Raise The Hammer

I'm back

2006-09-12T16:23:00.000-05:00

And I promise more posts!

Off to AC

2005-11-27T10:17:00.000-05:00

I'm off to AC to play in some of the WSOP events with JG. Wish me luck! If you need to get in touch...call my cell.

*Not raising the hammer, biatches, this week*
poker blog

Off to AC for WSOP events

2005-11-23T13:16:00.000-05:00

JG and I will be heading to Atlantic City on Sunday to play in some WSOP circuit events. This will be my first foray into big time poker. JG on the other hand has played in a number of events already, including the main event. JG recently came in the money and won a nice 5 figure sum.
I've been rereading all Doyle's, Caro's and Skalansky's books to prep myself. I've been playing online too...with mixed results. I need to be able to look at a guy.
Tournaments are not really my strong point, I am more a cash game guy. I don't have the patience in the early rounds. If I survive early, I normally always do very well late.
JG is a very patient player, which is why he does well in tourney play.
I'm selling pieces of myself...20% is sold... and I am only giving away 50% max. Wish me luck and feel free to send any advice my way!

Raleigh Meet up Group

2005-11-15T19:17:00.000-05:00

I've started a Raleigh Poker Meet Up group. Its a buck to join...sorry suckers...they charge me $12/mo just to host it.
http://poker.meetup.com/889/

Tournament this Saturday?

2005-10-26T17:48:00.000-05:00

Thinking about holding a tournament this Saturday. Usual structure, etc. If you are interested...let me know!

Raise the hammer, biatches.
poker blog

Finally a New Post

2005-10-26T17:22:00.000-05:00

Let's catch up on the local poker scene.
1) Good friend Jason G. made the final table at a WSOP event last week. Congrats! Jason is back out there again for this weekend's tourneys...keep a good thought for him. Wish I was with him!
2) Greg Raymer (yes, that Grey Raymer) recently bought a house in Wakefield. Greg is a terrific champ, and from everything I have read about him...a terrific guy as well. Hopefully, we'll see him in some of the local games. Greg, if you read this, shoot me an email and I'd be happy to show you around town!
3) Charles aka Shield, has a bum leg. That's what he gets for kneeling down in the stalls at the Greyhound bus terminals trying to earn enough for his next stake. I'm sure the leg was bothering him last Sunday when he busted out first at a tourney at one of the local poker rooms. (me? I won, but more on that at a later post)

Raise the hammer, biatches.
poker, online poker blog

Football Sunday

2005-09-20T12:37:00.000-05:00

Tony F, BOTO (Boss Of The Oaks), Fitz, Teddy
Ruxpin and myself all road tripped to Charlotte this weekend to watch the Panthers vs. Patriots.
Good game, lotta action, a near fight and plenty of drinking...all in all an excellent weekend.
My prediction was 27-20 Panthers. (You can view that prediction at BOTO's blog www.sportsknowitall.blogspot.com)

No New Table Curse

2005-09-19T11:36:00.000-05:00

After getting slaughtered in Charles' Thursday game, I needed to get back on track so we broke in the new table this weekend with a small (6 person) tournament. (where the hell were all the rest?) $60 buy in and rebuys for the first hour. We had 11 total buy-ins so decent sized pot. ( you do the math)
With everyone playing quite recklessly trying to build up a big chipstack, it was the wild west... some best hands holding up til the river, the most not. Close to the end of the rebuy period, I look down and see A,A. The flop comes Q, Q, 7. I bet, get called. 4th street comes blank. I bet out and get called. 5th street sees the 3rd Q come out and I go all in. The other guy calls and sure enough he holds the case Q. Oh well, he called a preflop raise holding Q,10 offsuit. I reload.
Good thing, because when the first hour finished, everyone tightened up.
The first person to get knocked out was Charles. I had mid pair on the flop, got a free card on 4th street and hit trips on 5th. He pushed it all in and I called. Good for me.
I proceeded to methodically knock out the rest of the table, until only Dwayne and I were left. My last money finish, at this series of tournaments, we had been heads up and he knocked me out, so I was looking for some payback (literally).
After pushing some chips back and forth, with my big stack steadily growing larger he pushed all in with A,5 unfortunately for him, I was holding A,10 and called. He didn't get lucky and I took down the pot.
It felt good to be back on top. My record in my tournaments 3 firsts, 2 seconds, 1 third. Not a bad run. I've been lucky.
Raise the hammer, biatches.
poker, online poker blog

2005-09-14T17:54:00.000-05:00

Compassionate Conservatives at Work

2005-09-10T23:44:00.000-05:00

Another pic. I know its crappy...I can't find the digicamera, so I had to use the cell phone. Tournament next Saturday so raise the hammer, bitches.

2005-09-10T23:43:00.000-05:00

The Newest Table: This one is it! That white strip? Thats rope lighting, my friends.

9 in a row

2005-09-03T00:17:00.000-05:00

6. Six heads-up SNG's in a row I've won on PokerStars. I really didn't want to play long...just get the poker monkey off my back for a while. But when I won, I just couldn't let it go...I said I would ride the streak as long as it lasted and stop when I lost...well, make that 7 in a row, because I just won another. He's got 800 in chips, I have 2200, with blinds at 10-20, I make it 100 to go holding A, Qo. He puts all his chips in, I call. He's holding K-9o. I guess he was late for a date. Q comes on the flop and he gets no help. I'm playing $20-$200 tables. NO rhyme or reason, just trolling for some of my regular fish...where they swim, I put the line in. 8 is starting up any second. It started well, holding 8-5o, the flop comes 5,5, 2. He bets the pot, I call. 10 comes on 4th street, 2 comes on 5th to give me the boat. He is down to 800 in chips. After losing a few small pots he now has 1100 in chips. I hold A,A and he is betting into me but folds when I bet the minimum on 4th street. Down to 500 in chips, I hold 9-6o and limp in. Flop comes 9, 4,2 rainbow. He bets half hi stack...I raise him all in. He holds J,4. No help and thats 8 in a row. I'm up $600+ in just under 2 hours. And waiting for another to start. I start off with 2,2 and he folds to my 3x bet. He likes to play fast so I am taking my time and annoying him with small pauses.20 seconds per. It is frustrating him...so the two fold benefit is I get to blog and throw him off his game. It works he goes all in on a stone cold bluff and I hold top two pair. Unfortunately, he bluffed me earlier and has a 800 chip lead; so he is still playing. He is going all in every hand. I'll wait til I get a hand to call. I have A,3heart..he has k,9 off and hits a 9 on 5th street...sigh. 2000-1000 now. He goes all in with top pair, and I have 4 cards for the nut flush. I call and hit 2 more spades lol. That's 9!!OK...wish me luck. Not bad luck! I limped in with 2-3o. Flop comes J,J,2. Bet, raise, reraise, all in. He holds Q,2. No over card comes and I lose. Oh well...good run!

Raise the hammer, biatches.

2005-08-26T14:37:00.000-05:00

Bianca & Jud's Table: Their First: cool NCSU Logo

Bonus Code Iggy

2005-08-24T15:38:00.000-05:00

Gave Iggy some love. If you haven’t read his blog…you are a moron.

