Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Session at the Belle ...Chat with "Spoonman"
I am in the game for $200.00 when I make a terrible call against Rene Robert. A very good...known player in the Baton Rouge area. I had pocket 9's when Rene and I both called a $15.00 pre-flop raise. Flop hits 7h2c6s. Pre Flop raiser checks and Rene fires out $25.00. I smooth and the PFR folds. Turn brings the Jh. Rene checks here and I knuckle also knowing I should probably have fired here. River brings the 10c. Rene fires out $65.00...and I "choke" up the $65 as he shows 8c9h.
From here I am able to get my stack back up to around $250.00 when I had to move to the main game. On the 7th hand I get Pocket 8's in the BB...6 people limp along with me. Flop comes out 8-8-4. I knuckle...Everyone knuckles all around. Turn brings a 7. I knuckle and everyone knuckles to the Cutoff...he fires out $20.00 (Yea...finally I think). I smooth reluctantly in my best "James Dean" acting mode and we get another caller...SSCCHHHWWWEEEEETTT. River is another 7. I am trying to figure out if that was a good card for me or bad card. I try to trap thinking I am making a huge mistake...I tap. Other guy taps and the Cutoff goes for his chips ...YESSSSSS.. Fires out $70.00. I raise to $140 talking to the guy about "How we must be chopping"...etc. He starts to back away...I now know he is a good player and he will not call with his 7.
2 revolutions of the table later, I call a $15 Pre-Flop Raise with K-Qo. Flop comes out Q-8-8. I make it $15 to go and get 1 caller. Turn brings a 10...I check now and he checks. The river brings another 8. I check the guy bets out $65.00...and I call. He tables 8-7s. I left right after that and cashed out with $365.00 for a small win of $165.00.
What else...oh yea...a shout out to Tom "Spoonman" Witherspoon. Tom sat next to me for about 45 minutes last night...I think I heard 45 Bad Beat Stories. No Seriously...Tom is a good player and we get along. I like Tom's plethora of stories. He actually told me once about the time he got pissed at the dealer at Harrah's several years back. He claimed that the dealer cost him $78.00 in the pot. He said he would stop tipping until he got the money back. Tom was tipping $1 a winning hand back then and I will be damn if he did not wait until he won $78 hands ...and did not tip in all 78...and he resumed his tipping as usually...You gotta love a man with principles
John Phan has scored 2 bracelets this year...I have played with him several times and love his attitude and view of the game. He is go getter...full speed ahead. Pressure...Pressure...Pressure. Usually always has a Cup of Beer near him.
R.I.P to my favorite Comic ...George Carlin. He was a classic and he will be missed.
Thought I was going to make it toShorty's to try and play in the tournament there, but it is pouring down rain right now.
Pulling for Georgia tonight in the finals of the College World Series...GO DAWGS!!!!
"I believe in a long prolonged derangement of the senses to attain the unknown... Although I live in the subconscious, our pale reason hides the infinite from us" Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison in "The Doors"
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Win at Shorty's
So I got in the game last night with $200.00. They had two 5-10 games going and they finally decided to open a 5-5game, and I happen to just walk in the door. They had the same group of donkfish that come out to Shorty's on the weekends. 6th hand of the day and I have A-Jo in the cutoff seat, and the guy UTG raises to $20 and we get 3 callers to me...I smooth. Flop comes out JhJc5s. UTG fires out $35 and one of the callers smooths and I raise. UTG calls and other guy gets out. Turn brings the 4s...UTG fires again. What could this person have? I now put him on K-J or Q-J...maybe J-10. I jam, and the guy calls announcing to the table, "I think you have me beat but I call"...The river brings another A and I say "Yea...I think I have you"...your boy doesn't muck his cards...he tables 2c2h. The Real Estate Agent next to me just stare at each other...WTF??? Hey...great. I finished off the night with a monster suck out when I made a bad call against the guy to my left. I am on the button with A-Q when he raises to $35.00 and we get a couple of callers. He only has about $135.00 behind him. Flop peals out Q-4-4 and he pushes...everyone else folds and I go in the tank. I start talking..."You got Aces or Kings huh...I know you do...Damn...I am getting Pot odds though"..."OK...I will make a bad call...I call". Sure enough...your boy tables KK. At that point the guy did the worst possible thing you can do...He announces, "Don't worry man...I have been running so bad that your going to get there...watch...its coming"...BBOOOOOOYYYAAAAAAA The Ace ball on the turn. I rack up a little later after donking off a little of my stack with $515.00 and head out. I was content with this after a 2 1/2 hour session
Took down a LLSNG last night on stars and played in a couple today. I am playing in a satellite right now on my other laptop while I blog here. Its a small on into some tournament tomorrow...looks like the Hundred Grand.
What else is happening....
--We are looking at getting another tournament here locally to the guys that are in this area. You know the place and I will e-mail out logistics. Anyone wanting to get in on it e-mail me at gened@gulfcoastpoker.net
--Goondingy has come out of semi-retirement today and is heading to the felt at Harrahs. I know Wild Bill is heading out there to honor the occasion. I am looking for some killer hand analysis in the coming days
--Damn...Busted Out...Just started cooking something and wound up donking out of the sat. I think I could have cruised into a seat and I called an all-in post after we got a table full of limpers pre on a board of K-7-3 rainbow with K-Q...of course the jammer had A-A...and HAD ME COVERED...I didn't even notice this as I was trying not to burn my eggs. I thought the guy was short stacked...Oh well
--Looks like our favorite "Scarfiest" poker player has got a bracelet. I swear DarioM looks like my 13 year old cousin. I think he even had a pokerstars scarf...how do I get one of those??
--I can't even hang at Pokerroad anymore as it really gets me depressed that I am not there. I just watch the JC Tran/Amnon Fillipi video blogs...cools as shit
--Watching the Ultimate Fighter...if any of you guys watch that what an idiot that dude Jessie Taylor was. To get to that status and get hammered and go to a Casino and act a fool. They featured how he was doing this for his boy...etc. I knew he was going to cry on the post interview once he got booted...Come on man...grow-up. I was pulling for your from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana Tim...until he starts crying. Damn...Can Dana White run one series of TUF without one person balling like a bitch.
What else...oh yea...Tex, Goondingy, Slow Play, Joe, Matt...your all on the Greyhound. Davey is driving...Parfait is co-pilot and Rutt is bartending
Gotta go...
"Nobody has a clue. Least of all me" Val Kilmer as Simon in "The Saint"
Monday, June 16, 2008
The dream is over...
We play up into the final table and come November...It happens....Move over Moneymaker!!! GeneD wins the bracelet and becomes a Pokerstars Champion...and multi-millionaire. From there, I buy a huge greyhound touring van and me and my crew (You know who you are) hit the road to dominate the poker world....Yea...that all came to an end last night with another bust out in donk like fashion. The same hand that busted me in the IP main event was my undoing here also...AK vs QQ. That is such a hard hand to play...but yet its so easy. UUHGGG
Yea...Tex has had this dream as did Ruttley and many others...Paul S...Mr. Mitch L. Everyone who has played in a Main Event where there is high/mid six digit prizes.
Oh well...its over and like TJ Cloutier says..."Everyday I wake up is a new day...I don't give a crap about what happened yesterday or last week...today I am going to play my best". (GeneD starts to drift)...That would have been sweet though...parlayed $12.00 into millions and got to be famous...for....those...3 ...months" STOP!!!!! quit thinking about it.
I started work off great today and was talking to my wife. She starting telling me about what was going on at the store...when...(GeneD starts to gaze)..."Damn...I made it past over half the field of over 7000...all I had to do was fade about 3000 more people"...
