Poker Donkey

WSOP 2010

2010-03-07T11:44:00.000-08:00

Wow! It has been almost 2 years to the day since I last updated this blog. I have not been playing much poker due to work scheduling and mandantory overtime, but at last I will be able to play in the WSOP!!! I will be playing in Event #49 which is a $1500 buy in No Limit Hold'em tourney with no add ons or rebuys. I am also going to play Event #51 which is a $1000 buy in No Limit Hold'em tourney. My goal is to at least cash in one or both of those events and if I win enough money, then I will enter the main event. I have wanted to do this for several years, but could not get the time and/or the money together to do this. I am going to start playing more live poker in the months leading up to the WSOP so I can be ready for it.

Lodge Results from 03/09/08

2008-03-25T10:40:00.000-07:00

Finally got a work schedule where I could return to The Lodge to play some poker and after all this time, it now sucks. I walk in expecting to see the 70-80 people playing like in the glory days of Dan, but instead see three tables totalling about 26 people. I see a some old faces and a few new ones. Structure is the same, but the prizes have changed, only $100 gift certificate for 1st going down to $20 for 5th. Two big changes that will prevent me from returning anytime soon are there is no quarterly or even yearly tourney for a buyin to the WSOP. Spoke to the guy running it and he said "there may be one, but not really sure". Second, the TABC decided to show up the night before and inform management of The Lodge that gift certificates can no longer be used for alcoholic beverages anymore so now the certificate will only get you food and softdrinks, plus no more free lap dance coupons either.

The players themselves were not bad and I made it about halfway through the tourney before I busted out. Only won two hands the whole evening, both of them full houses. One memorable hand was shortly after the break I had KQo and a guy raised to 60 when BB was 20. Two callers other than I and the flop comes Q83 of hearts and the raiser goes all in, other players fold and I call figuring he had a heart draw. He had the K of hearts and got his flush on the river which left me with about 90 in chips. Went all in twice with Ax and was not called, finally after a couple rounds, got JTo and went all in, two callers and A high won the pot and I was out.

As far as Vegas was concerned, I played in a $100 tourney at The Horseshoe that had about 35 players, got knocked out in 15th with AQ vs. AK. Next day played at The Rio which was also $100 buyin and had 50 players. Finished 4th (in the money for $389) when my QQ did not hold against AK with the A on the river. Looking forward to 2009 when I will have enough saved to play in a couple $1500 events at the WSOP.

No Lodge Results 10/23/07

2007-10-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

I know, been a long time since I have posted anything on here, but I was bored at work and decided to update anyone who cares. I am still working at the same place that took me from The Lodge on Sundays, but the sacrifice of Sunday poker has been worth it in the money I have gained. Since I know work in the evenings, my poker play has been greatly reduced to once or twice a week at a bar. I do not even play online anymore since our wonderful Federal government banned money transfers to gambling websites. I played at Bodog for a month afterward and won $450 in a 550 person online tourney $10 buyin. Finished 5th. After that, I decided to withdraw the money and wait until maybe a new administration in 2009 will reverse the wrong direction wew have gone with poker. Also, I never was able to play in the True Texas Hold'em event due to pressure by Nazi like DA's, so that $250 buy in was lost. I don't blame Dan or The Lodge for it, more government bs.
However, on a positive note, I will be going to Las Vegas in December and will play some 1/2 and 2/5 no limit while I am there, may even play a low buyin tourney at one of the casinos. Also will definately go to the Horseshoe so I can see the wall of fame. Next post will be after I return.

Lodge Results for Sunday 12/02/06

2006-12-08T14:16:00.000-08:00

First time I have been able to play at the Lodge for over a month. I recently changed jobs and now will be working on Sundays, made the change for money and job security. Now eventually I will be able to have money to play cash again. As far as the Lodge is concerned, nothing steller happened, I finished in 8th place which was my best finish in months there. I did make it that far by deciding to gamble and call an all in for T225 which was the amount I had with K9s and caught my K taking down A9o. Guy was pissed, but I told him it has happened time and time again.

I also have been playing poker at Clicks for many months now, they have games every night of the week except Friday and Sunday. It is a league and if you get 1 win and play at least 20 games in a 4 month season, you get invited to the final and winner gets trip for 2 to Vegas. Plus if you win on Saturdays you get $35 bar tab. First season I only had 1 win in 60 games so I decided to change up this season. I decided to loosen up a bit and get more aggresive as well as chase a bit more. It seems to have worked because in 17 games I have 3 wins, 7 times heads up and 14 final tables. Now the final table percentage is not normal because we play shootout style where top 2 or 3 from each table of 7-9 go to the final. However my percentage of final tables since last season has increased significantly also my points per game have gone from 7.1 to 14.2 but I will wait on that because my cards have not been steller, but they have not been horrid either. When my cards go completely dead will determine if this change in style is working for the best.

P.S. Lost $200 at Winstar on Wednesday... 1st $100 was lost when my A high flush was beat by a straight flush. 2nd $100 vanished when KQs called my UTG preflop raise of $15 in a 1-2 game with AA and chased to the RIVER where he caught his straight. Oh well, so much for donkey free poker...

Lodge Results for Sunday 10/29/06 - Week 12

2006-11-01T10:42:00.000-08:00

Had a better day this week, nothing stellar, but was actually winning more than one or two pots as I have in the past few weeks. I made a loose call fairly early with JTo and two donkeys in the hand. One had gone all in for 45 chips and I was called by another loose caller. Flop has a J and I bet 25 and he raises to 70 which I call. Turn we both check and on the river he bets 50 and I call, he had AA. Got my money back about 20 minutes later when I had AKo and he called my all in with J6o and his J on the river made my flush. I took a beating for half my stack when the blinds were 10-20 and I had about 320 in chips. I had AQs in the small blind and raised to 60, got two callers including the short stack to my left. Flop is nothing and I bet 100, short stack calls and raises his remaining 25 and I call, he has AK and I don't improve. First good hand he had that night. Was able to get most of that money back from him a few hands later when I had KJo and the flop was 2 diamonds with a K. Checks around, the next card is a J and I bet and he calls. River is another diamond and I check to him, he makes a 1/5 the pot bet and I call, he does not have the diamond and my 2 pair win. Eventually the blinds are up to 25-50 and I am down to 165 in chips. I wake up to AT and am in the big blind. There are two callers and a player raises all in for less than I have and I go all in because he bluffs often. I get one caller and he turns over KTo and the original all in has pocket 4's. Flop comes KK4 and the turn is a 4 giving him a full house and the A on the river takes me out in 21st place.

Next week is the quarterly tournament for $1500 in cash to 1st place. There will be 50 people in it.

Results for Sunday 10/22/06

2006-10-29T08:49:00.000-08:00

Did not play at The Lodge this Sunday, I decided to try a $100 buy in home tourney hosted by a friend of mine. Four weeks ago when he announced it, he was saying there were going to be 50 players and first place will get about $2300, then the night before he said that there will be about 30 players, but first prize was still good at $1400. So I arrive and now there are only 16 players, top 4 spots pay and first only pays $750. I decide to give it a shot anyway. We start out with 40,000 in chips and the blinds are at 100-200 doubling every 15 minutes. First 8 hands I have pocket pairs 5 times, but each time two over cards come on the flop and I have to fold. Each time someone hit a higher pair. Eventually I start getting crap cards and by the first break I am down to 20,000. First hand after the break, the blinds are 800-1600 and I get A2s UTG and decide to call. Get three other limpers and the flop is A85 of which two are my suit. It is checked around and the turn is a blank and someone fires out 1600 and I call along with another player. River is a 2 and same person bets 1600 again and I raise to 4800 and he calls with AT and I am back to even. Made a mistake later when I had AT and an A hit the flop but so did a 4 and my opponent had A4. I decided to call her all in and that knocked me down to about 10K in chips. Two hands later I get pocket 4's UTG and go all in, big blind calls me with A6 and wouldn't you know, he hit his 6 on the river and I am out.
Two things I found wrong with that tourney... one was not enough players and the other is too many chips to start with. That encourages donkey plays because calling a 200 blind or 600 raise is nothing when you start with 40,000 in chips.

Lodge Results for Sunday 10/15/06 - Week 10

2006-10-17T04:56:00.000-07:00

Stupid is all I can say about my play today. Short day at The Lodge this Sunday, didn't make it past 2-4 blinds. Folded every hand until I had A5o in the BB. Flop comes A75 rainbow and I bet 25 since there were 6 other people in the pot. Get a caller and then an opponent raises to 100!! I think maybe he has AK and I decide to call and the other caller folds. Before the turn card is exposed he goes all in out of turn. I then realize he has a set and call anyway like a fool. Of course he turns up pocket 7's and I don't catch any of my 6 outs and I am out. The quarterly tournament starts in less than a month and the top 50 in points play, I am currently 33 so I am pretty much guaranteed to be in.

Lodge Results for Sunday 10/08/06 - Week 9

2006-10-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

Better results this time than last week, was able to actually get a few hands after the first break. Before the break, did not get a single hand worth calling and if I was in the big blind, I would miss the flop completely so would fold to any bet. Overall a good table, only one donkey that would chase and get lucky, but eventually his luck ran out. Had AK three times, won with it once when I flopped a K and made a bet, lost with it when I called a raise and the flop missed completely and my opponent bet, and won with it the last time when I went all in after BB raised with 22 and decided to fold. Strangely of all the hands I played, I only had pocket pair once.. 77 which I called a raise, but two over cards hit and I folded. The blinds were now up to 50-100 and I had about 550 chips left. UTG raises to 300 and I go all in with AQs and he calls with TT. I do not improve and end up in 22nd place.

