Gambler or Gamer

I prefer tournaments over cash play.  I’ve been thinking about the reason for this and I think the answer comes down to the fact that I’m a Gamer not a Gambler.

I used to play poker with a woman I’ll call Gertie.  Gertie was a gambler.  We played  1 / 3 pot limit.  Gertie loved to “gamble it up” more than anyone I ever knew.  When I first met her I thought she was the worst poker player I’d ever seen.  Also the “losingest”.    She got into the local poker room for over 30 grand and had to sell one of her rent houses to pay off her debt.  I guess she had the money to lose.   In time I got to know Gertie and found out her problem was that she was an adrenalin junkie and loved the rush she got from the bluff.    The problem is she didn’t bluff very well and she did it way to often in her regular game.  I believe you could call down Gertie in every hand and come out ahead in the long run. 

I am the opposite of the gambler.    For me it’s the intellectual challenge to beat myself.    Whether it’s poker or the game of Zuma that I play compulsively on my cell, I am always working to improve my game.  I’m looking for the strategy that will take my game to the next level.

Poker is a game with so many options available that I can always find a place for myself.  I can study it to my hearts content.  I can watch endless hours of poker on my television.  I can play it 24 /7 in my home on my computer.  I can play it for money or for free.  I can move up or down in my buy in.  I am totally in control of my own game.  I can never beat the game but there always is the next challenge.    I don’t get an adrenalin rush from throwing my chips in the pot with nothing to back it up.  I get abject fear and I don’t like that.  I get my adrenalin rush from making a great play and knowing that play is a result of hours of studying and absorbing the wealth of information out there about the game.  I get my adrenalin from raking chips and knowing that I earned them.

To get the maximum benefit I can from poker I have to play on a level playing field.    That is why tournament play is right for me.  In a tournament everything is equal.  It doesn’t matter how much money the players have in their pockets.  Everyone starts at the same place with the same number of chips.

In every game there are roadblocks to reaching the eventual win.  In Pacman it was little purple ghosts that rushed around eating up all the Pacmen it could find.    In Zuma that roadblock is the clock.  Eventually it will run out and I’m back at square one.  In poker the roadblocks to my getting all the chips are my competitors.  It is up to me to determine what type of competitor they are and what it will take for me to outplay them and get all their chips.

The great boom in poker the last couple of years has been credited to everything from Chris Moneymaker to WPT on TV.  One aspect that has gone unnoticed is that a whole generation of gamers came of age.  They are the kids who grew up on video games and have now progressed to the granddaddy of games, Poker.  These are the Young Guns of Poker.   For the most part they are perfect for the game and have spent a lifetime preparing for it.  They have little or no financial responsibilities.  They are morally opposed to working a J*O*B.  They are able to exist by crashing on someone’s couch and consuming nothing but Taco Bell and Red Bull for long periods of time.  They are intelligent, intense, and able to totally consume themselves with the smallest nuances of the game.

Just as with everything in life there is a continuum in force here.  On this continuum pure gamblers like my friend Gertie are on one end and pure gamers are on the other.  Everyone who plays poker falls somewhere in between these two points.    What is the difference between players that put them at different places on that continuum?  I guess that is a question for another day.

It’s Easter morning.   With no children to hide eggs for I’m spending it here behind my computer with my nemisis.  The $24 FT deep stack tourney.  If you’ve been following my blogs you know that I’ve not faired too well in these.  I’ve cashed in a couple but not enough to do more than cover what I’ve lost in others.  Yesterday morning I found my self at a table with some really good players.  Last night I went out on a really bad beat.  In both tourneys I didn’t get any good raw material to play with.  My cards stayed in the nether regions of 82o and 103s.

I thought about it all night and decided to try it again.  This probably being my last chance for awhile.   I tend to not play deep stacks during the week because they take too long.  Then Gyla’s Mom is coming for her surgery and we don’t play a lot of poker when she’s here.  She thinks we are addicted.   LOL

So anyway.  My tourney starts this morning.  I have my coffee ready and I’m set to take em on.  I’ve decided to play super tight during the first hour.  The first hand comes.  I wisely fold an 8 6 from mid position.  The aggressors go at it building a pot to over 2000 chips with a scary board of  8 J Q K 6.     I’m regreting folding my 86 but know we have set against straight based on the betting.   When the cards flip up a K3 loses to a K5.  WTF?  My 86 would have been good.  Where are all these stellar poker players?

As I type this I just picked up a nice pot off a guy who called me down with bottom pair.  It just goes to show you never know in Poker.  

It’s scary though.  You just can’t read players like this.  I’m still going to play very tight.  Currently we are on hand 22.  I’ve got 3790 chips.  I plan to keep them today.  The guy in front of me is a raiser but I haven’t gotten a chance yet to see what he is raising at.

