Booked a loser Friday...online poker's future???

I booked a loser last Friday night after being on a nice run the week before. I don't think I played bad, in fact, it really came down to one hand. I called a $15.00 raise from the hi-jack seat with Qd8s along with 3 other players. The flop comes down Qc10d4s. Everyone folds around to me and I fire out a $25.00 bet. Original raiser smooth calls and the rest of the players pitch their cards in the muck. Turn brings the 8c. I fire out $50.00 and the villain goes in the tank, mumbles something about me trying to buy the pot, and then smooth calls again. The river brings the Jc...ouch. Villain fires out $100.00 at me. Damn....now I go in the tank. I can count so many hands that beat me. The flush is out there...the straight just got there...hell, he would have played pocket 10's or Jack's the same way. I called like an idiot and he tabled JhJd...I knew it.

That was it...I went $500.00 deep in the game and pulled out with $365.00.

I am sure that anyone that plays poker and has a computer, a copy of the Super System and an online account now knows about the cheating scandal that has rocked the net. My thoughts...I don't know how I feel about it yet. I am not getting rich playing online. To me it is just a way to kill time and keep my math sharp. I don't like sitting in front of a computer for 8-10 hours a day for anything...except work, and that just about tells it like it is. I work in front of a computer and work for companies that build networks that run the public Internet. I have been asked repeatedly for years about the possibility of this. "Can this be done...Can someone hack into your computer and see your cards"...my standard phrase back came from the smartest computer geek/hacker I know...when it comes to computers, there are no guarantees. There is nothing 100% safe. If you can build a firewall to keep them out, then someone can figure out how to get thru.


"I have been told that the best crackers in the world can do this under 60 minutes but unfortunately I need someone who can do this under 60 seconds" John Travolta's Character Gabriel in "Swordfish"

Been on a good run

I have been running good in the past week, and I am really feeling good about my game and the way I am playing. I have been able to get in some good games also. That is one of the things that I pride myself on. There are games all around me, and some of them are fairly big. I can play in these games but I choose not to play in these games because I know I can't beat the game. I have been trying to pick the "Right" games to play. I will be heading to Harrah's today, and I hope I can keep the streak going today. I have booked 5 straight wins dating back to 10/18 in the NL cash games. These wins are on a variety of 1-2, 2-5 and 5-5 NL games. I have been playing well, making good reads and making great lay-downs. I just hope I can keep it going thru the IP Poker Classic that is starting next month.

Congrats goes out to fellow blogger "Austin" Martin. I was really happy to see Martin Blog about the thoughts going thru his head, and overcoming some of these negative emotions. I think it falls right in line with what or purpose is here on GCP. I think it is the reason our readers return. We have a handful of guys with dreams of becoming poker champions, grinding it out and moving thru the world wind of emotions that come with our quest...and blogging about it. I can't wait until one of us hits something big, and we can go back and read these blogs.

I am going to try to post a pic of Kido Pham from yesterday's final table. He actually had a sweater on from one of our featured Casinos, Coushatta in Kinder, La. Kido lost heads up to David Singer in the $10,000 event.

"To the game and getting out of this hick town! Thank God there is a sport for middle-sized white boys" Patrick Swayze's charater Derek in "Youngblood"

Hit and run at the Belle of Baton Rouge, Acadiana Poker Classic and Politics

I have been in Baton Rouge for work the past 2 nights, and I booked a winner both nights at the Belle of Baton Rouge. It was good to see all the same faces. It was actually tough to get on a table last night. There is only 4 tables there with 2 running 2-5NL, and 2 running 4-8 limit. I had to wait almost 45 minutes to get to the table, but I ran into my man Dave "Loveshack" Gafford and got to chat and catch up. Loveshack won the main event at the first IP Poker Classic in Biloxi. I have referenced this tournament in previous blogs. Tex came in 8th where his Aces got smoked by Kings that David Robbins held.

I played 2 sessions with both about 2 1/2 hours each session. I had things to do both nights and I could not stay very long. The good thing is ...I walked away with a nice win. $330.00 on Tuesday night and $430.00 on Wednesday. Bad thing thing is...it looked like I did a "Hit and Run". I even heard one of the regular guys there, Gary, say, "Damn...there he is...comes in and has a couple of drinks...chats it up...wins a couple of hundred and he's out the door". Oh well...that's the way it goes sometimes.

You will see somethings up on www.gulfcoastpoker.net about the Acadiana Poker Classic. Last year they had a huge turn out and they are again expecting alot of folks. They have booked the entire Cajun Dome floor. Wild Bill and I are expecting to play.

I finally got to read a book that was not poker related. I am going to show my political roots a little here as I had a chance to listen to Pat Buchanon on Sirius Satellite Radio. He is a little far right for me, but I listened anyway. I went buy his book "State of Emergency". I am halfway thru it, and I recommend any true blue, America loving person, go buy this book and read it...some really scary stuff.

"Gilbert, it's the Burger Barn! It's the Burger Barn, Gilbert, the Burger Barn!" Leonardo DiCaprio's Character Arnie in "Whats eating Gilbert Grape"

Pokerstars Blogger tourney, brutal runner-runner session at Harrah's

Played in the Pokerstars online Blogger tourney yesterday with fellow GCP bloggers Wildbill, Austin Martin and The Virge Man. I played bad, and was not happy with my performance. I overplayed several hands, and donked off chips on 2 bad calls where my opponents held Aces both hands. One a positive note Wild Bill played like a champ and scored a 80 gig Ipod. He was at one point the chip leader with over 200 people to go out of over 1000. Great Job Bill!!!!. Now, I just have to show him how to download pokerwire radio ;-).

