Poker - Weekend Recap

I had a good weekend of poker.  I played satellite to get into Lock Poker's big Sunday tournament. I played a poker tournament in Thornwood, NY and I played 1/2 NLH after.

The satellite was pretty standard.  I played Loose Aggressive (LAG),  I made a few 3 bets at a few LAG with rags, I had a mistake versus LAG on the button on my big blind. Villain min raised on the button, the small blind (SB) folded,  and I called with KQo.  The flop was K, 9, 5 rainbow.  I checked, and the villain continuation bet (CB),  and I called.  I checked a deuce on the turn, and the villain bet again,  then I re-raised  1/2 pot.  He called and I raised 1/2 pot on the river when a 5 paired the board.  The villain called and showed AK.

That crippled me and I lost a race a later on to get knocked out.  Two things I think I should have done. First; I should have 3 bet pre-flop and fold any 4 bet. Second: I feel should have re-raise the c-bet on the flop, and barrel the turn, and river.  If the villain pushes on the flop or turn I can fold without letting the pot swell. Next time I need to take a better line than I did.

I have run bad in the 5 tournaments I played.  I have lost 95 percent of my races. I also had bad timing; I keep running into hands that have me dominated. That's poker,  I don't think I have been outplayed in any hand yet. My horse "ElBoggy" cash again in the tournament and my other horse "Gambles" busted out in the bubble.

Now to the Cash Game,  oh boy I made it rain. It was 1/2 NLH, the buy-in is $60-$200.  I cashed out with  $494 in 90 minutes.  The only reason why I left is that my brother was tilting, and my ride was tired from tournament. A +$294 session is very good.

The big pots were easy.  The 1st hand I raised 3 binds (bbs) with J3 suited diamonds in position, I got 3 callers.  The flop was J, 5 ,4 spades. It was check to me, and c-bet 8bbs, there was a caller, and a all-in for 11bbs. I called and the other player called.  I hit the 3 of diamonds on the turn,  I put the other player all in for 30bbs, he called.  The river was a deuce, I scoop the main and side pot. My naked jack would have won because the other players were on flush draws.

The other pot I over limped on the button with 97o and the small blind raised to 3bbs with 4 callers so I called.  The flop was J, 10, 8 of hearts.  The sb c-bet to 11bs with a caller,  I re-raised to 40bbs putting the sb all-in.  He called with 7, 6 of hearts. The board ran true and scooped another good pot with a straight.

0 for 5 and +145bbs in cash game

Poker - Back On The Grind

I love poker.  From 2003 to 2010 I made more money from Poker than my job which was Director of Operations for a multiple billion publishing company.  I had my first losing year 2011 that was the year that I spent 90% of my time in the a hospital due to my accident.

I had 35k stuck on Full Tilt Poker before Black Friday.  To cover some hospital bills I had to sell my account for $0.60/$1.00.  I need cash on hand to pay my bills.  I am back on the grind trying to rebuild my bankroll.  To play the biggest games in the east coast I need to beat smaller games to have survive the swings of poker.

To be honest depressing to play $65 ($50 buyin plus $15 rake).  I used to play $5-$10 or $10-$25 No Limit Texas Hold'em (NLH). The buy in range from $1000 to $5000.  I also played $5-$5 and $5-$10 Pot Limit Omaha (PLO).  There was no max buy in to these games.  I did play bigger. I took shots at $300-$600 Omaha Hi-Lo and high stakes NLH online, I will discuss those games in future blogs. I was a winner in these games for 7 years.

The easy way to build a bankroll is to play small stakes NLH multi-table tournaments.  That is why I am starting with these games. While the players got better I am still a heavy favorite to win this games.  I am also staking my brother, and best friend. I will explain my staking deals in another blog.

So far I am 0 for 4 but 2 of my horses won. They have 2 wins and a second place.  I am up 10 buy ins. If I don't win the next game I am going to grind the $1-$2 NLH game. This game is a union game, they are a group of good guys.  They are nice guys but the rule is the nicer the player the worse player they are.

0 for 4

The Accident - The Beginning: Traveling

At the beginning I was a kid that was too horny, gambles too often, and works too hard.  I needed a release from the grind of life. Sometimes you need let it go.

At first I went to the gym 5 to 6 times a week.  I probably lost 100lbs. I was huge,  I was trapped in my body.  I wanted to change that.  I started my journey to getting healthy.

Working out was cool but you can reach plateau.  I starting playing poker again.  I made trips to A.C., Vegas, and played in all the underground poker games in NY.  I love poker, it is too dangerous to play for fun. At the stakes I like play I can win or lose a month salary in minutes.The highs and lows of poker was incredible. I needed something to even me out

Dating was cool but I get bored with women. Honestly how many sales assistants can you sleep with before your get bored.  Drunk girls in the clubs and lounges annoy me.  You can say "why do date a normal girl?" I have dated doctors, young or old, even hookers. They are ended the same.

I starting traveling for work.  Hotels, new cities, new women, and new food. I can tell new story everyday.  Everyday I can start with a clean slate. Where should we go?

Don't Call It a Comeback

I started this more than a year ago.  I wrote a bunch of entries but I never published them. Now I want to document my story.  I had life threatening car accident, I felt in love twice,  I lost my baby, lost my 9-5 job, I was paralyzed, and  online poker was banned in the U.S.A.

I can't talk, work, play poker online or live, but guess what? I'm going to get better.  I'm close to being back.

This is the tale of how BigLongBeach got stronger, smarter, and healthy than ever.