In a way, HighOnPoker has truly come full circle. This blog started as a hobby, where I could write about poker and analyze my own play, without any expectation of readership. Over time, readership came, but as any loyal poker blog reader can attest, since the Events of 4/15 (hat tip to WCP), the world of poker blogging has dried up. After all, its a lot easier to write about poker when we are playing nightly online, but once the poker is gone, there is only so much navel gazing that a blogger can do.
Alas, here at HighOnPoker, I’ve done my best to roll with the punches, and part of that meant changing my blogging schedule, so I would only write when I had something worthwhile. Fortunately, it now feels that this site went semi-dormant enough so that I can shake off the self-imposed shackles of readership and simply revert back to the core of why I wrote about poker: to chronicle my experiences and hopefully learn a thing or two.
With that windup, I should also admit that before my most recent day trip to Atlantic City, I really faced a crisis of conscience. Part of me felt like I just didn’t feel like going, and that it was more of a chore than a day of fun. I had seen this before in other settings. For instance, the Wall Street Poker game was awesome in its day. Host Jamie ran a tight ship, filled with fun, laid back players, quality supplies, and a great location. But after a while, the game dried up. People eventually get burnt out, even on a good thing. Before I left for AC, I really worried myself that I had lost that spark. I even considered jumping up in stakes to force myself to concentrate. In the end, though, it was that feeling of responsibility and loyalty, to ASG actually, that got me to go.
ASG had emailed me, or maybe I emailed him. Whatever the case, I knew I had Saturday free and I wanted to see if he was available for some underground poker in the city or, barring that, a trip to AC. After some emails, we decided on AC,with a plan to meet at the Port Authority Bus Terminal for the 9am bus. Once the plans were locked it, I was not going to flake. I had done that recently to ASG (and Matty Ebs) for an underground game in the city due to work commitments, and I didn’t want to do it again.
So, admittedly, feeling some duty, I forced myself to get up early and travel to the Port Authority early Saturday morning. I arrived earlier than necessary and ordered myself a breakfast sandwich from a generic deli. I then bought my ticket and waited by the proper gate.
At about 8:40, I saw the bus loading up, so I hopped on line, assuming that I would be set for the 9:10 bus. As it turned out, I read the schedule wrong, and the buses weer 8:30 and 9:00, so the 8:40 bus was actually the 9am bus, which had arrived early. Alas, by the time ASG had joined me, we were about 6 people from the front of the line, and the 9am was full. Thankfully, we had a last minute life suckout, when seven people left the 9am bus. The 7 complained that they could not get seats next to each other. Before they could reconsider their complaint, I had volunteered to take some of the newly opened seats. I ended up next to a smartly dressed hipster, who read Elle Decor the entire way. I can safely assume he was gay. ASG ended up several rows back, so I popped in my ear buds and watched different programs on my iPod during the almost 3-hour drive (due to Jersey Shore traffic).
The bus left us off at Trump Plaza, which worked out well, since I forgot all of my players’ cards. With the Academy Bus service, you get the roundtrip ride plus a casino freeplay of $25 for a total price of $36. Most casinos require you to have a players’ card, but Trump Plaza’s system is a bit different, so I got my $25 freeplay without having to first get a card. I ran through the $25 in a $1 slot, while ASG won $7 with his $25 freeplay at a video slot machine. To be clear, he actually lost $18 of the $25, but since he could withdraw the $7 (after playthrough) he ended up with $7 more than me.
After running through out freeplays, it was time to play some poker. We first headed to Bally’s so that ASG could cash in another freeplay. As it turned out, he didn’t actually have any more freeplays, but we were close enough to the Bally’s poker room that it seemed like a logical option.
Sadly, the Bally’s poker room seemed dead. There was only one 1/3 NLHE game spread, and I was unwilling to play their 1/1, $100-cap buy-in game. ASG wasn’t willing to wait either, so we walked to the next hotel on the strip, Caesars.
I really don’t love Caesars. Their table games are overpriced and their food selection lacks the type of easy takeout places a discerning poker player needs. But it was nearby, and I didn’t think there were many better options, so off we went.
When we arrived, two seats were open on the same table, so ASG and I locked them up and we went to the cage for cash. I tried something I hadn’t done in a while, and bought $400 in chips, two stacks of reds and two $100 chips. I stuck the $100 chips in my wallet for reserve, and hoped that I would not need to top off my stack during play.
Looking back, I think I bought the extra $100 chips because I hate waiting for the dealer to make change between hands. On another level, when one does that, I think it signals to the other players that you are losing (which you obviously are, if you are rebuying). Losing begets losing, largely because your opponents can taste the blood in the water and will go after you harder; meanwhile, the person losing is often susceptible to tilt or other forms of leaks.
I grabbed the 4 seat and ASG took the 7 seat, eventually moving to the 6 seat when it opened up. On my immediate right was an older gentleman, with a slight frame and a gray mustache. He was very friendly, and also very bad at poker. He limped with any Ace and called down hands light. My position was perfect. On my immediate left was an Asian guy, probably in his mid-20s, who was from the Buffalo area. He was friendly as well, and I respected him instantly as a player because of the way he conducted himself, but as the session wore on, it became clear that he had his leaks as well.
