The updates keep coming

I've played everyday this week at Palomar.. the people are coming back and the pots are good sized. Finally broke the money barrier both yesterday (8th) and today (9th) for a total of $120. I have been all in on the first hand every day this week (very unusual for me) losing on Mon and Tues but doubling up this morning. Then on the 3rd hand today I got another player all in basically tripling me up in the first three hands. I pretty much rode that and one or two other winners to the final tables. Both yersterday and today I was one card away from going deep and making some good money. Today was a perfect example... we just got to the final table and we were all getting paid. We played a couple of hands with blinds of 500-1000. I had 5500 in chips when the player under the gun raised to $3000. I looked down at AJ unsuited and decided he would push with a wide range of hands so I went all in over the top. everyone else folded and he turned over KQ of hearts. I had the lead and asked the dealer to keep the cards low and black which she did right up until the river when she turned the K of diamonds. Instead of having 10-12,000 in chips and the chance to go deep, I collected my $50 and will try again tomorrow. Been playing really well and it looks like the luck is beginning to turn... maybe just in time for the WSOP!!!!

You wanted Updates....

I'll give you updates! Went to palomar again this morning and started off pretty much the way things have been going... actually got all in with 2 pair on the first hand and lost to the guy to my left with a river straight. I rebought and played one or two minor hands before the end of the rebuy period. On the last hand of the rebuy period I have $1425 in my stack. You need $1475 or less to rebuy. I looked down at AJ and the first two guys limped in for $100. I had three options... lay the hand down and rebuy (I had already rebought once and didn't want to again), lay down the hand and play after the break with the chips I had left or push all in an play if I won and go home if I didn't. I pushed all in and got two callers. I hit a river jack to triple up (plus some) and was able to keep playing. I then went on a nice run. I had pocket K's three or four times, won some other hands and by the time we got to two tables I had about 10-12,000 in chips. A few hands later, the guy to my left raised and I called with AQ figuring I would see what came on the flop. Sure enough the flop came AQ4... I checked to slow play figuring someone would bet and I could come over the top. Everyone, including the pre flop raiser to my left checked. The turn came K clubs giving backdoor club and straight draws so i decided not to slow play any more and went all in... the guy to my left called and everyone else folded. I showed my two pair and he turned over a pair of K's for three kings and the win. It cost me over half my stack and although I managed to stick around until 11th place, I was soon out without any money. We are almost there maybe things will be different next time out.

Much needed Update

So I was sitting around the other day thinking....boy I haven't done an update in a while when I heard from 2 out of 5 of my regular readers asking why I hadn't done an update. Well when 40% of your readership makes a request, you honor it...LOL Seriously, I have not given up on poker.... as a matter of fact I have been playing more recently than I have in a while. It has been mostly in the local poker room near my house but I have been playing 2-3 days per week. But of course I have not been winning much the last couple of weeks and all the playing along with my new job just didn't leave me a lot of time to blog. On the bright side lately I have been playing really well... in the last two days I laid down a nut straight and a full house (4's full of aces) both of which would have lost had I called. The problem is I am getting nut straights and full houses and they are still not good enough to win!!!!! When I do get in, like yesterday, I went all in short stacked with KJ... the other guy called with A10... the flop came KQ7... the turn was a blank and I begged the dealer not to give me my J... sure enough I get the J for two pair and it gives him a straight. Will continue to try to play my way through it in preperation for the WSOP in Vegas. I will also try to keep the blog more up to date.

Not so super WSOP

Well Lisa and I went to our first WSOP Circuit event, a seniors tournament. It was fun and all but not great results. We started with 6000 in chips and I lost at least two thirds of them in the first round with pocket 10's on two occasions. I actually thought I would be out of my first WSOP event in the first round. Luckily I had a pocket pair 8's and limped and hit a set and got a lady to my right to call my all in so I was able to double up. Unfortunately it was short lived... when we got back from the first break I had pocket Q's and bet about 1/3 of my stack... one guy called and the lady I had beaten earlier went all in... I hesitated but decided I had to call with my queens... unfortunately she had pocket K's and my first WSOP event had come to an end. Lisa bust out a few minutes later and we were done for the day. Had fun and am looking forward to going to Vegas this summer and do the WSOP for real!

