It's taken a long time to bring this up to the web..

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to join the executive team while they opened the NASDAQ.

So, here it is, my first (inter)national TV broadcast..

Jan 26, 2008 1_58 PM

I recently began using my EyeTV Hybrid again. El Gato released a new version of EyeTV. It allows programs to be shared over the web after they have been recorded.

EyeTV is nice. It has an editing feature for removing commercials. Removing commercials via this tool is tedious, at best. I could not bring myself to edit the programs to remove commercials. To me, it didn't seem worth the effort.

I know there are TV shows on the internet that have no commercials. I couldn't imagine that people are editing them all by hand, so I started searching.

I found some stuff, like ComSkip, but it is windows based. I found another solution, but there's a lot of moving parts. I may consider it in the future. This solution uses X11, ffmpeg, mplayer, and ComSkip. It is an automated solution but has a few moving parts. I may try to rework this in a bit.

I found a native version of ComSkip for the Mac. ETV-ComSkip can be used to skip commercials while you are watching a program. However, in it's process, it will actually mark the commercials. So, now I have an easy way to mark the commercials so they are easy to remove.

You have to quit EyeTV for it to mark the commercials. Evidently, EyeTV will overwrite the editing tags. So, you quit EyeTV after running 'FileWatcher all' from the command line. It is in the FileWatcher.app package. This will mark all the commercials.

After this process, you simply edit each program. The markers will be set. Compress them and the commercials are removed. You can then compress the programs for viewing on an iPod or iPhone. Or, in my case, the Web.

Simple as that.

Tags: EyeTV, ComSkip

I put my money into the tournament and waited. After a few minutes, someone joined the tournament. Usually, I like to be a little aggressive. I have found some players like to go all in on the first hand so they can get a quick chip lead. Some players like to go all in preflop. So, I am used to it. In some cases, I have won some very quick tournaments because I will get AK or AA or KK first hand and they have something like KQ, JJ, or other decent hands.

I have also found some people like to go all in every hand. It's the strangest thing. I usually wait as they build a small lead on me. Then, when I have a hand like PP or two high cards, I call. And I usually win. So was the case of my first tournament today. I had horrible hands. It was easy to fold. Then I picked up AJc. As expected, he went all in preflop. I called. His Q3 never caught up when I caught a Jack on the flop. Three hands later, my KQ knocked him out.

I am developing a theory on the Heads Up games. I think some people have simply gone on tilt. They look at a Heads Up game with the prospects of doubling up their stakes against a single person. And they want to win so bad, they simply push every hand. Well, against players like that, I believe it is proper to wait for a superior hand and call. In this situation, they could be playing literally any two cards. If that's the case, I want the biggest advantage possible. And, if the odds are in my favor, I will get paid off for my patience.

For example, let's look at the hand that gave me the overwhelming lead in this tournament.

He went all in against me 4 hands in a row.

I had 10 3 OS. 6 2 OS, 10 7 Diamonds, then A J Clubs.

10-3 against a random hand, I am 43% to win. Not good.
6-2 against a random hand, I am 34% to win. Again, not good.
10-7 suited against a random hand, I am 50.6% to win. Ok. It's a coin flip. But, I didn't want to risk it all on one hand.

And now for AJ.

AJ suited is over 65% to win against a random hand and nearly 67% against Q3. So, knowing that I am only a dog to a better Ace or a decent pair, I called. I won.

Well, I had some early success on the heads up tournaments. In fact, I quickly dispatched one player three times. And he won the last one. I had a couple wins and a couple more losses. In all, my heads up tournaments were a loss for the day.

I played a ring game and caught some very nice hands. I put about 15% of my online bankroll into the game and more than doubled up. I had trips a number of times, AK a couple and no bad loses.

So, for the day, I am up about 10%. We will see how the rest of the week goes. My current goal is to get 10 times my current bankroll. I would like to do it by the end of February. We will see how it goes, depending on the amount of work and play time I have.

Amazing.

