Taking down Antowain

I took another trip to Michigan and decided to check out my old playing grounds, the Palace Poker in Flint, Michigan. I flew in on a Saturday afternoon flight and didnt need to work until Monday. I spent most of Saturday and Sunday at the tables. I lost my entire buy in of $200 on Saturday, but made it all back on Sunday cashing out $507.

Best Session of the Year

Its been a rough Poker year for me. Lots of bad beats and suck outs early in the year. I kept to my game and feel like Im finally back now. I have 3 winning months in a row, but still a little down for the year. I dont know where the year really went, but hopefully the second half of the year will be back to more normal games.

I felt I couldnt lose early on. My first hand in the big blind I had 83 and flopped a boat with a flop of 338. No real action, but its nice to get lucky sometime. I started noticing people playing any 3. Doty called a big raise with 3♣4♣ and rivered 2 pair to crack pocket kings!

I started playing on the second table and took down four people's entire stack. My first victim was a loose Asian guy. I have A♣Q♣ and spike an Ace on the flop. He calls me down to the river and never shows. I figured he had Ace rag. Then my very next hand I have pocket 10♥10♠. The same guy pushes over the top of my raise and shows A♦5♦. I take all his chips!

I felt another guy with A♠K♠. Everyone limps around and I have A♠K♠ in the small blind. The flop comes Q♠8♦3♠. One guy bets $10 and another re-raises to $25. I smooth call with my nut flush draw. The turn is a 10♥ and he bets another $31. I call again. The river is a J♦ making my nut straight. I push him all in for his remaining $40. He shows top set of Q♦Q♣s! I dodged a bullet there! Sometimes its better to be lucky then good.

A few minutes later I have pocket A♥A♣ under the gun. Doty calls and another guy pushes all-in. I call and Doty calls. The guy shows A♦K♠ and Doty never shows. I spike my set on the flop! and take both their stacks!

I move to the main table and get pocket K♣K♦, A♦A♥ and Q♣Q♠. They all hold up each time. It's nice when the odds work out in your favor. Its just a matter to time before it catches up with me. I am up over $400 in about 5 hours. That is $80/hr and better then average. I decide to leave a little after midnight.

Poker Stats

Cracking Pocket Aces!

Its been a while since I won at Poker (five sessions...just a really bad run), but last night was a +$500 night! I knew at some point I would start winning again and it would be with avengence. It could have been another really early night, after I picked up pocket Kings in the Big Blind. A guy in early position limps in for $2 and a few other call. I bump it to $25 and he pushes all-in for over $500. He had me covered, since I just started and I had about $200 in-front of me. I consider for a second if he could have pocket Aces and if he would have limped in like that. I put him on AK and call. The flop spikes a King and I throw down my top set!. He shows me pocket Aces! Whoops, bad call, but he should not have slow played. I might have folded pre-flop if he raised and re-raised my re-raise. Instead he played weak and became week, a classic poker mistake.

A few minutes later I get pocket Aces under the gun so I raise to $20. Only the guy to my left calls. The flop is K-10-3 and I bet $30. The guy re-raises me to $70 and I smooth call. The turn is a Jack and I quickly check. He checks! The river is a rag like a 8 and I figure I have to be good, so I value bet $50. The guy pushes all-in for another $150! It seems like an over bet that he doesn't want me to call, so I call! He says "you must be good I have a king.." and show my Aces. Now my stack is close to $700...

I play a little more hitting a set of 444s and getting pocket Kings 2 more times before deciding to call it quits after about 4 hours of play. I cashed out $735, that is about $133/hr. A very fortunate session for me and I can say, "yes it is better to be lucky then good." And when you are lucky you better be good by quiting while you are still ahead.

Current Stats

Rocky Start to 2010

It's been a rocky start for 2010 for my Poker playing.  2009 was a pretty good year all the way thru until November when I had my first losing month in over a year.  I managed 3 losses and 2 winning sessions.  I dont think I played badly, just ran into to many gamblers and bad luck. I have always said that my game really requires that I not run into any bad luck. This month was to much of that.  Generally, I was always ahead and they just sucked out on me.  

During my last session of the year I was getting more lucky then normal.  My rags were hitting! Open enders with 89 and 64, hitting 2 pair with 53, etc..  I usually dont like to play those hands, but I kept noticing that when I folded them, they kept hitting.  I noticed 3 times on the button that my rags were hitting 2-pair every time.  I usually dont play the button with that crap, but decided why the heck not.  Sometimes when you are hot, you just have to playing any 2 hands.  Just be careful, it doesnt last for ever and never become cocky.  This game has a tendacy to make you humble when you least suspect it.

