Last Days 2008

The last few months of this very long year have flown by with such cat-like speed that I have even refrained from sleep at times in an effort to avoid missing a moment of it. But the inevitable has come now: We have a newly elected President (woo-hoo!), made it through the annual turkey holocaust and Christmas is now behind us too...kind and joyful holiday sentiments stuffed away like decorations for another year to become dusty and forgotten until the next go-around and the days before New Years can be counted on one hand.

As 2009 nears I have positive expectations for what's to come: I look forward to new experiences, new casinos, new people, new people's money, new strategies, lots of blogging, travel, plenty of tournaments, saftey and health.

Thanks for visiting me here at Quad Seven Poker and over at Gambler Chronicles.

Wishing you Big Flops, Bigger Pots and a Happy New Year!

Delik

New Site On The Block

I'm pleased to announce the arrival of Gambler Chronicles **

My new website is officially up, running, and expanding more each day.

With the intent of funneling my energy into a single project, I've launched the chronicle of a semi-fictional gambler on a journey through life and the places, people and bets he comes across. Greyson Slate is in a world of endless wagers and a life of unknown outcomes.

What does this mean for Quad Seven Poker?

I will still post at Q7P and update news and features often. Lots of updates are made and will continue to be made in the Grease the Rail Section and poker tools will remain active!


And Don't Forget!

I will have a weekly post at Poker Bankroll Blog with an eye towards Poker News!!


Thanks for all of your continued support.

Wishing you Big Pots and Bigger Flops,

Delik James

Special Reminder

Hey Poker Lovers! Just want to remind you that I have a new Blog Post today at Poker Bankroll Blog. You can find a link to the site with my "A Man, A Spider, and a Question of Ethics" post in my Quad Seven Top 7 Links in the sidebar!

Also, don't forget to stop by my 'Grease the Rail' section for lots of fun stuff to kill some time while avoiding work or between porn downloads - much has been added and all is updated often.

Wishing you Big Flops and Bigger Pots!
Del

P's and Q's

Generally speaking, I think taking things too seriously in life can be a hazard.

For one, it's not good for your health to add such unnecessary stresses about mundane issues that would otherwise just pass as most things do. Also, you tend to come off as a real loser in the meantime - spending your days and nights nit-picking and vexing over every little thing.

So what about strictness towards proper etiquette?

Well, I couldn't care less about using the proper fork at a dinner party, I like to avoid wearing suits - especially when their 'required', and chances are that I'll call you by your first name or even a nickname rather than Mr./Mrs. So-and-so if the mood should strike me. There is one place however, that I refuse to circumvent proper etiquette at all cost: On the felt.

I think this stems from a deep respect for the game of poker. Some might confuse the phrase 'game of poker' to be defined simply as an amusing pastime, but don't be fooled. Although poker is extremely entertaining, I think it is more accurate to define it as something like...

A competitive activity that challenges the skill, chance, and endurance of two or more persons who play according to a set of known rules; A game which requires a cerebral application of math, experience, psychological detection.
(Take that Webster!)

Now, when you look at it that way, you might agree that poker is something that deserves to be treated with class and respect. If not a respect for the game, then at least for your fellow players who are there to play poker and not listen to you give fuddled advice, berate dealers for bad hands or hum and haw during the hand when you folded on the flop and the river made you a flush.

I leave you with my Top 7 Poker Etiquette Rules I hold sacred:

1. Don't splash the pot.
2. Don't discuss a hand until it has been completed.
3. Don't cash out immediately after winning a large pot.
4. Don't blame the dealers.
5. Don't offer or ask for help from other players/spectators.
6. Don't talk on your cell phone during a hand.
7. Win/Lose gracefully.


Wishing you Big Pots and Bigger Flops,
Del


Read more about this subject:

Texas Hold'em Poker Etiquett

Basic Poker Rule and Table Manners

Proper Poker Behavior

Gig

Growing up, through elementary school and right on up, I would sometimes think about how in high school, you get to have a little quote under your picture in the yearbook. I would wonder what my quote would be, what it would mean to me and whether it could make me laugh. I decided early on though, that I would make no commitments or serious considerations until I would eventually have to fill out the form in the winter of my senior year.

