Trip Report - Isle of Capri - Lake Charles, LA (long)

[scottc25]

I was in Conroe, TX on business and decided to make the 2 ½ hour trip to the Isle of Capri for a live session Thursday (12/7). On the way I get pulled over by the TX Highway Patrol. I saw him way ahead on the side of the road and was in heavy traffic. He pulled me over for following the car in front too close. Guess he was looking for anything else and lets me go with a warning. On to some poker…

I get there at 12:30pm and a $5/$5 NL game was just starting. It was a $100 - $300 buy-in and was a must move game. I bought in for the max. After some less than stellar hands I finally turn a flush but lose to a higher flush. Luckily the other player was a shorter stack so I was left with $120. I bought in for another $200. Next big hand I turn a straight but lost to a flopped higher straight. Thanks to him being another shorter stack I don’t lose too much. Rebuy for another $200.

I get moved to the main game with around $350. Played some relatively small pots and before I knew it I was up to $710 when I left for dinner before the tournament for a big profit of $110.

The tournament was a $30 buy-in with unlimited $20 re-buys for the first hour. I did an immediate add-on and had to rebuy once when I fell below the $4k requirement for a re-buy. At the break I did the double add-on and I have $18,000 with the blinds going to be $200/500.

The payout structure for the tournament is a little different. 4th-10 get $100. 1st gets $50% of the remaining pool, 30% for 2nd and 20% for 3rd.

In the first level after the re-buy I pick up 3,3 and limp from middle position. The flop was a beautiful looking q,3,3 for flopped quads. The odd thing is this is the 4th time I have flopped quads in the last week, twice in cash games and twice in tournaments.

The blinds crept up to $2000/$4000 and I had $22,000. An early position player pushed for $24,000. I get k,q suited and call knowing that they have a weak ace. I was right and they had a,7. Flop is a,k,x with 2 of my suit. I don’t improve and I am out in 18th.

I threw $20 in a slot machine waiting for the tournament and hit for $100. So after the first session and the tournament I am exactly even.

I decide to go back to the cash game and buy-in for $300 and plan to not reload. If I lose it I am leaving. I play like a lag-tard and drop down to $130 when I get k,q suited. I raise to $25 and get 1 caller. Flop comes 10,8,x rainbow. Checked to me and I make a continuation bet of $35. I get check-raised all-in for my remaining $60. I throw it in and the other player tables 8,8. Uh oh. Well I pull the suckout of all suckouts with a,j on the turn and river for broadway. That pot brings me to $270. I then get moved to the main game with the same amount.

I win a couple of small pots and I am sitting with $375 when I say to myself “this is my last hand”. Famous last words always. Since it is the last hand I look at my cards as they come, first Ac, second Ad. I raise to $25 and get 2 callers. A late position player announces raise and makes it $60. Thinking the pot is plenty big now I just push for all my $375. The 2 callers fold (one said he had j,j). Other player thinks for about a minute and calls. I flash him the aces and he doesn’t show. Flop Q,7,3. Turn 10. River 2. He FINALLY shows 9,9. Seriously, what was he thinking? I had him covered by $10 and rake the $810 pot.

A couple rounds later I tell the dealer that “this is my last hand” when I pick-up j,j. I raise to $25 from early position and get 4 callers (ick). Flop comes k,10,x. Checked to me and I make a $35 continuation bet and get 3 callers. OK now I’m done with the hand. Turn is a blank and its checked around. The river is a 10. Interesting card. Its checked to me and I figure the only way I’m winning this pot is to take a stab. I bet $55 and it goes fold, fold, fold. Whew!!!. I stayed a couple laps more and I cash out with $850 in front of me at 12:30am.

12 hour session and a $550 profit. The last time I was there a month ago I won $1350 in about 5 hours. $1800 for the last two trips. I will take it.

Next live action will be in Tunica next month. Now back to the $0.10/$0.25 online grind….

[canvasbck]

You were at my regular casino. Next time your out this way, try to catch the Saturday $100r, it's one of the softest tournaments I have ever seen at that kind of buy-in.BTW, while you were in Conroe, you had a bunch of card rooms that you could have played at all around Houston. Slightly tougher than the Isle, but WAY closer.

[Hoss1193]

Nice TR. I grew up in East Texas (in Conroe, as a matter of fact), but moved away long before I started playing cards. I don't know much about Louisiana rooms (one session in Shreveport not long ago)...it's good to get some info on what's available in Lake Charles if/when I go back to visit.

Would also be good to get some concrete info on the Houston scene, to which another poster referred. I keep reading about it, but when I try to get some "actionable" data, I run into some rather vague responses...actually understandable, since folks don't necessarily want to give out info on their "underground" rooms to someone they don't know.

[canvasbck]

PM me and I can give you a few phone #'s to at least three card rooms in the Clear Lake area.