Today It Was a Good Day

Wow.

C’mon now, give them credit, I know it’s hard.

SKOL VIKINGS LET’S GO!!!

I’m almost thankful for the runner-runner flush draw out in a LO8 tourney last night so I could go watch the second half of the game last night.

By the way, the game was iced with four minutes remaining, not three seconds. For some reason the refs couldn’t take their mouths off Farve’s schlong and gave him not one but TWO chances to win the game. A phantom holding penalty after Moore broke through the line for 25+ yards with four minutes remaining forced the Vikes to revert to a Denny Green “run the draw with 3rd and long” type play and had to punt. After the punt on 3rd and 10 with the Packers at mid-field and Farve throwing a pass that Ryan Leaf would have been proud of, an illegal hand to face penalty was called… on a defensive lineman????

Great job not getting in the way of the game gentlemen.

I know that sounds like my tinfoil hat was twisted on too tight, but there was no reason for the calls and frankly Vikes could use a couple more breaks, unlike last week (again, heavy internet sarcasm at use here folks).

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I was coerced into playing some poker last night when G-Rob IM’d me about a freeroll on Full Tilt. I had been trying to save up the points to acquire one of those super-cool hockey jerseys (birthday present idea guys!!!!), but figured why not play a little donkey poker to relieve the stress of being down a buy-in and a quarter at the $1/$2 PLO8 tables (that’s $250, and hurts the bankroll a bit while cashing out FAKE funds for Vegas).

199 runners, 9 get $26 tournament tokens. Badblood joined the turnip truck and we were off. This wasn’t like a usual freeroll where half the table forgot they signed up, but the play was on-par for well, any tourney at Full Tilt. First hand saw T8 vs 84 all in on a 8 high flop. I managed to avoid suckouts and carefully chipped up with value bets since steals/bluffs don’t work on these folks since Full Tilt erased their fold buttons.

Yes, that’s me in 9th, and yes I won the token. Small prize relatively, but damnit I needed something like this since the past seven months has been littered with too many lost coin flips, suckouts, and bad play on my part. The following things I saw seem to be crucial to cashing/winning a tournament:





1) You must suckout at least once while behind (I call this the CJ Theorem of Profitabililty). AQ vs. AK and I flopped a Q early on to double up.

2) You must win at least one coin flip. JJ vs. AK and it held up despite a K flopping but I rivered a straight.

3) You must steal enough blinds with total crap cards and not get caught. I stole enough blinds to stay at or near par with any two cards while picking on the shortstack and avoiding the people who could have posted and folded into the token but refused to.

4) You must be able to absorb some beats and steal attempts gone south. I lost a hand very late in the tourney with JJ vs Q4, and tried to steal a tight shortstack’s BB with K4o, but he woke up with aces.

5) Know the structure of the tourney. Since it was a satellite and 1st got the same thing as 9th, when I was severely shortstacked and 10th place was in the same boat as me, I waited him out to do something stupid like bet into an over-zealous chip leader. Sure enough he did and lost, and I won despite having only two antes left.

Small taste of victory.

The bigger taste came while playing the cash games while playing PLO8 with SirWiffleBat at PokerStars. I’m sure I surprised him a little bit, shying away from my usual rockish façade and pushing a couple of draws profitably. Here’s the draw I had according to TwoDimes:

http://twodimes.net/h/?z=1360851
pokenum -o8 ac qs 2c jh - ts th 5s 9d -- 4s jc tc 3h
Omaha Hi/Low 8-or-better:
40 enumerated boards containing 4s Jc Tc 3h
cards scoop HIwin HIlos HItie LOwin LOlos LOtie EV
Qs Ac 2c Jh 12 12 28 0 15 0 0 0.412
Ts 5s 9d Th 19 28 12 0 0 0 0 0.588


Hmmmm… I put the guy on the set, maybe I wasn’t justified after all to take a shot. Donkey see, donkey doo-doo. Gotta take a chance once in a while right?

I was due????

Now I'm sounding like an Omatard, help me.

A buy in and a half later, combined with a buy in win on Full Tilt and I was unstuck for the day, plus a profit.

Yes, today it was good day, here’s to hoping it continues.

Thanks for dropping by, now if you’re a short bus rider like myself and haven’t checked out the latest WPBT news from Otis, stop waiting for your helmet and click on the link! Thank you Otis and all the bloggers who are making these last 16 days before Vegas very painful to endure.

I'm In a Hurry

I'm In A Hurry To Get Things Done
(Oh,) I Rush Rush Until Life's No Fun
All I Really Gotta Do Is Live Die
But, I'm In A Hurry Don't Know Why

- Alabama

Starting a casino trip at midnight leaves for a lot of idle time before getting picked up. Luckily I had a bottle of Captain Morgan in the house and some rowdy bloggers dishing out dial-a-shots. Getting buzzed before heading to a bar service only casino is a must, since they do not allow alcohol on the casino floor (18 and over) and no free drinks for playing (unlike Vegas), and a 1am last call (booooooo). I was able to get the birthday boy at least one drink as we got there right before last call. The house country band was wrapping up their set with “I’m In a Hurry” by Alabama, good twang, excellent effort. I was in a personal happy-place gabbing with Burnsie while smashing buttons and yelling for quads on the bar video poker machines. Then the slightly tipsy woman playing in the barstool next to us with a Grand Casino sweatshirt on decides to start a conversation without me.

Hookah bar in Minnesota? If she was a hookah, I think I’d need a couple more bottles of Rumple Minz to make her go from Kathy Liebert to Kathy Ireland. But being the jolly drunk guy I decided to listen to her prattle about her losing and having to sweat us since she was out of money. My guess is that she saw me pull out my poker bankroll to pay for the drinks and her intentions were less then kosher. Or my video poker skillz (that netted a $10.50 win) made her panties wet.

I’m thinking it was the former.

Painfully watched Burnsie lose the $100 that he brought in a matter of an hour, but Drizz was the penny-slot master as I won enough to give him my winnings so he could keep playing. I won probably $80-$100, but it was his birthday and there’s no sense in letting your friend sulk while you win.

Later as we were playing another bank of two cent machines, some woman-folks circled around to start playing next to us even after I got caught gawking at the long legged blonde in the group of three. Nothing sexier then a skinny drunk white guy playing penny slots with another skinny white guy, I’m still amazed she kept her restraint by not stripping right in front of us.

Caution, I use internet sarcasm sometimes, you have been warned.

Sadly, the Nordic blonde goddess left us when she lost her $20 despite our discussion on slots strategies such as varying your bet to throw off the random number generator thus increasing her possible win-rate and giving the machine a lap dance that would make a Buddhist monk blush. Yes, I’m shameless, and I wish it was me getting the lap dance.

Let-it-ride rode me into my only losses of the night as some chain smoking wiggahs sucked all of the fun I was having while losing my money to a jolly dealer. The pit bosses should have a no wiggah zone as I was willing to lose the reminder of my $100 buy-in to keep the conversation with the dealer, but the Newport smoking, basketball jersey-wearing doofuses took all the fun out of it. They slapped down their $200 in quarters trying to look like high rollers… then requested $25 in silvers. Since I didn’t feel like getting into a dick-swinging contest by putting up the $1,500 in my pocket, I decided to grab Burnsie to see if the poker room had any action.

One shorthanded $2/$4 Hold Em’ game going with three guys who all knew each other.

Sigh.

I caught some lucky cards and marveled in the bad play. Sorry sir but bottom two pair isn’t very good with a 4 card straight and a possible flush out there, but you go ahead and bet it hard when someone is playing back at you. Since I was out of my element I walked away after one hour with a tidy 9BB profit with tips going out to the dealer and cage of course.

The sun started to come up, so we hit the restaurant for the gig-normous $2.99 breakfast special with a plate fit for Paul Bunyan. Generous slice of ham, two eggs (scrambled), hash browns, and Texas toast (lightly buttered), hit all the right spots of my stomach for the ride home.

Not a bad way to finish up a day after being up for over 24 hours.

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Why won’t this tournament itch go away? Why am I in such a hurry to win one? Tournament poker the crack-cocaine of the poker world and I can’t let it go. No, I’m not ready to sell my chalk white self out in exchange for buy-ins, but I continue to let those degenerates on the IM chat boxes whore me into buying into tournaments.

Easy money they say! When you’re kicking ass like CJ and JoeSpeaker cashing big at the Full Tilt $50K guarantee it does look easy. Or if you’re Otis bashing around PartyPoker players like piñatas during Cinco De Mayo during their $500K Sunday guarantee.

Congrats guys.

I lost at the WPBT shootout on Full Tilt with Aces… again. When you’re running as bad as me this is almost expected. Last night while railbirding the above players, I did manage to cash in a Stars $5 MTT with 1322 runners, never getting into a coin flip or being the underdog, until I busted with 122 people remaining holding AJo vs. someone calling my all-in with 66?

Thanks for five bucks!

Maybe one of these days, coin flips will turn my way, but until then I’ll be satisfied with the camaraderie of tournament poker with the bloggers.

I hear there’s a tournament coming up in Vegas a couple of days after my birthday… will you be there?

I hope so.

Thanks for dropping by, now go congratulate the UFP crew for crushing the virtual competition this weekend. And compliment G-Rob on his hair since he sucks at poker.

Drizz The Greek's Week 11 NFL Picks

Twice the bubble boy yesterday while playing PLO and HORSE tournaments left me with a dry mouth and hungry for a little more. So, I decided to take up PartyPoker's offer of a raked hands bonus... and finished in 2.5 hours playing 6 tables of PLO8 at once. If I didn't hate the site's software and customer service so much I'd play there more often as I had a VERY profitable run.

Ok, without further ado... you're anti-picks for the week!!

