Blogger Poker - the Straight Story

It wasn't going to be for me but I saw an announcement that there was going to be a TBC Invitational, however it was on an evening where I had to work late.  I just assumed that I would't be able to make and and put it out of my mind.

Then while working I get a text (not a twat, not a facebook message but an honest to goodness old fashioned text) from Rob who happens to reside yonder.  The TBC Invititational was in full swing with Coach and Triple P and he wanted to know if my fat ass would be coming down.

I knew PPP was in town and really wanted to meet up with him and once I got this text I figure'd I should at least give it the old college try since I had failed to find the time on my days off to get down to the strip and share in some booze or poker.

I got a hold of the wife and gained permission to go out or the evening and then switched my attention to my boss who let me leave work early and next thing you know I'm driving down to the Venetian searching my bank accounts for a spare $200 bucks so that I could play some poker with people who I enjoy conversing with.   Yes, I live in Vegas and pretty much the only time I get out to play poker is to hang out with people who make the table worse to sit at and give me less options for stacking opportunities.
Total Fish

When I arrived I got seated at a different table while waiting for something to open up on the table of fun.
I cannot complain, however, because I did get to enjoy this view for the entire time I was there.

This was not the best pic I could snap but it was far from the worst as well.  But, it's hard to snap a nice ass sitting in a room full of other people, supervisors and people watching camera's.  Last thing I would have wanted was someone to spot it and point it out to said tush.  Oh, I spent more time looking at that arse than I spent looking at my cards.  Good thing a seat change opened up so quickly.

At my new table I enjoyed grabbing the 10 seat (or is it the 9 seat, I didn't pay attention to how many seats are at the V tables) and to my right was Coach and then TBC.  To my Left was a dealer but then the #1 seat occupied by RVP and the #2 occupied by PPP and the #3 by a guy who I think Tony announced 30 or so times was from AVP (which, I do believe doesn't even exist any longer).

So, I'm in the middle of all the bloggers like the fluffy filler that I am.  I sat down with $200 (well, a little less since I lost some at the previous table while not paying full attention).

I didn't have a whole lot going on for me early so I decided to take this passive table and steal  a few pots.  I raise with 42off and miss everything but take it down with a continuation bet.  I show my cards for effect but it appears as most people were not paying attention.
Next hand I get 72off and also raise that shit up and flop 2 pair.  However, I take that down with no one wanting to play either.
Later on I got 42 again and flopped an open ended draw after I had raised pre-flop but when I raised a guy who bet into me everyone decided to go away.
That was pretty much the end of my crap and where the "running good" came into play.

One of my two biggest wins came when I raised and flopped a gut shot.  A guy bets $15 into me and gets called by TBC which I also call and I think someone else comes along.  The turn brings out my straight.  The guy bets $35 and TBC comes along so I push.  Folds to the guy who bet $35 who is thinking about it and starts to stack his money up to the amount of the bet that I put out when Tony starts to go bat-shit crazy.

First Tony hates the fact that the dealer did not pull in the $35 from everyone so that all that was left out there was the $101 that was currently owed.  He mentions it to the dealer who says he has it under control and Tony doesn't like this so he reaches into the pot and starts to try to move the money out of the way himself.  The dealer takes the money back and sets it out like it was telling Tony that he has it under control and to leave it alone.  Tony won't let it die though and repeatedly tells the dealer to pull the $35 out.
The guy who the action is on finally asks Tony if he has a problem because he's the one trying to make the decision which you can tell just angers Tony some more.  Finally the guy decides to fold which I'm convinced was 99% because of Tony and his actions.
It is then Tony's turn to act and he starts going on about how I'm just trying to send him to the Machines and he finally calls.
I flip up my straight and tony I believe has something involving  flush draw and a straight draw - he started talking about having 15 outs and how he practically had to call.  Either way my hand holds and I am now sitting with 2 buy-ins instead of just one.

Over the next 15 minutes Tony keeps talking about how the dealer was in the wrong and unjustly trying to influence the other guy to PUSH ALL IN by leaving that $35 out there instead of pulling the bets in.

