The Money-Making Challenge

I was me versus the real world two nights ago, to see who could make the most money. I'm in Waco, visiting some friends and they both had to leave to work a late shift at Red Lobster.
My friend Ryan let me download PokerStars on his computer, and we decided to see who could make more money.
About an hour into my session I was down $150, and was more concerned with breaking even than winning the challenge.
I did break even and then some, after going on a nice run and finishing the night an unimpressive, 7-5. I lost another $30 in a rebuy sat because of 3 big hands that I should have won, and so my profit came out to about $40.
Over at Red Lobster, by friend had a bad night. One table ran up a $90 bill on him and tipped $2. Sometimes foreigners simply don't know what's going on.
But he still beat me by about $20.

While I'm here in Waco me and Ryan are rigging my car's car audio system. We now have 2 12"s and one 10"in it, and we will spend today wiring in speakers.
Should be fun.
Should be Loud.

Pot Limit What?

I went to sleep last night with !230 in my PS account. That extra $30 was begging to be used for WCOOP satellites, so that's just what I resolved to do today.
When I got up a $5r sat was seating. I don't like $5 rebuys that much, but I can't always wait for something better. There's no reason I can'e beat 10-11 people and get a seat. So I registered.
I quickly rebought to 3000, and was dealt the first hand.
All four cards of it.
I look at the blue bar bordering the window, Pot Limit Omaha....
Well, I wouldn't have registered had I known that.
Oh well, time to play cards.
The first hour is pretty good, and I'm around 8-10K at the break. Then I get card dead.
I suffer through no cards and find myself at 10xBB when everyone else is still deepstacked.
I call a min raise from the BB with Ac3cXxXx and flop a flush draw. The BB bets out and is called by the LP raiser. I check-raise all-in with the nut flush draw and both call.
I miss the flush draw, but the turn is an A and the river a 3, giving me two pair.
It's enough to triple me up.
But I stay card dead. With Kc9c9xXx in the BB, a player raises my blind from LP. It's the second time he's done it, so I jam. He calls with A-rag-rag-rag and I double through him.
Then the cards heat up, and I do a bit of roller-coastering.
After limping AQQx from EP I have to fold on a QK9 rainbow flop. Both of the other players in the hand had JT; I would have turned a boat and won a huge pot.

A knock out a nice guy at my table who had let himself get way too shortstacked. He was a bit confused why he'd lost the hand.

mikerocks [observer]: there were 4 hearts on the board right
BurntOrnge: yeah
mikerocks [observer]: i had k or hearts
mikerocks [observer]: y didnt i win

Poor guy hadn't play much Omaha. We straightened him out, and bid him good game. He'd gone out in like 15th, not a bad showing at all.
With 108 players registered, we were playing for a mere 7 seats. Which was not what I'm looking for. ut for $15, it's what you get. (I was in for the min. $15 after the break, rare for me in a rebuy)

I had my ups and downs, but by the time we got to the FT I was looking good. I was pretty tough on the blinds, especially when the button and SB because those two guys had plenty of chips and had gone turtle.
Of course, the idiot on my left decides when I open from UTG that with TTxx he needs to play. I have AKQx and flop top two. I bet out, he calls on the TKQ flop. The turn is an A and we check it down from there.
NH Bub, I lose a 50K pot.
But from there it is smooth sailing. I steal more blinds, and don't see another flop.
The 9th player was elimnated shortly after we went to the final table and number 8 went out after a battle.

With the win, I registered for the $215 HU Matches, event no. 3 on Sep. 6th.
With a guaranteed prize pool of $200K and a bracelet at stake, I'd really like to make something happen there.
Wish me luck.

Hired

Thanks to one of my readers, I've been offered a job. I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing, but I'm excited. It's a part time job paying $10/hr.
Right up my alley.
The job interview was awesome. We talked poker.
My new boss has played some big games and has been playing poker for years.
Like any true online player, he's also a blogger. Check his out, it's funny and well-written.
http://deadmoneyinc.blogspot.com/
It's possible you know him as WPTfanner, ScottMc.

Anyway, I don't forsee this cutting to much into my poker playing. But it could. That wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.
It could also mean that I'll start playing in some of Austin's home games.
I'd like that, and I'd write them up.

Last night, I decided to play 10 HU matches today.
I stopped at 6.
My record today is 5-1. In the match I lost, my opponent pushed 1300 in PF with T4dd. I called with AK. The K on the flop looked good, but running diaonds crippled me.
After that flop, I had a 93% chance of winning the hand, but it was not to be.
I won my next match in 3 hands.
After calling a riase with KTs, I check-raised the T-hi flop. As soon as I did, I got the feeling that my opponent might jam with a wide range of hands. I prepared myself to call.
He jammed, and my mind made up beforehand, I called. He showed QT and the match was over when a K hit on the river.

The next match lasted 1 hand. I had AK on the button and decided to be a jack ass. I pushed all-in.
The play is bad and laughable. I won't argue with that.
But it has it's redeeming factors.
Call or fold, this guy has me pegged as a jackass goofball. If he holds an A, he knows that it's better than my average starting hand. Wining in one hand would be as desirable for him as it is for me, so he could decide to take the percieved likely edge and go with it.
Afterall, maybe I always push the first hand of HU SnGs.
In this case, my opponent called with ATcc. The T on the flop was disheartening, but the Q on the turn filled my gutshot, and I was the winner.

