Wednesday Stuff

Up here in Canada we have a few lotteries one is our 649 lottery and the other is something called Lotto Max. Well this Friday the lotto Max has reached its maximum payout so there will be extra million dollar prizes awarded. You see once Lotto Max reaches 50 million dollars then some extra numbers are drawn and those tickets are each worth 1 million. Make sense?? First of all it shows you your real chances of winning if the prize has reached 50 million. In other words not much chance. Then again someone will eventually win I guess. What I would rather see is instead of one person or possibly two splitting the 50 million why not draw have 50 people split the prize. Yep draw 50 sets of numbers and make 50 people millionaires. Don't have any smaller prizes just the big ones. It would be better for the economy too. Just imagine 50 people who could go out and buy new cars, furniture , condos or whatever. Who really needs 50 million anyways?? Just a thought. Oh yea I have my ticket.

I will be playing the VERYJOSIE tonight on Fulltilt. I have been threatened with a butt kicking by Josie if I don't show up. As much as my perverted mind might kind of like that my old body might not be able to stand the pain. So I will be there. Of course Josie has a bounty on herself of an extra 5 bucks. That's worth the price of admission alone. Any time you can take money from Josie it's an extra special treat. She really hates to part with it (I know) and she will be whining afterwords for days about it that is unless she happens to win her own tourney. Now she will be hitting the bottle tonight so the likely hood of that happening is not good.. be there for all the fun and name calling.

My Monday night live game was boring and not much to report . We had 54 people show up. I went out in 19th when I was short stacked and I jammed with Qs 10s. I got called with KK. Yikes. The flop was somewhat promising as the As 6c 4d. Turn was the Ks which gave her trips but gave me a flush draw and a gut shot royal flush draw but it was not to be as the river bricked.

Online this week I have stuck to cash games and every session has been profitable. Just a nice change from tournaments. Aces held up for me twice yesterday. Once when a guy called me all the way to the river with just a pair and a lousy kicker. I love players like that. Actually I like their money better.

Coop

Aces 22/31

Suckouts, Soup Nazi and Sex

Do you ever feel like you are mostly on the wrong side of suckouts. I do. They happen to me way more often than I do it to other players. It can get frustrating at times but that's poker I guess. So yesterday was a pleasant surprise. You see I sucked out twice playing cash games online. It sure felt nice for a change.

The first hand I was UTG +1 when I got dealt QQ. This was pretty tight table. A lot of folding preflop and usually a lot of hands were decided preflop. Anyways UTG raises 4 times the BB. HMMM. I just decide to call. Usually here I might pump it up more but this was a tight table (or so I thought) and there was still 7 players to act. 4 more players call. I am not liking this. Way too much action. Anyways the flop comes 3,9,10. The BB and UTG check. I make a pot size bet to see where I am at. Two folds and the button (lady) goes all in for just over my pot sized bet. I think she had like just 5 bucks. The BB and UTG both fold. Its only like a 1.40 or something for me to call. Not really liking it as she has been real tight I decide of course to call. She has 33 and has trips. Yuck. The turn brings a J and the river a very lovely K to make my straight. Very nice pot. I actually felt bad for her knowing what it feels like to get sucked out on like that.

The second time it happened was later at night and I felt great doing it. There was a player who had no idea how to play after the flop. His one move was just shoving just about every time he was in a hand after the flop. Of course most times he was picking up the pot as he had everybody covered by twice as much in cash. I hate those types. You see them in the tournaments too. They just close their beady little eyes and shove every time they are in a hand and hope that they scare people away. He was also raising just about every pot too. Anyways I was in the BB and he was on my immediate left. I got dealt AKc. He was first to act and sure enough he bumps it 3X the BB. Everybody folds to me. I triple his raise. Of course he immediately shoves his remaining $32.00 as he has been doing for the last hour. Figuring he has got nothing I call for my measly 12.00. He has KK. Damn. Then the flop brings my lovely ACE and I scoop a nice pot. It was sweet. Then of course he goes off on me in the chat box about calling with AK. It was pretty funny. I just said serves you right for constantly playing like that. Then I did the best thing to even piss him off more I left the room after the next hand...... You gotta love it.

My favourite sitcom has always been Seinfeld. I know I have seen every episode and most several times. Anyways of course everyone who has seen the show remembers the famous episode where they are in a restaurant run by as grumpy old soup maker who if you don't follow the rules declares NO SOUP FOR YOU and you don't get to eat. Well the actor that played that part was in Vancouver on the weekend for a food show (figures) and was on one of our local radio stations talking about it. He has a quite a story about how he got that part and how years later that's what people remember him for. He was a Broadway actor but now makes his living now mostly from doing things like guest appearances at shows and trade shows and still gets requests for pictures and autographs from Seinfeld fans and all for just that one appearance on the show. He even sells autographed soup ladles. The actors name is Larry Thomas.

So we went and saw Sex and the City 2 at the matinee yesterday. It was really packed in there and it was playing at two theatres in the multiplex. Its actually a fairly long movie at around 2 hours and 20 minutes. I enjoyed it. Yes I know its a chick flick but it kept my little mind entertained for all 2 hours and 20 minutes. That's all I expect from a movie. I won't go into the plot a lot here but if you watched the show and saw the first movie this one is set two years later. It's funny and light entertainment. I probably see around 20 movies a year at the theatre and yes some are so called chick flicks. I have never been a huge fan of the movies like Avatar. I haven't seen it and probably never will. Totally lost on me.

