Worst Poker Club in the Philippines

For more than a month now, I've been playing Texas Holdem Poker regularly at "The Metro Card Club" in Metrowalk Ortigas and eventhough I've been on a month long losing streak (which doesn't make me feel good of course but it's part of playing Poker) I still appreciate the services being offered by this Poker Club. Super cold temperature, free bottomless iced tea or coffee or water, most employees are friendly and accomodating (sadly not all though), hosts a lot of tournaments (which I prefer more than cash games), etc.

But since this Poker Club is in Ortigas and I've seen in Asian Poker Tour website that there is another Poker Club in Paranaque called "Pocket Ace Poker Club" (nope, it's not in any way related to this blog), I was so interested to check it out since it's near our place since we reside in Paranaque as well. So off we go last Saturday...

Below are my observations and personal experience with this particular Poker Club and you be the judge (but don't take my word for it, try the Poker Club and experience their facility and services yourself):

• Their mobile contact number is always unreachable for inquiries
• It's near Roxas Boulevard and the Ninoy Aquino International Airports (NAIAs)
• Very limited parking spaces
• It's beside a SPA and massage center
• Temperature inside is no better outside as it's hot as if there's no airconditioning system
• Employees don't know how to greet and accomodate guests
• Their free coffee have ants in it
• People with asthma or hate smoking will be pissed off as it seems there's a pot session inside because of the cloud of smoke from cigars
• Chip runners don't know how to count chips
• Card dealers don't know how to properly deal cards and point out actions to players which led to me exposing my hole cards as I thought the card dealer was pointing at me to show my cards after the last communal card (called River) was dealt and he burned a fourth card and attempted to show a "sixth communal card" which is very odd because there are only 5 communal cards in Texas Holdem Poker
• And last but certainly the worst, the floor supervisor/manager doesn't know how to probe (investigate) dealer and players to know the real story why I "accidentally" exposed my hole cards which led to a very unfair decision especially to me who is a first-timer on their Poker Club which should have been given a fair warning on this first offense which led me to lose PhP900.00 worth of Poker Chips even if I won the hand with my 3 of a kind Aces

I haven't been to all Poker Clubs here in the Philippines aside from "The Metro Card Club" in Ortigas and "Pocket Ace Poker Club" in Paranaque but I do hope that the latter is already the worst Poker Club (in my opinion) in this country as if there are more worse than this... then Heaven help their Poker Club get regular players enough for them to break-even.

So far, "The Metro Card Club" is still the best Poker Club (for me) here in the Philippines. But don't take my word for it of course... Try "The Metro Card Club" for yourself and try "Pocket Ace Poker Club" as well and you be the judge as per your personal experience. If you know me personally, you'll say that I seldom give negative feedbacks about anyone or anything.

Being emotional in Poker and in life in general

I went on tilt after a competitor bluffed me on a given hand with PhP3,500.00 bet worth of chips on the river card (last card dealt by dealer) that resulted to me folding my 2 pairs last Friday at "The Metro Card Club" in the PhP1,000.00 buy-in tournament. And to my surprise when he showed his hand (which is his option as a classic strategy to make your competitor tilt or become steamy or become hot and be defocused which happened to me), he has nothing!

When a Poker Player is on tilt, he normally does a lot of stupid things on his game and I'm no exemption. Poker is a game where when you get emotional, you'll most likely lose. After my competitor bluffed me, I got so careless that I went all-in (bets all of my chips) with my 8 of clubs and 5 of clubs after the flop which has 2 clubs and diamond hoping for a flush draw on the turn and river (which is a very stupid move) and after the player who made me tilt bets PhP1,000.00. Sure I was successful in making the player who made me tilt fold his hand but I wasn't able to see the obvious that another player may hold a "stronger" flush because I was on tilt. And I was right... He held a stronger club which is the strongest - Ace of Club and this guy called my all-in bet and I guess you know what happened next even if clubs appear or not on the fourth and fifth card...

