Cool session in Arlington

+$57 session in Arlington last night.

I'm REALLY starting to see what the pros are saying about calling stations.. They can be QUITE lucrative.

As usual.. A fun atmosphere and Sanh is a great host.

Peace and Blessings,
Craft

Arrogance? ... Yep.

Wooow... I randomly read Scott Gallant's (DoubleAs) blog and ran across a post where he called me out for listening to music at his poker game... The words below aren't strictly about that.. there's other stuff I picked up from dude's attitude and personality that lets me know he's a prick and that he's REALLY smelling himself. Yes, you've had some success - congrats... but watch who you talk shit about... It REALLY might save you an ass whoopin' in future situations - not from me of course 'cus I'm a peaceful dude :)

So anyway.. I played at Scott's last night... I had a fun time... A lot of arrogance in the air from the host though... I see why though 'cus most of the dudes there pump his head up (dickriders we call them).

Won't play there again.

I got a tip for buddy... PLEASE be a man and call me, tell me to my face, or e-mail since you're a computer geek that you think it's rediculous that I'm listening to my iPod while I'm playing at your home game.. Don't try to be slick and drop some words discretely on your blog... I own a record label for God's sake.. I LOVE MUSIC prick!

I was very respectful the whole night.. helped him set up tables, chairs, etc. - was very polite... But everyone that knows that I'm not the most talkative person in general nevermind at the poker table.. AND music is my life.. so whoever reads this.. don't take my demeanor as not being friendly.. only a FEW of you reading this blog are really my damn friend anyway.. so I'm not gonna force laughter at corny ass jokes through out a night... I'll chuckle a little bit but that extra shit isn't me.

But Scott... sure you have talent but you never know who will bust your ass down the line. TRY to be humble dude and don't think everyone you play with is a friggin' donkey from the jump.. it's gonna be a hard task for you but try homie... It's not healthy having people dislike you.

Peace and Blessings,
Chris Craft

YIKES!

Bad play and bad run of cards tonight at Quan's

-$140.00 EEK!

Peace.

The Countdown to EVEN!

Short post.

I had a +$102 cash game session in Falls Church at Trevor's on Sunday... Hit a really crazy rush that included bad beating my buddy Scanlon when I caught an ace on the river to give me 2p (aces and sixes) .. cracking his pocket jacks. The hand was played very aggressively on both ends with a king on the board.

I also have won several $10 SNGs at Party Poker this month also... It's interesting.. I've been using online poker lately to replace losses at live game sessions this month.. It has worked out great for my bankroll.

Been an up and down month so far.. BUT! I'M UP!.. and I'm in arms reach of being a break even poker player over my "career" .. I'm excited ya'll. But that's all.. More later.

Peace and Blessings,
Ricardo.

Never.

Tell a bad player that he sucks. It's not worth it.

Peace.

Gettin' Bluffed / Too Pushy

Over the last two nights (Wednesday and Thursday):

1. I got bluffed out of a huge pot when I had the best hand by Ramel (spelling?) at Quan's cash game Wednesday.. when I was holding second highest pair (queens) and he had probably the second to lowest pair (6s)... He bet $3 or $4 on the river.. I came over the top and doubled his bet... He re-raised and put $15 on top.. I folded... There was a king out there that would've made him top pair and three to the flush on the board... I totally got outplayed... I've never been bluffed like that before and I'll remember that for the rest of my life. Seriously.

2. Got rivered when having two pair (A 7) and I placed this chick named Angela all-in yesterday at Chris Darmanin's tourney... She had AK of hearts (suited) and of course an 8 of hearts come on the river to make her flush. I was immediately crippled to short stack in the tourney (I was the chip leader at my table at the time and she had the second or third highest stack).. I would've been in GREAT shape if that river card wouldn't have been a heart.. but I battled back to to make it to the final 6 (of 18) and I was 3rd highest stack when I got busted out. I was impressed with how I didn't get rattled and battled back.. Now I just need to learn how to control my patience and control / time my semi-bluffs (especially the kind of the all-in variety - more on that in #3). I felt in control most of the night.. Feeling good about my game / progress.

3. I need to work on my tournament game... I need to work on my game period. I swear.. If I can just add one key skill to my game every so often.. I'll be happy and I feel that I can be a really good player - great even. So anyway.. We're down to the final 6 at Darm's tournament last night in Capitol Hill ($30 buy-in and $10 bounty)... As I mentioned in #2, I battled back fierce from being short stack after being rivered. I was mixing it up nicely - subtly changing gears.. value betting.. position betting.. slow-playing.. timely all-in bets / raises (eventhough most of them worked tonight - I need to have more control and not use this move too often.. pick my spots better) .. Fast forward to my "bust out" hand from last night:

