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Poker Blog established in 2003 as the first stop for poker news, poker stories, and bad poker advice.

January 31, 2006

Live at the WWdN

by Luckbox

wil asked for it, and since it's still sorta Pauly Appreciation Week, here I go. Live-blogging my tourney...

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Tournament Action

Waiting for Monsters

by Luckbox

She was wearing a $100 chip around her neck. Her earrings were pocket Aces.

"There's really no place you can go to buy poker-themed costume jewelry," the 10-seat told us.

My table leaned toward the woman poker player this day, thanks to the WSOP Circuit Ladies Event. As they busted out, they headed to the NL tables. I was there waiting. And so was the woman with the chip on her necklace. Maybe she figured it was the perfect customer base for The Poker Boutique.

The woman to my left in the 8-seat was very attractive, sexy even. Dark hair, dark eyes and a cool poker style. She was a real player, head and shoulders above the other women at the table.

"You're demeanor and voice are very familiar to me," she told me.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Tunica Tales

January 29, 2006

Dog

by G-Rob

I think most questions are rhetorical, telling as much in the asking as we could hope from an answer. It's with that in mind that I hated the question my wife asked Friday night.

"Are you happy?", she said, as if she were asking the time.

"I think so," I replied, "I have everything a man could want."

Sometimes I wonder if that's missing the point.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | G-Rob's Thoughts

January 27, 2006

The Poker People you meet...

by Otis

In Hollywood, the stars pay hundreds of dollars per hour to get over the fact their mom was an alcoholic and their dad liked to wear corsetts on the weekends. At poker tables, the group therapy only costs the blinds and rake. In Tunica, the rake was a $5 per half-hour time drop.

My dad took me to the circus. My mom made me Snicker Doodles and ice cream floats. I didn't have much to talk about, but I paid my $5 per half hour anyway.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Tunica Tales

January 25, 2006

Derailing the Express

by Luckbox

Quick note for the ladies who read Up For Poker... if you haven't stopped by my other blog, go see how you can win me in an auction and help raise money for an important charity.

He's a large man. When he sat down to my left, I had to move my chair closer to the 3 seat. He took up a lot of room. It was also a lot easier to slide down my chip stack considering it consisted of just a 500 and a 100 chip.

Chris Grigorian had a lot more. Of course, I didn't know he was Chris Gregorian. I only knew that he was audacious enough to wear what I assumed to be his nickname on his hat. It made me want to begin printing my Luckbox trucker hats right away.

He wasn't there five minutes when he managed to join the other 8 players and I in a silent pact to crush him. We wanted nothing more than to see him leave our table with nothing but the sting of a bunch of no-nicknamed-players taking all his chips.

We got our wish.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Tunica Tales

January 24, 2006

Otis' final prelude

by Otis

"It's not hard to play this game. The hard part is getting up and leaving."

I never got the guy's name. It's funny, you know? If you sit down to dinner with someone, you'll likely know their name before you finish your salad. At a poker table, you can spend hours and hours talking with someone. You might learn some of the most intimate details of their life. And yet, when it's all over, you couldn't even look up their name in the phonebook.

I sat with the dude who said the above line for more than 12 hours at various tables and I have no idea who he is. All I know is that G-Rob, during a late-night hit-and-run session, cracked the dude's aces with 6-9. A day later, without mention of the hand, the dude said it:

"It's not hard to play this game. The hard part is getting up and leaving."

Eight hours later, the guy had won $8000 in the nightly second chance tourney and I was still stuck.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Tunica Tales

January 23, 2006

Tunica Tales

by Luckbox

As Otis mentioned, there are tales-a-plenty from Tunica. We'll try to list most recent at the top, but you can always click on Tunica Tales for the complete list of stories from our trip.

Tunica by way of Ego Road by Otis
The Comeback by G-Rob

I don't have time for a full story right now, but there are plenty to come. I think if you've been worried that something was missing from Up For Poker that you'll be excited by what's to come. We're home from Tunica and flush with stories.

