Ross Taylor on cards and life

A first time for everyone

2010-09-01T16:50:00.000-07:00

Seems to me I have not played too bad this trip - but just the one tournament cash on the first day. Other than my "two chips and a chair" run, I have been losing the "races" consistently. When I have the pair against their "paint", they connect and I lose the pot. But if I have a suited Big Slick against their pair (even deuces like yesterday) I fail to connect.

The game is hard enough, but when lady luck is smiling elsewhere, it's damn near impossible. You need your share of those hands to work, and the odd suck out in your favour does not hurt either.

Speaking of suck outs, on the very first hand of today's tournament = with the blinds $50-100, I was on the button with AK suited in hearts.

The guy two to my right raised to $325 and I smooth called. The big blind came along for the ride.

The flop was a very pleasing QD JH 10H - giving me a flopped Broadway straight; a draw to the Royal Flush, and a draw to the nut flush.

Of course, the texture of this board is dangerous, since it is the type of board that connects with other players too.

Still, I led out for $1200 after two checks to me. The big blind raised to $2400 and I called, as my RHO got out of the way.

The next card (the turn) was the five of hearts - giving me the nut flush, and presumably not helping the Big Blind's hand - unless it gave him a lesser flush - which is good for me.

There was about $3,400 in the pot at this point. The big blind led out for $1,700 - I could fold, call, or raise all-in.

Looking for a chance to double my starting stack I raised and put us both all-in. He called after much agony and tabled the Q9 or hearts. He had the queen high flush, and was looking for either the HK or H8 to make the straight flush.

As I had already tabled the HK, he was down to one single out - the heart 8 - which fell on the table as the dealer dealt the river card.

What could I do but groan and grin, and get up and make "the walk" out of the room - the first player busted of over 100 participants.

As I reflect back on the trip, I do feel it was worthwhile, albeit not money making. I picked up a few moves from some good players - I plugged a couple of leaks in my own game, and above all else, I enjoyed myself.

Same old story

2010-08-31T16:48:00.000-07:00

Played the daily deepstack again at the Venetian today and ran card dead for five hours. The best two hands I got before my demise were AQo early and I lost both pots.

Never saw a pair till near my end when I was down to around $13,000 and there was a raise to $3,000 and a re raise to $12,000 ahead of me - and I was looking at a pair of 6's in the small blind, which I folded of course.

My demise was a classic race - another good hand finally - I picked up AKo and the player two spots to my right shoved in an equal stack which I called.

She had 22 but nothing connected with the board and I was out around 27th of 104.

Sigh

Two chips and a chair

2010-08-30T23:44:00.000-07:00

Tonight I lived my own version of the famous poker fable “ A chip and a chair”.

I was down to only one $200 big blind, early (level 2) in the Venetian nightly tournament. More than three hours later, my magical run ended in level 11, with about twenty players left.

How did I even get there? First, I made a horrendous call decision for half my stack when a smaller stack went all in after the turn(with QJ) on a board of 2 8 J Q with the river still to come. I was down to only three outs with my AQ, and none came.

I get impatient with a small stack early in the tournament so I began looking for all-in opportunities. I found one soon with 10 10 and ended up in a race with an equal stack who had AK unsuited.

After the river spiked an ace and the dealer counted out the chips, it turned out I was not eliminated - I still had $200 left. (we began with $7,500)

I went all in on the next hand with J 10 suited and ran up against the same player holding KJ suited.

We split the pot when the board came out 8 10 Q K and a miracle ace on the river. Now I had $900. I then manoeuvred several more all-ins during the next few orbits and found myself back up to $6,000 in chips not much later.I then hung in and zigged and zagged for a few more hours as the blinds and antes increased very rapidly.

In fact my stack grew to over $15,000 at one point, but in the middle of level 11 I lost a crucial "race" holding QQ against another AK unsuited, and was back down to around $6,000 chips. But by then, the blinds were already $1,000/$2,000 with a $300 ante – so being the big blind, I pretty much had to go all-in with any two cards – which I did – a suited 7 3.

Two other players in similar predicaments were also all in with 96 and KJ. The 96 connected for two pairs and all of a sudden I was a railbird.

I can’t explain why, but this is the most bummed I have been about exiting from any of the tournaments I have played in so far.

On the bright side, I was at a really friendly table the whole evening. On my right was Jairus, owner of Maui Mike’s Fire Roasted Chicken restaurant in Wahiawa, Hawaii, and a bona fide surfer dude.

Two to Jarius’s right was Dean, from Western Australia, who entered the tournament with four of his buddies who are all on vacation from here. Dean is also a very serious surfer as well as a drag racing commentator back in OZ. Cool stuff.

Not so cool though, as it was one of Dean’s buddies whose AK bested my queens, and another whose 96 secured my exit from the tournament. Haha, such is tournament poker – by the late stages of a tournament, it really is not poker as purists would know it.

But it was fun honing my short stack strategies for several hours successfully – not to mention I did get lucky myself once or twice. (Like when my Q10 all-in beat an AQ all-in when a ten hit the river.)

In the afternoon tournament I went out in the late middle stages – this time as the victim of a “bad beat” when I called a shorter stack’s all-in holding A9 suited and he had K9 offsuit, and his rivered king removed half my stack.

This left me short stacked, and I was not so lucky trying to double up my own stack from there on.

So interestingly, my results in the daily tournaments so far are no different on balance (maybe even slightly worse) than prior trips – even though I know I am a far better player.

It means very little though as the sample size is hardly large - for example, serious online players will enter up to 40 tournaments in a single day – failing to cash in maybe 33 to 36 of them, while cashing in the remaining 10 to 15%.

I should be pleased then my first cash of the week has covered most of my entry fees – and I have even played a few sessions of cash poker (which has been quite exciting with lots of variance in my results – that’s for another blog entry.)

I have played a little blackjack with mixed results, but the last few trips I have come down here, it has been less interesting for me to even sit down at a blackjack table – I much much prefer poker now.

Most importantly, I am really enjoying the trip – I am doing what I love doing in my favourite place to do so, with my favourite person in the world as my travel companion. It’s all good.

The trouble with pairs

2010-08-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

Today, August 28, 2010 I entered the $340 Saturday tournament at the Venetian. 40 minute blind levels and $12,000 starting chips. Everyone loves the structure. I was looking forward to this event the most of my trip.

The event was a free roll for me virtually, as I had cashed $725 the previous day coming 7/141 in the weekday noon tournament, and also I won $275 after breakfast at the blackjack tables.

Prior to leaving Toronto I had made final table in three of the four previous small tournaments I had entered on Full Tilt. The field sizes (90 or 135) were comparable to what I will experience here in Vegas.

I couldn't find my footing in the early going - losing the first five pots I entered without doing anything wrong as I could see.

Then I picked up 9D 9H and the dealer button was to my left, with blinds still only $25/$50.

All folded to me and I made it $150 to go. The SB and the BB both called.

The flop was 8S 7S 6C.

My hand is fine for this flop. I have an open ended straight draw and an over pair. The small blind bet $500 (into a $450 pot) and I called, as the big blind folded.

The turn was the 2 of hearts. The small blind bet $500 again (into a $1450 pot)

I called. I should have raised here - his bet size was pretty small compared to the pot, so it looks like he was feeling his way around. Maybe he is on a flush draw or second pair with a good kicker or some hand like that.

The turn was an ugly spade 6.

The small blind now bet $3000 into a $2450 pot. I folded, but felt I had mangled the hand pretty well.

In the second level, with the blinds at $50/$100 I picked up JC JS in second position. The guy UTG limped in and I elected to call rather than raise and risk the pot getting out of control.

Two other players limped in and then the big blind increased to $500 - a not very hearty squeeze play I thought.

I could have called, and kept position on him, but thought the guys behind me would be priced in to call. So I raised to $1,500 to isolate the big blind. I ended up being the guy isolated. Everyone folded back to the big blind who quickly went all-in!

I threw my hand away as another promising pair lay mashed up in the muck.

A few hands later I picked up 10H 10S and I raised to $300 under the gun. The button and the guy to my left both called.

The flop was 7H 2S 7C

We all checked the flop.

The turn was the 4 of spades, and I bet $700 into the $1050 pot. The guy on my left called, and the button pushed $5000 into the middle of the table !

I was pissed off and folded, and the guy on my left folded a pair of 6’s face up after some agony, and the aggressive over betting button took down a nice pot.

Blinds were still 50/100 and I am getting beaten up pretty badly as I pick up a pair of red queens in the big blind.

The guy in third position bet $425, and the guy on his left called. The button also called, and I had around $7900 left in my stack. I shoved all in and was insta-called by the initial raiser.

He turned over a pair of kings, including the king of hearts. With a flop of three heart rags, I was down to two outs and no hearts please dealer.

I spiked a sick queen on the river and doubled up sheepishly.

Shortly after that the blinds increased to $100/$200 and I found myself in third position with a pair of kings. (I was certainly getting my share of cards early in the tournament)

I raised to $300, forgetting the blinds had just gone up. So instead of betting three times the big blind, I was forced to limp in for $200 as I had failed to say “raise” when I entered the pot.

This opened the pot to five players in total and I had a bad feeling in my stomach.

The flop was KH QH 5S.

The SB led out for $300 into the $1000 pot. The BB folded, and here I was with a flopped top set. It could be worse I guess.

Still, I wanted to eliminate the flush drawers, if any, so I raised the bet to $1200. All folded except the small blind who called smoothly.

The turn was the jack of hearts – a very ugly card for me. This completed any flush draws, and also could fill a broadway straight if that’s what he was playing.

The SB checked and I bet $2100 into the $3400 pot. The other guy shoved all in for another $8000, as I looked down at my remaining $14,000.

I hated the way the whole hand had played out, but I decided he for sure had me beat, and I would need to spike a king or pair the board to win the hand on the river. Basically I had ten outs. Should I risk such a large part of my stack? I thought not as I laid down my lovely kings, face down.

The guy showed me his 53 suited in hearts – a hand he would never have been involved with had I not screwed up with the blind structure right at the beginning.

I guess I could have forced him out of the hand after the flop with a larger raise too, but the amount I bet, at this early stage of the tournament, felt right. Do I really want him to go away under all circumstances?

A couple of levels later I picked up AJo and raised to $700 in second position with around $11,000 in front of me, and nothing much happening.

The big stack on the button expectedly called, and the SB shoved all in for $3900. If I had a bigger stack, I would have called him pretty quickly, even if I were an underdog, but with my stack size and the big stack still behind me, I decided a call would not get the job done.

Therefore I should either fold or go all-in to isolate the small blind. I elected to fold, as did the button. Maybe I am too passive.

Level 5 the blinds are $200/$400 with a $25 ante.

I am the small blind with a pair of jacks. UTG limped in, and there as one caller in late position. I had about $16000 in front of me and I made it $5000 to go. After much thought, UTG called (almost half his stack).

The flop was 8H 5H 2C

I shoved all in and he called pretty quickly with the ace queen of hearts. He was actually a favourite I believe with his two overcards and the nut flush draw. But I won this race, and my stack was building nicely at this point.

Level six was $300/$600/$50

UTG limped in for $600, and the guy in second position (to my immediate right) also limped in; and I had a pair of queens. I was second stack at the table with over $40,000 and he had me covered.

How to play this one?

I decided to raise to $4,500.

All folded to my RHO, who now raised it up to $10,000 !!!

Who are these guys??

He had been playing tight aggressive poker all day, so my gut was already flashing warning signals. My gut told me to lay it down, he probably has aces or kings. But I did have queens (third best starting hand in poker) and I had position on him, and the call was for just over 20% of my stack, so I called.

I did not think a re-raise was in order.

The flop was a rainbow K 10 2

The guy checked the flop to me, but I smelled a check raise coming up.

He seemed to have begun with either AA, KK, or maybe AK.

So I checked too.

The turn was a brick, and he led out for a quiet $8,000 into a pot size of $22,000.

I folded, and he showed me a pair of aces.

I was regretting even calling his $10,000 bet (maybe I am too miserly with my chips during tournaments?) But the local pro to my left (good guy named Nick Gorman) congratulated me for preserving as many chips as I did on the hand.

Level 7 was $400/$800/$75 and I was sitting around $45,000.

All folded to the SB who completed on my right, and I held K10 offsuit, and elected not to raise. Maybe I should have as he had only $14,000 or so.

The flop was A 10 7

The SB led out for $2,000 and I called.

The turn was a harmless 5 and the SB shoved all-in.

I felt he did not have an ace, as he had raised (and shown ) his aces many times previously

So I called and he turned over 10 4 offsuit.

Great !

He got up to leave just as the dealer turned over a four on the river and my pair of tens was bested by his two pair on the river.

A couple of hands later I held Q10 offsuit, and there were two limpers ahead of me on the button. I elected to limp in also, creating a five way pot.

The flop was 7 2 2 rainbow.

The small blind on my left led out for $2,000, and all reluctantly folded to me. Like a wussy pussy, I folded without wasting any chips.

He, of course, had smelt an opportunity with such a dangerous board and only limpers, and was bluffing on air. I could have given him a healthy raise and taken down the pot (unless he in turn tried a bluff re-raise, which, as a pro, he is capable of doing)

I did not regret the chips so much as I regret not making the moves I know I should be – I justify it I guess because it is a tournament and you are always in survival mode, and looking to preserve chips, and pick up chips in favourable situations, but this was one of them – I just failed to pull the trigger.

The blinds went up to $400/$800/$75 and I had been bleeding a bit.

As the dealer dealt my cards into the small blind, she accidentally exposed my king of hearts, so it became a burned card.

The guy under the gun with a stack a bit smaller than mine opened for a weird $7,000, and I looked down at the matching king of spades (my first card !!) and the eight of clubs.

Daggnabbit – she had just burnt my pocket cowboys into a guy about to spew chips in my direction. I was pretty bummed to say the least as I folded and he took down the pot uncontested.

A few hands later I picked up pocket aces and opened for $2700 under the gun – and nobody called!

I finally went out in level ten when the blinds were $1,000/$2000 with a $300 ante, so it was costing $6,000 per orbit, and I was down to $23,000 in chips.

I had been bleeding for the most part – if I played too tight, I could not enter any pots as I was no longer getting any cards. If I made a raise it seemed the hands I was getting to do this were usually in mid position and not great either – KJ offsuit and the like. I’d usually get pushed off my hand before the flop.

I got into several pots cheaply with suited and unsuited connectors , but the texture of the board and the immediate action before it was on me meant I had to throw those hands away.

So I picked up pocket 8’s in the big blind. A guy in third position limped in and the button (big stack) raised to $4,500.

I felt he had a wide range in this situation, and my hand would be a favourite a good percentage of the time, so I shoved all in and he called smoothly with AQ offsuit.

An ace on the flop meant the end of my tournament – finishing 26th of an original 126.

The tournament pays thirteen places, with first place being around $11,000. I am told it often ends in a four or five way chop since most players want to avoid a tax hassle, and thus keep their cashes below $5,000.

I felt I played my C game today, and will review some of the issues I am facing overnight. I admire the game in other people – including Nick on my left who I made buddies with and who was giving me lots of pointers.

Although I lasted longer than him both yesterday and today, no question his game is better and more polished and I am asking myself where do I have to improve.

I think my mid tournament play is weakest. I have a good feel how to play early when we all have deep stacks. When we get to the final table, there is less skill required there, and I am pretty sure I know what to do most times, though I would like more experience at being a huge stack and running over table without being stupid about it. But in general, and in particular in the mid to late stages, my issues seem to be

1) I play in fear sometimes.
2) Bet sizing and raise amounts
3) Good players will come over the top more than I would or just risk chips
4) I am weak (I feel) at blind vs blind confrontations

I also have trouble with multi way pots – when to enter and how to enter.

So I think I have to just keep plugging away and watch and learn from people.

View from Vegas May 5 2010

2010-05-12T07:33:00.000-07:00

You would not expect Vegas to change too much in five short months – but there is a palpable hum in the air, which was sorely lacking during all my visits last year. My first clue was the humungous line up for taxis at the airport – last year I could just walk up to the taxi line and be the first guy in line.

The line up yesterday snaked for about 100 meters – and in that blazing sun I think I would have gladly paid for a limo or even a helicopter (!) to whisk me to the Venetian.

No such conveyances were available though, so I settled for the once-scorned tourist bus, which made approximately 17 stops enroute to the Venetian – but at least it was air conditioned!

At check in, the clerk advised me they have been at or near capacity for the past two months – which explains why they want to gouge me for $500 per night at the end of the trip after the promo coupon wears out! (Checking into a different hotel for that night)

This week there seems to be a big IBM convention at the Venetian so the place is crawling with blue shirts, short hair, and name badges.

I had no time for sins or vices; just get ready for dinner with the The Wolffs – Bobby and Judy – who have taken a shine to my writings on www.bridgeblogging.com – so we arranged a terrific get together for drinks and dinner.

We chatted our heads off for a few hours – and folks it doesn’t get much better than sitting with Mr. and Mrs. “Aces on Bridge” and being fed bridge hands and stories between the Caesar salad and veal marsala.

Anyway, whereas last year I had a host who provided me with VIP check in; airport limos; free access to the VIP lounge, and most food comped if on premises, this trip I am schlepping like everyone else.

Business was so sparse in Vegas last year, even my action was attractive to the hotel. But with prosperity how quickly they forget their friends.

Still, the play’s the thing – isn’t it? Never kid yourself that the amount of action they normally require of you to justify a free room is worth it. If the chip count is not going up, just fuggedabout it!

Anyway, last night I played a little (and I mean a little) blackjack at three tables, winning a modest amount each time. I had some energy to kill before bedtime, so I played some penny Spin Poker on a slot machine. Down $50 and rueing my decision, I got into a pressing situation, and was rewarded with a max bet down ( a grand total of only $6 or 600 units - it's a penny machine remember) with a Royal Flush (with a wildcard deuce) twenty times – resulting in a $120 payout and an eventual profit at the machine of around $76.

In bed by a respectable 11.30 pm (well that’s 2.30 AM my time but who’s counting), I was visited not once but twice by the shrill sound of a wayward bedside alarm clock which the previous joker in my room had set to 3 AM. Eventually ripping it out of the wall (couldn’t figure out how to switch the damn thing off) I got about 6 hours of sleep otherwise.

Downstairs for blackjack – a few short sessions before the daily poker tournament – they all went well till the last one – where I misplaced my customary discipline and patience and wiped out all my morning’s profits at one table.

For $150 I bought into the daily tournament – shoulder to shoulder with 90 other Venetian denizons anxious to claim a piece of the approx $4000 first place prize.

This ended too early for me. When the blinds were at the 7th level, I got all my chips in the middle against Mr. Super Stack. 1/3 of them pre flop when I raised large from the button with JJ to eliminate two limpers, but Mr. Super Stack in the big blind called me effortlessly.

With a hugely wonderful flop of J72 offsuit, Mr. Super Stack came out firing with a half pot size bet, and I (without too much evident enthusiasm) raised him all in. His stack had me well and truly covered 3-4 times over, so of course, he snap called with his KK.

The river alas was a cursed king, and instead of more than doubling up, I was out and on the rail. Ah well, such is the life of a tournament poker player. I ended up around 30th.

Earlier in the event I was in a three way pot with 66. I had raised to 3 times the big blind in late position; the button re-raised me, and the big blind came along for the ride. I was getting good odds to call, but I felt I was in a poor position with a low pair and not on the button – nevertheless I perversely called !

The flop was A 5 A rainbow. They both checked to me, and I looked down at a meager stack and understood my best chance to move onwards was to take this pot down. So I shoved all in – like a man with an ace or even 55 or A5. I wished I had more chips, since my all in was less than half the size of the pot - meaning they would get good odds to call me.

Can you believe what happened next? The button agonized and threw away a pair of kings, after an intense stare down. (He was in the middle of me and the next guy so you can see why he was reticent)

This left the big blind looking at his own pair of jacks, and at me for a hopeful show and tell. But I had my best deadpan look going, and after even more theatrics on his part, he also folded. They were quick to show the table what experts they were - making such big laydowns – so I could not resist – I turned over my 6’s.

This got a huge laugh and applause from the rest of the table – and had these two guys talking to themselves for the rest of the day. I guess they would no longer peg me as super tight.

Within an hour, Mr. Super Stack came to our table and put them both out of their misery on the same hand – when he spiked the nut flush on the river to oust their (tied) winning hands.

Anyway, I was out of the tournament, so I repaired to the blackjack pit to recoup my entry fee and get back in the saddle again. Me and the dealer – one shoe – I only lost two hands, playing two spots in a double deck game. And it was winning ugly. As is so often the case when “the press is on”, you win with hands you would not normally expect to.

Great ! Back up to a new high for the trip – and played a little longer until two jumpers came in and messed with my karma. I humored them for a shoe or two and as my chip stack was treading water, I said thank you and good bye.

Still, all in all, a great start to the trip. Viva Las Vegas!

Day two in Vegas - May 6 2010

2010-05-12T07:32:00.001-07:00

Last night I had dinner with old friends Sheri Winestock and Fred Gitelman – two transplanted Canadians enjoying life permanently in Las Vegas. From here they run the premier online destination for bridge play in the world – www.bridgebase.com.

It seems we have known each other for ever, but in fact they are both only in their early forties. Fred used to cut high school classes to come play at the bridge club I was working in to help finance my education. He always had a sharp mind for the game – so it was not surprising he blossomed into a world class player with numerous victories at the highest levels of the game.

Sheri is pretty damn good too, and is in fact preparing herself for the toughest event on the calendar – the US Open Bridge Championships being held in mid June in Chicago.

Dinner was at my favorite restaurant in Vegas – Sushi Samba – located in the Palazzo hotel. An eclectic mix of three distinct cuisines (with three different kitchens) – Brazilian, Peruvian, and Japanese.

We washed it all down with an elegant cold saki, and the drinks at the bar afterwards did not hurt either. Well that is until I decided to play some double deck blackjack after they left the hotel.

Three "donations" at three consecutive tables resulted in me giving back most of the goodness (read : profits) of the past twenty four hours. With tail between my legs, I slid off to bed, and vowed to be smarter in the morning.

To think I espouse treating blackjack play like a business, and then like a random tourist, I played when my senses were dulled.

This morning, I had a good long swim at Tao beach – wonderful – not so hot as yesterday, and played some highly disciplined BJ after the swim. I can report neither success nor failure though as all my play today has resulted in zero gain or loss.

The daily poker tournament got my attention again today – but I suffered a similar fate to yesterday. I am starting to resent the relatively small starting stack of $7,500 with a rapidly increasing blind and ante structure.

Luck still plays a huge role in the survival process – since you cannot just sit there and play your best poker – you always have an eye on your stack, relative to the table and the average left in the tournament – and you cannot afford too many unsuccessful moves.

My moves all seemed normal to me – but I batted 1 for 6 in the first few hours of the event and could not get myself over an average stack size all day. This was a table where limping was condoned – even encouraged. I rarely limp into a pot – I am a raiser. Each time I raised (or tried a squeeze play) I could not get rid of most of them – each time I had at least a three way pot.

Excepting of course when I was dealt pocket aces in the small blind. Now I was thrilled to be at this type of table. But on that occasion, everyone folded and I got no action – argh!

The hand I went out on was quite bizarre. I held J8 suited in spades in late position, and was able to limp into a multi player flop. The flop was 22J – giving me a respectable two pair. The flop included two diamonds.

I bet out around 2/3 of the pot after two checks, and got one customer, with the others folding, as you would expect with a dangerous board like this.

The turn was another two, giving me a full house with deuces and jacks. I decided to check. The other guy bet out about 2/3 of the pot and I raised him. He re-raised me and I snap shoved all in of course.

He went a little green but decided to call with his AQ of diamonds – quite foolish if you ask me. When we turned over our hands, he got up from his chair and was preparing his stuff to leave, when another deuce hit the table on the river!

Quad deuces on the table. He sat down, content to share the pot, but was blown away when all the chips went over to him.

You see my jacks had been counterfeited by the last deuce – my hand had improved to four deuces – with a jack kicker. His improved to four deuces with an ace kicker. So goodbye Ross.

Another 32nd placing out of 110 players. (Top 13 only get paid today)

I rarely complain these days about bad beats etc. but pleaze, cry me a river!

Probably the only person happy with these developments will be my bridge partner Keith Balcombe, since this means, for the third night in a row, even though I am here on holiday in Las Vegas, I am available again for practice on Fred’s website – www.bridgebase.com

Fallsview $2,500 Event Final Table

2010-01-12T09:53:00.001-08:00

If I am ever going to win a bigger than one day tournament, I will look back at the past two days and recall just what it took for Gavin Smith to win Fallsview's $2,500 event this morning.

Day two play began at noon on January 11. By late afternoon, the field was down to two tables, and by mid evening, the final table was set.

However, in a battle of epic proportions, the table remained active for around ten hours of play, and the event did not actually end till 7.30 AM this morning, January 12, when Gavin Smith finally bested Narinder Khasria.

Narinder, Gavin, and (Mak) Siamak Soleimanian, duelled three handed for over five hours - quite extraordinary, and then heads up play between Gavin and Narinder lasted around two and half hours.

The chip stacks ebbed and flowed and as a spectator it was utterly compelling. In the interests of integrity of reporting I must confess I vacated the playing area at 6 AM - much as I wanted to see it till the end, I could not keep my eyes open any longer.

There were many moments of high drama - especially when it got three handed, after Mark Zajdner's pocket kings were outflopped by Gavin Smith's pocket 4's.

If not for two tough beats, Mak might well be the champion and the toast of the Fallsview Poker room. He had qualified near the bottom of the list for day 2 (proving my position was not as ridiculous as it seemed) and worked his way all the way to the final table, where a key showdown hand with his quad sixes propelled him to the chip lead.

Gavin Smith was down to a relatively short stack when he shoved all in from the button with KJ offsuited, and Mak called with AQ suited. The river spiked a king though, and Gavin survived and revived his chances.

On Mak's exit hand, his stack was now covered by Gavin's when they got it all in again. This time Gavin had A10 and Mak had AK and a ten hit the board and Mak hit the rail.

Narinder had his own dramatics on a couple of occasions. He doubled up on Gavin early in heads up when HIS 4's flopped a set and beat Gavin's pocket 9's.

Later, he was all in again with 107 suited against AJ suited. The board had KJ8A9 and the river completed a gut shot straight for Narinder, besting Gavin's top two pair, and extending the play once again during heads up.

The most spectactular exit was probably perpetrated on Aadam Daya (5th) by Narinder. Short stacked Aadam shoved from the button with KQ offsuit. Narinder looked down at his cards in the big blind and found two aces ! Saying, "well I guess I have to call", he flipped open his aces to a forlorn looking Aadam.

The railbirds all stand and crane their necks in unison whenever there is a final table all-in confrontation, and what a treat they got here.

The flop came J104 rainbow, breathing life into Aadam's dominated KQ as now he had an open ended straight draw.

Sure enough, the next card was an ace on the turn, converting the losing hand into a Broadway straight, while improving Narinder's hand to three aces.

The river card was an unbelievable fourth ace, and the crowd roared and groaned as Aadam went from hero to zero in a few short seconds, and Narinder was joyously smiling from ear to ear, as his quad aces took down the pot and eliminated Aadam.

The top five places were as follows :

1st Gavin Smith $188,743

2nd Narinder Khasria $94,371

3rd Siamak Soleimanian $47,186

4th Mark Zajdner $37,749

5th Aadam Daya $25,795

It is clear luck plays a major part in the outcome of a poker tournament - everyone in the late stages of a tournament has won hands they were "supposed to lose" - ie they were in tough against an opponent's hand with better odds to win, but the lesser hand prevailed.

In this case, each player of the final four had more than one such hand - so one could argue the luck evened out.

Sometimes the luck factor is not so relevant on a hand - the pot may be small, or neither player maybe be facing elimination if the result goes against him.

However, it certainly seemed like the high luck factor hands had lots of drama and import when they came up at this final table.

For sure, the most experienced poker player won in the end - but he would be the first to admit, any of the final three could have won this thing, and had their chances.

They all played well, and they deserve their big payday.

The gods have spoken

2010-01-11T14:35:00.000-08:00

The gods have spoken. No more poker tournaments at Fallsview this week for me. I decided to parlay my table winnings back into the dreaded satellites for the $5,000 Main Event.

I made it to Stage 3 whereby the top two places (from ten) win an entry. We got down to four good players – Matt, in seat 8, Vince in seat 2, me in seat 4, and Steve in seat 6.

This one went quite a bit longer than my earlier experiences, we got through blinds as high as $300/$600/$100 with only $20,000 chips in play.

I was able to double up off Vince at a key point when he shoved me all in with an aggressive suited 107 in the small blind, after the other two had folded. I was looking at A5 suited.

