FUN NIGHT

After playing our JGPT Satellite last night, we went to BBC to hangout with friends and watch some poker games. There were two satellites there last night. So I was watching and a group of people wanted to play SNG. While Big Wally was still playing one of the satellites, he wanted to join the SNG as well. He was relatively short stacked in the satellite game, maybe that's why he wanted to join the SNG. So as I was seating beside him as a spectator, he asked me to play his SNG while he's still in the satellite game. I am flattered that Big Wally would entrust me. But I just have to ask him, "Are you sure?" And he said yes.

So as we we're arranging our SNG, I informed the table that im just filling in for Big Wally. But later on we leanred that it would not be fair that I'll be playing for the mean time. Ummm, how do I explain this? Ok. They will be adjusting to my game. Then later on, if another person will take my seat, they would have to adjust to another type of game. I agree that is it not fair for them. So Big Wally decided to stake me instead. He's such a sweetheart.

The table was filled with really good poker players. There's Misha, Barbs, John, Miguel, Ariel, Atty. Mon, Ze German Snake, Grouch and Goma. No, I don't feel like a fish. I feel like a bait to a fish!!! Much worse....

I wasn't really getting spectacular cards, unlike Goma who got "the girls" for for freaking times! Wow!

And I've been short stack like forever.

But the real fun aside from playing poker is the chemistry of people there last night. Everybody's crazy and funny. There were side bets on who'd be staying longer, a jack on the flop and stuffs like that. I also discovered that cranberry juice can be bad while playing poker. Or at least for Barbs. :-) Thanks to Misha for the booze together with Kath's nicely made poison. What a night huh?

Amazingly, I reached 3rd place. And I am sooooo happy! I hope this is the start of my winnings again and finally ending my drought and bubbles. Great game guys!

P.S.
I also want to salute the Camp Hold 'Em guys for their game last night. Goma got a seat for the tourney, Mike got the money and Mark also got the money on the other satellite for finishing 2nd. Oh, Benny is missing in action again.

And congrats to ARIEL for winning the JGPT Satellite game for the rooftop invitational. REPRESENT!!!

WPT here I come!!! (wishful thinking)

Now I feel a lot better. I finally made a decision by resigning from my job. Yes, it may sound like it's a bad decision. But it's the best thing that can happen right now. I will no longer prolong my agony of battling my own demons. I will no longer be depressed about the situation.

No, I don't have a new job. But I am looking for one. Marketing is such a huge field, I know there's one for me in due time. But for the mean while, I will do a stint as your dealer at the BBC. I'm really glad that they let me into their group. I really need to be busy with something or I might go crazy.

I wish Che would land that job she's been eyeing. And if that pays really well, I think it's either Im dealing or paving the way to my WPT career. hehehe! Or so I wish.... Maybe I'm just so addicted to poker. But who wouldn't?!

I created this site mainly as my poker blog. But ofcourse, from time to time, I will post some random rants and raves... and this is one of them.

I hate what's happening to me lately. Things are not in order and I keep messing up. I lost my drive for my present job upon learning that I can not trust my boss. I learned the hard way.

So everyday I battle my own demons. I don't want to wake up early and face another day working for them. But I must. We can't afford much right now. Che and I have been living off from paycheck to paycheck. We now have rent and more bills to pay. The approaching season only adds more pressure to me. It is unwise for me to resign when I would be recieving a bonus in two months time. I wish it feels that easy.

Now, this is how it feels to be an adult.

I can't believe it took me the whole just to write something here. I can't seem to organize my thoughts. Whatever.

I'm IN!!!

I have registered to play in the
Online Poker Blogger Championship!

This event is powered by PokerStars.

Registration code: 2863790

I will fold

Enuf Bad Beats Pleasssssseeee

I know the poker community is already tired hearing about bad beat stories. But it makes me wonder how I am gonna avoid it. I've said to myself that I will not feel bad as long as I know that I did the right thing. But sometimes, I can't help but feel bad.

