Mind Games

I wasted a lot of time on meaningless freerolls

March sucked
PokerStars was OK, but I lost half my bankroll on 888, which fortunately wasn't very big to begin with.

In a few minutes Mrs Vorpal and I will be going out to dinner at our favourite restaurant with my Mother-in-law and daughter.

So right after I posted that I got seat at a NL 5-Card Draw table, and a few hands in...

pat hands are rare enough, but pat hands that get paid are much more so
PokerStars, 5 Card Draw No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 5 players

UTG: $18.01 (72 bb)
CO: $26.33 (105 bb)
BU: $14.62 (58 bb)
SB (Hero): $25.45 (102 bb)
BB: $16.73 (67 bb)

Deal: ($0.35) Hero is SB with 4♦:5♦:7♥:6♥:3♥:
UTG calls $0.25, 2 players fold, Hero raises to $1, BB calls $0.75, 1 fold

Draw One: ($2.25) 4♦:5♦:7♥:6♥:3♥: (2 players)
SB (Hero) stands pat, BB draws 1
Hero bets $1.12, BB calls $1.12

Total pot: $4.49 (Rake: $0.20)

Showdown:
SB (Hero) shows 4♦:5♦:7♥:6♥:3♥: (a straight, Three to Seven)
BB mucks T♠:Q♦:Q♥:T♥:J♦: (two pair, Queens and Tens)
SB (Hero) wins $4.29

or just for fun

PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 5 players

UTG: $27.39 (110 bb)
CO: $18.86 (75 bb)
BU: $33.75 (135 bb)
SB: $90.83 (363 bb)
BB (Hero): $24.99 (100 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.45) Hero is BB with Q♥:T♥:
1 fold, CO calls $0.25, 2 players fold, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.70) 2♠:T♦:7♠: (2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks

Turn: ($0.70) 5♦: (2 players)
Hero bets $0.46, CO calls $0.46

River: ($1.62) J♥: (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $1, Hero calls $1

Total pot: $3.62 (Rake: $0.16)

Showdown:
CO shows 9♦:3♦: (high card, Jack)
BB (Hero) shows Q♥:T♥: (a pair of Tens)
BB (Hero) wins $3.46 but in this case profit

Three Aces showing and has nothing
(luckily, I'm not in this one)

PokerStars, 7 Stud H/L Limit - $1/$2 ($0.15 ante) - 7 players

Seat 5: $44.20 (44 bb)
Seat 6: $103.29 (103 bb)
Seat 7: $32.65 (33 bb)
Seat 8: $42.59 (43 bb)
Seat 1 (Hero): $34.47 (34 bb)
Seat 3: $22.55 (23 bb)
Seat 4: $43.14 (43 bb)

Third Street: ($1.05) Hero is in Seat 1
Xx Xx 3♥: BI bring-in $0.40____BI folds
Xx Xx 9♠: UTG folds
Xx Xx 4♣: UTG+1 folds
Xx Xx 6♦: MP raises to $1
Xx Xx A♣: MP+1 calls $1
7♦:K♣:T♦: Hero folds
Xx Xx K♦: BTN folds

Fourth Street: ($3.45) (2 players)
Xx Xx A♣:A♠: MP+1 bets $1
Xx Xx 6♦:J♠: MP calls $1

Fifth Street: ($5.45) (2 players)
Xx Xx A♣:A♠:T♣: MP+1 bets $2
Xx Xx 6♦:J♠:5♦: MP calls $2

Sixth Street: ($9.45) (2 players)
Xx Xx A♣:A♠:T♣:A♥: MP+1 bets $2____MP+1 calls $2
Xx Xx 6♦:J♠:5♦:2♥: MP raises to $4

Seventh Street: ($17.45) (2 players)
Xx Xx A♣:A♠:T♣:A♥: Xx MP+1 checks____MP+1 calls $2
Xx Xx 6♦:J♠:5♦:2♥: Xx MP bets $2

Total pot: $21.45 (Rake: $0.80)

Showdown:
Seat 7 shows 3♦:4♠:6♦:J♠:5♦:2♥:K♥: (HI: a straight, Two to Six; LO: 6-5-4-3-2)
Seat 8 mucks Q♠:2♣:A♣:A♠:T♣:A♥:6♠: (HI: three of a kind, Aces)
Seat 7 wins $20.65

Well, almost — still down a bit even after this

PokerStars, Omaha H/L Limit - $2/$4 - 6 players

UTG (Hero): $91.06 (46 bb)
MP: $363.71 (182 bb)
CO: $89.34 (45 bb)
BU: $43.48 (22 bb)
SB: $30.91 (15 bb)
BB: $104.51 (52 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($3) Hero is UTG with T♦:9♥:A♥:2♣:
Hero raises to $4, MP calls $4, CO 3-bets to $6, 2 players fold, BB calls $4, Hero calls $2, MP calls $2

