HOTD

In 6-max, if you're beat, you're beat...

PokerStars Game #12325678232: Hold'em No Limit ($0.50/$1.00) - 2007/09/28 - 19:42:16 (ET)
Table 'Nekkar IV' 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: kurokitty ($99.50 in chips)
Seat 2: beatoss ($113.30 in chips)
Seat 3: Kriskator ($94 in chips)
Seat 6: Jcbar72 ($78.70 in chips)
hideous_hide will be allowed to play after the button
Jcbar72: posts small blind $0.50
kurokitty: posts big blind $1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [Qd Kh]
beatoss: folds
Kriskator: folds
Jcbar72: calls $0.50
kurokitty: raises $3 to $4
Jcbar72: calls $3
*** FLOP *** [Kc 3h Jh]
Jcbar72: checks
kurokitty: bets $5.35
Jcbar72: calls $5.35
*** TURN *** [Kc 3h Jh] [4d]
Jcbar72: checks
kurokitty: bets $10
Jcbar72: calls $10
*** RIVER *** [Kc 3h Jh 4d] [Qh]
Jcbar72: bets $59.35 and is all-in
kurokitty: calls $59.35
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Jcbar72: shows [Th Qc] (a pair of Queens)
kurokitty: shows [Qd Kh] (two pair, Kings and Queens)
kurokitty collected $155.40 from pot
kurokitty said, "ty"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $157.40 | Rake $2
Board [Kc 3h Jh 4d Qh]
Seat 1: kurokitty (big blind) showed [Qd Kh] and won ($155.40) with two pair, Kings and Queens
Seat 2: beatoss folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Kriskator (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Jcbar72 (small blind) showed [Th Qc] and lost with a pair of Queens

From the AK

You can get got on the block/
Shot in the club parking lot, from the AK
I'm shooting til' my trigger get hot/
Pull my sleeve over my hand and then spray...
-Lil' Wayne

This toaster was looking for any chance to put all the chips in the middle preflop.

Ever heard of the AK?

PokerStars Game #12310457082: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/09/27 - 23:06:01 (ET)
Table 'Nekkar' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: abi4u ($38.30 in chips)
Seat 2: Pokertöffel ($19.35 in chips)
Seat 5: groucho1 ($63.65 in chips)
Seat 6: bellapoula ($28.80 in chips)
Seat 7: kurokitty ($49.25 in chips)
Seat 8: MuckMuck23 ($18.70 in chips)
Seat 9: rouzmir ($28.75 in chips)
Pokertöffel: posts small blind $0.25
McFiddish: is sitting out
Lizard47: is sitting out
groucho1: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [Ah Kd]
McFiddish leaves the table
bellapoula: raises $28.30 to $28.80 and is all-in
Lizard47 leaves the table
wezvidzz joins the table at seat #3
kurokitty: calls $28.80
MuckMuck23: folds
rouzmir: folds
abi4u: folds
Pokertöffel: folds
groucho1: folds
*** FLOP *** [8h Qh Kh]
*** TURN *** [8h Qh Kh] [6s]
*** RIVER *** [8h Qh Kh 6s] [7c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
bellapoula: shows [Ac 2s] (high card Ace)
kurokitty: shows [Ah Kd] (a pair of Kings)
kurokitty collected $55.45 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $58.35 | Rake $2.90
Board [8h Qh Kh 6s 7c]
Seat 1: abi4u (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Pokertöffel (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: groucho1 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: bellapoula showed [Ac 2s] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 7: kurokitty showed [Ah Kd] and won ($55.45) with a pair of Kings
Seat 8: MuckMuck23 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: rouzmir folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Punk Hand of the Day

I was pissed at mistakenly min raising pf instead of putting in a normal bet to the aggro dude.

PokerStars Game #12292954524: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/09/27 - 00:26:02 (ET)
Table 'Smuts II' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: ahmarana ($57.55 in chips)
Seat 2: Ambiient ($56.35 in chips)
Seat 3: ejkoslow ($44.60 in chips)
Seat 4: xcharge13 ($14.30 in chips)
Seat 5: 71717717771 ($19.25 in chips)
Seat 6: kurokitty ($48.25 in chips)
Ambiient: posts small blind $0.25
ejkoslow: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [6s 6c]
xcharge13: folds
71717717771: folds
kurokitty: raises $0.50 to $1
ahmarana: folds
Ambiient: raises $2 to $3
ejkoslow: folds
kurokitty: calls $2
*** FLOP *** [4d 3d 9s]
Ambiient: bets $5
kurokitty: raises $10 to $15
Ambiient: calls $10
*** TURN *** [4d 3d 9s] [6h]
Ambiient: checks
kurokitty: bets $30.25 and is all-in
Ambiient: calls $30.25
*** RIVER *** [4d 3d 9s 6h] [7h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Ambiient: shows [Kd Ks] (a pair of Kings)
kurokitty: shows [6s 6c] (three of a kind, Sixes)
kurokitty collected $94 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $97 | Rake $3
Board [4d 3d 9s 6h 7h]
Seat 1: ahmarana (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Ambiient (small blind) showed [Kd Ks] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 3: ejkoslow (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: xcharge13 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: 71717717771 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: kurokitty showed [6s 6c] and won ($94) with three of a kind, Sixes

HOTD (Donation of the day)

In 6-max, if you're beat, you're beat...

PokerStars Game #12290127695: Hold'em No Limit ($0.50/$1.00) - 2007/09/26 - 21:34:54 (ET)
Table 'Numidia' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: investor_s2m ($101 in chips)
Seat 2: RoBz4x4 ($122.30 in chips)
Seat 3: kurokitty ($99 in chips)
Seat 4: rockparty ($23.55 in chips)
Seat 5: bubbly82 ($38.55 in chips)
Seat 6: txcwby26 ($68.80 in chips)
kurokitty: posts small blind $0.50
rockparty: posts big blind $1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [8d Td]
bubbly82: calls $1
txcwby26: folds
investor_s2m: folds
RoBz4x4: calls $1
kurokitty: calls $0.50
rockparty: checks
*** FLOP *** [6s 7d 9d]
kurokitty: bets $3
rockparty: calls $3
bubbly82: calls $3
RoBz4x4: folds
*** TURN *** [6s 7d 9d] [4d]
kurokitty: bets $9
rockparty: raises $10.55 to $19.55 and is all-in
bubbly82: folds
rockparty said, "call"
kurokitty: calls $10.55
*** RIVER *** [6s 7d 9d 4d] [Qs]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
kurokitty: shows [8d Td] (a flush, Ten high)
rockparty: shows [5d Th] (high card Queen)
kurokitty collected $49.55 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $52.10 | Rake $2.55
Board [6s 7d 9d 4d Qs]
Seat 1: investor_s2m folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: RoBz4x4 (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: kurokitty (small blind) showed [8d Td] and won ($49.55) with a flush, Ten high
Seat 4: rockparty (big blind) showed [5d Th] and lost with high card Queen
Seat 5: bubbly82 folded on the Turn
Seat 6: txcwby26 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Double harbl action

Two tables, two sets of harbls born one second apart...