Played at Harrah'f Friday night for a short session. My wife had to work at a friends restaurant, so I headed over there to play some 1-2nl for a short session. We started a brand new table, so we all started with $200.00. I had decided that I was playing for an hour and that was it. I was going to look at some hands, and hopefully pick up a small score. I am in the 5 seat

Well...my session last exactly 6 hands. One the 2nd hand I have AhQc on the button. Villain in the 9 seat raises to $15.00, and there are 2 callers to me. I call. Flop comes out Jc9h3d. Villain fires out $20.00, and there is a caller to me. I smooth call. Turn is the Qh. Villain fires $35.00, and I am the only one to call. The river brings an Ac. Villain checks, I bet out $30.00...he raises to $60.00. I have him squarely on A-J, so I call...he tables K-10 for the runner-runner straight.

Ok...not how I had anticipated opening this session. 4 hands later I wake up with AcKh. I raise it to $15.00 and get 3 callers. Flop comes Ks4d6s. I ship in the rest of my chips and the lady on the end of the table calls. I am putting her on the flush draw, and sure enough, she tables As6s. The turn and river were the 2 red sixes to send me on my way. WOW...coolers? Just as soon dumped a bucket of ice water on me.

"..."The Suck Zone". It's the point basically when the twister... sucks you up. That's not the technical term for it, obviously" Philip Seymour Hoffman's character dusty in "Twister"

3 nights at Harrah's...Tournament lesson

Heading home today after spending several nights playing at Harrah's. I played multiple sessions in between going to work, and booked a winner on a whole. I was able to get a lot of traction on Tuesday night. Joe B. was on the table that night and it was late when I came into the following hand. It was a 1-2nl game. The table was getting pretty loose at this time, and I was in the SB with about $310.00. The UTG player makes it $10.00. I call, as well as several others, with 7s5s. The flop comes down 7d5h2s. I check. The BB makes it $35.00 and the UTG player raises to $85.00. I smooth call. The BB moves all in with only $35.00 more. The UTG player and myself both call. At this point we go from the main pot to the side pot. Turn comes a 4d. This spooks me as the straight is now out there. I check...UTG bets...I raise...he jams all in. I call. This is the point that I love when the person does not want to show his hand. We are all sitting there waiting for someone to show. I say, "I called...what do you have". UTG turns over 7h2h and the BB shows 7c5c. I win the huge side pot and chop the main.

The tournament lesson centers around the Wednesday night tournament last night that we played at Boomtown. Right before the break I won a huge pot that put me 2nd or 3rd chip leader. Bill was already out, so he can also verify my stacks here. I had 2 big stacks of Blacks ($100) and a bigger stack of greens ($25). A stack of blacks is 20 deep...I had 2 full stacks. If we do the math here. I had $550.00 in green chips (TD actually remembers this) and at the minimum ...$4000.00 in Black (20x100=2000 x 2). Some more simple math brings us to $4550.00. I came back to my stack with 5 reds ($500.00) chips and 7 blacks....grand total of $3200.00.

Lesson...ALWAYS COUNT YOUR CHIPS BEFORE YOU WALK AWAY FOR A BREAK!!!!!

"Have you ever confused a dream with life? Or stolen something when you have the cash? Have you ever been blue? Or thought your train moving while sitting still? Maybe I was just crazy"
Winona Ryder as Suzanne in "Girl...Interrupted"

Randon post

Not much going on the GeneD world the past couple of days. Goondingy has a guy that is looking to cut us a deal on some t-shirts for the site, and Harrah's in New Orleans was giving away free nights at there new bad ass hotel to poker players. Wild Bill, Tex and JoeB all scored some last week after doing ...like a 28 hour session. I was able to score 3 nights this Mon/Tues/Wed, so I should have lots to post about early next week.

Signed up to play in the Pokerstars Blogger Championship as you can see by the logo on my front page. Seems like it is going to be pretty cool. $40,000 worth of cash and prizes. I have been playing more online since I have been talking to Lusky and Eddie more. I have to get Poker Tracker and really start to buckle down and take it from the ground up like Lusky. I just find it hard to start in the $0.25/$0.50 range when I actively play in 1-2 and 2-5 NL in the live games. I just think it is the right thing to do, and I have to put myself there to really get a hold of my online Bankroll...which is not much. I just have to evolve from here. From low limits on up.

We picked up another sponsor on the site www.gulfcoastpoker.net. We have also been changing things around. Please go thru the site to get to our blogs if you can. We have a tracking system in place, and we are consistently seeing the hits go up...and up. If anyone would be interested in joining us, please let Bill and I know. We are just looking for plain, everyday folks that take the game seriously with a modest Bankroll, but who shot for the stars. We just feel that there are so many people in that demographic out there that it will keep the site interesting.

