Hey all, welcome back to your poker fix. It's been a little while since I last posted so I wanted to catch everybody up on the goings on in my life. Both on and off from the poker table. Without any further ado, the blog...
After a long decision, I finally decided yesterday to not attend tonight's off-Friday poker game. Nothing against the game, because I do like the format, I just needed to get my mind off competetive poker for a least one week. Playing every week is not only grueling on your mind, but your wallet as well. And we all pretty much know my bankroll is non-existent at the moment, so I am using my all purpose money to feed the demon that has become my poker obsession. Ok, so maybe it isn't that drastic at this point, but I still needed a break. Constantly playing, no matter how high the stakes are, is tough on your mind and taxing on you physically and mentally. A lot of times when you sit down to play, you have a bad beat you're still thinking about in the back of your mind. Sometimes, you're lucky enough to a point where it doesn't change the way you play. More often than not, especially when you're playing the same players over and over again, you play differently against the player who laid that beat on you. You try to overcompensate in a hand so that he / she doesn't suck out on you again, and you end up hurting your game because of it. If you played against a different group, I guess it would be different, who knows. All I know is that playing the same players every week, wears you down. I think I was at that point a few weeks ago, and it really hurt my game. I was playing mediocre hands against a mediocre player and getting beat by raggy flops. I thought to myself, "ok, X, you've got to open up your game otherwise you'll end up blinding yourself out." And that is true to a certain extent. I was limiting myself to only the very best hands. That's fine, but when you do play a hand, you usually get beaten by vastly inferior hands or the absolute nuts. The problem is you don't really know what you're up against and it is harder to fold say A - K whent the board reads A - Q - 10. This particular situation happened to me and the player I was up against had pocket A's and had flopped a set. Now I'm drawing to any one of the remaining jacks in the deck. There just happened to be three jacks left in the deck, as one was folded. But this was the thing that kept happening to me constantly over the period of several months. I wouldn't fold the hand and end up going broke. Last week at Kurt's, I opened my game up a little and it did pay dividends. There are some situations that I know what to do, it's just whether I have the stomach to do it. I find it really hard to revert back to my previous style knowing what I know now. I can't play like I used to, so instead I need to find newer and, better yet, more effective ways of changing up my game. I do change my game up well, I think. I personally think it is hard to put me on a hand most of the time. I don't bluff a whole heck of a lot, but when I do, it's usally effective. I generally do it to the tighter players who don't like getting involved with average hands. At this point, I definitely think I am a decent player who has good instincts. I just have to follow my instincts and not let bad beats get to me. I still have a lot of work to do until I reach my goal, but I think for a guy who three years ago didn't know a damn thing about poker, I've done a pretty good job.
Anyways, the WSOP Main Event just finished up being televised on ESPN. It actually had ended in mid-August. For poker players who take the game seriously, this is the mecca of poker. I think around 8,500 people showed up this year. Back in 2000, three hundred or so players showed up. It's really amazing how poker has grown over the course of six years. This year's Main Event winner, Jamie Gold, took home $12 million for his efforts. Actually, I should correct that. There is litigation going on currently between Jamie Gold and another player who said that Gold would split the winnings with him if he won. If his complaint is upheld, Gold would only get $6 million. It's sad that it has gone this far. Hopefully, this ugly situation won't permanently marr the way the WSOP and Harrah's does business.
Ok, I think I've done enough blogging for one day. I'll blog again when I have something about poker that I want to talk about. Later
X
Friday, September 29, 2006
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Well, 4th isn't that bad, right?
Hey everybody, good news! I just saved a bunch of money on car insurance by swicthing to Geico. LOL! Just kidding, but I do have good news. For the first time since the early summer, I got points. Not many, mind you. It also wasn't a win, but I did make the money, though. Although in the beginning, it looked like it was going to be another bad night.
The first game was kind of weird. Bill wasn't there like he usually is, even though he had a good reason, being in Florida. There was no Marc and Niki, which I was relieved about, since I'll be battling them just to stay in the top 25 over the next few weeks. Finally, Henry wasn't there either. So there were two of the usual suspects and quite a few good players not there. I figured that last night was as good as any to shoot for a win.