  We started with 434 players and we are down 100 players already.   I just had qq and had to lay it down losing a big chunk of chips.  Guy behind me either had KK or AA or went crazy with AK.    The flop was trash so you never know.   Back donw to 2600 chips.  I was just getting comfortable.   Darn.  I feel that tilt creeping in when you wonder if you’ve been out played.  hmmmm  I don’t have a clue.   Just flopped top pair with a fair kicker.  Guy behind me goes all in.  Had to fold.    Darn… He just did it again.  Once again I’m thinking like Phil Helmuth.  “What’s going on here?”   I don’t know what is worse …..playing with guys that are maniacs or those that overvalue their hands.  Both will drive you nuts.    I’m just going to lay low with my 2245 in chips and see what happens.  Man,  those QQ killed me.

Just picked up a hand with an AJ.  Up to 3650 chips.  It was scary when a guy called my  big post flop raise.  I put him all in on the turn and he folded.  This is a friggin’ minefield.

Lost a few to AJ in the blind.  Called because of pot odds and didn’t hit.  I just laid down 10’s on the button when the guy in front of me goes all in.  Uh uH I’m not getting sucked in this time.    He gets one caller.   The cards are flipped up.  55 vs 22 and the 5’s win.  I hate to repeat myself but WTF????????   I’m afraid to play anything here.  No telling what the guy had that put me all in when I had the QQ.  Well,  I don’t think he’s played a hand since so I guess he had the goods.   Actually he just lost a bunch calling someones all in with 10 10.   Oh well I’m letting it go.  We are almost through the first hour and I want to come back today.   LOL

Another all in.  This time 4’s agains 2’s.  I’m in the House of Horrors.

REprieve I guess.  They have moved me.  Let’s see what is going on on table 46.

Moved again before I could play a hand.  Good thing.  They were all in fools.  They just had a 3 way all in where the worst hand won (of course).  I’m now at table 39.  And we are on break.  Yeah.  I make it to break with 3195 chips.  That is great for me.  The last few I’ve gotten here with 1500…..or not at all since I went out on the last hand before the break yesterday.  I don’t even have to circle my chair 3 times today.        BRB

Hour 2 begins.   I’ve got 3195 in chips.  I’m 162 out of 212.  The average stack is 6141.  The chip leader has 20,000 chips so need more than 2 double ups to catch the leader.  I’m far behind where I like to be.  I just got AQ sooooted UTG. 

I raised but got no callers.  More All iner’s here.  Again worst hand wins.   This is getting old.  If poker were always like this I’d never play.   I just folded A6 on the button because there are too many limpers.   Augh……Flop A6J rainbow.  My bio rhythm must be at an all time bottom.  Maybe not.  The turn came a Jack.  They folded.  I’ll never know but I someone had the Jack.   A6 again.   fold.  The guy in front of me raised and he likes to go all in.  Flop came all clubs.  I was right this time.

I’m monster hunting now.  I’m not donking off my chips.  I want big hands.   These guys aren’t small ballers.  Just folded J2 and flop comes 226.  How sad for me. 

I was just going to call in the sb with 69 but the guy in front of me goes all in.  He has a8 and is called by KQ.   He gets beat when a K hits.  He’s a goner.  As they say…..”All in works every time but the last.”

 Another hand another all in.  AJ against QQ.  The QQ goes down.  Once again the worst hand wins.  Why go all in and give someone 5 chances to hit thier hand?  

Just hit a set but it’s all diamonds.  What do I have?    22   lol  Someone bet and I reraised to the pot.  Got a caller.  Turn comes.  He checks.  I check.  River…….   QUADS.   DOUBLE UP!!!!!    He had the nut flush.

Next hand 88.  Hit a set on the turn.  I bet it and no callers.  Nice pot.  I’m up to 7,190.  Oh yeah baby.  I got my Monster. 

I’m up to 75 out of 175.  A little less than average chip stack.  Chip leader has 31,000 chips.  2 double ups would take me to 2nd place.  Right where I like to be.   No matter how this turns out if I hit this point in this position I feel good about my play ( and the quads I hit along the way).

Ever since the quads my cards have gone south.  That’s okay.  I like easy folds.

UTG I get 55.  I raise hoping they will fold as usually happens.  I get 2 callers.  Flop comes with 2 10’s.  Everyone checks.  On the turn we are 2 suited.  There is a bet and I’m outta there.  TJ once said if there is a 1o on the board that can beat you someone has one in their hand.    I have found that to be great advice.  I’ve seen it time after time.

Who hoo.  I just hit the bottem end of a straight with the k high flush draw.  On the turn the guy who lost to me with the quads tried to raise me out of the pot.  I didn’t back out.  I went all in.  He took a long time but he folded.  I’m glad this wasn’t live.    I am very proud of myself to go for it.   I’m up to 10,000 chips.   I’m sure that guy is after my azz.  I’ve taken a lot of his chips.

Now I have some chips I pretty much stick to postion.  I did let a pot slide by a few minutes ago  that I would have won.  I relaxed for a second.    Blinds just took me below 10,000 chips.  Time to stop basking in my glory and start playing again. 

I’m 54 out of  142.   I just had an A3 and it was folded to me.  I started to raise buy my Nemisis was in the BB and I figured I wasn’t strong enough to take him on.  I folded.  It was folded to him and he got the blinds.  That’s okay.  I just had the idea if I raised he’d go all in. 