PokerStars Game #12281458312: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2007/09/26 - 13:34:17 (ET)
Table 'Oppavia V' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Pylyp Poker ($20.80 in chips)
Seat 2: DJelmer ($24.10 in chips)
Seat 3: mjhwouters ($6.40 in chips)
Seat 4: kurokitty ($25 in chips)
Seat 5: Ze-Enrico7 ($9.40 in chips)
Seat 6: AnousS ($17.65 in chips)
DJelmer: posts small blind $0.10
mjhwouters: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [8c 8h]
kurokitty: raises $0.75 to $1
Ze-Enrico7: calls $1
AnousS: folds
Pylyp Poker: calls $1
DJelmer: folds
mjhwouters: calls $0.75
*** FLOP *** [3h Qs 8d]
mjhwouters: bets $5.40 and is all-in
kurokitty: calls $5.40
Ze-Enrico7: raises $3 to $8.40 and is all-in
Pylyp Poker: folds
kurokitty: calls $3
*** TURN *** [3h Qs 8d] [As]
*** RIVER *** [3h Qs 8d As] [Kd]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
kurokitty: shows [8c 8h] (three of a kind, Eights)
Ze-Enrico7: mucks hand
kurokitty collected $5.70 from side pot
mjhwouters: mucks hand
kurokitty collected $19.30 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $26.30 Main pot $19.30. Side pot $5.70. | Rake $1.30
Board [3h Qs 8d As Kd]
Seat 1: Pylyp Poker (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: DJelmer (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: mjhwouters (big blind) mucked [Jh Qc]
Seat 4: kurokitty showed [8c 8h] and won ($25) with three of a kind, Eights
Seat 5: Ze-Enrico7 mucked [Ks Qh]
Seat 6: AnousS folded before Flop (didn't bet)

PokerStars Game #12281458660: Hold'em No Limit ($0.50/$1.00) - 2007/09/26 - 13:34:18 (ET)
Table 'Arequipa II' 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: kurokitty ($100 in chips)
Seat 2: spottyx ($33.45 in chips)
Seat 4: r.haan1 ($109 in chips)
Seat 5: jonas5895 ($27.45 in chips)
Seat 6: Sugeren ($122.80 in chips)
jonas5895: posts small blind $0.50
Sugeren: posts big blind $1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [8s 8d]
kurokitty: raises $3 to $4
spottyx: folds
r.haan1: calls $4
jonas5895: calls $3.50
Sugeren: folds
*** FLOP *** [2d 8c 6c]
jonas5895: checks
kurokitty: bets $10
r.haan1: folds
jonas5895: folds
kurokitty collected $12.35 from pot
kurokitty: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $13 | Rake $0.65
Board [2d 8c 6c]
Seat 1: kurokitty collected ($12.35)
Seat 2: spottyx folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: r.haan1 (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: jonas5895 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: Sugeren (big blind) folded before Flop

Oh no, I'm turning into Fuel

Actually with the limpers I could tell the flop likely didn't hit anyone...

PokerStars Game #12279429667: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/09/26 - 11:05:20 (ET)
Table 'Hidalgo' 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Ruul111 ($10.45 in chips)
Seat 2: arun_27 ($16.70 in chips)
Seat 3: sebi_xy ($19.80 in chips)
Seat 4: mase83 ($46.05 in chips)
Seat 5: mantasm ($51.80 in chips)
Seat 6: kurokitty ($49.25 in chips)
mantasm: posts small blind $0.25
kurokitty: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [7c 2s]
Ruul111: folds
arun_27: folds
sebi_xy: calls $0.50
mase83: calls $0.50
mantasm: folds
kurokitty: checks
*** FLOP *** [8c Ad 4d]
kurokitty: bets $1.45
sebi_xy: folds
mase83: folds
kurokitty collected $1.70 from pot
kurokitty: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $1.75 | Rake $0.05
Board [8c Ad 4d]
Seat 1: Ruul111 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: arun_27 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: sebi_xy folded on the Flop
Seat 4: mase83 (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: mantasm (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: kurokitty (big blind) collected ($1.70)

The action Arena

Overset city continued Tuesday night at Poker Cats' Arena, with a set-versus-set-versus set Omaha hand early in the mixed game.

Brigid had a set of 3s, Doug had Presto, and 23skidoo had a set of Ks to take down the hand. He continued to do well again on his second visit to the Arena. Cat was down $9.90 with the new Urban Dead shirt (0-1).

We tried out K Rose's disposable Jager bomb cups. They're interesting to say the least, but really hard to shoot without spilling.

Cat play of the day (thank you, Cardrunners)

PokerStars Game #12245085015: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/09/24 - 15:07:38 (ET)
Table 'Heze' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: 71717717771 ($30.95 in chips)
Seat 2: mijae ($50 in chips)
Seat 3: danny1204 ($37.70 in chips)
Seat 4: CyraXXX ($55.35 in chips)
Seat 5: kurokitty ($49.75 in chips)
Seat 6: lessharm ($76.10 in chips)
71717717771: posts small blind $0.25
mijae: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [8s 7s]
danny1204: calls $0.50
CyraXXX: calls $0.50
kurokitty: raises $1.75 to $2.25
lessharm: folds
71717717771: folds
mijae: folds
danny1204: calls $1.75
CyraXXX: calls $1.75
*** FLOP *** [8d Th 6d]
danny1204: checks
CyraXXX: bets $3.10
kurokitty: calls $3.10
danny1204: calls $3.10
*** TURN *** [8d Th 6d] [Kh]
danny1204: checks
CyraXXX: bets $8
kurokitty: raises $12 to $20
danny1204: folds
CyraXXX: calls $12
*** RIVER *** [8d Th 6d Kh] [As]
CyraXXX: checks
kurokitty: bets $24.40 and is all-in
CyraXXX: folds
kurokitty collected $54 from pot
kurokitty: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $56.80 | Rake $2.80
Board [8d Th 6d Kh As]
Seat 1: 71717717771 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: mijae (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: danny1204 folded on the Turn
Seat 4: CyraXXX folded on the River
Seat 5: kurokitty collected ($54)
Seat 6: lessharm (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