I won my first significant pot from the Old Guy on my right. I held A6d and limped into the pot. The flop was KK6, and the Old Guy bet $5. I was the only caller, even though there were a lot of limpers. The turn was a blank and he bet $15. Something seemed fishy so I called. The river was another blank, and he pushed all-in for $14. I didn’t realize how short he was prior to the hand, which was my error. Now that I only had to call $14, I felt priced in and even announced, “Okay, I guess I’ll pay you off.” At showdown, he had A8o, for high-card Ace. I took down the pot with my two pair, Kings and Sixes.
Once I saw the type of player he was, I made some more cash with JK. I was in the SB, and he was in position on the button. The flop was Jack-high, and there were a decent amount of limpers. I bet out $8 into the $10 pot, and only the old guy called. I bet $15 on the turn and $21 on the river, bets designed to keep him in the hand. It worked. He called and at showdown, he showed middle pair. My top pair was good.
It was one of those days when you are faced with the reality that you do not have to be the best player in the world as long as you are better than the players around you.
I lost $100 or so when I was drawing for the nut flush draw with A9s against the Asian. I probably called too much when he re-raised me on the turn, but at least I got away from his all-in river bet.
My next big pot came when I held 66 and raised to $12 preflop. I was out of position and there were lots of limpers, so I hoped to thin the herd. It utterly failed, though, and most players stayed in the pot.
Fortunately, the flop was 623, giving me top set. I bet out (I do not recall the amount) and got action from the Asian and an old white guy in blue polo shirt who had been playing alternatively aggressively and tight. The turn was a 4 and I bet again. This time, the Asian raised allin, but not for much then I already had bet. To my surprise though, Blue Polo pushed all-in on top. After my earlier losses, I had taken out one of my $100 chips and placed it atop my stack of reds. I took my time trying to figure out whether Blue Polo had the straight, but I could not see any hands that made sense there, given the preflop and flop betting. Finally, I decided to call all-in for my last $175+, thinking that he maybe had a vulnerable hand and/or wanted to isolate against one player.
Sadly, Blue had 55, the only hand that made sense (somewhat) and could beat me. I say somewhat, because he called the flop bet, which was sizable, with nothing more than an inside straight draw and middle pair. Regardless, I saw that I was now woefully behind, and I began to think “2, 3, 4. 2, 3, 4,” hoping for the three cards that would help me make a full house. The river was a 3, and suddenly the huge pot was pushed in my direction. But first the dealer had to count out my all-in call. Blue Polo had me well covered.
After counting out my reds and placing my $100 chip in its own single-chip pile, the dealer announced the amount, something like $178. Blue Polo was surprised. “Wait, how much?” The dealer repeated himself and then pointed out my black chip. Blue Polo complained lightly, “That should have been visible. I didn’t see it.” Finally, I chimed in, “It was on top of my chips, and nothing was covering it. What else was I supposed to do. It was clearly visible. I wasn’t going to put it in its own stack. It’s just one chip.” Thankfully, an older gentleman in the 1 seat agreed with me and stated so, “It was out there on top. Plain to see.”
For what its worth, Blue Polo didn’t fight it much and accepted his fate and my explanation. But, it did highlight for me that there may be a benefit to packing your own backup chips. When you need to reload, not only do you avoid the announcement, “HEY I’M LOSING OVER HERE!” You also gain a hidden advantage, since people are not expecting your $100 chip in play. Ka ching!
I should also note that after winning the hand, I sheepishly offered, “I just got lucky.” I didn’t 100% mean it, but I like creating the impression that I am lucky and not good (ironically, if a blogger were to post that he/she thought I was lucky and not good, I would take offense; if a live poker opponent said that, I would nod and agree…pride is a weird thing). In response, Blue Polo made a very astute comment, “I had to get lucky first.” We both agreed, it didn’t matter who got lucky. All that mattered was who got lucky last.*
In my next big hand, I held QQ in the SB, with lots of limpers. I considered raising big to thin the herd, but I wanted some action, so I went with $12. That was too low, as it turned out, because I got a slew of callers to see the 985 flop with two spades.
I am a bit worried about the flush draw, so I bet out $40. Amazingly, ASG of all people raises to $110, and it folds back to me. I tried to think things out, but nothing clear was coming to me. I figured he either got lucky with a set of some sort, or he had the draw. I could even see a draw like JTs, for a flush and straight draw on the 985 flop. I finally reluctantly called after goading him with, “Are you pulling this with a flush draw?” In hindsight, this was a stupid statement to make, because once the flush card river came, I had to fold to his bet. And what did he have? 98, for flopped two pair. Whoops! At least I was giving money to a friend.
