The Six Month and Much More

Yes, I made the six month. And this weekend is Tavern Tourneys 'Best of the Best.' Only those who made the final table at a monthly or the six month qualify for the Best of the Best. The monthly, six month and Best of the Best being the premier tournaments for Tavern Tourneys with the chance to win large payouts. I didn't attend the last monthly, though I qualified, and was a bit short of the final table in the six month.

Six Month

The six month was held at a regular and very fine location for Tavern Tourneys. Outside of being very difficult to get people to sit down and play, making for a late start, the atmosphere was very nice. Lots of nice people, a common characteristic for Tavern Tourneys, and great play. Much tighter than even the one monthly I attended this summer. Well over 100 competing.

Back and forths, or give and takes, were a regular theme. I won some really big hands, and later lost some really big hands to the people I won them from. Hitting the nuts flush on the turn it checked around and I made a huge raise on the river, beating the J high flush. Losing an all-in against Q's I called his next all-in with A, Q suited. He had 8, 2. ?

Calling a pre-flop raise with deuces, I hit my deuce on the flop and it paid huge. I kept an average or above average stack most of the night. I had a unbelievable run before the dinner break that left me one of the chip leaders. I had a snickers for dinner.

After the break the tournament was running much later than I was lead to believe it would. A blind change had been missed which may also have had the game further along if it wasn't. And I went card dead. I knew I was card dead. I could feel it. I often feel like that at a table and even if I get good starting hands I lose. It is a complete constant, never wrong. I know I will lose when I get that feeling. I am thinking of just folding all my hands without even looking at them when I get this feeling. Until the mood changes.

I wanted to push, push, push with a huge stack after dinner, but didn't get the cards. Getting late, and my stack being nibbled away, I decided to take a stand with 10, J suited. The best cards I had seen in a while. I lost and went home and got out on our work route just in time. I finished about 14th. The players chopped when it got down to two.

Great fun.

The Casino

Yes I took a good sized stack to the casino and tried to work the Omaha Hi/Lo table. Nothing worked as it should. I split some pots but my stack kept dwindling. The cards were changed, at the request of one of the players, and everything played out as the odds say they should. So I kept going, my stack going up and down keeping a consistent average stack from that point, less than a quarter of what I started with. I cut my losses and left while I still had something.

I wont be going to the casino much. And when I go again I have decide I will go into all games with the minimal buy-in and if I win a big hand leave. And I am thinking of using my club points at their gift shop for Christmas shopping rather than a nice dinner with Misao. We recently used her birthday points for the buffet.

The Casino has canceled their daily tournaments. Something I wanted to try. But they still have tournaments on occassion. Their next a Thanksgiving tournament, $100 buy-in. And they have a lower blind no-limit Texas Hold'm game. A $1, 1, 2 game. Played with two small blinds, however unlike small blind limit games the minimum buy-in is $100 rather than $20.

Nightly Tournaments

Two outings in November have given me plenty of points, possibly already qualifying for the next monthly. I had an unbelievable run this past Monday night before the first break. I had a stack that was adequate to win with when one reaches the final table. After the break I was a target and a couple of guys kept betting large against my every hand. And I had that feeling, but kept getting really good cards. Eventually I stopped playing any hands to keep myself from going under the average stack.

The rising blinds were feeding off my stack and I was in a bad way. At the next break I asked if one could still buy a round for extra chips. You could and I did. Then, the blinds already large, I made the min raise with pocket 3's and had two callers. I hit a 3 on the flop, a K being the high card on the board. The first to act went all-in. The next to act went all-in on top of that for 20K more. (Am I a target? Being bullied? If they want to roll that way they should just put an eternal bounty on me) I called and showed my set. (a set is when you hit with a pocket pair, trips are when two of your three are on the board)

Made the final table with a reasonable stack. Finished fourth. Went all-in with A, 6 suited and was called by a 7 high hand. He hit his 7.

I'm a Winner!

Yes, I won my first Tavern Tourney outright on Halloween. Things just fell into place. When we got down to three I caught 8's and the flop came 5, 6, 7. My opponent, the tournament director, bet big and I raised all-in and he called. He also had 8's and we split the pot. A 9 came on the river.

With a mountainous stack I put the two final opponents all-in with K, 10. One hit his pair with a Q, the dealer, and he was calling for a J for the other guy, larger stack, to hit a pair and keep in the game... supposedly. The problem? The J gave me a straight and it was all over.

It didn't put me in the black but I am now less than $300 in the red in almost two years of poker playing including casino play. The sometimes buy-ins and any cost of sodas for which I received chips all recorded in a ledger. Not recorded is mileage costs and any purchases I did not receive chips for.

