Whenever I come from the bathroom & wipe the water from my nose I feel like people think I just did cocaine.
One Year Ago
A year ago from this Tuesday I had a good day where I woke up at 10am and got in a lot of poker, watched TV and a movie, read some of a poker book, played some Zelda, and relaxed. Then the next day I talked about my moving plans to California, and I was upset that someone at church a few days before called it “the den of iniquity.” It upset me because I don’t understand why everyone is so negative toward California, and they weren’t supportive of my moving plans. The next day was the one-year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti, making today the two-year anniversary. Then a year ago from today I finally bought the rest of Coldplay’s discography, and I listened to them while shoveling at the church a lot. I haven’t really listened to them that much since then though.
Thoughts
Okay, time for a little odds and ends. I had a few more drinks during this trip, but it really wasn’t a big deal. The first time was after the first night when I finished even, and I just sat and watched Darry and Brian play Stud. Darry was surprised when he heard me ask for a Jack and Coke, and I thought he was surprised to hear me order a drink unprompted. I noticed that it tasted different from the last time, and then like an hour later I realized that I meant to ask for a rum and Coke because that’s what I had before. That’s why it tasted different, but it was still good. I had two that night, and then two the next night while playing. It didn’t affect me at all though so it was fine. I also wondered why I wasn’t carded when I ordered any drinks, but then I realized that because the whole casino is 21 or older they don’t need to card, whereas at Turning Stone you can play at 18 so it’s necessary to card.
At the poker table I noticed a couple tells that helped me out or at least gave me some good reads. I noticed one player whose hands were shaking when he put out a bet, and he ended up showing top set. Another guy’s hands were shaking once when he had a big hand, and I also noticed when he raised pre-flop and his hands weren’t shaking. I was right that he didn’t have a big hand because he showed 8 9, so I was happy I got the read.
My Day
I woke up a little before 11am because we had to check out of our room by noon. Brian got up before me and went down to play some poker, and Darry came up to get Brian’s stuff and walk with me to Jon’s car. I checked out of the room, and they said I didn’t have any additional charges (no $50 bottle of Grey Goose) and I didn’t have to sign anything. Then we walked to Jon’s car and dropped our bags off, then played poker for a few hours before leaving.
I only had 3.5 hours to play so I felt a lot of pressure to keep my winning (or not losing) streak alive. I lost the first big pot I played when I raised with A J, which I normally don’t do. I realized that I played a few hands differently than normal, and I think it didn’t work out most of the time. Usually I only raise with big hands and just limp with most others because I can make good decisions after the flop. But I thought I should raise pre-flop with A J instead of be the first to limp, but on the K Q x flop I was most definitely behind. It was checked and I bet, and he called. The turn was a Jack so I had a pair now, but that wouldn’t scare him off a King or Queen. The river was another Queen and he bet out this time, and since it was an old guy I felt it much more likely he had a Queen than just representing one.
It took a while until I won another hand, and it was when I opened for a raise with A 10 because it was suited. The guy to my left reraised for a little more, and there were two callers so I called too. It was a borderline decision, but there was a lot of money to be won and I would be careful if I just flopped an Ace. The flop was 10 J 10 so I should be way ahead. It was checked, I bet, the original raiser called, and we had another caller. The turn was basically a blank but created a potential flush draw, and I really thought the original raiser had an overpair so I’d get paid off. I bet $75 which was a little less than pot, and both players folded.
That pot got me about $50 up now, but I got card dead and dipped down as low as $30 under my starting stack of $300. After playing at Foxwoods this trip I’ve learned that buying in for the $300 max is a good decision because I rarely dip into that second stack and I can control the pots better, and get paid off with my big hands like on the first day.
There was some action going on between one guy on the other end of the table and two guys at my end, and that one guy was getting wrecked by trying to make plays and not recognizing strength. I got KK and he called my raise in the big blind, and he check-called my bet on the low flop. The turn was a third spade, and he check-raised me. I really didn’t think he had a flush, but I chose to just call him to control the pot and let him bluff the river. He checked on the river and I checked behind in case he caught two pair or something, but I was pretty sure I was good and he wouldn’t call a bet.