In the first game, the table I was at was a blend of a whole bunch of different styles. There was Steve, a strong solid player, Ryan a strong aggressive player who is reckless at times. There was George and Dave to players well known for their questionable play. There was Scott and I, who are tight yet aggressive players almost to a fault. But there was also an unknown player at the table who only lasted a couple of rounds last week when I played with him, Andy. From what I saw of Andy, he was a classic newbie. Calls with weak hands into big pots, doesn't define a hand when he raises, if he raises at all. He was sitting to my left and I have to admit he wasn't one of the players I was concerned with at the table.
The game started out well for me. I stole a couple blinds at times and I took a big pot away from Steve with a big raise when I had top pair and the nut flush draw. I was doing well for the most part until I ran into Scott who ended up river-ing a straight. I lost about 1/4 of my stack that hand, but I wasn't short stacked at that point. The very next hand, I pick up pocket 9's on the button. everyone folded to me and I raised about three and a half times the blind, a hefty raise. and Andy wasted no time in calling me. Steve had a little tougher time thinking and ended up folding. So heading to the flop it was just Andy and I. The flop came 7c - 5h - 2s, no flush draw, but there was a possibilty of straight draw, but nothing scared me on that board so I led out and bet $400. A huge bet which in my mind was telling Andy that I had a made hand. Guess it didn't work because Andy called with pretty much no hesitation. The turn came up Kc, which slowed me down a little. Andy checked and I did as well. The river came up an 8s, and the board read 7c - 5h - 2s - Kc - 8s. This time Andy led out and bet $300. I put him on A - 8 or some mediocre hand at best, certainly not a king. So I called and low and behold he had K - J offsuit. I was stunned, I mean the call preflop was questionable but still not that bad of a call, but the call on the flop?! That was very bad, awful at best. I mean I probably should have put him on the king, but come one, unless you have pocket K's, or big slick, there was no reason to call that hand on the flop. I got up and took a walk after that, which was probably the smart thing to do. I tried doubling a couple more times, but kept splitting pots against weaker hands. I finally ended up going out somewhere between 13th or 16th, not sure when exactly.
The second game started out a little worse. Dave, who seems to be my nemesis, was sitting to my right. The first hand I was in the big blind and I picked up Ah - Jh. There were two or three limpers so I bumped it to $80 to go. Sure enough, Dave calls me, everyone else did the smart thing and folded. The flop came up Jc - 10d - 7d, giving me top pair so I bet out after Dave checked it to me. I bet about $180 and Dave called me. The turn was Kh, and Dave led out and bet $200. I had mid pair and a gut shot so I called. The river came up 8h and Dave once again bet out $200. I should have folded but instead I wanted to see what Dave called me with, so I called. Dave turned over Kc - 10c, and once again, I was short stacked. I got most of my stack back a few hands later against Dave, but I still didn't have a lot of chips. We made it to the table merge after Jim and Paul got busted by Dave who made a terrible call, what a shock, with an alright hand. I ended up being sandwiched in between Mark and John, not the most favorable position to be in. The second hand I got dealt was Pocket K's. The blinds were now $40 - $80, and was second to act, I raised it to $260, and I got two calls, George and Elaine. The flop came up 2c - 5c - 7c, I was first to act and I didn't want to take any chances, so I went all in for my remaining $990. George called and so did Elaine. I figured I was toast and I started to pack up my stuff. The turn came 5h, and both George and Elaine checked. It was obvious that they were both on flush and / or staright draws, but no one had hit anything yet. So needless to say I was relieved, but still very nervous going to the river. The river was 3s, and once again both George and Elaine checked. I turned over my K's, and George mucked and so did Elaine, and I won a huge pot. That set me up for the rest of the tournament and I ended up finishing in 4th place, not a win, but hell, after the past few weeks, I ain't gonna complain. I didn't get much seperation from Marc and Niki, but it was still enough to at least let me breathe, at least for a little while.
In the end, I was pleased with the way I played, even in the face of some really weak play. I did everything right with the exception of a few hands and I got points which was absolutely great. I guess these last 7 weeks aren't going to be a total loss. Let's see if I can repeat this performance with another good showing in two weeks. Until next time everybody, later!
