The check I received from The GamingClub Poker Room, as subsidiary of Bellrock Gaming, was deposited over one week ago. On Friday, late afternoon, Big Red notified me that the check had been "returned" and was not paid against my account. Let's recap...My $481.10 was removed from my GamingClub account, following my cashout (via check) request. It was approved. A check was cut from Web Trends LLC and sent to me for the full amount. I received it, and deposited it...and now it has been returned, with out me getting my money. So I spent a couple of turns on the phone with GamingClub's customer support. Let's see instead of recapping off the top of my head, let me just copy what I posted to the HPT forums, for all the world to see:

I'd like to apologize in advance to those of you who make it through to the end of this poorly concealed rant in the the form of a post to the HomePokerTourney Forums. I guess I'm just one of the statistics now... After Neteller pulled out, I started checking around to find an alternative, and wasn't entirely keen on the alternatives, BUT I started making choices about where I wanted to keep and leave money online. I opted to pull my money out of Gaming Club, mainly because I hadn't found myself playing there, or finding a good $oft $eat. So, I make a withdrawal through their currently prescribed method on the website a few weeks ago. I was notified that it had been approved and that a check was making its way to me for the full amount. I received a check from "Web Merchants LLC, dated 1/28/2007. Took it to my bank and deposited it. Today (over a week later) I was contacted by my bank and they informed me that the check had been returned twice now, not marked as NSF or anything, just refused. So, I log on to Gaming Club, find my account is at ZERO, so I contact them via their 800 number. Hey they even answered in less than a minute! This is a good sign. I spoke with a customer service rep who checked into things and said that he'd been informed that Web Merchants was no longer acting as a payment processor. So, he told me my only alternative was to provide my bank account information and routing number and they would transfer direct, instead. I needed the routing number so I told him I'd call back, he said I could even send it to them in an email. But 5 minutes later I got the information I needed, and opted to call them back. AND (I'm sure you see where this is going) I got someone else on the line this time. "Oh, no sir...as of YESTERDAY, we have been informed that there is no means to transfer funds to our U.S. customers. We will notify you when something becomes available." I told him I'd just been on the phone with someone else who told me otherwise, but he repeated his speech to me as if reading from the teleprompter. Yes, that's his "final answer!" So, next question, what do I need to do. "Oh sir, your money is safe with us." Well not exactly, was my response since my online balance at good ole Gaming Club is ZERO! And you say you've paid me but you haven't. So where does that leave us. "Let me put you on hold... Oh okay, sir, I will put in the order to have your Gaming Club account credited with the money that we can't ship to you." Gee what a pal. He started to hang up, but I caught him in time to say, "...and I can expect this deposit on...?" He assured me it would be there on Monday. Stay tuned here at HPT, we shall see.The part that really gets me here is this. Gaming Club asserted that No U.S, financial institution will "accept" money from them or any other online gaming establishment. So that would imply that the new law has swept the nation, and it is common knowledge in banking circles. Enter into the picture my wife (previously referred to as "Big Red" here in the forums)...the Member Services Rep at the Credit Union where we do all of our banking, or credit union-ing... She checks with the manager and told him what was being stated. He said that absolutely NO GUIDANCE has been issued to financial institutions about rejecting funds from online gaming establishments. The long and short of it was...if they want to make a transfer to your account with the routing number, we'll process it today. So as you can see we have ourselves a bit of a disagreement. I'm not saying anyone is trying to cheat me here, but the mass confusion and misinformation is just painful. Rather than call back and get into it with the Gaming Club Help Desk, and perfect my communication skills with the "English as a 2nd Language" reps, I opted to drop them an email with all my information. And for the time being have them to return my money to my gaming account, if they were unable to transfer to my bank account. If they get it back there, I'm going to try to do a direct bank transfer and see what happens.So, like I said before, stay tuned, I'll keep you all posted. And granted I'm only talking about $500 here, but it is still MY $500 and I worked hard for it. Ah, it seems like only yesterday that it was an initial deposit of $100, but my how it grew! But enough about memory lane. Anyone else in this boat? Any other oddball interactions with your online poker rooms? If so, I'd like to hear them. Or have at least somebody say..."I feel your pain." Remember the good ole days when a bad beat was just when some donkey hit his 2-outer on the river? I miss those days!I sincerely hope that your mileage has varied. Now, I'm half afraid to touch the remainder of my bankroll on UltimateBet, Bodog, and Noble. At least when Party pulled out, I was forewarned that I had 'x' number of days to vacate their premises.Anyway...thanks for listening. And yes this is the end of my rant!

Regards,

cheer_dad

So, you can see, it did not go well the second time around. SOOO, now I'm in a holding pattern. I'm waiting (unpatiently) on a reply to a nasty-gram email I sent to GamingClub Support. I doubt that it will be responded to at all. Hopefully, though, they can do what the first guy said and send me my money straight away. If not, then they'd better make good on this and at least CREDIT my account back the $481.10 I had in the first place. A tidy BONUS SUM should as well be in order. I would think!

Anyway, I'll keep things up-to-date. Mind you, if GamingClub makes all of this right for me, I will fully thank and acknowledge it here, in full public view.

In other news, several of us headed to Shuman's for the Friday night cash game. DANG, it is cold out there in the garage, even with the stove burnin'. I was there til after 2:00am. I doubled my $20 to $40. Unfortunately, Big Red got stuck for $30 for the night. JR on the other hand was a force of nature and cashed out for well over $100 for the night. That's how to play the game, now! I should have opted to leave earlier that night. I was exhausted and "shaky" the next day, well on into the evening. Had we made it home earlier, Big Red might have submitted to another Poker Night on Saturday! But it was my own stupid fault. SORRY DEAR!

Well another day here at work on a Sunday, is slowly coming to an end, much SOONER that we'd expected. :) and :(

Anyway you keep readin' and I'll keep bloggin'

Regards,

cheer_dad

H.O.R.S.E.

H.O.R.S.E. can be FUN! Just don't have so much fun that you forget what round you're currently in and make that phenomenal RAZ hand and find out your playing 7card stud. Okay luckily it was for cheap. The $.50/$1.00 NLHE tables were no place to have a good time, last night. I was up and down, but seldom above the $100 I sat in with. I had at least 4 guys at the table last night that were pushers. There was NO LIMPING ALLOWED at all. No free cards. It was typically $3.50 to see the flop if not more. I dropped AQos and other somewhat worthy hands a number of times post flop, when they didn't hit. I hit a few good hands, a couple of nice plays. But eventually regardless of my preflop raise with or without cards to back it, there came a couple of guys who had decided they were going to run the table. It was working. I don't think they were in packs last night, just a lot of similar minded individuals at the table. Sharks will attack one another if provoked. I wasn't going up and/or down. I cashed out just under my buy-in but the earned Bonus Dollars put me over the top by $3.50-ish. I decided to check out the H.O.R.S.E. ring games. I sat down with $5.00, and had an absolute ball. I was up a buck and a half at one point, but in the end what I lost was paid for in the bonus dollars again. BUT I was having a blast! I could see where that game could be good and bad. Bad, cause it's easy to make a mistake. Good, cause you'll never get bored at anything. There's just so much to be thinking about! I'll play it at those low limits only, THANK YOU! Still if I'm ever just cravin' some card play/action, that's the place to go.