I am sitting at the table listening to the RVP in our 9:00am sales meeting and we are talking sales strategies when..."All I had to do was lay it down...Fold...its only 2 cards"...Oh well...Shake it off.
I have not been blogging the last week as I got trapped in the blogger quagmire of starting a blog...getting halfway through it and saving what you wrote so you can finish it later. You log back in 3 days later and read what you wrote and it is one of several things...1) Outdated 2) Doesn't seem interesting anymore 3) cooler things have happened to you since this....etc...and I start over from scratch.
OK...whats going on?...Bill and I are hoping to get some more bloggers soon. We are really getting lots of traffic and we are getting lots of e-mails from folks who are really enjoying the perspective of "Regular Joe" Semi-Pros thoughts on hands ranging from tournaments to cash play. Again...we want people to relate to the site. We are not ballers...by no means. We are everyday grinders handing out information and documenting our trials and tribulations...from the best cash session and tournament tale ...to the sickest bad beats. We hope you'll enjoy the content, and if so, do like countless others and drop us an e-mail and let us know.
-Special Thanks out to Monkey for the interview...we will be hitting more of you up soon. Don't dodge us ;-)
-Also good luck to all the Gulf Coast Players at the WSOP...Gabe and Claudia, TK, Allie Prescott from Memphis, Cub, Jason Gladden...and all who are there or heading there and giving it hell
-I think Wild Bill has been traveling. I haven't heard from him in a week...Maybe I should post up another pic of him to see if he surfaces ;-)
-We will also be adding people to the Gulf Coast Poker "Who's Who" section...Some of you don;t think I have pics of you ...but wait
-Beau Rivage Tourney coming up next month
-Shout out to Compton from FTF who is staying with Lusky and Virge...Congrats...Bounced back after a sick assss AA vs KK suck-out on the bubble in a Deep Stack Event at the Venetian to get right back in the cheese in several other tourneys...including snapping off a $150.00 daily at Ceasers
-Shout out to all the FTF'ers that support the site and read our blogs...THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT...for those of you that don't ...at least "Lurk" at FTF...our official forum for GCP.Net...go there now!!!!!
-OK...OK.... heres the url for you lazy F''ers http://www.fulltiltforum.com/.
"Men Plan....and God Laughs" NBC- Title of an episode in hit show ER. Episode 22/Season 1
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
UUUHHHHH.....YEEEEAAAAAAAAA
Hold'em No Limit: 45 Players
Level XII (800/1600) - 2008/06/03 - 23:07:18 (ET)Table '90793193 5'
\
Seat 1: delucabr2002 (526 in chips)
Seat 2: Crystal-gem (12995 in chips)
Seat 4: BORAX111 (10675 in chips)
Seat 5: EasyDoesIt78 (10212 in chips)
Seat 7: hammer192 (14362 in chips)
Seat 9: GCPGeneD (18730 in chips)
Ante 75
*** HOLE CARDS
***Dealt to GCPGeneD [Td Jh]
delucabr2002: folds
Crystal-gem: raises 1600 to 3200
BORAX111: folds
EasyDoesIt78: folds
hammer192: calls 2400
GCPGeneD: calls 1600
*** FLOP *** [7c Th Jd]
hammer192: bets 11087 and is all-in
GCPGeneD: raises 4368 to 15455 and is all-in
Crystal-gem: folds Uncalled bet (4368) returned to GCPGeneD
*** TURN *** [7c Th Jd] [9d]
*** RIVER *** [7c Th Jd 9d] [As]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
hammer192: shows [Ah Jc] (two pair, Aces and Jacks)
GCPGeneD: shows [Td Jh] (two pair, Jacks and Tens)
hammer192 collected 32224 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
hammer192 (small blind) showed [Ah Jc] and won (32224) with two pair, Aces and Jacks
Seat 9: GCPGeneD (big blind) showed [Td Jh] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Tens
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Winning weekend at Shroty's...I guess
I went back on Memorial Day to play and they had the usual suspects...Frenchy, Doc, Devin and Johnny. On a non-poker topic, I want to say speedy recovery to a local poker player that was in a terrible car accident, and He was in the hospital in intensive care for weeks. His name is Vinny and we call him "Houma Vinny" or "Flattop Vinny" as he wears his helmet in a military style high and tight, and he is from Houma...anyone who plays poker in Southeast has probably played with him before. Great guy...solid player...get back to the felt soon Vinny!!!!
So on this session, I show up and there is one seat open, sweet. As anyone who plays at Shorty's can tell you, sometimes the games can be "Hit or Miss" as some times the games is full with a list, it breaks up too early and sometimes, there no game at all. I always call first and would suggest you do too. I personally think that they could get more NL games more often if they would advertise on GCP.net...(Hint Hint...wink wink ...Ken Foreman)...but I digress. So, I call before I go to make sure they had a game on Memorial Day...they do...there is an open seat.
Ken tells me, "GeneD...its a 5-10 game today"...What??? I look at the suspects...5-10??. Normally it is 5-5. I get $400 and head to the table, and it is just as I thought...there was an average of $400 per person on the table. I sit down and start asking who wanted to play 5-10, and they all started saying "The Table" wanted to. Everyone starts to kind of gang up on me thinking I am trying to "question" their poker wisdom. I start to explain to all these old guys about # of BB's per your opening stack, standard Starting stacks per the BB's ...and I see it in their eyes that I could just as well be explaining quantum physics or how to split the atom...I give up mid sentence. I eventually just explain that it is my fault, I should have asked when I called...lets play some poker. I play good ...solid poker and cash out with $630 a couple of hours later.
Last Tuesday, I made my monthly pilgrimage to the Belle Of Baton Rouge. There were several of my friends there. Of course Dana was dealing and Clint Shafer was there...Cigar Mike...the regulars. They open a game 5 minutes after I get there....sweet!!! ....NOT!!! I played terrible. Made 2 terrible calls, and moved in with 2 pair on a board of KhQd10d against this tight women with a busted shoulder. I had Qd10s...she goes in tank and ask me, "What...you got a flush draw" Damn...I knew I was in trouble. I now have her on K-10 or K-Q. Maybe she will be spooked and think I flopped a set...no can do. She calls and tables KdQs...she even had my diamond re-draw busted.
I have been playing on Stars alot trying to get my online bankroll up to try to shoot for some WSOP satellites. I am planning on playing in the $370 super on the 15th. They are guaranteeing 200 seats in the Main Event, and last year I think they gave away something like 267 seats. I have been doing OK...I guess. Stll lots of beats though. I played last night in a $12 sng with 180 ppl. Results below:
PokerStars Tournament #90445423, No Limit Hold'em Buy-In: $11.00/$1.00
180 players Total Prize Pool: $1980.00 Tournament started - 2008/06/01 - 00:58:49 (ET)Tournament finished - 2008/06/01 - 02:47:46 (ET)
1: modaddy (San Jose), $594.00 (30%)
2: GCPGeneD (Houma), $396.00 (20%)
3: heino80 (Bexbach), $235.62 (11.90%)
4: Serdar A. (Chesterfield), $158.40 (8%)
5: wolop (Penticton), $128.70 (6.50%)
6: natecfc1 (Plymouth uk), $99.00 (5%)
7: NastyNateBR (Brighton), $69.30 (3.50%)
8: poisonivey99 (Dallas), $51.48 (2.60%)
9: fuzieduck (Calgary), $33.66 (1.70%)
10: mikeyb101 (Brownsville), $23.76 (1.20
Sweet...I now have my buy-in for the super mega on the 15th
Below is some of the hands Ive been getting plowed on
PokerStars Game #17834423578: Tournament #90445423, $11+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level XXI (4000/8000) - 2008/06/01 - 02:48:03 (ET)
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GCPGeneD [Ks Qd]
modaddy: raises 219916 to 227916 and is all-in
GCPGeneD: calls 32484 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (187432) returned to modaddy
*** FLOP *** [5c 6h 8d]
*** TURN *** [5c 6h 8d] [Ad]
*** RIVER *** [5c 6h 8d Ad] [3c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
GCPGeneD: shows [Ks Qd] (high card Ace)
modaddy: shows [8s Kh] (a pair of Eights)modaddy collected 82568 from pot
PokerStars Game #17764899210: Tournament #90084784, $6.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/05/28 - 23:43:08
(ET)Table '90084784 1' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to GCPGeneD [Jc Js]
*** FLOP *** [Ks 2h 9s]
*** TURN *** [Ks 2h 9s] [8s]
*** RIVER *** [Ks 2h 9s 8s] [6s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Clay Bentley: shows [As 3c] (a flush, Ace high)
GCPGeneD: shows [Jc Js] (a flush, King high)
Clay Bentley collected 1505 from pot
I also want to say good luck to Monkey, Claudia and Gabe as I heard they are sharing a house in Vegas during the WSOP.