I checked to see where I was after that hand, and I was up about $65 now. So since I got a greenbird from that guy ($25 chip) and I was in the black again I tipped it to the dealer. He looked at it and after a few seconds asked if I wanted it changed, and I said no it was for him. He was really surprised and hesitant, but he was very happy and it made the table talk a little. I’ve already talked about being a dealer because it came up when Darry walked by and from the other day, so they learned that dealers tip other dealers well. The dealer said it was the first greenbird he ever got, and I learned he’s been working there for 10 years. I told him I got one after only 6 months, but I said that to say that I felt bad his tips weren’t that big.
I was happy to give it to him, especially since it made his day. When the next dealer came to tap him out she saw it and whispered in his ear what must have been “Where’d you get that green?” He said it was from me, and they both were excited. I can’t wait to be ballin’ enough to tip a blackbird someday. When he got up he thanked everyone, and said, “Especially to you Eric for this” as he pointed to the greenbird in his toke box. Unfortunately that made the next dealer hopeful that she’d get one, but since it was close to leaving time and I was back over even I only had two more hands. I tipped her a redbird when I left so that was still great for her, but it was no greenbird.
I forgot to say that the night before when I was up a few dollars and wanted to ensure a non-losing session I said I should just fold my cards without looking. I did that for one hand, and then was really curious what I had. So for the last few hands I said “Fold” and then looked so it was too late for me to act, and that was kind of fun actually. Today I wanted to make sure I left at least even, and my last hand was pocket 7s UTG but I folded because if I needed to flop a set to stay in the hand and I really didn’t want anything to cause me to lose in the final hand.
I cashed out for $35 ahead, and I’m still waiting to cash out for a full rack at least. But I’ll get there in time, and this trip has definitely given me tremendous confidence in my game. I’ve had a good table every time I’ve gone to Foxwoods, and I’m sure that I won’t find a table that I can’t beat. I now feel comfortable playing for a couple hundred dollars, which should make it easier for me to take more and eventually move up.
So the four of us got some food at the little restaurant in the poker room, which was the first time the four of us ate together all trip. That was nice, but I voiced my desire to get sushi both times we’ve been there and I still haven’t gotten it. So next time I’m going by myself if I have to because I really want to treat myself. I wanted to make sure I made money so I could feel really good about spending a lot on sushi, and I did make money this time but I’ll have to hope I make even more next time.
The ride back wasn’t terrible, but it was pretty boring. We talked for a bit, and I listened to Jon and Darry’s conversation most of the time. I rested my eyes but I don’t think I fell asleep at all, and that passed some time. I started feeling kind of sick yesterday, and my throat is still sore, my eyes hurt, and my head hurts a little. Time will tell if I’m actually sick, but I have to work Saturday and Sunday so I hope I’ll be okay for that.
I got home around 9:30 which gave me time to type this up and take care of things before calling it a night. I did my totals and I played poker for a total of 21 hours, which is an average of 7 hours a day which isn’t bad. I would actually like that to be higher, but the first night I would have left much earlier and be up a lot, or play even longer and either make a profit or lose. The second night I played all day with no break, but the last day I couldn’t play that long because we had to drive back home.
Moneywise I’m actually down like $20 I think for the trip because of the $17 on food, $30 on gas and tolls, whatever the tax is on the “free” room, and all the tips that didn’t come from my poker money. Still that’s great for a three-day vacation, and it’s a testament to how great poker is. I’m going to make money most of the time, and it’s great when I can use it to pay for other things. I’m so lucky to be a poker player because otherwise I wouldn’t have a way to make legitimate money without working another job. And with that I’m calling it a night. Thanks for reading, and “Clap, clap, clap, clap your hands.”
—Eric Del Medico
