Trip Report
by Jim Tolliver
Took Friday off from work as its a long drive from Connecticut and its
nice to beat the rush hour traffic. Shared a room with my brother who
plays poker but stays out of RGP activities. This was my third
Atlarge, and must concur with Bill Alan that the Tropicana is the best
poker room in the country. Lots of great ideas have been put into
practice. Lots of credit to Will Espin and the Trop Staff. Will had
told me of his ideas before the room was constructed, and a lot of
thought and hard work went into it.
Friday night after check in, I played some 10-20 Stud and won about
$200. Wanted to play pot-limit holdem, but was not very sharp after
the long drive. Saturday I bust out quick in the holdem tournament
with pocket 10s which became three tens on the turn losing to a flush
on the river. Most of the rest of the day is spent playing pot-limit,
its $3-5 blinds and about half the players are veterans of previous
RGP PL games. Even very good players often get crushed in this kind
of game, but I manage to win about $700 before dinner. Dinner was
nice, more for the company than the food. In future RGP outings I
would like to branch out into playing craps or do silly drinking
things, instead of just poker.
After dinner Saturday, I am on the list for pot-limit, but play 10-20
holdem. Nice game with several RGP players, one interesting hand I
am dealt KQd on the button. Flop is 10-J of Diamonds and a blank. Two
bets to me, I raise. Turn is a blank only one bet two callers. River
is the 9 of diamonds giving me the nut staight flush. Guy to my left
bets, call, I raise, he raises, other guy folds, raise, raise, raise,
raise. Finally I am all in. I had originally thought he had the nut
flush on the first first two raises. The guy was a regular fat guy
poker player with big gold jewelry so he looks like he hangs out at
the casinos. By the third raise I put him on the straight flush
which is what he had when he happily turned over 7-8 of diamonds
announcing straight flush. I meekly say me too, and show him my nuts.
Sunday I bust out of the stud tournament and head straight home. I
would have played all day but my brother had to testify in a trial. I
will be in Vegas May 5-12 for the world series, hope to see some of
you there. Also looking forward to Fargo and maybe Barge.
Jim Tolliver (JT)
