I had a few goals for the day. First and foremost was to play patient positional poker. Something that has been missing from my play. I told Katitude in girly chat that some family health issues with my mother and father have left me stressed and distracted and somewhat frazzled. I had plans on going up to Turning Stone for New Years Eve, unfortunately my mom's back is not cooperating with her and I spent Saturday driving her to Urgent Care and tomorrow AM I will be taking her to her primary care doctor. More then likely she will have to undergo the knife something shes been putting off. Coupled with more snow on the horizon for Upstate NY and not being a drinker/partier I will spend New Year's eve on the Virtual Felt or watching DVDs. Its amateur nite anyway.
So I unregistered from the donkfest known as the Sunday 100k on Pokerstars laden with 20000 donks most of whom satellited in. Did I mention I was one? I used the T$ for the Deep stacker at noon. Last week saw my AA get cracked by KK flopping a set in the Sunday deep stacker. When I got knocked out on the umpteenth suckout in as many tourneys, sngs etc I unregistered from all tourneys I had signed up, typed an "I'M DONE" to Snake5970 who was also in the tourney and headed out to finish my Christmas shopping. I didn't even see him get sucked out on right before the money I was that pissed. Did I mention Ive been Tilty? Not Tilly, Tilty!!
Much to my wondering eyes out of 1866 runners, Weak_player gets seated at my table!!! Now Weak_Player doesn't blog much anymore with the new baby. But I did see lots of cute baby pictures of Madeline and we chatted it up in the girly chat before he took a hit with the IG against a bigger pair. Thanks to Katitude and Weak for both checking on my progress!!! It was great to catch-up with Aaron as I haven't chatted with him since the June blogger gathering. And of course Kat and I were able to catch-up too.
And lo and behold I was able to grind my way to 93rd of 1866. I finally ran AJ from the cutoff into the SB's AA. Oh well. I made no real mistakes all tourney. I did get outkicked on one hand and lost a good chunk SB vs BB me with K6 and the bb woke up with KT or KJ. And I lost another good sized pot when I hit top pair with JTc hitting a Jack with two clubs on board. I lost that hand to trip 8's when my flush failed to fill. And there may have been one other pot that knocked me down but not out. And I had at least two split pots. AK vs AK and all the money wound up in the middle but I was the aggressor throughout the hand, and AT into AT with me once again repopping on the flop. I worked hard on playing from position and for the most part my EP laydowns were the correct moves. I folded 66 in late position to the UTG's preflop raise when I was a shortie. I'm tourney savvy enough now to know I want to be first into the pot with a hand like that.
So 7 hours of poker didn't leave me rolling in the dough but it was a confidence booster and I was able to clear my head and focus. Of course since my mother was doped up and sleeping at her house it made it very easy to play as I was uninterrupted by phone calls!!!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
HIgh Stakes Heads Up Alert
No not for IG, although I did manage to take down a $5.50 NL SNG on pokerstars Friday afternoon. I've been on such a bad run on-line lately, that its the first SNG I've outright won in about two months. First it felt good to get to heads-up and I managed to stay patient. I started as a 3.5 to 1 dog and managed to trap well. Two hands got me the lead. I had 82os and hit a boat (two pair on the flop, boat on the turn) vs my opponents flopped set of ducks. MY opponent then decided to slow play or min raise KK. I called with Q8 which gave me an OESD (I think the flop was 9T Ace, and I hit the Str8 on the turn or river with a 7. When I pushed in on the river, The dude asked If I had hit the Ace. I said no. He asked if I hit a set. I said no and replied did you, he said no I have KK? Clock wound down to 2 seconds and I got the call. VNH my opponent typed and he chuckled and said " at least I dont lie. That got me a nice lead where i whittled away at the rest of his chips. He came back a bit and, Finally last hand all in AQ me vs AJ and for once I hit and held. WOOT...... Slumpbuster.....
Anyway not the reason for my post. The real reason is at 2:30 PM on pokerstars:
Dario Minieri, Adam Junglen, VietCutie (aka the poker pixie Anna Wroblewski), Barry Greenstein, GBmantis, Daniel Alaei (steamraise on pokerstars) and others are playing a winner take all $5000 + $200 Freeze-out. Max 20 entrants
Then Barry and Dario are registered at 16:45 for a high stakes show down $10000 + $300 max 16 entrants.
Not to mention the Sunday Million this week is the quarterly $1050 buy-in currently standing at 457 registered.
As for IG, I did manage to play just weak-tight enough yet, dominate a $2.20 satellite to the Sunday 100k on stars!!!
I was not one of the chosen ones who was given the chance on Full Tilt to demo out echecks. Snake5970 was, which I find funny since he recently has only played on Full Tilt when we've swapped funds around and his balance was under $2 and has been for months. He really prefers Stars to Full Tilt as thats where two of his three WSOP Main Event seats were won and he likes the shoot-out structure Stars offers. Me I have a ton of FPPs on Full Tilt and played pretty much more on Full Tilt (all you bloggers fault) then on stars and was basically sent to the back of the bus by Full Tilt on this. I should get my pants in a whirl and scream bloody hell. So now he is fully reloaded on Full Tilt and ready for WSOP bracelet races and IG is well a bottom feeder :)
Colorado plays the Independence Bowl tonite at 8 PM on ESPN. Go BUFFS GO!!!! I see former Colorado Head Coach Rick Neuheisel is back at the helm of his Alma Mater UCLA after a stint as the Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator. He was a "successful" recruiter at CU and I imagine will do the same for UCLA. Hopefully he'll put the problems that dogged him at CU and Washington (which left my Buffs in a state of shambles and on two years of NCAA probation) behind him and show some maturity. Everyone deserves a second chance right?
Anyway not the reason for my post. The real reason is at 2:30 PM on pokerstars:
Dario Minieri, Adam Junglen, VietCutie (aka the poker pixie Anna Wroblewski), Barry Greenstein, GBmantis, Daniel Alaei (steamraise on pokerstars) and others are playing a winner take all $5000 + $200 Freeze-out. Max 20 entrants
Then Barry and Dario are registered at 16:45 for a high stakes show down $10000 + $300 max 16 entrants.
Not to mention the Sunday Million this week is the quarterly $1050 buy-in currently standing at 457 registered.
As for IG, I did manage to play just weak-tight enough yet, dominate a $2.20 satellite to the Sunday 100k on stars!!!
I was not one of the chosen ones who was given the chance on Full Tilt to demo out echecks. Snake5970 was, which I find funny since he recently has only played on Full Tilt when we've swapped funds around and his balance was under $2 and has been for months. He really prefers Stars to Full Tilt as thats where two of his three WSOP Main Event seats were won and he likes the shoot-out structure Stars offers. Me I have a ton of FPPs on Full Tilt and played pretty much more on Full Tilt (all you bloggers fault) then on stars and was basically sent to the back of the bus by Full Tilt on this. I should get my pants in a whirl and scream bloody hell. So now he is fully reloaded on Full Tilt and ready for WSOP bracelet races and IG is well a bottom feeder :)
Colorado plays the Independence Bowl tonite at 8 PM on ESPN. Go BUFFS GO!!!! I see former Colorado Head Coach Rick Neuheisel is back at the helm of his Alma Mater UCLA after a stint as the Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator. He was a "successful" recruiter at CU and I imagine will do the same for UCLA. Hopefully he'll put the problems that dogged him at CU and Washington (which left my Buffs in a state of shambles and on two years of NCAA probation) behind him and show some maturity. Everyone deserves a second chance right?
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Stop Stop Stop Dont Do IT....
--Overheard in Target:
Older dude talking to 30 something son.
Older dude: Do you think she would wear something like this? (Looking at some kind of creme colored knit sweater coatish thing with a belt)
30 Something Male: UM yes.
Older Dude: How about this one? Takes one off rack that would fit a very large woman
30 Something Male: No that's to big.
Older Dude: Are you sure?
30 Something Male: OMG yes
Note to males rushing around trying to buy last minute presents for loved ones. If you don't know your gals taste in clothes don't buy her clothing. I for one hate Turtlenecks and anything cowlish looking. I have a giraffe neck and I don't want it to look any longer then it is. Besides with my ample chest and swimmers shoulders that style makes me look like a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys. For the record I am a fan of Macys/Bloomingdales INC line. Lots of V necks that accentuate the decolletage and give me my nice granola girl vibe. With a nice pair of jeans and my 3inch knee high Bandolino boots (sorry Change100 I just cant do 4 inches in heels yet). It makes my 5'5" slightly zoftig frame look tres chic and slim.
If you are going to buy clothing go small. It can always be exchanged. If you buy too big the first thing that is going to come into your gals head is: Does he really think I'm that Fawking Huge? Do I need to go on diet? The whole holiday will be shot to hell and you wont get laid because your gal will be thinking about her upcoming New Years Resolution to lose that ten lbs she put on over the last year (even if it is evenly distributed). She wont be thinking of Cosmo's sex Secrets or the Nerve.com's position of the day. Cold showers and rubbing one out, are what will be in store for your boys and company as you ring in the New Year.
Shoes, handbags, perfume and gift certificates for pedicures, manicures, facials are always appreciated. Sexy lingerie is acceptable too if your gal has a playful side but no to a robe or pajamas or slippers for Goodness sakes. That's about as much thought as a tie for your guy. My motto is I reserve the mundane undies for that time of the month and when I am 100% positive I will not be around the male gender. Otherwise its the Vicky's secret sexy lingerie and thongs. VPL is just in bad taste (that is visible panty line). I believe when you wear the sexy lingerie you just feel sexy and not like your grandma. And Ladies never be afraid your bum is too big to wear a thong, V string etc. Your guy isn't going to give too shits when hes behind you getting it on. Your butt actually looks smaller too. Who'd a thunk it.
I'm all about good kitchenware and knives but not all women are. Some women don't think any thought goes into housewares. But if your gal loves to spend time in the kitchen then I for one think those types of gifts are appreciated. I like nice sauces and condiments for finishing off my dishes. And if your gal loves sports how about tickets for two to a game with a dinner. Time spent with your guy or gal is really the best gift you can give.
I of course should have posted this about three weeks ago but better late then never. If you avoid the slippery slope of clothing all together your Christmas will be Merry, cheery and bright. You will avoid THE LOOK. Anyone who has ever opened something they didn't want knows exactly what I am talking about. The look of oh gee thank you with a roll of the eyes and the sigh that isn't exhaled.
And my second belated, long over-due post is up on the Phish and music Blog. If you dig music of any kind check out the recent postings. It is way more then just Phish. I promise you there is something for everyone there.
Older dude talking to 30 something son.
Older dude: Do you think she would wear something like this? (Looking at some kind of creme colored knit sweater coatish thing with a belt)
30 Something Male: UM yes.
Older Dude: How about this one? Takes one off rack that would fit a very large woman
30 Something Male: No that's to big.
Older Dude: Are you sure?
30 Something Male: OMG yes
Note to males rushing around trying to buy last minute presents for loved ones. If you don't know your gals taste in clothes don't buy her clothing. I for one hate Turtlenecks and anything cowlish looking. I have a giraffe neck and I don't want it to look any longer then it is. Besides with my ample chest and swimmers shoulders that style makes me look like a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys. For the record I am a fan of Macys/Bloomingdales INC line. Lots of V necks that accentuate the decolletage and give me my nice granola girl vibe. With a nice pair of jeans and my 3inch knee high Bandolino boots (sorry Change100 I just cant do 4 inches in heels yet). It makes my 5'5" slightly zoftig frame look tres chic and slim.
If you are going to buy clothing go small. It can always be exchanged. If you buy too big the first thing that is going to come into your gals head is: Does he really think I'm that Fawking Huge? Do I need to go on diet? The whole holiday will be shot to hell and you wont get laid because your gal will be thinking about her upcoming New Years Resolution to lose that ten lbs she put on over the last year (even if it is evenly distributed). She wont be thinking of Cosmo's sex Secrets or the Nerve.com's position of the day. Cold showers and rubbing one out, are what will be in store for your boys and company as you ring in the New Year.
Shoes, handbags, perfume and gift certificates for pedicures, manicures, facials are always appreciated. Sexy lingerie is acceptable too if your gal has a playful side but no to a robe or pajamas or slippers for Goodness sakes. That's about as much thought as a tie for your guy. My motto is I reserve the mundane undies for that time of the month and when I am 100% positive I will not be around the male gender. Otherwise its the Vicky's secret sexy lingerie and thongs. VPL is just in bad taste (that is visible panty line). I believe when you wear the sexy lingerie you just feel sexy and not like your grandma. And Ladies never be afraid your bum is too big to wear a thong, V string etc. Your guy isn't going to give too shits when hes behind you getting it on. Your butt actually looks smaller too. Who'd a thunk it.
I'm all about good kitchenware and knives but not all women are. Some women don't think any thought goes into housewares. But if your gal loves to spend time in the kitchen then I for one think those types of gifts are appreciated. I like nice sauces and condiments for finishing off my dishes. And if your gal loves sports how about tickets for two to a game with a dinner. Time spent with your guy or gal is really the best gift you can give.
I of course should have posted this about three weeks ago but better late then never. If you avoid the slippery slope of clothing all together your Christmas will be Merry, cheery and bright. You will avoid THE LOOK. Anyone who has ever opened something they didn't want knows exactly what I am talking about. The look of oh gee thank you with a roll of the eyes and the sigh that isn't exhaled.
And my second belated, long over-due post is up on the Phish and music Blog. If you dig music of any kind check out the recent postings. It is way more then just Phish. I promise you there is something for everyone there.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Blogger Agita
I am not even going to begin to comment about the blog posts and comments I read yesterday. Okay maybe a little. All of them have valid points, the poker related ones at least. The ones that dont aren't Poker related. And became down right mean-spirited.
I dont base my like or dislike of someone based on what someone else tells me someone else has said or done. I base it on my personal experience with the person. That being said understand Why I may choose to cultivate or continue a friendship albeit one based purely on a mutual interest in poker with people you may have a bone to pick with now, in the past or in the future. This applies to all the major players in the brou-ha-ha that has erupted. Dont expect me to take sides. For Criminey's sake Im a Libra and can see both sides of situations.
Im going to share with you words of wisdom cultivated a long time ago and which I dont think any of us will truly master:
RESTRAINT OF TONGUE AND PEN
Or the short version: If you havent got something nice to say, say nothing at all.
Its a silly game of cards people, Not a quest for world domination.
I dont base my like or dislike of someone based on what someone else tells me someone else has said or done. I base it on my personal experience with the person. That being said understand Why I may choose to cultivate or continue a friendship albeit one based purely on a mutual interest in poker with people you may have a bone to pick with now, in the past or in the future. This applies to all the major players in the brou-ha-ha that has erupted. Dont expect me to take sides. For Criminey's sake Im a Libra and can see both sides of situations.
Im going to share with you words of wisdom cultivated a long time ago and which I dont think any of us will truly master:
RESTRAINT OF TONGUE AND PEN
Or the short version: If you havent got something nice to say, say nothing at all.
Its a silly game of cards people, Not a quest for world domination.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Congrats to all the BBT Deucers & Belated Foxwoods Trip Report
Congrats to Fuel55 and Julius Goat for writing their way in. Clearly they were my two favorites. Fuel visualized a winning performance and his nice score live in Vancouver showed that if you think it, feel it, believe it, things come to fruition. To Astin congrats on your win last night. Officially, you are off the schneid. No one can call you a bridesmaid now and I think you played pretty darn consistent throughout the entire BBT. You may have a horseshoe up your butt but winning one of these is alot more then getting good cards as you well know. Congrats to Chad for his seat too. Chad has helped me alot with my game since I've come to know him. Unfortunately, neither he nor Don have been able to help me avoid the riverbeats.
And what about little ole IG? I missed the first couple events as I had to reload back onto Full Tilt after my two plus month self-imposed exile. I performed way better in BBT II then I did overall in I but I still fell short of the ultimate prize a TOC seat. On at least 5 occasions I got my money in with the best hand and lost to 2 and three outers on either the turn or river. Had any of those hands held up I would have been a dominating chip leader and hopefully could have ridden a wave to a seat. Chad, Julius Goat, AlCantHang, Astin, MiamiDon, LJ, Mookie, Snake all witnessed the unbelievable drubbings I took. Chad coined my the Queen of the riverbeatings.
I mentioned to Don last nite in chat that in perspective, I dont play half as many games as alot of you folks. If I played five to eight tourneys a day instead of maybe 4-5 a week Id probably see myself at a lot more final tables and it wouldnt seem like Im always going down to the felt with the best hand and getting the shit kicked out of me. As it is the big scores are spaced further apart since I just dont play as much. My primary goal in life is to make sure all my bills are paid and I put away money for my retirement (positive EV). I dont have as much expendable income as I used too since overtime dried up.
Back at the end of October interspersed with concerts and taking my dad in for his hernia surgery Snake and I traipsed off to Foxwoods during the World Poker Finals. Both of us had high expectations for ourselves. Originally he was going to partially stake me. Then we decided to just swap action in each other. I went to bat first on Saturday AM. We had played our live league Friday nite. Rather then drive to Foxwoods after our game from up his way which would have been a four hour drive in rain we opted to stay at Casa IG and get up at 4:50 AM and make the trek in the morning. We made it to Foxwoods in about three hours flat even with the rain and fog on the Mass Pike. We dropped our bags off at the Two Trees Inn as we couldnt check in till later and then took the shuttle over to the Poker Room to register.
