So what did you get?

I got sick for Christmas.

Sick. Sick. Sick.

Not stuffy nose, fever sick. I mean SICK!

I hope the worst has passed, but I am feeling very weak, and needing to rejuvenate. Let's just say I am about 15 pounds lighter than I was heading into Christmas....and Mrs. Chipstack wanted me to lose some weight. Mission accomplished!

Ugh.

I am trying to make light of it, but it is difficult. Sparing you readers the details, let's just say that a bad run of cards hurts far less than my body does at this particular moment.

Anyway, poker is on the back burner for a bit--was thinking of maybe doing a 1 table thing this Sunday, but I don't think my strength will be up for it, considering the past 3 days. Next weekend I have a trip to Greenville, NC planned (a work thing), so maybe the Sunday after, who knows. Right now, just seeing the sunrise tomorrow will be a victory for me.

I did manage to eat something tonight (after 2 days), and so far, so good. What caused it? No clue. Seriously, no idea. I just know there are a few people I would wish this upon, and none of them read this blog.

OK, I am rambling with no point. Time to hang it up for now.

Good luck, good cards and GOOD HEALTH!

~M

The work is done...

Santa likely won't have his aces cracked today! Here's hoping that your pocket rockets always hold up (unless you have them against me), in 2008.

Merry Christmas!
~M

More intarweb fun

Enjoy....

Don't send a lame Holiday eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

Some non-poker YouTubes

Those that know me, know I am a big fan of the Blue Man Group. I have seen them perform 3 times, twice in Vegas, and once in Atlanta. The Atlanta trip was especially fun, as a former co-worker of mine (we worked together when we went to ATL for the show), was good friends with a drummer in the band (not one of the Blue Men). We hung out with the group after the show--fun stuff.

Anyway, surfing the net today, stumbled across some BMG videos. If you have never seen them, this is basically what their show is like. Fun, entertaining, loud, and very rythmic.



Now that you have seen that, you need to click this video--very creative, and fun. Whoever put this together had a lot of time on his/her hands, but it came out pretty well, and is a good representation of BMG.

Ho Ho Hold 'Em-2007

It's that time again! The pre-Christmas Hold 'Em tourney at mi casa. So far, response has been a bit slow, but I am hoping it will pick up. Would really love to have a nice 3 table field (24 players), but if I think I'll be lucky to get 2.

Now, I understand the holidays are upon us, and some of the folks that said they couldn't play are going out of town. I get it. I guess I am bit confused by the lack of responses from some folks that will be around. We're not talking about Christmas EVE or Christmas Day....we're talking the 23rd, and a 3pm start at that. Oh well, I suppose I am more of a degenerate poker player that most.

Vegas planning is in the very early stages (as mentioned in earlier blog post). Mrs. Chipstack and I are talking about the final full week of June, and me skipping the WSOP again this year. I think I am in line with that idea. I think one more year of working, stashing away some extra money and the like, and then, Lord willing, taking that WSOP plunge in 2009 is the way to go. The wife and I have a wonderful relationship, especially when it comes to finances. She's a genius, and I am glad to be along for the ride. It's her idea to postpone the WSOP return until 2009, and I'm more than fine with it.

That will mean, however, that I will be tourney crazy in Vegas this summer, and I might even try some other local casinos with higher buy-ins. Still talking about it, but with the league members that are talking about going, we will have a terrific time once again, no matter where we play. Some folks are thinking about renting a condo for the week, which sounds like a ton of fun. If I were a single guy, I might be in line with it. For Mrs. Chipstack and I, this is our 1 week where there are no kids, no phones, no nothing. I think you get the idea.

Anyway, it is getting late, so a quick poker recap for you:

Since winning the December league event (my 2nd of the season--WEEEEEEE!!!), I have played at Irish Jim's once, and played so poorly I almost vomited. No hand recollections--it was long ago, and frankly, I don't wish to remember any of it.

This past Sunday, I ventured to Randy's for a 6 handed game, and finished 2nd. I probably deserved to finish worse, but I'll take the breaks when I can get them. Spiked a 2 outer to make a better full house and stay alive, went all-in on a Q-10 suited, and made a straight flush to stay alive....it was that kind of night. Here's the last hand:

I'm BB heads up, blinds 600-1200, I have QJ suited. Button calls, I raise 2400 more, button calls.

Flop- A-A-K.

I shove for something like 5000 total (may have been more). Button calls, and shows K-6 offsuit.

I'm not dead, but I am drawing thin--4 outs to make the straight, or running Q's or running J's to make a boat. 2 bricks, and the game is over.

Hard to be too broken up over losing that one. Here's why.

1-Button made the call of the 2400 pre-flop raise (in my opinion). for a couple reasons. A) they didn't believe I had a strong hand and/or B) they could afford to make the call. K-6 heads up is often times a favorite over any 2 random cards (or so I have read), so the call could be viewed as loose, but still, given the situation, it was, in my mind, the right play.

2-My shove after the flop. Donkey play on my part. I raise pre-flop to represent an A. Why shove there? I have no idea, but then again, the button hitting the K gives them top 2 pair--a bet was coming (I think) if I do nothing but check, and then I have to play (most likely) for all my chips anyway. Could I muck there, if I face a bet? Sure, but with the blinds at 600-1200, I have 5K left. I'm gonna be shoving with any 2 cards after that, and would need an additional double up.

Add it all up, and I was going broke that hand, and there was nothing I could do about it, with the exception of shoving pre-flop. Maybe the button folds. Maybe not. The way it played out, I deserved 2nd place, so again, no reason to kick myself too much.

OK--if you are a league member, and you made it this far: PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE FOR SUNDAY AT THE LEAGUE SITE!!!! If you already have, thanks and I will see you Sunday. If you have not....please let me know, one way or the other. Would love to have all of you for some Christmas Cards....get it???

~M

Time to start planning

Yes, as always, Christmas season (sorry, I ain't going for the ole "Happy Holiday" business on my blog), brings with it good cheer, decorated trees, and of course....

THE UPCOMING WSOP SCHEDULE OF EVENTS!!!!

Click on this here body of words to jump to the story.

I'll offer up some thoughts on the schedule, and when I may be heading out that way (as the league field trip will likely commence at that time).

One other note about the WSOP schedule: the $50,000 buy-in World Championship H.O.R.S.E. Event winner will receive the money and the bracelet, and now, they will receive the David "Chip" Reese trophy, in honor of the event's inaugural winner, who recently passed away. The WSOP doesn't make the greatest decisions, but they hit this one out of the park.

Good luck and good cards,
~M

PS--failed to mention--some funny reading. Check out Phil Hellmuth's blog here, and after reeadin it, check out Daniel Negreanu's blog here. Funny stuff.

Poker Loses a Legend

David "Chip" Reese

1951-2007

I woke up this morning, ready to face the day after a rough night of sleep. I jump on the computer, and stagger around the internet, when I stumble upon this.

David "Chip" Reese is dead at the age of 56.

I never met Reese, only saw him strolling the halls of the Rio during the WSOP, but his game is legendary. His story is true Vegas. I have attached it here.

The poker world lost a legend, in much the same way it did when Johnny Moss, Stu "The Kid" Ungar, and Puggy Pearson passed.