Side note, the night before I was at a free game at Clicks and decided to go all in with 72s, got called with AA and caught my flush on the river. Dan would be proud.

Lodge Results for Sunday 10/01/06 - Week 8

2006-10-04T12:33:00.000-07:00

Better cards this tournament, actually won a few pots early. Not too many hands stood out though. Only pocket pairs I got were 22 twice and 55 once which did not hold up. Played the first 2 1/2 hours at a very good table, nice tight play, no crazy raises and overall good play. People knew when to get off their straight or flush draws if the pot was not worth it. Was moved when the blinds were at 50/100 I was moved to a crazy loose table with many donkeys. They would call any two cards so I had to wait until I had a great hand to enter the pot outside of the blinds. Unfortunately I was down to 280 chips and woke up to KQ and decided to push all in UTG. Was called by two players. Flop was XXX and big blind went all in and the other player folded. BB turned over 44 and I got no help and was out with three tables left.

Lodge Results for Sunday 09/24/06 - Week 7

2006-09-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

Better results this week, I was able to make it past the first break without winning a single hand. Best hand I had all evening was ATo which completly missed the flop. I would get marginal hands and limp in and catch a small piece, but always folded to a big bet and would have ended up losing anyway. Finally decided to go elsewhere and called a raise with J4s, catch a 4 and call the all in against pocket tens and go out. Ended up finishing 2nd at Scooters so I believe my cards are warming up again.

Lodge Results for Sunday 09/17/06 - Week 6

2006-09-25T08:23:00.000-07:00

For the first time in my almost 2 years of playing poker, I went out on the first hand of a tournament. I am sitting behind the button and wake up to AA with 4 callers in front of me. The blinds are 1-2 and I raise to 6 and get 6 callers total. Flop is Q53 and BB bets 100, one other person calls and I go all in. Both players call and BB shows Q5o and the other caller shows 35s. I do not get any help and am out. I realized after that I should have raised to at least 20 and perhaps that would have gotten those other players out.

Lodge Results for Sunday 09/10/06 - Week 5

2006-09-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

Better performance this week, actually won more than two pots. Started out a bit slow, I was at a pretty aggressive table and was not going to call preflop raises with T4, J6 or Q2. I finally get AA and the pot is raised to me, I reraise to 70 with the blinds at 4-8 and a raise to 24. There were two callers before me and amazingly everybody folds to my reraise. A few hands later I wake up to JJ UTG and call expecting a raise. Button raises and I call everybody else folds. Flop is Q7x and we both check. Turn is a blank and button bets 25 and I call. River is a K and I feel he is trying to buy the pot so I call his 25 bet and he turns over AJo and I take it down. Two hands later I get KK in the BB. UTG raises to 30 and there are two callers. I made a mistake now that I look at it in hindsight and I reraise to 60 which UTG and the button calls. Flop is 789 two hearts and I bet 125 to a 220 pot and both opponents call. Turn is a T and I know I am doomed so I check, UTG checks and button moves all in for 350 which has me covered. I put him on either AJ, KJ or JJ and I decide to fold. UTG folds showing a 9 and the button flips over A6 of hearts!!! I am not sure even if I would have bumped it to 150 or 180 preflop that the button would have folded a suited ace.

After the break I go card dead for awhile and then win a few pots here and there to keep me at about 250. Blinds are now 25-50 and I steal a few blinds by going all in. Go card dead again and now the blinds are at 75-150 and I am in the BB and go all in blind. Small blind is the only caller and he flips up 66. After the board is out I turn over K4o pairing only my 4 and I am out in 12th place.

An interesting side note, there was a petition going around before the tourney approved by the directors to change the starting chip and blind structure to be just like a WSOP event. They are suggesting starting with 5000 in chips and using the blind and ante structure of the actual event. I happily signed it and saw later on that more than half of the players signed it.

Lodge Results for Sunday 09/03/06 - Week 4

2006-09-05T08:23:00.000-07:00

Tourney was run better this Sunday, blinds were still 20 minutes long and the only change from last week was the omission of the 15-30 blind. The directors managed the balancing of the tables much better so it seems that the tourney will be run well, but its still not Dan....

As far as my performance, if you can remember the two hands that you won with in a two and a half hour period, then your cards must be bad. Most of my hands were 82, 74, J2o, K4o and since there were a couple aggresive players raising the BB almost every hand I didn't even call BB unless I had something good. Finally get 77 UTG, I call expecting a raise but get 5 callers. Flop is A75 rainbow. SB bets the pot BB and I call, everyone else folds. Turn is a 6, SB bets 25 and BB folds, I raise to 75 and SB thinks for awhile and exposes a 4 and I win the pot. I get AK twice and raise each time 3x the blinds, get callers and the flop completely misses me so I fold to any bet. There is a player on the table that is calling practically any raise and this gave me a decent stack with the blinds at 20-40, I push all in for 200 with AA and he immediately calls with JJ. I flop another A and I win the pot. For the next few orbits I don't get a hand until the blinds are 30-60 and I have 190 chips left and wake up to 44. I push all in and get called by another player who has been winning on the river even after being way behind until then. He flips up ATo and catches his ten high straight on the river and I am out.

Lodge Results for Sunday 08/27/06 - Week 3

2006-08-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

Came to the Lodge hoping that enough people complained last week that the structure would return to how it was when Dan ran it. Well we got a nice surprise, not only did they listen, they added 2 additional blinds that Dan didn't have. Under Dan's structure the blinds went 1/2, 2/4, 4/8, 5/10, 10/20, 20/40, 25/50, 50/100 100/200 etc.. sometimes he would throw in a 75/150. Under the structure they tried yesterday it was 1/2, 2/4, 3/6, 4/8, 5/10, 10/20, 15/30, 20/40, 25/50, 30/60, 40/80, 50/100 etc... Adding the extra blinds didn't seem to slow down the tourney either, we were down to about 24 at 7pm and many short stacks. They are going to try a different structure next week to see which is better. I saw the other one and it basically takes out the 3/6 and the 15/30 which is still nice since they are back to 30 minute blinds. Also they guy from the first week was back so it was a friendlier atmosphere. Didn't hurt that Budweiser reps were there giving away free beer!!!

As far as my performance, I would get excellent hole cards, but the flop would miss me completely. I would get KQ and the flop would be A73 and since this was an aggressive table, someone would always bet and would end up folding. I ended up folding two full houses but could not bring myself to call a 4X the blind raise out of position with 63o and 74o. I get AK UTG and raise 3x the blind, get 4 callers and the flop is QJ4 and I fold to an all in that ends up getting the boat on the river. Later I get AKs again and just call UTG and luckily someone raises the pot and I call with two other players. Flop is QTx and the raiser bets 20, other two fold and I call becasue there was about 50 in the pot. Turn is a second spade which matches my suit and again he bets 20, I have a straight and a flush draw so I decide to call, river is a spade and I take down my first pot. Later had a tough laydown where I had KQ and the flop was AJx and two people went all in. I knew one of them had an A but it was for my entire stack so I folded, other player had folded KT, ended up would have lost to trip aces. Come across a similar situation later in the game, fold again and would have taken down a big pot on the river. I go card dead again and now the blinds are 20/40 and I have about 240 chips left. I get pocket 10's and raise to 120 get one caller. Flop is KQx and the caller looks at my stack, askes for a count and checks. I go all in stating "I know you have the Q but I call" He turns over QT, a 9 falls on the turn, but get no help on the river and I am out at 24th place.

Overall a much better experience than last week, the guys running it were friendlier and managed the table balancing better. (Still not as good as Dan though) Will be back next week to see if it continues.

Lodge Results for Sunday 08/20/06 - Week 2

2006-08-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

It appears my cards have gone pretty much dead this week. Only won 3 hands the entire tourney. I only had 3 pocket pair, JJ, 22 and AA, only the aces held up after I bet on a flop of nothing but low cards. I enjoyed the first table I was at, there was no excessive raising or donkey plays except one. Player to my right raises 4x the blinds with 99 and gets called by 67o. 67o catches a boat by the turn after flopping trip 6's. The only tough decision I had was when the blinds were 10-20 and I had KJ on the button in an unraised pot. The flop is J97 and I bet 30, player on the BB goes all in. I seriously consider calling, but it would have taken my whole stack if I lost so I decided to fold, not sure what he had because he never showed. I was moved to another table that was extremely loose with many raises and calls. I was running low on chips and went card dead. The blinds went up to 40-80 and I had 120 left. I folded a J9 UTG hoping to get something a bit better on the big blind. I wake up to 49o and UTG goes all in, gets called by the button and I decide to go on luck and I went all in for my last 40. UTG turns over KK and button turns over TT. Board is 92247 and I have three pair which is absolutely nothing and I am out with 3 tables left.

The tourney was run by Budweiser again with different directors. They did well on keeping the blinds at 20 minutes, but they did skip the 25-50 blind level and used a 40-80 level instead. One problem though that generated complaints was balancing tables. The table I was at had 9 players while another had 5 and a thrid had 6 players. Finally after enough complaining, players were moved to balance the tables. However, they responded to the complaints very rudely. They told the players to "Just keep playing cards and let us worry about balancing the tables".

