Done Worrying

In the professional world of gambling mentality stability is a must; I feel mine is beginning to slip out of reach. I often find myself in wild mood swings, I go on tilt way more than I used to, I go into deep depressions where I wish to feel the victim of a cruel cruel world, I sometimes inflict physical pain unto myself for the sake of feeling something, I sometimes stare at myself in the mirror and then snap out of it only to realize hours have passed by, and I enjoy long walks in the park. I feel akin to the unemployed of the great depression. I relate to the feeling of rather jumping out the window than coming home to face one's family. I try to spend a majority of my time asleep because at least I can wake up from those dreams. Like a rotten banana my mind feels like mush and it's once bright yellow glow has faded into an unattractive blackness. Poker is an evil game.

I Have a Tilting Problem

gamblegambel posts the small blind of $5
E Tyme posts the big blind of $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [Kc 6d]
gamblegambel raises to $27
E Tyme raises to $99
gamblegambel raises to $171
E Tyme raises to $1,904.50, and is all in
gamblegambel calls $903.50, and is all in
E Tyme shows [As Qh]
gamblegambel shows [Kc 6d]
Uncalled bet of $830 returned to E Tyme
*** FLOP *** [Kd 4h 6s]
*** TURN *** [Kd 4h 6s] [7d]
*** RIVER *** [Kd 4h 6s 7d] [Ad]
E Tyme shows a pair of Aces
gamblegambel shows two pair, Kings and Sixes
gamblegambel wins the pot ($2,148.50) with two pair, Kings and Sixes

Regained Momentum

[the streak is back to an elated 11]

{since 1/27/07...}
{winning sessions: 36}
{losing sessions: 5}
Unfortunately the losing were a bit out of proportion

Odd Hands

Playing even weirder at some lower stakes with some wild results:

ivontocikuraz posts the small blind of $2
gamblegambel posts the big blind of $4
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [Qs Kd]
ivontocikuraz calls $2
gamblegambel raises to $13
ivontocikuraz calls $9
*** FLOP *** [7s 6c Qd]
gamblegambel bets $23
ivontocikuraz calls $23
*** TURN *** [7s 6c Qd] [2s]
gamblegambel bets $100 (into 73)
ivontocikuraz calls $100
*** RIVER *** [7s 6c Qd 2s] [2d]
gamblegambel bets $384.10, and is all in (into 273)
(forget about them folding anything)
ivontocikuraz calls $384.10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gamblegambel shows [Qs Kd] (two pair, Queens and Twos)
ivontocikuraz mucks [Qh Ts]
gamblegambel wins the pot ($1,039.70) with two pair, Queens and Twos

LowKey80 posts the small blind of $2
gamblegambel posts the big blind of $4
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [8s 6d]
Unsyatisfied raises to $14
Karl Edwards folds
OCodger calls $14
LowKey80 folds
gamblegambel raises to $85
(he might as well turn his hand face up)
Unsyatisfied calls $71
OCodger folds
*** FLOP *** [3d 8c 6s]
gamblegambel checks
Unsyatisfied checks
*** TURN *** [3d 8c 6s] [Qh]
gamblegambel bets $321, and is all in (into 188)
Unsyatisfied calls $321
gamblegambel shows [8s 6d]
Unsyatisfied shows [Ah As]
*** RIVER *** [3d 8c 6s Qh] [6h]
gamblegambel shows a full house, Sixes full of Eights
Unsyatisfied shows two pair, Aces and Sixes
gamblegambel wins the pot ($825) with a full house, Sixes full of Eights

