As you probably know by now, Negreanu ended up winning $755k for first place at the WSOP Circuit Main Event in Tunica. He played very well, just ask him.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Winner
As you probably know by now, Negreanu ended up winning $755k for first place at the WSOP Circuit Main Event in Tunica. He played very well, just ask him.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Another $10K Event in Tunica
Danny Negreanu, who has followed the best stretch of tournament poker ever in 2004 and early 2005 with a slump that has his critics questioning his committment and ability to adapt his play, is close to breaking through. To put it in perspective, Negreanu has made around 30K less than TBR in tournament play over the last 10 months. As Day 3 continues at the WSOP Circuit Main Event in Tunica, 21 players remain (top 18 make the money) and Negreanu is among the chip leaders. You can follow the action here.
Monday, January 23, 2006
WPTunica
They've battled to the final 6 at the WPT Event at the Goldstrike in Tunica. Heavyweights Scotty Nguyen, Michael Mizrachi, An Tran and Gavin Smith (TBR + Gavin = Love) are still alive battling for the nearly $1,000,000 first prize. Just missing the final table was Dallasite and Pokerati Man Crush Rodeen Talebi, who has to settle for 8th place and $50,342.
Alt Hed: When Man Crushes Collide
UPDATE - NGUYEN WINS
Alt Hed: When Man Crushes Collide
UPDATE - NGUYEN WINS
Rankings
Here they are. If you like them and wish to make a positive comment, please address it to me. If you are unhappy, offended, irritated or embarrassed, please contact Shane. If you aren't a batface and don't like inside-jokes and gay porn, I suggest you go elsewhere.
Also, PI 8th place finisher Zach B (Son of Sue) was not ranked due to excessive absence from the home game in 2005. Had he been ranked, I'm sure he would have made the top 17.
The Reason for This Site's Existence
The Batfaces played in a tournament Saturday and did poorly. One year ago, we would have detailed this on Dan Michalski's web site. The reason The Batfaces site exists is because most of us are fascinated by how the confluence of math, personality, and luck conspire to make poker so addictive. The reason this site exists is to explore this (as well as to chronicle other poker-related b.s.), and Dan, bless his heart, isn't capable of understanding this. He believes if you win, you are good, and if you lose, you are bad, and that is the heart of what makes posts such as this so funny, in a sad sorta way. Taking my play as an example, he doesn't realize that I played better in this tournament than I did in a 50-person Platinum Room tourney a few weeks back, even though I came in fourth in the PR tourney. To him, that is impossible. To place 25th is worse than placing 4th, therefore you must have played worse. To argue this point with him is to argue with an anthropomorphic bong.
Quick example of how results don't indicate good decisions: I went out in 25th-or-so place in both this weekend's tourney and the TBR tourney last year. Both times I was all-in pre-flop with 99s against A-10 suited. Both times a 10 came on the flop and I was out. In the TBR, I played the hand horribly and felt awful. Here, I played it the only way I could and got out-raced.
At the TBR, I was in early position and, for some reason (scared of everyone behind me, looking to hit a monster if I tripped up, something stupid like that) simply called the BB. Three others called before Adam raised it in late position. Now, I should have folded here with everyone to act behind me. OR I should have raised before the turn and had a better read of what was going on. I did neither, obviously. At this point, I re-raised all-in, was called by A-10 behind me (who thought I was trying to steal), and I lost heads-up. I hated the way I played the hand.
Saturday, however, it was pretty simple: I had been crippled when someone decided that, even with Kings, he was going to push all in after the flop with an ace and after I raised all-in. He was in fuck-it, go home mode, and so even though I made a sound play to represent the ace, I didn't take his mood into account and was properly punished for it. After that, I only have 5 times the BB, so when I see 99, I push in, am called by A-10 suited, 10 comes, that's life.
At the TBR, I played a hand poorly and was punished. At the Invitational on Saturday, my biggest poor decision was not to re-raise a too-aggressive player in an earlier post-flop situation, which would have given me enough chips to survive the mis-read I made on the guy ready to push and go home. Seemingly similar last hands and place-finishes had nothing to do with a self-evaluation of my play.
Quick example of how results don't indicate good decisions: I went out in 25th-or-so place in both this weekend's tourney and the TBR tourney last year. Both times I was all-in pre-flop with 99s against A-10 suited. Both times a 10 came on the flop and I was out. In the TBR, I played the hand horribly and felt awful. Here, I played it the only way I could and got out-raced.
At the TBR, I was in early position and, for some reason (scared of everyone behind me, looking to hit a monster if I tripped up, something stupid like that) simply called the BB. Three others called before Adam raised it in late position. Now, I should have folded here with everyone to act behind me. OR I should have raised before the turn and had a better read of what was going on. I did neither, obviously. At this point, I re-raised all-in, was called by A-10 behind me (who thought I was trying to steal), and I lost heads-up. I hated the way I played the hand.
Saturday, however, it was pretty simple: I had been crippled when someone decided that, even with Kings, he was going to push all in after the flop with an ace and after I raised all-in. He was in fuck-it, go home mode, and so even though I made a sound play to represent the ace, I didn't take his mood into account and was properly punished for it. After that, I only have 5 times the BB, so when I see 99, I push in, am called by A-10 suited, 10 comes, that's life.
