Photographer up

Have you ever heard someone say: "This isn't my first rodeo."? Well, I went to one last night and it was my first rodeo. Have you been to one?

The Northwest Mississippi Championship Rodeo was held at the BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo MS.

Quick trivia question: What famous person was born in Tupelo? (Answer at bottom.)


Some bulls are harder to ride than others. Before the event, they draw for rides. When you get bucked off, cowboy up.


My favorite event was calf roping. It requires teamwork with the horse. When the rider lassos the calf, he jumps off to tie the calf's legs. The horse keeps the rope taut around the calf's neck by backing up or moving forward as needed, thus helping the cowboy.


You think of rodeos, you think of men -- at least I do, but women can participate, too. Barrel racing is for women only. Three barrels are set out and the women have to race around each one. The person with the lowest time is the winner. Knock over a barrel and the rider gets a five-second penalty. The winning time was 14+ seconds, so you can see that one barrel mishap, and the rider is out of the event.

Answer to trivia question: Although you probably associate Elvis Presley with Memphis, he was born in Tupelo MS.

Photos by MOJO and taken with my Canon.

I'm moving to a new street: Retirement Lane

Now Hiring: Associate Editor

This was the headline today on the ACBL web site. I'm planning to retire at the end of March and they're looking for my replacement. Even though I made this decision last fall, it seems strange to see these words. The Bridge Bulletin is the world's largest bridge magazine with a circulation of around 150,000. I admit I'm proud to be a part of it.

When I began working for the magazine, I had to learn new ways of writing. You don't say: "ACBL has over 165,000 members." Instead you say: "ACBL has more than 165,000 members." Over means something else.

You don't say, "He made the hand by finding a squeeze." Instead you say: "He made the contract by finding a squeeze." A hand is something else -- it's 13 cards that you hold when you play.

You don't say: "He made the contract since hearts split 3-3." That's okay, but it's slightly preferred to say: "He made the contract because hearts split 3-3."

Sounds picky, but the Bridge Bulletin has its own way of doing things. Notice that the "t" in "the" wasn't capitalized? We don't say The Bridge Bulletin, but instead say the Bridge Bulletin.

I've been blessed to be the editor of some of the best bridge writers in the world. Eddie Kantar? You could argue he's the best. Larry Cohen? If you pick up the Bridge Bulletin and read nothing else, read his Real Deal column. He puts a lot of care in his craft, and it shows. These are two, but there are others.

I've also taken pleasure in directing It's Your Call and taking it online for subscribers to participate. I enjoy doing the Daily Bulletins at North American Bridge Championships. I will also say that I'm going to enjoy not doing them after March because it means I get to play again.

I've been writing monthly columns about online bridge and youth bridge. These are fun, too.

What now? Besides playing more bridge (poker too), I want to travel. I haven't made a bucket list or anything like that, but going to Kate's native state, Alaska, is a must. I also want to see Australia. What about the good ol' U.S.A.? There's plenty here (besides Alaska) I want to visit or, in some cases, revisit - Canada, too. I plan to do volunteer work. I have some ideas about what areas which I'll share later. Don't worry - I'll stay busy.

WBCOOP #2 is in the books

We started with 3000 in chips. I worked it up to 4800, then began dribbling down = couldn't win a pot. With the blinds 100/200, I had 2700 chips and raised to 600. The big blind had 2800 and moved in. I called, of course - it was my chance to get back in the ballgame. He had 8-8 and the board bricked out, and I was number 400 out of 720. Tomorrow's another tournament - time to do better.

Queen for a day

What do you get when you mix one part perkiness, one part fearless poker player and one part all-around great person? Why, you get the one and only Very Josie, of course. Two words: bouncy personality.

Yeah, she cusses and talks tough, but when you look past that, you see a genuine and sensitive person. Notice what she calls her 11-year old son? Yep, sugar bear. That doesn't sound so tough, now does it? The talk is just a cover up - she probably wants to fool other bloggers. "I'm Italian, I'm from Boston and I'm in-your-face tough." Yeah, whatevah.

Well, guess what? She is tough, at least at the poker table! In the first WBCOOP event, playing PLO, a game she's seldom played, she finished third out of 540 degenerates other bloggers.

Okay, I'm ready

The first WBCOOP event at Poker Stars is today and the event is Pot Limit Omaha -- yikes. I can muddle through most poker games, but PLO? This could be a slaughter.

To get ready, I whipped out my dog-eared copy of Full Tilt Poker Strategy Guide -- Tournament Edition and turned to page 288. Chris Ferguson was the author of the chapter on PLO. If you can't trust Jesus, who can you trust?

Playing before the flop:

1. There is no hand in Omaha like A-A in hold 'em where you can be a big favorite. Every Omaha hand is a drawing hand. Therefore, in late position and no one has entered the pot, you can open up your hand selection.

