2008 - The Four Card Year

In the days before UIGEA and Neteller went under I would occaisonally go busto on a poker site. Whenever it happened I would go to Bodog Poker, play the $25 PLO tables until I had gained $200 and then moved the gains to another site (usually which provided me rakeback). A year ago I did not like Bodog's game table SW and usually had trouble finding a higher PLO table so it was natural for me to move to a site where I would continue to play PLO or O8 to pay for tourney entries.

In August I managed to obliterate my bankroll playing 6-max PLO at levels beyond reasonable for BR but in November I started playing tourney full ring PLO with success and recently full ring PLO cash with success. Question of "Why play anything else?" and need to answer Miami Don's question "What are your poker Goals?" have led to this list of goals for 2008:


1. Keep better records so I know at the end of each day what games and levels I should be playing.

2. Adhere to stop loss limits each day.

3. Outside of blogger events and freerolls focus play on Omaha to build bankroll to earn enough money to play WSOP preliminary event w/o it meaning BR suicide.

4. Make 2nd day of WSOP prelim event (probably involving 4 cards).

5. Final table a big buy-in online tourney (avoid crumbling under Final Table pressure if anyone has a piece of me).

6. Win the $4k Guarantee PLO once this year.

7. Don't go bust on any site!

8. Don't piss off any bloggers with my posts or comments. Plays at tables to tilt are part of big picture. I'm sorry to anyone I pissed off this year!

AirMax1978 (Observer): dumb luck

Details later, I am tired.
1st key hand, I had AAA2 (1 suit) and got to see a cheap multiway flop. Flop was all spades and holding naked As, I bet pot and got 1 caller, another spade hit turn and I bet pot again and
AirMax1978 checkraised jammed turn which forced a fold but gave valuable insight into
AirMax1978's game. But I went from lots of chips to relatively short.

I typed in girlie chat to Chad what are my chances of cashing in DS Omaha tonight and sent having bled chips to point of sitting 17th of 19th when this hand occurred:

Dealt to bayne_s [4h 4d 5c Ac]
BluntToker33 raises to 250
NemDeGelt calls 250
AirMax1978 calls 250
bayne_s calls 250
skymutt folds
Mainman67 raises to 442, and is all in
ICroupier calls 342
BluntToker33 calls 192
NemDeGelt calls 192
AirMax1978 calls 192
bayne_s calls 192
*** FLOP *** [3c 5d 2d]
ICroupier checks
BluntToker33 checks
NemDeGelt checks
AirMax1978 checks
bayne_s bets 920, and is all in
ICroupier raises to 1,840
BluntToker33 folds
NemDeGelt folds
AirMax1978 folds
ICroupier shows [Ad 5s Qd 8s]
bayne_s shows [4h 4d 5c Ac]
Mainman67 shows [7s Kh 9s Kd]
Uncalled bet of 920 returned to ICroupier
*** TURN *** [3c 5d 2d] [Ah]
*** RIVER *** [3c 5d 2d Ah] [8h]
ICroupier shows two pair, Aces and Eights
bayne_s shows a straight, Five high

very next hand:

Dealt to bayne_s [Ad Ts 7s Jd]
NemDeGelt calls 100
AirMax1978 calls 100
bayne_s calls 100
skymutt calls 100
ICroupier raises to 700
BluntToker33 folds
NemDeGelt calls 600
AirMax1978 folds
bayne_s calls 600
skymutt folds
*** FLOP *** [4s Jh 9c]
ICroupier bets 2,400
NemDeGelt folds
bayne_s raises to 3,792, and is all in
ICroupier calls 1,392
bayne_s shows [Ad Ts 7s Jd]
ICroupier shows [Kh 6h Kd 8h]
*** TURN *** [4s Jh 9c] [4d]
*** RIVER *** [4s Jh 9c 4d] [Ah]
bayne_s shows two pair, Aces and Jacks
ICroupier shows two pair, Kings and Fours
bayne_s wins the pot (9,984) with two pair, Aces and Jacks

ICroupier: awful
Before Aussie Millions trip I would have never played hand like this. I had watched 200/400 6-max PLO and seen Gus, sbrugby and Phil Ivey make plays I just could not fathom. But I had opportunity to talk to Gus and he said "with a pair and a gutshot if you are up against a set you are crushed but against an overpair not so bad". Afterwards I started plugging these hands into cardplayer's calculator and realized those guys were just pushing smaller edges for larger sums.

In hand above it is 50-50 after flop, it is presence of 86 in ICroupier's hand that makes it close. If either card is replaced by an Ace or deuce I am 55-45 favorite.