X
The first game was kind of weird. Bill wasn't there like he usually is, even though he had a good reason, being in Florida. There was no Marc and Niki, which I was relieved about, since I'll be battling them just to stay in the top 25 over the next few weeks. Finally, Henry wasn't there either. So there were two of the usual suspects and quite a few good players not there. I figured that last night was as good as any to shoot for a win.
In the first game, the table I was at was a blend of a whole bunch of different styles. There was Steve, a strong solid player, Ryan a strong aggressive player who is reckless at times. There was George and Dave to players well known for their questionable play. There was Scott and I, who are tight yet aggressive players almost to a fault. But there was also an unknown player at the table who only lasted a couple of rounds last week when I played with him, Andy. From what I saw of Andy, he was a classic newbie. Calls with weak hands into big pots, doesn't define a hand when he raises, if he raises at all. He was sitting to my left and I have to admit he wasn't one of the players I was concerned with at the table.
The game started out well for me. I stole a couple blinds at times and I took a big pot away from Steve with a big raise when I had top pair and the nut flush draw. I was doing well for the most part until I ran into Scott who ended up river-ing a straight. I lost about 1/4 of my stack that hand, but I wasn't short stacked at that point. The very next hand, I pick up pocket 9's on the button. everyone folded to me and I raised about three and a half times the blind, a hefty raise. and Andy wasted no time in calling me. Steve had a little tougher time thinking and ended up folding. So heading to the flop it was just Andy and I. The flop came 7c - 5h - 2s, no flush draw, but there was a possibilty of straight draw, but nothing scared me on that board so I led out and bet $400. A huge bet which in my mind was telling Andy that I had a made hand. Guess it didn't work because Andy called with pretty much no hesitation. The turn came up Kc, which slowed me down a little. Andy checked and I did as well. The river came up an 8s, and the board read 7c - 5h - 2s - Kc - 8s. This time Andy led out and bet $300. I put him on A - 8 or some mediocre hand at best, certainly not a king. So I called and low and behold he had K - J offsuit. I was stunned, I mean the call preflop was questionable but still not that bad of a call, but the call on the flop?! That was very bad, awful at best. I mean I probably should have put him on the king, but come one, unless you have pocket K's, or big slick, there was no reason to call that hand on the flop. I got up and took a walk after that, which was probably the smart thing to do. I tried doubling a couple more times, but kept splitting pots against weaker hands. I finally ended up going out somewhere between 13th or 16th, not sure when exactly.
The second game started out a little worse. Dave, who seems to be my nemesis, was sitting to my right. The first hand I was in the big blind and I picked up Ah - Jh. There were two or three limpers so I bumped it to $80 to go. Sure enough, Dave calls me, everyone else did the smart thing and folded. The flop came up Jc - 10d - 7d, giving me top pair so I bet out after Dave checked it to me. I bet about $180 and Dave called me. The turn was Kh, and Dave led out and bet $200. I had mid pair and a gut shot so I called. The river came up 8h and Dave once again bet out $200. I should have folded but instead I wanted to see what Dave called me with, so I called. Dave turned over Kc - 10c, and once again, I was short stacked. I got most of my stack back a few hands later against Dave, but I still didn't have a lot of chips. We made it to the table merge after Jim and Paul got busted by Dave who made a terrible call, what a shock, with an alright hand. I ended up being sandwiched in between Mark and John, not the most favorable position to be in. The second hand I got dealt was Pocket K's. The blinds were now $40 - $80, and was second to act, I raised it to $260, and I got two calls, George and Elaine. The flop came up 2c - 5c - 7c, I was first to act and I didn't want to take any chances, so I went all in for my remaining $990. George called and so did Elaine. I figured I was toast and I started to pack up my stuff. The turn came 5h, and both George and Elaine checked. It was obvious that they were both on flush and / or staright draws, but no one had hit anything yet. So needless to say I was relieved, but still very nervous going to the river. The river was 3s, and once again both George and Elaine checked. I turned over my K's, and George mucked and so did Elaine, and I won a huge pot. That set me up for the rest of the tournament and I ended up finishing in 4th place, not a win, but hell, after the past few weeks, I ain't gonna complain. I didn't get much seperation from Marc and Niki, but it was still enough to at least let me breathe, at least for a little while.
