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November 30, 2004
Sick, Tired, but Happy
I'm not sure what bizarre virus has hit the poker blogger community, but a lot seem to have come down with something lately, [yay] myself included. Spent Thanksgiving with the family, then woke up Friday feeling pretty crummy, and have since then been pretty much either been asleep or bumming around the house.
In between naps I have managed to play some poker of course. I should be studying for the 3 tests I have this week (last week of classes...happy yet scared) but haven't had the mental energy for that...decisions of whether to bet, raise, or fold come like second nature. The first time I played (after the freeroll tourney) wasn't that great...but I read someone (I really should be better about remembering who if I plan on quoting this stuff later, plus if it has such an effect on me, you would think I would...but I digress...) who said that they weren't sure they had the heart for NL anymore...and that made me think about my own situation...because really, was I playing tight, or playing scared? Afraid of losing those precious few dollars I had left? I was so happy to end any night a few dollars up, but I wasn't really playing the game...just clicking the fold button because those hole cards weren't quite perfect enough. Too scared.
So I made a decision. I would buyin to my regular table with the max, $25, and whatever happened, happened. I wasn't going to play stupid, mind you, but I wasn't going to be scared. I decided to have some confidence in myself. It helped that I had just done so well in the freeroll the day before. It helped that I had laid down hands that I thought would have been the winners...and sure enough, would have.
SO. What happened? Well...long story short, I've nearly tripled my bankroll in 2 days. Granted, it wasn't a huge bankroll to begin with, but still...that's a pretty awesome feeling. That first night, I started one table with $25, left with nearly $50, then bought into another with $25, and left with over $50. Did the same last night, leaving with nearly $50.
What do I mean by being too tight/scared? Well, for instance...just because the board pairs and someone bets, doesn't mean they have a set...could just mean they made two pair, and you did too, but you have the higher kicker (oh my do they looovvveee their two pairs at UB...and the concept of kickers - totally lost on them), but in the past - I would completely have dropped the hand at that point, for fear of the set. And I read the board too much, and not position...for instance, I did lose a bit on a hand where I had two pair, but lost to a straight. Why? Because I really didn't think someone would be playing 2 4 from MP. SB/BB, maybe...but MP? 2/4? WTF? But sure enough...oh well. Made it all back and then some with aces on the next hand. But I had dropped what was probably the winner when the flop came rags a few days prior, I was the BB, and I had flopped two pair...I bet, I get raised by the button. I fold. I thought about it later...and at the point...even if he had aces, I had him beat. The only hand that beat me was like 10/4...and who plays that from the button? (But let me tell ya how my Kings got cracked by 7/5 that was called for a pre-flop raise...poker karma is catching up with me for my 7/5 in the freeroll...that's been the devil hand of my existence the past few days).
I suppose this underscores the importance of the 300BB bankroll rule. It's easier to take that chance that your opponent really didn't make the set, really doesn't have the flush, etc. when you can handle losing your buyin for the night. Making that decision with myself psychologically had a big impact on my game. I've been itching to get back to the .25/.50 tables, where I feel I "belong", but I'm being a good girl [no fun], and I'm not going till I've got everything where it should be. And I might even wait till I'm totally evened out...we'll see how long the fish keep swimming. ;)
On a side note - Coolest. Shit. Ever.
As a UB player, I was kinda bummed that it was so hard to get hand histories for PokerTracker. Not anymore. Check this baby out.
THEN, once I get that going, I get Tracker's auto-import set up, then I get this puppy up and running. Totally sweet. As someone on the forums put it, my screen looks like a Christmas tree, but I like it. :D Thanks to Halverson via Henry for the info. Those of you who play at Party and the skins, go check out his site for links to a way to get rid of the chairs and dealer, etc. when you play.
I suppose if I'm well enough to blog, I'm well enough to study, huh?
Posted by April at 06:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 27, 2004
Hey look, 50 cents...
When I first started playing poker on Poker Stars, I, along with "the family" would frequently play the freeroll tourneys they offered. It was a nightly routine...we'd play the tables until the freeroll started, which was usually about 1am my time, so depending upon my mental alterness I would either play or railbird for multiple people. It was fun and a good learning experience...but I rarely cracked the top 1000. And one time, John finished as high as 57, but kinda of lost motivation once he realized that with the PS freerolls, you're playing for entry into a weekly freeroll tourney, where if you win there, you get cash. Which is OK...except for each week, the type of tourney varies - so it could be Omaha hi-lo or Seven Card Stud. Which, if you've never played those...what good is that to you? After we discovered that, we kinda lost interest (not that any of us but him ever really stood a chance in hell of actually winning a tournament), plus that's about when he and I ended up at Ultimate Bet. So I put freerolls behind me.
