Head’s Up is not something I play an awful lot of to be honest. But it was Riverchasers and I love to get out to the game when I can. Last night, DonKaaa and I finished up golf a little earlier than usual and were getting messages from brudder Carson about playing in the game. It took us about 3 minutes to make the decision and we were headed off home to get into the fray.
I drew TripJax as my starting opponent and away we went. It all happened so fast, I’m not sure if we played four or five hands total. I think maybe five! ( I’ll say five, because it makes me feel better! )
Here’s my slow-playing… bad reading…. No luck at all… demise hand :
Full Tilt Poker Game #7265603314: Riverchasers Heads-Up Trny (54969517), Table 14 - 10/20 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:02:24 ET - 2008/07/17
Seat 1: TripJax (3,080)
Seat 2: BamBamCan (2,920)
BamBamCan posts the small blind of 10
TripJax posts the big blind of 20
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BamBamCan [Kc Ks]
TripJax: nuff said
BamBamCan calls 10
TripJax checks
*** FLOP *** [Tc 7d Qd]
TripJax bets 40
BamBamCan raises to 80
TripJax has 15 seconds left to act
TripJax raises to 185
BamBamCan has 15 seconds left to act
BamBamCan raises to 795
TripJax has 15 seconds left to act
TripJax raises to 3,060, and is all in
BamBamCan calls 2,105, and is all in
TripJax shows [7c Td]
BamBamCan shows [Kc Ks]
Uncalled bet of 160 returned to TripJax
*** TURN *** [Tc 7d Qd] [Ts]
*** RIVER *** [Tc 7d Qd Ts] [4h]
TripJax shows a full house, Tens full of Sevens
BamBamCan shows two pair, Kings and Tens
TripJax wins the pot (5,840) with a full house, Tens full of Sevens
BamBamCan stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5,840 | Rake 0
Board: [Tc 7d Qd Ts 4h]
Seat 1: TripJax (big blind) showed [7c Td] and won (5,840) with a full house, Tens full of Sevens
Seat 2: BamBamCan (small blind) showed [Kc Ks] and lost with two pair, Kings and Tens
BamBamCan: lol
BamBamCan: gg
I was trying to review the hand to see how I could have done something different to affect the outcome. The only answer would have been to make a large enough raise to get TripJax to fold pre. What do I gain from that?
20 chips….. weeeeeeeeee.
No rather than review how to get him off his hand, I need to review how I should have gotten off mine I think. Here’s what I came up with and I’d appreciate any views on the hand that others may have for me to consider.
BamBamCan calls 10
TripJax checks
*** FLOP *** [Tc 7d Qd]
TripJax bets 40 ( I think this is pretty standard play, to be honest. Bet to take it down now?)
BamBamCan raises to 80 ( Send the message that I like my hand and re-pop to see what message I get back )
TripJax has 15 seconds left to act
TripJax raises to 185 ( The perfect amount! Honestly, my gut told me to simply call here and I obviously wish I would’ve listened to it. I personally think this is where TJ made the perfect play and hooked his giant fishie )
BamBamCan has 15 seconds left to act
BamBamCan raises to 795 ( Despite what my gut was saying, I couldn’t get my mind around any hands except the Diamond draw or a decent Queen. Since I didn’t try and take him off of his BB, I’m lost with no information on the strength of his hand. Without that info. a call here should’ve been the play I think. )
TripJax has 15 seconds left to act
TripJax raises to 3,060, and is all in ( This almost instantly changed my mind back to TP?K and I felt in the lead for certain )
BamBamCan calls 2,105, and is all in (note how fast the Donkey got his chips in bad)
Now theoretically, not much would have changed no matter what I did in the hand. Even if I did manage to find the brains to just call the second bet on the flop, once the 10 comes on the turn and I’m sitting with top two in a head’s up match, I know I’m not good enough at the game to get away from the hand at that point yet. ( read HUGE leak in my game I’ve tried so hard to patch up lately )
Maybe I get scared by the second 10 and play it a lot slower. I think that’s a real possibility certainly. But it also gives TJ the perfect set up and trap all over again by slowing down himself.
So I’m going to chalk this one up as a learning experience and try to take what I can from it and move forward. It was a hand that could have made me 20 chips to start with, but instead made me busto at the rate of $3.66 per minute. It was hand vs. hand and I came out the loser once again.
The TuckFards go camping this weekend and it should be a hoot. I keep telling everyone that I really shouldn’t go, but they won’t listen. You see I’ve been camping quite a bit in my lifetime, just never when it hasn’t RAINED THE ENTIRE WEEKEND! It’s a curse or something.