I can be a bit of a quote junkie sometimes.
Saying just the right thing in just the right way is quite appealing...

"Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out."

"Bereavement is a darkness impenetrable to the imagination of the unbereaved."

"You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else."

Of coarse, I still remember my quote and consider it to be a true testament of my feelings at that time. Different from the typical "NBHS Hurricanes rule!" however, I can honestly say it reflects my mindset still today.

I thought of this because of an announcement I have to make:
I'm excited to report that in addition to blogging here at Quad Seven Poker, I'll be joining the great team of bloggers over at Poker Bankroll Blog as a weekly blog author, providing a new post every Friday on their site!

If somehow you haven't visited them yet, definitely surf on over. It's a great resource for improving the way you look at and operate your bankroll. Not to mention, there's a great Poker BRB Forum and an awesome cast of characters blogging throughout the week...hmm, I guess I did mention it after all.

So my yearbook quote?

"Fill what's empty, Empty what's full, and scratch where it itches."

Life is good.

Del


Note: Poker Bankroll Blog is now featured in Quad Seven's Top 7 Links

Counting the Days

I read an article over the weekend that really pissed me off, allow me to share...

The Poker Players Alliance, of which I am a proud member myself and suggest any serious player should be, has been aggressive against the republicans who are anti-online gaming and have this view reflected directly in their party's platform.
Shockingly enough, they decided last week to remove this language from their platform though, apparently making a 180 degree turn in the other direction.
(Flip...)

They must be getting disparate at this point. They must have decided that pandering to each and every demographic would be necessary to gain any kind of an edge.

Do anything; say anything.

But it doesn't end there. Only two days later, presumably due to pressure from their moralist base, they reversed their decision again, now saying: "Millions of Americans suffer from problem or pathological gambling that can destroy families...We support legislation prohibiting gambling over the Internet."
(Flop.)

Ah, the moral police. Who needs personal freedom anyway. Least of all from a party build on supposed 'small government.'


It is clear to me that the Republicans are intent on controlling the lives of Americans in an effort to conform free people to their own beliefs of distorted moralities and outrageously hypocritical standards. I have grown tired of the blatant pandering and lack of tact or humility in using an issue - any issue, as rope to pull in and attempt political foolery on each and every demographic of society they think they can con.

Keep in mind, the democrats have been clear:

Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) introduced HR 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act, which would legalize Internet poker, bridge, chess, and other games of skill.*

Jim McDermott (D-WA) introduced H.R. 2607, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act. IGRTEA would legislate Internet gambling tax collection requirements.*

The House Financial Services Committee, chaired by Barney Frank (D-MA), held a hearing entitled, "Can Internet Gambling Be Effectively Regulated to Protect Consumers and the Payments System" where expert witnesses at the hearing testified that Internet gambling can be effectively regulated for age verification, money laundering issues, facilitation of state and federal tax collection, and for issues relating to compulsive gambling.*

No one should have the authority to tell a person how to choose the way they spend their time, wealth, or life in a free nation. Don't speak to me about moral implications if you would be so 'immoral' to support a government that would dare regulate these personal liberties.

141 days and counting...January 20th can't come quick enough.


*Additional Online Gaming Info

Pop Goes the Cherry

So I’ll bet when you woke up this morning, or perhaps even late afternoon/evening - depending on the level of your gambling and drug addictions - you least expected to think about the music group the Proclaimers in any form. Well neither did I, but the voices of Charlie and Craig Reid were the first lucid sounds that made it through my ear canal and into my brain thusly.

You remember these guys right? From the early ninety’s - they did that ‘500 Miles’ song:

“I would walk five hundred miles and I would walk 500 more...just to be the man who’d walk a thousand miles to fall down at your door…” (I’ll get back to that obvious italic shortly).

The song is intoxicating, frankly. Go ahead, rolls some eyes, but if you should find yourself alone in the car someday in the not-so-distant future, god help you if it should pop-up into a thirty minute, commercial free, fabulous flashback block on your radio. Or in my case, in bed past noon with the TV station stuck on VH1 Classic after a late night of vintage Queen concerts. Either way, you will sing along…oh yes, you will sing along.

