Keeping the Streak Alive

At whatever cost: 8 (winning sessions in a row)

That's It. No More.

Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can be helped.

Out of Sight Out of Mind

I went to the pond at the local cemetery the other day as I often do to feed the ducks. And during this unseasonably warm afternoon I walked down towards the shore only to be upset by the sight of a decaying floating carcase of a baby duck. This unsightly tragedy really got me down; eventually the blatant irony of the situation began to sink in. How could a graveyard of thousands of dead humans not arise an ounce of emotion, yet one passed away toddler water fowl could darken the brightest day. I guess the obvious response would be that I cared and fed for the duck and thus would feel stronger for its passing, but this appears to be too convenient. It seems more to be an issue of clarity. The matter at hand is glaring; for if the duck had been buried and morned by means of a tombstone I would not have felt such strong remorse. Now what the hell does this have to do with poker? It got me thinking about leaks in my game (as pretty much everything does). Just because I was making money at poker and trying out new things it seemed like there still were serious dysfunctions still occurring that were buried by a general consistency of mild success. It wasn't until such problems became painfully obvious that much needed redeveloping commenced. The ancient Chinese got it best with the word for crisis and opportunity being one in the same.

Attempts to Take Down the Chainsaw Are Futile

ardbeg: posts small blind $3
ministerborg: posts big blind $6
bingo1600: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KKBigDawwg69 [Kh Ah]
doctorPLOW: folds
rytoast: folds
AbsoluteAces: raises $18 to $24
Miss Pretty: folds
ram714: folds
KKBigDawwg69: raises $42 to $66
ardbeg: folds
ministerborg: folds
AbsoluteAces: calls $42
*** FLOP *** [5s 2c 4s]
AbsoluteAces: checks
KKBigDawwg69: bets $90
AbsoluteAces: folds
KKBigDawwg69 collected $138 from pot

ministerborg: posts small blind $5
soggy dogg: posts big blind $10
StoneCold17: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KKBigDawwg69 [Ah Ks]
EOX!: folds
KKBigDawwg69: raises $27 to $37
AbsoluteAces: folds
StoneCold17: calls $27
Skjonne: folds
Pipedream17: folds
Grisen: folds
ministerborg: folds
soggy dogg: folds
*** FLOP *** [Jh 2c 9h]
KKBigDawwg69: bets $65
StoneCold17: calls $65
*** TURN *** [Jh 2c 9h] [4d]
KKBigDawwg69: bets $150
StoneCold17: folds
KKBigDawwg69 collected $216 from pot

ram714: posts small blind $3
bingo1600: posts big blind $6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KKBigDawwg69 [Kd Ac]
KKBigDawwg69: calls $6
ardbeg: folds
ministerborg: folds
doctorPLOW: raises $12 to $18
DoctorIn2010: raises $42 to $60
AbsoluteAces: folds
Miss Pretty: folds
ram714: folds
bingo1600: folds
AbsoluteAces is sitting out
KKBigDawwg69: raises $105 to $165
doctorPLOW: folds
DoctorIn2010: folds
KKBigDawwg69 collected $147 from pot

bigrick32: posts small blind $5
Skjonne: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KKBigDawwg69 [As Kh]
Rentoo: folds
musashi: folds
Rentoo is sitting out
younger04: folds
ez2cyiou2: calls $10
c990802: folds
AbsoluteAces: raises $30 to $40
KKBigDawwg69: raises $77 to $117
bigrick32: folds
Skjonne: folds
ez2cyiou2: folds
AbsoluteAces: folds
KKBigDawwg69 collected $105 from pot

