WSOP Main Event: As Of 7/09 6:00am est

6494: Entrants
1724: Players Remaining
$8,546,435: First Prize
453,200: Top Chip Count
Notable Players:
6th: 325,000 Phil Ivey (Multiple Bracelets)
13th: 249,000 Kenny Tran
18th: 225,000 Josh Arieh (Bracelet Winner)
19th: 220,000 Jeff Schulman
21st: 210,000 Paul Wascika (Former Runner-Up)
27th: 183,000 Dan Harrington (Former Winner)
29th: 180,000 Jeff Lisandro (Multiple Bracelets)
34th: 164,000 Antonio Esfandiari
54th: 135,000 Phil Hellmuth (Former Winner)
58th: 130,000 Joe Hachem (Former Winner)
70th: 110,000 Dennis Phillips (2008 Final Table)
85th: 98,000..Peter Eastgate (Defending Champ)
109th: 75,000: Bill Gazes
119th: 70,000: Cindy Violette
138th: 58,000: David "DevilFish" Ulliot
164th: 44,000: Humberto Brenes
178th: 39,000: John Juanda
187th: 34,000: Jennifer Harmen

Pumped On Poker Buy-In @ Poker Nordica

Played this one out in the backyard on the Netbook. Beautiful summer evening, blew one hand HU when I should have bet the river (always trust your instincts). My other two games were bomb outs so this was nice.
Game didn't start until 11:10 est, if any neighbors were peaking out window lol they must have been wondering, luckily I didn't have any "outbursts".

Razzle Dazzle

Sixteen 2nds: I Am Getting A Complex

It is hard to not see this as a failure of mammoth proportions. Three in a row, four out of last six. Grrr, but seriously, we have so many good players in my little forum that there is no shame in finishing second (is that the story we're going with?)
Anyway, when I looked at the names in tonights game the eventual winners name was new to me. I looked at the town though and had a feeling it could be Valko, but I was occupied during game and didn't get around to asking until game ended lol. And sure enough it was him.
So seeing him get the win was good, a fine player who was due to take one of our games down. Now me, I will just keep taking my lumps and hope that eventually a few "Ws" drop in my lap.
Was our first ever game outside the 7:00pm est time slot, hoped for a larger turnout. Lets see what happens at end of month when we try it again at Full Tilt in a NL Holdem game.

Well I Got Back In The Black

But it was not fun, two games on same site at same time. One was a $5.50 paying 3 and the other a $3.30 Rebuy. Was going good in both until I got rattled. I don't discuss theory anymore so I can't breakdown the turn and river philosophy. But I had the hand safely in check with a foot on the break.
Anyway like I said I got rattled which does not happen very often and I walked away from the game. I tried to stay focused on the other one and eventually was able to gather myself. This one paid five spots and I had a tough decision with six left when two players fired at the flop. I opted to muck and one went down.
Then we lost player four and I survived with KQ vs AJ. We move a little deeper and I have only 5BBs and have a connected hand. Guy decides to run me over so I make the call and make a str8. Now this guy calls me a donk.
Two hands later he hits the bricks and I slide up and finish third when my A-10 goes down to a loose call from big stack that scores. He could afford it though, so my July 1st disaster is wiped out and I am back in the black. I didn't take any re-buys, just an add-on so a net 41.22. Minus the $5.50 I chucked in the other makes it a net 35.72. Not bad for Mr Low-Roller.
But at what cost? I talk sarcastic at times, not like I used to. And I usually regret whatever I do say but the pinhead from game two I could care less about. He was just annoyed because my KQ beat his AJ prior to the connected hand. I was a fly on the wall that he coldn't kill.
First game though grrrrr. Well from now on I will really try to only have nice or funny things to say at the table. It is hard though, this game can bring out emotions real fast. And from my experience the first words you blurt out, you may regret but you usually mean it.
Maybe we need chatless poker sites.

That Was Money Well Spent

I am beginning to think there is a power out there telling me to stop with this nonsense. Last night I played an Omaha tournament on Carbon, some novice gets me four times. The best was with A999 on the river he makes a higher set.
The final smack was when I had 7-10 and the flop came 7-7-10. This player called a raise and a call with 10-10-K-3, and I have to watch the river splash a 3.
Today I jump in a $11 Omaha H/L game and flop the nut low holding A2 but the river is a 2 ruining my hand so I check. Guy goes all-in, so I am folding and accidentally call because I am eating and watching tv, lol.
This is 2nd hand of game and now I have 60 chips. Best I go find something else to do. So two tourneys just after midnight plus this mean a minus 17.60, a sterling start to July hehe.