And on the first tourney of the new six month cycle I made third. Not much in the way of cards most of the night but buying a round and then hitting a couple good hands took me deep for a small payout. I don't think I will make the monthly on Saturday (starts too late, too far away and we have to work) but plan to make the six month the following Saturday. If Tavern Tourneys wants to grow in the Milwaukee market they need to find a nice place a bit closer to Milwaukee.

Mostly playing Omaha hi/lo on the Internet. Taking some Texas Hold'm Sit&Goes for play money quite easily. Played one last night on Ultimate Bet and am pained to say I don't like the patterns I see. Same cards up against each other with the same outcomes several times throughout the same game. Nothing nefarious, just reads poorly in the mind of the player. At least when you are on the losing end of the hand.

Getting it... DONE!

Yes, I got myself a hat to wear when I am playing poker and for formal occasions. You can never go wrong with black. I actually bought two. One I gave to my wife Misao for her birthday. I have also been playing a bit of friendly games at home. A few people from church come over and we play a bit of free Poker or Sheep's Head. Sheep's Head is a great game.

So with the book, difficult finances, and getting hit with some unexpected bills, not to mention I thought I had til the end of November to qualify for the Tavern Tourney six month, I had not been playing poker in any of the leagues for a while. Then on Tavern Tourneys home page they had the big message to make sure you get all your points for the six month by the end of October and found I was out in the standings. And only four more venues available in Milwaukee when I read the message. Then the Tuesday night event had too few people to play. Showed up on Sunday and finished fourth by playing good and determined like and taking full advantage of chip earning opportunities, including buying a round to make it easy to the final table. I finished fourth and found myself barely in for the six month tournament.

Great result and I didn't even have my lucky coin on the table. I won four gold coins in a friendly game at a friends house and gave them again to Misao for her birthday. She gave me one for good luck. But I thought I lost it when I couldn't find it in my jacket pocket. Then I found it when I pulled out my car keys to go home. Must have lost it again because the next morning I found it on the back walk, stepped on once or twice. But I had it Monday night. And it was well into the evening when someone asked, "Is that Chocolate?"

I lost 3/4 of my stack on the second hand but quickly earned it back with three straights and a flush in quick succession. I told the guy who nearly cleaned me out that the others called my big bets because I lost big to him and was now right back in the game. That hand I lost 3/4 I had a flush and he hit sevens full of fives. I knew he liked playing 7, 5 but called anyway.

Again I had to buy a round, though I really really really didn't want to, to make it to the final table. Got my chips and a guy blowing smoke all night went all-in and it was only me left to call heads up. I had A, J suited and had to decide if I just sit back to make the final table or put it all on the line. I called and doubled up. Then I rolled the dice to earn possibly even more chips as the round was over $20. Two rolls. The first was a seven which is bad. I think I actually lose chips. Then I rolled another seven and got no extra chips but... two sevens means the tournament director pays for the round.

As it now stands I am in not only the six month tournament but currently qualify for the monthly.

I'm Published

We try not to live like we are poor so will occasionally go to the movies or drop a little money for a tavern tourney. But we have been having a rough time for some years now as I have not been able to find full time employment and we have had to deal with various medical bills.

We would truly appreciate your support if you would like to purchase my book. A small work of fiction that I am sure you will enjoy. It is available now on my Create Space e-sales page and should be available on Amazon within five business days. Tomorrow I will have to see if I can make it available for the Kindle.

Click here to buy it now.

I haven't been to any tournaments recently. I am currently thinking of going to a Pit Bull Poker tournament and then writing about the three most prominent bar centered tournament organizations in the area.

Hats

Many famous poker players wear a hat or some headgear particular to them. I cannot say if they think it brings them luck, conceals their features, or what. Have I done better wearing a hat? Not having worn one in a while I would have to say yes. The problem is, which hat? I have a lot of bad, ill-fitting, uncomfortable hats. A good hat, one that will bring you luck, is hard to find. State Fair had lots of hats for sale.

I like hats, especially when I am working outside. I don't have a lot of hats that fit well or that I like. I have a Washington DC hat, not that I am a fan of Washington DC, that is comfortable and of some level of quality. But it is usually dirty since I wear it often. I try to look clean when at the poker table.

I noticed I do better dressed casually but feel better when dressed in good clothes. So this last Sunday night I wore jeans and a t-shirt with some nice socks, my Allen-Edmonds and matching belt and was looking forward to see how I did. They didn't have enough people to play.

