Borgata

The poker room at the Borgata has replaced the Taj for me. Everything about the room is better, except the Taj is bigger.
But, with nicer tables, drinks served in glassware rather than plastic, decent coffee, and a nicer staff, the Borgata makes the Taj look run down and cheap. They've also recently lifted their ban on using headphones during play.
Last weekend, I was sitting in the 20/40 game when the following hand came up.
I was under the gun with ATs, and limped. The game was fairly tight, with the exception of a new player who had just sat down and was pretty loose and aggressive.
The new player called, as did another player and both blinds.
The flop came A, T, 6, with two spades. Not wanting to give any free cards, I bet after both blinds checked. The loose aggressive player raised, I re-raised, and he called. I put him on either spades or an ace, but felt confident about my two pair.
The turn was an 8, not a spade, and I fired and he called.
The river was 9, not a spade and I checked. I hated the card. I felt that since I had only limped pre-flop, he could be playing any two spades, which would make it possible for him to have a straight. He checked behind me and showed Q,7, suited in spades. He made the runner-runner straight, but was sticking around with his flush draw.
I was a little puzzled by his check on the river, but glad that I didn't have to pay off a bet. It was nice of him to save me $40 after he hit his hand.
If I had raised pre-flop, he likely would not have called to see the flop, but you never know; loose players love suited cards. I like how I played the hand, though would have rather raked the pot.

two blind plays

I was in the big blind in a 10/20 game with JTo, and got a free flop after 6 players including the small blind limped in.
The flop was 9,8,6, rainbow.
I bet, and everyone called.
The turn paired the 6; I checked, under-the-gun bet, and we all called.
The river was a jack, a potentially scary card.
I checked, the turn bettor fired, one player called, and I had a tough decision.
I didn't feel the bettor had a 6, and figured the other player would have raised with trips or a straight. I made a crying call (there was 70 in the pot pre-flop, another 70 went in on the flop, 60 on the turn, and two more bets on the river, making the pot $240, with no chance of a raise behind me).
My jacks up took down the pot, as the bettor showed pocket 7s and the caller had Ace, 9.

The next hand, a middle position player raised a limper and two players cold called before it got to me. I looked down at K9, suited in spades. I was instantly reminded of TJ Cloutier's words ("I don't play K9 even in a limit game!"), but chose to disregard them. I called the extra $15, the big blind called, as did the limper.

The flop came J, T, 8, with one spade. I liked my hand OK, but decided to check. It was checked to the pre-flop aggressor, who fired. We all called.
The turn was the 7 of spades, making my straight and giving me a back-door flush draw. I checked, curious about where I was in this hand. It was checked around to a late-position player, who bet. Not wanting to blow out the field behind me (and, not in love with my "1 card straight" since it was far from the nuts), I called. As hoped, I got 3 over-calls behind me.
The river paired the Ten; the action again checked around to the turn bettor who fired, and I called. The pre-flop raiser also called.
They both groaned when I turned over my hand and revealed the straight, and I stacked the chips.

The positional disadvantage of playing from the blinds can be tough to overcome, though it does add some variance to your game, since you'll play some random holdings for big wins. The more I play, the more inclined I am to not defend my blinds or to complete the small blind with random holdings. It's just too costly. K9s might be as weak as I can call a raise with from the small blind. And that might be too loose, but it felt good to stack those chips.

review: Diary of a Mad Poker Player

Diary of a Mad Poker Player by Richard Sparks is a surprise.
The package and design of the book have the look of a self-published work, and I wouldn't be surprised if 'Russel Enterprises, Inc' was a vanity press.
But, nonetheless, you can't always judge a book by its cover.
If you start to read this book and find the author annoying, you will hate the book. It is very much personality-driven. At first, I didn't like him. The writing style was at times boring, at times over the top.
But, then I warmed to him.
I started to empathize with his quest to win his way into the World Series of Poker.
And, ultimately, he doesn't get there, making this book a much needed reality check.
He plays a lot on-line, and details his play there. This will be especially of interest to online newbies (online regulars might be bored).
He also interviews a bunch of interesting people in the poker business, and this is the best part of the book.
In interviews with Nelson Rose (authority on gambling and legal issues), the folks at PartyPoker.com and other sites, and Mike Sexton, author Sparks delivers some some great insights into the game today, and also, how far poker has come in a short time.
Diary of a Mad Poker Player is a particular book, and it's not for everyone. It's a narrative, not a strategy book, so that will limit the appeal for many. It's also just a regular guy's story, which may further limit the appeal.
If, like me, you feel compelled to read every poker book you can find, you could do much worse. I was pretty entertained by the book, and thought it well worth the money. But if you're looking to, as the subtitle says, 'journey to the world series of poker' this might not be the book for you.

