The Poker Tracker Experience--Week One

I figure that the best way to evaluate myself as a player is to use the tool everyone's talking about. Poker Tracker, for those who have NOT been initiated, or have been sleeping under a rock for the last 2 years, is a program that takes your downloaded hand histories and presents them to you in statistical form, both for you (to help your game), and for players you have played against (to help you find the fishies).

I'll spare you the informational tutorial, and we'll just say it gets two fins up. I've used it for a week and I've learned more about my game than I ever could have wthout it.

Pimping time...

You can get Poker Tracker's 1000 hand Trial by clicking here...

And for the people who want to learn about Poker Tracker...go here

...pimping over--now to the info everybody's been looking for.

After one week of using Poker Tracker, here are my vitals, playing the 1/2 at Stars:

Hands Played: 1,779
VP$IP: 21.47
PF Raise: 6.13%
BB/100 Hands: 5.52
Aggression Factor (w/o Pre-Flop Info): 2.54

According to bisonbison's rules (from Two Plus Two), I rate as a moneybag (Tight Aggressive/Aggressive).

I've mucked out a total of $196.25 in winnings in my first week of 1/2 limit.

Not too shabby, eh?

More...

Sorry for the abbreviated post earlier. It was late early, and I wanted to get other things done...like cook pancakes. Yes, pancakes, the breakfast of champions. Can you say off topic?

The 6-max 1/2 tables at Stars almost seem like the Turbo NL SnG's. It almost seems like you have to play more hands, and there's more pressure. There should be--it's shorthanded. I went through a difficult run at the 6-max tables, losing a good chunk of money. It seemed like every premium hand I pushed would get drawn out on. AKs losing to 86o when the 8 comes on the river to beat my TPTK. Betting all the way, I might add.

And, just for Sir, the ideal way to describe the differences between the 1/2 full tables and the 1/2 6-max, I present this example:

There are currently 5 full 1/2 tables open on Stars. The "Plyrs/Flop" percentages are 30%, 20%, 39%, 32%, 29%.
The first 5 6-max tables: 54%, 40%, 67%, 63%, 60%.

The 6-max is "No Fold'em" at it's finest. The full tables are generally tighter, and they respect raises more, although somebody just sucked out on me with a river Ace, despite my 3-betting him representing the flush draw that he had NO PART OF (3-flush on flop), and my pair of Kings. He called $6 with A8o, with a pair of 8's and 3 clubs on the board that I had bet all the way out...

So here are my conclusions:

6-max 1/2 tables at Stars are juicy, the aquarium is definitely full, but the suckout potential is really high. These guys will call a raise with ANYTHING. Tight-Aggressive might not be good enough. If you 4 bet out your aces and get 3 callers, then watch the flop come 5-7-9, I guarantee that somebody is holding 6-8, and they'll be happy to tell you they played it because it was sOOOOOOted.

Full ring 1/2? Equally juicy, but ABC poker will win you some serious coin. Good luck to all, and may your bankrolls continue to grow!

A Blurb for My Fans...

Ok, to those who have been filling my email inbox (Ok, just for Sir...), I've really had no departure from my tight-aggressive style, and I'm playing solely at Stars. At 1/2, a lot of players are calling you to the river with 2nd best hand. TPTK does wonders for you, and any type of real "heavy hand" is a slam dunk.

In my small (600) sample size, I have yet to lose a hand with trips or better, and one pair is a 50-50 shot. That includes the 4 times I was outkicked on Monday night by 1 friggin' card...

There are a lot of calling stations at 1/2 on Stars. Bet your monsters, don't chase with premiums that don't hit, and you should be making TONS of money in no time. Again, small sample size, but $41/hr? Luck and variance can and will chop away at that, but "crushing the game" is WAY possible just by playing ABC poker.

Good luck!

But be careful--people at 1/2 call raises with 86o, K2o, and the like. They also like to check-raise as a bluff. If you get some cards, these fish will hand you their paychecks.

All I Have To Say Is...

I (heart) $1/$2 Limit...

Since I started playing Saturday after tilting off my UB roll, I am up $190 plus. Hourly rate? Obscene. As I'm sure my five readers know, I am a pharmacist. I may be making more money at $1/$2 online than I am at work.

