Yappy Dave's Poker/Sports Blog

[Yappy Dave]

Welcome to the Yappy Dave Poker blog. This will be a day-to-day account of what it is like to be a professional poker player. While I do not care too much for that title of professional, it is what I do for a living and it is what pays the bills. With that being said, I hope to bring you an idea of what it is like to do this for a living day in and day out. Many of you are coming over from the 10k Challenge Thread, which was somewhat of a preview to what this will be. It is my hope to have great interaction about poker, life, and other things that go on in my life and how they relate to the rest of the world. One difference from the 10k Challenge thread, is that I will not be posting most cash game results. I might post a few of them, but those numbers will mostly be kept private.

[grrouchie]

Good luck in the future.

I currently aspire to be in your shoes and play poker for a living.

I am hoping that by the time next years WSOP rolls around I will be.

I'll be following your progress in the Orleans Open this year.

[Santa Fe Rail]

Yappy, of course best to you in your encounters. unlike grrouchie i am NOT looking to follow in his aspirations. i am VERY VERY HAPPY with 2 college daughters,divorced 2X,crossing middle america with its important products,bnsf rail,2-5 las vegas trips a year. hope to see and play with you again somewhere in the sept 24-27 window. sir good luck.

[LasVegasMichael]

Great to wake up to this thread.

Glad to see that you have decided to make a go at it in the long term. The Challence is AVP Hall of Fame quality, and once we have enough threads to warrant that forum, it will certainly be moved there.

Of course, we understand the need to keep the specific financials private. The window into a low limit grinder's life is much more then just numbers, and the 10K Challenge thread proved that. It is insight, play analysis, life throughts, etc that make poker blogs inherently interesting, and we are proud to be hosting yours here at AVP.

Good luck in your tourney schedule this weekend, and see you at the tables again soon.

[lesvegas]

Thanks Yappy Dave for all your thoughts and insight into the life of a pro. We all see the guys on tv playing for millions, seemingly living the high life, usually at the expense of sponsors. I would love to hear more about the mindset of a "grinder" as Michael calls you.

For instance, after being up a few thousand on your quest for main event entry, did you ever think about changing direction and using the money for something else? When you sit down in the TI poker room, is it still a fun and exciting environment like it is for the tourists, or is it just work? Do you still get the butterflies in your stomach at the start of a poker session? If you have a big expense at home, does it change the way you play?

To a lot of us, we probably dream of doing what you do, which is why your main event quest thread was so popular, and this blog will be too, its a way for us wannabes to get a taste of the life, so we can all live the dream through you.

Thanks again Dave, I look forward to reading your story.

[Silent Bod]

/exec program "hijack-thread"

Just kidding. I'm glad to see Yappy getting the credit he is due. Too long has his dedication, integrity, and reasonable decision making as they relate to the goals he sets, been dimmed by his surroundings, the naivity of his elders, and the ignorance of his peers (including me from time to time). Since Yappy's exodus of sorts to Nevada, he has surely found at least some partial satisfaction to the goals he once set. He has been accepted to UNLV to pursue his masters in wind conducting, while in the mean time being able to play in arguably the most talented collegiate wind ensemble in the country. These are no small feats, and he knows it, but is hesitant to communicate just how hard they are. And on the poker side of things, he has studied his craft arduosly and patiently in order to create the most favorable of circumstances in which to thrive. And he has done as much, and continues to do so. The "national" recognition he currently is attracting is well-deserved. Cheers to you Dave.

[Yappy Dave]

Thanks for the kind words.

Back to the task at hand!

Due to a really long night on Thursday night (ending at about 6:30 AM) I didn't wake up Friday until 4 pm. This lead me to not getting to bed last night until 5:30 AM, thus leaving me in no condition to play in the Orleans tourney today. I'll be back at the cash games tomorrow.

My first roommate in Las Vegas, now living in L.A., is staying with me to film the final days of the Main Event. Ironic that he films poker and I play it. I had to clean the apartment up from the past two weeks of guests. It is now more clean than it has ever been, so I feel good about today's accomplishments.

My parents brought some of Cracker Barrel's sour dough bread loaves with them when they visited last week. This midwestern boy loves his hearty meals and enjoyed the last of the bread today. Since Nevada law doesn't allow for their interior design (involving a lit fireplace) there are no Cracker Barrels in Nevada. I miss it dearly!

Tonight I will enjoy some late night sushi at The Ka. The Ka is the best sushi bar I know and hosts some very socialable staff. This will be my ex-roomie's first trip to this eatery, thus making me very excited to share this amazing place with him.

[Yappy Dave]

I got up today and enjoyed some internet time and played Counter-Strike for about an hour. For those who don't know what Counter-Strike (CS) is, it's an online first person shooter than has been one of the top 5 most played online games for the past 7 years. It's just fun!

