All right, the game is $2-$3 PLO at Ameristar. Its a good game. The basic PLO players are there, Alan, Doug, Jeff, Kimmy is in the game, and $30-$60 Alex. There are two fresh faces at the table and one of them will be the villain in the hand that i want to discuss. He says hes from Tunica, well plays in Tunica, and that he plays the big Omaha game down there. You know the one, $5-$10-$25. He has a good table sense, but he liked to gamble it up. It was like the money wasn't a lot to him. He was calling with some obscure draws, but NOT bluffing off his chips, he was just a calling station.
OK, here we go...
Someone raises to $15 pre-flop. I have A A 5 8, i think the 5 and the 8 were suited in hearts, but that's not a factor. $15 was the typical raise, so i decide to see a flop, hoping to hit a set, or a straight. The villain calls behind me, and is the only one who has position on me. We take the flop 5 handed.
Ac Jc 9d
Not a terrible flop for me, but there are a lot of bad cards i can see on the turn. It checks to me, so i bet the pot $75. The villain calls behind me, and everyone else folds.
the turn card comes Ah.
I quad up. Now here's where the question comes in. NOW WHAT?
I take a peak at his stack, he's got $400 and change. I have him covered. I decide right then that i want ALL of it. Not some of it, EVERY LAST DOLLAR! How do i do that?
I decide that I'm going to bet almost instantly. With only $225 in the pot, i have to build it a little bit, so i can get it all in on the river, right? If I check, sure he could try to represent the Ace, but like i said, he wasn't bluffing, but he was calling. So again, if i bet, can he honestly put me on what i have? If i bet, he might come over the top right there, especially if he has 9's full or J's full.
I don't know, it just seemed to me that, if I checked there, number one, i have to hope he hits. Chances are, he was going to miss anyway, in which case i don't get paid off. If I check, and he hits, i bet the pot, he can still get away from it, because he's not pot committed. If I force him to call a bet on the turn, THEN he hits his draw, he is forced to call my all in on the river.
The only way i can check the turn i feel, is if i also check the river. And pray that he either hits something, and commits himself, or tries to steal it, when he misses the river. I just don't like checking here. That's what i want to hear from you guys. What do you do? And don't tell me how crappy this is written, I know it is. But its 4:30 a.m. and i don't feel like proof-reading.
The end of the hand went as follows...
The Ace hits the turn, i bet $150, and he folds. I've examined this hand forwards and backwards, and i still like the way i played it. The only thing i can think of, is that i could have bet less on the turn. But I think that might have thrown up a few flags as well.
Let me know...
Monday, January 22, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
John Adams
For those of you who aren't familiar with Harrah's St. Louis, John Adams is the man. Every poker room has one, he's ours. He's the guy who always wins, and wins big. He is by far the most profiting player in the room. He Destroys the $2-$5 no limit game about 5 days a week.
John is an upper middle aged man, around 55-60. He's retired from Anheuser Busch, single, and financially free. He is probably the best no limit cash game player i have ever seen. The man just doesn't lose.
Now the reason for this particular post is an open "story" that another one of our players wrote. I'm not going to say who, but it is great. And this tells just how good, John Adams really is.
Here is the story...
There was a rare occurrence in the poker room last week. As rare as the spotting of an Ivory-Billed Woodpecker or Haley's Comet. Larry Connors opened up the 10 O'clock news with the story and security film confirmed it, John Adams had to meet someone in the bathroom after he busted out.
The Young guns, Justin, Corey and Rocco were all in stunned, disbelief. And John's good friend Rich, who frequently stands behind him to watch him play, has confirmed that John has taken this very hard, and many are not sure he will be able to recover.