There's now a seat open at the big game.

A seat that opened far too soon.




(Copy that follows courtesy Associated Press)

David "Chip" Reese, a card star who won one of the biggest cash games in the world and three World Series of Poker championships, has died. He was 56.

Reese died in his sleep and was found by his son early Tuesday morning at his Las Vegas home after suffering from symptoms of pneumonia, said poker great Doyle Brunson, his longtime friend.

"I knew him for 35 years, I never saw him get mad or raise his voice," Brunson said. "He had the most even disposition of anyone I've ever met. He's certainly the best poker player that ever lived."

After attending Dartmouth College, Reese was on his way to Stanford business school in the early 1970s when he stopped by a Las Vegas poker room and won big, said World Series of Poker media director Nolan Dalla.

"He just accidentally stumbled into Las Vegas and never left," Dalla said.

His immediate success at cash games and low-key persona won him friends, even among those who wound up passing him their chips.

Despite winning three World Series champion's bracelets over the last four decades, including a $1.8 million HORSE event in 2005 that combines five poker disciplines, Reese focused his attention on high-stakes cash games away from the limelight.

"I've seen him with a million dollars in front of him," said Dalla, describing how Reese would put out racks of $5,000 chips "like he was betting a few bucks."

Reese was part of a generation of players in the 1970s that challenged established greats like Brunson, Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston Jr. and Walter Clyde "Puggy" Pearson, Dalla said.

Brunson and Reese eventually became business partners, investing in everything from oil wells and mining to TV stations and racehorses and becoming sports betting consultants.

None of the ventures was successful, Brunson said.

"We went to look for the Titanic. We went to look for Noah's Ark. We were two of the biggest suckers whenever it came to business, but we both had poker to fall back on," Brunson said. "Thank God we could play, so we always survived."

Reese's prowess at both cash and tournament play was cemented with his 2005 win, said World Series of Poker commissioner Jeffrey Pollack.

"Many consider Chip the greatest cash-game player who ever lived," Pollack said in a news release. "His victory in the inaugural $50,000 buy-in HORSE championship ... made him a part of WSOP lore forever."

Reese is survived by a son, a daughter and a stepdaughter, Brunson said. He was recently divorced from his wife.

Services are planned for Friday in Las Vegas, Brunson said.

A 2007 to remember

It's only fitting that I bring back the Johnny Chan picture for this installment of the blog (long overdue to all 6 of you loyal readers). 2007 has been a tremendous year for me at the poker table. I can not quantify the results, but in terms of how I have played this year, through the highs and the lows, I sense my game has improved immensely.

Saturday was the December league event, and I managed to pick up my 2nd win of the season, and I will readily admit that I played some great poker early, and some "meh" poker later. My reads in the early portion of the tourney were very good. I was able to get away from dangerous hands when I was beat, and I was able to apply pressure and take down pots with players drawing at me.

Late, I got lucky in some big spots, that I continue to evaluate why I played what I did, and how to better avoid being in those spots. I may have finished first, but I don't know that6 I played the best of anyone that night. In my first tourney win of the season, I felt like I played the strongest tourney of my life. Saturday, I was decent, but certainly not overwhelming. My friend Vito expressed that I am playing stronger than I may be giving myself credit for, and that's fine. I just want to get better.

Currently, I am 4 points behind first place overall in points, and the 2nd win for me this season opened up an additional points earning seat in the TOC for someone else. I know the feeling of being outside the TOC, and hoping that any extra opening comes along to make it a little easier to find my way in. Hope that eases the minds of some in our league. No doubt, I will try to get another one in January.

Other notes: Mom and Dad are back in Vegas after spending 10 days with us. I think they liked it out here, but I am not convinced they are committed to moving out here. I know they should move out here, but if they will--that's a different deal. Time will tell--they need to sell their house, Mrs. Chipstack and I need to make the necessary arrangements for them to move in with us. Plenty of hurdles to overcome before we make it a reality.

Cards in the future: Irish Jim's tonight (I took the night off from work after working some ridiculous stretch of days over the past 3 weeks). MAYBE Dec. 9 at my place--if I can scare up a game on a Sunday. Beyond that, no clue. Would like to get in another big tourney before the new year, but that may no come off. Time will tell.

Good luck and good cards,
~M

Almost 2 weeks

Miss me?

LOL. Been a crazy past couple weeks. League event (7th place finish-ugh), plus the parents flying in from Vegas. Really don't have too much to write in this entry. I could recap some of the hands from the league tourney, but frankly, I really don't want to. We had 19 players (VERY short field), and I probably could not have played any worse than I did. My reads have been junk, and I have been bailed out on flops far too many times. My radar is off, big time. Gotta recalibrate the eyes to the brain (what's left of it anyway).

Thanksgiving holiday will be special with the folks visiting me here for just the 2nd time since I have lived in this state. It's the first time they will be with us for a holiday. I am looking forward to that so much, considering this is my first house. It's gonna be very special, I am sure.

Poker on tap: Possible tourney at a league member's place this weekend (gotta see how Dad is feeling so he can come with me), and then December league event next Saturday.

Anyway, I hope all 6 of you loyal readers (and the stragglers that stumble in during blog searches) have a wonderful holiday. I know I will.

Good luck and good cards,
~M

Yeah, yeah, I know...I'm late

I said I would update after my birthday....and it is after my birthday, just a week later. Sorry--I know all 6 of you have been hanging on my every word.

First, birthday poker. What a blast! Great friends came over, some bearing gifts (which were not necessary, but thanks so much). Got a 2 deck set up of the 2007 WSOP Cards with the poker peek faces, and the mis-spelled name of WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack (they are spelled Jeffery on the card backs). There was booze, and a couple Pez dispensers, a book...great stuff from good friends. Thanks!

A field of 15 players, including Mrs. Chipstack, sat at 2 tables for the tourney. I had a good table draw (but then again, the weakest player in the tourney was Mrs. Chipstack, only because she never plays). We started with T25,000 in chips, so there was plenty of play in the stacks. I was able to come out on top, but not without getting stupid lucky in a couple of key spots.

At the final table, I raise in early position with QJ offsuit, just wanting to pick up the blinds and antes--I forget the level and the blinds, but I made a standard raise. Ken, a friend of a friend of mine (and a good player) re-raises me all-in. He had done this to other players throughout the night, and I didn't remember him showing his hands after forcing the other players out of the pot. Well, I decided this time, he had nothing, and I was gonna play with him.

When he flipped over his cards, it occurred to me that my reads have been off lately. He had AK offsuit.

I spike a Q on the turn, and knock him out--I thought he had me covered, but it was the other way around. A monster pot in my direction. From there, I just wanted to coast, and when we got inside the bubble, I made a donkish play 4 handed from the button. I raise it (standard again), with 86 off. Again, just trying to pick up the chips that are already out there. My buddy Randy (at least I hope he's still my buddy lol), re-raises me.

(Editor's Note--this next bit made sense at the time, but in retrospect, I have no idea why I did what I did).