2005-08-23T14:03:00.000-05:00

Even God Loves 7,2 offsuit

All Gambling All The Time....Even in the Shitter

2005-08-02T09:39:00.000-05:00

Mobile Gambling Devices May Get to Casinos
By ELIZABETH WHITE, Associated Press WriterTue Aug 2,12:50 AM ET
It won't be long before gamblers are shooting dice while queued up waiting to see their favorite comedian. Or playing poker and roulette under a poolside umbrella. Even a trip to the buffet will no longer keep casino patrons from playing slots. A law signed last month by Gov. Kenny Guinn made Nevada the first U.S. state to approve the use of wireless, handheld gambling devices at its hotel-casinos.
It's a small step forward for casino companies aching to offer Internet-based gambling who are watching offshore competitors reap huge profits from a business that federal law bars them from entering,
"I think every major casino company wants to get into online gaming but without access to the U.S. market it becomes a costly venture," said Deutsche Bank gambling analyst Marc Falcone
The gadgets, Falcone said, are the "first step in a long process."
The restrictions, for one, are plenty:
Under the law, the devices can be used only in public areas of casinos that have 100 or more slot machines and that offer at least one other gambling game. The devices would be barred from hotel rooms and other private areas.
And they won't be available overnight.
Dennis Neilander, the State Gaming Control Board chairman, says it will be several months to a year before regulators set rules for using the handhelds.
One force behind the bill is Cantor Fitzgerald LP, the New York-based financial services company that suffered mightily in the 2001 attacks and is seeking to retreat for the gambling industry the technology that powers its interactive bond-trading.
Another backer was Louisiana-based Diamond I Inc., which has developed its own device.
"The tech-savvy generation, the late baby boomers and the next generation all grew up with a Nintendo in their hands. Everyone has a PDA," said David Loflin, president of Diamond I Inc. "This is an extension of that."
The world's No. 1 slot machine maker, Reno-based International Game Technology, also pushed for legalizing the wireless gambling.
"Nevada is the first state to have a bill to allow this. Once Nevada does it, you'll see the New Jerseys and the Mississippis do the same thing," Loflin predicted.
Cantor Fitzgerald's prototype device isn't much bigger than a checkbook, can slip easily into a coat pocket, and is already used in Britain for sports betting.
Falcone doesn't expect the devices to account for any serious revenue or be a significant driver of growth. And besides, state regulators won't approve them until they're persuaded that they can be effectively monitored.
Cantor Fitzgerald says that won't be a problem.
Its wireless device uses a form of encryption to ensure security, said Joe Asher, managing director of Cantor G&W.
Asher would not disclose details about the encryption method, and said a biometric system that reads a permitted user's fingerprint could also be used if regulators prefer.
The wireless devices would be linked to a server that could verify the gambler is the person who checked out one of the devices at a casino.
Asher says the devices could be set to stop working in non-authorized areas, and players could establish limits in advance by depositing money in an account.
High losses in a short period could cause the device to shut down — keeping problem gamblers from going too far in the hole.
"Security is a big deal and we are very familiar with it because we operate in that world today," Asher said.
While Cantor Fitzgerald may see lucre in wireless gambling, the lone state legislator to vote against the bill sees nothing but headaches and lost income for people like her.
Sen. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, a waitress at the coffee shop at Treasure Island resort in Las Vegas, says it's bad enough that the state has allowed Keno to be played away from the casino floor.
"There needs to be places where there aren't two and three gaming devices at your disposal," she said. "It's hard enough to get somebody's order when they're trying to fill out a Keno slip. All I need to find out from them is how they like their eggs and what kind of toast they want."
And what about enforcing rules for who can use the devices and where, asks Carlton.
"What's going to be my responsibility?" she wonders. "Am I going to be obligated to turn someone in if I see them hand it to their kid?"
___
On the Net:
http://www.cantor.com
http://www.diamonditech.com

Raise the hammer, bitches.

Still Smarter than Players on Party Poker

2005-07-25T10:38:00.000-05:00

An Italian couple stole 50,000 euros from a woman in the Sicilian city of Palermo after convincing her they were vampires who would impregnate her with the son of the Anti-Christ if she did not pay them.
The man, a cabaret singer, and his girlfriend took the money from their victim over four years by selling her pills at 3,000 euros each that they said would abort the Anti-Christ's son.
Police uncovered the fraud after the 47-year-old woman's family became concerned when they discovered she had spent all her savings, local news agencies AGI and ANSA reported.

From Yahoo News

Remember to tip your waitress and raise the hammer.

Remiss for a miss

2005-07-25T09:02:00.000-05:00

I'd be remiss in not mentioning Da' Pistol making an appearance on Friday. I didn't get a chance to play with her;which I am sure Da' GrillMeister-MeisterBurger(what?too early for Xmas cartoon references?) is grateful for. From what I hear, she played well.

Bio Feedback and Poker

2005-07-25T08:45:00.000-05:00

This weekend was chock full of poker for yours truly; 5 tournaments and a ring game. Too bad I was the Kansas City Royals of poker players. I played poorly, made many errors, over played many hands, and when I did manage to play a hand properly, it would get beat anyway. Having said that, I did win one tournament and had a nice little run at the cash game, and ended just a touch ahead. I made almost as much an 8 year old factory worker in a Bangladesh sweatshop would have in the same amount of time.

I love playing tournaments, but I’m just not worth a damn at it… cash games have always been +++EV for Big Slick. After some prompting from some friends, I am committed to improving my tourney play. One of the parts of my game I consider a real weakness is my poker face…and of course, you realize when I say ‘poker face’ I mean the whole (excuse the pun) body of tells. Although if you ask them, I am pretty inscrutable.
So how do you improve your body’s ‘neutrality’ or even give visual misinformation? Quantifying that is problematic! So one of the measures I am taking is investing in a blood pressure monitor/watch. That way I can get hard data on how my body reacts in different situations….call it bio feedback for poker. It’s certainly not a complete fix, but it’s a step forward; a scientific approach to poker tells. Or so I hope.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

Oh yes, one last thing; I raise with the hammer, flop comes 7, 2,2. I crack aces. That’s how you play the hammer! Tough break Teddy Ruxpin.
Congrats to Bianca, two wins this weekend and to her lesser half Z. Cavaricci for really stepping up his game. JG won the night cap tourney.

How Many People Actually Come Out Ahead Online

2005-07-19T12:27:00.000-05:00

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lovinger/050719&num=2

Excerpt from this article…

Since there are very few, if any, reliable studies available that demonstrate the percentage of winners -- and big winners -- from among the tens of millions who play the game, you are probably wondering how I "know" this. Well, as it turns out, there is one group that can -- and does -- track this kind of stat, though they are not about to publicize the results. That group consists of online poker site management, two members of which revealed to me at the WSOP that what intuition suggests must be true -- only 8 and 7 percent, respectively, of all players on their sites finish the year in the black. And I'm not talking about deep in the black, either. The vast majority of those winners are not about to give up their day jobs.

I would have thought the numbers would have been roughly even, like a bookie. Half the people win, half of them lose...of course bookies get a vig and poker rooms get the rake. So let's take that into consideration and and say with a 10% rake the winners to loser ratio is 60-40. So either the winnerw are up huge, or I am missing something.

Taken from www.cardplayer.com

2005-07-07T16:19:00.000-05:00

Tough beat

Date / Time:
2005-07-07 13:44:00
Title:
Jennifer Harman Eliminated
Log:
Jennifer Harman, who was seated at the table on the ESPN stage, has been eliminated from this year's main event. She had taken an unbelievable hit in round one, when she flopped a set of queens against an opponent's straight, and she turned a full house on the same card that made her opponent a straight flush.

That might win the bad beat pot!

WSOP Fever

2005-07-07T15:34:00.000-05:00

My good friend LLJG is at the WSOP. Kick ass JG and win the whole goddamn thing…I need someone to bankroll me!

