Obsessed and Folding Quads

With whats currently going on with me I have been spending a lot of time around the house relaxing which according to everyone is what I need.

So with all this time and a free month of movies ( you get it when you buy a PVR) I have been checking out the various movie channels. Seems like we have 7 channels of movies to watch. I actually prefer going to one of our local theatres and seeing movies there but this is actually not a bad substitute. So I check out what's on last night and I actually couldn't find much I was interested in. So my son heads over to the local video store and brings home the newest release called Obsessed.

This is the one that stars Beyonce Knowles. The premise behind the movie is that Beyonce, her hubby (played by Idris Elba) and son have an ideal life. At her husbands work a new temp starts and immediately gets the hots for Beyonces husband. The temp is played by Ali Larter. Of course she is incredibly gorgeous but Idris never gives in to her flirtations and she becomes more Obsessed. Is this sounding like Fatal Attraction?? Yep that's what I thought. There is actually nothing new in this movie but I have to admit watching Beyonce and Ali made up for the script. I am sure the ladies loved watching Idris too. This is one that watching in video was probably worth the rental price but glad I didn't spend theatre prices to see.

I often wonder why doesn't anybody in Hollywood have new ideas these days. There are so many movies made that are blatant ripoffs of previous movies that are never as good as the original.

So I was playing online yesterday at Fulltilt and not for money. Just thought I would kill time playing a 6 person Sitngo. About the 4th hand in I get dealt pocket 3's. Always a difficult hand to play so I decided to just limp in with 2 others and see what the flop brings. Well the flop was A,3,3. Wow Quads. Not only Quads but with the Ace out there very likely this could be profitable (oh right I am not playing for money). Anyways I yell upstairs to my son who's playing a different Sitngo that I flopped quads. The player next to me who must have hit an Ace bet out and being distracted I hit the fold button. Yes I did. I watched my cards disappear. Am I glad I wasn't playing for money? Was that dumb or what?? Answer yes to both questions. Another reason to not play online for money because of things like that. Yes you could fold your cards by mistake too in a live game but not as likely. Hopefully will be back playing at my live games next week all being well.

Checking it down

This comes up at at least once a week at the tournaments I play in and always involves a lively discussion. That is when someone goes all in and gets called by more than one player before the flop. Lets use the scenario Player A went all in for 2000 chips got called by player B and player C. Should B and C then check the play down all the way to the river?? I have very mixed feelings on this. I can see in major tournaments when there is a money bubble but early on why would you do this. The reasoning given by many is that its a DRY POT so why not check it down. I know players have got upset when players don't check it down but its usually someone with a marginal hand who has called and is hoping with the free cards to catch. I know a couple weeks ago I got the nut flush when checking down a hand and probably should have bet but didn't. I won a hug pot but I could have probably won a few more chips if I had bet a small amount and managed to get the other lady who had also called to call me for the side pot. There are many that say you should always check down but to me that is giving free cards to players. So I am clearly on the fence with this.

I played a live tournament last night . I think there was about 60 players and I was basically card dead and when I did get something , I missed the flop and others hit. Even a few continuation bets did not help. One of those nights. I think I went out in like 35th or something. Not good but I did have a pretty good week so not unexpected.

I was playing Razz online this morning for a bit at Full Tilt and enjoyed the change of pace.

I caught that tape bit of that older English lady Susan Boyle (pictured above) singing on a British talent show. It was incredible. When she began to sing it sent chills down my spine. That doesn't happen often. Just an awesome voice. A real feel good story. I heard a rumour this morning that they are trying to get her to appear on the grand finale of American Idol. With all the doom and gloom on the news these days it sure was nice to see something positive and uplifting. I hope she does well.

Rainy Days

Yesterday was one of those West coast days where you just want to curl up with a good book or play poker online all day. It literally poured from morning until night with just a couple brief stops during the day. Growing up in Vancouver I am used to them as it does happen. I actually don't really mind them as long as they aren't a week long which has happened sometimes too. Still nursing this dumb cold and cough so staying inside most of the day was okay. I think my dog felt kind of ripped off though as his walks were brutally short. He kept giving me that look like he lets go out. Um no. He is a golden retriever so water to him is fun.

I haven't ran in almost a week so feeling like a slug. Going to give this cold a couple more days and plan on running on Saturday at the latest.

