Nine Outs and a Zero Balance

Oh Wait, Attatch This

2006-10-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

I won't write an extensive post about the internet gambling financial transfer bill that passed a while back in DC. Mainly because I am way too late for this to be news. Secondly, because everyone and their mother has written a post on it. I must say that the addition of gambling legislation is about as related to port security as funding terrorists has to do with smoking a joint, but eh, whatever.

So anyway, the issue has caught some main stream criticism, as I found out when I was reading some articles on Yahoo! Sports yesterday. Good piece by Dan Wetzel, who is a great writer. "The betting fools"

An Open Letter

2006-10-10T11:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Matt,

I realize that you are a busy person, but I am in need of an update and my readers, though few, are dissapointed with the date of the last post. Yes, applying to jobs is an important endeavor giving your fast approaching graduation date, but that is not excuse for neglect!

Remember the three part post on table talk and showing cards? Yes, it is still stuck at Part One. Talk about being blue-balled.

Remember poker? Yes, you can fit in a few hours of sheer money throwing madness into your schedule. Who knows?, it may even take some pressure off.

I am afraid of being cast into the oblivion of blogdom, where a three year old post stares back at the top of the main page. Update me, for the sake of my existing, update me.

With Concern,
Your Blog

Sharing Secrets: Part 1

2006-09-20T12:48:00.000-07:00

This is the first article in a three part series aimed at poker strategy more specifically than many of my posts. This series will delve into the issue of sharing your secrets at the table: Showing Your Cardsand Discussing Strategy as related to Table Talk and Table Image.

Its interesting to watch the variety of strategies employed by amatuers and poker pros alike during a session of poker. It is less frequent that you will see a seasoned veteran flashing cards that they are able to muck. Poker is a game of information and many players default to never showing their cards and therefore minimizing the information they give out.

However, poker is also a game of appearences, of representation, of misinformation at times. It seems to follow that dismissing showing muckable hands as always wrong is just not a well thought out decision. It is an easy decision, yes, but it may not be a profit-maximizing one.

Part One - Effects of Showing vs. Mucking

A player must think of the possible effects of their decision to show or muck. Many amateurs hapahazardly show their cards without real intent and therefore just give information to their opponents. Thoughtless card exposure can't lead to positive gains at the table, other than by accident.

Showing a Bluff

Tilt - In a large pot versus skilled and unskilled players alike, laying down the best hand can put person on tilt faster than most other events. That person may start handing out money by becoming a calling station while fuming from his/her bad decision.
Loosen - Many beginner players will see that you are willing to bluff and will subsequently loosen their calling range for you specifically.
Tighten - Some advanced players may realize that many players show bluffs with the intent on loosening the table to their bets. Some will tighten their calling range in subesequent hands, expecting you to only bet solid hands since you might be trying to bait for looser calls on your made hands.

Showing a Made Hand

Tighten - Some players may tighten seeing your betting pattern with a made hand. Some beginners will tighten no matter what your betting pattern looked like. Others will tighten only if you exhibit the same pattern.
Loosen - Some more advanced players will be on the look out for you using a similar pattern to set up a bluff and will be more willing to call with mediocre hands.

Showing Preflop Cards

This move has similar effects to their post-flop analogs, but are diminished because of the stakes preflop. It is less likely to get a future change in play by showing preflop cards. It may be useful in tournaments to establish a tight image necessary for future steals. However, if you make a habit of showing and then suddenly decide not to, it seems clear that you stole in that instance.

The main idea is to realize that by showing your cards you are exposing your betting patterns to the good players at the table and therefore have to take into account how they will react to that information.

Some beginners may do the obvious and fail to notice your betting patterns, it is unwise to attempt to set up these players, they often just won't be thinking enough to fall for it.

Moderately experienced players may be the easiest setup because they attempt to think of the reasons for your action, but often will think exactly how you planned them to.

