Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Day 3

Day 3 was a looonnnng day...

Long but VERY profitable.

After expenses, for the day I am up almost $800.

It all started when we rolled out of bed and headed over to the Wynn for some breakfast and a tour of their card room. When we got there we were disappointed that they only had one 8-16 game going so we decided not to play there. We drove over to the new Venetian poker room and checked it out. It was okay... no 8-16 games as they only play with 1 and 3 dollar chips so they had a 3-6, 6-12 and 9-18 game going. Since the action was so loose and juicy at the MGM the night before, I suggested we head back over there. Stewman agreed and for that I thank him.

We got to the card room around 1:00pm and put our name on the list for 1-2 NL same as the day before. We were excited when they announced they would be starting a new game and we took our seats at the new table a few minutes later.

For the first hour it was up and down, but after about 3 hours I was up comfortably. The table donkey was sitting in seat 1 and he was an action guy. He was a slim, athletic black guy wearing a "Marcus Allen Celebrity Golf Tournament" hat and I immediately thought to myself that he was an ex professional athelete of some sort. Of course, I didn't want to come right out and ask him so casually over a few hours we talked about stuff like where we were from, what school we went to, etc.

Turns out the guy's name was Roy Green and he was an ex-professional football player who spent most of his career playing for the Arizona Cardinals. The guy obviously had money as over the course of the 16 hour session, he re-bought no less than 6 times for $200 apiece.

I made some very overly cautious folds early (folded QQ and JJ with only 1 overcard on the flop), showing my cards each time. I then made a HUGE bluff with 55 into a board of 8 high when an ace hit the turn and he bet out. I pushed in over $200 with just pocket 5s and got him to lay down his second pair. I showed the bluff and raked a huge pot. That put him on tilt and I then proceeded to pick up pot after pot. Before I knew it, I had $1,000 in front of me.

I did take a vicious beat when I picked up AA in a pot with 4 limpers ahead of me. I raised to $17 to go and the girl directly to my left pushed all-in for her last $100 or so. It folded around and I called. she showed JJ and told me, "I have a feeling I'm going to win!" Of course, the board brings K-Q-10 giving her an open ended straight draw on the flop and the magical river brought a 9 to give her the K high straight. Yay.

Stewman was not doing as well as I was and wanted to go get something to eat. I hated getting up from this game, but I knew I had to take a break and get some food.

In the same routine as the day before, I got my chip racks and begin to put them in the rack and I got dealt 99 in second position. I raise to $17 and get 1 caller. The flop comes Q-9-x with two clubs. He checks, I bet out $30 and the guy calls. The turn is an ace and I sigh and drop my head a bit doing my best to show my displeasure. He sees it and moves all-in and I almost beat him in the pot. My set of 9s holds up and now I have almost $1300 in front of me. The next hand (which was going to be my last) I get dealt QQ. I raise to $20 to go and the guy to my left calls (just like yesterday!!). It folds around and the flop comes K-J-10 giving me an open ended straight draw but one over. I have to check to see where he's at and he bets $60. I have to lay it down... not because I knew I was beat, but because I didn't want to take another horrific beat to end my day. I show the QQ and he mucks. He claims he had two pair on the flop but since he never showed, I think it was more like A-J or A-10. I walk to the cage and cash out for $1201 (minus my $300 buy in = $901 profit).

We ate dinner at this nice Itallian place at the NYNY and went back to the MGM to see if Roy was still there. He was, and I took a seat right next to him hoping to take the rest of his money (he had built his stack back up to about $600 in the time I was gone). I was absolutely card-dead though and over 4 hours I dropped my $200 buy-in.

We got back to the hotel around 5:00am and hit the sack. Sinatra is comming to town tomorrow. Gotta sleep.

~NBA~

WSOP 2006 Day 2

What a Day!!

Day 2 of our 2006 WSOP trip was another success! We started our day at 9:00am when we awoke and headed over to the MGM Grand to grab some breakfast and play in the 11:00am $65 NLHE tourney. We registered for the tournament and made hit up the Studio CafĂ©. Of course, I had my usual yogurt and granola with a sesame seed bagel (Sinatra and RiverRat can insert rude comment here). After breakfast we made our way back to the poker room for what would be a very unsuccessful tourney for both Stewman and I. I went out in about 30th place (no special hands to speak of… just went card dead when the blinds reached ridiculous levels) and Stewman went out 11th.

Yes, he lasted longer than me… AGAIN.

After busting out of the tournament I went and sat down in a 1-2 NL game that had was just being seated. I bought in for the max $200 and quickly went down to under $100. I bought in for another $100 and before I knew it, I was back below $100.

I didn’t get a great night’s sleep thanks to the very uncomfortable pull-out sofa that I slept on the night before. So I decided to do something that I have never done before… I got a massage at the table! They charge $25 for 15 minutes plus tip and let me tell you… it is money WELL SPENT. I bought in for another $100 and started to go on a tear. Before I knew it, I had $500 in front of me and the respect of the whole table.

And then… THE hand. I’m in LP and the guy to my right bumps it to $10 to go. I look down and see AK. I call as does another girl. The flop comes with 3 hearts and 10 high. I have the Ace of hearts and the guy to my right bets $30. I raise to $60 and the girl moves all-in. I know I am behind but I figure I have lots of outs (any heart, any A or any K gave me 14 outs). The guy to my right calls and the turn is a blank. He reaches for chips and bets $100 into the pot. Now, I know I should fold here but I just know that if I catch any of my cards I will win it. I think about it for about 2 minutes and call. The river is a blank, he moves all-in and I fold. He shows JJ and the girl had a set of 10s.

It took me a while but I got back up to about $500. I made some well-timed steals and bet aggressively when I had big hands and before I knew it, I had well over $700 in front of me. Steman was bugging me about leaving and getting something to eat (we had been playing poker for 11 hours straight without a break), and as much as I hated to walk away from a table that juicy, I announced I would play only 1 more hand. I went to the cashier’s cage and grabbed a few racks, got back to the table and began to pack up. UTG I pick up KK and I raise it to $14 to go. The guy on my left calls and everybody folds. The flop comes out Q-8-x rainbow. I lead out for $30 and the guy moves all-in for $190. I quickly call and show my hand. He shows Q-10 os for top pair. I’m feeling very good knowing that if I win this hand, I’m cashing out for $900. Then the turn brings him his miracle 3rd Queen and he doubles through me.

I felt absolutely sick. I was 5 outs away from walking away with $900 in my pocket and instead, I walk away with only $535.

We headed over to the RIO to get some dinner (its now 10:30pm) at the All American Grille with plans to eat and then play a satellite or two. The burgers were AWESOME and after stuffing ourselves, we waddled over to the Rio Pavilion for some more poker action. When we got there, we saw the final table was still going in the TOC. Mike Sexton and Daniel Negraneau were going heads up for $1M. We sweated them for a few minutes and then lined up for the satellites.

When we got over to the satellites line, we were surprised to hear that they were no longer running the $65 or $125 satellites for that night. The lowest buy-in tourney was $175 and as soon as they announced a table was forming I jumped up and ran to get my seat.

