Saturday Sept 30th - Opps

Day: 2
Total Cash: 14,753
Eric's play: - 405
Shirleys Play: +238

Well today, Eric had a little trouble. After I won the first pot I played with JJ, it was straight down hill. I didn't really ever go anywhere but down. We played for 10 hours and I was definitely not in the right mind set to play after 6. I'm lucky that I was only down 600 on the day, it could have been much worst. Shirley played solid for all ten hours, in the beginning it looked like she might have been heading towards a big loss, but after getting her last 60 dollars in after she flopped trip jacks she headed to a 3 dollar win (hahaha) I would have taken a 3 dollar win but what can ya do! The table was much more solid then the night before. People seemed to have a clue as to what was happening.

The session ended in a BANG, when Shirley and I got involved in a pot together. I had QQ and Shirley had pocket tens. I raise pre-flop, I look like a total cannon at this point, NO ONE respects my raises. Shirley in the Big Blind re-raises 3 bets. There are at least 7 ppl involved in the hand. Before it gets back to me someone says something alone the lines of, "I wanna see the hands, you guys are playing together" then he four bets. I call. Shirley calls. The board comes T97 Shirley Fires out, there is a caller then the PF capper, raises, then I re-raise, then Shirley Caps it. Everyone calls. The same guy says,"I wanna see the hands". I say out loud, "Don't worry I'll show my hand, and so will Shirley". Cause I know Shirley has a huge hand. An Ace comes on the turn Shirley bets out, the other guy raises and I fold face-up. The then starts screaming about how I can't show my hand.. blah blah blah. I told him I was going to show him that I had a big hand. The table was getting very loud, Shirley was pissed off. Anyway Shirley's set loses to J8... The guy flopped a straight. We picked up our chips and left right after the hand and left. A couple people Apoligized for the guys behavior. I think they just didn't wanted my action to go anywhere, but we left!

Anyway, we headed back to the hotel and hit the gym. Did a little work out and I had a swim. We just ordered a pizza. We are going to kick back for the rest of the evening. Might have a beer and watch a movie. We are off to Kansas City tomorrow. It is going to be a 9 hour drive, Shirley just informed me that the weather network says it is going to be 92 degrees in K.C. tomorrow. Should be nice!

Talk to you all tomorrow!!!

-Eric

Friday Sept 29, 2006 - Good Start

Day - 1
Total Cash: 15,472
Eric's play: + 255
Shirley's play: + 235

Well we are off to a good start! The hotel we are staying in, is really nice! Big room with king size bed, living area, Fridge, Microwave and a huge washroom. We are not in "Chicago" we are in the suburbs, and the town, Aurora, is not the most appealing place to be in the world! There is not much to the down town other then the casino. Anyway it took us almost 9 hours to get here, we left the house at 7:20am and didn't get here until shortly after 4:00pm. The I-94 had more construction going on then any road I have ever traveled.

When we got to the hotel I was too tired to think straight so we got in a little nap before heading to the casino. When we got there the security guy asked us for our ID's we handed him 2 valid Ontario drivers licences. He said, "In my country, we can't accept these!" I was like you got to be kidding me! Anyway, he said that we needed a passport! Back to the hotel! Anyway, we got in. Man, was I wrong about this place, 6 tables and only 4 going; on a Friday night. They had two 10/20 and two 5/10. Shirley and I signed up for both games, the list was 15ppl deep. For those of you who are not familiar with casino poker, you can't just go sit at any table, you have to talk to the front desk and then they seat you, when I spot becomes avalable. Well there were no spots and there was a list of 15 ppl. We had to wait like 2 hours, but it was was ok, Shirley entertained herself by playing the 5 cent slots. She made a whopping 50 bucks!! Perfect, gas money. Speaking of gas, I got 660kms on the first tank of gas out of the Celica, and there was still 3 bars left on the tank reader! I would have gotten 700kms out of the tank!! now that is a quality Toyota product!!! LOL

Anyway back to the poker, I started out playing 5/10, and Shirley was already seated at the table. After folding the first 20 hands or so I came to the conclusion that the only competition at the table was Shirley, and maybe this older Asian dude. I pick-up pocket Jacks in middle position and I raise there was 6 callers to the Flop, The board comes AJ4 turn 4 and river K. I get lots of action from A8 and AK, AK was all-in on the turn. It was a 200 dollar pot. Then I got called to the 10/20 table. This might have been the weakest table of poker players I have ever sat with. Every flop had 8 people, very little pre-flop raising (VERY Loose passive) normally a game I do poorly in. There really was only one hand of note.

