WSOP event 4

So my first WSOP event ended up a disaster. There is nothing worse than going out in a tournament during the second level except for going out on the money bubble. The tournament structure was good as it allowed for a lot of play and if you became short stacked you could still play in pots as you wouldn't get blinded out quickly with the hour long blinds. I made one costly bluff that crippled my stack after I had picked up almost 2000 chips in a previous hand.

The blinds were 25-50 and after 2 limpers I decide to raise from the button to $150 with Kh 9h. BB calls and one other guy calls from UTG +2. Flop comes 4s Kd 8s. Checks to me and I bet out $300. BB folds and UTG+2 calls. Turn is 2h. He checks and I bet out $700. I think he has a K and I'm probably out kicked but his whole demeanor is weird. I get a feeling like maybe he is on a flush draw or a small pair. He calls the $700. The river brings the Js and he bets out $600. I go in the tank and count out the $600 and if I call and lose that will leave me with $1400 in chips which is enough to play if I'm wrong. I look at my cards again and look at the guy and something just tells me to call. So I go with my gut and make the call and he says good call. He didnt show but he says he had a small pair and was hoping to just buy it if a spade came or if he got trips. So I rake in a good pot that brings my stack up over $5000. What I should do now is just sit back and play big hands and leave the small crap alone. But of course I don't and get myself in trouble later.

About 10 hands later I'm on the button again and we have 2 limpers and I get 8s 8c and just call. I like seeing the flop cheap with small and middle pairs and hope for trips or up and down straight draws. The small blind raises it to $300. At this point I want everyone to fold so that I can fold as well but of course 2 people call so I have to with the amount in the pot. The flop comes 3 5 4 with 2 spades. The small blind bets out $600 and everyone folds to me. Here is where I slit my own wrist. I should just fold the hand and move on. The SB hasn't played many hands and has a tight image in the short time he has played so I know he has an over pair. I decide to get stupid and raise him trying to represent a set. I thought I grabbed one of my yellow chips but It fell out of my hand as I was putting in my raise so instead of raising it to $2200 I only raised it to $1200. So I just min raised the guy. He go's in the tank for a while and finally calls. I put him on KK or QQ at this point as I know he isn't going anywhere with AA. The 2 peels off on the turn and he checks. I figure he is going to fold as if I was bluffing with AK or any ace he is beat so I put him all in for $1300 which is what I was trying to do on the flop. He go's in the tank for a while. At least a minute or so. I just know he is laying this down. but then he starts stacking his chips and pushes them all in for the call. I show my 88 and he turns over AA for the wheel. Everyone at the table calls him on his slow roll and I go on about it and he says I thought you had pocket 6's. I say if you thought that then why did you call then??? you are drawing dead at that point so you are full of crap sir!!! The guy shuts up after that comment because he realizes that he was caught being a gigantic asshole. The river doesn't bring an Ace or a 6 and I take a hit. My stack drops down to $2100 after that hand. Still have plenty of time and I'm not worried. Just need to win a couple of small pots and start to chip up.

Of course that would require some cards now wouldn't it??? I limp around for a couple of hands with suited connectors and miss on every flop. The only decent hand I had was pocket 3's that I limped in with and was quickly raised to $500 pre-flop and I had to fold it.

Now we come to the hand that sent me to the rail. I'm in the BB and UTG+4 raises it to $150. everyone folds to me and I look down at As Ks. I just call as I'm happy to see a flop with that. I don't like A K. I rarely win with it. I lose a shit ton to it though. Flop comes Js Kh 4s. I like that flop!! top pair with a flush draw. I bet out $300 and he calls. The turn is the Ah and I just know i'm good here. I'm happy to just take it down so I put in my last $1500 and he instantly calls me. great. he has a set doesn't he. I show AK and he shows JJ. I've got 13 outs as I need any A, K, or spade to hit. Do you think the poker gods can save me here?? Hell no. board throws up a massive brick that slaps me in the face and I'm gone. Grab my bottle of water and step under the ropes and I'm out.

I would have to say that this tourney was an ultimate failure. I played for less than 2 hours and got nothing out of it. I usually don't mind losing in tourneys as long as I play well and get busted late. I feel that busting early like this is just an utter waste. I don't get any new experience except on how to lose graciously. I decide to head over to the Red Rock to try and get the bad taste out of my mouth. Should have just gone home and rinsed with soap instead.

