A good read...

I just finished up with American Roulette by Richard Marcus...... here's my two bits.

I intentionally did not read any reviews etc. about this book, I always like to read a book first form my own opinions and then see what others have to say. Yes, I'm biased. I'll read almost anything about Vegas, gambling, gambling in vegas, history of gambling in Vegas , ok you get the idea.
This book was a good read, the setup, his history all very interesting. Then it almost starts into a dead sprint to the end. I'm sure that it was edited way down (or stretched way out) nonetheless the first 1/2 of the book much better than the last. Richard's "voice" throughout the book comes off very strong, in an authoritative "I know all the moves sort of way" (not a bad thing mind you). I would have like to have a little more detail about nearmisses, steam from the casinos, and situations that nearly turned bad. Not being a pessimist, but that's where all your action is.

This could have easily been twice the length but I'm sure no editor wanted that. I'll even admit that can't give away everything on everybody (you might get a knock on the door late one night...and nobody wants that). You also don't get much detail about the modern day Richard, say the last ten years. It's almost like he's holding back a little as the book progresses, omitting details the closer he gets to present day.....maybe not a bad idea for someone who was in his line of work?

The tale that Marcus gives us about the "Pioneers" Wheels and Mumbles, is the strongest most engaging "story within the story" section in the book. It's vivid, it's touching, it's more than just the background, it's where the book's foundation resides. Where the whole book stands up and yells "I hit the big one." Hell you even meet Chester Gallo in this chapter, funny stuff.

Overall it's well worth the price of admission, and I would not be surprised if a movie rears it's head fairly soon. (I just want to be an extra on the set!) Go out get a copy, learn what a "naked capper" is, why the "rainbow" worked, and how to get a couple "chocolates" paid off.

save me a seat at the roulette table

Go to the garage and get my hammer...

After hitting a string of good hands early and showing them down last night, I got the table to respect most any raise that I put in pre-flop. So after sitting a few orbits without any good starters, I figure it's a good time to steal a bit......and of course it's going to be a steal with the hammer. This guy had been a little loose the whole time at the table. Someone forgot to tell this guy that he should fold when I raise, but just look at the results.

$25 NL Hold'em
Seat 9 is the button
Seat 1: Somedude ( $69.15 )
Seat 2: Surferdude ( $24 )
Seat 5: Otherdude ( $23.75 )
Seat 6: Dude ( $40.08 )
Seat 7: Islanddude ( $74.06 )
Seat 9: Uwannabet? ( $60.97 )
Seat 4: Moondude ( $82.98 )
Seat 8: TheDude ( $45.67 )
Seat 10: NewDude ( $19.5 )
Seat 3: Spacedude ( $26.05 )

NewDude posts small blind [$0.25].
Somedude posts big blind [$0.5].

** Dealing down cards **

Dealt to Uwannabet? [ 2s 7s ]
Surferdude folds.
Spacedude folds.
Moondude folds.
Otherdude folds.
Dude calls [$0.5].
Islanddude folds.
TheDude folds.

Uwannabet? raises [$3].
NewDude folds.
Somedude calls [$2.5].
Dude folds.

** Dealing Flop ** [ Kd, Ac, 8s ]

Somedude checks.
Uwannabet? bets [$4].
Somedude calls [$4].

** Dealing Turn ** [ 9s ]

Somedude checks.
Uwannabet? checks.

** Dealing River ** [ Ts ]

Somedude checks.
Uwannabet? bets [$5].
Somedude calls [$5].

Uwannabet? shows [ 2s, 7s ] a flush, ten high.
Somedude doesn't show [ Ks, Jd ] a pair of kings.
Uwannabet? wins $23.55 from the main pot with a flush, ten high

That oughta teach him to call me down with an overcard on the board, and I know what you are all thinking.. It's not the true hammer, I was sOOted but many times in life you just gotta dance with the one who brought you.
I decided to push the hand to a showdown (as cheaply as possible) to get a little action later down the road, most of my pre-flop raises were folded to me, and it never hurts to do a little advertising once and a while.

