The Online Poker Blog of Big Slick Nuts

Sad day

2011-03-20T15:33:00.000-05:00

by BSN

My latest email to Full Tilt:

I currently have a total of $425 in three separate withdrawals for which I have not received payment:

{Transaction #1}: Payment approved 1/31. Received email from cashier on 2/16 informing me of issues at payment processor and letting me know a wire was initiated and expected to be completed by 2/22. (NOTE: This was originally a $XXX withdrawal initiated in Dec 2010 that was reversed multiple times with additional monies added to my account for my trouble).

{Transaction #2}: Payment approved 2/17. Received email from cashier on 2/23 informing me of issues at payment processor and letting me know a wire was initiated and expected to be completed by 3/7.

{Transaction #3}: Payment approved 3/2.

I have been more than patient while waiting for these payments, waiting 4 weeks beyond the promise date of 2/22 for the first payment, and 2 weeks beyond the promise date of 3/7 for the second payment before contacting Full Tilt yet again. Please do not tell me to check my bank account to make sure I have not missed it - I check daily, it has not been missed.

I understand from my research that this problem is widespread due to issues with Full Tilt's payment processors. I also understand that some players have no problems at all with withdrawals. It is sad that players now bear the liability for decisions made by Full Tilt management. A proper response would be for Full Tilt to make good on these outstanding withdrawals immediately while your investigations and recovery are underway.

Regards,

Tim XXXXXXX
UserID: BigSlickNut

Seriously, if anyone has suggestions for how to break through the bland, fake, apologetic emails from support, I'd appreciate it. The outstanding withdrawals have reached a cumulative amount I'm no longer comfortable letting these withdrawals hang in limbo, and it is impacting finances around the NUT household - no, I don't count on this money to pay bills, but I do count on it to pay for extras like my daughters' birthday parties coming up next week and a laptop to replace my wife's Dell Desktop purchased in 2004 (No, this isn't a passive-aggressive plea for a loan, not going there!).

Given the lack of regulation I don't see any alternative to waiting and complaining, but maybe one of you might know of an avenue to take to get past cashier support to someone at FTP willing to do something to fulfill Full Tilt's end of the bargain?

Best Man Speech for a Poker Player

2011-02-13T07:45:00.002-05:00

by BSN

Holy shit, I have a blog!

2010-11-14T09:47:00.000-05:00

by BSN

Wow, been a while!

Back in May I posted about moving back to Florida. I'm happy to say it happened in June. The wife and kids are missing the Huntsvegas weather and friends, but I'm loving Florida east-coast lifestyle I remember from my youth. And really, as long as I'm happy, that's all that matters. ;-)

No poker these days. Work is keeping me busy and mentally challenged (uh, wait a minute, maybe that isn't the right way to say it...). My wife is missing the extra money and is convinced I'm playing in stealth mode in the middle of the night and hiding the cash from her. Yeah, sure I am... Of course, now that I'm posting something on this blog, I automagically get the urge to play...

Creepy icon people

2010-07-21T04:43:00.001-05:00

While processing a withdrawal from Full Tilt, my wife was observing and commented on the image of Chris Ferguson: "Why do they have those creepy icon people?"

I thought it was funny, anyway... [sigh]... this is what passes for a blog post in my world these days.

Pokersavvy FTW

2010-05-23T15:15:00.001-05:00

by BSN

I got WINE working on my new Ubuntu install so I was able to download Pokerstars. Had one instance where everything froze when I was holding QQ, but other than that everything seemed to work fine.

I mis-read the email from Pokersavvy that said Top 3 get a seat in their final, and played to win. Ooops. I'd say it was good practice except I think the others realized it and just let me win.

Anyhoo, there's a weekly series being played that will culminate in a 12-player final for $2,500, intended (but not required) for someone to use for a WSOP entry. If you didn't get the email, let me know and I'll forward you mine so you can make the inquiry. They didn't require links

Way down upon the Suwanee River

2010-05-22T05:49:00.002-05:00

by BSN

... slowly but surely, I'm rebuilding my career. I've worked jobs that grown men would giggle about behind my back, but I'm proud to have taken and done well with each of those opportunities. Now, my career will take me to another new city, this time in a new state.

Goin' to Huntsvegas, AL.

Still not all the way back to where I was a few years ago. But, I'm grinding my way through it with a lot of hard work and discipline and I'm seeing the results. I'm back in the industry that chewed me up and spit me out, in a job I've only done tangentially in the past, working for a couple guys that once fired me, and looking forward to the challenge.

