It’s now 2 1/2 months later and things are going pretty well. I obviously could not support myself playing poker (yet- ha!) and collecting unemployment. I freelance and started my own line of handmade jewelry. The best part is, I have time to workout and play poker on my schedule.. whenever I’m feeling it. Thinking like a true poker player, I give my jewelry business my top priority, though, because I feel I have the best chance of making money in it.. and using my years of experience in the industry to turn it into a real business but whether it’s the jewelry or poker, I love what I do.

When it comes to poker.. my game is NLHE… and I don’t have the bankroll to play cash at a level I think I could be most profitable. Instead, I chose to play tournaments with structures, buy-ins and overall skill levels that work best for me.  I also just like tournaments better anyway… although I know it’s nearly impossible to make a living just playing tournaments.. money is tight.. I don’t have much of a bankroll anyway so why not play what I enjoy most? I actually won a few tournaments in March in Vegas.. and just missed the money in 8th place at Caesars last weekend.. so it’s not going so badly.

I’m planning to head back out to Vegas 1st week of June for a few tournaments. I want to play in the Venetian Deepstack on the 3rd.. I also like the daily Caesar’s tournament structures and players too (plus I need a rematch after last weekend!).. Oh, and, of course, I’ll swing by the Rio to check out the WSOP madness..

I’ve been posting poker updates on twitter and my personal blog:

http://twitter.com/sandypantalones

http://www.poker-kat.blogspot.com

Thanks to whoever is reading!!

I couldn’t help myself.  I’m in Vegas, it’s the last birthday of my 20s and I was 2 days into unemployment. What can I do? I needed a cocktail.. and keep ‘em comin’.  I used to like to have a drink or two when I sat down at a table.. I was new to live play and I need to calm the nerves.  As I became more confident in my game, I felt like I took too many chances and became too chatty when I drank at the tables.. this soon became a leak in my game that I needed to fix. So that was the end of that.. which means no poker on Friday.. but celebrate we will.

Saturday was a day to play.. so I entered an $80 tournament at Planet Hollywood.  Players were not good and unpredictable.  I tried to be patient but the play was just so bad and luck just loves those bad players… so I was out in 2 hours.  I moved to cash.  Players were better-ish than the tournament.. I had my favorites for taking pots off of.. I made back my money from the tournament and an extra $50… but I decided to have a few cocktails.. I was just in the mood to drink and my table had a few fun guys.. soon I became very chatty.. I was holding back playing hands though (because I couldn’t shut up and pay attention to the play).. so I knew it was time to take my winnings and split before I started to gamble.  Another rule for playing I have is, If I’m in need of blowing off some steam then I should leave the table.. and that’s exactly what I did..

Waking up on Sunday I realized how badly it’s going to hit me to wake up on Monday morning and not go into work.. It was beautiful out.. so why not stay another night?  We went to the pool for a bit and walked over to the Luxor and decided I’d play in their 4pm $55 tournament with my winnings from Saturday. I know the starting chips are bad, the play is bad, and the overall structure is just terrible.. but whatever, I want to play and I’m freerolling.  Now.. when I say the play is bad.. I mean this is seriously like playing against a few monkey’s you just taught Tiddlywinks and then sat them at a poker table.  Due to the fact that they have a horrible poker “area roped off on the casino floor” they could only allow 20 players and 5 alternates. Well, I played my game and ended up chopping for 1st for $450. That totally worked for me.. I could definitely use that money towards April’s rent.  That was the extent of my poker on the trip.  I tried to play smart and sober and if that meant I only sat on those 2 occasions.. then fine.  I’m not about to play if my head isn’t into it.

After returning back to LA.. I needed to get serious about getting my unemployment claim in to the system.  I discovered this article in the LA Times from February 22nd.  The article says, “You can apply on the phone, but those lines are so tied up these days that it would be easier to get through to a radio contest.”  Now, I’m one of the “small percentage of laid off workers” who can’t apply online.  I have to call because I worked in FL 18 months ago.  I had no choice but to get my claim in online because it was the only way I could get myself set up in the system so they will at least call me to review my info. It’s definitely tough getting myself set up and I’m doing everything I can right now to work on freelance, sell handmade jewelry on Etsy, and play poker to get me through to the next month. So afraid my buffer will run out…

Hope everyone’s March is treating them well so far.  It rained today but I still made it out for a nice walk and enjoyed the dark clouds hanging over the beautiful San Fernando Valley.

Cheers.

Without a severance.. I start to panic.  I am shaking and nervous.. How am I going to do this? There’s always unemployment but they are so backed up I haven’t been able to get my claim in yet.  That’s scary.  I have a bit of a buffer to get me through for awhile and support from my family.  I’m not too worried.. yet.