Loooooong story short, I played extremely well, won almost every pot I entered and ended up chopping when we got down to 3. I had half the chips in play when we got down to 3 but I didn’t want to risk getting unlucky and winning nothing so I made the deal. I took $800 (1 $500 tournament chip and $300 cash) and the other two guys split the remaining $800.

An interesting hand did come up during the satellite, however. I honestly never thought I would see the day I flop quads but had to sweat the river card. Here’s how it played out:

The short stack in EP moved all in for $375 (blinds were 50/100). I have JJ in the BB and call. We turn over the cards and I see he has A9. On the flop, the window card is an ace but I almost fall out of my chair when I see the other two cards are the last 2 jacks. The guy jokingly says, “Hey I got outs… runner runner quad aces and I win!” Everyone laughed and then the turn brought him another Ace. With one to card to come, he could actually beat me after I flopped quads. The river was kind to me this time and I lived to talk about the what would have been the worst beat EVER.

So after two days, I’m up about $600 and in good shape to make a run at playing in Saturday’s $2,000 buy-in NLHE tourney.

More updates tomorrow…

We're in Vegas!

Off To A Good Start…

We arrived in Vegas around 8:00pm and immediately checked into our suite at the Grand View Resort. After dropping our stuff off, we got down to business and headed over to the Rio. I made good on my promise to buy dinner for Stewman since he outlasted me in the WPBT PokerStars tourney and we enjoyed our first 75 minutes in town at the world famous Rio Buffet. After filling our bellies we made our way to the Rio Pavilion where the 2006 World Series of Poker was being held. When we walked through the door, Stewman and I were in awe of the sight before us. There were over 200 tables and more than 500 people playing and watching the greatest poker event in the world. After sweating the final two tables of the 2006 Tournament of Champions, we got in the satellite line and eagerly awaited our opportunity to make our poker playing dream come true. I got called for my $65 satellite first and took my seat at table 76. Stewman got called about 15 minutes later and took his seat at table 89.

I took a hit early when during the second orbit I picked up AQ in second position and bumped it to 150 (blinds 25/25). It folded around to the SB and he smooth called. We saw the flop of J-10-x heads up. He checked, and I made a continuation bet of 250. He thought about it for 10 seconds or so and then asked for a chip count. He had me covered, but just called. The turn brought a 7 and the guy immediately led out for half my stack. With nothing but a gutshot straight draw and two overs with one card to come, I couldn’t risk calling off half my stack knowing that if I didn’t hit it on the river, I wouldn’t be able to bluff him out of the pot. I mucked and he said “nice fold”. I’m sure he had nothing.

A few hands later I was down to 475 chips (starting stack was 1000) and picked up AA in mid position. The player under the gun raised the standard 3 times the BB and the guy to his left called. I only had 325 more in chips and I pushed. It folded around to the original raiser and to my surprise, he folded! The original caller however did call and showed 33. Immediately, I sighed and turned over my hand. Everybody looked at me like I was crazy and the guy with 33 was already congratulating me. I wasn’t so sure though and felt sick when the dealer began to deal the flop. My hand did hold up and I tripled up to over 1400. The very next hand I got dealt KK in early position and jammed it for 350. No callers.

I didn’t play another hand until we got down to 6. I was being blinded down and sitting on the button when the short stack UTG made a bet for all his chips. It folded around to the player on my right who smooth called. I looked down and was pleasantly surprised when I saw two queens staring back at me. I announced that I too was all-in and the action was back on the caller to my right. He called and showed A9. The original raiser showed KJ and now I was worried. With 2 overcards in play, I had to dodge both an ace and a king. The flop brought a 3rd queen for me and A9 was drawing dead but KJ had a chance to go runner-runner for the straight. The turn was a blank and the river brought my 4th queen! I tripled up again and was sitting comfortably as the overwhelming chipleader 5 handed.

When we got down to 3, we were all about even in chips. I knew that if the two players got involved in a big pot, I would be about a 3-1 dog in chips. Of course, on the second hand of 3-way play, the other two players got all their money in the middle and just like that we were down to 2.

As soon as the hand was over, I offered a chop to the guy who had me 3-1. I offered him $325 and I would take $225 (for a total payout of $550). He correctly declined, and offered me a less favorable chop of $175 to me and $375 for him. I politely declined and we began heads-up play. For 4 hands, I went absolutely card dead and had to fold my SB twice and fold my BB to 2 raises. Before I knew it, I was dominated 8-1 and for some reason the guy says to me, “if you change your mind, the offer is still on the table”. I immediately take the deal and get paid out $170 (neither of us had change for $10). I tip the dealer $20 and walk away with a profit of $85.

I walked back to the satellite line and scanned the room for any sign of Stewman. I spot him at a table right in front of me and notice he’s playing 3 handed. After a few minutes, it was down to heads-up. I walked by the table trying not to disturb him and did a quick count of chips. They were almost exactly even in chips with blinds at only 150/300. I later found out that the his opponent offered a 50/50 chop but Stewman turned it down.

They played for about 10 minutes and didn’t see many flops. Stewman was playing very aggressive, raising every time he came into a pot. And then it happened.

Stewman was on the button and was in the SB for 200. He raised it to 1200 preflop and the BB called. The flop came out 6-2-2 rainbow. His opponent counts his chips and then pushes all-in. At the time, I didn’t know what Stewman had and just prayed he would fold. Stewman capped his cards and thought for about 90 seconds. He seemed to go through the motions in his head trying to figure out what hand his opponent had. A couple of times I thought he was going to throw his hand in the muck, but he shocked me when he eventually announced, “Okay… I call”. His opponent congratulated him on a good call and showed the bluff of Q4. Stewman flipped over A9! I wanted to jump for joy and pump my fist wildly in the air, but I kept my composure and watched the next two cards. His A high held up and he took the tourney down for a $550 win.

That is not a typo… Stewman won… AGAIN… in the first satellite he played on this trip!

Congrats to Stewman for making a great call and earning that win.

More updates to follow tomorrow.

~NBA~

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Bellagio Fountains Recreated From Diet Coke And Mentos

How much time did it take to coordinate this????

http://www.eepybird.com/

Now That's What I Call A Roll

So I am running hot right now...

I've placed 5th or higher (earning at least a replay into step 1) in the last 14 tournament.

I have finished in the top 2 each of the last 5 tournaments.

I have won 3 of the last 5 tournaments including 2 in a row to finish off day 4 of my quest.

My average finish is now an impressive 3.2. I have accumulated 5 step 2s in 22 tournaments played for a win % of 22.7%.

... No better time to be hot then right before I leave for the WSOP. As I have said many times in my best Phil Helmuth impersonation: I am playing the best poker of my life right now.



The first table I sat down to tonight was rediculous. Starting on hand #4 and ending on hand #11, we lost 10th through 5th place. That's right! In a span of 8 hands we lost 6 players! When it was down to 3 handed, the average chip stack was T6,666 and the blinds were 30/60!!