By the way if you haven't heard (you must be living under a rock) but the next installment of the WPBT is scheduled, stop by Iggy's Guinness and Poker for the details. I just might have to come up with a bounty for myself, like I need to give youse guyz motivation to knock me out, but nonetheless I'll think one up.

Yo FilmGeek this is for you.......well maybe it was for me too, but it's the thought that counts.
Go forth and kick arse..

save me a seat a the final table

long overdue...

wow, I'm quite the slacker. I updated the "Read or Perish" blog list over thar on the right. If I don't have you listed on the line-up too friggin bad, no really drop me an email or comment.
Damn, some of those links were long overdue, and I know I've missed some. So if you visit, and don't see your link over thar help a blogger out will ya?

save me a seat at the final table

This is starting to make me feel bad for Phil

Mrs. Uwannabet was flipping channels last night while I was getting my Quad 7's beat and says, "Hey it's the Brat on the Home Shopping Network."

I understand striking while the iron is hot etc. etc., but it's starting to make me feel a little sad for Phil. Kind of like an ex(insert sport here) selling kitchen knives, or pimping the virtues blah blah long-term life insurance. If he could only get out of his own way.

save me a seat at the final table

You gotta be kidding me!!!!

This might be as close as I get...................

$2/$4 Hold'em - Friday, January 14, 20:02:05 EDT 2005
Table Bad Beat Jackpot
Seat 5 is the button
Total number of players : 8
Seat 1: superdude
Seat 2: dude
Seat 3: otherdude
Seat 5: somedude
Seat 7: reallydude
Seat 8: Naadude
Seat 9: Uwannabet?
Seat 6: sportodude

sportodude posts small blind [$1].
reallydude posts big blind [$2].

** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Uwannabet? [ 7c 7d ]
Naadude folds.
Uwannabet? calls [$2].
superdude calls [$2].
dude calls [$2].
otherdude calls [$2].
somedude folds.
sportodude calls [$1].
reallydude checks.

** Dealing Flop ** [ 5s, 7h, Kd ]

sportodude checks.
reallydude bets [$2].
Uwannabet? calls [$2].
superdude calls [$2].
dude folds.
otherdude folds.
sportodude folds.

** Dealing Turn ** [ 7s ]

reallydude bets [$4].
Uwannabet? calls [$4].
superdude calls [$4].

** Dealing River ** [ 8s ]

reallydude bets [$4].
Uwannabet? raises [$8].
superdude raises [$12].
reallydude folds.
Uwannabet? raises [$8].
superdude calls [$4].

Uwannabet? shows [ 7c, 7d ] four of a kind, sevens.

superdude shows [ 6s, 9s ] a straight flush, nine high.
superdude wins $62.5 from the main pot with a straight flush, nine high.


why couldn't they have been quad 8's??????

Why are you here?????

The Bad Beat Jackpot at PP is nearly 560K. You can't win if you don't play.

Save me a seat at the jackpot table

2005 the year of the Poker Blogger?

Short of posting about winning the lottery, (oh by the way it's gonna happen soon) I don't think I can top any of the recent news in the Poker Blogger community. Otis, Henry, who next? what next? I shall be the first (I think) to declare 2005 the year of the poker blogger, not the Year of the Rooster.




Ever get that nervous feel-good feeling about something? Like making the perfect read on some yahwhoo, and busting him/her for the rest of their stack. This year feels that good. I'm not the eternal optimist blowing sunshine, puppies and daisies at you. I just don't function that way. But I do know a a rush when it starts, and my fellow reader, the poker bloggers are on one.

save me a seat at the final table.

It's getting worse.....

The play at PP is getting worse, not mine, well that is up in the air. But the play at the SNGs is absurd, absolutely friggin absurd. It's devoid of any skill, it's devoid of any concept of strategy. The SNGs are much like a scratch-off lottery ticket. Q-7os raise it all-in, out of position, and without a clue. Here comes the flush train, all aboard! requirements? none, well bad judgment gets you a seat up front.

Summary: Why is ignorance rewarded at PP?

Ok I feel better.

Save me a seat at the final table