Tunica Trip Update

After my Tunica trip I had to ask myself "what kind of poker player am I?" Meaning, am I a tournament, limit, or no-limit player? Do I even know? Does it even matter? I'm sure it matters. How can I be at the top of my game if I am changing the game I play all the time. Of course, top professional players like Ivey can play all of them. Last time I checked I was female and Caucasian.

I should have asked myself this a long time ago. When I play online I go back and forth between all three, just kind of depends on my mood I guess. I enjoy tournament play but often find myself bored. I love the risk / bluff / skill factor that goes into no-limit and I guess I enjoy the safe factor of limit. Hench, depending on my mood is what I play. Is that OK?

Woke up 6am on Saturday and headed to Tunica. Reserved a great poker rate room at Sam's Town. Seriously, they have the best poker rate in town and you don't even have to rake up hours before you get the room. Their system is first come first serve. If you know you are going in advance, just call the poker room and ask if there are any left for that day. I have never not gotten one, $45 - can't beat that.

When I arrived at 10:30 am there was only one $1/$3 NL game going, full table with a few people on the waiting list. At 11am they were holding a $100 freeze-out tournament with $2500 guarantee. Now, at 10:45 there were only 5 people registered. You do the math, it's a no brainier to play. I signed up and there were only 10 people (final table) who initially registered. Level 1 started and immediately discussion to end and chop the pot 10 ways was underway. Each person to get $250 and we all make a quick $150 profit and move on to the cash games. Well, it didn't work out that way. They have to keep registration open until the end of Level 1. Well by that time there was a total of 22 players. Everyone was still going to just chop when it got down to 10, I went out in 12th. I played horrible. I was the donkey.

Down $100

New $1/$3 no-limit table is opening, I gab my $300 red chips and go sit down. Full table but everyone else only bought in for $200, which I found odd since this table didn't have a max buy-in. $300 seems typical and normal to me. 2nd hand in I get Q4 suited and raise to $6 with 4 callers. Q4 comes on the flop, I bet $15 and get two callers. Turn is a K, I bet $35, one player goes all in for his remaining chips and the other old man folds. I call, of course he shows pocket rockets and I win with my two pair. I play until around 3:30 and break to check in, grab some dinner, take a shower and get ready for the evening session.

Up $100 overall (made my $100 from tournament back plus another $100)

Evening session took place at Hollywood Casino. Sam's Town was full of old people and frankly I just wasn't in the mood. I was only and wanted some fun conversation and walking about heart attacks, strokes, and nursing homes isn't what I call fun.

Hollywood had two tables of $3/$6 limit and had three people on a list of $1/$2 no-limit. I sat down with $60 at the limit game and put my name on the list for no-limit. Told the poker manager if they get a full table I'll move over. I was not in the mood to play short-handed no-limit.

The limit game was wild and crazy. By this time most of the players were drunk and playing horrible... oh wait, I mean playing their A game. Guy two to my left had about $130 when I sat down. Hollywood apparently is his home as he knew all the dealers and wait staff. I wanted to punch the guy though because he keeps calling every female he came in contact "sweetie", "honey bun"... BLAH. Finally a male dealer comes to the table, all that crap stopped pretty quickly there after.

The guy raised 9 out of 10 times. He would raise, then fold before a show-down. He would call raises and at show-down show crap cards. It was great. About 30 minutes into the game a mother and son take their seats. Son looks like a young Tommy Lee with the tattoo's, same hair cut, same attitude. He sat directly across the table from me. This was Tommy and mommy's first time playing poker. Everyone had to continue to tell them how to play, what they could bet, raise, re-raise, etc. Within 15 minutes, poor mommy was out of her initial buy in but being positive to learn the game, graciously bought back in. Another player female player joins the game and states she has never played live just online. I say "do you normally play 3/6 limit online", her reply, "have no idea what that means, sorry". Now, one can take this as HOT DAMN another donkey, or yeah right you don't know what that means. Turn out after about an hour, it was HOT DAMN ANOTHER DONKEY. She left after two buy-ins. After about 5 hours I decide to move over to the no-limit table.

