SHOES on the Ceiling, Chandliers on the Floor

At Showboat, there really are SHOES on the ceiling. It is very interesting. It reminds me of the crazy room from Alice in Wonderland where everything is deceptive and upside/down, backwards. In any case, I like the Shoes on the Ceiling look, very retro. There were no chandliers on the floor, but I did anticipate seeing a light fixture imbedded in the ground, upon observing the shoes nailed to the Ceiling, where a chandlier should have been. Very cool.

On the Fourth of July, I played the $340 at Borgata, with 400 entrants. I got out when there were about 150 left. I played perfectly, but as all tournaments go, it came down to just one hand. Prior to this hand, I had a great image, my reads were dead on, and because of this, I was able to steal a bunch of pots on the river. Two things I learned from this tourney. It is better to limp with JJ in first pos than raise and have to fold to a reraise, or at least call the reraise from the big blind to give yourself the chance to win a big pot. It was literally the fifth hand of the tourney. Blinds were 25/50, we started with 10k in chips, I was up to 11k, but I did not want to invest a lot with JJ especially with the bb reraising to 1300, after I had made it 250 with 5 callers. I put him on AK or AA/KK. He had AK and paid 88 off to the river, I wouldve made top full house on the turn. So sick. Seriously sick sick. But, I think I made the right decision pre-flop specific to my strategy of trying to chip up early by winning small pots and then getting more aggressive later on....

After I got moved to my new table, I flopped top set of qq and got paid off by a loose/aggressive player that I played with in the cash game the night before. I was up to 21k. Then the following hand occurred. Blinds are 300/600 with 50 ante. Before I tell you this hand, let me tell you, that I am angry for making a good read and playing this hand like a complete amateur. I was a victim of my own weakness: Not taking Time to think thru the hand on each street. I am so mad at myself.

I have A8cc in the bb. Sm blind raises to 2400. I insta call without thinking. I just know and can feel that this guy is so on a move. Just from what I have been witnessing, I know he has shit. However, my read is not 100% to re raise so i just call. I think this is a fine play. Flop comes out A 2 Q, rainbow. He checks. I instantly check, thinking that I will bet/raise the turn. The turn pairs the Q. Now he could have a Q. And then he bet 5k. Which is a ridiculous, I am trying to steal bet, not an "I have Q" bet, especially from this amatuer retard. I insta call, forgetting my plan to raise. I just acted way too quickly. River is a 2. So board is A Q 2 Q 2. He bets 5k. I can't fold now. I have to call. He has 4 2 off suit and scoops. I was so heated after that hand. What a mitake I made!!!! So ridiculous. What was I thinking? I wasn't. I must count to 10 before I take every action from now on. I must follow my rule. It is so insane. I shouldve won a 10k pot there and instead I made two mistakes and it cost me. I now went from 34x the blind to 12x the blind and then blinds went up, so I was officially short stacked and alas, my KJ ran into AQ and I can't hit to win. Oh well. I did play really well the entire rest of tourney like perfect perfect. Probably one of my best live showings ever. The learning curve continues.

In online Garnet poker news, I am focusing on winning 8500 tournament dollars by Sept 1st. This started on Monday. I am up to 755. I am excited to meet my goal and then, Aruba, here we come!!!!!!

That's it for now. There will not be much poker the rest of the week, so it will be awhile before I blogg again- I have a date with Jon tonight, dinner with family tomorrow and going to Philly for the weekend.

That's all for now, more later!

Good money and peace,

Lucky C and her sidekick, Ace.