On a side note, I did extremely poorly at Silver City this week being the 2nd player to bust out. I was one behind the button with AQ of diamonds. Button raises and me and another player call. Flop is AQJ of spades and it is checked to me and I decide to push all in. Button thinks and folds, other player thinks for about 2 or 3 minutes and reluctantly calls. I hope he is on a flush draw, but he turns over JJ for trips and I don't improve. Not sure if I played that incorrectly, but the main problem was not enough chips to start with and short blind levels. I wanted to gamble early to build a stack.

Lodge Results for Sunday 08/14/06 - Week 1

2006-08-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

Arrived at the Lodge to a bit of a shock yesterday, found out that Dan is not running the tourneys anymore and has been replaced by Budweiser reps. We had heard a rumor on Wednesday that Dan may not be returning, but I could not believe it since this is Dan's creation. Many players were saying if Dan is not running it, then they will not return, but I decided to try it out. The first mistake I saw the new guy make is he was trying to raise blinds every 15 minutes instead of 20. We pointed it out to him and he proceeded to raise the next blind in 20 minutes, but went back to 15-18 minutes each level. Also, he was not as good as balancing out tables as Dan was, he would just wait until there were enough people out to break down a table. I will attribute that to him trying to figure out how the tourneys were run since this is his first time there. So we will just have to see how this goes. Also found out that this was the first week of the new season and that there are going to be more prizes this year than in previous years.

As far as cards go, it was a pretty good day. Started out good, my AKs held up against pocket jacks. Decided to limp in UTG with it and the pot was raised, called along with two other players. Flop was A73 and bet T20. Player who initially raised decided to bump it up to 60. Player to my right folded out of turn so I called, however the other player thought for awhile and folded his hand. Eventually won the pot, but the player that folded after my out of turn call told the table he had AQ and would have called had I not bet out of turn. A few hands later I get pocket aces UTG and raise to 20. Player who raised me earlier goes all in for 175 and it folds around to me, I immediately call and he shows pocket 8's. My aces hold and I am sitting at around T450 chips by the break. New player comes to the table and eventually I wake up to ATs. He had been raising alot so this time I decided to call. Flop is A8x and I bet 20 with the blinds at 10-20 and he immediately raises to 75. I decide to call and the turn is a blank and I check as he reaches for his chips before the turn hits. He bets 300 which will put me all in and I decide to call thinking he is bluffing at the pot. He turns over KQ and I take down a nice pot. Eventually the tables begin to break down and the short stacks decide to make a move since the blinds are going up. The blinds are now at 75-150 and I am in the big blind with AT of spades and a short stack goes all in with 750. After three orbits of this from the short stacks, I decide to call and he flips up KK. Amazingly I crack the kings when my flush hits on the turn and now I am sitting on almost T2400 in chips due to another short stack with ATo calling as well. I make the final table, but made a mistake that cost me half my stack. Eventually the blinds were 300-600 and I put my last 800 in UTG with Q9s. Get two callers and the board is AKQxx and big
blind shows JT and I am out in 6th place one out of the money. Next Sunday I was supposed to play in the True Texas Poker tournament at Gilleys, but due to the recent busts around town and pressue from our overly conservative government, it doesn't look so good.

Looking forward till Wednesday when I just have to outlast 29 people for a $1500 seat to next years WSOP.

Silver City 09/09/06

2006-08-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

Monday night at Big Johnsons I was told about this poker league they have at Silver City sponsored by 102.1 the Edge radio station. It works like this, they play 5 tables of 10 and the winner of the table moves on to the final tourney. There are 6 weeks to a "season" so the final tourney will consist of 30 players. First prize of the final is a trip for 2 to Vegas, hotel and a $1500 buy in to a WSOP event. This is week 5 so I had two chances to make it to the final. The blind structure is very quick and you only start out with T1000 in chips so I figured due to my style of play, I won't last very long. First hand I get AQo and limp under the gun, eventually someone raises to T400 and I fold preflop. Later on the button I get A9s and call a 2x the blind raise. Flop is K64 two spades and my opponent bets half the pot and I call. Turn and river are blanks which we both check. I figure he paired something, but he had A7o and I take down the pot. My cards are doing well for me, I get AKs UTG and raise, get one caller, the board misses me completely, I bet again and my opponent folds. I end up winning every showdown that I was involved in and make my way to 3 handed. I am in the small blind, button calls, I decide to call with 94s and big blind checks. Flop is 994 and I check, unfortunately everyone checks around. Turn is a 5 and I check again, but this time the button moves all in. I see big blind wanting to call so I mess with my chips and call. BB thinks for a minute and says "If it was any card other than a 5 I would have called". Button turns over A6o??? and I take him to the felt. Heads up lasts for awhile and we are swapping our chips back and forth. It gets difficult because there are T10,000 chips in play and the blinds are 500-1000 soon to go up to 1000-2000 with a 500 ante!!! That would mean HALF the chips in play would be on the table each hand. In the small blind I get AKo and push all in and am immediately called with 33. Get my K on the turn but end up with 4 clubs and his 3 of clubs gives him the flush. Two hands later I raise and he pushes all in, I call with A4 and he turns up 44. I hope for my 3 outer and catch it on the turn and I win my table.

Now only 29 people stand between me and a trip to Vegas and a $1500 buy in to the WSOP.

Lodge Results for Sunday 08/06/06 - Preseason Game 3

2006-08-07T07:11:00.000-07:00

Same format as last week, however we had one table of pot limit Omaha Hi Low 8's or better. We played this once before last season and I wanted to give it another try. This time we did the blinds not by a clock, but once every 10 hands. The reason for this is it takes much longer to play a hand of this game than hold'em. It averaged about 5-8 minutes a hand and at 15 minute blinds, you are looking at 2 - 3 hands per level. No steller hands stood out, had pocket queens twice but they did not improve. I basically folded to 4 handed from a table of 10 when I finally won a pot. Had KK25 and ended up all in after two pot bets. My opponent had TTxx and tripped up on the flop, but I ended up with the K high flush by the river. Took a few more pots and ended up heads up. However, he had me out stacked 6-1 so I had some work to do, also he has been playing Omaha Hi Low for many years. Ended up with a hand that had 77xx and was all in, his 99xx held up and I was out.

Next sit and go was regular NLHE. Got decent cards, was able to pick up a few pots here and there, nothing big until the blinds were 150-300 and I had 1450 in chips. I look down at J9s behind the button and call. Button goes all in, small blind is all in over the top of him and big blind calls. Player to my right folds and I decide to throw the rest of my chips in the middle hoping they all have aces. We expose our cards and I am up against AKo, AQo and A6s. Flop comes and pairs the king and one spade so I need runner runner. Next card is a spade and the river is a spade to give me the flush!!! Now my stack is at a decent size relative to the blinds and I end up heads up. We trade blinds for a few hands and our stacks don't change for the first 15 minutes. Finally I get 77 and raise, my opponent goes all in and I call knowing that he goes all in with hands like AK, AQ, KQ, KJ, etc. Unfortunately he turns over KK and they hold. Next week will be the last preseason week before the fun begins!!!

Lodge Results for Sunday 07/30/06 - Preseason Game 2

2006-07-31T09:51:00.000-07:00

Before I discuss my play at The Lodge, I have to state that I got quad kings on Thursday and quad aces on Friday. Also, had I played my 10-5 offsuit on Sunday, I would have had quad 10's. Just bringing that up because it has been months since I had them.

On to The Lodge. This was another preseason event which was done in a sit and go fashion. It was going to be 10 tables total so if you busted out in the first 5, you could move to another until the 10 were complete. I ended up playing 3 of them.

First table... 4th hand I get JJ and call a raise to my right. Blinds are 25-50 and the raise is to 200. He gets 4 callers and the flop is J95, 2 hearts and 1 diamond.. First to act bets 200, original raiser folds and I raise to 500 and am quickly called after the other player folds. Turn is a K of diamonds and first to act bets 1000 and I push all in, he quickly calls with Q9o and catches his ten on the river for his 4 outer straight!!!! DONKEY!!!

Second table, don't get many cards, call an all in with AJo and we chop when she also has AJo.
I get AQo and raise to three times the blinds and get one caller. The flop is J42 and I check to which my opponent goes all in. My stack was and the final table was about to start so I called, she had A4 and my hand does not improve.

Third table, finally get some good hands that hold up in the beginning, but then go card dead for 2 blind levels. Finally the blinds are 300-600 and I am in the big blind with about 1900 in chips. Button raises all in and I decide to call with J8s and he turns over AK for the third time and I am eliminated.

Next week will be the final preseason tournament.

Pocket Pairs

2006-07-24T15:12:00.000-07:00

Had a home game last Friday and ended up down $14 after being up $13. We start with $20 each and the blinds are $0.10 - $0.20. Doesn't seem like there would be nice pots, but we had some that were over $20. Most pots were in the $1-3 range as there was normally a raise preflop. Lots of pocket pairs that night, I had AA once and KK twice. I took a nice pot when I raised to $4.00 and was reraised to $8.00. I decided to push all in hoping he had QQ, JJ or AK. He quickly called with 22 and my kings held. Still shocked as to why he made that move. I would have only called that with AA or KK and if he was tight only with AA. The next time I had pocket kings, I was cracked by none other than Ax... A8 to be exact. I still am stymied how to properly play kings because I don't want to raise so high as to not get a good pot, but it seems Ax seems to call and normally wins out. From that point on my high pocket pairs have not held up.

