The little boy who will rule the world

My priorities have changed regarding with online poker. In the past, I would play almost nightly 2-3 hours. But then came, softball, Ty (son), and rest. When my son was born, my wife laid down the law. NO POKER UNTIL TY IS IN BED. Really she didn’t have to tell me but I could use a woman guiding me every now and then. There are times when I get home after Ty is in bed and just sit back on the couch, relax, and watch some tube or read a poker magazine/book. I spent almost the whole last year playing poker that I missed out some good television shows. This tv season looks pretty good with Prison Break, Invasion, WSOP (espn), and a few other shows.

Now we are expecting baby #2 in April. I seriously doubt I’ll be playing as much poker as I am now (about 10 hours a week). I’ll be lucky to play 2 nights a week. Hell I don’t even think I’ll be playing softball with the buddies. Sometimes you just gotta sit back and think about things that are important in your life. Softball and poker aren’t way up there on my list.

Ty (now 2 years old) can count up to 20. This is very very good since normally that is a skill for a 3 year old. At this rate I’ll be teaching him how to count cards by the time he is 5. By the time he is 6 or 7, I’ll be replacing his Elmo dvds with Mike Caro and Phil Gordon eh eh…

Some tournament success

I’ve played 2 $100 freeroll tournaments at Intertops the past 2 nights. The first night I came in 10th out of 378 or so. Won a cool $1!!! Yep….100 pennies, 20 nickels, 4 quarters, 2 half dollars, or whatever. I really wasn’t going to play this one seriously but since I was also playing Party’s mini-steps (2nd step) and a $5 NL sng, before I knew it I was in the money. Of course, I get AhTh in BB, MP made a small raise and folds to me. I defended it.....nice flop AKT rainbow….I check…MP bets…I raise…MP goes all-in…I call…OUCH…MP has AA….oh well…

XM: Guns ‘N’ Roses “Don’t Cry”

Last night I registered for another $100 freeroll but I didn’t participate in it. Intertops sent me an email apologizing that the tournament shut down half way through. Apparently I still had some chips left (auto-fold/sit out). So they rewarded me with $0.35!!!! woooo 35 cents!!!!

So that’s $1.35 bucks!!!!! Nice huh? That’s enough for me to get one KING SIZED candy bar at my local Exxon. Hmmmm Snickers? 100 Grand?? Almond Joy?


I’m still stuck at mini-step 2 at Party…..dont ask me why or WTF….


Currently I’m at Absolute Poker. You’ll see me at the 50/1 Omaha 8 or 1/2 Texas tables. Last night didn’t go too well. Down $8 at 1/2 6 max but +1.50 at 1/2 Texas full ring and +3.00 at 50/1 Omaha 8.

I even came in 2nd at the 50 cents SNG which netted me a cool $1.50. Actually this was the shortest 9 player SNG ever. I DID NOTHING!!! One player was wiping everyone out. By the time the blinds got to 50/100, it was down to two of us. Me at 1300 and the BULLY at 12,200. Thanks for the quick $1.50 Mr. Bully.

XM: Ratt “Back for More”

AC Trip still undetermined!!!!

Since 9/19/05
+$105.36
Bonus(es) Pending: $60 Absolute Poker

Sigh…..the boys still cant seem to make up their minds about our Atlantic City trip. Here is the thing. I can only make it Friday night and I have to be back home Saturday afternoon (4 hour drive from Maryland). The original plan was to stay in AC on the 4th-6th of November. I’m encourage the boys to go ahead and stay longer without me. But now it looks like they are like “ehhhh I’ll come back home Saturday afternoon too”. Some guys want to come up and join us Friday afternoon after work but are not willing to come back so “quickly” Saturday afternoon. I don’t blame them. Atlantic City ain’t fun without MaxSquat!!!!

XM: Skid Row “Quicksand Jesus”

I gave the boys till 3pm TODAY to decide what they want to do. And the verdict??? We will be staying Friday night only. I will make reservations sometime tonight.

Change of plans for AC....

