Won a couple of 40.00 SitNGo's. I lost in the 4:30 NLHE 70.00 tourney with AK. Of course the guy that knocked me out had AQo...what else is new. I got knocked out of the 80.00 Turbo that they put on at 9:00 PM...I love that tourney. I decided to leave (after going to the bathroom) when a guy was clearing out his 'air hole' in his neck and was cleaning out his air tube that went into the neck hole..at the sink in the bathroom. When are they going to put a casino in Massachusetts? The idiots that run this state are so caught up in their own red tape and corruption.
Showing posts with label Rockingham Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rockingham Park. Show all posts
Monday, July 15, 2013
Monday, February 20, 2012
Charity Tournament Win......
Or....Chop....
I went to the Elks Lodge in Wakefield on Friday night after work. I saw an advertisement for a charity tournament and figured I'd play since I haven't been able to in a long time. There were a few people I have seen there before and sure enough...I've played against them at Rockingham Park. Needless to say the play was a little wacky with some people who have never played before and some with a little experience like me. It was a charity tourney though and some of the worst play is quite common. The 75.00 entry fee was about all I can afford these days...so sad. The charity was advertised for youth baseball but ended up for youth hockey in Wakefield. Fine by me. I'd rather play a charity tournament in my town and have it go to something worth supporting. I think there were 5 tables that weren't quite full so I liked my chances. So after a couple of hours and a couple of breaks...we made the final table. No surprise that everybody that plays at Rockingham was also at the final table. I pushed a few times and everybody folded. The one hand that doubled me up to a big stack from one of the soon to be eliminated was my push with K-7o in early position. I was going to be blinded out in two more rounds which were going to happen quick. I saw one of the guys from the Rock in the BB and it looked like he would probably fold to my push but he called with K-J suited. I was done...until the river 7 fell...that all but guaranteed the cash. It always happens that way...I push and somebody calls. It usually works out for me..that's why it's so hard to call. It was getting down to 5 players and people started talking about a chop. The one guy that never played before was skeptical but once we carved out a 100.00 4th place finish....he was good to go. He did get knocked out 4th and when we got to three our stacks were pretty even. The other 2 guys were skeptical again...but I just said "Let's chop...we're even"....they agreed and we got a nice little 450.00 dollar chop between the 3 of us. I was happy after that river stinger that got me to the money. Thems Da breaks!
I went to Rockingham on Saturday night...I played a 40.00 SitNGo...I got knocked out when I raised from mid pos. with 10's. 3 callers called and one spike trips with his 7-6s. They are basically turbos and it took all of 10 minutes to be knocked out after I pushed and he reluctantly called. I held out for the 80.00 turbo that they have at 9 PM. I usually make the final table and I did again. Alas...I was the bubble boy when the blinds skyrocketed. I pushed with 7-6s under the gun and the big stack called with Ad-3d and river'd his flush. It was unreal the guy got A's twice at the final table in a turbo...and every time he called he turn'd or river'd the nuts. I could have held on to min-cash....maybe. I wasn't really going to hang around when the blinds were at 5K-10K and I had a stack of 30K. No big deal.....just a half decent weekend for a change.
I went to the Elks Lodge in Wakefield on Friday night after work. I saw an advertisement for a charity tournament and figured I'd play since I haven't been able to in a long time. There were a few people I have seen there before and sure enough...I've played against them at Rockingham Park. Needless to say the play was a little wacky with some people who have never played before and some with a little experience like me. It was a charity tourney though and some of the worst play is quite common. The 75.00 entry fee was about all I can afford these days...so sad. The charity was advertised for youth baseball but ended up for youth hockey in Wakefield. Fine by me. I'd rather play a charity tournament in my town and have it go to something worth supporting. I think there were 5 tables that weren't quite full so I liked my chances. So after a couple of hours and a couple of breaks...we made the final table. No surprise that everybody that plays at Rockingham was also at the final table. I pushed a few times and everybody folded. The one hand that doubled me up to a big stack from one of the soon to be eliminated was my push with K-7o in early position. I was going to be blinded out in two more rounds which were going to happen quick. I saw one of the guys from the Rock in the BB and it looked like he would probably fold to my push but he called with K-J suited. I was done...until the river 7 fell...that all but guaranteed the cash. It always happens that way...I push and somebody calls. It usually works out for me..that's why it's so hard to call. It was getting down to 5 players and people started talking about a chop. The one guy that never played before was skeptical but once we carved out a 100.00 4th place finish....he was good to go. He did get knocked out 4th and when we got to three our stacks were pretty even. The other 2 guys were skeptical again...but I just said "Let's chop...we're even"....they agreed and we got a nice little 450.00 dollar chop between the 3 of us. I was happy after that river stinger that got me to the money. Thems Da breaks!
I went to Rockingham on Saturday night...I played a 40.00 SitNGo...I got knocked out when I raised from mid pos. with 10's. 3 callers called and one spike trips with his 7-6s. They are basically turbos and it took all of 10 minutes to be knocked out after I pushed and he reluctantly called. I held out for the 80.00 turbo that they have at 9 PM. I usually make the final table and I did again. Alas...I was the bubble boy when the blinds skyrocketed. I pushed with 7-6s under the gun and the big stack called with Ad-3d and river'd his flush. It was unreal the guy got A's twice at the final table in a turbo...and every time he called he turn'd or river'd the nuts. I could have held on to min-cash....maybe. I wasn't really going to hang around when the blinds were at 5K-10K and I had a stack of 30K. No big deal.....just a half decent weekend for a change.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
ChopChop Recap 2
It was still only 10:30 after the 60/60 chop. I decided to jump in on a 40.00 SitNGo. Again..horrible structure but I'll go with it. You get 2000 chips for 40 bucks and the blinds start at 50-100 but go up every 15 minutes...it may even be every 10 minutes. There are 10 players and it is usually a push fest after 30 minutes. That is unless you almost triple up like I did in the first 10 minutes. First the table players. Me in the one seat next to the dealer. To my left is a guy who is in a bad mood..a curmudgeon if you will. Next to him is Some guy who may be the curmudgeons friend. They seem to be messing around with each other a lot early. Next to him is a guy who appears to be a Scandi. He may have had an accent but I knocked him out early with my Sandi-like hand. Next to him was a young baseball hat on backwards kid. I have played here 3 times in the last year or so and he has been at the table every time. Next to him is a Dominican guy from Lawrence. Next to him is another baseball hat on backwards kid who is so stoned he can hardly keep his eyes open. Next to him is a black Dominican dude from Lawrence, Next to him is an Asian guy and next to him is a young 20-something girl.
