The “Bike” Casino in L.A. Sunday, Aug 28th
(If you haven’t read the previous entry, this is a continuation of the last two entries, you may want to go back and read those first to appreciate this one better.)
As I take my seat back at the N/L table, the “self-proclaimed” expert at the table, declares, that he has won enough for today and it is time for him to go. Then he left with $400 of mine and $600 from others, all on 1 or 2 outer suck outs. I know nobody promised “life would be fair”, but this….#$@$@%.
Oh, well there are at least two loose players and two novices left that are playing almost every hand. So, I am going to get my money back. (Me thinks…)
I buy in for my third buy-in and my first hand comes QQ. I raise the BB $25 and get 3 callers. The flop produces Js9h3c. I am first to act so I go in for $75 and get 2 callers.
Hmm, no raises, I am sure I am still ahead the turn is a 4c. I push in the rest of my chips from this latest buy-in and I get called by one person. She had earlier declared this is her first time in a casino. She played a little on-line on her son’s computer, but she said she “watches a lot of poker on TV”. (I knew I was in trouble...)
The river is a 5s and I turn over my queens and she is "giggling", (I am not kidding, giggling) that she got a straight. You guessed it. She bet on her A,2. With no pair and a gutshot straight draw after the turn when I pushed all-in with my queens.
I muttered to the dealer “seat open”, and slunk out to my car thinking I am going to see Rod Serling in the Parking Lot saying “You have just entered the Twilight Zone….” But, only my car was there to greet me. I decide free room or not, I am going to start working my way south to go home. I have had enough of poker in L.A. today.
A half-hour later I am walking into the Hawaiian Gardens Casino. I request a seat in 8/16 limit.
I have had enough of No-Limit for awhile. My confidence is shaken. I know I cannot play my best no-limit poker right now. I win and lose a few pots in limit and my confidence is starting to come back to me.
I hear them announcing a one-table “shoot-out” for $125 buy-in. First place is $550 and second is $250. Third gets you your buy-in back. That sounds good to me. I can win this and be close to even for the day. I have won a few of these before at WPT events and the WSOP. So, I buy-in.
After being told the “shoot-out” would start in 12 minutes I take a stroll and find a hotdog vendor in the casino selling “Chicago Hot Dogs”. I grew up in Chicago and consumed a lot of that fine cuisine in my life-time, so for old time sake I order two. Of course I had them with mustard, onions, hot-peppers, tomatoes, and that bright green relish you only see in Chicago.
Back to the “shoot-out” just in time to get the High Card for the button! That’s a good sign to me, that just maybe my luck is going to change. That was about the last high card I got. I was cold-decked and card-dead for the next hour. I went out in 5th place with KJ suited running smack into a pair of pocket Aces. That’s poker, as they say.
I did feel good about my play, and did the best with what I had, and no monstrous suck outs occurred. I walked away feeling good about my play, but now I am down more then I have ever been in one day of play.
It is now about 10 p.m. and I decide I will drive 90 miles toward home and stop at Oceans Eleven Casino. I have often done well there. In fact my biggest one day win, not counting jack-pots occurred there. I bought in for $300 about 6 months ago at the 20-40 limit table and left 5 hours later cashing out 5 racks of red chips. That is $2500.
As I stroll into Oceans 11 I decide my “game plan” is to play only the rocks. To play extremely tight and double my $300 buy-in at the N/L game and then go home “licking my wounds”, but gaining back a little money.
I stick religiously to my plan, I throw away hand after hand. Even threw away JJ in first position. Finally, it happens, I am "one off the button" and I look down to see 2 Beautiful Red Aces.
Two people limp in and I raise $25. The flop comes 9,7,2 rainbow. I bet $50 and get called by the button. The turn is a 3 I go all-in for my last $200 and the button thinks and thinks about it. I am “screaming inside” don’t call, don’t….. Finally, after two other players say something about that’s enough time, he shrugs his shoulders and meekly mutters call. The river is a nine and he shows K,9 for three 9’s. There is a loud laugh from someone across the table, and the dealer looks at me and says "I’m sorry". I must have had a “pitiful” expression on my face. I know I sure was feeling sorry for myself and starting to drown in a choir of voices, all mine, singing, in my head, the old county-western song “Why me, Lord!”
