Crap is King

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It's easy to throw punches when someone's already down. It's easy to call people names when you know with almost near-certainty they're not going to, or can't, say anything in return. It's easier to point a finger than it is to look in the mirror. KnowImSayn?

I should probably just stop here and link to Jesse May's September 2011 Feel the Shame post, because he, as an insider, says it all so much better. But, I won't, because there are some things I just don't get and, well, yes - it's easy to sit behind a screen and give an opinion that no one gives two shits about.

Also - and let's be clear - I'm not a poker pro and I didn't have anywhere near $35k+ stuck on FullTilt. I did lose money in their tits up fiasco, but I'm just one of thousands of players to which that happened. I guess you could say I'm one of those players all you pros WANT in the online game because, on average, I'm donating money more often than I'm withdrawing it (or I was...). So before you go dogging me for this viewpoint, just recognize that without people like me in the game - all you're doing is shuffling money back and forth between the pros among you.

In reading the back and forth between Matt Glantz, Daniel Negreanu, and Doyle Brunson, I pick up on what I think is a real generational gap between perspectives. But first, let's point out - the only person of these three still wearing a "patch" from/for an online real money poker site is Negreanu.* And while it's certainly fair to say that in the grand scheme of things, PokerStars handled things a kajillion times better than all the rest of the online players, the fact of the matter is that they, too, are still under indictment by the DOJ for their activities in the US pre-Black Friday. Just like American players flocked to FT because of players like Ivey, Durr, and Jesus, they clamored, too, to PokerStars** in part because of players like Negreanu. I know I did.

But back to this generational gap perspective. In Doyle's time out on the road in back alley games, cheats were handled differently than they are today. Poker, and how one made a living at it, was a much different ballgame then than it is today. So while I get Negreanu's anger and his use of language harking back to those old-time methods for handling cheats ("baseball bat to the nuts", etc), it's just rhetoric, because that method cannot fly in today's multi-billion dollar industry. It plays to the justifiably angry masses, but it's just theater and nothing more.

As the epitome of much of what's right in today's industry, after all he's a product of today's game, Negreanu likely gets this better than anyone. Sure, he's the Regent of Real Talk, but he's also an accomplished player and, as he puts it in his most recent vlog, able to cast stones because he is without sin. I hope that will always be the case, but I ain't holding my breath because I'm from Texas and I know it's a long snake that doesn't turn.

A while back, I took Bill Rini to task for his Who's to Blame for Black Friday post, in which he articulately opined that "players, journalists, employees of the poker rooms, site owners, affiliates, regulators, or whatever" (all of us) were to blame because "we didn’t demand better. We didn’t demand more transparency. We didn’t ask the right questions." I argued then that it wasn't fair to lay blame at the players' feet for a multitude of reasons. In looking back, especially in light of these recent questions/vlogs/blogs from Glantz and Doyle and Negreanu, as well as re-reading Rini's post - and May's -  I have to say I now think he's right. I think I made some good points, initially, as to why I didn't think it was fair to blame players - and some of that still holds true - but all of Black Friday and the total FT meltdown has disabused me of any future naivete when it comes to online poker. When it comes back around, I'm going to - we're all going to - have to do our homework if we elect to get back into the game.

And that's what irks me about these bat to the balls vlogs from Negreanu, and some of the posts from others, insiders, piling on the bash FT bandwagon. The derision is absolutely warranted, people, I get that 100%.

But what good does it do us AFTER THE FACT to have blogs asking the indicted to answer questions the answers to which would likely be direct admissions against interest, or encourage bats to the balls?

Instead of piling on the rightfully persecuted (and soon to be prosecuted), why not come with some ideas? Some possible solutions?

Here are some for free -

Instead of bitching at the cowards in hiding, why not band together as insiders and pros and players to demand that the prosecutors (the DOJ) start answering some questions? They started this mess. Does the PPA have any leverage or not? Does the poker industry have any lobbyists or not? Do the pros and players have any balls or not?

Which one of you insiders or long-time paid poker bloggers/journalists or paid poker lobbyists or paid PPA members or sponsored poker pros or poker regulators is drafting - right now - the Poker Player's Bill of Rights (akin to the Patient's Bill of Rights) or creating a Player Advocate Foundation for when online poker comes back around (to the US) to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?...Bueller?...Bueller?

Aren't these the type of questions we should really be asking?

I'm disgusted. We're all disgusted. But it's too easy to sit back, after the fact, and cast stones and bitch and say woulda coulda shoulda.

It's much harder to actually do something...to come with solutions and ideas that actually create change and/or get something done.

