Class of '86 Reunion

Tonight the wife and I are off to my 20 year high school class reunion. We're supposed to take a river cruise this evening on one of the Sternwheelers. Dancing, drinking, chatting, it should be a good time. We opted not to attend the second night, for no good reason, other than we just didn't want to take another night. Hope to see some of my old friends from school, but then again, I work with a lot of the people that I graduated with!

I calculated it up a while ago, and I figured now that I have close to $950 in my online bankroll. Bonuses, and affiliates have contributed to that figure, but hey, all that from an early $90 investment, before I had much of a clue about what I was doing. I'd like to think I'm getting better, but I'm still cautious, and continuing to wait a while before I move up my limits. Don't want to fool around with the system that has worked thus far. I'll just keep climbing at a slower pace.

A good deal of shake up has occurred here at work, with regard to the chain of command. Who I report to has changed a great deal over the past few months, and it continues to morph!

I'm feeling very tired today, for some reason, even though I went to bed at the same time last night. Maybe it's just the first week back, after my vacation, and it has taken its toll.

Time to run off to something else!

Regards,

cheer_dad

WAHOO! I placed!

I finally got around to playing in the $100,000 guaranteed tournament on Bodog.com. I won the TEC from a previous tourney that I'd played out there. Hadn't done much else on that site however. Just couldn't seem to catch any cards. But yesterday I finished 53rd in a field of about 880! That paid me a cool $250. Granted I couldn't survive through to take first, but that would have been a nice paycheck...$25,000. That would have paid a few bills. And then some!
But hey...a win is a WIN! And I'm keeping it.

I transferred the money, at least $200 back to Neteller, and now it is on to the next promotion on PokerSavvy and/or PSO.

I'm officially on vacation today. I really need this time to recharge the ole batteries. Not getting to go to the beach this time, but any time off from wrok is a real blessing these days.

That's all I have time for right now. Maybe an uber-post later on.

Regards,

cheer_dad

A little libation!

Okay, so it was a LOT of libation!
We met up with the Chris and Laura...and with Chris and Doug...and later on still with Richard. The wife and I headed out to El Ranchero last night for food and drinks. The pitchers of margaritas were flowing. None flowed the way of Laura, with her little bambino currently in the making, and all. She and Chris were there for a long while with just us, before Chris (yes, it's another Chris, of the female variety) and Doug got there. Richard showed up even later still, when I'd already shifted to beer. We had a few there, and then headed over to BW3's to have another beer, and check out the younger crowd. I think I feel older evertime I go in there! But I like the comfortable bar atmosphere. Angie wasn't working by the time we got there, and had already headed home. It was nice to get out for the evening with friends. I for one really enjoyed it! I'm a little weary today. And I don't think Big Red was feeling completely up to par this morning. Even now, I'm still a little shaky! But today's my short day. So I'm out in just a few more hours. I think I'm already in vacation mode.

I'm sure we're not going to Myrtle Beach now, since Teresa didn't find any great deals on a last minute condo, like we did last year. But now she's been looking at going to Busch Gardens/Williamsburg, and maybe even Virginia Beach. That's got possibilities too. But I guess we'll just have to see. Who knows what we might be getting into. All I really know is that I won't be at work! I really need this break. Time to recoup a little bit, before I burn out.

I just got another $100 gift card for PartyPoker, after getting more points on the PokerSavvy site! I got these, because JR is signed up through me now on the Savvy Site! JR's been racking up some online time himself, and making points too. The PokerSavvy site has really introduced me and my friends to a lot more poker rooms, than we would have ever found, much less played on. But I'm continuing to play on many of them today. I just can't say enough about the site. It's great. Visit today: http://www.pokersavvy.com.

Just spoke to the wife...and she says that rumor has it that gas prices are expected to shoot up, yet again, upwards $4-$5!!! She wants to go look at a van tonight. The Durange is irking her anyway. Way too many trips to the shop, for knocks, and mystery noises. Plus it is a GAS HOG! Can you say HYBRID!!!

Well I should wrap up for now, and get on with the day.
Until next time...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Broke through the glass ceiling!