My sincerest thanks for dropping by….
7/17/2008
1st. happy, then sad, now impatient......
Now that I've read everything about the Okie-Vegas trip I missed out on, I'm just plain hurting to get to the next blogger event.
I get asked all the time about the blogger gatherings that I’ve been to, (or plan to attend) and the most common question is WHY? Why do I want to get to them so badly? My answer used to be long, intense and filled with words like fun & friends.
Since my first WBPT Winter Classic, I’ve met up with several of the same characters at a few other various get-togethers and I honestly can’t wait until the next time I get to see them again. I’ve been so very fortunate to meet Bloggers from around the globe that I can now proudly call my friends. Along with those that I’ve had the privilege of meeting on several occasions, there’s also a large group of new friends that I have only been able to get together with at one specific event or another. But at least I can say I’ve been lucky enough to meet them that one very special time.
And that’s really what these things are all about. To get-together and see good friends and meet some new ones when the opportunity presents itself. Life’s way too short to miss a golden opportunity to make a new friend or re-seal the deal with an established one.
Take a look at THIS VIDEO. This is not even 1/100th. of what goes on at a blogger gathering, I can tell you that for certain. But watching it made my heart ache for the fun and the laughter that is one of our special little times together. I had to back out of Okie-Vegas this year and seeing some of those shots just made me mad as hell that I did.
Now have a read over HERE. Who wouldn’t want to meet a new friend like him? I’ll tell you something gang, WYSIWYG is worth a million bucks to me! A person just can't, nore should they even think about, asking for any more from anyone.
Typical live blogger chat ideas? Have a read HERE.
So in a nutshell what I'm really trying to say I guess, is that I've drastically changed the response I give when asked why I went to/go to our blogger gathering events anymore. I go because it makes me happy to and life's far too short not to be happy.
So what’s coming up next you ask? Just this……
The Bash (not at the Boathouse)
Saturday, September 27th
Tyler James Pub
212 Bridge St, Phoenixville PA 19460
Friday morning/afternoon - The First Annual Rooster Golf Invitational. 4 player scramble format at a local country club complete with hottie beer girls, prizes and the trophy presented by The Rooster himself. I'll definitely need an RSVP prior to that weekend but we still have some time. I can also help arrange teams for anyone coming in on their own.
Friday evening - The 2008 BoyGenius Poker Classic. Even though it seems the BoyGenius himself will be unable to attend we will continue the tradition by throwing a no-holds-barred charity rebuy tournament the Friday before The Bash. Expect large amounts of booze and fantastic food. You will need to contact me personally to get in on this game.
Saturday afternoon - Saturday afternoon mixed cash games became the tradition once bloggers began descending on my little shindig. NLHE, Stud, HORSE or Chinese poker games will be rolling all afternoon while we wait for the bar to get set up and the band rolls out their best sound checks.
Saturday evening - The Bash (not at the Boathouse). The Bash has received enough exposure from anyone who's made the trip. Too much booze. Too much degenerate irresponsible behavior to fit in this tiny corner of the internet. Bloggers will fall down, they will make fools of themselves, they will most definitely forget large chunks of the evening. It's a great way to hang out with old friends, new friends and have fun all in the name of charity.
Crystal Roxx is the band booked this year, the very same band who gave me the AlCantHang nickname over a decade ago. Here's your one chance to hear the ACHE song live and in person.
Sunday afternoon - For anyone still alive and not puking in an airport bathroom, Sunday is my birthday so I'll be back sitting at the pub watching the NFL Sunday ticket while sweating out every ounce of booze from the night before. I may have to start taking prop bets on who will still be breathing by Sunday morning.
That’s right! Al’s throwing a party at his place and there’s no ifs, ands or buts about it! I’m going……. Are you?
I'll definately be dragging brudder Carson's butt down with me and by the sounds of it, special guest DonKaaa TuckFard will be making the trek with me as well. Taking friends down to meet friends. WTF could be any better than that?
***Note on the Golf from Bam-Bam***
3/4 of the "Team Canada" golf foursome is intact. I am now taking applications for our fourth player. Should you be interested, comments can be left here or you can always use the e-mail link over to the right there. Bribery as is always the case, is ALWAYS welcome. ;o)
My sincerest thanks for dropping by….
I get asked all the time about the blogger gatherings that I’ve been to, (or plan to attend) and the most common question is WHY? Why do I want to get to them so badly? My answer used to be long, intense and filled with words like fun & friends.
