all worth mentioning on that. I called too many pf raises out of position with small pocket pairs, having forgotten to turn on my setmining boomswitch, and shoved A2 soooted into A9 soooted shortly after first break, when I was already at 1/2 average stack.
Oh yeah, it appears as if I have finally found a new musical outlet. Well, not new, but new to me. They've been playing around Denver on and off for about ten years or so. The outfit's called New Ben Franklins, and it's basically whatever musicians Dave DeVoe puts together for a stretch. After a couple of loose jam rehearsals on some old NBF's material, it seems as if Dave and I are natural musical matches. We also have a drummer who looks to stick; maybe we'll be able to start playing shows in a couple months, but that means less pokering, for certain.
I would describe the New Ben Franklins as some sort of mashup of alt-country with occasional big britpop/shoegaze sensibilities, in terms of things such as effects and phrasing. If you're so inclined, you can check out some earlier recordings here (in particular "Braids" and "Gonna Be Alright", as examples of the weird melding of styles)
Anyway, tonight is Tuesday, which means it is my one real online poker night of the week. No doubt I'll be in the usual Bodog events tonight ($10+1, $20+2, $30+3, $5R), and likely a couple others. I'm going to start sitting out the PLO and Limit O8 events I've been playing at Full Tilt, simply because I'm running so bad in those for the last two months, it feels like I've giving money away.
Maybe I'll live blog if I get bored, or if my beloved Rockies tilt me into turning off the telly tonight. In the meantime, I'm pulling for a trade for Justin Duchscherer, we'll see if it happens or not.
Friday, July 25, 2008
In All Cereusness
Who'd a thunk it? The cheating weasels* over at Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet have decided to truly combine their estimable powers and talents to rape honest players of even more money.
New AbsoluteFraud and UltimateTheft platform
Here's the best part of the story:
CEREUS: a new poker platform that will integrate the customers and features from both poker rooms, instantly making CEREUS the third largest online poker network.
So that means they're bringing the superusers with them! S'awes. Shine that pig up some more now, why don't ya.
Thanks, Falstaff, for bringing this to our attention. You're absolutely correct -- the real reason behind this move would seem to be nothing more than a shallow attempt to leave the names behind. And yet, the online poker community is simply far too bright (even if often arrogant and degenerate) to fall for this garbage.
Of course, there will be a few naive money grabbers who will sign up with anyone for a cheap buck, at the expense of your good reputation. Yeah, Tiffany Michelle, I'm looking at you....don't spend that two day endorsement money all in one place, cereusly.
*I don't wish to disrespect weasels by lumping them in with absolutely fradulent ultimately thieving online sites.
New AbsoluteFraud and UltimateTheft platform
Here's the best part of the story:
CEREUS: a new poker platform that will integrate the customers and features from both poker rooms, instantly making CEREUS the third largest online poker network.
So that means they're bringing the superusers with them! S'awes. Shine that pig up some more now, why don't ya.
Thanks, Falstaff, for bringing this to our attention. You're absolutely correct -- the real reason behind this move would seem to be nothing more than a shallow attempt to leave the names behind. And yet, the online poker community is simply far too bright (even if often arrogant and degenerate) to fall for this garbage.
Of course, there will be a few naive money grabbers who will sign up with anyone for a cheap buck, at the expense of your good reputation. Yeah, Tiffany Michelle, I'm looking at you....don't spend that two day endorsement money all in one place, cereusly.
*I don't wish to disrespect weasels by lumping them in with absolutely fradulent ultimately thieving online sites.
Giving the Candidates Equal Time
In the spirit of countering the alleged liberal media bias:
I wonder how many of those pill bottles are Viagra?
Rhetorical question, if the media is so biased to the left, why is it that the most well-known blowhards on the air, with the largest claimed audiences, are almost universally far right wing xenophobic fear-mongers and/or racists (Rush, O'Reilly, Hannity)? They're every bit as much "media", and yet they're the ones whining the most about perceived bias.
No, the only bias there is in the media is a bias against hate-filled vitriolic bile.
Enough ranting for now -- just wanted to give the other extreme their alloted time, and such...
I wonder how many of those pill bottles are Viagra?
Rhetorical question, if the media is so biased to the left, why is it that the most well-known blowhards on the air, with the largest claimed audiences, are almost universally far right wing xenophobic fear-mongers and/or racists (Rush, O'Reilly, Hannity)? They're every bit as much "media", and yet they're the ones whining the most about perceived bias.
No, the only bias there is in the media is a bias against hate-filled vitriolic bile.
Enough ranting for now -- just wanted to give the other extreme their alloted time, and such...
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Tuesday Recap
Ended up final tabling two tourneys last night. In one, I couldn't win a race against chipleader, after previously making a marginal fold to a bluff by the same player (folded AQdd on a rainbow ten-high board when chipleader shoved, and he showed KJhh. Nice bet, sir. He'd raised to 12k preflop, I repopped it from the button to 40k and he smooth called and shoved the flop. I was new to his table and hadn't seen how often he was bluffing, and didn't have the read to call in that spot.
In retrospect, I probably could have called correctly. The only hand that really worried me was AK, because I wasn't sure he'd 4-bet that preflop, but AK probably doesn't shove there -- and the board was so raggy that the only way he connects there is if he flops a set, and he's not open shoving that flop with a set, most likely.
Anyway, I ended up 3-bet shoving AQo from the big blind around 5-6 hands into final table, and the same player called with 88, and I got no help.
The one kinda cool part of this tourney is this...at one point, down to about 100 players or so, there were four of us playing at one table, and all chatting it up pretty freely. Well, that table eventually broke, but three of that four ended up at final table (and the 4th person ended up going out 10th). I don't think I'd ever been part of something like that where some of us playing at the same table long before final table all ended up getting there.