XM: Whitesnake “Childen of the Night”

Plans are still up in the air for Atlantic City for November 4th/5th. It turns out that I can’t stay Saturday night but will be able to go on the 4th. The guys (Moof, Calvin, Bird, Wing, and DannyBoy) are basically doing whatever I decide to do. What the heck am I? Some of kind of tour guide? As of right now, we are going on the 4th. I have my eye on Econolodge right behind Tropicana. Yes it is a major dump but then again no need to pay $200 for one of the casino rooms.

XM: Telsa “Hang Tough”


I haven't played much poker since my last post. Got bumped down to mini-step 1 from 3....won 1st step....am now back at step 2...sighhhh....

Since 9/19/05: +$4.75

Pocketfives.com

When you get the chance to get around to it, check out pocketfives.com. This is the site that lists the real “players” online. I’m talking about guys that consistently win those “big tournaments” online. There is one player that won Empire’s $50K, Paradise’s $50K, and a Party’s PPM cruise all the SAME DAY!!!!! (basically means that he won about $45,000 total)…. We all know who the good tournament players are on T.V./WSOP/WPT. Ivey, Hansen, Duke, Hellmuth, Tran, and etc etc but do you know who the great online touranment players are? Here is your chance to find out whom and perhaps watch them. You might learn a thing or two from them.

Also there are some various online tournament poker articles as well as a forum. Nice site!!!!

Party's Mini Steps....

If you frequent at Party Poker then you are probably familiar with their "Steps" tournaments. If you are not then thats too bad cuz I'm not gonna waste my time explaining it to you. But if I'll be nice about it and explain it briefly. Basically there are 5 steps. Each step is a 10 player tournament. In order to move up to the next step you have to finish in top two. Once you get into 5th and final step, the top 5 remaining players will win $$$.

I'm stuck at Step 3. At step 3, if you have to finish top 2 to move up to step 4. 3rd and 4th placed winners, gets to repeat step 3 while 5th and 6th placed winners will get bumped down to step 2. Of course if you are really unlucky, 7th and 8th placed winners will go all the way down to the beginning (step 1). 9th gets $4 and 10th is "out".

Why the steps? Well for a $6 buy-in, if you get alllll the way to Step 5, 5th gets $200, 4th $500, 3rd $800, 2nd $1000, and 1st $2000. Thats pretty nice for a $6 buy-in. But it is not as easy as you may think it is. You can get lost in the "steps system" going up and down before ever reaching to Step 5.

It took me 4 attempts (3rd, 2nd, 4th, 1st) to get to Step 2 from step 1 (step 1 must finish 1st to move up). While at step 2, took me another 4 attempts (5th, 3rd, 5th, 2nd) to get to step 3 (must finish top 2 to move up). Now here I am at Step 3. I have to finish top 2 to move up. The last 5 attempts I've mananaged to finished 4th, 4th, 3rd, 4th, 4th. Because I finish within top 4, I get to stay at Step 3 rather than getting bumped down. Maybe I'm too weak-passive. Currently I'm borrowing Tmonter's TPAP (Tournament Poker for Advanced Players) book. Hopefully I will learn a few things about how to play tournament poker short-handed.

Anyway... while I was playing Step 3, I also sat down at the .50/$1 Texas table... boy do some players go on tilt...

Look at player at seat #6 furmanmom82..he is at about $139 when I won my first hand for the night...

