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.