I'm in uncharted waters here...don't know what might happen. The unknown looms out there on the horizon. Okay, maybe it's not so very mysterious. I just passed the $200 mark on Poker.com! Hey, to me that's a pretty big deal! I recall a couple of dismal plummets on UltimateBet.com when I reached the $190+ mark in the past, and could never pop the cherry on 200. I even remember going from that level down to $8...and then climbing back out of that hole, without redepositing and getting back up to $190, only to begin another plunge. Part way into that swing, UB began an awful upgrade period, and things were a little skiddish on the site, so I opted to yank my money off the site. That was the best move I've ever made! Don't get me wrong I'll go back to UB eventually, but when I freed that money up, I was able to begin Bonus Whoring for a while, and I have really built a nice little bankroll. In total I have deposited a TOTAL of $90 online. NO more NO less! Among all of the sites that I play on I have accumulated in the neighborhood of $560. Plus 6 decks of Copag cards and a set of Nevada Jacks chips to boot! Just from all the bonus chasing. AND, my game has improved, a lot. Even though sometimes Big Red, thinks I need to pull in more wins at the ole home game. Sorry Dear!
Let me pause and give out another shout out to "Matt" the PokerSavvy.com guru. I have to credit him with some of the recent success. Without his site, the Gift Cards and "stuff" wouldn't have been possible, but I also would probably have never tried out some of the sites that I started playing on. And I am continuing to play on many of them today, because I like the operations that they are running. So far, it's been a Win-Win! Thanks again Matt!
In other news...I see that the anti internet gambling act has been working its way through the legislature. It passed through the House by an overwhelming margin. The debate (it has been said) will heat up in the Senate, and may not reach a final vote by the end of the current session. I don't like it...most of friends don't either. The Poker World doesn't like it. But the government says they're voting the "will of the people." Yeah...right. I suspicion that it is merely a way to ultimately dictate and tax the online world of gambling...which will then give an opportunity to expand to other markets as well. Makes sense to me. They say that provisions in the bill would force banks to monitor members accounts, for activity involving online gambling. I'm not sure how that translates to my bank and Neteller though?!? Anyone have the answer to that? I guess I'll just have to wait and see like everyone else. It's like waiting for the flop/turn/river, when you've gone all in with top pair, but your opponent has two overs. Exciting!

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

Regards,

cheer_dad

Still liking Poker.com a lot!

Well I went on a bit of a PokerPalooza today...with some very nice results! Up over $50 bucks today on Poker.com from playing at nothing more than .10-.25 No Limit. I was getting good cards when it mattered most! Not all the time, just when there was money to be made...and lots of it in the pot. Big Relief! Was beginning to think, I needed to re-evaluate playing style, due to a recent slump. Whew!

Today was my AWS day, so my play time was increased, but not really by much. It was great to accumulate so many points on the bonus though. I've found out that the bonus on this site pays out in $10 increments every 2000 points. So I've got my first one, and need about 800 to clear the next $10. It would be REALLY COOL to get over the $200 hump before I finish up the promotional bonus. It'd be a nice feather in the cap, as well as some nice cash for the bankroll. BUT, it is important not to get too tied up in that, as just continuing to playing solid poker.

The kids seemed to get along very well today...actually played together, and of all things cooked something out of their kids cookbook today. Devilled eggs...and they went well with tonight's dinner too. Thanks Kids! May you continue to get along so well. Also, realized that I just earned an entry into the WSOP Satellite FR on Poker.com, because of play today...and ohhhh, it starts very shortly. But I'm not holding my breath for it though. Still I'll play the cards I'm dealt. :) While I'm out here...I might as well play a little bit in the ring games, you know...just for the points. :)

I think I'm on vacation next week. Not going anywhere, except for maybe King's Island...but after seeing something about a Roller Coaster mishap on this morning's news, I'm not sure the wife will have any part of it. Well I just busted out of the WSOP Satellite, w/pocket J's...against a guy w/10-6, who hit a straight. Glad it was free entry. On a high note, though, I'm up another $20 on the ring games, I'm in!

Time to call it a night...and quit while I'm ahead, instead of running a good streak in the ground.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Who invited him anyway!?!

