Dec
14
by Katrina Lim
Celebrated family birthdays all weekend. Started with Mama’s on Friday, G-Dog’s on Saturday, and Jensen’s today! Eating out all weekend makes tummies expand…I am Balloon Girl now. Although we had a nice birthday dinner last night for Jensen at Romeo Cucina in Laguna Beach, today there is a party for him at his school and another family dinner tonight to celebrate all 3 birthdays…again. Mama insists on having her Peking duck tonight and at $12 per quack, the deal is irresistible.
I’m supposed to head to Vega$ tomorrow morning but I just found out Anna is sick and I sure don’t wanna get the flu! Right before Christmas too! Ugh…so, I may just wait it out til New Year’s now. Today the Bellagio 5 Diamond Main Event starts and good luck to all my pals playing!!! Win something. Also, at her insistence, hafta give a shout out to my pal, Marilou Morelli, fer killing Aces full of Kings at HG to win the jackpot! Her quad Kings earned her an extra $20k…a nice surprise. But wow, the full house loser won an extra $60k+ just fer losing. Must be nice. Hmm, and I am still trying to win just $7.00 and that’s hard enough. Adding her $20k jackpot surprise to her $78k 3rd place WSOP Ladies finish this year, Marilou told me she’s made more than $100k in 2009 with her poker hobby. Hmm, sure beats needlepoint bwahahaha!!
Marilou offered to take me to dinner since she has lotsa extra disposable ca$h now cuz she didn’t expect her hobby to be so profitable in the last 6 months. I told her just for saying that, I predict Marilou will go on a really hot streak in 2010 and will start ca$hing a lot more than $100k…just so she can treat me to more meals next year. I win too! Marilou is a great player and 2010 will be her breakthrough year! $100k is just a tiny taste of how much she’s gonna win next year. I told her to get ready and be prepared for the upcoming publicity that comes with winning a lot. I’m sure she will handle it all very well. Most importantly, I’m gonna make sure fer each time she ca$hes, she’s gotta take me to lunch lol. Hmm, sounds good. Thanks, pal!
As fer me, I played in a fun home game satellite Saturday night for the LA Poker Classic. Seven players and I only knew 2 of them. Ended up winning it (Good job, me!) and now I have an entry to one of the $1065 buy-in events in February. Thanks to John and Margie for graciously hosting us. Looking forward to winning lotsa ca$h in February for me and my new team.
Bahamas is still a distant dream. Still playing qualifiers and still getting bad beat after bad beat. Amazing. Making good decisions pre-flop but hands just won’t hold. Still have a coupla weeks left to try. For some, it is more exciting to win a seat before the week of the tourney. For me, I always like to know what I’m doing months in advance so this sucks. Boo.
For those of you also reading Phil’s blog, he is absolutely right. Playing video games absolutely relates and can impact one’s poker game. I’ve been killing zombies so much that I notice my game is more aggressive. I find myself coming over-the-top more often now…especially with my favorite hand, Kobe (2-4)! Bwahahaha!!
I am considered to be a very tight player, so maybe this is good cuz I’m really mixing it up more often now. Yeah, it’s good killing zombies. Yeah, it feels good winning with 2-4. So, I’m gonna keep playing more M rated games cuz although these games can be so twistedly violent and skewed, they undoubtedly give a great adrenaline rush. The rush being a nonstop race to survive your surroundings…just like tournament poker. Wonderful! Bwahahahaha!! Anyway, gonna meet up with my sister soon to help her with Jensen’s birthday party at school. His entire class gets kool birthday cupcakes from Mrs. Beasley’s. Sis ordered gourmet Mocha, Chocolate, and Red Velvet. What happened to the days when yur only choice was Vanilla or nothing? Kids today…so spoiled. I remember when I was in 3rd grade and I wanted a Cabbage Patch Kid so bad fer Christmas and mama could only afford a knockoff Kid…a Lettuce Kid?! Bwahahaha!! But I loved my Lettuce Kid all the same. This Christmas, I really think Jensen will not only get his much anticipated 360, but also a PS3…and he’s only 10 today. Last night alone for his birthday, G-Dog gave him 5 video games! One being Left 4 Dead 2 (he doesn’t even have a 360…yet.) and G-Dog knows he doesn’t have his 360, yet. I guess we are all proud of the kid fer getting straight As this semester. But then again, yur Asian, lil guy! Yur expec ted to get straight As!!! Bwahahaha!! Damn nerd! But he’s a good kid…good ole Boogs!
