[RedKnightt]

I just spent 5 days in Tunica at the Horseshoe playing cards, and thought I’d share:

Cliff Notes: Had a blast, made about $2K, didn’t pay for one meal, was disappointed in the hotel (Veranda), captivated and amused by various locals, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Long version:

(Warning: Those seeking reports of gratuitous sex and violence will be disappointed, as was I).

Thursday night:

I arrived at the Grand Hotel at about 6, only to be told that all poker room rate rooms are now across the street at the Veranda. Annoying, but for $30 a night, I can’t really complain too much. I think of my fellow poker players, and decide to grab a shower before heading to the ‘shoe. I take a moment to truly confuse hotel front desk and security by asking where I can check my pistol, since they have no room safe, and I don’t want to carry in the casino. After some calls, I’m told it’s okay to leave it in my room. I just sigh and secure it in my vehicle when I’m at the casino.

I went in, and didn’t want to play heavy, so I jumped on a 4/8 LHE game and met a few locals. No hands worth noting, and I wasted $200 playing too loose (I blame the all-day drive). I enjoy my time, and notice a cocktail server named Stacey whose smile will captivate me all weekend. Ask very nicely, get a buffet comp for breakfast. Back to my room, and snooze ‘til morning.

Friday:

I get up, drive over to yonder ‘shoe, and break my fast at the buffet. Damn good omelet, made to order. I get on the 1/3 and 2/5 list, and quickly get a 1/3 seat. Now, I normally play in AC, and I’m expecting that this plays like 1/2, and I will want to move to the grown-up table at 2/5 when I get a chance. To my very pleasant surprise, this game plays a lot like the AC 2/5 I am used to, and I relax and enjoy it. I’m playing okay, up and down as usual, and after 12 hours and a tasty comped tableside dinner, I’m up about $250. I continue to be captivated by the smile of the lovely (and married) Stacey, and a lovely redhead named Noel.

What made this table fun (for me) was the guy on my left for most of the day. He straddled 90% of the hands where he wasn’t a blind. (Apparently in Miss you can straddle at any seat). This made the table play like a higher table most of the time, and really made a lot of action happen. It was not fun for the succession of 5 or 6 players who sat to his left, and discovered they would be under the gun for almost every hand. The guy did eventually lose all of his ~$700 stack, about ~$200 to me.

I did apparently run afoul of a local named John (who wears a visor and always puts a newspaper on his seat. Avoids cooties, I guess). I was watching one hand, where the board ended up KK44A, and everyone was turning up their hands to chop the pot after two rounds of checking. I said, sotte voce I thought, “Is there anyone not chopping this?” Local John, on my right, proceeded to berate me, claiming that if anyone had heard me, it might have cost him money in the chop.
I just kind of looked at him for a second, and then to avoid the ensuing fight about nitpicking over a $4 share of the pot, I apologize for my actions and told him he was right. He continued on about it, and I again, this time more forcefully, agreed that I was wrong, he was right, and I apologize and wouldn’t do it again. He finally just looked back at the mountain of 4 $1 chips the dealer pushed him and I heard him mutter “I guess that means shut the f#$% up.” Correct. Yes, I was wrong, and I apologized. I guess for my second offense I’ll see if the brush can arrange to have crucified.

Again, I ask very nicely, get a buffet comp for breakfast. Back to my room, and snooze ‘til morning.

Saturday:

This was pretty much a vanilla day. Buffet for breakfast, 12 hours of ABC TAG play on the 1/3, didn’t incur the wrath of any locals, and left up just over $600. As I leave with Sunday’s breakfast comp in hand, I’m thinking, “I really like this room.”

Sunday:

I decide to give the 2/5 a shot, and while I hold my own in the game, this is not the AC 2/5 game. The lack of a buy-in cap makes it a much deeper game, and if I had the bankroll for it, I would have been more comfortable. I’m not really down, though, and part of the reason for the trip was to stretch a little. I’m convinced you can’t improve your game unless you play against some players who are better than you, and several players at the table qualify.

I win some hands, lose others, and am down about $250 when I pick up AKclubs in late position. A short stack in early position raises, and everyone except me folds. Flop comes Q 8 10 of clubs, which gives me the nut flush. Raiser thinks for a moment, then pushes all-in for about $100 more. I call, and show him the bad news. He flips over his pockets aces and stands up. The turn is the J clubs, giving me the royal flush, only my second one in live play. It also nets me the every-two-hour $250 high-hand jackpot. My play leaves me down $100 from my buyin, but the $250 from the jackpot makes it a positive day cashwise.

The other entertaining point was a local named Jody who decided that everyone at the table was targeting him and his pal, cause they were the best players at the table (they weren’t). It made for some fun watching him trashtalk and play LAGy. Near the end, I actually picked up a decent tell on him, but I was way too tired to stay for a few more hours and play. I don’t normally look for and try to use tells in low-limit play, but it was personally rewarding to know I had spotted one and could use it.

Again, I ask very nicely, get a buffet comp for breakfast. Back to my room, and snooze ‘til morning.

Monday

Monday was an optional day for me. I hadn’t made up my mind to stay until Tuesday or not, since I didn’t have to be back to work until Thursday. So, one more day of poker it was. And it was good. I sat down at the 1/3 I had come to know and love, and played some great poker. I got good cards, played great TAG, and pretty much owned the table for most of the day.

I also spent a good time talking to a dealer who was playing, named Doc. Real nice guy. He even stayed nice after my pocket aces picked off his Ax on a Axx flop. He was so sure I had KK he called my $800 all in bet (he only had about $375). He took it really well, and simply bought in again, buying his chips back from me. If this had been AC, the losing player would be much more likely to stand up and scream like Hellmuth. About 8pm, I called it a night, as I had to drive back to Virginia the next day. Cashed out up $1154.

Overall, I really had a great time. The staff at the Horseshoe was great, the comps liberal (I didn’t pay for one meal), the locals very friendly and occasionally amusing, and the hotel was mediocre at best.