What a difference sleep makes!

So I’ve been focused on poker quite a lot lately; in fact, there have been a few weeks where I might have spent more time on poker than I’ve spent at work.  (Don’t tell my boss!)  On nights when I stay home, I’ve been reading and trying to learn as much as possible.  Other nights I’ve been playing, building up my bankroll trying to earn enough to fund the trip to Vegas in early June, while still retaining enough in my bankroll to play at least $8/$16 when I return.  I’m on-track.  I’m also crossing my fingers.

Monday night a couple of people from work went with me to The Caribbean.  I’ve lost a lot of respect for play at The Caribbean (my friend and I call it the Kirkland Aquarium – alluding to the fact that there are so many fish who play there).  I’ve spent just a little bit of time playing $8/$16, but the difference between that game and the $3/$6 or even $4/$8 makes it almost laughable to play at the smaller stakes.  It’s kind of become difficult to take it seriously – except I’m still averaging $20+/hr on average when I play there, so the income is healthy enough to play.  Especially since the closest $8/$16 or $10/$20 game is 30-45 minutes away.

At any rate, I and 3 coworkers went to The Caribbean on Monday night.  It started out to be a little frustrating, as a few people hung in to make better hands against some of my stronger starting hands.  I wasn’t down much – about $20 or so, but for some reason I just couldn’t get ahead.  Whenever I won a pot I seemed to lose another and I hovered right around my initial buy-in.  I started the session at about 7:00pm, and by midnight my hands started to hold up.  The table was actually perfect; my friend and I, and one of our coworkers were probably the best people at the table.  There were 5-6 loose/weak players, making it one of those tables good players look for; one where you’re almost guaranteed to get paid off if you’re just patient enough.

One player in particular was a calling station; he routinely saw the flop, even when 3 bet, or even capped preflop with such quality hands as 6-3 offsuit, or Queen-3 suited.  He would call all the way to the river with nothing more than Queen high (I saw that happen a few times).  It was like he was just giving his money away, and I was waiting, ready to take advantage of this turn of luck.

By 3:30am I was up by $401.  Not my best night, but fortunate nonetheless.  When I emptied my opponent of his last few chips, I decided it was time to go.  My friends from work stayed and I went home.  It was a very very long night, but thankfully, profitable.

Tuesday night I went with some friends to the gun range and practiced shooting (another, new hobby thanks to my Mom, the “Pistol Packing Ferret” as she’s known to The Vegas Tourist gang).  I got home at about 9:00pm, and almost immediately fell asleep and slept soundly until almost 10:00am the next morning.  I had needed sleep badly.

I went back to The Caribbean tonight, and felt really good playing with enough sleep.  It was actually really easy – I left up only $200, but left because I decided I needed to get a good night of sleep rather than make more money.  $200 in 2 hours isn’t so bad, after all.

Milestones

I’m pretty sure that poker players remember some significant milestones in their careers.  Today, I’m pretty sure, is going to be one of those milestones I’ll always remember.  Not that it’s that big of a deal, (no pun intended) but I’m pretty sure that poker players remember the first time they were dealt a Royal Flush.  Today was that day for me.  I was playing $8/$16 limit at Diamond Lil’s after work today, and after about 3 hours I was only up about $20 or so.  It was a tough table; about half were pretty good players, and the other half seemed to be catching cards.  I had just lost my Ace-King of Clubs to the person to my right, who drew to the river to make two pair with Ace-Deuce.  Little did I know I was just about to get sweet revenge.  :)

I was on the big blind, and waited as about 4 people limped preflop.  Small blind folded, and I looked down at J, 10 of Diamonds.  I checked and the flop came Ace, King, Queen – all Diamonds.  I had flopped a Royal Straight and could hardly believe my eyes.  As I was first to act, I checked, and it was checked around to the button (the guy who had just beat me with two pair), who bet out.  I tried hard to hide my smile, but let me tell you, I was smiling BIG TIME inside!

I called – no, wait, I smooth called – actually, I EXTRA smooth called his bet with the absolute best possible hand – in fact, the best hand I had ever been dealt in my entire life!  I had him right where I wanted him, and I hoped he had something really good like a set (3 of a kind) that he would be willing to take all the way to the river with me.

The turn was the 8 of Hearts, and again I checked.  All of the other players in the hand had folded on the flop, except the victim, er, I mean the button player and I.  Again, I checked, and he bet – I called.  I figured I would spring my trap on the river.  The river was one of the best possible cards that could have come out; it was another Queen (of Spades).  So now if he did have a set, he now made a full-house, or, even better, if he had a set of Queens, he just made quads – which, unfortunately for him, were STILL BEAT!

I checked, and again he bet.  I tried to do my best acting job, and moan about the other Queen coming out.  I murmered, and thought about it for a long time.  In reality I just wanted to sit and take it in; poker players don’t often get to feel the excitement of having a Royal Flush very often.  :)

I then sprang my trap and raised him; he immediately folded.  Turns out (he told me after the hand) he was trying to bluff me with 6 high!  When I raised he couldn’t even call me.  The dealer almost scooped up the cards but I stopped her and said “This has never happened to me before.”  I showed her my Royal Flush.

So as it turns out, there’s a high hand jackpot at Diamond Lil’s, which is paid out ($300) every two hours.  Basically, the best hand during each two hour period is paid $300 – the 2nd best hand is paid $200.  So in addition to the money in the pot, I was lucky enough to walk away with yet another $300.  It felt good.  :)  Naturally I tipped the dealer as well.

So it feels good – really, there have been two milestones recently for me – the Royal, but also building up my bankroll enough to play $8/$16.  Fortunately I’m still managing to grow my bankroll – I’m now well over $5,000, so that even if I do have a losing night, I’m still way above the $4,800 necessary to play $8/$16.

« Previous Page — Next Page »