At the TBR, I played a hand poorly and was punished. At the Invitational on Saturday, my biggest poor decision was not to re-raise a too-aggressive player in an earlier post-flop situation, which would have given me enough chips to survive the mis-read I made on the guy ready to push and go home. Seemingly similar last hands and place-finishes had nothing to do with a self-evaluation of my play.
I hate 2006
So far in the year 2006, I have yet to win at our home game, lost twice on the river in heads up, won once in heads up, but that was against Dan, and came in 49th out of 50th place in the Pokerati Invitational. I have been criticized, well deserved, for my poorly written blogs. I guess Todd has been right all along, I suck at poker and doubly suck writing about it.
One thing I do find interesting is that our esteemed colleague, Dan, hosted that great tournament this weekend and wrote about it on his web page. The only problem was that he had no problem listing how terrible most of The Batfaces did, but he didn't mention who won the tournament. Only Karridy, who was runner up. Did I miss something? If I did, I'm sure someone will let me know.
One thing I do find interesting is that our esteemed colleague, Dan, hosted that great tournament this weekend and wrote about it on his web page. The only problem was that he had no problem listing how terrible most of The Batfaces did, but he didn't mention who won the tournament. Only Karridy, who was runner up. Did I miss something? If I did, I'm sure someone will let me know.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Tournament Weekend
This weekend we have the competing web page who sometimes break stories before us, invitational tournament Saturday. Expecting around 70 people including most of the batfaces. Also, we should have the results of the annual batface rankings. Should make for lots of good blogging in the next week.
Monday, January 16, 2006
My new Gavin
I've been reading his blog for a long time, and it keeps getting better and better, especially if you play a lot of tournies online. Spend a few minutes scrolling through his poker journal when you have a chance. Warning: very mathy for having.Hey Matt, can we put him on our helpy links list?
Monday, January 09, 2006
Because Pokerati hasn't gotten to it
Plano's Gregg Merkow won another tourney in Tunica. Not a bad return on his $500. You wonder why his name sounds familiar. It's because he was mentioned here about a month ago.
Why does Southwest make it so easy to get to Vegas?
Somehow in the midst of Rose Bowl celebration in Pasadena, I decided that it would be a good idea to spend a couple more days celebrating in Vegas before returning to Dallas. Less than six hours later I was watching Gus Hansen, Johnny Chan, Sam Farha, Chip Reese and David Benyamine eat breakfast in the Bellagio Poker Room. I played little poker on Thursday as I caught up on sleep and sobriety. Despite the distractions that Vegas provides, I planned on Friday being a day of solid, if not spectacular Tiny B poker. Caesars' new poker room was the setting for a noon $130 tourney that Freeze and I entered. I ran over my table for the first two levels (40 minute levels) running my starting stack of 4,500 to over 15K until I lost consecutive hands with QQ, the second time all-in pre-flop against KK. Back around par, I was unable to make anything happen and finished 16th or so in the 40 person field. Acording to Freeze, the story of this tournament was Freeze, who finished in an even four-way chop that resulted in a $1000+ pay day. Later that night/the next morning while I was giving away money at the blackjack table, Freeze asked no less than a dozen times if I was going to blog about his victory. He played very well, a game with which I didn't think he was familiar. He only got lucky once and made two huge laydowns that kept him alive. It must have been his week, because I even witnessed him have a winning blackjack session later that evening.
Shane, who was rumored to be in Vegas working, finally left his clients long enough to appear Friday night in time to join me at Caesars for the evening $230 tourney. Once again, four spots were being paid from the 35ish entry field. I have no doubts that eventually we'll see a People You Meet column from Shane regarding a couple of the idiots at our first table. Shane was knocked out in 14th by a three-outer on the river. He handled it graciously by screaming Fuck Me! very loudly after being away from the table for 30 seconds or so. I finished in 7th after being crippled with AQ against QQ. We also watched the Mavs win by 2 at Denver while giving up 2.5, which sucked.
The big side game at Caesars was a $400/$800 limit game of Badugi. An interesting group, including Eskimo Clark, Billy Baxter, David Grey, Allen Cunningham and WSOP bad boy Shawn Sheikhan spent all day at the Badgui table. Can't wait to get Rogers in a game of Badugi after watching his head almost explode the first time he played Omaha.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Live Poker Dallas Style
Looks like T.J. Cloutier is getting on the live poker bandwagon. He is hosting a tournament at Gilley's in Dallas in February. The Batfaces might have to lower themselves and actually go to Gilley's to play.
Hook Em
As Gentle Shane and I walked into the Rounder Club tourney, I told him that I plan to play perfect poker and win all races in 2006. Not sure about the first part, but the second part worked out pretty well as I won the 88 player event on Monday night. After chopping the majority of the top two prizes, I was able to defeat Rounder Club President? GM? Czar? Don in the solid heads up battle that lasted 40-50 hands. I think this is a good sign for the Horns.
UT 37
SC 34
Big game for Jamal Charles.
UT 37
SC 34
Big game for Jamal Charles.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
I Blow
Sitting here at my old buddy Scott Fawcett's for his new year's batch just trying to figure out when I can sneak home. Honestly, I'm glad to put 2005 to bed, since it was something of an ambiguous year for me.
Anyway, here's hoping that 2006 treats you all well and that poker karma finally catches up with me.
