tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-349111382024-03-05T06:48:42.403-08:00Money won, is twice as sweet as money earnedAm I a Genius...A Prodigy...A Prophet...A Savant...A Leader...A Philosopher...A Theorist...A Mathematician...A Scientist...An Engineer...A Chemist...A Hustler?
Am I an Assassin...A Soldier...or am I an Errand Boy? Nah...I am just a poker player.
Come on in, grab a cold beer, take a seat and read a little about what makes me tick.GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.comBlogger252125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-83602091177961209512019-05-12T10:03:00.000-07:002019-05-12T10:06:28.019-07:00WSOP New Orleans and my thoughts on the Kid Poker/Deeb feudOk..looks like I will get to fire at a few tourneys this week in New Orleans for the last circuit event event before the chaos in Vegas kicks off and the World Series of Poker. I haven't played much lately and I am not happy about he way I played yesterday. It really sucks when you dont get to play as many tourneys as you want to...so you have to try to make every shot count. Its tough to out run variance ...but I will give it a try thats for sure. I hope to see you all in New Orleans...stop by and say Hi...I have already had 10-15 people I havent seen in awhile stop and catch up...good stuff.<br />
<br />
I will say I saw some terrible plays...just "head shaking" stuff...Guy calls off 40-50bbs on the turn looking at a 8 high board with AQo...while his opponent tables set of eights??? Where do these people come from...yikes.<br />
<br />
Hope to see you all there this week for the remainder of the Circuit Event and the Main Event...gonna be huge!!!<br />
<br />
Been watching that whole twitter feud/fiasco with Kid Poker and Shaun Deeb. I watched the entire Joey "ChicagoJoey" Ingram podcast where they discussed this and a slew of other topics...2 hours worth. I will say after watching the video I kinda like Deeb more and more. He isn't trying to be something hes not...he tells it like it is...doesn't sugar coat anything and he is real. I think where he got the most flack was when he threw out the prop bet on a "marriage last longer" bet with him and his wife Ashley...vs. Kid Poker/Amanda Leatherman who recently got engaged after being in an "on...off ...on again" relationship. There was a discussion on "death variables"...escrow the money...and Deeb took some flack for it. I for one think there is nothing wrong with this. Deeb is comfortable in his marriage with his wife...he is not wishing ill-will on their marriage he is just saying he is confident his marriage will last and theirs "might" not...and looks like he sees a huge +EV in the "might". Daniel is the one that started with the "family" stuff attempting to call Shaun out for not being there when his child was born...well hey...if you go there and get trapped in an uncomfortable position...who.s fault is that?<br />
<br />
How does Kid Poker handle this in Amanda's eyes? If he doesn't take the bet then does he have confidence in their love for each other? Is or will there be some sort of pre-nuptial between KP and AL? Deeb basically said on the podcast him and Ashley dont have one and if he ever cheated on her she would take everything and leave him...including all the money. He loves her dearly...loves his family even more...is probably a great Dad to his kids...and hes confident in his marriage...I really like the guy.<br />
<br />
I wanted to just put my "humble .02" out there as some of you know the reason I dont play as much as I used to is because I have a 9 years old at home. I feel the same way about my wife as Shaun does that he would never cheat on his wife and loyalty means everything. Wild Bill also has 3 young children and its my perception they also have a great life/marriage with beautiful kids.<br />
<br />
Deeb talks on the podcast about back in the day when him and KidPoker were more friendlier they had a discussion and Deeb told Kid Poker he would be a "Great Dad"...and KP said he wasnt interested in having kids back then. I think anyone with kids will back me up and say there is a love out in the world we never knew existed until we had children.<br />
<br />
Let KP/AL have children and let this sort of Prop Bet come up again and I bet KP jumps on it and will see it as a huge "push". I would have liked to seen Deeb throw out something like a 5 year escrow. Both marriages stay together for 5 years its a push and everyone gets their money back.<br />
<br />
Anyhow...I like Shaun Deeb more now then I did before...and I admire his courage to stand up and be willing to let the whole world know his family comes before anything.<br />
Peace<br />
GeneD<br />
<br />
<i>"What happens in court is a story...It is not whats true...What prevails in court is whichever of 2 fictional narratives makes the most material sense to the lowest common denominator"</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"What I am asking you is if something was too complicated to explain ...you would advise not not explaining it at all?"</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"Absolutely"</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Interaction in the Movie "Mojave" between Garrett Hedlund and is Attorney and his Attorney Walton Goggins</i><br />
<pre style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; left: -99999px; position: absolute; text-align: center;">What happens in court
is a story.
It isn't what's true.
What prevails in court is whichever
of two fictional narratives
makes the most material sense
to the lowest common denominator.
Read more: https://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=mojave</pre>
<pre style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; left: -99999px; position: absolute; text-align: center;">What happens in court
is a story.
It isn't what's true.
What prevails in court is whichever
of two fictional narratives
makes the most material sense
to the lowest common denominator.
Read more: https://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=mojave</pre>
<pre style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; left: -99999px; position: absolute; text-align: center;">What happens in court
is a story.
It isn't what's true.
What prevails in court is whichever
of two fictional narratives
makes the most material sense
to the lowest common denominator.
Read more: https://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=mojave</pre>
GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-67497924821696538102019-01-30T17:16:00.000-08:002019-01-30T17:18:11.895-08:00I finally got some time so I figured I would bust out a Blog right quick.<br />
<br />
Whats been happening...Hmmmm. I have found some time to play a little poker over the past couple of weeks. I been playing once or twice a week in a weekly tournament either at Coushatta or Harrahs. I wasnt able to play the Heater at the Beau as I had work commitments. I planned on firing a couple of shells at the WSOP Circuit they ran Tunica last week...but could not get up there.<br />
<br />
I plan on playing more poker in the near future...My son is now 9 years and I will be able to start to try to play more.<br />
<br />
Lots of good things coming up with GCP and Poker Gras...we are getting some traction on multiple fronts and you sill be seeing some big news coming soon.<br />
<br />
See Ya soon!!!<br />
GeneDGeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-65280115054687139472018-05-25T07:42:00.000-07:002018-05-25T07:42:11.926-07:00New Blog for 2018Had some time to sit down and bang out a new blog pre-wsop. We just finished with the New Orleans Circuit event and everyone is getting geared up for wsop in Vegas. I am unsure if I will be heading out this year as Ivy is now 8 years old and he is at that "cool age" and we have alot planned for the summer...we will see.<br />
<br />
Played a few events in New Orleans including the $1650 Main Event. I wasnt happy with how I played ...but then again I will always find fault with my play unless I win...lol.<br />
<br />
Its an exciting time to be in poker as the laws may be changing soon, and online poker may come back in full force. GCP has been a mainstay for poker on the Gulf Coast and we hope to take advantage of the second coming to bring GCP to more computers in the future and gain more readers. Bill and I want to take the time to thank everyone who has came back for the stories and blogs. We wish we could update the site more but there is just not that much poker news on the Gulf Coast.<br />
<br />
Any Poker Tournaments out there that would want to see how many numbers/viewers we get tot he site please reach out to either Bill or I. We worked the Marketing for the WSOP Circuit event in New Orleans as well HPT Boomtown and numerous Pearl River Events.<br />
<br />
I hope to play more tourneys and events the rest of 2018...Hope to see everyone around<br />
Take care<br />
GeneD<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-77640905421758239942016-07-04T15:24:00.005-07:002016-07-04T15:24:46.827-07:00Heading to VegasHey Guys...as many of you know I am heading to Vegas to play in the Main Event of the WSOP in a few days. I have been swimming everyday and eating nothing but vegetables and fruit to try to get my mind right. I lost 5 -6 lbs since I was announced as the 6th runner. For those that do not know what I am talking about here...<br />
<br />
Will "Poker Monkey" Souther has an investment group that I have been apart of for the last 3-4 years and he collects investment shares at $200 a piece and for every 50 shares sold...he send a player to the Main Event at a 35-65% stake with the investment group getting the big swig. I was confident (If you read my previous blog) that this year he was going to easily sell out the shares ...the closer we got to the Main Event. Once they had sold out 5 players/250 shares...Monk shot me a text while I was sitting in the $500 Coushatta event telling me that they were going for 6 players this year...and that I would be #6 if he could sell it out...another 50 shares. He also announced it on Facebook so I was getting blown up from all my friends letting me know in case I hadn't seen it.<br />
<br />
WOW!!!!...I was taken aback and pretty pumped!!<br />
<br />
Well...he sold out that last runner/50 shares in ...I think...it was within 24 hours...I know it was fairly fast. I had thanked Monk early in the week once the last 2 of the original 5 were announced thanking him for considering me. I was still a little "blown away" that I was going and that last 50 shares were sold so quick...Thank you to all that recruited...spoke highly of me...invested in me...to take a page from Wild Bill..."ALRIGHT...ALRIGHT...ALRIGHT"...lol<br />
<br />
Since I was announce, I have been burning up the videos on Card Runner all week and will be hitting "Float the Turn" also tonight. I also went back to my 2 favorite books...Johnathan Little Vol 1 and 2.<br />
<br />
Looking forward to seeing all the other players when we get there. Obviously Wild Bill and I have dissected more hands between the 2 of us than any other player alive in the past 10-15 years. Looking forward to meeting Stephen, Christian and Dr Laura...and looking forward to seeing Robert again. Robert and I have alot of history with him living on the Gulf Coast for awhile a few years ago. We have played against each other many times and I think we both have a solid respect for each others game. In fact...in that Circuit Event where I won the Casino Championship at the IP in 2011...we were at a Final Table together.<br />
<br />
Well...I am Pretty pumped...flying out this week...I am planning on playing Day 2 which will be Sunday...my twitter feed is @gcpgened.<br />
<br />
GeneD<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b><i>"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b><i>Game of Thrones</i></b></span>GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-79824556202547504072016-05-25T15:52:00.002-07:002016-07-29T10:51:31.818-07:00Its been awhile...<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hello anyone still reading this blog…I am in New Orleans now waiting to play the final post-lim and final circuit event of the season. Congrats to Wild Bill for
making it to day 2 along with a host of other friends (you know who you are). I
whiffed the 1<sup>st</sup> couple of tournaments last weekend, and I had a
funeral party to go to for my Aunt Linda last Saturday so I had to skip most of the weekend. I’m in sales and our EOM (End of Month for non
salesfolks) was last Friday 5/20…so I also had my hands tied a little during
the week. The plan was to play some megas and if I didn’t satty into the High
Roller or the Main Event to fire bullets at the last 2 post-lims to try to win
a ring. Today at 3pm will be the final chance for anyone to win a ring this
season and before the actual WSOP.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The WSOP…yep…its right around the corner. I am going to
try to get out to play a few events this year as I been absent the past couple.
It seems I landed on Monk’s Possible Minion list to play the Main Event because some
friends and investors decided to put my name in the hat. I am really humbled by
this as we all know how brutal the game of poker can be…variance is a bitch. I
know Monk is trying to drum up some sold shares early but I predict it will
happen just like the past few years…halfway through the wsop schedule the main
event will start to loom and then people are going to want to jump on board to
get a piece of the action. I truly feel he will be sending as many as he sent
the past 2 years. I am confident that my family/friends will buy some shares that are not gamblers. I want to publicly thank him for considering me for the
honor, but I also understand there are a lot of other good players to choose
from. Either way…I am planning on making a trip to Vegas this wsop.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Poker wise…I have been playing as much as I can with work
and the family. I don’t remember the last time I blogged so I will focus on
just a few events. GCP got an advertising assignment for the Pearl River Resort
series in Philly, MS recently. Bill and I both went up to play the main and
both my swaps cashed…Bill and Dave Chocheles. Great run event as always by Eric
Comer…lots of comps given away…there was also a slight overlay but if you take
away the casino rake/juice…I think they get there. I will also tell you guys that this is a great Casino
location. I will be bringing the family to hit the waterpark this summer…food
was ok. I think I played well in the event…wound up sattying my way into the
main event.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I also headed on up to the Heartland Poker Tour in
Vicksburg, MS. I sattyed into their main event also and wound up playing for
about 5 hours on the same table as Robert Williamson III…what a cool guy. He
was drinking wine and really having fun and I may be wrong, but I think he was some sort of “honored guest” per say. Chan Pelton was also at our table and Chan wound up
winning the event. I want to apologize to Chan as of course me being something
near/wanna be poker media and having a big mouth...I had to ask him about the “chip debacle”
down in Florida. I didn’t realize how “touchy “ of a subject it was to Chan and
he was obviously flustered and became a little embarrassed and didn’t want to
talk about it. I hope he gets over it and he realizes that anyone trying to 3<sup>rd</sup>
level him may bring it up just to get under his skin. That’s not what I was
trying to do…and I do apologize …FWIW…and he did win the event and a cool $42k.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This brings me to the guy that got 2<sup>nd</sup> place
in Vicksburg…old school pool player Elby Tyson. Elby and I sat next to each
other in the Satty and he immediately took a liking to me …and after we started
talking about playing pool and I realized who he was…we kinda hit it off and
hung out. We had lunch together and talked about pool. You see…I use to play
pool competitively in my younger days and lived with the local “Stakehouse” from Houma Troy
Hebert…Troys known in the Rec.Billard/Pool online forums as the “Houma Hitman”. Troy
was getting divorced from his wife and he had gotten shot at out there by himself and he asked me to come stay</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Troy and his wife owned The Orange Grove plantation in Houma
and we had access to the Big House but Troy and I lived in one of the small
cottages on the grounds. We had a stocked pond in our backyard…pool with a
working Hottub (I was actually in my senior year of college and I was working a
swimming pool route and I took care of the pool)…go carts…weight room…all kinda
cool stuff…we had some wild parties at that place…anyyywaaayyys<br />
<br />
Below is the Pic of the house we lived in for close to a year....<img src="http://www.orangegroveplantation.com/_photos/cottage-page.jpg" /><br />
<br />
The Big House...We had access to the Bog House and it was some cool...there were hidden staircases...old school stuff<br />
<br />
<img src="http://www.orangegroveplantation.com/_photos/mansion.jpg" /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<img alt="Cottage 14" src="http://www.orangegroveplantation.com/_photos/cottage-14.jpg" /><br />
<br />
I was always around Troy... I would get in smaller
action while he ran the big dogs for the high stakes…It was nothing for Scotty Townsend…Eddie
Brown…Lil Sal…Gary Adoud or other top pool players to show up and hang out at the house in between their
road trips. Well Elby played on that speed and played against the best in
South. Really nice guy and man does he have some gamble in him…I watched the
PLO game that after day 1 and they were throwing chips around.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Coming back around to the New Orleans circuit event this
last weekend…I whiffed the High Roller Mega and a few sngs…whiffed the sattys
into the main. Played the $365 ring event on Saturday and made a terrible call
with AJo against this Asain guy from Lafayette that I should know his name but
cant remember it. I raised with A-Jo…he defends flop was something like 5-6-8
with 2 hearts. I c-bet and he rips… and I snap called. I was thinking in my
head that he was going to try to push me off the hand and I didn’t think he had
any of that…he turns over something like 4-9h…and he bricks all his outs and I
doubled up. I can tell there were several guys that were like “Daaammmmnn kid”…yea…I
hate that play in hindsight. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After busting out of the $365 turbo…Bill and I both
jumped in the Nightly. These nightlies use to be Bill and I’s “bread butter”.
This is where Kenny 1<sup>st</sup> started staking me back in 2008…etc. Well I
get a couple of beers in me and decide I am playing this tourney just to have
fun…started playing crazy and kidding with the whole table…shoving anything
that smelled like it might hold…and Bill and I make the final table…It paid 9
but we gathered up the $10 from everyone for the bubble…Bill took the bubble…I
got 6<sup>th</sup>…Blaaaahhhh (I had already decided in my head I was not
chopping…their lucky)<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfae7; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">"You should move to a small town, somewhere the rule of law still exists. You will not survive here. You are not a wolf, and this is a land of wolves now" Benicio Del Toro as Alejandro in <b><i>"Sicario"</i></b></span><br />
<br /></div>
GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-64459820108122243042015-04-11T08:16:00.001-07:002015-04-11T11:51:32.217-07:00Well..Well...Well...What have here?...a Blog?Hi to all who are left reading this blog. I had made it a New Years “resolution”
to start blogging more often and start to focus more on my Poker game…but that was in January when I started this particular
blog post…4 months later…I am completing it…LOL<br />
<br />
I had a great year in 2014 and we are pretty much finished building our new house. We are in the final
stages of flipping the construction loan to traditional financing, but we had no
idea how much added cost come with building a house…Landscaping hits us for $4k…
“window treatments” was $4k (I like the way the sales girl worded that…making it seem
like my windows were getting a spa day)…now we need a shed…more flower beds…gutters in
certain spots…etc. It seems like a never ending cycle of “$500 here…$1000 there”…sigh.<br />
<br />
But we are super happy and we love the new house and the added space. It makes me feel
good to know we have a standalone playroom just for my son and his friends…and
we love the trees. My grandfather planted the 5 (five) Oak Tress that grace out property and we chose
the house design to compliment the lot as well and fact that the Government forced us
to build off the ground. I am being told by numerous contractors though that …”That’s a good thing
Gene”….I guess so…we love our house. (Pics below)<br />
<br />
Poker wise I have cashed in a few event s since I last blogged. I will highlight them in this blog but
keep in mind that they were months ago so my comments will be based off what I remember
of the situations…etc.
Back in July/August of 2014 I played the Coushatta event and went deep in the preliminary event.
I made it down to 2 tables left with about 16-17 players…only person I knew to be a good player left
was Dave “Diesel” Nicholson…I was working my 25-30 bigs looking for a good spot. I get it in against a
short stack my A-K vs his A-Q…he hits a Queen…I am now down to 12-13 bigs. Very next hand…I look down at
QQ…the UTG player on my right with about 30 bigs raised 4-5x the BB….I rip…big stack Asian Kid OTB
goes deep in the tank…He’s posturing…I think to myself, “Oh great…hes got KKs or AAs and he is
trying to get the UTG guy to stick his all in as well”…He finnnallly rips as well…UTG players says…”I
don’t think I can fold these” and calls and shows KK…Asian kid AA…I picked up a little over
$2k.<br />
<br />
What else…I made the final table in the WSOP circuit event in Biloxi at the IP. I wound up
coming in 4th for over $3400…I has happy with the way I played but felt I could have played
better. I could tell I need some more time at the tables to kick some rust off. It was also one of
the toughest Final Tables I have played in some time. Austin Buchanan got 3rd place and I was really
impressed with Mark Fink’s game. He wound up getting 1st and I think a 3rd also…in fact…I think
he wound up the Casino Champion in that event. You can look for this guy to do some damage in poker in the future.<br />
<br />
I went to the Coushatta Spring Poker Championship but could not play as I had to play Golf
with some Clients on the day of Main Event. Got unlucky in the cash games. I am really starting to
like these events at Coushatta…Easiest Tourney with the best Value in juice…if you can stand the
Indians/Staff running the tournament. I like them…I think they do a great job…I just wish they
would let Bill and I know when there having their events so we can post them up on GCP.<br />
<br />
I went check out the WPT event at the IP…I didn’t play because I didn’t like the turnout…then a week later I
played the 6 max at the Beau. I had a great time and felt I played the best I could with the cards
I got. I didn’t cash but made it to the final 3 tables… I got to sit next to the eventual winner for the
early part of the tourney…Gabe Costner.