2005-06-30T22:25:00.000-05:00

Poker Table for Sale: Make an Offer; Stupid Offers will be made fun of!

2005-06-29T10:56:00.000-05:00

This is the poker table used at the last tournament. Its roughly 7' long and 31/2' wide with black speedcloth center, black diamond tiles inset in racetrack and cupholders. The railing is hi density railing foam covered in black vinyl.

Plaza Poker Challenge

2005-06-27T11:29:00.000-05:00

I think that's what it's called. I watched it last night and while I am not a Phil Hellmuth fan, (just shut the fuck already...when you whine you are usually beat anyway...and we all see it on TV) he did an admirable job as the color analyst. The players themselves were a pretty sorry lot. And I know this won't improve Big Slick's image...but I don't like to watch co-ed poker. That Renee chick with the shiny red hair...ickk. I have no problem, and in fact really enjoy the ladies events. They play fast and well. The men could take a page from the women when it comes to pace of play.
Its when the men and women play together...that's what I don't like....I don't really know why. I don't know why Nicole Ritchie disturbs me either, so I just avoid her.
Speaking of men and women playing together...I want to thank GI Jane for the FFFM in advance. Friday is my birthdate and that's her present to me. Not a bad way to go, I must admit =)

Poker Table 2

2005-06-27T11:26:00.000-05:00

I'm looking for feedback on the table I built (Big Slick II). No issues I think with how it played and it seemed to be the right size for 8 and I think 10 would be fine as well. The first one was a monster, the Hummer of poker tables, this one is more of a Navigator.
There are one or two small changes I might make...so I am looking to sell this one, too.
$400 if I don't like you, $325 if I do. I'll have pics tonight. I forgot to take some during the tournament! Doh!

Results of the Tournament

2005-06-27T11:15:00.000-05:00

Well, it was no WSOP or WPT, in fact it was the lowest turnout ever (only 8 players!) but we made a rule change and allowed rebuys the first two rounds and had $800 in play.
A friend of JG's won; Dwayne.
He went heads up with yours truly. I started with a massive 4-1 chip advantage. Unfortunately, twice in dominating positions, with Dwayne all in... my hands refused to hold up and Dwayne took the lead. In two consecutive hands he then flopped trips, I smelled out the first one, but in the second, with 3 clubs on the board on 4th street and the A clubs in my hand, I decided to make a move and was called. No help for Big Slick on 5th street and I bust.
Congrats to Dwayne who played well all day and was the only person not to rebuy.

Since JG will be headin off soon for WSOP, I was trying to give him feedback, not on his game...but on anything I was picking up off him. I hope it helps him take the bracelet.

Nasty came in third. After not making the money in the first 5 tourneys, he has now gotten paid in the last two. Congrats to him.

Big Slick's record...a decent 2 wins, 2 2nds, and a third. 5 out of 7 times in the $$. I can't argue with that.

Poker Tournament this Saturday 1:00

2005-06-22T13:21:00.000-05:00

It’s that time again!!! As many of you know….the old table was purchased by J.G. and a new one is being built and its time to christen it right! As usual, RSVP as soon as you can!! Also, I'd like to get feedback on format and rules...any suggestions... be sure to let me know.

Official Rules:

The Game:
No Limit Texas Hold 'em

The Time:
1:00pm Saturday, June 25th

Buy In:
$50 +$5 (for beer, snacks, maybe a surprise appearance, etc) = $1500 in chips

Payout:
100% of buyin will be paid out
Payout will be based on total # of players.

Betting
Check and raise is allowed.
The minimum bet is equal to the size of the big blind.
The raise must always be at least the size of the previous bet orraise.
3 raise limit
Any player can bet all of their chips at anytime (ALL-IN).
When only two players are left sitting at the table, the BB is dealtto first, the button acts first before the flop, and the BB acts firstafter the flop.
Do not splash the pot. Stack your bets in front of you and push theminto the post after the betting round is complete. This will eliminatesome confusion that may occur with no limit betting.
Do not bet, check, call, fold, or raise out of turn.
Any vocalized intent is binding. Ex. If you declare that you are calling you cannot then raise. Or, if you say raise $20 and the minimum raise is $50 you will have been deemed to have meant raise $50.
The cards speak for themselves.
If there is any confusion on any rule the Tournament Director (me!) shall have final say unless I am the one involved. In which case, it will be put to the table for a determination.
THE DEAL
Seat positions will be decided by a random draw of players names.
The player to the right of the dealer must cut the deck before thecards are dealt.
The dealer is responsible for making sure that all bets have beencalled before dealing each round of card(s).
Mucked cards cannot be retrieved from the pile.
If a card is exposed during the deal, the deal is declared a misdealand the hand is re-dealt. The button does not move.
If a burn card or a mucked card is exposed, the card is made availableto the table. The hand is not re-dealt.
If a community card is exposed prior to the action being completed,the card remains as is. It will not be burned.
If there was a bet or raise on the end, the person who made that lastbet or raise shows his/her cards first. If it’s checked around, the firstperson to act (left of dealer) shows first.
SCHEDULE FOR BLINDS: $1000/chips
Time
SB
BB
Ante
30 minutes
$25
$50
$0
30 minutes
$50
$100
$0
30 minutes
$100
$200
$0
30 minutes
$200
$400
$0
30 minutes
$300
$600
$100

There will be a 10 minute break every 90 minutes. Anyone not at their seat for any reason will be have their blind automatically posted and will automatically fold their hand when they are in position to act.
When down to 5 players, the blinds will be raised every time a player is eliminated.
OTHER
Agreements can be made between players at anytime to split the payout.
If two players tie for the high hand, the pot is split. If thereis a split pot, not equally divisible by the number of players inthe hand, the “extra” chips will be awarded to the playerclosest to the left of the button.
If two players get eliminated in the same hand, the person who startedthe hand with the most chips gets the higher finish and awarded thecorresponding prize pool for that placement.

Saved by a cellphone

2005-06-21T08:40:00.000-05:00

My twelve step program has been a mixed success. I have not played a hand of poker, either online or offline nor have I watched any poker on TV. OK…well, it happened to be on as I turned the TV on and watched 3 seconds of it til my steel will kicked in and I turned it off.
However, I have been craving it. In fact, I would have played on Friday in a new game. It’s a weekly game held by one of the guys, “Foosball” from my Wednesday game I had even called for directions and was getting ready to go when a friend of mine dropped by out of the blue. She had a bad week and wanted a drink and to blow off a little steam with her good friend (ok fuck buddy) Big Slick. Afterwards, we were relaxing, and my mind was calculating ways to get her out of the house so I could skip over to the game.
Then her cellphone rang, and I thought would give me the chance I needed, so I hopped in the shower (no need for poker players to smell fish) and when I came out, she said she had a surprise…her friend had had a long day and also needed to blow off some steam…Well, even an addict has his limits and its been a few weeks since I’ve had two chicks blowing off my steam…so…I was in for the night.
I know I’ll hear the siren song of the cards again…soon…and I don’t think I’ll get saved by the bell again. (then again, that would be good, too!)