I determined I wanted to represent a big hand, so I flat called the raise. Flop comes off 8 high (giving me a pair), Randy checks, I bet out, he raises all in, and I call (getting a fair price on the pot at that point). He had AK clubs. The board missed him, I drag the pot, and then felt the wrath. Randy was steamed (and rightfully so). I have been that mad when people played trash at me, and I lose the pot with a big hand. I understood, and tried to talk him down a bit. I hope it worked. He's a good guy and a good player that has taken more than his fair share of bad beats.

I won the tourney on the last hand when my AK outraced pocket JJ. Mrs. Chipstack was able to come home in 3rd place. It should be pointed out that she has played all of 4 times in calendar 2007, but according to her, it was the first time she saw some starting hands worth playing. I thought it was funny when she would enter a pot, the flop would come out, and I would call out her hand after she won the chips. Her reactions told all--not like I was the only one figuring it out--just funny to see her kinda grin when I would say..."Can't beat Ace-Queen on a Q high flop..." She's so cute.


Anyway, played again at Irish Jim's on Wednesday and really was on stroke there too, but couldn't close the deal, finishing in 2nd to my buddy Joe P. Had a nice chip lead heading into 3 handed play, lost a big pot when my kicker with my Aces was no good (another misread as I didn't put my opponent on an Ace). I had made virtually all of my draws that night, and gambled I would make another on the final hand. Joe had hit 2 pair (Q's and J's) and I had the board connected with 9-10, so any 8 or K wins me the hand. Brick-brick, and we're done. I hadn't looked at the stats for that night, but I think I busted out 7 players (we played with rebuys so I got some guys more than once). Fairly sick night for me, but lots of fun. Got to meet Klownboxer's brother. He lives in Egypt and was visiting. Nice feller. The polar opposite of Klownboxer. Other than certain things in common, no way you put these 2 together and say "related."

No cards for me until next Saturday, November League game--AND it's the same night my folks arrive from Las Vegas for Thanksgiving. Really looking forward to their visit. And her candied yams. Brown Sugar & Marshmallow Sweet Potatoes.

Excuse me, while I salivate.

Good Luck and Good Cards,
~M

My last day on Earth

at this age.

HAHA! Thought I was going into some deep, "what will my life be like the day before I die" thing? Hah! Nope, birthday is tomorrow, and I can't wait. Good group of folks coming to the house for some cards and fun, Mrs. Chipstack is working on something for me, too. It's gonna be fun.

It is funny to hear some people talk about birthdays. "I'm getting old..." or "Soon, I won't remember what day my birthday falls on..." I find it funny. I realize that I am approaching 40 (which, to some of my friends is still young), but I have been a big believer in the sage words of my old buddy in Chicago, Chez. "Age is just a number--you are only as old as you think you are."

It's true. My buddy Chez was a supervisor at the ice arena I worked at in Chicago. He played semi-pro hockey in his younger days, and by the time we became friends he was in his late 30's, early 40's. He played hockey with us during our Friday morning employee skates. The game was called "Hit The Post" originally, because we never could get goaltenders, so goals were scored when a shot clanged off a post. As the game grew, we had to tell goalies NOT to show up. Chez taught me a lot about the game of hockey, how to get better as a player and the like, and he also taught me a love for horse racing. I had always loved the ponies, but after talking to him about the science of racing, it was a new world.

Anyway, it's been a long time since I've seen Chez, or even spoken to him for that matter, but he remains one of the biggest influences in my life. One of the mentors that showed me sides of life I hadn't even thought of, and made me a better person as a result.

Hope you have a great weekend, and if we break out the camera on Saturday, pictures shall be shared. No lampshades, though. Sorry.

~M

A flop, turn and river

Haven't sat at a table since the last league game, so very little in the way of poker in this entry. Couple things:

1-Fall CANUSA went the way of the Americans, a 7 shot win. The field was trimmed from 24 to 16 over the span of 2 days as the Canadians lost 4 players due to varying reasons (1 had a business trip come up, another a family emergency in Toronto, another suffered a separated shoulder, and one other...well we don't really know). That left the USA Captain (me) with tough decisions. Luckily for me, one of our guys had a family emergency (his wife's father passed away--condolences to Cathy), so that took Randy out of the mix, I had to tell our poker buddy Sly we couldn't use him, and there was some confusion with 2 other Americans, so we cut them too. Once we played, I was reunited with my longtime buddy Darren. Darren is the guy that got me involved in this thing 7 years ago, and has it been a blast. Darren has since relocated to Upstate New York, and rarely gets a chance to play golf with us. He came down, and we partnered up for an even par round of 72. He made everything on the greens--it was sick. Truly an enjoyable day of catching up with an old friend, and sharing plenty of laughs over 18 holes of golf.

2-T-minus 5 days until I hit 38. It's been this way for a while--try and shoot my age for 9 holes of golf. Once I hit 40, I will look to be lower than my age, but for now, my age would do just fine. I know 38 isn't a milestone birthday, but still. 38? Just seems old. I know there are those of you that read this that are older--this is my dilemma, not yours! Kidding. Looking forward to Saturday, as we have a decent size field ready for some hold 'em. Don't know what the starting stack will be, but it could range from T10K to T25K. Still mulling and waiting to see just how many players we actually have.

3-Congrats to Red Sox Nation, winners of the 2007 World Series. I was amazed at just how well those cats played against Colorado. I sill maintain that having the Rockies sit idle for 8 days was a huge disadvantage for them. They hadn't had 8 straight days off since before spring training. That's just too long for baseball players to not play baseball, once they have gotten into their routine. Anyway, Boston was the better team, in my opinion, and deserved the ring. now if only the White Sox would get some of that hunger back....ugh.

4-Back to the birthday....what do you ask for if you are 38 years old? I have no idea. I always love new playing cards, and I have had my eyes on the KEM WSOP decks from this year's WSOP--the red/black backs looked so nice on TV. I wouldn't mind a setup of those ,but of course, if it's linked to Harrah's, it will carry the Harrah's ridiculous price mark-up. It's like $40 for 2 decks of cards. I don't know. Plus, if you know me, you know I am a big hockey freak, and love pro-weight jerseys. Well, the NHL changed the jersey style this season, and pro-weight NHL jerseys now go for like $250. WAY too high....did find a place that has some of my preferred style from last season for $120, but tough finding my size. The search continues.

Hope you have a great week, and weekend. Will TRY to leave another post before the weekend, but don't hold me to it. If not, something Sunday or Monday after the festivities will be in order.

Good luck and good cards,
~M

How lucky can one guy be?

Wassup....been feeling a bit run down lately, only because I am not sleeping all that well. Long hours at work, and I just can't bring myself to call it a night before 2a.m. usually. Need to get more sleep, so I feel better throughout the day. I know, this isn't what you jumped over here for.

Yes, pokah, pokah, pokah....Haven't played since the league game last weekend, which is fine. I have a birthday coming up in a few days (Nov. 3), and the lovely Mrs. Chipstack has granted me the go-ahead for a tourney at the house that evening! Awesome! The word has been put out amongst our league folks, although response has been somewhat slow. It will be capped at 30 max, but I doubt we'll approach that number. Depending on the number of players, we will go with 1 of 2 starting stacks, either T10K or T25K, with blinds set accordingly. I am looking forward to it, since it will be a night with friends, playing tournament poker.

