Smite Button

Date: Sun, Oct 5, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Sigh...

Date: Sat, Oct 4, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

I went out first at the Yanok game last night. No love... On the flip side of failure, I was making some good reads, and made moves that I was proud of. Laying down pocket Queens when I knew I was beat... sometimes there is a sense of Nirvana even in defeat. Unfortunately the maniacs do still give me some trouble. If you can't legitimately put them on a hand, unless you're looking at the nuts every time, there's little room for error. I was crippled by Jerry when I hit top pair on the flop from the BB. He called from out of position with a 3-5 and straighted on the river. I would be more critical... BUT there's a lesson here that tells me that in order to really be successful and drag big pots, you've got to blind-side your opposition sometimes. Play the hands that they never see coming. They will tend to make more money than will the big pocket pairs, including the elusive Aces! I didn't play like a NIT, last night, but I just couldn't get it together. I took myself out with an ill-times bluff against Jeff, who had unfortunately hit 2nd pair. No harm, no foul. I headed home and fired up Bodog, played two SNG's and cashed (low) in both of them, but still a few bucks is a few bucks.

South won the football game last night, absolutely creaming Washington High 45-0, and the second half was with out 2nd string playing. Great Job Patriots! It's great to put another one in the "W" column especially for Homecoming. Congrats!

We're headed over to the Rempel's "Fiesta" very shortly. We'll see many of you here very shortly.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Read Full Poker Blog Post

It really must be the RED hair...

Date: Fri, Oct 3, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

Recall that 2 weeks ago, Julie won one of the drawings at the Eagles for $400-ish and simultaneously had her "tip" called for another $100. Then the following week she sits down at one of the machines, slipped in $20 and cashed out for $1,000! Well continuing in the tradition and not to be outdone, my wife "Big Red" hits the "winner-take-all" drawing for $1,400!!! Of course it was too much not to be celebrated, so the beer flowed and this morning... well going to work was simply out of the question for me! I slept it off.

So anyway, I'm convinced it is really the RED hair. Go RED SNAPPERS! Great, we'll have them both to contend with it Yanok's card game tonight. You just can't go against that much luck. Teresa and I will not be there for Game #1, since we will be at the South football game. But we'll get there when we can. The time grows near... it's time to leave.

See you all later... and Go Patriots!!!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Just say no to NITS!

Date: Thu, Oct 2, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

Well every good run eventually comes to an end. Finally, playing in last night's SNG's, I failed to finish in the money in one of these things. I bubbled. I cashed in the first of the two SNG's but nothing stellar happened. The second game... well I allowed one thing to get to me. There were two competing aggressors at the table. They were driving everyone out preflop, and then either checking or min betting to one another post flop. Not something I should really worry about, except that the behaviour eventually caused them to get involved with the guy who was the short stack at the time (below me) and top him off quite nicely. That's okay too, except the two aggressors pushed preflop and the short stack called it. He was first to act, after the less than stellar flop and he bet out, one aggressor dropped, the other min raised and was called. The short stack continued to bet a minimal amount on each following street and was min raised, except on the river, when the "aggressor" dropped out. There was really nothing he could have been chasing. It put me out a little, that he breathed new life into the guy who had been about to go out. Now I was the short stack. Very next hand, I insta-popped it all in, and stole the pot, just to remind them both I was still there... watching and kinda questioning their actions. A few hands later I was in the small blind and it was folded back around to me. If I could get the BB to drop I would have climbed back out of the short stack position. I looked down at a K-rag, and decided to shove against a BB that wasn't high on the chip count position. Unfortunately, he looked down at A-10s and called... rightly so. Looking back, I made two mistakes. One, I let the play of the aggressors get under my skin a little more than usual. I shouldn't have since on the other table I was playing there was a guy doing the same thing and it became his undo-ing when he tried to bully his way through a hand, only to run into the guy who had smooth called him all the way, and was sitting there grinning with the stone-cold NUTS! See ya... bye... I laughed out loud on that one, and Teresa was convinced I was losing it. The second mistake of the game or the night really... I was playing like a total friggin' NIT! Sheesh could I have acted any more like a pussy?!? I tried to limp with too many marginal hands and small pocket pairs only to watch early on the table bullies pop it and force me to fold, from my poor position. Then, from position, I was shying away from getting involved, listening to the small voice in my ear saying, c'mon just fold to victory. Well, no thank you from here on out. My new motto, is "Just say no to NITS!" Get back to the gameplan and let the money start finding its way to you. On the positive side, the cost of the two SNG's $35.20 was totally lost, in that I cashed in one game and so found myself down only $11.20. I'm still up... I got a lesson that I think I needed, and besides. Out of 8 of these $16 + $1.60 Beginner SNG's I've cashed in 7 out of 8 thus far for an 87.5% so far. I didn't really expect to cash and/or win in "every" single one of these. Yeah it would've been nice, but was unrealistic. I need to stick with the game plan and play tight up front, to the point at which I can identify the guys who really seem scared to play or risk anything, and just apply small pressure to take down a few small pots and avoid those coin flips. Then, once we lose the bubble boy, become the table nightmare and take it down.

