$1/$2 NLHE - Greektown Casino - 09.05.10
One or two players limp in. A Mid player goes All-In for $12. I'm the next player, I decide to raise to $35 in order to isolate with my 7d 7s. The next player thinks for a bit, and calls. He's a 50's guy, and seems to be a bit of a Super Nit. Everyone else folds.
Flop: 8d 6d 4c. This is a good Flop for me. There are no Big cards, and I have a gutshot. I bet $60, assuming that he'll fold his AK. But he thinks for a bit, and calls.
Turn: [8d 6d 4c] 3d. The Flush got there, but I can't put him on the Draw with him hesitating on calling the Flop bet. I decide to keep firing, just in case he's got a bigger pair than me, and will hopefully hate the Flush. I grab a stack of Red, and make it $100. He thinks for a bit, and starts mumbling something while making the call.
River [8d 6d 4c 3d]5d. I hate this card. We both check, and he shows Kh Kc. The All-In guy (remember him) shows Kd Jc, and wins the Main Pot (around $40). I win the much larger Side Pot with a 7-high Flush.
This hand is a great example of why Weak & Passive poker doesn't win. If the KK raised at any point in the Hand, then I probably would have folded. But the Super Nit would rather "play it safe" by just calling, and let me beat him.
Showing posts with label Greektown Casino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greektown Casino. Show all posts
Friday, September 17, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Hand Of The Day #52
Greektown Casino - 09.06.10 - 11am $75 Tournament Level 1 (25/50)
First hand of the tournament with 4k starting stacks. Hyjack (60's Lady) raises to 225. I'm the Cutoff, and call with A9s. UTG also calls. Flop 8s 6c 4s. UTG checks. Hyjack bets 775.
My turn. Since this is the first hand, I have no info on this player. But she's a 60's Lady, she raised rather large preflop, and bet Pot on the Flop. This smells like AA or maybe KK. I do have the Nut Flush Draw, and maybe an Overcard (but I doubt it). I'm not getting the Pot Odds for just one card. But if it hits on the Turn, I have a hunch that she will pay me off. Not necessarily all of her chips, but I could get a Value Bet of 800 on the Turn, and maybe 1000 on the River. So I call the 775.
Now for the Big Surprise of this hand... UTG check-raises All-In. Naturally, the Hyjack also ships it All-In. UTG is a Kid who I played Cash with before the tournament. He plays and talks like an Internet player. He made a big check-raise with Pair + Flush Draw in the Cash game. But since he's UTG in this hand, I would think his range is a little tighter. Obviously, a Set is likely. But he could have anything like TT for an Overpair, 77 or 55 for Pair + Straight Draw. Maybe some Suited Connector like 86h for Two Pair, 76s for a big Combo Draw, or even 75d for a Straight.
Anyways, I need to call 3000 to win 9075. With 3-1 Pot Odds, I'm certainly getting the right odds to call, but that means putting all of my chips at risk on Hand #1. If I fold, I've still got 3000 left which I can still work with. If I call and lose, then maybe my seat in the Cash game is still open. If I call and win, then I start Hand #2 with 12000 chips, and will probably make it to the Final Table (assuming that I don't get screwed later).
I finally decided to "Go Big, or Go Home", and make the call. The Cutoff shows AA. UTG shows Q7s for a Flush Draw + Gutshot. The Turn and River were [8s 6c 4s] 3d 3c. The Lady wins 12k chips, and I head back to find a seat in the Cash game.
What I'm about to say isn't me being bitter, because I knew that I was gambling with my call. But the Kid's play with Q7s was just horrible. I understand what he was thinking...
"I have good equity with Flush Draw + Gutshot (47%). By shoving All-In, that will create Fold Equity. If she folds even 30% of the time, that will make this a profitable play."
The problem with this thinking in Live games instead of the Internet is that there is no Fold Equity. She will never fold, and that's not because I saw her AA. I said earlier that it was rather obvious that she had AA or KK. That was why I just called the 775 with my Flush Draw + possible Overcard.
First hand of the tournament with 4k starting stacks. Hyjack (60's Lady) raises to 225. I'm the Cutoff, and call with A9s. UTG also calls. Flop 8s 6c 4s. UTG checks. Hyjack bets 775.
My turn. Since this is the first hand, I have no info on this player. But she's a 60's Lady, she raised rather large preflop, and bet Pot on the Flop. This smells like AA or maybe KK. I do have the Nut Flush Draw, and maybe an Overcard (but I doubt it). I'm not getting the Pot Odds for just one card. But if it hits on the Turn, I have a hunch that she will pay me off. Not necessarily all of her chips, but I could get a Value Bet of 800 on the Turn, and maybe 1000 on the River. So I call the 775.
Now for the Big Surprise of this hand... UTG check-raises All-In. Naturally, the Hyjack also ships it All-In. UTG is a Kid who I played Cash with before the tournament. He plays and talks like an Internet player. He made a big check-raise with Pair + Flush Draw in the Cash game. But since he's UTG in this hand, I would think his range is a little tighter. Obviously, a Set is likely. But he could have anything like TT for an Overpair, 77 or 55 for Pair + Straight Draw. Maybe some Suited Connector like 86h for Two Pair, 76s for a big Combo Draw, or even 75d for a Straight.
Anyways, I need to call 3000 to win 9075. With 3-1 Pot Odds, I'm certainly getting the right odds to call, but that means putting all of my chips at risk on Hand #1. If I fold, I've still got 3000 left which I can still work with. If I call and lose, then maybe my seat in the Cash game is still open. If I call and win, then I start Hand #2 with 12000 chips, and will probably make it to the Final Table (assuming that I don't get screwed later).
I finally decided to "Go Big, or Go Home", and make the call. The Cutoff shows AA. UTG shows Q7s for a Flush Draw + Gutshot. The Turn and River were [8s 6c 4s] 3d 3c. The Lady wins 12k chips, and I head back to find a seat in the Cash game.
What I'm about to say isn't me being bitter, because I knew that I was gambling with my call. But the Kid's play with Q7s was just horrible. I understand what he was thinking...
"I have good equity with Flush Draw + Gutshot (47%). By shoving All-In, that will create Fold Equity. If she folds even 30% of the time, that will make this a profitable play."
The problem with this thinking in Live games instead of the Internet is that there is no Fold Equity. She will never fold, and that's not because I saw her AA. I said earlier that it was rather obvious that she had AA or KK. That was why I just called the 775 with my Flush Draw + possible Overcard.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Double Trouble
I was up in Detroit this weekend, and I ended up playing two tournaments at Greektown ($100 on Sunday night, and $75 on Monday morning). Here are the Running Logs from both of them.
"Shuffle Up & Deal" 6000 - The 7pm $100 Sunday night tournament sold out at 50 players. But in Typical Greektown fashion, they start the tournament at 7:25 for no particular reason. I'm at Table 1.
End of Level 1 (25/50) 5025 - I splashed around, but didn't win a pot. The table is playing "Normal" for this stage of the tournament. We did have an AA vs KK hand (no bad beat, sorry).
Level 2 (50/100) 4700 - I raised with AT, and won the Blinds. I also stabbed at a pot on the Flop, but lost. The AA (vs KK) guy is either very aggressive, or he's a Card Rack tonight.
Level 3 (100/200) 3900 - I called a raise with AQ in the SB, but I airballed the Flop. My cards really suck right now.
Level 4 (150/300/25) 6475 - I won my first real pot with J4h in the BB. I turned Trip J, but the other player folded on the River. I also won the Blinds & Antes a few times.
Level 5 (200/400/50) 3450 - I tried to steal from the Hyjack with J3o, but the BB went All-In. I slowed down after that, but the Blinds/Antes are starting to eat my stack. Towards the end of the level, the Shortstacks started to push All-In before the first Break, so I never had a chance to get push All-In first.
Break: There are 28 players left on three tables. Push-N-Pray is about to begin. As I come back to my table, I see that I've won the Chip Race-Off. It's good to know that I won some race tonight. Now I just need to win my first pot.
Level 6 (300/600/100) 11100 - Very first hand after Break, one player limps in. I'm the Hyjack, and go All-In with A9s. It folds around to the limper, and reluctantly calls with QJo. A-high held up, despite him flopping a Gutshot.
I won a Blind vs Blind hand by checking it down. Next hand, there were a few limpers. I went All-In for 8000-ish on the Button with 55. All folded.
Level 7 (400/800/100) 10400 - We are down to two tables. One player limped. There was a raise to 2500, and one caller. I'm the Button, look down at JJ, and ship it All-In. All folded. Next hand, I win the Blinds with AQ. Later, a Shortstack goes All-In for 3700. I call with 99, but he's got AA. I miss.
Level 8 (600/1200/200) 16000 - I started raising more, and I won most of them without even seeing a Flop, which is great for Push-N-Pray poker. Nobody is really trying to do any stealing, so I'm trying to pick more spots without getting the other players suspicious (or running into AA).
Level 9 (1k/2k/200) 0 - UTG went All-In for 5600. I re-shipped All-In with JJ. Everyone else folded. UTG had KQ, and the Door Card was a K. After that, I blinded down for a while, which was a serious blow to my stack with these Blinds and Antes. Finally, I was down to 5900, and went All-In without looking on the Button. The SB went All-In with AK. I look down at 88 (Sweet!). But the Door Card was an A, and I was eliminated in 17th place.
"Shuffle Up & Deal" 4000 - Only 24 players for the Monday morning tournament, which is just about where it normally is. This time we only started 15 minutes late. I guess some of the Bosses were around. I'm at Table 2.
End of Level 1 (25/50) 3700 - I have a different strategy for this tournament then I did last night. Because of the small field, we are going to get to the Final Table much faster (usually at or before Break). Because of this, the structure doesn't get "stupid" until much later, or not at all. I have found that "Folding To The Final Table" is a good strategy, and all I have to do is maintain my stack in the 10-20 BB range until the Final Table. Once I get there, I have a distinct advantage over most of the Daily Casino Tournament players who only know how to "Fold To The Money" and Chop.
With that strategy in mind, I played very few pots. I defended my Blinds against a couple of small raises, but I airballed both times.
Level 2 (50/100) 2825 - The only hand that I played was limping on the Button with AQ. I got burned by the SB with J6 on a 766 Q A board. I didn't lose a lot, but it was stupid of me to just limp. It was real obvious that he had it when he checked the Flop, and bet the Turn & River. I even said it outloud before paying off his 375 bet on the River.
Level 3 (100/200) 4450 - UTG raised to 500. It folded to me on the Button, and I 3-Bet All In with KJ, and took down the pot. The next hand, there were a few limpers. The Hyjack went All-In for 625. I was the Cutoff, and looked down at KK. I shipped it All-In to isolate. The Hyjack had 22, and missed.
Level 4 (150/300/25) 0 - It folds to the Hyjack who raises to 600. She's a 50's lady who plays like a 20's kid. She's been rather active and aggressive, and always raised in late position when it folds to her. I could tell from her Table Talk that she's played a lot of poker, and has the attitude of Annie Duke. I'm on the Button, look down at 44, and shove All-In for 3825. The SB also goes All-In for 1125. The BB folds, and the Hyjack calls with QQ. The SB has Ax, and hits an A for the small Main Pot. However, I miss my 2-outer for the larger Side Pot, and I'm out in 14th place.
"Shuffle Up & Deal" 6000 - The 7pm $100 Sunday night tournament sold out at 50 players. But in Typical Greektown fashion, they start the tournament at 7:25 for no particular reason. I'm at Table 1.
End of Level 1 (25/50) 5025 - I splashed around, but didn't win a pot. The table is playing "Normal" for this stage of the tournament. We did have an AA vs KK hand (no bad beat, sorry).
Level 2 (50/100) 4700 - I raised with AT, and won the Blinds. I also stabbed at a pot on the Flop, but lost. The AA (vs KK) guy is either very aggressive, or he's a Card Rack tonight.
Level 3 (100/200) 3900 - I called a raise with AQ in the SB, but I airballed the Flop. My cards really suck right now.
Level 4 (150/300/25) 6475 - I won my first real pot with J4h in the BB. I turned Trip J, but the other player folded on the River. I also won the Blinds & Antes a few times.
Level 5 (200/400/50) 3450 - I tried to steal from the Hyjack with J3o, but the BB went All-In. I slowed down after that, but the Blinds/Antes are starting to eat my stack. Towards the end of the level, the Shortstacks started to push All-In before the first Break, so I never had a chance to get push All-In first.
Break: There are 28 players left on three tables. Push-N-Pray is about to begin. As I come back to my table, I see that I've won the Chip Race-Off. It's good to know that I won some race tonight. Now I just need to win my first pot.
Level 6 (300/600/100) 11100 - Very first hand after Break, one player limps in. I'm the Hyjack, and go All-In with A9s. It folds around to the limper, and reluctantly calls with QJo. A-high held up, despite him flopping a Gutshot.