I have an extremely nice USS Reagan hat I received for donating to the Reagan Library. I wore it once and a while when I was out of hats, but had to keep telling people who didn't know me that I wasn't in the navy and where I got the hat. Though if anyone would stop to think a moment they should realize people who have served have mission buttons and other accessories pinned to their hats. I don't wear that hat any more.

I have a Civil War Preservation Trust hat. I like it and it is very comfortable. I wore it once to a poker game and it seemed to stir the ire of some there. Not sure how it would fly at the casino if I could ever afford to go again.

The last time I played a bar tournament, one more accomplished than myself pointed out that the slow pace and blind structure of most bar tournaments makes luck a bigger factor than skill. I would like to try a tournament at the casino if I ever have the money. With the quick play at the casino, seeing many more hands at each level, skill gains advantage.

Then I have the Gun Owners Task Force hat that fits nice and comfortable like. I'm just not comfortable with the acronym. I wore it on a job once and we had to go to Home Depot to buy some supplies. It got me looks from the ladies. Can't wear that hat.

Right now I have been extremely consumed with getting my book published and have necessary home repairs looming as Winter approaches. My poker goals are simple. One, stay on track for Tavern Tourney's six month tournament, which shouldn't be a problem even going just a few times a month. The other, just outright win a tournament. That will get me into bigger tournaments in and of itself. No chasing monthly points as I am too busy right now and the money is tight. Even saving on gas and a soda, the minimal cost for a night of poker, can make a difference so I don't plan to be going much. I'll have to get back to free Internet play, but I don't know if that isn't counterproductive as people with play money play differently.

Tight

Summer has been hard on the poker tournament organizations/leagues as people tend to do other things with their evenings, the sun being out well past 8:00 pm. Some are waiting for the autumn to renew their expansionists policies. So, as someone who often plays for free, out of necessity, I find it curious that policies have been changed to put the free players at an even greater disadvantage stack wise. Providing vastly greater chip earning promotions so that even with a minimal buy-in you may find yourself seriously short stacked from the get go. It would seem contrary to promoting growth. I find it hard to understand...or not.

So it has caused me to become more and more tight as a player. And be assured that when I do go in on a hand I will be raised pre-flop and heavily challenged after. So it was the other night. Somewhere in mid position, after folding almost everything but the blinds most of the night, I went in with 7, 8 suited, hoping for a big trap. I was raised, the raiser looking directly to me, and I called. Several called. The flop came A, 4, 5 with two hearts, my suit. I made double the minimal bet, believing everyone would put me on an A. I was reraised to over 2/3rds of my stack by one as the others folded. I thought awhile with my gut shot straight and flush draw, knowing clearly he had the A. I thought he would have a good kicker. As my stack was comparatively small, even before the hand, I went all-in which he didn't like but having a mountain of chips, my reraise being a fraction of his stack and the total pot, he called.

Reraising me, playing tight, on my bet with an A, 8? Most would consider I had an A, 10 or better, or possibly believe I hit two pair, or at least paired the A with a wheel draw. I'm not sure if most others would consider mine a good all-in, but most were surely surprised, if not impressed, when I turned over the 7, 8 of hearts. I didn't hit my straight or flush and was out, but picked up a point for the session tournament which I have qualified for.

And have I been 'punked' by Ultimate Bet? Working for my $1 million play money goal, with near $700,000 I lost it all in a matter of days, never having come out ahead in a single sitting. And this with me playing the smaller stake games as my play money assets dropped. All happening after a software update some time back. Haven't played there since. I had stopped counting the times I hit two pair on the flop and lost to someone who hit their second higher pair on the river. But it is all play money? People play differently.

Actually have lost interest in the online poker after playing real games for prizes and tournament qualification. At first I didn't think I could hold my own but did well sticking to what I had learned from online play and TV. And am learning more and more every time I play; growing in feel and read and betting strategy.

So at my next tournament I will still be at a disadvantage, as the highest point getter's still receive some bonus chips. But should have better odds. And I certainly have plenty of experiences playing tight...

Or maybe I just want my competition to think I'm playing tight.

Blah hahahahaha Blah hahahahaha!

Luck?

As I have said before I take seriously, no matter how trivial, everything I do. And I do well at everything I invest myself in. Yet last night some seemed intent on describing my prowess at the poker table as 'luck.' Well, let me tell you how it went down.

Already on the small stack, not buying in for the 'last man standing' prize for 5000 in extra chips, I played the first hand with a K, 10 suited, hearts. J, Q came on the flop, two diamonds. The betting was high. Another diamond came on the turn and I bet big, representing a flush I didn't hold, and was called by the two others in the hand. I made my straight on the river and checked. Check, check and I lost big to the nuts flush.