MurryTheCat + Friends @ Full Tilt

Suited Pockets Freeroll With Rebuys: 5-123

MurryTheCat + Friends @ Carbon

What Do I Know Anyway

I decided that I am no longer going to write about or discuss anything to do with Poker theory. No longer will I give my opinion on anything related to how the game can be played.
There are so many ways to play and my view is obviously pointless and not necessary. I understand the various ways and approaches, but mine is not popular understood or important. I enjoy trying to get inside all the ways people play, but....... my approach I will keep to myself. But I will continue to learn from others.
So let the cards fall where they may, I will just keep my mouth shut.

Suited Pockets @ Carbon: Freeroll With Rebuys 2-436

After taking 22nd in the first game grrrr, I really wanted to take this one down. Was like old times, no money, just the thrill of trying to navigate a big field. Career second #205.

The US Open On My Home Course: Bethpage Black

What a week, was really a shame that these guys didn't get to play this course hard and fast with some wind. Long Island has been getting pummeled by rain the entire month of June which has left Bethpage a quagmire.
The course looks great (unlesss your a spectator, mud city) but as long as it played the players had no fear of driving through the fairway and the greens were like dartboards. Dsepite all this only five players broke par with the winning score being four under par.
I got out to the course very early today because I had a feeling something special was going to unfold, Phil Mickelsen was going to finally bag a US Open. He is one of the best players of all time, 38 wins three majors and now five runner ups (a record) in this Championship.
After blowing a few bucks in the gift shop, the lines were ridiculous earlier in week so when it became apparent there would be Monday play I just waited for a smaller crowd to get it done. So I head to the driving range and watch the warm-ups, because all players starting at same time almost every player is warming up. But where is Phil????? I figured maybe he is putting so I hit the restroom and then take a cobblestone path shortcut I know near clubhouse and then bamm!!! I am face to face with Phil and two NY State Troopers lol. Figured Phil was tired of "fist bumps" so I just said "go get'm Phil, and wished him luck". He gave the trade mark nod and aww shucks embarrased nod and headed on his way.
Yellow pinstripped pants brown shirt and shoes, I was impressed. This guy was clearly in my league (actually ahead lol) when it came to wardrobe hehe. I am 6 ft 1 and he made me look small, makes sense how far he hits it now. I have seen him play before but never stood that close to him.
So I buzz out to second green grandstand because leaders are on two fairway and Phil is on three tee. I went to where Barnes had marked his ball in left rough and it was ugly but because he was going to get to place ball he had some room to hit green, and he pulled off great shot and made par. Sadly he imploded, dropped seven strokes but actually had a birdie putt on 18 to still possibly make playoff but it missed and he fell two shots short.
Mickelsen was exciting as ever, dropping a few then coming back with an eagle on 13 to tie for the lead. But two late bogeys were his undoing. David Duval also was quite a story, his unfortunate triple on three, I was standing on tee when he plugged it in the bunker green side, I cringed. He probably wins without that shot, bad break.
So Lucas Glover is the feel good story winner, I said to a guy before play started this morning that minus 4 would be the number, I just thought Phil the Thrill would be holding the trophy.
I was a decent golfer at one time but these guys play a game I am not familiar with.I know exactly where I drive it on every hole on that course and I was in awe of what these guys do.Funny thing is, they were playing shorter rough then I am used to playing on that course. Candy asses hehe.

PokerSpace Crew Cup Finals: Game 2 Results And Overall Winner

Game 2
24: Dead Mans Hand
32: Stacked Connectors.org
34: Lady Magicks Crew
42: The Motley Screws
42: Pokers Finest
51: Crazy4Poker
59: Ares
62: Balkans Bulls
63: "Crews Terminators"
109:A.C.E Runners
111:Crew Cup Players
136:POSEIDON
148:PokerStars88
170:Suicide Kings
172:Who Dares Wins
180:The Rocks
213:Big Pairs

Overall Champion:

57: Lady Magicks Crew
86: Stacked Connectors.org
90: Pokers Finest
102:Crazy4Poker
108:Balkans Bulls

Congrats to Lady Magicks crew, my team gave it all we had and although it looked like we were up against it today we managed to make a run and get into the thick of it late in the game.
A bizarre play saved us then we got two suck-outs and I thought we might be on our way but then we took a wicked river beat and that was hard to overcome. But a game effort by the gang.
We posted a 51 both days for a 102 and a 4th place finish in the 17 team finals.

