Just finished a little Christmas poker. Should have stuck to the new Wii bowling.
Raised with KQ offsuit on the button, three limp along with my raise. Flop comes out 5JQ all clubs. I am holding the king of clubs. Everyone checks to me. I decide to bet it hard and find out where I am. Everyone folds except one dude who calls my 3/4 pot bet. Turn comes out with another queen. I have a set of queens with a second nut flush draw. He goes all in. I study and think he has a queen as well. Could he have AQ? QJ---Full house? Q5?, JJ for another full house? A made flush? Way too many options but I smell weakness and call. He flips up AJ with only ONE Club. He has two pair QQJJA and I have the set of queens. The river comes out with the 7 of CLUBS. And he takes down a BIG pot on me. No Christmas justice. Sorry to whine. Next time I'll play him in Wii bowling and see who wins..
Surgical Poker
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Ultimate Bet, Best Damn Poker Show
Never played much online. How many tables do most people play at one time, two, three, four?
It is certainly easier to stack up experience with hundreds of hands while online but I miss the ability to physically try to read my opponents. What do the online pros have as tells? Betting time and patterns? How does that translate into live games for the online pros?
Much to think about. Does more online experience lead to better live play?
It is certainly easier to stack up experience with hundreds of hands while online but I miss the ability to physically try to read my opponents. What do the online pros have as tells? Betting time and patterns? How does that translate into live games for the online pros?
Much to think about. Does more online experience lead to better live play?
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Best Damn Poker Show Period
Phil Hellmuth, Sirinda and AM on the Best Damn Poker Show. See all of the Surgical Poker Blog for Best Damn Poker commentary or check out the Surgical Poker Website.
Went all in with my 6-10 offsuit at the Best Damn Poker Show Period. Just kidding. :0
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Back in the Game at the Wynn
I have been WAY too busy with work and haven't played poker in a long time. A last minute trip to Vegas for Thanksgiving gave me the chance to stack up some chips. Before an amazing turkey dinner, I played the 5-10 NL game. I had never played at the Wynn before and when I arrived they were just starting a new game. I thought this was perfect for me because I am used to the Bay 101 rules where everyone buys in for a maximum. At the Wynn there is no max.So, I sat with my usual minimal/moderate stack and then watched as the table filled up. Most guys were in the same zone as me but then two guys came in for about $15,000 each! Talk about intimidating. Well, it actually helped. I wasn't about to mess with them especially early on. I also had Denny Crum the former Louisville basketball coach playing to my left. Was I in over my pay grade? Most likely.
I had amazing cards. AA three times in 90 minutes. And, the Aces held up each time. A set of queens finished an great three hour session and fortunately I had to go to dinner before the Big Stacks could eat me. It was a confidence building session for sure.
Moral of that story: If you are going to play with the private equity big boys, get hit in the face with the deck and get out. Not a bad way to get ready for the Best Damn Poker Show Period
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Chicken Head
The Chicken Head is the result of too much Tequila or perhaps not quite enough. My plan is to wear it at next year's World Series. Absolutely no one will take me seriously at the table......
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Great Cards, Easy Game
Played my typical 2-5 NL game at Bay 101. Sat down and in the BB and the guy under the gun made it 15 to go. Three other guys limped along. I looked down at 7-3 offsuit, close to the worse possible starting hand. With the pot odds of better to 6-1 on my money, I tossed my extra ten bucks into the pot. The flop came out 7-3-Q, with two hearts. I checked my two pair. The guy under the gun made it 25 to go. The two other guys folded. I thought about for a minute and then decided to raise to avoid the flush draw. Could the guy have AK of hearts? I didn't raise enough (50) as he quickly called. The turn brought a black A. He checked. Trapping with AQ? Afraid of the A?
I went all in. He thought for a long time and then called. The river brought another 7 and I filled up. What did he have? Phil Hellmuth--two black nines...
The session was simply amazing, bluffed with Q7 and won; 4-5 offsuit in small blind flops another two pair that holds up. And then finally, KK beats QQ for a BIG pot. I could do no wrong. It was an Everest avalanche of bad cards that connected with the flop and good cards that held up. Easy to love the game when all of that happens in a short session....