Tonight, I've got some running to do. Whitney has a homecoming parade to go to at 5:15. Cole has a skating party at 6:00-ish. Teresa is going somewhere with her mom, so I've got to drop off and pick up everyone. I have to make sure that they get their homework done somewhere in between all that. Then, I can guarantee I'll be heading to the Eagles for a drink. Sheesh! I've walked, run, and lifted my heart out this week and even eaten pretty well too, and particularly avoided late night scavenging. I haven't even been drinking pop! Okay I will be tonight, but only slightly, the rest had better be a stiff Jack Daniels. See you all tonight, for the drawing... I'm out.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Baby Steps

Date: Wed, Oct 1, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

I feel a bit like this... taking some unsure steps on wobbly legs. I had kind of gotten out of the habit of playing online poker. A bit stagnant, not much in the way of money online anymore, aside from the fact that free time was non-existent. But two things influenced me to put in some time and see how I would do online again.

First, the August 5, 2008 issue of Card Player had an article by Roy West entitled "Some Call it Heart - I Call it Courage, A requirement for becoming a winner." A number of things spoke to me through the article, as if Roy was pointing a finger at me and reading me the riot act. He wrote, " A lack of courage is most often mixed in with a fear of losing money. Just breaking even is no big thing -- as you were even when you walked into the poker room." Fear of loss can be an absolutely crippling thing at the poker table. A lousy run of cards and a few bad sessions can further fuel it, and you can fall into the rut of just trying to conserve or preserve the existing bankroll, rather than trying to make it grow. But there's no point in being fool-hardy either, as you'll find yourself broke, right quickly. Mr. West then added a line which got me thinking, "For those players who are concerned about going off for too much money... set aside a specific amount that they can lose and not have it affect their lifestyle, and play that bankroll as if it were an unlimited supply." So, now about the bankroll... Well I took a look around my measly online accounts and was "almost" ready to make a fateful redeposit when in an unrelated blog I came across something that gave me another idea.

That brings me to the second influence... I came across this blog post http://blinderspoker.blogspot.com/2008/09/bodog-roll-growing-beginner-s-still.html by blogger "Blinders," in which he talked about his recent experiences in the Bodog Beginner SNG's. He had grown his bankroll in a rather short order back to a level which allowed him some maneuvering room in my mind. He did so, without much in the way of risk, due to the flattened nature of the payout structure in these beginner sng's. Here was an idea. I lacked a sufficient online bankroll to tackle the game and work on my game and my courage level as Roy West was suggesting but here Blinders was pointing to a bit of a no-brainer method to accumulate some needed cash, to help create a respectable bankroll. I had been donking around a little in the Bodog Beginner SNG's before, but at the lowest possible limits. But here on one hand was one blogger telling me that the play was soft at the higher limits, and on the other hand Roy West is telling me I need to have courage. I was beginning to feel a bit like the cowardly lion... But Yellow Brick Road or not, a path seemed to be laying itself out before me. I'd give the higher limit Bodog Beginner SNG's a try and see if I couldn't put together a roll.