PokerSpace Crew Cup Finals: Game 1 Results

23: Lady Magicks Crew
39: A.C.E. Runners
46: Balkan Bulls
48: Pokers Finest
51: Crazy4Poker
54: Stacked Connectors.org
73: "Crew Terminators"
83: The Rocks
88: POSEIDON
93: Big Pairs
107:Dead Mans Hand
108:Who Dares Wins
109:Crew Cup Players
111:The Motley Screws
118:Ares
221:PokerStars88
227:Suicide Kings

Live Action

Well my live action was a nice diversion, on the poker end I dropped 83 "toothpicks". I actually called a player a DONKEY", have never done that before in a casino. Guy made an absolutely ridiculous play calling 1200 preflop with blinds at 200 with 7-4os then calling 4K on flop on a draw. It missed and he bluffed at river, I thought about it and called and he hit it.
So this pinhead risked it all with that garbage, why? He took 1/3 my stack grrr lol.
Cash game was alot of fun though,overall I had a good time.

MurryTheCat + Friends @ Full Tilt

MurryTheCat + Friends

I relied on the suck-out at one point (whew)

Rounders Radio: Quite A Battle

Some Rounders Radio success, waited until eight minutes prior to start to decide to enter. Was sitting on couch starting to nod out, golf on tv, would have been really easy to clutch a pillow and go bye-bye.
But I popped on the laptop and it worked out pretty good, congrats to Buzz on the win.

Omaha H/L Another Second

SP Omaha H/L Freeroll @ Cake

HR @ PokerStars

It Happens Way To Often

I don't blow a gasket anymore but grrrrr. For the third time in last four games I got blasted out at FT by a play that makes you want to scream. The fourth one was a suckout at 28% but an acceptable call that made me finish 3rd.
The first one was an all-in call with Q-6 that scored to give me 2nd. The next one I flopped a set on a paired board and bet it, got called by a player who missed flop and had no draw, they hit turn card and bet it. I pushed all-in and they called and hit a 3 outer on the river. They did the same thing to another player the next game and it gave me an eery flashback.
I made a bad call when I was raised after flopping two pair (top two) but I was in two games and misread opponents bet and chip stack grrrr. Then was committed to staying in.At least I called with 6 outs by accident and not 2 on purpose grrrr. My 6 didnt come in naturally hehe.
Tonights hand I am not even going to layout, lets just say the other player had an instafold hand, I know I should be happy they called but I am so sick of watching this happen.
I support all the buy-ins, play a reasonably consistent game yet it seems everyone picks me to make the nutty play against. So guess what? I don't have to keep punishing myself and plucking down my $5.
I won't name the place because I have no "ill will", I will just feel better if I dont subject myself to it anymore.
My favorite was a hand last year where I raised with QQ, player calls with 44 and when the flop comes they push all-in. I insta call and watch the turn and river come 4-4. Just brilliant, I could write a book (guess they put me on AK, yes lets risk all our chips and hope he has nothing and push 44)

MurryTheCat + Friends @ Full Tilt

So Close Again

Poker Under The Lights

Almost warm enough,I have been stocking up on Corona all winter. I am like a squirrel, he hides nuts in the ground, I stack cases in the laundry room hehe.

MurryTheCat + Friends @ Full Tilt

Holdem Radio: Booty League Standings Thru 6/8

57: Saathoff
53: Brannie
49: HokieFan77
48: AirHockey001
47: Qweeny
46: Flushop
45: 23bpm1
39: KarlaKay
38: HRBling
38: MurryTheCat
36: HeavyD
35: BigBubba
34: HRBigChick
GRRR I Missed A Game, I Have 2 Find Out The Schedule

Omaha To The Rescue

Kick-Off Game Of Holdem Radio League

The Cat gets off to a decent start with a second place finish. Was playing three games at once, I finally got it through my thick skull that I can't and will not do that anymore. My hands were killing me grrrrr. Two games has to be my max.

