Old Pic

 

WSOP New Orleans and my thoughts on the Kid Poker/Deeb feud

Ok..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.

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.

Hope to see you all there this week for the remainder of the Circuit Event and the Main Event...gonna be huge!!!

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
Peace
GeneD

"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"

"What I am asking you is if something was too complicated to explain ...you would advise not not explaining it at all?"

"Absolutely"

Interaction in the Movie "Mojave" between Garrett Hedlund and is Attorney and his Attorney Walton Goggins

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

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

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

I finally got some time so I figured I would bust out a Blog right quick.

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.

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.

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.

See Ya soon!!!
GeneD

New Blog for 2018

Had 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.

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.

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.

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.

I hope to play more tourneys and events the rest of 2018...Hope to see everyone around
Take care
GeneD

Heading to Vegas

Hey 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...

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.

WOW!!!!...I was taken aback and pretty pumped!!

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

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.

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.

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.

GeneD

"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."
Game of Thrones

Its been awhile...

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^st 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.

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.

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.

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^rd 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.

This brings me to the guy that got 2^nd 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

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

 Below is the Pic of the house we lived in for close to a year....

The Big House...We had access to the Bog House and it was some cool...there were hidden staircases...old school stuff

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.

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.

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^st 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^th…Blaaaahhhh (I had already decided in my head I was not chopping…their lucky)


"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 "Sicario"

Well..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

 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.

 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)

 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.

 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.

 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.

 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!!!

 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!!)

 That’s about it for now…

 "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 "True Detective"

Round 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.

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:

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".
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".

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!!!

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.

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.

Thats all folks...and I was the eventual "stone cold" bubble boy in that satty...LOL

Take care...

"Anything in life worth doing...is worth overdoing...Moderation is for cowards"
Alexander Ludwig as Shane Patton in Lone Survivor

Wow...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.

11/22/13:
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.

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.

WSOP Main Event:
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.

WSOP Circuit IP:
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...

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!!!

Coushatta:
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...

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 [Insert your biggest name pro/Home Game/Monetary Amount]...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:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/poker/columns/story?columnist=feldman_andrew&id=2322221 (He literally called Howard right in front of me and got his VM with his publicist voice on it)
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.

Bossier:

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.

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

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.

11/27/13
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.

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.

11/28/13
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.

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.

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.

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.

See you guys there!!
Gene

"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 "Tombstone"

Final table at the Beau

Sorry 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

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.
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!!



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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"When your enemy's making mistakes, don't interrupt him"  Brad Pitt as Billy Beane in "Moneyball"

Random 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.

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.

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.

Does Monkey love Amanda Mussumeci?
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?".

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    lol

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

11/8/12 (Days Later)
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.

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.

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.

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!!

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.

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     ;-)

He dressed as Spider Man on Halloween...we will use on of the Spidey quotes then...

"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 Spiderman 1

Coushatta 7 Clans

It’s been awhile…but I been winning    ;-)

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.

 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.

 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^th to 5^th 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.

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.

The next hand will show how weird the texture of the table/game can change on you…sometimes even when you make bad decisions.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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     ;-)

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.

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. 

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.

We were married today…Sept 29^th 2006…The best 6 years of my life...

"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..." Robin Williams as Sean in Good Will Hunting

WSOP National Championship Part 1:

Sigh…tilting…another bad beat as I wrote half a blog on the 6^st 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.

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

I am trying to think of some of the stuff I wrote before in version 1…uuuhhhmmmmm

Getting to Vegas:

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!!!

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

In Vegas:

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^th 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.

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.

National Championship:

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.

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:

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.

(Side Bar Here)

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^st 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^nd 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.

(End of Side Bar)

The 2^nd 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^st 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.

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:

Poker Brat Bluff:

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”.

Elky last hand of the night:

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.

Day 2:

I started with this table:

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)

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

Some of the players:

David “ODB” Baker …

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.

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^nd guessing his play because there are just too many justifications for the play…I may have just played it differently.

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^st place was $414,000.

(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:  “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 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.

Post Flop of 2c2hJh…

Scenario #1: Either ODB leads out and Aaron raises and ODB folds.

Scenario #2: ODB checks and Aaron makes a nice size bet I think ODB has to fold.

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.

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.

Nik Stone:

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

Hellmuth:

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.

National Championship moving to New Orleans and away from the WSOP:

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:

1) Not enough of the $10k qualifiers showed up:

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”

2) No big name pros made the final table:

                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.

3) I think there were complaints about forcing people to play a certain day in the Main Event…

I don’t know.

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.

Ok...will write more later

"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"

Samual Jackson as "Jules" in Pulp Fiction