I got a call from Motorcycle John who informed me that he had just reached the final table of the first Orleans Open event. After a ten-way chop (good move, John) he had a nice little profit. I left to take a key to the temporary live-in friend at the Rio and headed over to TI. It took very few hands (around 5) to pay a guy off after he slowplayed kings preflop. That kinda sucked... Later in the session (after he declared it was his last hand) he made it $16 to go preflop. The funny thing about this, is that he knew he was making it that much before the cards even came off and I knew I was calling regardless of what I was dealt. This man loved to bluff! My K,9 found a KQ9 flop and all the money got in on the turn. The guy flopped the straight with JT... UGH!!! I left the table down about $150 and headed over to play $5 Chinese Poker. After swinging up and down, I got to play against a dealer and I lost EVERY HAND heads up. It was a streak that would baffle mathematicians. I got back into the NL game and got back to even for the day and decided to play in the Graveyard 2 am tourney.

I've only played 6 of these TI tourneys and took down 2 of them. I only play in the graveyard ones when they have between 12-29 players. This range of players allows the game to be played out w/o a glorified bingo game taking place when the money is on the line. 16 players entered and on the first hand I took my KT all in on the river on a KKJ7J board to double up against a guy with a jack (glad I didn't get too excited on the flop.) Two hands later I reraise with AA and get a guy pushing all in with 55. He flopped a 5 and back to 2k I went. 4 Hands later I flopped Qxx with AQ and ran the stack back up to 4k. After a few more hands, I reraised all in with AK and a guy called with QJ. (I'll call him QJ boy from now on.) He hit a Q on the turn and doubled through me. The blinds kept moving and I made it 500 to go (my standard 2.5x raise) with QJ. I got a call from QJ boy. A short stack moved in for 650 and another shorty in for 1k total. I make the call and so does QJ boy. After 5 cards on the board, I held the nut straight and bet 1k on the river (half my stack) and QJ boy called and mucked. This was a big hand as it pumped me up to over 8k. A few resteals later and we went on break with me sitting at 10k.

I get back from break and I only have 8k. During the color-up, something went wrong. I stopped the tournament to rework what had happened. Eventually the security cameras get to be put to use (for once) and after 20 minutes, I am awarded my 2k in chips. When all the chips were added up, the right number had totaled, so it is my guess than somebody stole/took/whatever 2k of my chips and nobody saw it. Good thing for the cameras! I decided to play less aggressive this time once at the final table and after 6 levels, I still had 10k. There were 3 of us left and QJ boy had 42k and the other guy had just 8k. QJ was just terrible and I knew it was only a matter of time before I busted him. Sure enough, with my 10k shoved in the middle preflop (blinds at 1k/2k) QJ boy called with J8, which was behind my K,3!!! HAHAHAHA!!!! My hand held up and doubled me with some breathing room. The other short-stack (also very wise with our QJ boy pushed with K8 and got INSTACALLED by QJ boy who had none other than.... QJ!!! Suddenly we had a match. After some more steals, I had 20k (avg. stack) and pushed all in with TT. QJ boy called with A3 after citing he was hungry and tired. My tens held, leaving him with only 2k. On the next hand he completed the BB and turned over A6 which dominated my 2,4. Then the flop came A,3,5. Poof! The next hand, (first of heads up) I moved all in with AQ and got instacalled by Q8 suited. He flopped a flush draw, turned a gutterball, and whiffed the river and I won my 3rd graveyard tourney. That felt pretty good!

I ate dinner at TI's The Coffee Shop and headed home. It is actually so late that I'm about to make to stock purchases, as the market has been open for about 1/2 hour. I hope that works out well!

[LasVegasMichael]

Great reading.

We must have just missed each other at TI.

In in the last five days, I have played there morning, noon, and night, usually long sesssions.

The last session went from about 4PM Saturday to about noon Sunday with a two hour break in there for dunner at Social House and a quick jaunt home to drop off the wife.

Played alongside the other Dave and his wife for a while, but nothing too eventful. The same night that you and I did the all nighter, I busted Dave while you were playing Chinese.

We were going to call you to tell you to come down, but it was like 2AM saturday nught, so we decided to leave you alone in case you were playing at the Orleans.

All the money went in when I had AA, he had AK, and the case Ace was on the flop.

In the last four days I have played about 35 hours at TI, so I may take a break for a couple days.

[LasVegasMichael]

I read through your most recent post for thoroughly this time. That issue at the TI tourney sounds rather odd. 2K missing from your stack?

One of the things I do is to always place my card capper on top of my chip stacks, but even them you are open to possible steals. In such a small room, that does surprise me. Congrats on winning the tourney! I have yet to play it due to structure, but one of these days I will.