At final table start chip counts were:

Seat 1: NemDeGelt (5,947)
Seat 2: adler10 (2,430)
Seat 3: bayne_s (6,344)
Seat 4: ICroupier (5,281)
Seat 5: ThePussyBomber (10,028)
Seat 6: allinryou (8,407)
Seat 7: THEJAQKT (27,799)
Seat 8: AirMax1978 (23,177)
Seat 9: skymutt (12,587)

Then NemDeGelt knocked out 3 shorties in one hand (oof, I needed some of their chips)
Seat 1: NemDeGelt (21,965)
Seat 3: bayne_s (6,344)
Seat 5: ThePussyBomber (10,028)
Seat 7: THEJAQKT (28,499)
Seat 8: AirMax1978 (22,877)
Seat 9: skymutt (12,287)

The longest playdown to bubble occurred as I was very patient and in huge surprise we did not lose 2 people, I managed to double up with a fullhouse in a battle of blinds to get workable chips.

Bubble broke with this for chip counts:
Seat 3: bayne_s (11,518)
Seat 7: THEJAQKT (27,272)
Seat 8: AirMax1978 (46,073)
Seat 9: skymutt (17,137)

Chad appeared in IM at this point laughing and asked me to IM when I got to HU.

I re-raised AirMax pre to get a few chips since I was sure he was raising light, won a straight over straight hand against skymutt which led to his elimination and entered 3 handed play at:

Seat 3: bayne_s (14,218)
Seat 7: THEJAQKT (45,009)
Seat 8: AirMax1978 (42,773)

nice thing is they are even so both want to take me out but the one who doubles me is in 2nd place tie. Airmax opted to bring me to him with my 2 pair besting his 2 pair and me catching a bluff by air after he got some chips from THEJAQ closed gap to:
Seat 3: bayne_s (27,436)
Seat 7: THEJAQKT (36,509)
Seat 8: AirMax1978 (38,055)

Three way action took 28 hands and I had THEJAQ all in once where we both had nut straights but I had flush redraw and higher straight redraw but no freeroll love and AirMax took him out so HU started and I IMed Chad as promised.

Chip counts:
Seat 3: bayne_s (36,636)
Seat 8: AirMax1978 (65,364)

15 hands later I had won where these 2 hands changed battle:

Dealt to bayne_s [3d Jd As 7c]
bayne_s calls 800
AirMax1978 checks
*** FLOP *** [Qd 8h 9d]
AirMax1978 checks
bayne_s checks
*** TURN *** [Qd 8h 9d] [2d]
AirMax1978 bets 3,200
bayne_s calls 3,200
*** RIVER *** [Qd 8h 9d 2d] [Th]
AirMax1978 bets 9,600
bayne_s calls 9,600
*** SHOW DOWN ***
AirMax1978 shows [Qs 3h Kd 6h] a pair of Queens
bayne_s shows [3d Jd As 7c] a flush, Queen high
bayne_s wins the pot (28,800) with a flush, Queen high

Having seen earlier bet out with non-nut flush at full table decided 3rd flush HU had to be good.

Dealt to bayne_s [8s Ts 7d Qc]
AirMax1978 raises to 4,800
bayne_s calls 3,200
*** FLOP *** [9c 8h 8d]
bayne_s checks
AirMax1978 checks
*** TURN *** [9c 8h 8d] [3c]
bayne_s checks from what I had seen 2 checks would get pot bet
AirMax1978 bets 9,600
bayne_s raises to 36,636, and is all in
AirMax1978 has 15 seconds left to act
AirMax1978 calls 27,036
bayne_s shows [8s Ts 7d Qc]
AirMax1978 shows [6c 2c 7h 4d]
*** RIVER *** [9c 8h 8d 3c] [3h]
bayne_s shows three of a kind, Eights
AirMax1978 shows a pair of Eights
bayne_s wins the pot (82,872) with three of a kind, Eights

as huge chip leader I made light re-raise with K hi 1 suit and hit flush

PLO Theory

Apparently there have been some new theoretical developments in PLO.

Dealt to bayne_s [Jc Kh Ts 3c]
MANNY24FAN: folded qs
HOWAMIUP calls $2
MANNY24FAN calls $2
gotosleepho folds
HOWAMIUP: whew good thing
Chuz73 calls $2
Torres1 folds
MANNY24FAN: nice hand
HOWAMIUP: ty
all-in nice has 15 seconds left to act
all-in nice calls $2
Tosho stands up
manicgambler raises to $10
bayne_s calls $8
manic gambler has tilted me slightly so I make a loose call knowing a big pot will come
HOWAMIUP calls $8
MANNY24FAN calls $8
Chuz73 calls $8
all-in nice has 15 seconds left to act
all-in nice calls $8
*** FLOP *** [9c 4h Qd]
bayne_s checks not the worst flop
HOWAMIUP checks
MANNY24FAN bets $60
Chuz73 folds
MANNY24FAN: didnt fold them this time
all-in nice has 15 seconds left to act
all-in nice raises to $195, and is all in
manicgambler folds
HOWAMIUP: lol
bayne_s calls $32.50, and is all in certainly priced in hopefully both have sets
HOWAMIUP folds
MANNY24FAN calls $2, and is all in
*** FLOP *** [9c 4h Qd]
all-in nice shows [5c 7c 8d 4d]