Coop

Aces 21/29

Pre Weekend Stuff

I watched some of the TOC online last night and it sure seemed like everyone was well aware of the prize packages because most hands were decided preflop. I railed Lightnings table for awhile and as I thought according to his blog he was really card dead. He didn't seem to be involved much. Tough break. Nice to see Keepflopping win one of the 2000.00 packages though. Hopefully he can turn that into bigger cash at Vegas.

Lately I have been playing mostly cash games online as I seem to be running real well at them. Last night I had pocket Aces (is this my favorite hand now??) hit trips on the flop and I had a guy (donk) betting into me on a non scary board (won a very decent pot). The very next hand I had pocket 9s which also hit trips on the flop. Much scarier board so I bet out . Got a caller and the turn brought a non scary card(so I checked) he bet and I raised and he folded. I honestly cannot remember the last time I had pocket pairs and both hit trips back to back. It has been awhile that's for sure. Aces held up for me twice yesterday and so my streak continues. Must be the talk Josie had with me. I always listen to Josie. See if you don't listen she just talks more...

The WSOP starts today. I read something on their site that said there is less than 500 people total in the whole world who have won WSOP bracelets. I was surprised at that figure. I thought there would have been more. Can you imagine winning one?? I know the prize money would be great but that bracelet is something your kids and grand kids could talk about and treasure for years. How cool is that??

The summer movie seasons starts today and the first big release is Sex and the City 2. Now I know Wolfshead will be first in line to see it. Ha Ha. Will I be going?? Okay start the abuse now. I can take it. Of course I will be going. I think I saw most episodes of the TV series so I will definitely be there sometime this weekend. Yes I know it's a chick flick but I tell you guys half the fun going is watching the audience pre show and after. The ladies will be out in full force for this movie. I don't know about you guys but that beats going to say a monster truck show and seeing a bunch of beer swilling guys salivating. I will post my thoughts afterwords. Can't wait can you?? Yea I bet.

Coop

Aces 20/28

GRRRRRR and Old People

I just finished playing a few dozen hands of 5/10 on Fulltilt. Not my usual game as I mostly play tournaments or SNGs but I do like variety (in poker). Well in other things too but I save them for dreamland.

Okay so I bought into this game for a whopping 8 bucks. I get dealt QQ in the BB. I have yes 4 limpers to my BB. I raise it to 95. Remember blinds are 5/10. Well that scares away 1 guy. Anyways the flop comes J 8 4. I bet $2.50. UTG goes all in for $2.05. The other two fold. The cards flip up and he has Q 10. I go what?? What is he calling on?? A gutshot. No flush draw. Nothing. Turn is a K. River is of course a 9 to give numbnuts from Germany or whatever his name is a straight. So I politely type in the chat box how could you call that. Never mind his donkey call preflop but after the flop. Know what he said. I was hoping?? Yes he was hoping. I hate to bring up the grassy knoll theory but this happens way too often online. Is there that many stupid players who hope or is it possible they have some program to forecast what is coming.. Yea Yea I know sounds ridiculous doesn't it. Just makes you wonder sometimes. Almost made me want to pull out my hair except there is none left to pull. Oh yea this guys avatar was the stupid donkey........ GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I almost feel better typing that.

I watched the end of the NBC Headsup yesterday that was filmed a couple months back at Caesars. The one really noticeable thing about the final 4. They were all OLD. Well Annie isn't super old but shes 44 I think which is old enough. Nice to see the OLD people prevail once in awhile. You watch all these final tables lately and the average age is usually in their twenties.

I also saw in another blog that Mike Matusow has a bet that if 3 women win bracelets at this years WSOP he will run naked down the Strip. That might not be a pretty site. As there is a ladies only event I think that doesn't count in the 3. Should make for an interesting June and July. Theres lots of poker players that I would like to see run naked down the strip but none of them are male.

Coop

Aces 18/26

Random Wednesday Thoughts

Some Random Thoughts

1. The guy that won our main local poker tournament on Sunday finished in 91st spot during our regular season and only started with 3500 in chips (the minimum). Where as the top 5 players started with 10000. Interesting isn't it? Oh and this continues the trend of nobody in the top 5 every winning. The lady that finished second was way down in about 45th or so. Chips are good but you still need to get some card luck and play well. I started with 7500.

2. Is it just me or is anybody else really tired of watching the rich teams in baseball like the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers and Mets buy their teams. I am sorry but baseball needs a salary cap. I am sure the fans of some of these teams don't think so but really is that rewarding to watch your team buy itself a World Series. Are you listening Red Sox fans?? All other sports have salary caps and it's time baseball did the same. Look at the parity in the NFL now and the NHL. I personally find it sickening to watch the money thrown around to ball players. Teams should be building threw the draft and trades and not who has the most money to hand out. I played ball from the time I was 6 until just 3 years ago. Yet this year I have not sat down and watched one game. I love baseball but what's the use. Very discouraging to see teams that haven't the loot finish way down in the standings year after year.

3. 4 weeks today I will be leaving for Vegas. Even though I have been several times I still get excited like a little kid about going. This year of course there is even more excitement as I am going to play a WSOP event. There also is a lot of great other tournaments going on there as I see from BWOP's blog (one of my favourites) Binions is running there own series. I have never stayed downtown but plan to one of these days.

4. Aces just keep winning for me as you notice from my recent updates.

Coop

Aces 15/23

My Sunday

On Sunday I played in my league tournament with a WSOP seat up for grabs and unfortunately I didn't win it. We had 101 entrants. Here's the good and bad.