I should've done this a LONG time ago.

Thanks Domenic (and Congrats!)

My bud Dom left me a comment telling me that he's been playing $1/$2 at Stars (on a limited bankroll), and he's been breaking up the place (up to more than 3X his original stake). So I tried my luck tonight. Found out that those tables are quite juicy... As long as you don't overbet hands you miss, you win consistenly. It's harder to bluff in a limit game, and re-raises are respected more, despite their relatively small size. I was actually up $45 on the session before I lost some of it back trying to push someone off with AK and AQ. Still up 11 BB in an hour.

I can get used to this!

So thanks again Dom for the tip. When are we going to the Taj?

How to Deal With Harrassment

Emailed UB support--their response:

Dear Tiburon0041,

Thank you for letting us know about what you witnessed.

We are building a community that provides an enjoyable atmosphere for people who want to play (or learn to play) the game of poker. Just as abusive language and behavior is not allowed in brick-and-mortar cardrooms, we cannot allow it at our tables.

We will review all chat at the table and deal with the offender(s) appropriately. Discipline varies depending on severity of the chat and if a warning was issued previously.

Karla
Customer Service Department

Funny part is that this guy went off about this whole thing. I was actually courteous for once... :-) I just said after he started to gloat about his HUGE win with 77 over QQ, "I hope you realize how lucky you were..." and he responded with (a direct quote) "You know, Tiburon, I could've been your dad but the monkey beat me up the stairs." I know Domenic would support me on this, so I made this comment, "I somehow don't think you'd say that to me in person." I (to my discredit) kept at this guy for a while then finally muted his chat, and his buddy's as well.

Hey Dom--how long does this guy have a full set of teeth if we're at a B&M?

Like I said before--children. Now I know why some animals eat their young.

One Last Thing

If you're like me, and have a major interest in NHL Hockey, there's a guy who seems to truly be some kind of insider blogging over here and he's been right about everything so far. It seems as though a season just MIGHT be salvaged, with rules changes to make the game better.

Let's hope that the players, owners, and most of all, the lawyers can all come to their collective senses and save the game of hockey from oblivion.

An ALL-TIMER...

This guy and his buddy (they were probably colluding too...) decided to start harrassing me after i politely questioned his call. Look at this gem! This has been by far my worst session EVER.

Hand #4479321-1554 at Sioux Falls (No Limit Hold'em)
Powered by UltimateBet
Started at 19/Feb/05 11:03:40

b-daddy is at seat 0 with $5.71.
Tiburon0041 is at seat 1 with $5.95.
EATMUP is at seat 2 with $4.80.
beehive is at seat 3 with $12.55.
Bigrundown is at seat 4 with $6.
murph11 is at seat 5 with $2.40.
pjmprz is at seat 6 with $4.50.
hbgelvis is at seat 7 with $14.22.
trickydicky21 is at seat 8 with $12.85.
whichone is at seat 9 with $5.90.
The button is at seat 1.

EATMUP posts the small blind of $.05.
beehive posts the big blind of $.10.

b-daddy: -- --
Tiburon0041: Qs Qh
EATMUP: -- --
beehive: -- --
Bigrundown: -- --
murph11: -- --
pjmprz: -- --
hbgelvis: -- --
trickydicky21: -- --
whichone: -- --

Pre-flop:
Bigrundown calls. murph11 folds. pjmprz calls.
hbgelvis folds. trickydicky21 calls. whichone
folds. b-daddy folds. Tiburon0041 raises to $.50.
EATMUP folds. beehive folds. Bigrundown folds.
pjmprz calls. trickydicky21 folds.

Flop (board: 3d 4c 8h):
pjmprz bets $.40. Tiburon0041 raises to $1. pjmprz
goes all-in for $4. Tiburon0041 calls.

Turn (board: 3d 4c 8h 4h):
(no action in this round)


River (board: 3d 4c 8h 4h 7s):
(no action in this round)

Showdown:
pjmprz shows 7c 7d.
pjmprz has 7c 7d 4c 4h 7s: full house, sevens full of fours.
Tiburon0041 mucks cards.
(Tiburon0041 has Qs Qh.)