Two Team Parlay:

Panthers -3, Jags -4.5 (I know you're not supposed to "fall in love with a team" but the Panthers are kicking some ass, and this will be the first time the Bears have to play a team that can score more then 3 points a game)

Three Team Parlay:

Colts -5.5, Redskins -6.5, and Lions +8 (Everytime I bet a Lions' game, I lose, go for the opposite)

Straight Up My Tony!

Giants -8 (McNabb's groin isn't the only thing hurting in Iggles-town)

6 Point Teaser:

Jags +1.5, Pats -3.5, Rams -3.5 (Rams seem to fuck up my parlay bets, hopefully giving them an extra 6 points on the spread will help)

Over and Under and Through the Icky Shuffle We Go!

Colts and Bungles over 47.5 (Colts D is playing phe-nom-tasic, but so are both offenses)

I'll have to wait till tomorrow to recap a casino trip where Drizz actually played shorthanded HE and won!

Good luck folks!

When Nature Attacks!

Ok, it was a squirrel not some King Kong sized grizzly bear. We live in the suburbs, so seeing a squirrel snacking on Little Drizz’s Halloween candy (squirrels prefer Junior Mints, peanut M & Ms, and Blow Pops just so you know) when entering the kitchen caused quite a stir. That didn't help my wife's mood as she had a rough day at work since her assistant enjoys taking two hours to carefully arrange pepperoni in perfect geometric shape on 300 slices of pizza and taking an hour to make instant mashed potatoes.

A freaked-stressed out pregnant chick is not the type of Wednesday night relaxation I was looking for. At least the WPT replay provided some comic relief, as VVP picked the chip leader to win for the 35th straight time. Try something new man, like picking the only known pro at the table (Phil Ivey) oh wait that's always Mike's pick. Carry on.

Tonight I will be adventuring on a Midnight Run to Grand Casino Hinckley. As mentioned earlier in the week my buddy Burnsie is turning 30 and respectfully requested we dust off a time-honored tradition that used to take place nearly every week. Of course getting a steady job, retaining a spouse, and producing little spawns have taken precedence over nickel slots, swapping drunken party stories about chicks with weird nipples, and eating that delicious cheap breakfast when the sun peaks over the frozen tundra the next day.

Here's one such story:

Many moons ago when we were a couple of 120 pound volleyball gym rats, we took a couple of ladies with us on one of our trips. The destination was Treasure Island near Red Wing, MN. In this multi-colored piece of shit 85’ Nova the space was a little cramped since all four of us were over six feet tall made for the need to joke about wanting to get there faster then the 30 mph max speed that the car had.

Can you tell I was a regular Casanova in college? Pimpin ride, shy-guy syndrome, and bean-pole arms what more could you ask for in a guy??? I’m surprised Tommy Lee didn’t drop by my parent's house to regularly ask for Pam to come back home.

Our prior experiences led us to the casino easily, but if you haven’t been to Treasure Island (especially back then) it was easy to get lost (see Cheap Thrill’s recent trip report). Once inside about 55 cartons of Marlboro Reds hit us right in the face, and back then being a social smoker I whipped out my pack of Lights and lit up despite my girlfriend’s look of disgust. Being the suave gentlemen that we were, Burnsie and I railbirded the ladies while playing the newest nickel slots with *gasps* bonus games! Although the colecovision graphic slots are now being moved into dark corners of casinos these were the hot things to play back then.

After an hour or so the ladies were bored since the slots gods decided to accept their sacrifices without any monetary rewards, it was time to play some blackjack. Past the age of 25, I could (and still) never win at a blackjack table, but since I was only 21 at the time, the card deities smiled upon my barely over McDonald's-wage gambling. While betting $5 a hand I was making a little change while Burnsie was cleaning up due to his usual total disregard for the chips having monetary value.

Then the drunken Indian (feather not dot) stumbled into the open seat on the end next to me.

He promptly splashed about $750 worth of nickels and quarter chips on table and declared he wishes to play black…. jack and some smokes, gotta have some smokes (repeat "gotta have some smokes" about 20 times before the cigarette lady came back with the right carton). The dirty trucker at the other end of the table immediately decided to badger the Indian with jokes for smokes but the Indian paid no attention as his betting style consisted of grabbing a handful of chips and splashing them in the betting circle. Denomination of the chips be damned.

No, he wasn’t counting cards, or “putting on an act” as I’ll reveal why I knew this in a second. His erratic play promptly got the pit bosses worked up since he’d hit on seventeen with a $175 bet at a $5 table (maximum bet was $199 back then), and get a 4. Then stay on 5 with a $15 bet and have the dealer bust. All the while the trucker kept badgering the Indian for smokes and drinks which he bought a carton right at the table with a generous $25 tip to the be-thonged cigarette lady (yes I got slapped for looking, I'm only human!!) and started passing out a pack and drinks for everyone.

Good times.

Eventually the Indian started to lose and his pile of chips diminished, but he wasn’t going to be deterred into making stupid plays. Until one hand the anchor of the table, a portly bingo player, didn’t take a hit with 13 and a dealer’s face card showing, dealer flipped up 13 also and caught an 8 for 21. This caused the previously serene drunkin Indian to explode out of his chair knocking over his Jack and Coke to exclaim...

“IF YOU’RE GOING TO PLAY STUPID, I’M GOING TO PLAY STUPID TOO!”

For the next six hands he did just that… Any pair? Split them!! Then split em again despite getting 20 on both. If he got a hard 18, he hit it for 28 despite the dealer’s up card showing a 6. Soft 13? He’d stay, and the dealer’s 10 became a 20 with a matching paint card. In the one hand he did manage to get 21 in four cards, he still insisted on a hit. Maybe today, the pit boss would have stepped in and saved this poor soul from himself but I guess they were hard up for retaining those checks for the new hotel expansion.

After losing everything but a couple of nickels, he gently “rested his eyes” and security came to take the poor guy away.

Never saw him again that night, but whenever I’m sitting down playing poker virtually or live the image of that guy is burnt into my mind enough to realize just how destructive tilt can be. I realize it’s a kind of a you-had-to-be-there type of story to be funny, but its just one of many Midnight Run stories that I’ll be hoping to add to while going up Hwy. 35 to Hinckley tonight.

Thanks for dropping by, now check out the blog of the 18 year old being accused of killing his 14 year old girlfriend’s parents. I don't know which is more retarded, the blog or the comments.

Let It Snow!

Sigh.

The white stuff has invaded the Twin Cities where it will clamp down on the terrain for the next eight months or maybe longer depending on what kind of deal Tice made with the devil for that win on Sunday. The wife wants to purchase a snowblower since our driveway is now our responsibility to clear since we don’t live in a duplex anymore. Is the comfort of not busting your back at 3:30am to clear the driveway worth $500-$600?

While the cold winds and crystallized water droplets fell outside, frigid virtual cards inside prevented me from having a wonderful write up about my tournament cashes. I am pleased that I managed to outlast most of the field in both attempts last night but one beat and one Alberta clipper wave of cards sent me to the rail without dessert. 34th out of 180 in a $20 PokerStars SnG where my shortstacked A9 was shot down by the powerful A2. It happens, one of these days I’ll get lucky with these 70/30 shots.

On Full Tilt I managed to reach the bubble taking 11th out of 77 in a PLO8 tourney. Good god, when you get chat like “I was way ahead pre-flop with 9925 rainbow vs. A346 double suited” (for those of you who don’t play O8… 2599 is not exactly a “premium hand”, think along the lines of playing J6o UTG) you know your chances of winning increase dramatically. I picked a couple of spots for steals, but nothing materialized as I had to push with a less then premium hand and ran into Aces with a broadway wrap vs. my one-way flush draw AJJ7. The flop gave me hope; the turn gave me more outs then poorly written NFL contract to at least a split. But it wasn’t to be. Pleased with the decisions I made rather then the results was more important than the money. Don’t get me wrong, I like money, but when you’re on a cold-streak of tournament finishes, being able to look back at your decisions and feeling confident that you played your best trumps the greenbacks.

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Ever been out to eat and wonder why the hell this cost $XX.XX? You enjoyed the food, the service was manageable, but the price tag just didn’t match. Timberlodge steakhouse left me with the urging for more last night while we celebrated my buddy Burnsie’s 30th birthday a little early with the in-laws last night. Don’t get me wrong, the honey infused, parmesan crusted bread they brought out could have constituted for an entire meal. And, my chicken-filet with 11 herbs and spices would make the Colonel blush with envy.

But, where’s the portions?

They crammed the cheesy hash browns and chicken filet onto an appetizer plate to make it look bigger then it was.

Nice try jackalopes.

My stomach isn’t as easily fooled as my eyes. I’m not used to dining out much since Little Drizz has an attention span that rivals with your average college student in an auditorium Freshman Comp class. I expected not to go home hungry after spending $15 on a meal (I passed on the $5-$6 domestic taps). Maybe I’m a tight-wad but if I’m spending $15 on a meal and not boozing it up, I’d like to feel the need to wear my wife’s maternity stretchy pants for the ride home.

Question on tipping etiquette: You get charged 15% gratuity for having a party of eight or more and the service was meh (or so-so in non-gamer speak), do you add an additional tip? I always tip regardless of the service (amount varies of course on the level of service), but I wanted to make sure that the server received that 15%, not the restaurant. If the 15% is automatically added to the bill, does the server get that amount?

Thanks for dropping by, now check out Pauly’s live blogging results from Foxwoods. After viewing some choice photographs on his site, I can see that the Absolute Poker girls match the skankiness of that site’s software.

Dearest Captial One

An open letter to Capital One:

Dearest Sir’s, Ma’am’s, and dipshit credit computers:

Two years ago my life was changed forever.

