Tunica trip report
 

I have heard from many a poker player at many a table talk about a place called tunica. This little place in the middle of a cotton field that seems to cater to poker players. So after many years of hearing the great stories of loose Mississippi poker, me and my buddy take a trip from East Michigan to Tunica Mississippi.

After a debate on how to get there we decide on a route to avoid rush hour traffic and get there in 11 hours by car.

We booked a room at the gold strike, per the instructions of fellow 2+2ers, with the intention of playing at the shoe. (when the say they are right next to each other, we are talking a 4 minute walk from poker room to poker room.

We checked in late Thursday and needed a bite to eat before we found a game. We went into the Atrium and ordered a $30 meal ate in and went to pay for it.. They asked mi if I had a players card. I pulled out my MGM mirage card from Vegas and they told me I was comped. I didn‘t argue and went looking for a game. I found a 2-5 NL and found it to be more aggressive than I was used to. I assumed that the buy-in was unlimited as many of the players has about 500 in chips and a big roll of 100’s behind. I bought 200 in red and decided to give it a whirl.

A few hands in I realize that $40 before the flop is no big deal, not a situation I was used to. I catch KT in the big blind and 6 players limp to me and I check. flop comes Q 9 X. the flop checks around and the turn is the J, completing the rainbow. I bet 20 into a $35 pot and UTG raises to 40, everyone in the middle folds, I make it $60 MORE and UTG calls. River is a [censored] 9 and I pay off Q9 with the rest of my stack. Oh well rebuy 200 more. A few hands more and I get AJ sooted in late position and raise to $30. I get called by an Asian guy with a big roll of $100 bills behind. Flop comes J 3 7 rainbow. Out of position I go all in for about 150 and he inta-calls. Crap! Turn and river come out blanks and AJ is good (somehow). When I take down the pot I see that I am UP about 5 or 6 bucks and cashout right away. This was not my kind of game. I crash for the night up one dollar.

On Friday I decide I want play in a tourney. They have a $65 buy in $40 rebuy game going. I buy in and show up a bit late and catch my first tourney hand in the small blind. Mid position raises blinds of 5-15 to 50 and I look down and see AA, so I raise to 300. I get a call and the flop comes J high rags, I move all-in win the pot. Long story short I lose ½ my stack with QQ vs. 22 and get busted on 99 vs. AK when he rivers the running flush. Oh well back to the cash.

I hear roomer of a 1-2 PLO game at the Goldstrike. I get to the Goldstrike and decide to buy 200 and just nut peddle. In the corner there is a 25-25-50 PLO running wit about 100K in play. 2 guys were wearing cowboy hats so I didn’t even sweat the game. I quickly run my 200 into 600 playing 1-2 and cashout and go to bed.

I get in a loose 10-20 game and get the hand of a lifetime. 44 MP I call big blind raises I call one player to my left calls. Flop: A 4 J BB bets I raise other guys folds, BB makes it 30 I make it 40 BB makes it 50 and alarm bells goes off so I just call. Turn is the case 4. I put in the 8th bet when he says I am going to bet it all. I make 8 more raises and he says one more time that he is going to put it all in. I say ok, river bricks and I am numb as hell. I cash out up $800 and grab some dinner. He had AA

I get into a 10-20 Omaha hi-low game. I was told that this was an action game. Comes to find out this was a rock garden times 1000. After pissing away 300 I got back into my 10-20. And went flop dead for 4 hours. I got into the 1-2 PLO game at the strike again bit by now I was playing too scared and donked off another hundred.

Net Net I covered my gas and room. I never paid for a meal (other than a starbucks) and when I tried they wouldn’t let me. I would say tunica is far beyond the best I have ever been treated in a casino. I would go back in a heartbeat.

JDOE

Re: Tunica trip report
 

Glad you enjoyed Tunica. Look me up next time your in town.

Re: Tunica trip report
 

I am sooooo gonna hit this place one of these days. Nice report.

Re: Tunica trip report
 

hey chipr777

not sure if i got the right guy. your on the floor in the shoe? I was the one looking for a 10-20 on saturday morning. I said I was going to grab a cup of coffee. you said we have coffee in the poker room? i said not starbucks. I will be right back. Was that you?