For those backers who hadn't heard, I didn't do so well in the tourney. I'll chalk it up to experience and feel better prepared for the next one. It's time to get back to work, but I'll write more soon!

Permalink | Tunica Tales

Tunica by way of Ego Road

by Otis

Chances are, this collablog is going to get confusing, with the three chief contributors all getting back from a road trip at the same time. I'll do my best to ease the confusion by listing previous posts at the top of mine.

The Comeback by G-Rob

I shuffled through the remaining bills in my pocket. Four days before, the roll had been big enough to draw attention. It was a bulge in my pants where, sadly, none had been before. Now, tired and hungover at McCarran, the bulge was gone and I returned to a familiar state of emasuclation and self-loathing. Wharfing down a bad chicken sandwich in the Prickly Pear with The Mark and Gamecock, I knew that this was not the kind of loathing Hunter Thompson had described. His loathing was one of a scene, a society, a moral culture worthy of scorn. My loathing was internal and brought upon myself. Behind me was a debaucherous weeked of revelry and wanton disregard for cash. Perhaps, I thought, that was what the weekend was supposed to be about in the first place. Still, Gamecock and The Mark had bulges where I had the last fluttering of a few hundred bucks.

Upgraded to First Class for the plane ride home, I settled back into the seat and fell into the restless sleep of a man who fancied himself as a gambler, a degenerate, and a card player. In unmemorable dreams, I realized that I was none of the above.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Tunica Tales

The Comeback

by G-Rob

I'd just won a pretty fair pot from the older guy to my left. He was from New York and, evidently, an avid tennis player. At one point a Nashville man with an Australian accent offered to play him on the closest courts for $1000. Mr. New York politely declined. By the end of the night, he'd give me more than that at this NL game.

Just few hands later, I've got about $600 in chips with another $600 behind and the young asian player in the 2 seat is ready to test my hand.

I was in the 5 seat and on the button when he led out for a raise, making it $35 to go. I popped it up to $80 and he just called. I figured him for a strong ace. If I'm right then the flop was great for him. It was :

Ad Kh 6h

Oddly enough, he decided to check and I bet $100. He calls.

The turn is :

3d.

That puts a SECOND flush draw on the board and if he DOES have a strong ace he can't let this hand go any further. Honestly, by now, I'm worried he may have a set..especially when he checks again. Still, because I'm an aggressive donkey, I bet out another $200. He calls again.

The river is :

Jc

He checks again. Both flushes are gone and, while a straight is possible, it seems awfully unlikely given the action so far. He checks again. I bet $400 and my newfound friend goes deep in the tank before asking how much I have left. He then looks to the table, hoping they'll offer a clue about my hand, before complaining "you just sucked out on the damn river!!" and folding into the muck.

I showed the hammer and raked the pot.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Tunica Tales

January 21, 2006

Missives From Tunica

by Luckbox

I don't have much time.

The WSOP Circuit event has cards in the air in just under an hour. Otis and I are both registered. And now we've got to follow in the footsteps of Absinthe. That's not an easy task!

So far, the G-Vegas crew is collectively in the black. Yesterday Otis and I each scored modest cashes in the WSOP 2nd chance tourney (14th adn 15th respectively), while at the same time G-Rob and BadBlood were crushing the No Limit tables.

I hope I have a good update for you tonight! Wish us luck!

Permalink | Tunica Tales

January 19, 2006

UFP Takes Over Tunica

by Luckbox

It's true!

Up For Poker is taking a road trip. Okay, so Otis is actually flying. But the rest of G-Vegas is jumping in their cars and driving to Tunica for the weekend.

Sometime tomorrow evening, Otis, GRob, and I will be joined by the one and only Bad Blood at the Grand Casino. There are rumors a certain vertically-challenged blogger extraordinaire may even make an appearance.