It was great to catch up with Gabe and see how happy he is with his new son…hes gonna be a great
Dad…Congrats on the score Gabe!!!<br />
<br />
A really cool thing happened recently on GCP…not sure if we posted something up about it
or not on the main site. We were able to grab the .com of gulfcoastpoker. So if anyone types
in gulfcoastpoker.com…it will bring them to the “Branded .Net Site” (Thanks Michael!!)<br />
<br />
That’s about it for now…<br />
<br />
"I'd consider myself a realist, alright? But in philosophical terms I'm what's called a
pessimist... I think human consciousness is a tragic misstep in evolution. We became
too self-aware. Nature created an aspect of nature separate from itself - we are creatures
that should not exist by natural law... We are things that labor under the illusion of
having a self, that accretion of sensory experience and feelings, programmed with total
assurance that we are each somebody, when in fact everbody's nobody... I think the
honorable thing for our species to do is to deny our programming. Stop reproducing,
walk hand in hand into extinction - one last midnight, brothers and sisters opting
out of a raw deal"
Matt McConaughey as Russ Cohle on HBO's <b>"True Detective"</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjnotScUuh0FgfSAhfIJdna1-EpSkcrIf9KrNSVyymri4WhpmFNp4BFUKMSYWiWotHwqFdh0xxpPIEX0L5dm8Q6Uw7VXZQeGgpNfrWK8n-U1W5zF_RsETRKCP4fUe1pfpDf3_uA/s1600/House4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjnotScUuh0FgfSAhfIJdna1-EpSkcrIf9KrNSVyymri4WhpmFNp4BFUKMSYWiWotHwqFdh0xxpPIEX0L5dm8Q6Uw7VXZQeGgpNfrWK8n-U1W5zF_RsETRKCP4fUe1pfpDf3_uA/s320/House4.jpg" /></a><b><i></i></b>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mqmV7E-dhzEUOOgoXu-DLVQUneV8kl0jBSm5cWGGMed_peVialBlgLqdouIddMHYmFzO1X2OQtIjYi0-cverts0MHAJbRbZDuy0NCYkZHJbSH30x1BUstpgAVthTZdUbP9l4Qw/s1600/House2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mqmV7E-dhzEUOOgoXu-DLVQUneV8kl0jBSm5cWGGMed_peVialBlgLqdouIddMHYmFzO1X2OQtIjYi0-cverts0MHAJbRbZDuy0NCYkZHJbSH30x1BUstpgAVthTZdUbP9l4Qw/s320/House2.jpg" /></a>GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-38790848655375639982014-05-21T07:14:00.003-07:002014-05-21T07:14:49.426-07:00Round and Round we go...Hello all who are left here. I apologize for the long delay in blogging but I just have not had it in me to sit down and bust one out. I got hazed a little recently and then came on to the site and saw... "Damn...I haven't wrote a blog since 2013 around November"...yikes...maybe I can put something together here about what I been up to...I don't know.<br />
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Poker wise I haven't played in a bunch of events...but I have been playing enough to keep my chops somewhat sharp. I have been beating the cash games when I get to play, but haven't had much success in the tourneys I have been playing...but I will discuss a few here below:<br />
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Mid States Poker Tour (MSPT) came into Baton Rouge and put on a tournament with a $100k Gaurantee that had a buy-in of $1100. Good things I liked about the tourney were I was real impressed with the owner of MSPT Bryan Mileski. He came into town in a tough spot and assessed the situation and adapted to his environment to put on a great event. I really like the smaller "personal touch" tours and the "Satellite Structures" to get players into the main event is a smart move vs just blowing through prelims...etc. The tourney was held during Mardi Gras which I personally believed was a good thing so tourney rounder's could see the Mardi Gras parades as the Parades passed literally... right in front of the Casino. Most of the locals would probably take this as a "negative". <br />
The tournament was held at the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino which most poker players know in the State of La...is known for being pretty "Rough/Shady"...but I must admit that they did in fact step up to the plate and do everything they could to accommodate the poker players. I am going to say I was absolutely "Stunned" when with 2 tables left in the tourney... the Casino Boat General Manager called all his slot bosses over and in a somewhat pissed off voice said, "I CANT BELIEVE I am doing this but TURN OFF THE VOLUME on all the slot machines up here" (3rd Floor)...15 min later we had a somewhat normal poker room...you could hear chips riffling...etc. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen/heard it myself. Also the structures got tweeked by Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler while the Baton Rouge event was going on to make the structures "Chainsaw Approved".<br />
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Bad things about the Event...They didn't get as many as we had hoped. (GCP was a Marketer/Sales agent for the event)...Cash games were non-existent except for 1-3 limit holdem played with white chips. I believe that the Casino should have had a dealer sit there during peak hours with a 1-3 NL card and even rally some locals to come play. If the game jumps off even 3 handed I believe they would have gotten a NL cash game going. Food kind of sucked also...I have never been a fan of that restaurant they have there.<br />
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I was able to get a respectable stack and made it through to day 2 pretty confident. I cooler-ed WSOP Bracelet winner Nick Jivkov in a 50k pot with set over set...my Kings against his deuces. I played an interesting hand with 2nd place finisher Kou Vang where I flop bottom 2 on an ace high board and he rivers higher 2 pair. Got to play with a bunch of other good players...and some bad. I was knocked out 13th-14th and they paid 11 places...Monkey and Justin "@theycallmetrues" Truesdell were at my final table.<br />
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I also made it over to Coushatta to play that event...nothing going...Whiffed the Beau tourney and their Main Event...got semi-coolered by Ben Mintz...Blind vs. Blind my A-Q vs. his A-K on an Ace high flop...at least my chips went to a nice guy<br />
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There has also been alot of news lately ...National News and Twitter/Facebook news about players "Angle Shooting" and such. Phil Ivey made the national news in the Borgata scandal. Personally...what Ivey has built in Poker/Gaming...his team/website will eventually blow-up huge...I dont think he should have to go around "semi-cheating" casinos. I am indifferent about who was right or wrong...I dont really care...I just dont think he should have to put himself in these types of "shady spots"...he should be above that. Say what you want about Hellmuth but you dont read about him being sued by casinos because of defective playing card printers.<br />
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All poker players need to also understand that Twitter/Facebook opens you up to getting "Called Out" by your poker peers if you try to angle shoot or do sketchy stuff. Nancy Birnbaum found this out the hard way recently. We have been playing with Nancy for years and she has emerged as a "known pro"...and she was called out for doing something other players thought was sketchy...twitter flame war ensued. The guy that won the National Championship the year I played...Ryan Eriquezzo...got slammed for crumbling cards in a tourney and got DQ'ed...then he wanted to debate with Matt Glantz on twitter who is that poker room's "ambassador" ...really??...not a smart move.<br />
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I am not saying any of these people did...or didn't do...anything wrong...all I am saying is watch your self out there or you could wind up like Robert "Uncle Krunk" Panitch who gets called out by Johnny Bax for going to restroom at the WPT Championship ...and didn't wash his hands. In fact...this is the 2nd time he is called out as I seem to remember Tim "TK" Miles tweet something similar about Uncle Krunk months before...BE CAREFUL OUT THERE FOLKS!!!<br />
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Our House broke ground last week...we hoping to be in by my son Ivey's birthday on 11/9...Ivey's growing up faster than we want...I am told it always happens this way.<br />
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Every now and then... I play with a player that I can tell is way above avg...and is just an all around solid poker player. I had the pleasure of playing the MSPT tourney in Baton Rouge with a players named Matt Kirby...one of the sponsored MSPT players...and he was by far...the best player I have seen in a long time. I played everyday with him in Baton Rouge...Sattys...and in the Main Event...and we wound up 4 handed in a Satty with Matt and another player from the MSPT tour...and Me and "Trucker" Kenny Milam from Louisiana...3 got a seat...and Matt shifted gears 4 handed on the bubble...better than anyone I have seen in a long time...look out for this guy in the future and I would take him to win a bracelet this summer in the WSOP.<br />
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Thats all folks...and I was the eventual "stone cold" bubble boy in that satty...LOL<br />
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Take care...<br />
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"Anything in life worth doing...is worth overdoing...Moderation is for cowards"<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Alexander Ludwig as Shane Patton in <b><i>Lone Survivor</i></b></span><br />
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<br />GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-91063837418280796892013-11-29T17:24:00.000-08:002013-11-29T17:24:21.693-08:00Wow...a Blog you say...Blog...What's a blog?LOL...that's what I have been feeling like recently as its been months since my last blog. I have been working a lot and staying ridiculously busy, and working on trying to get my family into a new house. This blog may take a few days to get up but I will start putting dates just in case I can't pull this blog off in one sitting.<br />
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11/22/13:<br />
I have been doing really well at work and just totally love my job. I have mentioned previously what it is like to hate your job only to really see the "forest through the trees" once you get a good job working for good people. That's where I am at now. I could not be more happier with the company I work for, my boss and upper management , as well as my fellow employees/peers that I interact with on a daily basis. I truly believe that God has guided me to where I need to be. I know I have seen lots of twitter feeds from atheist that believe there is no God...I respect everyone's opinion and some of those people who post are friends that I respect dearly....I do believe that there is some sort of a "Higher Power" guiding all of us...but I don't want to get flamed for believing in God...most poker players are math gurus...so lets go in that direction and I will fall into the rest of the 3/4 of the worlds population in announcing that "yes"...I believe there is some sort of Higher Power. Think about that atheist/non-believers...3/4 (three-quarters)...not 1/2 (half)...3/4(three-quarters) of the worlds population...some of the smartest people that have ever walked the face of the earth...believe there is a God. I read somewhere that true believers think atheist have just had an easy-going life and haven't gotten to that point yet where ...as an example...your child is hit by a car and he is in Emergency Surgery with his life hanging in the balance...I don't care what your day to day beliefs are...right there... your ass is gonna drop to your knees and your gonna pray...to something...I don't care to what...I guarantee it.<br />
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On to our new house...in the last blog post I posted a picture of a House that my grandparents built that Julie and I came into possession of. We were gung-ho on a complete renovation and moving in asap...well God had other plans. We knew that the house had some serious foundation issues as it was built on piers/beams/sills in the early 50s...we were going to tackle that in the renovation until we took all the bricks off the house and found "massive" termite damage behind the bricks, reality set in...and with a heavy heart and many tears later...we had to wind up tearing the house down in a complete demolition. The picture of the house in my previous post is gone...only thing left is a great lot in a great part of town in the right school district...and the old basketball goal and my grandfathers BBQ Pit. We have decided to rebuild. We are now days away from signing with a contractor to come in and build a brand new house from the ground up. We are excited to finally being able to move forward with getting a bigger house...and we believe we found the right contractor to build the house at a reasonable price....more on that to come.<br />
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WSOP Main Event: <br />
I want to give a big congrats to Ryan Reiss in taking this thing down. I was pulling for JC Tran ahead of Reiss, but I had a feeling this kid was going to make some waves...waves he did make...by taking the whole thing down. I liked the telecast as a whole but wish they would have focused more on a lot of the "other" players getting down to the final 9 instead of the ones that made the FT. As always...once they get down to 3 tables...most of the coverage is geared around the 9 that actually make the FT...its a standard TV tactic to get the audience interested in the 9 that will be left. I was pretty impressed that so many pros/known players made the FT...JC Tran/Raptor/Newhizzle/Reiss were all good for the game at that point.<br />
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WSOP Circuit IP:<br />
I made an appearance at the IP WSOP event this year as it seems I will always make that event since it is where I had my "run good" moments 2 years ago and punched my ticket to the WSOP Circuit National Championship that year (sick brag there...lol). I remember getting the two 3rd place finishes and Bill and Kenny walking up to me saying, "GeneD...your in the running for the Casino Championship in this event for the National Championship:...and me replying, "What...what do mean Casino Champion?...what's that"?...I didn't have a clue. Thanks to Blake Barousse for betting on me with the last longer in that $1k vs Slim...when I found out that the bet was booked it gave me extra motivation to try to do well...I still have nightmares about the headsup match...<sigh><sigh></sigh></sigh><br />
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This year I couldn't get anything going in the prelims but played the Main Event. My card dead run continued in the Main Event but got to play that day with Mike Horchoff (aka The_Choff) ...who got 3rd in that latest WPT event in Jacksonville a few days. Great guy and a great player...congrats Choff on his first 6 digit score of your career ....one of many to come. Also congrats to Corey "Slim" Wuenstel for being in that same Final Table. Also..thanks to all the people who bought chunks of me in the main also...we will get them soon!!!<br />
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Coushatta:<br />
I got to play at the Coushatta events recently but couldn't get any traction there also. I had to play in a Golf tournament at Cousatti Pines the golf course there. I brought with me the Manager of the Field Ops techs of the company I work for. His name is Dexter Diaz and he is also a scratch golfer. He was an online poker player pre-black Friday and loves to play Poker...our 1st poker conversation we ever had sort of started like this...<br />
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I am sure that we all run into those people in our "day to day" lives that claim to have "won this...won that"...you all know the drill. One of your customers/random folks finds out that you play poker semi-professionally/seriously and they bust out with , "Yea...I play poker too...I beat [<em><strong><u>Insert your biggest name pro/Home Game/Monetary Amount]...</u></strong></em>here/there back in the day"...etc. Well I had that same conversation with Dexter but I happened to be in front of my PC at the time. Dexter starts telling me about how he won this online tournament and got to go to Europe to play/hang out with Howard Lederer/Annie Duke/Marcel Luske/Thomas Bihl...etc. How they all hung out in Europe...he had Howard Lederer's cell phone number ...I was like, "Yyyeeeaaaaaaaa....You goottttt thooossse TPS reeeeeports" while I was goggling my ass off...and low and behold I found this link...a classic:<br />
<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/poker/columns/story?columnist=feldman_andrew&id=2322221">http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/poker/columns/story?columnist=feldman_andrew&id=2322221</a> (He literally called Howard right in front of me and got his VM with his publicist voice on it)<br />
Dexter actually wins the nightly that we played in ....and crushed the Mississippi Stud game after and walked out of the Casino after we played golf with over $2k in his pocket....great guy....look out for him at your tables...LOL.<br />
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Bossier:<o:p></o:p></div>
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I headed up to Bossier to give it a shot
at a few events there and was going to play the Megas trying to get into the
Main Event and also had some business meetings there. I got there the night before the $580 and gave it a whirl. All the circuit regulars
were there, and after a workout/steam room/sauna at the Eldorado (Highly
recommend the Eldorado...great hotel and poker room...and the gym/wet area of
the spa is all free with your stay. I had the whole Mens Spa area to myself
every time I went while I was there…and the hot tub was right at 102-103 degrees)...After I
moseyed on over to get my #6 seat in the $580 ... 2 solid circuit grinders
in seat 2-7...then had Ralph Massey on my direct right…Dan Lowery sits in seat 10 a few
minutes later…and the a few minutes after that Keith Lehr takes the 8 seat…great. I had several people tell me that was one of the toughest tables there. I played as well as I think I could have with the cards I had…I made a few
mistakes…I wound up getting it in good to triple up and be back at Avg Chip Stack when
this kid opens…I then three-bet shoved 10bbs with 7h7s…guy on my left
snap-calls…original opener tank-calls with a disgusted look on his face. They
check it down all the way past the turn with baby cards on board…Im standing waiting on river saying to myself, “No Paint…No Paint…No Paint”…river is a Q…I let out a sigh as
they both checked again and guy on my left tables K-Qo…other kid had some kind
of 2 gabber in suited cards…smoothing like 6-3h…or something.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Decided to play the megas the next morning to the Main Event…I was
ready to play well and win my seat…the Mega Tourney started…45 minutes later
after firing 2 bullets I was in my truck on my way south on I-49 towards
Lafayette …6th or 7th hand I looked at... I was over an 85% favorite holding AKo vs AJo on
a A94r board…head to re-enter...next bullet was 3-4 hands later with me holding AA vs QQ…showers for me...I texted some close poker friends “I need to change…I aint living right or something”…LOL<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I know they say "Its better to keep your mouth shut and appear to be an idiot, then to open it and remove all doubt"...lol...but I am going to dive into 2 situations in poker that I have strong feelings about and would like some feedback from other players...whether is verbal or on this blog. Please don't flame me for being "results oriented" as when you can't play poker for a living/have a day job...its hard to out run the variance so in essence...you have no choice to focus on all results. This is coming from myself reading/hearing/discussing these situations with other players...Both of these moves were prevalent in this years WSOP Main Event telecast...the strength of a check-call...and 3-4 bet ripping with KK-QQ-JJ when players are sitting with over 35-40 big blinds.<br />
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11/27/13<br />
I personally think that the "Check-Call" is one of the most powerful and strongest plays a person can make as it play's into a CC person's reading ability of his opponents...and its the most fundamental play for "pot control" as we all know "pot control" is practically synonymous to "small ball" poker. I saw Carlos get some flack about it online and I use it a lot myself. It lets you really get a good read on overly aggressive players that think poker revolves around aggression. Aggression is a key component to poker success, but we also hear "well-timed aggression". Every time a player whiffs the flop he can't just 3 barrel away...lets say you call a small raise from a MP player sitting in the BB with 3 other players with 87s...flop comes 9h-7d-4c...you check-call as everyone folds to the cbet and if you watch him closely when the turn hits...there you can pick up lots of info if the turn is ...saaayy...the 4d. You now have to think your hand is best as a 9 or 4 are not in his range here...and how did he react? Does he go in the tank or just fires out? you check-call and continue to watch him and when the river get there that is the 2s...your in a really good spot there is all I am saying. I just wanted to point out that the check-call is a powerful play as it put aggressive players on their heels when you call them down with 2nd pair after they try to 3 barrel that board texture...and then you listen to them "mumbling" something to himself.<br />
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I have seen it over and over again in live tournaments and on the WSOP Main Event forecast...players who come to believe that QQ is the "end all - be all" in their tournament and they are prepared to put their whole tourney on the line with this hand. You have all seen the hands on TV also...player X sitting with 47 bigs and looks down at QQ...he opens for a standard raise...back around to someone further down the table who puts in the standard 3 bet ...everyone folds back to the QQ who after acting all cool announces..."I am all in"...the other player calls with a variety of hands from A-K thru A-10 ...even K-Q...and low and behold an Ace or a King hits the flop and everyone groans about "losing a race" or whatever. Why not just make the call and see the flop? If the flop comes down 8 high...you know your still in good shape with 9-9/10-10/J-J...etc...but if the flop comes down As-Kh-6d and your sitting in a Major tournament with 3 tables/26 players left...you at least have an option for you.<br />
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11/28/13<br />
Today is Thanksgiving...and I have so many things to be Thankful for. I want to say "Happy Thanksgiving" to all my friends and family out there. As I mentioned earlier in the blog...we are scheduled to sign all the agreements with the contractor early next week to build our new house...we are very excited. The house will be finished in June/July timeframe. <br />
