Saint Bayne

Not unlike a grease stain on a wall that looks like Elvis, railbirds and players alike last night were witness to a very rare event. The canonization of Saint Bayne.

His ascension completed at approximately 1:10am, as he won the "Monday at the Hoy" tournament, which culminated in a unanimous vote of poker playing cardinals, hereto anointing Bayne, The Patron Saint of Card Racks.

As if auditioning for the part, Saint Bayne took great pride in stealing my blinds with some of his more marginal hands such as AJ, AQ, AK, JJ and AA. When he saw a flop, he had much better cards. Top Pair became almost a sign of the devil, which Bayne would vanquish with a simple flick of the wrist.

At the final table, almost as if on cue, the table glowed and so did Saint Bayne, winning each and every hand he touched. The players, unable to muster any more resistance, watched in awe as we were dismissed one by one.

So let it be know, that today is Saint Bayne day. 6/26. Mark it on the most paper of calendars, lest we forget to bring the pope-mobile to Vegas in December for his emminence.

Oh yeah, I came in third.

What’s a precipice?

I played in the "riverchasers" 3 table HORSE MTT yesterday. Get a load of this:

After the first hour, I was chip leader.

After the second hour, I was LAST (second to last?) and down to a VERY short stack. Basically, any hand I play, I am committed to.

At the final table I was the CHIP LEADER with 8 left (pays 4).

I bubbled and went out 5th?!

What the heck is wrong with me? How does one go from Chip Leader, to LAST, to Leader, to bubble??!!!

Am I any better at all? or just suddenly more volatile?

strange days

The Hoy last night:
Pocket Kings FOUR times...
Won 3 races, all of which sent a player to the rail...
Had an Average stack with 20 left (just in the points)...

I LIMP with a small pocket pair.
LP players bets 3xBB (which is pretty big now). I have about 10xBB total (despite being avg stack).
I figure that the limp, all-in may look like aces and if I get called I am probably a slight favorite. I push 44 into what turns out to be AK.
Flop is AKx and IGHN.

Was I foolish and impatient or was it just my time? I noticed in reflecting on my play, that I dont think I see enough flops and instead rely on odds when the blinds are large. Good or bad?

Taking Stock and Kicking Ass

After playing with the bloggers for a weekend, I had to admit somethings to myself. The hardest was that I am not as good as I SHOULD be after 3 years of being a wanna-be.

1. I dont read hands well! I read SITUATIONS well, but not hands. I am going to start recording hands as I play them and write down what I think my opponent has on every street.

2. Because of #1, I am too risk adverse on the turn with lowers my EV. I need to use the turn for PRESSURE.

3. I still struggle with calling raises with marginal cards despite being in position. After the first raise goes in, I tighten up considerably. This is ok in a tournament, but foolish in a cash game where people are raising up with A5s.

4. I am not aggro at a loser table. BUT I FIXED THAT MONDAY. I walked over the bridge to the TI, plocked down $60 for the 10pm tourney and chopped with the other 2 remaining players when the blinds got too high for sanity. I was SUPER-AGGRO all night, until the bubble, where I watch the short stacks committ suicide...

I have a new goal... and its nasty... (cue eye of the tiger?)

WPBT Recap

Another WPBT party draws to a close and what a fun weekend it was. So much to say, lets just start talking.

I flew in Friday and made the $250 HORSE down at Binions. 224 entries was a bit too high for my normal sweet spot. I played very well through level 11, but never could get very far above an average stack size. I was reading the newspaper on the plane and I noted that some new tennis star won a match and they wrote that she had only 11 unforced errors. I thought to myself, what a great way to measure your success in HORSE! So at the end of level 11, I had only 3 unforced errors, and 1 forced error. (I consider an unforced error one where you simply make a mistake with a hand. An unforced error is anything where you are better off taking the action, such as calling with a draw on the river because you have pot odds, and then you miss and have to muck.) So I am playing very well. But now the levels start to really move up and everyone's M drops significantly. You basically have 2 showdowns with an average stack. I ended up stuck with an O8B hand where I was cheated for High on the turn, then cheated for Low on the river and made a crying call which was at the time $4k of my $26-$2k-$2k-$4k stack. Ends up I make a lower aces up and second nut low to nuts. I lose half my stack and suddenly its the dinner break. Level 13 is razz and I get in short stacked with 3 to low only to end up with a boat to finish me off. I finished 38th out of 224, 14 places out of the money.