You know, I wouldn't even mind that he beat me, but he decided to taunt me afterward. I typed, "I just hope you realize how lucky you were..." Then the harrassment started.

Quote of the Day

When they say that a man has the mind of a child, they lock him away, while children are allowed to run free in the streets...

.

If I Ever Learn...

I'm telling you--if I ever took my own advice, I'd be down right deadly at the poker table:

Hand #4479320-2507 at Yuma (No Limit Hold'em)
Powered by UltimateBet
Started at 19/Feb/05 10:00:59

siggy412 is at seat 0 with $12.05.
hbgelvis is at seat 1 with $9.85.
KCPirana is at seat 2 with $1.90.
Vindi is at seat 3 with $4.50.
Tiburon0041 is at seat 5 with $3.85.
PowerFreak69 is at seat 6 with $3.25 (sitting out).
dave fingers is at seat 7 with $5.75.
mdoit is at seat 8 with $8.20.
CaptainLen is at seat 9 with $9.90.
The button is at seat 8.

CaptainLen posts the small blind of $.05.
siggy412 posts the big blind of $.10.

siggy412: -- --
hbgelvis: -- --
KCPirana: -- --
Vindi: -- --
Tiburon0041: Js Ah
dave fingers: -- --
mdoit: -- --
CaptainLen: -- --

Pre-flop:
hbgelvis folds. KCPirana folds. Vindi folds.
Tiburon0041 raises to $.30. dave fingers folds.
mdoit folds. CaptainLen folds. siggy412 calls.

Flop (board: Kc 8d 9c):
siggy412 checks. Tiburon0041 bets $.65. siggy412
calls.

Turn (board: Kc 8d 9c Jd):
siggy412 checks. Tiburon0041 goes all-in for $2.90.
siggy412 calls.

River (board: Kc 8d 9c Jd 8h):
(no action in this round)

Showdown:
Tiburon0041 shows Js Ah.
Tiburon0041 has Js Ah 8d Jd 8h: two pair, jacks and eights.
siggy412 shows Ts 8c.WHAT????
siggy412 has 8c Kc 8d Jd 8h: three eights.

Hand #4479320-2507 Summary:
$.35 is raked from a pot of $7.75.
siggy412 wins $7.40 with three eights.

AJo--it's the new crack. You just KNOW it's bad for you, but you just can't put it down.
.
So, what have we learned today? T8o is apparently a hand you call a raise with out of the BB. We also learned that you call a pot-sized bet with bottom pair and that you call an overbet with not one overcard to your pair, not even two overcards--but THREE OVERCARDS to your pair. You call an all-in bet with 2 outs. And you gloat when you win said hand. The trials and tribulations of online poker at micro-limits...

A New Suckout Story...and why MicroLimit Sucks

PokerStars Game #1230135876: Hold'em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2005/02/17 - 16:25:27 (ET) Table 'Scutum'
Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: DIREWOLF817 ($12.60 in chips)
Seat 2: markstro34 ($13.45 in chips)
Seat 3: IndyJohnJ ($2.60 in chips)
Seat 4: Irishron ($3.40 in chips)
Seat 5: Kelvin ($7 in chips)
Seat 6: tNG1728 ($2.30 in chips
Seat 7: Tiburon41 ($4.85 in chips)
Seat 8: dsoxfan ($9 in chips) USAisAok will be allowed to play after the button
DIREWOLF817: posts small blind $0.05
markstro34: posts big blind $0.10

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Tiburon41 [Js Ac]
IndyJohnJ: folds
Irishron: calls $0.10
Kelvin: calls $0.10
tNG1728: calls $0.10
Tiburon41: raises $0.20 to $0.30
dsoxfan: folds
DIREWOLF817: folds
markstro34: calls $0.20
Irishron: calls $0.20
Kelvin: calls $0.20
tNG1728: calls $0.20

*** FLOP *** [2s 6h Qs]
markstro34: checks
Irishron: checks
Kelvin: checks
tNG1728: checks
Tiburon41: bets $0.50
markstro34: folds
Irishron: folds
Kelvin: folds
tNG1728: calls $0.50

