Degree Poker / Niagra Vacation Report - Day 1
At 9:30am, my body decided it didn't want sleep any more and forced me awake. I groggily tumbled out of bed, then popped on to the computer, while Paul got ready for work. I decided that it was a bit too early to hit the casino, (what was I thinking?!?!? I'm SO not ready for Vegas. Must remember to fix this little issue.. it's never too early to play poker) So, I killed a little time playing Warcraft, then finally hit the road before noon, injested a Double Big Mac (I wanted something solid that my stomach acid would need to work on for a few hours while I play) then made it to Fallsview.
I wandered by the ballroom where Degree was happening, but they were between rounds and nothing interesting was going on.
I headed back to the Poker pit and checked out the games they were running. Of the 15 or so tables, one was 3/6 limit, one was 6/12 limit and the rest were NL ranging from 2/5 to 10/25. So, I bought in for $2,500 at the 10/25 and walked out three hours later up a litte over 10 grand.
In my dreams.
In reality, I checked out the rake rules for the 3/6 game, then decided to sign up for a spot on the 6/12 table. The rake for both tables was 10% to a max of $5, but the 3/6 had an extra special rule where if a flop was seen, the minimum rake was $2. Yikes.
While waiting, "sloth" waved me over to the 2/5 table he was playing and he was there with "teach" (I think... it was, teach, right?) We caught up while teach gabbed up the table and they finally came to my name.
A sat down with $300 (with $100 spare in the pocket, just in case and surveyed the table). Half old regulars and half young hotshots. One of the guys, we'll call him "Tilty" was at the table and soemwhat on tilt because I watched him lose a big pot on the 3/6 table to someone who caught runner-runner flush, then insist on being moved to the 6/12 table to play "real" poker. I love people like that.
A few hands in I limp with 3 others in late position with 88 and the BB, this little kid who had an uber geek look to him, we'll call him "Doogie" raised. I called and the flop came Q74, and "Doogie" bet out. It was folded to me and I decided he didn't have the Q, so I raised and he called. With the turn bringing another Q, he checked to me and I bet out taking the pot. Yay! I was up.
I KNOW you're not supposed to bluff at low limit poker, but I won a pot a little while later with a 5-high bluff and found myself quickly up $100.
The fates then decided to spit upon me and started handing me a string of second best hands. AJ v. AQ, K5s (BB special), v. KT on a flop of AKK. (Ouch, that one hurt) and so on and so on. We eventually arrived at the defining hand of the night.
In late position I have 45s and it's limped to me... by almost everyone (I think one person folded) The BB raised and there was 8x$12 in the pot to start.
The flop came 679, one spade and it was checked to me. Now, you get to watch as I horribly misplay my hand. I decided to bet out with my up and down straight draw even though an 8 will VERY likely counterfit my hand, not to mention the fact that I'm already behind to 8T. I get four callers and the pot jumps another $24. The turn bring a non-spade 3, and it's check to me again and I bet out. "Bob" (as he reminded me a little of the Milton Rock Bob) called and tilty decided to raise at this point. Oh, oh. Check raise on the turn. With my bet on the flop the 3 really disguises the fact that I have a straight, so he could think that something like 2 pair is good her. I call, not wanting to lose "Bob", (which was a stupid, stupid thing to do, I should have re-raised his bet and Bob would have likely dropped out.) The river is an 8 and "Bob" bets out. CRAP. He so has the $10, but with over $200 in the pot I grudgingly make the $12 call and "Bob" turns over 7To. Can't blame him entirely as the pot was massive and I'm fairly sure he was getting a good price with his middle pair, gutshot.
Ah well, I win that pot and I would have been even on the night.
Instead, this brings my stack dangerously low, so I dip into the $100 extra and for the next four hours I float around $150, ranging from $60 to $200. In my six hours of playing the cards were pretty lack luster. I got AJ once, and I got TT once. Those were my best hands. Most of my money was made that day when a drawing hand in late position with plenty of callers would hit. This doesn't need to happen often for you to stay afloat.
