I’m well aware that people cannot request a seat change during poker tournaments. I use that to my advantage in promoting my books and my blog. This week marks the release of The Lost Art of Bloodletting on Amazon. I received my first copy of the book earlier this week, and I took a picture of myself in my hybrid Rav4 as I prepared to depart for the Pensacola Greyhound track for the Tuesday night 4-8 Omaha High-Low game. I had taken a break from tournaments after failing to cash 12 straight times. However, I have won in 7 straight Omaha High-Low games at the Greyhound track. One of my favorite couples who play this game consists of the feisty Filipina Josefina, and her boyfriend the Portuguese poker master Carlos. I like these two, and I informed them of my hope to move to Las Vegas, the land of daily Limit Omaha High-low at a variety of casinos with weekly Omaha High-Low tournaments at the Orleans Casino that includes a wonderful bowling alley on the second floor.
You may recall from an earlier article, that I had won my seat into day 1 of the 30K tournament for this week, because I had eliminated Josefina, which caused her to pinch me playfully, but I’ve been milking that assault for sympathy since May, but that hasn’t stopped her from punishing me in the Omaha High-Low game for not playing the nuts when she has it. She plays with wicked intent. She won’t even give Carlos a break, and there are times I pity him, except that he has no problem punishing me as well when the opportunity presents itself.
Josefina was well aware that I had a ticket into Saturday’s Day1D version of the 30K. The rule with tickets won in the $60 satellites is that you cannot move to later day 1 date, but you could move to an earlier day. I had confided to Carlos and Josie that I preferred to play on Thursday. Josie and Carlos had won several seats in satellites, but Josie wanted to play in the Day1D version of day 1. So, she walked up to me and ordered me to swap my Saturday ticket for her Friday ticket the could then be used on Thursday. I dutifully complied with her demand, since I originally qualified by knocking her out of the satellite just 2 spots out of an entry into the 30K. Before feeling sorry for her, let me tell everyone that between the two of them, I think they had scored themselves a dozen entries. They were scalping entries into the event all week.
So, Thursday came around. There I was early, so I could secure a table to rest my drinks, my soups, and my spit cups for the Camel snus I decided I needed to have between my cheek and gum in order to win at poker. I have confessed to being superstitious in previous articles. I have lucky clothes including underwear, cargo shorts, belts, fanny packs, and Chinese shirts that must be worn in addition to sucking on my Camel snus. Everyone in the 4-8 Omaha High-Low game in Pensacola heard about my attempt to play 8-16 Omaha High-Low at the Orleans Casino in Vegas. I made sure to wear my lucky clothes during my evening session, but I had spit out my snus in order to eat supper. I thought I would risk it without a trivial thing like snus. So,I decided to perform an experiment, and see how the lack of snus would affect my night. Over 2 or three hours, I did not win even half a pot, but I did get quartered once. Consequently, I concluded that snus was a key component in my quest for luck.
With snus in my mouth on Tuesday at Omaha High-Low, I hit the Bullseye promotion for $300 by flopping 4 Queens. I ended up booking a win that night for $120 net profit. It was my 7th straight win in that game at the Dogtrack. Consequently, I made sure to eat before the cards were in the air on Thursday, so I could make sure the snus would be in my mouth for the duration of the tournament. We get coupons for free meals during the 30K. Since I only wanted chicken and dumplings, I was also given cheddar and peanut butter crackers in addition to the hot food. Snus is a mild packet of tobacco. It won’t make you sick if you swallow your saliva while sucking on a pouch. As a diabetic, I am vulnerable to dropping blood-sugars. So, the crackers were a handy snack in case of emergency. I munched my crackers as necessary throughout the day and into the night. I didn’t even take my snus out in order to do that.
