Hollay
11-09-2005, 10:50 AM
Vote for your favorite submission for a chance to win Hollywood Poker gear. The person who's entry receives the most votes wins a tournament ticket that can be used for the Michael Woods Celebrity Invitational or the Hollywood Poker Celebrity Classic.
Want to enter Write to Win next week? Next week's topic is posted after this week's submissions.
This week's topic was open to any poker related entries. Enjoy!
Entry #1
I was playing in a small local tournament in Laughlin, NV when I was dealt pocket Jacks. Because of a strong raiser to my left, I just called the big blind and let him do the raising, which he did. However the person on my right was also calling, despite a junk board the entire hand.
Once the hand was done and the raiser on my left revealed pocket Queens, I was ready to muck my Jacks when the player on the right revealed pocket 10's. Laughing, I then revealed my Jacks verbally, and laughing wondering what the odds were for pocket 10's, Jacks and Queens being dealt in order, side by side at one table. I lost soon after, still amazed at the hand I had just taken part in!
~Thom46
Entry #2
Poker Loyal
Through the sword of kings, see smeared fetishes on the face of queens. Never had I seen them turn to indulge in lust, like they had before. Laughing at the river of cold callings, they pray four Chips torn from their flesh, they scream for victory in spades
With hearts made of stone, the plaque of their breath makes heirs of wheels. Ripping into the glory of bullets, lost in flashes of twilight 200 or more, they see the Broadway of their birth. Copulating with forests of greed, massaging gold calf like a buried joker
A pair makes the stony heart flesh, never to suckle again. Many trip through wires of fame, but find the graves of their well-being. Many try to bluff the deity of their undoing, then fail. Pushed to lobbies of broken wills, they find comfort in books unread
Beyond the reality, there is lie. Beyond the club, there is a heart If only we knew of a master in the dark, if only we knew the secret to be set .If only we knew how much to endure, we would know the dealer ever more. If only, if only, if only!
~MinnesotaRon
Entry #3
THE DREAMER
This would be the big one, the one that would take him to France,
Where he would play a little poker, then laugh and sing and dance.
The Aviation Club in Paris was hosting the World Poker Tour,
And the reputation to be earned there was a very powerful lure.
It would be the one that showcased his talents to the poker world,
And he would harvest all its bounty as he would a cultured pearl.
There would be no limit to the way he would bet, bluff and raise,
And people would marvel at his style and be generous with their praise.
The table, felt and chips would become the center of his universe,
Where he would teach the other players the proper way to converse.
Mike and Vince would say he seemed to always have the nuts,
And would criticize the other players for not testing his skill and guts.
He would join the ranks of Doyle Brunson, Stu Unger and Johnny Moss,
And probably win the WSOP every year without a single loss.
But before that could happen, he would have to concentrate his sights,
And tend to an important matter that would take him to those heights.
A virtual poker site was offering an opportunity to win a WPT seat,
And providing transportation to “Gay Paree”, plus all he could eat.
He was well prepared, having made notes on those he would face,
And would employ a beginning strategy of using a slower pace.
Then he would change gears, unleashing the awesome power of his game,
And pound his opponents mercilessly, rendering them impotent and tame.
A couple of hours of playing would be enough to clean out the house,
And the only exertion it would take would be the clicking of a mouse.
After what seemed an eternity of mentally playing the game,
The moment he had prepared and prayed for finally came.
He was escorted to a cyber-table covered in a beautiful red felt,
And the first hole cards of the tournament were very swiftly dealt.
He wasn’t disappointed when he was given a jack, ten, off-suit,
Even though they weren’t the kind of cards that would win any loot.
He would normally muck such cards when it came his turn to act,
But he was sitting in the second seat, and his big blind was a fact.
So when the lambs at the table folded, it became a battle of the blinds,
And like every hand of Hold’em, it also became a battle of the minds.
The flop was spread before him, consisting of a king, queen and five,
And he realized he had an open-ended straight that was very much alive.
When his opponent checked, he sensed fear and weakness in the man,
So he disregarded his strategy, and impulsively changed his plan.
He paused only slightly before making a large and loose bet,
Knowing that even if he were called, he still had outs he could get.
He was not surprised when his opponent elected to play,
After all, fish will always bite when bait is thrown their way.
The turn card was dealt, but it didn’t help his hand grow,
Rags will always be rags whether they are high or low.
He was annoyed that someone with lesser skill than he possessed
Had failed to recognize how smoothly he maneuvered and finessed.
When the man checked again, it was time to show who was boss,
And not allow him to see the river without risking a terrible lost.
He didn’t hesitate before deploying poker‘s nuclear device,
Confident his opponent would fold before paying such a price.
But to his utter amazement, the man quickly called the all-in bet,
Apparently possessing a wired pair of paint, or maybe even a set.
