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A little background: I have played home game poker for years, and online for about 2 1/2 years. I will skip over the formalities of how I arrived, placed my name on a waiting list, etc…as they have all been posted before and are pretty general.
After a show at the Venetian on Thursday night (12/28), my wife and I went over to TI because I liked the location of the poker room (far from the noise of the casino floor…in fact, very close to the walkway to the parking garage). I sat for about 20 minutes until I was seated. During this time the usual thoughts ran through my mind – it’s my first time in real world poker – don’t do something moronic. I’m also thinking that on the one hand it may be to my advantage for people to know that I’m a newbie, but I’d rather just play it like I’ve done this before. Let me now mention that the game I sat down at was 2/4 limit…I quickly learned that no one at this table would peg me as a newbie, because nobody here was thinking beyond their own two cards. Let me also say that I had been preparing myself to see better play than I do at the micro limits of Poker Stars, FTP, and UB. On my second hand I was dealt pocket Q’s, raised preflop and was called by I think…the whole table (maybe not all, but still). The flop came 5 6 7 rainbow. I bet, and was greeting by two reraises and a caller. At this point I’m thinking that I’m looking at someone flopping a straight, or at least a set. So being new to this environment, I fold. The raising war continued and the winner showed down a pair of sevens with a moderate kicker. I was floored and quickly realized that a new game plan was in order.
Well, this play continued, with at least 6 to a flop every hand and I continued to sit there slack jawed at what I was seeing win. I sat down with 100, and left with 150 a couple of hours later.
Sidebar: I thought it would be a sort of memorabilia type thing, so I kept a chip from each room I played at on this, my first venture into B&M poker.
The next night was at Santa Fe Station off of north US95. This was a lot of locals, and the reviews on this site are very accurate. I should also mention that I was staying at my mother-in-laws on this vacation, so this was nice and close for me. Anyway, I had a great time. It was easy to see who was good (a couple), and who were playing any two cards (everyone else). I was also stunned on this trip to see how many people sat there with serious looks and scowls, and intensity, playing with their chips like a pro…and then calling down with 6 3 off in early position while holding nothing more than middle pair. I was worried that my lack of involvement in hands would hurt me when I actually had a hand, but no, I was called nevertheless. And I do agree with the review at this site, this is a fun bunch to play with. Overall I left with a profit and a good time. Lots of fun.
The next night was at Suncoast of off Summerlin Pkwy (even closer to relative’s house). This night saw no big wins or losses, a few more conservative players, but not by much. An overall good room to play, and overall I had a great few days playing for my first B&M experience. I look forward to going to Bay 101 on occasion when I return home. I hear from a friend that I can expect many of the same types of players at the 2/4 tables there.
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