Being emotional in Poker is very costly as well as in life as well... How many times have we seen drivers get killed in driving because of being emotional? We have seen in news reports drivers being killed by other drivers just because of a simple road misunderstanding... In Poker, a lot of people lose not because they are bad Poker Players or luck was not on their side but because they get emotional that they do stupid things on the table which cost them to lose the game.

This is a lesson that I should master and so should you in life, in Poker and in any endeavors we have.

Lost PhP300.00 in Tournament - June 21, 2009

My wife lost PhP300.00 buy-in on the middle round of the guaranteed PhP30,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament at "The Metro Card Club".

Better skill and luck next time on the next guaranteed PhP30,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament.

Lost PhP300.00 in Tournament - June 21, 2009

Lost PhP300.00 buy-in on the middle round of the guaranteed PhP30,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament at "The Metro Card Club".

Better skill and luck next time on the next guaranteed PhP30,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament.

Lost PhP1,500.00 in Cash Game - June 20, 2009

My wife lost PhP500.00 in cash game last Saturday at "Pocket Ace Poker Club" and PhP1,000.00 in cash game at "The Metro Card Club" afterwards.

Lost PhP3,000.00 in Cash Game - June 20, 2009

Lost PhP1,000.00 in cash game last Saturday at "Pocket Ace Poker Club" and PhP2,000.00 in cash game at "The Metro Card Club" afterwards.

Lost PhP1,000.00 in Tournament - June 19, 2009

Lost PhP1,000.00 buy-in on the early round of the guaranteed PhP75,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament at "The Metro Card Club".

Better skill and luck next time on the next guaranteed PhP75,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament.

There are good people and bad people... in life and in Poker

Yesterday, when I was busted out in the middle round of the Metro 500 Tournament (guaranteed PhP25,000.00 pot freeze-out) in Metrowalk Ortigas and was about to fetch my wife in Makati, 2 people with the age around 30 - 45 are shouting at each other on a regular cash game table. The reason? I actually don't know but it made me curious to observe (by this I mean maki-chismis) and stayed for a while and I could possibly learn a thing or two (in Mixed Martial Arts perhaps).

As I've said, playing Poker is pretty much like living life. I actually believe that it's one of the games that exactly replicate life in general. In life, we experience joy, sorrow, excitement, upset, anger, victory, defeat, etc. and the same is true with Poker as evident by the above 2 not-so-gentlemen. In Poker, you'll be able to see most of the time the true color of a person or it may teach a person how to become more sensitive with others or it could also change a person from better to worse. It depends. There are Dirty Old Men (DOM) lurking around the club, humble celebrities, rich people, not-so rich people, humble normal citizens, boastful normal citizens, etc. There are generally good people... There are generally bad people... Just like there are good cops and bad cops, good reporters and bad reporters, good politicians and bad politicians, good actors and bad actors, good doctors and bad doctors, good Filipino citizens and bad Filipino citizens and others so on that note... There are good Poker Players and bad Poker Players as well. By good and bad, I mean attitude.

I remember hearing one of the two saying something like, "Pare, Poker lang to. Mind game. Nagsorry na nga ako sayo eh. Pero kung gusto mo pwede din tayo sa labas. Call (which is a Poker term) din ako diyan. Hindi bluff!", this definitely made my day yesterday even if I lost. It reiterated my knowledge on how to professionally deal with others as sometimes my emotions control me. I don't know what happened prior to it but there are certain Poker Etiquette as there is in everything that all amateur, novice and especially seasoned Poker Players. You can check out the link of Poker Etiquette at my side bar.

My biggest Poker influence: Phil Gordon

Probably the person with the biggest influence in my passion for Texas Holdem Poker is Phil Gordon who used to be one of the hosts in a TV show entitled, "Celebrity Poker" with Dave Foley (if I'm not mistaken) where I first saw him. As a matter of fact, it was only days ago when I tried searching the internet for some of his videos "in action" and not as a host.

When I first heard Phil Gordon talk about statistics and probability and the percentages on the starting hands, relation of the flop; turn; river to your hole cards - I found him very intelligent that's why my interest in Poker went sky-rocketing high. But as I've said in my previous post, I've only started playing "organized Poker" a month ago because I wasn't able to see Poker Clubs years ago here in the Philippines not until now after my wife and I saw a Poker Club advertisement when we watched a very disappointing (for us) David Archuleta and David Cook Concert in SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds.