Before all that, I have the 3rd and final CANUSA Cup tournament for 2007 this weekend. Gonna be a quick trip in and out of Raleigh--I drive up late Friday after work, golf in the late morning, then drive back to home afterwards, since I have an NFL game on Sunday to cover. Wish I had more time to hang out with my buddies, but duty calls. Hate that I have to leave, because my friend Darren is coming in from New York, and I haven't really seen him since I moved out of Raleigh. He's a great guy who I played hockey with, and he's the one that got me hooked up with these CANUSA fellas. I have made some pretty solid friendships as a result, so I owe alot to Darren.

We shall defend our nation's honor this weekend--even if it rains!

Good luck and good cards,
~M

Riding the Rollercoaster

Chips are down. Then they are up. Then down. Then I'm out.

That's about the way things ran for me in our League event Saturday. Not a complaint. I dusted off a bunch of chips early, starting with 3K, down to 1125 at the break. Went on a nice rush and worked the stack to around 5K, and then 2 hands bit my ass.


Blinds 100-200, 25 ante, I'm in BB.

Early position raiser makes it 600 to go. I have Kc7c. I flat call to see a flop. My opponent, at the time, was playing relatively tight, not mixing it up too much without some kind of decent starting hand. My pre-flop read, because he was chatting me up before I made the call, was JJ or QQ. My suited cards gave me the thought to take a flop for 400 more, and if I whiff it, I get out.

Flop:
K-2-4, rainbow

Hmmmm....top pair. I check, opponent checks. He fears the K (I say to myself).

Turn: 4.

I bet 1200 into the pot. He shoves all in (I have him covered). Now this move made me pause and think what could he have that has me beat? AK? Maybe, but not likely. I had him on a pair, not a big ace. JJ or QQ seemed more likely, and I thought the all-in was a shove to drive me out. I tank for a minute or 2, and decide to make a crying call, knowing I still have outs to win the hand.

He rolls over 22, for a boat, deuces full of fours.

In unison--"MISREAD!"

LOL. I still had outs, although very few--any K or any 4 makes me the better hand, but the river was a 10. Ugh. Stack cut to 1250 (I think). My read was partially right--I had him on a pair, just not 22. Nice hand, VP.

VERY NEXT HAND, in the small blind, I had AQ, and a mid-position player goes all in, for 1350. I have to call there, as I am only dominated by AA or KK. All in player shows 10-10. I know you hear all the time...."players always seem to hit the Ace when they need it, but not me..." so I'll spare you that, and just say, I didn't improve, and went out in 14th place.

Picked up 2 points (WEEEE!), but still the night was so much more than that for me. Had a blast (as usual), playing with our group--I won't say it enough, we have some damn good people in our league. People I proudly call friends. My favorite in the league, though, was able to put behind him a horrible week, and take home the top prize.

Vito shook off the passing of his father-in-law, and played some of the most amazing poker I have seen him play. Sure, he got lucky a couple times (some I did not see, but heard about), but when he wasn't getting lucky, he was playing his ass off. Truly a sight to behold. It was certainly emotional for him, as well as me. I'll admit, when he won the tournament, I started choking up inside. I have not suffered the loss of a parent yet, and my ex-wife's father passed away when I was living in Texas. I was never close to him, so it didn't affect me too badly. Vito took his FIL's passing to heart (as mentioned in the previous post), and to see him get away from his grief and play as hard and as well as he did....it was beautiful.

So, we are now idle until next month, and I am planning on hosting the event. My folks are coming in from Vegas that night, and they are fully aware of the league and its doings, so they are looking forward to finally meeting my fellow degenerates. Oh, and if any of my league fellows wish to have a reading while she is in town, my Mum will likely hook ya up with one....but remember, ya gotta take care of the host!

Make it a great week--I know I'm gonna try!

~M

The Friday Notebook

Don't have one topic or anything, just feel the need to jot some things down--hope I don't bore you to pieces.

1-Getting a weird feeling about our league, in that, I don't know if people still REALLY want to do it. It's becoming harder and harder to get commitments out of some folks if they are playing from month to month, and there are some grumblings that players aren't having nearly as much fun as they used to. I really want our league to succeed and be fun. I truly enjoy to company of all of players in our league, and I am willing to help keep this thing going. We've had lots of laughs, fun, and cards together. I hope we haven't run the course with the league, as it's something I look forward to each and every month.

2-Got smoked at work on Thursday. I mean SMOKED. Was at a basketball game, when one of the players fell out of bounds and I ended up getting hit in the melon with a camera. I felt fine at the time, but really wasn't. Rest of the day is somewhat of a blur, but I do remember feeling very lethargic. I don't want to use the word concussion, but if I didn't have one, I was as close as you could be to having one. Not fun at all. Much better today, after a good night's sleep (and plenty of Advil).


3-Life could be changing in a big way in the near future. My parents are ready to move out of Las Vegas, so once they sell their house, they are likely going to be moving in with Mrs. Chipstack and I. I don't fear that. I welcome it, and truth be told, my wife was the one pushing for it. She was insisting on it, so that's fine with me. My folks need to get out of Vegas--bad place for them. It will be good to have them here--they are visiting at Thanksgiving--so they can see what life is like in our little burgh, and then they can plan accordingly.

4-The flipside of parents moving in, is parents leaving us. I don't mean abandonment, I mean death. One of my very best friends, lost his father-in-law this week. My buddy is a fine man, father, and husband who simply "gets it." He is a big reason why I am so much in love with the game of poker as well. His father-in-law put him, and his family, through some really tough and trying times over the past couple of years, as health and strength were failing him. Yet, in the face of it all, my pal managed to keep a smile, keep grinding, square his shoulders and lean into the challenges. That's just what he does. I am proud to call Vito my friend. I hurt for him during this period of loss. I do know that Vito is a better man for knowing his father-in-law, and I am a better person for knowing Vito.

Good luck, and good cards.
~M

Johnny Sez..."How about 2?"

OK, so that's not what he's saying there, but for me, it sounds good enough. League game this weekend, and I will hunt for my 2nd win of the season. I played a bit fast and loose last month, a feat which I do not plan on repeating.

Played a nice 7 handed game Sunday, with rebuys. I busted on the bubble, and I deserved to. I didn't play very well throughout much of the night, but went on a nice rush and before I knew it, had a bunch of chips. Lost a chunk here, and a chunk there, and finally got it all in (again--I survived 4-5 all-in's before), with Q-9 off, vs. AK off. Hit a Q on the flop, but turn and river brought spades, putting 4 on the board. AK held a spade, and I was sunk. Ack.

Been working a bunch--really feeling the effects of this fall routine, with NFL Sundays, our annual Fall trip to the Speedway. Been running ragged, and need a break. I get one this weekend--no NFL game. Good chance for us to get the little guy's birthday party in. He turns 8 on the 22nd, so party time is Sunday. Taking a group bowling, so I will be doing some keggling.

I just hope that I have a pocket full o' cash from the night before!

Good luck and good cards!
~M

I am SO good

I can't even begin to describe it. I STEAMROLLED the table at Irish Jim's, playing flawless poker, running bluffs, raising with the nuts. My reads were dead solid perfect, and man, I just know that I can run with the big dogs.

OK, that might be a bit of a lie. In fact, the only truth in the above statement was that I won Tuesday night.