Another tournament goes down in history. I miss the money again...which the misses reminds of every single time. Did make it to the final table, but with very few chips. I got caught up on two bad hands the whole night. 1st against Del...when I had AKsuited, and matched his preflop raise. The flop was absolutely no help at all to me. I put him on a pocket pair of some kind...and I just don't think it was going to happen for me, so I laid it down. Blinds were at like 200-400 at that point, and I was in no shape to do anything but drop 'em. Others might have made the stand there...butI put him on a pair of some kind, which was going to take me out. The other hand, which did me in...I played my LEAST FAVORITE hand of all time. (Me and James Woods, where's the rubber band when I need it.) K-J...I don't like it...it's weak...easily busted...leads to no good, but there I was in mid-late position, blinds at 300-600, and I go all-in. Only to get a call from the big blind(Erik P), who is already pot committed...and besides the fact, he takes a peak at a pair of 10s. I've got overs, so it's a coin flip, that is until the flop makes him a set of 10s. As a thumb of the nose, Lady Luck gives me a J on the river, for nothing...I'm missing a Q for my straight. But that's poker...and actually to my wife's credit...I think she's realizing that, it is really the way it works.

Matt J, ran away with the top spot again! Who invited him anyway!!! Oh wait, it was me... :) Sorry Matt...way to take it down again, and kudos on shutting down JJ's game. Would have never believed it had I not seen it. You had his number. One of these days, when I get the guts, I'll have to join you in your game. I'll need to take out a small loan to afford the stakes. :P

Anyway, I got called in here to work, early this AM, so I'm all done now...and heading out. Think I'll go home and see what the day has in store for me.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Margarita night...last night

Met some of our friends out last night for Margaritas at Tampico. Topped it off with a big Killian's at BW3's. Had a really good time, relaxed and enjoyed the company of good friends. Topped the evening off with a little online poker. Still realing from losses on Noble, I still returned to the scene of the crime. This time, played one ring game, and fired up 2 tourneys. The part way into that I fired up another tourney. Ring game wasn't paying off at all, just accumulated points for later. But I place 3rd, 3rd, and 2nd in the tourneys. So this propped me back up to where I started from before the beats of a previous evening! So there really is a swing...who knew?! :)
I'm just a few points shy on this site of completing my final bonus, and will get my last $10 released. I really do think I'll be leaving this site, for greener pastures. But I won't rule anything out. I do need to get back to a few other sites to finish up some bonus work there as well. Poker.com, Titan.com, CDPoker.com. And I'd like to play some other sites as well. I know I'm a junky!
Anyway, today is July 4th! Happy Independence Day!!! We will all be heading over to my mother-in-law's house shortly, to fire up the grills, and later watch the fireworks at the park. Should be a good evening. Then tomorrow, it's BACK TO WORK.
And don't forget, Saturday is tournament night.

Time to go...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Moving up just for online points...mistake.

First let me say, that I was knocked out of the PokerSavvy tourney, when I had ladies. I tried just to take the blinds, but some lamer made two pair with garbage...and well the rest is history. This wasn't the hand that did it, but it might has well have been. I was immediately crippled, and uninterested in holding on for dear life. I went out on an A-9os, the next hand vs KJos. I played yesterday in the CDPoker WASS Casino tourney. 300 people max...with a 50 player payout. I got knocked out on pocket rockets...oh well, but I did make 1.50, finishing I think in 20-ish place.
Now to the subject of my post...following finishing up on my Savvy requirements on Poker.com, I decided to move back to Noble and finish up those last few pesky points. And to make it happen quicker, I opt to play at the .25 - .50 NL table, to get the points quicker. That was a mistake. First off the points didn't come any faster. Table I landed at was tight...w/a couple of pushers, that were just action junkies. I was barely seeing any flops, due to the basic makeup of the table. Anyway...I was bored, and frustrated, and points weren't rolling in. I raised preflop once, and got no callers, when I had a decent hand. First win in about 30 hands, w/ no real profit! Then in late position, I hit A-9 suited. I know, not that strong, but still a favorite hand, due to Rounders, although, "Mike" lost on it too! I raise preflop to $2.00. Get one caller. Flop is no help...I bet out again...he calls. Turn brings an Ace...I bet out...he calls, River, nothing, but I bet out again...he calls, and then turns over his suited Big Slick! I did this to myself. I stuck around for a time...but my heart wasn't in it any longer. Finally, left the table...down about $15.00 for the day! Especially on Noble, I'm back below the initial deposit, by a few dollars again. After as hard as I had to work for it, on this site...why did I let it slip from my fingers. Shucks!
Time to get the head on straight again...and do things the right way...slow and steady, and better table selection that that!
At any rate...time to be smart again.

