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Friday, August 31, 2012

Leaving Las Vegas

Ms. Duck and I spent a lot of windshield time yesterday, driving out to the M Resort for a little video poker and lunch, then all the way to the other side of town to Sunset Station, and finally back to Ellis Island Casino to enjoy their sirloin steak special for dinner.

M Resort is a nice property, clean and contemporary, with a spacious casino. I like the layout of it, with the machines spread out leaving plenty of walking room. It's rather quite, but we were there in the morning, so I'm sure things get cooking in the evenings. Plus they have a small flat screen TV above every urinal in the bathroom by the poker room. That's how you can tell it'a a classy joint :)

We split a club sandwach for lunch at the Vig Deli, which is located next to the sports book, and it was so big that I think we could have shared half a sandwich and had plenty. If you like a good sandwich, the Vig is a good choice.

After dropping a few bucks there, we headed for the Sunset Station, a property we had never visited before. It was everything that the M wasn't. A crowded, loud floor that was hard to move around on. We spent two or three hours there, playing video poker and then I walked over to the pit area for a few hands of Pai Gow. A won a little money, but unfortunately I sat next to one of "those players." You know the type, they know everything there is to know about whatever game you are playing. The guy to my left was stating the odds of getting a Pai Gow hand the chances of pushing, etc. Blah, blah, blah.

Mr. Pai Gow went busto in about 30 minutes. Wonder what the odds of that are :)

Next we made our way back to town, driving to the Ellis Island Casino. The steak special was excellent ad after an hour or so of video poker and bad karaoke, we headed back to the Venetian and called it a night.

Today is travel day. Our flight to Austin has already been delayed and is not scheduled to leave until a little after eight tonight. My guess is that we'll pull in our driveway between 2:30-3:00 am tomorrow morning if there are no more delays. Gonna be a long one.

I'll start back with my MLB picks either tomorrow or Sunday. Also, college football is under way, so I'll be looking at those also.

Till next time, win the flips.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Coaching Session

Ms. Duck and I slept in and got started late yesterday morning. After stopping at Harrahs to play our "Alice in Wonderland" penny slot again (the results were not so good this time), we walked to the Cheeseburger Factory for lunch. After spliting a burger we headed in different directions, with Ms Duck hitting the Miracle Mile and Forum malls and I strolled over to Ballys to play a few hands with Coach.

I got there a few minutes early and was seated immediately at the $1-2 table. Coach arrived right on time, but there weren't any open seats, so we decided to walk over to the Flamingo. The poker room there was hopping, with seven or eight tables going. Coach and I opted for a $2-4 limit game so we could visit and not have to follow the game as closely as we would at a no limit table.

There weren't any seats available, but as soon as the floor realized that Coach was in the building, they opened a new table and seated him right next to the rail so his vast fan base could follow his play.

No doubt that Vegas is Coach's world and the rest of us are just living in it :)

We played for about three hours, sharing both poker, sports betting and life stories. Coach has an engaging personality, with a great sense of humor, and it seemed like half the players at the table already knew him. I left to take Ms Duck to dinner and had booked a $35 profit, which puts me down $10 for the trip at the poker tables. Coach was down a little when I left, but it was a pretty soft game, so I imagine he turned a profit before his session ended.

I enjoyed visiting with you Coach and hope we can get together when I'm visiting the desert again.

Ms Duck and I ended up eating at the cafe in Treasure Island. We had planned on driving over to Ellis Island for the steak dinner special, but decided to save that for today. She also wants to drive out to the M-Resort, which we visited our last trip and both liked.

Thursday is our last full day in Vegas. Hopefully, it will be as profitable as our first day here was!

Till next time, win the flips.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Coolered

Ms. Duck and I took a short trip to the Gambler's General Store to pick up a discard tray for one of our blackjack tables we use in our casino party business. I broke one while refelting it a few months ago. I picked up a few odds and ends in addition for our home poker game.

By the time we got back to the Venetian it was lunch time, so we hoofed it down to PF Changs for some egg rolls and almond chicken. Ms. Duck wanted to play at the Cosmopolitan to take advantage of their Zappos promotion, so we strolled on over. My understanding is that Zappos is a shoe store.

From there we caught the tram to the Monte Carlo where I sat in on a $2-6 spread limit hold em game. I left 3 or 4 hours later up about $80. It would have been more, but I was coolered when my A-Q saw a flop of Q-Q-3. I kept betting, thinking I was good because my opponent just called me down (even the river) and tabled 3-3 for the flopped boat.

Coach and I are meeting at Ballys this afternoon at 2 o'clock to play a few hands and hopefully relieve the tourists of some of their money. So, if you're in the area, stop by and say hi.

Two more days before we catch a bird home.

Till next time, win the flips.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Alice in Wonderland

Another fun day in Vegas yesterday, although not a profitable one.

I played a little $1-2 NLHE at Ballys yesterday afternoon, dropping about $50 in three hours of play. I signed up for the 4 o'clock tournament, but there were only four of us, so we opted for a refund and I headed over to Planet Ho for their tourney.

I was about 15 minutes late, but got seated without any problems. There were a little north of 40 players, with a $1,500 first prize. I stole a couple of hands early, then won a nice pot with trip kings just before the first break, which put me slightly above the average stack.

With blinds quickly becoming a factor, I went card-dead and had to fold-fold-fold to raises. My tourney ended when I pushed pocket 7s from middle position and got looked up by pocket 9s. Good game me :(

Ms. Duck met me at Tolo, in the Planet Ho casino for a mexican food dinner. We split an order of quesadillas and both had a bowl of ckicken tortilla soup. It made for a tasty meal, although a bit pricy, costing $32 with tip.