It was a hand where I played K7 of hearts on the button. I limp in with 7 other callers and the big blind (old ROCK) raises it up, so we go 8 way to the flop... Ah 7d 2h. Big Blind bets out there are 3 callers and I raise and we go 4 way to the turn.. 7c on the turn I make trips, everyone checks to me and I fire out again 3 callers. River 4d... Board: Ah 7d 2h 7c 4d. The BB checks, another guy checks and I fire again and they both call me. I show K7 hearts, big blind mumbles and folds, and the other guy says, "No good, I have a straight" and flips over 53 of hearts. I thought I was going to be sick! I was totally blind sided. I just did not even see it. When he said straight I didn't even think it was possible!!! lol I have to slow down and think sometimes!!! Anyway Shirley played SOOOOO tight I think she folded the first 100-150 hands then she scoops a huge hand with 87d, where she caps the flop 4 ways with a flush draw and hits. Then she plays AA the very next hand and scoops a good one.

We were really quite tired and decided to go back to the hotel, where I am right now writing this. We are going to put in a session in the morning so I really need to get to bed. I will update how the day goes, but I would like to at least make 290. That will cover the cost of the hotel!!

-Night Eric

Thursday Sept 28, 2006

Day - Zero
Total Cash - 15,000
Eric's play - EVEN
Shirley's play - EVEN

We leave in the morning!!! I'm ready to go... Well my brain is ready to go, I haven't finished packing or anything but I want to leave already. I still have to finish packing, I have a good chunk of it done but there are still some clothes that have to be cleaned, the computer has to be packed up, I have to set-up a ring of keys for my brother and Shirleys sister the dishes have to be put away and... Hold on I'm sure this is boring you all so I'll change the topic.

I have spent quite a few hours playing online over the last 4 days and I'm down $20.14. What a waste of time!! LOL for those of you wondering I did not cash in last weeks Party Poker Millions. Kind of embarrassed on how I went out and really don't wanna tell ya about my bad play, but I'm going to try to be as honest as possible on here. So it is hour and 45 minutes into the tourney and there are still a ton of people left. I have 10,200 chips and the Avg stack is 9,000. I'm at a fairly good table, a couple rocks, a couple Fishes and some just Avg. players. Anyway I'm in the small blind and everyone folds to me. The blinds are 200/400 and I have Kc9h, I decide to take the flop and call the 200 (I know I know). Anyway the big blind (10,400 chips) raises 1100. This guy was pretty aggressive player and I thought that he did not have a very strong hand. So I call. The Flop comes 6c 4d Kh. I check he bets 2225, I think and push all-in. He calls and shows Ks Jc. Turn 8s river 3c. I lose. and am out, the guy has me covered by 200 chips. Anyway I don't really want to discuss this hand any further but needless to say I wasn't happy with my play!

On Tuesday night I had about 70 bucks in my party poker account and my brother show up at my house after he was done work around 1:00am. I was kinda bummed; remember how I told you guys that Shirley's car needed to go into the shop cause her clutch was not working, well I got the bill. It cost $1900. I hate cars! Anyway, I told Rob (my brother) that we were going to run that 70 bucks up to 1500USD to pay for the clutch! So I sit at a 6-handed 1-2 table and make it to 100, so we move up to 2/4 , make it to 150, so we move up to 3/6 and make it to 250! I was on fire. We get the account to 500 and move to 10/20 short, then we climb to 750 and goto 15/30 short. I was at 928, one pot away from 20/40 short, when disaster strikes. I'll quickly write out some of the beats I take!

