Tuesday, July 31, 2007

No Poker but tilted!

Got home today to a very upset daughter. While out at a cafe with my wife my daughter had her purse stolen. $26, a Disney souvenir, an Australia souvenir, student id and her cell phone were contents. This is daughter's 1st experience as a crime victim, I am at a loss for how to make her feel better about world.

Wife got to endure the 45 minute call to Sprint Customer "Service" to deactivate service. They were very thorough in asking 3 different times if wife wanted to pay the bill due on the 15th of August. They were not nearly as helpful about suspending service for stolen phone.

Las Vegas related story

While playing Blackjack at Monte Carlo Friday night Dave stepped away from table and was on phone for quite a while. Sunday Night during dinner he revealed nature of phone call.

In exchange for going to Las Vegas, Dave's wife rented a beach house in Bodega Bay and took their 2 daughters, and a couple of friends and their kids. Late Friday afternoon 3 1/2 year old daughter called out "Mommy", the Mom being a good Mom went to see what was wrong and could not find her. After the three women searched the house without finding her one of the Mom's stayed inside to watch remaining children and the others went outside searching, house was near a path that led down a cliff to beach and many neighbors joined the search outside. Half hour later police help was enlisted and a search Helicopter was sent. Sheriff decided to ask for the dog unit to be sent since sunset was approaching when the Mom inside heard laughter in child's bedroom. The young daughter had started an impromptu game of Hide and Seek and was found curled up inside an ottoman storage compartment that no one knew was hollow. The Mom was upset and relieved but it was decided that the Sheriff would explain the seriousness of situation to young child as it would have greater impact as life lesson learned.

Monday, July 30, 2007

Good Trip Could have been so much better

Wednesday Night I unleashed my Aggro buddy on the BBT freeroll. Was observing tourney before going to flight saw table was on to him and had to use my powers as a Telecom professional to spike Full Tilt's server.

Southwest was a little undersold on the last San Jose to Las Vegas flight, the last San Jose to Ontario (California) flight and the last Ontario to Las Vegas flight. They blamed the weather but probably consolidated flights as a cost savings bringing me into Las Vegas 2 hours later then expected. Because I was late Harrah's had given away my standard room, gave me a mini-suite for Wednesday but made me move on Thursday. Played a little craps before bed for $200 profit and slept the contented sleep of being ahead.

Met MiamiDon at Orleans for $540, Chad bailed on us because he wanted to watch the Angels slaughter the Tigers in person in Anaheim. My starting table was allowing a lot of limping during the 1st level and I managed to bust the 1st person to leave my table. I limped a 9c7c UTG and was rewarded with a 8c5c3h flop. 5 people had seen the flop so I went ahead and bet out and the only called was BB. Red Ace on turn brought check check, but a beautiful red 6 on river gave me nut straight. BB bet 150, I raised to 450 he raised to 750 and I raised to 2k (4k starting stack) and he called with top 2 pair and looked quite disgusted by my rivered gut shot. Next he raised my BB and when I repopped him after seeing my 2 red Aces, I was forced to insta-call his shove and send him home after his 99 did not improve. I managed to showdown nut or 2nd nut hands 3 more times in 1st 2 levels plus a few big pairs. Reached the 1st break with 11k chips. Had opportunity to amass large amount of chips later when I laid down an AQ against a shove overcall only to see 77 & 99 and an AQ9 flop Q turn 7 river. After moving to another table I lost half my chips from SB with J9s on a 998 flop when the BB had A9. Sadly my read was I was beat but I still check called on river. Lost most of rest with KQs on a Q high flop with flush draw and was eliminated with AJ holding less than BB.

Met up with my work friends that night at Wild Bill's and sat at Blackjack table for 7 hours, got quite hammered but Dave and I managed to cash out around +$750 and Paul cashed at +$200.
Slept the contented sleep of the ahead and woke up at crack of 1.

Friday "John" joined us for gambling. He is long divorced and available so I tried to put my new found wing man skillz to use for his as he was flirting with a Blackjack dealer at Monte Carlo. During 4 separate stints as relief dealer "John" was working her to come visit San Diego to go to San Diego zoo with him. She was on verge of agreement but asked why he had never married? "John's" answer was to say he had been married and even had a 12 year old daughter and offered to show a picture. Unfortunately for "John" when he reached into his pocket he pulled out a stack of pamphlets collected from the porn slappers. Dealer was shocked but did managed to say "how many daughters do you have?' and "They do have nice bodies". The married guys at table were in pain from laughter. Last shoe at blackjack table was quite successful and went back to Harrah's where I had my bedtime Hot Cocoa and craps to get ready for bed. Managed to time my table visit to a single shooter who hit $600 worth of numbers for me as I blatantly hit and ran their table.

Caesar's table saw much card death, a SB v BB confrontation that worked in my favor for trips vs. trips and then I lost most of my chips with an 87o from SB against a 98o in BB with a T88 flop 6 turn 4 river when I check called river sure I was beat. I had bet the flop and bet, was raised and called turn but failed to bet out river or fold. BB said he would have hated to call a river bet but wasn't good enough to fold trips either. Doubled up once from 3x BB but after table move I was to left of same played who had been on my left when I chose to jam is BB from UTG. My 98s did not improve and the late position caller with 55 eliminated me, the BB had 97 so I had caught him dominated. Saturday's -EV gambling can only be described as carnage.