KKBigDawwg69: posts small blind $5
diixster: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KKBigDawwg69 [Kd Ah]
soggy dogg: folds
ministerborg: folds
Skjonne: folds
skins1111: folds
golfinn3: calls $10
AbsoluteAces: folds
koolchen: raises $30 to $40
KKBigDawwg69: raises $90 to $130
diixster: folds
golfinn3: folds
koolchen: folds
KKBigDawwg69 collected $100 from pot

soggy dogg: posts small blind $5
ministerborg: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KKBigDawwg69 [Kd As]
Skjonne: folds
skins1111: raises $20 to $30
golfinn3: folds
AbsoluteAces: folds
koolchen: folds
KKBigDawwg69: raises $58 to $88
diixster: folds
soggy dogg: folds
ministerborg: folds
skins1111: folds
KKBigDawwg69 collected $75 from pot

ram714: posts small blind $3
KKBigDawwg69: posts big blind $6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KKBigDawwg69 [Kh Ac]
ardbeg: folds
ministerborg: folds
doctorPLOW: folds
rytoast: folds
AbsoluteAces: folds
Miss Pretty: raises $9 to $15
ram714: folds
KKBigDawwg69: raises $27 to $42
bingo1600 has returned
Miss Pretty: calls $27
*** FLOP *** [8s 4c 9c]
KKBigDawwg69: bets $60
Miss Pretty: calls $60
*** TURN *** [8s 4c 9c] [Jc]
KKBigDawwg69: bets $131
Miss Pretty: calls $131
*** RIVER *** [8s 4c 9c Jc] [6s]
KKBigDawwg69: bets $544.40 and is all-in
Miss Pretty: folds
KKBigDawwg69 collected $466 from pot

Wise Words from Jon Benjamin

"Well like this morning, I poured orange juice in my cereal. I wasn't thinking. I just grabbed it...poured it. I was half asleep. Then, I realized I love it- I think it's a great mix. Then, I realized it's the coporations and the advertisers who prevent us from doing stuff like this. They program us to think one way- milk/cereal...then u realize orange juice/cereal is fine- it all goes in the same place, you know the old saying."

Branding Is For Cows

I enjoy removing the label off of my beer bottles because being a corporate billboard makes me feel like a strumpet.

The Voyage of Discovery is Not in Seeking New Landscapes But in Having New Eyes

It's curious what exactly in our environment develops one's personality. Seems like all great man rise into well developed dispositions by means of emerging triumphantly from hardships. It is like in Little Miss Sunshine when Frank is consulting Dwayne and he reminds him of how Proust revered the years in which he suffered in his life the most as his best, for they made him the great writer into which he matured. Like my father once told me, "it's the toughest storms that make the best pilots."



-"We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us. "
-Marcel Proust

Crazy Gorilla Math

Professor Petrovsky: We can't run from ourselves, our destiny chooses us.

It's Just One of Those Days

Tricky Calls with King Nine Off Suit

HARRYHOOD21 posts small blind [$5].
heldiggris posts big blind [$10].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to gamblegambel [ 9h Kc ]
shadsvet folds.
TONYMAN folds.
gamblegambel raises [$35].
HARRYHOOD21 folds.
heldiggris calls [$25].
** Dealing Flop ** [ 6h, 2s, 9s ]
heldiggris checks.
gamblegambel bets [$55].
heldiggris calls [$55].
** Dealing Turn ** [ 2h ]
heldiggris bets [$120].
gamblegambel raises [$400].
heldiggris is all-In.
gamblegambel calls [$938.69].
** Dealing River ** [ 5s ]
gamblegambel shows [ 9h, Kc ] two pairs, nines and twos.
heldiggris doesn't show [ Qh, Jh ] a pair of twos.
gamblegambel wins $2859.88 from the main pot with two pairs, nines and twos.
ni9ce play

An Exercise in Acrostic Poetry

Periodic moments of enlightenment
Overshadowed by endless nights of disparity
Kings continually running into aces
Eventually leading to one's existential reckoning
Ready yourself for one memorable emotional roller coaster

A Modest Proposal

The following aspects of life are all related: drinking alcohol, taking hot baths, playing video games, bluffing push overs in poker, masturbating, eating chocolate cake, sun bathing, making call downs with weak hands out of position, sleeping in, people watching, enjoying trashy MTV programming, and gambling for the sake of gambling. They are all beautiful aspects of life that are solely positive in moderation. There is this invisible line that once crossed they are no longer contributing to your happiness, but rather reducing your overall utility. And the funny thing about such invisible lines, the only way to find them is to cross them.

