Risks, Haymakers, and All-ins

The post below is another reprint from my previous blogs which I'm almost done picking apart.  This one def. fits here and I hope that you can get something out of it.

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I've decided I'm going to start w/ a quote every blog from now on.  Not always motivational, not always deep, but they will generally summarize how I feel as of late.  Quote 1 from Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr (Lil' Wayne):

"I swear to everything when I leave this earth, its gonna’ be on both feet never knees in the dirt"

So, for my opening blog I'm going to provide a connection between life, boxing, and poker.  I've heard someone say that once you begin seriously playing poker (I'm sure it applies to many other games of skill as well though) that you use the knowledge that you gain from the game theory in all aspects of life and use all life experiences to make adjustments to your game.  I agree with this 100% and think it's a win-win for anyone who studies the game.

In life, most people are what poker players consider grinders, those who work and work and work to keep a small edge on the game and slowly move up.  What's wrong with that? Nothing if you think about the long haul, but the truth is, grinding is hard work.  Think of a boxer who keeps moving and moving, jabbing and landing well-placed shots.  He's working to the bone to keep a small edge on his competitor while many times he's up against people working less than half as hard as him.  If you keep winning, what could this hurt, right?  In poker, boxing, and life, the grind will wear you down and drive you crazy.  If you never take a shot at a big win, swing a haymaker, or take a big risk, you're risking a lot more than you think.

Let's think on the other end of this spectrum, the power-fighters, the bombs (unpredictable hyper-aggressive poker players), or the genuine risk-takers.  Although it's not a grind, the swings of this personality/lifestyle can do more than drive you crazy, it can drive you to lose everything.  There are generally two types of people that fall into this category, those that thrive off of it and those who are pushed to it.  For those that thrive off of it, this can translate a small edge into an incredible advantage (think Donald Trump, Mike Tyson/Kimbo Slice, or a handful of poker pros), and when they do lose, they know how to take the hit and move on.  For example, Trump has filled bankruptcy more than everyone on Madoff's 'contribution' list combined.  We can only hope that Kimbo can pick up and move on after that pitiful showing vs. Petruzelli.  On the other hand, if you find yourself driven to this state, take note that you are a danger to everyone, including yourself and are generally hanging on by a thread because you aren't used to taking these hits.  Backing yourself into a corner and finally deciding to fight out is the worst strategy no matter what your approach to life is.

Given the pitfalls of both approaches the balance is found in...well... balance.  To be a true success, whether it be in boxing, poker, or life, you have to mix a high level of finesse with well-calculated aggressive moves.  This mix will ensure that you don't get burned out by the grind.  It allows you to survive and make progress while giving you the opportunity to take you shots on your own terms.  It reduces that chances that will get backed into a corner that you have to fight out of and in the case that you do, you have some experience with the higher stakes.

So, keep grindin’, but allow yourselves to take your shots.  Don't let anyone or any situation push to out of your comfort zone but step out and extend it on your own terms.  Sometimes you have to step up and take the chance, swing that haymaker, push all the chips over the line.  The only real risk in life is never taking a risk.  I guess to summarize, there's a 'poker saying' that fits here.  'You can't win what you don't bet'.

The question is, have you risked anything today, this week, this year?
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I hope you got something out of this and as always: Good luck in everything that you attempt.

Putting life into perspective

So I haven't made a lot of time to play cards lately but this evening I got into a couple of little tourneys.  At the exact same time I got dealt AA on both tables.  Not to get hung up on the math, the odds of that happening are about 1 in 50,000.  I managed to get both players to get all their chips in preflop.  Of course I'm stoked about this when I see the 22 on one table  and the 67 on the other.  the 67 turns into a straight on the river and the 2 spikes on the flop on the other hand.  I lost both.  I understand the math and I can't even figure out the odds of that happening.  So, this got me thinking back and looking at my latest run of tournaments.  Luckily I keep detailed stats of my play and the hands that beat me in a tourney and realized that it really sucks to be me.  The only phrase that comes to mind when I think of poker lately is 'FML'.  Sidenote, as I'm writing this I just got all-in 3 times.  Ace-Queen vs Queen-King to be chipleader...K on the turn.  Then Ace-Jack vs 10-10.   That's a coinflip so it's OK if I lose sometimes (would be nice to not lose EVERY time though).  Then theres Ace-Queen vs JJ.   A jack comes on the flop.  Again, I'm not gonna get into odds but the phrase is FML. 