"Discovering the object of the game *is* the object of the game" Daniel Shoor as himself in "The Game"
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Bayou Poker Classic Final Table MPEGs
The Video Above is the hand that Crippled TK
The One Below gets everyone
Updates...Circuit final table...WSOP Main Event prediction
I was able to get down to Harrah's yesterday to sweat TK and Gabe at the final table. Wow was it entertaining. They were down to 4 handed when I got there, and Gabe and TK were both still in it. There was also a local there, Floyd Vanderford, who nursed a short stack to collect over 100k. I was very impressed with him. I was also impressed with Nick Cici's game also. He actually only got half of the winnings as one of his buddy's had 50% of him...still a nice score.
There was a time when Fish and I were talking to this guy, and we started talking chop. TK offered the guy a 50-50 chop when TK was 1.5 to 1 dog. His buddy could not understand why anyone would do that. We rationalized it to him that TK was a solid, proven poker pro. He admitted to us that Nick does not play much poker. I told him, "Hey man, I am not knocking your boys game or nothing...I like his game, but TK has already won major tournaments on the felt and online, he plays in the Sunday Millions on Stars...every Sunday...I think he was being generous myself". Well...he wound up taking it down. What do I know? ;-)
The banter at the table was priceless. I got to see the head games that go with playing in a live tournament for that much money. I am sure you'll have seen the hands on the poker pages blog. He was crippled when he held AQo and the flop comes down Q44. Nick called a pre-flop raise with 4-3...ballsy. If TK wins that last hand, he got it in with the best of it with Q-4 against J-7...again...the kid called and all in with J-7, and if TK doubles through there...that game is wide open again as he would have close to 800k.
Got to hang out with TK, Fish, Nick, DaRock and Lou Esposito after it was over, and we analysed the play. The kid made some weird plays that paid off for him in the long run...Congrats Nick!!!!!
As far as TK...He could not have been more disappointed, but I am sure he will bounce back like a champ. I think what hurt the most was losing to an amateur...Again no Offense to Nick...but compared to TK he is an amateur. If it was Phil Ivey up there he would have taken it a little better. I will have some pics up as soon as I can get them off my Camera. I got some good pics and mpegs of everyone...including tournament extraordinaire...Jason Lipscomb.
My Prediction on the Final Table of the WSOP Main Event....All the players will get agents/mediators and negotiate a straight chop across the board...then the WSOP people with conspire with all the players to play with fixed decks so the final table will be entertaining...It will be like wrestling...the powers that be will script the whole table and you will see set over sets...full houses over full houses...numerous 4 of a kinds...and the final hand will be right out of the Cinci Kid...Straight flush over 4 of a kind...you heard it here first.
No seriously....I think they will negotiate a chop like I said...they will agree to play for the bracelet and the legacy...They will be sworn to secrecy...it will be exposed weeks before the table and it will blow up in Harrah's face...That's my prediction.
"What I'd like to know is how you rob a bank without opening any doors" Samuel L Jackson as Roland in "Jumper"
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Brief updates...
I got to watch the final table of the first event a couple of days ago, and I am amazed at Cubs play. That guy is on fire. I got to chat yesterday with Gabe Costner, and he told me that they booked a trip to Vegas recently and Cub ran good the whole time they were there too. The guy is a machine, and I thought he was going to chew up Dr. Del. Actually, I am a patient of Dr. Del's. He has worked on me several times in my lifetime...a great guy and a world class Orthopedic Surgeon...and it looks like a solid poker player.
We also had another local regular player get 2nd in another event. Teddy Trosclair from Thibodaux picked up around 20 large for getting 2nd place. I saw JoJo and him last night in the tournament room. Congrats to Teddy and Dr. Del...hopefully the cajun contingent will keep pushing forward.
Cash game highlights...Not many...got in a 2-5nl game with a several good players. Antonio Esfandari's little brother Pasha aka "Paul" was the LWAG player in the game. He was raising with any Ace to $30-$40, and was calling and raising on all draws. He bet his draws and bet them high. I was playing tight looking for a spot to double up. He had already doubled -up several players and then snapped off Tom "Spoonman" Witherspoon when he called a solid pre-flop raise with 8-6o. Spoon had pocket K's but Paul turned the straight.
I was in the game for $250.00 and was at about $330.00 when the following hand came up. I am in late position with 10h-10s. Paul makes it $40.00 to go, and I call...as does Spoon. That worried me right there. I did not like that Spoon called here also. Flop hits 9s5s2s. Paul instantly moves $130.00 into the pot. I go in the tank and think..."lets see...I have him solidly on Ace-big...the question is does he have a spade. If he has no spade I am probably 70-30. If he does, I think it will be a coin flip. He will have 6 overs and all the spades. There is no fold equity...it is fold or Jam"...I jam...he insta-calls with AhKs....Great...Turn is the Qd...that puts me at 60-40...Kd on the flop and thats one buy-in down.
I was not happy with the hand...I think I could have found a better place to get my money in.
Heading to Harrahs...
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for I am the baddest mother fucker in the valley" Jamie Foxx as Sgt Siek in "Jarhead"
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Booked a small win at Shorty's...weekend online
Bad Play #1:
I am in the game for $200.00. 3rd hand I play. I won the first one to get my stack to about $250.00. I am in mid to late-position with pocket 8's when Doc raises to $35.00 from UTG. He only has about $90.00 left in front of him, and he has that look on his face as he is not happy. Probably had taken a beat before I got there...not sure. There were no callers to me. I put him on A-Big...K-Q-J...and I just didn't want to flip a coin for half my buy-in this early in the session. If I could have gotten some other takers and gotten better percentages on my call, I would have taken the flop. I muck my hand after thinking for several minutes, and don't you know, the button and both blinds join the party. Flop comes out 8c3hKs...perfect flop for mid-set. Doc scared them all out with a pot sized C-Bet, so I did not get to see what he played with. I was kind of pissed, but shook it off.