So a couple of hands in I am in the BB. I have Kh-2d. Everybody limps in. I check and the flop had K-2h-8h. Nice flop for me. I bet 200 since the Blinds were 50-100. There were probably 6 callers. The turn was another 2! This time I bet 750. There must have been a couple of flush draws out there even though I Kh myself. Either that or someone hit their set because two people called the 750! An incredible Ah fall on the river. I throw the rest of my chips in about 1,000 and the Scandi calls quickly...I guess I know who had the best flush draw. The other guy folds. A huge pot slides my way and the BB special puts me at well over 6,000 chips. That's the only way to win these things. The curmudgeon to my left continues to call and push and mutter under his breath. He survives a while until I take him out. I forgot the hand but I had a set to his A-x. There was an ace paired. He walks away but in the next hour he walks past the table muttering and flailing his arms. He was so pissed off at life. No idea what the problem was but I think that the play at the table was not really what was bothering him. One of the baseball hat on backwards kids was racking up some chips. He knocked out the Dominican guy from Lawrence and the Asian guy. I got into with the 20-something girl on a couple hands I knocked he out on the second one. The first one was an attempted steal by me. I had pocket 10's and an ace flopped. I bet out a half pot sized bet...She called. A rag card fell and she pushed on the turn and she pushed. I folded. The other hand I had against her I had Kx-Qx and she pushed preflop...the Blinds were huge already so I called...she had pocket 4's. I hit a K on the flop and she was all done. She swore under her breath and left the table in a huff. Pretty soon there were only 4 of us left and the last one to get knocked out was the black Dominican dude from Lawrence.
The last three at the table were me, the baseball hat on backwards kid and the stoned baseball hat on backwards kid. We pushed stacks around until the stoned kid got knocked out. It was almost 12:00 so the other kid wanted to chop and get into another SitNGo. I said no and pushed a bunch of times within 10 minutes. We evened stacks out and then decided to chop....he ran to the next SitNGo. I hate to give up on the 190.00 first prize chopping 110.00 apiece wasn't bad either. I tipped the dealer and made my way out for a nice profit on the night.
So a couple of hands in I am in the BB. I have Kh-2d. Everybody limps in. I check and the flop had K-2h-8h. Nice flop for me. I bet 200 since the Blinds were 50-100. There were probably 6 callers. The turn was another 2! This time I bet 750. There must have been a couple of flush draws out there even though I Kh myself. Either that or someone hit their set because two people called the 750! An incredible Ah fall on the river. I throw the rest of my chips in about 1,000 and the Scandi calls quickly...I guess I know who had the best flush draw. The other guy folds. A huge pot slides my way and the BB special puts me at well over 6,000 chips. That's the only way to win these things. The curmudgeon to my left continues to call and push and mutter under his breath. He survives a while until I take him out. I forgot the hand but I had a set to his A-x. There was an ace paired. He walks away but in the next hour he walks past the table muttering and flailing his arms. He was so pissed off at life. No idea what the problem was but I think that the play at the table was not really what was bothering him. One of the baseball hat on backwards kids was racking up some chips. He knocked out the Dominican guy from Lawrence and the Asian guy. I got into with the 20-something girl on a couple hands I knocked he out on the second one. The first one was an attempted steal by me. I had pocket 10's and an ace flopped. I bet out a half pot sized bet...She called. A rag card fell and she pushed on the turn and she pushed. I folded. The other hand I had against her I had Kx-Qx and she pushed preflop...the Blinds were huge already so I called...she had pocket 4's. I hit a K on the flop and she was all done. She swore under her breath and left the table in a huff. Pretty soon there were only 4 of us left and the last one to get knocked out was the black Dominican dude from Lawrence.
The last three at the table were me, the baseball hat on backwards kid and the stoned baseball hat on backwards kid. We pushed stacks around until the stoned kid got knocked out. It was almost 12:00 so the other kid wanted to chop and get into another SitNGo. I said no and pushed a bunch of times within 10 minutes. We evened stacks out and then decided to chop....he ran to the next SitNGo. I hate to give up on the 190.00 first prize chopping 110.00 apiece wasn't bad either. I tipped the dealer and made my way out for a nice profit on the night.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
ChopChop Recap 1
After the wake in Methuen for my uncle I decided to go to the 'Rock'. It's not a 'cold' thing to do...I just didn't know the guy very well. My relatives all stuck around the same area in Lawrence and Methuen. I haven't seen my uncle since maybe the mid-80's. I lived in my gramps' house for 5 years long after he passed away. While living in the house the Poker boom happened and I was always looking for charity tourneys etc. I used to play all of them around the area....before kids. My foray into online poker happened around mid-2004. The charity tourneys were horribly structured and they basically became good training for most of the turbo-structured tourneys that you find out there...and on the internet. I used to do pretty well in them and at the bar league I joined in Haverhill. I was reading all the poker books and that probably hurt my chances in some of them. Yes that's right....it hurt my chances to win more of them. The reason I am saying this is that I should have picked up a certain book that I finally read last year. It came out in 2006! Yes my friends...Arnold Snyder's 'The Poker Tournament Formula'. For the tournaments I play online and at bars...and at places like Rockingham Park, Seabrook, Charity MTTs etc. I have to say that his first book on NLHE tourneys is probably the best. I said it. Go get it if you don't have it. I also got the second book and have read it once already. Snyder's style is perfect for this stuff. OK....the tangents are over.
