A weekend of Poker with a free hotel room & food...

Last Friday, during the day, I got the brilliant idea to take a poker trip for the weekend.

That usually involves taking the RV and “Pokey the Puppy” and heading out for a Casino or two. We spend the a night or two in the RV (read free lodging) and the casino comps usually takes care of my food. So beside fresh fruit, drinks, and dog food for pokey we generally have only gas expenses for these trips. Of course, gas is no small expense, especially when the RV gets about 8 miles to the gallon.

Unless, we are actually traveling somewhere and not a dedicated poker trip Caren won’t join us for these short trips. These poker adventures average 60-200 miles (For the round trip gas expense is usually well under $100. I pay cash for gas out of my poker bankroll, so I add that into my net profit or loss, (like a true business expense) The mileage variance depends on whether or not I go to L.A. or stay in the San Diego area. If I venture further out to Vegas (round trip about 600 miles) I typically plan on staying for a week to get my money’s worth of free lodging to make up for the gas expense.

However, summertime in Southern California or Las Vegas (both are Deserts) is not a great time to be spending the night in an RV. It is just too hot to sleep without running the air conditioner all night. Since I am not plugged into electricity, in these parking lots, I would have to run my generator all night. I don’t want to do that because of the generator noise, possibly disturbing others, or attracting attention that translates roughly “Hey, I am sleeping in here”. Both at the poker table and in life I like to “fly under the radar” So, summer greatly restricts my Poker RV trips. I am hoping to take frequent ones this fall & winter.

Because of our new dog and his training schedule, especially while he is a puppy, we don’t want to leave him unattended for 8-10 hours while Caren is at work. Flying with him would be a problem. Having him in hotel rooms, could be a problem. So, my poker playing usually takes place, in the local cardrooms & Indian Casinos nearby, after Caren comes home and her and Pokey settle in for the evening.

Therefore, I came up with the brilliant idea to take a weekend trip, while Caren was home, and could be with Pokey as necessary.

I had recently read in a poker magazine that the Crystal Park Casino & Hotel in L.A. was giving free hotel rooms to poker players in exchange for 5 or more hours of play in their poker room. Plus they also gave $4 in food comps for every 2 hours of play. I was set for the weekend! What a win-win situation. I am excited to get there.

Caren agrees to release me for the weekend.

I quickly call the Casino to confirm the ad I read in Card Player Magazine. They confirm it for me. “Is life good or what?” I am also planning on “stopping by the “Bike” because there is a big WPT tournament going on this weekend. What a great Poker weekend this is going to be…..

Now the only obstacle remaining is “I hate driving in L.A. traffic”. Whenever I drive through L.A. I like to do it between 10 p.m. and 4 A.M. to not have to deal with traffic snarls. Well, that can be easily solved. I spend late afternoon Friday with Caren. I take a nap between 7-9 p.m. Awaken, take a shower, then throw one change of clothes, a tooth brush, poker book, pad of paper, and the ipod in a bag. I am “ready to roll”. Out of the house by 10 p.m. I am expecting to have cards dealt to me in the Crystal Casino shortly after midnight in L.A. and I will play until the sun comes up and I can check into my free room.

A quick stop at the corner 7/11 for a 44oz diet coke, and to top off the gas tank. 15 minutes later and I am heading north on Interstate 5, smoking a cigar, listening to Clive Cussler’s latest book on my ipod, and thinking about the great hands and profit I will have this weekend.

At 1 p.m. I scoop in my first pot at the ½ No-Limit tables at the Crystal Casino Poker Room and the weekend is going just as I planned…… However, it did not continue that way, all weekend……. As “Paul Harvey” used to say and “now, for the rest of the story, stay tuned….”