As I do when things go as south as they have w/ poker I started thinking about people who really have a reason to use that phrase, and although I've gone through some tough stuff in my life I don't deserve to use those three little letters that have become so popular to throw around lately (e.g.  I got a pimple...FML).  Then I found a site that is just awesome.  It allows people to add stories that only happen if you have the luck of someone who was Hitler in a past life.  People then vote on whether the poster deserved what they got or if their life truly sucks.  Although I think everyone should check it out: http://www.fmylife.com/, here are a couple of my favorites so far.  It really puts the day to day into perspective.

"Today, I was outside, peeing on a cactus. Then all of a sudden my dog jumped on my back, knocking me into the cactus. FML"

That one is obviously fake but seriously funny.

"Today, I used the new expensive hair conditioner that one of my friends gave me at my bachelorette party the night before. Apparently, they all thought it would be hilarious to put Nair in the conditioner bottle, so now I am completely bald. I am getting married in 4 days. FML"

Today, I said to my roommate, "I know what you're doing, and I want it to stop.". She responded, "I'm so sorry, it was just once and we were both so drunk." I was talking about her stealing my toothpaste, she was talking about making out with my boyfriend. FML

Then there is this one.  Priceless.  I can relate to this one but not w/ the blue pill, Ally instead.  If that was true... it would be my first time really saying FML.

Today, I found out that my dad hides his Viagra from my mom by keeping it in an Aspirin container. Now I have a terrible headache and a boner. FML

So, bottom line, keep things in perspective.

Poker journal entry- Big money Sunday and chance to take down the 100K...again

I'm reviewing my poker journal as I spin up the new year and wanted to post an entry about about my second final table of Bodog's 100K.  Enjoy:

It’s Sunday, big money Sunday, big suckout Sunday.  I just don’t get it.  I’ve already gotten knocked out of the Stars 225K, when UTG limps, I shove for 12BB, he calls- Me AK vs. Him K6soooooooted.   6 in the window.  I’m still thinking I can do some big things in the other big games but Jesus, this is how it starts.  Pretty standard, time to run better, I’ll try.

Bodogs 100K-  I got knocked around at the beginning stages but luckily had some nice double ups.  My favorite was this:

Community Cards
   2 6 10 5 8 

I’m holding TT and this guy shoves OOP for about 4X the pot or so.  He flips up AJs… I really don’t get these types of plays other than perhaps they have been rewarded enough to enstill that there is always a chance in the players.  I would hope that if anyone ever sees me making a ‘move’ like that that they will pull me aside and suggest I either quit poker or get back to the basics.  I don’t foresee that happening though, I like winning too much (ahhhh winning, I remember that one time…5 hours from now that I took down the FT 200K and the Bodog 100K…that was a good time).  OK, back to current time, same guy that doubled me just doubled Hesse who is to my right and I’m not happy about that (he’s chippy now).

In the 200K haven’t been able to get anything going and finally picked up AK, raised from early, got a push and a shortstack call.  I’m thinking 50/50 to triple up.  I’m in and was right 77, 99 vs AK.  9 spikes the flop, and no AK to scoop the side.  I’m out but got in awesome.  All focus on the 100K, just doubled up there AQ vs AT.  One more and I’m a contender.  Doubled through Hesse w/ AQ vs AJ blind vs blind.  One more time and I have a shot to take this down.