Solid players are tough to predict. They will probably continue to play fairly similar to before, other than the information they have gleaned about you. A solid player is dangerous to give extra information to at any time.

Music, Sweat, and That Funky Smell

2006-09-17T23:11:00.000-07:00

The glory and pageantry that is Austin City Limits was just experience by around 60,000 people from Austin and elsewhere. The event is a can't miss for a music lovers or just have-a-good-time lovers. The weather cooperated with some cooler temps and held off on the rain just enough for a great weekend.

Yes, there is the stench of sweat. Yes, the crowds get annoying at times. And yes, you do get to smell that herb every thirteen seconds. But its all worth it if you love eclectic, great bands packing years worth of music into power packed one-hour sets. Seven stages, three days.

My Lowlights
1) The multitudes of 30-something year old women who are 40 pounds overweight and insist on wearing only a bathing suit top.
2) The smell of wet feet that permeated the event after the morning rainshowers.
3) The band "TV on the Radio" - just not my cup of tea. It was the only set I left just because I couldn't handle being there any longer.

My Highlights
1) Screaming the lyrics that I knew and making up the ones I didn't, while constantly gyrating to great songs.
2) Laying on the Zilker Park grass and staring at the moving clouds during slower low-key artists.
3) Talking to and running into friends while walking from stage to stage.

My Favorite Performances (No Order)
1) Iron and Wine - Great voices, variety of instruments, and musically interesting. Most of the crowd didn't know them at the start (including me) but we were all into it at the end of the set.
2) Muse - WOW. Talk about energy. Guitar riffs and creepy awesome lyrics played to an amped up crowd. Had a 45-minutes Sunday night set and absolutely blew the pants off the attendees.
3) Tom Petty - I grew up listening to him with my pops on road trips. He could have stumbled and mumbled for an hour and I would have loved it. Interrupted by rain for 20 minutes, but played many of the sing-along classic folk rock songs that made him last for 30+ years. What an entertainer.

Where's My Cigar?

2006-09-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

Went to an Austin home-run poker game Thursday that Scott has been trying to get me to go to for weeks. Very nice, well run game. Delicious meatballs to munch on while attempting to take money from the variety of poker players. Stayed for for the afternoon and left down 200 bucks, but felt good about my play regardless.

Lost a large pot when the fourth spade came on the river and I had to fold to the guy on my left's big bet while holding a straight. I'm decently sure he had top pair Q with Ace of spade kicker. The lost the last of my stack on about 125 dollar pot with all the money in on the turn. He had second pair, I had top, but naturally he got his third ten.

Probably will go back and play some more live sunday, until then I will be watching college football all saturday, concluding with going to the UT/OSU game! Hook 'Em Horns!

Fish Can Talk

2006-08-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

One of the funniest things I've ever seen in the chat box of a online poker table.

Playing a $50 NL table at titan. Player A has ~$10. Player B has ~$40.

Folds to Player A on the button, raises to $2.
SB folds, Player B in the BB, reraises to $10.
Player A thinks for a few seconds, the calls all-in.

Player A has A9. Player B has JJ. Flop comes with two nines, no help turn and river to JJ. Money smoothly slides over to Player A on the fish call.

After the ensueing "You're an idiot" and "What a fish!" by Mr. JJ - the golden quote comes.

Player A, please step up to the mike. Testing 1,2 testing. "Whatever man, I was short stacked, I'll call with any ace, anytime"

ESPN tournament coverage is not a good teacher for tournament strategy, but its laughable when some shmuck tries it in a cash game!

My Butt Is Sore

2006-08-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

'cause I'm back in the saddle.

After a small hiatus for a trip to Colorado, hiking galore, and just to take a break. I am back for some more bad beats and variance. I took advantage of a first time deposit 100% match at Titan... liked there bonus structure better than FullTilt.

I will be trying more MTTs and less cash games. I'll see how it goes, been reading up on my rusty tournament play.

