That girl was looking mighty fine being at the centre of the attention last Wednesday in Blinker's, City West!
Vera's birthday bash is an annual poker event held in August every year, this year was the biggest yet, so I was told. With 130 expected, 5k prizepool, freeroll with €10 rebuys for the first hour and €20 top-up... the world and his aunt wouldn't have passed up such a great offer! There was more than 300 degens queuing up for the title. During the game the unlucky ones unable to get a seat, kept the blackjack and roulette tables going strong!
Since we arrived early to register, Susie Woosie and myself sat ourselves down at the cash table to wait for the start which didn't kick off til 10:15pm, I left the cash table -€50 while Susie made €125. I noticed the rake was pretty high, one example: Susie Woosie pushed €50 into one pot with 3 callers, along with 4/5xblinds making it just under €200 and dealer took a €25 chip from the pile and gave back just €3... €22 rake for a €190 pot?(!) I was going to point it out but realised there were several 'experienced' cash players on the table who would have said something, I digressed assuming that he prob dropped in €10 before picking up the chip...
I was placed on table 9 for the Freeroll Madness, while I noticed several tables calling wildly for chips our's was passive by comparison! We ourso dealers, one of the players (part-time dealer) hopped into the seat and took over the job. In the first hand I was UTG with A5 suited and opened for 300, got two callers... flop came out 55K... I bet 1k... MP folded and CO-1 called. Turn Q giving a flush board. Play went check, check. River was small card, I pushed all-in and villian called showing K5o. LOL! Just as well it's a rebuy(!)
3 rebuys and one top-up later (I had expected to pay a lot more but...) I was sitting on €7k when the 'real game' began after the break. A playable stack with blinds at 200-400 and there was only 69k approx on the table. But with 15 minute blinds, hand dead and the chipleaders re-raising the pots I was the 5th person to be booted off the table with 120 people still in play. I pushed with my final 4k in CO with Kh9h, got two callers (BB & SB - one AIPF too) both holding 77. And NONE of my outs appeared on the board to save my skin (not even ONE heart!) allowing the 77 holders to carve up the last of my chips between them!
Susie Woosie had the honour of sitting right beside Vera while she pushed 'All In' in every hand... building her stack up to €22 by the end of the break thanks to Vera's 'free chips' playing! She lasted an hour or so longer than me.
While waiting for Susie, I sat down at a cash table with €50. There was one white-haired-tashed grumpy geezer who put several players on tilt with his rude comments and bad beat calls that turned out VERY lucky for him(!) One hand he limped in with 910 then called two huge raise ("what ya bet that much for... I can't fold these!") with AQJ on flop only to win with K on river against JJ and AQ... He eventually took all my chips too(!) I was watching the rake closely - appeared to be taking €2 for every €20 pot, a massive 10%! I wisely decided not to invest any more on the cash table and left at a respectable 2am while 70 where still playing strong in the Birthday Bash.
Great night - great atmosphere - lovely poker room... shame about the rake. I'd play in a FO but no more cash there for me!
Many Happy Returns Vera! Hope you got our card?
AFTERTHOUGHT: Just saw Boards today and there's some comments about the high rake... glad it wasn't just me imaging things! Hope the rumours of the owners fleecing the prize fund wasn't true... be a shame if it is, Blinkers is a nice place to play and Vera's Birthday Bash really put Blinkers on the 'poker map'.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
"So... What do you do with da winnin's?"
What winnin's? Ah sure, I spend it o'course!
The serious poker nits out there really swear by a strict bankroll management programme, by keeping everything, extending their poker spending to a percentage of what money they have accumulated to date in order to control the bad variance or downswings... and allow themselves a' wee salary' at the end of the month/year/season.
I use this method somewhat when playing online - to be honest I do play a little 'higher' than the recommended 5% limit so my swings are wild! If I have $100 I play $10 STTs/MTTs games, if I drop below $50 I limit myself to $5 games, but if I drop to $10 ... I will not play the $1 games! Why? The standard of playing at that level is atrocious! As a result I just end up blowing the lot... I'm a tad sceptical about setting store by online playing; sure online is where 'the money' is, but in order to make it you have to put in the hours and grind, grind, grind, which I don't have. Then there's all the stories of collusion, hackers, and fixed cards... and the amount of bad beats I get are horrendous! I don't 'employ' this method playing live, thankfully!
I use this method somewhat when playing online - to be honest I do play a little 'higher' than the recommended 5% limit so my swings are wild! If I have $100 I play $10 STTs/MTTs games, if I drop below $50 I limit myself to $5 games, but if I drop to $10 ... I will not play the $1 games! Why? The standard of playing at that level is atrocious! As a result I just end up blowing the lot... I'm a tad sceptical about setting store by online playing; sure online is where 'the money' is, but in order to make it you have to put in the hours and grind, grind, grind, which I don't have. Then there's all the stories of collusion, hackers, and fixed cards... and the amount of bad beats I get are horrendous! I don't 'employ' this method playing live, thankfully!
Back to the question of winnings... I accumulate 'assets'. Whenever I win anything I spend it on something solid. This way I've something to show for my winnings and not a varying bankroll as determined by the mood of lady variance... I've brought items for the house, toys for kids, handbags, shoes, make-up, etc... every time I see/use them, I think 'DPN January 2008 winnings' or 'Irish Deaf Poker Open 2008'. Then I play again when I can afford it or when I want to. The way I see it, I don't lose what I didn't have to begin with. I do keep tabs though, if I'm spending way more than I've won I start to think twice about playing certain games/levels... But my bankroll never actually 'disappears'.