But when I was between bankrolls (waiting for the PS to UB transfer) I decided to try one for old times sake. Plus, I've signed up for the College Poker Championship (hey...I may be 28, but I'm still in college, so dammit it counts!) so I figured it would do some good to get some tourney experience again. Plus, I was feeling like I was completely off my game, yet I knew what I was doing wrong, and how to fix it...so playing for free...a good thing.
I don't have many notes from that one, but I do remember that I played tight agressive, built up a nice lead and was ranked in the 100s for the majority of the tourney. And then...I find myself in the BB with K 2. Flop comes K K x. I bet it out, just to see if there is another K really out there. One caller...so yep, there is, and I'm gonna have a kicker problem. But then the turn is a 2...so I check...he bets, I call. The river comes a Q. I bet large, he raises, I call. Hey...guess what his kicker was? I really don't think I played that one wrong...I bet it out just enough to see if there really was another K out there...when it was clear that there was, I was ready to muck on the turn, but then the 2 came out...the river was just very unlucky for me, very lucky for him. That was just the start of quite a rush for him.
All told I finished 637, out of 6000. Not spectacular, but still ok I guess. What bummed me the most was that I had been ranked so much higher for so long. It was the boat over boat that hurt me, and that was just bad luck. I suppose I had to give him credit for it given the amount he was betting???
Anyway...yesterday I decided to do a UB freeroll. UB actually has a nice freeroll system...they award Ultimate Points or Bonus Dollars, and they payout to approx. the top 150 players. I really wasn't catching cards at first, but finally, with the blinds at 20/40, I find suited Big Slick. I was going to raise, but it is raised to me, to 80, so I call...then it's raised again, to 100...then a player goes all in, for about half my stack...I'm not thrilled to do it, but I call, because I figure we're a coin flip at this point, unless I'm up against aces themselves, which I don't think I am. Flop comes rags...player bets, and it's to put me all in...I hate this, but I'm so damn pot committed at this point, and really, I think I have the best hand...so I call. Sure enough...way to win 3K with ace high. :)
The next hand, I find pocket 10s. It's raised to 100, so I call. Flop is 7 9 10. The betting is huge...and I'm a little worried about a straight, but I call. Turns out I was against Jacks and Queens, bust those players out, and find myself with a 7K stack.
Made only two mistakes really - the first, blinds are 75/150. I was dealt Qd Jc. Pre-flop it is raised to 675. (And I call????) Flop is 2s Qs 8d. It's bet 1000. I raise to 2000. (Why do I do this? To find out if I indeed have the best hand). He responds by re-raising all-in. I CALL. (Hellooo...dumbass...you DON'T). And sure enough, he turns over Qh Ac. Turn is a 6c, River is a 6d. While I don't think AQ off-suit is particulary worth a raise, QJ sure as hell isn't worth CALLING one with, so who the hell am I to talk?
I get moved to a new table, this one with a idiot who obviously believes the "any two cards" philiosphy. With the blinds at 100/200 and my stupid call, I am waiting for my move to double-up. I find queens, and that's the one...he calls, putting him all in...with A 5. Thankfully no ace, I win 2410 for a 3855 stack. I continue building up with little battles here and there. I begin to hate Jacks when they are beaten by trip 10s on the river...I knew I had the best hand until then...I had bet 1K on the turn, there was a possible straight draw I was trying to drive out...when he called that I couldn't figure out what he had...and then he got his lucky 10 on the river...glad I checked then.
THIS however - qualifies for coolest. hand. ever. (for now at least) ;)
Hand #3433397-133 at Fri515pmA-026 (No Limit tournament Hold'em)
Powered by UltimateBet
Started at 26/Nov/04 19:34:57
chadmandue is at seat 0 with 11260.
Sumantix is at seat 2 with 9970.
jcloud is at seat 3 with 6935.
jeter2 is at seat 4 with 35095.
TexansBaby is at seat 5 with 4025.
Garland44 is at seat 6 with 9885.
Da Cooler is at seat 7 with 7910.
spacey is at seat 8 with 2485.
coach 2 is at seat 9 with 14485.
The button is at seat 2.
Da Cooler posts ante (50).
Garland44 posts ante (50).
TexansBaby posts ante (50).
jeter2 posts ante (50).
jcloud posts ante (50).
Sumantix posts ante (50).
chadmandue posts ante (50).
coach 2 posts ante (50).
spacey posts ante (50).
jeter2 posts the small blind of 200.
