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What happened to Killer Bees?

“Soon the Killer Bees will occupy territory north to San Francisco and Richmond, essentially half the United States”

Well, I for one, await our Killer Bee overlords. And I am still waiting, some ten years later. Where did they go? I guess these bees weren’t the conquering sort.

This bee decides to forgo blood lust for a flower instead. How nice

So, since I haven’t been mauled by a hive of angry bees every time I walk outside, I can assume I was pretty much the victim of sensationalist journalism. Where can I get back all those sleepless nights? But seriously, a lot of people worry about a lot of things. These people have problems. You should never worry about anything you cannot control. It’s a futile waste of time.

The news media is here for one reason. To make money! Don’t be fooled by some mission statement to give practical and honest reporting of the news to the masses. Those people are reporters, they are under some kind of delusion they work for someone who isn’t in a suite looking at revenue figures. When some reporter reports a 20 second clip on a murder, or a 3 minute segment on those killer bees that are going to take over the United States, use some common sense and skeptical nature.

Remember this when the Earth’s magnetic field collapses, the flu pandemic comes, aliens attack, the earth stops rotating, global warming melts the ice caps causing Water World, global warming causes an ice age, hurricanes destroy everything, the Chinese invade, or a Texan becomes president.

Category Philosophy, Television |

The Evil Slow Play

Slow Play – Playing a strong hand as if it were a weak hand in order to deceive your opponents.

You don’t see it too often in the micros or low limits, but sometimes a player will slow play a big hand. Most of the time you will see a slowly played flop and a fast played turn and river. Some players wait until the river. I did not expect the slow play here, and he got me.

PokerStars 0.05/0.10 Hold’em (9 handed) [url=http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi]converter[/url]

[b]Preflop:[/b] Hero is CO with 9:spade:, J:heart:. MP3 posts a blind of $0.05. Hero posts a blind of $0.05.
UTG calls, [color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], MP1 calls, [color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], MP3 (poster) checks, Hero (poster) checks, Button calls, [color:#CC3333]SB raises[/color], BB calls, UTG calls, MP1 calls, MP3 folds, Hero calls, Button calls.

[b]Flop:[/b] (13 SB) 6:diamond:, 2:club:, J:club: [color:#0000FF](6 players)[/color]
SB checks, [color:#CC3333]BB bets[/color], UTG calls, MP1 folds, [color:#CC3333]Hero raises[/color], Button calls, SB calls, BB calls, UTG calls.

[b]Turn:[/b] (11.50 BB) 9:diamond: [color:#0000FF](5 players)[/color]
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, [color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], Button calls, SB folds, BB calls, UTG calls.

[b]River:[/b] (15.50 BB) 9:heart: [color:#0000FF](4 players)[/color]
BB checks, UTG checks, [color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], [color:#CC3333]Button raises[/color], BB folds, UTG folds, [color:#CC3333]Hero 3-bets[/color], [color:#CC3333]Button caps[/color], Hero calls.

[b]Final Pot:[/b] 23.50 BB

Results below:
Hero has 9s Jh (full house, nines full of jacks).
Button has Js Jd (full house, jacks full of nines).
Outcome: Button wins 23.50 BB.

I don’t think I should have played that any other way. I think I should rather pay off slow players than miss bets fearing an unlikely slow player, at least in small stakes. Note that I did not have any tells, so the slow play is surprising here, but may be suspected in other situations.

Many players like to slow play many of their hands, like a set of Kings or such. This is rarely correct in small stakes games because many players will call with virtually any piece of the flop. In the above example, this player (maybe accidentally) pulled a pretty good play. After his mistake preflop of not raising, he used his position on me to slow play until the river. Probably accidentally again, he raised at just the right time (when I thought he probably had a 9). I say accidentally because this player has a VP$IP of 87% and (besides that hand) lost money on pretty much anything he touched.

Category Poker |

Anatomy of a Poker Session

For all the beginners out there who want to get their feet wet. Here is a session from last night that will explain my every move through 63 hands.

Hand One

PokerStars 0.02/0.04 Hold’em (10 handed) [url=http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi]converter[/url]

[b]Preflop:[/b] Hero is CO with K:club:, 7:club:. MP3 posts a blind of $0.02. Hero posts a blind of $0.02.
UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 calls, [color:#666666][i]2 folds[/i][/color], MP3 (poster) checks, Hero (poster) checks, [color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], SB completes, BB checks.