Tonight, I just gotta remember to stop friggin' around and play the game. Cards tonight at Casa du Shuman. I gotta loosen up and be prepared to dump when appropriate. I really need a BIG WIN! WHOYAHHHH! I'm a junkie aren't I?!

This day is dragging on and on.

Regards,

cheer_dad

So, that's what Grant looks like...

Okay, it's a start in the right direction. I've taken my break from Limit. It was just draggin' me down. Last night I played one table of NLHE ($.50/1.00) and finished up for the night including bonus for 50 Bucks. Hey, I'm still down, but I've recrossed the $700 threshold. That was a move in the right direction for me...and hey I'll take it ANY DAY of the week. So, maybe the dust has been blown off of my game for a time, until the next go 'round. I don't want to be a gambler. I want to be a card player. I won't say luck doesn't play a role, but I want to become a student of the game to the point where I can minimize its effect and prosper in the long term. Again, poker is not tonight's or tomorrow's or next week's game, it is the string the amalgem of them all. In the end, the one with the most chip$ is the winner. Okay, perhaps a little over the top. No, then again it is the essence of the thing.

I've been invited to a game tomorrow night at Casa du Shuman :) but I'm not sure it's going to happen yet or not. This basketball season of Cole's is putting a damper on the Friday night games for me. Can't be out all night laughin', jokin, and draggin' the occaissional pot when the morning bells will be ringing. We will have to see, I'd really like to hit another game. There are some techniques and some ploys I'd like to introduce to my game. More correctly, introduce to the game's of others! HeHe...

I've been late to work the past few days due to 2-hour school delays. The temperature, even when I was dropping the kids off was 12!!! BRRRR!!! So, I'm burning a few extra hours of leave that I would have preferred to hang on to. But, it is the least that I can do. Big Red does this every morning...and whether she knows it or not, I do sincerely appreciate it. In that light...I hope she gets to really enjoy her Rascal Flats concert tonight in Charleston. She deserves it!

I need to hammer out the details of this weekend's work, so I can make plans of my own. Then again, there's always online play. This NLHE is tightening me back down. I dropped Trip Aces last night, when I knew I was outkicked. Several hands later, the player, let me know that he had the stone-cold-nuts, with Aces over Queens. My 7-kicker, would have cost me another $35. Sometimes, the play is FOLD! It's as much a part of the game as winning. Sometimes, it is winning.

Well enough for today. Good luck to you all, you're going to need it, I feel I RUSH coming on.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Change up

Okay, last night I make a departure from Limit Hold 'em. I definitely needed a change up. Maybe, it'll force me to tighten up a bit. The No Limit Game is not the place to dabble, and I know it. It was my playing ground at lower levels, but this time, I'm opting instead for the $.50/$1.00 NL tables. I crawled, yes crawled...no running allowed. I actually made it back up to my initial deposit amount! REALLY! That wasn't a lot, but it was on the PLUS side this time, instead of the eternal spiral that I've been feeling lately. NOW, I didn't play GREAT, there were a few minor bumps. But there was one hand I was proud of. I had A-K preflop and raised, was called, bet standard post flop, when I missed, and was reraised. There was crap on the board. I'd been paying attention to the guys play. He was also a big stack, but the whole table was betting huge, when they actually had it. One guy even pushed all-in preflop for over $150, when he held Pocket Kings, solely out of fear of the suckout. So, back to my hand. This other guy has hit...I know it, feel it...I made him for a solid upper/mid range pair, and I'm confident that no matter what I did I wouldn't have shaken him. It is even possible that he held a set, but I decided not to draw against a made hand. It stings to lose, but I remembered the goal in playing here was discipline. I therefore...won, but not losing big. The only dumb hand of the night, was with pocket 9's. I call a preflop pot bet of $3.50, from a guy who is in late position. Flop comes up 10-10-5, w/two diamonds. He bets small, very small, so I call. Turn is another 5. He checks I check behind. River fills in the flush possibility. But now I'm wondering if he's been sitting on Big Slick from the get go, and is confident with his 10s and 5s Ace kicker, in which case I can take this down. He again bets small, and I walk in. He flips over his Cowboys. Okay, I lost...and it was stupid. I went too far and completely misread it. But it was a good, not TOO costly excursion into Wishful Thinking! Don't ever friggin' do it AGAIN! IDIOT!!! I also looked back through my stats for the night. I showed a small profit while winning a VERY SMALL percentage of the hands. So, I do believe I was playing TIGHT, legitimately TIGHT! I was agressive when the circumstances called for it. So, I hope to use this as a learning experience. Re-introduce the possibility of loss of it all to myself, to perhaps train the brain.

Tune in next time kids...and until then, stay away from the Tilt-A-Whirl!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Well it didn't continue

Yesterday I reported that I was "treading water" while playing UB. The "treading" trend did NOT continue. I wish that were a positive comment, but it isn't. I went on a miserable streak...and it was all I could do to fend off tilt in the end, and I'm not absolutely sure that I did at all. I played through the day til it was time to get the kids from school. Down maybe $25 in about 600 hands total at two tables. I returned to the scene of the crime later that night, for around 400 hands, and made it a total of -$60 for the day. On this second session I was keeping a close eye on the player stats. I think when I quit, I was seeing a respectable 32% of the flops. But on the one table I was only winning a paltry 3%!!! The other table while showing a 9% win, I was down just as much. The winning % was very misleading. The monster hands I did have, weren't making any scratch for me. I HATE this game! Okay, that's extreme. I hate what's been happening lately in this game. So, even though I took a break from online, for a few days to clear my head, I'm still losing. Since that dismal last week performance, I'm in the cellar by $300. FTP account is empty now...and the UB amount has dropped below my initial $650 deposit. That is absolutely crushing to me. Not only am I losing, but I'm losing bonus $'s along with it. If it weren't for them I'd be stuck for even more. Maybe I really do SUCK at this friggin' game. MAN, talk about self doubt. And I know scared money can't win. But it does make you a little gunshy. I thought about shifting gears for a while...and playing only SNG's, perhaps even multi-table SNG's. A string of wins there, MIGHT stop the bleeding bankroll. But continuous losses would just add additional insult to the injury!

I guess I just need to keep my head and my wits about me, and just play my game. Maybe I should just get out, and cut my losses altogether. But then what would I do with all my "spare" time. Maybe I should consider a longer departure from the online poker world?! Make myself hungry for it. Of course how devastating will that be if upon returning yet again, I continue to donate to the bankrolls of others?

These things trouble me greatly.