Since my first WBPT Winter Classic, I’ve met up with several of the same characters at a few other various get-togethers and I honestly can’t wait until the next time I get to see them again. I’ve been so very fortunate to meet Bloggers from around the globe that I can now proudly call my friends. Along with those that I’ve had the privilege of meeting on several occasions, there’s also a large group of new friends that I have only been able to get together with at one specific event or another. But at least I can say I’ve been lucky enough to meet them that one very special time.
And that’s really what these things are all about. To get-together and see good friends and meet some new ones when the opportunity presents itself. Life’s way too short to miss a golden opportunity to make a new friend or re-seal the deal with an established one.
Take a look at THIS VIDEO. This is not even 1/100th. of what goes on at a blogger gathering, I can tell you that for certain. But watching it made my heart ache for the fun and the laughter that is one of our special little times together. I had to back out of Okie-Vegas this year and seeing some of those shots just made me mad as hell that I did.
Now have a read over HERE. Who wouldn’t want to meet a new friend like him? I’ll tell you something gang, WYSIWYG is worth a million bucks to me! A person just can't, nore should they even think about, asking for any more from anyone.
Typical live blogger chat ideas? Have a read HERE.
So in a nutshell what I'm really trying to say I guess, is that I've drastically changed the response I give when asked why I went to/go to our blogger gathering events anymore. I go because it makes me happy to and life's far too short not to be happy.
So what’s coming up next you ask? Just this……
The Bash (not at the Boathouse)
Saturday, September 27th
Tyler James Pub
212 Bridge St, Phoenixville PA 19460
Friday morning/afternoon - The First Annual Rooster Golf Invitational. 4 player scramble format at a local country club complete with hottie beer girls, prizes and the trophy presented by The Rooster himself. I'll definitely need an RSVP prior to that weekend but we still have some time. I can also help arrange teams for anyone coming in on their own.
Friday evening - The 2008 BoyGenius Poker Classic. Even though it seems the BoyGenius himself will be unable to attend we will continue the tradition by throwing a no-holds-barred charity rebuy tournament the Friday before The Bash. Expect large amounts of booze and fantastic food. You will need to contact me personally to get in on this game.
Saturday afternoon - Saturday afternoon mixed cash games became the tradition once bloggers began descending on my little shindig. NLHE, Stud, HORSE or Chinese poker games will be rolling all afternoon while we wait for the bar to get set up and the band rolls out their best sound checks.
Saturday evening - The Bash (not at the Boathouse). The Bash has received enough exposure from anyone who's made the trip. Too much booze. Too much degenerate irresponsible behavior to fit in this tiny corner of the internet. Bloggers will fall down, they will make fools of themselves, they will most definitely forget large chunks of the evening. It's a great way to hang out with old friends, new friends and have fun all in the name of charity.
Crystal Roxx is the band booked this year, the very same band who gave me the AlCantHang nickname over a decade ago. Here's your one chance to hear the ACHE song live and in person.
Sunday afternoon - For anyone still alive and not puking in an airport bathroom, Sunday is my birthday so I'll be back sitting at the pub watching the NFL Sunday ticket while sweating out every ounce of booze from the night before. I may have to start taking prop bets on who will still be breathing by Sunday morning.
That’s right! Al’s throwing a party at his place and there’s no ifs, ands or buts about it! I’m going……. Are you?
I'll definately be dragging brudder Carson's butt down with me and by the sounds of it, special guest DonKaaa TuckFard will be making the trek with me as well. Taking friends down to meet friends. WTF could be any better than that?
***Note on the Golf from Bam-Bam***
3/4 of the "Team Canada" golf foursome is intact. I am now taking applications for our fourth player. Should you be interested, comments can be left here or you can always use the e-mail link over to the right there. Bribery as is always the case, is ALWAYS welcome. ;o)
My sincerest thanks for dropping by….
7/16/2008
SKILLZ..... (or lack there of)
With Summer almost in full effect here in Bedrock, it gets harder and harder to make it out to the blogaments for me. Combine the late nights golfing with the early mornings working, and sometimes it's just not worth it to try and get into one or two of the games a week. Last night however, was just a tick different. Not only RAZZ, but cem's taken over the SKILLZ series and I kinda feel like I owe him one or two.
You see my BBT friend cem, has been participating in our little Monday night flusterclucks on FullTilt, and he's been a great addition to the core group since joining. When I found out cem was bringing back the SKILLZ series, I told myself I'd try and make as many of them as I could. Support for support, as it were. Well last night DonKaaa and I finished up at the course just about in time for me to make it for the game. I asked Peb's to log me in and sign me up and told her I'd be home as soon as I could. Much to my surprise as I walked into the house not only was Peb's playing in the game, but so was DonKaaa. Such good TuckFards!
