The most annoying bad beat I've ever had

I'm playing $3-6 kill at El Dorado. During a kill pot (in which the stakes are $6-12), I raise in a late position with 8c8s. I get two callers, one of which is an IDIOT holding 7s2d. The board comes Jd, 5s, 3d. I get checked to, and I bet out $6. Both call me! The guy with 7s2d has a 7 high! Anyway, the next card is an 8d, giving me a set of 8's. I get checked to, I bet out again, this time $12. One folds, the other calls and chuckles with his 2 of diamonds flush draw. The river comes and he hits his last diamond! He caught a running flush against my set! With 7-2 of all things! He laughs out loud and says "Look at the card I'm going to beat you with." and shows his 2 of diamonds. That was sooo annoying. Not only did he win with the worst hand in poker, but he actually had the audacity to laugh at me. In the end, he went broke and lost $300 really quickly... like within 30 minutes. Sadly though, $80 of that was mine.

From Lederer to Duke

I've been playing a lot of no-limit lately... online tournaments, home games, and my actual home home game with my parents and I've done pretty well for myself. I think I've stepped up my game a little more today after watching Annie Duke's "How to Beat the Big Boys" dvd tutorial. If you know basic pot odds, basic positional advantages and general aggressive-tight play, then this dvd is supposed to take your no-limit game to the next level. I'm going to try out what I've learned at the $100 buy-in at the Peppermill in Reno.

It has cool little tidbits and techniques that an average player wouldn't think about. She uses FBI profiling techniques to get a read on your opponent. For instance, it's generally known that a fish will act strong when he's weak and acts weak when he's strong. This is known as "hollywood" bluffing. But there are subtleties that may give more clues. Like rapidly blinking, or grasping the back of the neck both indicate a bluff.

She also gives additional betting techniques like consistent check-raising and the "bluff-call", both of which I'm going to try tonight on my dad.

Anyway, to the non-poker player, I'm super babbling. But if you're into poker, watch the DVD and call me up so we can talk about it.

Attorney, minus 3.7%

"Why do we fall? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up." - Batman Begins

My total scaled score on the California bar exam was 1366.38; passing scores must be above 1440. In terms of percentages, this means that I got a 68.3% when I needed 72%!

3.7% stood between me and my license to practice in California! 3.7% close to conquering the most difficult bar exam in the nation. If I had gotten 6 more multiple choice questions and 10 more points on an essay I would be an attorney right now!

But I'm not as depressed as I thought I would be. For sure, when I found out on Friday, I was a mess. But today, I am renewed with hope. Frustrating as the score may be, it is also encouraging to know that I am capable of passing. I know a lot of you had little doubt that I would pass, but I was seriously doubting my own intellect.

I also know there's a reason for all this. I know retaking the bar will make me stronger, more humble and in the end, I'll know the law better than I would have had I passed the first time around. I was very tempted to hide the fact that I didn't pass to everyone (although that would be really hard to do), and I was tempted to make up excuses as to why I didn't pass. But I realize that is counter-productive. I realize that I have to get over myself, just pick myself up, study hard, and kick some serious a*s.

Law Office website

Our law office has a new website if you want to check it out here. Joe Kwon designed it, I helped with the content, and my dad paid for it teehee.

So if you know anyone in need of an applicant attorney in workers comp and is in the Salinas/Monterey area, check out the website or give me a call.

Avery, post trick-or-treating.