We stopped at Harrahs on the walk back to the Venetian, and Ms. Duck saw a penny slot with an Alice in Wonderland theme and wanted to play. There were two Alice machines side by side, so we both played for about an hour. Ms. Duck turned her $20 investment into $73, and I was able to turn my $50 buy in into $131, which brought us close to even for the day. I guess you could say that we had a lot of fun for not much money, always a good thing in a Small Potatoes world :)

We were able to play at several properties yesterday, including the Venetian, Imperial Palace, Flamingo, Ballys, Paris, Planet Ho, and Harrahs. Ms. Duck hasen't toldme where we're going today, but it's her choice, so we'll see.

Till next time, win the flips.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Royal Flush!

Greetings from Vegas!

Ms. Duck and I arrived Saturday around lunch time, picked up our bags (all of them this time... Yea!) and rent car, and made the drive out to Sam's Town.

It was too early to check in, so we headed over to the TGI Fridays in the casino and split a Jack Daniels grilled chicken sandwich, which hit the spot!

With an hour left before we could check in, we found a couple of nickel video poker machines that had a $520 progressive jackpot for a royal flush, so we sat down. No more than five minutes later I was dealt A-K-T of diamonds, plus two trash cards. I tossed the two and watched the J and Q of diamonds fill in my royal and a $520 payout!

That's a nice start to the trip.

Yesterday we moved to the Venetian and will be here for the duration of the trip. Before driving over to the strip, Ms. Duck and I played at Boulder Station and the Cannery casinos, then drove over to Sunset Station, which was a beautiful casino. Ms. Duck won a nice $173 jackpot playing a penny "Cows From the Planet Moolah" slot machine.

Last night we made our way over to the Orleans, where I donated almost $100 at their Pai Gow table. I was doing pretty well, but then a new dealer started pitching cards and kicked my butt.

I then joined Ms. Duck for some more video poker and adult beverages and hit four aces for a $100 pot on a quarter machine. We thought that was a good time to call it a night and made the trek back to the Venetian.

So, I've been here a day and a half and haven't played one poker hand. That just ain't right and something that will be rectified today :)

I don't know if I'll be posting any MLB picks while we're in Vegas. I have a netbook with me, but it's agonizingly (is that a word?) slow and it takes quite a while to do the research. We'll see.

Till next time, win the flips.
If any of you bloggers that are in Vegas this week and want to get together, please leave your contact info as a comment (I won't publish it) and I'll give you a shout.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

MLB Picks, August 25th

A couple of games on today's menu that a worth a nibble.

$10 on San Francisco (Bumgarner) over Atlanta (Minor) -1 1/2 @ +$150
In a battle of left handers, Madison Bumgarner takes the hill for the Giants, bringing an 8-1 record at home this season, with a 1.87 ERA to the tilt. The Braves counter with Mike Minor, who is 2-6 with a 5.91 ERA on the highway this season. The Giants have won 4 straight games and are 27-13 against leftys this year.
$20 on NY Yankees (Kuroda) over Clwvland (Masterson) -1 1/2 @ +$105
Hiroki Kuroda will toe the rubber today for the pin stripers. Kuroda has thrown well lately, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.54 ERA in his last three starts. Masterson gets the nod for the Tribe, sporting a 4.34 ERA in his last three starts.The Yankees are 3-0 against Clevland this season. Thw Tribe has lost 9 straight.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 303.25
Current Bankroll            $1,803.25

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Friday, August 24, 2012

Vegas Baby!


 I'll be crawling out of bed around 3:30 in the morning, drive to Austin, get on a plane, fly to Phoenix, get on another plane, fly to Las Vegas, hope to pick up my bags, pick up my rent car, drive to Sam's Town, check in, and collapse.


Yeah, it'll be a long day, but I can't wait!

Vegas baby!

MLB picks, August 24th

One game on today's MLB schedule that looks interesting.

$15 on NY Mets (Niese) over Houston (Lyles) -1 1/2 @ -$110
When you are 37 games out of first in August, it's been a long summer. The hapless Astros limp into the Big Apple on a seven game losing streak. The Mets haven't fared much better lately, losing five straight. One of the few bright spots, Jonathan Niese takes the ball for New York, bringing a 10-6 record with a 3.49 ERA this year into the contest. Jordan Lyles will throw the horsehide for Houston. Lyles is 0-6 with a 7.58 ERA on the highway this season and the Astros are 12-51. The Mets aren't good, but Houston has been so incredibly bad the last two months that it's hard not to bet against them regardless who they are playing.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 318.25
Current Bankroll            $1,818.25

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

MLB Picks, August 23rd


 There are a couple of games I like on today's MLB schedule, but the line is so bad (-1 1/2 @ -$140) on both the Cards/Astros and Tigers/Jays match ups that I'm going to pass on both of them and sit out.


Hopefully, tomorrow's line up will look better.

Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 318.25
Current Bankroll            $1,818.25

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

MLB Picks, August 22nd

Only one game on the docket today that's worth a peek.

$15 on St. Louis (Lohse) over Houston (Norris) -1 1/2 @ -$130
Kyle Lohse brings his 12-2 record and 2.61 ERA to the hill to face the hapless Astros. Houston counters with Bud Norris, who is 2-9 with a 7.50 ERA on the highway this season and is 0-2, 6.61 in his last three starts. The Redbirds have won 4 of the last 5 games between the two clubs. Houston is an incredible 12-49 on the road this season and has lost 7 of their last 8 games overall.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 307.75
Current Bankroll            $1,807.75

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

MLB Picks, August 21st

Only one game on the menu today that is worth a nibble. I like the Tampa/ Kansas City match up, but the line is -1 1/2 @ -$125, and that's a bit expensive for my taste.