Oh yea, the other final table -- that was another $3 turbo double shootout for a seat in Full Tilt's $750k. The seat's worth $216. Only 4 spots pay in these $3 turbo double shootouts...one gets the seat, the others get from $4-13 in leftover prizes. I went out 3rd when I got 3-outed on the river.
Ordinarily, I might tilt like a mofo, cashing for $8 two spots away from $216 (I would have taken the $Ts, as $216 would raise my roll instantly by 60% on that site at this time....). But as I mentioned last night, I truly was untiltable, and wasn't even bothered. Maybe because I only got that far by catching two-outers twice at my first table to go from short stack to dominant leader....
I still ended up down on the night, because in my normal Bodog poker events, I couldn't catch a break. On the few times I hit flops, I got 2-, 3-, and 4- outed repeatedly, and lost 2x as much in tourney buy-ins as I made at the JokerStars final table. Oh well. I'll get them back next week.
And the Good Doctor Mondo's luggage finally arrived, all intact! What do you know, good things DO happen to good people.
Ciao
In retrospect, I probably could have called correctly. The only hand that really worried me was AK, because I wasn't sure he'd 4-bet that preflop, but AK probably doesn't shove there -- and the board was so raggy that the only way he connects there is if he flops a set, and he's not open shoving that flop with a set, most likely.
Anyway, I ended up 3-bet shoving AQo from the big blind around 5-6 hands into final table, and the same player called with 88, and I got no help.
The one kinda cool part of this tourney is this...at one point, down to about 100 players or so, there were four of us playing at one table, and all chatting it up pretty freely. Well, that table eventually broke, but three of that four ended up at final table (and the 4th person ended up going out 10th). I don't think I'd ever been part of something like that where some of us playing at the same table long before final table all ended up getting there.
Oh yea, the other final table -- that was another $3 turbo double shootout for a seat in Full Tilt's $750k. The seat's worth $216. Only 4 spots pay in these $3 turbo double shootouts...one gets the seat, the others get from $4-13 in leftover prizes. I went out 3rd when I got 3-outed on the river.
Ordinarily, I might tilt like a mofo, cashing for $8 two spots away from $216 (I would have taken the $Ts, as $216 would raise my roll instantly by 60% on that site at this time....). But as I mentioned last night, I truly was untiltable, and wasn't even bothered. Maybe because I only got that far by catching two-outers twice at my first table to go from short stack to dominant leader....
I still ended up down on the night, because in my normal Bodog poker events, I couldn't catch a break. On the few times I hit flops, I got 2-, 3-, and 4- outed repeatedly, and lost 2x as much in tourney buy-ins as I made at the JokerStars final table. Oh well. I'll get them back next week.
And the Good Doctor Mondo's luggage finally arrived, all intact! What do you know, good things DO happen to good people.
Ciao
Now This Is What I Call A Party
Pauly, we're speechless. Truly. I'm stunned. I was just getting to blog a bit about my marvelous Nantucket vodka experience, when I came across Waffle's pimpage of the one of a kind Tao of Poker 5th birthday celebration.
I don't know any way to embellish the good news of the event any better than the fine gentleman behind it, so I'll let his words speak for themselves (and if you want to set up a PokerStars account for the occasion, please click the link so that Pauly gets proper credit, or just to to his site and click the link from there):
The Tao of Poker turns five in August. I never would have envisioned what has transpired the last five years. It's been an incredible and amazing run. I've met several sensational people through Tao of Poker, stumbled into a career as a poker writer, and traveled the world.
And of course, none of that would have been possible without you... the reader.
In order to celebrate the Tao of Poker's fifth birthday, I'm throwing a private tournament on PokerStars with an interesting twist... the first place finisher will also win two nights at the Borgata Hotel & Spa in Atlantic City and they will also gain an entry into a $5,000 buy-in NL tournament during the Borgata Poker Open on September 12th.
That's my way of saying... "Thanks for the support over the last five years."
I'm not joking. $5,000 seat plus two nights in my favorite casino in Atlantic City. All you have to do is win the Tao of Poker birthday tournament. Entry is just $5. Tournament ID is #97513073. Tournament name is Tao Poker 5th B-Day.
Seriously. For $5 you get a chance at winning a $5,000 seat at the Borgata Poker Open plus two nights in the hotel. That tournament is on Friday, September 12th starting at 11am.
Here are the specific details...
1. Tao of Poker birthday tournament is open to all readers.
2. No chops whatsoever for the Borgata Package ($5,000 seat + two nights).
3. The 5K seat is a must play.... meaning you cannot take the cash. You have to play the event on September 12th.
4. Package does not include transportation. You have to find your own way to Atlantic City. So if you live in Sweden and win the seat, you are responsible for airfare.
5. Most importantly... have fun.
I should clarify something... there will be normal prize money. The Borgata Package is in addition to the regular prize pool. So the first place winner has a shot at a decent payday in addition to a $5,000 seat and two nights at the Borgata.
The Tao of Poker birthday tournament will feature some of your favorite bloggers and Tao of Poker characters from past, present, and future. Perhaps even a pro or two might show up.
Mark your calendars. August 5th. 9pm ET. PokerStars. Tao of Poker 5th Birthday Celebration. One faithful Tao of Poker reader will walk away with a $5,000 seat to a Borgata Poker Open tournament plus two nights in the swanky Borgata Hotel & Spa which has the most comfortable beds in the world.
Click here for more information on the Borgata Poker Open starting September 3rd. And yes, I'll be covering the entire tournament series (including the 5K event) for the Borgata poker blog with Friedman and Tropical Steve.