But it didn’t faze him, he knew he would complete his straight,
And with the river card about to fall, he didn’t have long to wait.
He leaned back in his chair, comfortable, confident and serene,
And watched the fateful and final card appear on his screen
All he needed was an ace or a nine to book his flight for France,
Where he would play a little poker, then laugh and sing and dance.
Indeed, people were dancing in Paris, and were singing sweet and low,
And poker was being played by many, both amateur and pro.
Casinos were still enticing young hopefuls with the lure of big wins,
And reputations were being made on nothing more than pocket tens.
Paris will always be lovely, because lovers will always care,
And poker will always be played, because players will be there.
Mothers always tell their children not to get lost along the way,
But poker will always offer pots, and players will always play.
Dreams and aspirations are traits that all humans share,
Propelling some toward greatness, and some into despair.
He had dared to dream, certain that he would not fail,
And had reached out for glory, and all it would entail.
But the card lying silently on the river said all there was to say,
He wouldn’t be going to France; he had gotten a lowly trey.
~one eyed cat
Entry #4
Quieting Mr. Obnoxious
Bobby Riggs is best known for his “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match, which
he lost to Billie Jean King. But long before that, Bobby had been successful in tennis, gambling, and promoting.
In 1939 he bet $1000 dollars with a London bookmaker that he would win the men’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles at Wimbledon. He got 100-1 odds and collected $100,000 when he accomplished the amazing triple win.
In the 40’s and 50’s he played professional tennis. This consisted of 4-6 top pros barnstorming the country and playing exhibitions. Matches were often played at country clubs where the pros would socialize with the wealthy members before and after the exhibition. Bobby would often end up playing one or more club-members in a tennis match for a sizable wager. Bobby would handicap himself by putting as many as six chairs on his side of the court, leashing a dog to his leg, playing in a fur coat, or in some other negotiated manner. The challengers’ egos often caused them to overestimate their tennis talents. Bobby rarely lost a match.
As a college tennis player and a poker enthusiast, I always found Riggs to be a fascinating character. But I was pleasantly surprised to be able to use a famous “Riggsian” proposition on a holiday weekend at the poker table in Las Vegas. Let me elaborate.
I was playing in a hold’em game at the Mirage Casino with a man on vacation from New Jersey. He was one of those people who build up their own ego by bragging about their accomplishments and criticizing others. He’d read all the poker books. He was just a fair player who thought he was great. In his mid-thirties, he had also taken up tennis the last few years. When Mr. Obnoxious wasn’t telling everyone how to play poker, he was bragging about his tennis exploits. His conversation was boring, but worse, his criticisms tended to intimidate and run-off the weaker players in the game. After playing with and listening to him for 5-6 hours on Saturday, I was happy to quit and go out for a social evening.
On Sunday I was in a particularly good game when, sure enough, Mr. “O” sat down. He was quickly up to his old tricks. Within an hour, he had criticized most players in the game and expanded on his tennis exploits non-stop. I was fed up and just about to leave when Mr. “O” saw fit to criticize my play after I had lost a big pot. That was it! I told him his exaggerated opinion of his poker play was only exceeded by his exaggerated opinion of his tennis abilities. To prove the point, I would play him a set of tennis right then. I would spot him a lead of five games and love-40 with me serving. I would bet Mr. “O” $ 500 that he would not get two or more points the rest of the set.
Everyone sat in stunned silence. Then several of the players who had witnessed his antics the past two days, gave Mr. “O” the needle. They insisted that he put up or shut up. Then Mr. “O” spoke, “Let me get this straight, I have to get two points or more, but I do not have to win the set.” I confirmed the proposition. He said, “Let’s go. It’s a bet.” We agreed to meet at the tennis courts with $500 apiece.
Ten minutes later Mr. “O”, several curious players from the poker game, and I arrived at the courts. One of the players agreed to hold the bet and give the $1000 to the winner. We warmed up. Mr. “O” seemed a little surprised with the quality of my play, but still appeared confident since he only had to win two points.
I prepared to serve the first point of the match-- behind 0-5 and love-40. My first serve was hard, but considerably wide. Mr. ”O” smiled as he called “fault.” My second serve hit the middle of the net--the match was over! I started walking toward the net, smiling, and with my hand extended. Mr. “O”’s smile faded as he realized he had won the match but lost the bet by winning only one point.
He ignored my hand and began yelling that he had been hustled and that the match was “rigged”. But the players from the game agreed that I had won the bet.
After some loud whining from Mr. O and a great deal of laughter from everyone else, I offered to let Mr. obnoxious keep his $500 if and only if he would agree to never again play in a game that I was in. He accepted the offer, grabbed his money, and left.
I couldn’t help smiling as I thought to myself that Mr. O almost had it right--the match was “Riggs-ed”.