I sit down and buy in for the max of $200. Play for a couple of hours and pick up some small pots but nothing big. The table is playing reall low as everyone is limping for $2 and no one is raising so i'm seeing a lot of flops for cheap. My stack is about $300 now and I'm planning on leaving when the big blind comes around to me which is 3 hands when I limp with Kc 10c. There are 6 people in the pot. Flop comes 6c 4c 8c. Nice. Everyone checks and I bet out $15. I get one caller. The turn is the Qh. the guy moves all in. He has me covered here. There is $40 in the pot and the guy shoves for over $400?? I figure he has pocket QQ there and doesn't want me to draw to the flush so I figure i'm good here. I stupidly call and he quickly says ship it like an asshole and turns over 5c 7c for the straight flush. I show my K high flush and throw it in the muck as I push my chips over to him. I get up and head towards the door. Suddenly I feel like throwing up. Days like today just suck.

Wish I had signed up for Day 2 now instead of Day 1. Now its back to the grind and will have to start over again. But, its Vegas. where its always sunny and over 90 degrees now. Going to go to the pool with the wife and just hang out and relax. Going to forget yesterday and just move on as there is no need in dwelling on the past. I plan on playing at least one more bracelet event so I need to forget about yesterday and build up my bankroll and play a couple more of the satellites down at the RIO as they were pretty sofft. Just need to win 2 of them to get a buy in for an event.

RB, you ought to be happy now. 2 posts on consecutive days!!

Start of the WSOP

Went down to the Venetian yesterday to play in the noon mega satellite. Tried to win $2300 in tourney chips to be able to take care of my tourneys for the duration. things didn't go so well. I managed to chip up very early on my first table. had 3d3h in the big blind and 6 players limped. I checked it to see a cheap flop and hope to get lucky. Flop comes As 3c 6s. Nice!! SB checks and so do I hoping someone likes that Ace. And they do. UTG bets out and 3 people call. I decide to raise all in and UTG calls. I turn over a set and he shows AK. Good double up for me as the dealer bricks the turn and River. That would be about it for me as I really had nothing else to speak of other than the unlucky beat I had right before the first break.

the blinds are 100-200 and there are I think 3 limpers and i'm in the SB and look down at 2d 5d. I limp and the BB checks. I check in the dark (using your move Ringgo) and the flop comes As 5h 5s. I'm hoping someone will like the Ace and bet it but they don't. The turn is a 6, not sure what suit, and I bet 1000 (my stack was about 3400 before the hand) and get 1 caller. I know my hand is good as long as I can dodge a non board spade or an Ace. Of course an Ace comes on the river and I can't do anything. I check and the guy bets enough to put me all in. I show my 2 5 and tell him he got lucky. He shows A 6 off suit and I should have doubled up right there because he is calling anything I bet. It shouldn't amaze me at all, but the amount of people who call preflop with Ace rag just amazes me. I mean, even if you hit your ace, you are behind because of your kicker. Just amazes me at the skill level of these people. And they say the economy is bad. They should come to vegas and see the people who are putting up $300 at a time to give their money away.

After the break I get nothing to play until I get 99 and shove all in for about $1800. Will (the Poker Monkey to those of you that know him) tells me that he should call in this situation. I know he has A K or A Q. He decides to flip a coin to determine to call me as he didn't want to bust me. It comes up heads and he calls. flop comes Q A Q. I don't catch up and I collect my things and I'm out. Didn't play bad, just didn't get any cards after my pocket 33's.

To top it off, I lost $300 somewhere along the way from pulling my phone in and out of my pocket. Severly pissed off about that.

Went down today to register for the 1K event at the Rio. Walked the halls and decided to check out the action in for the 40k event. The rails were overflowing as everyone was trying to watch the likes of Huck Seed, Doyle Brunson, Chris Moneymaker and others. This being my first WSOP, it was cool to walk the event and see all the tables. It truly is an experience for the first time player. So I go over and buy in and decide to play a $100 satellite. The table is extremely soft and I don't lose a single hand except for one which cost me winning the whole thing instead of chopping it. We are 4 handed at this point and I get 77 in SB. Everyone folds and I put in enough chips to put the BB all in. He calls and shows A 6. I forget the flop but I know he hit a 6. The turn was a brick and the River was an A. Damn. Should have added another 900 to my stack and been chip leader with 3 to play. 3 hands later 2 players go all in and I wake up with AA. I push all and end up felting them. Had I won the previous hand, that would have been the tourney and I win the full $1000. Instead, we decide to chop when we get heads up as we are basically even in chips as I only have $200 more than him. I'll take it. $125 to win $560. Tip the dealer a $20 and head home. Not a bad way to start the WSOP. Think I'll head down and try to play another $125 before event 4 starts.

