Back on the Horse

I know it's been a while, but I just didn't know how to keep writing about losing. So, I've finally moved through my cold deck spell.  I played a $26 Bracelet Race on Full Tilt to win a $2000 WSOP package. I got second place and cashed $400+.  Next, I played a $26 Razz Tournament on Full Tilt and took down 1st place for $930.  And, about a week ago, I bought in for $100 in a $4-$8 limit game at the Belle of Baton Rouge. I started the night off by picking up pocket AA's under the gun and flopping quads.  I followed that hand up with a big blind special, 74 off suit and flopped 774 for a full house.  That night I proceeded to win pot after pot and went home with $600 of winnings.

Yesterday, Mom and Grandma left Baton Rouge to fly to Las Vegas and play in a few WSOP tournaments. After the flight they took a rest, not planning to play any tournaments that day. In fact, Grandma didn't plan to play any tournaments at all, because she says she's too old to play in a tournament for 3 or 4 days... HOGWASH! So after their nap they met up with Captain Tom Franklin (who Mom met just a month or so ago at the IP in Biloxi when she, Tom, and one other guy made a deal as the final 3 players of a $2000 tournament to chop $20,000 each). Tom talked them into signing up for the tournament yesterday even though it had already started. Grandma pulled a table with Tom Durrrr Dwan on her right, Phil Ivey on her left, and Chris Ferguson two to her left. Go, Granny Go!

And Go she did... as she sent Phil Ivey to the rail! There was quite a raucous around her table as and unknown "little old lady" picked up A's against Ivey's K's and sent him packing.  Apparently it was the "shot heard round the world", because they went to Binions today and found that word had spread of a little old lady felting Phil Ivey. As the day wore on, she did start to tire and fell just short of making the money... but who cares... she's got the best story of anybody to tell and had a great experience!

Back to me. I'm working on winning a seat in the WSOP. I've falled short a few times in sateliting into big events. Last year, I missed a WSOP seat on Full Tilt as I finished in 2nd place to cash $800+ and just missing the $12k WSOP Main Event package.  And in November I fell short on Poker Stars when I took 31st place in a $700 tournament that awarded 30 people $10k prize packages to the PokerStars Carribean Adventure in the Bahamas. I'm done with bubbles. This year I'll take the prize!

Ok, one short hand analysis from last night. (Of course, I had to go to the local poker room to brag about Grandma felting Ivey.) Last night I played 62 - a random hand - from late position. The button raised to $8.  There were a few callers including me for the additional $4.  The flop came KK2 with two hearts. Everyone checked to the button and he checked his cards before he continued with a $4 bet. I read this to mean that he did not have a K.  People tend to remember if they have a big card in their hand. No one with any sense has to go back and look at their hand to see if they have a K or an Ace. So, everyone folded and I called. The turn was a 2. This was a great card for me. I was now heads up with the preflop raiser and I still didn't figure him for a King so my full house was probably the best hand. Still, I check-called his $8 bet. The river was a blank. I checked, he bet, and I called. Now, if the river had been a heart, I probably would have raised him on the river, but to minimize my losses in case I was wrong and because I didn't think he would call a raise anyway on the river if he had "air" I just called. It was a great read. He had AhQh - a busted flush draw and his head sunk as he saw that I'd called him down with 62.  Now, I can usually fold these hands, but if I think my opponent doesn't have the goods, then I'll be making those calls and I'm proud of it! That's something you can't do with online poker. You can't see your opponent go back to check his cards.  And that was the primary tell that gave me information about his hand!