Retama

Saddles... horses. Yep. Went with April to Retama Park just north of San Antonio. Watched the nine races, placed some wagers, drank some beer. Good times for all.

Any horse I pick however feel the need to slow down the homestretch.

Favorite quote of the night was when my horse Thunkin' Theodore was rounded the final turn in third to last. The frustration with my picks mounted and I implored my horse, "Come on Theodore, start THUNKING!"

Cheap Poker Chips...

2006-08-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

Previously thought to be a myth, its now known to be true. Cheap white poker chips actually occur naturally, I discovered one on a hike in Colorado.

Okay, Okay. You're right, its just a mushroom.

Reflection On High

2006-08-18T00:41:00.000-07:00

The sting of pea-sized projectiles, the rush of water past the feet of a line of hikers, the flash of lightning, and the clap of thunder signaled the already too well known. We should have left the high mountain lake long before we did. But, when the fishing is good, the water is clear, the mountains are beautiful, and the sun is shining, why would a person leave?

One would think that hail hitting the skin and fright over impending conditions might make for one regrettable day. But sometimes, the strangest circumstances produce the most good. Every once in a while, beauty is in your eye and the events of the day fit you like an old par of Sunday sweatpants.

No matter how perfect your planning, no matter how perfect the day, no matter how experienced the ______ (climber, poker player, student, businessman): shit can still go awry. Luck is when skill meets opportunity. If you know you have the skill, you just have to patient enough to have the opportunity come along.

Aces, Matt "The Kid"

PS - Next post might be a picture or two from Colorado.

The Beard Grows Longer

2006-08-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

As of this time tomorrow I will be looking out the window of a puddle jumper, turning slightly green, and descending into Durango Regional Airport. My parents live in the mountains of Southern Colorado and I will be taking 10 days out of my summer to visit, hike, play golf, and be lazy. I began the growth of my mountain beard about three weeks ago, so it should be pretty ~~fearsome~~ homeless looking by the time I come back.

The parents may have joined the 21st century and hooked up some high-speed internet, but I may be wrong. If I am wrong, then the blog and poker playing will be on pause for a week or so. But, I think I'm right (as usual), so updates should come -- maybe even some pictures of mountains to make you city folk salivate for nature.

Poker

Nothing much to report on the poker front. Recouped my losses on Partypoker from my Pokerstars debacle. Running a small profit for the last month and feeling a tick more confident. Amazingly, I have never played on FullTilt and they are offering a 100% match up to $600 through the 31st for new players. I will be cashing out my Party account and supplementing my earnings for bonus money. Sweeeeet.

Fresh mountain air in T-24 hours,
Matt "The Kid"

Take That Mrs. Perry

2006-08-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

I remember sitting in my high school pre-cal class silently plotting the downfall of our book-toting chalk-wielding discipline-driven old bag of a teacher. Luckily for me, I paid enough attention to get through calculus, pass the placement test, and not have to take math in college; a major coup if you ask me. I also learned how to make simple formulas:

Shorter Sessions = More Money + Better Moods + Free Time

Longer Sessions = Frustration + Piddling Away Winnings

Take that Mrs. Perry, take that. The longer my sessions go, the more I press. We all know that pressing is not a good thing in poker. You must play your hands, your opponents, and your reads... you can't get caught up focusing on a certain positive gain. It makes you call down with beat hands and raise/bluff without restraint.

On a non-money note, it also allows a person to do other things they enjoy and not waste their month away in front of a computer screen... positive developments.

However, "Kudos to you Mr. Nine-Hour, Continued winning, poker makes you happier than anything else, guy!"

