Where the Hell is Mitch?

Geez, it's been a while since I've posted here. I've been keeping my other blogs updated pretty well, but for some reason I find that I've neglected this one. What gives?

Anyway, I am committed to doing more writing here. I'm learning it takes time to keep blogs updated, especially since I have four blogs I'm trying to update--probably not a smart thing. I'm thinking I need to combine all my blogs into one. But that doesn't appeal to me, either.

My interest are in the areas of writing, poker, photography/art, and travel. Thus the four blogs. I guess I just need to be more disciplined and each day take the time to update each blog. My travel blog, my traveling journal while I'm on the road touring the Southwest, is usually the one I get to first. Then, if I have time, I will update my poker blog since I play a lot of poker. My photography/art blog and this writing blog have been neglected.

I hope this year to do much better. Having said that, I'll see you tomorrow...I promise. What will I be writing about? I have no idea.

He sat down next to me, on the left, though I would have preferred him on my right side.

Bald, tall, young, and rude. "Service," he barked out to no one in particular. I could tell I wasn't going to like this guy. I detest arrogance in most forms, and this guy was drooling in it. His entire routine at the table was a cry to everyone there, "Watch out, I'm here now, so don't mess with me." One thing he would do which is really annoying: splash chips. Some players like to toss their chips into the pot from on-high, tossing them into the air with a flurry, having them drop with a splashy noise as they hit the felt. Of course, most of the time the chips roll and skip all over the table making the dealer chase after them.

After two hands he immediately requested a seat change. Why? Who knows. When a girl from the kitchen finally arrived he ordered three waters, not one or two. Everything this guy did was over the top. After getting beat by a bad river card, he chastised the winner by saying "Nice catch, buddy" in such a way it made you squirm. Of course, minutes later he beat me in a hand by catching a gut shot on the turn. I was tempted to say "Nice catch, buddy", but did not. He couldn't just win, though. He had to add a comment while turning over his winning cards, "You won't like it, buddy, but I've got the nuts."

Some players at the table will just rub you the wrong way. This kind of player grinds on me like sand paper. I usually don't mind it though, because in the long run I get their money. I've learned that poker is a game of playing people, too, not just cards.

I'm trying to become better at reading people, and gathering information from them. I had no problem tagging the player above as an aggressive, loose, asshole (ALA, is my term). An ALA is easy to read most of the time. Their personalities give them away. I'm going to call an ALA more times than not, because they will play any two cards and raise with a wide range of hands. I'll try to ignore their antics and abusive comments, which usually drives them crazy. Online poker has produced a million ALA's, and when they come to a live game it can be entertaining.

Something else I will always attempt to do: talk to players around me and find out everything I can about them. Is that guy an engineer? He's probably a tight, cautious, player and will only play good cards. He'll over-analyze the game and rarely bluff. I had one player tell me he liked to play 5-7 because it was his birthday. I used that information against him later by adding that hand to his range of possible hands on a flop of 7-7-K. Sure enough, he had the 5-7 for a set. I try to be talkative without giving out any personal information. I'm pretty good at speaking BS without saying anything of substance. I will almost never talk about hand strategy or about what cards I like to play. I try to remain a mystery. Of course, if they read my blog, the gig is up.

Poker is about people. It is a social game. That's why I hate playing online. Sure, online you have the chat function which allows you to make comments while playing. And some players will get on the phone with other players during a game...which is a possible collusion problem. So, I will never play online for any real money. I prefer to see the players in front of me, at the table, with all of their antics, and their willingness to provide me with information I can use to make more money.

It's a beautiful morning in Tucson. Yesterday it rained all day, so I knew today would be a nice day. It rains just enough here to clear the air and make the sky so blue you can almost touch it, like a pastel painting.

I'm sitting on the patio of my favorite hangout near the University of Arizona campus drinking a "grande skinny cinnamon dolce latte", noted on my cup as a "SCDL". The air is crisp, the temperature is perfect for a sunny morning, and I'm doing nothing. What a life.