Of course, I took it down. I got lucky... but I had to. You know how 6 players got knocked out in 8 hands? Well it was one player who knocked each of those guys out. I got involved in two hands with him right after that when he made stupid raises PF of like 50 x and 60 x the BB (remember he had 14,000 in chips and blinds were 30/60). I called two of his raises - the first time with 77 against his 1010 and I caught a river 7 to scoop it. The second I called his raise with JJ against QQ and caught a J on the turn to scoop that one. Even after sucking out on him twice in 10 hands, I still had half his stack. But I battled back and beat him.

I've officially decided to cut my quest buy-ins down from 50 to 30. It just doesn't make much sense to keep playing these aweful step 1s where only 1st place moves on. I want to get done with this step as soon as possible and move on to the bigger ones. As it stands now, I have 5 buy-ins into the step 2, 13 replays into step 1 plus 8 more buy-ins.

To make playing step 1 +EV, I need to accumulate at least 9 step 2 entries (step 2 entry = $22 x 9 entries = $198 in entries > original buy-in of $180. If I only win 8 or less, I have essentially wasted a bunch of my time and whatever lost buy-ins playing the step 1s. After 22 played, I have won 5 step 2s (22.7% winning) so I am on pace to win 9 step 2 entries if I can play 41 tournaments (and with 13 replays and 8 more buy-ins to step 1 I'm guaranteed to play at least 46 and on pace to play over 50).

All is well... so far.

Friday, June 23, 2006

No More 3 Tabling For Me

So I completed Day 3 of my Mini-Steps Quest and the last 3 games were CRAZY!!

I bought in to each tournament about 6-8 minutes apart from each other.

Of course, I make it to the final 2 in each one AT THE SAME TIME. Ever tried to multi-table 3 games heads up? It made my head spin!!! The result: On two of the tables, I went into heads-up as the chip leader, then proceeded to finish 2nd... IN BOTH.

The one table where I had 1/2 the stack of the chipleader, I won. Because that was the table that I could concentrate after I lost all my chips on the other two tables.

oh well... such is life.

On to the stats:

20 Step 1s played
3 Step 2s won
13 Step 1 replays earned
4 completely dropped out

I mentioned yesterday that I felt like I was hitting my stride... Well today just reinforced that feeling. 5 tournaments and not a finish lower than 3rd (one 3rd, three 2nds and one 1st). After placing 7th or lower in 4 of the first 8 tournaments I played, I haven't placed lower than 5th in the last 12 tournaments.

Looking at this statistic, I am placing in 5th or better a lot more than I originally thought. I gave myself a 67% probability to finish 5th or higher and now I have done it 16 out of 20 times (80%). Because of this, I have started to re-think my original idea of spending $300 on buy-ins (50 first step SNGs). I am thinking about cutting it down to 30 buy-ins and then playing the rest of my 1st step replays until they are all gone. After a few days of stats, I figure I will still end up playing in close to 65 1st steps by buying into just 30. At my current rate of (15% wins), that will get me 10 step 2 chances. I hope over the next few days to get that number up to more like 20%, earning me 13 chances at step 2.

I feel extremely confident in my ability to place in the top 2 consistently. Where I do lack confidence is in closing the deal and winning the damn thing. After tonight's play, I now have 7 second place finishes and only 3 first place finishes (a combined 50% of all tourneys played). At steps 2 through 4, top 2 move on so this will definately be a worthy statistic.

I haven't decided for sure to call it at 30... but I am definately leaning towards that number. This limits my buy-in expense to $180 meaning a 5th place finish in step 5 will = $20 profit rather than a 4th place finish = breaking even.

Either way, this will not be my last quest. I will take on the "Regular Steps" ($12 step 1s) next and hopefully the "Step Higher" tourneys ($33 step 1s) before the end of the year.

What A Read!!

***** Hand History for Game 4575353970 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $6 Buy-in Trny:25127369 Level:1 Blinds(20/40) - Friday, June 23, 03:28:35 ET 2006
Table Mini Step 1 Wooden Pillars (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: NoBlackAces ( $1670 )
Seat 6: htfdik ( $1900 )
Seat 5: AceonthRiver ( $1940 )
Seat 4: Capt_Jack1 ( $1900 )
Seat 8: dierdra44 ( $3077 )
Seat 7: peter_plague ( $1550 )
Seat 2: Thanatos11 ( $1660 )
Seat 10: MrThomThom ( $1680 )
Seat 9: Mrnolimit86 ( $2060 )
Seat 3: BERINS1 ( $2563 )
Trny:25127369 Level:1
Blinds(20/40)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to NoBlackAces [ Jc Js ]
Mrnolimit86 calls [40].
MrThomThom folds.
NoBlackAces calls [40].
Thanatos11 folds.
BERINS1 folds.
Capt_Jack1 calls [40].
AceonthRiver folds.
htfdik folds.
peter_plague calls [20].
dierdra44 checks.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 4s, 9h, 8c ]
peter_plague checks.
Thanatos11: shes got twice the chips we do...
Thanatos11: lol
dierdra44 checks.
Mrnolimit86 checks.
NoBlackAces: not for long
NoBlackAces: lol
NoBlackAces bets [235].
Capt_Jack1 is all-In [1860]
peter_plague folds.
dierdra44 folds.
Mrnolimit86 folds.
NoBlackAces: uh oh
NoBlackAces: my overpair no good?
>You have options at Mini Step 1 Earn Red Wings Table!.
Your time bank will be activated in 5 secs. If you do not want it to be used, please act now.
NoBlackAces will be using his time bank for this hand.
NoBlackAces: you wouldn't bet that much if you flopped a set...
NoBlackAces: u got a-9?
NoBlackAces: u bet too much
NoBlackAces: cant have it
NoBlackAces is all-In [1395]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 3c ]
>You have options at Mini Step 1 Earn Red Wings Table!.
** Dealing River ** [ Kh ]
NoBlackAces shows [ Jc, Js ] a pair of jacks.
Capt_Jack1 shows [ Ah, 9d ] a pair of nines.
Capt_Jack1 wins 230 chips from side pot #1 with a pair of nines.
NoBlackAces wins 3460 chips from the main pot

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

NBA's Mini-Steps Quest Day 2 (update)

So I got to play 8 more minis today and here's where I stand:

I've won 2 step 2 entries

I've won 9 step 1 re-entries

I've dropped completely out 4 times.

My average finishing place is now 3.93... I have 6 top 2 finishes (2 wins and 4 runner-ups), but in step 1, second place gets you the same as fifth place: A re-entry into step 1.

Including the 9 re-entries to step 1 that I have won, and the 35 buy-ins left in my account, I have at least 44 more step 1s to play.

So here's how the stats are shaping up:

Top 5 finishes (guarantee of at least a re-entry into the same step): 11 (73.3%)
Top 2 finishes (which in later steps will be a significant number): 6 (40.0%)
1st place finishes: 2 (13.3%)

The good news is that I can feel myself getting into a bit of a groove (2 wins in the last 9 tourneys and only finished lower than 5th once). The bad news is that I will not be playing much over the next few days due to work and preparing for the upcomming trip.

Stewman... Are we going to have internet access where we're staying or what???

Beat this comeback, Stewman!! (Brag Post)

7 handed, only T455 in chips (avg stack is T2857) with blinds at 100/200...