Fullhiizzyy posts the small blind of $2
ingus posts the big blind of $4
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [2c 2d]
gamblegambel raises to $11
reallywow folds
Mano Nera raises to $39
tango1x folds
Fullhiizzyy folds
ingus folds
gamblegambel calls $28
*** FLOP *** [2s 5h 7h]
gamblegambel checks
Mano Nera bets $70
gamblegambel raises to $748.80, and is all in (into 154 -with his raise-)
Mano Nera calls $292, and is all in
gamblegambel shows [2c 2d]
Mano Nera shows [Ad Kd]
(I guess all he needed was a good pair draw)
Uncalled bet of $386.80 returned to gamblegambel
*** TURN *** [2s 5h 7h] [3h]
*** RIVER *** [2s 5h 7h 3h] [Tc]
gamblegambel shows three of a kind, Twos
Mano Nera shows Ace King high
gamblegambel wins the pot ($805) with three of a kind, Twos
Mano Nera is sitting out

Top Five Fears for February (in no particular order)

[credit]

That the nightmares won't stop
Dieing alone
Going bust
Hurting my car
Having to leave Atlanta

Head Fake

Off the Deep End

My goal for this following sessions was to play as weird as I could (had some mixed results):


gamblegambel posts the small blind of $5
lakisha posts the big blind of $10
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [Ad Ac]
Wyteazn folds
licnyc raises to $35
nileindra folds
gamblegambel raises to $131
lakisha folds
licnyc calls $96
*** FLOP *** [Ah Th 8d]
gamblegambel checks
licnyc checks
*** TURN *** [Ah Th 8d] [3s]
gamblegambel bets $400 (into pot of 272)
(I guess all the money is getting in there anyways, but maybe not?)
licnyc raises to $886.75, and is all in
gamblegambel calls $459, and is all in
licnyc shows [As Kd]
gamblegambel shows [Ad Ac]
*** RIVER *** [Ah Th 8d 3s] [3h]
licnyc shows two pair, Aces and Threes
gamblegambel shows a full house, Aces full of Threes
gamblegambel wins the pot ($1,987) with a full house, Aces full of Threes

samd20 posts the small blind of $5
Wyteazn posts the big blind of $10
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [7h 4h]
gamblegambel raises to $28
samd20 folds
Wyteazn raises to $96.50
gamblegambel calls $68.50
*** FLOP *** [6c 9d 3c]
Wyteazn has 15 seconds left to act
Wyteazn bets $120
gamblegambel calls $120
*** TURN *** [6c 9d 3c] [7d]
Wyteazn has 15 seconds left to act
Wyteazn checks
gamblegambel checks
*** RIVER *** [6c 9d 3c 7d] [Qd]
Wyteazn checks
gamblegambel checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Wyteazn shows [Ac Qc] (a pair of Queens)
(bad beat?)
gamblegambel mucks
Wyteazn wins the pot ($437) with a pair of Queens

gamblegambel posts the small blind of $5
noluck17 posts the big blind of $10
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [Ad Td]
The Icemane folds
pekingdream raises to $35
HenryII calls $35
Wyteazn folds
gamblegambel calls $30
noluck17 folds
*** FLOP *** [Jd 7c 5d]
gamblegambel checks
pekingdream bets $80
HenryII raises to $300
gamblegambel has 15 seconds left to act
(how strong does this look???)
gamblegambel raises to $700
pekingdream folds
HenryII has 15 seconds left to act
HenryII folds
Uncalled bet of $400 returned to gamblegambel
gamblegambel mucks
gamblegambel wins the pot ($792)


BlackGoblin posts the small blind of $5
blackjacksucks posts the big blind of $10
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [Ah 9h]
Wyteazn folds
gamblegambel raises to $25
The Icemane raises to $50
BlackGoblin folds
blackjacksucks folds
gamblegambel calls $25
*** FLOP *** [2d 5c 9d]
gamblegambel checks
The Icemane bets $70
gamblegambel calls $70
*** TURN *** [2d 5c 9d] [6c]
gamblegambel checks
The Icemane checks
*** RIVER *** [2d 5c 9d 6c] [Jc]
gamblegambel checks
The Icemane bets $180
gamblegambel calls $180
*** SHOW DOWN ***
(bad beat?)
The Icemane shows [Jh As] (a pair of Jacks)
gamblegambel mucks
The Icemane wins the pot ($612) with a pair of Jacks

Seems like I got in some funny spots playing so funky, but I definitely picked up some extra pots and some added value with big hands. Will continue to develop some new plays and see if ownage commences.

