A new slate

2007-2008 League season would rate as a success. 2 wins, plus a 2nd place finish in the Tournament of Champions. Not bad.

Guess what?

That officially means nothing. Season 4 begins this weekend, and I am looking forward to getting back to the table. I did manage an 8-handed game at the house last Sunday, which was nice. Good to get back to the table, see some cards, flops, check-raises, you name it. Won't go into hand details here, frankly because I don't remember all of them. I do remember out flopped a limped A-K offsuit with 87 suited, and flopping the nut straight against an all in player. Other than that, it's fairly hazy. That's fine, too, because I want to be fresh for this weekend's season opener.

So much has happened in this month, that I am ready for vacation. Work has been crazy, my father passed away, it's been a whirlwind. Las Vegas is fast approaching, and while it will be strange to go there, and not be able to see my Dad, it's part of the moving on process. At least, that's what I'm telling myself.

Had a dream last night, and for the first time since he passed, my Dad appeared in a dream. Not only appeared, by spoke to me. Giving me advice. Weird, as he wasn't an advice giver. He gave orders, lol. He looked good, laying on a couch (some random couch), and watching tv. He looked younger, and relaxed. I remember in my dream, I was startled to see him alive, and I said something like, "what are you doing here?" He smiled back, and said "watching the ballgame, what do you think I'm doing?" Even in death, my Dad makes me laugh.

Anyway, the countdown to Las Vegas 2008 is in high gear, which means I have that time to do a couple things:
1-win the league opener.
2-play and win some more Sunday games at the house
3-pack
4-leave for the trip.

My attitude is right, I feel like I am on stroke, and I am eager. All good signs.

Oh, thought of a drill that helps me in terms of staying sharp mentally. This likely won't help you read other players hands or anything like that, but it helps me focus on what cards I need to win hands, and the likelihood that I am still alive or dead in a hand.

Take your deck of 52 standard cards, and scramble them on a table. Select 2 cards (basically a hold 'em hand) and place them to the side, so you know those 2 cards are the final hand. After that, draw 2 cards, peek at them, read them, and then muck them in a discard pile. After you go through 25 hands, you should have 2 unseen cards (the ones you pulled out at the beginning of the exercise). If you have been paying attention to what you have been looking at for the first 25 hands, you should know what 2 cards you yanked at the beginning. If you're really good, you'll know the suits, too. It's similar to the drill Chris "Jesus" Ferguson did in front of Norman Chad on a WSOP "The Nuts" segment a few years ago, but he looked at 1 card at a time. I don't know which way is easier, or harder, but I know I have been able to accomplish the feat (with suits) only twice.

Try it! It's not as easy as it may seem. You'll see what I am talking about!

Good luck and good cards,
~M

Busy weekend ahead

CANADA-USA Part 2--Summer CANUSA Tournament on Saturday, then....
Some cards on Sunday. Blog at you next week about both.

Another heartfelt thanks to everyone who has shared their sympathies and condolences over the past week. It has really meant a lot to me.

~M

Where to begin...

First of all, thanks so much for all the kind words, e-mails, cards, and such. I am blown away by the amount of people in my life that truly care. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all very very much.

The service was this past Sunday in Las Vegas. Nothing over the top, very simple, the way Dad would have wanted, I think. He may have lived IN Vegas but he didn't LIVE Vegas, ya know? The service was very nice, I delivered the eulogy, which at times was rough. I did manage to get through it, and at the end, I knuckled the lectern, and looked at a collage of photos of Dad, and said, "nice hand, sir." Corny, I know, but I know he would be chuckling a little, so that was fine by me.

My sister and nephew were out there along with other family members. We did make a trip to the local casino to play some Pai Gow in Dad's honor. Dad was always friendly with the dealers, and he was friendly with them on this night as well. LOL. Still, we raised a glass (or 5) in his name while we played. It was a nice escape for a couple hours.

I'll have the weekend, before returning to work on Monday. That should be interesting. I have read the newspaper maybe 4 times, watched very little tv, but did manage to watch some of the US Open tonight, so I am slowly getting up to speed. I should be back to full speed come Monday.

I wish I had more to offer in this entry, but the muse just isn't there. I will start looking ahead now for my next trip to Vegas in July, but admittedly, it will be a little different this time around. It will be strange on Sunday (Father's Day), with no phone call to make. There will continually be moments like that, that will hit me like a cold splash of water. All I can do, is dry it off and keep pressing forward. I'll worry when the water stops hitting me.