I draw a good table as I find that mine is on the outside row 3rd table down on the rail. the only downside is that I drew seat 8. I can't stand seat 8. I hate the corners more than anything. It becomes hard to see the cards at some times and I hate having to lean in to see as I feel that can be a tell sometimes. I like being able to just look down without moving to see where I'm at. We shuffle up and deal at 12 noon and hopefully my next blog will be me writing on Sunday saying that we are on to Day 2 on Monday. The structure is very good as the blinds are 60 minutes long and you start with $3000 in chips and the first blind is 25-25. Should make for a lot of poker to be played as long as I can dodge the certain shove fest that will ensue from a lot of the players. Should be a soft field as I'm sure a lot of the more established players might shy away from this one.

Talk to you all next time when I'm chipleader heading into Day 2!!!!

Memorial Day Weekend

Had a good time this weekend. Went down to Caesar's for the weekend and will never stay there again. I forgot how jacked up their hotel is. You have to walk a mile to check in, then walk another 2 miles to get to your room. Its a great place to shop and there are a million places to eat, but staying there is ridiculous. In case you haven't been to Caesar's Palace, when you pull into the front, you get out of your car or cab with all of your luggage and proceed to the main door. At least you think its the main door. You then have to walk across to another area where the check in is. Now, I have been able to gain the rank of Diamond through Harrahs and I use the special check in area that this priveledge gets me. Its 100% worth it. But not here. You have to walk another mile down into the Augustus tower with all of your luggage to get to the Diamond and 7 stars lounge. Now why would you make your best players and biggest spenders walk the farthest? Makes no sense to me. The only time this is good is if you are staying in the Augustus tower, which of course this time around we weren't. We were in the Palace tower which is one of the new towers on the other end of the damn property. So we then proceed to walk through the entire casino and down to the Palace tower. its just a pain in the ass. No other hotel have I stayed in Las Vegas is more ass backwards than Caesar's.

We chose Caesars because it was a free offer so I could't pass it up. Basically I went to play poker and my wife went to go to the pool. I don't know what all the talk about Caesars poker room is about. I found it average at best. Didn't like a single dealer and hated just about everyone that played. They were either idiots who didn't know how to play, or jackasses who thought they were the next Phil Ivey. I don't know if this is the new state of poker, but why can't anyone play flop poker anymore? Why is it always a shovefest pre flop? Why are we constantly shoving $30 pre flop when its a $1-$2 game? Oh yeah, I forgot, got to pay for those $300 jeans and those douchebag hair cuts and shirts you have to wear. Freakin tools!!!

Managed to win about $300 for the trip, nothing big but not a losing session either. Ended up spending that on a Pete Rose bat. He was signing autographs in the Forum Shops at Field of Dreams and decided to splurge. He isn't one of my favorites, but he is the all time hits leader so its a piece I can add to the collection. Also managed to pick up a Yogi Berra ball for under $70. they were having a special and couldn't pass it up.

I almost forgot about the best part of my playing poker. Basically almost got into a fist fight with this jackass because he didn't want to chop the pot. As most of you know, when playing cash games, when it gets to the small and big blind and there is no other action, you chop it up and just pull back your blinds. I have only seen it not happen once. so we get to me and this gigantic jackass and the dealer turns to him and says do you want to chop and he says no. I hadn't even looked at my cards and just grab my $1 and say if you want it so bad you can have it and toss it to him. I probably should have just left it there, but then say I'll remember that and just push all in next time on your big blind. They guy returns with I had A J suited so no I didn't want to chop. WOW, AJ suited. I forgot how much of a monster hand that was pre flop. what is that in the top 25 of starting hands? the guy slams his fist on the table and asks if we want to step outside. WTF? Are you serious I say. You want to fight me because I am basically giving you a lesson on playing poker? I ignore him and he continues to call me names and calls me the generic fat ass comment. I respond with, "how original. Going to the fat jokes." So he stands up says okay fat boy lets go outside and walks past me and slaps me on the back. BINGO!!! I call for a floor and have the hot head removed. He tries to back peddle and say he just touched me. I don't give a rats ass, you touched me while trying to provoke a fight. Kiss my ass and cash out you prick. He continues to rant and rave while collecting his chips and go's to the cage. He comes back to the table and tells me to have a great night and proceeds to call me a fat coward. Okay. Like I haven't been called fat before. I've been fat since high school. I've learned to deal with it. I'm sorry if not wanting to go to jail over this moron is cowardly. If it is, then I'm a coward. I lost no sleep over it. Why would I risk being barred from a Harrah's casino when I am trying to make a living playing poker? Sorry, to smart for that.