The view from here provides a glimpse of a major college campus on a school day. Bike riders pass me scooting along like wheeled snakes, darting in and out of traffic. Signs remind cars to park "Backwards Only for Bikers", so along University Drive every car is parked with headlights facing toward the street. Students walk past the patio where I've set up temporary camp, most with backpacks, pierced ears and noses. Flip-flops are the shoe of choice for many. I see one particular guy almost every morning walking to class, and I silently giggle at his dress code: big brown shoes and brown socks to the knee, Hawaiian shorts with a floral theme, white T-shirt (always a white T-shirt). He's a bulky human, not unlike a local Sasquatch, with dark hairy arms and unshaven beard. Of course, every Sasquatch you see must have an iPod, so this one is no exception.

The Marriott Hotel is in the distance across from me, and so is the La Salsa Mexican restaurant. A Pei Wei restaurant is next to the La Salsa, providing students with an international variety of foods. Local bars make up the remainder of University Drive, along with a donut shop, a few clothing stores and a student book store.

I took this picture to remind me of location. University Drive leads to the main entrance of the University of Arizona. The "Downtown Centro" sign is one of hundreds you see around town telling tourists where downtown is located. Actually, the city of Tucson is user-friendly and I've had no problem learning how to get around town. The colored banner hanging from the light post is a nice design highlighting the "Main Gate Square", the name given to this shopping development.

This tree reflects the time of year. It is winter. I noticed the one leaf, dead, hanging on, until the next wind gust blows it away. The tree is right in front of me as I sit here, and I took the picture to remind me that I'm alot like that leaf. Although I'm not dead, I sometimes feel like I'm hanging on, trying to avoid a gust of wind, so I might continue to enjoy the nice weather and blue sky above me.

Not much going on this week other than a little work, a little play, and enjoying some wonderful weather for late January. This week has been mostly sunny and warm, although today the rain is in town. It won't be here long.

I saw "Cloverfield" and feel obligated to offer a quick review. First, I immediately got it: this film was "Blair Witch Project" meets "Godzilla" on "9/11". It is a very cool movie in the sense that it's unconventional and has an emotional punch that is unexpected. After all, it is a monster flick. The special effects are above average and the images of Manhattan under attack did bring back some eerie emotions I felt on 9/11/01.

Second, "Cloverfield" is shot by a hand-held camera ("Blair Witch" style) and thus the shaky images will make some movie-goers toss their lunch. I didn't feel sick, only distracted. I tired of it after a while and wished the filmmakers had provided more of a break by keeping the damn camera still for a second or two.

Third, the plot and acting were fine, no complaints. In fact, most of the actors were unknown to me and were very good, which added a sense of reality to the whole thing. I had a problem later on with Hud, who was dumb as a rock. I grew tired of his dim-bulb routine. I also had to accept the incredibly silly idea that a guy running from creepy-crawlies and monsters would keep recording the action on his camera. I kept saying to Hud under my breath, "Throw the camera down, you idiot, and run for your life."
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I've been playing poker more seriously this month as I prepare for the World Series of Poker this summer in Las Vegas. You can read my poker blog at http://www.7seat.com/ (or http://www.sevenseat.com/ ). I'm not playing in the Big Event, but will be concentrating on the cash games surrounding the events. Participating in the mayhem of the WSOP is on my "Bucket List" of things to do before I die, so this summer I should be able to check that particular adventure off my list.
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I'll be in Phoenix this weekend for the Super Bowl, though I don't have tickets. I will be in town to see the NFL Experience and participate in some of the Super Bowl events surrounding the game. The game is actually being played in University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, home of the Arizona Cardinals.
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I purchased an 8-game packet to see the Texas Rangers next month as they begin Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona. Therefore, it appears I'll be staying in Arizona at least through March. Then it's likely in April I'll head west for a few weeks before landing in Las Vegas for the WSOP in June and July.

I've been playing a bit more this month, not only here in Tucson, but also visiting the poker rooms at the Wild Horse Pass Casino and Casino Arizona. The Wild Horse is located just south of Phoenix off Interstate 10. Casino Arizona has two locations (I saw two anyway) and the one I played in was located on Indian Bend Road at Loop 101 in Scottsdale.