So Happy Monday y’all! Be good to yurself and each other. Win big and share the wealth this holiday season. It will come back to you 100 fold!
Dec
14
by Chad Holloway
As some of you may know, I write Fantasy Poker articles for Poker Pro Magazine and the European publication, Online Poke Pro. This has been a great experience and has allowed me to contribute to one of poker’s highest quality magazines. Another benefit from this experience is that my editor and fellow University of Wisconsin Alum, Johnny “Quads” Wenzel, informs me of some great opportunities in the poker world. Most recent he told me of an upcoming online tournament they are holding for a great cause, to honor the armed services. Not only that, the winner of the freeroll tournament will win a seat to the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event plus $2,000 for expenses. I’m looking forward to that and to learn more you can always pick-up a copy of Poker Pro Magazine (plus you’ll get to read some of my articles on Fantasy Poker).
In other poker news, I’ve decided to grind it out at some low stakes Sit & Gos here on UnaBomber. I’m usually playing some sort of ring games, but after scrolling through the lobby, I noticed UnaBomber offers some pretty decent Sit & Go options. My plan is to just grind those out for awhile and see how I do. I’m actually having a good time playing the “Double or nothing” tournaments. I’ve decided to avoid Pot Limit Omaha unless it’s the micro stakes, because it seems no matter what I do, I can’t beat that game.
My other poker plans include a trip to New Orleans in February. I’m going to visit some old friends and live it up at Mardi Gras, but I’m looking forward to putting a session or two in at the poker room in Harrah’s. I used to play there almost every day when I lived in NOLA, and I loved it. It’s a great room and it’s right off Bourbon Street. The 2009 WSOP Winter Bayou Poker Challenge is going on right now and I hate to miss it. Just the same, I can sit home all day playing online poker and avoid the 5 degree weather here in Wisconsin.
I’ll also be glued to the internet checking updates on the WPT Doyle Brunson Classic. I know the Unabomber himself will be playing, so I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed. Speaking of Mr. Laak, he seems to be addicted to Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2. I can’t say that I blame him. I’m not the video gamer I used to be (thanks to internet poker) but even I can’t put down C.O.D.2. It is by far the best first-person shooter I have ever played and it is so much fun. You might see me on X-Box live playing under “Hollowayism.” If I’m not there check UnaBomber and I’ll probably be playing under the screenname “LuckBox07.”
Dec
14
by Phil
This last week was sick..
Get to Vegas a day late.... which is lucky for me.
The Hot Water heater in the garage blew and was dropping 850 gallons a day into the garage... Had I left to Vegas on time this would have been a 6 day mess. The house would have been vacant for all 6 days... or the equicalent of having 5100 gallons of water spread thru the entire house. There was very minor water damage in the garage from the little we did get, (caught it 12 hrs into spray frenzy) I can only imagine what it would be like had we not caught it. Phew.... Running good.
Anyway, I finally get here and and it has been PLO all week long.
I run it twice a few times, break even on all of em. But I couldn't manage to stay level. First I slipped 5k then 15k more, then I reload for 20k more... Total now is that I am in 40k (in a 25 50 100 plo game at the Bellagio) - When, in one big hand, I decide to run it one time for a huge pot and win it. Wow. I went on to close the game up 13k which was amazing considering that at one point I was stuck 20 and had another 20 in a pot as only a slight favorite.