Bad Play #2 (Missed VB)
Earlier in the session I took down the blinds and antes (7 limpers) with KcKs from the BB. I look down at AcAs from the same position. Golf Tom fires out $15.00 from UTG, and the only guy at the table I was really concerned about the whole session...smooth calls from the button. I decide to make it $50.00 straight to go for a $35.00 raise. Both players call. Flop comes out 8dJd2d. I did not like this flop at all...especially since I did not have the Ad. I knuckle...GT fires out $30.00 and the button calls. Damn...I don't like this at all. I smooth call also. Turn brings the 5s. Tom again fires out $30.00, and I call as we lose the button. River is the 2h...I actually like this card even though it pairs the board. It covers me in case GT has some hand like J-8s. He knuckles after the river, and I knuckle too. I show the aces and he mucks. I think I could have got another $40-50 out of him...I had him on something like Q-J or K-J post-hand.
I played online yesterday and didn't do well at all. Lost 1/4 of my online bankroll. I am now in the $5000.00 Guaranteed on Stars. I just doubled up with A-K. Lets see if I can do something with it....30 minutes later...I just donked off half my stack with a Q-4o from the BB when everyone limped around to me...I tap. Flop hits Q-6-5...I call the guy all the way down and he flopped a set of 6's...pitiful...absolutely a terrible play. The hand that knocked me out...I am the short stack at the table with 12 BB's left and I jammed with A-Js...guy looked me up with 10-10...board bricks and thats a wrap.
Didn't do much this weekend but hang out around the house and do honey-dews. My yard is really looking good, and My tomato plants are on a roill this year. I am really happy with them. Julie and I cooked all day on Saturday as it was raining until about 3pm...amongst other things.
We put a beef roast in the slow cooker and I fired up a pot of white beans with salt meat.
Looks like Wild Bill had a tough night last Friday. I am sure he will pull himself out of the down swing...and Tex...all I can get from Tex is... "text" messages something about him giving a NL Holdem lesson to some pro basketball players...whats up with dat? I hear Joe and Matt are doing well in Sin City. Big Ray is now a "Big Papa"...congrats brother and enjoy that child. My brother in Law (Another Ray) has again taken up online poker and has been running/playing well.
"The core of mans' spirit comes from new experiences"Emile Hirch as Chris McCandless in the movie "Into the Wild"
Monday, April 28, 2008
Hard Rock part deaux...Chopped the Sunday Nooner at the Beau
I already told you'll what happened with the jackpot, and here are some other tidbits:
--When we thought we were going to win, the Poker Room Manager gave we a hard time for not having my Social Security Card and warning me with some suspicious look. "You are responsible for your SS# being yours and you must pay taxes"...Hey Lady...this ain't my first rodeo. I have received numerous 10-99's from Gambling/Poker Tourney Wins in my lifetime. Chill...alright
--Again...when we thought we won...I asked her for a comp to the buffet for me and my wife...NOPE...no can do. "How many hours have you played?"...about 2..."You must play 4 hrs". You got to be kidding me...oh well...the rules are the rules...I guess.
--Even after the screw up was discovered and she told me the bad news, "Can you at least give us a comp to the buffet for the hassle"...NOPE...no can do AAARRRGGGGGG...another Nurse Ratchet ;-)
Overall, I blame myself for immediately not stopping and looking at he rules myself. After all the screw-ups I have seen in pokerrooms/casinos...I should have known better. Julie talked me into not playing anymore that night as my mind was just not there. As always, she is thinking clearly and knows that now is not the time for me to go to the cash tables at the Beau. She is my rock and biggest supporter. I look to all my friends for coaching/feedback (You know who you are), but Julie is my psychologist. She is my mind coach. I took the rest of the night off from poker, and we just relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the night.
Nooner at the Beau on Sunday. 80 something players. $130.00 buy-in. We started with $4500.00 in chips. I get in line a little late and and chatting with several regulars Maria...Doc...and then we see that she just opened a new table and we all realize the we will all be at the same table. I started to get some cards early and started to chip up quickly. Then I got a guy stack off to me with Ks7d on a board of AsAc7s8d2c when I had AdKc ????? (Donkfish Hand #2). The next few hands were all of us trying to figure out what the guy was thinking? At that point I just ran over the table playing my brand of poker stealing hands at will and chipping up. I was feeling good...had a great read on table and just would not let up. When we were down to 4 tables I was the chip leader and was moved to another table to even them all out to 9. I am in the one seat, and Will S. aka "Monkey Boy" was in the 9 seat. I came out firing just as I had before and started to raise from the SB. I win a nice pot. Now is where I made the one mistake where I raise from the button with Ks2s, and I got called from the BB and we see. Flop comes out 10sJhQd. He knuckles to me, and I make a pot size bet. He jams with what amounts to a min raise of my bet and I call. He tables big slick for the nuts, and I table my hand with a chance for a push or the back door flush draw...table bricks. Very small hit to my stack
Next hand is the Donkfish/Banana Head hand of the tournament. The blinds are at 200-400. I raise from the cutoff to 1400 with KsQd. Banana in the BB calls. Flop comes out Qh7s8d. Banana bets out ...I raise...and he says all in and stumbles putting his chips in. I call...banana tables 7d6s ??? Yea people...that is the types of plays they were making . Calling a 3x raise with 76o. The turn comes the 5s, and I yell out, "Don't you do it...NO"...4c. I double him up to 11k. From there we get in a discussion and I know refer to him as donkfish.
He tries to rationalize this to me by referencing my raise on the button with K-2. I am the chip leader buddy...of course I am going to raise in position. Worst...I got Monkey Boy also saying he could see why the guy called a 3x raise with 7-6o from the BB with "My image of bullying the table and raising with nothing". Now this surprised me. The same guy winds up busting MB out after they moved us to other tables. Later on...When Banana Head is eliminated from the tournament, I gave him my card and told him to be sure to read my blog as he would be highlighted as the "King Donkfish Banana" of the tournament...Sir...if you reading this...well played...Keep it up.
3rd donkfish move I witnessed...10 minutes into the tourney with the blinds at 25-50. I am on the button and I fold. SB raises to 250...BB Jams with well over 4000 in chips. SB calls with Big Slick...BB tables A-10off????? ...table bricks and another 5 minute discussion ensues on what was this guy thinking.
I played really well down the line with 2 tables left. Went to coloring up and collecting all the 100 chips with over 40k. Got a guy to stack off to me when I held Aces. Won a huge hand when the chip leader doubled me up when I held KsKd, and he called with AJo. This was a strange hand indeed also. I am all in pre-flop when the dealer starts tp deal the board. Brick-Brick-Brick...Brick...Burn Card...There is a "face up" 10c. WTF???? They tell me that they have to burn that card also...I start to think bad thoughts and say..."NO...DON'T YOU DARE DO THIS TO ME!!! NO!!!!!" ...BRICK..Schweeeeet.
Made it to the final table with an average stack, but felt comfortable. I got Pocket Aces again (twice in the tournament) and pocket 10's back to back to chip up. We got down to six players and negotiated a chop where the chip leader got $1250.00 and we all got $1000.00.
Feels good to be a small win streak...Peace
"Some people feel like they don't deserve love. They walk away quietly into empty spaces, trying to close the gaps of the past" Emile Hirch as Chris McCandless in the movie "Into the Wild"
Sunday, April 27, 2008
A couple of good sessions...Mind F*%#@ed at the Hard Rock
My session at Harrah's Friday went real well and I was able to book a modest win. I got in the 1-2 nl game for $200.00 and cashed out at $580.00. The cool part was GaryA and I got to sit next each other the whole session. He was in the 1 seat and I was in the 2 seat. I was fairly impressed with his poker game. He is really trying to learn the game, and his mechanics are fairly sound. The first time I noticed this was when he corrected another player when the board read 7h7c8hJc2h when the banana said "I got a set", and turn up Kc7d. Gary said "That's not a set" and when Banana looked dumbfounded, he explained that that was three of a kind or trips. A set is "When you have a pocket pair and you get you third card on the board"...Damn....This pool player has read some books. Look at him go.
