Sunday, December 31, 2006

Tournament Results...

Well all the mental preparation wasn't for nothing. I finished second in the "End of the Year" tournament last night. The BIG WINNER for the night was Frank Wolfe. He and I went heads up for a few hands, when the blinds were at $3,000-$6,000, with only $25,000 in chips even in play. Great job Frank...enjoy the big payout, you deserve it. I'll exact my revenge in next year's tournaments! :) Here's the listing of all the winners:

  1. Frank 473
  2. Brian M. 293
  3. Brian S. 180
  4. Russell 112
  5. Robert 67
  6. T.J. 50

The Bubble Boy for the evening was Erik P.

I hope everyone enjoyed the whole evening of cards and carrying on! Special thanks to Chris B, for keeping us all in line. Thanks to all who pitched in by helping or with donations on the food. We really do appreciate it. I'm already looking forward to January's tournament...see you ALL then!

Sounds like tonight Big Red and I are heading to the Yanok's for another fun-filled poker evening and New Year's Eve libation! I'll be seeing many of you there.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Saturday, December 30, 2006

End-of-the-Year Tournament 2006!

Tonight's the night...for the NDPT End-of-the-Year Tournament 2006!
I guess that makes it the 2nd annual. The first one was won by...hmmm...now who was that...oh yeah...it was ME! I suppose I should go for the repeat. The Win Sequel! I'm getting psyched up for it...WHOOOYAHHHH! Of course so is everbody else too. I have 24 people tonight, 3 tables, and of course a $50 buy in. There are NO rebuys for this special game. Also, this year, the winner of the NDPT points race for the year gets in for FREE! Congrats TJ Sellers on your victory over the pack. I was on your heels. But there's always next year.

Right now I'm just killing time, trying to stay occupied. Trying to keep my mind off of anything in particular. Just a little mental preparation. Lower the heart rate...reduce the stress. Preparing myself not to play...but to win tonight! :) Regardless of how it all turns out, I expect a phenomenal game tonight...and the crew that comprises the NDPT always delivers.

As always, Chris Brothers will be tackling the role of Tournament Director. His job this year, has been greatly appreciated, I hope by all, and if you agree, please tell him so. If you disagree, keep your FOOL mouth shut! From my perspective...it has increased my ability to enjoy and focus on the game.

A number of monumental events have taken place over the last few days. On Christmas day James Brown died. The following day, former President Gerald Ford died. And now today, in a remarkably speedy action, ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was hanged having been found guilty of crimes against humanity. All of these events have given many great pause.

May reflection, self improvement, positive attitude, and intestinal fortitude guide you all in the coming year. That and LIVE CARDS! :)

Regards,

cheer_dad

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

It ain't over til it's over!

We watched Rocky Balboa last night. (shhhhh, screener copy) It was a very good movie. I really enjoyed it. It was more about story and drama than ever before. Sure there were a few speeches along the way about bein' a man...and givin' it one last shot...but hey...it's a Rocky movie. I liked it, and that's good enough for me. As proof that Rocky still has an impact I offer up the fact that following this movie, my son went immediately to his room, changed into a muscle shirt, and put on his kiddie boxing gloves, and spent like the next hour or so jogging in place in front of the tv and shadow boxing. So the message is as powerful today as it always was. There's a lot of heart in the character of Rocky and it has shown through the generations, through to this final chapter of the saga.


One question though...when did they take down Rocky's statue from in front of the library?!
Hmmm. what's Google got to say...
http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/us/19rocky.html

Well now, ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer. And here I thought it had been there All Along!

Let's see what else...well nothing much really. I'm back at work, just watching the clock. ARGHHH!

And there is no poker content to this post at all, since I didn't play at all yesterday. I logged on at one point to UB, but sighed...and said to myself, I'm really not in the mood for this today. Now THAT is shocking! Maybe I'm coming down with something.

Well time to get back to it.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Monday, December 25, 2006

Ho Ho Ho...

Merry Christmas all! It's all been unwrapped, trash cleaned up, presents and toys more or less stored neatly. I'm showered and ready, and just waiting on the rest of the clan to finish up this morning so we can head on over to Aunt Kathy's house. I wonder if we'll actually be on time for dinner? But then again, why break with tradition.