Personally, I think the very best part of this is the "must play" nature of the prize. There's nothing worse than putting up a once in a lifetime opportunity, only to see folks take the cash instead, like what happened in the Bodog Blogger Tournament series, where the champion was 10,000 miles away from the Main Event. That still leaves a bad taste in my mouth, as I know many of us dream just for once chance to actually play in an event like this.
Anyway, I'm going to try my damndest to be there, how about you?
As for the best vodka I've ever tasted --- I suppose that's a subject for tomorrow.
I don't know any way to embellish the good news of the event any better than the fine gentleman behind it, so I'll let his words speak for themselves (and if you want to set up a PokerStars account for the occasion, please click the link so that Pauly gets proper credit, or just to to his site and click the link from there):
The Tao of Poker turns five in August. I never would have envisioned what has transpired the last five years. It's been an incredible and amazing run. I've met several sensational people through Tao of Poker, stumbled into a career as a poker writer, and traveled the world.
And of course, none of that would have been possible without you... the reader.
In order to celebrate the Tao of Poker's fifth birthday, I'm throwing a private tournament on PokerStars with an interesting twist... the first place finisher will also win two nights at the Borgata Hotel & Spa in Atlantic City and they will also gain an entry into a $5,000 buy-in NL tournament during the Borgata Poker Open on September 12th.
That's my way of saying... "Thanks for the support over the last five years."
I'm not joking. $5,000 seat plus two nights in my favorite casino in Atlantic City. All you have to do is win the Tao of Poker birthday tournament. Entry is just $5. Tournament ID is #97513073. Tournament name is Tao Poker 5th B-Day.
Seriously. For $5 you get a chance at winning a $5,000 seat at the Borgata Poker Open plus two nights in the hotel. That tournament is on Friday, September 12th starting at 11am.
Here are the specific details...
1. Tao of Poker birthday tournament is open to all readers.
2. No chops whatsoever for the Borgata Package ($5,000 seat + two nights).
3. The 5K seat is a must play.... meaning you cannot take the cash. You have to play the event on September 12th.
4. Package does not include transportation. You have to find your own way to Atlantic City. So if you live in Sweden and win the seat, you are responsible for airfare.
5. Most importantly... have fun.
I should clarify something... there will be normal prize money. The Borgata Package is in addition to the regular prize pool. So the first place winner has a shot at a decent payday in addition to a $5,000 seat and two nights at the Borgata.
The Tao of Poker birthday tournament will feature some of your favorite bloggers and Tao of Poker characters from past, present, and future. Perhaps even a pro or two might show up.
Mark your calendars. August 5th. 9pm ET. PokerStars. Tao of Poker 5th Birthday Celebration. One faithful Tao of Poker reader will walk away with a $5,000 seat to a Borgata Poker Open tournament plus two nights in the swanky Borgata Hotel & Spa which has the most comfortable beds in the world.
Click here for more information on the Borgata Poker Open starting September 3rd. And yes, I'll be covering the entire tournament series (including the 5K event) for the Borgata poker blog with Friedman and Tropical Steve.
Personally, I think the very best part of this is the "must play" nature of the prize. There's nothing worse than putting up a once in a lifetime opportunity, only to see folks take the cash instead, like what happened in the Bodog Blogger Tournament series, where the champion was 10,000 miles away from the Main Event. That still leaves a bad taste in my mouth, as I know many of us dream just for once chance to actually play in an event like this.
Anyway, I'm going to try my damndest to be there, how about you?
As for the best vodka I've ever tasted --- I suppose that's a subject for tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
An Unscientific Study
On the effect of a week on the beach in Nantucket, sans computer, on one's poker game...
Well, on the soul, the effect is amazing. Of course, there's more fish in a single $5k 10+1 MTT on Bodog than even swimming around Nantucket Island, which is why my button 3-bet shove got called by K9 offsuit out of position, and my flop shove got called by the same K9o holding nothing but one over to the board and a gutshot(preflop), only to get rivered by the gutshot (which naturally, hit on the river...which I should probably call ocean for tonight).
Funny thing is, I don't have the first ounce of tilt in me. Nantucket is s'awes.
Now that I'm back, we'll see how the poker games treat me, but I've never felt as at ease in life as I do right now (the near calamitous near miss flying into Denver aside, that is). Fun times when you're on final approach, and mere few hundred feet above the runway when you have to make an emergency pullup because a plane taking off in front of you didn't clear the runway. The pilots did a great job, though...sadly, the baggage handlers weren't at the same level of capability, as nobody knows where the hell the Good Doctor Mondo's luggage is. Fortunately, everything that mattered was in the carry-on.
Now my SB 4.8x big blind squeeze raise got called by K9s and get this...K8o, and my pocket tens were no g00t, obviously. I can see that I'm not going to win a thing tonight, but I'm collecting lots of notes on fish! And yet, still no tilt. Why? Well, the shirt says it all...
Well, on the soul, the effect is amazing. Of course, there's more fish in a single $5k 10+1 MTT on Bodog than even swimming around Nantucket Island, which is why my button 3-bet shove got called by K9 offsuit out of position, and my flop shove got called by the same K9o holding nothing but one over to the board and a gutshot(preflop), only to get rivered by the gutshot (which naturally, hit on the river...which I should probably call ocean for tonight).
Funny thing is, I don't have the first ounce of tilt in me. Nantucket is s'awes.
Now that I'm back, we'll see how the poker games treat me, but I've never felt as at ease in life as I do right now (the near calamitous near miss flying into Denver aside, that is). Fun times when you're on final approach, and mere few hundred feet above the runway when you have to make an emergency pullup because a plane taking off in front of you didn't clear the runway. The pilots did a great job, though...sadly, the baggage handlers weren't at the same level of capability, as nobody knows where the hell the Good Doctor Mondo's luggage is. Fortunately, everything that mattered was in the carry-on.