$15 on Seattle (F.Hernendez) over Cleveland (R.Hernandez) -1 1/2 @ +$100
Coming off a perfect game in his last outing, Felix Hernandez takes the ball tonight for a hot Mariners club against a struggling Indians team. Felix is 11-5 with a 2.60 ERA this season and is 5-0, 1.55 in his last eight starts. In a battle of Hernandez's, the tribe trots out Roberto for only his second start. His first time out he was lit up for 5 runs in 6 innings against the Angels. Seattle has won 6 straight and 9 of their last 10 games. Cleveland is 5-16 in their last 21.

Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 292.75
Current Bankroll            $1,792.75

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Monday, August 20, 2012

MLB Picks, August 20th

Only one game on the Monday MLB schedule that looks profitable.

$10 on Oakland (McCarthy) over Minnesota (Duensing) -1 1/2 @ +$130
Brandon McCarthy gets the nod for the A's, bringing a 3-2 record with a 1.57 ERA at home this season. A struggling Brian Duensing takes the ball for the Twins. Duensing has posted a 2-8 record and a 4.69 ERA this year. Oakland has won four straight while the Twinkies have dropped five in a row and 9 of 10.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 302.75
Current Bankroll            $1,802.75

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Vegas Countdown Begins

T-Minus five days and counting.

Ms. Duck and I leave for the desert Saturday morning. Usually, we fly a puddle jumper from Waco to Dallas, then get on a real plane for the flight to Vegas. This time however, we are flying Southwest out of Austin. I'm not looking forward to the drive early Saturday morning, then trying to navigate around an airport that I've never visited before. 

Southwest gave us 50,000 points to sign up for their credit card, and the trip for both of us is around 37,000 points, so I jumped on the deal. So, it's costing $15 for both of us to fly round trip. Plus, no baggage fees (I'm looking at you American Airlines)! But, Southwest doesn't fly out of Waco, so we have to make the drive.

We have a short stop in Phoenix on the flight out, but our Friday flight home is direct to Austin.

Saturday night we're booked at Sam's Town for $69. The strip hotels are just too expensive on the weekends, so we always stay off strip. Sunday we move over to the Venetian for the duration.

I'll be playing a lot of poker of course, but will also attempt to introduce Ms. Duck to Pai Gow. She's not too big on table games, preferring Deuces Wild video poker, but since her play will have no effect on the other players, she won't have to worry about pissing somebody off. If you've played blackjack before, you know what I mean.

Hopefully, I'll have time to post a few stories. Whether they'll be profitable stories remains to be seen :)

Saturday, August 18, 2012

MLB Picks, August 18th

Two late games on tap tonight that look good.

$15 on Arizona (Corbin) over  Houston (Lyles) -1 1/2 @ -$105
Pat Corbin takes the ball for the Diamondbacks in Houston. Corbin is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his last three trips to the bump. The Astros counter with Jordan Lyles, who is 2-9 with a 5.47 ERA this season. In his last eight starts Lyles is 0-5 with a 7.74 ERA and has a career 10.12 ERA against Arizona.  Houston has struggled mightily over the last few weeks, going 4-13 in their last 17 games. The D-Backs are 4-0 versus the Astros this year.
$10 on Oakland (Colon) over Cleveland (Kluber) -1 1/2 @ +$130
Bartolo Colon gets the nod for the A's tonight, bringing a 3-1 record with a 2.39 ERA in his last four starts to the tilt. Corey Kluber is 0-1 with an 8.56 ERA this season and hashad a rough go of it in enemy territory, posting a hefty 12.46 ERA. Oakland is 17-7 in their last 24 home games while the Tribe is 4-15 in their last 19 games.

MGM Mirage has the best price on this one.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 275.50
Current Bankroll            $1,775.50

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Friday, August 17, 2012

MLB Picks, August 17th

Only one game on the menu today that looks like it's worth a nibble.

$20 on Washington (Detwiler) over NY Mets (Santana) -1 1/2 @ +$130
It's a battle of leftys tonight in our nation's capitol, with Ross Detwiler and Johan Santana facing off. Detwiler is tough at home, posting a 5-1 record with a 2.51 ERA when he sleeps in his own bed. Santana struggled in his first start off the DL, giving up 8 runs in 1+ innings against the Braves and has a 19.29 ERA in his last three trips to the hill. The Nats are 22-15 versus southpaws while the Mets are 17-26. Washington has won 12 of their last 15 games and New York has dropped 7 of 10. The Nationals lead the heads-up series this season 9-3.

Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 249.50
Current Bankroll            $1,749.50

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

MLB Picks, August 16th

I don't see anything on today's abbreviated MLB schedule that is worth betting, so I'm going to take a seat on the bench and take a look tomorrow.

Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 249.50
Current Bankroll            $1,749.50

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

MLB Picks, August 15th

There are a couple of games worth a look today.