One final note...WOW, is it ever COLD!!!!!!!!!!! Sub zero windchill. My flesh hurt this morning, walking from the truck to the front door here at work. Brrrr!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Luxury

Well, I'm allowing myself the luxury of playing online today. After the dismal failures from last week, I took break from the online grind. Perhaps Big Red sensed my sadness over the beatings, and took pity on my wretched spirit. Whatever it was, she and I ended up playing in a tournament on Friday night, and a ring game on Saturday. The first game, was at the Yanok's. I believe they played host to about 14 of us. They normally play two games for the night, but we could only stay for the first, since at the time we had to be up for our son's baseball and hockey games on Saturday. BUT, the snow was falling, all night, even before we left for the Yanok's. It was a bit of a cause for concern since they live on quite the hill in Wellesley. The going up was an adventure, we were a bit concerned about the downhill though. BUT, we survived it after all, by ramping one set of tires up over the curb and just coasting down. Hey don't laugh, it's how they told us to do it! We made it down just fine that way! Now, back to the tournament though. I didn't catch many cards early on, and was concerned. I modified my style just a bit for this game, opting to play a few more hands than is normal for me; however despite this fact, I had a couple of comments like: "...are you going to play a hand?" or "...why are you so tight?" But I paid little attention. This actually served me well, and allowed me to throw few well-timed bluffs. Which were very profitable to me, in the later rounds. The one I was most proud of was my bluff with a 6-3os. I wouldn't normally have tried but I wasn't catching cards and I seemed to pick up on the fact that no one really liked their hands. In the end it was a healthy pot due to my all in move. I even showed it, and the overall effect was incredible. Later when I wasn't necessarily bluffing it induced some calls that I wouldn't have expected, but they were convinced I had nothing because of what I'd shown. In the end it came down to a heads up match-up with an old familiar competitor, Jerry! I've gone heads up with him a number of times and I consider him very good, and very unpredictable. Caution is always in order. We went at each other for a number of rounds, but finally agreed to "chop" it for $105 each. Also, we both got "entry chips" for the End of the Year tournament that is planned. Your starting chip stack will depend on the amount of cash that you won over the course of the year, in his monthly tournaments. I'm kind of excited about it. Jerry's already ahead though, since he'd placed in the tournament last month, which I didn't play in. But there's a lot of months yet to come!

The following Saturday night, we invited a table full of people over for a small cash game. I was able to double up on the night, for a whopping $20 more than I'd sat down with. So, all told for the weekend I made a profit of $105! Which went half of the way to helping me lick the wounds from earlier in the week. I guess I'm only down $145 now. Which still sucks, but I'm not as down and out as I was before. Now if only I could be redepositing these wins online to be able to easily count it all up. I guess what I'm going to have to do from now on is keep track of every performance, that I can! Ring/Tourney and Live/Online. That I guess would give me a truer picture of my actual performce level. There are some areas that I could improve, and I know it. Right now, online I'm just treading water though. But I have NOT let it creep in to affecting my play. We'll see if the trend continues. I'd like to see a hot run of cards that would boost me over the top today, but those rarely happen in limit do they!?! At least not for me. Others seem to hit them, and just absolutely go off the to the races! I watched a guy at the tables last week, start with $100, drop to $80, and then seemed to go on a monster rush, and when I left the table he was sitting at $260! That NEVER happens to me. Maybe I'm just too cautious to let it happen. If so, and that is indeed the reason, then this is definitely a hole that I need to fill in my game.

I read something last week that made me think about what game(s) I should really be playing. I've been on this $1/$2 Limit kick for quite a while now, and it has been profitable for me. But this recent downturn has been worrisome. Was it me...was it variance, or TILT? How could I know. Well I could be tracking, that would help a lot. (Of course here I sit once again, not tracking.) I need to remedy this soon.

I FINALLY got the window decal for my truck today!!! It looks great, and I'll have to go get a picture of it in just a bit to share with you all! The folks at "Sign Language" took great care of me. Thanks Jordana! Also a shout out to all the fine folks at AC Audio/Video, particularly the Millers! Who are regulars to many of the tourneys that I play and/or host.
I suppose this has been long enough for me to have rambled on, but it is kinda like payback for failing to do so since Friday, so hopefully you'll forgive me. Before I post copy all of this from Notepad and put it out on Blogger I'll go and get a picture of the truck, like I promised. I'm in now for over 230 hands on two tables since I started this blog episode up, and am only up a few dollars, BUT I guess it beats the heck out of losing! So I'll take it and add it to the overall "score."

Regards,

cheer_dad

Montezuma's Revenge

For dinner last night, Big Red and I headed to the "Ranch" with the Riordans. We all had a GREAT time! A couple of pitchers of margaritas on the rocks, made the haze of the day just melt away. Home for a little tube, sumpin'sumpin', to bed and day is done, right? Apparently not... 3:00am rolls around, and my gut has taken a turn south. Stomach sours...feels as if an alien is going to burst out, and grin it's deadly smile. Well that didn't happen, but seconds later, I was shall we say, "seein' Mexican again!" Montezuma and ALL his cronies! Following that gut wrenching turn of events...all was good again. Back to sleep and at work by 6:30am. Go figure! I've come to the conclusion that me and margs just aren't going to get along. Mind you, I was NOT drunk, believe it our not. Just my stomach anymore is too acidic. I imagine that work has had a decided impact on that. Stress again takes its toll. But whadya gonna do, huh!?

This day is almost over, at least the work portion of it. Tonight, at 7:00pm I'll be playin' cards at the Yanok's. No, not online...I'm taking a few days off from that to clear the head, before wandering into the variance streak again. It can only help to keep me from going on tilt. Tonight's just to go and have a good time! I want to work on some other aspects of my game. The people watching portion of the thing, someday, hoping to make the cards irrelevant. :) Yeah...DARE TO DREAM, cheer_dad! No, seriously tonight's just about fun, nothing more, nothing less. We'll see how it goes.

Actually I'm really looking forward to it!

Shuffle up and deal BABY!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Blog Wisdom

I found the following blog today:

http://www.myluckyskills.com/

...and I don't know this guy from Adam, and he doesn't know me either. But in my process this morning of looking for some inspiration to get through this "variance" that I'm in the middle/beginning of, I stumbled across a graph that led me to this site. I read through his latest blog post...and whether he intended it as inspirational or not, it really helped me. REALLY! There wasn't anything incredibly new in it, but delivery is everything sometimes. So I actually commented on his blog. It was the first time I'd ever commented to someone's blog before. I just wanted to thank him. Now, it doesn't mean I'm going to stop losing, and get back to my winning ways. That's the thing...I could do everything right and still lose, which is what I've been asserting all along. But I'm better with the fact of variance...or at least the concept of it. It exists, it's there, and knowing that is a big part of the battle. Accept it for what it is, accept that I'm in it for as long as it chooses to hold me in its clutches. There is nothing I can do about it except to hunker down, shield myself, and hope for daylight! By shield myself, I guess it means to take even fewer chances than I do now...and for any of you that know me, that's saying something! Isn't it! I'm just going to have to wait it out. And yes there will continue to be losses, and there been a few hundred of those since this started over the weekend. So, til the weekend or maybe even beyond, I'm going to take a break from the online poker world, and focus on something else.