Sunday, the wife and I decided we would hang at the pool before we went to dinner and a show. Now I know it was Memorial Day weekend and we probably should have gotten down there sooner, but we get down there around noon and there of course aren't any chairs. But then again, a hotel the size of Ceasers only had about 1000 chairs anyway. they only had 2 pools open and people were splayed out all over the floor because they didn't have enough room. they had the Venus Pool open as well, but its not my idea of relaxing listening to techno music thumping in my ear and watching all the douchebags hit on every walking bikini trying to get the clap. not my cup of tea. Just wanted a spot where we could sit down, lay in the sun, read a book and take a dip in the pool. So we went back to the room and just hung out. Watched a movie and took a nap. Yeah, I know, real fun, but for us it was. We weren't at home, didn't have to worry about our dog wanting to play or go out. We just relaxed.

We got ready and went over to Joe's Stone Crab and steakhouse. Had a great meal. Had the stone crab appetizer of course and I had the King Crab Leg special and Amanda had the scallops. It was a great meal and I would recommend the place to anyone. For being locals, we got free dessert so that was nice.

After that we headed over to the Mirage to watch Love. It was the only Cirque du Solei show we hadn't seen ( I don't count that Criss Angel garbage over at the Luxor nor will I pay to see it). i like the Beatles, but I'm not a die hard fan. I only know their famous songs as I don't own a single CD. It wasn't a Cirque show in the true sense of Cirque du Solei. It was basically just a musical. It was okay, but to me it would have been the same had I just sat at home and put on a CD of the band. I have no interest to go back and see it again.

After that we went back to the room and packed and called it a weekend. Went and picked up the dog the next day and came back to the house and got ready for the week.

Thursday I'm going to play the satellites down at the Venetian and hopefully come away with my buy ins for a couple of tourneys and get prepared for the WSOP event 4 at the Rio this weekend.

Wish me luck!

A really good day

I retract my previous statement about $1-$2. I finally got of the cooler I was on and finally ripped off a decent profit yesterday. I went down to the Venetian and sat down at a $1-$2 for $200. It was the only table going at the time and everyone was sitting between 200 and 300. I decided to just buy the $200 and see what happens as I usually buy the max of $300. Table was relatively soft. Several players had obviously been playing since last night as they had that glass eyed look about them. I don't know how I feel about these kinds of players. They usually will donk off their chips to you, but also will call a lot of crap hands and out flop you and you have no idea what they are holding. Had a similar hand happen yesterday that I'll get to later.

I sit down in the big blind and there are 6 limpers and it comes to me to act. I look down at Qc Qd. Great. Nice first hand. I hate getting hands like this when its my first hand at a new table because if I raise I get a lot of callers beacuse they don't know if I'm just trying to buy it or not. I would normally fold but decide to raise it. I raise it to $25. And of course I get 3 callers. Great. I'm hoping for an A or a K to hit on the flop so I can fold. Or one of the other Q's and no draws would be nice. Dealer flops out 6h 9h 10s. Ahh, the dreaded flush draw on the board and the always popular 7 8 possibility. I know at least one of them has to have a draw so I figure if they do they are going to have to pay for it. So I bet out $75 knowing I'm ahead right now. I think this will take it down as that is a lot to pay for a flush draw. And of course all 3 playes call. WTF?? So I figure someone is slowplaying a set or 7 8. I just know I'm dead and an Ad is on the turn. I give up and check. It checks around to the button and she bets out $100. That would put me all in and considering I've already committed $100 to the pot, I'm getting the right price, but I don't have any draws and am drawing dead to 1 out so I know I can't call and I fold. The cutoff makes the call. the river is a blank and the cutoff checks and the button shoves all in for her last $100. The cutoff go's in the tank for a while and finally makes the call after flipping a coin. The button says good call and shows the Kh Qh for the bluff and the cutoff shows 5h 10h for a pair of tens. Unreal. So a good fold ends up costing me $700. I should have shoved all in on the flop instead of putting in $75. But I knew if I had, I would have gotten at least one caller and didn't want to raise for my stack as I had been on a cooler.