Intent for Sunday was poker but after breakfast I found a $10 craps table at Harrah's, I was up $200 when my buddies convinced me to move over to Casino Royale for their $3 100x table. Managed to clear $1200 during 1 shooter's decent run, I cashed out during next shooters 2 roll turn and missed a 30 minute shooter. After dinner returned to Harrah's for some leisurely black jack and then a final craps fix before departure. Jerry a fine gentlemen from Southern Illinois had 4 consecutive 15+ minute turns as shooter and won me another $800 but during joking about Jerry setting a Harrah's record for longest stint as a shooter during his one turn that went 30 minutes we learned that Harrah's had a 2 hour 20 minute shooter on table that my friends had pulled me away from 45 minutes after I left. It feels like a bad beat.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

BBT Finale

The rest of the BBT field owes MiamiDon a big thank you for talking me into changing my travel plans for the weekend and arriving in Las Vegas tonight for the Orleans tourney tomorrow. My domination of the BBT has thus ended prematurely. I will not reveal who will be playing for me tonight but there are 4 possibilities:

1) My weak-tight boss.
2) My wife who though very tolerant of my poker barely dabbles herself but must have learned something by now.
3) A buddy showing up in Las Vegas tomorrow.
4) A 12 year old girl, she is mean, aggressive and quite frankly takes losing worse than Don or Waffles.

I will be offline until Monday as I only rarely take a computer with me to Las Vegas.

Enjoy freeroll and have a good weekend.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

MATH Final Table but

My shame is great, I let waffles suck out of river because I did not go ahead and jam my 2nd pair OESD on flop. Went out later when I lost a coin flip to AK.

Played a FTOPS #1 with Smokkee and was the bubble boy. I will have to find chat log later but when I busted "d soren" he lit me up in the chat box saying something along the lines of "why do bad players always get so f*#king lucky" Two hands I had shown to this point were AKo which I had raised from button and checked down after whiff of flop and lost to d sorens A4o that connected with flop. Hand I busted d soren with was I raised pre-flop with TT, bet out on a T 9 7 flop and called his jam for 2/3 of my stack. He had 97 suited. Smokkee took it upon himself to defend my play as "Being ahead the whole time" and other things. Though he did also feel obligated to include "KOL"

MiamiDon is still #1 in my PokerTracker rankings for donors but Pvanharibo has dropped to #6. I played J9 to a raise to $23. I was BB and called the $19 only to see a JJ6 flop. The limp caller in EP bet out $25, and raiser folded prompting a call from me as I assumed I was outkicked. The turn was a beautiful 9 and full baynage commenced. A $540 pot quickly followed and a flopped boat with 66 was laid to waste.

Flight to Vegas is in 30 hours where I will join KOD and Don at Orleans tomorrow and maybe Caesar's on Saturday.

Many drunken prop bets will also be on the schedule with my former co-workers. The smallest dude in the group can be a bit belligerent when drinking and has gotten me thrown out of the Monte Carlo. Despite the 3 of us sitting at the $10 table being up $300 each he managed to get pissed off at our dealer Theresa. Table went from fun to unpleasant as he increased his winning from $300 to $700 as I dropped to +$250. As we rose to exit he chose to call dealer a c*nt, and pit boss quickly asked us to leave. If he pisses off Chad he's on his own.

Monday, July 23, 2007

Frustrating Tournament Weekend

Busted out of 25k ($75 buy-in) Saturday Night when I limped with JTs from CO, SB completed BB checked. Flop was JT7. SB bet out pot and I decided he would have checked flopped staright so I min raised. SB jammed and I called to see he had slowplayed AA. Turn was 7 counterfeiting my 2 pair and I go home short of money instead of taking over chip lead.

cashed in 50-50 on Saturday after winning my way in with $8 sat but busted out on a flopped top and bottom pair against flopped top 2.

Sunday's $26k was most frustrating as LP player raised my SB to ~20k, I saw AQs and went all-in for 57k. Raiser tanked before calling with KTo and was rewarded with two Kings on flop and I finished 25th.

I still had better weekend than David Stern:



Sun's fans are going to have a legitimate gripe for years to come over this one.

Should make the MATH tonight:
When: Monday. 10pm ET
Buyin: $24+2
Password: hammer

Friday, July 20, 2007

No Political Leaning implied

How did are little community not already point to this?



I am in California so my vote never swings an election.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Playing to win a Token SNG

Last night I ran into another player who apparently wanted 1st in Token SNG.

Full Tilt Poker Game #3000322981: Tier One $8+$0.70 (Turbo) (22906457),

Table 2 - 500/1000 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:56:24 ET - 2007/07/19

Seat 1: CSlug (3,330)

Seat 2: deadmunee (995)

Seat 4: tighttim7 (565)

Seat 5: pokerpol666 (6,880)

Seat 6: Andreshkenca (4,300)

Seat 7: PokeDog (4,980)

Seat 8: bayne_s (5,950)

Andreshkenca posts the small blind of 500

PokeDog posts the big blind of 1,000

The button is in seat #5



7 left 6th gets $14 5 tokens



*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to bayne_s [Kd Kc]

bayne_s has 15 seconds left to act

bayne_s calls 1,000 it puts the shorties all in if they call

CSlug folds

deadmunee folds

tighttim7 folds

pokerpol666 folds

Andreshkenca folds

PokeDog checks

*** FLOP ***

[7h Jc 7d]

PokeDog checks



There was a delay then check, with 2 micro stacks I can just check it down



bayne_s checks

*** TURN *** [7h Jc 7d] [2c]

PokeDog checks Another delay

bayne_s checks

*** RIVER ***

[7h Jc 7d 2c] [Ks]

