Boots' Poker Journal

Pokerstars SNG

2009-01-19T20:11:00.003-06:00

Got down to heads up and about 7 hands in I pick up J 10 hearts and raise it. My opponent min-raises so I call. He floped a monster draw and I had top pair and then I turn a flush draw as well. You know the rest.

BTW, the next hand I picked up QQ and limped and he raised so I smooth called. Flop was 10 high and he moved in. I called and he tabled KK. LOL

Typical Pokerstars Hand

2009-01-10T19:33:00.001-06:00

Running Bad on Pokerstars

2008-09-04T22:20:00.002-05:00

I've been waiting for a megalo all night and I finally got the flop I wanted and got all my chips in on the flop and turned 24 outs and bricked. The other guy made a straight with 9 10 on the turn.

Pokerstars Update

2008-07-18T00:07:00.001-05:00

I'm up to $171.05 on Pokerstars. If I reach the $200 mark it will be a milestone in my pstars career. Ha, that's kinda sad...

Pstars Madness

2008-07-18T00:00:00.002-05:00

Check out the average pot on this table. Keep in mind this is a 5/10 cent table.

WSOP 2008 Recap

2008-07-17T23:56:00.002-05:00

I got smoked in the WSOP Main event bet. NS won easily with strong performances from Mike Matusow, Phil Hellmuth and Hoyt Corkins. It really hurts! I did win the bonus pick with Hevad Khan so that helped ease my pain.

Enlightening Bootsism

2008-07-07T07:17:00.000-05:00

Beware the man who speaks in absolutes.

- Enlightening Bootsism

Enlightening Bootsism

2008-07-03T12:09:00.000-05:00

The worst part of a salad is the lettuce.

- Enlightening Bootsism

WSOP 2008 PICKS

2008-07-02T22:08:00.003-05:00

This is the official list of picks in my WSOP Pool. We each put in $20 and got 24 picks for the Main Event. We'll add up our best 3 picks by where they finished and the lowest number will win the pool. We also got a bonus pick which is worth $5.

ES
Daniel Negreanu
Chris Ferguson
David Singer
John Juanda
Scotty Nguyen
Marcel Luske
Johnny Chan
Dan Harrington
Sam Farha
Prahlad Friedman
Jeff Madsen
Gavin Smith
Mark Seif
Chau Giang
Joe Hachem
Mickey Appleman
Joe Sebok
Eric Hersheler
Gavin Griffin
Robert Mizrachi
Joe Awada
Ryan Duat
Alex Jacob
Vanessa Selbst
*Bonus* = Daniel Alaei

Bootsbane
Nenad Medic
Gus Hansen
Patrik Antonius
Humberto Brenes
JC Tran
Dario Mineri
Layne Flack
Carlos Mortenson
Dave Ulliot
John Hennigan
Dewey Tomko
Antonio Esphandiari
David Oppenheim
Max Pescatori
Tom McEvoy
Howard Lederer
John Phan
Jen Harmon-Traniello
John Gale
David Grey
John D’Agostino
Mike Sexton
Phil Laak
T.J. Cloutier
*Bonus* = Hevad Khan

LT
Barry Greenstein
Erik Siedel
Erik Lindgren
Ted Forrest
Eli Elezra
Huck Seed
Tom Dwan
Alec Torrelli
David Pham
Phil Galfond
Jason Rosenkrantz
Johnny Lodden
Jeff Lisandro
Matt Hawrilenko
Kevin Saul
Doyle Brunson
Amnon Fillippi
Justin Bonomo
Nick Binger
Harabalos Vulgaris
Robert Varkonyi
Brock Parker
Shannon Shorr
Ralph Perry
*Bonus* = Brandon Adams

NS
Phil Ivey
Allen Cunningham
Mike Matusow
Phil Hellmuth
David Benyamine
Kenny Tran
Hoyt Corkins
Micheal Mizrachi
Chad Brown
Freddy Deeb
Andy Bloch
Paul Wasicka
Lee Watkinson
Lee Markholt
Todd Brunson
Ming Ly
Nick Schulman
Lyle Berman
Mike Binger
David Baker
Kirk Morrison
Eskimo Clark
Micheal Dmichelle
Bill Edler
*Bonus* = David Chui

Interesting Sharkscope

2008-07-02T20:39:00.002-05:00

Gotta love Pstars

2008-06-12T22:28:00.001-05:00

3rd hand of a 27 man SNG. Ridiculous...

PokerStars Game #18100315910: Tournament #91871974, $1.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2008/06/12 - 23:25:42 (ET)
Table '91871974 2' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Mr_Heiser12 (640 in chips)
Seat 2: scarfaze463 (2560 in chips)
Seat 3: gumbo2004 (1560 in chips)
Seat 4: DJmYsTiK (1820 in chips)
Seat 5: Drossy Fortu (1460 in chips)
Seat 6: BOOTSBANE (1500 in chips)
Seat 7: MontanaJonny (1500 in chips)
Seat 8: Doc's Yorky (960 in chips)
Seat 9: DinIzzy (1500 in chips)
Drossy Fortu: posts small blind 10
BOOTSBANE: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BOOTSBANE [Qs Qc]
MontanaJonny: raises 40 to 60
Doc's Yorky: folds
DinIzzy: calls 60
Mr_Heiser12: folds
scarfaze463: folds
gumbo2004: calls 60
DJmYsTiK: folds
DJmYsTiK is sitting out
Drossy Fortu: folds
BOOTSBANE: raises 280 to 340
MontanaJonny: raises 540 to 880
DinIzzy: calls 820
gumbo2004: calls 820
BOOTSBANE: calls 540
*** FLOP *** [6h 3h Qd]
BOOTSBANE: bets 620 and is all-in
MontanaJonny: calls 620 and is all-in
DinIzzy: calls 620 and is all-in
gumbo2004: calls 620
*** TURN *** [6h 3h Qd] [8c]
*** RIVER *** [6h 3h Qd 8c] [Js]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BOOTSBANE: shows [Qs Qc] (three of a kind, Queens)
MontanaJonny: shows [Ad Ah] (a pair of Aces)
DinIzzy: shows [Th 9h] (a straight, Eight to Queen)
gumbo2004: shows [As Kh] (high card Ace)
DinIzzy collected 6010 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 6010 Rake 0
Board [6h 3h Qd 8c Js]
Seat 1: Mr_Heiser12 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: scarfaze463 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: gumbo2004 showed [As Kh] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 4: DJmYsTiK (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Drossy Fortu (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: BOOTSBANE (big blind) showed [Qs Qc] and lost with three of a kind, Queens
Seat 7: MontanaJonny showed [Ad Ah] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 8: Doc's Yorky folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: DinIzzy showed [Th 9h] and won (6010) with a straight, Eight to Queen

Pokerstars: Pot Limit Omaha Hi

2008-05-28T21:48:00.002-05:00

I started out grinding with $4 at 2 and 5 cent PLOH.

Milking them for every penny.

PokerStars Game #17763106808: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.02/$0.05) - 2008/05/28 - 22:05:34 (ET)
Table 'Eucharis IV' 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: nyarch ($6.78 in chips)
Seat 2: BOOTSBANE ($5.45 in chips)
Seat 3: ah welll ($5.08 in chips)
Seat 5: 88DODGERS ($8.90 in chips)
Seat 6: Gil n Mel ($11.34 in chips)
88DODGERS: posts small blind $0.02
Gil n Mel: posts big blind $0.05
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BOOTSBANE [As Kh Jd Jc]
nyarch: folds
BOOTSBANE: raises $0.10 to $0.15
ah welll: calls $0.15
88DODGERS: calls $0.13
Gil n Mel: calls $0.10
*** FLOP *** [3s 2c Js]
88DODGERS: bets $0.35
ShrinkyDinky joins the table at seat #4
Gil n Mel: folds
BOOTSBANE: calls $0.35
ah welll: calls $0.35
*** TURN *** [3s 2c Js] [Td]
88DODGERS: checks
BOOTSBANE: bets $1.25
ah welll: calls $1.25
88DODGERS: calls $1.25
*** RIVER *** [3s 2c Js Td] [6d]
88DODGERS: checks
BOOTSBANE: bets $0.95
ah welll: calls $0.95
88DODGERS: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BOOTSBANE: shows [As Kh Jd Jc] (three of a kind, Jacks)
ah welll: mucks hand
BOOTSBANE collected $6.95 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $7.30 Rake $0.35
Board [3s 2c Js Td 6d]
Seat 1: nyarch folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: BOOTSBANE showed [As Kh Jd Jc] and won ($6.95) with three of a kind, Jacks
Seat 3: ah welll (button) mucked [Ts 3d Kc Qs]
Seat 5: 88DODGERS (small blind) folded on the River
Seat 6: Gil n Mel (big blind) folded on the Flop

In this hand where some guy went crazy with a very weak Omaha Hi starting hand (7s 2s 9c Jc) and ended up with the best hand.

PokerStars Game #17763575745: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.02/$0.05) - 2008/05/28 - 22:30:14 (ET)
Table 'Eucharis IV' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: nyarch ($8.52 in chips)
Seat 2: BOOTSBANE ($13.18 in chips)
Seat 3: ah welll ($15.45 in chips)
Seat 4: ShrinkyDinky ($6.09 in chips)
Seat 5: 88DODGERS ($5.67 in chips)
Seat 6: Gil n Mel ($6.31 in chips)
ah welll: posts small blind $0.02
ShrinkyDinky: posts big blind $0.05
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BOOTSBANE [Ad 2c 4s Ah]
88DODGERS said, "lmao"
88DODGERS said, "that was ****ed up"
88DODGERS: raises $0.12 to $0.17
Gil n Mel: calls $0.17
nyarch: folds
BOOTSBANE: raises $0.58 to $0.75
ah welll: folds
ShrinkyDinky: folds
88DODGERS: calls $0.58
Gil n Mel: raises $0.58 to $1.33
BOOTSBANE: raises $3.48 to $4.81
88DODGERS: raises $0.86 to $5.67 and is all-in
Gil n Mel: raises $0.64 to $6.31 and is all-in
BOOTSBANE: calls $1.50
*** FLOP *** [Kc Ac 7h]
*** TURN *** [Kc Ac 7h] [Tc]
*** RIVER *** [Kc Ac 7h Tc] [3c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Gil n Mel: shows [7s 2s 9c Jc] (a flush, Ace high)
BOOTSBANE: shows [Ad 2c 4s Ah] (three of a kind, Aces)
Gil n Mel collected $1.23 from side pot
88DODGERS: mucks hand
Gil n Mel collected $16.23 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $18.36 Main pot $16.23. Side pot $1.23. Rake $0.90
Board [Kc Ac 7h Tc 3c]
Seat 1: nyarch folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: BOOTSBANE (button) showed [Ad 2c 4s Ah] and lost with three of a kind, Aces
Seat 3: ah welll (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: ShrinkyDinky (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: 88DODGERS mucked [4c 8c Kh Kd]
Seat 6: Gil n Mel showed [7s 2s 9c Jc] and won ($17.46) with a flush, Ace high

It didn't last long though. I ended up busting him with some WORLD CLASS calls. (:P) Two of them to be exact. I knew he was nuts so I flopped top pair (not usually a good omaha hand) and went with it.