I'll try to catch up on my reading, running, maybe just my family in general, and give them the attention that they deserve. You know, not just be there, but REALLY be there! I'm not going to stop playing poker for good by any means. Unlike an approach that another of my blogger contemporaries chose, the reason that he chose that course is outlined and defined by this:

I've got a theory on life where you can only fully concentrate on 2.5 things at a time in life. family/partner normally takes up one slot. work generally takes up another, the other 0.5 will tend to rotate between other hobbies or activities. sport, working out or drinking with mates.My point is, we aren't machines, can't do everything at once, there has to be a sacrifice somewhere. you could quit your job and put poker into that slot. you could cut out/cut back on your other hobbies such that poker can dominate the 0.5 section. or you could do a half-ass job at work to give you more time to think poker. you have to prioritise your 2.5 slots. this has been a useless post from me. --00Snitch

He was quoting someone else...from the forums, and feel free to read his take on what all that means here: http://www.holdemblogger.com/

He opted out of Poker completely, at least for the extended future. He didn't take a dive. He made a choice. I'm going to make a choice to go back to playing for fun, the way it used to be, BUT continue to play well, preparing for some future/alternate reality, where I could ramp up my play. No, it'll probably never happen, and I'm okay with that. The detail and the effort is the thing. Not necessarily the outcome.

Whether you like what I've written here, don't ignore the sentiment, because of how I've failed miserably writing it all down. Read their blogs for better depth. Thanks for hearing me out, or rather reading me out. The writing was refreshing.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Lost Weekend

Lost weekends usually imply a good thing. A getaway, a departure from the norm, or a step outside reality. But that's not the case here. Maybe the title should be "Wasted Weekend." Maybe Donation Time. I can't call it a Bad Beat-a-thon, since there were no true bad beats. There was just nothing good about it. Lotsa bad cards...and when good cards came, they didn't connect with the board in any way. The first chapter in this Lost Weekend was Saturday night...so I guess I got a reprieve. I was able to cut my losses in the evening's cash game, only losing a total of $21, counting the $1 round of ghetto hold 'em. I bought in twice for $10, and just kept donating. I could feel myself leaning toward Tilt, so I opted to pass on a third rebuy, despite the fact that Big Red tried to get me to come back into the game. It just wasn't in my best interest. I hope that folks didn't think I was just being anti-social, there really were other forces at work, and trust me you didn't really want me back in the game. Well, maybe as a means of profit you did. :) But at any rate, I had the good sense to get out.



Next day...there was free time to be had! What better way to spend a day than playing some online poker. That was a thought I should have re-thought. It began with Full Tilt Poker. I had $101.xx when I started. I had $1.xx when the dust settled. I watched as pocket Queens, betrayed me on the final hand, and the last of the money I had at the table go away. I remember looking at my stats at the 159 hand point, and finding that I'd only won 8 hands total, on the two tables I was playing. AND of those wins I recalled that 2 of them I was the big blind and everyone at the table folded to me, and a couple of others I raised preflop with a pocket pair and everyone folded to me. That is a recipe for loss at the tables. I cooked, and stewed in my own juices. So, I quit. For a few hours anyway. Luck had to change didn't it? Actually Lady Luck just didn't see it that way. She's fickle. And she proved to me that William H. Macy didn't have nothing on me. So, I head over to UB for a change of pace, and since all my money is gone on FTP. (grrrr) Horrible, horrible cards again...and I resist playing them, I admit that I let a few connectors enter the list of playable hands, but not very often did I even see them! When I finally had the good sense to leave the table I was down another $70+. This was not a day to remember. So the total loss was in the neighbor hood of $170-$180-ish. The only cardinal rule that I know that I broke, which caused me to go broke, was playing for the bonus on Full Tilt, instead of just playing the game and letting the bonus take care of itself. It has bitten me before. Playing for a $20 chunk of the bonus, and losing $100 just dosen't add up. In the end I didn't even get the bonus..and now I never will. But UB hasn't treated me this poorly in a very long time. The worst of it...and most depressing of all is that fact that I plummeted below the $800 mark on the site. That was very demoralizing. And there was nothing I could do about it, except opt not to play. But how can you always stay away. There's no way to know what will be a winning or a losing session. That is the nature of the poker beast. So, I guess I start rebuilding again, now... There's always hope, but to make sure that the losing streak has run its course, I think I'll take a few days off. Any wound needs at least that much time to heal. So I'll give it a rest. Really, I will...I don't wanna feel like this a night long again. I didn't sleep well, and I know the whole thing made me grumpy. Sorry Big Red, for putting up with my stupidity. It just stinks when you set aside time...when you can actually play, and then the world conspires against you. But, I'm not done yet...there's still cards and cash. I'll be back. You have been warned.


Regards,


cheer_dad

Well that didn't work

Since Neteller pulled the plug and some of the other ewallet solutions are beginning to roll UP the red carpet to the U.S. my mind has begun to wander toward the end of the spectrum that takes all my poker money (the whole bankroll) offline. Say it ain't so. But as more and more avenues continue to close for me to withdraw and deposit money, it becomes more worrisome. Will I hit a winning streak, and then lose not through bad play, but because I have had money stranded from me. Currently the only option at my disposal to take almost all of my money offline is for me to request a check from each of the poker rooms to which I belong. Each has afforded themselves in the neighborhood of 21 days to issue that check to me. The money is no longer liquid...well it's a least a little coagulated. I kept hoping this would start to pan out, but with each day, seems to come more bad news on the online gaming stage. So, I've been reviewing my options. I still feel reasonably safe on UltimateBet...maybe not $840 safe...but I'm going to ride this one out for a time, since the option to have them cut a check to me is still available. I've requested cashout from GamingClub...and that will take a few weeks, since it is in check form. Poker.com I have a small amount still there, but thus far they offer only a check service but charge like 20-30 bucks for a cashout, and in the fine print state that a free option should be coming soon. So, I'll wait for a while on that one. But, I'm not happy with how I was treated by customer service on this. Their email responses spoke down to me. So, sorry Poker.com, if ever poker returns to the former glory days, I don't think I'll be rejoining you. There were other more compassionate, and heartfelt responses from a lot of other rooms. I was really happy with FullTiltPoker either. I only had $100 there, but they only allow checks for those with greater than $300. No other option is currently available to me. So I thought I'd play for a while last night. Well now I have less to lose by continuing to play! Sheesh, what a dismal session at 2 tables of $1/$2 Limit. I was getting creamed with Sets, Flushes and Boats. I was brutal on the ego, and disastrous to the chipstack. Barely got out alive with just over $56. But, there's always the next time, right...and I can't win 'em all. I think I will probably lose a nominal sum in all, amongst all of the poker rooms to which I belong. It got to me a little bit last night, and yes TILT was on its way in, when I pried myself away from the keyboard. I keep wondering what's going to happen when the curtain finally falls on online poker. It has become a big part of my life, BUT by the same token I play a LOT more live games anymore, too. My big tourney is once a month, but there's usually a game there at least every other week. Add to that the fact that Eric holds his cash games and tourneys in the warmer months. Then the Yanok's games...top it off with a seemingly never ending string of other/higher stakes games, that I could take the plunge and join into. I used to prefer the convenience of online poker, but anymore, I can find a game nearly any day of the week. And at the drop of a hat I can generally put together a game at my own house, and have a least 2 tables running. So although one door closes...another seems to be opening up. Still sad to let it slip away.

