PokerCPA

ASIAN POKER

2009-11-11T15:13:35Z

Well, of course when I was in Asia for 2 weeks, I had to seek out a poker game. Yes, its a sickness. So, while in Hong Kong, we took the hour boat ride, wearing the "proper" clothing (glad Vegas isn't like that), and headed to Macau.

We weren't sure where to go or who had live poker so we started the furthest away and went to The Venetian. After major language barriers, we discovered they did not have Texas Holdem Live. Everytime we asked about poker, they sent us to PaiGow tables!!!

We left there and drove back toward the Wynn and the Grand Lisboa. On the way, there was a HUGE casino going up called The Galaxy. This was about 80% finished and apparently construction had totally stopped because of the economy. Obviously someone lost their shirt!!!

So, we arrived at the Wynn which looked like a combination of the vegas hotels of Wynn, Mirage and Bellagio. After the lovely language barrier, we finally found the poker room way in the back corner after taking a lot of twists and turns.

The most wonderful thing was the American at the poker desk. NO MORE LANGUAGE BARRIER!!! He was able to tell us about the differences that we would notice and to let us know that English Only was not the way it was at these tables. Not a big deal accept you knew that they were talking about hands but you had no clue what anyone was saying.

We sat down at the cheapest game, an equivalent of a $2/$4 No limit. It was a joke as to the suck outs and especially fun when you didn't understand a damn thing anyone was saying!!!! The things we did pickup on, which any CPA loves, is the fact you don't have to tip dealers or the cocktail waiter.....yes waiter, as most were men. Fine with me but prob wouldn't fly in the US casinos!!!

So after watching 3 hours of suckouts where I was the victim, we left and took the boat ride back to Hong Kong. It was ok, but there are 2 lessons to learn - There is no place like VEGAS and there is no better country to live in than the USA!!!!

There once was a poker player in Nantucket.....

2009-08-31T15:04:06Z

Well, August has been a fun month for me. I went to the WPO at Goldstrike and although I bubbled on one of the events, it was still fun. I was proud to see my clients win several of the events including the Main Event. Chris Moneymaker did really well and I was so happy for him. I knew a few guys there from my local game as well.

The most fun this month was Nantucket. We flew there for 5 days and had a great, relaxing time. We also played internet poker while there (which I fuss at my clients about doing on vacation!). Just can't seem to get away from it. The only bummer was that hurricane Bill was nearby and we had to cancel our day trip to Martha's Vineyard. Most of the people that I spoke to on Nantucket never have even been over there!!! They all assured me that I didn't miss anything ;-)

Just booked a trip to Asia, which will probably includ Macau. If anyone can tell me anything about it, please do, as I have no idea what to expect. We leave in Oct. Riding on the bubble of the 747 so pretty excited about that (not excited about the 24 hour plane ride). Will surely blog about this trip!!!!!

Going Strong

2009-07-23T14:11:10Z

Well, since the WSOP cash, my internet game has been better as well. I played the Sunday FT a couple of weeks ago and placed 232 out of 4166. I know most of you are thinking "big whoop" but for me its fn unbelievable!!!

Things are getting exciting for me in the CPA poker world. I have picked up a lot of cashers in the WSOP and the best thing is that I know I can save them a lot of moola. So many CPA's out there have no clue....and have the personality of a brick!

I've been watching the re-runs of the 2008 WSOP lately. I never payed attention to it much last year, for whatever reason, and I am probably the last one on earth to know about Tiffany Michelle and her "calling the clock" on Paul Sneed. I have had dinner with Paul - great guy. What a you-know-what that Tiffany is. She truly gives the guys a reason to not like female poker players. Please note that we are not all like that. She apparently thinks she is the hottest thing on the planet. Oh well......

So, I think I am going to Tunica to play in the Goldstrike tournament in a couple of weeks. Hopefully my hot streak will continue...........

FINALLY!!!

2009-06-24T20:03:00Z

I have several "finally's". I am finally blogging which I promise I'll do better and I FINALLY cashed in a WSOP event!

This was so incredibly exciting! I went to one of my clients out in Henderson and he gave me a 1 hour poker lesson. I can truly say that if it wasn't for him, I would have never cashed. I truly went into the event with the attitude that I was going to cash. I am superstitious about my chips and like to think that was part of it too - lol!

The best part was crippling Evelyn Ng when I was moved to her table. After she folded and I took about 1/2 her stack, my hands were shaking soooo bad!! I could only hope she didn't notice.

Playing with women is so different and the best thing to do is not use the ipod and just sit and listen.

By the way, out of 1060, I finished 76 on day 2. It was really fun - I had sworn it was my last ladies event but of course I have to do it again next year!!!

Poker in Cozumel......

2009-04-30T20:43:49Z

Don't get excited - no, there isn't a poker room here but thank God for Wireless!! Each day after diving, I come back to the room and get on and play. I have been doing very well in SNG's this week on Full Tilt for the most part.

The diving here is great and I am able to relax after the most hellish tax season that I have had in years!! To let you know how dedicated I am, I am answering poker player emails while here. My players are my priority for sure!

Its pretty quiet as they have stopped all the cruise ships with the swine flu crap. I am a little worried about my flight on Saturday but surely Delta will come get us. They closed Senor Frogs since there aren't people to party right now. The restaurants are deserted and the ocean isnt full of crappy divers for a change.

Today I saw a huge green moray eel that was under a coral overhang and he was in the sand and not in a coral head so I was able to get a full pic of him. I will post them soon. I also got an awesome pic of a turtle and a rock fish. Its my first trip with a camera and its great. I have done about 250 dives and never have had a camera.

I will blog more now that life is settling back to normal. I have been catching up on my poker magazines and speaking to 275 Rotarians next Thursday about poker - they are all clueless!! I wanted to tell them of some interesting prop bets so if you have some stories, please, please share!!!

Poker with challenges

2009-03-16T00:47:53Z

So, I am well into the grind of tax season. I have gotten a lot of new clients this year-word gets out, I guess. Its so fun to meet clients for the first time at tourney's in Vegas or at the PCA.

This year at the PCA, I played a Sit and Go with Shawn Deebs Grandmother. She is really old and really, really good. She placed 3rd in one with me and then on the next sng we played, it was bad. It was the first hand, I had pocket Kings and raised she re-raised and I put her all-in. She called and had Jacks. I knocked her out the first hand and felt really bad. Especially as someone got her wheelchair for her!!!! It's poker, right??? Still, I felt kind of bad.

I worked today and then am playing some step sngs for the wsop. I plan to be there for the dreaded womens tournament that I play every year. Last year was weird - a transvestite was at my table and it really threw off my game. She was the ugliest transvestite that I have ever seen!!! Surely there should be a rule about this if this she/he is at a women's tournament??!! Ha, maybe i can write the "Ask Jack" section in CardPlayer - think they would print it?? LOL

Poker CPA

2009-02-12T20:22:34Z

My name is Ann-Margaret Johnston and I specialize in taxes and tax planning for Poker Players. I wrote a book on "How to Turn Poker Playing Into a Business", which shows both hobby and professional players how to handle issues on their tax returns. I am unique in the fact that I not only concentrate on poker players but I am a poker player myself! The only big win I have (big for me!) is placing 5th in the WPT Ladies Poker Tournament in Tunica. I am also unique in that I have a personality, unlike a lot of accountants!!!

Be sure to look for my new online blog page coming soon. You can send your questions/comments to me and I will be happy to answer them. I will try to get to them quickly, but it is tax season so bear with me!

Also check out my website at http://www.pokerdeductions.com or http://www.johnstoncpas.com.