So now I am seriously small stacked right from the get go. And I hadn't eaten, had a headache and the music at this Badger Poker tournament was deafening. The guy next to me was obnoxious, but I didn't let it bother me and learned to enjoy it.

I don't remember all the hands exactly but won many all-ins. Three to get to the final table and took out more than one in their all-ins there, even collecting a bounty for taking out Al. My all-ins were well chosen after long waits, paying out many blinds that cut deep. Snowmen held early on the opening table.

On the final table I was again seriously small stacked with a J, Q off and I raised pre-flop, if I remember correctly, to make others think twice before making large bets that would push me off the hand. J on the flop with something like a 7, 5 rainbow. I went all-in. The pot was big. I had one caller. Pocket A's shown with a glee. Another J on the turn and a 5 on the river and it was I who was celebrating. Luck? Yes. A bad push or poor poker playing? No way.

Three left and again my stack growing small I had a Q, 7 on the BB. Three spades, including and A, on the flop and me with a 7 of spades. Heads up I went all-in. Called since my opponent had the large stack and could easily afford it. He had the 8 of spades with a 9 so I owned the hand with high card. J of spades on the turn ended it, his 8 beating my 7 for the flush, and I finished third out of 21.

Now I should be on the cusp if not already in Badger Poker's quarterly tournament by points. Coming in in the middle of the session I quickly got to the top 120. I have only missed one final table so far at Badger Poker.

Muck the Straight

Another night of free poker at Fanatics.

Again only one winning hand the first hour. First hour played high pair, Q's, and was beat by pocket K's. Then I called an all-in with Q, 10 with high pair, Q's, after the flop, against a Q, 8. Again, ...we call this domination. He hit the 8 on the turn and to make things worse a fourth diamond came on the river to give him a flush. Just before the break so I didn't have to wait long for more free chips to start the second hour.

My one win for the first hour? I went all-in with A's. One caller and I was still in the game. After the break one person had triple my stack and the others about double. Still far from out of the game. I went all-in with high pair. Showed my cards after the hand was over and the other gentleman mucked.

He mucked. Then he thought again and turned his cards over. He had a straight. But it was too late. He mucked.

Then I had an open ended straight draw after the flop and the betting was high. The small stack was all-in before the flop. I hit the straight on the river but not the nuts straight. Had to go all-in and another was nearly all-in. We both had the 10 making a straight, but another gentleman had the K, 10, making the nuts/higher straight. I thought that was going to happen. (I should have just mucked) So two more out and they were three away from final table after two hours.

I don't think anyone bought a round to get back in the game. The bonus chip promotion for continuous night play (if you play Sunday) is still on in Milwaukee. I may take my bike to Victor's tomorrow. Have to take any advantage, as I have a chance to get into the monthly if I can get to one more final table this month.

Comedy Cafe

Last night I was at the Comedy Cafe for the Wednesday night tavern tourney. Yes, it was pouring rain so there was no local mountain bike race.

The Comedy Cafe truly caters to their poker patrons. And for those who don't drink they have some really great bottled water to enjoy. And on my fourth outing at the Milwaukee tavern tourneys I made the final table for a second time.

The first hand I folded a Q, 2 off and would have won with two pair. The second hand of the night I folded a 7, 4 off and would have beat pocket A's with a straight. But what can you do? The betting was so strong I most likely wouldn't have chased the straight to the river anyway. I had gone in with a 3, 4 suited and folded what would have been another straight on the river, thinking someone must have the higher straight. The first hour I won only one hand. The last hand before the break.

I called an after the flop raise and took a pot with low pair as my opponent failed to raise again. Then I had a hot streak after the break making two flushes, both clubs, only having to show one.

I had only a few blinds left in my stack when our whole table hit a break. A couple had to leave. The gentleman, unable to shuffle or deal, sitting together with his girlfriend (also in the game) to shuffle and deal for him, were piling up the chips. Unfortunately she had to work early in the morning and they had to leave. Their chips were divided among our table as our table had considerably less chips as a whole than the other remaining table.

Still as the blinds rose and I was still one of the small stacks I had to start going all-in. My 5's held against an A, 9 against the gentleman who took me out the last time I played. Also had one caller when I went all-in (only ten players remaining) with A, 10 clubs and took that hand. So I made it to the final table.

