Mr. 21

This past Friday was the first Friday I had not hosted in quite a while. It was cool though. I got a little change in scenery. We only had 12 people sign up for Friday night’s game. Our attendance has been suffering lately (for various reasons).

So I get there, draw my table, and am absolutely loving it. Now, before I go on I am not saying that every player on my table was weak by any means. There were a few players that have earned my respect both on and off the tables. I am just saying I liked my table, as well as my position. I started off real strong. I was playing some pretty good poker. If I had it I was getting paid most of the time, and if I didn’t have it I was representing it well. I think I only got my hand caught in the cookie jar once or twice (for minimal losses).

The thing I loved was when I had to go to show down (not that often) I showed pretty solid hands. This is the best. This gave me a huge advantage. Since I had only showed solid hands they had to give me more respect than if I was showing garbage to win pots. This opened the door for me. It gave me a wider range of hands I could play.

There was one new guy at my table. I had never seen him play before. He made me laugh. I would say the guy was an ABC player, but really….he was a really weak/tight ABC player. He horribly misplayed aces on one hand. He won the pot but he could have gotten so much more if he would have been a little more aggressive. I mean really…how tight do have to be to play aces scared?? I know they get cracked (trust me I know) but man, you have the best starting hand in NLHE. Play those things harder.

So, one hand cracked me up. I was on the button. The new guy was in the BB. I looked down to find the lovely 6c8d. I took my time and went through my options (as I had the whole night). Raise to steal, smooth call, or fold. I decided just to call from the button. I had raised for about the last 6 or 7 buttons. As the BB (the new guy) checks his option he says, “you took 21 seconds.” I really didn’t know who he was talking to. I asked him what he said. He replied, “Just a second ago you took 21 seconds before you called. You must have wanted to raise.” I just smiled and nodded, but inside I was cracking up laughing. This guy was counting how long it took me to make a call. What an idiot. I applaud the guy for trying to pay attention at the table (a common mistake of the beginner player), but geeze..."you took 21 seconds before you called." What a bone head!! I wonder what it would have meant to the guy if I had only taken 17 seconds, or what about if I had taken the dreaded 23 seconds?

Not only did he think I had a strong hand (because it took me 21 seconds to call....HAHAHA), but he told me that he thought I had a strong hand. That is just giving me a free pass to bet. I know that some players might use that to try to induce a bluff or whatever (another weak play), but this guy was being 100% serious. Anyway, I bet out on the flop (with pure air) and took the pot.

As for the rest of the tourney. I got to the final table as the chip leader. Although, it doesn't really matter when you go to battle with the guy who is second in chips, and loose. I had aces...they got cracked by his kings. I should have known better though...the guy who I went to battle with- we nicknamed "Gold" because he always gets so freakin lucky, like Jamie Gold!

Once I lost that hand I was crippled, and exited shortly there after! BUT...at least the night wasn't a total loss. I played strong early, and I can't think of too many better pre-flop situations for building my stack (aces Vs kings). But I still think the best part of the night was the good laugh I got...thanks to Mr. 21!!

The Donkey

Tuesday night was league night...as always. I was first out!! Maybe second. Any way, First hand of the night crippled me. with the blinds at 25/25 donkey from the suicide seat (two from the button) makes it 150 to go.

Before I go any further I have to say that his raise ticked me off. Here is why- our tournament structure is similar to the smaller buy in events as the WSOP (they were set up this way because we will be sending some of our players to some of the lower buy in circuit events- same exact structure). Back to the hand- so a raise to 150 (6 times the blind). If you want to raise 6 times the blind that is fine, but....look at your starting chip stack- 2,000 chips!! The raise would have been smarter if we had 10,000 in chips. Not 2,000. Who knows....maybe I don't know what I am talking about.

Typically this player will over raise when he has big hands- pocket pair jacks or higher or big slick. He says he does it because his hand never holds up and he would just rather take the pot right there. WHAT A DUMB PLAY!! Yea, let's see if this makes since- I pick up a monster hand I raise big and win....the blinds! What a moron. I am not saying to limp by any means, but ideally you would want a caller...maybe 2 depending on the situation when you are holding a monster.

I look down in the small blind at pocket sixes. I decide to call in hopes to flop a set. If I miss I am gone. The big blind calls behind me as well. Flop:

Qs 6d Js

Sweet, I hit my set, but i don't like the JQ suited. Two of the hands I put him on were JJ or QQ- not to mention this guy will NEVER lay down a draw. I make a pot sized bet. The BB folds, and the Donk calls. The turn:

10c

I did not like this card. I check. He checks behind. The river:

2d

I check with the intent to call a small bet on the river, and sure enough he fires in a smallish bet. I called. He turns over AcKs. He's got Broadway. He hit his 4 outer on the turn.

After that hand I was just ticked off. He called a pot sized bet with a gut shot. Should I have bet more? Either way...I hate getting sucked out on. Along with every other poker player in the world.

I guess I really shouldn't complain. I was ahead pre-flop, and a HUGE favorite (about 85% to win the hand)on the flop. I'd sure take those odds again. It just didn't work out for me.

I think what really hurt me though was my attitude. I had trouble letting that hand go, and I miss played another one pretty badly. The second one cost me my tournament life though. I wont even get into that one. I'll just tell you it was plain dumb.

Poker Energy Drinks???

So Phil Hellmuth Jr. endorses Pro Player energy drink.

What in the world?!?!? An energy drink for poker players? Just the other day I was thinking: sitting down sure takes a lot of energy. This is about one of the stupidest concepts ever. OK, so you have been sitting in a casino playing 10/20 NLH for the last 10 hours, but you start to get tired. Hmmm, what to do? Get a cup of freakin’ coffee!

Actually you know what- I am going to come up with my own energy reviving drink for poker players.

Name of drink:
“I am a Nerd for Ordering a Drink Endorsed by a Poker Player While I am Playing Poker”

Active ingredient:
Left over water from washing my dog (my contain small amounts of dog urine)

My Slogan:
It is guaranteed to slap you in the mouth with a taste that will get your mind moving so you can play better poker!!

Special offer:
Hurry and order quick and I’ll send you this one time only bonus offer: The sponge I used for washing his empty nut sack (he has been neutered).