PokerStars Game #17763656851: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.02/$0.05) - 2008/05/28 - 22:34:19 (ET)
Table 'Eucharis IV' 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 2: BOOTSBANE ($6.77 in chips)
Seat 3: ah welll ($12.43 in chips)
Seat 4: ShrinkyDinky ($12.59 in chips)
Seat 5: 88DODGERS ($13.07 in chips)
Seat 6: Gil n Mel ($10.19 in chips)
Gil n Mel: posts small blind $0.02
Gil n Mel said, "omg"
BOOTSBANE: posts big blind $0.05
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BOOTSBANE [Jh Qs 9s 8h]
ah welll: folds
ShrinkyDinky: calls $0.05
88DODGERS: calls $0.05
Gil n Mel: raises $0.20 to $0.25
BOOTSBANE: raises $0.20 to $0.45
ShrinkyDinky: calls $0.40
88DODGERS: calls $0.40
Gil n Mel: raises $1.80 to $2.25
BOOTSBANE: calls $1.80
ShrinkyDinky: folds
88DODGERS: calls $1.80
*** FLOP *** [4d 8d 2h]
Gil n Mel: bets $6.85
BOOTSBANE: calls $4.52 and is all-in
88DODGERS: raises $3.97 to $10.82 and is all-in
Gil n Mel: calls $1.09 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($2.88) returned to 88DODGERS
*** TURN *** [4d 8d 2h] [3s]
*** RIVER *** [4d 8d 2h 3s] [Qd]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Gil n Mel: shows [As Jc 6d 6s] (a pair of Sixes)
88DODGERS: mucks hand
Gil n Mel collected $6.49 from side pot
BOOTSBANE: shows [Jh Qs 9s 8h] (two pair, Queens and Eights)
BOOTSBANE collected $19.76 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $27.60 Main pot $19.76. Side pot $6.49. Rake $1.35
Board [4d 8d 2h 3s Qd]
Seat 2: BOOTSBANE (big blind) showed [Jh Qs 9s 8h] and won ($19.76) with two pair, Queens and Eights
Seat 3: ah welll folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: ShrinkyDinky folded before Flop
Seat 5: 88DODGERS (button) mucked [Ah 7h Js 3c]
Seat 6: Gil n Mel (small blind) showed [As Jc 6d 6s] and won ($6.49) with a pair of Sixes

Then I picked up aces but I ended up using the other two cards.

PokerStars Game #17763796046: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.02/$0.05) - 2008/05/28 - 22:41:21 (ET)
Table 'Eucharis IV' 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: LadyTu ($1.65 in chips)
Seat 2: BOOTSBANE ($19.64 in chips)
Seat 3: rgvplayer08 ($6.27 in chips)
Seat 4: ShrinkyDinky ($12.14 in chips)
Seat 5: PeakingNuts ($6.35 in chips)
Seat 6: Gil n Mel ($14.88 in chips)
ShrinkyDinky: posts small blind $0.02
PeakingNuts: posts big blind $0.05
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BOOTSBANE [Ad 5c Jd As]
Gil n Mel: raises $0.12 to $0.17
LadyTu: calls $0.17
BOOTSBANE: raises $0.12 to $0.29
rgvplayer08: folds
ShrinkyDinky: calls $0.27
PeakingNuts: folds
Gil n Mel: calls $0.12
LadyTu: calls $0.12
*** FLOP *** [4s 2d 5h]
ShrinkyDinky: checks
Gil n Mel: bets $1.16
LadyTu: folds
BOOTSBANE: calls $1.16
ShrinkyDinky: folds
*** TURN *** [4s 2d 5h] [7d]
Gil n Mel: bets $3.38
BOOTSBANE: calls $3.38
*** RIVER *** [4s 2d 5h 7d] [Jh]
Gil n Mel: bets $9.79
BOOTSBANE: calls $9.79
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Gil n Mel: shows [5s Ts 6s 2s] (two pair, Fives and Deuces)
BOOTSBANE: shows [Ad 5c Jd As] (two pair, Jacks and Fives)
BOOTSBANE collected $28.42 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $29.87 Rake $1.45
Board [4s 2d 5h 7d Jh]
Seat 1: LadyTu folded on the Flop
Seat 2: BOOTSBANE showed [Ad 5c Jd As] and won ($28.42) with two pair, Jacks and Fives
Seat 3: rgvplayer08 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: ShrinkyDinky (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: PeakingNuts (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: Gil n Mel showed [5s Ts 6s 2s] and lost with two pair, Fives and Deuces

I'm up to $102.82.

Update

2008-05-18T00:45:00.003-05:00

I'm up to $66.56 on Pstars with no big memorible hands to speak of. Won the money in two $6.25 NLHE turbos and 2/5 cent PLOH.

POW

2008-05-14T22:26:00.003-05:00

I saw a game where the average pot was $2 at a 2/5 cent table so I knew there was a megalo there. Sure enough, one guy was there betting the max in every pot on every street. My kind of game!

It took a few hands but I got him so bad he called me down with nothing but a pair of 3s LOL!

PokerStars Game #17437837127: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.02/$0.05) - 2008/05/14 - 23:23:20 (ET)
Table 'Athor III' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: AFCA-TD ($3.51 in chips)
Seat 3: BOOTSBANE ($10.50 in chips)
Seat 4: SMOKEHOUSE2 ($6.99 in chips)
Seat 5: bosman2000 ($29.99 in chips)
Seat 6: maja119 ($4.13 in chips)
paryu will be allowed to play after the button
BOOTSBANE: posts small blind $0.02
SMOKEHOUSE2: posts big blind $0.05
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BOOTSBANE [3d Qc 5h Qs]
bosman2000: calls $0.05
maja119: calls $0.05
AFCA-TD: folds
BOOTSBANE: raises $0.20 to $0.25
SMOKEHOUSE2: calls $0.20
bosman2000: raises $0.20 to $0.45
maja119: calls $0.40
BOOTSBANE: raises $1.60 to $2.05
SMOKEHOUSE2: folds
bosman2000: calls $1.60
maja119: calls $1.60
*** FLOP *** [5d 5s 3h]
BOOTSBANE: bets $6.10
bosman2000: calls $6.10
maja119: folds
*** TURN *** [5d 5s 3h] [6c]
BOOTSBANE: bets $2.35 and is all-in
bosman2000: calls $2.35
*** RIVER *** [5d 5s 3h 6c] [2d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BOOTSBANE: shows [3d Qc 5h Qs] (a full house, Fives full of Threes)
bosman2000: mucks hand
BOOTSBANE collected $22.20 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $23.30 Rake $1.10
Board [5d 5s 3h 6c 2d]
Seat 1: AFCA-TD (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: BOOTSBANE (small blind) showed [3d Qc 5h Qs] and won ($22.20) with a full house, Fives full of Threes
Seat 4: SMOKEHOUSE2 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: bosman2000 mucked [8h 9c Th 3c] <---(What the heck is he thinking?)
Seat 6: maja119 folded on the Flop

Again with a wrap.

PokerStars Game #17437986244: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.02/$0.05) - 2008/05/14 - 23:31:52 (ET)
Table 'Athor III' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: AFCA-TD ($2.99 in chips)
Seat 3: BOOTSBANE ($20.83 in chips)
Seat 4: SMOKEHOUSE2 ($7.33 in chips)
Seat 5: bosman2000 ($28.39 in chips)
BOOTSBANE: posts small blind $0.02
SMOKEHOUSE2: posts big blind $0.05
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BOOTSBANE [Js Qs As Td]
bosman2000: raises $0.12 to $0.17
AFCA-TD: folds
BOOTSBANE: calls $0.15
SMOKEHOUSE2: calls $0.12
*** FLOP *** [Kd 4h Qh]
BOOTSBANE: checks
SMOKEHOUSE2: checks
bosman2000: bets $0.51
BOOTSBANE: calls $0.51
SMOKEHOUSE2: folds
*** TURN *** [Kd 4h Qh] [Jd]
BOOTSBANE: checks
bosman2000: bets $1.48
BOOTSBANE: raises $4.44 to $5.92
bosman2000: calls $4.44
*** RIVER *** [Kd 4h Qh Jd] [2d]
BOOTSBANE: bets $2.70
bosman2000: folds <---(the only time he folded the whole time he was there)
Uncalled bet ($2.70) returned to BOOTSBANE
BOOTSBANE collected $12.72 from pot
BOOTSBANE: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $13.37 Rake $0.65
Board [Kd 4h Qh Jd 2d]
Seat 1: AFCA-TD (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: BOOTSBANE (small blind) collected ($12.72)
Seat 4: SMOKEHOUSE2 (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: bosman2000 folded on the River

I'm up to $39.67. Look Out!

Back Again

2008-05-07T18:31:00.003-05:00

I'm back on Pokerstars with $20.00. I'm gonna make the big run this time, I can feel it. ;P I've had a good run of cards tonight. Here some hands from the hand history.

PokerStars Game #17271751474: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.01/$0.02) - 2008/05/07 - 18:48:08 (ET)
Table 'Majuba III' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: topher525 ($2.67 in chips)
Seat 2: BOOTSBANE ($3.39 in chips)
Seat 3: zaidnohj5646 ($2.89 in chips)
Seat 4: Odile ($2.53 in chips)
Seat 5: NickS14a8o7 ($3.02 in chips)
Seat 6: elexxii ($2.27 in chips)
Seat 7: evigler ($5.75 in chips)
Seat 8: XSeditX ($3.11 in chips)
Seat 9: womael ($2.30 in chips)
topher525: posts small blind $0.01
BOOTSBANE: posts big blind $0.02
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BOOTSBANE [3d Ac Tc Kd]
zaidnohj5646: calls $0.02
Odile: calls $0.02
NickS14a8o7: calls $0.02
elexxii: calls $0.02
evigler: calls $0.02
XSeditX: calls $0.02
womael: calls $0.02
topher525: calls $0.01
BOOTSBANE: raises $0.18 to $0.20
zaidnohj5646: calls $0.18
Odile: folds
Odile is sitting out
NickS14a8o7: folds
elexxii: folds
evigler: folds
XSeditX: calls $0.18
womael: calls $0.18
topher525: folds
*** FLOP *** [2c Kh 6d]
BOOTSBANE: bets $0.90
Odile leaves the table
zaidnohj5646: calls $0.90
XSeditX: folds
womael: folds
*** TURN *** [2c Kh 6d] [Qd]
harvey_777 joins the table at seat #4
BOOTSBANE: bets $2.29 and is all-in
zaidnohj5646: calls $1.79 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [2c Kh 6d Qd] [8h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BOOTSBANE: shows [3d Ac Tc Kd] (a pair of Kings)
zaidnohj5646: mucks hand
BOOTSBANE collected $5.98 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $6.28 | Rake $0.30
Board [2c Kh 6d Qd 8h]
Seat 1: topher525 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: BOOTSBANE (big blind) showed [3d Ac Tc Kd] and won ($5.98) with a pair of Kings
Seat 3: zaidnohj5646 mucked [Ah Qs 9h 7d]
Seat 4: Odile folded before Flop
Seat 5: NickS14a8o7 folded before Flop
Seat 6: elexxii folded before Flop
Seat 7: evigler folded before Flop
Seat 8: XSeditX folded on the Flop
Seat 9: womael (button) folded on the Flop