Then, it was off to the MGM mixed games. but the MGM could not get the table going at first, so it was drinks and greets at the bar. Attendence was much lower (40 people) this summer, but that meant I got to meet every single person this time, which I really enjoyed. They did eventually get our HORSE 3-6 going, where we all bought in for 200 chips. 20 minutes later the casino manager came by and they were out of blue chips now and had to buy some back! priceless. The game broke up just before 3am.

Saturday was the tourney where I finihsed out of the money, but in the points. Pauly did a nice write-up on Tao of Poker. In the end, Mrs. Spaceman was crowned champion, besting Grubette.

The Poker Room manager treated us as if we were an annoyance on his otherwise fulfilling life, and the Orleans will probably never see a blogger (or any of its readers I hope) every again. Say what you will about vegas and poker, but in 3 years and 6 tournaments, the IP was HANDS DOWN the best and most customer friendly to the blogger community and they deserve to host our tournament in December. Volunteers to help arrange it are being sought.

Saturday night was poker with the bloggers where I had to play at a 1-2 table featuring the all-star lineup of Hoy, Blinders, Miami Don, CrackinAces, Likaris, penerii, and statickling and still look like I knew what I was doing. One hand made the OMM for next week. I held my own, until the end of the night, when a civilian filling an empty seat, flopped a set on my overpair on only his 3rd hand and I lost my stack. (I heard Miami Don releaved him of his new stack before the bloggers left.)

Sunday was the private HORSE tournament at the IP, which due to a mistake on My part, I missed and had to watch. Again, the IP not only did that for the pokersluts crew, they that evening they dealt us mixed games including some awesoime rounds of budagi and triple draw until 2 am.

And now, its time to pack it in and return to our otherwise pedestrian lives. The WSOP is going on all around me here in Las Vegas, but I never even stepped foot in the RIO as I was having too much fun. Maybe next year...

Celebrate Good Times, come on!

For those of you who didn’t realize, yesterday was “Hit a flush against Columbo” day. If you were in the Bay area last night, I hope you enjoyed your FREAKING CELEBRATION!!


...Off to Vegas in the morning. Next stop, Binions $250 HORSE.

Quick Exit

Well, I went out in the Hoy last night in 2 hands. I played not a single hand in level 1 and was getting antsy. I was determined NOT to piss away chips early. But its level two and I even fold KJo UTG. Next round I get QdJd utg and do a raise just to play a hand. I get just the BB caller. (oops). The flop is 2dKdAc. The BB checks, I bet 2/3 pot as a continuation and BB min raises. I got trapped. Obvious, but I call as I have odds still. But the turn is a K pairing the board and he bets 1/2 pot. Despite a paired boarded and slightly less than the odds needed, I call suspicious that he has a K, got lucky and I will break him if a diamond comes or a Ten. Instead a black nine comes and he checks. I check back, knowing its a second trap and he shows AK. I am out 1/2 my stack. He played it well.

Second hand it folded around to me in the SB and I look at KQs. I rause and the BB puts me all in. I have to call and he has A5s. And Ace right out the door send me home.

But why did I chase that flush?

1. lack of concentration. My mind was miles away.
2. I was playing alot of HORSE lately and limit mentality might have been in play. i.e. not risk adverse enough.

Shopping and WPBT7 banner

In preperation for yet another business trip (which bookends the summer classic), I went clothes shopping. I usually HATE it, but this time it was almost magical. I walked into the store and it was as if someone had said, "hey, all that stuff YOU like but was never in vogue?? Well, now its all you baby!" Everything that I thought was always cool is now cool. (How long can THAT possible last!?)

Despite the good time, I had to rush back for riverchasers. Why? because you need to be in the top twenty and its not weighted for # of events played. If it was, I would be in. But having missed a good dozen or so, I am like 27th. So, I need to play today.

I would propose a new point structure for next time... Weighted as long as you play 1/2 the events, with token points for being in the top half, points for the final table, points for cashing and bonus points for winning. Weighted by # of events played.

BUT, I am not complaining!!! This has been a GREAT effort by AlCantHang to even do it! Awesome.


and now... a banner

who loves money? (i do, i do!)

It's that time again... Time for the donkye-fest know as the
2007 World Series of Poker

Are you going?
Are you just going to play the NLHE $1500?

Reckless at the Mookie

Last night I played in the Mookie. I always fare poorly in the Mookie, and I am never sure why. First hand I get JJ on an Ace flop and then another similar hand and I am down to 750 (start with 1500). Its level 1!!

So, I start to TAG my way back. I make it to about 1500, never higher. Now there are like 50 left and I still have about 1500. Once my Q approaches .5, I expond the philosophy of seeking volitility to catch up. And that I did. I would get in drawing situations and instead of pushing to pressure a fold, I would entice the opponent to put my all-in on the come. Or, I would go all-in on any hit flop.