My next match lasted a bit longer, 16 hands. I realized quickly that my opponent had three big bullets in his bluff gun. I didn't actually see a bluff, but I felt it. Rapid fire, big bets got me to fold a dinky pair.
He had a chip leader when this hand came up:
PokerStars Game #2186225228: Tournament #10501200, Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2005/07/25 - 19:10:59 (ET)
Table '10501200 1' One on One Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: BurntOrnge (1320 in chips)
Seat 2: DonWally (1680 in chips)
BurntOrnge: posts small blind 10
DonWally: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [8d 4d]
BurntOrnge: raises 40 to 60
DonWally: raises 40 to 100
BurntOrnge: calls 40[b]I put him on hi cards, and there's no way I'm folding to that pathetic re-raise[/b]
*** FLOP *** [4h Tc Td]
DonWally: bets 240 [b]ok, I put him on high cards, and he bet out just like I thought he would. If my 4 is good the only reason to raise would be to protect my hand. But he's got 6 outs and he'll continue to fire. If an AK or Q hits I can reevaluate the situation. If not, I can let him bluff off his chips.[/b]
BurntOrnge: calls 240
*** TURN *** [4h Tc Td] [Jh]
DonWally: bets 220
BurntOrnge: calls 220
*** RIVER *** [4h Tc Td Jh] [3c]
DonWally: bets 480 [b]gut check, third barrel of the bluff? Is my pair really good? I think fold, but what;s a read worth if you can't go with it? Calling and losing leaves me below 400 in chips... [/b]
BurntOrnge: calls 480
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DonWally: shows [Qd Kd] (a pair of Tens)
BurntOrnge: shows [8d 4d] (two pair, Tens and Fours)
BurntOrnge collected 2080 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2080 | Rake 0
Board [4h Tc Td Jh 3c]
Seat 1: BurntOrnge (button) (small blind) showed [8d 4d] and won (2080) with two pair, Tens and Fours
Seat 2: DonWally (big blind) showed [Qd Kd] and lost with a pair of Tens

Game ovuh, I won when I rivered a two-card flush and he rivered a one card straight.


I decided to play one more match.
I was the first to sit, and was joined by Vogman42.
This was hardly desirable. Vogman is an Austin player. He played in the WSOP, and had beaten me HU on our only previous meeting.
When he sat, I typed "boo" in the chat box. Then I typed his real last name. He was a bit surprised by this, because A. he'd forgotten that we'd played and B. he never told me his name.
I learned his name from my new boss, which brings this whole entry full circle.
They'd played in live games before and I mentioned him during the interview. He told me his name, and his WSOP history.
I'd like to say that my win over him was a result of my incredible play, but I can't.
He'd gotten a small lead on me when I raised from the button with TT. He called and the flop came JQ2.
He checked. He likes to check-raise and I walk into them a lot. Not today, I feel the check-raise and I check. A beautiful T peels off on the turn.
Vogman bet 140 into the 120 pot and I make it 355. He pushes, and I grimace and call.
He has a set of ducks.

"A set of deuces is like a mackerel in the moonlight. One minute it's real shiny.
The next it stinks."
-Tilt

So I'd caught a two-outer. Lucky me.
But I'm not happy about the hand I took him out with. I played it like a donk, sorta...
*********** # 1 **************
PokerStars Game #2187890184: Tournament #10509340, Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2005/07/25 - 22:21:44 (ET)
Table '10509340 1' One on One Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: BurntOrnge (2540 in chips)
Seat 2: vogman42 (460 in chips)
vogman42: posts small blind 10
BurntOrnge: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [6d 5d]
vogman42: calls 10
BurntOrnge: checks
*** FLOP *** [3h 8s 7d]
BurntOrnge: checks
vogman42: bets 40[b]hmmm, I like my draw, but I don't want to just try to hit it, especially when the odds aren't right. I do have fold equity though, and a push isn't overdoing it. With A8 I probably play it the same way.[/b]
BurntOrnge: raises 440 to 480
vogman42: calls 400 and is all-in[b] but with A8 at least I'd be ahead. Instuincts are big in HU, and I felt like he was going to call. So my play was nothing short of bad. If I had 9T it would have been a lot better, but with 56, it's pretty bad.
BurntOrnge said, "oops"
*** TURN *** [3h 8s 7d] [4c]
*** RIVER *** [3h 8s 7d 4c] [7s]
vogman42 said, "i knew it"
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BurntOrnge: shows [6d 5d] (a straight, Four to Eight)
vogman42: shows [Ts 8c] (two pair, Eights and Sevens)
vogman42 said, "gg"
BurntOrnge collected 920 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 920 | Rake 0
Board [3h 8s 7d 4c 7s]
Seat 1: BurntOrnge (big blind) showed [6d 5d] and won (920) with a straight, Four to Eight
Seat 2: vogman42 (button) (small blind) showed [Ts 8c] and lost with two pair, Eights and Sevens

Beating him took 25 hands.

The Big Game

Last night saw me sitting at a cash game table. A rare occurence to be sure, but this game was too big to miss.
ActionJeff, a 10/20 NL player; N8, the owner of PS Crew; N!LE, a very succesful PS MTT player; and a few other guys all got together on a .01/.02 NL table.
By the time we were really going, the average pot was $7. I'd lost a $50 pot, and then got back to even a few minutes later without utilizing the re-buy glitch. It was sick.
I lost the pot to ActionJeff, when I tried to put him on a semi-bluff, going against my first read. My first read was two pair. I chenged it to flush-draw, and went wild with my top pair. He had two pair, and I was felted.
I got KK all-in and lost it once. But then I won a huge, 4-way all-in pot with it for my second $25 pot of the night.