Now my SB 4.8x big blind squeeze raise got called by K9s and get this...K8o, and my pocket tens were no g00t, obviously. I can see that I'm not going to win a thing tonight, but I'm collecting lots of notes on fish! And yet, still no tilt. Why? Well, the shirt says it all...
Sunday, July 13, 2008
And.......It's Done
From Pokernews:
Jamal Sawaqdeh Eliminated in 74th Place ($77,200)
Jamal Sawaqdeh limped in before Jamal Kunbuz raised it up to 125,000. Chris Crilly flat called in the small blind as did Sawaqdeh.
The flop came {7-Hearts}{6-Spades}{4-Diamonds} and Crilly moved all in for about 775,000. Sawaqdeh called for his tournament life, and Kunbuz, who covered both players, also made the call.
Kunbuz: {A-Hearts}{A-Clubs}
Crilly: {10-Spades}{10-Clubs}
Sawaqdeh: {5-Hearts}{5-Clubs}
The turn was the {10-Diamonds} to give Crilly a two-outer and the river was the {K-Hearts} as Sawaqdeh is eliminated in 74th place.
Congratulations, Jamal, you did us all proud!
Now, does anyone else think it just a bit odd that with only 75 left in the Main Event, there's two guys named Jamal?
Jamal Sawaqdeh Eliminated in 74th Place ($77,200)
Jamal Sawaqdeh limped in before Jamal Kunbuz raised it up to 125,000. Chris Crilly flat called in the small blind as did Sawaqdeh.
The flop came {7-Hearts}{6-Spades}{4-Diamonds} and Crilly moved all in for about 775,000. Sawaqdeh called for his tournament life, and Kunbuz, who covered both players, also made the call.
Kunbuz: {A-Hearts}{A-Clubs}
Crilly: {10-Spades}{10-Clubs}
Sawaqdeh: {5-Hearts}{5-Clubs}
The turn was the {10-Diamonds} to give Crilly a two-outer and the river was the {K-Hearts} as Sawaqdeh is eliminated in 74th place.
Congratulations, Jamal, you did us all proud!
Now, does anyone else think it just a bit odd that with only 75 left in the Main Event, there's two guys named Jamal?
Magic in the Number Ocho
Day 6 - Jamal Sawaqdeh coming in with 888,000 chips.
You go, you crazy sumbitch, you go!
The celebrations in Blackhawk should be starting just...about...now.
I'm finally sold on the 90 day break between getting to the final table and playing it out, if only for the idea that Jamal can be coming home a conquering hero for a few months, which I find kinda cool.
Headed to Nantucket tomorrow morning, and I may actually try to get some poker in today, since I've not played since Tuesday, and won't be back until next Tuesday....
You go, you crazy sumbitch, you go!
The celebrations in Blackhawk should be starting just...about...now.
I'm finally sold on the 90 day break between getting to the final table and playing it out, if only for the idea that Jamal can be coming home a conquering hero for a few months, which I find kinda cool.
Headed to Nantucket tomorrow morning, and I may actually try to get some poker in today, since I've not played since Tuesday, and won't be back until next Tuesday....
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Will He Be the Conquering Hero?
I've been tracking Jamal, Blackhawk's golden boy, through the first four days of the main event. Went to bed early-ish last night, and didn't know whether or not he'd still be around, but BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Yup. Going into Day 5, Jamal's sitting 24th in chips, at just a bit under 1.3 million. Last I'd seen he was at about 300k, so the poker gods over yesterday evening and last night were truly most kind to his stack.
Oddly enough, going back through the live reporting, I have yet to find any mention of Jamal. This would appear to be a very good thing, as he is apparently flying way under the radar. Keep it up, and GO GO GO!
Yup. Going into Day 5, Jamal's sitting 24th in chips, at just a bit under 1.3 million. Last I'd seen he was at about 300k, so the poker gods over yesterday evening and last night were truly most kind to his stack.
Oddly enough, going back through the live reporting, I have yet to find any mention of Jamal. This would appear to be a very good thing, as he is apparently flying way under the radar. Keep it up, and GO GO GO!
Friday, July 11, 2008
There Once Was A Donk In Nantucket
There once was a Mondo in Nantucket
Who carried his chips in a bucket.
He donked them one day
To someone who can't play...
'till he finally just said, "poker? oh fuck it".
That's right, kids...off to Nantucket on Monday for a week of crab, lobster, beaches, the definitive Keith Moon biography, and most likely not a single hand of online poker.
Hell, I may not even bring my laptop, though I probably should.
Who carried his chips in a bucket.
He donked them one day
To someone who can't play...
'till he finally just said, "poker? oh fuck it".
That's right, kids...off to Nantucket on Monday for a week of crab, lobster, beaches, the definitive Keith Moon biography, and most likely not a single hand of online poker.
Hell, I may not even bring my laptop, though I probably should.
Why Do Hookers Love the 2008 Main Event?
....perhaps more than any other year?
That's easy. The Blogfather's made it to the mobnies. Yup, everyone's favorite poker midget widget rode his short stack to the cash, and he's still riding it hard. Hookers in the IP Geisha Bar are already lining up to buy second homes. By Saturday, at least one or two will be at the Maserati dealership.
Going into Day 4, Iggy's still on a shortish but growing stack, but would he really want it any different? Anyway, he's still got plenty of play left, and a great story is brewing. Go go go, Iggy, go go go!
Jamal, whom I mentioned yesterday, is also still alive, and with 201,000 chips, he's actually in fairly decent shape. Considering he's completely free-rolling the Main Event, it's all gravy. Oddly enough, his chip count wasn't even listed at the end of play last night, but then, no one knows him. They will soon -- Jamal's a great ambassador for Blackhawk poker, even if the $5 max betting limit pretty much pisses away all the goodwill.... Go go go, Jamal, go go go!