We had a bit of an awkward time, when the laptop was unveiled, and it was learned by Whitney that it would reside in Cole's room. BUT, she's older, and needs more supervision with the computer at this stage...and she's more than welcome to use any of the four computers here at the house, including the one in Cole's room. It was ALWAYS my assertion that the laptop would be a shared device for the two of them. She seems to have cooled off a little bit. Whew!

Mom and Dad came over this morning, and Big Red's Mom was here too. My mom brought her new toy over, she got the same laptop that the kids got. So I had to continue patching it and give her a few last minute pointers with it.

Papaw took the kids downstairs to try out their new helicopters...which are surprisingly COOL! Very small...and very powerful little gizmos. Even I may get some playtime in with them!

We made our rounds last night, from house to house. We had lunch over at my parents house. That evening we went to Angie's house and saw Chris, Doug, Richard, etc...and company. Enjoyed some margarita's and tried that Disaronna liqueur...very good stuff. Then we left there and headed over to Chris and Laura, and the Riordan's were still there as well. I imbibed a few beers, and a few shots of the Wild Turkey liqueur, which is VERY TASTY!

Anyway, I hope your Christmas is going as well as mine. Seems to be smooth so far!

Oh and for a little poker content. Well more blackjack did me in yesterday. I was doing well, and had climbed up quite well, and was feeling good about it. Then the bottom dropped out, and I was left looking stupid at the screen. Played a couple of SNG's when I got home late last night, and finished 2nd in a $5, and got knocked out of the $10, so I would have broke even in them both, except for the friggin' rake! DOH! I'm still above the $750 mark, so I should be a little happy. But I had been at $800. But what blackjack gives...blackjack takes away!

Merry Christmas and I'll see you all on the 30th, for the End of the Year Tournament!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Friday, December 22, 2006

Last two online sessions...

Last night and the night before, were pretty good to me. And no I'm not talking huge amounts of money...when am I ever? I've been playing at the .25-.50 No Limit tables on UltimateBet.com. I was looking for something different than the 1-2 Limit table, which on UB is culturally different than that of many other Poker Rooms that I play. I don't know exactly how to put it into words...it's a feeling which gives me pause. In poker, at least in my poker, anything which gives you pause, should be acknowledged...paid attention to...and then find a way to distance yourself from it. Not fear...I could easily sit at the table and "bump onions" with these guys...but it isn't a quesiton of skill or patience. It's a question of luck...and willingness to take greater chances for high profit. But the converse to that is of course the potential for high losses. Now, at first the profit didn't seem to come from the .25-.50 level either. I was playing premiums and positional cards, well within acceptable %'s, and based on my win % I was doing well. But those wins were small. But two nights ago...a maniac came to the table...or was there when I arrived. He is 2 positions to my left. When I'm Big Blind...he's in early position in my book. But he begins a posture of betting out 4X the BB every time I'm the BB. Now, I he's doing it a lot of other times too, but particularly on me. Maybe he's got notes on me...for being ultra-tight...or weak...or whatever. If that was an impression he got over the course of a week or two prior...that was perfect. Because I had hit a very frigid streak...and was feeling a little weak myself. I was folding to raises and bets routinely, because, I had nothing, nada, zip... This guy continues on though...all through the night...I sat with $50, and had been up and down. I actually am at about $39 left after a few hundred hands...and I've got pocket 6's, in mid-to-late position, with 2 other limpers, I limp in. Prolly not the right move...but eh...why not. Mr. Maniac makes it $1.75 to go...again. 1 or 2 limpers fold out...again. Back to me. Now, he can't have a good hand all the time, right. But I haven't got to see a lot of his crap hands, because he's bullying the table. So, the time feels right to see a flop on this one. The flop comes out rainbow, with a King high...but OH LOOKEE...there's a little insignificant little 6 laying out there. Mr Maniac dives in with a $5+ bet, after I check to him...knowing he's going to bet out. I pause...long...utter a hmmmm to the chat window...pause...then go over top of him for double his bet. All of about 2 seconds pass from him, and all of his chips make a bee-line for the middle. I call immediately, of course, and my set holds fast...and I take down a pot that puts my chip stack at $81.75. Mr. Maniac, doesn't rebuy...but sits there, dumbfounded for quite some time. I say his hand...in fact a few hands later I went back to double check the hand history to make sure I hadn't imagined it. Yes...it was a 7-2! But, in his defense, they were suited. But not matching ANYTHING on the board. Moral to Mr. Maniac...just because you're bullying and it's working....doesn't mean that the trend will continue. I just had to wait for a hand to enable me to take your friggin' chips. But by all means PULEEZE keep up that strategy. I'll gladly bust you up again. And I wasn't even catching that great a level of cards that night.
Last night, I was catching cards. At least when it was important. BUT!!!! I was also running bluffs, and playing my position to the HILT! AND there was a proper mixture at the table to make it work for me. The thing that worked best for me was hitting a GOOD hand early on...on a RIVER SUCKOUT. HOWEVER!!! had my worthy opponent taken the bull by the horns he would have removed me from the hand prior to the RIVER, where I caught the card to torpedo his hand. I'm the SB, and this guy is the BB. The table folds to us...I'm sitting on a dismal J-6os. But I make the .25 call. He checks. The flop comes out 8-8-J. I bet weak... .75. He pauses, and calls. I'm feeling out my position, wanting to see where I stand. Next card is a blank...I bet out maybe $1.50 this time, still fearful of an 8. He pauses and just calls again. River comes...and it's a Jack. Now there's a card to make you smile. Now...the typical UB'er that I've seen would have got all moist on himself...and gone all in as fast as possible. I paused...long and hard here. I finally opted for a $4.50 bet. Larger than any of my other bets...but not all the way. I want my bet to be perceived as a half hearted attempt to buy the pot. I want him thinking I'm pretending to have a Jack, and not that I have one. He pauses briefly...and again only calls again, which surprised me a bit. BUT, I turn over my Jacks full of 8's, and by looking at the hand history I get to see that he had indeed been sitting on an 8 the whole time. Now, at any point during that hand, had he gone over the top of me...I would have dropped it, up to the River. He was trying to lay the mother of all traps on me, instead of taking down a smaller/yet respectable pot earlier. He wanted a kill shot. I wasn't interested in that so much, which is characteristic of my style. I'm ready and willing to take small pots as they present themselves, but I do not try to rush the action, and steal from unlikely/unhealthy postions. Whatever it is...it has worked for the last couple of days. Only the test of time will proivde the proof.