Now I am 60 miles from home, with only $25 in my pocket and it is 2 A.M. My arrangement with Caren is I wouldn’t come home until 5 A.M. That’s when she has to get up for work. She is a light sleeper, and if woken after 2 A.M. would haved a difficult time going back to sleep.
So what should I do? I could take a nap in the car. No, I am too “wired” to sleep. So I take a look in the Table Games area. They have blackjack, Caribbean Stud and 3 card poker.
There are two people seated at the 3 card poker table. One of them is explaining to the other the strategy and best odds for playing this game. I have never played 3 card poker. He sounds like he knows what he is doing, and he does have a considerable stack in front of him so I sit down to listen. I slap my last $25 on the table and proceed to win the next few hands and I before I know it I have a little over $200 in front of me. A friendly gentleman sits down and for the next hour or so we have pleasant conversations. The new person says he is a “producer” in Hollywood and this is his first time ever in a “card room”. He has been to casinos in Vegas, but didn’t know about these card clubs in California.
He proceeds to go on the most incredible amount of luck I have ever personally witnessed. If you hit a Royal Flush you get paid 200 to 1 at this casino. He hit one on a $50 bet resulting in a $10,000 pay out to him. He tips generously everybody, and then puts up $300 for each of us at the table on the next hand. The dealer doesn’t qualify and we each get to pocket the $300 which I thank him profusely for. 2 hands later he hits a straight flush at 40 to 1 resulting in a $2000 payoff. He put up bets for us again. The dealer beat us on this one. So the $1200 he put out to cover all our bets goes back to the house. Within the next hour he hits another straight-flush and three of a kind twice. Each time he bets for us. We never won when he did that, though he was sure, his luck would work one of these times. I left about 4 A.M. while there was a crowd around him mesmerized by this “run of luck”. With my $200 win and the $300 he gave me I felt a little better about my loss today even though it was the biggest loss I have had in one day ever.
Finally, I arrive home shortly after 5 A.M. kiss Caren good morning, play with Pokey the puppy and go to sleep for the next 8 hours dreaming of poker hands and draws that never came.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Warning Tilt danger!!!
Sunday 11 A.M. Crystal Casino, Los Angeles, California
Woke up and stumbled down to the poker room to find there were only 3/6 & 6/12 limit games going. There was a list just starting for a no-limit game. I have to admit, this is a very friendly card room. Once they know your initials or name, they address you by them every time they see you.
That reminds me of an incident at Commerce Casino that occurred about 2 weeks ago.
When I lived in the L.A. area, prior to 1999, I used to play stud at the Commerce Casino.
I was just getting into Hold-em, but never played it there. Like the majority of players back then, I still felt more comfortable with stud. So, that was all I played at the Commerce Casino. If you don’t know, Commerce is allegedly the largest poker room in the world! Of course, during the World Series of Poker, at the Rio in Las Vegas, when they set up the tournament room, for the month, with 220 tables, I guess that poker room has more tables. But, not by much, and Commerce would still have more square feet of poker space and 24/7 action every day of the year.
I had only stopped in one-time on a trip back from Central California to play a little hold-em for a hour or so. Beside, that time, I had not been in there, since we moved to San Diego in 1999. So imagine my surprise, when two weeks ago I stopped in on another trip home from Fresno, and saw a familiar “floor man” I remembered being there back before 1999.
Here was the shocker, he greeted me by my first name and asked if I was still playing stud? Wow, what a memory. There are literally thousands of players that come and go through that place and somehow he remembered me. What a skill. It also benefited him, because I slipped him a red chip later that evening when I told him how impressed I was with his greeting.
Well, back to Sunday morning at the Crystal Casino. I thought, not having the game I want to play here, is no problem. I am 10 minutes away from the Bike, Commerce and Hawaiian Gardens. Between the three of them, there must be 50 N/L games going, even on a Sunday Morning to choose from. Like a “kid in a candy store” I excitedly tried to decide which one I wanted? Hawaiian Gardens was closer. Commerce would have more games. But, the Bike was also hosting the “Legends of Poker” event and maybe I could watch some the “legends” play. So the Bike it was.
