Under The I - Bingoguy: October 2004

I did it.

Tonight, I took the plunge and sat down at a $6/12 Limit Hold 'em Table. I've played quite bit of Texas Hold'em. I've played in Tournaments and placed in the top 10 about 3 times and had what I consider decent finishes (Top 100) quite a few times.

The kicker is all my play has been online where people can't see me jumping up and dancing everytime I win a big pot or I start talking to my cards because I've gotten two decent hole cards.

No, This was face to face 10 seat Limit Hold 'em. This was going to be a completely different animal.

I really should back up a little. I first wandered over to the poker area after getting my butt kicked on a table game in the casino. The thought of playing actual hold 'em poker never entered my mind until I was pretty deep on this table game and I heard an announcement of some joe shmoe that his seat was ready in the poker room.

I left the table I was taking a beating on and decided out of curiousity to wander over to the poker area. There I found 4 tables. There were a lot of people milling around watching. I couldn't clearly see what the wagers were or how much you had to buy in for so I just stood and watched the table.

Having read at least one book on Poker (Hellmuth's Play Poker Like the Pros) I kind of had an idea what I was looking at in terms of the player's seated at the tables. I probably watched the table for about 30 minutes. Realized the Blinds were $3/$6 and the majority of people arriving at the tables had $200 in chips. I continued to watch for a little bit when I decided "I think I could win at these tables"

I wandered over to the desk where the waiting list was and perused the house rules looking to see if anything extrodinary stood out to me that I would need to make note of but it looked pretty standard. I asked the guy behind the desk a few questions. Mostly, confrming the blinds and course of play. He told me the first two table were "sattelite" tables and that the main games were being played on the other two tables beside them. I, then put my name on the wait list and then went for a bit of a walk because there were at least 8 people ahead of me.

While I was walking I was thinking that I probably wouldn't stay long enough to even reach my name on the wait list. I made the circuit around the casino and then headed back to the poker room. I, again, stood by the table and tried to get a read on the types of players that were playing at this table where I would most likely start to play. Watching the hands and watching a number of player's playing right through to the river was another indication to me that my practice time online would do me well. That is, if I could manage to hold a poker face (which was my biggest doubt about myself).

I was watching when one of pit bosses (if that's what they call them I don't know, sigh) came up and told someone they had a seat open at the next table and the suddenly I heard it. "Bingoguy, Your Seat is ready in the poker room."

[Gulp]

I walked up and bought in for $200. Took my rack and then sat down at the table. The big blind had passed my spot about 2 hands before so I could post in if I wanted to but I asked to wait for the big blind. Which one player couldn't understand as he babbled on to the player beside him because the BB was "way over there" (pointing to my side of the table). I just wanted a few more hands, now that I was actually seated to take a good look at my opponents.

They only managed to deal about 4 hands before either a number of players on other tables left or a number of them busted out because suddenly 4 or even 5 players got moved from our table to the next one, The dealer then waited for them to seat more players. My strategy to watch the others kind of took a punch to the stomach. When they finally seated players I actually ended up being the big blind. Throwing in my $6 the dealer dealt the cards.

Now, I don't really remember this hand as well as you would think I should. I do remember I was dealt K-2o. I checked in and took the flop. Now I don't remember the flop which should tell you how memorable those cards were but I being this was the first hand I decided to bet out. I was met by a number of folds. One person called me and the dealer brought us to fourth street another nothing card. I bet out again on the turn and the other player folded. Woo, Who says you can't bluff at low limit tables?

The key I think was I showed no emotions. My HEART was racing but I was concentrating on making sure I was looking disinterested in what I was actually doing and just betting matter of factly. I continued to play for awhile and watch a couple of people bust out. A couple of the people went to the second table. I was probably slightly ahead of my $200 at this point but nothing to write home about. The Pit Boss then walked up to the table enquring who "Bingoguy" was. I nodded and said it was me and was told there was a seat at the next table. I took my chips and moved to the next table.

Strangely enough, I was seated at the exact same seating position as I was for the first table (that I didn't mention was the immediate left the dealer, not that it makes a difference). I took this to be a bit of a good luck charm since I hadn't been doing terrible in this position at the first table. I had played 2 or 3 hand when I was dealt J-J. I waited as number of people called and when the bet got to me I raised. Two other people called me and then the flop game. 5-J-J. Glory Halleujeah! It's JAM TIME! The first player checked, second player bet out $6 and I raised to $12. The first player folded and the second player called.. I don't remember the turn card because it really didn't matter to me. The remaining player bet out $12 and I raised to $18 and he called.. The river was dealt He bet out $12, which I raised to $18 and he re-raised to $24 and I called him. I then flipped over my cards to show my Jacks and he folded never showing me what he had. He must have had Trips 5's I think. The whole table lit up when they saw my massive hand. The dealer pushed the chips towards me and I started to stack 'em.

The majority of the players I felt I could read somewhat. I could tell you what it was I was reading but tried to make note of how player's reacted with their bodies when I was able to see their hole cards because of a showdown. I can't tell you how vital that little tibit of information is. There were 4 or 5 players, I felt were good players, who gave the stone cold look but their body language said completely different things. These were the players who were doing well against the rest of the table but I manage to win a hand or two off.

Sitting fairly nicely (probably up $75 at this point) I was once again given the notice that I was being moved to one of the main game tables. Relunctantly, I picked up my chips and moved over to my seat. I sat down and was greeted by noone. (Woo, friendly table) I made a quick glance around the table. Since I had now been either playing or watching the poker room for a few hours now I knew who'd been sitting at these tables all that time. These were the players I had to be very,very aware of. Unfortunately for me, I was about to do battle with one of the on the very first hand I got dealt.

