Poker In Sports Illustrated ... On Campus

I thought I would post up this article I read in the latest digital version of SI On Campus.

The Final: Hands Across America

During a three-month jag through Poker Nation, the author went all in, bluffing TAs and getting schooled by future MBAs

By John Walters

Seductive eyes. Charming smile. Eric has been coveting my stack of chips from the moment he met me. And he is good. Real good.

"I was playing in a game against my accounting professor," the Indiana sophomore tells me, "and I raised $10 without even looking at my hole cards. The flop comes 6-7-9 rainbow. I go outside for a few minutes. Then I check, and he checks. A 9 on the turn. Now I look. I'm holding 6-6. I got the boat [6s full of 9s]. So I go all in and win $150. I mean, it was blind luck."

Eric took his professor to school. And now he was looking to do the same to me. Eric is the devil -- don't think I didn't notice that he beat his prof with a 6-6-6.

Three months ago I didn't know a big blind from a duck blind. The first time I sat in on a game, on Super Bowl Sunday at the University of Florida, I was relieved of my entire $20 buy-in after only two hands. Gainesville? Lossesville.

Greater moments of ignominy awaited on my Heart (Club, Diamond and Spade) of Darkness odyssey. When an Internet poker honcho's offer to put me in touch with Doyle Brunson was met with apathy on my end, he asked, "Do you know who Doyle Brunson is?"

"Uh, no," I replied.

"He's the Babe Ruth of poker."

Wait a beat.

"Who's Babe Ruth?" That, I have since learned, is called reraising with rags.

"The thing that separates good players from marginal players," Flounder, a Duke senior, told me a month later, "is knowing when to fold."

To think it cost me $100 in Durham that evening to learn that lesson, whereas I would only have had to spend $10.97 (plus shipping and handling) to purchase Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits. Remember when eight guys would sit around a table and smoke pot as opposed to splitting one?

But by now, sitting next to Eric in Bloomington, I too have become a poker face. I marvel at how addictive hold 'em is, remember what an undergrad at Central Florida told me: "My roommate is begging me to quit playing poker. Can't stand what it's doing to me -- and she's a stripper!"

I'm in. Eric's in. Everyone else, after the two of us raised preflop, has folded. The flop comes a 3-5-8 rainbow and I raise. Eric reraises me. I have yet to read Super/System or Super/System II, Doyle Brunson's epochal how-to tomes on the game (whereas Eric, when I asked, "Have you read Super/System?" replied, "Which one?"), but I'm putting Eric on a high pair. The rainbow (three different suits) means he is not drawing to a flush, and his preflop raise indicates ... well, what do I know? I've lost $140 researching this story.

Still, this is my moment. "I'm all in," I say, pushing my last $60 of chips to the center of the table.

Eric grins. Studies me. Ten minutes ago I won a big pot holding nothing better than K-2 offsuited. Is the dude from SI bluffing again? Eric wonders.

"All in," he announces, turning over his hole cards. His friends "ooh" and "ah." My head drops as swiftly as the trap door on a hangman's gallows.

"Got a pair of kings," Eric announces. His eyes radiate. The glow from his smile can be seen in Terre Haute. The $160 pot is --

"But you don't," I answer as I turn over my cards, "have a pair of aces."

Issue date: April 28, 2005

I'll prolly be back later tonight.

UPDATE: OK, this article is not the full story. If you can get the digital version, there is a six-page spread. Unfortunately ... I cannot figure out how to copy and paste the text from the digital magazine for your enjoyment.

Gambling ... It's Hard Work

"It's hard work. Gambling. Playing poker. Don't let anyone tell you different. Think about what's it's like sitting at a poker table with people whose only goal is to cut your throat, take your money, and leave you out back talking to yourself about what went wrong inside. That probably sounds harsh. But that's the way it is at a poker table. If you don't believe me, then you're the lamb that's going off to slaughter." -- Stu Unger

Congrats to Bob who had an amazing run last night on the WSOP Blogger table. Good luck on June 3 against 2,000 or so people. With all the railbirds you'll have ... I'm sure you'll represent well. I will be cheering you on from sunny Cincinnati. Last night was one of those things. If I had won ... which lets face it, would have never happened, I would have had to figure out how I could have shown up. I'm afraid I may have been that blogger who couldn't show up. Glad that didn't have to happen.

So, after I was ousted last night, I began to think about my NL game, or for better words, lack thereof. I understand now that I am strictly a low-limit grinder. Nothing more, nothing less. I do not have what it takes to become a good NL player. I went through my hand history last night and while I didn't have a ton of great hands, I truly have no feel how to play NL. Steal opportunities? Yeah, I've read all the books. I've taken all the notes. I'm simply not aggressive enough. I did execute a few times last night, but overall, I lack the cajones to make the big play that could pay off. So bloggers ... be happy it is not I representing anyone at the WSOP.

So, I will bid adieu to the rest of the blogger tournaments until I can really work and solidify my game. I will still play NL SNGs because you really don't need any skills to play those. I think a trained monkey could finish in the money 60% of the time. Sorry for the news, but there really isn't any reason for me to play ... unless you guys just like getting my money. In reality, I can't understand why I am not aggressive at NL poker since I'm aggressive in every other thing I do. Makes no sense. I love gambling. I just can't put it all together when I need to.

Anyways ... go read a great writeup from last night at Pauly's place.

Also, huge thanks and big ups to Iggy and Otis for setting up the tournament.

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The Cincinnati Enquirer ran a huge seven-day spread about bringing gambling to the city. For the love of god ... Mark Twain was right. Cincinnati is always 20 years behind. For a city in the financial troubles that it is in, gambling would certainly help bring us back in the black.