So Phil Gordon has the highest influence on me in Poker... and I bet I'll be learning more from him from his personal website (which I already posted on my sidebar) and other stuffs I may read or find about him on the Internet. As a matter of fact, I read his interview with THP and was relieved to find out that I'm not a rare case (though I know this already I just needed a confirmation) in experience a losing streak as evident in my posted statistics in my early Poker journey. Actually, according to the interview, it took him 3 years after taking Poker seriously to win consistently on a middle-limit Poker and I intend to jumpstart my Poker journey by being more serious in learning more about the game and win consistently as soon as possible. I currently play at a PhP10.00-PhP20.00 Blinds No-Limit Holdem being the cheapest way to play Poker that I know of here in the Philippines (aside of course from tournaments and home games).

I hope in a few months or years from now, I'll be able to play against Phil Gordon who may not be the best Poker Player in the world to some but definitely my biggest influence in playing the game seriously for fun and for money. Thanks Phil and see you on the final table one of these days.

Some old links may no longer work

I've posted some links in different websites that may not be read today because I've already deleted these posts as I've uploaded a section on this blog where aspiring, novice and seasoned Poker Players could check out important Poker information. It's in my sidebar entitled, "Poker References".

On this section, you'll be able to read a lot of important Poker information that I've compiled for easy reference for me, my wife and other people who read my personal Poker blog as well.

Lost PhP500.00 in Tournament - June 17, 2009

Lost PhP500.00 buy-in on the middle round of the guaranteed PhP25,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament at "The Metro Card Club". 1st placer on this tournament wins PhP6,000.00 with a guaranteed seat to the P5M guaranteed pot on July 2009.

Better skill and luck next time on the next guaranteed PhP25,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament.

Lost PhP1,500.00 in Cash Game - June 16, 2009

Lost PhP1,500.00 in cash game yesterday at "The Metro Card Club".

Lost PhP1,000.00 in Cash Game - June 16, 2009

My wife lost PhP1,000.00 in cash game yesterday at "The Metro Card Club".

I don't want Poker because it's gambling

I've been playing real money Texas Holdem Poker in an organized club for about a month now and I must say that after a few victories and defeats from the cash games and tournament games - the feeling of excitement about the game is up more than ever! I love almost everything about this game - the skill, the luck, the atmosphere, the thrill, the psychology, the personalities, the attitudes, etc.

But to most people (by this I mean people who don't play Poker specifically Texas Holdem Poker), this game is plain and simple gambling and nothing else. And to them, it shouldn't be endorsed especially to the young ones.

Although, some of my co-Poker Players would disagree... YES, playing Poker is gambling. According to Merriam-Webster, "Gambling is basically to play a game for money or property or to bet on an uncertain outcome or to stake something on a contingency or take chance". Bottomline, the word gambling simply means take a chance on something. That's definitely the way Poker rolls...

But check these things out:

• Playing basketball, boxing or any other physical or non-physical contact sport is gambling as players on these sports are taking a chance on winning the particular sport whether based on skill, luck or both.
• Applying for a job is gambling as applicants are taking a chance on being hired by employers whether based on skill, luck or both.
• Putting up a business or investing on other people's businesses is gambling as businessmen or investors are taking a chance on growing their money on their business or investments whether based on skill, luck or both.
• Being in love (couples, kids, brothers, etc.) is gambling as people are taking a chance on being happy.
• Giving birth to a child is gambling as mothers are taking a chance on conceiving probably life's greatest blessing.
• Simply living our lives is gambling as people are taking a chance on being able to live a happy life.

Yes, Poker is gambling and everything else in life... It's just a matter of perspective. It's just a matter of priority. Some people prioritize using their extra money on businesses and investments while some prioritize using their extra money on consumable items like gadgets, magazines, alcoholic drinks, illegal drugs, etc.

