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.

Brain fry is such a bad thing

I know I just got back from vacation.

I know I had a great time.

I know I should be refreshed.

I'm not.

Sorry the blog posts have been lacking, but man, I just can't get back into the swing of things. I know the start of NFL training camps will get me going again, but wow, getting through the end of the nothing-ness of summer has been tough.

Anyway, how about some poker? Played in the July league event and was out early. Didn't see much in the way of good cards (best hands I had were 99 and JJ), and even when I had some form of connectors, I couldn'thave missed flops any bigger. 10-9 suited? Flop 2-5-6, rainbow. No pair, no draw....no chance. Busted early, and then proceeded to watch the longest heads-up match in our league history. Was fun, and draining all at once (maybe that's why I am still tired). In the end, NY Mike outlasted Killer Korrie after a heads-up time of 2:11. That's 2 HOURS and 11 minutes. Wiped out, I tell ya.

Gonna be hosting a game at my place next weekend, hope to have 3 full tables, but the response has been slow. Couple folks coming in from out of town, so it will be nice to see old faces.

Anyway, here's hoping the dog days of summer drift away like Michael Vick's NFL career--fast!

~M

What a week!

Wife and I enjoyed perhaps our 2nd best vacation of our life together--the first being our honeymoon. Vegas and Chicago was fantastic. We had a great time gambling, and hanging out with friends of ours that made the trip out west also.

Only bummer of the week--my father had to check into a hospital, but as of today, he is feeling 1000 times better, and could be going home as early as Friday. No clue what was wrong with him--he was coughing a bunch, and the product from the coughing was quite gross, but hey, he's better, and that's what matters.

OK, paragraph 3. Time for poker. Played in absolutely NO cash games in Vegas. Last year when I went, I played one session of 1-2 NL hold em at Binion's--bought in for 100, walked with 170. That was good enough for me. I prefer tournaments, and I am thankful that I did in Vegas. Played in 8 tournaments spread between Fitzgerald's on Fremont (LOVE the room and the staff there), Santa Fe Station (out by where my folks live. They have expanded their room, and entire casino--beautiful), and Planet Hollywood (6 months ago it was the "new" Aladdin, but no more. Thank goodness because the Aladdin was cheesy, and the dealers of all games were very unfriendly. New wave with the PH on the place, and it was quite good).

Started off slowly in the tournaments. Busted out 13th in one, made a final table but no cash in the next, 14th at PH, another FT but no money in 2 more. 0-5 was my record, but while I was cold there, I ran ok at the roulette wheel. Bought in for $40 at Four Queens, and walked with $470. That made up some buy-ins.

My heater started Thursday. Played at Santa Fe for the 2nd time (first time we played there, I bubbled in 5th). Got the chip lead, and had the table in command, when this hand came up. There were 3 of us left, blinds 2000-4000, all 3 of us are in the money.

Button (11K)

SB-Hero (49K) 2-5 off

BB-Villain (29K)

Button limps in, I call from the SB, BB checks

Flop:

6-4-3 with 2 hearts.

I flop 2nd nuts, and check. BB checks, Button shoves all in for his last 9K I call. BB goes all in over the top for 18K more.

If you are in my shoes, what do you do? Here I am with a made hand, a flopped 6 high straight. I put the button on a desperation move (like a pair on the board, perhaps an A kicker), and I have that hand crushed. The BB play made me think he wanted me to drop out since I called. I KNEW he was on the way with either a bigger straight or a flush draw. 2 cards to come, I have to dodge likely 9 outs max.

I call.

Reads were spot on. Button had A-3, BB had K-10 of hearts for the 2nd nut flush draw. My money went in ahead. All I can ask for.

Turn card: J of hearts.

Dammit. Villain wins the hand, and would end up winning the tournament, as he had me outchipped big time (I had 9500 left after the carnage). Still, a 2nd place finish was good by me for the cash. 20 minutes after the tournament is when I got the call about taking Pops to the doctor. Buzz kill.

Dad was settled in at the hospital that night--I did not play poker again that day, but had a nice roulette session that evening. Another 3 figure take from there (bought in for 100 and left with much more), and I was feeling alright heading to bed. Just one more day in Vegas was left for us, and I had a heck of a Friday.

Noon tournament at Fitzgerald's. 2nd place after my heads up opponent went runner-runner straight on me 3 times in heads up with the money on the line. Can't beat dumb luck sometimes, but it was another 2nd and a cash. Went and visited Pops Friday, knowing I was leaving Saturday, and after we left the hospital, it was back to Fitzgerald's. I was sitting 3rd or 4th in chips as we were 5 handed playing to the top 4. A voice from across the table said, "how about a 5-way chop?" I looked at the other stacks and saw we were all fairly close in chips, and after some table chatter, the chip leader said the only way he would chop is if all of the players toked the dealers $20.

Agreed.

We all walked with $347, and that ended my Vegas poker sessions for the trip. 8 tourneys, 5 FT's, 3 cashes with a pair of 2nd's. Not a bad week's work.

I have taken a couple days since getting home to just get readjusted to the home time zone, but will be ready when our July League event gets going on Saturday. Hope I can keep the momentum going. I came back from Vegas feeling (obviously) good about my game, but also a bit changed in my style. Of course, I won't go into HOW changed I am, since my league buds will peek in on this blog, but suffice to say, I feel like I played great poker in Vegas, and learned some things about my game, and how I can mix things up. Basically, I feel like I am a better player now, than when I left for my trip. Whether or not that is true, remains to be seen.

Oh, also, sorry there are no pics with this post, but my camera NEVER LEFT MY CARRY-ON BAG DURING THE ENTIRE TRIP. Sad, I know. Not one friggin picture. Vegas is still there, and I will get some next trip out.

Can I leave tomorrow?

~M