So we as his poker buddies are determined to help. Debbie says she will run some bake sales. The Auto wholesalers will be having car washes. Greg the pizza man is selling slices on the corner. Kevin said he would be more than willing to raise more often. Tim the chip popper says he will tutor John in the annoying practice of the chip pop. PJ, Barry, and Jewelry Sam will take time out to give tips to John on his poker play. Darmish's family says they will give John a hotel room during his financial troubles... for a reduced rate. And all of our Asian friends will help school John in the art of loose play. Doc even offered a rectal exam after the reaming John just took. The dealers and floor people have extended the courtesy of no rake to John until his suffering has ended. The $30-$60 players are willing to give up one pot to pay for John's psychiatric counseling if needed. Scott said he would do some legal work if he had the time, but he has his own issues to deal with.
Okay John, the poker community is doing all it can to get you back on your feet. We also want to let you know that we will be there to support you if it ever happens again.
I guess i need to explain what "going in the bathroom" means. The state of Missouri has a $500 buy-in law. That means that a person can only purchase $500 worth of chips every two hours. So if you go bust, before you can buy more chips, you need to find other means to bring chips on the table. The way around it is, players take chips home with them each night. That way, they don't have to buy them from the cage, they just pull them out of their pockets. If a player doesn't have any extra chips they have to buy them from another person. To do this, they have to go in the bathroom, away from all the security cameras.
Everyone named in this story is a regular in the 2-5 game at Harrah's. And it just reiterates the fact that John is the best, and obviously one of the most liked player in the rooms. Congratulations John, you deserve the recognition.
John is an upper middle aged man, around 55-60. He's retired from Anheuser Busch, single, and financially free. He is probably the best no limit cash game player i have ever seen. The man just doesn't lose.
Now the reason for this particular post is an open "story" that another one of our players wrote. I'm not going to say who, but it is great. And this tells just how good, John Adams really is.
Here is the story...
There was a rare occurrence in the poker room last week. As rare as the spotting of an Ivory-Billed Woodpecker or Haley's Comet. Larry Connors opened up the 10 O'clock news with the story and security film confirmed it, John Adams had to meet someone in the bathroom after he busted out.
The Young guns, Justin, Corey and Rocco were all in stunned, disbelief. And John's good friend Rich, who frequently stands behind him to watch him play, has confirmed that John has taken this very hard, and many are not sure he will be able to recover.
So we as his poker buddies are determined to help. Debbie says she will run some bake sales. The Auto wholesalers will be having car washes. Greg the pizza man is selling slices on the corner. Kevin said he would be more than willing to raise more often. Tim the chip popper says he will tutor John in the annoying practice of the chip pop. PJ, Barry, and Jewelry Sam will take time out to give tips to John on his poker play. Darmish's family says they will give John a hotel room during his financial troubles... for a reduced rate. And all of our Asian friends will help school John in the art of loose play. Doc even offered a rectal exam after the reaming John just took. The dealers and floor people have extended the courtesy of no rake to John until his suffering has ended. The $30-$60 players are willing to give up one pot to pay for John's psychiatric counseling if needed. Scott said he would do some legal work if he had the time, but he has his own issues to deal with.
Okay John, the poker community is doing all it can to get you back on your feet. We also want to let you know that we will be there to support you if it ever happens again.
I guess i need to explain what "going in the bathroom" means. The state of Missouri has a $500 buy-in law. That means that a person can only purchase $500 worth of chips every two hours. So if you go bust, before you can buy more chips, you need to find other means to bring chips on the table. The way around it is, players take chips home with them each night. That way, they don't have to buy them from the cage, they just pull them out of their pockets. If a player doesn't have any extra chips they have to buy them from another person. To do this, they have to go in the bathroom, away from all the security cameras.
Everyone named in this story is a regular in the 2-5 game at Harrah's. And it just reiterates the fact that John is the best, and obviously one of the most liked player in the rooms. Congratulations John, you deserve the recognition.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
I Love PLO!