I busted TWICE (thank heavens for the 2 max rebuy rule), and was severely short stacked at the end of the rebuy period. I did use some very well timed aggression to win some pots, but overall, this was by far the luckiest I have ever been at the poker table. Hands down. I really didn't start "playing poker" until I was in a zone where I could actually play. I was so short stacked that I was in all-in or fold mode for nearly 3 levels. I did pick my spots pretty well, but got lucky when I outflopped a better hand once, and held a better hand in an all-in.

Once we got to 4 handed, paying 3, I had this hand UTG: K-10o. I was still the short stack, so I push, and get called by the BB who has KJo. Flop comes Q-J-10, ugh, but with 2 clubs, I have the Kc. Turn is 10c, giving me a set, river is 4c, giving me a flush. Lucky. Not a string of skill in that, just plain ole luck. That doubled me, and had me on my way. Flopped 2 pair with A8, and was able to trap my buddy Klownboxer, and that broke the bubble. Tracy knocked off Jason to get us to heads up, and in HU, we saw the blinds hit the 2000, 4000 with 400 ante level. Lots of chips in the middle before you look at a card. Gladly was able to outlast him there, even though he did double through me one to make it interesting.

Track this weekend, cards again on Sunday.

Maybe sometime in the next month, I will sleep.

Good luck and good cards,
~M

20 year reunion was a lot of fun. I know I would have had even more fun if the wife had come along, but circumstances, etc. Saw and caught up with a lot of old faces, that, unfortunately, I will likely never see again. I got the sense that 10 years from now, there won't be much interest in gathering as a group, but who knows. For the few hours we were all together, it was nice to kick open the doors of those days at our alma mater, and relive some of the moments we had long forgotten about.




I will say this--there are several of my fellow classmates who look very much like they did when we got dressed up in cap & gown. There are many that do not. Still, the people are still the same, and THAT was most enjoyable. Some conversations picked up where they left off at the 10 year reunion. Others had to be jumpstarted. No biggie.



A big thanks to Ron and Jacki (our organizers), as they were the ones that put this whole thing together. I got to see their kids play in the JV and Varsity games (by the way, we got smashed 56-0 on Homecoming-Ugh), and I saw a side of them I didn't see in high school--the parental side. These 2 had a baby in HS, but never did I see them as parents until Saturday. They are very good at raising their kids--very respectful, and very nice. Good to know good people.



POker--back on tonight--Irish Jim's--I head over there in about 45 minutes. Cards Sunday. League next Saturday. I got the itch, and Imma gonna scratch it!

~M

One thing that won't be said about me...

...is that I welch on bets. If I make a bet, I honor it if I lose, or collect if I win. If I shove my chips in the middle behind, and lose--you get my chips. If I push with the best and win, I get your chips. I am an honest person, and when I agree to something, I follow through.

In June, I pushed all in that a certain baseball team would not make the playoffs. I had the best hand at the time. My opponent was drawing very thin. He had a starting rotation that was shaky, they had an offense that wasn't lighting the world on fire, and a first year manager that hadn't exactly been the second coming of Joe Torre.

Once the river card of the baseball season peeled off, it was obvious that I was the one drawing dead. They had done the unthinkable, in my eyes anyway, so, now it is time to pay up.

Nice hand, sir.

This sucks.



























Its sucks because I am a Chicago WHITE SOX fan. I hate the Cubs. My head is burning in that picture, and what's worse is I have to wear that hat ALL DAY during the upcoming CANUSA Cup matches in October. Good thing for me is, the magic of the Cubs run appears to be running low, as they trail Arizona 2-0 in the best of 5 series...but don't think I am counting them out. They went runner-runner on me to win the NL Central....they could suckout on Arizona too.

~M

Goin' Old Skool

In honor of my trip to Chicago for my 20th reunion, I went to pokertube.com and dug up these beauties. They don't have the 1987 WSOP on the site, so I went deep into the wayback machine for the 5 installments of the Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder narrated documentary of the 1973 World Series of Poker. It's definitely worth the 40 minutes, or so, of viewing on your computer.

Enjoy!
Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5

Enough! Enough!!

OK, the lull has turned into craziness. I need to get back to a table. Been away long enough, need a game. Likely won't get a game until Tuesday night of next week, which is fine, considering today is Thursday. I have a busy weekend ahead, and then the function Monday night which will be fun also. The break felt good, it was nice to get away--mind you it was only really about a week and a half--but still, time away is good. Now it's time to get back.

I just realized the next 10 days are gonna be very whirlwind-ish. Work Thurdsday, and Friday. Friday the biggie with the 2 shows in one night. Up early Saturday to fly to Chicago for my reunion. Fly home Sunday AM. Monday day-shift at work, followed by charity night. Golf Tuesday, rounding Tuesday night. Day shift Weds, which starts at 9am with a function. Host the Jeff Gordon Foundation event Wednesday night. Thursday night, qualifying at the track. Friday, normal 2 show night. Saturday, race night at the track.

Inhale....exhale....

There will be a game Sunday at the house with Klownboxer being in town. Must get the shopping and other details finished, but likely 5pm start. Will conflict with Panther game, but until they show me something, I'm not getting too worked up over them. We'll see how they handle New Orleans this week.

More later,
~M

Quick Hitter

It's Tuesday. Meh.

Haven't played poker in a bit--kinda maddening, but at the same time, the break has been good (believe it or not). I know in my last post, I bemoaned the "lull." It's actually been kinda nice not thinking about poker as intensely as I have. I needed a break--a chance to decompress. I'm about there, and I suspect I will complete the journey this weekend. HS reunion on Saturday, and then fly home Sunday to watch football and do some odds and ends. I'll get back into my "Vegas" mode on Monday night at an NFL Alumni Charity night. Oughta be fun, just gambling with monopoly money, all for a good cause.

Gonna finally get to play some golf on Tuesday--the 2nd day of the NFL Alumni function, and then Wednesday, I'll be hanging out with NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon with his Foundation dinner. I think this makes 3 straight years I have worked with Jeff on this project, and I can't say enough how super a person he is. I know he is hated by tons of NASCAR fans, and that's fine. The person I know is the same guy that drives the car. He's very cool, and his PR director has said he wants to play some poker with us sometime. I told him, Jeff has to come along too, and said sure--but that was before Jeff and Ingrid (his wife) had their baby. The invite still stands.

Keep watching the WSOP Main Event coverage on ESPN. With all due respect, Humberto Brenes needs to be muzzled, and Hevad Khan needs to take his meds. Brenes and those friggin sharks are embarrassing. I don't care if he uses them to "help him make his decisions," but when he starts the whole routine of shouting and crap in front of players who are about to hit the rail, that's nuts and very disrespectful. I have said alot of things at a poker table, but NEVER taunted a player when they were about to be busted out of a tourney. It's just wrong.