I use my extra money in small businesses and investments (which is also gambling as stated above which I hope that it will become bigger and more successful in the future) and before I often use my extra money as well in drinking spree with friends but now I prefer using my drinking budget in playing Poker. At least in Poker, I have a chance in winning more money which I could use for business, investment, more Poker or drinking spree as compared to plainly losing money by drinking.

But let me make myself clear that for me there are two kinds of gambling - uncontrolled and controlled gambling. Samples of uncontrolled gambling are the card games such as Lucky 9 (in Casino it's called Baccarat), Pusoy, Lotto and a student who has an exam who doesn't study. It's uncontrolled gambling because it's purely luck and there are no skill involved whereas controlled gambling is basically skill with a little bit of luck factor. Meaning, you cannot win it by pure luck only but rather, the person with the highest skill has the highest chance (see highest chance but still not a guarantee because gambling always have a luck factor) of winning. Samples of such gambling is Poker of course because you have the ability to control the betting, raising, re-raising, bluffing and folding which greatly affects the other players and the game itself. Another example of a controlled gambling is playing basketball, billiards, darts, ping-pong, etc. Again, the highest skilled player has the highest chance of winning. The same is true in a job or business, the highest skilled person has the highest chance of being hired or being successful.

That's how you keep things in the right perspective. For me, between drinking beers (or worse illegal drugs) and playing Poker, which I both love and enjoy, I prefer to do the latter as if I win - I got to do both the things I love... played Poker and drink beer with friends.

Elbow to elbow with the stars

One of the perks of playing Poker in a Poker Club is being elbow to elbow (literally) with different celebrities as they are casually seen in the venue where they blend in just like other normal people.

But for privacy purposes in this blog, I will not mention their names, only a vague description of them. But if you wish to see them personally, then visit the Poker Club where I play which is "The Metro Card Club" in Metrowalk Ortigas and they have no choice but be seen by normal people like you and me - too bad cameras are not allowed inside the Poker Club as I love taking pictures with the stars. I actually have a collection of pictures with different celebrities. You'll be able to see a lot of local basketball players especially players from a very in demand PBA team, a few local and international billiard players, a few action-star and character actors and am international boxer as well. These are just some of the celebrities I've personally seen or heard of.

So if like me, you enjoy seeing the stars up-close and personal without inhibiting yourself in mingling or even simply saying your "hi's and hello's" to them, then playing Poker in a Poker Club is the way to go.

Bout between Pacman and Pretty Boy this year, unlikely...

Let's start my blog about other sports and recreation aside from Poker with a very interesting one... According to Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, a fight between him and Miguel Cotto is highly to push through because of the huge fan support of the latter during his fight last June 14, 2009 with Joshua Clottey which made our Pambansang Kamao excited.

A fight between the ex-pound-for-pound champ Floyd "Pretty Boy" Mayweather is unlikely to push through at least this year because he suffered a rib injury while in training which postpones his comeback this July 18 and is rescheduled on September 19, 2009 instead.

I have to give due credit of what Floyd "Pretty Boy" Mayweather achieved in his boxing career but being injured during training is not a pretty sign for him to continue fighting especially with a guy like Manny Pacquiao as he might be beat up pretty badly factoring in Pacman's speed and power which both will surely be used. No offense. If I'm him, I'd rather remain as an undefeated boxer as that in itself is also a historical feat. But should he agree to fight Pacquiao in the future (if he wins against Mexican fighter Juan Manuel Marquez of course which I believe may have a chance since he has shown some weakness), then he better be ready physically, mentally and emotionally as he is in a fight of his life... Literally.

Won PhP400.00 in Cash Game - June 15, 2009

My wife won PhP400.00 in cash game a while ago at "The Metro Card Club".

Lost PhP3,000.00 in Tournament - June 15, 2009

Lost PhP1,000.00 buy-in with PhP1,000.00 rebuy and PhP1,000.00 addon in the middle round of the guaranteed PhP200,000.00 pot tournament at "The Metro Card Club". 1st placer on this tournament wins PhP44,000.00 with a guaranteed seat to the P5M guaranteed pot on July 2009.

Better skill and luck next time on the next guaranteed PhP200,000.00 pot tournament.