Man, it really has been down to the wire w/ bubble play.  I got all in w. 8 to go w/ JJ vs another players JJ (also all in) and 66 (who was spewing chips).  Shoved w/ AK from late, no calls.  Shoved w/ AQ from sb and Hesse obliged again w/ QK.  A on the flop and I’m up to allllmost average.  The bubble FINALLY burst on this thing and when it does here….people flow out.  Then came the magic.  I doubled up and I’m in the running.

A bit of a good run and a flip here and there vs shortstacks, I led some was 3rd most of it and it’s come down to the final table.  8 more people to deal w/ then I can say I’ve won this 100K, no second this time.  Into the final table I’m 4th w/ average chips, 1 shortstack, 1 shorter than average stack, 2 monsters.  Time to navigate.

I navigated on to 4 people w/ the chip lead (not by much).  Short stack shoves I have AJ, SB shoves over him.  AJ suited 4 handed.  I should have called but I folded reshover flips JK and other guy doubles up w/ weak ace.  Then I ended up getting it in w/ TT vs his JJ.  I made a set and he made a straight.  Out in 4th.  7000.  Should have been at very least double that.  Next time 100K, next time.

 As I find more sections of my journal to post I'll put them here.  Until then:  Good luck in everything that you attempt.

This year in review- Poker and life

Sorry about taking a week off of blogging.  I was stuck in the mountains of VA when we got hit with those horrible storms.  After that I headed to New Orleans and got some time at the casino in at Harrahs there.  My girlfriend and I played some video poker, but didn't hit a royal and went home a little lighter in the pocket.  Not much poker going on there this time of year although the people that were in the room were rowdy and playing ALL night...fun group.

Since the new year is upon us, it's time to review my goals and see where I stand on last years and make a plan for the upcoming.

My goals for poker were:

• $40,000 net gain- I was slightly shy of that.  A swing of luck here and there and I could have managed this but not this year.
  
• 1+ WSOPC live tourney cash- I did this with New Orleans.  Good thing since it's the only one I played in this year.
• Triple Crown-  Yes, I thought I had a shot at this when I was making my goals...didn't happen.
• Top finisher in the doubles tourneys on FullTilt-  I didn't focus on this but thought it would be a fun challenge.  I was second-best one time and only beat out by 5 spots between the two tourneys.
• Final table one 'Sunday Major' or 'Mini-Major'-  I did this twice this year at Bodog's biggest tourney, finishing 2nd once and 4th the next time.  On the occasion that I finished second I also bubbled the final table on Pokerstars 250K Sunday tourney...13th place.

 All in all, I feel pretty good about the year even though I've been really kicked around over the past couple of months. The great thing is that the goals that I did hit in poker helped me to make some of my goals in regards to giving to charitable organizations...$6K this year.

I'm going to let Jan. play out before I set goals this year.  I'll post it once I have them set.  Until then, Good luck in everything that you attempt.

Casino's: A review of my experiences: Atlantic City

I've told everyone about my first WSOP Circuit event cash because that's a fun story to tell.  Now lets go to the other side of things and discuss the first WSOP Circuit event that I played in... in Atlantic City.  My girlfriend bought me into the event as a gift which is the best present she could have gotten me. 

The trip was interesting to say the least.  We flew into PA and took a train which was a fun experience...for the most part.  It was the first time my girlfriend has ridden a train so that at made it better.  First things first though, everything about Philly pretty much sucked.  Everyone in the airport was so rude and it seemed like I was causing them an inconvenience to make me a coffee...when it's their freakin JOB!!!!  All in all, we had to go to three different shops before we found a place that we didn't leave before they made our coffee.  That city must suck.  On this train ride, we had to make one connection. Since it was freezing cold out we didn't want to stand outside so we stood right inside of a covered glass area.  To keep this part of the story short, the train that we were supposed to get on was in and out before we could get on...in fact, I'm not even sure that it stopped.  I think it slowed down to a jogging pace threw some people out, I think one guy jumped as the door was closing at which point they were back up to full-speed.  In the end we got to Atlantic City.

