2:00 $300 - After donking off my chips in the Greektown 11am tourney on Monday, I decide to go play at my own personal Money Tree, MGM Detroit. My win-rate is much larger there than any other Detroit casino. I don't know why this happens, but I've learned not to question the Poker Gods.
They are opening a new table, the 3rd $1/$2 table. I'm the only player who bought in for the full $300. Most have $200, and a few have around $100. There are a few $2/$5 regular waiting for the "real" game to open up.
2:30 $296 - The action at this table is what I expected with the $2/$5 players sitting in the Kiddie game. I'm just sitting back, and being patient. The only raise I made was with JTo in Mid position after it folded around to me. Everyone else folded, and I won the blinds.
3:00 $231- As I've mentioned before, MGM Detroit doesn't drop their rake. They keep it in the Dealer's tray on the Seat 10 side. After an hour, there is $80 in that slot.
Straddle pot. It folded to me in Mid position. I raise to $15 with 77. The Blinds and Straddle call. Flop Qc 8d 5d. It checks around to me, and I C-Bet for $35. The BB called, and I gave up.
3:30 $233 - Limped with QJ on the Button. BB raised to $13. Four players see the Flop of Qc 8d 5h. It checks around to me, and I bet $40. Only the SB (Old Guy who likes to chase Draws) calls. Turn [Qc 8d 5h] 9d. SB checks. I don't like that card, so I also check. River [Qc 8d 6h 9d] 8c. SB grabs a stack of Red chips and bets $95. After thinking about it for a little bit, I make the crying call. He shows 75o for a Straight. It was a bad call by me. My record for Hero Calls sucks, and I need to stop giving away chips.
I grab 8 Green chips out of my pocket, and reload $200.
4:00 $241 - Rake is now $155. I raised with AQ, got two callers, and took it down on the Flop. Even though the $2/$5 players are still here, the table has calmed down somewhat. I've been doing a lot of folding today, because my cards really suck.
4:30 $326 - UTG has been milking his Shortstack for a while now, and goes All-In for $17. I'm the next player, and call with JTo. This starts the cascade, and six players see the Flop of Js Jd 3s. I bet $50, and all fold. UTG has 88, and misses his 2-outer.
5:00 $266 - Rake is $231. I called a few raises, and made a few. All were Airballs. I've been card dead all day. Maybe this is "balancing the scales" for my tourney victory on Saturday night.
5:30 $274 - I called a $7 raise on the Button with 54o. Five players saw the Flop of Ac 5s 2c. It folds around to me, and I bet $20. Everybody folds.
6:10 $535 - I forgot to check the Rake, but the hourly total seems to be in the $70-$80 range.
Straddle pot. I'm in Mid position, and make it $15 with AKo. One or two players call. The Straddle, who is one of the $2/$5 players and the Action Guy of the table, raises to $75. I go All-In for $270. If I just call, then I might whiff the Flop. Plus, I expect him to call me with a wide range of hands. I was planning on leaving soon, so I if I win or lose, then it's all good. He talks a little, and finally calls. I show my cards, but he doesn't. When I hit the Greenstein, he pounds his fist on the table, and shows his JJ.
I was planning on leaving at 6pm, so I play another orbit, but nothing of interest happened. I leave the table up $35.
On Sunday, I played a session similar to this one: 4.5 hours, no cards, and -$54. For me to have played 8.5 hours of card dead poker, and only be down $19, that feels like a moral victory to me.
Showing posts with label MGM Detroit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MGM Detroit. Show all posts
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Hand Of The Day #45
$1/$2 NLHE - MGM Detroit - 06.13.10
Mid player raises to $10. He's been doing a lot of raising, usually to just $4. I call in the Cutoff with 93c, since it's suited. I've got around $450, and he's got the same or maybe more. The SB also calls.
Flop Kh 9h 3s. SB checks. Mid bets $30. I see no reason to slowplay my Bottom Two Pair, so I raise to $80. SB folds. Mid thinks for a bit, and raises to $130, the absolute minimum raise. WTF? I decide to just call. If our stacks were smaller, then I would have no problem shipping it All-In. But I've still got over $300 behind, and that Min 3-Bet is really bizarre.
Turn [Kh 9h 3s] Ah. Worst card in the Deck, other than another K. Mid thinks for a bit, and checks. To me, this is a "Way Ahead or Way Behind" situation. I really can't put him on Hearts in this spot. But he certainly could have AK or AA. Plus, I don't want to get Check-Raised, so I just check.
River [Kh 9h 3s Ah] 6h. I wasn't worried about the 3rd Heart, but the 4th one really sucks. He thinks and checks. I say, "Two Pair", and it was good. I'm not really sure what he had, but the only hands that I could beat were KQ, or maybe QQ.
I know that I sometimes complain that I can't get paid off with my big hands. And maybe I should have re-raised after he made that Min 3-Bet. But how much more money would he have committed with KQ or QQ?
Mid player raises to $10. He's been doing a lot of raising, usually to just $4. I call in the Cutoff with 93c, since it's suited. I've got around $450, and he's got the same or maybe more. The SB also calls.
Flop Kh 9h 3s. SB checks. Mid bets $30. I see no reason to slowplay my Bottom Two Pair, so I raise to $80. SB folds. Mid thinks for a bit, and raises to $130, the absolute minimum raise. WTF? I decide to just call. If our stacks were smaller, then I would have no problem shipping it All-In. But I've still got over $300 behind, and that Min 3-Bet is really bizarre.
Turn [Kh 9h 3s] Ah. Worst card in the Deck, other than another K. Mid thinks for a bit, and checks. To me, this is a "Way Ahead or Way Behind" situation. I really can't put him on Hearts in this spot. But he certainly could have AK or AA. Plus, I don't want to get Check-Raised, so I just check.
River [Kh 9h 3s Ah] 6h. I wasn't worried about the 3rd Heart, but the 4th one really sucks. He thinks and checks. I say, "Two Pair", and it was good. I'm not really sure what he had, but the only hands that I could beat were KQ, or maybe QQ.
I know that I sometimes complain that I can't get paid off with my big hands. And maybe I should have re-raised after he made that Min 3-Bet. But how much more money would he have committed with KQ or QQ?
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Hand Of The Day #44
$1/$2 NLHE - MGM Detroit - 06.13.10
I raise to $7 in Mid position with Jc Js. Cutoff raises to $20. He's the Big Stack at the table, and seems to be the only "Player" at the table. All Fold. Since he's got me covered, and I'm out of position, I just call.
Flop Jh Tc 9d. I check my Top Set. He checks.
Turn [Jh Tc 9d] Ts. I decide to check my Boat. He fires $30. I decide to just call, and fire out big on the River.
River [Jh Tc 9d Ts] Kh. I quickly grab 3 Green chips and bet $75. He tanks for a while. He looks back at his had a few times. He finally folds AT (Trip Tens) face up. I muck my Full House in quiet disgust, and scoop my small pot.
This hand shows my unique ability to win the minimum with Monster hands. It doesn't necessarily mean that I played it wrong. I always seem to choose the wrong betting line for the cards my opponent has. I could have decided to lead out on the Turn, or even Check-Raise him. But he could have had other hands that would have folded, like AK or maybe AJ.
Certainly in this hand, Position was a factor. It's much easier to manipulate the pot size when you're last to act.
Also, the K on the River turned out to be a Scare Card for just Trips, since any Q will have him beat. Of course, if he had a different hand like AQ or QQ, then it would have been a great card for me.
I raise to $7 in Mid position with Jc Js. Cutoff raises to $20. He's the Big Stack at the table, and seems to be the only "Player" at the table. All Fold. Since he's got me covered, and I'm out of position, I just call.
Flop Jh Tc 9d. I check my Top Set. He checks.
Turn [Jh Tc 9d] Ts. I decide to check my Boat. He fires $30. I decide to just call, and fire out big on the River.
River [Jh Tc 9d Ts] Kh. I quickly grab 3 Green chips and bet $75. He tanks for a while. He looks back at his had a few times. He finally folds AT (Trip Tens) face up. I muck my Full House in quiet disgust, and scoop my small pot.
This hand shows my unique ability to win the minimum with Monster hands. It doesn't necessarily mean that I played it wrong. I always seem to choose the wrong betting line for the cards my opponent has. I could have decided to lead out on the Turn, or even Check-Raise him. But he could have had other hands that would have folded, like AK or maybe AJ.
Certainly in this hand, Position was a factor. It's much easier to manipulate the pot size when you're last to act.
Also, the K on the River turned out to be a Scare Card for just Trips, since any Q will have him beat. Of course, if he had a different hand like AQ or QQ, then it would have been a great card for me.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Hand Of The Day #43
$1/$2 NLHE - MGM Detroit - 06.26.10
First orbit of the session, Mid player raises to $11. I'm the 2nd caller on the Button with 5h 3s. Four players see the Flop of Ad 9c 3d. Mid bets $25. I call with Bottom Pair (and the Button). UTG also calls.
Turn: [Ad 9c 3d] 2d. UTG checks. Mid checks. Nobody seems to like the Flush card, so I bet $50. UTG folds. Mid calls.
River [Ad 9c 3d 2d] Kh. Mid checks. I'm fairly sure that my Pair of 3's is not good. So I make a Value Bluff of $60, since that's what I would bet with the Flush. Mid really goes into deep thought, and then he starts talking. "Do you have the Flush? I have a really good hand."