I figured Vince thought I was pretty tight, having laid down an AK pre flop earlier when the action got too hot. (That was a good laydown insomuch as I was up against 99 and KK, but bad insomuch as the flop contained an Ace and I could have taken out two players at that time – including Matt – who ended up being one of the two winners)

I was pretty sure he would steal from me with a wide range of hands. Feeling fatalistic, I called, and was gratified to see I had a reasonable shot against 107. We were both suited in diamonds.

The flop included a 98, so now Vince was looking to hit an open ended straight, but nothing came, and I survived.

I needed that double up and I began to play some real poker with more chips at my disposal, and accumulated some more. I may even have been chip leader when I picked up JJ on the dealer button with the blinds $200/$400/$75.

I raised to $1,400 and Matt shoved all in from the big blind. He had about $2,000 chips fewer than I did. Seemed like an automatic call from me, so I did. He turned over A2 offsuit, so my pair looked good.

Until the flop was Ace 2 Ace !! That’s right, Matt flopped a full house from nowhere. And to make the story even more spectacular, an Ace came on the river, and his quad Aces beat my full house of Aces and Jacks.

What a spectacular hand – but not for me. Had I won the hand, for sure I win my entry into tomorrow's main event.

I hung in for several more orbits, but had to make a move soon with the blinds so big. I went out fourth when Steve’s pocket 4’s bested my Q8 offsuit when I was in the big blind.

That left three roughly even stacks till Steve and Vince mixed things up with an open-ended straight draw for Vince against bottom pair for Steve. When the board ran dry, Vince joined me on the rail. He’s going back in for one more crack at it, but not me - there will be plenty of tourneys in my future.

I have been railbirding a bit at the $2,500 tournament - which is down to only two tables now. Continuing where he left off last night, Gavin Smith (now from Las Vegas but originally a Guelph lad) is steam rolling over his table and has a huge stack.

No Miracle at the Falls

2010-01-11T10:33:00.000-08:00

Day two of a tournament is so cool. Everyone who comes back to play is a survivor and a "winner", and the cameraderie is palpable.

As I suspected, I was the absolute lowest qualifier, and would have to shove all in with almost any cards in the beginning.

The stars were giving off lots of good signs though. First good omen was when I was given the dealer's button to start the day. This meant I would not have to post blinds for a whole orbit. Still, with antes at $300 and blinds a $800/$1,600 I could not be choosy with my hand selection.

Second good omen was the very first hand I picked up premium cards with AK offsuit. All folded to me, and I shoved all in of course. Both the small and the big blinds called me. They then checked down the flop, turn, and river. The board was an unfortunate 88JJ4 - the two pairs negating the advantage my king kicker had for my Ace.

This meant instead of quadrupling my stack on the very first hand, I "only" doubled up. Still, a very good start - bit sort of like doubling down and getting a 21 at Blackjack and finding out declarer matches your result.

The very next hand I picked up a pair of 5's one off the dealer button. Again, a very good scenario for me. I plan to shove and now my modest stack is big enough that I may not be an automatic call by the blinds.

However, the guy on my right raised. Hoping he had two picture cards, or connectors (but no pair unless it was lower) I raised all in.

Yes, every one else folded and he showed KQ offsuit - which was about as good as I could expect from my point of view.

The whole table was rooting for me as the flop yielded 993 and I was ahead with two pairs, on my way to a semi-playable stack.

But the next card was a dagger in my heart - a king; and for good measure, the death blow on the river (overkill - I was already beaten) was a queen. Off to the rail I went in 57th spot and to a round of applause from the fun bunch of players remaining in the room.

I decided to parlay my winnings at last night's funky Ultimate Poker table game into the Satellites for a last kick at qualifying for the $5,000 entry. That would be a story too !

Anyway, so far so good, and the Stage 3 satellite is starting shortly. The top two players will win their entry. Yes it's a turkey shoot but hell I really want to play in the main event - but I cannot justify yet buying an entry outright.

Hanging in by my finger nails at Fallsview

2010-01-10T21:30:00.000-08:00

Well, we just finished up more than eleven hours of play in the $2,500 entry event. The field has been whittled down to 58 players from an original 276. I did not stick around to find out my exact placement, but I would hazard I am between 55th and 58th -lol.

Just had absolutely no cards to work with the past few hours. Other than that I really enjoyed my table. Canadian superstar Gavin Smith was putting on a clinic in seat 5 (I was in seat 9) and amassing a large bouquet of chips.

More importantly, he was witty, sharp, down to earth, and a helluva player to boot. There was a fair amount of idolisation going on at the table, but he handled it real well.

For the first five hours or so I was at a very tough table. On my right was Vinnie Lozon, fresh off a 4th place finish in the $1,000 event (cashing $16,238) and on my left was Jason X, who recently cashed $32,000 in a World Poker Tour event.

As I left the playing area I noted that 6 of our original ten were still in the event, and it would have been 7, but Josh was busted with about five minutes to go.

Considering the field is down to around 20% of its original number, for 60% of our table to survive beats the odds.

Vinnie was still in form and amassed over $60,000 chips pretty quickly. Being surrounded by good players in dominating form made my survival a bit sweeter I suppose - but I feel that if I had had any cards at all the past few hours, or maybe an easier draw (if there was one) I may have gone even deeper.

My goal was to cash, since even 27th pays $9,574.

I have some hands, but I don't feel like hashing them right now. I have only a couple of regrets. Once I could have taken down a lot of dead money by executing a squeeze play in the small blind with A9 suited. Had I bet all in at my turn pre flop, I would likely have induced everyone to fold. There were five others in this pot, which is pretty unusual. Most pots end up heads up - or at most three players.

Another time, I gave a second life to Farhad Husaini (who happened to come second in the $1,000 event, winning $40,595)

Just before the dinner break he re-raised my $2,200 to $6,700 (all in for Farhad). I was feeling good, as I had been on a mild heater, winning three pots in a row, including two showdowns.

I justifed calling his all in bet to myself, and saw I was drawing to only two outs, as he had JJ and I had 88.

No miracles here for me,and I donated an extra $4,500 to Farhad. He is a very good player, so maybe he did not need "my help", but I see he is still in the event.

I don't think I had a call - if he had a pair, it was for sure higher than mine - I gambled he was going all in with "paint" - two picture cards - and if we had a "race" that my pair would stand up. No need for me to gamble at that time though.

But I will shove all in without a second's thought if I get 88 early tomorrow.

Anyway, we resume at noon on Monday. For those of you who don't really understand poker, but who are rooting for me - I truly thank you for your interest and support, but I warn you I will likely be eliminated within 20 minutes tomorrow - barring miracles - which of course, I will visualize all night and play for with vim and vigour when the time comes.

Bad beat at blackjack

2010-01-10T06:26:00.000-08:00

Last night I was trying to kill time constructively - I didn't want to do anything "heavy", but I didn't want to idle in my room either. There's only so many Dexter episodes I can watch at one time.

So I played a shoe of blackjack here and there; some 5 cent Spin Spoker on the slots; kibitzed with some of the players in the poker room who I have met over the past few days, and tried to stay out of trouble.

Blackjack was mixed. I would win a few hundred, stop, play later, lose a few hundred, and never broke out much in either direction. Towards the end of the evening, though, the losing sessions outnumbered the winning ones.

Towards the end of the evening, playing heads up against the dealer, I felt it necessary to spread to three hands, as this was about the only tool in my arsenal I had left at this tough table.

My seat one was dealt two Aces; seat two was dealt 99 for 18; and seat 3 was dealt K10 for a solid 20.

$100 on each hand, I was not charmed to see the dealer show an Ace. My first decision was whether or not to take an insurance bet against the dealer having a blackjack.

I decided no insurance. Declarer checked for a picture card, and 'no one home', we were good.

Next decision was whether or not I should split the Aces. Almost every one I have ever played with would think I am nuts for even thinking I had a decision here - they view the split as automatic, but I don't.

Having said that, I decided to split - hoping at least one of the two hands would be a winner.

This brought my action on this single deal up to $400. Joy of joys, the first Ace begat a Jack, and the second Ace begat a queen for two solid twenty ones.

So to summarise, I have four $100 hands face up on the table against the dealer showing an Ace but no blackjack.

I have K10 99 AQ AJ

The dealer turned over a four to go with his Ace. In a second, joy turned to incredulity when the next card out was a six, giving him an in-your-face twenty one of his own.

Lose $200. Next victim please !

Before he could scoop the cards away for the next deal, I said "Wait! Let me take a picture with my camera phone!"

Of course, the supe wouldn't let me, and anyway, I had no intentions of doing so - I just needed to vent in some way - this seemed healthier than slamming the table or throwing my drink at the poor dealer.

I played a few more hands, but I was too foggy - I really did not know how to beat this table - I had given it my best, and my best wasn't enough. I declared temporary defeat, and went to bed. (Better to lose a skirmish, but win the war later)

Fallsview follies

2010-01-09T16:31:00.000-08:00

Fallsview’s Poker Room is firing on all cylinders now, that’s for sure. After a rocky start to the weekend yesterday, the Poker Room staff righted all its wrongs, and the room is crackling with every table filled to the brim, and the familiar clicking sound of hundreds of chips working through the knuckles of wannabe poker gods.

Downstairs in the Grand Ballroom, the $1,000 tournament is down to around 15 players or so, after starting with 300. From initial stack sizes of only $5,000, the remaining players are coping with antes of $500, and blinds of $3,000 and $6,000.

If I could change one thing, I would schedule the satellites to be played right inside the tournament area – among several benefits this would free up a couple of much needed poker tables and dealers for the main poker room.

This morning I staked a placed at a $5/$5 table, and as the casino filled up I realized to leave the table was to spell the end of my day’s poker – since the waiting lists for a seat are so long. So I played many hands against many different players over the course of seven hours or so.

Four of us were constants, with the remaining seats filled up by weekend warriors who brought their few hundred and a hope to the table, and left either after booking a small win, or more likely with their tail between their legs.

Not that I played so great – but I do have staying power!

In the early moments of our game, I played way too loose and paid off a couple of big pots to guys who never met a large bet they couldn’t call.

After that I played better it seemed, though always room for improvement. I think my post flop play could have been better and more sophisticated – but I wanted to keep my game more in a tourney mode – where you don’t always have that luxury, as there survival, chip retention, and of course chip accumulation are the names of the game.

A popular young guy in a Montreal Canadians Hockey Shirt was doing well in seat 4. He picked up pocket cowboys (KK) sitting in the hijack seat. (To the right of the dealer button)

Sitting in third position, a dapper dude with a red beard opened for $25. Loose Lee in Seat 1 called, and Montreal re-raised to $80. Dapper dude (duh that’s me of course) called as did Loose Lee.

The flop was 6H 4S 5H.

Dapper dude checked, Loose Lee checked and Montreal bet out $210. The dude folded with some reluctance, and Loose Lee went into the tank.

Some banter ensued, whereby Montreal determined that Lee was sitting on a pair. It was clearly not Aces, so Montreal knew he had Lee dominated. In an effort to extract some value from his cowboys, he offered to Lee “ If you call I will check it down”.

Lee agreed readily, and they both flipped over their cards. Indeed, Montreal’s KK dominated Lee’s QQ.

The turn was the 2 of clubs, but the river was the Queen of hearts !

Loose Lee scooped the $470 pot, and Montreal was in a mild state of shock.

Immediately the other players began to razz Montreal about what he had done. Had he kept quiet, he would either have taken the pot down then and there, or he could have shoved his whole stack in after the turn, and there is a pretty good chance Lee would have folded.

To his credit, Montreal did not tilt after that – took his beating, and played on with a smile and a winning attitude. (Later, we introduced ourselves to each other. 'Montreal' is Shane Ross, from Sherbrooke)

Queens caused a lot of excitement at my table today. Glen to my immediate right was a solid player who built up his initial $500 to well over $1,000 with smart play. While I was on a lunch break, he lost $800 of it to Loose Lee when Glen also had kings over Lee’s queens.

The board showed a king on the turn and all the money went in the middle, but Lee ended up with a Broadway Straight, and Glen ended up with major stack damage. (It doesn’t sound like much of a game - $5/$5, but the pots here can get quite substantial when the stars align well.)

Across from me in Seat 6 was Farmer Joe, a jovial chap who entered 60% of all the pots it seemed. And he liked to see each hand to the end.

I was in mid position (seat 10) with AK offsuit, and I raised to $30. There were two callers, including the Farmer, in the Big Blind.

The flop was 8 5 8 rainbow.

No one even sniffed at it, and the betting was checked all around.

The next card was another 5, no flush draws evident.

I took a stab at the pot with a $65 bet.

Seat one folded, and the Farmer looked down at his KQ unsuited, and was still as in love with these cards as the moment he first picked them up.

He called, of course (or there would be no story, not because it was a logical act)

The river was a queen.

At least he had the sense/decency to check the river, as did I.

My hand was two pairs (showing on the board) with an Ace kicker.

I ws pretty sure this would be a split pot – Farmer Joe must have an Ace too.

But no, to the amusement and astonishment of all at the table, he turned over his beloved KQ, and scooped the $230 pot.

His only chance with his call was a rivered queen – three outs basically. So we all realized if he will call my $65 bet, he will call almost anything.

I am on a break. I put my name on a new list; checked out the tournament (visualizing and thinking positively for my turn tomorrow); had an early dinner and nap, and now I head down to continue the battle. It's all good !

No more satellites for me

2010-01-08T12:54:00.000-08:00

Today I woke up with a positive attitude about NOT having an entry to the $1,000 event. Maybe this meant the field for the satellites would be weaker than usual, as the better players will be in the tournament.

I was up before 8 AM but not much was stirring in the poker room. Only three open tables, but already a wait list. By noon, the wait list was several hours long, but still only five tables in play.

Finally, around 2.30 pm, they set up a table for the Step 3 Satellite. First place winning a $5,000 entry, and second and third winning a $2,500 entry.

Although we began with $2,000 in chips (an improvement over the $1,500 we got in the earlier stages) it is still a bit of a turkey shoot. Randomness and luck play too large a role for these kind of prizes I think. With $10,000 in prizes on the line and only 1 table in play, why does the structure have to be such that it will be over in 1.5 to 2 hours?

Within an hour the blinds were $100/$200 and I picked up 99 in mid position. My stack was less than when I began ($1,525) and somewhat below average size of $2,500, as two players had already been eliminated.

To play any pot necessitated a raise – to around $600. So the moment you decide to open with a hand, you are now almost committed to the pot and hence are putting your event on the line.

Not really enjoyable poker but it is the nature of the beast, and it is the same for all of us.

So I raised to $600 and the big blind called. He had been deep stack till the previous hand, where he had lost around $2,000 by calling an all-in river bet from a shorter stack on a gross misread.

The flop was K74 rainbow. The BB checked to me. I had about $1,000 left. With all these considerations, what should I do? Should I try to check the hand down to the river? Should I bet? Mark you, any bet by me pot commits me, if I am not already pot committed.

Anyhow, I bet $400, and the BB raised for the rest of his chips to $850 total. I called, and turned slightly green when he turned over a starting pair of sevens, giving him a flopped set, and me looking for two outs (specifically either 9) to win the hand.

My fairy godmother went MIA and I lost the pot, and a few hands later went out with another player to the same guy who splayed a full house of Aces and Kings on the table, handily beating my two pairs of Aces and Kings with a Queen kicker.

Considering the entry to this satellite was “worth” a cool $1,050, I really did not feel I got my money’s worth from the experience. Most likely, had I been able to buy into the $1,000 entry event, I would have lasted much longer than an hour, for no other reason than a slower blind structure, and a much larger starting stack size.

Meanwhile, the $1,000 event is under way - with a maxed out field of 300 players, and first place a cool $81,188.

Based on our observations yesterday and today, Dan and I have already decided not to try to win any more Satellites. Instead we will focus on cash games and if I get hot enough, I can subsidize the cost of my entry fee into one of the two remaining events.

Fallsview warm-up

2010-01-07T21:33:00.000-08:00

Today, January 7, is the day before the big poker tournament starts here at Fallsview, Niagara Falls, Canada.

There will be three events, maximum field of 300 players in each, with entry fees of $1,000, $2,500 and $5,000.

Daniel Korbel and I arrived hoping to qualify (or worse case, buy an entry) for the first event - the $1,000 buy-in, only to find this event has been sold out for a couple of weeks. Jeesh, I was here a few weeks ago - I coulda shoulda bought several entries.

Now entrepreneurial types are going around selling entries at around $1,400 and rumour is the price will go as high as $1,600 by game time. (noon January 08)

I have been vascillating about whether or not to pay the premium - Dan thinks I would be crazy. I agree, but I kinda want to anyway.

Especially as it was a good day at the tables.

Started off real bad. I entered a $5/$5 cash game and bought in for $400 and lost ALL OF IT on the very first hand I played. I had KK on the button and raised pre flop to $25, and was called by the big blind.

The flop was 853 rainbow, and some money hit the pot with no raises. Turn was an Ace, and after a bet and a raise, all the money eventually went in the middle (I was sure from the betting action the guy did not have an Ace). I was right, but I was drawing dead. He had called the raise with 4-2 suited, and was now holding a straight. Hard to read !

So sheepishly I set off to buy some chips to continue playing. The cashier's cage was really busy so I sat down at a blackjack table and exchanged $1,100 for chips. They were just starting a new shoe so I figured, my poker table is holding my spot, I'll just play a few hands.

Within half a shoe I got back comfortably more than my $400, and was feeling much better about things. I went back to the poker table, where the locals were salivating at my return. The guy who took me for $400 (Stewart his name is - we befriended later) moved into the spot on my left as soon as he could - which I took as a strong desire to part me from my money personally. (In hold 'em poker, it often happens that you will win or lose most of your money to the person on your right)

I was somewhat random for a while till my game settled down - in fact I was down a couple of hundred more before I went on a bit of a heater, and won $1,000 for that session, which is pretty good with a $400 buy in. I am not sure I got everyone's respect - they're a tough crowd here, but I did get some of their money - which in poker, is mostly what matters. So net plus $600 at cash poker.

Then Dan and I finally got called to a side table to play a Satellite Sit 'n Go, to try and qualify for the highest level Satellites tomorrow. Basically, we began with ten players, each paying a $350 fee. The top three players win an entry to yet another Satellite - the winners of which win entries into the very expensive events.

I qualified comfortably (was blessed with some good cards and made some good decisions). Dan and I were seated apart - he at Seat One to the left of the dealer and me at Seat 9 - around the other side. He was almost card dead and did well to hang in till 6th. The blinds move up so quickly in these satellites that luck is a big factor.

Unfortunately it was my hand that busted him - the last thing either of us wanted - but it was a multi way pot with Dan and another guy all in. Dan was very much alive in the hand as he began with 87 suited and the flop was 65X. I had begun with QQ and the other guy with 99.

I dodged nines and fours as the board played out and my hand held up, and Dan was gone and I was solid for the rest of the event.

So tomorrow I will use the ticket I won to try and parlay it into an entry to the bigger events.

Stewart, my new buddy, left our table to play a Stage 3 satellite. He came third, and won a free entry to the $2,500 event which starts Sunday I think.

If we don't get into the $1,000 event (which seems likely) we will probably try to do this again. Two entries are better than one!

New Year's poker plans

2009-12-29T05:41:00.000-08:00

I have been reading a lot of poker books this year - mostly by respected winners such as Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, David Slansky, and Dan Harrington.

I thought I had decided my goal for 2010 was to be a model of consistency - and strive for first quartile results in all tournaments I enter. Surely in so doing, I will stumble into cashing and placing high occasionally.

I have been scanning the results of many successful online players - seems to me cashing 15% of the time is the minimum I should strive for, and some players are a touch north of 20%.

Top quartile play is something I have been striving for in live tournaments for the past few months - and it seems to be working.

However, this is a grinding game - I am rarely in a dominant chip position at the table - seems that is best left for the looser, more aggressive players.

I just finished Doyle Brunson's new autobiography called "The Godfather of Poker" - an enjoyable read to be sure.

Doyle is in his mid seventies. He seems to have an incredibly high opinion of his abilities (I say this with respect since I believe it has served him well) and he also espouses on the need for relentless aggression and fearlessness at the table. And his results certainly speak for themselves.

Funny how he and Bobby Wolff and Bob Hamman (renowned world champion bridge players) are all from Texas and of the same generation. Must be something in the chili.

So now I am rethinking my goal. Maybe I should conduct an experiment for one or two months. I could start two online accounts with identical stacks and enter the same tournaments on the same days. One account would be played according to my chosen style (top quartile objective then see what happens) and the other could be played far looser. I would expect the loose playing account to cash far less times, but perhaps the overall results will be better if this account goes very deep on occasion.

Maybe I can use this experiment to formulate my player profile for the future. To be sure, regardless of how you begin a tournament, you have to modify and adapt your style to the changing size of field and playing conditions, so I guess I am mostly talking about the early stages of tournaments.

One edge I may have is that I am not afraid to play with aggression. Not afraid to lose. The money doesn't scare me - you have to be immune to the money (in the moment) since to play with fear is a losing game.

And I am not an old dog who cannot learn new tricks. (Well I am oldish, but I pride myself on my willingness to learn)

This is gonna be a great year. I feel it. At the same time as Svetlana and I are adapting our business to new realities (more on that later) I plan to write lots, play lots, and develop a winning aura about myself.

Sunday's online report

2009-12-27T17:42:00.001-08:00

Sunday Poker update

Not so much to report today because I was playing bridge with Keith at Hazel’s club – first round qualifying for the Canadian Championships.

But I did enter two online tournaments this evening and by accident one of them was a Hi Lo limit stud poker game – which I have never ever played before. I got the hang of it pretty quickly; seemed like people were reluctant to hit the fold button – so lots of calling stations. The original field of around 170 was down to 90 or so when my internet connection to FTP went down. Dead. Down. Can’t get it back. And I was chip leader at my table too!

Same time I was in a KO tournament with around 1500 entrants and there were 400 or so left when the connection went dead. I was not in such a strong position, but I was about to triple up (maybe I did?) when the connection went dead.

I still had internet – just no connection to FTP. Quite frustrating. Could have been worse I suppose – I had just missed qualifying for the $750,000 guarantee which began at 6 pm EST this evening. This morning before I left the house I took two cracks at qualifying.

I suffered a sad bad beat to be eliminated from one of them. Got all our chips in the middle when I began with K10o and the flop was K106.

The villain made a continuation bet which I raised, and he shoved all in. I called and he turned over 76 suited in diamonds (none of which were on the board)

The turn was a 6 and the river a 7 for good measure (he didn’t need the full house – the set already had me beaten)

The villain was playing at 18 tables at the time he beat me – so I cannot credit him with too much forethought to his plays. How do people do that???

Anyway, I am on the sidelines, my stacks being blinded and ante’d away in the two events I was in when FTP went offline for me.

Never give up on a hand

2009-12-21T16:38:00.000-08:00

Playing in the daily Deep Stack event at The Venetian (home of the city's best poker room), we were in the early stages with the blinds at $50/$100 when a young player with spiky hair and a completely tatooed right arm (henceforth Spike) picked up 82 offsuit in the small blind.

He had suffered a few knocks early on, and was already short stacked with around $1,800.

A total of six players were in this pot, no raises from anyone.

The flop was 4 5 7 with two clubs.

Spike decided to make a play for the pot. He shoved all his chips into the middle of the table.

Young John, to the right of the button, called - holding 88. The button himself had begun life with 74 offsuit so he was excited about this hand too! The button raised all-in himself.

Young John made a good lay down with his 88 and now it was heads up between the dealer's flopped two pairs and Spike's 82 (basically his only chance was an inside straight draw completed with a 6)

Spike got up and put his coat on and said, "cheesh I don't even want to show this hand."

Everyone laughed as both hands were tabled face up.

The turn was a 3, and the river was a 6.

Spike's 82 (the second worse starting hand in NL Hold 'em Poker, had made a straight on the river. Staying Alive!

Aces busted by kings in Venetian daily deep stack

2009-12-21T16:14:00.000-08:00

Another enjoyable, but too brief, run in the daily Venetian deep stack event. A smallish field of 87 players paying $150 each.

My stack size was always on the wrong side of average, but I was playing pretty well without great cards. I was moved to the General's table (Texas pro Joseph Davis, who I remarked about in an earlier blog - he reminded me of General Custer) with around 30 players left.

Initially improved my stack with an all-in versus an even smaller stack, when I had KK and he had AQ suited.

Not long later, with the blinds at 75/400/800 and a stack size of around $17,000 (average would be $22,000 or so), my right hand opponent (young John)in second position opened for $2,600 . I think there had been a limper before him. I was looking at two red Aces. I had not seen a high pair all day, and now I had been dealt kings then aces within minutes of each other. I like this dealer !

I could call or raise, but I went for the max with an all-in re raise. At this stage, young John would be hard pressed to lay down what was clearly a real starting hand, as he had even fewer chips than I did.

Everyone else got out of the way, and as he exposed his kings, John said, "I know you have Aces, but I am committed to my hand, I have to call".

Lucky for John and Jocelyn (his cheering section) his agony was short lived, as the flop included a sadistic looking king of clubs.

Nothing else of interest popped up on the board and for the second time in two days, my red Aces have been cracked in key situations. In fact, since I have been in Vegas (8 days now) I have had Aces twice only - once online yesterday in late stages of a big event) and now today. Last night I lost to a starting hand of AK when the turn AND river were BOTH Kings.

John had the good grace to be apologetic, and commiserated that it should be me sitting there with an above average stack in excess of $30,000, rather than the $2,700 or so I was left with.

Had I simply re-raised, it is unlikely John would lay down his hand. And calling would make no sense. I believe he would have re-re raised, and all our chips would have ended up in the middle regardless.

Ah such is poker. As great as AA or KK are as starting hands; neither comes with any guarantees.

Special hellos to Nicholas from Atlantic City, Clint, James (pronounced Jame - es) and John who were at my table today and who all went deep.

Sunday is online poker day

2009-12-20T15:07:00.000-08:00

Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest. So I decided not to enter any live poker tournaments today. (At least not so far!)

I got up early to do battle in the DD blackjack pit. Yesterday had been a real struggle – I lost small, six times out of seven tables. Whereas the prior night, after fuming over my pulled muscle and untimely poker tournament exit, I had won significantly in four of six sessions.

Overall, my BJ play has been profitable this trip, though the winning session percentage has been very low, at around 55%.

I have not been able to catch a rhythm.

This morning was particularly annoying as this Asian kid beside me was winning money at a clip of $300 per hand or more, while my spot treaded water. And he was asking me for advice on many of his hands.

Most of my time has been organizing my notes from the week’s adventures and playing online poker tournaments concurrently. Sunday is usually a big day for online events at all the major poker sites. My site of favor is FTP – known as Full Tilt Poker.

I love the word “ tilt”

It is so apropos for what I see at the card tables almost every day.

I have suffered ‘bad beats’ in every online tournament I have played in so far today, so I am bit bummed out.

The one that mattered most to me had 118 entrants, with the top 15 winning entries into today’s $1 million guarantee – which starts in a few minutes, and presently has an enrolled field of close to 1,900 players.

The entry fee is a healthy $535 – which, to this point in time, is more than I have ever spent on an online poker tournament entry.

I was nursing my chips, being patient, as we got down to only 17 players – just about ‘on the bubble.’

If I had owned a huge stack, I would simply have folded all hands until I won my entry – taking no risks. But I was always hovering between 12th and 16th, so I could not sit quietly.

I picked up the two red Aces on the dealer’s button. The big stack was in the small blind. He should be folding his way to the end.

I opened with a three bet (3 times the BB) and he decided to shove me all in. Of course, I called.

He turned over the Ace of spades and the King of hearts.

The flop was the 1098 all of hearts. Good – if the winning hand is a flush, it’ll be mine.

The turn was the King of Spades, giving him a pair of kings to go up against my Aces. But the river was a damned king of clubs, and that was NOT amusing.

I mean come on !

“Runner runner” kings to beat me, and to ensure I do NOT play in the million dollar guarantee which is starting right now.

Anyway, as consolation, I won a smaller tournament which qualified me into the FTOPS main event which began at 5 pm. Just under 16,000 players are in this thing, with a prize pool of $799,000.

And concurrent with that, I am playing in a $15,000 tournament. around 2,300entrants, and 250 remaining as I write. I am presently in 89th place.

Taken out with three strikes

2009-12-20T08:33:00.000-08:00

I played in the big stack $340 entry event at the Venetian Saturday. It's my favorite event of the week. You receive $12,000 in starting chips (versus the normal $7,500); the blind levels increase more slowly; and the field is far stronger than the rest of the week.

Today there were 112 players, with prizes paying down to 13th. First place a cool $9,800 - and a chop of the first four places would be around $5,000.

It took me a while to find my footing. On my left was General Custer - a very nice man who looked like he has been playing poker more than 30 years in every casino in Nevada. He had long flowing grey hair with a beard and mustache that would do Custer proud, and a hat that looked vintage cavalry from the 19th century. A dark vintage blazer, blue jeans, and high heeled cowboy boots completed the ensemble.

