The Jazminator is back!

Enough of the silence and no updates for me, my excuse is now unacceptable.

We already moved to our own place. We bought some new stuff, including an aircon which is actually from poker. Our friend, Ryan, won the aircon for placing 2nd in a charity tournament. He sold it to us for a good price since he wouldn’t need another aircon and we will really buy one for our house. And the latest addition to our house is this spanking new computer. It’s not branded, but man, it’s hot! We splurged on the processor although it’s not a Pentium 4 but it’s an AMD 64 Athlon 3000+ and ofcourse, a video card for my gaming needs plus the speakers to irritate my neighbors. So needless to say, I already have a computer, no reason not to update my blog.

A lot of things happened in the last two months when this page was quiet. All I can say is that poker in the Philippines is now growing very fast. You can find tournaments and ring games everywhere. And a lot more people are now playing poker. Well, I’m glad I knew the game at an earlier stage in this country before the bulk of people whom my friends call fishes/newbies. I’m not really sure if I’m not one of them. But one thing for sure, I’ve seen more hands than them. But ofcourse I’m still a fish if I’m in a table with the likes of Barbs and Nick. Also the guys of Camp Hold ‘Em, man, they are good poker players and good looking too! (Naks! Libreeee!!!)

As much as I’d like to dig my mind for more stuffs to put in this entry but I’ve got to run. I need to hear some chips crackling and feel the felt somewhere…

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!


~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~

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!

My Prayer

I can't seem to find the words to express my deep sadness today. All I can do is count my blessings and pray for good things to happen specially for my friends. It seems that it's the best I can do right now. I may not be a solid devotee to church but I believe in His power and goodness above all. It may seem weird that I am talking like this. But when things go wrong or things seem to go my way, I talk to Him. I don't really know if He hears me or if I'm praying for the right things. But I'd do it anyway.

I don't want to weird out anyone. I just don't know how to express what I am feeling right now. I've been restless and in tears, shocked and in panic... But I know it could have been worse.

A friend of mine texted me and I empathize when she said that it feels so depressing when you want to help but there's really nothing much you can do about it. I only hope that a prayer would be powerful enough...

JGPT vs BIG SLICK MANILA and My Bad Beat

Since word got to us that A55 will play versus FAPA in a heads up challenge, Jards was inspired. So he pitted us in a challenge against Big Slick Manila. You know, those bunch of young people usually making it in the money in our big tournaments? They haven’t been in the State of Mind, but they are usually there in big tournaments like the last one in the Stehmeir’s residence (Did I spell it right, Ace?). Anyway, 7 selected members of JGPT faced heads up with 7 of them. Che and I were so stunned when we first heard that Jards challenge them ala A55 vs FAPA. It’s like, we don’t wanna be schooled, Dude. What were you thinking? But then again…WHY NOT?! He he he…

Venue was our homecourt last night. It was anybody’s game. I mean, they are really good players. Although there are several aspiring JGPT players, but we are still basically new to game with only a few months of experience. It was a very exhausting and ulcer-inducing game, tough one actually. Towards the end of the night, JGPT emerged victorious. It was a really good game. We had lots of fun and I’m glad we got to know their group as well.

After the heads up challenge, we all merged for an SNG. From a small stack, I’m glad to survive the final table and finish 3rd place. I know, I didn’t do well with my last hand. But with two big stacks against me and blinds that kill me, I just asked how much was the buy in again times two (for me and Che). Knowing that I’m already even money and my tummy running wild with acid… I’ve gotta make a move, double or nothing. Got and ace, trash… ok, push! Well the results were actually nothing. But the pounding in my head stopped and the acid in my stomach neutralized, plus I got both our buy-ins back. Not bad. So, Jardine and Myko went heads-up which eventually, Jardine won. It was a great night for JGPT.

So as degenerate gamblers as we are, Che and I went to BBC after that. I requested for a change schedule for that night because of the heads up challenge, might as well take advantage for me to play. So we joined one of the two 20-40 tables. I folded my first hand since it was there’s a raise and it was a really crappy hand. My second hand, Che was on the button. I'm small blinds and Joey beach was big blinds.

Che called the big blinds (P40)

On me, checked my cards… it’s Ace-Queen off. I raised P80 plus the big blinds (P40 + P80)

Joey and Che called my raise.

Flop: 5x, 5x, 5x

Everyone checks.

Turn: Ax

I bet P100. They both called.

River: 2x

A round of bets, raise and re-raise that made me go all in with full house 5s with the best kicker.

Che did not go all in. She folded at some point, leaving only somewhat 20% of her original stack. She folded with an Ace, Jack off.

Showdown: Joey first showed a 2x. I felt so relieved that it was full 5s with 2s he was fighting with when I’ve got the 5s with Aces. I showed him both my cards revealing the Ace-Queen off. Then he showed his other card, a 5.

I was stunned.

Can I say I was disgusted as well?

…

Yes, he got quad 5s on the flop.