~SBTrue
Next's week topic: Your Celebrity sightings at Hollywood Poker.
Want to enter Write to Win next week? Next week's topic is posted after this week's submissions.
This week's topic was open to any poker related entries. Enjoy!
Entry #1
I was playing in a small local tournament in Laughlin, NV when I was dealt pocket Jacks. Because of a strong raiser to my left, I just called the big blind and let him do the raising, which he did. However the person on my right was also calling, despite a junk board the entire hand.
Once the hand was done and the raiser on my left revealed pocket Queens, I was ready to muck my Jacks when the player on the right revealed pocket 10's. Laughing, I then revealed my Jacks verbally, and laughing wondering what the odds were for pocket 10's, Jacks and Queens being dealt in order, side by side at one table. I lost soon after, still amazed at the hand I had just taken part in!
~Thom46
Entry #2
Poker Loyal
Through the sword of kings, see smeared fetishes on the face of queens. Never had I seen them turn to indulge in lust, like they had before. Laughing at the river of cold callings, they pray four Chips torn from their flesh, they scream for victory in spades
With hearts made of stone, the plaque of their breath makes heirs of wheels. Ripping into the glory of bullets, lost in flashes of twilight 200 or more, they see the Broadway of their birth. Copulating with forests of greed, massaging gold calf like a buried joker
A pair makes the stony heart flesh, never to suckle again. Many trip through wires of fame, but find the graves of their well-being. Many try to bluff the deity of their undoing, then fail. Pushed to lobbies of broken wills, they find comfort in books unread
Beyond the reality, there is lie. Beyond the club, there is a heart If only we knew of a master in the dark, if only we knew the secret to be set .If only we knew how much to endure, we would know the dealer ever more. If only, if only, if only!
~MinnesotaRon
Entry #3
THE DREAMER
This would be the big one, the one that would take him to France,
Where he would play a little poker, then laugh and sing and dance.
The Aviation Club in Paris was hosting the World Poker Tour,
And the reputation to be earned there was a very powerful lure.
It would be the one that showcased his talents to the poker world,
And he would harvest all its bounty as he would a cultured pearl.
There would be no limit to the way he would bet, bluff and raise,
And people would marvel at his style and be generous with their praise.
The table, felt and chips would become the center of his universe,
Where he would teach the other players the proper way to converse.
Mike and Vince would say he seemed to always have the nuts,
And would criticize the other players for not testing his skill and guts.
He would join the ranks of Doyle Brunson, Stu Unger and Johnny Moss,
And probably win the WSOP every year without a single loss.
But before that could happen, he would have to concentrate his sights,
And tend to an important matter that would take him to those heights.
A virtual poker site was offering an opportunity to win a WPT seat,
And providing transportation to “Gay Paree”, plus all he could eat.
He was well prepared, having made notes on those he would face,
And would employ a beginning strategy of using a slower pace.
Then he would change gears, unleashing the awesome power of his game,
And pound his opponents mercilessly, rendering them impotent and tame.
A couple of hours of playing would be enough to clean out the house,
And the only exertion it would take would be the clicking of a mouse.
After what seemed an eternity of mentally playing the game,
The moment he had prepared and prayed for finally came.
He was escorted to a cyber-table covered in a beautiful red felt,
And the first hole cards of the tournament were very swiftly dealt.
He wasn’t disappointed when he was given a jack, ten, off-suit,
Even though they weren’t the kind of cards that would win any loot.
He would normally muck such cards when it came his turn to act,
But he was sitting in the second seat, and his big blind was a fact.
So when the lambs at the table folded, it became a battle of the blinds,
And like every hand of Hold’em, it also became a battle of the minds.
The flop was spread before him, consisting of a king, queen and five,
And he realized he had an open-ended straight that was very much alive.
When his opponent checked, he sensed fear and weakness in the man,
So he disregarded his strategy, and impulsively changed his plan.
He paused only slightly before making a large and loose bet,
Knowing that even if he were called, he still had outs he could get.
He was not surprised when his opponent elected to play,
After all, fish will always bite when bait is thrown their way.
The turn card was dealt, but it didn’t help his hand grow,
Rags will always be rags whether they are high or low.
He was annoyed that someone with lesser skill than he possessed
Had failed to recognize how smoothly he maneuvered and finessed.
When the man checked again, it was time to show who was boss,
And not allow him to see the river without risking a terrible lost.
He didn’t hesitate before deploying poker‘s nuclear device,
Confident his opponent would fold before paying such a price.
But to his utter amazement, the man quickly called the all-in bet,
Apparently possessing a wired pair of paint, or maybe even a set.
But it didn’t faze him, he knew he would complete his straight,
And with the river card about to fall, he didn’t have long to wait.
