This was definitely a step up in terms of the amount of tables available for play than the one on the other side of town. I walked into the rather large poker room and wandered up to the desk to ask their set up. A Very Bored but beautiful young lady spent a couple of minutes explaining that this casino offered $2/$4, $4/$8, $10/$20, $20/$40 Tables. The $10/$20 and the $20/$40 I believe were NL (No Limit) tables. I was really happy to hear they had a $2/$4 Limit table. That meant I didn't have to buy in for as much (I bought in for $100 as opposed to $200) as I did the last time I played Hold'em at the other casino.
They were 13 people on the waiting list and it only took roughly 20 minutes to get down to my name on the list. I somewhat fluked out in the fact that I was standing wathing the table that I was sat at.
I was brought back to the table by one of the floor people and he put my chips out for me. It was a really strange entrance as I could sense the table taking a look at me when I arrived. I decided that I needed to introduce myself to the table in the strangest way.
I've always been a firm believer in going with your gut. (Although sometimes it's just gas). As I was taking my seat, and the dealer was asking me if I wanted to post, I asked where the big blind was only to find out it was my seat. Well, that meant I was in.
The dealer dealt the cards and since I was big blind I decided I wasn't going to even look at my cards to begin with. The majority of the table called the $2 opening bet and so when the bet came around to me, still not looking at my cards, I raised the bet to $4. Again the majority of the table called my bet. (I wonder how many people even noticed I raised blind) and the dealer dealt out the flop. The Flop was something Q-Q... so I decided I'd best take a peak at my hole cards because this could go massively wrong now. I peaked at my cards to see a the beautiful American Airlines looking back at me. I bet out and was called. The turn was insignificant so I bet out again, awaiting the raise, that never came. The River card was the most beautiful card I could dream of. It was the third Ace. Giving me a Full House. I checked which brought out the betting and I raised and was called and I turned it over first announcing "Full House" and I took the pot down. Going up $40 right away.
I spent the next five hours playing the table hitting a peak of being just over $100. I did flucuate down a bit but managed to recover without ever dropping below my original investment of $100.
The NEXT most memorable hand of the night came quite late into my evening. Holding Q-10 Spades in the hole I played a rather nasty board that ended up A-J-J-8-A. I hit the flush on the turn but was sure when the river turned the second Ace up that one of the other two players left in the hand MUST have an Ace or Jack to finish the full house. The guy to my right checked the bet so I checked and the button bet out $4 and having come this far I said outloud "Oh well, I gotta see it", of which the guy to my right also agreed and we both called the $4. I was STUNNED (although, I really shouldn't be thinking how loosely $2/$4 can be played by inexperienced players) by the fact NEITHER player had the Ace or the Jack. I looked to my left and then to my right seeing they both had crap I turned my cards over and said "I only have the Flush." Then the DEALER was noticeably shocked and asked aloud "Doesn't ANYONE have the Ace or the Jack?!
I'd have to say I have uncanny luck going to an establishment for the first time and playing. I'm also well aware I ended up being up both times I've played face to face Hold'em Tables. I must admit to that I got great cards and the flops and subsequent cards went in my favour the majority of the time and made it rather easy to play my hands.
I lost two hands by being outkicked. Those hurt the most. One was holding A-7 and having a pair of aces only to be beat by someone holding A-8. I was also hit Two Pair Holding A-J on the turn on another hand only to get killed by a K on the river which gave the player holding A-K a better two pair.
As the morning started to arrived (Gotta love them 24 hr Casinos) the table got short handed and the other players were getting agitated by the small pots. I actually don't mind playing a short handed table. I find you have to play a little bit looser but if you get good hole cards with a decent flop you're in good shape to win short handed. Anyway, there was one too many players at our table to fit the holes on the other tables which would have meant one of us would have to go on the waiting list. I decided the was a cue and said I was leaving. Everyone's happy and I left up $68 bucks.
In Online Poker, I'm still sitting at $18 on Panther. Been taking a beating on both Absolute and Superior. I'm down to $7.61 on AP and $11.50 on Superior. I recently joined Royal Vegas Poker and they gave me $10 for signing up which made me think I was going to do well there but I am down to $1.26 and doubtful that I'll be able to get that back to the required $25 to withdraw it. I still think it's pretty good for an initial investment of $0 to any of them.