The Intertubes Fail
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Last night at the Bodonkey tournament everything was clicking for me. I was playing well, sucking out and getting lucky where I needed to. Unfortunately my connection and Bodog's software kept me frustrated throughout the night.
First the good stuff. I definitely felt on my game. Though it was early, I was applying pressure where it felt right and was taking down most pots without any issues. Numerous times I re-raised with mediocre hands just to get some info and ended up taking down the pot. Everything was just feeling right.
Eventually I got into a hand vs ScottMc where I got lucky. We were short-handed and he raised my big blind from the small blind while I held A-7. I re-raised him and he thought about it for a few seconds before pushing all-in. I didn't believe he was very strong and I felt like he felt like I was making a play, but if I recall all the details it probably didn't make since for me to call based on the odds and my cards. Regardless I called, he tabled A-10 and I sucked out when a 7 hit the flop. I think items were thrown into walls at the Mc home.
Not much later we got into another all-in hand with his A-Q vs my A-J. The board paired twice leaving our Aces as kickers and a split pot to share. Again I was lucky to stay alive. From there I held my own until the connection fairy left me with shitty reception and nothing under my pillow to show for it. I had been having minor issues throughout the night, but down to 3 tables things went really bad.
With less than 18 players remaining I remember picking up K-K, but before I even had a chance to go broke with them, my connection failed. As if that wasn't bad enough, after I finally re-booted and got back to the table, I could watch the action and see my cards, but whenever the action got back to me, my cards were immediately folded. I figured it was some crap ass disconnection policy where you had to sit out until your big blind, but when my blind came and went with my cards still being folded, I started to get pissed.
I again re-booted the software and would get a couple of hands in before the connection would fail, forcing me to wash, rinse and repeat only to again see my cards auto fold into the muck. And before you immediately assume that I had the Auto-Fold or Auto-Muck option checked, just quell those thoughts for a moment. Everytime I was able to get back to the table, I checked every option to make sure I wasn't just being a terard and mucking my hands on my own. That definitely wasn't the case.
At the time my serious connection/software problems started, I believe I had a little under 10k in my stack. By the time I was able to resolve my issues, we were down to the final table and I had approximately 1,500 remaining. Bear in mind again that it wasn't like I was offline taking forever to re-boot. The re-boot(s) were rather quick, but I got to watch most of my chips dwindle down to nothing as the action kept going and I could do nothing to fix it. A-K in the big blind with only callers? I fold. J-J with a shorty all-in? I fold. Shit like that was happening and there was nothing I could do about it. The moment I could get my chips in the middle - no matter what my cards were - I did so since I didn't know when or if I would be able to take further action again.
All I can say is I was lucky to even be in the game at all, but that's a part of poker. Considering I had managed to make it as far as I had with a decent stack, it was quite deflating to have to sit and watch as my cards were mucked and the action kept on without me.
I'm considering sending an email to their support requesting they look into it, but I'm also pretty lazy on the subject since it was just $10. Still I had a great chance for a run at the money and more Bodog points, but eventually I finished 9th at the final table due to the craptastic connection/software problem. Anyone out there have any thoughts on if I should contact them or no?
Until next time, may the felt be with you.
posted by TripJax @ 1:31 PM,
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Word To Your Mothra
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
During my time away from poker, I've watched my rankings take a dive in the various poker leagues. I can't view it from work, but I know my numbers in the BBThree are pretty bad, although I think I have still made somewhere in the range of $400 - $500 (not factoring in buy-ins though). I suspect I'll be making a portion of the last 5 BBThree events, though I doubt the Skills series tonight will be one of them. I cashed out a decent amount from my FT account recently so I'm not sure if I even have enough to play all the remaining events unless I cash in some. Guess I'll be taking the token path instead of a straight buy-in for the final Big Game. I don't mind though as it always feels good to withdraw money from a poker site instead of watching your balance go to zero on the felt.
As for the Bodonkey online poker blogger tournament series, I was in the top 10 for a while, but I haven't played much lately and I've dropped down to 26th. Only the top 18 make it in the final tourney for a chance at a WSoP seat, so I definitely need to get back on that horse since I'm still within striking distance. I plan to play tonight and I hope to see you there. You can gain ground very quickly in this series of events so even if you haven't played much, it is still worth coming out and hitting the felt. Not to mention the free cash they give out every week.