Anyway, here's hoping that 2006 treats you all well and that poker karma finally catches up with me.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Top 10 Batface Achievements/Moments of 2005
10. Home Game Extremes - Lots of people laugh at our $.50/$1.00, $60 buy-in game, but first-time player Charlie and perpetual table captain Thum each had $700+ nights while Darling took home top honors for the year with his $1000 night at RC this summer. There'd be no need to tell you who the biggest loser was if hadn't been Champagne Randy who lost $....a lot a couple weeks ago at Shane's.
**Tulsa obliterated the most lost mark last night in the last game of the year.
9. Austin Pete rarely plays in the home game. Austin Pete rarely blogs on this site. In fact, most of us never hear from Austin Pete unless he wins big playing cards. Anyway, he told me to remind you of his $13k cash on Party Poker for finishing 3rd of 705 in a $215 tourney. He also wanted me to tell you how he fought back from a short-stacked, but do we really care? Nice job, Pete.
8. In the last year, Tulsa has had 5 or 6 jobs. One of them was as editor for American Way. While he was there, he somehow convinced them that he should write a story about our drinky, pokery trip to Tunica and the World Poker Open, which I did not win. Here is that article.
7. Sure it was only a $200 buy-in and sure 8th place only paid $900+, but it was a WSOP Circuit Event and it was Dan who finished in the money. In November, Gonz and Dan ventured to Paris in Vegas for some tournament action. Gonz proved that moving away from the batfaces has hurt his game. Dan proved that the only chance he has of winning is leaving the state.
6. Poker blogs are a dime a dozen. A few of us broke away from the mother ship this fall to start thebatfaces.com. It was TBR’s idea, but Guns made it happen and apparently quit his job to devote himself to the site. In 2006 you should expect more trip reports, poker news, home game talk and Thum babble.
5. The Batface Egg Roll may have been invented in 2004, but it was perfected in 2005. Ericceleste.com was a hit; someone may or may not have top-shelfed Shane; Sang helped convince us that Dan was and wasn't cheating the home game, but there's no doubt that the Batface Eggroller of the year is Guns. How could anyone compete with his brother's muder in Matamoros and testicular cancer in one year? Well done Matt, well done.
4. I hate to admit it, but Tulsa is the 2005 home game schlogger champion. It helps that he flops two pair 78% of the hands he plays. It also helps that certain players (Darling, Dan, Adam, Fawcett) insist on paying him off. The 2006 schlogger will include all Batfaces and will be updated monthly on this site. You can not hide. I have a very slim lead on TBR for 2nd with a few days left in the year.
** Awaiting final schlogger. It could be close.
3. The night Comstock won.
2. We all give Dan lots of crap, but the biggest coup of 2005 was Pokerati correspondents Gentle Shane and Tiny B having press passes to the WSOP. We played in the Media/Celebrity event (I played at a table with Shannon Elizabeth and Nicole Ritchie (yuck)) and we had all access to the floor and the media lounge. I don’t know how to explain it, but watching the Main Event from behind the ropes without a pass looked like it really sucked. I was able to sweat TBR’s play for more than 38 hours and watch him play 7 hands. Doesn’t that sound exciting? Freeze, Fawcett and TBR Senior were able to benefit as well.
1. I don’t know if you heard, but TBR finished 178th in this year’s WSOP Main Event. If you missed out on this, TBR made it possible for you to read about it here and here and here and here and here. If you don’t have the energy, here is a quick overview of the four days. He got hammered, he was lucky and unlucky, he played tight, he got hammered, he played with Gavin Smith, JC Tran and Sammy Farha, all while wearing a goofy hat that said Walter. He was eliminated when he misplayed Kings early on his 4th day of play. The pay day of $39k was split among most of his family and the rest has been passed out to various Batfaces over the last month. All in all it was a very impressive feat, except for this which was gay.
**Tulsa obliterated the most lost mark last night in the last game of the year.
9. Austin Pete rarely plays in the home game. Austin Pete rarely blogs on this site. In fact, most of us never hear from Austin Pete unless he wins big playing cards. Anyway, he told me to remind you of his $13k cash on Party Poker for finishing 3rd of 705 in a $215 tourney. He also wanted me to tell you how he fought back from a short-stacked, but do we really care? Nice job, Pete.
8. In the last year, Tulsa has had 5 or 6 jobs. One of them was as editor for American Way. While he was there, he somehow convinced them that he should write a story about our drinky, pokery trip to Tunica and the World Poker Open, which I did not win. Here is that article.
7. Sure it was only a $200 buy-in and sure 8th place only paid $900+, but it was a WSOP Circuit Event and it was Dan who finished in the money. In November, Gonz and Dan ventured to Paris in Vegas for some tournament action. Gonz proved that moving away from the batfaces has hurt his game. Dan proved that the only chance he has of winning is leaving the state.
6. Poker blogs are a dime a dozen. A few of us broke away from the mother ship this fall to start thebatfaces.com. It was TBR’s idea, but Guns made it happen and apparently quit his job to devote himself to the site. In 2006 you should expect more trip reports, poker news, home game talk and Thum babble.
5. The Batface Egg Roll may have been invented in 2004, but it was perfected in 2005. Ericceleste.com was a hit; someone may or may not have top-shelfed Shane; Sang helped convince us that Dan was and wasn't cheating the home game, but there's no doubt that the Batface Eggroller of the year is Guns. How could anyone compete with his brother's muder in Matamoros and testicular cancer in one year? Well done Matt, well done.
