Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Returning to the tables with a vengance!
It's been a long break from poker. I played occasionally at PokerStars at the play money tables, but didn't play for real money again until Oct. 29th, which was also my first live casino game.
A friend's birthday had occured the week before, and I took a day off from work to hang out with him for his birthday. We were trying to think of something fun to do, and we decided to go to the Winstar Casinos just across the border in Oklahoma. He had played Texas Hold'em online with play money, and wanted to try his luck at the real thing.
I scanned their website ahead of time and noticed that the lowest no limit game they listed was 2/5 with a $300 minimum buy-in. That was more than I was willing to risk for my first live outing, so I had decided to play the 4/8 limit table which had a $40 minimum buy-in. I took $100 for gambling, planning to buy-in at that level. My friend took $300 because he wanted to play no limit regardless of the buy-in.
We arrived around 12:30 PM (noon:30) and proceeded to the poker room. When we arrived, every table had a waiting list, so I immediately got my name on the 4/8 limit list. As I was looking over the waiting list board, I noticed a $1/$2 no limit table with a $100 buy-in. WOO-HOO! I immediately switched to that list, my friend added himself to that list, and we went off to have some lunch while we waited.
We returned to the poker room about 1:45 and had to wait about 15 mins. for our seats. I was seated first, and my friend got seated about 10 mins later at the other 1/2 table. I was hoping he'd get a seat at my table so I could go up against him at some point, but it wasn't meant to be that day.
I proceeded to buy in for $100. I got 2 stacks of $5.00 chips, and a seat to the immediate right of the dealer. Away we go...
First few hands my stack dwindled to around $75.00. I was playing a little, posting some blinds, etc. but mostly trying to get my reads on the other players at the table. After about 20-30 mins of this, I started feeling comfortable and really started playing. Things immediately turned around. I quickly got back to even money, and never looked back. All-in-all, when I cashed out 2 hrs. later, I was up by $380.00 excluding some generous tips to a couple of dealers when I won some big pots. I bought in for $100 at 2:00 pm, and cashed out for $480 at 4:00 pm. A good day overall.
There were several really good, fun hands, but best I can remember I only rivered a suckout on someone once. Nearing the end of my time at the table one player was down to his last $6.00. He went all-in preflop in middle position, saying something like "might as well". I was dealt 2-2 (suits are gone from memory). At this point I was up pretty good, so I decided to just roll with it and see what happened. 2 others must have felt the same way, and 4 of us saw the flop. Flop was no help for me. The 3 of us left that could bet just checked it around. Turn was no help. Same thing - checked around. River came with a 2. Ok, so I bet out $10.00. Other two folded, and it went heads up. He had QQ. I rivered the set of 2's on him, and took his last $6.00. I felt bad about it, as I probably shouldn't have played that hand. What would you have done there? Feel free to comment and let me know.
Mainly for the first 45 minutes to an hour I played very tight, only showing hands I had to (being the bettor not the caller), and only taking strong hands to the showdown. In the second hour I loosened up a bit, but didn't bet big until the turn or the river, at which point many of the players that limped in and min-raised on the flop would fold. I took several hands for $30-$50 without even a showdown.
It was a great trip and I can't wait to do it again.
I am now taking $100 of my winnings and making a new bankroll for online play. I sent the money to netteller yesterday, and hopefully it will show up by this weekend and I can get back in the swing of things. I will definitely be tracking my play here, so check back in.
Oh, and my friend? He burned through $300.00 in 2 hrs. I guess he's learned that real money plays differently than play money.
A friend's birthday had occured the week before, and I took a day off from work to hang out with him for his birthday. We were trying to think of something fun to do, and we decided to go to the Winstar Casinos just across the border in Oklahoma. He had played Texas Hold'em online with play money, and wanted to try his luck at the real thing.
I scanned their website ahead of time and noticed that the lowest no limit game they listed was 2/5 with a $300 minimum buy-in. That was more than I was willing to risk for my first live outing, so I had decided to play the 4/8 limit table which had a $40 minimum buy-in. I took $100 for gambling, planning to buy-in at that level. My friend took $300 because he wanted to play no limit regardless of the buy-in.
We arrived around 12:30 PM (noon:30) and proceeded to the poker room. When we arrived, every table had a waiting list, so I immediately got my name on the 4/8 limit list. As I was looking over the waiting list board, I noticed a $1/$2 no limit table with a $100 buy-in. WOO-HOO! I immediately switched to that list, my friend added himself to that list, and we went off to have some lunch while we waited.
We returned to the poker room about 1:45 and had to wait about 15 mins. for our seats. I was seated first, and my friend got seated about 10 mins later at the other 1/2 table. I was hoping he'd get a seat at my table so I could go up against him at some point, but it wasn't meant to be that day.
I proceeded to buy in for $100. I got 2 stacks of $5.00 chips, and a seat to the immediate right of the dealer. Away we go...
First few hands my stack dwindled to around $75.00. I was playing a little, posting some blinds, etc. but mostly trying to get my reads on the other players at the table. After about 20-30 mins of this, I started feeling comfortable and really started playing. Things immediately turned around. I quickly got back to even money, and never looked back. All-in-all, when I cashed out 2 hrs. later, I was up by $380.00 excluding some generous tips to a couple of dealers when I won some big pots. I bought in for $100 at 2:00 pm, and cashed out for $480 at 4:00 pm. A good day overall.
There were several really good, fun hands, but best I can remember I only rivered a suckout on someone once. Nearing the end of my time at the table one player was down to his last $6.00. He went all-in preflop in middle position, saying something like "might as well". I was dealt 2-2 (suits are gone from memory). At this point I was up pretty good, so I decided to just roll with it and see what happened. 2 others must have felt the same way, and 4 of us saw the flop. Flop was no help for me. The 3 of us left that could bet just checked it around. Turn was no help. Same thing - checked around. River came with a 2. Ok, so I bet out $10.00. Other two folded, and it went heads up. He had QQ. I rivered the set of 2's on him, and took his last $6.00. I felt bad about it, as I probably shouldn't have played that hand. What would you have done there? Feel free to comment and let me know.
Mainly for the first 45 minutes to an hour I played very tight, only showing hands I had to (being the bettor not the caller), and only taking strong hands to the showdown. In the second hour I loosened up a bit, but didn't bet big until the turn or the river, at which point many of the players that limped in and min-raised on the flop would fold. I took several hands for $30-$50 without even a showdown.
It was a great trip and I can't wait to do it again.
I am now taking $100 of my winnings and making a new bankroll for online play. I sent the money to netteller yesterday, and hopefully it will show up by this weekend and I can get back in the swing of things. I will definitely be tracking my play here, so check back in.
Oh, and my friend? He burned through $300.00 in 2 hrs. I guess he's learned that real money plays differently than play money.