The hand dealt to me was Q-Q. I thought, damn! Great hand to start THIS table with. I needed a show of strength. The bet raised pre-flop to $12. I called. The flop came 8-A-7. I bet out and was raised. I called. The turn came another 7. I must admit, I really wasn't thinking at this point and wtih 3 players left I matched the betting and re-raising all the way $24. The river card was a dud and I bet out $12 was re-raised and I called. The third player folded. I turned up my pair and he tossed his hand face up...A-7. WHAT AN IDIOT I am. I should have seen that from the betting but I was blinded by my Ladies. The table basically wrote me off as an idiot player at that point. I'd also DEVASTATED my chip stack. I turned to the lady beside me and said "Oh well, All I lost was other people's money and that was my worst play all night." But I was smartin' something fierce.

I couldn't find any decent cards for quite a few hands and then the guy beside me left. I told the dealer I wanted to move into his spot and slid my chips over so that I was once again sitting beside the dealer. This time on his opposite side. This also thankfully put me out of direct facial contact with the player who had crushed me with his full house. I think it helped my game a little. Although, I was still recovering from my smackdown.

I decided to tighten up a bit and I tossed away quite a few suited small cards not having the confidence to play 'em. It was then sitting in the BB I was dealt K-Jo. I called it along with about 4 other players. The flop came A-8-Q and I checked but was bet out by one player. Another called and I decided to call to see 4th street. It was a 4d to go with the Qd that was already on the board. I checked again, the next player bet and the last player folded, I was about to fold when my gut said call it. So I did. Up popped the 10d. It was the card I was looking for minus the diamond. This put a flush on the board. I checked again and he bet $12 I raised to $24 and then looked down at my chips. I suddenly got this feeling I should stare the player down so I looked up for the FIRST time all night and looked directly at the other player. I could see him studying my face. Did I have the flush? I think was what he was thinking. He called me and I announced straight. Which he responded "what?!" I don't think he saw it. He flipped over A-5o (although his 5 was a diamond) I bad beat the guy chasing a straight and BOY was he pissed at me. Although, I'm not sure if he was mad at me or his luck but he couldn't look at me for quite awhile and he shook his head for at LEAST 2 more hands until he finally won a hand.

A couple hands later I was dealth 3-5c and having won a hand I felt a little more confident staying in to see the $6 flop. The flop was ok 2-4-J and most of the table folded and I bet out $6 and was called. The Turn brought the 6 and I knew I was made and hiding fairly well. Although for effect I checked the 6 and he bet and I called. After the turn of a dud I started to bet into my opponent (who happened to be pretty friendly old guy who had sat beside me on both of the previous earlier tables.) and basically jammed the pot into a decent sized pot.

At this point I was probably holding a little $400 in chips.

Again in the BB spot I was dealt A-2h, and I re-raised pre-flop. The flop came down 5-6-Q (and I initially was going to fold thinking I didn't want to spend when I noticed the 5-6 were both hearts. I was going to have to stay to the turn at least. The 9 of hearts was dealt and I bet out $12 and couple of the players that were still in the hand said "Ah, he hit it" and folded but I was shocked when two players actually called me. Bringing me to the river card. I bet out again $12 and was called. I turned 'em over said "Sorry, guys". In these games I was hitting yet another big pot. The lady across from me even said "You're hitting some pretty big pots now." and I said "Makes up for getting crushed by that full house earlier."

I won a couple of smaller pots after that but I had cleared $500 and I decided to dwindle down what I had over $500 and then called it a night. I'd been in the casino since about 7'o clock and it was 2am now. I was getting tired and I thought this was the best time to run away. Because of the beating took playing a table game before I started playing Hold'em the $500 isn't quite as impressive. I figure I'm up about $150. Although, it's been a long time since I walked out of a casino up that much in a long time.

No one said goodnight to me when I left either. I guess in retrospect I wasn't that overly friendly a player in that I was pretty quiet and didn't chat much.

The end result is I will probably wait a bit before I ever play for money hold'em again. And when I say a bit, I mean it could be next year before I play again with my own money. It also helps that in my small town there isn't a casino to play poker in. So, these occasions are left for when I do things like visit my dad. I think it's funny, in all things gambling. I seem to be one of those beginners luck type people. My first time playing I seem to win.

On the other hand, the Red Sox beat the Yankees so miracles do happen.

What does your t-shirt say? by rejektedrockstar
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Ta-Da

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I thought I'd take this time to shamelessly plug the fact I'm making a return, of sorts, to online broadcasting arena.

I've decided to join a bunch of crazy people who are running The Just Rant Radio Network

It's there I'm going to be running TWO shows. Yes, TWO Shows. I'm really into being different most of the shows on the network are late night shows. I decided to be different my first show will be "The Jake Morning Show" (Ya, Bingoguy just doesn't cut it for an online name) Airing Wednesday Mornings (Yes, HUMP DAY!) from 6am - 10am PT (Which is 9am - 1pm ET)

My Second Show is more along the lines of my original station I ran on Live*365 for quite some time. I even kept the name "Radio Nite Light" and you can hear that show on Thursdays from 8pm - 10pm PT (That's 11pm - 1am ET)

Anyway, You can listen to the station by clicking on the Listen Headphones on the main page of Just Rant site or you should be able to just click HERE

WARNING : This Station has been known to use content of an adult or even offensive nature. Viewer Discretion is Advised.

Under The I - Bingoguy

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