Finally, though it is part of the BBThree, Hoy still keeps seperate rankings for his tourney so I'll mention it too. I was in the Top 10 of that one as well, but having not played it much lately, I've dropped to 20th. The Hoy is one of my favorite tournaments so I won't continue to miss that one much longer. I hope he keeps the 6-max theme even after the BBThree.
I guess that is enough writing about me not playing poker. I really just need to shut the fuck up and play, eh?
For those who have been reading me a while, you may recall I've made a shirt or two in the past. My favorite shirt of all time is my SHIRT shirt. Hands down that one gets more comments and curious looks than any shirt I've ever made. Well that shirt has finally seen its last day as all the letters are falling off. Thus I decided to just make a new one. That got me motivated to start thinking up new shirt ideas. I went back into my old Zazzle account and deleted all the ones I had made before and updated my two favorites. In addition I added my newest one, Word To Your Mothra. If you see anything you like, well dig in. I'll be working on some other ones over the next couple of weeks so I'll post them when I add them to the collection.
Word to your mothra.
create & buy custom products at Zazzle
posted by TripJax @ 11:22 AM,
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Longest.Dream.Ever
Monday, May 19, 2008
Last night I was dreaming I had done the unthinkable and made it to the final table of the 2008 WSOP Main Event. I'll let you know how my dream ends in 4 months.
Doh!
Until next time may the felt be with you.
For the record I don't currently have an opinion on the 4 month delay of the final table of the 2008 main event, but I'm thinking it through in my noggin' and I may post about it sometime soon.
posted by TripJax @ 3:45 PM,
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Lord of the Jones: The Last Return of the Two Skulled King
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Bob: Looks like you've been missing a lot of work lately.
Peter: I wouldn't say I've been missing it, Bob.
~Office Space
It seems the trend of late continues. I've been missing a ton of poker, but I wouldn't really say I've been *missing* it. I know the urge to get back on the virtual felt will be back soon, but alas I tredge on with other things that are keeping me happy and/or busy. Is tredge even a word? I'm too lazy to look it up.
Honestly I'm really jonesing to play some live poker, but I don't know when I'll be able to get that done. There is a game tonight I could go to, but I am planning to work on the deck tonight so I'm gonna have to pass for now. Maybe next week.
This post shall be short, however I need some quick non-pokery feedback if you don't mind.
For my birthday one of the presents the fam got me was the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I was really wanting to set aside some time to watch all 3 movies with KidJax at some point, but I wasn't sure if parts of the movies would be too much for him. He is 7 years old and I seem to recall some pretty freaky stuff in those movies.
On that note, with the new Indiana Jones movie coming out this month, I was also wondering if 7 is too young to watch the earlier movies in preperation for the upcoming movie. What with hearts being ripped out of chests, demons coming out of boxes and kids being turned into slaves.
The boy loves dinosaurs and other random potentially scary things, but he also has been known to have scary dreams after watching certain movies (the boy loves the Jurassic Park series of movies, which have their moments as well). I just don't want to freak him out too early. I know he would love to sit around with me watching the movies, but I don't want to give the boy nightmares. I seem to remember watching some pretty crazy movies at his age and I turned out okay (some of my readers may beg to differ).
So if you have a take on the subject, please leave me a comment with your thoughts.
Until next time, may the felt be with you
posted by TripJax @ 10:01 AM,
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LPGA Commissioner Euthanizes Annika Sorenstam
Friday, May 09, 2008
Williamsburg, VA ~ Citing a desire to bolster media coverage of the fledgling ladies golf tour, LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens euthanized Annika Sorenstam on the 18th green at the Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill in Williamsburg, Virginia on Wednesday afternoon. Having just completed a 7 under first round, securing a tie for second in the standings, Annika suffered an unfortunate ruptured disc in her back after an ill advised high-five with her caddy.
"As soon as I saw Annika clinch her back in pain, I knew I had to draw my pistol and jump into action," said Bivens. "Have you seen the media circus surrounding horse racing since Eight Belles was euthanized after the Kentucky Derby," added Bivens. "You normally talk about horse racing one day a year, but instead it's been headline news all week. That's the kind of coverage I want for the LPGA."