Until the next entry, good luck and good cards....hopefully, I'll get back to rounding soon. I could use a good card game.

~M

Mr. Chipstack, Sr. (1933-2008)

All my life, I have known my idols. Most of them were athletes. A baseball player, hockey player, football player, you name it, I had a favorite.

None of them taught me anything about life. None of them taught me anything about how to be a better person.

All of my childhood idols fell a distant 2nd to the man who did everything for me, from put a roof over my head, to hug me at my lowest points.

I lost my father on Thursday, June 5. His body had done all it could to keep him alive, but, alas, his heart would fail him. He died peacefully, in his bed, asleep. He had fought a number of health issues--diabetes, arthritis, congestive heart failure, and even viral cardiomyopathy. An impressive list, no doubt.

He battled every problem the way he battled everything. He battled the system, leaving behind his native Colombia, South America to come to the USA for the promise of a better life. He beat the odds, made it here along his brother and sisters. They all succeeded in finding the American Dream. My father met my mother, got her to learn Spanish to communicate better (but her Spanish is atrocious, lol), while he learned the English language. His broken English was tough for some to understand, but the message would usually hit home.

My father worked hard. He was an engineer for a major railroad company in my native home of Chicago. He learned to work on machines, and after retiring from the railroad game, he went into business for himself as a locksmith. Something about making small pieces fit together, make it into a bigger thing, and ultimately have that thing serve a purpose. Gadgets were his game, and man, he was the nuts. The locksmith business did quite well in Chicago, but suffered when my folks relocated to Las Vegas in the late 1990's.

Dad's health began to decline in Vegas, although he wasn't as bothered by the arthritis any longer. The dry conditions seemed to alleviate that issue. Maybe a part of him wanted to stay in Chicago, maybe a part of him missed it. I can't say for sure. His heart began giving him troubles in 2000. He underwent quadruple bypass surgery, came through that, and seemed to be on his way to a long and happy retirement. The Lord had other plans for him, however. Thursday was his day to visit the Man upstairs.

Don't get me wrong, by no means does his passing make me happy--it doesn't. It sucks bigtime. I love my father very much. He showed me how to hit a baseball, tie my shoes, ride a bike, change the oil in my car (although now that Mrs. Chipstack knows I can accomplish this, there likely won't be anymore Jiffy Lube trips in my future, lol), and so much more. He taught me about life. He taught me the value of helping someone that couldn't help themselves. He taught me compassion.

My father and I shared many wonderful times together. From going to baseball games in Chicago, to playing poker or Pai Gow poker in Vegas, to just sharing a bowl of cereal in the morning. Every minute with him was a joy. Those are moments I shall treasure forever.

I am lucky, that I was able to speak to him on Wednesday night. I called the house from work, in the hopes I could say hello. Mom had told me that he wasn't doing so well. She didn't come right out and say it, but I think she knew his time was winding down. Our conversation was brief.

Me-"Hey, Pops, how you doing?"
Dad-"Not too good."
Me-"Hang in there, Dad. I love you."
Dad-"I love you too."

That was it.

Frank Sinatra once said "you only live once, but if you lived like I have, once was enough."

I would have to say that my father also qualified for that statement. He had done enough in his life, from leaving behind his native land to become a naturalized US citizen, to raising my older brother and sister and I, to being a wonderful Grampa to my daughter and 2 boys, and to my brother's kids, to even working one round of golf in Las Vegas as my caddie. I fired a round of 77 by the way, which included me making 4 double bogeys in 18 holes. If you're a golfer, do the math.

Dad was my inspiration that day on the course, and every day of my life. He was my biggest idol, and I hope he knew I was his biggest fan.

Thanks, Dad. Nice hand, sir.

I love you.

~M

Writer's Note-The blog will be on hiatus for the next week or so, as I attend to family business. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers in this difficult time.

TOC Saturday, a look back

TOC Saturday has come and gone, and I fell just short of my goal of a win. I took 2nd, which was good, but considering the day I had, it should have been first.

Before I go any further, let me congratulate Daxamillion for winning the title. He played some stout poker, and is a deserving champ. NH, sir.

Now, my day--it was a long one, as Volsfan and I drove together, and we left very early to get set up for the big day. I brought along swim trunks for use in Captain Morgan's pool, but alas, I never had the opportunity to take a dip. Good thing, as a swim may have tired me out big time.