Surgical Poker.com
I went all in. He thought for a long time and then called. The river brought another 7 and I filled up. What did he have? Phil Hellmuth--two black nines...
The session was simply amazing, bluffed with Q7 and won; 4-5 offsuit in small blind flops another two pair that holds up. And then finally, KK beats QQ for a BIG pot. I could do no wrong. It was an Everest avalanche of bad cards that connected with the flop and good cards that held up. Easy to love the game when all of that happens in a short session....
Surgical Poker.com
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Swedish Tells: Tales from Stockholm
I slept for about 2 hours after arriving in Stockholm from San Francisco. I actually tried to play a little poker on the plane with some new fun friends from the city. Unfortunately, playing poker on a plane is not easy. I'll have to work on a portable table or something for next time.
Anyway, after my brief nap and and a shower I caught a cab to the Kroner Bar in the hip district of Stockholm. Danny and his friends were meeting there to watch an important soccer match. The top two teams in Stockholm were playing each other. We had frosty cold Czech beers and they ordered classic Swedish meatballs and potatoes for me. It was an excellent dinner and we had a great table at a sports type bar.
After dinner we headed to the Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm. We sat down at a 50/50 no limit table. I bought in for $800 US about 5,000 Swedish Crona. Early on I won a nice pot and then got AQ suited. The flop came out Q 4 9. I had raised preflop and decided to slow play top pair. The only guy left in the hand, made it 400 to go. I check raised him to 1200. He quickly called. The turn was a K. I cringed a little and weakly checked. He checked. The river was a 7. I was in weak mode. I checked again. He made it 2200 to go. I went into the tank. I didn’t think he had a K. Could he have QJ? Could he have AQ? He called a preflop raise, a check raise and then slowed down. He stuck his tongue out a little and I smelled weakness. I called and he flipped up J10 for a straight! I was crippled. I bought in for another 2000 crona and grinded my way back to about 4000. In the big blind I looked down at 55. Three guys made it 250 to go. I quickly called. The flop was K95 with two hearts. I thought about slow playing my set for a minute and then came to my senses. I put in 400 and two of the three guys folded. I actually just wanted to take the pot down right there. The turn was 8 of HEARTS. I thought for a moment and put in 500, not a big bet into the pot, a true probe bet. The Swedish guy went into the tank. Either he was a great actor or he had the flush. He went all in for about 1500 more and he stuck his tongue slightly out. I again smelled a little weakness. I thought for a long time and then decided I would try to confirm or deny a Swedish tell. I called and he turned over KQ with only one heart. The river was a blank and I won a nice pot. In general, sticking your tongue out is a “weak tell”. The other guy had stuck his tongue out even when he wasn’t in a hand I had noticed earlier or perhaps he WAS weak before the K made him a straight.
Moral: If you are going to play NL poker, you MUST pay attention and be willing to test your theories.
Great time to start my trip. Many thanks to Danny, Martin and their friends. I'll see you guys at next year's WSOP.
AM
Anyway, after my brief nap and and a shower I caught a cab to the Kroner Bar in the hip district of Stockholm. Danny and his friends were meeting there to watch an important soccer match. The top two teams in Stockholm were playing each other. We had frosty cold Czech beers and they ordered classic Swedish meatballs and potatoes for me. It was an excellent dinner and we had a great table at a sports type bar.