A Tale of Two 6s

$20 buy-in SNG. The blinds were 50/100, and I had 1900 in chips in middle position.
There were 6 of us left, and I was in 2nd chip position. The chip leader had about 2300.
I was dealt pocket tens, and the under-the-gun player went all-in for 1100.
Everyone folded to me (including the chip leader), and I felt that this decision would determine my tournament. If he had overcards, I was ahead, but barely; if he had a bigger pocket pair, I was in trouble; if he had a smaller pocket pair, I was way ahead.
My opponent had been very aggressive the entire game; I figured he had a pocket pair smaller than 10s or overcards, so I called. Then I kicked myself for calling! While the rest of the field folded, I convinced myself that my opponent had an overpair.
Everyone else folded, and the cards were turned up -- he showed 66!
He didn't improve and I knocked him out and became the overwhelming chip leader.
By the time I was the big blind, blinds had increased to 100/200.
A middle position player -- with 1100 in chips -- opened for 400, and everyone folded to me. I had 66!
I figured I had the best hand, but rather than re-raise pre-flop, wanted to see if I could get the rest of his chips (we were down to 5 players at this point). So, rather than re-raise, I just called.
The flop was an amazing 6, 2, 2! I flopped a big -- and deceptive -- full house.
I checked, he bet 200, I mulled it over and called.
Turn was a blank (but put 2 clubs on board), I checked, he went all in, I happily called. He didn't have anything, the river blanked off (though, no card could help him), and I raked in the pot.
I had more than 4,000 in chips at that point (everyone started with 1,000, so I had 40% of the chips), and I went on to win the $100 first place money.

a true bad beat

Now, most times, I don't consider a loss a bad beat. It's just poker.
But this one... wow!
I was just glad I wasn't in the hand.

The small blind made it $10 to go after 6 players limped in a 1/2 no limit game. Everyone called.

The flop came J, 6, 4, all clubs. The small blind bet $60.
Everyone folded to a middle position player, who raised to $125.
Everyone folded to the small blind.
He re-raised to $250.
The middle position player re-re-raised all-in (another $300).

Both players turned their cards up.

The small blind held A,J -- top pair, top kicker, without a club.
The middle position player held 44 -- flopped a set.

Then the final two cards were burned and turned: running 6s.

The winner: A,J makes 6s full of Jacks, while the flopped set of 4s -- which turned into 4s full of 6s on the turn -- ended up as 6s full of 4s. A loser.

OUCH!!

As one of the other spectators observed, "AJ wasn't just behind. He was behind two zip codes!"

1/2 no limit game, nut flush

In a baby no limit game (1/2 blinds), I was the big blind with A,4 suited in hearts.
Three players limited, the next player made it $10, two players cold-called, the small blind folded, and it was on me.
I opted to call the raise and see the flop. I knew if an ace fell, I'd be in trouble, but liked the idea of taking this hand against a large field (even out of position). The odds against flopping a four flush are 6 to 1 against, so as long as no one re-raised, I was getting the right price to call along. Factor in the chance that I might flop two pair or that two 4s might come on the flop, and it was an easy call. If the action was re-raised, it's also an easy hand to release in that spot.
The limpers all called, and seven of us took the flop ($70 in the pot).
The flop came King high, with two hearts. I checked to the field, and it checked around. I was prepared to call a reasonable bet with my nut flush draw and overpair, but was happy to take the free card.
The turn was the seven of hearts, making my flush (no straight flush possible).
I checked, the next player bet $50, and everyone folded to me.
I raised $50, and he called.
The river was the queen of diamonds, I bet $100, he called, and I took down the pot.
Nothing spectacular. I made the nut flush and got paid off. I'm a little surprised he called the river (I tried to 'sell' my hand for maximum value, but given the way I played the hand, I figured he made me for the nut flush).
I could have bet the flop or bet out on the turn; I could have smooth-called the turn and check-raised the river.
But, all in all, I like how this worked out. A bet on the flop would have created a bigger pot to win, which would have been nice, but getting a free card while drawing is pretty nice, too.
So a little gamble with big result: I invested $10 pre-flop, got a free card on the flop, and raked in a $470 pot (for a $260 profit).

NYC's Vice Squad

New York City cracked down last week and shuttered two of the more popular card rooms, 72nd Street and PlayStation.
Links to the story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/28/nyregion/28poker.html?
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/nyc-poke0528,0,4152415.story?coll=nyc-homepage-breaking2
Players were not arrested, but IDs were checked.
I played at PlayStation, though I wasn't there when the bust happened.

PlayStation was a fun, safe environment in which to play cards. Players were treated fairly and with respect; there was security; the games were on the level; and the fees were appropriate (time charge of $5 per 1/2 hour for 10/20 limit, which is exactly what you pay in Atlantic City).
In addition, no alcohol was allowed. Men and women of all ages (all over 21, at least to my eye) and races played there, and I never witnessed any physical confrontation. All in all, it was a very nice place to play cards, with free soda and cookies, and a waitress who would order food for you if you were hungry.

Closing these rooms is more than silly. Not only were these rooms incorporated (tax-paying) businesses -- with employees who are now out of work -- they were also a positive social outlet for hundreds of people.

I've already found a new poker club in which to play. I'm sure others have as well. And, many folks will now play more online poker. Oh, online poker does not benefit the city or state of New York at all. No taxes are paid, no jobs filled. I play online, and I like it, but I prefer the card room experience. Now, to get that, more folks will have to go to Atlantic City and Foxwoods (in New Jersey and Connecticut).

Good job, New York. You put some people out of work, you've cost yourself income from taxes on incorporated businesses (businesses that were also paying rent, payroll, and more), and you've driven your citizens to go online or out of state to play poker, a game of skill.

It is not illegal in New York to play poker. The time has come for legal poker rooms in New York City. Not only would such a room generate revenue in taxes collected, it also creates jobs.

In this day and age --- isn't it ridiculous to NOT have legal card rooms in Manhattan?