The Good
1. I started with 7500 in chips and by the first break (3 levels) I had managed to chip up to 13000 this after losing the very first hand.
2. I folded JJ preflop to a raise and reraise and then after I folded an all in and rather strange call. They had KK and 10 10. Go figure eh. Whats the 10 10 thinking?? Anyways they both hit on the flop so it sure was a good fold.
3. I had KK, AA and QQ which all held up or won pots outright.
4. I showed my AA and for awhile all my raises got respect.
5. Felt great then got moved to my 3rd table. Then the bad started.

The Bad
1. Pretty card dead at the new table.

2. Folded an open ended straight draw after the flop and of course it hit on the turn and I would have won a huge pots as the guy who won had the other end.

2. Short stack pushed all in with about 2500. I was in the BB for 800 already and called with KQh. He had 55. It held up. Kind of a loose call. Bonehead play 1.

3. Started getting a little short and had a loose very aggressive young guy on my left who I have played against a lot. I got dealt K9h in the SB. It's folded around to me. I know if I limp he might raise with anything. He does that a lot. I decide to limp. Bonehead play 2. He raises 1500. Now the brilliant thing to do here would be to fold . I still had around 6000 chips and could pick a much better spot. So what do I do? I jam all in trying to get him to fold thinking he has nothing. Bone head play 3. He snap calls. What does he have?? AQ. Seems that hand is a bone of contention for Waffles and Lighning today. Anyways I hit my K on the flop and two hearts J 6. Looking great. Turn brings a 2 or something. River brings?? A stupid 10. Not hearts either. I was so mad at myself. I guessed wrong but in hindsight I should have given him a walk and waited for a better spot. That was my day. I was out in 25th spot which means I out lasted 76 players but that is no consolation. It was almost like I went brain dead at my new table.

My son who also played finished in 11th spot and he was disappointed too as the final table where the money and prizes was so close. I congratulated him and stayed and cheered him on until he lost.


Oh yes and I watched the Survivor final when I got home and as I pedicted that Russell guy didn't get a vote. Parvati should have won but seing Sandra win was almost as good. It seems Wolfshead doesn't like Survivor. Not sure why not but any show that has pretty girls on a beach beats watching golf, tennis or my least favourite car racing.

Coop

Aces 13/21

Getting ready for Sunday

I play in a poker league where on Sunday we will be battling for a WSOP seat and 500.00 spending cash. There will around 120 players total playing. You have to play and do well during the season and finish in the top 100 in our region and the top 20 in the north island region to be able to play. In our region alone we have around 250 players. I currently sit in 10th spot and chips at the final tournament are given out as to where you finish during the regular season. I will start with 7500 chips while somebody who finished 85th say will only have 3500 to start. The players that finished in the top 5 start with 10000 chips so you can see the advantages at first anyways of finishing high up in the standings. The one thing though is that nobody in the top 5 has ever won the final tournament. Isn't that an interesting stat?

The last 2 main event winners in our league have both been ladies and they will both be there on Sunday. Two seasons ago I was the runner up and am hoping to better that this Sunday but as we all know lots can happen. My son will also be playing and it would be great if he could take it down. I would love to play another event at the WSOP. The prize is for the NLHE event that starts on June 5th. As you know I will be playing the seniors event on June 18th

Last night was our final tournament before Sunday and we had just under 70 players come out. I managed to final table and came in 4th. I started off real slow. I was getting basic junk hands until I got dealt AKd UTG. I raised it. Got 2 callers and an Ace hit on the flop. I decided then to push all in as any bet was less than the pot anyways. Surprisingly they both called. I thought Oh Oh. One had A6 the other other A 9. Still shocked they originally called with Ace rags and then called again on my shove but whatever. My AK held up and I had a huge triple up. A lot of players were gambling last night with marginal hands as they wanted to move up in the standings. It made for a very loose game last night.

The only other big hand I can remember I was dealt AA in second position. Yes my favourite hand. Blinds were 2000/4000 by this time. My stack was around 25000. UTG limps in. I decided to shove figuring that would win it right there. I got two callers and the UTG folded. One had KQ the other KJ. Yep pretty loose calls. Not sure what they were thinking although the blinds were getting high. Drum roll please Yes my aces held up. Have I told you how much I love Aces lately??? That took me to the final table.

At the final table nothing remarkable happened. I finally got taken out in 4th when a guy rivered a straight on me. Hopefully Sunday will bring some good cards and for some poker luck.

I watched Survivor this morning after taping it last night while I was out. I love the show and as I have said before I think I have seen every episode of every year. The guy that makes me laugh is Russell. Does he really think anybody would vote to give him a million bucks? He is a great strategist but you can't alienate everybody else and still expect to win. Not going to happen. He might make a good poker player though.

I am not sure who will win but it would not surprise me to see Parvatti win another million. Great player and she looks incredible just wandering around in her bikini. Even OLD guys like me notice that.

Coop

Aces 12/20

Monday

I watched the hockey game last night most of it before my poker game started and I have to say this series has had the most brutal refereeing I think I have ever seen. Not just against the Canucks but against both teams. I don't usually complain about them but oh my they were horrible last night. The most blatant of course was the non call for the high stick that cut O'Brien. How could they miss that?? There was several calls that weren't made against both teams. Now I know its playoff hockey but if you are going to let things go lets be consistent. One game you are calling everything and other games nothing. It was hard to watch. Chicago looked incredibly flat last night and Luongo finally came up and played like he should be. So it's on to game 6. My prediction?? Who knows? Which Chicago team is going to show up and which Vancouver team?