Then a few days later I am (once again) stuck (only 13k this time) when I flot top set on a Kc 8c 4d flop holding top set and no draws. We ran it 4 times and the nut flush draw with the 5 6 7 inside wrap nvr booked a win. Wow. The pot had my whole 27k stack plus lots more and the fella I beat. I was all of a sudden sitting in front of 66k and I was just amazed. 4 out of 4. At 53.6% per intance this is an 8.3% longshot. And I did it. I won all 4.
Then, Sunday night I went in late night to get tickets for the next days 15k event. While there, I stopped by the poker room .... and wow. I got the last seat in a really fun game. It was half 100 200 plo and half 200 400 no limit holdem game. 20k buy in - And wow, I even was lucky enough to book a solid win.
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In other news Fatality gave me the low down on scavenger (this is a perk or upgrade that you can get on the first person shooter game called "call of duty 2".) So that was cool, first game back and I won it. Essentially it is all about resupplying claymores from fallen victims. Very cool, and very nerdy. You might think... "what is all this about call of duty??... whats that got to do with a poker blog...."
But I can honestly say that my recent run ins with this game is making me a better poker player. The strategic 'what is he thinking, and how can i get him sort of thinking' stuff for poker is helped by the video game. The game has you thinking all the time, and mostly about what patterns people are taking and getting the best out of developing situations. Anyway.. It is 8 am.. and the event starts in 4 hrs. Bed time for me, later.
Phil
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Dec
9
by Katrina Lim
Playing poker and Christmas catchup all while smacking zombies upside the head with a cricket bat.
I’ve been runnin’ around all week playing Santa and haven’t accomplished much. Also, this weekend is birthday madness. Mama’s on Friday, G-Dog’s on Saturday, Jensen’s on Monday, Anna’s on Tuesday. I better start thinkin’ of some ideas…ugh.
Been hangin’ out with BFF and I had my yummy chili rellano and pizza “crisp” Monday night at Esther’s. Also had a cadillac margarita and after only ¾ a glass, I was already feelin’ good. Such a lightweight I am! Jank!
Congrats to Pearljammer fer posting back to back final tables this weekend too. 5th in the Sunday Million on Stars!! WOW!! And then the Full Tilt Monday too?! WOW AGAIN!! Most impressive score? Getting out of jury duty!! Bwahahahaha Good job, Jon! See ya soon!
Also, congrats goes out to lil sis who won “another” Bahamas package!!! It’s so hard to win one, so fer you to win 2, lil sis, is although a great feat, I guess I really shouldn’t be surprised…hehe. Nice job too! As for me, still trying to win $7 and the only record I hold is my bad beat streak. Great. So I can’t wait for the year to end and start fresh again. I still have my new motto to live by… “Healthy & Wealthy”. I’m signing up for a 3 hour tennis class and will start spinning twice a week. The other days will be on the treadmill. After watching the Biggest Loser finale last week, surely I can lose 15 pounds?! Geez! BFF says to just “put my mind to it”. Ok, sounds easy enough.
So it looks like if I don’t qualify fer Bahamas, I’ll be going to Cabo, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta instead. I could live with that…bwahahaha I’ve never been on a cruise before, so I’m a bit nervous but also excited. The thought of being on a boat for 7 days is a bit daunting to me. But since they have an onboard casino (how convenient) I should survive. Plus, I hear the food is awesome! Ok, worth a try. Anyway, looks like the cruise is after Bahamas, so I can still go to both…just need my dumb ass hands to hold up. Please baby Jesus, help my dumb ass qualify for PCA.
Haven’t been playing much at all. Just PCA satellites and qualifiers. Can’t make anything happen. So depressing. Maybe Bahamas just isn’t meant to be. Oh well. All I can do is try. I’m still blasting away at zombies with G-Dog, Eugene, and E-Dog. We finished 3 campaigns last week: Hard Rain, Dark Carnival, and just this past Monday, The Parish. I love Left 4 Dead 2!!! Definitely my fave right now. My days are spent runnin’ around shoppin’ fer birthdays and Christmas while my evenings are spent on the couch with the puppies and the 360 with some poker in the middle. Life is good.