Now, I'm still limited on available time between my kids and their schedules, work, my wife, and trying to get back in shape (running, walking and lifting weights again) so I'm not grinding out hour after hour at the tables. But here's what I've done in a very brief span of time. I had been treading water with about $150 on Bodog and was playing the minimal SNG's. It was VERY SLOW going and making little progress. I was getting more frustrated than anything else. So, I took a couple of shots, at higher levels and was successful. So, I decided to give these a a try for a while in the style that Blinders did. Playing at the $16 SNG's, I've been firing up 2 of these at a time, at night after the kids go to bed and my wife and I are just watching some TV. I've only played maybe 3 sessions for a total of 6 SNG's at the $16 level, so far, but I've already accelerated and grown the Bodog account to $290. I've cashed in every single one of them. Granted had I been playing at a standard SNG there would have been a time or two, that I would have walked away empty handed, but with the payout structure paying 5 spots, I've managed to break even on the one table, while making money on the other. Am I displaying courage right now? Well no... but I'm building a roll that will give me some breathing room first, and avoiding a re-deposit. Besides, I'm making some money and having some fun at the same time. The structure is also allowing me to experiment more with position and it is working well. Also, I'm learning that a lot of players do NOT change gears well at all, or respond well to other players (like me) who are. I have observed the players who are trying to fold their way to the cashout and when I'm finding myself beginning to slip into a shortstack I can apply some well-timed aggression with "air" in my hand and steal some pots to bolster myself. Then later, these players think I'm pulling a fast one on them when I've really got the goods and I'm getting paid. The times when I've gone out at the bottom of the cashout I've run A-Q into A-K and also my KQs ran into rockets on the other occasion.

So, in closing I'm very pleased with the recent (albeit limited) success so far. I'm trying to be realistic about this and not getting overly confident in my abilities but I'm going to continue to ride this gravy train out for a while and see what happens. When you find me busted out and all sad and dejected, be a pal and buy a poor sap a beer!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Fly me to the moon...

Date: Mon, Sep 29, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

My Monday off has been relatively uneventful. I dragged myself out of bed earlier than usual and did my 30 minute treadmill run to start the day off right. My knee is continuing to give me fits though. I bought a new pair of shoes yesterday hoping that the old ones were just at the end of their life, and were the source of my pain. It's too early to make the decision, but we shall see. It's usually the way it goes... I finally get off my backside and start trying to get in shape again and I'm met with an oddball injury to stall my plans and allow the motivation to wane. Not this time. So far I'm continuing to gut it out.

I caught up on some of my blog reading and of course as you can see writing a little of my own. I caught up on a bit of the status from the WSOP-Europe, where we find Daniel Negreanu on top of the heap after Day 1b. It appears that only a total of 362 players came to play this European version of the WSOP(E)'s Main Event. Check out Kid Poker's blog report of his experience thus far at http://www.fullcontactpoker.com/poker-journal.php?subaction=showfull&id=1222654251&archive=

Speaking of the WSOPE... I'm not opposed to another poker tournament, but I'm still not sold on the idea of calling anything a "World Series" of anything where it 'isn't' really. Major League Baseball's World Series is a great event to see every year, but it is NOT a world event. It's still a U.S. of A only event, no offense. And how about the Miss Universe Pageant... I haven't exactly seen any "off-worlders" showing up for that one. Those events aside though, I think the name becomes watered down a bit when you have a World Series of Poker and the turn around with another World Series of Poker Europe. Obviously neither is aptly named. I haven't exactly seen a shortage however of "foreigners" in either event though. : ) Perhaps years from now there will be a WSOP on every continent, each played down to their respective final tables to ultimately crown it's winner a.k.a "world champion." When finally the 7th and final series is over yielding us 7 world champions, we can rocket them all off to the moon for final table of truly galactic proportions! Wonder if I can use frequent flier miles to attend? Clearly my mind wanders with too much time on my hands.

Hope all of you are having a great day. I know I am. The time to pick up my son from school approaches so I bid you farewell.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Paul Newman

Date: Sat, Sep 27, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

Read Full Poker Blog Post

F-I-V-E H-U-N-D-R-E-D-T-H P-O-S-T!!!