…

So I just asked him, “Joey, you played a 5, 2 when I raised pre-flop???”

Che told me that I didn’t raise high enough. I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not… But it wasn’t just doubling the blinds to sweeten the pot. I raised tripling the blinds to take away the limpers and players with hands that they really shouldn’t play. (Or so I thought)

Why didn't I raise more pre-flop? Well, I haven’t even warmed my seat and it’s an ace-queen off. It is not something for me to go all-in or raise very high pre-flop. It was a relatively strong hand. But not the strongest. I want to see a flop with callers holding a small to medium pocket pairs or the same caliber of my cards like the Ace-Jack of Che. I made a substantial raise knowing that the people in the table are not newbies, knowing that high pocket pairs like rockets or cowboys would often re-raise that bet. And crap hands will fold.

I was really taken aback with what happened.

I mean no offense, we love Joey like anything. He is such a darling. But when he would play like that, I don’t even know how to react.

So there, that was my bad beat story for the day. I just really need to get it off my head right now.

JGPT DEADMONEY BOUNTY TOURNAMENT

Are you prepared to face the possibility of getting outplayed by some of Manila's worst poker players?

Finally, a tournament hosted by the members of the sole poker group that is proud to admit that all its members are dead money. In an embarassing display of pure bravado, JG Poker Tour is inviting the best players in town to pit their skills against their own somewhat mediocre poker-playing abilities.

DETAILS
Date: Nov. 19, 2005 Saturday
Venue: Penthouse of Le Grand condo, Valero St., Makati City
Game: No Limit Texas Hold 'Em / No Rebuys
Registration: 2:30pm (on site)
Max # of Players: 70 poker addicts
Places paid: Number of tables + 2 (Max of 7 +2)
Buy-in: Php 1,700 (1,200 + 300 + 100)


If you're wondering about the 100, it is for the...

BOUNTY HUNTER TWIST

Two players will be chosen randomly and he/she will have a bounty on his/her head. The total amount of the bounty (which is the P100) shall be divided for the head of these two people. The one who'd take out one will win half of the bounty pot. Take out two and you'll have the entire bounty pot. BUT... if the person with a bounty is able to make it to the final 2 tables, he/she gets the winnings to him/herself.

PRE-REGISTER TODAY and avoid the pains of a waitlist
Contact Jardine at 0918-907 2728
or post a reply here.

I miss my blog

I know it’s been quite sometime since I last posted here. It’s not that I am too lazy. But I’ve been busy, too. Well, the usual hours of the day when people would normally be awake… that would be bedtime for me. Being an insomniac usually works to my disadvantage, but not this time. Still, my mind is pretty much a wreck right now. My body and brain are still getting used to this new time zone for me. So by this time that I just got off from work, I’m like brain dead. Yeah, yeah…I use this time to play some online poker. (C’mon I’ve gotta play, too!) But the only working brain cells would be enough to decide on these choices: check, fold, bet, call or raise. It ain’t good enough to publish an entry here. But anyway, I think I can today.

Guys, believe me when I say that being a dealer ain’t easy. My first few days, I’ve got back aches. Add the fact that it is harder for dealers to read the board (or for newbie dealers at the very least). I realized that as a player, you are dealt pocket cards. If you play those two cards, you know very well what can make you win the pot. And you also know what can beat your hand with the board showing. Dealers are like referees. They are essential to a game, but not as a player, they are the ones who keep the game organized all the way to the cards, the chips, the rules and the winning hand. And as much as we want to please everyone, there can only be one winner (except when it’s a split pot).

Personally, I’m glad to say that I’ve already dealt a straight flush, quads, big wins and fun, lively games of no limit hold ‘em.

I'm your deelah, Baby

A good friend of mine called my attention last night on why I haven’t been updating my blog. I replied with an honest to goodness answer… there are a lot of things going on my mind. And it’s not about poker.

But guess what, last night was my first day at work at the state of mind called BBC. And it was great! Given that I am still adjusting, but it’s just such a cool thing to do. Although my body is aching right now but what the heck, I’m in a place where I hangout with friends and doing something related to a game I love!

Besides, I think my time is going to be occupied by sidelines everywhere. It’s all pouring now.

But back to poker… a newbie deelah getting used to mediate a battle of wits and bluff in the felt sometimes can’t help but scratch her head or say wow for a great play. This I tell you guys, it is truly different when you are at the other side of the felt. But all in all, it’s poker!

My first night, I’ve seen great play, good bluffs, bad beats, big pots, limpers and wise moves… all in a night of poker at the state of mind.

Tonight is another JGPT game. Come by and join our home games. :-)

Sale announcement

SALE UPTO 70% OFF!!! Puma, Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Arena, Keds, Nautica, Timberland, Spalding, Babolat! October 28-30, 2005, Megatrade Hall 2, 5th Level, Bldg. B, SM Megamall. STORE HOURS : 10:00am to 9:00pm. Hurry and beat the holiday rush!!!

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?!