After nearly seven long months worth of seeing my wife nurse our son into becoming a social security number, we would name him Wyatt. Today we cherish his affection for hot dogs and Thomas the Tank Engine products. His laughter immediately brightens my day even if the short bus riders on PartyPoker line up in a row to place a steel toed boot to my lower regions with bad beats.

It seems like only yesterday he was burping up some nasty Gerber’s apple/pear/plum mix that only a baby or bong lover could enjoy. Last week he made a turkey out of a paper bag, some glued on feathers (colored by crayons), and stuffed it with cotton so it was nice and fluffy! Yesterday, he told me all about the “icky bug” that was crawling along the carpeting in our basement and helped me capture it. Pretty smart kid, eh?

I know you took these things into consideration when you mailed him not one but TWO $2,000 pre-approved credit lines through your credit card division. Do you think you could bump it to $4,000 if I told you about his wicked slap shot with the mini-hockey sticks I gave him? How about we go for an even ten grand if I relayed the story about his ability to make 24 different animal noises, just by saying the name of animal! WOW!

I am not sure what angle your company is trying to shoot when offering him credit since he is currently unemployed, and his educational background consist of Little Einstein movies and Clifford the Big Red Dog pop up books.

In the future it may be your best interest to narrow your marketing for credit applicants to giving out free pens to college students and elderly folks at the state fair, and sponsoring everything related to football.

Please cease and desist all mailings to Wyatt immediately, or I will be forced to spam your company with cute pictures and adorable kid stories until the headset melts off every one of your customer service representatives in your call center.

Sincerely,

Dave


God bless our backward ass credit system.

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I took a relaxed approach to the game last night, in playing a few orbits of limit O8 with SirWaffle while finishing up a PokerStars reload bonus. Wow, I had forgotten how bad low limit O8 players are. Trying to put them on a hand was like trying to solve Beal’s Conjecture with a county fair yard stick and a healthy dose of LSD. I think I finished a couple of BBs down but it was definitely eye opening to watch the horrible play. If you’ve stayed away from PokerStars in the past because the players are better… its safe to swim in this waters again, 30 minutes after eating of course.

Then I tried hoping on Full Tilt to tame my Razz cravings for the week, and G-Rob was at the table discussing the current situation in France with a intellectual political science major railbird. I think the word Xenophobe came out a few times. But after a few orbits my screen would freeze up, my chip stack would waver depending on if I held cards or not, and I got timed out on a big hand where I held 4 to a wheel. Not excited about that. But, I’ll let it slide if someone from the Tilt team could assure me there was some technical issues last night, or if it’s detrimental to have three videos of cheerleader porn going at the same time as playing.

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I just got word that Burnsie wants to go on a Midnight Run for his birthday on Thursday. This brings flashbacks of Calculus class, blue balls, bad skin, and pitching for the Osseo Orioles. “A Midnight Run”, was our slang for heading to the casino at ten at night and maybe getting back in time to go to class the next day. Hey, the breakfast at Grand Casino Mille Lacs was worth missing Deutsche class for. Ich liebe deutsche Lektionen! In reality I didn't care much for German class due to the spray bottle the teacher would use if you tried to catch a cat nap in her class. Gambling is hard work, I need sleep!

Of course we’re both responsible parents now and would never stay too long or hit up our credit cards for cash advances when the stupid dealer pulls a six card 21 after splitting sevens and getting 20 on each. Nor would we drink too much, so we’d be forced to wait for the 5am breakfast special to sober up. Naw, would never happen :) I'm hoping he's up for going to Canterbury, I'd love to get in some live poker before swimming in the fishy waters of the bloggers mixed game.

Thanks for dropping by, now what’s in YOUR wallet? Take out that damn condom already, you're not going to get laid! Sheesh!

Holy Gado Batman!

He is a man of sense who does not grieve for what he has not, but rejoices in what he has.

Epictetus (55-135 AD) Greek Philosopher


Vikings may not have any offense but they have their pride. I’m not sure that last-second field goals completely wipes away the diarrhea-like offensive display put on by the Purple yesterday, but it at least doesn’t leave them with a sore ass. The defense made young Eli look like a rookie again, with the help of some butter-fingered receivers.

It’s a win, outdoors, on grass, away from the Thunderdome. Was it because Zygi was waving the pink slip stick over Tice on the sidelines in case of a 41-0 drubbing? No, it was the Vikings catching a break or two and grunting out a win unlike the Twins and their forty thousand one- run losses this summer.



Edinger? Maybe he should just come out in the last 30 seconds of the game to make field goals. Or have the drill sergeant from Full Metal Jacket in his ear to pressure him during the non-game winning kicks.

Ride the wave Vikes, I’m still watching.

And who the hell woke up the NFC North yesterday? Betting against them has been my three pound bacon and eggs sammich. Gado Gado Gado!!! Of course the Packers ruined my five pick parlay yesterday when they decided not to toss in the towel after a 1-7 start on the season. Gives me 100 more reasons to hate Farve and the turpentine guzzling fans of Lambeau.

Bastard, retire already.

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Like a good degenerate I played a little poker this weekend with the bloggers for the shootout seat in Vegas at Full Tilt.

A whole four hands worth.

Aces cracked, what’s worst is I knew I was beat but lack the Hellmuth ability to lay them down. Can anyone lay down Aces on a low uncoordinated board?

Its me.

I know you guys can do it without second thought.

Drizz has finally taken the shot to the nuts hard enough of to wake him up about how bad he is playing tournaments. So, after carefully rearranging the furniture in the living room, and a quick Cap’n Coke, I settled down enough to hit up a $1/$2 PLO8 game and make back my entire weekend of losses and get back into the black. God bless the short bus riders with money from tournaments taking shots at games they don’t understand.

But who am I to call them retarded? Surely I get viewed the same way in tournaments when I hold a decent hand that gets shot down by some inane (put number here)-outer. For example, I had a decent shot at a win prior to the blogger shootout with 11 people left in a PLO MTT tourney at Full Tilt holding an above par stack, when I trapped a lower flush into betting all in versus my nut flush.

Then he caught trips, and rivered a full house.

Despite the beat I was still solvent having 7-8BBs left. Then I caught suited aces, raised it up like the weak-tight player I am, chip leader called with Q963, and promptly rivered two pair after calling 1/5th of his stack to my all-in with a pair of nines.

Thank you sir, your play inspires me to lay off the tourneys even more and leave them to people who understand and can comprehend that you need luck to win them. My titanium crusted skull just doesn’t get it and never will. The competitive person in me sees the advantage I have in knowing that K9o is probably not a great hand to play UTG for half your stack early in a tournament. But, the realist in me knows that my chances of winning are just a good as the mouth breathers who need a Kleenex after receiving two suited cards and having one of same suit hit the flop. They know in advance that the runner runner flush is coming.

Yeah I’m whining, what’s new?

I tell Little Drizz not to whine when he wants a package of Shrek fun fruits yet I blather on about a few tourney losses despite a fairly profitable weekend at the tables. Fuckin hypocrite.

I should be rejoicing for what I have at the cash games and in the blogger friends who let me blow off the steam, and not letting a few tournament losses spoil the fun I’m having the cash games.

Speaking of blogger friends… shout out to Al (I’ll be returning your dial-a-shot sometime this week). I believe he’s the first one to attempt to get a pregnant woman in a hospital to toast to the SoCo gods over the phone. The wife happened to be visiting my good friend E at Mercy hospital to celebrate their second spawn, and caught the AlCantHang experience. I really need to keep that phone on down by my desk more often, yesterday was definitely a dial-a-shot type of day.

Thanks for dropping by, now below is a break up email that I’m sure is making its rounds over the internet but I’ll post it here since its got a certain comedy edge to it that reminded me of a pair of Michigan bloggers.

-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:*******
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 9:50 AM
To: ******Subject: ugh

Brad, It would be difficult for me to be any more miserable right now, I feel like the worst person ever. First, let me start by saying that Iam truly truly sorry, and I hate myself for hurting you.
Of all the people in the whole entire world, you were honestly the last person that I would ever want to wrong in any way.
There is no excuse at all for anything that happened, so I won't even try other than to say all of us had WAY too much to drink, and I did a stupid thing. I can handle you being pissed at me, I absolutely deserve it, I can even handle the ugly words that were exchanged between us, what I can't handle is thinking that you see me as a different person.
It is weird, I feel like I just went through a horrible break up or something. The world looked funny yesterday, I couldn't crack a smile if you paid me, there are songs I can't listen to, and I just ! feel beyond crushed. I don't know if you meant everything you said to me, and I am hoping that you didn't. I know that I was wrong on many levels, but I am also hoping that this is something that we can deal with.
I know it sounds totally crazy and stupid, but you have come to play such a significant role in my life, I can't imagine my days without you. It is totally strange and weird to say that, and you could say that my behavior didn't reflect that, and you would be correct.
I hate feeling like you hate me, and I hate feeling like all of your friends think I am a terrible person, because I am not. I know there is nothing I can say or do to take back what happened, but I just want you to know that fighting with you was just about the worst thing I could have ever imagined.
It was right up there with one of the ugliest nights of my life, and I would give anything in the world to rewind and fix it.
I am not sure if you will respond to this, part of me thinks that you won't. If not today, then maybe some other time. Also, thanks for getting my stuff together, although I think my sunglasses are still at your house, if you could keep your eyes peeled for them that would be great (HAHA).
I can't even focus or work today, I can't eat, I seriously feel like it was an ugly break up, and I am hoping against hopes that itwas not that and you are not done with me. Please don't cut me off, I really don't think I can handle that.
I am so sorry.
Elizabeth

