Live Poker-Lake Style
Monday, March 31, 2008
I spent the weekend at the lake place and had a blast, as usual.
We drove down there late Friday night after running karaoke in El Reno, arriving around 2:30 am on Saturday morning. After a few hours of sleep, my buddy and I headed up to his place to get ready for Turkey season, which opens next Sunday here in Oklahoma. We spent about 5 hours or so building blinds, checking for signs and basically, hanging out in the great outdoors. If you had asked me even 6 months ago if this sounded like fun, I would have definitely said no, but now, it's a great way to spend a Saturday outside of the city.
After heading back and eating dinner, we headed around the lake to a bar that a friend of ours owns to sing a few songs. We each sang two songs and decided we would head back around the lake to our home place. Janet's Crows Roost Bar was hopping on Saturday night and not 10 minutes after we arrived, talk of a freeze-out poker tourney erupted. Having not played live in a LONG time, I was curious.
$40 buy-in - 7K in chips - Winner-take-all. I'm in.
The blinds started at 100-200 and after about 30 minutes, when 4 of the original 8 were already eliminated, they raised it to 200-400. We played 4 handed for about an hour and they never raised the blinds again. Ha, who am I to complain, low blinds, deep stacks, sounds like a recipe for succes to me...........and it was.
The biggest hand I played was a Big Blind special. First off, everybody at the table was playig every single hand. No raises, no re-raises, no re-steals, let's all see a flop and play a family pot every single hand. Anyway, I have 4-5 of diamonds in the big blind and flop a flush draw on a 3-8-J flop. One player min-bets, two players call and I call as well out of the big blind.
Turn is a black 2 giving me an OESD as well. Same thing happens and when the Ace of spades hits the river, I quickly figure out that I have the nuts. I tried to quickly survey the pot, which was strewn all over the table and clumsily lead out this time, for 2K. The original better quickly mucks and one other player shoves all in. The 4th player in the hand looks like he has a decision to make and I am absolutely licking my chips. He eventually folds, I call and table the nuts and rake a nice little pot that I nursed all the way down to heads up.
My opponent, a young kid that didn't have a lot of experience and played EVERY hand up to that point, had me outchipped by a little, probably 35K to 21K or thereabouts. I mention a chop, because it's 2:00 am at this point and he doesn't want to talk about that, so I go about the business of punishing him every time he limps, which is, after all, every single hand.
I take about 5 straight pots and we are suddenly even in chips and he wants to talk about a chop. Whoa, dude, wait a second, you didn't want to chop a minute ago, why now? He says "because it's obvious that you are better than me." I was floored. I thought the same thing, but never expected to hear those words come out of someone's mouth, especially at the lake.
You got it bro, $160 a piece and I slept good on Saturday night.
I woke up hung over on a Sunday morning at the lake. If I had a dollar for every time I've said that in the last 7 years, I would be a rich man. We scouted a few public spots on Sunday and finally drove back home Sunday afternoon to prepare for another work week.
It was good to get that live fix again and, after running like crap and playing like crap for the last two weeks or so, I've comtemplated a break from on-line poker. In fact, I skipped the Big Game last night and plan on skipping the MATH tonight just due to the fact that I don't feel very good about my game. Perhaps I will change my mine when I get home, but perhaps not as well.
--
Fatty McLardAss Update:
After starting the year back on my diet and dropping 20 pounds rather quickly to get down to 225, I've, uh, lapsed a bit in my judgement of late.
***Insert first "like a fat kid loves cake" joke here.***
My wife doesn't have quite as much will power as I do, so, when she lays out chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, etc. etc. etc. Well, let's just say "I get my eats on like a champ."
***Insert second "like a fat kid loves cake" joke here.***
I have managed to stabilize a bit, around 230, and I'm still down 15 pounds, but I can feel the wheels coming off for me and already know that I need to get it back in check. Being a big guy to start out with, carrying 10 or 20 extra pounds has never been a big deal for me. The problem with that scenario is that 20 becomes 40 and 40 becomes 80 in the blink of an eye, as it were.
After maxing out around 285 some three years ago and nearly passing out while tying my bowling shoes one night, I made the change. I was proud of myself for a good long time after dropping those 70 or so pounds, but am at a point now that I know if I don't get it in check, I'll be back up in the "tubbo" range before I even realize it.
