BottlesOf
07-04-2004, 01:43 AM
What follows is a lot of poker content and non-poker content. Here is basically what I did on Saturday July 3rd. If you want only poker, go down to that part of the post. This is my first trip report so any and all feedback is welcome.
I wake up before 10 AM (ugh) to play golf with my dad at 11:10. I'm staying with my parents in a hotel in Buffalo, as we're in town for a birthday party/holiday weekend. We're playing at a public course in Beaver Creek State Park, outside Buffalo, NY. I haven't played much golf lately so, on top of being a poor golfer, I'm rusty. I played well when I was in Florida this winter, but my first summer round a couple of weeks ago was a disaster. Today was quite different. I shot a 98, which for me is good.
I made the putt of my life to save par on a par 5 10th. The putt was about 30' long and there was a strong slope that made the ball run right to left. I read it perfectly and the ball arced right into the hole. It was awesome, trust me.
My strong play continued on the 11th, after a wayward tee shot that left me under some trees, I hit a perfect 5 iron to go over a small tree, travel about 160 yards, bounce in front of the greeen and roll about 8' away from the cup. I had a birdie putt and just missed. Oh well...
I got back to the hotel around 4 and had time to watch the Mets beat the Yankees 10-9 in the 9th (Awesome) and shower before the shuttle picked me up at 6.
I found out about this shuttle through the hotel. It costs $25 and takes you door to door from my hotel to the casino. Further research revealed that if you book online, it's only $15, so being the internet savvy poker player that I am, I do that. I confrim on the phone and am told we also get $15 worth of "coin." I'm not sure what restrictoins they'll place on the money, but I'm looking forward to a +EV blackjack wager.
CASINO CONTENT
The ride takes less than half an hour and, we've arrived in Niagara Falls. From the road approaching the Seneca casino I can see the tower of the Casino Niagara (in Canada, sans poker). The Seneca Niagara casino looks more like an airport than a casino. It appears to be one large, round-roofed building, like an airport hanger. Inside, it is pretty nice, which is not surprising as it is new. The poker room is right by the bus drop off, so I don't have far to go. Except, I need to exhcnahge my coupon. I walk down a hallway, past the poker room and enter the main casino floor. Now, I really feel like I'm in a large airplane hangar. The floor is not well lit, and the domed cieling is way above me. Their are metal beams, cris-crossing about thirty feet above me where the cameras are attached, but the roof is much higher.
I go to the casino cage and hand in the coupon. They card me. This is only the fifth time I've been carded in 10 minutes. They card everywhere here. I am only 21, so I look young enough, but jeez. They take the coupon and give me $15 in cash. Cool. Free shuttle.
POKER CONTENT
I go back tgo the poker room and see that my name is second on the 5/10 board. (They let you call ahead and I did). There are about 16 tables, 12 of which are being used. The room is nice, but a little dark. There are 4 flatscreen TV's, one on each wall. As I'm waiting, some woman comes in and asks the guy at the board, "Which is the cowboy game?" He is puzzled and she adds, "You know, cowboy poker?" "Oh, Texas Hold'em...almost all of them." From now on, I'm calling Hold'em "Cowboy Poker" at inappropriate times /images/graemlins/cool.gif
I get sick of waiting so I put my name on the 3/6 and 10/20. There is also 2/4, 5/10 w.kill, 15/30, 25/50, one 7 stud game and two NL games: 5-5 (100-200 buyin) and 5-10 (300-700 buyin)
I get called for the 3/6 and off I go. I sit in UTG and am told I don't need to post. I muck my first hand. It was a big pot.
On the next hand I'm dealt A /images/graemlins/diamond.gif K /images/graemlins/diamond.gif
It's raised before it gets to me, I 3-bet and it's capped 5-ways.
Flop: T /images/graemlins/heart.gif 4 /images/graemlins/diamond.gif 4 /images/graemlins/club.gif
I check, so do others, the button aggressor bets, I raise, EP now 3-bets, and it's called 5 ways for 3 bets.
Turn is a brick. I check to the 3-bettor, it calls around to me, and I call getting like 19-1. The river is the Q /images/graemlins/diamond.gif
EP bets, button calls and I fold. EP shows a 4.
I'm called to 5/10. We're off to a flying start...
The 5/10 is very soft. Almost Foxwoods soft. One guy on the other end of the table is beyond terrible. On two separat occasions he has tried to get money from his wallet in an all-in situation, and has been told that's not allowed. He calls EVERYTHING and sometimes bets for no reason. He's one of the worst I've ever seen. The table is very loose passive.