TexansBaby posts the big blind of 400.
chadmandue: -- --
Sumantix: -- --
jcloud: -- --
jeter2: -- --
TexansBaby: 7h 5d
Garland44: -- --
Da Cooler: -- --
spacey: -- --
coach 2: -- --
Pre-flop:
Garland44 calls. Da Cooler folds. spacey folds.
coach 2 folds. chadmandue folds. Sumantix calls.
jcloud calls. jeter2 calls. TexansBaby checks.
Flop (board: 7c 5h 5c): [Um...ok...someonepleasebetsoIcanslowplaythis]
jeter2 checks. TexansBaby checks. Garland44 bets
400. Sumantix raises to 800. jcloud calls. jeter2
folds. TexansBaby calls. Garland44 calls.
Turn (board: 7c 5h 5c 8s):
TexansBaby checks. Garland44 checks. Sumantix
checks. jcloud checks.
[Damn! Someone was supposed to bet so I could check raise! Why does that never work for me...]
River (board: 7c 5h 5c 8s 5s):
TexansBaby goes all-in for 2775. Garland44 folds.
Sumantix calls. jcloud folds.
[He had actually bet, then I had re-raised all in...tough call for him, I know. Remember...I'm familiar with the boat over boat concept...and given the way I had been playing this hand until then, I would not have put me on 5s at all.]
Tournament all-in showdown -- players show:
Sumantix shows 3d 3s.
TexansBaby shows 7h 5d.
Showdown:
Sumantix has 3d 3s 5h 5c 5s: full house, fives full of threes.
TexansBaby has 5d 5h 5c 8s 5s: four fives.
Hand #3433397-133 Summary:
No rake is taken for this hand.
TexansBaby wins 11200 with four fives.
So that was nice. :D
Then I find JK and hit both on the flop, go all in, take it down and now sit with 16K. Next hand find Queens, raise to 1600, get one caller, flop is rags, bet the pot, take it down.
I make the money...ante is now 100, blinds are 400/800. My chip count is 19,820. I find Jacks. Raise to 3,600....BB calls. Flop comes 4 Q 7 - BB checks. I bet 3600. BB, whose stack is slightly more than mine, goes all in....and I make mistake number 2 and call. (Queen on the board...he called the pre-flop raise, which although not HUGE, should have indicated to me that he had something...and even something as lowly as 4s had my big Jacks beat at this point). Sure enough...he had 7s, and the turn and river were no help to me, so his set held up, knocking me out of the tournament.
I finished 96th and got 50 cents in UB bonus dollars for my efforts. I'm proud of myself for a) finishing ITM b) cracking the top 100 and c) only making 2 mistakes (although damn were they costly).
Posted by April at 12:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 21, 2004
Done with Party
As in...it's all gone. And I don't think if you even gave me a free $500 to play there I would go back. Well...maybe, because I think only with that bankroll could you actually survive the swings. Hell, I don't know. I know the standard response is, "if you can't beat the bad players, you're not a good one"...but damn. I mean...I understand now why all those RGP'ers are led to rant that all on-line poker is rigged after playing at Party. Hell, I would too! After all the runner-runner flushes the day before, I get A10o, call the BB, flop two pair (hearts, of course), bet it out...turn comes a heart, river comes a heart...and I am so freakin pissed, but then I realize that it's the oh so lovely 10 of hearts, so I now have a full house.
But if Thursday was flush day at Party, Friday was straight day. Nearly every hand was one. I made the nut straight once, and it seemed to go around the table a few times. So really...I should have been more aware when I got my two pair QJ and the bet was to put me all in...
So that's that. The Party's over. I didn't really WANT to go...I was perfectly happy at UB...and John told me I'd be back. (Also should have been a clue...if even he, in playing all those hands he had to to clear the bonus, couldn't make it as profitable as he does at UB...hmmm). But I have to be stubborn and do things my way, "just to see". Probably not a good trait for a poker player. Like I said...need to work on my discipline.
So...back to UB. It is good to be home. Was getting nowhere in the ring games so decided to try a $5 SnG. Took 2nd. Played tight for the most part till the end when I just started catching cards and then took on the chip leader. It ended up coming down to him and I heads-up. He kept going all-in...not sure if he actually had anything or was just blind-stealing...but I wasn't going to call with anything less than AKs or a decent pocket pair - the blinds were high enough that I could wait out his stack getting eaten away.