I sucked at poker today. No need to go into it. I was shafted all day long.
Right before the break in a $10r sat I lost a huge pot with TT after getting all in vs 99 and 44 on the 678 flop. Ironically, a river t cost me the hand. It also cost me $30 in rebuys as I tried to scramble to get lucky before the break. I ended up with the minimum 5K in chips as I rebought twice and then added on on the final hand.
It was sick.
Worse, when we were getting semi-close I tried a resteal from a button raise with A7. My opponent had AK and wasn't going anywhere. I flopped a 7. He turned a K, which gave me a flush draw that I missed.
I was pissed and lost my next two $50 HU matches. One due to tilt.
I rarely tilt, but I did today.
Luckily, I've won my last two HU matches. The first win I had to suffer through a 2-outer than a 3-outer against me in big pots.
I hate slowplaying, even HU, but it's so necessary to decieve your opponents. I lost one match after slowplaying KK with a 2:1 lead. Twice when I'd thought and called the BB, my opponent had pushed. So I did that. The fake timing tell didn't work and the flop was 55x. He had 58o and I couldn't get away.

Non-poker Hobby

I was born with a collector's mentality. So, like a pack rat, I have a lot of junk. Some "collections" I don't tak e seriosuly. Some I do.
I have quasi-collections of PEZ dispenser, Star Wars toys, buttons/pins, etc.
I even buy video games and system with a collection mentality, though I don't fool myself into thinking they'll be worth any money.
I have a Super Nintendo, a Nintendo 64, a Nintendo GameCube, a PlayStation, a PS2, and a dream cast. My original Nintendo broke and my younger brother has an XBox.
I have a fair amount of games, and I never trade them in, no matter how bad they turn out to be.

But my main collection is baseball cards and sports memorbilia in general.
I have tens of thousands of cards and thousands of card depicting players that have played for the San Francisco Giants (my favorite team).
Besides Giants players, my collection focuses on Scott Rolen, Darin Erstad and, to some extent, Alex Rodriguez.
My crown jewel collection is of Will Clark, a former Giant and great player.
I'm posting this because of a nice, but inexpensive, purchase I made on eBay today.
It only ran me $20 after shipping, but this will look nice on my bare walls. While at the Galleria in Houston I visited a store called "Field of Dreams." I was awe-inspired by their selection of autographed photographs and memorobilia. The prices were nothing short of exorbitant, but this stuff was incredible.
Their website can be found here.
The site does not do the store justice by a longshot. They had Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazie autograped boxing gloves. They had numerous gorgeous Tiger Woods autographs, and Texas favorites like Earl Campbell and Warren Moon were also abundant.
But what really struck me was the Nolan Ryan stuff. Growing up it was cliche to love Ryan, so I stayed away from him. But in the last few years, I've become more of a fan. They had autograped pictures of him beating up Robin Ventura and also of him on the mound in his bloody jersey.
That tag on the latter picture reads $400,
I am tempted to save up for it.
If it was $200, I do believe I'd buy it. $400 is a lot for a picture with some ink on it, but that picture would add so much to any room it was in.
Even surrounded by similar items, it took my breath away.
I want it.

A little side bet

I've played one HU match today. I was quickly chopped to a 2:1 deficit. Then I raised with 33, flopped a boat, played the hand to perfection and took a slight lead.
I lost the lead, as my opponent kept the pressure on. Then came this hand.

*********** # 18 **************
PokerStars Game #2169273540: Tournament #10412090, Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2005/07/23 - 15:39:46 (ET)
Table '10412090 1' One on One Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: maxv2 (1660 in chips)
Seat 2: BurntOrnge (1340 in chips)
BurntOrnge: posts small blind 10
maxv2: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [2h 2d]
BurntOrnge: raises 40 to 60
maxv2: raises 120 to 180
BurntOrnge: raises 1160 to 1340 and is all-in
maxv2: calls 1160
*** FLOP *** [3d 4s 6d]
*** TURN *** [3d 4s 6d] [Jh]
*** RIVER *** [3d 4s 6d Jh] [5d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
maxv2: shows [Qh Ah] (high card Ace)
BurntOrnge: shows [2h 2d] (a straight, Deuce to Six)
BurntOrnge collected 2680 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2680 | Rake 0
Board [3d 4s 6d Jh 5d]
Seat 1: maxv2 (big blind) showed [Qh Ah] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 2: BurntOrnge (button) (small blind) showed [2h 2d] and won (2680) with a straight, Deuce to Six

Pretty wild by me, but a pair is usually good HU and he was very aggressive. He could have always folded the AQ. I was playing passive compared to him.
He was unimpressed.

maxv2 said, "genious"
BurntOrnge said, "yawn"
maxv2 said, "hey tilt monster"
maxv2 said, "calm down"
maxv2 said, "I don't want to see you at the play money tables tommorow"
BurntOrnge said, "uh huh"

I finish him off when I raise with K8cc, flop top pair, and put him all-in on the suited flop. He has middle pair, no kicker and a heart draw. He doesn't connect.
BurntOrnge said, "gg bro"

maxv2 [observer]: see you at the play money tables!
BurntOrnge [observer]: I won't be there
maxv2 [observer]: side bet?
BurntOrnge [observer]: but say hi to the guys
BurntOrnge [observer]: ok
maxv2 [observer]: 1k?
BurntOrnge [observer]: on if I ever end up there?
maxv2 [observer]: I give you 2 months
BurntOrnge [observer]: deal
maxv2 [observer]: bye bye
BurntOrnge [observer]: we need a witness

Remind me in two months to track this guy down and collect my $1K. How exciting.