Bottom pair, apparently he thought Manny would not call $2 raise into $154 pot after initial $60 bet. Fold equity means fold dial illuminates to some or because he "raised $135"

MANNY24FAN: nice straight
bayne_s shows [Jc Kh Ts 3c]
MANNY24FAN shows [Qs Ac Ks Qc] expected holding
Uncalled bet of $133 returned to all-in nice
*** TURN *** [9c 4h Qd] [Td] w00t
*** RIVER *** [9c 4h Qd Td] [3d] wtf
all-in nice shows a flush, Queen high
MANNY24FAN shows three of a kind, Queens
all-in nice wins the side pot ($59) with a flush, Queen high
bayne_s shows a straight, King high
all-in nice wins the main pot ($154.50) with a flush, Queen high

At least I had this to fall back on

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bayne_s [7d Ah 4s As]
PIJuicer calls $6
OUEmoKid has 15 seconds left to act
OUEmoKid calls $6
CuteGirl x checks
zailo calls $6
cardfather raises to $45
bayne_s raises to $165 almost 1/2 stack
Lay Low folds
PIJuicer folds
OUEmoKid folds
CuteGirl x folds
zailo folds
cardfather calls $120
*** FLOP *** [2d Td 6c] well hope he doesn't have diamond draw that hits
bayne_s bets $174.30, and is all in
cardfather calls $174.30
bayne_s shows [7d Ah 4s As]
cardfather shows [Kc Jc 9d 9c]
I guess there is some backdoor stuff but not sure this is 3:1 with 2 to come call (ran odds http://www.cardplayer.com/poker_odds/omaha and it had 22%)
*** TURN *** [2d Td 6c] [Js]
*** RIVER *** [2d Td 6c Js] [3c]
bayne_s shows a pair of Aces
cardfather shows a pair of Jacks
bayne_s wins the pot ($705.60) with a pair of Aces

The "hand specialist" let me know that surgery would not be required for my pinky w00t, but I would have it in a splint for 6 weeks and if fingertip bent the 6 weeks restarted.

I also caved and ordered daughter an ipod, her reaction when I forwarded her that it had shipped: "It's a little late"

Congrats to LJ on Riverchasers victory. I got some chips early but then took on a coin flip with boofdiggity and lost 34th consec all in flip

What am I thinking?

I took a look at this last night on OPR. I looked at my PLO stats since Friday night and saw a $950 profit at $50 PL, $100 PL and $200 PL, ( but sadly dropped $440 screwing around at $600 PL, half of the losses when an AAKK ds lost to a K975 after a K9 flop went 2 runners for a straight which also missed my flush draw).


Chad C popped up on "girlie chat" last night with 3 tables left in $4k guarantee PLO to ask me "Why the fu*k do you play anything else?" I quickly dumped a lot of chips when I flopped trips against a better kicker and he hit boat rather than me dropping me from 6th to 24th but as I told Chad I would still cash because I could hit sit out next hand and 8 people would bust out before I blinded out. I don't know if it is the lack of antes or how quickly everyone busts out but as the bubble approaches players usually have 6 or 8 BBs and a patient shorty can always cash if that is goal.

Other than blogger events and the $75 token frenzy I plan to give up Hold'em tournaments for a while. My success in the 0045 DS Omaha has helped restore my bankroll to workable levels. Cranking through FullTilt bonus in January will help as well. And my recent run in $100 buyin Omaha tells me to focus on Omaha. I have also determined that playing Omaha as often as I do does lead to very weak/tight Hold'em play and I don't transition well.

The Days are getting Longer

I was watching CBS' The Early Show this morning and learned that a 4th Century Pope had declared December 25th the birthdate of Jesus, the reason was to coincide with the Roman celebration of the winter solstice (a time when gifts were exchanged to celebrate the return of the sun).

The things I learned this year:
1) When the teenage daughter sees you wrapping the ipod nano you got for wife and says "Mommy is not a teenager", the translation is "I want an ipod".
2) After an hour of listening to her complaining about various things centered around not getting ipod that she never hinted for before Sunday it may amuse your wife and self to suggest same daughter has a spelling error on her "Abercrombie & Fitch" t-shirt but wrath of daughter is severe when said out loud.

Yummy

They're Yummy For Your Bayne.

