Random thoughts on a Wednesday

Hello readers--all 6 of you! Just a quick hit today with very little going on poker-wise.





Been playing the fake money games on Full Tilt still as our gold guh-ment contiues to protect us from ourselves...how thoughtful. Has been fun, but frustrating all at once. In these 90 player tourneys, the first hand is an all-in fest, with people trying to grab a big stack, and then try and ride it to the win. I have done some of that, sometimes with modest holdings (8-7 suited, J-10 suited), and sometimes with a hammer (AA, KK, QQ). So funny how the worst hand in many of these situations, actually wins the pot. And I mean worst. J-4 off, Q-6 off...you name it. It's funny and frustrating all at once. Good thing is, it costs me nothing except chips that I won't ever be able to turn into real money, so no skin off my nose.





Played a 16 player tourney at Vito's over the weekend. Many of the folks in the League attended, as well as some friends of Vito's that are not in the League. Didn't money, basically because I got rivered after flopping the nut straight. Had J-9 in BB, and flat called a preflop raise.


Flop- 8-10-Q rainbow.


Doesn't get prettier for my hand. I bet, original raiser pops it--I flat call.


Turn- K


Somewhat of a scare card, as original raiser could have A-J for broadway. I didn't put him on that, so I bet at it, he calls.


River- K


TOTAL scare card, but only for a second. I check, he shoves all in for his last 1300.


Hello, tank...I sit in there thinking, what could he have raised pre-flop with to shove all in on running Kings?


A-K? Very likely, considering he flopped a straight draw, and I thought after the re-raise post-flop, he was trying to push me out of the pot. Hitting running K's gives him top set, top kicker...which I have beat. I call.


WRONG! He shows pocket 8's for 8's full.


Ouch. Crippling, and it was still very early--level 1 or 2, I forget.



Managed 1 double up when my AQ ran a set of Aces, then raked a nice pot with anothe rflopped straight (K9 in BB, with no raises...free look at a Q-J-10 rainbow flop), but couldn't muster anything more after that.


Still an enjoyable night, but it was tempered when I learned a friend of ours is sick. We are all here for ya, Kid, and we will be. I am not naming names, as it is not my place to do so. that news belongs to them, and it is their decision about making it known to others. The League supports them fully, and will do what we can.

******

On another note, one of our League members offered up an opinion that making it deep in our tournaments is more luck based (for this season anyway). I would disagree with that big time (respectfully disagree, mind you). I was looking around at some of the finishes for this season, and (not tooting my own horn), for all players without a win, I lead in points earned, and can finish with a score no lower than 275. We factor our points counting your 8 best scores, and dropping your worst 3. I would be averaging 34 points earned per event, which is roughly a 13th place finish in each of my 8 tournaments that count. I have 4 final tables this season, with 3 cashes. I have been consistent in my results this season.



A year ago, my results were horrifying, as I was a victim of being unlucky more than just winning hands. When I say unlucky, I mean going all in with KK, getting called by A-Q, 2 players at the table saying they each folded AJ preflop, because they didn't think it was a strong enough holding, only to see the case Ace hit on the river. That was my season in a nutshell, and it happened at least 6-8 times when my chips were all in, and I had the lead. No, I am no complaining, merely stating the facts about me League season from a year ago.



My point is, I am not the only one who has had solid results this season--by my unscientific calculations, I see 4 other players with at least 3 final tables this season-3 of which have tournament victories-all in my neighborhood in points. Sure, there is some degree of luck involved in poker, but over time, skill will beat luck long term.



Are we the BEST players in the league? Out of the 5 players I describe, I would say I am probably 4th on that list (you League folks would say 5th, and I would agree some as well if it makes you give your chips to me next month, lol), but we might be playing the best over the course of the season. There are others who have had some STRONG (and I mean on steroids strong) finishes of late, and are certainly threats for our season ending Tournament of Champions.