Today I enjoyed a nice day outside.. it’s beautiful in LA.  Sunny and 70.  Can’t argue with that. I’m inspired to be creative again and work on my own projects, which is great.. I always have potential freelance.. because honestly, a full time job is not something I’m looking to rush into. I’d like to find alternate ways to support myself.  Which leads me to poker.

i am playing poker again.  I recently came back to the game after taking 2 months off to regroup and study after a bad end of 2008.  Things have been going well so far.. so now I’m about to take another stab at poker as a way to support myself.. and my cats.  We’ll see how this goes.  I’m keeping track and managing my money very carefully.  This worked out well for me at this time last year.  I didn’t even want this job (I was just laid off from) when it was offered to me last April.  I wanted to continue freelancing and playing poker.  Maybe it’s the mindset of supporting myself with poker that makes me play smarter and more focused.  Well we’ll see how it goes. I plan to blog my journey here often.. (I mean what else have I got to do, right? ha!).  I am also on twitter and posting regularly.

Please follow me on twitter if you find that a crazy unemployed cat lady playing poker for a living something that’s interesting to read.

Follow Me: sandypantalones

Cheers..

My goal was to just be patient and wait for good spots.  I wanted to take my time.  I had someone meeting me there later in the evening.  I showed up right from work.. waited for a seat and then began.. fold, fold, fold, fold.. Ok, this is getting a little crazy. How many times can I really be dealt 8-2? No, really, my cards are unplayable.  Seriously.. Just be patient.  I had a bit of a unpredictable table anyway.  Big pots right away. Players rebuying after almost every pot.. so it seemed.  I finally pick up an A-J off in early position.  I make the decision not to raise. I hate this hand and with this table I don’t know if they’ll all fold or all call.  So a few limpers enter the pot.  Flop brings a J high board.  A min bet is thrown out and I just call.  One other caller hangs on.  Turn pairs the board with another 4.  Original better throws out a bet 2/3rds the pot.  I call and other guy folds.  River is a small useless card and original better bets the min again.  I decide to keep it small and just call.. we show down and I think I had it anyway with my top pair top kicker.. but he shows QQ.  Huh, Interesting..  Guess I could have reraised on the turn or river if I really wanted the pot?  Not sure really.. I was new to the table and that was my first hand played.

I find myself fighting a short stack because of this hand and some other worthless pots I decided to jump in.  I begin to push with hands like 9h7h in the BB with 2 other raisers.  Why?  Because I know they have big cards, there’s money in the pot, and I like my drawing hand.. so just maybe.. well yes, yes indeed.  I flop a straight and take that pot.

So after 3 hours I find myself only up a monsterous $10.  Wow.. big night. ha.  Suddenly I look down at AA.. Alright let’s make something happen.  I put out my standard raise.  I get 2 callers and then a reraise.  He bumps it up to $30.  That’s 4x my raise.  Ok.. well, I know what I have.. So I reraise all in.  That’s a little more than $80 total.  Guy to my left calls all in for less… but before he can even do that there’s an insta call coming from one seat down- the original re-raiser.  Interesting.. well I know what i have.  This leaves a pot of the 3 of us.. I show my AA right away.. Flop brings Q-x-x low cards w/ no draws.  Turn J.  River.. blank… OK, I’m thinking.. who has the QQ or JJ?  No? No one?  Insta-freak shows KK.. and crazy guy on my left flashes Q-10 and then tries lying to the other side of the table that he had A-Q… either way. i take down a little more than $200 pot.  Finallly. ah…

Well.. that worked out nicely but when I picked up AA again.. the fella to my right decided he wanted to gamble on a gut shot and I paid him off.  Luckily it wasn’t for too much of my chip stack.  But still.. buy a lotto ticket.. I mean really.

Anyway, overall it was a good night.  Patience worked out well for me.  By the time my gentlemen friend arrived I was ready to cash out and record a winning session for the evening.

In 2008, the story is different.  I had an emotionally rough January and then I moved to LA in February.  I jumped right into the games at Commerce and had some success.. beginners luck maybe in a new environment?  Either way, I was living on unemployment, freelancing and playing cash games.  I supported myself this way until the end of April when I gave in and accepted a full time position- warning my new bosses in the interview I was a poker player and would need time off to play.  In a strangely opposite type world.. they loved this about me.

The summer was filled with weddings across the country and in China (of all places).  I tried to get in tournaments whenever I could.  I cashed in a few but not for much more than my money back.  I was also still getting used to my new job and surroundings.. My job was also sending me on trips back to NYC and I’d try to get down to see my mom and play in Atlantic City.  Focus on my game was tough and I began over thinking the need to win too much.