I got there just in time to buy in slightly late to the 60/60 Rebuy...or Add on. Half the people buy in once...and half the people who actually want to cash add on the 60 when they can. The structure is horrible. If you don't spend the 120.00 you might as well just walk away after the first hour. There was a total of 35 people in the tourney. So I walk in and register and quickly grab a beer....it's been a while since I played at Rockingham. The last couple of times I've been there I did well enough to leave up at least twice the buyins that I spent. I don't really want to play any cash since the biggest bet is limit/Omaha 2-4. It's better than nothing I guess. They've also added blackjack and roulette for the degens. (I play sometimes as well..so don't be offended) that can't get to Foxwoods or Mohegan. I didn't write this out right after the tourneys so my first table description and events are a little sketchy.
The first table I got to was fairly wild. 60 bucks gets you 5,000 chips so having a wild table and getting in late meant I was folding and watching for quite a while. The dealer was to my right and I was in the one seat. To my left was some dude...can't remember. Next to him was was some lady that got knocked out..FAST. Next to her was another guy...a black guy with a shaved head and mirrored shades. There was one overweight dude I can't remember. Next to him was a dude with tattoos all over his arm...and a backwards hat. He kind of reminded me of Kid Rock He came in with like 15 minutes before the break and had 3,400 in chips or so. He decided to make a big stink about it but after the floor guy came over and they argued he still had about 3,400. I guess he was bought in for 60 but they took out the blinds up to that point? That was weird since I bought in about 20 minutes late and had the full 5,000 in chips...but I wasn't going to bring that up. Kid Rock was just talking away about nothing...he didn't give a shit after all was said and done. There was a guy with a baseball hat that was a solid player. There was another guy with a cane next to him....I have seen him before at the 'rock'. He reminded me of a character actor that has been in tons of movies and TV shows...usually plays a chubby bald social outcast type...his eyes dart back and forth repeatedly as if possessed. Next to him was an Asian guy that was over the top aggressive. Finally the next player was a young kid with a baseball hat and had all the chip tricks going. The Asian guy ran over the table with big bets and and some well timed bluffs. He got the image going to the point that everybody either folded or pushed into his nut hand. He was so aggressive however he got knocked out when he pushed his A-6o into A-Jo. He was kind enough to double me up on this hand right before. Pocket kings for me Kh-Kd under the gun. Being a rebuy....I called. I knew at least two people were going to try to push me out. Keep in mind I haven't played for a pot yet. I folded most of the 40 minutes I was there and the first break was about to come. So I call and the solid guy raises to 700. The blinds were 100-200 already. The asian guy pushes all in over the top...solid guy doesn't want to fold but does so anyway. I call and a raggy flop-turn-river does not hit Asian-guy's A-Jo. A-Jo...the AssJack! So the guy is sitting on about 3000 in chips after I take a nice chunk+raise+Blinds. He promptly pushes all in next hand with A-6o and guy with A-Jo calls and knocks him out. Asian guy decided not to rebuy and left. I only played two pots at the first table...the second one I was in a blind with J-7o and I ended up hitting a 7 when no one else had anything...I made a value bet on the river and was called by a J-3o because the 3 had paired as well. The break came and I decided to add on. I planned on being in for a while and with only 35 people total it made sense. The blinds go up every 15 minutes but sometimes the dealer forgets and you can sneak in an extra round. Again horrible structure but that's what you get when you go to the racetrack poker rooms. Kid Rock decided not to rebuy....I just don't get it. He could have more than doubled his stack. Instead he was bitching about his girlfriend who didn't return with his beer.
So after the first break everybody had to move to the next table over and there were three tables left...or 30 players. I was in the 8th seat (I had my lucky green 'Titleist' hat on) and to my left was the guy with the cane, to his left was baseball hat kid, the dealer, Can't-remember-guy, Guy with a big stack...who must have knocked two or three people out fast before the first break...he looked like...Opie, Black dude with mirrored sunglasses, Kid Rock, and finally the solid player with the baseball hat. Opie had the big stack and wielded it well. He took out or pushed out people with some great play. One hand he made a big play on was a flop of J-Q-2....after the guy with the cane raised with pocket 9's. I knew that because he showed me during the hand. I wasn't sure why he would do that since I could've tipped off Opie....that is if I didn't know he was looking over at me. So a 9 falls on the turn and then Opie bets out big enough to put cane-guy all in. He hems and haws and folds....I couldn't believe it. Opie doesn't show and Cane-guy "Knows he had a straight". I said "I couldn't fold that with only 4-5 BB's left". He was sure of his fold. So sure he noticed when Opie knocked Kid Rock out with a straight...he tapped me on the shoulder (even though I was watching the whole time) as if to clue me in on his great fold from his other hand. I still couldn't believe he folded...but that gave me some ideas about how to play him. I pushed a couple of times now that I was getting down to 12-15 BB's. The Blind steals were huge and those got me out of trouble for a while. A couple of other people got knocked out by Opie and Solid-guy with baseball hat. I made a mistake by limping in the SB and getting pushed out by an all in by the BB. Baseball hat kid pushed and he made the right play. That is an old leak I need to get rid of. After the the next few rounds my stack was starting to dwindle towards 10 BB's. I lost a couple of small pots and was pushed out of a couple others. It was time for me to make a move. I chose 10d-Kd in early position before the Blinds knocked me below 10BB's. I pushed and leaned forward...I also pulled my hat down and was looking at the table. everybody folded until the black guy with mirrored shades pushed his stack in...uhoh...I got caught. He called with Q's and everybody was saying good game. I bink'd a K on the turn. Hello....I had a sheepish grin on my face. Hey I took a shot and scored. The black guy was just staring at me through his mirrored sunglasses. He was shaking his head in controlled movements and pursing his lips...he was fighting a tirade of cuss words. He got up and walked away without losing it. After that I knew I was final table bound...I took out the Cane-guy who had short stack. I had about 20-25 BB's at the time. OK....I could probably be called a Snyderbot. I still mix it up and play tight...but at 10BB's I'm only going out by pushing...not calling. I could have almost tripled my stack with a call with A-Ko not too long before the second break. There were two pushes and a short stack call right before the break and right before the action got to me. I decided to not call because one of the guys that pushed had 20 BB's....an ace fell on the river. So if I was a true Snyderbot I probably would have called that one. That hand effectively set us up for the final table. Second break arrives....I get back and after 30 minutes the final table is set.