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My wife Julie is graduating from College in a few weeks with her 4 years Bachelors degree in Human Resources. She has already secured a really good job as the HR Manager/Director over a rapidly "growing " Marine HVAC company in town. The people she works for are some of the most generous and nice people...She has been working the job part time and she comes and goes as she needs to get her degree...once she graduates...she will take the position FT...and "as the crow flies"...her office is probably less than a mile from where we are building.<br />
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The day she graduates we are all flying out to Disney World for 5-6 days. I lived in Central Florida for several years back in the mid 90s. I hear they have added some new stuff to the parks so we will have some fun...Ivey is just at the right age where he will enjoy.<br />
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I will be on the coast next week with work as we have a big IT conference scheduled at the Beau Rivage. I will see all the local poker players as I will be sweating the WPT at the IP. I may play the main event and another but it will all be "game time decisions"...depending on how work goes at the conference.<br />
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See you guys there!!<br />
Gene<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><i>"Why Ike, whatever do you mean? Maybe poker's just not your game Ike. I know! Let's have a spelling contest!" Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday in </i><b>"Tombstone"</b></span></span></span><br />
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GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-89934074636346421632013-03-03T19:28:00.000-08:002013-03-03T19:28:13.424-08:00Final table at the BeauSorry for such a huge delay in my blogs, but I have been very busy lately. It took some needling by some players to get me to sit down and knock this thing out...LOL<br />
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This is going to be a quick blog as I have some things to do today. I haven't been playing much poker as I have been working alot at my job and working on starting construction on the remodel of our house at 111 Sherman. I do not think I could work in the construction industry as its always ...delays...delays...delays...with permits...etc. We have decided to look hard at raising/lifting the house as it would be the best situation in the long run. Below is what the house looked like pre-construction.<br />
Its 2 storys with 2400 sg ft living and we can't wait to move in and sell this house I bought while single. Our house is closing in on us with the addition of Ivey, and we have to get this thing completed ASAP!!<br />
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<span id="goog_1409862269"></span><span id="goog_1409862270"></span>I made the final table of the $345 buy in $150,000 guarantee at the Beau recently and finished in 9th place for $2400. I was pretty upset about the finish as I was not happy with the hand I busted out on, and felt I played too well to finish 9th. I also felt I "Bubbled the real money" as one or two spots higher and I would have been in the $5000-$6000 range in the prize pool.</div>
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The final table was full of friends and people I have alot of experience with. I busted out to the eventual winner, Claudie "The Claw" Crawford of WSOP TV fame, and she would go on to win the whole thing. She played really well, and she deserved the win for sure. Also at the final table was Benton Blakeman who is a close friend and a great player. Benton and I have been playing the tournament poker scene since pre-moneymaker as we both grew up within 20min of each other in South Lousiana. Benton went out 4th for close to $10,000. Jerry Ard was also at the table. Jerry became friends with Bill and I during last years circuit run and also played in the National Championship with us. Jerry plays well, but I had him short stacked and dead to spades right after the money bubble busted where he made a move from the button to steal blinds/antes with 4s-7s and I woke up in the big blind with QQ...somehow he gets there to double up...sigh. Also at the FT was Barron Whipple a local Houma Attorney who I have lots of history with. Barron and I have been at so many FTs together its not even funny. He also plays well, but I am very comfortable playing against Barron...he went out 6th for close to $7000. Dane Dubose from Lafayette played well, and I met him at this tourney. He had alot of same folks on the rail pulling for him as I did...Dane went out in 5th for $8400. I really enjoyed the tourney, and was stoked to have so many friends still in but I was still a little upset with my bustout hand...etc.</div>
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I was on the button with Claudia on my direct right ...right after Garland Thomas had just taken a huge beat ...and he was steaming/tilting. I was watching him closely and I saw after he initially looked at his cards with about 2-3 bigs left, he picked up his stack and I knew he was going to put it "all in" light. Everyone folded around to Claudia who was the Chip Leader at this point and she made a standard raise. Being the CL at this point I had Claudia's range to be "any 2 cards"...I would expect her to raise here with anything, and with 8-9 bigs left, I ship with A-5 off suit. Sure enough Garland sticks his chips in light (J-7o...I think)...and Claudia snap calls with 10-10. As soon as she snap called I groaned as I knew I was in trouble. She busted us both on the hand and I was not a happy camper.</div>
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Some might think that with A-5off from the button there is a "Must Shove" situation, but I was not uncomfortable with my stack, and I still had enough chips to hurt somebody. Like I said...I felt I just played too well both days to go out like that...but hey...its poker and it happens.<br />
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I booked a solid Cash win at Coushatta last week where the jackpot was sitting at $380,000...I was in for $300-$400 and out for double that. <br />
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I hope to get to play some of the tournaments coming up around the coast and hope to see everyone there. I hope I can get my schedule right as I can only play on weekends with my job. My job is going great...I have the best boss you can have and my team/peers are also top notch. I think we have the best team in out region by far.</div>
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"When your enemy's making mistakes, don't interrupt him" <span style="font-size: x-small;">Brad Pitt as Billy Beane in <strong><em>"Moneyball"</em></strong></span><br />
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GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-28437164944915158992012-11-08T18:44:00.000-08:002015-08-22T17:17:59.068-07:00Random Blog...I have been taking it easy lately and haven't played much tournament poker (Because there haven't been any tournaments close to me), but wanted to get a blog up so I will bounce around on this one. Some poker related stuff...some not.<br />
<br />
Today is Election Day, and I continue to get hazed by my Dad for not going vote. I was the President of the College Republicans one semester at Nicholls State, and my Dad never lets me live it down. I am just so distraught with how our country is evolving that it makes me depressed to even think about going vote. It’s so funny that there are still people that don’t understand the Electoral College concept and they think they can make a difference...well I am glad that makes them feel good. The way I see it is that Louisiana's EC is going to go Republican...it has for along time and will now, so if people think that their vote really counts I would say there is a website named Google...type in Electoral Colleges...and prepare to feel like your vote doesn't mean a thing.<br />
<br />
I have been on the road lately and catching up on the Scotty/Monkey Podcast, and find it pretty entertaining. I have even been listening to it swapping text with Monk sometimes...kind of funny. You see ...you have to understand Monkey and his sense of humor to really get the most out of the show. I want to make a few comments about some of the stuff I have heard. Sorry for those who don't listen to the show, because some of these you won't get unless you actually listen to the program.<br />
<br />
<u><i>Does Monkey love Amanda Mussumeci? </i></u><br />
These was one of the shows where they had on Ryan Eriquezzo and they were talking about his recent “Come Clean” Blog...about his ex-girlfriend Amanda Messumeci...and him getting sober and announcing all this to the world when Scotty bust out with something along the lines of , "Well Ryan ...your not the only one that loves Amanda...we all love Amanda...right Monkey...Monkey don't you love Amanda Mussumecci too?".<br />
<br />
At this point a huge smile comes over my face in my truck because I know how hard it is for Monk not to say something outlandishly clever/funny...and there’s a pause...and then he says , "I LIKE HER...don't know about love"...all man I was dying laughing. Talk about being put on the spot<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> lol<br />
<br />
I want to make another comments on this episode as a few episodes later Monkey gives his take on Ryan's "Heartfelt/I Love this girl more than anything and want her back" blog...and I could not agree more. I give him all the praise and chops in the world for getting sober, but that blog had only 1 (one) goal...and that was to try to win Amanda back. I felt it was kinda cheesey, but I also know love is a powerful force and makes people do crazy/stupid things. That Blog was a play to try to make things right, and he wants that girl back...period.<br />
<br />
That segways into something that happened at the WSOP National Championship that some might not know about. We are all playing in the tournament when we all hear that Ryan and Amanda had broke up recently and that he had "beat her up". They go to war on twitter...with her posting "mirrored pics" of her mouth all busted up...and they jaw back and forth...and like...I am on one table ...Bill is on another table ...Amanda on table behind me...and Ryan on another table 2 to my right. It was crazy as we all were reading this stuff...and you could glance around and see the actual people...it was nuts. Maybe it all was not happening exactly as we were playing, but that is when I heard about it and got around to reading it all on twitter/facebook. Readers Digest story is she busted her mouth...she claims he physically abused her...he says it was an accident...and somehow the powers that be at the WSOP...made all that stuff disappear before the Final Table 3 days later. Pretty amazing actually that the WSOP could snuff that kind of viral content out.<br />
<br />
Another show where I agree with Monk was on the WSOP Europe bracelets/wins. Sorry guys...no way that those European WSOP wins should count as much as the REAL WSOP events. It my book they all have **asterisks** next to those wins. Poker Brat...I like you and I think your a great player possibly the best ever, but that Main Event win can be characterized as …maybe with a WPT event. The WPT $25k Championship has more clout than those WSOP Europe events.<br />
<br />
I want to say that I really like Scotty's show and he always gets some cool guest continuously...I am not being critical at all here. If you know both host you just catch yourself sometimes laughing to yourself in certain instances.<br />
<br />
And ...that will segway me to another Podcast that I listen to...used to listen to them alot more when Druff and Drexel were on the show...but Donkdowns Micon had on Brandon Cantu after the fiasco in Europe with that Agulair heads up battle. I know I will probably get some flack here, but I am 100% on Cantu's side here. I listen to Cantu explain it, and I think he was wronged. Anyone who has been in tournaments playing for that much money knows that "Game Flow" is crucial. When that flow is upset for unnecessary reason's and they give the other player days to prepare...that’s just unfair. Cantu claims he was crushing Aguilar...that Aguilar was rattled and getting tired/desperate and when the "Game Flow" is upset... that's when tables start to turn. I have seen it happen to too many people...it happened to me in the $1k last year for a ring at the IP...and sometimes its hard to get back in it. If anyone has/knows where there is footage of them playing heads up and Cantu actually crushing him like he claims...please point me in the direction as I would love to watch it.<br />
<br />
What else is happening. Looks like its going to be a "Friends and Family" FT up in Canada as with 30 players left...I didn't recognize one single player...<br />
<br />
11/8/12 (Days Later)<br />
Ok...its now 2 days after the presidential election and Obama has won...shocker. I was really bummed out until I got to talking to alot of the business community down here in Louisiana that is telling me that the Oilfield is fixing to "Blow Up"...no matter who won...cool.<br />
<br />
Julie and I have acquired a new house...to us. We got my Grandma and Grandpa's house in Old Barrios. Great location in the best elementary school district around here. House needs to be renovated and updated, but its built "rock" solid. All real hardwood floors...roof and walls all center-match...2 stories and about 2300 sq ft living...Its going to be fun. We had Ivey's 3rd birthday party there last weekend, and it felt good to see the kids running around upstairs...the house seemed alive again...good stuff.<br />
<br />
I want to say a huge "Thank You" to my Dad and all my Aunts and Uncles for working with us on the acquisition. There sometimes comes a point in your life where you look around at the people you admire most and wonder..."How did that person get to be so good and what makes them so special"...Well these 5 people are at the top of my admirably list...and I know how they got to be who they are and it all happened at 111 Sherman St under the banner of my Grandfather and Grandmother. There will be many more years of blood, sweat and tears come out of that house and if my Ivey grows up to be even half the people my parents/aunts/uncles are...I will be joyously happy.<br />
<br />
Things at my job are going super...I still pinch myself that God guided me from where I was at to the place I am. I have a great boss, and the local team I work with in Fiber-Optics ..well...its the best I have ever seen...period!!<br />
<br />
I did play a 2-5 session at Harrah's recently, and it happen while Monkey was having his fiasco in Hammond. I had 2-3 people come by and say "You hear Monk got 86'ed"? I feel really bad for him as all the people who "Know Him"...know what type of a person he really is...its a shame that he is now being targeted as he is trying to change....sigh.<br />
<br />
We just moved Ivey over to a Montessori School here locally...He was evaluated and came in "Above Average" for his age. We are being told from the previous daycare and the Faculty at this new school that he is "advanced"...today he is 2 years old and tomorrow he will be 3...and he was in the 4-5 year old lesson plans today and beat them all to completion. He must take after his Mother...lol ;-)<br />
<br />
He dressed as Spider Man on Halloween...we will use on of the Spidey quotes then...<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Who am I? You sure you want to know? The story of my life is not for the faint of heart. If somebody said it was a happy little tale... if somebody told you I was just your average ordinary guy, not a care in the world... somebody lied" Tobey Maguire as Spiderman in <b><i>Spiderman 1</i></b></span></span><br />
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<br />GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-46446366120282678522012-09-29T10:45:00.001-07:002012-09-29T10:51:39.017-07:00Coushatta 7 Clans<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s
been awhile…but I been winning ;-)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
I
want to start off by thanking everyone again for all the support I
received while grinding through the Coushatta Main Event last weekend. I really
feel like I played well, and played to win. There were some crazy hands throughout
the entire tournament. Once we got to 6 handed play, I felt I was one of the
better players left. The only player I was concerned about was John “Eric”
Honeycutt who was 2 to my left in the 3 seat. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
I
want to give the Coushatta Staff some kudos also for doing a great job with the
Main Event. The structure I felt was perfect…as good as any WSOP structure I
have played. Randall…Tom and team did a hell of job with what they had to work
with. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
OK…I
guess I will start off some hands with the craziest hand that happened 6
handed. There was a cell phone rule in play, and I had several hands killed on
Day 2 because I was texting on my phone. I also saw several other guys get
their hands killed. I was in the 1 seat in the CO with about 17 big blinds and looked
down at KK. In the big blind was the chip leader from Houston “Mo”, and he was
playing agro to an extreme. I decided a shove might not get me any action, but
a small raise might induce a 3 bet from Mo…then I could 4 bet shove and try to
double up since I am sure he would call me light after already committing
chips. I make my standard raise (a little above a min-raise)…button folds and
the small blind immediately folds and as Mo is reaching for his chips…the floor
jumps in and “kills” his hand as he was texting when the SB’s cards hit the
muck. They killed his hand in muck before he could show, but he was pissed and
claimed to have AA there. I still had not showed my hand…but he continued to
steam and tell the whole table he had AA. I eventually folded my KK face-up and
by his demeanor…me and the whole table did believe he had AA right there. The
pay jump from 6<sup>th</sup> to 5<sup>th</sup> was about $5k, and the 8 seat
went out 2 hands later to get us all to 5 handed. There is just no way we don’t
get it all in right there on a super cooler for me…just no way.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
There was a hand that got me going after
grinding from 20k starting stack up to about 29k. I started the hand with 29k
and looked down at A-10o from middle position. I opened for a raise and only
got one caller. Flop came out with 3sJhQc and C-bet my gutterball trying to
take it down right there…. villain calls. Turn bricks the 5h. I tanked and fired
the 2nd barrel at the bluff and the guy tank-calls. I am starting to
focus on how much exactly I was going to risk on the 3rd barrel when
the Kc appears on the river. I got the straight and just grab some chips
quickly and throw them out there…the guys snap shoves, “All In”…and I am
stunned. I stare at him for a second and say, “What did you say”…he repeated, “All
In”…I was super shocked and that’s when I started to laugh and said, “Man I am
not trying to slow roll you here I just need to look at the board one more time
as I am sure I have the nuts”…I glance to make sure board not paired/no 3’s to a
flush…and I said, “Yup…sorry man…got the nuts”…and sent the guy packing. I kind
of felt bad, but everyone agreed that they could tell he took me by surprise
and I had the right to at least “double check” everything.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
The next hand will show how weird the
texture of the table/game can change on you…sometimes even when you make bad
decisions.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
In another hand with a guy named Joe
Delaney from Houston who was in on the 3 way chop for $30k, I was between Joe
and the eventual winner Mo (Also from Houston and they were buddies) on Day 2
with Joe on my right. We were in BvB situation and I made a play at the pot and
he called me on the flop. The board went 4 to the flush 2h6h8c5h9h…and I had 2
black 7’s in my hand. I called his hand out and knew he was on air…it was so apparent
but I could not get the stones up to make the hero call…we jabbered the whole
way and he told me he would show …but I told him, “I don’t want to see your
hand because I already know you don’t have a heart”…I eventually folded and he showed
2 black cards also and I started to tilt a little.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Well…very next hand later I am in the SB
and his agro buddy Mo who had a bunch of chips is in the BB. I am sitting on
about 40 bigs or so when I keep shaking my head like I am tilting…talking to
Travis behind me…etc. The table folds around to me and I glance down at AA…recklessly
grabbed a stack of ships and just threw them out there, “Call” says Mo. Flop
comes out Jh7d4c. I grab the same size type stack of chips and throw them in
there and Mo snap-shoves….”I cccccccall”. He turns over J3o and I get a big
double up in a big spot right there. If I don’t make that fold the previous
hand then the “Butterfly Effect” takes us all in another direction<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
We get to the Final Table and I have seen
lots of sick hands happen to people, but one of the worst was when my buddy
Jason “Tex” Henderson was at the FT of the Main Event at the IP back in 2006
where Tex has AA is a huge 3 way pot and David Robbins has KK…and a K hits to
crush Tex’s tournament. Well…in this final table we were probably 8-9 hands in
when one of the big stacks makes a raise. A few players later and Alexander
Bylicki from Canada shoves about 15 bbs…around to the player in late position
who eventually tank-calls. Everyone is standing now, and back around to
original raiser and he snap shoves all-in…back around to the caller who goes
back in the tank and is obviously being tortured by his hand.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
The LP player basically says, “There is
only one hand that you could make that play with right here with both our
stacks…playing for $45k”…and goes back in tank…eventually saying, “You can only
have AA here…that’s it”. He folds KK face up to everyone’s surprise…re-shover does
in fact turn up AA. The kid from Canada shows AQo…Flop comes and in the window
is a K. The whole table erupts and the guys is stunned that folded KK.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
These are the kinds of things that happen
in tournaments. It’s a brutal spot and even though he made the correct play
under the circumstances…I hated just the call there. I would have Iso-shoved
there to get the original raiser out. I would have been in bad shape with the
correct play, but would have ended up with a bunch of chips with the cooler and
cracking the AA.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
It felt good to get a nice 5 digit payday
again. Thanks to the guys that took a piece of me I have the pieces carved out
and ready to pay you guys.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
I want to say thanks to the entire
Coushatta staff for doing a hell of a job with the resources they had. When we
ran into issues they addressed them quickly. I talked with Tom Helo a lot about
improvements and I truly believe they want what’s best for everyone. That new
hotel they have there is a killer as well as the new pool and water park for
the kids…that segways into… Tom…if your reading this…Saturday night comped
rooms for the Final Tables players has to be on top of the list ;-)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
A couple of other things I want to mention.