I won a Blind vs Blind hand by checking it down. Next hand, there were a few limpers. I went All-In for 8000-ish on the Button with 55. All folded.
Level 7 (400/800/100) 10400 - We are down to two tables. One player limped. There was a raise to 2500, and one caller. I'm the Button, look down at JJ, and ship it All-In. All folded. Next hand, I win the Blinds with AQ. Later, a Shortstack goes All-In for 3700. I call with 99, but he's got AA. I miss.
Level 8 (600/1200/200) 16000 - I started raising more, and I won most of them without even seeing a Flop, which is great for Push-N-Pray poker. Nobody is really trying to do any stealing, so I'm trying to pick more spots without getting the other players suspicious (or running into AA).
Level 9 (1k/2k/200) 0 - UTG went All-In for 5600. I re-shipped All-In with JJ. Everyone else folded. UTG had KQ, and the Door Card was a K. After that, I blinded down for a while, which was a serious blow to my stack with these Blinds and Antes. Finally, I was down to 5900, and went All-In without looking on the Button. The SB went All-In with AK. I look down at 88 (Sweet!). But the Door Card was an A, and I was eliminated in 17th place.
"Shuffle Up & Deal" 4000 - Only 24 players for the Monday morning tournament, which is just about where it normally is. This time we only started 15 minutes late. I guess some of the Bosses were around. I'm at Table 2.
End of Level 1 (25/50) 3700 - I have a different strategy for this tournament then I did last night. Because of the small field, we are going to get to the Final Table much faster (usually at or before Break). Because of this, the structure doesn't get "stupid" until much later, or not at all. I have found that "Folding To The Final Table" is a good strategy, and all I have to do is maintain my stack in the 10-20 BB range until the Final Table. Once I get there, I have a distinct advantage over most of the Daily Casino Tournament players who only know how to "Fold To The Money" and Chop.
With that strategy in mind, I played very few pots. I defended my Blinds against a couple of small raises, but I airballed both times.
Level 2 (50/100) 2825 - The only hand that I played was limping on the Button with AQ. I got burned by the SB with J6 on a 766 Q A board. I didn't lose a lot, but it was stupid of me to just limp. It was real obvious that he had it when he checked the Flop, and bet the Turn & River. I even said it outloud before paying off his 375 bet on the River.
Level 3 (100/200) 4450 - UTG raised to 500. It folded to me on the Button, and I 3-Bet All In with KJ, and took down the pot. The next hand, there were a few limpers. The Hyjack went All-In for 625. I was the Cutoff, and looked down at KK. I shipped it All-In to isolate. The Hyjack had 22, and missed.
Level 4 (150/300/25) 0 - It folds to the Hyjack who raises to 600. She's a 50's lady who plays like a 20's kid. She's been rather active and aggressive, and always raised in late position when it folds to her. I could tell from her Table Talk that she's played a lot of poker, and has the attitude of Annie Duke. I'm on the Button, look down at 44, and shove All-In for 3825. The SB also goes All-In for 1125. The BB folds, and the Hyjack calls with QQ. The SB has Ax, and hits an A for the small Main Pot. However, I miss my 2-outer for the larger Side Pot, and I'm out in 14th place.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Hand Of The Day #46
$1/$2 NLHE - Greektown Casino - 07.10.10
Game is currently eight handed. I limp in Mid position with 86o. Six players see the Flop of Ac 9d 7d. The player before me bets $10. He a Kid who's here playing with his buddy. He's also a total No0b. He's extremely tentative in his actions, fumbles his chips, and not sure when it's his turn. I call with the Open-Ender. The Button also calls.
Turn [Ac 9d 7d] Ts. No0b bets $10 again. Since I have the Nuts, I make a small raise to $25. I don't want to scare off the No0b, but I want the Button to fold, just in case he's on a Draw. The Button does fold, and the No0b called.
River [Ac 9d 7d Ts] Qc. No0b turns over his hand, Jc Js, like we're at Showdown. The players and the Dealer get that "WTF?" look on their faces. The Dealer tells the No0b that it's his action. The No0b says he's sorry, turns his hand back over, and checks.
I'm just sitting there shuffling 6 Red chips, and I place them over the Line for a $30 bet. Why bet when he's only got JJ? Because I was already planning to bet $30 on the River, and I knew he would call. And he did, rather quickly. I show my Straight, and scoop the pot. The Button said he folded an A.
Was is wrong to bet after he showed his hand? Hell, No! Taking advantage of the Weak is what Poker is all about.
Game is currently eight handed. I limp in Mid position with 86o. Six players see the Flop of Ac 9d 7d. The player before me bets $10. He a Kid who's here playing with his buddy. He's also a total No0b. He's extremely tentative in his actions, fumbles his chips, and not sure when it's his turn. I call with the Open-Ender. The Button also calls.
Turn [Ac 9d 7d] Ts. No0b bets $10 again. Since I have the Nuts, I make a small raise to $25. I don't want to scare off the No0b, but I want the Button to fold, just in case he's on a Draw. The Button does fold, and the No0b called.
River [Ac 9d 7d Ts] Qc. No0b turns over his hand, Jc Js, like we're at Showdown. The players and the Dealer get that "WTF?" look on their faces. The Dealer tells the No0b that it's his action. The No0b says he's sorry, turns his hand back over, and checks.
I'm just sitting there shuffling 6 Red chips, and I place them over the Line for a $30 bet. Why bet when he's only got JJ? Because I was already planning to bet $30 on the River, and I knew he would call. And he did, rather quickly. I show my Straight, and scoop the pot. The Button said he folded an A.
Was is wrong to bet after he showed his hand? Hell, No! Taking advantage of the Weak is what Poker is all about.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Monday At Greektown
I arrived at Greektown at 10:30am to sign-up for their 11am tournament. But they decided to have a promotional Free Roll tournament for their players who've played a lot of hours. They ended up with 9 tables and about 85 players. And like most things that Greektown does, it was rather chaotic.
So instead of signing up for the tournament, I put my name on both the $1/$2 NL and the $3/$6 Limit lists. I really didn't care which one I got. It took about 15 minutes to get a seat, and it ended up being the $1/$2 game.
As I was getting my chips, Greektown started assigning the seats for the Free Roll. I worked my way through the crowd to my table. It was full of chips, but no players. All nine players were all getting seats for the tournament. So I knew that this will be a quick session, as this table was gonna break soon.
It ended up being an hour before they finally asked the players to take their seats. As it turns out, it was a very active hour for my table. There was a preflop raise almost every hand, up to $17. There were a few players who did a $5 Straddle. (Greektown has the No Limit Straddle. It's for any amount, but UTG only). I was rather card dead during this hour. The only hand I managed to win was with AJ in one of the last hands for a decent pot. I was up $39 when the table broke.
As they were starting to seat players for the Free Roll, they also called my name for the $3/$6 game. I'm not sure why my name was still on the List, but this was rather good timing.
Since all the Cash players were cashing out for the Free Roll, the line for the only Poker Room Cashier was rather long. I managed to find one of the players who had a bunch of White $1 chips, and buy some off of him. I then worked my way back through the Mob Scene, and sat at the $3/$6 table.
Here is a Running Log of my session for all you Limit fans.
11:55 $160 - When I finally got to my seat, there were only three other players and an empty stack at the table. The Dealer was waiting patiently for a 5th player, because we need five players to qualify for the Bad Beat Jackpot. I said that I wasn't concerned about a one in a million chance of winning a piece of the $15000 BBJ, but nobody agreed with me. Fortunately, it only took a few minutes for a 5th player to arrive.
12:30 $136 - The table is now full, except for the empty stack. I'm assuming that he's in the Free Roll, but who knows. So far, this table has been a little tight, with only two players playing 7-Card Bingo. There is one Kid at the table. He's in his 20's, and seems to be a "Player". I've been rather card dead.
1:00 $169 - The Empty Stack finally busted out of the tournament, and came back to play with us.
The Cutoff raised ($6). I call in the BB with JTo. Six players saw the Flop of J 6 6. I decided to lead out ($3), and see what happens. Surprisingly, only the Button called. He's a 75 yr old man in a motorized wheelchair, and he's a Super Nit. He was commenting on the Kid who already busted a few hands before this one. "Of course he went broke. Did you see that crap he was playing? He's got a lot to learn."
The Turn was [J 6 6] A. I bet ($6), and he called. The River was [J 6 6 A] 5. I bet ($6), and he called. I say that I've got a J, and I assume that were chopping. But after I show my hand, he shows QQ, and scoops a nice pot. I can't believe what a horrible play that was to just Call preflop with QQ right after a Raise. Naturally, it holds up in a 6-way pot against me.
Two hands later, I get AK on the Button, and pop it ($6). Seven player see a J-high Flop. I call one bet ($3) from the Cutoff. The Turn brings my K. It checks to me, and I bet it ($6). Five players call. The River was a Brick. I bet, get one caller, and scoop a sweet pot.
1:30 $142 - I raised ($6) with A8o in Mid position. The Button 3-Bet ($9), and only had $3 behind. I capped it ($12). He had QJ, and won the Race.
I am seeing some horrible Limit play at this table. In addition to the few players who are playing 7-Card Bingo, most of the older players are not raising, either to get value from their hands or to protect their hands like the QQ earlier.
For example: I call on the Button with Q3h. Around five players see the Flop of Q T T. SB checks. BB bets ($3). Mid player calls. I just call. BB calls.
Turn [Q T T] 4. SB checks. BB bets ($6). Mid raises ($12), and he's been one of the 7-Card Bingo players at the table. I finally got the info I expected, and fold. SB also ejects. BB calls.
River [Q T T 4] 7. BB checks. Mid bets ($6). BB calls, and holds his cards like he's about to muck them. Mid hesitates, hoping to see the BB cards, but finally shows his hand. KT for Trip T with K kicker. BB sees this, and says, "Oh!" He then shows his hand, AT for Trip T with A kicker. W T F ???
2:00 $151 - I decided to "Step on the Gas", and it had mixed results. I got the Kill by winning two small pots. The second was with AA against a short stack ($10) with J9s.
For those who don't know about a Kill, it's a way to spice up the game. The player who wins two pots in row has to post $6, and the hand is played out as a $6/$12 hand. If you keep winning, then you keep the Kill. If you can get on a rush during a Kill, you can pile up a lot of money.
When I have the Kill, I try to play it aggressively, because the old geezers don't like to put money in the pot. This time, I raised ($12) in Mid with Q5o. The only caller was UTG, who limped in. The Flop came out K-high. He bet out ($6), and I decided to give up, and tell him that I had TT. He showed KJo.
Later, I raised ($6) from the Cutoff with ATo. The Flop was total Air for me, so I checked after everyone else did. The Turn was also Air. This time I bet ($6) when it checked to me, since nobody seemed interested in this pot. I got two callers (Button and Mid). The River was no help to me, and we all checked. As it turned out, both players called me with baby Aces, and my AT-high was good.
2:30 $185 - Hyjack raised ($6). Button called. I'm the SB with AKc, and 3-bet ($9). BB caps it ($12). He's one of the 7-Card Bingo players. Every time I raise, he calls. This was the first time that he raised after me. Hyjack, Button, and I call. Flop Ks 9s 4d. I bet ($3) my Top Pair. BB just called, which surprised me. Hyjack folded, and Button called.
Turn [Ks 9s 4d] 7d. I bet ($12). BB and Button called. River [Ks 9s 4d 7d] 2h. I bet ($6). BB folded (He said later that he was hoping for the 3rd Diamond). Button called, and I scooped a big pot.
3:00 $157 - I tried to tighten up a bit to lock up some profit. Although I did 3-bet from the Cutoff with KJo after a Mid player raised. I was hoping to isolate against just one player, and it worked. The Flop was A-high. He bet, and I gave up.
3:20 $200 - I won two pots with KJo. First was with a 4-Flush on the River, although I hit the K on the Turn. The second was a raise preflop, followed by a bet on the K-high Flop that took down the pot.
We lost a couple of players, and the Geezers didn't want to play with just seven players. There were two other $3/$6 tables with open seats, so they broke our table. I decided to lock up a small win, go to the Buffet for some grub, and head on home.
So instead of signing up for the tournament, I put my name on both the $1/$2 NL and the $3/$6 Limit lists. I really didn't care which one I got. It took about 15 minutes to get a seat, and it ended up being the $1/$2 game.
As I was getting my chips, Greektown started assigning the seats for the Free Roll. I worked my way through the crowd to my table. It was full of chips, but no players. All nine players were all getting seats for the tournament. So I knew that this will be a quick session, as this table was gonna break soon.
It ended up being an hour before they finally asked the players to take their seats. As it turns out, it was a very active hour for my table. There was a preflop raise almost every hand, up to $17. There were a few players who did a $5 Straddle. (Greektown has the No Limit Straddle. It's for any amount, but UTG only). I was rather card dead during this hour. The only hand I managed to win was with AJ in one of the last hands for a decent pot. I was up $39 when the table broke.
