Home Game II Highlights
BB's to go: 627.8 or $62.78
Home Game II went down at the Russo Casino and Resorts on Saturday. Only five participants this time, which was pretty disappointing. I was hoping to build on the strong showing from Home Game I, but it seemed like everybody's already busy with summer stuff.
Anyway, it was a good tourney even if it was shorthanded. On my left was a very passive player who hardly ever folded or raised, just called down with anything. The next person on my left was super-aggressive and it was a lock that he would bet if it was checked to him. Interestingly, the two are husband and wife and their poker play definitely follows their roles in their marriage. The lady (passive) finished in the money, while the aggressive guy went out first. Go figure.
I had a tough time against them, particularly the ultra-passive player. She had me flummoxed on how to proceed, especially since she had beginner's luck rolling hard for her. She'd be on a short stack and I'm thinking how I can't put her all in on a bluff because she'd definitely call. Yet, when I did have a hand, she'd have me beat.
Eventually, I was down to an M of about 10 on the button with AQo. I absolutely didn't want to go out first again, but I thought I could get the passive person to call with a worse hand, so I pushed. Heavens to Mergatroid, she actually folded! I told her that she must have been dealt a joker and the calendar card. The aggressive guy thought for about a second and called. The guy on my right, who'd been playing pretty tight, re-raised and put me all in (I had the aggressive guy covered).
The cards were flipped and, ugh, aggressive guy has pocket kings. My other opponent's got fours.
The flop: No help.
The turn: No help.
The river: Ace of spades! Woo Hoo!
Suddenly I'm the big stack and I'm thinking that this will be money time. Except that the passive luckbox doubles up through me and another player. Then she doubles up again by hitting her ace on the river. (She'd been dealt A2o and had called an all-in bet after the flop)
Now we come to the first controversial ruling of the Russo Home Game Series. I'm on the bubble and I've got a death grip on my last few cards. I fold the small blind and then deal the next hand. I've now got less than the big blind. A player says "You can't post a big blind bet, you're eliminated." I say "No, you're crazy. I can bet this. If I'm heads up with someone, they can pull some chips out of the pot." Another player agrees with the first guy. We agree to lower the limits for that hand. I went all-in and lost. I should have asked what would happen if I'd folded.
At any rate, I know I'm right about this. I've posted less than a full blind in tourneys before. I mean, what is supposed to happen with my chips then, if I can't play with them?
I think there was some confusion with between a tourney and a cash game. I can see how you wouldn't be able to play in a cash game with less than a big blind, because you can buy back in. In a tourney, you may not have that opportunity.
I've been asked to research this and let the other players know what I find out. What I need to know is: Does anyone have a resource that I can use to find an answer to this burning issue? Even if you don't know of anything specific, feel free to leave me a comment with your opinion.
After the tournament, three of us played some .05-.10 limit and I ended up down about a dollar and a half. I was pretty tired by then anyway, after running around all day, and it was more about talking and donking than serious play. I was so dull mentally that I cashed everyone in incorrectly, giving them way too few chips! I didn't even realize it until the next morning. The night was very much fun, though, and it scratches the live-play itch much better than the Hardware Bar.
******************************
Found two great tables on PokerStars and ended up about four and a half bucks last night. Boo-ya! A few more good nights and I'll be back out of the hole. I also ran off a couple of colluders as well. I wanted to post their screen names, but I've forgotten. I'm gonna hunt them out tonight and write them down this time and post them this week.
*******************************
Jordan is musing about setting up an East Coast blogger event in AC. Definitely interested, but probably can't make any commitments until September.
Home Game II went down at the Russo Casino and Resorts on Saturday. Only five participants this time, which was pretty disappointing. I was hoping to build on the strong showing from Home Game I, but it seemed like everybody's already busy with summer stuff.
Anyway, it was a good tourney even if it was shorthanded. On my left was a very passive player who hardly ever folded or raised, just called down with anything. The next person on my left was super-aggressive and it was a lock that he would bet if it was checked to him. Interestingly, the two are husband and wife and their poker play definitely follows their roles in their marriage. The lady (passive) finished in the money, while the aggressive guy went out first. Go figure.
