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StevieG
03-07-2005, 12:17 AM
Was working in Biloxi for the past couple weeks so I got to play in the Grand Casino in Biloxi.

I took a peek a couple other rooms. The President had only 8 tables, but I saw more attractive cocktail waitresses there than at the other places. Of course, I was only at the President half an hour and these other places a total of twelve hours, maybe, so that observation may be inaccurate in the long run. Grand Casino Gulfport had 15 tables, and was non-smoking. The reports here at 2+2 claimed that Biloxi was a better room, so I played there.

The Grand Biloxi has 21 tables. The room uses a simple sign up sheet for 1-4-8-8 spread limit hold 'em, 6/12, and 10/20. The cocktail service is good, and there is a table of snacks like cookies and hot dogs in the back of the room. There are bad beat jackpots (Aces full of Queens or better beaten, both hole cards for both players must play) and they were running a special promotion of $100 for a straight flush in clubs, $500 for a royal in clubs.

The first week I was there I did not pay a visit until the night before leaving. That was after a session of "team building" that left me buzzed for the 6/12 game. The table was tight at first, with a good number of preflop raises and a lack of showdowns. My team built ass failed to adjust and I dropped some chips. The game improved when some better players left, but I finished down for the night.

Next week was much better. I played 1-4-8-8 against looser players. Highlight was when someone asked the dealer about the rock in the tray. Dealer explained, and the same player (from Cali) did not know what straddling was. So I showed him. I straddled, explained the style points of putting in a raise blind, too. Got called in few places, checking blind on a T88 flop, only to look down to see 83o. W00t! That was a nice win, and encouraged the guy next to me, in from Cali, to try straddling too. He made a straight on the turn with his JTo. We played goot. Did not convince the table to start playing with the rock, though.

In another session, I took down a big pot with 22. The SB raised, and six came along to the flop. Flop came K32, and the SB payed me off and was courteous enough to show AK at the end.

I also ran into the Cali guy. He straddled in another spot on a different night and filled up. Gotta love straddle karma.

Had a great time, all told.

Also ate in the Beau Rivage a few times, at Mikado, Noodles, and the Port House. Great meals, highly recommended. If you like off the beaten path and hole in the wall places, try Cafe New Orleans in D'Iberville for some Gulf Coast food.

Brainwalter
03-07-2005, 04:03 AM
Is 10-20 the highest limit at the Grand?

Fins
03-07-2005, 10:27 AM
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1-4-8-8 spread limit hold 'em

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Is it 1-4-8-8 or 2-4-8-8?


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Highlight was when someone asked the dealer about the rock in the tray

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I guess I'm in the boat w/ cali... what's the rock?


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Gotta love straddle karma.

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Nice!

Where are the Port House & Cafe New Orleans?

Did you try Mary Mahoney's? It's been awhile but I loved that place.

Thanks for the info,
Fins

StevieG
03-07-2005, 11:22 AM
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
1-4-8-8 spread limit hold 'em

[/ QUOTE ]
Is it 1-4-8-8 or 2-4-8-8?


[/ QUOTE ]

1-4-8-8. Although the $1 and $2 blinds preflop mean the bet is already $2, on the flop you could open for $1. Never saw anyone do that, however.

[ QUOTE ]
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Highlight was when someone asked the dealer about the rock in the tray

[/ QUOTE ]
I guess I'm in the boat w/ cali... what's the rock?


[/ QUOTE ]

You start up a rock by straddling and putting something in the pot as a marker. The winner of the pot gets the rock and is obligated to straddle when they are UTG, and they put the rock back in the pot. So you need all players to agree to it.

Some people take a rubber band and bundle up the number of chips needed to post the straddle and that bundle of chips is called a rock. In this case, there was actually a rock in the dealer's tray.

The card room had a sheet at the brush's desk listing the rules to be used when the rock is in play.

[ QUOTE ]

Where are the Port House & Cafe New Orleans? Did you try Mary Mahoney's? It's been awhile but I loved that place.


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My hosts did not mention Mary Mahoney's and I did not find it on my own. Don't know if it is still open.

Cafe New Orleans is out in D'Iberville. This is on the north side of the back bay (across from IP and Boomtown). Worth a trip if you like local joints. Nothing fancy, just honest local flavor - hush puppies, grilled pork chops, gumbo, etouffe. Expect to spend $25, a third of that for lunch.

The Port House was all about fancy. It is in the Beau Rivage with wall sized tropical fish aquariums on all four sides of the dining room, plush leather booths, and modern glass sculpture around the room. The menu offers steak and creative seafood (I had blackened mahi mahi paired with tandoori shrimp) and a helpful sommelier is there to assist with the wines. Appetizers around $10, entrees around $30.

usmfan
03-07-2005, 11:31 AM
I played at the Grand Biloxi last Sat and Sunday nights. I played mostly 10/20 or 6/12 depending on the waits. They were spreading all the way up to 20/40 on Sat night and 15/30 on Sunday. There was a 5/10 NL game going on Sat night if I remember correctly. The 1-4-8-8 games seemed especially good when I was watching while waiting. I ended up +15BB from the 10/20 on Sat night. I gave it all back and then some on a crazy 10/20 table Sun night. The seat to my left was hitting crazy miracles on the turn and river after being nearly to the felt within 30 minutes of sitting down. Her wild play started to inspire other to call her down with marginal hands and hit miracles of their own. I tried to tighten up and get agg with good hands to isolate but nothing worked. No big problem as I won it all back Monday afternoon playing 6/12 before I left to go back home.

Personally, I thought the cocktail service was weak at any time other than primetime evening Sat night. Too few cocktails for the room. There are hot dogs (with all the fixins), cookies, fruit, etc. At 2 a.m., they bring in Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

As for the rock: At least at the Grand, the rock is a required straddle UTG. The winner of the rock pot then is required to straddle UTG the next time. The whole table has to agree to using it.

I also stayed at the Beau Rivage while I was there. They have no poker room and the Grand-Biloxi is about a five minute and five dollar cab ride down the strip. I ate at Noodles (oriental noodle restaurant), Memphis Q (BBQ & steak place) and La Cocina (upscale italian restaurant). All were good, but pricey.

Finally, a cross post about my experience at the Grand from the guys and jewelry thread in OOT:

Last weekend I'm playing at the Grand in Biloxi, MS. There's a loudmouth weak tightie at the 10-20. During his rantings at the table, he's expounded the facts that:
1) He's only been dealt JJ 12 times in his life.
2) AA has been shown by computer studies to lose more money than it wins over longterm for average players.
3) He's got a great "No-4" system for the craps table.

Finally he cuts into me after I rag on his aces theory and tells me that I must be one of the less than average players. I had caught some particularly bad beats at that table in the last couple of hours so I lit into him. I know it's -EV but what the hell. I explain to him that if he's only been dealt JJ 12 times over his career, that I'm pretty damn sure I've played a helluva lot more poker than he has.

All this is beside point, he later notes that the dealer has a nice pinkie ring on. Dealer gives him the ring to look at. Idiot inquires as to cost. Dealer says $79 at K-mart. Wow, remarks idiot. "That's easily a $200 ring. See. Now that's what I'm talking about, a man who recognizes value."

Point: If you're getting a pinkie ring make sure you get a good value at Kmart so that the idiots at the table are impressed.