Ten minutes later I parked and walked in and was set down right away at a 2/4 No-Limit table. I would check the “Legends” out later. I bought in for $200 and after playing about ½ hour I realized this was a “rock garden”. (A rock is a person who plays very few hands and only with the “nuts”, the absolute best hand.) I wanted a friendly, action, table and I heard them calling a brand new N/L game so I jumped up and moved my chips over to that new table and took my favorite seat #8. This was the dream table. Three novice players, a couple of loose players, two that appear to be more experienced and a friendly, let’s us fun, kind of atmosphere right from the first hand. I should get an “A+” for my table selection for this one.
What a disaster occurred in the next two hours! I still am recovering from it. I fold the first few hands I am dealt. This is more like it. People are chatting, and there are 5-6 people calling to see the flop and at least 3 or 4 to the river each hand so far.
Wonderful, I am dealt A/K. Four people have already called the big blind and seat 6 raises it to $15. I decide to just call because I think others will call this bet. Sure enough all 4 call. I am in with AK and 5 others, how favorable is that? The flop comes Ks, 7h, 9c,. My Kh with a Ah kicker is looking pretty good. The check is to seat 6 and he bets $40 into a $90 pot. I decide to just call, because I want a call behind me and three people call behind me. The pot is now almost $300. The turn is a 2c. Seat 5 bets out $75. Still not seeing any real danger I call the $75. We get one caller behind us. The river brings a Qc. Seat 6 throws in his remaining chips, I do the same and we lose the other player. My entire buy-in is in the pot with a pretty good hand and seat 5 turns over KQ for two pair on the river queen.
Well, that happens in Poker, but what almost made me crazy, is he announces to the table “I only play real tight cards that’s why I win a lot”. Then he proceeds to advertize his ignorance even more, by saying he doesn’t hold back from teaching others because he has learned a lot about poker. Over the next few hands he wins three hands, apparently unaware he is catching 2 and 3 “outers” on the turn or river.
And I can’t wait to get into a hand with him again. He now has $500 in chips and I am looking for a hand to play against him. I find a 7/8 spades. That is a good hand to play at this kind of table. We end up with only 3 of us seeing the flop.
It comes 9s, 6s, Jd. Seat 6 bets out $25 I am looking at an open-ended straight flush draw. How great is that? I have at least 15 outs and two cards coming to hit one. I raise it to $75, still a little shaky from that river card beat seat 6 gave me. I am thinking maybe I can win it right here. He is the only one who calls. The turn is a Qc. He looks at my remaining chips and says “I put you all in.”
In goes the rest of my 2nd buy-in of $200 and the river is a 4 of hearts, missing my straight, and my flush, and my straight flush possibility. He proudly turns over Jh,Qh and announces to the rest of the table “I knew they would be good because they were suited!”.
I am seeing red flashing lights & Sirens are going off in my head. I am hearing inside my head police radios squawking, “investigate possible 187, code 3 at 7301 Eastern Avenue, get a move on it”! Then I realize the dealer is asking me if I want in for the next hand. I feebly mutter, “lock it up”, and I walk away from the table in a shell-shocked fashion.
Usually I quit for the day after I lose two buy-ins, but I am 120 miles from home, still have a free hotel room for the night and this can’t keep happening, I think. (I was never more wrong.)
But, at least I am smart enough to know I have to “settle down. So I decide to take a walk over and see some of the “legends”. I am hoping to gain a little inspiration, to get back emotionally, to a place where I can play well without going on tilt.
As I approach the tournament room I am met by a burly security guard who won’t earn today what I have already lost and he demands to see my “day pass?” “What’s a day pass” I ask? “You must have a pass for today to get in” he announces, in that, (I am the official club bouncer, and you are part of the unwashed masses, I live to keep out, kind of voice.)”
But, I just want to watch a little tournament play”. “No spectators today” he drones in an official manner, “there are a lot of poker pros in there”. Apparently, it had been decided by the WPT officials that spectators would not be allowed in until at least day 3.