-gamblegambel

Pursuing Polarity

Dreaming in minor chords.
Wondering what I am doing and what is being done to me.
Ready for my feet to enjoy the next step.
You can stop slicing my ear now.

Wise Words from Jon Benjamin

"Do you wanna know what a real rash is? I'll tell you. You get a rash somewhere on your body. It hurts so bad that you go blind. That's how bad it is. You blow up like a balloon You look like a circus freak, you know what I'm talking about? Next thing you know, you're in the circus! Touring, making good money."

I Don't Like Your Jerk-Off Name. I Don't Like Your Jerk-Off Face. I Don't Like Your Jerk-Off Behavior, and I Don't Like You, Jerk-Off.

Not sure if it is just me, but I seem to play better poker when my gun isn't loaded.

LA Poker Classic

(12th generation european starlings)

On my way over to the casino today, while I was waiting to cross the street, I felt a somewhat large raindrop land on my head. Upon feeling the moisture in my hair with my hand I gazed up to a completely blue sky. Following further investigation I noticed there was a bird on the power lines above me and my hand was brown; I put two and two together and was rather dismayed. I'm not much for foreshadowing but...


Hands from the 1000nl event (2500 starting chips, 490 entrants, 160k for first)

Level: 50/100
My Stack: 3900
UTG raises to 300 and I smooth call in MP with AsKs followed by a SB call. Three ways to the flop it comes out Js 5d 2s and the SB bets out 700. UTG raisers reraises to 2100 and I decide to ship it in. SB decides to call and after some hesitation so does UTG raiser. SB has J5; UTG has AJ. [a spade turn gave me a healthy stack early on]


Level: 300/600/75
My Stack: 20k
Folds around to me in the small blind and I decide to limp with an A4o to which the BB raised 1500 on top. I called rather quickly and the flop came out Ad 8s 4d. I checked and he bet out 4k to which I quickly shoved (trying to make it look like i have a draw). He tanked for some time saying, "I just cant put you on an ace" and eventually called with JJ. [safe turn+river and doubled for the full amount]

Level: 1000/2000/300
My Stack: 67k
After folding for three orbits or so I decide that an UTG steal would be really good EV since the blinds were really tight there and I would get respect for a premium hand. So I go with the play {any two here} and raise to 6k with Q2o UTG and get two callers to my surprise. The flop comes out Ad Kd Jd (I forgot my suits here and had to double check - not sure if they picked up on this) and having the Qd decided that just going all in was the best play. MP folds and big stack on button tanks, asks for a chip count, and than calls with KJ. [river Ts put a dagger in his heart]

*Note: this hand really shocked the room. At break everyone was talking about it in the bathroom, people kept hounding me for raising Q2o UTG, it was definitely a hand to be remembered by. [sorry to end a sentence with a preposition]

KEY HAND
Level: 1500/3000/500
My Stack: 127k
Folds around to SB who raises to 8500 with a 60k stack and I look down at Ah 8h in the BB. After long deliberation I go all in and he calls pretty fast with an unsightly A9o. Maybe a flat call would have been better here, maybe 3x looks stronger and he might fold, maybe I just needed to let him have the blinds; not a fun spot. [no help had me down to average with two tables left]

Level: 1500/3000/500
My Stack: 66k
Folds around to A9o guy in SB who yet again opens for 8500 (this was the fourth time in a row - maybe that meant he had a bigger hand this time or was he just doing it with any two?). I look down at J8o and decide to go all in quickly and confidently. He asks for a chip count and after a minute of deliberation calls with KQo. [no help and I get to wash the 12th place bird poop out of my hair]

LA Poker Classic

Hands from the 1500nl event (3k starting chips; 350 so entrants; 150k or such for first)