As they were starting to seat players for the Free Roll, they also called my name for the $3/$6 game. I'm not sure why my name was still on the List, but this was rather good timing.
Since all the Cash players were cashing out for the Free Roll, the line for the only Poker Room Cashier was rather long. I managed to find one of the players who had a bunch of White $1 chips, and buy some off of him. I then worked my way back through the Mob Scene, and sat at the $3/$6 table.
Here is a Running Log of my session for all you Limit fans.
11:55 $160 - When I finally got to my seat, there were only three other players and an empty stack at the table. The Dealer was waiting patiently for a 5th player, because we need five players to qualify for the Bad Beat Jackpot. I said that I wasn't concerned about a one in a million chance of winning a piece of the $15000 BBJ, but nobody agreed with me. Fortunately, it only took a few minutes for a 5th player to arrive.
12:30 $136 - The table is now full, except for the empty stack. I'm assuming that he's in the Free Roll, but who knows. So far, this table has been a little tight, with only two players playing 7-Card Bingo. There is one Kid at the table. He's in his 20's, and seems to be a "Player". I've been rather card dead.
1:00 $169 - The Empty Stack finally busted out of the tournament, and came back to play with us.
The Cutoff raised ($6). I call in the BB with JTo. Six players saw the Flop of J 6 6. I decided to lead out ($3), and see what happens. Surprisingly, only the Button called. He's a 75 yr old man in a motorized wheelchair, and he's a Super Nit. He was commenting on the Kid who already busted a few hands before this one. "Of course he went broke. Did you see that crap he was playing? He's got a lot to learn."
The Turn was [J 6 6] A. I bet ($6), and he called. The River was [J 6 6 A] 5. I bet ($6), and he called. I say that I've got a J, and I assume that were chopping. But after I show my hand, he shows QQ, and scoops a nice pot. I can't believe what a horrible play that was to just Call preflop with QQ right after a Raise. Naturally, it holds up in a 6-way pot against me.
Two hands later, I get AK on the Button, and pop it ($6). Seven player see a J-high Flop. I call one bet ($3) from the Cutoff. The Turn brings my K. It checks to me, and I bet it ($6). Five players call. The River was a Brick. I bet, get one caller, and scoop a sweet pot.
1:30 $142 - I raised ($6) with A8o in Mid position. The Button 3-Bet ($9), and only had $3 behind. I capped it ($12). He had QJ, and won the Race.
I am seeing some horrible Limit play at this table. In addition to the few players who are playing 7-Card Bingo, most of the older players are not raising, either to get value from their hands or to protect their hands like the QQ earlier.
For example: I call on the Button with Q3h. Around five players see the Flop of Q T T. SB checks. BB bets ($3). Mid player calls. I just call. BB calls.
Turn [Q T T] 4. SB checks. BB bets ($6). Mid raises ($12), and he's been one of the 7-Card Bingo players at the table. I finally got the info I expected, and fold. SB also ejects. BB calls.
River [Q T T 4] 7. BB checks. Mid bets ($6). BB calls, and holds his cards like he's about to muck them. Mid hesitates, hoping to see the BB cards, but finally shows his hand. KT for Trip T with K kicker. BB sees this, and says, "Oh!" He then shows his hand, AT for Trip T with A kicker. W T F ???
2:00 $151 - I decided to "Step on the Gas", and it had mixed results. I got the Kill by winning two small pots. The second was with AA against a short stack ($10) with J9s.
For those who don't know about a Kill, it's a way to spice up the game. The player who wins two pots in row has to post $6, and the hand is played out as a $6/$12 hand. If you keep winning, then you keep the Kill. If you can get on a rush during a Kill, you can pile up a lot of money.
When I have the Kill, I try to play it aggressively, because the old geezers don't like to put money in the pot. This time, I raised ($12) in Mid with Q5o. The only caller was UTG, who limped in. The Flop came out K-high. He bet out ($6), and I decided to give up, and tell him that I had TT. He showed KJo.
Later, I raised ($6) from the Cutoff with ATo. The Flop was total Air for me, so I checked after everyone else did. The Turn was also Air. This time I bet ($6) when it checked to me, since nobody seemed interested in this pot. I got two callers (Button and Mid). The River was no help to me, and we all checked. As it turned out, both players called me with baby Aces, and my AT-high was good.
2:30 $185 - Hyjack raised ($6). Button called. I'm the SB with AKc, and 3-bet ($9). BB caps it ($12). He's one of the 7-Card Bingo players. Every time I raise, he calls. This was the first time that he raised after me. Hyjack, Button, and I call. Flop Ks 9s 4d. I bet ($3) my Top Pair. BB just called, which surprised me. Hyjack folded, and Button called.
Turn [Ks 9s 4d] 7d. I bet ($12). BB and Button called. River [Ks 9s 4d 7d] 2h. I bet ($6). BB folded (He said later that he was hoping for the 3rd Diamond). Button called, and I scooped a big pot.
3:00 $157 - I tried to tighten up a bit to lock up some profit. Although I did 3-bet from the Cutoff with KJo after a Mid player raised. I was hoping to isolate against just one player, and it worked. The Flop was A-high. He bet, and I gave up.
3:20 $200 - I won two pots with KJo. First was with a 4-Flush on the River, although I hit the K on the Turn. The second was a raise preflop, followed by a bet on the K-high Flop that took down the pot.
We lost a couple of players, and the Geezers didn't want to play with just seven players. There were two other $3/$6 tables with open seats, so they broke our table. I decided to lock up a small win, go to the Buffet for some grub, and head on home.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Hand Of The Day #39
$1/$2 NLHE - Greektown Casino - 5.11.10
An Old Man in Mid position raised to $5. Nobody called. I'm the Button with Kd Kh, and I raise to $10. The BB calls. Old Man raises to $25. Crap. I'm probably behind. I've been at this table less than 30 minutes, but I know that most Old Men don't make the 4th Preflop bet without AA. But he only made it $25. I call, and hopefully I can hit my two outer. If he made a larger bet, I would have folded.
Flop Ad Qd 2d. Well, he hit his two outer, but I now have the Nut Flush draw. Old Man bets $30. I call.
Turn [Ad Qd 2d] 4d. Sweet! He checks. I've been shuffling some chips, and now bet them. $35. He thinks for a moment, and calls. Please don't pair the Board.
River [Ad Qd 2d 4d] 6c. He checks. I want to get paid, so I bet the same $35. He's already called that much, so hopefully he will again. He thinks for longer this time. He says, "It smells like a Flush." I don't say anything. But I'm thinking, "DUH! Of course it's a Flush. But you have a Set of Aces. Just pay me off, and don't be a Super Nit."
He finally calls. I show my two Red Kings. He shows his hand, Kc Ks. WTF? So much for him being a Nit. Those were horrible calls with just KK. Thanks for the extra $70.
An Old Man in Mid position raised to $5. Nobody called. I'm the Button with Kd Kh, and I raise to $10. The BB calls. Old Man raises to $25. Crap. I'm probably behind. I've been at this table less than 30 minutes, but I know that most Old Men don't make the 4th Preflop bet without AA. But he only made it $25. I call, and hopefully I can hit my two outer. If he made a larger bet, I would have folded.
Flop Ad Qd 2d. Well, he hit his two outer, but I now have the Nut Flush draw. Old Man bets $30. I call.
Turn [Ad Qd 2d] 4d. Sweet! He checks. I've been shuffling some chips, and now bet them. $35. He thinks for a moment, and calls. Please don't pair the Board.
River [Ad Qd 2d 4d] 6c. He checks. I want to get paid, so I bet the same $35. He's already called that much, so hopefully he will again. He thinks for longer this time. He says, "It smells like a Flush." I don't say anything. But I'm thinking, "DUH! Of course it's a Flush. But you have a Set of Aces. Just pay me off, and don't be a Super Nit."
He finally calls. I show my two Red Kings. He shows his hand, Kc Ks. WTF? So much for him being a Nit. Those were horrible calls with just KK. Thanks for the extra $70.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Seeing Is Believing
11:25 $200 - After Greektown finally got their 11am tourney started at 11:20, they opened up a new $1/$2 table. The table make-up is a mix of young and old. I only recognize one player, an older gentleman two seats to my Right. He's a Super Nit.
12:00 $313 - Won a nice pot with KK (future H.O.T.D.) This table has been fairly normal for what you would expect to find at a Tuesday afternoon table.
12:30 $327 - Won a pot with Two Pair on the River. This table is relative calm compared to the table I've been at lately. Even the "Action Guys" are not that maniacal.
1:00 $326 - I raised to $7 with KQo in the Cutoff. Four player saw a Flop of A J 2. I make a C-Bet of $15. The Button insta-raised to $30. He's an older gentleman, but he's been playing rather loose. He's also a former Greektown Dealer, and has been chatting with all of the other Dealers. It folds back around to me, and I call with my Broadway draw.
Turn [A J 2] A. I check, and so does the Button. River [A J 2 A] 7. I check, and so does the Button. I say, "King High". The Button waits to see my hand. This really annoys me that some jerks in a Poker Room have to see everyone cards before showing his winning hand. Once again, I say, "I have King High". The Button says, "Seeing is believing." What a Dick! I don't have anything, and he just wants to see my cards. The Dealer says that I need to show my hand. So I show my KQ, and the Button mucks his cards. W T F ???
On a different hand, I made a $20 Hero Call on the River that I was wrong about.
1:30 $503 - I won a bunch of pots, including stacking off "Seeing is Believing" guy with AA and QQ.
I was planning on playing at least six hours, but I decided to "Hit & Run". As you loyal readers know, thing haven't been going well lately. So I really need to start booking some wins. Last night I won $347 in two hours at MGM, and I won $50 at Blackjack this morning at Motor City. With this $303, I'm leaving Detroit up exactly $700.
12:00 $313 - Won a nice pot with KK (future H.O.T.D.) This table has been fairly normal for what you would expect to find at a Tuesday afternoon table.
12:30 $327 - Won a pot with Two Pair on the River. This table is relative calm compared to the table I've been at lately. Even the "Action Guys" are not that maniacal.
1:00 $326 - I raised to $7 with KQo in the Cutoff. Four player saw a Flop of A J 2. I make a C-Bet of $15. The Button insta-raised to $30. He's an older gentleman, but he's been playing rather loose. He's also a former Greektown Dealer, and has been chatting with all of the other Dealers. It folds back around to me, and I call with my Broadway draw.
Turn [A J 2] A. I check, and so does the Button. River [A J 2 A] 7. I check, and so does the Button. I say, "King High". The Button waits to see my hand. This really annoys me that some jerks in a Poker Room have to see everyone cards before showing his winning hand. Once again, I say, "I have King High". The Button says, "Seeing is believing." What a Dick! I don't have anything, and he just wants to see my cards. The Dealer says that I need to show my hand. So I show my KQ, and the Button mucks his cards. W T F ???
On a different hand, I made a $20 Hero Call on the River that I was wrong about.
1:30 $503 - I won a bunch of pots, including stacking off "Seeing is Believing" guy with AA and QQ.
I was planning on playing at least six hours, but I decided to "Hit & Run". As you loyal readers know, thing haven't been going well lately. So I really need to start booking some wins. Last night I won $347 in two hours at MGM, and I won $50 at Blackjack this morning at Motor City. With this $303, I'm leaving Detroit up exactly $700.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Hand Of The Day #28
$1/$2 NLHE - Greektown Casino - 03.22.10
UTG limps. I'm the UTG+1 with 75h, and I limp. (Yeah, it's that kind of table.) Many others limp in to the pot. The BB raises to $12. Most of us call. Six or seven players see a Flop of Th 9s 8s. SB checks. BB goes All-In for $36. UTG thinks for a bit, and calls.
While the UTG is thinking, so am I. On the surface, I don't have much right now. Just the dummy end of an Open-Ender on a Flush board, and a backdoor Flush draw. Against six or seven players, my hand is shit. But against one player, it has some equity.
With the preflop raise, there's around $80 in the pot. The BB, who was the preflop raiser, bet $36 (Pot total: $116ish). Since he raised to $12 with just $48 in his stack, he could be pushing in with a rather wide range of hands. He could have an overpair, and just didn't want to see that pointy card. He could have some face cards, and whiffed. It is possible that he's got a Set or Straight. But I think that he's just a Pair, or maybe even AK.
Right after the UTG called (Pot total: $152ish), I decided that the only logical move was to Isolate, since I'm now getting $152/$36 or 4.22/1. I quickly grabbed a full stack of Red, added one White chip on top, and pushed it forward for a $101 bet. No, I have not misread my hand. I am aware that I currently have 7-high.
But this is a scary Flop, and I have a very good table image. I recently raised on the Flop with a Set, and won a sweet pot against two players with Top Pair (AJ). This table has been rather passive (hence all the limping). So I just have to hope that nobody flopped a Monster, and shoves All-In. If they do, then I will probably fold, since I would drawing very, very dead.