Saturday night I was card dead, folding every hand except SB and BB unless raised. Finally I get KK and raise to 5x the big blind. Player to my right who is monster stack calls. Flop is 443 and he checks. I know he caught his 4, but I decide to push all in and am quickly called. He has K4 and the river brings his boat.

Sunday night I was getting great cards, but missing the flop completely. I get AA and raise 5x the blinds and get 4 callers!!! Flop is K73 of hearts and I know somebody called with suited cards. A well known bluffer bets 2000 and I decide to go all in with 5800, get TWO callers as in addition to the initial bettor. I know I am dead. Turn the initial bettor goes all in and gets one caller. River is an ace of HEARTS and the player to my right turns over J8 of hearts!!! and I am done.

Gotta love free poker!!!!

Lodge Results for Sunday 07/16/06 - Preseason

2006-07-17T08:29:00.000-07:00

At last poker is back at The Lodge after 3 weeks of nothing to do on Sunday except rot in front of the TV watching DVDs. This week was different because it was a heads up tourney and I was looking forward to playing. Too bad I only lasted one round. It was the same format as the National Heads Up Championship where brackets are used. We started with T100 in chips and the blinds were at 1-2. The nice thing is they were capped at 5-10 and each game lasted an average of 45 minutes to an hour with the exception of one game that went 2 hours so Dan raised the blinds to 10-20. I got a first round bye due to people who preregistered failing to show up. After waiting about an hour I finally got my chance to play. Started out with lousy cards the first 8 hands and then finally won a hand with king high. I stayed around T60-75 in chips for the first 3 blind levels and wasn't able to capitalize on my pocket aces halfway through. About 45 minutes in, I was down to T35 in chips and get A2s and push all in on the big blind. My opponent calls with KQ and the flop is QAx, turn is a K and the river is a Q and I go down to a full house. Overall it was interesting and it was easy to steal blinds at times, but I didn't have any cards to really play with cause I was missing the board most of the time and when my opponent bet, I didn't have any draws. Also I noticed when I hit, my opponent missed completely so I was never able to win a decent pot to get my stack up. No poker next week, but will be another preseason game the week after that.

Bad luck

2006-07-03T08:19:00.000-07:00

Played in a home game Friday night, a little $0.10/$0.20 action with $20 max buyin. Doesn't sound like much, but at the end of the night there was over $200 on the table and a couple pots went over $50. I started off decent, up and then even when I wake up to pocket 7's under the gun. I raise to $0.60 and get reraised to $1.20. There are two callers behind me and I decide to gamble a bit and call. Flop is 875 and I am glad I called. I bet $7.50 and the reraiser goes all in. Next player folds and then the player to my right pushes all in as well. Without thinking I call and realize I am beat with a set of 8's. First all in had AK (why he went all in, I will never know), but I don't get my case 7 or my straight to chop the pot so I have to rebuy. I start grinding my way back up and am up to $27 from my $20 rebuy when I get AJ in the big blind. There is a raise preflop only double so I call. Flop is 9TQ and the button decides to go all in after me and the other player in the hand check. I am not sure what the player to my left will do, but I seriously consider calling. There were two diamonds on the board, but my A was a diamond and all I needed was a K or an 8. It would put my entire stack, but if my other opponent calls, I would triple up. I decide to lay the hand down and the all in is called. I don't remember what they had, but they both had me at the time. They decide to run it twice and and the first run the K falls and the second run, the 8 falls. So much for not chasing the straight. I end up cashing out with $20 so I ended the night down $20, mostly from the set over set.

Next night decide to hop on Party Poker and played an $11 3 table tourney and a $0.25/$0.50 NL game. Knocked out of the tourney in 14th place, but end up making $35 on the NL game after calling a bluff to the river with middle pair.

Results for the weekend: +$15 for 7 hours of poker... I won't be quitting my day job.

Lodge Results for Sunday 06/25/06 - Final Week

2006-06-26T09:12:00.000-07:00

At long last the much anticipated Lodge Tournanment of Champions to end the 2005-2006 season. First place is a $1000 buy in to a WSOP event with airfare and hotel to Vegas. 2nd place was a poker table and 3rd place was a chip set. There were 45 players in the tourney and I expected tighter play and good folds. We started with T2500 in chips and blinds were 30 minutes each. Started out slow, lots of folding and some stealing of pots by other players. Also there was preflop raising so I had to make sure my hand was good enough to call a raise with. Get JJ and raise to 200 when blinds are 25-50 and big blind calls. Flop is AQQ, I check and big blind bets the pot and I fold. Blinds are now at 50-100 and I get QQ, raise to 300 and everyone folds. Just before the break when the blinds are 100-200, I get QQ raise to 600, get one caller, flop is 85x and I bet 1200 and opponent folds. Two hands later get TT, raise to 600 again, get 2 callers, flop is garbage, I bet 1200 after both opponents check and they fold. Another pot later and now after the break, the blinds are 100-200 with a 25 ante. Action begins to pick up as some small stacks are going all in to stay alive. I am up to 4500 in chips and one behind the button. UTG calls, next player is all in for 750, player to my right folds and I look down at AQs. I decide to push all in. Button folds and small blind goes into the tank for a couple minutes, states "I have to do it, I do not have a choice" and calls. Big blind automatically calls and I find myself up against QQ, JJ and 55. Flop is KJ3 and I hope for the T. Turn is a T!!! and I made my straight, 5's and queens are drawing dead and the excitement builds as I am going to pull a very nice pot... I can see Vegas on the horizon and then the river comes... that damn river, the 3 falls and JJ makes his boat and I am out in 23rd place. The next game is a heads up tournament on July 16th which Dan says is a preseason event.

Lodge Results for Sunday 06/11/06 - Week 30

2006-06-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

Final week of The Lodge Amateur Poker regular season. I was mathematically eliminated from 1st place last week so I was playing for some more gift certificates. Today was also "rebuy mania" so it was going to be a donk fest for the first 3 blind levels. I had 7 rebuys myself so I loosened up somewhat. Didn't win a hand until my rebuy. Was up to about T600 and got KK, raise 4 times the blind and get called by a donkey who wants to "go all in" every hand. Flop is A7x and I decide to push all in. He calls with A3, but I get my K on the river. Was up to T1700 with two tables left and get K2o in the big blind. Flop comes K2x with two clubs. I bet and big stack raises all in and I happily call. He catches his flush on the turn and I get a K on the river for a full house!!! I am now sitting at about T4400 when I get AK under the gun and go all in. Big blind calls and turns over KK. Board is JJTTx and I am out in 11th place. In two weeks is the tounament of champions where 1st prize is a $1000 buy in to a World Series of Poker event plus airfare and hotel to Las Vegas.

Lodge Results for Sunday 06/04/06 - Week 29

2006-06-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

Came to the game drunk due to Dallas Desperados final game (which they got their asses kicked) so I wasn't planning on doing so well. Started out good, played more aggressive than I normally do and was ahead at the break by about T100 in chips. The only hand I really remember was the one that took me out. I had J3o in the small blind so I decide to call with one other caller and the big blind. Flop is J3x, 2 spades which I bet T20 and big blind (who is the point leader) goes all in. Other player folds and I happily call. I figured he might have two spades, but he has 24o with ONE spade. Turn is a spade and guess what?? The river is a spade so he caught his runner runner flush and I am out because I do not have a spade. I curse as I get up from the table, go to another game and my JJ gets cracked by K5 after a SIX times the blind raise preflop catches their king on the flop.

Lodge Results for Sunday 05/28/06 - Week 28

2006-05-31T06:55:00.000-07:00

Pretty small field due to the Memorial Day weekend. Started out with just 5 tables and the first table broke down quickly. Again I did not win a hand before the break so it appears I will be out before the final 2 tables. The blinds are at 20-40 and I get A8 and decide to call an all in for T65 in chips. There are two other callers and the all in turns over A8 and we split the pot. I am now back to even and 5 hands later I get A8 again in the big blind and an A comes on the flop. Another player goes all in for T80 more and I call. He turns over AK, but I catch an 8 on the turn and am starting to build my stack. We break down our table and I move to a table with 2 huge stacks. Blinds are now 25-50 and I am in the small blind with KK. UTG goes all in for T340 and there is one caller. I call as well and am up against KJ and J6. The kings hold up and I am now at T1100. The blinds are now at 150-300 and after stealing a few blinds I am sitting at T725 at the final table. The 2nd hand I am in big blind with pocket 8's. Button raises to T600 and small blind folds and I go all in which the button calls. He turns over KJ of clubs and he gets his flush on the turn and I am out in 9th place. I was disappointed because 1st place was a $500 buy in to a poker school with Clonie Gowen that included a tourney where 1st was a seat to the main event.