I get Q /images/graemlins/diamond.gif J /images/graemlins/diamond.gif in the BB. (Interesting side note, the small blind in the 5/10 game is $3 not $2) I check my option after 3 or 4 limpers.
The flop is 9 /images/graemlins/club.gif T /images/graemlins/club.gif K /images/graemlins/club.gif
I misread the board and check. It checks around.
Turn: 3 /images/graemlins/heart.gif [9 /images/graemlins/club.gif T /images/graemlins/club.gif K /images/graemlins/club.gif]
I bet, a guy on my immediate left raises, and it folds back to me. This guy is a very straightforward player, he also thinks he's better than most players, and likes to talk about how he can "read other people." He's a nice guy though, so I 3-bet him. He groans and calls.
River: 6 /images/graemlins/club.gif [3 /images/graemlins/heart.gif 9 /images/graemlins/club.gif T /images/graemlins/club.gif K /images/graemlins/club.gif]
I bet without skipping a beat. He hems and haws. He flashes me the 3 /images/graemlins/club.gif and says something like "I'm not getting involved in that," and folds. He says nice flush to me and folds. "How high was it?" I shrug, and the guy on my left says "Ace." /images/graemlins/grin.gif
This one up came later on:
I get T /images/graemlins/club.gif 9 /images/graemlins/spade.gif in the BB and check my option against 4 oppponents.
Flop: 9 /images/graemlins/diamond.gif T /images/graemlins/diamond.gif X /images/graemlins/heart.gif
I bet, it's called in all 4 spots.
Turn: A /images/graemlins/diamond.gif [9 /images/graemlins/diamond.gif T /images/graemlins/diamond.gif X /images/graemlins/heart.gif]
I bet, the next guy raises (He is reasonably tight before the flop, and more aggressive than the average) and the next 3 call /images/graemlins/shocked.gif I call too.
River: 9 /images/graemlins/club.gif [A /images/graemlins/diamond.gif 9 /images/graemlins/diamond.gif T /images/graemlins/diamond.gif X /images/graemlins/heart.gif]
/images/graemlins/grin.gif I play g000t!
I check, the next guy bets, it's called in 3 spots, I raise and all 4 call. MHIG. Now that's gangster.
At this point I'm feeling pretty hungry. There's no food service in the poker room, but there is a cart right outside. They only have chips, hot dogs and turkey sandwiches. I opt for the hot dog. It was $2.95 and wasn't terrible, but it had a disturbing grey color. I ate it and was fine, but it was no Ted's.
Ted's is a Western New York chain and they have the best hot dogs in the world, bar none. Forget your "Pink's, you West Coasters. Ted's dogs are grilled on an open flame and must be tried if you're ever in the greater Buffalo area.
I return to my 5/10 table and hear over the loudspeaker that they are starting a 3/6 Crazy Pineapple game. Where am I, UB?
A new guy sits on my immediate right and this hand comes up:
UTG limps, MP limps, sb completes and it folds to me in BB. I have KQo.
I raise, and now UTG 3-bets /images/graemlins/blush.gif. MP calls, sb drops and I call.
Flop: T42. I bet, UTG calls and MP folds.
Turn: 7[T42], I check, he checks.
River: Q[7T42], I bet, he calls.
He flashes me a Q and says "You rivered me." Cool buddy, you 3-bet QJ or less...
But it was not all good for young BottlesOf. One older guy at the table gave me some trouble. I'd call his level of play, "decent." He is too loose pf (Maybe VPIP 22 or so) but is tricky, not bad post flop. He had caught me once or twice before and made me fold.
The game is 8 handed. UTG limps, and I limp with 77. LP limps along and this tricky guy in BB checks his option.
Flop: 854
SB bets, UTG folds, I raise, LP folds and SB calls.
I am planning on checking the turn through unless I hit a 6 or 7, b/c I sense a turn c/r. (Last time HU he 3-bet the flop and I relased right there with JJ on a A high board)
Turn: 8 [854]
Interesting. Not sure what to do here, maybe represent the 8 and protect against his possible overcards?
He checks, I bet, he raises.
CRAP! Ok, he probably has an 8, but I've folded to him a few times before, so I'm gonna call him down.
The river is an Ace (crap).
He bets I call, he shows an 8.
I ended up a couple bets. All in all it was a good experience. My only real complaint is about this one floor guy, "Sean." He's bald and a little older than the other floor guys, I get the impression he's in charge for that shift. He was combative with patrons who had legitimate complaints, and he made fun of some of the players behind their backs. He acted like he was too good to be working there and that pissed me off. The room would be better off without him. The shuttle leaves at 11 and I'm back writing this around midnight.
