Atlantic City mugging

I've been down in AC for about a day and a half now, but it feels like a year. I can't remember the last time I ran this badly. It's a bit of a shock, too, because I've been running good, nearly nonstop, for 3 months now.

Warning: If you don't like hearing about brutal, soul-crushing beats, then now's your time to flip to another blog.

The adventure started with. 9:30a bus down to AC Friday morning. No problems there and by the time I rented my car and checked into my motel, I was at the Showboat just in time for the 2pm tourney. I never got much traction in the tourney and ended up losin 2/3 of my stack early on when my KK got run down my JJ when a Jack came on the river. I managed to work myself back up to 11,000 in chips (just over the starting stack), but the blinds had gotten to 600/1200 by then. I picked up AKo in the BB, saw a raise to 3600 and pushed. My opponent had QQ and I lost the flip. Ok, no big deal. -$65 so far on the trip.

I walked over to the Taj and played 5/10 Omaha Hi/Lo the rest of the night, through 2am. By the time it was over, I was down 2.5 buyins ($500). Not a huge deal, considering it's Omaha, but it's painful to see people cold calling 2 raises with nothing but a pair and seeing them go runner-runner for the nut boat to your flopped boat. This happened twice to me, by the way.

My Omaha game has been off lately, so I walked off the table and passed by the Pai-gow pit, where I managed to double my 200 stake to 405. My only bright spot of the trip. Down $360 on the trip so far, no big deal.

I woke in the morning intent on playing $1/$2 NLHE all day. I've been running really well at no limit and I felt confident and relaxed that I coul make up my losses.

I went to the Borgata and had a seat at 11:30a. I was up 100 pretty quickly and felt like things were turning around. Then, 3 guys got up to my left and were replaced by 3 big stacks who started getting very aggressive. I requested a table change, rather than be at a disadvantage out of position to these bangers. My casg game revolves a lot around playing lots of cheap hands that have the potential to win big pots (suited gap connectors and the like) and having these guys on my left was going to make that impossible. So I smartly found a tbale that would work for me. My new table was a dream. There were 4 stacks bigger than 600 and they were generally limping or raising light and then betting BIG on the flop. Perfect if I hit big.

My first opportunity came with ATo. I was in late position with a bunch of limps and I raised to ten, mostly to build a pot. A few people called and the flop was KJ8, rainbow. It checked to me and I checked. I had to think that someone had a big enough piece of it that I couldn't bet them off it. The turn was a beautiful Q. Even better, the board was still rainbow, so there was no possibility of a flush. The first player bet out 15. Another player called. The third player raised to 45! I opted to call here rather than push my remaining 140 because I hoped to get another caller or two, but both players folded. It was now heads up and the river was a Queen. Fuck. He bets out 50 and I just call. He shows KQ for the boat (4 outer, awesome). I can't put him on a boat because he never bet the flop with KQ! Yes, he could have had QJ or even Q8, but he could also have Qx. Not sure if I could have gotten away from that bet given I was getting something like 4 to 1 to call the river.

I bought in for another 200 and worked diligently to stop steaming. I managed to cool down and started playing around again. I was in the SB with the Darko (25o) and was 6th in the pot to call a PF raise to 7. The flop was 348 with 2 diamonds. I checked and it checked all the way around. The turn was the Ad making me a straight but puttin a flush on board. I bet out 25, just to see where I'm at and get one caller. I'd seen him show down lots of crap hands and chase lots of flush draws with just a single suit, so I knew he didn't have the diamonds. I put him on an Ace of some sort. The river was a Black Ace. The board was now 348AA. Perfect for me. My thinking was if he had made two pair on the turn, he would have raised me, although the diamonds might have slowed him down. Anyway, I bet out 50 and he pushes all in! Going on my original read of his having an Ace, I figure he's pushing with trips and a good kicker so I call. Nope. A3 for the rivered boat. Another awesome 4 outer on the river. Sweet.

At this point, the table is starting to feel sorry for me. I've lost 400 in just 2 hours with hands that were 92 percent to win on the river. I take another walk to blow off steam and finally reason that I shouldn't get discouraged about losing like that. It's not like I pushed with an 8 percent chance! Although, I did call these all ins with the losing hand. But really, how many people are folding the nut straight just because the board pairs. If I always folded the hidden straight, I'd lose lots of money to people who bet their trips.

So I buy in another 200. This time, I chip up a bit again until I'm up 150 on the buyin. Players have been cycling through the table and I get QQ against a new young player who had just sat down. I raise to 15 and he re-raises to 35 on the button. My hackles raise and I just call. Flop is T95. Another rainbow. I check to the reraiser. He bets 20, suspiciously low. AK continuation bet? I opt to call. Turn is a 9. I Hollywood and check to get a free card. It works. River is a rag. 2 maybe. I check one more time. He bets 25, I call, he shows AA. Ok, I lost the minimum there.

