Back to back Donakaments, Blogger weekend domination

** edit** I just got through some of the blogs and realized what a crazy weekend of cashes took place. Go check out LJ, Smokkee and Bayne for the real money stories!**



The masses said it couldn't be done...well, just call me the back to back donkey slayer:



In all seriousness, I am pretty happy with the way I played the final table. I used a completely different strategy i nthe early goings this week. Last week I played a full first hour trying to accumulate chips early and often so that I could have a massive stack heading into the 2nd hour and sit out. This time I had people over and planned to not play a single hand for the first half hour (all I missed out on was one pocket pair). I didn't get much going at all during the last half hour but I kept pushing and rebuying. I finally pushed Q3o in the last hand before the add-on and won that to get a 10K starting stack (plus another 1500 for a buck) heading into hour two. From there, I just played my normal game and made it to the final table with a semi-short stack.


The one key hand that sticks out is when I had 99 in the BB and Hoy raised me UTG for the third or fourth time. Once or twice I folded, and I think I might have re-raised once. This time I elected to call. The flop came 9-6-4 with two diamonds. I checked, he led out. I pushed. He called... with pocket sixes. The ol' set over set. That didn't bust him, but he would go out shortly after that.


That set me up to make the final three, and from there we were down to two handed in a matter of minutes. Donkette pushed for a shit load of chips and I called. She had 10's and I had AQs. I won that race. Heads up, lasted about 30 minutes and in the end I just wore down Peacecorn as she admitted that she was very tired (Thanks Kat).


I call it the left coast advantage.


So my roll is now higher than ever (first time into a fourth digit) and it is primed and ready for another week of the BBT. I also won a $75 token with RecessRampage yesterday. Are you in the Big Game yet?


Of course, none of this compares to Dave's big score. Go and give him some high fives!


No Math tonight (sister's bday). There are rumours that Fuel maybe coming to BDR soon, so look forward to him ripping on anything and everyone all night long.

See you at the Mookie and make sure to hit up BDR for some laughs.

----
Golf - well golf was also a success on Saturday. I finally broke par this year for the first time, which is timely. I shot two under (70) when I finished birdie-par-birdie-birdie. If it wasn't for one putting the first 7 holes for par (two fringies) then it wouldn't have been possible. I was draining everything early on and it helped me get around the front 9 in 1 over (I missed a 3 footer on 8 for my only bogey). So close to bogey free (which is always my goal everytime I tee it up). Bogey free 33 on the back nine.


I won $41 from my various matches, so that was a nice plus and afforded numerous rounds in the lounge later that night.

Another $2k Package!

WOW! Another reason why Al is the man!

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Brackett Madness

Well it's that time again where we glue ourselves to the TV all weekend and watch all the nail bitting action. Where one kids hopes and dreams are crushed at the drop of a last second free throw.

I've always been a big fan of March Madness. My favorite team is Gonzaga (the bulldogs) for reasons that stem way back to before I was a teenager. My old camp councilor played for them way back in the day, and I still remember the time when he challenged the entire camp to score a single basket on him. If you did, you earned yourself a chocolate bar.

Not a single kid scored a point. No hail mary's, no fluke shots off his tipped block. Nothing. As a young kid this amazed me to no end. It seemed like such a simple thing. Yet, no one could pull it off.

I am in two pools so far:

1. Corron10 is hosting one and we are trying to get a little money involved as well. So far, the turnout hasn't been that great, so get over there quickly and sign up:

http://bloggermadness.mayhem.sportsline.com/e
Our Group password is: bloggermadness

2. Tao of Poker - Just go there and sign up. You can win free shit! Or go directly to it here.

My final picks: NC vs. Duke

Go Zags!


No Mookie for me tonight since my Thursday dinner got moved to tonight. Which just means I'll be at the Riverchasers tomorrow night instead. See you there.

Donkeys and Quads and Tiger... oh my!

Dwal took me out of the Math when I short stack pushed for another 5-8 BB's over his button raise. He called with J9o and spiked a Jack to beat my KQ in the BB. Such is poker I guess. It turned out to be his night after all, so congrats.


Let's go back a few days. Friday started out with a few beers and the Donkament. There were only 13 players, however that didn't stop TwoBlackAces from donating about $100 to the cause. He was all in 8/9 times per orbit for the first hour. It was nuts. My bud Willy was in town from San Fran and he was heading over shortly. My plan was to get a big chip lead in the first hour, sit out the second hour and then play the rest of the tournament while we drank our faces off. Once that was over, we were going to head to the casino for some 1/2 donkey time. It seemed to be the theme of the night.


