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

Quick hitter on a Tuesday....

1-League game Saturday. Very excited to be playing again, considering last time I sat at a table, I got a pair of 3rds (read 2 cashes). Been trying to do some study on my play of late, and uncovered some things. Hope to plug those leaks this Saturday.

2-Powerball is over 181 million bucks. That's a lot of buy ins. Ticket purchase coming before Wednesday. If I hit, trust me, you'll know about it.

3-My buddy AB is back amongst the living bloggers. His site has been on an extended vacation, but he is back, and I hope he stays at it. I may work with the guy, but I rarely get to see and experience all that he does from behind the camera.

4-My buddy Vito posted this on another site, and I laughed heartily. It's the final insult to the Third Reich (circa WWII). I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.



Blog at ya later,
~M

You want WSOP video?

I may have mentioned this before (at the original blog), but I went back to it today, and I gotta tell ya, it's awesome.

www.pokertube.com

It Youtube, but for poker. Want to see Hellmuth win the 1989 Main Event? Boom! It's there. 2007 World Series episodes, 1973 WSOP's, Poker After Dark, High Stakes Poker. There, there, there, and there.

Check it out.

Even through bloodshot eyes, it's pretty to watch.

~M

3rd place....twice.

The Saturday Summer Heat Hold 'Em was a nice hit, although we ended up well short of the desired field goal of 24-32. No problem. Had a field of 16, and it was nice to have some old friends drive in for the fun. I ended up getting 3rd place in the biggie (starting stacks of T10K), when my KQ suited didn't improve against Morgans 10-10....seems like everyone catches face cards against me to beat me, but I can't do the same. Oh well. Morgan ended up winning the biggie.

We then played a 10 handed tourney, and I got 3rd in that. It was so late, I think I got knocked out when my K-10 was beaten by Mugsy A-J. Anyway, suffice to say, I enjoyed myself, considering I never do well when I play tourneys at my place. I usually go broke early, but I was able to survive some brutal hands (through 3 straight levels, I never saw an Ace, and every paint I had was matched with a 2-6 in some form or fashion). Saw 2 pocket pair the whole night (44 on the first hand of the tourney and then one more pair at final table).

Overall an enjoyable night of cards. Looking forward to doing it again sometime.

Also, the new chips were a hit. 160,000 in play...never got to color off the 100 chips, but that's ok....another time.

~M

I still love Rounders

It's regarded as the poker movie that kicked in the boom. Maybe so. Chris Moneymaker's win in 2003 I think had more to do with it, but I digress.

A sequel for Rounders has been talked about, but nothing has fully developed. A spoof script (partial) is available online--it's it's friggin hilarious.

Click this very work-safe link here.

If you have never seen the movie, you won't understand any of it. If you have seen it a few times, you should have a fairly hearty laugh.

For the real adventurous, try the "Rounders Drinking Game." I don't know if I could. Wow.

Good luck and good cards (and happy movie watching),
~M

I think I need help. Seriously.

I read poker, I watch poker, I play poker, I think poker.

That's not my problem.

My problem are the sweet, beautiful, round, colorful, bubbly, effervescent, exciting, attractive, smokin' hot, gorgeous babies that are associated with the game. They are so great just to touch, fondle, feel with every finger on my hands.

Not groupies--like I would have any of those.

No. My problem are the chips. I want all of them when I am playing (because that means I win). I want all of them for my collection. I know I can't have every style of chip out there, but I just picked up a set that looks alot like my first big set. In fact, it's virtually the same, except the edgespots are aligned, the ceramic blank is a different type of construction (but very similar to the Chipco blanks I had before). I love them. I just got them. I love them.

They will be in action on Saturday in my tourney, which has seen the field shrink (at last check) to 18. We are going to start with T10K in chips, so everyone will have substantial play in their stacks. I doubt we will have anyone bust out in the first 5-7 levels, meaning everyone will get to play plenty of poker.

As for my chip sickedness, I can't help it. I am always going to love looking at new chip designs, and long for that sexy new set that comes along. I know I won't be buying anymore chips for a long LONG time, but when I do buy another set, I am gonna go clay Paulson's. Of course that will be a large outlay of cash on my part, and so be it. By the time that day comes, the wife and I will hopefully have added onto our home, and I will have the sweet poker lair. Complete with 4 tables, a couple flat screen monitors mounted on the walls that show the tournament clock as it counts down, all the bells and whistles.

That's a ways down the road.

Then again, Powerball is over 100 million for Saturday.

Gotta get my tickets.

Later!

~M

PS-the chips were done by a company in California called ABC Gifts and Awards. They are amazing to work with, great product, great customer service. In the interest of disclosure, I am not paid to say nice things about Gene and his company. They deserve every bit of good press they get. They rule.