**Insert thrid and final "like a fat kid loves cake" joke here.***
I need to get back to it and I plan to, it's just so hard to say no when the pasta is good, the potatoes are right there and an apple pie is sitting on the counter cooling for after dinner. Damn, I do love all the things that are bad for me on this diet.
***No actual offense intended to any "fat kids" or "cake lovers." The above jokes are aimed solely at my own fat ass in this interpretation. Any republication or rebroadcast of this, in any form, without the express written consent of the lard-ass author is strictly prohibited.***
--
I hope everybody had as nice and relaxing a weekend as I had. Now, to dodge those fawking tornadoes.
Until next time, I fold.
G
posted by GaryC @ 3:06 PM,
,
Hero In Our Midst
Monday, March 24, 2008
I spent the morning and early afternoon yesterday in my home town.
I don't make the trip over there near enough, but yesterday was one of those special days when saying no, deep down inside, would have just been wrong. The day had been planned for months and I woke my girls up entirely too early, at around 6:30 am, ready to head east.
Where I grew up, both the family and the town, is one of the most special places on earth to me. Whenever I get back to Bixby, I quite simply feel like I am home. Combine that with around 30 members of my immediate family and hopefully you can also understand why I feel that way.
In my 42 years on this earth, I have spent exactly 40 Christmas Eves in one particular place. I lived out west for a couple of years in my mid-20's and was not able to make the trip back home, but every year before that and since I moved back to my home state, Christmas Eve is spent at Nanny's house.
My Nanny is one truly special lady. Anybody that has ever met her or spent any time with her at all knows this full well. Yesterday was her 95th birthday. That's right, she turned 95 on Easter Sunday, 2008. March 23, 1913 was her date of birth and coincidentally, was the very last time that particular date was Easter Sunday. You can look it up.
My Nanny has lived in the exact same house, just north of the Arkansas River for as long as I can remember. I know it has probably been 60 plus years, but I can only vouch for the last 42. She raised 7 children along the way and I will probably get these numbers wrong, but I'm going from memory here. 14 Grand-kids, 10 great-grand-daughters and 4 great-great grandkids.
When I was growing up, Nanny's house was where all the big holidays were celebrated. Oh, we travelled around to my other Grandparent's houses and other relatives, but it all started at Nanny's house. Thanksgiving Day parade, prior to football and a feast - Nanny's house. Every single Christmas Eve - Nanny's house and then wherever else we might need to visit. Any particular Sunday that my Mom wanted to go visiting after church and dinner - Nanny's house.
My cousins and I literally grew up in that house and are a pretty close group of cousins to this day because of it. Approximately 95% of my aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins and third cousins live in or around my home town. They are all probably 20 minutes, at most, away from that little house that we all spent so much time in while growing up. It makes me jealous some times that they are all that close to the family I grew up in, especially on days like yesterday.
Nanny grew up in the hard times and, after my Grandpa died, continued raising her kids, working full time and making ends meet, despite very difficult circumstances. That, in my mind, qualifies as a hero. You can certainly ask any of her kids, grandkids, great grandkids, or some day soon, her great-great grandkids and I am sure they will back me up. My Nanny is as tough as they come, as good a role model as there is out there and as loving a Grandmother as there is out there. She mentored a tight knit family that is today and will remain for the foreseeable future, a very close, together kind of family.
I have no doubt that we will get to celebrate many more of my Nanny's birthdays in years to come, because that is, no doubt, how my Nanny rolls.
I love you Nanny, Happy Birthday.
G
posted by GaryC @ 3:07 PM,
,
HORSE
Friday, March 21, 2008
Riverchasers = No fun for me.
Just like its' predeccessors, the MATH, the MOOKIE and all the other BBT3 events, I have no traction and am playing like a donkey. On a side note, at least I have the correct avatar at Full Tilt!
I got home at normal time last night and quickly changed clothes and logged into PokerStars. I knew I had about 30 minutes before my newest, most favorite tournament fired up and I was eager to play. I signed up and went about filling my cooler with beer and ice. A man has to have his priorities, you know?