Three quick games. In my first game of the day, I end up the loser. The user hits two pair on the flop to my ill fated Ace-Ten. I caught the ace on the turn and bet. I got dragged down by the player and he did a good job.

The second game lasted exactly 1 hand. I had 9-5 os. I was on the button. The opponent did the standard 3x BB bet (bet pot on FTP). I called. The flop is 9-5-10. I flopped two pair. I bet and the other person goes all in. I thought about it for a moment. They can't be protecting much, except trips. Against trips, I am about toast. I put them on over cards (AK-A10) or pairs (AA-JJ). Against either of these hands, I am not in a bad position. I called.

Well, it turns out, I was partly right. He turned over QJ. The old open-ended straight draw. Well, with 8 outs, I am a decent favorite. My estimation says he will win about 32% of the time. According to PokerStove, the actual odds are just about 33% (32.828%). This is almost exactly what my odds were preflop (32.491 vs 67.509%). The next two cards are blanks and I hold on to win.

The next heads up tournament was twice as long as this one.

The first hand I pick up is K10. I bet the pot (3x BB) and he folds. Nice, quick, clean and easy.

The next hand is Pocket 10s. I bet the pot, again. He called, again. The flop Ac10c7s hits me fairly well. I like my trips, so I want to draw him into pot. I simply bet 20 chips. He called.

The turn brings the 6 of Spades. I am not fond of this. First, it means that there's a possible straight draw (or even a made straight). Any 89 has me beat. Any hand with an 8 or 9 is only a card from beating me. In addition to this, there are now two possible flush draws. There are two spades and clubs on the board with one more card to come. I bet half the pot and wait. He responds by reraising me the pot. Hmm. I didn't think he had it so I reraised him the pot. Now the pot is huge. He calls.

The last card is layed down, the Ace of Hearts. Well, there's good news and bad news. I have a full house, but his betting could be Ace-10, Ace-7 or A-6. He just made a full house if he is holding it. I decide to put in a suck bet, 20 chips. He had 415 left. And he put them all in. Having a full house, heads up, I could not fold. I simply hoped that he was playing two pair. I called.

Strange play, but I guess it makes sense when you think about it. He had K3c. When I led out on the first hand, he may have wanted to play back at me on his next opportunity. The flop gave him a glimmer of hope. Preflop, I am 68% to win. After the flop. I estimate that he had 9 chances to hit his flush for a roughly 36% chance to win. On the flop, he is actually 25%. This delta in my estimation assumes that I don't improve. Of couse, if an Ace comes on the turn or river, I will win. Then, there's the 7. And if the turn and river hold runner runner for me, I would win. So, he has at least one less out, the 7 of clubs. So, by removing just the 7 of clubs, he has 8 outs, which knocks him to 32%.

When the 6 comes on the turn, it removes the 6 of clubs from being an out, as well. He has to hope the turn is not an Ace, 10, 7 or 6. And he has to hope it is the remaining clubs (Q, J, 9, 8, 4, 2). With 6 outs, I estimated his winning at 12% going into the river card. His actual odds were 15.90%. Still, I was a heavy favorite.

Well, I have been doing pretty well on my poker since DMPT #1. Actually, I have been doing a well since a little before then. But, let me explain.

I have played Full Tilt Poker with mixed success. I have won nearly $1700 in tournaments. I get in the money about 23% of the time. It's not a bad average. But, then I lose money playing other games and I withdraw money. Lately, my winning has been outpacing my loses. I have been withdrawing money, but usually in small increments. When I lose my stakes at FTP, I will invest $50 and play again. This has been going on for about a month. Well, after about a month, I have withdrawn more than I have put in. So, I am ahead. In fact, I usually withdraw after I break a certain amount of money.

There's a phenomenon called "The Cashout Curse". When you cash out, the theory goes, you will receive lots of bad beats to punish you for removing your money. Well, in contrast to that curse, I have been withdrawing small amounts of money for a few weeks without the curse coming to haunt me. Now, don't get me wrong, I do get bad beats but they aren't any worse than I was getting before I started withdrawing money.