In the end, I was pleased with the way I played, even in the face of some really weak play. I did everything right with the exception of a few hands and I got points which was absolutely great. I guess these last 7 weeks aren't going to be a total loss. Let's see if I can repeat this performance with another good showing in two weeks. Until next time everybody, later!
X
Monday, September 18, 2006
Same Old Story, Different Day...
Hey everybody! I have been avoiding posting my results for the week or so because I have simply and painfully flat- out sucked. I don't want to be negative but I think this year is going to be a total loss. I once again failed to get any points, although I did make the final table in the second game last time. Now this week, Niki and Mark, the two players who are closest to me, are returning after a long absence. I wanted to get some seperation from them, but unfortunately, that time has come and passed. A few people have decided to take some time off and while I was thinking of doing the same, I also think that even if I show up and get no points, it's better than not showing up at all. I think if I was going to take time off, I should've done it in the beginning or in the middle of the season. I certainly can't do it now or at least I can't do it without getting a boat load of points to add to my cushion. Every week it's the same thing though, I play well, I make most of the right moves and I still end up on the outside looking in. Here, I'll give you some examples...
In the first game of the night, I was really focused. I wasn't chatty or even remotely audible. I don't think I said a word at the table (aside from raise, check, etc.) for at least 15 or 20 hands. I was playing well until Moe caught me trying to semi - bluff. That hurt my chip stack dearly. I finally started picking up good hands and I was putting pressure on the rest of the table, while picking up the blinds. Finally, I got Ac - Kd, and I went all in for about $1400 or so, maybe a little less. Kurt, who was the big stack at the table, made an isolation move and it worked. No one else wanted to contend with the big stack at that point in time, and I can't fault them. I also wasn't really concerned with what Kurt had, either. Face it, I wanted to be heads up with someone when I've got big slick. I knew Kurt didn't have much, otherwise he probably would've chosen just to call. I put Kurt on an ace w/ a weak kicker and it was probably suited. Against that, I didn't mind, and against ace - rag unsuited I had him dominated. Against king - x I had him dominated, so unless he had a small pair, which was possible, I was a favorite. No one else called and we flipped. He turned out to have Kc - Qd. It was one of the best situations I could've been in. The flop came: 2d - 5s - 2h. I was loving it, all I have to do is dodge a Q on the turn or river and I'm all set. The turn was 5c. The board now read 2d - 5s - 2h - 5c. I was still ok at that point, my ace kicker was still playing. All I needed to do was dodge a 2, 5, or Q and I would double up. The river came up 2s. The board had a full house, 2d - 5s - 2h - 5c - 2s. We chopped the blinds and I fell back in my seat. It's not like he had improved his hand, it's just my hand was counterfeited by the full boat. Mark, who was sitting at the table, called it a suck back. Whatever it was, it it absolutely sucked as far as I'm concerned, no pun intended. A few hands later I picked up pokcet J's and psuhed all in. Mark Immediately isolated me and turned over pocket A's. Nothing popped and I was out in 16th place.
The second game I was a little less focused, but not to the point of where I had no focus. I was just laying back, under the radar and let the game take its own course. I made it to the final table with a meager but still viable chipstack. I was somewhere around $1600 in chips. Of course, just my luck, I get seated in the big blind which was now quite expensive. The blinds were $200 - $400, I had a quarter of my stack invested in the pot without even looking at my hand. Everybody folded to the small blind, which was Scott and he just limped. I looked down at a ragged 5 - 7 offsuit and decided to check rather than push at that point. The flop came up: Jc - 5h - 2h. Scott checked it to me and I did something I usually never do... I pushed with middle pair. I went all in for my remaining $1200 and I was promptly called by Scott. Before I get into what he had, let me tell you why I had pushed. First, I had been sitting near or next to Scott all night and he had ALWAYS led out and bet with top pair. At least, he did when I saw him, which was virtually 65% of the time, but whatever. I also hit middle pair, which while not a monster, I thought it was the best hand at the time. Lastly, he checked to me, which I interpreted, all be it incorrectly, as a sign of weakness, so I decided to push. Anyways, Scott turned over Jh - 4h. I turned over my crappy 5 - 7 offsuit and prayed for a miracle. I got miracle on the turn when the 5s hit, givng me a set. The board read: Jc - 5h - 2h - 5s, I was ahead by a lot and only a few cards could've helped him. Well the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. The river was Ah, giving Scott a flush and destorying my set of 5's. I was the only person to walk away from that final table without points, being aptly named the bubble boy for the second game. In heinsight, Scott played the hand very well. I was caught off guard by his top pair, and I was less than thrilled when the flush came. I guess I could've cheked the flop and pushed all in on the turn. Maybe Scott would've folded had I done that, but I doubt it. Chalk it up as another misplayed hand by me, what a shock.