I think I had 20 BB's at most...not great but much better than most of the people at the final table.
The final table has me in the 5 seat...I love sitting across from the dealer...one of my favorite places to sit especially at a final table. To my left is baseball hat kid with a short stack. To his left is another solid player with a short stack. (He would be knocked out first). To his left was a slick dude type...could be mistaken for a slick douchebag at first look but he turned out to be pretty good player and not the douche-y dude. Next to him was this hulking guy with his iPod. He had a black POW MIA hat and was singing out loud. "Americaaaann Wooomannnnnnn...get away from meeeeeheeeeeee". I was chuckling at this since he looked like either the lead singer from Molly Hatchett (who passed away a couple years ago) or Jaws from the old 70's James Bond films. I guess I'll call him Jaws from now on. Next to him was grandma..the only lady at the table. She had some gamble in her though. Next to her the dealer and the next to him was Another short stack dude who was a good player...can't remember him too much...he got knocked out fairly early as well. Next to him was the older gentleman with a military baseball hat. He kind of reminded me of Capt. Suleman...or the guy who landed the plane on the Hudson river. Next to him was Opie on the big stack and next to him was Solid guy with the baseball hat. We had a quick short break and I ran to bathroom...I was drinking 16oz. Bud Light aluminum bottles. I guess a deal was made before I got back to pay everybody at the final table 50.00 no matter what. I got back and Opie let me know what was going on. I guess they do this at the 'Rock' quite a bit. "Thanks for waiting for me to make the decision everybody" I said sarcastically. So the top four get the payouts ranging from 1125 on down...equating to a total of 2000. Solid player guy and baseball hat kid got knocked out first followed by the guy I can't really remember sitting next to the dealer. Opie and solid-guy with baseball hat to my right were mixing it up and Opie's stack was starting to dwindle a bit. He could have run over the final table but held back quite a bit...he did take out 3 short stacks I think. His problem was not folding to the medium stacks that basically doubled through him multiple times. The solid guy with the baseball hat doubled through him soon after that though. He also doubled up Capt. old gent. on the other side of him.
There were two weird plays that ended up knocking out grandma and Jaws. Grandma was knocked out by Opie....he raised at least 5 BB's...grandma called off two thirds of her stack to see a flop..I was thinking she's gotta have a big pair A's or K's.....'maybe Q's or J's...I don't know'....I thought. A flop with an ace falls. Opie puts her all in and she thinks about for 5 hours..well 5 mnutes...then calls with A-5. 'Why the fuck didn't she push he stack to an obvious steal?' I thought..Opie turns up A-10....bye-bye grandma. The next play that was just crazy worked out really well for me. I basically doubled my stack to 40 BB's and took out Jaws. Here is the weird part...and also why I don't use an iPod while playing a tournament. I'm in early position and I slide my stack in slowly...I said "All in" but not loudly. I thought everybody heard me well enough...Jaws is looking across the table at the Blinds..."ALL IN" he says loudly in a booming voice...they fold. Guess what he turns up?? 5-2o...the table is stunned....he had a gut shot draw on the turn but my Q's hold up. Can you imagine if he actually filled a gut shot with 5-2o? I would have quit right there. Everybody is stunned as this is happening and he finally realizes that I pushed all in in front of him...and he had no idea. He would have stolen the blinds as Opie and solid-guy with baseball hat were folding.
Jaws : "Oh my god...I can't believe it...my mistake....stupid mistake"
Me : "Wow...I thought you had at least an A-K or something!"
Jaws : "I didn't even know you pushed in I was so fixated on stealing the Blinds...."
Me : ""Good game"...as I stand up and go to shake his hand....
Jaws : "Good game? you should kiss me right now!"
Me : "Nah...you're too ugly....but good game anyway" Laughter from the table ensues...I guess he was beating himself up after the last break.
A little more play and another break comes. I need it...those 16 oz. Bud Lights are filling me up! I get back and there are 6 players left including me. We had some pushes and calls and basically after 30 minutes we get down to five. Capt. S. was short stacking but doubles up again through Opie. Opie had 13 or 14 BB's left and I was in the BB with A-K....I take out Opie...that's what happens when the big stack gets to the table and doubles up many players. I couldn't get action with my A's soon after so I was sporting the big stack and starting to push around some people. Capt. S. was the short stack now but I doubled him up soon after. We decided after the stacks evened out to chop 4 ways. It was getting pointless after I couldn't take out anybody else. So we had close stacks at the end and chopped 4 ways 500.00 each. Not bad for less than 4 hours anyway. It was 10:30 and I decided to jump into one of the horrible SitNGo's that cost 40.00. That's the cheapest one they have...There are ten players so there are 3 payouts. Top being 190.00. I think I'll post that one later....
There was an interesting conversation with the dealer. It basically confirms the body language tells as being much more reliable than the face. I'm kind of a big fan of Caro's and the more recent book by the FBI interrogator Joe Navarro with Phil Hellmuth. I just asked the dealer what he looks for when he's playing because he was laughing to himself and congratulating himself on his reads. "the arms and the body in general....forget the face...I'm getting realllllly good at this"! : Between the Snyder book and the Navarro book I think somebody with a little poker knowledge and experience can kick the crap out of these types of tourneys...just a thought....
Fawkles....I came in 6th place in the 15K Super Turbo Ko on FTP tonight...Thursday the 25th.....see...I kinda played like crap at the final table this time though....I did buy in 3 times so....I gave myself a chance at least....