With a number of withdrawals from the site, I have decided to keep my money online. I am going to start pushing higher limits to see if I can grow that amount to something larger that I have ever withdrawn.

Here's my goal:

1. I am going to play mainly heads up matches.
They start at $2, then $5, $10, $20, $30, $50, $100, $200 on up. I will be focusing my efforts on the $10+. I will vary the amount based upon my mood, my bankroll and previous wins and losses.

2. I will play the occasional multi-table tournament.
I will play them, depending on my mood and bankroll. I will not play them for more than 10% of my bankroll. I will try to limit them to no more than 5% of my bankroll. The strategy is to win a satellite to get into a bigger tournament.

3. I will play cash games with up to 20% of my bankroll.
Again, if you listen to the Pros, I should limit my games to 10% of my bankroll. 20% is the upper limit, 10% is the goal. Starting out, it may be hard to play 10%, which puts me into the micro limits. At those stakes, the play can be extremely loose and crazy. I would rather play for slightly larger amounts.

I will not be playing many Sit and Go tournaments. They can be very volatile. And my semi-recent experience leads me to avoiding it for the time being.

Here's a breakdown of my recent play:

Starting on Jan 14th, here's information broken out:

21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	2	--
52.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	5.25	2	1	$100
10.75 Heads Up Shootout	10.75	4	2	--
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	2	--
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
$33 + $1.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	34.5	2	2	--
$33 + $1.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	34.5	2	2	--
31.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	31.5	2	1	$60
31.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	3.15	2	1	$60
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
$10 + $1 KO Sit & Go	11	90	81	--
3.30 KO Sit & Go	3.3	90	60	--
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	2	--
52.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	52.5	2	1	$100
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	2	--
52.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	52.5	2	2	--
31.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	31.5	2	2	--
31.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	31.5	2	1	$60
31.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	31.5	2	1	$60
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
31.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	31.5	2	1	$60
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	2	--
31.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	31.5	2	1	$60
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	2	--
10.75 Heads Up Shootout	10.75	4	3	--
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	1	$20
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	1	$20
52.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	52.5	2	1	$100
10.75 Heads Up Shootout	10.75	4	1	$40
31.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	31.5	2	1	$60
$26 Token Frenzy	6.5	177	131	--
10.75 Heads Up Shootout	10.75	4	2	--
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	1	$20
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	1	$20
31.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	31.5	2	2	--
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	2	--
31.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	31.5	2	1	$60
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	2	--
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	2	--
5.50 Sit & Go	5.5	9	5	--
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	2	--
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
31.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	31.5	2	2	--
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	2	--
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	2	--
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	2	--
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
31.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	31.5	2	1	$60
31.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	31.5	2	1	$60
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	2	--
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	1	$20
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	2	--
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	2	--
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	1	$20
5.25 Heads Up Sit & Go	5.25	2	1	$10
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	2	--
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	1	$20
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	2	--
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
52.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	52.5	2	2	--
31.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	31.5	2	1	$60
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	1	$20
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	2	--
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	2	--
3.30 KO Sit & Go	3.3	90	42	--
31.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	31.5	2	2	--
21 Heads Up Sit & Go	21	2	1	$40
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	1	$20
$26 Token Frenzy	6.5	160	131	--
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	2	--
10.75 Heads Up Shootout	10.75	4	3	--
10.50 Heads Up Sit & Go	10.5	2	2	--
1.25 Sit & Go (Turbo)	1.25	9	5	--
2.15 Heads Up Sit & Go	2.15	2	2	--
2.15 Heads Up Sit & Go	2.15	2	2	--
2.15 Heads Up Sit & Go	2.15	2	1	$4

As you can see, I am doing better than average. I am better than break even. This also includes amounts I have put into MTT.

I will keep a tally here showing my progress.

I have been playing a lot of heads up poker. I have been mildly successful. I have found that luck plays a factor, but being consistently aggressive is better.

Prior to this game, I was a little on tilt. I had just been busted out of hands when I was a major favorite. This included runner runner flushes, AA losing to a gut shot straight on the river, and two pair losing to a horrible call to get rivered by a flush.

