Slow Grind at the 2/5 nl

Last night I did not post because I did not play any live poker. I did play a $5.50 sng on bodog and won . I was pretty short when it was bubble time but put on the aggression and ended up heads up an underdog. But I was telling my son that when I get heads up in a sng I always do well, whether I am the chip leader or not. I told him that I did not know how well I would do in a HU tourney so I decided to try 3 at PokerStars and won two. The one I lost, the other player kept calling me when I had two pair and he got a straight on the river. That crippled me, but it made me play “small ball” poker on my next one and I won it. If I ever get a chance to be in the NBC Heads Up Championship, they better look out!

Last night I played UNO with my son, his girlfriend and Evelyn Ng. The all beat the pants off me. I totally sucked.

Today Jan Fisher and Linda Johnson picked me up and took me to the Wednesday Poker Discussion Group at Binions. It is the next best thing since sliced bread. We all had lunch and informal discussions. Then the structured meeting started. Linda had a hand that she shared with us. They had HUGE cards where you put up the hand and everyone told what they would have done and we discussed it before Linda told what she actually did. It was a valuable learning experience and I urge anyone in Vegas on a Wednesday afternoon to join in.

Afterwards, I went to the Rio to play cash while Jan and Linda played in the HORSE tourney (I had no sponsor so I didn’t play it). I played for 5 1/2 hours and came out almost $500 ahead. It was a slow grind. I was getting no cards for the first 4 hours. But, it enabled me to watch the players and see how they were playing.

I noticed a young girl (poker punk) that would always come in for $20 if first in and if it was limped to her on the button she ALWAYS made it $25. If she got callers she would always make a C-bet and if someone else bet she almost always re-raised. I won HUGE pot from her, forgive me for not remembering the details, but by this time I had started drinking wine. I figured I was loosing anyway so I may as well drink . Anyway I raised with AQ and she called, the flop had an Ace, I bet and she re-raised. The turn was a jack. Damn, I really don’t know the sequence of events, I just know that on the river she made a bet/or re-raise of over $200 and I called. She only had paired the jack and since I had paired the ace I won WOO-HOO. Needless to say, after that she did not try to bluff me again. Everyone noticed how tight I was playing and I am sure I was getting bluffed off a lot of pots, but that one pot made up for it all.

A few hands earlier I raised UTG with AQo. I did not want any callers, just the blinds because I had not won a pot since the ice age. The BB calls. The flop is 456 all hearts. The BB bets $60. He has less than $200 and I have LOTS more so I look and see I have the Ahearts. I put out two hundred dollar bills, thinking he could not call because he does not have nut flush. Well he calls!!! DAMN. The turn is a 9heart and I have nut flush. I don’t know what he had, but I won a big pot there. The river was also an ace, so I don’t know what he was calling me with in the first place. I almost asked to see his cards, but I kinda felt sorry for him ….. hehe

Gotta go and pack as I leave for Atlanta tomorrow to work my trip to Japan. My daughter is planning to go with me. I hope it works out for her.

Good night all,

Shirley

 

Today was a good day!

I decided to play in the ladies tournament at the Nugget since I had won an entry that was included in the super satellite for the WSOP and busted out of stupid WSOP ladies event with 2000 chips. At the Nugget we got 6,000 in chips and 40 minute levels, which allowed for being able to wait out the dry spells.

For the first two levels I did not win one pot. However I did not loose any big pots either. Twice I raised with a pocket pair and got callers and had to fold after the flop. Once the flop was AKQ!!! There was no way I was wasting chips continue betting that! After two levels I was only down 800 chips. Now, in the WSOP ladies event that would been almost 1/2 of my chips. But, at the Nugget since we got 6,000 chips that was nothing.

At one point I was moved to another table and had just over 10 bb’s. When I arrived I said “I don’t know if I should even bother to sit down, maybe I should just stand!” I knew I needed to go all in with ATC, but I just could not do it. When I had about 6 BB I had QQ and went all in, knowing I would get called. I got called by AJ and my queens held up. After that I got hand after hand. I got aces, kings, queens, and AK repeatedly. On one hand there was an all in and call and I had AA and called and knocked out two players. Two hands I was on the button with AK. I made a standard raise and was called by the BB. I think she thought I was stealing on the button. The flop was AKrag. She bet and I thought a bit and did not put her on AA or KK because she did not re-raise me preflop so I go all in. She calls with AJ! My hand held up and she was gone. And THAT is why you do not call a raise with AJ!!!

I was the chip leader at our table and she was second in chips. She hit her Ace and still lost. AJ IS NOT A HAND TO “CALL” ALL IN WITH!! (especially against a bigger stack)

Later a short stack moved all-in and I had QQ. I called, she had AK and hit not only the A, but the K also. That did not hurt a lot, just a little. But, I was no longer to steal from the blinds because although I had more than them, it was pretty close. After getting extremely short, I was able to make my way back up to the final table.