The game goes on and I lose a medium pot when I turn an 8 flush and lose to a JAck flush. A bit later, I get AQ. I raise to 12. The AA kid calls and I make a joke that now he's just calling me because I'm running like ass. He laughs and assures me he's not. I loudly check blind and the flop is 778. He checks. Turn is a J. I check, he checks. River is an Ace. I bet 20, he calls. I show AQ. He shows AK. We share a laugh but I want to beat his face in. 10 minutes later, I have AKo, I raise to 15 and AA kid's friend calls. Flop is J 85. I check, he bets 20 and I decide on a different tack and check-raise to 45. If he's got a small pair or AQ then he has to fold, right? No, he moves all in instead! In my mind, I insta-fold, but I want to see if I can get him to show. I make big Hollywood. "Do you want me to call? Show me one". Etc... I finally muck in mock disgust (QQ, I say) and he says, "I had you crushed" and shows JJ for top set. True 'nuff.

I have 70 left and promptly get QQ again. I raise to 15, get re-raised to 35 from the AA kid and I shove. This all looks familiar, no? Well, he calls and tables AA. Again. He looks almost pitiful doing it and I want to punch out his teeth, but what am I supposed to do? I don't get my Queen and I'm now officially down 600 on the day (965 on the trip).

I leave the Borgata, narrowly missing Kearns and Stephane somehwere in the room, and head to Harrah's for dinner. I have a passable stromboli and head to the poker room for one more session. I figure a new room might be better for me. Um, not so much.

I start out the session in great style, going up another 150 on the buyin but that's just the fattening up before the kill. It starts when twice, to the same guy, I get check-called on every street when I have top pair, King kicker to his top pair Ace kicker. That's both times to the same guy. Then I ran into a doozy. Qd9d in the BB. It limps around and the flop is 3d-4c-Td. It checks around to a guy who's been check-calling hands and showing down middle pair. He bets 5 dollars. A few people call, myself included. Turn is 4d. I bet 25, it folds to this kid who raises to 65. I'm guessing he hit the 4 on the turn, giving him trips. I push for 130 more and he pauses. "I guess I'm going home," he says. Then he makes another statement which turns my blood cold. "If you have the boat, I'm beat. I call.". He turns over Ad8d. Fuck!

I'm down to 70 and I pick up 23o in the SB and a semi-aggressive player raises to 5 in early position. Almost everyone calls, including me for 4 dollars more. The BB calls and the flop is 238 with two clubs! I almost bet out, but my feeling is the raiser is sitting on a monster. To my chagrin, it checks around. Turn is an off suit Ace and I figure the raiser must have an Ace, so I bet 25, hoping the raiser will put me all in. But the BB, who is a big black guy who is playing his very first hand, beats hims to it and moves al in with his short stack for 80. I put him on and Ace, or a draw or both. There's a possibility of 45, but I can live with that. Otherwise I have him beat, right? The original raiser folds as does everyone else and I call for my remaining chips. The BB shows....A2 for a turned two pair. That's a 3 outer if you're keeping track at home. God forbid a 3 should come on the river to bail me out and I am down another buyin. That's 800 on the day and a whoppins 1160 for the trip so far.

It's only 11:00p when I tuck tail and head back to the motel.

A lesser man would hang himself in the bathroom. I'm just gonna finish watching Doc Hollywood and call it a night. Sunday could be a savior, or a very long day.

Pretty good for a day and a half

Came back yesterday for a quick hit and run of Atlantic City. End Result: +$565. I didn't have a single losing session and I played exactly as I should be playing, tight and aggressive.

Best played hand:

I have 5c-7c in the BB. MP raises to $11 and 4 people call so I make the call for a $2 discount. Flop is 7h-4c-2s. Top pair with running straight and flush draws. Ok, I'll take a stab. I bet out $22. I get two callers, including the original raiser (O.R.). Turn is a 3h, giving me an OESD along with my top pair. Assuming no one has a six, I have 13 outs to improve here (two 7's, three 5's, four 6's and four Aces). A perfect time to semi-bluff. I confidently carve out a silo of $100 (half my stack) and push it forward. The first caller folds. The O.R. tanks and starts cursing to himself before mucking QQ face up. Cherry!

Not getting hassled, anymore

Ernie Barnes, the guy who painted the memorable painting "Sugar Shack", featured in the opening credits of the TV Show "Good Times", has died.

Not Dy-no-mite.

Fun fact, though; he was a former football player. And if you comment on how I mangled that punctuation in that last sentence, I'll kill you.