The poker room at the Casino Arizona is huge. I played on a Saturday night and they had over 50 tables going, spreading every game imaginable at various stakes. It's a non-smoking room, a plus, and very roomy. The Wild Horse is a smoke-fest, however. I signed a petition to turn the room smoke-free, so I imagine it will become a non-smoking room soon. I played on a Friday night and coughed my way through a haze of smoke to make some nice money (the players at my particular table were horrible).

I was going over my recent play and trying to figure out the leaks I have in my game. What I came up with was this:

1. I try to buy too many pots, hoping my opponents will fold. I've got to remember that at the lower limits most players are either a.) too poor a player to know they are supposed to fold, or b.) don't mind spending a small amount of money chasing after a miracle. I've been too aggressive trying to buy pots from bad players. Therefore, to correct the leak, I will check or fold on the river when I'm beaten rather than try to aggressively buy the pot.

2. This is related to number one above: I've got to know when I'm beaten and be willing to fold. I don't "chase" after miracle cards. I use pot odds, implied odds, and pot equity help determine when to seek a river card. However, I sometimes try to push my luck and think my hand is stronger than it really is. I need to do a reality check on the turn and river and ask myself, "Is this hand really that strong?"

3. I need to count the number of bets in a hand more consistently. Sometimes I get lazy and generally know how much money is in the pot, but I need to accurately count the number of bets and pay more attention to pot size. Counting bets (instead of figuring dollar amounts) is the best approach because this skill can easily be transferred to higher limit games without any trouble. I count the number of small bets preflop and on the flop. Then convert them (divide by two) into the number of big bets for the turn and river. When I'm not in a hand, I practice accurately counting the bets and congratulate myself by telling the winner, "Hey, nice pot...you just won $74!"

4. This leak is probably my worst: I have a big mouth. I've got to watch my attitude and mouth, especially when I lose to a bad player who has just sucked out to crack my Aces. I must control my emotions and my tongue. No one likes a sore loser or sour attitude. I don't want to be a Phil Hellmuth disciple and have people despise me. Most people don't mind losing to someone they like. I want to be liked so bad players will continue to give me money and not feel bad about it.

5. In general, I need to be more aggressive with raises preflop. The value you receive by raising rather than calling makes aggresive play more profitable. Most limpers will call a raise, so you can easily double the preflop pot size by just raising one bet. The one problem to avoid, however, is to build such a huge pot that you price players in who have straight and flush draws. There's a balance to be found there, somewhere. For example, if I've got suited cards and want to justify chasing a flush, a preflop raise may be a good idea. Raising for one bet with six limpers automatically guarantees that you have seven big bets in the pot preflop. On the other hand, if I have KK or AA, I may want to just call rather than raise. Playing "small" preflop with monsters will delay the pot odds for anyone looking to hit a straight or flush with their connectors and suited cards. With position postflop, maybe you can force players with draws out of the hand with a two bet reraise.

A Snapshot Update, Christmas to January 20

Time to update my blog and get back on my regular schedule after a month of goofing off. I've not updated my blog since the middle of December...so, it's time to get back on track. Here we go...A Snapshot Update in Pictures.

Tombstone, Arizona Territory

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 2007

I thought about flying back to Texas for the Holidays, but decided I didn't want to fight the crowds at the airport. So, instead, I went back to the Old West and drove to Tombstone in the "Arizona Territory."

In the early days of the Arizona/New Mexico territory, Tombstone was a thriving mining town and center of government for the expanding territory. The capital was later relocated to Phoenix after Tombstone fell on hard times, having suffered two devistating fires that nearly destroyed every building in town. In addition, the mines played out and the town was all but abandoned. Then the Earp brothers came to town. The fight at the OK Corral became a celebrated duel in the streets of Tombstone and Boot Hill Cemetery became a tourist attraction. Tombstone now survives soley on tourism. The "town too tough to die" lives on for those of us who treasure the Old West and want to feel what it must have been like to live in the days of Doc Holiday and Wyatt Earp.

I stayed in a hotel on Fremont Street two blocks south of the OK Corral. I checked in on Christmas Eve and stayed two nights. On Christmas Day, the town was quiet except for me and few other tourists. We had the streets of Tombstone to ourselves. The ghosts of dead cowboys and Apaches were present as we walked the streets.