Date: Fri, Sep 26, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

Well kids with this post, I hit a bit of a milestone here at the NDPT Blog. This is the 500th post that has been recorded here for posterity for all the world to read and hopefully at least once or twice actually enjoy. Way back at the end of March of 2006 I first launched this blog and managed to muster up about 83 posts that year. The following year however I really put a lot more effort into the thing and today I'm very nearly posting every day. During the WSOP and other times too, I post even more frequently than that. My subject matter hasn't always been poker-centric, I'm sure you've noticed but it's been more about my life in general; which just happens to include a lot of poker. = )

I've made a lot of friends, and probably a few enemies as a result of this blog (and my mouth in general) but all-in-all I TRULY enjoy writing this blog. I've long joked that it's my therapy, that it helps me in a way that has nothing to do with whether or not anyone is actually reading it. But my site stats do show that there are at least a few of you out there that have taken a liking to the place and you keep coming back. I certainly appreciate it! I hope that you've enjoyed reading about my antics and those of my fellow N Debtors. They are ALL a great bunch of people, who I welcome into my home quite often. And among them are some VERY TOUGH players. The skill level since 2004 when a few of us started getting together to play dealer's choice games for nickles and dimes, has improved by leaps and bounds. Our poker education has continued... and our friendships have grown. I read back through some of the posts out here from time to time and recall a lot of great events that I've spent together with all of you. I want to thank you all for sharing your time (and money) with me, but seriously I've forged many great/lifelong friendships as a result of the group that we play with.

In closing, I want to thank you all... friends, family that I play with, and even to those who have just wandered through and ended up at this particular point of the blogosphere. Whatever "event" has caused our paths to have crossed and am indeed thankful of it. It's been a great 500 blog posts... I hope you all come back and check out the next 500 and beyond, as well.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Welcome Robert F Griffin to MTR Gaming CEO Spot

Date: Thu, Sep 25, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

MTR Gaming will have a new front man soon! According to this article: http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/514613.html, Robert F. Griffin will be taking over the helm no later than January 2nd, 2009. He replaces Ted Arneault, the 13 year casino operations veteran who was instrumental in securing table gaming at MTR's "flagship" property Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort, in Chester, WV. Some of the details of his "signing" bonus are listed, heavy on the stock options side of things.

Recently MTR Gaming stocks have fallen in value, with many pointing a finger at Arneault, but frankly everyone and everything in the stock market is taking a beating right now. I'd be willing to wager Arneault's compensation package will likely be quite beefy as he makes his exit for all his efforts in marketing and government relations.

When I finally head north, to visit the Mountaineer Casino... maybe I'll stop in just to say whassup to Mr. Griffin. "Yo Bobby, it's me cheer_dad, howsabout some cocktails over here on table 1!" Yeah, I'm sure that'll be the absolute 'best' approach. Nonetheless Mr. Griffin, congratulations on the new position! You're not looking for an all-too-chatty blogger to help get the word out about Mountaineer Casino are you?!? = )

Regards,

cheer_dad

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Money

Date: Wed, Sep 24, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

Just as I said the Mid Career Retirement Planning was today and offered MANY revelations about my finances and those of others. Honestly, I'm in pretty good shape. (Go figure) I guess diversifying in something other than online poker was a good move after all! Granted I'm taking the proverbial beating in the market right now, but then again who isn't except for those pussies sticking to the friggin' "G" Fund investment strategy. Take your Savings Account pittance and be happy with the mediocrity. I'm riding the market wave. Don't get scared and sell now that's definitely a formula for additional loss. There are a few changes I want to make, but nothing incredibly earth-shattering. I want to add an additional percent to the TSP by the end of the year, which will get me close to the IRS $15,500 cap. Then, watching that cap closely in the future I'll continue to push it up higher until I've maxxed it out again. I think I got a year behind on that effort at some point. The change to the bottom line is too much to pass up.

Anyway, I'm learning that some folks are doing very little in the way of saving and planning. Some had no earthly idea... Bad news for me is that I will have to ride out workin' for Uncle Sam until I hit 60 years old. Oddly, that doesn't sound so far away. I'm eligible to leave prior but to maximize my cashout options, I'm going to stay for the long haul.

Anyway all, it's late, I'm tired and class is in session again tomorrow. The picture brings to mind one last Pink Floyd lyric:

"Money, it's a hit...
Don't give me that do goodie good bullshit!!!"