HOTD

PokerStars Game #12245127029: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2007/09/24 - 15:09:37 (ET)
Table 'Orthosie III' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: ralvinho ($26.30 in chips)
Seat 3: Socrates711 ($17.30 in chips)
Seat 4: paule 55 ($4.30 in chips)
Seat 5: ana21 ($13.95 in chips)
Seat 6: Hitdark ($23.65 in chips)
Seat 7: kurokitty ($25.85 in chips)
Seat 9: feweel ($10.95 in chips)
Socrates711: posts small blind $0.10
paule 55: posts big blind $0.25
GarryNoether: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [2h 2c]
ana21: folds
Hitdark: raises $1 to $1.25
kurokitty: calls $1.25
feweel: calls $1.25
ralvinho: folds
Socrates711: folds
paule 55: folds
*** FLOP *** [8s 3s 2d]
Hitdark: bets $3
kurokitty: raises $3 to $6
feweel: calls $6
de beekster joins the table at seat #2
Hitdark: raises $6 to $12
kurokitty: raises $12.60 to $24.60 and is all-in
feweel: calls $3.70 and is all-in
Hitdark: calls $10.40 and is all-in
*** TURN *** [8s 3s 2d] [Jh]
*** RIVER *** [8s 3s 2d Jh] [2s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Hitdark: shows [Ad Ah] (two pair, Aces and Deuces)
kurokitty: shows [2h 2c] (four of a kind, Deuces)
kurokitty collected $24.15 from side pot
feweel: mucks hand
kurokitty collected $31.55 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $58.60 Main pot $31.55. Side pot $24.15. | Rake $2.90
Board [8s 3s 2d Jh 2s]
Seat 1: ralvinho (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Socrates711 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: paule 55 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: ana21 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Hitdark showed [Ad Ah] and lost with two pair, Aces and Deuces
Seat 7: kurokitty showed [2h 2c] and won ($55.70) with four of a kind, Deuces
Seat 9: feweel mucked [4s 5s]

That's my moneycat

When a lot of toaster kitties play with fake mice, Forrest right now is attacking a sealed roll of quarters.

Always bet your monsters (part III)

PokerStars Game #12242035254: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2007/09/24 - 11:57:18 (ET)
Table 'Lesath V' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 2: b!llabOng ($12.95 in chips)
Seat 4: zequirey ($4.45 in chips)
Seat 5: S.Easy ($9.90 in chips)
Seat 6: kurokitty ($24.40 in chips)
Siciliano76 will be allowed to play after the button
b!llabOng: posts small blind $0.10
zequirey: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [8c 8h]
S.Easy: calls $0.25
kurokitty: raises $0.75 to $1
b!llabOng: folds
zequirey: folds
S.Easy: calls $0.75
*** FLOP *** [5h 8s 3h]
S.Easy: checks
kurokitty: bets $2
S.Easy: raises $4 to $6
kurokitty: raises $4 to $10
S.Easy: calls $2.90 and is all-in
*** TURN *** [5h 8s 3h] [Jh]
*** RIVER *** [5h 8s 3h Jh] [Ac]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
S.Easy: shows [8d As] (two pair, Aces and Eights)
kurokitty: shows [8c 8h] (three of a kind, Eights)
kurokitty collected $19.15 from pot
S.Easy leaves the table
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $20.15 | Rake $1
Board [5h 8s 3h Jh Ac]
Seat 2: b!llabOng (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: zequirey (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: S.Easy showed [8d As] and lost with two pair, Aces and Eights
Seat 6: kurokitty (button) showed [8c 8h] and won ($19.15) with three of a kind, Eights

Potting the min bettors

This is a very small stakes example, but people who just "take stabs" at a pot with a min bet often are just wasting their money.

PokerStars Game #12237741766: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2007/09/24 - 02:54:40 (ET)
Table 'Skat IV' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: tk14313 ($2.95 in chips)
Seat 2: Bakkebaard2 ($8.55 in chips)
Seat 3: ZZBop ($7.55 in chips)
Seat 4: maekai ($19.85 in chips)
Seat 5: vastanfors ($10.20 in chips)
Seat 6: Pitty60 ($20.35 in chips)
Seat 7: kurokitty ($24.65 in chips)
Seat 8: bigpoolguy ($11.60 in chips)
Seat 9: RWeigel ($12.10 in chips)
vastanfors: posts small blind $0.10
Pitty60: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [Ah Qc]
kurokitty: raises $0.75 to $1
bigpoolguy: folds
RWeigel: folds
tk14313: calls $1
Bakkebaard2: folds
ZZBop: calls $1
maekai: folds
vastanfors: calls $0.90
Pitty60: folds
*** FLOP *** [8s Tc 8h]
vastanfors: checks
kurokitty: checks
tk14313: checks
ZZBop: checks
*** TURN *** [8s Tc 8h] [Ks]
vastanfors: checks
kurokitty: checks
tk14313: checks
ZZBop: bets $0.50
vastanfors: calls $0.50
kurokitty: raises $4.55 to $5.05
tk14313: folds
ZZBop: folds
vastanfors: folds
kurokitty collected $5.50 from pot
kurokitty: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $5.75 | Rake $0.25
Board [8s Tc 8h Ks]
Seat 1: tk14313 folded on the Turn
Seat 2: Bakkebaard2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: ZZBop folded on the Turn
Seat 4: maekai (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: vastanfors (small blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 6: Pitty60 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: kurokitty collected ($5.50)
Seat 8: bigpoolguy folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: RWeigel folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Punk Hand of the Day

I know. I shoulda folded my hand.

PokerStars Game: Hold'em No Limit ($0.50/$1.00) - 2007/09/23

Table 'Elephenor' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: squeekmeek ($41.70 in chips)
Seat 2: JBass55 ($118.60 in chips)
Seat 3: barkley38 ($94.30 in chips)
Seat 4: Bus1Wood ($109.55 in chips)
Seat 5: Jay67s ($99 in chips)
Seat 6: kurokitty ($87.25 in chips)
Seat 7: Himer ($78.65 in chips)
Seat 8: perdidle ($100.55 in chips)
Seat 9: flubsky ($93.95 in chips)
flubsky: posts small blind $0.50
squeekmeek: posts big blind $1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [Qs Qc]
JBass55: folds
barkley38: folds
Bus1Wood: raises $3 to $4
Jay67s: raises $8 to $12
kurokitty: calls $12
Himer: folds
perdidle: folds
flubsky: folds
squeekmeek: folds
Bus1Wood: calls $8
*** FLOP *** [9d 3d 9c]
Bus1Wood: checks
Jay67s: bets $30
kurokitty: raises $45.25 to $75.25 and is all-in
Bus1Wood: folds
Jay67s: calls $45.25
*** TURN *** [9d 3d 9c] [4c]
*** RIVER *** [9d 3d 9c 4c] [Qd]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Jay67s: shows [Ad Ac] (two pair, Aces and Nines)
kurokitty: shows [Qs Qc] (a full house, Queens full of Nines)
kurokitty collected $185 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $188 | Rake $3
Board [9d 3d 9c 4c Qd]
Seat 1: squeekmeek (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: JBass55 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: barkley38 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Bus1Wood folded on the Flop
Seat 5: Jay67s showed [Ad Ac] and lost with two pair, Aces and Nines
Seat 6: kurokitty showed [Qs Qc] and won ($185) with a full house, Queens full of Nines
Seat 7: Himer folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: perdidle (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: flubsky (small blind) folded before Flop

Is CardPlayer of value to me?

My CardPlayer subscription is up and it's finally cheaper than it's been in recent years ($49.95 for two years).