Omaha

MurryTheCat + Friends: Razz

MurryTheCat + Friends

Event 2 Chip Counts 40K Buy-In

World Series of Poker Presented by Jack Link's Beef Jerky - Official Tournament Coverage and Results -

MurryTheCat + Friends @ Carbon

Some Busy Days For The Cat

Well I am going to play the 15K guaranteed at the Borgata on the 24th, I suspect that the field and purse will bring first prize between 15-20K. Will stay at Ballys (comped) and hop a taxi over, no drinking and driving.
The 23rd I will be attending the Met St Louis game so after these two days I should be shot for about a month lol. But it gets better, on the 21st I will be at final round of US Open at Bethpage Black, this of course is also same day as final round of PokerSpace Crew Cup Poker Finals online.
So the guy who does nothing most of the time finally has a few things to do and they all fall in a three day window lol. Of course for reasons I won't go into here, this will probably all fall apart at last minute. Oh being me.

Freeroll Night

I went freerolling tonight, wanted to go back to my roots for fun and challenge myself. I played three of them, first one was 163 players and I got 10th. Second was 1428 players and I got derailed while going well and went down 124th when my top set got pushed all-in on the flop by middle pair and I watched in disbelief as this knucklehead made a str8. I would have been in top 15 if I won the hand lol.
Final one was 1663 players and I finished about 40th I think. I bolted quickly when knocked out, I had been playing a long time.
Made some changes to the schedule at the forum, not sure if it will draw in more players. I made Mondays game $2.50 as opposed to $3.50 for all of June. We picked up a special invite to a $5.50 Buy-In On PokerStars that is looking good. I decided to make it an official event for the forum.

PokerSpace Crew Cup May Standings: Thru May 27

75: Who Dares Wins
66: PokerSpace Elite
65: Crazy4Poker
57: Pokers Finest
54: Holdem Hogs2
51: Chip And A Chair
50: Ace Runners

My team took down the game today, TexasPear was 2nd, Jermn 8th and K7 20th. No help came from MTC as I had some problems prop up today and was distracted and of no assistance to the cause.
Props to the squad on another big effort, moves us up to third place, just one point out of locking another spot in finals.

The Pressure Is On

I honestly don't know last time it happened but I am having a losing month. As this post goes to print I am down 36 "toothpicks" for the month of May". I have little time to bail myself out of this deep hole. A horrible -14 spur of the moment ring session could be my undoing.
Only thing saving me these days is my late night Omaha cashes lol. Maybe I should move to Nebraska, or sell insurance.

Split Game: Omaha/Holdem

I Still Show Flashes: 200th Career Second

PokerSpace Crew Cup: May Standings Thru 5/23

North American Lague
59: Who Dares Wins
55: PokerSpace Elite
49: Crew Cup Players
48: Pokers Finest
48: Crazy4Poker
44: Holdem Hogs2
37: Chip And A Chair
37: The Dog Pound
35: Ace Runners
33: Part Time Job
32: The Motley Screws

Was Like Old Times

I almost never enter games like this anymore. Took a stab tonight, HOSE was the format, an ugly beat at the 11 player mark was costly and I settled for 9th-899 for $1.35. Thought I might bag another picture frame win. hehe

Omaha Win: The Hard Way

Well I finally did it, after six seconds I got the breakthrough. Having two computers running saved me tonight. I was playing on this laptop and had finished with the Netbook but it was still on sitting right next to me. With five players remaining in the game my puter shut off.
Normally about a four minute process to get back to the game I quickly turned to my backup which luckily has Carbon on it, I think I only missed one hand. When the laptop came back on I had also lost the internet connection so the time loss would have killed my chances.
The game went another good 45 minutes and it was over before I got service back on this one. So for once bad luck didn't doom me lol. At the four player mark with the short stack virtually out I managed to get all-in post flop, I watched myself get sucked on the turn and I slumped only to see me resuck on the river.
Prior to this game I had finished 85-89 in Crew Cup and mid pack in Rounders Radio game. I decided maybe Omaha could save me. I entered the HO split Omaha Holdem prior to this event and at the three player mark I got beat by a one outer grrrrr.
Entering this game was a 50/50 decision, glad I decided to play, nothing like screwing up your sleep cycle over a silly game of poker.
Update: Well I spoke to soon, same thing happened tonight during the Pic Club tournament. 167 players and we were down to about 100, I jumped on the Netbook and had three failed log-in attempts, what?????? The site locked me out!!!! I go to live chat and nobody home. So I have to sit here and helplessly blind out, I find out from friends that I finish 43rd and $11 goes down the drain plus any potential winnings. This should also put to bed any questions about why I don't risk alot online, imagine that happening in a $500 buy-in?