Anyway, the thing kicks off and the first thing I notice is that there are 200 players. Damn, just two short weeks ago they were barely drawing over 100. I had no idea my blog reached out to that many HORSE players. Apparently, somebody has been reading. Anyway, for the hearing impaired, I will say it again:
THE HORSE TOURNAMENT AT 16:45 PM EST ON POKERSTARS IS A NICE LITTLE TOURNAMENT.
After final tabling it on back to back nights two weeks ago and taking down 7th place both nights, I've been running pretty poorly. No solid finishes, in fact, no cashes since those two nights that seemed so long ago.
I had a buddy over last night and for the first time in so long that I can't remember, I really felt good about my game. He is not a poker player so I was explaining the concepts of HORSE, the different games, why this hand is good in one game, but not good for another, etc. In general, I was trying to educate him to the game, as well as tell him why I was making this play and that play. It was fun for me and educational for him at the same time and I think he really enjoyed it.
Anyway, things started off slowly for me, as usual, and when it was getting down to nut-cutting time, I was under 1000 chips. We finally made it back around to Hold Em and I lost the first hand, leaving me with only 500 chips. I picked up K-K and jammed away at the pot and miraculously, not one of the 37 Aces in the deck hit the board and I very nearly tripled up. The very next hand was Q-Q, which I have a serious love-hate relationship with already, but I re-raised an EP raiser and flopped a set, nearly doubling up in the process.
The biggest hand of the night came in Stud. We were down to 2 tables and safely in the money and I had around 15K in chips. With the blinds and antes escalating quickly, I wasn't safe, but I wasn't in jam mode yet either. (K-K) K Woah! Stop the presses. I am now in complete JAM mode and jam I did. Two others and I capped it preflop When the dust settled and the smoke cleared, I had almost 50K in chips and was in 2nd place out of 14 players remaining.
I proceeded to go on a card-catching tear and, at one point, had well over 120K in chips. In fact, when we got down to heads up, I had a slight chip lead over my opponent. I got unlucky on a big pot when my set of Queens on 4th street did not improve and my opponent made a straight on the river. At that point, with the blinds and antes out of control, I was done. I ended up all-in with A-J in Holdem but alas, JackAce no goot and IGHN in 2nd place.
It was inspiring for me. Obviously, I got lucky several times at key spots, but like many others have said before me, you HAVE to get lucky a few times to go deep in these fields.
Unfortunately for me, the Riverchasers PLO8b tourney did not go well. First off, I do love me some Omaha8b, but I loathe me some Pot Limit, hate it, despise it, would rather play micro-limit Razz. I assume the reason I hate it so much is the fact that I cannot apply the pressure to the other players that is CONSTANTLY being applied to me during this PL game. It's almost un-nerving to sit there with good starting hands and just bludgeoned to death with raises and re-raises. I like to think I have at least a general knowledge of most of the games we play, but for some reason, Pot Limit anything just totally eludes me. I suppose reading a bit on the subject might do me some good.
Oh well, that is my story and I'm sticking to it. I believe I donated to the AlCantHang Memorial Chip Fund, when his A-A-A was better than my A-A-x-x two pair. Well played Al and if there is anybody in these blonkaments that I would will my chips to, it would most certainly be Al. None of this would have come about at all without his devotion to the cause and behind the scenes work. Also, having sat down with the man for the better part of a weekend and slugged back drink after drink with him, I know him to be just damn good guy, so, yeah, he's got that going for him too.
Anyway, I'm sure since I posted this, that we will start seeing more than 300 players a night in the HORSE tourney on Stars, but them's the breaks.
Until next time, I fold.
G
posted by GaryC @ 6:11 PM,
,
Blind Squirrel
Thursday, March 20, 2008
........find your nut!
I told you this tournament was GOLD.
**EDIT***
Since my print screen skillz suck balls, here is the email I got today at work.
PokerStars Tournament #80995188, HORSE
Buy-In: $10.00/$1.00
200 players
Total Prize Pool: $2000.00
Tournament started - 2008/03/20 - 18:45:00 (ET)
Dear GCox25,
You finished the tournament in 2nd place.
A $348.40 award has been credited to your Real Money account.
***END EDIT***
Until next time, I fold.
G
posted by GaryC @ 9:05 PM,
,
Easin' Off The Throttle
Monday, March 17, 2008
A weekend of rest and relaxation at the lake was just the ticket to ease my pain from Thursday night. Damn, I was on tilt all day Friday at work after that, but, after driving to the lake at 4:30 and cracking open that first beer, my thoughts soon turned to everything non-poker related.