Yesterday at TI in the morning, you missed something of legend.

At table 1, in the 3 seat was a calling station of legend. It was incredible, and a very rare discovery. In fact, I was going to leave at 7AM, but because he sat down, I opted to stay for another few hours because I KNEW that at some point he could double me up.

It happened around 10AM or so. His stack was getting huge as people were trying to bluff him and letting him catch up with hands like J3, 810, and others where he goes runner runner boat or trips on the river. I won a 1.2K pot when my nut flush was up against his J high flush. About an hour and a half later he ad rebought for the full amount, and was down to about $300, and I regretfully left at noon. I did not want to leave while he was still at the table, but after playing all night and day, I was simply not playing a good game anymore.

I almost called you to tell you about him, but it looked like he might not rebuy a second time, so I opted to leave you be. Plus, I wasn't sure if your were playing the tourney at Orleans or not.

See you soon.

[Yappy Dave]

Mike,

It was during a color up where all the greens were colored up (I had two full stacks) and most of the blacks (I had 3 full stacks.) I had a total of 105 chips in front of me, in which 90 were being colored up. They said after looking at the cameras, that I was only paid for one of my black stacks instead of two. While I had 3 full stacks, I had broken the third to cover my big demonation chips for the break (to protect stealing.) We still never confirmed how there were 2k extra on the table, but the theory remains that somebody grabbed them, as they were spread across the table in front of everybody's stacks.

In other news, I'm finally getting the message that I've been wanting to get. I'm using my $50 off coupon from the LVA (Las Vegas Advisor.) I'll then be heading to TI around 7-8 pm for more poker.

If you haven't heard of the LVA or haven't signed up for it, get on that boat! You can sign up for a coupon book for about $35 and it has over $3k worth of coupons. This works great for locals but is quite good for non-locals, too. It has scores of matchplay, free slot play, 2-for-1 buffets and the ever famous $50 off Palms coupon as well as unlimited drinks for 2 people at Ellis Island (1 hour). www.lasvegasadvisor.com

That's my upcoming day with plans of Orleans tomorrow.

[Yappy Dave]

I forgot how much I love massages!!! I felt so relaxed afterwards and got to use most of the amenities offered by the Palms Spa. After about 2 hours there, I went to TI and played for about two hours and netted my buy in to tomorrows Orleans Open event. I went and registered for the event and then met up with a friend to see Oceans Thirteen. It was as good as the first and better than the second (that might just be my Las Vegas bias speaking.) We then went to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner and headed home. That was the extent of my day.

I forgot about a hand that I played two nights ago that I wanted to share. A player limped from middle position and I limped with QJ diamonds. The SB made it a loose 15 to go and I decided to be the second and last caller. With 3 to a flop, it came AJT with 2 hearts and 1 diamond. The original raiser checked and the original limp/caller bet 40 into the pot. I read this as complete smoke and called; the original raiser then folded. Now heads up, the villain took the offsuit Queen turn card and bet 55. I once again had trouble believing him, as he was betting VERY fast and not caring if I had a king. I called him down again with my queens up. On the river rag he counted out his 200 in chips and then bet 75. This was his best bet so far, as it looked like he was begging to be called. I started wondering if he had Ax and paired his rag for two pair. I then asked him if he had AQ and he shook his head yes. I also thought he might have JT which would explain the overbet on the flop. After running all the possibilities in my head I just couldn't get over how fast he had bet the flop and turn and thought he was full of it. I made the call and he mucked without even seeing my hand. The table couldn't get over my reaction after I claimed there was no way he had a king. It was quite humorous.

[Yappy Dave]

After only 4 hours of sleep, I got up at 11 am and did the internet thing for a bit, got ready, and arrived at The Orleans 40 minutes late (as scheduled.) It didn't take long to realize my table was full of complete grinders and two gamblers. Of course, with the third gambler being added, it didn't take long for all 3 of our stacks to move from 3k to 6k. We were just running over the rest of the table. During level 3 (50/100) I made it 250 to go from UTG and only a big stack big blind called. The flop came K95 all clubs. I had AA but not the ace of clubs. He lead 400 into me, I made it 1100 and he pushed all in. This was the first time all tournament that he spoke, so I knew he wasn't already on the flush. I put him on a pair and flush draw and decided to take the coin flip for a double or bust. He said, "Good call" and flipped over 6,9 with a flush draw and pair (just as I figured.) The turn 9 and river club both got me and I was gone. Was this call necessary? Certainly not. I knew what he had but elected gamble, as I was VERY tired. If I won that pot, I was going to get a room at the Orleans for a couple hours and sleep while being blinded off (barely.) Obviously I busted, so instead of sleeping, I bought in to tomorrow's rebuy event and went over to TI.