In other news, I had my informal hang with The New Ben Franklins last night, and we're getting together to jam on Saturday. Got a real good vibe about the guys, and we seem to have common ground, musically and otherwise. High hopes for this bunch -- they made some interesting music back in the day, and I would like to be part of their re-entry into the Denver music scene. However, the proof is in being able to actually play *together*, so much more to be learned tomorrow.
UPDATE: Sad to say, Iggy's out -- fought hard, and I think he even moved up one payout slot. But it's early in the day, so the Spearmint Rhino's getting ready for his grand entrance. Jamal, on the other hand, had nearly doubled up today, and was firmly in mid-pack, but took a hit and is now short (250k) with 363 remaining...
That's easy. The Blogfather's made it to the mobnies. Yup, everyone's favorite poker midget widget rode his short stack to the cash, and he's still riding it hard. Hookers in the IP Geisha Bar are already lining up to buy second homes. By Saturday, at least one or two will be at the Maserati dealership.
Going into Day 4, Iggy's still on a shortish but growing stack, but would he really want it any different? Anyway, he's still got plenty of play left, and a great story is brewing. Go go go, Iggy, go go go!
Jamal, whom I mentioned yesterday, is also still alive, and with 201,000 chips, he's actually in fairly decent shape. Considering he's completely free-rolling the Main Event, it's all gravy. Oddly enough, his chip count wasn't even listed at the end of play last night, but then, no one knows him. They will soon -- Jamal's a great ambassador for Blackhawk poker, even if the $5 max betting limit pretty much pisses away all the goodwill.... Go go go, Jamal, go go go!
In other news, I had my informal hang with The New Ben Franklins last night, and we're getting together to jam on Saturday. Got a real good vibe about the guys, and we seem to have common ground, musically and otherwise. High hopes for this bunch -- they made some interesting music back in the day, and I would like to be part of their re-entry into the Denver music scene. However, the proof is in being able to actually play *together*, so much more to be learned tomorrow.
UPDATE: Sad to say, Iggy's out -- fought hard, and I think he even moved up one payout slot. But it's early in the day, so the Spearmint Rhino's getting ready for his grand entrance. Jamal, on the other hand, had nearly doubled up today, and was firmly in mid-pack, but took a hit and is now short (250k) with 363 remaining...
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Go Go Go!!!
Go, to you, Iggy -- pump those lil' legs deep into the mad poker mobnies!
And go, to you, Jamal -- represent the Colorado mountain casinos well. Jamal, the ultimate lucksack, who wins his main event buy-in via a drawing at the Gilpin, and who's already won one bad beat jackpot worth near $100k this year. You're a damn good player nonetheless, and every donk here in the Rockies is railing you. Take it down. Preferably HU versus Iggy.
Maybe Phil Hellmuth will shave his scalp again. Or better, yet, clean up the cheaters at Ultimate Fraud.
Now that would blow ESPN's mind, eh?
Iggy's at about 85k, and Jamal's at 152k.
No news on the poker front for me any time soon.
Meeting a dude about a band tonight. If I don't get river three-outed by cruel band fate, I may have just finally found my next project -- a reforming band that was a pretty cool part of Denver's scene back in the 90s, and a sort of blend of britpop and alt-country. Cool.
And go, to you, Jamal -- represent the Colorado mountain casinos well. Jamal, the ultimate lucksack, who wins his main event buy-in via a drawing at the Gilpin, and who's already won one bad beat jackpot worth near $100k this year. You're a damn good player nonetheless, and every donk here in the Rockies is railing you. Take it down. Preferably HU versus Iggy.
Maybe Phil Hellmuth will shave his scalp again. Or better, yet, clean up the cheaters at Ultimate Fraud.
Now that would blow ESPN's mind, eh?
Iggy's at about 85k, and Jamal's at 152k.
No news on the poker front for me any time soon.
Meeting a dude about a band tonight. If I don't get river three-outed by cruel band fate, I may have just finally found my next project -- a reforming band that was a pretty cool part of Denver's scene back in the 90s, and a sort of blend of britpop and alt-country. Cool.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Please, Sir, Can I Have Some More?
Kicks in the balls, that is. Gack.
Bodog $30+3, down to about 28, with 18 paid, and I'm a bit under average stack, probably around 16th-20th in chips. Folds to me in small blind, raise up the A9hh...flop 863, with two hearts. Bet 2/3rds of pot. Big blind re-raises enough to put me all in, calling off 3/4 of his stack in the process (he had me covered by a bit). Folding here leaves me an M of about 3.5, so I call. He flips up T4hh. Really? Really?? Shove the ten high flush draw? Flat call a 2.5x preflop raise with T4hh?
Obviously, he hits the 4 of spades on the river to knock me out with the well known SPSK hand. (aka "Shit pair, shitkicker" for those who live too close to the Red River)
I well and truly hope that fucker's name was Oliver, because he plays poker like a shit-eating prat.
Of course, I could have shoved PF, but 1) every time I shove a mid sooted ace preflop the BB nearly always wakes up to AA, KK, or AK...2) existing solely on a "shove or fold"...ahem..."strategy" is weak ass shit...and 3) what the fuck is wrong with being able to outplay someone post-flop?
Still, it's obvious that more and more players are moving over fro JokerStars to play poker at Bodog. How can I tell? Because the quality of play at my usual Bodog MTTs has gone way downhill the last few weeks, and you see plays at $30 and $50 buy-ins that would look just as fishy in a $1.10 SNG.
