You see a few of the mobile texting posts from yesterday, as I had joined Frank and headed south to the Cross Lanes Poker Room. The tournament brought me stale cards, but I had glimmer of hope briefly when a stolen pot beefed me back up. Unfortunately the blinds and antes just slowly chipped me out. No pairs, connectors, or face cards for that matter. Busted out 33 out of 95 players. sigh...
Then, on to the cash game. It was VERY loose. Suckout city... So, I played cautious. First hand I got involved in from the button, was 7-8os when it was only $5 to the flop, with EVERYONE in. Why not. The board shows two sevens on the flop. Ooooh goodie for cheer_dad. It checked around to me, so I fumbled around and threw out what looked like a steal for the pot. I got a couple callers. The turn was an 8. I think the table rose a little on my end of it. But the guy in front of me throws out a $20 bet. I feign to throw away (yes, transparent to most players but not these guys.) Then frustrated looking I throw in a raise. He called very slowly... more shrewd than I gave him credit for. He tables his 7-9s for trips. I table my 7s full of 8s for the win and a very nice pot. He had called from early position with a 7-9, in fact I think he's the one that made it $5 in the first place. Hmmmm. BUT, life is good, cheer_dad's actually up for the trip now, despite busting out of the tourney. I order a beer... You can see where this is going. Then, comes the hand. I'm in the small blind, and the whole table is limping in, it rounds back to me, and I finally look down at my cards. I have AQos. I make it $15 straight to go, just content to take it there. Instead I get 3 callers. Oh goodie...BUT as luck would have it, the flop comes out Q-6-4 rainbow. This is a great flop for me. So, I bet out $60, still just wanting to get this done and over... 1 fold, then 2, then wait... WTF, he pauses and looks doubtingly at my cards seemingly challenging that I have a queen in my hand. So much so that he grabs a boat load of greens (far more than enough to put me and my measly stack all in. I think he threw like $200 out there, where I had a lil under $100 left. Everything here pointed to him buying it, the pot had swollen now, a call by me is going to make it in the $360+ neighborhood. I've lost track, my mind, and as you can tell, I'm about to lose all my chips too. I make the call with my top pair top kicker, convinced that he's bullying me, like I've seen he and the other players doing so far tonight. I call it, and he says immediately I "just" got middle set... 666, the mark of the beast. I've just been owned. Nice hand sir, I'll call it a night after that. No, sense throwing good money after bad.
To any of my readers, where did I go wrong on this... other than actually showing UP in the card room in the first place? Did the chips inevitably end up in the pot, no matter? Anything I could've done? Was I just destined to lose it all here? Should I just suck it up, and quit the bitching, or what do I actually "learn" here? I await any comments you may have...
Regards,
cheer_dad
Showing posts with label road trip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label road trip. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
A trip to the White House
This is going to be a pretty cool week! Well at the least the end of it will be anyway... The whole cheer_dad clan is going to DC on Friday. Thanks to the quick thinking of "Uncle June" and a special invitation a group of us is making the trip to our nation's capital Friday morning. We have been included in a private tour of the White House. Maybe that's not such a big deal to some of you, but hey it makes me feel pretty special, so let me have my little moment, okay? We've decided to make a weekend mini vacation out of it. We are getting a hotel, and taking the kids along, despite the fact that they will have just started school on Wednesday. I figure anything that requires a background investigation by the U.S. Secret Service to attend should probably be considered worthy of missing a day of public education. Am I right?
Of course we'll do additional sightseeing while we are there, but despite the fact that some of us have been to DC a number of times before, we've never been to a White House tour. I think years ago, this was a much more common thing to go on this tour, but now it requires some preplanning and special permission. If I'm wrong, let me keep my delusion.
So, other stops on the sightseeing tour I want to make sure to hit for the sake of my kids are the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and possibly a stop at some of the Museums of the Smithsonian. Of course the Viet Nam and Korean War Memorials are also close by. Lots to do, lots to see, and just a lot to experience. We're all really looking forward to it. I'm sure there will be plenty of pictures taken that I'll post up here to the blog. Even Cole says he wants to take a lot of pictures. He's excited about the trip. He said he was going to take pictures in the White House, but I had to tell him that that is not permitted. His words, "well that's stupid! Who does the President think he is?" My answer was "... well it's just the rules son, and the President didn't make 'em, but he IS after all the President, so he probably could have anyway..."
