Friday, July 31, 2009
Patting Myself on the Back
This is just a super little note basically to myself so that I do not forget this in the future. I have played (after tonight) 34 tournaments in the month of July. I am 44% in making it to the final table in those tournaments. When I make the final table, I make a profit 31% of the time. If this keeps up I might have to move to Lost Wages or something - ha! I will be playing a lot this weekend too just to keep cool because I live in an ancient apartment with an ancient air conditioner that does not keep up if it is over 90 degrees so I am spending a lot of time in poker rooms! It is supposed to be 106 tomorrow. Good god!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Another Deep Stack Victory (Sort Of)
After last Tuesday's deep stack victory at The Island, I played pretty crappy for a couple of low buy-in tournaments. I did last a long time in the deep stack at Joker's on the 25th, but made a bonehead play trying to get more chips and went out right before the money in 5th place. Stupid, stupid, stupid . . . .
I made up for it on Sunday, however, taking 2nd in the Cable Bridge deep stack tournament. There were only 2 tables, probably because it was "boat race weekend", but I still made a net profit of $600 so I was totally thrilled with that. I am off to try to make it two in a row at The Island tonight. Wish me luck!! :)
By the way, this will be my 31st tournament this month and there are still 3 days left after today. Good grief!! I am only making the money about 30% of the time, but the payouts are making it worth it.
I made up for it on Sunday, however, taking 2nd in the Cable Bridge deep stack tournament. There were only 2 tables, probably because it was "boat race weekend", but I still made a net profit of $600 so I was totally thrilled with that. I am off to try to make it two in a row at The Island tonight. Wish me luck!! :)
By the way, this will be my 31st tournament this month and there are still 3 days left after today. Good grief!! I am only making the money about 30% of the time, but the payouts are making it worth it.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Beating The Deep Stack Tournament
I am a happy girl! After only 5 tries (and making my money back last week) I split first place in the Tuesday night deep stack tournament at The Islands. I made a NET profit of $600 so I will be playing a long time on that kind of money - yippee!
I think I made a couple of guys mad while playing although I was quite nice and friendly to both of them at the time. I just don't think either one of them appreciated the way I played.
The first guy ran into my pocket aces on the button (I love aces on the button). Anyway, there were 2 limpers and Guy #1 raised to 300 (blinds were 100-200) in middle position. There was one caller and then I saw my aces on the button. Yippee! I reraised to 1,000 even. The 2 limpers folded and guy #1 stared at me for like 2 entire minutes and finally reraised me to 3,200. The one caller folded and the instant the action was back to me I simply said, "All in" and put my stack in the middle. It was early in the tournament and we started with 20,000 chips and I probably still had most of them, but I was not about to fool around and let him hit a set on me or something, so I just pushed. He looked super annoyed and folded almost immediately. He folded pocket jacks face up. I planned on folding face up also, but my cards flipped over in mid-air and landed face down.
Now, he was more annoyed. He wanted to see what I had. About three people at the table said (all at the same time), "She had aces". I never showed my hand, but they knew what I had. I did not confirm it. He was so annoyed. He kept saying he should have just called and seen a flop. A friend of his said, "What happens when you call and see a flop and the flop is 10 high? You lose all your chips." Guy #1 was miserable for about an hour, but he eventually got over it.
Guy #2 was drinking most of the night. At the first table he was to my right and I reraised him quite often (with what I thought was the best hand, not just because he was drinking) and I could tell he was getting annoyed with me, but he kept folding, so maybe he finally got the hint that he couldn't push me around, I don't know. Later at the final table, he kept getting slower and slower with his decision-making, which I am sure had something to do with the amount of alcohol he had consumed. He never got nasty or anything - just really super slow. I could tell that he was annoying others as well and not just me.
There was a hand I was not involved in that was making everyone crazy because he just would not make up his mind. I turned around and asked a guy that I knew who was watching whether or not I could call time if I wasn't in the hand. He said yes and I immediately turned around and said, "Dealer - time". Guy #2 just about came out of his chair and said, "What did I do? You are not even in the hand." I said (nicely I thought), "Sorry, but blinds keep going up and you are simply taking too much time with every decision." He said, "Wait until I get in a hand with you" and mucked his cards. I did not respond. He was involved in the next hand again and had time called on him again and after about 10 minutes he just went all-in and got busted. I firmly believe in not drinking alcohol when in a tournament. This probably would not have happened to the guy if he had not been drinking. He seemed like a nice fellow, but he was just so slow!!