I went to bat at 10AM after not sleeping much the night before. 214 woman ponied up $600 each. Originally this was supposed to be a Ladies Professional Poker Assn ranking event and Im not sure if it was as it was never mentioned. That was the reason for the bigger buy-in. Numbers were way down compared to the Spring event which was a $300 buyin and had over 600 Ladies. I opted to go with my sunglasses which are prescription bifocals rather then my contacts since I wasn't sure my eyes would or could stay open. Snake said he'd stay and rail me until I took down my first pot. I took down my first pot on the second hand when I called a min raise and a call with KQs and Cbetted the flop with nothing after it was checked to me. Snake headed off to the WPT poker room and I got down to business. I soon had worked my way up to a nice healthy stack. My table was largely passive and when I reraised on the flop turn or river in position it was largely folded to me. I probably played a few too many hands trying to see cheap flops with connectors and of course when I open raised to $550 with AKos and got three callers I wound up giving back a little of my stack.
Snake came and checked in on me from time to time. I was cellphone less at the time so he had to make the trek from the WPT poker room to the Great Cedars ballroom where the WPF events were being held. He is a true Sherpa. I was more then holding my own and when the antes kicked in I was able to move with them (what I failed to do at the spring event) but was below average stack most of the time and just couldnt get the calls I needed on my strong hands. I would open push with AJ fold, then Id limp and try the check raise and it would be fold fold fold. I did get lucky on one hand before the dinner break when I doubled up on an all in and that kept me alive. There was a three hour wait for $1/$2 tables in the poker room so Snake opted for some SNGs. He was down two buyins when we reconnected at dinner. I couldnt find him in the sea of humanity of the WPT pokerroom which was busier then Grand Central station on a Saturday night after two passes. Turns out he was up in Skylight where I was seated in the Spring. I grabbed a sandwich and hunkered down outside the Ballroom as they locked it off for the dinner break. He found me shortly after and was not at all surprised I was still alive. We went to dinner with about 45left. Twenty were to pay.
Snake said goodbye again a few hands in, off to play another SNG. It seemed like it took an eternity for us to lose players as we started getting closer to the money spots. My table broke and I got moved to a table with some big stacks. I failed to get action on my AA when I just did a standard 3X raise. I took down a huge pot when I called a minraise with three others in the hand out of the BB with 45c when i was pretty short. The flop came two fours but the flop was suited so I had to bet it. Fold FOld Fold FOld. UGh. I knocked out two people from the BB when the other ladies couldnt even post the antes and blinds in full and it folded around to me. This got me my blinds back, the antes and their scraps. That is how passive this game was. Finally I could wait no longer. I forgot my exit hand but I think I ran KJ on a jam into a bigger hand like AK or something. Out 33rd.
No walk of shame I played as best as I could without real premium cards. I just never got that one key double up hand I needed late in the game. When I raised with AA one gal who had been chip leader and had taken a drubbing folded AK or AQ face up with a "I cant play this now," she was playing scared. I headed back to the WPT room. Snake looked up and saw me coming down the stairs he was for sure I had hit pay dirt by now. He told me later he kept looking for me to appear and when I didnt show he would breathe a sigh of relief. He had just chopped a SNG for first.
Both of us were starved so we headed back to the hotel and got ready for a late dinner. It was Breeders Cup weekend and Snake is a horseplayer plus it was World Series Weekend and Football would be on tomorrow. He had his exotic wagers picked but he had decided not to hit the Racebook. Had he done so two of his exactas would have paid off handsomely. We wound up just having dinner in the Two Trees Inn restaurant. They were getting ready to close so literally we had most of the dining room to ourselves and it was a belated birthday dinner for me. On our way to dinner we both started cracking up because someone was doing major bong hits and the hallway reeked of weed. When we rounded the corner the hotel security who already had smelled it looked at us and teased us about being the cause of the smoke since we were laughing.
Back in the room we watched the Red Sox dominate but we fell asleep before the end of the game. Neither of us bothered to set the alarm. His tourney the $600 shoot-out started at 10AM the next day. When we both woke up at about 8:30 we both scrambled to get ready. I threw my contacts into my bag and we raced over to get him seated. Breakfast would have to wait. All Snake had to do was finish top three at his table of ten (or 9) and he moved on to the finals at 4 PM. Depending on how well he did we were either staying another nite or heading home. It was dicey at times but Snake made a major reraise steal to secure enough chips 4 handed that his place in the finals was assured. We went and had lunch at Hard Rock it was my treat this time since it was his day. We hung out at Hard Rock and watched the games, listened to tunes and chatted. We then headed back over and the Ladies event final table was underway. A local gal from the card club I play tourneys at wound up taking it down to the tune of just about $36k.
As Snake and I are walking to his table for the finals Im walking along side another dude who looks really familiar but whom I cant place. I read the back of his jacket which strikes me as music related (not a band name though). Damn I cant place him. Im seated right behind Snake who is in the one or two seat. The dude who I cant place is seated at the next table in the 8. Snake looks back at me and says IG......Points..... SULLY ERNA..Of course Im pissed I couldnt figure it out and Snake pwned me on that one.. Now we all know I am not a metal person. Im a jam bander but I do know Sully is the lead of GodSmack, but I recognized him from his appearance and cash in this years Main Event. We also saw Bernard Lee, Raj Patel etc etc. The big dawgs were heading into town.
A pair of misplayed Kings sealed an early exit for Snake about level III of the final. He placed well in the field about 113th or so out of 600 plus with 40 some paying but was disappointed in himself. We drove back to Clifton Park, checked the Breeders Cup results on my computer, the football scores for my picks and watched the Red Sox win the World Series in a sweep. I immediately wanted to head back for another tourney fix. It was also pretty amazing that an Alpha Male and Alpha Female who compete with each other at everything (mostly in fun) could get along without getting annoyed with each other at some point during the weekend. It was a great belated birthday weekend.
That was my long awaited trip report. I learned alot watching the Ladies final table on what not to do if you want to win a major tourney. Like overplay pocket dueces (all-in) multiway (should have been folded). Leslie the gal from my local tourney room, who won the Ladies event played pretty patient poker and was rewarded. She had actually just been out to Vegas during the Casaer's Poker Classic and had been involved in a 4 way chop to the tune of $5k or so there. She plays 4 times a week in the local tourneys that are run and has been playing a lot longer then I.
So that is my belated Foxwoods trip report. In a few months the Spring Event will be held (like 3) and we are less then 6 months away from the start of the 2008 WSOP.
And with that I bid you Goodnite
And what about little ole IG? I missed the first couple events as I had to reload back onto Full Tilt after my two plus month self-imposed exile. I performed way better in BBT II then I did overall in I but I still fell short of the ultimate prize a TOC seat. On at least 5 occasions I got my money in with the best hand and lost to 2 and three outers on either the turn or river. Had any of those hands held up I would have been a dominating chip leader and hopefully could have ridden a wave to a seat. Chad, Julius Goat, AlCantHang, Astin, MiamiDon, LJ, Mookie, Snake all witnessed the unbelievable drubbings I took. Chad coined my the Queen of the riverbeatings.
I mentioned to Don last nite in chat that in perspective, I dont play half as many games as alot of you folks. If I played five to eight tourneys a day instead of maybe 4-5 a week Id probably see myself at a lot more final tables and it wouldnt seem like Im always going down to the felt with the best hand and getting the shit kicked out of me. As it is the big scores are spaced further apart since I just dont play as much. My primary goal in life is to make sure all my bills are paid and I put away money for my retirement (positive EV). I dont have as much expendable income as I used too since overtime dried up.
Back at the end of October interspersed with concerts and taking my dad in for his hernia surgery Snake and I traipsed off to Foxwoods during the World Poker Finals. Both of us had high expectations for ourselves. Originally he was going to partially stake me. Then we decided to just swap action in each other. I went to bat first on Saturday AM. We had played our live league Friday nite. Rather then drive to Foxwoods after our game from up his way which would have been a four hour drive in rain we opted to stay at Casa IG and get up at 4:50 AM and make the trek in the morning. We made it to Foxwoods in about three hours flat even with the rain and fog on the Mass Pike. We dropped our bags off at the Two Trees Inn as we couldnt check in till later and then took the shuttle over to the Poker Room to register.
I went to bat at 10AM after not sleeping much the night before. 214 woman ponied up $600 each. Originally this was supposed to be a Ladies Professional Poker Assn ranking event and Im not sure if it was as it was never mentioned. That was the reason for the bigger buy-in. Numbers were way down compared to the Spring event which was a $300 buyin and had over 600 Ladies. I opted to go with my sunglasses which are prescription bifocals rather then my contacts since I wasn't sure my eyes would or could stay open. Snake said he'd stay and rail me until I took down my first pot. I took down my first pot on the second hand when I called a min raise and a call with KQs and Cbetted the flop with nothing after it was checked to me. Snake headed off to the WPT poker room and I got down to business. I soon had worked my way up to a nice healthy stack. My table was largely passive and when I reraised on the flop turn or river in position it was largely folded to me. I probably played a few too many hands trying to see cheap flops with connectors and of course when I open raised to $550 with AKos and got three callers I wound up giving back a little of my stack.
Snake came and checked in on me from time to time. I was cellphone less at the time so he had to make the trek from the WPT poker room to the Great Cedars ballroom where the WPF events were being held. He is a true Sherpa. I was more then holding my own and when the antes kicked in I was able to move with them (what I failed to do at the spring event) but was below average stack most of the time and just couldnt get the calls I needed on my strong hands. I would open push with AJ fold, then Id limp and try the check raise and it would be fold fold fold. I did get lucky on one hand before the dinner break when I doubled up on an all in and that kept me alive. There was a three hour wait for $1/$2 tables in the poker room so Snake opted for some SNGs. He was down two buyins when we reconnected at dinner. I couldnt find him in the sea of humanity of the WPT pokerroom which was busier then Grand Central station on a Saturday night after two passes. Turns out he was up in Skylight where I was seated in the Spring. I grabbed a sandwich and hunkered down outside the Ballroom as they locked it off for the dinner break. He found me shortly after and was not at all surprised I was still alive. We went to dinner with about 45left. Twenty were to pay.
Snake said goodbye again a few hands in, off to play another SNG. It seemed like it took an eternity for us to lose players as we started getting closer to the money spots. My table broke and I got moved to a table with some big stacks. I failed to get action on my AA when I just did a standard 3X raise. I took down a huge pot when I called a minraise with three others in the hand out of the BB with 45c when i was pretty short. The flop came two fours but the flop was suited so I had to bet it. Fold FOld Fold FOld. UGh. I knocked out two people from the BB when the other ladies couldnt even post the antes and blinds in full and it folded around to me. This got me my blinds back, the antes and their scraps. That is how passive this game was. Finally I could wait no longer. I forgot my exit hand but I think I ran KJ on a jam into a bigger hand like AK or something. Out 33rd.
No walk of shame I played as best as I could without real premium cards. I just never got that one key double up hand I needed late in the game. When I raised with AA one gal who had been chip leader and had taken a drubbing folded AK or AQ face up with a "I cant play this now," she was playing scared. I headed back to the WPT room. Snake looked up and saw me coming down the stairs he was for sure I had hit pay dirt by now. He told me later he kept looking for me to appear and when I didnt show he would breathe a sigh of relief. He had just chopped a SNG for first.
Both of us were starved so we headed back to the hotel and got ready for a late dinner. It was Breeders Cup weekend and Snake is a horseplayer plus it was World Series Weekend and Football would be on tomorrow. He had his exotic wagers picked but he had decided not to hit the Racebook. Had he done so two of his exactas would have paid off handsomely. We wound up just having dinner in the Two Trees Inn restaurant. They were getting ready to close so literally we had most of the dining room to ourselves and it was a belated birthday dinner for me. On our way to dinner we both started cracking up because someone was doing major bong hits and the hallway reeked of weed. When we rounded the corner the hotel security who already had smelled it looked at us and teased us about being the cause of the smoke since we were laughing.
Back in the room we watched the Red Sox dominate but we fell asleep before the end of the game. Neither of us bothered to set the alarm. His tourney the $600 shoot-out started at 10AM the next day. When we both woke up at about 8:30 we both scrambled to get ready. I threw my contacts into my bag and we raced over to get him seated. Breakfast would have to wait. All Snake had to do was finish top three at his table of ten (or 9) and he moved on to the finals at 4 PM. Depending on how well he did we were either staying another nite or heading home. It was dicey at times but Snake made a major reraise steal to secure enough chips 4 handed that his place in the finals was assured. We went and had lunch at Hard Rock it was my treat this time since it was his day. We hung out at Hard Rock and watched the games, listened to tunes and chatted. We then headed back over and the Ladies event final table was underway. A local gal from the card club I play tourneys at wound up taking it down to the tune of just about $36k.
As Snake and I are walking to his table for the finals Im walking along side another dude who looks really familiar but whom I cant place. I read the back of his jacket which strikes me as music related (not a band name though). Damn I cant place him. Im seated right behind Snake who is in the one or two seat. The dude who I cant place is seated at the next table in the 8. Snake looks back at me and says IG......Points..... SULLY ERNA..Of course Im pissed I couldnt figure it out and Snake pwned me on that one.. Now we all know I am not a metal person. Im a jam bander but I do know Sully is the lead of GodSmack, but I recognized him from his appearance and cash in this years Main Event. We also saw Bernard Lee, Raj Patel etc etc. The big dawgs were heading into town.
A pair of misplayed Kings sealed an early exit for Snake about level III of the final. He placed well in the field about 113th or so out of 600 plus with 40 some paying but was disappointed in himself. We drove back to Clifton Park, checked the Breeders Cup results on my computer, the football scores for my picks and watched the Red Sox win the World Series in a sweep. I immediately wanted to head back for another tourney fix. It was also pretty amazing that an Alpha Male and Alpha Female who compete with each other at everything (mostly in fun) could get along without getting annoyed with each other at some point during the weekend. It was a great belated birthday weekend.
That was my long awaited trip report. I learned alot watching the Ladies final table on what not to do if you want to win a major tourney. Like overplay pocket dueces (all-in) multiway (should have been folded). Leslie the gal from my local tourney room, who won the Ladies event played pretty patient poker and was rewarded. She had actually just been out to Vegas during the Casaer's Poker Classic and had been involved in a 4 way chop to the tune of $5k or so there. She plays 4 times a week in the local tourneys that are run and has been playing a lot longer then I.
So that is my belated Foxwoods trip report. In a few months the Spring Event will be held (like 3) and we are less then 6 months away from the start of the 2008 WSOP.
And with that I bid you Goodnite
Friday, December 14, 2007
Give Me Five.... Im Still Alive
Yes BamBam I'm still alive and A OK. I missed the Winter Blogger gathering but am enjoying reading the trip reports. I'm heading out the door in a few to play my live league where I slipped to third place on an early exit.. Make that Hellmuthian exit and a MiamiDon tirade. IG was not Ms Congeniality last week. IG was kick over the table pissed off. Snake even mentioned I was on bad behavior.
First I get seated with Stormin Norman who Ive griped about before. I actually don't really mind playing Norm now that I'm used to him and he has actually grown on me. I loathed him at first and found his attention annoying. Hes actually an okay old guy compared to a few other cretins who show up once in a full moon. I was also rewarded with a player I will call Donkey Dave. Not only did Dave hold up the game chewing on pizza (piece after piece after piece) and not paying attention the action in front of me. He got up when it was his turn to deal. After he stuffed his face with pizza he asked if he could go smoke. Zoe said you should wait till the deal passes you. Nope he gets up on his BB. I had the deal and I insta folded him with a bellow of "I'm not fawking around, I'm running this hand" Josh muttered "I hope he doesn't come back!!" and I ditto'd it. Yes he was a noob but, I repeatedly had to say you can raise, fold or call. We had to tell him what the blinds were, what the chip demonination was (even though its on the chips) and then he commmitted the ultimate of sins. He string raised with "I see your $200 and I raise you.....$XXXX". At that point Linda Blair in the Exorcist emerged and my head rotated three times as I hissed.... "that's a string bet you can't call the bet and then reach back for more chips". Karen who was involved in the hand thanked me for saving her $$$. I don't think anyone else had the cajones to say it at my table.
Mind you all this went down after Snake5970 had read over some of our league rules as a reminder before the nights action began. There had been flagrant violations of One player to a hand. People were inducing others to make calls..... "You have to call based on pot odds". If your too fucking clueless to figure that out yourself you shouldn't be helped by someone else at the table. "Ill check it down if you do" when someone was all in and there was multi way action. We all know implicit collusion goes on when a shortie is all in you just cant state it at the table.
Anyway... Blinds at $75/$150... Two limpers. I raise to $800 with QQ. And get the big stack Juddy (any pair or paint looks good) and Donkey Dave with a statement of its only chips right? Right then I knew this was going to be bad. Flop came all babies with two spades. I push in my last $2000 and Dave calls with K9spades. Of course the King hits and I explode. I grab my stuff and fly over to Snake's table where Steve who inflicted a bad beat on me two weeks prior asks me what had happened and I roar... "I just got stacked by a fucking Noob Donkey and dont want to talk about it." Yes the man was about ten feet away but I could have cared less.
I bid a hasty retreat and came home and fired up the donkament and a Bounty SNG. Snake rang me up after his exit and some time spent donking it up at the cash game and asked if I was okay to be playing after what had happened. For some reason he was able to calm me down and get my mind off what had transpired a few hours prior. When I donked off my huge stack in the donkament shortly after the break I could have cared less.
Forget the Fedora, the IPOD, the low cut blouse, Im a gal on a mission tonite.
And if you havent read it yet head over to MiamiDon's blog and read his recent post titled: The Slumpbuster.