*** TURN *** [2s 6h Qs] [6c]
tNG1728: bets $0.50
Tiburon41: raises $1 to $1.50
tNG1728: calls $1 and is all-in

*** RIVER *** [2s 6h Qs 6c] [3c]

*** SHOW DOWN ***
tNG1728: shows [3h 5s] (two pair, Sixes and Threes)----are you kidding me???
Tiburon41: mucks hand
tNG1728 collected $5.30 from pot

Besides the fact that you're all saying, "there's the AJo again..." This guy has NO clue at all. And, at the other table I'm playing, a guy goes all-in, and when he wins the $0.20 pot, proclaims that "i'm the best player ever." I warn him to be careful doing that, and he decides to "teach me" how to play holdem. I'm going to enjoy busting him out.

Why Small Pocket Pairs Are Bad

Pairs are great, most of the time, they're extremely +EV, except here:

Hand #4444388-4 at Tarzana (No Limit Hold'em Sit and Go)
Powered by UltimateBet
Started at 15/Feb/05 10:49:00

dmac13 is at seat 0 with 955.
ulti_secrets is at seat 1 with 905.
LouisvilleMac is at seat 2 with 1065.
PokerAndroid is at seat 3 with 585.
donstaun is at seat 4 with 1425.
sjznyc is at seat 5 with 1000.
Tiburon0041 is at seat 6 with 940.
immikeyt is at seat 7 with 1180.
dicegod is at seat 8 with 945.
tmelody is at seat 9 with 1000.
The button is at seat 2.

PokerAndroid posts the small blind of 5.
donstaun posts the big blind of 10.

dmac13: -- --
ulti_secrets: -- --
LouisvilleMac: -- --
PokerAndroid: -- --
donstaun: -- --
sjznyc: -- --
Tiburon0041: Qd Qs
immikeyt: -- --
dicegod: -- --
tmelody: -- --

Pre-flop:
sjznyc folds. Tiburon0041 raises to 60. immikeyt
folds. dicegod folds. tmelody calls. dmac13
folds. ulti_secrets folds. LouisvilleMac calls.
PokerAndroid calls. donstaun folds.

Flop (board: 8d 7c 8s):
PokerAndroid checks. Tiburon0041 bets 250. tmelody
folds. LouisvilleMac folds. PokerAndroid goes
all-in for 525. Tiburon0041 calls.

Tournament all-in showdown -- players show:

PokerAndroid shows 3s 3h.
Tiburon0041 shows Qd Qs.

Turn (board: 8d 7c 8s 8h):
(no action in this round)

River (board: 8d 7c 8s 8h 7h):
(no action in this round)

Showdown:
PokerAndroid has 8d 7c 8s 8h 7h: full house, eights full of sevens.
Tiburon0041 has Qd Qs 8d 8s 8h: full house, eights full of queens.

Hand #4444388-4 Summary:
No rake is taken for this hand.
Tiburon0041 wins 1300 with full house, eights full of queens.

Analysis: The guy called an EP raise to 3BB with 55. Then raised a pot-sized bet to all-in (for only T275 more) with top and bottom pair. What the hell did he think I'd raise in EP with? Duckies?? Was he trying to represent 88 or 77? I had no hesitation in the call. He raised, and I was on the call button faster than an incontinent chili-eater in the ER.

Small pairs are bad, mmmmkay?

Micro Limit Ring Games at UB are mighty juicy...

I had a guy try to bluff me with K8s after hitting nothing on the flop... I get dealt AKo on the button and raise (0.05/0.10 NL) to $0.75...I get 2 callers--figure at least ONE likes his hand:

Flop (board: 3s Ts Qc):
chitwood5 checks. strata4 bets $2.60. Tiburon0041
goes all-in for $3.90. chitwood5 folds. strata4
calls.

Ok--the operative question is: Why did strata4 bet $2.60 (the pot)--easy--he didn't expect or want a call. He not only got a call, but a raise. I understand what he's trying to do, but if I raised pre-flop THAT much, I'm either overbetting the pot or have a monster hand. When I go over the top, I'm giving him a last chance to get out. It's not like I even had a made hand, but...