Here's an exerpt from my personal journal:

"I left Tucson yesterday morning, drove to Benson, then on to Tombstone and arrived before noon. My first stop was Boot Hill Cemetery just north of town. The cemetery is on a hill, overlooking a beautiful view of the mountains to the east and a valley below.

I then drove on to Tombstone and walked around the old western town before deciding to get a room at the Adobe Lodge on Fremont, a block east of the famous Allen Street where all the saloons gunfights took place in the 1880s. It’s a great location to stay, with all the attractions within easy walking distance. I ate lunch at the Longhorn Restaurant, walked the town, attended a reenactment of the shootout at the OK Corral, and bought some jewelry. The weather was cool, but very pleasant with a warm sun. I ate a light supper, just a “Tombstone Club” sandwich at the Cashman Café, a historic site across from the old mine, on Toughtnut Street. The old lady who runs the place was a character, with a deep German accent, and a very friendly and funny demeanor.

This morning, being Christmas Day, I wasn’t sure if any place would be open. Luckily, the Circle K gas station on the edge of town was open, so I bought some cereal, milk, and donuts for breakfast. I also bought a sandwich from Cashman’s last night and have it yet to eat.

I just walked for about an hour and half through the deserted streets of Tombstone. A few tourists joined me in walking around the town unmolested by the usual tourists you see here on a daily basis. No businesses were open, but for the old mine. Remarkably, they were offering tours of the mine today. While sitting on a bench resting myself, a Mexican gentleman rode up on his bike passing out flyers. He said he opened his Mexican restaurant today because he knew everyone else was going to be closed. I wished him luck, and will pass on the opportunity to eat there.

My impressions? The OK Corral is all about western myth and history. It is fun to think about what happened on that October day in 1881. More than 25 shots fired in less than 30 seconds, ending up in the death of three men and the wounding of a couple more. Wyatt Earp was the only one who came away without a scratch. The stage play/reenactment was like something you would find at a Six Flags or other tourist park: a mixture of bad acting, humor, playing with the audience, and cheesy entertainment. Walking through the corral where the actual fight took place was rather eerie. I enjoyed the Fly’s Photo Shop, located next to the corral. Doc Holiday was staying in a room provided by the Fly’s when the fight broke out just outside his window in the corral. The “HIstorama”, a cheesy and outdated multimedia presentation on the history of Tombstone was a little silly. Narrated by Vincent Price, you’d thing they would have updated the presentation by now. The show is in a small theater and is included in the $7.50 price you pay for the shootout reenactment and tour of the OK Corral.

Tombstone itself, is the real attraction. The three or four blocks of Allen Street running north and south look like an old western town. You can take a stage ride tour, eat in historic locations like the Longhorn Restaurant or Big Nose Kate’s Saloon. Numerous retail stores selling everything from jewelry to Stetson hats line both sides of the street. Plaques located throughout the town designate the places where historic events took place."

Boot Hill (or is it Boothill?) Cemetery was my first stop just north of Tombstone. I walked among the graves of various Apache indians, criminals, children, and of course those who died at the O.K. Corral.

I took this photo of a painting that was hanging in the window of an art gallery in downtown Tombstone. Handlebar mustaches were common, I guess.

Christmas Eve day in Tombstone. The horses evidently don't like working on holidays. The hotel is the famous "Crystal Palace" where an Earp brother (I can't remember which one) was shot weeks after the OK Corral gunfight.

Looking east from Allen Street toward the mountains on Christmas Eve day.

I attended the last show of the day that was a reenactment of the famous OK Corral gunfight. I took this photo just as Doc Holiday takes aim at one of the Clantons. Doc was grazed by a bullet in the hip; Wyatt Earp was the only one to come out of the fight without a scratch.

The entrance to the Good Enough Mine, the large and prosperous silver mine that made Tombstone one of the most thriving mining towns of the late 1880s. Unfortunately, the mine gave out due to technical problems (something to do with water pumps and other mining stuff I really don't understand). Tombstone was all but dead after most people abandoned the place. At one time there were more than 18 mines operating in the area.