PokerStars Game #17271867027: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.01/$0.02) - 2008/05/07 - 18:53:43 (ET)
Table 'Majuba III' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: topher525 ($2.55 in chips)
Seat 2: BOOTSBANE ($6.65 in chips)
Seat 4: harvey_777 ($0.97 in chips)
Seat 6: elexxii ($2.23 in chips)
Seat 7: evigler ($6.11 in chips)
Seat 8: XSeditX ($2.77 in chips)
Seat 9: womael ($1.84 in chips)
evigler: posts small blind $0.01
XSeditX: posts big blind $0.02
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BOOTSBANE [Ks As Js Ah]
womael: calls $0.02
topher525: calls $0.02
BOOTSBANE: raises $0.08 to $0.10
harvey_777: folds
elexxii: calls $0.10
evigler: folds
XSeditX: calls $0.08
womael: calls $0.08
topher525: calls $0.08
*** FLOP *** [4s Ts 8c]
XSeditX: checks
womael: checks
topher525: checks
BOOTSBANE: bets $0.24
elexxii: folds
XSeditX: folds
womael: calls $0.24
topher525: folds
*** TURN *** [4s Ts 8c] [Jh]
womael: checks
BOOTSBANE: checks
*** RIVER *** [4s Ts 8c Jh] [Qh]
womael: bets $0.30
BOOTSBANE: raises $1.20 to $1.50
womael: calls $1.20 and is all-in
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BOOTSBANE: shows [Ks As Js Ah] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
womael: mucks hand
BOOTSBANE collected $3.84 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $3.99 | Rake $0.15
Board [4s Ts 8c Jh Qh]
Seat 1: topher525 folded on the Flop
Seat 2: BOOTSBANE showed [Ks As Js Ah] and won ($3.84) with a straight, Ten to Ace
Seat 4: harvey_777 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: elexxii (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 7: evigler (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: XSeditX (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 9: womael mucked [Td 2s Qd Qc]

PokerStars Game #17272048107: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.01/$0.02) - 2008/05/07 - 19:02:33 (ET)
Table 'Majuba III' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: topher525 ($2.28 in chips)
Seat 2: BOOTSBANE ($8.55 in chips)
Seat 3: bigscore1on1 ($4.38 in chips)
Seat 4: harvey_777 ($1.09 in chips)
Seat 5: garage ($4.91 in chips)
Seat 6: elexxii ($1.84 in chips)
Seat 7: evigler ($8.08 in chips)
Seat 8: XSeditX ($2.39 in chips)
elexxii: posts small blind $0.01
evigler: posts big blind $0.02
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BOOTSBANE [5h Td 8d Ts]
XSeditX: calls $0.02
womael has returned
topher525 has timed out
topher525: folds
topher525 is sitting out
BOOTSBANE: calls $0.02
bigscore1on1: folds
topher525 has returned
harvey_777: folds
garage: raises $0.06 to $0.08
elexxii: calls $0.07
evigler: calls $0.06
XSeditX: calls $0.06
BOOTSBANE: calls $0.06
*** FLOP *** [Js 4h Kh]
elexxii: checks
evigler: checks
XSeditX: checks
BOOTSBANE: checks
garage: checks
*** TURN *** [Js 4h Kh] [Tc]
elexxii: checks
evigler: checks
XSeditX: checks
BOOTSBANE: bets $0.10
garage: calls $0.10
elexxii: folds
evigler: folds
XSeditX: folds
*** RIVER *** [Js 4h Kh Tc] [Th]
XSeditX is sitting out
BOOTSBANE: bets $0.54
garage: calls $0.54
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BOOTSBANE: shows [5h Td 8d Ts] (four of a kind, Tens)
garage: mucks hand
BOOTSBANE collected $1.63 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $1.68 | Rake $0.05
Board [Js 4h Kh Tc Th]
Seat 1: topher525 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: BOOTSBANE showed [5h Td 8d Ts] and won ($1.63) with four of a kind, Tens
Seat 3: bigscore1on1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: harvey_777 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: garage (button) mucked [Jd 8h Ah 9c]
Seat 6: elexxii (small blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 7: evigler (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 8: XSeditX folded on the Turn

Currently sitting at $29.57.

Get Back Jack: Tournaments and Cash Game

2007-12-21T17:00:00.000-06:00

I’m going to increase the amount of the chip values in the tournaments for this blog to make it more understandable. This will just make the blog easier to read.

-------------------
$10.00 Buy-In
-------------------

We started the first tournament with our usual $2500 in chips and blinds start at $25 and $50 increasing every 15 minutes.

I like to play almost every hand at the first level because it’s mathematically correct to do so barring the pot has been raised. I won a pot and was slightly in the black. On the 6th hand the guy UTG limped as did the guy to my right. I limped with 10s 3s. The button limped and both blinds were in. The pot size was $300. The flop was Q-10-3. Both blinds checked it to the guy in the one hole who bet out $250. I decided to make a pretty normal raise with 2 pair so I made it $600. Everyone folded back to the original raiser who studied for a minute and then moved all-in for $2200 more. I thought he might have me beat, but there are several hands I can beat in this situation. (KK, AA, AQ, KQ, QJ, Q9, Q8, A10) Not to mention this particular player and I have a long history and he could’ve just been trying to blast me out with air.

Let me say this too. The blinds go up fast in our game and in order to be there in the end and have a chance to win, you need a big stack when you get there or the blinds will eat you up forcing you to play stop and go poker. Also, if you don’t win 1st, its really not worth the effort because the second and third pay-outs are minimal. I had $2375 left and I decided to call. He showed me Q 3 for a better 2 pair. I didn’t catch a miracle 10 so I was down to $175 in chips.

Looking back on the hand, I couldn’t have played it any differently against that player after the flop. It’s just a cold deck situation where all the money’s going in no matter what. The only way I could’ve avoided this situation was if I had folded before the flop.

2 hands later, I picked up Ac 8c so I put in my $175 which was a raise of $125. The button called and the SB called. I flopped and Ace but the button showed A 10 and I was gone.

-------------------
$20.00 Buy-In
-------------------

The second tournament was pretty uneventful for me. Honestly, I can’t remember any confrontations that were really key to me making it to third place which by the way payed nothing.

----------------
Cash Game
----------------

I played well in the cash game which was nice. I feel like I have a bigger edge in the cash game vs. the tournaments. I can play my style which changes between “Passive Trapper” to “Aggressive Thief” to “Aggressive with the Nuts”. HAHA. I mainly play pretty patiently and passively most of the time though.

One of the big pots I was in involved the same player that crippled me in the first tournament. We were playing NLHE and since its a cash game and the games change, only the dealer has to ante. The player in the 2 hole, Ole’ Catfish, made it $1.25 which in something he does pretty much every hand in the NLHE cash-game. I look down at 7c 8c and called. I think there was one more caller. $4 in the pot. The flop was 7s-8d-2d. The original raiser bet out $2.50 just like he did in the tournament with 2 pair. Although the bet was the same, I was sure I had him crushed this time with top 2 pair. I once again made it $6 and when it got back to him he moved in for $12 more and I snapped my already wounded arm to call him. He showed the same hand 7d 8s. The turn was 10d and the river was the Ace of diamonds which gave him a flush with his 7d. I didn’t let it get to me and started to build a pretty good stack.

The last hand I’ll mention was a hand contested between me and the guy to my right. 7 card shuck H/L Declare was the game. Its regular Shuck H/L format, but at the end players have to shoot. Shooting is done by take 2 chips in your hand and putting your hands under the table and then deciding which way you can win the pot. After you decide, you put the amount of chips in your hand that correlate with the way that you think you can win. No chips for low, one chip for high, and 2 chips if you think you have it won both ways. I you shoot both ways and only win one way then you lose it all.

On the sixth card I had J-2-5-6 up and A-3 in the hole. The pot had been built up pretty good and was at around $15 with no limit on the betting. After making my 6 low I bet out $3 and everyone folded except Ass-Wad. This player will stay in sometimes just to shoot. What I mean by that is, in heads up situations in this game, he’ll call players down and try to shoot the opposite way they are shooting. If he does so correctly, he automatically wins half the pot no matter his holdings. I’ve seen him do it about 10 times now and he does it pretty successfully.

On the 7th card I caught a great card 6c. The reason it was a great card was because at this point my opponent was sure I was shooting low, but now I had the 6 in the hole I could shuck my up 6 and hopefully hit a high card or a pair showing. So that’s exactly what I did after I bet $4 and he called, I shucked my showing 6 and and drew a Q. So now I have J-2-5-Q showing. I bet $4 on the river and he called. I took my chips off the table and quickly lifted my empty hand back up onto the table shooting low. He studied and studied which was when I realized that he had definitely noticed the odd shuck I had made. He finally shot ... low! I scooped the big pot.

Actually this player hand done the same thing to me previously with and obvious straight and then shucking one of his up straight cards a few weeks ago. Gocha back haaaaaaa haaaaaaaa.

----------------------------------
$10.00 Tournament: -$10

$20.00 Tournament: -$20

Cash Game: +$50

+$20 for the night
----------------------------------

Pokerstars Update: They Flipped the Switch Tonight

2007-12-15T01:21:00.000-06:00

I got bent over tonight for about 5 hours. All games ... Every Angle ... Hard! I've never run into the nuts so much in my life.

I'm down to $114.88.

Pokerstars Update

2007-12-12T08:24:00.000-06:00

Currently sitting at $138.44 after a good Omaha High session last night.

Pokerstars Update

2007-11-27T19:45:00.000-06:00

I'm up to $107.11 on Pokerstars. I've moved up to 2 and 5 cent Omaha and things are really working well right now. I'm still just buying in for $2 so my bankroll is not in danger at these limits. I haven't had any luck at the Holdem tables thus far except in the very early going. Online Cash Game Holdem has turned into a "Big Move Showdown Fest". I just don't have an edge in that kind of game.

Enlightening Bootsism

2007-11-26T15:49:00.001-06:00

Its not raw fish just because it says sushi.

- Enlightening Bootsism

Z I N G

2007-11-11T17:35:00.000-06:00

A 5 (75%) vs. 10 5 (25%)

$20 Tournament. Three handed with blinds at $4 and $8. I was on the button and looked at A 5. The big blind already had $8 in and only about $15 left behind so I decided to raise it enough to put him all-in. The SB folded and the BB had to call. He rolled up 10 5. Flop was 7-10-10.