Turn: 5h; River: Qd. I win $9.90 with pair of Queens.

Oh, and another thing about UB...

People slow play big pairs--a lot. They're also the ones who bitch and moan about being sucked out on. Guy slow played his Aces (checking from the BB), and I flopped an open-ended straight draw. Aggression? None till the river when he raised me all-in and I laid it down. I mean, I had an 8-outer. If one of those cards hits, he's running home crying to his mommy. Basically, he sucks. Now, I'm all about slow playing. There's a place. But if you get beat (sucked out on) by slowplaying, just take your lumps and go away. Nobody at the table is there to hear you bitch and moan.

Why can't I take my own advice?

donstaun is at seat 4 with 5135.
Tiburon0041 is at seat 6 with 1080.
dicegod is at seat 8 with 970.
tmelody is at seat 9 with 2815.
The button is at seat 9.

donstaun posts the small blind of 50.
Tiburon0041 posts the big blind of 100.

donstaun: -- --
Tiburon0041: Jc As
dicegod: -- --
tmelody: -- --

Pre-flop:

dicegod goes all-in for 970. tmelody folds.
donstaun folds. Tiburon0041 calls.

Tournament all-in showdown -- players show:

Tiburon0041 shows Jc As.
dicegod shows 4s 4c.

Flop (board: Tc 6c Ts):
(no action in this round)

Turn (board: Tc 6c Ts 7d):
(no action in this round)

River (board: Tc 6c Ts 7d 3c):
(no action in this round)

Showdown:
Tiburon0041 has Jc As Tc Ts 7d: a pair of tens.
dicegod has 4s 4c Tc Ts 7d: two pair, tens and fours.

Hand #4444388-89 Summary:
No rake is taken for this hand.
dicegod wins 1990 with two pair, tens and fours.

Like I said--that psycho bitch...All I ended up with was a rash and an empty wallet. You figure I'd learn...

Tip for the Day

I don't remember where I read this, so if someone sees it, and recognizes it (or can correct my foggy-from-tilt memory), comment, and I'll be overjoyed to give credit where it's due:

AJ is a tricky hand. Playing AJs is usually good, AJo is usually bad.

To summarize--AJs is like your wife, the woman you love--the woman you want to have children with and spend your life with. AJo is like the incredibly hot psycho-bitch you meet at the bar. You have a great night with her once in a while, but the only thing you usually get out of the deal is a nasty rash and an empty wallet.

To all the ladies--may your Valentine's wishes come true.

To Mrs. PokerShark--your wish is my command.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Can You Say Suckout?

This guy was complaining about losing $35 and being sucked out on all day--then, he drops THIS gem:

***Hand History start***

butch14 is at seat 0 with $2.30.
Tiburon0041 is at seat 1 with $7.25.
chitwood5 is at seat 2 with $7.25.
Chigger is at seat 3 with $6.90 (sitting out).
ACES421 is at seat 4 with $7.40.
RoastDuckyPoo is at seat 5 with $8.85.
eighty2nd is at seat 6 with $22.60.
big voodoo is at seat 7 with $2.52.
StebetS is at seat 8 with $2.65.
ArchieHenders is at seat 9 with $6.03.
The button is at seat 0.

Tiburon0041 posts the small blind of $.05.
chitwood5 posts the big blind of $.10.

butch14: -- --
Tiburon0041: Ad Jh
chitwood5: -- --
ACES421: -- --
RoastDuckyPoo: -- --
eighty2nd: -- --
big voodoo: -- --
StebetS: -- --
ArchieHenders: -- --

Pre-flop:
ACES421 folds. RoastDuckyPoo folds. eighty2nd
calls. big voodoo calls. StebetS calls.
ArchieHenders folds. butch14 folds. Tiburon0041
raises to $.40. chitwood5 folds. eighty2nd calls.
big voodoo calls. StebetS calls.

Flop (board: Js 3h 2s):
Tiburon0041 bets $1.70. eighty2nd folds. big voodoo
calls. StebetS folds.

Turn (board: Js 3h 2s Ac):
Tiburon0041 bets $.40. big voodoo goes all-in for
$.42. Tiburon0041 calls.