Enter a word for your own slogan:

Generated by the Advertising Slogan Generator, for all your slogan needs. Get more bayne slogans.

Saw the generator on Kat's blog and could not resist posting result.

I suspect the MATH in whatever format will go on without me being the 24th.

Statistically one in 24 times I pick up JJ someone else at the table is supposed to have KK. Currently it feels like 12 times of 24 I will run into KK and 10 times I will run into AK and lose the race.

I cashed in Omaha $55 DS again. Went out with a straight but Chico134 was en fuego and turned quads. 3rd did not suck.

I would try to create an Omaha strategy post but I believe you accumulate majority of tournament chips when you crack AA and when someone else fails to crack your AA. Key to either case is being able to properly evaluate the flop.

Late breaking addition Sundays with Dr. Pauly TOC wow I won somehow.

$18k cooler

What a hand to decide TOC, huntsvegas and jeciimd both trapping on the flop. Money goes in on the turn and river 7s improves both hands. Congrats to both on a well played tourney. GL in Aussie Millions jec! My one observation from last year is Australians are optimistic and believe their draws will hit. You will see it at Blackjack tables as well.

I was in the other freeroll and dumped my chips to AlCan'thang with JJ against his KK. It was shameless attempt to reward him for his efforts in BBT 2 and not a donkish play ;)

I need 4 Cards

Congrats to LJ for taking down the Mookie. A8 seemed to be the new nutz on Full Tilt as Gary Cox hit 4 of a kind with A8 against LJ's AJ earlier at final table but Gary's AT was no good against A8 on final hand. I donked out early with TPTK against flopped set, I may have forgotten how to play poker with only 2 cards. I did bubble in Dookie

A big thank you is in order for the Big Pirate! My package of southern delicacies (bacon, grits and country ham) arrived yesterday. Wife was on the warpath when she saw contents and uttered phrase "she knows you are not supposed to have this" and was ready to call my mother lighting her up. Luckily wife mentioned the bacon and an ugly family conflict was averted when I remembered the bounty. My mom usually sends me a Christmas package containing grits and country ham and wife had asked my mom not to this year. So big woot on avoiding a sentence of turkey bacon.

As an offshoot of a chat I had with MiamiDon I decided to create a 2nd blog yesterday:
Hoy Synopsis, sadly I suspect that despite me not adding any original content it will take more time for me to distill Hoy posts than to create my ownposts.

Presenting Some Opinions

My OPINIONS

1) Qwackers pushing A2o at LJ early in a deepstack tourney is foolish. A mildly observant poker player would conclude that she would not fold.

2) Although I can respect the commitment to the read and believe it is important to go with your read, I can't imagine me investing 70+ BB into a pot pre-flop with AQo (or even TT) as caller or raiser.

3) I have no idea why watching LJ catch cards in bloggaments tilts Hoy, I have no idea why my catching cards playing cash tilts LJ. It's not the 1st time it's happened probably won't be last, shouldn't you both be used to seeing it? Maybe it's a NY lawyer thing to not adapt to this?

Chat below is from last night's DS Omaha, Lee held 2d3s7dQs

*** FLOP *** [As 4h Ks]

TomSkyler bets 300
Lee Watkinson raises to 1,200
TomSkyler raises to 3,900
Lee Watkinson calls 2,700
*** TURN *** [As 4h Ks] [7s]
Lee Watkinson checks
TomSkyler bets 2,230, and is all in

Dealer: TomSkyler shows two pair, Aces and Kings

Dealer: Lee Watkinson shows a flush, Ace high

Dealer: Lee Watkinson wins the pot (12,560) with a flush, Ace high

TomSkyler (Observer): way to push and pray Lee

Lee Watkinson: ty'

TomSkyler (Observer): you were 35%, why not Re-Re-raise?

BustingYourNuts (Observer): lol

I share to point out even if you have won a bracelet at $10k buy-in Omaha someone may tell you that you misplayed the hand.

Lee is actually 42% to win hand on flop, after TomSkyler re-raises he is committed to call turn bet if flush hits and he is holding set, Lee can fold if board pairs turn. Not pushing flop makes sense to me.

Lee knocked me out in 6th (4 paid), all in pre my AsKsAcKd lost to his Ah5h7c8h.

AAKQ would have won. so sad.

Tuesday is Bodog Blogger Tourney Day

Tuesday at 9:05 ET is the Bodog Blogger's Poker tournament.

Tournament Name: “Online Poker Blogger Tournament” at Bodog
Entry Password: bodogblogger
Buy-in + fee: $10 + $1
Starting Chips: 3000 (Double Stack)
Payout: Standard Bodog payout structure
Bonuses: T$109 bonus paid to the top 5 finishers.

The later start time will make it easier for me to get home from work and play.