Level: 75/150
My Stack: 2525

After playing super tight for the first few hours, because I like to play poker super tight, the following comes up: two people limp in EP and I look down at AKo on the button and decide to go all in. It folds to the second limper who proceeds to ask me, "you looking to gamble?" over and over. Eventually he calls with JQ. [the chainsaw holds up]

Level: 100/200/25

My Stack: 6500

UTG limps. I find Ac 6c in the small blind and limp as well. The BB checks and the flop comes out 2c 2h 4c. I check, the BB checks, and the UTG guy makes it 600. I decide to call and the BB squeezes to 1800. The BB had some game and I definitely thought a smaller flush draw, a straight draw, and even air could be in his range {and the 2 as well, which he is obviously representing}. UTG guy folds and after some pondering i decide to go with it and reraise. He quickly calls with his A2. [no 30%'er for me]

100/200/25

My Stack: 100

4h 7h - I'm all in. [AK and AQ had no chance]

200/400/50

My Stack: 2200

Cowboys shot down my snowmen. [goodnight gambler]

*Side note: 55k chips in the 1knl event; final four tables playing out later today.

Inadvertently Pissing Me Off

Fake artists piss me off.













Narrow minded assholes piss me off.












Obese wastes of life piss me off.












Arrogant historical figures piss me off.














Suggestively homosexual cleaning product spokespersons piss me off.












The potential for all of this to happen again pisses me off.

It Takes a Purely Genius Lyricist to Write Purely Genius Lyrics

[Scream]
Collipark
hannnh
Chea! Yoh!








Check out how the ATL does Vegas (don't miss the first 10 seconds, it's quite brilliant):

Here (clean)
or
Here (durrrrty durrr)

L.A. Poker Classic

Some Funny Hands (from the 500nl event: 2k starting chip; over 600 entrants; first paid over 100k)

Level: 50/100
My Stack: 2750
Three people limp in middle position and I have Jh Jd in the CO and raise to 550. The button looks at his cards and kind of does a subconscious shoulder shrug {body language: fuck it dude, let's go bowling} and pretty quickly shoves in for 5k or so. Everyone folds to me and being 89% sure he had AK i called. [he did. I won the race]

Level: 100/200/25
My Stack: 12k
EP limps so I proceed to limp with 6d 6c in CO and the blinds limp and check. The flop comes out 2h 7c 8c and the SB just goes all in for 2075. The BB folds and the limper folds and (thinking the hand was over) he shows 2c Qc. After laughing and thinking for 15 seconds I call. [turn was club]

Level: 400/800/100
My Stack: 15k
I decide to limp UTG with AA {because the table was an all in fest preflop} LP limps, SB limps, and BB checks. Flop is Kd Tc 3d. Both blinds check and I decide to check, followed by a 2k bet from the LP limper. SB folds and BB says, "I raise to 12k" and proceeds to put out 6k in chips. I go all in for my remaining 14k, LP folds pretty quickly, and the BB confusingly counts out what appeared to be a misclick and reluctantly calls with K9o (he barely had me covered). [turn was a K]

Playing the 1500nl tomorrow by means of a moon-master-moo (the gcn type) backing. 33/33/33 -I pay juice- for a 25/25/25/25 split. [I plan on being quite focused and getting rather deep]

Wise Words from Jon Benjamin

"You know what Darwin said, that we, and I'm talking about men, we are trying to date our mothers. It got me thinking, am i trying to date my mother? Ya know, my mother cant stand me. I cant stand my mother. And that relationship has been reliving itself through other women for my whole life. Can you believe that???"