Played at The Belle in Baton Rouge last night in the 2-5nl game they had going, and booked a solid win for the night. I got into several questionable situations in some hands where there was some disagreements of sort. I won a huge pot early when I bet out $40.00 from the hi-jack seat with KcKs, and got four caller in the early position seats. The flop comes out 9d6d2s. There is this middle eastern guy in the 6 seat that has a huge stack, and he is the only one that stays with me when I bet out $85.00. The turn brings the Kd. He check raises me all-in and I go in the tank. I only have $125.00 left. I am thinking he may have the flush already made, but I also could see him with a hand like K-9. He also could be on a bluff...I don't know. I just think I am priced in. Finally, I say, "I just can't see laying this hand down". They called the floor on me to make a decision, and I say, "If you have the flush, then I have outs..ok...I call". He turns over 3d6d for the made flush, and the 2d come on the river to boat me up..."Ship it to the Colonel"

We start jawing at each other about the play, and he just can't believe that I made that call. He is "ranting and raving" about how he is going to bust me and I play like a donkfish, and I just sit there and laugh and let him go. Finally, he calms down. I say, "Tell you what Scooter. All these chips are here for the taking, so just come get them. I can tell you one thing though, you don't have a chance of getting them making $40.00 calls pre-flop with a 3 and 6...let me guess...they were suited". When laughter broke out and everyone that knew how to play agreed with me ...he shut-up.

Now there is a guy named Damien that I respect that plays well in the 1 seat and I seat and I am in the 2 seat. We had a hand that we dis-agreed on. I had QsQd in the BB and there is a straddled, limped pot to the Middle-Eastern guy, that is pumped back up with chips, and he makes it $20.00. An older fellow on the button raises to $65.00. I smooth call and the ME guy calls. Flop comes Ks7h4d. I check...ME guys makes it $100.00, and the older fellow folds. I fold my queens face up, and the ME guy shows KcQs. I thought I lost the minimum amount in the hand, but Damien thought I should have went for it pre-flop...any thoughts?

Just trying to see what you guys think. I am trying to bring my game to that next level.

"The Earth is moving. Did you feel that? Everything. All the time. Dimensions we can't even see. Everything is evolving" Val Kilmer as the Sherpa on "Entourage"

Online poker...Horseshoe poker classic and Micon is scammed

Been playing a lot of online poker recently. I play mostly MTT's on Pokerstars but I am about to move back to Fulltilt. I played in a low buy-in 180 person MTT on Saturday. I was the chip leader 3 separate times where I lost half my stacks in the following hands. 1st on was Kings vs. Aces. The second one was Queens vs. Aces. That one put back below the $3000.00 mark. I fought back and again, shipped half on Kings vs. Queens...Sick. I got down to 2 tables and got knocked out 17th with AdKc. I raised 4 times the BB pre-flop, and the BB calls. Flop comes down 7c3s3d. I check, he bets. I raise. He re-raises. Now, I kind of like my hand, but I don't want to go bust here. What could he have called with? He has me covered...barely. I have read about this ploy recently. re-raising the raiser with rage, but in this small of a tournament? I don't know. Yea...I put him on a steal...I jam and he insta-calls with 10h3h..."but they were suited". Oh well...3 1/2 hours down the drain.

We have posted the tournament schedule of the Horseshoe Poker Classic in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It's not on the coast, but hey...some of our readers may be up for a roadtrip...Virge?

Check out the following link. Micon got caught in a "bait and switch" kind of scam, and he has posted the guys pic/phone number etc on NWP. Interesting reading. The thread is now 27 pgs.
http://www.neverwinpoker.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=43602&st=0

Headed to Harrah's tonight

"Brenda, I don't want to lie to you anymore. All right? I'm not a doctor. I never went to medical school. I'm not a lawyer, or a Harvard graduate, or a Lutheran. Brenda, I ran away from home a year and a half ago when I was 16" Leonardo Caprio's character Frank Abigale in "Catch me if you can"

Sheiky could be "Shipped Out"

Wow...I think this is crazy. It looks like they, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Organization, are trying to ship Sheiky out the country for a 1995 conviction for "Child Molestation". I know there are lots of people who don't care for Sheiky, but I always thought he was a solid player. You don't get that deep in back to back Main Events unless you know the game...but child molestation...ouch. Below is a quote from Poker News.

"Sheikhan, an Iranian citizen who immigrated to the U.S. in 1983, has an American-born wife, and maintains full legal resident status, received five years of probation and served nine months in jail after the 1995 conviction for 'sexual battery and annoyance or molestation of a child,' according to the LVRJ report. Immigration officials arrested Sheikhan August 30th, holding him for more than a week before releasing him after Sheikhan posted a $10,000 bond"

I love the quote below from Wicked Chops...

"Whether the 1995 conviction was of the Michael-Jackson-is-a-sick-fuck variety or the David Sklansky "You mean, you aren't 18?" kind is unclear"

Well...lets get this cleared up. I would love to know which one of the above os true. Also...How did he get arrested last month, stayed in jail a week and Poker News is just hearing about it...oh well.