Anyway, I ended up playing head's up with a nice young man named Nick and we traded chips back and forth for about 30 minutes and when it got to be 1:00 and we were pretty even, we decided to split it. I was tired but it was well worth it. Can't wait till next week!
I think I made a couple of guys mad while playing although I was quite nice and friendly to both of them at the time. I just don't think either one of them appreciated the way I played.
The first guy ran into my pocket aces on the button (I love aces on the button). Anyway, there were 2 limpers and Guy #1 raised to 300 (blinds were 100-200) in middle position. There was one caller and then I saw my aces on the button. Yippee! I reraised to 1,000 even. The 2 limpers folded and guy #1 stared at me for like 2 entire minutes and finally reraised me to 3,200. The one caller folded and the instant the action was back to me I simply said, "All in" and put my stack in the middle. It was early in the tournament and we started with 20,000 chips and I probably still had most of them, but I was not about to fool around and let him hit a set on me or something, so I just pushed. He looked super annoyed and folded almost immediately. He folded pocket jacks face up. I planned on folding face up also, but my cards flipped over in mid-air and landed face down.
Now, he was more annoyed. He wanted to see what I had. About three people at the table said (all at the same time), "She had aces". I never showed my hand, but they knew what I had. I did not confirm it. He was so annoyed. He kept saying he should have just called and seen a flop. A friend of his said, "What happens when you call and see a flop and the flop is 10 high? You lose all your chips." Guy #1 was miserable for about an hour, but he eventually got over it.
Guy #2 was drinking most of the night. At the first table he was to my right and I reraised him quite often (with what I thought was the best hand, not just because he was drinking) and I could tell he was getting annoyed with me, but he kept folding, so maybe he finally got the hint that he couldn't push me around, I don't know. Later at the final table, he kept getting slower and slower with his decision-making, which I am sure had something to do with the amount of alcohol he had consumed. He never got nasty or anything - just really super slow. I could tell that he was annoying others as well and not just me.
There was a hand I was not involved in that was making everyone crazy because he just would not make up his mind. I turned around and asked a guy that I knew who was watching whether or not I could call time if I wasn't in the hand. He said yes and I immediately turned around and said, "Dealer - time". Guy #2 just about came out of his chair and said, "What did I do? You are not even in the hand." I said (nicely I thought), "Sorry, but blinds keep going up and you are simply taking too much time with every decision." He said, "Wait until I get in a hand with you" and mucked his cards. I did not respond. He was involved in the next hand again and had time called on him again and after about 10 minutes he just went all-in and got busted. I firmly believe in not drinking alcohol when in a tournament. This probably would not have happened to the guy if he had not been drinking. He seemed like a nice fellow, but he was just so slow!!
Anyway, I ended up playing head's up with a nice young man named Nick and we traded chips back and forth for about 30 minutes and when it got to be 1:00 and we were pretty even, we decided to split it. I was tired but it was well worth it. Can't wait till next week!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Why Do People Do These Things?
Last Sunday at the Moose, I was making a terrific comeback from being all-in very early on because I lost too many chips with Ace-King (twice) and pocket nines. Anyway, I was back up to about 6,000 after the first break, which isn't too bad. My first hand after the break was pocket tens. I raised and was called by two players. The flop was A-Q-3 rainbow and when another player bet out, I just folded without even thinking about it. I was down to about 5,000 again.
The very next hand I had pocket tens again. Crazy. Two people limped in and "old" Joe on my immediate right raised to 1,500. The blinds were only 100-200 so this was just an insane raise. In hindsight (isn't it wonderful) I should have just pushed all-in and MAYBE he would have folded his stupid hand, but who knows. I decided to simply call and see the flop.
The flop was 9-9-3 rainbow. This flop did not scare me. Joe went insane again and bet 4,000 into this flop. Why did he do that? Do get me to fold my hand, of course because he only had about 1,500 left after that. I did not put Joe on A-9 or pocket 3s and I really didn't put him on pocket nines. Why would he bet so much with pocket nines (or pocket threes)? I decided to go all-in and I was right to do so. I like Joe but he is a complete and total idiot for calling my all-in, even if he only had 1,500 left. He had absolutely NOTHING except two over-cards. He had made the big raise and the stupid huge bet with Q-J diamonds. Insanity.
Naturally, he caught a jack on the RIVER and knocked me out of the tournament. I was simply furious. I said nothing and was very polite and left and then screamed in my car after I turned the radio up really loud. I just do not understand some people.
