A sign to quit the game

2 out of 3 hands. Granted a 20fpp tourney but still. The play just seems to be worse than ever.

PokerStars Game #51311014945: Tournament #315310147, 20FPP Hold'em No Limit - Level VII (125/250) - 2010/10/18 15:38:17 PT [2010/10/18 18:38:17 ET]
Table '315310147 32' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: Senatys (2900 in chips)
Seat 2: pelukaskas (6687 in chips)
Seat 3: larson85 (4785 in chips)
Seat 4: XxkmAnjxX (3575 in chips)
Seat 5: luckyDJB (5970 in chips)
Seat 6: Stewman20 (9675 in chips)
Seat 7: uchose (665 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 8: keizer05 (6145 in chips)
Seat 9: teachis (1100 in chips)
Senatys: posts the ante 25
pelukaskas: posts the ante 25
larson85: posts the ante 25
XxkmAnjxX: posts the ante 25
luckyDJB: posts the ante 25
Stewman20: posts the ante 25
uchose: posts the ante 25
keizer05: posts the ante 25
teachis: posts the ante 25
XxkmAnjxX: posts small blind 125
luckyDJB: posts big blind 250
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [As Ah]
Stewman20: calls 250
uchose: folds
keizer05: raises 250 to 500
teachis: folds
Senatys: raises 2000 to 2500
pelukaskas: folds
larson85: folds
XxkmAnjxX: folds
luckyDJB: folds
Stewman20: raises 2000 to 4500
keizer05: raises 1620 to 6120 and is all-in
Senatys: calls 375 and is all-in
Stewman20: calls 1620
*** FLOP *** [Js Ts 2c]
*** TURN *** [Js Ts 2c] [7h]
*** RIVER *** [Js Ts 2c 7h] [Qs]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Stewman20: shows [As Ah] (a pair of Aces)
keizer05: shows [9c 8c] (a straight, Eight to Queen)
keizer05 collected 6490 from side pot
Senatys: shows [Ad Qh] (a pair of Queens)
keizer05 collected 9225 from main pot
Senatys finished the tournament in 1440th place
Stewman20 said, "how does 98 call there"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 15715 Main pot 9225. Side pot 6490. | Rake 0
Board [Js Ts 2c 7h Qs]
Seat 1: Senatys showed [Ad Qh] and lost with a pair of Queens
Seat 2: pelukaskas folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: larson85 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: XxkmAnjxX (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: luckyDJB (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: Stewman20 showed [As Ah] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 7: uchose folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: keizer05 showed [9c 8c] and won (15715) with a straight, Eight to Queen
Seat 9: teachis folded before Flop (didn't bet)

PokerStars Game #51311077132: Tournament #315310147, 20FPP Hold'em No Limit - Level VII (125/250) - 2010/10/18 15:39:35 PT [2010/10/18 18:39:35 ET]
Table '315310147 32' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: sparrow1964 (595 in chips)
Seat 2: pelukaskas (6637 in chips)
Seat 3: larson85 (4735 in chips)
Seat 4: XxkmAnjxX (3400 in chips)
Seat 5: luckyDJB (6370 in chips)
Seat 6: Stewman20 (3255 in chips)
Seat 7: uchose (615 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 8: keizer05 (15440 in chips)
Seat 9: teachis (1050 in chips)
sparrow1964: posts the ante 25
pelukaskas: posts the ante 25
larson85: posts the ante 25
XxkmAnjxX: posts the ante 25
luckyDJB: posts the ante 25
Stewman20: posts the ante 25
uchose: posts the ante 25
keizer05: posts the ante 25
teachis: posts the ante 25
Stewman20: posts small blind 125
uchose: posts big blind 250
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [Kc Ks]
keizer05: raises 500 to 750
teachis: folds
sparrow1964: calls 570 and is all-in
pelukaskas: folds
larson85: calls 750
XxkmAnjxX: raises 2625 to 3375 and is all-in
luckyDJB: folds
Stewman20: calls 3105 and is all-in
uchose: folds
keizer05: calls 2625
larson85: folds
*** FLOP *** [7d 4h 6h]
*** TURN *** [7d 4h 6h] [Tc]
*** RIVER *** [7d 4h 6h Tc] [Td]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
keizer05: shows [Jh Kd] (a pair of Tens)
XxkmAnjxX: shows [Ts Ad] (three of a kind, Tens)
XxkmAnjxX collected 290 from side pot-2
Stewman20: shows [Kc Ks] (two pair, Kings and Tens)
XxkmAnjxX collected 8160 from side pot-1
sparrow1964: shows [6c 6d] (a full house, Sixes full of Tens)
Stewman20 said, "jeez"
sparrow1964 collected 3325 from main pot
Stewman20 finished the tournament in 1384th place
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 11775 Main pot 3325. Side pot-1 8160. Side pot-2 290. | Rake 0
Board [7d 4h 6h Tc Td]
Seat 1: sparrow1964 showed [6c 6d] and won (3325) with a full house, Sixes full of Tens
Seat 2: pelukaskas folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: larson85 folded before Flop
Seat 4: XxkmAnjxX showed [Ts Ad] and won (8450) with three of a kind, Tens
Seat 5: luckyDJB (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Stewman20 (small blind) showed [Kc Ks] and lost with two pair, Kings and Tens
Seat 7: uchose (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: keizer05 showed [Jh Kd] and lost with a pair of Tens
Seat 9: teachis folded before Flop (didn't bet)

bad day

Well I had a bad day in going for my challenge. With tilt creeping in at the end. Nothing went right, no one gives credit in 6-max apparently. In one stretch I flopped 5 top sets in probably 20 minutes losing every hand. I couldn't hit a full house on any of them. 2 suck outs on the river, 1 beat on the turn and the other 2 on the flop. I only paid off 2 on the river but it adds up especially when jumping up to 3/6. Crazy players man. Just speechless right now. Don't know how these guys remain profitable in the long run playing like they do. I 3 bet constantly with the best hand 90-95% of the time and yet they don't seem to hold up. I guess running up my initiall $100 deposit to over $300 was me running above expectation. I guess so. Not sure. But now down to $68.41. Dropped almost $240 today. Only bright side is I made silver star which I haven't had in probably 2 years. Maybe I can bink one of the silver star tourneys...NOT!

I'm on such a bad streak cash right now....mainly from live play. Makes me not enjoy poker but yet I'm addicted. The issue is all I think about is poker sometimes. I don't necessarily need to play all the time but I watch all tv poker, I read tons of poker sites/books and play when I can. I need to take a break. If things don't turn around after Venetian Deep stacks coming up I think I'm done till maybe till Rincon in March. I might use FPP's to play the occasional tourney but a break may be in order. Of course I say this and usually do take a break (with the longest being 6 months) but usually just 1-2 months then right back on the horse.

Adios for tonight. Maybe I'll be back tomorrow.

WBCOOP Blogger Badge

Blogger Tournament at Pokerstars.com

I played in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker 2010

BR Challenge update

Struggled tonight playing for just over an hour. No shortage of premium hands especially in a 6-max game which is what I played tonight. I was down early and for most of the session but grinded out a $1.50 profit. Bankroll zooms past the $300 mark to $300.51. I am up over $200 so far. Long way to go to my current goal.

bank roll update

So have been out of town for a few days. Played a quick 35 minute session and won $90.50. First hand of the night was basically my winnings. Got lucky on the river.