PokeDog has 15 seconds left to act

PokeDog bets 1,600 You do have 7

bayne_s raises to 4,200

PokeDog calls 2,380, and is all in

Uncalled bet of 220 returned to bayne_s

*** SHOW DOWN ***

bayne_s shows [Kd Kc] a full house, Kings full of Sevens

PokeDog mucks

bayne_s wins the pot (10,460) with a full house, Kings full of Sevens

PokeDog stands up

The blinds are now 600/1,200

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot 10,460 Rake 0

Board: [7h Jc 7d 2c Ks]

Seat 1: CSlug didn't bet (folded)

Seat 2: deadmunee didn't bet (folded)

Seat 4: tighttim7 didn't bet (folded)

Seat 5: pokerpol666 (button) didn't bet (folded)

Seat 6: Andreshkenca (small blind) folded before the Flop

Seat 7: PokeDog (big blind) mucked [Jh 7c] - a full house, Sevens full of Jacks



slow play to bubble boy



Seat 8: bayne_s showed [Kd Kc] and won (10,460) with a full house, Kings full of Sevens

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Wednesday's off to a Good Start

Press Release
NETELLER Announces Settlement of US Situation
Wednesday, 18 July 2007 - NETELLER Plc (LSE: NLR), the independent global online payments business, today announces that the Company has entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (“DPA”) with the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York (“USAO”). The DPA represents the resolution of the USAO’s investigation into the Company.
Pursuant to the DPA, the Company has consented to the filing of a criminal information relating to transactions between Internet gambling merchants and persons located in the United States. The USAO has agreed to defer the prosecution of any federal charges and, as a consequence, the Company will not be convicted of any federal crime, as long the Company fulfils the set conditions of the DPA during the two year term of the agreement. At the conclusion of the two year term, the criminal information will be dismissed. The key terms of the DPA are set out in more detail later in this announcement. The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York has approved the deferral of the prosecution. As part of the DPA, the Company has also agreed to forfeit US$ 136 million to the United States. This amount includes the approximately US$ 60 million that the USAO has previously seized.
Additionally the Company announces:
Following this resolution, the Company will seek to publish its audited annual accounts for 2006 and have its shares restored to trading on AIM as soon as practicable thereafter.
The Company is using its best efforts to allow withdrawal requests as soon as possible and US customers will be able to sign in to their NETELLER account to request the withdrawal of their funds by no later than 30 July 2007. The exact date upon which US customers will be able to make requests will be communicated to US customers via email and through our website.
Ron Martin, President & CEO, said “This agreement resolves the USAO’s investigation relating to the Company’s former US business activities. We believe that this settlement is in the best interests of NETELLER and its shareholders."
“Our customers, employees and shareholders have all patiently waited for this resolution. We anticipate within the next few weeks that we will have fully implemented the plan for the return of funds to our US customers and are hopeful that, by that time, we will have restored the Company’s shares to trading on AIM. We can now begin to refocus our efforts on building and strengthening the NETELLER business in the growing markets of the European and Asia Pacific regions. I look forward to sharing further information about the Company’s progress over the coming months.”
Key terms of the Deferred Prosecution Agreement
The settlement takes the form of a two year DPA with the USAO. In the DPA, NETELLER has consented to the filing with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York of a criminal information charging NETELLER with participating in a conspiracy in violation of certain US laws. If NETELLER fulfils its obligations under the DPA, the criminal information will be dismissed, following the two year term.
Specifically, the DPA contains the following main points:
NETELLER, as detailed in the “Statement of Admitted Facts” attached to the DPA, admits that it had operated in the US an unlicensed money transmitting business and had participated in the performance of financial transactions for the purpose of promoting unlawful transactions between internet gambling merchants and persons located in the US.
NETELLER agrees that it will pay an amount to the United States totalling US$ 136 million which is disgorgement of certain profits received by NETELLER from the activities described in the Statement of Admitted Facts. This amount includes the approximately US$ 60 million that the USAO has previously seized. NETELLER agrees that it will satisfy the remaining portion of its forfeiture obligation with a payment of US$ 40 million to be paid on or before 15 October 2007, and the remaining balance (approximately US$ 36 million) to be paid on or before 17 January 2008.
NETELLER agrees to cooperate fully with US authorities in all matters relating to the ongoing investigations by the USAO.
NETELLER agrees to fully implement procedures and controls to prevent illegal transactions between internet gambling merchants and persons located in the US and to continue to retain Navigant Consulting Inc., a forensic accounting firm, to monitor NETELLER’s compliance with these procedures and controls.
Distribution Plan to be implemented
As announced on 4 June, the Company has agreed to a plan for the distribution of funds to its US customers. The agreed plan details the process and mechanisms by which US customers will be able to initiate the return of their funds after the plan is implemented. NETELLER is using its best efforts to start implementing the plan as soon as possible and, in any event, by no later than 30 July 2007. The Company will communicate to US customers via email and through its website the exact date upon which such customers will be able to make requests.
Restoration of trading to AIM
As stated in the Company’s announcement of 13 July, the Company continues to make progress regarding the ongoing suspension of the Company's shares from trading on AIM. The Company is in discussions with its advisers and AIM and understands that the admission of the Company’s ordinary shares to trading on AIM has not to date been cancelled.
With today’s announcement of a resolution of the USAO investigation, the Company is now focused on finalising and publishing its audited annual accounts for 2006. The Company will endeavour to post the 2006 accounts to its shareholders as soon as practicable following which the Company anticipates that trading in the Company’s ordinary shares on AIM will be restored.
Further details will be announced as and when they become available.
About the NETELLER Group
Trusted by millions of consumers in over 160 countries to move and manage billions of dollars each year, the NETELLER Group operates the world's leading independent online payment business. The Group specializes in providing innovative and instant payment services where money transfer is difficult or risky due to identity, trust, currency exchange, or distance. Being independent has allowed the Group to support thousands of retailers and merchants in many geographies and across multiple industries.
The Group is quoted on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market, with a ticker symbol of NLR. NETELLER (UK) Limited is authorised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to operate as a regulated e-money issuer. For more information about the Group visit www.netellergroup.com.
Media and Investor Contacts
NETELLER Group media and investor relations are managed by Citigate Dewe Rogerson. Contact them through the Media Relations Contact page.

from: http://www.neteller-group.com/press/en/136.htm

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Tuesday was a pretty good day

My board at work went out to be fabricated, which means that it will be undergoing assembly while I am in Las Vegas in 8 days and be back at Mountain View for me to test after planned return.