I had noticed that in both my live play and online play I had been bubbling a LOT. Way too much. Someone else noticed that also. Anyways with a few adjustments and advice things have been going great online. I have noticed and cashed in every (3) tournaments online since the changes. I thank the person for the suggestions. I always figure if you can't take advice then your game will get stagnant. A different set of eyes always helps.

So then came my regular Sunday night live game. Very first hand in with blinds at 100/200 I am dealt QQ. I am one off the dealer. Two limpers to me. I bump it to 1200.I know the early limpers love those weak aces. The button instantly shoves all in. Okay remember this is the first hand.. The blinds fold as do the two limpers. Back to me. Only two hands beat me. Now the guy that shoved is a horrible player. He really does not have a clue. He could have anything. He's the guy that is usually out first or he lucks out and gets some ships and then donks them away. So I start quizzing him. Finally he says I will show regardless. Perfect clue as the I know in this case having played him many times he has Kings or Aces. I fold face up. Everybody goes wow and then he flips over the Kings so it was a good fold. We only start with 5000 chips so that put a bit of a dint in my stack. I managed after that to steal a couple blinds with aggression but I was really card dead for most of the night.

We got down to 20 players when with my stack at around 3600 and blinds at 400/800 with 100 anti and I get deal 77 on the button. 1 limper to me who is a really passive player as far as I can tell having not played him before other than tonight. The blinds are both good players but I know if I shove unless they wake up with a hand they are folding. So I shove. The blinds fold as hoped. The limper calls and flips over KK. Yep he limped with that.........My night was over as the board did not help. I know 77 is a not great hand but I needed to be aggressive and pick up chips as my stack really never got going last night. Who linps with KK?? I guess he does. That's Poker.

Twice on the weekend had Aces and both times they held up.

Coop
Aces 8/16

Hockey, Mookie or Dank

Game 3 tonight. Starts at 6.30 my time which is 830 for you Chicago fans. The crowd should be wild although it's going to be tough to beat the noise level they had at Chicago on Monday night. Go Canucks Go...

That presents a problem. I was going to play the Mookie/Dank tonight because I would really love to win that TOC seat but as you all now us guys aren't great at multitasking. We have to concentrate on one thing at a time. So it will be a last minute decision as to whether I play. Basically I will see how the first period is going. I love the competition though and as the WSOP gets closer I really have to play more so we will see.

I was also going to play that OTHER tournament (note no hyperlink) but as I was told there was only 2 words for me (and they weren't love you) I think my presence won't be missed. That's okay as playing that and the Mookie/Dank and watching hockey would be way too much for this old brain although it's very tempting.

I have been so tired this week that I didn't go play my usual live Monday and Tuesday night games. I played some online yesterday and I was 0/4 in cashing. 3 bubbles and a horrible QQ beat. That's poker though. Looking back the last few weeks I have bubbled way too often and a lot it is because of getting involved in big pots and making dumb decisions. I seem to make a lot of dumb decisions and not just at poker.

I did play one SNG this morning and managed a win which was good for my morale. Oh had Aces yesterday and amazingly they held up against pocket 9s.

COOP

Aces 5/11

Too Much Information

Modern technology has improved how we access things and in general it has made our lives a lot easier. But has it? Most people have cellphones most people have computers and of course we all have TV's.

I used to have a cellphone but then people (including my family) would phone me and ask me where I was. Why I would ask. Oh we just wondered. It's not that I was trying to hide things. I just liked never being that available. I gave up my cellphone. I love it.

Every time we do something someone knows what we have done. You go to the store and rent a movie. There's a record. You charge groceries. Everybody knows what you eat. We are constantly being tracked as to our buying habits and of course if you have a cellphone you can be tracked to exactly where you are. Then people use twitter to tell other people what and where they are and what they are thinking. Why?? Are we all desperately seeking attention?

Then you go on the internet and we have Facebook and other sites that track schoolmates. Some people put their whole lives on Facebook. I know I used it a lot. Not anymore. I don't want to be that out there. I have deleted my Facebook account and am in the process of deleting anything else out there that lets people know who I really am although I have been told Facebook stores your info. I know a lot of friends will wonder where my Facebook account has gone. That's okay.

I constantly get phoned with surveys on the telephone. I politely tell them I don't give out information. Why would you? I never fill out contest entry forms as I have found most contests sell your information to telemarketers etc. Then you get inundated for months with phone calls.

I have deleted the pictures I posted of myself on here and in future any pictures will not include my face. A year ago I wrote a post about my daughter who has some problems. At the end I named her. The post is still there but her name is gone.

Why write a blog then if I am so paranoid about privacy? I guess because for the most part I enjoy it. I also enjoy the anonymity of it. I can say what I want and nobody knows who I am. My kids don't even know about this blog.

I really enjoy other peoples blogs and read several every day. Some poker related some not. Some make me laugh, some make me sad. I learn from some posts and disagree with others. That's okay. I don't know these people other than what they write. I hope they keep writing.

To some this post may not make a lot of sense. That's okay it makes sense to me.


Not much on the poker front. Played a live tournament last night and came in 18th out of 40. Played a 4 SNGs yesterday online and only cashed in 1 (2nd). Got my aces cracked with a flopped two pair.

COOP

Aces 4/10

Easy to Assemble

Those 3 words scare me. Yep easy to assemble. What they really mean is if you have incredible patience, superior assembly skills you might be able to put the thing together. If not you are driven to drink. I personally think that some of the reason I have no hair is because of those words (having kids was another but that's a whole different post).

When they were passing out the skills on putting things together I must have somehow missed the assembly line because I really have none. Zip , Zero, Zilch. I can screw a lightbulb in but even some of those new ones cause me sleepless nights.