I'm not an insider, and I certainly have no clout, but I'm willing to help and would be glad to work with any other like minded individuals on solutions. But if all you're gonna do is sit there and point fingers, call names, throw stones, or ask for answers to questions that no sane indicted person would ever answer, you're not part of the solution. You're part of the problem.

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* Glantz appears to be a sponsored player of/for Epic Poker but to my knowledge they are not (currently) an online real money poker site.

** It may well be that when all is said and done that PokerStars walks away from the indictments completely unscathed due to their internal accounting, policies, and procedures. I hope that will be the case

Maria Ho - The (Poker)Proust Q

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Can I just say, once again, that I love Twitter?

I think because of Twitter (and, maybe, a certain Sapporo-filled Vegas night?), I received a message from Connie at the fabulous WinStar Casino on the day I left my WSOP dreams on the McCarran tarmac. I was hoping she was calling to tell me I'd won some obscure, random Red River lottery that you didn't have to actually enter to win. That, unfortunately, wasn't the case. But, it was close.

Instead of riches, Connie was offering me the opportunity to interview Maria Ho. Maria freaking Ho. Maria of the "I bested 864 other people, and came thisclose to fading Allen Bari, to runner up Event #4 of this year's World Series of Poker for a whopping $540k" Ho.

Not gonna lie...I jumped at that chance. And I immediately started writing out a bunch of poker theory/strat questions and asking Twitter friends for help. I even solicited (and graciously received) advice from a veteran poker journalist, whose work I love reading, @WriterJen.

But as I sat there trying to formulate questions, I started thinking...who am I kidding? Yes, I want to know how Maria got so good at poker. I want to know about her transition from UB to Rise Poker. I want to know about advice she might give amateur players on how to improve their game. But I'm not a journalist and I didn't have a year (ok, she didn't) to spend picking her brain on those issues. And besides...what I really wanted to know, and what I thought others might be interested in, too, was who she is as a person, the inner stuff we all have in common but don't often hear about from our heroes.

So, I took a chance. And rather than re-invent the wheel, I took a bit from Marcel Proust (yeah, it's a stretch), a bit from Twitter, a bit from my own curiosity, and came up with a modified version of the Proust Questionnaire. I'm calling it the (Poker)Proust Q,* and Maria's my first willing participant.

Maria was better than a great sport. Because unlike the PQs you see in, say, Vanity Fair, she had to answer these questions on the fly, without any opportunity to put more than 5 seconds of thought into them. I found her open and uninhibited willingness to take this non-traditional poker interview route to be fun and refreshing...actually, these are two words that I think suit her quite well.

You know she's a hell of a professional poker player, but you may not know that Maria speaks Mandarin, graduated with a degree in Communications and Pre-Law, and that she's got a thing for lips. That's where the (Poker)Proust Q comes in. Maria was wonderfully game to give this a go. Thus, she is the first in what I hope will be a series of (Poker)Proust Q's from these people in the poker community I've come to view as modern day rock stars (don't hate, at heart I'm just a big ol' fan). I hope you like this and will check back in to see what other brave poker rock star(s) might open the door to us, sharing a little something that we don't often get to see.

And with that, here's Maria...in her own words, for this, the inaugural (Poker)Proust Q:

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being in an environment where I’m surrounded by the people that I truly love and care about. I think anywhere that my family and friends are is really what makes me happy at the end of the day. If we lived in a cardboard box somewhere but I got to see them every day and spend quality time with them, that would be my idea of perfect happiness.

What makes you laugh?
Some people would call it off-color humor. I love people who are super witty and who think on the fly and who have that kind of sarcastic humor, I find it really funny. I’m not a conventional humor kind of girl. Off the wall, crazy, border-line absurd is what I find funny. 

Where do you feel most at home?
It’s not a place; it’s who I’m with.  If I can take my family with me anywhere, then that’s home.

Of what achievement in poker are you most proud?

It’s not any one specific thing, but in poker it would have to be that for six years I’ve supported myself solely on money I’ve made through poker and I’ve never really relied on anybody else’s help for that. Pretty much, I’ve done it on my own without being backed or staked by anyone so I’ve always taken pride in the fact that I haven’t really gone broke in this game yet and I’ve never played above my means. I’ve taken it really slowly and made sure that I can continue to build and grow my bankroll and career and say that it was all on my own terms.

In life?
That I am a very loyal and sincere person, reliable to my friends and family. I’m proud that I’m one of those people that others can call on when they need something. I’ve become that for a lot of people that I care a lot about and I’m really, really proud that I can be that person to them.