That said, I'm not sure I'm going to renew it. It's interesting to read, maybe more of a guilty pleasure than helping my game. I usually can get it at poker rooms, and with trips six months of this year (so far), that means I could have had it for at least half the year for free.

Plus the unprofessionalism that Scurvy recounted in this post is a negative for me.

What has been worth it so far have been the CardRunners videos, worth every penny of the $25 or so a month fee.

The secret to gambling: smallball (or, slow and steady wins the race)

I have a friend who has a single bet for all his Bocat money on Penn St. (-3) vs. Michigan, and it's not looking good at this point. I advocated for a diversified approach, but it's a hard thing to understand for recreational bettors.

I see that a lot all over the place, reading hand histories, playing toasters, looking at lines. Sometimes the Hail Mary pass works, but why not just move the chains or advance base to base?

On the 2+2 forums they advocate betting no more than 1 percent to 2 percent of your bankroll on sports bets. Why? Anything can happen. Your team may not win, or even make the line.

Small bets may not look like much, but they will keep you from going busto and you can build upon them as your roll grows.

I think of this in poker, too, with people making crazy moves. Taylor Caby says time and time again in his videos that you don't need to always be making moves to be a winning player. Play solid. Pick your moments and be bankrolled for variance.

Presto for breakfast

1 of 2 this morning:

PokerStars Game #12201522049: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2007/09/22 - 08:36:13 (ET)
Table 'Sarin II' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: ricknj901 ($8.20 in chips)
Seat 2: jier67 ($28.10 in chips)
Seat 5: kurokitty ($25.80 in chips)
Seat 6: Wheels79 ($33 in chips)
kurokitty: posts small blind $0.10
Wheels79: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [5c 5s]
ricknj901: calls $0.25
jier67: raises $0.75 to $1
kurokitty: calls $0.90
Wheels79: calls $0.75
ricknj901: calls $0.75
*** FLOP *** [9d Th 5d]
kurokitty: checks
Wheels79: checks
ricknj901: bets $2.75
jier67: folds
kurokitty: raises $4.25 to $7
Wheels79: folds
ricknj901: calls $4.25
*** TURN *** [9d Th 5d] [6d]
kurokitty: bets $0.25
ricknj901: calls $0.20 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [9d Th 5d 6d] [Kc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
kurokitty: shows [5c 5s] (three of a kind, Fives)
ricknj901: mucks hand
kurokitty collected $17.55 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $18.40 | Rake $0.85
Board [9d Th 5d 6d Kc]
Seat 1: ricknj901 mucked [Tc 8c]
Seat 2: jier67 (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: kurokitty (small blind) showed [5c 5s] and won ($17.55) with three of a kind, Fives
Seat 6: Wheels79 (big blind) folded on the Flop

So weak

PokerStars Game #12201428235: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2007/09/22 - 08:26:54 (ET)
Table 'Sarin II' 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: ricknj901 ($15.35 in chips)
Seat 2: jier67 ($26.60 in chips)
Seat 3: ggstokey ($24.65 in chips)
Seat 4: dieseldic ($7.35 in chips)
Seat 5: kurokitty ($22.60 in chips)
Seat 6: Wheels79 ($35 in chips)
dieseldic: posts small blind $0.10
kurokitty: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [2d 9s]
Wheels79: folds
ricknj901: folds
jier67: folds
ggstokey: folds
dieseldic: raises $0.25 to $0.50
kurokitty: calls $0.25
*** FLOP *** [Ts 3s 2h]
dieseldic: bets $0.50
kurokitty: raises $1 to $1.50
dieseldic: calls $1
*** TURN *** [Ts 3s 2h] [9c]
dieseldic: bets $0.50
kurokitty: raises $4.85 to $5.35
dieseldic: calls $4.85 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [Ts 3s 2h 9c] [7c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
dieseldic: shows [Jh Jc] (a pair of Jacks)
kurokitty: shows [2d 9s] (two pair, Nines and Deuces)
kurokitty collected $14 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $14.70 | Rake $0.70
Board [Ts 3s 2h 9c 7c]
Seat 1: ricknj901 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: jier67 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: ggstokey (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: dieseldic (small blind) showed [Jh Jc] and lost with a pair of Jacks
Seat 5: kurokitty (big blind) showed [2d 9s] and won ($14) with two pair, Nines and Deuces
Seat 6: Wheels79 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

I miss Kara Thrace

Took some time from busting toasters last night to watch TV. There was nothing really on that I wanted to watch (not even Brewers-Braves), so I went to Comcast and trolled through movies On Demand, like I'd spent most of the summer doing with Susanne.

Nothing interested me. But then on Network Shows, NBC's fall preview was on HD. They had the Bionic Woman pilot. I was curious to watch it because Katee Sackhoff is the villain in it.

It was interesting -- not perfect -- but diverting enough for me. It's a meld of the old BW, with a little Terminator and Blade Runner tossed in. Sackhoff is a wonderful villain, and keeps the same edge that she has as Starbuck in BSG. (Incidentally Chief from the series also has a cameo).

It made me want to go back and watch the BSG series again. I'm not sure how Season 4 will be in January or the November movie "Razor" involving the Battlestar Pegasus, but I remember the first two seasons of BSG were phenomenal.

Right now, just for background noise I have the pilot to NBC's "Journeyman" on. It stars the guy who played Lucious Verenous in HBO's "Rome." I saw the pilot coming back from Chicago on United's in-flight TV. I liked what I saw. His time-traveling is a little hard to follow at first and I really didn't like the way everything was neatly wrapped up at the end of the show. Plus TV reporters never seem to live like the ones I know in real life.

Always bet your monsters (part II)

PokerStars Game #12170513035: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2007/09/20 - 17:12:33 (ET)
Table 'Ijiraq II' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Dweiny ($10.70 in chips)
Seat 2: NL_Hype ($25.50 in chips)
Seat 3: Donnygoon ($23.10 in chips)
Seat 4: Manonboard11 ($31.20 in chips)
Seat 5: kurokitty ($35.25 in chips)
Seat 6: rewind82 ($24.90 in chips)
Donnygoon: posts small blind $0.10
Manonboard11: posts big blind $0.25
Dweiny: posts small & big blinds $0.35
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [8c 8h]
kurokitty: raises $0.75 to $1
rewind82: folds
Dweiny: calls $0.75
NL_Hype: folds
Donnygoon: folds
Manonboard11: folds
*** FLOP *** [5d 8s 2s]
kurokitty: bets $2
Dweiny: raises $7.60 to $9.60 and is all-in
kurokitty: calls $7.60
*** TURN *** [5d 8s 2s] [Jh]
*** RIVER *** [5d 8s 2s Jh] [9d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
kurokitty: shows [8c 8h] (three of a kind, Eights)
Dweiny: shows [Ac Kh] (high card Ace)
kurokitty collected $20.60 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $21.65 | Rake $1.05
Board [5d 8s 2s Jh 9d]
Seat 1: Dweiny showed [Ac Kh] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 2: NL_Hype (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Donnygoon (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Manonboard11 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: kurokitty showed [8c 8h] and won ($20.60) with three of a kind, Eights
Seat 6: rewind82 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Question of the day

I have to assume I have the best hand here, right?

