[StevieG]

Poker at Holland Casino

I hate having to pay a cover charge to go into a casino. But I am not really one for the remaining vices on offer in A'dam, and drunk as I was I plowed ahead anyway for the €2 or €3 or whatever it was.

There is a free coat check, but it had better be free because they make you use it.

What percentage of drunk tourists leave a jacket there in the springtime?

Anyway, this is the most full I have ever seen this room (though I have only been maybe 4 times previously). The Thursday tournament must really bring in the players.

There are cash games going, and I sit in the €10/20 limit hold 'em game.

Pretty straight forward play from all players that I can see, with varying degrees of looseness. Average 4 to the flop, a preflop raise maybe 15-20% of the time.

I really didn't stay long, and am only involved in two pots, really.

Once my KhJh made the flush on the river, pissing off to no end the d00d with 7h4h who had me beat on the flop with his 7 paired up.

Other hand I raised from EP with AQs, got only two takers including one blind. Made top pair on flop, bet out, got one caller. Turn rag, same deal. River 9, blind makes small motion to chips but checks. I check behind and he shows his pocket 9s for the spiked set.

Like I said, I didn't stay long, because I had a train to catch.

Plus even drunk I notice the atrocious rake of 5% up to the GNP of Surinam. I counted €17 removed from a €340 pot and tasted some of my 5 course meal return to my mouth.

Cashed out up a large €3 and headed back into the streets.