A J (60%) vs. KQ (40%)

NLHE cash game. I raised $1 UTG with A J and got re-raised $2 more by the crazy guy to my left who tries to win every pot I enter. I called. The flop was 2-4-6. I checked and he bet out $2.50. As soon as he did it I knew he had nothing because my reads can cut diamonds. I re-raised $4.50 more 100% sure that I had him beat, and he called anyway with K Q. The turn was a 7 and the river was a Q. Once again, I was punished for getting all the money in as a 3 to 1 favorite after the flop. THATS POKER!

10 2 (75%) vs. 7 2 (%25)

NLHE cash game. I raised to $1.25 pre-flop and got 1 caller, we’ll call him “The Emu”. The flop was J-8-2. I bet $2 and got called. The turn was a 2. So now its J-8-2-2. He checked and I checked because I didn’t want to lose my man. The river was a 7. He bet out $2 and acted a little bit and I raised $4 more. He studied for a while and re-raised $5 more. Now this guy is a reasonably tight player and I know he’s not going to re-raise bluff. I should’ve laid this one down but I didn’t.

7 5 (15%) vs. Q Q (85%)

$20 Tournament. Blinds were at $0.50 and $1. I limped in first position with the 7 5 diamonds everyone folded back to the button (The Emu) who made it $2 more both blinds called the small raise which I also called. The flop was 10-Q-3 all diamonds. I felt certain that the Emu hand a big hand here so when I flopped “The Joint” I moved all-in because I didn’t really think he could get away from AA, KK, or QQ. He thought for about 10 seconds and ten called. When the money went in I was (65%) to win and this one actually held up. I Zinged the Emu back to the African Plains.

K K (85%) vs. Q 9 (15%)

NLHE cash game. The Aardvark raised $1 as he did in about 75% of the hands he played. I looked down at KK and moved in for $4.50 more and he called. The flop was 7-9-9. He ended up making quad 9s, just hilarious.

7 Card Shuck HL Eight or Better Declare

I had 6-2-2-6 showing and my opponent had J-10-9-8 showing before the shuck. I had 3-4-K in the hole. I shucked the K and hit a 5 and then I was very surprised to see him shuck his up J. He caught a 5. He bet out $1 and I was convinced that he didn’t have a straight. So I raised $5. Two good things could happen at this point in my mind. He could fold which is fine or he could call and I’ll scoop him. He called and it took him 5 to 10 days to decide which way to shoot. I never even considered not shooting both ways because he took so long. Now I look back and I think it was half act half tough decision. He finally shot high and showed me Q-J in the hole for the straight. I lost the whole pot.

--------------------------
- $50 for the night.
--------------------------

Pokerstars

2007-11-09T21:02:00.000-06:00

Im up to $85.16 on Poker Stars.

I won $10 in my last session, $4 at NLHE and $6 at Omaha H/L.

Enlightening Bootsism

2007-11-08T07:48:00.000-06:00

Misery comes from other people’s problems.

- Enlightening Bootsism

Pokerstars Update

2007-11-06T22:05:00.000-06:00

Had a good Omaha H/L session tonight.

Current bankroll - $75.52

Update Pokerstars

2007-11-05T11:17:00.000-06:00

Currently sitting at $57.45.

Making all the money at OH/HL.

Update Pokerstars

2007-11-02T15:17:00.000-05:00

Currently sitting at $49.56

Pokerstars Update

2007-10-30T23:10:00.001-05:00

I Went A Little Crazy: Pokerstars

2007-10-30T22:35:00.000-05:00

I got on Pstars at about 7:00 this afternoon. I couldn't make a hand for about 3 hours and got mauled because of that. I started with about $42 and steadily declined and before I knew it I was on "Full Blown Tilt" with only $30 left in my bankroll and had 1/3 of my money on the table in a six handed HE NL 10 and 25 cent table.

On about my 7th to last hand... well here's the pokerstars log...

PokerStars Game #12949205801:
Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2007/10/30 - 23:27:17 (ET)
Table 'Paaliaq' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Dazz057 ($24.90 in chips)
Seat 3: n0odl3 ($23.55 in chips)
Seat 4: will641 ($25.65 in chips)
Seat 5: ScoFo1 ($9.60 in chips)
Seat 6: BOOTSBANE ($13.40 in chips)
n0odl3: posts small blind $0.10
will641: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BOOTSBANE [Jc Tc]
ScoFo1: folds
BOOTSBANE: raises $0.50 to $0.75
Dazz057: folds
n0odl3: calls $0.65
will641: folds
*** FLOP *** [2s 6c Ac]
n0odl3: checks
BOOTSBANE: bets $0.50
n0odl3: raises $1.75 to $2.25
BOOTSBANE: calls $1.75
*** TURN *** [2s 6c Ac] [2c]
n0odl3: bets $20.55 and is all-in
BOOTSBANE: calls $10.40 and is all-in
*** RIVER ***
[2s 6c Ac 2c] [Jd]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
n0odl3: shows [As Qd] (two pair, Aces and Deuces)
BOOTSBANE: shows [Jc Tc] (a flush, Ace high)
BOOTSBANE collected $25.75 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $27.05 Rake $1.30
Board [2s 6c Ac 2c Jd]
Seat 1: Dazz057 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: n0odl3 (small blind) showed [As Qd] and lost with two pair, Aces and Deuces
Seat 4: will641 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: ScoFo1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: BOOTSBANE showed [Jc Tc] and won ($25.75) with a flush, Ace high

One of the worst cards in the deck for him on the turn and he still moved in. Clearly he wasn't thinking well there. The only way I can call him there is if I have him beat. I'm not going to make a habit of "playing to high". I could've gone broke tonight just as easily.

I'm back up to $47.30.

PokerStars Update

2007-10-30T07:43:00.000-05:00

I'm spinning my wheels at anywhere between $41.00 - $44.00. It's like the program sets me up. I'll win a big pot, and the very next hand I'll get dealt a monster hand like QQ and the usual Ace Rag I'm up against will flop the Ace high flush draw and go crazy with it before he gets it. This happened to me twice this weekend. Once they made the flush and once they hit the Ace. In a similar fashion, my sets have been getting pummeled in Omaha HI. I'm not going to changed anything because the sets WILL start winning again.

Currently at $42.18

Pokerstars: A Little Swing

2007-10-28T02:48:00.000-05:00

Tonight I took a bad run of beats, cold decks, and just bad cards. I went from $42.48 down to $36.00. I just got done clawing my way back to $41.81 at NLHE. Omaha HI betrayed me tonight, rearing its ugly head of big swings. I just couldn't make a set win and in one hand I misread the board and moved a guy in with the nut flush when in fact the card that gave me the flush (2S) also paired the board which is a big no no in Omaha. I didn't even realize it until after I clicked raise.

Pokerstars Update

2007-10-25T11:24:00.000-05:00

I'm still doing quite well for a 1 and 2 cent no limit/pot limit player. I've been making around $3 to $5 a session so far. I hope that continues until I reach my goal of $200 so I can move up.I'm currently sitting at $42.48.

Pokerstars

2007-10-23T08:57:00.000-05:00

I put $10 on Pokerstars. I'm gonna give it another whirl.

So far I've gone from $10 to $28.74...

I've won a little at Holdem but most of my profit has come from PL Omaha Hi.

Enlightening Bootsism

2007-10-19T08:06:00.000-05:00

Speak with confidence even when confidence is not in attendance.

- Enlightening Bootsism

Steaming

2007-10-07T19:29:00.000-05:00

1st Tournament: -$10 5th place
2nd Tournament: +$20 2nd place
Cash Game: -$60 last place (I guess)
--------------------------------------------------

This is how it happenned...

I had some huge donkey calling me down with K 10 preflop in a NLHE tourney out of position. Of course, I want that since I'm a 3 to 2 favorite with A 9 but he hit his miracle flop where I hit 2nd pair and he hit top pair and with $22 in the pot I had to move in with my last $16 and he called and put me out of the tournament.

Then in the cash game the same guy got hit with the deck on the first hand and flopped set over set against me and ended up losing his own money in the process.

Then I flopped top set (Kings) after a $4 preflop raise and bet $13 on the flop where I was instacalled by a gutshot straight draw and was a 91% favorite going to the river where he also hit his miracle 4 outer.

Then I got dealt 10 10 in the hole and with a flop of 2 3 5 two clubs I got moved in on for all my money and should've folded because I thought he had AJ clubs but called anyway b/c at this point I was really steaming. Turns out it was J4 clubs which was the best possible drawing hand which made me a 3 to 2 dog and I went broke.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

-$50 for the night

Enlightening Bootsism

2007-07-30T14:27:00.000-05:00

Its easy to look good in poor company.

- Enlightening Bootsism

Enlightening Bootsism

2007-07-30T14:26:00.001-05:00

Mankind can learn a lot from the badger.

- Enlightening Bootsism

Runinng Poker: "The Bad, The Ugly, and The Good"... In That Order.

2007-07-01T19:04:00.000-05:00

---------------
$10.00 Buy-In
----------------

We started off with a full house of players and I felt like playing some pots. Blinds started out at 25 and 50 cents and we all had $20 in chips. The 3rd or 4th hand in, everyone limped in to the small blind who raised $1. I was in th big blind and looked down at which is just a miserable hand, but with about $5.50 in the pot already I elected to see a flop. 1 other player called as well. The flop came ! The original raiser bet $1, a small bet. I decided to raise it $3 and both players called. The turn was and the small blind bet $1 again. "What a wierd bet" There's $17.50 in the pot and he bets $1? I decided to just call and milk my nut straight. The other player called as well. River river brought the which made my straight feel like Ace high. The original raiser bet one more dollar. I felt that I was certainly beat but how could I fold. Well the answer was I just couldn't when I'm getting 18 and a half to 1 on a call. After all he could have an overpair. I called and the other player called. The original raiser rolled over for the full house.

That hand took about 1/3 of my stack.

The very next hand I am on the button and 5 players limp in front of me. I look down at and decide to pop it $3.50 from the button. The guy under the gun called my raise and another player called as well. The flop came . I thought to myself CHA-CHING!!!! I immediately moved all-in for $8.50 and was called by the guy that limped under the gun. I proudley flipped over my hand, but to my repulsion he rolled over . And I was gone that quick.

If you think about it, there was a pretty good reason I was suprised that I was beat. I mean after that flop there are only a few hands that can beat me. KK, JJ, 88, or a flopped flush. I can beat a lot of hands that have me beat preflop... AA, (even though I'm a slight dog if one of the Aces is the Ace of clubs) AK, AQ, AJ, KQ, QQ, 1010, and 99. When you get into these situations "You are going to lose chips, PERIOD."