Thursday turned out well for me. I was able to pass out my card to several people and talk about the fact that I write books and blogs on my website. I even eliminated 2 gentleman whose poker games I respect. First, it was David who nearly eliminated me in the satellite that qualified me for the tournament I am now writing about. I started the day at his table. In an early hand, he had flopped quad Kings after raising before the flop. He checked the flop and turn in hopes of trapping someone. I had pocket 9’s. He bet about 1200 on the river and got 3 of us to fade his bet. I suspected he had an A-Q that missed the board, so I called. Then he showed his quads. Later, he disposed of another player with a set. I then nicknamed him ‘Sets and Quads’ David. The irony in that is that I eliminated David when I hit my own set of 3’s against him.
Down the stretch, as we were getting closer to qualifying for day 2, I eliminated Ben, the former player of the year who I previously wrote about. I had pocket Kings and I think he had pocket Jacks. My history with him is that I usually lose those match-ups with him. He still made it to day 2 in another day 1 event. I ended up having a good day in terms of hitting big pairs and sets.
One fella I did meet, but never really battled against was Bruce. I told him about my blog and gave him a card. When we were moved to different tables, I was aware that he was nursing an impoverished stack. He was well aware that I wrote about the people I encountered in my blog. I kept trying to motivate him to hang on, so I wouldn’t have to nickname him Bubble Boy Bruce.
I also was eventually moved next to Mysterious Marty. He is active duty Navy. As a former Navy medical officer myself, I thanked him for his service. The reason I call him mysterious is because he renamed himself every time we talked. At first, he introduced himself as Jay. Then he said his last name was Martini, but people call him Marty. Since, I don’t usually post people’s real names anyway, I didn’t feel a need to dwell on his true identity. Marty was nursing his own impoverished stack of chips at one point, but then he started doubling up until he passed me. With 12 players remaining, we had 6 players per table. I was in the 4 seat, Marty was in the 3 seat, and to my left was a guy named either Cory or Cody, who informed me that he had won the 50K event I had written about in May. He had a healthy stack of chips. He wasn’t overly talkative in his hoodie that covered most of his face. He was in a big hand with Mysterious Marty. He moved all-in and Marty called after some thought. Cory/Cody showed pocket Kings. Marty flipped up nut low. Rut-roh, nut low. Wait, this isn’t Omaha High-Low. “What are you doing, mystery man?” I thought to myself.
The board featured a 2-4-x-x with the river yet to come. He had a straight draw and one over-card for 7 outs. The river came with a 5 giving him the straight and a mountain of chips. Mysterious Marty would finish Day 1B as the chip leader. Former World Champion, Chris Ferguson, is known for taking chances and hitting gigantic hands in tournaments. I have described this in previous articles. I discussed this fact with Marty as we prepared to start day 2.
After a few more players bit the dust, we were down to 1 table of 9 players. In the 30K format, we play down until the field has eliminated 90% of the players or the end of level 10, whichever comes first. We redrew for seats. I only had to move one space to my right in seat 3. Bubbly Bruce was at the opposite end of the table in seat 7, and Tommy, who I both liked and hated, was in seat 8. I had sat next to Tommy earlier. I like him, because he has a mustache, but I hate him, because he has incredible gray hair. All my gray hair fell out except for my beard, which I suppose I could shave, but I’m thinking I could use it for a come-over. I had given both Tommy and Bruce my card earlier, so they could see what I said about them in my blog that I am currently. I could hear them talk me in front of my back from the opposite end of the table. At this point, with under 10,000 in chips, Bruce was trying to not be described as BBB(Bubble Boy Bruce) in my article. As the minutes ticked down on the remainder of level 10, Bruce managed to hang on for dear life. I used well timed raises to get my stack up to 93,500 mysterious Marty ended his day with 150,000 in chips.
Bubbly Bruce managed to avoid the BBB moniker. Thus, in a discussion on Facebook about kidney stones, I decided to name my second kidney stone, Bruce, which occurred in 2006. My first kidney stone from 1997 was named Ahab. I also got married in 1997. I’m not sure which event turned out worse for me, but that’s another book I’m writing. I’ll write about day 2 later this week. Y’all come back now.
