And so I bid PokerWorks farewell. The last eight months has been a fantastic ride over here. I’ve been challenged to put my best writing foot forward and crank out content a few times a week – and I’ve learned that this ain’t easy, folks. If I didn’t already have respect for those who do this for a living day after day, my respect now is huge.
Continue reading
Fold.
Posted in Atlantic City, Poker Perspectives
Comments Off
A wee bit more
To wind this marathon report up, I leave you with one last little tale.
The next day after the Borgata session, I dipped my toes briefly into the Atlantic, strolled down a portion of the boardwalk and ogled the thousands of people at the shore for a beautiful Labor Day weekend on the beach. Did I join them? Nope. The rest of the day found me firmly planted in the four-seat of a 1.2 no-limit table at Caesar’s.
It was a far more subdued table than the night before, however they did have one thing in common – a chip architect. He sat in the nine-seat and looked like he’d been there for a few days. Another twelve hours later, he was still there and I only saw him leave the table once. Stoic, and tight is all I can say about him.
Not so a gent who landed in the seat to my right at some point in the evening. He wasn’t a particularly good player – always short stacked and in a lot of hands. He had an accent I couldn’t quite place until we found ourselves in conversation with each other.
He was from Dublin, Ireland and had been in the states – New York City, to be specific – for only a month. He was an electrician.
“You make good money as an electrician in New York?” I queried.
“Hell, ya could be sweepin’ the floor and be makin’ good money in New York,” he replied. His lilt was refreshing, his attitude, well, forgive me, leprechaun-ish. A delight.
I was struggling this session – swimming up-stream against a school of bad beats and bad card playing (on my part), constantly worried about my diminishing stack. My Irish friend, however, was doing even worse, but it never soured his attitude. When the flop appeared, he had an endearing habit of saying “Oh, I hit that. But, a wee bit.”
One particular hand I will forever remember. Not for the cards that were played, but for how Dublin finessed it. He was down to less than fifty dollars in his stack. He was heads up with the chip architect who was sitting on about eleven to twelve-hundred. Chip architect had just put in a big bet, Dublin paused for a long while, fiddled with his chips, and then with impeccable timing said:
“How much ya’ got?”
For nano-second both the dealer and the chip architect made the motion to count before the rest of us cracked up. Dublin threw in his few chips. I honestly don’t remember if he won the pot, but let’s just say he did. After that, I loosened up and quit worrying so much about my stack size. I downed a couple of screw-drivers and enjoyed the rest of the session.
I ended up winning that night – both in money and in experience. Experience from the whole weekend, too. Another leg in this journey I’ve been on since 2003. I’ve met so many different people from so many different walks of life. It’s been nothing less then wonderful. You tell me, how often does a person get to experience that?
I’m one of the lucky ones. If only a wee bit.
Posted in Atlantic City, Live Poker
Comments Off
The longest trip report ever…
First of all, if you’d like to get 27% of your Full Tilt Rake back, you should check their site for more details. It’s really one of the best Full Tilt deals ever.
You either love ‘em or hate ‘em. Maniacs. At no time is it ever boring playing when one is at your table. Our poker playing Russian was determined, it seemed, to make Rasputin proud.
Posted in Poker
Comments Off
The lesbians, the russian and the architects two
A long, long time ago, at the tender age of twenty-five I made my first visit to California. Los Angeles to be exact. I’d moved to Phoenix and made the California visit with some of the folks with whom I was living at the time.
I went to visit a college roommate and some others from my college days. If I may be so bold as to drop names, Annie Potts was one of the people I intended to see, but I missed her. Saw her apartment, which was off Sunset Blvd., but didn’t see her. I did, however, see my college roommate and stayed overnight with her and her boyfriend of the time.
The second day of my visit, she took me to a place that, once inside, transported me far away from the LA smog and the hustle of the city. She took me to the happiest place on earth. I recall the anticipation as we neared, driving into the lot and then seeing the entrance to the Magic Kingdom.
I flashed on that memory as I drove into Atlantic City.
Posted in Poker
Comments Off
Seeing Double
You know those poker hands you watch on the WPT or WSOP or Late Night Poker or High Stakes Poker? Those poker hands where the players are holding the same hand against each other? The skill of the bet is what usually determines who takes down the pot, with a rare split if they go to showdown.
Well, there’s an online poker news site now where you can play the exact hand held by a player at another table with players holding the exact hand as the other players at your table. It’s called Duplicate Poker. It’s not really new – I recall a free site in the wee hours of the poker boom dawn about three years ago. I remember the concept intrigued me, but it never caught on.
There’s no problem depositing via credit-card. It’s deemed a skill game, therefore no restrictions on deposits. Right now there’s a Pokerworks special 100% deposit bonus up to $100. Give it a shot – sign up via Pokerworks and I’ll do a happy dance!!
Posted in Poker
Comments Off
It wasn’t broken
Destinations, whether they be the grocery store, the moon, or Philadelphia, PA, once reached the traveler is able to relax. Worries as to whether the traffic will be good, the Eagle will land or the plane will get off the ground are put away for a while.
When I landed in Philadelphia, I took my time getting off the plane. I patiently waited for my bag to be unloaded to the gangway and I strolled out of the terminal to where I was to wait for the shuttle to take me to Hertz.
Comfortably seated on a bench, I once again took stock of my injuries. My elbows were stinging a bit now. I had range of motion in my thumb, but it was still a bit swollen and a lovely shade of purple. I was sure it wasn’t broken and was relieved I wouldn’t have to be searching for a doctor and x-rays on Labor Day weekend.
Posted in Poker
Comments Off
The Detroit Gate Sprint
I have great parking karma. In fact, if one were inclined to wager on my ability to land prime parking spots, one might do very well indeed. However, when my karma goes bad, it goes real bad. If the prime spot isn’t mine to have, then you can be sure I’ll be relegated to the wilderness of parking spots at the end of the parking lot universe.
However, for the Philly/AC trip, my parking karma at my airport was in fine form. I landed a spot on first level, first row, with a short walk to the terminal, up the escalator and showing my boarding pass and ID in less than five minutes.
My airport karma, on the other hand, sucks. Continue reading
Posted in Poker
5 Comments
Where’s Gracie??
It was born out of a session of intercourse mid-June. “Let’s do it” was the only motivation required. It ran contrary to my usual modus operandi which is one of care, consideration, detailed analysis, planning, budgeting, and thorough research. Which, come to think of it, is probably why I remain single with only a couple of fur-balls to keep my toes warm at night…
Posted in Atlantic City, Poker
2 Comments
Of Trips
Otis and I have something in common. Well, we have a few things in common – a passion for poker being one. But, after this weekend, we share a unique common bond.
You will have to be patient, though. I bring this to you from the International Airport of Philadelphia, PA. via my iPhone. I’ve spent an interesting Labor Day weekend here and in Atlantic City. After I arrive home and have a chance to catch up on some sleep, I’ll share all with you. For now, a little amuse bouche to entice the appetite:
Where’s Gracie?
The Detroit gate sprint
It wasn’t broken
The lesbians, the Russian, and the Tonys times two
Until then, I hope your Labor Day Weekend was a good one!
Posted in Poker
Comments Off
Phil, Phil, Phil
Heros. War heroes. Sports heroes. Childhood heroes.
Your Dad. Your Grandmum. Fifth grade teacher. Audie Murphy. Muhammad Ali.
What transforms a person into a hero can range from a single defining moment at the three point line on a basketball court to a life time of example in a classroom. From self sacrifice on the battlefield to a helping hand after a skinned knee.
Posted in Poker
2 Comments