He played with panache and mixed his style very well. In the beginning he was a virtual patsy, folding his button, limping into the pot, and giving up his blinds - but then he began to make some moves.

Within a couple of hours, if anyone wanted to see a flop at our table, they were going to pay dearly for it. Raises were met with re-raises, and re-raises were met with all-ins.

I am beginning to recognize the local regulars - good tough cash game players who look down at the rest of the poker world, and who feel they have nothing new to learn. I can feel their eyes smirking knowingly at some of the stuff I do. One of them caught a big pot off me in the early stages – it saved his tournament life in fact.

I held 99 in mid position, and opened for $300. (blinds were only $50/$100). He called as dealer, and we were heads up.

The flop came 752 rainbow. I bet $350, and he called. The next card was an 8. I bet $800, and he called again. The river was another deuce, and the action was on me.

I had seen him play two hands down to a showdown already. He was a typical cash game player who believes in milking a hand till the end. Which is fine in a cash game, where you theoretically have an unlimited supply of chips, but in tournaments, you live in the short run – and you better be right most of the time if that is how you play.

He had lost almost half his stack already. On one of these two occasions, when he had a sizeable investment in the pot, he had made a big bluff bet on the river, and had been called. He mucked without even showing.

Meanwhile, his buddy beside him had busted early. These guys get demoralized if they lose a hand they should have won. His buddy had picked up AA in first position. A short stack in mid position had gone all in with 63 suited in clubs. (Yes you read correctly)

Everyone else got out of the way, and the old timer was happy to call the bet for about 1/3 of his stack. When the flop came 63x, the short stack was well on his way to doubling up.

Now with a large starting stack and blinds still small, there is plenty of time to regroup and play small ball poker, waiting for the right hand to make a move. But a guy came very late to the table (a full hour and a half after we began) and ended up in an all-in encounter on his very first hand of the day. Old timer had QQ and newbie had AK. The old timer saw a flop of K9x and shoved all in - for no good reason that I could see. Newbie called and quickly doubled up.

I say all this because I want you to know the context and the table vibe when my 99 hand came up.

After the river 2, I felt I had to make a bet. I had been uncomfortably out of position this whole pot, forced to make betting decisions before my guy. So I bet $2,000 (the pot was around $3,300 at this point. He thought for a long time and shoved all his chips all in.

I had conflicting information. Was this a last gasp attempt to win a hand he was doomed to lose (say with A7 or something), or had he flopped a set, or made quad two’s ??

I decided to call, and he showed a starting pair of sevens, giving him a full house of 7’s and 2’s, and more than 1/3 of my stack. (I had been doing well to that point)

Ach, I felt I had been outsmarted. Which is true. The guy put on his dark glasses, after several verbal high fives with his buddies at his end of the table, and he settled back into a long run, content that his tournament life was no longer in immediate jeopardy.

Anyhow, back to the grind for me. I played my normal game and watched the monitor for updates on the size of the field.

As time goes by, the average stack size increases, and the number of survivors decreases, and the number of active tables in play consolidates down. They try to keep 9-10 players at all tables all the time (until they get down to 20 or less). So as a result, you can find yourself moved around from time to time.

At 7 pm, after seven hours of play, we were down to 31 players, and I had an above average mid size stack of around $55,000. I was moved to a table where the lady at the opposite end had a stack that would choke a large horse. Her raises were usually monstrous, so that if you played a hand with her, there was a risk you were going to be all-in whether or not you wanted to be.

As a result, she was running roughshod over everyone.

She was guzzling beers straight from the bottle, and sounded like she had had a few too many. Loud and in form. Deadly.

I decided I would keep a low profile for a couple of orbits, and size up whose stacks I could go gunning for. Conveniently, three of the four players on my left were very tight, and their blinds were ripe for the picking. The dominatrix would have to commit to a hand in early position whenever their blinds were in play. So I had an edge there.

I picked off several pots, and my stack increased to $80,000 or so. Doing well, all things considered. I picked up QQ in late position. The blinds were $2,000, $4,000 with a $500 ante. Dominatrix made it $17,000 to go from first position, which meant (even she) had some kind of hand.

I decided to call, not raise, and everyone else folded. The flop was A102 and she instantly said all in, and just as quickly my cards hit the muck. Strike one.

A while later, I held AS 6C on the dealer button. My RHO limped in to the pot and I flat called. It was a three player pot, as the small blind folded. The flop was AC 7C 3D.

The BB and my RHO checked and I bet $13,500. The BB folded, and RHO called. The turn card was a scary ten of clubs, and we both checked. The river was a red king, which I felt had not changed anything.

RHO now bet $20,000 and I called. He turned over A8 unsuited. We both had a pair of Aces, but his 8 out kickered my 6, and he took down a pretty big pot. Strike two.

In retrespect, I might have taken down the pot pre flop with a big bet - maybe even an all-in. Ironically, it seems to play small ball you often have to put your whole stack at risk when you judge weakness everywhere else.

I suppose I also could have folded to his river bet, but that seems too tough to figure out.

I was down to $30,000 or so, definitely below average. Not long after I picked up JJ in mid position, the boozy lady was in the big blind. I needed a double up, and she was usually a willing customer when someone else tried an all in move.

"All in" I announced, and everyone folded to her. Finally, after an unusually long wait, she called and turned over 32 suited in hearts !!

Everyone at the table gasped. Even she had gone too far. We had seen her call all-ins with 109, K3, Q7 even, but 32 !!

The flop was an unsuited but still highly toxic 654.

Can you believe this??

Nothing else came on the turn or the river, and I was busted when my all in bet with a pair of jacks was called by 32 suited and the lady flopped a straight!

Strike 3 - tough game. I was busted just before we got down to two tables.

The lady was playing like a drunken pork chop, and she was crushing everyone. (She won the whole event by the way)

Deja Vu

2009-12-18T22:32:00.000-08:00

Back in 1982 I was in between my two University degrees, and I filled my time working for Ted Horning at his fine bridge studio in Thornhill, Ontario. I was a jack of all trades, including game director.

I used to enjoy sitting at the front of a large room filled with earnest bridge players as I waxed eloquently over the microphone about the movement of boards or whatever.

The players used to remark I sounded like an airline pilot.

One day I was directing a very large Olympiad game and was in fine vocal form. In between announcements and rulings I would amuse myself with whatever there was at hand. Certainly not a PC back in those days.

I had the unfortunate habit of swinging on my chair back then. I chose this particular night to lean back a touch too far, and went head over heels into the boxes and debris behind the director's desk!

Well, you can imagine the reaction this ruckus caused among the forty odd tables of bridge players in the room.

And you can certainly imagine the colour of my cheeks as I sprang from the floor like a cat, trying to act as if nothing had happened !

I don't think I pulled a muscle that time though !

Rare sports injury incurred at the poker table

2009-12-18T22:27:00.000-08:00

How, you may ask, can this happen? Well, we were down to the final two tables and they were kitty corner to each other. I was waiting for a hand to finish at the other end of our table (which I was not involved in) and decided to crane my neck to see what was going on at the table beside me.

I leaned back in my chair at the same time, and all of a sudden I felt my balance rapidly disappearing. In a mild panic, I torqued my body forwards and flailed out my arms, and narrowly averted a personal disaster. Only a slight chest muscle pull spasmed forth from the melee.

Other than the guy at the next table whose head I accidentally clobbered, and my seat mates (who were killing themselves laughing) I don’t think more than a few dozen people saw my little escapade.

Today, Friday, the daytime field was back up in size to 131 players with an entry fee of $150. First place was $4,853. In fact the first thirteen players would cash – plus $10 from each player for the bubble boy who came 14th.

I was pretty pleased with my play most of the day, except towards the end when I found myself in some tough situations with the blinds and raises so high. I would have to guess when it was prudent to lay down some pretty big hands, or when to push aggressively with others.

Each final table I have been at this week, the play has been much tighter than I have seen in my prior final table experiences. Basically, the first crack at a pot usually took it down, as people were almost all trying to move up the money board.

Eleventh through 13th were each paying only $324, and that’s where I finished. I misjudged my final hand completely. I should have cashed higher, but no one to blame but myself for misreading the situation.

I thought my hand was ahead of my opponent’s, and I could put him in a tough situation where he would have to fold rather than risk calling a very large re-raise bet. He saw it otherwise, and he was correct, and I made no miracle draws on the river. (After my re-raise he shoved me all in. I could fold and slink away or call - hoping (a) my original read was correct, or (b) for a minor miracle. I called)

I took my eye off the ball and gambled when I should have been thinking strategically, as I had been all day. It was way too early and I was too comfortable (ie not under an extreme shortage of chip pressure) to pull a stunt like the one I did.

The prize structure was as follows :

Place $ prize money
1st $4,853
2nd $2,912
3rd $1,941
4th $1,432
5th $1,076
6th $890
7th $728
8th $556
9th $445
10th $364

11th through 13th paid $324.

I don’t think the cards I picked up today were so great – best hand I saw all day was 99 and also AQ a few times, but definitely better than two days ago.

I do feel I mixed up my play more, and created a table image which was harder to play against than I had been all week so far.

A guy beside me, Craig, never really got his stack size going, and as a result found himself going all-in all day an inordinate number of times. He knew the law of averages were going to catch up to him. But at last count, he had done so successfully 18 times. Either he had won a showdown, or the other players had all folded and he had taken down the blinds and antes. Craig finally exited around 17th.

Craig’s father’s name is Russ, but they call him Ross. My father’s name is Craik, but most people have never heard of that spelling, and refer to him as Craig.

Neat coincidence I thought.

I am kinda bummed out about my mistake at the end, so I will not dwell any further here on this tournament. Other than it was a painful, but useful lesson.

Biding my time

2009-12-18T11:04:00.000-08:00

I decided to extend my trip till next Tuesday, rather than check out today. Frankly, I would much rather spend my time here, doing what I do, than be back at our business grinding out mortgages and bankruptcies. (Don't tell our clients that !)

Last night I played several short sessions of blackjack - all but one of them profitable. I played briefly at the Venetian before dinner, and as new cards were everywhere in the double deck pit, I entered a shoe game at $15 per hand, where I had the table and dealer to myself. This, coupled with an available surrender option, is almost as good as it gets for a shoe game, though I still don't like it.

Because the shoes seem never ending, you can die a slow death, bleeding your chips away, and almost not realize it. Whereas, the finality of frequent new shoes at double deck forces me to take stock (inventory) of my chips each time.

Anyway, twice I realized it was not going so well in this shoe game. Sounds stupid I know but you are playing at a fast clip, varying from one to three hands; managing bet sizes; chatting with the dealer; glaring at newcomers who want to sit down with you; fending off buxom, beautiful cocktail waitresses who are sure NOW you must want a beverage; and dare I say it....ahem....keeping track of the cards. (Between 6 and 8decks). And all the time trying not to look too competent.

Shoe blackjack is very streaky - and trust me, you know when you are on a hot streak or a cold streak - regardless of all the distractions. A hot streak at a shoe game, playing two hands especially; pressing and increasing your bet sizes, is probably for me one of the few times in a casino I feel the adrenalin rush.

Choppy shoes though are insidious, and easy to make mistakes in. This is all a long way of saying my shoes before dinner were choppy and I got stuck just under $300.

Dinner at TAO was pretty good, but not at all in the same league as Sushi Samba at the Palazzo the night before. Only good thing was we scored line passes for the legendary upstairs TAO nightclub for later that evening. Being true degenerates though, neither Svetlana nor I availed ourselves of the rare opportunity to actually get into the club without having to either promise our first-born child, or part with a few hundred dollars.

When we came out of TAO, we sent our new Russian friends (he with a watch you could buy a luxury car with), off to see LOVE at the Mirage - this happens to be my personal favorite show in Vegas.

{The Russian contingent did go to TAO nightclub later, and apparantly made it back to their rooms at the Bellagio by 6 AM.)

Svetlana and I went down to the Venetian to play, but new cards were in the offing. Sometimes I get lazy and don't want to leave the table for greener pastures when they are changing the cards. (They do so every two hours in single and double deck games)

But I always regret it, and this trip has been no exception. The floor staff think I am eccentric and irrational when I announce I am leaving, or demonstrate my "newcardphobia" in some other way.

But I have played way more hands than they have, and with respect, I believe I am right.

So we toddled off to the Mirage, since both they and Treasure Island have very good double deck games. I played a few shoes at a $50 minimum, and won $585. They wanted to change the cards so I decided to cash out. Svetlana wanted to play more so she took my spot (good luck trumps necardphobia I guess)

I went to play two types of slot poker where I won a total of $1.40, but killed valuable time that might have been very expensive anywhere else. (Regular readers will know I play to win, however small, at slots poker)

Sveta actually did well with the new cards, so she cashed out and we headed off. She back to the Venetian and me onto Treasure Island.

It was so quiet in Treasure Island I was able to play in their "Hi limit" room at only $25 per hand - which I have not seen ever before anywhere.

I was able to cash small profits at two tables before calling it a night. A quiet day all around in Las Vegas.

Another day, another poker tourney

2009-12-17T16:58:00.000-08:00

The truth is not every day is exciting in Las Vegas - at least not when you approach the whole thing as a business, rather than as an escape from reality as many do.

Yesterday, I woke up a bit bug eyed, and decided to forego poker tournaments. Did a little shopping; pampered myself, and the Blackjack dealers and I played ping pong with my various buy-ins. That is, I won some, lost some; slightly down on the day - due to the extra saki I had at dinner. (Big rookie mistake - never ever drink and gamble)

Today I recovered that loss and a bit more in the morning's blackjack, and then had my stiff neck and shoulders massaged by a 92 pound masseuse who was strong like a bull. It was hard to contain my yelps as she pounded the twists and knots.

Then it was time for the mid day Venetian poker tourney - the $150 buy in. It turned out to be pretty boring.

I played almost five hours, and had no hands nor cards to speak of. I only saw one pair (sevens only) in the first half hour and that was it for the whole session.

Still, I survived, barely, to level 10, and 17th of an original 85 entrants. But I had no chance today. I just got to exercise my patience skills, and ultimately my survival and small stack skills - and even then I did not do much of that.

Svetlana has made some new Russian friends - so she has been giving them her insider's knowledge of Vegas's high end shopping all day. I believe we are all going to TAO for dinner tonight (One of Tiger's old haunts)

It ain't over till it's over

2009-12-16T14:29:00.000-08:00

Last night's tournament took an unexpected twist after I busted out in 7th. The monster stack (at least 70 % of the chips in play) got off his game a bit and allowed a few players to double up on him and chip away at his lead. Shortly thereafter they got to five people and the chip stacks were now balanced enough they decided to chop most of the prize pool. They each took $1,500, and left $1,000 available for the actual winner to take home.

The Vietnamese huge stack actually busted out in 3rd place, and two little guys chopped the remaining $1,000.

If you had seen the big stack - you would know how dramatic this was. The rest of us were so puny in comparison - and yet, he came in third. The Alaskan on my right, who was in worse shape than I was at one point, came all the way back to win - shades of Joe Cada at the WSOP main event.

Another final table

2009-12-16T01:52:00.000-08:00

Well my eyes are bone tired right now. I just exited the 7 pm Venetian poker tournament ($120 entry) - at 1.30 AM; after an hour and a half at the final table.

The blinds were going up every 20 minutes in this one - putting more pressure on everyone. We made it up to level 15, with blinds of $6,000 and $12,000 with antes of $2,000. (Against a starting stack of only $7,500.)

I came 7th; with the top nine being paid. 95 entries - 7th was worth a paltry $433 - to make more than $1,000 you had to come 3rd and first was worth $2600 or so.

There was one ginormous stack (a very good Vietnamese player and a nice guy to boot) and the rest of us were in survival mode - dodging his stack and hanging on for dear life.

My highlight hands were early in the tournament - at one point I was chip leader with around $45,000 when the average stack was only $15,000. (I was on fire for about an hour)

But I went totally card dead for two, maybe three hours and my stack was whittled away by escalating blinds and lots of heavy betting action before me when I did get half a hand. (ie something borderline playable)

Over that two hours, several players (in the room) caught up to me, and a few overtook me big time.

I also found myself being bullied a bit by not one but two aggressive players on my left who "came over top of me" literally every time I made a move. Must be one of those "leaks" in my game I mentioned.

So all in all, with an adverse playing position, and poor cards, I am actually quite ok with coming seventh - placing ugly, I shall call it. I feel I extracted the most I could from what I was dealt. (At least, from what I know - maybe a better player would not have allowed himself to lose such a strong early position)

Lots of cool hands, but I am saving them for another medium.

And again, someone had a bright idea when we got down to ten players and the final table. As only nine players would technically cash, we each put $20 into a pool - yielding $200, so that "the bubble boy" would not go home empty handed.

Ironically, the second biggest stack at the final table was first to go when he was suckered beautifully into making an all in bet by the big stack.

And it's not really the money (although I do expect to win money at something or other most days). My blackjack play today was also profitable - I played back to back 4 tables in one session this afternoon, squeezing out profits where the cards were favorable, and dodging bullets when they were not.

Three plus tables and one minus helped pad the bankroll somewhat.

I know it's a good trip when I never need to touch my bankroll - I had some cash left over from my last trip which I used to sit down in my first BJ game on Sunday, and I have just been building it ever since in chips and cash.

Again, I emphasize, nothing spectactular, but slow and steady is good. I try to win by taking as little risk as possible and for the shortest time possible. (Poker tournaments fit that - yes they can run a long time, but it's only the entry fee at risk)

Barely time to warm my seat !

2009-12-15T17:43:00.000-08:00

I have really enjoyed poker this past week. It feels like my semi regular online play in the past couple of months has improved my overall game. I still have a couple of leaks I am working on (2 that I know about - there may be more)

Today's tournament at the Venetian I busted out with the blinds only 50-100 !!! I still had $7,425 of my starting chips and was in the BB with 98o. Five players before the flop which was J107 rainbow. I led out with $300; which was folded around to a guy in late position who bumped it to $1,000. I re-raised to $2,500 as everyone got out of the way. He shoved and I called of course.

He turned over J7 suited (only runner runner makes the flush though)

But as the river was a 7, I was out real early from this tournament.

My question is this. Should I second guess my re-raise? Seems to me I want all the chips in the middle here anyway, but pros hate to get busted early - even on bad beats; so should I have simply called his raise and played conservative? My gut says no, you have to put yourself in position to amass chips and this was a pretty good position to be in.

I note that I could easily have won one (maybe two) of the first two events I played in - especially last night - I can't emphasize enough how enjoyable it was to be at a final table for almost 3 hours.

It was weird cause an English guy left the other table as soon as the bubble was burst and he had a big stack. Around $140,000. He had to catch a plane. So they blinded him down. His stack came to the final table with around $115,000 - which was like second or third stack at the time.

The supervisor would not allow any chopping while his chips were still here. He eventually finished 5th in absentia. At that time we discussed chopping based on chip count.

I had $208,000; villian had $594,000 and the two small stacks had around $60,000 each.

I would get a few hundred less than second place outright - but before I could veto, one of the small stacks vetoed cause she saw no benefit versus playing. (She was right - the OTHER short stack came second at the end of the day)

Another thing I liked was when we got down to the bubble the two tables had agreed each player would pony up $10 so that bubble person would not walk away empty handed - get like $140; and this would eliminate funky bubble play - which it did.(13players were cashing)

Maybe I should be upset - as I "lost" $800 by failing to place second; or the cards hurt me on the final hand to cost me $2,600, but I don't really mind - I am more upset at not getting the W than the $. (weird, eh!)

Must be all the years of playing bridge for no money - just for the W, that bring out that thinking in me.

Not your typical gambler's profile is it??

Back in the saddle again

2009-12-15T06:56:00.000-08:00

I arrived back in Vegas Sunday afternoon to test and improve my skills once again; gather material; and hopefully win some money. My focus this trip is on poker.

So far, poker has been terrific. Truly enjoyable. Yesterday, I was in a one day event, $150 entry, which ran for nine hours and got up to Level 14 blinds structure (usually this event finishes after 6 hours or so) Final table play alone was well over two hours. So many hands and stories - but they will be dealt with another time. I ended up third - cashed $1980 or so.

I was a strong second with three players left; gunning for the chip leader who had at one point $700,000 chips of a total in play of a bit over $900,000. Near the end I had around $370,000 and she had $430,000, and the third stack had around $70,000 and he was playing well, but hoping for a miracle. Blinds were $8,000 and $16,000, and antes $3,000. Fo perspective, we had begun the event each with only $7,500.

I picked up QQ on the button. Playing three handed, I was dealer and first to speak. I opened with a raise to $90,000. LHO folded, and villain came over top of me, all-in. That had been her style all day, with a wide range of hands - it's how I had chipped up off her stack. I knew I could fold, and safely wait for second place guaranteed money, but this was my chance to win the tournament right then and there (effectively I would cripple her stack if I win this hand)

I called. It was fun - we had a gallery of interested spectators - people who had been eliminated earlier; spouses and whatevers; poker room staff, etc.

Villain flipped over A10 offsuit, and we were in a race - with the edge being mine of course. Which is how it played out until the river card, when an ace hit the felt.

I took it really well, except I was likely a bit numb - after so much intensity, all of a sudden, I had no more hands to play.

(Second place was worth $800 more, and first place was around $4,500 - so that was a big swing)

The night before, I also went deep in a tournament. We got down to two tables from an original 97 players; entry fee $120, and I was comfortably above average stack size, around $45,000 and playing well. I had a great table placement - I had such a read on everyone and the three players to me left had blinds that were very easy to pick off.

With KJ suited in mid position I opened for $8,500 and the guy opposite me (who I had played at the same table with all night) came over top of me and shoved all in. I folded of course.

Two hands later, I picked up KK and the same thing happened. I was not looking for a fight (his stack had me covered after the prior hand) but I wasn't going to avoid it either. I called, and his face fell as he tabled 1010.

Except it was my face which exited the table when a ten fell on the flop and nothing material came thereafter. I came 15th, and I am sure I would have been top 3 if I had one that hand. (The guy who flopped the set in fact chopped first with two other players)

Only the final table paid in this event, so no cash there.

I have played sporadic short spurts of blackjack - winning four times, losing once.

I have played 8 short, modest sessions of slots - winning 8, losing none. All with a buy in of either $50 or $100. All a form of poker, called Spin Poker (5 cents minimum unit bet, up to nine hands and five units per hand)

Only person not happy is my casino host, as no blackjack play makes it very hard to rate me, and comp stuff like rooms and meals. I don't care - the room is already known to be free, and I don't eat much if I am involved in a tournament.

Apparently there is a big WPT event being held at the Bellagio this week - I might wonder over to check it out. (I highly doubt I will enter anything though)

Sunday's online poker story

2009-11-30T01:16:00.000-08:00

I entered a satellite to the $750,000 guarantee on Full Tilt on Sunday. The entry fee was only $8; there were 60 entrants; and the last two players standing won an entry worth $216 to the big event.

I was one of them - having played pretty well the whole event - yes with some luck but not an ungodly amount.

The main event had almost 4400 entrants, with a $3000 starting stack. Just by staying out of trouble and foolishness you can watch the field whittle itself down by 60 - 70% in a few hours.

That's in fact what happened with me. Twice I lost 1000 chips on solid hands, and I had to wait a while to build back up. Just stay patient. So by 8.30, after only 2.5 hours, the field was down to 1700 players and my stack was around $5800 (which was slightly below average size but certainly not alarming.

Sitting in the big blind, with $25 antes, $240 BB and $120 SB I picked up a pair of queens. My LHO opened for a funky $555, and the guy to his left shoved all in with his $2025. The pot was now $2775. Everyone folded back to me.

I could fold (no way !). I could call and throw in another $1785 (keeping around $3600 in my stack for post flop play). Or I could shove all in myself. The guy on my left who had opened for $550 had a slightly bigger stack than I did. If he calls my shove, he has me covered, and I would be in a three way pot to glory. If he folds, I would be heads up with the all-in guy for a $4560 pot.

These are situations I need to learn more about if I am to advance my placings in tournament play. The gambler in me says go for it - it's a good spot to more than double up if I am called ! The conservative, patient player in me says keep it small till I see the flop - be prepared to regroup if I don't like developments post flop.

Anyway, I did shove all in, and my LHO called without much debate. To my delight, he turned over a pair of jacks, and the small stack turned over a pair of sixes. I was clearly ahead in this race. The flop was 9 A 8 with no flush draws possible for any of us.

The next card was a beautiful queen, and I was already high fiving my son Max when the river came a ten. It took a second to realize that the dealer was pushing all the chips from the pot past my avatar to the guy on my left who began with a pair of Jacks, and who had just rivered a straight. Aargh!

His stack zoomed to around $15000 and he was in the top 100 and well placed for a long night at the table. Had I won, my stack would have been just under $14000 and I would have been in around 150th but with a definitely playable stack.

At first my reaction was, oh well, I put myself in a good position and someone sucked out on me - it happens.

But then I went back and looked at the board and the starting hands and began to play out the hand under a different scenario.....

Suppose at my turn I had just called the $2025 bet, and NOT shoved all in. I don't think the JJ guy would then shove all in but if he did for sure I would call and take my chances. So let's assume he would not shove, but rather simply call.

Now the hand plays out totally differently. Villain has JJ with a flop of 9 A 8, and I check to him. What should he do? I dunno !

If he checks too, the turn is my queen, and I would likely shove all in. I believe he would admit defeat on the hand and fold his jacks. I would win a smaller, but still good sized pot, without having jeopardized my whole stack.

If he elected to shove after the flop, I dunno what I would have done. I probably would have folded.

Should I check after the flop? I feel yes, otherwise the hand feels like I will be stack committed very soon.

I would really appreciate some feedback on the play of this hand from expert players - as there were several ways to play my hand and the villain's hand.

Anyway, I am not unhappy. I am on a journey and I feel confident I will get there. I don't play that much compared to many online players and pros - but when I do play, every hand counts, and I learn from every experience. This is exactly how I accelerated my development as a bridge player both back in the day and again now as I reclaim my long lost skills there.

I'm about to book our next trip to Vegas - I feel the tables calling !

Post mortem

The event finished at 4.30 AM. I watched the final three players (again to learn how people play in final table play in these mega events) First place was a cool $154,000, second place $93,000, and third place $61,000.

And Full tilt runs this event every Sunday ! As well as several other pretty big ones! And all the other sites have their own big events too. There is serious coin out there !

Finally some online poker success

2009-11-25T06:04:00.001-08:00

Okay, so it was not exactly a stud event, but last night while chilling with Svetlana, who enjoys heads up confrontations on FTP, I decided to enter a 90 person tournament on Full Tilt. Entry fee was $26. There would be cash prizes ranging from $45 (for ninth) to $576 for first place.

And, the site gave you a $4 bounty every time you eliminated someone from the event.

As is my wont, I was concurrently playing Wordscraper on Facebook, and reviewing my bridge notes with Keith. I find I need other things to occupy me during the early to mid stages of an online tournament, since I am folding a lot.

Many players fill the void by playing several tables simultaneously, and speak of their multi table prowess as if they were comparing penile dimensions in the men's locker room.

But I know me, and if more than two tables I begin to play poorly. Yes, I can play several tables, but I choose not to, and I believe I do better as a result.

Anyway, within 2 or 3 hours, I made it to the final table, comfortably in the money, and now the real fun began. Every player eliminated moves you higher up the money ladder.

As I reflect on the event, I recall several things of note.

1) The final two tables of play pretty much demanded all my attention - especially the final table - you should forget multi tabling when it gets this late in an event.

2) Yes I played well through most of the event - only three decisions I regretted (one of which caused my demise) but I also played with great luck - and it's true most of my poker tournament successes have had that common theme - an excess amount of luck.

I suspect that has to be true for anyone who aspires to go deep in tournaments. At key points you simply have to pull the trigger and shove all in, and if the cards don't favour you, fuggedabout it.

3) On three different occasions I had players use some very nasty words with me which must confirm my luck comment. The most harmless comment was "Nice call, donk."

To which I replied, "If you hadn't tanked like a cheater, I would not have called" i.e. he got what he deserved as he had me dominated with AK and I sucked out on the river with AQ.

Another player said f.u. on her way to the rail. I had three bet with QQ in late position and she had called from the BB. The flop was 10xx, and somehow all the chips ended up in the middle. (early in the event)

The queen on the river seemed to upset my opponent who had flopped trip tens.

And another player said "I don't f.uckin believe you" just because I busted his pocket Aces with Q10 suited in clubs when the board was 8C 7C QD and we got all our chips in the middle. The tidy two of clubs on the river ended his misery.

That guy got a formal warning from the administrator of the tournament for swearing. Not sure what comes after a formal warning - time outs?

Anyway, my luck was pretty good. Another key hand, mid tournament, I busted a shorter stack when he had AA and I had A9 suited, and the turn and river were both in my suit and my nut flush beat his two pairs. No swearing here though.

Back to the final table. It turned out to be a three way battle. I was one of two big stacks with around 110,000 and the third stack had half that.