But enough about that for now, I'm sure I'll post up a full trip report later on. For now, I've got to head off to training. I'm once again in class, the Bureau seems to want to make me into some kinda leader. Go ahead all of you, laugh it up, get it out of your systems now... Glad I could add a little humor to your lives.
Have a great day!
Regards,
cheer_dad
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Wheeling Feeling, revisited!
I awake to the sounds of construction. The incessant "beep-beep" from a mini dozer backing up, syncopating the low drone of its motor. The sharp clang of metal on metal as a sledge drives something or other home. The raking sound of a shovel being dragged over gravel. Hearing is the first of my senses to come alive. The second is unfortunately that of touch. I feel a throb of pain in my head from very little sleep, and the previous nights drinking, but this can't hold a candle to the feel of the seat belt latch which has dug its way into my side. I roll over onto my back, cold, thirsty, and let my eyes open for the first time in a couple of hours. I find a frosted windshield obscures the view. Raising up a bit I can now see the workers making all the racket...outside of the Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center. The parking lot, on the back/side of the complex, is sparsely dotted with cars and trucks. There's no life in any of them. This particular pickup truck, holds two. One is I, in the front seat now struggling to put on shoes, and digging for my jacket, "frack, it's cold!" The other still lies motionless in the back seat still buried under both pillow and blanket. That's JR, or at least I think it still is. I mumble something and get out of the truck and make the short walk across the lot to re-enter the building. I know there's a bathroom around here somewhere. And coffee, yeah, coffee'd be nice. "Ugh, my head!"
Let's flashback to the evening before... (insert visions of swirly lines here)
As was noted on the River's Edge Poker Club site, we met Tuesday night at BW's for Chris' 35 birthday. Several of us, I think like 15, for dinner and drinks. Great time had by all. Big Red wants to spin! Slot time at the Eagle's. JR and I go on ahead to the Eagle's while Big Red takes the kids home. We play for a while and JR continues to badger my wife, about how close Wheeling really is, and we could be there in no time. He'd started earlier at BW's and it had just continued. Somehow, someway, he runs her out of arguments. "What're you going to do, have to call off in the morning, from work," she asks? Was that a hint of acceptance in her tone?! "Well yeah, I will," is my answer. She leaves the slot machine room, and returns in just a few minutes, with another drink for herself, and shoves a wad of 20's in my hands. "Here, be careful, and call me sometime." I'm speechless, I think JR is a little too. But, we hurry out (after I kiss her goodbye and tell her she's the best) fearful that she might come to her senses and change her mind. She didn't...and away the two of us went. In the neighborhood of 11:30-12:00, we arrive at the poker room at Wheeling Island. We get immediate seating this time, unlike the time before. Well, DUH...it is the middle of the week, this time! $200 hundred in chips each from the Cashier's Cage and away we go. I'm seeing a few hands, in the first couple of hours, some ups and downs, nothing big. I continue to get blinded off and then start to find myself coming up short on the flop and turn, and I'm blowing away $$$ on some decent hands, when they fail to connect. I take a hit, and finally find myself dwindled down to around $40. This was NOT the fargin' game plan here people. I came all this way to lose...again... Grrr! I continue to play, still just barely hanging on, and go up only slightly. Fuckit, I get involved in another hand, and flop top pair, bet out...and get raised. Shit, you're beat here cheer_dad, you know it, and you should fold, but what the heck are you going to do with this paltry sum that you have left. Sure you've got enough to call him down, and can in fact reraise all in, for like an additional $25. Screw it, if need be there's an ATM out there somewhere, and yes Big Red'll be pissed but we'll deal with that later, if necessary! I'm all in, with top pair. He insta-calls, with top 2 pair!!! Yeah I knew it was coming, and I start collecting my things. Then, the turn, offers straight and flush possibilities. Can you say STRAIGHT, boys and girls!!! Yes, I sucked out. Yes, I know it sucks. Yes, it ain't right, but man I'm due for one, and just like this, in the nick of time. And NO, I don't feel bad enough about it to give my opponent a dime of it back either. I'm back into contention in this thing. A few hands later, and I find myself up like $40 over my original buy in! Talk about dodging a bullet! In this case a bullet is what hit me filling in my straight. We continue on playing into the wee hours of the morning. I'm still up over my initial buy-in like $50-ish, when we call it a night. It's 5:30am. Sleep, comes quickly, despite the cold.