"Days change, seasons change, people don't change" Bruce Willis character Jack in "16 Blocks"

Boomtown Bust

Wild Bill and I headed over to Boomtown Wednesday to play in the Wednesday night tournament, and it turned out to be a night from hell. The chaos had nothing to do with poker playing though, and I am going to apologize right off the bat as there will be no hand analysis on this post. No...This post will be focused on the good people of security at the Boomtown Casino, and issues that we go thru here in Louisiana. First topic I want to tackle is Ipods/MP3 players at the tables. This is such a petty rule in New Orleans. It is so useless that I don't know where to start, and the funny thing is that the reasoning behind why they choose not to let you wear then a joke. The standard reply is, "Its a Louisana law that you can't have electronics at the tables"...what a joke. The comedy in this response is centered around the factoid that there are Casinos in Louisiana that "Do" allow you to listen. This is itself makes that excuse null and void. The casinos that allow you to use MP3 players are Isle of Capri in Lake Charles, Coushatta, Horseshoe and Elderado in Shreveport. Oh well...you just can't explain basic logic to casino execs.

Part 1
From here I want to describe my experience at B'town on the Westbank. Wild Bill and I were walking in right from work with my work clothes on (Slacks/Collar Shirt), and I had my backpack with me as we were in Bill's car. I was stopped at the security desk and told I could not bring on a backpack. I explained that this was my "Purse", and it was a coincidence that a lady walked in at the same time with a purse twice as big as my backpack. The security guy called in the re-enforcements as Bill headed to the poker room. In walks this lady that looked like a "Nurse ratchet" look alike that gave me a hard time...OK...whatever. As I text Bill and waited for him to come down, I walked into Boomers, the little bar there, to get a cold brewskie. Boomers was closed but there was a lady there that I was speaking too...and again, here comes Nurse Ratchet to hassle me about me being in there and it is closed. After this she stood around and stared at me until Bill came out and we left to go get my car. I mentioned to him that all the security people have to do here is "Hassle the guy with the backpack...I hope they don't remember my face"...and we chuckled

Part 2
I get my car and change into my poker garb which includes a cap, cargo pants, sunglasses and a hoodie. Standard poker garb for most poker enthusiast to play in tournaments. I made the comment to Bill, "There is no way they can see me now". Well...after the first round of the tournament I had my sunglasses on a my hoodie over my head and I feel a tap on my shoulder, "Sir...security says you must take off the hood"...WTF???? There were numerous people at the table which includes the dealer who said, "No..that's alright...this is poker...everyone does this". Nope...take it off. Wow...I could not believe this. Later in the night I get knocked out and I go down to checkout the pits and I decide to put back on again...and I see Nurse Ratchet is starting to head my way and I immediately take it off. I go back upstairs to play in the 1-2 cash game. I am a little pissed and I again put it on...I am curious to see how far they would push this...I was prepared to go home at this point anyway. Sure enough, here comes the security guard and I get a "Stern Warning"...I pick up my chips and leave and when I am walking out the poker room guess who is standing there on her radio...you guessed it...nurse ratchet.

Did I push back a little...yes. I just wanted to post this just so you all can see what happens when a security guard gets the ass with you...they can hassle you right out the door. I also want to say that I don't think that the Poker Room had anything to do with this harassment...but they surely didn't step up to help.

I want to give a shout out to Jason from Bavarian and Submar Ken .

"Conspiracy theorists of the world unite" Will Smith's charatcer Dean in "Enemy of the State"

Slow weekend at home

Heading home from Tunica on Friday and had a nightmare trying to get home. The flights were all hosed up, and the line at the Airtran customer service line reminded me of the WSOP this year with hundreds and hundreds of people. When I saw that line I thought for sure I was sleeping in Atlanta.

I got to see the last hand of the $5000.00 event in Tunica Wednesday night. Jordan Morgan was a small favorite in the chips stacks when the following hand came up. I was able to see the cards of Terry Hawkins, and I was behind him the whole time he was in the tank. The flop looked like this 8h9c5c, and I could see that Hawkins had Js10h. Jordan checked ...Hawkins bet out $40,000 and Jordan moves all-in. I was there wondering what i would do, and I know I would have folded. You just had to see how many chips he had left. He had to have over $600,000 in chips as he busted the guy in 3rd. O.K...so if he does the math in his head. Hawkins has 14 outs. 8 on the opened ends and 6 on the three 3 Jacks and Tens. At this point in time Hawkins was a 52% favorite. There was lots of debate at the cash tables after the board bricked out for Jordan to win, but I would have folded...and would fold in the future if I am in that situation again.

Kudos to Norway's Annette 'Annette_15' Obrestad for being the first women to win a Main Event at the WSOP...even though it was in Europe. It was a big win for the females...Congrats

"Are you crying? Are you crying? ARE YOU CRYING? There's no crying! THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!" Tom Hanks Character Jimmy Dugan in "A league of their own"

Another win in Tunica

That's right folks, I won the $125.00 buy-in Tues night at the Gold Strike. They have been having nightly $125.00 buy-ins while the circuit event was in town, and Wild Bill and I played in this one because we could not get to the the second chance tournament at the Grand. There were 60-70 people in it, and the blinds started at $25-$25 and went up every 20 minutes. We chose not to chop because Bill and I were both on the table when we were down to 5, and we thought we could get 1st and 2nd.

I got 1st and Bill got 4th as we had a stacked GCP final table. We took home a majority of the prize pool even though we did not get 1st and 2nd. I feel I played well, but I also got alot of things go my way. I had 2 times when I called with the big stack and spike and Ace to finish off a couple of people. Once I had Ad9h and I called my opponents all-in that held JdJs, and the other was A-J against Q-Q. Mt table image was also solid also. Bill and I talked about it. There was several spots where I took down pots because the guy just did not want to tangle with me.