Work still continues to exhaust. It's taking a toll on us all. I hope it slows down soon. This pace is not sustainable. It cannot continue...but...it must. The battle cry of configuration management may very well be the death of us all. It sucks to lose...it sucks even worse to lose to a chump. CM rises to the level of chump.

So ends another rant...another depressive outpouring.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Yes, it's been a while

The best laid plans of mice and men... While a good work of literature, is not a theme that I should be aspiring too when it comes to my blog. I should have better follow through. I should stick to my promises of continued posting goodness. I should have good plans, good intentions, and better conviction. What I'm saying is, I said I was going to post regularly...and I dropped the ball gang, again. I'm sorry, I'll try better, harder, etc...and so on. Work has just been a real bloodbath lately. I get home and I'm shot. And forget about being able to get a post in edgewise while I'm at work. I have attended so many meetings this week, so much paperwork, planning, costing, contracts, personnel matters. Heck, I even had to do real administrator work too! Whodathunkit?!? The DEBT got their money's worth outa me this past week. Rest assured American Public, your boy cheer_dad was givin' it his all this week. Tom Brokaw does not need to resurrect "The Fleecing of America." So that's my excuse for a lack of post-age. Let's try again. Okay, enough of my WahWahWahhhhh-ing on with the postin' folks.

Because work was such a bitch this week, Big Red and I treated ourselves to some well deserved poker goodness. We played Friday night at the Yanok's, for Game One anyway. I finished in 3rd place, and made my money back and Big Red's plus 10 bucks to boot. Which we re-invested for night number two, for the first tournament of 2007 for the NDPT crew! Get this...Big Red finishes in 3rd Place, and I finish in 2nd!!! How great is that. 1st and 2nd would have been better, but hey we happily conceded to J.R. It was a good night All Around. We pocketed nearly $250 for the night. Not bad for a weekend of poker goodness. And tack on to that the fact that I've gone above $840 on UB. I'm flying high here folks, I should put the landing gear down shouldn't I cause this plane's gotta come down soon doesn't it. I'm just continuing to play good/smart/tight poker. Some might argue all that crap, but I keep trying to make believe. I have to keep up that positive thinking. I'm convinced that a winning attitude and a controlled degree of arrogance can be a healthy and winning poker combination. I'll let you know when the theory gets blown outa the water though.

In other unfortunate news...Neteller has ceased all transfers for U.S. players to poker rooms of the world. NOOOOOOOOOOO, this truly sucks. Now, how am I supposed to get my money out of cyberspace. Well every Poker Room I belong to, has quickly emailed me with other viable options to fund my account. The crazy part is...I don't need to fund it anymore...it is self sufficient. I just need to keep a method to get it "offline" when the need arises. Well from time to time it's nice to deposit to take advantage of bonus dollar goodness. :)

Well I've rambled long here folks. Tried to make it up to you, if anyone is truly reading this at all. But regardless, it's good for me.

Have a good night.

Regards,

cheer_dad

What, am I riding the Beast here or what?

Online poker has been a roller-coaster ride for the past few days. I reread my last post from the 10th, and I was remarking then about how, good hands were meeting bad flop-turn-river, and I was feeling the pressure of the suckouts, but still keeping my head above water. Then I went on a major losing streak. Aces getting cracked, good pairs, Ace-high flush, being greeted by a friggin' straight flush. It was really taking a toll on my bankroll. I think I even dipped below my initial investment on UB of $650, at one point, which was bad...VERY BAD! But finished above that, for the night, and counted myself lucky. Whew!!! Somehow, I've now climbed back out of the mire, though...and went on a roll on one table to offset the dismal cards on the other table. The bad table, I looked at my stats at the 50 hand mark, and most notably I had won only ONE HAND!!! I scrolled back through the hand history, and found that on the one had that I took the pot, I was the BIG BLIND and EVERYONE had folded to me!!! You cannot survive at poker that way. No way...no how. Was I being too tight, too loose, wtf!!! But the other table I went on a roll of pocket pairs. I hit pocket Aces I don't even remember how many times, and I swear one streak included pocket aces, followed by pocket ladies, and then pocket ladies AGAIN! And I won every single one of them. My low pocket pairs were making sets. Especially a pair of 5's and a pair of 2's were REALLY sweet pots. So, I'm on a roll there, and livin' good, but just barely to the positive side, due to the other lousy table. Then I finally start getting some pocket pairs. Win a few, lose a few, still just treading water. Then I finally hit a monster hand, pocket Aces at the table. I am raised preflop, I reraise, and we cap it. This is going very well. Long story short, we end up with about a $30 pot in $1/$2 limit heads up, and my Aces hold fast. The other guy on shows his pocket Kings. He too was having a rough time at the table, and saw the Kings as being the best hand of the night. Tough luck, and feel his pain, but better him than me! So that pulls that table out of the cellar. (Big Sigh) I cash out for the night, back on track for now. I'm just under $800 again. BUT, looking back at it this is just BREAK EVEN POKER! That's frustrating. I mean I'm up, but I'm not capitalizing on the bonus $'s. All I'm really doing is collecting them 1 to 1. I would like to be collecting them straight up, and have winnings as gravy, or even the other way around. Sometimes it feels like cheating at poker, when you think in terms of keeping score with money. I'm up by nearly $150 but only by virtue of the fact that I'm collecting bonus dollars. That's not winning, that's break even, that's barely survival. Maybe though I've been at the tail end of an elongated run of bad cards, and I'm now ready to break on through to the other side! (power of positive thinking.) Maybe I'll get to see that in action tonight at Shuman's cash game. I've had a run a bad luck over there, being brutalized by a lot of suckouts. I know this is an incredibly loose game, so I'm playing it ultra tight, and just getting river hammered a lot. Maybe tonight is my night. WHOOOOYAAAA!

I just called the Riordan's so we should be seeing them tonight as well. Should be a good game, and a good time. I'll post how it all turns out.

And for those of you who know...don't forget the other LARGE non-NDPT tournament coming up soon, that I'm not allowed to talk about, being held at an undisclosed location, and being organized by someone I cannot identify. Was that vague enough for you, dear!!! :) If anyone is confused by that, then you probably weren't invited, but might be welcome, so email or call me, and I can clue you in! It's all about the plausible deniability!

See you all real soon.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Is there a kick me sign on my back?

Tonight I'm getting pushed around at $1/$2 limit table Vista, playing on UB. I haven't been able to make pocket 8's or pocket J's pay tonight. Against the 8's, when 3 sixes flop, I run into the guy holding pocket K's. My pocket J's get called down by a Q-7 and you guess it, he hits his Queen, and is impressed with his play. I just got pocket J's again, and actually made 'em pay that time. Then a few short hands later I see my rockets, and get raised preflop...I reraise and get two callers. The turn gives me a set, but there's a straight and a flush draw out there. The third caller stays with me til the end and shows his pocket 10's which have conveniently filled in the straight to the ACE!!! Arghhhh. Also, every time I've had the pocket pair, there's a better pocket pair or my Aces get busted. Go figure. What's that statistic something like 40% that if you have a pocket pair, someone else at the table will have one at that moment as well. I think it ought to be much higher than that, in line with my own experiences. When I have the pair...they will have a bigger pair, or receive phenomenal help on the flop. But that's why we LOVE the game! But it could be WORSE. I mean I'm only stuck at these two tables combined for $13 so far.