When I was about eleven this song was a surprise hit because of the movie "Benny and Joon" starring today’s Jack Sparrow (for the kids).

I can’t help but smile when I hear them say thousand. Not only is the pronunciation comical, but this is the very word that spawned my first bet.

My best friend at the time was convinced that the line ended:

“..Just to be the man who’d walk five hundred miles to fall down at your door..”

He clearly forgot to add. (500+500=1,000)

Realizing at this point that, A - my best friend was incapable of simple arithmetic. And, B - The timing was perfect to use his simple oversight against him.

Oh, who could blame me? He wouldn’t let it go, he was so sure he was right! So very sure. So what do these weather conditions create? An eleven year old boy making - and winning his first bet. We went as far as calling the local Top 40 radio station to confirm. (No Google yet!)

Devious for such a young kid or not, I carry this idea with me each time I’m at the felt. It just takes one little oversight. I'm always looking for it and paying attention to that inevitable lapse in my opponents' judgment and trying to remain aware of my own. And if I can get someone to put their money where there mouth is - at just the wrong time - it sure pays off.

Then again, as it approaches 1PM, I can’t really start paying attention to much of anything until I get outta this bed.

Big Flops, Bigger Pots,
Del

Bubble Trouble

Ah, the dreaded bubble; my arch nemesis.

I had a good relationship with bubbles for the majority of my life - blowing and popping them off pets and younger siblings was always a joy. Then there's bubble-wrap, a great way to fill useless minutes of the day, who could resist? Presently, however - I hate bubbles. This is primarily due to the anxiety and regret they fill me with after a sub-par showing at a tourney. What could be more painful than working hard, making great reads, solid lay downs and pulling a little luck out of your ass just when you need it - only to bust out as the first place loser. Ouch.

Sometimes it's necessary to focus my late tournament play primarily on missing the bubble - and rightfully so! Poker is all about decision-making, and when the bubble is lerking, those decisions must be even more thought out.

I've folded pocked Aces just one time in my life and it was because of bad positioning and a mean bubble threat. Here's how it went down...

Late into a tourney, with 10 people left (only the final table of nine getting paid), I was dealt pocket Aces in early position. I opened with a raise (3 times the blind) that I hoped would isolate one or two players so I could build my stack with their chips just before the final table. Well, I isolated two players alright...most folded, but one player (let's call Player A) re-raised and the button (let's call Player B) pushed all in.

Not good news for me; Player B had me covered and from where I was sitting Player A looked like he did too - by atleast a few chips. Now, normally I would call without too much concern, after all - I am sure I have the best hand currently. But with only my initial raise committed - I had to bet my life on these two tiny aces. Not only could I suffer a bad beat, but I would be the bubble boy if they didn't hold out.

"Pick your battles," I thought to myself.

After much thought and brain cramping consideration - I threw my cards to the muck.

Player A turned over AK suited; Player B (Or should I say Mr. Gretzky) turned over pocket nines. At first I wanted to physically harm myself - every second thought that could go through my mind - did! Obviously, with pocket A's, I would be a huge favorite!

The flop were rags for the most part, except for the fact that a couple of deuces had paired the board immediately...I felt my stomach flip. The turn - oh glorious turn... a nine. I'll never forget that it was the nine of hearts because I felt the love emanating from the felt. Mr. Gretzky hit a full boat! (The river was another rag.) Player B busted out with his AK...on the bubble.

As I said, there wasn't too much of a difference in chips between him and I. The real difference was in our awareness of the dreaded bubble and how willing and confident we were to put everything on the line in the face of it.

Kudos to Mr. Gretzky, with a much higher chip count and great positioning, he could risk the large re-raise to buy the pot, or in this particular case, bust his opponents bubble.

Delik

Dealer Distress

Why is it, I wonder, that players come to the felt with a fight to pick?
Try convincing yourself that it's your 'image' or that you're somehow psyching someone out or putting someone on tilt...truth is - you're a giant asshole.

