Greetings from Marseille, France (continued)

Last I left off, I was playing in Cassis, France.  I closed out the night with a modest 150EU win, and never really had to face a decision.  The players here are ridiculously soft, having little to no clue about odds, hand strength or hand reading.  Quite often, I saw calls of shoves with top pair no kicker against obvious overpairs, top top versus top bottom, and otherwise hopeless play.  I would go on to play a second night, winning an additional 50EU, only to be sucked out on in my third night by an idiot who was overwhelmingly happy to get it in with a naked gut shot, naturally hitting his four-outter on the turn (straddled 8EU pot where I raised 3 overlimpers to 40EU with 200EU total - get one caller, idiot, in the SB.  Flop is dry 4 4 7 and he leads; I raise all in after careful assessment and he INSTA CALLS 3 5 for the gutter and is SO happy about it).

At any rate, the rules in Cassis are pretty different from the U.S., and since this is a trip report, I'll detail them out here:

• Seat changes: You *CANNOT* change the order of the table, i.e. your seat position, under any circumstance, unless you are moving to the right and the seat is open and it doesn't change the order of the deal.  In other words, when you sit down, you are essentially stuck in your seat.  Otherwise, you must leave the table for 1 hour and then you can get a new seat.
• Buying the button: nope.  No such thing.  In addition to me not speaking English, they looked at me as though I was an alien when I merely suggested posting from the would-be BB.
• Straddles: nope.
• Rake: Wow!  4% uncapped!  No bad beat jackpot, no nothing.  Just a naked 4% uncapped rake.  I would see drops of 10-18EU regularly.  It was crazy.  Rake happens whether players see a flop or not.  The casino provides a calculator whereby, at the end of each hand, the pot is totaled and the rake is calculated to the nearest .50EU.  Rake is not taken as the hand plays out.
• New tables: You draw cards from 1 to 10 to determine seat positioning.
• Getting up for a break: If you leave your stack there, they continue to take blinds from your stack, whether you play or not.  Interestingly, on that note, absent players are dealt each hand, though they are automatically folded.  Yes, this is a CASH game.

I'm still fuming from the gutshot douchebag - he called my shove so excitedly that I thought he had a 4.  I wish I had more money to play there - it would have been a field day.  I had a similar experience with Paris a few years back, where the players were generally donkeys, but this experience took the cake.  It was as if they were there to play slot machines on a poker table.  I couldn't believe how loose each player was with their money.

What percent are you?

According to Free Money Free Finance,  "Money Magazine's December issue listed shares of income in the US by quintile. Here's how they broke up:

• Bottom Earners: Income up to $16,358; 4% of all U.S. income


• Second Quintile: Income $16,359 to $32,188; 8% of all U.S. income


• Third Quintile: Income $32,189 to $57,212; 13% of all U.S. income


• Fourth Quintile: Income $57,213 to $97,298; 20% of all U.S. income


• Top Earners: Income above $97,298; 55% of all U.S. income

And here are the income figures for the top 10% in increments of 1%:

• 90th percentile: $154,131
• 91st percentile: $160,864
• 92nd percentile: $168,227
• 93rd percentile: $177,123
• 94th percentile: $187,412
• 95th percentile: $200,026
• 96th percentile: $235,687
• 97th percentile: $290,860
• 98th percentile: $360,435
• 99th percentile: $506,553
• 99.5th percentile: $815,868
• 99.9th percentile: $2,070,574"

To figure out where your income fits, go to Wall Street Journal's What Percent Are You? calculator.  I doubt that I'll ever hit that 99th percentile, but I'm pleasantly surprised by my income in comparison to my fellow citizens.  Why do I still feel poor, though?

Greetings from Marseille, France

If you've been reading this blog long enough, you'll know that whenever I travel for business, I try to hit the local casino to check out the poker scene.  For today's post, I greet you from Saint Cyr sur Mer, France, near Marseille, on the French Riviera.  As you can see from the pictures below, the region's sights are absolutely stunning.

Greetings from the hotel Dolce Fregate

There's a picturesque golf course on the grounds, as well as sundry amenities such as massage, spas, pools, etc.  Of course, me being me, I don't waste time with that "girly" stuff - I'd rather get around, see the sites, and check out the locals.