A Quick WTF Moment

2006-07-31T22:04:00.000-07:00

***** Hand History for Game 4843916289 *****
Level:4 Blinds(100/200) - Sunday, July 30, 23:52:27 ET 2006
Seat 8 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: tulsaholmes ( 3110 )
Seat 7: acrazqban ( 2704 )
Seat 5: WEL1977 ( 3944 )
Seat 9: boomerc ( 3755 )
Seat 10: cause_its_suited ( 2682 )
Seat 8: jfils56 ( 3805 )
Trny:26729718 Level:4
Blinds(100/200)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to cause_its_suited [ Kc Kh ]
tulsaholmes folds.
WEL1977 folds.
acrazqban raises [400].
jfils56 calls [400].
boomerc folds.
cause_its_suited is all-In [2482]
acrazqban calls [2282]. <------------ Leaves him with 22 chips, after a 2200 call.
jfils56 calls [2282].
** Dealing Flop ** [ 3h, 2h, 7d ]
acrazqban checks.
jfils56 bets [200].
acrazqban folds. <------------------- Could that flop really have been that bad?
** Dealing Turn ** [ Ts ]
** Dealing River ** [ 2s ]
jfils56 shows [ Jc, Jh ] two pairs, jacks and twos.
cause_its_suited shows [ Kc, Kh ] two pairs, kings and twos.
jfils56 wins 200 chips from side pot #1 with two pairs, jacks and twos.
cause_its_suited wins 8146 chips from the main pot with two pairs, kings and twos.

Well, his loss, my gain.

Poker, Rangers, Landis

2006-07-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

Poker

I cashed out $100 of my original $150 from PokerStars, I just flat out do not like their software. The look and feel of it are cumbersome to me, but the stats they give are better than some other rooms... I'll take easy on the eyes however. I also think the play is softer at PartyPoker.

Anyway, put 100 bucks in my PP account and have run it up a little today. I am going to see about going to some live games in Austin this week. Happy.

Rangers

Amazing that they actually went out and made a trade at the deadline. Got a big, young bat in Carlos Lee and didn't give up too terribly much to get him. Plus we got their #1 prospect. Our pitching has been horrible, leading to a 7 game losing streak, up 12-2 tonight. Hopefully it'll turn us around to win the west and get playoffs for the first time in 7 years.

Landis

You are officially in my hall of shame (unless, by some miracle you are cleared). You lifted our spirits with your battling, your hip pain, and your comeback. But, alas, you tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone. A normal male has a 1:1 ration, yours was above the limit of 4:1. I know your manly, but no way that's natural dude. If you've got that much testosterone, then I have a ten inch schlong.

Aces, Matt "The Kid"

Lifestyle of Poker

2006-07-26T18:33:00.000-07:00

The lifestyle of playing poker with any seriousness is at once addictive and repulsive. There are aspects that appeal to things I enjoy and parts that make me want to cash out my bankroll and walk away.

The Ups and Downs

During the Poker Blogger summer convention in Las Vegas, Jay Greenspan spoke of his book Hunting Fish, a cross-country trip playing poker professionally and finding out truths about himself as related to the game. He poignantly described how the ups and downs of poker drive the outcome of his days and greatly effected his moods, therefore effecting the people around him.

I heard every word ring true of my more humble experience with online poker. Bad sessions drive the whole of my day sour, while good sessions lift the day up. Without poker, I am even, I am level; with poker, I am a bubble off in either direction. There is a major fault in letting one portion of your life dictate the outcomes of your days... I despise this part of my poker playing, perhaps it could be different, but I have not found a way.

The Boredom

I love the outdoors, I love my friends, and I love to have a good time. However, when I am playing poker, I will often forgo sleep, a social event or two, and time spent working out or having fun outside. The lure of more money, more hands, and soft tables will draw me away from things I enjoy more than playing poker.

Perhaps this says more about me as a person. Perhaps I should value money less and would then be able to get away from a table when I have something else to do. But, nonetheless, poker feeds my want for money and my want for money feeds my poker. This part of poker drives me away from the game as well.