The Reply:
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 12:02 PM
Subject: Re: Ugh....enjoy.
Dear Elizabeth,
Thank you for your concern.
I'll be sure to file it away under "L"for "Long-winded diatribes from drunken whores I couldn't care less about".
You did a stupid thing huh?
No...doing long division and forgetting to carry the one is "a stupid thing"; Mixing in a red sock with a load of whites is "a stupid thing"; Blowing some guy in a bathroom for 45 minutes while I sit at the bar wondering if you're taking so long because you ate too much bran that morning isn't as much a "Stupid thing" as it is grounds for permanent removal from my social calendar.
To be honest, I'm not sure if it was more amusing that you went and degraded yourself in a public toilet not once but twice in a 2 hour span, or that you seemed to think that by saying "Well, I didn't fark him" somehow gave you a clean slate.
So forgive me if I couldn't care less if the world "looked funny" to you yesterday. Since your world revolves around blow dryers, golden retrievers, Prada Bags and Jelly Beans, I'm sure it must have been most unsettling to actually have to consider someone else's feelings for 24 hours straight.
The good news for you is that my friends don't think you're a terrible person, they just think you're the average run of the mill cum-guzzling blond who commands about as much respect as your average child porn collector. I could be wrong but, it's pretty hard to respect some B&T chick who comes out to spend the night at my place even though she's seeing someone else in New jersey and winds up tongue-bathing the taint of anyone who decides 30 minutes of droning commentary on Colin Farrell's new haircut is worth putting up with for a hand job in the men's room.
The good thing about being a guy is that when I eventually bump into the young lad who finger-blasted you on top of a towel dispenser last saturday, we'll have a shot and laugh our heads off about the time it happened.
By the way, for the amount of time you claim to spend in spin class you really must be doing something wrong to sport the thunder thighs you do. Watching you parade around my bedroom in a thong was a little like watching sea lions mate.
Thought you might like to know.

PS. I BCC'd about 100 people on this email.

Talk to you never,
Brad

Drizz The Greek's Week 10 NFL Picks

Bet against the Vikes today. No team is worst against the Giants/away/outdoors. If there was such a thing as a lock, this is as close as it gets.

I love my Purple People Eaters, but too many factors going against them today, including Love Boat Smoot being out.

Here's some picks that are sure to hurt your wallets today:

2 team parlays:

Pats -3, Giants -9
Cards +3.5, Colts -18.5

5 team parlay:

Panthers -10
Broncos -3.5
Seachickens -7
Falcons -10
Steelers -7.5

Single team bet:

49ers +13 (stop laughing)

3 team 12 point teaser teaser:

Giants +2
Colts -6
Steelers +4.5

I got a squirrel stuck in my chimney with no way getting it out. The poor thing is making some sickly noises :(

Gotta go.

Weekends with Pauly

Out 40th out of 93rd.

Not a great result, but I did manage to put my money in with the worst of it! QQ vs GRob's AA was no gOOt. Again an excellent installment of this four part series, hammers flew with deadly accuracy, once again JoeSpeaker and THG are moping up the competition as they make up two of the final three. Nice job guys! *Update THG = Champ*

I'm a bit lop sided today due to the amount of $2 tequila I managed to consume last night. Drink specials and nubile high school/college chicks bouncing around in their lace g-stings and tight bust inducing baby tees after hitting three pins is what makes bowling worth it every Friday. That and being able to spend a few hours acting like a drunk around my family and friends.

Speaking of drunk family and friends.... is it time to go to Vegas yet? Sigh.

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I'm still dabbling in $1/$2 PLO8 with spotted success. One thing for certain, the aggression factor is set for maniac. $12-$16 to see a flop on most times. Right now it seems tight is right with a spot of timely steals will net you a good profit at these tables. Again my experience is limited to a handful of hours, but this might be the leap I've been needing to take to get past the plateau I've been on for a while. I'm not talking about tournament play, there's no sense in repeating the same boring beat stories over and over. Its repetitive, and not productive. Kinda like a bad gang bang flick, after a while the action is numbing to a point that the shock factor is gone.

Now its time to bone up on the courage and dive into these games knowing I have the bankroll to back up a few poor plays and feeling ok with pushing with a mega-draw, scared money in PLO or PLO8 is worth as much as an old Peso. You're better off giving the gift of money to that crack addict on Hennipin avenue then play these games scared.

Tomorrow Drizz the Greek returns... if moonlight bowling doesn't kick my ass too much tonight.

Thanks for dropping by, now stop playing weak-tight and go drop some hammers!

Day 7: Tournament Challenge "The Quest for Mediocrity"

Close but no cigar.

In the morning I usually wake up to Scott Van Pelt and Karl Ravech explaining what kind of bowel movement T.O. had last night. But instead an infomercial with The Dream Offer bounced up on my screen. It looks like a poor-man’s Girls Gone Wild video and magazine free after you pay only the shipping and handling of course. Think the wife would love a subscription for Christmas?

I do.

CENSORED, TOO HOT FOR TV, flashed across the bodies of these young ladies. How about taking down those words across their chests and letting me decide if it too hot for TV. Women even tease men through a freckin commercial at 4:30am, sigh. It certainly woke me up since the bowl of Kix didn’t do the trick.

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The almost porn reminded me of the almost cashes I had last night while finishing off my self-indulging tournament challenge.

I was satisfied for the first time about my play and the results. Granted I did not cash, but I made it deep into both tournaments that I attempted last night. I managed another nut-nut hand with a straight flush three thru seven and a wheel, but it came early in the tourney, not late when I spent nearly an hour posting and folding due to the horrible cards. When I did try to steal it was met with resistance and bad flops, forcing me to cut and run. I’ve been battling a cold/flu/my head is ringing bug for the past week, so I limited the tourney play to two last night.

This challenge to myself was to journal how much I was losing entering these tournaments as well as post how I’m losing. Granted everyone who’s ever played poker has bad beat stories of woe and despair, but this enabled me to get on black and white my results of my woe and despair. The results are not pretty, but they are honest. There’s no sense in sugar-coating results if you’re trying to learn from your mistakes.

Day 7:

PokerStars PLO8 $10 + $1
PokerStars LO8 $20 + $2 (6 – max tables)

PokerStars PLO8 $10 + $1: My favorite game, so I felt confident that a cash would come my way… until I was left with $234 chips with blinds at $50/$100. Rough start? But, instead of an “aw fuck it” type attitude I took my chip-and-a-chair and managed to win a few all-ins to get to par by the $200/$400 level with nearly T5000 in chips. Rawr. Two ill-advised blind steals went for naught as the chip leaders were ready to call with powerhouse hands like 5677 and 48TJ, unfortunately I didn’t feel my 52:48 edge was enough to take a shot. I opted to try to steal later with 4BBs left with 2466 double suited in late position, but the big blind woke up with a playable hand and knocked me out. Out 32nd out of 277 (27 places paid).

PokerStars LO8 $20 + $2 (6 - max): Stick figure extraordinaire THG joined me for this one. Shorthanded LO8 is a different beast, but the players again were horrible at best. Early on I was lucky enough to have a short bus rider gift me his stack when he failed to read the Omaha rule book concerning the use of two cards from your hand in relation to the board. Broadway was spread across the board, we capped the turn and river, being a nut sitter, I already hit broadway on the turn AQJT showing, his hand? K874. Thank you sir, you have been tagged for the cash games. I’d expect this play at a $1 - $5 tourney, but a $20 tourney???

Oy.

I went card dead for a long time, also got tangled up in a battle of the blinds with a second nut hand for the high and low, when the SB woke up with a nut-nut hand. Ouch. I ended up pushing with K236 and someone woke with suited aces, the board flopped a flush for her, and left blue balls for me. Out 23rd out of 177 (18 places paid).

Final Results of the Tournament Challenge:
Total amount spent (overall): -$341.50
Total amount won (overall): +$83.56
Cash game winning/loses: +$310.00
Balance: +$52.06

Tournament experience plus and a nice sesame chicken dinner for two at P.F. Chang’s. Not a bad way to gain some experience. I know I’ll goof up on calculating these stats, if I do, just correct my helmet wearing self.

Finishes:

PokerStars $20 + $2 SnG: 73 out of 180 (finished 40.5%)
FullTilt $10 + $1 MTT: 234 out of 396 (finished 59.1%)
FullTilt $24 + $2 MTT: 28 out of 54 (finished 51.9%)
PokerStars $20 + $2 SnG: 53 out of 180 (finished 29.4%)
FullTilt $10 + $1 MTT: 13 out of 60 (finished 21.7%)
PartyPoker $5 + $.50 Shootout: 8th out of 10 (finished 80%)
FullTilt $5 + $.50 MTT: 6 out of 30 (finished 20%)
FullTilt $24 + $2 MTT: 102 out of 243 (finished 42%)
PokerStars $10 + $1 MTT: 19 out of 98 (finished 19.4%)
FullTilt $20 $2 MTT: 10 out of 56 (finished 17.9%)
PokerStars $10 + $1: 83 out of 126 (finished 65.9%)
FullTilt $5 + $.50: 46 out of 81 (finished 56.8%)
FullTilt $24 + $2: 17 out of 123 (finished 13.8%)
FullTilt $10 + $1: 11 out of 30 (finished 36.7%)
PokerStars $20 + $2: 83 out of 180 (finished 46.1%)
PokerStars $15 + $1: 3 out of 9 (finished 33.3%)
PokerStars $20 + $2: 83 out of 180 (finished 46.1%)
FullTilt $20 + $2: 5 out of 9 (finished 55.5%)
PokerStars $10 + $1: 2 out of 9 (finished 22.2%)
PokerStars $20 + $2: 23 out of 177 (finished 13%)
PokerStars $10 + $1: 32 out of 277 (finished 11.6%)

Add and dividing gives me an approximate combined placement in the top 37% overall (if you’re a math wizard, I’m sure I got the calculations incorrect) of the 21 tournaments entered in this week. Yes, I suck. Granted the $300+ could have been spent more wisely on say… lap dances in Vegas next month. But, the cash games were kind enough to me this week to give me a scholarship to Tournaments for Dummies 101 and 102.