Ante’s have started.  This is when the tourney really starts.  

My nemisis just busted out.  His AQ hit a queen on the flop but some one else hit a set of 6’s.  Boy  I’ll bet that guy really feels beat up.  I can feel for him.  I’ve been there……a lot lately.

I’m going into the blinds again and no hand to play.  I’m patient though and a lot of people start getting edgy when the antes start.  They play less than stellar hands and I can pick up chips.

Oh Oh 77 in BB.   Could be a cooler. Folded to button.  he calls.  sb folds.  I raise to 1200.  He folds.  Whew.  That was nice.  I’ll take that with 77’s.

On the button with A3s.  someone raises and it’s called twice.  I’m folding.  I know the pot odds are there but I hate going in with Ace bad kicker.  The only think I could bet with are spades.   Good thing.  flop 10 q q.   2 ended up all in.  AQ vs Q9.  Guess who wins.  Q9 hits the boat.

I’m 53 of 128.   That’s what I like about online.  You always know where you are. 

Back to the blinds.   Looking for a monster.  here.  I love to double in the blinds.  OOps moved out of the blinds.  OH YEAH baby.  At first glance it’s a better table.  Smaller stacks.   Coming into the bubble that is verrry good.  Looks like I’m 3rd biggest at the table. 

10 10 in 2nd seat.  I raised 4 times the bb.  Now that antes have started I’m putting a little more power in my raises.  Folded to me.  That’s fine with me.  It’s a free trip around the table.

Folded  to me in the BB Pick up the blinds and antes with j2o  Oh yeah…..I LOVE POKER. 

BB q3o   floped q high  bet 1200  get a caller.  hmmm bet another 2000 with 3 diamonds on the board.   He goes all in.  Damn took a big hit with that one.   Guy behind me goes all in.   I think he hit the flush.  I had the q of diamonds but I couldn’t make that call.   Picked up the blinds and antes on the next hand and am down to 7000 chips.  That’s okay.   I’m hanging.  I’m 76 of 106.

I pick up the blinds and antes in the bb.   Get 22 in the sb but fold to an all in.  Aj against AJ and my 22 would have won.    Darn. 

Break again.  I think I gotta circle my chair this time.  BRB 

Well I did it.  Actually there isn’t room here to walk around it so I just stood still and spun it around.  Gyla said that doesn’t count and made me pull it out to the center of the floor so I could walk around it.  I did and she said ”What are you doing that for anyway?”  And I listened to her when she said it doesn’t count.  Doesn’t she know anything.

Well break is over.  I’m 75 out of 100.   I’m watching my fold equity now.  I have 7500 in chips.  I’m less than 10 m’s.  Will be going all in on air soon.     I sure wish I’d called with those 2’s.    My 4 6 off would have picked up the last pot with 2 all in.  Who knew?

a9s in the bb.   All in baby.  Get the antes and the blinds.  88 in sb.   all in against ak.  he hits both ace and king on the flop.   I’m out.  93rd.    I’m sick.  I hate poker.  Actually I did what I had to do.  I played well.  I’m okay with it.

Better luck next time.

$24 buy in 872 players   1st pays almost $5,000.  90 places will pay

 Here we go…………..

I swear I’m not getting myself into trouble early in this tourney and first hand I get 55 and it’s folded to me.  I raise and get a call.  Don’t hit the flop so I lay it down.  

The last few of these I’ve gone down at the beginning.  This morning I got down to 750 chips.  I was able to come back and ended up finishing 40th.  I don’t want to experience that again.  I’m not going to leak away my chips early.  What happened this morning was I had an unusual amount of reraisers on my table.  They kept betting me out of pots.  That’s okay.  I probably outlasted all of them and it reminded me I need to work on my game when I’m playing with reraisers.  At the limits I play there aren’t a lot of them.  Reraising is very effective and probably the weakest part of my game.  Gotta work on that.

This one is very slow.  I picked up a pot after limping with A7s and 2 diamonds flopped.  I bet the pot and they all folded.   I lost some on something earlier.  Don’t even remember what it was.  I’ve got 2,805 in chips.  It’s a real boring start.  Picked up a few in the sb.   (That one paid off Tina.)  A lot of limpers so I called.  Trash flop but I hit the 6.  I bet out and they all folded except a guy on a flush draw.  I drew a few chips from him when he didn’t hit his flush.  I’ve back over 3,000.

 99 / raise / one caller / Costs me 1000 chips.  He went all in with the board of jj33.  What do I do?  That’s why it pays to be in postion.    I wasn’t.    Grrrrrrrrrrr  Down to 1700 chips.   gotta grind my way back again.

I play A8.  the flop comes jj10.  I’m going to be dreaming about JJ’s.  An 8 comes and nobody is betting.  I’m in position so I bet and I take the pot.  Up to 1850.

sb q 10   call nothing on flop  fold    Some of that sb leak money Tina was blogging about.

I’m just folding and folding.  Getting crap cards.  I would have tripled up with a 10 4 o last hand.  Who knew?  Sometimes I wish they didn’t have that feature where you can look and see what you folded. 