I got criticised recently for spending too much on poker, for having a -€630 loss. This represents 7 months of playing costing less than €100 per month. Let's assume I went out one night a month: get all dolled up (make-up/clothes = €€) have a few drinks before I head out (wine = €€) call for a taxi ... well I ain't walking far in my killer heels aren't I? ( taxi = €€€) meet the girls for a meal or drinks (eating/drinking out = €€€€€) go dancing (nightclub = €€€€) then hail a taxi home (more €€€). I'd spend far MORE than €630 on 7 night outs! And no one would dream of slating me for doing THIS? Go figure(!) Playing one live game a week, I've had a few 'nights out' for a fraction of the cost.
I got criticised recently for spending too much on poker, for having a -€630 loss. This represents 7 months of playing costing less than €100 per month. Let's assume I went out one night a month: get all dolled up (make-up/clothes = €€) have a few drinks before I head out (wine = €€) call for a taxi ... well I ain't walking far in my killer heels aren't I? ( taxi = €€€) meet the girls for a meal or drinks (eating/drinking out = €€€€€) go dancing (nightclub = €€€€) then hail a taxi home (more €€€). I'd spend far MORE than €630 on 7 night outs! And no one would dream of slating me for doing THIS? Go figure(!) Playing one live game a week, I've had a few 'nights out' for a fraction of the cost.
Maybe it doesn't work for some, but it certainly does for me.
PS The August Challenge is running well! From -€630 to +€785 ... and before ye ask I've just brought this for €775!!!:
PS The August Challenge is running well! From -€630 to +€785 ... and before ye ask I've just brought this for €775!!!:
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Lady Variance smiles at last!
After running deep, or reaching final tables even, in recent tournaments but not cashing; I was getting to a stage of disenchantment with poker. On 1st August I decided it was make-or-break time, clear the minus factor and get myself back to black and establish a healthy bankroll. I gave myself 30 days to meet this challenge.
With a rare 9-day-release-pass on my hands from 2nd August, I had several opportunities to play in the first week alone. I made it from -€630 odd to black by day 4 and had a wee profit to be proud of by the end of the first week!
On Saturday I decided to check out the €60 FO game in the new Blinkers Casino, City West, Susie Woosie came along for the spin. We arrived at 8:15pm, the place was empty bar the staff, the game finally hit off at 8:50pm with 10 players, with a 11th joining before end of 1st level just after one player was knocked out. It took almost 3 hours before the next player left... The longest SnG table ever!? I got so bored with the TAG game I started playing loose calling with cheeky hands: winning with 22 against another player all-in with AQs being the most memorable! I swung from chipleader to just-below-average stack back up to chipleader then down to shortest stack in the final 4, before finishing 2nd for €200. That gave me a wee profit of €120 after paying the buy-in and €20 membership. Lovely club, great staff, shame about the numbers... Susie did rather well on the Roulette table to win her buy-ins back!
Was asked to deal on Sunday at Dundalk 100 that put another €160 into the pot. Also meant I missed my favourite game in the Bell, so I toddled along to DPN's Hartstown €60 FO game on Monday instead. It's the same structure but a bigger field usually with a minimum of 3-4 full tables, the players are usually more serious and there's less banter. I had fine hands and ran like God to arrive on the final table with a 4-1 chiplead, then romped home with the €470 1st place!
On Wednesday, I went back to the Jackpot with Susie Woosie to check out the popular game, but exited just before the end of the 2nd level in 52nd place; with AK v 88 on a AK8 board. GG. I parked myself on the 'round of each' cash table and lost €100 in two sick Omaha hands, the last one I was all-in holding AJ7K on a J7Q flop: with two pair, flush & straight draw, I managed to miss all of my 18+ outs to lose to a player holding KK making his set with K on the river. Meh! Took a break for an hour to rail Susie Woosie who was still in the tournament, some of the players on her tabl were getting noticeably irate at us signing to each other (probably thinking I was assisting her... As if!) I joined the PL table with €50 and left with €200 just as Susie finished up in 8th place for €50 WP girl! So another nice night out that cost us nothing!
Had plans to play two other tournaments on Thursday & Friday but events elsewhere transpired against me... Saturday was the day of the flash floods, and the monthly Irish Deaf Poker game; only 9 of us made it so we held a simple €20 SnG game was held, I told it down for €125. Brought it to the Fitz cash game but didn't improve on it. Another 'cheap' night out... I met the usual suspects in for the cash league final game, Smurph, Martin and Teresa. All out early sitting at the cash tables with fine stacks starting up their hours for the next league final! Sticky (a regular from Bell/Hartstown) joined me on the cash table having crashed out in 20 odd place for €1k (nice one Sir!) and proceeded to play a huge bluff game pushing me off pots where I had the better hand! Finally owned me in the end when I called his raise when he DID have a hand! Grrrrr!
Didn't get far in the Bell or Hartstown games - was totally card dead, disappointing as I really need the league points - but still made a nice profit by taking down no less than 3 side cash games on both nights for a total of €290 (€120 profit). Good going!
With a rare 9-day-release-pass on my hands from 2nd August, I had several opportunities to play in the first week alone. I made it from -€630 odd to black by day 4 and had a wee profit to be proud of by the end of the first week!