Peb's was having a giggle and I figured since she was having so much fun, I had time for a shower. As I was headed back downstairs, she said, "they're all talking to you. Hurry up!" I grabbed a Scotch and headed down to assume the position. A kiss for my baby, a little "how was your day?" a few hola's to the gang and then I took possession of the mouse.... GAME ON !
I proceeded to have one of those games that sucked huge Donkey balls, but I can't say I hated it. You see, I made chips early on by having a few monster hands and having a player or two on relatively decent draws. I then dragged a good pot myself, by managing to hit my draw against an already made hand that had me the whole way up to 7th. street. So all in all I played well and got lucky once to get me around 2nd. place in chips. Damn near a perfect start! I was steady as she goes through the middle stretch and had a hard time getting paid any large amounts, when I was playing in any hand.
Then as has become custom for me when running well and having a good time, the well ran dry. SAHARA dry! I was dealt A-2-3 with the 3 as a door card 6 times in 12 hands. I don't know about you folks, but this kids definitely playing those every time! Here's how those 6 hands went.
4th. street - 3, 2, 3, A, 2, 2
5th. street - 3, 3, A, A, 2, 3
6th. street - F, F, A, F, F, 2
(the boat on the 3rd. hand was a RAZZ classic!)
Needless to say, I was pretty much done with the hands on 5th. street almost every single time.
Sweet huh? I was dealt pure gold, bet chips at a very increased level, and catch brick after brick after brick. Just about the best part of RAZZ if you ask me. What a vicious bitch she can be when she wants, but you know what? I love her to death.
So in about 12 hands total, I lose 2/3 of my stack playing excellent cards a little aggressively and constantly kept brickin' the nutz. Now I'm in the position that I hate the absolute most in poker.. stick'em in and pray mode. I was dealt a few monster starters, (if I was playing STUD hi!) in a row and obviously, that meant the standard run of brings just to make things more interesting. I don't even remember my last hand to be honest. I just know they were not paint, and it was the first time I could say that in a pretty long time. I lost the race and shazam! I am SKILL'less. Congrats Fred! Always nice to see one of the good guy's win.
One thing for certain however, it was good to see everyone again. Since the end of the BBT, I've only been able to make a couple of mookies and this one SKILLZ game. I don't owe mookie anything really, I just play there 'cause he doesn't BLOW. So it's been a fairly long run for me, away from the crew. I might have to figure out a way to try and make at least one of the games a week somehow. I'm sure with results like last night, fans of all three games will be fighting for me to make it out somehow too!
;o)
My sincerest thanks for dropping by....
You see my BBT friend cem, has been participating in our little Monday night flusterclucks on FullTilt, and he's been a great addition to the core group since joining. When I found out cem was bringing back the SKILLZ series, I told myself I'd try and make as many of them as I could. Support for support, as it were. Well last night DonKaaa and I finished up at the course just about in time for me to make it for the game. I asked Peb's to log me in and sign me up and told her I'd be home as soon as I could. Much to my surprise as I walked into the house not only was Peb's playing in the game, but so was DonKaaa. Such good TuckFards!
Peb's was having a giggle and I figured since she was having so much fun, I had time for a shower. As I was headed back downstairs, she said, "they're all talking to you. Hurry up!" I grabbed a Scotch and headed down to assume the position. A kiss for my baby, a little "how was your day?" a few hola's to the gang and then I took possession of the mouse.... GAME ON !
I proceeded to have one of those games that sucked huge Donkey balls, but I can't say I hated it. You see, I made chips early on by having a few monster hands and having a player or two on relatively decent draws. I then dragged a good pot myself, by managing to hit my draw against an already made hand that had me the whole way up to 7th. street. So all in all I played well and got lucky once to get me around 2nd. place in chips. Damn near a perfect start! I was steady as she goes through the middle stretch and had a hard time getting paid any large amounts, when I was playing in any hand.
Then as has become custom for me when running well and having a good time, the well ran dry. SAHARA dry! I was dealt A-2-3 with the 3 as a door card 6 times in 12 hands. I don't know about you folks, but this kids definitely playing those every time! Here's how those 6 hands went.
4th. street - 3, 2, 3, A, 2, 2
5th. street - 3, 3, A, A, 2, 3
6th. street - F, F, A, F, F, 2
(the boat on the 3rd. hand was a RAZZ classic!)
