Sunday, October 31, 2010

Beerhog Wins at Premier Poker Lounge

Three NPP’ers ventured over to the PPL for the Saturday Night Tourney. Beerhog, Pre01 and Faldo unfortunately were seated at the same table of the two (16 players) needed. This would tend to hurt our chances to make the final table, but we all had a shot to make it.

Faldo (10th) bubbled the final table (what else is new) on a bad beat with my two pair losing to a deuce on the river giving the villain trips.

Pre01 (6th) also goes out in a rotten way as his (AQ) loses to (A6) with a [6] on the turn.

Beerhog was the short stack with four players left (paying two places), but made a roaring comeback to win it outright!

Way to go Beerhog! Tell us a few of those catch up hands if you would.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Zombies are Scarier in November than in October



Zombies Have No Will of Their Own and Blindly Follow Orders.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Odds Are Faldo Will Not Be at Premier Poker Lounge Thursday

The best laid plans. Work got in the way, and I cannot make Thursday night now. But I am still planning on a visit to Premier Poker Lounge on Saturday. Not an NPP event, but a visit none the less. November 6 is a possibility. Anyone else in for the 6th?

Speaking of odds, I thought I would lay these on you. These are the odds of hitting your draw AFTER the flop. Simply double those odds for just the river. The odds are estimates, but close enough for poker.

Pocket pair that needs to hit trips to win (outs = 2) – 10 to 1
A pair that needs to hit its kicker for two pair (outs = 3) – 6.5 to 1
Inside straight draw (outs = 4) – 4.5 to 1
Smaller pair on the board with a live kicker (outs = 5) – 4 to 1
Two live over cards to hit (outs = 6) – 3 to 1
Open ended straight draw (outs = 8) – 2.2 to 1
Flush draw (outs = 9) – 1.5 to 1
Flush draw with one live over card (outs = 12) – 1.2 to 1
Straight and flush draw (outs = 15) – even money
Straight and flush draw with two overs (outs = 15) – Favorite 1.7 to 1

Again, this is not dead accurate, but it is a very helpful guide.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

LittleRedElf Wins His 10th NPP Tourney

He’s baaaaaaaack! The man has done it again. Having already qualified for the NPP Final, his win only tightens up the race for the last seat.

Tonight was a bad beat night. You won’t see them all in this write up as I missed some and some happened without a knockout.

Just a note to say that I am planning to hit the Premier Poker Lounge for the Thursday and Saturday tourney. I can’t promise as how I am feeling will have something to do with it. But I hope to play some live action this week.

On to the NPP action:

11 min: Derf-63 (20th)
15 min: Douge2 (19th) sees his (KQ) hit a flop with a [Q], but Pre01 has (AQ).
24 min: Nahanni74 (18th) has her (Ts9s) hit a nine on the river, but Meatsword is holding (QQ).

36 min: ThePunk75 (17th) sees his (TT) lose to Absea98’s (AsQh) as four hearts hit the board.

44 min: xxxKdogxxx (16th) sees his (AK) run into Eyekall’s (AA).
50 min: Funtoon (15th).
51 min: Rjmech (14th) sees his (JJ) lose the coin flip to Meatsword’s (AK) as a [K] hits the river.

55 min: Merhibka (13th)
57 min: T3chlady (12th) sees her (AK) run into Tomservo2’s (AA).
60 min: Eyekall runs into the Break Monster in a big way. The Monster even chased him past the break as you will see. First, his (A8) loses to Wingsfancurt’s (TT), leaving him crippled at the break.

1st break:
Tomservo2 4990
LittleRedElf 4750
Meatsword 4605
Pre01 3550
Wingsfancurt 2320
Absea98 2315
Suetman1 2045
K9isadog 2010
Tigercub8189 1850
Theedouble*d 1520
Eyekall 45

61 min: PokerStars is a cruel site. Eyekall (11th) gets dealt (AK) as the shortest stack and small blind. Things had to be looking up as he was covered by the big blind, Theedouble*d and his (25). But DD pairs.

64 min: K9isadog (10th)
77 min: Pre01 (9th) loses his coin flip with (88) to Theedouble*d’s (QJ) with a [J] on the flop.

90 min: A short-stack (SS) Absea98 (8th) (JT) lose to Meatsword’s (AJ).
94 min: A SS Suetman1 (7th) sees her (JT) lose to Wingsfancurt’s (6d 5d) with a flop of [66Q].

100 min: A SS Tigercub8189 (6th) (QT) can’t catch Theedouble*d’s (AJ).
107 min: Tomservo2’s (5th) (QQ) gets run down by LittleRedElf’s (66) with a [6] on the river! Ouch!