In the Fall, I had a frustrating situation that effecting my home and I suddenly found myself not wanting to be there.  The best solution for this was to head to Commerce right from work and play into the night.  I wish I could report success stories from this but, unfortunately, I played mostly tournaments and either went out around the bubble or made back my money.  Nothing great.

November started to improve in regards to my living situation and my game.  I had a few great sessions playing cash.  I spent Thanksgiving in Vegas.  I met my brother and his wife there.. I played cash and bet on college football but I seemed to just miss a win in both.  It became very frustrating.. (I highly recommend Love and the Wynn Buffet for Thanksgiving)

I came back from Vegas on December 1st and I have not sat at a table since the trip.  I found myself broke and putting myself in a situation where I was getting behind on the things that shouldn’t be..  I’ve spent December on hiatus from playing and focusing on getting my financial situation comfortable again.  I’ve also done more poker reading this month.  I want to start 2009 refreshed and more focused on my game.

A few goals and lessons for 2009…

1. Better bankroll management (as always but this time I’ll get it right)

2. Don’t play in tournaments your bankroll can’t support

3. Get back to the “eager to learn and improve” mindset I had in 2007

4. When times are not good, step away and focus on my priorities

A Merry & Safe New Year to anyone still reading this blog.

After reading Bellatrix post I decided I want to vent (or mope) a bit about my horrible losing streak.  She reminded me I need to keep focusing on learning more and more- especially when things are not going well. Step back and regroup.  I’m not sure why I’m losing so much lately.  I’ve played a lot of tournaments recently maybe that’s a big part of it.  I’ve cashed in a few but nothing great.  A little better than even money at best.  Cash games are meh but I’m having a hard time leaving with winnings (partly because of my personal situation and not wanting to be at home very often). Excuses.. maybe but I’m playing a lot with not great focus or intentions.

Actually online I’ve had decent success. So I can’t complain there.  With my need to be out though.. I’ve been at the Commerce or the Bike 3 days a week.  The other days I’m at the gym.. which is great. I lost 25lbs in that last 7 weeks.  So life has been a little strange.  I need to stop using poker as a vice or escape and get back to playing the way I used to..  I watch myself getting sloppy, aggressive and gambling more.  I’ve got to get my control and focus back.  Let’s hope that starts to make things balanced again.

I apologize for the depressing post.

Hey, at least there wasn’t a bad beat story though..

Anyway, it would have been cool to make it to Macau but it’s closer to Beijing which were both not driving distance.  Maybe another time if my brother lives out there at anytime.  haha We’ll see though.. can’t even think of that now.. so glad to be back.

Upon my return I could not wait to play poker again.  It had been too long.  I brought my books for the plane, Card Player, and podcasts.. My head was totally into poker but I couldn’t play.

As soon as I got back (and I mean day of arrival) I placed 1st in a Full Tilt tournament for about $200 and then racked up some cash game winnings too.  Overall, it was a nice break, relooking at important skills and definitely helped my online game.  I went to Commerce right after work today to play too but my head wasn’t into it after an argument with my boyfriend.  I just shouldn’t have played I guess.  Sometimes it takes my mind off things to play but I guess not today.  I found myself playing passive and taking stupid risks.

Recently, I’ve had issues cashing out on Full Tilt.  I’ve tried to get a paper check sent twice and both times they had to refund my cash out and also gave me a bonus for my troubles both times (1st time it was equal to my cash out!)  They have a new option now for “Cash Pick Up”.  I read about it on 2+2 and it sounds like a great option.  I submitted my request yesterday and am still waiting for the approval and reference code.  I’ll post if it works out.

On Tuesday night we took a red-eye out of LAX, changed plans (w/ a 3 hour layover in Ft Lauderdale) and eventually found ourselves in Atlantic City airport.  Our flight was horrible and we didn’t eat or sleep.  When I finally got to my mom’s house Wednesday at about 1pm.. I showered and took a 2 hour nap.  I wasn’t feeling too well so I didn’t eat when I got up but I did have a cup of black coffee and drove to the casinos…

At 7pm I joined a daily deepstack tournament at Showboat.  There were 80 players buying in for $65.  This was a decent showing.  When I was around in May there were only 40 people.  With 4th of July weekend in the near future the New Yorker’s and Philadelphians are making there was here.  I love playing in AC.. maybe because it feels like my home turf.. maybe because I get used to LA and Vegas style of players. I just feel like I know these guys and they can’t fool me.