I flop 2 pair with A8. Board comes A89 I lose to KT turn J, river Q

I flop 2 pair with 87. Board comes 875 I lose to AT turn J, river 9 (that was my favorite)

I have AK vs K8. I was out played badly on this hand. I was only winning Pre-flop

I flop 2 pair with Q9. Board comes Q94. I lost to JT. turn K

All if this crazyness occured in 40 hands or so! It was like 30 minutes of play! Rob was here he can back my story! When you are playing 15/30 short those hands cost you lots! The only good thing about the whole story was that I got up after it occurred and saved my 190 bucks! I went to bed trying not to think of what happened. As my brother said, "Easy come, Easy go" My brother is a carefree kind of guy!

Well this is going to end quickly. This is the 3rd time I have tried to post this BLOG and everytime I try it screws-up and I'm forced to re-write it.

Well, I will try to update it tomorrow or saturday so you'll know how we are doing but if it takes me this long to write these things I can see me not wanting to continue.

-Later Eric

Sept 24, 2006 - 5 days to go

Well, I don't know about this BLOG site. It is giving me a hard time. I have tried to post 3 time since the last post but they just won't go. Anyway lets hope I can get this one! I really haven't been up to much, I have played quite a bit of poker over the last couple days and have had a couple of big scores. Lets see My play looks a little like this over the last week

Sun 17th Brantford 10/20 --> +975
Tue 19th Brantford 20/40 --> +1400
Wed 20th Brantford 20/40 --> -170
Fri 22nd Brantford 20/40 --> +1000
Fri 22nd Brantford 30/60 --> +2170
Fri 22nd Roy's (neighbor)--> +140
Sat 23rd Roy's .25/.5NL --> -80

All in all it has been a great week (up 5435 dollars in 42 hours) if every week goes this well I won't need to go back to work! Some highlights of the play in the 30/60 game. I was involved in a pot that was capped pre-flop 9 ways (for those of you who are not poker experts that means that 9 people put in 4 bets of $120 before the first 3 card were even dealt on the board, that's $1080) I had AQ and the board came AQ5 rainbow turn K river 5, My hand holds up and I win over 2000. The whole time I played 30/60 I ran into no brainers, twice I flopped sets and was up against top 2 pair. It was a fun session. If they could only all be that nice!
Brantford casino has been NUTS over the last week, it is because they have been running there big tourneys. I was going to play in the 1K event but unfortunately I was unable to get a seat. I didn't pre-register cause I thought I was going to be Mexico. So I just played cash games instead.

Saturday Shirley and I went to the Mandrian in Mississauga. We met up with her parents, and her sister(Jane) to have a family get together, for Janes birthday. The food was execellent as always, but I really didn't eat as much as I normally do. I don't know why but I just wasn't really that hungry. I drove Shirleys car the restaurant, it sucks she needs a new cluch, I could barley get the car to change gears. So I guess I just have to add that to the list of things that I have to get done over the next 4 days. I'm sure it will be cheap!

Well I really do not have a whole more to say, I've been playing in the party poker million dollar tourney while I have been writing this BLOG entry, and I'm doing pretty good. I'm going to go and hopefully do well. If I place in the money I will write another BLOG.