BR at $299.01

PokerStars Game #50969899107: Omaha Hi/Lo Limit ($2/$4 USD) - 2010/10/11 21:30:19 PT [2010/10/12 0:30:19 ET]
Table 'Mombasa IV' 10-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: TJR43 ($36 in chips)
Seat 2: chengwah ($209.50 in chips)
Seat 3: Red Snake-22 ($227 in chips)
Seat 4: Stewman20 ($80 in chips)
Seat 5: foryoupete ($80 in chips)
Seat 7: Memphie ($45.50 in chips)
Seat 8: uwilgetbroke ($40.50 in chips)
Seat 9: dptrouble ($18.50 in chips)
Seat 10: Kimm ($186.50 in chips)
Red Snake-22: posts small blind $1
Stewman20: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [6h Ts Ks Ad]
foryoupete: calls $2
Memphie: folds
uwilgetbroke: calls $2
dptrouble: calls $2
Kimm: folds
TJR43: folds
chengwah: calls $2
Red Snake-22: calls $1
Stewman20: checks
*** FLOP *** [Kc 8h Tc]
Red Snake-22: bets $2
Stewman20: raises $2 to $4
foryoupete: folds
uwilgetbroke: calls $4
dptrouble: calls $4
chengwah: calls $4
Red Snake-22: calls $2
*** TURN *** [Kc 8h Tc] [4s]
Red Snake-22: checks
Stewman20: bets $4
uwilgetbroke: calls $4
dptrouble: calls $4
chengwah: calls $4
Red Snake-22: raises $4 to $8
Stewman20: calls $4
uwilgetbroke: calls $4
dptrouble: raises $4 to $12
chengwah: calls $8
Red Snake-22: calls $4
Stewman20: calls $4
uwilgetbroke: calls $4
*** RIVER *** [Kc 8h Tc 4s] [Th]
Red Snake-22: checks
Stewman20: bets $4
uwilgetbroke: folds
dptrouble: calls $0.50 and is all-in
chengwah: folds
Red Snake-22: calls $4
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Stewman20: shows [6h Ts Ks Ad] (HI: a full house, Tens full of Kings)
Red Snake-22: mucks hand
Stewman20 collected $7 from side pot
dptrouble: mucks hand
Stewman20 collected $90.50 from main pot
No low hand qualified
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $100.50 Main pot $90.50. Side pot $7. | Rake $3
Board [Kc 8h Tc 4s Th]
Seat 1: TJR43 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: chengwah (button) folded on the River
Seat 3: Red Snake-22 (small blind) mucked [3s 8c 8s 6d]
Seat 4: Stewman20 (big blind) showed [6h Ts Ks Ad] and won ($97.50) with HI: a full house, Tens full of Kings
Seat 5: foryoupete folded on the Flop
Seat 7: Memphie folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: uwilgetbroke folded on the River
Seat 9: dptrouble mucked [Qs Jc Td 9h]
Seat 10: Kimm folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Bank Roll update

Played for an hour and lost $57.50. Was up early as usual and probably should have left but just kept taking sick beat after sick beat and ended up down. Basically lost everything in 4 pots. So sick!

BR at $208.61

BR Challenge update Day 3

So played for 75 minutes and dropped $13.50 but cleared a $10 stellar rewards bonus so basically lost $3.50. Started session up about $60 but over time that evaporated.

BR at $266.11

BR Challenge update

Another quick session tonight of 45 minutes resulted in a $39 win. So far up $269.61 in less than 6 hours of 2/4.

Bank Roll challenge

Hello to the 2 readers of this blog. I haven't been playing much poker either live or on-line lately. Did play a few sessions at Pechanga back in Labor Day weekend and lost way too much money playing 4/8 and 8/16 limit hold'em. Of course BigHeeb dominated.

Came back home and didn't really do much. Then this past weekend with $26 in my on-line account on Stars, I decided to do a bankroll challenge. I wanted to go play live but didn't want to do the drive and play for my usual stakes due to budget issues. I then decided to deposit $100 and only use that for low limit O8 ring games. I decided to play both 6-max and full ring 2/4 limit O8. In 3 different sessions totaling about 5 hours I won about $200. Gotta determine exact amount but it is around $200. I have really enjoyed the 6-max variety and came across some really bad players as is expected in on-line low stakes especially in O8. My plan is to play here and there as my schedule allows and will take a break from Tourney's for now. I did try about $45 in satty's over the weekend only getting a seat in the $11 1/4 million tourney. 2nd weekend in a row without cashing which is a first since my cash rate in that tourney is probably about 60% (small sample size however).

I will update as I proceed. No rush or ultimate goal. I guess stating that defeats the title of this blog so I need to come up with something. Let's say can I build it up to 1K by November 1st? This doesn't sound hard but my time in playing is limited. I have so many other interests that take my time not to mention work and trips to see my girlfriend. Lack of a laptop also hurts. Just hope to be able to build up a nice on-line bankroll to take some shots at larger buy-in tourneys and higher cash games. I will continue to play 2/4 for the time being. One good benefit is I will continue to gain FPPs which will unlock stellar rewards from Stars and should get bronze star this month and maybe even silver star. We shall see. Getting a laptop would help so I can play while watching tv but that will have to wait. Updates to follow.

funny end to SNG

Last 2 hands


PokerStars Game #49925277095: Tournament #313197143, $3.00+$0.25 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2010/09/20 16:35:39 PT [2010/09/20 19:35:39 ET]
Table '313197143 1' 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Steel Orion (6870 in chips)
Seat 4: Stewman20 (2130 in chips)
Stewman20: posts small blind 100
Steel Orion: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [6s 4c]
Stewman20: calls 100
Steel Orion: raises 200 to 400
Stewman20: calls 200
*** FLOP *** [Jd 4h 6h]
Steel Orion: bets 600
Stewman20: raises 1130 to 1730 and is all-in
Steel Orion: calls 1130
*** TURN *** [Jd 4h 6h] [9d]
*** RIVER *** [Jd 4h 6h 9d] [5s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Steel Orion: shows [Kh Kd] (a pair of Kings)
Stewman20: shows [6s 4c] (two pair, Sixes and Fours)
Stewman20 collected 4260 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4260 | Rake 0
Board [Jd 4h 6h 9d 5s]
Seat 1: Steel Orion (big blind) showed [Kh Kd] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 4: Stewman20 (button) (small blind) showed [6s 4c] and won (4260) with two pair, Sixes and Fours

PokerStars Game #49925293409: Tournament #313197143, $3.00+$0.25 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2010/09/20 16:36:02 PT [2010/09/20 19:36:02 ET]
Table '313197143 1' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Steel Orion (4740 in chips)
Seat 4: Stewman20 (4260 in chips)
Steel Orion: posts small blind 100
Stewman20: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [Kd Kc]
Steel Orion: raises 400 to 600
Stewman20: raises 3660 to 4260 and is all-in
Steel Orion: calls 3660
*** FLOP *** [Jh 8h 5h]
Stewman20 said, "lol"
Stewman20 said, "gg"
*** TURN *** [Jh 8h 5h] [Qc]
*** RIVER *** [Jh 8h 5h Qc] [Qs]
Stewman20 said, "lol"
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Stewman20: shows [Kd Kc] (two pair, Kings and Queens)
Steel Orion: shows [8c Qd] (a full house, Queens full of Eights)
Steel Orion collected 8520 from pot
Stewman20 finished the tournament in 2nd place and received $6.30.
Steel Orion wins the tournament and receives $11.70 - congratulations!
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8520 | Rake 0
Board [Jh 8h 5h Qc Qs]
Seat 1: Steel Orion (button) (small blind) showed [8c Qd] and won (8520) with a full house, Queens full of Eights
Seat 4: Stewman20 (big blind) showed [Kd Kc] and lost with two pair, Kings and Queens

Once the flop hit I knew I was dead!

So true!

Nation of Morons

Journey through a micro sng

Some of the worst playing I have ever seen in a sng and I routinely see bad play in these low buy-in. Judge for yourself. I busted 2nd when I lost a flip when the blinds were big at the end.