This was wild! The TI game opened and a Scandanavian player (always hyper aggresive) was slinging chips like they were pennies. My first big bust was when I called his raise with 6,9 diamonds from the SB. The flop was QT9 (two diamonds.) Both blinds checked and he bet 30. I moved all in for 550 and he called off his last 300 with J8. I missed. Oops... After a rebuy, I raised with K,6 offsuit. We were shorthanded, thus the raising requirements pretty much go out the window. Crazy Scan (CS) called and a shortstack pushed in for 60-something total. The problem was that his raise wasn't enough to reopen betting, so I had to flat call. CS called, too. The flop was AA7. I lead out and he called. Turn ace, I lead out bigger, he calls. At this point I actually thought I had K,7 which was why I was betting so much. On the river 10, I slow down and check and CS bets big into me. I look to make sure I have a 7 and realize I had K,6 instead and instamuck frustrated that I misread my hand! He shows K9 and scoops the entire pot (which I'd have chopped if I called.) Ugh...

Now I've got $200 left to shove all in on a T,9,5,4 board with my great 6,7. Both players actually had straight draws and couldn't call my overbet and I moved up to about $275 when this hand comes...

We are 5 handed and I make it $15 with A,8 suited. The button flat calls and the BB (a dealer) makes it $50 to go. I read his as a very tight and careful player. I figured he'd bet $60 with a big pair, so I put him on AK and made the call. The button also called. You might ask why I called with A8 against a guy I put on AK. The reasoning is that if the flop missed him, I could bet him out of it and knowing he only had 5 outs at most to hit, the odds were in my favor. Sadly for me, the button called and ruined that plan. The flop came T,8,6. Dealer checks, I check and now put the sandwich play on the dealer if button bets. Button does bet $75. Dealer folds and I push all in for $225. Once again, why did I push all in? I knew I had the best hand. Button-boy called preflop TWICE so I can't put him on T,x. Also, if he had an overpair, he'd not have flat called twice. I put him on a hand like K9 or K7 suited or maybe even 7,7 or a smaller pair. He decides to call and the board hits 4,2 and I show my winner; button boy mucks. Up to $600 I go.

One round later, I made it $15 from the CO with KK and button-boy makes it $30. Everyone folds and I make it $115 (half his stack.) He makes a very bizarre call here, which screams ace at me. Just one ace. He wants to be able to get away if he misses which is why he doesn't shove here. The flop is perfect... AKx. I check, he pushes, I call. Turn is ace, river is 7 and he shows A,7 suited............. wow............ wow............ Back down I go....

I can't really recall how, but I managed to get back up to $600ish when I limped with 77. I flopped J,7,2 with two hearts. I bet out $30 and CS calls. I bet out $60 on the turned ten and he calls. The river is an ace and I put the look of frustration on my face and bet $60 again. CS min-raises to $120. I announce $220. CS goes all-in and I instacall and he instamucks. This put me up to $1200.

Another round later CS is UTG and some confusion over a straddle tilts him a bit and he decides just to bet $20. A crazy (and quite poorly skilled) player calls him as does the CO who is quite good. With A,7 suited, I decide to find out where I'm at and reraise preflop for the 2nd time in over 2 hours to $120. It folds to CS who instapushes for $330. Loony guy then calls off his $330 stack and good player folds to me. With $800 in the pot, I'm getting 4:1 and it's only a bad call if somebody has a big ace and the other has a pair bigger than my 7. I just cannot see this as a possibility. I know CS is a great tournament player and the instapush reads as strong (though he's likely very weak.) Crazy caller cold-called preflop and since he thought a bit before calling this raise, I actually felt the not only was my ace good, but my 7 might be, too. I make the call.

CS shows 6,6
Loony shows KT off!!!!!!!
My A,7 suited looks pretty hot right now!

Flop is AJx and I'm now avoiding 4 queens and 2 sixes for the scooper. Brick Brick and I take down the pot of over 1k!

I left about 1/2 hour later with Motorcycle John to eat sushi at a local sushi bar. Good stuff! John asked the famous question "Who is Ron Paul?" After a brief and underdeveloped chat, he vowed to check out the website listed in my signature. For those of you who are at all interested in the 08 presidential election, I strongly suggest listening to Ron Paul with an open mind and see just how sincere he is compared to the other candidates, of whom most are just fake, lifetime politicians. This man is real and doesn't sugar-coat anything. My kinda guy!

[LasVegasMichael]

I know who Ron Paul is.

Being a right winger, I like him, but he is unrealistic (much like Buchanan, the first person I ever voted for President).

Very interesting sessions. I will read them more thoroughly tomorrow and comment. Hopefully, I will be playing tomorrow as well.

[Yappy Dave]

I say he's real, you say he's unrealistic... I love it!