In my last post I hinted at changes in my real life to get better balance. If it wasn't already obvious, I was job-hunting. I'm happy to announce the job hunt was successful, and I am returning to Florida in June.

Just in time to scratch my tar balls. Suckers are starting to itch.

I expected to be intimidated at the thought of jumping into a challenging work environment, one where expectations are high and the margin for failure is small. To put it in poker terms, I'm going all-in with my career while holding ATo in EP at a full table.

Despite a few scary moments, including picking up a slew of metaphorical 2-outers, I survived and thrived. To continue the metaphor, game selection was key. I came in as the strongest player at the table, albeit short-stacked, and dictated the action. Now, I head to a bigger game against a table of unknowns. Dangerous, but at least I know the game and should survive as long as I'm careful not to bet the stack in the early stages.

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Oh yeah, I'm going to check out the freeroll the folks at Pokersavvy.com are putting on at Pokerstars tomorrow, and the next several weeks. Assuming I can get WINE working on Ubuntu so I can download Pokerstars. Don't ask...

A valid criticism

2010-04-18T22:04:00.000-05:00

by BSN

I recently received an email from someone pointing out that it had been a while since I posted. Honestly, I hadn't realized it - the day job has consumed every minute of my days. My last post in December complained about 13 hr workdays. Yeah, that hasn't gotten any better. Friday was my first "vacation" day since last June, but since I worked 22 hrs straight on Thursday, it was spent asleep.

Fuck me.

Don't get me wrong - I'm doing great at work and the powers that be recognize it. But having gone through a significant layoff a few years back, followed by several soul-sucking jobs taken to pay the bills, I find I changed and didn't even realize it.

I work in manufacturing as a master scheduler now. When shit happens, the people that work on the line get sent home without pay. That just kills me, having been through my own trouble with the layoff. I can't stand the idea that these people might now be able to pay a bill through no fault of their own. So, when shit happens, I'm driven to do whatever it takes to get things back on track. Mostly, I do other people's jobs until I can't keep my eyes open (what? didja think I screwed up? Pfffftttthhhhhh!!! ;-) ).

The effect on my life is predictable, however: a pissed-off wife, pissed-off kids, all other side-hustles grinding to a halt... So, changes are in the works. Not gonna jinx it saying anything else.

Yet another WPBT I fail to make

2009-12-12T14:43:00.000-05:00

by BSN

Enjoying following the good times being had by all, on twitter. My favorite update so far?

taopauly: Tao of Pot team breakfast. The Hash House does NOT have the kinda hash I was looking for. #badbeat #wpbt

I'm still alive, occasionally showing up at the tables when I have the time to focus. Which hasn't been at all for the last two months. Work is going great in terms of "they-really-like-me-and-I'm-doing-a-tremendous-job"; but when you do good work, you wind up with the toughest, mostest work. Two months of 13 hr workdays doesn't leave me in the right frame of mind to play poker, so I haven't.

Some of you degenerates could learn from that. ;-)

So, glad to hear a good time is being had by most, #hashhousefail notwithstanding. My idea of a good time right now is finding the time to whip out a blog post, chop some firewood, and tease my daughters about boys. Life is good.

So funny...

2009-10-03T09:38:00.000-05:00

by BSN

I thought I'd try out some of the smaller poker sites so I did a quick search for some free money and found something about Pitbull Poker giving away $5 free for signing up. So I did, got my $5, went to the tables and there were something like 30 people playing. So, it's no surprise I'm hearing they may be in trouble (a rumor about servers being spirited out of Costa Rican offices, or something?). Anyway, if you know what's going on there, drop me a note in comments. The website is up, but I didn't try to go into the lobby yet.

I've been too busy to play since that night. Slammed at work, taking on bigger responsibilities and I won't be able to transition my current full-time responsibilities for another 2 months. I hafta make time soon, though. I got an itch, and it needs scratching. :-)

Dammit, No Gigli!

2009-08-30T11:47:00.004-05:00

by BSN

I tried to be the Gigli. I went with the first playable hand, AK, up against QQ. I had a chance to fold but didn't. Told my wife I wasn't playing another 3 hours of this stupid game to come up with nothing to show for it except my dick in my hand.

Gambooooool!!!

Hope everyone has/had a great time!

Bleah!

2009-08-28T22:21:00.002-05:00

by BSN

No Shit. My AK, with an A on the flop, got pwned by 7-4 off with all the money going in on the flop. Runner-Runner straight and IGHN.