I outlasted many others and there were only three of us remaining. I posted the BB and had only a SB left in my stack. A small fraction of my opponents stacks. Called a raise from the gentleman who took me out the last time (Mr. WSOP) with a 7, 8 off. Just no sense in throwing away 2/3rds of my chips with a hand that wasn't good but not bad. He had K's, but with an A, 2, 3, 4 on the board, a 5 on the river would have produced an wheel and a split pot. But it didn't happen and I finished third.

The topic of poker etiquette came up. I found several sites on the topic and will link to one in the sidebar under 'The Basics' after I find the best site.

Sunday

After working most of the weekend without sleeping I took a short nap and went to 'Fanatics' for a tavern tourney. (earlier in the week we dropped off a gift for my mother) No initial buy-in for bonus chips. I failed to win a single hand before the first break. It wasn't that I didn't go in with any hands. I went in quite a bit. I never saw so many Aces. I had more hands with an Ace than not in the first hour. Some like A, 6 or A, 2 I folded before the flop in the face of large raises. In the end I had to fold all of them at some point and they were all good folds. They would have produced nothing.

The betting was small with two 9's on the table and I went all the way to the river looking for a 6 to match my pocket pair but it didn't happen. I folded on a raise on the river. Trip 9's took the pot.

My stack was 800, a fraction of most stacks on the table, with the blinds at 100-200. From early position I made a raise pre-flop to 500, 'all day' as they say. I held a K, 10 of spades. I had two callers and there was an addition 1000 in the pot because someone had just gone busted and bought a round. He received more chips, I picked up 500 more for a $1 tip for the waitress (so I was actually down to 300) and the tournament manager threw 1000 into the pot for that hand. 2700 or so in the pot with the big blind folding.

Two spades came on the flop including the ace which gave me the nuts flush draw. There was also a 4 on the board. I went all-in with 300 more and the two others called. No spade on the turn or river and no raises as another Ace came on the turn. I couldn't raise. The man to my left took the pot with a pair of 4's. He had a 3, 4 suited and stayed in the hand because he wasn't challenged, and my 300 didn't scare him. If I had limped in and bet heavy after the flop he would have folded with an Ace on the table. If the other man in the pot had raised at all, he said he would have folded. The other gentleman had the Q, 9 of spades and I would have beat him with my K high.

So I was out before the first break and received my free chips and went for some bonus chips for the next session. I still didn't win any hands. I folded a 9, 3 off suit and would have hit trip 3's on the river. But that was a good fold. You only play that hand from the big blind (maybe small blind) or if Phil Hellmuth is at the table just to send him into a fit. Then when I was sitting in early position and before dealing the dealer called that I would win this hand and should raise pre-flop. I did, about half my stack, with pocket 4's. Hit a four on the flop and made a minimal bet and took the pot as an Ace was also on the table. I didn't think I would scare anyone with a minimum bet. The dealer dealt out the hand and I would have made quads.

Then I went all-in with 8's and was called by 10's. Hit an 8 on the flop and more than doubled up, collecting the blinds also which were quite high at the time.

Several people went bust and bought back in by buying rounds. You get a lot of chips for buying a round. And me still in the game having only won two hands. One such individual had just gone bust and bought back in with a round the previous hand. I was 'under the gun' and posted the 1600 to get in the hand. The guy to my left, Mr. Just bought a round, came over the top with 5000. Everyone folded and I had only 6400 in my stack. I went all-in with an A, Q suited; hearts. He called. He had an A, J off suit. At this point you would say I dominated.

Isn't that what you call dominating?

He got a J on the flop and another on the turn. An Ace came on the river. We went wild with excitement at our table, as we all did with the 8's against 10's hand. Lots of fun.

No, I can't afford to buy a round. That was it. The field would have been down to half if not for the buying a round buy back. Of course that is how you support the establishment which is essential to enjoy a night of poker in a tournament venue for little cost. Literally you could get away with just buying a drink, I drink soda, when you arrive if you really wanted to. And it is nice to have a few dollars in the pocket to catch some free chips for tipping the waitress when someone buys a round.

All my folds were good. In one hand with mid pair, 9's, I folded to a re-raise, and the winner showed me his high pair, Q's. I couldn't have played any better, yet I could only take two pots. Still I would have finished around the top half of the tournament had it not been for the buy a round buy back. So having played so well why am I so upset. I am working on a book of short stories and was planning to work on it today but couldn't clear my mind until I wrote about the events of last night.

It makes me consider tournament play at the casino rather than looking for a loose Omaha Hi/Lo game. That is if I can ever build up a poker fund for such play, which I have no money to invest in right now. The casino has dropped its buy-ins. They were Monday, Thursday, Sunday for $50, $100, $200 plus a 10% fee, but have gone down to $50, $70, $100. We get their monthly publication.