Our business meeting went really well. You guys may see some new stuff coming out that Bill and I will be heading up in the Gulf Coast region. We both busted out of the tournaments last night, and we are heading to the Horseshoe tonight. We may stop in at he Grand and sweat a little of the circuit final table. Jordan "iMsoLucky0" Morgan is the chip leader. Don;t worry Tex...I will tell him you said "Hi".

We also want to give props out to our buddy David Robbins from South Georgia who came in 2nd in the Beau WPT Main Event for well over $400,000. He actually busted Tex's pocket Aces with pocket Kings at the final table of the Main Event at the first IP Poker Classic...Great Guy..."Cheers"

"One more time, sweetness" Bill Murray's Character Ernie in "Kingpin"

Igors r us

Played in Tunica last night guys and man did I play bad. I am embarrassed to even put down here some of the calls I made. I played in the $60.00 buy in at Sams Town and made it down to 2 tables. There was this kid just in from Iraq and announces to the whole table before we start, "This is my first live tournament"...and the cards literally ...ran him over.

You know when you are getting deep in a tournament and you see these guys that get frustrated and impatient and they just give away their stacks to the point where you say to yourself, and everyone else, "Man, he just was hating his chips", and "He just could not wait to get out of here"...that was me.

After that went check out the Grand to see what was happening. I got in a 2-5nl game and made 2 of the stupidest calls. I mean dumb. I told my wife that it didn't hurt as much as getting rundown by the cards because...I know what happened...I can fix it. I totally blew a couple of situation when the math was stacked against me...How can I do that. It's math...its proven...I just have to follow thru and apply it.

Going meet Bill tonight. We are going to play in a tourney and sweat the main event for awhile over a couple of beers and strategize about the meeting...and hopefully...redeem myself from the "donkigeness" that has come over me.

"Mathematics is the only true universal language" Jodie Fosters Character Ellie in "Contact"

Nice score at Harrah's

I played in the 1-2 game last night and made a sweet score. I got in the game for $350.00 and cashed out for $1150.00. I hit a 2 outer at one point and then caught Aces twice and Kings once and won all three hands...all of them pretty big. I will outline a couple of hands below

The first time I get Aces...AcAs ...I made it $35.00 to go and got 3 callers. Flop comes out Qs7d3s. I bet out $65.00 and I get one caller. Young kid with the punk rock outfit on. He has only about $200.00 left at this point. The turn brings the 10s. I bet out $75.00 and he jams instantly. Now I go in the tank, and think that I just can't see laying this hand down. The pot is huge and he only has $125.00 left. I also have the Ace of spades...shit...I announce, "I am going to make the worst call I ever made"...and I call. The river brings the Ad. I ask if he has the spades, and he says "Nope" and table Qh10d. Wow...a 2 outer.

The last hand of the night was one to send me out the door. I was actually debating leaving to myself when I looked down at AdKc in the cutoff. There was a raise to $15.00 and there were 2 callers before me. I call and 4 of us see the flop of QdJh10c. Gin!!!!. Everybody folds to me and I bet out $35.00 and got 2 callers...HHmmm...What could they have. Turn brings 3c. Everybody checks to me...I check also thinking, "No club and don't pair the board". The river brings the Qh. Ouch...all three check to me and I start to bet, and then check also. The guy in the 8 seat has Qs10h. That's my key to leave, and I rake up and take off.

Headed to Tunica this week. Bill and I have a business meeting and I plan on putting in lots of time at the tables as well as sweat the Circuit Main Event. I would love to try to get in but I have to work all week while I am there.

"So I was in the Gulf last year, I was doing this thing anyway. And I came up over this dune, and I saw the ocean... and it was on fire. The whole thing, on fire, and it was beautiful. So I just sat there and watched it, and that's when I realized there might be a meaning to life, you know, like an organic power that connects all living things, God, Yahweh, I dunno" John Cusack's character Marty in "Grosse Point Blank"

Back from Biloxi

Back in the daily grind from a sick ass poker weekend in Biloxi. We had a blast with 8 of us sharing a condo we called the GCP Den. It was soooo cool. You guys can see pics on the site. We had laptops and monitors all over the condo. We also did pretty good with the results also. I got first place in the first tournament I played in and "whiffed" the rest...not even a cash. Tex also won a tournament and Bill cashed 3 times.

We had alot of fun though. I can;t say enough about George, Diane and Betty at Gulf Coast Resort Rentals. They really set us up in a nice condo and worked with us on the payment...which was cash of course.

Wild Bill is trying to log in 50 hours of cash play at the IP as they are having a freeroll on Sept 9th or 10th for anyone with over 50 hours of cash game play...he is going to be putting in some sick hours in the next week. I think that this will be tough to get, but he is going to give it hell.

Personally, like I mentioned in earlier post, I got first place in the first tournament I played. I played several tournaments at the Beau, numerous single table satellites and hours and hours of cash play of the 1-2 and 2-5 nl from Wednesday to Monday night at 5:00pm. I crossed the state line back into Louisiana with the exact same amount of money I crossed into Mississippi with. The trip was a wash financially, but it was a big win for me as far as experience goes. Met some cool people, played tons of poker and had a great time...you can't put a price on that much fun.