4. I hate to admit it, but Tulsa is the 2005 home game schlogger champion. It helps that he flops two pair 78% of the hands he plays. It also helps that certain players (Darling, Dan, Adam, Fawcett) insist on paying him off. The 2006 schlogger will include all Batfaces and will be updated monthly on this site. You can not hide. I have a very slim lead on TBR for 2nd with a few days left in the year.
** Awaiting final schlogger. It could be close.
3. The night Comstock won.
2. We all give Dan lots of crap, but the biggest coup of 2005 was Pokerati correspondents Gentle Shane and Tiny B having press passes to the WSOP. We played in the Media/Celebrity event (I played at a table with Shannon Elizabeth and Nicole Ritchie (yuck)) and we had all access to the floor and the media lounge. I don’t know how to explain it, but watching the Main Event from behind the ropes without a pass looked like it really sucked. I was able to sweat TBR’s play for more than 38 hours and watch him play 7 hands. Doesn’t that sound exciting? Freeze, Fawcett and TBR Senior were able to benefit as well.
1. I don’t know if you heard, but TBR finished 178th in this year’s WSOP Main Event. If you missed out on this, TBR made it possible for you to read about it here and here and here and here and here. If you don’t have the energy, here is a quick overview of the four days. He got hammered, he was lucky and unlucky, he played tight, he got hammered, he played with Gavin Smith, JC Tran and Sammy Farha, all while wearing a goofy hat that said Walter. He was eliminated when he misplayed Kings early on his 4th day of play. The pay day of $39k was split among most of his family and the rest has been passed out to various Batfaces over the last month. All in all it was a very impressive feat, except for this which was gay.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Still the Same Old Me...
On a recent trip to Las vegas to hang out with a few clients, I experienced the highs and lows (well, mostly the lows) of Sin City. Got the trip rolling with a visit to my favorite dining spot in Las Vegas. If you haven't been before, you HAVE to go. Seriously, the lamb burger is the bomb. And for those of you courageous enough to go balls out, I suggest you follow the lead of my client's entourage and try the lamb burger topped with a fried egg and brown gravy. Awesome!
My clients were horny for some low-stakes blackjack action so we headed to the Barbary Coast. Two words: Shit-hole. Then again, perhaps my memories of said establishment are clouded by the fact that I didn't win two hands in a row through 4 shoes. Without altering my betting patters from small multiples of $5 increments, I managed to lose a cool $300...Which is hard to do. I was utilizing a system taught to me by a wise sage, and normally this system kicks ass. I've won about 70 percent of my sessions using the system. Shoot me an e-mail and I might share the secret with you.
So, having had my fill of the Barbary Coast I went back to my hotel planning to go to bed. Of course, the route to my room took me right past the poker room and , of course, there was an open seat. To say that the $1-$2 NL game at Paris is soft would be a gross understatement. There were raises, re-raises, horrible bluffs and idiotic showdowns. Imagine sitting at a table with nine Michalski's and you'll get the gist. Most importantly, it is the kind of game where you can have a monster hand (even represent that you have a monster hand) and still get people to raise into you. Case in point, I was dealt KhQh on my third hand. UTG, an inebriated meathead from Chi-CAH-go, raised to $10 and five (!) players called in front of me. I called the raise. The flop came 3-7-9 all-hearts giving me the next-to-nuts. Meathead bet $30 and got one caller in front of me. I raised to $60. The Meathead called and the third player folded. The turn was a blank and the betting continued with his bet of $30, my raise to $60 and his call. The final card was a blank and Meat checked. I led out for $30 and Meat said call but placed $60 on the table. I asked him if he meant to raise and he stammered, "I guess I did." I then came over the top for another $100. Meat asked if I was "playin' the hearts." Truthfully, I said, "Yeah...in fact, I've got the next-to-nuts." He responded with, "den' I gotta call" and for a moment I felt my blood turn cold, thinking he had the Ace-high flush. I rolled my cards and he turned over 9-10 for top pair. All he could muster was, "Ouch!"
The next orbit, I went at it with the guy to my right. Meathead and his less than demure female companion kept calling him "Texas." When I mentioned I was from Texas as well, the sausage guzzler became extremely confused. For the remainder of the evening, she kept referring to me as "Kansas". Anyway, in late position, I re-raised a $25 raise by Texas with pocket Kings. Texas called. I had to double take when the flop came K-2-2. Texas led out for $50. I figured him for AK and guessed he would call a min raise. So, I came over the top for another $50 and he moved all in. I couldn't shove my chips into the pot fast enough and he turned over Qc-10c. Are you kidding me? The turn put a second club on the board and Texas drunkenly pointed at the table screaming "Oooooohhhhh, here comes my flush!" I replied, "That would be a big second place hand." At this point he realized that his flush draw was a dominant underdog to my full house and he quietly left the table. The Sausage Queen barked,"Ooooooohhhh! The guy from Kansas beats Texas!" When I reminded her that I too was from the Lone Star State, she replied, "I gotta pee!" Awesome.