River (board: Js 3h 2s Ac Kh):
(no action in this round)

Showdown:
big voodoo shows 5c 4s.
big voodoo has 5c 4s 3h 2s Ac: straight, five high.
Tiburon0041 mucks cards.
(Tiburon0041 has Ad Jh.)

Hand #4372110-5552 Summary:
$.25 is raked from a pot of $5.94.
big voodoo wins $5.69 with straight, five high.

***Hand History end***

I (heart) people that go on tilt and win.

A Revelation

Today, I discovered another key to playing this damn game that we all are addicted to/obsess over play. I was on UB playing a low limit table. The table had a big stacked player to my left. This guy was playing TRASH. Hands like 84o, J2s, and he'd even have the balls to hit them. I was down to about $3.50 from my $5.00 buy-in, while this guy bought in with the max $10 and had almost $30 in front of him. I played mostly card-dead, folding frequently and watching him play. He was playing and raising with junk, and because he would hit so much, people would fold to him.

I look down and I start to see good hands. I saw AJo (and I know what players say about AJ--but I had to. I limp in (and am allowed). The flop drops down J-blank-blank. For some reason, I check. Wild man leads with a pot-sized bet. I call. Turn is an A. Another pot-sized bet. I raise it. He folds. I think here...

Maybe I'm on to something.

So we continue to play on, I continue to play premium hands with limps out of position. Wild man raises, I re-raise, and he goes away.

By checking to him, I created my own position. I may be totally off base here, or thinking that I did something cool when all I did was slow play hands and get lucky, but I took my out-of-position self, and put myself into LP by checking with the best hand. Smooth call, smooth call, then re-raise. Rinse. Repeat.

Next thing I know, I'm sitting with the $20+ big stack, and he's grumbling about losing money. I take him for another pot and he leaves.

Shark 1--Maniac 0.

And I did all this from work. I was working today, and between patients (I'm a pharmacist) and prescriptions, I was playing me some poker.

I know. I'm a baaaaaaaad boy.

So Who Said I Was Smart?

After having the tilt of a lifetime yesterday, I decided to shut it down for the day. Walk away...Clear my thoughts...So what do I do? Back to the SnGs this morning. After 2 non-cashes on some ridiculous beats, I decided I wanted my money back now. I went up a level to the $10+$1 SnG.

Now I KNOW that was a horrible idea. I realized that shortly after I registered and the table popped up. I glanced at my cashier page, and what do I see? That I only have $18.55 of my original $50 deposit of TWO days ago left.

So I do the only thing I can.

I win the damn thing. With dominance. I was playing rock solid until we got 4 handed (the bubble), and I realized quickly that I was among passive players. So I did what Action Dan said to do--I switched and became Mr. Aggressive. I would limp and bet the pot on the flop with hands like 86o that caught nothing. I took it down right there.

I went from seeing about 19% of flops to seeing closer to 50%, and my chip stack was increasing incredibly fast. All I had showed down to that point were my hands like QQ, AKs, and things like that. Then I started to bluff people--and win. Then I would show my occasional bluff. You would not believe the psychological effect of winning a 500 chip pot, then showing 86o with a board of K-J-J.

Invariably, players would tilt a little and they'd call my bluffs. Then I'd show them KK or AK, or something like that...

I played mean today. In Boston, they'd call it wicked hardcore.

Back to the green...

I Jumped Back In

Well, after the Super Bowl, I decided today, since I was off and had no parade to attend :-( that I would play in the big person's pool again. 3 $5+0.50 NL SnG's and some ring games. Boy, what a mistake.

It's not me. It can't be me. First SnG, I take 3rd. Little profit, but profit is better than loss... Second, I take 8th on one of the all-time suckouts. I'm in LP, blinds 15/30, I raise to 150 with those damn Hilton sisters. I get 2 callers. Flop comes Q-K-2. Set. I go all-in and get 1 caller. This moron called me with K2o. Turn was a blank, river a 2. Bye bye me.

3rd SnG, BB, blinds 10/20 (yes, first level), checked around to me with 84o. I raise (sheepishly) to 3BB. I get two callers. Flop: 4-8-4. Perfect. All-in I go. I get called by 94o. Turn card? Uh-huh, a 4. Bye bye me.