Needless to say, I was pretty much done with the hands on 5th. street almost every single time.
Sweet huh? I was dealt pure gold, bet chips at a very increased level, and catch brick after brick after brick. Just about the best part of RAZZ if you ask me. What a vicious bitch she can be when she wants, but you know what? I love her to death.
So in about 12 hands total, I lose 2/3 of my stack playing excellent cards a little aggressively and constantly kept brickin' the nutz. Now I'm in the position that I hate the absolute most in poker.. stick'em in and pray mode. I was dealt a few monster starters, (if I was playing STUD hi!) in a row and obviously, that meant the standard run of brings just to make things more interesting. I don't even remember my last hand to be honest. I just know they were not paint, and it was the first time I could say that in a pretty long time. I lost the race and shazam! I am SKILL'less. Congrats Fred! Always nice to see one of the good guy's win.
One thing for certain however, it was good to see everyone again. Since the end of the BBT, I've only been able to make a couple of mookies and this one SKILLZ game. I don't owe mookie anything really, I just play there 'cause he doesn't BLOW. So it's been a fairly long run for me, away from the crew. I might have to figure out a way to try and make at least one of the games a week somehow. I'm sure with results like last night, fans of all three games will be fighting for me to make it out somehow too!
;o)
My sincerest thanks for dropping by....
7/15/2008
A new Moneymaker and an old Moneywaster...
Well I guess it’s finally over. That is, for 3 months at least! The final table of 9 is now set for the main event and all we have to do for the next little while is wait, wait and then wait a little bit more.
To go with that waiting, we’ll need to put up with a fair amount of hype, B.S. and player name building, so that the advertisers will want to drool over every minute of TV time they can get during the show. But you know what? In the case of the 2008 WSoP Main Event, I personally look a little forward to it.
There were thoughts that Tiffany Michelle was the “last hope for poker,” and that her success or failure would drive the future of the game. I look at the 9 players left standing after surviving the 6,835 others that entered the event and I can’t help but be excited for poker. Seven North Americans made the final table. SEVEN !!!!
Dennis Phillips - St. Louis, MO - $26,295,000
Craig Marquis - Arlington, TX - $10,210,000
Ylon Schwartz - Brooklyn, NY - $12,525,000
Scott Montgomery - Perth, Ontario - $19,690,000
Darus Suharto - Toronto, Ontario - $12,520,000
David 'Chino' Rheem - Los Angeles, CA - $10,230,000
Ivan Demidov - Moscow, Russia - $24,400,000
Kelly Kim - Whittier, CA - $2,620,000
Peter Eastgate - Odense, Denmark - $18,375,000
A very large payday, significant chip stack disparity and three months to develop a plan of attack? Looking back on my initial judgement of the decision to hold off the final table of 9 for three months, I have to admit that they may just be on to something now. Other than a dream table including 9 of the biggest stars in poker, I don’t know how it could have worked out much better for the folks that laid out this plan.
I see serious potential for another round of the “Moneymaker effect,” and I think we’re going to be seeing the sponsors, television and all of the major poker sites pushing that to it’s fullest. And in my books, that means more poker news, more poker commercials, more poker hype and more poker players signing up every single day. I have to tell you, I see a fair amount of potential in that for yours truly.
I think it’s time to play a little more poker and pad the old roll a little bit, don’t you?
==========
On the UB/AP issues that are re-surfacing and only getting worse. I only have this to say. If you continue to waste/dump/deposit your money into those sights, I have no remorse for you I’m afraid. The news has been out for some time and it’s only getting worse, not better.
Suggested reads on the scandal ;
Nat Arem
2 + 2
My sincerest thanks for dropping by….
To go with that waiting, we’ll need to put up with a fair amount of hype, B.S. and player name building, so that the advertisers will want to drool over every minute of TV time they can get during the show. But you know what? In the case of the 2008 WSoP Main Event, I personally look a little forward to it.
There were thoughts that Tiffany Michelle was the “last hope for poker,” and that her success or failure would drive the future of the game. I look at the 9 players left standing after surviving the 6,835 others that entered the event and I can’t help but be excited for poker. Seven North Americans made the final table. SEVEN !!!!