So, what will I do then. Most likely, I will continue to play poker in stretches and eventually cash out my winnings to focus on the other parts of life. Then days, weeks, or months later I will once again reload and retool for another binge of poker. All things in moderation, except moderation. A player must be able to control the effect of poker on his life and live a full/happy life. If a poker player cannot do this, perhaps it isn't the smartest decision to play.

Gaining Confidence

2006-07-23T20:32:00.000-07:00

Finally got my Neteller account working by Wednesday. Deposited $150 quickly into PokerStars to feed my poker habit. My confidence gained by the Vegas trip success while in the MGM poker room quickly dissapeared as I ~~built~~ donked away all but $7 of my bankroll through $10 SNGs and .25/.50 NL ring games, with most of the damage coming in the ring games.

Decision Time

So I am sitting there on Friday night, staring at my measley bankroll, pondering the absurdity of life, and trying to decide. Do I donk off the last $7 and reload my account? Or, do I get back to the basics, play some micro-NL ring games, and try to rebuild my roll the old-fashioned way.

I thought of the first time I became profitable playing poker. In the Spring of 2004, I received a $10 free first signup bonus from Royal Vegas and managed to turn it into $1500 in a little over a month. I remembered how simple the game was then. Simple strategy, basic knowledge, and fear (more on that topic later). I suddenly knew, I must try to build it up, I must try to get back confidence the right way, not by risking more hard earned money while playing badly.

Results

By now, Sunday night, I have built my bankroll to over $40 by playing micro-limit poker. Yes, it is annoying play for such small amounts when you are used to more, but at times its necessary to play against weaker opposition and regain your form. Winning a little and being slightly annoyed at the stakes is a better option than throwing away more money.

Saw 27 percent of all flops, won 75 percent of hands that went to showdown, won 10 percent of the hands I saw overall. The last number shows me that even though I am winning the statistical normal amount of hands, I am still building my roll... thats good poker. Now I just need to continue and get up to meaningful limits!

What an Amazing Ride

2006-07-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

I know the average American cares about the Tour de France without Lance Armstrong about as much as they care about the World Cup with the USA eliminated. But any fan of grit, determination, and will-power should love this year's tour.

We don't have the improbable comeback from cancer. We don't have the brash American who grounds his opponents into the melting tar roads. But we do have an amazing display of man on man battles from stage to stage, something was not often true during Armstrong's reign.

Floyd Landis (USA) is kind, easy-going, driven, and likeable. He is also flat out amazing. After loosing his lead and slipping more than 8 minutes (a HUGE amount in cycling) behind, Landis rode his way back into the tour. He attacked at the beginning of a grueling mountain stage and rode alone past all his competitors and now sits just 30 seconds off the lead entering the final test, Saturday's time trial. Tune into OLN and cheer for the guy, he exemplifies never say die spirit.

Boredom and Agony

2006-07-19T16:09:00.000-07:00

Tournament poker has been described as hours of boredom interrupted by moments of agony. This statement is an adequate description of my affair with poker.

Most days, its a slow grind of building the bankroll. Its a hobby, its money, but it is often times boring and monotonous. Every so often, my poker sessions are interrupted by large uptick in my bankroll or, god forbid, a large downtick. These are the moments of agony. Whether up or down, these larger swings have an effect on my ability to play solid poker. Questions arise as to my strategies, what am i doing differently? How should I alter my game to get running good? How can I alter it to stay running hot? The reality, most of the time I am playing the same game I always play, but the cards hit the felt differently.

Today was such a day. Instead of doubling up when I had finally flopped top-pair with AQ, Q7 caught two-pair on the river. Instead of building my stack with a flopped set, a flush-draw hits and I am crippled. So are the rumblings of variance. My challenge is to continue to be the AQ instead of the Q7 and the set instead of the incorrect draw. But that is easier said than done, especially if your frustration is wanting you to call an all-in with A9 because, well, you're due damnit.