The last session of the year I booked a $300 win.  I'll take it and hopefully the rest of the year is more steady.

Current Stats

Poker Stats Last 4 Years

Below is a summary chart for my poker stats for the past 4 years. Actually, started playing 3.25 years ago. I loss allot of money for the first 6 months and its been a nice steady rise since then. I have constantly made money at poker for the last 2.5 years.

I have also included my four largest expenses for the year. Unfortunately, my biggest expense is taxes! The lesson here is to learn to minimize your taxes, it is usually your biggest expense.

New Year's Eve - Final Session of the Year

Well, it was a good final session of the year for me and a good start to the new year. It was a nice slow and steady climb, just how I like it. I called a few bluffs and made a few hands to slowly built my stack up. I never got involved with any large hands and before you knew it my stack was over $555. Nicole was running hot! and just kept felting everyone with her rags. Luckily, I was able to stay out of her way and she paid me off 3 out of 4 times we played together.

My New Year's Resolution is to Gamble less and play like a machine. This doesn't not mean no more Poker. It just means to avoid taking to many chances and long shots without proper pot odds. Many people equate Poker to gambling, but for me it's not gambling how I play. I like to say, I play with a slight edge ("only the nuts..") and like most casino table games, in the long run, I cant lose, because mathematically I am always ahead I will stay ahead in the long run.

Here are some stats and charts for my 2009 year in review:

Here is a chart by month. I managed to have just one losing month in November and the rest were profitable. My monthly average is right at $600/month. The way I see it, I make just enough to pay my rent or pay for my girl friend expenses.. I made a bit less in 2009 compared to 2008. My average in 2008 was $692/month, but I played more in 2008 when I lost my primary job for 2 months.

Here is a cumulative chart with each session mapped out. In total, I played 87 sessions in 2009. This compares to 108 sessions in 2008. That is about 1 in 4 days playing poker or about 24% of the days in 2009 playing the game. My average winning per session is about $82.64 which is better then my 2008 stat of $76.94 per session. As you can see I don't win all the time, but its a slow and steady rise like a stock. It doesn't always go up, but in the long run it is trending up and I ended the year at my 12 month high of $7,190! My 2008 winnings were $8309, but I played 21 more days during my unemployment in 2008.

Here is a chart by location. In total, I played at 20 different locations. 13 of those locations were profitable and 7 locations were deposits for me, but nothing larger then $895.

Poker Game Robbery

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Catered food, high-profile players and thousands of dollars on the table set the scene for an armed robbery in Southwest Austin.

Sources said gunmen broke into a high-stakes poker game around 11 p.m. Dec. 9. Wearing masks, they entered the apartment, assaulted some of the players and then took off with more than $20,000 in cash.

APD confirms there was an aggravated robbery at the apartment that night involving two suspects and the investigation is still open.

"From what I understand, investigators are at a stalemate," said Commander Chris Noble with APD's organized crime division. "The victim is not being cooperative."

But, Mike Lavigne, the Texas State Director for the Poker Players Alliance , blames antiquated laws for the robbers' success and the unsolved crimes.

"A lot of times people don't even call the cops if these places get busted by a thief because it's not legal for them to be necessarily running that room in the first place," Lavigne said.

Poker becomes illegal in Texas when the House makes a cut. In the case of these underground games, poker hosts can pocket hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for putting together the events. The nights usually involve catered food, free massages and, in some cases, extra security.

"It's not seen as a crime in most parts of the world," said Lavigne. "It just happens to be the leftovers from some old laws in Texas. It's not clear what's legal or illegal in our state right now."

Participating in an illegal poker game is a Class A misdemeanor. But, even with the minor criminal penalty, police said players and homeowners are reluctant to report an attack or a robbery.

"There's no incentive, if you will, for the victim to cooperate with the police," said Noble.

Cooperating with police involves identifying the players, which will then lead to an investigation - minor questioning, at the very least. And, that will likely kill a house's customer base.

"These players don't consider themselves criminals," said Lavigne. "They just want to be able to play with their friends in an environment without being hassled."

Tim Kelly, who founded the Austin Poker Alliance , is another avid fan of the game. Kelly, however, only participates in legal games and often sets up several tables at his own house.

"We'll fill up the place," Kelly said. "But, it's secure. When they come into the house there is a set time when registration is basically over and you're not really going to get into the house unless you break in."

Kelly adds that many of the players are licensed to carry concealed handguns.

"If they do break in, the criminals are risking their lives," said Kelly.

Kelly agrees that poker laws should be loosened in Texas, but said defying the laws in place now is too great a risk.