So today with spring coming we needed new patio chairs. Of course they don't come assembled. You have to it all yourself. What happened to the day when you could just see it, buy it and take it home. Now you need a degree in engineering to do anything. Of course this box had those famous words on it. I could feel the stress coming. The box is opened and everything is numbered. Well sort of. It actually only took about an hour to put the 2 chairs together. Stop laughing. If you ever need a handyman don't call me. I am of no use. I guess when all other guys were doing construction I was too busy playing sports. When somebody suggests we go to Ikea to me that's like going to the dentist. Its scary as hell as at Ikea you assemble everything. I am so glad there isn't one on the island. I am sure my life span would be shortened.

Not muck poker yesterday although I did play one of those 90 player bounty things that my son had been playing. I did manage to cash and came in 8th. Took 2 bounties. Top 9 pay and I was pretty short stacked at the final table and with just me and the BB I pushed with A8. He called. What did he have? A 8 of spades. We both turned a straight and he rivered a flush. Figures.

The only other hand of note was I was dealt AA in the BB. I think we were down to about 40 then. The UTG raised. Next guy to him reraised him. I am sitting in the BB liking this. Everybody folds to me and I throw in a another reraise. UTG folds and the next guy jams all in. I of course call. What does he have?? AA. Yep we both had the pocket rockets. The board blanks with no flushes and we chopped. I count that as a win with Aces.

Game 1 tonight at 5PM . Go Canucks Go

Aces 4/9

The Aftermath

It was another great night last night playing the Mookie. I started off well first hand dealt A 10h. Flop came with two hears. Pot sized bet and I got some chips.

First big hand for me was I was dealt KK. I raised to 120. DeepchitNJ reraised me to 240. I reraised to 780. Deepchit called. Flop comes Ks 6c Jc. Great flop but two clubs. I decided to check. Deepchit bet 680. Should I just smooth call. Nope. Pot is big enough. Don't get greedy. I raise to 1360. Deepchit folds. Said they had pocket Queens. Wish I had known. Might have got more.

A few hands later I got dealt pocket Jacks. Before it even got to me there was a raise. I decided to just call. Then there was a reraise after me and another reraise. Umm these Jacks aren't looking good . I folded. Not sure if it was a good fold or not but not going to go out with just Jacks. The last reraiser took it down. Never showed.

Then I got shifted to Josie's table. Just a few hands in there I got dealt pocket Aces. Blinds were 50/100. Morning Thunder raised to 300. I reraised her to 700. She called. Flop comes A 10 4. Great flop. She checked. I decided to check (note to self stop being greedy) Turn was a J. She goes all in for 1065. Does she really have KQ. I call. Yes she does... I am wounded. I see Morning thunder used my chips to a good cause she cashed. Damn her!! lol

Then Josie starts raising my BB every time. She finally flashes a pair of Jacks. Not the flash I wanted.

I then get moved to Gary's table. We are both short stacks. I keep getting hands when I am the SB and Gary the BB and I keep raising him. We are both waiting for the big hand. Finally I get AA again. I triple the blinds hoping for 1 caller. Oh no its Gary that calls and he has less chips than me. I wanted to get somebody elses. He has A9 suited. An Ace and a 9 come on the flop and Gary is out.

I am still on life support and with blinds at 150/300 and 25 anti I get pocket 4's in middle position. I bet about half my stack hoping everybody goes away. The BB raises. Should I call?? I decide to. Decent call he has AK. I am the favourite. The flop is all low cards. Turn is another low card. Yes. River is a Ace. Damn. I am out in 32nd.

Congrats to Josie who finished 21st, lightning36 who finished 14th and fmarra who cashed in 3rd, I also briefly was in the room with Maniac. The poker playing was excellent. Fun night. Josie also got her chat privileges taken away for 1 minute. Sure was quiet then.

Pocket aces also killed me yesterday online when someone flopped trip 9s on me. I bubbled in that tournament although I did win a 9 player SNG yesterday so not bad 1 win 1 bubble out of 2 entered.

Aces 3/8

The Good and the Bad

Lets start with the Bad

I played terrible last night in the Mookie. I started off okay second hand in I got JJ and with just the small blind completing I bumped it 90. Gotta win something.She called. I think it was Mrsalcanthang. The flop was Kd 9h 7s. The Mrs bet 180. I raised to 360 hoping she would go away and she did. Really didn't like that King.

After that I just basically maintained around starting chip level. I went up a bit and down. The last hand was a disaster. I had A6 in the SB and decided to raise the BB. He reraised me and I stubbornly reaised him. Then he put me all in. Of course like an idiot I called. He had A 9. Yep almost as bad as mine. I just checked the hand history and he rivered a straight it seems which I didn't earlier recall. I was too miffed at my stupidity. Oh well still fun to play. I was 74th out of 119. I see Waffles and Schaubs both did better than myself.

I also played 4 other tournaments online yesterday and really sucked in those too. No where near cashing... The one good thing is I did have pocket Aces and they won a hand post flop.

The Good

My Canucks won last night. What great back and forth game. It almost made losing at poker not so bad.. Game 5 is Friday I think back in Vancouver.

I see GM has repaid its loans to the U.S and Canadian governments. That is really good news. I really thought when we loaned them the billions that it was money gone. That we would never see it again. Looks like they are back on their feet. I own a GM vehicle and love it. I would get another anytime.