I've been just sitting there shuffling some chips. I decided to join in the conversation. "You hit the K for Two Pair?"
"No. I have a Set."
"Wow, that is a good hand," I say with a little smile while still shuffling some chips.
He keeps thinking, and asks a few other things. But I drop out of the conversation. I just give a small smile, and keep shuffling some chips. Eventually he folds, but doesn't show if he had 99 or AA.
Naturally, I show my 53o. I don't do it to be a dick, or rub it in. I do it to advertise to the table that I am capable of doing this, since this is just my first orbit. Hopefully it will get me paid off later.
First orbit of the session, Mid player raises to $11. I'm the 2nd caller on the Button with 5h 3s. Four players see the Flop of Ad 9c 3d. Mid bets $25. I call with Bottom Pair (and the Button). UTG also calls.
Turn: [Ad 9c 3d] 2d. UTG checks. Mid checks. Nobody seems to like the Flush card, so I bet $50. UTG folds. Mid calls.
River [Ad 9c 3d 2d] Kh. Mid checks. I'm fairly sure that my Pair of 3's is not good. So I make a Value Bluff of $60, since that's what I would bet with the Flush. Mid really goes into deep thought, and then he starts talking. "Do you have the Flush? I have a really good hand."
I've been just sitting there shuffling some chips. I decided to join in the conversation. "You hit the K for Two Pair?"
"No. I have a Set."
"Wow, that is a good hand," I say with a little smile while still shuffling some chips.
He keeps thinking, and asks a few other things. But I drop out of the conversation. I just give a small smile, and keep shuffling some chips. Eventually he folds, but doesn't show if he had 99 or AA.
Naturally, I show my 53o. I don't do it to be a dick, or rub it in. I do it to advertise to the table that I am capable of doing this, since this is just my first orbit. Hopefully it will get me paid off later.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Easy Like Sunday Morning
2:10 $300 - I walk into the MGM Detroit Poker Room just before they open up the 4th $1/$2 table. We start out seven handed. I'm the only player to buy in for the Max. Two players bought in for $200, and the rest were around $100.
2:30 $281 - We are now 9 handed, with one of the new players buying in for the Max. So far, this table is very passive. Only one player who seems like he might be a "Player", and he's two seats to my Left. I called a few small bets, but nothing worth noting.
3:00 $327 - I semi-bluffed with Flush Draw on Flop, and picked up the Open Ender on Turn. River was brick, but won it with the 3rd Bullet.
If you're into action and big pots, then this table is not for you. Since so few people are raising preflop, I started doing it. I raised to my standard $7 with QJo and JJ, but lost both.
3:30 $393 - We are 8 handed now. I raised a Straddle to $15 with 74o, and won it on the Flop. I also won pots with J9d and 87o
4:00 $450 - Straddle pot. I'm the SB with T9o. Six player go to the Flop. As the Dealer is gathering up the $4, and starts dealing the Flop, I say "C'mon Red 32". I get a few laughs from the players who got the Roulette reference. The Flop is Js 8d 7h. Since there are so many people in the pot, I check the Nut Straight and assume that someone will bet at it. Nobody does. Turn [Js 8d 7h] 7d. I lead out for $15. Just the BB called. River [Js 8d 7h 7d] 6s. I bet $25. BB calls with a 7. I show my hand, and say, "Hello Red 32."
This poker room doesn't have a drop for their rake. They keep it in the Dealer tray, on the Seat 10 side. After almost two hours. it's up to $191. That's between $90-$100 per hour, and we've had many pots that didn't even come close to the $6 max rake. Plus, that doesn't include the $1 per pot for the Bad Beat Jackpot. This is why people say it's very hard to beat $1/$2 over the long term.
4:30 $454 - For the first time today, our table is full. In a future Hand Of The Day (H.O.T.D.), I win the minimum with a Monster hand. I have this unique ability to not get paid off my Monster hands. Either nobody has anything, or the board gets scary to slow down the action, or I chose the wrong betting line for the cards they have.
5:00 $484 - I limped in Hyjack with K2h. Six players see the Flop Ah Qh 5h. It checks to me. I checked the last two Flops that I hit hard, and didn't win big pots. So this time, I lead out for $7 with the Nut Flush. I only get one caller, an Old Man in Mid position. Turn [Ah Qh 5h] 7c. He checks. I bet $15, and he called. River [Ah Qh 5h 7c] As. He checks. I bet $20, and he folds. Six players to the Flop, and nobody has an A or a smaller Flush.
Sigh!
5:30 $580 - I won over $100 in a future H.O.T.D.
6:00 $612 - We are back to 8 handed. No big hands for me. I stole a few small pots that nobody wanted. The Rake is up to $369.
6:30 $691 - I've become Action Guy at this table. For example: I limp in Hyjack with Q8d. Five players see the Flop As 8c 6h. I lead out for $7. The Cutoff min raises to $14. He's has only been here about an hour, but has been extremely tight, even whining about how bad his cards have been. It folds to me, and I call. Turn [As 8c 6h] 8s. I check my Trips. He quickly checks. This means that he just has Top Pair, probably something like AJ. River [As 8c 6h 8s] 3s. I bet $25, and hope it's small enough for this Nit to pay off. He thinks for a while, and finally makes the crying call. He doesn't show his Ace.
We are now 6 handed, and there are open seats at other tables. I was planning on playing until 8pm. If they break this table, I will end early, and book the win. I don't want to sit at a new table for just an hour.
7:00 $686 - I kinda took this half hour off. I got caught up in the table talk about Detroit Poker. We are now 8 handed.
7:30 $592 - We are now 7 handed. Very ugly half hour. I didn't lose any big pots, but the $15 and $20 bets or calls add up quickly. I got down to around $550, but made a small comeback.
The worst one was me raising UTG with KQd. Five players see the Flop Jc Td 4h. I lead out for $20 with Open Ender + Overcards, and three players call (both Blinds, and Cutoff). Turn [Jc Td 4h] 6h. It checks to me. There are too many players to just keep firing, so I check. The Cutoff also checks. River [Jc Td 4h 6h] Ah. I hit my Straight, but the backdoor Flush got there. That could be a factor with four players still in the pot. BB leads out for $25. He hasn't been here that long, but has seemed tight. I was gonna bet $25, so I just call. Cutoff thinks, and calls. SB folds. BB show KQh for Nut Flush and the same Straight as me. Yuck!
7:40 $586 - They broke the table. The Rake got emptied without me noticing it, but it was well over $500.
2:30 $281 - We are now 9 handed, with one of the new players buying in for the Max. So far, this table is very passive. Only one player who seems like he might be a "Player", and he's two seats to my Left. I called a few small bets, but nothing worth noting.
3:00 $327 - I semi-bluffed with Flush Draw on Flop, and picked up the Open Ender on Turn. River was brick, but won it with the 3rd Bullet.
If you're into action and big pots, then this table is not for you. Since so few people are raising preflop, I started doing it. I raised to my standard $7 with QJo and JJ, but lost both.
3:30 $393 - We are 8 handed now. I raised a Straddle to $15 with 74o, and won it on the Flop. I also won pots with J9d and 87o
4:00 $450 - Straddle pot. I'm the SB with T9o. Six player go to the Flop. As the Dealer is gathering up the $4, and starts dealing the Flop, I say "C'mon Red 32". I get a few laughs from the players who got the Roulette reference. The Flop is Js 8d 7h. Since there are so many people in the pot, I check the Nut Straight and assume that someone will bet at it. Nobody does. Turn [Js 8d 7h] 7d. I lead out for $15. Just the BB called. River [Js 8d 7h 7d] 6s. I bet $25. BB calls with a 7. I show my hand, and say, "Hello Red 32."
This poker room doesn't have a drop for their rake. They keep it in the Dealer tray, on the Seat 10 side. After almost two hours. it's up to $191. That's between $90-$100 per hour, and we've had many pots that didn't even come close to the $6 max rake. Plus, that doesn't include the $1 per pot for the Bad Beat Jackpot. This is why people say it's very hard to beat $1/$2 over the long term.
4:30 $454 - For the first time today, our table is full. In a future Hand Of The Day (H.O.T.D.), I win the minimum with a Monster hand. I have this unique ability to not get paid off my Monster hands. Either nobody has anything, or the board gets scary to slow down the action, or I chose the wrong betting line for the cards they have.
5:00 $484 - I limped in Hyjack with K2h. Six players see the Flop Ah Qh 5h. It checks to me. I checked the last two Flops that I hit hard, and didn't win big pots. So this time, I lead out for $7 with the Nut Flush. I only get one caller, an Old Man in Mid position. Turn [Ah Qh 5h] 7c. He checks. I bet $15, and he called. River [Ah Qh 5h 7c] As. He checks. I bet $20, and he folds. Six players to the Flop, and nobody has an A or a smaller Flush.
Sigh!
5:30 $580 - I won over $100 in a future H.O.T.D.
6:00 $612 - We are back to 8 handed. No big hands for me. I stole a few small pots that nobody wanted. The Rake is up to $369.
