$2/$5 NHLE - Seneca Niagara Casino - 06.05.10
Mid player raises to $15. It folds to me in the BB. I've only got 74o, but decide to call. Flop 9c 9d 4d. I check. Mid bets $15. To me, if a player C-Bets the same amount or just slightly higher than the preflop raise ($15-$20), that usually means, "I missed; please fold." I probably could raise, and take it down right now. But I want to see if I can read this situation properly. I call.
Turn [9c 9d 4d] 8s. I check. He bets $25. That card doesn't change anything, so I call.
River [9c 9d 4d 8s] Jh. An overcard. Crap. I check. He grabs two Green chips, and throws them in towards the middle of the table. I snap call. If he actually hit the J, I think he would've just checked. He would now have showdown value with Top Pair, and it's possible that I'm slowplaying the 9. He shakes his head, and show KTo. I show my hand, and scoop the pot.
He was not amused.
Showing posts with label Seneca Niagara. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seneca Niagara. Show all posts
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
So This Is What's It Like To Be A Card Rack
Yes, it finally happened. At my final $1/$2 session at the Seneca Niagara Casino before heading home on Sunday, I was a Card Rack.
It started on my very first hand at a newly opened table. Someone raised in Mid position to $8. The SB called. I'm the BB with Qs Qc, and I pop it to $25. Both player call. Flop came A-high with two Diamonds. We all check. Turn was the Qd, putting the Flush on the Board, but giving me a Set. SB bets $40. I call with my Boat Draw, and Mid player folds. River was a brick. SB bets $40, and I call. He's got AK, no Diamond.
Over the next five hours, I had five Big Pairs (JJ+) that hit Sets; AA once, JJ once, and QQ three times, including the first hand. I also had other Big Pairs that didn't hit their Two Outer, and other pairs that did become Sets. Plus, I had a good assortment of Flushes, Straights, and Two Pairs.
And for all of these glorious cards, I ended the session +$362. Does that seem small to you? Yeah. Me, too.
So what happened? Did I screw up a hand, or have some nasty cooler that cost me $500? Nope. I did have a few pots that didn't go well. I lost around $100 in a 3-way pot with AK that I might have misplayed a bit. I also ran into a Set over Set hand (66 vs AA), but the Old Guy only had $41 in his stack.
The reason for the relatively small cashout was because nobody at my table wanted to put a @#$% chip into the pot.
It was so frustrating scooping small pot after small pot. I think the biggest pot I won all day was the first one. I mentioned to the dealer a few times, "I'm at the wrong table today."
Here is one of the worst examples. A rather tight, 60 yr old gentleman raised to $6 in Mid position. One player called before it got back to me in the SB. I look down at JJ. I decide to just call. If I 3-Bet, everyone will probably fold. The BB also calls. Flop Ah Jh 6c. Sweet! I hit middle Set with an Ace and a Flush Draw out there for someone to chase. It's a great Flop for a Set to win a big pot. I check with the intention of making a small check-raise, but the other three players also check. Turn is [Ah Jh 6c] 8s. Ok, I need to build this pot, so I bet $15 into the $20 pot. Everyone quickly folded.
Was everyone folding due to my tight table image? At most table, I'm one of the tighter players, and I let other players drive the action. But at this table, I was Action Guy. I was raising to my standard $7 at least 1-2 times per orbit. I would raise in Late Position (Button, Cutoff, Hyjack) with a wide range of hands. I would also raise in other positions, including the Blinds, with quality hands, which I had plenty of today. I even 3-Bet squeezed in Late Position twice. Once with K9o, and the other was ATo, I won both pots, and showed both times to try to entice some sort of action. But it didn't do any good.
So why did I stay at this table, instead of moving to another one? Because I was winning, and you never want to leave a table when you're winning. Just because I move to an Action table, it doesn't mean that the Cards will follow me to that table. It could have just ended up as a repeat of the $2/$5 game from the night before. If I had these cards at that table, I could have easily won over $2000. Instead, I end up +$126 between both sessions.
Other notes from my trip:
- I ended up playing four session of $1/$2, and won all of them. On Friday night, I played $5/$10 Omaha-8 at Turning Stone, and won. The only games where I lost money were the tournament and the $2/$5.
- As for the Pit (Table Games), I completely stayed away from it. I'm really proud of this. This has been a major leak for my bankroll for awhile now, and I'm working on fixing it.
- I discovered that Seneca Niagara will be having a tournament series in July, the Summer Slam. The Main Event is a $540, two day tournament. It will be held on Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18. That happens to be my next Weekend Off. Right now, it's 60% that I'll be heading back up there for this.