PokerStars Game #12170205895: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2007/09/20 - 16:55:03 (ET)
Table 'Ijiraq II' 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: Dweiny ($16.25 in chips)
Seat 2: tripled585 ($11.85 in chips)
Seat 3: sirenoon ($27.45 in chips)
Seat 4: Manonboard11 ($24.25 in chips)
Seat 5: kurokitty ($24.40 in chips)
Seat 6: bluejay4170 ($5.85 in chips)
Manonboard11: posts small blind $0.10
kurokitty: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [8d Qc]
bluejay4170: folds
Dweiny: folds
tripled585: calls $0.25
sirenoon: folds
Manonboard11: calls $0.15
kurokitty: checks
*** FLOP *** [8h 8s Ac]
Manonboard11: checks
kurokitty: checks
tripled585: checks
*** TURN *** [8h 8s Ac] [3s]
Manonboard11: checks
kurokitty: bets $0.55
tripled585: raises $0.55 to $1.10
Manonboard11: folds
kurokitty: raises $1.90 to $3
tripled585: raises $1.90 to $4.90

cat?

Good to be back

It's good to be back home again, where I have two computers to hunt down toasters and two poker cats to help me win.

It was nice, though to be in Chicago. I loved seeing the Sears Tower in the distance when I was driving to Cicero to make my PokerStars deposit.

It was great to go with my folks to their favorite Thai restaurant in the 'burbs and I was sort of hit with the idea that they're not that far away after all, in a way that reminds me of my mom's brothers and sisters who frequently visit my grandmother in Maui from Honolulu.

I love the cold weather, and the snow, and the friendliness of people there.

And, it's nice to win on the road.

HOTD

In 6-max, if you're beat, you're beat...

PokerStars Game #12129923336: Hold'em No Limit ($0.50/$1.00) - 2007/09/18 - 14:14:05 (ET)
Table 'Ortrud' 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: kaWOOOM.de ($47.40 in chips)
Seat 3: broonster ($106.25 in chips)
Seat 4: lifes3ps ($98.50 in chips)
Seat 5: xidan_hu ($109.65 in chips)
Seat 6: kurokitty ($98.50 in chips)
xidan_hu: posts small blind $0.50
kurokitty: posts big blind $1
olahain: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [7s 7h]
kaWOOOM.de: calls $1
broonster: folds
lifes3ps: folds
xidan_hu: raises $3 to $4
kurokitty: calls $3
kaWOOOM.de: calls $3
*** FLOP *** [Ad Ac 7c]
xidan_hu: checks
kurokitty: bets $11
kaWOOOM.de: folds
xidan_hu: calls $11
*** TURN *** [Ad Ac 7c] [Js]
xidan_hu: checks
kurokitty: bets $16
xidan_hu: raises $16 to $32
kurokitty: calls $16
*** RIVER *** [Ad Ac 7c Js] [3h]
xidan_hu: bets $62.65 and is all-in
kurokitty: calls $51.50 and is all-in
*** SHOW DOWN ***
xidan_hu: shows [Ah Kc] (three of a kind, Aces)
kurokitty: shows [7s 7h] (a full house, Sevens full of Aces)
kurokitty collected $199 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $201 | Rake $2
Board [Ad Ac 7c Js 3h]
Seat 2: kaWOOOM.de folded on the Flop
Seat 3: broonster folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: lifes3ps (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: xidan_hu (small blind) showed [Ah Kc] and lost with three of a kind, Aces
Seat 6: kurokitty (big blind) showed [7s 7h] and won ($199) with a full house, Sevens full of Aces

Ah presto

Second Presto of the day!

PokerStars Game #12116696884: Hold'em Pot Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/09/17 - 19:22:56 (ET)
Table 'Alsafi II' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Tony Ricco ($27.15 in chips)
Seat 2: cHvYmAyN ($9.50 in chips)
Seat 3: BurtonX04 ($25 in chips)
Seat 5: agui888 ($12.70 in chips)
Seat 7: Toomuchsam ($16.20 in chips)
Seat 8: kurokitty ($61.95 in chips)
Seat 9: TheGambler81 ($18.30 in chips)
cHvYmAyN: posts small blind $0.25
chunky311 leaves the table
BurtonX04: posts big blind $0.50
TheGambler81: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [5s 5h]
agui888: calls $0.50
Toomuchsam: raises $1 to $1.50
kurokitty: calls $1.50
TheGambler81: calls $1
Eksoekkaarte joins the table at seat #6
Tony Ricco: calls $1.50
cHvYmAyN: folds
BurtonX04: calls $1
agui888: calls $1
*** FLOP *** [5c Ah 6s]
BurtonX04: checks
agui888: checks
Toomuchsam: bets $1
kurokitty: raises $10.80 to $11.80
TheGambler81: folds
Tony Ricco: folds
BurtonX04: folds
agui888: folds
Toomuchsam: calls $10.80
*** TURN *** [5c Ah 6s] [Ks]
Toomuchsam: checks
kurokitty: bets $3
Toomuchsam: calls $2.90 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [5c Ah 6s Ks] [7d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Toomuchsam: shows [Ac Qs] (a pair of Aces)
kurokitty: shows [5s 5h] (three of a kind, Fives)
kurokitty collected $36.80 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $38.65 | Rake $1.85
Board [5c Ah 6s Ks 7d]
Seat 1: Tony Ricco (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: cHvYmAyN (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: BurtonX04 (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: agui888 folded on the Flop
Seat 7: Toomuchsam showed [Ac Qs] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 8: kurokitty showed [5s 5h] and won ($36.80) with three of a kind, Fives
Seat 9: TheGambler81 folded on the Flop