Day Wrap-Up

Because I posted the bad start of my day, I thought it only right to wrap it up for you.
I played 3 more heads up matches, and won each won. I also threw $W60 into a $10r sat for the 6-hand PL HE and lost three hands after the break racing for a T15K pot.
At that point one player in five would get a seat, and I started the hand above average in chips. So how'd I get myself in a race for all of them?
Interesting set of circumstances. I have AKdd UTG. I make it 450. As soon as the player on my right folds, I start thinking about the player in the cut off. He's played the last two hands as if we could still re-buy, really maniacal. So I tell myself if he re-raises, I'm jamming.
He does, so I jam. We get the chips in and he shows JJ. The hand is better than I thought it might be, but I can race. The flop brings two diamonds and the race is still on. But he fades my 15 outs, and it's to the rail for me.

The other day I was in Game Crazy. A Mexican fella comes in the store to trade in his PS2. They're going to give him $70 store credit; that's not right. I offer $80 cash, and now I have a PS2.
While I was at the Galleria in Houston, I bought a memory card and Commandos 2. A few days ago I bought SOCOM, so I've been playing those.
SOCOM is all it's supposed to be, great game.
Commanods 2 is a different story. I really want to like this game. But the first level I'm already stuck. For some reason I can't gag and tie workers that I knock out, and I can't even disarm the soldier I knock out. I don't have any lethal weapons, and my sidekick is a rescued dog with out killing capabilities.
WTF?

Plans for the 4Runner

With the 4Runner now in my possession, and a few miles put on it, it's time to start thinking about, what next?
I'm thinking it neds an auditory upgrade. It's got 1 10" subwoofer with a 500 watt amp and 4 dinky Pioneer speakers. I brought my old car audio system from Conroa back to Austin, and I have 2 12"s, a 500 watt amp, and 6 speakers, including two 6 1/2" Sony Xplodes.
A 10-speaker, 3-sub, 2 amp sytem in that little 4Runner would be pretty cool. But I'm going to want it to look nice. So it's going to take some planning. I want to build one enclosure for the 3 subs. Then I'll put the 6 1/2s in cubby holes on each side of the back seats. That leaves 4 speakers, and I'll have to get creative with thei placing.
Plus, two of the speakers in the car now are lying ghetto-style in the back, wired but not enclosed.
That grates on my nerves and will have to be changed.

I'm still not sold on $50 HU matches. I can't seem to win the first one on any given day, and that always sets me back. Today I'm a big 0-for-2. I was a missed draw away from winning the second one, with all the chips in the middle after I flopped a set with AJ, but he made his straight. Then he limp-called an all-in raise with QJs when I had him barely outchipped and the blinds had gotten high. I had 56o, flopped an open-ended dra, but connect connect with any of my 14 outs after the flop.

The first match was ugly. I couldn't hit a flop. When I flopped two pair, he flopped top two and it was over.

I spent the last three days in Houston, attending Big 12 media days. That was a lot of fun. I got to talk to several football coaches and players, including Texas QB Vince Young, Texas A&M QB Reggie McNeal and many more.

As a member of the media I got a lot of free stuff and I got into a couple 'invite only' receptions, including one held at the Fox Sports Bar and Grill in the Galleria. That one featured a lot of free food, an open bar (no good for 20-yo me) and Houston Texans cheerleader. (They were extraordinarily hot).

Yet Another Change...?

If you've read my blog long, you know I tend to have a "bread and butter" game that I go with. Lately it's been $35+3 6-handed Sit and Gos. Then there was my two months of hardcore MTT play, which overlapped the SnGs some. Before that was $20 SnGs, I think. And before that was $5 4-man HU shootouts.
You can see the progression in buy-ins.
My BR has been static lately as I've been living off poker money, and unable to really grow my bankroll.
I recently changed my desired balance at $1200 rather than $1000, a small change that gave me additional padding rather than allowing me to play bigger games.
But I'm considering a switch. $100 a day in $35+3 SnGs isn't all that easy, and I'm coming up short too often. I like my goal, though nearly 10% increase in BR a day is lofty, I think it's attainable.
I'm a good HU player, and am considering going back in that direction. But I'll play $50 HU matches. If I can go +2 a day, I'll be accomplishing my goal. That seems like it would be very doable. But I often have unrealistic expectations for myself.
But if I can't win 2 more HU matches than I lose in a day, I'm not a very good HU player...
And I think I'm quite good HU....

I've played two $50 HU mtaches. The first one was about a week ago, and I lost it. With the loss I forgot about them; I only played it on whim.

But after a PSCrewer posted about their softness, it hit me that my goal could become more easily attainable by going this route.

If you read this, I'd like you to weigh in with your thoughts. Think it's a good idea?

The Heads Up Challenge

One of the PSCrew Bloggers, McLaughlin04 issued a standing challenge to anyone for a best-of-five series of HU matches. I like HU action and was first in line.
The action kicked off last night with a one-hand PLO tournament.
I was deal AxAd9dXx on the first ahnd and raised, out of position. He called an on the flop I was sitting with an overpair and a flush draw. He raised my pot size bet pot, and I took a hard look at the board. I put him on two pair, and figured with my AA I had enough outs to put him to the test. He called with a set of ducks.
I turned the flush, and that was all she wrote.

Today we set to concluding the series. We started with NL HE and then PL HE.
I played poorly in NL HE and the deck hit him squarely in the face. I was felted within the first two levels.
In PL HE we fought back and forth, but he made a good call against me with second pair to end the game.