They Who Would Give Up an Essential Liberty For Temporary Security Deserve Neither Liberty or Security

I was in Amoeba Music this afternoon in L.A. watching hoards of people purchasing CD's and DVD's {has the internet and file sharing not made the voyage to the west coast yet?} and checking out the wall of movie posters when the Clockwork Orange one caught my eye. This movie was great for many reasons. Beyond introducing me to senseless violence and misleading nudity at an early age, this film had a really deep and thought provoking theme. It brought up the question (also touched upon in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest): is having the will to choose and making the wrong choice more important than not having a choice, but being forced to do the right thing? Eventually the film comes to the [somewhat obvious] conclusion that maintaining free will is more important than having a society where everyone is forced to do the right thing. Ultimately this is one of the pillar principals on which our country was founded - the pursuit of happiness in a somewhat free market economy (as long as it doesn't intrude on other's). Fortunately it has been quite clear in the past when we have infringed on this basic liberty and in due time the right to vote, the right to drink, the right to free speech and hopefully the right to play some poker shall remain basic freedoms. It's funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on the screen.

Can't Buy a Bucket

Only Turkeys Have Left Wings

I think we should reinstate prohibition, seriously. I honestly believe the Methodists and Progressive party were on to something making the transportation, manufacture, import, export, and sale of alcoholic beverages illegal. It's not like the U.S. government really makes that much money off of the taxation of alcohol anyways. Plus I feel is is quite obvious that the moral decay of our society has beer and liquor to blame as well. I mean once the Ku Klux Klan gives a law and its strict enforcement their full support, it then becomes quite clear that you are on the right track to a healthy livelihood. If the Woman's Christian Temperance Union needs to be reestablished and start scolding vagrants in saloons again then so be it.

Is Poker Dead?

balugawhale posts the small blind of $5
Hypnotic X posts the big blind of $10
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [Kc Jc]
x_volta folds
gamblegambel raises to $35
v12 calls $35
balugawhale folds
Hypnotic X folds
*** FLOP *** [3d Jh 6d]
gamblegambel bets $85
v12 calls $85
*** TURN *** [3d Jh 6d] [9d]
gamblegambel bets $171
v12 calls $171
*** RIVER *** [3d Jh 6d 9d] [4d]
gamblegambel checks
v12 checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gamblegambel shows [Kc Jc] (a pair of Jacks)
v12 shows [7s 5s] (a straight, Seven high)
v12 wins the pot ($594) with a straight, Seven high

SensesTied posts the small blind of $5
TheNogre posts the big blind of $10
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [9d Qd]
kid21jac sits down
gamblegambel raises to $35
kid21jac adds $400
SensesTied raises to $120
TheNogre folds
gamblegambel calls $85
*** FLOP *** [7c 8d 8h]
shipit2007 sits down
SensesTied checks
gamblegambel bets $135
SensesTied calls $135
*** TURN *** [7c 8d 8h] [Kd]
SensesTied checks
gamblegambel bets $245
SensesTied raises to $1,989, and is all in
gamblegambel calls $614.50, and is all in
SensesTied shows [Ac Js]
gamblegambel shows [9d Qd]
Uncalled bet of $1,129.50 returned to SensesTied
*** RIVER *** [7c 8d 8h Kd] [As]
SensesTied shows two pair, Aces and Eights
gamblegambel shows a pair of Eights
SensesTied wins the pot ($2,238) with two pair, Aces and Eights


chubbychick68 posts the small blind of $2
sampson724 posts the big blind of $4
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [Js Kc]
kixelsyd folds
noluck17 folds
rottenron41 folds
gamblegambel raises to $14
chubbychick68 calls $12
sampson724 calls $10
*** FLOP *** [Ks 6c Th]
chubbychick68 checks
sampson724 checks
gamblegambel bets $42
chubbychick68 has 15 seconds left to act
chubbychick68 raises to $386.20, and is all in
sampson724 folds
gamblegambel calls $344.20
chubbychick68 shows [Ac Jd]
gamblegambel shows [Js Kc]
*** TURN *** [Ks 6c Th] [As]
*** RIVER *** [Ks 6c Th As] [9h]
chubbychick68 shows a pair of Aces
gamblegambel shows a pair of Kings
chubbychick68 wins the pot ($811.40) with a pair of Aces