"I won't affiliate with it simply because of the danger that you're asking about," he said, referring to games where the house gets a cut. "I won't have anything to do with it."

There were similar robberies of poker games in Houston and Dallas in the last month. In both cases, the robbers were caught.

"You don't know what you're walking into until you walk in," said Lavigne. "You know, the fact of the matter is, eventually someone is going to come through that door with a gun - whether it's a cop or a robber."

In the case of the Gaines Ranch Apartments, APD said there are still no suspects in custody and they are working on getting more information from the victim.

Hit and Run Session

Had a quick session at the Mobile. Had not played there in six months. I had a bad session the night before. I built my stack to $600 and then donked it all off. I hit two pair with 8♥9♥ suited and could let it go when I guy kept pushing with the nut straight with J10! The flop was 789...

My 2nd round in the big blind I look down at pocket Queens. The action before had one guy under the gun raise to $10. Another guy re-raise to $20. Mike calls and a 4th guy, maniac, calls the $20 and so I re-raise to $100. The guy under the gun folds, he said he had pocket 99s. The 2nd guy goes all-in for $113 with A♦K♠. Mike calls and a maniac calls suggesting pot odds. The pot is now over $400 with 3 all-ins. The flop was 9 high and I take it down. My re-raise pushed out the only hand that would have beat me... Now 3 guys have been busted out and my stack is up to over $500.

Shortly later two more people cash out and the game ends as we are 3 handed. I was kinda glad to take the money and run. Anytime you can win over $300 in less then one hour you better take it! I was on a bit of a heater hitting pocket 10s and Jacks, all with-in this first hour of play and they all held up.

Current Stats

Shreveport Poker Rooms

Went to Shreveport, LA for the holidays. Also took a little tour of East TX. I manged to get a speeding ticket in tiny city of Rusk, TX. I was clocked going 52 in a 35 zone. The highway changed from 70 to 35 within the city limits and I was in the process of slowing down when the cop pegged me. Hopefully, I can explain to the judge and get a warning. I didnt even pass the 35mph sign when he pegged me.

Anyways, there are plenty of Casinos in Shreveport but none in Texas. The only Casinos that host a real poker room are Eldorado Resort and Harrah's Horseshoe in Bossier City, just across the river.

During this trip I only played at Eldorado's. My last trip to Shreveport was in August and played at Horseshoe. I lost $90 back then. I heard the game was better at Eldorado's so I focused my efforts there. The trip was a success and I made $575 total.

My first night I managed to play like a donkie early and lose $200. I rebuy for another $200 and get my stack back down to $60. I triple the $60 to $180 with pocket kings and 2 callers pre-flop. I win a few more small hands to build my stack to back to around $220. Then I hit pocket Aces under the gun. I raise to $20 and get 2 callers. A guy in late position re-raise me to $100 and I push all-in for my $220. Everyone else folds and he calls with pocket Kings! I win the race and doubled up to over $475! Im back "in the Black" and in the profit zone just like that...

My 2nd night was Christmas night and it was off to the races from the start! I cracked a set of kings with J♥9♥. Then cracked pocket Aces with J♦9♦ suited again to the same guy. The guy kept slow playing this big pairs and I kept cracking them my rags. He told me that I should never fold J9. He had Aces again later on in the evening and I cracked them with 5♦7♦ suited. I chased a flush and hit, on the river. It was just one of those nights where the rags were hitting.

My last big hand was pocket Queens. I made a big re-raise pre-flop and got two callers. The flop was J♦10♥3♠. I bet $75 on the flop and get one old guy calling me. The turn is an 8♦ and I bet $100. He smooth calls me. The river is a 9♦ and I push all-in for my remaining $100 with my straight. He calls and shows 2-pair 8♠10♠! Damm that was lucky for me...

Current Stats

Biggest One Day Session All Year!

Friday night was my biggest night at Poker all year! I cashed out $900 even and netted $700. I looked back and I haven't made that much in one night, all year long! The amazing part is that I'm not to sure how it all happen. I did log all the big hands on twitter, but looking back it's hard to remember the big pots! I will check my logs now and try to recall the exact amounts.

The night started out slow for me and I didn't win a hand for 2.5hrs. I remember getting my stack down to around $120. I had lots of small pocket pairs early on and could not play most of them to a big raise. I finally got 2 black Aces and doubled up thru Nicole after 3.5hrs of play. At 4.5 hrs into the session I double up again playing A8 and hitting 2 pair. I only had about $220 in front of me, so basically I got back my blinds and then some...