Thanks to Travis Credeur for being there hanging out with me and bouncing hands
off of. I truly believe that he was able to calm me down in day 2 when I was
semi-tilting being in between those 2 Houston folks. I just met Travis this
trip, and hope to see him soon…just a great guy and great hand insight.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
I spoke in my last blog about a hand that Aaron Massey played in the National Championship, and how well I thought Aaron was playing overall...Well he took down the Red River Series Main Event for over $600k. I don't know Aaron personally but just know who he is...but still wanted to put some congrats out there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
I also want to thank my loving wife for all
the support. I couldn't have done it without her encouragement and belief in
me. She’s the one that keeps me going when I get frustrated, and always the
force of keeping me focused. I am amazed at where my life was came to with her…and
I look forward to many more years of marriage. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
We were married today…Sept 29<sup>th</sup>
2006…The best 6 years of my life...<span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"I'd would ask you about love, you'd probably quote me a sonnet. But you've never looked at a woman and been totally vulnerable. Known someone that could level you with her eyes, feeling like God put an angel on earth just for you. Who could rescue you from the depths of hell. And you wouldn't know what it's like to be her angel, to have that love for her, be there forever, through anything..." <i>Robin Williams as Sean in <b>Good Will Hunting</b></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
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GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-38347141543760869282012-08-08T20:50:00.001-07:002012-08-08T21:19:19.614-07:00WSOP National Championship Part 1:<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sigh…tilting…another
bad beat as I wrote half a blog on the 6<sup>st</sup> of April meaning to come
back to it and I log in today to finish and its empty/gone. There is a “saved”
post on the 6th but it’s completely blank.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to
start off by thanking all the folks out there that were pulling for Bill and I
and the flood of well wishers once I made it to Day 2. We also want to thank
everyone who supported the site by wearing the GCP patches…etc…much appreciated</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am trying
to think of some of the stuff I wrote before in version 1…uuuhhhmmmmm</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Getting to
Vegas:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plane ride
into Vegas was the worst of my life, and I was wondering if I was going to make
it there in one piece. I was aware of the fires that had been ravaging
Colorado, and was nervous about my layover in Denver as I didn’t want to get
stuck there. The captain comes over the microphone at one point and announces
to the cabin and crew that all is well and we will be “landing in Denver in 45
minutes”…ok…cool. Then when all we can see is smoke out the windows and all the
folks are looking at their watches 1 ½ hours later, we are starting to get
worried. On top of that we had not started descending as my ears were not
popping like popcorn yet. Then the turbulence started as we started to descend…YIKES!!!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was
this younger couple on the plane with the lady next to me in the aisle seat,
and the dad and the 2 kids are across the aisle in the same row. I started to
see the parents looking at each other with that look of fear and they started
to hug the kids…made me think of Ivey. By the time we landed the lady was in
tears and the whole plane let out a huge sigh of relief….nice</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Vegas:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got in
late so I got a hotel room and hit the cash tables. I booked a nice cash score
and went to bed thinking this is a good way to start the trip. I woke on the 4<sup>th</sup>
and spoke to my backer…we decided on me playing the 6 max at Ceasers Palace. I
made it halfway through the day and had nothing that jumps out at me except
this kid on my left that every time someone jammed on him he had Aces. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moved in the
Rio and Bill and I decided to take the day off and play some donkaments. We
fired at a daily at The Orleans…Bill cashed…I whiffed. We were down to 2 tables
and in a B vs. B situation…I got this local lady to call off ¾ of her stack
when I shove the turn with me holding KJs and her holding Q9o on a K-9-3-2
rainbow board. When the cards hit my table over at Bill’s table…all Bill’s
table could hear was a coordinated “Whooooaaaa…and…WOW”…his whole table looked
over and he and I met eyes as I slowly stood up from the table to gather my
things…some things just go unsaid.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National
Championship:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9:30am and I
first off I hit the workout area and Steam Room. I sat in the steam room and
just envisioned me making the final table in my head…juuussttttt…relaxed. I
found Bill and we started talking about some interaction we had with one of the
players from “Run Good” apparel… A.P. Phahurat. I know some have seen the
pictures of me and saw the patches. They were asking players to wear their
patch, and after some discussion I decided to wear the “Run Good” patch along
with my GCP patch. There was a “monetary” figure that I received, but it was
very small. I think I did it more because I wanted to help the guys out and I
am glad I did. Huy Nguyen (@SavePluto9)
was at my starting table on my right, and I think he is involved in it also.
Huy was on my right at one of the events in New Orleans and we became fast
friends. It was funny that after you know someone at your table is a good
player, but you don’t know who he is…how the conversation starts to go towards
“intel” so you could get enough info on the guy to google his stats and find
out who he is. After about an hour of small talk into the New Orleans event and
us playing on our handhelds, I finally break the ice with, “Damn…so you won a
ring in Choctaw this year…but your still chasing points?”…to which he smiled
and said, “Yea…and you were the Casino Champion in Biloxi I think and your already
in the freeroll”…we have been greeting each other ever since and friendly. He
was on the cover of a “regional” poker magazine similar to the Gulf Coast Poker
magazine called…go figure…”Southwest Poker”…GL to the Magazine.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So…where was
I …oh yea…I wear the patch and Huy is on my right on starting table and I
glance around and have this group of stone cold killers to deal with:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the 1
seat was from WSOP FT fame Joseph Cheong…Seat 2 was “Chainsaw” Allen Kessler…3
Christopher Bonn…4 Kurt Jewell…5 was Will Failla…6 Huy Nguyen…me… and on my
left was seat 8 and Dan Natarelli. The fireworks started early as Cheong and
Jewel go at it in the first 8-9 hands and they continue to 4-5 bet each other pre flop several
times…gonna be fun. 30 minutes in there was a lot of table talk about the poker
community and what was going on when I see Choeng say…”oh no”…and Kessler say,
“Oh My” as up walks Will Failla and he slams his seat card on the 5 seat spot
and yells, “BOOOOOOYAAAAAA…I’m here”. That’s when the fun started. It was a
really fun table. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Side Bar
Here)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me go
into a little bit about my poker experience here…I was card dead the whole
time. The biggest Pocket Pair I saw the whole tournament was Jacks and I got
them twice on Day 1. The 1<sup>st</sup> time, I doubled thru the “Poker Brat” Phil
Hellmuth when I three bet shoved 14 bigs into his AKo with him sitting on about
24 bigs. After Hellmuth bust and they move our table I sucked out for the one
time all tournament when I shoved 9 bigs with A-9o in an unopened pot from late
position and Fabrice Soulier called from one of the blinds with A-Q…and I hit a
9 on the flop. 4 hands later I got JJ again and I did a standard “Stop and Go”
to win a nice pot …chip up…and I rolled into Day 2. There were 2 limpers, and 2<sup>nd</sup>
place finisher Nik Stone made a nice raise…I look down at jacks and just flat
hoping I had just priced in one of the blinds and I did…sb comes along. Flop was
8 high and I shove when they both check to me and I took it down there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(End of Side
Bar)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 2<sup>nd</sup>
table I was at was fairly brutal because I couldn’t make any hands and all I
could do was steal here and there. Sicko’s at the table were Sam Stein and Matt
Keikoen. Wild Bill got moved to my table, and I was there when he busted…felt
awful for him, but we were both in a tough spot hovering around 25-28 bigs at
that point. At this table was the 1<sup>st</sup> time I had my tournament life
at risk. I four bet shoved AKs and the original 3 bettor was an older gentleman
who was also short. We both were kinda laughing and joking as we held our cards
and neither wanted to show…were both grinning…just having fun...we eventually
both turn up our cards and I am slightly ahead as his AK but wasn’t suited…we
chop the pot. In this hand at this moment is where I will give out my “Super
Prick” award to one and only… Peter Ippolito. When we were goofing around
having fun he literally got pissed and screamed, “What assholes…JUST SHOW YOUR
CARDS”. All the people who know me will probably be shocked that I let this go
as it was a big tournament, but yea…in essence he called us assholes. In a
standard every day tournament… he would have gotten my wrath…There you go
Peter…you’ve been blasted with the “Super Prick” award…and oh how “Karma’s a
Bitch”…I was 2 to his right at the next table when he went busto…He 4 bet shoved 45 bbs or so with
AKo…into Villain’s AQ and I saw him “Tear up” as he stormed away from the table
when the Queen hit (Think Villain was Nik Stone)… GG and NH Bro…see ya around.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From there
we kind of fade into the 2 hands above when I had JJ…although I will break down
a few other hands that I think were interesting:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poker Brat
Bluff: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I came real
close…and I mean real close…to bluffing off my whole tournament to Hellmuth
about 14 hands before my courtesy double up through him with the JJ. He was
playing his regular “snug…tight” image and he min raised from the hi-jack…I
called from the BB with KQs and we both saw the flop. Flop peeled out 9c7h2s…Check---check…turn
is the 10d. I check again and he makes a small bet and I call…clearly having
him on the top of his range here with A/K-Q-J…etc. I am going to steal it on the
river 3c. I check clearly expecting to check-shoving the river and he again
makes a bet to look like a value bet. I stacked up my chips and we started
staring at each other…I KNOW he has nothing…I count out my chips posturing a
little and go in the tank …we were both steepled up…I grab my stack and start
to move it in and stop to get a read…got nothing…I eventually kick my cards in
and he says. “I had you…I would have called” and shows A-9…I sigh and say ”Nice
hand sir”.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elky last
hand of the night:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They had
decided a number on the last hand of the night and I happen to be sitting in
the 9 seat with Elky in the 7 seat with about 200k in front of him. We made it
all the way down to the last hand of the night and I was in the BB and Elky
min-raises from the sb and I look down at KQo and decide to take a flop with
this sicko. I steepled up and saw a flop of 10c-5s-3d rainbow…He checks…I check.
The turn was the 9h. He checks and I tank and we start staring at each other…
Bill and some of the other folks start to gather around as we were the only
table still in action. I count out some chip and then put them back down
thinking of Semi-Bluffing with my gutterball, but somehow he had this look
about him that he knew he had the best hand and I felt he was going to call no
matter what… I eventually check. The river was the 7c and he goes in the
tank…and eventually checks….I tank-check and say, “King High”…He smiles and
said “I thought so”…and table A-4o for Ace high.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 2:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started
with this table: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hao Le
(192,500)…David “ODB” Baker (212,000)…Me…Nicolas Fierro (29,000)…Aaron Massey
(207,500) Mark Bonsack (121,000)…Matthew Weber (29,500)…David Peters (158,500)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My card dead
streak was on an all time high and I just could not get any cards. I played
exactly 2 (two) hands the whole time. I three-bet shoved a raise from ODB after
he raised a couple of limpers with me holding AKo and they all folded. Final
Hand …I blinded down to 4 bigs with a steady diet of 74o…103o…62…94…etc. We
were at 500/1500-3000 and Matt Weber raised to 7k from early position…I'm in bb
with 12.5k behind...I shove AJo into his AKo…and I couldn’t get there.
(Damn…that sucked…felt like I just relived it in my mind)…ok…lets move on</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the
players:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David “ODB”
Baker …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to
say that I did meet some really cool players. I started day 2 with David “ODB”
Baker on my right and he immediately approached me and started talking to me
asking me questions. He greeted me by saying , “Your from around New Orleans
right?”…in fact he knew that there were 2 of us from my hometown of Houma, La
…as Jacob “Nocko” Naquin also made it day 2 and eventually was the bubble boy I
think…KK vs AA is so sick.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aaron
Massey…I had seen Aaron around the circuit and several times he was on tables
next to him, but I never actually played with him. I played with him in this
event for several hours and really like the guy and his game. I was really
impressed in how he handled himself, and his table presence is strong. I would
like to take a look at this one hand that I felt could have been played
differently though…not better…and I am not 2<sup>nd</sup> guessing his play because
there are just too many justifications for the play…I may have just played it
differently. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hand was
covered by Pokernews but they only got the recap. To lay the hand out a
little…both ODB and Aaron were over 200k in chips… well over 90 bigs coming
back for Day 2 at 500/1200-2400…37 players left as Chris Moorman and Joe Cheong
had already been eliminated in Day 2…and they pay 18 players…1<sup>st</sup>
place was $414,000.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(My memory
of hand)…ODB opens for the standard raise of $5k…I fold and Nick Fierro Jams about
10 bigs (24k or so) on my left…and it’s to Aaron. He semi-tanks and asks ODB
for a “rough” count and then threw a bunch of chips in and I think it was close
to 63k…and its around to ODB…ODB thinks for about 20-30 seconds and announces
he is shipping his stack and is all in…Aaron’s facial expressions looked like he has no choice…and says, “I call”
rather quickly….Fierro has 77…Aaron turns up QQ and ODB has AKo…from
Pokernews: <i>“The board ran out 2c2hJhJdKd and Massey let out a wail when the river
hit. Fierro was eliminated, Massey was crippled and Baker is the new chip
leader”</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just don’t
know if that was a spot that I would have wanted to play a huge pot considering
that extent of the situation. If he calls Fierro’s jam and then ODB ships then it’s a tough spot and I believe I probably
have to call also, but if ODB flats Fierro’s jam also with Massey and they see
the flop…I think the tourney may have turned out different for Aaron….if ODB does
in fact flats there... The way the table was playing I think it would be hard for
ODB to continue in the hand...So let’s say Aaron flats Fierro’s Jam and ODB
just calls as well… hypothetically.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Post Flop of
2c2hJh…</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scenario #1:
Either ODB leads out and Aaron raises and ODB folds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scenario #2:
ODB checks and Aaron makes a nice size bet I think ODB has to fold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scenario #3:
They both check the flop to keep the pot small…The board double pairs on the
turn and they probably check it down because a Jack was in both of their ranges
here in this hand.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his
defense I know he was thinking Fierro most probably had and Ace or King in his
hand which tilts the odds favorably enough to make the play he made. It was a
tough spot…I am not being critical as he and ODB both are better players than
me and have the results to show for it…My perception on the hand was that I
would have preferred to play a smaller pot there if I could and see the flop
and see where the hand would take us…It really sucked to see Aaron play so well
and him lose that pot and he is on fumes…he is a good player.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nik Stone:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Played with
him on several tables, was really impressed with his play. He was mixing it up
well and had the whole table off guard. He also busted Hellmuth in a hand he
played really well and had Hellmuth talking to himself as he walked away. He,
Drazen ILich and I all started drinking beer together once we got to the last
level of play…everyone got friendlier…etc</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hellmuth:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Really nice
guy…Played with him for several hours…Played his standard game…I did catch him
staring at me and I think he picked up on something I was doing as I was the BB
when he was OTB. Bill saw it too, and after a break I started not looking at my
cards until it was my turn to act and he “went away”…he stopped
staring/studying me. The JJ hand I doubled up thru him was a standard play…the
hand played itself, and I already referenced the bluff above.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National
Championship moving to New Orleans and away from the WSOP:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am pretty
disappointed that the National Championship is going to be moved to New Orleans
this year. We really had a great time and it was fun getting to go to Vegas to
play it. I think that the WSOP in general were disappointed in how it turned
out for several reasons:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) Not
enough of the $10k qualifiers showed up:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were several people including
Choeng/Kessler/Failla who were surprised that more players did not come out. I
mean really…when are you ever going to be able to play in a WSOP event to win a
bracelet …where theres only a few hundred people?...never now that they moved
it away from the WSOP…Kessler at one point said, “Juanda’s name is on the list
I would bet anyone that he doesn’t know or forgot about this thing”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) No big
name pros made the final table:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ODB was probably the most known
player outside of the circuit and if it wasn’t for the “Drama” with Mesummecci and
Eriquezzo…there was no hype or excitement.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) I think
there were complaints about forcing people to play a certain day in the Main
Event…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t
know.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will see
how it pans out this year and at least I will be able to go sweat it since its
so close to my house.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok...will
write more later</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy My brothers. And you will know My name is the Lord when I lay My vengeance upon thee"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Samual Jackson as "Jules" in<b><i> Pulp Fiction</i></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-32479713154016335082012-06-29T13:40:00.002-07:002012-06-29T14:40:26.852-07:00Vegas Baby...Vegas!!!Getting super pumped for Vegas next week and the upcoming National Championship Freeroll. Can't wait to get there, and super excited that there will be a bunch of us all going out there at the same time...which is during this years Main Event. Wild Bill is already there hopefully winning us all money that got some of his shares....Monkey and Barth both fly in the same day as me...should be fun stuff.<br />
<br />
I am planning on playing an event on the 4th although I am unsure which one I will play...Lets see here...the $600 buyin at the Venetian...the $240 Six Max at Ceasers...the Main Event at the Wynn for $2600...or the Opening events of the Bellagio Cup for $550. Choices...Choices...nice problem. Guess I will let my backer decide and just go try to make it happen. From there I am going to be playing whatever other tournaments I can get me hands on. Hopefully they will be running the "Daily Deepstack" tourneys in parallel with the Main Event.<br />
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I spoke to my backer and had several conversations with people I trust about the whole "Coaching" thing from my last post for the $10k event, and decided I was just going to roll with what got me there. I think my game is where it is ...and needs to be. Its not like I have been playing bad and getting it in with the worst of it...I just need to have some hands hold up and rock on. <br />
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Work could not be going any better. I am doing really well with my sales, and notched a $65,000/4 mile Fiber build last week that should get me a huge commission check. I have really been dialed in and making the right connections. The cable side the house seems a little easier to sell than the Telco side, but its all really about "activity" and getting out there and making it happen. <br />
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I have been approached by some folks about "putting together a package", but had to turn them down. Mostly some of my non-poker playing friends, as I think I am already in a good spot. I have a great backer that believes in me and he knows I won't try to take advantage of him and come and ask to play "every" event...etc. We have been very successfull at "picking our spots" and making some money. He gets 1st shot at my action, and if for some reason he doesn't want it...my Uncle and some guys from Jacks Bar in Houma will pick it up...They had me in the Main Event at Harrahs in early Decemeber/2011...3rd in line is a very wealthy friend of mine that has put me in events in the past...she contacted me around Christmas and said "Whenever...Consider yourself sold" if I am ever in need of a stakehorse. Her son is a little older that Ivey. <br />
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I have also had a backer where we had a live deal that involved make-up. I only cashed once in our deal, and he even took me to Vegas with him one year. Some things came up on his end with his family, job and school...and he just stepped out the scene for awhile and took a breather. Actually...I can't "Thank" that person enough for believeing in me...and I kinda still feel like that "make-up" is still on me somehow. That person also knows if I ever do hit it big that I am taking him with me for the ride. All his buyins will be covered. (He also reads this blog...I Love Ya Kid ...and would do anything in my power for you)<br />
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People talk about staking deals and "selling packages" like their all glitz and glam. No... theres lots of worrying going on also. Its almost like I want to win more when I am backed...I want to do well...I take the losses harder. Lots of unforseen worries that some people don't see...and when you hear the stories of people "stiffing" their backers...WOW...what idiots. I heard a story about a guy that will be playing This years $10k Freeroll that stiffed his backer only to call him up crying, "Because I spent it all...its all gone"...and begged him for another shot...sigh. Now thats the things I don't understand about these deals.<br />
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Then you have your non-poker playing friends and family asking you...Typical conversation below:<br />
<strong>NPPF: "Wait...you had to give half your winnings away?"...</strong><br />
<em>You: "Yes...thats the way it works...but I had no risk...all I had to do was play"...</em><br />
<strong>NPPF: "So you had to give somebody else $10,000"</strong><br />
<em>You: "Yes...Thats how it works"....</em><br />
<strong>NPPF: "Wow...what...did the Casino split the check...how does that work"...</strong><br />
<em>You: "No...I collected the cash and went found my backer...unzipped my backpack...reached in and gave him a brick of hundreds still strappped up"...</em><br />
<strong>You: "WHAT...WAIT...you just opened your backpack and handed him $10,000 cash????"</strong><br />
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...siiigghhhh...Doesn't seem that hard to understand...<br />