Lost PhP500.00 in Tournament - June 16, 2009

Lost PhP500.00 buy-in on the middle round of the guaranteed PhP25,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament at "The Metro Card Club". 1st placer on this tournament wins PhP6,000.00 with a guaranteed seat to the P5M guaranteed pot on July 2009.

Better skill and luck next time on the next guaranteed PhP25,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament.

Skill + Luck versus Pure Luck

Luck is a part of the game of Poker and basically a part of life as well. There are times that people get lucky and there are times that people don't get lucky. But most of the time, luck favors those who do something than those people who do nothing. As they say, "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity".

But my competition in the final 2 table of the 2nd guaranteed PhP30,000.00 freeze-out tournament this day defied the odds of being lucky... He was literally on the side of Lady Luck herself! It was like he was married to Lady Luck.

I personally give him the moniker "Mr. No Look All-in" as he is literally doing that, not looking at his starting cards and betting all-in. Before I was busted out of the table, I held A6 suited hearts and went all-in since any betting strategies are no longer working because the game turned from 80% skill and 20% luck to 100% luck because he doesn't even look at his cards!!! When I went all-in, his cards were pair of Kings - talk about luck! And the communal cards (cards on the table being shown by the dealer) didn't help my starting hand and worse, gave another King on the river (last card) solidifying the pot winning of "Mr. No Look All-in".

I wasn't upset with the way I lost because even if he looked at his cards, he will still be playing it the way he played it with his no look strategy because a KK as a starting hand in Poker is the second best hand. But the things that happened to my other competitors was worse... "Mr. No Look All-in" beat hands like KK, QQ, A10 and other very strong starting hands without looking at his starting hand and worse the hands are not even playable as starting hands. He wins with his non-playable hands because the communal cards on the table (cards being dealt by the dealer) is complimenting his hands - with a straight, trips, 2 pairs, etc.

But in Poker and in life as well, he may be lucky on this tournament but it doesn't happen all the time especially over the long term. In the long term, skill + luck versus pure luck will win in Poker and in life. But I have to give credit on how lucky he is today... Sadly taking photos inside "The Metro Card Club" is not allowed so that I'll be able to post even a photo of his hand over his massive chips.

Lost PhP300.00 in Tournament - June 14, 2009

My wife lost PhP300.00 buy-in on the final 2 table of the second guaranteed PhP30,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament at "The Metro Card Club" for the day.

Better skill and luck next time on the next guaranteed PhP30,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament.

Lost PhP300.00 in Tournament - June 14, 2009

Lost PhP300.00 buy-in on the final 2 table of the second guaranteed PhP30,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament at "The Metro Card Club" for the day.

Better skill and luck next time on the next guaranteed PhP30,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament.

Won PhP1,500.00 in Tournament - June 14, 2009

My wife won PhP1,500.00 in guaranteed PhP30,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament at "The Metro Card Club" as an 8th placer in the final table. This is her first time to join a Poker tournament. This reminded me of my 8th place winning on my second tournament, the guaranteed PhP225,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament, where I won PhP8,000.00.

Sadly though that she didn't get the first place position for the coveted guaranteed seat in the PhP5M guaranteed pot tournament on July 2009. Better skill and better luck this week then.

Lost PhP1,500.00 in Cash Game - June 12, 2009

My wife lost PhP1,500.00 in cash game last June 12, 2009 at "The Metro Card Club".

Lost PhP300.00 in Tournament - June 14, 2009

Lost PhP300.00 buy-in in guaranteed PhP30,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament at "The Metro Card Club" and the most coveted seat in the July 2009 guaranteed PhP5M tournament.

A while ago, "The Metro Card Club" just announced that the same tournament shall be held later 6PM. It's more likely that me and my wife will join again. Though, my wife is still playing while writing this.

How to handle losing in Poker and in real life

If you're interested in playing Poker specifically Texas Holdem Poker and is religiously checking out this blog to read about my Poker journey then you might have observed that I've been losing on the different tournaments I've participated in and even in regular cash games and may led you to conclude that Poker is plain gambling and you're bound to lose. That would be a big mistake.