After 5hrs of waiting, I finally hit my first set of 444s. It was a 7-way pot and the flop was 42K. A new guy bets out $35 and Nicole calls. I re-raise to $100 and both call. The turn is a 7 and they both check to me and I push all in for about $120. The new guy calls and Nicole folds. He shows AK and I take down the $540 pot! The guy said that he would have folded if I had more money. In other words, he was willing to give me $220 with top pair, top kicker... Thanks man, Ill take your money.

About 1:20hr later I get pocket kings and re-raise Nicole's $22 raise. She is now short stack and pushes in for another $75. She had 2♦ 4♦ suited and hits a flush! That knocks my stack down to around $380. Nicole proceeds to give my money away to everyone else at the table. As a side note, Nicole's stack was up over $1500 at one point, but it didn't last long as she literally plays every hand she is dealt and donated it away to everyone.

At 7hrs of play I hit a set of 999s and take down a modest pot of $50. Twenty minutes later I get pocket Kings again and felt Tiger. He had raised $15 and I re-raised him another $35. He calls and the flop is Jack high. Tiger bets $45 and I push him all-in for another $150. He calls and never shows. I assume he had AJ and take his stack. My stack is now at $600.

Ten minutes later I have A♥7♥. I call from the small blind and the flop is 6♥7♠8♥. Bobby bets out $12 and I call. The turn is a 5♥ of hearts and I bet out $25. Bobby re-raises be to $45. I smooth call looking for a straight flush. The river is a 2♦ and I decided to trap and check. Bobby bets $50 and and I realize I have a blocker to the straight flush, and push all-in. Bobby instant calls and shows a straight with 7♠4♠. My Ace high flush takes it down! Now my stack is around $750.

Twenty minutes later (8hrs into my session) I hit a set of 333s. A short stack slowed played and it costed him his entire stack. The flop was 723 and he said he had an over pair. Now I have around $850 in front of me. I play a bit more building my stack over $900 and decided to cash out when I got back to $900. I stuck to my plan and went home very happy with myself...

Current Stats

Wild Thanksgiving Poker Session

What happens in Omaha when a short stack flops a flush draw, Billy flops a wrap, Worm flops the nut flush draw and Anthony flops the nuts on the button?  You get one huge pot!

It was a wild session of poker last week.  I decided to give Omaha a try.  Got down $800 first night and made it back Friday night.  Check out this $1100 pot!

The Laws of Probability Finally Kick In

It's been a tough November for me.  After a record October and six winning sessions in a row, I went on a bad run.  I had 3 losing sessions in a row, for a total loss of $800.  I wasn't playing badly, but had plenty of bad beats and suck outs, when I was way ahead pre-flop.  I think my biggest mistake was not folding when I was knew I was beat.  Folding is the hardest part of the game, especially when there is nothing obvious to be afraid of on the board.

Anyways, it finally broke on Saturday night when I finally started hitting my sets and taking it down!  I did have to fold Aces once after my continuation bet was re-raised $100 by Mr. Cho.  The board was 7J10 and Mr. Cho said he flopped the nuts.  

I had two red Aces again that night and some new guy flopped top set of Queens on me.  Same thing, he came over the top of my continuation bet 3x, but this time I was stubborn and refused to fold my Aces.  Luckily for me the turn was a King of hearts and that slowed him down.  He said he had put me on Kings or Aces.  The turn was a King of heart and he checked, the river was another heart and so I had the nuts.  It was a suck out, but the best hand did win...

At the end of the night I was up over $700.  I cashed out exactly $700 after using up my white chips on some speculative hands.  I had a net profit of $500 for the night and $300 for the weekend.  I will take that win and hopefully the laws of statistics finally start coming around.  I cant lose in the long run since I only play the best hands.  I'm like a Casino, I get my money eventually.. LOL...

Current Stats

Giving Some Back.

Well, I managed to lose my stack last night. I should have known that I couldn't win, when the only hands that I won with were rags and all my premium hands didn't hold up. I had 6 straight winning sessions, so it was not to unexpected for me to lose. That is how poker is sometimes. Some days you just cant win.

I started out fast building my stack up quickly. I had my roommates Jonathan and Rachel playing at another table last night too. I overheard them talking about King-6 and how it was someone's favorite hand. Well, I'm in the big blind and what do you know I have King 6. Well the flop was K108. The turn was a 6 and river a 6, I just boated. Nicole was in the hand with me and paid me off. Now I am up about $70.