Why I'm Better Than Jeff

2005-06-17T15:15:00.000-05:00

***Guest Editorial*** by LL J.G. (Ladies Love JG)
Big Slick has been asking me to write a guest post to his blog ever since I won the WSOP seat, but given that I’m lazy and not a very eloquent writer, I’ve been putting it off. Plus I’d rather be playing some donkeys heads up on Pacific Poker during my free time. Big Slick wasn’t lying when he said that place is a gold mine – winning at least 7 out of 10 heads up matches is quick and easy. Anyway, so I finally broke down and decided to write something about winning the seat and my plans for then event. To win the event I spent $100+10 and beat out 221 other hopefuls – I got lucky when I needed to, and I put the hammer down when I developed a huge chip lead at the final table. The way those tournaments are set up with blinds going up every 10 minutes, you really have to get some cards quickly to have a chance – and fortunately I did. Plus with my girlfriend on IM the whole time promising me certain favors if I finished in the top 10, top 2, and winning the whole thing, I was especially motivated – hey if a trip to Vegas and the possibility of millions of dollars doesn’t work for me, other things will.

So I go out with some friends that night to celebrate, and I immediately get advice for the WSOP from everywhere I turn. One guy says be conservative the first day and never go all-in, not even with pocket aces pre-flop. Another guy says I should go all-in the first hand no matter what to establish that I’m the bully at the table. Yeah real smart genius, risk the whole tournament to win $75 worth of blinds. Everyone wants to put in their two cents, which is cool, but I really have no idea how I’m going to play – it all depends on the situation. The only thing I do know is that I have to come up with some sort of gimmick, and I think I’ve figured it out – face paint. Actually not only face paint, but legendary WWF wrestler face paint.

I figure that’s one good way to be noticed when you’re a nobody among a few pros and 6000 other crackers. Of course if I do really well, maybe I can sell some forehead tattoo adspace. Hey maybe I can have raisethehammer.com on there – how’s that for on-line marketing?

But anyway, with so many players, the only thing I can really do is play well. If I get busted early by a bad beat, shit happens, and I still won a free trip to Vegas to watch the event. If I get lucky and make the final table, everyone’s invited to come out and be my cheering section, and holy crap I’ll be a millionaire. But I have no expectations – except enjoying Vegas, and of course busting open Phil Helmuth’s nose if I see him.

JG

12 Step Program for Poker Players

2005-06-14T15:30:00.000-05:00

I am a poker addict and here is my confession and submission to the 12 step program.

1) I admit that I am powerless over my addiction to drawing to inside straights - that our hands had become –EV.

2) Came to believe that a River greater than myself could restore my bankroll.

3)Made a decision to turn our chips and our decks over to the care of Odds as we understood the Odds.

4) Made a searching and fearless check raise when holding the nuts.

5) Confessed that we were bluffing, to ourselves and to another human being.

6) Were entirely ready to have Odds remove all these defects of play.

7) Humbly asked Odds to remove our bad play.

8) Made a list of all fish we had harmed, and became willing to accept busting them.

9) Made bets to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would get them to fold prematurely.

10) Continued to take personal inventory of my tells.

11) Sought through prayer and animal sacrifice to improve our knowledge of the Odds as we understood the Odds, praying only for knowledge of the river.

12) Having had a spiritual awakening and having read all of Texas Dolly’s books, we try to bust others, and to practice these principles in all poker games.

Why I Suck: Pride, Ego

2005-06-06T10:13:00.000-05:00

Sometime the cards run cold, sometimes you play like shit….I’m doing both. My play has sickened me and I am simply too ashamed to post much about it. I had won 7 $50 or $100 heads up NLHE, in a row and 9 of 11 at Pacific Poker prior to this crash of epic proportions.
I suck online, I suck offline.
I think I know why. I’m play like a robot.
I want to show people how smart I am, and that I should have won with my starting hand…that my best were spot on…rather than listening to my instincts and actually winning money. I’m not sure where this is coming from. I think my lack of playing in tough games is actually hurting me….forcing me to be my best. Instead I am playing in a game with really poor players and that’s encouraged me to show my ‘superiority’ over them. Stupid me.
I’m taking a hiatus from playing, or even watching poker on TV. I won’t think about it til I can, in the immortal words of The Captain, “get my mind right”.

A good buddy of mine has a blog …well…that might be going a bit too far...its more of a proto-blog, check it out and ridicule him.

Runaway Bride continues

2005-05-25T12:14:00.000-05:00

I won’t bore you with the inanity of my play lately. But good news! The saga that is the Runaway bride continues. By the way, fuck you JG.

Main Event Winner

2005-05-23T09:47:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to my good friend LL J.G. (Ladies Love J G) for winning a $100+10 tournament on Pacific Poker and winning a seat at the WSOP Main Event (plus 4K in spending money). I am really jealous. I’ve won two seats in satellite events, but haven’t even come close in a main event tournament (not that I have played too many). And now, my stupid bank won’t allow deposits into poker sites.
I feel a sick day coming on and playing tourneys all day to join my friend!

Update:
Yes, this is the same JG who knocked me out two tournaments ago, and yes I knocked him out at the last tournament on the way to the win. Yes, I am still bitter.

Turd Wars

2005-05-20T12:55:00.000-05:00

No I haven’t seen the final turd of a movie that is Star Wars. These people haven't changed my mind either.

Update:
Damn fine movie. While the acting is so wooden that termites are lining up to get at this film, the effects are stunning and Natalie Portman is hotter than ever.

Nate's Tournament

2005-05-16T12:45:00.000-05:00

This Saturday I played in a NLHE tourney (18 people$50 buy in). I broke the cardinal rule of tournament play, I got aggressive early against a player I had never played before and with a player I know…let’s be honest…who sucks.
With a A,2 suited I came in and the flop comes A, J, 4 rainbow. I am last to act and make a 3x raise which gets called by both. “Uh oh” is what comes to mind. I think I am out kicked but maybe I can steal it. 4th street comes and it’s a Q. Again a small bet comes my way and I raise the pot. Both called.
OK so whatever comes on 5th I have to get out and sure enough its no help…it’s a 10. Board A,J,Q,10,4.
A smallish bet comes to me and I fold.
They both turn over. Neither has either a King or an Ace. Jack, 8 wins. This was my day. I played 3 hand in 6 orbits, and went out in 11th position as the blinds ate me up.
Fortunately, the ring game afterwards went much better. Omaha 8 can be an easy jackpot against players who aren’t strong on the pot odds.
I was home by 9pm with enough money in pocket for a hooker and a bottle of Blanton’s. ( I didn’t partake of either FYI).

Thanks to Nate for putting on a great tournament.

More Runaway Bride

2005-05-16T12:24:00.000-05:00

Other less talented people have devised a Runaway Bride Hot Sauce and a doll…my idea still rocks, though. http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2005/05/14/1039873-ap.html

The Runaway Bride

2005-05-10T11:55:00.000-05:00

I think I have a million dollar idea. I just need some suckers...errr... investors. We have to strike while the iron is hot, though. If you aren’t prepared to invest 5 figures for this idea...please read no farther.
Runaway Bride Collector’s Plates. That’s right. Imagine the first plate depicting a sobbing fiancé with the Runaway Bride in the background laughing her ass off. Imagine the fine details such as glistening tears dusted with sparkles and the Runaway bride’s eyes done with genuine googly eyes!
You can cancel at any time if you are dissatisfied, but you’ll miss out on plate #2 featuring the Runaway Bride, with freshly shorn hair, riding a Greyhound bus, asleep like a little angel…her head resting against the shoulder of the bum sitting next to her…a long string of droll running from her mouth and pooling on her chest.
Plate #3 features the Runaway Bride trying to make enough money to make a furtive call back home to beautiful Duluth, Georgia (why anyone would runaway from there I have no idea!). Fine hand etching shows the Runaway Bride turning tricks in a back alley in Vegas; harsh neon lighting casting stark shadows down the length of the….alley. Finally the series culminates with the final plate. Plate #4 features the Runaway Bride hunched over a pay phone in the parking lot of a 7-11, a smudge of dirt on her cheeks and a tear in her tube top calling 911 to report her kidnapping and a worried Pakistani clerk offering her a bit of beef jerky til the police arrive.
Imagine how proud you’ll be displaying these in you living room or den.