The other table was paying me good for a while...but we'll just have to see how it all pans out. I'm watching a lot of guys getting to drive the action tonight...and it ain't me either. Some other night maybe. But hey...what else would I be doing right. I'm just not gonna let it bug me. Well until just now when my Big Slick gets clobbered by Big Chick. By the River I have the King high flush...and get greeted by the Ace High flush.

I've been getting plowed over by monster ugly beats all night, BUT I somehow turned it around and finished up by $17 for the night, including some converted Pending Bonus $$$'s! The Vista table (the one I was whining about earlier, ended up being the one that carried the night for me. I cashed out on it up $33, the other table drained that amount by a bit. Earlier I was doing great on that one. Go figure. Considering though that I'd been down by over $50 at one point tonight though, I'll take it! Especially when for the most part I was playing good poker just getting drawn out on. The guy with the 8-3os against my pair of 10's w/Ace kicker frosted my ass for a bit, but now I feel better! :)

Anyway, I survived to play another day, and isn't that really what it's all about at least for now? Not til after I retire...can I focus on a poker career! Big Red says so!!! :)

All for now.

Regards,
cheer_dad

What am I doing here?

I've been reading a lot of other Blogs lately. Some poker related but by-and-large they are not. One that I wandered across though really started me thinking. What am I really trying to do with this blog anyway? Sure I'm chronicling the activities and misadventures of the N Debt Poker Tour crew, but those "official" games only occur once per month. (Well lately there have been a lot more frequent games here in the ole Murray basement.) But still that's not enough to really fill up a blog. It's not always going to spark a lot of interest to anyone but me in the first place. So, again what am I doing here? Well this blog is a small window into my life, and the things that make me tick, the things that I think about, what makes me happy, and what troubles me in general. Likes, dislikes, you name it I'll try to include it. But I need to do a better job of making it entertaining, and useful to others around me. I'll strive to make things interesting, and hopefully thought provoking to each and every one of you. Okay, okay, I know I'll never be able to get to each and every one of you, but I'll put forth the effort anyway! For that matter I don't even know if anyone even reads this blog. But if there's an audience waiting for a blogger and they browse through this one...I'd like them to hang around for awhile, and get to know me. Hopefully you (the reader) are one of those who will stick around!

I guess to sum this up...I want to do a better job with my blog for all of you...and specifically for me. For some crazy reason, this blog is important to me. I'd like over time for it to become important to some of you as well.

I resisted playing online poker today, on my day off from work. Alarming isn't it! The numbers of available tables were way down. I watched a few tables for a few rounds each, but was watching 4-5 people seeing the RIVER, and capping the raises in nearly every betting round. Then, of course watching some idiot with a 7-2os walking away with it. Now how's that improving their game? How's it going to improve mine? If I just wanna play to play, I can play for free at the play tables. But I'm not involved in this game of poker just for fun anymore. Now, I'm not largely profitable. But I have started "keeping score" by the money in my bankroll, instead of some of the other dimwitted ways I've seen others using to determine whether they are any "good" or not. I also don't blow the bankroll. And only tap into it, in small chunks, if at all. I do my best to nurture the little beast. My hope is, if I'm good to it...it'll be good to me.

I've been working on moving the NDPT website to my new Suddenlink location. All the while trying to incorporate some changes and improvements. If any of you have ANY ideas about what you'd like to see on the website or in this blog for that matter let me know, and I'll do my best to oblige you.

Anyway, thanks for reading and sticking with me.

Don't forget it's a new NDPT year...so the points battle starts ALL OVER AGAIN. Tournament #1 of 2007 is already scheduled for January 20th at 6:00pm. See you all there. Bring your A-Game!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Clawed my way back...

Somehow with a combination of $1/$2 Limit and some extended sessions of BlackJack, I clawed my way back out of the abyss. I'm within a few dollars of where I started off a couple days ago. If nothing else it was an ego victory. And a much needed one at that. I climbed back over that $750 mark, and trust me I breathed a BIG sigh of relief. Tonight the cards went my way on the poker table, and I had the GOOD SENSE to get out when they were beginning to turn sour, and some of the fish had swam away! Blackjack was a bit more grueling. I was buying in for 10 and then turning around with 10 more to get it back...and somehow given time, I would battle back and get back what I'd lost, plus a couple more. In fact it was blackjack that put me back over the 750 mark! It is still an EVIL GAME!

But that's enough for tonight! For once I quit when I'm ahead. :)

Regards,

cheer_dad

Off to a great start... oy!!!

It's Thursday... a few days since my last post. Let's catch up whad'ya say?! My truck... lookED a little like the one pictured here... but black. Unfortunately, it doesn't anymore. :(

Big Red and her mother left on Tuesday, bound for the Amish Country, to pick up furniture for the house. They didn't make it far. Turning into the local Certified Gas Station, they were plowed into by another truck, with a bonus feature on the front of it...a BIG METAL BUMPER. Hit rammed into the Rear Passenger Side wheel and bed. It was towed from the site of the accident. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt. Big Red is a little sore, but nothing time and a few more visits to the chiropractor won't fix. She will surely survive. Of this I am very grateful. In fact, she was more upset over the whole ordeal than I was. After all it is just a truck...no body was seriously injured. Any wreck you walk away from is a good one, in my book. Now we just have to see what the damage to the truck really is. At best...it is just cosmetic damage to the rear fender, wheel well, tire, and maybe the bed. At worst, add to the list above, a bent frame, axle, shocks, etc... The list could be extensive, but we'll just have to wait and see. I'm remaining optimistic at this phase. Maybe this is the denial phase of the accident :0) I'm sure I'll post more about this event right here in the blog, so stay tuned.

That same day, the funeral service for former President Gerald Ford was held. His legacy is being treated well by the press, despite that his presidency at the time was overshadowed by the disgraced Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal. But many kind words were spoken of President Ford. Respect for the Office...Respect for the Man!

I returned to work...briefly on Wednesday, up until the point that I was called by my wife, to take my son to the doctor. His eye had swollen up mysteriously the night before...and it hadn't gotten any better. So I left to take him. Dr. Patel, believed it to either be a bug bite, or possibly that something had gotten in his eye to cause an odd irritation. His eye itched badly, and was swollen a bit like a Prize-Fighter's would be without the bruising and discoloration. I stayed home with him the rest of the day, looking at him from time to time, and shouting out "...cut me Mick...cut me!" My little scrapper.

Finally, today I'm back for my first full day at work. I don't think I've accomplished a thing today. At least it doesn't feel like it anyway. I guess the extended Holiday, has really taken its toll on me. I did get the NDPT website updated, finally. Hope everyone enjoys it.

Online poker and UB did not treat me kindly yesterday, dropping me considerably, when pocket K's and Big Slick, big flop hands did not stand the force of the RIVER. Had I been reckless...it could've been a lot worse, but why is it that losses always seem to come in Big Chunks all at once, while winning sessions are slow, small and a bit grueling. Makes you wonder...and no I don't think it's rigged. I see the same kinds of things happen in live play. I guess seeing it so often online does have the positive effect of de-sensitizing me to the sting of the monster bad beat. I guess you can't win 'em all.