I felt like the HE events would be my best, and I'd blown both of them. Next was PLO H/L. I must say, that's not a very fun game to play HU with small blinds. I knocked him down immediately, but he came back with two suckouts to get it back to 1750-1250 or so. Eventually I called a raise with the mighty 8d9d5x2x and flopped a 6-hi straight. The flop also gave me a lo, and when the betting took off I figured we'd split.
It turned out, he'd decided to recklessly bluf with KKxx. He din't have a chance for a low and need to hit a set and then fill up to double up.
His luck wasn't that good and we were tied 2-2.
The last game of the day was Stud. Fittingly it was a $10+.5, instead of $5+.25 like all the others.

I don't think he'd played much stud before....
I took a quick lead, and widened it and widened it and widened it. My reads were dead on, and I only lost big pots due to suckouts.
When he was down to 250, the big bet was 50. I was dealt 88x and he limp-raised me before fourth came out. I figured he meant to go with this hand come hell or high water, so I jammed. I was right and we got it all in on 4th or 5th.
He'd chosen AQ8 to go with, and I was way ahead. I kept my eyes glued on his cards and he never improved better than a pair of 8s.

With that hand I had won the HU Challenge.
How dramatic.

But really, I'm very competitive and winning was pretty fun, especially after giving up the HE events. I was really close to tilting after losing the PL HE, and I think the change in games is the only reason I didn't. After I won the PLO H/L, I was determined to win the whole thing, and my previous stud experience, modest as it is, paid off.

I figured the monumental win earns a trophy.

Don't Believe Me

After flat calling the JKx flop, I check-raise the rag turn.
He folds after some thought...
mclaughlin04: show me
Dealer: Game #2121900945: BurntOrnge wins pot (540)
mclaughlin04: weak
BurntOrnge: sorry, I minimized it, KT
mclaughlin04: gh
BurntOrnge: you have a J?
mclaughlin04: K no kicker
BurntOrnge: nf

If it wasn't for the title of this thread, you'd believe me.

Here's the hand history.
PokerStars Game #2121900945: Tournament #10160361, Hold'em Pot Limit - Match Round I, Level II (15/30) - 2005/07/17 - 04:30:56 (ET)
Table '10160361 1' One on One Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: BurntOrnge (1155 in chips)
Seat 2: mclaughlin04 (1845 in chips)
BurntOrnge: posts small blind 15
mclaughlin04: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [9s 8c]
BurntOrnge: calls 15
mclaughlin04: raises 60 to 90
BurntOrnge: calls 60
*** FLOP *** [Kd Jc 5s]
mclaughlin04: bets 90
BurntOrnge: calls 90
*** TURN *** [Kd Jc 5s] [5h]
mclaughlin04: bets 90
BurntOrnge: raises 150 to 240
mclaughlin04: folds
mclaughlin04 said, "show me"
BurntOrnge collected 540 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 540 | Rake 0
Board [Kd Jc 5s 5h]
Seat 1: BurntOrnge (button) (small blind) collected (540)
Seat 2: mclaughlin04 (big blind) folded on the Turn


But in all fairness, he's owned me heads up. We're playing a best-of-five challenge. He's up 2-1.
I won the PLO, he took NL HE and PL HE.
But he got hit with the deck like I haven't seen in the NL HE match, and I aggressed my self right of of that one.

Right now we're playing PLO H/L I just took two beats in a row that turned a commanding lead into a slim one.

And I take it down with one ugly hand!
PokerStars Game #2121967573: Tournament #10160141, Omaha Hi/Lo Pot Limit - Match Round I, Level II (10/20) - 2005/07/17 - 04:54:25 (ET)
Table '10160141 1' One on One Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: BurntOrnge (1740 in chips)
Seat 2: mclaughlin04 (1260 in chips)
BurntOrnge: posts small blind 10
mclaughlin04: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [2c 8d 5s 9d]
BurntOrnge: calls 10
mclaughlin04: raises 40 to 60
BurntOrnge: calls 40 I don't like it, but the 89dd looks promising and it has a possible lo
*** FLOP *** [6s 3d 4c] Now the 25 are looking golden, and off we go
mclaughlin04: bets 60
BurntOrnge: raises 240 to 300
mclaughlin04: raises 720 to 1020
BurntOrnge: raises 660 to 1680 and is all-in
mclaughlin04: calls 180 and is all-in
*** TURN *** [6s 3d 4c] [4s]
*** RIVER *** [6s 3d 4c 4s] [6c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
mclaughlin04: shows [6h Kh Kc 8s] (HI: three of a kind, Sixes)
BurntOrnge: shows [2c 8d 5s 9d] (HI: a straight, Deuce to Six; LO: 6,5,4,3,2)
BurntOrnge collected 1260 from pot
BurntOrnge collected 1260 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2520 | Rake 0
Board [6s 3d 4c 4s 6c]
Seat 1: BurntOrnge (button) (small blind) showed [2c 8d 5s 9d] and won (2520) with HI: a straight, Deuce to Six; LO: 6,5,4,3,2
Seat 2: mclaughlin04 (big blind) showed [6h Kh Kc 8s] and lost with HI: three of a kind, Sixes

WSOP

Woe is me.
With Andrew Black crippled by a bad beat and Raymer crippled by a bad beat, and Matusow finished off by a fairly bad beat the Final 5 leave a bit too be desired.
I like Tex Barch.
Other than that, I'm not a big fan of the play I've seen.
Joseph Hachem is alright.

As I write this, Barch calls an all-in re-raise from Aaron Kanter. Barch has AQ, Kanter A7.
The flop is 77T and Kanter doubles up off the best player left in this thing.
This is getting sickening.
(Kanter laid the beat on Raymer and now on Barch.)

So I'm sitting here at 4:45 in the morning. I'm eating pizza, listening to the WSOP broadcast with Phil Hellmuth and Chris Ferguson and watching Batman the movie.
It's like a party with myself.