PokerStars Game #46529705105: Tournament #289995508, $3.00+$0.25 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2010/07/08 23:18:22 ET
Table '289995508 1' 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Stewman20 (2490 in chips)
Seat 2: danhvo08 (1465 in chips)
Seat 3: csitóni (1065 in chips)
Seat 4: holdup2 (1190 in chips)
Seat 5: ammmid (1290 in chips)
Seat 6: divadson (1500 in chips)
ammmid: posts small blind 25
divadson: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [Kc Ks]
Stewman20: raises 125 to 175
danhvo08: folds
csitóni: folds
holdup2: calls 175
ammmid: folds
divadson: folds
*** FLOP *** [Jh 8s 6c]
Stewman20: bets 300
holdup2: raises 300 to 600
Stewman20: raises 1715 to 2315 and is all-in
holdup2: calls 415 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (1300) returned to Stewman20
*** TURN *** [Jh 8s 6c] [2d]
*** RIVER *** [Jh 8s 6c 2d] [7h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Stewman20: shows [Kc Ks] (a pair of Kings)
holdup2: shows [Js 7d] (two pair, Jacks and Sevens)
holdup2 collected 2455 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2455 | Rake 0
Board [Jh 8s 6c 2d 7h]
Seat 1: Stewman20 showed [Kc Ks] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 2: danhvo08 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: csitóni folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: holdup2 (button) showed [Js 7d] and won (2455) with two pair, Jacks and Sevens
Seat 5: ammmid (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: divadson (big blind) folded before Flop

PokerStars Game #46529806044: Tournament #289995508, $3.00+$0.25 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2010/07/08 23:21:51 ET
Table '289995508 1' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Stewman20 (1800 in chips)
Seat 2: danhvo08 (1390 in chips)
Seat 3: csitóni (778 in chips)
Seat 4: holdup2 (2355 in chips)
Seat 5: ammmid (1265 in chips)
Seat 6: divadson (1412 in chips)
csitóni: posts small blind 25
holdup2: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [As 2s]
ammmid: folds
divadson: folds
Stewman20: raises 100 to 150
danhvo08: folds
csitóni: calls 125
holdup2: folds
*** FLOP *** [8s Qs Jd]
csitóni: checks
Stewman20: bets 628
csitóni: calls 628 and is all-in
*** TURN *** [8s Qs Jd] [Qd]
*** RIVER *** [8s Qs Jd Qd] [7h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
csitóni: shows [7c Tc] (two pair, Queens and Sevens)
Stewman20: shows [As 2s] (a pair of Queens)
csitóni collected 1606 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1606 | Rake 0
Board [8s Qs Jd Qd 7h]
Seat 1: Stewman20 showed [As 2s] and lost with a pair of Queens
Seat 2: danhvo08 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: csitóni (small blind) showed [7c Tc] and won (1606) with two pair, Queens and Sevens
Seat 4: holdup2 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: ammmid folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: divadson folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Back in it

PokerStars Game #46529872581: Tournament #289995508, $3.00+$0.25 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2010/07/08 23:24:08 ET
Table '289995508 1' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Stewman20 (922 in chips)
Seat 2: danhvo08 (1540 in chips)
Seat 3: csitóni (2206 in chips)
Seat 4: holdup2 (1805 in chips)
Seat 5: ammmid (1115 in chips)
Seat 6: divadson (1412 in chips)
Stewman20: posts small blind 50
danhvo08: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [Kh Js]
csitóni: folds
holdup2: calls 100
ammmid: folds
divadson: calls 100
Stewman20: raises 822 to 922 and is all-in
danhvo08: folds
holdup2: folds
divadson: calls 822
*** FLOP *** [7d 5c Kc]
*** TURN *** [7d 5c Kc] [Qd]
*** RIVER *** [7d 5c Kc Qd] [Ad]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Stewman20: shows [Kh Js] (a pair of Kings)
divadson: shows [6d 6h] (a pair of Sixes)
Stewman20 collected 2044 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2044 | Rake 0
Board [7d 5c Kc Qd Ad]
Seat 1: Stewman20 (small blind) showed [Kh Js] and won (2044) with a pair of Kings
Seat 2: danhvo08 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: csitóni folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: holdup2 folded before Flop
Seat 5: ammmid folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: divadson (button) showed [6d 6h] and lost with a pair of Sixes

PokerStars Game #46529949631: Tournament #289995508, $3.00+$0.25 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2010/07/08 23:26:48 ET
Table '289995508 1' 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: Stewman20 (2044 in chips)
Seat 2: danhvo08 (1340 in chips)
Seat 3: csitóni (2356 in chips)
Seat 4: holdup2 (1115 in chips)
Seat 5: ammmid (1115 in chips)
Seat 6: divadson (1030 in chips)
divadson: posts small blind 50
Stewman20: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [Kd Kc]
danhvo08: folds
csitóni: folds
holdup2: folds
ammmid: folds
divadson: calls 50
Stewman20: raises 225 to 325
divadson: raises 705 to 1030 and is all-in
Stewman20: calls 705
*** FLOP *** [2h 3d 5h]
*** TURN *** [2h 3d 5h] [Jh]
*** RIVER *** [2h 3d 5h Jh] [Ad]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
divadson: shows [5c Ah] (two pair, Aces and Fives)
Stewman20: shows [Kd Kc] (a pair of Kings)
Stewman20 said, "of course"
divadson collected 2060 from pot
Stewman20 said, "nh"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2060 | Rake 0
Board [2h 3d 5h Jh Ad]
Seat 1: Stewman20 (big blind) showed [Kd Kc] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 2: danhvo08 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: csitóni folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: holdup2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: ammmid (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: divadson (small blind) showed [5c Ah] and won (2060) with two pair, Aces and Fives

PokerStars Game #46529971264: Tournament #289995508, $3.00+$0.25 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2010/07/08 23:27:33 ET
Table '289995508 1' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Stewman20 (1014 in chips)
Seat 2: danhvo08 (1340 in chips)
Seat 3: csitóni (2356 in chips)
Seat 4: holdup2 (1115 in chips)
Seat 5: ammmid (1115 in chips)
Seat 6: divadson (2060 in chips)
Stewman20: posts small blind 75
danhvo08: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [6c Ac]
csitóni: folds
holdup2: folds
ammmid: folds
divadson: folds
Stewman20: raises 864 to 1014 and is all-in
danhvo08: calls 864
*** FLOP *** [8c 4s Kh]
Stewman20 said, "wtf"
Stewman20 said, "wow"
*** TURN *** [8c 4s Kh] [2h]
*** RIVER *** [8c 4s Kh 2h] [4c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Stewman20: shows [6c Ac] (a pair of Fours)
danhvo08: shows [Qd 9d] (a pair of Fours - lower kicker)
Stewman20 collected 2028 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2028 | Rake 0
Board [8c 4s Kh 2h 4c]
Seat 1: Stewman20 (small blind) showed [6c Ac] and won (2028) with a pair of Fours
Seat 2: danhvo08 (big blind) showed [Qd 9d] and lost with a pair of Fours
Seat 3: csitóni folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: holdup2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: ammmid folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: divadson (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

PokerStars Game #46530097150: Tournament #289995508, $3.00+$0.25 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2010/07/08 23:31:55 ET
Table '289995508 1' 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: Stewman20 (2028 in chips)
Seat 2: danhvo08 (753 in chips)
Seat 3: csitóni (3569 in chips)
Seat 4: holdup2 (515 in chips)
Seat 6: divadson (2135 in chips)
holdup2: posts small blind 75
divadson: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [Ac 9d]
Stewman20: raises 250 to 400
danhvo08: folds
csitóni: folds
holdup2: raises 115 to 515 and is all-in
divadson: folds
Stewman20: calls 115
*** FLOP *** [9c Js 5d]
*** TURN *** [9c Js 5d] [Kc]
*** RIVER *** [9c Js 5d Kc] [5s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
holdup2: shows [Qh Ad] (a pair of Fives)
Stewman20: shows [Ac 9d] (two pair, Nines and Fives)
Stewman20 collected 1180 from pot
holdup2 finished the tournament in 5th place
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1180 | Rake 0
Board [9c Js 5d Kc 5s]
Seat 1: Stewman20 showed [Ac 9d] and won (1180) with two pair, Nines and Fives
Seat 2: danhvo08 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: csitóni (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: holdup2 (small blind) showed [Qh Ad] and lost with a pair of Fives
Seat 6: divadson (big blind) folded before Flop