What is your most treasured possession?
It’s definitely not any physical or tangible thing. I would have to say, my family.

What is your greatest fear?
That I would go through life not having at least one person fully know and understand everything about me. I think we all want understanding.

What trait do you most deplore in yourself?
I’m quick to jump to conclusions. I can be a little confrontational in situations that might not need that level of heated aggression and passion. I could learn to reel that in a little bit.

What trait do you most deplore in others?
Dishonesty.

What is your greatest extravagance?
My car (a Maserati Gran Turismo, link has some crazy sound so watch out)

Like lawyers, poker players are often thought of as really good liars. Outside of poker, on what occasion do you lie?
I make it a point not to lie about things that are very important or that I think is going to hurt someone else.  But, and this is embarrassing, but I do still lie to my mom still about where I am.  Like, even though I’m 28 years old she’ll still call me at three in the morning, “Where are you?” and I’ll make something up because I don’t want her to worry.  Sorry, Mom.

When and where do you remembering being your happiest?
In grade school. I feel like when you’re that young, you have no troubles whatsoever and you never worry about anything…you just don’t sweat any stuff at all. Anywhere from second to sixth grade I was super happy and I just didn’t have much to worry about. It’s nice to be a child – your parents do all the worrying for you.

If you died and could come back as a person or thing, what would it be?
Myself.

What is your favorite journey?
Amazing Race was one of the best experiences of my life. It was definitely the most adventurous thing I’ve ever done and the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I learned a lot about how I am in those kind of situations because I felt that I was tested and challenged at every point on that show. Not every day in life can you say that about something you’re put through.  I was put to the test and I realized I can do anything I put my mind to and that’s a nice confirmation.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
I don’t think any virtues that are highly touted are overrated.

Which living person do you most despise?
Wow, despise is a strong word…I don’t really know anybody that I despise.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Like, um, and ya know.

What is your greatest regret?
When I was younger, I was really stubborn and I let pride get in the way of friendship sometimes.  There are people out there that I wish I had kept in better contact with and I let things pass me by a little bit. Some friendships I could have done a better job of staying in touch with people or making more of an effort. I regret that.

Which talent would you most like to have?
I’d like the ability to affect some kind of change in every single person that I meet. There are people in life who make you want to be better, do something greater, like a Mother Theresa…that’s a quality I’d like to have. 

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Definitely my family. No boy. Ever. Ever.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Being alone, not having people around you that you can talk to and count on and be yourself with.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
To be less judgmental.  I think sometimes I’m a little quick to judgment on things or people.  I’m pretty opinionated. I’d like to be more open minded to everything before I make any kind of rash decisions or judgments.

If you weren't a poker professional, what would you be?
A teacher.

What is your most striking characteristic?
I feel like I have a really big heart. I like to give more than I like to receive.

What do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty and their trustworthiness.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Batman because he did things for people for the good of the people and not because he wanted any credit or recognition.

What is your motto?
Live in the moment and be happy with what you have and try not to focus on what you don’t have. Make the best of every situation. Do everything like it’s the last time.

What is your favorite NLHE hand?
Aces!

Who's a better rapper, Jeff Madsen or Prahlad Friedman?
Prahlad

Who *really* should've won The Apprentice, Annie Duke or Joan Rivers?
Annie Duke

Who is your favorite Micros character?
Oh no!  I don’t really watch the Micros.

What is your favorite karaoke song?
Baby Got Back or anything that gets the crowd going.

What is your best @AlCantHang memory?
Generally speaking, he is always down to get really hammered and I don’t know anybody who has a liver quite like his.

@KaraOTR or Angelina Jolie?
Hmmm...I think I have to go with Angelina Jolie on this one because I’ve got a thing for lips...I'm a big lips person and maybe this is going to sound border-line lesbian but Angelina is just really, really, really beautiful to me.

What is the best thing about Twitter?
Best thing about Twitter is you can spread information so fast and it makes people get to the heart of what they really want to say, no beating around the bush because of the whole 140-characters rule. And how easy it is to access.

Who is your favorite Tweeter

It’s a toss-up between Erik Seidel and Doyle Brunson. I think they have some really funny, off-color humor that I like. Just really witty humor, Erik is definitely well known for that. And Doyle, you would not think that somebody, for his age, would have quite that sense of off-color humor, but Doyle definitely brings that in his tweets a lot.

Who is your favorite Main Event Champ?