Black Aces Cracked: Not five minutes later and I look down at two black Aces. I'm in middle position and raise $20. A Latino guy calls and Nicole calls. The flop is 8810, both of the callers check to me and I bet $50. Both callers now call again. The turn is a Jack. Both players check again, so I think for a moment and check. The river is another Jack and the Latino goes all in for around $90. Nicole folds and I think for a minute. What the heck does this guy have? I know he is a tight player. So I fold my Aces. He shows quad 8888s and asked me if I had Queens, I flip over my Aces! I'm happy I loss the minimum (which was $70 my winnings with K6..), but that was a sick hand!

20 minutes later I get a small blind special, 10-4 suited. It was a limped pot and I turned the flush. One guy had top set and Nicole hit a straight on the river to pay me off. That made my stack back up to around $270 again.

The Bad laid down, but right move: Blair comes to play at our table and she has around $100. He plays pretty tight so I try to respect her bets. Well she is in early position and goes all-in for $100. Mr. Cho thinks for a while and calls. I look down at pocket Jacks, think for a while and fold em. Everyone else folds. I figure I could only beat pocket 10s and with Mr. Cho in there with maybe a big Ace, I cant beat 2 hands. Well, Blair had pocket 10s and Mr. Cho also had Jacks! Blair hit her set on the flop and takes down the entire pot. I guess I made the right move in the long run, but it was sick. I should have known at this time my good hands just weren't going to hold up.

Small blind special bust : So I have 56 in the small blind and everyone limps in. The flop is 347, rainbow, I just flopped the nuts! I bet $8 into the $8 pot. I get 2 callers. The turn is a 5 and I bet $20 to see where Im at. Ed calls and a new guy re-raises to $60. I call $40 more. The river is a King and I check and Ed checks. The guy bets $100. I hope he only has a 6 for a chop and I call. He says, "the nuts..," shows 68 and I lose about $170. The moral to the story is to protect your hand dont let those gut shots, draw out on you, even if you happen to flop the nuts!

I am down to around $70 and add-on for $100. I get pocket Jacks again and raise to $20. Nicole calls and the flop is 689. I bet out $35 and she calls. The turn is an 8, Nicole checks and I bet $50. The river is an Ace and also makes the flush. Nicole pushes me all-in and I fold. She shows 78, she hit trip 888s on me.

Busting out: I have only $47 left. I look down at pocket 88s and call a $7 raise. Someone bumps to $40 and we get 4 callers, so I call. The flop is 457 and Nicole bets out $50. I call with my over pair and remaining $7. Nicole shows 57 and I go home a loser for the night....

In the Big Apple

In the New York City this weekend. While I grew up in the Rochester area of New York State, I never been to the Big Apple (it's about a 6hr drive from the folks...) NYC city truly lives up to its reputation. It is the most densely populated city in the United States. People are everywhere and the buildings are built one after another with no space in between. The number of people walking around in the streets is amazing. You just have to wonder where they all came from and where they are going to.

I am staying in New Jersey, just off Manhattan Island. I take a bus under the Lincoln Tunnel and get dropped off at the Port Authority. From there you can walk around to many of the popular sites or take a subway ride to anywhere you like.

I spent my first day checking out the tourist areas around Times Square and the Empire State building. In the evening, I found a poker game in midtown Manhattan one block away from the Empire State building. I found the game on K9poker.com it is run by a Korean guy named Jay.

We played a bit shorthanded (5-6 players). The guys playing were all gamblers and very loose. I managed to win about $70 for about 4hrs of play and ended up being the only player to win, besides maybe house.

The house had a few strange rules for there Poker game. First they required anyone leaving to announce at least one hour ahead of time. Also, they had a rule which I wasn't to sure about. Basically it said "No tight players.." and they reminded me of this rule a number of times. They seem to be kidding, but I'm not sure. Well, I played my normal game and that is "tight is right!"

Bad Beat or Stacked Deck?: I was wondering about there 1st rule and being the suspicious guy that I am, I was looking out for funny business. The host of the game, Jay, proceeded to dump about $500 within the first 2 hours and he picked seat#1. Then in one hand he got all his money back. The hand seem very odd to me. Jay basically flopped a set and turned a boat. The odd part was that the two other players were also in it had huge hands. One guy had a nut flush and the other guy hit top trips.

This kind of setup does happen and it has happen to me, but generally not with 3 people in the hand. Two weeks ago I hit a a full house with someone hitting trips, but never with someone else also hitting a nut flush. I am thinking that maybe it was a stacked deck? Here is the hands and the board. Do you think it was a setup? or just bad luck for the two players?

Current Stats

Free Broadway Shows music | Cell phone ringtones at EZ-Tracks.com

A $1K month!