But nobody did. Everyone ejected, except the UTG player. He thought for a while, and reluctantly called the extra $65. Crap.
Turn: [Th 9s 8s] 6s. Well, I hit my Straight, but the Flush got there, too. UTG thinks for a bit, and goes All-In for $40. I hate this, but the pot is over $350 now, so it's an auto-call.
River: [Th 9s 8s 6s] Ts. Peachy, the fourth Flush card, and the Board pairs. I show my Straight. UTG shows ATc, and BB shows KTd for Trips. Neither of them have a Spade, and I win a pot near $400.
Did I get lucky in this hand? Well, duh! But I would like to think that I created some of my own luck by reading the situation, and doing the action that gave me the best chance to win the pot.
Or maybe I just Luckboxed this hand. Either way, I'm the one who's stacking the chips.
UTG limps. I'm the UTG+1 with 75h, and I limp. (Yeah, it's that kind of table.) Many others limp in to the pot. The BB raises to $12. Most of us call. Six or seven players see a Flop of Th 9s 8s. SB checks. BB goes All-In for $36. UTG thinks for a bit, and calls.
While the UTG is thinking, so am I. On the surface, I don't have much right now. Just the dummy end of an Open-Ender on a Flush board, and a backdoor Flush draw. Against six or seven players, my hand is shit. But against one player, it has some equity.
With the preflop raise, there's around $80 in the pot. The BB, who was the preflop raiser, bet $36 (Pot total: $116ish). Since he raised to $12 with just $48 in his stack, he could be pushing in with a rather wide range of hands. He could have an overpair, and just didn't want to see that pointy card. He could have some face cards, and whiffed. It is possible that he's got a Set or Straight. But I think that he's just a Pair, or maybe even AK.
Right after the UTG called (Pot total: $152ish), I decided that the only logical move was to Isolate, since I'm now getting $152/$36 or 4.22/1. I quickly grabbed a full stack of Red, added one White chip on top, and pushed it forward for a $101 bet. No, I have not misread my hand. I am aware that I currently have 7-high.
But this is a scary Flop, and I have a very good table image. I recently raised on the Flop with a Set, and won a sweet pot against two players with Top Pair (AJ). This table has been rather passive (hence all the limping). So I just have to hope that nobody flopped a Monster, and shoves All-In. If they do, then I will probably fold, since I would drawing very, very dead.
But nobody did. Everyone ejected, except the UTG player. He thought for a while, and reluctantly called the extra $65. Crap.
Turn: [Th 9s 8s] 6s. Well, I hit my Straight, but the Flush got there, too. UTG thinks for a bit, and goes All-In for $40. I hate this, but the pot is over $350 now, so it's an auto-call.
River: [Th 9s 8s 6s] Ts. Peachy, the fourth Flush card, and the Board pairs. I show my Straight. UTG shows ATc, and BB shows KTd for Trips. Neither of them have a Spade, and I win a pot near $400.
Did I get lucky in this hand? Well, duh! But I would like to think that I created some of my own luck by reading the situation, and doing the action that gave me the best chance to win the pot.
Or maybe I just Luckboxed this hand. Either way, I'm the one who's stacking the chips.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Insert Title Here
I arrived at Greektown for their 11am tourney a bit early, so I sat down to kill a little time at a $1/$2 table. I was only there 30 minutes, and didn't play a hand.
There was 50 players for the $75 tournament. I would love to tell you how I skillfully navigated my way to a dominate victory. But the truth is that I raised preflop three times, and never won a hand. I was knocked out in Level 3 (100/200) when I went All-In shortstacked with AA, got called reluctantly by A9d. He flopped a 9, and then rivered another one. I finished somewhere around 35th place.
One of my poker buddies, Chan, came with me for this trip. He ended up cashing in 5th place for $210.
After busting out of the tournament, I sat down at a $1/$2 table. The two stacks to my right had about 20 black chips ($100) between them. This table was CRAZY. Preflop raises of $30-$40 were not uncommon. There was one pot that was 3-bet to $75, and six players saw the Flop. Four of them went All-In on the Flop. The total size of the pot was about $950.
Even though I had the best seat next to the LAG-tard, I was really card dead. So I just hung on for deal life, and tried to be patience. After four hours, I walked away from the table up $117. The LAG-tard, who had about $2k shortly after I sat down, had about $300 when I left. I'm sure he dusted that off quickly.
We then went over to MGM, ate dinner at the Buffet, and headed up to the Poker Room. I sat down at a $1/$2 table, and bought in for the max of $300. Overall, the table was "normal". Not super tight, but not crazy Friday night action either. I got off to a bad start, and ended up adding another $100 to my stack. Then the affects of the Buffet kicked in, and I started to get groggy, and just not mentally in the game.
About two hours after I sat down, I was still under $200, but I was starting to wake up. There was a key hand (a future HOTD) that could have wiped me out, but instead started my recovery. I was slowly climbing back toward break even, getting as close as -$30, when I took another small hit. I flopped Two Pair (A2), got a lady All-In on the Flop for around $70 with AJ, and a J on the Turn.
A bit later, things started to get much better. I finally broke into Profit when someone donked off $145 to me as a gift (another future HOTD). Later, I got into an AA vs KK hand with another short stack jumping in the middle. That was good for a little over $200 of profit.
I actually got it up over the +$500 mark when I took my first hit in awhile. One of the Action Players raised it up to $7 from the Hyjack. I'm the SB with AKc, and just called. UTG back-raised to $27. Action Guy called, and so did I. Flop Ad Kh 6h. I check my Two Pair. UTG bets $30. Action Guy called. I check-raise to $80. UTG shipped it for $99. Action Guy thinks for a long time, and folds. I call the $19. Not surprisingly, UTG turns over KK. I miss my 2-outer, and lose $126 on a cooler.
But I did get some of it back. Finally, a little after 1am, I left MGM up $445 after playing for over eight hours.
There was 50 players for the $75 tournament. I would love to tell you how I skillfully navigated my way to a dominate victory. But the truth is that I raised preflop three times, and never won a hand. I was knocked out in Level 3 (100/200) when I went All-In shortstacked with AA, got called reluctantly by A9d. He flopped a 9, and then rivered another one. I finished somewhere around 35th place.
One of my poker buddies, Chan, came with me for this trip. He ended up cashing in 5th place for $210.
After busting out of the tournament, I sat down at a $1/$2 table. The two stacks to my right had about 20 black chips ($100) between them. This table was CRAZY. Preflop raises of $30-$40 were not uncommon. There was one pot that was 3-bet to $75, and six players saw the Flop. Four of them went All-In on the Flop. The total size of the pot was about $950.
Even though I had the best seat next to the LAG-tard, I was really card dead. So I just hung on for deal life, and tried to be patience. After four hours, I walked away from the table up $117. The LAG-tard, who had about $2k shortly after I sat down, had about $300 when I left. I'm sure he dusted that off quickly.
We then went over to MGM, ate dinner at the Buffet, and headed up to the Poker Room. I sat down at a $1/$2 table, and bought in for the max of $300. Overall, the table was "normal". Not super tight, but not crazy Friday night action either. I got off to a bad start, and ended up adding another $100 to my stack. Then the affects of the Buffet kicked in, and I started to get groggy, and just not mentally in the game.
About two hours after I sat down, I was still under $200, but I was starting to wake up. There was a key hand (a future HOTD) that could have wiped me out, but instead started my recovery. I was slowly climbing back toward break even, getting as close as -$30, when I took another small hit. I flopped Two Pair (A2), got a lady All-In on the Flop for around $70 with AJ, and a J on the Turn.
A bit later, things started to get much better. I finally broke into Profit when someone donked off $145 to me as a gift (another future HOTD). Later, I got into an AA vs KK hand with another short stack jumping in the middle. That was good for a little over $200 of profit.
I actually got it up over the +$500 mark when I took my first hit in awhile. One of the Action Players raised it up to $7 from the Hyjack. I'm the SB with AKc, and just called. UTG back-raised to $27. Action Guy called, and so did I. Flop Ad Kh 6h. I check my Two Pair. UTG bets $30. Action Guy called. I check-raise to $80. UTG shipped it for $99. Action Guy thinks for a long time, and folds. I call the $19. Not surprisingly, UTG turns over KK. I miss my 2-outer, and lose $126 on a cooler.
But I did get some of it back. Finally, a little after 1am, I left MGM up $445 after playing for over eight hours.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Sometimes It's How Little You Lose
I arrived at the Greektown Poker Room at 11:15 on Monday for the 11:00 daily tournament. A little late, but they never start on time, so it shouldn't matter. But they said that the tournament already started, and they don't allow late buy-ins. The tournament had 24 players, meaning that there was six open seats at the three tables. I know that they have had late buy-ins for the first level in the old Poker Room, just like every other Poker Room in the country. But the Floorperson said, "Sir, I've been here for 10 years, and we have never allowed players to buy-in after the tourney has started."
Typical Greektown. One of many examples why they are one of the worst run Poker Rooms in this part of the country.
11:25 $200 - Since I wasn't allowed to give Greektown money to play in their tournament, I sat down at a $1/$2 table. There is nobody at this table over $300, and three players have under $100.
12:00 $101 - This is a fairly typical weekday $1/$2 table. Unfortunately, I can already tell that this will be a bad session. I've had a few annoying hands that didn't go as planned. For example, I flopped the beautiful Open-Ended Straight Flush draw (J9s - Qs Ts 4h) against what turned out to be Top Set. I bet on the Flop and Turn, and check/folded when I missed on the River.
12:30 $98 - I don't think I played a single hand.
1:00 $84 - This is pathetic. On a side note, today is New Dealer Day at Greektown. We have already had three new dealers, one of them had a "shadow" watching them. Some were OK, and others have a long way to go. They didn't hire new dealers. They just are cross training dealers from the Pit.
1:30 $63 - I don't think that I've won a pot yet. The table almost broke as we got down to six handed. Fortunately, the crack staff of Greektown finally realized that they have a list of player waiting to fill the empty seats.
2:00 $232 - I finally got a hand, QQ. I decided to play it tricky, and either "Go Big or Go Home." I ended up more that tripling up by just checking and calling.
Shortly after, I was the BB with J9. The Flop was J high, and everyone checked. I bet the $15 on the Turn, and got quickly raised to $45 by a new player who I have played with before ("Tony" from this post). I know he would have bet the J, so I think that he's either just raising some sort of straight draw, or he is just testing me. So I raise to $125. He says that I must have a set, and folds.
2:35 $293 - I limped and called a $53 All-In by a short stack who has been shoving a decent amount. I had KJ, and he had AJ. The board Flushed out, and I won the pot.
Since I finally got a little profit, I cashed out.
One of my poker sayings is, "Skill helps you win more when Luck is going good, and lose less when Luck is going bad." This trip was a good example of this. My cards in the Poker Rooms and in the Pit were butt ugly. And I ended up losing only $192. To me, that's a moral victory.
Typical Greektown. One of many examples why they are one of the worst run Poker Rooms in this part of the country.
11:25 $200 - Since I wasn't allowed to give Greektown money to play in their tournament, I sat down at a $1/$2 table. There is nobody at this table over $300, and three players have under $100.
12:00 $101 - This is a fairly typical weekday $1/$2 table. Unfortunately, I can already tell that this will be a bad session. I've had a few annoying hands that didn't go as planned. For example, I flopped the beautiful Open-Ended Straight Flush draw (J9s - Qs Ts 4h) against what turned out to be Top Set. I bet on the Flop and Turn, and check/folded when I missed on the River.
12:30 $98 - I don't think I played a single hand.
1:00 $84 - This is pathetic. On a side note, today is New Dealer Day at Greektown. We have already had three new dealers, one of them had a "shadow" watching them. Some were OK, and others have a long way to go. They didn't hire new dealers. They just are cross training dealers from the Pit.
1:30 $63 - I don't think that I've won a pot yet. The table almost broke as we got down to six handed. Fortunately, the crack staff of Greektown finally realized that they have a list of player waiting to fill the empty seats.
2:00 $232 - I finally got a hand, QQ. I decided to play it tricky, and either "Go Big or Go Home." I ended up more that tripling up by just checking and calling.
Shortly after, I was the BB with J9. The Flop was J high, and everyone checked. I bet the $15 on the Turn, and got quickly raised to $45 by a new player who I have played with before ("Tony" from this post). I know he would have bet the J, so I think that he's either just raising some sort of straight draw, or he is just testing me. So I raise to $125. He says that I must have a set, and folds.
2:35 $293 - I limped and called a $53 All-In by a short stack who has been shoving a decent amount. I had KJ, and he had AJ. The board Flushed out, and I won the pot.
Since I finally got a little profit, I cashed out.
One of my poker sayings is, "Skill helps you win more when Luck is going good, and lose less when Luck is going bad." This trip was a good example of this. My cards in the Poker Rooms and in the Pit were butt ugly. And I ended up losing only $192. To me, that's a moral victory.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
The Butterfly Effect (or The Accidental Blind)
This is from yesterday's Greektown 11am $75 tourney.