***** Hand History for Game 2740788682 *****
0.50/1 Texas Hold'em Game Table (Limit) - Mon Sep 19 19:52:25 EDT 2005
Table Table 25377 (Real Money) -- Seat 7 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: CardsNCards ( $30.75)
Seat 2: jopkedollars ( $14.75)
Seat 3: MaxSquat ( $24.50)
Seat 4: eWeet1219 ( $12.58)
Seat 5: monkeyjuiceD ( $32)
Seat 6: furmanmom82 ( $139.73)
Seat 7: Mark1848 ( $35.58)
Seat 8: vladmighty ( $19.25)
Seat 9: desibeauty ( $29.50)
Seat 10: paul205 ( $19.62)
vladmighty posts small blind (0.25)
desibeauty posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to MaxSquat [ Td, Ts ]
paul205 calls (0.50)
jopkedollars folds.
MaxSquat calls (0.50)
eWeet1219 folds.
monkeyjuiceD calls (0.50)
furmanmom82 folds.
Mark1848 calls (0.50)
vladmighty calls (0.25)
desibeauty checks.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ Ac, 2h, Th ]
vladmighty checks.
desibeauty bets (0.50)
paul205 folds.
MaxSquat raises (1) to 1
monkeyjuiceD calls (1)
Mark1848 calls (1)
vladmighty folds.
desibeauty calls (0.50)
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 6d ]
desibeauty checks.
MaxSquat bets (1)
monkeyjuiceD calls (1)
Mark1848 folds.
desibeauty calls (1)
** Dealing River ** : [ Jh ]
desibeauty checks.
MaxSquat bets (1)
monkeyjuiceD calls (1)
desibeauty calls (1)
** Summary **
Main Pot: $12.25 | Rake: $0.75
Board: [ Ac 2h Th 6d Jh ]

MaxSquat balance $33.25, bet $3.50, collected $12.25, net +$8.75 [ Td Ts ] [ three of a kind, tens -- Ac,Jh,Td,Ts,Th ]

monkeyjuiceD balance $28.50, lost $3.50 [ Js Tc ] [ two pairs, jacks and tens --
desibeauty balance $26, lost $3.50 [ Qh Ad ] [ a pair of aces -- Ad,Ac,Qh,Jh,Th ]


Now about 50 hands later.....look at seat #6 bankroll..it went from $137 or so tooooo:

***** Hand History for Game 2741118178 *****
0.50/1 Texas Hold'em Game Table (Limit) - Mon Sep 19 20:49:15 EDT 2005
Table Table 25377 (Real Money) -- Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: CardsNCards ( $41.75)
Seat 2: bettorlucky ( $29.50)
Seat 3: MaxSquat ( $27)
Seat 4: eWeet1219 ( $16.58)
Seat 5: monkeyjuiceD ( $23.50)
Seat 6: furmanmom82 ( $87.73)
Seat 7: td060 ( $11.75)
Seat 8: vladmighty ( $71)
Seat 9: desibeauty ( $52.75)
Seat 10: paul205 ( $4.87)
paul205 posts small blind (0.25)
bettorlucky posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to MaxSquat [ 5s, 6d ]
MaxSquat folds.
eWeet1219 folds.
monkeyjuiceD folds.
furmanmom82 calls (0.50)
td060 folds.
MaxSquat: K7 isnt much better
vladmighty raises (1) to 1
MaxSquat: eh
desibeauty folds.
paul205 calls (0.75)
bettorlucky folds.
furmanmom82 calls (0.50)
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 6h, Jh, Qc ]
CardsNCards: lol
paul205 checks.
furmanmom82 checks.
vladmighty bets (0.50)
paul205 folds.
furmanmom82 calls (0.50)
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 3s ]
furmanmom82 checks.
vladmighty checks.
** Dealing River ** : [ Kd ]
furmanmom82 checks.
vladmighty checks.
** Summary **
Main Pot: $4.50 | Rake: $0
Board: [ 6h Jh Qc 3s Kd ]

MaxSquat balance $27, didn't bet (folded)

furmanmom82 balance $90.73, bet $1.50, collected $4.50, net +$3 [ 2s Jc ] [ a pair of jacks -- Kd,Qc,Jc,Jh,6h ]

vladmighty balance $69.50, lost $1.50 [ Ad 5d ] [ high card ace -- Ad,Kd,Qc,Jh,6h ]

How the heck did he lose $50 in 50 hands or so? The guy was obviously tilting or didnt know how to play. He was raising late position with 32 spades and all kinds of silly plays. Once the players figured out that he would raise with junk, they would not give him ANY RESPECT at all. Even if he get pocket Aces and raise preflop, he is gonna get reraised by others and others are going to call him down. As a result, his premium cards would not held up at all if any. So silly...

After about 50 hands, I mananged to leave that table with a nice cool profit of $2....thats right two bucks... which is fine and dandy for me...