-$10.00

----------------

$20.00 Buy-In

----------------

The tournament was uneventful for me until blinds were at $2 and $4. I started the hand with about $32 in chips. I picked up and made it $14 to go. The player to my imeadiate left called which put him All-In. He Only had about $12 at the start of the hand. the next player folded and the guy to his left moved in over the top without hesitation. He had me covered. It folded back to me and I thought about it for a while and finally called hoping he had Queens. At this point I was willing to race for it with blinds this big. He rolled over and to make matters worse the other player rolled over which put me at 16% to win. AJ was at 9% and KK was at 75%. About as bad as it gets preflop. The flop brought all low cards so now I'm 8%, but that beautiful turn card was the and the river was a blank. So now I have around $75 in chips and looking good after my massive suckout.

It gets down to 3 handed play with blinds at $4 and $8. I raised a couple of pots taking the blinds and the other two players did the same. I was sitting at $81 in chips when the button made it $24 to go from the button. I looked down at in the big blind and move all-in for $57 more and he called. He had 4s and the flop brought no help. I had him outchipped by $1.

So we're down to heads-up and I have a massive chiplead about 5 to 1. My opponent moved in on the first hand of heads up play for about $28 more. I called with . I fugured with so many chips why not. I don't remeber what he had but it was better than 9 high and I got no help so he doubled. we played "Stop and Go" poker for the duration of the match. Blinds were at $5 and $10 and a normal raise (3 x Big Blind would be $30) just doesn't make a lot of since at this point.

On the Last hand he moved All-In for $67 more which was a little more thatn half my stack. I looked down at which is a pretty good hand heads-up. I put him on a weak Ace and decided to gamble because its pretty much a coin-flip against a hand like A6. (45% to %55) This is a luxury you have when you have the chiplead in heads-up tournament poker. He rolled over which is a better hand than I thought but the percentages are almost identical. It was correct to call here with the chip lead because I can afford 2 coin flips versus my opponent who can only afford 1. The flop was . No Help. The turn was giving me more outs putting me at 32% to win. The river brought the and I took it down.

+$80

------------

Cash Game

------------

We played a little while longer in a cash game where I busted after about 2 hours for $20.

-$20

+$50 for the night.

Enlightening Bootsism

2007-06-20T08:41:00.000-05:00

Only the greats can eat a radish without a sandwich.

- Enlightening Bootsism

Full Tilt Donkeys

2007-05-25T19:31:00.000-05:00

I lost all of my play money on Full Tilt Poker a couple of weeks ago so I decided to set down and try to build it back up. I sat down at the 5/10 NL Holdem and built it up to 10000 in about 1 hour. So I move up to 100/200.

I pick up AA the sixth hand in and move in for about 9800 more. It folds around to the button who isolates me by moving in for about 16K more. He roles up K 2 offsuit.

FLOP: K-4-6
TURN: 8
RIVER: K

I laughed and logged off. THE END.

Boots' Best Games Of All Time

2007-05-10T15:25:00.000-05:00

This post is designed to get feedback for "Boots' Best Games Of All Time", so lets have it. Tell me your ideas, thoughts, or games that need to be added to the list. Thanks for your input.

Like a Fat Kid on Cake... Tournament Holdem

2007-05-07T19:59:00.000-05:00

I showed up to the usual game a little early to help setup a new computer our host had purchased. I gotta tell you, Vista is a memory hawg and I don't see a good reason to upgrade just yet. Its Microsoft's way of making everyone buy a new computer just so they can run the new OS with its extremely high minimum requirements.

$10.00 Buy-In

The game began and was pretty uneventful for me until I got short. I was in the big blind with blinds at $1 and $2. 3 players limped in ahead of me as I loked down at which was on par with what I had been seeing throughout the game so I checked. The flop brought . I felt like this was my best shot getting some shiped my way so when the small blind checked it I moved in for $12. This was the correct move with $8 in the pot and a scary board. I could win the pot by running the other players out or if I got called I would probably have outs against my opponent's top pair or in this case flush draw. The chances are slim that anyone floped a flush (118 to 1) so I wasn't really woried about that, that would be really unlucky.

The player on my left who never plays a big pot with anyone took about 6 seconds to decide to call me. I don't know if he was just giving up or if he has it out for me, perhaps a little of both. You see, during the games, he gets pushed around a lot, especially when hes heads up in a pot, but the funny thing is that he knows he's getting pushed around and he seems to have a redline or boiling point. Well, this was it for him tonight although he did have the Ace of spades, he has never called anyone down for almost all of his chips without at least an top pair. So I was suprised when he fliped up the As Qd. I commend him for a great call but he didn't make that call based on the correct information.

The turn and river brought no straight card or spade so the ace high won the $32 pot.

-$10.00

$20.00 Buy-In

I had a peasents share of good cards in the second game as well and got short again. I moved in with for a total of $6 with blinds at $2 and $4 I got 3 callers. The flop came . I leaned over to the plaer next to me said good game bc that flop was to perfect for me and as bad as I've been running lately someone is bound to suckout. Checks around. The turn brought a so now i get a nut flush draw along with my top pair, wow to good! Checks around. The river brought an . All the sudden the timid player bets $10. I just thought of my happy place as the other 2 players ran for the hills. He of course rolled over the nut straight KJ.

-$20.00

I played pretty good in the cash game until I got slow rolled on a big holdem pot and that put me on tilt. I'll get those donks! RAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!

-$50.00 for the night

There's No Justice in Poker

2007-05-07T19:53:00.000-05:00

Once Apon a Time… There Was a Herd of Elephants: Holdem Tourneys and Assorted Cash Game

2007-01-14T19:50:00.000-06:00

The night started out pretty rough for me. In the first tourney, the cards just weren’t in my favor. I mean, I had some chances, but I was playing to passive. In my defense, I had a lot of those marginal hands in tough situations. I was facing some massive elephantitus. When this happens, you must showdown at least one premium hand to have some leverage for bluffing or you will get called. If you don’t show down that premium hand early on in this game then you WILL NOT have a chance at a bluff. I picked up a couple of good reads on people, but I was unable to pull the trigger when I had an opportunity. I went out in sixth place.

Tourney #1: -$10

In the second tourney I got involved in a big hand early with an elephant and a jackal. I was in middle position and the elephant had already called. I looked down at AK off and decided to raise it. Blinds were at 25 and 50 so I raised a standard $2 raise. The jackal called from the big blind and the elephant called as well. The flop came K-9-9. The elephant checked and I bet $3. When the jackal cold called with seaming little interest in the pot I new I was drawing to a 2 outer. (I think I saw a twinkle in his eye. Then the elephant called as well, as elephants do when they are obviously beat. The turn came Q of hearts. So now we have K-9-9-Q and AK is looking really moldy. When the Q came off, the elephant did the “jump up straight” move in his chair and started asking me if I still had those Aces. I proceeded to inform him that I knew that Aces were beat all to hell.

Now this is a good tell to watch for in green players. If a player has slumped in his chair all night, then sits up straight and starts chattering after a card comes off, its time to fold your hand. After his speech was over he bet $5. And I mucked putting him on a monster. Now I knew the jackal had a 9 when he called my bet on the flop so I figured he was in trouble and he knew it too. He reluctantly called the $5. The river was a blank and the elephant moved the jackal in. The Jackal showed good instincts by not calling the rest of his stack immediately, but he couldn’t lay it down so he called off his last $13. The Jackal had 10-9 and the elephant had QQ for the full house. That was a tough spot for the jackal.

I say that because almost all of our regulars would have laid down QQ after I bet $3 on the flop and got a call behind me, so it’s tough to put a guy on QQ in that spot.

After that this same player turned into a vacuum sucking up the chips of all that stood in his way. I had played pretty aggressive early on and had built my stack to about $40 and then I put it in park until this key hand for my tournament came up. Blinds were at $1-$2 and I was in early position with A-J Diamonds. I raised $5 and it folded around to the vacuum who called. The flop came 4-6-Q rainbow. I bet out $5 for a continuation bet and he called. The turn came K. So now we have 4-6-Q-K. I bet another $5 trying to represent the King. He called. The River came 8. I bet another $5 going for the “lure the sucker in move” with a small bet. This bet has won me a lot of pots on the river for a pretty cheap price because observant players realize what a tiny bet this is into such a large pot and it looks like I’m “Milking Them”. Well, that didn’t work on the vacuum, he called quickly. I mucked my cards and he showed 9-9 in the hole.

I over thought this hand. I could have won it if I played it differently… If I had it to do over I would have checked the turn and bet the full $10 on the river, but I don’t think he was folding those nines for any price. All he knew is that I have a pair of nines and I’m not folding them come hell or high water and I’m going to try to give my chips away again.

That pot tilted me and I was gone soon there-after. The vacuum went on to destroy the rest of the table, and I believe he’s the only man to ever do it by playing every single hand!

Tourney #2: -$20

So the cash game is underway. I was pretty pleased with the cash game players that hung around. It was a pretty soft table with only one Lion, five elephants and me. The only thing I would have changed would have been to put the lion to my right instead of my left.

I started off playing solid poker and doing quit a bit of pre-flop folding. I finally got a decent flop in a Pot-Limit Omaha high hand when I made a boat on the river and took the rest of the elephant’s money 2 seats to my right. I made about $16 on that hand.

Then there was the hand of the night between me and the Lion at the table. It was Pot-Limit Holdem and I limped in from the cut-off with 6-4 Spades. The Lion raised $1.50 from the button as he often does. I called. The flop came Ace Spades - 5 Spades - ?card?. I checked and the Lion bet $2.50. I called on a pure flush draw. The turn came 6 diamonds. So I paired my 6 and still had the flush draw. I checked and the Lion bet $5. I called. The river came off and I missed my flush. I checked again and the Lion bet the pot which was around $16. This bet really surprised me. I knew there was something fishy about it but I didn’t know if I had been trapped or if it was a pure bluff. I decided to give him a good sweat and see if I could pick up anything.

With any other player at that table I would have been less suspicious but this guy is capable of this move with nothing and I knew that for sure. He has done it to me several times and rubbed my nose in it. I noticed him fidgeting around a little bit rolling his eyes and even turning away from me to get a drink or spit or something. The bottom line is that he looked like “the cat that ate the mouse” so I called. And I was right! He mucked his cards and I still don’t know what he had. This was a case of knowing what your opponent is capable of and factoring that into your decision.

The very next hand I picked up A-Q of Spades and raised $1.50. The Lion called. The flop came King high all spades! I decided to lead at it because if I checked it he would know something was up. So I bet $2.50 and he called. The turn came blank for my nut flush so I lead at it again for $3 he called. The river didn’t pair the board so I had the absolute nuts. I bet out $9 and he called fairly quickly. I showed my hand and he said that he flopped 2 pair and mucked. The game slowed down and finally stopped shortly after that.

Cash Game: +$80

We played 3 games of doubles pool which was really fun. I haven’t played a lot of pool but I really enjoy it because of the competition. I’m happy to report that my team won at pool too, 2 games to 1.