Morons

How do these people get dressed in the morning?
I was going bananas; the stress factor was high, to say the least.



We'll start from the bubble. Check out these calls.

*********** # 72 **************
PokerStars Game #2107395393: Tournament #10081296, Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2005/07/15 - 03:44:31 (ET)
Table '10081296 1' Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Superbernie (2530 in chips)
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (1135 in chips)
Seat 9: jeffsw (5335 in chips)
BurntOrnge: posts small blind 50
jeffsw: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [As 9d]
Superbernie: folds
BurntOrnge: raises 1035 to 1135 and is all-in
jeffsw: calls 1035 [b] K6hh [/b]
*** FLOP *** [9h 4c Qh] [b]vomit, just breathe[/b]
*** TURN *** [9h 4c Qh] [7d]
*** RIVER *** [9h 4c Qh 7d] [Js]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BurntOrnge: shows [As 9d] (a pair of Nines)[b] and I fade all those outs to double up [/b]
jeffsw: shows [Kh 6h] (high card King)
BurntOrnge collected 2270 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2270 | Rake 0
Board [9h 4c Qh 7d Js]
Seat 1: Superbernie (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (small blind) showed [As 9d] and won (2270) with a pair of Nines
Seat 9: jeffsw (big blind) showed [Kh 6h] and lost with high card King

Deja Vu All over again

*********** # 48 **************
PokerStars Game #2107425081: Tournament #10081296, Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2005/07/15 - 03:53:38 (ET)
Table '10081296 1' Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Superbernie (4005 in chips)
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (1595 in chips)
Seat 9: jeffsw (3400 in chips)
BurntOrnge: posts small blind 75
jeffsw: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [5d Ac]
Superbernie: folds
BurntOrnge: raises 1445 to 1595 and is all-in
jeffsw: calls 1445 [b] K8ss [/b]
*** FLOP *** [Qc Qs 5s] [b] argh, please... [/b]
*** TURN *** [Qc Qs 5s] [6c]
*** RIVER *** [Qc Qs 5s 6c] [9c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BurntOrnge: shows [5d Ac] (two pair, Queens and Fives)
jeffsw: shows [8s Ks] (a pair of Queens)
BurntOrnge collected 3190 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3190 | Rake 0
Board [Qc Qs 5s 6c 9c]
Seat 1: Superbernie (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (small blind) showed [5d Ac] and won (3190) with two pair, Queens and Fives
Seat 9: jeffsw (big blind) showed [8s Ks] and lost with a pair of Queens

Once again I survive vs the flush draw vs overpairs. How the hell am I gettin called with this shit?
Ok, if this was a carazy table that would be one thing, but this is tight, pass the chips back and forth... until I push.

*********** # 45 **************
PokerStars Game #2107429459: Tournament #10081296, Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2005/07/15 - 03:55:02 (ET)
Table '10081296 1' Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Superbernie (2880 in chips)
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (4390 in chips)
Seat 9: jeffsw (1730 in chips)
BurntOrnge: posts small blind 75
jeffsw: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Ah Jc]
Superbernie: folds
BurntOrnge: raises 4240 to 4390 and is all-in
jeffsw: calls 1580 and is all-in [b]KQss... ok, this call is alright. But ya ain't going to get far calling off all your chips with K-hi... as a rule.[/b]
*** FLOP *** [Ad 9c 2c]
*** TURN *** [Ad 9c 2c] [5c]
*** RIVER *** [Ad 9c 2c 5c] [8s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BurntOrnge: shows [Ah Jc] (a pair of Aces)
jeffsw: shows [Qs Ks] (high card Ace)
BurntOrnge collected 3460 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3460 | Rake 0
Board [Ad 9c 2c 5c 8s]
Seat 1: Superbernie (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (small blind) showed [Ah Jc] and won (3460) with a pair of Aces
Seat 9: jeffsw (big blind) showed [Qs Ks] and lost with high card Ace

So he goes down. We're in the money and my opponent has been much more reasonable....

He plays very tight/passive and I wear him down...

*********** # 36 **************
PokerStars Game #2107438394: Tournament #10081296, Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2005/07/15 - 03:57:55 (ET)
Table '10081296 1' Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Superbernie (2480 in chips)
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (6520 in chips)
BurntOrnge: posts small blind 100
Superbernie: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [3c Ah]
BurntOrnge: raises 6320 to 6520 and is all-in
Superbernie: calls 2280 and is all-in [b] JhTc [/b]
*** FLOP *** [Th 2d 7d]
BurntOrnge said, "unreal" [b] Losing the hand wasn't the problem. I was due to, but the call... [/b]
*** TURN *** [Th 2d 7d] [Tc]
*** RIVER *** [Th 2d 7d Tc] [8c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Superbernie: shows [Ts Jh] (three of a kind, Tens)
BurntOrnge: shows [3c Ah] (a pair of Tens)
Superbernie collected 4960 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4960 | Rake 0
Board [Th 2d 7d Tc 8c]
Seat 1: Superbernie (big blind) showed [Ts Jh] and won (4960) with three of a kind, Tens
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (button) (small blind) showed [3c Ah] and lost with a pair of Tens

This play of mine may have been done due to slight tilt, or maybe genuis. He'll call with J-hi. What will make him fold?