Jdoe

Re: Tunica trip report
 

I heard the 10-20 hi/low that has been running for a few weeks was the bomb action game going right now.
The 10-20 has been softer than usual due to some very weak play.

Re: Tunica trip report
 

Nice report.

Do you know if that 25-25-50 goes every day?

Re: Tunica trip report
 

[ QUOTE ]
Nice report.

Do you know if that 25-25-50 goes every day?

[/ QUOTE ]

I doubt it (I don't play there during the week much!!!) but it has been going on the weekends lately. It sporadically runs at the GS & I think they get together at the 'Shoe also...not sure though.

This past weekend I don't think I saw anybody under 60 playing in that game.

Re: Tunica trip report
 

The comps are one thing very different from Tunica and Vegas. Seems the people in Vegas are extremely tight about it. But in Tunica it's just like Jack says "If you're gamblin you're gettin comped!"

Re: Tunica trip report
 

[ QUOTE ]
not sure if i got the right guy. your on the floor in the shoe? I was the one looking for a 10-20 on saturday morning. I said I was going to grab a cup of coffee. you said we have coffee in the poker room? i said not starbucks. I will be right back. Was that you?


[/ QUOTE ] I was dealing Saturday, on the floor Sunday.

Re: Tunica trip report
 

Very good report. It makes me ready to make my first trip to Tunica soon.
Every thread I read about Tunica talk about all of the comps. Anyone know what causes the difference in philosophy between the Tunica casinos and others in this regard (i.e. Vegas). The comps wouldn't make me go, but it would be a nice perk and make the trip more enjoyable.

Re: Tunica trip report
 

oh for the good old days, show tickets, 100% comped rooms, and dinner reservations at the best restaurants written on a cocktail napkin. no players cards or other bs, if the pit boss or boxman liked you, you were set.

sigh........

Re: Tunica trip report
 

The new LAS VEGAS can not hold a candle to the old Vegas style.

When I was in Tunica last year I was treated very well.
The floor/desk lady at the "shoe was great.
The 20/40 play was great. Although many regs. were in the game(i was there during the week) this game was a soft touch.
Dealers were good, floor was good and the rest of the casino staff was fine.

Now if they only had higher limits I would feel better about my move back that way. ONCE THIS DAMN CONDO SELLS HERE.

Re: Tunica trip report
 

[ QUOTE ]
Very Anyone know what causes the difference in philosophy between the Tunica casinos and others in this regard (i.e. Vegas). The comps wouldn't make me go, but it would be a nice perk and make the trip more enjoyable.

[/ QUOTE ]
#1) The philosophy in Las Vegas seems to be that "no matter what, 100,000 new tourists and convention-goers are going to arrive every day and fill our casinos and hotels. They're going to come whether we're nice or not."

In Tunica, they know how they treat the customers will directly affect the customers inclination to return. Tunica is in competition with every other outlet for entertainment and/or recreation and/or gambling out there. Las Vegas businesses don't seem to be concerned about the well of customers ever drying up.

#2) Harrah's in particular seems disinclined to reward anyone but whales or near-whales. They own so many properties that they directly affect the market plus indirectly make it easier for their competiion to be less forthcoming.

Re: Tunica trip report
 

[ QUOTE ]
Very good report. It makes me ready to make my first trip to Tunica soon.
Every thread I read about Tunica talk about all of the comps. Anyone know what causes the difference in philosophy between the Tunica casinos and others in this regard (i.e. Vegas). The comps wouldn't make me go, but it would be a nice perk and make the trip more enjoyable.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was in Tunica during WSOP/WPT events Jan. '06 and was impressed. Very inexpensive hotels and pretty easy to get buffet comp (all you had to do was play and ask and take care of those who comp with a couple $$).

Worth the trip.

Re: Tunica trip report- 25-25-50
 

It goes a good bit. Not at the shoe. The players and the shoe had a difference of opinion at some point. It is sometimes a mixed game. The guy in the white cowboy hat is in fact called "cowboy". It is usually 4 or 5 handed.

Ret

Re: Tunica trip report- 25-25-50
 

Thanks all. I might make a trip down there. I've been wanting to play some PLO. $25 - $25 - $50 might too big for me though. I'm comfortable at $25 - $50 NLHE, but PLO plays bigger than HE and I'm not sure what effect that extra small blind has on pot size... I think it's probably too big for me depending on the players and stack sizes, of course.