Total for the night: +$50

Enlightening Bootsism

2007-01-05T23:32:00.000-06:00

Most people are needy... The rest are just annoying.

- Enlightening Bootsism

The Classics: 1998 WSOP

2006-12-29T22:12:00.000-06:00

I can't watch this final hand enough. Its brilliant!

The donkey gets lucky one more time

2006-12-29T22:10:00.000-06:00

Farha the Buzzsaw

2006-12-29T21:45:00.000-06:00

I just love this video because Oliver Hudson just knew he had the hand won.

Full Tilt SNG Suckout

2006-12-24T12:45:00.000-06:00

I just thought this was a pretty bad beat so here's the screen-shot. This is from a Full Tilt SNG. I did get it All-In preflop ... not that that justifies it or anything.

The nines raised and I had about 1K left so I moved in. The QQ guy just called and so did the 99 guy. They both flopped sets and the set of Queens checked and the set of nines moved in. QQQ called obviously.

So the QQQ hand is 88% to win. I was about 7% and the 999 was really worse off than me with about a 5% chance of winning because he only had 1 card he could hit.

Poker is a cruel game sometimes! Oh yeah and I have to mention that I busted the Aardvark twice in the first tourney last night hehe!

Enlightening Bootsism

2006-12-21T20:52:00.000-06:00

Remember becomes a more imperative word each day.

- Enlightening Bootsism

Pre-Holiday Holdem Part I

2006-11-15T22:55:00.001-06:00

$10.00 Buy-In

Let’s get right to it. I was feeling pretty “first-rate” when I got to the game. By first-rate, I mean sharp. Before I play cards, I know whether I’m going to pay attention to the game and play my situations or whether I’m just going to set there and go through the motions. I think most players will tell you the same thing.

We were just a couple of pots into the game when this hand came up. Everyone was still in and blinds were at 25 and 50 cents. I was in the big blind and the aardvark was in the small blind. Everyone folded around to the aardvark who raised $2. I had a pretty good feeling that he was stealing my blind because I recall being told I was going to be “Run Through” in this game. I looked down at A8 and felt confident that I had the best hand. I decided to go ahead and raise it to take it down right there. So I did raise $6 more back to the aardvark. He took a few seconds and then said $12.50 more.

During all of this commotion I recalled a hand 2 weeks ago where this same player bluffed me out of a huge pot with 8 high and he showed it to me. In that hand I didn’t go with my gut, but I noticed that his mannerisms were the same. I wasn’t really expecting this move, but I had to stick to my original read, so I called. I rolled over my A 8 and he rolled over 10 6. The flop brought blanks and the turn and river were 8s. This crippled my greatest threat and I was very pleased about that.

I ended up getting heads-up with the elephant of the night. The blinds were at $3 and $6 so I started stealing pots pre-flop. I took the chip lead by a dollar or so before this hand came up. I was first to act but the elephant said all-in out of turn. I didn’t really even think about that as far as him having a big hand. I looked down at A 8 again and decided that I had him beat so I moved in “IN TURN”. And he called with J 2 of hearts. ??? I don’t know and don’t even care to speculate. The flop came A 6 10 two hearts. The turn brought the 8 of hearts make the elephants flush but it also gave me 2 pair. I had hope but it failed to materialize as the river brought a 5 and I finished in second place winning my entrée fee back.

Enlightening Bootsism

2006-11-08T16:22:00.000-06:00

Life is a gluttonous predator that shreds you of your blamelessness.

- Enlightening Bootsism

Enlightening Bootsism

2006-10-31T16:27:00.000-06:00

When its "Too Rocky for a Ditch-Witch" then its Time to Leave.

- Enlightening Bootsism

You Have to Admire a Mosquitoe's Persistence: Holdem Poker

2006-10-19T19:24:00.000-05:00

I guess I need to explain the title of this blog. I went hunting before the game and got absolutely "Ate Up" by mosquitoes in my deer stand. It was so hot that I couldn't wear my normal camo, so about an inch of my neck was exposed and they went crazy on me for about 4 hours. And no, I didn't see anything.

I haven't been blogging at all lately because, well I've been running bad and also playing poorly. By poorly, I mean too tight on my preflop hand selection and I've been getting outmaneuvered in my postflop play. Basically, I have been raising preflop, getting called, betting the flop (after missing it most of the time), getting called again, and then checking the turn and then my opponent bets and I run and hide like an Arkansas Grey Squirrel.

This has been my pattern for the past month or two. I thought it was going to be the same crap again after the $10 buy-in was over...

Table Seating...

$10 buy-in

I only picked up 2 really good hands in this one. The first one was in a pot with blinds at 25 and 50 cents. After a couple of limpers I looked down at AA! In my excitement, I knocked over my chip stack trying to just call the blind. Everyone at the table had a comment about that, smooth move. So now, everyone pretty much knows I have a monster but I didn't raise so they call anyways. The flop came J-6-6. I bet out $2 and the Jackal to my left called. The turn was another Jack. Now anyone with half a brain would figure that the Jackal that was in the pot with me had made a boat, but guess what... NOT ME! I fired $3 into the Jackal who once again called me cold. The river brought an 8. Now I was feeling pretty sure that I was beat here but I decided to bet again (for some reason). I bet $3 more to the Jackal. I figured, if I got raised I was folding for sure. To my total surprise, the Jackal just called.

That really made me believe that he didn't have a Jack or a 6 so I proceeded to proudly roll over my Aces. Then the Jackal rolled over Queen Jack! I don't know why he didn't raise me. No really, Why didn’t he raise me? I have no clue... Anyway, I felt like a HUGE donkey for the rest of that tournament and was out a few hands later in 6th place.

$20 buy-in

I took an early chip lead in this one taking down the 1st pot against the 2 Jackals with A4 on a board of 4-7-K-9-4. The Jackal to my left had K8 and the Jackal to my right had 10 4. This was critical for me to get my confidence back up. After that I played much better for the rest of the night. I was "picking my spots" much better than I have been lately. My timing was good and I started running good again for the first time in a while.

It got down to heads up with the Jackal that had crippled me in the first game. He had a 2 to 1 chip advantage on me. After about fifteen hands I was at $47 in chips and he had $53 when this key hand came up. Blinds were at $4 and $8 and I was fist to act. I looked down at 98 offsuit and limped in and the Jackal checked. The flop was 9-7-6 rainbow. I beat out $8 and the Jackal, being his Jackaly self, moved all-in for $37 more. I called. He rolled over 74 of offsuit and the turn and river were blanks. After that hand the Jackal only had $3 in chips left. After two all-ins, with the cards delt face up, I victorious and happier than a fat kid on cake.

"The Grind"

2006-06-30T22:50:00.000-05:00

------------------------- 10 Dollar Buy-In: Holdem -------------------------

Here's how the table looked ...

I hadn't done much in the game until this hand came up...

Blinds were at 50 and a $1. I was in early position and looked down at and decided to just "Limp In". The Elephant to my left raised $3 with and everyone else folded back to me. I had about $21.50 left and decided to raise $10 more. The Elephant called. The flop was . I moved in for my last $7.50 and he called quickly. The 80% favored kings actually held up and I had a $46.00 chip stack. The very next hand I look down at again! It was better than Christmas day! This time I raised $4 in early postion to mix up my game a little bit. Mr. Porky Pine decided enough was enough and moved in for $15 more with . I call this player the porky pine because he always seems to be in every pot that I raise. He is a "Quill" in my side and what makes it worse is that I have trouble reading him for some reason. Of course, that didn't stop me from breaking my arm to call him on this hand. I'm an 80% favorite here and guess what... the Kings held up again! I am the chip leader and lookin good for heads up play.

I got heads up with the lion to my right. (I wish it was an elephant) We went back and forth for a good 30 minutes. Everytime I limped he raised and everytime he limped I raised. It was a good battle. My strategy heads up is this... I raise when it's his big blind most of the time to steal it and I try to pick favored hands and play big pots for all the chips when I'm the big blind. I did not want to get caught raising his big blind with junk though and he pick up a monster. That's the danger with this strategy and that is exactly what happended in this next hand.

Blinds were at $6 and $12 and I had a slight chip lead. I was the smal blind which is the first to act heads up. I raised $20 with and the Lion moved all-in for $48 more. I guess I was set up for this because he had done this a few times already. I new better but called anyway, trying to end it. He rolled over his monster so I'm 32% vs. 68% and I only made sixes after all the cards were delt so I was down to around $45 in chips. Well gotta pushm' now. The next hand I get and had to move in. The Lion called with so I'm a 3 to 2 underdog. The flop came !!! Like I said, I was a 19 to 1 favorite when the chips went in. So I'm back to around $90 in chips and I worked it up a little bit and regain the chip lead. A few hands later the Lion moves in for his whole stack which I think was around $100 in chips. I call with . He turns over . Pretty much, I see an Ace heads up, I'll put them all in no matter what. So now I'm the favorite 62% vs. 38%. A six came out on the flop and I was back down to $25 in chips. The next hand was a mirror image of the last as I lost again with a slightly favored Ace high to the Lion's King high when he once again pair his kicker card. Winning heads up matches has become my white whale. Second again, SIGH.

+15 Dollars

------------------------ 20 Dollar Buy-In: Holdem --------------------------

The Elephant to my right is gone and a mouse has taken his place.

This tournament was just a disaster for me. The First hand the Elephant to my left raised $4 with blinds at just 25 and 50 cents. Odd... I look down at so i called. I figured he had a big pair 1010, JJ, or QQ but I also figured that he was steaming a little because he had just lost $50 in a side game. I thought if an Ace or King comes I'll bust him because he won't be able to lay it down. The flop came out low and he bet 4 more. I couldn't call then so there goes $4.50 on the first hand. He showed Jacks after everyone folded. I continued to loosely call bets preflop and fold after the flop. A pretty weak stragey to say the least.

So I get short stacked because I was playing like a donkey. With a chipstack of $13 and blinds @ $1 and $2 I move in with . My Porky Pine friend calls me, of course with . Interesting.? This is a common occurrence with several players at this game. They call off $10 to $20 with King 8, King 9, King 10, or King Jack. All of these hands are 3 to 2 dogs to hands as weak as Ace Duece Offsuit. I just don't understand why? But hey, my cards held up, so I wasn't griping to bad after the hand was over.

I continued to catch very few cards and was back down to $13 in no time. With blinds @ $2 and $4 I noticed that the Porky Pine and Elephant were both acting like they were weak before I even looked at my cards. The only one to get by was the Lion across the table from me who never looks at his cards until it's his turn to act. With that information and my chip count, I was forced to move in with and got called by the Lion in the big blind who had . I was happy to play the weak hand against one player instead of 2 or 3. But, lady luck passed me by and I was out in 5th place.

-20 Dollars

------------------------ Cash Game: Dealer's Choice -----------------------

We played a 4 handed cash game after the second tournament. One of the Lions and myself find the cash game to be just as profitable (if not more) as the tournaments, especially with the Elephant and Mouse. If the Lion wasn't leading (Betting First) in a hand then I usually was.