[b]Flop:[/b] (7 SB) 5:club:, 4:heart:, 6:spade: [color:#0000FF](7 players)[/color]
SB checks, BB checks, [color:#CC3333]UTG bets[/color], UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 calls, MP3 calls, [color:#CC3333]Hero raises[/color], SB calls, BB calls, UTG calls, UTG+2 folds, MP3 calls.

[b]Turn:[/b] (9 BB) 3:club: [color:#0000FF](5 players)[/color]
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, [color:#CC3333]MP3 bets[/color], [color:#CC3333]Hero raises[/color], SB folds, BB folds, UTG folds, MP3 calls.

[b]River:[/b] (13 BB) 9:heart: [color:#0000FF](2 players)[/color]
MP3 checks, [color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], MP3 calls.

[b]Final Pot:[/b] 15 BB

Results below:
MP3 has 4c 3s (two pair, fours and threes).
Hero has Kc 7c (straight, seven high).
Outcome: Hero wins 15 BB.

Good position here, and since I already limped in from posting a BB for my first hand, I come in with K7s. Good sized flop too, 6 handed, but with no raises.

Now, we flop an Open Ended Straight Draw (OESD), 1 overcard, and a backdoor flush draw. This is approximately 12.5 outs, discounted to 10.5 (I usually discount overcards). That is we could get any of the 3′s in the deck (4 outs), any of the 8′s (4 outs), any King (3 outs), or a backdoor flush which would be clubs on both the turn and river (1.5 outs). When we discount an out, it just means that its likely it will improve our hand, but not to the best hand. With 10.5 outs we need merely 3.5:1 pot odds to call. UTG bets and UTG+2, MP3 calls, giving us 10:1 pot odds. Since we have so many outs to the best hand, we should raise here. The two in front that checked have to call two bets cold, which is a mistake unless they have 7 or more outs. By raising you also can force those with better hands at the time (such as a pair of 6′s) to fold, calling would be a mistake because they are drawing to 2 outs usually.

The turn comes and we hit our straight. We also have the top of the straight, beating anyone who holds a 2 (anyone that holds an unlikely 78 would likely have raised us on the flop). We also have a draw to a flush which is 9 outs. When MP3 bets, he is likely drawing dead, raise for value here. It should be noted that this would also be a situation where you may just CALL for overcalls. Unfortunately, with this being my first hand at the table, its a better move to raise, forcing those players after you to face two bets cold. After some hands and it seems they are loose, overcalls would probably be a better idea. Just call and hope they come with you to the river.

On the river a 9 comes and the MP3 checks, we bet and he calls, and we take the pot.

Hand 5

PokerStars 0.02/0.04 Hold’em (7 handed) [url=http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi]converter[/url]

[b]Preflop:[/b] Hero is UTG with K:diamond:, A:club:.
[color:#CC3333]Hero raises[/color], MP1 calls, [color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], CO calls, [color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], SB calls, [color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color].

[b]Flop:[/b] (9 SB) Q:spade:, T:heart:, 4:spade: [color:#0000FF](4 players)[/color]
SB checks, [color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], MP1 calls, CO calls, SB calls.

[b]Turn:[/b] (6.50 BB) A:heart: [color:#0000FF](4 players)[/color]
[color:#CC3333]SB bets[/color], [color:#CC3333]Hero raises[/color], MP1 calls, CO folds, SB calls.

[b]River:[/b] (12.50 BB) 6:diamond: [color:#0000FF](3 players)[/color]
SB checks, [color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], MP1 folds, SB calls.

[b]Final Pot:[/b] 14.50 BB

Results below:
Hero has Kd Ac (one pair, aces).
SB has 3s Ad (one pair, aces).
Outcome: Hero wins 14.50 BB.

Here we are UTG with AKo, which is a clear raise preflop. The flop leaves us with a Gutshot Straight Draw (4 outs) and two overcards (6 outs discounted to 4), leaving us with around 8 outs. The SB checks, and we should bet here. We have a fairly strong draw, and checking might give our opponents free cards towards a weaker draw.