I got there just in time to buy in slightly late to the 60/60 Rebuy...or Add on. Half the people buy in once...and half the people who actually want to cash add on the 60 when they can. The structure is horrible. If you don't spend the 120.00 you might as well just walk away after the first hour. There was a total of 35 people in the tourney. So I walk in and register and quickly grab a beer....it's been a while since I played at Rockingham. The last couple of times I've been there I did well enough to leave up at least twice the buyins that I spent. I don't really want to play any cash since the biggest bet is limit/Omaha 2-4. It's better than nothing I guess. They've also added blackjack and roulette for the degens. (I play sometimes as well..so don't be offended) that can't get to Foxwoods or Mohegan. I didn't write this out right after the tourneys so my first table description and events are a little sketchy.
The first table I got to was fairly wild. 60 bucks gets you 5,000 chips so having a wild table and getting in late meant I was folding and watching for quite a while. The dealer was to my right and I was in the one seat. To my left was some dude...can't remember. Next to him was was some lady that got knocked out..FAST. Next to her was another guy...a black guy with a shaved head and mirrored shades. There was one overweight dude I can't remember. Next to him was a dude with tattoos all over his arm...and a backwards hat. He kind of reminded me of Kid Rock He came in with like 15 minutes before the break and had 3,400 in chips or so. He decided to make a big stink about it but after the floor guy came over and they argued he still had about 3,400. I guess he was bought in for 60 but they took out the blinds up to that point? That was weird since I bought in about 20 minutes late and had the full 5,000 in chips...but I wasn't going to bring that up. Kid Rock was just talking away about nothing...he didn't give a shit after all was said and done. There was a guy with a baseball hat that was a solid player. There was another guy with a cane next to him....I have seen him before at the 'rock'. He reminded me of a character actor that has been in tons of movies and TV shows...usually plays a chubby bald social outcast type...his eyes dart back and forth repeatedly as if possessed. Next to him was an Asian guy that was over the top aggressive. Finally the next player was a young kid with a baseball hat and had all the chip tricks going. The Asian guy ran over the table with big bets and and some well timed bluffs. He got the image going to the point that everybody either folded or pushed into his nut hand. He was so aggressive however he got knocked out when he pushed his A-6o into A-Jo. He was kind enough to double me up on this hand right before. Pocket kings for me Kh-Kd under the gun. Being a rebuy....I called. I knew at least two people were going to try to push me out. Keep in mind I haven't played for a pot yet. I folded most of the 40 minutes I was there and the first break was about to come. So I call and the solid guy raises to 700. The blinds were 100-200 already. The asian guy pushes all in over the top...solid guy doesn't want to fold but does so anyway. I call and a raggy flop-turn-river does not hit Asian-guy's A-Jo. A-Jo...the AssJack! So the guy is sitting on about 3000 in chips after I take a nice chunk+raise+Blinds. He promptly pushes all in next hand with A-6o and guy with A-Jo calls and knocks him out. Asian guy decided not to rebuy and left. I only played two pots at the first table...the second one I was in a blind with J-7o and I ended up hitting a 7 when no one else had anything...I made a value bet on the river and was called by a J-3o because the 3 had paired as well. The break came and I decided to add on. I planned on being in for a while and with only 35 people total it made sense. The blinds go up every 15 minutes but sometimes the dealer forgets and you can sneak in an extra round. Again horrible structure but that's what you get when you go to the racetrack poker rooms. Kid Rock decided not to rebuy....I just don't get it. He could have more than doubled his stack. Instead he was bitching about his girlfriend who didn't return with his beer.
So after the first break everybody had to move to the next table over and there were three tables left...or 30 players. I was in the 8th seat (I had my lucky green 'Titleist' hat on) and to my left was the guy with the cane, to his left was baseball hat kid, the dealer, Can't-remember-guy, Guy with a big stack...who must have knocked two or three people out fast before the first break...he looked like...Opie, Black dude with mirrored sunglasses, Kid Rock, and finally the solid player with the baseball hat. Opie had the big stack and wielded it well. He took out or pushed out people with some great play. One hand he made a big play on was a flop of J-Q-2....after the guy with the cane raised with pocket 9's. I knew that because he showed me during the hand. I wasn't sure why he would do that since I could've tipped off Opie....that is if I didn't know he was looking over at me. So a 9 falls on the turn and then Opie bets out big enough to put cane-guy all in. He hems and haws and folds....I couldn't believe it. Opie doesn't show and Cane-guy "Knows he had a straight". I said "I couldn't fold that with only 4-5 BB's left". He was sure of his fold. So sure he noticed when Opie knocked Kid Rock out with a straight...he tapped me on the shoulder (even though I was watching the whole time) as if to clue me in on his great fold from his other hand. I still couldn't believe he folded...but that gave me some ideas about how to play him. I pushed a couple of times now that I was getting down to 12-15 BB's. The Blind steals were huge and those got me out of trouble for a while. A couple of other people got knocked out by Opie and Solid-guy with baseball hat. I made a mistake by limping in the SB and getting pushed out by an all in by the BB. Baseball hat kid pushed and he made the right play. That is an old leak I need to get rid of. After the the next few rounds my stack was starting to dwindle towards 10 BB's. I lost a couple of small pots and was pushed out of a couple others. It was time for me to make a move. I chose 10d-Kd in early position before the Blinds knocked me below 10BB's. I pushed and leaned forward...I also pulled my hat down and was looking at the table. everybody folded until the black guy with mirrored shades pushed his stack in...uhoh...I got caught. He called with Q's and everybody was saying good game. I bink'd a K on the turn. Hello....I had a sheepish grin on my face. Hey I took a shot and scored. The black guy was just staring at me through his mirrored sunglasses. He was shaking his head in controlled movements and pursing his lips...he was fighting a tirade of cuss words. He got up and walked away without losing it. After that I knew I was final table bound...I took out the Cane-guy who had short stack. I had about 20-25 BB's at the time. OK....I could probably be called a Snyderbot. I still mix it up and play tight...but at 10BB's I'm only going out by pushing...not calling. I could have almost tripled my stack with a call with A-Ko not too long before the second break. There were two pushes and a short stack call right before the break and right before the action got to me. I decided to not call because one of the guys that pushed had 20 BB's....an ace fell on the river. So if I was a true Snyderbot I probably would have called that one. That hand effectively set us up for the final table. Second break arrives....I get back and after 30 minutes the final table is set.