$15 on Philadelphia (Halladay) over Miami (Buehrle) -1 1/2 @ +$120
Roy "Doc" Halladay takes the ball for the Phils this afternoon, bringing a 2-1 record and a 1.71 ERA in his last three starts to the contest. The Marlins start Mark Buehrle, a southpaw slinger that has struggled recently, going 0-3 with a 7.18 ERA in his last 5 outings. The Phillies have won 4 of their last 5 games while the Fish have dropped 19 of 27. One note of caution, the Phillies haven't fared well against leftys, posting a 14-22 record.
$15 on LA Dodger (Kershaw) over Pittsburgh (Rodriguez) -1 1/2 @ +$120
Clayton Kershaw gets the nod for the Dodgers today, facing the Pirates recent addition from the Astros, Wandy Rodriguez. Kershaw is 10-6 this season with a 2.88 ERA. He's been even tougher lately, going 3-0, 1.21 in his last three trips to the bump. Rodriguez hasn't settled into his new surroundings yet, posting a 0-2 record with a 4.74 ERA in his last three outings. LA has won 7 of their last 10 games and Pittsburgh has lost 5 0f 6. The Dodgers are 5-0 against the Pirates this season.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 246.50
Current Bankroll            $1,746.50

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Birthday Wishes

My father would have been 83 today, so I looked up an old picture to share with you.


The good looking kid on the right is moi as a duckling.

Happy Birthday Dad.

MLB Picks, August 14th

There are three games on the docket today that look like good opportunities to make a buck.

$15 on Cincinnati (Latos) over NY Mets (Young) -1 1/2 @ +$105
Mat Latos takes the ball for the Reds today, bringing a 10-3 record and a 3.81 ERA this season to the party. He's been stellar lately, going 3-0, 1.65 in his last four outings. The Mets counter with Chris Young, who is 3-6 on the year with a 4.87 ERA. In his last three starts Young is 1-2, 8.22.
$10 on Miami (Johnson) over Philadelphia (Kendrick) -1 1/2 @ +$140
Josh Johnson gets the nod for the Fish against Philly today. Johnson has been solid of late, going 1-1 with a 2.29 ERA in his last three trips to the bump. Kyle Kendrick will be throwing the pill for the Phillies. Kendrick has had a disappointing year, posting a 4-9 record with a 4.86 ERA. In his last three starts he is 0-1 with a hefty 9.39 ERA.
$10 on Tampa Bay (Moore) over Seattle (Millwood) -1 1/2 @ +$105
Matt Moore will be throwing the horsehide for the red hot Rays. Moore is 3-0 with a tiny 0.51 ERA in his last three trips to the hill. Kevin Millwood toes the rubber for Seattle, bringing a 4-10 record this season and a 4.38 ERA to the tilt. In his last three starts, Millwood has a 6.06 ERA. Tampa Bay has won seven straight and the Mariners have dropped 7 of their last 10 games.

Caesars has the best line on this one.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 250.75
Current Bankroll            $1,750.75

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Monday, August 13, 2012

MLB Picks, August 13th


Only one game on the menu today that's worth a look.


$20 on Milwaukee (Fiers) over Colorado (Francis) -1 1/2 @ +$110
Mike Fiers is having a stellar year, posting a 6-4 record with an impressive 1.80 ERA. In his last nine starts he is 5-2 with a 1.19 ERA. He'll take the ball and face off against Jeff Francis, who is 3-4 with a 6.06 ERA this season. In his last three outings he has been lit up and has a hefty 10.80 ERA. The Brewers have won 4 of their last 6 ganes. The Rockies have lost 10 of their last 11 home games.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 270.75
Current Bankroll            $1,770.75

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Won a Bet, Lost a Tourney

We had all 10 Vegas or Bust League members seated for our eighth league tournament last Friday. When completed, it marked the half way point of the season. The first and second place finishers in league play win a seat to the 2013 WSOP, plus airfare and hotel expenses.

Through seven tourneys I had a nine point lead over J-Dawg, but had a poor seventh place finish in our July event. My goal in this tournament was to finish no lower than third.

Seated from left to right on your radio dial were Lil' Annie Okie, Tin Man, Stamps, Philly Phanatic, Bobby Dee, J-Dawg, Ollie the Accountant, Dealer Larry, Big Daddy, and yours truly, Lucki Duck.

I challenged the rest of the table to a $10 last longer side bet, but didn't get any takers. J-Dawg sais he would go for a $5 one and both Bobby Dee and Big Daddy joined for a $20 pot.

Unlike in most of the tournaments thus far, this time I got several big starting hands early, with mixed results. The very first hand I peeked down at was Big Slick and I raised the $10-20 blind to $60 and got one customer. I whiffed the flop, but tossed out a $70 continuation bet and Stamps folded.

Just a few hands later, I got Big Slick again and open raised to $50 from middle position. Once again, I missed the flop and tossed in a $60 c-bet. This time Stamps called. Stamps plays pretty tight poker, so I knew I was behind in the hand, probably to a mid pocket pair. We both checked the turn and river and Stamps tabled pocket sevens for the win.

Still on the first revolution around the table, I picked up Q-Q and raised to $70 with one limper in front. The flop was 4-Q-7 and Big Daddy bet into me. Since the flop was a rainbow, I just smooth called. Big Daddy threw a black chip in when a 10 hit the turn and I decided it was time to show a little aggression and raised to $250, causing Big Daddy to fold. Too bad, I thought he might have enough of a hand to stick with me.

The problem with getting hands early is that it seems that you can never pick up any hands late when the blinds are big and you can win some sizeable pots. Tonight was no exception. I managed to pick up a few pots during the mid stages, but when it got late I just couldn't get anything worth playing.

Dealer Larry was the first to fall on his sword, followed by Philly Phanatic. After a quick start in league play, Philly has had two bad finishes in the last three tourneys and this one dropped him back in the standings.