Here's an illustration: Ferguson says you should play 10% of your hands from UTG. If folded to you on the button, you should play 45% of your hands.

2. To protect your starting hands and to give your opponents the opportunity to fold, you should always enter the pot with a raise if it is folded to you. Ferguson recommends a pot-sized raise.

3. If there are limpers in front of you, Ferguson says he doesn't mind limping behind.

Playing after the flop:

1. Before the flop, most playable hands are pretty close in value. With each street they move further apart.

2. Your position is extremely important after the flop. It is more dangerous to give free cards in Omaha than in hold 'em. Because of this, the player ahead of you has to play in a straightforward manner. Because of this, you will have a better idea what the first player has and can act accordingly.

3. Bluffing does not play as large a role as it does in hold 'em. If you raised before the flop, however, and were only called by the big blind, you should generally bet if it is checked to you.

Other:
1. When you draw to less than the nuts (such as a flush draw), you need some other value in your hand (such as also having a straight draw or two pair).

2. You have to be willing to gamble to succeed in PLO. The hands are closer in value and it is harder to bet people out of the pot. You need to be willing to bet to put pressure on your opponents when you have a slight advantage. You also need to call reraises before the flop.

Jesus said a lot more, but these are some highlights. I wish I knew what I was doing. This really, really could be a slaughter.

Update: Looks like I'm not ready afterall.

This is how it's been going lately

Readers have asked why I haven't blogged about poker as much lately. I've been playing some, managed to go deep some, but haven't won any significant money.

The Poker Stars Sunday One-fourth Million Guaranteed (today, see image above, click to enlarge), is a good example. I played for around three hours, outlasted about 33,000 donkeys and won $25. When short-stacked, I ran 4-4 into aces, oops.

I got an e-mail telling me I won 69.61 tournament leader points. Now what the freak is that? Can I spend it? Nah, didn't think so.

Can you compare apples and oranges and bananas?

I went to the mailbox yesterday, and there was a big envelop with red letters that said: "Election materials, open promptly."

I'm happy to be one of the 300 electors who decide who goes into the ACBL Hall of Fame each year, but it's a tough decision.

Let's look at an example. Who is more worthy?

Player A has has eight NABC++ titles, but only one third-place finish in international play.

Player B has only four NABC++ titles, but has two wins in world competition.

Let's add another aspect into the mix.

Player C has one NABC++ title, and nine women's titles. She also has five world titles, but all in Women's Teams. In other words most of her success has been in restricted events, so how do you factor that in?

I don't know the answer, but plan to give it lots of thought. What do you think?

Psst! Pass it on

What would you do if an art-type person wanted to write an essay on prop bets that required endurance, and he wanted you to help him? Well, if he were a fellow poker player, blogger and an all-around good guy (he's all of these), I know I would.

You can read more about it if you click here.

Rueful Rabbit can't count trumps

The animals at the Safari Club were excited. The club officials had decided to have a barometer game -- all boards would be played simultaneously and the players' score and position known after each round.

There was some controversy, however. "Doesn't it give the top players an edge?" asked The Owl? "They would know when to shoot for a top." Others disagreed.

With one round to go, the Rueful Rabbit and Molly the Mule were in contention to win. Neither were strong players -- so much for giving good players an edge. Sometimes agressive bidding is punished when trumps don't split and finesses lose.

Molly the Mule was the declarer in 6♥ on the last deal:

                ♠ A K Q J 10 8
                ♥ A 10 3
                ♦ A 5 2
                ♣ 2
♠ 6 4                          ♠ 9 7 5 3 2
♥ Q 9 8 5                      ♥ 2
♦ K Q J 9 6                    ♦ 8 3
♣ J 3                          ♣ Q 10 8 6 4
                ♠ ---
                ♥ K J 7 6 4
                ♦ 10 7 4
                ♣ A K 9 7 5

West led the ♦K, taken by the ace. MM cashed two high spades to discard her diamond losers, then led a low heart to the king and another to the 10. When East showed out, she decided to cash the ♥A and run spades. If West had to follow to two more of them, she could discard her club losers and concede a trump.

Unfortunately, West ruffed in immediately, and the slam could not be made.

The animals crowded around the Rueful Rabbit's table. All other pairs had finished, but the RR had played the first board of the round slowly. If he bid to 4♥ or 4♠, he would make the contract and win the event. This was not to be, however, as North drove to 6♥.

West led the ♦K, as at the other table. Again, the RR played two rounds of spades to discard two diamonds. Then the Rabbit played a heart to his king and another to the 10 as East showed out.

"Oh, my," said the Rueful Rabbit. "Just my luck that West started with five trumps."