Ring Game you ask? Don't. I play 2 of 24 hands at the 0.05/0.10 NL table. I get dealt QQ in LP, raise to 0.60, get a caller, flop my set. Flop was Q-A-2. Raise to $1, turn card comes a 2--I go all-in for my remaining $8 and change. One player folds, caller has $1.50 left, goes all-in. Shows A4o? River? Ace.

I shut it down because tilt might not be the best word to use. I lost $10.45 COUNTING the initial small SnG win in a matter of 30 minutes. Sucks when it's 20% of yuor bankroll.

It sucks worse when it's blatantly obvious that I am a better player than most of these idiots.

This is why I hate online poker and some of the jackasses that play it.

Super Bowl Sunday

WARNING: Totally non-poker post coming up...Read at your peril.

Today is, put quite simply, a day that may change an entire city forever. As you may surmise from my writings (or maybe I just told you...), I live about 1/2 an hour from Philadelphia, the home of the NFC Champion Eagles.

Growing up an Eagles fan, or just a Philadelphia sports fan, has, to put it bluntly, been a real bitch. The City of Losers. The Fans That Booed Santa Claus. And recently, even worse, The Land of The Choke. A major Philly sports team hasn't won a championship since 1983. The Phillies have won one World Series in 121 years, and our beloved Eagles haven't won a championship since 1960--6 years before the Super Bowl even existed.

I've been an Eagles fan as long as I can remember, watching in the late 70's from my grandfather's lap, or with my dad. I remember Super Bowl XV in January 1981, and the disappointment that losing brought. I remember the young Dick Vermeil, bringing a franchise from the depths of hell to the brink of a championship, exhausting himself clear into retirement in the process. I remember the lean, post-Vermeil years of the early- and mid-1980s, when you could get walk-up seats at the old Vet. My dad and I walked up. I remember the hope that Randall Cunningham brought to Philadelphia. I remember Buddy Ryan, the Body Bag Game, the Fog Bowl, and the Bounty Bowl. I remember Gang Green, one of the best defenses to ever play the game. I remember losing then, too. I remember losing Reggie White and other cornerstone players because our owner didn't agree with free agency. I remember the idiocy that followed, Richie "the K," Ray Rhodes, "For who, for what...?" I remember it all. I was there for it all. I remember those Dirty Thirty idiots when they booed Donovan McNabb's selection at the draft, all because THEY wanted Ricky (the Pothead) Williams. Even the mayor of the city (now the governor of the state) did everything he could to bully our new rookie head coach into passing on Donovan. Even when Donovan and the team struggled at first, I was there for it all.

Since then--since the year 2000--the Eagles franchise has been the most successful in professional sports. They have advanced in the playoffs every season, taking their journey a step further each time. They have been a model for what winning is all about. But every season, despite how damn great it is to be an Eagles fan, they have managed to lose their last game--every season. They lost to the Giants in 2000 in the divisional playoffs, and the fans were actually happy. They felt they were there on a freeroll anyway. From 5-11 to 11-5 and a playoff berth? It has a way of winning a team respect around these parts. In 2001, they made it to the NFC Championship Game, losing to the Greatest Show on Turf, and even then, they were only 54 yards from getting to the Super Bowl. Again, mostly a freeroll. In 2002, the Eagles juggernaut really kicked in--home field advantage, and another NFCCG--at home. They lost to the Bucs, and the area was stunned. This was ours. This was the year. In 2003, another 12-4 record, home field advantage, but something was different--we had a new home, Lincoln Financial Field. Same result--a stunning loss to a team we "shoulda beat." It was in 2003 that I bought into the Eagles Season Tickets now shared by myself, my friend Joey, and my future-brother-in-law Steve. I was at that Panthers loss--in 33 degree weather, in a rainstorm, at 8 AM--for a 6 PM game. With a 102 fever.

This year has been magic. From the arrival of Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse, to the return of Jeremiah Trotter and Hugh Douglas, to the emergence of Brian Westbrook, to TO's heart (and leg-) breaking injury, to this team playing with balls and making this city proud. I've had a front-row ticket to all of it. Two weeks ago, I got to celebrate my team's biggest win in 24 years. My Eagles brought home the elusive NFC Championship. Yes, I was there. I got to see it firsthand. The feeling was incredible.