112 min: Theedouble*d (4th) has (J9) and hits a flop [8s Td Jc]. Looking good with the pair and a straight draw. Meatsword calls with (Ac 7c), with a gut-shot straight and an over-card. Meatsword gets the double-bubble hit as an [A] hits the turn and a [9] hits the river!

116 min: Wingsfancurt (3rd) (AQ) cannot catch Meatsword’s (AK).

Heads up: Meatsword 19000 - LittleRedElf 11000

2nd break:
LittleRedElf 24690
Meatsword 5310

121 min: Meatsword (2nd) goes with (KT), but LittleRedElf calls with (Q6) and hits a flop of [QQ9].

Congratulations to LittleRedElf on his 10th NPP win! And congratulations to Meatsword for taking over the 4th quarter league lead.

1st – LittleRedElf – 24 points
2nd – Meatsword – 19 points
3rd – Wingsfancurt – 15 pts
4th – Theedouble*d – 12 pts
5th – Tomservo2 – 9 pts
6th – Tigercub8189 – 7 pts
7th – Suetman1 – 5 pts
8th – Absea98 – 4 pts
9th – Pre01 – 3 pts

Every one else earned one (1) point. Standings on the right side of the blog!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Theedouble*d Wins a Satellite for a $700 Entry Tourney on PokerStars!

Theedouble*d’s comments are in “ …” – Faldo’s ….not.

DD: “I have been doing well in these. Everyone is so loose that if you sit and wait you can build quite a stack. A key hand in this one was approaching final table and in danger of blinding too low, my 88 beat AA when I flopped the 8.”

As we all know, you have to be good – and lucky – to win tourneys.

Flushed with success, DD got in the same type tourney and just missed the big prize again, but did pick up 30 times his entry! Wow!

So, DD tries it again – only this time at a 10 times the buy-in (since he had the cash from the last tourney) and bubbles with a 7th place finish. Six got that $700 seat again! Dang!

But DD did pick up another 10 times his entry! Yes, that is ten times the ten time entry of tourney #2. Nicely done DD!!

Here is what he had to say about this near miss – but nice cash:

DD: “Ooohh…so close!!! The last hand guy hits his 8 on river to make set and take me out.”

Hmmm...didn’t your trip eights win you the $700 entry in the first tourney? PokerStars never forgets good fortune it gives you.

“Faldo, you were right though about these qualifiers being lucrative. Thanks for the tip.” – Theedouble*d

You are very welcome! That is what I am here to do – give every NPP’er the best chance at winning at poker.

I hope everyone caught the artful way DD took some of the profit from tourney #2 and took the shot at the even bigger payday. Bankroll management – or poor bankroll management is the biggest factor that turns many a good player into a broke player. DD shows us the correct play.

The other option is to never lose. Update on Faldo play:

I had a nice streak myself, cashing in 11 straight one-table sit-n-go tournaments. In this streak I had 4 firsts, 3 seconds and 4 thirds!

If only I could do this every time, I could throw out my own bankroll management foundation. But I can’t – so I won’t.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

The Community Card Review – XIII

Deep in the bowels of the Democrat National Committee they are hard at work. With the election just around the corner, they have to spin the disaster of Democrat total control of the US government in the last two years into something positive.

They have to sell the last two years as “progress” - instead of the actual incompetence, fraud and deceit that it was.

Hiding the truth will be tough, even with every media outlet assisting the Democrats every step of the way.

There were the secret backroom deals to pass healthcare that turned hidden corruption into a full fledged open auction. The Obamacare bill had hidden tax increases, immediate healthcare rationing, death panel clauses and massive cost overruns. Just as Americans instinctively knew were there, but were lied to by the Democrats and the media.

Barrack Hussein Imam Obama passed it anyway –against the will of the American people.

The Democrats have to hope voters ignore foreign policy and national security disasters. Like the idiot decisions to move terrorists to Illinois. The delay in sending more troops to Afghanistan, the lack of dealing with Pakistan, the emboldening of the Iranian and North Korean regimes, and the sanctioning of building a mosque at Ground Zero. And don’t forget our wide open borders.

And then there is the economy. Record unemployment, wasted billions of dollars in Democrat slush funds call stimulus, increased government spending on an already broke nation, increased taxes to businesses, continued record foreclosures in spite of billions more tax dollars wasted and plummeting consumer confidence.

Our nation had two years of rule by the Democrat Party. There is no hope and the only change was guiding this nation into a communist 3rd world country at a record pace.

At least Michelle got a 30 day, $45,000 a day vacation in Spain out of the deal. And Barrack got eleven vacations total. Liberals can always spend other people’s money easily.