2 events remain in the regular season, and a win would lock up my TOC seat. Right now, I am in very good shape to be in the field without a win, but you know me--W's baby!! It's what I crave!!! If I should happen to donk myself out of a seat in the TOC (or have a speeding freight train pass me by in the standings--yes VP & Vito, that means you two), then it will be satellite time for me before the TOC. I hope it doesn't come to that.


Good luck and good cards!


~M

Feeling the Mouth's Pain

The King of the Coolers: Mike "The Mouth" Matusow

Been a while since I endured a night with sick beats, but was able to not kill anyone or destroy private property, lol.

Finished 11th in our league event Saturday, and considering the way I rode the elevator most of the night (low stack to bigger stack to low stack...up, down, up, down), I am very pleased with it. Gerraud (I think I have it spelled right), ended up winning, and played quite well in doing so, BUT...he doesn't get to the winners circle without putting one sick beat on me. And I had him too. HAD HIM DEAD!!! He was short stacked, and I just knew he was gonna shove at the sight of his first Ace-anything hand. Here's how it goes:

Gerraud in BB, I am in SB. I have 77. All fold to me, I complete the action, and he shoves all in for his remaining chips--something like 800 (may have been more, I can't remember). I call, knowing he has an Ace, but no pair--I was delighted when he flipped over A6 of spades. He has 1 live overcard to my hand. ONE. 3 outs.

He hits his Ace on the river. I wasn't out of the tournament, because I had him covered, but hitting that 3 outer kept him alive, and then he went on his merry way and won. I like Gerraud--great guy, and solid player. Just once I would have loved the best hand holding up!!! Seriously, congrats to the G-Man.

The hand that busted me was one I regretted the whole drive home (a nice short commute of about 40 minutes--plenty of time to swear at myself). In the BB with 8-5off, no raises, I of course check with those 2 rags.

FLOP:
10-8-7 all diamonds.

SB checks, I shove hoping its good enough, button (limped in pre-floop mind you), calls in a flash. He then says, I do not have a diamond in my hand. Do I have some hope?

Not when he flips over the 2 black aces.

HE LIMPED IN WITH AA!!!!

Some schools of thought say that is a great trap play, and I do see the logic in it. However, when your limped-in AA gets called by 3-4 other hands, you have left yourself open to a wide range of bad things that can crack those bullets. I hate, and I mean HATE limping with big pairs--I just can't bring myself to not protect that hand, and the guy that did the limping is such a good player--I told him later he played that hand like a donkey, but he told me why he did it. He was trying to set a trap for the player in the SB, and that I was simply caught up in the blast. That did soothe me a bit, because his strategy was very sound. The player in the SB on that particular hand, had re-raised him whenever he limped into a pot--happened like 3-4 times at the table we were at. the ONE TIME the SB DOESN'T come over the top, I have to connect on a flop that has me just destroyed. Oh well, shit happens.

My 11th place finish means my 13th place finish from earlier this season is still not in play--it is among my 3 drops. Meaning I have 29 points that do not count towards my total--that is a good thing. 2 events left, and I lead the "non-tourney winners" category in points, which has me in good shape to make our season ending Tournament of Champions. Nothing guaranteed, mind you, just good position.

We then decided to crank up a 6-handed game. Shorthanded tables are not my specialty, but with the 5 other players, I was hoping to just play well enough to make my money back. Well, that didn't happen, thanks to a crushing beat. I mean a crusher.

I am in BB with 10-10, when my boy Dealerman raises from the SB. I re-raise it 4x his raise. One early limper folds, and Dealerman puts me all in. He raised a ton in that game, and I was just waiting for a chance to take a chunk of his stack. I didn't think he had anything of substance--weak Ace, maybe small pair. I was delighted, again, when he flipped over 66.

Board pairs 4's, no six.

Until the river.

6 of clubs to be exact.