I get 8s, raise, he comes over the top all in. ..... OK, what the hell. At this point, I have 6 times the chips he does, and I admit I was dying to know what he kept going all-in with. [Jack, shitty kicker] I make trips on the turn, but he makes a straight. D'oh! So we're pretty much chip matched at this point, which gives him room to be more agressive, which is how he got to be the chip leader in the first place.
One thing I don't do well (at least anymore) is play on the bubble and up in SnGs. It's like every ounce of agression in me goes bye-bye. [If I was only half as agressive as I am when I drive...woo hoo!] I'm not sure why. I did have one proud moment when I raised pre-flop with The Hammer...and he showed me what he was folding...also 72...hehe. I remember what SirFWALGMan said (at least, I think it was him) one time about getting 72 in a tourney, and it being a sign that you're gonna have to get some chips here without actually having good cards...and I've kinda taken that on as well. Of course, you can't just wait for the best damn hand in poker to come around...
So I'm thinking, someday...I'll just spend $5 on an SnG and become an absolute nut. Just to see what happens.
Posted by April at 12:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 19, 2004
Why I Hate PartyPoker
First...why is it so damn difficult to find a NL real money table? Why list them by the max buyin instead of the blinds? I was so confused...
Second...I don't need a banner and confetti when I win a hand. Just give me the chips and be on your way.
Third...oh yes - the fish are out there. But then, so are the sharks. And as we all know, those fish will continue to draw on you no matter how much you bet at them - as long as they have the ace of whatever suit the flop came. And yes, I know this will pay off eventually, but it didn't last night. Apparently it was "runner runner flush night" at Party.
Last night was just a bad night for me card-wise, all the way around. We played a game at home, best hand I got all night was pocket 8s (and that didn't even come until I put on my poker bracelet). My husband on the other hand has apparently been taking a course in poker from Dennis Rodman and cleaned up the table by being super agressive.
It is pretty cool though to have those massive chip stacks just like you see on TV, at the WSOP or whatever...I love my new chips.
Posted by April at 11:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 18, 2004
A Change...
So I cashed out at Stars, and have moved everything from there over to UB and Party. We'll see how it goes at Party. Everyone says it's the place to be...I'll give it a shot.
Still love UB though, so can't leave there.
Need to work on my discipline. Can't rely on John to keep me in line.
Need to work on my discipline in more areas than just poker...
Posted by April at 12:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 17, 2004
Thank you folks, we'll be here all week...
(While persuing our DVD collection...)
Jonathan: "Ooo...Is this Season 1 of Buffy?"
Me: "Yes it is"
Jonathan: "I should bring my Angel DVDs over here to keep it company then."
Me: "But then they'd get together and the Angel DVDs would loose their soul...the results would be disastrous. And we'd have no way to get it back in."
Jonathan: "Yea...do you even have Willow?"
Posted by April at 08:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 16, 2004
Keep your hands where I can see them Alix...
And remember to wipe the drool off the keyboard, OK? :D
Haven't yet found the one I was telling you about last night...well, I did, but it's too small...so I'm looking for a bigger one. In the meantime, check this out.
Nice to know I'm not the only girl who appreciates a good QB... :twisted:
Posted by April at 09:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 14, 2004
Well...THAT was fun
Not.
3 cents in my UB account.. 3 f'in cents.
My fault of course. Stepped up to .25/.50 before I should have...and drew too much, really. OK. No problem. That's poker.
But then when I dropped back to .10/.25, the hand that really did it for me, was pocket 7s. I limped in on the blind. LP raises, button calls. Flop is 8 7 K. I bet the set...LP folds...button calls. (This should have been a clue to me). Turn is an 8. Sweet...right? Uh...no. I probably don't have to tell you what the button had. So when he went all in, I called (it was only a dollar or so more to me, and hell, I had a full house!!) and of course, Kings full of eights beat sevens full of eights any day. The irony is, John and I would often argue about the wisdom of playing low pocket pairs...and my claim was that any pocket was a good pocket...you could totally flop a set! Which he would counter with, so could someone else...and then what? So...I really should have known better. I mean, the raise was called...my bet was called off the flop, there was no apparent draw...why didn't I see these clues???
I think...that I just assumed he was betting two pair or something...had overcards and that I was being all sneaky by slipping in with my pockets. I think...that since the majority of people who play at the lower limits are clowns, you get in the tendency to assume they ALL are, so holy hell, it never even occurred to me that someone might actually be doing the same damn thing as ME!