SB   AJo /  Raiser Caller I call.  flop 252.   gotta lay it down.  Guess I should have come out betting.    Down to 1580

Button 57   flop 674 going to bet it heavy.  Won that one.  up to 1900

Gyla’s pacing around here sighing.  She’s bored.   LOL 

I raise with a7s.  I’m bored too.   nothing there for me.  

BB A9 hearts /  4 limpers and me / nothing on the flop. folding

SM  KK  all in    I win that pot.   up to 2180  

I’m sitting here watching the trash hands I’m folding make into winning hands.  It Hurts so bad.  What r u going to do?  Raise with 3 5 o?  UTG I get 56s.  I fold it and it folds to the blind.   It may have been a monster. 

BB (so soon?)  gotta lay down A8 to a BIG raise.  Wouldn’t have flopped anything anyway and raiser is all in.  Do I smell a big pair?

SB / folded to raiser /  Had 57 of hearts.  They were pretty.

I take a shot with a k9s after one limper from utg.  Guess I pissed off the button.  He pushes pretty hard.  I have to fold. 

I’m not on my A game.   :(  Trying to force the action and it doesn’t work.  There is just no energy for me in this game.  I don’t feel connected to it. 

Good.  Break soon.  I’m going to get up and circle my chair 3 times. 

Maybe not   AJ in the BB

Can you spell M*ther F**ker?   The sb pushes me all in.  I figure he is taking a shot.  I call.  He has K5o.    I flop the Ace. Turn 5 and the river is a K.  There is NO JUSTICE IN POKER!!!!!!!!!!!    I’m on tilt and have nothing to do with it.  No outlet.  AAAACCCCCKKKK.   I’d scream if someone could hear me but Gyla has gone to pick up some KFC.   Good.  Comfort food.  I need it.    I can’t help it if AJ was the best hand I’d seen in 1 hour.

Well…..at least I don’t have to circle my chair.  

I’m going to try blogging this one.  I’ve found that I have to be in the right mood to play and blog at the same time.  I think today is the day.  LOL   As I start this I watch someone in semi late position raise preflop a little more than 3x the bb.  Someone in the BB attempts a steal.  All in with 45 clubs.  The cards come up and the original raiser has AA.   OOPS.  I hope that isn’t my fate today.   The aces hold and the bluffer is out.

I haven’t played a hand yet.  I just got moved.  I’ve learned that early in these tournments it’s better to not play much and not to get settled in.  I’m folding anything but the nuts until there is enough money in the pot to matter.  It is a deep stack tourney so I’m starting with 3,000 chips.  That will tide me over for awhile. 

 It’s early.  About 9am on Friday.  I’m off for the holiday.  I’m enjoying the quiet with my coffee and my tourney.  Gyla is at work till noon.   

I’ve missed 2 opportunities to triple up.  I just had KQ in mid position.   I raise and 2 people behind me go all in.   The first one has KJ (wtf?);  the second one had KK.   My KQ would have hit the nut str8 and won the hand.  Who knew?

 Gotta tighen my azz up.  I’ve leaked out about 800 chips.  I’m not playing bad but these guys are playing this like a knock out.   Everthing I’ve hit has been reraised.  As I am typing this I hit two pair in the sb.  I get a caller all the way down and pick up a nice pot.   He had 3rd pair….????…..   I’m up to 3200 chips.   I’m tightening up until I get a handle on these players.    Darn.  Too tight.  I just laid down A7 and the flop came A78.  Turn an Ace.    Grrrrr.   I’m sick about this one.   OMG  there is a flush out there.  I really screwed this one up.    There has to be a happy medium here somewhere.  OUCH  The pot was 3,000 chips.   Slap me up the head.  I need a xanax.

That’s okay.  I’m getting in the flow.  The other night I played a Knock Out.  I only had 2,000 chips until after the second break when it started getting serious.  Then I opened up my game and came in 3rd.  Whoopee.  I stayed out of the aggressive play at the beginning.  They were nuts.  All in with anything. 

Darn.  Laid down A7 in early position.  Would have flopped trips.  Who knew again?  Need to pay attention to those A7’s.  OMG   7 on the river.  I missed quads.  To quote a famous Poker Brat ……. “What’s going on here”?

Poket 6’s.   hmmmmmm   AA flops.  I bet the pot and win.  Only 125 chips.  OH well.  I limped UTG.  I think they all thought I was slow playing a monster.   LOL  No one touched it.

In the BB with 10 8 clubs.  Calling a raise.   Ha… flop 2 pair.  Check.  Call 200.  Check again. Bet pot on the river.   He calls me all the way down with AQ.  No pair; no draw.   I can play this game guys.   I’m usually not into the tricky  plays to early but what the heck.  It’s fun.

Folded to me on the button.  I have Kx.  I raise and they fold.  They are getting skeered of me??????  Doubt it. 

Folded to me under the gun.  Q9o  I raise and the button calls.  Flop comes  A9J. I bet out and button folds his hand.   Up to 4750. 