#Game No : 4567707212
***** Hand History for Game 4567707212 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $6 Buy-in Trny:25086120
Level:4 Blinds(100/200) - Wednesday, June 21, 23:51:34 ET 2006
Table Mini Step 1 Meadow Heights (Real Money)
Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 7
Seat 1: NoBlackAces ( $455 )
Seat 5: TerryKil ( $3470 )
Seat 6: jonking1971 ( $955 )
Seat 9: hmgro3 ( $2355 )
Seat 4: choke299 ( $6585 )
Seat 3: Jbabe1909 ( $4510 )
Seat 2: Map_Dich_Hen ( $1670 )
Trny:25086120 Level:4 Blinds(100/200)

28 minutes later, down to heads-up:

#Game No : 4567887376
***** Hand History for Game 4567887376 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $6 Buy-in Trny:25086120
Level:7 Blinds-Antes(400/800-25) - Thursday, June 22, 00:19:21 ET 2006
Table Mini Step 1 Meadow Heights (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the buttonTotal number of players : 2
Seat 1: NoBlackAces ( $10305 )
Seat 3: Jbabe1909 ( $9695 )
Trny:25086120 Level:7
Blinds-Antes(400/800-25)
NoBlackAces posts ante [25].
Jbabe1909 posts ante [25].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to NoBlackAces [ 4h As ]
Jbabe1909 raises [1200].
NoBlackAces calls [800].
** Dealing Flop ** [ Ah, 9d, 7c ]
NoBlackAces checks.
Jbabe1909 bets [2300].
NoBlackAces is all-In [8680]
Jbabe1909 is all-In [5770]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 3d ]
** Dealing River ** [ Js ]
NoBlackAces: gg
Jbabe1909 shows [ 8d, 7h ] a pair of sevens.
NoBlackAces shows [ 4h, As ] a pair of aces.
NoBlackAces wins 610 chips from side pot #1 with a pair of aces.
NoBlackAces wins 19390 chips from the main pot with a pair of aces.
Jbabe1909 finished in second and wins Entry to Mini Step 1
Congratulations,NoBlackAces! You won Entry to Mini Step 2.

NBA's Mini-Steps Quest (Day 1)

So I successfully played 7 mini-step 1s today. Well, I shouldn't use the word "successfully"...

The good news:

My average finishing place is 4.14. Not surprisingly, that is better than my 4.22 average in real money single table SNGs (of course the sample size is extremely small).

I have one 1st place finish (14.3%)

I have finished in the top two 3 times (42.8%)

I have finished in 3rd place or better 4 times (57.1%)


The not-so-good news:

I have only one 1st place finish (14.3%)

I have been eliminated in 6th place or lower 3 times (42.9%)

I will never be able to recover the $18 I'm already down after the first day.


My thoughts after day 1:

So far, I have been almost dead-on with my predictions on my performance. I did play stupid in one tourney as I started it only 40 minutes before I had to walk out the door to work and was sitting 7-handed when I needed to leave. I contemplated just walking out and leaving myself to be blinded out but I was still 2 places from getting a rebuy and didn't have many chips. I tried to bluff a PF raiser when I was in the BB with 6-2 os and moved all-in for my entire stack and to my surprise, he quickly called with pocket 7s and proceeded to river QUADS. Oh well... lesson learned.

Although I only have 1 step 2 entry after 7 step 1 attempts, I feel good that I will get to the originally predicted 19 step 2 entries after all my buy-ins and re-steps have been used.

I've played 7 step 1s, having advanced to 1 step 2 and have 3 step 1s to replay. So, essentially, I have used 7 buy-ins to step 1s but including my re-steps I have earned, I still have at least 46 chances to advance to step 2.

I should be able to complete all my step 1 buy-ins and re-steps after 14 more days of play. This means unless the condo in Vegas has wireless interenet access, I won't be done with my step 1s until mid-July, putting the completion of the quest sometime in mid-August.

But I must admit, I am having a lot of fun. This really was a great way to get some last-minute SNG practice in before the WSOP and it puts a little excitement back into poker (I was - BUT JUST FOR A MINUTE - getting a bit bored grinding out $22 tourneys only to be beat down by bad luck). The way I look at it is my wins in the mini-steps do not = $$, just another opportunity. I know... I must be crazy.

I really hope my fellow bloggers will follow in my footsteps and begin "quests" of their own. Hell, RiverRat will have enough time while the other 3 of us are in Vegas next week!

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Why I'll miss Shana Hiatt more than I will ever like Courtney Freel

Shana Hiatt Goodness from Bill Rini's Poker Blog

5 More Days...


I need this trip soooo bad...

Read Poker Prof's "2006 WSOP Opens in 5 Days". Great pics of all the behind-the-scenes stuff.

My "Quest"

In the honor of the recently blacklisted Zeejustin and his poker quests, I have decided to take on my own quest. I am doing this mainly to profit, but also to change things up and bring back some excitement to my on-line poker playing. Since I have been getting so damn unlucky lately, I think it might be good to re-kindle the fire inside...

So here's what I want to do:

The Plan

I am going to buy-in to Party Poker's ministeps... 50 times. I plan on buying in at the lowest step (step 1 costs $5+1) and playing every one of my step 1s until I play any step 2s. Then I will play all my step 2s before I play any step 3s, and so on... Here's my thinking:

The total cost to me to play in 50 1st step minis will be $300. If I cash in at least 1 step 5, I am guaranteed a minimum of $200 (for a net loss of $100). If I finish 4th, I break even and 3rd through 1st place is a profit.

Here's my rationale:

My ROI on single table SNGs over the last 12 months is approximately 37%. What do I have to show for it? A bunch of little cash-outs usually months apart and never more than $1000.

I finish ITM 42% of the time (top three) and finish in the top two 30% of the time. After step 1, the top two finishers move on to the next step. What's great is 3rd through 5th place usually get to play the same step over again, so finishing in the top 5 gets me another shot to finish in the top 2.

Here's how I make money:

I will need to win just 20% of the step 1s I play (I figure to finish 2nd through 5th in roughly half the steps I play in considering my SNG record meaning I can count on playing approximately 97 step 1s before I have either advanced to step 2 or been eliminated alltogether) meaning I will earn 19 step 2 entries.

After step 1, since the top two advance in each step thereafter, considering my SNG record I can expect to play in 37 step 2s and finish in the top two 11 times, advancing to step 3 with 11 entries.

In step 3, you have to finish in 3rd or 4th to replay step 3, so my odds go down a bit, but finishers 5th and 6th replay step 2 and 7th and 8th replay step 1 so that should even it out (It's 1:00 AM as I write this and I don't even know where to begin in order to derrive the exact formula to calculate my odds of dropping from step 3 to step 1 and then working my way back to step 3, but you get the point) I should advance to step 4 no less than 6 times.

In step 4, it goes back to 3rd through 5th replaying the step, 6th and 7th going back to step 3, 8th going back to step 2 and 9th going all the way back to step 1. With 6 entries, I should be able to play in 10 step 4s, advancing in 3 of them.

That leaves me with 3 opportunities to finish in the top 5 of step 5.