One of the best times was Bill, Tex and me on the patio of the condo about 4:00am smoking cigars and just shooting the shit...telling poker war stories...and being drunk and silly. Man that was great. 3 "regular joes" with dreams of poker granduer...sitting under the stars and dreaming about the way it ought to be...or how it will be one day...it doesn't get any better than that.

"I love this place at night. The stars... there's no right or wrong in them. They're just there" William Defoe's character Sgt Elias in "Platoon"

Bubble Boy and Captain Stacks...

Where are you guys? We are looking to meet up and drink a couple of brewskies...or are you'll already here?

Ist day of the WPT event in Biloxi

Ok...back from the Beau and I busted out of the first event of the WPT event. I was card dead most of the way, but played pretty good none the less...under the circumstances. We started the tournament with $2000.00 in chips which is not very much. I played the 5th hand with AsJs and raised from the button to $150.00. The BB raises it to $350.00 straight and I call. Flop comes out Jh5s4d. BB taps and I bet $200.00 with top pair top kicker, and check-raises me. I have to lay this hand down, and he showed me pocket Kings...OK...1/4 of my stack gone. This is how it went for me most of the day. I had 10% of Wild Bill and 5% of my buddy Ross. Lets see...a couple of other hands I had...

I limp in from the button to a 5 handed flop on the second level with 8h6d. Flop comes out 9c7c5h. Sweet!!!!. Everyone checks around to me and I make it $200.00 to go. The old guy with the WPT Bellagio hat hat did not play a single hand the whole tournament so far calls. Great!!! The last person I wanted to call...in fact...I didn't want anyone to call. The turn brings the 8c. This is the last card I wanted to see. The older gentleman fires out $500.00 and I muck. The best I can do is chop and the worst I could do was lose...I felt I could find a better place to stick in my money.

I get in a hand with a Online Pro names "TimKrank" with Ah5d fro late position. 4 of us limp in the pot. Flop comes out Ad10s5h. TK checks...check...check...I knuckle. Turn brings the 10d. He bets out $200.00 and I call. River bricks out and he checks as well as I and he tables AsJd and I lose...sick...oh so sick. I really like TK though...really nice guy. He plays in the highest cash tournaments online. I pointed him to the site so if you are reading this TK ..."Cheers Brother...Have a cold one on me!!!!". Funny story...he asked me about the site, "You guys have any good players posting or blogging on the site". I said "Nope...Just me and my fellow knucklehead Donkfish" ;-)

We will be adding another blogger to the page soon. It is one of our condo mates names "Verge". That is his name in the FTP forums and online. I like the name...Like "He is on the verge of greatness". Look out for big Verge joining the http://www.gulfcoastpoker.net/ ...Network.

We are in full vampire mode now with a condo full of poker players. We will have some pics up on the site soon!!!!

"In the quiet words of the Virgin Mary... come again?" Alan Fords Character Bricktop in "Snatch"

Snapped off the $100 Wednesday weekly at the IP

Finally...1st place ...short blog as we are heading over to the Beau. I can;t say that there was no discussion about a chop, but this Asian guy did not want too...he ended up getting 3rd place for a little over $400.0o....I walked away with over a grand after tips...small deals...percentages given away...etc

I am pumped...Its been awhile since I won first

more later...

Harrah's Session...GCP Condo...and clock work

Wild Bill and I headed over to Harrah's Monday night to get in a quick session, and we were able to sit at the same table right next to each other as they opened a new table right when we got there. We played 1-2nl, and everyone started with $200.00 which is the starting stack. This was one of those sessions where we both played the best poker we could under the circumstances, but cards just weren't cooperating. Wild Bill got his good hands run down, and I had the best run of cards I have had in a while. I got the the cards slapped up side my head, and still could only muster to book a $100.00 win. I caught Aces once, kings three times, queens twice and Big Slick several times also. I won with the aces when me and another guy got in all in where he flopped 2 pair, and I counterfeited him on the river when the board paired on the river...finally. I had to lay down kings twice when an Ace hit the flop and on both hands they were played out and shown and I would have indeed lost the hand. I had to lay down queens once with once again, the hands were shown down and I would have lost. I laid down 2 pair once, several straights and a couple of flushes also. The hand that sent me home with the $100.00 winner is below.

I limped in from the button with 5c7c, and 3 of us saw the flop. Flop came out Ac2h2c. The one seat bets $15.00 and we both call. Turn brings the 6c. The one seat beats $25.00 and I call reluctantly and very suspiciously. River brings a brick and the one seat fires $35.00 and the other guy jams all in with about $115.00 more. I go in the tank for just a second, and flash my hand to Bill and lay it down. One seat calls and he tables Ah2s, and the other guy shows Kc4c.

I am really excited about this weekend, and the condo is really sweet. If anybody who reads this blog is looking for a place to stay in Biloxi for the WPT Championship...or anytime for that matter. Please Call George at Gulf Coast Resort Realty at 2287600554 or 8668511701. He will hook you up with a nice condo suite. The 2 bedrooms are going for under $200.00 which is what the rooms at the Beau go for on standard weekend night. You get a full kitchen, Plasma/LCD TV's/Marble...etc. I looked at the 2 bedrooms and you could easily sleep 6 people with 4 beds.
Tell George you saw it here and I am sure he will cut you a great deal.