I don't drink and am not someone who would spend any length of time at bars, so I pay attention to the atmosphere of a place as I feel it can influence my life. 'Fanatics' was fairly bright and open with a large view of the outdoors. Also it is completely sports related which makes it more attractive to me and plays less to people's base natures. Lots of sports and poker on many screens. Smoking will be banned in July but, outside of your clothes smelling, it isn't a big issue as most bars have ventilation systems that suck up most smoke quickly. So it tops my list as to where I am most likely to play.

Still have not visited Tavern Tourney's Wednesday night venue.

So when I get the chance to play again the venue will be the largest determinant, as they have stopped the bonus free chip promotion for playing consecutive days. They are all great establishments. It is just my personal criteria I will be applying.

Final Table

Monday I went to the local Milwaukee Tavern Tourny and made the final table. True I arrived at the final table with a stack equal to the small blind but still I was there and finished 8th, going all-in with Q, 3 suited, the best cards I had seen for quite a while. The final table at my first Milwaukee Tourny, a good omen in my quest for poker glory.

I spent the $5 for the bonus chips and just played smart. Then a bit of theatrics. With a 6, 9 suited I placed a stack of chips on my hold cards and with a K on the table I tried my best to look like I really wanted to bet. Hit a nine on the river and bet 500 to take the pot with a losing hand, as my opponent had a 9, 8. If you have a running back that makes the defense think he is running left when he runs right, do you say he is lying?

That was at Victor's with about 38 people at the tables. A bit disheartening to play well and see those going bust buying back in, buying a round of drinks for bonus chips, and ending up with a stack bigger than yours. But at this level of Tavern Tourny's it is about enjoying yourself and supporting the local establishment. I had no extra cash to be taking advantage of the bonus chip gimmick's. But playing consecutive days gets you 2000 in free chips each day and soon they will be having a tournament on Sunday.

Then Tuesday we were at G-Daddy's BBC on the east-side. Only 18 at the tables. A few college guys were playing. Some not knowing how to deal, but there is always someone, if not everyone, happy to help others learn the game.

I chased a bluff and/or a full house with two A's on the table at the turn. Lucky I didn't make the 8 on the river to go with my pocket pair cause I was facing quads, eagerly shown as I folded. My call of his large raises hopefully made his night. I live to serve. My pocket 7's lost to pocket K's and I was out before the break.

After the first break everyone gets 2000 more in free chips and I was moved to a table of small stacks. There was a guy who had been to the world series of poker. I won an all-in with pocket 8's against the large stack at the table.

Then I decided to play a J, 8 suited; clubs. The flop came J, 10, 7 giving me high pair and a straight draw with one club on the table. I decided to go all-in. The WSOP participant, he was showing us his pictures on his laptop, called with a stack equal to my own. He had a Q, K making my gut shot straight draw a losing prospect. A 3 of clubs came on the turn and he was left with 11 outs as a club would give me the flush. He made the K, red, and I was out. It was a great way to go out. If you can't enjoy the game for the game you don't love poker. We shook hands and that was it for me for the night.

I almost didn't go Tuesday because I felt I wouldn't do well. Part of it was I was a bit enamored with myself from the night before and chased some hands I shouldn't have. And I did finish early but I was happy I went. Really hit a comfort level at the tables and picking up more of the lingo.

Wednesday a seat at the six month Tournament was on the line with an expectation of forty people in attendance but I had something previously planned. I hope to hit a string of games at least once a month. The promoter is hoping to double the numbers at each establishment. Plenty of seats and free chips for anyone interested.

Some at the table were talking about Badger Poker. I added their links in the side bar.

Ughhh!

The good news is that Tavern Tourneys now has Milwaukee tournaments Monday through Wednesday. I haven't been to the site in a while so I'm not sure when they started, to my regret. It is the live games I really need experience in. And more good news was that last month I found that rather than owing taxes we were in line to get both a State and Federal refund. Along with that news, a refund check on our mortgage came in the mail.

And on that second, ...or third, bit of good news I took a small part of the mortgage refund and invested a Saturday afternoon to sit at a Omaha Hi/lo table at the casino. A game I have been studying on, and have had play money  success with on the Internet. And it was the kind of game everyone hopes for. 4-6 players in on each hand. A pleasant surprise was that in a 3-6 game the small blind was only $1.

Again coming in with a small stack was a disadvantage. A guy at the end of the table would keep raising me every time I came in. I'm not sure why, since it was obvious I was playing only good hands, doing a lot of pre-flop folding.