We headed out to the woods and watched the turkeys that we will be hunting in three short weeks, while sipping on cold beer and enjoying the nature all around us. After dark, we snuck back to the truck and drove back down to the trailer, only to discover that the girls had arrived and already headed out to the bar. Ha, can't fool me and we went off in search of them and more beer. We called it a night at around 2 am when the lights suddenly came on and somebody screamed 'you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here."
We awoke early and hung over on Saturday morning and made our way back to the woods to watch the turkeys again and they did not disappoint. We saw several birds up close and personal, including one hen that I thought was going to climb into the blind with us. She made it to within about 10 feet of us before giving up and heading back to the feeder.
We ended up having a good night of karaoke at the bar, drinking lots of beer and whiskey and then topped it off with venison steak at our trailer around 2:30 am. We slept good Saturday night for sure. I got up SUnday morning around 9:00 am and was the first person up, so I made the coffee and found a hunting show on TV. It was more than hour before we had other movement, so I had to make more coffee for the late risers.
We took care of some chores up at the hunting spot and headed home fairly early, arriving back in the city around 2:00 pm.
The thought of poker never entered my mind and I didn't play a single hand yesterday either, hopefully recharging myself a bit for the BBT3 games that will follow this week. I hope to make a splash, but will be happy not to flip out when my Aces get cracked again. Best of luck to everybody this week.
Until next time, I fold.
G
posted by GaryC @ 3:04 PM,
,
Mega-Tilt
Friday, March 14, 2008
Apologies for the delay in posting, but I'm still trying to get the vomit taste out of my mouth from last night's Riverchasers event.
Until next time, I throw up in my mouth....not once, but twice.
G
****Addendum: I failed to mention that I have no problem at all with either of the two plays by my opponents in the above scenario. I go broke there with K-K too. The problem is I GO BROKE EVERY SINGLE TIME I RUN KINGS INTO ACES. No worries from me on my opponents' play.****
posted by GaryC @ 7:17 AM,
,
Bloggus Interuptus
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Boy, when life gets busy, it surely does get busy.
That, of course, is just an excuse as to why I haven't written anything down worthy of posting in this little spot on the web for 5 days or so. I'm getting better and better with this excuse thing and I honestly don't seethat going away any time soon. As the summer months approach, life will continue to gather speed and I expect to spend every waking minute possible down at the lake place. No internet. No ambulances screaming by our house in the middle of the night. Simply peace and quiet and shenanigans on the lake.
Oh, and there will be much drinking of teh beer. Mmmmmmm, beer.
We are headed down there this weekend to do a little karaoke at the bar. Green beer and some pretty good karaoke. It promises to be a good time and I can't wait for 4:30 on Friday afternoon to get here. I also get to do a little turkey scouting this weekend as opening day approaches. 3 and a half more weeks still seems like a long time away, but it will be here before I know it.
--
In poker news, mih, up and down, up and down.
After proclaiming myself the King of 7th place in the Stars HORSE tourney, I've decided that to be false. I played Monday and Tuesday night, but couldn't gain any traction and went out somewhere in the 2nd hour. If you don't build up those chips early on, you are more or less forced to pick a hand and go for broke. I hate that, because that takes any strategy completely out of your hands at that point. Jam and pray. So far, the jamming and praying ain't working, but I do plan to continue playing that tournaments.
Stb - It is listed at 18:45 EST in the Stars Regular tourneys. $10 + 1 Horse. If you still have trouble finding it, search my name on Stars tonight, because I plan on playing if I get home in time from the dentist. God, I hate the dentist.
--
BBT3 continues on and I continue showing no progress toward solid play in these things. I think I finally snuck into the points last night, but was never really a threat. I did final table the Bodonkey for the first time, of course, going out first due to my shortness of stack. Still, nice to finally get close.
After saying that I wouldn't be breaking my back to play in these tournaments, I've played in all but the Big Game. He, freaking liar.
See you all tonight at the Mook.
Until next time, I fold.
G
posted by GaryC @ 3:32 PM,
,
"This Is Like Deja Vu........
Friday, March 07, 2008
...........all over again."
