The "November 9"

OK, I know the final 9 players for the WSOP Main Event have been known to the world since July. I was in Las Vegas when they played down to this final 9. I haven't wanted to know who they are, which is rare for me, since I have known the winner of previous ME's based on staying up late, watching online coverage, and all that. This year, I chose not to find out who the final 9 were, knowing the final table will be played November 9th, and aired on Nov. 11th.

I finally broke down (today), and peeked, having an idea of who would be there, based on watching Tuesday's shows, and seeing most of them. I missed the final 15 minutes of the last show, and honestly didn't pay close attention to the 2nd hour, due to my job. There was one thing that made me very glad.

Seeing Tiffany Michelle go broke.

Now, before you get out your "he hates chick players," schtick, let me stop you in your tracks. I don't hate female players. Not in the least. Her run was one of good timing, in knowing when to push, knowing when to get out of hands, and all that. She made a lot of good decisions. Her worst decision came when she called for the clock when a player was making a decision for most of his chips. She was within her right, completely. I am within my right to pick my nose at the table. I choose not to, simply because it's not the right thing to do.

Calling the clock is something that I have never done (and meant it). I have called "clock" when a player is coming back from the restroom, and is within view, knowing full well the player has ample time to make it back, get seated and make a decision. I have never called for the clock when someone is making a decision for all, or most of their stack. The woman did that. The player ultimately made the call, had the lead, and got outdrawn on the end when the Ace of diamonds fell, pairing his opponent to a better hand.

Is she attractive? Yes, she's pretty. Is she a great player? I doubt that, based on the fact we never heard of her accomplishments at the table, until her run in the ME this year. What I find funny is her personal vignettes produced by ESPN. She was trying to portray herself as a serious player, with a lot of experience at the table. Truth is, she was a reporter for the WSOP website last year. She got involved in the poker scene that way, played some, learned some, and now feels she is an accomplished pro. I think the number of hands she's played compared to the number I have played is probably very close. I have no illusions about my ability. I'm average, at best. If I should be lucky enough to have a deep run, or a chance to win a WSOP bracelet (pipe dream, I know), I would hope I have the brains to keep things in their proper perspective.

If I don't, I would then hope that some poker blogger out there has the brains to call me out.

The only comparison I want between me and Tiffany would be a run, and payday from the Main Event. All other comparisons I will gladly sidestep.

Good luck and good cards,
~M

How to fade a beat...

...let me count the ways.

Sat in at Irish Jim's game on Wednesday, and had a nice night. I played very well (I thought), making plenty of good decisions, and reads. I tried a steal from early position, and got re-raised by a shorter stack (Irish Jim himself). My raise priced me into the pot (which I shouldn't have been in the hand in the first place-I gotta get better with that recognition), so I made the call. turned out I actually had the lead when my J-8 of spades was up against 8-9 of hearts. The J8 held up, and I dragged a nice pot, but in retrospect, that was an error.

I got it all in for my tournament life 4 handed with A-J suited (spades). Here's the action. I'm SB, UTG folds, button (chip leader) limps, I shove (about 3K more), BB folds and the chip leader goes into the tank. Deep. Thinks and thinks, and says "I don't like this card," and exposes a 2 of diamonds. I must have done something to indicate I was weak, because he made the call, and rolled over K-2 suited in diamonds. Of course, he catches the 2, and busts me.

Now, I don't care how you try and justify it, that's a loose call. No, I'm not bitter about it-he called, hit the hand, done. Still, I don't care how much of your stack is at risk. 10%, 20%, whatever. That's just a bad play. I would have loved seeing Q-10, K-J, K-9, any 2 card combination that at least had some stretch to it. Suited in that spot counts for very little. It just doesn't make sense to me that a call seems like the right play. Regardless, it worked out there for him.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems that when I go bust lately, people are calling off a lot of chips with weaker hands to beat me. That does not apply to my last league tourney, as I shoved (on the morphine drip) with 10-6 suited UTG. It's a frustrating feeling, this poker, getting your chips in with the best hand, only to see it go down in flames when the inferior hands connects.

No hard feelings, just confusion on why that call looked appealing. Still trying to wrap my head around it, and I don't know that I will any time soon. No poker for me this week (more than likely), a trip out of town next weekend for CANUSA, and then maybe back to Irish Jim's the following week. Next league tourney is a few weeks away, and I feel good about the way I am playing. I just need some of the breaks to fall my way. they will come...I just wish they would hurry up and get here.

~M

I play so bad...

...and I know it. Just horrible.

Well, maybe I'm over-reacting.

No, actually I'm not.

Finished 10th in the October league event, seeing a minute number of pocket pairs (KK was tops, down to 88, 77, 66 (twice), and 22). Had a couple dreamy flops that led to big pots, but in the end, I got too cute when I needed to be big and ugly (2 very relevant terms for me). I didn't deserve a better finish than 10th because I didn't play well enough.

I want to state, for the record, that I was not angry at any of my competitors during the tourney. I was, however, angry with myself for the plays I made. Apologies if anyone was offended or upset with me. Not the intent at all.

The blog has been on the back of my mind of late, and I apologize for that. Work has had me at full speed (which isn't fast for me), but it may slow down a bit over the next 10 weeks or so. That's my hope anyway. Been a lot of weekend work, but for as busy as I have been from about Aug. 1 to now, it should be about the exact opposite going from here. I hope to return to a normal blog posting pattern at that time.

For now, I will continue to hunt the occasional live game opportunity, and try and improve this thing I call a game. I still love me some pok-ah, I just haven't found enough hours in the day, or days in the week to play as often as I would like.

Oh, and I'm getting old. 39 is no longer right around the corner. I've turned the corner, and simply have to pass the line. That comes in 2 weeks. Ugh.

Good luck, and good cards,

~M