If you ever vote Democrat again, you are stuck on stupid, mentally ill, or a traitor to the United States. Pick one.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Douge2’s Humor Corner – LII

Faldo’s Golf Shoes Must Get Ignored

A lady went into the saloon and saw a cowboy’s feet propped up on the table. He had the biggest boots she'd ever seen.

The woman asked the cowboy if it's true what they say about men with big feet being well endowed.

The cowboy grinned and said, 'Shore is, little lady. Why don't you come on out to the bunkhouse and let me prove it to you?'

The woman wanted to find out for herself, so she spent the night with him. The next morning she handed him a $100 bill.

Blushing, he said, 'Well, thank ya, ma'am. Ah'm real flattered. Ain't nobody ever paid me fer mah services before.'

'Don't be flattered... Take the money and buy yourself some boots that fit.


Mom’s Know .... So Lying Don't Works

Sam invited his mother over for dinner. During the course of the meal, Sam's mother couldn't help but notice how beautiful Sam's roommate, Jennifer, was. Sam's Mom had long been suspicious of the platonic relationship between Sam and Jennifer, and this had only made her more curious.

Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between Sam and Jennifer than met the eye.

Reading his mom's thoughts, Sam volunteered, 'I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you Jennifer and I are just roommates.'

About a week later, Jennifer came to Sam saying, 'Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the beautiful silver gravy ladle. You don't suppose she took it, do you?'

Sam said, 'Well, I doubt it, but I'll send her an e-mail just to be sure. So he sat down and wrote:

Dear Mom,

I'm not saying that you 'did' take the gravy ladle from the house, I'm not saying that you 'did not' take the gravy ladle. But the fact remains that one has been missing ever since you were here for dinner.

Love, Sam

Several days later, Sam received an email back from his mother that read:

Dear Son,

I'm not saying that you 'do' sleep with Jennifer, I'm not saying that you 'do not' sleep with Jennifer. But the fact remains that if Jennifer is sleeping in her own bed, she would have found the gravy ladle by now.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Derf-63 Wins and Gets Back in the Hunt!

I want to apologize from the outset. My reporting tonight was poor as I had just too many interruptions and things to do in my hotel room. There were just too many emails, instant messages and texts and phone calls from work.

Derf’s win really tightened up the race for the 4th quarter seat. Most players are a 1st or 2nd place finish away from the league lead…if everything falls right. That is why this league is so much fun! It is close all the way.

On to the action:

8 min: Douge2 (21st)
15 min: Mistermusic5 (20th)
17 min: ThePunk75 (19th)
22 min: Tomservo2 (18th)
31 min: Wingsfancurt (17th) goes with (AK) but cannot catch Derf-63’s (JJ).
32 min: Merhibka (16th)
45 min: Rjmech (15th)
47 min: Meatsword (14th)

1st break:
LittleRedElf 4780
Derf-63 4535
Yecats423 3830
Nahanni74 3232
Absea98 2730
T3chlady 2643
Tigercub8189 2450
xxxKdogxxx 1825
Eyekall 1610
Suetman1 1500
Pre01 1380
K9isadog 780
Theedouble*d 205

61 min: A short-stacked (SS) Theedouble*d (13th) has to try with (A3), but runs into Nahanni74’s (KK).

64 min: K9isadog (12th)
70 min: A SS LittleRedElf (11th) goes with (K2) and a flop of [K46], but Suetman1 was holding (44).

71 min: Absea98 (10th)
83 min: xxxKdogxxx (9th) with (QQ) is called by Suetman1 with (55). A [5] hits the flop.
99 min: At the 93 minute mark, T3chlady (8th) sees her (AA) run into Yecats423’s quad 3’s. Although she is extremely short-stacked, T3 battles on for six more minutes before her (Kh Th) can’t catch Nahanni74’s (JJ).

But this final table finish moves T3chlady back into the league lead.

109 min: A SS Eyekall (7th) goes with (J6)…and is called by Suetman1 with (J8)!
113 min: A SS Yecats423 (6th) goes with (J9) but cannot catch Pre01’s (AT).
116 min: A SS Pre01 (5th) has to go with (4s 2s) with a flop of [5c 2c 5h]. A SS Tigercub8189 (4th) also goes with (Kc Qc). They run into Suetman1 holding (A5), and she makes quads on the river for a double kill.

2nd break:
Suetman1 13034
Derf-63 10726
Nahanni74 7740

128 min: Nahanni74 (3rd) goes with (A8) and a flop of [26A], but Derf-63 is holding (66).
131 min: Suetman1 (2nd) goes with (99) and Derf calls with (Kd Qd) and hits a [K] on the flop ends it.