Wise Words from Jon Benjamin

Life sucks. That's your lesson. Go enjoy it.

One Brilliant Lady

I don't often suggest readings or must listen to programs, but this [speech] and this [Q&A] are beyond worth the hour you should invest in them.

You Have to Love 34:1 Implied Odds on the Gutty

KKBigDawwg69: posts small blind $5
casinocasino: posts big blind $10
Kelisitaan: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KKBigDawwg69 [Ks Js]
mgportes: folds
Calico Rock: folds
INTREPID FOX: folds
MT UR Wallet: folds
Force O Will: folds
Kelisitaan: raises $10 to $20
moondog77: folds
KKBigDawwg69: calls $15
casinocasino: folds
*** FLOP *** [9h 5d Tc]
KKBigDawwg69: checks
Kelisitaan: bets $30
KKBigDawwg69: calls $30
*** TURN *** [9h 5d Tc] [Qc]
KKBigDawwg69: checks
Kelisitaan: bets $80
KKBigDawwg69: raises $231 to $311
Kelisitaan: calls $231
*** RIVER *** [9h 5d Tc Qc] [3h]
KKBigDawwg69: bets $1803.25 and is all-in
Kelisitaan: calls $639 and is all-in
*** SHOW DOWN ***
KKBigDawwg69: shows [Ks Js] (a straight, Nine to King)
Kelisitaan: mucks [5c 5s]
KKBigDawwg69 collected $2007 from pot

Breathless

“Given a choice between grief and nothing, I'd choose grief.” William Faulkner

staring at myself in the mirror for a countless number of hours I fruitless search for answers to questions that I shouldn't even be asking despite the need for some sort of resolution in a puddle of despair that has left me both wanting more and wanting to end it all so that I can no longer feel compelled to strive for a plateau of which I care not to sit atop with some false sense of contentment that is questioned by most and regarded as vile by the rest to whom an opinion wasn't even asked upon but they feel obliged to spill their superior standpoints despite the wishes of most [I still want to care and push myself to encourage those around me to symbiotically coexist in a flourishing atmosphere but {GANGSTA GRIZILL} I can no longer find space in a void long left behind for promises of a better now] so no one really wants to be lectured by means of flames from a fire long extinguished and thus we are left to spit in the wind and run away till we reach the shore and no longer feel passion for the soil that once bore us

Call Me Laffy Taffy This Ain't No Bubble Gum

Too many Rocky movies have left me wanting to take a few punches before I start fighting back.

Wise Words from Jon Benjamin

"Rashes come from bad hygiene, all right? So what you've gotta do, whenever you go to a public restroom, and you sit on a toilet seat, put the toilet seat cover down. And if they don't have them there, manufacture one out of toilet paper, or your shirt, or your socks. Anything to cover the seat."

Gotta Keep One Eye Out for the Po-Po

Close your eyes (figuratively). Now imagine yourself as a woman in an abusive relationship. Even though he mistreats you physically and mentally for some reason you can not make yourself leave him. You continue this unhealthy relationship despite the irrationality of the situation. Now imagine that oppressed woman as your present day self and that abusive husband/boyfriend as bluffing in poker. Now open your eyes (figuratively).

Why do you continue this relationship?

Fear - Women [you] fear the physical harm that might come if they [you] attempt to leave [bluffing].
Love - Women [you] may truly have deep feelings for the abusive partner [bluffing].
Promises - Promises that this abuse [bluffing] will never happen again.
Abuse = Love - Confusion between being loved and being controlled by their partner [bluffing].
Thinking They Can Change Them - The belief that over time the woman [you] can change the abusive partner [bluffing].
Low Self-Esteem - After being in an abusive relationship [bluffing] there is a feeling that they [you] can do no better than their current relationship.
Being Alone - To end the relationship [stop bluffing] could mean a loss of mutual friends, relatives and others associated with the relationship.

Wise Words from Randy Marsh

Randy:	Stan? Okay? You just don't understand the fine points of gambling. You're never supposed to stop when you're on a winning streak.
Stan:	A winning streak??!! You played one game!!!!
Randy:	Stan? Okay?
Stan:	What???
Randy:	All right? Stan? Okay?