Of course, variance is a bitch and my egotistical mindset tells me that I am underestimating my abilities. I would like to believe my odds to move on will be closer to 40%, giving me at least 7 shots at cashing in step 5, but this is just a conservative estimate using hard numbers from the last 12 months of play.

Worst case scenario, I should break even.

Best case scenario, I win $3,500 or more (1st place in step 5 is $2,000!).

I would like to start this "quest" ASAP but with the WSOP comming up next week, it will most likely have to wait.

I am curious what your opinions are. Any suggestions? Think I'm crazy? I'd love to hear it...

~NBA~

Sunday, June 18, 2006

ouch

#Game No : 4547017194
***** Hand History for Game 4547017194 *****
$5/$10 Texas Hold'em - Sunday, June 18, 22:01:41 ET 2006
Table Bad Beat Jackpot #1260329 (Real Money)
Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: PokerSpader ( $55.50 )
Seat 2: nickrg333 ( $297.42 )
Seat 3: muleshoer ( $388.10 )
Seat 5: meNmyshadow ( $94.25 )
Seat 6: Stewman20 ( $78 )
Seat 4: CaughtTHAT ( $228 )
meNmyshadow posts small blind [$2].
Stewman20 posts big blind [$5].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Stewman20 [ Tc Ac ]
PokerSpader calls [$5].
nickrg333 folds.
muleshoer calls [$5].
CaughtTHAT folds.
meNmyshadow folds.
Stewman20 checks.
** Dealing Flop ** [ Qc, Jc, 8c ]
Stewman20 checks.
PokerSpader bets [$5].
muleshoer calls [$5].
Stewman20 calls [$5].
** Dealing Turn ** [ Ad ]
Stewman20 checks.
PokerSpader bets [$10].
muleshoer raises [$20].
Stewman20 calls [$20].
PokerSpader raises [$20].
muleshoer calls [$10].
Stewman20 raises [$20].
PokerSpader calls [$10].
muleshoer calls [$10].
** Dealing River ** [ Jh ]
Stewman20 bets [$10].
PokerSpader is all-In [$5.50]
muleshoer calls [$10].
Stewman20 shows [ Tc, Ac ] a flush, ace high.
PokerSpader shows [ Qh, Jd ] a full house, Jacks full of queens.
muleshoer doesn't show [ Ah, 9d ] two pairs, aces and jacks.
Stewman20 wins $9 from side pot #1 with a flush, ace high.
PokerSpader wins $165 from the main pot with a full house, Jacks full of queens.
Game #4547023192 starts.

No Mickey D's for me

So once again, I have bested No Black Aces. We both competed in the Poker Stars World Blogging Championships. Top 54 got prizes and neither of us got a prize. However, we did have a last longer bet. Well I lasted longer. NBA finshed 560 and I finished 286. Not even close. So NBA will be buying me dinner at my choice. In typical NBA fashion, he offered me McDonalds. I on the other hand have a different idea...Delmonico's in the Venetian is sounding good right now.

Let this be a lesson to all you poker n00bs: Go with your gut

#Game No : 4543937034
***** Hand History for Game 4543937034 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $22 Buy-in Trny:24962879 Level:6 Blinds(300/600) - Sunday, June 18, 13:55:48 ET 2006
Table Mini Step 2 Surprise Party (Real Money)
Seat 9 is the buttonTotal number of players : 3
Seat 7: wooferman ( $7336 )
Seat 1: NoBlackAces ( $5010 )
Seat 9: tullonsk ( $7654 )
Trny:24962879 Level:6 Blinds(300/600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to NoBlackAces [ Jh Jc ]
tullonsk folds.NoBlackAces calls [300].
wooferman raises [600].
NoBlackAces calls [600].
** Dealing Flop ** [ Ad, 3s, As ]
NoBlackAces checks.
wooferman bets [2621].
NoBlackAces: i think my jj is good
NoBlackAces: in fact i am sure my jj is good
Your time bank will be activated in 5 secs. If you do not want it to be used, please act now.
NoBlackAces will be using his time bank for this hand.
NoBlackAces: i dont have a spade though
tullonsk: you doneso
NoBlackAces: lucky you
NoBlackAces: i know u dont have an ace
NoBlackAces: this is killing me
NoBlackAces folds.
wooferman shows [ Kd, 8c ] a pair of aces.
wooferman wins 5021 chips from the main pot with a pair of aces.
NoBlackAces: nh
Game #4543942899 starts.

We are playing 3 handed and only top 2 move on to the next step. 3rd place replays step 2 again. I had been showing my hands everytime I bet big (I was the short stack going into the final 3) and twice I had folded when I limped and somebody raised. I was setting a trap with my JJ and when he raised preflop, I knew I could take the pot away from him on the flop. When the flop came out and I saw two aces, I knew I was good. The plan was to check-raise all-in after he threw a feeler bet out. He showed that he was no dummy and bet the perfect amount to avoid the check-raise. He bets half my stack, basically pot-committing himself, thus forcing himself to call if I push (he would be getting more than 3-1). If I had even one spade, I make the move. This got me thinking now... he did min-raise preflop... Was he trying to disguise a super strong hand such as AK by making such a big bet on the flop? I pussed out and laid it down.

FUCK.

Nice play, wooferman... and GG (I ended up finishing 3rd after all)

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Well not a bad showing but no WSOP ME for me

So I just finished 226 out of 3497. My high was around T36,000 in chips. Took a nasty beat at the end. I guess because he had a lot of chips, he made the call. I don't get it with 2 overs and a flush draw but hey that's poker. Top 16 got seats into the ME.

#Game No : 4539413530
***** Hand History for Game 4539413530 *****
NL Texas Hold'em Trny:24933000 Level:11 Blinds-Antes(1000/2000-75) - Saturday, June 17, 20:08:42 ET 2006
Table WSOP Freeroll Satellite(733184) Table #4 (Real Money)
Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 1: Stewman20 ( $19949 )
Seat 2: hahapuffhaha ( $32891 )
Seat 3: thomas98 ( $21351 )
Seat 7: ChipSurplus ( $7255 )
Seat 9: luckydog4777 ( $117970 )
Seat 5: Brody26 ( $38288 )
Seat 10: klfitzh2o ( $87765 )
Seat 6: greg_frame ( $93132 )
Seat 4: BTMjr ( $41206 )
Trny:24933000 Level:11
Blinds-Antes(1000/2000-75)
Stewman20 posts ante [75].
hahapuffhaha posts ante [75].
thomas98 posts ante [75].
BTMjr posts ante [75].
Brody26 posts ante [75].
greg_frame posts ante [75].
ChipSurplus posts ante [75].
luckydog4777 posts ante [75].
klfitzh2o posts ante [75].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Stewman20 [ 5h Ah ]
hahapuffhaha folds.
thomas98 could not respond in time.(disconnected)
thomas98 folds.
BTMjr folds.
Brody26 folds.
sussie06 has joined the table.
Player sussie06 has been moved from table 24 to this table
zzzz
greg_frame folds.
ChipSurplus folds.
luckydog4777 folds.
klfitzh2o calls [1000].
Stewman20 checks.
** Dealing Flop ** [ Jc, 6c, Ac ]
klfitzh2o checks.
Stewman20 bets [3000].
klfitzh2o calls [3000].
** Dealing Turn ** [ 3d ]
klfitzh2o checks.
Stewman20 is all-In [14874]
klfitzh2o calls [14874].
** Dealing River ** [ Ts ]
klfitzh2o shows [ Td, Th ] three of a kind, tens.
Stewman20 shows [ 5h, Ah ] a pair of aces.
klfitzh2o wins 40423 chips from the main pot with three of a kind, tens.
Player Stewman20 finished in 226 place