It's almost time for WSOP

I realized its been a week or so since my last update... not all that much to report. No lucky Monday this week... did manage to stick around until final two tables... not bad considering I was only able to play three hands... the first was a medium pair I got raised off of (and would have lost)... the second (my only winning hand) was a big blind special 4/6 that flopped a straight. The last hand was an all in AK suited that lost. played some Omaha at Viejas also with no luck... but this weekend I play in my first WSOP event (well circuit event)... we are going to start on Sunday with the seniors event and see if I can't beat some other old geisers... then depending on how that goes we will make a plan for the rest of the events all next week. Stay tuned for details :)

Monday magic

Just a quick update on another Monday win... or chop at least. Almost went out a couple of times but kept hanging on until we got down to the final table. At one point the blinds were 400-800 and I only had 2000 in chips. I was in the big blind and the blinds were about to go up so I announced I was playing the hand blind and be prepared to call the 2000 all in. Well two players decided they were gonna play so one bet the 2000 and the other called and I called blind. Turns out I tripled up when I hit two pairs with a 3/4 suited...sweet. They were only paying 6 but we decided to chop with 7 left and each took home $150...not bad for a $40 investment (buy in plus rebuy). Getting geared up for the Harrahs Rincon WSOP Ciruit Event in a week or so and have been winning so lets hope it continues.

Almost Monday Magic

Decided to see if i could rekindle the Monday magic at Palomar that let me win twice in the last three weeks. Unfortunately they changed the format again adding an extra 1000 chip option for $5. Although it sounds good but we quickly realized it would severely cut down on the number of rebuys, so i definitely did not want to rebuy unless absolutely necessary. I made it through most of the two rebuy periods losing chips but still had about 1500 with just a couple of minutes left. I looked down to see a QJ suited in spades... the blinds were 50/100 an early player raised to 300 and I just decided to call. A player after me went all in with slightly less than me and the original raiser also went all in... I finally decided I was getting over 3 to 1 on my money and made the call figuring if I lost I would just walk away. The first player turned over KK and the second player turned over A8 of spades to take away my flush draw. I figured I was done but asked the dealer for a couple of queens or a jacks and sure enough, two jacks on the flop and they held up. But because poker is cruel I later got in a hand with A8 suited and it was gonna cost me about 1/3 of my stack to call two all ins and hopefully take out two players. They both turned over 10/8 suited and the flop came JJ8 rainbow and my Ace was looking good. Unfortunately the turn and the river were both 10's giving them full houses and all the 8's and 10's were out. I lasted a while longer going out in 12th place but they were only paying 5 so I was glad I didn't rebuy.

Quick update

The monday win streak is over.... but before that... played Omaha on Thursday and went with Lisa and Casey to Pechanga on Saturday. Both days played pretty well and got down into the top 10% but couldn't quite close the deal. Started off well on Monday...didn't need to rebuy but went out fairly early losing with a KQ suited... there were 2 hands earlier with KJ suited that I didn't call some all ins and would have won... I knew when I finally played the KQ it was gonna be a loser...turns out one of the callers had A7 suited and hit trip Aces... ah well can't win every Monday :)

Monday, Monday

so good to me, Monday Monday, it was all I hoped it would be.... looks like Monday is a hot day for me. Played Palomar again this monday morning and won $20 less than last week leaving with just over $300. I had Q's hold up early so didn't have to rebuy... had pocket 8's hold up late to take the chip lead and even flopped Quad 3's on the final table... oddly enough I had Quad 3's last week also but not on the final table. Into the black for overall profits for the first time since getting started...feeling good. Will let you know what happens the rest of the week.

Three days in a row

Well... back in the saddle... have played 3 days already this week... the Palomar win on Monday, Tues at Pechanga and Wed back to palomar. I actuallu took my 83 y/o mother with me to Pechanga...she played video poker while I was playing the tournament. Not muc to report as I went out just before the break... the blinds were 200-400 and I had about 3200 in chips. Three players limped and I called in the big blind with K7 spades. The flop came AK4 with two spades and the guy to my right went all in... I decided to call with second pair and the nut flush draw. I could win with any K or 7 or any spade... none of which happened and I was done.

