What semi-bluffs got there? 942 rainbow? This player is ultra tight-passive. I don't even think he would raise me with 53s on this flop - let alone hands like JT or QJ.

You are saying bet KT for value on 987 in a three way pot?

I'm not claiming I can have KK or JJ. It's one thing to think you have the best hand... but value betting requires worse hands to call. What am I calling with? It's might not be "misguided" and I suppose it's usually a freeroll situation but thinking that bet makes money is pretty optimistic.

I agree on QQ hand. I should bet the flop - most of the time - but I don't mind having some strong hands in my checking range once in a while. Not like a free card is a catastrophe here. I think this game requires some balancing.

Sorry, you didn't mention that he's ultra tight-passive, that makes the river bluff make even less sense. I also missed that the T was on the turn, not the flop. But you're expecting him to fold a 9 on 9-4-2-T-8? Because there's one overcard that you didn't raise the turn with? Vs. an ultra tight-passive?

Yes. Two overcards, open-ender, and sometimes the best hand.

You said:

You have Ace-high at best in this hand. Are you claiming you have some pairs in your range? I value-bet AJ-high vs. Obi-wang once in SB vs. BB when he 3! me pre on a board of like 9-8-5-Q-3.

Any good player is value-betting A-high in villain's shoes IMO.

You raise/capped UTG in a 3-way pot. What are you trying to balance? Are you checking back AK+ on the flop? By checking, you are actually less balanced, not more. You are essentially reducing your range to something like QQ/JJ.

Sorry for the criticism, I think these are pretty clear mistakes and even more, an indicator of faulty thought process. Disagree with me if you like -- it's not hurting my game.

I expect him to overfold. I did check-raise the turn. An 8 is obviously a bad river since it's an undercard to the 9. But I think he would fold 4x most of the time and 9x some of the time. Doesn't need to work every time to be profitable.

A number of people I play with read my blog. And this guy in particular is my WSOP backer. I'm not writing the blog for instructional purposes or to give in depth hand explanations - especially while I'm writing and playing at the same time - so mentioning that he's really tight-passive seems unnecessary/overboard.

It's fine. I don't post on 2p2 because I don't want to improve and I don't expect to play perfect poker 100% of the time.

My wife and I used to set a cap on how long in laws could visit or how long we would visit them.

6 days was over the limit.

Doug, because it is around the turn of a new year, I easily use the excuse of "having to do my taxes" (get the numbers organized) to squirrel myself into my office for a few days.

Mid-evening just start a card game that revolves around shots for the loser. Even Solitaire...if you catch my drift.

Live blogging $15/$30 today

I have been reading your blog and I've been enjoying it. I like the times you honestly analyze mistakes. Keep up the good work I'm going to keep reading.

What are the best places to stay for LAPC? I'm looking at Crown at commerce, doubletree, or the Bike. Do the Commerce or Bike offer a poker room rate? Thanks.

Thanks DoT!

^ AirBnB?

Excellent. Idk if Doug’s a drinker but I always enjoy a game of *******. 2s are wild and 3s clear. Triples on aces and triples on double aces. Skip on social. ******* collects, shuffles and continues to collect dead cards until the hand is over. Anyone can make the ******* drink at any time. Nobody can make the president drink. First to run out of cards is president.

This is neither a comprehensive rule list nor even a regionally accepted list.

More seriously, I think it sounds like a good time for a winter hike with the kids.

The bike is 159 poker rate and the rooms are nice. Comps are good too if you play and the atmosphere and cast of characters can't be beat. I love the bike.

Solid advice ITT.

$15/$30 session from today

Nice read.

In a departure from all the content hereabouts, easterners whine about a "bomb cyclone." In Denver we would call it Stock Show weather.

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Funny to me cus I had to resist the urge to organize a snow football game.

I had a fire and shoveled a lot. I don’t know why they act like it’s the first time it ever snowed in New England.

Apparently nothing else going on in the world so every storm is called Storm of the Year and gets dissected in the news.

How long are smog checks supposed to take?

I've always expected something like 45 min. And part of that was just waiting in line but IIRC someone once told me that they had to let the car sit for 20 min to get a "cold" reading and then get a "hot" reading after so it kind of set the floor at 25-30 min.

I just got one done in less than 5 min. Like I filled out the form and then picked up a magazine and didn't even get to the table of contents before the guy came in and told me he was done.

Have I just been ripped off for most of my adult life? Is this car dependent and my newish Prius simply has fewer hoops to jump through than the mid-1990s POS (Piece of Saturn) that I used to drive?

Here they only do emissions test every other year.

Also, new cars hook up to computers that tell the mechanic exactly what your vehicle's emissions contain.

Don't know much about smog checks, specifically. As Bob said, the MA inspections mostly just hook up the car's computer to a machine for the pass-fail. The newer the car, the less likely the inspector may feel the need to get the car warmed-up or to take time to manipulate some stuff to make sure the vehicle doesn't register a false-fail.

Anytime after a recent jumpstart (such as when a car is sold and then cleaned for delivery and the detail crew accidentally leaves the heat running to help dry the car and the battery dies), the car will register a false-fail and has to be driven on the highway for about 30-40 mins straight before it can pass. Happens to brand new cars that have been sitting on a lot for months without being test driven, as well.

If you can compromise a crowne plaza employee (or actually are friends w one) they can reserve rooms for you at the employee rate, available to cancel up until 24 hrs prior to check-in. Right now, the rate for a standard room for a week's stay next month at Commerce averages like 270/night+ and the employee discount reduces that to 80/night+. I'm not sure what the poker rate is, but it's prob in between.

I'd like to stay/play at the Bike during a time of year when the games are prob spread more evenly among the LA cardrooms. But during LAPC, I'd think it'd be frustrating to try and get into the games you are likely trying to play if not staying there.