That’s my idea. It’s a fortune maker. God knows I suck at poker these days.

Events You’d Never Want to Participate in: Strip Poker, The Bloggers’ Event

2005-05-03T11:37:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you get nostalgic for the innocence of your youth; when the world seemed magical, touching a woman's breast seemed unattainable and the lure of free beer undeniable.
Then you remember that you can hop on a plane to Vegas, getting plastered on the way, snort coke off the ass of an ex-Playboy-centerfold-turned-escort, and stay up way past 11pm and the world has meaning again.
This weekend finds a very exclusive event at Casa de Surgesilk, the NoLimit Strip Poker Invitational. The ratio of men to women is about right (me and 5 young ladies), but always looking for more players...of the right gender that is. What started off as a challenge thrown down by me to a 'friend' of mine, now has the possibility of being a bacchanal of Old Testament proportions. I have to admit, I'll have to change my betting strategy and be aggressive early on. But I am concerned about my concentration once someone gets...err....short stacked.
OK, I made that all up... ahhh youth.

Interview with Gambling.com

2005-04-29T10:30:00.000-05:00

In my real job, I work for an interactive ad agency and one of my many functions is to keep abreast of what's what with the search engines. Here is an interview I did with Tim Rosenberg, Marketing Director of Gambling. com. Enjoy...or just skip it and wait for lurid tales of bad beats... both at the poker table and in the bedroom.

1) Tim, Thank you for agreeing to join us today. Can you share with our readers the history of Gambling.com?
Tim: The Gambling.com portal was launched in 1997 as one of the very first e-gaming sites. Gambling.com has never been an ‘operator’, but is positioned as a gateway to help people access casino and sports book sites.
Gambling.com has a very loyal membership.

2) How does Gambling.com work?
Tim: The new look Gambling.com search function allows visitors to search for gambling related web sites by simply typing in the keyword that best describes what they are looking for, e.g., ‘Poker’ or ‘Online Casino’. As a gambling.com member, they can access exclusive tournaments, games and collect ‘Ludos’, the Gambling.com virtual currency. Ludos can be used at participating advertisers’ sites for their products and services.

3) What is the revenue model for Gambling.com? Revenues for 2004? Projected for 2005?
Tim: Gambling.com generates revenues by virtue of sending good quality players to our sponsors’ sites, a PPC model. I hope you will appreciate I cannot provide you with confidential figures such as revenues etc..

4) How many searches are performed monthly?
Tim: Approx 350,000

5) Why should someone doing a gaming related search use Gambling.com versus Google, Yahoo or another traditional search engine?
Tim: 2 reasons
1) As the Gambling.com listings are editorially approved by ‘real people’ as opposed to web crawlers/spiders, as such this policy ensures that you will receive the most accurate/relevant results for your particular search. Our editors weed out the ‘fluff’ and help ensure a better search experience.
2) Due to the uncertain legislative situation in the USA, Google and Yahoo no longer accept sponsored listings from casino/sportsbook operators.

6) What are the demographics for users of Gambling.com? Are you finding that visitors are already have experience in the gaming industry or are they relatively new to gaming?
Tim: We receive a very wide range of visitors from the very experienced ‘gambler’ to people who are trying things for the first time. Gender-wise, our users are slightly skewed towards men. They primarily are doing searches for poker, sportsbook and blackjack related terms. Female searchers are typically searching for bingo and lottery related information.

7) What was the impetus for transforming Gambling.com into a search engine?
Tim: ‘Search’ drives the vast majority of visits to all sites on the internet, we do not see any reason why that should not be the same for a specific market like gaming.

8) Has the huge growth in poker on TV affected your business? How so?
Tim: The growth interest in poker as well as the likes of bingo etc. has had a positive effect in driving people online in search of gaming sites.

9) What direction do you see Gambling.com taking in the future?
Tim: We have lots of ideas and plans for the coming 12 months…watch this space. For instance, we are speaking with a few quality third parts sites about delivering advertising on their sites; much like Google does.

10) What role do you think niche, or industry specific search engines will have in the search industry?
Tim: We believe that niche specific search engines will provide more accurate/relevant/targeted results. We are focused on generating good quality traffic for our advertisers.

11) What unique challenges does Gambling.com face as compared to a traditional SE?
Tim: Very specialized – but thus a very targeted/premium visitor. Plus we are looking at ways to brand Gambling.com.

12) As a human edited SE, that must be very time consuming for all involved. How long does it normally take be included?
Tim: We aim to approve all listings within 3 working days. Currently we pretty much approve everything within 24-48 hours.

Winner

2005-04-23T16:26:00.000-05:00

Another successful tournament (NLHE). A smaller field than usual, 12 players, but we did have someone break the gender barrier. Props to Ms. Lee Majors for joining us.She finished in the middle of the pack; quite respectable. She made a nice move and tripled up when short suited and got two callers, me included. Her A, 5 found a 5 to beat my A,9, but I got the sidepot when Fletch's K,J couldn't find a match.
The winner was....me! Yeah. I knocked out over half of the players in the game and won heads up against my brother when on the button, he raised me, I pushed all in with A, Jo against his K,4. Flop come Q,10, 2. Turn is a blank and the river is a K, giving me the straight.
4 new faces, which is a good thing since many of our usual players were off at a bachelor party.
The first victim of the night was Shield. I cracked his A,A with K,Q. After his preflop raise, I call. When the board came with a king, I bet it and he raised about half my stack. Decision time. I put him on A,K but thought maybe he had a mid pair and was trying to semi-bluff me. I make the call with great reservations about the wisdom of the call. 4th street gave me the Q. I put him all in and he calls. My 2 pair holds up and Shield has an early exit. He is really a great guy and is invaluable in helping me set things up and running the show. But it's still sweet to knock his ass out!

Poker Shirt

2005-04-21T08:56:00.000-05:00

The Poker Geek has designed a shirt to celebrate all the ‘poker players’ on Party. If you want to purchase one of these fine shirts go visit his site and let him know!
The shirt is available for $18 plus a buck for shipping. Sizes are M-3XL, add 2 dollars for 2-3XL.

Home Poker Tournament

2005-04-20T11:56:00.000-05:00

The Game:
Texas Hold 'em

The Time:
1:00pm Saturday, April 23rd

Buy In:
$50 +$5 (for beer, snacks, maybe a surprise appearance, etc) = $1000 in chips

Payout:
100% of buyin will be paid out
Payout will be based on total # of players.