Congratulations to Derf-63!

1st – Derf-63 - 24 points
2nd – Suetman1 - 19 pts
3rd – Nahanni74 - 15 pts
4th – Tigercub8189 - 12 pts
5th – Pre01 - 9 pts
6th - Yecats423 - 7 pts
7th - Eyekall - 5 pts
8th - T3chlady - 4 pts
9th - xxxKdogxxx - 3 pts

Everyone else gets one (1) point. Standings are on the right side of the blog.

Monday, October 18, 2010

ThePunk75 and Theedouble*d Represent NPP and Final Table at the Electric Stick

And ThePunk75 cashed! Here is his report:

“It was this past Saturday at the Electric Stick 4pm Tourney that two NPP players ran into each other. Before the tournament started we recognized each other and exchanged hellos then seated ourselves at different tables.

There was 4 tables to start and when the tournament got to 3 tables the two of us were at the same table. At that point I had chipped up from a flopped two pair (with a check raise on flop, and a river bet and call that nearly doubled my stack).

DD and I knowing each other stayed away from each other for the most part, although he did raise my blind once that I openly called him out on. When the tourney consolidated to two tables we again were seated together and again we stayed out of each others way even though DD raised my blind for the 2nd time. We both survived the table although I had chipped up a couple of times through KO's.

So at the final table DD was short stacked a bit and there was a preflop raise, a call all in, another call and DD raised all in and everybody called his all in.

Unfortunately for DD and his KK two aces hot the board and he was up against two players with an ace. With DD out in 10th place it was up to me to represent the NPP.

I got another KO when I limped in UTG 99 and hit top set on flop, a checked flop brought a 10 on turn and an all in from BB I insta-called and took it down.

At 5 players blinds 15-30 k , with AQ hearts I raised 75 k and got an all in call for 70 k, he flipped over AK, but a turned broadway straight for me ended his day.

Soon after that the remaining 4 players all had similar chip stacks so a four way chop was agreed upon.”

This was a fine job by both of you!

Now, how many players did you two recruit for NPP next year???

Sunday, October 17, 2010

The Community Card Review – XII

Compassion is a virtue. How one demonstrates compassion is another matter.

Democrat politicians and liberals love to show up at food kitchens during the holidays when the television news cameras are rolling. Liberals in government crate massive programs that ultimately hurt the people they are supposed to help. These programs bankrupt the taxpayer and the nation at the same time, all in the name of “compassion.”

Liberals also ban behaviors that THEY deem will hurt the poor unfortunates whom liberals believe can’t or won’t make the right choices.

Three years ago. Liberals banned trans-fats in New York City to save the obese from themselves. But there are still plenty of obese people in New York, and plenty of hungry people too.

The New York City Food Bank reports that – after the the Obama Summer of Recovery – people are showing up in greater numbers than ever before for a free meal. Well, over half of the food kitchens in New York no longer have enough donated food to feed all that show up.

Donators might be surprised, saddened and pissed off to learn what happens to the food they donate. The head of the NY Food Bank tells all donators ‘thank you’, but if the food has trans-fats in it – like fried chicken - it is secretly thrown out.

Sure, people are hungry, but the Food Bank has to follow the law. Liberals feel it is better that the poor go hungry, and maybe die, rather than risk obesity with donated food.

This is liberalism in action. You can spot the few times liberals are actually doing something, because a wake of disaster is left behind.

More proof liberalism is a mental illness. There is no other explanation than fits.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Douge2’s Humor Corner – LI

No one corrected me on my Roman Numeral goof? It’s corrected now. On to the jokes!

This is only for the more sophisticated humorists among us….

Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.

A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, “I’ll serve you, but don't start anything.”

A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm, and says: “A beer please, and one for the road.”

Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: “Does this taste funny to you?”

“Doc, I can't stop singing The Green, Green Grass of Home.”
“That sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome.”
“Is it common?”
“Well, It's Not Unusual”

Two cows are standing next to each other in a field. Daisy says to Dolly, “I was artificially inseminated this morning.”
“I don't believe you,” says Dolly.
“It’s true; no bull!” exclaims Daisy….

I went to a seafood disco last week... and pulled a mussel.

Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Not surprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can’t have your kayak and heat it too.

A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel, and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office, and asked them to disperse.
“But why,” they asked, as they moved off.
“Because,” he said. “I can’t stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer.”

A woman has twins, and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt , and is named “Ahmal.” The other goes to a family in Spain ; they name him “Juan.” Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, “They’re twins! If you’ve seen Juan, you’ve seen Ahmal.”