A view of the boardwalk looking north in downtown, on Allen Street. Tombstone was rather quiet on Christmas Eve day. Normally, these sidewalks would be full of tourists.

Christmas Day, Tombstone. The town is totally abandoned except for me and a handful of tourists. I walked alone down Allen Street and tried to imagine what it was like during the day when the Earps and Clantons were in town.

The Oriental Saloon, home of Wyatt Earp and his clan. Wyatt ran a card game and spent most of his time here.

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Around Town in Tucson
Bringing in the New Year, early January

The Cowboys had just clinched the playoffs and home-field advantage, so I was a happy guy when I took this photo. I had just left the Fox and Hound Sports Grille and tossed my hat on the seat next to me. Why did I take this photo? I have no idea.

Showing off my new sunglasses bought at the local Goodwill Store for 79 cents. They are Ohio State glasses and are very cool.

My favorite hangout is the Starbucks on University Drive, one block west of the University of Arizona main campus. The building used to be someone's home: wooden floors still intact.

The fireplace (there are two) in the Starbucks back room. Back in the day, this was someone's bedroom. It's a very nice place to hang out, relax, and visit with UA students.

A mural on the wall in the Starbucks...reminds me of a girl I once dated. She also was flat, cold, and expressionless.

The Casino del Sol, located west and south of downtown Tucson on the Pascua Yaqui indian reservation.

The east entrance to the Casino del Sol. The poker room is located just inside those doors beyond the trees. I spend 20-30 hours a week here, trying to become a card player like Doc Holiday, who was known as a real card shark and was regularly threatened by gun-toting losers who couldn't play very well. Luckily, guns are no longer allowed inside the poker room (at least not this one!)

A "Moment of Zin" at a Motel 6. As you can tell, I sometimes get bored.

My supplies for a stay at the motel: cell phone, plastic utensils, fresh fruit, and junk food. Living in motels can be ruiness to one's diet, so I've learned to buy fruit instead of Hostess Twinkies. I rarely eat junk food any more, choosing to eat from a grocery store or at a restaurant.

I have a beautiful drive to work, traveling along the foothills of the mountains on Sunset Road. I took this photo on the morning after a cold and rainy day...the sky was blue and the air was crisp and very clear. I never tire of the scenery here.

Homes along the foothills. One day I would like to own a home in this area of Tucson (we can only dream, of course.)

Inside the Fox and Hound Sports Grille on the day the Cowboys lost to the New York Giants. I was sick for days. This room in the Fox has huge TV screens along the wall.

My Two-Day Trip to Phoenix/Scottsdale

Carefree Arts Festival, weekend of January 18-20

These bikers were headed north on Hwy. 51 toward the little town of Carefree. There is a six mile "scenic route" from Scottsdale.

These mountains overlook Carefree. If you look hard, you can see a house on the very top of the mountain.

Looking north toward downtown Carefree.

The views around Carefree are just beautiful. I took this photo looking northeast just outside of town.

Downtown square, Carefree, Arizona. The downtown area is imaculate, landscaped, with brick streets, quaint offices, retail shops and a very cool atmosphere.

Early morning view of the Arts Festival, featuring artists from around the nation. The crowds began to slowly arrive and by noon the streets were packed. I was early, so I had breakfast at a cafe called "The Sundial."

After three hours of walking around looking at art, I sat on a bench for a break. This was my view looking west.

Some art pieces via my Nikon digital camera. A rather artistic shot, I must say.

This artisan makes indian clothing, blankets, quilts. She was working on a piece outside her booth at the festival. Some of the artists were demonstrating their techniques at their booths.

The wine tasting pavilion was a popular hangout at the festival. I was a little tipsy when I took this shot.

The Wild Holly Gallery. I took this photo primarily because I liked the art piece; the girl looking at the woman in the brown shirt as if to say, "why don't you take me home with you?".

The wine tasting pavillion also featured live music. A guitarist, Patrick Ki, played while I was there.

The art festival in Carefree is offered by a group of artists called The Thunderbird Artists, and they set up their booths here four times a year. The Thunderbirds offer festivals throughout Arizona, providing one way the artists can sell and promote their works.

I took this self-portrait looking at some mirrors encased in glass and ceramic. Moments after I left, the mirror was sold for hundreds of dollars.