After dinner we headed to the Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm. We sat down at a 50/50 no limit table. I bought in for $800 US about 5,000 Swedish Crona. Early on I won a nice pot and then got AQ suited. The flop came out Q 4 9. I had raised preflop and decided to slow play top pair. The only guy left in the hand, made it 400 to go. I check raised him to 1200. He quickly called. The turn was a K. I cringed a little and weakly checked. He checked. The river was a 7. I was in weak mode. I checked again. He made it 2200 to go. I went into the tank. I didn’t think he had a K. Could he have QJ? Could he have AQ? He called a preflop raise, a check raise and then slowed down. He stuck his tongue out a little and I smelled weakness. I called and he flipped up J10 for a straight! I was crippled. I bought in for another 2000 crona and grinded my way back to about 4000. In the big blind I looked down at 55. Three guys made it 250 to go. I quickly called. The flop was K95 with two hearts. I thought about slow playing my set for a minute and then came to my senses. I put in 400 and two of the three guys folded. I actually just wanted to take the pot down right there. The turn was 8 of HEARTS. I thought for a moment and put in 500, not a big bet into the pot, a true probe bet. The Swedish guy went into the tank. Either he was a great actor or he had the flush. He went all in for about 1500 more and he stuck his tongue slightly out. I again smelled a little weakness. I thought for a long time and then decided I would try to confirm or deny a Swedish tell. I called and he turned over KQ with only one heart. The river was a blank and I won a nice pot. In general, sticking your tongue out is a “weak tell”. The other guy had stuck his tongue out even when he wasn’t in a hand I had noticed earlier or perhaps he WAS weak before the K made him a straight.
Moral: If you are going to play NL poker, you MUST pay attention and be willing to test your theories.
Great time to start my trip. Many thanks to Danny, Martin and their friends. I'll see you guys at next year's WSOP.
AM
Monday, July 02, 2007
World Series of Poker Room
It is almost impossible to describe the size of the WSOP poker room. It is a total poker orgy. There are literally hundreds of tables of guys and gals playing every type of poker from low ball to no limit. Cash games. Satellites. The sound of chips clicking and "blinds please" is everywhere. The rush of adrenaline from being that room is clearly potentially additive.
The chairs, bathroom facilities and food however all suck. More later.
AM Surgical Poker
$1500 WSOP Event 49
It was the third largest field EVER at the WSOP--well over 3000 people. My first table had a couple of European pros who were super aggressive. One guy almost went out on the first hand when JJ beat 99. We also had a super hottie dressed in a halter top who kept adjusting it. She busted out in less than an hour. That helped the rest of us who could then focus only on the cards.
I ran my chips up to $10000 by the first break and thought I was in great shape. Right after the first break, I got queens. I made it $800 to go after a couple limpers. The guy in the big blind called and the others folded. The flop came out 10-9-8 with two spades. The big blind checked. With a straight draw and an overpair, I thought I was good but I didn't want the BB to catch a card. So, I made it $2400 honestly just hoping he would fold. Instead of folding he came over the top and raised me. I went into the tank for 5 minutes and folded thinking he might have had pocket 10s. He flipped up pocket 88s and despite losing $3200 I felt okay. I then waited for 20-25 hands folding everything because I had NOTHING. On the button I got, K-7 suited. I was just trying to steal the blinds with an $800 raise when the BB called. The flop came out 447. The big blind checked. I thought I was good when I paired my 7 and wanted to end the hand. So, I made it $1200 to go. The BB reraised me! I thought he might have been slow playing a high pair so I folded. He turned over 8-4 OFFSUIT......CRAZY. He said he likes to play a variety of hands.
I then went into a total tight mode hoping to get a decent hand. Just before the end of the fourth level I looked down at K10 suited. My stack was now back down to $3000 and the blinds were about to go up. One guy called and I was in middle position. So I tried to make a move and went ALL-IN. Everyone else folded around to the first position limper. He studied me for a couple minutes and then called. I knew I was in trouble when he called. He was fairly tight. His AQ sent me to the rail.
I was steamed for several hours and upset that I didn't wait for a better hand. I probably shouldn't have played with K7 or K10 suited. They just aren't very good hands. They were, however, the best I saw and the blinds/antes were brutal with only $3000 in starting chips. I went out somewhere between 2200 and 2400. They don't post the numbers when their that high.
Overall, a great learning experience. I must admit I was fairly nervous and didn't read people well at all. I made one big mistake as well. I was in position 10 in the big blind. I thought everyone had folded over to me and I looked down at KK. I was disgusted to get a walk on such a great hand so I flipped them up. I didn't see the guy under the gun had made a $600 raise. The dealer looked at me and informed me of the raise. I immediately went all in. The guy folded and showed AK. He only had $1500 left at the time but that could have been mine.