I managed to outlast a certain other (Josie) definately female blogger. I was watching her table while playing my own and look like she went out on an open ended straight draw that missed and someone had pocket kings and hit a King on the board too. She kindly transferred 5.00 American dollars to me. Thank you Josie

For Richer For Poorer

That's the title of a pretty good poker book written by a pretty good English poker player by the name of Victoria Coren. This book is basically an auto biography of her life.

Vicky takes you through her 20 year obsession with the game of Poker. It started in the back rooms of poker clubs in England through her trips to Las Vegas to play in some WSOP events including several Main Events. Its a fascinating and comical look at life as women poker player especially in the early days when she was afraid to go to the underground clubs in England by herself as she would be the only lady playing.

As her game progresses and poker moves more mainstream she takes you through those days to giving several insights into old time players like Slim Preston and Doyle Brunson to the new breed like Phil Ivey and Daniel Negraneau. She gives a lot of humorous thoughts on players at the table and her own battles with depression and trying to make it as a poker player.

It culminates with her huge win at the EPT London event where she wins a million dollars and becomes a sponsored by Pokerstars. The book goes into detail of her victory at that event but does it in a great way by putting her thoughts and hands throughout the book while she keeps telling her story. I wasn't really familiar with Vicky before this although I had seen her on a couple poker shows from England that are broadcast here in Canada. In this book Vicky isn't afaid of poking fun at herself and comes acroos as someone you would want to get to know.

I found the book a pretty good read although at times it bogged down with some of her reflections on her favourite card room in England. Overall though I would definitely recommend the book.

Charity Tournament

I was out last night to one of the local pubs to have a glass or two of wine and I ran into a couple poker players I know who told me there was a local Charity poker tournament happening tomorrrow (today).

The buyin was 40.00,no add ons or rebuys. First prize was 500.00, Second 300.00, and Third was 200.OO (two golf passes worth 200.00). We had 59 players so you can see more than half went to a local sports team but thats okay. Good cause. We started with 5000 chips and blinds started at 50/100 but went up every 20 minutes so a pretty fast structure.

I had a really uneventful day. First hand I was involved in I had pocket 10's and with 3 limpers to me on the button I jacked it up 3x and everybody folded. I won a couple small pots and basically was hovering just around 6000 chips when our table got broken down.

I moved to a new table and a few hands in I get UTG pocket Aces. Blinds were at 200/400> I bumped it to 1300. Everyone folded to the button who had only 900 left and called. The blinds folded. The button turned over A9 so I had him totally dominated but yes this is poker and he rivered a straight on me. That sucks.

A couple hands later I look down at 4,7 in the SB. For some dumb reason I decide to fold with 3 limpers already in the pot. I was still thinking about getting my Aces cracked but that's no excuse for not flipping in 200 more chips. The flop comes down 44K. Yea I would have flopped trips and after everybody checked to the button he came out firing 1200 as he caught his King. Oh that could have been so profitable.

After that I basically was incredibly card dead although I did river a straight to win a small pot. The blinds really took a leap up when we went from 600/1200 to 1000/2000. We were down to 21 players( 3 tables). I only had 5000 chips exactly what I had started with and just two hands before The blinds hit I decided to push with Q,10. I know not a great hand but the best I had seen for a couple orbits. Everyone folded to the SB who called and the BB folded. SB who doesn't have that many chips turns over K5??? I didn't get that but hey like I said its a charity event. The flop, turn and river missed us both and I was out in 20th spot. It was just one of those days when I just couldn't get anything going. I always find the structure of these events a little too fast and I much prefer a slower structure. It suits my game better.

Tonight's game 2 Of Canucks/Kings but I am going to PVR (I love my PVR) it and head out to a movie.I will watch it after I get back from the movie. I know I will take some abuse but yea it's a chick flick.(Date Night). I will let you know what I think tomorrow.

Very Josie Tournament

Well it was a success again. Thanks Josie for hosting a fun few hours. We had 16 players again. I thought I was going to bubble again but we managed to work out a deal with 4 left. Memphis Mojo had the chip lead and won the most cash, Goburn1 followed up his cash last week with a solid second and Lightning36 cashed again after his win last week. Yours truly was in fourth. I did manage to collect a couple bounties including Josie who I had raised, she reraised me and I pushed. She called. I had KK and Josie had pocket snowmen. Fortunately for me my Kings held up. When we got down to 4 we traded the chip lead several times and at the end Memphis was leading when us old guys decided to chop. It was great playing with everyone and hopefully this will be a monthly or bi weekly event.

River Rock Tournament

Well I managed to sneak in a tournament while I was in Vancouver for the weekend. I didn't know if I could get away but as soon as I got to Richmond (suburb of Vancouver) I grabbed a tournament schedule at the River Rock Casino and plotted which one I would somehow get to. I mean I could play cash games but every time I went into the old poker room there was always a huge wait (not different now).

I entered the Sunday noon 50.00 plus 10.00 buy in. 88 players max and it filled up. They only take registration an hour before the tournament begins. My thoughts on the new poker room. Very mixed. Its smaller than the other one which was upstairs. This one is across the street in its own venue. They do have drink service and food service now(which I guess is new). I mean they had both at the old one of course but originally when they opened this they didn't (thanks Shaubs)

This tournament you only get 2500 in chips and there are 8 tables of 11 to start. The blinds start at 25/25 and go up every 20 minutes. All those are negatives. I really hate 11 player tables and chip level and frequency of blind increase are too fast but it is what is so time to make the best of it.

The only hand I lost at showdown in this tournament was my last one. I won every hand that went to the river and if I was calling an all in I always had the best hand and the law of averages held up for me. Of course I also got bet off some hands.

My day started great. I felt confident at my table. I certainly was one of the oldest perhaps with the exception of an older Asian guy at the other end. Third hand in I got dealt pocket 3's. I limped (all limping soon ended) along with about 3 others I think. Flop comes A34 two hearts. Short Hair Lady (SHL) bet the other 2 limpers folded. I thought about just calling but with the texture of the board I decided to raise. SHL took a lot of time looked at me and folded. That's okay good start.

A few hands later I got dealt KJd. SHL (yes her again min raised). I decided to call. Flop comes 10d 9d 3c. Okay so I have a flush draw, gut shot straight flush draw and a straight draw. SHL throws out a bet (can't remember exactly how much) but I call. Just the two of us. Turn brings a Jack of spades. Okay so now I have top pair along with all those other outs. SHL bets (pretty big bet this time). I think it was about 600. Remember we only got 2500 to start although I have about around 4000 now if I remember right. I am trying to put her on a hand. AK maybe (Who knows). I thought for awhile and decide to call. River brings a Queen of hearts. I have the straight to the Queen. SHL checks and I pondered a bet and decided to just check in case she had AK and was going to check raise. She flips over pocket 9's for flopped trips and I turn over my hand. She goes wow the river killed me and then others pointed out that I had flush and straight draws from the flop. I don't think she liked my call on the turn but I did. Would you have made that call??

I was suddenly the chip leader at our table. A couple orbits later something strange happened. I got dealt pocket 9's UTG. I raised about 3.5 X the BB. I got one caller a young guy(YG). Then it came around to the SB and BB. SB folded and then something weird happened the dealer started the flop when she realized the BB hadn't acted. I saw the first card of the flop and it was a face card (not good for me). The dealer realized her mistake (before all 3 cards got exposed) BB says not to worry I was folding anyways. Dealer called the floor and the floor said reshuffle including the burn and reflop. Well then the flop comes 955. Yep I flop a boat. I check and YG who I think loved the original flop also checks (said later he had AK) and so do I.Turn check check. River I bet a tiny teezer bet and he folds. I show my boat and then someone said he saw 2 face cards in the original flop and YG looks pissed.

A few hands later our table got broken down and I proceeded to to go really card dead at the new table. I think we were down to 50 players at this point.
At the new table I had an older guy (OG) who had huge stack to my right (not great). he also smelled like he had been smoking weed all morning. Anyways a few hands after I joined the table the guy had lost some of his stack when he picked up pocket Aces. The board came 7557. When he decided to push. He got snap called by someone who had called his preflop raise with suited connectors 7,8. The river didn't help him and he stormed off not realizing or not caring that he still had chips. Aces bit him in the butt.

The table I was at was super aggressive. A couple times I raised preflop only to be reraised and I let go of my hand. Once I had AJ suited and a guy who just had JJ in the previous hand and lost this time pushed all in on me. I had him covered but it would have left me crippled if I called. Was he on tilt though?? I decided to fold. He turned over KK . Good fold.

A couple orbits later I get KK. I raised it up only to get reraised by a Young aggressive guy. I decided to push . He pondered for a couple and called. He had QQ. KK held up and a nice double up.

We got down to 3 tables and my chips were dwindling. Not a short stack but not huge either. A couple times I had raised preflop only to have people go over the top and push on me. Not liking my cards that much I folded.

We were down to 19 players (6 at our table) when I dealt A,10h. Now A 10 is not a huge hand but 6 handed with 2 folds already I thought might be good enough and I was one off the dealer so I bumped it just over 3 X BB. I had thought about pushing but I wanted the ability to get away from it if need be. My bet was about 35-40% of my stack. The dealer folded as did the SB. BB shoved. Now the BB had been doing this a lot. If it had been the dealer who shoved I would have folded as he was a super tight older guy. The BB was another YAG. Lots in this tournament. Folding I would still have around 6000 chips but blinds were at 400/800. I took a long time and finally called. He had AK so I was basically drawing to a 10 or 3 hearts. I got a heart on the flop but the turn and river bricked and I was out. Really disappointed. I thought I played well except my last call. I had bet thinking I can get away from this and then didn't do that.

The tournament only paid top 8 with the first paying between 1500.00 and 1600.00. That would have been nice.

The Poker room at the River Rock was incredibly busy and certainly could be larger.

I just read that the Edgewater casino which is downtown Vancouver on the old Expo site just expanded their poker room which is a great thing. Next time over I may check it out. I had been in the old one upstairs and it was pretty small. Of course this in the casino that is going to be replaced by that new mega complex that I wrote about here

Just Bubbling

What a great tournament last night. We had 16 players at 2 tables. Starting stacks of 3000 which I love. Gives you more play and I tend to do better in deeper stack events. The usual online ones you get 1500 and that's not my style. The only regret was that Josie was NOT at my table.

I started off well won a few pots. I noticed our table was a lot less aggressive than the other as I was watching both (mainly watching Josie). We had Poker Grump at our table. I have read his blog for at least a couple years and love his writing style so it was fun playing with him. I did manage to knock him out when I had AK on K high flop with two hearts. He had AJh and had lots of outs but the hearts didn't come. I did manage 4 bounties last night with 3 of them I had the best hand going in. The fourth was against Lucki Duck and I had Q,10clubs and he had KJ if I remember right and my Queen hit. Sorry about that Duck.

Memphis Mojo had the worst beat of the night when his Kings got taken out by Queens after a Queen flopped on the very first hand. Too bad as I was looking forward to playing with him. Hopefully another time.