Working the clock in a tournament...I have spoke about this earlier in a blog. I believe that the clock is an important variable in any tournament, and not keeping an eye on it would be a detriment in my mind. That is what I feel. When we get to final couple of tables, I want the round to end on my button so the blinds and antes will go up with me on the button. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't. When the rounds end 15 minutes apart, that is one lap of the table with 9-10 players. People do "Stall" in poker tournaments. I don't feel like I do it "Excessively", but I will eat a couple of seconds if I need to. The thing about this is there will be nothing you can do about it. Other people do it and I will do it also in certain situations...again...not "Excessively". It was cool to hear the pokerwire episode after the bubble burst on this years main event. Gavin Smith talks about how much torture it was for him. They played like...10-15 hands an hour or something like this. There were close to 800 people left at this time. I play poker by the rules, and I will use an advantage in the clock if I can spot one.

I am bringing the camera also, so we will be uploading pics from the GCP suite during this weekend. Also, we are heading to Tunica for the championship of the circuit event there as Bill and I also have a business meeting there about the site. You guys will see some really exciting things going on with the site in the coming months...stay tunes to http://www.gulfcoastpoker.net/.

"You gotta approach every day as if it's your last!" Heath Ledgers character Skip in "Lords of Dogtown"

Finally...In the money in Tunica tourney

Decided to play in the $60.00 buy in tournament with $500.00 added at Sam's Town at 6:00pm, and I showed up just in time to get in as I had to work late at the office. I was able to win a couple of pots early, and decided to go to my room to get out of my work clothes and into something a little more comfortable. Touched base with Jonny ans Sam before I headed up to the room, and they were both doing OK in chips also. When I got back to the game, I got the typical hassling that comes along with coming back to the table..."Damn, he had to go to the phone booth and get in his superman outfit"...and "The transformation from a desk to the poker table"...etc. Oh well...It was all in good fun.

I think they had 5 tables, so there somewhere in between 40-50 players, and I was able to keep my stack healthy until we got down to 2 tables. I am in the top 5 in chips when I get in the following hand. I was in the BB with AhJh when I see that 3 medium stacks all jam in front of me. I counted out my chips, and I was getting 3-1 on my money. Even if I lost the hand, I would still have enough chips to fight with. Two hearts hit the flop, and on the turn appeared the sweet 3h. I rake the hug pot to put me as one of the chip leaders. I took a major hit when we were 7 handed where I lost a race with Big slick against pocket 7's. I went in to the clock mode now and only played premium hands and just sat tight as I worked the clock and my position. The blinds were raised twice on my button, and none of the players could see what I was doing. I took the blinds and antes in position both times. I think the dealer caught what I was doing as he kept seeing me glance at the clock when I was in "acting mode". We had 3 people left including me.

One was an older women who was a tourist from Florida. He husband was watching from the rail. They were cheering and carrying on...no worries. There was a older fellow that was nervous and fumbled with his chips alot. He was not a threat also. Then there was a young kid from Memphis that I think was just getting started playing seriously. I heard him talking earlier about cashing in the tournament there Monday. He was the chips leader, and the only one I was worried about.

The dealers starts making comments and whispering to the TD standing behind watching when I would go in the tank to work the clock. When the clock expired and I was again on the button, they started talking chop. I sat quietly while they did the math and so on, and It came out to $400.00 each on a straight split, but the newbie kid with the chip lead wanted to split per chip count. I would then get around $300.00. They all look at me and I shake my head no. I am not gonna say that I was not thinking about the past blogs here where I took some heat about chopping pots because I was. I was prepared to play it out and I think I could have won.

I stood up and said, "No offense to anyone here, but I think I am the best player at this table. I am confident in my heads up game, and I think I can win"..."If you guys want to chop I will go 4 ways even...but I am not taking a smaller cut". They huddled and agreed. I was sort of hoping they wouldn't so I would not have to write this in the blog and again take heat for chopping. I did what I think was best for my bankroll.

Getting pumped for Biloxi next week...

"Things go wrong. The odds catch up. Probability is like gravity: you cannot negotiate with gravity. One day... one day you should just cash out, you know? Just cash out and get out" Colin Farrell's character Sonny Crockett in "Miami Vice"

Tunica Turmoil

My trip to Tunica has been met with modest success. I am not losing, but I am also not winning either. It seems that the cards are being brutal again, and on top of that, my play has been less then stellar. I am 0-3 in tournaments which include the Freeroll Tuesday. I will talk more about that a little later in the blog, but first I wanted to write about these 2 guys I met from North Alabama that are playing for a living.

I met Jonny and Sam while playing in the 1-3 NL game at Sam's Town Casino as that is where I stayed this week. Sam's Town is not the best of digs in Tunica, but it will do. It has a Bed, 19" TV that catches 14 channels and a hot shower...everything a growing poker player needs. The TV is a big change from my Plasma though. I started to chat with these guys and they seemed pretty cool, and I nicknamed one of the guys "Jonny Shades" because he wore some Rayban's from "Topgun". What they told me was kind of interesting. They both have a modest Bankroll in between $8000 and $10,000, and they live in the Casino. They play in other Casino's, but they claim to the Management that Sam's Town is their "Exclusive" Casino and the Room rate is $21.00 a night. Lets see...lets put a little pen to Paper and we get a monthly cost of $630.00 a month. That is not a bad deal as they have also negotiated that they stay during all the holidays.
Clean sheets every night, room cleaned every day and free food...and oh yea...you will never have to buy shampoo ever again.