Now there are 32 left (31 get points, 7 cash) and I and in 32nd place. I double up on a flush draw and now am 3rd from last. I go on a mini-rush, push-monkeying my way up the ladder as players were folding pre-flop to my aggr-mania. Despite getting AA,KK and QQ in the BB, all three were folded around to me and I took the dissapointing "walks".

Again, I double up and now climb to the middle of the pack. I continue agression, pushing players off of hands post flop despite having nothing but a gut-shot. Pre-flop, I am re-raising or raising big with any hand I decide to play. I tried really hard to protray a maniac image, but either I would get moved or players who knew me better would not fall for the "image reset".

As the blinds grew, my aggr-steals pushed me as high as 3rd place. Then, I went totally card dead, getting long runs of hands with a duck in them.

Here is the final scenario:
13 players left, 7 cash... I am 8th... blinds are high enough that everyone but the chip leader has an M of 9-11... First into the pot is often an all-in bet, that is not called.

And I get AKo in the BB. Now, with the BB and the antes, 10% of my stack is in already.

QUESTION: Is there ANY situation where you fold this hand???

Question 2: you are psychic and can see your opponents cards... or at least know what you are dealing with.

UTG raise (big pair not AA or KK), Button goes all in. (PAIR not AA or KK)
They both have about the same stack size as you... (they are in 7th and 9th currently) Do you push KNOWING that the UTG will call and it will be JJ vs. 66 vs. your AK???

If I win this hand, I cash... If I lose it, I am out...

WPBT FAQ?

What is the WPBT?

World Poker Blogger Tour

How do I become a member?

Have a poker blog for longer than 1 post!

What are the benefits of being a member?

Precious few! BUT, the WPBT holds a monthly poker event and maintains a leaderboard for those events. And best of all, two of the events (one summer, one winter) are held live in Las Vegas. There is ZERO cost to membership other than the occasional (for some very occasional, you know who you are) post! Once a member, always a member.

What is going on in Vegas?

You need to read a past trip reports from attendees to do it justice.

What's going on at the Summer Vegas WPBT POKER-WISE then?

Well, Falstaff and I are going to play the $250 HORSE at Binions on Friday. (Please join us!) Friday night is mixed game chaos at the MGM card corral. The summer event on Saturday is a private NLHE tournament at the Orleans.

Where can I get more information?

Not sure there is any! But try the links at the right to the WPBT leaderboard, which can take you to the WPBT online events calendar (featuring the weekly events The Mookie and The Hoy at Full Tilt). There is also the "Battle of the Bloggers" leadboard maintained by AlCan'tHang. The rest you pick up as you go. Like a MMORPG only for poker bloggers.

Can I make any money being a blogger?
Are you kidding? Bloggers make tens of dollars every year!

Traveler's Dilemma

Read this:

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleId=7750A576-E7F2-99DF-3824E0B1C2540D47

Now think about no limit poker. IF this article is correct, players will always bet the wrong amount at all but the higest level of competition. And even then they might.

What does this mean?

I means that betting the "correct" amount can be enough to outplay our field. Wow. I was hard on myself last night in the Hoy because I bet POT everytime I hit top pair in an effort to avoid variance and players catching up. But do I need to except the fact that I did not maximize my return?

Seven Random Things about Columbo

I have seen some threads, but missed the challenge post. As usual, I'll guess at the mission and wing it. If someone tagged me, I would not necessarily know it. Consider this a preemptive strike.

Seven Random Things about Columbo:

1. I have been strip searched at the border. The story is an actually quite a long one, that I was committed to the written word for a magazine article. I dont plan on typing it again.

2. I have a published, big box board game (Link at right) called "Bootleggers". It's surprisingly good.

3. I was a poser. That's right. I would trek down from suburbia, leaving the confines of my upper middle class home to go to the city and see the Dead Kennedy's.

4. I did stand-up comedy for nearly 10 years. And I got paid to do it. Really. Hello? Is this thing on?

5. I love a good cartoon. Not just the adult stuff either. If its witty and original, I'll watch it. I have an extensive collection of the old Mel Blanc classics.

6. I was once suspended from college for a week for exploiting a backdoor on the mainframe that moved all my jobs to the top of the queue. The queue that I called the "wait of death". I guess that somewhere, in a government warehouse, in an FBI filing cabinet, is my "permanent record" that consists primarily of this list.

