Trip report: Harrah's New Orleans

[Hellmouth]

Just got back from New Orleans. Only played for a few hours because I was acutally on an anniversary trip with my wife. I wish I could have played more but she promised me a trip to AC later to make up for it.

Hit the poker room at 6pm on Sunday night (holiday weekend) and the wait was about 20 people deep. Floorman said it was a good hour wait so I went to grab some dinner. Got back about 30min later and my name had already been called. Got on the list again and it took about 10min to get a seat at 3-6.

I hit the table and there were actually two seats open. I sat and bought $80 in chips which seemed a little small but reasonable. Dealer brought me in without asking but did not make me a pay a forced blind. (strange) I drop out and seat to my left is empty. I notice that there are 7 people in on the flop!!! Thats right, only one person folded. I think to myself that this could be a nice night.

Second hand JJ in the BB does nothing. I miss on a few more low pocket pocket pairs and decent starting hands and before I know it I am down about $40. Not playing too many hands but I start to get a very weak tight feeling in my stomach as I realize that 3-6 is maybe a little out of my comfort level since I normally play .50/$1 online.

But the table play is pretty awfull. The only really solid player is a girl sitting across the table that has quickly gone up about $200. Her husband did give her an awful lot of hand advice at first but a new dealer finally put a stop to it.

Most hands are being raised at least once now so I get dealt AKs and I raise. 5 Callers. The flop is KKx rainbow. I raise and only one guy dropps out. The turn is a K. I bet out and it is raised, I reraise and it is three handed!! (at this point I am just counting the chips and salivating) I don't have any idea why people were betting but I am assuming at least one had a pocket pair for a full house. Huge pot puts me up about $50.

I get back to my game and grind my way to +$100 or so and decide to leave by the next blinds. My wife has Pizza at the hotel and I want to get back.

Before the blind I get (you guessed it) AA. Raised preflop. Flop comes down Q and two cards connected by a 1 gap. I bet out. Turn comes another connecter. I raise the turn but to no avail. The last connnecter comes and there is a four straight on the board. A different better leads out on the river and I realize that i am cooked. Call down. Oh well. I still ended up +$85 for about two-three hours of play.

BTW just for those who say that the $6 rake cant be beaten. It is a percentage so small pots are not raked as much. With 7 players to almost every flop there is a lot of dead money in the pot to make up for the rake.

Good times.
Greg