Flop: ($25) K♥:6♠:5♠: (4 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, MP checks, CO bets $2, BB calls $2, Hero calls $2, MP calls $2

Turn: ($33) 7♥: (4 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $4, MP calls $4, CO calls $4, BB calls $4

River: ($49) Q♥: (4 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $4, MP calls $4, CO calls $4, BB folds

Total pot: $61 (Rake: $1.25)

Showdown:
UTG (Hero) shows T♦:9♥:A♥:2♣: (HI: a flush, Ace high; LO: 7-6-5-2-A)
MP mucks 5♥:Q♦:6♣:2♦: (HI: two pair, Queens and Sixes)
CO mucks 3♠:Q♣:A♣:K♦: (HI: two pair, Kings and Queens; LO: 7-6-5-3-A)
UTG (Hero) wins $59.75

I play a wide variety of games, and I sort the PokerStars hands into an archive folder, with subfolders based on whether the hand history is tournament or cash, and then by game.

I have long used an ancient (written originally in 2015) visual basic script to do this.
It has limitations though, so I thought to re-write it in python.

I decided to test ChatGPT's ability to create a function using AI

This the prompt:

This the prompt:
Write a python function that accepts a folder as an input parameter. The function will traverse that folder and move all files into different folders based on the third through fifth character of the file name.

This is the output:

import os
import shutil

def sort_files(folder_path):
    """
    Traverse a folder and move all files into different folders based on the third through fifth character of the file name.
    
    Parameters:
    folder_path (str): Path to the folder to sort files in
    
    Returns:
    None
    """
    
    # Iterate over all files in the folder
    for filename in os.listdir(folder_path):
        # Check that the item is a file, not a folder
        if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(folder_path, filename)):
            # Get the third through fifth characters of the file name
            subfolder_name = filename[2:5]
            # Create a folder with that name if it doesn't already exist
            subfolder_path = os.path.join(folder_path, subfolder_name)
            if not os.path.exists(subfolder_path):
                os.mkdir(subfolder_path)
            # Move the file to the appropriate subfolder
            shutil.move(os.path.join(folder_path, filename), os.path.join(subfolder_path, filename))

It took seconds.
I'll need to add bits to it, but it looks like a winner.

When in doubt — shove
This is the hand before the one I wanted to show. For some reason GG did not include it in the hand history
Actually, I just wanted to get it over with, since I had to do other things.
On the next hand, the now-short-stacked player shoved , and I re-shoved with 33.
A hand or two later, now in SB, the shorty shoved and I re-shoved 33 and BB called.
The 33 held.

GGPoker, Hold'em No Limit - 10/20 - 3 players
Hand delivered by Pokeit

BU (Hero): 300 (15 bb)
SB: 300 (15 bb)
BB: 300 (15 bb)

Pre-Flop: (30) Hero is BTN with K♥:8♣:
Hero raises to 40, 1 fold, BB calls 20

Flop: (90) J♠:9♠:5♦: (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: (90) 5♠: (2 players)
BB bets 30, Hero calls 30

River: (150) K♦: (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets 50, BB calls 50

Total pot: 250

Showdown:
BU (Hero) shows K♥:8♣: (two pair, Kings and Fives)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 56%, Flop: 15%, Turn: 7%, River: 100%)

BB shows T♣:9♥: (two pair, Nines and Fives)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 44%, Flop: 85%, Turn: 93%, River: 0%)

BU (Hero) wins 250

A wheel is a 5-high straight in Stud Hi/Lo, so it is a fairly decent hand for the high pot, as well as being the stone-cold nuts for the low half.

No Scoop today since opponent had a better high straight

PokerStars, 7 Stud H/L Limit - $1/$2 ($0.15 ante) - 6 players

Seat 4: $16.32 (16 bb)
Seat 5: $17.46 (17 bb)
Seat 6: $39.33 (39 bb)
Seat 8 (Hero): $46.31 (46 bb)
Seat 1: $53.80 (54 bb)
Seat 2: $38.43 (38 bb)

Third Street: ($0.90) Hero is in Seat 8
Xx Xx 6♥: BI bring-in $0.40
Xx Xx 7♥: UTG calls $0.40
Xx Xx A♦: MP folds
Xx Xx 9♥: MP+1 folds
A♠:5♣:K♦: Hero calls $0.40
Xx Xx 7♦: BTN calls $0.40

Fourth Street: ($2.50) (4 players)
A♠:5♣:K♦:3♥: Hero checks
Xx Xx 7♦:4♥: BTN checks
Xx Xx 6♥:8♦: BI checks
Xx Xx 7♥:6♣: UTG checks

Fifth Street: ($2.50) (4 players)
Xx Xx 6♥:8♦:K♣: BI checks____BI folds
Xx Xx 7♥:6♣:4♦: UTG bets $2
A♠:5♣:K♦:3♥:4♠: Hero calls $2
Xx Xx 7♦:4♥:T♠: BTN calls $2