In one last item, on Monday, Big Red and I tag-teamed an online freeroll poker session, on UB that was playing for a "semi-final" entry into the 2007 Aruba Classic. Out of the the over 3,000 entries, we finished somewhere around 30th. The top 50 got their entry. We play in this next round this Saturday night. I think it pays out the top 100 spots, and is limited to 1,000 players. If we advance there, then we really have to knuckle down, 'cause it appears that only the 1st place player wins ANYTHING at all, in the FINAL match. The prize is $10,000 in entry fees and travel expenses to the Aruba Classic. Probably never happen, but Dare To Dream!!!

Time to go...

Regards,

cheer_dad

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Getting a cold

I think I'm trying to get a cold. Okay, who am I trying to kid. I have a cold...and it's kickin' my backside. I've been taking the Tylenol Cold like it's candy...but of course that is just treating the symptoms, and doing nothing about getting me over it. I have a feeling this one as usual will require antibiotics! I'm off today...but have had a few errands to attend to. First, I had to drag myself out of bed...sick even...then go get an oil change, and alignment on the truck. That wasted an hour and a half of my day! Now, I'm putting in about an hour or so of play time on GamingClub (raked hand points toward yet another $75.) They just keep offering it...and I keep playing. Seems everytime I start out however, that I immediately take a BIG hit. This time...I went up first...then fell hard! Started at $340, got up to $367...then absofrigginlutely bottomed out, and fell below $300. On tilt after that...I wasn't at the time. Tilt had nothing to do with it. I tried loosening up my game a bit at the Limit Tables. Looking back on my play, it is obvious I'm WAY TOO TIGHT, and not giving myself enough opportunities to cash in. Unfortunately just nothing was panning out. Good Hands/Bad Hands...it didn't matter I was losing on everything. I couldn't make anything happen. My tilt move came later, when I decided to lick my wounds over a few rounds of blackjack. The first session went great! I was making some ground back...but I pushed just a wee-bit too much...and Lady Luck frowned! Still back at around $300 I started a slow climb back. I'm at around $320 right now with about 450 hands in toward the required 750! Well on my way...and only need to finish up by Dec 4th. Should be there in no time. I'm edging closer to $330 right now...yes I'm typing slow...and playing two tables at the same time. It's called multi-tasking right?! Also, got an email from GamingClub today, inviting me to a $1,000 freeroll tonight. And as luck would have it Big Red's going out tonight with the girls! Darn the luck! Anyway...back to the game(s).

Regards,

cheer_dad

Another non-existent weekend

I put in approximately 17 OT hours this weekend; will these data-center moves never end? Just aren't enough waking hours in the day, to accommodate it all, whatever "it" may be! Don't get me wrong...the money will be nice...it will also be quickly used, as the Christmas season is upon us. Thanksgiving is Thursday...and Black Friday will kick off holiday shopping with a vengeance.

The NDPT tournament did occur on Friday, November 17th, at my house. The Big Winner on the night was Erik P. Congrats!!! He and JJ moved passed me in the points race, after my LESS than stellar performance, despite a rebuy...I just couldn't get it to all come together. I believe it is time to adopt my new style of play. I have become much to predictable. And my predictability has become a liability. It's too late for this year's points race...but I believe it will have an impact on next year's results. I also think it would benefit me greatly in the year end game, on Dec 30th. Sorry to tell you this folks, but this game, due to the higher buy-in, makes people play differently. Some of you actually acknowledge value along with the chip stack in front of you. You wouldn't think that such a small change from $20 to $50 would have such an impact, but it did last year...and it will again for this year as well. I won last year's game...and it'd be nice to pull of number 2 this year, but it will depend on a number of things, including (gasp) LUCK!!!

I made the mistake after the tournament of trying to play online...and despite cold cards...I kept trying to play. I lost...not much...but it further made the evening a loser for me. One ray of sunshine as always, is my lovely wife, Big Red, who after busting out of the tourney, opted to go "spinning" and cashed out at the Eagle's for $200. Thereby, in theory making the evening somewhat profitable for "us." I think I'm okay saying us. It does go into the same account right dear???! :)

I'm behind in getting the website updated, and the pictures from the game as well (thank you Andy.) I may try to get this done tomorrow. Keep fingers crossed.

In a new revolting development, I'm no longer able to access many of the Poker News sites that I frequent, from work, while on break. Thanks to the new proxies...and content filters, they've begun to deny these as well. I ask you what is any different about me reading an article or strategy at work, during lunch, or break; than it is for someone else browsing ESPN...etc... It is just because of the negative connotation involved. Just or no...?

Well, I should polish off my chili now and get back to the business of business, lest I get Blogger banned as well!!!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Not a red-letter day for me.

Word for the day is overreaction!
And I'm the one that did it.

I was a little bent out of shape when I got to work this morning, bad mood, sinus headache on the way, frustration (so what else is new!) and I responded poorly to an email from a co-worker. Very badly. I made a much larger issue than was necessary, or had been intended by him in the first place. I even went overboard in lumped other issues into my response. His response was justifiably a WTF? style message.

I later apologized in our team meeting to him, and the rest of the group. Then, got down to the heart of the subject matter. We dealt further with the problem of filesystem space, and what to do to plan ahead for what the customer was wanting. Hopefully he, and others will forgive the tantrum. So, in acting like this:



I ended up coming across like this:




Was actually being this:



For which I ended up later feeling like this:



Which resulted in the end me having to say this:



Why do I do these things?! Moron!

Anyway, tomorrow's another day, make the most of it...dive right back into the abyss once again. Sorry very little in the way of Poker Content here. Well okay...I played for a little bit on GamingClub tonight, and moved up a little less than a buck. Sheesh! But I did log a LOT of hands toward the Promo, they're currently offering, which is why I've been dabbling around at the .10/.20 Limit tables in the first place!

Lots of work planned for the weekend, with server moves going on again. Goodie! And oh yeah, the next points event is at my house on Friday evening. Currently have 24 signed up, and it'll soon be GO TIME!

Time to go for the night...until next time...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Not much of a post...but something

It's been a long weekend. I've strapped on the feedbag a bit too much over the past few days. I'm really going to have to jump back on the running/exercise bandwagon again. I don't know why I keep letting myself sink to low levels. It makes very little sense. But I keep doing it to myself...and allowing the self destruction. I think work has a bit to do with it. It is difficult to remain focused and positive about things, when all around you sense morale continuing to take its absolute Nose-Dive. I'd like to do more and actually had laid out some plans for myself to that end...and I really thought I would have some success at it. However, getting ping-ponged from task to task, and from each new "special-project" to the next. I've tried to pass along the concerns I have but I'm just not sure that anyone really has time or a willingness to listen. All the while the expectation is that we will continue to grow and flourish. One day they'll be wondering what the heck happened. If it hasn't killed me yet...I'll be standing in the corner chuckling about it all.

