TM1212
02-21-2005, 10:24 PM
Some Friends and I headed down to Turning Stone for the first time I planned on playing some cards, and haveing a fun weekend. We arrived late Saturday, and I fell right to sleep in the room, so I didn't get any cards in. I stayed in the lodge which is about 300 feet from the casino and tower, and there’s a trolley if your to lazy for the short walk. The lodge was exceptional, nicest receptionists, valet, and door man. A nice change of pace from AC. The room was stunning, all modern furniture, nice couch, pull out bed, double beds, and a huge bathroom. For 129.00 a night (normally 199)I was very happy. I had originally planned on staying in the tower for 80 a night on the poker plan offer, but changed my reservation when presented with the great price on the lodge.
On Sunday, I headed to the poker room around noon. I took a look at the list, the 5- 10 had a few people on it so I decided to go with the 100 max. I got called in about 2 mins, I sat down at the table which was loudly engaged in conversation, and I can instantly tell there were some real characters. The table was playing very loose aggressive, with one maniac on his 4th rebuy, one women who never played before, and one guy that seemed to be willing to play any hand. A lot of trash talk about age was coming from the maniac, who look like he was going through his 2nd mid-life crisis, he proceed to call me "rookie", and that I needed to loosen up. The table talk was very funny, hearing these people talk as if they knew what they were doing... or the one guy with a scribbled odds, and outz sheet, who decides to show it off to anyone new to the table. I decide a tight preflop strategy was going to work best... to my tables credit there were 3 players who honestly look like they new what was going on.
I sit back for 2 rotations catching trash hand after trash hand. Then I hit a streak for about 40 minutes where all I can pick up are connectors. On top of that I can't hit a flop, and all attempts at steals or bluffs went wrong, even as most of my read were correct. I mean these people were calling raises with J2 preflop, hitting a 2 on the flop and playing it the whole way.
After 4 hours, I still haven't seen a single hand with 2 face cards, nor have I hit a flop. I’m down to 40 of my buyin, and I pick up AT on the button. With 4 limpers in front of me I raise to 10, the maniac currently on his 5th buyin and utg, says alright rookie, Imma set u in. He pushes 40 in chips forward. I look in to him, and feel he’s acting strong to get me to fold, I put him on a small pair at best, but more likely Ax or worse. I call, He’s got K7s. He flops 2 pair and my first buyins done.
I felt pretty good about my play, I think I could have been a little more patient, but I got in with the bet. I decided I needed a food break and headed to the Nathan’s hot dog stand. After the grub I got back on the 100 max list. After a little wait I get a table, and take a seat. I look around and there’s not a single person over 22, and from the hands I observed as I sat down they seemed very tight weak. Better yet, as I gave them a glance as they looked at there cards there faces screamed with tells, and as they bet there hand motions revealed there card strength. I decided a very aggressive style was going to work best. After picking up the first two pots preflop, I get 22 on the button. 5 limpers, so I limp, so 8 to the flop. flop comes 2 5 8. bb bets out 20, one caller, I reraise 25, bb calls, other guy folds (what he have lol). Turns a Q, bb checks, I move in, bb folds. The BB and I continued to battle the whole time hes at the table. He look like he was maybe 15, and played any hand preflop for any raise, and played the rest of the hand very weak. He left down 300, and according to his friend down 1,000 for the day. Got to love rich high school kids. I played at the table for 4 hours, only showing down a few hands, picking up most of my pots by making moves. I cash out up 450, 350 up for the trip.
I decide to leave the table, some of my friends wanted to peek in at the billiard tourt going on in the ballroom. Afterwards we headed for the restaurants, we settled on pinco blano (Something Like that). The food prices were reasonable, and the food turned out to be very good. After dinner I got on the 5-10 list, and 100 max, but neither seemed to be moving, so I headed back to my room and fell asleep.
The next morning I had planned to play from 9am to 3pm, before leaving, but I wasn't feeling very well and it was snowing pretty heavy, so my friends decided it was best to leave early.
The trip was a lot of fun and I plan on heading back in a month. The poker room is nice, its split between 2 rooms, the Torch lounge and something else, and the tournaments are held up stairs. The staff was very good, but wasn't doing great job at enforcing the waiting list. Many players just hopped on an empty seat at there first opportunity.