Sixth Street: ($8.50) (3 players)
A♠:5♣:K♦:3♥:4♠:2♥: Hero bets $2
Xx Xx 7♦:4♥:T♠:5♦: BTN calls $2
Xx Xx 7♥:6♣:4♦:9♦: UTG calls $2

Seventh Street: ($14.50) (3 players)
A♠:5♣:K♦:3♥:4♠:2♥:Q♣: Hero bets $2____Hero raises to $8
Xx Xx 7♦:4♥:T♠:5♦: Xx BTN raises to $4____BTN calls $4
Xx Xx 7♥:6♣:4♦:9♦: Xx UTG raises to $6____UTG calls $2

Total pot: $38.50 (Rake: $0.80)

Showdown:
Seat 8 (Hero) shows A♠:5♣:K♦:3♥:4♠:2♥:Q♣: (HI: a straight, Ace to Five; LO: 5-4-3-2-A)
Seat 4 mucks K♥:8♥:7♥:6♣:4♦:9♦:5♠: (HI: a straight, Five to Nine; LO: 8-7-6-5-4)
Seat 1 shows 9♣:8♠:7♦:4♥:T♠:5♦:J♠: (HI: a straight, Seven to Jack)
Seat 8 (Hero) wins $18.85
Seat 1 wins $18.85

We enjoyed a totally relaxing two days at a nearby spa
Well, nearby in Canadian terms — it was a 2.5 hour car trip away.

The resort is Harrison Hot Springs and we've been there several times in the last 20 years.
The hotsprings themselves are a few hundred metres away, but the water is far too hot for humans to sit it in even if only for a minute.

The hottest of the pools is just over 40C, and is also the most mineralized of the several pools. We can stay in it maybe 20 minutes max.
Our favourite is the next step down, which is larger, cooler (37C) the less mineralized, but not by much. It has the added advantage of being "adults only".
Of the other pools, the only one we even entered is the cool pool right next to the hottest one.

The resort has reasonably good food as well, it has been better in the past, but currently all across the region, places are finding it hard to get and retain staff.
Part of the problem is that service-sector jobs pay minimum + tips, and minimum wage is not sufficient for even a single person with no dependants.

The area is quite famous as being the home of the Sasquatch known to the USA as "bigfoot"

Here we are up to our necks in hot water, but not in a troublesome way:

The region is part of the west coast rainforest, and here is what a typical forest looks like "inside"

Wow, sounds like a great trip, I have never been to a hot spring myself.

And I see the Gandalf look is back.

That rainforest sure doesn't look like what usually comes to mind when we hear that word.

Originally posted by Harrier88
That rainforest sure doesn't look like what usually comes to mind when we hear that word.

Temperate rainforest. Much different than a tropical rainforest.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_rainforest

In British Columbia most of the rainforest has been logged at least once.
Many stands of old-growth rainforest are now protected.

Thanks for the trip report

I always kick myself being so close to Canada (in WA) that we didn't make the short trip across the border and visit for a few days.

In retrospect might have been more difficult with VISA's and what not back then but it would have been worth the punt.

I've flown over CA if that counts? ♦

Depends on when you were in WA
Usually you would not need a visa.
From sometime in 2020 until just recently the border was closed to non-essential travel

Hey Vorpal just dropping by. I want to talk with you about something..

Originally posted by aceonetheriver
Hey Vorpal just dropping by. I want to talk with you about something..

I've replied to your DM —

In the first picture you look like "Gandalf"

Originally posted by Primrose6789
In the first picture you look like "Gandalf"
I frequently use that name in restaurants. When you don't have a reservation, and there is a waiting list for a table, that is the name I use.
I have used "Dumbledore" in the past as well, and around Christmas I use "Santa Claus"

I was doing a major file copy that was going to take about 10 minutes, so I decided to play until the copy was done. In cases like this, where I won't have enough playing time to recover, I'll often cash out.

PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 5 players

UTG: $46.84 (187 bb)
CO: $25.00 (100 bb)
BU (Hero): $45.40 (182 bb)
SB: $31.03 (124 bb)
BB: $65.59 (262 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BTN with A♦:A♥:
2 players fold, Hero raises to $0.60, 1 fold, BB 3-bets to $3, Hero 4-bets to $9.10, BB calls $6.10

Flop: ($18.30) 2♥:9♥:5♣: (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $12.06, BB raises to $56.49 (all-in), Hero calls $24.24 (all-in)

Turn: ($90.90) 7♠: (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($90.90) 4♥: (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $90.90 (Rake: $2)

Showdown:
BB shows K♦:K♥: (a pair of Kings)
(Equity - Flop: 8%, Turn: 5%, River: 0%)

BU (Hero) shows A♦:A♥: (a pair of Aces)
(Equity - Flop: 92%, Turn: 95%, River: 100%)

BU (Hero) wins $88.90

That's 10 minutes of idle time well spent.