Pick a fight with me around at felt and you'll get nothing but frustrated. Scream, yell, call names or splash the pot and the only reaction I'll give you is a light chuckle and maybe a bad beat story. Being a bully, especially an obnoxious one, takes a great deal of effort and energy; energy I'd rather spend focusing on the hand - which is exactly what I'll do.

Much like anything though, there is an exception - don't mess with my dealer!
I have a few friends that deal for a living, one such friend I've known since high school and keep still keep contact with regularly. Sometimes the stories I hear are pretty disturbing. I'm glad I chose to be a player, although I thought about becoming a dealer briefly in my past, (before I found out how much they make), and have always had the ultimate respect for the people that make the game I love go so much smoother as well as lending an air of class to it. This is exactly why I will not tolerate anyone berating a dealer at my table.

Let's remember that these people are at work, so they can't even fight back. It's like picking a fist-fight with a guy that has no arms - pathetic. Start laying into my dealer and you've just made an enemy; one that will fight back. Perhaps its not the dealer that is at fault because you chased a flush to the river or another player hit trips that you didn't think to consider on the turn. Blaming others for your own inadequacies - real nice; grow up. I just hope I can bust you before their cycle is up so they can see you squirm.

Now let's face it - some dealers are terrible. Calling the wrong winners, counting chips incorrectly and so on, but for the most part - they're just doing there job and don't need YOU to tell them how to do it better or differently. If something they are doing bothers you, move tables.

I'm not too religious, but I have a good feeling towards Karma. That's why I always tip my waitresses well in restaurants, leave my towels in one pile for the housekeepers in hotels and treat my dealers with respect.

The Poker Gods are always watching after all.

Del

Still Kicking

Yep, still kicking; thanks for your e-mails.

So, I've been a little under the weather the last few days. Let's chalk it up to too much spicy asian food, long hours and no sleep...a deadly mix. But, I am happy to report my recovery period has ended and I'm back at full force. Just in time too - I hate playing while I'm sick, I don't even drink at the table, so mind-altering medications are completely out of the question and have cost me a handful of days and more than a handful of chips. Needless to say, I can foresee alot of 'making up for lost time' in my immediate future.

So how did I spend the last week? Well, I watched about every poker re-run on televison, followed a never ending stream of news from CNN regarding 'Election 2008' and spent so much time with my pillow, I think we are legally married in five states.

Wishing you big flops and bigger pots,
Delik

A Rare Sighting

When I woke up yesterday, I could count how many times I have held a straight flush on just two fingers - today I'll need three.

Much like car accidents and phone calls from long distance relatives, straight flushes occur when they are least expected. Although I have no children, I imagine discovering a straight flush in your hand is much like the miracle of birth. Sheer joy. Not just the knowing that you unequivocally have THE NUTS in the hand, but that you've got the 'odds' right by the balls! No matter who you are or how many hands you've seen, there is truly nothing like it - like a Bigfoot sighting of sorts.
(No worries - I've run out of analogies!)

But the joy is fleeting - I still have a hand to play after all! My goal hasn't changed much: extract as much money from my opponents as possible - this was particularly interesting given the circumstances...

I went into the hand on the Button, unpaired - Js/8c; the flop came 5c/6c/Jd.

I was pleased to hit top pair and honestly hoped to take the pot down right then, because my kicker was terrible and there were two clubs out. This didn't work; I still had two players to the turn, which was 7c. I still might be ahead with top pair, but after they both call another raise - I am sure I'm dead to a flush and can envision folding on the river.

Just before the river was dealt I heard that nutty little voice in my head, "Hey, four of clubs gets you a straight flush - one outer! one outer!" I can hardly believe it myself, but instead of being the bearer of salt for my wounds - this little voice was Nastra-freaking-domis. River: 4c.

I managed to get one of the two players left to donate more chips. It turns out I rolled over a pocket pair of Kings that had evolved into a King high flush.

With a smile still firmly attached to my face, I marked my calendar - next one is due August, 2010.

Delik

(Snap shot of this hand available below, in my "Grease the Rail" section. )

Look out Ukraine, here I come!

What comes to mind when you hear or read the word 'Ukraine'?