View from the balcony of my hotel room

Before talking about the area and giving my trip report, I want to mention that the French roads here are ridiculously terrible.  Getting to the hotel was a feat in and of itself, in that the road signs are absolutely horrendous.  Only now, 2 days later, am I acclimating myself to the way roads seemingly trail off into one another.  I realize that one must pay keen attention to road signs in order to stay on the intended path.

Regardless, after a 2.5 hour journey from the airport (what should have taken 1 hour), I immediately headed to Bandol, which is the closest town.  Bandol is a town laid along the harbor, with expensive yachts lining one side, and shops and restaurants opposing them.  Walking along, checking out the different stores, I realize that I'm in a FAR different country - one which I clearly don't know or understand the language.  The throngs of people walking along the shops speak French, and don't stick to a pattern of walking on the right side; it seems to be mass chaos - no particular order seems apparent.  I purchased a large water and tried to complete the goal of my trip to town: getting souvenirs for my 3 kids.  No luck :-(.  However, I did find the local casino, located immediately on entrance to the town.  During the day, on a Sunday, though, it's pretty empty - I vowed to return later.

After catching up with a few colleagues for dinner, I decided to return to the casino to check out the local poker scene.  The casino in Bandol was still empty; the poker room was essentially a ghost town.  However, as it turns out, there happens to be 2 casinos within 20 minutes; the other one in Cassis.  The Bandol poker room manager was kind enough to call ahead to ensure a game was active at the other casino, and I ventured off to Cassis. 


I arrived at Casino Barrière de Cassis, after driving the crazy winding back roads of the region carved essentially into a mountainside.  I felt like I was in a bad '60's movie where I could drive off the cliff side at any moment.  Though I rented a Ford whatever-its-called-European-car, it was fun to drive, though I would prefer to take the roads a bit faster when I learn them a bit better.  Regardless, I arrived at the Casino in one piece, with all four wheels intact.


The casino primarily spreads 2/4, 5/5 and 5/10 (all in Euros) - and there were 2 tables running when I got there; both 2/4.  Unfortunately, though, I had taken 260EU out at the ATM when I got into France, figuring it would be enough for at least 1 buy in and expenses - and 400EU would provide a full buy in.  Oh well; I settled for a 200EU buy, figuring that if I go broker, that'd be it.  Upon sitting down, I found that I had most players covered, as I'd imagined that they bought in for the minimum 100EU initially.  As it would turn out, my stack size would never be an issue for the 2 hours I'd play that night...


(To be continued...)

What would you do? #241 - Rivered two pair

Bodog $50.00 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BTN: $28.20
SB: $51.45 - VPIP: 20, PFR: 5, 3B: 3, AF: 1.5, Hands: 325
Hero (BB): $249.46
UTG: $8.71
MP: $45.54
CO: $26.24

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is BB with 6s Jc
UTG calls $0.50, 3 folds, SB calls $0.25, Hero checks

Flop: ($1.50) 5d 6c Qc (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1.00, UTG calls $1, SB calls $1

Turn: ($4.50) 2s (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG checks

River: ($4.50) Js (3 players)
SB bets $4.50, Hero raises to $15, UTG folds, SB raises to $49.95, Hero ???

Click to see results

Villain is a semi-competent reg. I simply can't see him stacking off with worse than 2 pair like this... He check / calls the flop and, without position, checks the turn hoping for a bet. I don't oblige, not necessarily out of fear of him hitting the straight, but because my hand isn't all that strong. However, by the river, I have improved to two pair - and a lot of players are taking a swipe at this pot since I checked through the turn - hence the river raise. Again, though, is he ever stacking off with worse than middle two pair? I just can't see it - and mama always said, "Don't go broke on a limped pot." Hero folds

Final Pot: $34.50
SB wins $32.80
(Rake: $1.70)

Quads again?!?!?!

Bodog $50.00 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players
The DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

SB: $44.75
BB: $50.00
UTG: $43.75
Hero (UTG+1): $86.66
MP1: $23.33
MP2: $43.50
CO: $28.05
BTN: $29.25

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is UTG+1 with Ad 8d
1 fold, Hero calls $0.50, 3 folds, BTN calls $0.50, SB calls $0.25, BB checks

Flop: ($2.00) 8c 8s 4h (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks, BTN bets $2.00, SB folds, BB folds, Hero calls $2

Turn: ($6.00) 8h (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN checks

River: ($6.00) 5h (2 players)
Hero bets $6.00, BTN calls $6

Final Pot: $18.00
Hero shows Ad 8d
Hero wins $17.10
(Rake: $0.90)

FWIW, since Bodog doesn't publish losing / folded hands. I think the villain showed up with 64o.