Willy played for me for a while. He is actually the guy that gave me my first poker book. He's a good player and still plays, but not as much as the average blogger. I ended up getting HU with BuddyDank. It was a great time, as we continuously called each other the usual names. He was my bitch, I was his, yadda yadda. I don't have any HH's, the one big hand that took place was a bit of a set up. I limped with pocket 10's, he raised. I called. The flop came 10-7-4. He bet. I called. We got it all in on the turn. He had.... pocket 7's. Booom.

It was a blast.

Then Willy, Lola and I went over to the nearby casino and goofed around in their new sportsbar - Schanks. This place is massive. They've got a putting course that goes around the bar! We got onto a 1/2 table pretty quickly. I won $107 with QUAD 3's (runner runner lol) which was nice. They have a 23 high hand payout system instead of a bad beat.

Saturday I teed off at 11am with Penski and a couple of others. Actually our fourth was the new General Manager. He was my partner and was getting 11 shots, which a shit load compared to what we are used to based on playing with guys that are usually around the same handicap.

Anyway I make a NINE on the first hole (Quad bogey on a par 5). Nice partner eh! I hit four trees on four individual shots on the first hole alone (no warm up stinks). It was pretty gross. From there I made par on every hole until 12, except for 5 which was a birdie. I made a TRIPLE bogey on 13 when I hit it into the water and then three putted. Good job. So yeah, 7 over on two holes and I was 7 over for the day. Still managed to birdie the 18th to keep my "shoot under 80 every single round this year" goal alive.

More beers after the round, then the Canucks beat up the Dallas Stars and then almost gave it away in the third. After that, we watched the Manny Pacquiao fight on PPV. That was probably the most entertaining boxing match I have seen in years. Just awesome.

And of course, what would a weekend be without watching Tiger pull off something extraodinary... again! I don't think I even need to explain just how clutch this guy is week in and week out. All I know is, this is the year that we will see something great. This is the year that he will shatter all of his own records and blow everyone out of the water. Mark my words.

I've played the last two blogger tournies from someone else's house. Doing this, while drinking beer and other activities, watching hockey and whatever else there was on the PVR makes it an interesting grind. I couldn't really get anything going at all. All I know is Dwal kept raising my BB with air and was getting away with it. I just didn't have a hand to resteal with. When I did, it was the almighty J9o that took me down. Regardless of how many times I folded in a row before that, he still called. GG me.

My Top 25 yet to win

First things first. A HUGE "WAY TO GO SMOKKEE !!" for taking down the PLO skillz tourney last night to earn the 7th TOC seat of the 55 available. I just find it so ironic how Smokkee could potentially win his WSOP seat from Full Tilt when all he does is pimp and play at Bodog now. I wish I could play at Bodog... If you can, I suggest you do because their 2 table SnG for a WSOP seat is about as good as it gets... you don't even have to win a single tournament. Just fold to the points!

I haven't played a blogger tournament for a full week now. However, I plan on making it to the Mookie as usual. It's a tournament that I don't plan on missing much at all this year if I can help it. I'd like to say I'm doing everything I can to chase down that player of the month prize, but I'm not. I just don't seem to be able to commit to these tournaments. Every. Single. Night. (Almost).

So after some not so careful consideration, I have come up with my own top 25. The top 25 bloggers who I think will eventually win a TOC seat at some point before this is over. So here we go in no particular order (sorry no linkage):

