(no subject)
Sept. 9, 2004, marked my first foray into the world of live-play No Limit Texas Hold 'em.
It came quite by accident. I went out to dine at my second home, Rounders, last eve with Co-worker Kevin, so we could watch the Missouri-Troy college football game and so he could drink a very large glass of beer. One of the employees was dressed in an almost nice fashion (blue dress shirt, unbuttoned at top, no tie, black jeans), so I inquired as to why the theme of his dress was 'redneck in court.' (actually, i didn't say that, or I would not have been made privy to the poker-playing plans). Anywho, unbeknownst to me, they had a poker night last Thursday as well, and plan to do it on all Thursday evenings, starting at 8. Oh joyous joy!
As I ate my dinner, I daydreamed of bluffing a pot. As we watched the football game, I imagined hitting a set on the river (this is important). As they were divvying up the chips, I briefly flirted with the idea of touching myself impurely, but thought better of it (illegal for one, didn't want to ruin my weekend for another).
And then, it was time to play. I began the night in first position after drawing for dealer, so with my small blind of 25 in there already, I glance down and see a Jack. and a second Jack. This is kind of like a 12 in blackjack when the dealer is showing a 6. what do you do? I knew I was playing, but how much would I raise? Should I just call?
Most players at the table (there were ... five other than I) called the big blind, and i raised it 300. Everyone got out. So, I took a few chips on my first hand ever.
Now, third hand, I call the blind with K-10 offsuit. A few others are in, and the flop comes K-x-10. After a check the bet was on me, and I should have slow-played it but I did not. And they all folded. Three hands, two small wins.
Then I lost a few. and I was down to 1,200 chips (started w/ 5,000). I have pocket 9s, and even though an ace came on the flop, I push 'em all to the center. I get two callers. I know they have aces each. They both out-chip me, so they have a side pot, meaning no cards are flipped up as in a traditional all-in. turn matters not. River .. was a 9! Has this been a traditional cards-up all-in, I would have gotten like Mattias Anderson and yelled a nice loud "Yaaaaa." when it hit. The cards are turned up. The others show their A-x hole cards. I slap down my pocket nines to the groans of my tablemates and rake in my tripled-up chip total. Oh goodie!
Fastforward to later on, the blinds had just gone up to 200-400 (but our hand started first, and i was in the small blind, so i'm already 100 chips in). we had lost two players from our original group, but two more from a closed table came, so we were up to 6 again. I have A-9 of clubs, and the flop comes Q-6-9, with one club. I go all in for my last 2350, get one caller, dealer to my right. He shows A-x. Oh well. Turn is another 6, this of clubs, so the board pairs and I am now on a flush draw. I could go full with a nine to win, or flush with a club. I do neither, as the 8 of spades lands on the river. Poop.
I believe I was 10th out of 18 or so players. Not good, but it was fun for my first outing. Every Thursday at 8, you know where I'll be. So expect poker updates on Friday from now on.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have sweets to eat, stories to write, and a weekend to get excited about!
-Matt
no nickname needed
It came quite by accident. I went out to dine at my second home, Rounders, last eve with Co-worker Kevin, so we could watch the Missouri-Troy college football game and so he could drink a very large glass of beer. One of the employees was dressed in an almost nice fashion (blue dress shirt, unbuttoned at top, no tie, black jeans), so I inquired as to why the theme of his dress was 'redneck in court.' (actually, i didn't say that, or I would not have been made privy to the poker-playing plans). Anywho, unbeknownst to me, they had a poker night last Thursday as well, and plan to do it on all Thursday evenings, starting at 8. Oh joyous joy!
As I ate my dinner, I daydreamed of bluffing a pot. As we watched the football game, I imagined hitting a set on the river (this is important). As they were divvying up the chips, I briefly flirted with the idea of touching myself impurely, but thought better of it (illegal for one, didn't want to ruin my weekend for another).
And then, it was time to play. I began the night in first position after drawing for dealer, so with my small blind of 25 in there already, I glance down and see a Jack. and a second Jack. This is kind of like a 12 in blackjack when the dealer is showing a 6. what do you do? I knew I was playing, but how much would I raise? Should I just call?
Most players at the table (there were ... five other than I) called the big blind, and i raised it 300. Everyone got out. So, I took a few chips on my first hand ever.
Now, third hand, I call the blind with K-10 offsuit. A few others are in, and the flop comes K-x-10. After a check the bet was on me, and I should have slow-played it but I did not. And they all folded. Three hands, two small wins.
Then I lost a few. and I was down to 1,200 chips (started w/ 5,000). I have pocket 9s, and even though an ace came on the flop, I push 'em all to the center. I get two callers. I know they have aces each. They both out-chip me, so they have a side pot, meaning no cards are flipped up as in a traditional all-in. turn matters not. River .. was a 9! Has this been a traditional cards-up all-in, I would have gotten like Mattias Anderson and yelled a nice loud "Yaaaaa." when it hit. The cards are turned up. The others show their A-x hole cards. I slap down my pocket nines to the groans of my tablemates and rake in my tripled-up chip total. Oh goodie!
Fastforward to later on, the blinds had just gone up to 200-400 (but our hand started first, and i was in the small blind, so i'm already 100 chips in). we had lost two players from our original group, but two more from a closed table came, so we were up to 6 again. I have A-9 of clubs, and the flop comes Q-6-9, with one club. I go all in for my last 2350, get one caller, dealer to my right. He shows A-x. Oh well. Turn is another 6, this of clubs, so the board pairs and I am now on a flush draw. I could go full with a nine to win, or flush with a club. I do neither, as the 8 of spades lands on the river. Poop.
I believe I was 10th out of 18 or so players. Not good, but it was fun for my first outing. Every Thursday at 8, you know where I'll be. So expect poker updates on Friday from now on.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have sweets to eat, stories to write, and a weekend to get excited about!
-Matt
no nickname needed