WSOP

[Austintacious]

Back from a week in Las Vegas where I played 3 World Series of Poker events. I didn?t win but I was satisfied with my play. Came close to finishing in the money once but no cigar. Had a lot of fun.

I used a coin Ky gave me as a present for my card holder. Many times players asked if it was an ancient coin. I said it was because it represented the time Texas Western College won the National Championship.

[Minermojo]

I'm glad that you're well enought to start enjoying life again Austin. Too bad you didn't win any money but you won in life. I hope that you didn't lose too much.

When my wife and I used to go to LV I would set aside only $50 per day to play the machines. If I didn't win at least I didn't lose much. If I won I would keep that money and the next day play with the $50 for that day. My wife was content in sitting somewhere and reading her book. Her passion was the shows and we would try to make as many shows as we could in the time there. Ah, memories, how I miss those days. My two sisters, three nieces and sister in law who by the way got divorced from a brother but kept being part of the family to this day were there together this past week.

Since there's no sports we should post our going ons just to keep abreast of our lives. Especially with this heat where you can't/don't want to be out in the hot weather. I like to hear what you guys are up to. I don't have much to share as I don't have much of a life anymore but if it wasn't for taking care of my plants I'd be bored or should I say MORE bored than ever. But, like I told my son, at least today I get to do the wash. LOL

[Austintacious]

I appreciate the thoughts, Mojo.  The Tournament Entry Fees were $250 each.  I considered playing another tournament with a $600 entry fee.  Since I'm rebuilding my poker skills, I didn't consider the $1000 or $1500 entry fees I usually play.  I've normally made it into the money half the times I played in those.  But since I've been away from it because of my health issues, I decided it wasn't worth a try. 

I also played some table games ($25 minimum bets) like 3 card poker, pai gai poker, etc. I stay away from black jack, craps and the slot machines because I lose at them.  But in the poker related table games I hold my own.  You still get complimentary drinks when gambling.  I usually ask for water instead of alcohol. 

Food has gotten real expensive in the big time casinos.  At the Horseshoe / Paris Casinos, a large coffee in the morning was $9 (decent tasting) and a 16.9 oz. bottle of water for $7.99.  Breakfast could run $25 plus for a large egg burrito or egg sandwich and drink.  My friends and I took a taxi to the Ellis Island Casino where the food was moderately priced and tasted pretty good.  And the Black Jack and Craps table games bet minimums were $5 or $10.

[MinerInWisconsin]

Great to hear you are back at it Austin. You?ve been thru an ordeal so some fun is overdue. Hopefully you and all of us will have a fun Miner football season as well.

[Minermojo]

When my son comes over from Yuma I always have to have bottled water for him. I can't take the taste of distilled water, I prefer tap water and I don't worry about whether it's safe or not, but that's only in the states. I used to belong to the Naval Reserve and every time I went there I would drink the tap water and it sure helped my constiptation, LOL. Just kidding but the only time I won't drink tap water if it tastes bad which is seldom. I don't remember if Vegas tap water is bad tasting it's been a long time going there.

As for the gambling, I mostly always play Keno, that's where I win the most times. I wish I had the same luck playing the Texas Lotto.

[Austintacious]

I drank the tap water in Vegas. When I gambled I got the complimentary bottles of water with a dollar tip for the waitress. At home I drink the filtered water from the refrigerator.

Are you still involved in that kids fishing program at Ascarate Lake?

Two years ago, I got 4 numbers plus the mega ball in MegaMillions.  I paid for the extra and got $30,000.  After taking out for taxes, it was a clear about $23,000. 

[Minermojo]

Some people have a lot of luck gambling. My sisters are the same, they almost always win some money and that's playing the penny slots. I have no luck at all, if it wasn't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all. I bought a Texas Lotto day before yesterday and I haven't checked to see if I won. I'm not in a hurry as I seldom win more than 3 or 8 dollars.

As for the fishing club, I have that up about 6-7 years ago. I got burned out, it was a lot of work. What made me get out was the guys torqued me off. It seemed that I was always the only one taking down the sun cover that we used for the catfish pond. They would help take it a few yards away while they put the cats into the lake. Afterwards they would just let the water out onto the grass where I was working on dismantling the cover and it was a big one. So all the water from the pond would drain into the area where I was working and after so much begging for them to at least wait until I was finished to no avail. So here I was sloshing throught the water up to my ankles trying to finish the job with no help. The day I left I just took off without saying a word and after that I never came back to any meetings. I wasn't respected enough to help out either.