7. I don't really believe in luck. Varience, sure. Not luck. "Right place, right time?" No, not really. Just varience.

out-smarted myself

Player in MP raises to 4xBB. Cutoff calls, button calls. I look down at 33 in the SB.

BUT, the BB had his hands over his cards and the UtG says "raise". Action returns to me and I am looking at a pot with two raises, out of position, with a baby pair. I can no longer call and look for a set, I have to fold. There may be a made all-in rush after the re-raise at low limits.

Not ony did the players all CALL, the set would have hit and held up...

What did the RE-RAISER have? AJs. No wonder I did not want to leave the table.

Theory: low limit and paired boards

Theory: good players make alot of money on paired boards at low limits.

WHY?

1. Low Limit players put on blinders that the board pairing can negatively affect them. On a board of QQ3, the QJ will ALWAYS pay off the KQ or AQ. Always. (Lots of kicker problems at low limits)

2. Players will bet into made boats and not slow down if they have a straight or flush!

3. Players will call big bets with overcards when heads up, assuming that their opponent is bluffing or has a lesser 2 pair.

4. Players will play any card with an Ace and yet still bet when the ace hits on a dangerous board. (Never mind the kicker issues!)

5. There is no long term +EV to bluffing at the low limits, but there is a +EV to being perceived as loose. Players will continue to repeat the mistakes above over and over again!

Paired boards are fun! BUT, remember. When you bet into a paired board, the resulting information you get from your opponents reaction is LESS accurate. Why? Because he may play back at you THINKING he has the better hand.

The Hoy lets me down 5 times.

I was down to under 800 chips, but battled back for 3 hours to BUBBLE the hoy at 6th. A heartbreaker as I was in 3rd with 8 left. I played ok, but never got "lucky". Its funny, but I won everyhand where I got in ahead, and lost every hand where I got in behind. No suckouts, no beats. Is that the perfect formula for a bubble? All races resulted in the pair winning also. RIGGED.

I got my money in behind 5 times and lost them all...

Flop-Trap Poker

Ok, here is the "jist" of my trip to Vegas.

One night down $120, next night up $160. So, I ended up $40. But why the wild fluxuations? I played JUST flop-trap poker.

What is Flop-Trap Poker? (aka small-ball)

You see as many flops as possible, draw with odds, and make big pots for big hands (and try to keep pots small otherwise).

PROS: takes advantage of other player mistakes. Can win big pots with minimal risk. Works well at low limits.

CONS: Time dependant (it takes as long as it takes). May fold otherwise winning draw hands to maniac players. Works well at low limits.


So on my trip, I hit all the CONS the first night. draws to non-but flushes were folded to 3 all ins, for example. On the second night, I made the flops and players kept betting into pots with second best hands.


I missed a huge opportunity passing on 89s from the SB for a 3xBB raise. Or did I? Isn't it -EV to call a 3xBB raise with a drawing hand which is unsuited and out of position, even if there are 3 other players???? Is it??? hmmm????

Stud 7 was last night

I was in last, then in 4th, then out. The fall from 4th was so anti-climactic. I went card dead, then had Aces up beaten TWICE. Go figure.

Results are posted (link at right) and the next event is the WPBT summer classic (or online make-up event at the SAME time).

Vegas Baby, Yeah!

I will do a trip recap later, but in the meantime...

Despite repetition, my favorite things to do in vegas:

1. Get drunk at the german beer hall(across from hard rock)

2. The MGM card room is the best. Play some "flop-trap" poker.

3. Lounge around at the Casa Fuete cigar cafe (have a mojito) in the forum shops.

4. The two person showers in the ceasar hotel rooms.

5. Did I mention that Dicks Last Resort (the shame of Chicago) AND Trader Vics (tiki drinks served in a carved out pinapple!) are opening this year?

6. Sushi is awesome

7. Gam-boooooling with bloggers at a 1-2 table.

8. Texting blog entires from vegas (with no spel checin!)

9. Walking the strip in the heat

10. Sitting by a pool for 8 freaking hours having drinks, meals and service poolside. Frequent dips should not be missed.

11. Elvis Sightings.

Losing, but not sucking

put raiser on mid pair, put him all in with 99. He calls with 55.

Put raiser on AJ/AT, put him all in with AQ, he calls with AJ.

Put raiser on steal with two paint cards, put him all in with 88, calls with KJo.


what do all these hands have in common? They knocked me out of tournaments last night...

even Raise it up with AA, caller with AT, SPLIT! not my night, yet I played well and read well. Oh well. Live poker game tomorrow. Hope the bad luck is drained out now...