There are couple of hands I want to mention. I was dealing Omaha Hi/Lo which is one of my favorite games. I was delt and limped on the button. The flop came Js - Jh - 8s. I bet out $2 and got called by everyone. The turn bought 6c. I once again bet out, $2.50 this time. The Elephant called and the Mouse called. The river came 10s. I was really hoping somone had the nut flush here. I bet out $3. The elphant folded and the Mouse thought about it for a long time. Keep in mind here that the board is paired and there is a flush possibility. He's ultra tight anyway and I fifured he'd fold, but I think maybe my table talk made him call. I said "Put it in there." and "I want you to call." ha ha and he called me with a sucker straight. (He had the 10 8) I'm not at all griping about him being there, I like the guy, he's always welcome!

Last hand of the night and I have in NL Omaha Hi/Lo. The flop come 7s - 7c - 4d. Check around. Turn came Ah. Check around. River came 8d. The elphant bets out $1, I guess with an Ace? The Lion folded and the mouse didn't even play the hand because he had exactly $10 in chips and didn't want to lose the rest of it. Anyway, I decided that this would be a good time to try an overbet. I raised $7. To my suprise the Elphant called me quickly and said "Well, that will make it easier to count my chips. Call." OK, good logic there!? HA!

+20 Dollars

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

+15 Dollars for the night

More Pics From Tunica

2006-02-17T12:32:00.000-06:00

I'm Taking a Vacation

2006-02-07T16:31:00.000-06:00

Well things haven't been going to well lately. I've been "running badly" for the past month. I get my money in as a favorite but the outcomes of the hands have been in my opponent's favor.

Example...

I was the chip leader 2 weeks ago and in good shape to win with 6 players left. I had about 60 in chips and blinds were at 1 and 2. I was on the button and the whole table had limped in to me. I looked down at and decided to try and take the pot down right there. I raised 10 and everyone folded to the short stack at the table. This was a new guy to the game so we'll call him Jimmy. Jimmy put the rest of his money in the pot with . I found this to be an odd hand to put all you money in with since he had been very "Mousey" all night. As soon as I saw his cards I thought "I lose." That's not a very good mentality to have in a card game. This mentality is the main reason I am taking a month off.

So I'm a %60 favorite going in. The flop came . So now I'm %80 to win from here, but the turn brought the good ole so I took it in the rear again from a poor player and I was on tilt from here on out. BLAH!

I started calling everyone's all-in bets with mediocre hands and just giving it away. I busted out 4th....AGAIN.

On a different note, a few friends and I went to Tunica on the weekend of the Jack Binion World Poker Open. We stayed for 1 night at Sam's Town but spent most of our time at the Gold Strike. We got to see many of the "Big Boys". We walked into the Gold Strike and headed up the escalator. About half way up I look over to my left and coming down the other side was Barry Greenstein. It just got better from there.

We walked into the room where they were holding the Main Event and saw many other pros...

- Men "The Master" Nguyen
- Sam Farha
- Chow Chiang
- Andy Block
- Scotty Nguyen
- Andrew Black
- Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi
- Todd Brunson

and others. We got a few pictures of the pros and one of the guys with me got his picture made with Scotty.

We left Tunica pretty much broke and very tired. This was a fun experience for us all and something I'll remeber forever.

Setting a Mouse Trap: Tournament Holdem

2006-01-10T17:37:00.000-06:00

Suck Outs

Me vs. Mouse (Pre-flop Win 70% to Lose 22% and 8% of the time we will tie)

The mouse to my right was all in pre-flop for $10 I called. The flop Q-J-9, turn 4, river 10.

Me vs. Mouse (Pre-flop Win 64% to Lose 36%)

The flop Q-4-6, turn 8, river 9. This was the same mouse as before. He ended up outlasting me in the $10 buy-in as I finished 3rd and he finished 2nd. ARGH!

Me vs. Mouse (Pre-flop Win 88% to Lose 12%)

I don’t really know what to say about this one. I raised 3 times the big blind before the flop from early position. The mouse called with his junk hand. The flop Q-10-4 of clubs and he leads out with I $5 bet. I knew that I got out-flopped, but I couldn’t maintain my composure and I pushed the rest of my chips in the pot. Just like that, I was out of the $20 buy-in.

Beats I Gave

ME vs. Elephant I guess this was a tuff beat if you can call it that (Pre-flop Win 60% to Lose 20% and 20% of the time we will tie)

I got out flopped when the Q2 hit 2 pair, but I was on the short-stack and had to move in; knowing that I was beat. Loa and behold, the 8 came on the river. It was a strange feeling to get lucky for a change.

ME vs. Lion (Pre-flop Win 48% to Lose 52%)

I had just completed the unsuccessful “Big Bluff” and had to move in on this hand anyway. I was in the big blind ($6.00) and only had $7.00 more in front of me.

Bluffs

ME vs. Lion Huge Pot – Unsuccessful

There were 3 players left and I was the chip leader. The blinds were at $2 and $4. I decided to make a move from the button with Q6 hearts. I made it $12 total. The Lion to my left called and the mouse folded. 1 down and 1 to go right…. WRONG! The flop came K-7-3. It went check - check. The turn came A. I bet out $12 (trying to represent an ace) he called. The river came 7. I thought my opponent was weak so I asked him how much he had left and then set him all-in. He thought a long time and I guess he had a pretty good read on me because he called! I immediately mucked my junk hand.

I want to say something about this hand. It was some good poker all the way around. I made some good bets and he made some great calls. I wasn’t unhappy about getting beat by this player because he didn’t call me just because he had a pair of sixes. He called me because he thought the pair of sixes was the best hand. If you don’t ever get your hand caught in the cookie jar, then you’re not playing good poker.

ME vs. Elephant ?? and Mouse ?? Big Pot –Successful

I raised $2 from first position with the intention of stealing a well built pot on the end. I knew the plan worked to perfection when I only had to weak players in on the turn. I bet $5 on the river and their cards beat my chips into the pot. I won about $16 on this pot.

I came out -$20 for the night but I was pretty happy with my play.

“Let’s Play Some Poker”

2005-12-22T17:50:00.000-06:00

I arrived at the game about an hour and a half early because my wife was having a house full of women over for a Christmas party and I didn’t want to be “in the way.”

- $10 Buy-In -

I started off the tournament by raising with mediocre hands hoping to pick up some small pots. All I accomplished was spreading most of my chips around the table.

I got down to $2.50 out of my original $20 and pushed all-in with A diamonds 4 spades. I got 4 callers because blinds were at $1 and $2. The flop came 6 diamonds Q diamonds 8 clubs. Turn 10 diamonds. River 3 diamonds! So I quintupled up to $12.50 with the nut flush.

After that hand I started to play well and build my chip stack. We were down to 4 when this hand came up. I was in the small blind with blinds at $2 and $4. The guy under the gun folded to the button (jackal) who moved all in for $5 more $9 total. I looked down at A spades 7 spades and figured I had the cornered Jackal beat and maybe even dominated. So I smooth called. The big blind (jackal) looked at his cards and raised $5 more. Now I was confused. Why would he do this? Isolation? That really makes no sense when we have the short stack all-in on the bubble to cash. In my mind, he could have only raised here with a very powerful hand like a big pair or AK. I folded in disgust. The button jackal turned over A 3 off-suit. OK I was right there. The Jackal that “dry-bet” me out of the pot turned over K clubs J clubs! You’ve gotta be kidding me! Long story short the button Jackal doubled up without getting any help from the board. ARGH!

The 2 Jackals locked horns again in a hand all too common at this game. The blinds were at $2 and$4. Jackal 1 raised to $8 total on the button with K Q off-suit. I folded to Jackal 2 who moved all in for $9 more with AA. Jackal 1 called. The flop came A - 10 – J! Jackal 2 got no help filling his trips on the turn or river and was gone. I think Jackal 1 played the hand beautifully considering his K Q off-suit is a %92 favorite against AA. Nice Move!

I ended up getting 2nd place to Jackal 1 after I moved all-in with K 8 off-suit vs. his A 3 off-suit. I made $10 for my second place finish. Good playing Mr. Jackal.

P. S. I had you on the bubble but your Jackal counterpart saved you. HA!

- $20 Buy-In -

The table looked like this…

                 Elephant

Lion 2                             Lion 1

      Jackal 2             Jackal 1

                     Me

I was doing well and in complete control of myself. I have seen some strange hands in my day, but this next one takes the cake. Lion 1 was in the small blind with KK and moved all-in with 2 limpers in front of him. Jackal 1 was in the big blind and peaked down at his AA and called. The flop came Q - Q - Q. The turn brought the fourth Q. AA was still the best hand with the Ace playing now as a high card. The river came ACE which split the pot for the two players. Crazy!

I had built up a $55 chip stack when this hand came along…

Blinds were at $1 and $2. I was in the big blind and all of the players had limped in front of me. I looked down at A diamonds Q diamonds and decided to play “big stack poker.” I raised $10 figuring I would just pick up the pot right there but knowing that I would call any re-raise here as well. Lion 2 moved over the top for $8.50 more and I called. I figured he had a big hand but it was $8.50 to win $38.50, more than 4 and a half to 1 pot odds. He showed KK, but the first card off was the ace of spades and I now had a massive chip lead.

We got down to 2. It was me and Lion 1. Blinds were at $2 and $4 only 3 hands into heads up play the Lion raised to $8 total. I looked down at A 8 off-suit. Anyone that’s played much heads up poker knows that a king is favored over a random hand so an ace was definitely a huge hand heads up. I raised $12 more. The lion moved all-in for around $10 more and I called. He showed A 2 off-suit and my kicker was good enough to win my 51st bracelet. I made $40 for this tournament.

We played a little “Dealer’s Choice” after the second tournament and I was dropping all kinds of money in the seven card games. I finally got a BIG break during a hand of 5 card draw. I started off with a big hand A-A-A-10-4. I decided to just call before the draw with such a huge hand to camouflage my cards. I drew to cards with 2 players in. (A Mouse and an Elephant) I got my cards and slow peeked them to find the case ace! The Mouse bet out $3 and the Elephant called and I re-raised $3 more since I “thought” this was a $3 max bet game. They both called and I showed my monster. They didn’t even bother to show. One of the other players told me later that the dealer had announced that it was No-Limit 5 card draw. I wish I would have heard him.

I split a monster pot on the end and that put me back on the plus side for the cash game too. I won $75 on the night. It was a good night. I had good time and you can’t ask for a better group to play with.

"Aces Are Wild" Tournament Holdem

2005-12-15T19:32:00.000-06:00

The game looked like this when I arrived.

        Unknown Profile

      Lion            Elephant

Elephant                Jackal

      Lion            Jackal

                  Me

As you can see, I was in a tough spot tonight with the Jackals on my right and lions to my left.