But with that I bid you a fond farewell.

Oh and if I don't post again, before then...MERRY CHRISTMAS too all!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

When Blackjack paves the way...

It can't be a good thing for blackjack to be a profitable venture to subsidize my poker playing! But lately, after a few ill-placed suckout experiences where I got the worst of it in a couple of no-limit games on UB, my head was spinning, and the Tilt-Monster was threatening to come out to play. I "sat down" on both sessions at an online blackjack table. Remarkably...both sessions won back what I'd lost in poker, plus a wee-bit more. I broke through the $700 ceiling AGAIN on UB, still shy of the $730 level I'd been at before the previous blog entry mentioning a slump of sorts. I'm just a little weary of the 1-step up and 2-to-3-steps back! I'll stop whining now.

I mentioned on the NDPT website "http://ndpt.freewebpage.org/" that TJ was the NDPT Cup Champion for accumulating the most points this season. But it bears mention here as well. I of course was 4 points behind him in second place. I'm happy for him...and also proud of my own showing. One last game for this year. The $50 buy-in End-of-the-Year tournament on December 30th. I've got about 23 signed up so far. So, it's going to be another Big Game. The difference on this one is NO REBUYS! Also, for some reason the jump to $50 makes the game tighten down. Seemingly, way down. So much so that last year there were times that I was a table agressor, which is not a role that I'm typically in. Although, judging from some of the reading I've done lately, and what I've observed, it is a behavior that I'm going to have to foster in my game. Without it, I fear that I'm going to become more of a target as time goes by. There was a time that my rock solid tight play, was effective and respected at the table, but now more players seem to be undeterred by it when I do finally enter a pot. My presence needs to be more fully articulated at the table...I have some thoughts in mind to expand upon my table image, but I will NOT elaborate them here, in this very public blog...I mean DUH!!! I'm not going to show you my play book!

The holiday season is getting me down. I wish I knew why...but I've noticed this in previous years, and it is disturbing. It really sucks to recognize a trait or a reaction, but be unable to do anything to change it. Perhaps I just don't know "what" to do about it. Maybe a Google or two is in order. "How to combat the holiday blues...?" :)

Anyway, it's another day...another dollar, and it's time to get back to it!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Thursday, December 14, 2006

It came from the 80's

Since signing up for Blockbuster's Total Access I've been clogging the queue with 80's movies! Among the ones so far watched:




This one got it started...note the prevailing gambling theme, despite that it is NOT about poker.