*********** # 22 **************
PokerStars Game #2107447410: Tournament #10081296, Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2005/07/15 - 04:00:57 (ET)
Table '10081296 1' Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Superbernie (3560 in chips)
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (5440 in chips)
BurntOrnge: posts small blind 100
Superbernie: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [4s Ks]
BurntOrnge: calls 100
Superbernie: raises 200 to 400
BurntOrnge: calls 200
*** FLOP *** [7s 5d Js]
Superbernie: bets 1200
BurntOrnge: raises 3840 to 5040 and is all-in
Superbernie: folds
BurntOrnge collected 3200 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3200 | Rake 0
Board [7s 5d Js]
Seat 1: Superbernie (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (button) (small blind) collected (3200)

Lol, ok. So maybe he'll fold on flops...

*********** # 12 **************
PokerStars Game #2107454584: Tournament #10081296, Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2005/07/15 - 04:03:33 (ET)
Table '10081296 1' Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Superbernie (1060 in chips)
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (7940 in chips)
BurntOrnge: posts small blind 100
Superbernie: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Qc 3c]
BurntOrnge: raises 7740 to 7940 and is all-in intentional
Superbernie: calls 860 and is all-in [b] Js8c, Gotta love J-hi [/b]
*** FLOP *** [Kh Ac 5s]
*** TURN *** [Kh Ac 5s] [8s]
*** RIVER *** [Kh Ac 5s 8s] [3h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Superbernie: shows [8c Js] (a pair of Eights)
BurntOrnge: shows [Qc 3c] (a pair of Threes)
Superbernie collected 2120 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2120 | Rake 0
Board [Kh Ac 5s 8s 3h]
Seat 1: Superbernie (big blind) showed [8c Js] and won (2120) with a pair of Eights
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (button) (small blind) showed [Qc 3c] and lost with a pair of Threes

This one is fine. I get lucky.
*********** # 4 **************
PokerStars Game #2107460447: Tournament #10081296, Hold'em No Limit - Level VII (100/200) - 2005/07/15 - 04:05:45 (ET)
Table '10081296 1' Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Superbernie (2020 in chips)
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (6980 in chips)
Superbernie: posts the ante 25
BurntOrnge: posts the ante 25
BurntOrnge: posts small blind 100
Superbernie: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Kc 5s]
BurntOrnge: raises 6755 to 6955 and is all-in
Superbernie: calls 1795 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [Tc Jh 8h]
*** TURN *** [Tc Jh 8h] [9h]
*** RIVER *** [Tc Jh 8h 9h] [7c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Superbernie: shows [Ac 3d] (a straight, Seven to Jack)
BurntOrnge: shows [Kc 5s] (a straight, Seven to Jack)
Superbernie collected 2020 from pot
BurntOrnge collected 2020 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4040 | Rake 0
Board [Tc Jh 8h 9h 7c]
Seat 1: Superbernie (big blind) showed [Ac 3d] and won (2020) with a straight, Seven to Jack
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (button) (small blind) showed [Kc 5s] and won (2020) with a straight, Seven to Jack

*********** # 2 **************
PokerStars Game #2107462659: Tournament #10081296, Hold'em No Limit - Level VII (100/200) - 2005/07/15 - 04:06:34 (ET)
Table '10081296 1' Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Superbernie (2245 in chips)
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (6755 in chips)
Superbernie: posts the ante 25
BurntOrnge: posts the ante 25
BurntOrnge: posts small blind 100
Superbernie: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [Qh 4h]
BurntOrnge: calls 100
Superbernie: raises 200 to 400
BurntOrnge: calls 200
*** FLOP *** [2h 5s Kc]
Superbernie: checks
BurntOrnge: bets 4050 [b] Oops, I meant to bet 450... [/b]
Superbernie: calls 1820 and is all-in [b]A4cc, can't fold A-hi! Especially not with that tasty gut shot [/b]
*** TURN *** [2h 5s Kc] [9s]
*** RIVER *** [2h 5s Kc 9s] [7c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Superbernie: shows [4c Ac] (high card Ace)
BurntOrnge: shows [Qh 4h] (high card King)
Superbernie collected 4490 from pot
BurntOrnge said, "lol, wrong button"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4490 | Rake 0
Board [2h 5s Kc 9s 7c]
Seat 1: Superbernie (big blind) showed [4c Ac] and won (4490) with high card Ace
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (button) (small blind) showed [Qh 4h] and lost with high card King

And I'm pretty close to steaming. I've gone 5-6 ITM finishes with out a first, for variou reasons. It's getting to me.
On the next hand, with my chip lead down to T20.

*********** # 1 **************
PokerStars Game #2107464378: Tournament #10081296, Hold'em No Limit - Level VII (100/200) - 2005/07/15 - 04:07:10 (ET)
Table '10081296 1' Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Superbernie (4490 in chips)
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (4510 in chips)
Superbernie: posts the ante 25
BurntOrnge: posts the ante 25
Superbernie: posts small blind 100
BurntOrnge: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BurntOrnge [8d 9c]
Superbernie: calls 100
BurntOrnge: checks
*** FLOP *** [6s 7s Ts] [b] Bingo bango bongo? (last time I got HU I flopped two pair when another guy flopped a flush. My enthusiasm is tempered.[/b]
BurntOrnge: bets 400
Superbernie: calls 400 [b] Drawing [/b]
*** TURN *** [6s 7s Ts] [Tc]
BurntOrnge: bets 3885 and is all-in [b] Fuck this, he's made some crazy calls already. If he flopped it, I'm not getting away from it. If he wants to draw, he can pay.
Superbernie: calls 3865 and is all-in {b] JhJd, no draw[/b]
*** RIVER *** [6s 7s Ts Tc] [2h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BurntOrnge: shows [8d 9c] (a straight, Six to Ten)
Superbernie: shows [Jd Jh] (two pair, Jacks and Tens)
BurntOrnge collected 8980 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8980 | Rake 0
Board [6s 7s Ts Tc 2h]
Seat 1: Superbernie (button) (small blind) showed [Jd Jh] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Tens
Seat 4: BurntOrnge (big blind) showed [8d 9c] and won (8980) with a straight, Six to Ten


It was insane, and after being down $100 on the day, I was happy to break even with this win. I didn't show you all the pre-flop folding that allowd me to wear him down.
And that's the funny thing.
These guys only want to play for all their chips. If they're ahead when the chips go in, that's a bonus. He folded his SB consistently. He folded to SPFRs consistenly. But if I pushed, watch out, here he comes.

