WSOP Media Event

We Interrupt this blog with a Very Important Message!

The staff and management of The Vegas Tourist (all two of us) would like to announce that the Ringleader (that would be Ms T) has agreed to participate as her title states, “The Ringleader”  for The Vegas Tourist in  2009 World Series of Poker(WSOP) media poker charity event.

The Media Charity Poker Tournament to be held on July 9 at 1:00 PM, during the break between day 2 and 3 of the Main Event.  Each participating media team will have three members and awards will be for the best player and the best team. Harrah’s will donate money to Nevada Cancer Institute in the name of the winners.

The 40th annual WSOP began May 26 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and will continue until July 15. For the second consecutive year, the final nine players in the WSOP Main Event will halt play this summer and return in November to compete for the most prized trophy in all of poker, the WSOP Main Event gold bracelet.

Look for nervous updates and posting fromt he team leader as the eventful day approaches and when The Vegas Tourist is crowned !!  Yea, we be dreaming!!

How Theresa Won Her Groove Back

I feel like I’m hitting my stride.  Things are starting to settle down, at least enough that I can focus on fewer things.  That makes it easier to get enough sleep and play poker well.

At first I started playing two four hour sessions each day.  It didn’t take long to realize that it was too much.  After about the 3rd hour I’m getting anxious, looking at the clock and being distracted.  I was winning the most during the first 2 hours, and then losing focus and concentration during the last 2 hours.  Mathematically, I just wanted to get as much poker in as I could – my average win rate is right about $25/hour – about $30+ at the $8/$16 tables.  So I just wanted to put as much time in as I could to build up my bankroll, and of course, to pay the bills.

Then it occurred to me that I don’t need to put that much time in at the tables.  As I mentioned, I’m winning the most during the first 2 hours – usually a lot more than $25 or $30 per hour.  If I’m losing and becoming frustrated during the first 2 hours then it doesn’t make a lot of sense to stay for the entire 4 hours while I’m on tilt, so that’s a reason to leave and limit my losses.  If I’ve tripled up during the first 2 hours (that seems to be a common theme) and I’m anxiously watching the clock waiting for my “shift” to end – there’s no reason to stay.

Yesterday I only played for 1 hour, 45 minutes at the $8/$16 tables.  I was up $297 and decided that it was enough.  Besides, it was a beautiful, sunny day and I wanted to put the top down on my car and enjoy it.  I probably could have stayed at the tables longer, but after losing focus I could easily have lost my sugar, too.

So instead of averaging $25 or $30 per hour playing long sessions, I’m thinking I’ll average more on an hourly basis, but will play fewer hours.  And the more I do this, the longer I’ll be able to play.  My goal is to always be on my A game when I’m at the tables.  Especially when this is my only source of income!

So if you’ve read some of my past articles, you know I love to talk about hands I’ve played.  Yesterday I ended up heads-up against another player who I know to be a professional.  He’s good enough that I don’t want to push a small margin with him; I want to make sure I’m either drawing to a big hand, or have something big to start with.  Not that I won’t try to bluff him.  I’m pretty sure I know what will make him think about folding, and I’ll certainly take advantage of that if the scenario presents itself.  But, on the whole I want to show down with something of quality against better players.

I limp in middle position with a couple of callers before me, after looking down at King, 9 of Clubs.  My professional friend is on the button and raises.  I know that his range of raising hands from late position is pretty wide.  He could be holding the obvious – any pocket pair, Ace King, Ace Queen, well, Ace anything to be honest.  He’s not above raising for value with marginal hands like suited connectors or Ace-X suited.

As you would expect, all the limpers call, including myself.  The flop is perfect for me.  10, Jack, Queen – rainbow (meaning they’re all different suits, making a draw to a flush a long-shot).  I have a King high straight.  The action is checked to me, and I decide to slow-play and see how my professional friend likes this flop.  Everyone checks to him and he bets.  I believe there were 6 of us in the pot, and 3 of us call the bet.  I’m going to wait for the turn and spring my trap on one of the expensive streets.

The turn is a 6 of Clubs – basically a blank that probably doesn’t help anybody.  There are now 2 Clubs on the board meaning I now have a draw to a flush, along with my straight on the flop.  Again, I check with the intent of raising.  My friend bets, and when the action comes around to me I raise.  My friend reraises!  By this point the action is down to the 2 of us – the other 2 players have folded by this time.  I believe my friend flopped a set, but there is something even more ominous – if he has Ace King, he has a bigger straight.  With the flush draw I have to push this one, so I decide to reraise and he calls.

I feel like I’m in the situation I’m trying to avoid; except his raise on the button could have been anything.  I can just as easily put him on a set as I can Ace King.  Basically, Ace King is the only hand I’m really worried about at this point, so I’m not worried.  Yet.

The river is another 6.  My stomach turns over and I wanted to throw up.  If I’m right that my friend flopped a set and the board just paired, he has a better hand than mine – a full house.  That, combined with the ominous Ace King possibility, I’m feeling very sick.  I check, he bets – looking pretty confident in his hand at this point, and I call, saying “nice hand.”

He turns over Ace 6 suited!  He turned a pair of 6s, and rivered 3 of a kind – but, not enough to beat the straight that I flopped.  He asks, why didn’t you raise me on the river?  I said geez, I thought maybe you flopped a set the way you raised on the turn.  When I left, he caught me in the parking lot and said that I scare him – I love hearing that.  He thought I was just trying to get him to fold with a straight draw.

This is great to hear – not necessarily because I “scare” a professional, but because it means I’m bluffing just enough to put my opponents, especially the observant ones, on edge.  I’m showing down quality hands most of the time, but there’s enough uncertainty that I’m still getting action enough to get paid off.

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