I'm Gonna Put It All on the Line

Full Tilt Poker Game #1618624851: Table Desert Oak - $5/$10 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:19:35 ET - 2007/01/17
Seat 3: gamblegambel ($1,904)
Seat 5: RSU10 ($4,320.40)
RSU10 posts the small blind of $5
gamblegambel posts the big blind of $10
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [9c Kd]
RSU10 calls $5
gamblegambel raises to $51
RSU10 calls $41
*** FLOP *** [Jh 5s Qd]
gamblegambel bets $71
RSU10 raises to $210
gamblegambel calls $139
*** TURN *** [Jh 5s Qd] [6h]
gamblegambel checks
RSU10 checks
*** RIVER *** [Jh 5s Qd 6h] [Jc]
gamblegambel bets $255
RSU10 raises to $890
gamblegambel raises to $1,643, and is all in
RSU10 folds
Uncalled bet of $753 returned to gamblegambel
gamblegambel mucks
gamblegambel wins the pot ($2,301.50)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $2,302 | Rake $0.50
Board: [Jh 5s Qd 6h Jc]
Seat 3: gamblegambel (big blind) collected ($2,301.50), mucked
Seat 5: RSU10 (small blind) folded on the River

Shooting Star

I am a winner
I can do anything I set my mind to
I am destined for greatness
I believe in myself
I am a champion

Don't Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

Ambition is a double-edged sword. It seems like there is a fine line between reaching for greatness and over extending one's self beyond reasonable objectives. One of the biggest mistakes the Axis powers made during World War II was the pushing of the eastern front deep into the tundra of Russia. Sometimes the false sense of security enabled by means of momentum and early success can lead one to set out for overly ambitious aspirations. I often find myself repeatedly making this same mistake in poker both long term and short term. Some early hands and big pots in a poker session frequently make me gamble too much with my big stack. And similarly, a good start to the month might encourage me to take too much time off or play in some tournaments that are out of my bankrolls scope. Too much money has been wasted as a result of such carelessness and too many lives were wasted in senseless battling in arctic conditions. Hopefully wisdom accumulates faster than old habits die hard.

Today Was a Good Day

First and foremost I would like to preface with the acknowledgement that I am privileged to be surrounded by such great friends. Secondly I would like to share a most excellent moment that concluded a great day. After an afternoon of entertaining playoff football and a lovely evening with some friends I was driving home at 1:30am listening to my IPod on shuffle. As I was passing through one of the shadier neighborhoods off N. Dekalb Ave Dr. Dre's Forget About Dre came on and I proceeded to crank it up to complement my good mood. I cruised with my windows down and I passed by a collection of a dozen or so blackies chilling at the corner. And in reaction of my killer selection of music one of them proceeded to turn towards my vehicle, put up his hands, and jump up and down to the fine melodies. It was sweet.

Wreckless and Loving Every Minute of It

Seat 1: MakeItRain ($1,228)
Seat 2: gamblegambel ($2,437)
MakeItRain posts the small blind of $5
gamblegambel posts the big blind of $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [3h Ah]
MakeItRain raises to $30
gamblegambel raises to $121
MakeItRain calls $91
*** FLOP *** [4c Th 5s]
gamblegambel bets $99
MakeItRain raises to $399
gamblegambel raises to $2,316, and is all in
MakeItRain folds
Uncalled bet of $1,917 returned to gamblegambel
gamblegambel mucks
MakeItRain adds $292
gamblegambel wins the pot ($1,039.50)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $1,040 | Rake $0.50
Board: [4c Th 5s]
Seat 1: MakeItRain (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: gamblegambel (big blind) collected ($1,039.50), mucked

More than 3 billion people in the world make less than two dollars a day.

GM spends more money on health care than on steel.

I play two hours of poker a day and do not vote.

Might cause a cold front if I take a deep breath.