On the turn our Ace comes. We still have 4 outs to the Gutshot Straight (any jack), but there are two possible flush draws on the board (aces and spades). Its time to protect our hand. We likely have the best hand, with Ace King kicker. When SB bets this, he likely has an Ace. To protect our hand from the two players behind us, we raise making them face two bets cold.

On the river we get a safe card, and can sigh in relief. No flush draws are possible. Just bet it out, nothing fancy. Based on previous action, we can raise if SB bets, but here he does not. We take it down with a pair of Aces, Kick kicker.

Hand 6

PokerStars 0.02/0.04 Hold’em (8 handed) [url=http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi]converter[/url]

[b]Preflop:[/b] Hero is BB with J:heart:, T:heart:.
UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, [color:#666666][i]3 folds[/i][/color], Button calls, SB completes, Hero checks.

[b]Flop:[/b] (5 SB) J:spade:, J:diamond:, 4:heart: [color:#0000FF](5 players)[/color]
SB checks, [color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], UTG folds, UTG+1 folds, [color:#CC3333]Button raises[/color], SB folds, [color:#CC3333]Hero 3-bets[/color], Button calls.

[b]Turn:[/b] (5.50 BB) J:club: [color:#0000FF](2 players)[/color]
[color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], Button calls.

[b]River:[/b] (7.50 BB) 9:club: [color:#0000FF](2 players)[/color]
[color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], Button calls.

[b]Final Pot:[/b] 9.50 BB

Results below:
Hero has Jh Th (four of a kind, jacks).
Button has 4s Qs (full house, jacks full of fours).
Outcome: Hero wins 9.50 BB.

On the next hand we are in the BB with JTs, which can be a very good hand. We check, and see the flop for free. We also catch an incredible flop. Trips. We definitely need to bet here, slowplaying could be an option, but most players will expect a bet from someone, and many will call thinking you are bluffing. The button raises us which is unexpected. Does he have a J with a better kicker? We still have outs to the unlikely quads or a fullhouse, so we can reraise here for value.

And the turn comes … quads! We have the nuts. Now, we know he does not have a Jack. However, many players in lower limits will stick to a bluff all the way to showdown “just to see” so we are going to bet aggressively here. No need to slowplay here.

He has a full house and stays until showdown. We take the pot. Nice!

Hand 15

PokerStars 0.02/0.04 Hold’em (10 handed) [url=http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi]converter[/url]

[b]Preflop:[/b] Hero is CO with A:heart:, 7:heart:.
[color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], UTG+1 calls, [color:#666666][i]2 folds[/i][/color], MP2 calls, [color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], Hero calls, [color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], SB completes, BB checks.

[b]Flop:[/b] (5 SB) K:diamond:, J:spade:, 8:heart: [color:#0000FF](5 players)[/color]
SB checks, BB checks, [color:#CC3333]UTG+1 bets[/color], MP2 calls, Hero folds, SB calls, BB calls.

[b]Turn:[/b] (4.50 BB) 3:club: [color:#0000FF](4 players)[/color]
SB checks, BB checks, [color:#CC3333]UTG+1 bets[/color], MP2 folds, SB calls, BB folds.

[b]River:[/b] (6.50 BB) 8:diamond: [color:#0000FF](2 players)[/color]
SB checks, [color:#CC3333]UTG+1 bets[/color], [color:#CC3333]SB raises[/color], UTG+1 calls.

[b]Final Pot:[/b] 10.50 BB

Results below:
SB has Th 8c (three of a kind, eights).
UTG+1 has Qh Kh (two pair, kings and eights).
Outcome: SB wins 10.50 BB.

Here we limp in with an A7s. The flop comes and we have an overcard and a backdoor flush draw, but nothing else. At about 3.5 outs, we are drawing thin. We will need around 12:1 pot odds to stay in this hand. Getting only 7:1 here, its not really possible, so we should fold.

Hand 20

PokerStars 0.02/0.04 Hold’em (10 handed) [url=http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi]converter[/url]

[b]Preflop:[/b] Hero is UTG+1 with Q:heart:, J:heart:.
[color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], Hero calls, [color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], MP1 calls, MP2 calls, MP3 calls, CO calls, Button calls, SB completes, BB checks.