Which leads me to a question prompted by a Hoy post:

Am I the only one allowed to play online poker from work?

2 of last 3 companies I have worked for have allowed me to get in a few hands at lunch or in evening which is a nice way for me to kill some time while waiting for a simulation or place and route of an FPGA to run. (Hardware engineer techno-speak) Common element of the two companies is a VP of Engineering that was asked to leave the Barbary Coast for card-counting at their BlackJack tables.

Missed the 1st post BBT MATH, winning would have tilted me due to it not including TOC seat, playing may have tilted me, but mainly I was tired from fighting a cold so I slept through start.

Berrian caught a pass late in MNF game giving me a fantasy football victory by 1 yard. I think that is more enjoyable than winning by a large margin as 1st game of season I beat the same team by 7 yards and opponent was whiny about .7 margin then.

Weekend recap

Big Game - jammed into race lost. JJ < AQ

Skill Game - Kings under lose to 776 in stud capped betting on 3rd st. all in with 1st call on 4th. Later I was short at the bubble UTG I took on race with a priced in luckbunny, I am bubble boy.

Thepokergrind bounty - AQs < KQo

I did have a dream hand in Omaha Cash:

FullTiltPoker Game #4517212242: Table Capertino - $0.50/$1 - Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 1:23:41 ET - 2007/12/16
Seat 1: tycoonish ($40)
Seat 2: primemutton ($95.50)
Seat 3: ammo656 ($62.05)
Seat 4: Raimuna ($96.50)
Seat 5: DOOGIE44 ($31.75)
Seat 6: hoopref71 ($98)
Seat 7: matteo85 ($27.10)
Seat 8: chenfeng li ($26.50)
Seat 9: bayne_s ($146.90)
DOOGIE44 has 5 seconds left to act
DOOGIE44 posts the small blind of $0.50
hoopref71 posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bayne_s [5d 8h 8c 7d]
matteo85 calls $1
chenfeng li folds
bayne_s calls $1
tycoonish folds
primemutton raises to $5.50
ammo656 folds
ammo656 stands up
Raimuna calls $5.50
DOOGIE44 calls $5
chazen66 adds $50
hoopref71 folds
matteo85 calls $4.50
bayne_s calls $4.50
*** FLOP *** [6d 2h 8s] Top Set and OESD on a rainbow flop w00t
DOOGIE44 checks
matteo85 checks
bayne_s bets $28.50
primemutton has 15 seconds left to act
primemutton calls $28.50
Raimuna has 15 seconds left to act
Raimuna calls $28.50
DOOGIE44 folds
matteo85 folds
*** TURN *** [6d 2h 8s] [4c]
bayne_s bets $112.90, and is all in
primemutton folds
primemutton adds $38.50
Raimuna calls $62.50, and is all in
bayne_s shows [5d 8h 8c 7d]
Raimuna shows [5s 4d 3c 9h]
Uncalled bet of $50.40 returned to bayne_s
*** RIVER *** [6d 2h 8s 4c] [3d]
bayne_s shows a straight, Eight high
Raimuna shows a straight, Six high
bayne_s wins the pot ($236) with a straight, Eight high
Raimuna is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $239 Rake $3
Board: [6d 2h 8s 4c 3d]
Seat 1: tycoonish didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: primemutton folded on the Turn
Seat 3: ammo656 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Raimuna (button) showed [5s 4d 3c 9h] and lost with a straight, Six high
Seat 5: DOOGIE44 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: hoopref71 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: matteo85 folded on the Flop
Seat 8: chenfeng li didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: bayne_s showed [5d 8h 8c 7d] and won ($236) with a straight, Eight high

Lesson as always in Full Ring Omaha, you really want to hold the nutz or draw to the nutz to get involved in a large pot.

WPBT Trip Report Lasting Impressions

1.) While having breakfast late Friday night with Chad he commented that he had lost $40 or $60 but was quite pleased with his game because his cards and the opportunities presented were so dismal that it felt like he had won. One of my poker goals for 2008 will be to develop a similar attitude towards game.

2.) Sunday Night playing cash I did a poor job protecting hands, I probably folded 1 winning hand and in general I do a poor job extracting value on river with marginal to good hands. It was sweet to collect a piece of a bad beat jackpot ($140). Small stacking of Smokkee with boat over flush was also sweet.

3.) I was distracted while playing Saturday and Sunday, in future I need to clear my head or get up from table.

4.) Blogger weekends make me laugh.

Full Tilt's Server had an outage at 9:45 Pacific so no Omaha DS

Instead I had to send an email

Dear support,

I cash in DS Omaha 40% of time with 20% 1sts. Please credit my account with profit loss due to outage. I would calculate $161 is fair.

bayne_s

I busted out of riverchasers when I ran QQ into AJ and AK, Ace hit flop, turn and river then the server crashed as I finally had proff that there are 9 Aces in deck during blogaments.