So yea...that was a big hit, but not the cruical one. That came tonight, when I sat down to play, found out exactly how pathetic my bankroll was, and proceeded to not get crap for cards for 15 minutes. So while the blinds eat away at what little I do have...I enjoy the muisc on Yahoo Messenger? Finally I get J Q, with a Q on the flop, and a flush and straight draw. I bet my pair, get called, turn is a blank, but I do remember this...it's bet to me, to put me all in. Well at this point, it's only $1.25 more, and really...what the hell? I'm thinking maybe I'm against Q A or a pair, since it was raised pre-flop...and sure enough...aces. And just to add insult to injury, river brings another ace.
How I survived with 3 cents I'm not exactly sure.
That my friends, has been my night...
Hit the .25/.50 tables at Stars, where the bankroll can handle it. No cards. Tired of hitting the fold button, I decide to try a $5 SnG. Cards continue to run cold there...for a while. I get 10s a couple of times, but they are worthless to me. Part of the problem is the one guy at the table who will call any bet with ANYTHING. Just when he's shortstacked he makes a comeback and stays alive...I didn't stick around to see, but it wouldn't surprise me if he managed to win the thing. He was the death of me. I got a nice pot off him when I made a 6-high straight, but he got his chips back and then some when he called my raise (Kings) and the board came spade after spade after spade after...ya...you get the idea. Me? My Kings were red. No help. And again...no amount of betting could keep him from drawing. So that hand pretty much made me the short stack. Fortunately the next hand I got Queens...so I went all in, knowing I'd get a caller. And of course...freakin hearts on the flop. And then on the turn.
So yea...that's been my night.
Although, I'm doing fairly well with the play chips now...
I've cashed out at Stars. Oh, they begged me not to (sure, where was the deposit bonus when I made my deposit in the first place, huh?)
but I'd really rather play at UB, or I'm thinking I'll move some money over to Party where all the cool kids are. (I know...bonus code IGGY dammit!)
At any rate...it's gonna take a couple of days for that to go through Neteller, so this leaves me with time on my hands. I'm left with nothing but play chips. Probably for the very best. Probably just need to step away from the tables for a bit.
I think David Carr and I both need to take some time off and get our damn heads straight...
Posted by April at 11:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 13, 2004
NNNNOOOOOO!!
Say it isn't so... :cry:
Now what am I going to do with myself on Sunday nights??
Oh. Play poker. Study.
Posted by April at 11:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 12, 2004
Holy crap it got cold! Normally this would not be an issue, but like...I have to spend a good amount of time outside. I don't understand these people who wear shorts on campus - are they from Alaska? If so, why did they come to Texas? I am tempted to ask them, but I feel that would be rude. And the girls...in the short skirts, with no tights or anything...but the fuzzy boots. Like that really makes a difference? I feel the need to comment on their outfits, but again.
Perhaps this snappishness is a result of my long week. And lack of table time. I did of course manage to find a way to sneak some in (nature always finds a way), but no where near the amount needed for balance. Doubtful that I will get it this weekend either, but I am sure as hell gonna try.
Coolest hand of the week -
Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (9 handed)
MP1 ($13.40)
MP2 ($60.20)
TexansBaby ($15.20)
CO ($14.85)
Button ($40.20)
SB ($23.75)
BB ($24.30)
UTG ($28.25)
UTG+1 ($8.65)
Preflop: TexansBaby is MP3 with 9d, 9c.
UTG+1 calls $0.25, MP1 folds, MP2 calls $0.25, TexansBaby calls $0.25, CO folds, Button folds, SB completes, BB checks.
Flop: ($1.25) 8c, Kd, 9h (6 players)
SB checks, BB bets $1.25, UTG+1 folds, MP2 raises to $2.5, TexansBaby raises to $3.75, SB folds, BB folds, MP2 raises to $13.75, TexansBaby calls $10.
Turn: ($30) 4h (3 players)
MP2 bets $30, TexansBaby calls $1.20 (All-In).
River: ($31.40) Jc (2 players, 1 all-in)
Final Pot: $31.40
He definately made me think with that re-raise on the flop, but my thought was this...if he was sitting on Kings and hadn't raised with them pre-flop, then he deserved to have me make quads. ;) Can't say I really understand the bet on the turn...I mean...that's just excess clicking as far as I'm concerned.
That's all for now...excuse me while I return to my spot by the fireplace.
Posted by April at 09:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 10, 2004
Think 2
Just do it...
Posted by April at 10:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 09, 2004
Time Flies
Another beautiful Texas day. Still unseasonably warm for November, but that's OK. A slight chill, but offset by the sun beaming down. If only they had power outlets outside on campus...I've become quite the expert on the wifi hotspot/power source locations.