J-Dawg was next, which dropped him from second to third in the league standings, which is big, but he's only one point behind Ollie and still has a good shot at a spot in the WSOP.

As is his MO, Big Daddy built a big stack early then pissed it away thying to play table captain and went out in seventh. Bobby Dee was next to go, which secured the last longer bet for me and I pocketed the $15 profit.

Now down to five players and blinds rising, everyone dug their heels in, tightening up in an attempt to outlast the other players. A perfect opportunity to start stealing blinds. I did manage to pick up two or three pots, but was basically card dead. Stamps finally went out in fifth and I was next when my pocket fours were called by Tin Man with Big Slick. Things were looking good with a J-7-J flop, but I was counterfeited when another 7 showed its ugly face on the turn.

With blinds capped at $1000-2000, the tournament didn't last much longer, with Lil' Annie Okie eliminated in third, followed by Ollie in second, giving Tin Man his much needed first win in league play.

Click here for the complete standings. 

The $2 buy in cash game went well for me, cashing out with a $6 profit. Added to my $15 win on my last longer bet, it ended up being a nice night for the ol' bankroll.

Our next league tournament will be September 14th.

Till next time, win the flips.


Friday, August 10, 2012

Vegas or Bust Poker League









We have our eighth league tournament tonight in our Vegas or Bust Poker League, which will mark the halfway point of league play. As you may recall, the top two finishers win seats to the WSOP next year.


I'll be trying to redeem myself after a disappointing 7th place finish last month.

Click here for the current standings.

I'll have an update this weekend.

Till next time, win the flips.

MLB Picks, August 10th

There are a couple of games on the schedule today that look like good match ups.

$15 on Boston (Buchholz) over Cleveland (Seddon) -1 1/2 @ +$105
Clay Buchholz takes the ball for the Red Sox in Cleveland tonight. Buchholz hasn't lost in his last four starts, posting a 1.80 ERA. The Tribe sends lefty Chris Seddon to the hill for his second start of the year. He had a no decision in his first outing, giving up 4 runs in 4+ innings. The Sox are 22-14 against southpaws this season. Cleveland has lost 11 of their last 13 games.

LVH has the best price on this one.
$10 on Seattle (Hernendez) over LA Angels (Santana) @ +$105

Felix Hernandez will be throwing the horsehide for the Mariners tonight as they visit Anaheim. Hernandez is 10-5 with a 2.63 ERA on the year, but has been even better the last month as evidenced by his 4-0 record and 1.13 ERA. A struggling Ervin Santana gets the nod for the Halos. Santana is 5-10 with a 5.83 ERA this season and is 1-3, 8.73 in his last 8 starts. Seattle has dropped four straight games, and LA has won 5 of the 7 games between the two this season, so I'm only betting the minimum on this one. But I do like the pitching match up and the Angels have lost 6 of their last 8 games.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 295.75
Current Bankroll            $1,795.75

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

One Christian's View on Gays, the Bible, and Chick-fil-A


Now that most of the hubbub has settled from the Chick-fil-A versus the gays issue of a week ago, I want to add my two cents worth.

As you will recall, the President of Chick-fil-A, Dan Cathy, stated publicly that he was "guilty as charged" in support of what he called the biblical definition of marriage. Cathy also recently told an Atlanta area radio station that by supporting gay nuptials, America is "inviting God's wrath."

Not surprisingly, it started a firestorm.

The mayors of Chicago and Boston came out against having any Chick-fil-A restaurants in their cities. Mayor Lee of San Francisco even went so far as to issue a mild threat towards the company, tweeting "Closest Chick-fil-A is 40 miles away and I strongly recommend that they not try to come any closer."

So much for freedom of expression ... unless you're a mayor.

Thousands of Americans supported Mr. Cathy and Chick-fil-A's stance against gay marriage by purchasing chicken sandwiches ( and fries I presume) from the company on a day designated to support the fast food chain. Gay rights groups responded by staging "kiss ins" at various Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country.

I did not attend either. Here's why.

My feeling towards the supporters of Chick-fil-A is that most were there to cast stones at the gay community as much as to support Mr. Cathy. Had I attended, it would have been in support of Mr. Cathy's right to state his views, whether I agree with them or not, I believe he has that right.

My feelings towards the gay community's "kiss in" is that I don't want to see any couple, gay or straight, tickling each others tonsils in public. Keep it where it belongs, behind closed doors. I also believe these kinds of acts only drive the wedge deeper between the two groups.

As a practicing Christian and someone who has both friends and relatives that are gay, I've spent some time studying this issue from a Christian perspective. Here are my thoughts on the matter.

I think the first thing we have to determine is whether being gay is a choice or is it in your DNA. Did you choose to be gay, or did God create you this way?

People, gay or straight, are like water. Water, you see, always seeks the path of least resistance. Once it finds that path, that's where it flows. People are no different. Why would someone choose to be gay, knowing the difficulties it is sure to bring. You lose friends, and even risk that some family members will disown you. Many gays live lives of secrecy because of the fallout coming out of the closet might cause. Who would choose to live that way unless it was ingrained in them from birth? They wouldn't. They would seek the path of least resistance.

So, I fall in with the "gay from birth" crowd.

Now, let's take a look at the bible. To me, the bible is the story of God trying to reconcile man to Himself. He tried a man (Abraham), a nation (Israel), prophets, kings, and judges to accomplish this goal. When none of that worked, a savior was sent in Jesus the Christ. This thread is undeniable. Whether you accept the bible as a divine inspiration or not, the tapestry weaved throughout the bible is one of reconciliation.