So I'm down to $100 and decide to try and grind it out rather than rebuy. It works out that I end up taking downa couple of small pots and get my stack back up to $175. I wake up with KK in the cutoff and with 5 limpers I make it $30 to go. And of course as $1-$2 go's, I get 3 callers. Flop comes 10 10 4. It checks to me and I make it $60. the big blind does the usual check raise all in move and I sit and think about it. Figure he made the $30 pre flop call with A 10 and I show the guy next to me and fold. I tell him your A 10 is much better than my KK. He says i'm full of shit and that I didn't have KK. I tell him that I showed the guy next to me and you can ask him if you want. He doesn't and just keeps saying i was bluffing. Okay, good. think that you jackass. Your chips will be mine later.

And it only took 2 hands for that to happen. I get JJ and decide to just limp as my other 2 times i've been picked off. Flop comes 7 8 A. It checks around to me and I bet out $15. There are 5 people in the pot and the jackass calls. The turn is another J. This time he bets out $30. I sit a minute and I raise and go all in for my last $70. He snap calls and turns over QQ. I say not good enough and show my JJ. Of course he go's on about how he knew I didn't have an A and that i was just lucky. I say yes I was just lucky just as he was lucky to flop a set with A 10 the previous hand. and that I'll take luck anyday when I'm raking in your chips. At this point, I've made it my goal to felt this guy as many times as it takes to get him to go away.

I don't manage to felt him but he does bust out 5 hands later and moves on. Thank God because he is one of those obnoxious talkers. I don't mind people that talk a lot, I just mind those that have to talk so loud that you can't hear the music coming out fo your ear piece. Its just annoying and not good poker ettiquette.

No other big hands really come up till about an hour later when I end up having about $400 in chips and had just taken down a small pot and felt like gambling. UTG bets out 12 and it folds around to me. I call the 6c 8c. I do love playing suited connectors like this because I tend to flop good with them. I can also get a way from it when I flop a pair or draws. No other callers so we are heads up. The flop comes 7c 5c 10c. Sweet. flopped an open ended straight flush draw with the flush already in hand. I know I'm good here. UTG bets out $40. He only has another $70 behind so I know he has an over pair. He probably also has a club so I've got to dodge that except he is dead to only 4 clubs that will make his hand. I put him all in and he snap calls and turns over Ac Ah. I show the 6 8 of clubs and he just shakes his head and says give me a club. I say okay, just make sure its a 4 or 9. Thats when he realizes I'm open ended for the straight flush and then starts making comments on how can I call 12 with 6 8c. I don't say anything and the board bricks out and I take down another good pot.

I go back and forth for a while and end up with about $1000 on the table and decide its a good time to head home. Can't complain when you profit $800 from $1-$2 and only paly for 4hrs with a $200 buy in.

I go and pick up the wife and find out that she is getting a raise. Yes today is turning out to be a good day I think. Not sure how much but anything is always better than what you are currently making. Get home and find out from my realtor that Citi Group has finally gotten off their ass and approved the sale of our house and it is going to closing on Thursday. Thank God. Really didn't want it to go into foreclosure as we decided we would stop making payments on the mortgage when we left Atlanta for Las Vegas. Couldn't really pay two mortgages anyway. Now before you think we just didn't pay it and left it hanging like that, I made all the phone calls and notified them what was going on so it would be in my records what was going on. Of course, that doesn't make Citi Group stop calling and sending threatening letter. They are truly a bunch of morons and i don't suggest ever doing business with them. EVER.

Just got to get through today and tomorrow and the wife and I are taking a little staycation at Caesars for the weekend. We are going to see Love at the Mirage on Friday and then just sleep in a hotel bed, lounge at the pool, finally get back to reading my Christopher Moore books, and play some poker. Need to build up the bankroll so I can play the 1K event next Saturday at the WSOP and play some of the venetian deep stack tourneys that start up next week.