Think Fast

I was listening to an episode of the Commonwealth Club of California the other day and the guest was former CEO of HP Carly Fiorina. After listening to the program for a bit I gained much (more) respect for her as a both a thinker and a person. One question's answer stuck with me in particular. Someone from the audience asked her why (when the board of executives at HP asked her to resign on her own accord instead of making them publicly fire her) she did not immediately reject this (for such was completely against her morals and character) to which she replied something to the affect of, 'I never make big decisions when I am in an emotional state of mind.' Of course within a few days time she did reject their request. It seems like that philosophy is quite applicable to gambling and many of my faults.

Gamble Big

Sometimes when I am eating broccoli I like to envision myself as a giant devouring treetops.

Is a Two Foot Wall Still a Wall?

It's hard to break routine. Seems like humans were designed to get used to patterns and be complacent with such. I guess that's the only way things like celibacy would come into being. It's funny how one who's profession is a game can be so bad at the game of love. One would think gambling all day would strengthen the nerves in other forms of life. However, that person would be wrong. Nonetheless this seems to be consistent amongst my friends as well. It's hard to comprehend how a gaming addict wouldn't enjoy a brisk walk on a sixty five degree sunny afternoon in December or how a working man would be so risk averse as to avoid a gamble on a thirty dollar meal. In the age of reason I find myself more confused with each coming day. I am proud to say I have never come back from a trip to the super market without purchasing an item in which I have never tried. I wish it was that easy in every aspect of life.

Love Every Day

People are fickle. With each coming day the interests of the working man change more often than Fox's prime time lineup. And just as the brilliance and sustainability of Battle Bots faded into our lovable past, so is online poker a potential victim. Sure it won't disappear into complete oblivion... but I'm sure there are still geeks somewhere playing with remote controlled killing robot machines too. So do the world a favor and plant a tree.

Check it out:

www.thinkingreallyhard.com
[my friend Joe's website, I have a short posted]

Poker has Become a Cops and Robbers Game Where Everyone Wants to Play Sheriff

mjmjrct: posts small blind $5
mikeeaction: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KKBigDawwg69 [Qc Ac]
mikeeaction (big blind) mucked [9c 9d]
flaviano: folds
Tsushima: folds
sucKJs: folds
KKBigDawwg69: raises $21 to $31
1st level: I have AQs and should bet.
MR. DABUS: folds
scniel: folds
traveller: folds
mjmjrct: folds
mikeeaction: calls $21
1st level: I have a pair. I should call.
2nd level: Gamblegambel raised in mid position to 31, he could have anything.
*** FLOP *** [2h Qh Qs]
mikeeaction: checks
KKBigDawwg69: bets $51
1st level: Three of a kind, bet.
mikeeaction: calls $51
1st level: A pair figures to be good against this maniac.
2nd level: A continuation bet from gamblegambel, he could have anything.
3rd level: He will have to think I have at least a pair or a flush draw.
*** TURN *** [2h Qh Qs] [7s]
mikeeaction: checks
KKBigDawwg69: bets $110
2nd level: his range is pretty wide, let me find out where I am at.
mikeeaction: calls $110
1st level: A pair is unfoldable.
2nd level: This guy can have anything at any point in any hand.
3rd level: He will probably put me on a draw if I call this and I can trap him on the river.
4th level: He must think I think that he is a bluffing retard.
*** RIVER *** [2h Qh Qs 7s] [3d]
mikeeaction: checks
KKBigDawwg69: bets $904.35 and is all-in
1st level: I have three of a kind; figures to be good.
2nd level: He probably has a two.
3rd level: He probably thinks I never have a hand.
4th level: He thinks I think that he is weak so I have to shove with any two.
5th level: He thinks I think He thinks that I think I have to out play everyone every hand.
6th level: I'm all in.
mikeeaction: calls $388 and is all-in
1st level: My pair didn't go anywhere, sheriff Mike needs to call this.
*** SHOW DOWN ***
KKBigDawwg69: shows [Qc Ac] (three of a kind, Queens)
mikeeaction: mucks hand
KKBigDawwg69 collected $1162 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***

Wise Words from Jon Benjamin

Anything too hard in life is not worth doing, remember that. Like snowboarding or martial arts, you know... pottery or math. My point is if you're not immediately good at something why do it?

I Roll with my Shit off Safety