We stayed at Harrahs because we heard it was one of the nicer places to stay there and it definitely was.  Prior to the tourney my girlfriend and I played around, hit some video poker, wasted some money in some slots for a bit then I got ready for my tourney.  What we found is the negative effect that keeping tight slot machines and horrible odds has on everyone in this entire city.  We walked around for hours and didn't hear 1 person scream, didn't hear one jackpot being hit, and never heard anyone anywhere happy about anything.  Here is how this snowballs down.  When players are losing their money ALL THE TIME with no real return to speak of they begin getting bad attitudes to the staff.  After hours, months, or years of dealing with bad attitudes, their attitudes then get bad.  The blackjack dealers weren't nice or inviting.  They never got excited, and they were openly happy to take peoples money.  It went a little something like this...4 people at a table and the dealer is showing a 6.  One player has 20 and stands, one has 18 and stands...one splits 9's to get 19 on each and one doubles down on 10 to make 20 for the rest of his chips.  The dealer never smiles once....until he turns over his other card and sees a 5... when the 10 hits he might as well say 'BOOOO-YAAA, in your face b*tches...I'll take that, I'll take that, awwwww...you're broke, peace out'.  Yep, that about sums it up.  This in turn has a negative effect on the attitude of generally happy players and the cycle continues.  At least I hope this is how it happens and it's not just that everyone in New Jersey is just that unhappy and generally horrible.  But then again, that's the back-up hypothesis.

So, that about sums it up. AC was pretty dirty, not a lot of fun, and you could cut the hostility in the air with a knife everywhere you went.  Not good for my Qi.

As for the tournament, I made some rookie mistakes like not noticing that the blinds changed once and raising under the minimum because of it.  Good learning experience and I missed cash by 20-30 players or so.

Next review will be for Reno I believe.  Until then:  Good luck in everything that you attempt.

Delayed post and frustration

It’s been a while since I’ve written and the reason is two-fold.  I’ve been in Vegas for my friend Ken's bachelor party.  That was a lot of fun seeing everyone but lesson learned, no more house/casino games for me.  All in all I would have paid for the whole trip w/ poker/video poker but broke even/lost a bit due to blackjack and craps.  Craps is not out of the question for the future but I will stay away from all other games.  While there I was in a cash game w/ a guy who was dumping money left and right 2-3 seats to the left of me.  Everyone was picking up pots against him and he just kept going back to the wallet.  Then, he raises to 20 blind on our 1-2 table.  I look at QQ from sb… so I make it 60 and tell him, you have to check the cards now bud…. He does and makes the call.  Flop comes K37r.  He shoves all in which he had been doing all day when he horribly missed.  I thought and thought about it and said, “figures you’d hit your 3 outter vs me” before making the call and flipping up my QQ to see his K3 sitting there.  Funny thing is that when he made the move he really thought he was behind.  I got that back and lifted about 700 more from other people at the table over the next hour and half but sick sick sick.  Nicest guy, just not a very good card player.  That mixed w/ a good amount of money moving around made it a fun game.