gamblegambel posts the small blind of $2
Bettina39 posts the big blind of $4
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [Jc As]
donkeybrane folds
rodavise calls $4
therecanbeonly1 calls $4
jtho calls $4
gamblegambel raises to $24
Bettina39 folds
rodavise folds
therecanbeonly1 folds
jtho calls $20
*** FLOP *** [8s Tc Qc]
gamblegambel bets $60
jtho raises to $796.50, and is all in
gamblegambel calls $406.50, and is all in
jtho shows [7c 6c]
gamblegambel shows [Jc As]
Uncalled bet of $330 returned to jtho
*** TURN *** [8s Tc Qc] [5c]
*** RIVER *** [8s Tc Qc 5c] [Td]
jtho shows a flush, Queen high
gamblegambel shows a pair of Tens
jtho wins the pot ($990) with a flush, Queen high

donkeybrane posts the small blind of $2
gamblegambel posts the big blind of $4
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [9s Kd]
bluffing1984 stands up
AllnMikeHunt calls $4
GoodHandKid folds
LongLostLoser folds
donkeybrane calls $2
gamblegambel checks
*** FLOP *** [Ks 9h 2s]
donkeybrane checks
gamblegambel checks
AllnMikeHunt bets $8
donkeybrane folds
gamblegambel raises to $36
AllnMikeHunt raises to $148.15, and is all in
gamblegambel calls $112.15
AllnMikeHunt shows [Jh Jc]
gamblegambel shows [9s Kd]
*** TURN *** [Ks 9h 2s] [Js]
*** RIVER *** [Ks 9h 2s Js] [9d]
AllnMikeHunt shows a full house, Jacks full of Nines
gamblegambel shows a full house, Nines full of Kings
AllnMikeHunt wins the pot ($305.30) with a full house, Jacks full of Nines

aimz10 posts the small blind of 30
NoH8tn posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [6s 5s]
bjolla folds
ckc1 folds
upbeat folds
gamblegambel raises to 180
Low_Chicago1 calls 180
paopucks folds
skoldpaddan folds
aimz10 folds
NoH8tn folds
*** FLOP *** [4s Ts 8h]
gamblegambel bets 309
Low_Chicago1 raises to 618
gamblegambel has 15 seconds left to act
gamblegambel raises to 2,727
Low_Chicago1 raises to 15,300, and is all in
gamblegambel calls 1,785, and is all in
Low_Chicago1 shows [9h Th]
gamblegambel shows [6s 5s]
Uncalled bet of 10,788 returned to Low_Chicago1
*** TURN *** [4s Ts 8h] [8c]
*** RIVER *** [4s Ts 8h 8c] [Ad]
Low_Chicago1 shows two pair, Tens and Eights
gamblegambel shows a pair of Eights
Low_Chicago1 wins the pot (9,474) with two pair, Tens and Eights
gamblegambel stands up

Blah, Blah, Blah, Yakkity-Shmakkity

Now let's all just calm down and we can discuss this over a nice cool tall glass of OJ.

Poker = Fuck Shit

If poker was a zit I would pop it with a rusty nail.
If poker was my prom date I would choke her with her own corsage.
If poker was god I would do whatever it took to get into heaven so i could stab him to death with a spork.
If poker was my life I would kill myself.

Not Sure If This Goes Under "Make Enough Dumbass Calls and Eventually You Will Look Like a Genius" or "Making a Strong Read and Going With It"

ceczar posts the small blind of $2
rocky2434 posts the big blind of $4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [Ah Kc]
ChangPogo raises to $14
hustlaaa4life folds
gamblegambel raises to $48
ceczar folds
rocky2434 folds
ChangPogo calls $34
*** FLOP *** [4h 6d Qd]
ChangPogo checks
gamblegambel bets $102
ChangPogo raises to $1,028, and is all in
gamblegambel calls $320.80, and is all in
ChangPogo shows [Jd Kd]
gamblegambel shows [Ah Kc]
*** TURN *** [4h 6d Qd] [Th]
*** RIVER *** [4h 6d Qd Th] [6c]
ChangPogo shows a pair of Sixes
gamblegambel shows a pair of Sixes
gamblegambel wins the pot ($944.60) with a pair of Sixes

The Simple Pleasures

I extract extreme enjoyment from the squishing of fat people seated behind me in airplanes by means of reclining my seat.