On Saturday I decided to check out the €60 FO game in the new Blinkers Casino, City West, Susie Woosie came along for the spin. We arrived at 8:15pm, the place was empty bar the staff, the game finally hit off at 8:50pm with 10 players, with a 11th joining before end of 1st level just after one player was knocked out. It took almost 3 hours before the next player left... The longest SnG table ever!? I got so bored with the TAG game I started playing loose calling with cheeky hands: winning with 22 against another player all-in with AQs being the most memorable! I swung from chipleader to just-below-average stack back up to chipleader then down to shortest stack in the final 4, before finishing 2nd for €200. That gave me a wee profit of €120 after paying the buy-in and €20 membership. Lovely club, great staff, shame about the numbers... Susie did rather well on the Roulette table to win her buy-ins back!
Was asked to deal on Sunday at Dundalk 100 that put another €160 into the pot. Also meant I missed my favourite game in the Bell, so I toddled along to DPN's Hartstown €60 FO game on Monday instead. It's the same structure but a bigger field usually with a minimum of 3-4 full tables, the players are usually more serious and there's less banter. I had fine hands and ran like God to arrive on the final table with a 4-1 chiplead, then romped home with the €470 1st place!
On Wednesday, I went back to the Jackpot with Susie Woosie to check out the popular game, but exited just before the end of the 2nd level in 52nd place; with AK v 88 on a AK8 board. GG. I parked myself on the 'round of each' cash table and lost €100 in two sick Omaha hands, the last one I was all-in holding AJ7K on a J7Q flop: with two pair, flush & straight draw, I managed to miss all of my 18+ outs to lose to a player holding KK making his set with K on the river. Meh! Took a break for an hour to rail Susie Woosie who was still in the tournament, some of the players on her tabl were getting noticeably irate at us signing to each other (probably thinking I was assisting her... As if!) I joined the PL table with €50 and left with €200 just as Susie finished up in 8th place for €50 WP girl! So another nice night out that cost us nothing!
Had plans to play two other tournaments on Thursday & Friday but events elsewhere transpired against me... Saturday was the day of the flash floods, and the monthly Irish Deaf Poker game; only 9 of us made it so we held a simple €20 SnG game was held, I told it down for €125. Brought it to the Fitz cash game but didn't improve on it. Another 'cheap' night out... I met the usual suspects in for the cash league final game, Smurph, Martin and Teresa. All out early sitting at the cash tables with fine stacks starting up their hours for the next league final! Sticky (a regular from Bell/Hartstown) joined me on the cash table having crashed out in 20 odd place for €1k (nice one Sir!) and proceeded to play a huge bluff game pushing me off pots where I had the better hand! Finally owned me in the end when I called his raise when he DID have a hand! Grrrrr!
Didn't get far in the Bell or Hartstown games - was totally card dead, disappointing as I really need the league points - but still made a nice profit by taking down no less than 3 side cash games on both nights for a total of €290 (€120 profit). Good going!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Nuts by any other name...
Arrived late to the €40+5 game in the Jackpot last night near the end of level one, it was intentional as every other tourney I went to in there always started late before but not this one!
As I sat down with my 5k stack, there were few big stacks on the table, I was told that a couple of players had left already! Watching the current hand progressed it was clear I was on a table of LAGs. Uh oh! Trouble ahead... But in my very first hand I got AJ, called the button's 300 raise and the flop came up a beautiful JJ10... niiiiiccceeee! Button threw out 400, I considered slowplaying but instead decided to raised small, 800; he insta-folded. I mucked. The very next hand I had Q9 suited. I love queens, me. UTG+1 raised to 300; there were a couple other callers plus me. BB, who was shortstacked, pushed with 1,150. UTG+ called... I dwelled, quizzing BB for a tell "Hmmm I love this hand... have you a pair" I asked. He nodded (!) then indicated upwards "oh two high cards?" "yep" "ah I have a good feeling about them...". He laughed, and a quick 'oh no' look briefly appeared on his face. Yay! He's nothing! I called.
Flop: QQK (rainbow)
UTG+1 checked, I saw had me well covered... I threw out 3k, he insta-pushed all-in with 10k. I called to see JJ; BB's had 45 suited. What a time to shove! Turn and river did nothing to improve either and I was up to 14.5k. Nice!
Then I made a huge mistake few hands later. Still can't believe I donked my chips on it... Was in CO-1 limped for 100 in along with 5 others; SB raised to 600. Action folded back to me. I had KQ off; I saw the raise as steal and decided to call. Flop came A10Q... SB threw out 1200... I called (I should have folded but I swear to myself he was still bluffing!). River was K, two pair for me! He went all-in with 2,800 approx and of course I called to see his AK smiling at me. Doh! I needed a J to save the day but none came... 25% of my stack (4.5k) spewed! Awful! My cheeks burned for ages!
Some hands later I was on button with 55, CO had raised to 6bb. Huge raise to pay for 55, but I called resolving to fold if there was another raise or the flop doesn't help me, it didn't, he bet 3k and I folded.
Pulled a cheeky bluff in BB position with 22; I called a 3BB raise, flop came 334. I bet out 1/2 of pot , two callers and turn was A (3 clubs on board). I insta-bet with 2k (a little over half pot) and both folded! I mucked my cards as they all quizzed me 'what ya have? what ya have?'...
"pair o'2s" says I.
"Ya did not! Did ya not have an Ace? Or Flush?"
"No.. 22."
"Damn I folded the nuts!"