It started on my very first hand at a newly opened table. Someone raised in Mid position to $8. The SB called. I'm the BB with Qs Qc, and I pop it to $25. Both player call. Flop came A-high with two Diamonds. We all check. Turn was the Qd, putting the Flush on the Board, but giving me a Set. SB bets $40. I call with my Boat Draw, and Mid player folds. River was a brick. SB bets $40, and I call. He's got AK, no Diamond.
Over the next five hours, I had five Big Pairs (JJ+) that hit Sets; AA once, JJ once, and QQ three times, including the first hand. I also had other Big Pairs that didn't hit their Two Outer, and other pairs that did become Sets. Plus, I had a good assortment of Flushes, Straights, and Two Pairs.
And for all of these glorious cards, I ended the session +$362. Does that seem small to you? Yeah. Me, too.
So what happened? Did I screw up a hand, or have some nasty cooler that cost me $500? Nope. I did have a few pots that didn't go well. I lost around $100 in a 3-way pot with AK that I might have misplayed a bit. I also ran into a Set over Set hand (66 vs AA), but the Old Guy only had $41 in his stack.
The reason for the relatively small cashout was because nobody at my table wanted to put a @#$% chip into the pot.
It was so frustrating scooping small pot after small pot. I think the biggest pot I won all day was the first one. I mentioned to the dealer a few times, "I'm at the wrong table today."
Here is one of the worst examples. A rather tight, 60 yr old gentleman raised to $6 in Mid position. One player called before it got back to me in the SB. I look down at JJ. I decide to just call. If I 3-Bet, everyone will probably fold. The BB also calls. Flop Ah Jh 6c. Sweet! I hit middle Set with an Ace and a Flush Draw out there for someone to chase. It's a great Flop for a Set to win a big pot. I check with the intention of making a small check-raise, but the other three players also check. Turn is [Ah Jh 6c] 8s. Ok, I need to build this pot, so I bet $15 into the $20 pot. Everyone quickly folded.
Was everyone folding due to my tight table image? At most table, I'm one of the tighter players, and I let other players drive the action. But at this table, I was Action Guy. I was raising to my standard $7 at least 1-2 times per orbit. I would raise in Late Position (Button, Cutoff, Hyjack) with a wide range of hands. I would also raise in other positions, including the Blinds, with quality hands, which I had plenty of today. I even 3-Bet squeezed in Late Position twice. Once with K9o, and the other was ATo, I won both pots, and showed both times to try to entice some sort of action. But it didn't do any good.
So why did I stay at this table, instead of moving to another one? Because I was winning, and you never want to leave a table when you're winning. Just because I move to an Action table, it doesn't mean that the Cards will follow me to that table. It could have just ended up as a repeat of the $2/$5 game from the night before. If I had these cards at that table, I could have easily won over $2000. Instead, I end up +$126 between both sessions.
Other notes from my trip:
- I ended up playing four session of $1/$2, and won all of them. On Friday night, I played $5/$10 Omaha-8 at Turning Stone, and won. The only games where I lost money were the tournament and the $2/$5.
- As for the Pit (Table Games), I completely stayed away from it. I'm really proud of this. This has been a major leak for my bankroll for awhile now, and I'm working on fixing it.
- I discovered that Seneca Niagara will be having a tournament series in July, the Summer Slam. The Main Event is a $540, two day tournament. It will be held on Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18. That happens to be my next Weekend Off. Right now, it's 60% that I'll be heading back up there for this.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Dealer, I Need A King
4:40 $500 - After arriving at Seneca Niagara Casino on Saturday, and having Dinner in the Buffet, I go to the Poker Room, and sign up on the $2/$5 List. I only had to wait about 10 minutes before getting a seat.
This is a Must Move table. It's hard to tell just how many chips everyone has. The table is full of Red $5 chips and $100 Bills. I hate having Cash on the table. If the Poker Room has enough chips, then why have Cash?
5:00 $500 - Won a small straddle pot in the Big Blind. This table is rather calm preflop. 4-6 players limping is common. What's uncommon is that this table has no Table Talk whatsoever.
Big Trainwreck: UTG flopped Quad 2. The Board ended up with a 4-Flush on it. Quad guy got paid off on the River for around $450 by saying, "Call."
5:30 $545 - In the BB, I flopped Top Pair with AT against a guy who was chasing a Flush. This table is playing 7-handed. There has been an open seat or two at the Main Game, but they don't want to risk breaking up this Must Move table.
6:00 $930 - Hand #1: Limp pot. I called a $20 bet in the SB with T4o on a Kd Td 6s Flop. Turn is Th. I check-raise from $30 to $85, and take down the pot.
Hand #2: I limp in Mid with 77. Four players see a Flop of 5 3 2. BB bets $15. Only the SB and I call. Turn [5 3 2] 2. BB bets $25. Only the SB and I call. River [5 3 2 2] 8. BB bets $35. Only the SB and I call. Both Blinds have A5.