First I get seated with Stormin Norman who Ive griped about before. I actually don't really mind playing Norm now that I'm used to him and he has actually grown on me. I loathed him at first and found his attention annoying. Hes actually an okay old guy compared to a few other cretins who show up once in a full moon. I was also rewarded with a player I will call Donkey Dave. Not only did Dave hold up the game chewing on pizza (piece after piece after piece) and not paying attention the action in front of me. He got up when it was his turn to deal. After he stuffed his face with pizza he asked if he could go smoke. Zoe said you should wait till the deal passes you. Nope he gets up on his BB. I had the deal and I insta folded him with a bellow of "I'm not fawking around, I'm running this hand" Josh muttered "I hope he doesn't come back!!" and I ditto'd it. Yes he was a noob but, I repeatedly had to say you can raise, fold or call. We had to tell him what the blinds were, what the chip demonination was (even though its on the chips) and then he commmitted the ultimate of sins. He string raised with "I see your $200 and I raise you.....$XXXX". At that point Linda Blair in the Exorcist emerged and my head rotated three times as I hissed.... "that's a string bet you can't call the bet and then reach back for more chips". Karen who was involved in the hand thanked me for saving her $$$. I don't think anyone else had the cajones to say it at my table.
Mind you all this went down after Snake5970 had read over some of our league rules as a reminder before the nights action began. There had been flagrant violations of One player to a hand. People were inducing others to make calls..... "You have to call based on pot odds". If your too fucking clueless to figure that out yourself you shouldn't be helped by someone else at the table. "Ill check it down if you do" when someone was all in and there was multi way action. We all know implicit collusion goes on when a shortie is all in you just cant state it at the table.
Anyway... Blinds at $75/$150... Two limpers. I raise to $800 with QQ. And get the big stack Juddy (any pair or paint looks good) and Donkey Dave with a statement of its only chips right? Right then I knew this was going to be bad. Flop came all babies with two spades. I push in my last $2000 and Dave calls with K9spades. Of course the King hits and I explode. I grab my stuff and fly over to Snake's table where Steve who inflicted a bad beat on me two weeks prior asks me what had happened and I roar... "I just got stacked by a fucking Noob Donkey and dont want to talk about it." Yes the man was about ten feet away but I could have cared less.
I bid a hasty retreat and came home and fired up the donkament and a Bounty SNG. Snake rang me up after his exit and some time spent donking it up at the cash game and asked if I was okay to be playing after what had happened. For some reason he was able to calm me down and get my mind off what had transpired a few hours prior. When I donked off my huge stack in the donkament shortly after the break I could have cared less.
Forget the Fedora, the IPOD, the low cut blouse, Im a gal on a mission tonite.
And if you havent read it yet head over to MiamiDon's blog and read his recent post titled: The Slumpbuster.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Weekend Update
Just a quick late Sunday Post while on the second break from the Full Tilt 24k where I am holding my own at T8845 and I haven't seen a pocket pair bigger then the IG (99 for those of you under a rock) which I folded to a reraise. I made a huge call with AK vs AT or AJ on a board of AQQ which was after another KOD call on my big blind where the dude bluffed off all his chips to me. He raised out of the sb with A5os to $600 I called with Q9 as It was only $400 and I wasn't going to let him bully me as he had been donking it up big time. Sure enough I hit top pair. I fire He reraises all in. I figured him for Ace rag with no piece of board and I was right.
I did move back into first place for the APL with final table 8 of ten tourneys. I'm at 300 points halfway thru... 200 more with 15 tourneys left gets me the coveted 10k in starting chips in the final which I plan on being in!! Snake backslid this week. After wounding a deer (#4) and chasing it around in brush and cold on Friday he looked like he was about to fall asleep at the table.
We did have some fun this weekend. He did my football picks and is at 10-4 with Pittsburgh and New England his final two picks. I played the Sunday Million for him and finished 1193/6881 with 1080 paying. After hunting Friday and helping his best friend on his Xmas tree farm Saturday and Sunday I got my shot at my first Sunday million. I doubled up within the first hour and then I took a beating on this hand: I look down to KK in the BB.... There is a min-raise and a call and a raise to $3600. I have them all covered. I figure isolate at least one of these players, and I wasn't worried about AA. I figured someone or two had AK and that most of the aces were out.. Sure enough the min raise and caller fold like cheap tents, when I put everyone all in. I get the call from the re-raiser and he does in fact have AK... GOOT Flop, GOOT turn. River is the gut wrenching, kicked in the junk, bent over and fawked up the bum Ace. I did manage to scratch my way back all the way to a respectable finish but once again a heart breaking river card for me.
Made the money in the 24k guarantee without a monster pair and a few timely steals. I'm pretty short now and folding my BB to a three way all in. I just folded my KT sb to an all in and a call and im toast soon. All in open shove AJ against Lynette Chan in the BB who calls with T2 and doubles me up!!! Back in a little business.
I did move back into first place for the APL with final table 8 of ten tourneys. I'm at 300 points halfway thru... 200 more with 15 tourneys left gets me the coveted 10k in starting chips in the final which I plan on being in!! Snake backslid this week. After wounding a deer (#4) and chasing it around in brush and cold on Friday he looked like he was about to fall asleep at the table.
We did have some fun this weekend. He did my football picks and is at 10-4 with Pittsburgh and New England his final two picks. I played the Sunday Million for him and finished 1193/6881 with 1080 paying. After hunting Friday and helping his best friend on his Xmas tree farm Saturday and Sunday I got my shot at my first Sunday million. I doubled up within the first hour and then I took a beating on this hand: I look down to KK in the BB.... There is a min-raise and a call and a raise to $3600. I have them all covered. I figure isolate at least one of these players, and I wasn't worried about AA. I figured someone or two had AK and that most of the aces were out.. Sure enough the min raise and caller fold like cheap tents, when I put everyone all in. I get the call from the re-raiser and he does in fact have AK... GOOT Flop, GOOT turn. River is the gut wrenching, kicked in the junk, bent over and fawked up the bum Ace. I did manage to scratch my way back all the way to a respectable finish but once again a heart breaking river card for me.
Made the money in the 24k guarantee without a monster pair and a few timely steals. I'm pretty short now and folding my BB to a three way all in. I just folded my KT sb to an all in and a call and im toast soon. All in open shove AJ against Lynette Chan in the BB who calls with T2 and doubles me up!!! Back in a little business.
Friday, November 30, 2007
ENNUI
Yup its a fancy word for boredom. ON-line poker has driven me to it. Ive mentioned it to Snake and to MiamiDon. Im playing just fine but my full attention is not on my tablemates or the job at hand. Im browzing the internet, playing laser light with Bailey, vacuuming between hands, doing the dishes. Yawn Yawn.
Uber post to follow I promise Bam Bam. Off to play live where I slipped out of first place (just barely and probably not really since we can throw away 5 scores) with my first early out last week. First one of the subs called my preflop raise of ($350 blinds were $50/$100 I was UTG) with 68os and flopped quads and shellacked me when I boated up on the Turn which left me with half my starting chips. And I just cant wait to trap the dude who wont lay down QT to my all-in squeeze with JJ who rivered a third T on me last week because he thought I had AK or KJ. Do you call off half your stack with QT if you think your opponent has KJ or AK? Most of you folks wouldnt but thats what I play against. I couldnt even bare to stay around to have a drink on Snake who is officially retired as of last week at 44 after 25 years with the NYS Dept of Corrections. He finally got the MOJO working and had his best finish of the season with a second place finish. I refuse to relinquish my place as Queen Bee though he knows I like my view from the Top :)
My mantra for this evening: Wear an IPOD and position, position, position. Oh and wear my Fedora.
Uber post to follow I promise Bam Bam. Off to play live where I slipped out of first place (just barely and probably not really since we can throw away 5 scores) with my first early out last week. First one of the subs called my preflop raise of ($350 blinds were $50/$100 I was UTG) with 68os and flopped quads and shellacked me when I boated up on the Turn which left me with half my starting chips. And I just cant wait to trap the dude who wont lay down QT to my all-in squeeze with JJ who rivered a third T on me last week because he thought I had AK or KJ. Do you call off half your stack with QT if you think your opponent has KJ or AK? Most of you folks wouldnt but thats what I play against. I couldnt even bare to stay around to have a drink on Snake who is officially retired as of last week at 44 after 25 years with the NYS Dept of Corrections. He finally got the MOJO working and had his best finish of the season with a second place finish. I refuse to relinquish my place as Queen Bee though he knows I like my view from the Top :)
My mantra for this evening: Wear an IPOD and position, position, position. Oh and wear my Fedora.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours
IG'S Turkey Day Menu:
Shrimp Cocktail for Appetizer
Herb and Mustard Turkey with Green Onion Gravy (Recipe courtesy Bon Appetit)
Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes with roasted shallots
Grandma Pulver's Stuffing
Louisiana Praline Yams
Creamed Onions
Green Bean Casserole ( moms contribution)
Homemade Cranberry Relish
Parker House Rolls ( didnt make them but would have if I had the time)
Apple something or other. My mom cheated and didnt make Grannys Apple Crisp as I asked.
One Peppermint Mocha on the Way.
I had all sorts of other little dishes I wanted to make ala dessert and quick breads but I ran out of time. I am quite the accomplished little chef when I get rolling and enjoy my time spent in the kitchen. My knife skills are a little rusty but came back pretty quick. Now if I can get Snake to hook me up with a nice saddle of venison or tenderloin from his deer take which stood at two as of Tuesday nite, I can show my skills with game. (His dads venison pepperoni and Jerky which I snacked on at Foxwoods is very good. Ive been salivating ever since the Top Chef Contestants used Elk in a Challenge.
Shrimp Cocktail for Appetizer
Herb and Mustard Turkey with Green Onion Gravy (Recipe courtesy Bon Appetit)
Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes with roasted shallots
Grandma Pulver's Stuffing
Louisiana Praline Yams
Creamed Onions
Green Bean Casserole ( moms contribution)
Homemade Cranberry Relish
Parker House Rolls ( didnt make them but would have if I had the time)
Apple something or other. My mom cheated and didnt make Grannys Apple Crisp as I asked.
One Peppermint Mocha on the Way.
I had all sorts of other little dishes I wanted to make ala dessert and quick breads but I ran out of time. I am quite the accomplished little chef when I get rolling and enjoy my time spent in the kitchen. My knife skills are a little rusty but came back pretty quick. Now if I can get Snake to hook me up with a nice saddle of venison or tenderloin from his deer take which stood at two as of Tuesday nite, I can show my skills with game. (His dads venison pepperoni and Jerky which I snacked on at Foxwoods is very good. Ive been salivating ever since the Top Chef Contestants used Elk in a Challenge.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Cry Me a River - Part III
Merde Merde Merde!! (French for shit)
I'm pretty sure I moved into 1st place in my live league with my fourth place finish last nite. I only was out of first by a few points and Wild Bill aka Pappy didn't make it to the Final table. Neither did Lex one of my closest competitors, Zoe had a sub who did have a final table finish but it was behind me and shes another of my closest competitors. I've only missed the final table once (last week) and we can drop our lowest 5 scores in the 25 week season. Still along way to go as we are only 1/3 of the way thru it.
I made a brilliant laydown after a questionable feeler bet on a 3 heart KQJ board which two paired my KQos. I bet $1200. Got a call from Norm who should be nicknamed Craphandhere, Zack pushed all in. I thought about calling. He likes his connectors but I didn't think he had the flush and I didn't think he had flopped an offsuit Broadway or K high straight with 9Tos, as I believe he checked his option in the BB when I limped. I looked him square in the eye and asked him how big his flush was. He was out of his seat and said "Pretty big" but when he broke eye contact with me and immediately sat down I knew I had him. But Norm was left to act... He will play any paint card, ace rag etc. Haven't figured out if he knows what the hell hes doing and is smarter then he appears or if is just a country bumpkin who gets lucky. He is the king of the limp and min-raise. He is so slow he irritates me and I go into Alpha Bitch mode. I should be nice to him as he kind of fawns on me and told me he wants me to wear my Hounds tooth Fedora again. And hes paid me off. But I tend not to play that game with men I find annoying as hell. Anyway I knew Craphandhere was yet to act. He had both Zack and I out chipped so I laid it down. Pissed at myself for betting into a heart board. Anyway Norm makes the call with one heart the Ace and a 5 and no piece of the board and rivers a heart to bust Zack who had KQos too. Twin brother, Van applauded my astute deduction that I would be sucked out on. Silo thought I was crazy for leading out into a flush board but I needed to see where I stood with my two pair.
Anyway I got no action on my big hands ever (AA once and KK twice) I started jamming limpers on my blind once we were down to 6. Tracy was down to her last $200 and was all in on her sb without even being able to post it in full and managed to get doubled up by the others at the table (not I). HEE HAW. Anyway she wound up winning some hands to move in front of me by about $2000 chips. I jammed into her BB with QJos from the button 4 way after Doug folded.. Fold from Steve. Tracy who was stone cold sober last nite thinks and thinks and thinks (she takes forever when shes loopy too!!) . I go into a trance sitting as still as a stone... She says.. Screw it I call. A7 with at least one diamond maybe two. Flop puts out another diamond or two but gives me a Jack with a ten and a blank.. Ive got top pair... turn Q of diamonds so she has a four flush and I two pair. Silo states Lori has to dodge a diamond or a K and she doubles thru (and Tracy would have been left with about $2000) but the diamond comes and I go out feeling so frustrated I wanted to kick over the table. I just stood there in disbelief once again.
Snake had left after the cash game wound down as he to be up early for the start of Rifle/Muzzle season here in lovely Upstate NY. He missed my exit but wanted me to email him with my results. I was going to cell phone him this AM but reception in the Cambridge area is crappy sometimes if not all the time. (Ive chatted with him before on the cell when hes been hunkered down in a tree stand). Doug had us cracking up when he jumped up out of his seat and like a kid in a candy store said to Norm after Norm busted 6th..." Norm pick me up in a few hours its Guns in the Southern Zone and I can shoot anything".
Anyway looks like I'll miss the big game.... I cant move money from stars onto Full tilt thru epassporte since I used Neteller and Western Union to deposit onto stars and they only let you cash out thru check or how you deposited (and we know Neteller isn't available). Snake tried to earn me a token Friday and missed. I offered to help my dad (who is recovering from his hernia surgery nicely but sorely) rake leaves and gets some bags of rock salt and probably wont be able to move after that. I only have about $45 left on Full Tilt ( I only moved $112 from Absolute and two noncashes in the Hoy and failed token attempts have taken their toll) and will have to wait till I can reload out of my checking account onto Epassporte which takes 10 days. Ill hold onto the funds for the Mookie and MATH and riverchasers.
And to all those bloggers including LJ and Waffles and Sham who want me to call in sick and come to Vegas, We dont get sick time at my company. We get a PTO bank (Paid time off) of 23 days up till 10 years to use as we want. That's our sick, personal and vacation time rolled into one enchilada. Im rarely if ever sick so I get to use it all as vacation or for appointments etc (Ive had to take both parents to surgeries/ procedures this year and used up some of my time for that as my sister is in Connecticut). Next year I get 28 days as I had my ten year anniversary in October. I'm down to scraps for time that I have to keep for the end of the year. Time off without pay is not an option its an attendance occurrence and is frowned upon big time. So you folks will just have to get along nicely without me until next year. I definitely will be in Vegas come June/July.
Back to cleaning and preparing my Thanksgiving menu. Chef LorEEEEEE is in the house (said with French accent for Snake who wont read this till December when he comes out of the woods and by that time will forget why I am/was speaking in a French accent to him). Oh Lordy Starbucks is calling me... Peppermint Mocha. Peppermint Mocha, Peppermint Mocha.
I'm pretty sure I moved into 1st place in my live league with my fourth place finish last nite. I only was out of first by a few points and Wild Bill aka Pappy didn't make it to the Final table. Neither did Lex one of my closest competitors, Zoe had a sub who did have a final table finish but it was behind me and shes another of my closest competitors. I've only missed the final table once (last week) and we can drop our lowest 5 scores in the 25 week season. Still along way to go as we are only 1/3 of the way thru it.
I made a brilliant laydown after a questionable feeler bet on a 3 heart KQJ board which two paired my KQos. I bet $1200. Got a call from Norm who should be nicknamed Craphandhere, Zack pushed all in. I thought about calling. He likes his connectors but I didn't think he had the flush and I didn't think he had flopped an offsuit Broadway or K high straight with 9Tos, as I believe he checked his option in the BB when I limped. I looked him square in the eye and asked him how big his flush was. He was out of his seat and said "Pretty big" but when he broke eye contact with me and immediately sat down I knew I had him. But Norm was left to act... He will play any paint card, ace rag etc. Haven't figured out if he knows what the hell hes doing and is smarter then he appears or if is just a country bumpkin who gets lucky. He is the king of the limp and min-raise. He is so slow he irritates me and I go into Alpha Bitch mode. I should be nice to him as he kind of fawns on me and told me he wants me to wear my Hounds tooth Fedora again. And hes paid me off. But I tend not to play that game with men I find annoying as hell. Anyway I knew Craphandhere was yet to act. He had both Zack and I out chipped so I laid it down. Pissed at myself for betting into a heart board. Anyway Norm makes the call with one heart the Ace and a 5 and no piece of the board and rivers a heart to bust Zack who had KQos too. Twin brother, Van applauded my astute deduction that I would be sucked out on. Silo thought I was crazy for leading out into a flush board but I needed to see where I stood with my two pair.
Anyway I got no action on my big hands ever (AA once and KK twice) I started jamming limpers on my blind once we were down to 6. Tracy was down to her last $200 and was all in on her sb without even being able to post it in full and managed to get doubled up by the others at the table (not I). HEE HAW. Anyway she wound up winning some hands to move in front of me by about $2000 chips. I jammed into her BB with QJos from the button 4 way after Doug folded.. Fold from Steve. Tracy who was stone cold sober last nite thinks and thinks and thinks (she takes forever when shes loopy too!!) . I go into a trance sitting as still as a stone... She says.. Screw it I call. A7 with at least one diamond maybe two. Flop puts out another diamond or two but gives me a Jack with a ten and a blank.. Ive got top pair... turn Q of diamonds so she has a four flush and I two pair. Silo states Lori has to dodge a diamond or a K and she doubles thru (and Tracy would have been left with about $2000) but the diamond comes and I go out feeling so frustrated I wanted to kick over the table. I just stood there in disbelief once again.