Ahhh The Big Suck-Out Got Me

My first and only game of day was the Rounders Radio HU tournament at PokerStars. It was so funny, I just don't understand the approach of some of these players. Had two guys that fired at virtually every pot, got rid of the first one but in the finals it proved a tad more difficult. I finally got myself to 7500-4500 when I had him nailed, he raised with 3-3 I pushed back with J-J and he shoves it all-in.
Now I have been backing down at all the medium and small pots, patiently waiting, I got the last big one and now I got him to make the big mistake. I win this hand and it is 9000-3000. From there you can bet he will get even more aggressive and it gets easier. But of course the three slips out of the deck.Now it's not like a 60-40, he is a 4-1 dog here. This is the kind of hand a guy like me waits to set up.
What kills me is I bet both of these guys think they played a solid approach. You can't fire at every pot, it's not believable. Your just going to get trapped in the end. Almost all players like this that I run up against lose to me unless they hit a big suck-out. But I guess it's a style of play, I am playing a little better later but still not really enjoying it.
Problem is I am just a slightly above average player when at my best and there is just so much "lets gamble" play online that it wears me out mentally. So my only hope is to just play as little as possible and try to live with it.
The funny thing is I have never thought of playing poker as gambling, to me if you play a sound fundamental game, use your math skills and of course instincts (this applies more live) over an extended period of time you are going to come out way ahead. So to me there is no gamble, its a foregone conclusion that one will win.
On the bright side: It dawned on me last night that in the last three Crew Cup games I pulled a 1st and a 2nd. Of course would not have done it without my teamies but I get so focused on the team score that I kinda glossed over what I actually did. Maybe tomorrow we can have another good one for the gang. Perhaps the dark cloud that seems to hang over me during PokerSpace games is finally dissipating

MurryTheCat + Friends

PokerSpace Crew Cup: First Game Of May

We finished 3rd-17 crews today to kick off May. Got a strong game from Vger who finished 11th. I had an interesting game, sucked out with QQ to topple KK in early stages. Late in game I had KK crushed by a player making a move with 9-8, the old me would have thrown a fit.
I settled down and got to final table as the short stack. I had to get lucky once to hang in at six player mark. I finally got my footing and with three players left I was able to catch a few breaks and outlast two pretty good players.
Had my teamies crunching numbers so I had one foot on break until I was sure we had a lock on third place before I got a little aggressive. I just noticed that this was my 60th career forum win.

High Tech Toys

Used the Netbook all day today, took it outside and ran some tests. You can actually see pretty good even if the sun is out. The Wi-Fi wireless service is in pockets all around me at present but should work out for the Crew Cup Finals on the 21st of June. Had some trouble logging into Messenger service a couple of times but did eventually get in.For an old school guy I am starting to feel very high tech lol.
Is funny, was thinking about when all the big changes came out in golf clubs in last 15 years or so. It definetely was a big boost for the amateur player BUT,you may hit it further and a little straighter and get forgiveness for your toe and heel shots.
Here is the thing, they will never invent a club that is going to help you open the blade and flop it over a bunker, belly a wedge from the fringe and make it roll like a putt etc etc. Either you can do this stuff or you can't. Haven't seen any advancement that will show a player how many inches to hit behind the ball when in a sand trap or how far to take it back, where to plac ball in stance (hehe)
But I do love technology,but to me it's a toy. I am not dependent on it. Another funny thing from golf, back in the 1980's all of a sudden the orange and optic yellow ball came on the scene. I hated the orange ball, actually made a hole in one with one and hate the way it looks in the trophy lol.
But back to the point, the optic yellow actually was a good ball, very easy to follow, especially at twilight. So picture yourself on the first tee, usually players say what ball they are playing so there are no mix ups. So you see a guy with an orange ball and if by chance another player has one almost every time one would say "oh your playing an orange ball also"?.
OMG!! What if they land near each other, how will we know which one is which?? When all four players for like 300 years all played a white ball nobody was to concerned about a catastrophe of biblical proportions lol.
Anyway, not sure if and when I will get that "edge" back when it comes to playing poker. I hope it happens eventually.
Update: I really tried to focus and played a game of HO, that is a split between Holdem and Omaha H/L. Had this guy at my table from hand one and he put his money in bad so many times it was hard to believe. But he won almost every single time (they always do lol) When someone finally won a hand off him he cursed at them, to funny. Anyway on final hand I flopped two pair and checked, he bet and I pushed all-in. I knew he couldnt fold the either AA orKK he was holding, knew he had it by the min raise preflop. I called it because I was in the BB. So here we go a pot that puts me in first place, he already wiggled off 5 hands prior for a split on river to deny me 1st place. And the river pairs the board for Mr. Clueless. Oh well at least I played decent for a change.