- $10 Buy-In -

On the very first hand it was folded around to the Elephant to my right who was in the small blind. He over bet the pot with a raise of $3 to the most aggressive player at our table. Mr. Jackal came over the top for $10 more! (Can’t say I didn’t see that one coming.) Keep in mind, we only have $20 in chips and the blinds are at 25 and 50 cents. Madness! The small blind thought about it and pushed all in and the big blind called immediately. The Elephant turned over K 8 and the Jackal rolled over a monster 10 7. HA HA HA The 10 came on the flop and that was all she wrote for the Elephant.

I can’t even begin to count the mistakes that were made by both players here. First was the over bet by the Elephant. I wouldn’t over bet at this guy unless I had a top 5 hand (AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AK) because this Jackal is going to AT LEAST call you and more often than that re-raise you because he thinks your stealing and with only 75 cents in the pot I would probably think the Elephant was stealing too! On the other hand, you’re only losing 50 cents if he is stealing. I doubt the Elephant even thought about who he was raising. I really DOUBT it a whole lot.

I ended up busting out in 5th place when I moved in against the blinds with A 10 spades and was called by the big blind that picked up JJ.

- $20 Buy-In -

During the next game I was MR. SUCKOUT! I love it. I took a flop with KQ off suit against an Elephant and a Jackal. The flop came K 10 Q. It was checked to me and I bet out $3 and was re-raised by the Elephant to my left to $8 total. Alert! An Elephant has re-raised you! The Jackal folded and I knew that the elephant had a monster or he was on a major bluff. I really thought he was strong but I was short stacked and decided to make my stand so I moved in for $10 more. He called and rolled over J 9, Straight. I thought it was all over but the river brought me a king and I was spared.

It got down to 4 players and shortly after this surprising hand came up. I was up against a Lion and a Jackal. I had 9 4 in the big blind and got a free look at the flop. The flop came 9 A 4. It was checked around. I “thought” I was trapping. The turn came a 7 and the lion checked again. The Jackal had seen enough and moved all in for around $50. I studied him for a while and saw that he wasn’t giving off his “I have a strong hand tell” and I figured that he probably had nothing so I called off my $38 stack knowing that I had this hand wrapped up. To my surprise, the lion literarily “Broke His Arm” to get his chips in the pot while screaming the strange battle cry of “I couldn’t have played it any better!” He had about $20 in chips as he rolled over the NUTS AA! The Jackal flipped over Q 5 nothing. (I was right.) I was drawing dead but I only lost $2 on the pot because of the side pot with the Jackal.

Honestly I never saw it coming so I would like to congratulate the Lion on a brilliantly played hand.

I ended up getting 2nd place for a $10 profit on the night.

I'm All Over The Place: Tournament Holdem

2005-11-19T02:48:00.000-06:00

I headed over to the game early and had to wait about an hour for everyone to show up. There were eight of us all together; just the regulars. The tournament was our usual $10 buy in with $20 in chips. Blinds started at 25 and 50 cents and doubled every thirty minutes.

The table was pretty loose because a certain player had the table busted open after “running through” the earlier cash game in just 3 hands.

Anyways, one player was eliminated early, before I even played a pot. I can’t complain about that because this particular “jackal” is dangerous and I was happy to see him go. I finally picked up a pair of nines and raised $2 before the flop with blinds still at 25 and 50 cents. I got FOUR callers! I guess everyone wanted to “splash around” with their junk cards. The flop was 7 5 2. I was first to act and bet $5. That was enough to scare everyone out. Honestly, I couldn’t believe nobody called the $5 bet on the flop because that couldn’t have been a real bad flop for the cards my callers must have been holding.
I made about $9 off of that pot and was 3rd in chips at this point.

I had grinded up to about 40 in chips when I got involved in a hand with a “raising mouse” ; not good! I had jack 10 off in the big blind and it was folded around to the mouse in the small blind who RAISED $2! (That’s weird) I decided to splash around (knowing he had aces) because this guy doesn’t stop betting when he has a monster, and if I could out-flop him I would have all of his chips.

The flop was K Q 3; not bad for me since I flopped the nut straight draw. Jack 10 is the only hand that gives you the nut straight no matter how you hit it. A-K-Q-J-10, K-Q-J-10-9, Q-J-10-9-8, J-10-9-8-7 are all nut straights if you hold jack 10. (This is assuming that there isn’t a four card straight on the board.)

The timid mouse just bet $2 more so I called. He bet $2 on the turn and I called. The river brought me no help as the mouse made a MOUSEY $3 bet on the river, so I had to fold. He didn’t even have to show those 2 red aces but he did anyway. I called him down for one reason. If I had hit a 9 on the turn or river I am %100 sure that I bust him out of the tournament on that hand because this mouse is not cagey enough to get away from those pretty aces. A solid player would have probably realized that I was drawing after the flop and ran over me with a hefty bet on the turn. I would have done the same thing to the other mouse at the table.

Another interesting hand involved a mouse and our resident elephant. This seems to be a common dual in the animal kingdom HA! Blinds were at $1 and $2 and the mouse only had about $9 left in the big blind. The elephant called the blind of course and the mouse checked. The flop cam out A 4 3 and the elephant bet $2 the mouse reraised all in and the good ole elephant called. The mouse turned over A 3 giving him 2 pair and a big lead to the J 4 of his opponent. Turn J ; River J !!! And the mouse was gone. I had to mention that horrible beat.
So we’re down to 3 and I am the short stack, very short. Blinds were at $3 and $6. I was in the small blind with only about $15.25 left. I looked down at pocket 10s and moved in. I was called by the chip leader. A crafty animal; Hmmm we’ll call him “The Aardvark.” He had a suited A 7 clubs. I want to say here that I could have had junk in this spot just as easy as 10-10 and would have probably HAD to make this same move. Long story short, the 10s held up and I had new life, but still short.

I kept the heat on for a few hands moving in 2 or 3 more times with no callers until …
The blinds were at $4 and $8 and I was on the button with K 10 off. I pushed in the rest of my chips against the aardvark who reluctantly called with his Ad Q off. OOPS, I’m in trouble, 2 live though. The flop came Jd 6c Kd. YES I got lucky! Just when I though I was in the clear the turn brought the 10 of diamonds, giving “The Aardvark” the nut straight with the nut flush draw. Well I am in intensive care now with only 4 outs left. The river came 10!!!!! Wow, what a hand. I filled my 2 pair on the river to “resuckout” on that slimy Aardvark. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. :)

The last key hand I want to mention was when I was chip leader. I was in the small blind and limped in with Q 5 the big blind checked. The flop came A-Q-9 I checked and the big blind moved in for his last $17 in chips. I figured he had a Q because there was no raise before the flop but how could I call with a 5 kicker? I had about $50 in chips so if I made this call and lost then I am not out. I also have a chance to knock out the last good player in the tournament. He is also short stacked which makes me think that he almost has to move in here, yet he is too solid to move in with nothing at all. I finally called and he turned over Q 2. Well it looked like a split pot was on the way but the river brought me a 5 and the only Lion at the table was gone.

I quickly disposed of the Mr. Elephant 2 hands later and claimed $50 for a crazy win.

Saturday Night Tournament Holdem

2005-11-12T14:51:00.000-06:00

I wasn't even planning on playing tonight, but I got a call from Dufy at about 8:00. He wanted to play some cards so I agreed and we headed over to "THE GAME". When I walked in I saw all of the usual faces and a couple of new ones. These two guys are known cash game players but I won't mention names. They play for high stakes and not just holdem. It always excites me to see new faces at the game, even if they are very good players. You can learn a lot from guys that have been playing cards longer than you've been alive!

The first tournament we played was a $10 buy in no-limit holdem. There were 12 of us playing. Every Player usually gets $20 worth of chips. Blinds start at 25 and 50 cents and are doubled every 30 minutes. I was a rock in the first game only playing big hands and playing them for a raise. If I got a call I pushed hard after the flop and usually got everyone to fold. Before I knew it I had doubled my chips and was setting pretty for the "final table" ha.

I was second in chips at the final table when this key hand came up. I picked up AA in under the gun and limped in with a "jackal" who was sitting on a short stack of about $13. The flop cam 457 and we both checked. The turn came 10 and we both checked again.... That's strange for this particular jackal. The river came ACE! I once again checked hoped he would make a move. Sure enough he did, $13 more! I took that pot and the chip lead.

Another key hand that I wasn't in involed 2 of our regulars. Once again I won't mention names. The blinds were at $1 and $2 dollars. The elephant to my right called the blind, as usual. Everyone else folded around to the mouse in the big blind who raised $5. Now when a mouse raises they have the cards to raise with, but the limper being a "calling station" called the big raise. The flop came J J 7 and the elephant checked. The mouse bet out 4 which told me he must have a big pair or he missed with ace king. I didn't really think it was ace king though because guy like him will generally want to see a flop with AK to make sure he hits an ace or king. Then the calling station came out of his shell and pushed ALL IN. The mouse thought about it for a minute and called. The mouse turned over his QQ, I Knew IT! The elephant then slow rolled his jack 5 offsuit. The turn and river were no help and the mouse was gone.

I ended up finishing second place and received $30 for my efforts.

The second tournament started off with a bang as me and the best player at our table butted heads on the first hand. I hand 77 in early position and made it $3 to go. The table folded to, "We'll call him a Lion", the lion who called. The flop came 8 3 5 and I bet $3 and he smooth called. That made me think that he had 2 big cards maybe KQ. Turn was a J. I bet out again and he called. The river came A. Now I figured that this was a good card for me so I bet out double $6 to go. He immediately says "Damned river beat me again." That was good to hear and he folded. He made 2 or 3 more comments about the river but I wasn't about to show him my 77.

I might have showed some lesser player my cards there but you should NEVER show a lion what you had when they didn't pay to see. A good player will pick up on your betting patterns and tells a lot quicker when your "showing off" your hands.

Late in the same tournament the blinds were at $2 and $4. I was first to act and looked down at QQ. Wow, nice so I raised $8. The table folded around to the big blind who is a good player and he called. That kind of worried me. He hadn't called my raise all night and had earlier commented about my "Super Tight" style of play. I put him on a good ace because of that maybe AJ or AK. The flop came A K 8. Crap!!! I thought. He was first to act and checked. That move confused me. If he had AJ or AK wouldn't he bet right there. This was the key point in the hand for me where I should have bet out just to see what he had but I was confoused and checked. THAT IS WHERE I SCREWED UP! The turn card was a 5 and he immediately bet out $8. He gave away another tell when he did this but I didn't pick up on it at the time. He announced the amount he was betting and he hadn't done that all night. Dang... screw up number 2 by me. I quickly folded my hand without even thinking about it. He shows J 10! NOTHING!

That was the last mistake and strike three I'm out of the hand. You should always think about a hand before you make your move whether it be calling, folding, or raising. I made a hasty decision and it cost me 3/4 of my stack and crippled me. I was was blinded out 30 minutes later.

Oh well there's always next year. HA

Welcome!

2005-11-11T08:52:00.000-06:00

I will keep records of our local poker game on this blog.