A dwarf, who was a mystic, escaped from jail. The call went out that there was a small medium at large.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Internet Tournament Schedule is Heating Up - Faldo Will Sample

PokerStars is starting satellites for their eleven event USA World Championship of Online Poker (USA COOP), that will be held starting November 20th.

And still running is the PS Sunday Million, Sunday 1/4 Million, Sunday Warm-up, Sunday Second Chance and Sunday 500.

Full Tilt Poker has satellites to get into their 34 tournament Full Tilt Online Poker Series that start in November also.

You know my strategy. I try to grind out a small profit. But, I think it is time to try for some bling. I am planning to “invest” some of my profits into satellites to try and take down a major cash.

Sure I have to play well to make some profit. Then I have to play great and get lucky to win a seat in a big tourney. THEN, I have to play “in the zone” and run hotter than heck for twelve hours, to make the big cash.

But one thing is for sure – if I don’t take a shot, there is no way I can hit any target.

I think it is time to stop “practicing” and time to get in the game.

How do you think Faldo will do? Be honest friends. You can email if you prefer. - Faldo

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Rjmech Wins His 1st NPP Tourney

He was a wrecking ball tonight. Twenty-one players showed up and half the players fell to the eventual winner. He mowed them down when he had the better hand - and even when he didn’t!

This is kind of his 2nd NPP win. He did chop with Douge2 one tourney, but Douge2 got the credit for the win by having the higher chip count at the time of the deal.

With this win, Rjmech moves into 1st place in the 4th quarter standings, one point ahead of T3chlady.

Meanwhile, PokerStars entertained us with some shenanigans. There was a 4-way all-in and a 3-way all in (twss) and no one was eliminated either time! Amazing! I would have captured the hands in their entirety, but alas, I was not near my home email. I was exiled to southern Indiana on business.

On to the action:

16 min: Mistermusic5 (21st)
33 min: Yecats423 (20th)
37 min: Tigercub8189 (19th) saw his two pair lose to LittleRedElf’s trips at the 20 minute mark and proceeded to sit out (with 5 full blinds of chips) the rest of the way. The history of “a chip and a chair” must be lost on the Cub. But I understand the "computer monitor out the window" possibility also.

38 min: A short-stacked (SS) Wingsfancurt (18th) moves in with (QT), but the flop of [324] hits Odds2win777’s (8s 5s) and a [6] on the turn completes his low straight.

47 min: A SS Nahanni74 (17th) has to go with (Kh Qh) but cannot catch Rjmech’s (66). The first of the massacres he executes tonight. Some exits come fast now.

48 min: Theedouble*d (16th) has (JJ) and moves in on a flop of [Q4T]. Rjmech calls with his open ended straight draw with (KJ), and hits the [A] on the river. This becomes monotonous.

49 min: One three-way did produce a double kill. Absea98 (15th) (TT) and Eyekall (14th) (99) both lose to Merhibka’s (As Ks) with an [A] on the flop.

55 min: LittleRedElf (13th) runs into Derf-63’s (AA).

1st break:

Rjmech 5255
Merhibka 4672
T3chlady 4085
Derf-63 3242
Odds2win777 2910
K9isadog 2421
Meatsword 2370
Suetman1 2230
Douge2 1320
xxxKdogxxx 1040
Funtoon 990
ThePunk75 965

63 min: A SS Douge2 (12th) has to go with (Ah 6h) and Rjmech calls him with (JT). The flop is BINGO for Rj – [8Q9].

65 min: Derf-63 (11th) with (Kc Tc) cannot catch Rjmech’s (A7).
67 min: xxxKdogxxx (10th) bubbles. A long time until the next exit.
86 min: Suetman1 (9th) loses her coin flip with (Ad Td) to K9isadog with (66).
87 min: Merhibka (8th) with (QQ) runs into K9isadog with (AA).
89 min: Funtoon (7th) loses his coin flip with (TT) to Rjmech with (QJ) and a [Q] on the flop.

94 min: Another coin flip loss as Meatsword (6th) with (AQ) cannot catch Rjmech’s (77).

You have to win coin flips to win tournaments. That is all there is to it.

97 min: Luck helps too. ThePunk75 (5th) has to go all-in when his (QJ) hits a [Q] on the flop. But Rjmech is holding (QQ)! When you are hot, you are hot!

100 min: T3chlady (4th) sees her (AJ) run into – who else? – Rjmech with (AA)!

112 min: K9isadog (3rd) loses his coin flip with (KJ) to Odds2win777’s (66).

Heads up: Odds2win777 16600 - 14900 Rjmech

114 min: Rjmech has the chip lead now and aggressively moves all-in with (Q8). Odds2win777 (2nd) has to call with (22), but a [Q] on the flop ends it. Congratulations to Rjmech on his fist NPP win!