I played a LOT of poker this weekend. First, Big Red had the idea to go over to the Shuman's for the Friday night cash game. Somehow I was able to break even after around 5 hours. The tables had begun to change and had I stayed longer I would have either lost a lot or won a lot...there would have been no middle ground after midnight! Then, the following day, the Yanok's called to tell us that they were trying to throw a game together. Of course we went. We both went out on the same hand! I had earlier been crushed by Jerry. I had pocket Q's and pushed. He called...the flop came up with no paint, but all diamonds. I put Jerry all-in, which he gladly called since he had Big Slick, both diamonds. Ouch...very ouch. I didn't last much long after that. Big Red didn't do well there but she doubled up over at Shuman's the night before! She's a force to be reckoned with. Never underestimate her.

Something else I realized is that few people can truly "see" the cards when they're laid out befor them. They can't interpret the hands...and are more apt to miss it when the pot is actually a split. No, I'm not mad about it...not even upset, on the contrary it is empowering. I can do something quickly and accurately that so many others have so much difficulty with. Okay, so I'm bragging a bit!

Well that's enough for tonight. Until next time...

Regards,

cheer_dad

I had yesterday off...

Because it was Election Day, and the kids were off from school and I had use or lose to dump before the end of the year. I opted for taking the day off. Basic boring day, caught up on laundry, watched Saw 3 with my daughter. Later Open Season with my son. I caught up on some email at home, and played some (gasp) poker. I played enough hands yesterday to qualify for the Daily Satellite, the $1,000 and $2,000 on Poker.com. I'm over halfway to the $5,000 tourney as well! It cost me a bit though. I went through that phase at the table, where I get no cards at all...i wait...patiently, and then the clouds part and give me pocket Kings, and someone bets out preflop. I reraise, 2X their bet...End up losing to pocket Aces. I actually saw this same hand play out again, less than 20 minutes later. It's disheartening, but a fact of life in poker. You will from time see this big card phenomenon. And sometimes, you can almost feel it coming. So that cost me $25.00. Doh!!! Later in the day, I sat down at $1/$2 Limit on UltimateBet.com. I sat down at the table with $75, expecting to get fleeced for some reason. Pleasantly, I cashed out with close to $110, if I remember correctly. So I made up for the loss! Whew! Just on a different poker site. But it's all money...right?

I don't know how to say this, but...I would feel a great deal more at ease online, if I were to gain back the $400 I withdrew, even though I'm still at $1,300. I guess I just feel like I'm playing catch up poker. That shouldn't be the case. But, hopefully, eventually I'll get there again, through solid play.

Among other news, the Democrats took control of the House again. Most important to note, Bill Frist went down!!! Wahoo! Take that Mr. Anti Online Gambling guy. Sen Byrd is still large and in charge, Hillary Clinton sailed to victory, and is poised to make her run for the Big House, next time. I am just frightened.

But most importantly of ALL...Britney Spears kicked K-Fed to the curb!!!

Welcome back to the world, and away from the temporary insanity that was K-Fed.
Oops, she did it again!!! Hahaha...

It's nearly time to call it a day, but real quick. I'm on tap for the Poker.com $250 freeroll tonight for PokerSavvy. Also, I think I'll try out the satellite, $1,000, and $2,000 if possible tonight as well. If Big Red will only allow it!

We shall see it.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Survived the weekend

Well all the data center moves went well over the weekend. My back survived, and other bodily extremeties, while a bit sore, did pass the test. Ended up working 11.5 hours on Saturday, to get things moved, and recabled. Job well done team!

The wife talked me into going to the card game at the Yanok's on Friday after all. I initially said that I was NOT going to go, since I had to be up so early the next morning for work. But she won me over. I ended up playing in the first tournament of the night, and finishing on the bubble. DOH!!! Big Red on the other hand was able to hang on and finished in 2nd place! And since she won she had the cash to hang around for the second tournament that they play. I headed for the house, and she came in a few hours later. Sorry to say, she didn't win again. She said the crippling blow was her trip 4's getting squashed by trip 9's!!! Ouch, baby, very ouch!

I also completed the 750 hands on GamingClub, for the promised $75 bucks in my account. Thank you very much GamingClub. I only wish it had come when I was at the top of the curve, instead of lingering in the middle. I had started that offering at $264. I dropped as low as $244, after I had risen to about $303! But a few suckouts later, and a little smidgeon of tilt, well, you all know the drill. But, now I'm at $344, so I guess I shouldn't complain at all! I think it's time to take a break from that room, and wait for them to offer me another $75, although I am in the middle of another promo with them, that I'm thinking would get me invited to a $15,000 tourney, if I accumulate 3,000 points by Dec 12th. I'm at 900 already, so I should probably push onward and upward. I really want to get back to Poker.com...where I had grown very comfortable at the .10/.25 No Limit game. Perhaps too content. I need maybe to be thinking on a greater scale. After having played thousands and thousands of hands at the $1/$2 Limit level, I'm afraid that I might fall into some bad habits, while I fail to change gears in line with the table dynamics. So, go in with your wits about you boy!!!

I'd also like to return to FullTiltPoker to give another shot at getting my friggin' MONEY back. The 9 handed game, and a new poker clientelle, takes some adjustment as well. I played at that site, and frankly never really connected with much of anything on the board. When your big aces fail to hit...when your pocket pairs don't become set, and flushes never materialize, you're going to see a drain in your ole account. I think I spent too much time there chasing the points. Again, got to folllow my own advise, and stick to the true gameplan. Sometimes it just stinks to watch the idiot fish, playing and winning with anything. It frustrates after a time...this road leads to TILT!

Also, of course I've got my money out on UB again. I've got over $630 Bonus Dollars left there to work off. Thankfully they release after each session, not in big lump sums, like some of the other rooms. I think I'm ready to start rebuilding the $400 I cashed out, off of my bankroll, for Vegas. It will take effort, and time, and I've got plenty of NEITHER of those! :(

But, it is time to wrap up for the day, I'm off work tomorrow, dumping some of my remaining use or lose before the end of the year. And any day not at work...is a day not at work!!!

Gotta run...

Regards,

cheer_dad

The remains of the day...

I wish it were Friday, but little that would buy me, since I have to work Saturday as well. Will these server moves in the acursed data center NEVER be done? But it does keep a paycheck coming my way, so I guess I'll suck it up! I'd rather be back here...















Drinking one of these:



Playing a lot of this:


And winning a lot of these:



But instead, I may have to settle tonight at El Ranchero for pitchers of these:

Oh well, that ain't half bad now is it!

In other news, I played GamingClub last night for about 150 hands. I was 3-tabling it, 2 "1/2" Limit games, and another .25/.50 No Limit game. I made $50 for the night...and logged in around 450 hands for the week so far. I only need another 300 before the 6th of November to claim a $75 bonus offer! GamingClub has offered me this a number of times, and I keep taking them up on it. This will help build back the $400 I took offline before last week's Vegas Trip. We used it to play on and later to pay some bills when we got back. So, maybe my new goal in online poker should be to finance my Vegas trips. Hey...it could happen, and GamingClub is helping to make it happen. Thanks, and please visit them, and tell 'em cheer_dad sent ya.

It's been a long week already, and it just keeps going on and on, but the work still remains so it's time to get back to it!

Regards,

cheer_dad