-Eric

Monday sept 18, 2006 - Trip Plans
Well it has been a couple days, so lets see. I managed to get my passport, or at least it is in the mail, it should be here on the 25th. The trip to Mexico is out! Sorry dad I just have too much stuff to get done over the next 11 days. I know it is a lame reason but if I was more organized I probably would have got it in. It was also Shirley's birthday on Saturday and I didn't want to miss it!
So I'm a little worried to see how much my next phone bill is going to be as I have been calling Las Vegas, Chicago, Kansas City, Las Angles and Denver like non-stop over the last 3 days. But the first month of the trip is booked! This is what is happening over the first month, we are leaving Milton on Sept 29th. We'll drive for about 8 and a half hours and stop just outside Chicago at the Hollywood Casino in Aurora, Illinois (http://www.hollywoodcasinoaurora.com/). We have a room booked there for 2 nights, Friday sept 29 and Saturday sept 30. I talked to the poker room there and it sounds like they have good action, with at least two 10/20's around the clock and 20/40 going must of the time! Then on the morning of Sunday Oct 1st, it is back to the road for another 8 and a half hours until we hit Kansas City. We have a room booked for two nights at Harrahs Prairie Band Casino just outside Kansas City(www.harrahs.com/casinos/harrahs-pririe-band/). It is a division of Harrras casino. It looks really nice. After earning our keep at the poker tables we are going to head out and drive for 8 and a half hours to Denver, CO. We'll be staying at the Lodge Casino outside Denver for 2 nights Tues. Oct 3 and Wed Oct 4th(http://www.thelodgecasino.com/). This looks like a little casino, and I doubt there will be a lot of action there as the max bet in the state Colorado is 5 dollars, so the biggest game they can have is 5-5 limit. That is ok as we'll probably spend a day in Denver.
Then we leave for the long haul to Las Vegas on the morning of October 5. It should take 10 and a half hours, to get to the Orleans Casino, where we will spend the rest of October. I know I know I can hear you all... I thought he said he was getting an apartment... But after carefully looking around the internet and numerous phone calls I decided that after rent, heat, hydro, cable installation, and (get this) furniture rental, it really wouldn't be much more it just stay in one of the casinos. So I booked the Orleans, it is cheap, we have stayed there before and it has what Shirley wants.
Now the plan is too book the Commerce Casino in L.A. for November. I have not got to this yet but I will, I might do it when we are in Vegas. So that is where the trip stands. As for me I have been playing some golf. Not shooting very well but still shooting. I have played quite a bit of poker over the last week.
Monday Brantford 3 hours +800
Tuesday Brantford 8 hours -2000
Thursday Brantford 4 hours - 300
Sunday Brantford 4 hours +975
That makes for 19 hours and -525 of live action. I have also put in quite a few hours online. I'm not going to write out each session but I'm even to the penny. It sucks for the amount of hours I have played but what can ya do. Shirley has been KICKING some ass. She has now won 5 sessions in a row and is up close to 2000. I'm telling ya she is going to kick Las Vegas in the ass!!
Once we hit the road I'm going to start every blog like this:
Total cash : 15,000
Eric's play: -5000
Shirley's play: +5000
The total cash will be how much money we have total in our pocket. We are leaving with 15,000 USD but are going to pay for everything with this money. Eric's play and Shirleys play is how much we are up or down with poker play ONLY.
Anyway, I have gone on too long. I will try to have an update a little sooner next time so it is not so long!
-Eric

Saturday Sept 9th - I"M DONE!

Work is done for the year! I actually finished last night. Went over to the neighbors .25/.50NL game to celebrate. My brother and a couple of the neighbor friends were there. It was Roy's birthday, the guy who runs the poker game. Shirley was still at the casino (brantford) But she said she would be home when I got off work so I knew it won't be long before she showed up. Sure enough she was a little late cause she had stopped at the store to buy Roy a birthday cake. Shirley has run really well at the casino over the last 3 days, booking 3 wins in a row, $400, $200, and $50 last night.

Roy's poker game is really a bit of a crap shoot, there's always 8-9 people seeing the flop, and people really don't ever want to fold. So I buy in for the max of $40. After a good run of cards I'm sitting around $120. That is really quite good in a .25/.50NL game. After 3 beers and about 2 hours, I found myself starting to play every hand and really just giving my money away. After another hour or so I'm back to the original $40 that I started with. I cashed it out as I wanted to goto bed.

I woke-up this afternoon to the first of 121 days off. I thought to myself what should I do? Well I thought it is really my first day of my new job, so I should get off to a good start. PLAY SOME POKER. After shooting some low limit cash games on party poker, I decided to go into a $55 tourney. After 3 hours of play I was the chip leader. The tourney started with 440 people and the paid out the top 60. With 27 people left and having the chip lead it looked like I was heading off for a big pay day. Well top 4 were all over $1000 and first took home $5500. Anyway deasters strikes and I have AQ and I lose to AK, then I play KJ, Flop up and down with a flush draw, hit my flush only to lose to a bigger flush. This happens in like 3 hands, but it is a perfect set-up for the next hand when I get AA, it looks like I'm STEAMING, so I over bet the pot pre-flop and the new table chip leader calls me out of the big blind. The board comes 38J, He bets out half the pot, and I push all in. He calls with 88, he flopped a set and I'm out 27th. I make 138 dollars but still not very happy with the outcome. It would have been nice to hit big.