1st – Rjmech - 24 points
2nd – Odds2win777 - 19 pts
3rd – K9isadog - 15 pts
4th – T3chlady - 12 pts
5th – ThePunk75 - 9 pts
6th - Meatsword - 7 pts
7th - Funtoon - 5 pts
8th - Merhibka - 4 pts
9th - Suetman1 - 3 pts

Everyone else gets one (1) point. Standings are on the right side of the blog.

Monday, October 11, 2010

UB Challenge - Faldo Has Losing Month, But is Still OK

With a small profit in hand and a short way to go to close out the UB Challenge for the month, Faldo decided to switch it up.

Not only did I leave the comforts of known buy-ins and strong expertise in Sit-n-Go land, but I changed games and game type. I went to an Omaha Hi-Lo Pot Limit table.

The table was wild! I saw this right away. Two guys raised pot before every flop! When the one guy went broke, the other guy continued to do it. What is Faldo to do? I could stay and really pump up my bankroll, or lose my buy-in in this "BINGO" game and be down a little for the month.

As you can tell by the headline, I didn't do so much. Now I could re-buy and break this maniac. But I just didn't want to risk the "Challenge" and lose it all to this Bozo. And as you can probably tell, I was a little tilted after the loss.

I lost with (AsAcJs2c)to take a 1/3 of my buy-in. The flop was dry and the action wild. I correctly folded. But my flush would have won as the paired board gave no one a full house. Well that didn't sit right, but that's poker.

When I finally got into a pot (knowing it would be probably be for the rest of my buy-in), I had (Ac2dJcJs) and the flop was [Jh 2c 9d]. Trips and a backdoor flush draw. My low is busted but a low is not looking good at this point.

The idiot bets the entire pot and I have to call all-in. Two players to act behind me. I want the folds, but quading up my buy-in would be sweet too. They fold.

The villian has (AsKc8h5c). Top pair and a backdoor low.

The turn is a [7c], the river a [6d]. Yes, his double gut-shot 9 to 5 straight gets there.

As I said, I probably could have stayed and broke this guy - and this table. If my bankroll was large enough to handle the swings, it was a primo situation. But alas, my bankroll is not large enough.

For that size game, I need a bankroll of 100 buy-ins, carrying 20 buys-in with me and using them one at a time. I had 10 - total (was 11). I was under-bankrolled for the game I played and THAT is why I lost!

The cards didn't do it to me. I did it to myself. I got in a game too big for my bankroll. The cards probably would have evened out and would have I walk away much richer - IF I had the stash to see it thru. I didn't.

Well, at least I maintained my nestegg to get them next month. After all, life is one long poker game. One session or one month means nothing. But you got to have a bankroll to stay in the game.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Boother36 Hosts a Friendly MSU – UM Poker Game

We had six – Faldo, Boother 36, Beerhog, Matchy, Bo and DaveE. There was one no-show that I am aware of – who will be forever shunned. Well until the next card game anyway. But, as I think I can point out- six players on a “big game” day, is pretty darn good.

The no-show was not Davethedog, by the way. He is not a no – show! He is a “Can never get permission from wife.” There are other names for that…which I will not mention.

As usual, it was as nice and as player friendly as a poker game can be. Plenty of beer, food, munchies and TWO wall mounted (twss) big screen hi-def TV’s available to watch the football action. No one hosts a better game than Boother36. Thanks, Jon.

But poor Boother… and to a greater extent, Matchy, who tries to host even more games than Boother. They try…but it is difficult to pull them together anymore. It’s worse than when I was running the monthly NPP home game, which still managed 3 to 4 cancellations a year.

I know even Faldo has had to pass on their invitaions recently – sometimes for health issues. But many times because I wanted to watch the Saturday UFC fights on pay-per-view.

Now in the old days, you never missed a home card game because that was usually the only time you played. Unless you were a frequent visitor to one of the few casinos that even had poker rooms, home games was the only place you played.

So when a game was called, you were all over it! You had to get your poker fix in when the opportunity arose.

But now there are many more casinos – all with poker rooms. Plus there are multiple charity poker rooms, some running 7 days a week. And of course internet poker is 30 seconds and a couple of clicks away! There is no excuse for poker-jonesing ever!

Recently, Faldo’s guilty as anyone else for ditching friends trying to host card games. But when I watch the UFC fights instead of attending the home game, I am still on-line – multi-tabling away on one internet poker site or the other. See the issue?

Home games are still the best place to learn and enjoy poker. Where else can you deal “Omaha Hi-Lo, bonus-bonus, triple beds, post-flop ejaculation, no connectors”?