So, I wasn't in the best frame of mind. I put my $50 in and played. As I started, the player, lileck34, was aggressive. Any time I bet, he raised me. Any time I raised, I got reraised.

Eventually, I got a little frustrated.

Here's the hand:

FullTiltPoker Game #4935276818: $50 + $2.50 Heads Up Sit & Go (37467764), Table 1 - 10/20 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:04:59 ET - 2008/01/20
Seat 1: lileck34 (1,430)
Seat 2: chipset0316 (1,570)
chipset0316 posts the small blind of 10
lileck34 posts the big blind of 20
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to chipset0316 [Qd Qh]
chipset0316 calls 10
lileck34 checks
*** FLOP *** [5h 8s 2h]
lileck34 checks
chipset0316 bets 200
lileck34 calls 200
*** TURN *** [5h 8s 2h] [9d]
lileck34 checks
chipset0316 bets 1,210
lileck34 calls 1,210, and is all in
chipset0316 shows [Qd Qh]
lileck34 shows [2s 8d]
*** RIVER *** [5h 8s 2h 9d] [Ah]
chipset0316 shows a pair of Queens
lileck34 shows two pair, Eights and Twos
lileck34 wins the pot (2,860) with two pair, Eights and Twos
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,860 | Rake 0
Board: [5h 8s 2h 9d Ah]
Seat 1: lileck34 (big blind) showed [2s 8d] and won (2,860) with two pair, Eights and Twos
Seat 2: chipset0316 (small blind) showed [Qd Qh] and lost with a pair of Queens


I was thinking of slow playing my QQ. On the flop I bet. He called. I overbet the pot and should have been concerned. I was. I was thinking one pair, but I had that feeling it might be two or the heart draw.

On the turn, I wanted to end it. I put him all in. And, of course, he calls with 2 pair and I lose a bundle. In fact, at the end of the hand, I am seriously wounded. Out of 3000 chips, I have a whopping 140 chips.

I was hurt and without a good run of cards, it was going to be hard to last more than a couple hands. The blinds were low, giving me a chance to play a couple hands. Still with blinds of 10/20, my 140 wasn't going to last very long.

The very next hand, I pick up A9 suited. It is a hand worth going all in with. He calls with A4 suited.


FullTiltPoker Game #4935283402: $50 + $2.50 Heads Up Sit & Go (37467764), Table 1 - 10/20 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:05:35 ET - 2008/01/20
Seat 1: lileck34 (2,860)
Seat 2: chipset0316 (140)
lileck34 posts the small blind of 10
chipset0316 posts the big blind of 20
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to chipset0316 [9h Ah]
chipset0316: i hate QQ
lileck34 raises to 140
chipset0316: my fault, tho
chipset0316 calls 120, and is all in
lileck34 shows [4s As]
chipset0316 shows [9h Ah]
*** FLOP *** [8d 7h 3s]
lileck34: yes it was
*** TURN *** [8d 7h 3s] [7c]
*** RIVER *** [8d 7h 3s 7c] [7d]
lileck34 shows three of a kind, Sevens
chipset0316 shows three of a kind, Sevens
chipset0316 wins the pot (280) with three of a kind, Sevens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 280 | Rake 0
Board: [8d 7h 3s 7c 7d]
Seat 1: lileck34 (small blind) showed [4s As] and lost with three of a kind, Sevens
Seat 2: chipset0316 (big blind) showed [9h Ah] and won (280) with three of a kind, Sevens


I double up. While nice, it isn't going to go very far.

After this hand, he folds the blinds to me.

Here's the next hand. I see his raise. I decide I need to make a move here. I figure him for a pair or two high cards. I am suited, but it is not that much of a benefit. I go all in, anyway.