What now?

I’ll be keep tournaments as leisurely thing to do for now when the cash games fill up with too many nut peddlers like myself and the occasional last longer bets with bloggers (this is something I specialize in winning however). I chronicled several bad beats and the like, but there’s something missing from my tournament play that might be filled by purchasing Harrington’s second book that I’ve heard people raving about.

Until then you’ll find me at the PLO8 cash game tables calculating my odds with my shoes off.

Thanks for dropping by, I will be in my semi-final match with PokerTwitch tonight for the Heads Up Challenge on UB around 8pm central. Drop by to marvel in my weak-tight play if you dare.

From Twenty-Seven to Nine

After watching the WSOP Main Event re-broadcast on ESPN last night I have come to the conclusion that a sterling silver horseshoe logged up one’s (bleached?) posterior region is far more valuable then say getting your money in with a 90% chance to win.

I was quietly taking in the show while Little Drizz was bouncing around the room with the same energy as Bernard Lee while carrying his Thomas the Tank Engine books (excellent background story on Benard found on Otis’ PokerStars Blog). That’s one intense dude and he didn’t need to lose like that.

But “AK” decided to run over the tables with a crafty mix of “dude I could catch a flush!” or “trips are coming, no worries” like your basic $5 SnG maniac. Lemme guess, “AK” typed into his chat box “I thought you had AK dude and would fold, sorry about that” to Raymer. Well… IF he had AK, AK, you were a little behind and why put your tournament life at stake for a 6 outer? I’m sure somewhere on the in-tard-web there’s a explanation to the train of thoughtlessness. At least his shades were pretty cool and he had a subdued celebration after the several suckouts that were shown.

I know these shows are heavily, heavily edited but some of the all-ins reminded me of why I can’t handle playing tournaments. I know you’re only a percentage to win when you put your money in with the best of it, kind of like holding a 19 or 20 vs. a dealer’s 14, 15, or 16 in blackjack. The brutalness of the dealer hitting that perfect card to get 21 leaves a sting and make you wonder if you’ve wronged the card gods by watching midget porn last night.

Then there’s Sheiky.

Wow, I haven’t seen that sort of ego since Ali gave pre-fight press conferences. Again, it may be heavily edited, but the continuous chest-beating “I can beat all of you”? And trying to jaw with Matusow deep into a poker tournament? That’s like skating up to a fully suited up Todd Bertuzzi wearing only your street clothes and starting a fight.

The angle shooting hand that got Mike and himself a penalty… class act sir. First off, Mike was playing the hand, you were not when the flop came out and you announced to the world that you would have gotten a piece of the flop by rapping the table hard. I think telling Sheiky to shut the fuck up was entirely appropriate and didn't deserve the elementary school styled time out. Not only did he compromise the hand by telling the other guy (can’t remember the name) that some of the cards in relation to the flop were dead, he was SHOUTING WHILE THE HAND WAS GOING ON. Karma is a bitch when Matusow finally caught a hand with Sheiky all-in and promptly showed the new 2005 Josh Arieh-punching bag the outer door to Benny Bullpen.

I glad I took the time to watch these entertaining episodes; the real fire of competition came out of the final 27 players. Granted we don’t get to watch the blind steals, the re-raises and moves that didn’t get called, and other things that evolve during a long tournament. But the snippets of the big hands were enough to provide the junior bacon cheeseburger of satisfaction of what went down at Binions. If you want the filet mignon and dessert of brownie alamode story, check out Pauly or PokerProf’s picture recap in their WSOP archives.

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Tonight I will finish up my self-tournament challenge with another 180 person SnG at Stars, and hopefully a mixed game MTT at Full Tilt. I feel making into the money tonight is certain. Big cash? Maybe not, but I’m not concerned about that. What’s the phrase the fish use when delivering a brutal suckout… “I was due”?

Yeah, I’m due and now I’m hungry for some steak damnit.

Thanks for dropping by, now go congratulate Otis and Mt. Dew Virus on yet another big cash in the MTTs at PartyPoker. Congrats guys!

Day 6: Tournament Challenge "The Quest for Mediocrity"

It started with a sniffle of bad beats and ended with a loud sneeze of “WHY ME” after being outdrawn in a cash game. A viral infection of crabbiness mixed with running bad is a sign to walk away. Anyone got a flu shot?

No poker tonight.

I’m going to catch up on WSOP viewing and see what all the hype about Tiffany Williamson is all about with a nice bowl of peppermint bon-bon ice cream and go nowhere near the virtual felt tonight.

Day 6:

PokerStars NLHE $20 +$2 180 person SnG
Full Tilt NLHE $20 + $2 9 person SnG
PokerStars PLO8 $10 + $1 9 person SnG

After the first MTT of the evening I quickly figured that putting money into other MTTs would be a total waste of cash (as if me playing tournaments isn’t already a vortex of dead money). The beats keep coming, and I keep losing. I stayed aggressive, ahead of the blinds, stole when I could, backed off when I knew I was beat but it just wasn’t meant to be once again as I failed to make the first break AGAIN in the 180 person SnG.

You must be playing like shit Drizz.

Quite possible, I can’t explain my horrible track record with MTTs. I could point to the bad beats, but shouldn’t those even out “over time”. Is it possible to run badly for more then six months? The impending doom of any hand where I’m not a favorite by 11:1 gets me ready to hit the “ok” button with the “you’ve finished 178th place, nice going idiot!!” dialog box.

Bad attitude?

Step right up, I got plenty of it. And I have no remedy for it. Books? I suppose some more books may help, but do they really keep me in the game when I get outdrawn night after night? Get over yourself? Done, a looooooong time ago. I don’t see myself as a good player, but I’d love to have just a spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down Ms. Poppins.

I follow the Theory of Poker and “play my hand as if the cards were face up”, you WANT to get your money in when you feel like you’re in a dominate position. If I were to play meekly in those situations then I would be costing myself money, correct Mr. Sklansky? When I get my money in with AKs vs . 86o and flop a King, I should be happy, right?

In a few interviews Greg Raymer stresses his ability to make good decisions and not worry about the results. We know tonight he’s going to be tested by this statement with the monster suckout that knocks him out of the tournament after five long days (sorry for the spoiler).

If he can handle it, why can’t I? The answer is probably why I’m a cube monkey, and he’s traveling the poker circuit with a platinum WSOP bracelet on his wrist.

In a cash game, draws are completed without proper odds, but it doesn’t bother me as much because I usually understand the nature of the draw, and why the person did it (in PLO8 that is). I might not like it immediately, but I’ll understand it. Outdraw me in a tournament and I’m bound to tilt, because I don’t understand risking all of those chips as a huge underdog. Whine whine whine.

I tried this challenge to myself to see if it was bad play or bad beats that was preventing me from cashing consistently in MTTs. Even though 20-25 tournaments in a very small sample, it’s a mirror to how bad I’ve been running for the past six or so months with tournaments.

PokerStars NLHE $20 + $2 180 person SnG: Won a close race early with QQ vs. 22, but managed to succumb to the table maniac getting beat with QQ vs. TT, AK vs. KQ, and my favorite AKs vs. 86s after flopping a king and getting beat by rivered trips. Out 83rd out of 180. This tourney was the final straw. I know “look at the long run” and all that jazz, but every person has a breaking point, and I reached mine. Tourneys are done for a long while, unless it’s to have fun with other bloggers.

Full Tilt NLHE $20 + $2 9 person SnG: Ran right into the face of a card rack, who hit his cards while I stood back and looked for a spot. Got AT vs. his KT in for a pre-flop raise with the flop coming out KKQ, no jack for me and I was crippled. I pushed on the button with K8 to see his AK. Out 5th out of 9

PokerStars PLO8 $10 + $1 9 person SnG: Ah, home sweet home. I have forgotten that Stars had regular PLO8 SnGs and decided if I going to steam thru another tourney, I might as well do it with my favorite game. I took 2nd. CASHOLA! Was behind starting heads-up but I couldn’t do much because my opponent was very aggressive and very good about picking his spots. Tip of the cap to him. Out 2nd of 9. Winnings $27.00

Total amount spent (to date): -$308.50
Total amount won (to date): +$83.56
Cash game winning/loses: +$ 275.00
Balance: +$50.06

I will follow through on this challenge tomorrow, playing in one more 180 person SnG and hopefully a mixed game MTT at Full Tilt. Wish me luck and no whammies.

Thanks for dropping by, now check out some of the “new” additions to my blogroll on the right. My apologies for not adding them sooner, but I’m lazy and have trouble breathing and typing at the same time.

Day 5: Tournament Challenge "The Quest for Mediocrity"

Do you hear that?

That’s the sound of all of Drizz’s NFL picks coming in yesterday, except for Steve McCan’ts team losing to lowly Cleveland.

Shame on you!

Replenished sportbook accounts mean I’m freerolling for the next three weeks. I’ll start up my awkward white boy victory dance now.

Why didn’t I wager with a certain Michigan blogger prior to the Vikes/Lions game yesterday? I guess I’ll just have to float in the pool of blissful ignorance to the Vikings problems as they stomped a team with no offense yesterday. O-Line looked like a wrecking ball knocking down the the Lions’ D with the nasty attitude of a two-year old that just got his grape-flavored sucker taken away from him. Not that I’d know how bad those tantrums are of course. SKOL VIKINGS! At least till next week :P

Wish I’d had time to do my usual Drizz the Greek weekend post yesterday, but time was short due to a family poker tournament I helped set up, that included a spread of food Andre the Giant would have had a tough time finishing.