A Change in Scenery

2006-07-17T14:50:00.000-07:00

If anyone hasn't watched Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang yet, do yourself a favor and go rent the dvd, or if you still live in the 90s with my parents, the tape. Either way, its an interesting, stylized, humourous, and entertaining flick. No, it won't win any awards, but its different than your run of the mill action or romantic comedy.

Where You Can Find Me

I have recently cashed out my bankroll on PartyPoker out of frustration over some horrendous beats and for a welcome change in scenery. I'll be playing on PokerStars as soon as I can get my Neteller account back up and running, soon I hope. Look for me there, sn: utlibarts -- I'll probably be at the smaller NL ring-games building my bankroll for some higher stakes or at the $10 and $20 SNGs.

I Would Like Some Cheese With My Whine

2006-07-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

After folding for about 20 minutes on two tables .5/$1 NL tables at Party Poker, I finally catch a few hands to make the session worth my time.

Hand 1

Voehma had called to the river several times with top pair, crap kicker. He would generally reraise with two-pair or better. I was sure my read was good and it was.

***** Hand History for Game 4720098632 *****
$100 NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, July 13, 14:20:12 ET 2006
Table Table 107967 (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: cathuk ( $118.80 )
Seat 4: finsup32 ( $35.12 )
Seat 6: ChipleadP ( $88.04 )
Seat 3: cause_its_suited ( $97.80 )
Seat 2: p0k3rgirl ( $92 )
Seat 5: voehma ( $65.88 )
p0k3rgirl posts small blind [$0.50].
cause_its_suited posts big blind [$1].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to cause_its_suited [ Ad Qd ]
finsup32 folds.
voehma calls [$1].
ChipleadP raises [$4].
cathuk folds.
p0k3rgirl folds.
cause_its_suited calls [$3].
voehma calls [$3].
** Dealing Flop ** [ Jh, Qs, 5s ]
cause_its_suited checks.
voehma checks.
ChipleadP bets [$8].
cause_its_suited raises [$28].
voehma calls [$28].
ChipleadP folds.
** Dealing Turn ** [ 9s ]
cause_its_suited bets [$36].
voehma is all-In [$33.88]
** Dealing River ** [ 8h ]
cause_its_suited shows [ Ad, Qd ] a pair of queens.
voehma shows [ 8c, Qh ] two pairs, queens and eights.
cause_its_suited wins $2.12 from side pot #1 with a pair of queens.
voehma wins $136.96 from the main pot with two pairs, queens and eights.

Hand 2

Very next hand, I am sure it looks like I am on tilt. So I make the push and am waiting to make some of my loss back. (Though preflop, I was just angry)

***** Hand History for Game 4720103150 *****
$100 NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, July 13, 14:21:12 ET 2006
Table Table 107967 (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: cathuk ( $118.80)
Seat 4: finsup32 ( $35.12 )
Seat 6: ChipleadP ( $76.04 )
Seat 3: cause_its_suited ( $31.92 )
Seat 2: p0k3rgirl ( $91.60 )
Seat 5: voehma ( $136.96 )
cause_its_suited posts small blind [$0.50].
finsup32 posts big blind [$1].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to cause_its_suited [ 3h 3c ]
voehma calls [$1].
ChipleadP raises [$4].
cathuk folds.
p0k3rgirl folds.
cause_its_suited calls [$4].
finsup32 folds.
voehma calls [$4].
** Dealing Flop ** [ 6h, Jh, 3d ]
cause_its_suited checks.
voehma checks.
ChipleadP bets [$8].
cause_its_suited is all-In [$27.92]
voehma folds.
ChipleadP calls [$19.92].
** Dealing Turn ** [ Jd ]
** Dealing River ** [ 6c ]
ChipleadP shows [ Jc, 9d ] a full house, Jacks full of sixes.
cause_its_suited doesn't show [ 3h, 3c ] a full house, Threes full of jacks.
ChipleadP wins $65.44 from the main pot with a full house, Jacks full of sixes.