I hate this effin game.

It's entirely possible I'm the worst poker player on the planet

2009-08-25T05:37:00.002-05:00

by BSN

What else could one conclude when I do things like say to myself, "I bet this bastard called my pre-flop raise with 7-4 sooted, and just snapped off my Aces with that river four...", and then make the call for all my chips. Just to prove I'm right. And I am.

Beware. I'm fixin' to go all Wafflicious now...

!@#$%^&*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

George Effin' Will

2009-08-15T19:18:00.003-05:00

by BSN

If you haven't read George Will's Sunday column, you should. Warms the cockles of my heart. The sub-cockles, too.

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After reading about the saga of Boku87 on the Pokerstars blog, I had to try the micro SNGs. The results were predictable. In my first two attempts, I was bounced with KK vs. QTo and a runner-runner flush, then my JJ got crushed by the mighty A5o. Yes, I raised pre-flop. Yes, the blinds were high enough that one would think an opponent might think twice.

Sigh.

-----------

Later, I played a token satellite with Full Tilt points and swept through to my token in remarkably quick time, just in time for the 28K Guarantee. I played well and made great decisions, but was card dead all night, with the exception of a QQ hand that doubled me up at the right time. I went out somewhere around 230 or so, well short of the money, but I felt good about my play and had no regrets.

What's this? Posting 3 days in a row? Who do I think I am, a blogger?

2009-08-12T21:41:00.004-05:00

by BSN

Ok, the cash games have been middling for me. I so hate the penny-poker ATC crap. Popped over to the Double-Deuce satellite with my FT points, as I've done to close out each night this week. Got my entry in about an hour or so. Prepared the wife for a Sunday afternoon of my cussing and folding.

Can I just say...

2009-08-11T18:57:00.002-05:00

by BSN

I'm liking the new lobby at Fill Tilt.

I don't know what the prevailing opinion is amongst the poker bloggeratti since I'm a little behind on reading the blogs.

But, I like it. Clean. Easy to understand filters. My only criticism is move the video tour off the lobby. I accidentally clicked it while playing and lost my internet connection.

Yeah, my connection sucks like that.

God help me...

2009-08-10T19:05:00.003-05:00

by BSN

I've started playing poker again, after a many-months layoff. Starting all the way at the bottom: .05/.10 of FTP with my massive $5 bankroll. Yeah, didn't get around to doing that SNG challenge. A bad infection in my leg left me out of sorts for many weeks.

Anyway, I don't use a 'waffles-roll' (when your monthly reload comes from FTP) so this is going off the remnants of my last disaster.

What the hell. Over three years ago I started with $1 won in a freeroll and wound up playing $200 Turbo SNGs in 6 months before I lost my nerve and cashed-out. I'll grind away for a couple days, see what happens...

Do I need a challenge?

2009-06-21T17:01:00.003-05:00

by BSN

Contemplating another SNG challenge. I haven't been playing very much lately, not even the Mookie, and need something to motivate me to sit and play for an hour or two each night. My last challenge was in 2005-06, when I won a $1 in a freeroll on AP and ran it up into thousands of dollars over the next 6 months, playing nothing except SNGs. I cashed that out long ago to pay bills.

I think I have $6 or so, so I can start playing the $1 games and see if I get a little lucky in the beginning. We'll see.

Most awesome WSOP tweet yet

2009-06-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

by BSN

howardhlederer Lots of action. But my stack is the same. 34,000. Phil is here. Instead of putting his antes in. I have to look at his pasty white thighs.

Well-done, Tripjax!

2009-05-23T17:02:00.001-05:00

by BSN

Glad to see one of the good-guys out there get a well-deserved win.

Wow

2009-04-26T22:01:00.001-05:00

by BSN

Those Rivers' chicks sure are beetchez! Just insulted every poker player in the world.

I can't effin' wait!

2009-04-19T12:06:00.000-05:00

by BSN

Lost Vegas.

As an aficianado of libraries (read: too cheap to spend money on books), I haven't purchased a book in many years.

I may have to make an exception. I have a feeling there may be stories in this one that will shock the sensibilities of Alabama librarians.

2009-04-18T08:48:00.001-05:00

by BSN

Slowly but surely following poker bloggers on twitter. I've been there a while but just started using it seriously a few months ago. Hook me up!