Lodge Results for Sunday 05/21/06 - Week 27

2006-05-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

I was feeling real good about this game because the few days leading up to the tourney my cards have been holding up well. Start off decent, win a few hands and get up to about T330 and then get AKo, the pot is raised preflop to T30 with blinds at T5-10, then there is an all in, a call and it is to me. I think very hard and I notice the player to my left who raised initially was getting ready to call so I decide to fold. I have never folded AK before, but I felt that I would be up against made hands such as KK, QQ or even AA. Turns out I was against JJ, AQ and AT, but that still was a good fold because 2 of my outs were gone. I would have been out had I called because no A and no K showed up and the JJ took it. About 5 hands later I get 99 and short stack goes all in for T110 and there is a caller. I again see my opponent to my left was going to call so I throw them away. Short stack had 95o, the first caller had QQ and the other had AQ. Turns out I would have tripled up on that hand because the case 9 hit on the river. After that, I really did not get any cards worth calling the constant raising on the table. After the break I have T155 in chips and the blinds are T10-20 and I am in the small blind. I get QQ and push all in and my opponent to my left calls with AK and catches his K on the turn and I am done. Later he gets taken out by AA and he lost over T1200 in chips in two hands.

Lodge Results for Sunday 05/14/06 - Week 26

2006-05-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

There is a new player at first place now. I have dropped to 4th, but a 1st place finish will propel me to the lead. The prize in addition to the normal prizes is a buyin to a charity tourney. Since its mother's day, the field is smaller than normal so my chances are much better. I start off very slow and go to the first break without winning a single pot. I only saw 3 flops in big blind due to the excessive preflop raising. Finally after the break I win a couple of pots and are T30 ahead. Blinds are now 20-40 and that hurts a stack when I only have T280 in chips. I decide to go all in with pocket 5's and get called for less by A8o... well you can guess what happened... she gets her ace on the river and I am down to about T55 in chips. A few hands later and she is is out and I decide to go all in under the gun with Q6o since that was the best I had seen since the pockeet 5's. I get 3 callers and beat everybody except for 34o (who was the button) who pairs her 4's and I am out.

I decide I haven't had enough poker and go play at another bar at 10:00pm and again I do not win one pot. I lost my chips in 2 hands... one was I had 35 of spades in the small blind and the flop comes 2 spades. There is some betting and I call, turn is a spade and more betting. River is a spade and it is checked to me so I bet big, get one caller who had the A of spades and I am down. Two hands later I get Q6 and call the blinds. Flop is AQ6 and there is a bet, a raise and I go all in expecting those opponents to have a A. Well on opponent has Q7 and the other has AQ!!! and I am out of the tourney.

Lodge Results for Sunday 05/07/06 - Week 25

2006-05-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

I hate pocket kings now... Tourney started off on the wrong foot when I go out on the 2nd hand with AJ vs. A9 and my opponent catches his straight. I have a rebuy so I get my T250 back. Fairly slow until the 1st break where I finally catch a hand with AJ and split the pot with A6 who has the same full house. Blinds are now up to T20-40 and I raise with AQ and get a caller, flop is AQ8 and I go all in and get called so I double up there. A few hands later, I get AJ and go all in and get called by A9 which I hold up again. Blinds are beginning to go up quickly and I keep hovering around T300-T450 in chips with blinds at T50-100. I go all-in on big blind with AJ again and get called by AK. I get my jack and double up to T950. A few more orbits later and I am down to T250 with blinds at T100-200 and I am the button. We have to redraw because we lost both the small and big blind and I end up under the gun!!! I go all in with my Q9 against pocket 8's and I get my queen and now I am big blind. I get KQs and go all in vs KT and double up again. A few hands later I go all in with AQ after a raise and collect blinds and some callers. I am now up to T2100 with blinds at T150-300. I make a foolish call in the big blind when under the gun goes all in for T950 and I have KT and he turns over pocket aces. Two hands later I get pocket kings and I go all in for T1000 and get called by big blind who turns up AT. Guess what?? He catches his ace on the river!!! This is the 4th time I have gone out with pocket kings at this tourney and everytime but once (my opponent had pocket aces) my hand was dominant. I am out at 11th place.

Lodge Results for Sunday 04/30/06 - Week 24

2006-05-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

This tournament had more riding on it because in addition to the normal 1st place prize, a seat was being awarded to a charity tournament that has a $200 buyin. 1st place in that tourney is a $10,000 seat in the WSOP. I was hoping that the bad run of cards the past weeks has ended. Started out well, finally won some pots and was up to 400 at the third blind level. One hand that stood out was ATo, I was in the big blind so I checked and the flop came T75, it checks to me and I bet 80 and get a caller. Next card is a J and my opponent bets 100 which I call. River is a K and my opponent goes all in for 200 more and after much thinking, I decide to call. He had pocket 6's and is out. I called him because I put him on an ace or a low pocket pair, also if I would have folded I would only have T180 left when blinds are 20/40, also this player had been aggressive and betting with draws or mid pair. I go on a dry run and then move tables, I have about T800 and blinds are 100/200 when we break down the final 2 tables. I am on the button and look down at A2s, but just before this the dealer dealt me a card that belonged to my opponent on my right and in the confusion I did not see another player go all in. I finally realized it after I called all in and placed my chips in the middle. Small blind folds and big blind calls with KQ. First all in player had pocket 10's. Flop comes 5TA and only runner runner 34 will keep me in. Turn is a blank and the river is a J giving the KQ a straight and I am out at 15th place. If I would have seen that other player go all in before me, I would have folded my hand, but that is why it is so important to pay attention to EVERYTHING at the table no matter what the distractions are.

Sucking out

2006-04-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

I have to vent about this because last week I was sucked out on many times. I played APL tournaments on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and yesterday. I played at a local bar that has their own league on Friday and I played a APPA game on Saturday. Here are the hands I had for the final hand of my tournament life and what my opponent had preflop.

Monday - AKo vs. KK vs. A5o
Tuesday - ATs vs A2o
Wednesday - K10o vs Q9s
Thursday - KK vs ATo
Friday - ATo vs 85s
Saturday 1st tourney - QQ vs K9o
Saturday 2nd tourney - K7s vs 64o (3 handed)
Sunday - AA vs A8s

With the exception of the Friday and Saturday 1st tourney, I was all-in preflop because it was nearing the end of the tournament and I had either less than 3 times the big blind, or I had 4 times and pushed it all in.

Now here is how it ended up....
Monday - A5o wins when he catches his straight on the river. (5th place)
Tuesday - A2o wins when he catches his two pair on the turn. (19th place)
Wednesday - Q9o flops a straight (20th place)
Thursday - ATo flops his ace and I get no help. (8th place)
Friday - I call a raise with the ATo because I was one behind the button. Flop comes AT6 with 1 heart and I bet 1000, blinds are 200/400. Raiser calls as well as 85s (hearts). Turn is another heart and I bet 2500, raiser folds and 85s calls. River is another heart and it is checked to me which I go all-in. She thinks for awhile and then calls asking if I had a higher flush. I do not and that is it for me. I figured she caught her flush, I bet big hoping she would think I had a higher one. (9th place)
Saturday 1st tourney - 3rd hand of the game and I get QQ, blinds are 10/20 and I raise to 220 and get 4 callers. Flop is J87 and I bet 600, two callers, turn is a 6 so I bet 1200 to get any chasers out, one caller. River is a T and I know I am doomed so I bet 1500 and my opponent pushes all-in for 500 more and I call. Chased a GUT SHOT STRAIGHT DRAW to the river!!! (1st one out)
Saturday 2nd tourney - We are 3 handed and I am in the big blind, blinds are 3000-6000 and I have 11000 in chips. Small blind calls and I raise all-in, he thinks and says "well we gotta knock someone out, so I call". He catches his 6 on the turn and I am gone. (3rd place)
Sunday - I was not getting cards, blinds are 200-400 and I have 1500 left. I am big blind and get AA so I raise all-in and get 4 callers. Flop is T97 with 2 clubs and I am worried. Two fold when a 1000 bet is placed and the turn is a diamond, Another 1000 bet and the river comes a CLUB so I know there was a chaser. The person to my right goes all-in and I told her she had any suited ace and she turns over A8 when she was the SMALL BLIND!!! I am out (5 tables left)

Basically the point of this is EVERY time I have gone in preflop with the best hand, sometimes DOMINATING my opponent, yet they catch their cards and take me out.

Lodge Results for Sunday 04/23/06 - Week 23

2006-04-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

Bad day, best pocket pair I was dealt was pocket 3's. AT was my highest Ax hand. Every other had was a face card with a 2,3 or 4, or amazing hands like 84o, 72o (got that one 3 times!!!), 62s, T2o (that would have hit for 2 pair if I didn't fold to a preflop raise.) I finally get frustrated after the first break and go all-in with A10o hoping to steal a pot, but get called by AK and out I go.

Carson's Live 04/21/06

2006-04-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

Last night I played in my first monthly venue championship for the APL. Basically if you win, you get a certificate, a trophy and a seat to the regional championship. There were 5 tables and I started out good with pocket kings my second hand. Then a few blind levels later I get pocket 10's and raise to 3x the blinds. I get two callers and the flop comes AKQ which doesn't look good unless I get a J on the turn or river. Everybody checks to me and I bet 300, get one caller and the turn is a 7. Opponent checks and I bet 500 which he calls after some thought. River is a 3 and I bet 1000 after he checks. He thinks and throws away his Q and I take the pot exposing my 10's. Later when the blinds are beginning to take their toll on my stack I get pocket aces and go all in 4x the blind. I get a caller and double up when his KQ doesn't hit. Soon we are down to the final 16 and I get the pocket aces again!! so I raise to double the blind and one player puts me all in which I happily call. He has K10 and my aces hold up again. Soon we are at the final table and the blinds are 2000-4000 and I have 14,000 in chips. I get pocket kings and go all in. Everyone folds to the small blind who thinks for about 3 minutes and calls with A10. Flop has an ACE and I get no help and I am out in 8th.