Anyway, there were 11 players (if memory serves), that were eligible for the TOC Satellite event--winner of the sat gains entry to the "main event." 9 players took part, and there was no shortage of sickness in the sat tourney. The eventual winner, Noga, took out one player (VP) when he raised (with a big stack) from the small blind, only to have VP re-raise all in from the BB. Noga had no choice but to call (considering it was something like 325 more back to him), and exclaiming as he made the call, "you definitely got me," rolled over 3-2 suited in clubs.

VP wasn't loaded up, holding J-10 off, but when the flop came off A-3-6, with 1 club and 2 spades, he was hurting. the 2 of spades fell on the turn, and all VP could do was laugh, and then run his forehead into the wall a few times. I felt for him, big time, but that's poker. Noga took the title on a flopped full house, when he held K-8 to a K-K-8 flop, and he trapped UVAWahoo for the pass into the biggie.


After some food, and some announcements regarding next season, it was time to play some cards. 16 players in the TOC, winner taking home 4 figures. I don my Redwings old skool jersey, and I was off.

Early on, I was in need of medical attention, thanks to the deck crushing me. Seriously crushing me.

Limp with 3-3, flop the set, turn quads.

Raise with a J-9 suited to try and scoop the blinds, flop a set, turn quads.


This all taking place in the first level of 25-25.

I busted one player when I raised in early position with 8-6 off, just hoping to steal. I had been quiet without raising pots, folding a bunch of hands, and it felt like the time to try and sneak one past the table. Late position re-raises makes it 500 straight. I flat call, hoping to represent a big hand, (AK, AQ...something like that). Turns out I wouldn't need to represent anything, as the flop comes 8h-6h, 4x.

I check, raiser bets, I re-raise, opponent shoves, I call. He held JJ. I fade the turn and river, and drag a nice pot.


I never saw a pair larger than QQ, had A-K a couple of times, but I suffered a couple stack hits, that got my total under 8K (we started with 5K), when this hand came up.

Blinds were 200-400 with a 50 ante, early position raiser makes it 1600 total, I peek down at 10-10. I was abit steaming after losing some hands (starting with quality hands, but not connecting-making lay downs bugged me with so much in the middle). I re-raise all-in. Honestly, I didn't realize I was sitting on 7100 chips, and likely wouldn't have done that had I known. I would have re-popped, but not that much. Good thing for me (in retrospect), is that I got a call, and he showed 9-9. The 10's hold, I double, and am back in the ballgame.

I would later bust that player with a hand that I half went crazy, and half executed the play I wanted. From early position, early player goes all-in for his stack (3K maybe?). I look down at A-J off on the button, and I just felt that I held the better hand over the all-in. I wanted to isolate against him, so I shove all-in, with 2 players left to act. The SB folds quickly, but the BB, a very good player, is disgusted as he looks at his hand. He tanks, and thinks out loud how he can't fold, but ultimately does, mucking Q-Q face up.

Early all in had K-J, I hit an A on the river--which I didn't need, but had the QQ called, I would have busted 2 players.

Was it the right play? Well, at the time, it felt right. After thinking about it for a couple days, I guess I had gone a bit mad doing it. Here's the thing-I felt, at the time that was the play to make. If I flat call the all-in, the QQ looks down, and he likely shoves. After putting 3K into that pot, and then have someone come over the top, I am left in a pickle--I probably lay down the A-J there (if the QQ had the option of a re-raise), and I am left muttering to myself. It was a high risk, high reward play, if I get a better hand to laydown, which I did.

"Don't be afraid to go out on a limb, because that's where the fruit is." ~Doyle Brunson

Anyway, I made one mistake later, that I could kick myself for, and I won't go into it, because I won the hand anyway, but maybe, just maybe, if I play the hand a bit differently, I bust another player. I don't know.

Regardless, when the final table began, I held 20K in chips, which was a quarter of the chips in play. By the time we got to heads up, I was outchipped about 3.5-1. It was an uphill battle, and I gave it all I had. I just couldn't overcome hitting hands, with Dax hitting the same hand, with a better kicker. It happens, and I don't begrudge Dax for the win. He played very well, moved his chips around when the situation called for it, and was very deserving of the bracelet.

So Season 3 will go down as my best in the league, and now it's time to look ahead for Season 4. Got a month until the opener, and already, I am looking forward to sitting at that table.

Good luck and good cards!
~M

PS--sorry no pics in this post. In addition to forgetting my chips for the TOC, I also forgot the camera. too bad because our resident dance instructor came dressed as Satan. It was a scream!