Of course, all was not golden. Twenty minutes later, I limped into a pot with Ks-9s. With a flop of K-9-6 rainbow, the BB (a Lebanese mush mouth) led out for $20. I raised to $40 and he called. The turn was a harmless deuce. This time he led out for $50. Now, marginally concerned about a set, I raised to $100. He reluctantly called. The river was another 6 and mush mouth mumbled "I go...All...in" and threw his last $60 into the pot. I still figured myself for best hand as I showed him top two pair. He turns over 6-4, proudly proclaiming, "I have set. Three seex." Indeed, as a 19-to-1 underdog, his blessed jihad was rewarded with a miracle card. So, after losing a nice chunk of my stack to "three seex", I cashed out and went to bed...Up $350 at the poker table and up $50 overall.
Interesting sidenote: Meathead and Sausage Queen had been verbally sparring with a kid who looked like a Green Day refugee. Meathead and Green Day had been betting recklessly into each other and their showdowns looked like something from the Gus Hansen Family Christmas $1 tournament. Sausage Queen wasn't even playing. She was just shoving Coronas down her gullet with the dainty aplomb of a crack whore. Still, she and Meathead jabbed at Green Day calling him "Ducky" (due to his mullet) or "Ugly Guy." Green Day responded with less friendly taunts like "Fag" and "Slut." As I would later find out, about an hour after I left the table, Meathead went to the bathroom. Green Day left the table a few seconds later, went to the restroom and punched Meathead. Somehow, the Sausage Queen joined the fracas and they were all escorted off the premises. Sweet!
The next day, I decided to try my hand at some tournament play. I went over the Wynn to enter a $120 satellite for the $500 buy-in event at noon. I played solid and tight and held my own. In third place, with five players left, I moved all-in with AK in an attempt to steal the blinds and a weak-looking call. The short-stacked BB, a nice gentleman from Lubbock, called me with A4, caught his 4 on the turn and I was crippled. I moved all-in shortly thereafter with QQ, only to lose to A-10. I finished fourth, but was pleased with my play.
So, I skipped over to the Bellagio to play in a $240 satellite, hoping to win a $1000 buy-in at the big Friday night tournament. I was fortunate to make the next-to-last satellite before the event started and played extremely well. I was short-stacked for the duration, but never shoved in my chips recklessly. With four players left, I moved all-in with pocket 7s against a meek raise by a player who had been loose and overly aggressive. Surprisingly, he called with J9. My hand held up and I was in second chip position. Under the gun, I moved all-in with Ah9h against the short stack on the big blind. With no choice but to call, he turned over 9-4. My hand held up and I felt the momentum turning my way. I had qualified via satellite for a big event. Wheeeeee!
As for the event, the field was awesome. Amir Vahedi, Freddie Deeb, Minh Ly, T.J. Cloutier and a host of other well knowns were in the field. I took my seat and saw none other than Mel Judah sitting three positions to my left. As play started I had planned to be super, super, super tight. As I sat there playing nothing, Mel ran over the table. He won five of the first seven hands with flopped sets, straights, two pair flops that became the nut straight, etc. He was a force. Incidentally, the way he handles his chips is fascinating. Whenever he is the first into a pot, or whenever he raises, he counts out the chips for his action, plus another set amount which he keeps in his hand. On the next round of betting, the chips still in his hand are his next bet. Completely interesting to see that he is always thinking about his next bet, even when faced with a betting decision.
Anyway, I sat there for three orbits without playing a hand. I still had over $4700 of my original $5000 (three round through the blinds). With blinds still at $25-50, the player to my right raised to $150 under the gun. I looked at my cards to see pocket queens. Not wanting to screw around, I raised to $450. Everyone else folded except the original raiser who called. At this point, I pegged him for a smaller pair or AK. The flop was A-x-x with two clubs. When he checked, mildly concerned about a check raise, I represented strength with another bet of $450. He immediately called. The turn was the beautiful Queen of hearts giving me a powerful set. Again, my opponent checked. I led out for $1200 and my opponent re-raised to $2400. Since a mere call would force me to call on the river as well, I went all-in. When my opponent went in the tank, I knew I was ahead in a big, big way and I was already congratulating myself on taking the chip lead at my table. Reluctantly, my opponent called and said, "Good play. You got me. I have nothing." I began to feel euphoric has he turned over QcJc. Huh? He called me and re-raised me with second pair and a flush draw? All I needed to do now was survive a 4-to-1 draw and I was healthy.
You guessed it, the river was a stinking club and it didn't pair the board. Fuck me. While the rest of the table groaned, I composed myself, smiled quietly and patted my opponent on the back and congratulated him on his win. Mel Judah nodded to me as if to say "that was a tough one". As I stood up, my emotions got the better of me. With an enormous grin on my face, I looked at the table, gave everyone an enormous double-middle-finger salute and said, "Fuck all you people." Everyone chuckled and I left a lonely, dejected loser.
Still I was in Vegas and my fortune could turn in a minute. I had run roughshod over the cash game at the Paris the night before (save that one stupid suck out). It certainly seemed possible to do it again. Next thing I knew, I was back in another game. True to form, the play was stupid and aggressive. Within two hours, I had turned my $300 buy-in into nearly $900. A few more hands and I was going to cash out. Then it happened.
