Poker News

Poker Roadtrip

Well, like Willie’s song says, here I am, on the road again! I had to leave my great job at the Inn Of The Mountain Gods, because my daughter needs me in Tacoma, WA. I had a lot of fun there with Michael and the crew and I will miss Ruidoso NM.

I started the trip with a bankroll of $500, and planned to make my expenses by stopping at a few casinos along the way. My first stop was 8 hours later at Casino Del Sol in Tucson AZ. I had seen very few flops for about 2 hours when the following hand came up. I called in first position with 7s/9s, and after I called the first raise, it was capped and we had 6 players.

The flop came 6s/Ah/8s, and by the time we were done betting, it was capped again.

This was looking like a good-sized pot for a 3/6, I was on an open-ended straight flush draw, and there were 6 in the mix. The turn brought the 5h and I checked my high straight. The second guy still led out, the next one raised, two players limped in and the button made it three bets. I called time, capped it at $24 and lost only one player.

I bet $6 as soon as the 4c hit the river. The first guy called, the next one raised, and everyone else folded. I reraised to $18 and got two callers. I had the only 9 high straight, the first guy had flopped 3 sixes, and the next one made an 8 high straight drawing to 5h/8h and two pair. The button had been raising on AK with the ace of spades and nut flush draw. As soon as I racked my chips, I cashed out a $240 winner and hit the road to Phoenix.

4 hours later, my little trailer was parked at Motel 6 and I was parked in a 10/20 Hold’em at Casino Arizona. I love this place, but this day, the game was really tight, and so quiet you could hear a pin drop on the felt. I was at the only table with so many grumps, and after winning and losing small pots for 4 hours, I decided that I would take a $60 loss and consider myself a winner. Early next morning, I was on my way to Pechanga Resort and Casino past Palm Springs.

A slow 10 hours later( towing a trailer at 55) I was sacked out in my very nice room and preparing to attack the poker room around noon. After a late breakfast, I found an open seat in a 3/6 Omaha Hi- Lo. I love this game, and I would rather play this than Hold’em any day. No, I’m not a glutton for punishment, but my road game thru the 80’s was Lowball, and I think I have an edge in a split game. There were no exciting hands to report in this 3 1/2 hr session, but I did win a few and cashed out $216 on an $80 buy in. It was off to L.A. and the Commerce Club.

Another night’s rest at a motel and I was at the casino just before noon. I was disappointed they had no higher limit Omaha Hi- Lo, so I sat in a 3/6. It was early afternoon and I was down $73 after 3 hours. I decided to take a breakfrom the game and eat an early dinner at the table. I ordered their delicious, fried Thai Fish with a sweet, spicy, sauce, that has been my favorite for years. This alone, at such a low price, was worth the trip! 30 minutes later, I jumped back in on my big blind and bought another $100 in chips.

Wow, that dinner hit the spot all right, because I was holding As/2s/2d/2h to a flop of 3s/4h/5c. I had flopped a wheel in the big blind, and the nut spade flush draw! As I always do from the front position, I checked my hand. By the time it came back to me it was raised to $6 and I called. The turn brought the 10s and I checked again. It was bet and raised, and this time I made it $18. I had 4 callers.

The river card was perfect for me; the jack of spades, and I bet out immediately. I had 3 of the deuces, a wheel and the nut flush! I thought I’d be lucky to get two calls, but after the first caller, the next guy raised me. I made it $18, and the first raiser capped it. The first guy had flopped a 7 high straight, and the second guy had 6543A and the king high spade flush. That started a little rush for me, and 1 1/2 hrs later, I cashed out $326 and went to take a nap.

I have always preached that the way to lose a lot of money, is to play a lot ofhours. Hit and Run has always worked for me, and losing a little and trying the next day has also worked well. Besides, I needed to stay sharp, towing a trailer all day.

The next afternoon, I was sitting in Downtown Sacramento. That evening, I played in a really lively 4/8 Hold’em at the Capitol Casino. I was the only non-Asian at the table, but that had nothing to do with my bad run of cards. I had some entertaining moments watching some really loose players knock heads with “Cap it,” “Cap it”.

It wasn’t my kind of game at all, and I dropped my $100 buy in.

The next morning, I was on my way to Redding CA for my last scheduled stop in the state. After checking into my motel, I asked the clerk if she knew where the closest card room was. She drew me a map and I was on my way after a 3 hour rest. Win-River Casino was a very tricky 7 miles away. Finally, I got there to find an 8 table poker room with a beautiful, blonde manager.

The people here were very friendly, and not at all as aggressive as the ones in Sacramento. Needless to say, I did well in my 4 hours of play, and cashed out $278 on a $60 buy in. As I approached my motel that night, I noticed a small sign that said “Poker Room” right across from my motel! I turned into that parking lot, instead of my motel, and found a small nightclub with a 2 table poker room in back. Going against my better judgment, I decide to play a few 3/6 hands, and I wondered why the clerk didn’t tell me about this place.

Within the hour, I was up about $60 when the following hand came up. I was in first position and raised the blind to $6 with pocket kings. Three hands away, one person called, and everyone, but the big blind, folded. He three bet it, I called and the other person capped it. Meanwhile, they are speaking in a foreign language, and I ask the dealer to stop them. He says,”OK guys, you heard the man”. The flop was medium rags and the first man checks. I checked and the last man bet $3. The blind Check-raised, I called, and it was reraised and capped.

Because the two men were still muttering to each other in some other language, I asked the dealer, again, to stop them. He mumbled out another “stop it guys” sort of comment. The turn brought a queen and the identical betting pattern. By the time a 3 hit the river, I was sure I was in a trap but I was going to see those hands regardless. This time, the first man bet and the last man capped.

The last guy turned over Aces and I grabbed the blind’s cards as he tossed them toward the muck. I was not surprised to see deuce/six and no draw whatsoever. I thanked the dealer as I picked up my remaining chips to cash out. They took me for $72 on that hand, so I decided to get up and run out of that snake pit. As the manager was cashing me out, I told him what had just happened.

He said I was mistaken; that those things do not happen in his room. He further said, if I didn’t like the action; don’t come back.

Now I know why I was not told about that cardroom, on the main street, in Redding, across from a motel. This morning I decided to drive all the way to Tacoma. I won’t stop at any more casinos as I am satisfied with the results of my trip. I’ve got $645 in cash, I’ve paid for rooms, a fortune in gas(18mpg with the trailer), and bought food, drink, souvenirs and Red Bull along the way. If only that redhead waitress in Quartzsite had taken me up on my offer to see the world!

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