Rama Report
On Thursday I played for my first time, at a B&M casino, NL Holdem.
I have always been apprehensive about playing at Fallsview because I did not like the idea of buying in for $100 at a 1/2 Table. I didn’t really care to play short stack poker.
Pleasantly surprised was I upon learning that you may buy-in for $200 at Rama. I had $180 in my pocket – so I sat down at the newly opened table at noon.
About half the players had bought in for $100 and the other half $200, other than myself and one other fellow, all the players who bought in for $200 were waiting for the 2/5NL table to open.
I didn’t play a hand for the first 3 orbits. The play was far too loose to make a move and the majority of my hands were of the J-5, 8-3 calibre. So I decided just to wait it out. I couldn’t believe how these players essentially played Brantford style Limit poker – where every one calls down with top pair, two pair, any piece of the board regardless of its texture.
Where I made money:
My biggest hand (I have about $250) was a KQ in SB with everyone on the table playing a $15 dollar raise from UTG. Every player called, so I naturally came in for pot odds alone. The flop was KK10.
I checked it.
It was checked around to the button who made a $30 bet at this massive pot.
I re-raised $70 to $100.
1 flat call.
Turn Q.
I push all in for just over a $100
He calls – his last $70.
He had Jx – hoping for an Ace or 9.
The river was a K – giving me quads.
After that it was up and down – I wasn’t getting too deeply involved with the best or the draw to the best hand because of the maniacs at the table.
Additionally, the crazy guy immediately to my right (thank god), had built up a stack of close to $1000.00 by going all-in on about 50% of the rivers he made it to. (Although he did tell me, me having about $500 at this time, that he would not push me like that because I had too much money).
I had AA 2x both in the SB – which was almost more of a curse than a blessing considering position and the players.
The first AA I had, the tightest guy at the table, I mean in 3 hours he raised only 3x, re-raised the limpers from CO to $15. Called by the button. I look see AA and raise it $45 to $60. All the limpers fold and the CO and Button call.
The flop is Q27 rainbow.
I check. Followed by checks.
Turn 2.
I bet out $100.
Both fold. The CO shows JJ.
I didn’t have any big hands per say, no disguised sets.
But most of my money was made in pots were people would protect their TPTK on flush and draw boards by betting $10 into $100 pots.
Where I lost money:
Only 2 hands were I was disappointed.
Hand 1:
One hand I raise from second position ($15) with QQ. One caller – decent player.
Flop is A x x – either two spades or clubs.
I bet out $25 of the pot he smooth calls.
Turn is a brick.
So I figure I can only win if I bet, right?
I bet out $60.
Smooth calls.
River is another brick.
I check, he checks behind.
Shows A-8 for top pair.
I muck my QQ.
I looked at him and said “really A-8?”
He told me that I just looked like I wanted to win the pot too badly.
I asked if I pushed on the river if he would have called. (I had about $400 at this point and he had just over $300).
He said it would have been tough “but would have trusted his gut”
Hand 2:
I have 10-10 CO +1.
2 limpers.
I raise to $15.
All fold – one limper calls. He is CO +3.
Flop A 9 x.
He checks. I bet out $25.
He calls.
Turn A.
He checks. I bet out $25.
River J.
He bets out $20.
This seemed really weird to me.
I was actually dumb founded trying to figure out what he was trying to do. Was it a value bet? Did he hit his Jack? How much is in the pot?
I asked the dealer for a count, he told me they don’t do it.
So I folded.
He showed Q-9.
Any thoughts?
I left at about 5:30 cashing out for $587.
For a total profit of $407.
Overall I was happy with my game – and can’t wait to get back to where, unlike Brantford limit, you can stack a player who calls all the way down with just top pair. Most of these players just couldn’t stand to think they were being bluffed. And somehow seemed to have an endless bankroll on their ATMs.
Most import
I have always been apprehensive about playing at Fallsview because I did not like the idea of buying in for $100 at a 1/2 Table. I didn’t really care to play short stack poker.
Pleasantly surprised was I upon learning that you may buy-in for $200 at Rama. I had $180 in my pocket – so I sat down at the newly opened table at noon.
About half the players had bought in for $100 and the other half $200, other than myself and one other fellow, all the players who bought in for $200 were waiting for the 2/5NL table to open.