On the button, this stupid a-hole wearing a sweater even Randy Brown wouldn't be caught dead in, raised to $7. After four players called in front of me, I looked at my hand and AQo. Feeling frisky I called the bet as well. The flop was a haymaker -- 10-J-K rainbow giving me the dominant nuts. Anyone else not holding AQ would need at least a card, if not two to beat me. Inexplicably, with barely over $40 in the pot, Mr. Rogers moved all-in for $600. He had consistently been overplaying big hands, so I knew he had cards. I figured him for a big set,but most likely AQ. I knew I had to call, but I was sure we were holding identical hands. I almost passed out when he turned over AA for top pair only. I had a huge lead in a $1200-plus pot! Even with a King on the turn, I still owned him. Cardigan Boy was drawing to a measly three outs to win, with the remaining three queens giving us the chop. Naturally, the turn was the case ace and that jag-off swept most of my impressive chip stacks.
I fought back valiantly to get back to even that evening, and had it not been for a sweet blackjack session (hello, secret system!) the next day at the Excalibur with my aforementioned clients, Las Vegas would have gotten the best of me.
I left town with one thought: is there anyone who is a better candidate for a bad beat jackpot than me?
My clients were horny for some low-stakes blackjack action so we headed to the Barbary Coast. Two words: Shit-hole. Then again, perhaps my memories of said establishment are clouded by the fact that I didn't win two hands in a row through 4 shoes. Without altering my betting patters from small multiples of $5 increments, I managed to lose a cool $300...Which is hard to do. I was utilizing a system taught to me by a wise sage, and normally this system kicks ass. I've won about 70 percent of my sessions using the system. Shoot me an e-mail and I might share the secret with you.
So, having had my fill of the Barbary Coast I went back to my hotel planning to go to bed. Of course, the route to my room took me right past the poker room and , of course, there was an open seat. To say that the $1-$2 NL game at Paris is soft would be a gross understatement. There were raises, re-raises, horrible bluffs and idiotic showdowns. Imagine sitting at a table with nine Michalski's and you'll get the gist. Most importantly, it is the kind of game where you can have a monster hand (even represent that you have a monster hand) and still get people to raise into you. Case in point, I was dealt KhQh on my third hand. UTG, an inebriated meathead from Chi-CAH-go, raised to $10 and five (!) players called in front of me. I called the raise. The flop came 3-7-9 all-hearts giving me the next-to-nuts. Meathead bet $30 and got one caller in front of me. I raised to $60. The Meathead called and the third player folded. The turn was a blank and the betting continued with his bet of $30, my raise to $60 and his call. The final card was a blank and Meat checked. I led out for $30 and Meat said call but placed $60 on the table. I asked him if he meant to raise and he stammered, "I guess I did." I then came over the top for another $100. Meat asked if I was "playin' the hearts." Truthfully, I said, "Yeah...in fact, I've got the next-to-nuts." He responded with, "den' I gotta call" and for a moment I felt my blood turn cold, thinking he had the Ace-high flush. I rolled my cards and he turned over 9-10 for top pair. All he could muster was, "Ouch!"
The next orbit, I went at it with the guy to my right. Meathead and his less than demure female companion kept calling him "Texas." When I mentioned I was from Texas as well, the sausage guzzler became extremely confused. For the remainder of the evening, she kept referring to me as "Kansas". Anyway, in late position, I re-raised a $25 raise by Texas with pocket Kings. Texas called. I had to double take when the flop came K-2-2. Texas led out for $50. I figured him for AK and guessed he would call a min raise. So, I came over the top for another $50 and he moved all in. I couldn't shove my chips into the pot fast enough and he turned over Qc-10c. Are you kidding me? The turn put a second club on the board and Texas drunkenly pointed at the table screaming "Oooooohhhhh, here comes my flush!" I replied, "That would be a big second place hand." At this point he realized that his flush draw was a dominant underdog to my full house and he quietly left the table. The Sausage Queen barked,"Ooooooohhhh! The guy from Kansas beats Texas!" When I reminded her that I too was from the Lone Star State, she replied, "I gotta pee!" Awesome.
Of course, all was not golden. Twenty minutes later, I limped into a pot with Ks-9s. With a flop of K-9-6 rainbow, the BB (a Lebanese mush mouth) led out for $20. I raised to $40 and he called. The turn was a harmless deuce. This time he led out for $50. Now, marginally concerned about a set, I raised to $100. He reluctantly called. The river was another 6 and mush mouth mumbled "I go...All...in" and threw his last $60 into the pot. I still figured myself for best hand as I showed him top two pair. He turns over 6-4, proudly proclaiming, "I have set. Three seex." Indeed, as a 19-to-1 underdog, his blessed jihad was rewarded with a miracle card. So, after losing a nice chunk of my stack to "three seex", I cashed out and went to bed...Up $350 at the poker table and up $50 overall.
Interesting sidenote: Meathead and Sausage Queen had been verbally sparring with a kid who looked like a Green Day refugee. Meathead and Green Day had been betting recklessly into each other and their showdowns looked like something from the Gus Hansen Family Christmas $1 tournament. Sausage Queen wasn't even playing. She was just shoving Coronas down her gullet with the dainty aplomb of a crack whore. Still, she and Meathead jabbed at Green Day calling him "Ducky" (due to his mullet) or "Ugly Guy." Green Day responded with less friendly taunts like "Fag" and "Slut." As I would later find out, about an hour after I left the table, Meathead went to the bathroom. Green Day left the table a few seconds later, went to the restroom and punched Meathead. Somehow, the Sausage Queen joined the fracas and they were all escorted off the premises. Sweet!