Part way through this $150 hover, comes the big drama of the day. A one point, a player two to my left, we'll call him "WWE" for his stellar ability to trash-talk (even though his trash-talking was directed sole at one person... "Tilty")
At one hand, "Tilty" was check-raised by "WWE" and after that "WWE" decided that "Tilty" had trashed talked him. So, from them on, any hand they were in, "WWE" would be nailing the trash-talk with "Tilty" quietly steaming. "OH! My buddy's in, so I better be raising it up. Here let me bet in the dark, cause you my friend are an awesome player." Invariable, "WWE" would always hit his rivered boat to kill "Tilty"'s straight and you could almost see the pressure rising.
At we approached criticial mass, a new dealer came in and I mean a new dealer. This was his first day on the job, his hands shook wildly, we was very jittery, and everything he did and said sounded rushed and panicy. The players at the table continually had to remind him to relax and we talk him the mantra of "Calm Blue Ocean".. to little avail.
Finally, tension between "WWE" and "Tilty" EXPLODED in the middle of hand, and the two just started yelling at each other with "Tilty" wanting to take it outside. This continued on has the new dealer attempted to deal through this mess, getting more and more panicky, just adding to the already thick tension. It was kinda funny actually, though I do admit I was about a minute away from leaving the table at that point.
Oh, did I mention that we were the central most table? So, there's the picture. Three managers are hovered around our table, two people are ready to kill each other, one dealer is sweating bullets, and can't keep track of the betting or the amounts in side pots. It was a circus!!
Finally one of the managers said that if another word was said, both players would be ejected. That lasted almost thirty seconds. The poor kid then started "taking charge" with lines like "OK, guys. I think I'm going to have to call my manager over." "No, really, guys. I mean it this time. I'm pretty sure I have to call my manager over"
As it turned out it was a moot point, as "Tilty" busted out seconds later, went off on "WWE" then stormed out of the room.
The rest of my session was uneventful after that with me winning a pot I had no business in, where I was obviosuly behind the whole way and caught a card that shouldn't have even won me the pot, but it did. Let's not mention it again. I ended the day down $200 and finally called it an afternoon around 6.
"AnteRiver" came over from another table and introduced himself. I told him to meet us at Hooters if he wanted to, but that I wouldn't likely be there before 9pm. Whoops.
I headed over to Degree to catch the 6pm heat and memories of last year's event came back. Once again, a great step and, althought the structure sucks, it seems to fix the problem of playing til 4 in the morning last year, which must have killed everyone involved.
One hand that stood out and got a great reaction from the crowd (as it was announced), was a three-way all-in between JJ, KK and AK. The flop came a J, but the river brought the last K out to give the player a nice 1-outer victory.
One thing that impressed me most, was a ruling made on the table below us from the balconey. Blinds are still 25-50 and this Cubby lady raises to 125 UTG. Hockey-dude in MP calls the bet and it folded around. The dealer, not registered the call from Hockey guy, drops the deck, awards the pot (minue Hockey guy's bet) to the lady and pulls her cards into the muck. Hockey guy sits quiety and then what happened finally dawned on the dealer. Not know what to do, the floor was called over and the bleachers started speculating on what would happen with everyone agreeing that the pot should be split as it was the dealers fault.
Of course, I can't be silent here and spoke for the first time to these strangers. I said, "The pot should actually be awarded to the hockey dude. It's her responsibility to protect her hand. That's what should happen anyway." No one believed me and finally the TD came over and said. "Players are responsible for protecting their hands. Your cards are mucked so the pot should be awarded to the gentleman." Damn, I'm good. (at basic tournament rulings..) One guy was amazed that I knew it, and I wanted to hand him my "Tournament Director: Bristol Street Night Club and Casino" card, but it was in my other pants.
Good ruling from the floor on that one.