So now we have a problem. If God created some of us with a "gay gene" if you will, and if He is truly offering reconciliation as the bible story illustrates, I have a difficult time preaching to the gay community that they are doomed to an eternity in hell. And yes, I know you can pull a few lines of scripture that condemns this lifestyle, but I think the spirit of the bible, especially the New Testament, is one of forgiveness and reconciliation. Being gay is not a conscious decision, but rather planted by the Almighty Himself. How could the One who "so loved the world that he sent his only Son, so that anyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life," (John 3:16), condemn someone for something He created? This verse sounds more like the open hand of reconciliation to me.

Perhaps we Christians might be better served to remember the next verse in John (3:17) before passing judgement, "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it."

Amen.

Within the Christian world I belong to the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ denomination. Our denomination is known for two things; celebrating communion each and every Sunday, and welcoming any and all believers who accept that Jesus is the Savior, regardless of church affiliation or denomination, to the communion table.

Within the walls of the church I attend are more than one gay couple. They are welcome to take the bread and cup just like the rest of us and I don't have a problem with that at all. It's His table, not ours, and I can't help but believe that's the way He would want us to conduct this sacrament.

As Dennis Miller has been known to say, "That's just my opinion. I could be wrong." But, one thing of which I'm certain, it will not be me or any of the folks eating at or managing Chick-fil-A that will make that final judgement. It will be the One who created us all. And on that day, I won't be demanding justice, but rather pleading for mercy.




MLB Picks, August 9th

Two games on the menu today that are worth a peek.

$15 on Tampa Bay (Moore) over Toronto (Alvarez) -1 1/2 @ +$115
Matt Moore will be throwing the pill for the Rays today, bringing a 2-1 record with a 0.92 ERA in his last three outings. The Blue Jays counter with Henderson Alvarez who has struggled against Tampa this season, posting a 0-2 record and a 6.92 ERA. The Rays have won 8 of the 10 match ups between the two teams this season. They have also won 7 of their last 10 games overall while Toronto has dropped 8 of 10.
$10 on Baltimore (Chen) over Kansas City (Smith) -1 1/2 @ +$130
Wei-Yin Chen takes the ball for the Orioles in this match up of southpaw hurlers. Chen is 2-1 with a 1.40 ERA in his last three starts. The Royals send Will Smith to the hill. Smith brings a 2-4 record with a 6.00 ERA this season to the party. Baltimore has fared well against leftys, posting a 17-12 record. The same can't be said for the Royals who bring a 14-22 record against port siders to the tilt. The Os have won 5 straight and 8 of their last 10 games.

Caesars has the best line on this one.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 288.50
Current Bankroll            $1,788.50

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

MLB Picks, August 8th

Just one game on the docket today that's worth a peek.

$15 on LA Dodgers (Billingsley) over Colorado (Francis) -1 1/2 @ +$110
Chad Billingsley takes the ball for the Dodgers tonight, bringing a 3-0 record with a 0.89 ERA with him in his last three starts. The Rockies counter with southpaw Jeff Francis, who has had a rough time recently, going 1-2 with a hefty 8.68 ERA in his last four trips to the bump. The Rockies have dropped 7 of their last 10 games.
Caesars has the best line on this game.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 272.00
Current Bankroll            $1,772.00

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

MLB Picks, August 7th

Three games on the MLB docket today that look promising.

$10 on Minnesota (Deduno) over Cleveland (Kluber) @ +$105
Samuel Deduno toes the rubber for the Twins this evening, bringing with him a 3-0 record and a 0.93 ERA in his last three starts. The Tribe counters with Corey Kluber, who was clubbered by the Royals for 6 runs in 4+ innings in his only start. Minnesota is playing their best ball of the season right now, winning 7 of their last 10 games and are 6-3 versus the Indians this year. Cleveland has had a rough go of it lately, losing 10 straight games including a 14-3 drubbing last night at the hands of the Twins.
$15 on Washington (Detwiler) over Houston (Lyles) -1 1/2 @ -$115
Ross Detwiler takes the ball for the Nats in the Bayou City tonight. Detwiler has posted a 6-4 record this year with a 3.02 ERA and is 2-1, 2.41 in his last three outings. Jordan Lyles is the sacrificial lamb for the Astros tonight. Lyles is 0-2 with a 8.64 ERA in his last three trips to the bump. Washington has won 4 of 5 against the Astros. Houston is 4-31 in its last 35 games. That's right, 4-31.
$10 on Chi Sox (Peavy) over Kansas City (Chen) -1 1/2 @ +$100
Jake Peavy throws the horsehide tonight for the Palehose. Peavy has been solid this season, sporting a 9-7 record with a 3.04 ERA. In his last start he limited the Twins to 1 run in 8 innings. The Royals send Bruce Chen to the hill. Chen has struggled in enemy territory, going 3-6 with a 6.88 ERA on the highway. He hasn't  been much better lately, going 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA in his last three starts. The Sox have won 7 of their last 10 games.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 286.50
Current Bankroll            $1,786.50

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Monday, August 6, 2012

MLB Picks, August 6th

There are a couple of games on the menu today that look good.