(insert visions of swirly lines here) Flashback complete...
Now, it's around 8:00am. The world continued on. I find the bathroom, and later coffee (why must it scald my tongue for Starbucks to consider it good coffee? Oh and JR calls to find out where I am. He's up too, we meet up at the poker room, and he lets me know he has Tylenol in the truck, guessing that my head is throbbing. A couple of those, nursing the coffee, I buy-in for $200 again, pleasant lady at the Cash Cage, wishes me luck. This table, for the morning session is WILD! Wow, maybe we should cover Texas Hold 'em Basics for some of these people. "...now the first 3 community cards are what's known as 'the flop'." Where did they dig these people up. And not only are they stupid...they don't know it, and some of them are lecturing others at the table who keep sucking out on others. The drunk guy on the end of the table next to JR is smack talkin' the guy sitting across from me, who I'll refer to as BMF, short for Big Mutha...F (well you get the idea.) He's taunting this mountain with arms. BMF, came to play. The cards didn't friggin' matter, not because he was skilled or anything, but apparently no one ever taught him about the virtues of folding a hand. Earlier, before the smack talk had begun, BMF got into it with an older guy, who looked a little like Sklansky to me, so mentally I gave him this nickname. He destroyed BMF on a hand, when they got into it heads up/show down/all-in with BMF quickly turning up (proudly) his straight. Sklansky, quietly puts up his BOAT. The betting and raising had been furious in that round and the pot was the proof. If memory serves correctly, a mound of well over $300 chips went from the #6 seat to the #7 seat. Oof...I need checks over here!!! BMF, opts not to wait on a chip runner and heads after another $200. He continues his donking ways, and hits some big pots, and judging from my angle it looks like he's got some of what he lost back, and is on his way back. Now, BMF, just calm down, and ride this out. But he keeps on going. He busts a couple of different guys out, who keep coming back for more. But then BMF just keeps donkin' it off to someone else. 2 particular someone else's in fact. Unfortunately, it ain't JR or me! I can't catch now to save my life. Nothin' and marginal hands are getting dropped easily when preflop raises have left the friendly stage, and are now on average 30-50 PRE-flop, in a $1/$2 NLHE game. But let's talk of some of the others at the table. The dealer's were okay, and they also agree that the California missed blind system that Wheeling opted to use, SUCKS!!! The Rain Man lady to my right who babbled on endlessly, and hacked/coughed and blew her nose, constantly, really caught JR's eye. "DEF-IN-ITELY Hold 'em, TEXAS, Hold 'em, definitely, but this is Wheeling not friggin' K-Mart." JR asked later what was wrong with her, and said he figured I was wishing I had my IPOD! Ya think!!! I think she really just caught his eye, wearing the hot blue-flannel. And the way it flitted around as she walked out of the poker room, to go smoke, was just breath-taking. Were those coke bottles, or eyeglasses? OY!!! The black lady next to her, like me was playing hooky! She left the table at one point to make a series of calls to cancel the days appointments. I was afraid to ask what kind. I guess she "could" have had clients of some sort. When she returned she continued to take every one's chips. I was keeping mine out of the middle. I could see the rush in progress. I had sense enough to stay out of the way. She was cleaning up, and must have just "felt" lucky, since she was winning with crap like 7-3c!!! Calling down 20-30 preflop bets, with crap like that. She hit the flush and tore the autistic bitch apart with it. Checks please, definitely more checks. But c'mon how confident can you feel about your 7-high flush!!! But hey, it was working for her, and that's all that matters. I just continued to bleed of my blinds and an occasional call, but the cards just weren't there, especially with the stuff that was coming out. I cashed out still up for the trip, but I was really glad to see it hit 11:30am, and that we'd agreed to leave at that time.