I had a tough time against them, particularly the ultra-passive player. She had me flummoxed on how to proceed, especially since she had beginner's luck rolling hard for her. She'd be on a short stack and I'm thinking how I can't put her all in on a bluff because she'd definitely call. Yet, when I did have a hand, she'd have me beat.
Eventually, I was down to an M of about 10 on the button with AQo. I absolutely didn't want to go out first again, but I thought I could get the passive person to call with a worse hand, so I pushed. Heavens to Mergatroid, she actually folded! I told her that she must have been dealt a joker and the calendar card. The aggressive guy thought for about a second and called. The guy on my right, who'd been playing pretty tight, re-raised and put me all in (I had the aggressive guy covered).
The cards were flipped and, ugh, aggressive guy has pocket kings. My other opponent's got fours.
The flop: No help.
The turn: No help.
The river: Ace of spades! Woo Hoo!
Suddenly I'm the big stack and I'm thinking that this will be money time. Except that the passive luckbox doubles up through me and another player. Then she doubles up again by hitting her ace on the river. (She'd been dealt A2o and had called an all-in bet after the flop)
Now we come to the first controversial ruling of the Russo Home Game Series. I'm on the bubble and I've got a death grip on my last few cards. I fold the small blind and then deal the next hand. I've now got less than the big blind. A player says "You can't post a big blind bet, you're eliminated." I say "No, you're crazy. I can bet this. If I'm heads up with someone, they can pull some chips out of the pot." Another player agrees with the first guy. We agree to lower the limits for that hand. I went all-in and lost. I should have asked what would happen if I'd folded.
At any rate, I know I'm right about this. I've posted less than a full blind in tourneys before. I mean, what is supposed to happen with my chips then, if I can't play with them?
I think there was some confusion with between a tourney and a cash game. I can see how you wouldn't be able to play in a cash game with less than a big blind, because you can buy back in. In a tourney, you may not have that opportunity.
I've been asked to research this and let the other players know what I find out. What I need to know is: Does anyone have a resource that I can use to find an answer to this burning issue? Even if you don't know of anything specific, feel free to leave me a comment with your opinion.
After the tournament, three of us played some .05-.10 limit and I ended up down about a dollar and a half. I was pretty tired by then anyway, after running around all day, and it was more about talking and donking than serious play. I was so dull mentally that I cashed everyone in incorrectly, giving them way too few chips! I didn't even realize it until the next morning. The night was very much fun, though, and it scratches the live-play itch much better than the Hardware Bar.
******************************
Found two great tables on PokerStars and ended up about four and a half bucks last night. Boo-ya! A few more good nights and I'll be back out of the hole. I also ran off a couple of colluders as well. I wanted to post their screen names, but I've forgotten. I'm gonna hunt them out tonight and write them down this time and post them this week.
*******************************
Jordan is musing about setting up an East Coast blogger event in AC. Definitely interested, but probably can't make any commitments until September.
posted by C.L. Russo at 6/05/2006 05:24:00 AM
5 Comments:
You are correct. Next time it might be good to have a copy of the TDA rules handy.
Calling stations can be devastating. Maniacs are relatively innocent, in comparison. A maniac will test you, surely, but you are aware of him, watching him. A calling station, on the other hand, sits passively and innocently. Then suddenly, in one session, cleans you out, without you even being aware of it happening.
(by "you" I mean "all of us")
Thanks Felicia, I'll check around for that rulebook.
The calling station is a really good friend of mine and I was helping her with posting her blinds, how much she could bet, etc.
After the second or third time she sucked out on me I told her I wasn't going to help her anymore!
To comment on the odds blog a few back. I started out at those lower levels. All I learned was that at that level people will chace ANYTHING. I would suggest using those levels to get a general understanding of the game. Move to atleast the 3/6 level before you spend a great deal of time with mathmatics and your game.
Amen 0n the children and the care for them. Little one as I refer to my daughter in my blog is the greatest gift on earth. This is one old man that crumbles at that 5 years old.
Rule - once you can't cover the big blind - you are considered all in the next pot you play (forced or vol).
I hate having a passive player sitting to my left in my home game. The blinds go fast, and if I do not get cards I'm just screwed since I have, like, zero fold equity.
No, you can't be considered eliminated while you still have chips. Hence the phrase : A chip, a chair and a prayer. :) On the BB you'd be all in and the others would start a side pot.
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