6:30 $691 - I've become Action Guy at this table. For example: I limp in Hyjack with Q8d. Five players see the Flop As 8c 6h. I lead out for $7. The Cutoff min raises to $14. He's has only been here about an hour, but has been extremely tight, even whining about how bad his cards have been. It folds to me, and I call. Turn [As 8c 6h] 8s. I check my Trips. He quickly checks. This means that he just has Top Pair, probably something like AJ. River [As 8c 6h 8s] 3s. I bet $25, and hope it's small enough for this Nit to pay off. He thinks for a while, and finally makes the crying call. He doesn't show his Ace.
We are now 6 handed, and there are open seats at other tables. I was planning on playing until 8pm. If they break this table, I will end early, and book the win. I don't want to sit at a new table for just an hour.
7:00 $686 - I kinda took this half hour off. I got caught up in the table talk about Detroit Poker. We are now 8 handed.
7:30 $592 - We are now 7 handed. Very ugly half hour. I didn't lose any big pots, but the $15 and $20 bets or calls add up quickly. I got down to around $550, but made a small comeback.
The worst one was me raising UTG with KQd. Five players see the Flop Jc Td 4h. I lead out for $20 with Open Ender + Overcards, and three players call (both Blinds, and Cutoff). Turn [Jc Td 4h] 6h. It checks to me. There are too many players to just keep firing, so I check. The Cutoff also checks. River [Jc Td 4h 6h] Ah. I hit my Straight, but the backdoor Flush got there. That could be a factor with four players still in the pot. BB leads out for $25. He hasn't been here that long, but has seemed tight. I was gonna bet $25, so I just call. Cutoff thinks, and calls. SB folds. BB show KQh for Nut Flush and the same Straight as me. Yuck!
7:40 $586 - They broke the table. The Rake got emptied without me noticing it, but it was well over $500.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Hand Of The Day #38
$1/$2 NLHE - MGM Detroit - 5.10.10
I've been at this table for less than one orbit, but I've already won two pots.
Straddle pot, with a few limpers. The Hyjack raises to $15. I'm the Cutoff with Ah Qc, and raise to $40. The Button thinks for a moment, and calls. Everyone else folds, except an Old Man who's in Mid position. The Hyjack also folds.
Flop: 9c 9h 3h. The Mid player checks. This is not the Flop I wanted with two callers, but I gotta follow through. I grab 4 Green chips, and bet $100. The Button goes into deep thought. While the Button thinks, the Old Guy in Mid position walks away from the table, essentially folding his hand out of turn.
After almost a minute of thought, the Button goes to grab two stack of Reds, and looks over at me to get a read. But the Dealer is sitting between us, since I'm in the #10 seat, and he's in the #1 seat. I just sit there casual and relaxed. I've been playing poker too long for that silly trick to work on me.
After not seeing me quiver in fear, he thinks for another moment or two. He looks back at his cards. Then he grabs his cards like he's gonna muck them, but hesitates. Maybe he's still trying to get a reaction from me. He finally tosses his card face up towards the Dealer, Kh Kd. I figured he was on a big Pair, probably JJ or maybe QQ. But KK ... Wow!
The Dealer mucks his cards, and starts to gather the pot to ship my way. I turn my AQ face up, and put $1 on top for the Tip.
I've been at this table for less than one orbit, but I've already won two pots.
Straddle pot, with a few limpers. The Hyjack raises to $15. I'm the Cutoff with Ah Qc, and raise to $40. The Button thinks for a moment, and calls. Everyone else folds, except an Old Man who's in Mid position. The Hyjack also folds.
Flop: 9c 9h 3h. The Mid player checks. This is not the Flop I wanted with two callers, but I gotta follow through. I grab 4 Green chips, and bet $100. The Button goes into deep thought. While the Button thinks, the Old Guy in Mid position walks away from the table, essentially folding his hand out of turn.
After almost a minute of thought, the Button goes to grab two stack of Reds, and looks over at me to get a read. But the Dealer is sitting between us, since I'm in the #10 seat, and he's in the #1 seat. I just sit there casual and relaxed. I've been playing poker too long for that silly trick to work on me.
After not seeing me quiver in fear, he thinks for another moment or two. He looks back at his cards. Then he grabs his cards like he's gonna muck them, but hesitates. Maybe he's still trying to get a reaction from me. He finally tosses his card face up towards the Dealer, Kh Kd. I figured he was on a big Pair, probably JJ or maybe QQ. But KK ... Wow!
The Dealer mucks his cards, and starts to gather the pot to ship my way. I turn my AQ face up, and put $1 on top for the Tip.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Hand Of The Day #37
$1/$2 NLHE - MGM Detroit - 04.15.10
I call the $1 from the SB with 96h. Four players see the Flop of Kd 7d 5s. I check. The BB bets $10. The Cutoff calls. I've got a Gutshot draw. I normally only call if I'm drawing to the Nut Straights, which I am, and if there's no Flush Draw, which there is. But it's only $10, and there are two players that I could win money from. So I call, and hope that a Black 8 hits the Turn.
Turn: [Kd 7d 5s] 8s. And there it is. I check. The BB bets $25. Cutoff calls. I check-raise to $75. The BB quickly goes All-In for around $225. The Cutoff thinks for a while, and reluctantly folds. I've got the BB covered. So I double check my cards, and call. I show my hand. He turns over 64d for a smaller Straight and a Flush draw. Nasty cooler.
River: [Kd 7d 5s 8s] Jc. He misses his redraw, and I scoop a $500 pot.
I call the $1 from the SB with 96h. Four players see the Flop of Kd 7d 5s. I check. The BB bets $10. The Cutoff calls. I've got a Gutshot draw. I normally only call if I'm drawing to the Nut Straights, which I am, and if there's no Flush Draw, which there is. But it's only $10, and there are two players that I could win money from. So I call, and hope that a Black 8 hits the Turn.
Turn: [Kd 7d 5s] 8s. And there it is. I check. The BB bets $25. Cutoff calls. I check-raise to $75. The BB quickly goes All-In for around $225. The Cutoff thinks for a while, and reluctantly folds. I've got the BB covered. So I double check my cards, and call. I show my hand. He turns over 64d for a smaller Straight and a Flush draw. Nasty cooler.
River: [Kd 7d 5s 8s] Jc. He misses his redraw, and I scoop a $500 pot.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Poker Is A Skill Game
12:30 $300 - After waiting for 15 minutes, I get a seat at the only $1/$2 table at MGM Detroit. This looks like a normal weekday table. Nobody has over $350. I recognize a few regulars.
1:00 $268 - There are a couple of $2/$5 players waiting for their game to open, and they are generating a lot of action. I raises to $11 with AJ, and got five callers. Q8 ended up winning the hand by hitting Trip 8 on the Flop. It's gonna be that kind of table. If I can catch any cards, it should be a great session.
1:30 $261 - I got one of the $2/$5 players All-In preflop for $111, JJ vs AJc. He flushed out on me. I still haven't won a pot yet, so I reloaded for $150 more.
2:00 $284 - Finally won my first pot. I raised to $15 with ATh, and got two callers. The board double paired with low cards. It got checked down, and I had the only Ace. Power Poker, Baby!
The second $1/$2 table finally opened, but it doesn't look like the $2/$5 game will get going for a while.
2:30 $424 - I won about $150 with AQ against one of the $2/$5 players, and sent him home. The other $2/$5, my AJc guy, also dusted off his stack. Hopefully, this table will calm down, and I can play a little poker, instead of waiting for a hand.
3:00 $646 - Still playing eight handed. I won around $250 in a limped pot from the SB, a future H.O.T.D.
3:30 $640 - I didn't really play a hand. I took a 10 minute break to walk around, and refill my cool, refreshing beverage. I came back to find three new players. One of them seems to be another $2/$5 player waiting for the "Real Money" Game to open up.
4:00 $588 - I raised $10 UTG+1 with 44, and got two callers. I c-bet $25 on a Q32 Flop, and they both called. I gave up, and QJ ended up winning the hand. This hand was a mistake by me. I don't need to raise in Early Position with 44 to generate action at this table; it's already got plenty. I also don't need to mix up my raising hands because nobody cares. Half the table just wants to see Flop, and see if the Roulette ball lands on their number. On a Crazy Bingo table like this one, I don't need to raise with anything but Top 10 hands. Limped pots get 5-7 players. Raised pots get 4-6 players.
There are currently two Action Dudes at this table, the $2/$5 player, and another psycho. They're both hitting their crap right now, so I just need to be patient.
4:30 $532 - It's really hard to patient with no cards to play. I got into a pot with the $2/$5 dude. I called one of his raises with 76o on the Button. It didn't work out.
It's also really hard to patient when these nut-jobs keep hitting all their crappy cards. The $2/$5 psycho is hitting ridiculous hands, and is getting paid off. He's been here just over an hour, and already has $900 in front of him.
5:00 $499 - The $2/$5 dude left the table. He was bored by this small game, and went over to Motor City to play in the $5/$10NL game.
The one remaining Action Guy started raising Blind to $15. He has the money in his hand, and announces to the table as the Dealer starts dealing. His cards are right where the Dealer pitched them as he tosses his three Red chip forward. Of course, everyone is just calling the $15, instead of raising. On the second time he did it, I limped and back-raised with 22 UTG. I fired a $60 c-bet on the Flop, but I had to give up on the Turn because there was too many Face Cards on the Board. Naturally, he woke up with AK that hand.