All in all, it was another great trip to Wheeling. I'd like to be coming out a little higher on the food chain though, in this game. So far, I just haven't hit my groove. JR and I both agree it'll be better for us when Cross Lanes opens their poker room. A little closer to home. Not as long a drive. I'm sure late night trips will be in order. Hope that sums it up for you. I'm still working on catching up on my sleep. I haven't pulled an all-nighter like this in a little while, and the older I get, the longer it seems to take for me to recover. Man I am OLD!
Anyway, don't forget kiddies, tomorrow is NDPT #11, and I have a whopping 33 people signed up to play. WOW! Bring it! 'specially the Red Snappers! Then late Saturday a contingent of us are heading BACK TO WHEELING, for an overnighter, again. If you tag along, I'll be sure to point out BMF and Rain Man. I'd stay away from both of them for different reasons. There, how's that for a trip post. As for how JR did...ask JR. That's his story...although I'm pretty sure he's up, and ready to head back this weekend. Let's do this THANG!
Regards,
cheer_dad
Let's flashback to the evening before... (insert visions of swirly lines here)
As was noted on the River's Edge Poker Club site, we met Tuesday night at BW's for Chris' 35 birthday. Several of us, I think like 15, for dinner and drinks. Great time had by all. Big Red wants to spin! Slot time at the Eagle's. JR and I go on ahead to the Eagle's while Big Red takes the kids home. We play for a while and JR continues to badger my wife, about how close Wheeling really is, and we could be there in no time. He'd started earlier at BW's and it had just continued. Somehow, someway, he runs her out of arguments. "What're you going to do, have to call off in the morning, from work," she asks? Was that a hint of acceptance in her tone?! "Well yeah, I will," is my answer. She leaves the slot machine room, and returns in just a few minutes, with another drink for herself, and shoves a wad of 20's in my hands. "Here, be careful, and call me sometime." I'm speechless, I think JR is a little too. But, we hurry out (after I kiss her goodbye and tell her she's the best) fearful that she might come to her senses and change her mind. She didn't...and away the two of us went. In the neighborhood of 11:30-12:00, we arrive at the poker room at Wheeling Island. We get immediate seating this time, unlike the time before. Well, DUH...it is the middle of the week, this time! $200 hundred in chips each from the Cashier's Cage and away we go. I'm seeing a few hands, in the first couple of hours, some ups and downs, nothing big. I continue to get blinded off and then start to find myself coming up short on the flop and turn, and I'm blowing away $$$ on some decent hands, when they fail to connect. I take a hit, and finally find myself dwindled down to around $40. This was NOT the fargin' game plan here people. I came all this way to lose...again... Grrr! I continue to play, still just barely hanging on, and go up only slightly. Fuckit, I get involved in another hand, and flop top pair, bet out...and get raised. Shit, you're beat here cheer_dad, you know it, and you should fold, but what the heck are you going to do with this paltry sum that you have left. Sure you've got enough to call him down, and can in fact reraise all in, for like an additional $25. Screw it, if need be there's an ATM out there somewhere, and yes Big Red'll be pissed but we'll deal with that later, if necessary! I'm all in, with top pair. He insta-calls, with top 2 pair!!! Yeah I knew it was coming, and I start collecting my things. Then, the turn, offers straight and flush possibilities. Can you say STRAIGHT, boys and girls!!! Yes, I sucked out. Yes, I know it sucks. Yes, it ain't right, but man I'm due for one, and just like this, in the nick of time. And NO, I don't feel bad enough about it to give my opponent a dime of it back either. I'm back into contention in this thing. A few hands later, and I find myself up like $40 over my original buy in! Talk about dodging a bullet! In this case a bullet is what hit me filling in my straight. We continue on playing into the wee hours of the morning. I'm still up over my initial buy-in like $50-ish, when we call it a night. It's 5:30am. Sleep, comes quickly, despite the cold.
(insert visions of swirly lines here) Flashback complete...