PokerStars Game #46530110546: Tournament #289995508, $3.00+$0.25 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2010/07/08 23:32:23 ET
Table '289995508 1' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Stewman20 (2693 in chips)
Seat 2: danhvo08 (753 in chips)
Seat 3: csitóni (3569 in chips)
Seat 6: divadson (1985 in chips)
Stewman20: posts small blind 75
danhvo08: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [Js Kc]
csitóni: folds
divadson: folds
Stewman20: raises 300 to 450
danhvo08: raises 303 to 753 and is all-in
Stewman20: calls 303
*** FLOP *** [2s 5h Qh]
*** TURN *** [2s 5h Qh] [7c]
*** RIVER *** [2s 5h Qh 7c] [9h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Stewman20: shows [Js Kc] (high card King)
danhvo08: shows [Kh Qc] (a pair of Queens)
danhvo08 collected 1506 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1506 | Rake 0
Board [2s 5h Qh 7c 9h]
Seat 1: Stewman20 (small blind) showed [Js Kc] and lost with high card King
Seat 2: danhvo08 (big blind) showed [Kh Qc] and won (1506) with a pair of Queens
Seat 3: csitóni folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: divadson (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

PokerStars Game #46530227985: Tournament #289995508, $3.00+$0.25 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2010/07/08 23:36:30 ET
Table '289995508 1' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Stewman20 (2040 in chips)
Seat 2: danhvo08 (1506 in chips)
Seat 3: csitóni (2769 in chips)
Seat 6: divadson (2685 in chips)
danhvo08: posts small blind 100
csitóni: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [As 6d]
divadson: folds
Stewman20: raises 300 to 500
danhvo08: folds
csitóni: calls 300
*** FLOP *** [8c 6s 4s]
csitóni: checks
Stewman20: bets 500
csitóni: folds
Uncalled bet (500) returned to Stewman20
Stewman20 collected 1100 from pot
Stewman20: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1100 | Rake 0
Board [8c 6s 4s]
Seat 1: Stewman20 (button) collected (1100)
Seat 2: danhvo08 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: csitóni (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: divadson folded before Flop (didn't bet)

PokerStars Game #46530275388: Tournament #289995508, $3.00+$0.25 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level VII (100/200) - 2010/07/08 23:38:11 ET
Table '289995508 1' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Stewman20 (3090 in chips)
Seat 2: danhvo08 (1156 in chips)
Seat 3: csitóni (2419 in chips)
Seat 6: divadson (2335 in chips)
Stewman20: posts the ante 25
danhvo08: posts the ante 25
csitóni: posts the ante 25
divadson: posts the ante 25
danhvo08: posts small blind 100
csitóni: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [4c 4d]
divadson: folds
Stewman20: raises 2865 to 3065 and is all-in
danhvo08: calls 1031 and is all-in
csitóni: folds
Uncalled bet (1934) returned to Stewman20
*** FLOP *** [6c 7h 8d]
*** TURN *** [6c 7h 8d] [Ts]
*** RIVER *** [6c 7h 8d Ts] [9c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
danhvo08: shows [As Kh] (a straight, Six to Ten)
Stewman20: shows [4c 4d] (a straight, Six to Ten)
danhvo08 collected 1281 from pot
Stewman20 collected 1281 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2562 | Rake 0
Board [6c 7h 8d Ts 9c]
Seat 1: Stewman20 (button) showed [4c 4d] and won (1281) with a straight, Six to Ten
Seat 2: danhvo08 (small blind) showed [As Kh] and won (1281) with a straight, Six to Ten
Seat 3: csitóni (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: divadson folded before Flop (didn't bet)

PokerStars Game #46530266261: Tournament #289995508, $3.00+$0.25 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level VII (100/200) - 2010/07/08 23:37:52 ET
Table '289995508 1' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Stewman20 (2815 in chips)
Seat 2: danhvo08 (1381 in chips)
Seat 3: csitóni (2444 in chips)
Seat 6: divadson (2360 in chips)
Stewman20: posts the ante 25
danhvo08: posts the ante 25
csitóni: posts the ante 25
divadson: posts the ante 25
Stewman20: posts small blind 100
danhvo08: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [Ad 4c]
csitóni: folds
divadson: folds
Stewman20: raises 2590 to 2790 and is all-in
danhvo08: folds
Uncalled bet (2590) returned to Stewman20
Stewman20 collected 500 from pot
Stewman20: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 500 | Rake 0
Seat 1: Stewman20 (small blind) collected (500)
Seat 2: danhvo08 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: csitóni folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: divadson (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)


PokerStars Game #46530454412: Tournament #289995508, $3.00+$0.25 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2010/07/08 23:44:41 ET
Table '289995508 1' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Stewman20 (3665 in chips)
Seat 3: csitóni (878 in chips)
Seat 6: divadson (4457 in chips)
Stewman20: posts the ante 25
csitóni: posts the ante 25
divadson: posts the ante 25
Stewman20: posts small blind 200
csitóni: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [6h Qs]
divadson: folds
Stewman20: raises 3240 to 3640 and is all-in
csitóni: calls 453 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (2787) returned to Stewman20
*** FLOP *** [7s 5s 2d]
*** TURN *** [7s 5s 2d] [8d]
*** RIVER *** [7s 5s 2d 8d] [4d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Stewman20: shows [6h Qs] (a straight, Four to Eight)
csitóni: shows [4c Jc] (a pair of Fours)
Stewman20 collected 1781 from pot
csitóni finished the tournament in 3rd place
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1781 | Rake 0
Board [7s 5s 2d 8d 4d]
Seat 1: Stewman20 (small blind) showed [6h Qs] and won (1781) with a straight, Four to Eight
Seat 3: csitóni (big blind) showed [4c Jc] and lost with a pair of Fours
Seat 6: divadson (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

PokerStars Game #46530487837: Tournament #289995508, $3.00+$0.25 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2010/07/08 23:45:55 ET
Table '289995508 1' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Stewman20 (5068 in chips)
Seat 6: divadson (3932 in chips)
Stewman20: posts the ante 25
divadson: posts the ante 25
Stewman20: posts small blind 200
divadson: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [Ah Kh]
Stewman20: raises 4643 to 5043 and is all-in
divadson: calls 3507 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (1136) returned to Stewman20
*** FLOP *** [Jd 6c 4s]
Stewman20 said, "nh"
*** TURN *** [Jd 6c 4s] [3d]
*** RIVER *** [Jd 6c 4s 3d] [9c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
divadson: shows [8d 8c] (a pair of Eights)
Stewman20: shows [Ah Kh] (high card Ace)
divadson collected 7864 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 7864 | Rake 0
Board [Jd 6c 4s 3d 9c]
Seat 1: Stewman20 (button) (small blind) showed [Ah Kh] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 6: divadson (big blind) showed [8d 8c] and won (7864) with a pair of Eights

PokerStars Game #46530506406: Tournament #289995508, $3.00+$0.25 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2010/07/08 23:46:36 ET
Table '289995508 1' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Stewman20 (711 in chips)
Seat 6: divadson (8289 in chips)
Stewman20: posts the ante 25
divadson: posts the ante 25
Stewman20: posts small blind 200
divadson: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [4h 2d]
Stewman20: raises 286 to 686 and is all-in
divadson: calls 286
*** FLOP *** [Ah 2s 5c]
*** TURN *** [Ah 2s 5c] [Jc]
*** RIVER *** [Ah 2s 5c Jc] [Tc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
divadson: shows [As 5d] (two pair, Aces and Fives)
Stewman20: shows [4h 2d] (a pair of Deuces)
Stewman20 said, "gg"
divadson collected 1422 from pot
Stewman20 finished the tournament in 2nd place and received $6.30.
divadson wins the tournament and receives $11.70 - congratulations!
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1422 | Rake 0
Board [Ah 2s 5c Jc Tc]
Seat 1: Stewman20 (button) (small blind) showed [4h 2d] and lost with a pair of Deuces
Seat 6: divadson (big blind) showed [As 5d] and won (1422) with two pair, Aces and Fives

Final standings before ME

Danny Alaei got me my second bracelet win. This has become too easy. I had 11 final table's and two bracelets and Heeb had 4 final tables and one bracelet.