That's all I got!
-BottlesOf
I wake up before 10 AM (ugh) to play golf with my dad at 11:10. I'm staying with my parents in a hotel in Buffalo, as we're in town for a birthday party/holiday weekend. We're playing at a public course in Beaver Creek State Park, outside Buffalo, NY. I haven't played much golf lately so, on top of being a poor golfer, I'm rusty. I played well when I was in Florida this winter, but my first summer round a couple of weeks ago was a disaster. Today was quite different. I shot a 98, which for me is good.
I made the putt of my life to save par on a par 5 10th. The putt was about 30' long and there was a strong slope that made the ball run right to left. I read it perfectly and the ball arced right into the hole. It was awesome, trust me.
My strong play continued on the 11th, after a wayward tee shot that left me under some trees, I hit a perfect 5 iron to go over a small tree, travel about 160 yards, bounce in front of the greeen and roll about 8' away from the cup. I had a birdie putt and just missed. Oh well...
I got back to the hotel around 4 and had time to watch the Mets beat the Yankees 10-9 in the 9th (Awesome) and shower before the shuttle picked me up at 6.
I found out about this shuttle through the hotel. It costs $25 and takes you door to door from my hotel to the casino. Further research revealed that if you book online, it's only $15, so being the internet savvy poker player that I am, I do that. I confrim on the phone and am told we also get $15 worth of "coin." I'm not sure what restrictoins they'll place on the money, but I'm looking forward to a +EV blackjack wager.
CASINO CONTENT
The ride takes less than half an hour and, we've arrived in Niagara Falls. From the road approaching the Seneca casino I can see the tower of the Casino Niagara (in Canada, sans poker). The Seneca Niagara casino looks more like an airport than a casino. It appears to be one large, round-roofed building, like an airport hanger. Inside, it is pretty nice, which is not surprising as it is new. The poker room is right by the bus drop off, so I don't have far to go. Except, I need to exhcnahge my coupon. I walk down a hallway, past the poker room and enter the main casino floor. Now, I really feel like I'm in a large airplane hangar. The floor is not well lit, and the domed cieling is way above me. Their are metal beams, cris-crossing about thirty feet above me where the cameras are attached, but the roof is much higher.
I go to the casino cage and hand in the coupon. They card me. This is only the fifth time I've been carded in 10 minutes. They card everywhere here. I am only 21, so I look young enough, but jeez. They take the coupon and give me $15 in cash. Cool. Free shuttle.
POKER CONTENT
I go back tgo the poker room and see that my name is second on the 5/10 board. (They let you call ahead and I did). There are about 16 tables, 12 of which are being used. The room is nice, but a little dark. There are 4 flatscreen TV's, one on each wall. As I'm waiting, some woman comes in and asks the guy at the board, "Which is the cowboy game?" He is puzzled and she adds, "You know, cowboy poker?" "Oh, Texas Hold'em...almost all of them." From now on, I'm calling Hold'em "Cowboy Poker" at inappropriate times /images/graemlins/cool.gif
I get sick of waiting so I put my name on the 3/6 and 10/20. There is also 2/4, 5/10 w.kill, 15/30, 25/50, one 7 stud game and two NL games: 5-5 (100-200 buyin) and 5-10 (300-700 buyin)
I get called for the 3/6 and off I go. I sit in UTG and am told I don't need to post. I muck my first hand. It was a big pot.
On the next hand I'm dealt A /images/graemlins/diamond.gif K /images/graemlins/diamond.gif
It's raised before it gets to me, I 3-bet and it's capped 5-ways.
Flop: T /images/graemlins/heart.gif 4 /images/graemlins/diamond.gif 4 /images/graemlins/club.gif
I check, so do others, the button aggressor bets, I raise, EP now 3-bets, and it's called 5 ways for 3 bets.
Turn is a brick. I check to the 3-bettor, it calls around to me, and I call getting like 19-1. The river is the Q /images/graemlins/diamond.gif
EP bets, button calls and I fold. EP shows a 4.
I'm called to 5/10. We're off to a flying start...
The 5/10 is very soft. Almost Foxwoods soft. One guy on the other end of the table is beyond terrible. On two separat occasions he has tried to get money from his wallet in an all-in situation, and has been told that's not allowed. He calls EVERYTHING and sometimes bets for no reason. He's one of the worst I've ever seen. The table is very loose passive.
I get Q /images/graemlins/diamond.gif J /images/graemlins/diamond.gif in the BB. (Interesting side note, the small blind in the 5/10 game is $3 not $2) I check my option after 3 or 4 limpers.