Now, it's around 8:00am. The world continued on. I find the bathroom, and later coffee (why must it scald my tongue for Starbucks to consider it good coffee? Oh and JR calls to find out where I am. He's up too, we meet up at the poker room, and he lets me know he has Tylenol in the truck, guessing that my head is throbbing. A couple of those, nursing the coffee, I buy-in for $200 again, pleasant lady at the Cash Cage, wishes me luck. This table, for the morning session is WILD! Wow, maybe we should cover Texas Hold 'em Basics for some of these people. "...now the first 3 community cards are what's known as 'the flop'." Where did they dig these people up. And not only are they stupid...they don't know it, and some of them are lecturing others at the table who keep sucking out on others. The drunk guy on the end of the table next to JR is smack talkin' the guy sitting across from me, who I'll refer to as BMF, short for Big Mutha...F (well you get the idea.) He's taunting this mountain with arms. BMF, came to play. The cards didn't friggin' matter, not because he was skilled or anything, but apparently no one ever taught him about the virtues of folding a hand. Earlier, before the smack talk had begun, BMF got into it with an older guy, who looked a little like Sklansky to me, so mentally I gave him this nickname. He destroyed BMF on a hand, when they got into it heads up/show down/all-in with BMF quickly turning up (proudly) his straight. Sklansky, quietly puts up his BOAT. The betting and raising had been furious in that round and the pot was the proof. If memory serves correctly, a mound of well over $300 chips went from the #6 seat to the #7 seat. Oof...I need checks over here!!! BMF, opts not to wait on a chip runner and heads after another $200. He continues his donking ways, and hits some big pots, and judging from my angle it looks like he's got some of what he lost back, and is on his way back. Now, BMF, just calm down, and ride this out. But he keeps on going. He busts a couple of different guys out, who keep coming back for more. But then BMF just keeps donkin' it off to someone else. 2 particular someone else's in fact. Unfortunately, it ain't JR or me! I can't catch now to save my life. Nothin' and marginal hands are getting dropped easily when preflop raises have left the friendly stage, and are now on average 30-50 PRE-flop, in a $1/$2 NLHE game. But let's talk of some of the others at the table. The dealer's were okay, and they also agree that the California missed blind system that Wheeling opted to use, SUCKS!!! The Rain Man lady to my right who babbled on endlessly, and hacked/coughed and blew her nose, constantly, really caught JR's eye. "DEF-IN-ITELY Hold 'em, TEXAS, Hold 'em, definitely, but this is Wheeling not friggin' K-Mart." JR asked later what was wrong with her, and said he figured I was wishing I had my IPOD! Ya think!!! I think she really just caught his eye, wearing the hot blue-flannel. And the way it flitted around as she walked out of the poker room, to go smoke, was just breath-taking. Were those coke bottles, or eyeglasses? OY!!! The black lady next to her, like me was playing hooky! She left the table at one point to make a series of calls to cancel the days appointments. I was afraid to ask what kind. I guess she "could" have had clients of some sort. When she returned she continued to take every one's chips. I was keeping mine out of the middle. I could see the rush in progress. I had sense enough to stay out of the way. She was cleaning up, and must have just "felt" lucky, since she was winning with crap like 7-3c!!! Calling down 20-30 preflop bets, with crap like that. She hit the flush and tore the autistic bitch apart with it. Checks please, definitely more checks. But c'mon how confident can you feel about your 7-high flush!!! But hey, it was working for her, and that's all that matters. I just continued to bleed of my blinds and an occasional call, but the cards just weren't there, especially with the stuff that was coming out. I cashed out still up for the trip, but I was really glad to see it hit 11:30am, and that we'd agreed to leave at that time.
All in all, it was another great trip to Wheeling. I'd like to be coming out a little higher on the food chain though, in this game. So far, I just haven't hit my groove. JR and I both agree it'll be better for us when Cross Lanes opens their poker room. A little closer to home. Not as long a drive. I'm sure late night trips will be in order. Hope that sums it up for you. I'm still working on catching up on my sleep. I haven't pulled an all-nighter like this in a little while, and the older I get, the longer it seems to take for me to recover. Man I am OLD!