[b]Flop:[/b] (8 SB) A:heart:, 9:diamond:, 9:heart: [color:#0000FF](8 players)[/color]
SB checks, BB checks, [color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], MP1 calls, MP2 calls, MP3 folds, CO folds, Button folds, SB folds, BB calls.

[b]Turn:[/b] (6 BB) 3:club: [color:#0000FF](4 players)[/color]
BB checks, [color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], MP1 folds, [color:#CC3333]MP2 raises[/color], BB folds, Hero calls.

[b]River:[/b] (9 BB) 6:heart: [color:#0000FF](2 players)[/color]

[b]Final Pot:[/b] 9 BB

Results below:
Hero has Qh Jh (flush, ace high).
MP2 has Jc 9c (three of a kind, nines).
Outcome: Hero wins 9 BB.

Here we limp in early with QJs. Five other players limp, the SB completes, and the BB checks. The flop comes and we have a flush draw (9 outs). We need to bet this flop to get the players with trashy draws out. Someone with a 9 may raise us, but it does not happen here.

The turn comes and we did not make our flush. Since everyone called and no one raised last hand, we should still bet here. Our flush is approximately 4:1 to come in on the river, and if we bet the two others are likely to call adding 2 more bets into the pot. Uhoh, MP2 has raised. Did he slowplay trip 9′s? He’s gone all in, sometimes players raise all in just for the hell of it. We are still drawing to 9 outs, around 4:1 odds. We are getting 16:1, an easy call. Now since MP2 has gone all in, raising would not do much (he already has all his money out).

The river comes and we make our flush. The hand shows down (MP2 is all in remember) and we win the pot. Bye bye MP2.

Hand 22

PokerStars 0.02/0.04 Hold’em (9 handed) [url=http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi]converter[/url]

[b]Preflop:[/b] Hero is BB with A:diamond:, 5:diamond:.
UTG calls, [color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], MP1 calls, [color:#666666][i]4 folds[/i][/color], SB completes, Hero checks.

[b]Flop:[/b] (4 SB) A:club:, A:spade:, J:club: [color:#0000FF](4 players)[/color]
SB checks, [color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], UTG calls, MP1 calls, SB folds.

[b]Turn:[/b] (3.50 BB) 2:heart: [color:#0000FF](3 players)[/color]
[color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], UTG calls, MP1 folds.

[b]River:[/b] (5.50 BB) A:heart: [color:#0000FF](2 players)[/color]
[color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], UTG calls.

[b]Final Pot:[/b] 7.50 BB

Results below:
Hero has Ad 5d (four of a kind, aces).
UTG has 8h Jd (full house, aces full of jacks).
Outcome: Hero wins 7.50 BB.

Here we have A5s in the BB. No one raises and we see the flop for free. And a great flop for us it is! Trips again. Again, at this level I usually do not feel the need to slowplay because many donks will call with anything on a scary board because they think you are bluffing.

The turn comes and we bet again. The pot is fairly small, so even a flush draw should fold to a bet here.

The river comes and oh dear! Quad Aces. Slowplaying this would be a waste. The other player would check you behind. So bet and hope he wants to see what you had. Reraise if he raises for some unknown reason. He calls with a pair of jacks. Nice. We take the pot.

Hand 25

I had 22 in late position. When you small pocket pairs you almost always are looking for a set on the flop. If one does not come you are drawing to two outs. You need 22:1 odds to call that, which is rarely possible. If there are no 2′s in the flop for a set, check and fold.

Hand 32

PokerStars 0.02/0.04 Hold’em (8 handed) [url=http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi]converter[/url]

[b]Preflop:[/b] Hero is SB with K:club:, J:heart:.
[color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], UTG+1 calls, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, [color:#666666][i]2 folds[/i][/color], Hero completes, BB checks.

[b]Flop:[/b] (5 SB) 8:diamond:, K:heart:, J:spade: [color:#0000FF](5 players)[/color]
[color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], BB folds, UTG+1 folds, MP1 calls, MP2 calls.

[b]Turn:[/b] (4 BB) 9:heart: [color:#0000FF](3 players)[/color]
[color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], MP1 calls, MP2 calls.

[b]River:[/b] (7 BB) 7:club: [color:#0000FF](3 players)[/color]
[color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], MP1 calls, MP2 folds.