This month I just hit over $1000 in winnings. Its been 7 months since I did that and that was during my trip to Michigan where they forgot how I played. I have only had 2 other months where I was able to make over $1000 in one month. My average winnings per month, over the last 13 months is $718/month!

I decided to play Saturday night. Normally, if I make my $200/night goal on Friday night, I skip Saturday, but I just felt like playing. I am going to NYC this weekend, so I needed a little extra cash and I wont be playing this weekend. It is also expensive in the Big Apple, so some extra cash would be good.

Saturday night did not disappoint. I started taking down some small pots and slowly built up my stack. I only bought in for $150, thinking I didn't want to lose any more then that. My first big had was A♦A♥. I raise to $35 and everyone folds, except Nicole. The flop is J♥10♦ 5♦. Nicole checks and I push all in for $120. Nicole thinks for a while and finally calls. She shows like 8♥6♥. I look for a moment trying to see what I need to dodge and it's runner runner straight draw? Anyways, she does not hit anything and I take it down. Maybe she thought he had a flush draw?

I patiently wait for my next hand which comes about 1 hour later. I have pocket rockets again, A♣A♥! I haven't seen Aces in at least the last 2 sessions, so I knew I was over due. The table is really lose and I am in early position. Nicole calls a straddle for $5, so I raise to $40. German is right next to me and folds pocket 10s, almost with no hesitation. Mike, A.K.A. "Well Dressed," ponders his move. Mike has been gambling all night and looks like he wants to make a move. He finally pushes all-in $251 and says, "he wants to see Anthony gamble!.." Everyone else folds and I look at him, and say, "you really want to mess with me?" It's hard for me to gamble when I hold the nuts! If you are playing cards with me, then you are gambling... I call and show my Aces. Mike has A♠K♠ suited... The board is all rags, 9 high, and I take down the $500 pot!

This all happens within about 3 hrs and now my stack is over $700. This is way better then average for me. I continue to play some and donk off a few chips. I finally leave a bit past midnight, cashing out $640.

Current Stats

Along Comes the Good with the Bad.

It was another solid night of poker for me.  This time I finally hit some hands and hit some big pots.  Last week my biggest starting hand was pocket 99s.  This session I hit plenty of pocket pairs, but none of my big pairs made much money or held up, in the beginning.  I wasn't hitting any sets for 5 hours.  Then finally they came.  But along with the big hands, comes the bad beats....

My first set of 7♠7♣ got me paid with a board of 10♥7♦Q♥, the turn was another Queen and river a 3♦.  The other guy had A♦Q♦ and just smooth called all my bets to the river, he was afraid that I had what I had and he was right.  To bad he just couldn't fold it..  

This put him on tilt and he wanted to make his money back from me.  I took another $200 from him when I had pocket Q♣Q♦ and he called me down to the river again.  It was a rag flop and he was on some kind of straight draw.  

Finally he cracked me when I hit a set of 9♠9♥s.  The flop was 7♣9♦J♥. Nicole bets $12 on the flop.  I re-raise to $25.  Mevlin and button guy smooth call.  The turn is 3♣.  Nicole goes all in for $53 so I just smooth call.  Melvin calls and the dealer pushes all-in for $211 more.  I put him on the straight, but have to call.  Melvin folds and the river is an 8♦, no paired board.  The button guy shows the nuts 10♦-8♦...

At that point I still had close to $500 in front of me.  I didn't realize it, but I had my stack up to over $700.  When the rush comes, sometimes you forget how you got there..  I continue to play some and win some of my losses back.  I finally leave cashing out $575 for the session.

Current Stats

Coming Back After One Month Of Inaction

Got back to the table last night. I can't believe that I have not played in over one month, I had to check my records. In Malaysia, there is no gambling, Casinos or poker. It is a modern Muslim country with some traditional roots. Muslim woman must cover their heads and wear head scarfs and all Muslims still are not permitted to drink, gamble or eat meat. I was not sure what to do with myself, so I just worked and went to the beach on the weekends. I learn to Para Sail, that was a blast and got a nice foot massage! (getting a massage in Malaysia is probably the only titillating thing you can do there..)

The poker session was just how I left it. Lots of crazy action and loose play. I managed to stay out of most of the craziness. I started out slow and losing about $100 of my $200 buy-in. Then I more then doubled up after hitting a nut flush. A new guy at the table called my all-in bet on the river. German the dealer, never saw my hand but knew I had "the nuts..." So I showed him my nuts! How did he know?

Now, I was up to about $250 and and just took down small pots here and there. I don't think I had another showdown of the cards all night. Everyone just folded to my bets and by 4:40am I had $445 in front of me and I quit. Not a bad session for me not getting any cards.. I will have to wait for another session to get lucky...