Christian Slater was always great...and I loved this movie...and it has always been hard to find!






Judd Nelson kind of fizzled, and some of his later choices of movies I questioned although, I wasn't walking in his shoes, so what do I know. This was one of my favorites.







This one is on its way. Yet another one that is DIFFICULT to find. Can't wait.





Back up to nearly $690 on UB, after experiencing a lengthy slump. Seem to be back on track. But man it feels like I'm playing a very, ultra-tight game. It's not fun time...it's been a little like work. Ahhhh, who am I kiddin'...I love every minute of it.

Time to go...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Enjoying the break in the action

Okay, that's not entirely true. I've reduced my play, just out of necessity. The losing streak was having an effect on my play. Tilt monster was beginning to stir from its slumber. What I found was that I wasn't playing each hand my best. I was lounging through some of them. Not paying as much attention as I should. I found some words of wisdom over at at Poker1.com from Mike Caro. I printed off a couple of his lectures and articles, and read them this week during a skating party that I took my son to. It made the time pass very quickly, and actually had me feeling a little better about the game of poker in general. The article made me realize that the fact that you DON'T KNOW when a streak (good or bad) will end you've got to be positioned and playing your best to avoid suffering greatly from a negative swing. Conversely, if things are going well at the table, then you should still be playing your best, to maximize the profits that are available. In short, maximize wins...minimize losses. Simple statement...difficult to fulfill. It is what it is... Deal with it.

It's time for a meeting so I've got to bring this to a close...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Thursday, December 07, 2006

I've got to get out of this haze

I don't know what it is lately...but I really can't seem to shake the blues. Feeling the weight of the world pushing down. Coming to work...spending the day in a marathon of meetings, discussing "Opportunities for Improvement" meaning we're sitting around bitching about everything that's wrong, wanting to fix "it" but never really being able to find the handle on the elusive "it" to actually affect change. The futility of the meeting, the job, and utter existence is really pressing down. I'd say thank goodness for chemistry...but some days 100mgs just ain't cuttin' it. Even the things that typically have given me joy, fail to fulfill. I keep coming back to a "what's the use," mentality, that I know is counter productive. I started the morning off, looking at Google images, jokingly for Zoloft. Of course I found that one...the little bubble guy. Some others to come across my screen were:

"I got yer 'better living through chemistry' right here!"

Not sure what this one was all about:


But I downloaded it anyway! This search led me off on the following tangent, which was actually a bit of a bright spot on the day. I wandered across a collection of "Demotivational" images, which allowed me to laugh a bit. I may have actually come close to quota for the day:


Unfortunately, it appears Blogger.com caps the number of images, per post. So I can't post 'em all, so maybe I'll just have to continue the posting of the collection of images at a later date. It's nearly meeting time this morning, and I've got them wall-to-wall for most of the day. So you just know, I'm going to get bunches accomplished today!

On a semi-poker-related-note...Big Red and I are planning on going to Shuman's game on Friday night. We'll see how the advice from the HPT forums goes for me. Back are the days of the Ultra-Tight-Night. Taking only Big Hands...and getting more than likely little action. Sometimes it's the only way to weather an All-In-A-Thon. Sometimes, you can't even do that. But...everyone needs a plan...and that's mine.

Hope I haven't demotivated anyone else along with this less than positive post, but this is just how my mind works some days. Bear with me...it should improve...and maybe even SOON!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Monday, December 04, 2006

I just really haven't felt much like writing. As I mentioned before, I was sick...before. I think I've now recovered...I think. The eyes are still feeling a little funky, but I can at least breathe again. WAHOO! Lots of things have happened, just life stuff...you know, just things to occupy my time. My baby girl is now 14! Dec 2nd...a birthday she shares w/Britney Spears...as we've always teased her about. She had one of her girlfriends spend the night, over the weekend, and we all had a good time. I spent a lot of time working with her on her Science Project. We did it on M&M's and had people select them from a large bowl in a 10 second period...then we analyzed their choices, and how they were related to their favorite colors, and types of candy that they prefer. She said it went well.

I finally joined up with Blockbuster Online, so I've spent the last few days rating and ranking movies. Looking at recommendations...and various other stuff. I'm a little scared...I've already rated over 700 movies, that I Have ALREADY SEEN! Maybe I do watch to much TV and Movies, etc...SHEESH.

Well this will have to pass for a post. That's all I've got for tonight.

Regards,

cheer_dad