As for Khan...wow. Too many red bulls, and not enough interaction with humans as a kid explains a lot of his goofy behavior. Not as annoying as Humberto with the sharks, but shouting "BULLDOZER" when he drags a pot, the idiotic looking monkey dance (or gorilla dance--I forget)....deserving of a smack to the chops. There was one hand I did enjoy watching between Khan and another player who was either partially or totally deaf (advantage to that guy playing Khan). The hearing impaired player had KK, raised, Khan with A6o re-raised (he had the big stack at the table at the time), hearing impaired guy shoves, Khan has to call, since he's priced into the pot. Hearing impaired dude scoops the pot, and then....this is the part I loved....places his left foot on the rail, and begins imitating a fisherman as he is reeling Khan in! The guy isn't yelling, or screaming, and while I would frown on such antics, it makes me happy to see the loudmouth guy get a taste of his own medicine.

Other thoughts:

* VH1 Classic in the morning-solid. "We are the 80's" is quality music in the morning.

* Wife and I painted the bedroom in anticipation of my parents visit over Thanksgiving, and my daughter's possible visit this month. Sorta sage green. It's bad ass. Pics will follow once the room is completed with furniture and stuff. Wife and I managed to not strangle each other during the project--another project where it went smoothly. Convincing me even more that we are perfect together.

* CANUSA Cup Golf--part 3 for 2007 on tap for Oct. 27. Gonna be a quick trip for me--up late Friday night, back Saturday night with NFL commitments on Sunday. Couple poker league boys gonna play in this one, as we are short handed on Americans for some reason. Very weird, but I hate to think the CANUSA is losing its lustre. You can check out the website by clicking right here.

Good luck and good cards,
~M

The lull

I hate the lull between poker sessions. Hate it. Played our league event on the 15th, got a 2nd place in a HORSE game at my buddy Roto's, and now it looks like the next time I sit at a table, it will be the October league event. This Saturday is my only non-booked Saturday for the next month. Ugh. I think the wife and I are going to paint a bedroom that day, too. Maybe I can pull a game together for Saturday night. No game Sunday, as I have the Panthers to cover.

I had a weird dream last night, too. I dreamt I was visiting my daughter at college, and grinder Paul Wasicka was there. Wasicka, you may recall, finished 2nd to Jamie Gold in the Main Event in 2006. Wasicka seems to be a decent fella, and a helluva player--he won the NBC National Heads Up title this year. Anyway, dreamt that while visiting my daughter, Wasicka was there as a theatrical director, working for the school. We got to talking, and I invited him to a game. I won't begin to analyze what this means, because I don't know where to begin. I have a link to his blogsite on the right hand margin of this page. Cool stuff.

Looking ahead to my weekend schedules:
9-29/30-OPEN, Panthers-Tampa Bay Sunday
10-6/7 - 20 Yr. HS Reunion in Chicago, home Sunday.
10-13/14 - NASCAR race, home Sunday (possible game day)
10-20/21 - League game, open Sunday
10-27/28 - CANUSA Saturday, Panthers-Colts Sunday
11-3/4 - My birthday Saturday, Irish Jim's birthday Sunday. All bets are off!

Good luck and good cards,
~M

Has it really been 20 years?

Holy crap. 20 years ago this past June, I graduated high school. East Leyden High School in Illinois, to be more specific. A lot has changed in my life since then.

1-I became a father as a freshman in college (my daughter kicks serious ass, by the way).
2-Got started in my TV career.
3-Got engaged, broke up, back together....
4-Moved to Texas for my first TV job...
5-Moved to Raleigh for my 2nd TV job...
6-Got married...
7-Got divorced...
8-Moved to Charlotte for my 3rd TV job...
9-Got married again (for the last time, I might add)...
10-Had someone beleive in me enough to support my quest as a poker player...

And those are just the things that come to mind.

My 20 year reunion is coming up next month, and my wonderful wife told me that I should go, since I really wanted to. I hate going without her, but the money to fly 4 of us up to Chicago, basically for 1 day...I don't know. I know when we looked for the fares at the time (a couple months ago) it was cheaper. Logistically, it would have been a nightmare, considering we have both boys, I have to fly up on a Saturday (very early morning) after working late Friday night. I want her to be there with me, but it just seemed to be a lot of planning for what amounts to 36 hours away from home.

I love her so very much, and I am glad she is my life. Not in my life mind you--my life. Huge difference.

So, I fly out early morning on a Saturday, attend our homecoming game--incidentally, the first football game I will attend as a fan in that stadium....see, back in high school, I was a trumpet player in the marching band, so I went to games. I wore that uncomfortable toy soldier outfit (complete with shoe spats), so this Homecoming game will be far more enjoyable.

I am looking forward to the trip, but it will be weird being in Chicago without Tracie.

Now...a trip in the wayback machine.....

Ready?




That's my senior year--one of 3-4 pictures of me from the yearbook in which I am holding a camera. I was the photographer for the school paper (as well as a sports writer), and won an award for photography that year. Notice the "golf team" sweater--we had a meet that day. I was such a dork back then...not much has changed, I suppose.

Good luck, and good cards!
~M

September League

Didn't go quite the way I had hoped. I was unable to follow-up the win in August, but did manage a 13th place finish, good for a sprinkling of 3 points. Not a great result, for sure, but upon further review, not great playing by me either.

Had my chips up to around 4900 or so, but ran into 3 hands that spelled my demise.

Hand 1, I'm in the BB with AKoff, and all fold to the SB, who pops the pot. I shove all in hoping to drive him out, but instead, he calls and shows QQ. Yes, in a parallel universe, I hit the A or the K and win the hand, take the chips and move on. Instead, I live in an unparalleled universe--one where everyone hits their overcards against me (I know, WAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!), so I miss, he doubles through me.

Hand 2, I'm in a blind with 2 diamonds (I think 10-6), limp in, not raises, and 2 diamonds hit the flop. I push, and get called. caller has Ace high (I think--I really don't remember). Again, parallel universe, I hit the diamond. No diamond. he double through me, leaving me with about 1300. I scoop a couple small pots to work the stack north a little, and then the kill shot.

Hand 3, J9 of hearts in SB. No raise, I limp, BB checks. Flop comes 2 hearts. I check, BB bets, I shove. He tanks, and finally calls. Showing A-10. He hit a 10 on the flop, so he has TPTK. Hits a 3rd 10 on the turn, and I'm dead to any heart that doesn't pair the board. Whiff. Ballgame.

Anyway, I did try to win, I'm not embarrassed to say that. The thing I am most upset with was playing from behind. I generally get my chips in with the lead (small though it may be at times, it's still the lead). In all 3 instances shown above, I trailed. I definitely played a little bit loose--and that won't be happening again.

Anyway, next 3 Sunday's are no good for poker with my NFL commitments, so it looks like I will be searching for any kind of game when I can get one, but they will be few and far between.

Good luck and good cards,
~M

Tuesday quick hit

Have the night off from work, and no, it has nothing to do with poker. Going to be part of a panel to discuss sports in Charlotte. Media members will be in attendance and it should be a fun time.

Irish Jim sent me this shot from his camera phone. Does it not look like an old school card game? The camera phone gives it that nice dark, smoky look, like its the back room of some store. That is actually Irish Jim's basement, the ultimate in poker dens. He could shoe horn 3 tables down there and run a big tourney if he wanted to, but he is dealing with a minor health issue--it doesn't FEEL minor to him, mind you, so once he is back at 110%, I'll hound him for a 3 table tourney--heck, I'll bring the chips!