Snake had left after the cash game wound down as he to be up early for the start of Rifle/Muzzle season here in lovely Upstate NY. He missed my exit but wanted me to email him with my results. I was going to cell phone him this AM but reception in the Cambridge area is crappy sometimes if not all the time. (Ive chatted with him before on the cell when hes been hunkered down in a tree stand). Doug had us cracking up when he jumped up out of his seat and like a kid in a candy store said to Norm after Norm busted 6th..." Norm pick me up in a few hours its Guns in the Southern Zone and I can shoot anything".
Anyway looks like I'll miss the big game.... I cant move money from stars onto Full tilt thru epassporte since I used Neteller and Western Union to deposit onto stars and they only let you cash out thru check or how you deposited (and we know Neteller isn't available). Snake tried to earn me a token Friday and missed. I offered to help my dad (who is recovering from his hernia surgery nicely but sorely) rake leaves and gets some bags of rock salt and probably wont be able to move after that. I only have about $45 left on Full Tilt ( I only moved $112 from Absolute and two noncashes in the Hoy and failed token attempts have taken their toll) and will have to wait till I can reload out of my checking account onto Epassporte which takes 10 days. Ill hold onto the funds for the Mookie and MATH and riverchasers.
And to all those bloggers including LJ and Waffles and Sham who want me to call in sick and come to Vegas, We dont get sick time at my company. We get a PTO bank (Paid time off) of 23 days up till 10 years to use as we want. That's our sick, personal and vacation time rolled into one enchilada. Im rarely if ever sick so I get to use it all as vacation or for appointments etc (Ive had to take both parents to surgeries/ procedures this year and used up some of my time for that as my sister is in Connecticut). Next year I get 28 days as I had my ten year anniversary in October. I'm down to scraps for time that I have to keep for the end of the year. Time off without pay is not an option its an attendance occurrence and is frowned upon big time. So you folks will just have to get along nicely without me until next year. I definitely will be in Vegas come June/July.
Back to cleaning and preparing my Thanksgiving menu. Chef LorEEEEEE is in the house (said with French accent for Snake who wont read this till December when he comes out of the woods and by that time will forget why I am/was speaking in a French accent to him). Oh Lordy Starbucks is calling me... Peppermint Mocha. Peppermint Mocha, Peppermint Mocha.
Friday, November 16, 2007
IG Needs to Practice Flipping a Coin
I made a deep run last nite in Riverchasers with virtually no cards all nite. I made the best of the hands I was dealt and managed to go out in 13th place. My exit hand was typical.. Raise Pocket Tens, reraised by ScarKnight's AK (he had me slightly outchipped). Flop comes 9KT (set for IG) turn another K river 9.... I go out boat over boat countefeited on the end. Collective groan from Al Cant Hang, Mookie, Astin in girly chat, LJ, and KOD. KOD announces IG needs to practice coinflipping. AMEN Brother. I calculated that at the end of the first hour we had lost on the average of one person every two minutes. A respectable showing after a Mookie Final table the night before.
Wednesday nights Mookie, saw me get lucky when I cracked Aces all in with pocket 8's and I hit my set. I was all in preflop and yes it was a lucky break for me but you have to get the occasional break once or twice to go deep in MTT's. Again, I got my money in with the best hand. Snake5970 felt I should have waited since the shortie was all-in with AT, and had a call from eventual winner MikeMaloney. It wasnt a bad call at all by Mike. he had KQos and it wasnt that much more for him to call my all-in (about 7000K) so he was getting decent odds on his money. Two hearts on the board one a queen, I failed to fill up my flush or pair my Ace and out I went.
Astin suggested I write a long post about suckouts ala Hoy but losing a coin flip is not the end of the world. I have a great positive attitude about my game in general and know I have a few end game leaks to seal. I'm playing without regard to losing a $10-$24 buy-in and that has helped me immensely. Im playing the least amount of poker I have in three years, but when I do play I have a positive mental attitude, I'm staying patient and I'm constantly tweaking my game to adjust.
I currently sit in 16th place in the BBT Duece. Ive final tabled 3 of the 4 last Mookies and have 7 final tables in 22 shots at the Mookie for 2007. As MiamiDon said it is only a matter of time before the planets align and I win won of these things.
I'm sitting in second place in my live league by about three points. Ive thought about quitting several times regardless of how well Im doing and the fact that I stand to take home some nice Moolah at the end of the year. Ive been frustrated by the people who get up to smoke when its their turn to deal, are so intoxicated they cant handle their chips and stare at them for what seems like hours trying to count them out to make a bet. Not to mention the fact that I'm about ready to let loose a few snarky remarks to counter those directed my way from someone whom Karen and I have decided has an issue with respect for woman. But, I'm not a quitter and wont quit mid-season. Plus, Snake who is having the same issues as me (even more so) and I made an agreement that we would see it thru. There are so many leagues and clubs that have sprung up around Smallbany that I can find a tourney or cash game pretty much every nite of the week.
I'm going to miss the December Blogger gathering as I'm almost out of unscheduled time off. What time I do have I have to save for the holidays since being the daughter of long-time split parents, everything is done in twos. I may sneak up to Turning Stone for a Deep-Stack tourney the weekend after Thanksgiving and as soon as hunting season is over, I'm sure I can cajole Snake into another Foxwoods run. Of course that runs till almost Christmas here in Upstate NY so I wont be for a bit.
More to come but time to put on a skirt and my high-heeled boots and head up to play live!!!
Peace All!!
Edited 11/17/07 for my Riverchasers exit hand of boat over boat thanks to Al Cant Hang for filling in the blanks!!!
Wednesday nights Mookie, saw me get lucky when I cracked Aces all in with pocket 8's and I hit my set. I was all in preflop and yes it was a lucky break for me but you have to get the occasional break once or twice to go deep in MTT's. Again, I got my money in with the best hand. Snake5970 felt I should have waited since the shortie was all-in with AT, and had a call from eventual winner MikeMaloney. It wasnt a bad call at all by Mike. he had KQos and it wasnt that much more for him to call my all-in (about 7000K) so he was getting decent odds on his money. Two hearts on the board one a queen, I failed to fill up my flush or pair my Ace and out I went.
Astin suggested I write a long post about suckouts ala Hoy but losing a coin flip is not the end of the world. I have a great positive attitude about my game in general and know I have a few end game leaks to seal. I'm playing without regard to losing a $10-$24 buy-in and that has helped me immensely. Im playing the least amount of poker I have in three years, but when I do play I have a positive mental attitude, I'm staying patient and I'm constantly tweaking my game to adjust.
I currently sit in 16th place in the BBT Duece. Ive final tabled 3 of the 4 last Mookies and have 7 final tables in 22 shots at the Mookie for 2007. As MiamiDon said it is only a matter of time before the planets align and I win won of these things.
I'm sitting in second place in my live league by about three points. Ive thought about quitting several times regardless of how well Im doing and the fact that I stand to take home some nice Moolah at the end of the year. Ive been frustrated by the people who get up to smoke when its their turn to deal, are so intoxicated they cant handle their chips and stare at them for what seems like hours trying to count them out to make a bet. Not to mention the fact that I'm about ready to let loose a few snarky remarks to counter those directed my way from someone whom Karen and I have decided has an issue with respect for woman. But, I'm not a quitter and wont quit mid-season. Plus, Snake who is having the same issues as me (even more so) and I made an agreement that we would see it thru. There are so many leagues and clubs that have sprung up around Smallbany that I can find a tourney or cash game pretty much every nite of the week.
I'm going to miss the December Blogger gathering as I'm almost out of unscheduled time off. What time I do have I have to save for the holidays since being the daughter of long-time split parents, everything is done in twos. I may sneak up to Turning Stone for a Deep-Stack tourney the weekend after Thanksgiving and as soon as hunting season is over, I'm sure I can cajole Snake into another Foxwoods run. Of course that runs till almost Christmas here in Upstate NY so I wont be for a bit.
More to come but time to put on a skirt and my high-heeled boots and head up to play live!!!
Peace All!!
Edited 11/17/07 for my Riverchasers exit hand of boat over boat thanks to Al Cant Hang for filling in the blanks!!!
Monday, November 05, 2007
Check this Out!!!
I'll have a full report of Snake5970's and mine Foxwoods trip in the next couple of days. We both played in different events of the Foxwoods World Poker Finals which are lead-ins to the WPT event. I havent played a hand of live or internet poker since last weeks Mookie but will be returning to the virtual felt tonite in Monday's at the Hoy. I'm looking forward to a little 6-max action as a nice change of pace!!
But first.... For those of you who love music, specifically Jambands etc., I was tapped by everyone's favorite Internet Doctor to be a team reporter for Dr Pauly's music blog. Be sure to pay it a visit!!
But first.... For those of you who love music, specifically Jambands etc., I was tapped by everyone's favorite Internet Doctor to be a team reporter for Dr Pauly's music blog. Be sure to pay it a visit!!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Phil & Friends Rocks the Civic Center with Trey on Guitar
Yes indeedy. Trey has played with Phil before and both their roots are as classically trained musicians/composers. I saw Mike Gordon (Cactus) & Trey with Phil & Friends last summer at SPAC. But it didn't even dawn on me that Trey who is hanging out and about and around Saratoga/Washington Counties as terms of his probation might just put in an appearance. Not only did he put in an appearance he played the entire concert as co-guitar with Jackie Greene who because of the scarf around his neck I called Dario Minieri (hes the 2nd one in from the left in the picture & Phil is on the end Right side for all who have no idea who Im talking about) He's the new guy and I didnt know his name as I hadn't done my usual research prior to this gig.
Set list follows:
10/20/07 (Sat) Glens Falls Civic Center - Glens Falls, NY
Set 1: Alambama Getaway, Pride of Cucamonga, Friend of the Devil, Deep Elem Blues, Deal, Bird Song, Bertha
Set 2: Shine, Viola Lee Blues > Cumberland Blues > Viola Lee Blues > Cumberland Blues > Viola Lee Blues, Plasma, Unbroken Chain, Dark Star > Wharf Rat > Dark Star > Help on the Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower, E: Box of Rain
Lineup: Phil Lesh - Bass, Vocals; Trey Anastasio - guitar and vocals; John Molo - drums; Jackie Green - Guitar, Vocals; Larry Campbell - guitar; Steve Molitz - Keyboards.
Friend of the Devil was made perfect with the fiddle. Lets just say if I was a stripper, I would choreograph my dance to this version of Deep Elem Blues. The whole first set had a vibe just perfect for a beautiful autumn night at the foothills of the Adirondacks.
Back at Creekend (MaxCreek) in March, I kept getting whacked by a fat gal in fairy wings who looked like she made a wrong way turn on her way to a String Cheese Incident (SCI) show. Two songs into this show a young dude who couldn't handle his booze/drugs or combo passed out splat on my foot. His glasses went smack on the floor. His friends were close by but he couldn't stand on his own so they had to carry him off the floor to the EMTS. He missed an awesome show for sure.
Snake couldn't make the show, three weeks earlier he realized he had to bring his youngest to a wedding in Vermont and BFF Kim who is on crutches with a broken leg and bad hip from a car accident never RSVP'd for the ticket. I gave it to Zoe whose hubby already had tickets with a neighbor. Steve and Karen from the poker league were going too and I'm the type of gal who has no problem going on her own. Heck Ive never been to a show and not seen someone I didn't know. The first person I recognized was Randy, an old roadie, for a ton of bands including the Dead and its variations who lives down by the river in a teepee I think and rides his bike all over HalfMoon. I usually run into him at the Hess station. Never saw Zoe so I don't know if she used the ticket but Karen found me at intermission and Steve and Karen and I hung out and danced the entire second set.
Karen isn't as hardcore a fan as Steve and I. She hates the trippy spacey stuff. I had told her Phil doesn't do a drums space sequence ala Dead, but I was wrong. She loved the first set but the second set lost her when the segues had lots of improvised spacey jams and the Trey tune Plasma. The guitars had a heavier sound with Trey in the house (Phish has a totally different sound then the Dead). I looked at Steve and said we are losing Karen. So, when I talked to Snake last nite to firm up plans for Foxwoods this coming weekend, I told him I was actually glad he didn't go because I probably would have lost him during the second set. He would have loved the people watching. But no matter how you slice it, Snake would look like a Narc with his buzz cut (25 years in corrections does that too you) and I his hippie decoy even if i dressed him up in my Vintage Not Fade-Away Tye-dye shirt circa 1986.
I got to talking to some young dudes at the start of the show when they asked me some questions, and of course they had never seen even the Dead. When I mentioned I had seen the Dead for the first time over 23 years ago and they were toddling in diapers we laughed. Of course, they thought I was really cool and offered me hits on their joints (which I declined since I no longer smoke). I realized how lucky I was to have been able to see the Dead with Jerry, Bobby, Phil, Micky, Billy and Brent and then Bruce Hornsby/Vince Welnick on the keyboards. PigPen was deceased by the time I got on the bus and I never saw the Godchaux's live with the Dead.
Anyway we had so much fun (Steve and Karen and I) that we are going to do Ratdog in two weeks when Bobby and his boyz hit the Palace Theater.
Look for a re-edit. If I have time I'm going to do my list of what not to Wear to a Dead show or other Jam band gathering (with props to Carmen and Change100). But im going to say the dude who had the clown mask on the back of his head would have freaked me out had I been tripping. Even stone cold sober I wanted to rip the clown mask off his head. Clowns are just freaky evil looking (sorry Bozo). I just never have been the same since I saw Steven King's IT and Pennywise the Clown makes me shudder and think of bad things that go bump in the night.
With that this is IG aka BigEyedPhish saying Peace All!!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Absolute Poker Update and WCOOP fallout
First the WCOOP main event fallout on Pokerstars. TheVOid account has been banned by Pokerstars and TheV0id will not receive their winnings and all finishers were bumped up a spot. That makes Ka$ino the winner and Vanessa Rousso the runner-up. Pokerstars didnt release details just that TheVoid account failed to follow the Pokerstars terms and conditions. (Can you say multi-accounting). Kudos to Pokerstars for fast resolution of this matter.
Apparently Mark Seif, a former attorney and one of the Absolute Poker resident pros (with an alleged ownership interest in AP) has come forth requesting that an inquiry be done. Latest info on Pocket5's is that AP will be issuing a statement addressing the "superuser" account/cheating previously denied
Which got me to thinking. If poker is to ever gain credibility in the mainstream and be "legit", I forsee a day when online poker will really be a semi-live game. We will all have to take our seats at a virtual table via Webcams and some kind of face recognition to username will take place that verifies we are who we say we are.
FarFetched? Perhaps but technology has come a long way.
Toodles for now. Off to prepare to get ready to play live. I'll have a longer update of my Friday off later this weekend. My withdrawal still hasnt hit my epassporte account but it can take up to 48 hours and we havent reached 24 yet.
Apparently Mark Seif, a former attorney and one of the Absolute Poker resident pros (with an alleged ownership interest in AP) has come forth requesting that an inquiry be done. Latest info on Pocket5's is that AP will be issuing a statement addressing the "superuser" account/cheating previously denied
Which got me to thinking. If poker is to ever gain credibility in the mainstream and be "legit", I forsee a day when online poker will really be a semi-live game. We will all have to take our seats at a virtual table via Webcams and some kind of face recognition to username will take place that verifies we are who we say we are.
FarFetched? Perhaps but technology has come a long way.
Toodles for now. Off to prepare to get ready to play live. I'll have a longer update of my Friday off later this weekend. My withdrawal still hasnt hit my epassporte account but it can take up to 48 hours and we havent reached 24 yet.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Absolute Poker Scandal and........The Return of IG to Full Tilt
Like a moth to a flame I am returning to Full Tilt and BBT deuce had nothing to do with it. Part of my issue was getting money back on in a timely fashion. I have epassporte but to reload from my bank account onto Epassporte takes about two weeks. Then I remembered Absolute Poker takes Epassporte. So I withdrew a little more then half my AP roll of $222. As soon as it hits my Epassporte account onto FTP it will go.
The withdrawal from AP was made very easy based on a couple of things. I rarely play buy-ins there. Mostly I play that site for Poker Analysis games and a few other forums I belong to. Most of those games are freebies. I had originally deposited about $35 onto AP back in the fall of 2004. I withdraw all but $100 to finance Vegas 2006 (about $800 or so). I won a little bit more playing infrequently there. Coupled with the rumors circulating about the alleged cheating going on at AP and frankly Id rather play on a site whose credibility is a little better.
AP has one nasty PR nightmare on their hands. The fact that they have behaved like ostriches with their heads in the sand pooh-poohing the issue will not go unnoticed by the balla MTT players, Pocket-5ers, NeverWinners etc.
Watch it with your own eyes;
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=FczbS7FiWSM
Part 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=PbQyKgELDEA&watch_respon
Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqmp-a7SzFs&watch_respon
Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCMiK9pJ7Kw&watch_respon
Here is the 2+2 link (even longer then the Brandi Hawbawker melodrama and I was David Sklansky's teenage lover threads)
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=12523924&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1
and this one by Neverwin Poker's Dan Druff posted on both Neverwin Forum and 2+2:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Number=12523179&page=0&vc=1
Check this NY Times article out:
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/the-absolute-poker-cheating-scandal-blown-wide-open/
And Absolute Poker..... Denial is not a river in Egypt.
