Bay 101 Tournament

Went to visit Bay 101 for the first time today and signed up for the morning poker tournament. About 70 people signed up and I was playing so well. Had good reads on people's hand and bluffing at the right times.

Sadly, I busted out in 27th place holding pocket 7's against the big blind who woke up with pocket kings. I felt weakness from everyone else who just limped in, which is why I pushed with my position. Just bad luck on my part that big blind had a monster.

The tournament was lots of fun, much better structure than Lucky Chances. Overall, I was proud of my playing style, which was small ball tight-aggressive. My biggest weakness I have discovered is not bluffing alittle bit more, when I know the other player is weak. I need to trust my reads!

My most expensive hand-to-date

So I have already been playing for about 6 hours and it was close to 3am. 

I was up $800 dollars and was already thinking what I should buy. hehe..! Soon, I decided I would leave right after the next hand. I look down at POCKET ACES in the big-blind. I re-raised up to $25 dollars after a bunch of players limp in for $4. I had about 5 callers. My aces weren't looking so good I thought to myself.

Flop came out: 8 A K with two spades. I bet out $40 dollars into a pot of $125.

Everyone folded except a big stack player who had more money than I did. (I'm second in chips on the table)

Turn came out 3 of spades. I thought to myself that he probably was on a flush draw. So I checked. He bets out $80 dollars and I call instantly.

River came out 8. Thinking this card saved me with the best full house. So, I bet $200. Player re-raises all-in and I call pretty instant.

Player turns over pocket 8's for quads.

6 hours of play to earn $800 all gone in one hand..... and the bad part was I was going to leave! Urg! What a horrible bad beat.

Lucky Chances Sunday Tournament

Was at Lucky Chances from Saturday night all the way to Sunday afternoon. I was just in that poker zone and I didn't care what time it was.

Later though, I got very sleepy, but decided to try to stay and play the tournament. I alway wanted to play in a tournament with a large buy-in ($225) so I used my cash winnings to buy a seat into the tournament.

I was so very sleepy in between hands, and I guess to other people it looked as if I was very into the game since I kept covering my head. A couple hands, I got lucky and won a few small pots and lost some pots here and there. When I finally moved to another table, that's where I finally started to chip up. The hand that put me into a good chip position was when I had A 4 of clubs. I limp and guy behind me raises. One caller and I call to see the flop.

Flop was 4 9 7 with two diamonds. Guy and I check. Guy in dealer position goes all in. Guy behind him instantly calls. I looked at my chips and saw that there was odds to call. So I called too.

Guy shows KQ of hearts. Guy behind shows flush draw and I'm the only one with a pair of 4's. Turn is a blank and River is a blank card for both of them. I win that major pot that makes me chip leader of the table! Haha!

I soon got moved again to another table, where I became mid-stack to low-stack with the blinds going up and up with me being card dead. My goal was to make it into the money, which I did.

Girl goes all in with AJ and guy behind him calls with AQ. I also call with pocket 8's. The board brings a queen and it was pretty much over after that. Girl ends up being bubble girl because I had more chips.

10th place finish out of 110 players. Wow! $475 dollar payout.

Side note. Now, that I think about it. I could have lost and been the bubble boy. My play really should have been to fold. But, if the girl had won. I still be at risk as I was third in short stacks.

Oh well, overall I was proud of my plays even though I hadn't slept all night.

Royal Flush

Whoo Hoo! Got my second royal straight flush in my life.

The first time was during a home game with the guys. This second time was at Lucky Chances Casino, where a river card gave me the royal straight flush and a pay-out of $500 dollars!

Too bad I have to report it to taxes now. Haha!

getaway weekend at Tachi

Took a bus tour early Saturday morning to Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino.

I gambled a bit with the 3-card poker, slot machines and also tried the Texas Hold em' poker room they had. It was pretty tough competition and I just happen to get lucky on a lot of flops. I think I might have been outplayed on a couple. But, I learned a lot. Cashed out with about $100 dollars in winnings, but lost it all playing 3-card poker. Haha!

SF State Texas Hold Em' Tournament Fundraiser

I played aggressive from the beginning of the tournament and lost half my stack quickly. Soon, I doubled up and had a good amount of chips to play poker. Later, I got moved to a table with Richie and busted out with pocket Aces in the lil' blind to the big blind's K 3. He caught a straight on the turn and that's the end.

but....Congrats Rich for winning 1st place Nintendo Wii prize. Haha!

World Series of Poker & Meeting Daniel Negreanu

I was staying at the Rio at Vegas, which is probably one of best hotels to stay in, because of the World Series of Poker that was going on downstairs. Took a look around and its very packed with poker.

Even watched a couple hands at the Final table. But, its not as exciting, since I can't see the hole cards. Ppls really get excited when someone says "ALL IN".

I'm still sad that I forgot to buy a souvier from the wsop store before I left Vegas. They had a cool money clip that looked like a wsop bracklet.

Oh well, next year.
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Later that night, around 12:30am. I went to the lobby to find something to eat. I see someone familar walking towards me, and I reliaze it was Daniel Negreanu. I give him a "Hey" and he replys "how's it going, man" and then proceeds back to his room.

Short, but a fun highlight of my trip, since I always watch the guy on TV.
I swear, after meeting him. I feel my skills have gotten alittle better. Hahaha...
I guess some of his luck rubbed off.

For those who don't know him:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Negreanu