5:30 $451 - I raise to $12 with AJ in Mid position, and get five callers. I flopped an Open-Ender on a Flush Draw board. I had to fold because I was in the middle of two players who were betting and raising. I would have won the pot.
I'm really getting frustrated now. I really have no clue how to win at these Crazy Bingo tables without catching cards. One of the local solid grinders, who had been sitting here all day, said he never raises preflop, even with AA. But he will 3-bet if someone else raises. I think this has some possibilities. You just need to play Small Ball with your Big Pairs, which I normally do anyways. It's something I may try next time I sit at one of these tables.
6:00 $493 - I raised $10 in Mid position with JTo, and get four callers. I flopped a Gutshot (Q82). I c-bet $35, and everyone folded. That's the first time it happened today.
The Blind Action Guy is just an absolute Card Rack now. He's been raising Blind once or twice an Orbit. In the latest one, he ended up with 94o. He flopped Two Pair, and hit his Boat on the River. Someone else in the pot had a Straight on the Turn, and lost $200 on the River to the Blind Action Guy, who's got around $1100 in front of him now.
6:10 $335 - UTG raises to $10. He just recently sat down. Three players call. I'm the SB, and have AKs. The UTG has around $100 behind. I decide that I'm willing to Flip for his stack, so I raise to $70. UTG folds. (I found out right after the hand that he had AQ.) I do get one caller, an older gentleman who hasn't been here that long. He calls the extra $60, and has $55 behind. Flop is Kh Th Ts. I bet $55, and Old Dude calls. I show my AK for Two Pair. Old Dude, who called the first $10 raise, and put in more than half of his stack with my raise, turns over T6c for Trip 10. I miss my two outer.
I go into Mega-Tilt, gather up my chips, and storm away from the table down $115 for the day.
1:00 $268 - There are a couple of $2/$5 players waiting for their game to open, and they are generating a lot of action. I raises to $11 with AJ, and got five callers. Q8 ended up winning the hand by hitting Trip 8 on the Flop. It's gonna be that kind of table. If I can catch any cards, it should be a great session.
1:30 $261 - I got one of the $2/$5 players All-In preflop for $111, JJ vs AJc. He flushed out on me. I still haven't won a pot yet, so I reloaded for $150 more.
2:00 $284 - Finally won my first pot. I raised to $15 with ATh, and got two callers. The board double paired with low cards. It got checked down, and I had the only Ace. Power Poker, Baby!
The second $1/$2 table finally opened, but it doesn't look like the $2/$5 game will get going for a while.
2:30 $424 - I won about $150 with AQ against one of the $2/$5 players, and sent him home. The other $2/$5, my AJc guy, also dusted off his stack. Hopefully, this table will calm down, and I can play a little poker, instead of waiting for a hand.
3:00 $646 - Still playing eight handed. I won around $250 in a limped pot from the SB, a future H.O.T.D.
3:30 $640 - I didn't really play a hand. I took a 10 minute break to walk around, and refill my cool, refreshing beverage. I came back to find three new players. One of them seems to be another $2/$5 player waiting for the "Real Money" Game to open up.
4:00 $588 - I raised $10 UTG+1 with 44, and got two callers. I c-bet $25 on a Q32 Flop, and they both called. I gave up, and QJ ended up winning the hand. This hand was a mistake by me. I don't need to raise in Early Position with 44 to generate action at this table; it's already got plenty. I also don't need to mix up my raising hands because nobody cares. Half the table just wants to see Flop, and see if the Roulette ball lands on their number. On a Crazy Bingo table like this one, I don't need to raise with anything but Top 10 hands. Limped pots get 5-7 players. Raised pots get 4-6 players.
There are currently two Action Dudes at this table, the $2/$5 player, and another psycho. They're both hitting their crap right now, so I just need to be patient.
4:30 $532 - It's really hard to patient with no cards to play. I got into a pot with the $2/$5 dude. I called one of his raises with 76o on the Button. It didn't work out.
It's also really hard to patient when these nut-jobs keep hitting all their crappy cards. The $2/$5 psycho is hitting ridiculous hands, and is getting paid off. He's been here just over an hour, and already has $900 in front of him.
5:00 $499 - The $2/$5 dude left the table. He was bored by this small game, and went over to Motor City to play in the $5/$10NL game.
The one remaining Action Guy started raising Blind to $15. He has the money in his hand, and announces to the table as the Dealer starts dealing. His cards are right where the Dealer pitched them as he tosses his three Red chip forward. Of course, everyone is just calling the $15, instead of raising. On the second time he did it, I limped and back-raised with 22 UTG. I fired a $60 c-bet on the Flop, but I had to give up on the Turn because there was too many Face Cards on the Board. Naturally, he woke up with AK that hand.
5:30 $451 - I raise to $12 with AJ in Mid position, and get five callers. I flopped an Open-Ender on a Flush Draw board. I had to fold because I was in the middle of two players who were betting and raising. I would have won the pot.
I'm really getting frustrated now. I really have no clue how to win at these Crazy Bingo tables without catching cards. One of the local solid grinders, who had been sitting here all day, said he never raises preflop, even with AA. But he will 3-bet if someone else raises. I think this has some possibilities. You just need to play Small Ball with your Big Pairs, which I normally do anyways. It's something I may try next time I sit at one of these tables.
6:00 $493 - I raised $10 in Mid position with JTo, and get four callers. I flopped a Gutshot (Q82). I c-bet $35, and everyone folded. That's the first time it happened today.
The Blind Action Guy is just an absolute Card Rack now. He's been raising Blind once or twice an Orbit. In the latest one, he ended up with 94o. He flopped Two Pair, and hit his Boat on the River. Someone else in the pot had a Straight on the Turn, and lost $200 on the River to the Blind Action Guy, who's got around $1100 in front of him now.
6:10 $335 - UTG raises to $10. He just recently sat down. Three players call. I'm the SB, and have AKs. The UTG has around $100 behind. I decide that I'm willing to Flip for his stack, so I raise to $70. UTG folds. (I found out right after the hand that he had AQ.) I do get one caller, an older gentleman who hasn't been here that long. He calls the extra $60, and has $55 behind. Flop is Kh Th Ts. I bet $55, and Old Dude calls. I show my AK for Two Pair. Old Dude, who called the first $10 raise, and put in more than half of his stack with my raise, turns over T6c for Trip 10. I miss my two outer.
I go into Mega-Tilt, gather up my chips, and storm away from the table down $115 for the day.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Hand of the Day #30
$1/$2 NLHE - MGM Detroit - 03.12.10
UTG+1 raises to $5. He has only been here about 30 minutes, and has done this a decent amount of times. I'm the SB, and call with 54o. Five players see the Flop of Js 8h 5c. I decide to lead out for $15, and just UTG+1 calls.
Turn: [Js 8h 5c] 4s. Since he was the preflop raiser, I check my Two Pair, hoping he'll stab at it. He graciously does for $30. I check-raise to $80. He thinks for a moment or two, and pushes All-In for $175. I'm not thrilled about this with just Bottom Two Pair, but I call.
River: [Js 8h 5c 4s] Qs. I show my hand, and he says, "Wow! Two Pair." He just sits their looking at my hand, and then the Board, and then his cards. Finally, the Dealer says, "Show your hand, or muck." He keeps looking back over everything, and turns over a 5. (WTF?)
As he goes to muck his cards, he exposes the other card, a 3. Yes, he figured I was just screwing around with a check-raise, and pushed with Bottom/Bottom. And then he's surprised that it didn't hold up.
Often when Player A wins a big pot because Player B screwed up, I will say to Player A after the hand, "Merry Christmas."
Well, Merry Christmas to Me for the extra $145 that this Donk gave me..
UTG+1 raises to $5. He has only been here about 30 minutes, and has done this a decent amount of times. I'm the SB, and call with 54o. Five players see the Flop of Js 8h 5c. I decide to lead out for $15, and just UTG+1 calls.
Turn: [Js 8h 5c] 4s. Since he was the preflop raiser, I check my Two Pair, hoping he'll stab at it. He graciously does for $30. I check-raise to $80. He thinks for a moment or two, and pushes All-In for $175. I'm not thrilled about this with just Bottom Two Pair, but I call.
River: [Js 8h 5c 4s] Qs. I show my hand, and he says, "Wow! Two Pair." He just sits their looking at my hand, and then the Board, and then his cards. Finally, the Dealer says, "Show your hand, or muck." He keeps looking back over everything, and turns over a 5. (WTF?)
As he goes to muck his cards, he exposes the other card, a 3. Yes, he figured I was just screwing around with a check-raise, and pushed with Bottom/Bottom. And then he's surprised that it didn't hold up.
Often when Player A wins a big pot because Player B screwed up, I will say to Player A after the hand, "Merry Christmas."
Well, Merry Christmas to Me for the extra $145 that this Donk gave me..
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.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Hand of the Day #27
$2/$5 NLHE - MGM Detroit - 2.07.10
I've been playing for about four hours, and I'm getting hungry. The session hasn't gone well, due mostly to crappy cards. I'm down a little, and it's time to go. I'm UTG, and will be leaving as soon as I look at my cards and fold. However, the Poker Gods decided to have some fun by giving me Jd Js, the largest pair I've been dealt today. I have no interest in playing a big pot with JJ out of position, so I just limp in. Plus, a player two seats down has been raising a lot, but he folded.