At around 3:00, I was fairly hungry, since I had breakfast at 8:30. We finally racked up our chips and decided to grab some grub. I was up $153 on my session, after peaking at around $270+. Most of the lost profit went to ASG, who had a struggle at the table yet left nearly even.
The next question was where to eat. It turns out that Bally’s has a mini-food court with a Sack O’ Subs and a pizza place in it. We went there and I wolfed down a chicken parm hero while ASG leisurely ate his Sack O’ Subs special, which is essentially an Italian hero.
After lunch, we decided to check out the Bally’s poker room again. This time, there were more tables running, and once we added our names to the 1/3 list shortly before a new table was called. I once again loaded up $200 in red and another $200 in backup chips, this time 8 $25 chips, since the cage did not have $100s.
In my first hand, I was dealt J8o in the SB, and saw a J9x flop with five other players. I bet $10 and a tall, thin Punjabi on my left called. I wasn’t sure if he were Indian or Muslim, and I’ll admit that as a bit of added motivation, I thought of him as a dirty terrorist. I know that may seem odd and maybe even a tad racist, but I do find that sometimes I can get extra motivation from such things. I had to win his chips so that it wouldn’t go to Al Qaeda! In reality, he was definitely Indian, and was extremely Americanized, with two white Dudes accompanying him to the game. Even so, he acted like the big shit, like he was going to show everyone who was top dog. I picked up on that fairly early, and it fueled my hate for him as the day wore on.
The turn was a Jack and I check. He bet out $15 and I check-raised to $40 before he almost instantly pushes all-in for $200 more. He had me covered and I took my time. I had trips, but any better kicker had me beat, and I could not see why he would push with a weak Jack. I finally decided to fold, and he flashed me the Jack. I replied, “Yeah, we all knew about that one. It was the other one I was curious about.” He mucked his cards and then said, “It was a Two.” I’m fairly sure he was lying, but maybe he was telling the truth. In any event, I replied, “In that case, you had me outkicked,” as sort of a snarky, wise-ass retort and a sign that his cards and chatter didn’t really bother me, since I said it in a flippant manner.
My next major hand was AJo. I called a raise to $10 preflop with many other players, and we saw a Jack-high flop. I bet out $40 and ASG called. It then folded to the guy on my right, who raised. I asked to see my neighbor’s stack and then decided to push all-in. My thinking was that he could not have an overpair because he did not raise pre-flop. I also figured that I looked weak after my fold to the Punjabi in the J8 hand. To my surprise, ASG and the guy on my right called, and we saw the turn and river. The river was a beautiful Ace, and when we reached showdown, it was revealed that ASG had the nut flush draw that missed (he hit his Ace, but that wasn’t enough) and the guy on my right had Queens. He was ahead until the river, when I sucked out. Lucky me! And just like that, my $200 stack was up to 450.
I had my vengeance from the Punjab when I held 44 and raise to $10 in EP. I got a shit ton of callers and we saw a 467 flop with two diamonds. I bet out $50, determined to push out the drawing hands, and Punjab raised to $125. One of his two Dude buddies were sitting at the table behind a bunch of chips. He wasn’t a particularly good player, but he was a gambler and had gotten lucky with shit cards before. The Dude folded and the action got back to me. I decided to push all-in, and the Punjab called me without counting my push. He then announced to the table, “He has an overpair,” gesturing to me. Clearly, this guy was SOOOOO good that he saw right through me.
Of course, I did not have an overpair, but rather the lowest possible set. But as my mind is thinking, I came to realize that based on his statement, he probably also has a set, since he can beat an overpair. Since I have the lowest possible set, I must be in trouble, right?
I ask, “So if you think I have an overpair, then you must have a set, right?” He nodded in agreement. I asked which one and he shut up.
I figured I was definitely the loser, especially after the turned 8 and rivered 2 of diamonds. However, when I showed my cards, the Punjab folded. As it turned out, he had top two pair on the flop, or so he claims. For what its worth, I believed him. I also delighted in his prediction. “He has an overpair.” Good job, Kreskin.
I only had one significant hand that I took notes on after that hand. In it, a loose player ended up all-in against me for around $108 preflop. I held QQ and he had AQ. He hit his Ace and I gave back some of my winnings.
When the session was done, I was up $453 at Bally’s alone, and $606 total on the day. At my peak at Bally’s I was probably up near $700 or more, but my hands stopped hitting and I gave some of it back. Alas, it wasn’t a bad take on the day.
We decided to leave the game when the Punjab and his friends left, leaving the table shorthanded. We made our way to some diner-type place, where we ordered grilled cheeses to go. We made our way to the bus depot at Bally’s and made the 8:30pm bus, eventually arriving in the city around 11.
$606. Not bad for a day’s work.
Until next time, make mine live poker!
*This parallels my thinking when it comes to that fateful hand between Chris Moneymaker and Phil Ivey from the 2003 WSOP Main Event, where Ivey got lucky hitting a flop (or was it a turn) before Moneymaker got lucky rivering a better hand. Ivey got as lucky as Moneymaker, but Moneymaker got lucky last.