[b]Final Pot:[/b] 9 BB

Results below:
MP1 has Kd 3d (one pair, kings).
Hero has Kc Jh (two pair, kings and jacks).
Outcome: Hero wins 9 BB.

We have KJo in the SB and complete to see the flop. On the flop we luck out again. Top two pair Kings and Jacks. Bet the flop to force out weak draws. We get two callers.

The turn comes and it puts a flush draw and a possible straight on the board. We likely still have the best hand here even on this coordinated board. We bet again to protect our hand and force opponents to make unprofitable calls with weak draws.

The river comes and it puts a straight draw on the table. Do not check! We have two pair here, and no one has shown any strength. Bet, most of the time our hand is best. It is and we take the pot.

Hand 34

PokerStars 0.02/0.04 Hold’em (10 handed) [url=http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi]converter[/url]

[b]Preflop:[/b] Hero is CO with A:club:, T:club:.
UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 calls, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, [color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], [color:#CC3333]Hero raises[/color], [color:#666666][i]2 folds[/i][/color], BB calls, UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 calls, MP1 calls, MP2 calls.

[b]Flop:[/b] (14.50 SB) 8:spade:, 4:diamond:, A:spade: [color:#0000FF](7 players)[/color]
BB checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, UTG+2 checks, [color:#CC3333]MP1 bets[/color], MP2 folds, [color:#CC3333]Hero raises[/color], BB calls, UTG folds, UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 folds, MP1 calls.

[b]Turn:[/b] (11.25 BB) Q:spade: [color:#0000FF](4 players)[/color]
BB checks, UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, [color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], BB folds, UTG+1 calls, MP1 calls.

[b]River:[/b] (14.25 BB) Q:diamond: [color:#0000FF](3 players)[/color]
UTG+1 checks, [color:#CC3333]MP1 bets[/color], Hero calls, UTG+1 calls.

[b]Final Pot:[/b] 17.25 BB

Results below:
UTG+1 has 4c Ks (two pair, queens and fours).
MP1 has 3h Ad (two pair, aces and queens).
Hero has Ac Tc (two pair, aces and queens).
Outcome: Hero wins 17.25 BB.

Here we have ATs in late position one off the button. With 5 players limping in before us, this is an easy raise preflop. Now we built a nice juicy pot before the flop, so let us see what we get. We have top pair and a mediocre kicker. There is also a flush draw on the table. It is checked around to MP1 who bets. It is hard to put MP1 on any specific cards, but if he had AJ or better he would probably have raised preflop. So we likely are best here and can raise, making the rest of the field see two bets cold. Two players cold call and MP1 calls.

The turn comes and crap, we have a possible flush on the board. This is where position is great, we see everyone check to us. If someone had a completed flush he would usually bet (or checkraise but we shouldn’t fear a checkraise unless there is evidence to point that we will be checkraised). We are still good and bet. One player folds and two call.

The river comes and its another Queen. Well another fairly scary card and MP1 bets. Does he have a queen? He bet the flop, and we said it was unlikely he had AJ or higher. He could have Q4 or Q8, but he would have played more aggressively with two pair on the turn. Theres no reason to give that kind of credit to MP1. I make a mistake here. I should have raised instead of calling. A weak point in my game, you cannot be afraid to raise for value on the river!

Hand 58

PokerStars 0.02/0.04 Hold’em (8 handed) [url=http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi]converter[/url]

[b]Preflop:[/b] Hero is SB with A:heart:, K:club:.
UTG calls, [color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], MP1 calls, [color:#666666][i]3 folds[/i][/color], [color:#CC3333]Hero raises[/color], BB calls, UTG calls, MP1 calls.

[b]Flop:[/b] (8 SB) 5:spade:, 7:club:, 4:diamond: [color:#0000FF](4 players)[/color]
[color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], BB calls, UTG calls, MP1 calls.

[b]Turn:[/b] (6 BB) 6:heart: [color:#0000FF](4 players)[/color]
[color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], [color:#CC3333]BB raises[/color], [color:#CC3333]UTG 3-bets[/color], MP1 folds, Hero folds, BB calls.

[b]River:[/b] (13 BB) 8:heart: [color:#0000FF](2 players)[/color]
BB checks, UTG checks.