Won a Head's Up Sit & Go:

Full Tilt Poker Game #2981330563: $2 + $0.15 Heads Up Sit & Go (22761372), Table 1 - 10/20 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:55:35 ET - 2007/07/18
Seat 1: bayne_s (1,810)
Seat 2: pvanharibo (1,190)
bayne_s posts the small blind of 10
pvanharibo posts the big blind of 20
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bayne_s [Jd 9d] Sooooted 1 gappers this is in my wheel house!
bayne_s raises to 60
pvanharibo calls 40
*** FLOP ***
[5h Qs Kh]
pvanharibo checks
bayne_s checks No C-Bet for me
*** TURN ***
[5h Qs Kh] [Td] Ka-ching
pvanharibo checks
bayne_s bets 120 Delayed C-bet
pvanharibo raises to 360
bayne_s raises to 1,200 Mental note next time I may have to smooth call
pvanharibo calls 770, and is all in
bayne_s shows [Jd 9d]
pvanharibo shows [Ac Kd]
Uncalled bet of 70 returned to bayne_s
*** RIVER ***
[5h Qs Kh Td] [2h]
bayne_s shows a straight, King high
pvanharibo shows a pair of Kings Slow play to No pay
bayne_s wins the pot (2,380) with a straight, King high
pvanharibo stands up
bayne_s stands up
*** SUMMARY ***Total pot 2,380 Rake 0Board: [5h Qs Kh Td 2h]
Seat 1: bayne_s (small blind) showed [Jd 9d] and won (2,380) with a straight, King high
Seat 2: pvanharibo (big blind) showed [Ac Kd] and lost with a pair of Kings

Cashed in 50-50 without having a big hand but raailed Astin as he delivered Astinbaynage on Jersey wearing Imper1um. Went out with UTG shove of AT and M down to 4 for 121st. Had semibluffed big stack with ~230 left and OESD on turn, he called me after flopping middle pair and I rivered a higher pair. Turns out I also had flush draw working for me.

Was also on the good side of a set-up hand in a SB v BB battle:

FullTiltPoker Game #2981484529: Table Water Coconut - $1/$2 -
No Limit Hold'em - 2:15:54 ET - 2007/07/18
Seat 1: angelsach ($187.85)
Seat 2: Tyrell Corp ($206.65)
Seat 3: Josh Deets ($277.05)
Seat 4: BareAce11 ($157)
Seat 5: chalwizz ($128.40)
Seat 6: tgmuse ($104.65)
Seat 7: bayne_s ($148.15)
Seat 8: Narena ($200), is sitting out
Seat 9: phillyfan365 ($90.80)
tgmuse posts the small blind of $1
bayne_s posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bayne_s [Ks As]
phillyfan365 folds
angelsach foldsTyrell Corp folds
Josh Deets folds
BareAce11 folds
chalwizz folds
tgmuse has 15 seconds left to act
tgmuse raises to $6
bayne_s raises to $18
I don't usually like re-raising AK in cash but want it ot look like I'm just playing back at him if he has Ace it is a blind battle after all
tgmuse calls $12
*** FLOP ***
[3d Ah 9s]
tgmuse checks
bayne_s bets $36
tgmuse calls $36
*** TURN ***
[3d Ah 9s] [4s] Whew if he has 2 pair or set I have outs
tgmuse checks
bayne_s bets $52
tgmuse calls $50.65, and is all in
bayne_s shows [Ks As]
tgmuse shows [Qd Ad]
Uncalled bet of $1.35 returned to bayne_s
*** RIVER ***
[3d Ah 9s 4s] [3c]
bayne_s shows two pair, Aces and Threes
tgmuse shows two pair, Aces and Threes
bayne_s wins the pot ($206.30) with two pair, Aces and Threes
tgmuse is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $209.30 Rake $3
Board: [3d Ah 9s 4s 3c]
Seat 1: angelsach didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Tyrell Corp didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Josh Deets didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: BareAce11 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: chalwizz (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: tgmuse (small blind) showed [Qd Ad] and lost with two pair, Aces and Threes
Seat 7: bayne_s (big blind) showed [Ks As] and won ($206.30) with two pair, Aces and Threes
Seat 8: Narena is sitting out
Seat 9: phillyfan365 didn't bet (folded)

Was "girlie chatting" with Hoy as he gave high variance poker clinic in 50-50 and Avatar race. I claimed if I ever figured out how to win pots without cards I might be unstoppable. Don't see how I can turn that corner since people seem to call me a lot. Got points for noticing wife's haircut when she got home, lost points because I missed one wife question while "chatting" with Hoy and playing a hand. Will have to see if punishment extends to Mookie.

The downer for day was I wanted Lee Watkinson to win Main Event.

Mom says Dad's chemo is proceeding well and the drug that has reduced testosterone production has had the warned about side effect. Mom thinks the last testosterone killing pill will only lead to even bigger man breasts. Not sure if I'll be able to handle my Father and my Daughter having a discussion about their respective "girls"

Monday, July 16, 2007

Really?

