Chicago Poker

Day 2 of my trip took me an hour West to the Chicago area. I visited three casinos in Gary and Hammond, IN. Ameristar Casino and Majestic Star Casino are just around the corner and down the street from each other. They are fairly small riverboat casinos. I played a little poker at Ameristar (14 tables). Majestic Star only had open seats at the 3/6 Limit table, so I played little Texas Hold'em Bonus. Only nine hands, and made $65, along with a chip for my collection.

Horseshoe Hammond was my main destination today. It's the 'Big Money' poker room for the Chicago area, and it is a beautiful room. 34 tables total, with a high limit area, and a private room with two table called Benny's Room. It's similar to Bobby's Room in the Bellagio, and is named after Benny Binnion.

I got a seat about 3pm. There were about 12 tables in use, including 2/5 PLO and 20/40 Limit. It was much busier than any of the rooms so far, but players said that the room was not crowded. Probably because of the snow storm forecasted for the evening.

I was planning on playing here until at least 10pm, but ended up leaving the room at 6pm, +$201. I've got an hour drive back to my hotel, and my Toyota Prius sucks in the snow.

Hand #1 - 1/2 Ameristar
I've been sitting here for an hour, and will be leaving soon. It's been a bad session and I've got $65 left. Tight player raises to $6 in early position. Two other players call. I'm the SB, look at T9d, and call. BB folds.

Flop: Kd Qd Tc. Sweet! Bottom pair with a Gutshot Straight Flush Draw. I see a check-raise in my future. Tight guy bets $20. One player calls. I check-shove my $59. Tight player makes it $100 with KQh, and other dude fold.

Pot size: $163 ($98 profit, if I win)
Tight Guy: KQh - 53%
Me: T9d - 47%

The board ends up as (Kd Qd Tc) 6h 4h. I crapped out, but it was a great spot for a short stack to get back in to it.

Hand #2 - 1/2 Horseshoe Hammond
Early position player makes it $10. Old guy in Mid position calls. I'm the SB and look down at Ac Ah. I doubt the BB will jump in, so I just call. If anyone else had called, I would have raised, but I was willing to see the Flop out of position with just three players.

Flop: Kc 5c 4d - Since I'm out of position, I just check to see what happens. Initial raiser checks, and Old Guy bets $15. I am positive that he's got a K. I want to trap him, but there is the initial raiser still to act. There is a Flush Draw on the board. It is unlikely that he would have two Clubs, but I have the Ac if I need a re-draw. I just call. First dude folds.

Turn: (Kc 5c 4d) 2s. Sweet, a brick! I just check. Old guy pauses for a moment, stacks up the rest of his chips, and pushes for $78. I can't say "Call" fast enough. Neither one of us show our hand yet.

River: (Kc 5c 4d 2s) Kd - "NO!" I say loudly when that ridiculous card hit the felt. I flip over my AA in disgust. Old geezer shows KQ.

Preflop, I decided I was willing to play a big pot with this hand, and I got my wish. I read the situation properly, and got the old fart to put his whole stack into the pot drawing to five outs.

Nice hand, sir!

Hand #3 - 1/2 Horseshoe Hammond
A few limpers to me. I see 97d in the Cutoff, and limp. Button raises to $7. Four players go to the flop, including me.

Flop: Jh 9c Js - It checks to the Button, who bets $18. It folds to me. I call the $18. I'm fairly sure he doesn't have the J. He's seems to be a solid, no-nonsense player, so I decide to make a move. I'm gonna try to represent the J.

Turn: (Jh 9c Js) 2d - I bet $30. He calls. It looks like he's got an overpair.

River: (Jh 9c Js 2d) 5c - I bet $50. He thinks for a while, and plays with his chips. He reluctantly calls. Crap! I tell him that he's got it, but he doesn't show. So I turn my hand up, and he shows Qc Qs.

This is why I rarely make a big bluff. I don't know if he can't lay down an Overpair, or I just suck at bluffing. If I did have the J, I would have played it the same way.