RSVP: ASAP

You Win Some

2005-04-19T21:48:00.000-05:00

At my fave local underground poker club (here in the Bible Belt we don't have easy access to casinos/card rooms like you lucky bastards in L.A. or Philly/NYC...no one is going to call someone who lives in Mississippi lucky, though) I had a nice little night.
It was one of those nights where the table had pleasant, amiable, knowledgeable (but not too much so !) feel to it and there was an obvious fish at the table (unfortunately he was a poor fish so we could only suck so much out of him) for everyone and a not so obvious fish (that I observed) just for me.
I was feeling good, my friend Joe Bob (the asian redneck) was at another table winning, my MP3 player was cranking out the tunes to sharpen me mentally and I was taking a few small pots early, showing my cards to the table setting myself up as a strong/tight player.
I was in a pot with the guy sitting across from me (wearing a No Limit Holdem Poker hat, btw) who had reflective sunglasses sitting on the brim of his hat and when he bent his head down to look at his cards, you could get a quick, if none too clear, look at his cards. Well, as soon as I noticed, I told him he better protect his cards better....that I could see his cards. He thanked me (and folded), the table gave me props and I was set for the night as a good guy (which I am...mainly....mostly...usually).
3 hours later I am up 135 BB and I call it an early night.
It's time to play; what would you do?
I hold 7,7 in an early position. The blinds are $1/2. I raise to $12 ($6 in the pot already). I get two callers. Board comes 5,5,6. Pretty damn good for me I think. I lead out $25 and get one caller. Now this caller is the fish I mentioned earlier. He has gone into his pocket twice already. He could have any two cards in his hand. I put him on A,6 suited. Turn card is another 6 board is 5,5,6,6. I am pretty sure I am beat now, and I say it to the table. I check he bets $60 and the pot is roughly $90. I have about $120 in front of me, I am up on the night. If I call I am obviously committed on 5th Street. What do you do?
After taking a hard look at him, I'm not sure he holds a 5 or 6. I make the crying call. The river is a 2. No way he could have been holding 4,3 right?
I check, he pushes me all-in. Being pot committed I call.
Can you tell me what he was holding?
A,3o. I kid you not.
You hear it said over and over again....don't assume your opponent would play a hand the same way you would. You have to play the odds...yes. But, as Texas Dolly should have taught us, you play the player, too.
And that is what No Limit is all about.

2005-04-19T21:47:00.000-05:00

My Next Mrs. Ex-

2005-04-19T21:45:00.000-05:00

Mardi Gras: Pre? Bacardi Party

You Lose Some

2005-04-19T21:21:00.000-05:00

Well the fish at my low buy in game ate me alive. I am not sure I won a hand. And I lost...alot. Well, comparatively. It's just so bad its really not worth even mentioning...It's one of those nights you erase from the memory bank. However, I have a soul sucking blog and must post my shame. In terms of sheer stupid play, poor money management, and being on tilt more than the axis of Mercury, I cannot recall a worse night. Thank god and pass the Blanton 's.

To Play Crap, or Not to Play Crap

2005-04-11T18:07:00.000-05:00

It's ok. Really. Call it 'varying your play', having 'gamble' or just want to goddamn play, sometimes you just want to see a flop. You limp in, someone raises 5x the BB and you call...with crap. Why? Well, I just wanted the action...seriously. Flop comes 9,6,5 rainbow. I bet the pot. He pushes all in. I call. If you were him and that flop comes...what would you have have done with K,K? Would you have gone all in? Or, maybe.... would you think that with my call, I had a small pocket pair? I did lead out after his pre-flop raise. Reasonable. Or, do you think I am bluffing at it?
I called his 5x BB raise with 8,7o. I know...I suck...I am huge -EV to play that hand often/ever. I take down a $500 pot and I spot him $200 to play.
But kharma sucks....a few hands later, I limp in with Q,6o. Flop comes A,Q,6. He checks, I bet $40, he(same guy) goes all in for $185. I call. Can you put him on a hand? If you put him on A,A or Q,Q you are wrong. A,Q. next card A. I am drawing dead.
That my friends is why playing shit cards can lead to huge variance.

(oh I should tell you before you think I totally suck, we were playing 3 handed)

My slacking

2005-04-10T16:35:00.000-05:00

I apologize for not posting in a while, if you read the post entitled "Cheating" you'll see why. But, I'll post more often...promise!

Cheating

2005-04-10T15:59:00.000-05:00

Cheating. When you hear the word people generally have one of two gut reactions. The first, cheating conjures up images of wizened, gruff, but likable cowpokes, trying to get an edge. They may even spin yarns about the 'old days' when, in their youth, these dirty angels used to fleece less savvy poker players with a grin on their face and glee in their heart.
Alternatively, your first reaction might be much less sanguine. You might behave much the same as when you see a snake in your yard. You jump back in fright and in surprise. You immediately have a visceral loathing of the beast; you want to grab a stick and beat it or grab a shovel and chop its head off.
I admit, I am more in the former camp than that of the latter.
Cheating is rarely talked about in this golden age of poker. Sure, the popular TV show "Tilt" dealt with it, but did anyone ever doubt that the 'good guys' would ultimately triumph? Occassionally you might hear whispers that this online poker site, or that one, is known for people working in teams, or using bots, but it doesn't really seem to resonate with most players.
I'm discussing cheating because, unlike TV or the vaporous world of online poker, one of my regular games has been tainted with a cheater.
The "how's" or they "why's", or even what we did when we discovered his cheating ways is less important to me than our reactions to it. With ever greater numbers of people buying in, who is ultimately responsible for ensuring the game is on the up and up? I hear you all saying, "the players of course, its their money". And I agree, but there are all levels of sophistication when it comes to cheating. It can be as simple and as obvious as riffing thru the deck (as our cheater did), or the more deliberate and pre-meditated marking a deck, or dealing seconds. How is the average card player to know? Sure, he should arm himself with such basics as being able to tell a stripped or obviously marked deck, perhaps even notice when someone is dealing with a mechanic's grip. But the average player is as defenseless against a pro as a gazelle is to a lion.
So what should we do? Well the historical advice still holds up, " Don't play with strangers.". But what about in my case when this player... scratch that... this cheater was introduced into our game by a friend of mine (who I am sure had no idea) and had played with us dozens of times.
I don't know. I really don't. I still love the game, but I guess the shine had been a bit off for me lately. Now don't get me wrong, I am not naive when it comes to this sort of thing. My grandfather was the largest bookie in upstate NY for over a decade, and was 'well-connected'. I remember going to Saratoga for track season with him, and guys with names like "Pat the Pope" and " Johnny Two Shots" would come up to me, slip me $20 and tell me to go bet a horse in a particular race. Never did they fail to pay off. So I grew up around organized gambling.
I still romanticize it in my own mind. I still think fondly on when jockys would join us for dinner after the races and I'd be sent off after the entree was served so they could talk business. So I am hypocritical. What does that mean? When it benefits me, I am fine with it?
What is cheating anyway? If I am playing in a stud game, and the guy next me doesn't protect his hole card and I happen to see it ( and I really mean 'just happen') and I use that info to play the hand... did I cheat? Or is that just part of the game, and I am almost obligated to use the info?
I don't know, but it's something I have been thinking about. Please post your thoughts, I'd love to read the comments.

Speaking of Pussies

2005-03-28T12:55:00.000-05:00

KB, has moved back to NY.He promised he would drop by and say goodbye before he left, yet none of us have heard a word from him.
KB started playing poker maybe 6 months ago, and I have never seen anyone improve as quickly as he did.
We are going to miss you KB...and your $$.
Oh, and stop overplaying A, shit and small suited connectors.