Seven players see a Flop of Jh Th 9s. Well, I hit top set, but it's an extremely draw-heavy board. I lead out for $25. Surprisingly, only two players call.
Turn: [Jh Th 9s] 7c - Well, an 8 got there. But, I really don't want to give a free card, so I bet $55. First player folds, and the second player calls. He's an older gentleman who's obviously a regular player with this group. He hasn't been at the table very long, and he hasn't played many hands yet.
River: [Jh Th 9s 7c] 7s - Sweet, the board paired. Time to value bet $100. He thought for a moment, and then made the crying call saying, "You probably got me beat." I show my Full House, and he mucks. I can only assume that he had the last J.
I scoop a $420 pot, rack up my chips, and leave the Poker Room with a little profit.
I've been playing for about four hours, and I'm getting hungry. The session hasn't gone well, due mostly to crappy cards. I'm down a little, and it's time to go. I'm UTG, and will be leaving as soon as I look at my cards and fold. However, the Poker Gods decided to have some fun by giving me Jd Js, the largest pair I've been dealt today. I have no interest in playing a big pot with JJ out of position, so I just limp in. Plus, a player two seats down has been raising a lot, but he folded.
Seven players see a Flop of Jh Th 9s. Well, I hit top set, but it's an extremely draw-heavy board. I lead out for $25. Surprisingly, only two players call.
Turn: [Jh Th 9s] 7c - Well, an 8 got there. But, I really don't want to give a free card, so I bet $55. First player folds, and the second player calls. He's an older gentleman who's obviously a regular player with this group. He hasn't been at the table very long, and he hasn't played many hands yet.
River: [Jh Th 9s 7c] 7s - Sweet, the board paired. Time to value bet $100. He thought for a moment, and then made the crying call saying, "You probably got me beat." I show my Full House, and he mucks. I can only assume that he had the last J.
I scoop a $420 pot, rack up my chips, and leave the Poker Room with a little profit.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Hand of the Day #26
$2/$5 NLHE - MGM Detroit - 2.07.10
The Hyjack raises to $25. I'm the Button and call with 76c. Six players see a Flop of Ac Kc Ts. It checks around to the Hyjack, and he bets $100. My perception is that he has not played many hands, and has been rather tight. He's got about $225-$250 behind.
Now it's my turn. I did flop a Flush draw, and I have the Hyjack covered. With the pot odds of 2.5-1, I'm not getting the proper odds to call just to see one card (4-1) without getting paid off. Since he's been playing tight, I don't know if he will pay off a Flush with only one pair or even two pair.
I could raise it up, and try to blow him off his hand. But with the pot size being $250 (6x$25 + $100) plus whatever I bet, I don't think there is much fold equity in this spot, unless he is just betting QQ or JJ here.
Also, there are still four other players to act. One of them could have flopped a set or straight, and is waiting to check-raise. Or they could have a larger flush draw that might also include a pair or a straight draw (JTc for example). So, any money that I put in the pot could be almost drawing dead, especially if I raise and commit myself to the pot.
So I reluctantly did the only thing I could do ... Fold. And so did everyone else. The Hyjack took down the pot, and didn't show his hand.
Another point to consider is convert these number to a $1/$2 game, and ask the question, "Would I have called $40 on the Flop?" The truthful answer is Maybe. I have played $2/$5 very rarely in the past (6 sessions last year), and I think I do play a little tighter for one simple reason; the money still matters to me. If I loose $200 - $300 in the $1/$2 game, it's sucks but it doesn't hurt. If I lose $500 - $700 in the $2/$5 game, it does hurt. I do want to start playing bigger, and "Upping the Ante". Hopefully, I will start to look at the money a little different in the future.
The Hyjack raises to $25. I'm the Button and call with 76c. Six players see a Flop of Ac Kc Ts. It checks around to the Hyjack, and he bets $100. My perception is that he has not played many hands, and has been rather tight. He's got about $225-$250 behind.
Now it's my turn. I did flop a Flush draw, and I have the Hyjack covered. With the pot odds of 2.5-1, I'm not getting the proper odds to call just to see one card (4-1) without getting paid off. Since he's been playing tight, I don't know if he will pay off a Flush with only one pair or even two pair.
I could raise it up, and try to blow him off his hand. But with the pot size being $250 (6x$25 + $100) plus whatever I bet, I don't think there is much fold equity in this spot, unless he is just betting QQ or JJ here.
Also, there are still four other players to act. One of them could have flopped a set or straight, and is waiting to check-raise. Or they could have a larger flush draw that might also include a pair or a straight draw (JTc for example). So, any money that I put in the pot could be almost drawing dead, especially if I raise and commit myself to the pot.
So I reluctantly did the only thing I could do ... Fold. And so did everyone else. The Hyjack took down the pot, and didn't show his hand.
Another point to consider is convert these number to a $1/$2 game, and ask the question, "Would I have called $40 on the Flop?" The truthful answer is Maybe. I have played $2/$5 very rarely in the past (6 sessions last year), and I think I do play a little tighter for one simple reason; the money still matters to me. If I loose $200 - $300 in the $1/$2 game, it's sucks but it doesn't hurt. If I lose $500 - $700 in the $2/$5 game, it does hurt. I do want to start playing bigger, and "Upping the Ante". Hopefully, I will start to look at the money a little different in the future.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Super Sunday
3:00 $500 - Walked in to the MGM Detroit Poker Room, and got a seat at the $2/$5 table. As it turns out, the table just opened, so there are no big stacks at the table. I only recognize one player at the other end of the table.
3:30 $480 - I've haven't had any real hands yet. I'm just playing tight to set up a table image, and observe the rest of the table. So far, it's been rather loose passive. Most of the limp pots have 4-7 players. Occasionally, someone raised to $40. A couple of players were straddling to $10.
4:00 $325 - Played a few pots and won only one. All small pots, and I didn't take any big hits. The winning pot was me raising to $20 with AQ in Mid position after two players limped in. Everyone folded.
4:30 $312 - The only hand I played was limping on the Button with 43o and I whiffed the Flop. There was also a $1500+ trainwreck involving four players, two of which were All-In Preflop. The two players who still had chips both hit a set; 8 on the Flop and 9 on the Turn.
5:00 $584 - I stabbed at a pot in the BB, but got called. So I reloaded for $200 when the Button got to me. That very hand I look down at AK, and raised to $15. A few player call. Then a passive player in Mid position back-raises to $75. It folds to me, and I instantly 4-bet to $200. He thinks for a bit, puts me on QQ, and reluctantly folds.
This hand was great for my stack and my confidence. I'm not impressed with anybody at this table. They are just more comfortable with the money involved, since I haven't played $2/$5 in six months (I'm not counting that silly session at Greektown in December). Now that I've got some chips, it's time to start playing some Poker.
5:30 $719 - Two big stacks ($1500+) have left the table, and new players have taken their seats. I called a $15 raise on the Button with T9o. Many players saw a Flop of Ks Ts 5h. It checked to me, so I bet $50. Only one player called. The Turn was another T. I bet $75, and got a caller. I bet $125 on the River (KT5 T 5), but he folded.
6:00 $666 - I raised to $15 in Mid with KQ but whiffed. I limped and called a $15 raise with 64o. I flopped an open-ender (K 7 5). I led out for $55, and everyone folded.
I also raised UTG+2 with AJ to $15. However, it was a straddle pot, so it was actually a min raise. Another player in the Cutoff raised to $40. I was the only caller. The Flop was 8-high. I checked, and he bet $60. I said, "You missed, too?" and folded.
6:30 $589 - Called or raised a few hands, but missed everything. The Poker Room has died now that the Super Bowl has kicked-off. There is only one table of $1/$2 and one table of $2/$5 running, and there are open seats at both tables.
7:00 $790 - Still really card dead, so I decided to call it quits at 7pm. I won a sweet pot in the last orbit that will be a future Hand of the Day.
So I made $90 in four hours. Certainly not a record setting day. But with my pathetic history at $2/$5, any win is a good win.
3:30 $480 - I've haven't had any real hands yet. I'm just playing tight to set up a table image, and observe the rest of the table. So far, it's been rather loose passive. Most of the limp pots have 4-7 players. Occasionally, someone raised to $40. A couple of players were straddling to $10.
4:00 $325 - Played a few pots and won only one. All small pots, and I didn't take any big hits. The winning pot was me raising to $20 with AQ in Mid position after two players limped in. Everyone folded.
4:30 $312 - The only hand I played was limping on the Button with 43o and I whiffed the Flop. There was also a $1500+ trainwreck involving four players, two of which were All-In Preflop. The two players who still had chips both hit a set; 8 on the Flop and 9 on the Turn.
5:00 $584 - I stabbed at a pot in the BB, but got called. So I reloaded for $200 when the Button got to me. That very hand I look down at AK, and raised to $15. A few player call. Then a passive player in Mid position back-raises to $75. It folds to me, and I instantly 4-bet to $200. He thinks for a bit, puts me on QQ, and reluctantly folds.