$20 on Washington (Jackson) over Houston (Keuchel) -1 1/2 @ -$115
Edwin Jackson takes the ball for the Nats in Houston tonight, bringing a 1.83 ERA in his last three starts to the dance. Dallas Keuchel starts for the Astros, and has posted a 1-4 record this season, with a 5.77 ERA. In his last four outings Keuchel is 0-4 with a hefty 10.89 ERA. He has also surrendered 6 long balls in his last 19 innings of work. Washington has won 12 of their last 16 games and are 3-1 against Houston this year. The Astros have dropped 17 of their last 19.
$10 on Cincinnati (Arroyo) over Milwaukee (Gallardo) @ +$120
Bronson Arroyo toes the rubber for the Redlegs in Milwaukee tonight. In his last three outings, Arroyo is 3-0 with a 2.89 ERA. The Brew Crew counters with Yovani Gallardo, who is 1-2 with a 6.11 ERA in his last three trips to the mound. Cincy is 15-2 in their last 17 games while Milwaukee is 4-12 in their last 16. The Reds have won 7 of the 9 match ups between the two teams this season.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 286.50
Current Bankroll            $1,786.50

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Saturday, August 4, 2012

MLB Picks, August 5th

Only one game worth a peek on today's schedule.

$15 on Tampa Bay (Price) over Baltimore (Gonzales) -1 1/2 @ +$105
David Price will be firing the horsehide at the Orioles. Price is 14-4 with a 2.64 ERA this year and has been even better lately, posting a 2-0 record and a 1.71 ERA. Miguel Gonzales toes the rubber for Baltimore and has pitched well for most of the season, but has struggled lately as shown by his 7.31 ERA in his last three starts. LVH has the best price on this one.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 301.50
Current Bankroll            $1,801.50

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

MLB Picks, August 4th

There are quite a few games on today's schedule that look good.

$10 on Texas (Feldman) over Kansas City (Smith) -1 1/2 @ +$100
Scott Feldman toes the rubber for the Rangers, who are finally starting to hit the ball like they're capable. Feldman has been excellent lately, going 3-0 with a 0.53 ERA in his last three outings. Will Smith takes the ball for the Royals, and he hasn't had a lot of success at home, posting a 0-2 record with a 9.00 ERA.
$10 on Detroit (Fister) over Cleveland (Jimenez) -1 1/2 @ +$100
Doug Fister throws the horsehide for the Tigers tonight. He is 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA in his last three trips to the bump. Ubaldo Jimenez has struggled lately, going 0-3 with a 7.97 ERA in his last four starts and is 4-7, 6.68 on the highway this season. Detroit has won 12 of their last 13 home games while the Tribe has dropped 7 straight games.
$10 on Washington (Zimmermann) over Miami (Buehrle) - 1 1/2 @ +$120
A hot Jordan Zimmermann takes the mound for the Nats tonight. Zimm has gone 5-0 with a 1.23 ERA in his last seven starts. Mark Buehrle gets the nod for the Fish. Buehrle has had a tough go of it lately, posting a 0-2 record with a 7.53 ERA in his last three starts. Washington has won 10 of their last 14 games while the Marlins have dropped 12 of 17.
$10 on Chi Sox (Floyd) over LA Angels (Santana) - 1 1/2 @ +$160
Gavin Floyd starts for the Sox and has pitched well recently, posting a 2-1 record with a 1.33 ERA in his last three outings. He is also tough at home, as evidenced by his 7-3 record this season. Ervin Santana will try to get back on track for the Halos tonight. He is 1-2 with a hefty 12.32 ERA in his last five starts. He has also stumbled in enemy territory, posting a 6.83 ERA this year.
$10 on San Francisco (Bumgarner) over Colorado (Francis) -1 1/2 @ +$105
Madison Bumgarner takes the ball for the Giants against a struggling Rockies team. Bumgarner is 11-6 with a 3.09 ERA this season and his ERA is even lower in his last four starts. Southpaw Jeff Francis will try to right the ship for Colorado and brings a 1-1 record with a 7.20 ERA in his last three trips to the bump. He's also liberal with runs at home, posting a 6.17 ERA in his home park this season. San Fran has fared well against leftys this year, sporting a 22-11 record against port-sided hurlers.

Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 269.00
Current Bankroll            $1,769.00

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Friday, August 3, 2012

MLB Picks, August 3rd

Three games on the docket today that look promising.

$10 on Tampa Bay (Moore) over Baltimore (Hunter) -1 1/2 @ +$125
Matt Moore takes the ball for the Rays tonight, bringing a 2-1 record with a nifty 1.86 ERA in his last three trips to the hill. Even more impressive is his 1.74 ERA versus the Orioles. A struggling Tommy Hunter gets the nod for the O's. Hunter sports a 0-2 record with a 5.54 ERA in his last three starts. He's been even worse on the highway this season, going 1-4, 6.27.
$15 on San Francisco (Vogelsong) over Colorado (Sanchez) -1 1/2 @ +$100
The Giants send Ryan Vogelsong to the bump tonight against the Rockies. Vogelsong is 8-5 this year with a 2.22 ERA and has been even better lately, going 3-1, 2.03 in his last six outings. He has also fared well against the Rockies, sporting a 4-0 record and a 1.07 ERA. Colorado counters with lefthander Jonathan Sanchez, who is making his third start. Things have been a little "rockie" for him thus far, going 0-2 with an 11.88 ERA in his first two. The Giants have hit southpaws well this season, winning 21 of 32 games against portsiders. The Rockies have lost 8 of their last 10 games.
$20 on Atlanta (Hudson) over Houston (Gallarraga) -1 1/2 @ -$125
Tim Hudson will throw the first pitch for the Braves tonight against the worst team in Major League Baseball, the Houston Astros. Hudson is 10-4 with a 3.68 ERA this season and is 3-0, 3-15 in his last three starts. Houston counters with Armando Gallarraga, who has made only one start. The Braves have won 8 of their last 10 games while the Astros have won only 10 of 54 games in enemy territory.