Regards,

cheer_dad

PokerSavvy Tourney about to start!

I'm registered...
All my honey-do tasks are done.
Ready to sit down for the long haul. Even though so far there aren't that many people registered for the PokerSavvy.com Bloggers Tourney on Poker.com for a whopping $1,000! I urge you all to check out the Savvy offers. I've done a couple of their promos so far, and have some great Copags to show for it...and just got a $100 GiftCard to PartyPoker. Just for making some nominal deposits to a couple of Poker Sites that I would have been playing any way. Just do the hand requirements, even at some micro-limits and the promos take care of themselves.

Anyway enough with the plug for PokerSavvy! But really give 'em a shot!

Today, was a good day at work...felt like I accomplished some things, and got to pitch in on some relatively high level issues. Instead of beating my head against the wall. Didn't have to talk to Keith a single time today. Life is really worth living!

Rain held off today, and let the kids get in the pool, for a change. Even the wife got in after work. Tomorrow, hopefully it'll hold off again, but unfortunately I have to mow the yard. Wonder if I do that...and some other things if Big Red would allow a cash game for the weekend? No Points! Smaller crowd. We'll just have to see.

Tourney is STARTING! Only 36 registered, payout to top 5. It's go time!

Regards,

cheer_dad

What a sleepy day...

Just can't seem to "wake up" today.
It's like the weeks are so long and stressful lately that I sleep in on Saturday to catch up...and then I'm still a zombie throughout the day. Really shouldn't be this way huh. Did get motivated long enough to take my son to see "Garfield 2" today. Wife went to see "The Lake House", w/a neighbor. They just said it was different. Isn't that a lot like a guy saying that a girl had a "nice" personality? Oh well, Hollywood keeps crankin' 'em out, we keep showing up in droves to see 'em. We'll never learn.
I just saw today that Aaron Spelling died at the age of 83. TV mogul/producer, that brought a lot of TV to the masses, that even I've been guilty of indulging in over the years. Charlie's Angels, Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, etc...
I'm playing right now on Noble, and have FINALLY moved back up over my initial investment. It has taken me a while after getting spanked for over $50 during an excrutiating session some time ago. I'm back on track...playing smart. Expecting what isn't expected. Realizing that at the level I'm playing at, "low stakes" these guys that push all their chips in after the flop, as a raise, really aren't trying to bluff, and buy it. They're just too excited that they've hit a monster hand, and don't even try to pull more money out of the rest of the table. Oh well.
I'm also waiting for a $50 deposit to CDPoker, that an affiliate site promised. Their forum wants us to be patient...but we shall see if it ever gets there. Also I signed up through PokerSavvy again to Poker.com. Points accumulate quickly, and 750 Savvy points will be mine, in a week or so at this rate. I also completed the Mansion promo through them for 900 points. I ended up losing on the site, but the points I earned allowed me to double up by buying a Gift Card to PartyPoker through the Savvy guys. PokerSavvy RULES! So I'll continue to send them my business, as long as they keep shelling out the Gift Cards.
I have to work tomorrow (Sunday) maintenance on servers, of a wide variety.
The WSOP is going on right now in Las Vegas. Maybe one of these days...(sigh)
For that I could stay awake...at least I think so. That's all for today.

Regards,

cheer_dad

It's my short Friday!