MurryTheCat + Friends

The Slide Continues

I have not updated stats in a few days but I think there is only one cash this month. Can't even count how many times I have called off all my chips when I know I was beat grrrr.
Oh well it's only a few bucks lol. My attempt to join another forum didnt go to well, I won't name it but there were so many rules and in fighting that I figured it wasn't a good fit for me. So here I sit at 12:30 with a bag of peanut M+Ms some mini Hostess donuts and a 16oz Pepsi, way to go MTC, that will keep you in shape.
No more poker going to read this article about Bernie Madoff from the perspective of his secretary.
Better then losing another $3 hehe.(The donuts are good, damm powder on the keyboard)

Can You Trust A Sales Person Who Plays Poker??

But lets write something positive and kind of funny. I was in store other day purchasing a BBQ, the sales guy is taking down my info (he was in his late 20's) And when I give him my name he says "There is a famous poker player with the same name as you" I tell him that I know.
He starts telling me all these tourneys he won on PokerStars and also that he won a few tourneys at the Taj-Mahal. So I point to my jacket (World Series Of Poker) and tell him I play in AC all the time and also online. Was going to tell him about forum but his boss called him over, guess we were talking to long lol.
So I was sold a BBQ by a poker player, thing will probably fall apart or blow up after 3 weeks.

Lose Lose Lose And Losing Interest (hehe)

I feel like I am almost done with this poker online thing grrrrr. I know I am not but geez, I hardly ever want to play anymore. I am becoming a pretty bad player too.
I just have no patience for all the nonsense and now from time to time I am doing it, flung it in last night when I lost interest. I tried to donk a guy who for some reason always makes an attempt to donk me.
I play like one game a day and more often then not I can't wait for it to end. The only game I seem to enjoy is my little forum games that are basically SnGs except for the Carbon game which has become our feature game now.
So tonight I donated $5.50 at Cake, pretty sure that is it for today.
Maybe a casino run to pull me out of my doldrums? If it ever stops raining I will play a game outside with a beer and a burger.
Update: I tried one more game, 155 players and I went down at final table. Play was pathetic and the play that knocked me out was one you would expect to see in first 10 mintutes of game. How do they make it this far? It is absolutely frightning. Driving me closer and closer to quitting.

GRRRRRR

Just thinking out loud here, considering leaving my PokerSpace team. I have to find out if replacement can play Crew Cup Finals and take trip if team wins. I don't want teams chances of winning Cup to take a hit.
I think if you crunch numbers I a probably weakest player on team up to this point. I have never won a Crew game and have only made 6 or 7 final tables. I have never completely found my stride in this format.
This conflict with the US Open is really bothering me, I have been so looking forward to going to the event, on other hand I feel an obligation to my team.

Murrays Law Strikes Again

Well I found out today that PokerSpace scheduled the Crew Cup Finals June 20 and 21st. Yes the same weekend as the US Open at Bethpage Black. We were only planning on doing this for years, my brother is flying in from Indiana and we have tickets for a weekday and Sunday.
Well at least they didn't schedule a roll call on the same day we are all going to the Mets Tampa Bay game at Citi Field on the 16th. So I get thrown in the horns of a dilemma, money spent on tickets, a planned vacation versus my poker team.
I knew there was only one possible day that could intefere and be a problem, but this golf thing was in works long befor there was any such thing as a Crew Cup.
So thanks PokerSpace grrrr, I am wondering if WiFi service works on the golf course, this Netbook is so tiny but I guarantee they wouldn't let me bring it in. Security as it is could be some nut with a launch code for god knows what. it would solve all my problems though.
Well time for some alone time,hit the garden, hit the stores and spend spend spend!!!
I am typing this out on new Netbook, have to say it is pretty cool, look forward to playing poker out on the deck at night with this. Supposedly the battery is good for three hours, my regular laptop I always have to take plug out with me.
Maybe I should just vanish into thin air.