Its an exciting time to be a poker player in Vegas as there are tournaments all over the place and the action should be exciting. Finally going to play for a bracelet as its been what I've been striving for the last 2 years. I think I'm finally ready to take that step as I've been playing very good lately in tournaments. Now if I can avoid the cooler decks and finally go on a heater, everything will be great.

Have a good Memorial Day Weekend. I know I will.

I officially hate $1 - $2

Thats it. I'm done playing $1-$2. I can't take it anymore. I can't handle getting called down with Ace rag and losing to runner runner chasers. Today was just a cruel joke. I have never been deck slapped, no wait, that was too kind of a way to express how cruel a session that was. Let me think. How about the deck just unloaded a case of whoop ass on me today. Instead of being up about $600, I ended my session down $200. I know, not much, but the way it ended and how quickly it ended. I played 20 hands. a little over an hour. and would have been up over $600 in just an hour. Couldn't ask for more when playing $1-$2.

Here is how it starts.

I fold my first 2 hands. I raise to $10 from UTG +1 with QQ. I figure to get at least 3 callers. Hey, its $1-$2, any two cards are good right? not only do I get 3 callers, I get 5. Great. I actually want an Ace or King to hit the flop so I can get out cheap. Nope. board comes 2h 7c 5s. Okay, scary flop with that many people in. Action comes to me and I bet out $40. Folds to the button and he just calls. Everyone else folds. Okay, maybe he has 3 4, or A 7 and thinks i'm just throwing out a continuation bet. I am new to the table and they don't know me here. Turn is a 10c. Not worried about the 10 so I bet out $80. Button just smooth calls. So I figure the donkey has something like 7 10 or 5 10 and turned 2 pair. Board bricks a Jd. I check as I know I'm beat and the button puts in $20. Let me see, $20 into a $300 pot. Who the hell does that? I know i'm beat, but I've put in $130 and I only bought in for $200. I should just push all in, but that would just be throwing away another $50. figure I can play the $50 and see what happens. I just call and the guy decides to slow roll his 2 pair. he wants to see what I was playing. So I politely tell him that I'll show him once he turns over his 2 pair since I was the one who called. he waits and turns over 2 5 off suit. I show my QQ and the guy stands up and claps. I say, "damn, didn't know I was going to be going up against world class players tonight!!" I know, douchebag thing to say, but I know this is the type of player that will donk off his chips within an hour. I say that and so does the guy next to me and of course, the guy ends up blowing through the $300 he just won and he rebuys for another $300 total and goes through that. of course, I get none of it.

So i'm down to my last $50. I managed to take a couple of pots here and there as I just push all in. I get one double up when I get a caller who decided it was good for him to risk half his stack with Q J. I had KK and finally held a hand. So I'm back up to $100. I'm UTG and am dealt Ks Qs. No point in raising so I just call the $2. ends up being 6 people in the limped pot. Flop comes Kc 2h 7 d. Checks to me and I bet out $15. Get 2 callers. Turn is Ac. I bet out $25. Should have checked but thought maybe I would just take it down. Get one call. River is 8d. I check and the caller bets out $20. There is $100 in the pot and i'm getting 5 to 1, but I figure the guy had something like A Q and didn't believe I had the K when he called. I should fold, but figure i'm still steaming about the first hand I played so I make the call. I wait and the guy won't turn over his cards. What the fuck is wrong with people. show your damn cards when you are called down!!!!! I just throw my K Q on the table and the asshole has the nerve to say thats all? and turns over A 2. I have to say I honestly stand up and walk away before I decide to tell the guy what I think about his poker etiquette and his poker skills. I like the dealer and just shoot him a look and leave for 5 minutes.

I come back and the guy is talking shit about how well he played the hand. I decide to chime in and tell him he played it great. Keep playing that way and you'll just blow off your stack. He says, "what, like you have?" the nerve off this prick. I put in my ear buds and just turn up the volume and just stare down at my chips. Which is now down to $40. I keep thinking to myself. I should just take the $40 and call it a night. But damn, I've only played about 45 minutes and don't really want to leave just yet.

go an orbit and get AA and put it all in and get a caller. Board bricks out and I turn over AA and the guy mucks. Says he had JJ. I said, "sure you did." At this point I'm just irritated as hell and just want to steam roll the table.

Then this guy who plays here often, and just gets obnoxiously drunk and plays the most god awful hands and just always hits sits down in seat 3. at least there is a 2 person buffer between us as I can't stand the guy. Figure, he is good for at least one double up as long as I don't get unlucky. of course, that is a big if and the way i'm running, i'm sure to lose to 7 2 or some crap like that.