I think I had 20 BB's at most...not great but much better than most of the people at the final table.
The final table has me in the 5 seat...I love sitting across from the dealer...one of my favorite places to sit especially at a final table. To my left is baseball hat kid with a short stack. To his left is another solid player with a short stack. (He would be knocked out first). To his left was a slick dude type...could be mistaken for a slick douchebag at first look but he turned out to be pretty good player and not the douche-y dude. Next to him was this hulking guy with his iPod. He had a black POW MIA hat and was singing out loud. "Americaaaann Wooomannnnnnn...get away from meeeeeheeeeeee". I was chuckling at this since he looked like either the lead singer from Molly Hatchett (who passed away a couple years ago) or Jaws from the old 70's James Bond films. I guess I'll call him Jaws from now on. Next to him was grandma..the only lady at the table. She had some gamble in her though. Next to her the dealer and the next to him was Another short stack dude who was a good player...can't remember him too much...he got knocked out fairly early as well. Next to him was the older gentleman with a military baseball hat. He kind of reminded me of Capt. Suleman...or the guy who landed the plane on the Hudson river. Next to him was Opie on the big stack and next to him was Solid guy with the baseball hat. We had a quick short break and I ran to bathroom...I was drinking 16oz. Bud Light aluminum bottles. I guess a deal was made before I got back to pay everybody at the final table 50.00 no matter what. I got back and Opie let me know what was going on. I guess they do this at the 'Rock' quite a bit. "Thanks for waiting for me to make the decision everybody" I said sarcastically. So the top four get the payouts ranging from 1125 on down...equating to a total of 2000. Solid player guy and baseball hat kid got knocked out first followed by the guy I can't really remember sitting next to the dealer. Opie and solid-guy with baseball hat to my right were mixing it up and Opie's stack was starting to dwindle a bit. He could have run over the final table but held back quite a bit...he did take out 3 short stacks I think. His problem was not folding to the medium stacks that basically doubled through him multiple times. The solid guy with the baseball hat doubled through him soon after that though. He also doubled up Capt. old gent. on the other side of him.
There were two weird plays that ended up knocking out grandma and Jaws. Grandma was knocked out by Opie....he raised at least 5 BB's...grandma called off two thirds of her stack to see a flop..I was thinking she's gotta have a big pair A's or K's.....'maybe Q's or J's...I don't know'....I thought. A flop with an ace falls. Opie puts her all in and she thinks about for 5 hours..well 5 mnutes...then calls with A-5. 'Why the fuck didn't she push he stack to an obvious steal?' I thought..Opie turns up A-10....bye-bye grandma. The next play that was just crazy worked out really well for me. I basically doubled my stack to 40 BB's and took out Jaws. Here is the weird part...and also why I don't use an iPod while playing a tournament. I'm in early position and I slide my stack in slowly...I said "All in" but not loudly. I thought everybody heard me well enough...Jaws is looking across the table at the Blinds..."ALL IN" he says loudly in a booming voice...they fold. Guess what he turns up?? 5-2o...the table is stunned....he had a gut shot draw on the turn but my Q's hold up. Can you imagine if he actually filled a gut shot with 5-2o? I would have quit right there. Everybody is stunned as this is happening and he finally realizes that I pushed all in in front of him...and he had no idea. He would have stolen the blinds as Opie and solid-guy with baseball hat were folding.
Jaws : "Oh my god...I can't believe it...my mistake....stupid mistake"
Me : "Wow...I thought you had at least an A-K or something!"
Jaws : "I didn't even know you pushed in I was so fixated on stealing the Blinds...."
Me : ""Good game"...as I stand up and go to shake his hand....
Jaws : "Good game? you should kiss me right now!"
Me : "Nah...you're too ugly....but good game anyway" Laughter from the table ensues...I guess he was beating himself up after the last break.
A little more play and another break comes. I need it...those 16 oz. Bud Lights are filling me up! I get back and there are 6 players left including me. We had some pushes and calls and basically after 30 minutes we get down to five. Capt. S. was short stacking but doubles up again through Opie. Opie had 13 or 14 BB's left and I was in the BB with A-K....I take out Opie...that's what happens when the big stack gets to the table and doubles up many players. I couldn't get action with my A's soon after so I was sporting the big stack and starting to push around some people. Capt. S. was the short stack now but I doubled him up soon after. We decided after the stacks evened out to chop 4 ways. It was getting pointless after I couldn't take out anybody else. So we had close stacks at the end and chopped 4 ways 500.00 each. Not bad for less than 4 hours anyway. It was 10:30 and I decided to jump into one of the horrible SitNGo's that cost 40.00. That's the cheapest one they have...There are ten players so there are 3 payouts. Top being 190.00. I think I'll post that one later....
There was an interesting conversation with the dealer. It basically confirms the body language tells as being much more reliable than the face. I'm kind of a big fan of Caro's and the more recent book by the FBI interrogator Joe Navarro with Phil Hellmuth. I just asked the dealer what he looks for when he's playing because he was laughing to himself and congratulating himself on his reads. "the arms and the body in general....forget the face...I'm getting realllllly good at this"! : Between the Snyder book and the Navarro book I think somebody with a little poker knowledge and experience can kick the crap out of these types of tourneys...just a thought....
Fawkles....I came in 6th place in the 15K Super Turbo Ko on FTP tonight...Thursday the 25th.....see...I kinda played like crap at the final table this time though....I did buy in 3 times so....I gave myself a chance at least....
Saturday, March 19, 2011
ChopChop
I went to a wake for a relative on Friday. While that was not fun it was good for my sister and I to meet there and express our condolences to a distant relative. Thank god for my sister....she's much more talkative and better in those situations.