Played a couple freerolls yesterday and a couple SNG's. Did well at the SNG's but bombed at the freerolls. Had to contact Fulltilt again yesterday as now when I try to register for the Canada freerolls it says that I have to be a resident of Canada??
Um yea. Okay. I have to tell you though that emailing Fulltilt always gets a quick response. They registered me manually and said they were having technical issues with the country specific ones.

Had someone ask me yesterday why I bother with the freerolls as the prize is only 15 bucks if you manage to out play and out luck 2699 other players. I mean I could certainly deposit that but as I have said before I prefer to play live and to me the online game is just a way to practice. Now if I manage to cash well then I will use it in the micro cash games they offer and try to build it up.

Freeroll and sickness

Okay what is with this cold. I just got over one like 3 weeks ago. I eat really well sleep well, don't drink or smoke and I exercise. Yesterday as I was out shopping I got this really dry throat. No biggie. Figured just needed some water. Yea right. Next thing I know I have a sore throat and I ache all over. Geez. gRRRRRRRRRRR.

With feeling like crap I figured I would register for the Canada freeroll tonite at Fulltilt. Well it wouldn't let me again. What is with that? Anyways I email Fulltilt and they did the register thing for me and had me try so technical crap to my laptop. Hopefully it works next time.

Anyways the freeroll went great to a point. I got quad kings at one point and tripled up. Only other memorable hand was my big blind special when I got 4,6 flop came 3,5, J . Got checked around. Turn was the 2 . I checked and player to my left bet like 6000. Everyone folded and I just called. River was a 10. I checked and he went all in. He had me covered by a bit and I called. He had J5. My well disguised straight gave me hope to finish in the money.

With 40 left out of 2700. I got dealt AKh. 2 limpers before me so I bumped it up 3 x big blind. Got one caller. Flop was A,7,3 I checked . Player to my left went all in and had me covered. I thought he might have 2 pair but with 7, 3 on the board I doubted it. I called. He had A, 10. Great for me until the river and he hit his 10. Went out in 40'th. Good finish and as I have said before you need to get lucky or in this case not unlucky.

People watching

I confess I am a habitual people watcher. No matter where I go I love to watch people. Everyday I take my laptop to my favourite coffee shop and in between reading emails and blogs I people watch. I am not sure what the fascination is but I just do it. I admit I tend to watch the female species considerably more than the male but I do both. Having said that I must clarify I am completely heterosexual! How this has helped me at poker is that being someone who watches and notices things when you play with certain people all the time as I do in my home league you pick up things that maybe other people won't. Like the way they look at their chips if they hit their flush draw, how they toss their bet in if they are bluffing. Just little things like that.

Las Vegas I have always said is the best people watching in the world. My routine when I go to Vegas always involves hitting a coffee shop up that has a good window (like the Starbucks near Carnival Court). Great way to start the day. You see everything there no matter the time of day or night. Great entertainment if you need a break from the poker tables.

Speaking of Las Vegas I see Harrahs Inc which owns (Flamingo,Paris, IP, Osheas, Caesars and a few others) now lets you use your poker comps on your room bill. Last time I was there in August when I wanted to use my poker comps I had to go to the poker room and get a paper comp and then it could only be used in their restaurants or shops. Now it will also be right on your Rewards card and you can use it on your bill. I also just read that they are giving you tier points for poker playing which to me who only goes to Vegas twice a year doesn't mean much and I will probably always have just a gold card but if you play slots or tables games a lot (which I don't) you always got these points. My only complaint is I wish the reward points didn't expire every 6 months.

Last night I was playing a 6 person SNG Tournament on Full Tilt at it was down to heads up with another guy and myself. I picked up pocket 3's . Not a crushing hand but heads up usually you will have the best hand with any pair. I was getting a little tired so I pushed my remaining 2500 in chips. He had me covered and called. He had AK. Magically my pocket 3's held up. Very next hand I look down and I have AK. He acts first and he pushes. I think for like a nano second and call. I have him covered now. I flip over my AK and he flips over pocket 3's. What are the odds of this happening on 2 consecutive hands?? Same cards but going to different players and heads up? Anyways flop comes 10,8,6, turn is J and the river brings the magic K. I am sure he was a bit choked but as I said yesterday you need luck in the races to win.