I suppose these guys both knew that I'm a better damn player than they are. It's the only thing that makes sense. While I wouldn't especially like being a 60/40 favorite vs. them with all the chips in, they both looked for spots where they were 40/60 dogs.
They wouldn't push, only call.
To say I was left shaking my head would be an understatement. Each time this happened my jaw dropped in my lap, and I just stared at the screen begging silently (or aloud sometimes) to just win the hand.

I decided to do some investigating and find out what their motives might be. I came upon one of them at work....


Ok, I admit. That shot my initial theory to hell.
This guy doesn't think I'm that good a poker player.. He's just a fucking moron.
But at least he's got safety goggles...

It's -EV to be Kind

I have a leak.
I'm a sucker when I hear a hard-luck story.


I've been shafted for this online. Flyerz42, a once-regular poster at PSCrew.com, ripped me off.
But this post concerns those real life hard-luck stories. There was the one black guy on campus who asked for $20. He needed to buy gas and he siad he could pay be back the next day if I went to the University CO-OP where he worked.
I went; I aksed around. He didn't work there, and I'd lost $20.
Big Surprise.
You'd think I'd learn a lesson.
Tonight, after staying indoor all day grinding out $40, I went to HEB and Jack in the Box. HEB was closed, so I got food at the Jack in the Box and went on my way.
Just as I was about to hang a left and exit the shopping center, I saw in front of me a guy jumping up and down waving his hands.
I look to the left.
There's no one there.
I look to the right.
No one.
And there's no one behind me.
This guy wants me to go over there, and I can already feel where this is going.
I should just continue on my way, this'll be the easiest way to get out of this awkward situation.
I pulled up beside him a few seconds later.
Another black guy in need of gas. This gentleman was much like the other. He wanted to make sure I knew he was no threat. Any time he approached with something in his hand, he shouted out what he was holding.
So it turns out he's making a run to Temple, TX and has run out of gas. He's got the box truck right there, so the story seems legit. After leaving his debit card at a Dairy Queen, he has no money. I try to offer to buy the diesel, but neither of us have a container. I offer to buy one, but he fears it won't be big enough. So he suggests I go across the street to Fiesta grocery where I can get cashback. I agree and he asks to ride with me.
How can I insult him by saying no?
I sigh and kick myself on the inside and open the door. At Fiesta he asks if he can stay inside the vehicle while I get money. I'm not having any of that. But in the meantime my power window on the passenger side just went out, while it was down so it doesn't matter.
I go inside, end up using the ATM and I drive him back to his truck. I give him $20 for diesel and my address, so his boss can pay be back.
They say no kind deed goes unpunished.
So he probably magically fucked up my power window, and now he has my address so he can come clean it out whenever he likes.
I'm a genuis.
My apparent naivety begs the question.
Why do I get in these situations?
*************************************************
There was this one time, I met a white guy and his black transvestite friend in the HEB parking lot. Before that night was over, I'd had the white guy help me move into my new apartment and paid him more than half the cash I had (which was not much).
*************************************************
Being a fan of self-analysis i tackled this problem even while the guy was with me.
Could it be, I'm so nice I just have to help?
No. I'm not that nice. I struggled to be friendly dealing with this guy. Plastered on a fake smile, nodded my head at the proper interval etc.
Do I think that I'll be rewarded down the road for this?
I wish. I'm just hoping he doesn't come to my address and rob me blind. I've become quite jaded as far as being nice goes, but I can't stop doing it.
Does it just make me feel good?
That is partially true. It's nice going to bed knowing you've been a blessing to someone. But that's not really the big factor.
So what could it be?
I've decided that I have an inability to turn my back on someone in need. Sometimes, (quite often,) you should. I'm not well off by any means, but I do have the means to help people, and even be ripped off from time to time.

I'll let you know if I get a money order for $20 in the next few days, or if my car is broken into a gutted. I think the latter is more probable than the former, but we'll see.

Paying the Bills

After two full days back in Austin, I've gotten off to a good start. I made and withdrew $235 putting me over my goals.
For two days....
The third day hasn't gone so well, and I'm -$15 right now. It started with a loss in my first ever $50 HU match. Then I have 2 2nds and a loss in $35+3s. I've got to win those. But in the second one, I was down below 400 in chips with 6 left, so I was happy to get the $70+ for placing. In the other I lost a rae HU that would have put me in it.

Back in Austin

And you probably don't know what that means.
So let me tell you.
It's poker time again. After a month of very little poker, I'm going to be hitting it hard.
I learned that my parents will be expecting $380 a month from me to help pay for my apartment, tuition, etc. and as long as I don't have a real job, that'll have to come from poker.
So with my first mission accomplished, a new one has emerged.

But there is a chance I get a temporary 9-5 $15/hr job.
I'd absolutely love to land that.
But I seem to have a sign on my forehead that says 'don't hire me!' I don't know what it is. If I don't have connections, I don't get jobs. But when I have jobs, I'm a good employee.
Fuggit, jobs aren't for poker players.