Further adding to my “shrinking self-image, I can’t even be a poker spectator today, let alone a “winning player.” Well, at least my homicidal urges are gone. They have been replaced by self-destructive thoughts.
Maybe, I should get drunk? Heck no, I don’t even like to drink. That won’t work, and I will feel worse afterwards. Maybe, I could throw myself in the Los Angeles River, out behind the Casino, and be swept out to sea. That won’t work, it is the summer and the L.A. river is an inch or two of sewage slowly seeping toward the ocean.
I know! I could walk out into a Freeway lane and end the suffering. Nah, I couldn’t do that to other drivers, it would cause a traffic snarl ruining thousands of people’s day off.
Oh, well, I guess I will get a cup of coffee, read a poker magazine that I saw in the lobby and go back and get even at the table.
Well, the coffee was good, and I enjoyed the latest issue of CardPlayer Magazine. But, about winning my money back?
That story continues in the next blog entry.
Woke up and stumbled down to the poker room to find there were only 3/6 & 6/12 limit games going. There was a list just starting for a no-limit game. I have to admit, this is a very friendly card room. Once they know your initials or name, they address you by them every time they see you.
That reminds me of an incident at Commerce Casino that occurred about 2 weeks ago.
When I lived in the L.A. area, prior to 1999, I used to play stud at the Commerce Casino.
I was just getting into Hold-em, but never played it there. Like the majority of players back then, I still felt more comfortable with stud. So, that was all I played at the Commerce Casino. If you don’t know, Commerce is allegedly the largest poker room in the world! Of course, during the World Series of Poker, at the Rio in Las Vegas, when they set up the tournament room, for the month, with 220 tables, I guess that poker room has more tables. But, not by much, and Commerce would still have more square feet of poker space and 24/7 action every day of the year.
I had only stopped in one-time on a trip back from Central California to play a little hold-em for a hour or so. Beside, that time, I had not been in there, since we moved to San Diego in 1999. So imagine my surprise, when two weeks ago I stopped in on another trip home from Fresno, and saw a familiar “floor man” I remembered being there back before 1999.
Here was the shocker, he greeted me by my first name and asked if I was still playing stud? Wow, what a memory. There are literally thousands of players that come and go through that place and somehow he remembered me. What a skill. It also benefited him, because I slipped him a red chip later that evening when I told him how impressed I was with his greeting.
Well, back to Sunday morning at the Crystal Casino. I thought, not having the game I want to play here, is no problem. I am 10 minutes away from the Bike, Commerce and Hawaiian Gardens. Between the three of them, there must be 50 N/L games going, even on a Sunday Morning to choose from. Like a “kid in a candy store” I excitedly tried to decide which one I wanted? Hawaiian Gardens was closer. Commerce would have more games. But, the Bike was also hosting the “Legends of Poker” event and maybe I could watch some the “legends” play. So the Bike it was.
Ten minutes later I parked and walked in and was set down right away at a 2/4 No-Limit table. I would check the “Legends” out later. I bought in for $200 and after playing about ½ hour I realized this was a “rock garden”. (A rock is a person who plays very few hands and only with the “nuts”, the absolute best hand.) I wanted a friendly, action, table and I heard them calling a brand new N/L game so I jumped up and moved my chips over to that new table and took my favorite seat #8. This was the dream table. Three novice players, a couple of loose players, two that appear to be more experienced and a friendly, let’s us fun, kind of atmosphere right from the first hand. I should get an “A+” for my table selection for this one.
What a disaster occurred in the next two hours! I still am recovering from it. I fold the first few hands I am dealt. This is more like it. People are chatting, and there are 5-6 people calling to see the flop and at least 3 or 4 to the river each hand so far.