Crazy4Poker Locks Up Another Spot In Crew Cup Finals

We locked up another spot in the finals today by finishing 3rd-21 crews. Got another good finish from K7, MischiefMarg worked the shortstack to perfection to squeeze out alot more then most would get with no cards. Vger was doing same thing but got unlucky when with a dominating hand she got beat.
I finished second today, except for one time I won every hand where I had preflop all-in where I started as favorite. And I won 2/3 as a dog. Was nice to pitch in and help the cause.
Our late rush over last two weeks improves our odds in the finals as we kept another team from advancing.

The Crew Comes Up Big:PokerSpace Crew Cup

My guys played big and took first place yesterday to get us back up to fifth place for the month of April. With a make up game to be played we can still grab one of the top three spots.
I was a little hot under the collar over my early knock-out, I rushed home from something I was doing (was having a great time) because I felt an obligation to my team. I lasted all of 20 minutes and couldn't help but be aggravated over what I went thru to get my ass in that seat to play.
Made a comment to the player who assaulted my stack twice as I left the table, I don't say much anymore (I really don't) maybe that is why I suck now. I have lost my edge lol.
I settled down and rooted my team home but then something else happened later on and I tilted out of only other game I played, a $2.20 Buy-In. So I played like 30 minutes yesterday.

Oh Man My Pocket Pairs Wouldn't Hold Up

Haven't been playing much lately, pulled a respectable 9th in last Crew Cup game as our team took 4th place. We will need a late flurry to have any chance this month.
Tonight I played two games, both forum affairs. I lost four big hands where I had higher pocket pair and opponent hit trips, two were preflop all-ins that crippled me.The final spank came when I flopped open ended str8 draw and pushed against an obvious bet that was trying to bully me. They called and I had them dominated, K-8 vs 10-8, but alas that 10 popped out of the deck. I went from third to out in a blink. Thanks mostly to my raise with QQ that was pushed all-in by 10-10 preflop.
Tomorrow we have a Crew game in the evening, guessing that will be my only action of the day. I hope to be sitting outside sipping Coronas and maybe potting a couple of Hibiscus plants.

Third In RR Buy-In @ Poker Nordica

Oh what a game I should have won this won. $5.50 Buy-In and we only got 1000 chips. Turned into a final table pump and dump. Both players that finished ahead of me put beats on me, had to work my ass off to cash and then got the chip lead.
When four handed the guy who only knew all-in pushed A-9 and was called, I just called with QQ and when the flop came K-Q-x I went all-in. Third player folded and the turn and river came 10-J. That is beyond sick in any book.
Then three handed with pocket pair in the BB SB went for steal with 9-5 and made a str8. Neither player said GG or had a comment after the beat.
Tried my first ever "Double Or Nothing" game at Stars last night. 10 players and it ends when 5 left and those players double up. Well I managed to finish 6th. I think I could do quite well in these though.

MTC + Friends @ Full Tilt

Somehow I was standing when the dust settled.

MurryTheCat+ Friends @ Carbon

For the record I cracked JJ with 33 but it was not a preflop all-in. I did call an all-in by KK and crack it with QQ.

One And Done

I tanked my only game of the day on the bubble, I had seen enough and was pretty sure how it was going to turn out anyway. Murrys law lol.
When I do play these days I don't seem to have fun, and I know why but I can't do anything about it.
At least I got my tree today woohoo!!!! Tomorrow I will order my garden soil for the beds. The garden is stress free, maybe that is what I need.

April NA Crew Cup Event

As a team we got off to a sluggish 8th place start in the April Crew Cup but Jermn took down the first event in impressive fashion.

Some Thoughts

Well I managed to play 12 minutes of poker on Tuesday, was a sit-out for most of my own game. This is the 5th time that has happened grrrrr to me, then when I came back I didn't care and was a donator.
Six more Crew Cup games left in the season, this is another leagues that is in the crossroads for me. It is a unique set-up and has alot of upside but I do not like being tied into playing at a set time. This is especially true on the weekends, the game eats up a good chunk of the day. I like my team and we do have fun but I also like being outside and this thing cripples you from 11-4 on Saturday and Sunday if you play both leagues.
Last month of Crew Cup kicks off today, we will be one player short for first game. I am hopeful we will have our team set in stone by the end of the day.