That’s hard. I think anybody recently, they’ve just been good ambassadors. Moneymaker, for example, and those since him, have had a really tough job in terms of being an ambassador for a game that’s huge and is growing.  All of them have done a really good job of bringing this game into the mainstream. 

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* yeah, so I made that (Poker)Proust Q thingy at the top all by myself with Microsoft Paint. If you think you can come up with a better logo, take your best shot biznatches!

Pics or It Didn't Happen - Vegas 2011 Photo Dump

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So here's your standard Southwest Airlines. Back of someone's head. Don't think he was a poker player. Not an auspicious start to this photo dump. But I'm putting the good ones up first to enhance your viewing pleasure. Because that's how I roll. You're welcome.

 

Hash House BLT. It apparently got me off on the wrong foot, from which I never recovered, because shortly after eating this, I went to play a 6pm Rio DeepStack and bluffed into the nuts within 3 hours. That was a real blast.




  

Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler. I saw him out in the hallway as I was heading into the Pavillion to register for that 6pm. I was all, "Allen Chainsaw Kessler?" as I stuck out my hand to shake his hand. He was all suspicious, like, "Uh...Yes?" as he reluctantly shook my hand. I said, "I follow you on Twitter! Hi, I'm PokerLawyer!" And he was all, "Oh! Ok!" Two beats, then confused look and furrowed brows..."Um...who?"  GLGL, sir! 

I saw a guy work on this for two days. I'd leave in the morning, he'd be out there with a level and other carpentry type tools.  I never saw him with any gray duct tape, but I think it adds a classy touch. Nice job, Imperial Palace.

Yeah, so if you look closely, that's Vanessa Selbst, who gave a great presentation for Bad Beat on Cancer right before the Ladies Event. I asked her a question, but when I tried a follow up, she was all, "Did I say I was done talking **********!?!?" Yes, I mean, no....I mean, ah hell..I fold.

I have no idea what the hell was going on because there was some screaming and some dancing and ladies waving swatches of cloth and then BOOM there was Jen Tilly. Sweet.  No one gave me sweet lady kisses or chips so it was a freaking total bust. Get it? Heh heh...I said bust. In the same sentence with lady. Oh, never mind.

Karina Jett, top right in the green shirt, ended up taking second. I was rooting for her and hollered, "Go Karina," as she raked a pot three-handed, and she looked over and smiled. Then security threw me out.

The next day, I busted out of everything there was to bust out of. Yes, I was quite surprised about that, too. Anyway, Mom and Aint Carol were leaving the next day so I decided to hang with them for a bit at Bellagio. They taught me how to play penny slots. Which apparently cost more than 1 cent to play. Which is bullshite. And of course, I lost $40 in, like, 10 minutes. But, the champagne was good, as were the noodles. And then....and then...and then there was the Sapporo. Goooood stuff.

 So I made sure the my elderlys made it back to their room at the Westin, lifted a $20 off my mom for pain and suffering, and headed back to the IP because, you know, comparatively speaking, I was just really getting tired of all that Bellagio fakery passing itself off as true class. Not to mention the fact that I couldn't get a wingman from the batsignal I sent out. Nice.

Jokes aside - the people I played with that night at the cash table were good people and funny. There were the WSOP dealers done for the day but still looking for action and reeking of an apparent 420 cloud they couldn't avoid walking through. There were the canucks and the sporty ladies and the drunks and two local, serious regs.






And then there was this guy.  The 20 year old stud from Liverpool. He told me I was too old for him. Broke my heart. It's ok. I slit the tires on his jazzy when he wasn't looking.

 Made a new friend in purpleshirted Carl-Henrik, who claimed to be some kind of Prince in Sweden. No harm, no foul, because I myself started out as a deaf mute. I miraculously regained my ability to speak as the night wore on (might've had something to do with the Sopporo. It's possible.) After showing him (and the entire table, can I get a cameo?!) the last episode of The Micros (here's a link to their terrific WSOP episode), he demanded that everyone call him "Swede Tooth," which we dutifully did.

End of the night disaster, $6 straddle preflop, entire table calls. BU raises to $25, entire table calls. Everyone checks the flop to the BU, who bets. Folds back to me and I shove. Of course, he quads the turn.  Nicely done you Russian bastard. Phil Helmuth would have similar luck with three such drawing hands at the $50k final table.

The next day, I busted yet another event (yes, I too am still surprised) and proceeded to sweat my friend @txcardslinger who ran deep in the Ladies Event over at Golden Nugget. She did great but ran a short stack (A9o) into BB's Aces, eight from the money. GTFO.

