[the_scalp]

I play at Riverside Casino, south of Iowa City Iowa a lot. I'd love any feedback on teh following:

1) The poker room has a lower rake (3+1) for six-handed or shorter. At least 6 times in the past two weeks, I've caught dealers over-raking the pots (taking the usual 4+1) in short-handed games. I don't pay attention every hand or anything, and I actually try to remind the dealers about the short rake when the game gets reduced. Every time it's happened, I called the dealer out on the hand in question, tried to explain to them that an extra dollar really is a big deal, even for people experiencing thousand-dollar swings, and advise the floor at the end of the evening that I've caught another one.

One time, after I've caught a dealer doing it twice in one down, I've called the floor to the table to explain to the dealer how short-handed rake was supposed to work (I then tipped the dealer a couple extra bucks for the down -- no hard fealings). I think the floor thought I was being ridiculous, maybe I was.

Thoughts on how I've handled this? (FYI, this is a room where you are NOT required to request a reduced rake, it's supposed to be automatic.)

2) Last night I'm playing 2-5, and squeeze 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. Nitbag with $400 (I cover) makes it $25. Decent player calls, I call behind (in position). Flop comes 4 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]7 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 2 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. "Woohoo! Pair and a double gutter!" I think (for those of you playing at home, this makes me an idiot).

Nit bets $80, aggro guy raises all in to $190 total. Aggro guy only does this with a draw, and I've got made hand + a draw (I think). ALL-INNN!! for $410 effective. Nit deliberates, than calls with his obvious overpair (oh well). I say, "nice call, I've just got a big draw". Aggrow guy turns over 56 and says "me too". I say (not an angle-shoot, I seriously was not thinking) "I've got the same hand!" and call for a 3 or 8. When the 3 spikes on the river, nit curses and mucks his hand (after flashing it to the guy next to him). I table my . . . 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]7 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] for a lonely pair of sevens and the worst-played hand in the history of poker!!!

Dealer starts shipping me the ~$400 side pot and ships the main pot to aggro guy. Some commotion ensues, but the nit takes it surprisingly well, except everyone at the table decides to explain to him sixteen thousand times "that's why you always gotta protect your hand." I make it clear I'm not proud of winning a pot that way, and let it go until a little later when I've booked a decent win. I hand the guy who screwed himself over a hundred, told him "that's more than anyone else here would do" and "I woulda chopped the pot, but I didn't actually win anything in it." He seemed okay with that (if not a bit subdued).

Was this overly nice, B&M?

Feel free to use this thread to ask me any questions about Riverside near Iowa City, which I think has been horribly mis-managed from day 1.