Since return to blogging... +2.00

eh eh

Cowboys got beat...what the hell? Redskins? Tmonter sent me an email. I think he has rabies or something:
KICKED SOME COWGIRLS ASSES
SORRY BUNCH OF CHUMPS
BETTER THAN WINNING A POKER TOURNEY
KICKED THEM UP AND DOWN THE FIELD
GO SKINS STILL UNDEFEATED

Poor guy...only 20 more days at the post office (retirement)

FINALLY a poker post...

I know its been MONTHS since I updated my blog. I wanted to update it every 2 or 3 times a week but my golly too many things came up on my end. Finally I have some time here and there to write up something.

Funny thing about this blog is that I NO LONGER play limit omaha 8. I finished Empire's August reload breaking even WITH the bonus. I wasnt hitting the flops or wasn't hitting my draws. It was just AWFUL!!!! I've decided to take a break from Omaha for a month or two and play some Texas.

Guns and Roses "Sweet Child 'O Mine" playing on XM

My bankroll have suffered since I last posted a few months back. Lets go over what has happened since March.

- paid for a new "Tommy Train" table for my son
- paid about $150 for my trip to Long Island for a softball tournament
- paid about $400 for my trip to Gulfport/Biloxi for another softball tournament...yes I did play some poker there...I'll write it up in a bit
- frequent trips to 7-11 cuz I keep forgetting to make lunch for work
- Tried to detrone some of the mighty NL players at Poker Stars
- Keep breaking even when bonus whoring Party and Empire
- Spent about $450 in Atlantic City for a friend's bachelor party....HAD a GREAT TIME...I won $330 playing Let It Ride...WHERE DID THAT MONEY GO!?!?!

Probably more where my $$$ went... Some people are lucky enough to have a SEPERATE bankroll for poker. I dont have that luxury. My poker winnings ALSO pays for me to some fun and etc. Amy and I are on a strict budget when it comes to spending money. Heck we STILL have our old TV when we first got married....TEN YEARS AGO!!!!...and STILL have our old computer desk too. We are not poor by any means but we just are smart with our money. You wont be seeing us driving a $40K car or a $50K SUV. Sure we can afford it...BUT WE DONT NEED IT. Instead you might see us drive in our $20K Caravan or our current 1998 Honda Civic. As long as it gets us to point A and B, then we are happy. More importantly as long as I can get to Atlantic City, then I'm EXTREMELY happy. Sorry for going off the point there. So, my "spending money" is also by poker bankroll. If I want to enjoy a guys night out or whatever, then I better win some pots or otherwise I wont be joinging the guys.

Currently I'm trying to win enough to get my son a new swing/playground set. That might have to be put on hold till next spring. If I'm lucky and win Party mini-step tournament ($2000 prize....currently at step 3), then I'm at the store the next day. No we are not looking at one of those $300 playground sets that you see at your local Toys R Us. We are looking at one of those wooden $1300 ones. Something that will last a good long while in case we have 2nd child or so. Sure we can put $1300 on credit and make payments. That just means more "payments" and more "debt" for us to owe.

Quite Riot Bang Your Head is playing

Going back to my game... here is my current plan. I plan to stick with Texas .50/$1 full ring for the next month or two. I'm only going to play at most an hour per session. Well maybe longer since I've got XM. At the same time, will be playing some SNG at Absolute. For every $50 I profit, I will cash it out. Starting now, once I profit $1K. Then will move up to the higher stakes ($2/$4) and make some serious reload deposits. By then I will sign up at Eurobet and get some rake back.

As of right now, during the first weekend of November, I'm set to hit Atlantic City. So far, its 5 of us staying at Best Western for 2 nights ($130 total..$26 each).

XM RADIO!!!!

As Ric Flair would say "WOOOOOOOO!"... I know some you are gonna hate me but YES I still have AOL. One cool thing about AOL is that you can listen to XM satellite radio for FREE!!! Now while I'm playing poker online, I'll just turn the station over to the "Hair Bands" channel and listen to alllll the Motley Crue, G n' R, and Poison songs I want. I actually think I play better with XM blasting. (Now its Warrant playing "Down Boys")...I'm not "gay" by any means but I have to admit that its one of my dirty little guilty pleasure to listen these hair bands.