1. Hoy - there is no way this guy can't win one of these sooner or later. He is on fire.
2. Bayne - his luckbox skills will activate sooner or later
3. Fuel55 - this one I am not sure of, he might get one outtered right before HU. He's yet to even earn a single point... but he is the type of player to either win it or gigli all series long.
4. Cracknaces - If he can make it to a final table with a stack, he will be tough to beat.
5. CMitch - I just feel like he will win one, maybe even two.
6. Recess Rampage - sooner or later this donk has to get lucky...
7. LJ - her game is coming along fast and furiously and should all the pieces fall into place at the right time it will be a breeze.
8. AlCan'tHang - so close last week, if he drinks enough, he could win one and not even remember playing.
9. Astin - same as Bayne - he just needs Aces about 6 times at the final table.
10. Miami Don - if he shows up as much as I do, then I am not sure if the planets will align. It'd be nice if he won his own tourney to get in though.
11. PokahDave - I think he has a new FT account? not sure. If not, get on it!
12. Lightning36 - If he doesn't get sucked out on at the final table bubble, look out!
13. Kuro Kitty - just a hunch.
14. ScottMc - even if someone doesn't back him, he'll be playing with no fear at all.
15. BuddyDank - just because he is a lucky dooosh bag.
16. GCox - If he sticks to his game, he is very tough.
17. Julius Goat - I never said you couldn't win with your writting skills... and this guy is the cream of the crop.
18. Blinders - if his wife let's him play.
19. JoeSpeaker - I can't see how he won't win one of these sooner or later.
20. Drizz - I see him winning one of the non NL games, but that is not to discount his NL game, it's just as good if not better.
21. HighOnPoker - Again, he's gotta show up more than once a week. I should take that advice.
22. Jamyhawk - as long as he can lay down AK when it's time...
23. Riggstad - another hunch. Boooooom.
24. Surflexus - I said he was the Tiger Woods of the Mookie... I just wonder if he will be able to pull it off when it counts!
25. Mookie! - I mean seriously, he's gotta win sooner or later, and why not his own tournament? That would bring me 5 big ones from Tragedy if that was the case.

Wow that went quick! I thought 25 would be tough, but now I think I'll have to list 5 more honorable mentions:

The Rooster - non NL is my guess.
Katitude - why the hell not!
JustanotherDonkey - he won the mookie a little while back. Now it's time for the big show.
Waffles - I really should include him in the above list, but it's too late. I still think he can win one soon though. Do it.
RaisingCayne - in the points 3 times, money twice. You just never know.

Keep in mind I have not factored in how many tournaments each will play in. I am just pulling these names from the top of my head and really wrote this post in a matter of minutes, ok 20... (although its something I have been thinking about for a week or so now). The players that I listed above are the ones that I think have the game, have the track record and have the skills to win something somewhere at somepoint.

It's just a matter of when... luck will obviously be a big factor, so timing is really everything.

If I haven't mentioned your name above then you take it one of two ways. Either I just don't think you'll ever win a TOC seat (prove me wrong), or I intentionally left your name off the list because I didn't want to jinx you (Bammmmmmm)! I think the latter is a good excuse for you to just step up to the plate and win one of these things.

Notice that I have left plenty of room for the luckbox donks to come out of the woodwork and take one down. There will be at least 20 people (like "hotpants", "hellroy" or gadzooks64) that will earn their seats that I know nothing about. I can guarantee that. I didn't mention any of Lucko's "gbif's" as I am sure they will take a seat or two (Loretta8 for example).

I also think that Summer_Babe (the blogfather), Dr. Pauly and Change100 have a good chance too... if they found the time.

That is the problem when I was trying to make this list. Should I list some of the old crew that might not show up much? Or list a few of the new crew like Corron10 (already won) who have already made a splash in the top 15 on the TLB.

It looks like TwoBlackAces is leading the way for the player of the month. It's a close race though so make sure you get your ass out there, and often. There's only 11 events left in March...

Do it and good luck.

Fantasy Sports Live Schaubs Shootout

Blinders and I wanted to promote Fantasy NHL to all you bloggers out there who think they know a little about hockey... so take a SHOT at beating me to win some cashola.

We'll run it for the rest of the regular season and into the NHL playoffs. The bragging rights alone are worth more than the weekly $18 first prize.

I'm on fantasy tilt right now, so your chances of beating me are actually pretty good...

Do it.

I am a pushfest pro... duh

I've finally found what I am good at. Pushfests! Maybe there is some lucksackery in this here soul of mine afterall... big smile!

On Wednesday night, after my 17th place exit in the Mookie, I jumped into one of those 50 FPP on Full Tilt with the likes of CK, Fuel, BuddyDank, Numbono, twoblackaces, schleppy, donkette. I can honestly say that it was the most fun I've had playing poker in a long time. So much fun that I think I will play in the Donkament tonight and give back a little (ok as much as possible in the first hour) of the $70 I won from the above said pushfest.

I hit runner-runner the first two pushes of the 54 person SnG. Split the first pot with Buddy when I held 47o and he held something like K7o. We both hit rivered straights and we were off and running. I don't have any screen shots but shortly after that (maybe three pushes later) there were only two of us bloggers left in the prop bet. I push with AA, everyone folds. The VERY NEXT hand I get AA again, I push. Knock out someone else.