FullTiltPoker Game #4935288937: $50 + $2.50 Heads Up Sit & Go (37467764), Table 1 - 10/20 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:06:07 ET - 2008/01/20
Seat 1: lileck34 (2,700)
Seat 2: chipset0316 (300)
lileck34 posts the small blind of 10
chipset0316 posts the big blind of 20
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to chipset0316 [5c Tc]
lileck34 raises to 280
chipset0316 raises to 300, and is all in
lileck34 calls 20
chipset0316 shows [5c Tc]
lileck34 shows [Kh Qh]
*** FLOP *** [9d 7c 3s]
*** TURN *** [9d 7c 3s] [Ts]
*** RIVER *** [9d 7c 3s Ts] [6h]
chipset0316 shows a pair of Tens
lileck34 shows King Queen high
chipset0316 wins the pot (600) with a pair of Tens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 600 | Rake 0
Board: [9d 7c 3s Ts 6h]
Seat 1: lileck34 (small blind) showed [Kh Qh] and lost with King Queen high
Seat 2: chipset0316 (big blind) showed [5c Tc] and won (600) with a pair of Tens


My 10 catches, and I hold on for another hand. I have now won 600 chips. But, 600 to 2400 is still a challenge.

We trade a couple barbs for 5 hands. Then I pick up a pocket pair. I decide it is time to move all in. I have to be aggressive to win. Not sure I want a call, I push on anyway.


FullTiltPoker Game #4935306972: $50 + $2.50 Heads Up Sit & Go (37467764), Table 1 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:07:46 ET - 2008/01/20
Seat 1: lileck34 (2,350)
Seat 2: chipset0316 (650)
lileck34 posts the small blind of 15
chipset0316 posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to chipset0316 [7d 7c]
lileck34 raises to 210
chipset0316 raises to 650, and is all in
lileck34 calls 440
chipset0316 shows [7d 7c]
lileck34 shows [Ad Jc]
*** FLOP *** [6c 5h Th]
*** TURN *** [6c 5h Th] [Td]
*** RIVER *** [6c 5h Th Td] [3c]
chipset0316 shows two pair, Tens and Sevens
lileck34 shows a pair of Tens
chipset0316 wins the pot (1,300) with two pair, Tens and Sevens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,300 | Rake 0
Board: [6c 5h Th Td 3c]
Seat 1: lileck34 (small blind) showed [Ad Jc] and lost with a pair of Tens
Seat 2: chipset0316 (big blind) showed [7d 7c] and won (1,300) with two pair, Tens and Sevens


I have now done the mere improbable. It's not impossible, but it is improbable. I can't believe I am almost neck and neck with him.

We trade barbs for about 10 hands, then this critical hand comes up. I can't believe my stupidity and luck. I flop a low pair. The board pairs and I call a huge overbet on the river and I miss it by one card (or two, if you don't count the board.)


FullTiltPoker Game #4935412535: $50 + $2.50 Heads Up Sit & Go (37467764), Table 1 - 20/40 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:17:20 ET - 2008/01/20
Seat 1: lileck34 (1,480)
Seat 2: chipset0316 (1,520)
lileck34 posts the small blind of 20
chipset0316 posts the big blind of 40
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to chipset0316 [4s Td]
lileck34 calls 20
chipset0316 checks
*** FLOP *** [4d 5h Js]
chipset0316 checks
lileck34 checks
*** TURN *** [4d 5h Js] [Jc]
chipset0316 checks
lileck34 checks
*** RIVER *** [4d 5h Js Jc] [Th]
chipset0316 bets 80
lileck34 raises to 1,280
chipset0316 calls 1,200
*** SHOW DOWN ***
lileck34 shows [6s Tc] two pair, Jacks and Tens
chipset0316 mucks
lileck34 wins the pot (2,640) with two pair, Jacks and Tens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,640 | Rake 0
Board: [4d 5h Js Jc Th]
Seat 1: lileck34 (small blind) showed [6s Tc] and won (2,640) with two pair, Jacks and Tens
Seat 2: chipset0316 (big blind) mucked [4s Td] - two pair, Jacks and Tens


I am back down to 360 chips. I can't believe it. Just barely outckicked. I figured the overbet was a steal attempt. Not thinking, I called. I was thinking two pair, forgetting the JJ. Another silly mistake.