At the Rio, I got acquainted with SoCo, which I'd never had before, thanks to @AlCantHang (that mythical guy from Twitter you all want to be). It was, ok they were, quite refreshing.

Here he's contemplating a fanboy crush.





 

@PokerVixen was kind enough to carry me and @txcardslinger to our rooms one night in her sweet top down ride. That's the night I also met @WriterJen!

Another night, I got to meet some SuperModels at the hooker bar, including Kara Scott (@KaraOTR), @MarieLizette, @JenShahade, @AlCantHang, @Travich and @KevMath. Pretty sure Kara's part zombie and that she tried to slip something in my drink. I managed to hold her at bay - though it wasn't easy. Really quite pushy, that one.

And then, of course, there is The Godfather of Poker, Mr. Doyle Brunson himself...here he had just raked a pot from Allen Bari. Jason Mercier was also at the table...yeah, just trust me. They were there.

 Lots of tough players in this field...sorry you can't see any of them, other than Doyle.

Wait, here's a fantastic one of Patrik Antonius. Promise. That is him. Yes, I know it's the back of his head. It's still him.

And here's Joe Six Pack Gus Hansen. He was about to deck the interviewer, no lie. Ask @ftrainpoker.

And here's Doyle again, this time at Binions...groupiedom. Sorry, can't help it. Look closely and you can also see a really young Phil Helmuth and Johnny 'effing' Chan.

And here is what I guess they're referring to as the Mother Ship of tables at WSOP - where Phil Helmuth came oh so close to winning his 12th bracelet. Again, if you're not watching the @ESPN_Poker livestream to catch these tables, you're missing out. That's Rast there to the left of the dealer. 

And here's the Poker Brat himself right before the dinner break.

 I took one last shot at a Rio DeepStack, to no avail, but did see Leo Margets in line to register for the Main Event. She graciously allowed me to take her picture. She's carrying posh bags from cool Vegas shops. Gogogogo! 

I, on the other hand, went home with this...

Next year, Vegas. Next year...

For a true WSOP photo blog, be sure to follow @WhoJedi for his great photos. 

There is No Shame in Fandom...is there?

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I woke up this morning listening for the squeals of bikini clad girls and the steady *thump* *thump* *thump* of a DJ's bass before realizing that (a) I could actually breath because second hand smoke wasn't seeping through my a/c unit, (b) my sheets and pillows felt good and smelled even better, and (c) somebody wonderful was sleeping next to me. Ah, the contented stretch of being home, in my own bed.

Of course, that's not to say I didn't have trouble falling asleep last night. You see, I left Vegas on the very day the WSOP Main Event started, the day Doyle Brunson, the Godfather of Poker - who everyone feared wouldn't play the Main this year - kicked things off with the familiar "shuffle up and deal!", and the day 897 people entered to take their shot at the Big One.

And remember, this is only Day One. There will be 4 Day Ones, and 2 Day Twos. If you make it past your starting draw, you still have five long days (12-15 hours each) of poker to navigate before finding yourself part of the lucky few who'll make up this year's November Nine.Yesterday, 560 fortunate players crossed that hurdle and will start again, in four or five days, depending on what Day 2 they drew.

Regardless of whether the numbers are down from last year (which I don't see happening, but we'll see), the field will be massive.  What other sport draws competitive numbers like that? I can't *wait* to see the stories of some new faces...that's always the best part.

I'm also really glad to see some of the changes in the reporting. If you can't be in Vegas but love watching the action, you really need to be checking out ESPN's live streaming coverage (follow @ESPN_Poker for reports and links to same). The reporting is excellent and the commentary is even better, as they're using actual poker pros to discuss hands and strategy and to obtain interviews with the players. It's kind of a 2+2er's dream, imo.

In addition, I really think ESPN scored a coup when they signed Kara Scott, @KaraOTR, to assist, because while she rocks the camera with her looks, that's actually secondary to her ability to speak to the issues, get players to open up (which is a unique skill and talent that you either have or you don't - and she does, in spades), and (more importantly) ask the questions that you find yourself wanting to hear answers to. There's no way all that coverage will end up on TV so don't miss out by skipping the livestreams. I only hope that this won't keep Kara from playing because she's good.

Despite my inability to run deep or cash in anything this year (which I'm bitter about, but starting to deal with), I had an amazing trip. I met everybody I wanted to meet (well, except for @kimshannon, who was too busy killing cash games in AC with @OnAFoldDraw, slackers) and played a ton of poker.