I think I finished somewhere around 24th. The record is 14th. But man, was that ever fun! Ship it!

We played one more after that and CK was the big winner. She dominated the thing for about 20 straight hands and had 15 times (I'm actually just guessing) as many chips as second place. It was so hilarious and so fun. I was listening to BDR at the time and couldn't help but sign on and re-live the fun on the air. That show rocks!

The best part about these pushfests is pissing off all the other unsuspecting non-blogger types. The ones who have put up their 50 hard earned points and have real hopes of winning the super-sat. into another satellite to the 750K. Pipe dreams I tell ya. Especially when they run into 7-10 pushmonkeys with more money on the line than the actually cost of the entry, and the next combined.

So fun, I'm smiling.

Make sure you smile today, it is good for the poker soul.

I didn't play in the 4 card PLO bingo tourney last night, in fact I don't even know who won the Riverchasers. Whoever it was, congrats on the TOC seat!

I guess I'll go searching now.

Have a good weekend everyone.

It's none of your business what other people think of you...

So here we are heading into event 4 tonight and I already see the blogger drama starting to build like a runaway snowball downhill. I really hope that people just relax and enjoy this unique ride that we are all lucky enough to be a part of. No need to stress about other bloggers hand analysezzzzz and what people are saying. I was chatting with another blogger a few nights ago and he asked me if I noticed anything different lately in the blogs. My response was: not really. At first I didn't really know what he was talking about since I had been behind in bloglines and hadn't had a chance to confirm what he was saying.

He noted that he is not seeing very much content in terms of hand analysis out there lately. His theory is it because the BBT3 started up, and thinks that people are afraid of what others will say if they post a HH (that would abviously include other bloggers and how they played) or ask for advice on what they think went wrong in the hand (whether they are in it or not). I tend to agree that there isn't much out there lately, but really it doesn't matter to me either way. Sure I like to get into a hand and go through the details and read people's comments, that is just part of the learning process. But if people don't find it necessary to get feed back from the blogs, or better yet - don't want to help others because of the fear of being wrong... well then that is their problem.

How many times have you asked a question (let's say in high school, university, or a group meeting of some sort) that you already knew the answer to, but asked anyway - just for the benefit of others?

That is how I feel about the blogs sometimes. It creates discussion. Interesting discussion and analysis. I don't think people should be afraid to post HH's because it "might give away to much information" either about the game of poker in general, or more specifically, about the writer's game. The fear of either being critizied, or allowing people to openly figure out your style of play (if you read a blog and the HH's long enough you can definitly figure out a person's style and how they play big hands etc) seems to have an effect on poker blog content.

The bottom line is, do whatever you want, play your cards however you want, and write whatever you want after (or before if you are some sort of visionary psychic). If there is backlash and negative comments, then so be it. That is a function of a good post, to encourage opinions and critical thinking.

The most important thing for me is to have fun, if I'm not having fun then what is the point! Oh and winning, winning is important... it's a self-fulfilling prophecy!

Be honest with yourself, and good things will happen.

Aces cracked by Scott Fischman

If it wasn't for hitting my two outter (KK vs. AA vs JJ - ScottMc) on the river againsts LJ's Aces I wouldn't have made it to the final table. However, once I got past the money bubble and past the final table bubble I really felt good (and lucky) about my game and my chances of taking down event number one actually seemed within reach. My luck ended abruptly when Fischlucksackman called my "standard Hoy preflop raise" which I have recently incorporated and is working like a charm.

Blinds are 1500/3000 with antes of about 300. I raise it to 10,600 from UTG+1 (no respect!)

He flat calls from the button.

I bet out 25,000 into a 28,000ish pot. Well I make a "this is a c-bet" type of bet on the flop and he pushes. I made that 25K bet because I thought I would push this "pro" off of any sort of straight drawing hand... nope. I actually thought he might have 10-J sooted before I made the instacall. My luck ran out I guess. Stupid pros. Who's next? I guess Ivy or the Mouth will show up tonight...

I had a blast, and actually jumped out of my chair when I hit that two outter against LJ. Very lucky. What a great turnout!

If I win that hand I cripple him and put myself in great shape to take down event #1. Oh... what could have been...

I also blame Instant Tragedy for taking drafting me in his last longest bet with ScottMc.

See you tonight?