Good game and good night. Re-freaking-diculous.

Vegas Baby. Part Deux.

2006-07-13T12:51:00.000-07:00

Where Vegas is involved hilarity ensues. What, with gambling, strippers, prostitutes, booze, friends, and free time... how could it not?

Favorite Moment #1 - Mr. Stone Face

It is 6:00am and I have been up for 22 hours playing poker off and on. The MGM is my new host at this hour, switching from the Excal. I am sitting at one of two 1/2 NL games running in the overly quiet poker room. I sit down in the 4-seat and just after I sit, another young gambler sits in the 3-seat. After about 15 minutes, we both notice that the gentlemen in the 9-seat has not changed his facial expression the entire time we've been sitting. Not ONE tick, no smile, no grimmace, no anything. This guy has lost a big pot on a suck-out, won a few large pots and is sitting about even... but never a change in expression. STONE.

So, I turn to the fellow at my right who I've been punch-drunkenly chatting with and in a hushed voice say, "I bet you 5 bucks I can get Mr. Stone Face to crack a smile within the next ten minutes". He pauses, glances at Stone, smiles and says, "No way you can do it, I'll take that bet". After four minutes of cracking jokes and one-liners, I can tell the guy is softening, so I go for the kill. I tell the story of favorite moment #2 and Stone laughs and cracks a half-smile. The 3-seat slides me red chip, I say thankyou and then we explain the bet to the curious table. The dealer is forced to stop shuffling because the table, including him, was rolling so hard from hearing the prop bet.

Favorite Moment #2 - Six Down, Four To Go

I step off the plane and get in the taxi line, turn on some classic rock on my ipod, and stare at the hard bodies snaking through the metal ropes. I finally reach the front after about thirty minutes and report to taxi slot 4. As my taxi stops, I take a quick look at the cabbie, do I want the front seat for some conversation or the back for some normality? Naturally, I'm in a good mood and this guy looks interesting, so I go with the front? After a few minutes of UFC talk, he starts talking about prostitutes and this is when i knew the trip would be awesome.

The cabbie, smoking a cigarette, says, "The other night i stopped along the strip and a hooker got in for a ride across to another hotel. I had just rolled up the windows and after she was in for few seconds, the stink hit me. It was raw sex, I mean raw. So, I look back and the bitch is sitting in the middle of the back seat with her legs wide open. So I say, 'hey, can you close your legs?, its smelling up my whole cab' and the lady of the night responds, 'Hey buddy, what do you want me to do?, I just got banging six guys and I got four more to go before my night is through'"

Vegas Baby

2006-07-12T14:04:00.000-07:00

What a whirlwind 3 nights, 3 days in Sin City. First trip to Vegas was a success gambling wise and having a good time wise.

Want to say thanks again to April and Scott for getting my ass to Vegas. It was a good time and the Bloggers are a fun group of degenerate gamblers.

The Poker

Alternated between the MGM and Excalibur poker rooms all weekend. I'll be agree with April that the MGM is wonderful, I think I'll forego the Excal next time and just go with the MGM for the room too.

I began my trip with 5 C-notes from the ATM and ended with the same amount, despite spending around $300 for all my food, hotel, entertainment, and cabs... So, not bad for my first gambling at a brick and mortar.

Lost a $400 dollar pot on a flopped flush. Got Mr. A7 all-in on the turn with this two-pair. But failed to scoop the pot when an A hit the river for his 3 outer (one A had been folded).

The blogger tournament was mostly un-notable. Hit a straight-flush in the first orbit and doubled up on the A-high flush. But, was mostly card dead the rest of the 3 hours. Each time I had a decent stealing hand or half-decent I almost want a call hand -- someone pushed before and nothing was good enough to call with. Ended up going out with A10 to JJ at about 45th or so out of the 120 or so.

