Update

I would have to apologize to my friends who have been visiting this site and left disappointed that I have not been updating for a long time now. A lot of things happened during these past few weeks. I have been busy with an erratic schedule; there have been many emotional highs and lows in my personal life, drastic changes in the Manila poker scene and our kittens are already halfway past their kittenhood. Now, we need more funds to fully transfer in own place. The TV we’re supposed to use there is gone and so is the laptop which is supposed to be our computer. No, it wasn’t stolen. Some evil forces took it from us, long story. Now, how can I live without a TV and computer even when there’s everything else?

Due to my financial situation as of the moment, I really need to take a lot of jobs… being a poker dealer specifically. But for some unavoidable circumstances, my regular dealing job got blurred. Thankfully, some home games contacts me to deal for them. It’s indeed a great help. I know I’m so far from being the best dealer in town, since I am a newbie in that career. I am glad when they call me and ask me to deal. Despite the hard work and other obstacles of being a dealer, I’d still say that it’s a job I love. I get meet a lot of people, still be a part of the game that I’m crazy about and get paid. Who wouldn’t love that?

On the other hand, I’ve been experiencing some dilemma. Since I haven’t been playing for a long time now, my game is becoming so rusty. In fact, I notice that people no longer acknowledge me as a poker player. I can not say that I’m a really good one, but I know that I am better than a lot of newbies these days. I see people that I used to give advice on how to make their game better now makes it to big games and people recognize their poker skills. Now, I think I would have to consult them. Ahh… These are just some of the sacrifices that I would have to make just to stick to our priorities.

So last night, it was the Christmas party of an organization we know as a state of mind. Wow! Imagine this: sumptuous food made by favorite poker player and as a person in general, good poker talks with our mentor, Uncle Nick, beer, SNG with the some of the best players in town and strip poker.

As poker addicts we all are, we played a one table SNG with 500 buy-in. Pays 3 places with the percentage of 50-30-20. First hand, I’ve got the button. Miguel calls the big blinds, Luis raises and Ace re-raises. Looking at the table, I said to myself “Dang, wild table! I wanna fold!” But then, I haven’t looked at my cards yet since I have the dealer button. So after Ace, Oyi folded. Now my turn, I peeked at my cards…AA!!! I almost can’t believe it. Hmmm… what to do, what to do… ALL IN!!!
Luis called with Jack, 7 of clubs and Ace calls with pocket Kings. Board almost gave me a bad beat with those clubs. But eventually, my pocket aces held up. Oh yeah!!! Woohooo!

I’ve been big stack for a long time, and then slowly chips were falling out of my hands. Then we are now at 4 players left; Oyi, Luis (playing for his friend who left), Miguel and your truly. I am terribly low stack and we are on the bubble. Dang, it really ain’t easy playing with these guys. I kept folding during that stage. Some people peeking at my cards kept asking me why fold when it’s a short handed game. Thing is, I can’t scare anyone if I’d go all in. Except when I get group one cards, I fold. Then later on, one of them took Oyi out. We are now all in the money. Luis made his move by going all-in-blinds for several hands. Miguel and I took turns in trying to take him out. Eventually, we did after a long battle. So, there I am with a huge stack playing heads up with Miguel. Yeah eventually I got my chips back and more. So before we started our heads up, we agreed to have a restroom break. When we went back, Miguel offered to chop the pot. Why not?! Although I have a huge stack in my hands right, Miguel is a good player. I respect that. So I agreed to chop the pot where we both got 2k each but we will continue to play it for the glory. So, going back to the game, our first hand Miguel is on the button heads-up and first to act. He goes all in. I’m thinking WTF, even if we already chopped the pot; I still want to play a decent game. I’ve got him covered, but I don’t want to double him up since having more chips is my only advantage against this guy. So I peeked at my cards, once again AA!!! I call and flipped over my pocket rockets against Miguel’s pocket queens.
Then flop comes: A, Q, Q
Turn: A
Should I feel sorry we made an arrangement for a split pot when I’m supposed to have quad Aces?? NO! It was a prank our so-called dealers made while we were in the restroom. That’s why they asked first if we agreed to chop the pot so they can shuffle it and take away the prank if we didn’t. Hahaha!

Great game guys! I really needed that win. I’m back in the game, baby!


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By the way, I would like to thank everyone who graced the JGPT Christmas Party. Jards really pulls an awesome party. Place is packed with people drowning in booze. Excuse your naughty dealer for spilling caramel shakers and tequila rose in her mouth. *hick*

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!