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Twitter is taking off...lol....Virge had me sign up for a twitter account years ago...Like...May/2008. I never thought it would take off the way it has. I might go ahead and do my wsop updates on my twitter account. I don't know.<br />
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My son is really talking his head off these days. Looks more and more like his Momma but has his Daddy's hard ass head. Check him out in this pic and video...He hits the tee but he has a good stance for 2 1/2 years old<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrq1AKKYLYVWGUucEuft23jdKzhHUM3SPd4HpH8326gBg-fz9tWLL9qiXijt3MshUaTdS6mtOny4kQPdHwADuCv7Wm88BIyw1gzsAlN7c4bN59u5Pp6vY4EZk0Q4DKM_IuFZ69lA/s1600/ivy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrq1AKKYLYVWGUucEuft23jdKzhHUM3SPd4HpH8326gBg-fz9tWLL9qiXijt3MshUaTdS6mtOny4kQPdHwADuCv7Wm88BIyw1gzsAlN7c4bN59u5Pp6vY4EZk0Q4DKM_IuFZ69lA/s320/ivy.jpg" vca="true" width="320" /></a></div>GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-30546259310473455352012-06-01T10:42:00.000-07:002015-11-25T07:50:28.026-08:00New Orleans...and the upcoming National ChampionshipI haven't blogged in a awhile and got some flack for it during the latest WSOP circuit event in New Orleans, but I have been busy...busy with my new job...more on that below.<br />
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I have been having the same internal feelings that Monkey is feeling when the WSOP kicks off, and all the post and comments on the Internet about all the excitement ...and you just can't get there to play. I think that there are lots of poker players that know that feeling. I have had lots of people give me tons of kudos recently for sticking to the job front, and not running off all "half cocked" thinking I am going to crush poker once I had the scores in 4Q/2011...nah...I never once thought I could parlay those scores into a career, and not sure whether I even wanted to. Its tough when you play well, and things go your way and you know you can play at that level...but with a 3 year old and a family...I have to keep a job where I can make some real money and have Medical Insurance...can buy a house...etc. <br />
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I use to have people ask me all the time, "why don't you just play poker for a living"...and I use to answer them, "Because I have never been forced too"...I always have had a good job that I could play poker around. Well...that day came recently and in the 4 months I was out of work...I won close to $50,000 in tournaments (Including the $10,000k National Championship seat and not counting what my backer got)...and another $5000 or so in the cash area. Could I turn that into a career?...not sure...I just feel better playing when I am working...less stress/worries. most of the people I hang around with in the poker world all have jobs or own their own companies. It just seems to make sense to stay working for me at this time.<br />
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Is was great to take time off thru the holidays though...I traveled on the circuit and played some events...The Beau...Tunica...Jacksonville WPT...St Louis...West Palm Beach...I enjoyed the action and the competition ...but there was always something missing at the end of the day...my wife and son. I know there are ways to Skype and keep in touch, but there is just nothing like holding him in your arms. I remember when I was in Tunica it seemed like he learned 30-40 new words while I was gone and it hurt...felt like I was missing something.<br />
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Things do seem to be going really good for us these days as a family as my job has turned out to be a god send, and my Sales Manager one of the best I have ever worked with/for. The company is a great company, and you never realize how terrible things were in your last job where you were unhappy...until you find yourself working for people that you truly respect and admire. <br />
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Ok...where did I leave off last blog...OH YEAAAA...Easter Time. What has happened in poker since that last post....nooooothiiing exciting...but I will talk a little poker here.<br />
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St Louis Circuit Event:<br />
Spent the week in St Louis for the circuit event...and my new hire training which means that I had to go to training during the day thus could not play any of the ring events...and since I had to be "bright eyed and bushy tailed" for training...I wasn't going to play any of the nightlies either as they never end until daylight...that leaves SNG land...here I come. Played bunch of SNGs and was teed up to play the $1k since they let us out on that Friday at noon...then my son came down sick and had to go to the Doctor..."Game Time" decision to play the $1k was made...I passed and came on home.<br />
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I went into the New Orleans event kind of pumped but also knew I couldn't play the daily events as it would conflict with my job during the week...that left the weekend events and the Main event playing the 7pm flight on day 1B on that Friday. I fired at those tourneys and came up empty even though I felt that I played well.<br />
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Megas: <br />
Busted the 1st mega when I limp behind UTG+1 from late position with Q-10o, and Jeremy "thechemist" Gaubert also comes along from the blinds...were both almost even with a little over 12 bigs left in the tourney and the flop gives us Q-10-2 with two diamonds...Chemist leads for a nice size...early donk hits the muck...I over shove...Chemist snaps...He cringes a little in his facial expression when he sees my hand and he turns up 6-2d probably thinking he also had the three 6s also as outs...no matter..."Diomeel" on the turn and he fades me boating up...I lose as a 60/40 favorite but am not bummed as Jeremy and I have become friends and I am glad my chips went to someone I like (He did get a seat and played great)<br />
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Busted 2nd cheaper mega...can't remember hand...sigh<br />
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Busted 3rd Mega that sent me home in a tailspin...totally frustrated and flustered. We play down to where we need to knock out 8 more people to win a seat. I am sitting on bout 12 bbs and look down at two red Queens (QQ) in LP...EP player raises...I snap ship when it folds around to me...EP donk with a little more than me...tank-calls off his tournament with JhJc and I cruise to a seat...uhhhhhh...well that is what was SUPPOSE to happen...but no...villain goes runner-runner to the clubs and I am stunned...villain doesnt even see it and stands up and starts packing...then I get up and hit the bricks..see yaaaaaaa<br />
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Main event:<br />
Started off and just loved my 1st table...Barth M/Nic "The Greek" Gillepsis/Rodney "Coach" Shows/Local bar owner...everyone I knew and I was catching hands early. Chipped up to about 40k quickly...went card dead...broke the table...ended the day at 20 bigs...siiggghhh<br />
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Day 2 was also great starting table...Captain Tom on my left whose range is somewhat easy to polarize...Jerry Ard in 10 seat...no scary player...lets roll...I triple up early on hand covered my pokernews. I open shoved 10 bigs with 66 and Captain Tom calls...Jerry Ard re-ships over the top of CT...CT tank-folds A-Ko face up and I immediately ask Jerry, "You have that same hand don;t you?"...he smiles and also tables A-Ko...I rake the pot.<br />
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This was the 1st time all tourney that I had my tournament life at risk. The next 2 times I get it for my stack I was well ahead...QQ>JJ and then a little later I get it in AK>AQ. I got moved to the table with Daniel Lowery in the 2 seat and another big stack in the 3 seat...and I go card dead. I missed some spots where I should have got it in instead I choose to get out of the way and would have had an edge. <br />
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Player limps...I limp with 77...BB ships and I had him barely covered....Original limper tank-folds and tanks hard. I have to put him on an Ace there and the shover also...with one less Ace in the deck my odds push much better...I HAVE TO MAKE THAT CALL...siiiggggghhhhh. BB folds AKo face up when I fold and other guy admits he folded an Ace.<br />
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My Demise?...I am sitting on 8 1/2 bigs...2nd place finisher Andrew Nyugen on my right OTB...Im in the SB...he standard raises 2.3 the BB...I shove...BB folds and Andrew tank-calls with A-2...you gotta love it.<br />
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My shove range there has him crushed here...guess he figured being a 70/30 dog there was worth the extra chips and his stack was not that big at this time...I cruise to the money if I can fade it...NOPE theres n Ace...shook his hand and packed up. I needed that double up...I wanted that call<br />
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Getting pumped for the National Championship. I am selling patch deals if anyone is interested. I have 3 spots left.<br />
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I am also entertaining a Coach for the tournament...Looking to give up a small percentage of my winnings. If you know me...have significant tournament winnings...and you think you can help me...hit me up<br />
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What else is happening...My wife has gotten a great job that she really likes with a good/growing company that is willing to work around her school so she can get her degree. I will be happy once she has her degree as its something she has been wanting to finish for some time. We are back in the House Hunting and we are looking at trying to possibly get a house that is in the family...and completely remodel it. Its in a great location with one of the best public schools but we just don't know whether we can pull it off.<br />
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Cool people I met this circuit event...Huy Nguyen was at my 1st table in the re-entry...really nice guy<br />
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Looking forward to getting to Vegas...and I plan on giving them hell in the National Championship...juts hope I don't Donk Out on national TV... LOL<br />
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Beginning fight in <strong><em>Gangs of New York</em></strong>...Daniel Day Lewis at "butcher Bill and Liam Nesson as Priest Vallon<br />
Butcherbill: At my challenge, by the ancient laws of combat, we are met at this chosen ground, to settle for good and all who holds sway over the five points: us natives, born right wise to this fine land, or the foreign hordes defiling it.<br />
Priest Vallon: By the ancient laws of combat, I accept the challenge of the so called "natives." They plague our people at every turn, but from this day out, they shall plague us no more. For let it be known, that the hand that tries to strike us from this land shall be swiftly cut down. <br />
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Pic of me from Coushatta<br />
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<br />GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-36032363588498551052012-04-08T19:55:00.007-07:002012-04-08T20:35:52.012-07:00Happy Easter...thoughts on National Championship FREEROLL<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span >I wanted to drop a quick post to tell everyone HAPPY EASTER ...and all that good stuff.</span></span><div><span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; " ><br /></span><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">Bill and I hit the Coushatta Seven Clans event and I was not able to play any of the events as my job has kept me busy, but I was present as we have an office near there so I was able to show up and play the cash games. I am really getting excited about the Million Dollar National Championship FREEROLL as it looks like it will be a major event this year and on everyone's radar. I mean where can The PokerBrat go to play an event in the WSOP to win a bracelet with only 200 players and Johnny Chan and Doyle can't play even if they wanted to. I somehow think that once we get down to the wire, and that fact comes out they "Powers that Be" will somehow come up with some sort of ruling </span>stating<span style="font-size: 100%;"> that they can in fact play in this years National </span>Championship<span style="font-size: 100%;">...something like "anyone with over 10 bracelets also gets to buy in"...mark my words.</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >I think it will come down to the wire after tracking all the action, and I believe that if you are anywhere in the bottom 10 players in "The Red" on the leaderboard...that you will have to do something in New Orleans in order to get in the FREEROLL. I have lots of friends (including Wild Bill) that are in that hunt and I just think the baseline will be about 110 points and if you are not there come New Orleans...you better get there. I am expecting a HUGE turnout in new Orleans with lots of players coming in to take a shot at that FREEROLL, and I believe that anyone in the 75 point range will have a shot at getting there in they come into New Orleans and play well.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >I will see you guys around St Louis...I will be around but wont be playing in any of the events except on weekends...but playing the cash games and sweating all my buddies. </span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >This blog post will be short and sweet...good luck to all my friends in that FREEROLL hunt...gonna be exciting when the end is near.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I have not read any good books in past few weeks, but I cannot recommend GoT (Game of Thrones on HBO) any higher if you </span>haven't seen any of them yet...They rock big time. I am tempted to go buy the books to see if there as good as the show<span style="font-size: 100%; "> and see what happens to all the characters.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span>"You'll come to see that a man learns nothing from winning. The act of losing, however, can elicit great wisdom. Not least of which is, uh... how much more enjoyable it is to win. It's inevitable to lose now and again. The trick is not to make a habit of it." <span>Albert Finney as Uncle Henry in<b><i> "A Good Year"</i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div></div>GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-56766547004157108512012-03-06T19:18:00.021-08:002012-03-08T10:34:50.415-08:00Back to the grind...West Palm Chaos<span><span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Well alright!!! I am back in the workforce and feeling good about the future with this new job with a great company and really cool people. I started this week. It was a crazy month as I had five different companies all put in offer letters at the same time. My father says that's "a good problem to have" but I was torn between what company to go with as they all had "pros and cons" on the variables. Good thing is I am back to work...bad thing is I have to see just how all this is going to "shake out". I was a little taken aback at turning down several offers as the timing was just crazy with how it all went down. We will see...</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I was able to check out the National Championship 1(one) million dollar FREEROLL schedule that was posted up a few days ago, and I see the work that will be cut out for me ...WOW...is all I could say about the 100 players that will get the option to buy into the tournament for $10k. Bill texted me about it and all I could text back was its "The sickest of the sick". Grinder, Lamb and Poker Brat on the top 3...what an experience its going to be. I am looking forward to it, but am also doing as much homework as I can on poker to be at the top of my game come early July. That's right folks...early July as it looks like the freeroll will coincide with the Main Event which is a cool thing as I will be in Vegas during the biggest tourney of the year.</span><br /><br />As some of you know, I went ahead and cruised on down to West Palm Beach for the $550 Milly Guarantee they had there, and boy was it a chaotic experience. I got off the plane at about 1pm on the 1st start date, and I was lucky that there was a guy from New York on the shuttle bus that had just left the dogtrack busting out of day 1. I asked him, "So what were the lines like" and got a quick rundown on the chaos and he explained to me that the day 2B was sold out and that the line for Day3 buyins were already forming...WTF...I came here especially for this tourney.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I got to the hotel and immediately jumped in the shuttle to head to the track. I showed up and quickly found the line for the buyins. I stood in the line for about an hour, and I was lucky to get to buy in to the 3rd start day which is day 3A...with only 17 seats left in the pool. "Yes ...I told myself"...I was able to get in. I had heard several people explain to me about the seats/alternates that are given out each day, and I decided to roll the dice and get up early and try to get into day 2A...but at least I was in day 3 no matter what.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I then hooked up with TK, Fish and David Diaz who had all drove up from Miami, and they were all "boxed out" for that particular tourney. They could not get in, and they were some disappointed.</span><br /><br /></span><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><span style="font-size:100%;">So on Day 2A I get up at 6:00am and head over to the track to get in line...There are about 50 people already there waiting outside and I beat about 10 folks in the line just </span>because<span style="font-size:100%;"> the van dropped me off right at the end of the line. We quickly find out that there were about 25 souls that made it pass the first day who had purchased seats for all 3 days so they would be about that many that have </span>guaranteed<span style="font-size:100%;"> seats in the line. The track opened at 10am and at about 9:15am they came out and started giving out place cards for the people in line. I got number 57 out of 125 which was actually the 27th alternate since the first 25 were </span>guaranteed<span style="font-size:100%;"> seats. That's when the chaos ensued...Barkers walking around holding up seat cards selling them to the highest bidder...I saw several go for $700-$1000 range and then at close to 10:30am I saw the person with place card number 4 sell theirs for $2000...I was STUNNED...REEAAAALLLYY. Obviously my placecard went up for sale and I had a guy offer me $800...then when he realized he would be the 27th alternate...he backed out...wanted to give me $400...Naaahhhhhh...not $400...too much positive EV to sell for that low plus I would need to discuss it with my stakehorse...nahhhhh...I decided to "roll with it" and give them hell at the tables. I got into the tourney midway thru the 3rd level and was pretty stoked about it. </span></span></div><span><br /></span><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><span style="font-size:100%;">Back to the Chaos...once word got around what was happening...the cops and tournament officials were walking around </span>confiscating<span style="font-size:100%;"> any placecards that were being openly "waved" for sale. Your place would be immediately nullified if they caught you. I didn't go out there for Day3A but heard it was 10 times worst...500-600 people out in the parking lot in line starting at about 4am. There was a mad "Bum Rush" at the end when they came out with the placecards and it was every man/women for their self. They just mobbed the front of the building and whoever got placecards got them...and whoever didn't you were "shit out of luck". Just the most bizarre thing I have ever heard off at a poker tourney.</span></span></div><span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I heard stories of fistfights...several people punched dead in the face...cops taking </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">people</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> to jail...pregnant women out there in line...etc. With all that crap going one, I have to tell you guys about the coolest thing I heard about the whole situation below.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 100%; ">At about daylight, their telling me some "</span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">entrepreneurial</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> spirited" kid saw what was happening and "Sized the Day". He shot off to Walmart and brought close to 50-60 of those fold out chairs for around $7...sold them all for $20 as fast as he could get them out his truck...Then he went back and got bottles of </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Gatorade</span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">/Powerade for $1 a bottle..was cleaned out and sold them babies like hotcakes for $5. That was the coolest story I heard about Day 3A's chaos in the parking lot with them fools waiting in line since 4am...somebody made them some money</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Oh...back to poker...Day 2A ...They had stopped the night before at like level 15 or something if I remember right. We are at level 14 or so at 300-1000/2000. I am sitting dead on 10 bigs at 20,300 when I glance down at what else...AA ...sitting UTG +2. I had been card dead for several levels, and I heard the lady on my right...sitting on 19,400... complaining to her husband about the same thing. Well she gets quiet all of a sudden and bets out 7k. I tank for a second and decide to do a simple "Stop and Go" and flat here to see if anyone raises behind me or get more people flatting ...and just ship the flop no matter what if nobody raises. Well ...this Tunica Tom looking dumbass who is not paying attention to the action and has "heap" of chips announces, "I Raise" and fires 8.5k into the pot. He attempts to take the few chips back and just call but eventually the floor gets called over and he is told he must min-raise to 12000...the lady ships...of course my chips get in quickly and we get T.T. in with a speech about, "I can't fold...too much in there with my stack...etc". We go to the flop 3 handed with me looking at tripling up to 30+ bigs and prolly getting in the money on day 2 from here easily. Lady tables A-Jo...T.T. tables K-10o...I pitch out my Aces and the flop guts me in the belly quick with the 1st two cards out there being the ten of diamonds and ten of spades...and then the board double pairs with 6"s giving him a boat....."AAAAHHHHHHHHH SHIT....siiggghhhhhhhh" FML...I pack up</span><br /><br />So then Mark Rose and I are talking thru the hand when the girls boyfriend starts to chime in about how I played it bad, "What are doing there with Aces...just stick your chips in"...He turns to the guys next to him and says, "That's what you get when you play aces like that"...I guess he was not going to listen to my explanation of being almost an 80% favorite to win the hand...that's when he turns to me and says, "Man...the board double pairs there...all you have to do is shove and get him out the hand and then you and her chop"...pointing to his girlfriend. That's when it hits me the guy was clueless and I just say, "yea dude...we would have chopped there"...LOL...and left it alone.<br /><br />My day 3 was standard...Had the "missippi machine" at my starting table and we got to bullshit alot and make fun of people. Our table breaks and right before dinner break, I three-bet jam with 11 bbs over a raise and call with AKs...only the caller has AA. Flop comes K high and almost in unison...together we say, "The hand would have played it self" as even if I called there...I am never folding Top-Top there in that spot. I am walking out and I pass the MM's table and he is on the wrong end of a flip...we both hit the rail.<br /><br />It was a pretty cool trip as the airport/Hotel/Dogtrack were all within sight of each other. I kind of like the dogtracks also. I just don't run well at them. I whiffed the WPT in Jax and now this. Bill Bruce and his team did do a hell of a job under the circumstances with limited capacity. The food was good...It was cool betting the dogs and the checking out the night races ...etc<br /><br />I picked up a roommate for one night...Thanks Mark Rose for taking that extra bed and helping with the expenses.<br /><br />We have the hoodies and gear for all those that we told would get them...sorry for the delay. We should also have the patches soon.<br /><br />We are still working on the forum...trying to get it "Off the Ground"...siiiggghhhhhh<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Next up...Gonna try to play the Coushatta events...if your going there hit me up.</span><br /><br />I just finished my latest non-poker book, and wanted to give you guys some feedback. I decided to pick up the <strong><em>"Hunger Games" </em></strong>since the movie will be coming out. It really grabbed a hold of me at first, but got kind of ridiculous toward the end. I like the outdoors and the forest/woods ...camping and stuff. It was a cross between <strong><em>"Running Man"..."The</em></strong> <strong><em>Lottery"...</em></strong>and the Reality Series <strong><em>"Survivor".</em></strong> The this futuristic world teenagers are chosen to fight to the death in a "Reality Game" style for entertainment. I read it in 2 days because I wanted to see how it ended...overall I would give it a C+/B-...but I am not buying the other two books in the trilogy...too predictable.