Mostly, just good experience. I was mostly patient, most-likely too patient and passive. But, when you spotted an over-agressive or a donkey tourist, the easiest and least variable way to make money was with only-nuts-poker. That and I was playing above my bankroll, so its hard to stay agressive, perhaps next trip.

The Good Times

The Bellagio Buffet is freaking amazing. King crab, sushi galore, shrimp dishes, italian food, gourmet pizza, prime cuts of beef, lamb, duck, etc.

First night in, I caught dinner with April and my roomate Alan in the MGM. One fattening Monte Cristo and a few of April's chicken tenders later and I was waddeling to the poker room bar. After a few shots of SoCo with a whirlwind of Blogger intro, I sat down for some 1-2 NL.

Mandalay Bay's sports book is amazing. Especially while watching the World Cup. Especially when there is a group of italians and bet-placers oohhhing and ahhhing over every bad touch and good shot. Especially when Zidane head buts an Italian for insulting his mom and sister. To which I respond, "That has to be the most bad-ass thing I've ever seen". "But don't you think he will get blamed for a loss in the media", someone responds. "Who gives a shit, dude, he just head butted a guy in the chest, AWWWWWWWesome".

Alan insisted on bowling at the Orleans on Sunday night. It was a nice break for my ass from sitting in the poker rooms. Turns out you can win money in an alley too, if April insists on betting you. She insists we bet points at work that count to our bonus. Over two games I am up 20 points (200 dollars) and April is cursing herself for throwing away her roulette winnings. However, she was drunk by this time, so it didn't hurt too bad... at least until I rubbed it in. Props to Zeem for the granny shot spare pick-up. And props to myself for shoe-stick hop-step-slide into the lane, yeah, I am that graceful.

Adventure into MTT

2006-07-06T07:21:00.000-07:00

After sitting at a rather soft 50$ max buy-in cash game at party poker for about an hour, I am targeting this over-agressive bet anytime about 2x the pot with missed draws and flat out bluffs. I catch an A-high hearts flush with 2 tens on the board. He bets 2x pot and I raise all-in. He insta-calls and flips over the 10s full of Ks full house. Could have limited my losses there.

Lesson: The raise on the river was pointless bet. Call the large overbet, he has a habit of bluffing. But with a pair ont he board, don't go overboard and risk your whole stack. No to mention he had checked his two-pair and he wasn't prone to checking, so it should have sent off warnings that he was slow-playing.

After loosing that 50$, I just smiled and decided to try a MTT. I have done many a SNG, but I have played in just 2 or 3 MTTs. Always coming away frustrated at playing for hours only to be sucked out on and not have any profit to show for it... however, I see the extreme upside if you have one great tourny and the increased earnings if playing well in MTTs consistently.

Ended up placing 23rd out of 338 people in 6$ rebuy. I didn't rebuy as I had some good double-ups early. More on rebuys later, I am not sure I understand them... in fact I am sure that I don't. Survived on a short stack most of the tourny. Only $50+ dollar cash, but not too shabby for a little MTT trial.

In The Beginning...

2006-07-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

1) Poker, a frustrating, confusing, fickle, and rewarding set of variabilities.

2) My Life, a frustrating, confusing, fickle, and rewarding set of experiences.

I will be writing updates on my poker savvy, or lack there of. I will attempt to bastardize, misrepresent, and altogether undo the work of many of the great poker minds. While the musings of my poker endeavors might be interesting to some and altogether mind-numbingly boring to others, I will nonetheless attempt to post worthwhile thoughts on my game. (Although my "game" is likely in as bad or worse shape then it was at fraternity parties during my first semester in college. But, I tell you what, that one girl's turn on was stuttering, am I LUCKY or what?)

A shoutout to April of This is Not a Poker Blog and Scott of Dead Money Inc. for posting and slightly inspiring me to start a blog of my own. A bigger thanks for getting me go to Vegas this upcoming weekend. It will be a hell of a 3 days.