Montreal poker adventure

racer43

This is my first ever trip report and first trip to Montreal. so here goes nothing....

A buddy (non poker player??)and I left London at 6 am Friday to hopefully beat the TO traffic. We took the 407 and cruised through no problems at all. Arrived at the apartment we had rented around 1:00. After a quick trip to the grocery store for some beer, basic bachelor chow and munchies I headed across the Mercier bridge to the Playground to scope it out for Saturday mornings day 1A of the 100K guarantee. Unfortunately due to a commitment this week I had to opt for the 100K instead of the main event.

When I arrived at the Playground I knew this was going to be a fun week, the place really is for players, by players. Nicest, most comfortable and well run room I have played in. I sat down at a 1-2 game with 200 bucks, enjoyed a pizza, a couple beers and some good cards. After 4-5 hours I was sitting up 350 so decided to go pay my day 1A buy in and call it a night.

Saturday morning heading across the bridge at 11:30 to start the noon tourney when all the traffic slows to a crawl. More than an hour to drive a 15 minute drive in good circumstances. I guess I wasnt the only one delayed, cause they started the tourney late. After a long grind all day I ended up all in short stacked with suited AJ vs QQ, the ladies held up and I was busted in the 12th level. Had a good time and liked the structure a lot. Went and sat down at a 1-2 table for a couple hours and had some more of the great food they have there. I think it was a club sandwich that night?? Was up and down with my stack and left roughly even. Paid my day 1B buy in on my way out and went home to crash.

Sunday was basically the same day repeated over again.... ground it out all day never really getting any cards. Busto level 12 again with the exact opposite cards, I shoved short stacked with QQ called by AJ, ace in the window :( Unfortunately we had bought hockey tics to see the Habs play the Devils on Monday night so this would be the end of my 100K tourney adventure. Played a couple hours of 1-2 left down a hundo.

Monday did the tourist thing. wandered around a bit and checked out the Montreal casino, I dont recommend you bother!! Had a couple pitchers and some good food at La Cage aux sports before the hockey game. I paid the most I have ever paid for a beer at a sports venue, the Bell Center.... 15.80 wowzers?? Habs beat the Devils and the fans sure love their hockey there too making it a fun game to be at.

Tuesday decided to play the deepstack turbo, again starting at noon. Had a great run of cards early and was among the chip leaders. Kind of cruised through the middle portion of the day. Took a sick beat to a shorty late losing to 53 clubs with my pocket aces.... put a dent in my stack but was able make the final table short stacked. After a couple cooler/action hands by some of the final 9 I found myself 5th of five and looked down to see AK. I shove my 180k and the guy on my left calls as well as another. flop 936. guy to my left goes all in and the other guy folds. he rolls JJ and sees he's ahead. Lucky river king for me... woo hoo, now have a stack I can play with. Around an hour of moving chips around the table and eliminating one player the four of us agree on a deal for a little more than a grand each and play on for 320 and the trophy. Didnt take long after the deal before it was Adam and I heads up, he had me covered big time after taking out the other two and three hands in I was felted.... congrats to him for sure, but I really wanted that Full Tilt trophy to add to my racing trophies. No cash game after today, went out for some drinks with my non poker player buddy that tagged along...

Wednesday, my last day at the Playground decided to play the re-buy tourney instead of cash all day. Busted out 76th I think and headed for one last session of 1-2. Was up a few hundred then went on bad run, miss read/bad call followed quickly by a river str8 vs my trips and that was the end of the 200 I sat down with. I took a quick walk around the place one last time knowing I would definitely be back and headed into Montreal to pack up and head home.

Instead of hanging around for the evening I decided to just head home and drive all evening and not have to deal with Toronto traffic at all. We left Montreal at 7pm and arrived at home here in London shortly after 1am. We made good time doing it at this time of day.

Had a great time at the Playground and definitely recommend all poker players that have not been to make sure they do asap.... already looking forward to Party Poker Fall Classic in November!!!

Cheers

compuease

Nice report, well written.. Stick around a while please.

BlondeFish

racer43;360988 wrotechecked out the Montreal casino, I dont recommend you bother!!

What was wrong with Casino Montreal? Wasn't the rake more beatable than at Playground? Did you (or anybody else) get a chance to try out Snake's Poker Club where they pay you $10/hour to play?

moose

TR's warm my heart.

racer43

I didnt play at casino, so cant comment on the poker room. to be honest that place is so confusing I didnt even see the poker room. went with my no poker buddy, he likes those hideous one armed bandits???

I didnt go to snakes, probably should have checked it out, but was comfy at the playground.

I have read your posts about rakes and what not, I do agree with you, but dont really care honestly. I play for fun, considering the cost of my other addiction (stock car racing) I do much better profit wise at poker. lol For example I am trying the $80 deep stack tomorrow in Brantford.... a brutal 33% rake if im doing my math right? but hopefully it will be fun, thats all Im after.

piggypie123

Nice trip report! It's good to hear that playground poker club is worth the trip. Now I'm for sure going to make it out to one of these events in the near future. (I hope). Congrats on winning the $1k.

payperview

Thanks for the TR racer. Congrats on the chop.

Wetts1012

racer43;360993 wroteI didnt play at casino, so cant comment on the poker room. to be honest that place is so confusing I didnt even see the poker room. went with my no poker buddy, he likes those hideous one armed bandits???

.

I agree.

The casino is on an island and not easy to get to in the first place.

The parking is a dungeon.

The poker room is in the equivalent of what I feel to be the attic of the building.

Milo

Nice report . . . enjoyed reading. Please post another when appropriate.

JimmyHo

racer43;360993 wroteI have read your posts about rakes and what not, I do agree with you, but dont really care honestly. I play for fun,

How dare you ignore rake and only play for fun!

BF would love this, I was playing in a 5/5 club game the other night, with get this, $30/hand :) max rake :) But well worth it given that guys are pushing in their $500+ stacks blind!

BlondeFish

pokerJAH;361077 wroteHow dare you ignore rake and only play for fun!

Welcome to the poker ecology. In a negative sum game, you need a lot of losing casual players who don't care about rake, EV, ROI, 30% withholding tax, BBJ, etc. in order to have winning players like...

BF would love this

I always like it when you win. Congrats! Which event are you going to buy-in with part of your winnings to meet one of your 2013 goals?

wildbill7145

BlondeFish;361086 wrote2013 goals?

While off topic with regards to this particular thread, it certainly would be interesting to see where people (who posted in the quoted thread) are at with regards to their poker goals for this year.