Long Story Short
I played at the Aviation Club, won beaucoup euros, saw a huge pot go down, and then had a nice little meal around midnight.
Long Story Long
Entree
It was pretty cool to come up out of the Paris metro, look up at the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower lit up, then navigate the circle to make my way along the Champs-Élysées.
It almost felt bad to go and play poker. Almost.
But I had already had a couple good meals the two previous nights, I've been to Paris as a tourist before, and I knew if I were coming back with my wife (or even on a business trip with colleagues) it would not be as easy to play as when in Paris alone.
I had not eaten yet, so my plan was to see how the wait was, and either try to get in a game, or go eat and return. I play fixed limit, so no limit is out of the comfort zone, and I decided to put a stop loss of €200 on the session.
So I left the elegance of the street for the doorway with the gauche "Punto Banco" neon sign above it, and walked up a flight of stairs with mirrored walls into the smoky interior of the Aviation Club de France, 104 Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
No problem with the doorman, but I was there for work and in a suit and dress shoes.
The host took my passport and explained he would get it back to me when I left so I did not have to wait while he filled out forms.
Nothing special about the interior. Wynn, Venetian, Caesars in Las Vegas are all far nicer inside. Everyone complains about the smoke, and yes, there was plenty of it, but I did not find it so bad, maybe because I grew up when there was a lot more smoking in bars and clubs. It was funny, however, to see the felt marked "no smoking" on either side of the dealer, only to have that player step one foot way from the table and light up between hands.
Le Luckbox
It was about 8:00 and I got a seat relatively quickly at the €2/€4 no limit game, and bought in for 100. First hand AQo from MP. A limper in front of me, I raise to 30, and realize my mistake quickly.
This was a min buy-in of 100, not max. I am by far short stacked. No one is going to shrink from that bet. Called in two spots, flop misses me, and I fold to a bet that would pretty much push me all in.
Over the next orbit I tighten up. Just as I am contemplating how to ask about topping up, I get 99 in the small blind. A player in LP (Glasses, we'll come back to him later) who I have noticed playing a lot bumps to 34. There was one limper to him and I put him on a big range and push.
All kinds of Broadway cards hit the flop. By the river the board is AKKQT. I know I already lost, and sure enough he shows KQo.
I get lots of nods from the table for the play, but now I am in trouble again. I only wanted to play with €200 (I play fixed limit so we're out of my comfort zone), and so I buy short again.
This time I get help. An orbit or so in, I get KK (pocket Rois?). Bump to 30 again to start, called in two spots. Flop comes a beautiful KTx, two clubs. Someone bets, I push with my boss trips, and get called in two spots. River is 5c, but it helps no one and I about triple up.
Maybe next orbit I have AKo and call a small bet. Four to the flop, 3 diamonds. I would have sworn I had black cards, but I check and see the ace of diamonds. Checked around on flop. On turn checked to me, I check, LAGgy button bets 120. I put him on a pair, and decide I have no odds to call, since he will likely fold if I hit. But EP calls, so now I feel better. EP is likely drawing and will call me, and I have better pot odds anyway so I invest. River delivers, EP calls my all in (button did fold) and now I am up to around 600.
I lose a hand with JJ, but damage is less than 100. I play some speculative hands, never for a lot, but the stacks dwindled a bit.
Then I get AA, and reraise an early raise. The two of us see a flop of QJx. He goes all in, I have him covered. I call and the aces hold up against his AQo.
Now it is getting late and I have not eaten. There is food there, and I saw some that looked decent, but nothing more than sandwiches, really. I'm not eating at a card room in Paris, sorry. So 3 hours in, I leave, up €600.
Hand of the Night
Obviously, I ran real well, and had good cards that held up. In the short time I was there, I was dealt AA, KK, JJ, AK, AQ, and even AJ that I open-folded in EP. The AA, KK, and AK all won big pots.
I was thinking originally that I also got lucky that I got action on my good hands, but the fact is, there was almost always action. Most times three or more to flop.
Here is the hand of the night, and one of the craziest I have seen anywhere. I was SB with trash. UTG limps, LAG UTG+1 raises to 24 (standard for him, could be anything) MP1, MP2, LP (Glasses, who had beaten my 99 all in with KQo) and BB call. UTG limper now pops to 70. All call!
Flop is J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="red">3</font>[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]
UTG bets 120. UTG+1 folds, MP1 goes all in, but not enough to re-open action for UTG. Three callers including UTG!
Now the pot is around 900.
Turn is <font color="red">7</font>[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
UTG, with not much left, goes all in. MP2 calls. Now Glasses in LP wakes up and pushes! First time he did anything but call this hand. Called in the one spot, MP2, that is not already all in.
A crowd forms around the table.
River is a baby club. No board pair.
As is the habit, people are slow to act, but Glasses in LP shows 98 OFF SUIT for straight on turn. No one has the flush. He drags a huge pot. I guess 1500.
So most likely, if I got cards I was getting action.
Dinner
I will probably post a full trip report of eating. Maybe Travel, maybe here if demanded. I'll just mention for now that Chillee from the French forums suggested a place,
Maison de L'Aubrac a short walk away, and I really enjoyed it. From bacon and goat cheese appetizer, to steak main course, to cheese course with port, the place delivered.
Thanks
Thanks to Chillee, not only for his restaurant recommendation, but his excellent thread
Where to play poker in France ? in the French forum. It had the maps and everything else to make the trip easy. Merci!