I'm in the big blind and 4 people limp and I have A K. of course, this is a spot I normally would just check and see a flop and try to get paid off, but I am still steaming and I throw in $15 more. I get 2 callers. Great. Just put A K and lets get this over with. Flop comes 6 K 3 rainbow. There is $57 in the pot and I've only got $120 and realize that no matter what I bet, I will have to go all in on the turn so I ship my stack in the middle. I'm fine with taking down the pot without seeing anymore cards. Well my drunk friend in seat 3, I think I'll just call this guy the mad genius now for his great plays, go's in the tank. I know he has a K with a weak kicker. I know put him on K 7 or some crap like that, of course, K 7 is worth a $15 raise pre-flop. nothing like calling a raise over 7 times the big blind pre flop. He pushes in the $120. I quickly turn over A K as I always show my hands immediately when I know i'm ahead. I'ts a superstitious thing with me. If I hold my cards I just feel i'm going to get sucked out. The mad genius says, "thats what I thought you had." I say, "if thats what you thought I had, why the hell did you call? what does that say about how you play poker?" He shows a K and I say, let me guess, a 7? he doesn't show. the turn is a 5. I'm jus staring at him because I know he is just waiting for a 7. The river is an 8 and he quickly slams the 8 on the table like he made the greatest call of his life.

I shake my head and say, I guess I was right. this table is just too good for me and I get up and leave.

Day's like today just make you wonder about the state of poker. I know everyone is entitled to play whatever they want, but damn. Why do they always have to get paid off?? I'm not even asking to suck out. Just have my hands hold up.

Enough bitching. Just need to catch a better run next time.

Poker gods

I believe the poker gods are plotting against me. How many times can I lose with KK against rags??? How many I ask??? For christ sakes. Whats worst is I spike a K to hit trips and the bastards hit runner runner with a flush or straight. Guess if it weren't for luck, Phil Hellmuth would win them all so I guess I have to roll with the punches. I don't get upset at the table, but inside I begin to boil over. I know its poker and for everytime I get sucked out on, I return the favor, but it always just seems so much uglier when they do it to me.

A couple of updates from the poker rounds.

Played the $100 Saturday buy in at the Red Rock 2 weeks ago. Nice tourney. Quick and usually around 40 people from what I've been told. Made the final table. We are sitting 8 handed and it pays out 4 people. I'm sitting at $25k with the blinds at $1500-$3000. UTG raises it to %6000. UTG+1 raises all in for his last 12K. folds around to me on the button. I look down and have AK. Now, I figure the all in is probably a pair and at best I'm a coinflip, but UTG probably has one of my outs. I've been card dead and am sitting 7th in chips. I move all in and the blinds quickly fold and UTG go's into the tank. I figure that maybe he does have a bigger hand like JJ or QQ, which I would like to have call anyway. He folds and shows A 10. What was so damn hard about folding that?? All in flips over JJ and I show AK. Have 5 outs. oh well, can I get luck considering I end up losing to AK every damn time I am all in? Hell no. Flop comes Q J 6 rainbow. Go from 5 outs down to 3 outs. board bricks out and I'm down to my last $13k. comes around and UTG+1 bets out $6000. I'm next and look down at AcJc and decided to put it all in for my last 9K as we are down to 7 players now and I need to double up. Get 2 callers. Great. Board runs out K 2 5 no clubs. Sweet, getting better by the minute. Check and then an all in by UTG+1. figure i'm dead as he has a K and i'm drawing to an Ace only. other guy mucks and the guy rolls over 77. Thinking i'm lucky now as I have 6 outs. Of course the board bricks and I'm out. Played good, but always hate being a bubble bitch.

Played several cash games with nothing to really show for it. So many luckboxes running around Vegas on the weekends.

Got a couple of online tourneys this weekend that I really would like some good finishes in. Playing the Miniftops on Full tilt and playing a couple other satellites and the Bracelet satellite on full tilt on Sunday. Just need to finish in the top 80 to have my way paid in for the 1k event which should draw the largest field outside of the main event this year.

Other than that, just living in the nice weather out here. Been in the 90's all week, but not miserable.

Thats all for now. Will try to update regularly moving forward, but between work and everything else, really haven't had much time to play lately.