Back in 2005 I sent this email to AP:
11/27/2005
I have told you about these two before. there is a player Mystery45678 and Mystery98765 both from Bethalto and is playing at the same table. He has so much as admited to having multiple accounts. Please see tourney #48973 Entertainment Addicts Stud
11/6/2005
Please pull the chat for tourney 48970 Entertainment Addicts. 9Birdman9 and mystery98765 were colluding... In addition mystery admited to having multiple accounts in chat. Please see mystery98765 and mystery45678. Wasnt even smart about changing his name.
Both times the reply was a form email:
Dear Customer,
Thank you for choosing Absolute Poker; it is a pleasure to be of your assistance.
Thank you for letting us know about what you witnessed at the tables.
A single incident of collusion is often difficult to prove conclusively, with the exception of the most obvious cases. When we are confronted with the possibility of collusion between two players, we will not just review that game, but also all incidents of the two playing together. We look into the histories of the two players to see how they have played in the past and if it is possible that other players may be involved.
At times we can prove conclusively that there was cheating. Many more times we can conclusively prove that the players were definitely not cheating, and what may have appeared as collusion to one in the game or observing the table was merely a coincidence.
If we notice a pattern of unusual activity then we will take actions. It is against our policy to reveal any actions taken against another account. Therefore, the actions taken against those suspected of cheating cannot be discussed with anyone but the account holder. We want to thank you again for bringing this possible collusion activity to our attention.
Please feel free to contact us back if you have any further questions or comments.
Kind Regards,
XXXXXXX
Team Absolute ~ Security and Control Department
The withdrawal from AP was made very easy based on a couple of things. I rarely play buy-ins there. Mostly I play that site for Poker Analysis games and a few other forums I belong to. Most of those games are freebies. I had originally deposited about $35 onto AP back in the fall of 2004. I withdraw all but $100 to finance Vegas 2006 (about $800 or so). I won a little bit more playing infrequently there. Coupled with the rumors circulating about the alleged cheating going on at AP and frankly Id rather play on a site whose credibility is a little better.
AP has one nasty PR nightmare on their hands. The fact that they have behaved like ostriches with their heads in the sand pooh-poohing the issue will not go unnoticed by the balla MTT players, Pocket-5ers, NeverWinners etc.
Watch it with your own eyes;
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=FczbS7FiWSM
Part 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=PbQyKgELDEA&watch_respon
Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqmp-a7SzFs&watch_respon
Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCMiK9pJ7Kw&watch_respon
Here is the 2+2 link (even longer then the Brandi Hawbawker melodrama and I was David Sklansky's teenage lover threads)
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=12523924&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1
and this one by Neverwin Poker's Dan Druff posted on both Neverwin Forum and 2+2:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Number=12523179&page=0&vc=1
Check this NY Times article out:
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/the-absolute-poker-cheating-scandal-blown-wide-open/
And Absolute Poker..... Denial is not a river in Egypt.
Back in 2005 I sent this email to AP:
11/27/2005
I have told you about these two before. there is a player Mystery45678 and Mystery98765 both from Bethalto and is playing at the same table. He has so much as admited to having multiple accounts. Please see tourney #48973 Entertainment Addicts Stud
11/6/2005
Please pull the chat for tourney 48970 Entertainment Addicts. 9Birdman9 and mystery98765 were colluding... In addition mystery admited to having multiple accounts in chat. Please see mystery98765 and mystery45678. Wasnt even smart about changing his name.
Both times the reply was a form email:
Dear Customer,
Thank you for choosing Absolute Poker; it is a pleasure to be of your assistance.
Thank you for letting us know about what you witnessed at the tables.
A single incident of collusion is often difficult to prove conclusively, with the exception of the most obvious cases. When we are confronted with the possibility of collusion between two players, we will not just review that game, but also all incidents of the two playing together. We look into the histories of the two players to see how they have played in the past and if it is possible that other players may be involved.
At times we can prove conclusively that there was cheating. Many more times we can conclusively prove that the players were definitely not cheating, and what may have appeared as collusion to one in the game or observing the table was merely a coincidence.
If we notice a pattern of unusual activity then we will take actions. It is against our policy to reveal any actions taken against another account. Therefore, the actions taken against those suspected of cheating cannot be discussed with anyone but the account holder. We want to thank you again for bringing this possible collusion activity to our attention.
Please feel free to contact us back if you have any further questions or comments.
Kind Regards,
XXXXXXX
Team Absolute ~ Security and Control Department
Monday, October 15, 2007
Whirlwind Weekend
Weekends are all to short. Even three-day weekends. After my errands on Friday I headed up to Fort Edward for Week III of the APL. When Snake got there I said, I'm taking off early if I bust out, as I have to leave for NYC early tomorrow AM. He wished me happy birthday in case we didn't catch up and filled me in briefly on his TROCK results. We draw for tables and he gets the deal at my table and I'm in the 8 seat. Someone has to move and he pulls the card and gets moved to the table behind me (we have 21 runners 10/12/07). Same thing happened the week before when I got moved from his table when the first person went busto.
Anyway, I decided to play uber-aggressive as was my original intent this season. There are four limpers on my second BB. I raise it to $400 with BigSlick. Two callers. I immediately roll my eyes and say, no one respects my raises here (you nits). Flop comes K8 and a blank. I fire $1500 at the pot and get reraised by a young gun Josh but we lose Wild Bill aka Pappy who has been pwning the league with two wins in two weeks and a chop at the pre-season tourney. I decide to move all in with TPTK and Josh has two pair with K8os and I'm behind and headed for an early exit. I'm out of my chair when an Ace spikes on the river and I double up. Completely overplayed my TPTK but as I said before I was willing to gamble and frankly Josh deserves to be rivered calling my raise with K8os.
I make it to the final table and bottom cash with a 4th place finish and move into 3rd place overall for Season III. Snake went out 11th when his KK allin which he decided to jam with after the TROCK debacle got called by Karen's AQ (she usually is very conservative) and she spiked two Queens on the flop. Pappy aka Wild Bill made it a three-peat after an early brutal suck-out of a newcomers Broadway (cant remember if it was flopped or turned)when he boated up holding KJ on the river. Im pretty sure it was a runner-runner knife to the heart for Derek or Darren and I nicknamed Bill the Luckbox to go along with Wild Billy and Pappy.
Off to NYC in the early AM. My moms back is acting up and she says she wont be able to do a lot of walking. Judy and Jerry are taking the train into NYC and are staying overnight at their son Jeff's Apt. Frank and Barbara are on the bus with us and headed for an exhibit at the International Center of Photography. Its some exhibit of war images. Not the way I want to spend my birthday as I'm planning on having breakfast in Soho at the place picked out and meeting up with LJ. Of course it winds up that only mom and myself take the subway to SOHO for breakfast at the CUPPING ROOM CAFE. I walk south on Broadway a few blocks only to discover that even though I'm on the West Side of Broadway there is no 359 and the address is 359 West Broadway (not the same thing duh).. So back up to Canal and west on Canal and north on West Broadway to the Cafe.
LJ meets me and my mom a few minutes later and we have a great visit. I haven't seen LJ since Vegas and it seems like we rarely catch up between my self-imposed exile from Full Tilt Poker (so no blogger tourneys for me there) and our busy live schedules. We promise my mom we will only say one thing about poker (Vegas in December) but of course that doesn't hold true. I had Eggs Benedict over Fresh grilled Salmon with home fries. My mom had the same but the hollandaise was held. LJ had a cheddar omelet with apples which was very tasty. Thanks to LJ for treating me and my mom to my birthday brunch!! Boy do I want to go to Vegas in December but it's just a bad time of the year for me, work, money etc.
We have a little time to kill and browse Anthropologie. Of course I see tons of stuff I love but the stuff is pricey and I had just bought a knock off top at Kohls for like 1/3 the price of Anthropologie. At 1 PM LJ advises us to head up to our show for a 2 PM start and this is where the day gets interesting.
We get on the Q which will take us right to Times Square. The subway doesn't move. Next thing I hear there is an announcement that says.. Please exit the Subway there is an odor, fire, smoke something either on the subway or in the tunnel. NYFD is there in full gear with axes at the ready etc. But they go no where and stand there with us while the subway takes off empty. Its a few minutes wait till an R comes in. I say to my mom lets get a cab. Some lame NYer looks at me and says you're better off waiting. My mom agrees probably because she thinks the cab will be too expensive. I mutter something like money talks I'll get a cab. Ive spent $$$ for these theatre tickets I want to see the fawking show for crimineys sake. I then state 'IF train isn't here by 1:20 PM I'm hailing a cab." A second train does arrive. Too many people pack onto the R train with no air conditioning because of the mystery smoke/odor/vapor smell. We stand there and stand. And I make the profound statement of "We are going no where". Then the announcement. There is going to be a short delay. FAWK FAWK FAWK.
Out of the Subway station and back to the main intersection of Canal and Broadway which is jammed with too many people trying to do the same thing. I start walking North on Broadway with my arm up in the hailing a cab salute. Within three minutes Im successful. I know twenty short city blocks is a mile and we have almost two miles to go to 45th. So I wave money in front of him (Only a $20) and tell him its all his if he can get us there as fast as he can go. And damn that cabbie was good. Unfortunately we ran into typical NYC gridlock two times. As well as a fire truck and numerous ambulances trying to get thru the same traffic as us. We arrive at the theatre about three minutes late. The cabbie wound up with about a 20% tip not as good as it could have been but a tip is a tip.
We tell our tale of woe to the usher (unexplained subway delay followed by traffic and I also drop its my birthday) and he lets us in as the first number is going on. Our usherette says she can seat us after the second number. We barely missed anything. The show CURTAINS is great even with the understudy in David Hyde's Pierce role as the detective. It would be interesting to see how he plays it though.
After the show my mom and I are still full from breakfast and we decide to shop. I want a blemish/zit extractor so we head to Sephora. I then decide not to spend my money on it as I'm now paying cash for everything and I buy no make-up. I tell myself I have to use up what I have and even though i love the smell of Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume, I had just bought Gwen Stefani's L and am rotating that with Pleasures (Estee Lauder), Versace (Bright Crystals) and L.
Next stop Virgin Megastore. Here I do spend some of my birthday dollars. Virgin sells a lot of great music at $10 a CD and a lot of cheapo DVDS too (of course it costs pennies to print them). My new editions:
1) Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisted $10
2) Bob Marley - Legend
3) Duran Duran - Greatest (guilty pleasure CD)
4) Secret Machines - Now Here is Nowhere (the only one not at $10)
We decide to have dinner at John's Pizzeria Times Square location which is in an old converted church around the corner from the show.. Too busy half hour wait and we have to be on the bus by 8 PM. So instead we head to Junior's attached to the Marriott in Times Square. I have Matzo Ball soup, and mom and I split a really good Shrimp Salad Sandwich on Challah. I did mention in my last post I was craving Deli. We each got a slice of their cheesecake to go which i ate yesterday.
What would the weekend be without some poker. I had intentions of playing a full slate of Sunday tourneys on Pokerstars including the Blogger tourney. I got a late start to my Sunday sleeping in. I got home from grocery shopping too late for the noon Deep Stack and the 1 PM 5k guarantee. So I decided to watch football until the 3 PM start time. The Blogger tourney looked sweet with 10000 starting chips but the blind level was really kind of turbo. I doubled up early when my KK got called by J9. I hit a set on the flop, my opponent hit two pair. I played it perfectly and doubled up early. I had Gracie at my table believe it or not out of 1337 players. I also had MurrytheCat who Ive known since my forum days. It was cool though as my early double up had everyone (Katiemother, Katitude, Surflexus, Sham) stopping by my table to say hello, wish me happy birthday etc. Blogger Brad even stopped by!! I felt like I was at the TV table as someone mentioned early on. As I got moved I had several unknown to me bloggers tell me how much they liked my blog. I in turn tried to ask them their blog names to reciprocate and as you can see I have added some new links and moved some of you slackers to the Graveyard (retitled where the heck did they go?).
My early double up was for not as I went card dead midstages and couldnt crack 25k. I fluctuated down between 8000-16000 for a long time and went out 270th running AQ UTG into the BB's AK (again). Congrats to Surflexus, BadBlood, Khanwoman of PokerSluts, EasyCure, HermWarfare (aka Derek) and the Luckbox (CJ) for their deep finishes as well as too Big Slick Nuts who Ive had linked for a while. I did rail Surflexus and BadBlood for quite a while and the blogger crew was on the rail in full
So after I rail the boyz and gal and watch their exits I decide to satellite into the 100k for next week. I also notice that Snake is playing a double shoot-out for the Sunday Million and hes sitting all alone having won his first flight. We hadnt talked yet as I figured he was hunting all day (bow season) and then watching his Cowboys get pwned by New England and I hadnt bothered to see if he was playing earlier as I figured he wasnt. Im deep in my tourney but they turn off chat which I realize when I try to type nice hand. On Snake's final table of the shoot-out I see him type..... IG are you out there?. I cant answer back as when I do they had turned off chat at his table. So I call him on his cell which he has off and he eventually calls me back. I'm like what did you want? He laughs and says "Oh nothing, just seeing if you're watching I have you up but cant talk."
Anyway I tell him how I misclicked a hand I hit trips on the flop with as Im not sure he even saw it. I had a caller all the way to the river and the river was a third diamond. I check the dude bets only $400. My intention is to call there flush or no flush with all that money in the pot as I had put in about $1500 as had my opponent. $400 into a over $3400 pot is laying me 8.5 to one. Im priced in and I fully expect my hand is best but my hand shakes and i hit fold. I feel worse that I look like a complete nit on that hand for folding when all that money was in there. I say nothing in chat as no one cares that I had a Parkinson's like tremor in my hand so I only bemoan my plot to Snake. He tells me to regroup.
And regroup I do. A few steals and a late double up while on the bubble on an all-in (As I say to Snake its only $2.20) and I coast into a seat in the $100000 guarantee for next Sunday. Or I can unregister and use the $T for the Sunday nooner deep stack and re-satellite into this one. I havent played many satellites on Stars. I think Ive tried 3 times at most to sat into this tourney which is only $11 buy-in anyway and thats the extent of my satelliting efforts. Snake got his buy-in back in the shoot-out for the Sunday Million so hell have to try again.
As it is the Ladies tourney is probably on my agenda at Foxwoods on the 27th unless I decide to do the mixed field tourney on the 24th (same buy-in but the tourney on the 24th will have more players for sure).
Bodonkey tomorrow
Anyway, I decided to play uber-aggressive as was my original intent this season. There are four limpers on my second BB. I raise it to $400 with BigSlick. Two callers. I immediately roll my eyes and say, no one respects my raises here (you nits). Flop comes K8 and a blank. I fire $1500 at the pot and get reraised by a young gun Josh but we lose Wild Bill aka Pappy who has been pwning the league with two wins in two weeks and a chop at the pre-season tourney. I decide to move all in with TPTK and Josh has two pair with K8os and I'm behind and headed for an early exit. I'm out of my chair when an Ace spikes on the river and I double up. Completely overplayed my TPTK but as I said before I was willing to gamble and frankly Josh deserves to be rivered calling my raise with K8os.
I make it to the final table and bottom cash with a 4th place finish and move into 3rd place overall for Season III. Snake went out 11th when his KK allin which he decided to jam with after the TROCK debacle got called by Karen's AQ (she usually is very conservative) and she spiked two Queens on the flop. Pappy aka Wild Bill made it a three-peat after an early brutal suck-out of a newcomers Broadway (cant remember if it was flopped or turned)when he boated up holding KJ on the river. Im pretty sure it was a runner-runner knife to the heart for Derek or Darren and I nicknamed Bill the Luckbox to go along with Wild Billy and Pappy.
Off to NYC in the early AM. My moms back is acting up and she says she wont be able to do a lot of walking. Judy and Jerry are taking the train into NYC and are staying overnight at their son Jeff's Apt. Frank and Barbara are on the bus with us and headed for an exhibit at the International Center of Photography. Its some exhibit of war images. Not the way I want to spend my birthday as I'm planning on having breakfast in Soho at the place picked out and meeting up with LJ. Of course it winds up that only mom and myself take the subway to SOHO for breakfast at the CUPPING ROOM CAFE. I walk south on Broadway a few blocks only to discover that even though I'm on the West Side of Broadway there is no 359 and the address is 359 West Broadway (not the same thing duh).. So back up to Canal and west on Canal and north on West Broadway to the Cafe.
LJ meets me and my mom a few minutes later and we have a great visit. I haven't seen LJ since Vegas and it seems like we rarely catch up between my self-imposed exile from Full Tilt Poker (so no blogger tourneys for me there) and our busy live schedules. We promise my mom we will only say one thing about poker (Vegas in December) but of course that doesn't hold true. I had Eggs Benedict over Fresh grilled Salmon with home fries. My mom had the same but the hollandaise was held. LJ had a cheddar omelet with apples which was very tasty. Thanks to LJ for treating me and my mom to my birthday brunch!! Boy do I want to go to Vegas in December but it's just a bad time of the year for me, work, money etc.
We have a little time to kill and browse Anthropologie. Of course I see tons of stuff I love but the stuff is pricey and I had just bought a knock off top at Kohls for like 1/3 the price of Anthropologie. At 1 PM LJ advises us to head up to our show for a 2 PM start and this is where the day gets interesting.
We get on the Q which will take us right to Times Square. The subway doesn't move. Next thing I hear there is an announcement that says.. Please exit the Subway there is an odor, fire, smoke something either on the subway or in the tunnel. NYFD is there in full gear with axes at the ready etc. But they go no where and stand there with us while the subway takes off empty. Its a few minutes wait till an R comes in. I say to my mom lets get a cab. Some lame NYer looks at me and says you're better off waiting. My mom agrees probably because she thinks the cab will be too expensive. I mutter something like money talks I'll get a cab. Ive spent $$$ for these theatre tickets I want to see the fawking show for crimineys sake. I then state 'IF train isn't here by 1:20 PM I'm hailing a cab." A second train does arrive. Too many people pack onto the R train with no air conditioning because of the mystery smoke/odor/vapor smell. We stand there and stand. And I make the profound statement of "We are going no where". Then the announcement. There is going to be a short delay. FAWK FAWK FAWK.
