Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Small Ball It

I win a lot of small pots, but it's when I get involved in large pots where half or all my chips are at risk is where I usually lose and eat up the profits made from the multiple smaller wins.

Note to self: Keep Small Balling.

Monday, September 29, 2008

A Trip To Mohegan

This weekend I went with the family to Mohegan Sun to play some recreational poker. What I mean by that is I probably only had about 2 hours to play and the rest was filled with family time at the slots or food court.

Their new poker room was an expansion of their old wing where most of the craps tables were. As far as the renovation goes, they did a good job. The new slot machines glowed nicely in the dark decor along with the highlighted walls and embedded waterfalls.

I played the 1/2 NLH, where of course the players lived up to their name with poor play by calling too much and over committing their stacks on a draw or single pair. Overall, I was happy with my play, and walked away a small winner. I was only sorry that I did not get any action on my monster hands, but that's how it goes in poker.

While at the table I pulled some of my usual antics:

I ordered my usual drink, and one of these internet youngins turned to me and said:
"Vodka on the rocks?"
"Yup."
"...on the rocks?"
I nodded, "I work with a couple of Russians, and picked up some good habits." ("Heh," I thought.)
He paused, and then turned to the waitress: Coffee - black! His younger internet friend seemed to me to give him an approving glare, as if I'm the sucker at the table. Whatever. Now, I know just as anyone else that if you are serious about poker then one shouldn't drink alcohol at the table - would you drink on the job (don't answer that). But, at the same time any one who enjoys the taste of a drink straight up knows that it gets diluted by the ice in the glass, thus losing it's flavor and strength - I don't expect any young kid to think about that!

Interestingly, about 8 out of 10 hands whenever this kid to my left raised or called a hand, so did his younger counterpart. I felt that they were protecting one another in entered pots, and used this extra knowledge against them by entering into pots along with them while holding either a monster or monster draws. By end of day it was me up by 3 and them at 1.

I am going to try to make it to Mohegan at least twice a month as the games there are very soft and predictable. I am sure the fam will want to come as well, so I am going to have to make some adjustments in the schedule to log longer hours at the tables.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Update

So, I've not posted in a couple of days, which basically means I've been busy, and does not mean I've gone broke. Between work, baby, and other non-related poker events I find it hard to carve out time to get going on the tables. In the next two weeks there is a trip planned for Mogean Sun, and I am sure to hit the virtual felt here and there in between.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Highest Online Pot (w/ comments)

Bold or Gamblers Anonymous?

Full Tilt Poker Game #8041034010: Table RailHeaven (6 max) - $500/$1000 - No Limit Hold'em - 10:25:38 ET - 2008/09/12
Seat 1: trex313 ($297,766.50)
Seat 2: OMGClayAiken ($226,897)
Seat 4: durrrr ($404,525.50)
Seat 5: patatino ($307,080)
Seat 6: regista8 ($275,811)
trex313 posts the small blind of $500
OMGClayAiken posts the big blind of $1,000
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
durrrr has 15 seconds left to act
durrrr folds
patatino calls $1,000
regista8 folds
trex313 calls $500
OMGClayAiken raises to $5,000
patatino calls $4,000
trex313 calls $4,000
*** FLOP *** [Td 6d 8c]
trex313 checks
OMGClayAiken bets $9,200
patatino has 15 seconds left to act
patatino has requested TIME
patatino raises to $35,000
trex313 has 15 seconds left to act
trex313 has requested TIME
trex313 raises to $88,000
OMGClayAiken has 15 seconds left to act
OMGClayAiken folds
patatino has 15 seconds left to act
patatino has requested TIME
patatino raises to $302,080, and is all in
trex313 has 15 seconds left to act
trex313 calls $204,766.50, and is all in
patatino shows [Qd 2d]
trex313 shows [Jd 9d]
Uncalled bet of $9,313.50 returned to patatino
*** TURN *** [Td 6d 8c] [2h]
*** RIVER *** [Td 6d 8c 2h] [4c]
patatino shows a pair of Twos
trex313 shows Jack Ten high
patatino wins the pot ($609,730) with a pair of Twos
trex313 adds $50,000
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $609,733 | Rake $3
Board: [Td 6d 8c 2h 4c]
Seat 1: trex313 (small blind) showed [Jd 9d] and lost with Jack Ten high
Seat 2: OMGClayAiken (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: durrrr didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: patatino showed [Qd 2d] and won ($609,730) with a pair of Twos
Seat 6: regista8 (button) didn't bet (folded)

durrrr: wow
durrrr: and u call me sick
durrrr: biggest pot online w/ a pair of dueces?
patatino: cant win whiy aces
trex313: lol u sick
patatino: and you lol


Wow is right...all that on a draw. I'm really think High Stakes players play like micro-stake players, and mid-stake players play by the book poker.

Previous Record:
The previous record.

UPDATE: ZOMG...a few minutes later trex wins it all almost back from durrrr, for the second largest online pot of $532,979. Watch here.

UPDATE II: It's just sick. A new second largest hand now by Benyamine was produced the same day with $604, just $5 shy of yesterday's highest largest hand.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

eBay Winner?

Is that an oxymoron? I mean, I didn't actually win anything...it's not like its free...yeah, I won the bidding...I came in first...but, I still have to pay for it...so, did I really win? Hmmm.

What am I talking about? A new 20'' wide flat screen monitor, making my set up from a uni to a dual-monitor set up.

Proudly sitting on my desk is an additional 20" Samsung 905BW SyncMaster. Luckily, I bought a video card that has dual digital cable outlets to support the two monitors. I think I saved maybe $50-$60 getting it off eBay; the description says slightly used, but I don't know...the box looked like it was never opened!

I guess now I can commit the ultimate online-poker sin and browse the internet, check email, or whatever else you can do with dual screens while playing poker online.

UPDATE: Although I had this set up a few years ago for work related reasons, it took me a couple of hours to get used to the omnipresence of the two screens - it's like being 12" from a giant flat-screen television . At any rate, the two combined screens kicks major ass and I don't see myself using no less.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Bonus

I finally got my $50 bonus from PokerStars! I haven't been playing much lately, so to win an extra fifty on top of a good 20 min session felt real good. I want to start playing more as well, unfortunately some weekend plans for Mohegan Sun are being rained on and will have to reschedual. Guess, I'll be on the virtual felt for most of the weekend.

Taa-taa..

Thursday, September 4, 2008

KEM

Maybe it's been a while since I played in a casino or haven't paid much attention before, but I just got a pack of KEM cards and they are as smooth as butter.