Current Stats

A Kick Butt Session

Friday night turned into a good night for me after a slow start. I started out slowly losing, but ended strong. I started with $200 and slowly bleed it down to around $100. It was mainly due to me chasing to many draws from the blinds. I started to build it back to even after a couple of hours of winning small pots. The table was pretty tight (after Nicole busted out..) and I felt that I had to give someone a bad beat to pay me off.

Cracking pocket Kings with pocket Queens: The first big pot was when I had pocket Queens. A guy that I never played with, was straddling all night long and hitting big hands on his straddle. Two of the times he hit pocket Kings and no one believed him and once another guy had pocket Queens against him. Well, would you believe that when I had pocket Queens, he also had pocket Kings, again for the 3rd time that night!!!! Damm. Well, all the money went in pre-flop and the pot was over $430. This time his kings didnt hold up. I hit my set on the turn and the board paired on the river.. Now I was back in the game with over $400 in front of me.

Later, in the night I hit a set of sixes, no action after the flop... and then a set of Kings, no action again after the flop. I did make over $120 on the hand, since I pre-flop raised to $55 and actually had 2 people call me. I have no idea what they had, but they folded on the flop. I had one big blind special with J9. I hit trip Jacks and then quads on the turn. I slowed played to Sean, but he didn't bet the river..

Cracking pocket Aces with Pocket 33s: Then the big hand of the

night. I have pocket 33s and limp in. A young kid who has been playing very solid raises to $15 behind me. Their are two other callers, so I call. The flop is Q3J. I just hit bottom set. The two callers check and I bet $45. The kid starts counting a re-raise, but then decides to smooth call me. The other two guys fold. I sense the kid has either an over pair or is slow playing top set. The turn is a blank and I bet $75, figuring if he does have a set then he would let me know now. He smooth calls again!

Now I figure the kid must have pocket kings or Aces and knows I am tight. He isn't sure what I have, but cant fold his hand. The river is the case three! Giving me QUAD 3333s.. Now I have the nuts! It docent matter what he has. I think for a moment what he will call, but then think if he does have a set or Aces, then he should call an over bet. I push in two stacks for a total of $200. He instant calls! and shows me pocket Aces. I say "two pair.." and the table goes crazy!!!

The kid gave me allot of respect! He said he didn't re-raise on the flop, because he knew I played tight. It also helped that Bill was calling me the "Silent Assassin" and this probably put the fear of God in em. Anyways, this is really my edge! People will slow play a big hand to me, not sure what I have and if they happen to have the nuts they will push hard to get me to fold my set. Which makes for an easy lay down, since you have to be crazy to bluff me.

After that hand, my stack is close to $800 now and I play a bit more donking off a few chips after hitting some more small pocket pairs and AK. I finally leave at 5:30am, cashing out for $755....

Current Stats

Down Big Then Back Up Big.

It was a roller coaster weekend for me. I loss $300 on Friday night. What's worst was it was a really loose and easy table, I could have capitalized but just wants getting any cards. I came back and made $320 on Saturday night, for a total profit of $20. I will settle for that after last weeks profit of $575. Sometimes you just cant win and if you can break even, you have to be happy with that. I tell myself, at least I didn't lose anything...

Friday night I didn't have a single pocket pair except 22s. I did have AK about 6 times and it hit like every time. The first time I had AK, Nicole was in the pot and she called my preflop raise of $15 and flop bet of $30, after an Ace hit the flop. I decided to small ball it and check it to the river, since I know she isn't folding to any bet with a draw. Unfortunately, she hit a one card straight with a 84 and I had to pay her river bet off of $66. The board was A5273, she called with a gut shot and hit! I should have known better, but made a loose call.

I decided to add on another $100 after the game was getting crazy action. I get AK again on the button. I raise to $15 and get 5 callers. The flop is K84, and everyone checks to Nicole and she bets $33. I push all-in for $85 and the Small blind smooth calls and Nicole calls. Everyone checks to the river. Unbelievably, the small blind has pocket Aces.. WTF? No re-raise and no betting? And this was a really aggressive player? I hate slow players, they just don't know how bad they really are... After that beat I left a loser.

I decided to try out the Saturday night crowd and redeem myself. The game only lasted 3.5hrs. It was crazy action and Nicole and Bill were back at it again. I hit a set of 777s early on against Sean. This time he made a good lay down after calling my flop re-raise to $100.