"what you have?" I asked curious as to what 'nuts' he had
"55... one of them was a club"
I grew back up to a healthy 12k, before getting moved to another table. There, we had more LAG's on short-stacks pushing all-in from various positions with any ace or pair. I called 1k here, 2k there to see a flop that didn't help me, only to have another player shoving and I had to fold.
Was on Button with 10K clubs; I called a 1k raise from player in MP also called by chipleader; I was getting a nice return for my money to see a flop.
Flop came: QcJc10x
MP bet 1.5k, Chipleader called, I dwelled - it was a good place to push: I had a pair, straight flush/flush/straight draw. But I was playing against big stacks who would call me anyway. There were 20 players remaining in the game and I was determined to make final table. I decided to play safe and call.
I don't remember turn hand, I know it insignificant, it wasn't a club, 9 or A. MP checked; Chipleader bet out 5k, I was stuck. I had all the nut-draws... calling 5k would leave me less than 3k behind. I humming for an age... just was hoping the gods would help me somehow... I called. MP folded. River was a measy 4h. FFS! Chipleader looked over at my stack "3k left right?" I folded face up before he threw the last chip in... "ah I thought I had the nuts" he showed a pair of kings for a set "no I had the nuts...". WP sir!
With 20 players left, I played Tighty McTight for several rounds, managed to increase my stack from 2.5k to 6k and blinds were 300/600. Oh I have to thank Tommy for 2k of it! The infamous Tommy or 'The Troublemaker' as I call him, was all over me like a rash most of the night. I learnt from other players that if Tommy's nice to you - keep it that way... I just laugh all his annoying sleazy innuendos off, and stay out of pots with him in it; I've only played with him in 2 games and both times I claimed his scalp! It sure makes up for all the sleaze talk I have to endure!
My exit hand was a push with 5.2k holding AQ; got called by the same chipleader above with 99... Q on Flop, looking good for me... til the bloody river threw me out in 12th place with a 9. Sick. Found out afterwards they were paying out to 9th place... Grrrrr!
Overall apart from two mistakes, I was happy with how I played, I had great fun with the players on the first table! Second table was more serious, til a chatterbox by the name of Keith joined us... and never.... shut... up... once! LOL!
Good game - great structure - the standard was decent - best value in town too! I'll be back, and yes I'll be in on time next time!!!
As I sat down with my 5k stack, there were few big stacks on the table, I was told that a couple of players had left already! Watching the current hand progressed it was clear I was on a table of LAGs. Uh oh! Trouble ahead... But in my very first hand I got AJ, called the button's 300 raise and the flop came up a beautiful JJ10... niiiiiccceeee! Button threw out 400, I considered slowplaying but instead decided to raised small, 800; he insta-folded. I mucked. The very next hand I had Q9 suited. I love queens, me. UTG+1 raised to 300; there were a couple other callers plus me. BB, who was shortstacked, pushed with 1,150. UTG+ called... I dwelled, quizzing BB for a tell "Hmmm I love this hand... have you a pair" I asked. He nodded (!) then indicated upwards "oh two high cards?" "yep" "ah I have a good feeling about them...". He laughed, and a quick 'oh no' look briefly appeared on his face. Yay! He's nothing! I called.
Flop: QQK (rainbow)
UTG+1 checked, I saw had me well covered... I threw out 3k, he insta-pushed all-in with 10k. I called to see JJ; BB's had 45 suited. What a time to shove! Turn and river did nothing to improve either and I was up to 14.5k. Nice!
Then I made a huge mistake few hands later. Still can't believe I donked my chips on it... Was in CO-1 limped for 100 in along with 5 others; SB raised to 600. Action folded back to me. I had KQ off; I saw the raise as steal and decided to call. Flop came A10Q... SB threw out 1200... I called (I should have folded but I swear to myself he was still bluffing!). River was K, two pair for me! He went all-in with 2,800 approx and of course I called to see his AK smiling at me. Doh! I needed a J to save the day but none came... 25% of my stack (4.5k) spewed! Awful! My cheeks burned for ages!
Some hands later I was on button with 55, CO had raised to 6bb. Huge raise to pay for 55, but I called resolving to fold if there was another raise or the flop doesn't help me, it didn't, he bet 3k and I folded.
Pulled a cheeky bluff in BB position with 22; I called a 3BB raise, flop came 334. I bet out 1/2 of pot , two callers and turn was A (3 clubs on board). I insta-bet with 2k (a little over half pot) and both folded! I mucked my cards as they all quizzed me 'what ya have? what ya have?'...
"pair o'2s" says I.
"Ya did not! Did ya not have an Ace? Or Flush?"
"No.. 22."
"Damn I folded the nuts!"
"what you have?" I asked curious as to what 'nuts' he had
"55... one of them was a club"
I grew back up to a healthy 12k, before getting moved to another table. There, we had more LAG's on short-stacks pushing all-in from various positions with any ace or pair. I called 1k here, 2k there to see a flop that didn't help me, only to have another player shoving and I had to fold.
Was on Button with 10K clubs; I called a 1k raise from player in MP also called by chipleader; I was getting a nice return for my money to see a flop.
Flop came: QcJc10x
MP bet 1.5k, Chipleader called, I dwelled - it was a good place to push: I had a pair, straight flush/flush/straight draw. But I was playing against big stacks who would call me anyway. There were 20 players remaining in the game and I was determined to make final table. I decided to play safe and call.