"Shuffle Up & Deal" 4000 chips - There was a larger crowd than normal due to the Holiday (that's why I was there). We started with 59 players on six tables. This tourney normally gets 20-30 players. I'm on Table 5, and I don't recognize anyone at the table.
End of Level 1 (25/50) [25 minute levels] 4050 - The table was tight/passive as expected. I raised one hand to 300 with ATc, and took down the Blinds plus one limper.
Level 2 (50/100) 4100 - I raised to 500 twice, and took down the Blinds plus limpers. I limped on the Button with K8. I hit the K on the Flop, and called a bet of 200 by a Early Position older gentleman. He bet the Turn. I folded, assuming that he had me out kicked.
Level 3 (100/200) 5400 - It folded to me in the Cutoff, so I raised to 800, and took the Blinds. I also raised in Mid position with AQh. I got one caller, and took it down on the Flop.
Level 4 (150/300) 10100 - After a few player limped, I checked my option in the BB with T2d. Flop is Ad Th 6d. (Hello, Big Blind Special) I lead out for 1100. One player called. Next player went All-In for 3500. It folded back to me, and I ship it All-In. The Caller folded, and the All-In showed AQ. I hit another T on the Turn, and take down a sweet pot.
The table broke immediately after this hand, and I was moved to Table 1. Very first hand, I've looked at AKd in Early Position, and raised to 1000. I got one caller, whiffed the Flop, and folded to his bet.
Level 5 (200/400/25) [30 minute levels] 9875 - I raised to 1500 with JTh in Mid position. I got one caller, and took it down with a Flop bet.
After a couple of limpers, I also limped with 98d in the Cutoff. The Button raised to 2000. The BB and a limper called. I really didn't want to call because the implied odds just aren't there in a tournament. But I was getting a little under 4-1 odds, and with this being a fast tourney structure, I needed to take some chances. So I called, but completely missed the Flop. The Button ended up going All-In and everyone folded.
Break Time. 30 players are left, and I've got an above average stack.
Level 6 (400/800/50) 13525 - With many shortstacks holding on for dear life, I started to step on the gas, and steal the Blinds and Antes. I didn't have any resistance, but a few players started to make comments about it. Every Blind vs Blinds situation was either a Walk or I raised and took it down.
Level 7 (600/1200/100) 18500 - "Push & Pray" has begun for the Shortstacks, so I had to slow down on the stealing. I did raise to 3100 in Early position with AKs. I got one caller, but he reluctantly folded on the Turn.
Level 8 (800/1600/200) 28000 - First hand of the Level, I post my blind, and continue stack chips from a pot I had just won. I then looked up, and realized that I'm the UTG player. By this time, it folded around to the SB, who pushed All-In for 3250. The BB starts to count his small stack of chips, and looks at me, probably wondering why I just limped in. I try to keep a "poker face", and not influence the action. He reluctantly folded. I say what happened, and called the micro raise. I turn over A5 (Sweet!). He showed A9 (Drat!), and wins the pot. The BB would have called if it wasn't for me limping in, and would have hit a straight on the River. This "Accidental Blind" didn't hurt my stack much, but it was a little embarrassing.
Later in the level, the same player had gotten some more chips, and min-raised in the Cutoff. I'm the SB and called with T9d. The BB also called. Flop was T high. I check. BB bet 4000. Cutoff folded, and I shipped it for 10k more. The BB, who's been really tight, thinks for a bit, and reluctantly folded.
I've now got the chip lead at our table. There are 14 players left, but we've been stuck there for a while. The Shortstacks just keep hanging around on both tables.
Level 9 (1600/3200/300) 0 chips - First of all, that's not a typo. The Blinds actually doubled in one level.
We finally got to five handed about halfway though the level. The player from the Accidental Blind hand went All-In from the Cutoff. He had gotten a large stack through a ridiculous suck-out against another player. I'm the Button with AQh, and went All-In. Everyone folded, and he showed AA. You got to love the 5-handed, shortstack cooler. This left me with 300 chips. So I have just enough to ante the next hand, and lost when my 95o doesn't hold up. I finish in 11th place, and bubbled the Final Table.
Some people say that the perfect "Real Life" example of the Butterfly Effect is a poker tournament. One single action early in the tournament can impact the outcome, whether it's a simple misdeal that would have been an AA vs KK hand, or an accidental call instead of a raise to save a player some chips.
My "Accidental Blind", which seemed so insignificant at the time, got me eliminated from the tournament 45 minutes after it happened. Now, I'm not saying that I would have won the tournament if this didn't happen. With that dude being out of the tournament, all the cards would have been different. Hell, I might have been eliminated even earlier. You just never know.
I found out later in the day that he was involved in the Chop for $900.
Nice Hand, Sir.
"Shuffle Up & Deal" 4000 chips - There was a larger crowd than normal due to the Holiday (that's why I was there). We started with 59 players on six tables. This tourney normally gets 20-30 players. I'm on Table 5, and I don't recognize anyone at the table.
End of Level 1 (25/50) [25 minute levels] 4050 - The table was tight/passive as expected. I raised one hand to 300 with ATc, and took down the Blinds plus one limper.
Level 2 (50/100) 4100 - I raised to 500 twice, and took down the Blinds plus limpers. I limped on the Button with K8. I hit the K on the Flop, and called a bet of 200 by a Early Position older gentleman. He bet the Turn. I folded, assuming that he had me out kicked.
Level 3 (100/200) 5400 - It folded to me in the Cutoff, so I raised to 800, and took the Blinds. I also raised in Mid position with AQh. I got one caller, and took it down on the Flop.
Level 4 (150/300) 10100 - After a few player limped, I checked my option in the BB with T2d. Flop is Ad Th 6d. (Hello, Big Blind Special) I lead out for 1100. One player called. Next player went All-In for 3500. It folded back to me, and I ship it All-In. The Caller folded, and the All-In showed AQ. I hit another T on the Turn, and take down a sweet pot.
The table broke immediately after this hand, and I was moved to Table 1. Very first hand, I've looked at AKd in Early Position, and raised to 1000. I got one caller, whiffed the Flop, and folded to his bet.
Level 5 (200/400/25) [30 minute levels] 9875 - I raised to 1500 with JTh in Mid position. I got one caller, and took it down with a Flop bet.
After a couple of limpers, I also limped with 98d in the Cutoff. The Button raised to 2000. The BB and a limper called. I really didn't want to call because the implied odds just aren't there in a tournament. But I was getting a little under 4-1 odds, and with this being a fast tourney structure, I needed to take some chances. So I called, but completely missed the Flop. The Button ended up going All-In and everyone folded.
Break Time. 30 players are left, and I've got an above average stack.
Level 6 (400/800/50) 13525 - With many shortstacks holding on for dear life, I started to step on the gas, and steal the Blinds and Antes. I didn't have any resistance, but a few players started to make comments about it. Every Blind vs Blinds situation was either a Walk or I raised and took it down.
Level 7 (600/1200/100) 18500 - "Push & Pray" has begun for the Shortstacks, so I had to slow down on the stealing. I did raise to 3100 in Early position with AKs. I got one caller, but he reluctantly folded on the Turn.
Level 8 (800/1600/200) 28000 - First hand of the Level, I post my blind, and continue stack chips from a pot I had just won. I then looked up, and realized that I'm the UTG player. By this time, it folded around to the SB, who pushed All-In for 3250. The BB starts to count his small stack of chips, and looks at me, probably wondering why I just limped in. I try to keep a "poker face", and not influence the action. He reluctantly folded. I say what happened, and called the micro raise. I turn over A5 (Sweet!). He showed A9 (Drat!), and wins the pot. The BB would have called if it wasn't for me limping in, and would have hit a straight on the River. This "Accidental Blind" didn't hurt my stack much, but it was a little embarrassing.
Later in the level, the same player had gotten some more chips, and min-raised in the Cutoff. I'm the SB and called with T9d. The BB also called. Flop was T high. I check. BB bet 4000. Cutoff folded, and I shipped it for 10k more. The BB, who's been really tight, thinks for a bit, and reluctantly folded.
I've now got the chip lead at our table. There are 14 players left, but we've been stuck there for a while. The Shortstacks just keep hanging around on both tables.
Level 9 (1600/3200/300) 0 chips - First of all, that's not a typo. The Blinds actually doubled in one level.
We finally got to five handed about halfway though the level. The player from the Accidental Blind hand went All-In from the Cutoff. He had gotten a large stack through a ridiculous suck-out against another player. I'm the Button with AQh, and went All-In. Everyone folded, and he showed AA. You got to love the 5-handed, shortstack cooler. This left me with 300 chips. So I have just enough to ante the next hand, and lost when my 95o doesn't hold up. I finish in 11th place, and bubbled the Final Table.
Some people say that the perfect "Real Life" example of the Butterfly Effect is a poker tournament. One single action early in the tournament can impact the outcome, whether it's a simple misdeal that would have been an AA vs KK hand, or an accidental call instead of a raise to save a player some chips.
My "Accidental Blind", which seemed so insignificant at the time, got me eliminated from the tournament 45 minutes after it happened. Now, I'm not saying that I would have won the tournament if this didn't happen. With that dude being out of the tournament, all the cards would have been different. Hell, I might have been eliminated even earlier. You just never know.
I found out later in the day that he was involved in the Chop for $900.
Nice Hand, Sir.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Greektown Review
Greektown Hotel & Casino is in downtown Detroit, MI. The easiest way to get there is to take I75 to I375 to the first exit (East Lafayette Ave). The parking garage is right off the highway.
Poker Room:
Greektown just opened up a new Poker Room. For those that are familiar with Greektown, it is in the location of the old Alley Grill. The entrance is on the 2nd floor where the snack bars are located, near the Buffet. Take the stairs to a sub floor between the 1st and 2nd floors.
There are four rooms on this sub-floor. The first is just a lounge area with a few chairs and a couch. The second is where for the Desk and the Lists are displayed. The third is for the Cage and a little Bar. The fourth is the actual Poker Room.
The Poker Room has 13 tables. There are 12 tables in this room. Number 13 is located in a side room, and is used for the "Big Game". The tables are really crammed in the room, and there is not much space to move around. There are bathrooms located off this room, which means that we don't have to go wandering through the casino to find one.
The rake is the Detroit standard of 10% $6 max + $1 for the Bad Beat Jackpot, which is Aces Full of Jacks beaten by Quads. The BBJ ranges for $5000 to $100k depending on how often it's been hit.
The only games that are spread regularly is $50-$200 ($1/$2 blinds), and $3/$6 Limit w/ Kill. I have seen lists for $2/$5 NL, but I think it rarely goes. They also have the "Big Game" which is $5/$10 PLO ($300 min). It is officially spread on Tuesdays and Saturdays, but I have seen it go on other days. Sometimes they will mix NLHE with it.
Greektown does give Comps to their players. The $6 Food Voucher has been replaced with $1/hr on the Player's Card. You need to swipe in & swipe out at the Desk. Hopefully in the future, they will get Card Swipers at the tables like most other Poker Rooms do.
They do have some food available in the Poker Room; just some cookies chips, and fruit. It would be nice to have a bin with some bottled water in it. The Bar in the third room does have a little menu with some sandwiches that you can purchase.
The players are a mix of skill, old nits, and gamblers. Most people in Detroit either love or hate Greektown, so the player base generally only plays at Greektown. I have noticed that the Poker Room has gotten busier since they opened the new room, so I'm assuming that other players are checking it out.
If you're a tourney player, then Greektown is your only choice in Detroit. They have two daily tournaments, 11am & 7pm. The normal buy-in is $75 for 4k chips. On Sunday and Wednesday night they have $100 tournaments, and occasionally larger buy-ins. The turnout for the tournaments are 20-50 for the 11am, and 40-100 for the 7pm. The structure of the tourneys can be found on their website, and is what you would expect from a daily casino tournament.
Casino:
Greektown is a two floor casino. The first floor is all Slots, with some table games up on the 2nd floor.
They have most of the usual tables game, including the new Blackjack Switch. They do not have Texas Hold'em Bonus, which is one of the games that I play. The table limits are a little high, with $5 games only until 10am on weekdays.
If you're into Video Poker, Greektown has a few full pay 9/6 $1 Jacks or Better. It is very rare to see these pay tables outside of small Vegas casinos.
Greektown has many food options. They have little sandwich carts spread out around the casino, and they usually have something different at each one. One will be a Hot Dog cart, another will have Hot Roast Beef, etc. They quality is OK, but it's overpriced, as you would expect in a casino. There are some restaurants off the first floor, but I can't say much about them, since I'm never down there. I know they have a Cold Stone Creamery and a Five Guys Burgers
There is a Buffet on the 2nd level. The good thing is that it is the cheapest one in Detroit. $9.99 anytime of day from 11am til they close. However, it is one of the worst buffets that I've been at. They have a very small selection of dishes, and they don't rotate what they offer. Every time that I've been, they have the same few options. If you have enough comps for a free buffet, then it is worth the money.