Hand #3: A future "Hand Of The Day"
6:30 $883 - Table has filled up now. New players are throwing around $100 bills. Much more raising preflop, and the pots are larger. I was able to limp with 99 in the Cutoff. I called a $20 bet on the Flop, but folded to a check-raise. I would have won the pot. Both players ended up with Flush Draws and smaller pairs.
7:00 $870 - I got moved to the Main Game. I played with half of the players over at the Must Move table. I'm a little card dead now.
Big Trainwreck: Straight vs Set on the Flop. Money got in on the Turn for around $600 each. Naturally, the Set hit his Full House Draw on the River.
7:30 $635 - In a rare limp pot, I have J6h in the SB. Five players see a Flop of 8h 4s 2h. Hyjack bets $20, and I'm the only caller with my Flush Draw. Turn: [8h 4s 2h] Jc. We both check. River [8h 4s 2h Jc] Ad. I quickly fire out three Green chips ($75) to look like I missed my Flush Draw. Hyjack quickly call with 53o for a Straight.
I lost another pot when someone slowplayed their Top Pair (K) on the Flop. I hit my Q on the Turn.
8:00 $535 - I'm starting to bleed chips, but I haven't lost any big pots. In fact, I haven't made or called a bet of $100 or more during this session. But at $2/$5, the stacks can grow and shrink a lot faster than at $1/$2.
One of my problems is a Loud Action Guy on the other side of the table. He's got a giant pile of Red Chips and $100 bills. He loves playing big pots, and raising between $15 - $25 almost every hand. If there was a $5/$10 game running, he would be at it. He's also catching ridiculous cards. He won about $500 with Sets of J and Q in consecutive hands.
In one hand with me, he raised to $20. I was the Button with 74o. Not exactly premium holdings, but I can't just sit here and fold. Just the two of us saw the Flop of 8c 7h 6h. He bets $25, and I call with Middle Pair + Gutshot. I don't remember the exact Turn or River cards, but they weren't important to the story. He bet $50 on the Turn, and I called. The River went Check Check. He had A8h for Top Pair + Nut Flush Draw on the Flop.
8:30 $327 - More chip movers came to the table. It's getting rare to see a Flop for under $30. I've tried to see a few Flops, but it's been all Airballs lately.
I'm a little uncomfortable with all this money being thrown around, but I do have position on the Chip Movers. If I want to start playing more $2/$5, I need to get used to the larger stack and bigger pots that are in play.
9:00 $413 - Finally stopped the bleeding, and won a decent pot with AK. This table has calmed down a bit. Loud Action Guy busted one of the other Chip Movers. He now has ten stacks of Red chips, and I would guess around 10-15 $100 bills behind those chips. He says that he's been here since 11am, and that he's leaving soon. Of course, he's been saying that for the last hour.
9:30 $387 - Here's an example of how things have been going for the past few hours: Loud Action Guy raised to $15. I called in the Cutoff with 54c. The Flop came Ad Qh Td.
10:05 $264 - Once again, I call a few $15-$25 raises, and whiffed everything. My last hand was me limping, and then calling a raise with 99. The Flop came AKQ.
I've wasted enough time at this table. It's just not gonna happen tonight. So I cash out with a loss, and go back to my room for the evening.
Meanwhile, Loud Action Guy is still saying that he's leaving soon. But he can't seem to leave, because he can't seem to miss. In my last orbit. He raised it up, and a couple of players call. Loud Action Guy says, "Dealer, I need a King." The Flop came out K-high. He bet, everyone folded, and he showed the K in his hand. The very next hand, same thing preflop. Loud Action Guy said, "Give me some Diamonds." Two Diamonds came on the Flop. However, the third one never came, and someone else actually won a pot.
It is so frustrating to see players who go on the ridiculous runs of cards, mostly because it's never happened to me. Sure I've had some sick coolers go my way, (Set over Set, for example) Or I've had a nice orbit or two in a Tourney. But I've never sat at a table for hours, and just keep hitting.
Someday, it will happen (in theory). And if it ever does, I will happily post all of my glory on this Blog.
This is a Must Move table. It's hard to tell just how many chips everyone has. The table is full of Red $5 chips and $100 Bills. I hate having Cash on the table. If the Poker Room has enough chips, then why have Cash?
5:00 $500 - Won a small straddle pot in the Big Blind. This table is rather calm preflop. 4-6 players limping is common. What's uncommon is that this table has no Table Talk whatsoever.
Big Trainwreck: UTG flopped Quad 2. The Board ended up with a 4-Flush on it. Quad guy got paid off on the River for around $450 by saying, "Call."