Dennis Phillips - St. Louis, MO - $26,295,000
Craig Marquis - Arlington, TX - $10,210,000
Ylon Schwartz - Brooklyn, NY - $12,525,000
Scott Montgomery - Perth, Ontario - $19,690,000
Darus Suharto - Toronto, Ontario - $12,520,000
David 'Chino' Rheem - Los Angeles, CA - $10,230,000
Ivan Demidov - Moscow, Russia - $24,400,000
Kelly Kim - Whittier, CA - $2,620,000
Peter Eastgate - Odense, Denmark - $18,375,000
A very large payday, significant chip stack disparity and three months to develop a plan of attack? Looking back on my initial judgement of the decision to hold off the final table of 9 for three months, I have to admit that they may just be on to something now. Other than a dream table including 9 of the biggest stars in poker, I don’t know how it could have worked out much better for the folks that laid out this plan.
I see serious potential for another round of the “Moneymaker effect,” and I think we’re going to be seeing the sponsors, television and all of the major poker sites pushing that to it’s fullest. And in my books, that means more poker news, more poker commercials, more poker hype and more poker players signing up every single day. I have to tell you, I see a fair amount of potential in that for yours truly.
I think it’s time to play a little more poker and pad the old roll a little bit, don’t you?
==========
On the UB/AP issues that are re-surfacing and only getting worse. I only have this to say. If you continue to waste/dump/deposit your money into those sights, I have no remorse for you I’m afraid. The news has been out for some time and it’s only getting worse, not better.
Suggested reads on the scandal ;
Nat Arem
2 + 2
My sincerest thanks for dropping by….
7/14/2008
Putting the F.U. in fun....
Played at the Carsino home game on Saturday night as part of a BBQ and Birthday night for the lovely Suzy_Q. As always, brudder Carson and Suzy_Q were fantastic hosts and the BBQ meal was only topped by the good friends and conversation during our dinner. DonKaaa and Queen_Kaaa were there, along with mini-donk-EH, and the bunch of us had a lot of laughs as always. Thanks for the hosting and the feeding Carson’s. :o)
A bunch of TuckFards showed up a little later and the standard poker game broke out with 10 of us all sitting down at the same table. There was a bonus $5 bounty added on top of the buy-in for knockouts in the game and as always, the $5 becomes the focus of several players. This typically leads to some early action and some surprising hands being played. This night was no different at all. The chips seemed to rotate around the table endlessly, as one by one moves were made, suck-outs ensued, and short stacks became chip leaders over and over again.
I couldn’t really get anything going and it seemed to be the same thing for Donkaaa and my Pebbles. The three of us were hardly in any pots unless it was our steadily limped into big blinds. Typically however, after being allowed to play our blinds, the flop would whiff us completely and we would be done playing the one hand an orbit for the first three levels. I did manage to take down one smallish pot on the river, after the board came 3,9,3,3,x. I made a half pot raise on the river and everyone seemed to believe that I was holding “the bammer.” No action from anyone and the pot was pushed my way.
After the break I still couldn’t get anything going. The hole cards I was being dealt were just awful. Then in one of my BB’s, I woke up with a pair of Queens. These were the 3rd. and 4th. face cards I’d been dealt the entire game so far. (Earlier, I did have one hand where I played the monster Jack-king off, my first and second paint cards of the night) Despite my aggressive play of the Queens and the lack of play on the night, I of course get two callers. I seldom get credit for a hand with the group and most times, I take great enjoyment out of that fact. When the cards do manage to find me, it’s fairly easy to build a decent pot up out of a much bigger hand than they expect. On nights like these however, it just means I’m racing someone every hand I’m in. My opponents flipped up K-Q and of course, Q-Q.
When I saw paint cards #5 and 6, I was dealt the Asian-Jew. There was a push from a short stack and an instant call by brudder Carson. I needed to think. I talked it out and could only come up with a pocket pair near the middle of the deck for the initial bettor, and I had to believe Carson might have had either a top third of the deck pair, or at least a stronger ace. I decided on the stronger ace and let my A-J go. I was right about the middle pair but in Carson’s case, he was holding the Asian-Jew too. He cracked the pair after a jack fell somewhere on the board and raked in the pot, as I believe this became the first hand of the night where the pocket’s didn’t manage to come out victorious in a race.
Pocket pairs seemed to be the magic cards on the night to be honest, as pocket 3’s and 4’s both survived races against the “any-ace” army earlier on in the game. I finally got dealt my seventh and eighth paint cards about a ½ hour later, in the form of pocket Jacks. There was only one limper when it got around to me, so I made it about pot to go. Pebbles sitting directly on my left and in her big blind, bumped it up by twice the pot after a fair amount of consideration. I think this was her second actual bet of the night and we were on level 5 or thereabout. So I gave it some thought and decided to respect the bet and her lack of play earlier on in the event. I folded and so did the limper. Bad read me, as Peb’s showed me her pocket 10’s. In fairness to her, she mentioned that it was the best hand she’d seen so far on the night. They must have looked really good to her too, as she had me considering nothing less than pocket Kings. Good job Hun!