Wed. at Palomar I never had to rebuy...thank goodness because they were only paying 6 players. I actually played pretty well but ended up going out in 8th and just missing the money. I think tommorrow will be Omaha at Viejas :)

A good Monday

Well, of to a good start or should I say restart? I decided to head over to Palomar 'cause I didn't want to travel to far. Turned out to be a good day there... they actually filled all 4 tables and had some decent rebuys. I didn't play during the rebuy rounds...actually only playing one hand which was pocket Aces and allowed me to go into the non rebuy period with over 3000 in chips. Went up and down a bit when the first of my big hands hit.. I had pocket 3's and limped into the pot with 4 others... the flop brought a 3 so I checked with my set and called a raiser to my left... next card off was another 3 for quads... at that point I should have checked again but instead decided to push and thankfully he called and I had a pretty good stack. I started to slip back with the blinds going up but I managed to hang around as we went to final table.. we discussed a chop but the big stack decided not to which ended up being good for me. I caught pocket K's and AK on consecutive hands to become the big stack... we finally played down to 6 and chopped with me getting $310 to everyone elses $240... no rebuys so I was only in for $20...not a bad day. Lets see if we can keep it up :)

New Year restart

well a couple of things to update you all on.... first off since poker has not been able to provide me with a full time income I have accepted a new job so that I can pay my bills. The good news is, it will be very compatible with my continuing to play poker and hopefully if i am making enough money to pay my bills it will allow me to loosen up a little at the poker table. I may be playing a bit sporatically for the next week or so but as soon as training is complete, my schedule is my own and I will make time for poker. By the way my new positon is Area Scout for a company called The National Scouting Report. Basically we help high school student athletes get athletic scholarships. So if you know a high school underclassman (male or female) that excels in a sport (all NCAA eligible sports are considered) and is interested in competing in college, please let me know. For a fairly small investment parents can save ten of thousands of dollars on college tuition as well as room and board.... a very sound investment.

Now back to poker... I played the 2 for 1 at Pechanga with my brother. I didn't make the money but had some interesting hands including going all in blind just before the break figuring I didn't want go through the break with minimal chips. As it turns out I had K3 and chopped the pot with the big blind who also had K3. So I had to sit through the break and when we came back, the second or third hand was pocket 4's that actually held up to triple me up. Unfortunately the next hand I had pocket 5's and figured I couldn't get that lucky twice so I laid it down. Wouldn't you know a five came on the flop and would have set me up for a deep run. As it was I lasted about another 20 minutes and went out with about 5 tables left (240 started). Am looking forward to the new job and getting back to playing more poker!!!!

Severe Weather Update

I was reminded yesterday that I have not done any updates this week. Mostly because I haven't been playing... I did go to Palomar on Tuesday but not a lot to talk about... the game is getting worse all the time with fewer players and smaller pots. I made it a point not to rebuy figuring it was not financially a good bet. Ended up going out in 12th place. Meanwhile have been hesitant to travel great distances (Pechanga, Oceans) or into the desert or mountains (Viejas, Barona) do to the wild weather we have been having. Fortunately it looks like it is all winding up this weekend so hopefully I will be out on the trail early next week, maybe even run up to barona on Saturday. I have a job interview on Monday but the great thing is that I will be running my own athlete scouting service so there will be plenty of time to play poker. The other nice thing is since I will be traveling locally for work I will be in proximity to most of the card rooms and will be able to write of some of the travel expenses on the new business instead of out of poker money. Stayed tuned for more details