Back to Poker...lets see...where to start...Oh Yea...The Freeroll. It was an interesting experience, and when you have so many people who play poker seriously , as the 2 knuckleheads above, you get one good...fast paced...tournament. I decided to play tight and see what happens. The first hand I thought of playing was pocket 10's. I was in the SB and when i looked down, I decided to jam here. I changed my mind after there were 3 all-ins before me...I pitched it...and would have lost. Ok I think...I should have busted out there so I am thinking "cool...I am on a freeroll now"...wait a minute...I AM ON A FREROLL ;-).

Next, I took some blinds and antes 3 times with modest hands like A-10 and A-J, but could not get action. I get my stack to about $1500 when the blinds/antes start to bleed me dry. 2 minutes before the first break and the blinds are $75-$150/$300 and I am UTG with about $550 left when I get pocket 9's...I figure this is by best shot. I jam...get called by A-J, and an Ace in the window...see ya. It was a good experience though. The TD announced that they will be having lots more of these. I hung out till the break as i wanted to walk around and check out the stacks...sure enough...there were some nice sized stacks still in it. They started with I think 234 and they were down to 86 by the first break, and someone that was at the final table in the last one they had said it will be over by 7:30pm

From there I went to the 2-5nl game at the Goldstrike, got in with $500.00 and played for 3 hours when I had to take out $300.00 more. I am now $800.00 deep in the game and got on a rush. Cashed out with $600.00 for a $200.00 loser. No hands jump out at me, but I played some hands bad. I let a guy draw out twice to get there, and then paid him on the river bet...brutal. It sucked that the cards would give my opponents "runner-runner"...but sucked even more that I felt that I played the hands bad.

I call my wife on the ride from the Goldstrike to Sam's, and she gets the "Same ole song and Dance" about "why me"..."The poker gods suck" ..."what did I do to deserve this"...etc. She jumps my ass about "You know better than this"..."You are a good player, but you have to learn that losing comes with the game"..."Reminds me that you have the ups and downs" and basically gives me a pep talk to get me back going...I got in the 1-3nl game at Sam's Town and won the $200.00 back plus another $285.00. Damn I love that women

I must say it is nice to be at work and have to actually sit around and choose what tournament I want to play in tonight. "Lets see...do I play in the Grand Casino $60.00 freeze-out at 1:00pm...or wait for the $125.00 Freeze at the Gold strike with $5000.00 guaranteed at 6:00pm...Nah...I will take the $105 .00 bounty at the Horseshoe". Pretty sweet. They actually have 4am tourneys here also.
Being able to listen my ipod is also pretty sweet.

Last night I played in the $60.00 bounty freeze-out with $500.00 added at Sam's Town. Had 68 players and we got down to 2 tables with 14 people. One table had 8 the other 6. I limped from the BB with Qh9h along with 4 others to make the pot 5 way action. Flop comes out KcQs9c. Every checks around to me and I jam trying to take down the pot there. The old gentleman I call "Buddha" because he has a little buddha card protector goes in the tank. He counts out his chips and he has $75.00 dollars more than me. He says "If I call and hit then I will definitely get in the money"...and I say "Yea...I fell the same way...if you call and I can fade your clubs, I will be in the cheese so theres a flip side to that coin"...he says "Ok...lets get the coin out a see what happens...I call". He tables Ac2c, and I get out a quarter jokingly acting like I am about to flip it, "Heads or Tails"...we all laugh and the As came on the turn...and the Kh hits the river...and I am counterfeited out the tournament.

I played in the 1-3nl game afterwards. I bought in with $350.00 and proceeded to build my stack steadily to about $600.00 when the donkfish side of my bi-polarness comes out. I call a $35.00 pre-flop raise with AhQc from the BB along with 2 other people to make it 4 of us seeing the flop with over $100.00 in there. Flop comes out Ad5c6s rainbowed. I go in the tank for a second knowing I should jam and snap it off here, but I am a little concerned about what he may have. I decide to try to keep the pot small and I knuckled. Raiser bets out $60.00 and everyone fold around to me...I smooth call. Turn brings 2s and I again knuckle...he goes in the tank and cuts out another $60.00. Damn...now I think I am in trouble as he may be value betting...or he is on a draw and he is trying to keep the pot small also. I smooth call. River comes the Js. I again check and he slides out a hundo out of this cash stash. I now say "Ok I call" in the Eddie Murphy voice he used on "Shrek" and he tables QsJs and says "I hit my flush"...WTF?

so I give all my winnings back in one hand and leave the table in a daze with the $350.00 that I sat down with. Everyone kind of got out of my way as I passed them by as they could see I was zombiefied by what had just transpired...it is amazing sometimes how bad I play...and still not lose.

Neteller money has arrived also so at least I got something added to my bankroll this trip. I am heading back tonight to fire another bullet at a tournament, and hopefully play like I know I can, and not give it all away before I leave the table.

"Well, I have a bit of a confession to make. Donkeys don't have layers. We wear our fear right there on our sleeves" Eddie Murphey's Character Donkey in "Shrek"