FullTiltPoker Game #2970431213: Table Red Rock - $1/$2 - Pot Limit Hold'em - 0:13:34 ET - 2007/07/17Seat 4: Coox ($320.55)
Seat 5: CaHottie ($214.90)
Seat 6: bayne_s ($154.50) I may have to end habit of $160 buy in but I am creature of habit
Seat 8: soulistic ($50), is sitting out
Seat 9: chayw4 ($258.55)
Coox posts the small blind of $1
CaHottie posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bayne_s [Qh Ah]
bayne_s calls $2 Thinking LJ may be onto something about A only with K
chayw4 folds
soulistic stands up
Coox raises to $8
CaHottie folds
chayw4: nh
bayne_s calls $6
*** FLOP *** [Qc Qs Qd] LJ suffers small credibility hit
Coox bets $12 representing Q
bayne_s calls $12
*** TURN *** [Qc Qs Qd] [Ks]
Coox checks
bayne_s bets $20
Coox raises to $58 stil representing Q?
bayne_s raises to $96
Coox raises to $300.55, and is all in I'm almost convinced
bayne_s calls $38.50, and is all in
Coox shows [Kd 9d]
bayne_s shows [Qh Ah]
Uncalled bet of $166.05 returned to Coox
*** RIVER *** [Qc Qs Qd Ks] [4d]
Coox shows a full house, Queens full of Kings
bayne_s shows four of a kind, Queens I think astinbaynage has occurred
bayne_s wins the pot ($309) with four of a kind, Queens
Coox adds $33.95
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $311 Rake $2Board: [Qc Qs Qd Ks 4d]
Seat 4: Coox (small blind) showed [Kd 9d] and lost with a full house, Queens full of Kings
Seat 5: CaHottie (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: bayne_s showed [Qh Ah] and won ($309) with four of a kind, Queens
Seat 8: soulistic is sitting out
Seat 9: chayw4 (button) didn't bet (folded)

Went out of MATH early, I gained some chips bluffing Astin after a missed straight draw but presence of a scare card on river helped with story. I gave away some chips to Bdidde on a battle of 2 weak hands and then could not push CC off a coinflip post flop when I had QQ and he had AK on a 5 hi flop. I think he has to fold to Fuel there but anyone else he's priced into call. Don't think CC folds AK pre-flop if I re-raise pre-flop, took away his fold equity post flop and he still called.

That's just Wrong

1. Wife has lost weight, daughter is maturing so neither of them had bras that fit and they went shopping yesterday. First words I heard from my daughter's mouth when she got home was, "The girls really stand up with the new bra". No father needs to hear that phrase from the daughter. Thankfully she was referring to wife's new bra. Daughter did pick up phrase from Stacey London on What Not to Wear!, blocking The Learning Channel seems excessive.

2. MiamiDon suffered worse pre-flop beat in poker with AA losing to AA on four flush at Orleans saturday. There is some old saying about unlucky in cards that I can't recall right now.

3. I lost a $320+ pot at 1/2 NL to some bozo who thought his QT was good on a Q44 flop. I was in BB with AQ but bozo rivered a T.
Edit Note: had this wrong earlier now I owe LJ $2 for correcting bad beat story

4. I lost a $296 pot to a bozo on a naked Q hi flush draw after I flopped a set. Best part is after he called my pot sized check-raise he had $3.45 behind and was willing to commit money at 2:1 in a 3:1 against situation. Love the suited donks at 1/2 on the naked flush draws.

Despite the the big pots stolen (I think this is term Hoy uses) bankroll Donage was limited.

See you at the MATH:

Tournament: Mondays at the Hoy (MATH)
When: Monday. 10pm ET
Buyin: $24+2
Password: hammer

Thursday, July 12, 2007

BBT Scoring Insights

The time has come for me to dismount my Clydesdale and weigh in on BBT scoring.

Under Current Scoring System, bragging rights are mine and mine alone. I figured out how to exploit the scoring system, then published my-bbt-guidelines for all to see. I am pretty sure I scored the most points in BBT from date of publication of guidelines to the end of BBT. I am also quite sure that as late as June 10 I was a slight money loser in BBT events. As I told Columbo at MGM during WPBT I have to play every event because OOSSUUU was playing every event.

Scoring system clearly favored a patient style because it is really trivial to only play premium hands to get into top half of a blogger tournament. I am also quite accustomed to playing with a smaller stack so don't generally worry about being short as long as I have enough chips to get blinds to fold. I also think those of us on West Coast have a natural advantage during end game as we are fresher (at least those of us with normal workday jobs). Playing Riverchaser's was more of a challenge but fortunately my work does not block poker sites.

The longer we wait to have a BBTwo the longer my reign as BBT Champion continues, waiting a while before next one seems prudent. My bankroll benefitted from BBT so starting next one soon is also good.

I think a freeroll at end of series that everyone who meets a threshold for events played is good, it did encourage participation as Riverchaser's, Mookie and Big Game all saw record number's of entrants during BBT.

Tournament of Champions is also an interesting idea and does seem like a more fitting way to end the series.

It did seem silly that the scoring system for BBT had a ~30 point step for making top half of field but only 5-8 point premium for cashing vs. cash bubble. Poker is always scored in money (or rare exceptions clothing). Only problem I see with going with pure money is that looking back at past series 14 people cashed in the 3 Big Games, 11 of them made the Top 14 on Profitability chart. There is a legitimate argument to saying that winning Big Game is tougher due to "tougher fields" but having 3 tournament results dominate a 39 tournament series is introducing a lot of variance. It would take winning Mookie 5 times to offset one Big Game victory and I would contend 5 Mookie Victories in 13 attempts would have been a much more impressive feat.

