Trip Report
by Keith Miyake
Here's some notes of my ATLARGE adventure:
I minimum-bet my way into the money at the blackjack tournament, which
was nice considering how poor my pocker was in the other tourneys.
Once again, Merv got $10 off me by dangling a match play coupon.
The deed was done at the craps table.
Most of the poker was nondescript. I played a lot of 1-5 stud
because I didn't want to be bumming 'cause I got stuck early.
I was in an 8-way hand that got checked to the river. Dealer
shuffled the cut cards back in (with the leftover card) and
dealt a community river.
My last session of the trip was by far the most memorable.
Listen ye traveller to my poker tale of woe.
(Actually it's not that bad, but it's a great sounding intro)
I had been sweating Alan for a while in the pot limit game (1-2 blinds)
when a seat opened up (both 5 and 6 were open across from the dealer,
calling me). Of course, I bought in for $200.
Jazbo (jbu...@monmouth.com), Me (kmiy...@cs.rutgers.edu),
Kris (k...@munn.com) and Alan (a...@idacrd.ccr-p.ida.org)
were there the whole time I played. Ray (ray3...@aol.com?) and
Bill (V...@aol.com) were there, Ray earlier and Bill later.
Plus cameo appearances by Foldem and Jester.
Kris soon moves in on my left and we make R00ling table talk.
I had been in a couple of pots with not much happening
(ahead a little) until hand #1.
We had been talking earlier about how some people had lost big
slowplaying aces and I get dealt pocket kings. There were a
couple of callers before me so I decided to try to take it
and raised the pot. Folded around to Alan who reraises the pot.
I'm visibly shaking by the time it's back to me where I put in
another raise, and in short order I'm all-in preflop. We flip
our cards and sure enough, I'm a big dog against pocket aces.
Here Alan offers insurance. I know the concept, but have never
done it before so it takes a while before we get things sorted out.
We use (*begin shameless plug*) Jazbo's holdem card thingie
(*end shameless plug*) to help us figure out just how big a dog
I am. I eventually agree and only lose most of my money.
-- Keith gets out with his pants after betting into aces.
Sometime later, still a hurting puppy, I limp in with pocket tens.
-- three players. flop: rainbow; 5 spades, pair 3s.
(you might imagine what's coming) Checked around.
turn: 8 of spades. Checked around.
river: 10 of spades.
I've got top boat, and someone may have made a flush. I check.
Check, raise $10. I raise the pot, leaving me about $20. Fold, call.
I show my 10s and he's got those 3s you've been concentrating on.
Mr. Nice People decided not to put me out of my misery.
-- Keith is inexplicably spared by a stranger holding the nuts.
Downhill from here, eaten by the blinds and folding failed draws.
I'm playing it out to the bitter end (there were seats still available).
Talking with Jazbo we agree that once I get below the $5 mark,
I shouldn't be able to play (as I have less than a bet), so I decide
to make my stand straddling under the gun.
It was kinda boring sitting and waiting for my blinds to get eaten,
so I made my move one round early. $8 left, under the gun,
I toke the dealer $3 and use my last $5 to declare my straddle.
Bill has written about my all-in "live" straddle, so I won't
get into that, but since this is my poker tale of woe,
you can hear how the hand turned out.
Kris is to my right and calls, I think there's someone in 7 who calls.
Ray had left earlier so a New Guy in 8 calls, then Alan calls.
Past the dealer, Mr. Nice People raises the pot, so I said
"Nice People give me protection". Bill folds, and Jazbo raises the pot.
I shut up. Back to me and I consider my options...
Kris calls, 7 folds, then New Guy raises the pot. Alan folds,
Mr. Nice People calls all-in. Jazbo thinks and folds, as does Kris.
Now there's two all-in preflop and I still haven't seen my cards.
No insurance today as the dealer lays a board of 347TQ, no flush draw.
Nice People has kings and New Guy has aces. Mr. Nice People has busted,
Mr. Nice People rebuys.
I flip my cards and out pops a pair of 3s. $35! Stylin'!
Three or four hands later I limp in with A8 diamonds.
Four players see the flop which comes down with two diamonds.
$20 raise (pot sized raise would be $25), call, call, and I call
all-in. Turn is a diamond and they check it to the end.
I'm back at $100 with quite a turnaround of fortune.
Put back $25 before cashing out at 11:30.
4-5 hours; -$125;
Keith
--
kmiy...@cs.rutgers.edu