For me, I am reminded of a very significant country in the game of Risk. "The gateway to Asia" we'd call it growing up. Truth be told, I've never given the country too much more thought and don't know much more about it than its capital (Kiev). Then something happened that made me give Ukraine another look...

I've made quite a few friends through my recent (and very late) introduction to MySpace. One such friend is a woman named Olga from Ukraine. We met primarily due to our mutual love of poker and struck up a few conversations right from the start. My interest was peeked when I found out she was the editor-in-chief of Hroniky Azarta, a gambling magazine in Ukraine - 'the first and best' she says dutifully.

A few random chats later came a surprise for the ages, she's working on having a 'dynamic and bright dialog' with pro players that have some character and will share their experiences and opinions with her readers ...I guess Mike Matusow was busy? Apparently poker is getting big in Ukraine, but they are far behind in the world of poker magazine availability and lack ways of exposing more readers to the game. So there you have it, I'm being profiled in a Ukraine gambling mag - wow.

So I'm not really sure how I will be perceived by my friends to the East, or if they'll care much - but hell - the chance to enlighten and interest people about poker on the other side of the globe is pretty exciting. After reading...strike that, translating - then reading a few of her past articles of a similar nature, I was relieved to find a smart author with well composed articles; so I agreed.

We had our first 'interview' a few days ago and plan to wrap up in the coming days. So far it's been really fun and the questions are like none I would have expected - truely interesting. I'll next need to decide which pictures I'd like to have displayed for print next to my thoughts and sarcasm. Nothing too dramatic - maybe a red teddy on a bed of roses... really get those issues off the shelves!

Big Pots and Bigger Flops,
Delik


Check out Hroniky Azarta online.

And if your in Eastern Europe anytime after July - check out their bilingual version: Hazard Chronicles.

Healthy Competition

A couple of days ago I made my weekly visit to the bookstore.

I've always been a sucker for bookstores and libraries. Maybe it’s the smell, the sounds (often the lack there of), or even the memories of my childhood self, checking out nudie pictures in the art or photography sections without fear of being caught. "What, it's educational!" I would say if it ever came up...

Well, as I was reminiscing to myself about this and making my way to the magazine rack, I saw an image that startled me. A kid, not much older than I was during my ‘nudie art picture phase,’ was looking at the March issue of Bluff Magazine.

I've always hear ‘seasoned’ poker players, not 'old' - let's just say seasoned... talk about young players, wishing that they had the amount of poker material at their fingertips when they were at their age, that 20 year olds have today. "Imagine how good I would be by now," they quip.

The poker saying “...a lifetime to master" is true - the longer you play - the better you get. Seeing thousands of hands played out is much different than seeing millions of them. You can learn something about the game and yourself to apply to future hands every single time. We all know that the 20-something poker player population is getting so much larger - this can pose a major threat to the 40 to 60 year olds that have been playing since long before you could just go online or buy a poker mag in any bookstore!

So, when I saw this kid - flipping through this poker magazine, I had a terrible thought...I didn't get the poker bug until I was 19...when he is my age, he'll have a full seven years more exposure! We could say for sake of argument, that sometime in the future - this kid will be all grown up - sitting across a table from me...taking my money! That bastard! Then I thought about how much harder I would have to work...how much I would have to do just to keep up with him. Ha, I had to laugh - this thought made me want to go play poker right then. The mere hypothetical challenge injected me with excitement - damn I love this game!

Besides, I figured as I grabbed a copy for myself… I won this battle little dude- he’s just flipping through it, but I’m old enough to buy one!


Del

The 411

So you may have noticed a few new things around here lately - not so much redecorating, but additions of features and tools. This blog has been a great outlet for me to share my poker experiences and admiration for the game, so I've made a commitment to my visitors to make things as easy-to-use and as entertaining as possible.

I'm not exactly a pro when it comes to HTML, but I really liked the idea that if someone popped in, to check out a particular section of the blog - they could do so without too much scrolling or searching - so I hope you enjoy this feature! I'm also pleased to share news/entertainment related poker headlines in The Leak, with an easy to use scroll box - incase you missed a day or two. I tend to carry a lot of fun little stories like these around with me to spew on fellow players during passing conversation - drop some knowledge on 'em!