Mohegan Sun: Spring Showdown

Monday Night @ Aced

My Summer Strategy

Got the delivery date for my new patio set yesterday (April 29th)I went wicker this time, very comfortable. Now I am eyeing this new Netbook computer, tiny little thing to use when I go outside or travel.I do love my toys.
Surround myself with plants, flowers and lots of color and play poker and drink beer in my backyard. Murray can chase the frogs hehe.
Can't wait to fire up the grill,only time I cook lol. I think you could throw an old shoe on the barbecue and add cheese and it probably would taste good.
Casino comps tend to dry up a bit in the summer months but with the economy so bad I am curious how it plays out this year. Last week was the emptiest I have ever seen it, I mean it's April people should be dying to get out of the house. Hopefully will be good for me and they will throw plenty of deals my way.
I want to add one more tree to the yard this year, it's between a cherry weeper and a Japanese Maple I will start looking this week. One thing is for sure, time to get some sun on these white legs lol.

A Little HU With The Crazy Clown

When almost nobody showed up I was going to pull out of this one but there was no unregister button lol. So I locked horns with the Evil one, was fun. That river 6 from last week still wakes me up in a sweat at least twice a night. Perhaps now I can get some sleep. Slowly recovering my losses from A.C. lol. A net 9.5 "toothpicks", woohoo!!!!

MurryTheCat + Friends

My tenth runner-up, I can't beat this Lightning guy. I did manage to win the "Special Kanlund $20 Bounty"

The Corona Kid

Have Corona Will Travel

The Numbers Don't Lie

Live Action Time

Just a quickie,probably a small buy-in at the ShowBoat and a cash Omaha session at Taj-Mahal. Have never played Omaha live and the thing that strikes me is this. When playing online your four cards are always face up right in front of you, in this game your hand is constantly changing.
I will probably be constantly glancing back at my cards which is something I almost never do when playing Holdem. I did love squeezing out my cards when I used to play five card stud so that aspect will be fun. I truly believe you can change the cards if you squeeze them just right.

MurryTheCat + Friends @ Aced: Double Brides Maid

Another Omaha H/L Brides Maid

Set Crushed On River

Oh I thought this one was going to be mine. Came from way back to get to final table in a field of 109. Pushed all-in with the blinds coming next hand, flopped a set but my caller rivered a flush, grrrrr. 9th place.

Big Friday Night Turnout: MurryTheCat + Friends

Seventeen players for our Friday night game at Carbon poker. Forum is up to 147 members.

2009 Crew Cup Qualifiers Thru March: PokerSpace

Never Seen This Before

First hand when we got to three players I was dealt AA in the SB, the button went all-in. I promptly raised all-in and was called by the BB who had AK. I couldn't bare to watch but they held up.
I never got a chance to screw this game up,it just fell in my lap. Holdem Radio win #8. When this game ended I briefly thought of making it my last game ever, hmmmmm.
Wouldn't that be an interesting way to go out? Retire and just become a "Forum Owner" It could slow down the graying process. My other game which was a freeroll my all-in preflop was crushed by Q-7, hard to get away from that monster lol. A game I was looking forward to that turned into a disaster. The play at my table was maniacal,guess I didn't duck enough.

Quarterly Poker Report

Well let us take a look at what happened so far this year. I opened the year by missing the money in 11 of my first 12 tournaments. Then got on a nice little tear that went on through the last week of February. That was followed by an abysmal run for the entire month of March.
Ony thing that saved me was a few winning cash sessions and two or three good tournaments. I have figured out that if you can make top 3 10-12% of the time you will make a decent amount of "toothpicks" in this game. I run at at about 11.8% over 4600 plus games.
My goal for the next few months is to improve my Omaha play and show better in my cash stats. I am basically a break even player.
So 1/4 of the season in the books and we are on pace for about a little over 4K in "toothpicks". Not bad for a small time player who risks very little and really dosen't put in alot of time. At least not as much as most would think.
It must stink to put in all those hours and lose "toothpicks" (knock on wood)

MurryTheCat + Friends : HORSE Tournament

So Close, So Bloody Close!!!

Not bad considering I had no intention of playing today. A see-saw HU battle with a few suck-outs on both ends so I really can't get to upset about the final one.
MM talked me into this one at last minute so a nice 96 "toothpick" evening, and in a re-buy no less. I did one re-buy and the add-on, so a net 87.

MurryTheCat + Friends @ Aced