[b]Final Pot:[/b] 13 BB

Results below:
UTG has 3s Jh (straight, eight high).
BB has 8d Jd (straight, eight high).
Outcome: UTG wins 6.50 BB. BB wins 6.50 BB.

Here we have AKo in the SB which is a raise preflop. The flop comes and relatively coordinated board, but we have overcards. We have about 5 outs with overcards like these. Now we have three opponents, but all have been playing passively up until this point. So I go ahead and bet the flop. Checking and folding to a bet is also an option here.

The turn comes and its a bad one. Puts a straight on the board for sure. Anyone with an 8 or a 3 beats us. I donk bet this and I shouldn’t have. Another mistake, checking and folding is probably a better option. We are raised and then reraised, facing two bets cold, we must fold. Why? We are 99% sure we are drawing dead here, even if we spike an A or a K. So I lost a bet I should not have here.

Post Mortem

I was fairly lucky this round. But it should introduce you to the basic concepts on how to evaluate your hand and go about thinking about Poker logically. You may be laughing that I play .02/.04 cent limit games. Being a poor college student with no job, I have to stay within my means. You can’t gamble with money you don’t have! Anyway, I consider myself a fairly beginner poker player, so it is alright practice. Many people at this limit are either playing to tune up their game or play higher limits and come down to the micros for a stress free game. Sure many players are terrible, but you can say that about most limits up until you get past 1/2 .

Stats on the short session. My VP$IP, which measures how many times I actually volunarily put money into the pot, was 14.29%. I won 46.67% of the time when I saw the flop. I won $1.94 which is 48.5 BB and 76.98 BB per 100 hands. Went to showdown 53.33% of the time and won money at showdown 87.50% of the time. My Aggression Factor Total was an 11! Thats pretty high. And that’s that. I hope to write some more about poker for beginners.

Category Poker |

Sample Poker Hand

This was my biggest loser today as I played poker online for the first time in a while. Also testing out the WordPress poker plugin.

PokerStars 0.02/0.04 Hold’em (10 handed) [url=http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi]converter[/url]

[b]Preflop:[/b] Hero is CO with J:diamond:, J:heart:.
[color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 calls, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, MP3 calls, [color:#CC3333]Hero raises[/color], [color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], SB calls, [color:#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 calls, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, [color:#CC3333]MP3 3-bets[/color], Hero calls, SB calls, UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 calls, MP1 calls, MP2 calls.

[b]Flop:[/b] (22 SB) T:spade:, 5:club:, J:spade: [color:#0000FF](7 players)[/color]
SB checks, UTG+1 checks, UTG+2 checks, MP1 checks, MP2 checks, [color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], SB calls, UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 folds, MP1 calls, MP2 calls.

[b]Turn:[/b] (13.50 BB) 5:heart: [color:#0000FF](6 players)[/color]
SB checks, UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, MP2 checks, [color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], SB folds, UTG+1 calls, MP1 calls, MP2 folds.

[b]River:[/b] (16.50 BB) 8:spade: [color:#0000FF](4 players)[/color]
UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, [color:#CC3333]Hero bets[/color], UTG+1 calls, [color:#CC3333]MP1 raises[/color], [color:#CC3333]Hero 3-bets[/color], UTG+1 calls, [color:#CC3333]MP1 caps[/color], UTG+1 calls.

[b]Final Pot:[/b] 25.25 BB

Results in below:
UTG+1 has 5d 4d (three of a kind, fives).
MP1 has 9s Qs (straight flush, queen high).
MP3 has 2d 7d (one pair, fives).
Hero has Jd Jh (full house, jacks full of fives).
Outcome: MP1 wins 25.25 BB.

Category Poker |

Redesign and Refocus

I am working on a refocus and redesign for this website. Should be ready by sometime in January. Happy holidays!

Category Stuff |

Saving $10 on your Sprint PCS Bill Every Month

From ::moox::

Tired of SprintPCS dropping your calls????