Now, mind you, I hadn't played back at him against ANY of his earlier raises--folding to all of them. Dealerman did also inform the table that he is working on his player reading skills....keep working Dealerman, lol.

I got steamed up, big, and went silent. For those that were there, I was steamed at that blasted river card, but not at anyone at the table. That was just my way of re-focusing and trying to get back into the tourney (after the rebuy rule that came into play, lol).

I did manage to work up a nice stack after the rebuy, but got mixed up in some stupid hands (like trying to connect on draws--I connected one draw all night, and that was in the side tourney against my pal Ballpark). Other than that, finishing 11th in the tourney was a minor miracle--I made no sets, had a low number of pkt pairs--77, 88. JJ (twice), and AA--that was it.

Vito has a game this weekend, so I will venture out there, and then I may put one together (small 1 table thing) the following weekend, as Klownboxer will have the weekend off. he called me from Daytona, and was in need of a poker fix. What's a friend to do???

~M

Visitors

Thanks to the good folks at sitemeter.com, I can see where people are finding this blog--it's kinda cool. Visitors from Philadelphia, to the Far East, and some stops in between. Welcome to The Chipstack! Please feel free to drop a comment as you check it out. I love feedback, and want to make this blog fun for all.

Not too much poker lately--playing some 90 player SNG's on FullTilt, but (as mentioned in my last entry) cash reloads are an issue, so, play chips it is. Good thing is, I am over 150K in FAKE MONEY!!!! I'd love to see the government come after me for that!!!

I still hate Bill Frist, by the way. That won't change.

Anyway, league event for February on Saturday. I feel good--and anxious. Been wanting to play for so long, I just hope I remember what I am doing! OK, that's a bit much, but still, when you have the itch, it must be scratched! Gonna be busy rounding for a few weeks starting Saturday. Details to follow, but suffice to say, all itches shall be taken care of.

As predicted, one of my new visitors is my split apart. I said at the old site address that she would find her way here, and she did. Thanks for stopping in, honey. I love you. If you check out the link to the "old blog", you see what I wrote specifically about you (scroll down to the Sept. 20 post). You rule, and Vegas is gonna kick ass in July.

See my league buds on Saturday. I promise to have the iPod on a reasonable level, and not shout like Vito's father-in-law at the table...I mean FINAL Table!

~M

Sure I can't cash out now?

I want to convert my play chip totals into real cash. Any takers?

Of course not, but still, the thought is a nice one.

The above pic is the most recent big field tourney I played in. 3rd place, and when we got to 3 handed I was well behind the other 2 in chip counts--actually made it interesting about 10 hands into 3-handed, but alas, got knocked out.

You can see the payout for 3rd in the pic--considering the buy-in (250+50 in fake money), nice little ROI.

I know, and I hear you. "Why are you playing free money games?"

Thanks to our wonderful government, reloading my accounts is next to impossible. epassporte is slow at the moment--looks like they are hesitant to open new ewallets for Americans. Still waiting on that. Online poker will vanish unless these laws are changed. Bill Frist is still a scab infested jackass. Hopefully, one day, folks in positions of power will recognize poker as a skill game, with luck mixed in. We can run legal lotteries (same game as KENO), We can run BINGO games legally (but just barely--you beleive that?), yet poker, a game where YOU make the decision on whether you risk your money or not, is illegal.

Sorry to vent that stuff again, but it just gets on my nerves. Government should protect us from others, not ourselves.

Had 2 Powerball numbers this weekend-no powerball with them, though. Gotta work through at least Wednesday again this week!

~M

Back Online....wow

Wow what a weekend...Friday night, after I got home from work, I signed up for a TEC (Tournament Entry Chip) Freeroll on UB. These things are usually donkfests, and I figured, if I can just withstand the maniacs in the first 30 minutes, I could play some poker and see how I do. Remember, no money on the line here, so people play completely off the wall. The pic shows my result--top 50 advanced to the TEC final on Sunday afternoon.