Not to mention tell jokes, discuss sport, bad mouth no-shows and make fun of 'apron wearing - never shows".

Friday, October 08, 2010

Douge2’s Humor Corner – XXXXX


Quick Thinking – Quick Service

The other day I needed to go to the emergency room..

Not wanting to sit there for 4 hours, I put on my old Army fatigues and stuck a patch onto the front of my shirt that I had downloaded off the Internet.

When I went into the E.R., I noticed that 3/4 of the people got up and left. I guess they decided that they weren't that sick after all. Cut at least 3 hours off my waiting time.

Here's the patch. Feel free to use it the next time you're in need of quicker emergency service.


The Power of Advertising

Two young boys walked into a pharmacy one day, picked out a box of tampons and preceded to the checkout counter.

The man at the counter asked the older boy, “Son, how old is you?”

“Eight,” the boy replied.

The man continued, “Do you know what these are used for?”

The boy replied, “Not exactly, but they aren't for me. They're for him. He's my brother. He's four. We saw on TV that if you use these you would be able to swim and ride a bike. Right now, he can't do either one.”

Thursday, October 07, 2010

UB Challenge Update – and Another Final Table for Faldo


Let the cheering begin! Making final tables in 90 player tourneys is easier than making them in 5000 player tourneys. I just figured this out. What a genius.

Faldo finished 4th in another PokerStars 90 player SNG. A four tourney set with a cash in just the one - set up this small profit.

Speaking of which: The UB – Faldo challenge continues this month. Here is the progress report:

SNG - $.12 – OUT = -$.12
SNG - $.12 - 3rd = $+.18 = $-.06
SNG - $.60 – 2nd = $+1.35 = +$.69
SNG - $.60 – OUT = $+.09
SNG - $.60 – OUT = $-.51
SNG - $.60 – OUT = $-1.11
SNG - $1.20 – OUT = $-2.31
SNG - $1.20 – 1st = +$4.50 = +$.99

Faldo’s Motto: “Never put it all on the line. Don’t chase cards or action.” – Kinish, in the movie ‘Rounders’.


$5.04 bet so far towards the requirement of $9 for the month. So, over half way there with a little profit cushion.

In this challenge, it is important to protect the bankroll by building cushion. After all, it is a one – year challenge. I have a long way to go. A run of bad cards, tough opponents or a mistake filled streak could be just around the corner.

But after the bankroll is built to a comfortable point, and near the end of the challenge - will we attempt to grab a brass ring (big cash) - or two.

After all, as Michael McDermett said, “If you never take a chance, your whole life can become a grind.”

There are two sides to every coin.

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Merhibka Wins His First NPP Tourney

Welcome to the Walk of Fame Merhibka! The fifty-eighth winner here at NPP!

One of the few “mystery” players at NPP, Merhibka does not play often. He shows up one to three times a quarter…and quietly plays very well. Faldo would love some comments or email with a little more information. Either way, Merhibka is now in the hunt for a seat in the NPP finals. Let’s see if he returns to compete for it.

T3chlady takes over the league lead over ThePunk75, Meatsword and Douge2. Faldo thinks it will be a close and exciting battle the entire way.

On a personal note, Faldo has not been feeling all that well lately and have been napping after work. Well, I missed an email for a new player for tonight’s tourney and I feel bad about that. Hopefully, the newbies will be here next week. I feel awful as Faldo is usually on top of this stuff.

On to the action:

1 min: Blood right out of the chute as Rjmech (19th) loses a coin flip with (AK) to T3chlady (TT).

3 min: LittleRedElf (18th) has (As Qs) and sees a flop of [7A7] and moves in. Wingsfancurt is holding (Kh 7h). Ouch! That is two dangerous players out of the way quickly.

20 min: Pre01 (17th) goes with his (TT) and runs into Theedouble*d’s (AA).
23 min: Eyekall (16th).
26 min: xxxKdogxxx (15th) goes with (As Ks) after a flop of [57K]. Wingsfancurt calls with (KQ) and hits his [Q] on the river.

27 min: A short-stacked (SS) K9isadog (14th) goes with (J8) and cannot catch Theedouble*d’s (Ah 2h).

45 min: Derf-63 (13th)
46 min: Yecats423 (12th)
48 min: Mistermusic5 (11th) sees a flop of [KA4] and moves in. But Meatsword calls with (As 4s).

52 min: Douge2 (10th)

1st break:
Wingsfancurt 6290
Theedouble*d 5125
Meatsword 4145
T3chlady 3795
Merhibka 2860
ThePunk75 2095
Absea98 2015
Tomservo2 1140
Suetman1 1035

62 min: Merhibka slow-plays (AA) and gets ThePunk75 (9th) go with (AQ) when a [Q] lands on the river.

