What I need to learn, what I forgot....

4/3/07 - Excalibur
$1 - $3No Limit
3pm - 5:30pm (2.5hrs)
Buy In: $600.00
Cash Out: $810.00
Profit: $210.00
Hourly: $84.00/hr


Today I ventured out early as I used to do early in the week and made it out to the Excalibur or known here after as the Castle. First off Highwaytime Mike and & I have always renamed different casinos names. Like the Aladdin (Now Planet Hollywood) was known as Ali Baba's and so on. Alright I will get back to the session.

Made it down to the Castle and placed my name on the waiting list, thought I would check out the games and see how they were. We'll the first table, is what I need to learn. Here sat YJ, an Asian player I have played with quite a bit over the last 6 months. He is a very aggressive player, that seems to make some of the greatest calls, some of which keep you wondering; "How in the hell did he call that? Not my choice in style but I have to say it works for him, I have seen him consistently built over $1000.00 chip stacks. Today when I got there he has a mere $1800.00 in front of him and had the rest of the table looking like they had just walked through a Tornado to get to the table. Everyone was in awe, they had hand fulls of hair, their eyes were bloodshot, and some seemed down right depressed. I knew this was not the table for me.

The other table looked to be the Excalibur of old, a cowboy, a crazy looking Asian guy and a couple who was from the Midwest who seemed to like to play every pot. Soon after checking out the table I was seated at table two, I was glad this was my table. I will get right too the point, wow, I missed the Excalibur. It is truly the only casino (OK maybe MGM) where I can be in the game for $600.00 in and hour and a half, and get it all back.

It all started on my second hand, when I check raised a calling station with Broadway (that is an A, K, Q, J, 10 straight). I re raised 2 times the pot and he insta-called then pushed the river when he spiked a J for Jacks full, I was mad but knew he would not hold onto it. Then the second buy in about 20 minutes later I had KK and lost to 77 when he called a re raise of $50.00 preflop to flop a set.

So on to re buy 3, I had built my stack up to about $450.00 when this hand came up. From the under the gun position I limped with a classic Duke starting hand 10d - 7 d. In a 6 way limped pot the flop of Ad 6d 3d came down. It was checked to me and I checked as well. There were two players in the hand that always bet when and Ace hit so I thought I would slide in a solid check raise here. As I suspected goon#1 bet $20.00 into the $18.00 pot. The Big Blind called, and then I re raised to $150.00. I was happy taking the pot right here. What happened next I did not expect.

Goon #1 went all in for $1 more, and the Big Blind cold called leaving about $60 behind. I called the $1 as I could not re raise then told the Big Blind, I was going all in no matter what came and pushed my stack before the turn card came down. He said he would call and put his chips in. At this time my Girlfriend Stefanie had walked up to the table, and I told her, "I think I am about to lose a huge pot." The turn card was the 10h, great card, the dealer made the side pot right, then showed the river card, the 4s, I turned over my hand, the Big Blind showed the Kd and folded, goon #1 showed Ah Qd and folded. I was so shocked, I did not expect to have the best hand, but felt I did need to get all my chips in if that is the case.

I racked up as I was to be the big blind next, and thought I would take my win. So in the title I said what I need to learn....well that is how to play a little stronger of a style, like YJ, and what I forgot......I love the Excalibur.!!!!

On a side note I was told the the Planet Hollywood room is now open and has been busy all day. I may venture out, depending on how I feel. I know that I will play at Planet Hollywood for the most part, but I need to remember to play more at the Castle. I also an currently taking name suggestions for Planet Hollywood, I was thinking maybe Mars would be a good name. Or ever the twilight zone, cause so much weird stuff has gone on there....Let me know what you think.


10-4

THE DUKE