Anyway, I watched til first break and players dropped by flies. It really looked that those that were agressive were steadily gathering chips. Finally at 7:30 I decided to head back to Paul's to pick him up. Got back, played some WoW, watched TV, took a nap, waited, then did some more waiting, started drinking, sobered up, composed a musical and FINALLY Paul rolled in at 11:30. Once again, I apologize to anyone that was at Hooters.
Paul works for Silicon Knights and with E3 around the corner everyone's putting in long hours to get a working demo of a game he's working on; "Too Human". Microsoft ain't happy with them at the moment, but the demo should be done in time.
So, at 11:30, I'm starving, so we decide to head to Hooters for some wings. We got there, I ordered that and a pint of Guiness (no need to review here), and the wings came out DRIPPING in oil. I ate one and nearly gagged. The oil was just over whelming. One bit and your mouth, hands and any other secion of exposed skin was dripping in wing oil.
Finally, I came up with the bright idea to grab two sheet of the paper towel located at the table and use it to sponge up some of the excess. I'd grab a wing, put it in the towel and squeezed, listing to the oil just poor out of the wing. The wing was MUCH more bareable after that and in under ten wings I was able to completely soak two full-sized double layered paper towels with greese. I couldn't finish the last couple on the plate.
At this point it was 1:30am, so we decided to hit a strip bar for last call and decided on Seductions, the next-door neighbour to the Downer. I've heard stories of this place and wanted to check it out during my Vice vacation. It's this kinda place that makes you believe in the magic of paying off cops. They should have just hung a sign saying "Brothel" on the outside. I haven't been offered that much sex since I taught high-school! (That a joke, by the way... it was grade school... lol, I'm so not funny and am going straight to hell.)
Stuck around for a beer, politely decilined a number of offers, amazed that this place even exists, then headed back to Paul's for another round of Guitar Hero battles. This night started with Paul dominated, but at one point I found my groove and compeltely trounced him in the last five songs we played. The poor guy just fell apart.
With that, it was 4am, and I wasn't tired so I popped back on WoW for a bit and finally dropped just before 5.
The plan for the next day is to get up, meet with "Oragami", then head to the states for beer, with poker slated as the early evening activity. Til tomorrow!
I wandered by the ballroom where Degree was happening, but they were between rounds and nothing interesting was going on.
I headed back to the Poker pit and checked out the games they were running. Of the 15 or so tables, one was 3/6 limit, one was 6/12 limit and the rest were NL ranging from 2/5 to 10/25. So, I bought in for $2,500 at the 10/25 and walked out three hours later up a litte over 10 grand.
In my dreams.
In reality, I checked out the rake rules for the 3/6 game, then decided to sign up for a spot on the 6/12 table. The rake for both tables was 10% to a max of $5, but the 3/6 had an extra special rule where if a flop was seen, the minimum rake was $2. Yikes.
While waiting, "sloth" waved me over to the 2/5 table he was playing and he was there with "teach" (I think... it was, teach, right?) We caught up while teach gabbed up the table and they finally came to my name.
A sat down with $300 (with $100 spare in the pocket, just in case and surveyed the table). Half old regulars and half young hotshots. One of the guys, we'll call him "Tilty" was at the table and soemwhat on tilt because I watched him lose a big pot on the 3/6 table to someone who caught runner-runner flush, then insist on being moved to the 6/12 table to play "real" poker. I love people like that.
A few hands in I limp with 3 others in late position with 88 and the BB, this little kid who had an uber geek look to him, we'll call him "Doogie" raised. I called and the flop came Q74, and "Doogie" bet out. It was folded to me and I decided he didn't have the Q, so I raised and he called. With the turn bringing another Q, he checked to me and I bet out taking the pot. Yay! I was up.
I KNOW you're not supposed to bluff at low limit poker, but I won a pot a little while later with a 5-high bluff and found myself quickly up $100.
The fates then decided to spit upon me and started handing me a string of second best hands. AJ v. AQ, K5s (BB special), v. KT on a flop of AKK. (Ouch, that one hurt) and so on and so on. We eventually arrived at the defining hand of the night.