The rabbit decided to try and run spades. If West had to follow to enough of them, he could hold his losers to two trump tricks and settle for down one. West ruffed the spade that was led and played the ♦Q, ruffed by the RR. He led a heart to the ace and continued running spades. He was amazed when West didn't ruff in. His spades were good! He'd made his slam!

At the bar later, the Hideous Hog was holding court. He loved wine and was working on a bottle of Pepperwood Grove Viognier.

"The Rueful Rabbit is amazing," said the hog. "He wins even when he can't count trumps. Because of that, he finds the only play to make his contract. The card gods look out for drunks and rabbits, I guess.

"This wine has many facets so the experience is not too straightforward; rather, it has an almost enigmatic side which makes it more fascinating and rewarding than most wine.

"Waiter! Another bottle."

Poker pearl #54

Jon 'apestyles' Van Fleet has been one of poker's most successful online players. After the WSOP in 2009, however, his game took a nosedive. He was interviewed in the Dec. 29 issue of Card Player magazine (see scan above), and here's what he said.

It had gotten so bad I was nearly broke. Even worse, ... I was pushing 300 pounds. I told myself that I could be fat or broke, but not both. Since poker wasn't going very well, I decided to focus on what I could change, which was my lifestyle.

I started eating right and going to the gym, and, coincidentally, poker started to go well, too. It's amazing how the two go hand in hand.

Within six month I had lost 80 pounds and was on a $300,000 upswing. Poker is fun again and I have that desire to compete.

What the heck is a QR code?

Have you used your smart phone to get your boarding pass when flying? Save a tree and all that. I've been doing it for 14 months now -- love techie things, but that's the geek in me.

The block above is like a bar code (that is scanned) and it's called a QR code. QR stands for quick response. Japanese have used them since back in the Nineties -- they are now becoming popular in North America. The QR code is more elaborate than a bar code, but the principle is the same. If you use one to fly, it will tell the QR code reader your name, your flight, your seat number, etc. Paper is so last year.

A business card with basic information? How 2009. Now you can put a QR code thingie on it. The person you give your card to can scan it with his smart phone and go to wherever you want to send him with bells and whistles on.

Marketing? QR codes are becoming popular in this area, too, limited only by the imagination of the players who design the target.

To use a QR code on your smart phone (or tablet), download a reader. I have an iPhone, so I went to iTunes and downloaded QRReader -- it's a freebie, so tap that app. I've heard the app comes automatically with most Blackberries and android phones, so no downloading anything.

Now if they just had a QR code that told me when to shove all in and when to fold.

You can read more about it if you go here or here.

(Did you scan the QR code above? If so, where did it take you?)

This will be fun and the price is right

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker! The WBCOOP is a free online Poker tournament open to all Bloggers, so register on WBCOOP to play.

Registration code: XXXXXX 579294

Bot holds two aces vs. 6NT doubled and ducks one!

The robots on BBO have an unfair reputation as doing crazy things. Actually, I've played in plenty of Internet bridge tournaments and they play better than the majority of online players.

Having said that, they do have room for improvement (click image to enlarge).


Let's (ahem) ignore the bidding. Let's just say the stupid bot and the stupid human contrived to get to 6NT. East doubled. Does double demand a club lead, or does it say lead something unusual or does it mean I've played against idiots before?

West led the ♦5 and East, holding two aces (including the ♦A), played the ♦8. If I had West's ♥A, I could have scored it up with an overtrick.

You can see the hand viewer and the play if you click here.

The not-so sunny south

They run to the grocery store and stock up -- at least that's what most of the people around here do when they hear snow is coming. It must be some kind of a hard-wired instinct.

I haven't heard officially, but it looks like we got three to five inches last night. That wouldn't be anything special for friend my Kate who live in Connecticut -- they're used to that. Everyone there has a snow blower and the city and state start plowing with the first snowflake. Around here, however, no one has even a snow shovel, so it's a big deal.

The office is closed! I get to stay home today!

By the way, this is my 800th post. Congrats to me, lol.

Bridge pet peeve #1

Do you have any bridge pet peeves? One of mine is this: Partner opens 1NT and you have a balanced 9 high-card points. You raise to 2NT, right? Well, I do, but most players use 2NT for something else, so have to start with Stayman.

What's so bad about that?
1. You reveal the 1NT bidder's hand, and
2. You give them a chance to double Stayman or make a cheap overcall

Suppose it goes 1NT on your right, 2NT on your left and 3NT on your right. What do you lead holding:
♠K J 9 7 2 ♥J 10 6 3 ♦Q 9 ♣Q 8?

I held this hand playing with Kate in a Speedball Pairs on BBO tonight. The opponents went through Stayman and the 1NT opener showed a four-card spade suit.

It wasn't too hard to avoid the spade lead. Setting 3NT was worth 7.61 IMPs.



Raising 1NT to 2NT occurs frequently. Make that natural and figure out some other way to bid your diamond suit.