New week similar results

Funny how much more fun blogging is when you are winning... thus the less than daily updates...LOL I went up to Palomar yesterday... never had to rebuy which is good since there were only 29 players. I was rolling along pretty well when we got down to 12 players... I promised myself to not play anything but premium hands at this point until we got down to final table... blind were 100/200 and I was in the big blind and looked down at AQ... the player to my left went all in for his last $200 and the small blind who had a huge stack called the extra $200. I thought about going all in and trying to get it down to me and the guy to my left but then i thought if the huge stack has any kind of hand he would probably call me anyway... so I checked and figured if i hit either and Ace or a Queen on the flop I would move all in.... sure enough the flop was QJ4 and i pushed all in... the big stack called and turned over Q10 against my QA... it worked perfectly... until the turn was a 10 giving him 2 pairs and knocking me out in 11th place... aggghhh. Today I went to Pechanga and like the last couple of times there, I collected a lot of chips early including making some great continuation plays and was really feeling good when the cards just went dead. Normally that wouldn't be all that bad except with their new structure the blinds and then the antes kicked in and my stack slowly started to diminish. I was moved to another table and won a couple of hands but not enough with the blinds and antes going up. Finally with blinds 1000/2000 and having only $6900 i went all in with an A4 and when I got three callers including 2 all ins I new I was in trouble. The flop brought a 4 which temporarily had me in front but I quickly fell behind and was gone with 4 tables left. I am considering going back to more cash games because in most of the tournaments lately I have collected a lot of chips early but have been unable to finish strongly... if I can do the same thing in a cash game I can walk away while I am ahead which might not be a bad idea :) Will let you know more later.

The New Year begins

I hope you all had a good New Years. I finally got through all the holidays and the personal issues like moving my mom to her new place, so it's time to get back in gear. I did play once or twice over the holidays but nothing interesting to report. This morning I went with my brother to 2 for 1 day at Pechanga. I was like a house a fire the first few blinds. Every time I played to show down, I won. I made a few good moves to win other pots. I should say at this point that they changed their format... we got 4000 in chips and they started taking antes at 200-400. After my great beginning I had about 12-13000 in chips. Things of course started to go cold and with the blinds rising an the antes coming into play, my stack was starting to come back to the pack. At one point I hit pocket 3's two hands in a row and one hand a few hands later. The first one I gave serious consideration to calling... if I had gone over the top all in and not let a third player get involved my 3's would have held up. As it was I folded and a 3rd guy called an won the hand. The second time I laid them down to a raiser and would have lost if i had played. The third time blinds were 500/1000 and I was in first or second position (all the other times I was in late position making my read easier) and decided to raise to 3000 (about a third of my stack)and hopefully get no callers or maybe just one. Unfortunately, three players went all in and I was getting 4 to 1 on my money... I had to call and hope it held or I could catch another three. Well of course that didn't happen and it was just a couple of hands before I went out. But it felt good to be back in the saddle and hopefully we'll start making the money again this week.

Wishing you a Happy Holidays

Due to family obligations and holiday parties I will not be playing this week unless I get the opportunity to play on Saturday. I did want to take a minute and wish you all a very Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Years. I also want to take this opportunity to thank you all for this wonderful gift you have given me this year. Of course I wish we were already up thousands of dollars but we have a long way to go and many hands to play before we sleep :) It is easy to get down when you have been out of work for so long and money is tight but knowing I have such good friends who believe in me makes it all worth while. I wish you all, and all of us as a group, a wonderful New Year filled with promise and happiness. Let's make this next decade one to remember, hopefully by starting it off with a win at the WSOP and riches for us all. Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Sometimes you wanna scream

OK so I go up to Palomar this morning because it is close by and I figure maybe I will play there more because that's where I was doing all of my winning. Starts off quiet... don't play any hands for most of the rebuy period... actually laid down a pair of 6's that would have won but with the board and the betting I would only have won if I went all in preflop... I would have spiked a 6 on the turn for the set. Finally the 2nd to last hand before rebuys ended, I look down at AQ and went all in with 2 other players both with small pairs. Unfortunately one spiked and 8 for a set. So I rebuy and have to start the rest of the tournament with just 1500 in my stack.... but I am very patient and every time I am about to go out I get a hand that doubles me up and I stay alive. We are finally down to about 12-13 players the blinds are 400-800 and I am in the small blind with J6 offsuit. Three players just limp and even though I was planning on folding I called the 400 (I had about 3500 in my stack) because I was getting 4:1 odds. Sure enough the flop is J/10/6 rainbow and I am first to act. I check hoping someone is aggressive. Sure enough the 9 seat goes all in... then the guy to my right goes all in over the top... I call and the last guy lays his hand down. The guy to my right has JQ suited and the other guy has AQ so I am in the lead. Turn is a ten which forfeits my second pair and gives him the better kicker. The river was a blank and instead of going into the final table with a nice big stack I am going home. Good news is I know I can beat that game so I think I will go back to playing there more often for a while.