Poker Room:
Greektown just opened up a new Poker Room. For those that are familiar with Greektown, it is in the location of the old Alley Grill. The entrance is on the 2nd floor where the snack bars are located, near the Buffet. Take the stairs to a sub floor between the 1st and 2nd floors.There are four rooms on this sub-floor. The first is just a lounge area with a few chairs and a couch. The second is where for the Desk and the Lists are displayed. The third is for the Cage and a little Bar. The fourth is the actual Poker Room.
The Poker Room has 13 tables. There are 12 tables in this room. Number 13 is located in a side room, and is used for the "Big Game". The tables are really crammed in the room, and there is not much space to move around. There are bathrooms located off this room, which means that we don't have to go wandering through the casino to find one.
The rake is the Detroit standard of 10% $6 max + $1 for the Bad Beat Jackpot, which is Aces Full of Jacks beaten by Quads. The BBJ ranges for $5000 to $100k depending on how often it's been hit.
The only games that are spread regularly is $50-$200 ($1/$2 blinds), and $3/$6 Limit w/ Kill. I have seen lists for $2/$5 NL, but I think it rarely goes. They also have the "Big Game" which is $5/$10 PLO ($300 min). It is officially spread on Tuesdays and Saturdays, but I have seen it go on other days. Sometimes they will mix NLHE with it.
Greektown does give Comps to their players. The $6 Food Voucher has been replaced with $1/hr on the Player's Card. You need to swipe in & swipe out at the Desk. Hopefully in the future, they will get Card Swipers at the tables like most other Poker Rooms do.
They do have some food available in the Poker Room; just some cookies chips, and fruit. It would be nice to have a bin with some bottled water in it. The Bar in the third room does have a little menu with some sandwiches that you can purchase.The players are a mix of skill, old nits, and gamblers. Most people in Detroit either love or hate Greektown, so the player base generally only plays at Greektown. I have noticed that the Poker Room has gotten busier since they opened the new room, so I'm assuming that other players are checking it out.
If you're a tourney player, then Greektown is your only choice in Detroit. They have two daily tournaments, 11am & 7pm. The normal buy-in is $75 for 4k chips. On Sunday and Wednesday night they have $100 tournaments, and occasionally larger buy-ins. The turnout for the tournaments are 20-50 for the 11am, and 40-100 for the 7pm. The structure of the tourneys can be found on their website, and is what you would expect from a daily casino tournament.
Casino:
Greektown is a two floor casino. The first floor is all Slots, with some table games up on the 2nd floor.
They have most of the usual tables game, including the new Blackjack Switch. They do not have Texas Hold'em Bonus, which is one of the games that I play. The table limits are a little high, with $5 games only until 10am on weekdays.
If you're into Video Poker, Greektown has a few full pay 9/6 $1 Jacks or Better. It is very rare to see these pay tables outside of small Vegas casinos.
Greektown has many food options. They have little sandwich carts spread out around the casino, and they usually have something different at each one. One will be a Hot Dog cart, another will have Hot Roast Beef, etc. They quality is OK, but it's overpriced, as you would expect in a casino. There are some restaurants off the first floor, but I can't say much about them, since I'm never down there. I know they have a Cold Stone Creamery and a Five Guys Burgers
There is a Buffet on the 2nd level. The good thing is that it is the cheapest one in Detroit. $9.99 anytime of day from 11am til they close. However, it is one of the worst buffets that I've been at. They have a very small selection of dishes, and they don't rotate what they offer. Every time that I've been, they have the same few options. If you have enough comps for a free buffet, then it is worth the money.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Hand of the Day #19
I don't have many tournament hands for Hand of the Day. I feel that most of them are simple, with all action preflop or just a Raise & C-Bet.
So here are three of them from my tournament at Greektown on 12/17.
Level 1 (25/50) 2nd hand of the tourney.
I'm UTG and fold. A few others limp in. The BB (an old farmer) raises to 350. Mid position (middle aged dude) calls. The Button (old cowboy) raises to 650. BB and Mid calls. Pot size: ~ 2100
Flop: K 7 3 - BB checks. Mid checks. Button bets 200. As an observer, this bet is pathetic. He limps on the Button, and the raises after someone else did. And now he bets 200 into a pot over 2k. This screams Weakness. BB folds. Mid guy thinks for a bit, and then calls.
Turn: [K 7 3] 8 - Mid checks. Cowboy bets 500 into a 2500 pot. Mid guy thinks for a bit and calls.
River: [K 7 3 8] 4 - Mid guy checks. Cowboy bets 500 into a 3500 pot. Mid guy thinks, and then calls. Cowboy shows 55. Mid guy, who just checked or called for the entire hand, shows JJ, and wins a pot of 4500.
Level 1 (25/50)
I'm UTG+1 with AKo, and I just limp. A Mid position guy (different than previous hand) min-raises to 100. A bunch of players call. I back-raise to 700. Mid guy calls. It folds around to the SB, who is the Cowboy from previous hand, and he raises to 1400. I insta-ship All-In. Mid guy calls, which I'm not happy about. We might have the same hand. Of course, the Cowboy calls.
Cowboy has 99, but Mid guy has AA. Crap!. If he would have reraised after I made it 700, then I probably would have folded. But Cowboy had to jump in the middle of this, and now I'm screwed.
I flopped a Broadway draw (J T x), but I missed. Cowboy was eliminated, and I'm left with 725 chips.
Level 4 (150/300)
It folds around to the Cutoff who just limps. I'm the SB with 96o, and call. BB checks.
Flop: Q J 6 - Bottom Pair. Yippie. All players check.
Turn: [Q J 6] T - I check. BB checks. Cutoff bets 1200. He's a 30 yr old, and seems fairly solid. But this bet doesn't seem right. He overbet the pot of 900. I've got Bottom Pair, and the bad end of an open-ender. But I've only got 2200 chips left.
I decide to follow my instincts, and go All-In. BB folds. Cutoff thinks for a moment, says he's pot committed, and calls the 1000. He shows A9h. Sweet! He's got the same draw as I do. I love a good read.
River: [Q J 6 T] A - I'm out in 16th place.
Nice Hand, Sir.
So here are three of them from my tournament at Greektown on 12/17.
Level 1 (25/50) 2nd hand of the tourney.
I'm UTG and fold. A few others limp in. The BB (an old farmer) raises to 350. Mid position (middle aged dude) calls. The Button (old cowboy) raises to 650. BB and Mid calls. Pot size: ~ 2100
Flop: K 7 3 - BB checks. Mid checks. Button bets 200. As an observer, this bet is pathetic. He limps on the Button, and the raises after someone else did. And now he bets 200 into a pot over 2k. This screams Weakness. BB folds. Mid guy thinks for a bit, and then calls.
Turn: [K 7 3] 8 - Mid checks. Cowboy bets 500 into a 2500 pot. Mid guy thinks for a bit and calls.
River: [K 7 3 8] 4 - Mid guy checks. Cowboy bets 500 into a 3500 pot. Mid guy thinks, and then calls. Cowboy shows 55. Mid guy, who just checked or called for the entire hand, shows JJ, and wins a pot of 4500.
Level 1 (25/50)
I'm UTG+1 with AKo, and I just limp. A Mid position guy (different than previous hand) min-raises to 100. A bunch of players call. I back-raise to 700. Mid guy calls. It folds around to the SB, who is the Cowboy from previous hand, and he raises to 1400. I insta-ship All-In. Mid guy calls, which I'm not happy about. We might have the same hand. Of course, the Cowboy calls.
Cowboy has 99, but Mid guy has AA. Crap!. If he would have reraised after I made it 700, then I probably would have folded. But Cowboy had to jump in the middle of this, and now I'm screwed.
I flopped a Broadway draw (J T x), but I missed. Cowboy was eliminated, and I'm left with 725 chips.
Level 4 (150/300)
It folds around to the Cutoff who just limps. I'm the SB with 96o, and call. BB checks.
Flop: Q J 6 - Bottom Pair. Yippie. All players check.
Turn: [Q J 6] T - I check. BB checks. Cutoff bets 1200. He's a 30 yr old, and seems fairly solid. But this bet doesn't seem right. He overbet the pot of 900. I've got Bottom Pair, and the bad end of an open-ender. But I've only got 2200 chips left.
I decide to follow my instincts, and go All-In. BB folds. Cutoff thinks for a moment, says he's pot committed, and calls the 1000. He shows A9h. Sweet! He's got the same draw as I do. I love a good read.
River: [Q J 6 T] A - I'm out in 16th place.
Nice Hand, Sir.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Sticking With What Works
After I check out of my room at Motor City and had some breakfast, I had a little time to kill before heading over to Greektown for the 11am tourney. So I sat back down at the 3 Card Poker (3CP), and ended up grinding out $105 profit. Now I'm freerollin' in the tournament.
The Greektown tournament ended up with 30 players. Unfortunately, in Level 1 (25/50), I ran into a cooler/trainwreck that took my starting stack of 4000 down to 725. I grinded it out for a while, and finally got a double up in Level 3 (100/200) to 2800. But in Level 4 (150/300), I lost to a 3-outer on the River, and finished in 16th place.
I then walked over to see if there were any seats open in the Cash game. There was a list for $1/$2, but an open seat at the $3/$6 (w/kill) table. I haven't played any 7-Card Bingo lately, so I figured I could work on my Limit Hold'em game.
12:40 $150 - There was the usual mix of old people, and really old people. Unfortunately, I got seated next to a loudmouth regular who considered himself an expert at this game.
1:00 $163 - Hit a Small Blind Special. Flopped Pair + Flush Draw, and hit Flush on River. Table is playing just like a $3/$6 table. A couple of players are playing almost every hand to the Turn. And a couple of players are playing rather tight, including Mr Loudmouth.
1:30 $126 - Raised with AK in BB. Ended up losing to KJ when he hit Two Pair on Turn. I'm trying to play tight overall. I am playing most hands in the Button and Cutoff, and will occasionally limp with other hands. Have had very few "Quality Starting Hands".
2:00 $81 - Could someone please remind me exactly why I wanted to play this game?
2:30 $59 - Got AK for the 3rd time, and lost for the 3rd time. Ended up 4-betting ($12) preflop with two of the 7-Card Bingo players. One of them was All-In for $9. The Board was all rags, and I ended up checking it down with the other player. He had JTd. All-In guy had K3 and hit the 3 on the River. I got the $6 side pot. Wheeeee!!
3:00 $52 - The last four hands dealt to me were Q4, T2c, 84, and 83.
3:35 $34 - Cashout. I know I'm just an average Limit Hold'em player, but it's impossible for me to win without cards. I don't think I had a pocket pair the entire three hours. As I already mention, I had AK three times. I also had AQ once, and won with it. I raise preflop in a Kill Pot, and took down the blinds and Kill. That happened shortly after the last AK hand, and it was the last pot I won.
I walked over to the Buffet for some grub, and debated what my next move was going to be. I decided to stick with the only thing that has been working for me lately. I headed back into the Pit, and sat down at a 3CP table. I grinded it out for a couple hours, but eventually I hit a big hand, J J J, cashed out up $250, and headed home.
For whatever reason, 3CP is the only game that I've been winning at lately, including $1/$2. Since October 1st, I'm up $694 at $1/$2, and up $820 at 3CP. I don't know if I have "cracked the magic code" or I am just running good. I don't think I'm running Hot in the game. I have had losing sessions, and have had very few big hands (Trips or Straight Flush). Most of my wins have just been grinding it out, and quitting when I'm ahead.
I have no delusions of grandeur, and I'm not think about becoming a 3CP pro. When I walk into a casino, the first place I head to is the Poker Room, and that's not gonna change. But for now, this is working for me, so I'm gonna keep riding it until it crashes.
And I know it eventually will.
The Greektown tournament ended up with 30 players. Unfortunately, in Level 1 (25/50), I ran into a cooler/trainwreck that took my starting stack of 4000 down to 725. I grinded it out for a while, and finally got a double up in Level 3 (100/200) to 2800. But in Level 4 (150/300), I lost to a 3-outer on the River, and finished in 16th place.
I then walked over to see if there were any seats open in the Cash game. There was a list for $1/$2, but an open seat at the $3/$6 (w/kill) table. I haven't played any 7-Card Bingo lately, so I figured I could work on my Limit Hold'em game.
12:40 $150 - There was the usual mix of old people, and really old people. Unfortunately, I got seated next to a loudmouth regular who considered himself an expert at this game.
1:00 $163 - Hit a Small Blind Special. Flopped Pair + Flush Draw, and hit Flush on River. Table is playing just like a $3/$6 table. A couple of players are playing almost every hand to the Turn. And a couple of players are playing rather tight, including Mr Loudmouth.