5:30 $545 - In the BB, I flopped Top Pair with AT against a guy who was chasing a Flush. This table is playing 7-handed. There has been an open seat or two at the Main Game, but they don't want to risk breaking up this Must Move table.
6:00 $930 - Hand #1: Limp pot. I called a $20 bet in the SB with T4o on a Kd Td 6s Flop. Turn is Th. I check-raise from $30 to $85, and take down the pot.
Hand #2: I limp in Mid with 77. Four players see a Flop of 5 3 2. BB bets $15. Only the SB and I call. Turn [5 3 2] 2. BB bets $25. Only the SB and I call. River [5 3 2 2] 8. BB bets $35. Only the SB and I call. Both Blinds have A5.
Hand #3: A future "Hand Of The Day"
6:30 $883 - Table has filled up now. New players are throwing around $100 bills. Much more raising preflop, and the pots are larger. I was able to limp with 99 in the Cutoff. I called a $20 bet on the Flop, but folded to a check-raise. I would have won the pot. Both players ended up with Flush Draws and smaller pairs.
7:00 $870 - I got moved to the Main Game. I played with half of the players over at the Must Move table. I'm a little card dead now.
Big Trainwreck: Straight vs Set on the Flop. Money got in on the Turn for around $600 each. Naturally, the Set hit his Full House Draw on the River.
7:30 $635 - In a rare limp pot, I have J6h in the SB. Five players see a Flop of 8h 4s 2h. Hyjack bets $20, and I'm the only caller with my Flush Draw. Turn: [8h 4s 2h] Jc. We both check. River [8h 4s 2h Jc] Ad. I quickly fire out three Green chips ($75) to look like I missed my Flush Draw. Hyjack quickly call with 53o for a Straight.
I lost another pot when someone slowplayed their Top Pair (K) on the Flop. I hit my Q on the Turn.
8:00 $535 - I'm starting to bleed chips, but I haven't lost any big pots. In fact, I haven't made or called a bet of $100 or more during this session. But at $2/$5, the stacks can grow and shrink a lot faster than at $1/$2.
One of my problems is a Loud Action Guy on the other side of the table. He's got a giant pile of Red Chips and $100 bills. He loves playing big pots, and raising between $15 - $25 almost every hand. If there was a $5/$10 game running, he would be at it. He's also catching ridiculous cards. He won about $500 with Sets of J and Q in consecutive hands.
In one hand with me, he raised to $20. I was the Button with 74o. Not exactly premium holdings, but I can't just sit here and fold. Just the two of us saw the Flop of 8c 7h 6h. He bets $25, and I call with Middle Pair + Gutshot. I don't remember the exact Turn or River cards, but they weren't important to the story. He bet $50 on the Turn, and I called. The River went Check Check. He had A8h for Top Pair + Nut Flush Draw on the Flop.
8:30 $327 - More chip movers came to the table. It's getting rare to see a Flop for under $30. I've tried to see a few Flops, but it's been all Airballs lately.
I'm a little uncomfortable with all this money being thrown around, but I do have position on the Chip Movers. If I want to start playing more $2/$5, I need to get used to the larger stack and bigger pots that are in play.
9:00 $413 - Finally stopped the bleeding, and won a decent pot with AK. This table has calmed down a bit. Loud Action Guy busted one of the other Chip Movers. He now has ten stacks of Red chips, and I would guess around 10-15 $100 bills behind those chips. He says that he's been here since 11am, and that he's leaving soon. Of course, he's been saying that for the last hour.
9:30 $387 - Here's an example of how things have been going for the past few hours: Loud Action Guy raised to $15. I called in the Cutoff with 54c. The Flop came Ad Qh Td.
10:05 $264 - Once again, I call a few $15-$25 raises, and whiffed everything. My last hand was me limping, and then calling a raise with 99. The Flop came AKQ.
I've wasted enough time at this table. It's just not gonna happen tonight. So I cash out with a loss, and go back to my room for the evening.
Meanwhile, Loud Action Guy is still saying that he's leaving soon. But he can't seem to leave, because he can't seem to miss. In my last orbit. He raised it up, and a couple of players call. Loud Action Guy says, "Dealer, I need a King." The Flop came out K-high. He bet, everyone folded, and he showed the K in his hand. The very next hand, same thing preflop. Loud Action Guy said, "Give me some Diamonds." Two Diamonds came on the Flop. However, the third one never came, and someone else actually won a pot.
It is so frustrating to see players who go on the ridiculous runs of cards, mostly because it's never happened to me. Sure I've had some sick coolers go my way, (Set over Set, for example) Or I've had a nice orbit or two in a Tourney. But I've never sat at a table for hours, and just keep hitting.
Someday, it will happen (in theory). And if it ever does, I will happily post all of my glory on this Blog.
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