Category Archives: Poker

Dianne Feinstein is stupid

This was the form letter I received in response to my email about legalizing online poker.

Thank you for writing to me regarding Internet gambling. I appreciate you taking the time to contact me on this important topic, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.

There is no doubt that the Internet and related technologies have had a remarkable effect on the U.S. economy in recent years. The flow of commerce on the Internet has enhanced American industry’s ability to distribute goods economically and efficiently. The continuing development of this technology in California has provided hundreds of thousands of new, well-paying jobs, and I am committed to strengthening online commerce and preserving and expanding this vital job base.

While the advent of the Internet has its benefits, I believe the same cannot be said for Internet-based gambling. Internet gambling has become too easily accessible to minors, subject to fraud and criminal misuse, and too easily used as a tool to evade state gambling laws.

I understand your thoughts on internet gambling, and as you may be aware, I have supported legislation aimed at curbing Internet gambling during my tenure in the Senate. For example, I supported the SAFE Port Act, passed into law as Public Law 109-347, which included the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.

Please know that I have read your letter with interest and value your thoughts. While we do not necessarily agree on this particular topic, be assured that I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind should this issue come before me during the 111th Congress.

Again, thank you for your letter. I hope you will continue to keep me informed on issues of importance to you. If you should have any additional comments or questions, please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C. staff at (202) 224-3841. Best regards.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

I’m pretty sure I’ve never actually voted for her. Instead I’d skip the Senate race and fill out the rest of the ballot. Unfortunately, her position on this issue isn’t likely to lose her enough votes among the indifferent majority in this State.

The New Deal

The wife made a special appearance at this week’s home game. This time we made two deals:

  • I stake her and she keeps her winnings
  • I split my winnings 50% up to the first $80, 70% beyond that

The night started rough with both of us having to reload in the first hour or so, but we managed to felt three people between us (two of them twice) and ended up with a tidy profit for the night. I was up $110, she was up $50. After we did the profit maths, I ended up $50, and she pocketed $110. I’m apparently better at poker than deal-making.

Paying your gambling debts

I talked to my wife before last night’s home game got under way. She had forgotten I was playing poker, so I offered to make her feel better:

Me: I’ll give you half of my winnings.

Her: I want 70%.

Me: How about 51%?

Her: You’re not a nice husband!

Me: Okay, if I make $80 you can have 70%, otherwise just 50.

Her: Ok.

$80 would mean quintupling up, so I figured it was unlikely. Then one of the guys poked his head out and asked if I was okay with doubling the stakes. Oops.

I ended the night with about 4.5x the buyin and texted my wife the results.

Me: On my way. Up 143.50

Her: Thank you!! I will get 100.45 from you!! 😉

The problem with this structure, of course, is that once I triple my buy-in, I’m now playing to either lose a few bucks or make over four and a third times the buy-in. Anything in-between loses me money.

I think I’ll take a page from the IRS and introduce brackets to my next deal.

Playing the Blogger Championship Final tomorrow

Played today’s NLHE event and went out in 12th. The hand that knocked me out was TT vs. AJ on a 39J82 board. The hand that crippled me:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em Tournament, 3000/6000 Blinds 750 Ante (6 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB (t166474)
Hero (BB) (t153732)
UTG (t125090)
MP (t72535)
CO (t220332)
Button (t80304)

Hero’s M: 11.39

Preflop: Hero is BB with K, Q
3 folds, Button raises to t24000, 1 fold, Hero calls t18000

Flop: (t55500) 5, 7, Q (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets t30000, Hero raises to t60000, Button calls t25554 (All-In)

Turn: (t166608) 4 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: (t166608) 10 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: t166608

Results:
Button had 7, 5 (two pair, sevens and fives).
Hero had K, Q (one pair, Queens).
Outcome: Button won t166608

Ayah… see you tomorrow.