Sadly the past 3 nights I have gone out on good hands... Monday I went out with AK against KK and A7, the A7 WON with a straight.... Tuesday I have A10 at a 4 handed table, go all in against JJ and A3, the A3 wins with 2 pair.

Lodge Results for Sunday 04/09/06 - Week 22

2006-04-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

Change of game this week. Due to Easter, the tournament director decided to play some limit Omaha Hi/Low. I have never played this game before so it was going to be interesting. The play moved along very slow because of the raising, re-raising, and capping the betting each round as well as splitting the pots. It took 4 blind levels of 20 minutes each for the button to make it around the table. I only took down 1 1/2 pots the whole game. 1 sweep and 1 low pot with A3. I found that when I would get A2 or A3 and I didn't get any high cards, I would try to chase the low ones, but would get burned if either the hand wouldn't qualify for a low or one of my low cards would pair. I ended up finishing in the top 3 tables (out of 6), but it was a good learning experience. We go back to hold'em next week.

Lodge Results for Sunday 04/09/06 - Week 22

2006-04-10T13:37:00.002-07:00

A good tournament yesterday, about 60 people showed up. Started off folding most of my hands. The table was pretty tight until we were down to the final 3 tables. Before the first break, the pot was raised only twice pre flop and we only lost 1 player. On the hand before the break I was down to about 130 chips and have A8o. Flop comes AQQ and I check, player goes allin for a little less than I have. This was the last hand before no more rebuys could be use so I decide to call. He has 66 and doesn't get any help so I double up. After getting rivered a few hands after the break, I am pretty much short stack until I get K7. Flop comes K26 and the player to my right goes all in and I call. Get one more caller and the original all in turns over K2 so I need a 7 to stay alive. I river the 7 and triple up. Finally we move to the final table and I am 2nd to shortest stack out there. I look at QQ and the player to my right goes all in and I call. He turns over QJ and doesn't get any help so I double up again. After a couple rounds of blinds I am down to 2000 with the blinds at 500-1000. I am in the big blind with Q4 and the flop comes K74 and my opponent bets 1000 and I decide to call. He turns over A4 and I don't get any help and I am out in 5th place. Not a bad showing considering at one point when the blinds were 20-40 I was down to 125 in chips. Next week is going to be either Omaha or Omaha hi-lo which I have never played before.

Lodge Results for Sunday 04/02/06 - Week 21

2006-04-10T13:37:00.001-07:00

A better day with a bad ending. Started out folding every hand either because I didn't have any cards, or there was a raise preflop and my hand wasn't worth calling. I finally get KQo and call, flop is QJx and I bet. Get a couple of callers and then the turn comes K and I bet, get a caller and then the player to my right who is running low on chips and wants to rebuy goes all in. I go all in over the top and the other guy calls. The rebuy player has 910 and the river comes... an EIGHT so he gets his runner runner straight. I am down to 82 chips at the break. Finally I start getting cards and am up to 375 and down to 3 tables. We break up and three hands later I get 88 in the big blind. There is a raise, a call and I call. Flop is 10-7-6 and I check. Raiser goes all in, other player folds and I call. He turns over pocket Aces, turn is a 5 and the river is a FOUR so I get my runner runner straight and crack the Aces. Now I am up to 700+ and we are now down to the final 2 tables. Then after watching 3 hands that I folded would have taken down the pot, I get Q10. Flop comes AKx and I check. Get a bet, a call and I decide to chase. Turn is a blank and again a round of betting and me chasing. River is a blank and then we get an all in. I fold and would have lost because both players had a king. I am down to about 200 in chips and go all in with J10s, get called by AKo, he gets his king and I am done in 14th place.

Lodge Results for Sunday 03/26/06 - Week 20

2006-04-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

No recap this week because I did not make it to the tournament.

Lodge Results for Sunday 03/19/06 - Week 19

2006-04-10T13:36:00.002-07:00

It was a nice rainy day so the field was not as large as it has been on previous Sundays. I start out slow, winning one hand in the first 25 minutes, but since blinds are very low, I am still ahead. I then get KhQh and call a T25 raise. Flop comes 2h6hAc and the initial raiser bets T25 again and I call. Turn is 9h and he bets T25 again and I raise to T50 which he calls. River is a 2c and he bets T50 and I raise all in. He thinks for a while and I am hoping he didn't raise with A2, but finally he calls and turns over his ace and I take the pot. After a few more wins I am up to T460. Now the fun begins. I have 57o and there is a raise, a reraise and an all in before the action comes to me so natually I throw the hand away. After 2 players are all in, the player two to my right turns over pocket aces and he is up against pocket 10's. Flop is 75K, turn is 3 and river is ..... 7!!!! Would have boated. Very next hand I get K7 and again there is raising, reraising and all in so I throw the hand away. Flop is A97 turn is J and river is 7 which I would have taken down the pot AGAIN!! with suckout cards. Next hand, I look down at pocket kings so I raise, then there is an all in for just a bit more than my raise, a call and a reraise which I call. Flop is 378 and the same player that had the aces earlier pushes all in. I think he may have queens or jacks so I happily call. He turns over guess what??? Pocket ACES for the second time in 4 hands so I am down to T83 in chips. Next hand pocket sevens and I push all in and get one caller who has AJ and gets trip aces and I am out. I am disappointed, but at least I was taken out by quality hands and not suckouts.

Lodge Results for Sunday 03/12/06 - Week 18

2006-04-10T13:36:00.001-07:00

A better showing today than the past few weeks. I start out decent and then when the blinds are 4-8, I look down at AKo and I rasie to T25, I get a call and then an all in. Everyone quickly folds and I happily call only to face AA, I get a king and nothing more so I lose half my stack. Eventually I am down to T34 so I go all in so I can use my rebuy coupon I won the week before. I rebuy and first hand get AKs!!! so the blinds are 10-20 and I raise to T60 and get a caller. Flop is 2 spades and we both check, turn is blank and river is a spade so I have the nut flush. My opponent bets 50 and I raise to 100, he calls and flips over a straight and I rake the pot. After losing a few 2nd nut hands I am down to T50 with 20-40 blinds so I start going all in with marginal hands and after tripling up and doubling up I am sitting back at T500 or so. Eventually I am at the final two tables and the blinds are 150-300 and I am down to T475 in chips sitting in the big blind. The table folds to the small blind and he puts me all in, I call because at that point its any two cards. I flip over 10-7 and he has A8s, I get my 7 and take the pot. Next hand I am in the small blind and look down to KJs and the table is folded to me. I push all in and big blind has to think for about 5 minutes because that would be 75% of his stack. Eventually he calls and flips over AQo and catches trip queens and I am out in 12th. Each week I am improving, so I am hoping for a final table next week.

Lodge Results for Sunday 03/05/06 - Week 17

2006-04-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

I seemed to have broken out of my slump the past few nights of poker. I am actually getting cards that match up with the flop. Today I am at a pretty aggressive table, but I know most of the players and they play very well. Early on, I see more 2's than any other card so lots of folding going on. Eventually I get some decent hands, but either run into a flush or straight. In fact there were at least 6 flops in the first hour and a half that were all clubs.... My stack is down to about T180 and the blinds are 10-20. I am in the big blind and look down at KJs and the player to my right goes all in and I call. He turns over pocket 2's and I feel good that I am going to take his stack, however nothing falls for me and his 2's take it down. Now I am down to about T60 in chips and get QJs and push all in. I get one caller who has AQ and he gets his ace and I use my rebuy coupon. Finally my cards get better, even so good as I finally see AA for the first time in weeks. I build my stack to T700, but then I go for sometime without winning any pots so my stack is down to T385 and we are down to the final 2 tables. First hand at my new table and I look down at J10s. Now at this time, the next person to be knocked out gets another rebuy coupon and I am the shortest stack at the table so I call. The other two turn over AQ and KJ, the ace falls and I am out, but 19th isn't bad considering some of the cards I had today.

Lodge Results for Sunday 02/26/06 - Week 16

2006-04-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

I have been in a bit of a slump the past few weeks so I wasn't betting on a great finish. Started out folding every hand except for the blinds. I hardly saw a face card and when I did, my kicker was a 2 or a 3. Finally I look down at Q10s and I call. Flop comes Q9J and I bet. Get one caller and the turn is an A. I bet and my opponent calls. River is a blank and I bet once more only to be raised. Now he had raised a few other times, but had never shown his cards. I had top pair and a good kicker so I call him and he turns over AQ. I was down to T38 so I pulled out my rebuy coupon and get it ready since we are one blind level away from the rebuy period ending. Next hand I get JJ and I go all in and get 3 callers. I get my trips on the turn and quadruple up. I am up and down over the next few blind levels and finally build up to about T360 with blinds at 50-100. We break down our table and I move to a table that has a HUGE stack, about T4500 or more at a time the average stack is about T1000 or so. Of course he is bullying the table by raising either preflop or after the flop 10 and 20 times the blinds. We go to break and I just will play very tight and hopefully his stack will be knocked down by someone with a monster hand. First hand after the break I look down at KK. I am two behind the button, under the gun raises to T150 and it folds to me where I go all in. Button calls and the flop is Q94 of spades... doesn't look too good for me. UTG checks and button goes all in and is called. UTG turns over KQ and button turns over AA!!! so I have one out. Turn is a blank and the river is none other than an ACE and my tournament is over. Went out about 27th place or so.