How often do you see this?

Bodog $50.00 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

SB: $63.08 - VPIP: 21, PFR: 7, 3B: 2, AF: 1.6, Hands: 5904
BB: $50.20 - VPIP: 39, PFR: 13, 3B: 2, AF: 1.6, Hands: 325
UTG: $6.31 - VPIP: 43, PFR: 27, 3B: 11, AF: 0.3, Hands: 37
UTG+1: $51.04 - VPIP: 23, PFR: 4, 3B: 0, AF: 0.8, Hands: 26
UTG+2: $45.45 - VPIP: 18, PFR: 6, 3B: 3, AF: 7.4, Hands: 3982
MP1: $51.34 - VPIP: 15, PFR: 4, 3B: 0, AF: 3.3, Hands: 71
MP2: $50.14 - VPIP: 23, PFR: 8, 3B: 3, AF: 2.0, Hands: 1565
Hero (CO): $87.01 - VPIP: 30, PFR: 19, 3B: 6, AF: 2.7, Hands: 106923
BTN: $46.26 - VPIP: 13, PFR: 2, 3B: 1, AF: 2.6, Hands: 1652

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is CO with 9h 7c
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.50, 1 fold, MP1 calls $0.50, MP2 calls $0.50, Hero calls $0.50, 1 fold, SB calls $0.25, BB checks

Flop: ($3.00) Kd 4h 7h (6 players)
SB bets $2.25, BB folds, UTG+1 calls $2.25, MP1 folds, MP2 calls $2.25, Hero calls $2.25

Turn: ($12.00) Jh (4 players)
SB checks, UTG+1 bets $7.00, MP2 raises to $14.50, Hero folds, SB calls $14.50, UTG+1 calls $7.50

River: ($55.50) Tc (3 players)
SB bets $21.50, UTG+1 calls $21.50, MP2 raises to $32.89, SB calls $11.39, UTG+1 calls $11.39

Final Pot: $154.17
SB shows Qh Th - Q high flush
UTG+1 shows 5h Kh - K high flush
MP2 shows Ah 3h - A high flush
MP2 wins $151.17
(Rake: $3.00)


FWIW, I also had the 9h

First Straight Flush, now featuring Quads

Bodog $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players
The DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+1: $58.10
MP1: $19.25
MP2: $50.00
Hero (CO): $147.44
BTN: $48.50
SB: $20.40
BB: $46.55
UTG: $90.12

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is CO with 2d 2c
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to $1.75, 2 folds, Hero calls $1.75, 1 fold, SB calls $1.50, 1 fold

Flop: ($5.75) 2h 2s 9c (3 players)
SB checks, UTG+1 bets $4.31, Hero calls $4.31, SB folds

Turn: ($14.37) 7s (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $8.50, Hero calls $8.50

River: ($31.37) Jh (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $25.00, UTG+1 folds

Final Pot: $31.37
Hero mucks 2d 2c
Hero wins $29.82
(Rake: $1.55)

What would you do? #240 - Straight on a paired board

Bodog $0.50/$1.00 No Limit Hold'em - 7 players
The DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (MP): $262.59
CO: $97.00 - 28 / 6 / 1.9%3bet @ 135 hands / 3.8 AF; inf aggression on turn & riv in 16 & 9 turns & rivs
BTN: $168.03
SB: $99.00
BB: $37.05
UTG: $124.50
UTG+1: $94.00

Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is MP with Js Qh
2 folds, Hero raises to $3.00, CO calls $3, 3 folds

Flop: ($7.50) 8h 8d Th (2 players)
Hero bets $4.00, CO calls $4

Turn: ($15.50) 9s (2 players)
Hero bets $8.00, CO raises to $39.50, Hero ???
Click to see results

I think I'm making a huge error by calling the turn and folding the river; therefore the river call is automatic.  I also think an an argument can be made for folding the turn, as villain has clearly established a boat- or straight- type hand with the paired board.  I can't put him on TT, though, as I've been opening somewhat liberally in late position - a fact he's well aware of.  However, I'm also thinking in terms of 98o.  It's just such a small part of his range to play like this.