1:30 $126 - Raised with AK in BB. Ended up losing to KJ when he hit Two Pair on Turn. I'm trying to play tight overall. I am playing most hands in the Button and Cutoff, and will occasionally limp with other hands. Have had very few "Quality Starting Hands".
2:00 $81 - Could someone please remind me exactly why I wanted to play this game?
2:30 $59 - Got AK for the 3rd time, and lost for the 3rd time. Ended up 4-betting ($12) preflop with two of the 7-Card Bingo players. One of them was All-In for $9. The Board was all rags, and I ended up checking it down with the other player. He had JTd. All-In guy had K3 and hit the 3 on the River. I got the $6 side pot. Wheeeee!!
3:00 $52 - The last four hands dealt to me were Q4, T2c, 84, and 83.
3:35 $34 - Cashout. I know I'm just an average Limit Hold'em player, but it's impossible for me to win without cards. I don't think I had a pocket pair the entire three hours. As I already mention, I had AK three times. I also had AQ once, and won with it. I raise preflop in a Kill Pot, and took down the blinds and Kill. That happened shortly after the last AK hand, and it was the last pot I won.
I walked over to the Buffet for some grub, and debated what my next move was going to be. I decided to stick with the only thing that has been working for me lately. I headed back into the Pit, and sat down at a 3CP table. I grinded it out for a couple hours, but eventually I hit a big hand, J J J, cashed out up $250, and headed home.
For whatever reason, 3CP is the only game that I've been winning at lately, including $1/$2. Since October 1st, I'm up $694 at $1/$2, and up $820 at 3CP. I don't know if I have "cracked the magic code" or I am just running good. I don't think I'm running Hot in the game. I have had losing sessions, and have had very few big hands (Trips or Straight Flush). Most of my wins have just been grinding it out, and quitting when I'm ahead.
I have no delusions of grandeur, and I'm not think about becoming a 3CP pro. When I walk into a casino, the first place I head to is the Poker Room, and that's not gonna change. But for now, this is working for me, so I'm gonna keep riding it until it crashes.
And I know it eventually will.
Friday, December 18, 2009
A Little $2/$5 Action
Walked into the Greektown Poker Room around 8pm Wednesday night. There was a list for $1/$2 and $3/$6, but they were just opening a $2/$5. I was a bit surprised, since I haven't seen a $2/$5 game there in 18 months. But, I did have $600 on me, so I walked back to see if there was any open seats. There was only three players, so I marked a seat, and walked back to the Cage to get $600 in chips ($400 Green & $200 Red). I put $400 on the table, and wait for the game to start.
8:15 $300 - Only three players want to play $2/$5. A Floorman changes game from $200-$500 ($2/$5) to $100-$300 ($1/$2). It seems really weird to me that they can just create a $300 max $1/$2 game. Why not always have it? But that's Greektown for ya.
8:50 $400 - Stacked off a player with Nut Flush for about $75. I bet the Flop with the Draw, and Check/Called his All-In with Two Pair on the Turn. He missed his 4-outer.
A different Floorman comes over, and discovers our unique $1/$2 table. He rules that the $100-$300 game has $2/$5 blinds starting next hand. I think this is a terrible decision. There are players with just $100, and this game will break soon. Just make it a regular $1/$2 game.
Again, typical Greektown.
9:30 $376 - This is not a normal $2/$5 table. It is playing more like a $1/$2 game with bigger blinds. Tight & passive play with standard preflop raise to $15. More than three players to see a Flop is rare.
10:00 $300 - Because it is so tight, I'm doing more limping or raising in late position. Having mixed results. Won a decent pot with JJ. Lost $90 with Top Pair vs Set on Flop.
10:30 $231 - Really card dead. Only significant pot was a loss. Top pair on Flop vs Flush on Turn.
We are only 6-handed now, and this table is dying quickly. Only two new players have shown up since they made it $2/$5. Most hands are a preflop raise and everyone folds, or everyone folds and the blinds chop.
10:40 $228 - Table breaks. Once again, I have shown my inability to win at $2/$5.
I considered joining a $1/$2 table, but it's getting late to buy into a new table. If I can't sit for at least three hours, then it just becomes a case of luck whether I win or not.
I decide to head back to Motor City, where I have my Free Room. Last week, I didn't even walk into their casino. So I decide to play a little in the Pit and "pay" for the Free Room.
I sat down at the Texas Hold'em Bonus table, and played for almost two hours. I was grinding away, but not winning. I almost went broke, and then started to make a comeback. It didn't last, and I busted out for $200.
So I walked over to the 3-Card Poker table. This is the only Pit game that I've been beating lately, and it didn't disappoint. I didn't hit any big hands, but grinded out $275 of profit in over an hour.
Finally, I got up to my room a little after 2am, and passed out.
8:15 $300 - Only three players want to play $2/$5. A Floorman changes game from $200-$500 ($2/$5) to $100-$300 ($1/$2). It seems really weird to me that they can just create a $300 max $1/$2 game. Why not always have it? But that's Greektown for ya.
8:50 $400 - Stacked off a player with Nut Flush for about $75. I bet the Flop with the Draw, and Check/Called his All-In with Two Pair on the Turn. He missed his 4-outer.
A different Floorman comes over, and discovers our unique $1/$2 table. He rules that the $100-$300 game has $2/$5 blinds starting next hand. I think this is a terrible decision. There are players with just $100, and this game will break soon. Just make it a regular $1/$2 game.
Again, typical Greektown.
9:30 $376 - This is not a normal $2/$5 table. It is playing more like a $1/$2 game with bigger blinds. Tight & passive play with standard preflop raise to $15. More than three players to see a Flop is rare.
10:00 $300 - Because it is so tight, I'm doing more limping or raising in late position. Having mixed results. Won a decent pot with JJ. Lost $90 with Top Pair vs Set on Flop.
10:30 $231 - Really card dead. Only significant pot was a loss. Top pair on Flop vs Flush on Turn.
We are only 6-handed now, and this table is dying quickly. Only two new players have shown up since they made it $2/$5. Most hands are a preflop raise and everyone folds, or everyone folds and the blinds chop.
10:40 $228 - Table breaks. Once again, I have shown my inability to win at $2/$5.
I considered joining a $1/$2 table, but it's getting late to buy into a new table. If I can't sit for at least three hours, then it just becomes a case of luck whether I win or not.
I decide to head back to Motor City, where I have my Free Room. Last week, I didn't even walk into their casino. So I decide to play a little in the Pit and "pay" for the Free Room.
I sat down at the Texas Hold'em Bonus table, and played for almost two hours. I was grinding away, but not winning. I almost went broke, and then started to make a comeback. It didn't last, and I busted out for $200.
So I walked over to the 3-Card Poker table. This is the only Pit game that I've been beating lately, and it didn't disappoint. I didn't hit any big hands, but grinded out $275 of profit in over an hour.
Finally, I got up to my room a little after 2am, and passed out.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Hand of the Day #17
$1/$2 NLHE - Greektown - 12.9.09
I've got Kc Kd on the Button, and do my standard raise to $7. Five players see the Flop: Jd 9c 7d. SB (old guy) leads out for $20. Mid position (middle aged guy) calls. Cutoff (30 yr old) goes All-In for $40.
This hand is a good example of the drawbacks of only raising to $7 every hand. I have no clue where I'm at right now. I just recently sat down, so I don't have any information about these guys. The player that I'm most worried about is the SB. It's common for an old guy to lead out with two pair or better in this spot. Since the Cutoff has only $40, he could be pushing with anything from top pair to a straight to a draw.
While I'm thinking, I notice that the two remaining players don't have much money behind, maybe $150. So I decide to raise to $100, and try to isolate with the Cutoff.
The SB quickly folds. Mid guy thinks, and goes All-In for $31 more. I hate this, but I gotta call. At Greektown, you have to show your cards for an All-In. So I show my KK, and Mid guy show Jc 7c for two pair. Cutoff has Qd Jh for top pair. I brick out, and Mid guy wins the pot of $352.
Nice hand, sir.
I've got Kc Kd on the Button, and do my standard raise to $7. Five players see the Flop: Jd 9c 7d. SB (old guy) leads out for $20. Mid position (middle aged guy) calls. Cutoff (30 yr old) goes All-In for $40.
This hand is a good example of the drawbacks of only raising to $7 every hand. I have no clue where I'm at right now. I just recently sat down, so I don't have any information about these guys. The player that I'm most worried about is the SB. It's common for an old guy to lead out with two pair or better in this spot. Since the Cutoff has only $40, he could be pushing with anything from top pair to a straight to a draw.
While I'm thinking, I notice that the two remaining players don't have much money behind, maybe $150. So I decide to raise to $100, and try to isolate with the Cutoff.
The SB quickly folds. Mid guy thinks, and goes All-In for $31 more. I hate this, but I gotta call. At Greektown, you have to show your cards for an All-In. So I show my KK, and Mid guy show Jc 7c for two pair. Cutoff has Qd Jh for top pair. I brick out, and Mid guy wins the pot of $352.
Nice hand, sir.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
New Greektown, Old Results
After eating a free breakfast at the Motor City Buffet, I head over to Greektown to play in their new Poker Room. I got to Greektown about 10:15, and signed up for the 11am tournament. There wasn't enough time to sit down and play some Cash, so I went to play 3-Card Poker. Fortunately, I hit a few straights, and walked away up $175.
The tournament seemed to be the same as in to the old poker room. $75, 4k in chips, and 25 players. It started off good for me. I won a nice pot with AJ in the first level. Later on, I got my KK cracked by a short stack with 55. The only real blunder of mine was in the level before the first break (200/400/25). A few limpers with me in the BB. I look down at A3, and decide to do a squeeze for 2000. Unfortunately, I forgot how short stacked the first limper was. He called for less, and that started the chain reaction. Four players saw the Flop with two of them All-In. The other player and me just checked it down. I ended up with two pair, but both of the All-Ins won with a Flush and a Straight.
I got to the break with 5150 chips. I walked over to a .25 slot machine, put a $20 bill in the machine, and cashed out for $40. That extra $20 went into my gas tank on the way home.
The level after the break was 400/800/50. In the last few tournament I've played at Greektown, we were at the Final Table when the first break came. But this time we still had 15 players left, so there were many short stacks. The UTG moved All-In for 1800. I'm in Mid position, look down at my cards, and move All-In to isolate for 5500. The player next to me, who has a few more chips then me, goes into deep thought, and finally calls with 99. That is a terrible call because he can't beat anything at this point, except my 33. I miss my two outer, and I finish in 13th place.
I buy-in to a $1/$2 table. Within 30 minutes, I get my KK cracked for $130. It's a decent table, but I'm just not mentally here, so I don't add-on. I milk my short stack for a while, but I'm not getting any cards. About two hours after I sat down, I walked away down $200.
I head over to the Buffet for a free meal, and then started my journey home.
The tournament seemed to be the same as in to the old poker room. $75, 4k in chips, and 25 players. It started off good for me. I won a nice pot with AJ in the first level. Later on, I got my KK cracked by a short stack with 55. The only real blunder of mine was in the level before the first break (200/400/25). A few limpers with me in the BB. I look down at A3, and decide to do a squeeze for 2000. Unfortunately, I forgot how short stacked the first limper was. He called for less, and that started the chain reaction. Four players saw the Flop with two of them All-In. The other player and me just checked it down. I ended up with two pair, but both of the All-Ins won with a Flush and a Straight.
I got to the break with 5150 chips. I walked over to a .25 slot machine, put a $20 bill in the machine, and cashed out for $40. That extra $20 went into my gas tank on the way home.
The level after the break was 400/800/50. In the last few tournament I've played at Greektown, we were at the Final Table when the first break came. But this time we still had 15 players left, so there were many short stacks. The UTG moved All-In for 1800. I'm in Mid position, look down at my cards, and move All-In to isolate for 5500. The player next to me, who has a few more chips then me, goes into deep thought, and finally calls with 99. That is a terrible call because he can't beat anything at this point, except my 33. I miss my two outer, and I finish in 13th place.
I buy-in to a $1/$2 table. Within 30 minutes, I get my KK cracked for $130. It's a decent table, but I'm just not mentally here, so I don't add-on. I milk my short stack for a while, but I'm not getting any cards. About two hours after I sat down, I walked away down $200.
I head over to the Buffet for a free meal, and then started my journey home.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Hand of the Day #9
1/2 NLHE - Greektown - 11.23.09
A few limpers. I have A6s on the Button, and raise to my standard $7. The SB folds, but the BB raises to $15. One player calls. This hand is deep into the session. The BB is one of two players that was here when I first sat down. He's a 50 yr old, tight passive player. I haven't really been all that aggressive preflop, so I pop it to $45. I know that a baby Ace is not a good hand to do this with, but I'm on the Button and it's sooooted. If he ships his stack All-In, then I will fold and call myself an idiot. But, he just calls.
Flop: Js 8s 6h. Sweet Flop. Bottom pair with a Flush draw. He checks. I shove All-In for what I thought was around $100. After counting it down, I end up with $146. Crap! That a huge overbet into a pot that's got about $100 in it. The BB thinks for a minute, and then folds. He said that he just had AK.