Out of the Subway station and back to the main intersection of Canal and Broadway which is jammed with too many people trying to do the same thing. I start walking North on Broadway with my arm up in the hailing a cab salute. Within three minutes Im successful. I know twenty short city blocks is a mile and we have almost two miles to go to 45th. So I wave money in front of him (Only a $20) and tell him its all his if he can get us there as fast as he can go. And damn that cabbie was good. Unfortunately we ran into typical NYC gridlock two times. As well as a fire truck and numerous ambulances trying to get thru the same traffic as us. We arrive at the theatre about three minutes late. The cabbie wound up with about a 20% tip not as good as it could have been but a tip is a tip.
We tell our tale of woe to the usher (unexplained subway delay followed by traffic and I also drop its my birthday) and he lets us in as the first number is going on. Our usherette says she can seat us after the second number. We barely missed anything. The show CURTAINS is great even with the understudy in David Hyde's Pierce role as the detective. It would be interesting to see how he plays it though.
After the show my mom and I are still full from breakfast and we decide to shop. I want a blemish/zit extractor so we head to Sephora. I then decide not to spend my money on it as I'm now paying cash for everything and I buy no make-up. I tell myself I have to use up what I have and even though i love the smell of Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume, I had just bought Gwen Stefani's L and am rotating that with Pleasures (Estee Lauder), Versace (Bright Crystals) and L.
Next stop Virgin Megastore. Here I do spend some of my birthday dollars. Virgin sells a lot of great music at $10 a CD and a lot of cheapo DVDS too (of course it costs pennies to print them). My new editions:
1) Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisted $10
2) Bob Marley - Legend
3) Duran Duran - Greatest (guilty pleasure CD)
4) Secret Machines - Now Here is Nowhere (the only one not at $10)
We decide to have dinner at John's Pizzeria Times Square location which is in an old converted church around the corner from the show.. Too busy half hour wait and we have to be on the bus by 8 PM. So instead we head to Junior's attached to the Marriott in Times Square. I have Matzo Ball soup, and mom and I split a really good Shrimp Salad Sandwich on Challah. I did mention in my last post I was craving Deli. We each got a slice of their cheesecake to go which i ate yesterday.
What would the weekend be without some poker. I had intentions of playing a full slate of Sunday tourneys on Pokerstars including the Blogger tourney. I got a late start to my Sunday sleeping in. I got home from grocery shopping too late for the noon Deep Stack and the 1 PM 5k guarantee. So I decided to watch football until the 3 PM start time. The Blogger tourney looked sweet with 10000 starting chips but the blind level was really kind of turbo. I doubled up early when my KK got called by J9. I hit a set on the flop, my opponent hit two pair. I played it perfectly and doubled up early. I had Gracie at my table believe it or not out of 1337 players. I also had MurrytheCat who Ive known since my forum days. It was cool though as my early double up had everyone (Katiemother, Katitude, Surflexus, Sham) stopping by my table to say hello, wish me happy birthday etc. Blogger Brad even stopped by!! I felt like I was at the TV table as someone mentioned early on. As I got moved I had several unknown to me bloggers tell me how much they liked my blog. I in turn tried to ask them their blog names to reciprocate and as you can see I have added some new links and moved some of you slackers to the Graveyard (retitled where the heck did they go?).
My early double up was for not as I went card dead midstages and couldnt crack 25k. I fluctuated down between 8000-16000 for a long time and went out 270th running AQ UTG into the BB's AK (again). Congrats to Surflexus, BadBlood, Khanwoman of PokerSluts, EasyCure, HermWarfare (aka Derek) and the Luckbox (CJ) for their deep finishes as well as too Big Slick Nuts who Ive had linked for a while. I did rail Surflexus and BadBlood for quite a while and the blogger crew was on the rail in full
So after I rail the boyz and gal and watch their exits I decide to satellite into the 100k for next week. I also notice that Snake is playing a double shoot-out for the Sunday Million and hes sitting all alone having won his first flight. We hadnt talked yet as I figured he was hunting all day (bow season) and then watching his Cowboys get pwned by New England and I hadnt bothered to see if he was playing earlier as I figured he wasnt. Im deep in my tourney but they turn off chat which I realize when I try to type nice hand. On Snake's final table of the shoot-out I see him type..... IG are you out there?. I cant answer back as when I do they had turned off chat at his table. So I call him on his cell which he has off and he eventually calls me back. I'm like what did you want? He laughs and says "Oh nothing, just seeing if you're watching I have you up but cant talk."
Anyway I tell him how I misclicked a hand I hit trips on the flop with as Im not sure he even saw it. I had a caller all the way to the river and the river was a third diamond. I check the dude bets only $400. My intention is to call there flush or no flush with all that money in the pot as I had put in about $1500 as had my opponent. $400 into a over $3400 pot is laying me 8.5 to one. Im priced in and I fully expect my hand is best but my hand shakes and i hit fold. I feel worse that I look like a complete nit on that hand for folding when all that money was in there. I say nothing in chat as no one cares that I had a Parkinson's like tremor in my hand so I only bemoan my plot to Snake. He tells me to regroup.
And regroup I do. A few steals and a late double up while on the bubble on an all-in (As I say to Snake its only $2.20) and I coast into a seat in the $100000 guarantee for next Sunday. Or I can unregister and use the $T for the Sunday nooner deep stack and re-satellite into this one. I havent played many satellites on Stars. I think Ive tried 3 times at most to sat into this tourney which is only $11 buy-in anyway and thats the extent of my satelliting efforts. Snake got his buy-in back in the shoot-out for the Sunday Million so hell have to try again.
As it is the Ladies tourney is probably on my agenda at Foxwoods on the 27th unless I decide to do the mixed field tourney on the 24th (same buy-in but the tourney on the 24th will have more players for sure).
Bodonkey tomorrow
Friday, October 12, 2007
But for the Grace of God Go I
I am by no means a religious person although I do consider myself spiritual in a Eastern Philosophy/New Age-ish kind of way. I kind of take what I need from various religions and leave the rest. If you asked me what religion I am I might say... All of them. I was born and raised Catholic but I never took to the Catholic Dogma and although not a radical feminist I don't agree with the churches position on women in the church as well as a lot of things. But this post has nothing to do with my religious beliefs or lack thereof.
People overcome incredible hardships to get where they are today and to become the people they are today. I had my battle with alcohol and one day at a time I have managed to stay sober 17 years and 9 months. I always say my problems are those of wants not needs (problems of luxury). I have been blessed with good health other then allergies and asthma and now the afflictions of middle age.
Most of you know if you read my blog that I became a fan of Top Chef this season. Although I was routing for Casey the female chef in the final four who faltered in the final challenge I truly believe the best chef did win. Vietnamese immigrant Hung Huynh won. He had impeccable knife skills (although he did almost impale Casey in an early episode running around the kitchen with his knife), he was said not to be a team player (but this was about being Top Chef not working together on a line or in a kitchen) and some thought his food lacked soul but in the end the judges got it right and he fired on all cylinders when the Heat got hot. Hung is the executive sous chef at Guy Savoy in Las Vegas and plans to stay in his position for several more years. Lets face it $100,000 after taxes isn't going to change his life.
I don't read my local paper the Times Union (the Times Useless as I call it) very often. But while waiting for my latte at Starbucks last night I glanced thru the paper and found this article had the paper had about Hung's Bittersweet Victory:
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=629152&category=LIFE&BCCode=&newsdate=10/12/2007&TextPage=1
I've never been to his parents restaurant outside of Pittsfield, but I've passed it many times as I spent almost every summer weekend for 5 years down in Stockbridge at Rob's (my old dead-head beau) parent's house.
So today I head out to fill the car with gas, get the car inspected, get the USA Today and get money out for NYC tomorrow. I get gas at Stewart's (cheapest at $2.89 a gallon) but they are out of the USA today so I stop at the Mobil and get the paper there. I want a wake-up soda but its too pricey at both these places and I have a punch card for a freebie at Hess so I stop there. The Times Union catches my eye. On the front page in a column to the left of the feature headline I see....PRAYERS FOLLOW PROFESSOR'S ARREST. Immediately my heart dropped. I knew in my gut that a friend of mine had been arrested. We both are past president's of the running club. Earlier in the year another mutual friend disclosed that he and a couple other friends were worried about our friend's gambling on basketball. In fact one intervened. But those of us who have wrestled with addictions no that addicts need to feed our jones:
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=629445&category=FRONTPG&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=10/12/2007
Needless to say a sobering and sad start to my birthday weekend. This is a person that I have worked with on committee's and at races, I sent him PaceSetter's when he was recovering from spinal meningitis and from which he almost died. Ive shared many a laugh and he is a great albeit wordy storyteller. This is person who also watched another friend get paralyzed when a car plowed into a group of the top Capital District runner's who were out on their daily training run. He is a great person with an illness that anyone of us could succomb to. I just remember we are powerless over lot's of things: Outsourcing of jobs, bad relationships, addictive and destructive behaviors, family member's. Today I try to live my life in moderation rather then the more is better girl that I was.
Tomorrow up to 1800 athletes from about 50 countries will swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 and run 26.2 in a true test of athletic ability at the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon World Championship . Many of these folks have overcome incredible personal hardships to toe the line in Kona. It's is a feat this out of shape dry-docked zoftig former runner/triathlete could only dream about qualifying for now. When its broadcast in December look for some incredible human interest stories. Ive had friends compete in Kona. They've been baked in the sun of the lava fields, blown off their bikes from the wind, swallowed enough sea water to get sick to their stomachs but they all have finished with a life changing experience to talk about and a hell of a story to tell. To all those athletes toeing the line tomorrow good luck and GodSpeed.
And congratulations to Al Gore for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. You may be one of the best president's we never had.
People overcome incredible hardships to get where they are today and to become the people they are today. I had my battle with alcohol and one day at a time I have managed to stay sober 17 years and 9 months. I always say my problems are those of wants not needs (problems of luxury). I have been blessed with good health other then allergies and asthma and now the afflictions of middle age.
Most of you know if you read my blog that I became a fan of Top Chef this season. Although I was routing for Casey the female chef in the final four who faltered in the final challenge I truly believe the best chef did win. Vietnamese immigrant Hung Huynh won. He had impeccable knife skills (although he did almost impale Casey in an early episode running around the kitchen with his knife), he was said not to be a team player (but this was about being Top Chef not working together on a line or in a kitchen) and some thought his food lacked soul but in the end the judges got it right and he fired on all cylinders when the Heat got hot. Hung is the executive sous chef at Guy Savoy in Las Vegas and plans to stay in his position for several more years. Lets face it $100,000 after taxes isn't going to change his life.
I don't read my local paper the Times Union (the Times Useless as I call it) very often. But while waiting for my latte at Starbucks last night I glanced thru the paper and found this article had the paper had about Hung's Bittersweet Victory:
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=629152&category=LIFE&BCCode=&newsdate=10/12/2007&TextPage=1
I've never been to his parents restaurant outside of Pittsfield, but I've passed it many times as I spent almost every summer weekend for 5 years down in Stockbridge at Rob's (my old dead-head beau) parent's house.
So today I head out to fill the car with gas, get the car inspected, get the USA Today and get money out for NYC tomorrow. I get gas at Stewart's (cheapest at $2.89 a gallon) but they are out of the USA today so I stop at the Mobil and get the paper there. I want a wake-up soda but its too pricey at both these places and I have a punch card for a freebie at Hess so I stop there. The Times Union catches my eye. On the front page in a column to the left of the feature headline I see....PRAYERS FOLLOW PROFESSOR'S ARREST. Immediately my heart dropped. I knew in my gut that a friend of mine had been arrested. We both are past president's of the running club. Earlier in the year another mutual friend disclosed that he and a couple other friends were worried about our friend's gambling on basketball. In fact one intervened. But those of us who have wrestled with addictions no that addicts need to feed our jones:
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=629445&category=FRONTPG&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=10/12/2007
Needless to say a sobering and sad start to my birthday weekend. This is a person that I have worked with on committee's and at races, I sent him PaceSetter's when he was recovering from spinal meningitis and from which he almost died. Ive shared many a laugh and he is a great albeit wordy storyteller. This is person who also watched another friend get paralyzed when a car plowed into a group of the top Capital District runner's who were out on their daily training run. He is a great person with an illness that anyone of us could succomb to. I just remember we are powerless over lot's of things: Outsourcing of jobs, bad relationships, addictive and destructive behaviors, family member's. Today I try to live my life in moderation rather then the more is better girl that I was.
Tomorrow up to 1800 athletes from about 50 countries will swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 and run 26.2 in a true test of athletic ability at the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon World Championship . Many of these folks have overcome incredible personal hardships to toe the line in Kona. It's is a feat this out of shape dry-docked zoftig former runner/triathlete could only dream about qualifying for now. When its broadcast in December look for some incredible human interest stories. Ive had friends compete in Kona. They've been baked in the sun of the lava fields, blown off their bikes from the wind, swallowed enough sea water to get sick to their stomachs but they all have finished with a life changing experience to talk about and a hell of a story to tell. To all those athletes toeing the line tomorrow good luck and GodSpeed.
And congratulations to Al Gore for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. You may be one of the best president's we never had.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Weekly Bo-Donkey and Bluff Poker League
Round 4 of the Bo-donkey for IG. I bubbled in 4th but managed to take home T$109 dollars basically earning a buy-in to the 100k guarantee. Not bad for a couple hours work. I now have a T$401 and over $100 cash so I'm in good shape on the Dog. Bodog has been extremely generous to us Bloggers with the added T$ and Smokkee has been the host with the most.
Bodog gets props/kudos for correcting an error with the Tuesday nite tourney on the fly. They set it up with hour long levels and a break every ten minutes. With the deep stack structure we would have been there all nite. Fine for the semi-retired folks like MiamiDon and the West coasters. But bad for us East coasters. Smokkee got support on the phone and support cancelled the tourney and set a new one up to start at 9:20 EST. Not many sites other then perhaps Pokerstars are responsive like that.
So in four outings in the Bodonkey I have 1 in the money 3rd/two fourths (earning my t$11 back in one and t$109 in the other plus my t$11 back) and one semi-early exit. Ive been using my tourney dollars to buyin to the blogger tourneys which I earned from the Rounders Radio WSOP Main Event seat that was divided up back in June.
Some of you folks may be familiar with the Bluff Poker Tour. I played a bunch of the events which used to be held on multiple sites until the UIGEA de-railed it. This years tour is on one site: Carbon poker (a Poker.com skin). The tour kicked off with a free-roll last nite which had entries to various tourneys. I was in the top ten most of the tourney. My demise was sealed when I raised to $3600 on the button with the blinds $1200/$600 (and an ante). I had about T8000 left. A smaller stack pushed all in and so for another 2000+ I make the call. Its AKos vs JJ and of course I double up the shorty with a K on the river. That left me with about 2000 and into the BB I went. I pushes pretty much pot committed with 6Ts and missed. Out I went in 13th. I did earn an entry into a $10000 guarantee tournament. Head over to the Bluff forum for details on the weekly league. Top prize is a Main Event seat and runner-up prizes are seats for smaller buy-in WSOP tourneys. The league will run thru April and starts on the 17th.
This weekend is the Poker October Weekend up at Turning Stone. I wanted to play the turbo deep-stack Sunday which is T10,000 starting chips and 20 minute levels, but the Pokerstars blogger tourney is Sunday with fabulous prizes. Ray/Snake5970 is up there now. He busted out about 60th of 193 in today's $340 buy-in. One hand before the second break will haunt him for sure. Had he won the hand he would have had about T54000 chips and smooth sailing for a deep finish (KK for Snake vs AK vs AK (both shorties one I think was allin preflop and the other post flop after calling Snakes bet on a 5 high board with no Ace) vs JJ that a weak tight Asian Lady hemmed and hawed about calling Snake on. You know the rest: Asian lady makes the call and the Jacks hit a set on the turn or river. Last I spoke to him he was playing cash and some donkey had just sucked out on the river on him in a $160 pot.
There were some good players there per Snake. The winner of the Deep Stack tourney at the Albany Poker Cup was present(who I played against most of that bubble day for IG) . The 1983 WSOP Main Event runner-up was also present. Apparently the man dropped this little ditty and Snake had me google the dude only knowing his first name was Rod and the fact that he was runner-up to Tom McEvoy. Apparently the man's memory must be a little foggy cause he said 1982 was his runner up year. IG is a super sleuth and the 1982 runner-up was Dewey Tomko. Now Snake knows what Dewey Tomko looks like and of course the names didnt match and Tom McEvoy won in 1983. While on the phone and working mind you I came up with the dude's name...... Rod Peate.
Of course he had a wonderful idea (Im off tomorrow) which if presented at 2 PM rather then after 7PM when I was at Starbucks would have been doable and a great start to my birthday weekend. If it wasn't raining cats and dogs here, and if my car wasn't overdue on its inspection by two weeks and need a full tank of gas and if my bankroll wasn't in the bank, I'd be on my way to Turning Stone to play poker into the wee hours with him. The tourney tomorrow is a $500 buy-in however and we all know Im not really a cash game player. GRRRRRR...............
So rather then bewail the fact that Im not on my way to playing live at TROCK with Snake and eating buffets etc. I fired up the computer and played a Poker-Analysis freeroll league game and finished 3rd for a few bucks. So Ive been playing really well all week. I made some really good plays when pot odds dictated I make the calls with drawing hands and I got paid off when they hit. Most importantly Im playing position better then I have been recently. Lets hope this translates into a nice finish tomorrow nite when Week 3 of the Adirondack Poker League gets underway at 6:10 PM at our new home in Ft Edward.