At the final table I was the short stack and I can’t remember my hand, but I was called by two players and one flopped a straight and although I had outs to a straight also, it never came. I went out 10th for $765! I really wanted that bracelet and the $20,000+ but it wasn’t meant to be. Maybe next time.

Tomorrow I am staying in, doing some washing and playing some online poker. No going to a casino. I am BEAT!!!

Good night all,

Shirley

 

Today was NOT a good day!

I felt really good about todays tournament after winning a seat that I did not even need. But, 2000 chips is just not enough to work with. I get the same amount in the seniors tournament and may just need to adjust my play.

I never got any good hands, although others at my table were getting pocket aces, kings, queens and jacks. After the second break I had 1575 in chips but was not worried (although maybe I should have been). I was down to 1375 and knew antes would be kicking in soon. I remembered Jan Fisher saying that if you have less than 10 bb sometimes you have to go allin UTG with any two cards. Well, I look down and see AK so of course it is all in. The player to my left goes allin with a big stack, player in cut off goes all in with less. At that point I pretty much know I am screwd. Player A has KK and player B has AA!! And since I did not get a straight, there went my tourney.

Tomorrow I am playing in the ladies event at the Nugget. The seat was included with my win for the WSOP satellite. We get 5000 chips and 40 minute levels. I am NOT going to play tight like I usually do. I am going to take a more “Gus Hansen” approach. I plan to chip up early or bust early. None of this hanging around with a short stack. I plan to use my position and play it aggressively. No limping if first in and if I think someone is trying to steal I WILL BE restealing! It might not work, but it is worth a try.

Will let you know tomorrow night what happens.

Good night,

Shirley

 

Won Satellite

I guess yesterday really helped me know what not to do. I won a seat in the ladies tourney tomorrow! Gotta keep this short cause I need to be in bed already. Had to stay at Rio and see if David made it through day one of the $10,000 seven card stud.

The LPS lunch was a blast this morning. There was one thing that I learned from PokerFish (Jan Fisher) that I really believe got me there. We had a little “poker discussion” after the lunch.  Jan said there is no such thing as card dead or positional dead. She said that if you can’t go all in first because people keep raising, sometimes you have to push with any two cards when under the gun.

Well, that is exactly what I had to do. I don’t even remember what my cards were cause they were so bad. I went allin and nobody called. The blinds went up the next hand, and I would have been so short if I had to wait until the next time I was under the gun I would have had no “fold equity” because of the antes.

Gotta get some sleep!

 

How many ways can u say I sucked today!

I went into the tournament today excited about a little  practice before tomorrow’s super satellite. Well, I learned a lot of “what not to do”. It all goes back to earlier post where we said that reading all the books sometimes makes us do things we would not do. After folding on the button and seeing the BB get walks I decided to steal if it was folded to me. It worked a couple times, as the table was pretty tight.

I decided to try to steal with Q2d. The BB called. The flop was ten high with two diamonds. She bet and I called. The turn was a queen. She bet and I called again as I did have top pair now with my flush draw. The river was a queen. I now have trip queens, although I would have preferred the diamond flush since I had no kicker . She bets again and I call. She had TT and had flopped a set and rivered a boat   If I had been playing my “old tight way” I would have never tried to steal on the button. Why did the flop, turn, and river have to give me SO many outs. Oh well, that’s poker!!! Note to self – if you are trying to steal and get ANY resistance from player out of position FOLD!

Janice and I decide to play some 1/2 nl. I never got any cards. A couple of times I called a raise with a pocket pair hoping to hit a set, which I never did. I ended up loosing $38.

We then head over to the Winn to meet up with a friend of mine that lives here and I decided to play 2/5 nl. I lost $400 getting hands that were second best. I then moved to 1/3 nl and left up $138 at that table for the night. At least I got a little back but I must admit I played the 2/5 nl poorly.

Gonna retire for tonight and win a seat tomorrow! Will revert back to my old “tight” way of playing that worked for me in the past. Before I started “studying” poker I knew nothing about “stealing”, I just played the cards I was dealt!

Good luck everyone tomorrow.

Shirley

 

Vegas Updates

Haven’t blogged in a LONG time, but will try to put up a little something every night before I go to bed. Yesterday on the way here the weather was bad in Vegas so we had to circle. After the airport was closed the pilot came on and said we had to land in Phoenix to refuel. David was to be playing in a final table starting at 3pm and my original time of arrival was 3pm!! CRAP.