7 Stud - where are you going with that hand?

PokerStars Game #12114219084: 7 Card Stud Limit ($0.04/$0.08) - 2007/09/17 - 17:01:50 (ET)
Table 'Pala II' 8-max
Seat 1: Cadillac67 ($2.60 in chips)
Seat 2: ROBERT 73 ($0.50 in chips)
Seat 3: malaucene ($1.40 in chips)
Seat 4: djbh5 ($1.29 in chips)
Seat 5: kurokitty ($1.20 in chips)
Seat 6: mm4243 ($1.45 in chips)
Seat 7: A~Believe~A ($1.40 in chips)
Seat 8: harder999 ($1.83 in chips)
Cadillac67: posts the ante $0.01
ROBERT 73: posts the ante $0.01
malaucene: posts the ante $0.01
djbh5: posts the ante $0.01
kurokitty: posts the ante $0.01
mm4243: posts the ante $0.01
A~Believe~A: posts the ante $0.01
harder999: posts the ante $0.01
*** 3rd STREET ***
Dealt to Cadillac67 [4s]
Dealt to ROBERT 73 [2c]
Dealt to malaucene [6s]
Dealt to djbh5 [4d]
Dealt to kurokitty [7h 3c 7d]
Dealt to mm4243 [Tc]
Dealt to A~Believe~A [2s]
Dealt to harder999 [5s]
ROBERT 73: brings in for $0.02
malaucene: calls $0.02
djbh5: folds
kurokitty: calls $0.02
mm4243: calls $0.02
A~Believe~A: calls $0.02
harder999: folds
Cadillac67: calls $0.02
*** 4th STREET ***
Dealt to Cadillac67 [4s] [Kh]
Dealt to ROBERT 73 [2c] [5d]
Dealt to malaucene [6s] [Qs]
Dealt to kurokitty [7h 3c 7d] [7c]
Dealt to mm4243 [Tc] [8h]
Dealt to A~Believe~A [2s] [8d]
Pair on board - a double bet is allowed
kurokitty: bets $0.04
mm4243: calls $0.04
A~Believe~A: folds
A~Believe~A leaves the table
Cadillac67: calls $0.04
ROBERT 73: folds
malaucene: calls $0.04
*** 5th STREET ***
Dealt to Cadillac67 [4s Kh] [6d]
Dealt to malaucene [6s Qs] [Ts]
Dealt to kurokitty [7h 3c 7d 7c] [3d]
Dealt to mm4243 [Tc 8h] [Jd]
kurokitty: bets $0.08
mm4243: folds
Cadillac67: folds
malaucene: raises $0.08 to $0.16
kurokitty: raises $0.08 to $0.24
malaucene: calls $0.08
*** 6th STREET ***
Dealt to malaucene [6s Qs Ts] [9d]
Dealt to kurokitty [7h 3c 7d 7c 3d] [Th]
kurokitty: bets $0.08
malaucene: raises $0.08 to $0.16
kurokitty: raises $0.08 to $0.24
malaucene: raises $0.08 to $0.32
Betting is capped
kurokitty: calls $0.08
*** RIVER ***
Dealt to kurokitty [7h 3c 7d 7c 3d Th] [9h]
kurokitty: bets $0.08
malaucene: folds
kurokitty collected $1.41 from pot
kurokitty: doesn't show hand
kurokitty said, "lol"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $1.48 | Rake $0.07
Seat 1: Cadillac67 folded on the 5th Street
Seat 2: ROBERT 73 folded on the 4th Street
Seat 3: malaucene folded on the River
Seat 4: djbh5 folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 5: kurokitty collected ($1.41)
Seat 6: mm4243 folded on the 5th Street
Seat 7: A~Believe~A folded on the 4th Street
Seat 8: harder999 folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)

Why you should always bet out your monsters

PokerStars Game #12110946838: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/09/17 - 14:08:57 (ET)
Table 'Ehrsson II' 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: junebug19 ($17.65 in chips)
Seat 3: obsid1an ($49.30 in chips)
Seat 4: EddyViper ($20.70 in chips)
Seat 5: vmx70 ($33 in chips)
Seat 6: kurokitty ($59.80 in chips)
kurokitty: posts small blind $0.25
junebug19: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to kurokitty [Td Tc]
obsid1an: folds
EddyViper: calls $0.50
vmx70: folds
kurokitty: raises $1.50 to $2
junebug19: folds
EddyViper: calls $1.50
*** FLOP *** [8d 3c Ts]
kurokitty: bets $4
EddyViper: raises $14.70 to $18.70 and is all-in
kurokitty: calls $14.70
*** TURN *** [8d 3c Ts] [Qh]
*** RIVER *** [8d 3c Ts Qh] [6s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
kurokitty: shows [Td Tc] (three of a kind, Tens)
EddyViper: mucks hand
kurokitty collected $39.90 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $41.90 | Rake $2
Board [8d 3c Ts Qh 6s]
Seat 1: junebug19 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: obsid1an folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: EddyViper mucked [8h 9s]
Seat 5: vmx70 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: kurokitty (small blind) showed [Td Tc] and won ($39.90) with three of a kind, Tens

Back to Moneygram

CICERO, Ill. -- So the clerk types in my Moneygram confirmation number and says it's invalid.

Fuck.

But just then, her manager, who is showing her how to do a wire transfer, tells her she dyslexized the numbers.

Oh, she says.

With a full two days off, I couldn't just sit around and not try to burn off the new 25 percent to $125 bonus on PokerStars.

But that meant 1). Finding a Bank of America ATM and 2). Finding a place to deposit.

With the Internet, of course, that's easy. The next suburb over had an ATM and I found a chain drugstore that carried the 'gram in the far suburb of Cicero, which used to be a bastion of Italian-Americans but now is much more Mexican, from shops to one dude even having a Mexican flag stretched out across the hood of his car while he was driving.

The store didn't have the written form that I used in May when I deposited in Atlanta (account posted here). Instead, it had a really irritating phone-in system.

The phone-in system, after I gave my phone number, remembered that I had previously made a deposit and remembered the receive code and company ID.

It had a hard time getting the 11-digit account number right and when I tried to yell it in the phone a second time, the phone rang in the photo department and when the clerk answered it, the Moneygram line went dead.

Fuuuuucccck.

So the second time, I went through all the prompts but tried to make sure I said everything clearly and hoped that the phone wouldn't ring again.

After I got the confirmation number, I had to wait for the manager, and I secretly wished I wasn't wearing my PokerStars T-shirt, although it's not illegal to send money.

But we got it all squared away. On the way back, I was gmailing K Rose with my broadband card (typing at stoplights, which were plentiful) and before I even got home, I checked my 'Stars account and the deposit had been credited.

K Rose, I presume?

You seem taken with her.

Just an old man's fancy, Jean Luc.
-"Best of Both Worlds", part I, Star Trek: The Next Generation

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- I love my life, for the times like these that I find myself in a random suburb in Chicagoland, at a random bar with a woman whose beauty puts the goddess to shame.

The third time is a charm. I finally got to meet K Rose, the work wife, recipient and sender of thousands of e-mails and phone calls. I've seen plenty of photos of her, but in real life she is model-gorgeous and reminds me of a raven-haired Erin Andrews doing sideline interviews on ESPN. If I was a Cy Young Award-winning pitcher, hopefully she would be in the stands cheering me on.

But she's just a pup and reminds me of my little cousin (K Rose's voice incidentally sounds a lot like Josh's girlfriend Lisa). We talked about crazy times in Vegas, like the time she was out with her friend who was in town for a swimsuit competition and woke up the next morning with a few grand of $100 chips from the Wynn that she won in blackjack.

I came home with a lot of long-awaited Jagermeister stuff she had promised me and Sham (we drink so much of it that we should be getting gear from them, lol), including cool shirts and even plastic Jager-bomb cups that have a space for the shot in the middle.

What an awesome end to the day! I knew there was a reason I ran 4 miles this afternoon, lol.

You are inside the Cats Building

WESTERN SPRINGS, Ill. -- Settling in today up north at my parents' house. It has an Urban Dead kind of feel to it, since they won't be here for a few days and I've been holed up and foraging for what I can (You find ramen, sandwiches, Diet Cokes and laundry machine).