Bacon wrapped mini-hot dogs coated with brown sugar, wings, cookies, cheesy po-ta-toes, BBQ meatballs, four types of cookie bars, and a dash of alcohol if that was your thing. I stuck with water since my head was hurting from downing IM-a-shots with the bloggers the night before. My unspectacular 9th place finish out of 21 came from a blind push with Q4 vs. 53, and once again my grandparents knocked me out. I think I wronged AARP or something, and I’ll have to be extra wary in Decemeber about getting into a pot with the 65 and older crowd.

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Anyone watch Extreme Home Makeover?

C'mon admit you watch this.

Usually I kiss the wife on the cheek and head downstairs to flash my skills of peddling the nuts on the virtual felt, but I decided to take in this show about a mother who adopts children with disabilities and raises them to be independent.

Wow.

I don’t think the best actor/actress could conjure up the feelings they show while visiting the Children’s hospital or building a specially designed piece of furniture. Yeah, it seems cheesy each week with the same format, but why does it reel me in?

It’s the people they help and the sincerity that they do it with.

Sure the sponsors are getting free advertising, and the design crew is getting paid a princely sum, but the winners are those families they give a second chance to. Ty, that bullhorn thing you do every show is just A TAD ANNOYING, but your spirit and heart make up for it. And did anyone check out the wrestler? Holy shit man, that dude dominated. Someone from the WCW or whatever they’re calling it these days, should be trying to sign him up for a cage match with HHH or The Iron Sheik.

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Day 5:

Full Tilt NLHE WPBT Live Tourney Shootout $10 + $1
PokerStars $20 + $2 NLHE 180 person SnG
PokerStars $15 + $1 NLHE turbo SnG

I had to fudge a little bit with the final SnG instead of a MTT because I was falling asleep in front of the monitor, in fact if a certain GQ model wasn’t kicking some donkey ass at the $8K guarantee on Full Tilt and providing me with more tourney pointers, I might fell out of my chair from exhaustion.

Full Tilt NLHE WPBT Live Tourney Shootout $10 + $1: Chip leader early, chip leader half way thru, out 11th. I didn’t get passive, but coin flips were the death of me once again as I went 0 fer 3 with AK. I did manage one suckout with KJ vs. Derek’s JJ a flopping broadway, but it wasn’t meant to be. I flopped top two with AKs vs. Gracie’s JJ, she rivered a four flush. You need to get lucky at the right time, including the coin flips, because you can only steal so many blinds before you get played back at. Congrats to birthday boy CJ and Bill Fillmaff disciple -EV who are the first two bloggers to make the final table in Vegas. There was some damn good poker being played at the final table, excellent job guys! 11th out of 30.

PokerStars $20 + $2 NLHE 180 person SnG: I could whine a river about the bad beats here… so I will. KK vs. AK, Ace flops. QQ vs. KJ when I re-raised, King flops and a continuation bet was pissing away money since his screen did not contain a fold button while calling down three other hands with second and third pair, too passive here? Out 83rd out of 180. Missed opportunities indeed, because I doubled up on the first hand when another fancy play Rembrandt limped with AA into five people and I flopped trips and rivered a boat with KT in the unraised BB. Well played sir.

PokerStars $15 + $1 NLHE turbo SnG: CASHOLA! Started aggressive, stayed aggressive. Backed off when the monkeys were flinging poo at each other and took my chip and a chair late in the tourney from 5th to a cashing at 3rd. The button pushed every orbit so I made my stand with A9 in the SB… to see him turn over the Hiltons. Nice job Drizz. 3rd out of 9. Winnings $27.00

Total amount spent (to date): -$253.50
Total amount won (to date): +$56.56
Cash game winning/loses: +$350.00 (approximate)
Balance: +$153.06

I hit my first true nut-nut hand in PLO8, nailing a straight flush plus a wheel at BoDog. Got a ¾th but with three people stacking off it was still very profitable. Also, managed smaller wins at Bet365 (they’re giving away $10 per 50 hands raked again this month) and Full Tilt. I’m loosing up my starting hand requirements for these tables since many times people are betting heavily with straights on flush boards, flushes on paired boards, and showing down 3rd or 4th nut lows. Nut peddle to the metal baby… and an occasional steal ;)

Thanks for dropping by, now go check out Sir Waffle’s tips on playing internet blackjack. He won Pauly’s tournament this weekend so he’ll have some more virtual chips to double down with.

Day 3 and 4 Tournament Challenge: "The Quest for Mediocrity"

A little late with my posting but being a parent and a tournament director for a family home game takes some time away from the poker playing :)

Day 3:

PokerStars: Limit Omaha 8 or better $10 + $1
Full Tilt: H.O.R.S.E. $5 + $.50
Full Tilt: NLHE $24 + $2

Limit Omaha 8 or better $10 + $1: 83rd out of 126, card death early and didn't play very well as I got impatient when the blinds escalated. Some very bad play by the chip leaders, but they could afford to hit their runner-runner lows and flushes. It is a drawing game, so they draw, and won!

H.O.R.S.E. $5 + $.50: Never had a chance here, the blinds go up very quickly in this game and I didn't catch early, aggression was turned aside like a used condom. Out 46th of 81

NLHE $24 + $2: CASHOLA! Left on a runner runner flush suckout but, the cash was mine all mine! 17th out of 123 Winnings $29.52

Total amount spent (to date): -$140.00
Total amount won (to date): +$29.56
Cash Game winning/loses (to date): +$40.00
Balance: -$70.44

Cash games hurt as I got a little restless with AK in NLHE and played a low in PLO (clicked on the wrong game AGAIN!


Day 4:

Full Tilt Stud High/Low $5 + $.50: Final Table but no mOOlah, played aggressively passive and had to take my shots in spurts. Lost with Jackd Up to a rivered anti-christ. 6th out of 30

Full Tilt NLHE $24 + $2: KK crippled me on the second hand early vs. AT and 44??? Pre-flop, yes he rivered the ace. But I took my chip and a chair all the way past the break to lose a coin flip. Out 102 out of 243

Weekend with Pauly $10 + $1: Took my 59o blind steal suckout early all the way to 19th out of 98, losing AKs vs. AQs, yes a queen flopped. Dem are da breaks! Awesome fun though with bloggers and readers duking it out for the iPod nano to be given to the top point getter over the next couple of weeks.

Full Tilt $20 + $2 Pot Limit Omaha: Went out on a draw late in the action, missing the final table, but managed to snag $8 from the other bloggers in the tourney, does this count as "winnings"?

Total amount spent (to date): -$204.50
Total amount won (to date): +$29.56
Cash Game winning/loses: +$230.00
Balance: +$55.06

Cash games came back in a big way for me, and wiped out all the loses from yesterday's black hole of tilt and second bests.

I know the pokery stuff isn't for everyone, but I need to see just how much I'm pissing away playing tourneys. Its a rather shocking amount at this point.

Day 2: Tournament Challenge "The Quest for Mediocrity"

Quick post since I'm at home today and Little Drizz is insisting I serve as a pinsetter so he can bowl.

Stars NLHE $20+$2 180 man/woman SnG
Full Tilt Stud Hi/Low $10/$1
Party NLHE shootout $5+$.50

Total amount spent (to date): $97.50
Total amount won (to date): Zero squared
Cash Game winning/loses (to date): $120.40
Balance: +$22.90

PokerStars $20+$2: Once again I ran into a table that defined all logic with 5-6 people calling my UTG raises, continuation bets don't faze them either when you have a gutshot or runner runner flush draw! (Out 53rd out of 180)

Full Tilt Stud Hi/Low $10+$1: Had a decent stack, but was crippled by hitting Aces up on 5th, and not being able to fold to the other guy's boat. (13th out of 60)

PartyPoker $5+$.50 NLHE shootout: Bang bang, Drizz is dead running AK into KK TWICE. Oh the humanity! The HORROR! Shocking! (Placed 8th at the first table)

At least the cash games have been kind enough to provide a buffer for this run of tourneys. With the help of some kind bloggers, I'm learning to be more patience on the tables while short-stacked, and take more calculated risks.

Tomorrow.... First cash!! Whoo-Whoo! See you tomorrow morning at Pauly's tourney!

Day 1: Tournament Challenge "The Quest for Mediocrity"

$20 + $2 180 person SnG (PokerStars)
$10+ $1 396 person NLHE MTT (Full Tilt)
$24 + $2 Satellite for the weekend $216 Tournament (Full Tilt)

Total amount spent: -$59.00
Total amount won: $0.00
Cash Game winnings/losses (used to defray the cost of the tournaments if possible): +$52.36
Balance: -$6.64

Do you notice a donut? I do. My first night’s foray into the land of MTTs was met with the resistance of the Detroit Piston’s defense with a side of a couple of NHL enforcers. I did continue my perfect streak of losing coin flips though, I can always count on that. Let’s read some of the action.

$20 + $2 180 person SnG (PokerStars): This one started in good fashion, up to the first break. Raises were acknowledged, continuation bets got multiple people to fold, and I managed to chip up to T2125 without really big cards. After the break I managed to steal a couple of blinds and chip up to ~T2600 with 73 runners left in tournament. Looking down at Kings I make my standard weird 3XBB raise which is popped all-in by a solid player in MP. Since my name isn’t Phil Helmuth, I call to see I’m in good shape vs. AKo…. until an ace hits the turn. IGHN. Just a beat, no more, no less, no more chips. Out 73rd out of 180.