This week is gonna be brutal. I have a test and a 4 page paper due Friday. Combined with the fact that this is the final month of classes...it all comes down to this chicky. And I am so terrified that I'm not gonna make it. I completely bombed my last math test. I have no idea why...because the professor hasn't given us the test back yet (don't get me started...he rode his bike to school...so he couldn't bring them in....yea...) Granted that grade gets dropped. But still. Fear doesn't even being to describe it. My eternal optimism doesn't extend much to matters concerning me. I can't count the number of panic attacks I've had this week (granted, that used to be a daily occurance, but I haven't had one in months) and let's not even talk about what my previously flawless skin now looks like. Can you say stressed??
I just wanna stay...
Posted by April at 11:56 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
November 07, 2004
A Brief History
So I've decided to be a good little poker blogger (although I still maintain this is not entirely a poker blog!) and will upload my stats and track them here. Partly because I haven't really been, I just consider it a good thing to end the night up, bad if I'm down. But not really knowing how much I'm down...well...that's just called denial. I do know that I am in a deep hole at UB, and am working my way out of that. It makes me sick when I think of how my bankroll was twice the size it is now...ugh.
Anyway...a brief history of my foray into online poker. Poker in general I supose.
In June 2004 I went to Colorado Springs for a week to visit my best friend Jana, who was due to have her first child, any day. While she was at work, this left her husband and I to hang around the house, running errands and goofing off. One day, Fred suggested that we take a trip to Cripple Creek to hit the casinos. Fred's intent was to play poker, he figured I would play slots or something. Well...I'm not that kind of girl. I knew how to play poker. Granted, it had been years since I had really played, but we had played a game of Hold'Em after a Super Bowl party that year and I was certainly interested in picking it up again. Slots? Whateva.
So we hit the casino. Lucky for us, there is an empty poker table, and an extremely friendly dealer who is more than happy to deal out a few training hands, to refresh me on the concepts on blinds, etc. plus the whole casino aspect on things. And on those training hands...I win every damn one. Then we get enough people to actually play hands, and I buy in with $40. The maximum bet in Colorado is $5...I forget what the blinds were. All I remember is...I won a few hands at the beginning. (Beginner's luck, since I had no clue at all about hand selection, how to read a board, etc.). We ended up staying an hour, and my $40 lasted me that...I think I had a few dollars left, techincally enough to call the blinds for a more hands, looking back I could have just gone all-in with something, but again...what did I know?? I ended up giving it to the dealer as a tip because she was so awesome to me the whole time...what a fishy I was!! :)
Of course later, Fred gives me pointers on hand selection. And then introduces me to poker on TV. And then we play at home. Every night. As Jana said shortly after I arrived back in Austin, "I think you created a monster Fred".
Shortly after I got back from my trip I was fired from my job (or...my resignation was accepted early...if the f-word offends you). That left me with a lot of free time. ;) So...to PokerStars I came. Hours a day, grinding away at play chip tables. Enjoying the game, again, not really knowing much in the way of theory, still only having those basic principles from Fred in my mind. One of the great things about Stars I think is the atmosphere. I have yet to find another poker site that is more like, as John put it when he first found our little gang, "a chat room with cards". So yes...I have quite the buddy list on Stars, and it's not for fish purposes. Playing became a very social experience as well...but also a learning one, because in our little group we would share our knowledge and advice with other. But it was clear that one person was the best...and I still don't fully know what I did to deserve getting him all to myself, but I am so glad that I did. (And here is where April's nature to question things that are most likely totally random/fate/whatever to death, looking for meaning in them needs to stop - or I could just chalk it up to my charm and killer wit...I mean really, who wouldn't want to chat with me? :D) My game is so far improved because of John's feedback and advice, discussions with him, etc. I would not be the player I am today without his mentoring. I still have a ways to go certainly...but for someone like me to who tends to go through spells where I become my own worst enemy, it is helpful to have that older brother persona to fall back on. Like when I get pocket 2s and I am so tempted to call...I can just think "John would shoot me" and then be a good girl and fold. And when the flop comes A K Q...feel better. :) Let's see, I took a minor story detor here - sorry. I get bored easily, and decided to check out Ultimate Bet one day. Slick graphics, I like those. John signed up there, which got me bonus dollars...and well, the rest is history. :)
So...the money honey.
Well, to convert those bonus dollars at UB to real dollars, you have to make a deposit of your own. So I did. $25. On 9/7. Proceeded to play with John at a .50/1 table which was waaayy to high for that bankroll, so (not surprisingly) - lost it all that night.
