Thursday, July 20, 2006

Stop whining! Poker happens!
It happens over and over; everyday that you play; the more you play; the more it happens.
Get used to it; Poker happens!!
I love everything about poker; the ups and downs; the players; the suck outs and I even love the bad beats...when I'm the one giving them!! I just gave one in a tourney at Bugsys. Sucked out a straight on the river against two pair. Woo hoo!!

I also hate everything about poker; the ups and downs; the players; the suck outs and I especially hate the bad beats when I'm the one getting them!! I just got one in a tourney at Bugsys. Flopped the nut straight and got sucked out by a river flush - the guy was holding 83 suited. Poker happens!!

In fact, I'm playing in a freeroll while I write my first blog post.

Like most of you, I started playing poker with friends at home. In the early 80s we had a regular Saturday night game and played for pennies, literally. My first casino play was at the old High Sierra at Lake Tahoe. I played in a 3/6 Stud game and won $22.00. I was hooked for life.

Since then, I have played poker, rarely well, all over the United States and in 1996 became a regular at the The Spa Casino in Palm Springs where I learned Texas Holdem from a terrific retired doctor, Nick, and his girlfriend, Sharon. Those may have been my halcyon days; but I'm hoping they're still to come.

Flash: Tournament update: Just flopped two pair, Qs & Js; bet the pot; got one call. Turn made a possible straight. I went all-in. Yep, he hit the straight - I'm done. Turn me over.

I've played in a few live tournaments and my best finish was sixth - my first "final table". Tom McEvoy and Glenn Couzen's (1995 WSOP Main Event runner-up) were at an early table I played and watched me lose down to one $5 chip; a bad beat, of course. What a comeback!! Barbara Enright made the final table also; finishing seventh. She taught me the art of wearing sunglasses; big Dior-style sunglasses.

Now days, I mostly play online and have won a few sitngos and won a few freerolls and made quite a few final tables; but I'm still learning. Last Sunday I finished 404th in the Poker Stars 150 guaranteed seats to the WSOP Main Event. I don't remember the hand that put me out but I'm sure it was a bad beat. Oh well, poker happens!!

I'm not sure where I am going with this blog; but I hope to include humor, irony and lots of sarcasm as I wander blindly through the wonderful, painful world of poker.

After all, it's the jouney and not the destination; unless of course you win the Main Event - then it definitely was the destination.

Hope you'll wander with me.

Magpie

2 comments:

chumly said...

Im a Joker Poker player. Not serious, just for the fun of playing and end up making the snacks because the serious players are ready to kill me.

Marcella/Peter Wright said...

Thanks for being my first visitor - just updated the post - always hoping to make it better.

And I hear ya - serious players can get really pissy with those trying to have fun!!

Hope to see you again soon!!

Magpie