Updated Fantasy...Stewman running away

Buchanan FT's the 25k and I got Alaei at 10k plo ft tonight.

Politics

So this blog is about poker and I've never tried to inject too much non-poker content here because that is not the purpose. However, I just read Jeff Pearlman's latest blog entry and it was right on. For those who don't know, Jeff is a columnist for Sports Illustrated (SI) and maintains a blog that is not part of SI. I follow it through Google reader and read a majority of the posts. His latest is about Obama and the right wing. Now I am still a registered republican even though my interest in politics has completely waned to the point that I can't stand hearing either side talk and I don't follow the happenings anywhere near like I used too. I'm seriously considering becoming an independent.

For the record I voted for John McCain in the 2000 republican primary because I felt he was a true maverick and we shared very similar beliefs (Campaign finance reform amongst them) which frayed from the mainstream conservative stances. We were mainstream centrist republicans. Of course he lost to Dubya and I ended up voting for Dubya because I didn't like Al Gore. In 2004 I was hoping for a strong democratic candidate to run against Bush. We ended up having JFK (John "FlipFlop" Kerry) run against him and he was another pitiful choice. I reluctantly voted for Bush again but afterwards decided that I will no longer vote in the election if I don't like either candidate. Now 2008 rolls around and we have my boy McCain running against the up start Barack Obama. I was excited because I liked both guys...but that soon changed. Senator McCain was not the same as in 2000. He had sold his soul to the neo-cons and hardcore right wing republicans so he could assure his nomination. He changed stances on numerous topics which went against what I believed. Also "his" choice of Sarah Palin sealed the deal for me and I voted for Obama. I didn't vote for Obama just because of the changes to McCain. I voted for him because he was a fresh change, a Washington outsider, young, articulate and for the first time in my life a leader who finally inspired me and I felt provided hope.

Now we have been 18 months into his presidency. Has he lived up to the hype, no but really who could. I don't think he has been bad but I don't think he has been great. On a side note, the era of great presidents is over. We will never see the like of a Roosevelt (Both TR and FDR) or another Abraham Lincoln or Jefferson. With the 24hr news cycle, the money it takes to become President and the control lobbyists, PACS, and think tanks have, those days are sadly over in my opinion. Back to Obama, I wish he has done some things different but overall I'm still glad he is president right now and it angers me to see people disrespect him and the institution of the presidency, especially after the prior eight years.

All this ranting leads me to the original purpose of sharing Jeff Pearlman's blog. I agree with him on this matter. I wish people would start being more informed, not buy into the fear mongering that goes on and starts investigating things on their own before forming opinions. Unfortunately things don't change. The reason for all this "hatred" and negative opinion is because of one thing and one thing only, the fact that Obama is part black. If he was a 100% white man who was democrat, you won't see any of this, guaranteed.

Pearlman Blog

Fantasy update

Scott Seiver scored Heeb another final table. Is it too little too late?

One more update

Erik Seidel made his second final table. Ship 5.5 more points to me.

WSOP Fantasy updated again

Forgot we agreed to count top 8 finishes in 10k NL HU. Jaka finished 6th for Heeb. Updated points for him below. We also forgot Erik Seidel's final table in 10k 2-7 lowball event. My points updated below also.

WSOP Fantasy Update through 44 finished events

TY TY Gavin!!!

With his victory and me having 2 horses final table the $10k horse championship event I take a commanding lead. I have 7 final tables and Heeb has 2 and we each have 1 victory. Also I had an error in calculating Heebs points when Ivey won. It should be 24pts for Ivey not 30.

TOC bet

We each picked 10 players (we couldn't pick each others guy from our original wsop fantasy bet). Best finisher wins.

WSOP Fantasy update

So Heeb and I once again did a wsop fantasy draft but tweaked the points system this year. We each picked 20 players with Heeb winning the 1st pick by winning a HU SNG against me (not a shocker)!! The points are awarded based on field size and buy-in amount and if you win a higher multiplier is awarded.

Heebs Players
Phil Ivey
Annette Obrestad
Tom Schneider
Jeff Madsen
Bertrand Grosspellier
Greg Mueller
David Williams
Joe Hachem
Phill Hellmuth
Faraz Jaka
Greg Raymer
David Singer
Justin Bonomo
Steve Gross
Scott Seiver
Isaac Haxton
JC Tran
Joe Cada
Vitaly Lunkin
Huck Seed

Stewman's Players
Daniel Negreanu
Sorel Mizzi
Jason Mercier
Scotty N
Daniel Alaei
Josh Arieh
Carlos Mortensen
Michael Binger
Brandon Cantu
Justin Young
Barry Greenstein
JeffereyLisandro
Brock Parker
Eric Baldwin
Shannon Schorr
Shawn Buchanan
Gavin Smith
Eric Seidel
Tom Marchese
Matt Glantz

Of course on paper my team is stacked with the hottest players on the circuit right now plus some major mix game specialist. Heeb's is stacked at the top with of course Mr. Ivey and some big names but nobody who has been on a tear this year. Of course that doesn't matter since he has Ivey and Ivey won bracelet #8. So far I have 4 FT's and Heeb has 2 but with Heeb's win he has taken a 12 point lead going into the last 2 weeks.

3 Vegas Trip reports in 1

3 Vegas trips in 3 months. What's even better... each trip has been profitable. I am running good.

The first trip was pretty much just a vacation back in April. Just Mrs. Heeb and myself. I didn't play any poker. The reason? I had just spent 4 days with Stewman playing the WSOP Circuit events at Harrah's Rincon in San Diego. Stewman and I went deep in one event and cashed for $2,000. I also delved into my first 2-5 NL game and profited about $500 from that.

The second trip was the annual Stewman and Heeb World Series of Poker trip. We cut it short this year due to Stewman's international travel schedule. We spent 3 nights at the God awful Rio hotel (which I will never make the mistake of staying at again). I only played one satty and went out in 4th after a donkey called all his chips off with AK vs my 88 preflop. He flopped the nut flush, I turned a set but the board didn't pair on the river and I went home.

I did play A LOT of the juicy 10-20 limit hold 'em game though. Oh. My. God. To be completely honest, I don't know if I have EVER played in a softer game before... and I played in this game FOR THREE DAYS. At one point, Stewman and I walked up to the cashier window together with more than $2300 between us.

I ran so good at poker, in fact, I even had two winning sessions in the 4-8 Omaha game!

I played some baseball parlays and hit a big one Sunday night. I took the Twins and the over against the Rangers and got the win when in the 9th inning with the go ahead run at the plate, the final out came as a result of a horrific collision between Denard Span and Orlando Hudson in the outfield. The stud hung on to the ball despite nearly losing a testicle and I netted about $300 for my troubles.

I had an epic craps session where I made about $500 in 30 minutes.

The ONLY thing I didn't win at all weekend was Pai Gow. And the very first hand I played I was dealt a straight flush. I then proceeded to lose. Every. Hand. After that.

We ate at a couple great restaurants (Gaylords @ Rio and Shibuya @ MGM Grand), met Dr. Pauly of Tao of Poker fame, and overall had a good time.

When I got home, I went out and dropped almost all my winnings on clothes for my new job. Suits and dress shirts and ties that I desperately needed but couldn't afford before my trip.

The last trip came quite unexpectedly. Mrs. Heeb and I were driving back to the office from lunch (where a bunch of drama unfolded suddenly) and she says, "Let's go to Vegas." That innocent comment turned into an actual spur of the moment Vegas run and within 4 hours we were off.

We listened to game 6 of the NBA finals on the radio as we drove out. The Lakers CRUSHED the Celtics and game 7 would be on Thursday night while we were there. I was excited to be in Vegas for the second year in a row during the NBA finals and couldn't wait to lay money on the Lakers in game 7.

On Wednsday I bet 12 baseball games. I won 10. Wow. I run good.

I should have stuck to betting baseball but I decided to try betting on something I had no knowledge of and no business wagering money on... I decided to bet soccer.