In late position I have 45s and it's limped to me... by almost everyone (I think one person folded) The BB raised and there was 8x$12 in the pot to start.
The flop came 679, one spade and it was checked to me. Now, you get to watch as I horribly misplay my hand. I decided to bet out with my up and down straight draw even though an 8 will VERY likely counterfit my hand, not to mention the fact that I'm already behind to 8T. I get four callers and the pot jumps another $24. The turn bring a non-spade 3, and it's check to me again and I bet out. "Bob" (as he reminded me a little of the Milton Rock Bob) called and tilty decided to raise at this point. Oh, oh. Check raise on the turn. With my bet on the flop the 3 really disguises the fact that I have a straight, so he could think that something like 2 pair is good her. I call, not wanting to lose "Bob", (which was a stupid, stupid thing to do, I should have re-raised his bet and Bob would have likely dropped out.) The river is an 8 and "Bob" bets out. CRAP. He so has the $10, but with over $200 in the pot I grudgingly make the $12 call and "Bob" turns over 7To. Can't blame him entirely as the pot was massive and I'm fairly sure he was getting a good price with his middle pair, gutshot.
Ah well, I win that pot and I would have been even on the night.
Instead, this brings my stack dangerously low, so I dip into the $100 extra and for the next four hours I float around $150, ranging from $60 to $200. In my six hours of playing the cards were pretty lack luster. I got AJ once, and I got TT once. Those were my best hands. Most of my money was made that day when a drawing hand in late position with plenty of callers would hit. This doesn't need to happen often for you to stay afloat.
Part way through this $150 hover, comes the big drama of the day. A one point, a player two to my left, we'll call him "WWE" for his stellar ability to trash-talk (even though his trash-talking was directed sole at one person... "Tilty")
At one hand, "Tilty" was check-raised by "WWE" and after that "WWE" decided that "Tilty" had trashed talked him. So, from them on, any hand they were in, "WWE" would be nailing the trash-talk with "Tilty" quietly steaming. "OH! My buddy's in, so I better be raising it up. Here let me bet in the dark, cause you my friend are an awesome player." Invariable, "WWE" would always hit his rivered boat to kill "Tilty"'s straight and you could almost see the pressure rising.
At we approached criticial mass, a new dealer came in and I mean a new dealer. This was his first day on the job, his hands shook wildly, we was very jittery, and everything he did and said sounded rushed and panicy. The players at the table continually had to remind him to relax and we talk him the mantra of "Calm Blue Ocean".. to little avail.
Finally, tension between "WWE" and "Tilty" EXPLODED in the middle of hand, and the two just started yelling at each other with "Tilty" wanting to take it outside. This continued on has the new dealer attempted to deal through this mess, getting more and more panicky, just adding to the already thick tension. It was kinda funny actually, though I do admit I was about a minute away from leaving the table at that point.
Oh, did I mention that we were the central most table? So, there's the picture. Three managers are hovered around our table, two people are ready to kill each other, one dealer is sweating bullets, and can't keep track of the betting or the amounts in side pots. It was a circus!!
Finally one of the managers said that if another word was said, both players would be ejected. That lasted almost thirty seconds. The poor kid then started "taking charge" with lines like "OK, guys. I think I'm going to have to call my manager over." "No, really, guys. I mean it this time. I'm pretty sure I have to call my manager over"
As it turned out it was a moot point, as "Tilty" busted out seconds later, went off on "WWE" then stormed out of the room.
The rest of my session was uneventful after that with me winning a pot I had no business in, where I was obviosuly behind the whole way and caught a card that shouldn't have even won me the pot, but it did. Let's not mention it again. I ended the day down $200 and finally called it an afternoon around 6.
"AnteRiver" came over from another table and introduced himself. I told him to meet us at Hooters if he wanted to, but that I wouldn't likely be there before 9pm. Whoops.