Big Game Sunday is my last chance for TOC seat, while winning seat I will play HORSE. My Hold'em game is a little off recently since I have been spending more time playing Omaha and O8. I am still dead money during Razz, Stud and Stud8 but at least during Razz I get to bring in half the hands.

Two Chances Left for TOC

Either I donked off chips to LJ or lost as little as I could when I flopped pair of Aces against her 99 but failed to raise her on flop. Either I win pot with jam or go out when she decides there are only 2 overs on flop no one would call her UTG raise holding an Ace or Jack. I nursed short stack for a long time and JD Schellnutt was chipleader to my immediate right and took great liberties in stealing my blinds so 3rd orbit he raised I had a K and jammed against his Ace and sucked out

Along the way I got this comment from donkette:
Donkette: you know he's calling
Donkette: he calls everything
Donkette: with nothing

I had pocket Aces so I hope she was complaining about earlier hand.

To my great joy I eliminated donkette with 88 > AA.

My string of winning races and sucking out sets with underpairs came to an abrupt end 3 handed when my KQ flopped ahead of Jordan's 33 but river 3 gave him the resuck. A few hands later 99 goes down to Emptyman's J7s and I am out.

Congratulations to Emptyman for taking down the Mookie and for a display of cardrackery that even Astin, LJ or I would be ashamed of.

Also cashed in the Dookie and eliminated Mookie for banner bounty making for a good evening overall.

I went out 13th in Omaha DS when my nut straight after turn was jammed by 3rd straight but river flush cost me the pot. Was looking at my stats in the 0045 Omaha DS today and realized today was my 16th entry with 6 cashes and 1 pro bounty collected. Cashes have been 3 1sts, 1 2nd and 2 4ths and impact on my 120 day tourney ROI is a return to positive (5%).

Tournament: Riverchasers Online Poker Tour
When: Every Thursday. 21:00 ET
Game: NLHE Deepstack
Buyin: $10+1
Password: Riverchasers

Tournament: Blogger Big Game
When: Sunday, December 16th, 21:30 ET
Game: NLHE SuperstackBuyin: $69+6 or Tier II token
Password: donkey

Lee Escapes

After my Bodonkey set under set exit I went home from work and opted to finish reading the book I had bought at Las Vegas Airport for trip home plus wait. I thought John Grisham's "The Innocent Man" was a weak novel as I read the 1st half of the book because the story seemed absurd. Halfway through the book I reached a section with pictures of the "characters". I quickly paused to go to front of book and realized I was reading non-fiction. I finished the book around 9:30 so I decided to enter my favorite tourney since Lee was registered as well. I got to final table and saw my buddy at the table but sadly I failed to eliminate him again.

Sadly I only held 2940 of the 105k chips when FT play began but I was patient, picked my spots and possible exhibited some qualities that some would label luckboxery and built my stack.

To find myself as chip leader after bubble broke. I got to heads up and

Full Tilt Poker Game #4476232427: Double Stack $50 + $5 (33839240), Table 4 - 500/1000 - Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 3:35:45 ET - 2007/12/12

Seat 2: bayne_s (74,150)

Seat 7: allinnoouts (33,850)

bayne_s posts the small blind of 500

allinnoouts posts the big blind of 1,000

The button is in seat #2

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to bayne_s [9c Ts Tc 2s] I am such a sooted donk

bayne_s raises to 2,000

allinnoouts raises to 6,000

bayne_s calls 4,000

*** FLOP *** [Qs 7c 8s] That's a lot of outs

allinnoouts bets 12,000

bayne_s raises to 48,000

allinnoouts calls 15,850, and is all in

bayne_s shows [9c Ts Tc 2s]

allinnoouts shows [2d Kd Kh 9s]

Uncalled bet of 20,150 returned to bayne_s

*** TURN *** [Qs 7c 8s] [9d] More outs

*** RIVER *** [Qs 7c 8s 9d] [6s] w00t

bayne_s shows a flush, Queen high

allinnoouts shows a pair of Kings

bayne_s wins the pot (67,700) with a flush, Queen high

allinnoouts stands up

bayne_s stands up

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot 67,700 Rake 0Board: [Qs 7c 8s 9d 6s]

Seat 2: bayne_s (small blind) showed [9c Ts Tc 2s] and won (67,700) with a flush, Queen high

Seat 7: allinnoouts (big blind) showed [2d Kd Kh 9s] and lost with a pair of Kings

WPBT report (Day 2 remainder)

After dinner we returned to the Venetian for Final Table action.

Congrats to the Rooster for taking down the WPBT!