So I’m one of the short stacks at the table now and is always the way when that happens, I get dealt pocket 9’s. The real short stack at the table by this time, was Carson. He’d just committed about ½ his stack to the pot pre-flop and the action was coming around to me. I had him covered by about $1600 on top of his bet and his stack and my read was the any ace would be played in that situation. I raised to put him all in and his call was automatic. He had the Asian-Jew again and we were off to the races. Suffice it to say that I just don’t win races, and my being a Donkey by forcing his chips into the pot pre-flop, really busted my ass. I know that nothing about the hand would have changed no matter how I played it, as his stack was definitely going in on the flop no matter what came up on the board, but I got pretty worked up about playing the hand so poorly. I knew I was up against any ace and I still forced the action, rather than give myself a chance to play real poker. So, Donkey me.
This of course made for some “classic” Tuckfard chatter at the table, as someone must not have been too clear about what exactly my verbiage was all about. I kept my mouth shut and listened like a good boy for about 20 or so minutes. Then I’d just plain had enough. I didn’t like the way my thought process was headed, so I leaned over and told Peb’s I was getting out of there. I told her I was pushing blind next hand and if I lost, I was free. If I managed to win, I’d make like Vinney Vihn and let my empty chair play in my absence. I didn’t like who I was becoming and unlike past events where this exact same situation had happened, I wasn’t going to embarrass myself or the host’s of the game, by doing what was coming so easily and naturally to me. I was just going to walk away. Something I will be doing a lot more of in the future. It’s been said before and I’ll say it again. I’m always there for the good times first. When it’s not a good time, life's way too effin’ short to put up with the crap.
Anyhow, back to the walk away hand. What a scream! I pushed blind with “the Bammer.” What are the frickin’ odds on the timing of that do you suppose? Actually since it’s named after me due to the shear number of times I get dealt 9-3 off-suit, I guess in reality the odds were pretty good huh? Somehow my “Bammer” couldn’t hold up against the Jack high insta-caller, (yes! Jack high was good enough to make the call because and I quote, “Was that a Donkey play, ‘cause I put him on a move.”) and I was free of the game.
Shortly after I’d really started enjoying the night again out on the back porch at the Carsino, I saw DonKaaa heading my way. I knew it wasn’t good. “I ran the only hand I had all night pocket Kings, into Peb’s pocket Aces.” He said with a grin. “At least you got to play a hand of poker,” I said. We sat and chewed the fat and enjoyed the night together for quite some time and it was great, as it always is with the two of us. Thanks DonKaaa! You brought me back to my happy place right when I really needed it.
Peb’s busted out fourth I think and we headed back to the cave to relax. Great hosts, great dinner, great friends and my loving wife at my side the entire time. Makes me realize how insignificant the chatter and the poker during the night really were to be honest. Maybe this whole walking away from it thingy is some type of sign of maturity, I don't know. As long as it's not a sign of growing up !
My sincerest thanks for dropping by….
A bunch of TuckFards showed up a little later and the standard poker game broke out with 10 of us all sitting down at the same table. There was a bonus $5 bounty added on top of the buy-in for knockouts in the game and as always, the $5 becomes the focus of several players. This typically leads to some early action and some surprising hands being played. This night was no different at all. The chips seemed to rotate around the table endlessly, as one by one moves were made, suck-outs ensued, and short stacks became chip leaders over and over again.
I couldn’t really get anything going and it seemed to be the same thing for Donkaaa and my Pebbles. The three of us were hardly in any pots unless it was our steadily limped into big blinds. Typically however, after being allowed to play our blinds, the flop would whiff us completely and we would be done playing the one hand an orbit for the first three levels. I did manage to take down one smallish pot on the river, after the board came 3,9,3,3,x. I made a half pot raise on the river and everyone seemed to believe that I was holding “the bammer.” No action from anyone and the pot was pushed my way.
After the break I still couldn’t get anything going. The hole cards I was being dealt were just awful. Then in one of my BB’s, I woke up with a pair of Queens. These were the 3rd. and 4th. face cards I’d been dealt the entire game so far. (Earlier, I did have one hand where I played the monster Jack-king off, my first and second paint cards of the night) Despite my aggressive play of the Queens and the lack of play on the night, I of course get two callers. I seldom get credit for a hand with the group and most times, I take great enjoyment out of that fact. When the cards do manage to find me, it’s fairly easy to build a decent pot up out of a much bigger hand than they expect. On nights like these however, it just means I’m racing someone every hand I’m in. My opponents flipped up K-Q and of course, Q-Q.