The dealers were very good, which surprised me, no problems with any, and all handled players very well. They have a very tough job with many of these obnoxious players, especially the teenagers that have no idea how card room eidetic works.
Also I had plans to say hello to MBD, but couldn't find him. MBD I didn't see your intials on the 20-40 waiting list. Where you there on Sunday? Maybe ill see ya next time im down there, Ill let you know.
On Sunday, I headed to the poker room around noon. I took a look at the list, the 5- 10 had a few people on it so I decided to go with the 100 max. I got called in about 2 mins, I sat down at the table which was loudly engaged in conversation, and I can instantly tell there were some real characters. The table was playing very loose aggressive, with one maniac on his 4th rebuy, one women who never played before, and one guy that seemed to be willing to play any hand. A lot of trash talk about age was coming from the maniac, who look like he was going through his 2nd mid-life crisis, he proceed to call me "rookie", and that I needed to loosen up. The table talk was very funny, hearing these people talk as if they knew what they were doing... or the one guy with a scribbled odds, and outz sheet, who decides to show it off to anyone new to the table. I decide a tight preflop strategy was going to work best... to my tables credit there were 3 players who honestly look like they new what was going on.
I sit back for 2 rotations catching trash hand after trash hand. Then I hit a streak for about 40 minutes where all I can pick up are connectors. On top of that I can't hit a flop, and all attempts at steals or bluffs went wrong, even as most of my read were correct. I mean these people were calling raises with J2 preflop, hitting a 2 on the flop and playing it the whole way.
After 4 hours, I still haven't seen a single hand with 2 face cards, nor have I hit a flop. I’m down to 40 of my buyin, and I pick up AT on the button. With 4 limpers in front of me I raise to 10, the maniac currently on his 5th buyin and utg, says alright rookie, Imma set u in. He pushes 40 in chips forward. I look in to him, and feel he’s acting strong to get me to fold, I put him on a small pair at best, but more likely Ax or worse. I call, He’s got K7s. He flops 2 pair and my first buyins done.
I felt pretty good about my play, I think I could have been a little more patient, but I got in with the bet. I decided I needed a food break and headed to the Nathan’s hot dog stand. After the grub I got back on the 100 max list. After a little wait I get a table, and take a seat. I look around and there’s not a single person over 22, and from the hands I observed as I sat down they seemed very tight weak. Better yet, as I gave them a glance as they looked at there cards there faces screamed with tells, and as they bet there hand motions revealed there card strength. I decided a very aggressive style was going to work best. After picking up the first two pots preflop, I get 22 on the button. 5 limpers, so I limp, so 8 to the flop. flop comes 2 5 8. bb bets out 20, one caller, I reraise 25, bb calls, other guy folds (what he have lol). Turns a Q, bb checks, I move in, bb folds. The BB and I continued to battle the whole time hes at the table. He look like he was maybe 15, and played any hand preflop for any raise, and played the rest of the hand very weak. He left down 300, and according to his friend down 1,000 for the day. Got to love rich high school kids. I played at the table for 4 hours, only showing down a few hands, picking up most of my pots by making moves. I cash out up 450, 350 up for the trip.
I decide to leave the table, some of my friends wanted to peek in at the billiard tourt going on in the ballroom. Afterwards we headed for the restaurants, we settled on pinco blano (Something Like that). The food prices were reasonable, and the food turned out to be very good. After dinner I got on the 5-10 list, and 100 max, but neither seemed to be moving, so I headed back to my room and fell asleep.
The next morning I had planned to play from 9am to 3pm, before leaving, but I wasn't feeling very well and it was snowing pretty heavy, so my friends decided it was best to leave early.
The trip was a lot of fun and I plan on heading back in a month. The poker room is nice, its split between 2 rooms, the Torch lounge and something else, and the tournaments are held up stairs. The staff was very good, but wasn't doing great job at enforcing the waiting list. Many players just hopped on an empty seat at there first opportunity.
The dealers were very good, which surprised me, no problems with any, and all handled players very well. They have a very tough job with many of these obnoxious players, especially the teenagers that have no idea how card room eidetic works.
Also I had plans to say hello to MBD, but couldn't find him. MBD I didn't see your intials on the 20-40 waiting list. Where you there on Sunday? Maybe ill see ya next time im down there, Ill let you know.