We finally get to Vegas at 5:45 and I head right over to the Rio. David is second in chips when I land. When I get there I ask Evelyn Ng how is he doing and she says – second to LAST!1 He goes out in 7th, but at least I got to see him play for a bit.

I was very tired so I asked my friend to take me by a liquor store to buy wine, as I was in no condition to play live poker. There was a bar right next to the liquor store with video poker and I said lets go in there a bit. I had been in there about 5 minutes and a guy comes up and asks if I am following him. It was a man that backed me in an event in Tulsa after being at my table in the seniors tourney and being impressed with my play. I also ran into him at the Bellagio when playing the ladies tourney. What a small world.

Today I decide to go to the Rio and play a satellite. It was a single table $175 game. I played horrible, made calls I should not have made and checked when I should bet. I ended up going out loosing with AA to AQ spades that got the flush. I did not even get upset. When thinking about the big picture, it’s just game and stuff happens.

I then decided to try my luck (and skill … LOL) at 2/5 nl. I playd 3 1/2 hours and left up $250. In the entire time I probably only played about 10 hands or less. On one hand I raised preflop $20 or $30 (can’t remember which). The BB called. He bet $60 on the flop and I called. Don’t remember the flop, but the turn was a J that put a str8 draw on board, he checked and I checked behind with my KK to keep the pot small. The river put 4 to a str8, he checked and I checked. He had flopped a set of tens! He could not bet the river because of the 4 to a str8. After the hand, he said he thought I would bet the turn. I said why would I do that with the draw out there. He thought he would check raise me, but I fooled his ass!!! Once the river came he could not bet because there was 4 to a flush and he was afraid.

My hand that got my chips back: The guy in the hijack position bet $15. I have JJ on the button. I make it $65 total because the table is pretty loose and will call small bets (I had seen two pots $900 and $800). The BB calls me. The flop is 993 with two hearts. The caller makes a small bet and I make it $100. He says “how much you got left?” I push my about $250 out and he throws in 3 hundred dollar bills. I look and see I have the J of hearts. So, I say, I guess he is putting me all in. Then I say I call, and at least I have outs. He had TT and I win a pot worth $770!

After that I just continued to play tight. One player told me that I played too tight. I told him that I would just wait until I got a hand because they would pay me off anyway. He said, yep at least I will. He was the one that had the tens. I was not playing as tight as they thought. I completed my SB with 34d (absolutely love suited connectors!) and the flop had 56d. I had flopped a str8 flush draw. I decided to bet and they all folded. I won a small pot but that was better than loosing a big one. (I did not show my hand because I wanted them to all think that I was super tight still)

I met Angie Beme from LPS and we went to have a drink and play video poker. I am not going to drink and play poker while in Vegas – I hope! I wanted to play the penny slots instead of video poker. I put $40 in a penny machine and played max play – $2 a hand and left with $101. I proceeded to play video poker and loose it all back, but it was fun anyway.

Tomorrow Jebber is supposed to pick me up and we are going to play the ladies tourney at Binions.

Good night, and wish us luck!

Shirley

 

Boring blog

I don’t have much to report, but as promised I will write something. I am in Dusseldorf, Germany. The internet here is kinda pricey, but at least they have it. It is 20 euros a day and I am here for two days. I think one euro = about $1.60.

I played some .05/.10 NL on Cake Poker. I joined it because of the rakeback. If anyone signs up for a new account on a poker site I suggest you see if a rakeback program is offered. It is the greatest thing since sliced bread. The only catch is if you are already on a site you cannot get the rakeback ;-(

I usually do pretty good on Cake Poker as the players can be pretty weak. However, last night after loosing $12, I did what I should not have done, moved up to .25/.50! I won $35 in 40 minutes. I know that when you are losing you should not go up, but I am glad I did.

I have been watching lots of instructional videos from Real Poker Training and another site called Royal Flush Members trying to hone up my skills for the tourney on Sunday. I am SO excited about the party at Linda’s and meeting all my fellow ladysharks!

It is 3:30pm here and I think it is time for the wine! haha….I never drink wine this early at home, but when I am out of the country I just go crazy!!!! I am going to bed at 9pm tonight because I have to get up at 6 so I guess that is a good reason to start the wine early.

I noticed that most of the blogs are about poker. I prefer to put most of the poker stuff in the forum. This blog will be mostly just boring personal stuff and about my travels, hope that is ok.

PokerMom

aka “David’s Mom”

 

Omaha, Oh Omaha!

First a little about my second night in Dubai. We went to dinner again and then bowling. I bowled terrible but had fun. First game 58, second 102.