There were also several older gentleman who clearly knew the game. They were happy with the table and yelling to the floor manager every time a seat would open. Someone has to pay the dealer. In fact, to this point I could rationalize that I have broken even at the tables to date. My losses easily covered by the rake the house takes and tips I gave to the dealers. But no more.

The best starting hands will roughly pay off about a third of the time, and they weren't at first. Then I got a 2, 6, 7, 8 and felt really good about it. This is something I've been trying to hone with some success. Going with a hand just on a good initial feeling when I see it. I have had success with this on the Internet. I felt so good about the hand I looked a second time with a smile, but confident that I could win playing tight, though some play for the mid-range straight, I folded. The flop came 8, 8, 7. A 4-8 straight took the high.

My stack became quite small when I started winning a few hands. This limited my profits. Otherwise I would have gotten back to my starting stack, if not more. This lack of funds and a continuous push by the guy at the end of the table (he went bust and had to buy back in) I went bust myself hoping to make an open ended straight after the flop. So overall my ledger is in the red for nearly$100.

Then came the really bad news. Our dog was sick. Trying to save it, finally realizing it was poisoned, cost us big bucks we didn't have. Just when we were getting a handle on our debt. I have a good idea who did it. We buried her next to our last dog in the North Woods.

But I have a plan to put into practice to fund my pursuit of poker glory. No more going in with minor stacks. I'm sure I would have done fine if I had a larger stack and could have taken full advantage of the hands I did win. The plan I will write about next month, since without a lot of live play I don't have much of interest to write about. I have to keep a standard of one post a month though.

I may decide to hit the Tavern Tourneys the next three days spending $15, the $5 initial bonus chip buy in each night. I recently bought some bicycle lights on sale for street riding that I can put to good use, saving the cost of gas, which wouldn't be much. All three are very close and in fairly nice areas with large schools of college fish.

Casino Tournaments in Milwaukee

Yes, Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee now has weekly Texas Hold'm tournaments. Limit of 50 participants per tournament with payouts to the top five. Monday entry is $50, Thursday $100 and Sunday $200 plus a 10% entry fee.

Registration must be done in person and opens three hours prior to start. Monday and Thursday's start time is 10:00am and I was told that on Monday the tournament is full by 8:30am. Fullness is reached somewhat later on Thursday and you may be able to get a seat up to start time on Sunday. Of course with that info I have to ask; What's for breakfast? Unfortunately, only a couple of vendors in the food court are open in the mornings.

I was going to ask more questions but the manager was a bit busy. I was surprised by the surly attitudes of those asking to get into a game. A sign of the poor economy? The manager said that payouts go to the final table and then corrected herself, saying the top five. That suggests to me that they start with five at a table and will consolidate up to six. Not sure. Two and a half to three hours is the typical length.

So how about my goal to make $1,000,000 play money on all the major sites? Playing Hold'm on Ultimate Bet I've had some huge days, and that is not walking away after a big hand but sticking with a ring game for at least an hour. But usually it is five steps forward and four steps back. Same with Absolute Poker where I have been playing strictly Omaha Hi/Lo. If I could spend a couple full days straight playing I think I would make the goal quickly but I have to balance my priorities.

I haven't been on Full Tilt or Doyle's room for a while. I don't like Full Tilt. Doyle's Room has some great graphics, getting away from all those cheesy avatars. Play as one of your favorite poker professionals. The pace is slightly slower and the audio less harsh. It is pleasant to play there. The Doyle's Room community is small and plays very well.

Poker Stars? I have been playing strictly 'sit and go' tournaments and doing well. The easiest place to get into a 'sit and go' without having to wait long for a tournament to fill with the largest poker community on the net. Consistent growth in my play money balance each day I play a few. Generally in tournament play it I can make the top 10% very consistently. It suggests that I could do well at the Potawatomi Tournaments but I have little live play time. I have a ledger of my casino play and am currently down $86 and with our current financial situation am not currently planning to put out any cash in pursuit of Poker Fame. When we get on top of our bills I will slowly put some money away into a savings account and when I get a good balance will start working to build a fortune , but never risking the majority of the balance.

Hopefully I will be making some Tavern Tourneys now and then.

I take everything I do seriously.

Omaha Hi Lo

The last couple of days I tried some tournaments again. Bad beats took me out of a promising freeroll. Otherwise I haven't played a whole lot of poker recently. More days in the week than not, but only for about an hour while watching "Daniel Boone" in the middle of the night before finishing my prayers and going to sleep.