Bodog $30+3, down to about 28, with 18 paid, and I'm a bit under average stack, probably around 16th-20th in chips. Folds to me in small blind, raise up the A9hh...flop 863, with two hearts. Bet 2/3rds of pot. Big blind re-raises enough to put me all in, calling off 3/4 of his stack in the process (he had me covered by a bit). Folding here leaves me an M of about 3.5, so I call. He flips up T4hh. Really? Really?? Shove the ten high flush draw? Flat call a 2.5x preflop raise with T4hh?
Obviously, he hits the 4 of spades on the river to knock me out with the well known SPSK hand. (aka "Shit pair, shitkicker" for those who live too close to the Red River)
I well and truly hope that fucker's name was Oliver, because he plays poker like a shit-eating prat.
Of course, I could have shoved PF, but 1) every time I shove a mid sooted ace preflop the BB nearly always wakes up to AA, KK, or AK...2) existing solely on a "shove or fold"...ahem..."strategy" is weak ass shit...and 3) what the fuck is wrong with being able to outplay someone post-flop?
Still, it's obvious that more and more players are moving over fro JokerStars to play poker at Bodog. How can I tell? Because the quality of play at my usual Bodog MTTs has gone way downhill the last few weeks, and you see plays at $30 and $50 buy-ins that would look just as fishy in a $1.10 SNG.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Hot (or Not) Blogger Action
Not much time for blogging these days, as we're in full trial prep mode on a case that's been going on since 2004...or a full year before I even joined the firm. The long haul is almost over (fingers crossed), but 95% of the work comes during the last 5% of time. There's witness binders, exhibit indexes, exhibits, demonstratives, about a million little things, and trial doesn't start for another five weeks.
Anyway, it's a piss-poor excuse, but since I often blog during my lunch hour, and I now work during my lunch hour...oh well. I'm hopeful that some very recent developments may put settlement back on the horizon, as I'm most definitely not looking forward to spending five weeks in Toledo, Ohio. Toledo sucks. Hard. (If you're from Toledo and reading this, I'm sorry. Not for the comment, but sorry you live in Toledo...)
That hasn't completely stopped me from online poker, however. Managed to get in a few hours on Sunday, after I spent most of the day coding documents. Donking it up wasn't the smartest thing to do, relationship-wise, and I am actually sorry I did now. It wasn't really fair to the Good Doctor, but after having worked about 15 hours over the 4th of July weekend, I wanted a reward...we were just thinking different rewards, is all, and I feel a bit bad I chose the way I did.
That said, it was a pretty damn good night at the tables. Made two final tables (one at FTP, one at Bodog), picked up about 12-15 bounties in a KO, cashed in the $32k, and cashed in four of nine events overall (including the two finals). It could have been a lot better, as I came into one of the final tables 3rd in chips, and went out 5th, and came into the other 3rd, and went out 8th. However, in that tourney (the $3.30 KO MTT), I was a card rack for two hours, and utterly card dead once the final table started. Shoved A6 into AK, oh well.
But overall, very nice. I'm still burned up over the Stars $3R, where I nursed a shortish stack for 90 minutes, and then built up, only to go out when AQ < 87sooted, when runner runner 78 turn/river cracked my top pair flop. I'd shoved AIPF from cutoff with about 10BB. That would have given me average stack about 400 from cash (3600 entered). Why a slightly above avg stack calls off all their chips with 87 soooted in that spot is beyond me, but I didn't mind it after the flop...such is life.
Anyway, I did manage to add to the roll a wee bit...could have been so much better, but a good night nonetheless...except for the toll of hurting the Good Doctor Mondo's feelings. For that, I am truly sorry.
Anyway, it's a piss-poor excuse, but since I often blog during my lunch hour, and I now work during my lunch hour...oh well. I'm hopeful that some very recent developments may put settlement back on the horizon, as I'm most definitely not looking forward to spending five weeks in Toledo, Ohio. Toledo sucks. Hard. (If you're from Toledo and reading this, I'm sorry. Not for the comment, but sorry you live in Toledo...)
That hasn't completely stopped me from online poker, however. Managed to get in a few hours on Sunday, after I spent most of the day coding documents. Donking it up wasn't the smartest thing to do, relationship-wise, and I am actually sorry I did now. It wasn't really fair to the Good Doctor, but after having worked about 15 hours over the 4th of July weekend, I wanted a reward...we were just thinking different rewards, is all, and I feel a bit bad I chose the way I did.
That said, it was a pretty damn good night at the tables. Made two final tables (one at FTP, one at Bodog), picked up about 12-15 bounties in a KO, cashed in the $32k, and cashed in four of nine events overall (including the two finals). It could have been a lot better, as I came into one of the final tables 3rd in chips, and went out 5th, and came into the other 3rd, and went out 8th. However, in that tourney (the $3.30 KO MTT), I was a card rack for two hours, and utterly card dead once the final table started. Shoved A6 into AK, oh well.
But overall, very nice. I'm still burned up over the Stars $3R, where I nursed a shortish stack for 90 minutes, and then built up, only to go out when AQ < 87sooted, when runner runner 78 turn/river cracked my top pair flop. I'd shoved AIPF from cutoff with about 10BB. That would have given me average stack about 400 from cash (3600 entered). Why a slightly above avg stack calls off all their chips with 87 soooted in that spot is beyond me, but I didn't mind it after the flop...such is life.
Anyway, I did manage to add to the roll a wee bit...could have been so much better, but a good night nonetheless...except for the toll of hurting the Good Doctor Mondo's feelings. For that, I am truly sorry.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Alpha Beta Bodog's Great-a
Thanks to the software junkies over at my favorite site to play poker online!
Bodog Poker is happy to announce to poker players everywhere the most secure and enjoyable online gaming experience possible with the release of their new and improved, resizable beta client for public testing.
This newest version features full screen mode, resizable tables, embedded chat and game details and on-demand player tools. Download the Bodog Poker Beta for Free.