According to a male fan - one of three fans on the entire golf course at the time of the euthanization - Bivens "popped a cap in that filly," effectively ending her pain and suffering. The fan later added, "Lorena Ochoa is the new Annika Sorenstam, so there's no need for an injured Annika, hot or not."
In a press conference Wednesday night, Bivens suggested the media coverage from the euthanization could help the struggling LPGA finally move into Sports Illustrated's list of The 100 Most Popular Sports In The World. "If we can leapfrog the NHL for the 101st spot, there is nothing to stop us from overtaking Badminton as the 100th most popular sport in the world," noted Bivens.
Labels: if i worked for the onion
posted by TripJax @ 12:00 AM,
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"33"
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Just a quick update as it seems I haven't posted here in forever. Whenever that happens it feels like I'm neglecting a child. A couple of days away is fine, but after 2 or 3 days I feel like the blog is dying, even when that is not the case.
Our internet connection at home is on the fritz lately, which has seriously hampered any time at the tables for me. When I have been able to play poker, it is frustrating for me and my opponents as I'm constantly disconnecting. I'd rather not play than put everyone through that. G, that's why I ended up not playing last night, even though I wanted to. Sorry I didn't call you to let you know I wouldn't be there.
Moving on...
Yours truly turns 33 tomorrow, May 9th. I'll have to drink 1 (or 17) Rolling Rock's as a tribute.
Well, that's it for me. Wait, I need to qualify this as a poker post. The last time I played poker I made the final table of the Bodonkey event. I picked up KK and got it all-in against QQ. For fun I decided to root for a Q. A queen fell on the river to knock me out a few spots from the money. Time to adjust my strategy when it comes to who to root for during an all-in. Oof.
Until next time, may the felt be with you.
posted by TripJax @ 1:21 PM,
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Fun With Callwave: #3 (Surflexus Style)
Thursday, May 01, 2008
As you may recall, I have a hilarious voicemail service named Callwave. In essence it turns your voicemail into a text message...or at least it tries its darndest. It turns out every voicemail becomes comedy in a cell phone. I absolutely love it.
Yesterday my boy Surf called me and left a voice message. First off let me just say congrats to Mr. Surf on his TOC seat. I know first hand that man can play some poker. He knows when to put the pressure on and he's not afraid to put his entire stack on the line given the right scenario. That makes for a fierce competitor and, on occasion, a monster chipstack. So kudos to you Surflexus.
Back to the voicemail...and I hope you don't mind me throwing it out there for all to view Surf, but I loved it. Here is what Callwave translated to text:
...load what the WCSIN over here man and I'm getting makes responses anything from that say gays thing I've ever heard, all the way down to that makes no sense so oh I don't know man among even if you Will Cross we'll see.
And now what he actually said:
I tried your What The WTF? thing over here man and I'm getting mixed responses...anything from that's the gheyest thing I've ever heard all the way down to that makes no sense...so I don't know man...I'm going to give it a few more tries and we'll see how it goes.
First off, God love the man who takes a moment out of his day to call a brotha up and actually tell him he's trying out one of his signature lines. For those that don't know What The WTF?, just read here. I was in a meeting with my boss at the time he called and when I saw it was him calling I pretty much knew I was going to enjoy his message. Then when I got a chance to listen to the message,he came through in the clutch and left me laughing all by myself in my office. It's a weird thing when you are in your office all by your lonesome, laughing it up, meanwhile people are walking by thinking you're an idiot. Gotta love it.
I sent Mr. Surf a text back in response to his voicemail as follows:
What the WTF! "For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who don't, no explanation is possible."
I think that pretty much sums it up.
Here are a couple of other lines I throw out there on occasion that usually make people do a double take. I need more, so if you have any ideas, send them my way...
"What doesn't kill you will certainly put you in the hospital."
It's total bullshit...if it is close to killing you...it won't make you stronger. It's gonna put your ass out. I'm just being realistic. Yeah, it's lame, but deal with it.
"Stick a knife in me...I'm done.
I love it when people correct me by saying, "it's fork." Yeah thanks, I wasn't sure. Seriously, if I'm done when someone pokes me with a fork, then I'm a sissy. Now a knife on the other hand...now I'm done.
Oh wait, this is a poker blog.
Poker.
There...I qualified this as a poker post.
Until next time, may the felt be with you.
Labels: Fun With Callwave
posted by TripJax @ 9:03 AM,
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