In closing, I don't expect much over the last 7 games, I just want to go for the win. I'll take any points I can get, but the win would really help me out going into the final stretch. We'll see if I can make it happen this week. Only time will tell. Until next time, later!
X
P.S. - Sorry about being so late with my post.
In the first game of the night, I was really focused. I wasn't chatty or even remotely audible. I don't think I said a word at the table (aside from raise, check, etc.) for at least 15 or 20 hands. I was playing well until Moe caught me trying to semi - bluff. That hurt my chip stack dearly. I finally started picking up good hands and I was putting pressure on the rest of the table, while picking up the blinds. Finally, I got Ac - Kd, and I went all in for about $1400 or so, maybe a little less. Kurt, who was the big stack at the table, made an isolation move and it worked. No one else wanted to contend with the big stack at that point in time, and I can't fault them. I also wasn't really concerned with what Kurt had, either. Face it, I wanted to be heads up with someone when I've got big slick. I knew Kurt didn't have much, otherwise he probably would've chosen just to call. I put Kurt on an ace w/ a weak kicker and it was probably suited. Against that, I didn't mind, and against ace - rag unsuited I had him dominated. Against king - x I had him dominated, so unless he had a small pair, which was possible, I was a favorite. No one else called and we flipped. He turned out to have Kc - Qd. It was one of the best situations I could've been in. The flop came: 2d - 5s - 2h. I was loving it, all I have to do is dodge a Q on the turn or river and I'm all set. The turn was 5c. The board now read 2d - 5s - 2h - 5c. I was still ok at that point, my ace kicker was still playing. All I needed to do was dodge a 2, 5, or Q and I would double up. The river came up 2s. The board had a full house, 2d - 5s - 2h - 5c - 2s. We chopped the blinds and I fell back in my seat. It's not like he had improved his hand, it's just my hand was counterfeited by the full boat. Mark, who was sitting at the table, called it a suck back. Whatever it was, it it absolutely sucked as far as I'm concerned, no pun intended. A few hands later I picked up pokcet J's and psuhed all in. Mark Immediately isolated me and turned over pocket A's. Nothing popped and I was out in 16th place.
The second game I was a little less focused, but not to the point of where I had no focus. I was just laying back, under the radar and let the game take its own course. I made it to the final table with a meager but still viable chipstack. I was somewhere around $1600 in chips. Of course, just my luck, I get seated in the big blind which was now quite expensive. The blinds were $200 - $400, I had a quarter of my stack invested in the pot without even looking at my hand. Everybody folded to the small blind, which was Scott and he just limped. I looked down at a ragged 5 - 7 offsuit and decided to check rather than push at that point. The flop came up: Jc - 5h - 2h. Scott checked it to me and I did something I usually never do... I pushed with middle pair. I went all in for my remaining $1200 and I was promptly called by Scott. Before I get into what he had, let me tell you why I had pushed. First, I had been sitting near or next to Scott all night and he had ALWAYS led out and bet with top pair. At least, he did when I saw him, which was virtually 65% of the time, but whatever. I also hit middle pair, which while not a monster, I thought it was the best hand at the time. Lastly, he checked to me, which I interpreted, all be it incorrectly, as a sign of weakness, so I decided to push. Anyways, Scott turned over Jh - 4h. I turned over my crappy 5 - 7 offsuit and prayed for a miracle. I got miracle on the turn when the 5s hit, givng me a set. The board read: Jc - 5h - 2h - 5s, I was ahead by a lot and only a few cards could've helped him. Well the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. The river was Ah, giving Scott a flush and destorying my set of 5's. I was the only person to walk away from that final table without points, being aptly named the bubble boy for the second game. In heinsight, Scott played the hand very well. I was caught off guard by his top pair, and I was less than thrilled when the flush came. I guess I could've cheked the flop and pushed all in on the turn. Maybe Scott would've folded had I done that, but I doubt it. Chalk it up as another misplayed hand by me, what a shock.