At least Otis and I plan to play in Saturday's $1000 NLHE WSOP Circuit Event. Of course, I'd like to thank my Luckcrew for their support (Change100, Maudie, Boy Genius, Gracie, Falstaff, Biggestron, Performify, Slayre, Donkey Hunter and Jen Leo). Here's hoping I can make you all a little money!

The site will likely be mostly quiet between now and next week unless we scare up a way (and some time and a desire) to blog in between our sessions at the table. Wish us luck!

Permalink | B&M Poker

January 17, 2006

Ready for Tunica

by Luckbox

It's been a good week. I like good weeks. This week ends in Tunica. We'll see...

Tonight Otis talked me into a limit tourney on Pacific. The good news is that Pacific tournyes are SOFT. Have I said that before? The bad news is that I'm not a limit player (and don't let Otis tell you otherwise). I got lucky with Aces early when they held up. Then I donked my whole stack away. Then I doubled up about 5 times with AA, KK, JJ, TT, etc.

Five paid, and when we got to 7, I was in last. When we got to 6, I was in last. When we got to 5, I was in last. When we got to 4, I was in last. Then I started crushing, and crushing, and crushing. It's when I told Otis, "I could win this thing."

And I did.

Look out Tunica, here I come!

Permalink | Tournament Action

January 15, 2006

Cashing at the Coushatta

by Luckbox

Perhaps you'll remember what happened last time I visited the Coushatta. I thought I played well in the tourney, but didn't make the money. Then I dropped more than a grand playing the big game.

I came home with a crushed spirit.

In just a week, I'd be taking my game onto the biggest stage I've ever played, the WSOP Circuit. I don't think I was ready and I was questioning myself. That's what happens when your bankroll takes a hit.

"Go play! I've got a good feeling about this," Change100 told me Friday night. That's the sentiment that got me out of bed at about 10:15am, leaving me less time than I'd like to get there for the Noon start. As you can see by the picture to the right. I'm sure glad I listened to her!

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Tournament Action

January 14, 2006

On the Slowroll

by G-Rob

It was fairly late and I'd already started to tilt. The Thursday homegame is just a $50NL ring with some freindly G-Vegas types, all of whom I happen to like. At one point I'd built my stack up to more than $200 but I'd lost about half when my 10s met Jacks. I lost another half on a hand that made me angry.

I got in heads up against the player to my right with 89c. The flop was K-8-K and he led out for half the pot. Given this player's style and my read on him, I thought a king was possible but so were another 487 possible holdings. I smooth called to represent the king and test the water further. The turn is a 5, the board is now rainbow, and the guy to my right checks. That set off alarms. I knew he was now ahead so I checked behind. The river was pure garbage and now he bet 1/4 the pot. Because of my experience with this player, I knew there was no reason to raise and I wanted to see his hand so I called.

He said, "I've got a 5," and flipped it over.

I showed my hand. A superior hand. Kings and eights.

Then he waited another second, and turned over his king. Full house. Slow roll.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | G-Rob's Thoughts

January 10, 2006

Own Your Piece of the Luckbox

by Luckbox

UPDATE: I'm sold out. I'll be contacting each of you shortly with the terms fo the agreement. Thank you for the overwhelming support! Hopefully I'll come through and that will encourage future backing!

The WSOP Circuit Events come to Tunica this month and there are a number of $1000+60 NLHE events.

I will be playing in one of them.

I'm willing to sell 50% of myself in shares of 10% ($106) or 5% ($53).

For those unfamiliar with my strategy, it's:

1) Play tight early and chip up.
2) Approach the money.
3) Suckout 4 times.
4) Cash

Permalink | Tournament Action

Mauled in a homegame

by G-Rob

(EDIT : BEFORE THE REST OF THIS POST...YOU MUST READ THIS!)

"Annoying someone via the Internet is now a federal crime.

It's no joke. Last Thursday, President Bush signed into law a prohibition on posting annoying Web messages or sending annoying e-mail messages without disclosing your true identity.