It's only an eight-hour work day today.
Tonight's my son's LAST baseball game for the season.
Tomorrow evening the cards will be dealt at my house. Looks like so far I've got 22 people signed up to play, with several newbies. I'm predicting another great time for everybody. Now if I can just win it...things will be GREAT! I need a major coup to take down, particularly the two points leaders Andy and TJ. You guys are goin' down!
I'm looking forward to the weekend, some much needed time off, of course there will be yardwork to accomplish and such, but hey, "Welcome to the wonderful world of home ownership!" I think I'm also going to sign up on MansionPoker.com this weekend since PokerSavvy.com just added them. The play through requirements for the 900 points look like cake! And looks like through the points system, that you can at the very least double your money. I'll have to keep you posted. Maybe someone will start listening to me on this!

Time to get back to it...gotta run,

cheer_dad

No huge loss...

Played for a while yesterday on NoblePoker, but just couldn't get anything to come together. Thought I had a hope when I got A-Qsuited. Even hit my Q on the flop, but the preflop raiser bets into me, hard. I call, but the turn brings a King, and he goes even bigger, stupidly I call again, ONLY because one more spade gives me the nut flush. That didn't happen, and then he really tries to milk me...and bring it home. I drop out, and save myself a few bucks. Wasn't doing any good at the other table either. So NL .10-.20 two tables cost me a little less than $10 for the night. I guess I should be grateful I didn't lose the whole $40 I had on the line.

Don't forget folks the next points tourney is June 17th at my house 6:00pm. Should be a good time...just a few seats left, at three tables. Bring your "A" game kids!

Regards,

cheer_dad

I did well

Ended up playing going over to the Wellesley neighborhood Hold 'em Tournament on the 9th. Crowd was smaller than usual but there were 7 people there. We played two tournaments and I finished first in the first tourney and 2nd in the next. Walked away with in the neighborhood of $160. Now if only all of that could go into the online coffers! :)
Played a little online as well, back up a little on Noble, thanks to a killer hand with Queens. Got me right back on that horse! Still don't know what I'm going to do on Rodeo, don't know whether to trust them not to cheat me of my $25. I'm concerned that they might fold before I ever get my chance to withdrawal.
This is my long weekend, so I don't have to work on Monday...YEAH! SWEET!!
I need the time off to recooperate, at least that's what I keep telling myself. It's terrible to dread going to work isn't it. Current general atmosphere in there just isn't the best in the world, and I believe it is affecting a great number of good people.
I gotta run, Whit, wants to hit the pool, so that means Dad's Taxi Service is open for business.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Works kept me a little busy, lately

Works kept me a little busy, lately...and therefore haven't "blogged" as often as I'd like.
Let's see what's been going on?
Signed up on a variety of "free money" casino/poker sites lately. Giving up more personal information than you can shake a stick at, offering up my hotmail email address to the world as a Spam Depository! But hey...what's a Junk Folder for anyway?! Some have had some ridiculous requirements to fulfill in order to withdrawal, however one bright spot was BreakAway Casino. I cashed out $50 bucks after playing some therapeutic BlackJack. AND, they actually deposited it into my Neteller Account. Think I'm going to take that and deposit $25 of it onto a fledgeling site called RodeoCityPoker.com. Not much traffic to them yet...but man do the players out there absolutely STINK! The site starts you off with $50 bucks, that you can only claim by doing a minimal deposit, fulfilling the Raked Hands requirements, and being a member for 30 days. Not too bad. Well, I've more than tripled up the money in 2 sittings. These maniacs'll call ANYTHING. It's like they think everybody is bluffing! And I don't all that often. I would think that would be painfully obvious since I was playing VERY FEW HANDS! I'm just leery of the site being around long enough for me to cash in on my GOOD fortune. So, I've done my part to spread the word around for them, on the forums that I post to regularly.
I won't be able to make this weekend's tournament at Eric's since I've got baseball. But as luck would have it I was invited on Friday to another of my semi-regular games. Sorry gang...yes from time-to-time, I "step out on ya!"
Time to get back to it...I only get so long for lunch you know!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Online blackjack...evil, but a lot of fun!

