Quad Aces in Lake Tahoe No Limit Poker

Your Girlfriend really loves you when you score Quad Aces and rake in a huge pot as Matt did here in a South Lake Tahoe No Limit game. For more good stories and pictures click here

Paradise Poker Free Million Dollar Tourney

I'm in! I played in a "heat" tonight to gain entry into Paradise Poker's third "Free Million Tournament." I played in a few heats for the second tournament last year, but I never finished higher than 100+.

Took almost five hours. The top 15, out of a field of more than 1,500, earned a seat in this tournament (see attached screen shot--K2, you can post on your site). I was on the bubble for the last hour, biting my nails. But you'd be proud--I didn't play scared. I kept playing the cards I'd have played if I had been in first place (well, almost). Luck and timing played a part. Was in 22nd place of 23 remaining, when pocket 10s came to me, with a 10 on the flop. I went all in and doubled up. It was enough to carry me into the top 10 for a while. Then I bled to 13th place where I stayed until the field got down to 15. The tournament automatically ended once the final 15 players were reached.

The final tournament isn't until July. So I have plenty of time to hone my no-limit skills and absorb all the stuff in Gordon's book you sent me. Top 500 finishers of that tournament get money, starting at $50, and ending at $1,000,000 for numero uno. I think PP runs heats until 5,000 seats have been assigned. There are currently about 400 seats taken.

Phew. Time for bed.

Nar Pow Pow

Private Party Girls

Who are these lovely ladies? Last seen at a private party inside Body English in Las Vegas. They look like they have a secret but aren't telling....

Bay 101 Friday Tourney

I played in the Bay 101 tourney today. It is a $120 buy in with typically 100 players. I decided to be more aggressive in the early rounds this time. Last time I played I exited 76 out of about 125 players.

At the first break I was down to just $2000 in chips from a starting stack of $3000. Last time I waited too long for a great hand and essentially got blinded off. This time I chose my spot with about $1800 left and A-8 suited. With the blinds at $300-600, I really didn't have a choice. Unfortunately, I thought at the time two people called me. Then the flop came A-8-6 all off suit-a beautiful rainbow. I tripled up and was on my way. Better lucky than good.

I dragged a couple other small pots and stole some blinds with aggressive under the gun and big blind semi-bluffs. Before I knew it we were down to 15 players with the top 10 getting paid. At the break I had $15,000 in chips with the blinds at $2000-$4000. As I entered the final push, I made a conscious decision to try to hang around and make the final table. I was ahead of 4-5 players and had the button so I played super tight. That was easy for 3 hands (total junk) and then I woke up with pocket nines. One guy went all in three off the button and then it was my turn. He had played it tight so I gave him credit and folded. One of the guys who was behind me called him and I thought I had made the right play. K-J and A-10 showed up in their hands and the Ace high won the pot. The very next hand I got pocket 9s again. This time I was under the gun. I checked and other guy went all in. I folded. No one was eliminated in that hand either and the nines would have held up that time as well. The blinds were now up to $3000-6000 and I was in trouble.

I punted on both my small and big blinds to raisers and then had only $6000 left when I woke up with A-8 of clubs. I really didn't think I see anything better so I tossed it in despite the board saying there were only 11 players left. The small blind called and the big blind checked it. Both of them had A-Q. Suffice it to say they split the pot and I was out at number 11/100, out of the money by one spot.

I learned a great lesson. If you are on the bubble and get reasonably good cards especially back to back, BET THEM HARD. Don't get too tight and lose a chance to increase your stack AND survive into the money round.

Any thoughts?

AM

No Limit at Mandalay Bay

Flew in at the last minute to Vegas to escape Orlando and Hurricane Wilma. Got the Rain Man Suite upgrade at THE HOTEL. The room was 50% bigger than the usual suite and of course in perfect condition. I do love THE HOTEL. But this post is about poker. I sat in on the $200 buy-in no limit game at the Mandalay Bay.

It was a moderately tight game with some nice people playing. Two software guys from Chicago and an older local named Spike. He had a railroad tie as his lucky charm at the table. The game was filled mostly with good players and a couple bozos who would call $100 bets with nothing. I played super tight and caught AK and KK to win some early pots. It was kind of a grind except for the friendly chatter with the software dudes and Spike. The staff in the poker room were also very nice. It is a small room but a relaxing place to play.

I woke up in the big blind with K-8 suited and checked it to 3 other players. No one raises pre-flop. The flop comes J-6-K with no flush draw for me.. I have a low kicker so I check. Should I have bet? Two other guys check and then one guy bet 15 bucks representing probably jacks. I come over the top with his $15 and then $50 more trying to win the pot right there. I am feeling quite good about myself until the guy to my left comes over the top of me making it another $100. I can't see him too well because I am in seat 10 and he is in seat 1. I'm thinking did he slow play a set of jacks or kings? The other guys fold and then I think about it for about 10 seconds before folding. He flips over J-6 and I am left to wonder if I played the hand right. I'll have to check this one with Phil or Antonio. Any thoughts from the web?

Flopping a Full House

I was playing 8-16 Hold'em at the Bay 101 club in a very loose game with excellent players. I was just hanging around when I woke up with pocket 10s in the big blind. I really hadn't had a good hand all day. I had A-K offsuit once and it didn't hold up against 2-2!! So, I decided to raise with my 10s to keep the limpers out. Unfortunately, 5 people called me. I really didn't want this but as I said it was a loose game.

The flop came K-K-10. That was a super rainbow for me. I had just flopped a full house. What more could I ask for? I should have just checked it but I came out and quickly bet. That eliminated three of my opponents but the button called my bet. The turn was a blank and again I bet. A mistake. This time the guy on the button folded.

It was an amazing hand that I should have slowed played. Despite this I was happy to drag at least a medium sized pot thanks to the pre-flop loose players. How much money did I leave in that hand? I'll never know. Next time, I'll try not to overplay a made hand.

AM

Quad Fives in a No Limit Game at Mandalay Bay

JR and AM at the Mandalay Bay just after AM pulled down a big pot with Quad Fives in a No-Limit game. "Dinner is on me tonight".

Body English Party in Vegas

B and B having a Good Time at a Private Birthday Party inside BODY ENGLISH at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas.