Report for my very first trip to a B&M (FOXWOODS)

[Bokonon]

After playing poker online for a few months I finally got off my butt and decided to visit a real-live B&M on Thursday – and damn, I’m glad I did. Not because I won a lot of money (At the tables I ended up maybe ten bucks, and then there’s food and lodging and such) but because – well, I don’t have to tell you guys, do I?

THE GAMES:
I decided to try a 2/4 game to start out with, even though folks here said I should be able to handle the typical 4/8 without a problem.

Wow.

It was truly a wondrous thing. I saw 73o (played UTG) beat AA. I saw a maniac play and raise every hand for about a half-hour, and raise every other hand for maybe three hours. One hand nine players saw a pot – I was the only one out. I volunteered to call the action. I mean there’s loose, and there’s LOOSE. And I thought 2/4 Party players were bad. Yikes!

Amused though I was, the slowness of play was a tad irritating, because runs of bad cards just last longer. I am not exaggerating when I say that in my first three hours of play, I won two pots. In one I won the bring-ins when the flop, turn, and river got checked through. (Yay pocket sixes.) In another I chopped with another ace. Down almost $200 at that point, I knew that it was just the almighty Standard Deviation kicking me in the nads, and it was just a matter of time until it all came back. And while that might go faster at a 4/8 table, there was that maniac still sitting there raising every pot. So I stuck around.

Glad I did! Flopped the nut straight one time and he jammed the pot for me with bottom pair (I think he had 62o). That was a good $80 pot. He did that for me in another hand, too . . . and in another hand, I caught a flush on the turn with AQs, and was lucky enough to have K2s and J5s in the hand with me. And then there were the quad tens I picked up. (Actually had quads TWICE that night!) Long story short, I played about eight hours and finished up $90. Never got bored for a moment, regardless of the fact that I was playing only a quarter of the games/hour I do online.

And I met all the folks people talk about:

I met the bored tourist maniac.
I met the idiot tourist that calls to the river with queen high.
I met the little old lady that you can ALWAYS trust.
I met the little old man that may have trips or two pair or whatnot, but wouldn’t raise a pot if you bet into him unless he had a royal flush. And that includes the river.

Very cool!

The next day I had only a couple hours to play (~3PM to 5PM) which is tough because you can get down really easily in just two hours, but I thought what the heck, right? So I hit a 4/8 game.

Damn. Maybe the 4/8s are usually loose, but this one was rock tight. I got stuck between a couple of sharky types – one Veronica and one Wais, who were definitely TAG regulars. There were a couple other obvious online folks that seemed to have some talent, and then there were some old coot rocks. Even the Guy In Suit that sat down seemed to only play good hands. Crap! I ended 4/8 down $80. Still fun, though – Veronica was a riot. (I wouldn’t be overly surprised if V or W are twoplustwo’ers – if ya are, speak up!) or if you Foxwoods regulars know them. Next time I make sure I don’t play afternoons unless I have to. Still, I think even a game that tight could be profitable overall. I’m STUNNED at how obvious people are when they’re going to fold pf. Situations can easily arise when you can open-raise with any two and be 90% sure everyone is going to fold except maybe the BB.

All in all, quite an experience.


Now, some other observations/comments/questions:

THE CASINO: OTHER GAMES
Damn it’s big. Admittedly, I haven’t been in too many casinos, but damn. And what’s with all the slots? Do those rooms actually fill up on the weekends? God that’s pathetic.
And what’s with Asian people and baccarat? Do Asian folks just like baccarat, or (much more likely), are there just hundreds of Asian tourists visiting Foxwoods every day and deciding to play that game? I ask because I was struck at how full the baccarat and pai gow tables were with Asian folks. The latter makes sense, but not sure about the former.
I won’t even get into the number of old folks.

THE CASINO: THE FOOD
Ate at the Veranda Café. I shall never make that mistake again. Anyone have a better recommendation?

LODGING:
Had no reservations so at around 3:30AM I stumbled out at hit 2 West, hoping to run into some hotels along the way. Had very little luck, but I eventually found a room at the Ramada on 395, for $65 for the night. Very sweet. Going to have to remember that place.

GETTING THERE:
Coming from north of Boston, I hit 93 south at around 3PM, and traffic was still horrible when I hit downtown. And then terrible when I hit Providence. The trip as a whole probably took almost three hours. Next time, I think it’d be a lot smarter to take 95W to 90W to Worcester, and then take 395 South. Those of you who make the trip regularly – seem reasonable?

GOOD FOOD!:
I hit Rosie’s, on 2W, on the way in from the Ramada for breakfast (which I like to have as my first meal of the day, even if it’s 1:30PM). Fine grub, and cheap, too.


All in all, a great experience. I’d love to see what the 4/8 loose games look like. I’m already trying to figure out when I can go back – maybe around Xmas, more likely late January. Should be fun!

[CrackerZack]

Very good report. Brings back nostalgic feelings of my first few trips. I didn't have the online experience though so I was the clueless guy who couldn't figure out ante games.

[McMelchior]

Nice post!

For the food: The Fiesta Buffet is absolutely above average quality and a real bargain (if you're able to eat for the day). It's included when I take the Greyhound, and it's cheaper to sleep on the late bus & sweeter to wake up in my own bed than in a hotel room ...

For the more well-to-do the food at the Steak house is excellent, and absolutely reasonably prised. Avoid at any cost the hot-water-with-a-crayon coffee.

best,

McMelchior (Johan)

[Mike Gallo]

Bokonon,

Excellent post.

The next time you play in the $4-$8 during the day you should have a better game selection.

I enjoy playing at the Foxwoods also.

Good report.

On a side note, I must have logged close to 500 hours playing at the Foxwoods and I have never eaten at one of the restaraunts or visited any of the fine shops.

[lil']

And what’s with all the slots? Do those rooms actually fill up on the weekends?
It fills up. I've seen people wait in line for slot machines and table games. OK, I've actulally done it to. Then you realize, hey I'm waiting in line to give away my money!


As for food, I use my food and point coupons from the Wampum Club to pay for pizza and root beer.

The trip as a whole probably took almost three hours. Next time, I think it’d be a lot smarter to take 95W to 90W to Worcester, and then take 395 South. Those of you who make the trip regularly – seem reasonable?
I do this often if I think there will be traffic in Providence.

[JTG51]

Ate at the Veranda Café. I shall never make that mistake again.

That's funny, the Veranda is my favorite place to eat outside of the poker room. I always recommend it.

Try Cedars Steak House next time. It's expensive, but it's very good (assuming you want a steak). The buffet is usually good too, if you are looking for that kind of meal.

Glad you enjoyed the trip.

[Bokonon]

[ QUOTE ]
Ate at the Veranda Café. I shall never make that mistake again.

That's funny, the Veranda is my favorite place to eat outside of the poker room. I always recommend it.


[/ QUOTE ]

Perhaps I ordered the wrong items. The side salad was made of the whitest iceberg lettuce I've ever seen (I asked if it could be made with Romaine, at which point she looked at me as though I said I often raise with 32o UTG, har har), the baked scrod was greasy and gross, and even the apple pie I had for desert was subpar. What do you usually order?

[Joe Tall]

Nice report, Bok.

Next time order the grill chicken sandwich right at the poker table, it's good.

Glad to here you had had a good time! Where are you driving down from? I think 495-MassPike-395 would be better if it's high volume times.

Peace,
JT

[JTG51]

The side salad was made of the whitest iceberg lettuce I've ever seen...

You see, if you just followed my policy of not eating anything that is or is supposed to be green you wouldn't have had that problem! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I either get a steak or breakfast when I go there, and have always enjoyed both.

[morgant]

haha, me too, i havent logged 500 hours but somewhere around 150-200 and have never eaten in a restaraunt or seen a shop, table food baby. i am lucky if i make it to the room for a night of sleep...usually dead money spent on a hotel room