With every update, each beta version of the Bodog Poker client can be run independently, giving players the ability to choose between the established and beta clients during each session. That means you can try the beta client risk-free!
These new features are just another step in Bodog's on-going online poker evolution. Players can look forward to much more in the future.
Here’s what the Bodog poker player gets with the new and improved beta version:
* full screen mode
* RESIZEABLE WINDOWS! (that's huge)
* embedded chat and game details
* on demand player tools - chat game details, stats, notes, profiles, tournament details
Anyway, if you like to play poker online as much as I do, you owe it to yourself to give Bodog's new beta-client a try.
Bodog Poker is happy to announce to poker players everywhere the most secure and enjoyable online gaming experience possible with the release of their new and improved, resizable beta client for public testing.
This newest version features full screen mode, resizable tables, embedded chat and game details and on-demand player tools. Download the Bodog Poker Beta for Free.
With every update, each beta version of the Bodog Poker client can be run independently, giving players the ability to choose between the established and beta clients during each session. That means you can try the beta client risk-free!
These new features are just another step in Bodog's on-going online poker evolution. Players can look forward to much more in the future.
Here’s what the Bodog poker player gets with the new and improved beta version:
* full screen mode
* RESIZEABLE WINDOWS! (that's huge)
* embedded chat and game details
* on demand player tools - chat game details, stats, notes, profiles, tournament details
Anyway, if you like to play poker online as much as I do, you owe it to yourself to give Bodog's new beta-client a try.
Halfway Home
Well, we're right about halfway through 2K8, that is. How's your year? I'm still trying to figure out mine. That said, it seems a good time to take a look back at the goalish looking poker non-goals I set for myself for this year. I say "non-goals", because I pretty much came up zeros last year when it comes to quantitative performance measures. So, let's have a look, shall we?
a. Blog more. This is a blog. It is meant to be used. And abused. And used some more. Blog it. Just do it.
Okay, I guess you can say I've fulfilled that target. Coming into 2008, I'd never written more than a grand total of 24 blog posts in a year. Eeshk. These days, I'm writing nearly 24 a month, and it feels good. Damn good. Target acquired, objective met.
b. Play a few bloggerments. There was once I time when I was a fairly regular participant in the Mookie. I would really like to do so again. However, this will require a re-up at Full Tilt. Especially if I want to join these guys, too.
That's one horse I've gotten back up on, thanks in no small part to my partners over at FlopTurnRiver (thanks!) and also, my otherwise favorite site to play poker online out there.
FlopTurnRiver's partnership essentially gave me the starting roll I needed to get back into FTP bloggerments, and jump in I have. It's been a blast playing the Skillz series nearly every week, and recently, taking part in NYRambler's games. I've even managed to run deep, taking a 2nd and 3rd in the Skillz games.
I never made it to the Mookie or Riverchasers events, but I'm hopeful that will change in the latter half of the year. Nevertheless, I think I can say Target acquired, objective met.
c. Play the $mokkee over at Bodog. I downloaded and deposited over there for the explicit purpose of it. I won't exactly plug his tourney yet, when there's others already gettin' paid to do it, but there's a real nice T$ overlay factor, and the fields are both talented and small.
The best part (and yet still so damn frustrating) may have been playing the recently-completed Bodog Blogger Tournament series. Seriously, those were the most fun structures I've ever seen in the bloggerments -- but I failed to take down any of the juicy overlays or make it to the 2-table final tournament. But that's all on my shoulders, no one else's. Once again, Target acquired, objective met.
d. Write more reviews. This is actually a non-poker goal, as it involves writing more for Westword. Last year, I freelanced a bit of music writing for them, and enjoy it. I'd like to do more this year than I did last year, especially since I've had fuckall luck actually finding a new band to join myself.
Okay, I couldn't have whiffed on this one any more if I had tried. Mostly because I've been too busy blogging, I guess? That could be a cop out, but at any rate, I shot that wad Way Off-target. More so, it doesn't appear as if they'll be needing my services any time soon.
What's almost interesting is that, even though I dumped certain unmet goals from previous years, I ended up meeting them. I finally took down a couple of sizeable MTTs (not Lucko or LJ-sized), but regularly scheduled MTTs drawing between 200-300 players. That felt awesome. Made it out to the summer un-official blogger gathering. That felt a bit less awesome, because everyone sort of fractured into multiple weekends this year, to coincide with specific WSOP events. Best of all was cashing in the Caesars Mega Stack series. That was sweet, because it was a) my largest live field ever, and b) my largest buy-in ever.
Came into this year with probably under $150 online total, and am now sorta-reasonably comfortable with about $1600 to fund my buy-ins. Of course, probably half of that is thanks directly to my advertising partners, but it's nice to not have had to deposit anything this year (yet).
So 2008 is really going pretty well. For the most part, poker has treated me pretty well. There have been lots of ruts, I'm still occasionally having to work on tilt-management, and there's still plenty I'd like to do, all in all, poker's been a faithful, if temperamental, friend this year.
a. Blog more. This is a blog. It is meant to be used. And abused. And used some more. Blog it. Just do it.
Okay, I guess you can say I've fulfilled that target. Coming into 2008, I'd never written more than a grand total of 24 blog posts in a year. Eeshk. These days, I'm writing nearly 24 a month, and it feels good. Damn good. Target acquired, objective met.
b. Play a few bloggerments. There was once I time when I was a fairly regular participant in the Mookie. I would really like to do so again. However, this will require a re-up at Full Tilt. Especially if I want to join these guys, too.
That's one horse I've gotten back up on, thanks in no small part to my partners over at FlopTurnRiver (thanks!) and also, my otherwise favorite site to play poker online out there.