Also, it was hard to let my weekly poll go, but I've got nothing but good mail about the Poker Quizzes - they're really a lot of fun and range in difficulty - It's one of the many things I like to do to pass the time between online games.

Lots have been going on including, a shock: I had an interesting Part 1 interview recently with a Ukrainian journalist...of which I'll delve more deeply in a future post.

Shout Out! to my recent MySpace friends I've made around the country and world all because of our love of the best games on earth: Poker!

Big flops and bigger pots,
Delik

Poker vs. Bowling

Superstitions can be good in some types of games.

I remember when I was thirteen and on a bowling league - you run into some hardcore superstitions when you’re in a bowling alley. We've all heard of a pitcher wearing the same socks throughout a winning streak, but the pure lunacy that encompasses bowlers every second of the game is just startling. Bowlers get new superstitions after every frame because they are attempting to do the EXACT same thing twelve times in a row! Having the same exact plan and execution twelve times back to back to back is what makes champions in bowling. Now, it goes without saying that this is a complete improbability in poker, and yet, you'll run into superstitions all around the felt in every state in the nation and country in the world. What's yours? There are so many... how you look at your hole cards, how you stack your chips, or what if you get your 'favorite hand'?

Maybe the hand you 'always lose with'…
“Damn this Jack-Ten, I'm in the small blind with no raisers, but I always get screwed on the river with Jack-Ten...fold – done!”

I decided right from the get-go, that I was not going to have any superstitions in poker. It is just not good for your bankroll to make crucial decisions based on ‘how many times you tap your chips between hands.’ Of coarse, I found out almost as quickly as I decided not to have superstitions- that they are unavoidable.

Or are they?

Well, it just so happened that the answer was right in front of me...
Taking after the old adage, I decided that I would be 'superstitious to superstitions.'

You see a black cat for instance- and boom, your running to the other side of the street. Something bad might happen right? Well, if I start paying attention to lining my card protector up straight between hands - boom, I change my focus to mentally counting the chip stack of the player in seat four. After all, I would hate to accidentally develop a superstition…I always get screwed on the river when I have a superstition.

Delik

Side Bet

So I'm chatting online with a friend I know from Phildelphia last week...hey Jerry! We've never actually met in person, but have played many online games together since stricking up a conversation months ago after outlasting a pool of 90 players in a free sit & go to make it heads up in what ended up being a very long session.

Jerry doesn't play for real money at all outside of once a month with his uncles, but he is a true fan of the game and likes to dabble in Full Tilt Poker. Now, although the bulk of my poker income comes from flesh and blood cash and tounement play, I love places like PokerStars and the afore-mentioned FTP to try out new strategies and work out some of my short comings...luckily on one of these nights I gained a friend on top of insight.

Since Jerry's pride and often frustration, comes from his 'play money' bankroll, he was flabbergasted when I told him about an article in Bluff Magazine (Jan issue) regarding the amazing streak Gus Hanson had online racking up $1.4 million dollars in about 48 hours. After a year Jerry hasn't even come close to that because of the extreme swings and iratic players seen in play money rooms - and in my opinion - his being liberal in places he would never be if real cash were at stake...if not for this 1.4 million wouldn't be a problem at all.

As with most gamblers, this conversation ended in a bet...

I figured that it were possible to take a rock bottom bankroll of $1000 and turn it into one million in three months with the specific stipulation of being a 'casual player' (defined below) to which he claimed he may not be able to reach one million, but could earn more than myself in the same period of time if he could play as often as he wished. And so with that, the challenge...

Who can make more money in THREE MONTHS?


The rules:
1.) We must reset our balances to the base of $1000 on our accounts.

2.) I can play no more than an average of 3-4 days a week (casual player); Jerry can play unlimitedly (dedicated player).

3.) Cash games and tournament play are both allowed.

4.) We can rebuy as often as needed, (Due to the severe swings that come with this type of play), but the total at the end of the three month period is what counts.

5.) We must share our cashier totals atleast once a week.


