socalpokerjoe (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} socalpokerjoe) wrote,@ 2007-08-13 13:55:00 |
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The end of the WSOP was somewhat anti-climactic. I suppose it was because I was out of town in Central Oregon on business and I was also out of the running for the Fantasy League prize money which paid $180 to first place and $40 to second. David Levi would have had to win the whole thing for me to get first.
I have been playing very aggressive poker as of late, with mixed results. 3 Saturdays ago I went to Harrah's in Rincon and ran well, but got involved in two hands that I should have won, and got sucked out on. Both hands I was roughly 3-1 before the flop (A-K both times) and both hands I was roughly 9-2 before the river. Both hands these idiots hit a 4 outer broadway on the river. The pots were worth roughly $100 a piece. Both of these idiots were trying to give me their money and backed into the best hand. The $4-$8 game at Harrah's is so soft, I can't believe I don't dominate it every single time I play.
Went to Vegas 2 weekends ago. Made the decision last minute when I got "an offer I couldn't refuse" from Binion's. $39.99 a night for Friday and Saturday night. Going to Downtown Vegas is completely different that going to The Strip. When I'm Downtown I feel like a big fish in a small pond. Not in a poker sense, just in general. There are so many corn-fed hicks from the Mid-West, I feel like the city mouse surrounded by all of these rubes. It's great. And I'll tell ya, Binion's is a great place to play. You can walk in there any time and play any game you want for a $5 minimum bet. Craps, Let-it-Ride, Baccarat & Pai Gow. I don't play any of those games on the strip because often times they carry a $25 or even $100 minimum, especially on a Saturday night.
I played in 2 tournaments, cashing in neither. The first was a $100 buy-in at Binion's. Right before the second break I found myself short stacked with under 10 Big Bets and went all-in with Pocket 3's. The Big Blind, who was a good player, woke up to the smell of Pocket Queens and insta-called. I'm finished, probably in the top 50% of the field, but nowhere near the $.
There was a buzz in the room because the BARGERS were in town. For those of you who don't know, B.A.R.G.E. is the Big August Recreational Gambling Excursion. This is a collection of the countries biggest gambling geeks, nerds, dweebs and dorks who, once a year, get out from behind the keyboard in their mother's basement, go outside in the sunlight, and travel to Vegas for a week and takeover a cardroom. I hate BARGERS like Jake Blues hates the Illinois Nazis. Gavin Smith and Jesus Ferguson were both there. I knew Jesus was a BARGER, along with Greg Raymer and Andy Bloch, but i thought it was kinda weird to see Gavin there. Me thinks he's a little too cool for that. Also on hand, child actor turned poker player turned poker blogger, Wil "oh shit Chris" Wheaton. The only good thig about having the BARGERS in the poker room at Binion's is that they insisted that there be a $4-$8 H.O.R.S.E. game going. I got listed but lost patience and never did get a seat.
Anyway, the second tournament was accross the way at the Golden Nugget. Althought I understand it is not owned by Tim Poster and Tom Breitling anymore, I think that the Nuggett is a great spot if you're Downtown. I stayed there about a year ago, it was the first time that I stayed Downtown. The room was a decent size, modern and very clean. The bathroom was very clean and spacious. I'd have no problem staying there again. That tournament was at 1 a.m. and only sold 33 seats. I got into the top ten and was playing really solid poker. There was a guy who was decently chipped-up, but his friend was at the final table at the 8p.m. Binion's $10K guarantee. A third friend kept going back and forth giving updates on the Binion Tourney. Anywho, this guy is looking like he's really anxious to get over to Binion's so every single time he entered the pot, it was for all of his chips, making a rediculous overbet and killing the action. Finally, after seeing this go on for about 10 hands, I caught a hand I could call with, A-Q suited. OF COURSE, that happened to be the hand he had A-K. Unbelieveable. I can't even count how many times i've been knocked out of a tournament holding A-Q against A-K. It's laughable.
Well, Saturday night my girlfriend and I enjoyed a great meal at Binion's Ranch Steakhouse on the 27th floor of the Horseshoe. It's an amazing restaurant that's been in business since 1951. I love old joints like this for the same reason that I wanted to actually stay at the Horseshoe. I love old hotels and restaurants. For the nostalgia more than anything. I mean, Frank and Dean ate at this place, Doyle, Slim, Puggy, Sailor and all the boys ate there on many occasions. It's just neat, ya know?
There are a ton of other old hotels that I want to stay in. Most notably the Chateau Marmont on Sunset in North Hollywood. The place is legendary. Belushi bought the farm there, Dylan, Zepplin & Jim Morrison crashed there on multiple occasions, The Stones hole-up there, and I heard a rumor that Keanu Reeves actually lived there for like 6 months in the 90's, or maybe it was Johnny Depp. Anyway, that one's on the top of my list. Now i'm off the subject so I'm gonna stop.