Anyway, don't forget kiddies, tomorrow is NDPT #11, and I have a whopping 33 people signed up to play. WOW! Bring it! 'specially the Red Snappers! Then late Saturday a contingent of us are heading BACK TO WHEELING, for an overnighter, again. If you tag along, I'll be sure to point out BMF and Rain Man. I'd stay away from both of them for different reasons. There, how's that for a trip post. As for how JR did...ask JR. That's his story...although I'm pretty sure he's up, and ready to head back this weekend. Let's do this THANG!
Regards,
cheer_dad
Monday, October 22, 2007
Buckle up...here we go!
I posted the bulk of the following to the HPT forums as well, with a few modifications, and a little something extra for all you here on the home team!
An early bustout on Saturday night, at my own home game, left me feeling in the words of Teddy KGB, "so unsatisfied," to the point, that with minimal coercion by some of my fellow poker lackeys, a ROAD TRIP was in order! Yup...3 of of piled in the car and headed for Wheeling Island, to behold the newly opened West "by God" Virginia poker room addition to the Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center. We arrived at MIDNIGHT. All 20 tables were FULL! We put our name on the waiting list signup boards. How popular is poker?...well the waiting list for 1/2 NLHE had 94 players on it, and 2/4 Limit had 74! There were 40 on the waiting list for 2/5 NLHE, I couldn't tell you how many there were on the Omaha, and Omaha Hi/Lo, but I do recall that there were 25 on the waiting list of the 7-card stud game. There was even an "interest list" forming for a 10/20 NLHE table! I'd like to report a winning session, but it just didn't come together for me. Hands of note for me for the night. My first two dragged pots, were lackluster, since I had to split 'em!!! 1.) Late position I look down at AJc. The board comes Kc-Qc-9h. Like I'm EVER gonna get away from this one. The river brought the 10...unfortunately not the elusive 10 of clubs! I've got my straight, and table it proudly, only to watch 2 OTHER GUYS turn over their AJos as well, for a 3-way split! ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH! 2.) From late position AGAIN, everyone limping in, I join 'em, with a KJos. Flop K-2-2 feel pretty good about it...the turn is a blank...the river is another KING, and makes a flush possible for someone, but my boat feels really good now! But I get to split it as well with the lady from Florida to my right, who also has a KING...and had me dominated up to the river with her KQ! Splittin' sucks, but I did dodge a bullet there! I dragged a small pot, with a straight, and then proceeded to lose with a set of 5's...a set of 6's...and I got pounded on 2 flopped straights, when the river flushed someone other than me, once by the schmuck with the 72s, who just "had to keep me honest." But hey...I had a great time, and I think they've made a great start with the poker room. The table "features" were very nice, with the LED screens which display for the dealer everyone's name. When you sit, the dealer swipes your players card. When you leave, they press a button for your seat, and it is immediately vacated by the system, and updates the floor and they go to the waiting list. Call buttons for chip runners, another for cocktails, and another for "floor decisions." I give them high marks in that regard. I'm sure they'll be adding some additional waitresses, who were doing their best to keep 'em coming, throughout the night. The bar is just outside of the poker room, and next to it is the restroom, which are both a BIG plus in my book. I expect that the the poker room at Wheeling will continue to be a hot spot, although around the first of the year, when the rest of the table games open people will have additional options at their disposal. Of course, by then the poker room will be running more tournaments, SNG's, etc... If you have the chance, I highly recommend checking it out. We wandered out into the world the next morning, when the sun was coming up, and headed for home. There were a few empty tables at that point, but the room was still very much occupied! I don't think I actually saw an empty table in the room until after 3:00AM.
As soon as I make it to Chester, WV to visit Mountaineer Racetrack and Gaming Center, I'll report on it as well. And then later on when Cross Lanes, Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center opens it's poker room and table games I'll head there as well. Wow, maybe I've got issues...but until I pass that final judgement, in the meantime I've got OPTIONS!!!
Also, all the results from NDPT #10 and the points race are all updated on the homepage. Visit and enjoy! BIG THANKS and LOVE to BIG RED for allowing me to head to Wheeling on the spur of the moment...and letting me back in the door, despite coming home with fewer dollars than I left with. Next on the conquest list...Chester, WV! What's that about a weekend road trip? Did I hear something...from someone...anyone, anyone, Bueller, Bueller... Oh and eerie similarities were discovered on the drive to Wheeling. John Cusack...that's all I'm sayin'... AND sadly Frank now understands what snoring is all about! JR already knew from Vegas. I'm sure Frank will have things to add as well on his blog, check it out.