I'm a junkie...I admit it. Man cannot live by Poker alone. He must also have BlackJack!!! I found this site http://p102.ezboard.com/bfreegamblingmoney awhile back and had dabbled with a couple of the links for poker stuff, but recently just a couple of days ago I returned to it, and started signing up for the free money deposits at various casinos and trying my luck out on their money...not mine. Some of you might scoff at handing out my address and phone number to an online casino, but frankly gang...they've already got my number! Here's the tale of it...I signed up on a couple of the "We'll give you $500 to play for an hour, win what you can." These I don't like as much, and they seem geared toward you losing it all, quickly, or making sure that just as the hour winds down, your "above $500" amount will be in the neighborhood of $20. This you can claim, after you've deposited a meager sum and satisfied play through requirements. Gets you hooked, but it'll cost you. The ones however that I like most are the ones that give you a coupon code or automatically deposit into an account for you anywhere from $10-$25. These sites are SWEET! A few of them very particularly spell out how much play time or how much you must wager before you can claim the money. I played BlackJack on these mercilessly! On some I'd finally bust out, betting about $1 per hand. On BreakAway Casino, Colosseum Casino, and 32Vegas...I'm up!!! In fact, I just got notice from BreakAway that my $50 deposit to Neteller was completed. Yeah I played on their $15, and turned it into $50 and they let me cash it out! I got Colosseum up to a little over $20 and they're letting me cash out too. 32Vegas I have up to $40, but I haven't cashed it out yet. I kinda like this site. Haven't decided what I want to do. I just started Windows Casino last night with a free $15, and I've already got it to $25, now I just have to get lucky and finish the play through requirements. These free money wins have been great, and will actually replace some of the bad beat losses that took a toll on the bankroll particularly on Noble and Bodog. Now that the money is hitting the Neteller account...hey, it's time to get it re-invested. Which poker site is gonna get my business? Who has the bonus plan with my name written all over it? Only PSO and PokerSavvy know?!

Oh yeah, if you haven't seen it already on the website, the next Tourney was rescheduled to a Saturday due to my son's baseball game schedule. I really do have priorities and heart of gold...hmmm, I wonder how much that's worth?

I'll be seeing you soon.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Too much yard work

Oooooofff!
Man am I ever gonna be sore in the morning. After mowing the lawn (bagged it all) weed eating, I moved on to opening up the swimming pool for the season. Filling it up now, who knows how long that'll take. Then, I had to trim all of the shrubs. Not only does my back hurt in places I'd forgotten I had, but I'm also sun burned! So that ought to make sleeping a lot of fun.
I'm out treading water on Noble Poker right now. I'm almost back up to $30, as pathetic as that sounds! I've still got 20 in bonus to claim, but that's going to be a long time from now. At the .5 .10 NL tables, points come slowly. VERY slowly... But then again, I've got nothing but time.
I've still got a couple days left in this long holiday weekend. I've really enjoyed it so far. Just not being at work is the best part for me.
I think I'm going to check the fridge for a beer...it's been a long one, and I think I deserve it.

Regards,

cheer_dad

What a SLOWWWWWWWW Friday!

I never knew time could move so slowly.
This is unreal!
You know how you get suddenly woke up...and you're all jittery?
Well that's how I've felt ALL DAY. The day has just come to a complete standstill and it is making everyone very drowsy. It is a quiet day in here today, which I guess is a good thing but man I don't know how much more I can take.
Big Red and I are going out tonight w/the Brothers-es tonight, to Tampico I believe. Was to have happened last night but that fell through, and besides we got to see a GREAT baseball game. My son's team WON last night!!! The boys really got it together. There were some shaky moments byt all in all it was great. It was an exciting game, because right up til the end it could have gone either way.
Sad to say that I've layed off of poker for a few days, deciding that the wife was right, and I was spending too much time on it. She was getting a little ticked off about it. You know..."momma ain't happy, ain't no one happy..." well it's true. So I opted to yield and play some other day.
This is a long weekend, nice long break and boy do I ever need it. Maybe I'll be able to pull off some play time!!!
I still really want to get my money back up on Noble. I should have never lost it down like that in the first place. The Bodog thing still kinda gets me a little bit too. It was like I hit a spot there that I couldn't do ANYTHING right. Let's hope it'll come back! :)
Another hour to go...and then it's off to the house.

