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.

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.

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.

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.

If They Never Played Poker - Contin'd

Yet, another...

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.

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..

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.

WordPress

I don't know why, but I happened to check out WordPress, the other day and signed up for a site there. I do like their layouts better, and they have a lot more gadgets and widgets that can easily be applied into a blog, so I am entertaining the idea of continuing the blog over there instead of Blogger. More soon...

Empire City at Yonkers

So, getting beat by 3 key poker hands on Friday, I took a break and went to Empire City in Yonkers to 'relax' with video poker. I played Jacks or Better, and Deuces Wild. It was fun and not the least bit frustrating. I lost about $20, but that was expected. After all, it was video poker, and favored odds weren't expected.

Besides paying for drinks at the machines, I had to remind myself that I was in Yonkers. I mean, with the cheesy decor and the constant tumulose drone of the slot machines it would be hard for anyone to know they were not in AC. There was a live band accompanied by the embarrassing antics of drunk regulars on the dance floor; skimpy cocktail waitresses; aged one-armed bandits looking for the Big Score; young courters trying to impress their dates with implied high-roller status; regulars who think they know a thing or two about gambling, but their wins and losses balance out - that is where I would fit in, lol.

Hey, it's slots!

At any rate, it was the right medicine. A $40 investment, yielding a $20 loss in 3 hours is not bad in my book. I could of easily spent 3 fold more in a bar or resturant and not expect any +EV. In retrospect, it's kinda sick if you look at your spare time in profits and losses. Then again, isn't it a positive to say to yourself 'how did I benefit?' At least we are not cranking out some mindless justification for recreation.

Table Selection

When I was on Bodog, I did good at the highest percentage of players preflop per table. In other words, I was killing the most wild tables there. On PokerStars, however I just can't catch a break with the same table selection.

So I did a 360.

On PokerStars, I now select tables with mid 20's or less players preflop...and I am flourishing.

In 20 min, both my two pair got beat by trips costing me 2 buy-ins. Two pair are like White Castle Hamburgers - just throw them right in the toilet.

Moving on...

I found a daily Tuesdany (Night?) tournament that starts at 3pm Est on Poker Stars.

The game is sponsored by The Bigger Deal. I don't know how I can play in this since on Tuesdays at 3, I can be found at my day job. But, I'll keep it on the radar.

Online Player's Future

A little long, but delivers a chuckle in the end.

My Chat Banned!

Generally, I'm not an abusive player. Live and let live, is my motto. But, what a bunch of EGOMANIACS at PokeStars.

Now I'm not the most chivalrous one at all times, and can respond at the lowest of levels. - what's a little abrasiveness at the table? This is poker, not the Olympics...sometimes we just steeeeeeeeeam, if at either a player is rewarded by the poker gods for their dumb play, or they say something out their mouths straight, that we know should come sideways.

Let me tell you, I haven't witnessed a more sensitive, cry-babying, bunch of weiners than the players at PokerStars.

Here's a notice from PokerStars:

Hello ikeep -

We are writing to inform you that we have suspended your chat priv-
ilege for 24 hours as a result of your chat on 2008/08/16.

Name-calling and disparaging remarks about another member's
race, nationality, gender, or sexual preference is against
the Card Room Rules.

The use of vulgarity when addressing another player is not
allowed.

When asterisks are seen during chatting, it is a warning that
what is being put into the chatbox is not allowed. Using
spaces or other characters, or otherwise defeating the censor
is a violation of the Card Room Rules.

At the end of 24 hours, your chat will automatically
be reinstated. There is no need to write to support.

Our goal at PokerStars is to be a fun place to play, where everyone
can feel comfortable. Abuse and other disruptions to the games takes
away from everyone's enjoyment, and therefore will not be tolerated.

We thank you for your cooperation.


Regards,

PokerStars Chat Moderation Team

Oh, well...I guess I learned my lesson.

A more humorous post over at MeltedFelt.