I turn another year older on October 13th (where does the time go?) and its my 10 year annniversary at my job the same day (I work in the Dental division of a major health insurance carrier). Im off to NYC Saturday for a show with my mom and family friends aka the geriatric set. (Jerry and Judy and Frank and Barbara). We are having breakfast in Soho and possibly dinner at Basilica if we can get in as mom passed on reservations there. Sunday will be a day of poker and football. I postponed pizza from Labella's till then. Im craving really good Deli right now.
Bodog gets props/kudos for correcting an error with the Tuesday nite tourney on the fly. They set it up with hour long levels and a break every ten minutes. With the deep stack structure we would have been there all nite. Fine for the semi-retired folks like MiamiDon and the West coasters. But bad for us East coasters. Smokkee got support on the phone and support cancelled the tourney and set a new one up to start at 9:20 EST. Not many sites other then perhaps Pokerstars are responsive like that.
So in four outings in the Bodonkey I have 1 in the money 3rd/two fourths (earning my t$11 back in one and t$109 in the other plus my t$11 back) and one semi-early exit. Ive been using my tourney dollars to buyin to the blogger tourneys which I earned from the Rounders Radio WSOP Main Event seat that was divided up back in June.
Some of you folks may be familiar with the Bluff Poker Tour. I played a bunch of the events which used to be held on multiple sites until the UIGEA de-railed it. This years tour is on one site: Carbon poker (a Poker.com skin). The tour kicked off with a free-roll last nite which had entries to various tourneys. I was in the top ten most of the tourney. My demise was sealed when I raised to $3600 on the button with the blinds $1200/$600 (and an ante). I had about T8000 left. A smaller stack pushed all in and so for another 2000+ I make the call. Its AKos vs JJ and of course I double up the shorty with a K on the river. That left me with about 2000 and into the BB I went. I pushes pretty much pot committed with 6Ts and missed. Out I went in 13th. I did earn an entry into a $10000 guarantee tournament. Head over to the Bluff forum for details on the weekly league. Top prize is a Main Event seat and runner-up prizes are seats for smaller buy-in WSOP tourneys. The league will run thru April and starts on the 17th.
This weekend is the Poker October Weekend up at Turning Stone. I wanted to play the turbo deep-stack Sunday which is T10,000 starting chips and 20 minute levels, but the Pokerstars blogger tourney is Sunday with fabulous prizes. Ray/Snake5970 is up there now. He busted out about 60th of 193 in today's $340 buy-in. One hand before the second break will haunt him for sure. Had he won the hand he would have had about T54000 chips and smooth sailing for a deep finish (KK for Snake vs AK vs AK (both shorties one I think was allin preflop and the other post flop after calling Snakes bet on a 5 high board with no Ace) vs JJ that a weak tight Asian Lady hemmed and hawed about calling Snake on. You know the rest: Asian lady makes the call and the Jacks hit a set on the turn or river. Last I spoke to him he was playing cash and some donkey had just sucked out on the river on him in a $160 pot.
There were some good players there per Snake. The winner of the Deep Stack tourney at the Albany Poker Cup was present(who I played against most of that bubble day for IG) . The 1983 WSOP Main Event runner-up was also present. Apparently the man dropped this little ditty and Snake had me google the dude only knowing his first name was Rod and the fact that he was runner-up to Tom McEvoy. Apparently the man's memory must be a little foggy cause he said 1982 was his runner up year. IG is a super sleuth and the 1982 runner-up was Dewey Tomko. Now Snake knows what Dewey Tomko looks like and of course the names didnt match and Tom McEvoy won in 1983. While on the phone and working mind you I came up with the dude's name...... Rod Peate.
Of course he had a wonderful idea (Im off tomorrow) which if presented at 2 PM rather then after 7PM when I was at Starbucks would have been doable and a great start to my birthday weekend. If it wasn't raining cats and dogs here, and if my car wasn't overdue on its inspection by two weeks and need a full tank of gas and if my bankroll wasn't in the bank, I'd be on my way to Turning Stone to play poker into the wee hours with him. The tourney tomorrow is a $500 buy-in however and we all know Im not really a cash game player. GRRRRRR...............
So rather then bewail the fact that Im not on my way to playing live at TROCK with Snake and eating buffets etc. I fired up the computer and played a Poker-Analysis freeroll league game and finished 3rd for a few bucks. So Ive been playing really well all week. I made some really good plays when pot odds dictated I make the calls with drawing hands and I got paid off when they hit. Most importantly Im playing position better then I have been recently. Lets hope this translates into a nice finish tomorrow nite when Week 3 of the Adirondack Poker League gets underway at 6:10 PM at our new home in Ft Edward.
I turn another year older on October 13th (where does the time go?) and its my 10 year annniversary at my job the same day (I work in the Dental division of a major health insurance carrier). Im off to NYC Saturday for a show with my mom and family friends aka the geriatric set. (Jerry and Judy and Frank and Barbara). We are having breakfast in Soho and possibly dinner at Basilica if we can get in as mom passed on reservations there. Sunday will be a day of poker and football. I postponed pizza from Labella's till then. Im craving really good Deli right now.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
WCOOP Main Event Collusion ??
I played a little on-line poker last week, Simultaneously winning a $2 Omaha8 buy-in over 21 runners on Vegas 24/7 (Absolute Poker skin) and finishing 3rd in the Bodonkey, turning $11 Tourney dollars into $25 cold hard US$$$.
Friday nite was APL week 2. Back to back final tables for IG, back to back 8th place finishes. I pushed all in on my big blind with pocket threes when I didnt need to and ran it into the UTG (new-comer Zack's) pocket tens. Because numbers are down we have only been paying top 4 spots vs last years top 6. Snake5970 managed to nurse his pitiful small stack to a 4th place in the money finish proving that he is a balla even with about 7 beers in him. The new jeans I bought at Kohl's (with the coupon) were a hit too.
Last Monday I was able to watch most of the final table of the WCOOP ME which by my estimate came in at 22 hours (Ive lasted 14 live and never got tired once the adrenaline gets coursing thru the system) . Actually, make that the final two tables. I didnt have to sign on to the phones till 10:30 AM and since I was hopping on and off for various stints I kept Pstars up and followed along when I could.
Snake and I didnt get a chance to really talk Friday nite as I left when I busted but he called me Saturday Afternoon to fill me in on the details and catch-up. So as usual we talked poker and some sports goings ons and our discussion mades its way around to the the upcoming FTOPs on Full Tilt (Im still in exile but may return), How Western Union transfers to pokerstars are fast but you are raped with the fee (I wired $250 and it cost me $29 - Epassporte may be slower but its cheaper) .
I then of course mentioned the WCOOP. First I will state that Ive been busy with watching lots of TV and have been behind on blog reading. So I of course pose the question to Snake " I wonder if Chad Brown took over for Vanessa at any time or assisted her?". It's no secret that the two are a couple. Usually when we discuss Chad we try to guess his real age since its no secret Chad refuses to divulge it. Of course Snake (who is 44), always says "No doubt hes older then me... gotta be at least 50". I of course am not so sure since Im going to be 47 next Saturday and dont really look it either (without the benefit of Botox, I might add)...... Sorry Chad, but even if you are pushing AARP age you're a good looking man. Somehow or other we diverged to Marion Jones pleading guilty to doping and the BALCO fiasco as well as Floyd Landis being stripped of his Tour de France title and didnt revisit the WCOOP.
Anyway out of boredom today I decide to google 'WCOOP main event collusion" for shits and giggles. I got more then I bargained for as up popped various threads on various forums ( 2+2 and NeverWin Poker)
First there was rumours of soft-playing and chip-dumping as Chad (Stelladora) and Vanessa (LadyMaverick) were at the same table early on and people are hypothesizing that Vanessa who had a big stack didnt put her boyfriend to the test for his chips when she should have. Not sure how that is construed as chip dumping since that is usually when two equal stacks are involved. I dont know all the details but it seems like Chad's stack at the time wasnt enough to really give Vanessa a bigger boost then the stack she had already acquired. Besides, being a team pokerstars player I reckon she is scrutinized pretty heavily. I you review the pocketfives hand histories I link to below note the prescence of another top online player SamENole
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=12316387&page=5&fpart=1&vc=1
and
http://www.pocketfives.com/B2EA1C20-9912-4F8B-A10F-64F3012AA614.aspx
Then there is the post that Nitbuster the 6th place finisher was really a double secret account of none other then Josh Arieh. Come to find out Josh has apparently been accused of colluding or multi-accounting at the cash game tables at pokerstars. This allegation came from some railbirds intrepretation of something Daniel Negreanu said as a WCOOP commentator about Daniel knowing that Nitbuster belonged to Josh or slipping and saying "Josh" (who is one of Daniel's good friends). Now isnt Josh a Bodog sponsered pro. (Do the pros have exclusives with their sites or are they allowed to play elsewhere or does it depend on the contract)
Finally, the biggest allegation is that TheVoid, pro Mark Teltscher who won the WCOOP over Ka$ino (there was a slight chop) multi-accounted and is being investigated by pokerstars. There is a huge thread over on 2 + 2 that made my mind go numb much as the Brandi Hawbaker thread did. Apparently his real account is play2kill and TheVoid account was a newly created account that is registered to his sister.
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=12335302&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1
This Hendon Mob report has a nice recap of last weeks alleged cheating in poker.
http://www.thehendonmob.com/poker_news/5th_of_october
Overshadowed by all this is the fact that the PokerPixie aka Anna 'VietCutie' Wroblewski finished in 16th.
Finally, this is old news but is Jose Canseco such a loser that he had to enter a LadiesOnly Tourney as a protest?
http://www.pokernews.com/news/2007/09/womens-poker-spotlight-canseco-enters-tourney.htm
Happy Sleuthing
Friday nite was APL week 2. Back to back final tables for IG, back to back 8th place finishes. I pushed all in on my big blind with pocket threes when I didnt need to and ran it into the UTG (new-comer Zack's) pocket tens. Because numbers are down we have only been paying top 4 spots vs last years top 6. Snake5970 managed to nurse his pitiful small stack to a 4th place in the money finish proving that he is a balla even with about 7 beers in him. The new jeans I bought at Kohl's (with the coupon) were a hit too.
Last Monday I was able to watch most of the final table of the WCOOP ME which by my estimate came in at 22 hours (Ive lasted 14 live and never got tired once the adrenaline gets coursing thru the system) . Actually, make that the final two tables. I didnt have to sign on to the phones till 10:30 AM and since I was hopping on and off for various stints I kept Pstars up and followed along when I could.
Snake and I didnt get a chance to really talk Friday nite as I left when I busted but he called me Saturday Afternoon to fill me in on the details and catch-up. So as usual we talked poker and some sports goings ons and our discussion mades its way around to the the upcoming FTOPs on Full Tilt (Im still in exile but may return), How Western Union transfers to pokerstars are fast but you are raped with the fee (I wired $250 and it cost me $29 - Epassporte may be slower but its cheaper) .
I then of course mentioned the WCOOP. First I will state that Ive been busy with watching lots of TV and have been behind on blog reading. So I of course pose the question to Snake " I wonder if Chad Brown took over for Vanessa at any time or assisted her?". It's no secret that the two are a couple. Usually when we discuss Chad we try to guess his real age since its no secret Chad refuses to divulge it. Of course Snake (who is 44), always says "No doubt hes older then me... gotta be at least 50". I of course am not so sure since Im going to be 47 next Saturday and dont really look it either (without the benefit of Botox, I might add)...... Sorry Chad, but even if you are pushing AARP age you're a good looking man. Somehow or other we diverged to Marion Jones pleading guilty to doping and the BALCO fiasco as well as Floyd Landis being stripped of his Tour de France title and didnt revisit the WCOOP.
Anyway out of boredom today I decide to google 'WCOOP main event collusion" for shits and giggles. I got more then I bargained for as up popped various threads on various forums ( 2+2 and NeverWin Poker)
First there was rumours of soft-playing and chip-dumping as Chad (Stelladora) and Vanessa (LadyMaverick) were at the same table early on and people are hypothesizing that Vanessa who had a big stack didnt put her boyfriend to the test for his chips when she should have. Not sure how that is construed as chip dumping since that is usually when two equal stacks are involved. I dont know all the details but it seems like Chad's stack at the time wasnt enough to really give Vanessa a bigger boost then the stack she had already acquired. Besides, being a team pokerstars player I reckon she is scrutinized pretty heavily. I you review the pocketfives hand histories I link to below note the prescence of another top online player SamENole
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=12316387&page=5&fpart=1&vc=1
and
http://www.pocketfives.com/B2EA1C20-9912-4F8B-A10F-64F3012AA614.aspx
Then there is the post that Nitbuster the 6th place finisher was really a double secret account of none other then Josh Arieh. Come to find out Josh has apparently been accused of colluding or multi-accounting at the cash game tables at pokerstars. This allegation came from some railbirds intrepretation of something Daniel Negreanu said as a WCOOP commentator about Daniel knowing that Nitbuster belonged to Josh or slipping and saying "Josh" (who is one of Daniel's good friends). Now isnt Josh a Bodog sponsered pro. (Do the pros have exclusives with their sites or are they allowed to play elsewhere or does it depend on the contract)
Finally, the biggest allegation is that TheVoid, pro Mark Teltscher who won the WCOOP over Ka$ino (there was a slight chop) multi-accounted and is being investigated by pokerstars. There is a huge thread over on 2 + 2 that made my mind go numb much as the Brandi Hawbaker thread did. Apparently his real account is play2kill and TheVoid account was a newly created account that is registered to his sister.
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=12335302&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1
This Hendon Mob report has a nice recap of last weeks alleged cheating in poker.
http://www.thehendonmob.com/poker_news/5th_of_october
Overshadowed by all this is the fact that the PokerPixie aka Anna 'VietCutie' Wroblewski finished in 16th.
Finally, this is old news but is Jose Canseco such a loser that he had to enter a LadiesOnly Tourney as a protest?
http://www.pokernews.com/news/2007/09/womens-poker-spotlight-canseco-enters-tourney.htm
Happy Sleuthing
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
2007 World Blogger Championship of Online Poker
I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!
This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.
Registration code: 4360426
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Royal Flush
PokerStars Game #12364541434: Tournament #61820741, 50FPP Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2007/09/30 - 19:17:53 (ET)Table '61820741 184' 9-max Seat #1 is the buttonSeat 1: tilteration (3970 in chips) Seat 2: slacker9494 (11605 in chips) Seat 3: irongirl01 (2525 in chips) Seat 4: twanderson20 (13708 in chips) Seat 6: Debbie1955 (3810 in chips) Seat 7: sugarchuck (7686 in chips) Seat 8: bareneck (18075 in chips) Seat 9: geoczech (575 in chips) is sitting outslacker9494: posts small blind 75irongirl01: posts big blind 150*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to irongirl01 [Jd Ah]twanderson20: raises 300 to 450Debbie1955: folds sugarchuck: folds PHUCDOYLE is connected bareneck: calls 450geoczech: folds tilteration: folds slacker9494: folds irongirl01: calls 300*** FLOP *** [Ad 9s Qd]irongirl01: bets 450twanderson20: folds bareneck: raises 1050 to 1500irongirl01: raises 575 to 2075 and is all-inbareneck: calls 575*** TURN *** [Ad 9s Qd] [Kd]*** RIVER *** [Ad 9s Qd Kd] [Td]*** SHOW DOWN ***irongirl01: shows [Jd Ah] (a Royal Flush)bareneck: shows [9d 9h] (a flush, Ace high)irongirl01 collected 5575 from pot*** SUMMARY ***Total pot 5575 Rake 0 Board [Ad 9s Qd Kd Td]Seat 1: tilteration (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
WCOOP Main Event Pokerstars
No Im not playing the buy-in is a little steep for me!!! . I decided to play Poker Player roulette and pull up Jordan Morgan's table (ImSoLuckyO)... Not only do I get Jordan but I get Roothlus (Adam Levy) and Zangbezan24 (Sorel Mizzi) and LURPED (Marcus Gonsalves) at the same table. Wow talk about loaded guns.
Other Top Names I see so far.. Shaniac (Shane Schleger) , KidPoker (Daniel Negreanu), RugDoctor (David Williams), ThorLaden (My friend Fred's stepson aka Steve Weinstein), Lady Maverick (Vanessa Rousso), Joe Hachem, Greg Raymer (Fossilman) who gets a big congrats on his WCOOP Pot Limit Omaha win. And of course Gigabet (Darrel Dicken), EmptySeat88 (Scott Fischman), No Mercy (Isabelle Mercier), Katja Thater and RainKhan (Hevad Khan), and Rizen (Eric Lynch).
This should go long into the night. Amazing turnout with the buy-in at $2500 + $100 and the Aruba Poker Classic set to get underway tomorrow and the US Poker Championship at the Taj Mahal beginning its run. Talk at the tables is are you going to Foxwoods or WPT Niagara, are you in the states??? no Im playing from Europe and staying here till such and such (think that was Sorel) ? Some railbirds are catching the action from their laptops in the airports . Its kind of fun to eavesdrop.
20000 starting chips with 30 minute blinds. This is an online poker players wet dream.
Gigli award to Samuel032 2998th (AA vs KK perhaps)?
Dario Minieri has hit the Rail: 2981 of 2998
Poker for me has gone something like this today:
Pokerstars $100000 guarantee..... Dude raises to $450 (3x bb) I reraise with JJ to $900 dude reraises me. I move all in for my remaining $1500 or so and get called by TT. Do I double up. Of course not.....He hits a set on the flop and IGO.