FlopTurnRiver's partnership essentially gave me the starting roll I needed to get back into FTP bloggerments, and jump in I have. It's been a blast playing the Skillz series nearly every week, and recently, taking part in NYRambler's games. I've even managed to run deep, taking a 2nd and 3rd in the Skillz games.
I never made it to the Mookie or Riverchasers events, but I'm hopeful that will change in the latter half of the year. Nevertheless, I think I can say Target acquired, objective met.
c. Play the $mokkee over at Bodog. I downloaded and deposited over there for the explicit purpose of it. I won't exactly plug his tourney yet, when there's others already gettin' paid to do it, but there's a real nice T$ overlay factor, and the fields are both talented and small.
The best part (and yet still so damn frustrating) may have been playing the recently-completed Bodog Blogger Tournament series. Seriously, those were the most fun structures I've ever seen in the bloggerments -- but I failed to take down any of the juicy overlays or make it to the 2-table final tournament. But that's all on my shoulders, no one else's. Once again, Target acquired, objective met.
d. Write more reviews. This is actually a non-poker goal, as it involves writing more for Westword. Last year, I freelanced a bit of music writing for them, and enjoy it. I'd like to do more this year than I did last year, especially since I've had fuckall luck actually finding a new band to join myself.
Okay, I couldn't have whiffed on this one any more if I had tried. Mostly because I've been too busy blogging, I guess? That could be a cop out, but at any rate, I shot that wad Way Off-target. More so, it doesn't appear as if they'll be needing my services any time soon.
What's almost interesting is that, even though I dumped certain unmet goals from previous years, I ended up meeting them. I finally took down a couple of sizeable MTTs (not Lucko or LJ-sized), but regularly scheduled MTTs drawing between 200-300 players. That felt awesome. Made it out to the summer un-official blogger gathering. That felt a bit less awesome, because everyone sort of fractured into multiple weekends this year, to coincide with specific WSOP events. Best of all was cashing in the Caesars Mega Stack series. That was sweet, because it was a) my largest live field ever, and b) my largest buy-in ever.
Came into this year with probably under $150 online total, and am now sorta-reasonably comfortable with about $1600 to fund my buy-ins. Of course, probably half of that is thanks directly to my advertising partners, but it's nice to not have had to deposit anything this year (yet).
So 2008 is really going pretty well. For the most part, poker has treated me pretty well. There have been lots of ruts, I'm still occasionally having to work on tilt-management, and there's still plenty I'd like to do, all in all, poker's been a faithful, if temperamental, friend this year.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
And They're Off....
Twas' the night before Main Event
and all through the Rio
Not a degen was stirring,
not even an Eskimo...
Oh fuck it, I can't even remember the Night Before Christmas, much less riff on it.
On Lucko and LJ and Iggy and Pauly
On Loretta8 and every other motherlovin' blogger in donkament paradise.
Good luck you crazies, may one of you take it down. And a lil' special wish to the blogger I've got the tiniest piece imaginable of....take. it. down.
Mostly, remember how special an experience this is, at the vast majority of us will never ever ever be in the Amazon room for the Main Event. Have fun.
and all through the Rio
Not a degen was stirring,
not even an Eskimo...
Oh fuck it, I can't even remember the Night Before Christmas, much less riff on it.
On Lucko and LJ and Iggy and Pauly
On Loretta8 and every other motherlovin' blogger in donkament paradise.
Good luck you crazies, may one of you take it down. And a lil' special wish to the blogger I've got the tiniest piece imaginable of....take. it. down.
Mostly, remember how special an experience this is, at the vast majority of us will never ever ever be in the Amazon room for the Main Event. Have fun.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
All Hail Return of the Skillz
Yup, you read that right. Thanks to Chip for taking over hosting duties, and thanks to every poker blogger's favorite seemingly dittohead for turning us on to Chip's good deed.
Anyway, it's back, and back to how it all began tonight, with a nice lil' round of Omatard8. The only change to the newly-reborn Skillz series is that the only events that will start with doublestacks (for now, at least), will be the pot-limit events. Limit/ante events will start with FTP's old school 1500 chipstacks.
Thank you, Chip.
Also on the Omatard8 tip is another edition of NYRambler's poker series, a $5.50 PLO8 event that starts at 9pm for you foos on the east coast, and 7pm for us mountain men. Password is "EpicFail", which pretty much describes my performance in this event last week, where I was something like 2nd Gigli in the Pot Limit HA event.
I hope to actually play like I can...I love Omaha, but I've been getting junk-kicked by redraws/resucks so often in that game, to the point where I'm seriously considering temporarily bagging my participation in FTP's nightly $5.50 Limit O8 and PLO tournies for a bit. But blogger events? Always...
I see a few bloggers are putting up mid-year looks at their goals...I may have to do the same, we'll see.
Anyway, keep building them massive stacks.
Anyway, it's back, and back to how it all began tonight, with a nice lil' round of Omatard8. The only change to the newly-reborn Skillz series is that the only events that will start with doublestacks (for now, at least), will be the pot-limit events. Limit/ante events will start with FTP's old school 1500 chipstacks.
Thank you, Chip.
Also on the Omatard8 tip is another edition of NYRambler's poker series, a $5.50 PLO8 event that starts at 9pm for you foos on the east coast, and 7pm for us mountain men. Password is "EpicFail", which pretty much describes my performance in this event last week, where I was something like 2nd Gigli in the Pot Limit HA event.
I hope to actually play like I can...I love Omaha, but I've been getting junk-kicked by redraws/resucks so often in that game, to the point where I'm seriously considering temporarily bagging my participation in FTP's nightly $5.50 Limit O8 and PLO tournies for a bit. But blogger events? Always...
I see a few bloggers are putting up mid-year looks at their goals...I may have to do the same, we'll see.
Anyway, keep building them massive stacks.
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