Today, in about 9 hours, the Eagles take the field for what could ulitmately become the biggest win in the history of this franchise.

In 9 hours, MY Eagles can shed the loser label forever and come home as Champions.

I'm not sure people understand this football-crazed town, and what this could mean to the city and fans of Philadelphia. This town loves football. It loves the Eagles. Win or lose, they will be back next season, and we, the fans, are DAMN proud.

But, here's the point. The thought of this team winning a championship for this city, these fans...It has me shaking as I type this. The thought of watching confetti come down as Donovan, Andy Reid, and Jeffrey Lurie are presented the Lombardi Trophy--it's overwhelming. Two weeks ago, I stood in section 204 of Lincoln Financial Field, cheering my lungs out, and when Chad Lewis caught the touchdown pass that sealed it (breaking his foot in the process), I looked at the clock, and with 67,000 of my closest friends, broke down crying in the stands. 300-plus pound men, standing next to me, hugging complete strangers, crying their eyes out because "...goddammit--we did it!"

To some, today is just another day, a day to watch annoying ads, a day to see an overhyped football game, a day to have or go to a party, get drunk, and see which commercials are the best this year. In this area, in my home town, however, it's so much more. This day could be a dream come true.

This day could be the culmination of the dreams of millions of people. And you know what? I'll be there for it all, like I have been all along.

I Am A Bad Mother Trucker (or am I?)

Well, readers (all three of you--thanks, mom), I've broken through the 1 million mark in bad-ass PokerStars Fake Chips. Hey--maybe if I invest right, I can buy that Fake Yacht Mrs. PokerShark and I always wanted. In fact, tonight, after work, I'm going to celebrate my hard work by going to the Fake Lexus Dealership and buying myself a Fake Lexus RX330. I truly am a bad ass, my rich self. I can see it now--the sky's the limit for me:

The PokerShark's Apprentice--You're Fake fired.

Hey, if I leave Mrs. PokerShark (and I have Fake money now, so why not?), I can be on the Fake Bachelor--Would you accept this Fake rose?

Ok, you all can turn OFF your sarcasm filters now. I guess it may be time for me to return to the world of real money. A couple weeks to re-hone my game at the Fake Chip tables (which truthfully isn't much different than the 0.05/0.10 or even the 0.10/0.25 NL at Stars) and perhaps it's now time. I've made my trusty NeTeller deposit--NOT InstaCash--and I think I will jump back into the pool.

That, and, truth be told, I watched some of the WPBT tourney last night, and I was itching--I couldn't believe all the horrible poker I witnessed (just kidding). No, it seemed like you all had a blast last night, and one hell of a turnout. 151? That's awesome. Great job Iggy, Felicia, and everybody who organized the extremely cool event.

Updates of course will follow, and here's to me jumping back in--AFTER the Super Bowl!

Fly Eagles Fly!

Karma (and its way of biting you in the ass)

I'm still in the kiddie pool, folks, but the itch is there to get back and dive in. Meanwhile, if you are regular readers, you'll remember that I won a PM SnG against a clown that had me outchipped heads up by 36K to 2K. Well, I make the final table of another one tonight, and who gets moved to my table, but our hero. Mr. 18-to-1 advantage. He obviously has a lot to say about it, calling me a river rat, etc (ME? A river rat? Less true words have never been spoken...).

So what happened? Playing like the idiotic maniac that he is, he pulls an all-timer and tries to bully the table with a relatively large stack (T7500 vs average of about T3375), and he goes all-in. Unfortunately for him, I had position on him, as well as pocket kings. He turned over his QTo, and was demolished when the flop came K-K-rag. Two hands later, he tries to bully the table after I raise (with 100/200 blinds) to T600 by going all in for his T3200. This time, waiting for him were the great black rockets. His jacks were NOT good, and he went home sad, and yes, still calling me a river rat.

I went on to take 3rd--classic funny stuff.

I can hear Dean Martin, "Ain't that a kick in the head...?"