This hand was great for my stack and my confidence. I'm not impressed with anybody at this table. They are just more comfortable with the money involved, since I haven't played $2/$5 in six months (I'm not counting that silly session at Greektown in December). Now that I've got some chips, it's time to start playing some Poker.
5:30 $719 - Two big stacks ($1500+) have left the table, and new players have taken their seats. I called a $15 raise on the Button with T9o. Many players saw a Flop of Ks Ts 5h. It checked to me, so I bet $50. Only one player called. The Turn was another T. I bet $75, and got a caller. I bet $125 on the River (KT5 T 5), but he folded.
6:00 $666 - I raised to $15 in Mid with KQ but whiffed. I limped and called a $15 raise with 64o. I flopped an open-ender (K 7 5). I led out for $55, and everyone folded.
I also raised UTG+2 with AJ to $15. However, it was a straddle pot, so it was actually a min raise. Another player in the Cutoff raised to $40. I was the only caller. The Flop was 8-high. I checked, and he bet $60. I said, "You missed, too?" and folded.
6:30 $589 - Called or raised a few hands, but missed everything. The Poker Room has died now that the Super Bowl has kicked-off. There is only one table of $1/$2 and one table of $2/$5 running, and there are open seats at both tables.
7:00 $790 - Still really card dead, so I decided to call it quits at 7pm. I won a sweet pot in the last orbit that will be a future Hand of the Day.
So I made $90 in four hours. Certainly not a record setting day. But with my pathetic history at $2/$5, any win is a good win.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Quick Hits
5:10pm $300 - Finally got a $1/$2 NLHE seat at MGM Detroit. Being a Sunday afternoon, I bought in for max. There were a few short stacks, and a few stacks in the $300-$400 range. Nobody has more than $500.
5:30 $295 - I've only played my blinds. So far, this is a typical $1/$2 table. A lot of preflop limping with some occasionally raising that get called by many. It's been rare that a Flop has fewer than four players. Only one player seems to be an action player, a 50 yr old Middle Eastern dude. He's sitting four seats to my left.
6:00 $434 - I was very active, and most of the hands went well. The biggest pot was the first one that I played. I limped in Mid position with KQc. Someone raised to $7, and about five players saw an 8 high Flop with two clubs. With my Flush draw + two overcards, I led out on the Flop and Turn, and only the Action Guy called. I whiffed the River, and we both checked. He shows J9c for a missed Flush draw, and my K high was good.
6:30 $544 - Ended up winning a sweet pot with AhKc by hitting a back door flush. After I raised to $7 preflop, and many players saw a Flop that I missed. A short stack in the SB led out for just $10, so myself and Action Guy called. I hit the Kh on the Turn, which gave me the Nut Flush draw. Short stack went All-In for $38. Both of us called. I hit the Flush on the River. I bet $60, and Action Guy folded. Short Stack was pissed that his 53h got cracked, but it was his own fault. If he didn't bet just $10 on the Flop, and went All-In for the full $48, then I wouldn't have called.
6:40 $579 - I knocked two short stacks in one hand with AJ. The largest stack was Action Guy with $24. We already had three open seats when the these two players left the table, and the game ended up breaking.
Since I made $279 in just 1.5 hours, I decided to book the win, and leave the Poker Room.
Of course, I went back down to the Pit, and sat down at a 3-Card Poker table. I was there an hour, and won $530. I would like to think that it was due to some tweaks I made to my betting system. Or it could have been the four Straights that I hit during hour. Even the hand that I sat out just before Coloring Up my chip stack would have been a Straight if I had played it.
Since I was up $800 in just 2.5 hours of playing, I grabbed a quick meal at the Food Court, headed to Motor City Casino for my Free Room, and just chilled the rest of the night.
5:30 $295 - I've only played my blinds. So far, this is a typical $1/$2 table. A lot of preflop limping with some occasionally raising that get called by many. It's been rare that a Flop has fewer than four players. Only one player seems to be an action player, a 50 yr old Middle Eastern dude. He's sitting four seats to my left.
6:00 $434 - I was very active, and most of the hands went well. The biggest pot was the first one that I played. I limped in Mid position with KQc. Someone raised to $7, and about five players saw an 8 high Flop with two clubs. With my Flush draw + two overcards, I led out on the Flop and Turn, and only the Action Guy called. I whiffed the River, and we both checked. He shows J9c for a missed Flush draw, and my K high was good.
6:30 $544 - Ended up winning a sweet pot with AhKc by hitting a back door flush. After I raised to $7 preflop, and many players saw a Flop that I missed. A short stack in the SB led out for just $10, so myself and Action Guy called. I hit the Kh on the Turn, which gave me the Nut Flush draw. Short stack went All-In for $38. Both of us called. I hit the Flush on the River. I bet $60, and Action Guy folded. Short Stack was pissed that his 53h got cracked, but it was his own fault. If he didn't bet just $10 on the Flop, and went All-In for the full $48, then I wouldn't have called.
6:40 $579 - I knocked two short stacks in one hand with AJ. The largest stack was Action Guy with $24. We already had three open seats when the these two players left the table, and the game ended up breaking.
Since I made $279 in just 1.5 hours, I decided to book the win, and leave the Poker Room.
Of course, I went back down to the Pit, and sat down at a 3-Card Poker table. I was there an hour, and won $530. I would like to think that it was due to some tweaks I made to my betting system. Or it could have been the four Straights that I hit during hour. Even the hand that I sat out just before Coloring Up my chip stack would have been a Straight if I had played it.
Since I was up $800 in just 2.5 hours of playing, I grabbed a quick meal at the Food Court, headed to Motor City Casino for my Free Room, and just chilled the rest of the night.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Hand of the Day #21
$1/$2 NLHE - MGM Detroit - 01/01/10
This hand take place about two hours after yesterday's Hand of the Day, and there is a connection between them.
UTG and UTG+1 fold. I've got AQs, and pop it to $7. Three players call. The BB, our favorite old Eastern European LAG-tard, raises to $25. I call, and so to two other players.
Flop: 9h 3c 2c - Old Man checks. I suddenly get that 'Deja Vu' feeling. I've seen this before, and I know that everyone else has too. So I bet $60, just like last time. The player two seat to my left thinks for a while. He's a tight, passive player who's been milking his shortstack the whole time I've been at this table. Does he have Top Pair, or maybe 77 or 88? I'm hoping that he folds, just like he's been doing all day long.
While he's thinking, I look at the other two players. The Hijack is an older gentleman, and he looks like he's waiting to fold. The last one is our favorite Old Man, and I'm fairly certain that he will fold his AK.
Finally, the player folds. The Hijack also folds. The Old Man thinks for a moment, give me a look over, turn his cards face up, and tosses AK into the muck.
So naturally, as the dealer is gathering the pot to ship to me, I turn over my AQ. The tight player said he had 88. Old Man is not amused, and said, "I almost called you. I knew you weren't that tight." Hopefully, he will pay off next time when I actually have it.
I really like my tight table image. I don't get any monster cashouts, and I rarely get a huge pot. But I do get to enjoy hands like this every now and then.
This hand take place about two hours after yesterday's Hand of the Day, and there is a connection between them.
UTG and UTG+1 fold. I've got AQs, and pop it to $7. Three players call. The BB, our favorite old Eastern European LAG-tard, raises to $25. I call, and so to two other players.
Flop: 9h 3c 2c - Old Man checks. I suddenly get that 'Deja Vu' feeling. I've seen this before, and I know that everyone else has too. So I bet $60, just like last time. The player two seat to my left thinks for a while. He's a tight, passive player who's been milking his shortstack the whole time I've been at this table. Does he have Top Pair, or maybe 77 or 88? I'm hoping that he folds, just like he's been doing all day long.
While he's thinking, I look at the other two players. The Hijack is an older gentleman, and he looks like he's waiting to fold. The last one is our favorite Old Man, and I'm fairly certain that he will fold his AK.
Finally, the player folds. The Hijack also folds. The Old Man thinks for a moment, give me a look over, turn his cards face up, and tosses AK into the muck.
So naturally, as the dealer is gathering the pot to ship to me, I turn over my AQ. The tight player said he had 88. Old Man is not amused, and said, "I almost called you. I knew you weren't that tight." Hopefully, he will pay off next time when I actually have it.
I really like my tight table image. I don't get any monster cashouts, and I rarely get a huge pot. But I do get to enjoy hands like this every now and then.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Hand of the Day #20
$1/$2 NLHE - MGM Detroit - 01/01/10
I'm UTG+1 with Jc Jh, and before I can raise, the SB puts out $12. The SB is an old Eastern European man dressed in a suit and tie. On the surface, he looks like a typical old nit, but he's actually a very loose and aggressive player. We've all been at the table for a while, and anyone with half a poker brain can see that he's a LAG-tard.
The dealer informs him that he's the SB, and the Old Man takes all the chips back but one white chip. That is a bit of a Red Flag, but I still decide to raise to $7. A few players call. The Old Man makes it $30, and I'm not surprised. But I was a little surprised when the BB snap called the $30. He's a loose regular who's is currently shortstacked.
I decide to just call rather than 3-bet. I figure the Old Man might shove All-In with a wide range. So I would rather see a Flop in position, and outplay him. All the other players fold.