I've been slowly moving the chains on Bocat NL tables and watching my NFL bets. Yesterday was a pretty decent day for NCAA, since I picked winners in UVA, Michigan, Florida and Boston College (although I wanted Tech to win). My only loser was Louisville, but I feel like I'd make the same bet vs UK 90 percent of the time.

So far today it's more of a push, with winners in Atlanta (+10-1/2) and the Atl-Jax Under. I lost on New Orleans and Indy, which didn't make the line. It'll be a photo finish for the rest of my picks, as I have MIN (+3), tied at 17 at the end of the 3rd quarter, the under on the Chi-KC game, 30 points total near the end of the third and Denver, up a touchdown over Oak near the end of the third. It'll be a photo finish to see if I walk away with any wins in those three games.

I have pretty good advisers (my boss' boss is a 16 game winner, 16-2) and Mr. Ed who does the SEC Seer was the one who steered me into BC's way -- "Tech hasn't played a team like Boston College yet," he cautioned.

I also tried to look at the value of some of the lines. I thought there would be no way that ATL-JAX would score more than 34 points, especially since ATL's offense has been terrible and JAX only scored 10 points the previous week. I also didn't think that the low scoring team could top a +10-1/2 ATL line.

I hesistated to take GB+1, and really should have, given NYG's injuries. Sure Eli Manning played today, but it doesn't sound like he was 100 percent. At least four underdogs won today (or beat the lines).

I'm thinking of sometime during my free time I'll travel up to Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee to check out the poker room (less than 2 hours' drive). I did plot a more ambitious trip out to Council Bluffs, Iowa, which is the distance from Atl-Tunica, 6 hours+. I don't think I'll be making that outing, although now's the time to do it when the weather is snow-free, unlike in the months ahead.

Laundry and poker

Was up in Middle Tucker last night at an away game at Drew's. Pot sweetner was the fact that he kindly let me do a few loads of laundry, something that I last did in May (archived in this post).

The game was very good, I was down low for a little bit and then I basically quadrupled up in an Omaha hand in which I flopped a boat with 75 (7-5-7). A little later on in a pineapple hand, I flopped another boat with 9-8 (9-8-9).

Lost some of that later on in an Omaha hand when I flopped two pair (Q8) and a flush draw (KQs). Drew and Ron were all-in and Drew made a J on the river for a higher two-pair.

Still, ended up for the night (Lookouts, 5-0).

--------------

At about the same time, I was playing on Bocat when this toaster in observer mode chimes in saying to the table that he reported me because he thought I disconnected in a hand when I had a flush draw.

Toasters are so silly. I do have trouble sometimes in my apartment with my laptop's broadband card. What the toaster doesn't know is that I'm not one of those short-stack specialists always looking to double up with the least amount of cash and that when you find me all-in, it won't be because of a flush draw.

Funny, though. I haven't heard from Bocat at all. Maybe 1). They can see this is a totally unfounded complaint from a toaster and 2). They know that I put enough sports action on their site to be able to tell stupid low-limit toasters to suck it. lol

and 3). There's always PokerStars, which has a 25% to $125 bonus right now for their World Championship of Online Poker. Yay!

I did a Fuel move (and it feels good)

NL$50, 3 handed on Bocat.

Cat: A5s on button. I raise.
BB calls.

Flop: A5x. BB bets it out. I 3x raise. BB calls.

Turn: 9. BB checks. Cat: all-in.

BB shows A9.

River: 5. Cat wins.

Survivor or zombie?

Thanks to Empire for pointing out to the crew an awesome and free interactive Web-based game, Urban Dead. You create a character, human or zombie and are thrown into a huge suburban grid.

You can help humans or zombies or neither.

If you join up, let me know. Maybe we can have a blogger crew in Malton.

Overset city

I can't tell you how uncomfortable I feel when I see a flopped set beat by flopped overset because what are the chances of that happening, but it happened not once but twice last night at Cats' Arena.

Josh first got beat by 23skidoo's overset early in the evening, and later, I was hesitant to call my QQ set against Empire pushing all in on the river with a board of QJT9x. I was worried about the king, but he had a set of tens.

My Hood To Coast (1-0) shirt held up well, as I profited from the evening despite some loose calls.

It was 23skidoo's first time to the Arena. It was fun, we had a big crew, including Sham and Surf, whose account of the session is here.

Remembering Karleton

My cousin Toot ain't have to die/ right in front of his son and his wife
He lost his life struggling over a gun
Give a damn what he done that my motherfucking folk and I love that nigga 'til death no motherfucking joke
I can feel my eyes feeling the Lord is my witness
If I catch em Ima kill em I made it my bidness
-T.I.

Uncharacteristically lethargic today, spent most of my day off in bed with Forrest, the attack kitten.

When I got up, I hit three sets on Bocat and got paid.

When I went running, it rained and I thought about my freshman roommate, who died while flying in that unspeakable act of murder six years ago.

I hope his killers are always on the run, throughout eternity, always live with fear in their hearts and, just when they are in sight of the river, suffer the worst Fuel 1-outer possible.

Tunica update

TUNICA, Miss. -- Cat closes out a win for the trip with Banana Republic (2-0) recording a win at the Gold Strike's NL$1/2 when cat pushed all-in against a turn bluff attempt and toaster folded for $54 more in a $600 pot. Meta-game explanation to follow.

Tunica update

TUNICA, Miss. -- SPAM (1-3) records a loss playing at Sam's Town NL$1/3 today, despite winning a $50 "Splash pot" promotion.

NEXT: Banana Republic, Hawaii (1-0)

Thank you, Roger Federer (-450) and Detroit Lions (+2 1/2). I lost 4 of 5 very small bets on Miami Don's picks (won Minnesota).

Tunica update

TUNICA, Miss. -- Sabre-Toothed Lime (4-0) books a win at the Horseshoe's NL$1/3 game.

Tunica update

TUNICA, Miss. -- Biscuits (6-1) scores a win Saturday afternoon after doubling up with A5s two pair versus a flush draw at the Horseshoe's NL$1/3 game.

Why I love this city

Lost in the whirlwind, '96 Bonnie and Clyde/
Me and my girlfriend, do 185 when we ride..
-Tupac Shakur

The lights of the skyscrapers are just starting to change as I'm on the hill at Freedom Parkway, listening to Tupac's Makaveli, the windows rolled down on an awesome summer's night.

Smoke blows by over Interstate 75/85 as I pass by Turner Field. It's coming from the giant Coke bottle attached to the stadium, meaning someone from the home team has just scored a home run. I yell out at the top of my lungs.

The late evening flights are the best at the world's busiest airport. A Friday night, lots of the closest spaces in the Economy lot are still open and there aren't any lines to have to wade through to get to your gate.

I'll be taking a McDonnell Douglas MD-88 to Memphis, I love the whale-tail planes and am sad that soon most of them will be retired from the air fleets. How old will I feel when the modern 757s and 767s finally are put to pasture?