Would therefore propose that if a scoring system based on money was introduced some scaling would be in order. Numbers are not intended to be firm but say Mookie/1, Riverchasers/1, RC Horse/2, MATH/2 and Big Game/(3-5) would reduce some of the Big Games impact while still valuing the higher buy-in victory more. Can sympathize with those whose situations don't allow them to play poker online as much as I do, I suppose a best "X" number of events could be used for scoring or average once a threshold is made. Obvious solution to be allowed to play in more events is for each of you to win a fine Poker trip for family. Two weeks in Australia can do wonders for a families tolerance, I would guess a week in Aruba would have similar impact.

Mookie, Hoy & Al did a fine job bringing the BBT to our little community, now stop bitching, the prizes were FREE, a bonus, out of FullTilt and PokerOnaMac pockets!

New Most Profitable Hand

Thought this was fascinating, I have made most money with 64o since buying pokertracker.
And MiamiDon is no longer #1 contributer to stat.


Full Tilt Poker Game #2922370295: Table Laurel Ridge - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:07:08 ET - 2007/07/12
Seat 1: KOVACGONZO ($150.05)
Seat 2: bayne_s ($165.70)
Seat 3: chaser ($123)
Seat 4: BareAce11 ($248.30)
Seat 5: nbkis7d ($101)
Seat 6: victim ($376.45)
Seat 7: full_tilting ($521.60)
Seat 8: QueenOfHeartss ($51.80)
Seat 9: RxCowBell83 ($221.90)
full_tilting posts the small blind of $1
QueenOfHeartss posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bayne_s [6d 4h]
RxCowBell83 folds
KOVACGONZO folds
bayne_s calls $2
chaser calls $2
BareAce11 folds
nbkis7d folds
victim has 15 seconds left to act
victim raises to $7
full_tilting folds
QueenOfHeartss folds
bayne_s calls $5
chaser calls $5
*** FLOP *** [5h 7h 3c]
bayne_s checks
chaser checks
victim checks
*** TURN *** [5h 7h 3c] [8d]
bayne_s bets $24
chaser has 15 seconds left to act
chaser calls $24
victim raises to $369.45, and is all in
chaser has reconnected
bayne_s calls $134.70, and is all in
QueenOfHeartss: too late
chaser has 15 seconds left to act
chaser calls $92, and is all in
victim shows [Ad Ac]
bayne_s shows [6d 4h]
chaser shows [Jh Th]
Uncalled bet of $210.75 returned to victim
*** RIVER *** [5h 7h 3c 8d] [2s]
victim shows a pair of Aces
bayne_s shows a straight, Eight high
bayne_s wins the side pot ($85.40) with a straight, Eight high
chaser shows Jack Ten high
bayne_s wins the main pot ($369) with a straight, Eight high
chaser is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $457.40 Main pot $372. Side pot $85.40. Rake $3
Board: [5h 7h 3c 8d 2s]
Seat 1: KOVACGONZO didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: bayne_s showed [6d 4h] and won ($454.40) with a straight, Eight high
Seat 3: chaser showed [Jh Th] and lost with Jack Ten high
Seat 4: BareAce11 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: nbkis7d didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: victim (button) showed [Ad Ac] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 7: full_tilting (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: QueenOfHeartss (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: RxCowBell83 didn't bet (folded)

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Brutal End to 50-50

Had Chad two seats to my left, FullTilt ate the hand history, I had KT on an K J T 7 K board. Chad of course had K J to kick me in nads again. Congrats to Hoy for 5th.

Don't Forget:
Tournament: The Mookie
When: Wednesday. 10pm ET
Buyin: $10+1Password: vegas1

My vow is no gigli tonight

Monday, July 09, 2007

That was Wrong

Earned another Gigli in the MATH last night (not one of my finest plays was involved). Attempted to join MiamiDon and Hoy at cash table but ended up taking seat Hoy vacated, not long afterwards I did Don dirty with this hand:



Full Tilt Poker Game #2902086933: Table Summit Grove - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:48:57 ET - 2007/07/09
Seat 1: Red Beaver ($371)
Seat 2: bayne_s ($144)
Seat 3: jjgabrielson ($386.45)
Seat 4: MiamiDon ($293.85)
Seat 5: FLUSHTWICE ($83.40)
Seat 6: kozzanostra ($57.75)
Seat 7: Florian Briem ($136.25)
Seat 8: billrx ($201.55)
Seat 9: THE VILLAGE ($308)
kozzanostra posts the small blind of $1
Florian Briem posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bayne_s [Jc Tc]
billrx folds
THE VILLAGE folds
Red Beaver folds
bayne_s raises to $6 suited connectors
jjgabrielson folds
MiamiDon calls $6 uh-oh have to be careful
FLUSHTWICE folds
kozzanostra folds
Florian Briem has 15 seconds left to act
Florian Briem is sitting out
Florian Briem has timed out
Florian Briem folds
*** FLOP *** [Kd Ac 8d]
Florian Briem has returned
bayne_s has 15 seconds left to act
bayne_s bets $10 (know Don likes to play middle cards in position let's represent Ace)
MiamiDon calls $10 (oops I'm probably done)
*** TURN *** [Kd Ac 8d] [Qh] (I rise like the Phoenix)
bayne_s bets $25
MiamiDon has 15 seconds left to act
MiamiDon raises to $55
bayne_s raises to $85
MiamiDon raises to $277.85, and is all in
bayne_s calls $43, and is all in
MiamiDon shows [Kc Kh] (Dirty slowplaying bastard)
bayne_s shows [Jc Tc]
Uncalled bet of $149.85 returned to MiamiDon
*** RIVER *** [Kd Ac 8d Qh] [9s]
MiamiDon shows three of a kind, Kings
bayne_s shows a straight, Ace high
bayne_s wins the pot ($288) with a straight, Ace high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $291 Rake $3
Board: [Kd Ac 8d Qh 9s]
Seat 1: Red Beaver didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: bayne_s showed [Jc Tc] and won ($288) with a straight, Ace high
Seat 3: jjgabrielson didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: MiamiDon showed [Kc Kh] and lost with three of a kind, Kings
Seat 5: FLUSHTWICE (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: kozzanostra (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: Florian Briem (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: billrx didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: THE VILLAGE didn't bet (folded)