The hand that doubled me up the first time was when I had just told Gary, "Damn man, I haven't got a pocket pair all game"...look down at the 2 black aces. Schweeeeet. I make it $25.00 to go from the hi-jack seat after everyone else limped. Villain in seat 6 calls as does seat 8. Flop comes out Qs4s4c. Seat 6 fires out $45, and it folds around to me. Interesting...He calls $25.00 pf with a 4 in his hand...nah. He only has about $160.00 left, so I am wondering whether he will stack off here. I smooth call. Turn brings the 9h. He is very un-comfortable and slides his big stack in. I start to smile at him...I call knowing I am not getting away from the hand at this point. If he has me, oh well. The river brings the Qh. He starts to grab the rest of his chips to push them in, but drops 2 chips before they cross the line...at the same time I say, "I call". Now is the strange part. He still has about $55.00 in his hand and he holds the chips and looks at me. I smile and say, "Go ahead...put them in...I already called". He puts them in and tables AcKs.
Now, Gary and I start analysing the hand. Did he think he was good there? 2 pair with the ace kicker?
Second hand that doubled me up again was about 15 minutes later, when I looked down at 9s9h, and I call a $10.00 raise along with 5 others. Flop hits Ks4h7d. Check...I check...check o Slovakia around. Turn comes my sweetie....the 9c. I fire out $45.00 after it was checked to me, and the only player at my table with more chips than me goes in the tank. He comes out blazing with a raise of a hundo making it $145.00 to go. Folds around to me, and I jam of course...he insta calls and tables 4s4d. What does TJ always say..."Never try to slowplay those sets people".
Now to the good part of this blog that you all have been waiting for since my title. I am just going to spell it out here as I am getting pissed just typing this. I am typing this as a warning to all who get themselves involved in a Jackpot hand. Instantly...as fast as you can...get a copy of the verbiage that states the winning hands for the JP. The HR has 2 (two) jackpots, a Mini and a Major. The mini was at $3800.00 and the Major was at $38,000. The mini needs Aces over 10's beat. Julie and I decide to hit the Hard Rock as she has not been there before, and I hear that the games are soft...soft you say...yea...soft. I got in one of these games where I am in for $200.00 and everybody is friendly, and chatting...having fun. There isn't a serious player at the table except a dealer from Boomtown that was sucking down lots of crown. None will call a raise after the turn without the absolute nuts, so "Outlaw GeneD" comes out and I start stealing. I am at about $400.00 when the following hand came out.
I look down at QsQc, and raise it pf to $30.00. Seat #1 has $60.00 in front of him and he jams...I instacall. He table AcJh. Flop AsAd4d...turn Ah...river Kc...and the table explodes and rejoices. Everyone is happy...jumping around...you all know the drill. I am sitting to collect 50% of $3800.00 as the actual "Bad Beat". The manager comes around and collects all our driver licences...They gave me a hard time because I did not have my social security card with me (Who carries this on them). The dealer lays out the hand for the camera's. She counts all the cards. Places them all out so the Camera's can see...yada yada...yada. This goes on for $20 min. In te meantime Julis and I are feeling great. Thinking of where we are going to go eat...and so on. I walk over the Ruth's Chris to get the paper menu, and I am walking back to the table when I see the manager huddling over the table with some of the player s from our table throwing their hands up in the air in disgust. The first thing I think is right out of the Eugene Todd Bro segment of pokerroad radio, "Dude...this can't be good Bro". Sure enough she calls me over and points out what the JP flyer says..."The full-house hand must have an Ace in the hole". My heart drops...my emotions start to simmer. All of you who know me and are reading this are now thinking to yourselfs...Holyshit...what kind of loud...pissed off scene did GeneD throw. I know that is what your are thinking...the people that know me.
I think there are many of you that will be proud of me, and I picked up my chips (with the winnings)...and calmly cashed out and left.
There are people waiting to use the computer and the tourney starts soon...so this blog...will be continued as there were other F*+%#ed up things that happened in the 25 minutes or so when we thought we had won.
Your not anybody in America unless you're on the Camera. We learn about who we really are. Because what's the point of doing anything worthwhile if nobody's watching? And if people are watching, it makes you a better person" Nicole Kidman as Suzanne in "To Die For"
Friday, April 25, 2008
I am heading to Harrah's tonight to play some poker, so I hope to have some poker post this weekend. I haven't played much live recently as I have been working alot.
My wife has me on some crash course diet/exercise regime because I need to lose some weight and get healthy. We "Juice" in the morning, and I eat a salad for lunch. I ride my bike when I get home from work for about 1 1/2 hours, and then we eat a very reasonable dinner like meat/salad/veg. I have already lost a couple of pounds am I also feel alot better. Sorry DirteAA as you won't see me very often with a "Beer in a Cup". I am also cutting back on the frosty beverages.
I am going meet one of my good friends at Harrah's tonight. He is a world class pool player named Gary Abood. Several years ago when I was living in Atlanta, he and another close friend were on the road playing pool. They stayed at my apartment for a couple of months when they came hit Atlanta/Birmingham/Chattanooga. I had heard he was in town as I haven't spoke to him recently. There I am sitting at the bar at the Uptown Sports (GCP Sponsor) when I hear "Disco Dudek"...Yea...thats the nickname he gave me. It was good to see him again. A great guy that wields a very good stick. He had a poker player buddy with him named Chad from Shreveport. If you guys are reading this, I will see you at Harrah's tonight.
I also got some very disturbing news about a fellow poker player. It seems he has been diagnosed with a dreadful disease, and It ruined my day yesterday. I cannot say his name as it s not my place to tell everyone, but if him or his wife are reading this...Julie and I are praying for you guys. Stay strong!!!
That piece of information had me sitting back and pondering just how short life is. Sometimes I think I have problems that I have to deal with and then... Bam...you are hit with something like this and I start to laugh...My problems are so petty. We all need to count our blessings and keep your loved ones close.
On a another note...I was able to catch the mini-series on HBO about ...and named "John Adams". What a great show that it turned out to be. If you want to see what it was like for the first 50 years of the USA then this is for you. My wife and I Tivo'ed all the episodes last Saturday and watched them all this week. What a man and a patriot. If you are somewhat of a History buff as I am and you have a love of our great country, this show is a must see. It is amazing that he does not get as much attention as Washington and Jefferson...but what a man. I was moved...Well Played John Adams.