I went with the "sure thing" and bet Spain straight up at -600 odds vs Switzerland. And uh, yah. They lost.

So I did the reasonable thing and put another bet on the heavily favored France vs Mexico. And uh, yah. They lost... badly.

Back to the drawing board. On Thursday, I went back to my bread and butter and bet more baseball. I won 3 of my 5 2-team parlays for the day and was back in the black.

I only played poker on Wednesday and Thursday. 1-2 NL at the MGM. The game was playing extra soft and I was just too lazy to get off my ass and leave the resort for the Rio's 10-20 limit game. In two sessions, I won about $1,000.

As Thursday night's NBA Finals game 7 approached, I had a helluva decision to make. The line had come out after the news broke that Kendrick Perkins had 2 torn knee ligaments and wouldn't be available. The line favored the Lakers by 7.

7 points. The Lakers were favored by 7 in a game 7 against a team that was up 3-2 on them at one point.

I couldn't do it. I knew the Lakers would win but I could not convince myself that it would happen by 8+ points. So, I did the unthinkable.

I put money on the Celtics +7.

BUT I also put money on the Lakers straight up at -375 odds.

I could barely stand to look at the ticket. But I knew it was easy money. I was hoping the Lakers would keep it close most the game and in the final 2-3 minutes, Kobe would take over and they would win by maybe 4 or 5.

If the Lakers won by 7, I would break even on my Celtics bet and win a little on my Lakers bet.

If the Lakers won by 8, I would lose my Celtics bet, win my Lakers bet and I would win a little.

If the Lakers lost, I would lose my Lakers bet, but win my Celtics bet and I would lose a little.

BUT... If the Lakers win by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 points, I would win both bets and win A LOT of money.

I nearly had a heart attack over those 2 and a half hours and Mrs. Heeb kept wondering aloud, "Who should I be rooting for?"... but it all worked out. The Lakers won by 4 and we celebrated.

The next morning I awoke early (the U.S. vs Slovenia World Cup match started at 7:00 AM). I wanted to bet the match and get a seat in the sportsbook so I headed down to the casino.

When I got there, the line for the U.S. was at -140 (down from the opening line of -120). By the time I got to the front of the line to place my bet, the line was at -160 for the U.S. I placed my bet and walked back to my seat. About 20 minutes later, just before the match started, a guy took a seat right next to me and I saw his ticket. The U.S. was now -230.

The U.S. played awful in the first half and by the time the whistle blew for half-time they were down 2-0 and my bet was looking very bad. So, of course, I did what any reasonable sports betting degenerate would do and I doubled my bet for the U.S. in the second half at -150 odds.

In short, the U.S. dominated those Slovenian donkeys and should have won if it weren't for that crooked ref that waived off a late U.S. goal. I was pissed, but surprisingly not as pissed as EVERY OTHER BETTOR IN THE BOOK. I instantly remembered how an awful call a couple years ago in a Chargers vs Steelers NFL game actually went my way and I won $500 as a result. I won my second half bet which was at better odds and bigger than my overall bet so I was happy I basically broke even.

I'm not sure when the next time I'm gonna be able to get out to Vegas will be... Hell, I don't even know when the next time I will be able to play poker will be. I start my new position at work in July and I will spend most of my first 3 months traveling. I'm grateful that I got to spend almost 2 weeks out there over the last few months and I'm elated that each trip has been profitable.

This is how to get a leg up on your competition

Go Adam!

So true

This is 100% accurate and so True

http://ephphatha-poetry.blogspot.com/2010/04/imagine-if-tea-party-was-black-tim-wise.html?spref=fb/

NBC HU FInal results

Well we ended up tied. Wasicka lost in heart breaking fashion to Annie Duke and Both Obrestad and Elezra lost. We ended up tied 22 points each. Pretty pathetic if you ask me.

NBC HU brackets after round of 32

We are all tied after the round of 32. Both of my finalist are now out. All I have left is Annette 15 and Eli Elezra and Heeb has Paul Wasicka. I need Wasicka to lose in the next round and either Annette or Elezra to win there match.

Heeb Stewman
Round 1 16 14
Round 2 6 8
Round3
Quarters
Semi's
Finals
Total 22 22

Heebs bracket

Stewman's bracket

NBC HU Brackets after round of 64

Heeb picked 16 correct matches and I picked 14. Basically we both suck. We both lost one of our finalist and Heeb lost his winner, ELKY!

Blue means incorrect pick. Yellow/Red means correct.

Heebs bracket




Stewman's Bracket



Heeb Stewman
Round 1 16 14
Round 2
Round3
Quarters
Semi's
Finals
Total 16 14

NBC HU brackets

So Heeb and I are once again doing the NBC HU brackets. Loser buys dinner at a fancy steak house.

Pt structure is as follows

1 pt - round of 64

2 pt - round of 32

4 pt - sweet 16

6 pt - round of 8

8 pt - final 4

16 pt - winner

Heeb's bracket

Stewman's Bracket

Another winning session...am I onto something

So last night headed back to the casino for some more 8-16 action. Immediately got the same exact seat at the same exact table as the previous night. Didn't really recognize anyone except one guy who I played with the night before. Solid players with a few donks and no stellar players.

I settled in and passed the first few hands. Then in the next half hour won hands with KK, JJ, and 88. Only pairs I had all night. I was up about half a rack within 30 minutes. No major hands for the first hour, just grinded winning small to medium size pots. In fact the whole night I lost only one hand that went to the river when Donk ATM who I had 3 bet with AK called my bet on the 997 flop and my turn bet when a 4 hit. River was a queen and I knew he had AQ. He checked and I checked behind. I have to say that hand kinda pissed me off. This guy was raising all the time (on-tilt after his aces were cracked when he flopped top set and woman flopped a straight) pre flop and then checking on the flop. He did this 4 or 5 times. So weird. One hand I was in BB and called his raised with J10. Flop was 96x. Checked around. Turn was an 8 and I led out. One guy called and original preflop raiser. River another 8 and I bet and they both folded. Now up to about a rack when the following hand happens.

Solid guy who had just moved to my table 3 bet my 2nd position raise of AJ. I call along with a few others. Flop is AAK. I check and he bets and I'm the only caller. I'm hoping he has KK but AK is possibility. Turn is gin with a J. He bets and I just call. River is a blank and we check it. He had KK and I win. Then went kinda card dead winning 1 0r 2 small pots when the biggest pot of the night happens. I limp in mid position with 76. Flop comes Q76. Donk guy mentioned before leads out. I raise and 2 guys call and donk makes it 3 bets. I cap it and everyone calls. Turn is a 10 and I'm a little worried because 98 is good and so is Q10. I still bet and 2 of them call. River is a 6 filling me up and I bet and they both call. I never saw there hands but I scooped a big pot.

I was then up about $440 and left exactly up $400 in about 2 hours. Overall up $800 exactly in less than five hours of play. I ran good today but also felt in complete control. I knew what everyone had and knew where I stood at all times. Been making more plays lately that have worked. Feeling in the zone. I think these are two of my best back to back sessions ever and I don't mean just the money. Just the fact that I was solid, didn't miss any bets or even misplay hands. I was patient and aggressive when I played.

Probably gonna take this week off even though a Tuesday evening tourney is tempting. A lot of dead money in those tourneys. Lately though I build big stack early and then suffer bad beats to cripple me. Variance for sure but frustrating.

I knew you had a straight but I had top set

Yes the title of this blog post is the words said to me buy a young donkey at my table. Why did he utter those words? Well because he scooped almost a $300 pot. Let's rewind to the beginning of the hand. I was in BB with A3. There are 5 limper's ahead of me. Flop comes 542 and sb leads out for $8. I make it $16 with my flopped straight. UTG makes it $24 and cutoff makes it $32. SB folds and I call $16 more with 2nd nuts. I was pretty sure neither of them had 63. Turn is a 10 and I lead out for $16. UTG makes it $32 and cutoff calls and I just call hoping for a non-paired river. Of course the river is a 10 and I check, UTG bets and cutoff raises, I show the sb and state you believe this and fold and cutoff blurts out of course you had the straight. UTG then proceeds to raise and cutoff just calls. UTG pockets 5's and cutoff pocket 4's. A few minutes later I ask the donkey kid who won, what did you put me on the turn when I led out. He goes I figure you had the straight but I had top set...ding ding ding, yes folks we have a live one.