The flop is 9 /images/graemlins/club.gif T /images/graemlins/club.gif K /images/graemlins/club.gif
I misread the board and check. It checks around.
Turn: 3 /images/graemlins/heart.gif [9 /images/graemlins/club.gif T /images/graemlins/club.gif K /images/graemlins/club.gif]
I bet, a guy on my immediate left raises, and it folds back to me. This guy is a very straightforward player, he also thinks he's better than most players, and likes to talk about how he can "read other people." He's a nice guy though, so I 3-bet him. He groans and calls.
River: 6 /images/graemlins/club.gif [3 /images/graemlins/heart.gif 9 /images/graemlins/club.gif T /images/graemlins/club.gif K /images/graemlins/club.gif]
I bet without skipping a beat. He hems and haws. He flashes me the 3 /images/graemlins/club.gif and says something like "I'm not getting involved in that," and folds. He says nice flush to me and folds. "How high was it?" I shrug, and the guy on my left says "Ace." /images/graemlins/grin.gif
This one up came later on:
I get T /images/graemlins/club.gif 9 /images/graemlins/spade.gif in the BB and check my option against 4 oppponents.
Flop: 9 /images/graemlins/diamond.gif T /images/graemlins/diamond.gif X /images/graemlins/heart.gif
I bet, it's called in all 4 spots.
Turn: A /images/graemlins/diamond.gif [9 /images/graemlins/diamond.gif T /images/graemlins/diamond.gif X /images/graemlins/heart.gif]
I bet, the next guy raises (He is reasonably tight before the flop, and more aggressive than the average) and the next 3 call /images/graemlins/shocked.gif I call too.
River: 9 /images/graemlins/club.gif [A /images/graemlins/diamond.gif 9 /images/graemlins/diamond.gif T /images/graemlins/diamond.gif X /images/graemlins/heart.gif]
/images/graemlins/grin.gif I play g000t!
I check, the next guy bets, it's called in 3 spots, I raise and all 4 call. MHIG. Now that's gangster.
At this point I'm feeling pretty hungry. There's no food service in the poker room, but there is a cart right outside. They only have chips, hot dogs and turkey sandwiches. I opt for the hot dog. It was $2.95 and wasn't terrible, but it had a disturbing grey color. I ate it and was fine, but it was no Ted's.
Ted's is a Western New York chain and they have the best hot dogs in the world, bar none. Forget your "Pink's, you West Coasters. Ted's dogs are grilled on an open flame and must be tried if you're ever in the greater Buffalo area.
I return to my 5/10 table and hear over the loudspeaker that they are starting a 3/6 Crazy Pineapple game. Where am I, UB?
A new guy sits on my immediate right and this hand comes up:
UTG limps, MP limps, sb completes and it folds to me in BB. I have KQo.
I raise, and now UTG 3-bets /images/graemlins/blush.gif. MP calls, sb drops and I call.
Flop: T42. I bet, UTG calls and MP folds.
Turn: 7[T42], I check, he checks.
River: Q[7T42], I bet, he calls.
He flashes me a Q and says "You rivered me." Cool buddy, you 3-bet QJ or less...
But it was not all good for young BottlesOf. One older guy at the table gave me some trouble. I'd call his level of play, "decent." He is too loose pf (Maybe VPIP 22 or so) but is tricky, not bad post flop. He had caught me once or twice before and made me fold.
The game is 8 handed. UTG limps, and I limp with 77. LP limps along and this tricky guy in BB checks his option.
Flop: 854
SB bets, UTG folds, I raise, LP folds and SB calls.
I am planning on checking the turn through unless I hit a 6 or 7, b/c I sense a turn c/r. (Last time HU he 3-bet the flop and I relased right there with JJ on a A high board)
Turn: 8 [854]
Interesting. Not sure what to do here, maybe represent the 8 and protect against his possible overcards?
He checks, I bet, he raises.
CRAP! Ok, he probably has an 8, but I've folded to him a few times before, so I'm gonna call him down.
The river is an Ace (crap).
He bets I call, he shows an 8.
I ended up a couple bets. All in all it was a good experience. My only real complaint is about this one floor guy, "Sean." He's bald and a little older than the other floor guys, I get the impression he's in charge for that shift. He was combative with patrons who had legitimate complaints, and he made fun of some of the players behind their backs. He acted like he was too good to be working there and that pissed me off. The room would be better off without him. The shuttle leaves at 11 and I'm back writing this around midnight.
That's all I got!
-BottlesOf