Kinda early but I got A9 hearts so I raise.  1 caller.  2 9 Q.  Loose a few on that one.  Had to lay it down.  That’s what I get for falling for the beauty of an Ace 9 soooooted.

 There is a player at my table who is the Nurse and her name is Norhern Sweety.  Is she from Norhern or is she a ditz that can’t spell Northern?  Hmmmm something to think about as the cards go round.

SB  A6 o.   I limper call.  Ace flops.   Bet pot.  1 caller.  Worried about by  kicker but I win the pot.  BB called me down with 2nd pair.  I might have missed the big pots but  I’m doing well with the small ones.  Thats the way I like it. 

Limped with J8 in the cutoff.   Flopped J high.  Bet 2/3 the pot.  Takin it down.  Allright.

A6o.  Another limp.  Don’t usually do this but it is paying off for me.  Not this time.  I’m checking.  The flop was pretty ragged.  I thought about betting it like the guy behind me did but I’m working on an image here.  I don’t want to appear to be a stealer.   That’s how you attract all those check raisers.  Not my style.

55.  Folding to the power of an UTG raise.   Ahh AK.  Raising to 240.   Flop comes AQ.  I bet out and take it down.  Up to 5180 chips.  Moving right along.  This is my kind of tourney. 

The guy sitting in front of me is called VERYTIGHTMAN.  Somehow I don’t believe it.   He just picked up a pot with 23 sooted.

KQs in the bb.  Raise 2 callers.  Flop is 3Q5.  Oh yeah.  I bet.  no callers.  Up to 5580.  I’m skating.   My energy is good this morning.  I’m talking about poker energy….not physical energy.  Last night I played one of these and the LPS tourney.  My energy was so bad.  Sould have left it alone.  Busted out early with both.   I played late the night before and should have taken last night off..

Just dumped some chips on a potentially big hand.  9 10 clubs.  Flopped a double belly buster draw.  Turn adds a straight flush draw.   Jerk in front of me goes all in.  He had me covered so I laid it down.  I sure would have liked to see that next card.   He claims he had the J3o.    Darn.

Picked up a couple pots since so I’m back to 5290.  I have him coverd now.   LOL   I’ll get that sucker.  I’ll show him u don’t go all in on Jebber99.    LMAO

Pocket KK on the button.  one limper.  I raise.  Ahh it’s the all in guy.  flop scary   All the all inner got me.  I’m out.   Booooooo Hoooooo   He hit the str8.    I raise 3x the bb.  flop comes 78Q.    He check I bet something.  He calls.  Turn is a Jack. I’m not liking this.  He checks.  I bet the pot.  He reraises me.  I admit I tilted a bit.  I don’t have him on a PP because he limped.  I’ve got him on a draw.   I push all in.  He calls me and flips over 9 10.    It hurts when I get my king on the river. 

Karma.  That’s what I get for saying I’m going to get him.     Just kidding.  That is just poker.  Moving on to another tourney.  This bugs me because I was really doing well. 

Well over and out for another stream of consciousness blog entry.

Janice

I just finished playing….and I use that term loosely….in the Sunday Millions where I won a seat.  It was ghastly for me.  I couldn’t get anything going.  Stole a few blinds and picked up a few pots here and there but my chips kept draining away.  I finally raised with AA.  I got 2 callers.  Flop came Kxx 2 hearts.  I went all in.  I got called by someone with 2 hearts.  He hit and that left me with 116 chips.  I went all in on the next hand and was out.

The tourney didn’t feel right for me from the beginning.  I couldn’t put my finger on it at the time but I’ve figured it out.  The table had no rhythm.  The players were all over the place.  Super tight on one hand and loosey goosey on another.  We had one guy who never bet top pair.  We had another that never bet more than the min. 

I didn’t get winning cards but I’ve gotten far in tourneys that I’ve not gotten any winning cards.  The problem was that at this disjointed table…..this table with no rhythm……it was hard to make any steals.   

One had I was in the blind and got a KQo.  It was folded to the button and he did the standard raise.  I called.  The flop was Qxx.   He did the standard continuation bet and I reraised.  He was quiet for a few then in essense put me all in.  Generally at a table I’ve had a feel that helps me decide how to handle this type of situation.  Unfortunately that feel just wasn’t there.  My gut let me down on this one.  I think it was telling me.  “Hey, Sister, I don’t have a handle on this any more than you do.”  In the end I felt like he was making a move on me but I laid it down. 

I never realized before that the rhythm was there or how important it is.  When you hit a table with no rhythm it’s tough to beat.

So that is my learning for today……..Look for the Rhythm.  It pays.

Well that 200K prize is still out There waiting for me.  I’ll catch up with it one of these days.

Hugs.

Janice

Gyla called me at work on Friday and suggested we go spend the night in Louisiana and play the $200 tourney at the casino on Saturday.   She sure didn’t have to ask me twice.  She even packed our bags and picked me up at work.  We hit the road.  We arrived at the casino about 9:30.  The only NL game they have is 2/5.  It’s not too bad but it is must move and you end up playing at a table with alot more money on it than we can play against.  We opted for 3/6/12 just for fun.  After about an hour we just couldn’t stand it any more.  We used to play that for hours when we were learning but we’ve come too far and learned too much.  After I lost my hundred I told Gyla I’d had enough.   She cashed ina and we went to play some machines…….Wrong decision.  They weren’t playing either.