"Sometimes when you win, you really lose, and sometimes when you lose, you really win, and sometimes when you win or lose, you actually tie, and sometimes when you tie, you actually win or lose. Winning or losing is all one organic mechanism, from which one extracts what one needs"
Rosie Perez as Gloria in "White men Can't Jump"
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Brandi Hawbreaker RIP and Online coolers
Played online Sat and almost got in the money out of 2873 people. 1st place was over $2000.00...When I started getting hands like below:
PokerStars Game #16846210656: Tournament #84460425, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (200/400) - 2008/04/19 - 15:29:08 (ET)
Table '84460425 25' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: GCPGeneD (17684 in chips)
Seat 2: dewman15 (7545 in chips)
Seat 3: XSANDMAN_22 (14600 in chips)
Seat 4: elee (5755 in chips)
Seat 5: highheat2u (10064 in chips)
Seat 6: tgf18tgf (14768 in chips)
Seat 7: markthe fish (9047 in chips)
Seat 8: Markuswins (16350 in chips)
Seat 9: jayhawkhoops (11590 in chips)
GCPGeneD: posts the ante 50
dewman15: posts the ante 50
XSANDMAN_22: posts the ante 50
elee: posts the ante 50
highheat2u: posts the ante 50
tgf18tgf: posts the ante 50
markthe fish: posts the ante 50
Markuswins: posts the ante 50
jayhawkhoops: posts the ante 50
tgf18tgf: posts small blind 200
markthe fish: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GCPGeneD [5s 5c]
Markuswins: calls 400
jayhawkhoops: folds
GCPGeneD: calls 400
dewman15: folds
XSANDMAN_22: folds
elee: folds
highheat2u: folds
tgf18tgf: calls 200
markthe fish: checks
*** FLOP *** [7s 6d 5h]
tgf18tgf: checks
markthe fish: bets 800
Markuswins: calls 800
GCPGeneD: raises 1600 to 2400
tgf18tgf: folds
markthe fish: raises 6197 to 8597 and is all-in
Markuswins: folds
GCPGeneD: calls 6197
*** TURN *** [7s 6d 5h] [Tc]
*** RIVER *** [7s 6d 5h Tc] [Kc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
markthe fish: shows [6c 6h] (three of a kind, Sixes)
GCPGeneD: shows [5s 5c] (three of a kind, Fives)
markthe fish collected 20044 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 20044 Rake 0
Board [7s 6d 5h Tc Kc]
Seat 1: GCPGeneD showed [5s 5c] and lost with three of a kind, Fives
Seat 2: dewman15 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: XSANDMAN_22 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: elee folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: highheat2u (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: tgf18tgf (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 7: markthe fish (big blind) showed [6c 6h] and won (20044) with three of a kind, Sixes
Seat 8: Markuswins folded on the Flop
Seat 9: jayhawkhoops folded before Flop (didn't bet)
I was playing good poker until this hand. Yea...yea...I know. I just got unlucky with bottom set over mid set. I just think I should have maybe got away from it with the straight out there, but I felt my stack was big enough for me to call. If I win this pot, I am confident I would have gone fairly deep in the money. Busted out with JJ(me) vs AQo (Villian). I am feeling good about my tournament game, I feel I just need a couple of breaks in key spots to bust one out.
"My other interviews have pinned you as a mass murderer, blood sucker, pimp, profiteer and my personal favorite, yuppie Mephistopheles" . Katie Holmes as Heather Holloway in "Thank you for Smoking"
Monday, April 14, 2008
Random Blog ...take 2
I have been doing alot of thinking this weekend, and I am little bummed out about Lusky and Virge's move to Vegas. I went by yesterday and drank a couple of beers at the apartment. It was really starting to sink in that I had them 20 minutes from my house for all this time, and I did not take enough advantage of the poker knowledge that they have. The 3 "Amigo's" Virge, Lusky and DirteAA all had their computers in the living room at the apartment, and they "lived and breathed" poker since Virge moved down about 8-9 months ago. They always had an opened door policy for me, and I knew that I was welcome to sweat any of them online whenever I wanted...and I just don't feel that I took advantage of the situation. I would drop in every now and then, but not nearly enough as I should have. They are over there right now packing up the truck to head towards Vegas. Virge found a real sweet house for them to live in. Hopefully I can get down there soon to see them.
I also could not help but have a little envy on their situation also. I mean, moving to Vegas to take a shot at their dreams. Its what movies are made of...uh...that was a bad reference ;-).
Kid Pokers new promo..."The weekend with Daniel". He has promoted this very well, and you have to admit, it is pretty sweet for him. Let's see...18 people get to fly to Vegas at the beginning of August. They get to hang with Daniel all weekend from 6:00pm on Friday when they board a limo to KP's house...then they attend poker seminars/workshops/video analysis (Watch re-runs of WSOP/High Stakes????) with Kid Poker until Sunday night at 6:00pm. They are only 18 spots and 10 are already locked up. How much does it cost you ask...oh...lets see...15 dimes per head. A little math...18x$15,000 gives us a nice round number of $270,000 that KP takes in. How sweet is that?...must be nice.
I went out Saturday night to my local billiard spot, High Tide, as they had a $20.00 8 ball tournament with a calcutta. I am really getting the fever to start hitting some balls again. I have not shot pool seriously for quite some time, and it really is humbling to see several people that have passed me up in speed. It seems that every time I get in a cash game, I get woofed at by someone at the table that wants to find a table and gamble. I am not the best player around, but I have a good mind for the game and I know how to match up. My strengths are my safe game and strategy...You can turn pool into a chess match if you can keep the other player from getting out.
I am also getting cursed by getting speeding tickets lately. Man that sucks. I have gotten 4 in the past 3 months, and normally, I would never get speeding tickets. $500-$600 dollars out of your bankroll to pay for speeding tickets can hurt.
The new pokerroad radio. I have been listening to the new show this weekend. I caught something like...6 episodes while I played online Saturday. I have been listening to the program since the first incarnation with Scott Huff...the verdict is still out on Ali "Aliwood" Najad...just don't know why. The best one I heard was with Chris Reslock...really cool guy and he gives some good advice.
I have a rough week at work, but I am going to try to put in a few sessions this week. I think I am also going to try to hit some local tournaments as well.
Virge...Lusky..."Via Con Dios Amigos". I hope for the best for you guys, and have a safe trip. I will see you guys in Vegas soon...maybe for Wild Bills Bachelor party.
"Oh, Susanna, don't you cry for me...Oh I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee...Oh Susanna, don't you cry for me...I'm going to Louisiana, oh my true love for to see"
Sung in a simple...low male voice with lightning flashing above their heads as they were getting ready to walk into the jungle on the first ambush/recon on the movie "Platoon"
Monday, April 07, 2008
Back from the first weekend of the IP Poker Classic
Wed-$230.00 Main Event--card dead...lasted 5 levels
Wed-$110.00 Super Stack at the Beau--Bubbled...lost a key race that would have sent me to the final table as the chip leader. I overplayed my pocket Jacks in the BB against AKo with the only person on the table that could have hurt me. Ace hits the flop. That left me with not enough for the small blind. I double up twice and lost the final hand hand on a 2 outer. Several people told me they "Don't hate the play"...I mean I lost a coin flip, but I could have called his raise from BB and just dumped the hand when the Ace hit the flop...lesson learned.
Thursday- $60.00 freezeout at the Isle of Capri--Made a stupid move with pocket jacks against a board of 2d4h7c post flop. I thought the guy was c-betting with air. "Wild Bill" Phillips got 2nd so I had some return as we have percentages of each other. Bill also had quite a fan fare as all of the locals there admired his play. He even got a lunch date out of the tourney that could turn into a tutorship with older gentleman. He played great.
Friday-$340.00 IP Main Event with guaranteed $75,000-Started the tourney with a tough table. Strong Kid from Atlanta on my right with fellow GCP blogger "Da Rock" 2 to my left. Also had local guy Bert in the 7 seat. Lost a coin flip A-Q vs Pocket 10's
Friday-$230.00 IP 2nd chance tourney--Bubbled this one also coming out 14th when they paid 9. "Wild Bill" Phillips got 5th so I got a little return. I got knocked out on a questionable play. I thought it was terrible but Bill and Tex seemed to think it was "Defensible"...didn't feel too defensible when I was bounced 5 from the money. Oh well...lesson learned...AGAIN!!!
Got to meet fellow blogger and cash game specialist Reid from Mobile. We played in 2 tournaments together and he, Bill and I all cross-booked each other for a small percentage. I was real impressed with his game, and he is really cool and down to earth. He is a perfect fit for our blog team. Give'em Hell Reid!!!!