The mystery is solved

Last year, my beloved Starbucks which was just outside my door, mysteriously closed with no warning whatsoever. This, by the way, had nothing to do with the mass closings of Starbucks that happened at the same time since this location wasn't on the published list of closings. For a year now, the windows were taped over and I'd been pondering what was happening behind those sheets. I knew construction was occurring, but to what end? Would the Starbucks be reopened, perhaps remodeled? Maybe another eatery? Well, yesterday the mystery was solved as the workers hoisted the letters of the store to their place over the doorway.

TOURBULLON

Yeah, I'd never heard of it either but a quick Google search confirms that it's a fancy shmancy watch store. Yeah, good timing guys. Bring back my coffee!

America...Fuck Yeah!

Coming to kick your Mother Fucking ass now!

Who says we're not the best country in the world? A flying robot sniper helicopter is now a reality. I'll repeat that. A flying robot sniper. And (yes it gets better), the whole thing is controlled by an XBOX 360 controller.

Excuse me. I just jizzed in my pants.

Way too funny

http://www.geekologie.com/2009/04/fail_how_not_to_get_your_wife.php

Memorable hands from Chicago Trip

In the blur of activity that was my Chicago area trip (not really since I was 200 miles from Chicago in some instances), it's hard to remember particular hands. Even harder when you've played thousands of hours in your career and have gotten close to seeing all possible situations. But still, some hands manage to stick in your short term memory. Four hands from my recent trip are memorable and worthy of inclusion here:

Hand #1 - Memorable, but not terribly exciting. Basically, I doubled up with AA in a $1/$2 NLHE game. Happens all the time, right? What struck me about this hand, though, is that I played it poorly coming out of the gate. I was UTG+1 and raised to $11. As soon as my bet was out, I knew I'd made a mistake. 4 players called my raise. $11 is too little. I should have made it $16. Yes, you run the risk of not getting any callers, but anyone who *does* call you is likely to stay to the end. It all depends on the table make-up, naturally, but $11 was too little here. As it turns out, I got lucky when the flop was KJx and a guy with KQ paid me off on every street. I bet out $40 on the flop, he called. Turn was a rag, I pushed for $110, he called, I won.

Hand #2 - I have 8c9d, again UTG+1. I limp and there's a raise to $7 in MP. 4 people call, myself included. Flop is 5s-6h-7s. I flop the stone cold nuts, but I'm wary of the spade draw. I check in early position and the next player (not the original raiser), bets out $25. The original raiser folds, the guy on the button goes all in for $35 and I smooth call. The other guy calls. There's now $20 in the side pot heads up and about $100 in the main pot. The turn is the Js, putting a 3 card flush on board. At this point, I have to decide what to do and I study my opponent. He's a mid 30's indian guy, sucking on a beer and looking pretty sullen and aggressive. I take into account that he bet out on the flop, so I have to put him on a made hand; either two pair or a set. His aggressive look and sullen demeanor give me an indication that he's going to play for the pot. So I check and he shoves all in for $95. For the reasons indicated, I didn't put him on the flush draw, so after some more thinking, I called. My feeling was I was beating this guy, so even if the all-in guy had a flush draw to win the main pot, I could win a nice side pot. The river was the 2s! Four spades on the board and not one in my hand. I figure I'm beat by luck and the indian guy shows down 3h4c for the flopped bottom end of the straight. No spades! I win the side pot. The all-in guy shows Jc-8d, for the flopped OESD! No spades! I win the main pot as well on a stone read that turned out to work in my favor when no one had any spades.

Hand #3 - The one I'm most proud of on the whole trip is one I folded. I have AQo UTG+2 and I limp, because I don't like raising AQo in early position in a cash game. Luckily, 5 players limp and the flop is Qd-8c-9c. First player checks. Second player bets out $15. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something was fishy there. The $15 bet was a tad over pot sized and it raised the hackles on my neck. I started thinking about hands that would limp that would be killing me on this flop. Q9, Q8, 89, JT, 88, 99. QQ is a raising hand, so I discounted it. As I was 7th best out of possible hands here, I decided to muck. Top pair, top kicker, a moderate bet to me and I went with my read and mucked! Good fold too, because it went to showdown after someone shoved with QJ (!) and the bettor ended up having 89 in the hole for a flopped two pair.

Hand #4 - Almost as good of a read as the last one. THe game is $3/$6 Omaha Hi/Lo. I have T-K-2-4 in my hand. The flop is TT3. I'm first to act and I bet out with my trip Tens. Another calls and the guy to my right raises! I call one bet, hoping to fill up on the turn and the other guy does too. The turn is a 3. It checks around to the raiser, who bets and I say, "This is the fold of the year here" and I muck. It wasn't really the fold of the year, because I didn't have the best kicker with the Ten, but it was a great fold because I knew what the guy had. Just before he exposed his cards at showdown, I called it out, "Quad Threes". Sure enough, he rolled 33 and scooped the pot. I don't like drawing dead. Something about how fearless he was against the TT3 board told me he had flopped a boat. And if I have one of the Tens, it's more likely he has 33 then T3. That fold saved me some bets because a King came on the river, filling me up!