Pokerstars $5k guarantee..... Deciding to play really tight because yesterdays tourney which I cashed in was aggro and my stack see-sawed early on....I limp against the bb with 69os. Check.. Flop comes 66K (two diamonds).... I bet the pot dude reraised me.. I dont think he has a 6 with a better kicker. No he has slowplayed pocket aces and rivers an Ace... IGO. Deepstack $11 buyin on stars. I can not win a hand for the life of me and my dominating hands are getting beat by weaker hands. (FULL TILT POKER DEJA VU) . IG is at 0-3 on stars today. Combine that with the Ultimate Bet $5.50 Online forum challenge donkfest and I am having a "fun" day. I should have gone and played live SIGH.
I just got an email about a big stack poker tourney with a prime rib dinner in January. In September there was a tourney with a clam bake. Do we know how to roll here in NY or what?. Trent hit up the Empire Poker League Cardroom again this Thursday and went home up about 2-3 buyins (not sure if he bought in for $200 or $300) but per Lex or Mike he cashed out over $900/
Football picks suck so far although Snake's Cowboys have pulled thru for me once again. I think that is the only early game I won. MiamiDon was right upset city with the dogs all at home this week. My late picks look a little better.
Random thought would anyone be interested in a Upstate NY blogger gathering say in August next year? There could be a Thursday nite tourney at the Albany Poker League headquarters as well as Sunday (for you cash gamers I can send you to the ESPL headquarters)... Friday could be a trip to the Racetrack/Racino etc and a nice dinner out in SPA city. Saturday could be a Steak/Lobster/Clambake and tourney at either Krauses or Lanthiers Grove hosted by me. I could always run it/overlap it at the same time as the Empire State Poker Classic up at TROCK. Families (wives and children) could make a go of this as the Great Escape and Water Park is about an hour north of here.
Ray Rahme (2007 WSOP 3rd place finisher) is out 2968th..... Daniel Negreanu 65160 and the bigstack one hour into the tourney.
Other Top Names I see so far.. Shaniac (Shane Schleger) , KidPoker (Daniel Negreanu), RugDoctor (David Williams), ThorLaden (My friend Fred's stepson aka Steve Weinstein), Lady Maverick (Vanessa Rousso), Joe Hachem, Greg Raymer (Fossilman) who gets a big congrats on his WCOOP Pot Limit Omaha win. And of course Gigabet (Darrel Dicken), EmptySeat88 (Scott Fischman), No Mercy (Isabelle Mercier), Katja Thater and RainKhan (Hevad Khan), and Rizen (Eric Lynch).
This should go long into the night. Amazing turnout with the buy-in at $2500 + $100 and the Aruba Poker Classic set to get underway tomorrow and the US Poker Championship at the Taj Mahal beginning its run. Talk at the tables is are you going to Foxwoods or WPT Niagara, are you in the states??? no Im playing from Europe and staying here till such and such (think that was Sorel) ? Some railbirds are catching the action from their laptops in the airports . Its kind of fun to eavesdrop.
20000 starting chips with 30 minute blinds. This is an online poker players wet dream.
Gigli award to Samuel032 2998th (AA vs KK perhaps)?
Dario Minieri has hit the Rail: 2981 of 2998
Poker for me has gone something like this today:
Pokerstars $100000 guarantee..... Dude raises to $450 (3x bb) I reraise with JJ to $900 dude reraises me. I move all in for my remaining $1500 or so and get called by TT. Do I double up. Of course not.....He hits a set on the flop and IGO.
Pokerstars $5k guarantee..... Deciding to play really tight because yesterdays tourney which I cashed in was aggro and my stack see-sawed early on....I limp against the bb with 69os. Check.. Flop comes 66K (two diamonds).... I bet the pot dude reraised me.. I dont think he has a 6 with a better kicker. No he has slowplayed pocket aces and rivers an Ace... IGO. Deepstack $11 buyin on stars. I can not win a hand for the life of me and my dominating hands are getting beat by weaker hands. (FULL TILT POKER DEJA VU) . IG is at 0-3 on stars today. Combine that with the Ultimate Bet $5.50 Online forum challenge donkfest and I am having a "fun" day. I should have gone and played live SIGH.
I just got an email about a big stack poker tourney with a prime rib dinner in January. In September there was a tourney with a clam bake. Do we know how to roll here in NY or what?. Trent hit up the Empire Poker League Cardroom again this Thursday and went home up about 2-3 buyins (not sure if he bought in for $200 or $300) but per Lex or Mike he cashed out over $900/
Football picks suck so far although Snake's Cowboys have pulled thru for me once again. I think that is the only early game I won. MiamiDon was right upset city with the dogs all at home this week. My late picks look a little better.
Random thought would anyone be interested in a Upstate NY blogger gathering say in August next year? There could be a Thursday nite tourney at the Albany Poker League headquarters as well as Sunday (for you cash gamers I can send you to the ESPL headquarters)... Friday could be a trip to the Racetrack/Racino etc and a nice dinner out in SPA city. Saturday could be a Steak/Lobster/Clambake and tourney at either Krauses or Lanthiers Grove hosted by me. I could always run it/overlap it at the same time as the Empire State Poker Classic up at TROCK. Families (wives and children) could make a go of this as the Great Escape and Water Park is about an hour north of here.
Ray Rahme (2007 WSOP 3rd place finisher) is out 2968th..... Daniel Negreanu 65160 and the bigstack one hour into the tourney.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Colorado Buffs PWN the Oklahoma Sooners
SHIP IT!!!!!!!!!
Oklahoma was favored by 21 (and ranked 3rd or 4th in the country depending on poll used). CU was at home ( homecoming weekend). With 2 seconds left Kevin Eberhart kicked the game winning field goal. He's not Mason Crosby by a long shot but he got the job done when it counted today. I leapt off the couch in a victory jig. Today I didnt pull my hamstring (as I did once before in a upset of Nebraska when I tangled with the handles of my pocketbook).
Woot Woot
I cashed in the 5k Pokerstars guarantee pretty much doubling my buyin. I think I called an all in with AK with about 11k left which was half the average stack at the time (in other words I didnt push first). Was up against Pocket 44's. DQB for the 4's. 264th out of 2188.
Last nite I got squadoosh for cards ( I think the only pair I got was 44 during 3+ hours of play) in the APL season opener but I did manage to final table for 8th of 22 which is a better start then last year. We've shortened the blind rounds to 20 minutes and introduced an ante to speed things up. We are down league players. Alot more folks didnt return then previously thought. Snake and I agree, Its going to be a long season ( neither he nor Lex nor Silo, Snakes bro final tabled with me). I had to table captain the people not paying attention, who wouldnt shut up and who were getting pie-eyed and who dont announce their actions. And no its not the new young guns who are good players, its the folks who are in Season #3 in the league. I had to get up from the table and take some deep breathes early on. Next week the IPOD will be brought out for sure.
Oklahoma was favored by 21 (and ranked 3rd or 4th in the country depending on poll used). CU was at home ( homecoming weekend). With 2 seconds left Kevin Eberhart kicked the game winning field goal. He's not Mason Crosby by a long shot but he got the job done when it counted today. I leapt off the couch in a victory jig. Today I didnt pull my hamstring (as I did once before in a upset of Nebraska when I tangled with the handles of my pocketbook).
Woot Woot
I cashed in the 5k Pokerstars guarantee pretty much doubling my buyin. I think I called an all in with AK with about 11k left which was half the average stack at the time (in other words I didnt push first). Was up against Pocket 44's. DQB for the 4's. 264th out of 2188.
Last nite I got squadoosh for cards ( I think the only pair I got was 44 during 3+ hours of play) in the APL season opener but I did manage to final table for 8th of 22 which is a better start then last year. We've shortened the blind rounds to 20 minutes and introduced an ante to speed things up. We are down league players. Alot more folks didnt return then previously thought. Snake and I agree, Its going to be a long season ( neither he nor Lex nor Silo, Snakes bro final tabled with me). I had to table captain the people not paying attention, who wouldnt shut up and who were getting pie-eyed and who dont announce their actions. And no its not the new young guns who are good players, its the folks who are in Season #3 in the league. I had to get up from the table and take some deep breathes early on. Next week the IPOD will be brought out for sure.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Guilty Pleasures and Random Musings
I've played all of about 1 hour of online poker all week and haven't missed it at all. That was in a Poker Analysis Razz tourney that I would have killed if it had been Seven-Card Stud High. A frustrating nite because of the donkeys who stay in with their door card over a 9, take one off and stay in when the next card is a K Q J or T. I want to scream at them much as you do when someone doesn't play proper blackjack strategy.
Ray told me Monday nite that he and Lex debated my exit hand in the big game and how bad they felt for me. Lex felt I should have folded the KK there. Especially with a UTG raise and the UTG +1 all in. Sure if I lay down the KK in the SB I still have 29k chips (I was not the shortest stack) but there is still no guarantee I bottom cash. As it was I went out two off the money as they paid 14 not 13. Ray and I concur that I was playing for top three where the big money was and he felt I made the right move with the KK. There was no way I was putting Brandon on AA there. What Lex and Ray didn't know is that Brandon a few hands earlier had gambled with his big stack and called an all in after his pre-flop raise with JT.. The all-in dude had AK and Brandon sucked out a straight. I knew he was capable of raising with much looser starting hand requirements then what you normally see UTG. And that is what makes an aggressive player with a big stack dangerous in the late stages of a tourney when they wake up with a monster. As it was, Ray told me he himself was taken out by Brandon after Brandon had gotten moved from an early table we shared.
So my week has been filled with TV show debuts; Private Practice, Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Big Shots (kind of a Sex in the City for alpha males). I missed Dirty Sexy Money because I opted for the second to the last episode of Top Chef. I also caught America's Next Top Model. Any other good shows out there? I caught a bit of Dancing with the Stars on Monday nite but will get more into it when it gets down to the real fancy footwork.
There are also some really good movies I need to see. Into the Wild based on the fabulous John Krakauer book, Rendition: with Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal, In the Valley of Elah, and The Kingdom: with Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner. Astin looked over the Woodstock Film Festival slate for me, and made some good suggestions. I just realized I'm away two of those days and possibly three so I may not be able to make any of them. I will be in NYC at the theatre one of those days.
I left work at 4:00 yesterday to get my teeth cleaned and checked. This is going to sound nuts but I love having my teeth cleaned because they feel so nice and clean after they are scaled and polished. . I have pretty healthy teeth... Look mom no cavities since 1997 and only one crown in my mouth and no root canals either. I do have lots of old fillings but knock on wood no problems.
The other thing besides clean teeth I love is a fabulous pedicure. Miriam my gal did an awesome job last Friday with a bright Candy Apple Red OPI polish(might as well celebrate apple-picking season hear in upstate NY). I also love someone else to wash my hair. I think it feels cleaner. I found out my gal Linden left where I go around the corner from my house and hasn't hooked up a new gig yet. I just found her after years of my old stylist and I loved the color jobs she did on my hair. She's willing to come to my house until she gets set up somewhere. Fortunately, I'm not quite due yet for a recolor, but I will be in a few weeks (like 2-3).
So after I got my teeth cleaned, I was in a fabulous mood because my weekend had started. I stopped at the market for a salad at Price Chopper's salad bar and then picked up a Starbucks Iced Raspberry Mocha (non-fat with whipped cream :)!!! as well as a delish, yummo White Pizza Margherita (with fresh garlic, basil, fresh tomato, and mozzarella) from LaBella's. The pizza smelled so good I couldnt even wait till my shows started. I wound up skipping the salad and having three slices.
No work today for IG. I paid my mortgage at my main bank, mailed my Gas and electric and Homeowners Assn bills, deposited my Star Refund into my slush fund/poker account at my other bank. Filled the car up with gas for my trip up to Fort Edward for poker tonite. I tried on a pair of jeans that make my legs look long and my butt awesome at Kohls. Even though they were on sale for $29.99 from $48 I didnt buy them because I had a coupon at home for an additional 15% off. I'm gonna dig out the coupon and then go back to get them on my way out. I do definitely need to lose about ten pounds in my tummy because I have a little untoned Buddha Belly going on.
For my final random musing, I was catching a sportscenter clip on Randy Moss and how he is fitting in or not fitting in with the Patriots. I had Randy Moss as one of my Fantasy Wide Receivers when he was at Minnesota, along with Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison. He is one talented player but sometimes left us fans wondering if he was giving his all and of course the media questioned his desire and work ethic. Anyway, this is not a rant on that it is a comment on what a gifted athlete he truly is. I saw Tom Brady throw a long pass downfield and it almost looked like the safety or cornerback on the opposing team was about to intercept until, Randy accelerated into another gear from what seemed like out of nowhere and flew past the defender to make an effortless (or so it seemed) catch. World class track speed is a thing of beauty, world class track speed while catching a ball in pads is magnificent. I was like WOW! WOW! WOW.
Oh yeah, I may need a new refrigerator. My fridge came with the condo (I bought three years ago in June 2004) left behind by the former owners. It appears relatively new but it doesnt seem to be keeping food as cold as it should in the main compartment (freezer is fine). Anything I should be checking and are they worth repairing (of course I will ask the guys tonite)? I could do without having to buy a new fridge now especially since I can only covet a Sub-Zero.
Ray told me Monday nite that he and Lex debated my exit hand in the big game and how bad they felt for me. Lex felt I should have folded the KK there. Especially with a UTG raise and the UTG +1 all in. Sure if I lay down the KK in the SB I still have 29k chips (I was not the shortest stack) but there is still no guarantee I bottom cash. As it was I went out two off the money as they paid 14 not 13. Ray and I concur that I was playing for top three where the big money was and he felt I made the right move with the KK. There was no way I was putting Brandon on AA there. What Lex and Ray didn't know is that Brandon a few hands earlier had gambled with his big stack and called an all in after his pre-flop raise with JT.. The all-in dude had AK and Brandon sucked out a straight. I knew he was capable of raising with much looser starting hand requirements then what you normally see UTG. And that is what makes an aggressive player with a big stack dangerous in the late stages of a tourney when they wake up with a monster. As it was, Ray told me he himself was taken out by Brandon after Brandon had gotten moved from an early table we shared.
So my week has been filled with TV show debuts; Private Practice, Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Big Shots (kind of a Sex in the City for alpha males). I missed Dirty Sexy Money because I opted for the second to the last episode of Top Chef. I also caught America's Next Top Model. Any other good shows out there? I caught a bit of Dancing with the Stars on Monday nite but will get more into it when it gets down to the real fancy footwork.
There are also some really good movies I need to see. Into the Wild based on the fabulous John Krakauer book, Rendition: with Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal, In the Valley of Elah, and The Kingdom: with Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner. Astin looked over the Woodstock Film Festival slate for me, and made some good suggestions. I just realized I'm away two of those days and possibly three so I may not be able to make any of them. I will be in NYC at the theatre one of those days.
I left work at 4:00 yesterday to get my teeth cleaned and checked. This is going to sound nuts but I love having my teeth cleaned because they feel so nice and clean after they are scaled and polished. . I have pretty healthy teeth... Look mom no cavities since 1997 and only one crown in my mouth and no root canals either. I do have lots of old fillings but knock on wood no problems.
The other thing besides clean teeth I love is a fabulous pedicure. Miriam my gal did an awesome job last Friday with a bright Candy Apple Red OPI polish(might as well celebrate apple-picking season hear in upstate NY). I also love someone else to wash my hair. I think it feels cleaner. I found out my gal Linden left where I go around the corner from my house and hasn't hooked up a new gig yet. I just found her after years of my old stylist and I loved the color jobs she did on my hair. She's willing to come to my house until she gets set up somewhere. Fortunately, I'm not quite due yet for a recolor, but I will be in a few weeks (like 2-3).
So after I got my teeth cleaned, I was in a fabulous mood because my weekend had started. I stopped at the market for a salad at Price Chopper's salad bar and then picked up a Starbucks Iced Raspberry Mocha (non-fat with whipped cream :)!!! as well as a delish, yummo White Pizza Margherita (with fresh garlic, basil, fresh tomato, and mozzarella) from LaBella's. The pizza smelled so good I couldnt even wait till my shows started. I wound up skipping the salad and having three slices.
No work today for IG. I paid my mortgage at my main bank, mailed my Gas and electric and Homeowners Assn bills, deposited my Star Refund into my slush fund/poker account at my other bank. Filled the car up with gas for my trip up to Fort Edward for poker tonite. I tried on a pair of jeans that make my legs look long and my butt awesome at Kohls. Even though they were on sale for $29.99 from $48 I didnt buy them because I had a coupon at home for an additional 15% off. I'm gonna dig out the coupon and then go back to get them on my way out. I do definitely need to lose about ten pounds in my tummy because I have a little untoned Buddha Belly going on.
For my final random musing, I was catching a sportscenter clip on Randy Moss and how he is fitting in or not fitting in with the Patriots. I had Randy Moss as one of my Fantasy Wide Receivers when he was at Minnesota, along with Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison. He is one talented player but sometimes left us fans wondering if he was giving his all and of course the media questioned his desire and work ethic. Anyway, this is not a rant on that it is a comment on what a gifted athlete he truly is. I saw Tom Brady throw a long pass downfield and it almost looked like the safety or cornerback on the opposing team was about to intercept until, Randy accelerated into another gear from what seemed like out of nowhere and flew past the defender to make an effortless (or so it seemed) catch. World class track speed is a thing of beauty, world class track speed while catching a ball in pads is magnificent. I was like WOW! WOW! WOW.
Oh yeah, I may need a new refrigerator. My fridge came with the condo (I bought three years ago in June 2004) left behind by the former owners. It appears relatively new but it doesnt seem to be keeping food as cold as it should in the main compartment (freezer is fine). Anything I should be checking and are they worth repairing (of course I will ask the guys tonite)? I could do without having to buy a new fridge now especially since I can only covet a Sub-Zero.
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