Saturday, February 11, 2017

Seattle Nonsense

Just returned from a few days visiting family in Seattle.  Of course an opportunity arose for a few hours of poker.  My wife had planned a shopping trip to Alderwood Mall and I remembered a wild omaha game at the Crazy Moose nearby.  They are affiliated with the Pasco Crazy Moose and I am aware of the downsizing of the poker room there.  So, after fighting some frustrating I-5 traffic (don't get me started on that topic), I found it, parked, walked in and immediately noted that the poker tables were no longer in the area I remembered.  Asking an employee about it, he said that the poker was now only in their other two local casinos.  Having burned up 1/2 hour of my planned 4 hours, I headed North on I-5 to Marysville, home of the Tullalip casino.  A half hour later signed up for 4/8 omaha and 1/3 No Limit hold 'em.  The first seat to open was the 1/3.  I planned to just kill time on the game until I could get on the omaha table.  They had 2 tables of 4/8, and 2 pot limit games going. Also, it was high hand day every 1/2 hour.  Sweet.  Bonus was $250, so definitely people were not giving up their seats easily.

A couple of hands came up in the hold em game that were noteworthy.  I was seated at the same seat, and same table as a tournament last year.  The same hand came up.  I almost mucked it because of the terrible luck before, but you have to play small pockets in a fairly loose passive game.  Last year I was eliminated with 6/6, hitting sets twice, and losing on the river to the same guy hitting straights.  I was not looking to build a big pot pre-flop, so I limped in middle position.  The flop came down 5/6/x and I bet $15 when checked from the blinds.  The big blind called.  The turn brough a 7 and a check from the blind.  I bet $20 and was check-raised to $48.  I called.  The river was a blank, and the other player shoved.  I folded my set, he showed 3/4 for the turned straight.  See what I mean?

I lost the rest of my stack with J/J, re-bought, and picked up 4/7.  The UTG player, a very lucky guy who doubled up very early on a straddle that hit a boat vs. trip K's with a better kicker, raised to around $8.  Decided to take a flyer on my "favorite" birthyear hand and called.  The flop brought a gutshot straight draw and unexpectedly the player checked.  I took the free card and hit my gutter on the turn.  He then bet $20 which I flat called.  The turn brought a 7, he then checked and I bet $20, which he called.  The ranting began about how he had misplayed the hand, should have bet more, etc.

Last hand was A/A on the button.  I raised to $15 and got 2 callers.  The big blind led out on the queen high flop, the other player folded, and I raised to $40.  He called.  The turn was a blank, he checked, I bet $20 which he called, then checked the river and I shoved when an ace hit.  He folded.

My name was called for the omaha game, and I left up $25 from the session.  Would like to say that the omaha game was as good to me, but it wasn't.  Lost several big pots on the river when the board paired vs. my straight or flush giving an opponent a full house.  Flopped a boat once and had my name up for the high hand money, but was beaten by a bigger boat (mine was 999/JJ which turned into JJJ/99 on the river.  Beaten by kings full.)   Ended the session down $117 overall and rushed out to play in traffic for another half hour.  My wife was late which probably saved me money though she spent more at Macy's than I had lost.  Oh well.  

1 comment:

7 Dewey said...

I love Seattle except for that damn traffic. I'm sure you would have had fun even if you couldn't play poker but I think it's always nice to play in a different place. It adds a little more excitement.

Lately, I've only been playing at Jokers. They have $40 tournaments on Friday and Saturday at 3pm. The Friday one is 10,000 chips with 20-minute blinds and the Saturday one is also 10,000 chips but with 15-minute blinds so it doesn't last as long. I haven't played Friday yet as I still work but I took 3rd last Saturday for a profit of $100.

The best thing is that I can play 3-6 (smiley face) for a couple of hours before the tournament. I miss 3-6 and 4-8. I hate to admit it but I do. I really dislike spread limit games and there's no opportunity for no limit. I haven't been to the Crazy Moose since 12/31-1/1. I think they are trying to get rid of poker altogether too. Bummer.