The real reason I post today, however, is because I am an American. I don't support our current President, or the idiots in our government that decided to allow the UIGEA to get attached as a rider on the Safe Ports Act of 2006 (The UIGEA is the piece of legislation that hosed online poker for the time being). I do support our men and women in uniform who have made the ultimate "all-in" move for our country. All of their chips are in the middle as they fight for our freedoms and for our country. Many have lost their final hand in the name of America, and those people should never be forgotten. And the nearly 3,000 people who died 6 years ago, simply because they worked in the World Trade Center or the Pentagon, or happened to be on United flight 93 should never be forgotten either. Something people may not realize is this--the Monday before the attacks (or the night before), the New York Giants played their season opener. Imagine all the people that worked in the towers that were late getting to work after a late night in the Meadowlands (or at their bar of choice watching the game).

I want all of our soldiers to get their chips back and come home. I want the people that forced America's hand to find themselves drawing dead--no outs in the deck to save them. One day, the world will get to the point that maniacs, like the ones sitting at this table, won't have the chance to try and draw out against what is good and right. I just hope that when we have the hammer, we have the sense enough to push with it, rather than mis-play it, and give them a chance to escape. If only the world could settle their differences over a game of no-limit hold 'em.


Keep America in your thoughts today, and always.
~M

Game On!

It's late, so just some bullet points:

1-Played at Irish Jim's on Wednesday night. Didn't money, and suffered a couple nice ridiculous beats. One time, raise with KK in mid-late, get called by 10-8 off, and a 10 on flop, and then another on turn hose me (although not crippling). Later I have 99, raise with it, get called by the AQ dude from a previous blogpost. Board has 2 Q's, a 2 and 4 (no flush draw). I shove the turn, for 125 more than the villain has. He tanks, and finally calls with AK--sound familiar? No pair, no draw to the board, just overs. You know how this movie ends.

River: K.

Ugh. I played well--got my money in ahead every time except when I was short stacked and getting ridiculous pot odds to play for all my chips. I read a nice article my buddy Vito posted at our league board about thinking long term, rather than short term. I have been guilty of that in the past, and still am to some degree, but I am trying like hell to get better at it. I thought I was better after busting at Jim's. I played well, made good decisions, and simply got unlucky. I get players to make bad decisions more often than not, and in the long run, the results will back up my play.

2-NFL SEASON IS HERE!!!!! YES! Man is it a long off-season when your team is not in the playoffs. Panthers open on the road Sunday. I will be glued to the set--High Life in hand watching the cats try to tame the Rams. Had a nice feeling about the Panthers heading into camp, but their pre-season work was a bit lackluster. We spoke to Steve Smith today (wide receiver for the visitors that don't know him), and he basically said that the pre-season was as generic as could be. He's in his 7th year, and for the first time in years, he has actually had to STUDY the play book, because it's not the same garbage that was in there from the previous Offensive Coordinator. That's friggin enlightening. The guy is amped about the season, the new OC, and his goal of going for 2,000 yards receiving this year. he sniffs that number, the Panthers are in the Superbowl. Book it.

3-With the NASCAR race set for Saturday night, GAME ON FOR SUNDAY. My best half green lighted me for it, so it looks like cards shall be in the air.

This blog is very therapeutic for me. It is a way for me to vent about bad plays by bad players, bad beats that are the result of those bad plays, and in the end, help me purge those negative vibes. I've been feeling sick most of the day because of what took place on Wednesday, replaying the hands in my mind, and in the end, I have come to this. You just can't overcome luck. You can't. All you can do is hope that Lady Luck sticks with you, and doesn't blow on some other guys dice instead.

OH--league event next Saturday. May not get the chance to go back-to-back since the wife's company outing is Saturday. Hoping we are there for much of it, because it's at an amusement park. A long day with a 7 year old and a 13 year old in a wheelchair, so I might have a chance to make it to the tourney on time, or somewhere into the 1st or 2nd level--if I go at all. Have to wait and see.

Good luck and good cards!
~M

You may have heard...

about a small school from Boone, NC, called Appalachian State, that won a college football game last weekend, against a very good team from the University of Michigan. Well, this school has become special in my life, as my daughter is a sophomore there. She was not on campus at the time of the win, but she was as geeked about it as any one could be. I was happy for her, and the school, as I also have several friends who graduated from ASU.

So, I crudely created the above artwork, as my tribute to the Mountaineers, and offer you a link from my buddy at work-one of my ASU alum buds-so you can enjoy all that went along with the App. State 34-32 victory over Michigan.

He created another blogspot page to remember this win for as long as the blog stays alive. Check it out here.

From the poker front, may try to pull a game together for Sunday, considering the Nextel Cup race runs Saturday night, so Klownboxer could be available for some cards. We shall see.

~M

This is simply beautiful

Love him, or hate him, Phil Hellmuth Jr. is a damn fine poker player.

Check this out from High Stakes Poker. Awesome.

Something funny happened....

On the way to scooping a pot. Now, I will reconstruct the hand, and give you the way the hand played out as best I can. You are holding A-Q suited in diamonds. You are the villain.

Blinds are 300-600 with a 75 ante (from my Sunday game). UTG player raises it to 2400 preflop. All fold to you, and you, with AQ suited, make the call. What hand does the UTG player have?

Think about that as you look at this flop:
10h-2c-4d

The UTG player bets out a little more than half the pot. What do you do?
A-fold
B-Call
C-Raise

In this case, you chose B-Call.

Turn card: 5d

Now you have the nut flush draw.

UTG player puts you all-in, and has you covered by about 1100. What do you do?

A-Call
B-Fold

Well, considering the size of the pot, and your hand (now), it's an auto call. Your tourney life is at stake, but you have 9 outs. What does the UTG player have?

You call, because the pot, and your hand, make it the right thing to do.

UTG shows the 2 black Aces.

River cared: 8d.

Congrats! You just won the hand.

Are you proud of yourself? You really shouldn't be. I have been thinking about this hand since Sunday (obviously, I was the guy with the AA), and for the life of me, can not figure out that post-flop call. The preflop call makes perfect sense to me. I can totally see making the preflop call with the suited AQ. It's the post flop call of the big bet that has me completely confused, although one of my friends, whose opinion, and poker skills I truly respect and appreciate, says he understood the play.

Now, I know, some players get married to hands, and in the long run, they end up busted out of tournaments chasing hands because they are too stubborn to get away from them. In the long run, they are not winning players. In the short term, 1 bolt of lightning can cripple you, or bust you altogether, when the bad play gets rewarded.

After the 10h-2c-4d flop, the Ad-Qd hand is less than 7 percent to win (dominated 92.12-6.36). The AA holds the hammer, and when faced with a more than half the pot bet after the flop, something ought to go off in your head that says, "AQ is no good here." In this case it did not. After the turn 5d, the AdQd was only trailing 72.73%-20.45%--because now there are 9 outs. Basically, you need runner-runner to win the hand. Many players I know are not willing to push most of their chips to the middle needing runner-runner.

Truth be told, had the AQ shoved all-in pre-flop, I would just chalk it up to a sick beat. Really, I would. I have learned (quite painfully I might add), over the past few years that you have to fade bad beats as best you can, otherwise they haunt you. I would have honestly preferred an all-in move pre-flop. I am sickened that the player in question CONSCIOUSLY made the decision to chase down a hand when they had to AT LEAST THINK they were behind. I could have had 10-10, KK, AA, 22, 44...any of those (which I of course had), but that apparently didn't register with this player.