Lodge Results for Sunday 02/19/06 - Week 15

2006-04-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

Not as big a field as the previous weeks due to weather, but there were still about 60 entrants. I had an average run and was up to T350 at my peak, but then I didn't catch any cards the remainder of the tournament until the first hand after the break. I had just moved tables and there was a huge stack that was playing loose and bullying the table. I look down at KK and call a T150 raise with all my chips about T280. The player to my left calls and the flop comes 9Q4. The initial raiser checks and the button next to my left goes all in. The raiser checks and he has a flush draw, but the player to my left has AA. I am doomed. The turn comes J so I need a K or a 10 on the river, but instead to add insult to injury an A comes and my tournament life is over.
Ironically, I had pocket kings cracked TWICE at a cash game the night before. Once with A6s and once with A9o. I don't think I will feel so confident the next time I see KK. Until next week.

Lodge Results for Sunday 02/12/06 - Week 14

2006-04-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

Interesting day on Sunday at The Lodge. First of all, I went 4 blind levels of 20 minutes each without winning one pot. My luck was so bad that my K9 was beat out by K10 which cost me T100 in chips. Luckily I lost all my chips on an all in with Q4 so I could use my rebuy coupon hoping this run of bad cards would end. After a few more orbits of blinds and I am down to T185 in chips I look down at J10. Someone raises to 150 and the player to my right calls and I decide to call as well. Two other people call after me so this is looking like a good pot. Flop comes KK5 and I figure my time is up. Everybody checks and the turn is an A and again everybody checks. River is a J so I throw in the remaining 35 chips and the two callers after me FOLD!!! All in turns over pocket 9's and the guy to my right turns over pocket 3's and I win the pot. Then the turn of luck begins. Over the next 2 1/2 hours I get pocket queens three times and each time they hold up against Kx each time with all in bets or calls. Soon I am up to T1600 and our table breaks down. My new seat is to the right of a maniac who either goes all in on preflop or on the flop no matter what. Since nobody is calling him, I am not sure what he is up to. Eventually someone calls and the maniac sucks out on him so I knew this would be a tough place. I tighten up and hope to either wait for the table to break down, or someone to call him and take him out. Eventually the table breaks down and I move. I get some more good cards such as pocket aces which hold up against the pocket 2's that went all in. Eventually I am at the final table with T2500 in chips, but I do not get any cards, and the maniac is to my right now and now he is going all in every other hand. Two people get taken out by him because he gets his flush on the river. After a few more blinds, I look down at pocket 10's and go all in with T500 with the blinds at 300/600. Small blind calls and big blind checks. Flop comes 655 and I feel good. Player to my left checks and big blind goes all in and the player to my left calls. I turn over my 10's and the player to my left turns over 78s. Turn is a blank and the river comes 9!!!! so he catches his straight and I finish in 6th place. I am happy with that especially with the cards I was getting the first hour.

Lodge Results for Sunday 02/05/06 - Week 13

2006-04-10T13:32:00.000-07:00

There was a different format at The Lodge this week due to the Super Bowl. We played a shootout tournament where we started with 5 tables of 10 players and the first 2 places advanced to the final table. We also began with T800 in chips and 10/15 blinds as they do in the partypoker.com sit and goes. I was up and down the whole time I was in, but never more than doubled my stack. The blinds were advancing quickly and nobody was really going out at our table. By the time the blinds were 100/200, we still had 8 players so there were plenty of all-ins. I do recall a stupid mistake I made that cut my stack down to T400. I had pocket 3's and I did not raise preflop. Flop comes A23 and I bet. Everybody folds except for 1 caller. Turn is a blank and he goes all in. I knew when he did that, he could be holding 45 and I call and guess what? He turns over 45s and the board does not pair, nor do I get another 3 so I lose. I learned that I must raise low pocket pairs, but it is tough because they can get beat bad. However, I am not sure that hand if he would have folded because many people like suited connectors, even small ones.
Eventually my stack became only 1.5 times the big blind so I waited until I had a decent hand and went all in with A10o against pocket 7s. He caught his trips on the flop and I was done. Next week it is back to the normal format.

Lodge Results for Sunday 01/29/06 - Week 12

2006-04-10T13:31:00.000-07:00

Another great week at The Lodge this Sunday with a 2nd place finish. That puts me only 40 points behind the overall point leader who has 2 first place finishes. He told me this week that he started to feel some pressure with me being "only" 185 points behind him, now I bet he will be sweating next week. There were not too many standout hands this week, but I noticed I had some luck with low pocket pairs. I had pocket 3's one hand and two callers with me in the big blind so I just checked. Flop comes 223 and I have the boat. I throw out a T40 bet which was the big blind at the time and both call. Next card is a 4 and this time small blind bets T40 and I raise to T150 which puts me all in.. Button folds and small blind calls and turns over 34 and the river does not help and I am alive again. The next hand I remember was A2s and I am small blind. The blinds are 25-50 and I have T420 in chips left. I call big blind and then he raises to T250. Everyone folds to me and I re-raise all in and he calls and turns over A9s. I get ready to stand up from the table and then a 2 hits on the river doubling me up!! That was my suckout beat of the evening. I then was short stacked until the final table when I tripled up with pocket 5's when the flop came A58 and went all in and had two callers. The problem was there was a player who was hitting everything and had a very dominant stack. We were able to chip away and he was down to his final chips with an all in blind. He had 3 callers including me with pocket 5's and he turns over pocket QUEENS!!!! and quadruples up. Eventually he took other players down and it was heads up me and huge stack about a 6-1 favorite. First hand heads up I get J7s and push all in, he calls with A9s and gets his ace and its over.
I am doing very well with a 1st place finish and 2 2nd place finishes in 4 weeks. Next week is going to be a bit different with a shootout style where the top two from each table advance to the final table.

Lodge Results for Sunday 01/22/06 - Week 11 - 1st Place!!!

2006-04-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

At last after weeks of trying I have finished first at The Lodge. About 85 players were signed up and it took 5 hours to run. It started out good with me winning the first hand with KK and taking about a T60 pot. Picked up another small pot and then got knocked down when my A10 got beat by two pair. After a couple of orbits, I was down to T83 with 60 players still in. Things then began to change, the blinds were at 10-20 so I had to push to get my stack back up. I started to get good cards and after a few double ups and triple ups, I was up to T1400 with 12 players left. Then came by biggest hand of the night. I am one behind the button and I see KQ of hearts. Everyone has folded to me and I call the blind which are 50-100. The button folds, small blind calls and big blind checks. Flop comes A85 of hearts so I have the nut flush. Small blind pushes all in and I see big blind pushing his cards in so I go all in, however he says he hasn't made up his mind so I pull my chips back. I expect him to fold especially with 3 hearts on the board, but he calls anyway. Small blind turns over J of hearts and a blank and big blind turns over an ace. I happily turn over my flush and triple my stack. We are now down to the final table and I am 2nd biggest stack. I relax and watch the small stacks go down and we are down to 3. I am middle stack at that time with big stack having 50% more chips than I do. I take a chunk of his stack with QQ against his Q10 and he is elimated by the other player.
Now its heads up and we are even so I expect a long battle. We traded chips for 20 minutes and then after a few losses he had me 3 to 1 and I needed to double up quickly. I get the opportunity and I am up by one chip (T500) when I get A2 of hearts. He calls and I check and the flop comes A83 and I bet T2000 and he goes all in. I call and he turns over 10 4 of spades and does not catch any cards and I win.
What I didn't realize about this particular day is in addition to the regular prizes that The Lodge gives away, 1st place also gets a seat into the True Texas Poker tournament with T.J. Cloutier on August 20th. 1st place in that tournament gets a $10,000 buy in to a tournament of their choice and gets to play T.J. heads up for $5000. Also the final table will be televised.

Lodge Results for Sunday 01/15/06 - Week 10

2006-04-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

Well like the New England Patriots, I was unable to three-peat the final table. Nothing steller to report this week, we had a smaller field than normal, only about 56 people with 2 alternates. In fact, the tourney finished an hour earlier than last week. The only hand I had worth reporting is KK under the gun. I raise 3 times the blinds which are at 5/10 and get 3 callers. Flop comes J6x and I bet T30 and get one caller to my left and the rest fold. Turn comes an A and I continue to bet hoping that the caller wasn't chasing Ax. He calls my T30 bet and the river is a rag, and I bet T40 which he calls stating "I want to see if you caught that ace". He turns over J5 and I take the pot with my kings. That put me ahead about T90, but my lack of cards took me down to T120 with the blinds about to go to 20/40. It was just after the rebuy period ended and I knew that the next 4 people would get a rebuy coupon to use in the future so I call a T60 bet with Q10o. Flop doesn't help and the raiser bets T200 and I call putting me all in. I catch nothing and he trips his 8's and I am out in the 30's, but get a rebuy coupon.
Side story - I invited some friends that I play with at another bar to this tournament and one of them was the guy who took me out with his poket 8's. He ends up taking 1st place catching all kind of cards. So it took me 8 weeks to make the tournament of champions when he gets it one try.