Quiz Time

2005-03-28T12:36:00.001-05:00

I've said it before, but my free time is precious to me and I try to keep my time full of action and excitement. This can take on many forms, but its usually some combination of sex, poker, golf and/or travel. Since the weather was not co-operating here in the 919 ( I am so street) and that I really needed to do some yard work to have any shot at a lawn that is comprised of at least some actual grass, that meant that the former two were going to be on my mind.
After a hard day in the yard Saturday, and a happy ending from an obliging massage therapist to work out the...err kinks, Sunday was shaping up to be an enjoyable day.
J was going to drop by and maybe bring a gf or two at some point, so after a leisurely lunch of leg of lamb and potato galette with asparagus and hollandaise (yes I did cook and yes ladies, I am straight, and yes I am available...send those pics to surgesilk@aol.com), I hop on Party and start a $30 SNG NLHE. After a dozen hands or so, I triple up when I spike my pair on the flop and I call two players before me, and the flush draw doesn't materialize and top two are no good.
I look up and J is pulling in the driveway (alone), I put Party on 'post and fold' and get reacquainted with J. 7 hours later (again ladies, that's surgesilk@aol.com) ...ok 45 minutes...I go check on the game and it turns out I've finished second.
Quiz
This means:
1) I am so good I don't need to be present to win.
2) The importance of having a big stack (again ladies, check it out)
3) How soft and impatient Party players are.

It doesn't matter what you answered, they are all correct. Your Easter sticker is in the mail. And what is up with the Easter Bunny? When did he become so soft that the Tooth Fairy could take him?

Oh, and a new friend of ours, D, came to join us later... Now that's a rush.

We 5 Kings of Wild Cards Are...

2005-03-24T16:21:00.000-05:00

The on again, off again saga of the Charles’ weekly game is evidently off again. Charles suggested that his desire to sell all of his chips, tables etc was motivated more by his desire to get new, custom chips than his swearing off of poker.
Not a bad gambit.
I played last night in the soft, low limit game. I ended up, up 148 BB. Which sounds more impressive than the payout was. (.50/$1)
Do you ever get in the mood to play non-poker games; 2’s and 3’s, suicide kings, and one eyed jacks wild? Baseball? Night baseball? 7/27? Acey Duecy?
Rarely do I get the hankering to let the winds of chance loft me into the oxygen depriving realm of 5 of a kind, but when I do, I go all out.
I am not proud of my depravity. I swear I was once like you, a creature of all that is holy; worshipping at the temple of odds, implied odds, EV, etc. But when I get a taste for the sweet, cloying meat of pure suck-out; I want to gorge myself at the carcass of Luck and satiate my shame.
Last night, Texas Holdem, Omaha 8, stud, just could not feed my gambling monkey and I wanted him and his red ass, off my back. In an orgy of quads, royal flushes and 5 of a kinds, my penultimate enjoyment came when playing “Follow the Bitch” and with just three of a kind against quads on the board, a queen comes up and I am dealt a 5 which spikes my down 5’s giving me 4 Kings. Then when my final down card is dealt to me, its another lady. 5 kings laid the royal screwing on his prags (don’t you watch Oz?), 5 Jacks and busted 2 players (what did the other guy think his 10 high straight flush was good?)
It’s out of my system now, and I am debating whether to fly out to Vegas or AC this afternoon.

13 hours of poker; 0 beers

2005-03-20T17:00:00.000-05:00

Saturday was pretty much taken up with poker. 12 hours to be exact; from 2pm to 2am, that's all I did.
The poker tournament went off well, even if I went out second. I was getting cracked and running up against slightly better hands right from the beginning. I was knocked out by a new guy, JG who brought a chick to the game. I have no idea if she was his sister, gf or psychic counselor, the relationship was never explained, nor did she play...she just watched. Which, if I was doing another of my fave things, would have been just fine, but I hate to be watched. It turned out ok because she actually watched another table.
Anyway, yeah I got knocked out when I limped in with A,9o, the board comes A,A,10, I push all in with JG holding A, J. If there was one part of my game I REALLY need to improve (like there is just one part), it's my over play of Aces.
A new guy ended up winning, my brother came in second, and one of the good players from the low stakes game, came in third; his first finish in the money.
Not enough people who got bounced from the tourney wanted to play a cash game, so Charles and I ended up playing heads up, Omaha for 3 hours. It was a lot of fun, even if it was all sound and fury signifying nothing.
Turns out some of the people who did play at the tourney went home and started a cash game and had left me a message to come over. This is around 10pm when I check...so Charles and KG and I head over to Ray-Kwan's townhouse.
What a fucking nightmare! Kids...fat kids...fat, obnoxious kids...fat, obnoxious and crying kids were there making the game a fucking zoo. I should have walked out when I saw the "My Little Pony" on the goddamn table and about 3 decks of cards strewn on the floor.
To top it all off, this one fucking fish could not lose. I mean he CALLS all ins with 10,5 off and ends up with boats...I kid you not. I was afraid to call this freaky, calls-the-devil-to-the-crossraods-makes-a-deal mother f'er.
He pushed me around, hell the whole damn table pretty good...I cracked his ass eventually but it took a straight flush (On the flop no less, I held 8d,9d) to do it.
Today has been a day for the yard...I hate working in the yard. I need a woman to do that shit.

Sick Day

2005-03-17T21:40:00.000-05:00

I called in sick today never thinking that it was St. Patrick's Day and it was the start of the NCAA's. But, I am probably the only person who called in that was actually was sick.
I felt like crap with an upset stomach and a headache that felt like miniature Vulcans were inside my head smithing away. ( I know most of you are going to equate Vulcans with Star Trek, but for god's sake, read a fucking book will you?)
I felt bettter after sleeping in and getting some lunch. I am sure I'll get shit at work about calling in. I don't blame them, I'd be highly skeptical myself. Actually my job is very cool and its a great place to work. If I didn't like it there so much (and the $$ wasn't so good), I would have quit already and played poker full time.
I know my bracket must be in the crapper with Alabama losing...not to mention the Pacific win. If you tell me you had both, you are either a liar, or you have the shine.

2005-03-17T21:28:00.000-05:00

Poker Table 90% done

Days of the Week

2005-03-17T21:18:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I got the days wrong. Charles' game was last night, which of course is the same night as the low stakes game I play in as well.
Well, no real decision to make; much more $$ in that game, and last night there was over 2k in play. Huge variance with everyone up and down big last night.
I lost my original buy in and winnings (2.5x buyin, btw) and lost it when I was called on 4th street, the guy has a 2 outer to beat me and sure as shit it hit.
Why does God hate me?
I ended up slightly for the night, but the real benefit was to refresh my memory on how they play and to get ready for Saturday's tournament.
The poker table I am building turned out pretty nicely. I still have a few more things to do like, trim off excess material and I am waiting for the silicone adhesive (it dries clear) to dry. I used the silicone to attach the cupholders to the racetrack. It says not to apply it when its raining, or when its below 40 degrees, both of which apply to the weather today,so we'll just have to see. I can always re-do it tomorrow.

The Return of Chuckie

2005-03-16T15:49:00.000-05:00

Remember way back when (i.e. last week) I told you that my pal, Charles was out of the poker game? Well it seems he was spotted earlier this week playing at our fave underground poker room....err completely legit social club. Well I had email waiting for me announcing the once regular Thursday game is back on. So wish me luck.
Most of these guys know how to play. I mean really know. Luckily, I usually play with my head so far up my ass they can't get a good read on me. One of the saving graces of this game is the presence of some tasty fish that visit from time to time; people who don't play often, or those that do and have a way too high opinion of their play. We have one guy that if any of us hear about a game he will be playing in, we all head over to get in the action. He personally has paid for a very nice home theater system I have. The BMW needs new brakes so I am hoping he is among those present tonight!