Anyway, I have lots of of stuff to get done this week. I got my passport signed by an engineer at work (thanks Andy). So Now I have to go hand it in. I still have to change the brakes on my car. Take Shirleys car in to get a new sticker for her plate. I have to find a good place to stay in Vegas, have to get Shirley a birthday present (that well be easy, I know what I'm getting her) her birthday is on the 16th. I have to plan out our drive to Vegas, where we are going to stop along the way, clean the house, the list just goes on and on...

Well, that's it for now, I should be playing some casino poker this week and trying to get my list of stuff done, anyway I'll probably write another column later on in the week

-Eric

Wed Sept 6th

Well 3 days of work left, then I'm done. I have to say that I'm starting to get excited, not really sleeping well and I'm sure it has to do with my excitement. I have a whole lot of things to do before I go. I just got back from the passport office in Mississauga, what a pain!! I wish there was an easy button! Anyway I have to find someone to sign my passport photo before I can go any further. I'm sure I can get into the USA without one but I'd like to have one for the trip!

I'm going to be flying to Mexico sometime in the next 2 weeks, I'm going to crash at my fathers house before the big trip to Vegas, I figure that I'll relax for 7 to 10 days before we head out. Unfortunately Shirley will not be able to come with me, as she wont be able to get the time off work! I should be back around the 22nd just in time to clean up the house and get ready for the big trip!

I have really only played 3 sessions of poker over the last week, I put in a 24 hour session in brantford, longest session in 2 years, as many of you can guess I was stuck and was trying to get it back! Basically when Shirley and I started the session, I was playing 20/40 and Shirley was playing 10/20. After 8 hours Shirley was in to the 10/20 game for 1400 but she had 700 in front of her. She was getting tired and wanted to go, I was in for 1300 and had about 800 in front of me, that meant that we were stuck 1200. Since we both drove, I told her to head home and I would come home once I got us even. I was at a good table, I was playing well and I was pretty sure that it would only be a matter of time before I was there. So Shirley gave me her 700 chips, that put me at 1500. Combined we were in for 2700, not a great spot, but recoverable in the loose 20/40 game I was in. After another 6 hours I was sitting at 2100, six hundred away from the goal. For the next 8 hours my chips didn't change, not picking up any big hands but not losing any either. In the 23rd hour I lost 4 hands in a row, 98s I turned 2 pair only to lose to a guy who rivered a bigger 2 pair. Then I have pocket tens lose to a 9 high board, where this kid makes a crazy inside straight, on the turn. Then I play AKs, flop a king, and lose to a guy that flops up and down with JTs but backs into a flush. Then on the forth hand I lose set over set. This was 4 hands in a row! I was down to 1000 and was closing in on 24 hours. I was just too tired to continue, I booked an 1100 dollar loss and headed home!

I also played in a $22 tourney on party on Sunday. Rob, my brother, was over and to make a long story short I was crusin' along pretty good. Then I pick-up KK, a guy from ep limps in and I go 4 times the BB, ep calls the board comes 37Q Rainbow. EP bets out the pot, PERFECT I say to my brother, he has AQ. He has bet too much and will be committed to play off all my chips.... So I push.... He calls and shows AQ.... Turn 7 river A. I'm out. BLAH!

On Monday night I play in a $11-rebuy on stars, a buddie of mine, SLADE (hey Slade) was in it as well. I've been playing for 2 hours and I pick-up QQ. I'm second chip leader at my table with 10,500 chips. Blinds are 200/400 and I raise to 1200 in EP, the table chip leader calls and everyone else folds. The board comes 3d 6c 9h. I bet out 3000 and the chip leader pushes all-in. I think for a bit and call. He has Qc9c, making me a 87% favorite. Turn comes Kc... YUCK but I'm still like 75% favorite. River 9s.... I'm out

I figure that I'll be heading to Mexico in the next week or so, so there will probably not be too much poker in the next couple weeks. I will try to have another post before I leave. Anyway, I have too much stuff to do including going to work, so I'll talk to ya all later!

-Eric