In other words, it's OK to flame someone on a mailing list or in a blog as long as you do it under your real name. Thank Congress for small favors, I guess. "

HERE'S THE CNN ARTICLE

(NOW ON WITH THE ORIGINAL POST)

Yes folks, there's a secret code in the title. Bring your Orphan Annie decoder ring and "Don't forget to drink your ovaltine."

Blood and I usually reserve Monday for the super delicious "big game" on the hill. This week it was full, so we went to plan B. I got an e-mail from Frank the Tank at work. He's almost always a good host and is a regular at our other donkfest games. His $40NL tourney was a decent fallback.

I gotta tell you folks, I run a good homegame. Blood runs a great one. I've always thought Frank's was good too.

Otis ran a homegame that one time, a long time ago, before he turned soft. It was fun too.

Last night, we played the worst homegame in America.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Home Games

Otis' Ego

by Otis

Okay, so I haven't done any broadcast work in a year. I had a lot of fun taping The Circuit on Cardplayer.com. I'm on the most recent episode here. I start a little slow, but pick up some steam and have fun.

Ego...OUT.

Permalink | Tournament Action

January 8, 2006

Stepping Up and Getting Smacked Down

by Luckbox

I like the Coushatta Casino poker room. In fact, I like it even more now that they have their $200 NL tourney every Saturday. It's T8000, 25/50 starting blinds and 20 minute levels. Not ideal, but with 40xBB 160xBB to start, there's time to play poker. Unfortunately, you have to make moves in the later levels to survive.

I played well in the tourney, but it went horribly downhill after when I stepped up to the $5/$10 half NLHE, half PLO, no max buy-in game. That was a first for me, and I learned a valuable (er... expensive) lesson.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | B&M Poker

January 7, 2006

The End

by G-Rob

I had to google "Amy Sedaris" after her high-speed appearance on the show. She twisted and spun in the plain grey chair while she and the host filled heavy air with garbage that floats. I thought she was the girl from Comedy Central's "Stranger's with Candy" and, it turns out, she was. My wife hadn't heard of that show. She was more impressed with Amy's role in "Maid in Manhatten."

Letterman, meanwhile, was somber and direct, like a funeral home director who's already been paid. Amy wasn't working on new movies, selling books, or doing shows. She came on Letterman to chat. It left Dave without a crutch.

"Does it bother you that I have nothing to push?" asked Amy in a rare unspastic moment.

"Sometimes I feel like a movie industry whore," answered Dave. "You know how much I care about the movie King Kong? Zero. Zip. Nada."

Dave's show won't be on much longer. Frankly, nobody cares about that either.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | G-Rob's Thoughts

January 5, 2006

The Legend of the Luckbox

by Luckbox

18th alternate.

That's what I was when I arrived at the MGM Sunday night for the $125 buy-in tournament. To say I was discouraged would be an understatement. I was so bummed, I almost sat down at a NL table prepared to tilt off the rest of my Vegas bankroll.

But I waited. A few bloggers had already sat down, -EV, JoeSpeaker and Biggestron. I really wanted to join them, so I waited, hoping people would bust out fast enough that I would have a legitimate shot at this thing.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | WPBT Holiday Classic Trip

January 3, 2006

Swing Away!

by G-Rob

So the Elite Soccer Club is back in town after a busy Holiday season. The G-Vegas team, all 11 to 13 year old girls, went to a Disney-sponsored tournament in Orlando and played fairly well. I spoke to some of their parents about it today.

Why is this news?

Because the airport hotel the girls used on this fateful New Year's Eve... was ALSO hosting a nationwide SWINGER'S CONVENTION. Hundreds of happy swappers mingled in the lobby while our naive hometown girls wore party hats and stared.

One mom said, "You could tell none of them had any undergarments of any kind on. Some of the dresses were see through"

Another parent, a father of two players, said, "They were starting to walk around and hardly clothed at all or showing themselves to other members of the group."

"Showing themselves?" I asked.

"Exposing themselves to other members of the group," he answered, "to see whether they would be interested in forming a union."

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | G-Rob's Thoughts