The very next hand I had pocket tens again. Crazy. Two people limped in and "old" Joe on my immediate right raised to 1,500. The blinds were only 100-200 so this was just an insane raise. In hindsight (isn't it wonderful) I should have just pushed all-in and MAYBE he would have folded his stupid hand, but who knows. I decided to simply call and see the flop.
The flop was 9-9-3 rainbow. This flop did not scare me. Joe went insane again and bet 4,000 into this flop. Why did he do that? Do get me to fold my hand, of course because he only had about 1,500 left after that. I did not put Joe on A-9 or pocket 3s and I really didn't put him on pocket nines. Why would he bet so much with pocket nines (or pocket threes)? I decided to go all-in and I was right to do so. I like Joe but he is a complete and total idiot for calling my all-in, even if he only had 1,500 left. He had absolutely NOTHING except two over-cards. He had made the big raise and the stupid huge bet with Q-J diamonds. Insanity.
Naturally, he caught a jack on the RIVER and knocked me out of the tournament. I was simply furious. I said nothing and was very polite and left and then screamed in my car after I turned the radio up really loud. I just do not understand some people.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Pendleton Limit Tournament
I swear that l will soon be known as the "bubble" girl or the "almost bubble" girl. This limit tournament was held on Friday, July 17 at the summer poker round-up at Wildhorse Casino in Pendleton. There were 192 entries. They paid the final two tables - 18 places. Yours truly went out in 20th. Ouch!
However, there were many positives about this trip and finishing two out of the money is the only negative I can think of. Postives are: (1) I beat 90% of the field; (2) it was only my 2nd limit tournament ever and I made a great effort (and a great comeback after about 6 hours of play when severely short stacked); (3) I beat "triple gutter" - ha! (although he made a good showing himself, going out about 45th I think; (4) I had "Oklahoma Johnny Hale" as a table mate for most of the tournament and he was great fun to play with; (5) I enjoyed a very good Mexican dinner for free; and (6) I made a PROFIT of $250 on the slot machines playing only $20 to begin with so my entire trip netted me about $65 after tournament entry and gasoline. Not too bad. I had a great time and I'm looking forward to November!
However, there were many positives about this trip and finishing two out of the money is the only negative I can think of. Postives are: (1) I beat 90% of the field; (2) it was only my 2nd limit tournament ever and I made a great effort (and a great comeback after about 6 hours of play when severely short stacked); (3) I beat "triple gutter" - ha! (although he made a good showing himself, going out about 45th I think; (4) I had "Oklahoma Johnny Hale" as a table mate for most of the tournament and he was great fun to play with; (5) I enjoyed a very good Mexican dinner for free; and (6) I made a PROFIT of $250 on the slot machines playing only $20 to begin with so my entire trip netted me about $65 after tournament entry and gasoline. Not too bad. I had a great time and I'm looking forward to November!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Fifteen Tournaments in 13 Days
OK, I'm officially insane as you can tell by the title of this post. Yes, it is absolutely true. Some of those 13 days had two or three tournaments. The good part is that I have cashed in about 40% of them, which is what allows me to keep playing so darned many of the stupid things.
I have finally decided that I am my own worst enemy . . . it took me a while to figure that out didn't it? Anyway, I am going to try really hard not to blame anyone but myself for not cashing in a tournament from now on. I did take second place at the Moose on Sunday and played head's up with Frank (no longer "Woodstock") for about 20-30 minutes. That was fun. I will be playing in the 15th tournament tonight. I might play the deep stack tomorrow at The Island. Then there is the $30 with $500 added tournament on Thursday. I'm off to Pendleton for the limit tournament on Friday and MAYBE another no-limit tourney on Saturday. We will see how Friday goes.
I am bound and determined to make a final table in Pendleton . . . wish me lots of luck!!
I have finally decided that I am my own worst enemy . . . it took me a while to figure that out didn't it? Anyway, I am going to try really hard not to blame anyone but myself for not cashing in a tournament from now on. I did take second place at the Moose on Sunday and played head's up with Frank (no longer "Woodstock") for about 20-30 minutes. That was fun. I will be playing in the 15th tournament tonight. I might play the deep stack tomorrow at The Island. Then there is the $30 with $500 added tournament on Thursday. I'm off to Pendleton for the limit tournament on Friday and MAYBE another no-limit tourney on Saturday. We will see how Friday goes.