Many lessons learned. I will be back next year
Next time how I got amazing cards in a cash game......
AM
I ran my chips up to $10000 by the first break and thought I was in great shape. Right after the first break, I got queens. I made it $800 to go after a couple limpers. The guy in the big blind called and the others folded. The flop came out 10-9-8 with two spades. The big blind checked. With a straight draw and an overpair, I thought I was good but I didn't want the BB to catch a card. So, I made it $2400 honestly just hoping he would fold. Instead of folding he came over the top and raised me. I went into the tank for 5 minutes and folded thinking he might have had pocket 10s. He flipped up pocket 88s and despite losing $3200 I felt okay. I then waited for 20-25 hands folding everything because I had NOTHING. On the button I got, K-7 suited. I was just trying to steal the blinds with an $800 raise when the BB called. The flop came out 447. The big blind checked. I thought I was good when I paired my 7 and wanted to end the hand. So, I made it $1200 to go. The BB reraised me! I thought he might have been slow playing a high pair so I folded. He turned over 8-4 OFFSUIT......CRAZY. He said he likes to play a variety of hands.
I then went into a total tight mode hoping to get a decent hand. Just before the end of the fourth level I looked down at K10 suited. My stack was now back down to $3000 and the blinds were about to go up. One guy called and I was in middle position. So I tried to make a move and went ALL-IN. Everyone else folded around to the first position limper. He studied me for a couple minutes and then called. I knew I was in trouble when he called. He was fairly tight. His AQ sent me to the rail.
I was steamed for several hours and upset that I didn't wait for a better hand. I probably shouldn't have played with K7 or K10 suited. They just aren't very good hands. They were, however, the best I saw and the blinds/antes were brutal with only $3000 in starting chips. I went out somewhere between 2200 and 2400. They don't post the numbers when their that high.
Overall, a great learning experience. I must admit I was fairly nervous and didn't read people well at all. I made one big mistake as well. I was in position 10 in the big blind. I thought everyone had folded over to me and I looked down at KK. I was disgusted to get a walk on such a great hand so I flipped them up. I didn't see the guy under the gun had made a $600 raise. The dealer looked at me and informed me of the raise. I immediately went all in. The guy folded and showed AK. He only had $1500 left at the time but that could have been mine.
Many lessons learned. I will be back next year
Next time how I got amazing cards in a cash game......
AM
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Poker VIP and Royalty Rooms
I arrived at the WSOP on Friday and played a little cash game and then bought in for Event 49, the $1500 buyin. I tried my luck at a sat. game and took third for NO money. Then my luck changed. Phil Hellmuth sent me a text and asked me to dinner.
On the way to dinner he took me to both the Poker VIP room and the Poker Royalty room. They have a high Wii System inside the royalty room and we played a little of the bowling game with Daniel Negreanu watching and Greg Raymer in the next room. That game is addictive....
We then went to the VIP lounge and saw Doyle Brunson playing chinese poker. I tried not to gawk and didn't take any pictures but it was amazing. We then went to dinner at Gaylord's. Not a bad beginning to the WSOP.
Next time: The WSOP's third largest field EVER. I felt like I was at the BIG HOUSE (Michigan's Football Stadium). Also, I met a nice pro from Sweden and a super HOTTIE at my first table.......
AM Surgical Poker
On the way to dinner he took me to both the Poker VIP room and the Poker Royalty room. They have a high Wii System inside the royalty room and we played a little of the bowling game with Daniel Negreanu watching and Greg Raymer in the next room. That game is addictive....
We then went to the VIP lounge and saw Doyle Brunson playing chinese poker. I tried not to gawk and didn't take any pictures but it was amazing. We then went to dinner at Gaylord's. Not a bad beginning to the WSOP.
Next time: The WSOP's third largest field EVER. I felt like I was at the BIG HOUSE (Michigan's Football Stadium). Also, I met a nice pro from Sweden and a super HOTTIE at my first table.......
AM Surgical Poker
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