This is an Indian casino and the machines used to be a lot looser.  You could go there and have a real good time with your money.  Not recently.  Nothing seemed to be playing.  We went to eat and went to the hotel.

The next day we went early to register and get a good breakfast before the tourney.  We wasted time playing some penny machines that were a lot of fun.  I turned $10 into $100 so I was happy about that.

 The tourney started at 12.  My table consisted of the basic run of the mill male poker players.  No young poker punks.  I was glad about that.  I recognized the guy across from me and it turns out we’d played in some of the Houston Poker Pits together.

This is a good tourney as casino daily tourneys go.  With the daily special you start with $8,000 in chips.  The blinds start at 25/50.  They are 20 minute levels for the first hour then go to 30 minutes.  It starts slow but really picks up the pace later on.

To cut to the chase Gyla went out 18th on a horrendous beat.  A guy called her preflop 6,000 chip bet with a J3o and hit a boat.  What can I say?  There’s one or two like that in every tourney.  I went out 16th to the same guy.  I didn’t watch the clock and watch any semblance of fold equity disappear when the blinds and antes doubled on me.  I learned a big lesson about clock watching.  I’ve read about it before and how important it is.  I learned in this tourney that it is very important in these tourneys with rapidly advancing blinds.

All after noon I only got 2 premium hands.  I figure I did well getting to 16th with the bad hands I was getting. 

I had one hand of interest.  I had just taken a pot with 88 when I hit 99.  I was at a new table and didn’t know the players.  The big stack under the gun limped.  Everyone else folded to me.  I raised with my 99.  We went to the flop heads up.  The flop was QQx.  The limper checked and I bet out 5,000.   The limper puts me all in. 

I went into the tank.  I had 10,000 chips left if I folded.  I thought it was likely a move but just couldn’t be sure.  I couldn’t put him on a hand.  I folded.  The guy sitting next to me who had been at the table felt as though he had a big hand.

I didn’t give it much thought until later we had been moved to another table.  The guy was a limper again and got into a hand with a guy from Houston.  The Houston guy raised and the limper called.  The flop came with a pair.  The limper checked.  The guy from Houson bet and the limper raised all in.

Hmmmmmmmmm   It was all to familiar.  The guy from Houston folded.  In the end I think it was a move.  He did it well. 

I learned from this experience.  You have to be careful when you move to a new table.  Try to watch the players before you get into a pot.  I couldn’t help it.  I couldn’t afford to not play my 99 but maybe I should have just pushed.  The guy could have called me but I would have taken the play away from him.   I don’t know what I’d do facing that again but the experience will stay with me and I believe it will come back to help me out later on.

In the end I felt really good with my play.  We don’t get to play live often so it always suprises me how much I’m improving when I do get to play live.  I was reading the players so much better.  I was noticing things I never have before.  My thought processes are much cleared.  All in all it was good.  I just didn’t get any cards.  The blind structures advanced too fast for me to try to make any type of moves to get chips.  I missed that opportunity earlier in the tourney. 

We got home in time to play a $24 tourney on Full Tilt.  There were alot of players. I don’t remember how many but they paid 213.  I picked up some chips early but went card dead in the middle.  I ended up making the money and came in 123 for $47.00.  I was a little disappointed but I’m happy with any win.  My buddy Tana sweated me online again and we had fun chatting. 

Gyla was tired and had gone to bed.  At one point I heard her calling from the bedroom……”Mother……What’s the score?”    I cracked up. 

That’s it.

 It’s almost time for the Sunday Millions that I won an entry into.  I’m pumped.  I’ve never played a $500 tourney online before.  There are a lot of pros playing.  Win or lose there ought to be some good learning there.  I plan to blog the experience.  If it does not become too cumbersome you will find the blog here later.

Wish me luck.

Janice

This is a stream of conscience posting.  You may or may not like reading this stuff.  Let me know.  If no one likes it I won’t do it again. 

The blinds are currently 30/60.  I started with 3,000 and now have a whopping 3,295.  I had a little more but called a 175 chip raise with AJo and didn’t hit the flop so I folded.  (As I write this I look up at the current flop and it is AJx.  Flop lag as usual.  LOL)

I haven’t been paying enough attention to the table because I was busy writing my intro.  My goal for this tourney is to accomplish a couple of steals with any 2 cards.  This is what I am working on now.  Reading the table and seeing opportunities to steal.  I’m also opening up my game some.  Last night I made some calls with monster draws and it paid off.    I was chip leader most of the last 90 minutes of the tourney but went card dead at an agressive final table.  We’ll see what happens today. 