I haven't fished in about 4 years or more, lost track of how long. I can't do it anymore because I take care of my "gordis", my wife. Thanks to my SIL for helping me out in that care.

After a while all the active members started leaving too until the only ones working it were the women who took over. They still do it but at a much, much diminished operation. When it was going strong we would get around 800 kids not counting parents and we fed everyone at noon too. We furnished the rods if they didn't have one and all the bait they needed. We fixed so many rods and reels that it was a full time job for this one guy that loved to do it because he had loads of patience.

[Austintacious]

It's slow so I'll talk about playing poker at a higher level.  In 2005, I placed 34th place in a WSOP No-Limit-Hold'em (NLH) event.  It made my day.  I then played 3 card poker and I was cleaning up there too.  And my wife won $5,000 in a slot machine. 

I have improved my skills but so have many poker players.  The competition has gotten tougher.  Regular players have developed skills comparable to the professional poker players.  Moreover, some of the best international players also show up at the WSOP.  Germans, Frenchmen, Spaniards, Australians, and Canadians played at my table. 

In 2005, I started play with quite a bit of nervousness for a couple of hours.  I don't experience that now.  I have more confidence today and feel like my skills have improved.  You can play your hand depending on whether you might improve with the flop, turn or river.  In NLH, you get two pocket cards.  Betting usually occurs.  Then the flop is three cards on the table that everyone who stays in can play.  More betting.  The turn is a fourth card on the table.  More betting.  The River is a fifth and final card on the table.  Final round of betting.  Starting with your pocket cards, you start assessing what your opponents are likely to be playing (i.e., those who don't fold their hand).  Players either fold, call or raise.  I evaluate what hands they've been playing.  I also look for tells on their face, hands or motions they might make. 

On one hand, I had pocket fours.  I raised.  One player called.  I knew he had been playing "shit" hands.  I read that he had like J-4.  I raised again after the flop.  He called.  At the turn, a J hit the table.  I checked.  He checked.  He probably thought I had three of a kind.  But I knew I was behind.  The river was a four.  I made trips.  I raised and he called.  He had J-5 for a pair of J's and my 3 fours won the hand.  My strategy was specific to this particular player.  If it had been another player, I would have played my hand differently. 

[Austintacious]

Here's another hand I played.  I'm dealt pocket Jacks.  I raise.  Person to my left calls.  The flop hits the table.  No help but all low cards.  I raise again.  He reraises.  What has he been previously playing?  Bad hands but he's been winning with them when the turn and river has made his hands.  Even if he pairs up it will be low cards.  I decide to go all in.  He calls.  He shows pocket aces.  I don't get any help on the turn or the river and I lose the hand.  It wipes out my stack of chips and I'm out.  Previously, he had played hands because he had a huge stack of chips.  He had a confidence about him that I didn't pay attention to it.  The previous person described above didn't exhibit such flair.  I didn't observe any tells from him that would helped me make a decision.  He had the same look whether playing poor hands or this hand.  I was the one who was read.  I can only assume he was a poker professional with a lot of experience.  I could rebuy in but decide to call it a night.  Instead I go play 3 card poker in the casino and win $600. 

[Austintacious]

Today is Day 8 of the WSOP.  Eighteen players are left.  Prize amounts are as follow:

Place
1.  $10,000,000
2.  $6,000,000
3.  $4,000,000
4.  $3,000,000
5.  $2,500,000
6.  $2,000,000
7.  $1,500,000
8.  $1,250,000
9.  $1,000,000
10-11.  $800,000
12-13.  $600,000
14-17.  $450,000
18.  $350,000

[Minermojo]

Is it televised and in what channel?

[Austintacious]

No live coverage.  There will be some delayed coverage on the CBS Sports Network later in the week. 

[Austintacious]

Jonathan Tamayo from Humble, Texas is the 2024 World Series of Poker Champion.  He takes home a prize of $10,000,000. 

[Minermojo]

Jonathan Tamayo from Humble, Texas is the 2024 World Series of Poker Champion.  He takes home a prize of $10,000,000.

How much was his investment to enter?

[Austintacious]

$10,000.  That's why I haven't played it yet.  I have to win a smaller buy in tournament that pays about $250,000 to $500,000 for the winner.  Then I'll enter it.  Hopefully, next year.