Wheeling impromptu trip again

Startingly following last night's AMBUCS drawing that Big Red and I, along with Chris and Laura; our degenerate quartet jumped in the car and headed to... yup you guessed it... Wheeling! JR and Vince were already there (having called me much earlier, to rub it in and invite me along.) I don't know where the idea for us to go to Wheeling came from, but the decision was ultimately Big Red's to make. It probably wasn't the brightest thing I've ever done, but hey any day playing cards and a little casino gaming is just all too appealing.

It was going on midnight when we arrived in the Wheeling Island Poker Room. I was seated immediately, and waved my hellos to JR and Vince, who remarkably were not seated together, and I didn't catch either of their tables either. The room wasn't really all that busy either. Now, I did get to play with Chris at the table with me, so that was kind a nice to have a somewhat friendly face there with you. There were really only a couple of players with issues at the table, you know issues that I can spot and try to exploit! : ) The one, I never got involved with in the #6 seat. I think he tended to push a little hard but he was playing a lot of stuff. The other guy in the #7 seat however, I got involved with. He was first to act and simply called the $2 BB. I popped it to $10, and everyone but the #7 seat folded, he made the call. Now I popped it to take it down then and there... simply playing my position as I should, but in this case it wasn't a terrible hand. The flop came 3-K-3. I bet out $20, and I got a quick call, so there is concern in my mind now. But then the Turn fell a beautiful 9, giving me K's and 9's. As soon as it drops, the #7 seat makes this grossly exagerated motion like he's conducting a symphony orchestra and says "all of it!" I pause only briefly and tell him if you got the 3 I'm paying you and I'll congratulate you on your win. He's got me covered. I turn over my K-9, he shows K-10. So, yes he had me dead to rights and was trying to rope me in, but making the smooth call earlier. But I hit the card and had already decided what I was going to do before it came to that. At first a couple of the guys at the table miscalled the hand as a split, the dealer nodded agreement just like my opponent did, when the River Ace fell. I had to remind them I had Ks and 9s for the win. Yes, it was an ouch for him. And the pile headed my way. What was more interesting was to begin listening to the guy after that. He first criticized me to the girl beside him, saying he couldn't figure out how people who didn't know how to play could win like that. Then, for the next few hands, he couldn't get away from a hand to save his life. Tilt had arrived, and his stack began to dwindle, and finally got off the table. Not long after that I gave some of my stack to the guy beside me, when I raised with AJs in position and got him as a caller. I flopped TPTK with my Jack. I bet out he called, and then the board began to unfurl. We both check the turn, but the river came out filling in a potential straight. He wisely priced me in, with a small bet, which I had to call. He immediately told me that he'd sucked out and hit the straight. Not long after, the table broke up as players filtered their way out of the poker room.
I cashed out up around $30-ish, and headed up to look for Big Red. I played a few slot machines and then finally perched myself at a Three-Card poker table with my wife. She lost the last of her money and I was about to join her when I went on a run and hit two straights in a row, with the dealer qualifying. These paid out 6 to 1. A few other decent hands and I went from the brink of disaster to be up an additional $100.
Not long after that because my eyes were getting heavy, we cashed out and rounded up the herd and headed back home. Of course we had to make our obligatory stop at Denny's for breakfast. When I got home, I grabbed a couple hours sleep and then got up to go into work for patch maintenance on our servers. Thank goodness for coffee.

All in all, last night and early morning was a really good time. Of course I'm tired and it'll take a while to catch up on my sleep. I'm off tomorrow, so that'll help. Hope everyone's day goes well, oh and keep your fingers crossed for my daughter PLEASE. Cheerleader tryouts are today, and she's really busted her ass to try to make it. Just once let her have some luck of her own, and not the lousy kind that usually befalls me.

I'll see you all soon!

Regards,

cheer_dad