Bonus update: through Sept. 28, PokerStars has a reload bonus of 20 percent up to $120 (no bonus code required).

Bonus update II: Party has a rare reload bonus of 15 percent up to $100 using the bonus code SEPREL04. Rare because it's good for all players! Hurry on this one, not sure when the expiration date is. Could be the end of September, could be sooner if they discover it wasn't intended for all.

Bonus update III: through Oct. 4, UltimateBet has a reload bonus of 50 percent up to $100 (no bonus code required).

Thank goodness for reload bonuses! I took advantage of all three. Signup bonuses are well and good, but does no good if you already have accounts at the sites. Nice when they share the love with their current customers. Reload bonuses can significantly increase your hourly rate and soften those bad beats. I know they do for me.

Had a blast at the Borgata.

My birthday was Friday and I couldn't have asked for a better time, hanging out and playing cards with AlCantHang (and meeting MonkeyBoyJr.!), Mrs. AlCantHang, Pauly, Carter, and Helixx.

Something I never anticipated when originally brainstorming Poker Grub with grubette was befriending fellow degenerates who love poker (and Wendy's) as much as I do. From reading their poker blogs I feel I know them and when meeting in person it was like long-lost family reunited... only we had something more in common than blood (have you ever met that long-lost great-aunt from an old world country who doesn't speak English and is 90 years old but whom you're obligated to hug for pictures for the sake of the family tree because you share genes, a mole, and a middle initial?).

There are close parallels between poker and writing. I believe poker is as creative an endeavor as anything (Al bluffing Pauly with Ace high) and both, at least online, are solitary.

The close-knit common bond between the type of person who would write introspective poker blogs for themselves and never expect anyone else to read them... well, that's my kind of family.

Everyone was just as I'd imagined them, with the exception of Mrs. AlCantHang who is even more lovely and charming in person than she comes across in Al's stories.

I only wish I could've met iggy the dwarf and Boy "don't call me BG" Genius, but I know it's in the cards sooner or later.

Was it a good move missing Al's big shindig in favor of a pre-arranged date with a girl, whom I'd already cancelled on not once but twice (the first a couple weeks ago, the second a last-minute Thursday when I left to AC). I can't miss the third time, can I? Where are my priorities? Where is the key to this ball and chain?

But more on that and the Borgata later when I can get my thoughts together.

For now, the Hand of the Week!

Congrats to AgentLace who correctly guessed that last week MP1 played the incredibly bad hand of QJo and still stuck around to donate the rest of his money. A.L. wins $35 and is the next Ken Jennings as he takes the lead of HoW champion (he's won two so far).

Here's #19...


Grubby's Hand of the Week #19
for Monday, September 27, 2004

Prize: $20

The first person to correctly guess my opponent's hand before next Monday wins. Suits may or may not matter. One guess per person, please. Winner will be declared here that Monday. If there's no winner, $5 will be added to the prize pool.

This week's HoW is sponsored by the above three sites with the reload bonuses. If you haven't signed up yet and would like to support more of these quizzes, consider using one of those links. If you're the winner and you're signed up through me, the prize is doubled for you.

Leave your guess in the comments section below. You can be Anonymous without registering through Blogger, but do include your name so I know whose guess is whose.

If you don't include contact info and you're the winner, email me after the quiz is over.

Good luck and good skills,

---

Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (6 max, 6 handed) converter

Preflop: grubby is MP with 7 8
1 fold, grubby calls, CO raises, Button 3-bets, 2 folds, grubby calls, CO caps, Button calls, grubby calls.

Flop: (13.50 SB) 8 5 8 (3 players)
grubby bets, CO raises, Button folds, grubby calls.

Turn: (8.75 BB) T (2 players)
grubby checks, CO bets, grubby raises, CO 3-bets, grubby caps, CO calls.

River: (16.75 BB) 7 (2 players)
grubby bets, CO raises, grubby 3-bets, CO caps, grubby calls.

Final Pot: 24.75 BB
Main Pot: 24.75 BB, between CO and grubby.


I played some 1/2 limit to get back into the swing of loose ring play, so I could be prepared for the Borgata.

This hand was untypical Party, since it mostly seems loose-weak than this much aggression. Yet it was also typical of Party in that you had some fish who called 3bets from early position (i.e., me).

Probably a bad move to lead the flop betting, but while I wanted a raise, I didn't want to lose the Button. A check-raise here might have also slowed them down on the turn.

I opted for betting out and just calling the flop reraise for deception. Probably bad at this point, being heads-up. My plan was to pop it on the turn if the 3flush didn't come.

With his continued aggression on the turn, I began to think he had 10-10... and if so, I'm committed to giving him all my money.

Did I luck out on the river? Hmmm...

For $20 and a chance to tie AgentLace's record, what did CO have?