Wonderful, I am dealt A/K. Four people have already called the big blind and seat 6 raises it to $15. I decide to just call because I think others will call this bet. Sure enough all 4 call. I am in with AK and 5 others, how favorable is that? The flop comes Ks, 7h, 9c,. My Kh with a Ah kicker is looking pretty good. The check is to seat 6 and he bets $40 into a $90 pot. I decide to just call, because I want a call behind me and three people call behind me. The pot is now almost $300. The turn is a 2c. Seat 5 bets out $75. Still not seeing any real danger I call the $75. We get one caller behind us. The river brings a Qc. Seat 6 throws in his remaining chips, I do the same and we lose the other player. My entire buy-in is in the pot with a pretty good hand and seat 5 turns over KQ for two pair on the river queen.
Well, that happens in Poker, but what almost made me crazy, is he announces to the table “I only play real tight cards that’s why I win a lot”. Then he proceeds to advertize his ignorance even more, by saying he doesn’t hold back from teaching others because he has learned a lot about poker. Over the next few hands he wins three hands, apparently unaware he is catching 2 and 3 “outers” on the turn or river.
And I can’t wait to get into a hand with him again. He now has $500 in chips and I am looking for a hand to play against him. I find a 7/8 spades. That is a good hand to play at this kind of table. We end up with only 3 of us seeing the flop.
It comes 9s, 6s, Jd. Seat 6 bets out $25 I am looking at an open-ended straight flush draw. How great is that? I have at least 15 outs and two cards coming to hit one. I raise it to $75, still a little shaky from that river card beat seat 6 gave me. I am thinking maybe I can win it right here. He is the only one who calls. The turn is a Qc. He looks at my remaining chips and says “I put you all in.”
In goes the rest of my 2nd buy-in of $200 and the river is a 4 of hearts, missing my straight, and my flush, and my straight flush possibility. He proudly turns over Jh,Qh and announces to the rest of the table “I knew they would be good because they were suited!”.
I am seeing red flashing lights & Sirens are going off in my head. I am hearing inside my head police radios squawking, “investigate possible 187, code 3 at 7301 Eastern Avenue, get a move on it”! Then I realize the dealer is asking me if I want in for the next hand. I feebly mutter, “lock it up”, and I walk away from the table in a shell-shocked fashion.
Usually I quit for the day after I lose two buy-ins, but I am 120 miles from home, still have a free hotel room for the night and this can’t keep happening, I think. (I was never more wrong.)
But, at least I am smart enough to know I have to “settle down. So I decide to take a walk over and see some of the “legends”. I am hoping to gain a little inspiration, to get back emotionally, to a place where I can play well without going on tilt.
As I approach the tournament room I am met by a burly security guard who won’t earn today what I have already lost and he demands to see my “day pass?” “What’s a day pass” I ask? “You must have a pass for today to get in” he announces, in that, (I am the official club bouncer, and you are part of the unwashed masses, I live to keep out, kind of voice.)”
But, I just want to watch a little tournament play”. “No spectators today” he drones in an official manner, “there are a lot of poker pros in there”. Apparently, it had been decided by the WPT officials that spectators would not be allowed in until at least day 3.
Further adding to my “shrinking self-image, I can’t even be a poker spectator today, let alone a “winning player.” Well, at least my homicidal urges are gone. They have been replaced by self-destructive thoughts.
Maybe, I should get drunk? Heck no, I don’t even like to drink. That won’t work, and I will feel worse afterwards. Maybe, I could throw myself in the Los Angeles River, out behind the Casino, and be swept out to sea. That won’t work, it is the summer and the L.A. river is an inch or two of sewage slowly seeping toward the ocean.
I know! I could walk out into a Freeway lane and end the suffering. Nah, I couldn’t do that to other drivers, it would cause a traffic snarl ruining thousands of people’s day off.
Oh, well, I guess I will get a cup of coffee, read a poker magazine that I saw in the lobby and go back and get even at the table.
Well, the coffee was good, and I enjoyed the latest issue of CardPlayer Magazine. But, about winning my money back?
That story continues in the next blog entry.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
2nd Day at the Crystal Casino
Crystal Casino in L.A. 7:00 A.M. Saturday, August 26th
Well, I arrived here shortly after midnight and have played all night. When I went to check-in to my room, I was told I couldn’t do it until after noon. Since I had asked about that when I called from San Diego and was told it wouldn’t be a problem, I requested to speak to the shift manager to gain an exception. Once, that was accomplished, I crawled into bed in my free hotel room, about $150 up from a night of play and slept soundly until 4 in the afternoon.