Regards,
cheer_dad
An early bustout on Saturday night, at my own home game, left me feeling in the words of Teddy KGB, "so unsatisfied," to the point, that with minimal coercion by some of my fellow poker lackeys, a ROAD TRIP was in order! Yup...3 of of piled in the car and headed for Wheeling Island, to behold the newly opened West "by God" Virginia poker room addition to the Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center. We arrived at MIDNIGHT. All 20 tables were FULL! We put our name on the waiting list signup boards. How popular is poker?...well the waiting list for 1/2 NLHE had 94 players on it, and 2/4 Limit had 74! There were 40 on the waiting list for 2/5 NLHE, I couldn't tell you how many there were on the Omaha, and Omaha Hi/Lo, but I do recall that there were 25 on the waiting list of the 7-card stud game. There was even an "interest list" forming for a 10/20 NLHE table! I'd like to report a winning session, but it just didn't come together for me. Hands of note for me for the night. My first two dragged pots, were lackluster, since I had to split 'em!!! 1.) Late position I look down at AJc. The board comes Kc-Qc-9h. Like I'm EVER gonna get away from this one. The river brought the 10...unfortunately not the elusive 10 of clubs! I've got my straight, and table it proudly, only to watch 2 OTHER GUYS turn over their AJos as well, for a 3-way split! ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH! 2.) From late position AGAIN, everyone limping in, I join 'em, with a KJos. Flop K-2-2 feel pretty good about it...the turn is a blank...the river is another KING, and makes a flush possible for someone, but my boat feels really good now! But I get to split it as well with the lady from Florida to my right, who also has a KING...and had me dominated up to the river with her KQ! Splittin' sucks, but I did dodge a bullet there! I dragged a small pot, with a straight, and then proceeded to lose with a set of 5's...a set of 6's...and I got pounded on 2 flopped straights, when the river flushed someone other than me, once by the schmuck with the 72s, who just "had to keep me honest." But hey...I had a great time, and I think they've made a great start with the poker room. The table "features" were very nice, with the LED screens which display for the dealer everyone's name. When you sit, the dealer swipes your players card. When you leave, they press a button for your seat, and it is immediately vacated by the system, and updates the floor and they go to the waiting list. Call buttons for chip runners, another for cocktails, and another for "floor decisions." I give them high marks in that regard. I'm sure they'll be adding some additional waitresses, who were doing their best to keep 'em coming, throughout the night. The bar is just outside of the poker room, and next to it is the restroom, which are both a BIG plus in my book. I expect that the the poker room at Wheeling will continue to be a hot spot, although around the first of the year, when the rest of the table games open people will have additional options at their disposal. Of course, by then the poker room will be running more tournaments, SNG's, etc... If you have the chance, I highly recommend checking it out. We wandered out into the world the next morning, when the sun was coming up, and headed for home. There were a few empty tables at that point, but the room was still very much occupied! I don't think I actually saw an empty table in the room until after 3:00AM.
As soon as I make it to Chester, WV to visit Mountaineer Racetrack and Gaming Center, I'll report on it as well. And then later on when Cross Lanes, Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center opens it's poker room and table games I'll head there as well. Wow, maybe I've got issues...but until I pass that final judgement, in the meantime I've got OPTIONS!!!
Also, all the results from NDPT #10 and the points race are all updated on the homepage. Visit and enjoy! BIG THANKS and LOVE to BIG RED for allowing me to head to Wheeling on the spur of the moment...and letting me back in the door, despite coming home with fewer dollars than I left with. Next on the conquest list...Chester, WV! What's that about a weekend road trip? Did I hear something...from someone...anyone, anyone, Bueller, Bueller... Oh and eerie similarities were discovered on the drive to Wheeling. John Cusack...that's all I'm sayin'... AND sadly Frank now understands what snoring is all about! JR already knew from Vegas. I'm sure Frank will have things to add as well on his blog, check it out.
Regards,
cheer_dad
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