66 min: Tomservo2 (8th) takes the bad beat of the night with (AA) and a flop of [727]. Merhibka is holding (A7)!

84 min: A SS Suetman1 (7th) has to go with (KQ), but cannot catch Wingsfancurt’s (99).
90 min: Meatsword (6th) moves with (9c 8c) and a flop of [893]. Wingsfancurt (A9) hits his [A] on the turn.

103 min: The now SS Wingsfancurt (5th) goes with (A5), but T3chlady has (AQ).
104 min: A SS Absea98 (4th) has to try with (88) but Theedouble*d (AQ) hits an [A].
109 min: A SS T3chlady (3rd) goes with (97) and a flop of [93T], but Merhibka has (AT). Either way, this finish gives T3chlady the league lead!

Heads up: Theedouble*d 23000 - 5500 Merhibka

111 min: A complete turn of events quickly! A SS Theedouble*d (2nd) has to go with (A8) and a flop of [8R6] but Merhibka has (TT)! Nice job Merhibka.

1st – Merhibka – 24 points
2nd – Theedouble*d – 19 points
3rd – T3chlady – 15 pts
4th – Absea98 – 12 pts
5th – Wingsfancurt – 9 pts
6th – Meatsword – 7 pts
7th – Suetman1 – 5 pts
8th – Tomservo2 – 4 pts
9th – ThePunk75 – 3 pts

Every one else earned one (1) point. Standings are on the right side of the blog.

Sunday, October 03, 2010

The Forgotten Man - Jon McNaughton



The Community Card Review – XI

A joint study by the United Nations and the World Health Study Organization finds that half the world’s population has no access to standard sources of energy – i.e. oil, natural gas, or electricity.

This includes Barrack Hussein Imam Obama’s brother, who lives in a hut in Africa. Somehow the rich helping out the poor doesn’t include family members at the Hussein Imam Obama’s world.

A UN spokesman said, “Half of humanity is completely disconnected from the green energy debate and their needs have to be included in any world agreement on energy.” Being disconnected from modern energy would include Barrack Hussein Imam Obama’s brother.

This comment doesn’t make any sense. But then again it is Democrat-liberalism-communism, so it never does.

The liberals meet in Copenhagen and other cozy spots around the globe – arriving in their private jets and limousines – to discuss how to diminish our access to energy. Now, they worry about how to double the number of people who have access of energy – including Barrack Hussein Imam Obama’s brother - by using policies that stop production of energy to the people that already have it.

Confused yet? If you are, you are normal.

If this approach of cutting energy supplies to the world and at the same time worrying about how to double the number of people who get energy - makes sense to you - then you are a full fledged liberal.

We already know what works. It is called capitalism, which is what gave the energy half of the planet their energy in the first place. The way to do it has already been done, but liberals ignore this and instead destroy the methods of energy development – freedom, capitalism, free markets and the ability to profit from one’s own efforts.

In less than 300 years, the United States rose to world dominance by using the capitalist-freedom model. Liberals ignore this fact, and stress wealth redistribution schemes, with themselves as dictators handing out the goodies.

Liberals heap blame and scorn on the people who deliver the energy to the world, to hide their own record of producing world hunger, poverty, suffering and lack of sustainable energy – including to Barrack Hussein Imam Obama’s brother.

Saturday, October 02, 2010

Faldo Makes Final Table in PokerStars 90 player Tilt


The ladies are happy for Faldo - naturally.

Sorry for the lack of postings this week. Faldo had a rough work week with some on the road travel thrown in. Add that to the fact I have been feeling run down, led me to pre-dinner naps instead of pre-dinner writing and posting.

But Beer-thirty arrived on Friday night and I was sitting with Beerhog up at the Brighton Buffalo Wild Wings (after my pre-dinner nap), and decided to play a little on-line poker. Beerhog was also playing some tourney and ring action on PS along side me.

I got in eight tourneys – not big stakes as public internet and Faldo public poker can get interrupted. Internet cuts out sometimes and Faldo female groupies swarm Faldo on most occasions – making it impossible to concentrate on poker.

It is tough being Faldo (see The Most Interesting Man in the World post – for confirmation).

As I have mentioned before, volume is key. Even though I failed to cash in the other seven tourneys, my 6th place final table finish in this one netted a small profit for the evening.

My exit was the usual PokerStars ream-ola, as my pocket Queens lose to pocket sevens with a 7 on the river – naturally. Beerhog suffered a similar fate in his tourney also.

The Sam Adams Octoberfest beer was tasty at least.