Poker or sex 2: the reckoning

2005-03-15T00:19:00.000-05:00

Poker and sex; two of my favorite things. My free time is limited, so I am frequently confronted by a choice of one or the other on any particular night. (I have no regular bed mate, so the revolving cast are not disposed to waiting for my ugly ass to show up after a night of calling down sweaty men...umm that sounds gay.)
Tonight I chose sex. It was a new girl, "C". I met her online...yeah yeah I know, shut up. I try and convince her to just 'hang out' at my place, but she wants to meet out for a drink. I don't blame her for not coming to a stranger's house, but I was awfully damn comfortable, a dram of Blanton's in hand, the fireplace on (love that gas fireplace) and me in an old t-shirt ( it says "Free Tibet with any Purchase"). I meet her out, a mere $6.50 (throw a $10 down) later she is back at my place.
A knockout she is not, cute though. I light some incense, put on some Marvin Gaye and we are good to go. Turns out she wants sex, wants me to go down on her, but oral for me is a no-go."She is particular about what goes in her mouth"...I guess that means she isn't particular about what goes up her..well..you know.
What the f*ck! After hearing that I tell her its a 'school night' and I get up and get dressed. She gets the idea, gets dressed and I walk her out.
Well at least I am getting both tonight, I just won a $20 SNG on Party Poker, and I am in the money on the one I am in now. I am the short stack and playing like monkey ass, so I predict an ignoble exit.

2005-03-14T21:45:00.000-05:00

Getting Ready for Saturday's NLHE Tournament: sorry Devilfish

Small Redemption

2005-03-13T18:06:00.000-05:00

Everyone talks about how Party Poker is so soft and that its like the salmon returning up stream. I have to admit, I don't play there that often (Normally at River Stars...err Poker Stars) so my experience is limited.
However after a quick $20 NLHE SNG, I may have to start singing the party line ( pun intended).
Let me describe the sheer absurdity of what just took place.
OK among the first couple hands, I limp in with Qd,10d. Not my normal starting hand quality, but I want to see how it goes. Board comes Ad, 9d, and 3x. Someone leads out, a few callers and I like my chances, I just call.
4th street is a 7x, no danger, now its just two ahead of me, and I call a moderate bet....maybe 400 in the pot at this point. The river is Jd, super for me. One smallish bet ahead of me, one folds, and now its my decision.
I don't have him on the Kd xd, so I am going to just raise a bit, but what the hell, I only have about 500 (out of the 800 started) so I go all in, and he calls with just a pair of 9s. Huh? OK, guy. I"m doubled up, nice way to begin.
That's just to start, I have to set up the rest. So last week I bought an 89 BMW 750il. Its a little rough so I have been working on it. I get in this morning to take it to the golf course (don't ask what I shot),and it won't start. I don't feel like going thru the hassle of jumping it myself (the battery is under the backseat) plus I want to get my $$ worth out of AAA, so I get them to come out, the estimate is 75 minutes. That's fine the SNG will be done by then. Opps, literally 30 seconds later the driver calls to say he is 2 minutes away. OK. I turn on the "post and fold" option and I meet the guy outside. (alternator is ok, battery is ok, no drain...so what the hell is it?)
20 minutes later and the table is down to 4 with all three of them all-in. They can't all lose right, damn...ok. So its heads-up within second of me returning. His 6800 against my 1200, I've been up against worse, but its not looking good and the blinds are 150/300. Well after 8 hands now its reversed, I have 6800 and he has 1200 after a 5 all ins in a row and after I flop a set.
Last hand (hope you are smart enough to know who wins) he goes all in I call with A,Q to his K,J. The board blanks and I win.
So ladies (yeah like any broads reading this are ladies...no offense Crystal, Katy, Vicki, etal) and gents the moral of the story is, go away from your computer, come back when its down to 4 and you should make the $$$. Hmm wonder if this works on the $50 SNG.

So soft it hurts

2005-03-11T13:09:00.000-05:00

So the soft game...the one I mentioned? With all you can eat fish? Well I was down to the felt. How you ask? Let me tell you.
I have KK, after some decent betting, flop comes J, 7, 3. I bet, get raised, I go all in and have him well covered. After about 5 minutes of hemming and hawing, this beautiful fish turns over A, 10 off. The turn is a blank and yep...river Ace. OK half my stack gone.
Just a few hands later and the same fish: I limp in in the BB with K,2o. Flop is a beautiful 2,2,3. I make a nice size bet, he calls. Turn..bam a 3. I make another big bet. He calls. I figure he has an A and thinks its good. The river...a 3. The board 2,2,3,3,3. My 2 is worthless. His pocket 9's aren't and I am bust. Ouch. I suck.

Poker tournament

2005-03-09T18:51:00.000-05:00

Every few months or so I host a $50 NLHE tourney. We generally have less than 20 players but its a good time.
I've been trying to get this cute little asian girl to bring drinks, make sandwiches, etc. I'll let you know if she says yes. Hell, if you live in Raleigh and you are a cute chick send me your pic and let me know if you'd like to!
March 19th is the next one...my place, 1:30 pm. Cash game during/after.
Make sure you RSVP if you are planning on attending.

Why women suck

2005-03-09T18:44:00.000-05:00

Anyone want to tell me? Actually, I'm not having women problems...this second. Although that's bound to change...doesn't it always?
Its the age old question; poker or sex.
Tonight I am choosing poker. I know...I know...I can hear you out there. If you had the weekend I did...you'd be on an IV getting fluids to replenish. But I do want to thank J and M for Friday night!
But poker.
Tonight is a friendly little 2 table game hosted by the same guys I went to Mardi Gras with this year. (maybe if you ask nice I'll post some pics). Its a low stakes game with loose/weak players; all calling stations, except for the last bet. There could be 40BB in the pot and a 1 bet can take it at the end. The weirdest (crappiest) players I know. There are actually a decent player or two, and we know who we are so we usually stay out of the others' way and just herd the fish into a big ball...much like dolphins do.
I'll let you know how it turns out.

2005-03-08T17:55:00.000-05:00

Hammer Rounder

Back online

2005-03-07T20:49:00.000-05:00

Its been a while since I've played online. I just got tired of sitting in front of the screen. I lose, I win. I'm definitely up this year. Not a whole lot, maybe a nice dinner for two with a good bottle of wine. Not bad since I can probably count on one hand how many times I have played in the last 8 weeks.
But reading Iggy's blog http://guinnessandpoker.blogspot.com/ has inspired me to get back in the game, and as I am typing this, I am doing quite well over at Poker Stars, up 70 BB in just over an hour.
I have been playing alot (for me) offline. Maybe 2, 3 times a week although I think that will change if Charles has really stopped his game.
He got his hand slapped a few weeks ago and hasn't been the same since. Most people buy in for $100, but I was not playing well, and even when I was, I was getting smacked around, and had to reach back in my pocket 2 more times.
Now this game when it first started 2 years ago was maybe a $40 buy in, and once that was lost people usually went home. As you can see its gotten a bit more serious. Sometimes we have games with $400 in the pot, not too bad for us anyway!
It was getting late and we decided to play it one more time around. Well, I got hot, quads once, a nut flush and a big boat. I ended up walking out with $700. A nice little win.
The next day, an email comes around from Charles saying he was selling his chips, cards, table, etc. Haven't heard from him since.

One man's tale

2005-03-07T12:56:00.000-05:00

Welcome to what I hope will be the first of many posts. Here at "Raise the Hammer", I'll just try and relate my ups and downs at the poker games, share interesting tidbits as I come across them and maybe even dispense the occassional witticsm. Although anything clever will probably come out of the mouths of my poker buddies: Joe Bob (the only asian redneck), KB (as skinny as Kate Moss, looks 20 years old, really is 40yo and has moves to break your ankles on the b-ball court), Charles ( "I always get f*cked by misdeals", looks like that bald actor on the Shield) and the rest. I'm sure I'll talk about them as we get to know one another better.