OK--so 19th place out of that initial field--not bad. Sunday's TEC Final--2069 players in all. Still a freeroll, but the players here are playing for a TEC (value $100) plus $9 cash into your account. Made ONE mistake, and that was on my last hand. Tried to push a monster stack in the SB off his hand with my KJ--he had JJ, got all the chips in, and won it, knocking me out in 66th.

Not bad, and not overly disappointing, considering I was hurt early (down to about 1100). I battled back, and had one memorable hand.

Blinds are 600-1200 with 125 ante. I am in SB, with about 10K in chips, 2 callers preflop to me, I limp in with suited K-3 diamonds. BB goes all in for his last 565 chips. Other players call, as do I (getting 3-1 on preflop call)

Flop:Ah-3h-3c

What is your play here?

I can't put anyone on AA (except MAYBE the BB since he shoved preflop, but since he had 565 left, he was hoping for a miracle). The 2 hearts scare me big, as does the A on board. Another A falls, and I have the losing boat.

I shoved all in for the rest of my stack.

Now if you are the other 2 players, what do you do?

I shoved into a dry side pot, basically indicating I hit that flop...but if you are on a flush draw, or you have a big A (like AJ, AQ, AK), you might think your hand is best.

1 player calls my all in, and the other re-raises to force that caller all in. Wow.

I was up against:
KhQh (nut flush draw with 2 to come)

AsJc (Aces up, J kicker)

BB had J-6 of spades or something

Turn:6c

River:7s

2 players bust, I win over 40K in chips, and moved on.

Normally, I wouldn't bet into a dry side pot like that, but flopping a set, and seeing 2 suited cards out there forced my hand. I bet there to protect my set, and if no one calls, so be it, I win the hand, and fewer chips. The other 2 callers to my all in were definitely gambling, and the heart draw had more chances to get there (9 outs to 4 on the fullhouse draw). I was glad that my "wins" came out, and not their outs, and moved me along nicely.

Cards this week seem scarce--likely won't play another live game until our Feb. League event, but if that changes, I will let y'all know!

~M

The 2005 Main Event..and other thoughts

ESPN2 is currently running their coverage of the Main Event tournament.

Talk about digging your eyes out of your head with a rusty butterknife.

AARON KANTER SHOULD DIE OF GHONNORHEA AND ROT IN HELL.

Whew, that felt good.

It amazes me the number of times Kanter got his money in with the worst of it, only to run down the lead and win the hand(s), and bust players.

Exhibit A: The video picks up after the flop, where Kanter has already called Raymer's aggressive pre-flop raise. Raymer's KK dictating the big raise....There are numerous other examples on Kanter's shitty play, and luckboxing afterwards to save him....just do a search on Youtube with his name--and then prepare a bucket or bag to throw up in.

Tiffany Williamson. Donkey.

I wanted to see Shawn Sheikhan punch her right in the mouth--that, of course, didn't happen, but it woulda made for great TV.

No, I do not condone violence against women. Williamson BARELY qualifies in that regard. It was nice justice that she did NOT make the final table,

You may be surprised, but I actually kinda enjoyed watching Matusow-Sheikhan verbally spar with one another. I read somewhere after this event that the 2 of them actually get along, and the jousting at the table was nothing more than a show. I am not much on Sheikhan as a player--I know he's got game, but there is something about him that is a turn off.

Matusow's game is amazing--provided he controls himself and avoids the "Matusow Blow-Up."

Online accounts are dry--need a reload, and think I will try epassporte out--heard and read some good things about it, but all the crap with the US government and online gaming is almost enough to keep me from putting cash into my accounts again. It's such a pain in the ass, and makes moving to Las Vegas so much more appealing. Yeah, it's a pipe dream (that moving to Vegas thing), but I can still dream.

Hit 1 number and the powerball....THAT'S $4 BABY!!! Only $19,999,996 short of my goal from last night, but hey, it's a start.

Good luck and good cards!
~M