I think an argument can be made for flatting the turn vs. shoving the turn, if you opt to continue with the hand.  Flatting the turn, like in this example, allows the villain to shove the river.  However, there are so many bad river cards that can come up.  I don't know... what do you think?

Hero calls $31.50

River: ($94.50) 5d (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $50.50 all in, Hero calls $50.50

Final Pot: $195.50
Hero shows Js Qh
CO shows 6s 6c
Hero wins $192.50
(Rake: $3.00)

Flopped straight flush

It's been awhile since I caught one of these.  I think I should lead the flop here, given the turn action.  However, I get an okay payout for the stone cold nuts...

Bodog $0.50/$1.00 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $89.00
BTN: $39.85
SB: $73.80
BB: $100.00
UTG: $43.20
UTG+1: $96.50
UTG+2: $98.50
Hero (MP1): $113.15
MP2: $117.50

Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is MP1 with 6s 8s
3 folds, Hero raises to $3.00, 1 fold, CO calls $3, 3 folds

Flop: ($7.50) 5s 7s 9s (2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks

Turn: ($7.50) 4h (2 players)
Hero bets $4.50, CO raises to $12.00, Hero raises to $20.00, CO calls $8
Assuming he has a set or As; I should have led flop.

River: ($47.50) 4d (2 players)
Hero bets $30.00, CO folds

Final Pot: $47.50
Hero mucks 6s 8s
Hero wins $45.15
(Rake: $2.35)

A bad feeling, but not such a tough laydown...

Bodog $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players
The DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (BTN): $72.03
SB: $50.00
BB: $54.55
UTG: $38.65 - 42/29 @ 24 hands
UTG+1: $50.00
MP1: $151.31
MP2: $63.40
CO: $56.85 - 21/5 /1.8 3bet% @ 489 hands

UTG+1 posts a big blind ($0.50)

Pre Flop: ($1.25) Hero is BTN with Qh Qc
UTG raises to $1.00, 3 folds, CO raises to $4.00, Hero calls $4, 2 folds, UTG calls $3
Such a small raise gives me set mining odds, more or less.  I've decided that dependent on what CO does on the flop, I'm instamucking.  His range is pretty small here; JJ+ with a heavier weighting towards KK+.

Flop: ($13.25) 6c 9c 3d (3 players)
UTG checks, CO bets $9.93, Hero folds, UTG raises to $34.65 all in, CO calls $24.72

Turn: ($82.55) 7c (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($82.55) Qs (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $82.55
UTG shows Ad Ah
CO shows Kc Kh
UTG wins $79.55
(Rake: $3.00)

I actually had the CO on AA, and figured the UTG for JJ or TT.  Interesting but a cooler.  Too bad I was able to lay it down; look at the river.

Dancing with the Stars... Charity Gala

I doubt this post will connect with any of my 15 readers out there, as it is non-poker related.  Regardless, last night, my wife and I attended a charity event for The Jewish Foundation for Group Homes, a non-sectarian, 501(c)(3), non-profit organization, providing support and services for individuals with disabilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.  The theme of the night was Dancing with the Stars, where we were treated to a host of former and current Dancing with the Stars performers.

Although I won't admit to don't watch the show, my wife is an avid fan, watching both the competition and elimination shows, as well as keeping pace with the activities of the regulars on the show.  She watches, and I sit next to her, asking, on a week-to-week basis, who each hottie is (while playing poker, to keep from totally losing my mind out of boredom).  FWIW, my favorite hottie this season is the soccer player, but I also love to watch the shapely professional dancers.

Regardless, we were able to get back-stage passes from the event organizer, who happens to be a good friend of ours, and my wife was able to take a few pictures with the dancers.  Pictures below:

Ballroom dancer John Roberts, my wife and ballroom dancer Edyta Śliwińska

John actually seems to be a pretty cool guy; an every-man.  He's a down to earth, good, hard-working guy.  It's a shame he's not on the show anymore, but he's married to one of my favorite professional dancers, Anna Trebunskaya.  Edyta looks just as good in person as on TV.  Amazing legs!

