Archive for April, 2008
3 sets flopped
So I can’t remember ever seeing this before…wonder if you all have. Found this hand on-line
Some small stakes live poker
San Manuel Indian Casino
I was at a conference in Lake Arrowhead, just north of San Bernardino, which is just a half an hour drive from where I live. If you ever get to go to Lake Arrowhead, it is really beautiful and a nice cool-off from the warm weather in the valley. I did some hiking and felt so refreshed coming down the mountain, even though I was working there. So I decided to stop by San Manuel for some poker.
Poker is Fun Again!
For all of you microstakes online players out there who are looking to build your bankroll, I have a strong recommendation - learn how to play microstakes HORSE.
There are usually 2 or 3 .25/.50 games going on Full Tilt, and not only are they really fun, but they are ridiculously easy to beat. I am not a good HORSE player at all - I barely know the rules for some of the games and have easily read less than 1000 words of strategy on Razz, O8, Stud, and Stud8, but as long as you research starting hand requirements and are familiar with basic poker concepts, you should be a winner in this game.
you know you’ve been at the casino way too long when…
This is a view of the sunrise at 6 a.m. along Lakeshore drive in Chicago. I shot this on the way home from a 14 hour session. Sunrises over the lake make for gorgeous commutes, but they’re also a sign that I’ve been at the boats waaaaaaaay too long. 
Currently on Tilt: Who plays to get lucky on the river?
The last time I played live I experienced this hand…
1/2 NL HE cash game at the Commerce: I call a raise of $10 from MP with AJ off. There are 2 other players in the pot. The button (original raiser) and the BB. The flop brings Jd-Jc-Qd. The BB checks and I bet $12. Both players call. The turn brings a 3rd low diamond. The BB checks and I bet $20. The Button folds and the BB calls. The river is a 10d. The BB goes all in for $20. I call the $20 into $132 pot feeling like he doesn’t have a diamond… The moron shows pocket 10s. He rivered a full house on me. I asked him how he could call me down to the river knowing he’s beat the whole way.. he said he felt his 10 coming. Ugh!!!
Deal or No Deal
Last month I made Silver Star over on PokerStars. This month I haven’t done much at all with my newly-minted status, other than accumulate FPPs at a higher clip. Haven’t entered any of the tourneys or bought any items in the FPP store that are reserved for us Silvery types. Am actually closing in on maintaining my Silver Star status through May, though I have to admit it doesn’t strike me as something I need care about all that much.
“Cash Plays” Worth a Listen
People listen to poker podcasts for various reasons. Some prefer the strategy-theory-type shows. I like those, though I often enjoy the less heady ones, too. Generally when poker podcasters talk strategy they focus on NLHE and/or tourneys. As it happens, NLHE is my least preferred game, and probably 90-95% of my play is cash games.
Still, I sometimes like listening to the discussions on those shows. One that I’m really starting to enjoy is Bart Hanson’s new one over on PokerRoad Radio called “Cash Plays.” He focuses on Hold ’em, though will discuss other games, too. And it’s all ring games; no tourneys. Good stuff.
R.I.P. Brandi?
If you have never heard the name Brandi Hawbaker you probably haven’t spent much time at the various poker forums over the last couple of years. Mike and Adam have also frequently mentioned her on the pokercast as well. She broke onto the scene in 2006 at the WPT Festa Al Lago where she finished in 35th place.
Since that time she has been the center of several poker dramas and has been linked to several well known poker pros including Gus Hansen, Mark Newhouse, Dustin Woolf, “Captain” Tom Franklin, and even David Sklansky to name a few. Some of the threads on 2+2 have reached over 100 pages.
What’s a Wrap?
Wraps are great! I really like the Chipotle BBQ Chicken Wrap at McDonalds. They make a nice late night snack when you are multitabling. I also like the 20 card “Maine to Spain” wrap and the 13 card nut wrap with a nut flush draw on the side. You won’t find those two at any fast food joints though, they are only found at the poker tables where Omaha is being spread.
E-pass is passe
Just 2 days ago I used e-passporte for transferring money between sites to get 600$ to Poker Stars to get that new bonus they had. I guess I was lucky. E-passporte will no longer accept and transfer money to and from poker sites. They pulled out. I find their motivation understandable, but their timing is weird. Is something to come in the world of online poker / UIGEA? Or is this just a random event in an online poker players career?