I am not one who can productively play more than one table at a time on the Internet either. I don't think you can learn much more playing two three or eight tables at a time than one. Now, I believe it is on Full Tilt, they have rush poker. That is you are part of a large pool of players, and as soon as you fold or your hand plays out you are shot off immediately to a table that is ready to deal. So there is no waiting for your next hand. But you also cannot get a feel for the style of play of your competitors. Still you can see many hands and get a feel for what pays on a regular basis. Unless you have people pushing all-in hand after hand, no one able to recognize that they are being donkeys and calling their bluff.

So what really magnifies lessons everyone needs to learn in poker is the Omaha Hi Lo table.

First of all you have to always look for the nuts at a Omaha table, with four in your hand and five on the table (using any two from your hand and three from the table). The hand that can't be beat. The big hands you may seldom see at a Hold'm table. No more chasing rainbows unless you like to lose money, whatever the game. But you also learn to bet well. When to push, seeing potential that you want to knock off the hand and betting on your own potential to back into the best hand. And when to pull, when you have the nuts and don't want to chase people out. Hoping they will bet when they see potential on the turn and/or river.

You learn more quickly the significance of the flop. If you are playing all 9 or above, going for that high hand that can take the whole pot, or have A,2 with two other low potential, the flop can tell you... fold. And sometimes  the low cards win it all. You learn the potential for low cards to pay off big. You are going to be in far more hands with Lo cards than you would be at a Hold'm table and reap rewards from those cards on a regular basis.

And to win at Hold'm, coming out significantly ahead, you need to be able to win those starting Lo hands from time to time. And position and risk/reward ratios, what you need to look for to do that well, are clearer in Omaha Hi Lo than any other game. In Omaha Hi Lo, where one may often split or quarter a pot, how many are in the hand is very important. I had an A,A,2 other on a hand and only collected 1/6 of the pot with my Lo. No, my low cards weren't counterfeited, two others had an A,2.

So goes my life. I'm sure somewhere you can find someone who has written in more detail on the topic.

But heah! The investment is doing well and another job opportunity is presenting itself. The Internet advertising hasn't paid off yet. Maybe I'll be able to get to those Tavern Tourney's. It's not the $5 that would be wise to invest that keep me from going, but the cost of the gas as none are close by. Not too anxious about going to the casino when I'm carrying debt.

Gluttony

Mmmm! Nothing like a casino buffet.

In the past, before casino's were everywhere, I heard food at a casino was always dirt cheap. I found that not to be true, but in the case of our casino in Milwaukee it is a true bargain in that it is most excellent in quality for the price.

It was our anniversary last Tuesday and we went to the dinner buffet. Our last visit we went for lunch and I wasn't impressed with absolutely everything but that may be because we arrived late in the service. I tried nearly all the meats at dinner and they were all fabulous. I never saw anyone eat as much shell fish as my wife did.

After only one trip to the dessert buffet I hit a wall. I was shocked. It may have something to do with my weight loss strategy, simply stated as 'hunger.' My stomach must have shrunk. But that eggnog cake was to die for. Very light fluffy white cake with an eggnog cream on top and layered between so delicately.

I was actually losing weight and the buffet didn't send my weight back up. It didn't give me indigestion or constipation and I slept like a baby that night. Obviously great food well prepared.

We walked by the poker room and I was surprised that it was nearly full on a Tuesday evening. I am slowly advancing towards my goal of making over $1 million play money on each of the major poker sites. Though you can recharge your initial $1k or $2k starting balance when you lose it all, I am working never to recharge when I start on a new site. If I have a bad day I just drop down to the lower stakes games as not to threaten going bust. It would be a strategy I would use in real life if I could afford to put $2k into a savings account. Making withdrawals, it's $200 minimum to get into a no-limit game, and going to the casino and redeposit my balance afterwards. Just not letting the account reach an inconsequential level, waiting for a big breakout. A good way to track any potential income for April 15th too.

But we have too much debt to divert that kind of resource right now. But if we didn't that is the way we would have to go, since I certainly wouldn't have the resources to travel to any major tournaments with our income.

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Happy 2010

Today I qualified for a freeroll main event this Sunday. Texas Hold'm, no limit of course. I find I play better when I switch back from Omaha hi/lo. The winner gets hockey tickets and a cool $1,000. Not sure if I'll be free at the designated time but I hope so. There is always e-bay, cause I'm quite sure I wont be using the tickets.

Hopefully we all have goals and dreams to fulfill is this great year of 2010. One goal would be to find out how to put your picture on the poker site avatars. Do you have to make a deposit for that function to be available? I don't play cash games. Haven't been able to do it to date. I was playing with our web cam and took a picture I was hoping to put up. My best poker face.