McDonald's Car Show, Scottsdale

I was headed for my motel on Saturday after leaving Carefree and I ran into a car show in Scottsdale. The car show was sponsored by McDonald's, and there were hundreds of vintage cars strewn across acres of a shopping center parking lot.

I love the palm trees sticking up in the air like paint brushes overlooking hundreds of very expensive cars.

This is a red 1952 Corvette with only 15,000 original miles. It can be yours for only $150,000.

This 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air two-door sedan is canary yellow and decorated with enough chrome to make your eyes hurt.

Check out this paint job.

This past Sunday I sat down at a $3/$6 (with full Kill) Limit hold'em game and was immediately entertained by the loose-aggressive play going on. Low limit games are ripe with loose-aggressive play, so I wasn't surprised. Three of the nine players were close to being "maniacs", depending on your definition. As a result, most hands were raised preflop. I said at one point, "Looks like we have a $6/$12 game disguised as a $3/$6."

The truth is, I was right. When loose-aggressive play becomes a constant theme at the table, it's like arbitrarily creating a higher-stakes game. I have found it usually takes more than one LAG player to pull it off, and in this game there were three players more than willing to raise, reraise, or cap numerous pots. I played for over eleven hours, trying throughout the session to figure out the best strategy against LAG play. As I left the poker room early Monday morning, I was mentally exhausted and by bankroll was a little smaller.

So, the question is: how do you play against loose-aggresives? I've read books, looked online, visited forums, and still can't quite come to grips on how to combat a maniac who gets lucky and wins huge pots when the odds are extremely against them. Maybe that's the one lesson to be learned: LAG players will get lucky, but in the long run, over time, they will eventually go broke if they keep it up. One reason LAG play is so popular is because of the huge amounts of money you can win. Solid players just scratch their heads and are amazed when a LAG player catches another river card to take down the pot. And since I am trying to be a solid player, this last Sunday night I was in awe of some of the hands that took down pots.

What are some things a solid player can do to deal with a loose-aggressive player or table?

1. If you feel like your losing your cool, getting uncomfortable, or going on tilt, then just get up and leave or change tables. This sounds simple, but sometimes you convince yourself you can outdraw the LAGs with better cards and superior postflop play. However, solid play and odds are often useless against a maniac on a wild rush of luck. So, get up and leave.

2. Solid players must become even more solid against the LAG, tightening up their starting hand requirements and concentrating on postflop and turn play. When you go against a loose-aggressive player who is hoping for that miracle turn or river card, you better have a solid hand. Bluffing them out won't normally work.

3. Avoid competing against the LAG, and seek to isolate the other players on whom you have a good read. LAGs are difficult to read, they can play any two cards and raise with anything. So avoid playing against them. Discover who you can beat at the table, and target them.

4. It's often been said, "when in doubt, be aggressive." Against LAGs, it's often effective to be aggressive against them. If they raise, you reraise. If they reraise, you cap it. Just be sure you have a good hand before you attempt it. You can't show any weakness against loose-aggressives or they will eat you alive. In many cases, you must try to "fight fire with fire."

5. Against LAGs you must be willing to call them more often, especially on the river. They are using aggression to win pots, not their cards, in many cases. If they sniff out a rock-solid, but fearful, player they will attempt to run right over them. Playing too tight against a LAG is an open invitation for them to steal pots, especially on the turn and river when you have missed the flop with a premium hand. Sometime you just have to pay them off to keep them honest.

Some final thoughts. I'm from the school of "tight-aggressives" that believes over the long haul, tight-aggressive play wins money, especially in limit cash games. I don't believe that the LAG style is the optimum strategy for limit games (no-limit tournaments, maybe, but not cash games.) LAG players will have enormous swings and variance: they will win a lot money one night, and lose a lot of money the next night. They primarily use aggression and table presence to intimidate their opponents, and thus ego and personality come into play as well.

I prefer to have the odds in my favor, the edge. Thus, I might become a LAG myself at times, if the situation calls for it. It is a strategy, a style of play, a tool, that can be used as a weapon when necessary. But the LAG style of play is not the best way to play, at all times, in every game.