I was happy I had a flight so late, although I don't look forward to pretty much staying up all night so I qualify for the poker rate at Sham's Town. I had time to get money, do laundry, listen to K Rose whine, lol, because I didn't e-mail her goodbye when I left work. Young pups are funny.

Free Chick-fil-A

Free Chick-fil-A sandwich and Coke to the first million who register.

Sorry to those of you, particularly those outside the South, who do not have access to a CFA.

"Locks" vs. math

I was able to hold off until after my morning run and shower but finally I couldn't take the suspense and turned on the computer to see the results of Federer vs. Roddick in the men's quarterfinal of the 2007 US Open.

He won, and I was much relieved. My boss' boss is 14-0 in picks this year and even I didn't think Federer could lose. I mean, he's beaten Roddick 13 times with a single loss.

But of course, this isn't always the proper way to put a bunch of your bankroll on the line.

Let's look at it the right way.

The first line I saw on Federer was -2000, which meant you had to be sure the Swiss champ could beat Roddick more than 95 percent of the time.

Let's see -- 13 and 1 is a 92.31 percent win rate. Not good enough.

Not surprisingly, Bodog had to lower its line Tuesday night to -1600. You'd have to have Federer win 93.75 percent of the time to make money on this.

What surprised me is how low the line dropped. Bodog went to -1000 on Wednesday, the day of the match, to -1000. This means that Federer just has to win more than 90 percent of the time for this to be positive expectation.

It's likely -2000 is even a good buy. Perhaps the true line of Federer in his prime vs. Roddick is -6000 or greater.

Of course, it's not really known what Federer's true win rate is against Roddick and you should look at how conditions are before the match -- are there any injuries, are the players distracted by anything? Who has the motivation to try harder?

Sure, you could be putting up a lot of money. But if your bankroll can handle the bet (2+2 forums advise that you bet no more than 1 percent to 2 percent of your roll on a sports bet to handle swings), you should be comfortable with your decision as long as the expectation appears to be in your favor.

It's so on (Chicago bound)

So I pulled the trigger on another free flight yesterday using miles and will be going to Chicago Sept. 16-18.

So hopefully the third time will be a charm and I'll finally get to meet up with K Rose as opposed to talking to her daily by e-mail and phone and trouncing her in online gin rummy. lol

I was thinking I should also use the time to hunt out other poker rooms in the area.

-----------

cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc

The above is Forrest's first blog post, actually a first for any Poker Cat. He's in his I'm-a-kitten-and-I'll-do-what-I-want-to phase right now, so he's always climbing over the keyboard.

I'm glad to have him around and I think it's good for Clonie as well. I miss old man Kuro though.

-------------

POKER CATS NOTEBOOK: Yesterday for an assignment at the Atlanta airport, my cell phone was on one bar of battery left and I saw and used a pay phone to call in my story. I can't remember the last time I used one. Luckily I remembered our newsroom's toll-free number.

Driving the big car in NLHE

When I'm behind the wheel of Susanne's 6,000-pound Mercedes ML550 sport utility vehicle, I notice something that I don't when I'm driving my unarmored Mazda 6: people are less willing to take chances and we never end up with some kind of crazy last-second collision that is a possibiliity when I'm driving the '6.

I think it's a good analogy with NLHE. When you are in the small car (weak hand like offsuit face cards and weak suited aces) and especially when you are in the small car out of position, you don't want to risk running headlong into a train. That means not calling raises with marginal starting hands that are likely to be dominated when you're in early position. Sometimes when you try to "trap," you get trapped!

When you're in the big car (decent hands in position), you still want to make sure the small hands don't run into you, and you mainly do this by using their weakness and weakness of position against them.

That is, especially in 6-max games, preflop raising your big cards on the button or in the cutoff after a limper or two and keeping the pressure on out of position players on the flop.

The preflop raising punishes weaker cards that can't (and shouldn't) stand a raise from seeing the flop. And you might even nix some better cards, such as KJo or KQo, which are hard to play out of position to a raise.

In Ed Miller's recent post that Gnome pointed out, Miller talks about how good limit players have a "raising reflex" which should be unlearned and reconsidered in NLHE.

He also advocates controlling the pot size, particularly by calling on the flop.

I'm a big advocate of keeping the pot manageable in situations in which you don't know where you are, but I feel like flop calling in NLHE flys in the face of the CR offense. If you feel like you have the best hand, you need to bet/raise accordingly. And punish limp/callers by continuation betting, when you have it and especially when you don't. If guessers are losers according to Amarillo Slim, you're forcing them to make bad choices out of position. And that's how you make money, by picking up their sacrificed chips from trash cards or stacking them when you do have it.

Or get rid of it, say if an early player bets out the flop. Depending on the situation, your TP may not be good at all. The more pressure you put on the table, the better you'll be able to assess the field -- which players will always scurry from your bets and raises and which players are apt to play back at you. And it'll help you know when to get rid of a hand when one of these players strangely is keeping up with your aggression for no reason at all.

Gnome actually explains these concepts a lot better in this March 13 post when Ed Miller's NLHE book came out.

Taylor Caby's CR offense is actually more tempered -- consider your image while you're being LAGgy. If you haven't been doing anything for a while, it's likely time to jack it up instead of when you've been raising it up three or four times in a row. Pressure -- but not too much!

So if you have the big car in NLHE, drive it accordingly and use its advantages to your advantage -- and profit.

250 free SkyMiles

By watching and voting on the Delta SiteSeer challenge videos here.

My Saturday

It is recognized that you have a funny sense of fun.
-Lawrence of Arabia

My Saturday, spent, watching my boss' boss' picks come through for me, Georgia Tech +1, Georgia Tech-Notre Dame under 42 points, West Virginia. He has not missed all year.

And now three-tabling on Bodog and watching Lawrence of Arabia.

The Kitty II

So they ask me, Young boy, what you gonna do the second time around?
How you goin comeback?
I try told them -- I come back like 32; I jump back like 33
That's nothing. This is the Carter II, people.
This is the Carter II.
-Lil' Wayne

So I drove up to Roswell, Ga., OTP, to see a kitty. Baze, one of the photographers, had been telling me for a few months that I should adopt him.

But I kept telling him I already had a cat.

When Susanne's elderly cats had to be put to sleep, I offered this kitty to her but she didn't want to raise a new cat plus her new pup.

So today, days after putting poor Kuro to sleep, I made the trip. The young kitty is cute, comes from a nice suburban home.

I've felt that Kuro wouldn't mind me providing another home for a kitty, especially one as laid back as he was. Plus I need two kitty R2 units to fly the poker machine.

So I picked him up, brought him back to my vet in Decatur. It was a little weird being back there, especially with another cat, but he did fine. And tested against disease fine.

He's standing up looking at the poker table that's leaned up against the wall.

Clonie is not overly hostile, but definitely cautious.

His name? Forrest, after pro Ted Forrest, in keeping with Poker Cats' names.

Pictures forthcoming.