Oh and my COPAG's are on their way now, they'll be here by Wednesday...all 6 beautiful decks of them!!!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Still been a little rough here lately

Not on the best of streaks lately. Just can't seem to put things together. All too often A-K getting busted, against garbage. Other monster losses have included the "I hit two pair on the flop, but someone else hit their set. You know the routine. It happens. It has its toll on the bankroll unfortunately.
I held my home tournament last night, and hosted a total of 22 people! I had a great time, but didn't win, didn't even come close. First big hit, was courtesy of Big Slick, running into Rockets. That caused a rebuy, and no long afterward, I hit Big Slick again...and got it cracked by an A-9. C'est la vie!
I did break out the Nevada Jacks chips for the cash game, last night, and people really marvelled over them. I may get a few referral points out of this after all!
Sorry, I haven't "blogged" more often, I fully intended to make my posts, much more frequently, but life keeps getting in the way.
I've dropped stakes a little on some of my poker sites, in an attempt to recoup some losses, but slowly! No more impulsive poker. Think I'll start believing the monster raises of others and err on the side of caution for a while. Still just staying the course. It'll work out, over time.

Regards,

cheer_dad

I've been paying for lessons...

I heard it said somewhere that you're not really playing online poker for money...you are simply paying for lessons. Lately, I'd have to agree, I'd just like to be able to find a coupon! Bodog and Noble have both delivered some tough blows to my bankroll here recently. On Bodog, a "tilt" move or two contributed to the pain, to some degree. I could have saved a several dollars had I not chased after my losses. Just couldn't walk away that day.

Noble...I guess the same is true. BUT, I can point to 2 very crucial beats that have sent me spiraling. Big Slick caused the first, and Pocket Rockets caused the second.

Instance 1: I get big slick, and raise big in middle position, more than 6X the big blind, as I recall, one guy calls. I hit a King on the rainbow flop. Rather than slow play, I again lead out, and Bet Pot this time. He begrudgingly and slowly calls it. Turn and River are meaningless cards. There are no straights, no flushes possible. No more face cards. Yet numb-nuts is still hanging on. I begin to suspect something bad is going to happen and I'm right. I bet on the River, and I'm met with a WAY OVER THE TOP RAISE. The kind of raise you'd expect from someone who missed their whole hand, and they're simply now trying scare the world away from them. I expect trips, to hit me...but I'm so far invested in this one, that the measly amound left to call isn't gonna help anymore, at this table. So yes I called instead of walking away. This Romanian, turns over 6-8os for TWO PAIR. Let me recap...he called my big preflop raise with 6-8os, sees the flop and hits bottom pair of eights. Then continues on despite a Pot Bet by me. Somewhere along the way on the Turn or the River he hits a six to make his 2 pair. Now, I ask you...why would anyone play it? When he had me...he had me, that I can live with, but to play it, when raised, and not a blind, in a No-Limit game, why? I was still okay, and would have said nothing except then Mr. Romania gets mouthy. Another player at the table says you have no respect...for others or yourself. I hadn't said anything at ALL to him. Yet, he says..."I play to win, and besides I knew HE (meaning me) was weak. I guess I never thought of myself as weak. Tight yes weak no. And I didn't see how AK was to be considered weak. Still I bite my tongue and type and say nothing. Then, I refocus to my other Noble table and see that the Romanian sensation is there too. And decides to play nicey-nice with me. And say, no hard feelings huh "chip", I'm chiptastic..." on that site. Others at both tables are still mouthing him, and he's mouthing back. I simply type..."that's okay, i just took notes." Left it at that, even though I wanted to take him down. I never got the cards to do it...and probably never will on that site. Anyway he goes on to educate everyone on how good he is...and how he's moving up levels next week, and turned $30 into $400 on this site, and blahblahblah. How is it that my bankroll and play style merely has me buy-in...donate, donate, donate, hit a hand, take a pot that barely covers losses. Not even able to survive at that rate...Yet I see this moron and many others like him, triple and quadruple up non-stop. Makes me question what I'm doing.