Earlier I had planned to offer a chop (ie split the prize money) if we got this far, as a three way chop would have netted around $440 or so - better than all but first place.

But you know, I completely forgot, or there was no time or both. It all happened so fast.

It took me a while at the final table to realize how loose people were becoming with their all-in shoves so I laid down a couple of big hands pre flop that in retrospect were probably strong enough to call. (99 and K10s were two)

Small stack shoved from the button and I had AQo, so I called. He had 66 and nothing good came on the board (for once!) and now I was small stack - just like that.

I shoved three hands in a row with hands such as 22, 44, and AJ, and took down the blinds and antes uncontested, trying to build back up and at the same time preparing for a showdown if I were called.

I guess I got carried away with the success of this strategy so with 107o on the button, I tried this four times in a row and was insta-called with K10o by the big stack.

No miracle board, and I went to the rail in third place - still, I did pick up around $280.

Yes, I should have stayed in the zone that last hand. After three successful uncalled shoves, I could easily have afforded a two bet or even a three bet from the button, and if I met resistance, I could have folded and waited for a better spot.

So yes, I blew that hand. But it was a fun way to while away a few hours.

PS Lest I give the impression I am a newbie at this, no I have had online success before , but not much since I began to blog.

Over my head in big online poker tournaments

2009-11-25T05:59:00.000-08:00

Looks like I forgot to post this draft over a week ago.....

Every few months or so, Full Tilt Poker (one of the best known online poker sites) runs a series of hi stakes poker tournaments - a series called FTOPS.

The entry fees range from a modest $129 or so to a slightly ridiculous $2500.

The prize pools are very large though and the thought of even a modest "cash" drives thousands of players to try to qualify their way into one of these events.

Today is the final day of the current $16 million series. I have won my way into FTOPS #24 which begins at 2 pm EST (so far the entry size is around 3000 players but I expect more than 9000 by the time we begin.)

Prize pool for this one is $800,000.

Later, at 6 pm is the big one - the Main Event - with a $535 entry fee and a first prize of more than $400,000, and a total prize pool of $2.5 million.

I have been trying unsuccessfully to win my way into this event - this can be accomplished by winning a smaller satellite tourney with entry fees ranging from a few dollars to as much as $109.

As I write I am taking likely my last stab at this. The event I am in cost $26 to enter and attracted 175 players. The last seven players standing will win their entry into tonight's main event.

At the moment my stack is around $3500 - and there are 110 players left. (We began with $1500 in chips)

Opps - stack update. I am now down to $2100 - losing 1/3 of my stack to a short stacked player who semi bluffed a flop of 665 (I had 88) - he held 109 suited (with only the potential of a runner runner flush draw or two overcards) and spiked a nine on the turn.

Oops again. Now I lost another $550 in a heads up confrontation between my AK suited and the short stack's JJ. I neither paired nor flushed.
91 players left and in the space of two hands I have dropped precipitously from 16th to 78th.

Better get back to work at the tables........

Update - one hour later....

Ach, I hate this game sometimes. How come when I have AK and I am in a "race" versus a pair - the opponents's pair always stands up or worse, he completes a set (3 of a kind) ?

Yet when I found my tournament life on the line just now, I was in the Big Blind ($200-$100 structure) with around $950 left and a big stack in mid position made it $500 to go.

So I decided now was as good as time as any to take a stand. I popped him all in with my pair of sevens, and of course he had AK.

The kill was swift as the first card on the flop was an Ace, and at that point, only another 7 would save my tournament skin.
No such luck, so I busted out 50th/175

(I find top third and top quartile placements are relatively easy to achieve, but generally they only pay out prizes to the top 10% or so)

OK so that leaves me two hours before FTOPS #24 begins.

Have a great Sunday folks!

Todays FTOPS event #24 at Full Tilt Poker
Cost of entry : $129 USD (comparable)
Number of entrants : 9,832 (more than an ACBL Nationals ?)
Tournament Location : Wherever you happen to be (No travel costs)
Dress Code : Whatever you want, as much or as little as you want
Duration of tournament : between eight and twelve hours (Not 2 weeks !!)
(AFTER SIX HOURS THE FIELD WAS ALREADY DOWN TO 370 PLAYERS)
Prize pool : $983,200 USD (yes there are cash prizes !!)
First place prize : $152,396
Second place prize : $103,236
Third place prize : $72,757
Fourth place prize : $52,306
Fifth place prize $38,345,
90th place prize $1,003
541 st place prize : $295
1350 th place prize : $148 (Yes, they pay up to 1350 th place !!)
Plus, every time you knock someone out you make a $20 bounty; and if you knock out a pro, you get a $120 bounty

Okay, okay.........Don't get me wrong.

I much prefer playing bridge for no money, in fact, at my expense, to a game of No limit Hold 'Em (NLHE) - but there are many who differ.

But NLHE has the attention of the masses; the enthusiastic embrace of the youthful; and it is easy to learn; easy to play; and luck plays more of a part in the final outcome.

I think as bridge aficionados we should be aware of what's going on out there, but don't think of competing with poker - there is no competition.
That's like saying the National Hockey League is going to take on the NFL for supremacy in the TV ratings

Post mortem

After only 2 hours and forty minutes, my avatar met it's fate in 4,216th place (from 9,832) - having fought the last hour bravely with a very small stack

The hand that crippled me was earlier when I held AQ suited in hearts and went head to head vs my LHO. The flop was a scary KH QC KD

Another heart came on the turn and the betting was firm but not overly huge. The river was a little heart giving me the nut flush but pairing my LHO's 8 who now had a full house (filled by his K8 suited)

I went from average stack to 40% of average stack size with that one hand, and could not get my groove back.

But I gotta tell you, it's not a bad way to while away a few hours on a Sunday afternoon. Sort of like playing a lottery with better odds and in a hands on fashion.

Tales from the tables - Halloween trip 2009 II

2009-11-05T04:19:00.000-08:00

It's now Wednesday and heading back to the real world after a very successful trip. Other than one more foray into tournament poker on Monday, my card play was mostly limited to two deck blackjack at several different locations. I was in a zone the entire time - playing with great discipline and care. Funny, but each time I sat down to play, I was almost reluctant and proceeded with great caution each time.

This actually fits real well with my hit and run strategy at the tables. Other than this morning's 1.5 hours at the Venetian, and last night's two hour struggle at Treasure Island, my average session was well under 30 minutes. I did not actually play that much, but I made a profit in fifteen of my eighteen sessions this trip.

The losing session at Ceasar's on Sunday had been a six deck shoe game, so perhaps no surprise. Last night at Treasure Island, I got stuck $400 really quickly at the DD table in the open area, so I migrated to the "high limit" area to repair the damage. I use quotations, as it is the first casino I have played in here in years where the hi limit table minimum started at only $50. This is great.

Better yet, and almost unbelievably, if I felt like coming down to $25 a hand (one or two spots) the staff just turned a blind eye. Very relaxed, very friendly location. I played there several times this trip - a great haven when the table limits in my "office" at the Venetian are uncomfortably high.

In spite of these amazing conditions, I still ended up down $200 on the night - losing a further $200 in a DD game, and recouping $400 in a shoe game. I was getting tired, and worried I would begin to bet carelessly, so I packed it in.

That left me refreshed this morning so I went down to my favorite place in Las Vegas (the two deck games in the Venetian) and played heads up with several dealers. It was good at first, then I began to slip and slide to a loss position of $600 before pulling it out in the last 20 minutes for a session profit of $700.

The main excitement was when an Asian hi stakes Baccarat player decided to take a break and come play with me with his "last $5000" - at $1000 per hand. He decided I was a good player and so he bet under me - matching my bets and plays completely. If I pressed, he would raise his bets to $2000 or $3000 per hand. If I alternated between one hand and two, he would come along for the ride.

The first two hands we played were blackjacks, so he pulled up a chair and began to take this seriously. In the space of about 60 seconds, my table went from a sleepy, quiet corner game to a game where three supervisors admired our plays and action with great interest, while a bevy of onlooking kibitzers enjoyed the fun.

We got him up $15,000 in 20 minutes or so, and that's where I made most of my profit. He dawdled off happily to the Baccarat room again, while I came down a notch or so.......flight is beckoning........to be continued.

Tales from the tables - Halloween trip 2009 III

2009-11-05T04:18:00.000-08:00

Wednesday morning continued

The hi rolling Asian could not stand prosperity. He came out of the VIP room ten minutes later with a hang dog expression on his face, and asked me if I could "do it again" for him with his last $3000.

To be honest, much as I like the fun, I felt his action was a bit of a distraction for me and my pittance betting, but of course I agreed nonetheless.

Example, soon he was down to his last chip, and I was playing two hands. He placed his $1000 on the first spot, with my bet nestled on top. The second spot had my bet only. The dealers need to know whose money is on the spot and who will be playing the hand at all times - especially when players are pooling.

So he kinda took over this hand with no one realizing it or objecting. So the dealer looked for his hand signals, not mine. After drawing a card, he thought for a while and asked for another. As soon as he did he balked and said NO NO I don't want it. But the 2 of hearts was already on the felt.

He waived off further cards - I had no idea what had happened as we are not allowed to peek at each other's cards technically - especially when Big Brother and his minions are all around the table like a sherrif's posse. (But it sure felt like he had accidentally hit a "made hand")

Seeing that two on my right fostered a bad feeling about my own hand as I was looking at 6-3, and the two would have been made to feel right at home.

Sure enough the next card was an 8 and I stopped at the death level of 17, noting a 19 was there for me if his deuce had been left in the deck.

All the cards were now exposed. Dealer had 18. I lost. Hi roller had 19, having accidentally hit on 17 and drawn my 2.

So I won $50 on his spot, he won his $1000, but I lost $150 on my own (where I had been pressing stronger cards)

Finally, to get to the point of the story, as soon as he left the table, the supervisor came over to the dealer and told him to give me $100 from his tray - explaining that if I had been playing both spots myself (as I had been till then) I would have lost the first hand and won the second.

Nice touch by the Venetian - I had not complained one word - but they were looking out for me.

Earlier in the day, my travel companion had insisted we go downtown to the legendary Fremont Street - where you can still see those same casinos they flashed in 60's and 70's movies. It's too bad everyone I bring to Vegas wants to do this - I don't think there is much endearing about the area - not when you have been poshed beyond belief at Wynn, Bellagio, Encore, Venetian etc.

So I amused myself for an hour at a saloon/casino called "The Fitz". You know these places are of a different standard when you buy in for $200, and the dealer takes his time inspecting each and every $20 bill to ensure they are not fake !

I ran up my stake to $475 and had serious concerns about their ability to deal with this at the Cashier's Cage when it came time to cash out. Yes, they actually did call down to the blackjack pit to confirm it really was me and I really did win these chips honestly before they released the money to me. LOL.

There was also an ill fated foray into the Deep Stack poker tournament at the Venetian on Monday. A two day event with a strong field of 117 players, and a nuts shrivelling entry fee of $1080. First placed was around $33,000 and thirteen players would cash.

I was flush with my winnings from Sunday's poker tournament and decided to parlay the money into a bigger cash by playing with the big boys and girls. Hah - they kinda had me for breakfast and dinner !

The quality of play in this event was an order of magnitude better than the Sunday tourney at The Wynn - it felt like I was on my heels the whole time - to be sure - a great poker experience and if I want to improve, I have to play in stronger games - but the cost of tuition can be pretty high!

I actually lasted till 9.15 pm - when the field was down to 31 players, and the average stack size was around 60,000 chips. I had always been below average stack size the whole day. T'was much harder to take down decent sized pots when I finally got cards, (can you spell TELLS ?) and in general most of the players were playing small ball poker.

So I had around $47,000 in chips with the blinds at $800 and $1600, and the antes $200 per hand. I picked up A8 suited in hearts in mid position, and opened for $5000 - which was the norm at this table. It usually attracted only one customer per hand, as the pots got large pretty quickly.

All folded to the small blind who made it $10,000 to go. He had my stack well covered. Still, with position, and needing to bet only a further $5000 to stay involved in a $23,400 pot I naturally called and got to see a flop of JH 3H JC.

SB checked. I was not sure of my best move. I could check and look for a free card. I could bet and try to guage where he is at in the hand. I decided to check. Keep it as small as possible. Next card was the heaven sent 8 of hearts, giving me the nut flush, however this was a dangerous board.

SB checked. I bet $15,000 and he insta shoved all in. His stack had me covered, so if I am wrong here I am about to become a railbird. Still, what does he have? Pair of jacks? (I'm dead)

Jack and a high kicker? (I am ahead)

Pair of 3's ? (then he flopped a full house)

Pair of 8's (then the free card I gave him just matured his hand into 8's full of jacks)

Jack 3 or Jack 8? (then he has a full house - but I don't believe he would reraise me pre flop with either hand)

A high heart flush of his own? (Maybe H KQ?)

Anyway, I am told good players always try to define their opponents' range to help them with such decisions. This entails looking far deeper than I just described above. It entails going back to each key moment in the hand and determining what range of hands your opponent could have for those particular actions (and then mapping those hands against the hands that are relevant to the situation at hand)

Fine and dandy - but I have a decision to make, and many of these decisions are made at the end of the day with less than perfect information, and may also rely on a combination of instinct and hope.

Besides, most importantly, I was pretty much pot committed - a fact my opponent must have realized when he shoved me all - in. That is, I was priced in to call almost regardless. To fold would have decimated my stack size down to $22,000 - definitely a step in the wrong direction.

Though I would fold in such a situation if the cards screamed at me to do so - i.e. if I truly believed I was drawing dead - but here I felt I had a shot.

So all in all, I decided to take my last stand here and now and called.

The guy turned over AJ suited in spades, and well whaddaya know - I am ahead with one more card to come.

Of course, Texas Hold ' em is a seven card game - you can't tell the dealer to stop after the turn - just cause your ahead of your opponent.

So out came the river card - the Jack of diamonds - aaaaaaargh ! Busted by quad jacks !

You might think I was sickened by all this. I mean nine hours of play for naught, not to mention my wallet was lighter by $1080. But no. First of all, you have to remember that shit like this is happening all around the room all the time. We do it to others; we see it done to others; and it happens to us.

Maybe there is no such thing as a "bad beat" - it's really just another term for a lower percentage outcome to manifest - he did have his chances on this hand - several outs. An Ace, an 8, a 3 or a jack were all good cards for him. I just needed the river to be anything but those cards.

So I was almost serene as I wandered away from the poker area over to the DD BJ game at the other end of the casino with one goal in mind. Get back my tournament entry fee !

Happy endings ! I cashed $600 before calling it a night (It had been $800 at the end of the penultimate shoe, but the final shoe started off weak and I did not want to dial back to zero profits.)

Next morning, I went down to "the office" again and cashed another $1000 heads up with one of my favorite dealers.

One day I should write an entry about dealers I like and pay me; dealers that kill me seem to enjoy doing so (and so I don't like to play them); and dealers I have become friendly with but cannot play them as they are gifted winners for their bosses.

Anyway, I have no complaints about this trip - other than I really did not play enough sessions of blackjack considering how well I was playing. I took time for long walks, a swim, a hot stone massage, a show - Terry Fator - it's true the guy DOES have talent, and some fantastic meals.

Best of all, I fought the cigarette demons successfully during the entire trip - an important step in my late found journey to better health and common sense.

Halloween in Vegas

2009-11-01T21:24:00.000-08:00

Arrived last night late and was not prepared to play - great people watching though as Halloween was in full bloom. Lots of underdressed Christine Aguilera look alikes -also French maids, playboy bunnies, Little Bo Peeps, Heidi's, nurses, etc. - all of which kept an old guy like me entertained for a while, but the poor girls must have been freezing !

Has taken a while to get used to not smoking in a casino environment - at first I was craving - then I was grossed out; and it varies from hour to hour.

The poker room is a good place for a reforming smoker and the BJ table is not !

Decided my game was not sharp enough to warrant entry into today's Deep Stack ($550 entry) at Venetian - ended up entering a tourney at the Wynn - their entry fee was $225. Only 33 players but a 20000 chip starting stack though the blinds accelerated real fast.

Five places paid - first $2100 or so ; 4th over $800 and 5th over $400.

The final table as a group were nervous and wanted to chop as soon as we got there - except the chip leader (and I said nothing as he was already against it)

We got down to 6 players slowly and the levels were 4000-8000 and a 500 ante. I was third stack. They all wanted to chop and it was up to me to agree or not.

The new chip leader had about double my stack (he had just won a major suck out with A10 vs AK - on the river) - but at the same time I was 1 hand or so away from taking his place and also rather enjoying myself - but we all knew how unpredictable the outcome could be.

Plus half of them wanted to quit; have dinner; and then enter satellites for tomorrow's $1070 entry at the Venetian.

So who was I to argue? We each took $1080 away and broke up the game just under 6 hours after we started.

I played pretty well - I realized after that I was never all-in for all my chips the whole time.

There were lots of suck outs today - AQ was killed twice by A4o and twice by KQo and KQs.

Aces were not safe either - One hand the button three bet pre flop with his Aces and the BB called with sevens. The flop was 776 and the button shoved !!

I got river-lucky a couple of times on key hands - For example I had AC QS vs a shorter stack JJ all-in. The first four cards were bricks but the flop included two clubs; the turn was a club; and the river a club also causing the Jacks to fall on their swords and exit stage left.

I played some blackjack at the Mirage this morning. Got down $400; bought another $500 and ended up $500 after a 1 shoe rush.

Went for a long walk up the strip tonight and lost $280 playing shoe BJ at Caesars cause I needed a diversion.

Now I head downstairs to my "office" at the Venetian - for my first play here of the trip.

It's all good !

Leaving Las Vegas - Always a happy ending

2009-08-31T19:39:00.000-07:00

I thought I was done with this particular blog segment, but Vegas has a knack of keeping you involved right to the end. We left the hotel at 10.15 and arrived at the airport in plenty of time for our noon hour flight. More time than we needed, since they advised us our flight had been pushed back to 1.15pm.

Normal people would find a quiet corner to rest in, and wait for their flight. Not us - we inveterates! We walked directly over to the taxi stand; headed back to the Venetian; dumped our luggage in our original room - the keys still worked; and headed downstairs for an hour of blackjack.

In the taxi on the way Svetlana found a penny on the floor. She was really pleased as for sure this meant Lady Luck would smile on us.

She was right. We bought in for $600 at a $25 table; never were down more than $175; and by the end of an hour we were to the good $725.

Subtract $40 for the two extra cab fares, and a happy ending was still had by all !

Vegas in August part 10 - the final day - mostly BJ

2009-08-30T22:29:00.000-07:00

This morning I played some DD before my swim and caught $350 more. After swim and lunch and a nap, we just went down to the tables for our last evening in town. I noted the changing of the cards again; gave the new decks a whirl but they were too choppy, so I told Sveta I had to keep distracted for 10 - 15 minutes till the cards got worked in - so here I am working on this blog entry.

Fast forward to 10 PM, and we had another great dinner - this time at Sushi Samba in the Palazzo - though we ate no sushi - unless you count the kobe beef roll. a mix of Peruvian, Brazilian, and Japanese dishes in their three different kitchens. We like to bring guests here - they usually really like it.

The blackjack before dinner was boring and non eventful. We ebbed and flowed (taking turns with the same chips) and unfortunately our playing partners in 4th seat and anchor got tired of hitting their 15's and 16's against the dealer's face cards.

The first time it happened, I stayed in the shoe - against my normal principles - I got lucky to win the next hand with a blackjack, before dealer pulled a 6 card 21 on the other players. Then I remembered why I usually sit out in such situations.

I decided to give them a second chance in the next shoe. It was going to be our last shoe before dinner anyway as the supervisor staff were lurking with freshly minted cards to poison our chip stacks with.

But our playing partners were not up to the task again, and we lost 3 $75 bets in a row; the third happening after another brake-stop on 16 against dealer's 8.

The session ended down a bet or two - nothing to show for our time at the table, but no damage either.

I am assuming I am done for the trip. Although our results have been pretty modest, and I failed to cash in my three poker tourneys, it was still a real good time - as it usually is. Airfares and entry fees covered; food and room comped; and a wee bit extra for the stash. It's all good.

Vegas in August - part 9 Saturday Blackjack

2009-08-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

Well it's Sunday Afternoon - and tomorrow we come home. It's been a great time. Last night we were comped to see Joan Rivers putting on a limited engagement show at the Venetian Showroom. Star gazing saw Louie Anderson, Jerry Springer,(or a look alike), Petula Clark, and David Brenner in the audience.

She was very raunchy and very funny - an awesome performer - and 76 years old !

Why Joan Rivers, you ask? Well, we've seen just about every show we want to see here in the past. Most of the Cirque shows, and a few others. We are not big fans of aging 50's and 60's musicians cashing in on memory lane, so that eliminates half the entertainment.

We had dinner at Valentino's after, which is one of the restaurants we like in the Venetian. Not too fancy, but always good food with a home cooked feel, and a nice vibe in the place.

Problem now was it was early and neither of us wanted to go to bed - especially on a Saturday night in Vegas - but I did not see optimal blackjack table conditions, and did not feel like anymore poker that day.

So I killed time at a 5 cent multi play poker machine while Svetlana did battle at the $50 tables in the double deck pit.

I wondered over a bit later and she had moved tables (usually not a good sign) and this time she was at a $100 table - also not a good sign. I knew she would be uncomfortable if I saw her early in play there - she would already be nervous, so I circled around the room looking for entertainment.

With great reluctance I sat down at a $25 shoe game in a corner of the room that was not so busy. Bought in for $150 and ran it up to $475 in 1/4 of a shoe. Some guy with smelly armpits decided he should get in on the action, and leaned over my shoulder to bet the spot to my right - effectively taking my cards - which were pretty hot.

I did not vent - this is one's lot in the floor, and just another one of the obstacles you have to overcome - like bad players; grumpy dealers; changing cards, streaking cards; etc.

But I pulled in my reins and began to breathe through my mouth. I did make a point of not moving over to allow him comfort to take a seat though - but he was happily flat betting his $25 and winning 4/5 hands.

After ten minutes of this, I understood nothing was going to change, so I finally got up with a $250 profit, and gave my chair to smelly armpits.

I decided it was prudent to check in on Svetlana, and was relieved to find her smiling, and up several hundred. She was equally relieved to see me, as the pressure was getting to her and she wanted me to bet her spot, as she felt it was solid. The guy beside her had just taken out his fourth $5000 marker. He was a liquidator from New Jersey - things, not people, he assured me.

So liquidator and I got into a comfortable setting and began to play. His bets typically ranged from $500 to $1600 and a couple of times $2000 or $2500. I was somewhat lower needless to say.

We began to win right away - especially NJL (New Jersey Liquidator). So they changed the cards and Sveta and I went into the Salon for an upscale bathroom break, and to rub shoulders with incredibly rich Asian gamblers in their private lounge.

We came back to a new dealer, and a new player - a dour Iranian guy sucking on an unlit cigarette in the third seat, with Harry the NJL still on first base. (I was in anchor)

There was no magic with this new confluence of circumstances, and the gains from before were quickly passed back to the dealer's tray.

We switched tables in an effort to stem the tide but that didn't work either. Fortunately, the dealer at the orginal table, Gilbert, returned from his break, so we went back to him to help repair the damage.

This worked out fine. I ground out a win of $970. More importantly, Harry the NJL, my new best friend, won back all but $1500 of his $20,000 - and had the sense to get out before his fortunes reversed.

He was betting heavy and winning more hands than he was losing - which of course we all pray for in a given session, but in the long run simply cannot be.

The dour Iranian took NJL's place, and he was last seen grinding away in flat betting mode while we repaired to our rooms for a good night's sleep.

So for us, a good ending to a tough day (poker wise).

Vegas in August part 8 - Deep Stack Poker Tourney

2009-08-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

First I want to say I had the pleasure of sitting beside Tony Korfman, a very funny guy who gave me an autographed copy of his book early in the deep stack tournament. His website link is here http://www.pokergas.com/

Tony chopped the WSOP seniors event in 2007, and had just won the previous day's daily tournament at the Venetian.

Tony looks like Mr. Las Vegas. Wearing a bright red blazer, gold watch, gold bracelet, gold buttons, and a large distinguished man to boot who made me feel small forward on Shaq's team. All the poker room staff know him, but he was actually quite self effacing about his own resume.

What about this tournament? I sure had my chances - but to cut to the chase I did not cash (again!) The entry fee was a steep $550 (specially on Saturdays) and there were only 50 entrants - paying the top 5 - with first place north of $8400.

I had been quiet for 25 minutes, with the blinds still only $25/$50 and original stacks of $15,000. I held K10 of spades in first position. I wanted to play a hand and figured if I came in no one would raise me unless they had a monster as I was already pegged as the table's "nit".

So I put in $150, and a total of six of us went along for the ride.

The flop was S9 S2 5H

I had nothing except the spade flush draw. Nonetheless, I decided to weed a couple of people out and bet $300 after two checks to me. A guy in mid position called, as did FTP cap in the SB.(Full Tilt Poker cap)

Next card was the club 5, and the action was on me after SB checked again. I bet $1000, and this got rid of the guy in the middle, and kept the interest of FTP cap.

The river was the diamond 5, so we have a board that looks like 92555.

I felt I had been representing a pair, and not a bad one at that. SB checked again and I bet $3000 trying to grab this pot once and for all. But he called and flipped over 102 offsuit for the weakest possible full house - but good enough to beat your fool-no-one hero.

Still, although I had immediately lost 1/3 of my stack, it felt like I got some respect from the table for my moves - as they all thought he was nuts to call me - but he was good enough to call me I guess.

A little later the table chip leader had the misfortune of holding pocket Aces and got a walk when not even the SB looked him up - the only walk I saw for the first 4 hours.

The blinds were now up at $50/100 and I held A10 of spades, in first position. I bet $300, and got 2 callers, including Tony Korfman on my immediate right in the BB. The board was A of clubs, 8 and 2 of spades - a pretty great flop for me.

Tony checked and I bet $700. The other guy got out of the way, and Tony called. The next card was the spade 6, and other than straight flush draws I was looking really good. Tony checked and I bet out $1500. He called.

The river was the diamond king, so I finally had the nuts. He checked again and I dithered. He reminded me it was my turn to bet and as I responded he said whatever you bet I am calling you - a bit of gamesmanship to be sure.

Anyway I bet $3500 which he happily called. I don't know what he had but I had gotten back what I had lost the previous orbit.

Shortly after the blinds were at $100/$200 and I had 108 of hearts on the dealer button. The guy three off the BB bet $700 to go, and I called, as did the BB.

The flop was QH 7H 6S.

So I had a heart flush draw and a gutshot straight draw. I hoped the betting would not get too heavy with three players still involved.

The BB checked, and the guy in the middle bet $1000. I dunno what is right - I think I am supposed to call, which I did, as did the BB.

The turn was 5 of clubs - so now I have an open ended straight draw, as well as the flush draw.

BB checked and the guy in the middle stuck in $4000 - now what am I supposed to do - we are not at the river yet and 1/3 of my stack will be in this pot - and I don't know what the guy on my left plans to do yet.

I called as did the BB. The river was a red king - it seems helping no one - we checked down the river and the BB scooped a nice pot with Q6 offsuit.

Meanwhile FTP and the guy in the middle were getting personal. Not with words but with their action. I did not catch all the betting, but suddenly there was a hand where FTP had all his chips in with Q7 of diamonds in his hand and a flop of 952 rainbow.

Middle guy had a far bigger stack and he called with 109 suited. FTP hat spiked a queen on the turn and middle guy was NOT a happy camper - $28000 pot.

Middle guy seemed to be steaming after that. Shortly after I had AK suited in clubs in the hijack seat and FTP bet $700 in first position. I called as did the SB (middle guy)

The flop was J of spades, and 8-5 of hearts. Middle guy shoved right away with his last $8375.

I had about $9500 left. FTP got out of the way and it was up to me. Who knew if middle guy had a made hand or a drawing hand but I did not want to essentially put my tournament on the line so early; so I folded and showed my hand. (something I almost never do)

The first major hand I won was holding 88 in first position. The blinds were 100/200 with a $25 ante. I bet out $400 and I got five callers, including Tony on my right in the BB.

The flop was 346 rainbow and Tony instantly went all-in with around $2200. With this flop I felt I had to stay involved but I really did not want multi way action so I raised all-in myself with my $8775.

Ben two to my left called me and everyone else folded. We turned over.

Tony had flopped a straight - gulp, but I was ahead of Ben with his pair of 5's and a gut shot straight draw.

The turn was an 8 - giving me a set of 8's; but still behind Tony. The river was a 6 - yes - a 6, and my pair of 8's had now converted to a full house and I cleaned up the whole pot. I sheepishly shook Tony's hand and thanked him again for his autographed book.

He signed the inside something to the effect

"To Ross the blogger, whatever the f*** that is !