I didn’t play a hand for the first 3 orbits. The play was far too loose to make a move and the majority of my hands were of the J-5, 8-3 calibre. So I decided just to wait it out. I couldn’t believe how these players essentially played Brantford style Limit poker – where every one calls down with top pair, two pair, any piece of the board regardless of its texture.
Where I made money:
My biggest hand (I have about $250) was a KQ in SB with everyone on the table playing a $15 dollar raise from UTG. Every player called, so I naturally came in for pot odds alone. The flop was KK10.
I checked it.
It was checked around to the button who made a $30 bet at this massive pot.
I re-raised $70 to $100.
1 flat call.
Turn Q.
I push all in for just over a $100
He calls – his last $70.
He had Jx – hoping for an Ace or 9.
The river was a K – giving me quads.
After that it was up and down – I wasn’t getting too deeply involved with the best or the draw to the best hand because of the maniacs at the table.
Additionally, the crazy guy immediately to my right (thank god), had built up a stack of close to $1000.00 by going all-in on about 50% of the rivers he made it to. (Although he did tell me, me having about $500 at this time, that he would not push me like that because I had too much money).
I had AA 2x both in the SB – which was almost more of a curse than a blessing considering position and the players.
The first AA I had, the tightest guy at the table, I mean in 3 hours he raised only 3x, re-raised the limpers from CO to $15. Called by the button. I look see AA and raise it $45 to $60. All the limpers fold and the CO and Button call.
The flop is Q27 rainbow.
I check. Followed by checks.
Turn 2.
I bet out $100.
Both fold. The CO shows JJ.
I didn’t have any big hands per say, no disguised sets.
But most of my money was made in pots were people would protect their TPTK on flush and draw boards by betting $10 into $100 pots.
Where I lost money:
Only 2 hands were I was disappointed.
Hand 1:
One hand I raise from second position ($15) with QQ. One caller – decent player.
Flop is A x x – either two spades or clubs.
I bet out $25 of the pot he smooth calls.
Turn is a brick.
So I figure I can only win if I bet, right?
I bet out $60.
Smooth calls.
River is another brick.
I check, he checks behind.
Shows A-8 for top pair.
I muck my QQ.
I looked at him and said “really A-8?”
He told me that I just looked like I wanted to win the pot too badly.
I asked if I pushed on the river if he would have called. (I had about $400 at this point and he had just over $300).
He said it would have been tough “but would have trusted his gut”
Hand 2:
I have 10-10 CO +1.
2 limpers.
I raise to $15.
All fold – one limper calls. He is CO +3.
Flop A 9 x.
He checks. I bet out $25.
He calls.
Turn A.
He checks. I bet out $25.
River J.
He bets out $20.
This seemed really weird to me.
I was actually dumb founded trying to figure out what he was trying to do. Was it a value bet? Did he hit his Jack? How much is in the pot?
I asked the dealer for a count, he told me they don’t do it.
So I folded.
He showed Q-9.
Any thoughts?
I left at about 5:30 cashing out for $587.
For a total profit of $407.
Overall I was happy with my game – and can’t wait to get back to where, unlike Brantford limit, you can stack a player who calls all the way down with just top pair. Most of these players just couldn’t stand to think they were being bluffed. And somehow seemed to have an endless bankroll on their ATMs.
Most import
Comments
/g2
I don't think that you should be surprised that he would call your turn bet. Anyone who is willing to call a pre-flop raise with A-8, is probably hoping to see an ace on the flop. The smooth call tells you that he has the ace. The pre-flop call tells you he is probably going to call most bets on the turn and/or river. I don't think I would risk much of my stack in this situation.
My point was that you bet accordingly and not try to slow play. Someone is sure to catch up. By betting big, I meant betting accordingly.
Why do you want the donks to "go away"? You would rather just play poker against the good players?
/g2
I like to test myself. I played at fallsview last week and I was able to swim with the sharks. I want to prepare myself for the professional level so I can be a millionaire!
I think they should start playing Kenny Roger's song throughout that poker room, maybe the play would improve.
I've been to fallsview many times, and it just so happened that last week was a table full of good players. Very rare.???
I'm guessing that all the amateurs play on the weekdays and all the donks play on the weekends? I have yet to play on a weekday at Rama; something tells me it's full of sharks.