H.O.R.S.E ing Around

This Sunday I got permission from my boss (for those single folks; boss = wife) to play in the next phase of the Cajun Classic. The Cajun Classic is a series of 10 poker tournaments put on by a great host, Puppy Feet. This tournament happened to be H.O.R.S.E.

I know a few of my faithful readers have no clue what H.O.R.S.E stands for so here it is

Holdem – Limit Texas Holdem
Omaha-8 – Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
Razz – Seven Stud with worst hand bringing home the bacon
Stud – Seven card Stud
E - Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo (Note: E comes from the fact that low hand must be <8)

The tournament starts at 1:00 PM. I did not have a chance to eat lunch so I ran into HEB for a beer and brag of pretzels. I then drove through Jack I-the-Box for a jumbo Jack. I new I was running late, but I never been to a tournament that started on time.

I made it to the location exactly at 1:00 PM and I was the only one there other than the host. Puppy feet promptly stated we are going to start on-time and blind people out. He was expecting 10 persons. So I ponied up my $30 buy-in with $5 of the entry going to the Championship prize pool. The winners of all ten events meet in a championship NL Holdem tournament. Just before we sat down Mr. D showed up and we began our round of holdem. Everyone started with 300 tournament chips.

I had no problem blinding folks out, but it sure sucks dealing to 7 invisible persons. It worked out because a few folks showed up and could play the cards that were dealt to their seat. Soon we had seven persons and one more person for sure on the way. I was a bit confused on whether each game lasted per round or by the clock. At first we would get a round in during the 20 minute clock. After awhile it seemed like we only got half way around the table when the clock was up. That did not seem correct so we abandoned the clock and agreed to reinstate the clock when we got down to the final four persons.

The other thing that really threw me off was the change in betting structure. For Holdem and Omaha blinds were used. For all of the stud games antes and bring ins were used. The bring ins were also confusing in that for Stud it was the lowest up card. For Razz and Stud-Eight it was the highest upcard. Betting was confusing because for Stud it was the high hand first to act and for Razz and Stud-8 it was the low hand that was first to act. I still do not quite agree with the Stud-8 approach, but I am so confused I may be wrong on how we actually did it. I just followed along.

Before I get into some specific hands I want to highlight my one potentially big mistake. We were playing a round of Stud-8. I am heads up with one other person, who had to aces showing. I had two tens showing. I also had a ten in the hole. I assumed the other person had a third ace by the way she was betting. It was possible she was going low, but on the turn came a card that made it impossible for her to be going low. I ended up with a Ten low, so I called her bet. Boy was that stupid because in Stud-8 the low must be less than 8 to qualify. I think I donated about $30 bills with this mistake.

There was another hand where Puppy Feet did the same thing. I believe it was in Omaha and I ended up after some caught the mistake scooping a large pot.

I also benefited during the first round of razz. I had an eight high, but my opponent was showing A23. I thought for sure I was beat, but when my opponent turned his cards over he had a jack low or something like that. He did not realize the two pair messed up his hand. He thought he would win because he had A23. I had pretty much been losing blinds and bring ins until this hand.

For most of the day I did not get a single hand in Omaha-8 worth playing. One hand I found myself with pocket aces. The board showed a pair of nines on the flop. Mr. W raised $140. I still had a low draw and something just did not seem right about his raise. The turn was another high card and Mr. W popped it for another $140. I called again. On the river came an ace. I was smiling inside with the nuts. Mr. W checked. I be $140 and he called. He turned over pocket kings. I raked a huge pot knocking Mr. W. down to I believe $15 in chips. He is a stong player, so I was in good shape. Soon Mr. W was out and Puppy feet was out. I was heads up against Mr. D.

We started with razz. Oh my cards were horrible for example a pair of kings showing. I lost 2/3 of my stack. We soon switched to stud. I got aggressive and begin to steal antes and bring ins. Soon I had the chip lead back. After about a thirty minute battle I won the final chip from Mr. D. It was a ton of fun! I won $130. More importantly I am now qualified for the championship. I can not wait. I had to share my bounty with my better half and even the kids got a portion of the winnings. Oh well! It was a ton of fun!