Some more hands from the tourney


#Game No : 4538368246
***** Hand History for Game 4538368246 *****
NL Texas Hold'em Trny:24933000 Level:4 Blinds(100/200) - Saturday, June 17, 17:40:50 ET 2006
Table WSOP Freeroll Satellite(733184) Table #131 (Real Money)
Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: DrKilljoy ( $11162 )
Seat 2: pchari1 ( $1300 )
Seat 3: Gianthornet ( $2240 )
Seat 4: iam1ofhis ( $8032 )
Seat 5: Stewman20 ( $3090 )
Seat 6: swedentess ( $1091 )
Seat 7: chendo_67 ( $4348 )
Seat 8: TheFlopsters ( $10794 )
Seat 9: Soterdelf ( $5822 )
Seat 10: x9996661234 ( $2140 )
Trny:24933000 Level:4
Blinds(100/200)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Stewman20 [ 7d 8d ]
pchari1 folds.
Gianthornet folds.
iam1ofhis: n1
iam1ofhis folds.
TheFlopsters: thynx
Stewman20 calls [200].
swedentess folds.
chendo_67 folds.
TheFlopsters folds.
Soterdelf folds.
x9996661234 folds.
DrKilljoy checks.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 9c, 5d, 6d ]
iam1ofhis: yw
DrKilljoy bets [1395].
Stewman20 raises [2790].
DrKilljoy calls [1395].
** Dealing Turn ** [ Qc ]
Soterdelf: np :D
DrKilljoy checks.
Stewman20 is all-In [100]
DrKilljoy calls [100].
** Dealing River ** [ Ac ]
DrKilljoy shows [ 9s, Ah ] two pairs, aces and nines.
Stewman20 shows [ 7d, 8d ] a straight, five to nine.
Stewman20 wins 6280 chips from the main pot with a straight, five to nine.



#Game No : 4539019770
***** Hand History for Game 4539019770 *****
NL Texas Hold'em Trny:24933000 Level:8 Blinds-Antes(400/800-25) - Saturday, June 17, 19:11:53 ET 2006
Table WSOP Freeroll Satellite(733184) Table #52 (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: harley04 ( $5950 )
Seat 2: Stewman20 ( $15037 )
Seat 5: BMWTHEBEAST ( $36642 )
Seat 9: DrewPomeroy ( $8955 )
Seat 8: Patrick4444 ( $38914 )
Seat 4: RezPoker ( $28543 )
Seat 3: tucci007 ( $42304 )
Seat 10: Bancheeta ( $21976 )
Seat 6: diamonds4 ( $4062 )
Seat 7: coldbeer8888 ( $5929 )
Trny:24933000 Level:8
Blinds-Antes(400/800-25)
harley04 posts ante [25].
Stewman20 posts ante [25].
tucci007 posts ante [25].
RezPoker posts ante [25].
BMWTHEBEAST posts ante [25].
diamonds4 posts ante [25].
coldbeer8888 posts ante [25].
Patrick4444 posts ante [25].
DrewPomeroy posts ante [25].
Bancheeta posts ante [25].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Stewman20 [ Ad Qs ]
RezPoker calls [800].
BMWTHEBEAST calls [800].
diamonds4 folds.
coldbeer8888 calls [800].
Patrick4444 folds.
DrewPomeroy folds.
Bancheeta folds.
harley04 calls [800].
Stewman20 raises [2800].
tucci007 folds.
RezPoker folds.
BMWTHEBEAST calls [2400].
coldbeer8888 folds.
harley04 calls [2400].
** Dealing Flop ** [ 7d, 2h, 6d ]
Stewman20 checks.
BMWTHEBEAST bets [2000].
harley04 folds.
Stewman20 is all-In [11812]
BMWTHEBEAST folds.
Stewman20 does not show cards.
Stewman20 wins 26062 chips

** Dealing Flop ** [ 9c, 5d, 6d ]
iam1ofhis: yw
DrKilljoy bets [1395].
Stewman20 raises [2790].
DrKilljoy calls [1395].
** Dealing Turn ** [ Qc ]
Soterdelf: np :D
DrKilljoy checks.
Stewman20 is all-In [100]
DrKilljoy calls [100].
** Dealing River ** [ Ac ]
DrKilljoy shows [ 9s, Ah ] two pairs, aces and nines.
Stewman20 shows [ 7d, 8d ] a straight, five to nine.
Stewman20 wins 6280 chips from the main pot with a straight, five to nine.
lol
Game #4538371877 starts.

#Game No : 4539228609
***** Hand History for Game 4539228609 *****
NL Texas Hold'em Trny:24933000 Level:9 Blinds-Antes(600/1200-50) - Saturday, June 17, 19:40:41 ET 2006
Table WSOP Freeroll Satellite(733184) Table #4 (Real Money)
Seat 10 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: Stewman20 ( $13888 )
Seat 2: hahapuffhaha ( $41791 )
Seat 3: thomas98 ( $39167 )
Seat 4: par71111 ( $18218 )
Seat 6: RUNNERRENNUR ( $3202 )
Seat 7: ChipSurplus ( $11097 )
Seat 8: Englishman01 ( $6658 )
Seat 9: luckydog4777 ( $88471 )
Seat 10: advracertony ( $11118 )
Seat 5: Brody26 ( $26688 )
Trny:24933000 Level:9
Blinds-Antes(600/1200-50)
Stewman20 posts ante [50].
hahapuffhaha posts ante [50].
thomas98 posts ante [50].
par71111 posts ante [50].
Brody26 posts ante [50].
RUNNERRENNUR posts ante [50].
ChipSurplus posts ante [50].
Englishman01 posts ante [50].
luckydog4777 posts ante [50].
advracertony posts ante [50].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Stewman20 [ Ad As ]
thomas98 folds.
par71111 folds.
Brody26 folds.
RUNNERRENNUR folds.
ChipSurplus folds.
Englishman01 folds.
luckydog4777 folds.
advracertony is all-In [11068]
There will be a break in 1 minute(s)
Stewman20 is all-In [13238]
hahapuffhaha folds.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 8s, 3d, 7s ]
thomas98: whens next break
** Dealing Turn ** [ 8d ]
** Dealing River ** [ 5c ]
Stewman20 shows [ Ad, As ] two pairs, aces and eights.
advracertony shows [ Qd, Kd ] a pair of eights.
Stewman20 wins 2770 chips from side pot #1 with two pairs, aces and eights.
Stewman20 wins 23836 chips from the main pot with two pairs, aces and eights.
Player advracertony finished in 325 place