<br /><br />"And it was decreed that each year, the 12 districts of Panem should offer up a tribute of one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to be trained in the art of survival techniques and be prepared to fight to the death" <span style="font-size: 85%; ">Donald Sutherland as the President of Panem in <em><strong>"Hunger Games"</strong></em></span><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "></div>GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-77236714766875925852012-02-13T09:42:00.007-08:002012-02-14T13:31:55.919-08:00Tunica down...West Palm here we come<div>Looking forward to the West Palm trip coming up this week, and glad to be done with Tunica. I will say that there were lots of sketchy plays I seen while there, but that's the beauty of Tunica...You get to play with soooo many bad players.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><div> </div><div>I showed up the 1st weekend to fire at the the 1st event there...the 2 day entry and got lambasted with the flood of people that turned out for the Superbowl weekend in Tunica. Wow...its been since...like...WPO 2006 that I saw 70-80 people on the 1-3/2-5 NL list and a two hour wait to play cash. Lines at every tournament in town...having to drive to Harrah's and park in South Memphis ...it was crazy. I went late to the Goldstrike for their Monthly Guarantee tourney and was greeted at the top of the escalators with a line wrapping into the Theatre area and the Poker Room manager announcing to the crowd, "You'll know this is a DeepStack event and we will seat alternates for about 15 more minutes"...to a line of about 60 people...to which they all just stood there like drones ...like the poker "Red Sea" was going to part and they would miraculously get a seat. It was bizarre to see everything from the online wanna-be standing 40 players deep in line with his headphones around his neck/head all cockeyed with his hoodie over his head ...to Grandma Jones straight out of her cash game at the old folks home at the end of the line.</div><div><div><br />Yea...the sights and sounds of Tunica, MS are an awaking indeed. Just read Bills latest Blog...But I did uncover one "Jewel" that made my trip worthwhile.</div><div><br />Ever since my run at the IP in late 2011, I have a ritual I have been doing on tourney days. Its what my wife and Bill call "GTL"...Only without the T and the L...LOL... I like to wake up and get the workout area about 10am...do a good Cardio workout...then hit the "wet side" of the men's spa. That would include a locker for your stuff...Hot tub/Hot Sauna/Steam room/private showers/Lounge area with fresh fruit and fresh squeezed juices. I like to just sit in the Sauna/Steam Room and just clear my mind of anything that is bothering me and after a nice cool shower...hit the tourney. I feel like a million dollars when I get to my seat. I have also been swimming at the local YMCA here in my hometown, and I feel soooooo much better being able to get in a good exercise routine in to my schedule.</div><div><br />Well the IP has a pretty nice Spa and its only an $8 charge on weekdays/$15 Weekends...the Beau's is a flat $20...and the Harrah's Tunica Bellissimo Spa located in the Terrace building rocked them all. This place rocked big time for only $20 but comps are given. They have a "cold dip" tub right next to the 2 hot tubs. Its round and about 4 feet deep and you "dip in" after the hot tubs. I watched several guys do it, but I could not bring myself to do it. I said I was going to before I left and I told the guys working there I was...but I didn't have the sack to do it. Also...they have a "Swedish" shower in there that has 12-14 shower heads hitting you at once in an enclosed Shower...its shear heaven. I have run into several Poker Players there...<a href="http://www.wsop.com/players/playerProfile.asp?playerID=119497&pagecolor=FFFFFF">David Sidler</a> at the IP and then ran into <a href="http://www.wsop.com/players/playerProfile.asp?playerID=20975&pagecolor=FFFFFF">Paul "Bicycle" Sokoloff</a> at the Spa in Tunica the morning he won 1st place and a ring in event #2 for over $40k</div><div><br />Ok...I have said something positive about Tunica so I can move on...LOL</div><div><br />The Tunica trip also took me back to reality as far as missing my wife and son. In my previous blog I said I was going to road trip it to West Palm leaving last Thurs and playing the HPT in Daytona...on to the West Palm event. I missed my family sooooo much the 4 days in Tunica...I passed on those plans and instead just booked my flight and hotel room. I just don't think I could be away from them for that long, and I was there with Bill too... and I saw how hard it was for him being gone the whole series from his wife and kids...its tough. In a matter of 4 days my son started talking in complete sentences and forming his own thoughts and sentences. When I called home on Sunday and he answered my wife's phone saying, "Hey daddy...Im going to 2 Birthday parties today"...Tears welled up in my eyes and I almost dropped my phone.</div><div><br />Well I made it through that 1st event with no cash ...Me coming in bout 190th out of close to 1250 players. They payed like 112 I think. I am in the SB and everyone folds around to the button who has a big stack...he is raising there as I would with UNO cards. I shove 13 bigs over the button with A-J and get stammer called by the BB sitting on 15 bigs saying, "Oh well...I c-c-c-c call"...Button pitches and BB turns up K-Qo. Jeremy Drewery and I just look at each other stunned and I say, "Really man...you called there"...as I stood out of my chair and turned my back and grabbed my backpack. I knew I was toast...I could feel it. I don't look and after a few seconds I ask, "Is it over"...to what Jeremy says, "Yea...Don't look though"...and we started laughing as I packed up. I mean my shove range right there has him crushed...the best he could have hoped for was a flip with me holding J-J or 10-10...and the chances of me having A-K/A-Q there are so high then he's crushed...both are at the top of my shove range there. Siiiigghhhhh</div><div><br />What else ...I want to give a shout out as we were on the same table for quite awhile to <a href="http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=53692">Justin "truesyalose" Truesdell</a>. Really nice guy and a hell of a poker player. We were sitting at the same table close to each other when he found out that his buddy Josh Mancuso had just shipped the Main at Borgata (see site for details)...Trues said he actually told Josh how nasty it was in A.C and he shouldn't go...LOL. I think Justin made a FT in a mixed game event during the series.</div><div><br />Also...Congrats goes out to <a href="http://www.wsop.com/players/playerprofile.asp?playerID=50726">Jeremy Drewery</a> who cashed 4 times during this event with a 2nd place in one of the last $345 events...and to <a href="http://www.wsop.com/players/playerprofile.asp?playerID=26581">Rodney "Coach" Shows</a> who gets himself a ring and close to $18k for winning the last ring event of the series.</div><div><br />Personally...The job front is rocking forward...more on that later once I land somewhere.</div><div><br />Today's Valentines Day and want to say Happy V-Day to my Beautiful Wife Julie and all the females that may read this.</div><div><br />Time for my Facebook rant...I have gotten criticized recently for not being "active enough" on Facebook as I don't even have a pic on my profile...LOL... Personally...I prefer to be a "Lurker"...I don't like Facebook...I can't stand some of the "Dribble" people post...but sometimes its like a "Trainwreck"...you have to rubberneck it just to see exactly how stupid some people are and how "Bizarre" their life can be. Oh well...my friends on Facebook know who they are and maybe the trainwrecks will somehow get the wheels "Back on the Track".</div><div><br />Ivey had his "Valentines Day" party today at Day Care and his Momma dressed him up...I wanted camo gear but instead he went as a Candy Kane...LOL...Pics below</div><div> </div><div>"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead" </div><div><span>Mickey Rourke as Henry in <b><i>"BarFly"</i></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="width: 254px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709051004752451122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcHQh2afydbOZmDsI10dbIGBVmwreJyq4TWuPcYJtIpTF1Dpr1csmVisrpQNZTOJRBg6a1KQIPrKaX6UZm_HLx_rYpMS3YYTkR4jglAfG_2Rsu_XLTrBzKv4VufQb2DE6qver4g/s320/Ivey_Valentines+day.jpg" /><img style="width: 247px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709051182449163666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNjZwC5w7nXlaeUzPFtxFqRRK5D05wZPK9Lwr-RFsPt0hVGqODpDIi6UYNgWURAaSkZbg2TCbOoDrHrd8RhNDziLbyDOvpfIvN1gHg2F0sSXwnqUfLOr46Etia43kJCtt3aPuQQ/s320/Ivey_Vday3.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-70865251665340656502012-01-31T12:36:00.000-08:002012-02-01T09:04:36.707-08:00New Year...Outlook looks great...MDHJust got back from the Beau <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Rivage</span> and the Million Dollar Heater last week and had a great time. I was there covering the final table of the $5k main event that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">baarreeeellly</span> covered the Guarantee, and I was giving minute by minute updates on our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">facebook</span> page and the main website. Thanks Mary for the assignment...I really enjoyed it.<br /><br />Of course I did not get to play in the $5k Main Event as I fired all my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">satty</span> bullets and called it quits. Its very discouraging, but all poker players know that feeling of covering/sweating a tournament when you know you are good enough to play in the event...you just could not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Satty</span> in. I think Kai and Monk have both blogged about this recently.<br /><br />The 1st $500 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">freezeout</span> there were giving out 6 seats and half of one in cash and I get knocked out 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span> where I really feel like I played well...Definitely good enough to get a seat. Never had my tournament life at risk until we were down to the Final Table, but I did get it in bad. This old dude that was the table "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">luckbox</span>" raises to $7200 when we were at 1500-3000...I am sitting on about 12 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">bigs</span> (37k) when I look down at Jacks (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">JJ</span>) from the button. Ben <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Mintz</span> is on the BB with a little smaller stack. I decide to Tank-Shove there and the blinds immediately get out of the way...here is where it gets interesting.<br /><br />I push my stack out and sit back and the guy just looks at me...I say, "I think its about 35k <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">ish</span> I will count it" and I reached up and started to count the stacks when the guys eventually looks at me and goes, "Yea...I call" and turns up bullets (AA). I almost puke and Ben <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Mintz</span> says, "No way...He <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">didn't</span> just do that"...While I am standing up Ben says, "Your gonna get there <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">GeneD</span> if there is any justice in poker your gonna get there"...as every card hit the table Ben would say "Get There"..."Get There"...well...I didn't get there <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">LOL</span>.<br /><br />I just stood there in disbelief for a second that I could get slow rolled <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">sooooo</span> bad. I have blogged on here before about the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">donkfish</span> at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Shortys</span>, but this is a major tournament series...oh well.<br /><br />I also had to fade a sicko table when we were down to 2 tables with the following players all within striking distance. John Evans (Who I felt played the best tournament poker I have seen in a long time)....Brian “<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Sno</span>0<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">owman</span>” Hawkins on my left in 2 separate tables in this thing...Corey "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">comandr</span>_cool" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Burbick</span>...Ben "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">TheDestroyer</span>" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Mintz</span> ...and Tony "Boston Tony" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Ruberto</span> who had just snapped off the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">WPT</span> Main Event in Jacksonville, FL for $320,000 (I whiffed those <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Satty's</span> also in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Jax</span>)...all at my table. I really enjoyed playing with those guys though.<br /><br />Another <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Satty</span> on Sunday and I get it in with 3 tables left with about 9 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">BBs</span> ...3 ways...with me sitting on AA...vs Chris <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Bigler's</span> AK ...and Corey "Slim" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Wunstell's</span> K-10o...only somehow they get both the last 2 kings in the deck on the board...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">siigghhh</span><br /><br />So...Winner of the $5k Main Event in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">MDH</span>...Was local Pro John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Dolan</span> ...and there was his girlfriend and some other local people there to sweat the action. I got to meet his girlfriend <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">and</span> she is a really nice person, and their gonna be great parents. They have a 3month old now...wow...I can remember when <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Ivey</span> was 3 months old...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">siigghh </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">LOL</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Dolan</span> came into the final table as the chip leader, and he had to fade a stacked final table that included <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">WPT</span> Champion Randall Flowers, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">WSOP</span> bracelet winner Ryan "gutshotallin" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">Welch</span> and Lock Poker Pro Matt "allinat420" Stout. Rounding out the field were a few unknown players and online poker pro Glenn Poole, who scored his first big live score and banked $185,367 for the runner-up finish.<br /><br />I want to give a quick "Shout Out" to Glenn Poole from Memphis, TN as he and I got to talking during the series and became fast friends...We have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">alot</span> in common.<br /><br />What else is going on nowadays...Job situation is looking good. I should have something locked up soon, but we will see. Hopefully things will work out for my poker travels in Feb.<br /><br />My Plans (Sans Job) will be to hopefully head to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">Tunica</span> in the next few days. I have had a death in the family, and there is a funeral on Thursday. Hit the 2-5 cash game and start to move into bigger cash games, and hit as many tourneys as I can...Then come back early next week. It is nice not having to "chase" the points for the Million Dollar <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">Freeroll</span>.<br /><br />From there I am thinking "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">roadtrip</span>" to Heartland Poker Tour in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">Daytona</span>, FL where they are having a Televised Final Table to break up the ride...then on to West Palm Beach for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">WSOP</span>-C event and that $550 "Milly Guarantee". We think they are going to blow this thing out, and the prize pool could almost double like the Beau's did. I will fire as many bullets as I can if it balloon's into as big as we think. From there head home hopefully into a new job for 2012...we will see. I am going alone as I never know what is going to happen with my family, but I will have lots of friends at all of these events.<br /><br />Played the tournament they had in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">Houma</span> last weekend, and did a 4 way chop for 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">nd</span> place money. It was a really cool <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">environment</span> and cool people, so now all we need to do is get the structure fixed up a little. Props out to Alex <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">Tassin</span> for making that thing happen and for seeing the situation, and be willing to adjust. They have a lot of potential with this game...the place they had it...etc. I was in n for $150 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">buyin</span> and out with 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">th</span> place money of $750...Chopped with Matt <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">Stroud</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">Summerall</span> and some guy I never seen before.<br /><br /><br /><p>I did cash in the 1st tournament of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">MDH</span> where it was a 2 day event and they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">guaranteed</span> $250,000 with a $340 buy-in...Wow did this thing go viral...they busted the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">guarantee</span> on the 1st day, and they came close to doubling the prize pool. I am telling you that I talked to a guy from <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">Tennessee</span> that him as his buddies were checking online and when they saw the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">Guarantee</span> bust on 1st day...they all piled in his car...5 of them...and they took turns driving and drove through the night to get there in time for a shot at Day 2. I think the "Milly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">Guarantee</span>" in West Palm will be the same way. I got like 75<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">th</span> out <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">of over</span> 1450 players for a little over $1k ($1075). I was super disappointed in how I went out in that thing also...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">siigghh</span> .</p><br /><p>I have been grinding the Merge network recently <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">also online</span>...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">FT'ed</span> a micro tourney the other night...good practice...got 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">th</span>.</p><br /><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error">GCP</span> Forum should be rolled out soon...we have it up and the software is in place but Bill and I are learning the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">backend</span>" of the software and how to use the thing. Look for it soon.</p><br /><p>Looking forward to the upcoming weeks and playing in the tourneys...gonna miss my wife and son something fierce but have to do it...The time is right...Its time to do work...</p><br /><p>"Remember when you was a kid and you would spend the whole year waiting for summer vacation and when it finally came it would fly by just like that? It's funny, Jimmy, life has a way of flying by faster than any old summer vacation really fucking does" <span style="font-size:85%;">Bill <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">Nunn</span> as "Easy Wind" in the movie <strong><em>Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead</em></strong></span></p><br /><br /><p><br /><br /></p>GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-36741115557444259702011-12-29T16:43:00.000-08:002011-12-29T19:44:44.383-08:00Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!I want to take a second to wish everyone a super Happy Holiday for 2011!!! We are really enjoying the holidays and the time together as a family, and I hope everyone is doing the same. We spent Christmas Eve at my Brother James' house for my Dad's side of the family, and Christmas night for my wife's immediate family as we had her "big" family Christmas the day of the main event in New Orleans for the Bayou Poker Classic. We all descended on Jessie Duplantis' new house over at the foot of Ormand Subdivision in Destrehan as Jessie's wife Cathy is my wife's aunt. My wife's mom and Mrs. Cathy are sisters.<br /><br />We are coming off the heels of the Bayou Poker Classic in New Orleans, and I think the word has circulated about the tourney series as far as the Positives/Negatives. I had a basically "Break Even" series as I won several SNG's and beat the cash games consistently...Satellited into $1600 Main Event for a total of $580.00...but had no significant cashes to show for my efforts. I was pretty disappointed about that, and I was disappointed in my play in several Tournaments.<br /><br />One hand...I got it all in with 7 bigs left with bullets in one of the $340 1pm tourneys right before dinner break in a 3 way pot that would have thrown me to well over 30 bigs...and very comfortable coming back from break. It all gets in 3 ways Pre with me holding AA...one villain that is final caller for over half his stack with A-Qo (Great Play Buddy)...and the other guys that barely had me covered was sitting on two red eights (8h8d)...and I put my head down and my hoodie up and tell the guy next to me, "I got a bad feeling on this one"...I am not looking and hear the flop hit the board...dealer taps the table and delivers the turn...table still quite and I have that one guys that says, "Hey man your looking good ...you can watch" when I hear the river card hit the board and I hear a resounding, "Ohhhhh/Ugggggghhhhhhhh/Oucccchhhhhh" ...etc...all you pokers players know this sound. Its the table basically exhaling after a huge suck-out and all I could say is, "That can't be good for me"...I quietly pack up my stuff as I get one last glance out the corner of my eye to the wrath of the 8c sitting on the river...siiigghhhhhhhhhhh.<br /><br />This brings me to another hand I want to chat about, and for those of you that I have told this one verbally too...I apologize for the regurgitation. All the local folks down here on the coast know that there was a player going "neck and neck" with me for the WSOP IP Circuit "Grand Champion" and his name is Ricky Romero...I have spoke of Ricky in my blog before and on the site. Well, Ricky gave it a hell of run and wound up finishing 6th in the final event where if he wound have won...he would have surpassed me in the runnings.I showed up at the IP on the final day to see everyone, as well as sweat Wild Bill and Nocko in the Main Event. There were some folks there that may have thought I was there to pull "Against" Ricky but that is not the case...I wished him luck, and would have taken it on the chin if he won as he most certainly would have deserved it.<br /><br />So I show up at Shorty's a few weeks later on Wed (The big day there) to play cash. I called and was told the cash game had jumped off at 10am so I got there about noon. Once I got there, I learned that the game was 5-10nl and that they didn't have enough dealers to start a second table of 1-3nl or 5-5nl, so I sat for quite some time before I could get into the 5-10nl game. I punted a quick hundo in the 3-6-12 Omaha High game that runs on Wednesdays (I will try to comment on that later...lol)So I finally get in the 5-10 game and Ricky had got in the game about 30 minutes before me. I buy in for around $400, but when I got to the table...They had given me 1(one) $5/red chip too much so I mossy on back to the counter to return it...then a discussion breaks out with the cage crew after they profusely thank me...over and over...and I explain that the game we play I feel somehow revolves around "Karma" and I did not want to start the session in a bad light.<br /><br />3 or 4 hands into session I am in Hi-Jack when Ricky raises to $35 in EP...call...call...call...wow I l ookown at my hand and see two 9's (9-9)...I think Ooooookkkkkkk...I am coming in myself...call from button...then BB calls...Yikes we have close to $200 in pot pre...the board comes 9-7-5 with 2 clubs...BB leads out for $65 (i am thinking really...had to be 10s or J's)...Ricky smooths...I tank-raise to $285 letting everyone know I am not folding this hand and to go away...so BB now goes in the tank and folds dramatically saying to the table, "Its got be a set of nines"...Duuhhhhh. Ricky tanks and his hand now becomes polarized to either AA or KK...I sit stewing trying to decide whether I wanted a call or not??? Seriously...I was thinking to myself "just fold Ricky" ...I know that is as "Resulys Oriented" as it gets but hey...It crossed my mind...and then he eventually says, "Im all in"...I snap...