The end of the WSOP was somewhat anti-climactic. I suppose it was because I was out of town in Central Oregon on business and I was also out of the running for the Fantasy League prize money which paid $180 to first place and $40 to second. David Levi would have had to win the whole thing for me to get first.
I have been playing very aggressive poker as of late, with mixed results. 3 Saturdays ago I went to Harrah's in Rincon and ran well, but got involved in two hands that I should have won, and got sucked out on. Both hands I was roughly 3-1 before the flop (A-K both times) and both hands I was roughly 9-2 before the river. Both hands these idiots hit a 4 outer broadway on the river. The pots were worth roughly $100 a piece. Both of these idiots were trying to give me their money and backed into the best hand. The $4-$8 game at Harrah's is so soft, I can't believe I don't dominate it every single time I play.
Went to Vegas 2 weekends ago. Made the decision last minute when I got "an offer I couldn't refuse" from Binion's. $39.99 a night for Friday and Saturday night. Going to Downtown Vegas is completely different that going to The Strip. When I'm Downtown I feel like a big fish in a small pond. Not in a poker sense, just in general. There are so many corn-fed hicks from the Mid-West, I feel like the city mouse surrounded by all of these rubes. It's great. And I'll tell ya, Binion's is a great place to play. You can walk in there any time and play any game you want for a $5 minimum bet. Craps, Let-it-Ride, Baccarat & Pai Gow. I don't play any of those games on the strip because often times they carry a $25 or even $100 minimum, especially on a Saturday night.
I played in 2 tournaments, cashing in neither. The first was a $100 buy-in at Binion's. Right before the second break I found myself short stacked with under 10 Big Bets and went all-in with Pocket 3's. The Big Blind, who was a good player, woke up to the smell of Pocket Queens and insta-called. I'm finished, probably in the top 50% of the field, but nowhere near the $.
There was a buzz in the room because the BARGERS were in town. For those of you who don't know, B.A.R.G.E. is the Big August Recreational Gambling Excursion. This is a collection of the countries biggest gambling geeks, nerds, dweebs and dorks who, once a year, get out from behind the keyboard in their mother's basement, go outside in the sunlight, and travel to Vegas for a week and takeover a cardroom. I hate BARGERS like Jake Blues hates the Illinois Nazis. Gavin Smith and Jesus Ferguson were both there. I knew Jesus was a BARGER, along with Greg Raymer and Andy Bloch, but i thought it was kinda weird to see Gavin there. Me thinks he's a little too cool for that. Also on hand, child actor turned poker player turned poker blogger, Wil "oh shit Chris" Wheaton. The only good thig about having the BARGERS in the poker room at Binion's is that they insisted that there be a $4-$8 H.O.R.S.E. game going. I got listed but lost patience and never did get a seat.
Anyway, the second tournament was accross the way at the Golden Nugget. Althought I understand it is not owned by Tim Poster and Tom Breitling anymore, I think that the Nuggett is a great spot if you're Downtown. I stayed there about a year ago, it was the first time that I stayed Downtown. The room was a decent size, modern and very clean. The bathroom was very clean and spacious. I'd have no problem staying there again. That tournament was at 1 a.m. and only sold 33 seats. I got into the top ten and was playing really solid poker. There was a guy who was decently chipped-up, but his friend was at the final table at the 8p.m. Binion's $10K guarantee. A third friend kept going back and forth giving updates on the Binion Tourney. Anywho, this guy is looking like he's really anxious to get over to Binion's so every single time he entered the pot, it was for all of his chips, making a rediculous overbet and killing the action. Finally, after seeing this go on for about 10 hands, I caught a hand I could call with, A-Q suited. OF COURSE, that happened to be the hand he had A-K. Unbelieveable. I can't even count how many times i've been knocked out of a tournament holding A-Q against A-K. It's laughable.
Well, Saturday night my girlfriend and I enjoyed a great meal at Binion's Ranch Steakhouse on the 27th floor of the Horseshoe. It's an amazing restaurant that's been in business since 1951. I love old joints like this for the same reason that I wanted to actually stay at the Horseshoe. I love old hotels and restaurants. For the nostalgia more than anything. I mean, Frank and Dean ate at this place, Doyle, Slim, Puggy, Sailor and all the boys ate there on many occasions. It's just neat, ya know?
There are a ton of other old hotels that I want to stay in. Most notably the Chateau Marmont on Sunset in North Hollywood. The place is legendary. Belushi bought the farm there, Dylan, Zepplin & Jim Morrison crashed there on multiple occasions, The Stones hole-up there, and I heard a rumor that Keanu Reeves actually lived there for like 6 months in the 90's, or maybe it was Johnny Depp. Anyway, that one's on the top of my list. Now i'm off the subject so I'm gonna stop.