Well, this has been a pretty uneventful last couple of days. But i went into work tonight and the $5-$5 Pot Limit Omaha game was FIRED UP! Everyone had deep stacks, and i pushed many of $3,000-$5,000 pots. They were really going at it. At one point, Pat bet $1,700 on the river, with a board of Q, 6, 7, 9, 10 with 3 hearts, the third being the 10 on the river. Scott shows his KQ of hearts, second nuts, and makes a crying call. And of course Pat turns over the A5 of hearts, NUTS! Its just so nasty, because 99 out of 100 times, Pat makes the same bet on the river, with only the naked Ace of hearts.
But i was really reminded of why i love this game, and how disgusting it really is, on this hand.
Several people limp in for the $5. A late position raiser makes it $25, and get 5 callers. So there's a pot of $125. The flop comes out...
K J A with the K and J of hearts.
it checks around to Kirby who is on the button. He bets the pot, $125. Everyone insta-folds. pretty boring eh? This is what really got me. Kirby just put his head down in disappointment. He says, "You're telling me NO ONE flopped the nuts?"
I was confused on why he wanted someone to flop the nuts, when he was the one betting. Until he turned his cards over...
A A 10 K with the A 10 of hearts. OH MY GOD!
Top set, gut shot to the nut straight, nut flush draw, and gut shot Royal Flush.
ONLY in Pot Limit Omaha, do you hope that someone has the nuts, when you bet into them. He wanted to get all of his $7,000 in the pot, on the flop, with someone who flopped the stones. GOD WHAT A GAME!
OK, that's about all i got for now. I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it. Full Tilt here i come!
Until next time, I'll see ya at the river.
But i was really reminded of why i love this game, and how disgusting it really is, on this hand.
Several people limp in for the $5. A late position raiser makes it $25, and get 5 callers. So there's a pot of $125. The flop comes out...
K J A with the K and J of hearts.
it checks around to Kirby who is on the button. He bets the pot, $125. Everyone insta-folds. pretty boring eh? This is what really got me. Kirby just put his head down in disappointment. He says, "You're telling me NO ONE flopped the nuts?"
I was confused on why he wanted someone to flop the nuts, when he was the one betting. Until he turned his cards over...
A A 10 K with the A 10 of hearts. OH MY GOD!
Top set, gut shot to the nut straight, nut flush draw, and gut shot Royal Flush.
ONLY in Pot Limit Omaha, do you hope that someone has the nuts, when you bet into them. He wanted to get all of his $7,000 in the pot, on the flop, with someone who flopped the stones. GOD WHAT A GAME!
OK, that's about all i got for now. I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it. Full Tilt here i come!
Until next time, I'll see ya at the river.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
String Bet
What is a "string bet?" We all know the rule of a string bet, but does everyone understand the point of the rule?
The point of the rule is to not allow a player to take a "shot" at the pot. Basically, you cant put a few chips in, and then wait to get a reaction, and then act on from there. Pretty simple i think.
As with all rules, i think some people get carried away on this rule. It's only a technicality, not a life or death law!
The reason I'm bringing it up is, i saw an issue arise at the table tonight, regarding a string bet. It was a $2-$5 NL table with 9 regulars, and a guy i haven't seen before. Now i wasn't actually dealing the game, but i saw the entire thing. Here's what happened.
A few players had limped into the pot, and the action came to Sam. Sam is an everyday player, he talks a lot, and everyone gets along well with him. Sam takes a small stack of $5 cheques and goes into the pot. He drops one $5 chip, hesitates for a second, and then puts out $20 more. His hand never left the pot. The dealer, called it a string bet, because he did not put all the chips in at "one time." And of course, there was a small argument. Sam said it wasn't a string bet, a few players said it was, yada yada yada. One player saw me watching, and tried to ask my opinion. I just threw my hands up, and said, "I'm not dealing, and I'm not a floor man, call them."
And i walked away. So i never did hear the end result. And to tell you the truth, i really don't care. But i want to voice my opinion now.
I think when there is call like this one, a judgement call that is, the player should be given the benefit of the doubt, unless there is substantial reasoning otherwise. Just like our justice system, "Innocent, until proven guilty."