A few hands later Tony is on the button and the dealer only gives him one card.  When it's Tony's turn to act he is just sitting there, not doing anything at all and I point to him casually to remind him that it's his turn to act when he flips out that he only has one fucking card and has already told the dealer who just ignored him (Coach and I both did not hear this statement).  The dealer apologizes and says he didn't hear him and gives him another card and Tony just chucks his cards across the table while bitching that the dealer is ignoring him to piss him off.
The fact that Tony didn't end up busting all his chips during this temper tantrum was actually the most impressive part of the evening for me.

Eventually Rob leaves and Tony Bums a ride so I slide over to sit beside PPP for a bit.  While down there I raise to $15 with ATs and flop the nuts.  I end up getting two shorties all in on the flop which included two to a flush.
The Turn pairs the board and the river puts a 3rd flush card out there.
I tabled my hand after the flop and in an act of pure miracle both guys mucked after the river.  One flopped the bottom straight and the other guy never showed.

All in all it was a fun night of bullshitting and cards with some guys I haven't seen in quite a while.
I promise that I'm going to make a much better effort to get out and play when people are in town even though I might not play a whole lot any other time.
Also, I think I might give Sports Betting a shot this year - but just NFL.

This is what my chip stack looked like when I left, thanks to PPP's camera.  All of this was possible because I flopped 2 straights, hit 3 gut shots (cheaply) and rivered an open ender or two.  No pairs, no sets, no boats or flushes, all straights - weird night.

And this photo is just too good to not share.

Up next will hopefully be a poker session that includes Alaskagal, Stumpy, Cokeboy and Michelle - but first I have to get to Friday and make it to the game.

Mojo Rising

As I sit here waiting to get motivated to get dressed and ready for work I have been suffering through a headache that has now lasted over 24 hours.
This is the longest one that I have had in a couple of years now I do believe.

I've been wanting to type something up on my poker session for the past few days now but haven't had the time to get around to it and when I do it probably won't be nearly as epic as I'd like it to be because I didn't take any notes, oh well.

However, something more important has happened in our little blogging community and that is fellow blogger and all around good guy, Memphis Mojo, decided to finally run deep in a WSOP event - finishing 3rd place and taking home some large amount of money that I'm sure makes his toes tingle - $279,000 give or take.

So, here is the LINK GO GO GO GO to his words and feel free to check out my blogroll for other people and their write ups as well.


Congrats my man!  You make us all proud.

Could I borrow a few until next payday? :)

Call me MAYbe

Ok, so the other night I was browsing the blogs I'm subscribed to and came across Mysti's blog Unwritten.
She is running a contest of some sort where everyone who enters has to write a short story (very short, under 1000 words) that all start with the same line.

Normally I wouldn't bother to write up a submission because even though I love to write I just don't feel that I'm actually that good at it.  However this night was different because.... well... well because it was going on 1 am and I was bloody tired and the "better judgement" sensors in my brain had already been shut off for the day.  So, I typed something up then went back and made a few minor edits and sent it off for submission.

I didn't actually submit this hoping to win anything and, in fact, after reading through the rules for submitting I never even paid attention to what could be won or how things were even voted upon.  I submitted this because I like to write and I wanted to write and deep down I just kind of hoped someone would enjoy it.

So - I'll just provide a link to my (now printed) submission for anyone who wants to go read my very short story.

Mental Blocks

Also, dig my sexay pic at the end!

Boo Yah

Fun at my expense

While the title says Not Necessarily Something, it most definitely is something.
Two other bloggers are preparing to stir up a shit storm with me in the middle, and I'm game.

Anything for a little fun right?

So, feel free to check out the link and let our Hosts know if you have any input.
Or just to give a thumbs up to the idea.

An Asshole Explains Beer to a Kid (link)

I stole to title but am re-directing you to the actual blog post.
I don't generally do this but sometimes you run into something so brilliant you want everyone in the whole fucking world to see it - and this is one of those times.

So go and read this, laugh out loud and keep reading this guys blog as there is much worthwhile in there.

Cobwebs

Splitter has gone missing and a certain grrouch decided to use that opportunity to drink his beer and leave his underwear lying around.

So, more important than just making a random guest post elsewhere is the information revealed in the comments section!

Please check it out and let me know what y'all think!