Not much more to talk about. I learned alot and played well in some spots...played great in some spots. The problem I have been having is I can play great/perfect poker for 6 hours, and make one mistake. Overplay Pocket Jacks to get myself in a coin flip for my tournament...and BAM!!! GeneD is putting the IPod away, rolling up his headphones, packing his backpack...and hitting the door. I learned from it yea...but I have to play better.
Wild Bill played great the whole time we were there. He went into heads-up play in the Isle of Capri tournament with the chip lead. He turned down a chop more than 4 times because he want to WIN!!! I played with him when we were down to 2 tables and was really impressed with his play. Here is a couple of pics of Bill in case any of you'll run into him. Be sure to read his blog also top left. Be sure to stop and tell him Hi, and that you saw his pic on http://www.gulfcoastpoker.net/ ;-)
"I'm not good at math, just Geometry, like you know when they say two squared, you think two times two equals four, but really they really mean a square, Its really space its not numbers its space and its perfect space, But only in your head, because you can't draw a perfect square in a material world. In your mind, you can have a perfect square, you know?" Elijah Wood as Mikey Carver in "The Ice Storm"
Friday, March 28, 2008
Heading to the Coast...
What else is happening...
I read a lot of different blogs, and one of my favorites is Bryan "Devo" Devonshire's. You can find it on Poker Pages. Really cool guy who reminds me alot of myself at his age (25 or 26). He has the same free-wheeling, spontaneity that I used to have years ago. He loves the outdoors, and likes hiking, camping and enjoying nature and the outdoors. I just wish I would have taken poker seriously when I was his age then maybe, just maybe, I could have been where he is now. You wonder where he is now? He is the chip leader going into the WPT event in Reno tonight at 5:00pm. Good Luck Devo!!!!
http://campfires.blogspot.com/
Had one of our local tournaments last night in Houma. It was $100.00 buy in with a $20.00 bounty. We were able to pull together 13 people. Looks like Arceaneax and Brad chopped 1st and 2nd with Timmy Hill taking down 3rd.
Me and my Uncle are in a "Blind" NCAA March Madness Pool every year where 16 people get together and all put up $100.00. There are 16 ping pong ball all with the numbers 1-16 on them that go in the bucket. Everyone gets to pick a ball for each 1/4 (Quadrant) of the bracket. You are at the mercy of the pull, but you can have some sleepers that may come in a snap it off. We were the defending champs as last year we won the whole thing. Everyone gets 4 teams with a seed from 1-16. One team in each quadrant...with the winner taking the Cheese...the entire $1600.00. We also won it several years back when Syracuse won as a 4 seed (I think)...Well we have one remaining horse ...Louisville. Tomorrow night we will watch them eat up UNC just like they did to Tennessee.
Looks like the crew from Lockport are all finally playing poker for a living. Eddie and Lusky have quit their "Day Jobs", and they are now grinding it out as pro poker players. Virge will now have more company around the house...next step ..."Vegas Baby...Vegas". Lusky and Virge are contemplating shipping the "Lockport Poker Palace" to the Sin City.
All for now...Hope to have some good stuff from the coast
"I love you enough to travel the world with you until one of us has to take an honest job... which I think is going to have to be you, because I have no idea what an honest job is" Daniel Craig as James "007" Bond in Casino Royale
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Tales from Tunica...Hanging out with Moneymaker
There is a "6th Degrees of Separation" situation I caught myself in recently, where I got to meet Chris Moneymaker and hang out with him at my friends house. I got a call several months back from one of my top salespeople in Memphis...Jeff. Not only do we work together, but I am also proud to call Jeff a good friend and confidant. We talk often and Jeff has been a social poker player for years himself. He called me months back on a Saturday night and said, "Hey Man...you aren't going to believe who is moving in next door to me right now". We went through the game of ,"No Guess...No Guess"...etc. Well, I think you guys have figured out who it was. The man that started the Poker revolution, Chris Moneymaker. Jeff and him have since become close friends and are rivals as Jeff is a big Memphis fan and CMM is a big Vols fan. When I went to Jeff's house, CMM was in the street at the front of Jeff's driveway putting a Vols magnet on Jeff's mailbox. Really nice guy and down to earth. We hung out at Jeff's and chatted about College Basketball, Bay 101 and Jeff's new pool. He is one hell of a nice guy, and said for me to look for him at this years WSOP. He could not make this years Bay 101 because he just had a baby (He got 2nd there several years ago). Chris...if your reading this..."Congratulations again on that 2 week old baby girl...and GO VOLS" ;-)
I played in the $125.00 buy-in event at the Gold Strike Monday night. There were 43 people in it and I bubbled in 8th place...they paid 6. I played the whole tournament with this young phenom on my right named Grant Watson. He had just got back from Vegas, and we started talking. He cashed twice at the WPT World Poker Open in January at the Gold Strike. One was 5th for around $10,000 and the other one was 8th for $6500. We cut a deal when we moved to the final table, and he got 4th place so I picked up a small bone.
Played in the cash game at the Horseshoe on Tuesday and booked a decent win. I got in the game for $330.00, and got that up to $685.00. I kept looking at the clock as the chip was moving around to my side the table, and I wanted to get out without hemorrhaging any chips. Well, they dealt the cards when I UTG, and I looked down at pocket 9s9h and I quickly check hoping to see a cheap flop and hit my set. Villain in the 2 seat fires out $35.00 and gets 2 callers around to me. I go in the tank for a second...My last hand of the night...raiser with 2 callers...one of them has to have a pair bigger than nines...I muck. Flop comes out 9d4h5c. Original raiser jams with the last $120.00 he had in fron of him and shows the pocket tens when everyone folds. I convinced myself on the ride back to Memphis that a 10 was coming on the turn or river...yea...It was coming.
Saw some terrible tournament play here. It amazes me the way some people play. Here's one I saw. 2nd level with the blinds at 50-100. Girl in the 1 seat raises to 500 from UTG. She gets 3 callers. Flop comes out Kd10s2h. She jams...gets 2 callers and show QsQh and her 2 opponents had KhJh and Ks10h. She walks away mumbling to her friend, "I never get lucky in these things".
The next night, I am in the same situation where I have booked a winner. I am again contemplating leaving. I decide that this is my last hand and look down at KsQh. the flop comes out 10c4hAs. There is a bet of $15.00 with a raise to $30.00 to me. GSSD...nah I pass and start to rack my chips. Don't you know the Jack ball comes on the turn, and the 2 guys left get all of their chips in, and they show down a set of 4's against a stone cold bluff...Yea...its time for me to leave.
Watched the last episode of "The Wire" last weekend. I must say that I think that this series may have been better than "The Sopranos"...I know ...I know ...I am reaching here, but it was a good show. Now it is over.
"SSSHHHHIIIIITTTTTTTTT" Isiah Whitlock as Congressman Clay Davis on the "The Wire"
Saturday, March 08, 2008
HLB heading to the State Championship
The game turned out to be a great game, and I was really proud of my B-n-Law as his team played the best that the could. He really hung in there like a professional even letting his 2nd and 3rd teamers get some playing time once it got to where they were not going to win. I could tell that they were happy to be get in the state championship game. It was really cool. It was also very heartbreaking to see them lose. It is a shame that one of the teams had to lose.
I havent been doing to much lately except staying busy at work. Doing the daily grind of telecom. I see alot of good things happening at my company. I think our sales team is really coming around, and hopefully our corporate office will back us up as we are on a tear.
I am watching the WSOP 2006 main event and I cannot belive this guy Dimetri Nobles. I am not critiziing his play, but he had some spots were he could have played a little less agrresive and he would have got even further than he did.