Do have to thank weak_player for introducing me to concept of raising connectors for deception, for all I know this concept was passed to weak from Don. It does seem wrong to unleash full lucksac powers on Don.

Friday, July 06, 2007

Post 105

How did I let my 100th post pass without celebrating the milestone?

Must issue warning thanks to story about daughter blog is now:




Despite my PG rating I will still occaisonally drop the Fawk alternative. I was busted out of tournaments this weekend on 4 separate occaisons by people holding A6o, I was holding AKs, AKo, AJo and A8o. The 4th time I cracked and swore, daughter was in the room and she tattled on me.

Thought we'd look back at my history and journey into blogging.


1st blog post was March 11, 2006, post is not informative and blog was really started to allow entry into a tournament on pokerstars. I am quite certain I did not cash.


10th blog post did not occur until Dec 29th, was in middle of job change, selling house and moving 100 miles to the south in non-poker life, somehow did not feel like bragging about winning Aussie Millions trip. I won it in a way that my fellow bloggers can aprreciate. With ~35 left sitting 30th I pushed a 97 sooted from CO. BB instacalled with QQ, I caught 2 hearts on flop, bricked the turn and made flush when Qh dropped on river. Picked up AA and KK with in the next 3 hands for 2 more doubles (apparently my raises were not respected).


15th post saw a couple of significant milestones, I had cashed in Dookie (1st) and my blog was commented on for the 1st time (waffles)

50th post was my take on a much discussed hand where I held AK, Hoy had TT and Smokkee had AJ and the flop was A A T. Turn was J. If I play hand better pre-flop I still get stacked. Post-flop still think since my read was I was beat I had to lay it down, important lesson taken from hand is that I do play a little slower.

75th post detailed my 1st Mook victory.

100th post was in honor of my sister's and my shared birthday Friday before last.

It's been a strange journey in that I started a blog for a free tournament entry and have made many new friends and hopefully introduced a better appreciation of suited connectors to my poker playing brethern.

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

I blame Fuel

It is now crystal clear that I can blame Fuel for my blog's G rating. I never used to type "Fawk".



FullTiltPoker Game #2855350310: Table Camino Entrada - $0.50/$1 -

No Limit Hold'em - 2:14:41 ET - 2007/07/05

Seat 1: princesssparkle ($100.10)

Seat 2: Bboy229 ($11)

Seat 3: bayne_s ($70.30)

Seat 4: Valencia88 ($21.30)

Seat 5: bacardicoke ($133.70)

Seat 6: Chilote ($98.50)

Seat 7: cindy123 ($47.50)

Seat 8: LordCabbage ($204.30)

Seat 9: SFurukawa ($152.20)

SFurukawa posts the small blind of $0.50

princesssparkle posts the big blind of $1

The button is in seat #8

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to bayne_s [Qh Qd]

Bboy229 folds

bayne_s calls $1 Table had shown a lot of min raising as well as having 2 pushmonkeys

Valencia88 calls $1

bacardicoke calls $1

Chilote folds

cindy123 folds

LordCabbage folds

SFurukawa calls $0.50

princesssparkle checks

*** FLOP ***

[Qc 6d 3c] jackpot

SFurukawa checks

princesssparkle checks

bayne_s bets $5

Valencia88 folds

bacardicoke raises to $15 jackpot

SFurukawa folds

princesssparkle folds

bayne_s raises to $50

bacardicoke calls $35

*** TURN ***

[Qc 6d 3c] [Ac]

bayne_s bets $19.30, and is all in fawk but don't think he is on flush draw

bacardicoke calls $19.30

bayne_s shows [Qh Qd]

bacardicoke shows [3h 3d]

*** RIVER *** [Qc 6d 3c Ac] [3s] Fawk good read, fawking FullTilt RNG

bayne_s shows a full house, Queens full of Threes

bacardicoke shows four of a kind, Threes

bacardicoke wins the pot ($140.60) with four of a kind, Threes

bayne_s is sitting out

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot $143.60 Rake $3

Board: [Qc 6d 3c Ac 3s]

Seat 1: princesssparkle (big blind) folded on the Flop

Seat 2: Bboy229 didn't bet (folded)

Seat 3: bayne_s showed [Qh Qd] and lost with a full house, Queens full of Threes

Seat 4: Valencia88 folded on the Flop

Seat 5: bacardicoke showed [3h 3d] and won ($140.60) with four of a kind, Threes

Seat 6: Chilote didn't bet (folded)

Seat 7: cindy123 didn't bet (folded)

Seat 8: LordCabbage (button) didn't bet (folded)

Seat 9: SFurukawa (small blind) folded on the Flop



I do believe I have again used Fawk in a Fuel approved situation.