Only one girl wanted to go to a club so we did not go. We went to the captain’s room and had drinks. Two of the girls put their ipods on speaker and we danced in the room. We had our own party and had a ball! At 3:30 am we ordered room service. We all left at 5am! I stayed up until 10am watching poker videos and playing my game boy. I slept until 6:30pm. We left the hotel at 7:25 to head back home.

I arrived home this morning. After watching David on poker after dark on tivo I took a short nap and went to play Omaha.

It was my best poker session in a while. I started with $300 and left 5 hours later with $725! It was 9/18 omaha limit with dealers choice, high only or hi/lo. It was 80% hi/lo (my favorite).

The blinds were 3/6 with a $9 bring in. The winner of the pot got this button that was called a “rock”. If you had the rock it was worth $9 so you were automatically in the pot. It was a lot of fun. They also play 4/8 and 8/16 limit holdem with a rock. I don’t enjoy limit holdem but I did play it once.

Any Monday I am not working I will be at the Omaha game, they only play it on Monday. They are very aggressive, straddling and preflop raising. Once it was capped 6 bets preflop! Everybody was in the pot except me. One player scooped the entire pot. It was HUGE! I basically played tight, only loosening up when I had position. It was lots of fun and I can’t wait to go back again!

 

Ain’t life Good!

It is 2:30pm in Dubai and I am in my hotel room drinking wine and reading blogs! I don’t drink this early at home, but I am in Dubai and what the heck! We arrived last night at about 7pm after a 13 hour flight. 3 of the pilots and 6 of the flight attendants went out for dinner after having drinks in the captains room. I was pretty tired and fell asleep at the dinner table while waiting for the food to arrive. One of the girls took a picture of me sleeping  LOL

We ate at a Moroccan restaurant. I did not think it was that great, but when asked if I enjoyed it, I thought the polite thing was to say it was good. So, that is what I did, I lied and said it was great!  Haha, I guess being a poker player is making me lie even off the table.

One young girl from Brazil wanted to go clubbing and dancing so one pilot and 3 of us girls decided to try to find a club, to no avail. We might try again tonight. Some of us are meeting at 6 in the bar for drinks…..YAY, and then off to dinner. Some of the crew are going on a desert safari. I did that on a previous trip and although it was a lot of fun I did not want to do it again.

We leave tomorrow night. During the day tomorrow some of us are supposed to go bowling. There is a huge mall attached to the hotel. It has a bowling alley and an indoor amusement park. I have not bowled in over a year and hope we get to go.

I am going to spend the rest of the afternoon watching some Omaha H/L videos on Real Poker Training. When I return home on Monday I am thinking of going to a home game that plays omaha. It is either high only or high/low, dealers choice. I need a break from nlh so I plan to give it a try.

I almost forgot to share my good news! I will be playing in the ladies championship at the Bellagio! I emailed my son and asked if he would back me. I will be staying at his condo. I also asked him if he could start on getting me sponsorship in the WSOP. I told him I want to play the ladies, seniors, main event and possibly the $1500 HORSE. He said he would start talking to Poker Royalty (his agent, or whatever it is called)!!!!!!!

I just HATE not knowing til the last minute if I will playing in WSOP events so maybe this time I will know ahead of time. I hate it when my son has to play because he spends so much playing so many event himself. He put me in 3 events last year with his own money and I did not cash in any of them. I guess I made up for it when I cashed in the main event (althought I did not give him his buy-ins back for the other 3 events). Hell, I figure I spend way much more than that raising him!

Guess, being the lush I am I am signing off to drink more wine and watch poker videos! Ain’t life good!!!!

 

off to Dubai!!

I am in Atlanta now but will be going to Dubai later tonight. I have been there 3 times and am very excited about going back again.

I went back to the poker pit last Tuesday and played MUCH better than when I was sick! There were 10 + 1 alternate in the $100 freeroll. We chopped for $25 each when it was down to 4 so we could start a second cash game table because more people had come. (I had the chip lead when we chopped

I bought in for $200 in the cash game and was holding my own, stealing a few pots here and there and getting a few good hands. I remembered – small hand, pot; big hand, big pot. I was going to leave if I got up $100, I never got below $100, but I could not get $100 up.

The last hand I made another mistake, forgot – small hand=small pot. I wish somebody had just raised my bb, but oh no, I had T3 diamonds and checked. I flopped a flush and checked, it was checked around. The turn was a heart, I bet, call, one raiser. I re-raise, caller goes all in, original raiser goes all in and what do I do?  CALL. Although it is hard to fold a flush, I should have known T high was no good. The middle player had one diamond, Q with str8 flush draw. The other player had A3 diamonds – the nuts.

Oh well, the good news is I only lost $200. I had played for a long time and did not re-buy. Except for that one mistake I think I played pretty good. I had to redeem myself because when I was sick I made LOTS of horrible plays.