Disappointed I checked my email to cool off for about 30 seconds before the next tournament. Whoa! Penny stocks being offered that will triple my net financial value?!!?! Free Viagra!?!? Naked College Sluts strip just for me?!!?! The one college slut turned me off with Arizona Wildcats t-shirt however. ASU > Tucson Titties

$10 + $1 NLHE MTT (Full Tilt): Standard ol’ MTT with 396 runners. I didn’t even make the break. One thing that’s disturbing about Full Tilt’s tournaments is that raises get no respect most of the time. AJ shot down by Q4s, hitting two pair on the turn after calling my value bet of 2/3rd of the pot and five people calling my pre-flop raise. Down to push and pray depths, I run QT into Presto and he hits a runner runner four flush. But luckily he had less chips then me! I chip back up to ~T1000 and politely run my sevens into ATo… that rivered an ace. IGHN. Out 234th out of 396

Luckily some fellow bloggers were on Yahoo IM to ignore my usual mistyping, misspelling banter and they kept me in good spirits as I tried my last MTT of the evening.

$24 + $2 MTT Satellite for the weekend $215 tournament (Full Tilt): A celebrity was at my table that I wasn’t expecting. He was gracious enough to pop in and leave after two hands and let me keep my chips for a different monkey avatar. AQ in LP and I pop it for 4XBB and get Six. Fuckin. Callers. Ooooooooook. Flop comes out JT9, when its checked around I try a continuation bet, called by the guy with the guido avatar, the rest fold. We check it down and he turns up the nut straight. Yep AQ vs. KQ. Wonderful. I spy Otis all-in on a huge draw with two overs and the nut-flush draw, but it doesn’t pan out for him. I get whittled down to 5BBs and push with 22, get called by someone with 88 who just showed down AA and KK the last two hands. Hey I lost while being behind! This gets me all warm and tingly, kinda like the feeling after watching a Girls Gone Wild infomercial. I’d rather run KK into AA then get hit with the donkey truck while ahead. Out 28th out of 54 (this placement may be wrong I'll have to re-check).

The play in the MTT satellite was horrid, I can see why people want to take shots here when the play emulated a $5 SnG. As for the $20 SnG, those are juicy as hell as well. If you have the bankroll (and don’t blow it on internet blackjack all in one night) I suggest hitting up a couple of these.

And I know everyone H-A-T-E-S hand histories (and I lied that I wouldn't post any, SORRY!), but this is a journal of how I'm winning/getting knocked out of MTTs and I need some background to go back on. Thank you for your patience, you may lower your tray from the upright position and the stewardess will be by with your snack and hand job soon.


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Heads Up Challenge:

Tonight, the Elite Eight featured the Gophers facing the Illni in a Big Ten match that was sure to leave a few bruises as most Big Ten games do.

Clem Haskins came back after doing all of the player’s homework and managed to rally his troops to a 2-1 victory.

I’m not sure how I won, or why, except the very generous praises I’ve received from both opponents have been encouraging. Not to mention DP’s shocking revelation that he’d also seen the Lifetime TV-movie “The Burning Bed”. I thought I was the only one subjected to such TV garble growing up. Hmmmm I thought Mrs. Keaton was the battered wife, not Charlie's Angel. Oh well.

Not sure who I play next but look out for Drizz’s patented weak-rock-turnaround jumper from 3 point land styled play. Not even Melvin Newbern, Richard Coffey, or Kevin Lynch could defend it. Yeah I like Gopher Basketball more then the Wolves, no idea why, it just is.

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Anyone else from Minnesota dance around outside in the multi-colored leaves yesterday? Wow, 70s in November!! Of course there's a chance of snow by Saturday to remind us the severity of the weather swings in this state. Go from bathing suit to snow suit all in one week!

Thanks for dropping by, now if you haven't signed up for Pauly and Bill's weekend blogger tournaments ask the doctor to politely reverse your lobotomy and SIGN UP!

No Final Table, No Cry

Three tourneys.

Three buy-ins safely pocketed by other players more fortunate then me.

One cash game.

Pays for those tournament buy-ins safely pocketed by other players more fortunate then me.



I don’t know if this zero-sum game I play with tournaments is the best form of money management, but it certainly is the best I can hope for as I learn more about how to play tourneys. I can attribute many of my losses to “bad luck”, but why sit and whine about something I can’t control, and try to change what I can. I did manage to get through 75% of the field in two MTTs on Full Tilt last night, which was promising but unfulfilling. Kind of like scoring a date with the head cheerleader... and having the protective dad sitting between you and her on the couch during "Say Anything". The LO8 head-ups bracket tourney on Stars was definitely different, as I played very aggressively to start, and held a sizable lead. But, I didn’t take my foot off the gas when the limits were raised to an amount that would hurt until it was too late, and lost.

Moral victory once again?

I’m getting tired of moral victories, show me the money damnit!

Perhaps I’ll never “get it”, because there’s a reason why other bloggers have had great successes in tournaments. Its not “I got lucky” or “I didn’t get unlucky” there's a reason why certain players win. He of milk fame, Louie Pasteur quoted “chance favors the prepared mind”. My mind isn’t prepared; it’s a bowl of cherry Jell-O that’s held up by what’s left of my skull. I try to remain positive during tournaments, even after a beat (if it doesn’t wipe me out…). But the mind-set of playing for 2-5 hours and have nothing to show for it except a super-cool bad beat story doesn’t seem like a very productive way to spend my hardly earned poker dollars.

Why do I still play tournaments then?

Because I hold more lottery tickets then most of the other kids and one of these days my powerball is going to get called. Pushing that 88 vs. my AA pre-flop? Yeah, I’m going to win four out of five times. I’ve been trying to keep this in the back of my head each time I’m on the receiving end of a beat. I’ll have my day again sometime soon when the post headline will be a smarmy quote followed by a screenshot of Little Drizz’s or the hellooooooooo nurse’s icon holding all of the tournament chips.

A self-imposed challenge this week.

Play at least three MTT tournaments with a $10 or higher buy-in (unless it’s the $3 rebuy at Stars which is a $9 minimum in my eyes anyway) per night for the next week and record the results for better for worse. No hand histories, just results.

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And for those who have been living in a crack house for the past few days, two all-star bloggers have stepped up and created some very cool tournaments to play on the weekend while we’re crying about the hometown football team doing so poorly.

Everyone is from Minnesota right?

First tourney is worst to first WPBT Aladdin champ Bill Rini’s creation:

Six Gun Shoot Out in the Desert
Ok boys and girls, after serving up a little trick, I’m here with the treat I promised the other day. I’ve decided to add a little excitement to the World Poker Blogger Tour Winter Classic in Las Vegas on December 10th. I’ve scheduled three $10 +$1 blogger tournaments on Full Tilt Poker on Nov 6th, Nov 13th and Nov 20th. Since I wanted to mix things up a bit, they’re satellite tournaments. Top two players from all three tournaments will be entered into a LIVE 6 person shoot-out tournament at the Imperial Palace immediately following the regular blogger tournament. But wait, there’s more! The 6 person shoot-out is a winner take all.

Now the details:

When:
Nov 6th, 13th, and 20th at 3pm Eastern (do the math for your local time zone)

Where:
Full Tilt Poker. Go to the tournaments section, click on private and scroll down. The tournament is private so you will need a password. Please email me for the password (you’ll see my reasoning for not posting it here later in this message). Here’s a hint: They’re tournament numbers 1718580, 1718582, and 1718583.

What:
The top two lucky winners from each tournament will be entered into a winner take all freeroll, six person shootout at the Imperial Palace immediately following the main blogger tournament on December 10th in Las Vegas.

IMPORTANT FACTS TO KNOW
If you don’t plan on going to the blogger tournament then it’s pointless for you to enter. You will not receive any sort of cash compensation!!!! When you are given a password for this tourney, do not give it out to others unless you absolutely, positively know they’re playing in the blogger tournament on the 10th.

The six players in the shootout will be allowed to chop. You can even chop before the tournament starts. It’s totally up to you. Personally though, I would recommend maybe a six way chop of 50% or 60% of the prize pool and then battle it out for the remainder.

Due to the freakish nature of how this tournament will work, the satellite tournaments were entered into the system as winner take alls. The winner take all prize pool for the event will be temporarily deposited into the first place winner’s account where it will be immediately withdrawn by Full Tilt and put into a holding account. In other words, don’t get excited when you see the money in your account and don’t freak out when you see it disappear.

Do not enter the tournament unless you will be in Vegas to play in the shootout. You will not be awarded any money for winning the satellite (for those who might have missed it the first time).
Right now, the plan is to transfer the money to the Full Tilt account of the winner of the shootout. Of course, if deals get struck or whatever, those percentages will be transferred to the respective Full Tilt accounts as well. In other words, I’m not planning on bringing the cash with me to Vegas. I might be convinced otherwise if the six finalists bug me enough but I’m not hot in the idea of carrying around a few grand in cash that isn’t mine.

If you win more than one satellite entry, you can either gift or sell your additional spot to someone else or play against fewer players. For instance, if you somehow won three entries, you could compete against just three other opponents if you so choose.

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And anyone who did not receive an iPod at the Stars Blogger tourney… has a second chance, as Dr. Pauly puts together a series of point based tournaments with special prizes to those who finish in the top three overall:

What: Saturdays with Dr. Pauly

Where: Poker Stars

When: Saturday November 5th at 1pm EST

Tournament Info: #14338880 (check under Private Tournament Tab)

Password: hiltons

Eligibility: Anyone with a Poker Stars account

Attire: Pants optional

Special Prizes & Bounties:

First place (weekly): Phil Gordon's Little Green Book

My Bounty (weekly): Free iTunes Gift Card (Bust me and get 15 free songs!!)

Grubby's Bounty: Visit the Poker Grub for more info

John "Shecky" Caldwell's Bounty: Bust John aka "Shecky" and you get a free Poker News t-shirt and $20 added to your Poker Stars account!