However, that did convert like $2 of the bonus dollars, so I then hit the .01/.02 tables and began grinding it out there. And I did well there. But that's enough for me!! Come on!! So not surprisingly, on 9/16, I deposited $50 to play higher levels. Not sure which, but I'm thinking it was .10/.25. And I have no idea what happened, I wasn't keeping notes then, but I do know that I deposited another $50 on 9/17. :blush: So I'm thinking it was a crappy night.
That however was my last deposit. On 9/27 I won $50 in the UB Player Appreciation giveaways (I think that is the first time in my life I have ever won in a random drawing anything). BUT - the cold hard truth is this...if you add up all the money in - the deposits from my bank ($125) plus the UB bonuses ($150) - that gives a total of $275. And my UB account now sits at.....$60.58. Excuse me while I go cry in a corner. I'm down $214.42 at UB. Ouch. I knew it was bad....but damn. I think I know why I've been putting this little mental exercise off.
OK...one more. This will help a little. Stars. I had no money at Stars, but could not pass up the Blogger Tourney. So I made my $50 deposit, paid my $22 tourney entry, and made my dismal performance. :) But after that, I hit the cash tables and cleaned up! And since then I haven't done much with it, except for play one SnG, transfer two dollars to my little protege, and then play with him last night at the .01/.02 tables, where I think I lost like 70 cents or something. So....money into Stars - $50 - balance now - $109.75. Difference - $59.75. (what's sad is I used a calculator for that before I got the answer, and then thought - duh. dumbass)
So overall bankroll, I'm down $154.67. Still ouch. I had a horrible week a couple weeks back where I lost nearly $100. That's the hit I'm rebuilding from at UB. I think UB will always look a little weaker, or at least look weaker for a while, due to the fact that it was the first cash account I opened. Plus that's where John and I play heads-up SnGs, and he frequently kicks my ass I usually let him win.
I will be good and add a little section over to the left or right to reflect all this now that I've done the hard part, to keep everyone updated on my progress. But right now I have to go get ready for the Texans/Broncos game viewing party, and don't wanna hassle with the html.
And I guess this wasn't that brief after all. But thanks for sticking with me. If you did. ;)
Posted by April at 12:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 06, 2004
Time Made
Hit the tables tonight, playing the .10/.25 at UB as part of the build the bankroll back up goal. The table I sat at, while loose, wasn't particularly fishy, so while I did leave slightly ahead, I choose to leave because it clearly wasn't going to be profitable enough.
Decided to play a $5 SnG. I know...should be doing a $10 for a better ROI, but with the bankroll in the state it is, plus my limited SnG experience (although, really - I've done 3 now, and finished 3rd, 5th, and now 2nd...so I don't know what I'm psyching myself out of really). It was awesome. I wish John had been there to see me, (although...that time I got 5th...I was doing an SnG with him, so...perhaps there is something to this? ;)) because at one point I took out two other players with my king-high straight and took a massive chip lead. That was beautiful. At that point of course it became mine to loose. Once it got down to three players things loosened up as it always does once everyone has made the money. My only real mistake was playing my two pair - flop was 4 Q Q, I had the 4, wasn't 100% sure the other guy had the Q, but really in my heart knew he did and was trapping me. Fortunately didn't give him a lot of chips on that hand, but he was close to being out at that point, and that hand gave him enough to stay alive.
Went out on a pair of nines. Honestly not a call I would normally make, but frankly, this heads-up battle was going on too long and a stand needed to be made. I had middle pair on the flop with king kicker...and he had ace rag, but of course you can guess what the turn brought. ;) I suppose it should be a consulation to me that I read my opponent right/had the instincts to make the right call at the time. I suppose with all the awesome hands I'd been having, it was bound to happen sometime.
Posted by April at 01:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 05, 2004
Fix Needed!
Must. Play. Poker.
Between the election, tests, other life stuff, and the weekly play chip game at Stars with the crew, I have not been able to put in any real time at the tables this week and I'm starting to suffer withdrawl. And it doesn't look like I'll get time tonight...and I'm not sure about tomorrow...and the Texans need me on Sunday. I'll make time of course. But it has to be soon, or else I'll freak out or something!!