Up $430 (previous $100 + $330 from limit session)

Max buy-in at table is $200 so I do just that. NO excuses, I play a stupid hand when my two pair was beat by straight. I should have known my two pair wasn't good enough but dude did call a previous $50 bet to chase his straight, it came on the turn and he pushed all in and I called. River didn't give me my boat and I was gone after only about 45 minutes.

Up $230

It's about midnight so I decide to head back to Sam's Town. Only game open is $4/$8 limit. I buy in for $100 and take seat #3. 8 total players and everyone has more then $140 in front of them. This was good game. I haven't played $4/$8 in probably 2 plus years and when I did back then I shouldn't have been playing. With just a few dollars between them, there is a mass difference between 3/6 and 4/8 play. I loved the game. I was surprised at how large the pots could get as well as the level of play. I am finding myself to really enjoy the 4/8 game. No big drama related hands to speak off. I closed the session with a profit of $120.

Tunica profit report - hotel room, drinks, food a profit of $290 was made. Overall it was great day of poker. I came away from my trip with some realizations on my play and wanting to go back again soon. Damn I wish there was a room closer to Nashville.

PEACE!

Great Weekend

I played in a local game cash over the weekend. It was a $1/$2 NL but tend to play high depending on the players. There were two tables running. I bought in for $240 and started the evening out pretty well. Was up almost a $100 at one point when my KQ was out played by AK and lost a pretty big pot. At this point I was down to only about $100.


My one big complaint for the night was my "brother-in-law" who by the way was invited into this local game by me. He loves poker as much as I do and would probably play as often if his wife would allow him. The problem I had with the BIL was that he kept raising me and playing against me when we were the only one's in the pot. Now, we can look at this a few different ways. I know it's poker. No friends, no family in poker. I understand this rule. I also think that when there are 12 other people to play against why not check it down if it is just the two of us. It's like taking money from family, I don't like to do it. I respect his game and now I have a new found understanding that when we are in poker together again, it's no holds barred. Good Luck Mr. BIL. Can't wait to play again with you soon.



Later in the evening I got moved to another table. At first I wasn't thrilled about this because this table was full of gamblers. These young guys love to play big pots. I wasn't in the mood for big pot poker but heck, I came to play and play was what I was going to do. One big hand I had AQ middle position, off suite. I believe I raised it pre-flop with 3 callers. Q came on the flop. One guy who gambles a lot raised it $50. This guy was at my original table and asked to be moved because we weren't playing big enough for him. I have played with him about 5 times in the past, I know he like to gamble and I also know he can play very well. I have seen him do this with pocket A's as well with 3/5 off suit. I call. Turn came a blank for me. He raised me all in for about $175. I thought for a long time. I figured he might have had two pair or K's. I turned over my hand and was thinking out loud. He said to me "if you were going to call you would have already, come on". This kind of pissed me off. I said "your right, I call". He turned over KQ and I won the hand.


After a few hours I ended up cashing out $450. I was very happy with my game. This will be the 2nd winning cash session. I am gaining my confidence back for my cash game. Looking forward to the next one.


PEACE!

Half Way To The Glory

For the nine of us who play in the home league with a dream of going to the Main Event are half way to the glory land. Rio will be the destination for one of us. We all have a 1 in 9 chance of walking into the Amazon Room on Day 1 and feeling that unbelievable emotions of playing in what most only dream about.

Everyone started talking about "home leagues" after Steven Dannenmann finished 2nd in 2005. I don't think he got there via the home league but it was after that when people starting doing it to make their way there at a discounted rate. Steven stated that "he is the fourth best player in his home game". I hope our structure will prove to send the top best player in our league to go represent.