Flop: 9s 7d 4h - Old Man pauses for a moment and checks. BB also checks. OK, now I'm confused. The Old Man doesn't seem like someone who would trap with AA or KK. It's possible that he's got 99. Or he could just have AK. Also, the BB has under $100 left, and there's $90+ in the pot. So I decide to bet $60, and see what happens.
Old Man quickly calls. BB thinks for a moment, and goes All-In for $78. I call the $18, and so does the Old Man.
Turn: [9s 7d 4h] 2s - Old Man checks. Now I know he's got AK. As much as I would like to value bet, there is too much money in that pot to get screwed on the River. I want him to pay for that 6-outer. I bet $125. He smacks the table in disgust, and folds in anger.
River: [9s 7d 4h 2s] 6s - BB shows his TT. I show my JJ, and scoop up a very sweet pot.
I'm UTG+1 with Jc Jh, and before I can raise, the SB puts out $12. The SB is an old Eastern European man dressed in a suit and tie. On the surface, he looks like a typical old nit, but he's actually a very loose and aggressive player. We've all been at the table for a while, and anyone with half a poker brain can see that he's a LAG-tard.
The dealer informs him that he's the SB, and the Old Man takes all the chips back but one white chip. That is a bit of a Red Flag, but I still decide to raise to $7. A few players call. The Old Man makes it $30, and I'm not surprised. But I was a little surprised when the BB snap called the $30. He's a loose regular who's is currently shortstacked.
I decide to just call rather than 3-bet. I figure the Old Man might shove All-In with a wide range. So I would rather see a Flop in position, and outplay him. All the other players fold.
Flop: 9s 7d 4h - Old Man pauses for a moment and checks. BB also checks. OK, now I'm confused. The Old Man doesn't seem like someone who would trap with AA or KK. It's possible that he's got 99. Or he could just have AK. Also, the BB has under $100 left, and there's $90+ in the pot. So I decide to bet $60, and see what happens.
Old Man quickly calls. BB thinks for a moment, and goes All-In for $78. I call the $18, and so does the Old Man.
Turn: [9s 7d 4h] 2s - Old Man checks. Now I know he's got AK. As much as I would like to value bet, there is too much money in that pot to get screwed on the River. I want him to pay for that 6-outer. I bet $125. He smacks the table in disgust, and folds in anger.
River: [9s 7d 4h 2s] 6s - BB shows his TT. I show my JJ, and scoop up a very sweet pot.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Starting off the Year with a Bang! (and a Thud!)
For the last few years, I've gone to casino on New Year's Day with one of my poker buddies, Chan, who is also a mailman. Last year, we went Mountaineer. This year, he wanted to play some $2/$5, so we went up to MGM Detroit.
12:00 $50 - We got up to the Poker Room, and got seated at a $1/$2 table that just opened. There was only seven players at the table, and nobody has over $200. So I decide to shortstack it, and buy-in for the minimum of $50. I've got more chips in my pocket if I need to rebuy, or feel like I should add-on.
12:30 $95 - Doubled up with a flopped set of Q. Table is playing fairly passive, but two $2/$5 players just sat down to play while waiting for the $2/$5 game to open.
1:00 $157 - Won a pot against Chan with the Nut 4-Card Flush. Later, I limped and called a $12 preflop raise with KTs. I flopped top pair (T), bet out, and everyone folded. The $2/$5 game just opened, and we lost a couple of players, including Chan.
1:30 $153 - I'm starting to call more preflop, but usually missing. I also limped on the Button with 73, and flopped two pair.
2:00 $140 - Action is picking up at the table, but none for me. I need to quit calling raises preflop, and try to see flops cheaper in position until I get some more chips.
2:30 $238 - I can't hit a #$%! thing. I add-on $150 due to an older Eastern European gentleman three seats to my right. He's got over $500 in front of him, and he's generating most of the action at the table. He will lose those chips at some point, and I want a chunk of them.
3:00 $272 - Won a decent pot with QQ in the Big Blind.
3:30 $588 - My patience finally paid off. Won a big pot with JJ against old Action guy and another loose player.
4:00 $652 - Stacked off a short stack with Top/Top (AQ) on the Flop. There was an AA vs QQ vs JJ preflop train wreck. Old Action guy had AA, but the QQ hit the Flop to scoop a huge pot.
4:30 $633 - An older gentleman raised to $12 in EP. I was on the Button with 33, but nobody called, so I folded. Just the SB called, and I would have hit a set. Action guy has been bleeding chips since his AA got cracked in the train wreck. His stack is now down to $50, and he add-on $200 more.
5:00 $596 - Lost a decent pot with TT against slowplayed KK. I got some of it back with AK. I checked Top/Top on the Flop, and then bet the Turn and River.
5:30 $609 - Reraised in late position with QJh, and won the pot with a c-bet on an A high Flop. The old Action guy has really tightened up his game since he reloaded his stack.
6:05 $664 - Cashout. I won a sweet pot with a semi-bluff with AQs.
On a side note, MGM keep the rake ($6 max) in the dealer's tray, instead of dropping it down a slot. Six hours after the table opened, there was $660 in the rake tray, and that doesn't even account for the $1 for the Bad Beat Jackpot that was taken out of every pot. Who says that Poker Rooms don't make money for the Casinos?
After I cashed out, I left Chan in the Poker Room, and went downstairs to get some food. Being a holiday, the food court was packed, and I had trouble find a seat.
I then went over to a 3-Card Poker table to gamble with some of my winnings. Unfortunately, I lost $400 in just 30 minutes. I was getting terrible cards, and the dealer just kept getting better cards than me. It was just one of those times that nothing went right, which was basically the opposite of my $1/$2 session.
As I was going broke in the Pit, Chan finished up his poker session, and we headed home. I only left Detroit with $64 of profit. Yippee! At least my Saturday night tournament buy-in is covered.
12:00 $50 - We got up to the Poker Room, and got seated at a $1/$2 table that just opened. There was only seven players at the table, and nobody has over $200. So I decide to shortstack it, and buy-in for the minimum of $50. I've got more chips in my pocket if I need to rebuy, or feel like I should add-on.
12:30 $95 - Doubled up with a flopped set of Q. Table is playing fairly passive, but two $2/$5 players just sat down to play while waiting for the $2/$5 game to open.
1:00 $157 - Won a pot against Chan with the Nut 4-Card Flush. Later, I limped and called a $12 preflop raise with KTs. I flopped top pair (T), bet out, and everyone folded. The $2/$5 game just opened, and we lost a couple of players, including Chan.
1:30 $153 - I'm starting to call more preflop, but usually missing. I also limped on the Button with 73, and flopped two pair.
2:00 $140 - Action is picking up at the table, but none for me. I need to quit calling raises preflop, and try to see flops cheaper in position until I get some more chips.
2:30 $238 - I can't hit a #$%! thing. I add-on $150 due to an older Eastern European gentleman three seats to my right. He's got over $500 in front of him, and he's generating most of the action at the table. He will lose those chips at some point, and I want a chunk of them.
3:00 $272 - Won a decent pot with QQ in the Big Blind.
3:30 $588 - My patience finally paid off. Won a big pot with JJ against old Action guy and another loose player.
4:00 $652 - Stacked off a short stack with Top/Top (AQ) on the Flop. There was an AA vs QQ vs JJ preflop train wreck. Old Action guy had AA, but the QQ hit the Flop to scoop a huge pot.
4:30 $633 - An older gentleman raised to $12 in EP. I was on the Button with 33, but nobody called, so I folded. Just the SB called, and I would have hit a set. Action guy has been bleeding chips since his AA got cracked in the train wreck. His stack is now down to $50, and he add-on $200 more.
5:00 $596 - Lost a decent pot with TT against slowplayed KK. I got some of it back with AK. I checked Top/Top on the Flop, and then bet the Turn and River.
5:30 $609 - Reraised in late position with QJh, and won the pot with a c-bet on an A high Flop. The old Action guy has really tightened up his game since he reloaded his stack.
6:05 $664 - Cashout. I won a sweet pot with a semi-bluff with AQs.
On a side note, MGM keep the rake ($6 max) in the dealer's tray, instead of dropping it down a slot. Six hours after the table opened, there was $660 in the rake tray, and that doesn't even account for the $1 for the Bad Beat Jackpot that was taken out of every pot. Who says that Poker Rooms don't make money for the Casinos?
After I cashed out, I left Chan in the Poker Room, and went downstairs to get some food. Being a holiday, the food court was packed, and I had trouble find a seat.
I then went over to a 3-Card Poker table to gamble with some of my winnings. Unfortunately, I lost $400 in just 30 minutes. I was getting terrible cards, and the dealer just kept getting better cards than me. It was just one of those times that nothing went right, which was basically the opposite of my $1/$2 session.
As I was going broke in the Pit, Chan finished up his poker session, and we headed home. I only left Detroit with $64 of profit. Yippee! At least my Saturday night tournament buy-in is covered.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Hand of the Day #16
$1/$2 NLHE - MGM Detroit - 12.08.09
Straddle hand. I'm in Mid position with ATs, and raise to $15. Next guy and Cutoff calls. An old guy on the Button raises to $30. SB folds, but BB calls. Straddle folds. UTG calls All-In for $26. I call. Next guy goes All-In for $37. Cutoff thinks for a bit, and then calls. Button, BB, and me call the $7.
