Quick Bits

A few miscellaneous thoughts, comments and rants from an overlong session last night:

* It is definitely cool to stumble across familiar names when hitting the virtual felt. In addition to Toby from the Nut Heart Flush, I saw at least three more better other bloggers (drizztdj, Donkey Puncher, lacerated sky) plugging away while scanning the 25NL lists on Party. BTW, Toby, I do regret not being more chatty -- as it was, I was playing another MTT, answering email and configuring Pokertracker at the same time. Still a pleasure to play with you. Better cards next time, right?

* That Stars event had a particularly obnoxious jump in blinds sometime after the second break. I forget what it was exactly, but it was something like 300/600 (or 400/800) directly to 1000/2000 with the ante going up as well. I went from having about 16-20 BBs at that point to immediately into the BB with only 4-5 BBs left after posting.

* Poker is hard. After busting out of both tournaments (I think Queens got cracked to bounce me from the other one, too) and getting Pokertracker and GameTime+ set up, I played a little $2/$4, just one table, to mess around with them. Pretty slick.

Unlike the play. I immediately lost sizeable pots with (you guessed it) QQ and AKs. A couple marginal plays and a missed open ended straight draw, and I'm quickly down $70.00. Ouch. I think my BB/100 number was something like -50.

Not to be overly results-oriented or anything (ha ha), but that just wouldn't do. Thanks to a rotating cast of fishy players and gamblers, I managed to grind my way back above water. By a whole $6. Good enough, done for the night. I don't have the bankroll at Party to play $2/$4, so it will be back to the $0.50/$1.00 and 25NL tables, but it was an interesting diversion.

* Speaking of Pokertracker, all of my results numbers are currently red. Sure, it's thanks to a poor run at Party while demo-ing, but it's still all red. Among the unprofitable hands: AA, AKs, AKo and (duh) QQ. Okay, deep breath and repeat: "Small sample size. Small sample size. Small sample size."

* I think I need a ridiculous looking Party Poker visor to wear with a pair of (yet to be acquired) Blu Blockers for my next trip to Little River. Only about 50 more Party points to go.

* People in that Stars event were weenies strangely tight beyond the first couple levels. I got no action the two times I recall having AA, despite fairly modest preflop raises. Also had KK UTG, wanted to limp-reraise, and nobody took a shot.

* Pizza Hut continues to come up with (hi, Bob!) retarded new menu ideas. It will not be difficult to resist the 3 Pepperoni job, much like it was not at all challenging to avoid the dipping strips pizza. Ugh.

* Watched a few minutes of the WPT Mirage broadcast. I would not have recognized Gape Kaplan. And I could have done with way fewer Mr. Kotter references from Vince Van Patten. Just shut up already, willya?

* It looks like you can watch a handful of baseball games (spring training) over the internet through MLB.com, including (I think) tonight's Twins-Red Sox games. Not bad. Now, if someone could internet broadcast the MN state HS Hockey tournament, that would be special.