In closing, I don't expect much over the last 7 games, I just want to go for the win. I'll take any points I can get, but the win would really help me out going into the final stretch. We'll see if I can make it happen this week. Only time will tell. Until next time, later!
X
P.S. - Sorry about being so late with my post.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
I am such a donkey!...
Welcome back to my nonstop pain train, everybody. Another week of poker has come to pass and the verdict is in... yup, I still suck. Although I did try really hard this week not to be a donkey, I found myself in the usual position of being an ass. Let's hear about how awful I was this week...
Last Sunday, Ryan asked me if I wanted to go to a tournament being held in East Providence. It was at some bar named Bovi's Tavern. Having nothing to do that day, I decided to play. I still had the bad taste in my mouth from Kurt's and figured a change of scenery would do me some good. Man was I wrong about that one.
I got there a little less than an hour before the tournament began. When I walked in the place, there was five people there including the bar tender. I wondered if I was at the right place. After a few minutes, two guys came out of the back and started arranging the tables, so my question was answered before I even asked it. I called Ryan to let him know that I was there. After that, a bunch of people started filing in. I looked a few of them over, no one really stood out as a ringer, so I figured I had a good shot to do well. All in all about 41 people showed up for the tourney. The buy in was $40 and we started with $4000 in chips, a healthy amount. I was psyched to play and after we got seated, I was even more psyched because my table looked very weak. The first few hands went by and I caught nothing. The fourth hand I was in the big blind for $50 and I got dealt 7c - 7d. Three people limped and I checked hoping to see a cheap flop. Why didn't I raise? Well, it was early in the tournament, I was in bad position if someone called my raise, and if I missed my flop, most assuredly someone would be betting into me. Anyways, the flop came up 10s - 6c - 7h. I hit my set and was first to act as well. I was wondering what I should bet considering there was a straight draw on the board. I led out and bet $100, a weak bet by many standards but I didn't want someone to know I had a monster. The guy to my left raised it to $300, and everbody folded back to me. I thought for a little while, would this guy have called 8 - 9 offsuit? Probably considering he was pretty inexperienced and didn't know 8 -9 offsuit wasn't a very good hand to call with under the gun. I called the extra $200. The turn came up 3d. That didn't help or hurt me and obviously didn't help hime either. I bet $300 and he took about 0.2 seconds and called me. That concerned me deeply. If he called that quickly, he probably had something good. A high pocket pair, J - 9 maybe? I had already decided to push hard on the river regardless of what the it was. The river came up 10c, giving me a full house. I knew at that point I had him beat, it was just a matter of how much money could I get out of him. I bet $600, hoping he would raise me. $600 compared to how much was in the pot was realtively small and it looked like a steal bet. Instead of raising, he just called and I showed my boat and he immediately mucked. In heinsight, I probably should've bet more, seeing he would've paid me off, but I was happy to win whatever I could. It was by no means a great played hand on my part, but it could've been worse, I suppose. As time went on my cards got worse and worse. I think I got dealt 3 -7 offsuit like ten times. The only pocket pair I had after that was deuces. The blinds pretty much robbed my stack of all it was worth. I ended overplaying a mediocre hand and going out in 23rd place.
After the tourney, I had a couple beers at the bar and watched Ryan do well. About forty minutes later a second cash game had started up and I jumped in. The only thing I can say about the cash game is that you could expect to get called with everything under the sun. I was up for a while, but ended up busting out a little more than an hour or so after sitting down to play. Ironically, Ryan busted out two minutes after I did. He finished 9th, making the final table. We didn't stick around to see who won. Come to think of it, I really could care less who won. I didn't do well at all and the day was pretty much a total loss.
This past Friday was Jim's weekly game. Bill and I went and we ended up getting there later than anticpated. I will put it to you this way, I probably would have been better served handing my money to Jim and leaving. I didn't play much at all. I kept hitting middle pair when someone had hit top pair. They would bet, I knew what they had and would fold only to see the card I needed to improve on the turn or river. I ended up finishing 11th out 18 or so people. I didn't stick around for the cash game. I just wanted to get out of there. I was way to frustrated and was better served to leave rather than to stay and play.