Most of my money came from Bill. I hit a Nut Flush on the turn and Bill hit a set of 555s on the turn. I bet my draw, $10 on the flop and Bill check raised my nuts. I bet $25 on he re-raised to $60. I pushed back all-in and doubled up. Luckily, the board didn't pair and the river was an Ace.

A bit later I have pocket Kings on the button. I raise to $20 and get 3 callers. The flop is JJ7. Bill comes out betting $35. He has been playing erratically, so I just smooth call. The other caller folds. The turn is a blank like a 4. Bill bets $60 and I call again. The river is another blank and Bill bets $75. He is kinda betting small and I wonder if he is trying to reel me in, but I have to go with my gut and call. Bill shows nothing 68 suited and I take the pot!

Current Stats

The Poker Action is Back

The Poker action is back. After a week off the game was back on! Since my $90 loss last week in Shreveport I was still operating on the cash that I won 2 weeks prior. I try not to dip into my bank account and live off only my winnings. I only had $150 in my new wallet, so bought in for less then my normal $200. No matter, it was up up and away for me. I was in the #1 seat as usual and Nicole was in #10. This is ideal for me, since I knew her luck would probably be done this time around and I should be able to capitalize. As plan, most of my money came from her and I ended up cashing out $725, 12 hours later.

Some advice, if there is a maniac at the table then always try to be on their left. You can hide behind their raises and re-raise with an advantage. If there is a tight player at the table, then you want to be on there right. You can easily steal a tight player's blinds, but I don't usually recommend it, because after a few tries, they might re-raise you and you better fold...

Here were my key hands:

Full House over Nut Flush: I had pocket 66s. Nicole raises $11 and I call and one other guy calls. The flop is 774, with 2 spades. Nicole bets $11 and I call her and one other guy calls. The turn is a Jack of spades. Everyone checks... The river is a 6 of spades! I just boated and there is 4 spades on the board. This new guy from Europe bets out $25. Nicole folds and I re-raise to $75. I never played with this guy and he doesn't know me. He ask how big my spade is, I say how big is your spade? He thinks really long and hard and finally says he can't get away from his hand and calls. I say, "No flush.." He shows the Ace of spade. and then Jessica the dealer says, "Full House..?" Jessica knows me well... What else would I have? (BTW, Nicole says she had pocket 55s, I was leading all the way...) My stack is now up to ~$250..

Aces up over lower Two Pair: I wasn't getting any cards to play, and was slowly losing most of my winnings. Finally I get my pocket Aces. There is a raise of $20 in front of me. It is Sean and I have played him many times. Actually, the last time we played I also had Aces he he doubled me up. Anyways, Sean is a really loose player so I re-raise him $60 thinking that he will probably call and I will be committing myself to the hand with about $100 left. As expected, everyone folds and Sean calls. The flop is QJ4 and he checks. I push all-in and he calls saying he has 2-pair. I say "Queen Jack" and he says yes. What a lucky mother f..er..! I think I'm drawing to 2 outs. But suddenly on the river is a 4, pairing the board! Everyone sighs and I, still in shock he flopped 2-pair, think I loss, until the pot is pushed to me. Now I just realized that I have a higher two pair Aces and fours! Wow... I actually had had 8 outs on the river..

Set over Aces up: Later in the evening I have pocket 44s. Everyone limps in and the flop is A4K rainbow. Nicole bets $11 and I re-raise her $25 more. Everyone folds and she calls. The turn is and Jack, Nicole checks and I bet $50. She calls. The river is a 8. She checks and I bet $60 again, slightly afraid of the straight, but since she check I figured my set is good. She surprises me and raises me $160. I call, just in case she has it and ask her "2 pair?" She says yes.. I say "No good," and show her my set. She never shows her hand..

The big lay down: I have pocket 10s and the table is playing really loose. So I raise to $20. Eric calls and Nicole calls. The flop is 894 with two clubs. I bet $40 and Eric re-raises to $80 saying he wants the flush draws out. Nicole folds and I call. The turn is the 2 of spades! I check the potential flush and Eric bets. I think for a moment and fold. Eric has to either have a flush or a set. He would never make a move like this to me. Eric shows me one red nine and later says he did flop top set... I lost $100, but felt good I made the right decision, but who knows for sure, maybe he bluffed me.

Up Against the Shaq: I have pocket Queens and raise it $20. Everyone folds and the Shaq calls. The flop is J83. The Shaq checks and I bet $40 and he calls. They turn is a 5 and he checks again so I bet $50 and the Shaq calls again. The river is a Queen and he checks and I bet $100. The Shaq calls and I say top set and he folds... Not sure what he had, but I figure he had at least a Jack...maybe thinking I had Ace King? Whatever and thank you sir..

Current Stats