I'm amazed at the people who make up the poker community. Sit down at any table, cash or tournament, and you will find people from every walk of life and from every corner of the world. As someone who loves stories, this is so right up my alley it's not even funny. And part of my problem with playing this game of late is that I find myself focusing more on the people and their stories than my hand and the proper play. There's a time and a place to be that voyeur...trying to actually *win* at poker is not that time.

I also think the trip helped me either get comfortable with, or give myself over to, my total Twitter/poker addiction. I mean, I guess I could try to fight it...but why? It is what it is and so long as I'm not neglecting the really important things in my life, I need to just accept it and quit worrying about what people think about it. Soon as I start trying to censor myself, things get stupid, so what you see is pretty much what you get, folks. I used to joke that Twitter isn't real, but I'm kind of starting to think differently (not that it's a real living thing, but that the connections it brings are or can be).

That said, I was asked about what I get out of Twitter and what is it for me. I don't know that I can really describe it...I believe we're all social creatures. Everyone wants to be loved and validated and appreciated. There are lots of ways we get that in life and real people in your day to day activities are key. Because I work solo, and often all day in my office in front of a computer, Twitter is an immediate social outlet. So that's a big part of it.

And after this trip, I have to say - without Twitter, I never would've met any of the people I met while in Vegas. I mean, come on! Twitter put me in a position to meet Doyle Brunson, @TexDolly. Can you believe that? Honestly, I can't. But it's true. THAT ALONE IS WORTH A KAJILLION BILLION DOLLARS TO ME. (ok...well, maybe not a kajillion, but you know what I mean).

But I also got to meet @WriterJen, @AlCantHang, @WhoJedi, @Maridu, @DMBakes (HELLO!), @KaraOTR, @PokerCurious, @NicolakPoker (I bet you'll like his blog) @3dgar, @JenShahade, @two_isles, @pinkladiespt, and so many other people (from Sweden to England, Mexico to AfriCAH! as PitBull might say). I mean, it's crazy incredible. And I know there's people I'm leaving off (I'm sorry, but I'm totally following you on the Twitters). Now...if I could just meet Ballz from @TheMicros, my life would be complete.

I got on Twitter when I started my own practice. That official "work" Twitter fell quickly to the wayside as soon as I found Daniel Negreanu (the first person I followed on my @PokerLawyer account) and other players online.

So to the question - what are you hoping to get out of Twitter? Nothing...it's given me plenty so far and I don't think I could ask for anything more.

Thanks for making my trip amazing, people. I was only halfway kidding about the "come home with me/live in sin" thing.  If I could get away with it, I'd totally try. ;-)

I hope you won't forget me, Vegas (despite your making me feel like Ben Folds in the video below)...Until I get to see everyone again - safe travels and lots of run good, from me to you.

Of Twitters, Pokers Heroes, and Living the Dream: Day 3 - Vegas

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If you're paying attention, you know that today is actually Day 4, but I didn't recap yesterday. Good catch if you even noticed that.  If not, slacker.

I'm sitting on the 18th floor of the Imperial Palace. I turned the A/C off and am just chilling. Lots to hear, even from the top floor of this "palace" and right now it's "Come on Ride the Train" from the speakers and the revelers at the pool below, over which my balcony looks. Maybe I should've had second thoughts about this trip when upon my arrival I stepped out onto the balcony, saw a beautiful, shiny new quarter sparkling in the corner, stepped over to pick it up, only to realize it's glued to the cigarette strewn concrete. Touche, IP, touche.

The trip's been a lot of fun so far. Frustrating from a poker perspective, as I have been unsuccessful in everything save my cash games. Today is a day to regroup and rest up. I was up til 4 yesterday unwinding from the Ladies Event and a Rio DeepStack (neither of which I cashed but I am proud to say I ran 1bb up to 25bb before busting the latter in a 20 bbs shove from SB w/ 9T against BU min-raise with As), not to mention coming down from the high of meeting some of my poker favorites.

What can you say about Doyle Brunson? First off, that grin. It's beautiful and so is he. Besides the fact that he is *the* poker great (and did it the hard way on the sometimes scary back roads in the early days to today's flashing lights of Vegas and all across the world), I think what makes me adore him so much is that he's very much like those Texas men I grew up with in my small West Texas home town.

Back when my grandad was making his way in the world, the big gamble was oil. I think wildcatters would make the best gamblers because they take on huge risks when drilling for that black gold. While my grandad was never a poker player, I would venture to say he had his own sort of gambler's heart, starting his own company at a very early age - and with five kids at home, one with special needs, and all needing shoes and to be fed - and running it successfully for a lifetime, until his untimely death in 2000.  Like Doyle, he was very successful at his chosen profession and also very devoted to his family.  Without a doubt, meeting this man, who is the Godfather of Poker, is a poker player's dream and I'm doubly excited that I got to hug his neck. What an honor and I'll never forget it.