I love the blackout curtains most hotels have. Caren would like to have those in our bedroom, but we haven’t been able to find “blackout panels” that work with the curtains we prefer. Maybe, we will find them when we move and outfit our next home.
After getting ready to go downstairs I decided to check out the T.V. stations in the room. I usually don’t even watch TV when I am in a Hotel, room preferring to either be on the computer or read. There were about 12 choices available, including a 24 hour Chinese News Channel a Chinese Drama Channel, and a Chinese movie channel. I wonder who their primary demographic target market is? I did notice there was a large Cambodian event scheduled for later that night in the hotel.
After taking a seat in the poker room I asked about their tournament. I was told they have a dedicated room for those and there was one starting in about 20 minutes. The buy-in was $50 and the house fee was $10 but it also included a buffet in the back of the room. So, I was set for my food for today, with just enough time to eat before the tournament started.
I lasted about 3 hours and made a couple of questionable plays near the end. Tried to bluff with a Jack, Ten when a jack, queen, seven came on the flop. He re-raised me and I backed down. The next hand I chased an open ended straight and didn’t catch it and I was walking down to the poker room to play some cash games.
Another full night of poker and I am still the same $150 after 8 hours of play tonight. I went to bed about 4 A.M. with plans of going to the Bicycle Casino tomorrow to play a little bigger game and make all my profit there……..
I was also looking forward to seeing a lot of famous players at the “Bike” because of the “Legends of Poker Tournament” day 1b.
Curtains were shut in anticipation of the dawn and the “do not disturb”sign on the door in anticipation of the morning maid service and I went to sleep to dream of poker games, and big profits tomorrow. My last thought before I went to sleep was I haven't been outside or even looked outside since I arrived.
Well, I arrived here shortly after midnight and have played all night. When I went to check-in to my room, I was told I couldn’t do it until after noon. Since I had asked about that when I called from San Diego and was told it wouldn’t be a problem, I requested to speak to the shift manager to gain an exception. Once, that was accomplished, I crawled into bed in my free hotel room, about $150 up from a night of play and slept soundly until 4 in the afternoon.
I love the blackout curtains most hotels have. Caren would like to have those in our bedroom, but we haven’t been able to find “blackout panels” that work with the curtains we prefer. Maybe, we will find them when we move and outfit our next home.
After getting ready to go downstairs I decided to check out the T.V. stations in the room. I usually don’t even watch TV when I am in a Hotel, room preferring to either be on the computer or read. There were about 12 choices available, including a 24 hour Chinese News Channel a Chinese Drama Channel, and a Chinese movie channel. I wonder who their primary demographic target market is? I did notice there was a large Cambodian event scheduled for later that night in the hotel.
After taking a seat in the poker room I asked about their tournament. I was told they have a dedicated room for those and there was one starting in about 20 minutes. The buy-in was $50 and the house fee was $10 but it also included a buffet in the back of the room. So, I was set for my food for today, with just enough time to eat before the tournament started.
I lasted about 3 hours and made a couple of questionable plays near the end. Tried to bluff with a Jack, Ten when a jack, queen, seven came on the flop. He re-raised me and I backed down. The next hand I chased an open ended straight and didn’t catch it and I was walking down to the poker room to play some cash games.
Another full night of poker and I am still the same $150 after 8 hours of play tonight. I went to bed about 4 A.M. with plans of going to the Bicycle Casino tomorrow to play a little bigger game and make all my profit there……..
I was also looking forward to seeing a lot of famous players at the “Bike” because of the “Legends of Poker Tournament” day 1b.
Curtains were shut in anticipation of the dawn and the “do not disturb”sign on the door in anticipation of the morning maid service and I went to sleep to dream of poker games, and big profits tomorrow. My last thought before I went to sleep was I haven't been outside or even looked outside since I arrived.
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….”
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….”
Monday, August 28, 2006
The Dog Whisperer and Fresno
Last Friday I spent the morning taping “The Dog Whisperer” with Ceasar Milann.