Nothing like drinking Guinness and playing a great tournament. I definitely would like to play HORSE again.

Time to play some online poker! Only two weeks left before giving it up for 40 days.

Play on!

"April Wine"

Listening to some April Wine, "I like to rock.." I get dealt QQ in a freeroll tournament. I get pushed to go all-in. Of course I call. Shit up against pocket rockets. Out 51st out of about 350.

Tonight sucked as far as poker goes. In total I lost about $65. Oh that hurts! I lost twice with full houses and twice with nut flushes. Well at least my new drink was delicious, rum and Cherry-vanilla Coke. I should have had a few more so I can drown my sorrows.

Oh I am on tilt! I was a freeroll, but I hate losing like that. Pehaps my luck will be on the money in the H.O.R.S.E tournament tomorrow. I am not feeling confident, but we will have to see how the cards fall.

I did manage to give the kids a few poker lessons today. The 6 year old is a chip off the old block. I let our daughter play solo for a brief period of time. She did quite well. Perhaps she will be able to win me some girl scout cookies at school during lunch. Those two 9 year old boys Mr. I and Mr. J were huge bluffers. Our daughter will clean there clocks when I am done with the lessons. I may have to hire Scott to really show her the ropes; however, Scott already has a young prodigy he is working on.

I am not sleepy, but the 7:00 AM alarm clock is only a few hours away. I can not find anything on the tube worth watching. Been watching the Olympics most of the day.

I will send out a post after the H.O.R.S.E tourny.

Play on!

"Oh They are Starting Young!"

Occasionally I have lunch with the kiddos. Well today it was our 9 year old daughters turn. I stopped by Wendy's and picked up some burgers. Unfortunately I can never time it correctly, so I was a bit early. I had a pleasant conversation with a Mom of a former soccer team mate of our daughter.

I sit down to enjoy lunch. I must state for the record that it has to be one of the loudest places on this planet. I probably will not be able to hear for a year. I sat between two girls. Across me was two boys both age 9. They start telling me about how they gamble their lunch items playing holdem. I think Wow!

I start to quiz them when they ask me to play. I won a billion dollars! Hee Hee! I am still not sure what to think about gambling at such a young age. I was probably started sitting on Dad's lap around that age, but I did not start gambling cookies until I was thirteen. It was really cute to say the least.

We played a few hands and I taught a couple of kids how to shuffle. Now our daughter wants to learn how to play. Let the lessons begin.

Man I am blessed in that this humble blog was visited by the famous Iggy. I hope he makes it to Austin for the big tournament.

More later! I am playing in a LIVE H.O.R.S.E tournament this weekend. I am excited. My master gave me permission to play. Yee ha!

Play on!

"The Iggy Trail"

I read Iggy's blog about getting slammed with great hands. Little did I know that he blazed a trail for me to follow. Fortunately for me it was limit holdem and only resulted in a loss of about $10.

Lets start with pocket Kings and max betting all the way to the river. Chaser picks up his straight on the river. Next lets have pocket Jacks. Chaser win another huge pot with two pair landing on the river. Next was pocket ladies with a lady hitting on the flop. Oh yes there is a flush filled on the river. Next pocket Aces losing to a gut shot straight on the river. Finally I get pocket Kings again. Of course maximum betting all the way to the river where yet another straight is filled. Man that is a path straight to hell. Iggy please start to lead in the other direction. Hee Hee!

I only played for about an hour last night. Losing on all three tables. I decided to turn in early at 1:00 AM. Perhaps tonight as I work on our tax return I can play longer. I did get a late start last night because we watched the movie flight path. I did not read any reviews nor have any expectations. I will say my opinion is that it was like watching paint dry. Perhaps I was just anxious to get to the poker tables.

Today we are heading to Barton Creek Mall to watch Nanny McVeigh. There will be a review to follow.

One more quick note in that I read in the Statesman today that yet another group is lobbying Texas Legislature on gambling. Hmmm should we let the casinos pay high taxes or should we just increase the taxes we pay. Think about it!

Play on!