Back to the beginning. I got to the casino about 9:15 and had to wait till about 10:00pm for a seat. They usually only have two 8-16 tables going but tonight it was packed and they had four games running. They finally call me and I go to my table and immediately recognize 5 of the players and was very happy to be taking a seat. I knew the aforementioned donkey who was a horrible player and one of the luckiest players you will ever see. I knew the old crotchety guy next to him. Another young kid who isn't as good as he thinks, a guy who I've heard other players refer to him as an ATM and then a very solid Asian lady who is really good and not crazy (which is rare imo for those who have played a lot of cash game poker with Asian women).

For the first 45 minutes or so I hardly played. Raised 2 hands in a row with 1010 and QQ and won with the queens. That was about it. The donkey kid was getting so lucky having built his stack to over $400 with unbelievable suck outs that led me shaking my head. I immediately set my sights on him. Over the next 30 minutes I probably took about $200 off of him alone. He then got some back in the aforementioned hand but by the time I left his $400+ stack was now down to $120.

Without going into details I left with $600 exactly for a $400 profit in less than 3 hours of work. It was a soft table and I probably should have stayed longer but I didn't want to lose any of my stack. I'll take it. My first winning session at 8-16 at that casino. I wish all tables were like that one.

WBCOOP

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Registration code: 437496

Insomnia is +EV

I couldn’t sleep. I rolled over and glanced at the clock on the nightstand beside my bed.

2:25 AM.

I could boot up my work computer and look at production reports.

I could make up more expenses to list on my 2009 schedule-C.

Or…

I could get dressed and so something I hadn’t done in nearly 3 months: Play 8-16 limit hold ‘em at Pechanga.

I slid out of bed careful not to wake my sleeping wife. I located my jeans in the dark and shuffled down the stairs. I almost turned on the light in the family room before I realized my mother-in-law was sleeping soundly on the couch.

I went to the fridge and grabbed an ice-cold Rockstar energy drink. I put my keys and my phone in the front pocket of my hoodie and tiptoed to my front door. I was almost out the door before I realized I had forgotten something. My bankroll.

I walked back upstairs to my secret hiding spot. I reached inside and grasped my wad of cash. I was surprised at first how thick and heavy it felt. I stood next to the window with just the moonlight shining in and realized it was heavier than usual because it was made up of mostly $20 bills instead of the usual $100s. I peeled off $400 in 20s and $400 in 100s and put the rest back.

Obviously, at 3:00 AM there is no traffic on the freeway. I got to the casino’s exit in 7 minutes. As I pulled into the parking structure, it was still packed.

I thought to myself, "What recession?"

The familiar smell of stale cigarette smoke and ammonia-filled cleaning products hit me as the automatic door slid open and I stepped inside.

And then I felt it.

“It” is the nervous, stomach-sinking feeling I used to get when I was in my early 20s and first started gambling. The heart-racing, short-of-breath feeling that would hit me as I would approach the $5 blackjack table at my local Indian casino.

I remember one time it was so bad I actually threw up at a craps table at the New York New York casino.

It had been a long time since I had felt “it”. In fact, I had forgotten what “it” felt like. In preparation for my last Vegas trip with Stewman, I had been cutting out of work 4-5 hours early 3 days a week for the 6 weeks leading up to our trip. I joked with my wife how it felt like more of a job than what I actually did for a living. It got to the point where after a 5 hour session I would stare at the clock and wish it to 5:00 so I could go home.

In 14 sessions, I had 10 winning sessions, 3 losing sessions and 1 session I basically broke even (after tips and lunch I left down 2 big bets).

I made good money during that 6-week run... Almost $2,000 in 70 hours of play in the uber tight 4-8 LHE game with the rocks during the day. That was enough to bankroll almost my entire trip.

At first, when my wife would call me while I was at the table, I would run to the corner of the poker room to answer my phone and tell her I was in a meeting or with a client. She finally caught on after about a week and I was surprised when she wasn’t upset. 3 weeks after I got back from Vegas she was encouraging me to go play poker cuz money was a bit tight before Christmas and we still had gifts to buy.

The one thing I will never do, however, is gamble with money I can’t afford to lose.

Money has been tight ever since the minute I stepped off the plane from Vegas the week before Thanksgiving. Business has been very slow. The combination of the weak economy and the slowest quarter of the year has reeked havoc on my bank account.

But things are starting to turn around.

I got word last month that my 2009 annual bonus will be about $10,000 more than my 2008 bonus. Since most of the bonus will go to the IRS to pay last year’s taxes that extra $10k will provide a nice buffer to a depleted poker bankroll.

But I digress…

I walked past a flock of drunken 25-year old girls on their way out of Silk, the nightclub across from the poker room. All of them wearing short skirts and none of them still wearing their way-too-high heals. In my younger days, I would have thought to myself: “which of those girls is the freakiest in bed?” Now into my 30s, married with 2 kids at home, I thought to myself: “which of those girls is going to drive???”

I walked through the double-doors of the poker room and looked up at the screen that lists all the games going. The 8-16 game was still going and there was a seat open. I made my way over to table 44 and took my seat in the 5 chair.

I looked around and recognized only 1 face: An aggro Hispanic guy in his late 40s whom I have played with on more than one occasion. Other than that, I was flying blind.

I got to the table in the cutoff and the first hand I looked at was 10-8 off-suit.

Could this be destiny? 10-8 off-suit is my favorite hand and I loved my position. The first 4 players folded to Aggro-Hispanic guy to my right and as predicted, he opened for a raise. I insta-three-bet it making it $24 to go. And of course, the button, both blinds and the original raiser ALL called.

The flop came J-10-7.

The blinds checked to Aggro-Hispanic guy and he turns to look at me and knocks the table while staring at me. I have mid pair with the low-end inside straight draw so I fire out. The button calls, both blinds fold and Aggro-Hispanic guy raises. I’m stuck in between these two and I’m not willing to pay another $40 with my marginal hand, weak draw. I fold the button folds behind.

WTF!?!?!

The button smooth calls 3-bets preflop, smooth calls a c-bet on the flop with 3 people to act behind him, gets heads-up in position with the aggro-donk and then FOLDS???

Bells and whistles started going off in my head. Either the guy sitting to my left was a complete idiot or he was working with Aggro-Hispanic guy to my right.

I made a mental note and played on.

About 20 minutes later I pick up J-J in the small blind. At this point, I had seen about 8 hands and in each hand, Aggro-Hispanic guy saw the flop. Twice he had gone to the show down and once he showed Q-9 for the winner and once J-3 for a chop.

With about $600 in front of him and on the button, it folds to him and he raises. Again, I 3-bet making it $24 to go and the donkey to my left calls as does the original raiser Aggro-Hispanic guy. We go to the flop 3 handed:

J-3-2 with two clubs.

I lead out for $8, the big blind smooth calls and Aggro-Hispanic guy raises.

Best case scenario, right?

Thinking I can check-raise the turn when the bet is $16, I feign weakness and just call. It’s then that I confirmed these guys were working together.

The big blind (who mind you is the same guy who just called my 3-bet preflop, then my c-bet on the flop) raises.

Aggro-Hispanic guy re-raises.

So just to recap: I’m holding top set 3-handed and it’s 4-bets to me.

It was then that I had a flash-back to an Omaha 8OB hand I played in Vegas 3 months earlier: I flopped the nut flush and the nut low draw 4 handed and it was capped on the flop and on the turn. The board paired on the river, brought the low and again capped. I got one-eighth’d and instead of winning a $500 pot, I made back $50 of the $120 I put in the middle.