I don't remember turn hand, I know it insignificant, it wasn't a club, 9 or A. MP checked; Chipleader bet out 5k, I was stuck. I had all the nut-draws... calling 5k would leave me less than 3k behind. I humming for an age... just was hoping the gods would help me somehow... I called. MP folded. River was a measy 4h. FFS! Chipleader looked over at my stack "3k left right?" I folded face up before he threw the last chip in... "ah I thought I had the nuts" he showed a pair of kings for a set "no I had the nuts...". WP sir!
With 20 players left, I played Tighty McTight for several rounds, managed to increase my stack from 2.5k to 6k and blinds were 300/600. Oh I have to thank Tommy for 2k of it! The infamous Tommy or 'The Troublemaker' as I call him, was all over me like a rash most of the night. I learnt from other players that if Tommy's nice to you - keep it that way... I just laugh all his annoying sleazy innuendos off, and stay out of pots with him in it; I've only played with him in 2 games and both times I claimed his scalp! It sure makes up for all the sleaze talk I have to endure!
My exit hand was a push with 5.2k holding AQ; got called by the same chipleader above with 99... Q on Flop, looking good for me... til the bloody river threw me out in 12th place with a 9. Sick. Found out afterwards they were paying out to 9th place... Grrrrr!
Overall apart from two mistakes, I was happy with how I played, I had great fun with the players on the first table! Second table was more serious, til a chatterbox by the name of Keith joined us... and never.... shut... up... once! LOL!
Good game - great structure - the standard was decent - best value in town too! I'll be back, and yes I'll be in on time next time!!!
Monday, July 28, 2008
One scorching sunny summer's day...
It's been a while since I walked the length of O'Connell Street... With the heat of the hottest day we've had this year burning down on me too, I must have been mad!
O'Connell Street has changed since I was last in town, but it sure is no cleaner! The amount of ciggie butts, litter and chewing gum is the same, strange considering the pavements are new'ish. I recall a long standing quiz joke/trick question: Q: How many monuments does O'Connell St have? A: None, they are all statues... now obsolete since the arrival of the Spire. I love to meet the group who put it there - how they came to their reasoning(!) The steel phallic column never fails to amaze me, its the most boring, unfriendly, stupidest waste of space ever! Another useless priick in a street full of dead men! Underneath it was another of Dublin's archetypical characters - the street sellers - having a fine argument with each other on the subject of flower arranging in-between serving customers! "Ya put de pink wans over 'ere and da whites in t'bucket on dis ooan! Gobshite! A fiver a bunch luv? Wan em wrapped? Alrioigh... Miiiiick! Get yer hand out of me box, I gav yer a load of chaige already!" I could watch and listen all day! LOL! Next time I get asked by someone to meet up in Town during the day - I'm heading there!
O'Connell Street has changed since I was last in town, but it sure is no cleaner! The amount of ciggie butts, litter and chewing gum is the same, strange considering the pavements are new'ish. I recall a long standing quiz joke/trick question: Q: How many monuments does O'Connell St have? A: None, they are all statues... now obsolete since the arrival of the Spire. I love to meet the group who put it there - how they came to their reasoning(!) The steel phallic column never fails to amaze me, its the most boring, unfriendly, stupidest waste of space ever! Another useless priick in a street full of dead men! Underneath it was another of Dublin's archetypical characters - the street sellers - having a fine argument with each other on the subject of flower arranging in-between serving customers! "Ya put de pink wans over 'ere and da whites in t'bucket on dis ooan! Gobshite! A fiver a bunch luv? Wan em wrapped? Alrioigh... Miiiiick! Get yer hand out of me box, I gav yer a load of chaige already!" I could watch and listen all day! LOL! Next time I get asked by someone to meet up in Town during the day - I'm heading there!
There's a new shop in the mist of all the fast-food chains, that offers 'devotion', the zealots were queueing up outside to get in for the service, or a token pilgrimage, as a staff member handed out cards reminding me 'why Jesus died' and offered to pray for my soul. I'm not a religious person - can't remember the last time I was in a church, but I always held the belief anyone saying prayers for me was simply another form of sending positive thoughts. I'm not going to refuse positive thoughts am I? I just accepted the card, smiled politely and said 'thank you'. Despite all the zealots the amount of abuse that man was getting from other passer bys was something else. People were taking his cards, some mocking it, then throwing it back in his face or on the road. Just then, this wee lad of 8 or 9 years old appeared wearing grubby tracksuit bottoms and faded t-shirt, runner and no socks. The kind you instantly avoid, holding on to your bag that bit tighter. He runs over, picked up the cards from the ground, handed them back to the man saying "Here mister... just tell them them f#*% off next time roigh?!" Then ran off again before anyone could thank him! Awww kudos to whoever reared him! He made ME feel so guilty for misjudging him, the incident left me smiling for the rest of the day too! There's hope for the future generation yet...
The smell of the Liffey was something else! I forgot how bad it reeks!!! Don't know how the beggars on the bridge can tolerate it, especially the ones in baseball hats and sunglasses ... maybe they are poker players?! LOL!
Went to see Susie Woosie in hospital - she looked very trendy in her 'no pyjama during day' gear; poker books and laptop! She's definitely on a holiday!!! Get well soon Susie!