This brings me to the Eternal Question of East Coast vs West Coast Players.. I’ve heard this talked about on a few podcasts, PokerRoad comes to mind as one that definitely brought up the conversation.  They decided that West Coast players are definitely better.   I wouldn’t say “better” was a good word.  I think west coast players are more aware and more aggressive for sure..  East Coast players feel like a giant caricature of themselves.  I mean, there was a well known local by the name “Snake” at my table… full on accent w/ smoker’s voice, white suit coat w/ black shirt, cigarette hanging out of his month.. the entire package. (Very nice guy, btw)  Everyone was so predictable.  I loved it.  I could pick up tons of pots off of them and build a nice stack through 2 breaks.. I got caught w/ QQ vs KK and couldn’t catch up.  I ended up finishing around 35.  I couldn’t pull myself away from these games though so I moved to cash.

My mind was trying to convince my body I was crazy.. I just flew into town, haven’t eaten anything or slept.. what am I doing… but I played.  (btw, the poker room at Showboat was pretty nice.  There were big windows on the back wall that were right on the boardwalk.  Any break (or smoke break) you just stepped right on to the AC boardwalk..

My cash games did not disappoint.  As usual.. I can count on the preconceived ideas about me as a player as soon as I sit at the table.  I patiently wait until I know my opponents and then I make moves against them using what they think of me.. and what I know of them.  These East Coast players also think they’re a lot better than they are and that they know a lot about math.  It’s amazing what horrible math they spit out as their excuse for calling or getting involved in a hand.  It’s not too difficult to pick spots and make them make bad calls.  I had a great moment where I flopped the nut flush and just put on this amazing acting job (which I would have had to act on another level in LA.. this weak equals strong show was just too obvious to any real aware players)  The way my opponent was playing though I put him on top pair.. so when I made the perfect sized bet on the river for him to call (when the 4th flush card missed- I had him thinking I had the A or K to the flush and that’s why I was calling his bets) he reraised me, even (!!) and I reraised back and put him in a position where he couldn’t put me on the flush and didn’t know where this aggression was coming from.. He asked, “two pair?” and folded his top pair face up- hiding the kicker.  I was pretty satisfied with that pot and my play.  My most successful tournament winnings are in AC.  As for cash, last night I came away with a nice sized profit for the day.  Still my best days pay in cash is at the dog track in St. Pete, FL.

I stayed for a 5 hour session after the tournament… and pretty glad I did.  I miss playing with these guys.  Not only are the East Coast players easier to take money off of but their such characters- I just love it.  I drove home late and totally crashed… got my well needed sleep.  Now, if only my mom could realize it’s insanely humid here and air conditioning is an amazing advancement that should be used.

So I was thinking about maybe going back tonight after the rehearsal dinner (which I’m leaving for in 5 mins..) but the traffic may be too bad with tomorrow being the 4th.  We’ll see…. 

The Rio was really exciting. Poker is in the air there.. my boyfriend had never seen the madness there.. He didn’t go with me last year when I played in the Ladies’ Tournament. (Even though the ladies event was tomorrow- I decided w/ my new job and the $1000 buy-in to opt out this year). So we walked down the long long hallway and ended up in the craziness… we begin walking through the roped off walkway and pointing out all the pros to each other.. I railed Phil Laak for awhile… because.. well.. I do think he’s hot and I have a crush on him. We ended up seeing a lot and it was definitely fun. Of all the pros we saw, seeing Ferguson in person is always fun. he’s such a character.. the hair- that hat-glasses… all of it.

Since we parked in the garage at the Rio we had to walk all through the casino to get back… my man gets side tracked by the slots and video poker all the time.. to him the ones and fives in his pocket will end up in those machines at some point.. so we stop. I decide to feed a 10 into the video poker machine despite my better judgment.. but what is this… 4 2’s! haha.. I won $70. whoo hoo.. cash out.. ok, let’s go. haha..

So we’re off to Planet Hollywood and I freeroll into the 7pm tournament with my video poker winnings. We both decide to play. I start off great and the 1st hour I’m playing at a tight table and picking up small pots everywhere with nothing.. I’m the chip leader at my table at the break. My BF and I regroup and we’re close to each other in chips and doing well. There were 71 people in the tournament to start. It’s all down hill after the break for both of us. At my table the short stacks are pushing with anything and I’m stuck with terrible cards that aren’t going to cut it if I raise and they push. I end up with barely anything left and push with an AJ. Another AJ calls but so does pocket 3’s. The 3’s take it.. ugh. My boyfriend goes out shortly after too.. similar situation. Bummer. He went out about 6 before the money. I was about 15 before the money.