Oh well...Heading to Memphis next week, so I will be getting in lots of time at the tables in Tunica. Hopefully I will have something to blog about
"If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don't care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game, in my book we're gonna be winners" Gene Hackman as Coach Dale in "Hoosiers"
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Finally booked a winner in Biloxi
I booked a solid winner on Friday night (FINALLY!!!). Bill and I were able to play on the same table and he was on my right in the 6 seat, and I was in the 7 seat. I did not start off well at all getting sucked out on numerous times, but I just sat there and stayed focused and tried to play solid poker. I made a run to the ATM machine and now was $600.00 deep in the game at about 10pm. Then the poker gods decided to shine on GeneD and cut me a break...I look down at AcAs in a 3 way pot. I jam on the flop, and I was called by a solid player with just top pair of 9's. Bill and I looked at each a little stumped that he would have called me there, but hey, "Ship it ot the Colonel". I drag a huge pot. While I am sitting there stacking my chips, I glance down at my cards that were dealt to me...What do you know...AcAs. Guy in the one seat that just arrived in the game with $400.00 raises to $45.00. I am really cautious now as I don't want to mis-play these babies and give any chips back. I smooth call here to see what kind of flop we get. The flop drops on the board as 9s7h3d. Yes!!!! That flop could not have helped him. He must have a big pair Jacks, Queens or Kings. He leads out $75.00. I jam here again and he says, "I guess it's going to be a quick night for me...I call" and he tables QsQc. The turn and river brick out and bam...There you have it. I cashed out at 11:15am with around $1400.00, and was looking forward to the tournament tomorrow and seeing Ray, Alex, Sam, Mitch and Brandon for Ray's Bachelor party.
We found out that if you get there early on Saturday and you play in the live games, you also get extra chips for the tournament. 8-11am you get 1000...9-11am you get 500 and 10-11 you get 250. Bill and I stayed at the Laquinta Inn that was brand new...Like they had opened 2 days before this. We were the first ones in the room, and it was comfortable. The breakfast hit the spot also. We head over and get in the cash games at 10am, and we both pick up and extra 250 in chips. I bust out early, but Bill takes 6th or 7th. The 2 crucial hands I had were with this "lunch box" that showed up last, sat to my left and new nothing about what was going on. He knew nothing about the Friday night deal or the extra chips...safe to say he was not a tournament player. The first hand we get involved in I look down at 10c10s. He raises and I smooth call. Flop comes out 9c6s2d. He checks and I bet out 250 and he calls. The turn brings the 4s. He checks and I get 700 and he calls. The river is the Qd and he checks...I check and he tables AcQs. The very next hand I look down at KsKc and I am in the BB. Everyone puts in the 100 and it limps around to me, and I raise it to 700. Everyone folds except the villain to my left. The flop hits 10s7d2s. I jam and he insta-calls with pocket 10's. I need a King to survive. The turn is the 9s giving me the spade re-draw, and the river bricks...and thats a wrap. I head over the Beau and the Hard Rock to check things out while the rest of the crew finish the tournament.
I had one key hand in the cash game after the tourney. I was in with several of my bachelor party buddies. Brandon in the 2 seat, Sam in the 3 seat and Alex in the 7 seat. I sat down with $200.00 in the 4 seat, and instantly flopped a set on the first hand to bring my stack up to around $300.00. I worked my stack up to about $350.00 when i glance down and see pocket Aces. I immediately start to think of last night, and I have a bad feeling. Brandon raises form UTG to $15.00, and he only has about $100.00 left in front of him. I make it $75.00 to go and the guy to my left calls. Brandon sticks the rest of his chips in, and we both call. Flop comes out K-brick-brick. I look at Brandon because I am trying to get a read on whether he has the pocket Kings. Yea...I think he has them, so I jam to try to get some value out of the hand in a side pot with the guy to my left. He folds....Great!!! ...but not so...Brandon surely turns over the Kings, but the guy to my left folds pocket Jacks...Turn is a Jack...river a brick. It kind of sucked for me, but I was happy for Brandon. At least the money stayed between us, and it could have been worst if guy to my left calls...I take a big hit then.
I continue to play in LL MTT's online and have cashed in a few. Its not alot of money, but I do get to see alot of hands. Below are a couple of my online hands:
This one was the catalyst of this tournament. I think I got 148th out of several thousand people.
This is the type of hand you dream of when you are in a big tournament
PokerStars Game #15532451536: Tournament #77444934, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2008/02/24 - 22:42:44 (ET)
Table '77444934 219' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: yorgi73 (14058 in chips)
Seat 2: mes_75 (4467 in chips)
Seat 3: GCPGeneD (10187 in chips)
Seat 4: cash_luck (6188 in chips)
Seat 5: pokercrook4 (7849 in chips)
Seat 6: mr_alterboy (5932 in chips)
Seat 7: callinC (4095 in chips)
Seat 8: MRSCHEEZE (7309 in chips)
Seat 9: rizzo888 (13173 in chips)
yorgi73: posts the ante 50
mes_75: posts the ante 50
GCPGeneD: posts the ante 50
cash_luck: posts the ante 50
pokercrook4: posts the ante 50
mr_alterboy: posts the ante 50
callinC: posts the ante 50
MRSCHEEZE: posts the ante 50
rizzo888: posts the ante 50
mes_75: posts small blind 300
GCPGeneD: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to GCPGeneD [Kc Kh]
cash_luck: folds
pokercrook4: folds
mr_alterboy: raises 5282 to 5882 and is all-in
callinC: calls 4045 and is all-in
MRSCHEEZE: raises 1377 to 7259 and is all-in
rizzo888: folds
yorgi73: folds
mes_75: folds
GCPGeneD: calls 6659
*** FLOP *** [7c 8c 7h]
*** TURN *** [7c 8c 7h] [4c]
*** RIVER *** [7c 8c 7h 4c] [3c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***GCPGeneD: shows [Kc Kh] (a flush, King high)
MRSCHEEZE: shows [Ad Ks] (a pair of Sevens)
GCPGeneD collected 2754 from side pot-2
mr_alterboy: shows [Ts Js] (a pair of Sevens)
GCPGeneD collected 5511 from side pot-1
callinC: shows [Qh As] (a pair of Sevens)
GCPGeneD collected 16930 from main pot
bodysnatchas is connected
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 25195 Main pot 16930. Side pot-1 5511. Side pot-2 2754. Rake 0
Board [7c 8c 7h 4c 3c]
Seat 1: yorgi73 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: mes_75 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: GCPGeneD (big blind) showed [Kc Kh] and won (25195) with a flush, King high
Seat 4: cash_luck folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: pokercrook4 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: mr_alterboy showed [Ts Js] and lost with a pair of Sevens
Seat 7: callinC showed [Qh As] and lost with a pair of Sevens
Seat 8: MRSCHEEZE showed [Ad Ks] and lost with a pair of Sevens
Seat 9: rizzo888 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
The hand that crippled me after this hand was A-J (Me) against K-J (Villain) ...we get it all in pre-flop...and a Kings hits on the river. If I win this pot I think I would have been chip leader.
"Does your boss know your using his house for a party? Cause I just put a call into him. Yeah, we went to school together. I helped cheat on his economics final or he wouldn't have graduated so he owes me big-time....You know another class I took at Harvard? Business Ethics. I don't steal other people's mother fucking clients, but in your case I'm going to make an exception. I'm going to take everyone; your B-level sitcom stars, your reality-TV writers, when I'm done with you, you're gonna be repping sideshow freaks. You need Jo-Jo the Dog-Face-Bitch-Boy? Call Josh Weinfuck, the lightweight pen-stealing fuckface" Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold on "Entourage" Episode with Gary Busey