Longer hours and bigger pots makes a poker-degenerate happy

2009-04-13T18:45:00.001-05:00

by BSN

Always good to see my Floridian friends getting better options for their poker jones:

House bill supports 24-hour poker rooms, larger pots

The Associated Press
Pari-mutuels could expand poker room hours and pot sizes under a bill approved by a House committee.

Poker rooms at tracks and jai-alai frontons could stay open 24 hours, maximum raises would be $50 instead of $5 and maximum Texas hold-em buy-ins would be raised to $1,000 from $100.

License fees for slot machine rooms at South Florida pari-mutuels would be lowered from $3 million to $2 million and taxes on the machines would be cut from 50 percent to double what the Seminole Tribe would share under a gambling compact. That means pari-mutuels would pay 36 percent tax under a House compact proposal.

The bill was approved Monday in an effort to help pari-mutuels compete with Indian casinos.

The death of a dream?

2009-02-27T23:10:00.004-05:00

by BSN

I remember little of the summers of my childhood, except the two weeks spent camping in the Smoky Mountains every summer. The campground was idyllic, set in a small valley at the base of a small mountain with two ponds on the grounds, one for swimming, one for fishing. One of the most peaceful places I've ever been.

I remember my parents dreaming out loud about someday having a mountain house when they retired, a place to escape the hot Florida summers. They set about making their dream a reality, and about 12 years ago purchased a nice two-bedroom place about 4400 feet up in the mountains north of Asheville. It is a modest place they've been able to share with family and friends in the years since, and my wife and children have spent several vacations there as well.

Last night, I spoke with my father and he was describing a week of "terrible threes" where the third bad event was getting a $35 water bill on the mountain house.

A normal month is $10. In the winter, he shuts the water off to the house as part of his annual "winterizing".

He didn't sound too worried. Yes, there might be a leak, but he thought it would be outside of the house. He shuts every valve to every water-using appliance in the house, just in case. He told me he was sending a local real estate agent up to check it out, just one of many services they provide the part-time residents of the community.

Tonight, I received a voice-mail from my father who sounded as depressed as I've ever heard, only saying to call him if I wanted to hear about the third event. Not knowing what to expect, I called to find that the realtor arrived to find the house had been broken into, someone had lived there for an indeterminate time, turned on all the water to the house and reversed all of the winterizing precautions my father takes. When a freeze came, the pipes burst, the commodes burst, and every surface of the house flooded. The ceilings have fallen down and the carpet is destroyed.

Over the years my parents have suffered a number of setbacks in terms of career, finances, and health, but they always managed to keep the mountain house. They "bought right", owe very little on it, and spend what little free time they have up there. My father has been the CEO of 3 companies, two of them public, but never left with the mythical golden parachutes, and never earned the obscene salaries seen in the news. What he has he worked for and saved. In his retirement, he doesn't golf, consult, hang with his old business buddies, or any of the myths that surround successful business people that are perpetuated by a few bad apples and a media that thrives on exposing 'bad-boys'. He doesn't have the beach house and the Mercedes and he doesn't jet about to parties on Mediterranean islands.

Dad spends a large part of his days working as a Guardian ad-litem, a volunteer organization that works in conjunction with the Florida courts to represent the interest of children brought into the system thanks to criminal parents or any variety of abusive situations. My mother still works, running a small gift shop that still employs a couple of ladies while managing to squeak out a profit despite the economy. They're good people.

Over the years I've heard my father's voice deliver bad news of all types: deaths, job losses, health issues, legal issues - the same stuff we've all heard from our parents once we've lived long enough. He always delivered it in a straightforward manner - the more devastating the news, the more solid Dad sounds. He focuses on the task at hand, plans and executes, and is resilient no matter the situation.

In the grand scheme of things, it's just a house and he's had much worse things happen in his life. But this was a lifelong dream, and he enjoyed every minute he spent on the deck of that house, watching the sun set over the mountains to the west, reading a good book and enjoying a nice glass of red.

I can only hope he gathers himself over the next few days, takes on this challenge like he has the others in his life, and moves forward. But, I don't think this dream will ever be the same for him.

A ferret bit his penis

2009-02-08T18:04:00.002-05:00

by BSN

Best Mookie Champion Profile Ever.

Excerpt:

“Oh my Goodness, SCOTT can’t you behave. I am so sorry that he did that. It use to happen all the time when he was a kid and I was giving him bathes. The best way to get it to stop is to just flick it real hard on the tip” Said my loving dear Mother, right before she reached out and flicked my dead on the end of my Johnson."

Poker bloggers are the best writers.