The next day, I decided to try my hand at some tournament play. I went over the Wynn to enter a $120 satellite for the $500 buy-in event at noon. I played solid and tight and held my own. In third place, with five players left, I moved all-in with AK in an attempt to steal the blinds and a weak-looking call. The short-stacked BB, a nice gentleman from Lubbock, called me with A4, caught his 4 on the turn and I was crippled. I moved all-in shortly thereafter with QQ, only to lose to A-10. I finished fourth, but was pleased with my play.
So, I skipped over to the Bellagio to play in a $240 satellite, hoping to win a $1000 buy-in at the big Friday night tournament. I was fortunate to make the next-to-last satellite before the event started and played extremely well. I was short-stacked for the duration, but never shoved in my chips recklessly. With four players left, I moved all-in with pocket 7s against a meek raise by a player who had been loose and overly aggressive. Surprisingly, he called with J9. My hand held up and I was in second chip position. Under the gun, I moved all-in with Ah9h against the short stack on the big blind. With no choice but to call, he turned over 9-4. My hand held up and I felt the momentum turning my way. I had qualified via satellite for a big event. Wheeeeee!
As for the event, the field was awesome. Amir Vahedi, Freddie Deeb, Minh Ly, T.J. Cloutier and a host of other well knowns were in the field. I took my seat and saw none other than Mel Judah sitting three positions to my left. As play started I had planned to be super, super, super tight. As I sat there playing nothing, Mel ran over the table. He won five of the first seven hands with flopped sets, straights, two pair flops that became the nut straight, etc. He was a force. Incidentally, the way he handles his chips is fascinating. Whenever he is the first into a pot, or whenever he raises, he counts out the chips for his action, plus another set amount which he keeps in his hand. On the next round of betting, the chips still in his hand are his next bet. Completely interesting to see that he is always thinking about his next bet, even when faced with a betting decision.
Anyway, I sat there for three orbits without playing a hand. I still had over $4700 of my original $5000 (three round through the blinds). With blinds still at $25-50, the player to my right raised to $150 under the gun. I looked at my cards to see pocket queens. Not wanting to screw around, I raised to $450. Everyone else folded except the original raiser who called. At this point, I pegged him for a smaller pair or AK. The flop was A-x-x with two clubs. When he checked, mildly concerned about a check raise, I represented strength with another bet of $450. He immediately called. The turn was the beautiful Queen of hearts giving me a powerful set. Again, my opponent checked. I led out for $1200 and my opponent re-raised to $2400. Since a mere call would force me to call on the river as well, I went all-in. When my opponent went in the tank, I knew I was ahead in a big, big way and I was already congratulating myself on taking the chip lead at my table. Reluctantly, my opponent called and said, "Good play. You got me. I have nothing." I began to feel euphoric has he turned over QcJc. Huh? He called me and re-raised me with second pair and a flush draw? All I needed to do now was survive a 4-to-1 draw and I was healthy.
You guessed it, the river was a stinking club and it didn't pair the board. Fuck me. While the rest of the table groaned, I composed myself, smiled quietly and patted my opponent on the back and congratulated him on his win. Mel Judah nodded to me as if to say "that was a tough one". As I stood up, my emotions got the better of me. With an enormous grin on my face, I looked at the table, gave everyone an enormous double-middle-finger salute and said, "Fuck all you people." Everyone chuckled and I left a lonely, dejected loser.
Still I was in Vegas and my fortune could turn in a minute. I had run roughshod over the cash game at the Paris the night before (save that one stupid suck out). It certainly seemed possible to do it again. Next thing I knew, I was back in another game. True to form, the play was stupid and aggressive. Within two hours, I had turned my $300 buy-in into nearly $900. A few more hands and I was going to cash out. Then it happened.
On the button, this stupid a-hole wearing a sweater even Randy Brown wouldn't be caught dead in, raised to $7. After four players called in front of me, I looked at my hand and AQo. Feeling frisky I called the bet as well. The flop was a haymaker -- 10-J-K rainbow giving me the dominant nuts. Anyone else not holding AQ would need at least a card, if not two to beat me. Inexplicably, with barely over $40 in the pot, Mr. Rogers moved all-in for $600. He had consistently been overplaying big hands, so I knew he had cards. I figured him for a big set,but most likely AQ. I knew I had to call, but I was sure we were holding identical hands. I almost passed out when he turned over AA for top pair only. I had a huge lead in a $1200-plus pot! Even with a King on the turn, I still owned him. Cardigan Boy was drawing to a measly three outs to win, with the remaining three queens giving us the chop. Naturally, the turn was the case ace and that jag-off swept most of my impressive chip stacks.
I fought back valiantly to get back to even that evening, and had it not been for a sweet blackjack session (hello, secret system!) the next day at the Excalibur with my aforementioned clients, Las Vegas would have gotten the best of me.
I left town with one thought: is there anyone who is a better candidate for a bad beat jackpot than me?
Broke, Backed, Countin'
Good column on the ethics of players backing players, some of whom couldn't afford the buy-ins to the major tourneys if they didn't have backing. (Reveals that two players, for example, had a piece of Matusow at the Main Event.)
I have many thoughts on this issue, chief among them being, "Who's backin' me, bitches?!"
I have many thoughts on this issue, chief among them being, "Who's backin' me, bitches?!"