When I saw paint cards #5 and 6, I was dealt the Asian-Jew. There was a push from a short stack and an instant call by brudder Carson. I needed to think. I talked it out and could only come up with a pocket pair near the middle of the deck for the initial bettor, and I had to believe Carson might have had either a top third of the deck pair, or at least a stronger ace. I decided on the stronger ace and let my A-J go. I was right about the middle pair but in Carson’s case, he was holding the Asian-Jew too. He cracked the pair after a jack fell somewhere on the board and raked in the pot, as I believe this became the first hand of the night where the pocket’s didn’t manage to come out victorious in a race.
Pocket pairs seemed to be the magic cards on the night to be honest, as pocket 3’s and 4’s both survived races against the “any-ace” army earlier on in the game. I finally got dealt my seventh and eighth paint cards about a ½ hour later, in the form of pocket Jacks. There was only one limper when it got around to me, so I made it about pot to go. Pebbles sitting directly on my left and in her big blind, bumped it up by twice the pot after a fair amount of consideration. I think this was her second actual bet of the night and we were on level 5 or thereabout. So I gave it some thought and decided to respect the bet and her lack of play earlier on in the event. I folded and so did the limper. Bad read me, as Peb’s showed me her pocket 10’s. In fairness to her, she mentioned that it was the best hand she’d seen so far on the night. They must have looked really good to her too, as she had me considering nothing less than pocket Kings. Good job Hun!
So I’m one of the short stacks at the table now and is always the way when that happens, I get dealt pocket 9’s. The real short stack at the table by this time, was Carson. He’d just committed about ½ his stack to the pot pre-flop and the action was coming around to me. I had him covered by about $1600 on top of his bet and his stack and my read was the any ace would be played in that situation. I raised to put him all in and his call was automatic. He had the Asian-Jew again and we were off to the races. Suffice it to say that I just don’t win races, and my being a Donkey by forcing his chips into the pot pre-flop, really busted my ass. I know that nothing about the hand would have changed no matter how I played it, as his stack was definitely going in on the flop no matter what came up on the board, but I got pretty worked up about playing the hand so poorly. I knew I was up against any ace and I still forced the action, rather than give myself a chance to play real poker. So, Donkey me.
This of course made for some “classic” Tuckfard chatter at the table, as someone must not have been too clear about what exactly my verbiage was all about. I kept my mouth shut and listened like a good boy for about 20 or so minutes. Then I’d just plain had enough. I didn’t like the way my thought process was headed, so I leaned over and told Peb’s I was getting out of there. I told her I was pushing blind next hand and if I lost, I was free. If I managed to win, I’d make like Vinney Vihn and let my empty chair play in my absence. I didn’t like who I was becoming and unlike past events where this exact same situation had happened, I wasn’t going to embarrass myself or the host’s of the game, by doing what was coming so easily and naturally to me. I was just going to walk away. Something I will be doing a lot more of in the future. It’s been said before and I’ll say it again. I’m always there for the good times first. When it’s not a good time, life's way too effin’ short to put up with the crap.
Anyhow, back to the walk away hand. What a scream! I pushed blind with “the Bammer.” What are the frickin’ odds on the timing of that do you suppose? Actually since it’s named after me due to the shear number of times I get dealt 9-3 off-suit, I guess in reality the odds were pretty good huh? Somehow my “Bammer” couldn’t hold up against the Jack high insta-caller, (yes! Jack high was good enough to make the call because and I quote, “Was that a Donkey play, ‘cause I put him on a move.”) and I was free of the game.
Shortly after I’d really started enjoying the night again out on the back porch at the Carsino, I saw DonKaaa heading my way. I knew it wasn’t good. “I ran the only hand I had all night pocket Kings, into Peb’s pocket Aces.” He said with a grin. “At least you got to play a hand of poker,” I said. We sat and chewed the fat and enjoyed the night together for quite some time and it was great, as it always is with the two of us. Thanks DonKaaa! You brought me back to my happy place right when I really needed it.
Peb’s busted out fourth I think and we headed back to the cave to relax. Great hosts, great dinner, great friends and my loving wife at my side the entire time. Makes me realize how insignificant the chatter and the poker during the night really were to be honest. Maybe this whole walking away from it thingy is some type of sign of maturity, I don't know. As long as it's not a sign of growing up !
My sincerest thanks for dropping by….
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