-Yogi Berra
Last night:
PokerStars Tournament #79264626, HORSE
Buy-In: $10.00/$1.00
160 players
Total Prize Pool: $1600.00
Tournament started - 2008/03/06 - 18:45:00 (ET)
Dear GCox25,
You finished the tournament in 7th place.
A $65.60 award has been credited to your Real Money account.
Wednesday night:
PokerStars Tournament #79264618, HORSE
Buy-In: $10.00/$1.00
144 players
Total Prize Pool: $1440.00
Tournament started - 2008/03/05 - 18:45:00 (ET)
Dear GCox25,You finished the tournament in 7th place.
A $59.04 award has been credited to your Real Money account.
---
This has been and remains one of my favorite low buy-in tournaments. It runs every night at 5:45 and we have been on the final table each of the last two nights by 8:30. It is of course, a Limit HORSE tournament and averages around 150 players each night.
Unfortunately, by the time we have reached the final table, my stack has been rather depleted each of the last two nights, but nevertheless, good runs both nights. I have to figure out a way to start accumulating chips in the 3 table range to have a shot at takinig this thing down, but the play has been incredibly soft.
I've seen several instances of people either not knowing the first thing about the game that was being played or not paying attention at all to the change in games. I drug a huge pot last night late on the first Stud Hi hand when my opponent called off his whole stack, even raising me on the end because he thought we were still playing Razz.
I can't say that has never happened to me, because it has, usually when I have three or four tournaments going simultaneously, but with a minimum of distraction, it is relatively easy to maintain that focus and know which game you are playing. Some of the folks playing this tournament are most definitely NOT focusing on the play or the table dynamics, that much is obvious.
I think I will continue to play this thing on a semi-regular basis, if for no other reason, I do want to improve my overall poker game and I think there is no better way to do it than to play all 5 games on a regular basis. I have a pretty good feel for most of the strategy associated with the Limit games and the fact that it is Limit makes it much easier for me, as well.
Not much strategy here, but Recess has a nice post up about looking in the mirror at yourself as a poker player. I highly recommend it. Good stuff Alan.
Until next time, I fold.
G
posted by GaryC @ 9:38 PM,
,
Tractionless
Thursday, March 06, 2008
So far the solid play I had been exhibiting in the weeks leading up to the start of the BBT3 has eluded me in the blogger events. I haven't been able to get any traction at all, although I hung around for a while in the Stud Skillz tourney, mainly due to a miraculous one-outer on 7th street. Of course, following that huge pot, I went on to NOT win another single hand the rest of the tourney. GG me.
Luckily, bankroll-wise, that has not been carrying over to the other games I've been playing. For some reason, each of the last two nights has seen me fire up a $22 single table PLO sit-n-go. My normal Omaha game is Limit, but Tuesday night, the tourney was almost full, so I jumped in......and won it. So, last night, after a shower and cracking that first beer of the evening, I did the same thing.....and I won it too. I'm thinking of doing it again tonight.
I also joined in the Stars $10 + 1 HORSE tourney that kicks off at 5:45 pm CST. I had been playing this one pretty regularly a week or so ago, but hadn't played it at all this week.
PokerStars Tournament #79264618, HORSE
Buy-In: $10.00/$1.00
144 players
Total Prize Pool: $1440.00
Tournament started - 2008/03/05 - 18:45:00 (ET)
Dear GCox25,
You finished the tournament in 7th place.
A $59.04 award has been credited to your Real Money account.
$59.04 is just a small pittance for over 3 hours of work, but I was pretty much a small to medium stack for this entire tournament and limped into the final table 8th of 8. The main reason I was able to make it was a particular hand in Stud Hi-Lo with around 16 players left.
I had the bring in with (A,2) 3 and was re-popped by an aggressive player across the table. Everybody had tightened up by this time and I knew I had to play a hand sooner or later or risk blinding down to nothing. I can't see letting this one go in this spot and called and saw a 4 come on 4th street. That pretty much made my mind up that the rest of my chips could go in.
Brick, Brick...........5 on the river! I ended up scooping with my 4-outer and that dude was pissed. He went off for a bit and then proceeded to give some fairly sound strategy advice, apparently to me as well. I waited a bit and then responded:
"So, with my chipstack and where we are in the tourney, you're saying you would have folded my hand in that spot?"
A few second go by and he replies:
Nah, just venting, sorry man.