Ooh tight table.  Folded to me in the cutoff.  I have A5.  I raise 3x the bb.  BB calls.  Flop comes 55A.  Woo Hoo.  Turn comes another Ace.  I’m doing the happy dance.  The board is two suited.  I’m hoping the BB has SOMETHING.  It’s not to be though.  I pick up the pot and don’t show.   While I’m writing this I just pick up another pot with Ace 5.  Maybe that will be my hand of the day.  I’m up to 3,715 chips.

You’ll find I do like to grind.  I am very patient.  My goal is to stay in the top half of the field.  If I do that eventually I’ll end up heads up and can play for the win.   LOL  I also like to stay within 2 double ups of the chip leader.

Just raised preflop with pocket 8’s.   I was one before the cuttoff.   (What is that called? I can’t remember.)   Got called by the cutoff.  The button went all in.  I think he’s sending me a message not to raise his button.    I hate having defenders behind me.  I primarily play position and have problems with people like Youkko who don’t like their button or blinds raised.  Unfortunately he has double my chips so I gotta have something more than 88 to play with him.

He’s at it again.  This time it cost me.   grrrrrr  I’m in the same place again.  A9 Suited.  I called.  He laid it down this time.   I won with top pair.  Now QQ mid position.  1 caller ahead of me.  I raise 3x the bb.  flop k 10 8. 2 clubs.  The caller is short and checks to me.  I put him all in.  He folds.  I’m back to 3,275 chips after losing some playing with the pusher behind me.   I’ve dropped to the bottom half so I gotta pick up some chips.

 Break time and good news.  They moved me.  I’m glad to be away from that defender.

Picked up a pot with KQ.  Flop K 10 2; 2 diamonds.  Big stack in front of me makes a small bet.  I raise to the pot and take it down.  Hated those diamonds.   Up to 3605 in chips but not even close to the top half of players.   That’s okay.  It’s still early.

Back down to 3100.  Made a pot odds call in the blinds with J7o and flop was 224.  Can’t do much with that.  For once why couldn’t I have had 24 in the blinds.   LOL  Actually it turned out to be a big pot.  The BB tried to bluff at it and got called.  He’s gone.  OMG  now I have 4 2 on the button.  Go figure.  NOOOOOOO  I’m in the cutoff.   42 suited this time.    This is just too weird.  Okay Universe.  You’ve got a sense of humor.  Now……Give me pocket aces that hold up.  Next hand 26o.  This isn’t even funny.  Where are my Rockets?

Moved again.  Good.  That table was not profitable for me.   First hand at this table.  My most unfavorite hand…..3 8 o.  I hope it isn’t a sign.  No.  You aren’t going to believe this.  3 8 o again.  This is getting crazy.   Ahhhh  Ace 6 s in the blind.  2 diamonds on the flop.  Darn.  Screwed up my betting and lost.  I meant to raise 2 callers on the flop and hit the check button.   I’m sick about that one.   AA to QQQ.  Down to 965.  This tourney has been a disaster.

Button 3 8 o again.  Go figure.   I’ve come back from here.  Big stacks at my table.  I’ll get a call when I push.  I need a hand.    3 8 o AGAIN.   STOP IT!!!!!!!!!!!  oh no 4 2 on the flop.  I’m in a nightmare.   LOL    BB Q9 o  limpers.   darn. Nothing on the flop. Shoulda pushed.  Lost to a KJ.  He would have called.   2 beautiful queens in the blind.  A raiser in front of me .  All in against AQ.  I win yeah.   1900 chips.  Do you hear fold equity?

Is this drivel worth reading?  I’m having fun writing it.

Cutoff.  All in with 89s.  Pick up the blinds and antes.  That’s a new one for me.  My tight azz never would have done that before and would have ended up short again.  AK  o mid position.  Hmmmmmmm   Raised 3 x the bb willing to go all in.  Picked up the blinds and antes.   Up to 2530 in chips.  Just folded 33.  Raiser behind me.   Reraiser.  No 3 on the flop.  Good laydown, Janice.

People are getting pushy now.  Blinds are 100/200.  Just went through the blinds and didn’t get to play.   Darn.  Was going to stop and go with a 7 2 off and the bb raises me.  He shows.  JJ.  Lucky me.  Hand to lay down 89s on the button to a big raise.   Next flop 985.  Bake to flop lag.   KJ o.  just calling.  Darn.  Crazy guy all in.  Guess I’ll call.  Hmmmmm. Oop another caller.  Another.   I’m gone.  Good laydown.  Original  raiser hits a straight. 2nd chance……  KJ again.   All in baby.  First in; no callers.   244o in chips.

Helloooooo…..Calling pocket aces.   Blind 98s.   Idiots going at it again.  I’m getting out of the way.  Darn.  9 j in sb.  idiot limps  I call bb goes all in.   darn.  Fold.  I guess I should have done that.  Q3 on button.  All in.  Get blinds and antes.   whew   37s. lots of limpers.   fold.

Limp with jq.  darn gotta stop that.  Idiot goes all in.  Says he has to go shovel snow.  Probably should have called.    AK s.  calling all in.   Hearts.  Need Hearts.  Against Aj.  Can you spell double up.   Hoo Rah.  4770 in chips.