Go check the articles out here. I would love for the boats to come. I want so very bad to have some gambling boats only minutes away from my house. I love the craps tables and blackjack tables. Please come closer.

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Going back to my grinder-style of play. That is typically why I do not talk about my play much here on the site. There aren't any bells and whistles to my play. I'm a very ABC-type player. I wait for the premium hands and I capitalize. Lately, even those hands haven't been holding up too well. I could sit here and analyze my play and report on it, but again, there isn't anything earth shattering. There are far better writers and players to go read to gain insight. I have my theories and ways of playing, but I'm not the most articulate writer out there to help give anyone my insight.

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Really looking forward to getting Dan Harrington's book. Yeah. I know what you're thinking. Why? You said you aren't a NL player. True, but Harrington is one of my favorite players to watch. So methodical. Great player and I don't think anyone else could have done what he did in '03 and '04 making back-to-back final tables. I've read other bloggers views on the book and eventually when I do buy and read it, I'll give my review. Don't expect it any time soon.

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I would go and refill, but I think I need to go to bed. I've been able to catch up on some old episodes of Lost. I think it is the 2nd best show on television right now. It's right up there with 24. I used to watch a lot of tv, but I truly don't have the time for too much of it any longer. I still get my shows, but now I have to wait weeks before I actually know what happens. That is the wonderful thing about TiVo. I truly have no idea how this show will end. I guess it is coming back for a second season, but I don't see how. Yes it has been a huge ratings success and everyone has loved the show, but don't turn this into Gilligan's Island.

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I have some thoughts on the NFL Draft, but they may need to wait until another day. I don't think I can keep pounding this out tonight.

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Stu Unger's quote. I feel like that lamb being led to slaughter right now. I haven't been able to pick up tells or get into my "A" game. I will one day. I will continue to learn and read and improve my play. When that happens ... look out. I will be back in the blogger tournaments one day. Good luck until then. If you ever want to say anything while on the tables ... I'm not too hard to find. If you know my screenname on one site ... you should know it on all sites. E-mail me if you want it.

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Last Add: A little trivia for you ...

What 7-letter word becomes longer when the third letter is removed?

Few things to touch on ...

I've been hitting the $1/2 6-max tables a lot the past couple days. I guesss the strong run I had in the beginning had to be offset by some of the incredible river beats I've taken the past couple nights.

I'm not going to get too concerned over it. I had the best hands everytime until that river card landed and I couldn't too much more to push people off their draws. I kept firing at them and they kept calling and hitting their draws.

Glad to see Alex Smith go #1 in the NFL Draft. I wasn't a big fan of Aaron Rogers because he's a Tedford-guy. I don't think Tedford guys really turn into much of anything in the league. I wouldn't base my future on a Tedford quarterback. Hell, eight picks in and he hasn't been selected yet.

Looking forward to the Bengals and the 17th pick. Hope they get Erasmus James. They need a big run stopper. Hope he's the guy.

Any ideas where the 'freak' of the draft will go? Matt Jones from Arkansas. I say early 2nd round. Some team will take a chance on him. I think he'll be a big time player down the road ... similar to Hines Ward.

What else?

Go give UWannaBet some good vibes. He's been on a bit of downslide. Playing well, but nothing going his way at the moment. Didn't realize he was a another local blogger. We'll have to take on the boats in the near future. Iggy ... you in for that?

Go support the Poker Geek and his shirts! They look sweet.

Celebrating my birthday tonight, even though it's tomorrow, by going to the Cincinnati Marshals indoor football game. Not sure what it's like. The Diamond Deputies should be nice! (Wanted to link to them, but site seems to be down ... hope the team is still here???)By the way ... what's up with the weather. It isn't supposed to snow at the end of April. This is bullshit!

Going back to the draft. Can't wait to see how the Redskins screw up their pick. Really, is anyone dumber than Dan Snyder? Personally, I think you have to take Carlos Rogers or Mike Williams.

Comment Spam

Looks like I am now victim to Comment Spam. Since I truly have no idea what software to use or upload, and I'm not sure you can do anything with blogspot, I will leave this into the hands of capable InterWeb people out there.

Please let me know what I need to do to stop this. Is there anything I can do to stop this?

Seriously ... why are there people out there that have nothing better to do than create spam?

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Playing a small SNG on PokerStars right now. It's obvious that the players are better on this site. I'm still playing similar to my style on Party Poker, but doesn't seem to be doing much for me right now.

10:22 p.m. -- Still grinding this out. Haven't seen many flops. 8 out of 50 as of right now.

10:26 p.m. -- Busted out in 5th. Finally caught two face cards. Being blinded to death. Moved all in. My KQc vs AQo. Nothing materialized on the board. He wins with Ace high.

Just really trying to get a good feel for the game structure before Sunday.

Wynn's Casino, PokerStars, and the Pope

Set to open on April 28th ... I can't wait to check it out when I'm there in May. I'm sure, if this is anything like any other Wynn property, it will be spectacular.

Wynn offers inside look at new resort

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Finally able to sign up last night for the WPBT WSOP NLHE event on PokerStars. Again, big thanks to Iggy for setting this up. I certainly doubt I have any shot to win, but I'm more than happy to contribute $30 to the cause. But, it is my birthday and all, so maybe good karma will result in something.

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As a somewhat practicing Catholic, I was a little disappointed with the election yesterday. While I'm sure Ratzinger is a great man, I was hoping for someone a little more forward thinking and revolutionary. My personal selection was Cardinal Francis Arinze from Nigeria. I have seen an article that states Catholics aren't ready for Black Pope, but I was hoping to symbolize another change in the works. Maybe a little more on this at a later time.