I almost fell completely out of my chair. Somebody with some actual decency in them and was man enough to stand up and apologize. I came back with cool, no sweat and we were back to our game.
It has been written over and over again about the amount of table captain-asshats we encounter on a regular basis and it seems to me that the problem is only getting worse. $5 and $10 pros are thick at every tournament and cash game table and frankly, I'm sick and tired of having to deal with them. Nowadays, as soon as it starts, I simply turn off the chat and continue to play my cards. For better or worse, this usually works for me and I can only assume by their play that it turns up tilt a notch or two when they don't see any responses in the chat box.
I was also accused of collusion last night during the HORSE tourney. During the third level (Razz) I was dealt (A,3) 4 and raised an early raiser with a 7 up. Three of us ended up capping it and the other player had a 5 showing. I caught a 5 on 4th street and we continue the raising war to the river with me showing down 7-5-4-3-A. The original raiser with the 7 up caught 10,9,10 showing and continued raising throughout. Apparently, rolled up 7's is the new nutz in Razz or more likely, he didn't realize the game had changed or had never played Razz.
The other player commented:
WTF? Do you two know each other?
I chimed in with:
"Why do you say that?"
Because he ran the pot up nice and good for you.
"Nobody forced you to call all the way down with a 9. No, I assure you, I don't know him and he doesn't know me. Perhaps he didn't realize it was Razz or had never played Razz? Rolled up 7's."
Yeah, I see that. My bad.
So, not once, but twice in one evening, in the same $10 tournament, I had guys start to spew and then realize that they were wrong and apologize. I couldn't believe it and wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes. Perhaps we are moving toward a kinder, gentler online game these days? Nah, I just ran into the only two guys on the internet with a conscience.
I will probably be giving the Riverchasers a shot tonight, as well as playing in a few smaller buy-in MTT's along the way. Feel free to join me if you like, I always like a little company.
Until next time, I fold.
G
posted by GaryC @ 3:10 PM,
,
Mookie!!!!
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
First off, congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Mook on the arrival of their 43rd child. Congrats to you both, hope everyone is healthy and able to get home soon.
-----
Next up, BBT3 is on again tonight with the Mookie. Be sure to check out BuddyDankRadio while the tournament is going on, sure to be some good times and conversation there.
-----
I was involved in a sick freaking hand last night in the Skillz tourney, Stud Hi. Bayne_s posted the hand history over on his blog today, so I won't copy and paste it here, just go by his blog and check it out. I started out with rolled up 9's and by 6th street, was actually behind and got lucky, lucky, lucky and snagged a one-outer to scoop a huge pot. Sick, sick hand.
Until next time, I fold.
G
posted by GaryC @ 3:30 PM,
,
BBT3
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
BBT3 is rocking and rolling.
Insane turnout for the Big Game and again, large numbers in the MATH last night. I played last night, quite unspectacularly I might add, and went out somewhere in the late 20's-early 30's when I was forced to shove some crap and got called by someone with better crap. I folded and folded and let myself get into insta-call territory by being blinded down to some measly scraps.
I stole as often as possible, but as is the case normally in these tournaments, everybody at the table was more aggressive than I and we all know what happens when I get cold-decked for a while at an aggressive table. I go into my little folding cocoon and end up exactly where I ended up last night. I'm working on the aggression and even showed a bit early on last night, but the biggest hand for me along the way was laying down a mid-pair after a C-bet to MiamiDon.
I raised with 8-8 and Don smooth-called. When the flop came out A-Q-x, I think, he checked and I dutifully continue bet it. It was at about that moment that I went "why don't you take a free one?" as Don shoved over the top of my bet. Doh! Well played Don and a stupid bet by me. I could have checked there, taken a free card, hit my 8 and gotten beat set over set, right?
Oh well, 6-max is most assuredly not my game and I was lucky to last as long as I did. Congrats to Columbo, by the way, for taking it down last night. I wrote a post last week detailing some guys that I thought had been overlooked and who I thought stood a great chance of winning their TOC seats and possibly multiple events. Columbo was on that list, along with Surflexus, Blinders and TripJax.
I will probably be around for the Bodonkey and the Skillz game tonight. I honestly feel like my best chance to go deep in one of these things is going to be in the Non-Holdem variety games. Not that I am a mixed game specialist, but I do feel confident in my ability to play the Limit games. It will definitely take a few breaks along the way, but I will probably be giving it a shot.