Next week is Kurt's, and I am just hoping for a good finish this time around. I am also going to try a new method. The stay away from Dave and other players like him (Mohamad), method. Let's see how it will work out. I will post my Top 5 on Thursday. Until then, later.
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Last Sunday, Ryan asked me if I wanted to go to a tournament being held in East Providence. It was at some bar named Bovi's Tavern. Having nothing to do that day, I decided to play. I still had the bad taste in my mouth from Kurt's and figured a change of scenery would do me some good. Man was I wrong about that one.
I got there a little less than an hour before the tournament began. When I walked in the place, there was five people there including the bar tender. I wondered if I was at the right place. After a few minutes, two guys came out of the back and started arranging the tables, so my question was answered before I even asked it. I called Ryan to let him know that I was there. After that, a bunch of people started filing in. I looked a few of them over, no one really stood out as a ringer, so I figured I had a good shot to do well. All in all about 41 people showed up for the tourney. The buy in was $40 and we started with $4000 in chips, a healthy amount. I was psyched to play and after we got seated, I was even more psyched because my table looked very weak. The first few hands went by and I caught nothing. The fourth hand I was in the big blind for $50 and I got dealt 7c - 7d. Three people limped and I checked hoping to see a cheap flop. Why didn't I raise? Well, it was early in the tournament, I was in bad position if someone called my raise, and if I missed my flop, most assuredly someone would be betting into me. Anyways, the flop came up 10s - 6c - 7h. I hit my set and was first to act as well. I was wondering what I should bet considering there was a straight draw on the board. I led out and bet $100, a weak bet by many standards but I didn't want someone to know I had a monster. The guy to my left raised it to $300, and everbody folded back to me. I thought for a little while, would this guy have called 8 - 9 offsuit? Probably considering he was pretty inexperienced and didn't know 8 -9 offsuit wasn't a very good hand to call with under the gun. I called the extra $200. The turn came up 3d. That didn't help or hurt me and obviously didn't help hime either. I bet $300 and he took about 0.2 seconds and called me. That concerned me deeply. If he called that quickly, he probably had something good. A high pocket pair, J - 9 maybe? I had already decided to push hard on the river regardless of what the it was. The river came up 10c, giving me a full house. I knew at that point I had him beat, it was just a matter of how much money could I get out of him. I bet $600, hoping he would raise me. $600 compared to how much was in the pot was realtively small and it looked like a steal bet. Instead of raising, he just called and I showed my boat and he immediately mucked. In heinsight, I probably should've bet more, seeing he would've paid me off, but I was happy to win whatever I could. It was by no means a great played hand on my part, but it could've been worse, I suppose. As time went on my cards got worse and worse. I think I got dealt 3 -7 offsuit like ten times. The only pocket pair I had after that was deuces. The blinds pretty much robbed my stack of all it was worth. I ended overplaying a mediocre hand and going out in 23rd place.
After the tourney, I had a couple beers at the bar and watched Ryan do well. About forty minutes later a second cash game had started up and I jumped in. The only thing I can say about the cash game is that you could expect to get called with everything under the sun. I was up for a while, but ended up busting out a little more than an hour or so after sitting down to play. Ironically, Ryan busted out two minutes after I did. He finished 9th, making the final table. We didn't stick around to see who won. Come to think of it, I really could care less who won. I didn't do well at all and the day was pretty much a total loss.
This past Friday was Jim's weekly game. Bill and I went and we ended up getting there later than anticpated. I will put it to you this way, I probably would have been better served handing my money to Jim and leaving. I didn't play much at all. I kept hitting middle pair when someone had hit top pair. They would bet, I knew what they had and would fold only to see the card I needed to improve on the turn or river. I ended up finishing 11th out 18 or so people. I didn't stick around for the cash game. I just wanted to get out of there. I was way to frustrated and was better served to leave rather than to stay and play.
Next week is Kurt's, and I am just hoping for a good finish this time around. I am also going to try a new method. The stay away from Dave and other players like him (Mohamad), method. Let's see how it will work out. I will post my Top 5 on Thursday. Until then, later.
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