Minor update

Sorry for not providing any updates the last few days, it has been a little busy and didn't have all that much to report. Played Palomar on Friday and went to Pechanga with Lisa on Saturday. The only thing to report is how long I lasted both days without hitting any hands. Both days I did not play any hands for the first couple of rounds. I managed to double up on the final hand of rebuys at Palomar but that was the only hand I got involved in. managed to hang around until the last two tables but not much else to report. Same thing at Pechanga. I went to Palomar again on Monday but got there too late and they were sold out. Went to Pechanga again Tuesday with my brother for 2 for 1 day but never got started. As a matter of fact we both went out within a minute or two of each other. The only hand of mention was my limping in with 3 other players with A/10. The flop came 10/3/4 so I bet 500 and got one call. The next card was a blank so I bet 1000 and got called the river turned an ace and he bet 1000. I was trying to decide what he had and decided to call...turns out he called to big bets with a straight draw (he had 2/5) and got it with the ace, costong me most of my stack...went out shortly there after. Will be out and about again tommorrow so we will see what happens. Hope everyone had a Happy Hannukah!

Let the sun shine!

Decided to stay home on Monday due to the severe weather although it might have been a mistake... I probably should have gone to somewhere like Viejas where they have a guarantee but probably had fewer players than normal... oh well will remember that for next time. I did go to Pechanga with my brother on Tuesday for 2 for 1 day. Again I started off very well... on one big hand the blinds were 50/100 and I had A spades and 10clubs. Several players limped in and the flop came 10/8/7 with two spades. I opened for 300, two guys to my left folded, the next guy raised to 700 and two more guys folded and it was back to me. I was trying to decide what he had and if I should come back over the top all in. I finally just decided to call and the next card came up a spade. I checked and surprisingly so did the other player (the spades must have scared him). The final card also came a spade giving me the nut flush. I checked and he bet out 600. I checked raised him to 1200 and after some thought he folded and showed a 9/J. He had flopped the straight but got scared by the flush enough for me to fill mine out. As it turns out I would have made more money if I had pushed, he would definitely have called but I certainly would have had to sweat out the spades before knocking him out. A while later I made a nice continuation bet even thought I did not hit my hand and won another decent pot. My downfall came later when I had KJ suited with 150/300 blinds and raised to 1200. Another player went all in for 2100 and I was all set to call him when another player called him first. I had to call getting 3 to 1 on my money. I missed the flop but the highest card on the board was a ten. The second guy bet another 1000 and I thought about laying it down but decided to see one more card. Again a blank and he bet 2000 forcing me to lay down my hand. Turns out he had A/10 and ended up winning the pot. It also cost me most of my stack. The last hand I played was funny because I had pocket 5's and went all in for 1000 (the big blind was 2000) two guys called and a third went all in and the other two folded. That was the best case scenario for me with 4 to 1 odds but only having to face down with one player. I said to him... win or lose thanks for the cover. Ends up he had pocket K's and I was done but it was a fun ending or as fun as possible when you lose. Handling some personal issues today but will be back in the saddle tomorrow or Friday.

A good friday

Had to handle some family issues the past few days but decided to run up to Palomar on Friday morning. It seems I have my best luck there on Mondays and Fridays. It took a while to get going...seems like I didn't play any hands during the rebuy period so I was already getting shortstacked when I got QQ in the last hand for rebuys. I pushed all in figuring I would get at least one call.... ends up I got two callers and the Q's held up so I tripled up and didn't have to rebuy. No real outstanding hands the rest of the way but won enough to make it down to a three way chop for $280. As usual the guy who didn't want to chop ended up going out in 7th and didn't make any money.... I love when that happens. Nice to get a win in before I send out the monthly update. Have a great weekend... more next week.