A2 in bb. lots of limpers.   2 4 8 on flop.   Idiot bets 1200.  Can’t do it.  fold. 

34s  in sm blind.  Will bb go all in again.  Several limpers.  Don’t think so.   Hit a 3 bet out and bb goes all in.  I gotta learn.  It’s his only bet.  Must be a kill philler.  I’ve had enough of mocambo45.  I’m putting a  RED note on him.  I’m just going to have to set him up. 

I’m glad this is only a $5 tourney.   121 players.  Paying 46.  I’m 110.  Omg.  Mocambo45 just limped.  Haven’t seen that one before.  He folded after the flop.  

KQs in the bb had to fold.  Whew.  Would have lost.   AKs in the small blind.  Come and get me BB.  I’m limping.   Stop and go.   BB calls.  darn.  BB pulls a str8 and I’m out.   Darn.  I did that wrong.  Oh well.  Better luck next time.

I’m not thrilled with my performance.   Any comments?  Suggestions? 

More later.

Janice

Blinds 120/240 25 antes.  

It’s the game we all play.   Poker.  We love it for many different reasons.  I think I love it because of the competitiveness.  I was never athletic nor a beauty pagent beauty so I never got to compete at much of anything.  I’m sitting here trying to think of anything competitive that I won in my life and I’m drawing a big old blank.  There must be something……..a spelling bee or something but it’s just not there.  Anyway I think that is why I love Poker.    It is something that I can do to compete against not only other people but also against myself.  That is a cool thing.  I can control my game.  I can improve my game by study.  It uses my asset of a logical brain.  It has a social element too it but at the same time it is a solatary sport.  I do think of it as a sport.  We might never see it in the Olympic games but I do believe it has it’s place on ESPN.

 I really liked playing poker but really fell in love with poker when I played my first tourney in Tunica.   Not only was it a WPT event it was a LIPS Ladies event althought we didn’t have a clue what LIPS was.  All these floor people were wearing big buttons that had big red LIPS on it.  I tought it was pretty bizarre.  Later they called for a LIPS representative.  I couldn’t help but chuckle at that one.    Lupe was sick that day and someone was standing in for her so I really never did get what LIPS was that weekend although I did log into the site and joined the forum when I got home.    Skill or beginners luck Gyla made the final table.  It was incredibly exciting.  I’ll never forget it in all my life.   I sat talking to the woman behind me while the drama unfolded.    Little did I know that this woman was Tina and would become one of the best friends I ever had.   

 Here I sit.  4 years later.  Friends spread out all over the country and I am a very happy camper.  I love what poker has done for our lives.  I love the challenge.  I love the friends we have made.  I love the travel it has provided us.  I love being able to log into our forums or read our blogs in the middle of the night and find friends there.   I love being on the leading edge of the movement of women in poker.  I love watching that red neck sitting at my poker table suddenly realize that this over fifty oversized woman at the end of the table is outplaying him.     I love acting like a star struck teenager when I bump into Daniel in the hallway at the WSOP.  Get the picture.  I love it all.

 Most of all it is the friendships.  I guess my favorite moment in poker was the night I made it very deep in the LWSOP.  I went all in and looked up to see all my friends watching me and cheering me on.  I remember thinking that it dosen’t get any better than this.  And it dosen’t.

In this blog I plan to track my progress.  I’ve started a topic that I will edit with my win/loss record.  Hopefully I will have more wins than losses.  I’m working on my game.  I’m trying to take it to the next level what ever that may be.  That usually leads to some loses so I will keep my buy ins low.   I’m currently working on opening up my game a bit.  I will chronicle my journey here.  Gyla bought me a wonderful wide screen moniter for my BD so I can play a tourney and keep my blog up underneath.  As I play I will jot notes.    Much better than playing Minesweeper to pass the time.

I hope you enjoy what I have to say.  Your comments are welcome and expected.  We are in this forum to learn together.  These blogs are just another avenue.

 Know that you all mean the world to me.  I thank you much for being my friends and taking this journey with Gyla and I.

Love you all.

Janice

03/08/2008   FT  NLHE   $2.00       349 entries       6th place              $31.00

03/09/2008   FT NLHE    $3.00 DS 434 entries    115th place              $0.00

03/10/2008   FT  NLHE    $5.00     1524  entries       3rd place          $613.00

03/10/2008    FT NLHE    $2.00      508  entries       5th place            66.00

03/10/2008    FT MTS   $24.00         54                                           $100 seat in mega sat
03/10/2008    FT Mega chip               61                       2nd place    $500 seat in Sun Million

03/15/2008    Coushatta $200+20    80                     16th               0

03/15/2008     FT            $24           1700                   123RD             $47.00

03/16/2008     FT          $500 (won)     over 2000 entries    out after 1 1/2 hours

03/16/2008     FT            $24           1645

03/19/2008    FT             $10             445                       3rd               $409 + bounties

03/21/2008     FT            $24                                                      out early

03/21/2008     FT            $24                                      40TH                     $48.00

03/22/2008     FT            $24                                      42ND                     $34.00

03/22/2008     FT            $24                              cracked aces                      0.00