My wife and Wheelchair Dancing Champion Nick "The Beast" Scott

Me, Academy Award Winner Marlee Matlin, and my wife

"HOT" Gilles Marini & my wife

I'm a little uncomfortable with this guy.  Girls just swoon over him, and deservedly so.  I though my wife was getting a little weak in the knees, but I can take him any day!  After all, I'll be he doesn't know how to play poker!

See?  Gilles has NOTHING on me!

What I've been up to lately - Bodog, MBA's (Legality of online poker) and life

Long time, no post!  This blog used to be primarily about hand histories, though with US poker going dark, I've been playing less frequently, and far less volume.  It used to be where I'd get into 1-2 sticky situations per night, but now, actions seem far more clear, and with the reduced volume, I'm able to focus on each individual decision.  Poker seems to be a continual treadmill; up & down, up & down...  Move up when the roll gets sizable to support the next buy-in level, and then cash out at the end of the month.

Bodog

I currently 4-table on Bodog, keeping my bankroll to a minimum (8-12 buy-ins @ 25NL), which is a $$$ amount I am comfortable with losing, should the DOJ decide to seize Bodog's assets.  In reality, it is not a truly cost effective use of my time.  I should be playing 50 or 100NL, but I simply don't want to keep an amount online that would be sufficient for those stakes.  Alas, I have to settle for the 25NL donks, which can be both tremendously profitable, and terribly frustrating.  Overall, though, it's profitable.

MBA

I have completed my first two classes of my MBA program: Financial Accounting & Business Communications.  Accounting was ridiculously difficult; just like engineering, there are a set of rules for proper accounting standards.  However, the rules seem counter-intuitive to natural math.  For example, the notion of credits and debits to T-accounts (basically a means of tracking transactions between accounts) are different for assets and liabilities.  There is no notion of +/-; a liability is net positive, just the same as an asset, though a credit to an asset account means the opposite of a credit to a debit account.  Very confusing, and seemingly anti-engineering.  Whatever.

As difficult as accounting was (we went through, chapter-to-chapter, 700 pages, from the aforementioned T-accounts to derivatives and bonds (i.e. present value of future cash flow, etc.) in about 8 weeks), Business Communications was the inverse.  It was ridiculously soft; 3 papers: 2 3-page, and 1 10-pager, a group presentation, and an individual presentation to discuss the 10-page paper's findings.  My topic of choice: Legalization of online poker.  I am going to post my papers and presentation if anyone is interested.

Click this link for the papers.

I started my post-graduate college career with 2 A's.  That's like pulling off a successful check-raise against a nit!  Booyah!  I was also confronted with my first return on the MBA investment: one of my classmates has essentially offered me a job.  Pretty sure I'm not going to take it, but it's very cool nevertheless.

Life

I've been crazy busy with work & school, that life seems to be flying by.  I've had little time to myself, and that which I've had, I've been spending with my family.  It's fun watching my 3 children grow into individuals.  My 8 year old is really getting into reading and becoming quite the bookworm.  He's into Pokemon as well, which annoys me, but it gives him some exposure to games and strategy.  My 6 year old is learning to read, and seems to take to it a bit slower than the 8 year old was at her age, but it's coming along.  She is really into gymnastics and music; perhaps she'll be the artist in the family.  Finally, my 4 year old is learning her letters and numbers.  I think she's going to be very smart.  She does not know how to shut her mouth, ever.  The ongoing joke is how do we know when she's awake?  She's moving her mouth.

I went to Hollywood Casino at Charles Town, WV, last Thursday.  I think I'm done with that place.  It is stupid, but I run absolutely terribly there.  Simply unbelievably bad.  I win *EVERYWHERE* else I play, but I cannot seem to win in my home casino.  It's a shame, too, because CTown is only 45 minutes away.  I'm just frustrated that I sit at a table full of donkeys and cannot hit a single hand - for what was 4 hours on Thursday, added to the prior 10-12 hours worth of sessions that I put in.  Collectively, in those 16+ hours, I've seen KK twice and AK twice.  I may have seen QQ once.  To make matters even worse, I'm folding the trash hands and even decent hands, and none of those hands ever hit regardless.  It's not like I'm hitting hands that I folded, I'm simply not hitting ANYTHING.  It's amazing, too, because when I was out in California a few weeks ago, in the few hours I was there, I hit my hands and got paid MAJORLY.  Why can't I run half-way normal at home, like I do ANYWHERE else?!?!?!?  WTF?

That's all.