Regards,

cheer_dad

Read Full Poker Blog Post

I get by with a little help from my friends...

Date: Wed, Sep 24, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

I get by with a little help from my friends...
Thanks to all of you who helped me correct my mistakes on the NDPT points standings. Frank was quick to point out my lost battle with Jack Daniels certainly played a role. To which I responded, " I have no recollection of that... you clearly have me confused with someone else." Why, the very idea of that devil's elixir even crossing these lips... honestly!

I leave for class in just a few moments, "Mid-Career Retirement Planning." I think I'm going to learn more about the "blood-bath" that I'm taking because of the C-Fund! Looks like I really need to improve my poker skills to really help out the bottom line. I'll check in later in the day, and I'll likely be lamenting my financial situation or whining about being sleepy.

Have a good day.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Blurry

Date: Mon, Sep 22, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

Okay NDPT #14, no I haven't got the points updated yet. Sorry folks it was all a little blurry to me. Probably, the benadryl, Jack Daniels, and Killian's Irish Red wasn't the best of cocktail choices to make. Clearly, I was not among the money winners. And thanks to my mind altering experiment I didn't keep the best track of what was what. However, JR has filled in the gaps of my memory and I should probably update later tonight. For now though suffice it to say, that JR took down the top spot for the night, followed by Laura in 2nd, Teresa in 3rd, and Steve in 4th. Congratulations to all of you. I wish I had some recollection of it! : ) The next day was uneventful and found us sticking pretty close to the house most of the day. Sleeping, lounging, just wasting time. I'm getting too old for this shit... But seriously though, I hope everyone had a great time.

Tonight, Whitney has to cheer at a JV game at Erickson Field. I'll likely be there cheering on the cheerleaders. Errr wait...? I'll definitely have to set the DVR for tonight I may not make it home in time to see the Season Openers for Heroes and CSI: Miami. There are some other shows on this season that I'm looking forward to, that the DVR is going to have to be cleaned up to accommodate a lot of new stuff. Sorry Cole, the WWE is going to have to take a backseat!

To my knowledge the next poker to be played isn't until the Yanok's on October 3rd, but who knows with you bunch of damned degenerates! Whatever though, you know Big Red and I will be there as always.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Poker Face

Date: Sat, Sep 20, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

It won't be long until game time so I thought I'd practice my poker face for tonight. Whadya think?!?

NDPT #14 starts tonight at 7:00pm. A little lighter turnout than usual, due to some conflicting plans, but no matter we'll play the game we all love to hate. I need to chalk one up in the "W" column people to get myself back in this race. So better beware!

The chips are sorted and bagged, and the beer's chillin' right now. Bring on the competition!

See y'all soon.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Read Full Poker Blog Post

TGIF, and ready for the weekend

Date: Fri, Sep 19, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

It's been a long slow day, but it is "finally" winding its way to a close. I came in late because Teresa wasn't feeling well and I had to take Cole to school. I actually enjoyed the extra catnap of sleep that the delay afforded me. : ) But the delay has made me stay here at work later than normal. A bunch of us are headed up to the Marietta Brewing Company after work to knock back a few cold ones with some appetizers. I know there's a beer sampler in the not so distant future for me.

We went out last night to the Eagles and actually some really cool news. Julie had her name drawn!!! She was the last name drawn and it wasn't a $1,000 draw but hey $500 is nothing to sneeze at either. And not 20 seconds after she ran up to lay claim to the prize, DJ called the tip number of the rip-offs and she won that $100 too!!! She's hot right now. Remember she just took down the top spot on Sunday's NDPT Tournament. Not to be left behind my wife, the other half of the Red Snappers was hitting payouts on the rip offs and cashing out on the slot machines too. You go have fun at the machines baby, I'll be content to sit here and have another beer at the bar! I'll never get in the way of one of her streaks.

I have to get up early in the morning for Whitney's Choir Fundraiser that starts at 9:00. I have to drive the girls around and let 'em do the door to door thing. Then, later that evening it's NDPT #14 night. Attendance will be light, but there will be a game. Never fear. I'll certainly be sure to stay out of the way of Julie and Teresa. That's mojo I don't want any part of!

And with that... my day here is done.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Read Full Poker Blog Post