Anyway, I start climbing back after that break, and run into a few hours later, Pocket Rockets. I reraise a guy preflop, big, hoping to isolate. But I get another caller to boot. Long story short, not just one, but both of them beat me...and tie each other. They each had a Q high. Nothing suited, lousy kickers both, but they both just "felt the need!" They both hit big on the flop, seeing the miraculous other two Queens come out, with a Four. Then on the River...there's another Four. They both take down my rockets with Boats. I've spun out of control by now... and proceed to donate the rest. And I'm not making bad decisions. That's what gets me...nothing stupid, no bad hands played, just not catching cards, and then when I do, getting beat either by a moron or by the unthinkable. No in between. Feast or famine. I'm not completely out. I've still got a paltry sum out there, but I'd planned on transferring that very soon to another more lucrative site, so now that's off. I did satisfy the PokerSavvy Requirements, so at least I'll get some more Copags out of it. Oh joy, I should have saved the time and effort and just bought the friggin' things outright, instead of placing it on Noble. Sigh!
Anyway, maybe my luck'll turn for this weekend. I'm hosting a big tourney this Saturday. Things have GOT to get BETTER than this!

Gotta Run!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Lady luck thumbed her nose

Me and Lady Luck need to come to terms. Or skip the luck part, and I need to make my peace with taking things slow and steady. Regardless of how well you think you can deal with stress and tilt, we are ALL OF US, still suceptible to TILT. And boy, when I go on it, I go ALL IN!
Suffice it to say, what Bodog, has given Bodog can take away, and then some! Fresh back from Las Vegas, and a rather lackluster performance, meaning I didn't make money, I thought "I'll go back to the cash cows at home that I know and love." What I forgot was some of the basics. Slow and steady is the way things work. You can't go for the kill shot, to make a fortune in one fell swoop. You've got to stay within your means. Comfort zones should be established BEFORE you go on tilt, and especially not when you're drinking...at all. I started out losing a little in my normal game range. And got fed up with the up and down, and started looking at the cursed 150-175 range that I remember so well from UB. So I get it in my head to spring board past it. I jump into 2 SNG's for $10 each, finish 3rd in only one of them, for an overall loss. And again, I just barely did that, with a few paltry chips left! So, I determine to go the distance, and crack open another beer. You can see the train cars piling up now can't you! Anyway, suffice it to say I sit down at another table, one with teeth, and money to be made. A 1-2 no limit! Just like I'd played in Vegas. Now I'm a player, now I'm all that and a bag of chips. I'll have my WSOP entry in no time! I get the Mike McDee hand A-9...which I don't know why, is still an underdog favorite hand of mine, so I play it. Me and one other guy, toe to toe. I catch an ace...and my competition is slow to react...there's a couple of Queens out there by the time the River comes around, but he ain't got one, and he makes a last ditch effort to steal away all that money in the middle, so I go way over the top of him, ALL-IN, for the whole enchilada. He pauses, long...I know he doesn't have me, and no way he calls, then the chat window gets active. He's typing..."Sorry Dude!" "I have the NUTS!" Then he calls, and flips over BOTH LADIES and shows me QUADS! I remember now the sinking/sick feeling. It's there, in the pit of my stomach...I wanted to jump right back in there, throw good money back in, to get it back. But I know it doesn't work that way, at least not for me. It's not my money anymore, it belongs to that other guy now. I did it to myself. Now I've got to rebuild...cautiously, and remember clearly that I'm not invulnerable. I can be beaten. BUT, scared money can't win either, so it is a fine line, that I must now walk, due to my own stupidity. I'm still up, overall in my online play, from my initial investment, but I lost over $100 that night, and that stings, and playing at 5 cent 10 cent or 10 cent 25 cent no limit, that is a lot of ground to recover, and at this point, I'm not going to be able to play any higher, because my bankroll suffered.

Enough self pity for today...time to suck it up and get to work, and save my game face for tonight or the next night. The next HPT Freeroll on Noble Poker is on May 17th. I did just setup that account, so I'm good to go. Now, I need to squeeze in the Bodog 100+9 tourney soon, for a Sunday, very soon. Maybe all my bad luck is washed away, and it's time for the swing to go the other way, while I'm working toward a $100,000 prize pool. Now we're talking POKER!

Regards,

cheer_dad