And in this circumstance, i think Sam should have been acquitted of all charges. He is an upstanding and honest poker player. Like i said before, the rule is to stop players from taking shots at the pot. And he was obviously not doing that.
So just remember everyone, poker is a gentleman's game. Don't read too much into the rule book, and just play the game. Not everyone is out to get you.
The point of the rule is to not allow a player to take a "shot" at the pot. Basically, you cant put a few chips in, and then wait to get a reaction, and then act on from there. Pretty simple i think.
As with all rules, i think some people get carried away on this rule. It's only a technicality, not a life or death law!
The reason I'm bringing it up is, i saw an issue arise at the table tonight, regarding a string bet. It was a $2-$5 NL table with 9 regulars, and a guy i haven't seen before. Now i wasn't actually dealing the game, but i saw the entire thing. Here's what happened.
A few players had limped into the pot, and the action came to Sam. Sam is an everyday player, he talks a lot, and everyone gets along well with him. Sam takes a small stack of $5 cheques and goes into the pot. He drops one $5 chip, hesitates for a second, and then puts out $20 more. His hand never left the pot. The dealer, called it a string bet, because he did not put all the chips in at "one time." And of course, there was a small argument. Sam said it wasn't a string bet, a few players said it was, yada yada yada. One player saw me watching, and tried to ask my opinion. I just threw my hands up, and said, "I'm not dealing, and I'm not a floor man, call them."
And i walked away. So i never did hear the end result. And to tell you the truth, i really don't care. But i want to voice my opinion now.
I think when there is call like this one, a judgement call that is, the player should be given the benefit of the doubt, unless there is substantial reasoning otherwise. Just like our justice system, "Innocent, until proven guilty."
And in this circumstance, i think Sam should have been acquitted of all charges. He is an upstanding and honest poker player. Like i said before, the rule is to stop players from taking shots at the pot. And he was obviously not doing that.
So just remember everyone, poker is a gentleman's game. Don't read too much into the rule book, and just play the game. Not everyone is out to get you.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
New Beginnings
I've been playing poker for only a short time, in the grand scheme of things. I first sat a table only about 4 years ago. My friend asked me to come over to a small home game. I had never played a hand of Hold' em in my life. But as soon as i heard the chips clattering, i was hooked.
I've won and lost thousands of, been to many different places, and even started working in the industry, since that day. My life truly revolves around the game. I deal 5 nights a week, play at least twice a week at the casino, and play about 40 hours a week online. I cant tell you the last time ive actually turned my TV on, because i watch Live At The Bike on the internet everynight.
I've come to realize that the more you know, the more you will win. And thats what ive been doing up until this point. LEARNING! I play small games at the casino, and very small stakes on the net. But its all knowledge, none the less.
I've been studying my game, along with many other people. I've probably seen more hands played than anyone i know. And I think its time. I think its time to start playing for real. It's time to build a bankroll and move up the poker ladder.
And so the challenge begins. Check back often for updates. I know you probably don't care about what's going on with my game, so i'll throw in some comic relief here and there. And of course you opinions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome.
This is my first attempt at a blog of any type, so feel free to critque me. And wish me luck...
I've won and lost thousands of, been to many different places, and even started working in the industry, since that day. My life truly revolves around the game. I deal 5 nights a week, play at least twice a week at the casino, and play about 40 hours a week online. I cant tell you the last time ive actually turned my TV on, because i watch Live At The Bike on the internet everynight.
I've come to realize that the more you know, the more you will win. And thats what ive been doing up until this point. LEARNING! I play small games at the casino, and very small stakes on the net. But its all knowledge, none the less.
I've been studying my game, along with many other people. I've probably seen more hands played than anyone i know. And I think its time. I think its time to start playing for real. It's time to build a bankroll and move up the poker ladder.
And so the challenge begins. Check back often for updates. I know you probably don't care about what's going on with my game, so i'll throw in some comic relief here and there. And of course you opinions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome.
This is my first attempt at a blog of any type, so feel free to critque me. And wish me luck...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