Recently, due to a job change, I needed to switch cell-phone carriers. At the time, I was having a large number of calls dropped by SprintPCS, in addition to not having adequate coverage in the new areas I traveled for work. When I called SprintPCS to cancel, the customer service representative gave me one hell of a run around – she even threatened to not let me cancel my account – WTF? Finally, in a last-ditch effort to keep me from canceling, she told me how I could get credits for dropped calls and thus lower my bill. The procedure is easy – every time I had a call dropped, I simply needed to do the following :

* Call *2 on your SprintPCS phone (calls customer solutions)
* When greeted by “Claire” (their automated customer service system) and asked what you need help with, simply reply “Dropped Call Credit”
* Sprint will then credit your account 1 minute of airtime at the highest local rate, usually $0.50

The rep went on to tell me “this was permissible for up to 20 times per billing cycle.� Do the math and you will see that it will save you $10.00 per bill. Additionally, if you have a family share plan you can repeat this for each line, saving you an additional $10.00 per line during each billing cycle. The rep stated that even she “does this every month, regardless of whether or not she has had 20 dropped calls. It saves [her] $10.00 per month!�

I wish I had known about this sooner given the large number of dropped calls I have had with SprintPCS from day one…

Just thought that was interesting enough to post, I don’t have Sprint PCS to try it, but it seems legit. Might as well take advantage of a company so screwed up!

Category Stuff |

Man Goes Insane and Burns $100,000

CNN.com – Virtual property yields $100,000 – Nov 10, 2005

Well not exactly burn, but the next best thing! Look, I have made some nice cash selling accounts to massively multiplayer games, even items, but $100,000 to buy a virtual property? This leaves me with no choice.

I am going to unveil the “SUPER FABULOUS GAME WHERE EVERYONE GETS RICH”. See, me as the developer will create this virtual world. Early adopters of this world, if they can tear themselves from World of Warcraft, will pay me a little money for my product, virtual land. This should be considered an investment. Then they can charge later adopters money, and they can charge others, and so on and so on … in a big huge PYRAMID.

Sound like a good idea? Yeah, too bad its illegal.

ETA until government regulation of online games which have connections to real monetary deals .. ?? years and counting.

Category Games |

The Internet Did Not Kill Your Daughter

CNN.com – Parents: Online newsgroup helped daughter commit suicide – Nov 10, 2005

19 year old decides she wants to commit suicide. She, like any smart person of her generation, decides to research it and invariably finds the topic she wishes to know more about on the internet. The group, called ASH for alt.suicide.holiday, is made up of people who support and research methods for suicide. She posts 100 messages in 9 weeks. In a somewhat group collaboration (that is, after all, what the internet is all about) she outlines her entire plan for suicide. She carries it out, as planned. Parents are outraged!

Now, there are two types of people that want to commit suicide. The first type is your emo that doesn’t want to die and is just depressed and wants to cry out for help, attention, or because suicide is “cool” somehow. They [b]attempt[/b] suicide, or talk and think about it, but rarely carry it out. They don’t even bother to find out the best way.

The second type genuinely wants to commit suicide. They research it, find the tools to do it, and then actually do it. These people, in their minds, have genuine reasons they want to die. Whether they are appropriate to us as a society is another question (and whether that even matters is yet another). This girl is in the second category.

Look, the group did not brainwash your daughter into committing suicide. She obviously wanted to commit suicide before she came there. They helped her achieve her goal. If anyone is to blame it is either the person who commits suicide (for the hurt they cause their loved ones) or people who wanted her to live and said nothing. The group on the internet consists of people in neither of these categories.

Religious consequences aside, I have a hard time figuring suicide as the fault of anyone except the person committing suicide. She was 19 years old after all, old enough to make her own decisions, under the law.

This is the kind of BS reporting that makes the old men in congress want to create laws making sure this doesn’t happen again. No thanks. I would gladly pay a few 19 year old girls who want to commit suicide as a price for my unencumbered freedom of speech on the internet.

Category Politics |

Universal Health Care Disaster

Competitive health care is like that brand new Mercedes, it’s expensive, but it will definitely get you anywhere you want to go, even though some people cannot afford it.

Universal health care is like that old ford, it’s cheap, it will get you around town, but when it makes that long trip it may break down, but anyone can afford it.

The question can be boiled down to which of these options do we want, but that would be a far too simplistic view. The question is not what to do about spiraling costs of health care, or what to do for people who don’t have health care. The question is about why we need so much health care in the first place. Granted, everyone can get sick, get serious diseases, and die, while following the best and most healthy lifestyle. However, Americans as a whole have an entirely unhealthy lifestyle that probably contributes greatly to the need for constant health care.