RAZZ cash!

I made a ghey cash in a 10+1 RAZZ tourney last night on FTP.



5th of 44 ain't shabby, even if it was the lowest money in the tourney. Just the fact that I cashed in RAZZ makes me very happy. I even got it all in with the best of it. After the bubble burst, I had (36)8 to start against (56)2. Fourth street was a 2 and fifth street was a seven, making me an 87 low. My opponent was showing xx24T when I went all in. And even though I managed to spike a 4, improving me to a 76 low, my opponent rivered an Ace, giving him a 65 low and taking me out. Too bad, too, because I would have doubled up and had a fighting chance to win it if that had worked out.

Ah well. Maybe I'll get some sleep now. It's 3:45AM!

Chicago area poker trip - By the numbers

It's been a long day. After waking up today in Milwaukee, WI and driving to Chicago, IL for lunch, I flew out of Midway airport to LaGuardia to have dinner with friends and I'm not comfortably back home.

Which means that I really don't have the energy to type up a full trip report. So for now, I'll crunch the numbers and post the results. It was a VERY successful trip.

The Numbers
Cars Rented: One (Nissan Versa)

Miles Driven: 1,210

Tanks of gas used: 3.75

Total Driving Time: 22 hours, 57 minutes

States Visited: 5 (Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan)

Casinos Visited: 16

Poker Rooms Visited (Defined as using a live dealer): 14

PokerTek Poker Rooms Visited: 1

Profit as a result of Poker: +$932.75

Profit as a result of Table Games: +$85

Casino Employees interviewed: 6

Casino Employees yet to be interviewed over the phone: 1

Types of Poker Games played: 13 ($3-$6 Limit Hold'em, $3-$6 Limit Hold'em w/full kill, $4-$8 Limit Hold'em, $5-$10 Limit Hold'em, $4-$8 Limit HO w/half kill, $6-$12 Limit HO w/half kill, $10-$20 HO w/half kill, $3/$6 O/8, $5-$10 O/8, $0.50/
$1 No Limit Hold'em, $1-$2 No Limit Hold'em, $2-$5 No Limit Hold'em, No Limit Hold'em Tournament)

Poker Sessions (Switching games counts as a new session): 21

Total Session time: 45 hours, 3 minutes

Avg. Session Length: 2 hrs, 8 minutes, 43 seconds

Best Session for time spent: A 31 minute session playing $5-$10 Limit Hold'em at the Hollywood Casino in Aurora, IL yielded $172 in profit.

Best Overall Session: A 1 hr session playing $1/$2 NLHE at the Ameristar East in Gary, IN yielded a $252 profit.

Worst Overall Session: An 88 minute session playing $5/$10 O/8 at the Isle of Capri in Bettendorf, Iowa yielded a $194 loss.

Shortest Session: A 30 minute session playing $1/$2 NLHE at the Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City, IN yielded a $37 profit.

Longest Session: A 6 hour and 35 minute session playing $3/$6 O/8 at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee, WI yielded a $181 profit.

Times I felt skeeved by the nastiness of the hotel room I stayed in: 3

Number of matzoh related items I ate: Zero

Number of matzoh related items available for purchase: Zero

Number of confirmed Jews spotted during the entire trip: One

Number of times I overheard Anti-Semitic remarks at the poker table: Two (In neither case were the participants aware I was Jewish. Both times, the remarks revolved around how people should own a particular stock because 'The Jews like it')

Number of Aryan Nation members I ate dinner within earshot of: One, possibly two

There are more stats, but I can't think of them right now. Overall, a good trip pokerwise. Not so much in terms of sightseeing. I didn't get to stay in Chicago at all, except to visit for a brief 3 hours on my way back to the airport to come home. At least I got to eat deep dish pizza though. It was at Pizzeria Due and is highly recommended!



That was on the list of things to do. On the way to the airport, I passed, completely by accident, the Jelly Belly factory in Kinosha, WI.




I stopped off to take the tour but they were, sadly, closed for Easter.

How cool am I?

I ate lunch at Shake Shack today on the UWS at Columbus and 78th at 1:30p. When I was done, approx. 2:10p, I walked across the street and then south to Columbus and 75th. Now, the good folks at Gawker Stalker have told me that Bono, the U2 lead singer, was eating lunch outside at Isabella's (Columbus and 77th) at 2PM. Which means I walked right by him and didn't even notice.

That's right. Like a TRUE NEW YORKER. Suck it, bitches!