So...anyway the wake was in Methuen...right near my old stomping grounds at Rockingham Park. I was out of the wake at about 6:30 and The 'Rock' was calling. I got there in a couple of minutes and bought right into a 60-60 rebuy/addon. No details yet but I agreed to a deal with the final four of us and viola!
There is 5 hundo there so that was nice. It was about 10:30 after that so I decided to jump into one of their 40.00 dollar SitNGo's....guess what....I chopped that with the other guy heads up as well for another 110.00...not bad. Although the structures of the tourneys are awful it's still fun to get up there once in a great while and get into a push-fest. I'll probably do a more detailed post later.
So...anyway the wake was in Methuen...right near my old stomping grounds at Rockingham Park. I was out of the wake at about 6:30 and The 'Rock' was calling. I got there in a couple of minutes and bought right into a 60-60 rebuy/addon. No details yet but I agreed to a deal with the final four of us and viola!
There is 5 hundo there so that was nice. It was about 10:30 after that so I decided to jump into one of their 40.00 dollar SitNGo's....guess what....I chopped that with the other guy heads up as well for another 110.00...not bad. Although the structures of the tourneys are awful it's still fun to get up there once in a great while and get into a push-fest. I'll probably do a more detailed post later.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
A little live poker for me??
Two relatively quick STT's anyway. I went here on Sunday (after my once in 3 years clothes shopping spree) and played a couple of sit'n'go's. I won the first one (I sucked out with 8's against my opponent who had Q's....8 on the flop!) and busted out 5th in the next one...still had a nice profit when I left. Although the 5.75 Bud Lights are a bit of a drag (16 oz.). I used to play at Rockingham Park when I lived in Lawrence about 3 years ago. It's the next town on the MA. side of the border. Many moons ago my Grandpa (who taught me all the card games when I was a mere 5 years old) showed me the adrenaline rush of horse racing. He loved to bet on the horses. After he passed away in '98 I figured some day I would buy his old house and make weekly treks to Rockingham Park. I didn't quite turn out that way as horse racing was outlawed some time in the early 00's. They still have simulcast racing and every time I step in that place I get a wave of nostalgia that just gets my adrenaline going. Back in '02 I stepped into the place and placed a few bets on the simulcast horse races....although exciting it just wasn't the same.
I took a look around the old Race Track and thought about how big the place is. They have computer and merchandise shows there on a regular basis because they need to make money on the amount of unused space. "God forbid this place goes out of business" I said. Salem, NH would turn into the largest liquor/merchandise outlet destination in the northeast. Not that it isn't already....you see the Communists here in MA have made it all but impossible to drop your cash on any electronic devices or liquor, or food..or well...you get the picture. The sales tax on everything is killing towns like Lawrence and other border towns. When I escaped the formerly great town of Lawrence in '07 I had one last conversation with my neighbor. She is an older lady maybe 75 or so and her husband passed away a couple years earlier. She asked me "Why isn't our property tax going down....that's why I voted for Deval Patrick?". I explained "You got suckered like everybody else who voted for him....he blatantly lied and you bought it. I'm sorry but you have to predict this kind of thing by doing research". "I don't know how I'm going to keep this house" she said nervously. "I wish you luck.....you guys have been great neighbors to me and my grandparents for 50 years. I'm sorry but raising a daughter around here isn't like it was even as little as 25 years ago. We are getting out of here....I suggest you look into selling your property and setting yourself up for the rest of you life" She had scared look on her face and rightly so. I felt bad about being blunt but they are used to that because they lived next to my Grandfather for 40 years. That conversation is a little hint at the desparity that is the northern border of MA. Did I mention that I was in the area of Rockingham Park because I was doing my once every 3 year clothes shopping run to Salem, NH??
So I am at Rockingham Park in '03 looking around and I declared that it would be a crazy-good place for a casino or at least a card room. I mean the wasted space would be filled to capacity.....even for Charity Card tournaments. I had been playing in a couple of charity tourneys around the area after the Moneymaker effect took hold. Fast forward 3 years. A local MA Charity org. that ran NLHE tournaments for charity moved from MA to Salem, NH and started a card room in Rockingham Park. It was even run by two guys I graduated High School with! That was quite a surprise when I started to frequent the card room and seeing them act as tournament director and Chip runner/Dealer/Pit Boss types. I didn't see them when I was there last Sunday but they are probably still associated with the room I would imagine. I mean the money that runs through there must be quite large and it really is a good place in tax-free Salem, NH. I even saw that they expanded into BlackJack and other small table games (which I will stay away from...unless of course I ever get back to Vegas). The biggest bet that you can make in the cash games tables is 4 dollars I believe....that is basically why they can do this legally. I could be wrong about that but that's what I heard when I was there for 3 hours last Sunday. The only other things that keep it from being an incredible card destination? The lowest buy-in for the 10-man STT's is 40.00....and when you win or chop the top two prizes...you are expected to toss the dealer 10 bucks as a tip. I was made aware of this after I gave the guy a five and the guy that was watching the action when it got to 3-handed let me know. The other semi-complaint is that you may experience a weird sensation while sitting on the downside of the table while playing cards. Yeah...you know how the racetrack has large areas that slope downward toward the racetrack and the huge ramps that also have tables and also slope downward. It really is weird but just a slight annoyance. I joked that it makes the nits get their cards faster in the limit Omaha and Hold'em tables....well half of them do anyway.
So I had a great time being there all by myself. I did however have the ghost of my Grandfather looking over my shoulder. Drinking his drink, laughing his laugh, soaking up all the surrounding atmosphere in preparation for more great stories to be told......and enjoying all the former and current gambling going on back at the ol' racetrack....