I headed over to Degree to catch the 6pm heat and memories of last year's event came back. Once again, a great step and, althought the structure sucks, it seems to fix the problem of playing til 4 in the morning last year, which must have killed everyone involved.
One hand that stood out and got a great reaction from the crowd (as it was announced), was a three-way all-in between JJ, KK and AK. The flop came a J, but the river brought the last K out to give the player a nice 1-outer victory.
One thing that impressed me most, was a ruling made on the table below us from the balconey. Blinds are still 25-50 and this Cubby lady raises to 125 UTG. Hockey-dude in MP calls the bet and it folded around. The dealer, not registered the call from Hockey guy, drops the deck, awards the pot (minue Hockey guy's bet) to the lady and pulls her cards into the muck. Hockey guy sits quiety and then what happened finally dawned on the dealer. Not know what to do, the floor was called over and the bleachers started speculating on what would happen with everyone agreeing that the pot should be split as it was the dealers fault.
Of course, I can't be silent here and spoke for the first time to these strangers. I said, "The pot should actually be awarded to the hockey dude. It's her responsibility to protect her hand. That's what should happen anyway." No one believed me and finally the TD came over and said. "Players are responsible for protecting their hands. Your cards are mucked so the pot should be awarded to the gentleman." Damn, I'm good. (at basic tournament rulings..) One guy was amazed that I knew it, and I wanted to hand him my "Tournament Director: Bristol Street Night Club and Casino" card, but it was in my other pants.
Good ruling from the floor on that one.
Anyway, I watched til first break and players dropped by flies. It really looked that those that were agressive were steadily gathering chips. Finally at 7:30 I decided to head back to Paul's to pick him up. Got back, played some WoW, watched TV, took a nap, waited, then did some more waiting, started drinking, sobered up, composed a musical and FINALLY Paul rolled in at 11:30. Once again, I apologize to anyone that was at Hooters.
Paul works for Silicon Knights and with E3 around the corner everyone's putting in long hours to get a working demo of a game he's working on; "Too Human". Microsoft ain't happy with them at the moment, but the demo should be done in time.
So, at 11:30, I'm starving, so we decide to head to Hooters for some wings. We got there, I ordered that and a pint of Guiness (no need to review here), and the wings came out DRIPPING in oil. I ate one and nearly gagged. The oil was just over whelming. One bit and your mouth, hands and any other secion of exposed skin was dripping in wing oil.
Finally, I came up with the bright idea to grab two sheet of the paper towel located at the table and use it to sponge up some of the excess. I'd grab a wing, put it in the towel and squeezed, listing to the oil just poor out of the wing. The wing was MUCH more bareable after that and in under ten wings I was able to completely soak two full-sized double layered paper towels with greese. I couldn't finish the last couple on the plate.
At this point it was 1:30am, so we decided to hit a strip bar for last call and decided on Seductions, the next-door neighbour to the Downer. I've heard stories of this place and wanted to check it out during my Vice vacation. It's this kinda place that makes you believe in the magic of paying off cops. They should have just hung a sign saying "Brothel" on the outside. I haven't been offered that much sex since I taught high-school! (That a joke, by the way... it was grade school... lol, I'm so not funny and am going straight to hell.)
Stuck around for a beer, politely decilined a number of offers, amazed that this place even exists, then headed back to Paul's for another round of Guitar Hero battles. This night started with Paul dominated, but at one point I found my groove and compeltely trounced him in the last five songs we played. The poor guy just fell apart.
With that, it was 4am, and I wasn't tired so I popped back on WoW for a bit and finally dropped just before 5.
The plan for the next day is to get up, meet with "Oragami", then head to the states for beer, with poker slated as the early evening activity. Til tomorrow!
Comments
Tough luck with the cash game, but at least you got to see a flame-war close-up!!
Those chicken wings must have been friggin' greasy if you couldn't eat them. And you're a Pepi's veteran!!!
Good Luck today!
Johnnie
stp