I'm in the cut off position and the chip leader in middle position two-bets to make it $6000 to go (blinds were $1500.00 / $3000.00). I re-raised $6000.00 on top to make it $12,000.00. I'm holding Ac 10d ... The flop comes all clubs and I'm in position but neither my ace nor 10 were hit. He checks to me and I foolishly get in "hyper-bully" mode and push all-in. I didn't think he had two clubs but he calls and he had two clubs... He "slow-played" them... I don't plan on cursing much on here but WHY DIDN'T I TAKE THE FUCKIN' FREE CARD YA'LL?.. He flips over Qc Jc after he calls and I flip over my Ac 10d.. Two blanks came on the turn and river and my tourney was over.. I gave him my $10.00 bounty and that was that... $40.00 lost and $20 gained on bounties from me busting other folks out after 3+ hours of play.. -$20.00 for the night.. GREAT (sarcasm). Darm, thanks for the advice on taking the free card (oh and sorry for knocking you out when I had my pocket kings).. I shouldn't have tried to bully the big stack when I was on a draw myself.. I need to be more patient... MORE PATIENT... Take the damn free card Chris - I would've lost some money, but not my whole stack if I just would've checked behind him after the flop and let him bet out on the turn and I folded. Should've listened to Paul Darden in his Cardplayer Magazine interview about tangling with the big stack. Better me making this $40 (real dollars) mistake now and learning my lesson NOW than at a WSOP high dollar buy-in tourney right? RIGHT? Aaaaaaargh. I was a gentlemen though and left peacefully.. I got beat / outplayed fair and square and I saved my yelling / cursing for when I was in my truck alone driving back home to Alexandria.

Wanted to go to Atlantic City this Saturday with Frank.. but I'm going to wait and spend time with the wife this weekend and honestly work my bankroll up to $1000.00 before I go... I know $1000.00 isn't much to some of you ballers.. but I'ma beginner in this game and I need to first reach that 'G' threshold before I go AC grindin'. Let's see if I can get closer to that 'G' tonight in Arlington at another cash game (the same one where I pulled the squeeze play).

All is and WILL be well ya'll. I'm so motivated to crush any and all tables right now. I'm soooooo damn motivated right now folks. More than I've ever been.

Oh yeah.. Shout out to that Allen (or Alan or Allen) guy sitting to my right Wednesday at Quan's (Howard made me do that shoutout)... And Vince Young - Get your money homie... HOOK'EM HORNS - BCS CHAMPIONS!

Peace and Blessings,
Chris

Rule #1 (For me)

Don't play when you're not fresh. You can't think right and you get impatient.

:)

Peace,
Chris

New Year's Day Session @ Quan's

Short update..

I was ITCHIN' to play on New Year's day and I was waiting on someone to pull the trigger... Quan called me while I was at Target and I knew it was about to go down. I had a really solid session on 1-1-06 (also my dad's birthday) and left with $45 dollars profit after the session ended. I played some really disciplined poker... Letting go AK, AQ, and AJ several times (saving myself some money). They say in the poker books that you make money by not LOSING money with key laydowns.. but most beginners (and I'm still a beginner - ain't no ego here YET) don't put that into practice when they play.. Well I try my best to put it into practice when I play... and that doesn't mean that I'm going to let other players run over me while I'm holding solid cards by striving for the ULTIMATE laydowns. I just go off the vibe and my instincts and if it doesn't feel right to me, I'll let the hand go (especially pre-flop). Period.

Back to the session itself... I was in several pots with Quan and I'm happy to come out the victor in most of them that day. 1. I flopped the nut straight Ace to 10 and doubled up through him while holding QJ... 2. I didn't believe his bluff on the river on another hand.. called and took it down (I don't even remember my cards and the board) and 3. The best bluff of my "career" to date... I was on a draw with AQ of hearts and all I needed was one more heart to come on either the turn or river for my nut flush... I wasn't going to get good odds for drawing against Quan.. so I decided after the flop to play like my hand was made already and play strong.. I put out "feeler bets" after the flop and after the turn (I was out of position). He raised my bet after the turn and I called.. showing strength. I was thinking about pushing all-in on the turn but I decided to chill. On the river I missed my heart flush again but the card was scary (might have been a king) so I decided to make a move.. so I checked to him. He threw out a bet that I thought was suspicious and once I sensed a little weakness.. I knew my check-raise bluff would work. I pushed all-in immediately after his bet and he folded instantly. I showed my bluff (ace-high / missed draw) to the table and I regretted showing it right after I did it.. But thinking about it now, I'm glad I showed it because it'll give my buddy Quan a little more to think about while in a hand with me. This move and the squeeze play in Arlington make me really proud of my growth in poker.. but I'm not satisfied so I'm going to continue to hit the books, blogs, etc. as hard as I can.

At any rate... Solid session and I'm looking forward to playing in Chris Darmanin's tournament in D.C. on Thursday. Until then...

Peace,
Rico Rico