I don't know what's worse a player who knows it's stupid to call but does for the heck of it? Or a newbie who thinks that hitting the 2nd pair on board with the a terrible kicker is good enough to call a tremendous raise?

I know those types can very lucrative to people in the know. But there are times when luck is on their side.

For example:
Blinds: 4/8
UTG raises to 80
I called
another guy calls

Flop comes: Jx, 7x, brick (rainbow)

UTG checks
I raise 80
Guy calls
UTG folds with A, K off

Turn: brick

Having the top pair and raising tremendously that makes it obvious that I already have the Jacks with kicker Ace, moves all-in.
The guy calls holding 5-7

I am so confused why he called.

Then comes the River: 5

Giving him two pairs 5s and 7s with kicker Jack against my pair Jack kicker Ace.

DANG!


Jazminator clasps her hands together, looks up and utters,
"Dear Poker Gods, I am sorry for the times I gave bad beats to a poker player when I was a newbie. I am now a mature poker-loving individual. Please keep me away from the danger of a bad beat and make me win... to play more poker. Amen."

Poker Music

Music is something a lot of people can not live without.

You'd you see that a part of some poker players getup is their MP3 player. Should I say iPod in particular? But you'd never know what's in their playlist...

Since I don't carry an mp3 player, I keep wondering what could be my poker music.

Nah, I don't think I'd be listening to Britney Spears since "Hit me baby one more time" seems to be more suitable for Black Jack than Hold 'Em.

But I think it would be nice to hear Pearl Jam's "Alive" after winning an all-in.

Hmm... I know there are a lot of songs that you can play while playing poker. But I guess it depends on who's listening.

Now, I ask you...

What's your poker music?

Heads-up with Barb

Last night we played ring games. I didn't really won my buy-ins back. I think im still down a bit. But when everyone started leaving, Che and I was left with Barbs. Che, with no more chips, opted not to buy-in anymore since she's happy being drunk already. I think she can't read her cards anymore. Hehehe! Anyway, Barbs told me that I have an option to cash out or play heads-up with her. MAN, heads-up with Barbs?! That's like one of the scariest things in the Manila poker scene! This girl is our poker guru! Should I put myself in a situation wherein I would get schooled and lose all my money for that night?

...

Well, I was thinking... My chips ain't even half of the total money I used for my buy-in. And it sure is worth to learn from Barbs. Besides, heads-up is something I've got to develop in my game. So, I did.

I am so nervous. I know this lady can smell fear in me, she does with everyone of us. My five months of playing poker against Barbs' years of experience, I'm a dead money dude. She kept telling me that she's giving me the option. But, what the heck! I told her, let's try it a few hands. I'll see if I can stand the pressure... I'm already having cold sweat there. My hands are so cold and I suddenly felt so awake. Well, who'd feel sleepy when Barbs would stare at you as if she's got x-ray eyes?! Geez...

Our game lasted with more than five hands. And I WON!!!
This is definitely one of the highlights of my poker career.

Good game, Barb! I really learned a lot in the game.

ALL IN your tiles

Yes, that's a familliar red felt we use for poker. Now, it is now also used for a game of scrabble. And oh, you get double points if you use a poker word. Next time, I'll bring snake and ladders! hehehehe!

Mango Classic

Wow! I've never seen so many poker players until the Mango Classic.

Salute to the Stehmeiers, Poker Filipinas, A55 and everyone resposible for pulling off such a great event.

And I thought that almost everyone playing poker nowadays would seem to be a familliar face to me. But noooooo, more than half of the people there seemed new to me, but not to the game.

I had a big stack early in the game. Then luck turned the other way or I guess, I need to learn more. But, hey, finishing 45th out of 109 players ain't so bad -> specially when i'm coming down with a flu. Yeah, fever with bad cough and colds didn't stop me from playing poker.

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QUESTION: How do you play an early big stack?