I did have the chip lead for quite awhile but with Josie promising food to Lightning36 he soon took over and ended up winning the whole thing. There are 2 things that will motivate guys and food is one of them. We all know what the other is. I was doomed as soon as Josie made that offer. They did a chop at the end but Lightning had a huge stack and congrats on your win. I was the Bubble Boy.

As you know Josie had A side bet with me who would last longer. I tried to tell her us OLD GUYS don't play much but we do have great staying power (of course I am talking poker here).

All in all it was a great night and it was a pleasure to play with everyone. Thanks again Josie for hosting this event. I can't wait for the next one and of course Josie's side bet. What will she think of????

Another 4th Place

I played another live tournament last night in our local league and ended up 4th again. We had around 38 players which was well below average but then again it was Easter Sunday.

At the first break I was siting with about the same amount I had started with. A few hands in and with blinds at 400-800 with 100 anti I got dealt AKh. I was in middle position so I raised to 2200. The lady beside me pushed all in. Then the lady to her left jammed also. The blinds folded and back to me. I had the lady to my immediate left covered but not the other lady. I had 3200 behind. I was trying to put them both on a hand. The second lady over was trying to isolate or at least I thought so. After a bit of thought and hoping I wasn't up against AA or KK I called. The lady to my left had AJ (yes) and the other had pocket Jacks. I was liking my call. Lots of outs especially if Hearts hit the flop. Sure enough I hit my King on the flop and they both didn't improve and I tripled up.

We got to the final table and I got dealt 2,9 off suit in the BB. We were down to 5 at this time. Couple limpers to me and I checked. Flop comes 227. SB checks and so do I knowing the guy across from me will bet. Sure enough he does. SB folds and I call. Turn was a 10 I think. He bets and I jammed . He called. He had A7. The river is a 9 so I had the full house which was over kill. He had me covered but a nice double up.

When we were down to 4. I got dealt Q,10. Just me and that same guy in the pot. Flop comes KQJ. I have middle pair and an open ended draw. I call. Turn was a 4. He goes all in. Tough call but I have him covered and there are a lot of chips in the pot. I make the call somewhat reluctantly. The river is a blank and he has a King. So now he doubles up.

The very next hand I am dealt A9 off suit on the button with blinds at 2000-4000. I raise to 12000 which is just around 40% of my stack. SB folds BB calls. Flop comes K 6 4. Two spades. Missed me completely but I think it missed him too. I pushed. It had missed him. He called with 8,9 of spades. Yep. Now his call on my jam is not terrible but his preflop call is really loose to say the least. He has me covered and hits an 8 on the turn and I didn't improve on the river and I am out. I know my push on the flop was taking a chance but I did have the right read unfortunately it didn't work out.

Going to play a couple small games online today to practice up for the Very Josie tourney that you can read about here

A couple tournaments and Vegas

First the Vegas part. I am playing The WSOP event number 34 on June 18th. I had been planning this for weeks and was really excited about it then reading Memphis's blog here. I read that he is also entering the same event. How cool is that. Hopefully we will get a chance to meet up down there prior to the event... Even better if we both can get through day 1. That's the first goal anyways.

I played 2 live tournaments the last couple days and it was like night and day for me. Both tournaments had just under 50 entrants so a decent field. On Tuesday night it just seemed no matter what I did the cards just didn't fall for me. Twice I called short stacks all ins with a dominating hand and got sucked out on but that's poker. Then finally when I got short stacked and pushed with pocket 8's I got called with J,10 and of course the Jack hit and that was my night. Jacks were my nemesis all week.

Last night I started off strong with AJ suited early and caught a Jack on the flop and turn and won a decent pot to in the first blind level. From there I was up and down a lot.. That's the only Jacks I loved last night as you will find out. The table I was at was fairly aggressive which I usually prefer. No limping at this table. I also hit pocket Queens and pocket Kings with both holding up. The Queens I got when an early position excellent player pushed all in. I had him covered and insta called him with my Ladies. They held up !! That helped build my chips.

I sailed along never being a huge stack but always with enough chips to play with. I hit the final table with probably out of 8 the 5th stack. I played fairly conservative and bet big when I got AK there and took down a good pot.

When we got down to 4 people and I was now the short stack I got dealt 2,6 in the BB. Exciting hand eh. Everyone folded to the SB who just called. I checked. Excellent get to see a free flop. Flop comes 2,2,8. You gotta love that flop. SB older lady checked and I checked behind hoping she might catch something on the turn. I wanted a bigger pot. I was playing to win not just happy to take it down there. The turn brings a Jack. She bet (hit her J) which almost covered my stack so I pushed all in with my remaining few chips. Flipped up the cards and she had J9 I think. She looked surprised when she saw my trip deuces. You gotta love deuces they can be so deceiving. Anyways here comes the river. Yep you guessed it a Jack on the river which gave her a full boat of JJJ22 and me a a full house of 222JJ. Tough to lose like that but still a pretty decent night. I could have bet on the flop and taken it down but to me that was safe flop. What do you think???

Speaking of Jacks I was playing an online cash ring game (very low stakes) on Sunday and was dealt KQ. There was preflop raise of about 5x the BB. I was the BB. I just flat called. Flop comes Q 7 3. I bet to see where I was at and the preflop raiser goes all in for I think it was like 2 bucks. Told you it was low stakes. Ha Ha. I thought about it. Couldn't put him on AA or KK. I thought maybe AQ so I hesitated. Decided to call. He had pocket Jacks so I had him dominated. Turn was a 2 I think and the river was of course a Jack.. Told you I hate Jacks this week.