Yes, there are times that you lose in Poker. Even the greatest Poker players like Doyle Brunson, Phil Gordon, etc. lose money. This is why I relate Poker to life itself as in life there are time that whatever you do, you lose... It's not about losing and winning. It's about how you properly handle your victories and your defeats both in life and Poker and in any other endeavor as well. Michael Jordan, the basketball legend, experienced losing in the game as well. Tiger Woods, the golf legend, experienced the same as well. Roger Federer, the tennis legend, experienced this also. Winning and losing is a part of Poker. It's a part of life in general.

The lesson to learn here is how to professionally handle the defeats you experience in Poker and hopefully you'll be able to do the same in other aspects of your life as well. To win in Poker, you just have to consistently learn more about the game and consistently apply all your learnings and pray that Lady Luck supports you as well. As they say, "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity."

Poker is a very profitable career (whether part time or full time) if you know how to play the game and how to properly manage your winnings and losings. But just like any career there are those who emerge as the winners and losers. To consistently become a winner in Poker and in any other career or endeavor the basic thing is... learn everything about the craft and apply it.

Lost PhP1,500.00 in Cash Game - June 13, 2009

Lost PhP1,500.00 in cash game yesterday at "The Metro Card Club".

Currently waiting for today's Sunday special tournament here in "The Metro Card Club" with a guaranteed PhP30,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament.

Lost PhP1,000.00 in Tournament - June 12, 2009

Lost PhP1,000.00 buy-in on the early round of the guaranteed PhP75,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament at "The Metro Card Club".

Better skill and luck next time on the next guaranteed PhP75,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament.

Lost PhP1,000.00 in Cash Game - June 12, 2009

Lost PhP1,000.00 in cash game a while ago after losing PhP500.00 in the guaranteed PhP25,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament at "The Metro Card Club". 1st placer on this tournament wins PhP6,000.00 with a guaranteed seat to the P5M guaranteed pot on July 2009.

Currently waiting for the next tournament here in "The Metro Card Club" with a guaranteed PhP75,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament.

Lost PhP500.00 in Tournament - June 12, 2009

Lost PhP500.00 buy-in on the early round of the guaranteed PhP25,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament at "The Metro Card Club". 1st placer on this tournament wins PhP6,000.00 with a guaranteed seat to the P5M guaranteed pot on July 2009.

Better skill and luck next time on the next guaranteed PhP25,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament. Currently waiting for the next tournament here in "The Metro Card Club" with a guaranteed PhP75,000.00 pot freeze-out tournament.

How does a Poker venue look like from the inside

Before we formally start this Poker blog, I believe it would be proper to let you see where I regularly play Texas Holdem Poker either just "cash games" or "tournament" so that those who are thinking how does a Poker venue look like from the inside as some people fear coming in because of the thing called "Fear of the unknown". The venue in the photo above is in Metrowalk Ortigas and this Poker venue is called "The Metro Card Club".

Ever since I've played a "home game" type of Poker, I've been hooked with the game and visited Casino Filipino every now and then looking for the game but during those times, Texas Holdem Poker was not yet available locally. I tried Stud Poker in Casino Filipino but didn't really enjoy the game not even a bit as compared to Texas Holdem Poker. Maybe because of its difference in terms of betting as the betting style of Texas Holdem Poker is far more exciting than Stud Poker. Been playing Texas Holdem Poker ever since via home games with or without the actual chips.

But my hunger to play it on a regular basis grew bigger whenever I watch Celebrity Poker by Phil Gordon (which is a very good Poker Player himself) on TV. Mainly the reason why I bought the book "Poker for Dummies" which is a very good book about Poker that I read religiously over and over again alongside with other information I get over the Internet of course. Then a blessing in disguise during the David Archuleta and David Cook Concert in SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds (blessing in disguise because me and my wife didn't really enjoy the concert as we were expecting more songs from their Idol days) where an advertisement of "The Metro Card Club" appeared on the widescreen. I told myself that God, Universe, etc. (or whoever or whatever you believe in) is communicating with me and telling me that this is my chance to learn more about the game not just by theories but by experience. And as they say, the rest is history!