Next stop.. the Burger Bar at Mandalay Place (we love Mandalay Bay Hotel.. we had one of our best Vegas trips when we stayed there). We enjoy a great burger and some beers.. and then head back downtown to play at Binions again.

I decided to sit at a table with a few drunken southerners, my favorite dealer from the night before- who remembered me by name- i love that, and a mix of old people and locals. An old guy at the end of the table remembered me although I didn’t recognize him. I was quiet and was getting annoyed by the drunk southerners- especially the chick. However, it was easy to take pots off of them. I made friends with the old local guy next to me.. and we had some good conversation about where we play and different tournaments. Soon though I was getting into my groove and had the table clocked. My new friend next to me took a $200 pot off of the drunk southern chick when she flopped a full house and he rivered a higher full house. The very next hand I raise $12 preflop with JJ and she called. When the flop brought 9-6-3 all rainbow and I raise $20 she reraised me $20 leaving about $50 left behind in her stack. I looked at her face and felt she was trying to be strong.. but I knew she was tilting badly after her loss. I put her in and she calls. She shows J-9. I take the rest of her chips. My friend asks.. you weren’t afraid of a set? I said no.. she wanted to make her loses back quickly.. she was totally tilting. I was up $200 and feeling great at that point..

The old guys leave and so does my friend.. a nice local guy takes the seat next to me and drunken frat boys sit at the other end.. One guy was so out of control.. he was telling seriously bad racial jokes.. and calling the southern chick “thick” (which she wasn’t) and how she wouldn’t fit in in California.. and making fun of her w/ southern stereotypes like she wouldn’t get it.. it was not good.. so he drove the drunk girl away who was throwing 100’s down and giving them away and having fun. The local dude got pissed after awhile and called floor to have him removed.. The cops were hanging out around the side in case they were needed.. it was exciting so I stuck around.. but the money wasn’t flowing my way… so I packed it in at 5am and went to find my man. He ended up at a Video Poker machine again after losing $60 to an old lady w/ his pocket queens.. Seriously the old ladies are his nemesis at the table.. it’s so funny.

We woke up on Sunday around noon and packed and left by 1pm. It was a good weekend and a lot of fun. I ended up $300 and my boyfriend about $100. We hit a little traffic on the way back but not a big deal.. we were super tired and needed a good shower… Can’t wait to go back…

Thanks for reading through my weekend posts.. there’s actually a part 3 to come..

We arrived at the Golden Nugget to check in around 11:30 pm. All was going smoothly. The room was.. meh. We don’t normally care what our room looks like as long as it’s clean. I am easily grossed out by hotels. My boyfriend is a bit of a freak and needs to shower every 5 minutes. So, of course, after arriving he needs to “quickly shower”. We then learn our tub doesn’t drain.. so that’s gross. Either way, we freshen up and head down to check out the poker rooms..

We find “The Grand”, a ballroom in the Nugget that they transformed into a big poker room for their tournament run they had for June-July (to try and piggy back on the WSOP action). Tournaments are a bit pricey and the room is almost completely empty.. We then head to Binions.

The poker room at Binions is lively and there’s a good mix of young people and old people… so we sign up for a 1/2 NLHE game- $100 max. We prefer to sit at different tables.. we really don’t like to play against each other or have the rest of the players at the table know we are together. However, we don’t have much of a choice and sit at the same table. We don’t talk to each other though. The players are very standard. There are 2 aggressive 20-somethings and a few old guys. The 20-somethings are clearly betting to pick up the dead pots and when reraised will fold. Those 2 guys also think my man is a newbie fish (which he tends to give off but is not) and that I’m a timid female only playing the nuts and aces. We take them for about $50 each and then they leave.. not without one guy hitting on me the whole time while my boyfriend smirks and cracks jokes.. I’m a major smart ass though so it was pretty funny.

I end up losing some to my man without realizing we had the same hand and I folded. Then he starts to get a little drunk (he drinks beers while he plays- I choose not to drink most of the time) and he folds out of turn and bets out of turn. An old lady gets annoyed and complains to him so he gets up and leaves.. He was up about $100 from that session and at that time I was only up $40 after losing $30 to him. Unfortunately, my boyfriend’s weakness is Video Poker.. so I know that’s where he’s going.

I stick around for another few hours and end up with the table getting more exciting around 2am. Some tipsy people came around and I end up making up my loses (to my man) on them and then some.. I chat it up with the dealers and have a great time. I leave up $150 at about 5am.

My man and I had been texting the whole time so I know he was smart and quit evil video poker when he lost $40. We crashed at about 5:30am.