Anyways, back to the current hand. I know it’s going to get capped behind me, and I still want to represent weakness, so I just call. Then, the big blind caps and we both call behind.

The turn is a red 7. I remember looking at the card as the dealer put it on the board and thinking, “that’s the best possible card for me.”

I check, the big blind checks (I know, right?) and the button bets. I decide it’s time to put the pedal to the metal and I raise. The big blind just calls and surprisingly the Aggro-Hispanic guy just calls.

I look out to the corner of my eye and the guy to my left lifts his hand off the table and gestures in a “what are you doing?” motion towards Aggro-Hispanic guy.

They are obviously working together.

The dealer puts out the river and it’s a red 9.

I casually put out $16 and the big blind raises it to $32. Aggro-Hispanic guy gets out of the way and I announce “raise” and put out another $32. He just calls at this point, I table my pocket jacks, and ask the dealer to show me the big blind’s hand. Immediately, Aggro-Hispanic guy protests and I say to him, “Why do you care if I see his cards? Don’t you want to see what he was calling you with?”

The dealer flips over the big blind’s cards and shows 10-J no clubs.

I drag the $300 pot and while I’m stacking my chips I suggest to the table that it’s weird to me that the button would have a problem with me asking another player to show his cards.

Both the donkeys sit quietly. Nobody else flinches.

I laugh to myself and continue to stack my chips.

As time passes, I begin to realize that everyone at the table is weak-passive except for the Aggro-Hispanic guy. I play a few hands against the other players at the table and whiff on the flop making it an easy decision to release the hand without further damage.

The next time I look at the time it’s almost 6:00 AM. We’re down to 7 handed but Aggro-Hispanic guy is still hanging tough. He’s down to about $340 in chips and after a quick count of my own chips I’m sitting pretty at $820... more than twice my original buy-in. And then it happened.

I’m in the cutoff and I look down at A-A. It’s once again folded to Aggro-Hispanic guy who this time open-limps. I have been playing with him for almost 2 hours and this is the first time I see him open-limp. I pop it and as usual, the donkey to my left on the button comes along. Both blinds call as well as Aggro-Hispanic guy. We go to the flop 5 handed.

Flop: 6-8-9 rainbow.

Uhh that’s a scary-ass flop 5-handed.

Both blinds check and as I am gathering chips to c-bet, Aggro-Hispanic guy surprises me and leads out.

Wow. Haven’t seen him do that before…

There’s $82 in the pot. It will cost me $8 to call but then I risk everybody coming in after me. If I raise, I will probably get heads-up (or at least 3-handed).

I raise.

The donkey to my left re-raises. Both blinds fold to Aggro-Aggressive guy. He just calls.

Shit. If he raises, I can fold. But by him just calling, I’m getting 15-1 on my money. I’m pretty sure I’m behind. At this point, I can assume safely that one of them has either two pair, a flopped set or maybe a pair and an OESD. The other probably just has air and is building a pot.

Getting 15-1? I can’t fold for $8 more.

I call.

The turn brings: Ace of clubs.

I try not to jump out of my seat when that card hits. I think to myself that the only way I’m behind now is if somebody has 5-7 or 7-10. I think it’s unlikely that Aggro-Hispanic guy would limp with a hand like 5-7 or 7-10 but think it’s extremely likely donkey to my left may have a hand like that.

Aggro-Hispanic guy again leads out. I raise. Donkey to my left folds! I know I’m good now. I’ve never been so sure I had the best hand when I wasn’t holding the nuts. Aggro-Hispanic guy re-raises. I make it 4 bets. He makes it 5 bets. I make it 6. At this point, he only has about $200 left. He looks at me and says, “You want to just put it all in right now?” I respond by saying, “I guess so. Can we do that?” I ask the dealer.

She reaches across the table and counts out his chips. He has 90 $2 chips left for $180. I push out two stacks of 40 and one stack of 10 chips and he says to me, “I hope you’re not on a draw…”

I say back to him, “C’mon man… three 8s no good…”

Before I can even finish that sentence, the dealer puts out another 8 on the river.

He looks at me and says, “oh yah?” and flips over one of his cards, exposing an eight.

Shit.

Is it really possible that my turned top-set just lost to rivered quads? What have I done to anger the poker gods once again???

WAIT! Is this a jackpot? My heart races. Shit… Aces full of 8s beat by quad 8s doesn’t qualify.

I hold my hand over the muck ready to drop it as soon as he flips over that other card. The dealer reminds him that he has to show both cards to win.

Smugly, he says “if just one card beats him, I shouldn’t have to show the other one. But just to show I had the best hand the whole way…”

And he shows… A NINE.

The donkey to my left claps his hand and says “I knew it!” all excitedly.

I turn to him and say, “You like his hand that much, huh? Do you guys split your winnings with each other or something?”

He responds by saying “I’ve been playing poker longer than you’ve been alive. It was so obvious you were beat.”

“Obvious, huh?”

“Yah.”

I pause just long enough so other players don’t get pissed, but long enough that it’s obvious I’m slow rolling.

“Hey dealer,” I say. “Ship those chips to me.”

I table my A-A, place four $2 chips on them and stand up.

“I better get some racks for these chips,” I say. “You guys are leaving, right?”

I don’t wait for an answer. I walk up to the chip window, grab 6 plastic chip racks and when I get back to the table both the Aggro-Hispanic guy and donkey to my left are gone and the game is breaking.

Another almost...sorta

Top 2 get seats into $700 NAPT Venetian qualifier. I get it all in with the guy crushed and he hits his 3 outer. So sick!! Of course I'm 3rd place finisher and win $75.

PokerStars Game #38484195783: Tournament #233734714, $3.03+$0.30 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level XXII (15000/30000) - 2010/01/20 22:02:06 MT [2010/01/21 0:02:06 ET]

Table '233734714 6' 9-max Seat #5 is the button

Seat 4: Stewman20 (153156 in chips)

Seat 5: underyder (398051 in chips)

Seat 9: 10-2x2 (780793 in chips)

Stewman20: posts the ante 3000

underyder: posts the ante 3000

10-2x2: posts the ante 3000

10-2x2: posts small blind 15000

Stewman20: posts big blind 30000

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to Stewman20 [Ad 7c]

underyder: folds

10-2x2: raises 747793 to 777793 and is all-in

Stewman20: calls 120156 and is all-in

Uncalled bet (627637) returned to 10-2x2

*** FLOP *** [9c 9d 2s]

*** TURN *** [9c 9d 2s] [Qd]

*** RIVER *** [9c 9d 2s Qd] [4d]

*** SHOW DOWN ***

10-2x2: shows [Qc 7h] (two pair, Queens and Nines)

Stewman20: shows [Ad 7c] (a pair of Nines)

10-2x2 collected 309312 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot 309312 | Rake 0

Board [9c 9d 2s Qd 4d]

Seat 4: Stewman20 (big blind) showed [Ad 7c] and lost with a pair of Nines

Seat 5: underyder (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 9: 10-2x2 (small blind) showed [Qc 7h] and won (309312) with two pair, Queens and Nines

WBCOOP

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker! The WBCOOP is a free online Poker tournament open to all Bloggers, so register on WBCOOP to play.

Registration code: 328635

2010 Poker plans

So we here at Grinders Inc will begin 2010 looking to improve on 2009. That may be hard since we had a combined live tournament winnings of over $21,000.

Our schedule looks like this. March 19-22 we will be playing a variety of events including a dream team style event, a partners event, and an O8 event at WSOP Rincon circuit stop. Heeb and I have played a total of 8 events by my accounts and have 3 cashes with 2 final table between us at Rincon. Not too bad!

After that it is off to the WSOP in May. Plan is to play at least one NL event and maybe an O8 events. We shall see. We will be there opening weekend I believe.

That is all for now!!

Week 17 Results

So we end the year with the following. We break even on our bets.

Losers
Heeb
14
Stewman
15

Winners
Heeb
21
Stewman
18

Week 16 Results

Stewman takes the lead in the losers.

Losers
Heeb
13
Stewman
14

Winners
Heeb
18
Stewman
17