Was in the Bell for my favourite Deepstack Game on Sunday night - we had our biggest numbers to date with 3 full tables... To my right was a 'pro'; well he called himself one! He was raising to mental amounts - kept throwing 1k in any position when blinds were 25/50; naturally no one was calling him. He won all the early blinds, folded only twice. Then I got AK off in SB and called his raise (button)... flop came out 443... I checked he bet 2k. I thought for a moment, and called.
Turn was 3, I checked again and he shoved. I had to fold he could have been playing A3 or A4 but it annoyed me somewhat. I made a smart comment about his betting adding that I never see players betting like this elsewhere even bigger games I've dealt in and he replied that he "played with the pro's" and this was the way he played "either call or shut up!" the other players were praoising him "fair play to ya.." crapaments! Meh!
I tightened up my game, got 88 and called the 1.8k bet from 'Pro' ... 8 on flop... I check raised his 3k to 6k leaving me with 2k behind. He folded. Yay! Few hands later I was in SB (blinds 150/300) with A10 off and had 20k; Pro made a raise to 3k on button; I called so did Paul S. Flop came QKx rainbow; play checked back to Pro who threw in 3k. I called, Paul folded. Turn was the mighty J and I checked again. Pro bet 3k, I raised to 6k, he called. River was 4. I bet out for 6... Pro looked at me and said "huh I only have 3k left... your not paying attention to my stack are ya?" I took back 3k "okay put ya all-in then?" he called me showing A4 and his face fell when I showed my hand. Paul started berating him over the play
-"did ya not see the straight there?"
-"Ya... thought she was bluffing... I was pot committed anyway"
-"Bluff?! Julie never bluffs... do ya Julie?"
LOL!
I started the final table as chipleader with 47k, the rest of the minions were on 25k or less and blinds 1k/500. First hand UTG pushed with 21k... action folded around to me, I called with AK off. 9 on the Flop and I was down to 26k and remained totally card dead for the rest of the game! It was the longest final table too, everyone was playing tight. But not one A, K or pair did I see... almost pushed a couple of times with J10 and Q8 but other players shoved first with at least one caller so I folded gracefully. Got blinded out and went all in on 24 off -v- 33 nothing on board to save me and I bubbled in 6th place. Meh! GG! UL Good night...
Off to check out the Jackpot €40+5 FO tonight... been a while since I was in there, hope they have short memories!!! LOL!
Turn was 3, I checked again and he shoved. I had to fold he could have been playing A3 or A4 but it annoyed me somewhat. I made a smart comment about his betting adding that I never see players betting like this elsewhere even bigger games I've dealt in and he replied that he "played with the pro's" and this was the way he played "either call or shut up!" the other players were praoising him "fair play to ya.." crapaments! Meh!
I tightened up my game, got 88 and called the 1.8k bet from 'Pro' ... 8 on flop... I check raised his 3k to 6k leaving me with 2k behind. He folded. Yay! Few hands later I was in SB (blinds 150/300) with A10 off and had 20k; Pro made a raise to 3k on button; I called so did Paul S. Flop came QKx rainbow; play checked back to Pro who threw in 3k. I called, Paul folded. Turn was the mighty J and I checked again. Pro bet 3k, I raised to 6k, he called. River was 4. I bet out for 6... Pro looked at me and said "huh I only have 3k left... your not paying attention to my stack are ya?" I took back 3k "okay put ya all-in then?" he called me showing A4 and his face fell when I showed my hand. Paul started berating him over the play
-"did ya not see the straight there?"
-"Ya... thought she was bluffing... I was pot committed anyway"
-"Bluff?! Julie never bluffs... do ya Julie?"
LOL!
I started the final table as chipleader with 47k, the rest of the minions were on 25k or less and blinds 1k/500. First hand UTG pushed with 21k... action folded around to me, I called with AK off. 9 on the Flop and I was down to 26k and remained totally card dead for the rest of the game! It was the longest final table too, everyone was playing tight. But not one A, K or pair did I see... almost pushed a couple of times with J10 and Q8 but other players shoved first with at least one caller so I folded gracefully. Got blinded out and went all in on 24 off -v- 33 nothing on board to save me and I bubbled in 6th place. Meh! GG! UL Good night...
Off to check out the Jackpot €40+5 FO tonight... been a while since I was in there, hope they have short memories!!! LOL!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Poker in a Power Cut(!)
I usually love the 10k deepstack Sunday evening games in the Bell... but last Sunday was some experience!
The power went during the 2nd level; and a decision was made to play "turbo style" - 5 minute blinds - by candlelight in order to maximise what little light there was left, the alternative was move the tables to the car park(!) My favourite game was turning into a crapshoot... It was push or die!
By the time the power was restored, I was 2nd chip-leader sitting on 37k [thanks to trip 2s and a beautiful straight flush!] on the final table with: two noobies (one young good player YGP and the other Bully-Bluffer [ab]using his 60K+ lead to push the shorties off the blinds) Paul S, Mr Invincible (he so looks like him too!), Phil-with-a-tash, Susie-Woosie and Black Sanjay. Blinds were 1k/2k and it was only 10pm!!!!
Gum was out early much to Susie Woosie's delight - the woman plays so bad, she puts the proverbial 'pub players' to shame! Her latest claims was to have won "thousands" in the Fitz "and other games" in the past two weeks... huh?!!!! I've never seen her play anywhere else but the Dublin 15 pub games... and she runs too good in them to move on just yet me thinks(!)
She's got a new partner in crime in the form of Bully-Bluffer, they must have had the same teacher I reckon, or a pact with the devil!