Lodge Results for Sunday 01/08/06 - Week 9

2006-04-10T13:08:00.000-07:00

Well 2006 has started out with a bang. I had my best finish so far at The Lodge with a 2nd place finish. Still that is 1st loser. I still want to get a 1st. I have my 250 points required for an entry to the tournament of champions so I can relax about that at least. No spectacular hands this week, just I rivered people on four hands and cracked AK twice and almost cracked AA until he showed them before I could call his all in. I had a J10s and would have rivered the straight. I came to the final table short stacked soon after taking a beating with AQs and the flop came Q85. I am one behind the button and the small blind goes all in and is called by the big blind. I have top pair with top kicker and the board is rainbow so I call with half my stack, T290 in chips. Small blind turns over QJ and big blind turns over 85!!! Nothing hits and she triples up.
That is the beauty of no limit hold 'em, you are never out until your chips are gone. I was as low as T300 when the blinds were 100-200 at the final table with 8 players and came back to finish 2nd. The only problem with that is luck plays a much bigger part because you have to wait for the cards or go all in blind when you are forced. I did leave unsatisfied with my heads up play, and I remember my final hand I had A8s with about 1/4 of the remaining chips and I push all in and my opponent has 55 and catches another 5 ending my tournament.
Overall a good tournament and I got $100 in gift certificates to go with the $20 I won last week. Not a bad rake for a free tournament and a $4.25 iced tea.

Lodge Results for Sunday 01/01/06 - Week 8

2006-04-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

Well after 2 weeks of no poker at The Lodge due to Christmas, we return to play some pot limit Omaha. I had been looking forward to this tournament because I have yet to play an Omaha tournament live. I had played a few practice games online, but nothing serious. The format this week was a bit different, instead of the usual T250 in chips starting out a 1/2 blinds, we started with T1000 and 5/10 blinds to make the pots more easy to calculate for the dealers.
The game started with some confusion and the beginning was rough, we were all playing like this was our first poker game. Confusion reigned with flushes and full houses that were not there due to the requirement of using 2 cards of the 4 you are dealt. By the 2nd round of blinds I was down to T500 in chips due to a serious beating in loosing my Q high flush to the K high and my full house losing to a bigger full house. I began to realize that 2 pair and trips weren't going to cut it in this game.
Our table broke down and I was still holding on, we were down to 4 tables and I was down to T175 with the blinds at 25/50. It was time for an all in. I don't remember any hands that stuck out except for my final hand, but after some triple and quadruple ups, I was now up to T6800 and looking to at least make the final table. My stack stayed about the same until the blinds were up to 1000/2000 so again, I was faced with an all in situation. I pushed T3500 in blind and watched the action unfold. Finally, the showdown comes and with two other players all in, I figure I need some good cards to beat the flush. I turn over AA33, but no flush so my tournament ends with a 5th place finish.
I am satisfied with that finish considering this was my first experience playing a pot limit Omaha tournament and I hope they run another one in the future.

Lodge Results for Sunday 12/11/05 - Week 7

2006-04-10T13:05:00.000-07:00

Nothing too exciting this week. Had a couple good hands, chased a nut flush and that paid off really well. I only chased because I also had the straight draw plus an overcard so I had many outs. It turned out very good due to my opponent catching his trip Jacks on the river and pushing all in. That had me up to T690 in chips with the blinds at 10/20 so I was sitting pretty. However I had a few hands where my two cards were excellent starting hands and I was also in position to call a raise or make a raise, but the board never hit so I ended up down to T270 in chips. The blinds were now at 25/50 and I am in the big blind with 46o with no raisers and the flop comes 5-7-Q and I am first to act, so I go all in. Person to my left folds and the remaining player calls because he caught his queen.... Remaining two cards do nothing for me and I finish in the 30-40th place range out of 79 players.
Next two weeks there is no poker at The Lodge, but I am looking forward to Pot Limit Omaha on Sunday 01/01/06.

Week 6 at The Lodge

2006-04-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

Nothing stellar this week. Finished somewhere between 30th and 35th place. Won only two pots doubling up on both. The hand I went out on was a lame one. I had A9o and was the small blind. These were the best cards I had seen in awhile so I call. The blinds are 25-50 and I had about T270 in chips left. There are two callers behind me and the flop comes Q-9-7. I decide to go all in and BB folds and under the gun who called the BB studies his cards and the flop for about a minute and says "What the hell" and calls. He only has about T350 in chips. He turns over A10s and I am feeling good. Turn comes a 10 so only a 9 will win me the pot or a jack will split. River is a 3 so out I go.
Side note, I went to play a 10 o'clock game at a local bar and get quad 8's. Why did I not get that earlier. Oh well, better luck next week.

Lodge Results

2006-04-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

I am now posting my lodge results on this site because nobody reads chipleaders.com anymore. I will be posting from day 1 until now which has been almost 6 months. Right now I am in 3rd place in points and a win will get me to 1st.

APL - 03/15/06

2006-03-16T09:19:00.000-08:00

I went and played the 9:00 pm game at the End Zone in Plano last night. I started out good, getting cards that actually matched with the board. After a full house and a flush, I was up to 6500 in chips. After the break, another player suffered a bad beat and went all in under the gun. I had KJ and one other caller. I decided to call since he only had 2500 chips left. Flop was 478 and the person to my right went all in for 2200 more. I figured he had a king or an ace, so I decide to call. He turns over A10 and neither of us hit so he takes the side pot. The tilted player turns over Q7 of which he has the heart to make his flush with the 4 hearts on the board. Next hand with only 1600 left I go all in blind, get two callers and lose to the straight. I had 610 and he had 89 offsuit calling that after another player went all in before him for half his stack!!!!

Last night

2006-03-15T12:30:00.000-08:00

Ok, here we go, Monday night I played at Big Johnson's Beer Garden. This bar is partially owned by Tex Barch who finished 3rd in the 2006 WSOP main event. The poker is run by the Amateur Poker League and Tex regularly plays in the game. If you are good enough to knock him out of the tournament, you get a $100 bounty and bragging rights to all your friends. I show up an hour early and sign up just in time. Tables are randomly assigned and they start with 9 tables of 8 players each on those annoying octagon tables. Well I draw table 8 and lo and behold Tex takes a seat. I am ready to take him out... I start off folding my first 20 hands either because they suck or a MANIAC two to my right is raising 10 times the blind or going all in preflop or on the flop. There is one thing worse than a maniac donkey and that is a maniac donkey who CATCHES his cards. I make it to the break only down 200 chips and the maniac has knocked out 4 players. Tex is still in so I am waiting for my chance. First hand after the break I look down at JJ so I raise 3x the blind to 600, everybody folds except for guess who? The maniac who pushes all in?!?! I know he is playing any two cards, so I call and he turns over A6s... (BUT THEY ARE SOOOOOOOOTED!!!) Flop is 578 and I know what is coming, turn is.... 9!!! and he gets his straight. As I stand up from the table, head hanging in disbelief I hear Tex say "amazing" and I walk off.

Free Poker

2006-03-15T08:06:00.000-08:00

Since I have nothing else to do at work, I will post my experiences at playing poker. I mostly play the free tournaments around town such as APL and NPPL. My favorite game in Dallas is at the Lodge run by Dan Michalski. It attracts about 70-90 good players each week and it pays the first 5 places which is not bad for a freeroll. Each of the places come with a free lapdance.

1st - $150 in gift certificates
2nd - $100 in gift certificates
3rd - $60 in gift certificates
4th - $40 in gift certificates
5th - $20 in gift certificates

So far I have won it once, came in 2nd twice and made the final table 3 other times.

Another great thing about this tournament is you earn points just for playing and even more points if you make the final table. When you cross a threshold set by Dan, you are invited to a "Tournament of Champions" where the winner gets a $1000 seat to a WSOP event. Also the point leader at the end of the "season" gets a prize as well. The "season" started in October of last year and runs until June.

Every now and then, I will go play a cash game, but I don't have a bankroll as of yet so those are few and far between.

First Post - 03/15/06

2006-03-15T07:20:00.000-08:00

Well I decided to join the million other people out there who are blogging about their poker experiences. Unlike the others however I am not much of a writer, but I am going to give this whole blogging thing a shot. My name is Derek Boswell and I am 31 years old. I live in Plano, Texas and have been playing hold 'em since October 2004. I got my start at a local bar in Addison where they were hosting a free tournament and first prize was a $40 gift certificate. I had watched a few WSOP episodes before that and I knew about Chris Moneymaker, but other than that, I had never played NLHE before. I signed up and before the game even started, I made the final table since there were only 7 players total!! We start playing, and I pretty much play any two cards and end up winning the tournament with 83o by flopping the boat!! My heads up opponent flopped two pair with his K8 and went all in, I happily called and realized this game is for me. After winning a few more tournaments at this bar, I felt like I could take on Doyle Brunson and suck out with 72. Finally I realized I wasn't playing correctly and after busting out early, I decided to learn how to play so I bought a few books. I now consider myself an average player who seems to do better against good players than suckouts.