After tourney falstaff, RecessRampage, Fuel, CC and later Blinders played some cheap Craps at Casino Royale. We got to see Recess tie the world record twice for fewest rolls as shooter but overall made some money at the tables. Main regret was that I did not study Blinder's betting system to learn if their is a weak/tight approach to craps.

Would write more today but it's time to head home. As I wrote I was playing the Bodog Blogger's tourney at Bodog Poker. I raise from CO with QQ, PokahDave min re-raises from SB. Flop is KQJ and I get all in only to learn Dave has KK (I run so bad). I hate that Bodog does not even allow me to type "nh" because I am that quickly an observer!

WPBT report

Being my 1st winter blogger event I got to meet many bloggers for 1st time.

Arrived at MGM Friday night quite stuck from craps and I signed up to join one of the 3 mixed games, there was a seat available at a $1/$2 NL table where Schaubs, Grubby and LJ were playing and no cash table rule was lifted. (This is now also a Bayne rule as no amount of cash is worth the drama). I folded a lot early while looking at crappy non-connected cards and observing table. I limited my starting range to Ace face, suited Ace, connectors and KK since the table had a lot of 6 people saw flops and there were not many pre-flop folds of an Ace. I proceeded to go on a fairly nice run, hand order may be wrong but I believe it was:

1) limp called LJ with AJ UTG and flopped Jack to win coin flip.
2) picked up KK in BB against Schaubs when he was on a hammer raise and flopped top set
3) reraised LJ with KK and picked up a smaller pot with KK against LJ pocket pair when I turned set but board had 4 hearts and LJ was heartless.
4) I live straddled, Grubby minraised with 99 I woke up with KK and re-raised and called Grubby's jam and KK held.
5) Reraised pre, everyone folded showed KK.
6) LJ greedily eyed my stack, Grubby raised EP, I called from CO with JT, LJ called from SB with KQ. Flop was KQ small rainbow, it was check around, 9 hit turn and I made a pot sized pet since a club flush was possible and LJ called river was club and I got 1st text message from LJ.
7) I hit another OESD against non blogger on turn.
8) I flopped an OESD with 2 overs against non-blogger Brit, called pot size bet on turn and MISSED a straight draw. But did hit top pair, called his all in and rivered trips.
9) played 54o since I was en fuego and turned trip 5s.
10) I raised Grubby's BB without looking at my cards, flop was Ace and too smalls and I C-Bet after discovering I indeed held Ace.
11) Watched LJ flop 2nd set against old Canadian non-blogger at table that saw 1/2 flops. Flop was also 3 clubs and old Canadian had flopped 2nd flush with QcTc but LJ pulled out double up with river boat.
12) I picked up KK in BB and LJ had raised to $12 UTG+1. Any Ace SB had called so I re-raised to $50 to clear out Ace rags. LJ jammed and I kept my streak of never folding KK alive and it held despite A Q J on board.

I got up soon afterward because I had about half the money on the table.

I then talked to waflles and watched the Iggy vs. Katitude Roshambo match (if it was boxing fight would have been stoppped Iggy was owned).

After breakfast with Schaubs, Zeem and Chad I cabbed back to Bally's walked by a craps table and played through 2 shooters run and got to bed an hour and a half later unstuck for day.

Saturday I watched Grubby's round of craps tourney to also try to gain some insights into strategy behind a craps tourney.

I had the misfortune to be the 1st shooter when my round began, rules were no dice setting just pick up and fire. Australia does not allow dice setting and in my 10 days at Crown I had determined how to grab dice and throw with only 2 7s a side rather than 4 if I got dice coming out straight. As 1st shooter I rolled for 12 mins and built my 2500 starting stack to 5200 but others at my end of table had been pressing more aggressively. When final 3 roll stoppage occurred I was sitting 5th but 2nd-4th stacks got to act after me. I bet large enough that for them to match meant risking dropping out of top 4 as well and 7 on roll killed me. My tourney competitors tried to talk me into sticking around for cash craps but I headed to Venetian.

B.W.o.P was kind enough to present me with a Ruckbox T-Shirt, The size jump from 140 lbs to me is a lot for an smaller chica to visualize so it became a bounty rather than worn. My read was spot on that opponent held As with out another spade on KQ7 all spade flop. Unfortunately my AK was in trouble when unidentified card was an Ace.

I suffered more craps beats with weak then had a fine dinner with Fuel, Schaubs, Alan and LJ.

to be continued

Vegas

I got home last night and fired up Riverchasers. Was a bit distracted because I gave the daughter her allowance a day early due to Las Vegas. Wife reacted claiming she "did not know I was going to Las Vegas". I attempted to defend by reciting conversation that led up to her suggesting I go this weekend. Suddenly much to my surprise the daughter jumped in attacking her mother's forgetfulness. I think the "for the last two weeks that's all we heard about was poker and Las Vegas" that got me completely off the hook.

