Pushing edges

We enjoyed a fine family dinner at my Mum and Dads place last night, before I came home and began the poker break I posted about yesterday…..by bubbling in two Full Tilt $11 turbos.Both tables only had a couple of losers, and felt like a bit of a crapshoot by the time I got caught stealing to stay alive.I would argue that Turbo’s are not usually just luckfests, but I can imagine that as the play tightens up and the players are more skilful any edge is greatly reduced.

I began playing turbo sng’s more often in September after a bad run at the cash tables, and as a break from the grind, but over the last week or so I’ve found myself heading back to the ring games.I two tabled $50 nl at Ladbrokes, and soon found myself down $15 after limping with nines hoping to hit my set or fold post flop.

Instead the flop came 3s 4s 6h and when the original bettor checked, and another villain made a smallish bet ,I was tempted to go down the passive route and call, but then asked myself why.If one of the villains was drawing to the flush or the straight then calling was weak and if I was ahead of the original raisers AK/AQ and the other villain had only hit top pair on this flop ( or was drawing) then I wanted to take it down.I bet $12 and folded to an all in and a call with the winner showing a set of fours to take the pot.I think I gave myself a chance to win the pot with my bet,got the information required and got out but perhaps I could have fold to the min bet I was facing.

I then played and won a crazy hand at my other table against a player who had been playing very fast and loose indeed.So much so that the other players were commenting in the chat and one even told him to play higher stakes if he liked to bet so much.

I was dealt AK on the button and made a 4bb bet only for mr maniac to raise my bet to $5.I’ve been trying to listen to my instincts, and I felt I had a very good chance of being ahead.I had also been very tight, and nobody had played back at the maniac yet. Many very loose aggressive players would be smart enough to fold if a tight player takes a stand, so I put him to the test and raised it to $20.He called and we saw a 7h 7d 9d flop.He made a smallish bet which I read to be weakness so I went all in,hit my Ace on the turn and the pot was shipped to me.I still don’t know what he had and perhaps my play was a little wreckless afterall I was basically all in with Ace high on a 9 high flop but at least I went with my gut feeling.

Ok, it’s Half-life 2 tonight and maybe a little poker later…

Here's a couple of funnies to make ye smile...

THE New York Daily News reports in its gossip column that rocker Rod Stewart, due to perform at Madison Square Garden, was spotted in the city's River Cafe where he got "totally wasted".

The only doubt the News had about its story was when it added: "He danced a number of jigs and sang folk songs, including one remembered as You Can't Put Grandma on the Bus - though if a song by that name exists, it would be news to Google."

We feel the urge to tell the Daily News about Ye Cannae Shove Yer Granny Aff A Bus, but are too busy wondering what a Rod Stewart performance of that late-night pub classic would sound like.


OUR latest traffic cop tale comes from Les Hunter in Lanarkshire who was told by a mate in the polis of the time they were following a driver weaving down Wishaw Main Street. Now he could have merely been avoiding the pot holes, but they gave their blue light and siren a quick blast for him to pull over. Unfortunately, the driver got such a fright he hit the accelerator instead of the brake, went straight over a roundabout, and crashed through railings before coming to a halt with the railings on top of the car.

When the officers went over to help him out, one of them asked if he had been drinking.

"Of course I have. Did you think I was a stunt driver?"