Back into the poker fold

Techno-Christmas has come early for a poker cat. Within the last three months, I upgraded to a Palm Pre smartphone, bought the gf an iPod Touch as a medical reference aid for her doctorly duties and now bought a new Sony Vaio laptop for toaster hunting.

I've mentioned as far back as August that it was time to replace my old Sony Vaio because of overheating issues.

And I've been without one for about a month and a half, after that old laptop died. Gone were easy opportunities to play, such as during Sunday Night Football when my gf zonked out for the night.

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I keep telling myself that I need to play poker at Harrah's Cherokee in North Carolina, especially after hearing stories that BrainMc relayed over lunch earlier this week about his neighbors.

Live poker continues to be a pretty nice part of my yearly profits and who knows, I may have to be a regular somewhere if it indeed becomes difficult to make withdrawals from online poker.

Revenge of the squares?

Computer software designed to prevent huge payouts to Delaware sports bettors was activated Sunday after an unusually high number won their wagers on pro football games, causing a delay of payments at the state's three racetrack casinos.
-"Payout Delay Leaves Bettors' Patience Worn Thin," Oct. 27, 2009, The News Journal

The bottom line from Week 7 in the NFL: It was the best Sunday to be a bettor, and the worst Sunday to be a bookmaker.
-"Rancid teams prove to be bookmakers' nightmare," Oct. 26, 2009, The Las Vegas Review-Journal

How have the underdogs done through week 5 this season? Awful! Against the spread, the underdogs are 33-42-0 so far. Against the money line, they are 21-54-0. Thus far, no big underdogs have won. The biggest upset to date was the 6.5-point underdog Lions beating the Redskins in week 3.
-"Wizard of Odds newsletter," Oct. 14, 2009.

It's probably an interesting time to be a sportsbook. Although the books typically rule over squares in NFL games, this season's favorites have been destroying their weak opponents, leaving nothing, not even carefully crafted lines, to chance.

My own NFL point-spread picks have gone 23 for 36 (63.9 percent) so far this season.

Something to think about.

Poker reading

Was in the bookstore to get a guidebook for my upcoming trip to Savannah and just picked up James McManus' new book, "Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker."

Love trip reading. Can't wait to see if it's as good as "Positively Fifth Street."

It's so easy (sometimes)

Full Tilt Poker $1/$2 No Limit Hold'em - 7 players - View hand 330437

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



UTG: $433.35

UTG+1: $622.00

MP: $100.00

CO: $150.00

BTN: $380.00

Hero (SB): $200.00

BB: $400.00



CO posts a big blind ($2)



MP posts a big blind ($2)



Pre Flop: ($7.00) Hero is SB with J J

UTG raises to $12, 4 folds, Hero raises to $43, 1 fold, UTG calls $31



Flop: ($92.00) 3 4 6 (2 players)

Hero bets $62, UTG raises to $390.35 all in, Hero calls $95 all in



Turn: ($406.00) Q (2 players - 2 are all in)



River: ($406.00) A (2 players - 2 are all in)



Final Pot: $406.00

UTG shows K A (a pair of Aces)

Hero shows J J (a flush, Ace high)

Hero wins $403.00

(Rake: $3.00)

The rough part of waiting 101 years for a World Series title

Everyone wants a piece of the action, even when it isn't even remotely possible...



And the subsequent note:

Oh. My. Goodness.

Full Tilt Poker $1/$2 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 325709

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



MP: $239.40

Hero (CO): $200.00

BTN: $212.70

SB: $378.00

BB: $100.05

UTG: $163.10



Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is CO with Q Q

1 fold, MP raises to $4, Hero raises to $15, BTN calls $15, 1 fold, BB calls $13, 1 fold



Flop: ($50.00) 2 Q 2 (3 players)

BB bets $20, Hero calls $20, BTN raises to $60, BB calls $40, Hero calls $40



Turn: ($230.00) 6 (3 players)

BB bets $25.05 all in, Hero calls $25.05, BTN calls $25.05



River: ($305.15) T (3 players - 1 is all in)

Hero bets $99.95 all in, BTN calls $99.95



Final Pot: $505.05

Hero shows Q Q (a full house, Queens full of Twos)

BTN mucks 2 A

BB mucks K K

Hero wins $199.90

Hero wins $302.15

(Rake: $3.00)

They're kind of giving away money tonight

Full Tilt Poker $0.50/$1 Pot Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 325705

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



MP: $80.45

CO: $102.70

BTN: $54.45

SB: $252.50

Hero (BB): $100.00

UTG: $218.65



Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is BB with 7 3

2 folds, CO calls $1, 2 folds, Hero checks



Flop: ($2.50) A 6 5 (2 players)

Hero checks, CO checks



Turn: ($2.50) 4 (2 players)

Hero checks, CO bets $1, Hero calls $1



River: ($4.50) 4 (2 players)

Hero checks, CO bets $4.50, Hero raises to $18, CO raises to $57, Hero calls $39



Final Pot: $118.50

CO shows A 2 (two pair, Aces and Fours)

Hero shows 7 3 (a straight, Seven high)

Hero wins $115.50

(Rake: $3.00)

KK slowplay ... fail

Full Tilt Poker $1/$2 No Limit Hold'em - 4 players - View hand 325703

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



CO: $47.50

BTN: $58.75

SB: $89.70

Hero (BB): $204.15



Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is BB with 5 7

CO calls $2, 1 fold, SB calls $1, Hero checks



Flop: ($6.00) 9 5 5 (3 players)

SB checks, Hero checks, CO bets $4, SB folds, Hero calls $4



Turn: ($14.00) J (2 players)

Hero checks, CO bets $6, Hero raises to $20, CO calls $14



River: ($54.00) T (2 players)

Hero bets $178.15 all in, CO calls $21.50 all in



Final Pot: $97.00

CO mucks K K

Hero shows 5 7 (three of a kind, Fives)

Hero wins $95.00

(Rake: $2.00)

Giving thanks

Next month I'm participating in a 10K race to raise money for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. I sent out some e-mails directly to some bloggers and they (you!) have started to respond.

I want to shout out thanks to CC, who was the very first blogger to donate!!

Taking time away from poker and profits to donate to good causes is a very good thing.

If anyone else would like to donate to the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Strong Legs Run, just leave your e-mail in comments and I'll send you the link directly.

Thanks, CC!

The OOP leadoff bet

... on the flop against a pre-flop raiser in late seems fishy to me. It seems like it's a move fishy players make so they can try to steal a pot but don't want to commit too much money toward.

Why not check raise OOP (out-of-position) instead?

I'll usually raise these OOP people to put them to the test...

Some Poker Stars love

Poker Stars $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - View hand 322902

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



UTG+1: $91.95

UTG+2: $101.65

MP1: $100.00

MP2: $28.05

CO: $141.30

BTN: $18.50

SB: $20.00

BB: $100.00

Hero (UTG): $104.35



Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is UTG with A K

Hero raises to $3.50, UTG+1 raises to $10, 7 folds, Hero calls $6.50



Flop: ($21.50) 3 3 A (2 players)

Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $10, Hero calls $10



Turn: ($41.50) 8 (2 players)

Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $11, Hero raises to $35, UTG+1 calls $24



River: ($111.50) 4 (2 players)

Hero bets $49.35 all in, UTG+1 calls $36.95 all in



Final Pot: $185.40

UTG+1 shows Q Q (two pair, Queens and Threes)

Hero shows A K (two pair, Aces and Threes)

Hero wins $182.40

(Rake: $3.00)