If you have a dog, or know somebody with a dog you need to know about him. He was an illegal that came across the board a few years back. Had always been interested in dog behavior and “dog psychology” and started shampooing dogs for someone. They saw how he was with dogs and promoted him up the doggie ladder to handler and then trainer.
Today he has a successful consulting business with specials on the National Geographic channel. We have learned much from him. I am taping some of his specials, off my tivo to vhs tape so my daughter Carrie can watch and learn.
Carrie lives in Fresno with her husband David, who is the Worship Director at an Assembly of God Church. They have some interesting conversations about Poker. In fundamentalist churches “Card playing” historically has been considered a “sin”. Now it is being reconsidered, along with many along things, such as dancing, movie attendance, drinking, & other self-pleasuring behaviors that according to church policy, used to send people “straight to hell.”
Carrie is a pretty good no-limit tournament player and often calls to discuss “poker strategy” with her daddy. I sometimes to Fresno to visit her. There is a poker club, and a couple of Indian Casinos outside of town that have poker rooms. The one downtown, called Club One is almost an ATM machine for me. Fresno City law forbids “no-limit” games and places a cap on a single bet at $200. Therefore, they have historically only played limit. Recently, someone figured out that they could play a “limit game” of 4-200, where the blinds are 2/4 and any bet could be from $4-200 and still be within the letter of the law. That structured game plays identical to the 2/4 no-limit game I usually play at Sycuan where the max buy-in is $200. So in this “sea” of limit players, I have the most experience playing this particular game.. I usually triple up and leave within a few hours . Each time I have visited I have paid for my trip and come home with about a “grand”. Eventually, their regular players will become a lot stronger, resulting in many more stronger players in that game, and I won’t have the same edge, but I want to go back again whenever I can before that time comes. (grin)
Usually when I take a poker trip I spend 2-3 days playing a lot of poker. I often play all night and go to bed around 7 A.M. and get up in the afternoon to go at it again for the next night. I have always broke even or come home with money from those type of poker trips.
That is, until this past weekend one I went on. But, that is a story for the next entry.
If you have a dog, or know somebody with a dog you need to know about him. He was an illegal that came across the board a few years back. Had always been interested in dog behavior and “dog psychology” and started shampooing dogs for someone. They saw how he was with dogs and promoted him up the doggie ladder to handler and then trainer.
Today he has a successful consulting business with specials on the National Geographic channel. We have learned much from him. I am taping some of his specials, off my tivo to vhs tape so my daughter Carrie can watch and learn.
Carrie lives in Fresno with her husband David, who is the Worship Director at an Assembly of God Church. They have some interesting conversations about Poker. In fundamentalist churches “Card playing” historically has been considered a “sin”. Now it is being reconsidered, along with many along things, such as dancing, movie attendance, drinking, & other self-pleasuring behaviors that according to church policy, used to send people “straight to hell.”
Carrie is a pretty good no-limit tournament player and often calls to discuss “poker strategy” with her daddy. I sometimes to Fresno to visit her. There is a poker club, and a couple of Indian Casinos outside of town that have poker rooms. The one downtown, called Club One is almost an ATM machine for me. Fresno City law forbids “no-limit” games and places a cap on a single bet at $200. Therefore, they have historically only played limit. Recently, someone figured out that they could play a “limit game” of 4-200, where the blinds are 2/4 and any bet could be from $4-200 and still be within the letter of the law. That structured game plays identical to the 2/4 no-limit game I usually play at Sycuan where the max buy-in is $200. So in this “sea” of limit players, I have the most experience playing this particular game.. I usually triple up and leave within a few hours . Each time I have visited I have paid for my trip and come home with about a “grand”. Eventually, their regular players will become a lot stronger, resulting in many more stronger players in that game, and I won’t have the same edge, but I want to go back again whenever I can before that time comes. (grin)
Usually when I take a poker trip I spend 2-3 days playing a lot of poker. I often play all night and go to bed around 7 A.M. and get up in the afternoon to go at it again for the next night. I have always broke even or come home with money from those type of poker trips.
That is, until this past weekend one I went on. But, that is a story for the next entry.
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