Wish me luck!
Delik

New Stuff

Hi All,

Lot's of new stuff coming tomorrow including an easy navigation tool through my Blog and a revamping of The Leak, which will serve as a Poker News section rather than my weekly poll. I will now offer a Poker Quiz instead of the poll - in my Grease the Rail section.

The Q7P Dealer Button Spotlight continues to be successful and I appriciate all the e-mails I've been recieving.

Also - Another new blog post tomorrow and don't forget to check my daily poker slangs in Language/Slanguage.

Wishing You Big Flops and Bigger Flops,
Del

Ace-Queen Disdain

I recently had a lively discussion with a player, post-bust, who blew his stack literally and figuratively after his AQ faltered big time. Why is it that anyone would think AQ would qualify as an automatic call to an all-in hand pre-flop?
Now I know that there is a time and place where it might be, (short stack on the button for example), but generally, I find this hand can get you into a lot of trouble.

The basics: Against any pocket pair JJ or less you are only getting 50:50 OR if your opponent is tilting and holds two random cards (say 5-6) they are still 'live' and can be caught to suck out on you (same odds of hitting anything as you have.) Worse still, are the kinds of hands that would reasonably raise to all-in pre-flop that could end nearly all hope for your AQ...
Your unsuited AQ against AA gets you to only 18% to win, KK 22%, QQ 30% and even AK 25%. This doesn't get much better even if you are suited; these numbers are dismal.

I notice a lot of players have wised up to the fact that AK is a tricky starting hand and will bite you in the ass more often than not - so why have they moved onto playing similarly with AQ, which even the bottom of the barrel rookies can tell is not as valuable as the AK from the starting gate?

Well, I think the AQ needs some nicknames like its cousin the AK that drives the point home. My favorite for AK is Anna Kournikova - looks good but loses every time. This gets the point across as directly as possible that AK sucks more often than not. Over time - with sayings much like this one, players began to get embarrassed when they got felted and had to turn over a losing AK. Others would roll their eyes and think - 'there goes another one.'

I played three sit-and-goes yesterday and I must have seen more ridiculous AQ moves than I could have ever expected. I think the trouble is that some players will not face the ugly truth that no matter how good your hole cards may look pre-flop, they can quickly turn to dust after the flop and must be thrown to the muck if it comes down to an all-in. Don’t fall for the lure of invincibility that comes with a hand like AQ; it has all the disadvantages of the AK that you’re too 'embarrassed to lose with' - plus some.

As for Ace-Jack...don't get me started.

Delik

Pitter Patter

I'm lucky enough to have a girlfriend...no wait - fiancé (still trying to get used to that title), that has been forever supportive of my poker career. Truth be told, I could ask for no greater support system in this department than her. This week however - it all became more clear...

I get a call mid-day with the usual, "miss you much" kind of stuff followed by a "guess what!?"
Well, without a moment to take that guess, she tells me about a local tournament coming up that she thinks would be perfect for me to take full advantage of. Apparently, this annual function boasting the 'biggest grand prize yet' pulls in hundreds of local players each year to battle it out for cash prizes as well as some heavy merchandise ranging from big screens to shopping sprees. Then, I hear the first prize and I know I have no choice but to enter and WIN this tourney... first place gets a '08 Mazda CX-9...oh joy.

Call it an early Birthday present, Christmas gift or Anniversary gesture...but however you look at it - this car MUST be hers. I guess since she puts up with all my shit the least I can do is jump into a lion's den of locals for a few days to get a chance to ride away with an automobile that makes her heart go pitter-patter.

I'll keep you posted on the results.

Delik

Drink Up

To this day I am continually amazed when I am at a poker tournament and see people chug back beer after beer during the course a game. Let us not forget why alcohol is free at casinos in the first place - a drunk player is a losing player...especially at a skill and thinking game like poker!

I remember a time back in CT when I had a regular weekly game at a club of guys twice to three times my age that had many drinkers around the felt. You'd figure they would use their additional years of wisdom for their benefit, but alas, they usually would not. Don't get me wrong...I do love these types of players - it means less work for me! You can pick them out pretty quickly and then avoid conflict with them for a few levels, all the while they get plowed and you watch their every move. Tells and betting patterns don't change when a person becomes inebriated, they are amplified...less work for me!