Once I got home I played a couple of nice sized events and qualified for a couple.  I got absolutely destroyed in all of them though, same ol same ol.  Now on to today and the two hands that will likely lead to me ending poker altogether (when combined with a full month of this exact same stuff).  First game is a 75$ buyin.  As usual I thought that by stepping up in by buyins the horrible palyers would be gone…not the case…exactly opposite it seems.  The hand that takes me out goes something like this.  I have KK and get all-in preflop.  The flop comes AKJ.  He has A9 sooooted.  Turn is a J and I’m thinking still good but this seems oddly familiar.  You know why it’s familiar?  Because now he has 2 outs to take this pot and vs me, that’s all you need…A on the river and I’m out, I say gg, and of course, wp because lets face it, this kind of play should be profitable when my karma debt is all paid up from a past life (apparently I was Hitler).  So, pretty bad hand right.  Lets move to the next tournament.  I mentally saved this one for everyone’s pleasure.  Now to set the table.  It’s mid/late in tourney, almost bubble time and me and the guy to my left have about 30 some odd BBs when I’m dealt QQ.  I raise and get reraised.  Playing him based on what I've seen from him I just call as to not get into a race because I know I can get him to ship it light later in the hand.  Flop is AQ8 rainbow.  I raise him only to see him snapshove over that.  Oh yes, I have the second best possible hand…and he has the best, turning over Aces.  Seriously?  If a Q doesn’t come I have the discipline to get away here and am likely the only player at the table with it but nooooo the ol cooler flop.  I say ‘wow’ ‘standard’.  And someone at the table says, "standard, no, that was a cooler".  My only response is, maybe for you.  For me, it’s standard, and it really has been lately.  Hence the reason that I’m thinking of hanging this poker thing up for a bit and coming back strong after buying a new house and saving up a new roll.  So, a reevaluation after I get some other things in order.


As always,  Good luck in everything that you attempt.

Blog 2 from WSOP Circuit event in New Orleans: Part 2- Reprint

Sorry about the delay in getting this second part up...I've had some internet troubles and this is the first chance I've had to update.  Enjoy the end of the trip:


Up to this point I've been playing solid poker...and am one of the most handsome people in the room...and I saved a mom and a baby from being hit by a train when their car stalled on some traintracks by stopping the train with my bare hands...yep, that about catches you up.

Once I got moved to a new table it was pretty easy to size it up and make some moves.  My next table move was a little (lot) more difficult.  The stack sizes at this table were massive and I had a guy to the right of me trying to steal every one of my blinds.  It doesn't take much for me to get tired of this so after the third time of raising my blind I shoved him all in after looking down and seeing Ace-Queen.  Although I don't feel that this was a mistake I was dissapointed to see him turn up AK after taking FOREVER to call it down.  One time for me... the Q flops out there and I double up.  It was an up and down battle from there and our table was soooo crazy.  I get in to double up w/ Ace-Ten vs. QK.  The board comes out 45678, both of us have a straight.  Then I try again w/ Ace-Nine and get Ace-Two to call me.  The board cards come 55448 se we both have 2 pair.  There were about 10 of these hands at my table and it was just getting funny.  This madness ended at 2:30 AM. 

I figured that the second day would be different but no, the beats just kept coming and I held on until 27th, pulled a new table and then got in w/ about a 40% chance to win...no dice this time.  So, out in 27th after about 14.5 hours of play.  I've gotta say, it's a bitter-sweet finish since once I got in the money I thought I could surely final table this thing, but then again, it is only my second WSOP Circuit event and I cashed in it.  I guess that's not bad considering a met an older genletman who has been doing this for 4 years and hasen't cashed in one...not sure I would continue if that was the case.  I'm thinking next year that I'll take a vacation during this period and play as many of these as I can during that week.  I'll take it down at some point.  All in all the experience gets a rating of 8.5 and I'll definitely do it again.  Thanks for any positive thoughts sent to me.  They helped.

As for the rest of the trip, it's been great seeing Crystals family and being involved with my first crawfish boil.  Definitely good food.  Perhaps we'll get some shipped down and have one down in FL sometime (perhaps next year).  I'll get some help from Crystals dad and brother to figure out how to boil these things but it's well worth it.  Who's coming if I set this thing up?  I suggest everyone...at least once in your life.

So, that's how it ended...I met some interesting people had a blast and made a little money.  I'll be making more time for live poker as I progress with this little hobby.

To continue this theme of reposting, I'm sifting through some old blog entries from another blog to see what fits here.  If they make the cut then they will be worth reading.

Until then:  Good luck in everything that you attempt.