Best regards, Tony Korfman"

If you visit his website or read his book, you'll understand that this is his schtick -and nothing to take personally.

So now I was in business with a stack of over $20,000 - around average.

I thought I played another hand real well and got lucky a bit later. I had Ace of clubs and nine of spades in early position. The blinds were $200/$400 with a $25 ante.I raised it up to $900, and the BB looked me up, as had another guy in the middle.

The flop was 6 and 4 of clubs, and the ten of hearts. The BB checked and I bet out $2200 with basically nothing to show for my bravado.

The button folded, and the BB called.

Next card was the club 8 - so now I at least had a club flush draw. BB checked to me and I checked too - happy for the free card.

The river was the glorious ten of clubs. BB checked to me and I only had to figure out how much to bet.

I put out $4000; he called, and he put his Queen high flush on the table - so of course I won.

He had the flush at the turn, so he could have squeezed me out of the pot had he bet big after the turn - but the free card he gave me destroyed him. I guess my hand was hard to read, or he was not really sure how best to play - as he knew he had the winning hand after the turn. Still I was not complaining.

Now I was up in the mid to high twenties and feeling ok.

I stayed quiet for a while, and got a sweet extra $18000 when the SB decided I was joking with my Aces in the BB and he put me all in with AQ after a three card rainbow rag flop.

So now I was table chip leader with over $50K. I feel like a putz for not making it to final five. I made the classic mistake of getting involved in a huge pot with the other big stack at the table – FTP cap guy.

I had AQo in the SB, and the blinds were I think $300/$600 with a $75 ante. He bet $1500 in early position, a guy in the middle called and so did I. The flop was Q73 rainbow.

I led out for $5000, and FTP called and middle guy folded. The turn was a three in the fourth suit. I was not sure where I stood in the hand. I checked – the pot was already around $15-$16000. And FTP splashed $25,000 into the pot.

It felt like he did not want me to call – this was an overbet. On the other hand – should I care? Should I not just let this go and wait for another spot against another player? He could have a set (unlikely to be queens) or he could have QJ, KQ, AQ, Q10 even. Yes KK and AA are possible, but with this guy at this time I was sure not. Still with so many possible hands, you can see I was not in a comfortable position - I should have executed a squeeze play pre flop, and maybe raised it up to $4500 or so.

What to do? Well no sense in calling I thought as we are headed towards all the money in so I decided it’s all in or fold. I went all in and he called after much thought and turned over KQ.

You have guessed the outcome – the river was a king and I barfed inwardly as I passed over all but $9000 or so of my chips to the new tournament chip leader.

All you good players out there – tell me I was wrong to call – I must have been – look at the result.

But I was determined not to tilt or steam – although I am sure many were waiting for me to do so. I hung in and rebuilt back to around $25,000.

The blinds were getting pretty high and we were down to two tables. $1000/$2000 with a $300 ante. Each orbit was costing $5400 or so.

I was trying to play poker but my options were limited since to see a hand all the way to the river was costing my stack size it seemed. I got blinded down to around $21,000 until I picked up KK in the BB. OK here is my time.

My LHO (Ben) limped in; as did the next guy, as did a fourth guy – I hoped I could squeeze them all out with an all-in move.

But LHO and his LHO both called ! Well this was a chance to triple up. I was sure I had the best starting hand.

Flop was 10 clubs 8 and 7 of spades. I suppose people might be flushing and straightening, but it still felt I had a chance. The other two guys both got it all in for a separate side pot and now I did not like my chances. If three people like their hands this much, two of us will be wrong!

LHO flipped a pair of sevens to show his set; and his LHO was gunning for the Ace high spade flush.

Neither a spade nor a king came on the turn or river and two of us subsided. 15th and 16th. There were only 50 entrants because of the large entry fee – and only five places paying.

First was $8400 or so and fifth around $1700 with a prize pool of around $24,000 plus.

I came back to watch the ending – six players left with two large stacks - $192000 and $250,000 and four smaller stacks. The big stacks took home $5000 each; two other guys took home $3900; one guy took $3400 and the little guy in sixth still took home $2900. Four of the six were from my original starting table. The guy who put me out with 77 was one $5000 winner and FTP cap guy was a $3900 winner.

Sigh ! Good news is I am not that far off in my game for this sort of thing – but you still need luck even if your game is good enough. But I truly enjoy the grind and battle of a tournament – though many cash players would say I am nuts since I can invest so much time for no return whereas they can be making their average hourly rate at the regular tables.

But until I improve, this milieu is fine for me.

Vegas in August part 7 - odds n sods

2009-08-29T11:19:00.001-07:00

Well I started off this morning with a brisk walk along the Boulevard - already impressed by the wall of heat given off - the air is almost too dry and hot to breathe here. Talked to a couple of guys from Atlanta on their way to play golf - they assured me this is better than 90F in Atlanta - I'll take their word for it.

Next I went to Club Grazie to collect my promotional slot credits of $100. Also redeemed $55 in free slot play accumulated from my last trip. Now I had to cycle the credits through a machine and whatever was left I could keep. Went to a funky 5 cent 3 play jacks or better - where if you bet the max 30 credits, the machine would give you a multiplier payout on every hand. I counted my plays so I would know when the credits were used up and had about 80% of the money left when I was finished my cycle.

Normally I cash out here, but the devil told me to press the button one more time and I was rewarded with 4 fives - before the draw ! It ended up I cashed out around $207 - free money - if you believe in such things in Vegas.

I stayed away from slots on day 2 but yesterday I found time to parlay $20 into $125 eventually. First machine I played I increased it to $28. Later I went to another and increased to $50. Later in the evening I increased it again to $125 and cashed it out.

It may sound lame but I also get pleasure and entertainment from video poker slots even at 1 cent, 5 cents, or 25 cents, as I do from heavier action card games. You cannot play cards for too long I believe - you have to keep yourself busy and distracted. I don't play slots for anything but small stakes - I play to while away time and for the enjoyment.

That's why I usually read a couple of books while I am here, play slots, poker tournaments, swim, walk, girl watch or whatever. I thought I would try this blogging stuff too as it keeps me away from the tables till I feel the time is right.

As for poker slots - it still comes down to the same principles - discipline, money management, and hit and run. And the games I play actually involve my brain - Spin Poker - where I can play 1 to 20 hands and all combinations thereof; 4 level Multi Strike Poker; or occasionally 100 play poker.

Once a trip I play blackjack on cool machines they have at the Palazzo which lets you play all seven spots per hand - these machines can be deadly either way - either they pay well of they kill you - so it's not something I do regularly.

Anyway, today I will enter the daily "Deep Stack" poker tournament at noon. I feel ok - head still a bit dodgy but I think I am fine to play. Hopefully I will have a deep run and enjoy myself.

Vegas in August part 6 - clubbing and BJ

2009-08-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

So yesterday was a change of pace for me. The afternoon was mostly a wipe out as I nursed a bad headache in the room. In between pain spasms I got into a pretty interesting historical fiction novel called "Pompeii" describing the tale of the city in the few days leading up to the eruption of Vesuvius. Not bad.

I recovered sufficiently by 6 pm for my evening BBO practise session with Keith, and from there it was onto dinner and dancing.

Earlier I had scored passes to TAO - in the Venetian - but we feared we were too old for Lindsay Lohan and her crowd, so we settled on Tryst at the Wynn. We scouted the club before dinner and met a hostess who was convinced Svetlana was a Chanel model, so was tripping over herself to accomodate us. We did not dispel her impression of course.

I told her we would like to come but (a) we don't want to be out of place (read - too old) and (b) we don't like standing in lines. Angie gave me her business card and promised she would look out for us in the VIP line up. Sure enough later that evening we were whisked into the beautiful club and enjoyed music, a few drinks, and even dancing till 1 AM.

I was surprised how dead the Wynn casino was - it is a gorgeous facility - as is the Encore - but looked like a Monday night - not a Friday night. And they still jacked up their table limits - the DD pit was almost empty with one $100 game and mostly $200 and $300 minimums at the others. Meanwhile the Venetian and the Palazzo are hopping - table limits ratcheted up many times according to ye old supply demand model.

We dined at a fabulous Chinese restaurant in the Wynn called RED - had the best hot and sour souop we have ever had - anywhere. Our entree was steamed Chilean Sea Bass and that was wow too. Red has been added to our list of places we like to eat at in Vegas!

Saw the lead actor from Entourage with a couple of his buddies at the Red - he was dressed very casual in jeans and tee, but no mistaking him. (sorry I don't know his name)

Bigger thrill (?) was walking past and almost into Rod Stewart (or his spitting image) in the walk back from The Wynn to The Venetian.

Back to our hotel and perhaps a blackjack flutter before bed. Found a $50 limit table that was not packed and we agreed I would play and Sveta would cheer. Nothing to cheer about. One of those tables you cannot will to pay you. Counts favorable - you lose. Dealer was so strong with her bust cards showing you almost preferred she show an ace or face.

I tried all my moves - changing the number of hands; judicious sit outs; don't double when I usually would - but after a 15 minute struggle I realised this was not to be and exited to the next table beside us - where everybody's grandfather was quietly sitting one on one with the dealer and had a huge stack of black and green chips in front of him.

He simply started every shoe with $125 bet and increased by $25 if he won a hand - as he was winning 3/5 hands his stack was steadily growing all night. He was so absorbed, and non responsive to anyone or anything, I wondered if he was a permanent fixture at the table - kind of a tourist attraction.

Anyway, my disrupting grandpa's game had no affect on his results, but his luck did not spill over to the anchor position. Started out well, then it turned luke warm - not as bad as the previous table, but playing a higher limit (past my current day comfort point to be honest) I was not really in a zig zagging mood. Caught back half what I lost at the other table and reminded myself that patience is still the key.

These same tables will be empty in the morning and the limits will be $25 and I can be Captain Control and all will be right in the world.

So I grabbed a bunch of free poker mags from the poker room and went to bed, reading about guys I have never heard of and their big scores in tournament poker.

Vegas in August part 5 - Blackjack

2009-08-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

So I went down to the BJ pit and found Sveta at a $25 DD table, not really enjoying herself. Last night's dinner was having a delayed negative reaction on her - my reaction had been rather more immediate last night.

So nursing a medicinal glass of Henessey, she asked me to play with her chips till she began to feel better.

I played two spots and got up a bit as the guy on first base got knocked out of the game. Another player watched me for a while and decided he wanted the first hand out of each shoe so he jumped in - but at least not mid shoe.

I experimented with one or two hands till the cards settled down and got up around $690. Then an aging combover with his wife (who looked like someone from That 70's Show with glasses the size of brandy snifters) sat down at first base and majestically placed his $100 bill on the table.

Feeling friendly, as a courtesy I offered the information that I varied from two hands to one. He thanked me and said he was fine with that as he liked to do the same thing. Yikes - never good news when a combover from Missouri wants to control my table with his 4-unit buy-in.

Sure enough, it only took him a few hands to spread to two, and whatever magic I had been enjoying started to ebb from the table.

So we took our $575 profit and looked for a greener pasture. Found an empty $50 table where Sveta charmed the supervisor into lowering the limit for her, and still playing with her chips, I continued heads up against this dealer.

First shoe was a rush as I got up around $300. Next shoe was up $100 when major pressing signals flashed their pretty faces at me. I spread to two hands of $80 and lost both one double down to boot. But the count was still dynamite so I increased to two hands of $120 and promptly lost those too.

In a flash the profit was wiped out from this table, and I started to grind. The casino threw new cards at me (never a great thing) and the hotel convention supplied lots of willing and unlucky playing partners for me - all of whom crashed and burned over the next hour.

It was a tough set. I could not get it going in either direction. So complaining of a headache (which is true) and boredom, L left the table in Svetlana's capable hands, with a profit of a measly $25 for that table session. Still - a win is a win -just take what the cards give you.

So hopefully she can grind it out. I will take it easy now and prepare for our big night out dancing (the things you do to keep a good relationship!) and a nice dinner.

Vegas in August part 4 Blackjack

2009-08-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

Looks like I waited too long to go for a swim. Looking out my window, I see the pool is no longer in the shade and I don't really want to show everyone my lobsterboy impersonation so I guess I will wait till later.

No poker tournament for me today - save it for tomorrow - bigger entry on a Saturday. Today was 133 people - tomorrow maybe close to 200 with bigger and more prizes.

Had my morning espresso machiatto with Svetlana and a friendly Somalian dealer called Tigist who always roots for us.

Midway into the first shoe I sensed something funky was up and asked her if anyone had played these cards yet. She confirmed they were new an hour previous and no one had yet played them.

In spite of the dealer's pathetic attempts to "wash the decks" to create a random outcome; new decks are usually very clumped - and you see many low cards clumped together and dealer not busting when she should and you never catch your face on the non-soft double downs

You have to tread cautiously until you break in the cards and they get to know your play. After a few shoes they are properly trained - assuming you have been playing perfectly.

So Svetlana sat out and a young Asian guy seeking his fortune sat down on my left with $100 to try his luck. I played two hands at $25 apiece to start each shoe and adjusted according to my read of the cards.

T'was a bit volatile but in the end (read - after 20 minutes) I was up around $275. Asian guy decided when he was up $50 that two hands for him was also a good idea - it wasn't - not for him and not for me - so I retired then; having peaked at +$350.

I left the shoe in Svetlana's capable hands and went to do some office work in the room. I came down an hour later to find Svetlana morosely nursing the last $50 of her $1000 stake at a different table playing one on one with the dealer.

She begged me to come into the game and I agreed; providing I could have the table to myself and she watched.

I again started with two hands. Glen from Texas ( an advanced-middle aged successful banker)came over after watching me jump up a couple of hundred, and as he was nice enough to ask if he could play with me, I let him and we went at it together. He played one spot and I played two.

After a couple of shoes I was up about $400 and he was up about $300 and he decided to be smart and opened a second hand for himself. I suggested he should not mess with the optimal number of three hands but he was still not housebroken by that point so he went ahead anyway.

After losing the whole $400 and another $200 by way of large bets in favorable count situations I subsided and watched him pooch himself down to his last $100 from an original $1000. (When the count is very favorable I maybe bet up to $150 on two hands. I tend to be conservative in spotting these situations so I look for extreme counts and it may only come up once, if at all, in a session).

I asked Glen then if he was prepared to follow my advice and he did, and we played again in a new shoe - only this time I felt that 4 hands were right (!) and I told him to play two with my two.

We went on a very nice run of several shoes where he got back to $1300 and I popped just over $1000 - with tip bets for the dealer on almost every hand. Winning 3/5 all the way.

Glen realised he was back in the black and asked me nicely if he could play only one hand again as he really wanted to conserve and not go in the hole again. I decided ok but I would only play one myself. I broke even while he lost half his profit. He sat out finally and I played three hands - winning the first and losing the next two - and said that's enough.

I slid the whole session profits over to Svetlana and told her to enjoy herself and went on my merry way.

It may be premature to say anything yet, but I am starting to feel the blackjack juices flowing again. Another reason I eschewed the poker tournament today. Since tonight and all Saturday it will be hard to get a cheap BJ game (that is not crowded)when the hotels are always packed on a weekend.

Vegas in August - part 3 Blackjack characters

2009-08-28T00:58:00.000-07:00

It's Friday morning and another sunny day of 40C is on the way. Turned out it was a good job I went back down last night. Found an empty $50 double deck BJ table and tousled with the dealer for several shoes with no one gaining any quarter.

Then an 60'ish Southern guy who always seems to be around bought in for $1000 and he and I started to heat up. Got up $450 and was doing fine until mid nice shoe some very large older guy from Chicago jumps in with a purple chip on the middle spot and pisses me off. I NEVER jump into someone else's shoe.

So I sat out immediately and watched him lose the next 3 hands - which would all have been my hands ironically if he had not sat down ! The guy at the end was pissed off too but as he caught two blackjacks during the same three hands he stayed quiet - literally and metaphorically.

I was within a hair of leaving, but thought, oh well, let's see how the next shoe goes. It went fine - was up a couple of units - thanks to a hairy split of two 8's against dealer's face which bought me a 19 and an 18 and dealer turned over a magnificient 7.

Chicago settled down and rebought for another $1000

We played several shoes together and to my pleasant surprise everyone played their cards well - no mistakes - the Chicago guy even took my advice on a few tricky hands - like should he double A7 vs dealer's 3 (no he should not); should he split his 9's against dealer's 9 (yes he should) and all was fine.

I kept looking for my exit cue but the next hand would keep me in. However, it turned sour on two happenstances. First the anchor decided to get cute with two 7's vs dealer's Jack - god knows why. He made a mess of his two hands; dealer pulled a 19 vs the bust he was slated to get; and that shoe went south.

Chicago decided to bet like a drunken sailor on the next shoe and lost all but $181. I sat out and watched. I came in for the next shoe, where Chicago parlayed his $181 into $2000 plus - by betting recklessly and with great luck - and he was tipping the dealer $25 bets every hand during his run.

So he left with his profit (I think it was a profit - there was a lot of to'ing and fro'ing with his chips) and anchor and I settled down again.

But an Iranian lady decided it was her cue to jump in mid shoe with two hands to go - and against my better (normal) judgement I did not sit out. Lost the first hand she played; bet a second hand to get back the bet I lost and dealer now pulled a blackjack.

So after numerous exit signals over the previous 30 minutes I decided enough was enough and cashed out a healthy winner. I tried to get Svetlana to take over my spot -I was just too tired to keep playing but she is like the Energizer bunny at Blackjack - so she might as well sit in a winning spot at a reasonable table.

But several sharks had been lurking behind me and one of them scooped the spot while it was still warm from my behind before Sveta could walk the five steps over to my table.

I could have made a scene - but next time I will simply reserve the spot.

Vegas in August - part 2 Poker Tournament

2009-08-27T22:13:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention the best thing about the Venetian - although I don't play heavy enough or long enough to rate a gold or platinum card, the last couple of trips they have given me "VIP check-in" . So when you arrive at the hotel, and see literally dozens of people in a snake-like lineup waiting to check-in, you can quietly smirk to yourself as you take the hidden doorway to the Venetian's equivalent of the Maple Leaf Lounge - and no one ahead of you in the line-up.

But the past few Vegas trips, including this one, the blackjack table gods have not been so kind to me - it has been hard to score a hit and run - since more often than not I am the one getting hit.

This morning I eschewed the morning swim (in light of my head cold) and sat down at a $25 table where I promptly lost a few hundred. The table next door was no kinder. So I caught up on some reading in the room and later entered the daily noon poker tournament.

Today I played MUCH better than yesterday - that is right up till the point where I got knocked out - 12th of 100 original players - just on the wrong side of the cashing bubble.

The blinds were now up to $1000-$2000; with a $300 ante, so with 7 players left at our table, each orbit was costing $5100. Still I had a decent stack of around $45,000. I figured if I made it to the final table, the average stack size would be around $80,000 - so I was a bit under the average at that time - but the pots were getting so large that it would not take much to put me in good shape.

All day I had been disciplined and laid down a number of hands that I believe saved my skin and lots of chips at those times. On the exit hand however, I did not play it safe. I had 99 in the small blind ($1000) and everyone folded to the button who made the standard courtesy raise of $6,000. This particular player liked to get involved, but usually backed off to a show of strength. His stack was slightly bigger than mine.

I decided my hand was not a hand that plays well after many flops so I decided to take down the pot then and there. I shoved all in. He agonized and finally called with AJo.

The board flopped K84 rainbow, and I was doing fine. The next card was a king and of course the river was a jack and I sheepishly headed for the rail. I don't think anyone at the table thought much of this - there had been lots of similar races by this point -but I knew I had mangled my position and the hand.

First, I think I should have just called his raise - if I don't like post flop developments I can get out and wait for another hand to make a move with. As it happens, with this flop, I can lead out fairly strongly with a pot or near pot sized bet. If he has a king, I'll get the vibe. If not, he will probably fold and look for another spot. I don't think this guy had the balls to raise me big time or all in with a bluff or semi bluff.

What a swing - I think I would have taken down the pot before the turn - and been alive and healthy - instead of guarding the rail as I did.

OK enough beating myself up. Any good hands? Well I got dealt AA in the BB with the blinds around $600/$1200 and a $100 ante. First position called; as did the SB; and I raised it up to $5000. The guy in first called, and the SB folded. I checked before the flop came down - called "checking dark" - I don't know what the book says this play may indicate - but it's my sense that it's often from a weak or ambiguous hand.

Well as it happens the board hit with A65 - two spades (I had no spades). Not a bad flop for me - and I have checked to the other guy. He shoved all in - he was either on a flush draw, an open ended straight draw; or maybe a big Ace. Anyway I called, and he flipped K9 of spades. My aces held up and I doubled up.

Early in the tournament I held KK and was involved with one other guy - he had position on me. The board was QJ107 after the turn - with no flush possibilities. The pot was pretty heavy and he shoved me all in.I knew he did not have AK. I didn't want to put my tournament life on a drawing hand, but I did have lots of outs - 4 aces; 4 nines; two kings; 3 sevens; and as it happens 3 jacks. If I folded I would be short stacked again and that's no fun.

Anyway I called and spiked an Ace on the river to best his Q10. I don't know if my poker expert friends would approve of my call, but it worked here.

A few orbits before the exit hand (with lower blinds)I had 97o on the button and I raised to $4000 which only seemed to interest the BB. The flop was 862 and he fired a serious looking $9000 at the pot - and again I think I made an error here. The flop had two spades (I had one) but I had a decision to make. I could fold (save some money); I could call and see what comes on the turn and see what his next move is - or I could raise.

I think if I am going to raise I should shove all-in. Anyway I folded - I did not want to get called and come down to a straight draw with only 8 outs. Chicken. I think the shove would have worked - he only had middle pair.

Generally I played small ball poker - trying to avoid the all-in shoot outs unless I felt I had an edge - more often than not I respected re-raises and re-re-raises, and this helped.

I folded a lot of Ace rag hands in most positions; and also let go an AK and an AJ suited pre flop when the action suggested I would either be an underdog or in a race for all my chips.

I played (and am generally playing) more hands post flop - which is the area of my game that needs the most work and the area I have been working to improve on - another reason why my exit hand was so bad. Big pre flop moves seem to be the purview of weaker players who are afraid to play some poker - and instead like to gamble.

Anyway, 6 hours of poker was for naught - financially that is - but for any bridge players out there I can tell you the buzz is almost as good as after a tough session of top level bridge - you relive the moments and the hands for hours afterwards - and it's not so much about the money I might have won - though for sure that's why I am here - bridge doesn't make me money yet I really enjoy it - same with a poker tournament.

After the tourney I joined Svetlana for a few hands of BJ and took revenge on the casino by scoring a $200 BJ on the last hand of a pregnant 2 deck shoe.

Came upstairs and bid some BBO hands with Keith and then back down for some BJ. Won another $150, then great dinner from the tasting menu at Zine in the Palazzo. After that, we sat down for some more BJ at the Palazzo - but the tables are filling up and the minimums are at least $50 (and those are hard to find)

I dropped a bit at two tables there and prepared to come back to the room. Svetlana plans to play some more so I scouted a table at the venetian for her while she went to powder her nose. First hand I split two two's versus dealer's two - scored a 21 with a double down and a 20 on the other hand and lost money as dealer pulled her own 21.

The shoe count got very favorable and I was pressing and losing. Svetlana came along and I advised her not to play so of course she immediately placed a bet - thinking this was some kind of advanced couples-speak for you gotta bet now!

Well it all worked out as I scored three big hands in a row in the second shoe; recouping the prior losses, and I got out of Dodge while the going was good.

I don't know where all the words come from - I wrote a ton here - I really have to stop this and just enjoy myself more here in fabulous Las Vegas.

Las Vegas in August 2009 - Day 1 - Poker Tournament, Blackjack, and bits n pieces

2009-08-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

Not sure if this is a bad omen, but (a) we slept in and were woken up by the limo driver at 6.30 in the morning yesterday. Dashed to the airport; no strip searches this time; and sneezed and coughed all the way on the plane.

My seatmates were charmed I am sure. I thought maybe it was allergies. Svetlana decided to ask the attendants for meds. I told her not to waste her time - they won't even give you an aspirin if you ask.

Silly me ! She came back with several Benadryl simply by refusing to take no for an answer.

But the pill did not really help - except zone me out - and I decided I must have a head cold.

Played in a tournament in the afternoon regardless. Must have played like a pooch as it seemed everyone could read me like a book.

One guy walked a pair of Aces from the small blind. I was in mid position with KQ of spades and had raised it up to 2.5 times the BB. Another player on the button came along for the ride.

The flop was AJ8 rainbow. SB checked and I checked; praying for a free card. Button checked too.

Next card was a ten - with no flush draws available; and SB checked again, and I bet 60% of the pot. Button folded and SB called.

Last card was a brick and SB checked (again !) to me. I bet 40% of the pot for value - he raised me. I re-raised; and he threw his cards away in disgust with himself for pooching the hand - would not even call with his flopped set of Aces. Good play.

He got revenge when I flopped a rainbow straight off the flop with 10-8 clubs suited. Flop was J-9-7 (9-7 suited)

I had an open ended straight flush draw and at that point I had the nut straight. I walked a bit and a ten on the turn gave hope to the card shark with his Q8. We built a healthy pot on the river and I lost of course to his superior straight.

Very next hand I had K10 suited and saw a flop of 3-10-K. I got involved with one other player who was playing A9s. Suited in clubs.

Turn was a club (to go with the three spot on the board and the two clubs in my hand) and the other guy started getting aggressive and we got all the chips in the middle.

The river was a little club - allowing him to go runner runner and score the nut flush to my King high flush - and on the rail I was - 25th/153

I never felt good all day though and it was probably a fair outcome - though too early an exit to cash.

Won $150 at a cash game right after to recoup my entry fee.

Video poker was the worse I can remember in a year - I only cashed once - and had three losing sessions - so down $220 overall there

BJ - first session was a minus $400. I left. Played after dinner at a steady table where nothing spectacular happened except the cards kept me there for almost 3 hours - which for me is almost unheard of.

Only bet heavy one hand; but was always raising my stop-win target. Got up $1700 at one point; but gave back $300 before the stop win kicked in and thanked the lord for a plus day overall - considering it's my first day here and my health - I could not complain.

Canadian Senior Teams Winners

2009-06-13T22:55:00.000-07:00

The Shoe pictured on his own, Marty and Arno below, with Boris tucked in behind.

Marty Kirr, Boris Baran, Arno Hobart, and Michael (The Shoe) Schoenborn triumphed over Ray Jotcham, Steve Mackay, Alan Lee, and Lew Richardson. In a dominating display, Baran overcame a 10 imp deficit at the half and gained 82 imps in the third quarter, resulting in a pragmatic withdrawal from Jotcham at that stage.

These guys sure don't look like my definition of seniors - they are a strong quartet in any event, and when they add back Joey and JC, watch out at the World's Championship in Brazil.

COPC Winners - Todd and Fisher

2009-06-13T22:33:00.000-07:00

The COPC came to an exciting conclusion this evening with Western Canadian players dominating the final overalls. First place went to Douglas Fisher and Bob Todd, pictured above. Second to Michael Yuen and Maurice De La Salle, and third place went to Vince Lambert and Vince Nowlan.

Conspicuous by their absence is ANY of the pairs I was prognosticating victory for, and in our case, Keith and I had a decent game this evening to climb back from 22nd to 13th overall.

The top 8 places (these may be slightly off and are unofficial - subject to checking at the CBF website)

Todd - Fisher 553
Yuen - De La Salle 537
Lambert - Nowlan 523
Willis - Frucacz 522
Gartaganis - Gartaganis 521
Ballantyne - Litwin 518
Jones - Foster 511
Bowman - Bowman 510

Our score was 501 - basically just over a board out of the bronze medal.

Congratulations to the winners (gold medal AND $2000 cash), and to the other medallists.

Final results will be posted at the CBF website at :

http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_results.html

Any questions or comments can be sent to me at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

CNTC Winners - L'Ecuyer

2009-06-13T22:22:00.000-07:00

The gold medal winners are pictured on top, and the silver medalists, captained by John Carruthers, immediately below.

In the end, the L'Ecuyer team just kept grinding down their opponents. With 18 boards to play, the margin was down to only 15 imps, and the game was on. However, in the fourth quarter, the match was put away and the final margin of victory was just over 40imps. Congratulations to Nick L'Ecuyer, Kamel Fergani, Jurek Czyzowicz , Darren Wolpert, Dan Korbel, and David Grainger - who will represent Canada in the playoff with Mexico in July, and (we expect) in Brazil in the Fall Bermuda Bowl.

Congratulations to the winners and well done to the silver medallists - they put up a tremendous fight, and performed with distinction over the entire eight days of the event.

The full scores are available on the CBF website at http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_results.html

If anyone wishes to contact me directly, you can reach me at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

COPC Final - 3 sessions done; 1 to go

2009-06-13T17:01:00.001-07:00

Well, I am afraid we were pretty mediocre this afternoon. Three things differed from yesterday's qualifying sessions.