(que up the Gomer Pyle voice here) SURPRISE...SURPRISE...SURPRISE!!!...he tables A-A...turn ball...another Ace...Siigghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.<br /><br />I was pretty happy with Satelliting into the Main Event at Harrahs, and I think there was much surprise to see how many players showed up. I had the line at 80 but Carwash wanted to take 100 and the under...and he said to "Bet High"...it seemed like a lock at the time.<br /><br />I wound up at a pretty sick table where I had Monk and BJ McBrayer on my direct right...then had "B" Vu in the ten seat on my left. I went out in a hand I was not proud of and felt I could have gotten the rest of my chips in the middle in alot better spot.<br /><br />With right at 9 bigs...I limp from the SB with a 2 gapper with diamonds (9-6d) when a few other players had limped before me...B knuckles in the BB and the flop comes Jack high with 2 diamonds. Check to me and I shove...with chips B calls and tables Q-Ko...two overs-open ended which would have it right at a flip had he not had the open ended and my 9 covered. The board was J-10-rag so the three 9's he had covered... I brick the diamonds and pack up like a Donk.<br /><br />I am looking forward to 2012 to see what the new year will bring. I am happy for Monk and Squirrel on the new package on the way, and congrats to Jenn Parrish and Zack Evans on the new one.<br /><br />What else is going on?...lets see<br /><br />My latest book...I just finished Forrest Griffins 1st book <a href="http://www.forrestgriffin.net/news/?jid=19">Got Fight?: The 50 Zen Principles of Hand-to-Face Combat.</a> This book is an easy read and full of bullshit Humor. I laughed my butt off a few times. This guy is an absolute psycho and any MMA/Dude Bro's will like it also. Its about Forrest's idea on how "to be a man"...and gives all sorts of advice on this...good read people.<br /><br />I want to give a shout out to a few folks/good guys and gals here that I had the pleasure of getting to know recently...<a href="http://www.pokerpages.com/player-profile/cameron-ainsworth.htm">Cameron Ainsworth</a> and <a href="http://www.pokerpages.com/player-profile/andrew.htm">Andy Moon</a> ...good guys and up and comers so look for these guys in 2012 to make an impact (Cam we should have waited that guy out in that SNG...lol)...as well as <a href="http://www.pokerpages.com/player-profile/brett-alello.htm">Brett Alello</a>. All from the Baton Rouge area. <a href="http://www.pokerpages.com/player-profile/renee-skinner.htm">Renee Skinner</a> and <a href="http://www.pokerpages.com/player-profile/todd-skinner.htm">Todd Skinner</a>. Renee played super well all series and was the "Official" bubble girl but did get the "Bubble Payoff" as every player shipped in a hundo cash for the bubble player...Congrats Renee!!...I have also had the pleasure of getting to know <a href="http://www.pokerpages.com/player-profile/priscilla-giroir.htm">Prissy</a> and <a href="http://www.pokerpages.com/player-profile/jerry-giroir.htm">Jerry Giroir</a> from Lafayette.<br /><br />What else is happening...I went do a cash session yesterday at Shorty's and left a loser as the game broke and all the money left when the tourney started...frustrating...There is this old guy that is always there name A.C. that has a lot of money...plays decent...but when he starts drinkin goes on the sicko heaters...well he did the same yesterday. Guy was hitting everything once the Budlight's started to flow about 2pm.<br /><br />I left a loser on the day basically because of one (1) hand...7 limper's to me in BB and I tap with K-6o...flop is 6-6-J with 2 spades. Now I know one of these knuckleheads has spades so I decide to check-call...checks to the button who bets out...I call and everyone else folds...check-call 4h...check call 9c...Button turns over A-6o...siiiggghhhhhhhhh...talk about 2nd best.<br /><br />We are getting the final Houma/New Orleans table together for the Dead Money WSOP Main Event satty in the next few weeks. We will be having it at a Buddy's place in Metaire...Really Cool/Good guy owns it we all know (Barth M)...and if you win the table and win the Final Table on Saturday night on MLK weekend in Downtown New Orleans...you go to the "Show"...the 2012 WSOP Main Event...contact me/Wild Bill if your interested.<br /><br />"The cards take care of Drunks and Fools...and I happen to qualify in both categories" <span style="font-size:85%;">Local Poker player from Shorty's named "A.C". ...when Manny was riding him about being on a heater while drinkin</span><br /><br />Below is another pic of my "lil Man"...I know...I know guys...the UB hat should be in the garbage but it happens to be one of the only hats he likes to wear...that style...painters cap...etc<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">This is the "Poker Face" he gives his Mom when she ask him if he did anything wrong...lol<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiZNtm1ARUpkGzy9vkFsi7DtGHiAZzd33678qeMci8UtUSNW5owQOAhFef7nhM43GQKJ8rmJhW9l3HOdHLBs8KrtrYV_R6uIrmpSVl-6vrdpFKwIVji1sJDdJ6U5zYVbktrn0og/s1600/Ivey_pokerface.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691724793312176114" style="WIDTH: 279px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiZNtm1ARUpkGzy9vkFsi7DtGHiAZzd33678qeMci8UtUSNW5owQOAhFef7nhM43GQKJ8rmJhW9l3HOdHLBs8KrtrYV_R6uIrmpSVl-6vrdpFKwIVji1sJDdJ6U5zYVbktrn0og/s320/Ivey_pokerface.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">One more with him Smiling...looks like his Grandpa Dudek (Pepa)</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7BtoXO5Wq5yde6X_gn-rDoJN8MHyCqz2cw7kgqUAd0jE-hM11W3XEnAD2_Tl3cn7b3ShZoNl6hZAtTUfUWSoLyK92SbAkdqfqbmhW7kQcC7PKh3gzSoQXfPQWDW679xxKZzzPQ/s1600/Ivey_smiling.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691760908897966114" style="WIDTH: 293px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7BtoXO5Wq5yde6X_gn-rDoJN8MHyCqz2cw7kgqUAd0jE-hM11W3XEnAD2_Tl3cn7b3ShZoNl6hZAtTUfUWSoLyK92SbAkdqfqbmhW7kQcC7PKh3gzSoQXfPQWDW679xxKZzzPQ/s320/Ivey_smiling.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-22457108026051242852011-11-23T18:55:00.000-08:002011-11-23T19:14:04.985-08:00IP Poker Classic take 2...Alright people...this is the 2nd installment from the IP Poker classic.<br /><br />I am currently in Jacksonville, FL trying to win my way in the $3500 WPT event that is going on right now. I have been here for 4 days and I miss my family something awful. I have played several events and got no traction, but I am definitely having fun.<br /><br />I am going to kind of bullet point a few things as 4 days of poker here in Jacksonville have it all kind of hazy...I might not remember many hands from IP...etc<br /><br />I want to congratulate Chet Pickernell for the 1st place finish in the $1k...It was a tough heads up battle and he won. I think the ring might have meant a little more to me than him, but hey...he capped it off and took it down.<br /><br />I happen to get at multiple final tables with a Father/Son combo from Atlanta also...in the turbo event In Marvin McCord who is a pharmacist in Atlanta...and in the $1k I had his son Ezre "Clay" McCord who played really well...It was a real pleasure meeting these guys and their both solid players<br /><br />I also had Edward "Fix" Corrado at the table and was happy to see him leave...he was by far the best player left at the table.<br /><br />Who else are some nice people I got to meet...Chris Tryba was one...Steve Giddings from Ruston, La who went out 4th in the 2 day event...then he had the pleasure for seeing me "Punch Drunk" after I got knocked walking around not able to speak...just trying to process that I just won $13.5k...but lost about $15k and I was close to the gold ring the 1st time.<br /><br />Another solid shout goes out to Benton Blakeman who let me crash at his appt in between the 2 days for the 2 day event. Benton and I go back a long way right when poker became popular...actually before Moneymaker. He had been blogging on the site recently and he and I stayed up for several hours talking poker...poker strategy...poker dynamics....etc...just the whole deal ...and after the success that I had after that day/night of us hanging out together...I cant wait to hand out with Benton again LOL...definitely a good luck charm<br /><br />Kudos and thanks goes out to William "Wild Bill" Phillips...he was a Telecom co-worker that liked to play poker and we talked about this idea I had "bouncing around" in my head about creating a "Localized Poker Site" geared around the gulf coast...that was 5-6 years ago and we are right where we need to be both with the site <a href="http://www.gulfcoastpoker.net/">www.gulfcoastpoker.net</a> ...and personally in our lives with both of us taking care of a family...Bill...you rock brother.<br /><br />I am sure I will come up with some more stories and names a little later...see ya until then<br /><br />"A Lannister always pays his debts" <span style="font-size:85%;">Peter Dinkledge as Tyrion Lannister in <strong><em>"Game of Thrones"</em></strong></span>GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-26970215872863226812011-11-08T13:20:00.000-08:002011-12-30T12:50:38.060-08:00IP Poker Classic ...WOWWell...I now have some poker to talk about...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lol</span><br /><br />As most of you probably know by now...I had quite a series at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">IP</span> recently...my next few blogs will be about the entire experience so there will be several blogs coming.<br /><br />I want to start off by saying that my wife and I are still trying to digest all this and keep it all in perspective. We want to make sure that we are thankful for what God has given us and try to learn from my mistakes as I made many...and see where this will take us. This will continue to be a learning experience for me...its an ever evolving game and I just want to continue to learn<br /><br />1st off... I got 3rd place in the $345 multi-day re-entry tourney at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">IP</span> for close to $13, 500 and this was the 1st of 3 cashes for close to $40,000 I won. It was a good feeling to win that much money, but all poker players who have gotten that close also know the disappointment in not winning 1st place. It is a big whirlwind of emotions and I think I am over the disappointment/analysis part of it...and I am ready to celebrate and just be happy about the run. I will try to summarize a few things about that tourney below and might even throw in a few hands here and there.<br /><br />I started off the tourney on Day 1A on Friday, and was not overly pleased with my draw as I had Corrie "Big Slim" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Wunstell</span> in the 2 seat and Claudia "Roll Tide" Crawford from ESPN fame in the 10 seat. I was able to slowly chip up and basically hovered about average all of day 1, and I was only all-in a few times. When we got close down to the stopping point of 27 players I was moved to a table in the 10 seat (I hate the 10 seat), and I had Zach Evans sit down in the 1 seat...and at times I thought when we were in the blinds that the rest of the table would fold around just to see what kind of fireworks were going to ensue. We would tangle up in the blinds more times than I wanted to...but damn it...I just never thought he had anything ...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">lol</span>. I made some great calls at this table...and a few bad calls...once calling Zach down when we were in the blinds "again" ...with King High when he value bet 3 of a kind...I just had to see the hand...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">lol</span>.<br /><br />I really like Zach <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">alot</span> and want to wish him and his girlfriend Jennifer Parrish a healthy baby girl in the next few weeks...Zach and Jen...if your reading this ...Congrats!!!!<br /><br />I was happy to get out of Day 1A with average in chips and both Zach and Jennifer made it through with above average. When we got back for day 2, I went to work quickly building my stack. I did find Aces a few times earlier and was able to win a few nice pots, and then I made a big bluff to get in the top 10 in chips...once I had some chips I worked the stack and kept putting pressure until I was in the top 3-4...and I had one of the chip leaders directly on my left.<br /><br />The next hand would be the few times I got all my chips in before we were down to 8-9 at the FT...and it is every poker players dream with 25 players left...AA (me) vs <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">KK</span> (villain)...I really didn't realize he had me covered until everything was counted down...I was now the CL and cruised into the FT ...I think 3rd or 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">th</span> in chips...very comfortable.<br /><br />The FT was long and the 4 and 3 handed play was somewhat brutal as the structure allowed for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">alot</span> of good poker. I personally wished they would have brought the FT back for a day 3, but that was not the case. In the biggest hand of the FT for me was when I busted out Robert Harwell in a somewhat cooler hand for him...I raised PF with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">QQ</span> and he flatted with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">JJ</span>...flop came 10 high rainbow and we got it in the middle...Somewhat of a cooler but he played well.<br /><br />I had some bad luck at the table in some spots 3 handed but still felt I was the best player left even as the blinds crept up...sitting on about 16 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">bigs</span> I raised with 2 red 10's only to get flatted by "Brownie" as his military <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">buddys</span> were calling him (Bob defiantly had the biggest rail going for him)...Flop came with K and 3 club...check...check...turn was a brick...chceck-check...river another club...check-check...he turns over K-4o<br /><br />I wound up getting it in with 12-13 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">bigs</span> with A-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Qo</span> on a Q-J-10 rainbow board and the eventual winner flop the joint with K-9...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">GG</span> me...ship 3rd for $13.5k<br /><br />This is all a blessing but there is more to come...<br /><br />I want to address here something that I want to pass off to everyone who reads this blog. I think everyone who knows me knew I was not happy with my job...well...I parted ways with my last company after 7 months of the worst sales manager that I have been associated with in the 16-17 years in the telecommunication industry and I want to pass on to all you readers that I hope you never get in the situation I was in.<br /><br />I got internally transferred to work under this new sales manager coming into the company, and I knew who the guy was...I had heard terrible ...just terrible things about the guy... but I decided to give it a shot anyways and find out for myself what the guy was about...and I have never been more miserable in my entire life. I am so at peace with myself now that I don't have to ever have to stress over this guy again<br /><br />So to all you people out there that hate your jobs...that are working for a boss that is the "epitome of everything you hate"... in people and in this world...get out and get out now.<br /><br />Now I want to talk a little about the latest book I read which is an autobiography for Duff <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">McKagan</span>...the bass player for the band Guns and Roses...which I grew up with as a young adult. Absolutely one of the best books I have ever read and it encompasses Duffs (The beer on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Simpsons</span> was named after him) rise to glory with one of the most notorious rock bands in the industry...to his suicidal like use of drugs and alcohol ...to his getting sober and turning his life around. Duff is now sober...writes articles for major newspaper...getting a degree from College and enjoying life...incredible read...I highly recommend it<br /><br />I am here now sweating Bill and Jacob "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Nocko</span>" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Naquin</span> in the main event...I couldn't play the M.E. as my sons 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">nd</span> Birthday party was scheduled a month ago with invites sent...I had no idea I would be on such a heater.<br /><br />Also...Ricky Romero from Lafayette, La is the only player who can catch me as the Casino Player Champion and a seat into the $1 million <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">FreeRoll</span> at next years <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">WSOP</span>...He is at the final table in the very last $345 event...tough final table though...Capt Tom/Chris <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Tryba</span>/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Carwash</span>/John Evans...and more<br /><br />I will be blogging about my other 2 final tables in other post...my other 3rd place for over $6,000...and the heart breaker...2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">nd</span> place for over $20,000...and the coveted gold ring<br /><br />If it weren't for people who took risks, where would we be in this world?<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Shai</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Lebeouf</span> as Jacob Moore in <strong><em>Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps<br /></em></strong></span><br />PS: Again...I was slammed by questions about why I didnt play the Main Event...Well...it was Ivey's 2nd birthday party as I mentioned in blog...and earlier on Sunday ....here is the reason why...right here...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzNi3ROz4Sshil35WV0vzZvmsfCnNOtH9cFItgOel11S-I7gnWg6NSfUqdb0O0ytuRYC_AonDdkB9E' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-11206094932252647942011-08-24T13:14:00.000-07:002011-08-27T09:50:30.507-07:00EPL...and Chino RheemThis blog is going to be more of an editorial...than a Blog...I'm not going to touch on my poker playing ...as there hasn't been much to talk about...<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">lol</span>
<br />
<br />I want to touch on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">EPL</span> (Epic Poker League)...and there inaugural event that went down a few weeks ago...and the "Warning" given to the eventual winner Chino <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rheem</span> for "Conduct Unbecoming"...or whatever you want to call it.
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<br />Annie Duke and Matt Savage came up with this great league that would bring all the poker players in a "League Format" sort of like Golf and Bowling...etc. They wanted to turn poker into a sport and all the players into celebrities. They wanted to show that poker players are not "Shady" people who live to shoot angles and cheat people out of their hard earned money. They wanted to build "Character" out of poker players and show the world we are all good people who love our sport/game...etc.
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<br />I don't claim to know all the specifics ...so don't flame me for not knowing...and I am going to try not to be critical of Chino or the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">EPL</span>...but how this whole fiasco just makes us all...all serious poker players...look bad:
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<br />Overview:
<br />The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">EPL</span> comes out with this great league...they give "cards" out to members as you can only play if you are selected as a poker pro...they have their 1st $20k Main Event...and the guy who somehow made his name into a verb...getting "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Chino'ed</span>"...wins the thing for a cool $1 million. This is the same Chino <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rheem</span> that got slammed when he made the November Nine for having warrants out for his arrest...etc
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<br />After Chino's win...several players who got "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Chino'ed</span>" (Verb for: Borrowing money from poker players and not paying them back in a timely manner)...which included last years 3rd place finisher in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">WSOP</span> Main Event Joe "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Subiime</span>" <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cheong</span>...began complaining publicly. The bored poker media who lately have had nothing exciting going on...suddenly had a hot story...and they ran with it. Then Ben Lamb comes out...then <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Durrr</span>....etc. Really guys???...whats $40k to these guys? ...That's like about $1k to the rest of us.
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<br />Soon...after...the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">EPL</span> decided to put Chino on "Probation" for borrowing money and not paying it back fast enough. It went against their "Player Conduct" rules or something.
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<br />Talk about starting the league under a cloud of shady-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">ness</span>...WOW!!! The 1st person who wins the very 1st <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">EPL</span> main event gets put on probation for "Conduct Unbecoming"...and we are suppose to be trying to turn poker into a legitimate sport/game that big name sponsors will come and invest advertising dollars into...Really???? This is what I mean by all they are doing is hurting poker with this kind of non-sense as poker players understand the dynamics of the situation...but everyday "Joe's" will not.
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<br />Lets look at some analogies right quick...gambling in golf...could you see John <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Daly</span> borrowing $50k or so from Tiger Woods...or he losses $50k playing/gambling on 9 holes...and then he wins the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">TPC</span> for millions...OH WAIT...the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">PGA</span> announces that they are putting him on probation for "personal debts"...<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">that</span> he <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">hasn't</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">welshed</span> on...he just has not payed them back "Fast enough for the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">PGA</span>"...Really????
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<br />This is just bad karma to start this league with and personally...I don't think Chino did anything wrong. Its not like he said he wasn't going to pay??? I mean ...if you loan a guy $40k because you will get a piece of the grinder in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">WSOP</span> Main Event...then that's on you. You made the decision to ship out that loan...nobody else...and for the likes of Ben lamb/<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">Subiime</span>/<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">Durrr</span> to go crying to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error">EPL</span> and the poker media...wow...thats bizarre...sorry guys...that's just how I see it.
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<br />Now lets move onto the topic of the rest of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error">EPL</span> and the big names that listed on the rooster there...and we have to talk about FTP and the fiasco that the site has turned into. This poker site is going to go down in the poker history as the biggest "FAIL" ...and the players that are associated with it are going to be stained as well. I mean come on...Dutch Boyd got lynched in the poker community for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pokerspot</span> and its demise years ago...now we have Annie Duke/Matt Savage with all the shady shysters on the rooster that were FTP. Lets run though them right quick...
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<br />Low and behold...at the top of the list is Annie's brother Howard "The Professor" <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lederer</span>...Jesus Ferguson...Andy Bloch...Juanda...etc....everyone else that "owned" even a slight piece of the company...they know who they are...they all owe Millions upon Millions of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">dollars</span>...to thousands upon thousands of players...and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">that's</span> a fact...not a perception.
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<br />And Chino <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rheem</span> gets put on probation after winning the 1st event...and all these people are allowed in with not even a slap on the wrist???
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<br />I don't know guys...I would love to see this league take off and be the biggest thing going in the poker world...but by the actions of how they treated Chino with the shadiness surrounding his win (the 1st ever <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" class="blsp-spelling-error">EPL</span> main Event)...and the two-faced/hypocrisy of their actions...