During my forays to the Rio, I've seen Joe Hachem, Karina Jett, Andy Black, Kathy Liebert, Vanessa Selbst, Fossilman, Maria Ho, Jen Tilly, Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher, John Kim, Kara Scott, Mel Judah, Jen Harmon, Liv Boeree, and Elky. I know it's dorky, but when you see these guys on tv and you're busting your butt trying to emulate them, work on your game, and be a player, it's very cool to be walking among them (funny aside - saw Mario Ho while washing my hands in the restroom. 1. She's *tall*! 2. She's gorgeous 3. I congratulated her on her deep runs and told her, "You're a beast! Nice work!" She laughed and said, "thanks" - cool).

I guess the "newness" wears off after awhile. Personally, I don't think I'd ever feel "comfortable" in that crowd unless and until I could prove that I could compete, which I guess only happens with results. (By the way, note on both Liv Boeree and Kara Scott - you think they're gorgeous when you see them on TV or in print...magnify that times 100 and it still probably doesn't fully capture them appropriately. Says a lot, don't you think?)

The Twitter crew also totally rocks and grabbing a drink with them at the end of a day at the Hooker Bar has been fun. You know how you have one friend in your life who is the go-to guy? The one you can turn to with a difficult issue, whether it's a broken down car at 3:00 in the morning or a broken heart? @AlCantHang seems like that kind of guy. Plus, he let me take a pic of his SoCo. Now I need to buy him one.

The Rio and/or the Hooker bar is also where I finally met @WriterJen, @PokerVixen, @ftrainpoker, @pokergrump, @two_isles, @alexpokerguy, @KevMath (for a nano-second), @ckbwop, @WhoJedi, and @MarieLizette. I know it's not already obvious or anything, but I love Twitter. Never would've met *any* of these neat people without it.

RIO DEEPSTACK

Now, a little talk about the poker game. The first night, I played a 6pm Rio DeepStack. I was tired and had a drink at the Hooker bar before playing. I should've just chilled out either at the bar or in the room, but I didn't.  I wasn't horrified with my play but I misplayed one hand by getting away from my game plan. I'm opening pots, being aggressive. Another quite aggressive player smooth calls from the BU. I cbet, he calls with top pair, A kicker. I'm representing big hand and also barrel the turn, which gives him two pair, which he just smooth calls. River pairs board, giving him full house...so of course he raises all-in to my foolish river bet. That was pretty much the end of my stack and that tourney. Just poor play.

Venetion DS Extravaganza

The next day was the VDE.  I was really looking forward to this tourney. Lots of young guys in line, all looking the internet grinder part. I know they're super experienced and my edge is likely small in this field, but the structure's great and I wanted to play my game as I've been working on it with my coach. Unfortunately, though (and *way* too early), I mixed it up with the overly aggressive pro who finally woke up with a hand (Ks vs my AJ) when I finally entered a pot and decided to be the one to take a stand against him. All I can say is that he truly almost folded on the turn, but he didn't and I didn't one-out him.  It was way too early for any of that, plus, I miss-bet the turn. Meant to make it $3500, which was way too much it on its own, but didn't announce, so it became $5500. Made two of those kind of betting mistakes, but this one cost me.  Can't even say "GG" because I was truly horrified by my play.

IP Cash Game/WSOP Ladies Event

The Ladies Event was an over-night sleep on it decision. The fact that levels were 60 minutes long helped me make my decision. Plus, I had regrouped after the VDE with a great session at IP's 1/2 game. During that game I nearly doubled my buy-in before heading to bed for the night. One notable hand was BB (Ks, which were well disguised because he was a very aggressive player, opening many pots and 3 and 4 betting people) versus my MP raise (KQo)). The hand is set up though by several earlier hands in which I'd shown the nuts, plus one hand where I 4 bet and called a 5bet shove (we both had Ks - I called the shove even knowing he might've had As b/c this guy was playing 72o and 73o type hands, regularly). What's notable is that after I raise from MP with the KQo and get two callers, BB raises big. He's done this before. My thought process was, I can't just call, I either raise or fold; and, if I raise, I have to fold if he shoves, so I don't want to go crazy with this raise. I raise, but just a little more than a min-raise. He tanks forever and tries to ask me questions and get me to talk. I just look at his cards and don't speak. He folds, turning over the Ks and I rake the pot. I should feel fortunate because the only way I win that pot is because he is a thinking player. I was lucky, but I think I tried to put myself in a position to win. Fortunately it turned out that way.