I have been pushing all in for a few hands. So, I keep doing it.

I pick up some blinds and the following hand appears:


FullTiltPoker Game #4935427189: $50 + $2.50 Heads Up Sit & Go (37467764), Table 1 - 20/40 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:18:40 ET - 2008/01/20
Seat 1: lileck34 (2,620)
Seat 2: chipset0316 (380)
chipset0316 posts the small blind of 20
lileck34 posts the big blind of 40
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to chipset0316 [9c Jd]
chipset0316 raises to 380, and is all in
lileck34 calls 340
chipset0316 shows [9c Jd]
lileck34 shows [Kh Jc]
*** FLOP *** [6c 4c Qs]
*** TURN *** [6c 4c Qs] [9d]
*** RIVER *** [6c 4c Qs 9d] [2c]
chipset0316 shows a pair of Nines
lileck34 shows King Queen high
chipset0316 wins the pot (760) with a pair of Nines
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 760 | Rake 0
Board: [6c 4c Qs 9d 2c]
Seat 1: lileck34 (big blind) showed [Kh Jc] and lost with King Queen high
Seat 2: chipset0316 (small blind) showed [9c Jd] and won (760) with a pair of Nines


I got lucky again.

I steal some blinds, then this hand appears. In this case, I figure I am behind. But, I have a draw and decide to push. Unlike the first time, I have an open ended straight draw. Much better than trying to catch two pair with QQ. So, I push.


FullTiltPoker Game #4935433327: $50 + $2.50 Heads Up Sit & Go (37467764), Table 1 - 25/50 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:19:14 ET - 2008/01/20
Seat 1: lileck34 (2,180)
Seat 2: chipset0316 (820)
lileck34 posts the small blind of 25
chipset0316 posts the big blind of 50
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to chipset0316 [Th 9c]
lileck34 calls 25
chipset0316 checks
*** FLOP *** [Qs 7h Jc]
chipset0316 bets 770, and is all in
lileck34 calls 770
chipset0316 shows [Th 9c]
lileck34 shows [7c Qc]
*** TURN *** [Qs 7h Jc] [8s]
*** RIVER *** [Qs 7h Jc 8s] [8c]
chipset0316 shows a straight, Queen high
lileck34 shows two pair, Queens and Eights
chipset0316 wins the pot (1,640) with a straight, Queen high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,640 | Rake 0
Board: [Qs 7h Jc 8s 8c]
Seat 1: lileck34 (small blind) showed [7c Qc] and lost with two pair, Queens and Eights
Seat 2: chipset0316 (big blind) showed [Th 9c] and won (1,640) with a straight, Queen high


I get lucky hitting my card on the turn. The 8 on the river gives him three pair. Of course, three pair is no good and my straight wins. We are now roughly even, with a slight advantage going to me. However, as proven time and time again, I can blow it against this guy.

I catch some more chips a couple hands later when my KJ pairs the King.

The next twelve hands, he goes all in about 9 times. I call one with my KJ and we split:


FullTiltPoker Game #4935466604: $50 + $2.50 Heads Up Sit & Go (37467764), Table 1 - 25/50 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:22:15 ET - 2008/01/20
Seat 1: lileck34 (1,560)
Seat 2: chipset0316 (1,440)
chipset0316 posts the small blind of 25
lileck34 posts the big blind of 50
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to chipset0316 [Kd Jc]
chipset0316 raises to 100
lileck34 raises to 1,560, and is all in
chipset0316 calls 1,340, and is all in
lileck34 shows [Kc Jh]
chipset0316 shows [Kd Jc]
Uncalled bet of 120 returned to lileck34
*** FLOP *** [6s Ks 4d]
*** TURN *** [6s Ks 4d] [9c]
*** RIVER *** [6s Ks 4d 9c] [Qs]
lileck34 shows a pair of Kings
chipset0316 shows a pair of Kings
lileck34 ties for the pot (1,440) with a pair of Kings
chipset0316 ties for the pot (1,440) with a pair of Kings
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,880 | Rake 0
Board: [6s Ks 4d 9c Qs]
Seat 1: lileck34 (big blind) showed [Kc Jh] and won (1,440) with a pair of Kings
Seat 2: chipset0316 (small blind) showed [Kd Jc] and won (1,440) with a pair of Kings


Whew! I kept my chips.

