Into The Lion's Den

2:00 $300 - After donking off my chips in the Greektown 11am tourney on Monday, I decide to go play at my own personal Money Tree, MGM Detroit. My win-rate is much larger there than any other Detroit casino. I don't know why this happens, but I've learned not to question the Poker Gods.

They are opening a new table, the 3rd $1/$2 table. I'm the only player who bought in for the full $300. Most have $200, and a few have around $100. There are a few $2/$5 regular waiting for the "real" game to open up.

2:30 $296 - The action at this table is what I expected with the $2/$5 players sitting in the Kiddie game. I'm just sitting back, and being patient. The only raise I made was with JTo in Mid position after it folded around to me. Everyone else folded, and I won the blinds.

3:00 $231- As I've mentioned before, MGM Detroit doesn't drop their rake. They keep it in the Dealer's tray on the Seat 10 side. After an hour, there is $80 in that slot.

Straddle pot. It folded to me in Mid position. I raise to $15 with 77. The Blinds and Straddle call. Flop Qc 8d 5d. It checks around to me, and I C-Bet for $35. The BB called, and I gave up.

3:30 $233 - Limped with QJ on the Button. BB raised to $13. Four players see the Flop of Qc 8d 5h. It checks around to me, and I bet $40. Only the SB (Old Guy who likes to chase Draws) calls. Turn [Qc 8d 5h] 9d. SB checks. I don't like that card, so I also check. River [Qc 8d 6h 9d] 8c. SB grabs a stack of Red chips and bets $95. After thinking about it for a little bit, I make the crying call. He shows 75o for a Straight. It was a bad call by me. My record for Hero Calls sucks, and I need to stop giving away chips.

I grab 8 Green chips out of my pocket, and reload $200.

4:00 $241 - Rake is now $155. I raised with AQ, got two callers, and took it down on the Flop. Even though the $2/$5 players are still here, the table has calmed down somewhat. I've been doing a lot of folding today, because my cards really suck.

4:30 $326 - UTG has been milking his Shortstack for a while now, and goes All-In for $17. I'm the next player, and call with JTo. This starts the cascade, and six players see the Flop of Js Jd 3s. I bet $50, and all fold. UTG has 88, and misses his 2-outer.

5:00 $266 - Rake is $231. I called a few raises, and made a few. All were Airballs. I've been card dead all day. Maybe this is "balancing the scales" for my tourney victory on Saturday night.

5:30 $274 - I called a $7 raise on the Button with 54o. Five players saw the Flop of Ac 5s 2c. It folds around to me, and I bet $20. Everybody folds.

6:10 $535 - I forgot to check the Rake, but the hourly total seems to be in the $70-$80 range.

Straddle pot. I'm in Mid position, and make it $15 with AKo. One or two players call. The Straddle, who is one of the $2/$5 players and the Action Guy of the table, raises to $75. I go All-In for $270. If I just call, then I might whiff the Flop. Plus, I expect him to call me with a wide range of hands. I was planning on leaving soon, so I if I win or lose, then it's all good. He talks a little, and finally calls. I show my cards, but he doesn't. When I hit the Greenstein, he pounds his fist on the table, and shows his JJ.

I was planning on leaving at 6pm, so I play another orbit, but nothing of interest happened. I leave the table up $35.

On Sunday, I played a session similar to this one: 4.5 hours, no cards, and -$54. For me to have played 8.5 hours of card dead poker, and only be down $19, that feels like a moral victory to me.