I bring that hand up because I'm reflecting on it after my Ladies Event. I was in a zone and felt like I was playing great. I loved my table, on which were some good players and a few calling stations. I know there was one foreign pro (who, my GOD, was a super model or something and speaks three languages), and Rebecca McAdam, from Ireland (who is also a freaking super model). With no antes, I didn't get crazy and just played pretty ABC. After the first break I had about 350 more chips than what we started with, which was still fine shape. I took a small hit in a bvb battle when SB 3x PFR w/ Js and I had 6s and just called. She flopped a set and checked to me. I bet 1/2 pot and she called. Turn, possible straight and we check/check. River blanks and she bets a little more than 1/2 pot. Her line made sense after the fact, but I was puzzled at all the checks and thought I might be good. I took a hit, but felt (maybe wrongly) that at least I had done some pot control by not getting overly crazy. For me, that's a good thing, aggro-ballistic that I am.

I'd seen her (always the SB to my BB, she was directly on my right) make some interesting plays, flat calling with position, but also from the blinds, with a wide range of hands, AJ, KJ, QT, etc. So, the crippling hand went down like this...a little history helps sets this up I think: in the previous half-hour after the break, I got a good run of hands and raised 4 hands in a row, folds around every time. This, and a Qs > Js all-in, helped me nearly double my stack.

Finally, I'm in the SB. Good player in MP 2.5 PFR, folds to BU who smooth calls, which, as I indicated, I'd seen her do before with hands like AJ, etc. There's 1050 in the pot. I look down at Ks and make it 2000 to go. Given all the aggression I've shown this level, MP tanks but eventually folds. As she's thinking, I am getting a feeling about the lady on my right. I'm thinking she loves her hand. I don't know if it's because she's leaned up in her seat, gotten incredibly still, or what. I initially thought she was going to fold. But when action's to her, she moves her chips all-in. Mistakes - I didn't listen to my instincts and I didn't follow my game plan, which includes taking time to make decisions.

I wish I would've taken more time to think through this play and played like the guy who laid his Ks down in the cash game. He's a thinking player. I wanted her chips and was willing to gamble. But I didn't ask myself any questions - why would she smooth call/shove, which I'd never seen her do, especially since she and I were the big stacks at the table? While I did briefly think about it, I got married to the thought that she was just trying to rein me in b/c I was being so aggressive and I fell in love with the idea that here was my chance to bust her. Why didn't I take more time to ponder what my stack would be if I called, even if I was ahead, and got sucked out on? Why didn't I think about how early it was in the tournament and how, if I had showed my hand and folded, even if wrong, what a message that would send to the table?

She played it, and me, perfectly and won nearly all my chips. And, once again, I learned a tough lesson. GG (or maybe not so much), me.

The song blaring through my windows from below now is Celebration, and people sound like they're having a good time. It's time for me to get out there and do the same...Next.

Laying Down Aces

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I think Amarillo Slim has been credited with saying, "If you can't fold the best hand, you can't play," but, after the below referenced hand, I think I like Doyle Brunson's saying better: "If you can't lay down the best hand sometimes, you can't win."

The Set Up

I was moved to this table quickly after doubling up to a very healthy chip stack. UTG+1 (Villian1) was quite active and I was very happy to have him on my right. By the time the hand below was played, I had been at the table at least 15 orbits.

BB (Villian2) had also been active and playing back often at Villian1, reraising his raises (even from blinds) and raising his limps, and those of any limpers behind Villian1. If Villian2 was called, I had seen him jam on the flop two previous times.

So, I sat patiently waiting for a hand where I could do some playing back as well.

73o grins at me like the village idiot and and gets snap folded. 83s stares up at me balefully and gets folded. AQs pleads for me to play and gets folded. Finally, after several monkey hands meet their mucker, I look down and see Aces.

Because of the action I just described, I waited to see if Villian1 would just limp, knowing - based on the previous action - that Villian2 would reraise him. My plan was to limp Villian1 and reraise Villian2. And that's exactly what happened.

The Rest of the Story...

...is laid out for your viewing pleasure here.

When Villian2 jammed the flop, as I'd seen him do 2 previous times, did I think he might have a set? Yes, it did cross my mind.  But what are you gonna do?  What are your thoughts about being able to lay my hand down?  I say, like Doyle, sometimes you have to be able to do so.  This wasn't that time for me.  I'm working on it.

Thank you for reading and good luck at the tables.