#Game No : 4539288595
***** Hand History for Game 4539288595 *****
NL Texas Hold'em Trny:24933000 Level:10 Blinds-Antes(800/1600-50) - Saturday, June 17, 19:51:14 ET 2006
Table WSOP Freeroll Satellite(733184) Table #4 (Real Money)
Seat 8 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 1: Stewman20 ( $17648 )
Seat 2: hahapuffhaha ( $38991 )
Seat 3: thomas98 ( $31767 )
Seat 4: par71111 ( $18868 )
Seat 7: ChipSurplus ( $1917 )
Seat 8: Englishman01 ( $19824 )
Seat 9: luckydog4777 ( $100943 )
Seat 5: Brody26 ( $27188 )
Seat 10: klfitzh2o ( $56457 )
Trny:24933000 Level:10
Blinds-Antes(800/1600-50)
Stewman20 posts ante [50].
hahapuffhaha posts ante [50].
thomas98 posts ante [50].
par71111 posts ante [50].
Brody26 posts ante [50].
ChipSurplus posts ante [50].
Englishman01 posts ante [50].
luckydog4777 posts ante [50].
klfitzh2o posts ante [50].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Stewman20 [ Ad Kc ]
Stewman20 raises [5000].
hahapuffhaha folds.
thomas98 folds.
par71111 calls [5000].
Brody26 folds.
ChipSurplus folds.
Englishman01 folds.
luckydog4777 folds.
klfitzh2o folds.
** Dealing Flop ** [ Kh, 6c, 6d ]
Stewman20 bets [6000].
par71111 is all-In [13818]
Stewman20 is all-In [6598]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 9c ]
** Dealing River ** [ 4d ]
Stewman20 shows [ Ad, Kc ] two pairs, kings and sixes.
par71111 shows [ Td, Th ] two pairs, tens and sixes.
par71111 wins 1220 chips from side pot #1 with two pairs, tens and sixes.
Stewman20 wins 38046 chips from the main pot with two pairs, kings and sixes.
Game #4539295946 starts.
#Game No : 4538167552
***** Hand History for Game 4538167552 *****
NL Texas Hold'em Trny:24932652 Level:3 Blinds(50/100) - Saturday, June 17, 17:04:32 ET 2006
Table Shootout(734683) Round(1) Table #11 (Real Money)
Seat 8 is the buttonTotal number of players : 5
Seat 4: STUDSTUD007 ( $11077 )
Seat 7: buster555111 ( $7736 )
Seat 8: COKEDIET ( $3865 )
Seat 9: jowheel111 ( $3945 )
Seat 10: NoBlackAces ( $3377 )
Trny:24932652 Level:3 Blinds(50/100)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to NoBlackAces [ Ac Kc ]
STUDSTUD007 raises [200].
buster555111 calls [200].
COKEDIET folds.jowheel111 calls [150].
NoBlackAces is all-In [3277]
STUDSTUD007 calls [3177].
buster555111 folds.jowheel111 folds.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 8s, Js, 5s ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 7s ]
** Dealing River ** [ 4h ]
STUDSTUD007 shows [ Ad, Jc ] a pair of jacks.
NoBlackAces shows [ Ac, Kc ] high card ace.
STUDSTUD007 wins 7154 chips from the main pot with a pair of jacks.
Player NoBlackAces finished in 5th place on this table

For those of you keeping score at home, that's another tournament knock-out with all the chips in the middle as the favorite. 3-1 this time... What a fucking joke! This guy must have read the same book Stewman read that said to push all-in with the all-so-mighty AJ os.

ARGH!!!!!!

When will it end?!??!?!

Online Poker? Hell... World Cup Soccer Is Rigged!!

Fucking refs... It is unbelievable to me that the FIFA communists are so anti-American.

Anyways, We only have 8 more days until the WSOP. Am I the only one too excited to sleep??

Poker Prof's Poker Blog

I am also eagerly awaiting the Poker Blogger Tourney tomorrow... can't wait to win the damn thing.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

I'm sick of playing online...

If this would have happened in a live game I would feel better because I could have knocked the fucker out for making this call:

#Game No : 4525564911
***** Hand History for Game 4525564911 *****
NL Texas Hold'em Trny:24871239 Level:6 Blinds(300/600) - Thursday, June 15, 21:57:34 ET 2006Table 5 - Table(737881) Table #1 (Real Money)
Seat 8 is the buttonTotal number of players : 9
Seat 1: NoBlackAces ( $3461 )
Seat 2: DrunkTed ( $2519 )
Seat 3: Hardshi ( $10724 )
Seat 4: Winsinvt ( $8937 )
Seat 5: atocdj ( $15621 )
Seat 6: ehall4 ( $4281 )
Seat 7: mtch69 ( $29542 )
Seat 8: winwinbabes ( $8854 )
Seat 9: JassonD ( $16061 )
Trny:24871239 Level:6Blinds(300/600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to NoBlackAces [ As Ah ]
DrunkTed folds.Hardshi raises [1800].
Winsinvt folds.
atocdj folds.
ehall4 folds.
mtch69 calls [1800].
winwinbabes folds.
JassonD folds.
NoBlackAces: I HAVE AA
NoBlackAces is all-In [2861]
Hardshi folds.
mtch69 calls [1661].
** Dealing Flop ** [ 9h, 7c, 8d ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 4h ]
** Dealing River ** [ 2c ]
NoBlackAces shows [ As, Ah ] a pair of aces.
mtch69 shows [ Jh, Th ] a straight, seven to jack.
mtch69 wins 9022 chips from the main pot with a straight, seven to jack.
Player NoBlackAces finished in 9 place

Oh wait... I don't want to fail to mention that this was a 5 table $33 SNG with $500 going to the winner. Oh, and only the top 7 paid out.

Now let me explain why I announced my hand: I don't want to go into a 3-way pot with 2 other guys holding AA. I know that if the original raiser calls, mtch69 is getting overwhelming pot-odds and has to call. Then, with a player all-in, they both check it down to the river giving both players optimum conditions to crack my aces. I want one call here, but if I don't get the call, I double up anyway.

Best case scenario, I get one call and I triple-up.

Worst case scenario, I get one call and the fucking guy flops the fucking nuts.

So just for fun I decided to go back into my pokertacker and look at all the final hands I played over the last 2 months and see if I am playing poorly or just getting plain unlucky.

In the 134 tournaments that I did not finish 1st or 2nd (including MTT), I put all my money in the middle with the best hand 77 times!! That's right... more than 57% of the time, I have the best hand (most of them being mid to small pocket pairs vs two overs averaging 52% favorite), but in 23 cases, I was a 3-1 favorite or BETTER!!! My favorite "bad beats" include this AA vs J10 pf, AA vs AK pf and my flopped set of 9s vs flopped top pair that turned into a runner-runner flush. Going back to March, I have played in 17 MTTs and been knocked out of 11 of them (including Pechanga) with the best hand when all the money goes in the middle.

How long is this shitty luck going to continue????

Hopefully I get it all out of my system BEFORE the WSOP.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Serves him right...