I took a look around the old Race Track and thought about how big the place is. They have computer and merchandise shows there on a regular basis because they need to make money on the amount of unused space. "God forbid this place goes out of business" I said. Salem, NH would turn into the largest liquor/merchandise outlet destination in the northeast. Not that it isn't already....you see the Communists here in MA have made it all but impossible to drop your cash on any electronic devices or liquor, or food..or well...you get the picture. The sales tax on everything is killing towns like Lawrence and other border towns. When I escaped the formerly great town of Lawrence in '07 I had one last conversation with my neighbor. She is an older lady maybe 75 or so and her husband passed away a couple years earlier. She asked me "Why isn't our property tax going down....that's why I voted for Deval Patrick?". I explained "You got suckered like everybody else who voted for him....he blatantly lied and you bought it. I'm sorry but you have to predict this kind of thing by doing research". "I don't know how I'm going to keep this house" she said nervously. "I wish you luck.....you guys have been great neighbors to me and my grandparents for 50 years. I'm sorry but raising a daughter around here isn't like it was even as little as 25 years ago. We are getting out of here....I suggest you look into selling your property and setting yourself up for the rest of you life" She had scared look on her face and rightly so. I felt bad about being blunt but they are used to that because they lived next to my Grandfather for 40 years. That conversation is a little hint at the desparity that is the northern border of MA. Did I mention that I was in the area of Rockingham Park because I was doing my once every 3 year clothes shopping run to Salem, NH??
So I am at Rockingham Park in '03 looking around and I declared that it would be a crazy-good place for a casino or at least a card room. I mean the wasted space would be filled to capacity.....even for Charity Card tournaments. I had been playing in a couple of charity tourneys around the area after the Moneymaker effect took hold. Fast forward 3 years. A local MA Charity org. that ran NLHE tournaments for charity moved from MA to Salem, NH and started a card room in Rockingham Park. It was even run by two guys I graduated High School with! That was quite a surprise when I started to frequent the card room and seeing them act as tournament director and Chip runner/Dealer/Pit Boss types. I didn't see them when I was there last Sunday but they are probably still associated with the room I would imagine. I mean the money that runs through there must be quite large and it really is a good place in tax-free Salem, NH. I even saw that they expanded into BlackJack and other small table games (which I will stay away from...unless of course I ever get back to Vegas). The biggest bet that you can make in the cash games tables is 4 dollars I believe....that is basically why they can do this legally. I could be wrong about that but that's what I heard when I was there for 3 hours last Sunday. The only other things that keep it from being an incredible card destination? The lowest buy-in for the 10-man STT's is 40.00....and when you win or chop the top two prizes...you are expected to toss the dealer 10 bucks as a tip. I was made aware of this after I gave the guy a five and the guy that was watching the action when it got to 3-handed let me know. The other semi-complaint is that you may experience a weird sensation while sitting on the downside of the table while playing cards. Yeah...you know how the racetrack has large areas that slope downward toward the racetrack and the huge ramps that also have tables and also slope downward. It really is weird but just a slight annoyance. I joked that it makes the nits get their cards faster in the limit Omaha and Hold'em tables....well half of them do anyway.
So I had a great time being there all by myself. I did however have the ghost of my Grandfather looking over my shoulder. Drinking his drink, laughing his laugh, soaking up all the surrounding atmosphere in preparation for more great stories to be told......and enjoying all the former and current gambling going on back at the ol' racetrack....
Friday, April 13, 2007
Friday the 13th.....ain't so bad....
...........................but the weekend looms ahead. Just like last years flooding in the Northeast.
Looks like I won't be able to do much of anything except....Play online poker.....unless the power goes out! That would really....really....really suck. I was going to go to Foxwoods.....had the overnight babysitter (mother-in-law) lined up and everything. No rooms are available.....WTF! I'm even surprised by this....but this is going to be a huge storm so that is probably a pipe dream anyway. I might be able to get to Rockingham Park on Saturday though.....there are some nice NL Holdem tournaments for Donkeys and pigeons alike. There are also weekly tourneys at Maxamillions pool hall in Tyngsboro on Thursday and some Saturdays. Seabrook Racing Park is also basically a full-fledged card room now....with some BIIIIIGGGGG tournaments. I may have to take a shot at this on the 21st of April.
I haven't had much luck in the BloggerTournamentChallenge.....but I did cash as a Rookie in the 'Dookie' 3rd to be exact. I'm usually tapped after the 'Mookie' but I started to drink beers during the 'Mookie' then was looking for another tourney after.......
The entire eastern half of the U.S. is bracing for a monster storm, the likes of which one forecaster says occur "once every 20 years."
Three storm systems -- one heading east from the Rockies, another in the Northeast and one in the Southwest -- are expected to come together to form a huge nor'easter that will bring gale-force winds, driving rain and heavy snow to much of the eastern half of the country.
Meteorologists say a storm system that is dumping snow over the central Plains and central Rockies will strengthen as it heads east. It is then expected to merge with storm systems in the Northeast and Southwest and develop into a raging storm that will barrel up the East Coast.
Forecaster Brian Korty says half of the country will feel the effects in the coming days. He calls it the kind of storm that happens "once every 20 years."
Accuweather.com predicts the storm will flood low-lying areas and cause coastal erosion. Inland areas could see a record-breaking snowstorm.
For those of you not from the NorthEast....Wikipedia has a description.
Here is an old post about my partying during Patriots day at Fenway....pretty good stuff :Poker and Miscellaneous Stuff: (Long) Weekend Events and Past Events
Looks like I won't be able to do much of anything except....Play online poker.....unless the power goes out! That would really....really....really suck. I was going to go to Foxwoods.....had the overnight babysitter (mother-in-law) lined up and everything. No rooms are available.....WTF! I'm even surprised by this....but this is going to be a huge storm so that is probably a pipe dream anyway. I might be able to get to Rockingham Park on Saturday though.....there are some nice NL Holdem tournaments for Donkeys and pigeons alike. There are also weekly tourneys at Maxamillions pool hall in Tyngsboro on Thursday and some Saturdays. Seabrook Racing Park is also basically a full-fledged card room now....with some BIIIIIGGGGG tournaments. I may have to take a shot at this on the 21st of April.
I haven't had much luck in the BloggerTournamentChallenge.....but I did cash as a Rookie in the 'Dookie' 3rd to be exact. I'm usually tapped after the 'Mookie' but I started to drink beers during the 'Mookie' then was looking for another tourney after.......
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