Nine months will be here before we all know it. I hope that all of us decide to go Las Vegas to support the person who has all that pressure on their shoulders to come home with SOME dough to be shared! Nonetheless, I am sure it will be something we all will remember for ever.

Not sure if I will ever play or host another home league again so I hope I take full advantage of the opportunity in front of me and the rest of the group.

Last night was our 9th event and a very successful one. Successful because the play is always getting better month after month. Great lay downs were made by all. Personally speaking, I laid down pocket J's with one raise in front of me by the big stack. I had to make the decision to either push all in or fold. I ended up folding and Erick kindly showed pocket Q's. We ran the board and a Q come on the flop. Technically I guess someone could have called the clock on me like Tiffany Michelle did in 2008. Completely unethical to do at that point in the game.




Below is the current point standings. The middle of the field is going to be very competative. I have a HUGE target on my back with a 17 point lead from 2nd place. I can handle the heat and would expect nothing other from any of them.



PEACE!!!

Can you spot a tell?

Some time ago I came across a good blogger from Las Vegas that writes about his daily poker experiences. Poker Grump is the name of the blog, check it out sometime.

As I was reading my daily blogs, his included, he had the below video of Chris "Jesus" Ferguson showing how he has the same reactions no matter what cards he has.

A part of my game I am always trying to work on is my tells and spotting tells of others. It's a very important part of the game and if you can't spot tells, at least some of the time, I believe one will never be a great poker player. I am not a great poker player but I hope to be one day.

Can you spot a tell?

Worse Tournament Ever, Part II

I thought the tournament in Michigan was bad. Well last night I played in a local tournament a guy runs every Thursday that was worse. I never have gone before because it's a $20 re-buy tournament and in general I think these are bad tournaments. Re-buy tournaments to me is basically who has the most money in their pocket. Little strategy, allot of all in's during the re-buy period and a donkathon. All my impressions have come from online play so I thought I would give it a try.

Well, my impressions were right. One guy at my table re-bought 7 times in the first hour. CRAZY play. Donkey's everywhere. I had decided I was only going to re-buy one time thus I only had $40 in the pocket. I was disciplined and ready to get the heck out of there when my time was up.

Normally donkey's in poker are fine. You want donkey's around so you can take their money. Cash games are great for such type of players. In this game, these donkey's had no respect for money. It as nothing for them to re-buy, re-buy, re-buy. There was only 13 people playing and the pot at to be over $1000 for sure.

Next week is the home league, I can't wait to play. I think it's an important week to push my lead further ahead of my nemeses to start securing my seat for next July.

PEACE!

Worse Tournament Ever!!

Because this post is so boring, I am adding a little comic strip curiosty of xkcd






This weekend I went to Michigan to visit with my family. They have a season camper trailer at a nice campground in Hillsdale, MI. Saturday evening they had talked about running a poker tournament. Some guy by the name of Mike usually runs it but as of 4pm he had not come up for the weekend yet so, with my experience in running tournaments, I kindly offered my services.

Owners of the campground hands me a Coach bag filled with chips and off I go to figure out the starting chips. We go around the campground making the announcement that there will be a poker tournament at 9pm $10 buy in. We get about 20 people interested.

Well... Mike finally shows up so not to step on anyones toes, I give the chips to Mike and tell him I will see him at 9pm for the game.

Well... 9pm comes, I walk into the hall and Mike has all the chips (red, white, and blue) all together in stacks of 10. I ask him what the structure will be and he tells me all the chips will be $1. Hmmm... OK. I'm thinking why would someone do this but heck, it's for fun and I'm the guest, not going to tell someone how to run their game.

18 people finally filter in and Mike makes the announcement that we will get 50 chips and the blinds will start with 1/2 and 15 minute blinds, then 2/4 etc.

So, we get 25 times the big blind to start out!!! HORRIBLE STRUCTURE!

Needless to say, I didn't win. At this point, I didn't care, my Rum and Diet was more entertaining than the poker game.

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend, be safe in your travels.

PEACE!