Room Report
Played for the first time at TPC last night in their $70 freeze-out, and I must say that reports as to its awesometacity were accurate. Very nice room, game run very well, lotsa TVs, nice waitstaff, minimum number of douchebags. Well, except for us.
The play was pretty straightforward, nothing too out of line, which allowed me to take fourth by simply betting positionally and taking blinds. (The players were a little cally if you used the 3-4 times the BB formula, so I overbet a bit to compensate, and never got a call when I didn't want one.) Only saw one hand to the river before busting out, and that was when I flopped a boat with 3-4s in the BB (unraised pre-flop) and slow-played it.
Gentle Shane suffered a bad beat and took it well. We're down to two tables, blinds at 400-800, and he makes it $2400 to go from mid-position. He gets one caller, the BB, a guy who was pretty loose pre-flop and who seemed to catch just enough of his crying calls to hang around. Anyway, flop comes something like Q-9-blank with two clubs, BB goes all-in for his last $3K, Shane (who is covered) calls and turns over a set of 9s, of course the guy has a flush draw (5-6 clubs), hits it on the turn, board doesn't pair, Shane is out. He sits there a while, his face gets a little red ... you know the drill. After a bit of a rant at the Gods, as well as a none-too-complimentary recounting of the hand ("nice call of the raise with 5-6"), and in addition to a friendly discussion of between just which of the guy's ribs Shane planned to plunge a knife during said guy's ill-advised parking lot foray, Shane screamed "FOOK!" and left. Only to return a short time later, sit next to me, and berate me every time I threw away Q-3o in first position with the exhortation, "C'mon, you pussy!"
Straight E. says he was the second player busted, and I believe him.
Sommer showed up late and played in the cash game. I also had him walk me to my car in case Shane mistook me for 5-6 clubs.
The play was pretty straightforward, nothing too out of line, which allowed me to take fourth by simply betting positionally and taking blinds. (The players were a little cally if you used the 3-4 times the BB formula, so I overbet a bit to compensate, and never got a call when I didn't want one.) Only saw one hand to the river before busting out, and that was when I flopped a boat with 3-4s in the BB (unraised pre-flop) and slow-played it.
Gentle Shane suffered a bad beat and took it well. We're down to two tables, blinds at 400-800, and he makes it $2400 to go from mid-position. He gets one caller, the BB, a guy who was pretty loose pre-flop and who seemed to catch just enough of his crying calls to hang around. Anyway, flop comes something like Q-9-blank with two clubs, BB goes all-in for his last $3K, Shane (who is covered) calls and turns over a set of 9s, of course the guy has a flush draw (5-6 clubs), hits it on the turn, board doesn't pair, Shane is out. He sits there a while, his face gets a little red ... you know the drill. After a bit of a rant at the Gods, as well as a none-too-complimentary recounting of the hand ("nice call of the raise with 5-6"), and in addition to a friendly discussion of between just which of the guy's ribs Shane planned to plunge a knife during said guy's ill-advised parking lot foray, Shane screamed "FOOK!" and left. Only to return a short time later, sit next to me, and berate me every time I threw away Q-3o in first position with the exhortation, "C'mon, you pussy!"
Straight E. says he was the second player busted, and I believe him.
Sommer showed up late and played in the cash game. I also had him walk me to my car in case Shane mistook me for 5-6 clubs.
Friday, December 23, 2005
Much ado about everything?
If you've been following the WPT at all recently (which I assume the 3 or 4 of you that regularly read this blog do), you've noticed the recent "stink" being created by certain Full Tilters regarding the release the WPT forces its participants to sign beforing entering an event. My initial reaction to this was that it was a gross overreaction by very smart people (even smart law people in Andy Bloch's case). I was in Greenstein's camp in this recent article on ESPN.com:"We were all degenerate gamblers until TV came along,'' Barry Greenstein summarized with a smile, "and now we got made into celebrities and we're complaining to the people who made us marketable and famous that they don't want them to show us anymore without our approval.''
Then I read Negreanu's blog today. At the end (following some rather silly musings regarding the first season of Survivor (?!) and Paula Abdul) he drops what has to be considered a virtual bomb coming from a 2-time WPT winner: "[U]ntil further notice, based on that scary e-mail [from WPT founder Steve Lipscomb], I just don't think I'd be able to play on the WPT." I think it's a "wow" for two reasons. First, obviously, when players like Negreanu start boycotting your tournament (and potentially influencing others to do the same) you've got a problem. And second, less obvious, is the way Danny has, essentially, pulled Lipscomb's pants down in a very public forum. From they way it reads, he's basically saying, "hey man, I trust you and like you and all, but this policy you're trying to perpetuate is patently absurd." Very interesty.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Toot Toot
I don't mean to toot my horn (yes I do), but toot toot. Last night, I attended an underground tourney at a local Austin room. The tourney was small as the room has just gotten started. We had twenty folks paying $70 for the freeze out. Dan and Sweet Texas Jimmy were also playing, though Dan never made it to my table. The long and short of it is that I ended up chopping when I got heads up with an even chip stack. I left after the tournament, but received word that Dan won a lot at the 1-2NL cash game(thus proving how soft the game was and taking away any luster from my tournament vicotry) and that Sweet Texas lost a little. The room runs four days a week, is centrally located and seems like it will do well down here.
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