Flight is in 3 hours.

Rules for trip:
1) Pictures allowed.
2) No one adds up the amount of money I have wagered on craps table at any given time. Only a little bit was pulled out of pocket and dealers put the rest of it out there as roll progressed.

Nice work PirateLawyer

I overplayed the LJ after 1st break in Mookie. In my defense I waited until my J9 had connected a little with flop before getting chips in but ran it into a set. At least night was net positive when MiamiDon lost his last horse when StB went out in 4th. Congrats to PirateLawyer for taking it down.

Drunken BuddyDank Radio was again quite spectacular. There is nothing quite like the drunken uni-baller hating on everyone's game! I just hope that Chad turns up the temperature on the hot water heater before washing the plates from tonight's live remote.

I am still slated for a Friday arrival in Las Vegas, daughter and I always watch Survivor together so unless I hop real late flight Thursday I'll see everyone Friday.

Option 4 wins

There was never a chance the daughter was staying home alone.
1) She was 3 months old before she slept in her own crib at night rather than in bassinet next to wife's side of bed in master bedroom.
2) Wife slept so lightly that she heard daughter's slightest wimper so I never had sleep disturbed.
3) 1st 2 nights sleeping in crib the wife was asleep on floor by morning in the kid's room.
4) Daughter was 2 1/2 before wife trusted anyone but me to watch her.
Daughter did enjoy Bee Movie despite protesting seeing it.

Wife is a good mom even if she is a bit overprotective.

Wife was also tired after the movie and went to sleep, I got in a little poker but went card dead late in Omaha DS. Managed to go broke all in pre with AKTT ds against QQQJ ns. JJJ flop was a nice touch.

Las Vegas arrival is still slated for Friday afternoon. Odds are high that I will get impatient and hop an earlier flight.

See everyone at Mookie tonight.

Fourteen Years

Tuesday marks my 14th anniversary! Over/under set by my brother was 3.5. My friends since college were stunned I got married. Only explanation for marriage lasting this long is my wife has a lot of patience and has thankfully come to realization that nuanced tones mean nothing to me.

Celebration choices are:
1) Play a Poker tournament.
Day of week: Tuesday Nights
Start time: 8:35pm ET
Tournament Name: “Online Poker Blogger Tournament” at Bodog
Entry Password: bodogblogger
Buy-in + fee: $10 + $1
Starting Chips: 3000 (Double Stack)
Payout: Standard Bodog payout structure
Bonuses:T$109 bonus paid to the top 5 finishers.
T$11 bonus paid to the 5 players that are eliminated prior to payouts.

2) Fund the wife a poker account so she can play too!

3) Take wife out to dinner and trust the 13 year old daughter to be okay home alone.

4) Take both out for dinner and a movie.

I went out middle of the pack in MATH Monday, Cmitch chose to steal my blinds with T4s and of course rivered a flush. Lesson for BBT2 participants is no matter how weak a starting hand you have you will out draw me.

Waiting for the right situation

The very 1st hand of Lunchtime Omadraw today:


Full Tilt Poker Game #4380489772: Table Pyle - $1/$2 - Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 15:04:47 ET - 2007/12/03
Seat 1: chippotte ($195)
Seat 3: bxbx ($121)
Seat 4: pfino ($299.45)
Seat 5: Lee Watkinson ($190)
Seat 6: TsubakiSanjuro ($133.70)
Seat 7: bayne_s ($80)
Seat 8: xxxJasonxxx ($44.80)
Seat 9: tripelxxx ($164.80)
Lee Watkinson posts the small blind of $1
TsubakiSanjuro has 5 seconds left to act
TsubakiSanjuro is sitting out
TsubakiSanjuro has timed out
bayne_s posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bayne_s [8h 5s 7d 6d]
xxxJasonxxx folds
TsubakiSanjuro has returned
tripelxxx calls $2
chippotte folds
bxbx calls $2
pfino folds
Lee Watkinson calls $1
bayne_s checks
*** FLOP *** [5d 4d 3h]
Lee Watkinson checks
bayne_s bets $8
tripelxxx folds
bxbx folds
Lee Watkinson has 15 seconds left to act
Lee Watkinson raises to $32
bayne_s raises to $78, and is all in
Lee Watkinson calls $46
bayne_s shows [8h 5s 7d 6d]
Lee Watkinson shows [4c 7s 9d 6c]

I am sure Lee only got me all in due to donkish level stakes.


Brick Brick on the redraws.
49.27% to win on flop
47.56% of time chop

Since this is best situation I am likely to see over lunch do I get up after the miss.

MATH du jour is 6 Max.
We'll see if if one of the many aggro-donks rivers a 4 outer on me tonight.