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<br />...it just doesn't pass the "Sniff Test"...but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_33" class="blsp-spelling-error">GL</span> ...I am rooting for the league to make it
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<br />"I'm no martyr. I did it for the money. But it's not worth much if you can't face yourself in the mirror. Respect is the ultimate currency. I was stealing from a man who traded his away for a few dollars. And then he tried to wash away his guilt. Drown it in a lifetime of good deeds and a sea of respectability. It almost worked, too. But inevitably, the further you run from your sins, the more exhausted you are when they catch up to you. And they do. Certain. It will not fail"
<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">-Clive Owen as Dalton Russell in <strong><em>"Inside Man"
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<br />GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-22369605523587962882011-06-12T07:28:00.000-07:002011-06-12T09:14:35.386-07:00Poker Ramblings....Wow...its been that long...damn<br /><br />I haven't blogged in a while as my day job has me consumed, and with all the negativity around the poker world, I just didn't' have it in me. I am just going to go ahead and just put some thoughts out there on this one...and I will try to get back into the groove soon<br /><br />Black Friday:<br />Well that SUCKED!!!! I feel bad for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">alot</span> of my friends who have 1000's and 1000's of dollars on FTP, and I would not count on seeing any of it anytime soon. I had something like $32.50 on Tilt so I wasn't as affected as others...and I got all my money back from Stars with no problems ...so...it sucked that we can't play, but I was one of the lucky ones that focused primarily on Stars and not Tilt...and got my money...which brings me to...<br /><br />Phil <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Iveys</span> Lawsuit:<br />At 1st...I thought it was a political ploy to take the focus off the fact that FTP was not paying out the money they owed...and the speculation that they may never...as they don't have the funds. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ivey</span> has clearly separated himself from the rest of the pack by getting a top attorney to sue the company that he represents/represented.<br /><br />With that being said...how many people do you think actually owned a small piece of FTP?...I mean come on...They gave Clone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Gowan</span> a piece...that would tell me that everyone that is above her also has a stake in the company. I would say probably...My guess...from Gavin Smith on up. Gavin may not own a portion...but everyone higher on the Totem Pole I would say ..."Yes"...most certainly...Ivey...Lederer...Juanda ...Fergusan...Seidel...all of them. Their all sitting there now at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">WSOP</span> 2011...probably sporting their FTP gear because they are "Contracted" too...knowing that the entire organization...top to bottom...is "circling the drain"...not good guys.<br /><br />So it could be argued that the 2 biggest sites <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">pre</span> BF were Stars and Tilt...lets put them side by side and compare<br /><br />Stars: Still rocking and running games...paying out anyone who ask...IN A TIMELY MANNER (My wire transfer got to me in 3 days)...if they ever legalize online poker...they will still continue to be a player<br /><br />FTP: Caught off guard by BF...froze up and panicked...refuses to give anyone their money back...is being accused of being one big <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Ponzi</span> Scheme where money was embezzled/Payed out to the owners....and when they weren't paying all the USA players/owners huge sums of money every month to promote the site/get players...they were not putting aside the money to pay out all the accounts if in fact the worst possible scenario hit the online poker...Hey guys...(Gene D's tapping on the fish tank)...IT HAPPENED!!!!...how are they going to pull out of this?...I have no idea<br /><br />Looks like we have a winner folks...<br /><br />So this brings me to the Old Harry Reid Bill back in December. You can't say that FTP wasn't "warned" ...or had some inclination that this could happen as lets just look at it "Hypothetically"...say the Reid Bill passed...What was FTP going to do for 2 years when every person in the United States would want their money out until they could play again. Were they really going to just freeze <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">everyone's</span> accounts and "ask" them to wait for 2 years to play again/cash out their money?...REALLY??? ...I mean, with the intelligence of all these owners rolled into one...could the Red Flag have gotten up the flagpole any faster?<br /><br />FTP Patches at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">WSOP</span>...Do they really want to "Require" all their players to where the patches as a "Contractual Obligation"...REALLY???<br /><br />Keep in mind folks that this is just a personal blog and this is my personal opinion...I hope everything works out for FTP and poker online poker in general.<br /><br />Congrats goes out to David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Diaz</span>...wow Kid...way to go.<br />I 1st met David in 2006 during the World Poker Open in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Tunica</span> when he and I chopped a nightly heads up. Wild Bill was at that FT table also...as we were all "up and comers"...we would see him around the circuit events and would chat briefly...and then he shoot out to where he is now passing us like we were standing still.<br /><br />I met <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">TK</span> at Gordon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Bierch</span> during the last circuit event in New Orleans and hung out and bullshited...I asked him about <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">everyone</span> ...and he said, "By far...the most improved player in the bunch is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Diaz</span>".<br /><br />And finally...Kai "Cobra Kai" Landry...My wife was laughing when we were <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">texting</span> back n forth when you were <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">at the</span> FT. For me <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">tt</span> send you a text...and us watch you reach for your phone...and text us back something cool...she got a kick out of it. I know you wanted the wrist wear...but if that was a start to your <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">WSOP</span> this year...I am sure its a matter of days/weeks before you get in the winners circle.<br /><br />"<strong>Sun-Tzu:</strong> If your enemy is superior, evade him. If angry, irritate him. If equally matched, fight, and if not split and reevaluate" <span style="font-size:85%;">Charlie Sheen as Bud Fox in <strong>"Wall Street"</strong></span><br /><br />"Winning!!!!" <span style="font-size:85%;">Charlie Sheen as a psycho former actor and drinker of Tiger Blood</span>GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-57505403210487230652011-01-24T14:45:00.000-08:002011-01-24T15:23:06.056-08:00Tales from the Southern Poker ChampionshipIts been a very turbulent Southern Poker Championship for me the past couple of weeks even though I continue to leave town a winner. I am beating the cash games and SNG's, but keep getting unlucky in my tournaments...which we all know can be very frustrating. I use to tell myself that as long as I play well...all is good...but that philosophy has been eating at me lately.<br /><br />I feel I am playing well...putting myself in good spots only to get it shoved back down my throat.The 1st hand I want to talk about has already been discussed on Monks blog, but he had a better read on the guy then I did as he says the guy was angle shooting by throwing out the 5k chip...I really thought he had made a mistake...and I will tell you why...<br /><br />About 30 mins before that hand I look down at K-10h from late position when from early position Wally Chambers opens for 2.5x...Wally has been opening alot of hands as that's his style and his range is wide so when there are 3 callers to me...I flat...flop comes out all low cards below a 9 with 2 hearts...Wally c-bets...I am the only caller. On the turn hits a black 10. Wally leads out again for about $400...so with top pair and a solid flush draw I decide to pop him to about $1250 and grab a 1-$500/7 -$100/2-$25 chips and tossed them in the pot....after several seconds of tanking Wally is staring at me and says, "That's a big raise"...and I look down and see that I had accidentally grabbed a $5k chip instead for a $500...making it $5750 (half my stack)...I made a face and when he continued to tank I knew I was good as he had that..."Damn...he made a big mistake right there and I wish I had a hand to take advantage of it"... look on his face...he eventually folds and we all laugh about it<br /><br />Which takes us to my bustout hand where the earlier raiser does the same thing...I thought he made a mistake in sticking the $5k chip in with QQ...but Monk is confident he did it as an "angle shot"...having a big hand trying to make everyone think he made a mistake.Anyhow...I wake up with KK...get my money in good in a sweet double-up spot when villain shows QQ...Rusostreet who is also at the table in the 4 seat is just smiling and says, "you lucky F'er"...The guy next to Monk had folded a Q...aaaannnnnd the villain hits the only Q left in the deck on the flop...sigggggghhhhhhh.<br /><br />Next I want to chat about a hand where the floor (Mostly the Dealer) makes a terrible call on me in a 1-2nl cash game. I am friendly with all the folks there at the Beau in the poker room, and I try to play in their Daily Nightly tourneys as often as possible. I am sitting with the Tiltin Texan on my immediate left and some Asian kid on my right we will call "Asian the Angle Shooter". In this particular hand I am in the BB with Q-Jo when there are several limpers...the sb limps...I knuckle. The flops hits "gin" for me with 9-10-K with 2 spades. Everyone limps to me and I bet out $15.00 and was only called by A.T.A.S...Turn is a red A which again...gives me the nuts...A.T.A.S checks...I check...turn is a 9 pairing the board. My read was that he was on a flush draw and normally I easily fade this trap and just check behind but I was going to value town if I could ...and I lead out for $20...<br /><br />This is where it gets sketchy...and we are all real friendly and laughing/cutting up at the table...A.T.A.S grabs a $100 bill out of his stack and puts it in the pot and simultaneously....as close as it gets...as soon as the bill hits the table (It had already clearly crossed the line)...3 things took place...all at the the same time...The bill hits the table/A.T.A.S says "I make it $100"/I expose my hand...now what do you do. There are several players on my side...and the only person A.T.A.S has is the dealer. The dealer is adamant that it was a good raise to me and several others objection.<br /><br />Floor is called and with the information she was given by the dealer (Obviously)...she rules the raise stands...after it was all over...I left as i was starting to tilt and berate A.T.A.S as a cheap shot artist...etc<br /><br />As I was standing at the cash out line...the older guy that was in the 8 seat on Tex's left is behind me...on the side of us is the floor person...and The older guy does in fact tell her that it was a terrible call.<br /><br />Several points...<br />1) I have seen this guy before...he plays alot of poker...if it was a mistake...he should have manned up and admitted it...he knows all you have to do is say "raise" at any point and you can do whatever<br />2) I would never have exposed my card had I not clearly thought he had called...how close is that?...is the floor gonna now tell me that I have a problem exposing my cars too early?....really?...is that what they want to claim<br />3) whenever there is a situation as this...the floor should always ask other people what happened...analyze the situation...and caution on the side "Against" the angle shooter.<br /><br />If the floor used solid deductive reasoning here and asked was it close?...the player called had already exposed his hand...the guys never said anything about a raise until the bill hit the table...I would think it would be an easy call of "Sir...this will be a call...be more careful in the future of announcing your raises"...oh well...that's a wrap<br /><br />What else is up?...lets see...I busted out of my last tournament where I raise PF in the BB with AA into 4 limper including the utg and sb...those 2 are the only callers. flop is harmless 9-6-2 rainbow. Check...I c-bet the size of the pot...utg pops me up enough where its "fold or shove"...I went in the tank and if I fold I still have 8-9 bigs...I run thru the hands I do beat....I grab my stack an say "Maybe you got Jacks or Queens" as I jam them in...of course he has a set of 9's<br /><br />I'm not happy about it...although it was somewhat of a cooler. Everyone is telling me I can;t fold there...its just standard poker where your just gonna bust there...too many of these agro-aggressive kids pop me there with A-9/10-10/J-J/Q-Q....etc...some as light as K-9/Q-9...I guess thats poker<br /><br />What else is up....I want to say shout out to Charlie Townshend who I had the pleasure of meeting at this series. It was kind of funny that we are next to each other in a sng when he tells me he is from Delaware somewhere...and he has been drinking beer in Abita, La at the Abita plant there...I ask him, "So you must be a tourist...just in town...decided to come play some poker"...he laughs and says "Yea man...That's what I am doing here"....Then I see him talking to all the best players there later and find out he has played against some of the best players in the world...including Stu Ungar...and has traveled the circuit...what a nice guy Charlie is<br /><br />I was bullshitting with Tyler and Diaz when Dwyte Pilgrim walked up ...I got to meet him also and congratulate him on his 2010...Also a really nice guy<br /><br />Shout out to TK and Jonathan Little...I have 3 words for you two guy..."SCOTCH...and ice" lol<br /><br />Congrats to J Little's parents also as his Dad won a seat into the Main Event...and his Mom cashed in the Ladies event...not sure if his Dad was still in when I left.<br /><br />Nice...I was going grab a beer at the middle bar at the Beau, and of course we all know that you have to "Be Playing" to get your drinks Free....OK....Sure...I put a 5 ball in the poker machine there on the bar and hit the progressive J-Pot on Jacks or Better....YATZEE...Ship a cool $1075.00<br /><br />Hardest thing about my job and playing poker on the road is missing my little man. Wow...he is growing up so fact sometimes I can't believe it. He is 14 months old and he is already holding a bat and hitting plastic balls. I can't wait to get home to see him...nothing like walking through the door and seeing his face light up...Daddy's a "Rock Star" for those few seconds...<br /><br />And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon...<br />Little boy blue and the man in the moon<br />When you comin' home dad?...I don't know when...<br />but we'll get together then... son...<br />You know... we'll have a good time then<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Lyrics from the song <strong>"Cats In The Cradle"</strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>by Harry Chapin/Cat Stevens</em></span>GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34911138.post-24318473757155780592010-12-26T15:53:00.000-08:002010-12-26T18:31:19.575-08:00Merry Christmas and Happy HolidaysWanted to throw up a quick blog to say Happy Holidays to everyone. I have been enjoying the holidays lately and I haven't blogged recently. This one will probably be a little choppy also...Sorry about that<br /><br />Bayou Poker Classic at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Harrah's</span> recently...I enjoyed the series and booked a winner overall in the series. It started out great with me winning my seat into the Main Event the 1st night on the 1st satellite try...and when I left you guys last...I was heading over to play day 2 in Event #1. I would finish 12<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> place in that event taking home $1160.00...There is a typo on the Internet as they have me cashing for $800 and some change...Nolan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Dalla</span> told me it would be fixed soon.<br /><br />My backer was with me when I cashed out , but you can see where this can bring up some possible "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Shadynest</span>"...When your being backed in a tournament and your backers not there/with you...and the amount posted online is incorrect...it just makes things more prone for dis-honesty...like I said...no biggie my way...but I wish they would be a little more careful in the future about posting the winnings <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">correctly the 1st time</span>.<br /><br />This brings me to this years main Event...$2600 buy-in...1st place was around $66k. I started with a sick table as there were only 2 spots I did not know...seat 1 had "Cash Game" Buddy....local electrician who I have been playing with since the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">NL</span> game kicked of in New Orleans years ago as a 5-5 game..."B" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Vu</span> in the 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">nd</span> seat...Local <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Houma</span> Attorney Baron Whipple in 3...me in 4 seat...5 and 6 were "No N<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">amers"</span>...Bryan “<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">maravich</span>” <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Lanoix</span> in 7....and John "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">JRD</span>" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Dolan</span> in the 8 seat (recent 2010 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">WSOP</span> final <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">tabelist</span> to you non-poker players).<br /><br />So 1st off...you notice that there are only 8 seats...that's because Tournament Director Steve <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Frezer</span> decided to run the entire Main Event "8 handed". Now I am curious what <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">every body's</span> thoughts are here...and will tell you what happened at my table. I am told by Steve (we are friends/I think he runs great tourneys/no criticism here)...that he got lots of good feedback.<br /><br />My thoughts are on the fence and just to make this "real"...Steve did ask me my opinion on the move and we discussed it in depth for 15-20 minutes (just he and I) ...during day 2. He is such a great tourney director because he listens to what the players think...and adapts. He was interested in my story...and we talked for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">awhile</span> ....etc<br /><br />1st off...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">JRD</span> shows up pretty late...not long after he gets there..."B" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Vu</span> loses all his chips to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">JRD</span>...so we are/were essentially...playing 7 handed...and then the floor seats a guy in "B"'s old seat (last guy to get in the tourney)...and he decides to go check into his hotel and just blind off. At this point, players were getting bumped out and there are a bunch of tables playing 7 handed...when we lose guy in seat 6...putting my table also "officially" 7 handed<br /><br />Now we are in the 3rd-4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">th</span> level of play and there is chips being blinded out in the 2 seat so we are "Officially" 7 handed....but this guy did not show up for another whole level.<br /><br />So ...in the mid-early levels of this tournament...we have to play the entire level ...6 handed (6 players and 1 guy blinding out)...Steve was surprised by this and we agreed that I was just a "Victim of Circumstances"...and that it just "happened"...but that's not what I had signed up for.<br />The only other issue I had with it was that it was never "announced"...on paper....no <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">flyers</span>...not on any structure sheets....nothing. In fact, I specifically asked the floor person closest to my table, "Can you show me on paper where it says we are going to play the main event 8 handed?"...she replied, "No sir...the Tourney Director just decided this was how he was going to roll on this one".<br /><br />I would really like some comments here...please post up what your thoughts are. Like I said...Steve is all about "Learning and Adapting"...if someone post up their opinion...he will take it to heart/serious.<br /><br />Well...I did not cash in the Main Event and was not "overall" please with my play. I did give give most of my chips to a friend...but I didn't like the way I played the hand. I was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">UTG</span> with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">KK</span> ...and raise with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">bb</span> at $400 ...to $1000 straight. The blinds came along with Baron Whipple on my right in the 3 seat. The flop peeled off 10-5-3...I c-bet and he popped me (Red flags should be slapping me in the face here)....I flatted his raise...he leads on the turn and I call...he makes a nice bet on the river ...and I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">donk</span> off/call as he flopped a set of 3's.<br /><br />I was more upset with myself because it was against a player I play with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">soooooo</span> often and somewhat know how he plays...but I was also happy about it as ...at least I gave my chips to someone I know and gave them a boost towards winning the thing. Baron and I spoke last week at the Beau <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Rivage</span>...we agreed that the call on the turn was "sketchy"...the river call was terrible. I could have folded on the river and still been sitting with 10-11 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">bbs</span>. Playing short stacked is one of my strong points and I didn't even get to implement that portion of my game. After the hand with Baron, I was left with just a few <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">bigs</span>...I got it all in 2 hands later with K-Jo...that's a wrap.<br /><br />What else is going on...we did Christmas with the families and I ate the best "Gumbo's" of my life. Julie's grandma makes an Oyster Gumbo every year and it is the best...it rocks. The key to her gumbo is she uses Oyster juice ...yea...you can order a tub of Oyster juice from the factories down here and that is the key <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">ingredient</span>...My Mom/Dad made a Seafood gumbo for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Christmas</span> eve at my brother <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">James'</span> house and it was made in the same manner...They also used Oyster juice and my Dad said, "Not one drop of water was used in the Gumbo...it was all Oyster juice"...damn that Seafood Gumbo was good. I am eating the last of it tonight for dinner. For you cooks out there...Oyster Juice is the key <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">ingredient</span> in any Oyster based Gumbos...you heard it hear.<br /><br />I want to give a quick shout out to my Brother James' website he owns called "<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Extreme</span> Mob Wars"...you can get there here...<a href="http://www.extrememobwars.com/">http://www.extrememobwars.com/</a> ...its a money based game and you can win/lose real money on the game...its pretty cool.<br /><br />What else has been going on...lets see<br /><br />-I watched a couple of movies over the holidays and the best movie I saw so far was <strong><em>"The Town"</em></strong> by Ben <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Affleck</span>. It is a cool Bank Robbery movie right up there with <strong><em>"Point Break"</em></strong> and <strong><em>"Heat"...</em></strong>excellent movie if you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">haven't</span> seen it yet. We also watched <strong><em>"Inception"</em></strong> with Leo <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">DiCaprio</span>...it was cool also with a cool premise of them getting into people's dreams. I dream <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">alot</span> in my sleep and it really makes you think about and analyze your dreams...you may want to check this one out also. Big "No-No"... <strong><em>"The Box"</em></strong> with Cameron <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Diaz</span>...probably one of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">stupidest</span> movies I have ever seen...Terriable...it sucked...I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">kind</span> of pissed when it was over <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">because</span> it never <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">tied</span> anything together ...nothing at all...skip it.<br /><br />-The wife and I are still looking at houses and its getting a little boring...we just can't seem to find a house we like. We have looked at probably 15-20 house in the month of December and we cant seem to find one we want to pull the trigger on. We have made "offers" on several houses...people just seem to think their houses are worth more than they are around here.<br /><br />-I am now "Officially" employed by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">Earthlink</span> Business as the M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) activity is over with the buy out of my company...I think overall...I am in a good spot...Now...Earthlink has just decided to buy a new company that will make us one of the biggest <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">CLEC's</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">Competitive</span> Local <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">Exchange</span> Carriers) in our industry...hopefully things will stable out in the next 6 months.<br /><br />Hope 2011 brings lots <span style="color:#ffff00;">of</span> good things to us all...as well as the website and magazine...we are getting ramped up to do our "Yearbook" issue of the magazine...look for it soon.<br /><br />"What is the most resilient parasite? Bacteria? A virus? An intestinal worm?...No...Its an idea. Resilient... highly contagious. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain it's almost impossible to eradicate. An idea that is fully formed - fully understood - that sticks; right in there somewhere"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Leo Dicaprio as Cobb in <strong><em>"Inception"</em></strong></span>GeneDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306804790948818294noreply@blogger.com0