If the government starts paying for people’s health care (and indeed it already does for elderly people), then I want to see some legislation that makes people understand that your choices in lifestyle affect your health. I am not paying my tax dollars to some universal health care scheme that let’s some asshole who drinks 5 gallons of soda a day and eats McDonald’s 5 times a week get a free gastric bypass surgery to make him think his retarded lifestyle is just fine and dandy. NO! These people need to be taught how to make right decisions, forced to make right decisions, and if all else failsCUT LOOSE FROM THE SYSTEM . Yes, let them die. Darwinism at it’s best. Your mother always told you, “you are what you eat,” and right now some idiot is munching down on a dozen doughnuts and doesn’t realize he’s the doughnut.

All you hippies out there are saying the government can’t force us to eat right, they can’t force us to exercise. Sure they can’t, you are definitely right. Then again, there’s nothing in the constitution that says they can’t withhold that brand new health care system from you because you violated your doughnut quota this month.

Right now a universal health care system paid for by the government would just mean a shitty health care system for everyone. Sure, that 50 million or so that is uncovered would be covered, but either quality would go down, or price would go up. If health care need is the same, and we add 50 million need into the mix, then is there any other way?

You want cheap health care? Think twice before you pick up that Big Mac. Think twice before you decide to watch T.V. rather than exercise for 30 minutes a day. Think twice before you smoke that pack of cigarettes. Think twice about your lifestyle and how long you want to live. The choices we make today form the (lack of) choices we have tomorrow.

Category Politics |

Some Teachers Just Don’t Get It

Some teachers really don’t understand why I am at college. It starts with these ridiculous participation grades, mandatory attendance, and miscellaneous busy work. Here is a list of what some professors just don’t understand.

1. I am not here to learn

Seems like a silly statement to make on it’s face, doesn’t it? But is most certainly true. I am not here to learn. I am here to get a degree, a piece of paper that says that I know what you think I should know in my degree field. If I were at college simply to learn, I wouldbe a moron for spending thousands of dollars for someone to tell me what to learn from (books) via teaching lessons that are almost always available for free someplace. No, I am here for the piece of paper, because unfortunately telling an employer that I know something without that piece of paper doesn’t work (if you believe that you go to college just to prepare for a life as a cog in the capitalist machine).

2. Participation grades only hurt students, they don’t help anyone

Yes that’s right. Let’s think about this for a second. There are students who never come to class and don’t do any work. These students fail anyway, the participation grade is just another category in their inevitable failure. There are students who never come to class, but learn on their own. These students do well on the tests and know everything they need to, and yet they are punished for it. There are students who always go to class, but just don’t understand anything (idiots). They do poor on the tests, but high on participation. They get average to poor grades. They are rewarded for ignorance and stupidity, and while going to class all the time, they still don’t understand. There are students who always go to class and do all the work. These students do well no matter what.

So, we have participation grades being no factor in people that don’t attend class and don’t do work (they fail anyway). Participation grades HURT people who don’t go to class, but learn on their own and get good test grades. Participation grades are no factor for people who go to class, do their work, and understand concepts (they do well anyway). Participation grades seem to be made for the idiots who will never fully understand a concept. They prop up bad grades of people who aren’t smart, and either do nothing for people that are smart or hurt those that are smart enough not to go to class. This hurts the dumbasses who don’t understand things by dragging them along at the bottom level of intelligence, and ultimately they just never grasp concepts, and just fly by with their participation grades and poor test scores.

3. In a discussion class, let us discuss

How many times have you been to a discussion class and the TA decides that discussion is just explaining what the book says, or verbally quizzing you about what you read.Hey retards , any idiot with a brain can recite what we read. In college we should be able to draw conclusions from what we read and create our own opinions. When an opinion is brought up in a poor class like this, it is immediately shot down by the idiot TA who thinks its too far off topic. What’s worse is that these classes are often highly participation based which violates the previous rule. Not only that but participation isn’t really participation, it is simply a tedious form of verbal testing.

That is all for now. Bottom line is that I do not need to go to school to learn, and by extension, I do not need to go to class to learn. Thousands of dollars is exchanged for that piece of paper at the end, as well as the facilities and personnel at my disposal, should I need them. That is all.

Category Stuff |