SOLD!

I recently pitched an idea for a game to Atari based on what poker has been doing to me lately and they bought and produced it:

An Exercise in Cinquain Poetry

Poker
Patiently plucking
Dare ye leave thy grasp
A beast quite unconquerable
Ne'er rest

For Three!

Some Streams Have No Delta

Lately I have grown to feel quite uprooted as the foundations of my future have been shaken by the possible end of online poker in the United States and the recourse to follow that is likely to entail friends looking for new jobs and hometowns to be abandoned for dreams of golder pavement in lieu of the aspirations that manifested themselves in a hopeful Emory undergrad years ago when the pastures were greener and the sky seemed out of reach but I guess illusions are what create and destroy life in the first place

Wise Words from Jon Benjamin

"Cursing is a sign of ignorance. There is no place for cursing in a civilized society. Unless you know how to do it right, which I obviously do. It's called creative use of words. It's like poetry; Robert Frost stopping by the woods on a snowing fucking evening that kind of shit. But it's my poetry. It's the everyday man's poetry cause we can't find good metaphors like the woods or the snow or the horse or that kind of stuff."

A Closer Look

Even though I am in third, I am obviously putting forth the most effort.

Early Developments

[and they're off]

POY team progress:

Bagging them up early: 4340
The Moon is up and shinning: 3255
Gamblegambel this: 1730
Carefully concatenated: 1322
Don't cry for me Wolf: 464

Perspective Enlightenment

A staircase can only have one top step.

Still Can't Believe This Hand Just Happened

Was starting to think an afternoon of lag play wasn't working out until I managed to induce the following:

Seat 1: Trischi1512 ($3,008.20)

Seat 4: gamblegambel ($4,135)

Trischi1512 posts the small blind of $5
rivergeorge posts the big blind of $10
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gamblegambel [5d 6d]
balugawhale folds
gamblegambel raises to $35
tbthanx folds
Trischi1512 raises to $115
rivergeorge folds
gamblegambel calls $80
*** FLOP *** [8d 7h 4s]
Trischi1512 bets $200
gamblegambel raises to $800
Trischi1512 calls $600
*** TURN *** [8d 7h 4s] [Kh]
Trischi1512 checks
gamblegambel bets $600

{here is where I wet my pants}

Trischi1512 raises to $2,093.20, and is all in
gamblegambel calls $1,493.20

pretty rare you see an all in pot on turn for over 600 big blinds with one party drawing dead

Trischi1512 shows [Js Jd]
gamblegambel shows [5d 6d]
*** RIVER *** [8d 7h 4s Kh] [3h]
Trischi1512 shows a pair of Jacks
gamblegambel shows a straight, Eight high
gamblegambel wins the pot ($6,023.40) with a straight, Eight high
Trischi1512 is sitting out

Tired of Digging Out of This Hole

Escaping a Chinese finger trap, recalling a particular tune, pursuing the perfect woman, overcoming writers block, and the road to maximizing profits in poker. [yes, i realize this is a sentence fragment but it's for literary emphasis] Seems like the harder one tries to accomplish such the less likely success is to ensue. Time and time again I find myself in this self destructive cycle of trying, failing, trying harder, failing worse, trying even harder, and then failing even worse until I spiral out of control into bottomless pit of panic. Hopefully the self realization of this needless process can result in mastering the art of moderation instead of senseless self deprecation.