Main Pot $161-$7 rake & BBJ (UTG), Side Pot1 $55 (Next Guy), Side Pot2 $0 (BB, Me, Cutoff, Button)
Flop: Kd Jh 5s - Not a terrible board for me with a Broadway draw and a backdoor flush draw. Surprisingly, all four players check.
Turn: [Kd Jh 5s] 8d - BB checks. Since nobody seems interesting in trying to win the $209 sitting in the middle of the table, I fire out $50. If I get called, then I've still got outs. But everyone folded.
River: [Kd Jh 5s 8d] Tc - Nobody turns their hand over, so I show my AT. The player next to me shows A3c, and the UTG mucks. Cutoff says he had 99. I scoop up both pots for $209.
Straddle hand. I'm in Mid position with ATs, and raise to $15. Next guy and Cutoff calls. An old guy on the Button raises to $30. SB folds, but BB calls. Straddle folds. UTG calls All-In for $26. I call. Next guy goes All-In for $37. Cutoff thinks for a bit, and then calls. Button, BB, and me call the $7.
Main Pot $161-$7 rake & BBJ (UTG), Side Pot1 $55 (Next Guy), Side Pot2 $0 (BB, Me, Cutoff, Button)
Flop: Kd Jh 5s - Not a terrible board for me with a Broadway draw and a backdoor flush draw. Surprisingly, all four players check.
Turn: [Kd Jh 5s] 8d - BB checks. Since nobody seems interesting in trying to win the $209 sitting in the middle of the table, I fire out $50. If I get called, then I've still got outs. But everyone folded.
River: [Kd Jh 5s 8d] Tc - Nobody turns their hand over, so I show my AT. The player next to me shows A3c, and the UTG mucks. Cutoff says he had 99. I scoop up both pots for $209.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
How About a Quickie?
Last night, I walked into the MGM Detroit Poker Room at 7:50. They had 3 $1/$2 tables and a $2/$5 table. They also had a list with a few names on it, so I waited.
8:15 $200 – Finally got a seat. I bought in for $200, with $200 in my pocket. There isn't a lot of money on this table. Most of the stacks are between $100-$300. The only big stack (maybe $500) is a young Asian on the other side of the table.
8:30 $186 – Won a nice pot with a set of 3 in the SB. Next hand, I lost an equally nice pot with AQ on the Button. The Asian kid back-raised (limped, then re-raised) after I raised to $7. I called his c-bet on the Flop (K J x), but folded to the Turn bet (K J x K).
9:00 $235 – Stacked off someone with KK in the SB for $81. The money went in preflop. Also, lost $25 with a stab bet on an A-high Flop with KQ, and got raised by the Button. It was stupid to try that this early in a session.
9:30 $632 – Sent three players home with two future "Hands of the Day”.
10:10 $615 – A few new players came to the table, but I'm the Big Stack now. I was planning on staying until 12am, but I'm already up $415. My bankroll has been stuck in Neutral for a few months now. I'm not winning much, and I'm not losing much. Most of these overnight casino junkets have been somewhere between +$200 and -$200. So I decided to cashout, and book a sweet win.
After leaving the Poker Room, I went to the Palette Food Court and got a slice of pizza (paid with comps, of course). I then went back to my free hotel room at Motor City.
8:15 $200 – Finally got a seat. I bought in for $200, with $200 in my pocket. There isn't a lot of money on this table. Most of the stacks are between $100-$300. The only big stack (maybe $500) is a young Asian on the other side of the table.
8:30 $186 – Won a nice pot with a set of 3 in the SB. Next hand, I lost an equally nice pot with AQ on the Button. The Asian kid back-raised (limped, then re-raised) after I raised to $7. I called his c-bet on the Flop (K J x), but folded to the Turn bet (K J x K).
9:00 $235 – Stacked off someone with KK in the SB for $81. The money went in preflop. Also, lost $25 with a stab bet on an A-high Flop with KQ, and got raised by the Button. It was stupid to try that this early in a session.
9:30 $632 – Sent three players home with two future "Hands of the Day”.
10:10 $615 – A few new players came to the table, but I'm the Big Stack now. I was planning on staying until 12am, but I'm already up $415. My bankroll has been stuck in Neutral for a few months now. I'm not winning much, and I'm not losing much. Most of these overnight casino junkets have been somewhere between +$200 and -$200. So I decided to cashout, and book a sweet win.
After leaving the Poker Room, I went to the Palette Food Court and got a slice of pizza (paid with comps, of course). I then went back to my free hotel room at Motor City.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
MGM Detroit Review
MGM Detroit is in Detroit, MI. It is located off of Grand River Rd next to I-75.
Poker Room:
For some bizarre reason, when they built this casino from the ground up, they decided to put the Poker Room on a different floor from the rest of the casino. It is located on the 3rd floor, next to the Ignite Sushi Bar & Lounge. Those are the only two things on the 3rd floor. The only way to access them is a set of elevators located on the other side of the casino floor from the Parking Garage.
The Poker Room has only nine tables, but it is the most posh room in Detroit. The chairs and tables are high class, and the room is well lit and decorated.
The rake is $6 max plus $1 for the Bad Beat Jackpot, which is Aces Full of Queens beaten by Quads. Both hold card must be used. Three Aces on the Board disqualifies the Bad Beat. Something unique for a casino, MGM keeps their rake in the dealer's rack, on right hand side. It's interesting to watch how many Green $25 chips are in there after just a few hours.
The only games that are spread are $1/$2 NL ($300 max) and $2/$5 NL ($500 max). The $1/$2 game doesn't normally get started until 11am, and is the only one in Detroit with a $300 max buy-in. The $2/$5 game will usually run later in the afternoon, and on weekends. I've heard they might get a $5/$10 NL game on weekend nights, but I've never seen it. They have had an interest list for $5/$10 Limit, but I've never seen it close to running. They do not spread any Omaha.
The level of competition varies greatly, depending on when you're in the room. On weekdays, it is one of the tightest rooms I have ever seen, with a core group of regulars who know each other well. On weekends, the play can be rather wild and crazy. I have had some of my best sessions in Detroit at MGM on Sundays.
Even though the tables are equipped with the Bravo card swipers, they do not offer any kind of comp for playing in the Poker Room.
Due to the small size of the room, there are no tournaments offered.
Casino:
Without question, the MGM is the largest and most posh casino in Detroit. They are trying to be the high class casino of Detroit.
They have all the usual table games, including a Money Wheel. The table minimums are a little higher than the rest of Detroit, usually ranging from $10-$25 depend on time of day.
The food options are among the best of the Detroit casinos. They have many first class, high end restaurants if you're into that sort of thing. Their buffet is also high class, but on the expensive side. For me, the best option is a food court area called Breeze. It features 4 or 5 stations that you can grab different kinds of food. The food is a bit overpriced, but nothing unusual for a casino. And the quality and portion sizes is rather good.
There is also a free drink bar off in one corner of the casino. You can just go up a grab a cup coffee or pop.
Poker Room:
For some bizarre reason, when they built this casino from the ground up, they decided to put the Poker Room on a different floor from the rest of the casino. It is located on the 3rd floor, next to the Ignite Sushi Bar & Lounge. Those are the only two things on the 3rd floor. The only way to access them is a set of elevators located on the other side of the casino floor from the Parking Garage.
The Poker Room has only nine tables, but it is the most posh room in Detroit. The chairs and tables are high class, and the room is well lit and decorated.
The rake is $6 max plus $1 for the Bad Beat Jackpot, which is Aces Full of Queens beaten by Quads. Both hold card must be used. Three Aces on the Board disqualifies the Bad Beat. Something unique for a casino, MGM keeps their rake in the dealer's rack, on right hand side. It's interesting to watch how many Green $25 chips are in there after just a few hours.
The only games that are spread are $1/$2 NL ($300 max) and $2/$5 NL ($500 max). The $1/$2 game doesn't normally get started until 11am, and is the only one in Detroit with a $300 max buy-in. The $2/$5 game will usually run later in the afternoon, and on weekends. I've heard they might get a $5/$10 NL game on weekend nights, but I've never seen it. They have had an interest list for $5/$10 Limit, but I've never seen it close to running. They do not spread any Omaha.
The level of competition varies greatly, depending on when you're in the room. On weekdays, it is one of the tightest rooms I have ever seen, with a core group of regulars who know each other well. On weekends, the play can be rather wild and crazy. I have had some of my best sessions in Detroit at MGM on Sundays.
Even though the tables are equipped with the Bravo card swipers, they do not offer any kind of comp for playing in the Poker Room.
Due to the small size of the room, there are no tournaments offered.
Casino:
Without question, the MGM is the largest and most posh casino in Detroit. They are trying to be the high class casino of Detroit.
They have all the usual table games, including a Money Wheel. The table minimums are a little higher than the rest of Detroit, usually ranging from $10-$25 depend on time of day.
The food options are among the best of the Detroit casinos. They have many first class, high end restaurants if you're into that sort of thing. Their buffet is also high class, but on the expensive side. For me, the best option is a food court area called Breeze. It features 4 or 5 stations that you can grab different kinds of food. The food is a bit overpriced, but nothing unusual for a casino. And the quality and portion sizes is rather good.
There is also a free drink bar off in one corner of the casino. You can just go up a grab a cup coffee or pop.
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