I am bound and determined to make a final table in Pendleton . . . wish me lots of luck!!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
The Good: Mostly, I am playing well and doing OK. I took 2nd place at the free ladies-only tournament at The Island last Thursday; 4th place at the 10:00 a.m. Crazy Moose tournment last Saturday; went out on the bubble (bummer) at Jokers on the same day; took 3rd place at the Cable Bridge on Sunday; and 2nd place (als0 at the Cable) on Monday.
The Bad #1: The Tournament of Champions (Cable Bridge) sucked. I got no traction and only outlasted 2 tables. I must have seen J-2 offsuit thirteen times in the first hour. GAK!!
The Ugly: My reading ability seems to have suddenly gone south and I made a TERRIBLE call during the Tuesday night deep stack tournament at the Island. There were about 4 limpers, so I raised to $250 in the small blind with A-K of spades. Blinds were 50-100. Everyone called, which didn't really surprise me because it was early. The flop was A-3-3 with 2 hearts. Everyone check to me and I bet $800 with top pair top kicker. Two folds - two calls.
The turn brought a 10 of diamonds. The two remaining guys checked to me again. I bet $3,000. One guy folded after a long thought process and the other guy called after another long thought process. (I found out later it was an Oscar-worthy performance.) The river brought the queen of diamonds and my remaining opponent IMMEDIATELY went all-in.
This stopped me dead in my tracks with shock and surprise. It was my turn for the long thought process. My first instinct told me that he was bluffing because he had moved all-in so fast. My next thought was that he had been on the nut heart draw with the king-jack of hearts and the queen of diamonds had given him a straight, but then I thought, "Would he really call $3,000 on this draw?" He might. Never once did I put him on a three. Even though I had won a few earlier pots and I would not go broke, I was only into this pot a little over $4,000 and I should NEVER have called under any circumstances unless I had the nuts. NEVER. I did call and he had quad threes. OUCH!!!!! I only had about $2,200 left after that fiasco.
I made a terrific comeback and lasted well over another hour after the dinner break, but eventually got knocked out by the same guy. This time he limped with pocket aces for God's sake. I had A-K with the ace of clubs. The flop was K-J-3 and I pushed all-in after it was checked to me. Pocket aces actually thought for a little while because he kept talking about how he thought I had K-J and had flopped 2 pair, but it was only $5,300 more to him and he had a monster chip stack and he called. I was amazed to see the rockets mainly because 99% of the time people do not limp with them. Anyway, I had hope with another club on the turn, but I got knocked out. It was a very disappointing performance on my part. At least I got the $65 dinner - :)
The Bad #1: The Tournament of Champions (Cable Bridge) sucked. I got no traction and only outlasted 2 tables. I must have seen J-2 offsuit thirteen times in the first hour. GAK!!
The Ugly: My reading ability seems to have suddenly gone south and I made a TERRIBLE call during the Tuesday night deep stack tournament at the Island. There were about 4 limpers, so I raised to $250 in the small blind with A-K of spades. Blinds were 50-100. Everyone called, which didn't really surprise me because it was early. The flop was A-3-3 with 2 hearts. Everyone check to me and I bet $800 with top pair top kicker. Two folds - two calls.
The turn brought a 10 of diamonds. The two remaining guys checked to me again. I bet $3,000. One guy folded after a long thought process and the other guy called after another long thought process. (I found out later it was an Oscar-worthy performance.) The river brought the queen of diamonds and my remaining opponent IMMEDIATELY went all-in.
This stopped me dead in my tracks with shock and surprise. It was my turn for the long thought process. My first instinct told me that he was bluffing because he had moved all-in so fast. My next thought was that he had been on the nut heart draw with the king-jack of hearts and the queen of diamonds had given him a straight, but then I thought, "Would he really call $3,000 on this draw?" He might. Never once did I put him on a three. Even though I had won a few earlier pots and I would not go broke, I was only into this pot a little over $4,000 and I should NEVER have called under any circumstances unless I had the nuts. NEVER. I did call and he had quad threes. OUCH!!!!! I only had about $2,200 left after that fiasco.
I made a terrific comeback and lasted well over another hour after the dinner break, but eventually got knocked out by the same guy. This time he limped with pocket aces for God's sake. I had A-K with the ace of clubs. The flop was K-J-3 and I pushed all-in after it was checked to me. Pocket aces actually thought for a little while because he kept talking about how he thought I had K-J and had flopped 2 pair, but it was only $5,300 more to him and he had a monster chip stack and he called. I was amazed to see the rockets mainly because 99% of the time people do not limp with them. Anyway, I had hope with another club on the turn, but I got knocked out. It was a very disappointing performance on my part. At least I got the $65 dinner - :)
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