Attempting to appeal to an adult Audience

No poker content:

When my daughter was a newborn my wife was always worried that she was coming down with a cold. The pediatrician we selected was working out of the office of a long time pediatrician and told my wife that a rectal thermometer gave the most accurate reading. I thought one of the newer ear thermometers was a more pleasant solution, bought one, but it remained unused.

Implication for daughter was that if she sneezed she took a thermometer up the ass. As she got older she fought against this and by the time she was 11 months old I would occaisonally be called in to help hold her still. I had my hand on small of daughter's back when thermometer was inserted and daughter said "Oh shit". It was longest 45 seconds of my life as I waited for electronic thermometer to beep so I could run from room and laugh. This was last time that a rectal thermometer was used.

Monday, July 02, 2007

Blog Ratings

Since Waffles did this I had to confirm my suspicions:

Free Online Dating

Edit: Had to add what rating system found

This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:
crap (1x)

I really have to work on quality of my rants.

Made mistake in MATH of representing a hand rather than having hand, must remember:

1) Level 3 thinking only works when opponent thinks above Level 1.

2) My story may not have been clear and consistent.

3) I let pot get too big by turn for river bluff representing flush to be effective.

4) Representing Nut flush draw hitting works better when opponent is not holding Ace of suit.

My father underwent his 1st radiation treatment for Prostate cancer today. Doctors did say it is 92% curable, same odds as AA beating AJ off, don't think doctor realizes how discomforting 92% sounds to a poker player.

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Thanks for BBT

Want to thank Al, Hoy and Mookie for their efforts in establishing the BBT.
Would also like to thank PokerOnAMac and FullTilt for the prize fund.
Want to thank Jordan with adding motivation to my competitive streak to try to take down the BBT and MiamiDon for setting a fast early pace for us all to run down.

It would have been nice if OOSSUUU had taken a tournament off so I didn't feel compelled to play every event.

Big thanks to BuddyDank Poker Radio and the hosts Buddy and Sean which has been a great innovation to blogger poker tournaments. Still don't know how anyone can play decent poker while broadcasting.

Also want to show a hand from my new series educating the masses on Satellite play one player at a time:

Full Tilt Poker Game #2824039718: Tier One $8+$0.70 (Turbo) (21540375),

Table 2 - 400/800 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:15:46 ET - 2007/07/01

6th gets $14, 1st-5th get Tokens

Seat 1: Luckytowin1 (4,090)

Seat 2: conner18 (5,250)

Seat 5: Mattraq1 (4,895)

Seat 6: bayne_s (9,960)

Seat 7: DaveTheJesus (520)

Seat 8: wendy2228 (2,285)

Mattraq1 posts the small blind of 400

bayne_s posts the big blind of 800

The button is in seat #2

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to bayne_s [Qd 9s] With these chips counts DaveTheJesus is only one who should care what his cards are.

DaveTheJesus folds

wendy2228 folds

Luckytowin1 folds

conner18 folds

Mattraq1 raises to 4,895, and is all in

bayne_s calls 4,095 I know I'm behind but if I have 2 live or 2 over let me scare the shit out of this Matt, I have enough chips to mess with him.

Mattraq1 shows [As Tc]

bayne_s shows [Qd 9s]

Mattraq1: wtf Mission accomplished

*** FLOP ***

[Th 8d Ac]

*** TURN ***

[Th 8d Ac] [9h]

*** RIVER ***

[Th 8d Ac 9h] [Ts]

Mattraq1 shows a full house, Tens full of Aces

bayne_s shows two pair, Tens and Nines

Mattraq1 wins the pot (9,790) with a full house, Tens full of Aces

wendy2228: nh

The blinds are now 500/1,000

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot 9,790 Rake 0Board: [Th 8d Ac 9h Ts]

Seat 1: Luckytowin1 didn't bet (folded)

Seat 2: conner18 (button) didn't bet (folded)

Seat 5: Mattraq1 (small blind) showed [As Tc] and won (9,790) with a full house, Tens full of Aces

Seat 6: bayne_s (big blind) showed [Qd 9s] and lost with two pair, Tens and Nines

Seat 7: DaveTheJesus didn't bet (folded)Seat 8: wendy2228 didn't bet (folded)

Full Tilt Poker Game #2824045035: Tier One $8+$0.70 (Turbo) (21540375), Table 2 - 500/1000 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:16:22 ET - 2007/07/01

Seat 1: Luckytowin1 (4,090)

Seat 2: conner18 (5,250)

Seat 5: Mattraq1 (9,790)

Seat 6: bayne_s (5,065)

Seat 7: DaveTheJesus (520)

Seat 8: wendy2228 (2,285)

bayne_s posts the small blind of 500

DaveTheJesus posts the big blind of 520, and is all in

The button is in seat #5

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to bayne_s [3c 6c]

Mattraq1: holy crap wtf were u thinking

Mattraq1: phew

wendy2228 has 15 seconds left to act

wendy2228 folds

DaveTheJesus: wtf were u thinking is more like it

Luckytowin1 calls 1,000

conner18 folds

bayne_s: that you should not have raised

Mattraq1: wtf was i thinking?

Mattraq1 folds

DaveTheJesus: yes

bayne_s calls 500

*** FLOP ***

[Ks 4c Qc]

bayne_s checks

Mattraq1: i had the best hand and was protecting it This one did not learn anything

Luckytowin1 checks

*** TURN *** [Ks 4c Qc] [9s]

Mattraq1: should i just fold the best hand?

bayne_s checks

DaveTheJesus: u raised and i only have 570 left

Luckytowin1 checks

*** RIVER *** [Ks 4c Qc 9s] [Qd]

Mattraq1: ok u guys are idiots

DaveTheJesus: only the top 5 get paid dude