One time, on a particularly crowded night at this club's tournament (about 60-70 players), I was delighted to see one of my favorite drunkards moved to my table after we lost a few short stacks at once to a big Set a player caught on the turn. More interestingly - he came with a pile of chips and his signature Bud-Light ('when you want to feel the buzz, but not be weighed down with all those calories'). It took only another hour or so for him to lose track of things and develop the need to see every hand down to the river and bluff in a lot of really bad spots. Somehow though, he made some lucky comebacks and started running really good again, managing to hang in there right down to the last 9 players; final table.

It was then that I decided I really needed to take him out. Since the tourney paid only to the top five - I wanted make sure I didn't finish the night unpaid or worse...on the bubble because of a lucky drunk. I knew that luck runs out, and when it does, all he's left with is a cloudy head. Additionally, I had a moderate stack, but mine plus his would be sweet! The moment we came off of break to start the final table I wanted to ensure he was ready, so I bought him a beer. Oh yeah - that's right, a $3 investment in my future.

Long story short - I finished 3rd that night and Bud Light finished 7th or 8th.
Friends shouldn't let friends play drunk, but top players should buy the round.

Delik

The Magic Combination

I recently ran into a pretty brutal table in the way of vicious exchanges just recently...

I find there is no better exercise of patience quite like a low stake internet game. You tend to see some pretty unpredictable plays from weak players that will toss curveball after curveball, most of which make no sense whatever and can provide the sort of stings that you won't get at a table full of moderate to good players. The reason: I'm playing with a sense for pot odds, position and betting patterns - none of which can be counted on in the slightest from anyone else sitting across the virtual felt in these games.

As previously stated- this table, on top of all these poor players and even worse plays, there was some serious trash talking. The first five hands was an all out war of words in the classic "I'm better than you are" style. It's in this situation that you just want to shut up the antagonists and bust them quick and painlessly...well, quick anyway. Unfortunately, in the game of poker it can take a while before you exact your revenge, though not on this night.

In the sixth hand I was pleased to see two black Kings promptly dealt at just the right time. Just as would be expected, the three primary name-callers were not cautious at all to my pre-flop raise and we went together to the flop where I hit trips (X-K-8); more betting. The turn was a blank (X-K-8-X), but this time the damage to two of my foul-mouth friends was too much for them to continue - however the last one was all too happy to keep going and called another bet. The river was a wink from the poker Gods, eight to pair the board (X-K-8-X-8) giving me a full house, which solidified the end of Big Mouth #1. Two to go.

The very next hand I got pocket AA's, but other than a low raise pre-flop, I squeezed no more chips from the table and took it down on the flop.

Hand number eight: Pocket Jacks. Now since I didn't show the Aces when I won the last hand I decided to make it look like I was getting over-confident and running a string of bluffs by putting out a small, but solid raise before the flop. Very quickly Big Mouth #2 and #3 bit the hook and when a third Jack soon followed, I reeled them in and busted them both with the help of their own egos.

It turns out I got my 'quick', but they were unlucky with the 'painless' part.

Delik

Exciting News...Potentially

Ready... set... let those salivary glands go!

Word from the grapevine is that Party Poker might soon be bought out by one of many traditional casino gaming institutions! This could be the answer to many of our freedom-loving, poker playing prayers - whereas it would make it a private company and open to US players looking to gamble in cyberspace. I personally have the fingers on one hand crossed and one on the other hand ready to stand up high to the previous Republican 109th US Congress who put into effect some earth shattering online gambling laws!

Delik

UPDATES!!!

The QuadSevenPoker Blog will return too 100% beginning 2/9/2008!!

A lot has been updated to make it even more fun, entertaining and hopefully informative.

Have a look around, and see what's new.

(Blog entry section - check back tomorrow for that!!)
Including tons more postings each month!!!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: DELIK JAMES NOW ON MYSPACE.
(see Quad 7 Links below)

Delik

Delik James MIA?

Hello all.
I've been on the road for a few weeks now and have had no time or availability to post during my wayward journey. Rest assured, I've been taking notes and look forward to updating you completely just as soon as possible.

Thanks again for visiting, Delik