I'll be posting here my blow-by-blow account in playing the game professionally both pure cash games and tournaments. I've had my own share of past victories and defeats in "The Metro Card Club" prior to me creating this blog. This blog was mainly created to serve as my statistical guide on how I'm doing with the game and I just thought of using it as well to share the things I know and my journey about Texas Holdem Poker. So on that note, I'll start with my blow-by-blog account on my tournaments today at "The Metro Card Club" - Metro 500 Tournament at 2PM which has a buyin of P500.00 with a guaranteed pot of P25,000.00 and 1 guaranteed seat in the Metro 5M in July (I think) and Metro 75 Tournament at 7PM which has a buyin of P1,000.00 with a guaranteed pot of P75,000.00 and 2 guaranteed seats in the Metro 5M in July as well (I think). More about the Poker terminologies in the future...

To those interested to play Poker, simply become a member of "The Metro Card Club" in Metrowalk Ortigas for FREE. Even if the club doesn't know my blog, I would appreciate it big time even if I'm anonymous that you mention my blog to them as well.

By the way, the photo above is taken from the "The Metro Card Club Website" which was one of the tournaments last week. Of course, I'm somewhere in the photo that's why I posted it. But since I'm anonymous, I won't tell who I am in the picture but I'm definitely in the photo.

Happy Independence Day to all Filipinos

I'm not much of a History guy but I definitely appreciate what the Filipino people in the past did to fight for our independence against forces internationally and sadly locally as well.

So to all Filipino people of this generation, let's give thanks to all who died fighting for our independence and in return make the most out of it by helping improve for the better the welfare of our country and the world mainly via personal initiatives to improve in all aspect individually because collectively each and every single Filipino improving has a very big impact in the overall wellness of the country and in turn the whole world as well. I hope that this time around, let's fight less on petty issues and cooperate more in improving our one and only mother country - the Philippines.

Happy Independence Day to all Filipinos this June 12, 2009 (Friday) and more power to all your personal endeavors. Be a hero to yourself, to your loved ones, to your country and to the world as a whole via the simple things you could share. Enjoy your long weekend guys!

Photo credit: http://steivene.blogspot.com/2008/06/philippines-celebrates-its-110th.html

The buck starts here

I have always been fascinated by the card game called Poker especially Texas Holdem Poker after unintentionally playing it in my grandfather's funeral which led me to regularly watch Celebrity Poker on TV where celebrities from different industries play the card game for a cause which eventually led me to learning more about the game via the internet and books. And as they say... The rest is history!

Pocket of Aces is my personal journal that I would like to share to the public to learn more about this very fun and interesting card game. Nope, I'm not a World Series Poker Champion (well at least not yet) but rather somewhere between a beginner and an advance Poker Player who continuously learn more about the game and simultaneouly be able to teach others the game as well via my experiences and teachings. So this blog would consist of my victories and as well as my defeats, regular Poker quotes, regular Poker slangs, latest Poker news and everything else about Poker especially Texas Holdem Poker and possibly other card games, sports and recreational activities. To some Poker is simply gambling and it is undeniably true but not entirely true as well. You'll be surprised to find out how "life like" the game of Poker could be. Stick around and you'll find out soon enough...

Pocket of Aces is a Poker slang which basically mean the strongest possible starting hand in Texas Holdem Poker (I just don't know if the same is true to other Poker games but I believe it is). That being said, this Filipino Poker Player prays to be the strongest Filipino Poker Player in terms of playing the sport (yes it is a sport) and hopefully be able to become the strongest Filipino Poker Player in terms of being an inspiration to other people as well - Pokerwise or otherwise by continuously learning via books, other people's experiences and personal experiences as well.

Oh by the way... This first blog entitled, "The buck starts here" is a poker quote which means the dealer button a.k.a. buck in Texas Holdem Poker starts on this weblog. A lot of Poker Players enjoy having the buck or the dealer button because you get to see how your competition acts first before you do which is an advantage in making your decisions. More about these things in future posts.