Yes, I know luck plays a part in poker. I have benefited from good luck my fair share, but I also think that I have been able to get away from hands at key moments, when I knew I was gonna need a ton of help to win the pot. When you're beat, you're beat.

I have since recovered from the above story, and look forward to sitting at the table again soon (although I don't know when). Football season is fast approaching (awesome), so I know at least 8 Sunday's are spoken for.

Ugh.



OK, enough moaning. You need to check out this very VERY sick table of hands--a 6 handed game played in Europe (no idea what show it is), but watch it all the way through, and ask yourself if you could do what seat 6 (the guy on the right end of the table) does.

Very work safe: Click here

OK, enough from me.

Good luck and good cards.

And fade those bad beats.
~M

PS--almost forgot--you can check out the Poker Odds Calculator at Cardplayer.com (provider of the hand data above) by clicking here.

For the first time in a long time...I have a date

Wife and I are heading out, sans kiddos, and checking out a concert.

Yes we are old.

It's gonna be fun.
~M

You never forget your first

And while I had come close to winning a league event in the past (a 2nd and a couple 3rd's over the past 2 seasons), I was finally able to wrap one of these bad boys up. I ended up winning a 27 player field, the lion's share of the pot, the top points payout, and most importantly, lock up my TOC seat. No worrying about the points chase in the TOC like last season. I'm in.

The night was full of ups and down, but big hands followed me early on. AA twice, both of which won (once in a showdown). Had QQ go up against JJ (unbeknownst to me until they were shown after the flop). Had AK a couple times, but there were 2 monster pots that I won that helped vault me out to a huge lead. They were:

2 tables, playing down to the final table;

Blinds are 150-300 with a 25 ante:

I'm in the cutoff, and there is one caller to me, I limp in with 6-4 off. Yeah, I know trash, but I was thinking about just making a play at the pot, depending on the flop. The BB checks--3 to the flop.

It comes 3-6-6, with 2 diamonds.

BB checks, caller bets out 800, I go all in. BB folds, caller (has me covered), goes into the tank, and finally calls. He was mulling over a flush draw, as he limped with AJ of diamonds. Had to sweat 2 cards with 9 outs, and luckily, none of them hit. Whew.

Now at FT, I'm probably 2nd or 3rd in chips when this hand comes up. UTG raises the pot to 900 (I think). I call in late position with 7-8 suited (clubs). BB Calls. 3 to the flop which comes:
8-7-X, with 2 diamonds.

Caller fires out 800, I go all in for something like 5000 (I admit it's kinda hazy). BB heads to the tank, and says out loud, "I don't know how I can lay this down."

What do you think he has when he says that? My first inclination is a set, but that's wrong because if he has flopped trips, he beats me into the middle. Next thought is a suited AK in diamonds. Nut flush draw. Yeah, he could easily flat call a raise with AK suited, and be four to it at this point. I settle (in my head) on flush draw. He reluctantly slides in the call, original raiser folds. We flip.

My 2 pair, and his J-10 of diamonds.

Wow. Not only did he have a draw that could beat me, 1 card in that draw would leave me drawing stone dead. Flush draw, straight draw, of, and STRAIGHT FLUSH DRAW. Made sense to me why he thought about it so long. I probably do the same thing--I probably call with that hand too.

Now I have to sweat any diamond or any 9. The 9 of diamonds ends my night, if it shows up. Turn and river are blanks, I double up again, have command of the chip lead.

From there, I got lucky against an A-X all in with K8 suited (made a set), made a broadway straight against a 2 pair all in--he called my all in with 2 pair, on a board that was connected all over the place. I honestly thought I lost the hand when he called so fast. Knocked out another player when I raised pre-flop with QQ, got called, an 8-high flop hit the board, he went all in, I called.

A familiar face in heads-up. Kellie. She beat me heads up at the season opener last year. I had her outchipped a bunch. I don't even know. Maybe 8-1? We played about 10 hands in HU, and I took some pots away with a pair and a better kicker (Queen pair mind you). The last hand, I have AQ (see above pic), and raise it. She calls.

Flop comes:Q-X-X. I check, she shoves all in, and I have my cards flipped before she does. She had Q-7 offsuit. Have to sweat a 3 outer, and nothing shows up.
At last, a trip to the winner's circle.

In an earlier entry, I said I wanted to patch some leaks in my game, and I think I did that. I cut out the biggest one, which was playing too many hands with substandard holdings. The few times I played with bad hands, I hit (see the 6-4, the 8-7, a K-4 suited at an earlier table where I pot committed myself in a bad spot and got real lucky, plus an A-7 off that outflopped a pair of Jacks--loose call preflop to a raise by me there).

The thing I am happiest with, though was getting my chips in (for my tournament life) with the best hand. 6-4 looks like garbage at the start, but a flopped set makes it pretty in a hurry. My chips went in with the lead there, and with the 8-7 at the FT.IO was only all-in one other time, pre-flop, and that was with AK in late position to a raise. The raiser showed me 5-5, so I am glad we didn't race there.

Anyway, football season is fast approaching, so a game at the house (1 table) is approaching as well--I lose many Sunday's in a few weeks. Gotta enjoy them while I can.

~M

The NEW "Kid Poker"

The following is a true story,. The names have not been changed, as no one is guilty of anything.

Just got the little guy back from his summer time visit with his father (a real piece of work that I just don't have the heart or time to discuss here--suffice to say, he's not among my favorite carbon-based life forms).

ANYWAY.

Spence and I are sitting at the poker table, and he wants to play War. I say, "how about I teach you 7-stud?"

He agrees, and off we go. I break out 2 equal stacks of chips-all the same denoms-and tell him we are playing limit, so you can only bet and raise 1 chip at a time.

We start, and this hand comes up.
Spence has a 10 showing, I have a J, with wired 3's underneath. He brings in 1 chip with the low card on board, I call.

4th street--he gets another 10, I get another 3. He bets 1 chip on his 10's, I flat call.

5th street-he picks up a K, I get a 2nd J. I have 3's full. He bets his 10-10, I raise with the made boat. HE RE-RAISES (mind you I say that in caps because I haven't said anything to him about re-raises and the like). So, he 3 bets, I cap with a 4th bet. He calls.

6th street-he picks up a 4, I land a 9. He bets his 10-10, I call (slowing down because he might just have something).

7th street-face down--he checks, I bet, HE RAISES!!!! Again, I never mentioned check-raises to him before we sat down, so his check-raise was mind-boggling. I flat call the raise, and say, "What do you have?"

He chirps, "HA-HAAHHHH!!!! AND HE ROLLED OVER K-10 FOR A 5TH STREET FULL HOUSE 10'S FULL OF KINGS!

Little guy knew what he had the whole time, and got paid off nicely for it. This is a kid that will sometimes watch games with me on TV, or watch my home games when people are over. He has never played poker with me until earlier this week. I was fairly impressed that he knew to re-raise, check-raise, and then not slow-roll me when called after the hand.



So beware, when you see him sitting at your table....in say, 14 years or so....

~M