1) The opponents played much better (half the field had been weeded out)

2) We did not play so well - both of us have a couple of boards we'd like back

3) The hands at our table did not lend themselves to a big score - less swingy, more grinding type hands.

The net result is we dropped from 5th down to 22nd; and have little realistic chance of placing in the top 3. We would need a huge game tonight - like 65% or better**.

Still we will do the best we can, and see what transpires.

The unofficial standings at this time are as follows:

Frukacz - Willis 298
Bowman - Bowman 293
Gartaganis - Gartaganis 292
Jacob - Hicks 278
Jones - Foster 272

We are trailing somewhat with 237, top on a board is 17, so we are more than three boards out.

** (After the final session, I checked what we would have needed. We needed a 70% game to win, and a 65% game to come in second.)

Waldemar and Dave have led the event from start to finish. Can they hang on for one more session?

I will try to post some interesting hands later tonight. Right now, there's some bridge to play, and medals to be won.

If anyone wishes to contact me directly, you can reach me at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

The results are being posted at the CBF website at http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_results.html

CNTC 2009 - The Final after 3/4

2009-06-13T16:56:00.000-07:00

There are now only 36 boards left to play. Team Carruthers has done exactly what they had to do over the last 36 boards - stay in the game. Down 46 imps after 72 boards, they dead tied the next segment, and remained trailing by 46 imps after 90 boards.

During the next segment, they gained back 14 imps,and now trail by 32 imps with 36 boards to play.

It's a very close match, but the advantage still lies with L'Ecuyer. By late tonight we will have our winner. Stay tuned.

In the Seniors Teams, I have not personally seen the scoreboard, but I have been told that team Jotcham leads Team Baran by 10 imps, with half the match still to be completed this evening. This one is also very close, and either team could win.

COPC Final - my predictions

2009-06-13T07:42:00.000-07:00

Let's start with a picture of Keith and me - just in case the results by the end of the day don't warrant an automatic pic of the two of us!

Also a picture of our tournament directors. Head director Henry Cukoff, and directors Doug Rankin and Brian Russell.

So who do I like in this event?

First, I like our own chances - if we can still stand fifth after last night's roller coaster, then we should be knocking at the door at the end of the event if only we can do more rocking and less reeling.

A pair that has impressed me with their consistent results this year is Bing Le and Richard Chan - seems they put up a tough fight every time I play them. They have had two consistent sesssions, and they made the quarter finals of the CNTC, so they are my first pick dark horse pair.

My other dark horse pair is Ivan Popivanov and Anton Blagov. They were on the dangerous Gamble team, that only just failed to make the CNTC playoffs by virtue of the tie breaker methodology.

No one would be surprised if Nick and Judy Gartaganis won this event - they consistently produce results on this stage and beyond that proves they know how to win.

Doug Baxter and David Lindop are another pair in form. David in particular seems to be more confident, almost serene, than I have seen in years, and Doug certainly deserves the spotlight after being a very solid player for many years.

For sure you cannot rule out Waldemar Frucacz and David T. Willis - they cruised through the qualifying in first place - and are capable of winning even on their "B game".

I mean no disrespect to any of the other fine players remaining in this event. The reality is that anyone can win - though with the carryover system in place, it would sure help to be in the top half of the field at the start. That fits the profile of Doug and Sandra Fraser, or Dave Colbert and John Duquette - who all know how to win the big ones.

Stay tuned. If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

2009 COPC - Pairs Madness

2009-06-12T23:01:00.000-07:00

And now for something completely different !

Keith and I had a good time in the first two sessions of the COPC, qualifying 5th comfortably. This means we will have a reasonable carry-over into the final two sessions tomorrow.

The list of qualifiers and their carry-over into today's final can be found at the CBF website at the following link : http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_COPCd1.html

Leading the way are David T. Willis and Waldemar Frucacz. Lurking near the top are Judy and Nick Gartaganis; Bing Le and Richard Chan; David Lindop and Doug Baxter to name just a few pairs. Other names I am familiar with near the top include Peter Jones, Aidan Ballantyne, Zyg Marcinski and Bryan Maksymetz,former winner John Duquette and his partner Dave Colbert, the always dangerous Bowman brothers, Doug and Sandra Fraser, George Retek and Bryan Fraser, Laurence Betts, and the legendary Hash Mohamed from Calgary.

We scored well in the afternoon - in spite of some bad boards; and came in second overall with a 60% plus game. In the evening, we needed to refer to one of those handy doodie score calculators a few times - as we defended a doubled part score making; a doubled slam making; and 1NT redoubled making.

There were a few other bad ones in the mix, and a random selection of tops too - and when it all settled down, our second session was around 55% - I didn't check so I don't know for sure.

For sure we all know that matchpoints is a different beast - and you must take actions you would never consider in a team game - when they work - you can score spectactularly well on a hand - and similarly, when they backfire, you will have egg on your face.

A few entertaining examples. On the first exhibit, I made not one but two transcendental bids in the same auction - I held KJ1094 KJ983 4 54. I was in third seat, red versus white, with two passes to me.

Now I am the first person to open light at any form of scoring, but here I passed, perhaps oddly. I felt that I could easily get dragged too high too quickly on this hand by partner or the opponents; and that instead I could very comfortably show this hand (and cap it at less than an opening bid) by taking delayed action. So I passed in third chair.

LHO opened 1 diamond in fourth chair, and RHO responded 1 spade. Hmm, I said. Maybe I will stay quiet a bit longer - RHO just bid my best suit, and LHO is unlimited. So I passed, and LHO rebid 1NT. Keith passed, and RHO bid 2 diamonds. This is a development I liked.

Now I knew LHO was limited to 11-14 HCP, and that RHO preferred the safety of 2 of a minor over 1NT. So now I came in with a confident 2 heart bid. Well, confident might be a bit strong; after all, LHO could still have four hearts on this auction.

Now, LHO did not double, and he did not bid 2 spades, nor did he bid 2NT. He bid 3 clubs. Great, so he must have something like five diamonds and four clubs, and at most four cards in the majors.

RHO preferred back to 3 diamonds effortlessly. I smelled a nine card heart fit between Keith and I, and Keith rated to have scattered 9-10 HCP. So now I bid 3 hearts !!

This escaped the wrath of the opening bidder, but when it came around to my RHO he could not take this flagrant abuse of the bidding process by me, and he doubled, and all passed.

North (Keith)

73
Q642
K82
AJ102

South (Ross)

KJ1094
KJ983
4
54

The lead was the queen of diamonds which held the trick. LHO shifted to the king of clubs. A few minutes later I chalked up + whatever it is for 3H X making vulnerable and a bushel of matchpoints.

RHO had AQ65 75 A1096 876, and his partner had 82 A10 QJ753 KQ93.

I must admit it sure looks weird that I passed twice, then came in at the two level and the three level vulnerable opposite a passing partner and between two live opponents, and made my doubled contract.....only in a pairs game.

On a serious note for a second, we bid a making slam in the first session.

North (Ross)

K87
A104
Q9
AKQ84

South (Keith)

AJ65
KQ986
8
J92

Keith opened the bidding 1 heart, and I responded 2 clubs. Keith responded 2 spades (not showing extras) and I bid 3 hearts, which only now established we were in a game forcing auction.

Keith said 4 hearts; refusing to cue bid, as an attempt to limit his hand. I reasoned now that if he had a diamond control and good hearts, we should be playing in 6 hearts. Blackwood would not help me - as I would not know if diamonds are covered.

If I cue bid 5 clubs, it would help a bit, but there might be a hole in the trump suit. So I cue bid 4 spades to give Keith room to use Roman Key Card Blackwood if he had a diamond control.

That's exactly what he did with the same eleven count he had started with. He opened one heart; he bid 2 spades over 2 clubs, then signed off in game. But he truly understood the value of his hand on the auction I gave him - he found we were only missing one key card, and bid slam which made for almost all the matchpoints.

We try to put pressure on the opponents no matter what the scoring, and we hate to sell out too low.

I picked up Q9843 AQ84 K4 95, and no one was vulnerable. LHO opened a weak NT, and RHO said 2 diamonds, transfer to hearts. Fraught with danger, I jumped into the fray with 2 spades. This was passed around to my RHO who said double which meant "do something intelligent partner"

Her smart partner elected to pass holding Jxxx of spades and only Kx of hearts and I meanwhile bought a goldmine in dummy:

North (Keith)

K105
J5
106
QJ8763

South (Ross)

Q9843
AQ84
K4
95

It was hard (if not impossible) to beat 2 spades, so another +470 for your reckless heroes.

The very next hand against the same opponents, I picked up 8642 107 K10986 97
They were red, we were white; our favorite colours. Keith passed in first chair, and my RHO said 1 heart. LHO bid 2NT - which is a forcing to game Jacoby raise in hearts. It was Keith's turn to bid, so naturally 3 spades popped out onto the table. RHO said 4 hearts, and I knew I was facing only a five card suit in Keith's hand for his 3 level intervention. (With 6 spades he would have opened a weak 2, and please, don't even think Keith could have 7 spades and passed before)

Still, I had an automatic 4 spade bid. Can't sell out to 4 hearts; must put pressure on the opponents. Actually, they felt no pressure. The partner of the opening bidder had a full 17 count, and he made a forcing pass around to his partner who doubled us. Keith had an eight count opposite my 3 HCP, but there was no way to beat him more than down 2 (minus 300) into their own +650, and a near top was the end result for us.

North (Ross)

8642
107
K10986
97

South (Keith)

AK1073
J93
5
8642

Those three hands were from the afternoon. Another classic example of matchpoint bidding occured early in the evening session.

Keith held K97 J10874 J42 Q7.

His RHO said pass (they were red we were white - gotta love those colours, they are your friend) Keith passed, and his LHO opened 1 club. I passed, and Keith's RHO said 1 spade. LHO now said 1NT. I passed, and his RHO said 2 diamonds, natural, as a passed hand.

Keith now jumped into the breach with 2 hearts. LHO said double ,and all passed. LHO led a low spade, and turned green when I put down the mother of all dummies:

North (Ross)

AJ85
A95
93
AJ103

South (Keith)

K97
J10874
J42
Q7

Even though hearts were 4-1, it was a pretty easy make and another +470.

Lest you think our aggressive style is without risk, here are a couple of examples which went the other way.

I held 82 AQ75 A8765 Q3. Keith opened 1NT (11+ - 14) equal white. My RHO said 2 spades, natural. I could force to game, by bidding 3 spades, but that feels way too much - our main objective here is to go plus - and bid game only if it is a near "no brainer".

But I have a tool for such occasions - I said double, negative, or if you like, a takeout double of spades. However, after my takeout double, everyone passed ! That looked pretty promising - it looks from my side we can collect 300 or 500 here against maybe only a partscore.

Little did I know this was actually an opening lead problem ! The only lead to beat 2spades doubled is a low heart from AQ75. I didn't find it, and I doubt you would either. The heart lead gets the tap going.

Instead I led the queen of clubs; and saw an ominous 10 fall from Keith's hand as a rather pained dummy tabled her hand, and declarer won the Ace a little too confidently for my liking:

Dummy (thinking she is going for her life!)

5
10864
KJ94
J952

Declarer (life is good)

AQJ943
92
Void
A8764

The club lead caused him no pain, and -470 was the result, and very few, if any, matchpoints for us.

A bit later, I got well and truly trapped in the bidding by my own aggressiveness. I held J2 A1042 Q872 K95. We were red versus white (remember people, this is a time to tread cautiously, especially against good players who know how to pull the trigger)

David Lindop on my right opened 1 spade in third chair. I passed, and Doug Baxter on my left bid 1NT - semi forcing. Keith and David both passed, as should I of course. In five days of imps play it would never occur to me to bid here now.

And frankly it should not have occured to me to bid here at matchpoints. But sometimes it's hard to turn off the faucet, and you get caught up in the moment. So I made a balancing double.

Not only is any action fraught with risk, but this particular action often suggests a trap or semi trap pass of 1 spade. I trusted Keith would look at his own spade holding and figure out I was just being hungry.

Doug didn't care how much I wanted to eat; he said RDBLE ! I knew this was not good -looked like we were going for the big swim.

Keith passed, David passed, and now my turn. Can someone else play this hand please?

It looked like I was headed for a zero no matter what I did now. They would have their doubling shoes on, and -200 to -800 was inevitable.

So like a deer frozen in the headlights of an oncoming car, I passed and prayed for a miraculous layout; great spades with interior spots with Keith, and every single card lying badly for declarer.

Well this was not so, Doug chalked up 1NT redoubled with an overtrick - for a gazillion points and no matchpoints for us.

Had I run out "confidently" to 2 diamonds, that was our only chance. I might have got by Doug, who held 87 QJ863 J6 AJ87. If he now bids 2 hearts, I am home free. If he passes though, surely David will reopen double with his full opener of KQ963 K7 K43 Q106, and down I will go for -200. Still that beats -10,000 or whatever it was.

Ah well, live by the sword, die by the sword. Onwards to another day....

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

CNTC Final - half way point

2009-06-12T22:50:00.000-07:00

After two 16 board segments, Carruthers had built up a 24 imp lead over L'Ecuyer. One more segment later, and L'Ecuyer had reoovered 17 imps back to trail by only 7 imps. The final segment of the day (completing 64 boards - with 64 more to play) saw L'Ecuyer turn on the after burners with a huge set, and have now converted the deficit into a 46 imp lead.

The important thing for Carruthers' team now is to chip away at the deficit - it's way too early to swing. What they don't want is 46 imps to be become 70 or 80 imps against a team in form, and with boards running out.

Just as L'Ecuyer turned the tables today, the same thing could happen in the other direction in tomorrow's final four sessions.

Time will tell, but clearly it is advantage L'Ecuyer at this point.

In the Senior Teams, the veteran squad of Boris Baran, Shoe, Marty Kirr, and Arno Hobart will play Ray Jotcham, Steve Mackay, Lew Richardson, and Alan Lee in tomorrow's final.

By virtue of being over the minimum age requirement AND also being fine top players in the Open category, Joey Silver and John Carruthers are also on the Baran team. It's quite possible they could win this event without playing a single card in it - as of course they are playing concurrently in the CNTC final.

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

Penticton CNTC Final preview June 12 2009

2009-06-12T07:35:00.000-07:00

128 boards to decide Canada's team champion. Who will win? This is a tough call - both teams are laden with experience and talent, and are not afraid of winning. On the one hand, Team Carruthers has more experience, and seem to know their agreements well, and are quite comfortable in a long grinding match.

Joey and JC have both won this event multiple times, and have shined on the International stage for many years. Nader and Jim Green are a tough pair who always bring their A game to the CNTC, and Roy Hughes and David Turner are also gifted players. David in particular thrives on adversity and complexity, and the tougher the hand, the brighter he shines.

Team L'Ecuyer though has Kamel and Nick - who always seem to be around at the end - and Nick of course won a Nationally rated pairs game this year at the Spring Nationals in essentially a new partnership; Darren and Jurek, past winners with a great pedigree and two better guys you could not ask for as teammates, and the "kids" Daniel Korbel and David Grainger.

I may be wrong, but I think only David and Daniel have not yet won this event of all twelve players in the final. They may be the hungriest pair at the table today, and are playing with great confidence.

I know all the players well, some for more than thirty years - so it is risky to go out on a limb and pre-select a winner.

For all the skill and experience that everyone brings to the match, intangibles come into play during a long match. First there is momentum. Can a pair get on a roll and feel invincible ? - that can wear the opponents down over a long match.

Does another pair suffer a couple of adverse results at a key point in the match, and in spite of their better judgment, this gets in their heads and stops them performing up to their true capabilities. Will the hands favor a certain type of bidding style - eg pinpoint part score bidding in a grind-out type match, or scientific slam bidding in a potentially high scoring match?

They all know how to take their tricks both on play and defense.

Having said all that, I pick L'Ecuyer to win, but I would not be surprised if I am wrong - this is a tough call.

Korbel is on a personal mission to add this event to an already impressive resume, and losing is simply not an option at this time for he and Grainger.

Unless they get irritated by the much slower pace of play than they are used to, they should be fine.

Having said that, whichever teams wins, Canada will be well represented first in Mexico in July, and then in Brazil in the Bermuda Bowl in early Fall. Sit back and enjoy the match on BBO folks - you will see Canadian bridge is very much alive and well.

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

CNTC final - Carruthers vs L'Ecuyer starts Friday, ends Saturday

2009-06-11T22:08:00.000-07:00

The semi finals have just finshed. Carruthers were down by nine imps to Rayner at the half, then pulled up to plus 40 imps with one quarter to play. Rayner's team mounted a spirited comeback and got back all but 6 imps - losing by such a small margin. Carruthers were actually down by 5 imps with two boards to play, but won 11 imps on the penultimate board to seal the win.

In the other semi final, L'Ecuyer beat Marcinski by 31 imps, in a match they never trailed in - but at the same time, a match they could never really pull away from their opponents. These two heavyweights played pretty much even up over the final three quarters - in fact, Marcinski was ahead over the final three quarters by 23 imps - but the first quarter made all the difference in the match, when L'Ecuyer outscored the other team by 53 imps.

The final will be a very long 128 boards over the next two days.

The Women's final was won by Nisbet team's over Demme, and the CNTC B was won by Shatilla over Pan.

Tomorrow Keith and I enter the COPC - a two day pairs event with some pretty good competition - most of the CNTC players except those involved in the finals will be entered.

As always, results can be seen on the CBF website at:

http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_results.html

Goodnight

Buzzer Beater revisited - CNTC 1/4 final last hand

2009-06-11T08:57:00.000-07:00

I fell asleep with thoughts of 3NT down 1 in my head and as I went for a long walk this morning, the hand still ate me up. Had I just quietly passed Keith's 3 club bid, we would have played there making, and not given the hand much thought, and lost the match by six imps, and everyone else on the team (and me of course) would be looking to something they did that could have won the match.

But last hand goat has special status - lol.

I also realize I should give credit to Ken Scholes for his excellent shift to the diamond queen from AQ107 at trick 2.

North

J43
A76
J9
Q10432

AK2
9843
K54
AJ8

To review, I had ducked the H queen lead to East who won the stiff king and shifted to the diamond queen. Ken held 98765 K AQ107 K65.

In talking to other people, a surprising number of Easts in the same situation simply returned the nine of spades at trick 2.

Had that happened at my table, there is an excellent chance I would have made the hand.

And almost everyone else was in 2NT, not 3NT - I have not found another pair in 3NT in fact.

what happens is you play safe for 8 tricks in 2NT, and the ninth trick falls into your lap.

I guess I don't have much more to say about the hand now. If I were a true reporter, I would probably kibitz the semi finals and rush to the PC at the breaks to breathtakngly give you all a blow by blow of the matches.

But I always intended this to be a personal diary, not a true CNTC report, so personally I must say I need a day away from bridge, and then Keith and I will turn our attention to the COPC - which of course is a matchpoint event - with totally different skillsets required, and where the luck factor can be much larger than in a team game.

Hope you all are enjoying the blog, and comments would be welcomed on any of the entries. If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

TTYL

Ross

Exit stage right - CNTC 1/4 final update

2009-06-10T23:39:00.000-07:00

Well the quarter final matches have just ended, and alas we are not one of the advancing teams. Arguably, form prevailed in all four matches, with the winning teams being Carruthers, L’Ecuyer, Marcinski, and Rayner.

We lost a close one to Rayner by twelve imps. It turns out it came down to the last hand – I was in a borderline 3NT contract, vulnerable, in the following layout:

North

J43
A76
J9
Q10432

AK2
9843
K54
AJ8

I had opened 1 club, playing a weak NT system. Keith responded 3 clubs; showing a club raise (5-6 clubs) and a hand that would want to invite game opposite a strong NT. I only had 15 HCP, but the honours in my hand were seductive, and I did have three good clubs when I might only have two clubs for my opening bid, and we were on a roll, so I bid 3NT.

It turns out we were trailing by only six imps with this hand still to play at our table. The opponents had bid and made 2NT with these cards – so the way to win the match was to make 3NT – then we would win 10 imps and win the match by 4 imps. If I went down, we would lose the match by 12 imps.

The opening lead was the Queen of hearts, and I played low in dummy and RHO (Ken Scholes) won the king. He quickly shifted to the queen of diamonds. That looked very much like a holding headed by AQ10 to me.

I could afford to duck this, and I did, with Peter Herold playing the six. Next Ken cashed the Ace of diamonds, as Peter completed his echo, and another diamond – which I won in hand and pitched a heart from dummy. Now I have to make the contract, starting with five top tricks.

It looked like RHO had four diamonds (maybe 5, but I felt 4), and a singleton heart. That left LHO with five hearts and four diamonds and only four black suit cards.

I had one diamond, one heart, two spades and whatever I could muster in clubs. How could I take five club tricks? With length on my right, even with the king favorably placed, he could duck the club queen (or cover if he had four) and I would be limited to at most three club tricks.

A club to the jack would not help me – as (a) how could I get back to dummy if it won, and how would I score five clubs tricks? and (b) if it lost I was pretty sure LHO had another diamond in his hand.

Leading the queen of clubs would not help either – If he didn’t cover, which he should do with three clubs, I’d be limited to three club tricks.

Now what if clubs are 4-1? This won’t help – unless the club king is singleton offside – what’s that old expression? – “Le Roi de Trefles est toujours seulement” – The king of clubs is always singleton.

I reviewed this remote chance in my head a couple of times – was there not a better way? No, that’s what I decided to play for – I played the Ace of clubs, and only the nine fell from Peter’s hand. Then the Jack of clubs from hand, and Ken won the king on my right, and cashed his fourth diamond for down 1. King third of clubs had indeed been on my right, and the suit would have been blocked for me.

But wait – the hand could have been made ! Given I had reduced my chances to a “Hail Mary” play of the club Ace – why not cash the Ace and King of spades first? Suppose the queen falls doubleton – presumably on my left. Then I have an extra entry in the dummy with the Jack of spades – and can finesse through Ken’s hand and as long as he has no more than three clubs I would still make the contract.

The bridge gods were smirking at me there – because I failed to find this play and of course, this was the exact layout. lord help me !

West had

Q10
QJ1052
8632
97

East had

98765
K
AQ107
K65

To be sure, the odds are very much against the spade queen dropping ,but if it does not, I am "only" risking a few extra undertricks by trying this first. (They might then be able to cash 2-3 spades after winning the club king) Mind you, I would not have wanted to bring back -200, -300, or even -400 if it had not worked.

I had been keeping a running imp estimate on my scorecard throughout the last 1/4 - so that I would always have a rough idea of where we stood in the match.(To whatever extent that process is valid!)

I figured, before this last hand, that there was a chance we had picked up anywhere from 30 to 40 imps going into the final hand. A large minus score on this last hand, coupled with -120 or so at the other table, might also convert victory into defeat. What do you think?

So I could have won the match – and been playing in the semi finals tomorrow – but maybe I took my eye off the ball for a nano second, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Like all good bridge players, I feel mostly bad for my team mates – that I let them down in our hour of need. As for me and myself, I am numb. The fact that when Keith and I came back from lunch to find we were down 67 imps with 32 boards to play does not matter at all. We don’t think about what our team mates could have done to win the match – we always look at what we (or more precisely, first person singular) could have done.

We had scratched back 36 imps in the third quarter to be only down by 31 with 16 boards to play. Then, on the next 15 boards, we had gained back a further 25 imps and were only down by 6 imps when the final board hit the table. All those great hands that accumulated to a 61 imp comeback were for naught – good but not good enough – on the last damn hand !!!

I imagine the Janicki team feels the same way – they were down by 69 imps after the first half in their match against Carruthers. They then played tough the rest of the way, and by the end they only lost the match by 13 lousy imps.

Anyway, that’s how our day ended – now for a few hands from earlier in the match.

The first board of the match was sweet – we needed to give declarer a ruff sluff to beat a game that made with an overtrick at the other table.

North

J65
AQ73
AJ984
Q

South

72
K642
75
AKJ104

Doug Baxter declared four hearts, after I had jump overcalled 2 spades on Doug's right in the sandwich seat. Keith led the queen of spades; which held; then the ten of spades, which I won on Doug’s right and played the remaining high spade honour.

This was not a happy event, as Doug knew Keith was out of spades, and an uppercut was looming – unless Keith was the guy with three hearts – which was a good chance on the auction.

Doug made the technically correct play of pitching his losing diamond on the third spade as Keith pitched a club.

However, the coup de grace was the fourth spade from my hand, and Doug had no answer. He pitched from his hand, and Keith ruffed with the Jack – forcing dummy’s queen. As East, I had 1098 of hearts – so there was no denying the setting trick in my hand for a ten imp gain.

Added June 10 - two keen eyed readers, Jim Priebe and Michel Lorber, have both noted the above analysis is not accurate, and that Doug could and should have made 4H in spite of our defence. I quote Jim first :

" Hi Ross

We are enjoying your blog. Too bad about your 3NT. It gets a little hairy when your options are plus 600 or minus 400!

On the 4H played by Baxter you mention "Doug made the technically correct play of pitching a diamond".

Pitching is an outright error. Ruffing small works against all 3-2 breaks and the case where lefty has 4.

Ruff low, assume overruff, win diamond return, cash AQ of trump, club Q, draw trump ending in hand and claim.

If lefty has 4 trumps and refuses to over ruff, you abandon trumps momentarily after AQ, overtake club Q and run the clubs until lefty ruffs, then win the diamond, draw the last trump and claim. If trumps are 4-1 you need 4-3 clubs.

Jim Priebe "

And now a comment from Michel Lorber

"Too bad about end result...looks like you played well... Mr. Baxter should ruff the 3rd spade with H6...he will go down if hearts 32/23 only if you have a minor void, or if you have 4 hearts (except maybe J1098), or if anyone has 5 hearts. If you have J1098 or Keith doesn't overruff with 4 hearts, he needs clubs to work.

Regards,

ML"

We played pretty well for the rest of this quarter – until the sixteenth and final hand when Keith and I played in the wrong minor suit at the five level and went down 1 for –100 into our own +600. So that cost our team 12 imps needlessly, and there we were down by 24 imps after one quarter.

Team Rayner had a strong second quarter, gaining 43 imps, but rather lucky on one hand where they played in six diamonds with a trump suit of KQx opposite A10xx and also missing a side Ace. Doug guessed to play the hand under the A10xx of diamonds for J9xx and he was right – gaining ten imps instead of losing ten imps – well done !

So we sat down to play the third quarter down 67 imps and started to play really solid bridge – we did not swing per se; we just played near flawlessly.

We gained back 36 imps in this quarter – notwithstanding two adverse swings against us. Michael Roche and John Rayner did well to bid to 6 hearts against us which was missed at the other table (on a different auction of course)

Michael held AJx KQ10x AK10542 void

He opened 1 diamond, Keith overcalled two clubs. Michael’s side was vulnerable. John passed, and I raised to three clubs. Michael made a takeout double. Keith passed, and John leapt to four hearts. This convinced Michael that slam must be a good bet, and he in turn leapt to six hearts.

I led a spade, which was best for us, but really the defense had no chance here – in fact; if you are in seven hearts you will make it as the cards lie reasonably well.

North

AJ3
KQ104
AK10542
Void

South

10962
AJ976
8
763

Diamonds split 3-3 and hearts were 2-2 so thirteen tricks were cold. We lost 13 imps on that board. Note that if I had raised Keith's 2 club overcall to 4 clubs preemptive, holding 854 85 QJ3 A9854, there would have been no room for John to jump to game and Michael could not have bid on with as much certainty.

In my defense, it wasn't clear we were in danger of the opponents being cold for a slam (actually they were cold for seven !) at that point - but it is always a good thing to apply maximimum pressure to your opponents when you have a large fit.

We began the fourth quarter down by 31 imps and began to grind out some imps on our side of the ledger. Soon Keith found himself in 2 spades doubled; with 11HCP opposite two jacks !! And a 4-3 fit with AKJ9 of spades facing 642 – and he was vulnerable and they were not.

His RHO had opened a strong NT, and LHO had bid 2D - a transfer to hearts. Keith had AKJ9 void K1043 107632 - he bid double - which is a bid I endorse 100%.

However, LHO said redouble, and the chase was on. I had nothing to say (as you will clearly see) and Keith bid 2 spades when the XX came back to him. His LHO passed, and I passed, but Peter Herold was out for blood, and he doubled, holding Q1053 of spades and a full 17 count. Ugh!

North

642
J976
J985
85

South

AKJ9
Void
K1043
107632

Ken Scholes led the 8 of spades to the queen and Keith's Ace. How do you like them apples? Would you be happy to get out for down 1 and only -200 ?? We were quietly ecstatic.

Miraculously that's what he did - he only went down 1 for –200 – but it was still a loss of 7 imps as no game could make the opponents way – with 27 HCP between them and a nine card heart fit! How he pulled that off had the kibitzers shaking their heads in wonder.