He flopped top 2 and slowplayed it...


***** Hand History for Game 4510651394 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $11 Buy-in Trny:24809596 Level:2 Blinds(30/60) - Tuesday, June 13, 22:40:09 ET 2006
Table Took a Floater (Real Money)
Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 5
Seat 1: tvolryan ( $2036 )
Seat 6: NoBlackAces ( $1980 )
Seat 2: tbauer2000 ( $1732 )
Seat 4: LSU27chips ( $2721 )
Seat 5: Laaazzy1 ( $3531 )
Trny:24809596 Level:2
Blinds(30/60)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to NoBlackAces [ 6d 5d ]
tvolryan folds.
tbauer2000 calls [60].
LSU27chips calls [60].
Laaazzy1 calls [30].
NoBlackAces checks.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 4d, Ks, Td ]
Laaazzy1 checks.
NoBlackAces checks.
tbauer2000 checks.
LSU27chips bets [125].
Laaazzy1 folds.
NoBlackAces calls [125].
tbauer2000 folds.
** Dealing Turn ** [ 2d ]
NoBlackAces checks.
LSU27chips is all-In [2536]
NoBlackAces is all-In [1795]
** Dealing River ** [ 3d ]
NoBlackAces shows [ 6d, 5d ] a straight flush, six high.
LSU27chips shows [ Ts, Kd ] a flush, king high.
LSU27chips wins 741 chips from side pot #1 with a flush, king high.
NoBlackAces wins 4080 chips from the main pot with a straight flush, six high.

T-Minus 12 Days And Counting...

The World Series of Poker awaits us... and it's only 12 days away.

As everyone knows, Stewman and I are travelling to Las Vegas, NV on Jun 25th to partake in the greatest show on felt. Sinatra will be joining us on the 29th. Unfortunately, RiverRat will not be joining us because he has to be all adult and take care of his newborn son. RiverRat, you will be missed.

I have decided to take detailed notes on all the day's activities as well as key hands that come up throughout the week. When we get back, I will post a detailed trip report on how I won my first WSOP bracelet... of course, not everything has to be reported and I may have to leave out certain activities...

While in Vegas, I want to accomplish a couple of things:

1) Win a WSOP single-table SNG satellite
2) Cash in a WSOP event
3) NOT get knocked out of a tournament by Stewman

PokerStars Blogger Tournament Last Longer Prop

Okay fellow bloggers, or should I say blogger.... Time to prove who's the best poker player on this blog: I propose we have a little "last longer" bet in this Sunday's upcomming PokerStars Blogger Tourney. Winner receives, say, dinner Tuesday night at the restaurant of his choice? Shouldn't cost more than $25 or so...

Whattya say, Stewman??? Are you in?

In a related story, They are anticipating 2500 entrants in the tournament. With prizes be paid out to the top 54, less than 3% of the field will finish ITM.

... I like my chances.

See you Sunday, donkeys!!!

Some Redemption

I just finished a WSOP free roll on Party Poker. Top fifty play on Saturday. I placed 32 out of 3500 so I'm good for Saturday. A little consolation for Sunday night.

Monday, June 12, 2006

Still not recovered

So I'm here at work and I've asked a few people and one guy said I did the right thing and the other said he would have been more concerned about winning more and would have folded. I guess I should have been in the mindset of making more money and if I was then it is a easy laydown. Let me give a little background and you can decide.

I had just moved to this table to balance out 6 and 6. Luckymona was chip leader for most of the tourney then took some major beat and was almost out. By the time I moved to the table luckymona had clawed her/his way back to 2nd. I came into the table and my first hand I was in the big blind. I had A10 and mona had raised on the button to $12,000. I had $4,000 invested and smooth called. Flop came 632 and mona bet $4,000 again and reraised to $12,000. After thinking about it mona folded and I was off to a good start. I wonder if I did't defend my blind, would mona had done what he/she next time on the button. I didn't play any hands again till I was on the big blind and mona was on the button. That was 6 hands. Out of those 6, mona had raised 4 of them and only one was called and mona lost to an all in when mona's AJ lost to a 88.

Then it folded around to mona on the button and goes all in for $132k. I have $122k. I have JJ. I actually should have taken longer to think about it than I did but I feel my end reaction would have been the same. Call. Mona has AK and I'm a 57% to 43% favorite. Flop comes QT8. After the flop I'm a 72.5% favorite to win. After the Ace hits on the turn I am a 16% favorite and am down to 4 9's left in the deck. River blanks and IGHN.

So my question is was I right in calling or should I have just waited for a better time since so close to the final table and a possible big payday? Overall I played really well only making imo 1 mistake early on when I checked a straight hoping to check raise the original raiser and flop better and the guy checked also and made a 4 card flush on the river. Cost me about $15,000 in chips. Besides that I played great. Really happy for not having played in 2 months. Hopefully this will carry to the WSOP.

I'm so sick right now...more later

Down to 12 I'm 4th in chips and this hand happens. It is almost 2:00am and I'm going to bed but any advice if I misplayed is appreciated. I wanted the win. If I won this hand, 2nd in chips.

#Game No : 4497516785
***** Hand History for Game 4497516785 *****
NL Texas Hold'em Trny:24749782 Level:13 Blinds-Antes(2000/4000-100) - Monday, June 12, 04:47:45 ET 2006
Table Regular(727048) Table #1 (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: pimpsrus125 ( $49027 )
Seat 2: luckymona ( $132440 )
Seat 3: smoknjay420 ( $54208 )
Seat 4: Stewman20 ( $122719 )
Seat 7: bigfef ( $264682 )
Seat 10: OctavianIII ( $76132 )
Trny:24749782 Level:13
Blinds-Antes(2000/4000-100)
pimpsrus125 posts ante [100].
luckymona posts ante [100].
smoknjay420 posts ante [100].
Stewman20 posts ante [100].
bigfef posts ante [100].
OctavianIII posts ante [100].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Stewman20 [ Js Jc ]
bigfef folds.
OctavianIII folds.
pimpsrus125 folds.
luckymona is all-In [132340]
smoknjay420 folds.
Stewman20 is all-In [118619]
** Dealing Flop ** [ Qd, Th, 8c ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Ah ]
** Dealing River ** [ 6c ]
Stewman20 shows [ Js, Jc ] a pair of jacks.
luckymona shows [ Ad, Kh ] a pair of aces.
luckymona wins 9721 chips from side pot #1 with a pair of aces.
luckymona wins 247838 chips from the main pot with a pair of aces.
Player Stewman20 finished in 12 place and received $63.24

Saturday, June 10, 2006

WSOP ME PPV

Yes, ESPN and Harrahs have finally listened to the degenerates out there and the 06 WSOP final table will be on ppv. So August 10th, I will be watching probably about 12-14 hours of poker most of which will be raise pre flop, fold all around. Can't wait.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/3954414.html

Not Poker Related But Hillarious None-the-less!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I0U4P9Imis&eurl=

my favorite part is the last 2 seconds

Friday, June 09, 2006

Blog World Championship

Online Poker

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.

Registration code: 8963340

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Texas Holdem Poker

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.

Registration code: 6789781