Mr Invincible is Gum's 3rd biggest fan after Susie Woosie and moi - he was mimicking her constant gum chewing and stroppy 'speech' play to a T... ahem... I think its safe to substitute 'boast' for 'speech' here! I'm not usually a b1tch but the woman really gets to me calling with hands like 58o and J3o winning with them, then bragging on and on about her "winnings"! She really set my teeth on edge and I wasn't even on her table(!)
Dealer refused to readjust the blinds back to 15 minute levels and poor Susie was caught short having to push with marginal hands only to be eaten alive by Bully-Bluffer. I grinded up to 60k then crashed to 25k calling YGP's all-in with my 10 10-v-KK on a AQ10 flop that yielded a J by river, NH sir! I managed to hold on for 3rd place and 7 precious league points, while YGP and Bully-Bluffer split 1st & 2nd between themselves.
I know you are reading here Robbie... You're probably right, I shouldn't complain as I did cash but ... GrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRRRRRrrrr! I so wanted a decent satisfying game not this fast n furious crapshootinessaments... please please don't do this to us again! Y'hear me??!!!!!!! Gah! That feels better now I've got it off my chest! LOL!
AFTERTHOUGHT: Got a lovely apology by text from Robbie of Dublin Poker Nights for the way the game went last Sunday! He's such a sweetie, I do like the way he runs his games in Dublin 15 (except when there's a power cut!!!) so I want to reassure him he hasn't lost me over it! You'll have to update the league standings soon Robbie now I've linked you!
The power went during the 2nd level; and a decision was made to play "turbo style" - 5 minute blinds - by candlelight in order to maximise what little light there was left, the alternative was move the tables to the car park(!) My favourite game was turning into a crapshoot... It was push or die!
By the time the power was restored, I was 2nd chip-leader sitting on 37k [thanks to trip 2s and a beautiful straight flush!] on the final table with: two noobies (one young good player YGP and the other Bully-Bluffer [ab]using his 60K+ lead to push the shorties off the blinds) Paul S, Mr Invincible (he so looks like him too!), Phil-with-a-tash, Susie-Woosie and Black Sanjay. Blinds were 1k/2k and it was only 10pm!!!!
Gum was out early much to Susie Woosie's delight - the woman plays so bad, she puts the proverbial 'pub players' to shame! Her latest claims was to have won "thousands" in the Fitz "and other games" in the past two weeks... huh?!!!! I've never seen her play anywhere else but the Dublin 15 pub games... and she runs too good in them to move on just yet me thinks(!)
She's got a new partner in crime in the form of Bully-Bluffer, they must have had the same teacher I reckon, or a pact with the devil!Mr Invincible is Gum's 3rd biggest fan after Susie Woosie and moi - he was mimicking her constant gum chewing and stroppy 'speech' play to a T... ahem... I think its safe to substitute 'boast' for 'speech' here! I'm not usually a b1tch but the woman really gets to me calling with hands like 58o and J3o winning with them, then bragging on and on about her "winnings"! She really set my teeth on edge and I wasn't even on her table(!)
Dealer refused to readjust the blinds back to 15 minute levels and poor Susie was caught short having to push with marginal hands only to be eaten alive by Bully-Bluffer. I grinded up to 60k then crashed to 25k calling YGP's all-in with my 10 10-v-KK on a AQ10 flop that yielded a J by river, NH sir! I managed to hold on for 3rd place and 7 precious league points, while YGP and Bully-Bluffer split 1st & 2nd between themselves.
I know you are reading here Robbie... You're probably right, I shouldn't complain as I did cash but ... GrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRRRRRrrrr! I so wanted a decent satisfying game not this fast n furious crapshootinessaments... please please don't do this to us again! Y'hear me??!!!!!!! Gah! That feels better now I've got it off my chest! LOL!
AFTERTHOUGHT: Got a lovely apology by text from Robbie of Dublin Poker Nights for the way the game went last Sunday! He's such a sweetie, I do like the way he runs his games in Dublin 15 (except when there's a power cut!!!) so I want to reassure him he hasn't lost me over it! You'll have to update the league standings soon Robbie now I've linked you!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Tales from the Dealer's Side...
I've been playing very little over the past few weeks. After the massive down swing I had in June the last thing I want to do is add more debt to the ever decreasing bankroll... I'm not that degenerate! (Well I hope not...)
Just what the big man ordered to lift me 'back to black' and rebuild the bankroll! Pros: you get the low-down on future opponents style before you've played them; you are getting a 'free lesson' watching the players play (only if the standard is good of course); you are still part of the action and atmosphere that poker derives for free without the adrenaline from playing a bluff brings. Cons: Its regarded as a 'mugs job'; mentally tiring; open to all sorts of abuse or criticism; sitting for hours on double stacked chairs with toes barely touching the floor (well I'm only only 5'3"!) is a pain in the hamstrings! But to nothing to stop me from reporting about it... Without mentioning any names of course!
The 'Predator' thinks he's god's gift to women. He makes lewd and suggestive comments mainly directed at various women in the room: the girl who serves the drinks, dolls out the cash, the female TD, and female dealers of course. Grabs every opportunity to rub my back, massaging my neck or stroking my hair as I deal... "I luve this gal" he declares to the table... "Careful now, your wife might hear" I retorted noticing the gold band; "aw don't worry love, she's tucked up in bed since 9 O'Clock, what goes down on me in this room stays in this room... he! He!" with a sly wink; "Have ya got a boyfriend love?" asked another player, "I'm her boyfriend! Aren't I?" roared Predator, "He wishes!!! He couldn't afford me!" I insta-replied. "Ah Shure I can, me lovely, when I win this game roight! Haw Haw!" As I get relieved by another dealer, the Predator usually gets up to insists on a hug, "giz a proper bunch of skin-on-skin babe!" while grabbing the opportunity to cop a feel and enjoys every stinging slap he gets in return.