Shortly after that we bid 3NT with 13 opposite 10 HCP and a 5-3 spade fit, and there was no way to beat it. 4 spades has no play and that won us 6 imps.

We vigorously interfered with their auction enroute to a slam in spades, and they played in five spades making 7 for an eleven imp pickup.

We played a not so hot vulnerable 3NT with 14 opposite 10 HCP and that came home on a favorable lie of the cards.

They stepped into our part score auction (we can make 2 spades) and we doubled and took +300 defending three clubs doubled – in fact at a crucial point in the hand I led the King of diamonds from K10xx looking at the J754 in dummy on my left. I needed to create an entry to Keith’s hand to effect an uppercut. He did have the queen of diamonds, but Ken Scholes skillfully ducked from ace nine doubleton; severing the link between our hands, and he avoided – 500.

And then came that last hand – the miracle 3NT that yours truly did not make – and now we are on the sidelines of the biggest, most prestigious event on the Canadian Bridge Calendar. It smarts – for all of us – we were ready to play our hearts out tomorrow and fight for a spot in the final on Friday.

I asked a question of myself at the beginning of the blog this week – if you look at one of the first entries, I asked – “You can never go back?”

I think to my surprise, I was wrong to think that. Over the past year, I have played and practiced quite a bit – mostly practice – I would have liked more tournament play against tough opposition. There was more than one occasion when I thought I had lost the skill-set forever – too many years had passed.

Keith was always tremendously patient – he predicted right from the beginning it would take a year for me to feel truly comfortable at the table again – and that is exactly what happened. The past few days, pretty much everything finally fell into place and the feeling at the table was much the same as it had been all those years ago.

I can’t wait to strap it on again with Keith for next year’s CNTC and other major championships in the years ahead !

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

As always, a table of the match results is available at the CBF website:

http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_CNTAqf.html

I plan to take a day off from bridge tomorrow, Thursday, and resume play in the COPC on the weekend. Hope you have enjoyed these updates from the Penticton CNTC site.

More hands from Day 4 - CNTC 2009

2009-06-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

Our second last match was against Rayner's team - who had been at or near the top of the leaderboard the entire four days. Two hands of interest. Keith held 73 QJ972 KJ94 93. His LHO opened 1 club; his RHO said 1 heart. Keith passed, and his LHO bid 1 spade, and now RHO bid 2 Diamonds - fourth suit forcing. LHO said 2NT (I think) and RHO jumped to 4 spades.

I led the five of diamonds, and dummy was

Q965
A1085
A8
Q74

Again, Keith held 73 QJ972 KJ94 94

Declarer played low from dummy and Keith won the Ace. At the other table, the defender holding Keith's cards woodenly returned a diamond - and the game was made easily.

Keith shifted to the nine of clubs - and this actually gave declarer fits. There is a line to make now, but it requires winning (or ducking - it turns out not to matter) the club Ace, and playing Ace and another spade.

As leader, I had K108 K43 10752 K108.

Declarer in fact rose with the club Ace; he next crossed to the dummy to lead a spade to the jack - I was able to win the King, and play King and another club for Keith to ruff and down 1. Win 10 imps.

Peter Herold got his partnership's revenge shortly after by playing the wheels off 4 hearts on the following layout.

North

74
8763
AK73
QJ8

South

QJ6
AJ42
J6
AK107

With no intervention, a routine Stayman auction led to 4 hearts. Keith led the ten of diamonds; Peter played dummy's king and I dropped the queen.

Peter next played a heart to the jack - which held ! Now he correctly left trumps alone and played four rounds of clubs - pitching a spade from dummy as I followed suit helplessly.

Next Peter exited the spade Queen. This came around to me and I won the Ace and played back the King of hearts to get the kiddies off the dummy's street.

But next came the Jack of diamonds from Peter's hand and I really had no answer - ten tricks quickly followed. All that work to lose 1 imp - as Jeff and Paul bid and made 3 NT + 1 at the other table.

This low scoring match ended with Rayner's team winning by 5 against us. So we headed to the last match against Ray Jotcham, Lew Richardson; Steve Mackay, and Alan Lee - not a team you want to see when you need a big win.

Fortunately, we were strong in this last match - we picked up imps on five part score hands, and stole a game swing when we bid and made 3NT at our table while Jeff and Paul were quietly going down 1 undoubled in 4 hearts the other way.

On one hand I had to make 3 clubs on this layout :

North

974
107
AJ9
A7542

South

62
KQJ98
84
KJ98

I had opened 1 heart in first chair; white versus red. Keith responded 1NT forcing, and Ray overcalled 2 spades. This was passed around to Keith who reopened with double and was charmed to hear me respond 3 clubs - which everyone passed.

Lew led the five of spades, Ray won and played three rounds of spades in total. I had two spade losers; and the Ace of hearts and a diamond loser, and now my trump position was being threatened. Best I could do here was pitch my losing diamond from my hand as Lew discarded a diamond.

Ray then played a diabolical fourth spade - and now I had no room to wiggle - I had to get this right.

I pitched a heart from hand, and Lew ruffed ahead of dummy with the ten of clubs. I over ruffed and figured my best chance to make now was a first round finesse against the club queen in Ray's hand.

This worked, whew, and I played a diamond over to dummy's Ace for another hook - and chalked up +110.

I think defenders sometimes don't look enough for opportunities to attack declarer with the ruff sluff as an effective defense - it paid dividends on the first hand of our quarter final match on Wednesday too - which I will show you in my next blog entry.

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

Hands from Day 4 - CNTC 2009 Round Robin

2009-06-10T06:51:00.000-07:00

I played almost all the matches yesterday, so there really was not time to write up any hands. This morning I was looking over the hand records, and found a few that should be memorialized.

Equal red, in second chair, I picked up J2 KJ109873 6 J95. Apparently, while waiting for us to come out to compare, there was debate going on amongst our teammates as to whether Ross would open this hand 3 hearts or not. Two hearts is not an option for us – it is written in stone that we always have exactly a six card suit for that bid.

Well, I guess I surprised a couple of people and did open 3 hearts. Ten seconds later I was playing at the six level !

North

AQ103
Q
AK853
AK8

South

J2
KJ109873
6
J95

The lead was a spade, and went up with the Ace; cashed two high diamonds, pitching a spade; ruffed a diamond with the 7 (an unwittingly mean play). Both followed to 3 rounds of diamonds, so I was now cold. I realized I owed Keith a high five, so I led the congratulatory king of hearts from my hand – pinning dummy’s own queen in the process.

All you caring partners out there would have ruffed the third diamond with the Jack of hearts – a true congratulatory Jack ! + 1430; win 13 imps.

Next I picked up Q A54 AK109764 43. They were red, we were white. LHO opened 1 heart; and Keith said double for takeout. RHO said pass. What a hand I held, but I knew I should give Keith lots of wiggle room for his favorable vulnerability double.

First I said 2 hearts, showing strength. LHO passed, and Keith replied 3 clubs. Now I bid 3 diamonds forcing, and Keith bid 3 hearts. That was not reason to get excited – since he was forced, and likely was temporizing with his bid, and seeing if I could bid 3NT. I could have bid 3NT but I still had more to say. I cue bid 4 hearts.

Keith now bid 5 diamonds, and I was disappointed to hear that. His failure to cue bid meant slam was not assured, so I bid a quick, but reluctant pass.

North

K53
82
Q52
AK872

South

Q
A54
AK109764
43

I see Keith needed just a pip more to cue bid – either the Ace of spades (rather than the king) or a singleton heart would have been enough. As it is, six diamonds has chances.

The lead was the Jack of diamonds: I played low from dummy and RHO followed with the 8, meaning LHO began with J3. Just to stay sharp I asked myself how I would play slam if in it.

Actually with that lead it would be pretty easy. I would hope clubs were no worse than 4-2; and play 3 rounds of clubs ruffing high in hand; trump over to the queen for another club ruff; then the carefully preserved 4 of diamonds to dummy’s 5 to enjoy the last club. It would work.

Being in game only, I ignored that line in the interests of safety and chalked up +400. If I had been in slam on another lead – say a heart, the only winning play that I can see is to establish the clubs by ruffing high both times in hand and then taking a first round finesse against the doubleton Jack of diamonds – since LHO had QJ of clubs alone. I don’t know if anyone in the field was in slam, or made it for that matter. Our opponents played in 3NT, making 4.

Shortly after this hand I picked up another wild hand. 10 QJ7632 Void AQ10876

Keith opened a weak NT and my RHO said 2 spades natural. We were red versus white. I bid 3 forcing hearts; LHO said 3 Spades, and Keith said 4 hearts. I could pass and take my sure plus – but slam is definitely possible if the cards mesh. So I pressed on with five clubs.

LHO, bless him, said double (never a wise move when you are going to be on lead). Keith cue bid 5 diamonds (which would have had me excited had LHO not slowed me down)

RHO doubled 5 diamonds, but I did not care – I knew 5 hearts was the right contract now so that is what I bid. The play was pretty simple.

North

J762
AK4
A1086
43

South

10
QJ7632
Void
AQ10876

LHO cashed the Ace of spades and shifted to a diamond. I played a club to my Ace; played a heart to dummy’s Ace (both followed) and led another club towards my hand. RHO followed with the 9, which I covered with the ten. LHO won the Jack and played the club king, but I ruffed high and claimed.

For sure I should have played Ace and another club at trick 3 – in case clubs were 4-1, but all worked out for the best. Our opponents also stayed out of slam.

This hand was a huge swing hand in several matches – Dave Colbert and Danny Miles bid 6 hearts on this hand – with the club king offside they lost 13 imps versus gaining 13 imps had the slam come home.

Unbelievably, a fourth slam decision came up for us in this same match. I held K7 A543 K108753 6.

I was in second chair, red versus white. I did not come two thousand miles to pass, so I opened the bidding 1 diamond. Keith responded 1 heart, and my RHO preempted 2 spades. Although I was still blessed with the same ten count I began the hand with, I of course had to bid 3 hearts now.

That seemed to cheer Keith up for his next bid was 4NT – Key Card Blackwood. I replied 5 diamonds, showing one Key Card, and now Keith bid 5 spades. This doesn’t come up too often, but I knew he was asking me for the trump queen. It also meant I could relax about my meagre hand since we must have all the Aces or he would have simply bid 6 hearts.

I responded 5NT, and Keith settled down with 6 Hearts; all passed.

North

A103
K10982
AJ
A32

South

K7
A543
K108753
6

Keith won the spade lead and played the King of hearts from hand; dropping the Queen in West’s hand. He eschewed the theory of Restricted Choice (did not need it as you will see), and played a heart to the Ace, with his RHO showing out. So one trump loser.

Next Keith played the Ace of diamonds and his LHO ruffed with the heart Jack.(Diamonds had broken 5-0) But that’s all she wrote. Even though West had Q9xxx of diamonds, my spots were sufficient for Keith to power hook the diamonds twice through West and chalk up + 1430 for another healthy gain when our opponents did not bid this slam.

These hands were all from match 18, which we won by 16 imps. Keith and I sat out the next match; but it looks like the hands from that set were as wild as the ones we had just played. Maybe a breather was just the thing.

After lunch, we sat down for match 20 – currently in 7th place. We won this match by nine imps – mostly from getting the part scores right – they can add up - it's not always about wild distributional hands and slam decisions. On one hand, equal red, I picked up Q KQ9532 A2 AJ53. RHO passed, and I opened 1 heart. LHO and Keith passed, and my RHO said double.

I said pass (who knew – maybe my leftie was planning to pass the double so this is no time to bid on)

LHO said 1NT, Keith and RHO passed back to me. This is a nothing problem – but you have to get them right. I saw no point in bidding further. (A) Keith is a very aggressive bidder and had passed with two opportunities to speak. (B) there are signs of potential danger – RHO may have shortness in hearts and LHO did bid NT. RHO rates to have clubs, and I rate to buy trouble if I compete for the part score. (C) If the heart layout is somehow favorable for us, well that should be just fine for defending 1NT at +100 for every downtrick.

Keith led the Jack of hearts and dummy tracked with KJ43 6 J1084 K984 – about what you would expect. We finished the hand +200 – as Keith was kind enough to have the ten of hearts also, as well as a stray queen of diamonds – he took two tricks on the hand. We won 7 imps on that board.

The highlight reel hand of match 21 versus Steve Brown's team was when West held J103 Void AQJ1085 A1082. At our table, East opened the bidding 4 clubs not vul – showing a strong 4 heart preempt. Keith overcalled 4 vulnerable spades and West had to make a bid. What would you do?

After a bit of agony, my opponent said double. As it happens, had he doubled smoothly, his partner could and would have bid 5 hearts – as he had Void AKQJ9752 32 976; but he ethically passed, as he felt he was barred from bidding further. So everyone passed, and West led the Jack of spades.

North

9742
86
K9764
Q3

AKQ865
1043
Void
KJ54

There is no way to beat 4 spades as East and West are cut off from each other completely throughout the hand. Declarer wins the lead; draws three rounds of trumps, and knocks out the club ace.

Best West can do is return a club. Declarer cashes his remaining club winner(s), and plays his final club – refusing to ruff it in dummy. He simply pitches a diamond or a heart, and West is left on play to either send the Ace of diamonds to a watery grave or underlead it and give dummy’s king the game going trick.

+790 was a push in our match ! I heard of one West player who guessed to bid 5 hearts (with his void !) over 4 spades. All passed and there was only one way to beat this contract that I can see. North has to duck the king of diamonds on the first play of the suit; then East ducks a club to rectify the count.

Best defense now is to continue clubs breaking up communications between declarer and dummy. The defenders can now hang on to their winners, and declarer will go down 1. If they don’t play back a club; declarer catches South in an easy black suit squeeze (it’s actually a double squeeze since North must guard the king of diamonds; and South must guard the Spade Ace, and neither can protect the clubs anymore.)

I heard this enterprising guy who bid 5 hearts made +450, which meshed well with his teammates +790 and a win of 16 imps on the board.

Personally, I think pass is the right call with West’s hand – but that is easier said than done.

After we settled down from that hand, Keith opened 4 diamonds in first chair, white versus red; catching me with a fistful of high cards :- AK106 AQ107 KJ5 J6. No reason to get too excited though – look at the vulnerability and look who bid 4 diamonds! I simply bid a hopeful 5 diamonds, and all passed.

North

Void
42
A1098642
Q1094

South

AK106
AQ107
KJ5
J6

The opening lead was the 8 of hearts. Keith correctly rose with the Ace; cashed two spades, and then studied the hand for a few minutes. Clearly the only problem was how to play trumps. Note I said Keith studied the hand. That’s how experts play. Many players would simply bang down the trump Ace or King, and get onto the next hand – maybe 90% of the time they make without breathing hard.

However, Keith understood the only way he would go down is if trumps broke 3-0 and if he misguessed which diamond honour to play first. He really did not have much to go on – and he finally played the Jack of diamonds from dummy; overtaking with the Ace when David Kent smoothly played low. Steve Brown pitched however, and Keith annoyed with himself, quickly claimed down 1.

I still feel he had nothing really to go on, and he would agree – but we hate to get these plays wrong – even guesses. At the other table, the Bowman brothers also bid up to 5 diamonds and did play the diamonds in the right order – so we lost ten imps on that board.

There were still two matches left to play – and at least 13 teams had a legitimate hope of making the playoffs – so tight was the field.

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

Round Robin is over 2009 CNTC Penticton

2009-06-09T21:54:00.000-07:00

Well the 8th place team is involved in an appeal so the rumour goes, and as they only qualified by 1 VP, we are not certain who the final 8 are. The good news is Team Thurston made it in - tied for 6/7 !

There are actually a few committees going on as I write; so we really don't know the 8th place team yet - It is presently Marcinski, but it could ultimately be Gamble or Grace.

In the low scoring match after dinner, we lost by 4 imps, still scoring a respectable 14 VP's. Somehow we were still hanging in at 8th place - ahead of 9th by a scant 1 VP - with still several teams lurking and lots of drama and suspense in the air.

I was really bummed going into the last match to realize the whole event might be over for us in an hour and half - way too soon. For the past 2 days, it seemed like the rust had finally been shaken, and I truly felt I did belong at this level of bridge once again.

The old confidence came back - but it is a team game and the opponents are trying just as hard to eliminate us - I am not trying to sound cocky - far from it - just happy to be here again.

Anyway, we won our final match by 30 imps - resulting in us "cruising" into 6th place - a lofty spot we had not smelt since Day 2.

So at 10.05 pm Tuesday night, the tentative standings are :

Carruthers 395
Rayner 391
Bart 389
Todd 387
L'Ecuyer 384
Thurston 375
Janicki 375
Marcinski 363
Gamble 363

================

Next places are:

Grace 362
Ballantyne 356
Nowlan 352
Brown 352

The above scores have been updated since the original posting to reflect the final final standings. Gamble and Marcinski were in a dead heat tie. The conditions of contest were such that the team with the most victories would win a tie-breaker - resulting in Marcinski in and Gamble out.

A severe bummer for the guys on the Gamble team, especially as they had actually blitzed the Marcinski team during the round robin.

So there you go - this has certainly been a toughening up process - since every match over the last two days has been a must win - or if you can't win - don't lose by much !

Kudos to John Carruthers' team which came on strong over the last couple of days - climbing to the top spot after the penultimate match - and solidifying that place over the final match.

It's hard to write hands right now - team members and spouses are in the room beside me having a Kool Aid or two, and waiting for the final results and the assignments for tomorrow.

Ciao for now ! If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

Results, when final, will be posted at the CBF website at :

http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_results.html

After 21 matches - 2 more to play 2009 CNTC

2009-06-09T16:50:00.001-07:00

Well this is turning out to be a real nail biter for many teams. I don't recall seeing the field so bunched up so late in the event. We are sitting 8th with 2 matches to play. There are at least five teams nipping at our heels who want a piece of that 8th place.

On the other hand; we are only 5 out of 7th; 10 out of 6th; and 21 VP out of first !

The list is as follows : (no team names here - you can see that at the cbf website.

First 358
Second 357
Third 356
Fourth 354
Fifth 350
Sixth 347
Seventh 342
Eighth 337 (That is Team Thurston)
Ninth 333
Tenth 332
Eleventh 329
Twelvth 328

Turns out we moved up to 8th after match 18 when we won by 16 imps; we lost by a small margin of 4 imps in match 19 when Keith and I were at lunch; we were back to 7th after winning match 19 by nine imps; ; and lost match 21 by only 2 imps to stake a tenuous claim on 8th place.

I do have many interesting hands to report but now is not the time. The complete results are available at the CBF website :

http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_CNTCArr4.html

The

After 19 matches 2009 CNTC Penticton

2009-06-09T12:39:00.000-07:00

Match 18 was a tough set of boards with lots of decisions with our cards. Fortunately, we made all the right decisions. We stayed out of two slams that could not quite make; and bid and made two others. We also beat a 3NT played from an unfavorable side (for us) on tight defense. Our counterparts at the other table were no slouches however, so the win was by 16 imps - still, that's 20 VP's for us.

I checked the standings after this match and we were now in a three way tie for 7th. the two leading teams had 313; next was 311 in third. Two teams were tied for fourth at 296; another team at 293, and there we were at 292. Still very tightly bunched above and below us.

Keith and I sauntered off for a light lunch and came back for the comparison of match 19. There were several slam decisions in this set of boards too. We lost the match by a narrow 4 imps; picking up 14 VP's for a present total of 306 VP. I did not stick around for the leaderboard - we could be anywhere from 8th to 10th would be my guess.

We resume play again in 45 minutes - I'd rather rest than blog, so hands from these matches will have to come later. The leaderboard can be viewed at :

http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_CNTCArr3.html

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

End of Day 3 - 17 matches played - 2009 CNTC Penticton

2009-06-08T22:59:00.000-07:00

Things have improved somewhat over the last five matches. We are now back in 8th place - and looking forward to day four of the round robin.

Keith and I sat out the match before dinner and the boys brought home a plus 20 imp victory. That was worth 21 VP's. I believe by dinner time we had now climbed to 10th on the leader board - which was a marked improvement over the 16th place we occupied this morning !

One hand I liked was when North (Jeff Smith in our match) held Q2 K95 AJ Q85432, red versus white.

His LHO opened 1S, and this was passed around to Jeff who bid 2 clubs. Paul, his partner cue bid 2 spades, and Jeff bid the immediate 3NT - correctly diagnosing that Paul had spade length and hoping between them their holdings constituted a spade stopper. This was exactly the case when Paul tabled 10863 A763 43 AK10. There was no way to beat 3NT which was doubly sweet when John and Herve stole the contract at 2spades in the other direction.

John had AKJ954 QJ4 876 J and opened 1 spade and rebid 2 spades over Herve's 1NT response.

This sparked a heated discussion over dinner over whether Jeff's hand should in fact enter the live auction of (1S) - (1NT) with his moth eaten suit. The majority opinion was that you just have to swallow hard and bid 2 clubs - the game bonus is to good to pass up.

After dinner, Keith and I played with Paul and Jeff at the other table. We had a dream set, where everything we did was right. Teammates came to the comparison after the match looking crestfallen. They had gone down 3 in a freely bid reasonable slam (I think - I only know they were -300 and I didn't ask); and watched the opponents bid and make an inferior 7H grand slam on a black suit squeeze; and also watched their opponents avoid a 4-4 heart fit and play 3NT making, when hearts split 5-0 against them.

We actually won the match by 36 imps for a blitz - scoring the maximum 25 VP's. We had also beaten the slam two tricks; we had bid and made the better grand slam in diamonds; we HAD avoided the 4-4 heart fit and made 3NT; we made 2 of a major doubled twice during the match and a couple of other good things to boot ! It was quite a rush that set of boards.

Two highlights. My RHO opened 1 spade; we were white they were red. I held QJ53 AJ432 K43 A. I overcalled 2 hearts. This was passed around to my RHO who made a takeout double - but everyone passed !

The lead was a low club, and dummy was a sweet sight - Keith held 986 K7 A8752 and Q73.

North

986
K7
A8752
Q73

South

QJ53
AJ432
K43
A

So I won the club lead; and cashed king then ace of diamonds. They lived - no enemy ruff. Now I ruffed a club to my hand; played a heart to the king; and ruffed another club in my hand. Then I exited the queen of spades and eventually I had to make the AJ of hearts to score five hearts; two diamonds; and a club for +470 - winning 13 imps on the trump end play.

The hand of the tournament for us (well so far anyway) was the grand slam in diamonds. It was all about figuring out what was best - 6H, 6NT, 7D, 7H, or even 7NT.

I held A108 A109 KQJ4 1098. We play weak NT but this looked much more like a strong NT to me - notwithstanding the 4333 shape - so I upgraded and opened the bidding 1 diamond.

Keith jump responded 2H which we play is a game forcing hand - either hearts and diamonds - or a strong one suiter in hearts. My RHO now overcalled 2 spades. I could bid 2NT I suppose or even bid 3 hearts, but I saw no rush - let's hear what partner has to say. So I passed and Keith now bid 3 spades.

Great - this confirmed he had hearts and diamonds and in fact a stiff spade in our methods. So all of a sudden my upgraded weak NT could bid Blackwood. Keith responded 5 hearts - showing two key cards for diamonds (not hearts - I had never confirmed that fit)

He was unlimited and we had all the key cards, so I now bid 5NT to sniff around for a grand slam. Keith bid 6 clubs now - showing the king. That was nice but I needed more than that to bid a grand - so I signed off in 6 diamonds.

But Keith continued with 6 spades ! Was this torture? I knew he could not have the KQJxx of hearts - since he would have jumped to 7 clubs at this point - we had a hole somewhere. On the other hand; he was confident we could make 6NT - or he would not have bid 6 spades. Maybe he had the stiff king of spades?

Anyway, I was 4333 with no extra high cards and no fifth diamond so I bid 6NT and Keith now bid 7 diamonds ! So I had invited a grand and he had not bid the grand, but rather made two 6 level bids and then bid a grand anyway after I signed off twice. This could only mean he always intended to bid a grand but was really not sure in what strain.

Well I was sure that only diamonds made sense so I passed, and there we played. Dummy was a thing of beauty.

North

Q
KQ543
A652
AK6

South

A108
A109
KQJ4
1098

1D (P) 2H (2S)
P (P) 3S (P)
4NT (P) 5H (P)
5NT (P) 6C (P)
6D (P) 6S (P)
6NT (P) 7D (P)
P (P)

This was the best grand slam by far to be in. Trumps were 4-1 on my left, but with hearts 3-2 I wrapped up thirteen tricks ......and lost 2 imps !!

The opponents had bid to an inferior 7 hearts - which required hearts to break and still only had twelve top tricks.

However, East, the poor fellow (Paul), had KJ9654 J62 10 QJ2 and got caught in a black suit squeeze, and declarer deliriously rode that pony for thirteen tricks and +2210.

As a defender, it doesn't get much more sickening than that - the bridge equivalent of a baaaad beat in poker.

Don't write in to tell me Paul could have broken up the squeeze if only he had led the King of spades at trick one ! Yes that is true but that would be the play of the decade, if not the play of the century !!

Anyway, our team decided Keith and I should play the last match of the day too, as we seemed to be hot. John and Herve played at the other table. We played the wily veterans from Edmonton - Kai Chang and Bob Crosby. Kai complained before the match he was tired and didn't want to play; but when Bob and his subsitute partner could not produce a convention card between them, I vetoed that idea and Kai was "forced" to play.

Funny, but at the time I said this might haunt us - he'll probably play like Garozzo. And he pretty much did - his personal highlight reel being an improbable 4 hearts with the layour as follows:

North

K865
A532
K9
AK9

South

AJ9
Q84
10872
Q106

Kai was white versus a red weak 2 diamond opener by me on his left. Bob said double, and Kai responded 2 hearts. Others might respond 2NT - but there you have it. Bob raised to 3 hearts, and Kai bid a confident (!) 4 hearts. All passed - no double - maybe no trouble.

I led a club, and he won in dummy, and played Ace of hearts and a heart to the queen which held, as I followed with the 10 and Jack. He now led a diamond up and I rose with the Ace to play another club.

Kai won in dummy and played the king of diamonds which Keith ruffed with the 9 of hearts. Keith cashed the HK and got out a club. Three rounds of spades, with a finesse against the onside queen, and with the suit splitting 3-3, Kai had his ten tricks and plus 420.

Just a push of course, as John and Herve bid and made the saner 3NT making 4.

Keith and I actually had nine plus scores of the ten boards we played - we were pretty precise in the part score zone. However, our methods failed us this match on a potential slam hand. Like the grand earlier, the key here was to play 6 diamonds on a 4-4 fit, and NOT play in the 5-3 spade fit - where there are only 11 tricks on a club lead.

We stayed in 4 spades making 5, but our opponents bid and made 6 diamonds (well done) and they won a deserved 11 imps on the board. The hands were as follows:

North

Q93
KQ9
KQ64
J53

South

AKJ86
83
AJ52
A9

Keith opened a weak NT and I bid 2D - Forcing Stayman. Keith replied 2NT - no 4 card major. I bid 3 spades and unfortunately Keith had support and a minimum type hand and was forced to raise to 4 spades - thus ending our chances of locating a 4-4 diamond fit.

I knew from his failure to cue bid that we could not make slam in spades, so I confidently passed - which at the time felt ok as this looked like a problem hand for us.

Other pairs play an old convention called Baron Corollary in these types of auctions - a 3 club bid over Keith's 2NT would ask for his shape, and then we would be off to the races - but we do not have that bid available.

Needless to say we have now modified our methods to cope better with this hand type. Anyway, when the smoke cleared we lost the match by 10 imps. Our boys had 4 plus scores of their own to go with our nine, but the results didn't mesh that well - and the opponents at John and Herve's table did even better than us on the slam hand and on another hand where they bid and made a game we elected not to bid.

But things could be much worse - hell they were earlier today. We have now moved back into the elusive top 8 - 8th to be precise. 27 VP out of first, and only 1 VP ahead of two strong teams tied for 9th. This field is really bunched up - and anything can happen tomorrow and probably will. Stay tuned.

The results so far can be found on the CBF website at

http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_CNTCArr3.html

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

After 14 matches - day 3 Penticton CNTC

2009-06-08T15:13:00.000-07:00

We lost our first match of the day by 13 imps. On the first board out, my RHO decided to bid a Michaels 2 clubs (no one vul) over Keith's 1 club opener. I was sitting in the weeds with J93 A1032 AJ52 K6. Penalty doubles ensued; they ended up in 2 Hearts doubled - Keith made the expert lead of a heart from xx in hearts rather than his god given AKQ of spades - and when the smoke cleared declarer was down 5 for +1100. A great start to the day.

Dummy was 108765 QJ987 8 Q4 opposite 42 K4 Q10763 10872

A few hands later I decided to show him what a Michaels Cue Bid really looks like. I had 5 KJ983 KQJ65 A9. RHO opened 1 spade; I said 2 Spades. LHO passed, and Keith bid 3 Diamonds. (Perhaps even some experienced partnerships would get the meaning of this wrong)

I inferred Keith had a reasonable hand with clear diamond preference and also support for clubs - since if my second suit was clubs, we would now be at the four level.