I've decided to up my bet sizing in Astros road games. They've pretty much traded away all their major league talent as they look to the future and are basically a triple A team playing in the National League. I figure if I have to suffer through a season of watching them get pounded night after night, I might as well make a few bucks along the way.

Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 226.50
Current Bankroll            $1,726.50

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Thursday, August 2, 2012

MLB Picks, August 2nd

Only one game worth a peek on today's abbreviated schedule.

$10 on St. Louis (Lynn) over Colorado (White) -1 1/2 @ +$100
Lance Lynn toes the rubber for the Cards today, bringing with him a 13-4 record and a 3.42 ERA this season. He's just as tough in enemy territory, posting a stellar 7-2 record. Alex White gets the start for the slumping Rockies. The righty is 2-6 with a 6.45 ERA this year and is 0-2, 9.58 in his last three trips to the bump. St. Louis has owned the Rockies this season winning five of the six match ups. The Redbirds have won 9 of their last 12 games overall while the Rockies have dropped five straight.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 236.50
Current Bankroll            $1,736.50

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Snowmen!

After a late night playing poker at the Choctaw Casino, our crew was back at it Saturday morning.

We met in the lobby at the Hampton at 9 am, enjoyed a quick breakfast, and headed over to Choctaw. Philly Phanatic and I were heading towards the poker room, but a "Monopoly" penny slot machine was calling his name, so I was on my own.

I was seated immediately at a $1-2 NLHE table and quickly surmised that the level of play was going to be higher than the previous day. There were four players there for the Cardplayer Magazine Poker Tour waiting for Day 2 of a tournament that was scheduled to begin at noon. Fortunately, one of them left not long after I arrived and I asked for a seat change to put the better players to my right.

My session began with a run of ugly starting hands, which kept me from losing much money, but was also frustrating. I did get a couple of small pocket pairs in late position, but whiffed the flop both times. My first hand of any significance was pocket aces. I was UTG and raised to $7, getting one customer who was the BB. My opponent bet $10 into a 9 high flop and I popped it to $25, putting him on top pair with a painted kicker. He called and checked  the turn, which was a four that paired the board. I bet $35 and Mr. Pair of Nines called. The river was another 9 and I knew I was a screwed goose duck.

He pushed his remaining $100 and I mucked. He didn't show, but I overheard him whisper to his buddy next to him that he had the boat.

Sometimes aces suck.

My stack was down to a little over $100 so I bought in for another benji and was glad I did. After dropping a couple of medium sized pots, my stack had dwindled down to around $135 when I peeked down at pocket eights and limped into the pot hoping to set mine. I hadn't hit a set the whole trip, so I was certainly due.

The player to my left, who was average at best, popped it to $12. The player to his left, who was bad, called as did the lady to his left. She was the best player of the three. With all those calls, I felt I had the pot odds to call and if I hit my set I could win a nice pot. The flop was a lovely 8-4-4.

Bingo!

I was first to act and knuckled the table. The preflop raiser bet $15 and got two calls before the action got back to me. If I call here I have a little less than a pot sized bet behind me so I decided to go ahead and shove, hoping one of my opponents had a strong 4 and might call.

Mr. Preflop Raiser moaned and groaned before saying, "What the hell, I came here to gamble." Music to my ears! When the player next to him came along for the ride I got a little nervous. I didn't want to have to fade too many outs. The woman finally folded after going in the tank for 3 or 4 minutes.

One of the better players pointed at me and said, "He's got pocket eights," apparently amazed that he was the only one at the table who had figured that out. Mr. Preflop Raiser tabled pocket aces. I don't know how he could think he was ahead in the hand, but players like him is why $1-2 is profitable. The second caller had the strong 4 (K-4) I was looking for, so all I had to do was fade the two aces left in the deck. I don't remember what the turn and river cards were, but neither was an ace and I dragged in a nice $400+ pot, the biggest I've ever won.

I didn't want to hit and run so I played for another half hour before cashing out with a profit and meeting the rest of the crew for lunch. Tin Man and Lil' Annie Okie headed back to Waco after we ate, but Philly, Ms. Duck and I hung around playing video poker for another hour or so before heading south ourselves.

Everyone seemed to have a good time and I think it's a trip we'll do again in the future.

Till next time, win the flips.

MLB Picks, August 1st

There are a couple of NL games on the docket today that look good.

$20 on Milwaukee (Fiers) over Houston (Lyles) -1 1/2 @ -$120
I'm not thrilled with the price on this game, but Houston has been nothing short of awful on the road this year, posting an incredible 10-43 record. Fiers takes the ball for the Brew Crew and brings a 1.77 ERA to the dance. He's been even better lately, sporting a 3-2 record with a tiny 0.95 ERA in his last seven starts. The Astros counter with Lyles who is a perfect 0-5 on the highway with a 6.97 ERA. In his last five starts he is 0-3, 8.16. Houston has lost 25 of their last 28 games. Caesars has the best line on this one.
$10 on St. Louis (Westbrook) over Colorado (Pomeranz) -1 1/2 @ +$125
The Redbirds send Westbrook to the bump tonight with a 2-1 record and a 2.95 ERA in his last three starts. The Rockies will give a struggling Pomeranz another try. The southpaw is 0-4 with a 4.31 ERA at home this season and is 0-3, 10.13 in his last three outings. St.Louis is 20-11 against leftys this season, has won 8 of their last 11 games overall, and is 4-1 against Colorado. LVH has the best line.
Starting Bankroll           $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $ 208.00
Current Bankroll            $1,708.00

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at your own risk.

Good luck!