He leaned back in his chair, comfortable, confident and serene,
And watched the fateful and final card appear on his screen
All he needed was an ace or a nine to book his flight for France,
Where he would play a little poker, then laugh and sing and dance.
Indeed, people were dancing in Paris, and were singing sweet and low,
And poker was being played by many, both amateur and pro.
Casinos were still enticing young hopefuls with the lure of big wins,
And reputations were being made on nothing more than pocket tens.
Paris will always be lovely, because lovers will always care,
And poker will always be played, because players will be there.
Mothers always tell their children not to get lost along the way,
But poker will always offer pots, and players will always play.
Dreams and aspirations are traits that all humans share,
Propelling some toward greatness, and some into despair.
He had dared to dream, certain that he would not fail,
And had reached out for glory, and all it would entail.
But the card lying silently on the river said all there was to say,
He wouldn’t be going to France; he had gotten a lowly trey.
~one eyed cat
Entry #4
Quieting Mr. Obnoxious
Bobby Riggs is best known for his “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match, which
he lost to Billie Jean King. But long before that, Bobby had been successful in tennis, gambling, and promoting.
In 1939 he bet $1000 dollars with a London bookmaker that he would win the men’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles at Wimbledon. He got 100-1 odds and collected $100,000 when he accomplished the amazing triple win.
In the 40’s and 50’s he played professional tennis. This consisted of 4-6 top pros barnstorming the country and playing exhibitions. Matches were often played at country clubs where the pros would socialize with the wealthy members before and after the exhibition. Bobby would often end up playing one or more club-members in a tennis match for a sizable wager. Bobby would handicap himself by putting as many as six chairs on his side of the court, leashing a dog to his leg, playing in a fur coat, or in some other negotiated manner. The challengers’ egos often caused them to overestimate their tennis talents. Bobby rarely lost a match.
As a college tennis player and a poker enthusiast, I always found Riggs to be a fascinating character. But I was pleasantly surprised to be able to use a famous “Riggsian” proposition on a holiday weekend at the poker table in Las Vegas. Let me elaborate.
I was playing in a hold’em game at the Mirage Casino with a man on vacation from New Jersey. He was one of those people who build up their own ego by bragging about their accomplishments and criticizing others. He’d read all the poker books. He was just a fair player who thought he was great. In his mid-thirties, he had also taken up tennis the last few years. When Mr. Obnoxious wasn’t telling everyone how to play poker, he was bragging about his tennis exploits. His conversation was boring, but worse, his criticisms tended to intimidate and run-off the weaker players in the game. After playing with and listening to him for 5-6 hours on Saturday, I was happy to quit and go out for a social evening.
On Sunday I was in a particularly good game when, sure enough, Mr. “O” sat down. He was quickly up to his old tricks. Within an hour, he had criticized most players in the game and expanded on his tennis exploits non-stop. I was fed up and just about to leave when Mr. “O” saw fit to criticize my play after I had lost a big pot. That was it! I told him his exaggerated opinion of his poker play was only exceeded by his exaggerated opinion of his tennis abilities. To prove the point, I would play him a set of tennis right then. I would spot him a lead of five games and love-40 with me serving. I would bet Mr. “O” $ 500 that he would not get two or more points the rest of the set.
Everyone sat in stunned silence. Then several of the players who had witnessed his antics the past two days, gave Mr. “O” the needle. They insisted that he put up or shut up. Then Mr. “O” spoke, “Let me get this straight, I have to get two points or more, but I do not have to win the set.” I confirmed the proposition. He said, “Let’s go. It’s a bet.” We agreed to meet at the tennis courts with $500 apiece.
Ten minutes later Mr. “O”, several curious players from the poker game, and I arrived at the courts. One of the players agreed to hold the bet and give the $1000 to the winner. We warmed up. Mr. “O” seemed a little surprised with the quality of my play, but still appeared confident since he only had to win two points.
I prepared to serve the first point of the match-- behind 0-5 and love-40. My first serve was hard, but considerably wide. Mr. ”O” smiled as he called “fault.” My second serve hit the middle of the net--the match was over! I started walking toward the net, smiling, and with my hand extended. Mr. “O”’s smile faded as he realized he had won the match but lost the bet by winning only one point.
He ignored my hand and began yelling that he had been hustled and that the match was “rigged”. But the players from the game agreed that I had won the bet.
After some loud whining from Mr. O and a great deal of laughter from everyone else, I offered to let Mr. obnoxious keep his $500 if and only if he would agree to never again play in a game that I was in. He accepted the offer, grabbed his money, and left.
I couldn’t help smiling as I thought to myself that Mr. O almost had it right--the match was “Riggs-ed”.
~SBTrue
Next's week topic: Your Celebrity sightings at Hollywood Poker.