James Boston
04-25-2004, 06:03 PM
Thursday night, I stay up very late working on a school project. Friday morning, I oversleep, don’t get the project turned in, and postpone my college graduation from June to December. Needless to say, I’m pissed. Fortunately, I had already planned my weekend. I was off to play some cards and take my mind of the morning’s calamity. Off to Tunica.
I’ve been on a great run in my $2-$4 games. In the past week I’ve made about $300 in 3 sessions. I decided to play a little $4-$8 in Tunica. I’ve been able to beat the game every time I’ve been, so why not? My bankroll is right around 100 BB for $4-$8.
We roll into town at around 9:30 Friday night, and go to the Grand. I head to the poker room, ready to get things under way. I mostly folded for the first few orbits, so as to get a feel for the other players, plus I was getting rags. There was only one other player in the game who seemed to have any pre-flop discretion, and maybe two or three more who were playing well post-flop. Across the table sat a woman who probably lost her virginity to Calvin Coolidge. She was terrible- terrible and on a run. If she flopped bottom pair, she was in until the river, and damnit if the river didn’t give her trips every time. Backdoor flushes and straights were her bread and butter. After about three hours of solid play on my part, I’m down $200. Oh well. I was tired of the old lady, but wasn’t really that upset. My table and another table were combined about the time she left, and I was pleased at the prospect of a change in scenery. It didn’t help. After about 7 hours, I’m down $400. At this point I’m tired of the Grand, but not really tired.
I decided to head over to the Gold Strike and see how the late night $3-$6 action was. Much to my dismay, there is NO public transportation in Tunica that late. I tried talking to the valets to see if they knew how I could get over there. I had ridden with a friend, and had no access to their vehicle. One kind valet generously offered to call “one of his boys” to give me a ride for a mere $30. Being that the Gold Strike is about 3 miles from the Grand, I declined. The next kind soul who offered some help was a security guard. I asked if he knew of any way to get to the other casinos that late. He suggested my personal vehicle, not sarcastically, but with face as straight as an arrow. I guess he honestly thought that had never crossed my mind. I shook my head and walked away.
I eventually made it to the Gold Strike, lost $100, swore off poker forever, got drunk, got a ride back to my hotel, and went to sleep.
The next night I felt much better. I took a seat at the $4-$8. I got off to a really good start. I was winning for most of the night. Finally, the suckouts returned. In about half an hour, every backdoor possibility and 30-1 longshot caught up to me. My 100 BB bankroll was gone. Surprisingly, I wasn’t too upset. I knew I made the right moves. I know these things happen. I know that 100 BB just ain’t enough. I know all these things, but it’s too late now. Lesson learned.
On an interesting (depending on your definition of interesting) side note, the Moneymaker tour found its way to the table next to mine. After I went bust, I watched him for about 30 minutes. It was a no-limit ring game with $2-$5 blinds. Moneymaker looked blitzed. His eyes were barley open. He’s sitting there with what looked like $10,000, and people are coming up with $200 just to get a chance to play with him. He wasn’t even trying. If a guy sat down with $300, he’d bet $300 before the flop. In most cases, players backed down or lost. It looked like a few of the guys were making some good money though.
So to summarize the weekend:
1) Chris Moneymaker isn’t too good drunk. But who is?
2) A 100+ BB losing streak is entirely possibly, although I had yet to experience one.
3) 100 BB is not a big enough bankroll, which I theoretically already knew.
4) Casino valets like to teeter with extortion.
5) Don’t go on a long trip without a car.
That’s all I can think of for know.
I’ve been on a great run in my $2-$4 games. In the past week I’ve made about $300 in 3 sessions. I decided to play a little $4-$8 in Tunica. I’ve been able to beat the game every time I’ve been, so why not? My bankroll is right around 100 BB for $4-$8.
We roll into town at around 9:30 Friday night, and go to the Grand. I head to the poker room, ready to get things under way. I mostly folded for the first few orbits, so as to get a feel for the other players, plus I was getting rags. There was only one other player in the game who seemed to have any pre-flop discretion, and maybe two or three more who were playing well post-flop. Across the table sat a woman who probably lost her virginity to Calvin Coolidge. She was terrible- terrible and on a run. If she flopped bottom pair, she was in until the river, and damnit if the river didn’t give her trips every time. Backdoor flushes and straights were her bread and butter. After about three hours of solid play on my part, I’m down $200. Oh well. I was tired of the old lady, but wasn’t really that upset. My table and another table were combined about the time she left, and I was pleased at the prospect of a change in scenery. It didn’t help. After about 7 hours, I’m down $400. At this point I’m tired of the Grand, but not really tired.
I decided to head over to the Gold Strike and see how the late night $3-$6 action was. Much to my dismay, there is NO public transportation in Tunica that late. I tried talking to the valets to see if they knew how I could get over there. I had ridden with a friend, and had no access to their vehicle. One kind valet generously offered to call “one of his boys” to give me a ride for a mere $30. Being that the Gold Strike is about 3 miles from the Grand, I declined. The next kind soul who offered some help was a security guard. I asked if he knew of any way to get to the other casinos that late. He suggested my personal vehicle, not sarcastically, but with face as straight as an arrow. I guess he honestly thought that had never crossed my mind. I shook my head and walked away.
I eventually made it to the Gold Strike, lost $100, swore off poker forever, got drunk, got a ride back to my hotel, and went to sleep.
The next night I felt much better. I took a seat at the $4-$8. I got off to a really good start. I was winning for most of the night. Finally, the suckouts returned. In about half an hour, every backdoor possibility and 30-1 longshot caught up to me. My 100 BB bankroll was gone. Surprisingly, I wasn’t too upset. I knew I made the right moves. I know these things happen. I know that 100 BB just ain’t enough. I know all these things, but it’s too late now. Lesson learned.
On an interesting (depending on your definition of interesting) side note, the Moneymaker tour found its way to the table next to mine. After I went bust, I watched him for about 30 minutes. It was a no-limit ring game with $2-$5 blinds. Moneymaker looked blitzed. His eyes were barley open. He’s sitting there with what looked like $10,000, and people are coming up with $200 just to get a chance to play with him. He wasn’t even trying. If a guy sat down with $300, he’d bet $300 before the flop. In most cases, players backed down or lost. It looked like a few of the guys were making some good money though.
So to summarize the weekend:
1) Chris Moneymaker isn’t too good drunk. But who is?
2) A 100+ BB losing streak is entirely possibly, although I had yet to experience one.
3) 100 BB is not a big enough bankroll, which I theoretically already knew.
4) Casino valets like to teeter with extortion.
5) Don’t go on a long trip without a car.
That’s all I can think of for know.