There is nothing more distracting than the 'iPod Shakers'. These players actually sway or rock to the rhythm in their seats, strum air guitars, drum their chips or fingers on the side of the table to the beat. It's so easy to 'guess' what kind of music they are listening to as well. When it's their go, forget about motioning to me for the clock, they will 'wait' until the song is finished before making a decision to call or not anyway! The worse offenders are the ones whose iPods are turned up so loud that even I can feel the music across the felt... with no regards for protecting their own hearing - I can tell these are my future clients, ones I will be evaluating for noise-induced hearing loss in 10 years time.
The sun-glasses clad 'Silent Bots' are simply unfathomable! Their heads never seem to move apart from the hands to pick up their cards... They never make a sound... they don't even breathe... when its their go, they remain so still for so.... long... then... they... act. You can even time your watch to the very second even. No amount of urging will make them call any faster. I have this inexpressible urge to run over, check if they have a pause, or lift those glasses and to see if their eyes glow red as in the 'terminator' but I'm afraid if I even touch them they will fall over or explode so I digress. No matter where they sit they always seem to be staring right at you... I've no idea if they know what cards they actually have! Getting any tells pre, during or after is nil impossible - Silent Bots only have the same dead almost 'moronic' expression for the entire game. If I was playing they will put me on total tilt trying to push them off the table never mind the pot!
While the 'Duchess' is seen as the token female player. Beware, she's not just 'any' female player... she THE female player in the killer heels, make-up, polished talons and coffered hair. She sits on the table with an automatic TAG label and a handbag to match. She commands the respect of the male players on the table, no bull$hitting, dirty jokes or swearing here or her death stare will turn you straight to jelly. She has the skill to sniff out a bluff and has the ability to out-manoeuvre weaker males e.g. forever moving all-in against men like the predator who will almost never call her (cos it will hurt their ego too much if they got shown up by a woman!) Her bling is so blinding it puts people on tilt. She makes the dealers feel very, very inferior especially if they are female: "That black shirt does nothing for you girl... You need to get a better bra fitted, go to Gertie in Arnotts, tell her I sent you." Yes madam, no madam, will do madam.
The 'Drunk' is the worse player to deal to. He hold up the entire hand trying to be funny in the most annoying way possible! He makes out that the only thick person on the table is the dealer and makes it his mission to start an argument with them: "Huh... call who? (hic!) is it my gwo... oooohhh? Ha! Ha! (hic!) How mush? 'Are ya havin' a laff... how MUSH? Tha' too mush! Blinds up? Since wen? Ya never told me tha'!!! No ya didn't... ya fcukin' liar ya are!" It's worse when the drunk is either side of you, apart from the smell (beruuugggh!) its very hard to deal with him constantly leaning towards you then he has the cheek to tell you off for touching him up all the while holding on to the table to keep steady the cards as he rants and spits in your face. All regards for tact goes out the window as he tells me off for wearing low cut tops, blames me for all his bad beats, his aggressive 'hoi... where've me cards gone? I never folded!' pokes leave small bruises in my arm for days. Pushes all in and insists he had double the stack you just counted out "Ehhh?! Two-fcuking-thou? Impossible there's 4,000 'ere... count again retard!" Even berates me for breathing 'Will ya stop fcukin movin' there...' or for placing his blinds out "WTF are ye doin' stop robbin me chips!" It tough enough dealing without babysitting the drunk spilling his drink on the felt or worse... getting sick everywhere.
I love having a 'Joker' on the table! They really liven up the game, taking the pi$$ out of the Gruffado when he lays into you, mocks the iPod Shuffler and is the only one brave enough to turn down the volume, handles the Drunk better than anyone else, charms the Duchess and jeers the predator! He will even take the glasses off the Silent Bot and, amazingly, get the bot to perform a human emotion i.e. laugh. They love being railed and will include everyone around them in the banter. They are the ones who truly don't care about how 'bad' their play is... criticism runs off their backs. Calling raises with 7 2 off only to get a 227 flop and carry it with aplomb while engaging in quality speech-play and making up witty limericks about the various players. Jokers always manages to stake a few big bluffs without upsetting a soul on the table! They play the game as it should be played - with fun - none of the serious stuff here thank you. They put the others on tilt and usually end up winning in the end! They are the best tippers too.
I should add the 'old married couple' (and no, before anyone asks: I'm not talking about Smurph & Martin here) but it's not strictly speaking a player stereotype but more when two players on the same table start up. They have obvious deep poker history between them, with an ongoing banter starting with one liners, put downs, innuendos and ends up with them cursing each others' mothers. Dogging the other: Raising and re-raising in a deliberate effort to ensure the other doesn't get the pot no matter what hands they hold. They generally include the bewildered dealer as the third party/'counsellor role' in these retorts... right to the point of asking our opinion on the other's play/action. Just when we are convinced there's going to be murder... one will slap t'other's back and say "GG Joe... fancy a pint?"
PLACE YOUR BLINDS PLEASE!
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