My birthday present arrived this week. Awesome chips, as seen in this blog logo. Since it will be awhile before our next home game, I am content to just shuffle them in my hand and enjoy that beautiful, beautiful sound. They are absolutely lovely. I am a happy happy girl. :D
Posted by April at 05:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 04, 2004
Why yes, I am sad
I had a Government test today...and should have been studying for it Tuesday night. But there was no way I could have torn myself away from the TV...while a lot of people I'm sure were watching anything else, figuring they would just wait and see what the final outcome was, like the politics junkie I am, I had to watch every second tick by. (Multitasking at Ultimate Bet at the same time of course, ;))
I knew it was going to be a close race. And I was very hopeful. I was watching MSNBC (being the loyal little solider that I am [have always been devoted to NBC]...but tired of the local news coverage that had been on the NBC station for the past hour) and they had just been talking to the reporter in Ohio who was telling them that it was too close to call, ballots were still out, etc. when suddenly...they call the freakin state for Bush. I then of course go into yelling at the TV mode. Followed by disbelief/crying/revived hope, and then acceptance. I believe that follows the standard stages of grief, although perhaps loosely.
What am I glad about?
That it didn't drag on forever like 2000 did. To do so would have further damaged the party, and quite frankly, we can't take that. (Yes...I'm not going to give lines about how dragging it out would have divided America, yadda yadda. America is divided...look at the numbers. I'm being selfish and thinking about my party...because good God, someone has to.)
That if you look at the map of the the voting by counties...in all that red...that sea of it...there is one little spot of blue right in the middle of Texas. I LIVE THERE. That's the capital bitch. And you call this place home? Bite me.
That Tom DeLay didn't get his way entirely with his little Texas redistricting plan. You may have gotten most of the seats, but you didn't get Lloyd's and that's the one you really wanted. By the way geniuses, when you said all along that the purpose of redistricing was NOT to gain control of the House, but rather to increase minority representation, yadda yadda (bullshit, we all knew, but still) - don't you think it might be a good idea to keep that lie going and NOT let loose with the real purpose now? People do have memories.
What am I mad/sad about?
4 more years.
And they have the majority control...which is extremely scary. Additudes like this one I worry will be all too common. BUT - I'm a liberal Democrat living in Texas. I'm used to being on the losing end. :) I'm used to sticking in there.
I'm proud to be a Democrat. I always will be. My mother tells me that being a Democrat is for the young, (that you can afford to be - you turn Republican when you have to worry about taxes and such). I can see her point. John asked me when I was going to grow out it. I told him never. I have core values that this party takes care of, and I don't see that changing. I am a yellow-dog Democrat. Although...perhaps yellow-cat Democrat would be the perferred term here in this household. ;)
I worry about the future of the party, because I fear many losing faith and giving up. And I worry greatly about the next four years...but I will be ever hopeful.
And so I alternate between being very sad (and goodness my Government textbook didn't help that much - the damn thing is full of charts on how inneffuctal the Democratic party has become, and at one point talks about how pointless it is to vote really - not what you want to read at this point in time) and then having brief moments of joy when I think just maybe it's not gonna be so bad after all.
But overall - SIGH.:cry:
Sure do miss you Bill..
Posted by April at 08:12 PM | Comments (0)
There's humor in this domain name
Transition not 100% complete, but getting there.
Posted by April at 05:31 PM
November 01, 2004
Moving Day
Getting this site ready for it's new home (yes...finally got my witty little domain registered and all that...now just have to put the finishing touches on everything before I move it all over...or more accurately, have Jason move it all over...but hey, I'm doing the actual DESIGN here!) :)
Anyway...as part of said design, I'm font hunting. Which I love to do...I am a font addict. I highly recommend Font Garden if you are ever in need of any. Not only for the incredible selection, but also for the presentation. Each one is sampled via a quote or other random, bumper-sticker type saying. For example, I will share some of my favorites from today's trolling, so you may enjoy as well. (Without the eye-crossing clicking and scrolling...)
If I ever get real rich, I hope I'm not mean to poor people, like I am now.
Last night as I lay looking at the stars I thought "Where the hell is the ceiling?"
Getting what they deserve doesn't satisfy many people.
All my life I wanted to be someone; I guess I should have been more specific. - Jane Wagner
Follow your dream! Unless it's the one where you're at work in your underwear during a fire drill.
People that hate cats, will come back as mice in their next life
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
The truth is out there? Does anyone know the url?
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to see it, do the other trees make fun of it?
Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disclination to do so. - Douglas Adams
"I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals; I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants" - A. Whitney Brown
If you tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe, he'll believe you. But if you tell him a parkbench has just been painted, he has to touch it to be sure.
A Smith & Wesson ALWAYS beats 4 aces
*********
And that was just through the H's...probably not the best site to going though while sitting in the library...that ceiling one always kills me.
OK...back to work. This thing won't design itself. Sure would be a lot cooler if it did...(sorry...quoting Dazed & Confused a lot lately)
Posted by April at 01:41 PM | Comments (2)