It was a mistake to bet so much. If I completely whiffed the Flop, then shoving would make sense. But I wanted to get some value from that Board. A bet of $60 on the Flop, and then All-In for $86 on the Turn would have been better.
As the dealer gathers the pot to ship it to me, I turn over the As. A few players wanted to see the other Ace, so I showed the 6s. That got their attention.
A few limpers. I have A6s on the Button, and raise to my standard $7. The SB folds, but the BB raises to $15. One player calls. This hand is deep into the session. The BB is one of two players that was here when I first sat down. He's a 50 yr old, tight passive player. I haven't really been all that aggressive preflop, so I pop it to $45. I know that a baby Ace is not a good hand to do this with, but I'm on the Button and it's sooooted. If he ships his stack All-In, then I will fold and call myself an idiot. But, he just calls.
Flop: Js 8s 6h. Sweet Flop. Bottom pair with a Flush draw. He checks. I shove All-In for what I thought was around $100. After counting it down, I end up with $146. Crap! That a huge overbet into a pot that's got about $100 in it. The BB thinks for a minute, and then folds. He said that he just had AK.
It was a mistake to bet so much. If I completely whiffed the Flop, then shoving would make sense. But I wanted to get some value from that Board. A bet of $60 on the Flop, and then All-In for $86 on the Turn would have been better.
As the dealer gathers the pot to ship it to me, I turn over the As. A few players wanted to see the other Ace, so I showed the 6s. That got their attention.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
A (Not So) Grand Opening
I had already planned on going to Greektown on Monday. As it turns out, it's the same day they are having their Grand Opening for their new Poker Room. So, I get to Greektown just after 9am, and head to the old Poker Room expecting it to be closed. But it's still open with only 6 tables in the room, and one of them occupied. The Floor Person said they are opening the new Room at 6pm. That seems bizarre to me. Wouldn't it make more sense to close the old Room from Sunday at midnight, and open the new Room at noon the next day? But there are reasons that Greektown is one of the worst run Poker Rooms in the country.
9:20 $200 - Since the table has been open all night, I buy-in for the full amount. There aren't any monster stacks on the table. The largest is around $350.
10:00 $138 - Won a decent pot with AK, but I got my KK cracked. The player didn't have enough chips to make me fold. The table's rather active for a Monday morning with a few spots that are willing to put money into the pot rather light.
10:30 $205 - I called a few raises, but whiffed. I took four green chips out of my pocket to reload. Two old grinders come to the table.
11:00 $180 - I'm getting good starting hands, but lousy flops. AK on an 7-high board. 88 on a Broadway board. This has become a very social table, and it's starting to annoy me. The pace of the game has become slower than one of our home games.
11:30 $168 - I'm getting board, and that's a bad thing. I started making loose calls preflop, and that's a good way to burn through a short stack. There was a $700, four player trainwreck that didn't involve me. Jd Tc 8d Ac 4d. 97 takes it down against a Set and two different Two Pairs.
12:00 $234 - Won a decent pot on the Button against a flush draw. Very next hand, I pop it to $7 preflop with T8o and won with a c-bet on a J high Flop. I'm starting to get my groove back. The Floor Person announced that the old Room will close at 4pm.
12:30 $289 - Did my first straddle for $5. A few players limp in. I look down at TT. I give a quiet thanks to the Poker Gods, and raise to $30. Only the SB calls, and he checks in the dark. So I bet $40 in the dark. The Flop comes J high. He think for a moment, and folds. I show my TT. Since I won about $50, that ended up being my only straddle of the day. It's better to quit while I'm ahead.
1:00 $284 - Nothing of interest happened. I'm heading to lunch at the Buffet.
1:30 $281 - I come back from lunch, posted my blinds, and folded to a raise. Three new faces came to the table.
2:00 $121 - Gambled with a Flush Draw against what turned out to be a Set. Ooops! I hit my Flush draw on the Turn, and he hit his Boat draw on the River.
2:30 $156 - Won a decent pot with KK in the BB.
3:00 $228 - Won a sweet pot on the Button with a semi-bluff.
3:30 $230 - Stabbed at a pot in the SB and took the little pot.
4:05 $247 - Cashout (-$53) due to Poker Room closing.
Since I had some time to kill, I headed in to the Pit to play some 3-Card Poker. I played for over an hour before losing my buy-in of $250. I was grinding it out for a while, but I just wasn't getting the cards this time.
5:20 - I head over towards the new Poker Room. There is a mob of 30 people waiting for the 6:00 opening. I grab a quick sandwich at a nearby cart, and wait for the opening.
5:40 - Security makes the now 50 person mob form a line towards the Buffet. I'm in the first half of the line.
5:45 - A "Suit" comes out and goes down the line telling everyone what the plan is for tonight. In honor of "Opening Night", Greektown is having a $100 + $0 tournament at 7pm. Yes, there is no juice for the house. They are expecting to be using all 13 tables for this tournament, so there will be no Cash games until a table breaks. Some of the players in line already knew about this, but it's all news to me.
This sucks for me. I have to work in the morning, and I can't stay until the tourney finishes at 2am. And since we probably won't see any Cash games until at least 8pm, there is no reason for me to be here. I decide to just wait, and check out the new room.
6:00 - Still standing in line. About 80-100 waiting patiently.
6:05 - The "Suits" come out, and the line starts moving. You have to go down some stairs to a level between the ground floor, and the upper floor where the old Poker Room and Buffet are located. You then go through a maze of four small rooms. Some of the rooms have couches and chairs. One of them is for the desk to sign up for a game. Another room is the cashier's cage and a little bar.
And then you finally get to the actual Poker Room. My very first impression was "Beautiful, but Small". It certainly looks better then the Dungeon that the old room was. There are new tables, or at least a new felt with a betting line. They also have snacks out (chips, cookies, fruit, and sandwich wraps), just like Motor City. I don't know if that is permanent, or just for Opening Night.
But it's not a big room. The tables seem to be a bit crammed together. With all these little rooms that you have to walk through to get to the Poker Room, couldn't they have knocked a wall down in order to made a bigger room. Or at least use two of the rooms, just like the original Poker Room.
So, after a quick look around, I left the Poker Room, went to my car, and headed home. Next time I'm in Detroit, I'll go back to Greektown to do a more detailed review of the new Poker Room.
9:20 $200 - Since the table has been open all night, I buy-in for the full amount. There aren't any monster stacks on the table. The largest is around $350.10:00 $138 - Won a decent pot with AK, but I got my KK cracked. The player didn't have enough chips to make me fold. The table's rather active for a Monday morning with a few spots that are willing to put money into the pot rather light.
10:30 $205 - I called a few raises, but whiffed. I took four green chips out of my pocket to reload. Two old grinders come to the table.
11:00 $180 - I'm getting good starting hands, but lousy flops. AK on an 7-high board. 88 on a Broadway board. This has become a very social table, and it's starting to annoy me. The pace of the game has become slower than one of our home games.
11:30 $168 - I'm getting board, and that's a bad thing. I started making loose calls preflop, and that's a good way to burn through a short stack. There was a $700, four player trainwreck that didn't involve me. Jd Tc 8d Ac 4d. 97 takes it down against a Set and two different Two Pairs.
12:00 $234 - Won a decent pot on the Button against a flush draw. Very next hand, I pop it to $7 preflop with T8o and won with a c-bet on a J high Flop. I'm starting to get my groove back. The Floor Person announced that the old Room will close at 4pm.
12:30 $289 - Did my first straddle for $5. A few players limp in. I look down at TT. I give a quiet thanks to the Poker Gods, and raise to $30. Only the SB calls, and he checks in the dark. So I bet $40 in the dark. The Flop comes J high. He think for a moment, and folds. I show my TT. Since I won about $50, that ended up being my only straddle of the day. It's better to quit while I'm ahead.
1:00 $284 - Nothing of interest happened. I'm heading to lunch at the Buffet.
1:30 $281 - I come back from lunch, posted my blinds, and folded to a raise. Three new faces came to the table.
2:00 $121 - Gambled with a Flush Draw against what turned out to be a Set. Ooops! I hit my Flush draw on the Turn, and he hit his Boat draw on the River.
2:30 $156 - Won a decent pot with KK in the BB.
3:00 $228 - Won a sweet pot on the Button with a semi-bluff.
3:30 $230 - Stabbed at a pot in the SB and took the little pot.
4:05 $247 - Cashout (-$53) due to Poker Room closing.
Since I had some time to kill, I headed in to the Pit to play some 3-Card Poker. I played for over an hour before losing my buy-in of $250. I was grinding it out for a while, but I just wasn't getting the cards this time.
5:20 - I head over towards the new Poker Room. There is a mob of 30 people waiting for the 6:00 opening. I grab a quick sandwich at a nearby cart, and wait for the opening.
5:40 - Security makes the now 50 person mob form a line towards the Buffet. I'm in the first half of the line.
5:45 - A "Suit" comes out and goes down the line telling everyone what the plan is for tonight. In honor of "Opening Night", Greektown is having a $100 + $0 tournament at 7pm. Yes, there is no juice for the house. They are expecting to be using all 13 tables for this tournament, so there will be no Cash games until a table breaks. Some of the players in line already knew about this, but it's all news to me.
This sucks for me. I have to work in the morning, and I can't stay until the tourney finishes at 2am. And since we probably won't see any Cash games until at least 8pm, there is no reason for me to be here. I decide to just wait, and check out the new room.
6:00 - Still standing in line. About 80-100 waiting patiently.
6:05 - The "Suits" come out, and the line starts moving. You have to go down some stairs to a level between the ground floor, and the upper floor where the old Poker Room and Buffet are located. You then go through a maze of four small rooms. Some of the rooms have couches and chairs. One of them is for the desk to sign up for a game. Another room is the cashier's cage and a little bar.
And then you finally get to the actual Poker Room. My very first impression was "Beautiful, but Small". It certainly looks better then the Dungeon that the old room was. There are new tables, or at least a new felt with a betting line. They also have snacks out (chips, cookies, fruit, and sandwich wraps), just like Motor City. I don't know if that is permanent, or just for Opening Night.But it's not a big room. The tables seem to be a bit crammed together. With all these little rooms that you have to walk through to get to the Poker Room, couldn't they have knocked a wall down in order to made a bigger room. Or at least use two of the rooms, just like the original Poker Room.
So, after a quick look around, I left the Poker Room, went to my car, and headed home. Next time I'm in Detroit, I'll go back to Greektown to do a more detailed review of the new Poker Room.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Game Selection
At my regular home game on Saturday night, we got into a small discussion about Detroit poker rooms. Someone agreed with me that Motor City is the nicest room, but they also said that the players are tougher at MC and Greektown has the softest games.
To be perfectly honest, I never really compared the 'toughness' of the $1/$2 NL games. Most because I've always thought that $1/$2 is the same at every casino. I just go to different places for some variety.
Since I keep track of my poker wins and losses in a database, it's very easy to make a query to compare results. So I did some poking and prodding, and came up with some surprising results.
I used results from the last few years for all Detroit rooms, as well as Mountaineer since it's just as close.
I have to use a disclaimer. Since these are using a small sample size, the numbers could change drastically if my next session at any room is either +$500 or -$300. But these are the numbers I have, so that what I'm gonna use.
Well, I was obviously wrong. Looking at these numbers, I have no reason to go back to Motor City, except for the "free room" offers. Greektown seems to be the best results. I know that MGM is also great on weekends, but super tight on weekday afternoons.
And since I've been getting so many "free room" offers from Detroit, I have only been to Mountaineer only a few times in the last six months. That's something that I need to fix.
To be perfectly honest, I never really compared the 'toughness' of the $1/$2 NL games. Most because I've always thought that $1/$2 is the same at every casino. I just go to different places for some variety.
Since I keep track of my poker wins and losses in a database, it's very easy to make a query to compare results. So I did some poking and prodding, and came up with some surprising results.
I used results from the last few years for all Detroit rooms, as well as Mountaineer since it's just as close.
I have to use a disclaimer. Since these are using a small sample size, the numbers could change drastically if my next session at any room is either +$500 or -$300. But these are the numbers I have, so that what I'm gonna use.
Motor City: 18 sessions (8-10 .444) $248 profit ($13.78 avg)
MGM Detroit: 17 sessions (9-8 .529) $960 profit ($56.47 avg)
Greektown: 13 sessions (8-5 .615) $890 profit ($68.46 avg)
Mountaineer: 38 sessions (24-14 .632) $4014 profit ($105.63 avg)
Well, I was obviously wrong. Looking at these numbers, I have no reason to go back to Motor City, except for the "free room" offers. Greektown seems to be the best results. I know that MGM is also great on weekends, but super tight on weekday afternoons.
And since I've been getting so many "free room" offers from Detroit, I have only been to Mountaineer only a few times in the last six months. That's something that I need to fix.
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