So far, Bodog has been a complete bust for me. My meager reload has dwindled down and it appears that I might have to reload yet again if I want to continue to play in the series. Bad luck and poor play is a bitch when you combine the two and I have exhibited plenty of both in recent weeks.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Poker Enthusiast this week who just lost his Dad. Hang in there bro and remember the good times. Your world has changed drastically and it will take time to get used to it and to fully recover.
Until next time, I fold.
G
posted by GaryC @ 5:02 PM,
,
Truckin' and Insanity
Monday, March 03, 2008
First things first, Pauly has the newest issue of Truckin' up at the web-site. Go check it out, as always, good stuff there.
Truckin' - March 2008, Vol. 7, Issue 3
1. Next to Mama Cass by Paul McGuire Dulce was an attractive peppy girl from San Diego. She diligently saved up for grad school and her first job funded her future. Her second job funded her addiction to weed, whiskey, and cocaine. She loved all three when her shift ended at midnight... More
2. The Drug Store by Change100 I walked down a cement pathway into the shade of unkempt trees and saw a cloudy glass door that led into a deserted elevator lobby. It was open. Someone was here. The lobby walls were covered in cheap faux-oak paneling and the floors in decades-old linoleum. Next to the elevator doors hung a building directory. And there it was. Dr. Jerry Greenblatt, M.D. Fourth floor. I gingerly stepped into the sketchiest elevator in Los Angeles and prayed it wouldn't drop me to the basement... More
3. Today's Special By Joe Speaker Brad's last night on Planet Los Angeles started at El Caballo, clutching his beer like a dog eared paperback. Starched white shirt glowing red in the bloody lights of the place, same color as the naugahyde booths behind him jammed against the textured and cracked yellow walls... More
4. Smoking Is Cool by Dan Keston As a man, I truly believe that if you feel comfortable walking down the street with a Coors Light in your hand then you probably feel comfortable wearing your fraternity letters well past your 35th birthday. I also believe, contrarily, that walking down the street with a cigarette in your hand makes you look suave, debonair, independent and just aloof enough to be mysterious... More
5. California: The Garden of Eden by Johnny Hughes It seemed Los Angeles was in this artificial super-Technicolor, compared to West Texas. The first thing I saw was a grade school class with black, white, and Asian children. I had never seen that, since our schools were segregated... More
6. My LA by Betty Underground Accidents happening all around you on the freeway. The world's biggest spectator sport! Traffic is not because of the carnage in the road, it is from the rubberneckers trying to catch a glimpse of the blood and guts, only to be disappointed when it was a minor fender bender... More
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I got home from the lake yesterday about 2:00 pm. I was already registered in the Big Game, the kick off to the latest BBT3 Challenge. I was fortunate enough to win my token on my first try last Thursday night and, after thinking about it all the way home from the lake, I thought I was ready to play.
Fast forward to about an hour prior to the start and I sat down to get in a few hands prior to the start. Cold deck, fold, fold, fold, fold. I folded off about $10 of my buy-in at both cash tables I was playing and it became increasingly apparent to me that I was really too tired to play my game. So, I un-registered and went to bed early.
I hate to miss any of the events, especially when I've tokened in and gotten in on the cheap, but I was nowhere near where I needed to be to sit down and play good poker, so the wisest choice for me was to NOT play. I don't honestly have any grand aspirations of being anywhere near the top of any leaderboard, so missing a big event like the Big Game is not that big a deal in the grand scheme of the BBT3 for me.
I do plan on playing as many events as possible during the challenge, but I also plan on being in the right mindset when I play and, fortunately for me, I realized pretty early on that I wasn't going to be able to focus enough to give it a good go. So, I saved my token for another day and missed out on a huge field. Biggest field ever for the Big Game? 100+ runners. Jebus, after going to bed early and getting up this morning in a better than usual mood, I was even prouder of my decision to unregister.
I will probably be around tonight for the MATH and throughout the rest of the week, as well. I have to work this Saturday, so I might even take a stab at the Donkarama on Friday night. Good showing last night to Kat, Hoy and C-Mitch.
Until next time, I fold.
G
posted by GaryC @ 3:07 PM,
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