The next hand, I pick up something better than KJ. In his haste, he goes all in again. Only, I have to call now.


FullTiltPoker Game #4935470214: $50 + $2.50 Heads Up Sit & Go (37467764), Table 1 - 25/50 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:22:35 ET - 2008/01/20
Seat 1: lileck34 (1,560)
Seat 2: chipset0316 (1,440)
lileck34 posts the small blind of 25
chipset0316 posts the big blind of 50
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to chipset0316 [Kc Kd]
lileck34 raises to 1,560, and is all in
chipset0316 calls 1,390, and is all in
lileck34 shows [Js Ks]
chipset0316 shows [Kc Kd]
Uncalled bet of 120 returned to lileck34
*** FLOP *** [Th 3s 4s]
*** TURN *** [Th 3s 4s] [9h]
*** RIVER *** [Th 3s 4s 9h] [6h]
lileck34 shows King Jack high
chipset0316 shows a pair of Kings
chipset0316 wins the pot (2,880) with a pair of Kings
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,880 | Rake 0
Board: [Th 3s 4s 9h 6h]
Seat 1: lileck34 (small blind) showed [Js Ks] and lost with King Jack high
Seat 2: chipset0316 (big blind) showed [Kc Kd] and won (2,880) with a pair of Kings


For the first time in the tournament, I have a commanding lead. I can't believe I am actually here. Of course, had he not been so overly aggressive he would have seen the flop, missed it, and folded. But, he didn't get the option because he pushed too hard. I called and won.

I knocked him out six hands later. He pushed with 69 and I called with 10 Jack. I caught nothing, but neither did he.

In the end, I held out hope that I might win. I have tried to maintain a positive mind while playing. It was hard after coming off of a couple losses. I shouldn't have played the tournament because I wasn't in the best frame of mind. I got lucky. But, I made the most of the luck I got. I was amazed that I not only came back from the brink once but twice. These weren't just minor deficits but the kind that are really hard to come back from. In the end, I believe that luck opened then door but by being too aggressive he allowed me the opportunity to wound him. And without those opportunities he afforded me, he wasn't able to come back again. Of course, the only reason he was ahead was due to my stupidity.

I played DMPT Event Number 1.

I didn't do well. I wasn't getting any cards and when I was, the flop wasn't helping. After nearly 2 hours, in frustration, I went all in with a measly pair of twos. I ran into aces. Oops.

I won one other hand, a bluff into a ragged flop. That was it.

As people were getting eliminated, we were adding players to a .50/1 NL game. It started as a 4 player game. After a few hands I was up about $10. Then, we added Mike. Mike is very aggressive. He will play any two cards and apply pressure to weaken you. After 20-30 minutes, Mike had a stack of chips. A large part of them were mine. I saw a flop and decided to chase. My AK might have several ways to win. The opening bet was $3. The flop was QJ8. Two spades. The turn, after minor betting, was a 3. The river was the 10 of spades. I thought there might be a flush draw, but I had the straight. I lead out with $10. He raised me $15. I called, due to the amount in the pot. He turned over AK spades. He simply got the better hand.

I started with $60 and was down to $15. One or two hands later, I picked up AJ. There was the standard raise of $3, and a caller, so I went all in. Mike called. He had A5c. The flop came out with 2c3cAs. I had a very nice starting hand and now I am in a near coin flip. I have the top pair but I can lose to any club and any 5 or 4. The turn comes. Jack. I now have two pair. The river is a 6. I double up and then a little more.

I then start to rake in some pots. There were some interesting ones.