The other available bid was 2NT - asking me to say which minor suit I had.

So I decided game in diamonds would have a play, and I simply bid 5 diamonds. It did have a play - but..............

Keith's hand was AJ1096 75 104 K1083. He was pretty sure I had diamonds - so he meant his bid as pass or correct to 4C. Anyway, they led a club, and he won the king in his hand and finessed the heart jack - losing to the ace. Back came a spade. He flew up with the Ace; played King and ruffed a heart (they were 3-3 yay!) and played the diamond ten from his hand. His LHO won the Ace and played another spade. If Keith can just get away with ruffing the spade low in dummy, he would draw trumps and claim.

But spades were 6-5-1-1 around the table; diamonds were 2-4 against; and down 1 was probably a just result.

3NT is the best contract here, and was bid at the other table for a ten imp loss for your heroes.

We did some small good things in this match too, but the penultimate board was a kick in the nuts. I held Jx 9x A972 AQ1094. My options are to pass (don't like it)bid 1NT weak (don't like it though it has preemptive value) or to open one club, planning to rebid 2C. I liked this best, and opened 1C.

No one vul, my LHO bid 3 diamonds preemptive. Keith made a negative double; pass by RHO to me. I felt I had a pretty easy pass here. Yes I had a squeamish feeling in the pit of my stomach but I have seen hands like this pick up an occasional +500 if the opponents are frisky and the breaks were bad - and I wasn't expecting that. Down 1 or two would be fine.

Strike 1

Dummy tabled with 2 tricks. Dummy had A974 K7643 5 863

Strike 2

Declarer had kinda wound us up with a rock for his bid. He had 105 QJ KQJ10643 K2

So there was no way to beat 3D X and we were -470.

My only real alternative to passing 3D X was to bid 3NT - which I don't think is winning bridge - nor would it have been successful - it would have been down 4 for - 200. Sometimes all you can do is tip your hat to the opponents.

Anyway, a few imps on either side of the ledger elsewhere led to lose by 13 imps.

Next match up was against one of the pre tournament favorites - Keith and I sat down against Darren Wolpert and Jurek Czyzowicz ; at the other table was Kamel Fergani and Nick L'Ecuyer against our own Messrs. Smith and Thurston. Dan Korbel and David Grainger were sitting out for them, as were John and Herve for our team.

We strung together ten good boards - and we needed all of them to win by 7 imps. We bid a grand slam in about ten seconds. Keith opened 1 spade, and I held AQJx x AJ10xx Kxx. I responded 3D which shows at least 4 spades; at least five diamonds, and game forcing values.

Keith launched into RKCB, and after I replied 5 spades, he bid 7 Spades. I knew this was a claimer before the lead was made.

Keith had Kxxxx AK KQxx Ax - and indeed it was a wrap. We picked up two imps when Kamel and Nick played in 7 D at the other table - which was well done actually as the hand in front of Keith's opened a Multi 2D - so they had to brush that aside and bid their grand salami.

We got lucky on a later board when I held KJ9 KQJ742 43 A3. Keith opened 1 diamond; I responded 2H. (Showing long strong hearts and a GF hand - alternately it could show diamonds and hearts and a game force) Keith rebid 2S; I rebid 2NT. Keith rebid 3D and I was not sure what to do next. I could rebid hearts; but I already had shown 6 good ones and I did not have the ten or even the nine of hearts extra. So I bid 3S; rather than hog into 3NT.

Keith now bid 3NT and I was done.

The opponents did not get their clubs going in time, and with the favorable fall of the heart 108 doubleton, I romped home with ten tricks - cutting down the loss on the board to 1 imp - when 4H made 5 with the same favorable heart lie.

3NT is not a terrible contract - but on this day - it was fated to go down, while 4H makes. (The king of diamonds is fourth onside; the spade queen is also onside; clubs are 3-5 with Kxx in LHO hand and QJ9xx in RHO's hand.)

The wildest hand of the match occured near the end. I held K K109832 Q542 K8

Jurek on my right opened 1 club; and I overcalled 1 heart. Darren passed, and Keith cue bid 2 clubs - usually promising heart support. A new suit bid by Keith would not have been forcing in our methods though - keep that in mind.

Jurek passed, and I showed my second suit with a 2 diamond bid. Now Darren came alive with 2 spades; Keith bid 3 spades; and Jurek bid 4 spades (!)

I knew we were in a forcing pass situation, and I had no clear opinion what to do, so I passed this around to Keith who bid 5 diamonds. Jurek passed, and I passed - trusting Keith to have huge diamond support and secondary heart support.

But Darren was not done yet - he bid 5 spades; I forget which one of us doubled, but that is where we played. Keith led the Ace of spades; felling my stiff king. Dummy had

QJ85 6 KJ8 AQ953

Keith now cashed the Ace of hearts and we waited in time for the club king and down 1and +100. Darren had started with 10976432 J754 void 72

This seems like a par result as we can make 5 diamonds vulnerable. However at the other table our boys bought the hand in 4 spades doubled on their combined 14 HCP, and this could not be beaten and we made +590 over there for a 12 imp win on the board.

I have heard a few stories about this hand - including high level doubled spade contracts making overtricks when the Ace of diamonds was led !!!

Our next match was against Paul Janicki's team and finally we fired on all cylinders at both tables and won this one by 29 imps for a near blitz.

I have not checked the scoreboard today and don't plan to for a while - we were in a hole at the beginning of the day, and we still are - if we start to win a few matches, we can get back into the hallowed top 8 teams.

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

End of Day 2 - 11 matches played; 12 more to go

2009-06-07T21:51:00.000-07:00

So the round robin is almost half way over. We have to pull up our socks. The boys lost another close one by 7 imps. I don't know any of the hands, but I do know we now have 163 VP's from a total possible of 275.

This is clearly below the targeted average needed to make it into the playoffs. At this point, no one really cares if they come in 1st or 8th - since the KO portion is like a brand new event.

Only 8 teams will be in the knockout portion. Instead of playing short ten board matches against your opponents, you play at least 64 boards per match.

The current leaderboard sees many changes throughout the day - in our case, we free fell from 3rd down to 14th or so. Others like L'Ecuyer have moved up into contention, and others still - like Rayner, Todd, Marcinski, Steinberg etc. seem to have been near the top since the beginning.

Funny how there is less to say when the results aren't good. Hopefully I will have good reason to be ebullient tomorrow.

Current standings can be found at http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_CNTCArr2.html

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

After 10 matches 2009 CNTC in Penticton

2009-06-07T20:34:00.000-07:00

Keith and I just completed match 10 – another loss – albeit by an almost negligible 2imps so we scored 14 VP’s of a possible 25. Did not check our placement yet; we were in 10th place before this match.

I had a chance to pick up 7 imps when I held J KQ98xx K Q108xx. The guy on my left opened 4S (limited by his failure to open Namyats); Keith passed, and my RHO passed in no distress. We were equal white, and my head told me to stay out of this auction. But I am a sucker for shapely hands, and I re-opened 4NT.

Keith responded 5C, and everyone passed. Keith had Ax x A98xxxx K7x. He played 5C well to go only down 1 for – 50. Had I passed the hand out we would have beaten 4S by three tricks for +150.

Nevertheless our team mates did score +140 in 3 spades making, and we won 3 imps anyway.

Two hands later I held xx x J432 AJ98xx. We were vul, they were not. My RHO opened 1H, and I passed. LHO responded 1S, and Keith overcalled 3D. RHO said 3H. At this point, even though I cannot make it – I should simply bid 5D and put maximum pressure on the opponents.

If they double us, we only go down 1, and we push the board at –200. If they bid on to 5H, in this case they will be +450 as 5H happens to make – but sometimes it won’t. In fact, I messed around with a 4C bid; and they subsided in 4H and anyway Keith was void in clubs.

Towards the end of the set, I held QJ8xx A9 AQx 9xx. Keith opened 1S, and I responded 2NT – either a forcing raise OR a strong balanced hand. He bid 3H natural and I bid 3S, confirming I had the strong raise type hand. Next Keith cue bid 4C, which was nice, but limited by his failure to bid 3NT – which we play as a “serious slam try” – stronger than a 4C cuebid.

I was guiltily aware that I might be about to launch into the stratosphere opposite a hand not dissimilar to mine in terms of HCP. I could bid 4D now, but I thought there was a risk of a lead directing double. So I simply bid 4NT, and when Keith showed 2 key cards I jumped to 6S.

They led a diamond through the AQ in my hand; but Keith rose casually with the Ace; knocked out the spade Ace and claimed shortly thereafter. Turned out it was a club lead I should fear – not a diamond lead.. Keith had K9xxx KQJx x A8x. This netted 13 imps to the good for your fearless adventurers.

Now we are sitting out match 11 (twelve more to go) and wait for our team mates to finish up and score. That bottle of wine which has been decanting all day looked mighty inviting and we are watching Celebrity Poker on tv; discussing the hands from the day; debating the merits of the various Miss Penticton Contestants we may each have seen throughout the day, and I am writing this blog. Wish our results had been better today, but hey, we’re only half way done.

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

Day 2 - after a total of 9 matches - Penticton CNTC

2009-06-07T16:48:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a rough afternoon. In the third match of the day Keith and I sat out, - turns out we lost that one by 17 imps - scoring 10 out of a max 25 VP. We had slipped to 8/9 in the standings.

Keith and I sat in for the next match versus David Sabourin, Dave Colbert, Danny Miles, and Jon Steinberg. We lost this match by 21 imps - scoring only 9 VP of a possible 25 VP. They have not posted the scores yet but we have 136 out of a possible 225 - so we could be anywhere from 9th to 11th right now - the field still bunched up.

The last hand of this set was wild and woolly at our table. I held an innocuous hand - Q98 108x AQ6 987x. Keith opened 1C, no one vul. RHO said 2C - showing both majors, and I passed. LHO bid 3H, and Keith freely bid 4C. I was planning to bid 5C or even 4NT (a happy 5C bid) over the expected 4H bid, but David Sabourin bid the unexpected 5 clubs !

So I bid six clubs. Jon on my left bid 6H passed around to me. Maybe I should double to involve partner in the decision here. Some message like - well I have a trick, and if you don't you can pull it. The theory being I would just pass 6H if I was reasonably sure I was beating it.

Anyway I passed it out, and Keith led a low diamond and dummy had about what you would expect:

AKJ10xx
KJ9xx
xx
Void

I won the Ace of diamonds and gave Keith a diamond ruff for down 1. Wow ! We won 7 imps on that board.

First hand of the match I had a brain spasm. I held 9x KJ10xx Q32 7xx

RHO opened 1S, and I passed. Jon on my left bid 2S and Keith said double. RHO said 4Spades and I chose of course not to save in 5H as that could be very expensive. All passed and I led the jack of hearts.

Dummy had Qxx xxx xx K10xxx

Keith won the Ace of hearts and played another heart as David ruffed on my right with a small spade. He played the Ace of diamonds from his hand; Keith playing the ten and me the two.

We play standard count signals - so Keith probably had an even number of diamonds.

Next came the Jack of diamonds from declarer and I stared at that for a minute or so. I was having a hard time envisioning how we were going to beat this hand. For sure, I should have just let this ride around to Keith - maybe he would have a better bead on what is required. He is marked of course with the diamond king.

I convinced myself to play the DQ from hand, thinking I could push trumps through the dummy from my side, perhaps protecting Keith's holding on some layouts. Pretty obscure thinking actually.

So I played the D Queen, and Keith played the D King on top of it. Shit ! This meant declarer had six diamonds - and likely 5 spades and singletons in the offsuits.

We could not beat the hand now. Keith tapped declarer again in hearts, but it was crucial that declarer no longer needed the trump queen in dummy to ruff the diamonds good.

He banged out a spade honour which Keith correctly ducked, and then another spade honour from his hand which Keith won. Although Keith and declarer and dummy were all down to one trump, declarer had any answer for whatever Keith did.

Had I ducked the diamond like a human being rather than play the queen like a donkey, declarer would thrash and slash and end up down 1. We lost 12 imps on that board.

Like I keep saying, there will be errors, there will be bad boards. Let's see if we can dig in our heels and tough this sucker out.

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

Day 2 in progress – 2009 CNTC in Penticton

2009-06-07T14:21:00.000-07:00

Bridge is all about judgment, concentration, temperament, and minimizing your mistakes – especially those of the unforced nature. In an event such as this, no one is perfect – we all have our trials and tribulations. Can you put it aside and get on with the next hand or next match – that is most important. Compartmentalize or wither !

So Keith and I played in the first two matches of the day. We won the first match by 21 imps – giving us a healthy 22 VP’s and vaulting us up to 3rd on the leader board.

Keith made a beautiful bid on the following hand – propelling us to 6H making for a 13 imp win!

NORTH

S Q10
H AKQ107
D AJ9
C A75

SOUTH

S AKJ65
H 9532
D 4
C 1096

(P) P (P) 2NT
(P) 3C (P) 3H
(P) 3S (P) 4C
(P) 4H (P) 4S (!)
(P) 4NT (P) 6H
(P) P (P)

My 3 spades was a mild slam try in hearts. Very mild. Keith cue bid 4C excitedly, and I said no thank you with 4H. I could have bid 4D “last train” to give him more encouragement without going past four or our suit. Keith elected to bid again – and bid 4S ! Looking at the AKJxx of spades, I realized Keith had taken his life in his hands, and must have a very fine hand indeed – he had essentially manufactured a bid to get this message across.

So being the grateful ox I am, I bid 4NT which is Key Card Blackwood. Keith ended the auction with a jump to 6H – there was no reason in his mind to provide the canned response. When the dummy came down, he thought we had missed 7H even. But with the hearts 4-0 offside six was the limit – and my condolences to any pair who did bid 7H on this hand – well done and too bad !!

At the other table, John creatively opened the bidding 1D ahead of the monster hand; monster said double, then Herve responded 1H – try getting to a slam in hearts after that start !!

Next match was against the strong team of Zyg Marcinski, Bryan Masymetz, Waldemar Frukacz, and David T. Willis. Dan Jacob and Larry Hicks were sitting out.

There were five double digit swings in this match – they got one more than us, so we lost this match by 7 imps, ending up with 13 VP. Now we have 117 VP out of a possible 175 VP and are in 6th place.

One hand I would like to take back was when I held 764 AQ986 Q42 J10. LHO passed and Keith opened 1D. I responded 1H, and Keith jump rebid 2NT – showing 18-20 in our methods. We have a very effective method for checking for a 5-3 heart fit at this point, and I chose not to use it.

We do love to avoid 4 of a major when we have extra high cards between us because often bad things can happen at the four level, whereas 3NT will still make. I thus bid 3NT, and caught Keith with only Qx of clubs opposite my J10 doubleton. We quickly went down 2 into our own + 420. Aargh !

I was wrong here to do this though. Perhaps if I had J10 of diamonds and Qxx of clubs it might have been a safer move – but here I know Keith has for sure at least 4 diamonds, and he would not have 4-4 in the minors or he would have opened 1C in our methods. So he has at most three clubs – so this was not a hand to get cute on.

When something like this happens, you feel foolish. But you must get over it – IMMEDIATELY – or your worries will for sure affect you in the subsequent hands.

A little later I made a very normal 1H overcall over 1C with 93 KQJ93 J1052 K6. However, this kept them out of their own 4-4 heart fit and they played 3NT. Had I divined to lead a diamond rather than my god given KH, we could have beaten that too – but no – we were – 460.

This was a double whammy as our teammates opened 1NT on my hand’s right – who no longer felt safe in overcalling at the two level. So he passed, and I think he got to hear his opponents climb up to 4H which was doubled and beaten 3 tricks for –800. So we lost 15 imps on that board – but no real errors on any of our parts – shit happens – deal with it !

On the last board of the match, I had a chance to win 10 imps if I could make 4 spades.

NORTH

S 2
H AQ752
D Q64
C A986

SOUTH

S AQ109863
H 8
D J752
C 3

LHO opened 1C, Keith bid 1H, RHO said double (denying 4 spades) and I bid 1 Spade. LHO passed and Keith rebid 1NT. I jumped to 3S and Keith did well to raise to 4S on his stiff deuce of spades !

LHO led the diamond Ace , attracting the 8 (playing upside down signals) from East. I followed with the two. LHO shifted to the 2 of clubs. I won the Ace, and East played an encouraging 4.

I hoped there was no diamond ruff pending, so I need to focus on losing only one spade trick. If I have to dispose of my long diamond I suppose there is always the hope of a heart hook, or in some cases a heart – diamond squeeze.

So how do I play spades? They hadn’t revealed much of their hands to me yet. All things being equal, LHO is more likely to hold the SK than his partner, given LHO had opened the bidding. So I played a spade to the ten, losing to the doubleton jack. Shortly thereafter I went down 1.

When you are ” in the zone” you get those guesses right – so I am not there yet. Also, I could have tried something exotic and played the Ace of hearts, then the HQ after winning the Ace of clubs. When RHO fails to cover the HK, I could play LHO for that card and the Ace King of diamonds and bits and pieces. Then I could ruff the HQ; lead a diamond towards dummy’s queen, and eventually use the late DQ entry to hook RHO for the king of spades – a bit fancy – and in good company I would expect East not to cover the HQ anyway.

So we lost 6 imps when the opponents were only in 3S making 3, versus gaining 10 imps had I made 4S.

But you must soldier on – a couple of good things also happened for us, and our team mates, so we only lost the match by 7 imps and remain very much alive and well.

I didn't realize how much time this blog would take me - and I doubt I can (or want to) maintain this pace of posting - so enjoy while you can!

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

After Day One - 2009 CNTC in Penticton

2009-06-07T08:58:00.000-07:00

Day one has finished. The maximum you can win in a match is 25 Victory Points (V.P.’s) Given the matches are so short at this stage – it is hard to win or lose by a large margin – so far we have earned at least 13 VP per match – I think.

To simply qualify for the playoffs is everybody’s goal – and if you eventually get to the point where you “know” you are going to make it, try to place in the top 3 – since then you get to select your opponents in the knockout phase of the tournament.

Historically in the CNTC, averaging 17 VP per match makes you a lock to qualify for the KO portion. I have heard that 16.5 is a comfortable average too – and in some years 16 VP per match was enough.

Well we have only played 5 matches so far, but we have 83/125 possible VP. We are averaging 16.6 VP per match – which is likely why we now stand 8th.

It was a rush to sit down at the screened tables surrounded by so many people from my past and present who are all here for the same purpose – to beat each others’ heads in and WIN !

Our very first hand of the tournament woke us all up in a hurry. Both vul, I held KJxx 10 AK104 K76x.

RHO opened 1C, and I bid 1D. (The normal approach would be to pass now and wait for them to bid hearts and then make a take out double). LHO bid 1H, and Keith was there like a bear with 3D – a weak raise.

RHO bid 3H, I had had enough of course, and LHO bid the 4th and final heart. Keith led a low diamond and dummy was

AQ9x
Q9xx
J
A8xx

I won the lead with the king, and shifted to my singleton H10 – mainly by process of elimination – if not the heart then what?

This was ducked smoothly all around to dummy’s queen. Declarer led an immediate low club from the table and it was my turn to duck smoothly. He played the ten from hand and lost to Keith’s Jack. That looked good for us.

Keith exited a low spade; declarer played the queen, and I won the king. Pretty sure Keith had the third ten of spades, so I exited a spade and Keith’s ten forced the dummy’s Ace.

Now a heart was played from the dummy and a palpable pause when I pitched a diamond and failed to follow suit. He soldiered on and rose with the Ace in his hand and now ran the C9 to my king, completing his misery in the club suit as I won the king and gave Keith a ruff. Keith exited King and another heart and when the smoke cleared we were +400 as declarer had to go down 4. Welcome to Penticton ! I’m glad it wasn’t me – no time to even clear the butterflies before that one.

Later in the same match, this same player on my left held AJ109853 J4 3 1095. Both vul, and on his right I opened the bidding 1H. He jumped to 2S – I get this – no one wants to go for 800 or 1100 in the first match – but surely 3S or if you prefer 1S is the better call.

Anyway, this was passed around to me on his right and I bid double for takeout. Keith responded 3D; I raised to 4D; Keith re-raised to 5D, and the preemptor’s hand expressed his opinion with a double of 5D – which became the final contract.

Partner led the King of clubs, and dummy was

Q4
AK8765
AK86
Q

At trick 2, partner shifted to the King of Spades. What do you play and why? LHO thought for long time and played an encouraging card. Alas, partner had no more spades, so Keith was able to establish the hearts and wrap up a gorgeous plus 750! Keith had been dealt 762 3 QJ9542 J63.

Can this problem be solved? Well you could reason that Keith would not bid 5D with a doubleton spade – 3 is more likely. You could also surmise your partner might have bid three spades at some point with AK of clubs and Kx of spades.

But the biggest clue is that if partner did have Kx of spades, he must, no MUST, play a low spade at trick 2 – forcing you to return one. When he didn’t do that, it’s because he could not. Ergo you should overtake the spade king with your ace, temporarily setting up the dummy’s queen; and then returning a spade for partner to ruff and a well deserved plus 200.

I thought that was a really interesting hand.

Next up was our secret weapon – the weak 2 diamond opener. I persuaded Keith that this bid, although Stone-Age in nature, was a very good imp generator, and he is now convinced. Recently we changed our methods specifically for this weak 2 bid – and decided a 2NT response is simply invitational to 3NT – giving up on the normal informatory responses in lieu of practicality. In fact, even our new suit responses are not forcing.

So along came this moose – AK KQ96 Q85 AQ65. I was preparing to open 2NT when lo and behold, Keith was in the auction first with a 2D opener. OK so the good news is I know we have a good game in 5D or 3NT – but what about slam in diamonds or even NT? But I had no methods available to me. I had to decide right here right now do I bid Key Card Blackwood or do I settle for game in 3NT.

Many players would bid 4NT KCB, but we are very liberal with suit quality and our range is 4 – 10 HCP so that could result in silliness I thought. So I bid 3NT and was dismayed to see Keith table :

9832
A
KJ10963
87

As you can see, 6D is a great contract – virtually 100%. And 3NT could even go down after a heart lead. They led the HJ, so I had no entry to the diamonds. If they can duck the DA twice I only have 8 sure tricks. So I won the heart in dummy, and planned to duck a club to my LHO. I was keeping alive the possibility of two club tricks.

RHO played the C9 so I could now finesse the queen - which held – so twelve tricks were immediately claimed. We of course lost ten imps on this board to the 6D contract bid at the other table.

I am sad to report that even at this level of bridge, I am told the player at the other table finessed the club queen also to make 6 – which is an egregious error as twelve tricks are cold with no finesses ! I heard of at least one other player who did this – pretty sad!

I gather most of the field passed Keith’s hand and when partner opened 2NT – they wheeled out 3S – showing some form of 1 or 2 suited diamond hand. 6D was the inevitable result.

Needless to say we decided to change our methods after the match – so this cannot happen again. You lose imps for many reasons at bridge – you make a mistake; they do something really good; they get lucky; you get unlucky; but to lose 10 imps because your methods are inferior to everyone else is NOT acceptable.

There’s not a whole lot of available time – so I will stop here and get ready for Day two. The standings are linked here at the CBF website

http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_CNTCArr1.html

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

You can never go back ?

2009-06-06T07:46:00.000-07:00

Well we'll see if that is true. It has been 21 years since the last time I played in the CNTC (in Vancouver in 1988 with Wayne Timms, Steve Aarons, and Tommy Greer) - we came 3/4, losing to Molson-Baran, Guoba Carruthers, etc.

I have emerged from my cocoon to resume my partnership with Keith Balcombe. Keith and I last played together in 1984 - in the CNTC in Toronto. We had a five man team including Irving Litvack, Eric Kokish, and Joey Silver.

I don't remember much about it - the highlights as I recall are as follows:

We sailed through the round robin; beat a spirited East Coast team in the playoffs (aided by bidding and making a grand off two aces !!!) and made it to the final against an Alberta team. We were very strong in the first half, and sailing to victory. In the third quarter, the wheels came off when I allowed myself to become distracted after I failed to play the card I was known to have while defending a poor slam, and the slam then came home on a squeeze which declarer may not have otherwise played for.

The fourth quarter we tried to mount a comeback but it was too late - we had suffered a very disappointing defeat.

I also recall sitting on the edge of a glass table in the hotel lobby while discussing hands, and falling through the table !! My hand was lacerated, and I lost a lot of blood and my customary red face went pretty white. John Gowdy drove me to the emergency room of a local hospital and I played one-handed the rest of the way.

Anyway, I retired from the game after 1988, and in fact moved to Edmonton to pursue my career in financial services. I lived there five years, and stayed on the wagon. (Bridge wagon that is) Back to Aurora in 1993, a digression into the world of technology with a company called Netron (in fact founded by a group of very sharp guys who were also well known bridge players) and stayed there till 2000 - when the axe finally fell.

Back to financial services helping companies secure growth financing, and eventually into my current business with Svetlana in 2003 - which is more "all things financial" for individuals and small businesses.

I followed the 2008 CNTC online and noted the return to high level bridge of my old friend Michel Lorber - who seemed to effortlessly slough off the rust of his own self imposed retirement and made it to the final of the event.

This got me thinking maybe I should take up the game again. So I checked out the 2009 playing site and dates, and booked me a plane ticket to Penticton. All I needed now was a partner and some team mates. Keith fell off his chair when I asked him to play with me - actually I asked twice because he did not take me seriously the first time !

Anyway, after scrambling to free up his availability for the better part of a month, he masochistically said yes, and then hooked us up with Paul Thurston and Jeff Smith for this year's event.

Later John Duquette (actually my very first regular bridge partner while in University) and Herve Chatagnier rounded out our sextet.

So here we are. It is June 6, 8 AM in the morning. Like most of the players from Eastern Canada, I struggled to stay in bed till a normal time (I first woke up at 3.40 AM) and forced myself to sleep longer. The event starts at 10.30 AM - time for a brisk walk and some breakfast.

Also time to refamiliarize myself with our defenses to some of the exotic bidding methods which have been adopted as mainstream since the last time I sallied forth.

Keith and I will sit out the first match and then sit down to play against one of the "name teams" - Joe Silver, John Carruthers, David Turner, Nader Hanna, Jim Green, and Roy Hughes. Nothing like jumping in the deep end !

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

In the beginning

2008-11-11T20:10:00.001-08:00

Many years ago I was on the cusp of a career as a professional bridge player. I had all the pre-requisites. I had taken up the game with a passion while still a teenager, and had even withdrawn from The University of Waterloo Math Program to pursue my hobby in earnest. (i.e. I was a University drop-out)

I was scratching together a living teaching bridge lessons, and playing semi pro dates - including one memorable experience with Bruce Ferguson and his #1 client Clarence Goppert, at a regional in Lake Placid some 30 years ago. I think I was 19 at the time.

Keith Balcombe and I were recruited to play on a team with Clarence's lovely wife, while Bruce and Mark Lair and George Mittelman and George Keri played on Clarence's "A Team".

The results don't matter much - but it was clear we were heading in a direction only a few players aspire to.

Anyway, life got in the way, and instead of becoming professional bridge bums, Keith and I decided to become "normal citizens" - bridge would remain a(n important) hobby, rather than our source of income.

I went back to University and completed my Math degree. While waiting for the MBA curriculum to begin at MacMaster, I eked out a living again working with and for a fine gentleman called Ted Horning and his then partner Bev Jones at their Bridge Studio in Don Mills.

I taught classes, directed his daily games; ghost wrote his bridge column occasionally, and played a lot of bridge. It was there I first met my very good friend Peter Kline. We have remained close ever since.

I also was (apparently) somewhat of an inspiration to an even younger bridge up and comer - Fred Gitelman - who we all know has gone onto deserved greatness in life and in bridge.

I also met many fine ladies and gentlemen at Ted's club who still remain active in bridge to this day. Back then Hazel was pregnant with Gavin, and still came regularly to the bridge studio.

Over the next few years, I played rarely, since studies were pretty intensive. In first term MBA, I had to take off a couple of weeks to play for Canada in the Bermuda Bowl Trials held in Minneapolis that year. Keith and I had been augmented to play on Nick Gartaganis's team - which included the boy wonders Gord Crispin, Zyg Marcinski, and Voyteck Pomykalski. George Retek was our NPC, and a youngish EOK made perhaps one his earliest coaching forays as the coach of our talented but outgunned team.

That was a glorious experience - we did make into the play offs but experience and skill won out and there was no Bermuda Bowl entry that year. (Back then Canada did not send a team to the Bermuda Bowl - we had to compete in the North American Team Trials for the right to represent North America.)

Anyway, I pretty much decided there could be no more bridge for me until I completed the MBA - no room for both ! So my bridge playing remained dormant until the Spring of 1984 when I graduated.

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com