It was my birthday last Wednesday, and I arranged for my friends from university to come down and hit up the local casino (Brantford Charity Casino) and bars on Friday night. A few came early in the afternoon and we went for a couple of hours while waiting for the others to get off work and drive down.
I got a seat within 15 minutes of getting my name on the list for the $5/$10. I'm going to post some hands I remembered the most.
The first hand I played was Ts8s, and I flopped the nuts (rainbow). I check/call. The turn is a 5 and it makes the straight look more obvious but I still got the nuts and can sucker the guy with an 8. I check-raise, and get one caller. The river is a T, and I check-call. The guy has Jd8d for the higher straight(nuts).
This time I pick up Jacks and raise preflop in late position. The flop is Q T 9, both good and ba for me. It's checked to me and I bet, get a few callers. The turn is a rag. I take the free card when it's checked to me. The river is another rag. A lady, who is an alright player, in middle position stares at me for a bit for a read (or because of my good looks) and bets. At first I think she has a pair of queens, but then I sensed weakness because she had to stare me down with top pair if she had it. I call and she has king high (missed straight draw).
I pick up 87 on the button and make a position raise preflop, there's a few callers. The flop is A87, nice!! They check to me and I bet, they call. The turn is an A. I bet and they fold under the impression I had an ace. I showed my hand to let everyone know I didn't have an ace, I don't want to be predictable.
I pick aces in middle position and raise, and get some callers. The flop is king high rainbow, I couldn't ask for more. I check-call. The turn is an ace, I check-raise. The river is a blank. I check-raise, and beat AK. $2 tip
I pick up aces right before the button gets to me. Drats!! There's only a couple of limpers, so I just call. The flop is jack high, I check-call. The turn is a Q, I check-raise. I bet the river, and win. $2 tip
I gave that dealer who dealt me aces twice $4.50 when I left. I ended up $225 richer in about two hours.
After the rest of my friends got here, we decided to go again around 2:00am because it's not as busy then. I got my name on the list before we went to the bar/strip club, and when we got there I was next on the list. Awesome timing!! Here is the big hand for the night:
The second hand I play I pick up KcTc and limp in from middle position, there is a raise and a lot of callers including myself (big pot). The flop is QcJcXx. I check-call, and there's a good amount still in. The turn is a rag club. I check-raise and there's still a few left. The river is Ac, I checked my cards to make sure I made THE hand. I bet and get one caller. After I showed, everyone was congratulating me on my big nuts. I dragged a ~$200 pot there. No casino bonus for the royal though. I gained instant respect from everyone at the table though. This one dude was telling every newcomer tot he table about the hand.
This one guy two to the right of me was getting cards his way for the next few laps of the button. He folded maybe once per lap of the button, and only lost like a third of the hands he played. That was bad for my top pair top kicker or two pair hands against him. Here's a hand where it was me and him, and I unsuccessfully tried bluffing:
I pick up Ad4d in the SB and call. The flop is Axx, two hearts. I check-call his bet, there's a few others in. I know he has an ace and most likely a better kicker. The turn is a blank, I check-call again and it's heads up now. I decide that I want to try bluffing him if another heart falls. A heart falls, and I check-raise. He flips over his hand without calling my raise, and I'm thinking that it worked because he had AT and was showing me a big laydown. The dealer tells him he didn't call the raise, he says "Oh sorry, I didn't see him raise." He throws in $10 and I muck saying "You got me." Everyone around the table was like "I thought you had the flush" because they wanted that guy to lose for once.
I ended up losing $160 in a few hours.
Overall, it was a fun day and I finished the day up $65. If I had cashed out after that royal flush I would be up $300+ for the day. Oh well.
One the hand with a straight flush draw you generally want to bet and raise the flop instead of the turn as you are a favorite on the flop, but an underdog on the turn. You also don't want to consistantly check-call. check-raise. You get just as much money by 3-betting the flop, and betting the turn and river, plus you occasionally will get three bets on the turn when they bluff-raise you and you have a good hand.
When that guy showed his hand before he bet or called your raise, his hand is dead and should not of been allowed to win the pot. Next time say something to the dealer immediatly, that should of been your pot. Alot of dealers even though they know the rules dont want to rock the boat. There are rules for a reason, and I seriously doubt it was an honest mistake buy that guy.
actually in heads up play, limit holdem his hand is not dead. You are allowed to show your hand if its heads up. I have seen this one guy play his hand face up after the turn. And someone asked about it, and the dealer at the mirage said it was ok since it was heads up.