Brandon, a nemesis of mine from the tournament, decides he wants to play. He and I have tangled a few times. He is a lot like Mike. Very aggressive. One time, he knocked me out of a tournament on a flush draw. I had the nut flush draw and he caught a lower card on me. In another tournament, I wounded him when I flopped a Q high flush against his trips. I bet into him raising the stakes more and more until the river. Personally, I was thinking he was on the flush draw and I was trying to get him out. Wounded, I called him with an Ace medium kicker, a bit later. I caught a pair, he didn't. He was pissed about losing.

So, Brandon sits down and starts raking in the chips. I slow down a little bit and simply wait. In one hand, I pick up a nice pot betting into my straight and third pair (10J) on a QKJ flop. I end up winning that and raking in a very nice pot. Shortly after that, I hold KK. I am in the big blind. Brandon raises to $5. Mary calls. Mike calls. Jose calls. There's $20 in the pot. I decide I will take this one down. I raise to $35. Brandon folds. Mary folds. Mike folds. Jose is a small stack now, with about $5 left. He calls. I believe he was calling due to pot odds or frustration. The flop is 565. Brandon is pissed. Evidently, his 57 would have hit. Jose, however, has big problems. His hope was to catch two pair. He has J9os. The turn and river don't help and I haul in a nice pot.

Mike took some more chips from me, mainly with him getting Aces three times while we played. It was frustrating. However, I got the best of him on some hands. And I was taking money from the other players. His style costs him a lot of chips when he misses. I wasn't always getting his chips, but as they would slide to someone else, I would take them from the temporary owner.

My favorite hand of the night was against Brandon. I picked up Q10. The usual $3 preflop raise with 4 callers. The flop is Q 7 10. At this point, I am pretty confident I have the best hand. A bet of $3 by Mary gets 3 callers. A 6 shows up. Now, I might be a little more worried. 89 has a good chance to win. But, I can't put anyone on it. It checks around to me, I bet $5. Brandon calls. Everyone else folds. The river brings a 5. Well, I still lose to 89. I win against all draws and any two pair. I feel pretty confident. I bet $10.

Now, against other players, I might reconsider what happens next. Brandon calls out "Raise". He puts $10 into the pot and adds $35 more. Could he have the straight? I am not sure. I don't think so. He wouldn't slow roll like that. He could have two pair. Or, due to the size of the bet, he could simply be trying to buy it. I think about it for a couple moments. I declare, "Call". I flip over Q10. Brandons face falls. He was on a draw. I can only think he was on KJ or J9. Either way, it never made it and I raked in a very nice pot.

After a short while, Mary leaves. Then another woman leaves. So, being three handed against Mike and Brandon, I decide to pack up and go. As I look at my stack, I have $245 in front of me. Not bad for $60 considering I had been to $15 at one point.

Brandon protests and says that he wants to play me heads up for $80. Knowing Brandon, I decline. He then starts to wax on about how I constantly river him. In his descriptions, he he misrepresents what I had when I knocked him out from the tournament a couple months ago. I also know that he believes that I have the goods on him, as he has complained verbally about not catching cards against me. But hearing him complain that I am taking his money off the table brings a big smile on my face.

I love riding with the "guys". Even when the "guys" aren't all guys. Here's a few of us together a couple months ago, after grabbing a bit to eat.

Well, we had some new guys with us. They had been riding about a year. One of them dove into a corner a little too fast and hit both front and rear brakes. His rear broke loose and he high sided. Here's the aftermath.



"Oh, I see what the problem is right there!"



We had stopped right before this road. The rider who went down, showed off his protective gear. He had a jacket, gloves, boots, helmet. All of this, I wear. However, he also had some Alpinestars knee and shin protectors. They are generally used for dirt bikes. They looked nice.

They looked very nice after his get off. He had a nice piece missing from them. A section that would have been his knee cap.

In the end, he had a small scratch on the helmet. That's a good sign there shouldn't be any head trauma. His ankle was a little sore. And he had a small scratch on his arm. Not too bad at all. He was joking around with us after the crash and quipped that he now had a reason to get another motorcycle.