Writing My Own Playbook

oxygen237: posts small blind $5
LabRatMike: posts big blind $10
lucky168222: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KKBigDawwg69 [3d 3c]
Reddog133: folds
Pipedream17: folds
jcamby33: folds
trump236: folds
I_h8_p0ker: raises $20 to $30
KKBigDawwg69: raises $60 to $90
oxygen237: folds
LabRatMike: folds
Pipedream17 is sitting out
I_h8_p0ker: calls $60
*** FLOP *** [Th Qc Td]
I_h8_p0ker: checks
KKBigDawwg69: checks
*** TURN *** [Th Qc Td] [Qs]
I_h8_p0ker: bets $20
KKBigDawwg69: raises $35 to $55
I_h8_p0ker: raises $35 to $90
KKBigDawwg69: calls $35
*** RIVER *** [Th Qc Td Qs] [As]
I_h8_p0ker: checks
KKBigDawwg69: bets $221
I_h8_p0ker: folds
KKBigDawwg69 collected $593 from pot

CoaieMari: posts small blind $5
Dzsenaj: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KKBigDawwg69 [Tc Td]
F.Savage: folds
platane13: folds
KKBigDawwg69: raises $20 to $30
ADZ124: calls $30
CoaieMari: folds
Dzsenaj: folds
*** FLOP *** [3s Jh 8c]
KKBigDawwg69: bets $40
ADZ124: raises $100 to $140
KKBigDawwg69: raises $130 to $270
ADZ124: folds
KKBigDawwg69 collected $482 from pot
KKBigDawwg69: doesn't show hand

cts687: posts small blind $5
Lucky Grapes: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KKBigDawwg69 [Ts 8s]
Paul Skanski: folds
PokerJello: folds
bigegypt: raises $30 to $40
KKBigDawwg69: raises $70 to $110
cts687: folds
Lucky Grapes: folds
bigegypt: calls $70
*** FLOP *** [7s 5d 8h]
bigegypt: checks
KKBigDawwg69: checks
*** TURN *** [7s 5d 8h] [2h]
bigegypt: bets $130
KKBigDawwg69: calls $130
*** RIVER *** [7s 5d 8h 2h] [4s]
bigegypt: bets $330
KKBigDawwg69: calls $330
*** SHOW DOWN ***
bigegypt: shows [Jh Ah] (high card Ace)
KKBigDawwg69: shows [Ts 8s] (a pair of Eights)
KKBigDawwg69 collected $1152 from pot

He’ll Smite You with Metaphor Fists!

Before my flight to LA whist in the Hartford airport I found myself browsing through the local bookstore and spontaneously decided to pick up a short read for my six hour flight. Ironically, while waiting in line to purchase Franz Kafka's Metamorphasis a scholarly gentleman in front of me was purchasing John Vorhaus' Killer Poker and for that split second the world was in harmony.

Wise Words from Jon Benjamin

"I use baby detergent because it's a little bit cheaper, but then i was thinking why do babies need different detergent? Can't they use the same one as everyone else; it's not like they'll die."

Super Cool Friends = The Good Life

Good Ideas Generate Good Ideas

One night whist dining at a local chain restaurant somehow the table discussion turned into a debate of whether or not if the over-sized plastic drinking cup were tossed into the air (at least 6 feet high) it could land and settle atop one of its ends (falling onto a hard substance i.e asphalt/concrete). To no avail, when we left someone stole one of the cups and a 20 dollar bet giving 10:1 odds was carried out in the adjacent parking lot and yours truly came out victorious for this proved to be quite the difficult task.

*Would love to hear any of y'alls' {is that right?} interesting prop bet experiences/stories in comments or whatnot [caution: such will result in a possible tale theft for a poker screenplay in progress]

A Needed Reminder

If it was easy everyone would do it.

Coincidence? I Don't Think So

GambleGambel defines a poker session as a strategical term where the goal of the engagement that follows is not to surrender chips needlessly, but to dispense affliction on an opponent and to timely stand up from the table to elude any unnecessary siphoning. Wikipedia defines hit-and-run as a tactical doctrine where the purpose of the combat involved is not to seize control of territory, but to inflict damage on a target and immediately exit the area to avoid the enemy's defense and/or retaliation.