Saturday's with Dr. Pauly Champion... Overall Winner: iPod Nano

Overall 2nd Place: DVD of the Big Lebowski

Overall 3rd Place: Daddy calls you on Christmas to wish you Happy Holidays

Saturdays with Dr. Pauly Tour Dates:Tournament #1: Sat. November 5th at 1pm EST

Tournament #2: Sat. November 12th at 1pm EST

Tournament #3: Sat. November 19th at 1pm EST

Tournament #4: Sat. November 26th at 1pm EST

Yes, that's not a typo you see. I will also be giving away a special bonus prize... a brand new iPod NANO... to the player who does the best in all four events!! I'll even try to get it engraved for the winner.

Disclaimers: To be eligible for the iPod and DVD, you have to play every Saturday. If you are not of the Christian persausion and finish in 3rd place, you are eligible to get Daddy to call you on any other day of your choice. Offer is valid from December 24th, 2005 thru July 4th 2006.

Here's a loophole: If you are busy with life stuff, and can't play in all 4 tournaments, you can always sign up and post and fold until you get blinded out in order to maintain your eligibility for the free iPod.

How will I determine a Saturdays with Dr. Pauly Champion? Simple. You add up all your places in the four events. The player (that plays in all 4 events) with the lowest total number wins.

Example:

Iggy finishes 5th, 27th, 33th, and 15th. He has 80 points.Pauly finishes 11st, 119th, 5th, and 25th. He has 160 points.Derek finishes in 9th, 2nd, 17th, and 54th. He has 82 points.Iggy would win the iPod beating out Derek by 2 points.

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Both of you give yourselves a pat on the back or ass or whatever feels good. Because its people like yourselves that make our little poker blogging community like a second family. We play a cut-throat game together, yet still manage to be friendly afterwards. Mind-bOOgling (intentional super-cool misspelling).

Thanks for dropping by, now go visit Bill and Pauly. Let them know that their efforts are appreciated. And if you don’t appreciate them, then just go and indulge in Rini’s PokerFilter or Pauly’s conversations with horny people in Las Vegas casino bathroom stalls.

Take It On The Run

You take it on the run baby. If that's the way you want it baby.



"Take It On the Run" R.E.O. Speedwagon





Last night I figured out quickly I wouldn't have the patience in the cash games, so applied a hit and run to several different tables scoring a couple of bucks. Busting out in unexciting fashion a $11 LO8 MTT to someone calling me down with QQ77 on a flop of AA2, yes I had trips, yes I had 4 to a low, and yes he rivered a flush (not a boat...) calling all of my bets down when the low didn't hit.

But isn’t that the type of player you WANT in the game? Yes. I just hit the wrong side of the donkey truck and it hit me back. If the players are that skilled, I think I’m done playing the dollah tourneys (aside from blogger last longer bets in them) and will start to invade the $11 and $22, and on CJ-induced courage nights a $55 LO8 MTTs when they are available. Of course, these are just for fun since I’m not much of a tourney player but there's a need to become better should I grab enough liquid courage to join Al at the WSOP for their slightly higher buy-in of $2,000 for Event #8.

A man can dream can’t he?

After all, what’s the point of playing poker without taking a shot or two? I’m dead money at worst and slightly above average at best, but playing in the WSOP is a dream of mine that I’d like to fulfill before the whole southern fried chicken dinners catch up to me. I know I’d be better off trying to keep up with Al shot for shot while playing, but just to say “As of July 3rd 2006 I’m the 421st best O8 player in the world!” has a certain ring to it. Wielding a huge junk I’m sure has its advantages, but we all know it’s the poker prestige that gets the harem of poker groupies that currently hang out at Bobby’s place.

But isn’t that a lot of money for a low limit plodder like yourself?

Um, yeah. Maybe it will have to wait till 2007, but like Danny N. has stated, it could become the World Series of Hold Em’ by then.

I dunno maybe it’s a pipe dream ala Mikey McD. I know I’m over my head in thinking I can be semi-competitive at that level. Maybe I’ll over-think this like every other minor issue in my life. It’s tough for me to break my routine and do something “irresponsible”. I’m a husband, a father (hopefully 2X father in several months…), I have responsibilities to upkeep, and I like those responsibilities. I like the fact that Little Drizz depends on me to go work and bring home a paycheck so he can enjoy the Shrek fun fruits he likes to snack on.

So, why the Catholic guilt?

Do I need to get sloshed every day for the next 8 months to let my inhibitions down enough to follow through on this? Say a few Hail Marys, help others in their time of need, and attend mass on Sundays? It is my decision, since the caring wife as stated that poker money is mine to control whatever I wish to do with it so that’s a non-issue. But the little devil and little angel sitting on my shoulders are duking it out for control.

Okay end incoherent rambling, but maybe some bloggers who have stepped up past the grind into the bigger games would have some insight how they got past the block in taking that shot.

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Last night was Trickortreat night for Little Lestat (cute pictures to come later this week), as I was surprised by the amount of homes that were giving out candy. At 75% of the house around our neighborhood had their lights on and 50% of those had costumes on when Little Drizz stumbled up to utter “trickortreatthankyou” as fast as possible to ask for a soda or a pencil at least of them were creative. It was refreshing to see all these neighbors ready to take on a flood of kids in this older neighborhood, granted it wasn’t the streets flooded with hockey players, hobos, and ballerinas as when I grew up, but it wasn’t the ghost town that I saw last year while taking Little Drizz on his first trickortreating run.

He made away with quite a haul that I’m sure will sedate the pregnant wife's chocolate needs for at least a day or two. The hardest part was convincing him that we would put away the candy for a later time as he wouldn’t let go of the plush pumpkin used to snag the chocolate prizes.

Yeah, I wouldn’t trust mom either Little Drizz.

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Ok, I’m sure you’ve had your morality tested like this in much much more important matters before, but in case you haven’t what do you do in this case…

You finished your day as Cube Monkey #1122818, shut off your monitor and grab your bag and Tupperware container with dry tomato sauce crusted on the sides from lunch and head for the exit.

For unknown reasons you look at the floor and spot a piece of paper. Being a good cube monkey who doesn’t fling poo, you pick up the piece of paper and get ready to discard it properly. But this is no ordinary Office Max office copy paper, it’s a twenty dollah bill!

Oy. Do we consult with the angel and devil?

I didn’t need to. I handed off to a long time co-worker who works in the area that I found the $20 and she said she’d handle it. Maybe I was naïve to do that, but hey it’s not my money, I didn’t win it, and I’m sure whomever dropped it needs it more then I. Yeah, sainthood here I come. Mother Theresa? Pfffff, I didn’t take a twenty, all she did was feed like a million starving kids.

Thanks for dropping by, now check out Doubleas’ "what would you do" series of post, taking you through the thought processes of several hands in the $10/$25 NLHE ring game. The decision to call an all in with just an overpair on a flush board definitely gets the gears running. Especially when you only have 40 seconds to make the decision to call bullshit or not.

Expected

"Hey Brett, any chance you guys could come back and play at the Metrodome a few more times this year so I can keep my job?"

There was a glimmer of hope when the Vikes marched down the field for a quick touchdown starting the 3rd quarter. Of course the lemmings at Fox immediately segue to last week’s come back vs. the Brett Farve’s (the rest of the team doesn’t really matter until he announces he retirement in January).



I knew better.

Brad Johnson 2005 is not Brad Johnson pre-Tampa Bay, and definitely no Daunte (yes, I still have faith in him).

I “watched” the remainder of the game on NFL.com along with my friend Burnsie with their play by play updates on all the games since I was homebound due to a birthday party being thrown at my place for my wife’s grandmother. Following fantasy football online seemed more exciting then watching Steve Smith make Fred Smoot look like a high school freshman who finally got to second base and is confused about what do to next.

Smoot… a word in private please.

If a receiver you’re jawing out burns you for 200+ yards its time to concentrate more on tackling and less on the yo’ mama jokes. I’m sure you’ll have a better game vs. one of the gimpy Lions receivers next week.

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It was an up and down weekend for poker as I moved up to play $1/$2 PLO8 almost entirely. The swings are much bigger and when draws don’t hit, and it cost more to reload.

Duh.

Unfortunately, I had looked at the $$ in a hand where the odds dictated I call/raise and I folded the winning hand (hindsight is 20/20 of course). But, I have no explanation for this sudden mental block because on a different site I had no problem calling off half my stack on a similar draw.

Anyone else have this happen? Play ultra-tight at UB for no known reason, but switch to Full Tilt and let the chips fly like you’re channeling your inner Layne Flack? I’m not talking about playing tight in a loose game, or playing loose in a tight game. My concern is altering your play just based on the interface or past results of the online card room.

Does winning a stack in a cash game or recent tournament success at one site loosen your play at that site? But if you play somewhere else that you’ve lost two buy-ins recently your play is drastically tighter?

Why should it?

It’s the same random number generator, just a different interface. For those players who play at multiple sites this is definitely something you should be watching and catching yourself on. It could cost you some cash, or another chance to bust a pro grrrrrrrrrrr, I’ll get you next time Ms. Gazes!

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Tonight is a Halloween, and Little Drizz has been reminding us to go trickortreat (all one word). He will not be going as a Viking player on the love boat, as him and I did to my sister’s party over the weekend. Tonight he becomes a creature of the night, a vampire! Hopefully he’ll forgive us for the face paint and cute costume when he grows up, as I hate Halloween with a passion for the reason that my parents felt obligated to put make-up on me despite my pleas that I did not enjoy it. Only wrapping a Christmas gift or trying to figure out how licks it takes to get to the center of a Toosie roll pop gives me more fits.

Congrats to G-Rob on his win and Daddy’s bridesmaid finish at the most recent WWdN (in exile) tourney!

Thanks for dropping by, now go give April a big hug. Her Texans broke their win column cherry finally, despite trying to lose so I could make a few bucks on my parlay bets this weekend.