Belated Turning Stone trip report

[jively]

Turning Stone, January 13-15, 2007

My fiancée Jenn and I took the long MLK weekend to the Turning Stone hotel and casino. We reserved the poker rate, $80-something per night in the hotel for Saturday and Sunday night. Over the phone, they told us we needed to play in the poker room for 4 hours per day, and have them sign a form. We were running into a logistics problem, because I had to watch my dear Philadelphia Eagles at 7:30 PM, and we arrived around 7 PM and had not yet had dinner. Jenn was going to play the 4 hours for me, but we were pleasantly surprised at the front desk where they said that we were approved for the poker rate, and really did not have to get anything signed. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

So, we checked in, ordered room service, and watched the game in our room. My salad was really good, but when we ordered we were stunned to learn that they do not serve any alcohol! I’m not sure if it was a liquor license problem or a choice by the New York Indian reservation. However, there was no alcohol in the restaurants or the casino. It was BYOB, and you could bring your own alcohol, but nothing served.

Unfortunately the Eagles lost, but we really enjoyed halftime. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] After the game, we headed down to the poker room.

Jenn played $2/4 limit all weekend, but I wanted to try NL live for the first time. However, it was late on Saturday and I wanted to be more alert for my NL sessions. So I started at $2/4 and moved to $4/8 when my seat opened. In 2 hours I lost $9. Two memorable hands: I had 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] in the big blind and flopped a flush. I was able to raise the flop and got paid by one player on the turn and river by a guy with top pair and A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].

My biggest mistake was with QQ. I raised preflop and it was 4-handed. The flop comes with a K. I made a continuation bet (not smart), and got called by 2 players. I should definitely have let it go, but I ended calling the turn and river, and came in 3rd place as both callers had a King.

Jenn did much better, winning $72 in $2/4. She was blessed by a bachellorette party, and 4 of 5 women joining her table that didn’t know how to play.

On Sunday we started with room service breakfast again. Then we went to the spa to take advantage of the complimentary hot tub and pool. After that we showered and got ready for the day. Jenn went to the spa for a facial, and I tried $1/2 NL. They have a $100 max buyin and a $200 max buyin. I got on both lists, and was seated at the $100 max first. I bought for $100 and got ready to go.

Early on I got pocket 9s and raised pre-flop. There was 1 or 2 callers, and then I flopped a set. Nice way to start. I was in position, and bet half the pot when checked to and got 1 caller. The turn put J, T, and 9 on the board. I bet half the pot and got called again. The river put 4 to a straight on the board. My opponent checked and I checked behind. Opponent had a straight and I lost my first big hand. I didn’t remember or note all the details, but I think he had a pair and a gutshot (or a backdoor straight draw) on the flop.

Ok, no big deal, re-buy up to $100. (I had originally had $200 in reds, and put the rest of them in my pocked before sitting.) Later I had 88 and raised PF out of position, and got 2 callers. The flop came AKx, and I make a continuation bet and got 1 caller. The turn was a blank, and I check and my opponent checks. The river is another blank and I check. My opponent makes a bet, and I think and fold. (I figured he had at least a King.) I chatted him up, and after telling him I had 8s, he told me he had QT for a missed gutshot.

Rebuy to $100 again. My last mistake hand came with Ace rag in the big blind. I flopped top pair of Aces, and the small blind bet. I decided to raise, and to not put any more money into the pot unless I improved. So I make a raise, and the SB raises and puts me all in. Crap. Now all I have to do is fold and move on. But I don’t yet have discipline, and I call. He had A9 and I am now down $200.

I pulled out $100 and rebought. I won about $40 with AA and AK. With the Aces, a player 3 to my right raises to $7, and I reraise to $20. He calls and it’s heads up on the flop. He checks and I bet $25 and he folds. The next hand I had AK, the same player raises to $7, and I again raise to $20. Another player called but the original raiser folds. The flop comes with a King and 2 suits. I bet $35 and he folds.

I ended up losing $165 over 2 hours. I made some mistakes, but maybe ran a little bad. My flop bet gets no action when I have a high pair, and I got drawn out on with my set. Plus I may have gotten bluffed out of my middle pair.

Jenn and I went to the Brazillian restaurant for dinner. It was interesting with the way they served meat – all you can eat, and they came over and cut it for you. A slight bummer with no wine but was still very enjoyable.

I wanted to give NL one more shot, and sat back down at $100 max on Sunday evening. I stared losing a little with drawing hands that did not come in. I had QJs and flopped second pair. Then I had AQs and flopped the nut flush draw.

I had KK and raised to $10 after a limper. The limper reraises all in for $40 total and I call quickly. He groans; maybe thought I was weak tight or something, The board comes with cards below the K, He never showed (even though I called him), and I showed my Kings and took the pot. He said he had rags, 9-5 or something. I think I originally believed him, but he turned out to be a pretty good player who got up to $350 or so. Now I think he probably had AK or AQ.

My only other hand of note (my last NL mistake for the weekend) was when I had AK. I raised PF and the player I mention before calls. The flop comes 99x with 2 spades. He checks, I make my continuation bet, and he calls. The turn is a blank, he checks and I check, The river comes an offsuit King. My opponent bets $50, near a pot sized bet. I am still learning, but I called, and he had a 9 (J9 suited). I mucked, He said “Ace King?” I said yes, and knew I had to give up for awhile. I ended down about $100 in NL, and got on a list of $2/4. Would have been nice to drink and donk, but again there was no alcohol there.

I ended up played an hour and a half of $2/4 and lost $40. Not great poker results for me this weekend. Jenn lost $71 in the evening session, so she ended up $1 in poker play.

I played bad a little, and maybe I was a little unlucky, But I think the lack of alcohol really made a big difference – none of the players were making huge mistakes. Turning Stone was nice, but I don’t want to play poker there again unless they get their liquor license.

Monday morning had an interesting event. We had to check out by 11 AM, but around 10 AM the power in our room went out. The front desk gave us until 1 PM to check out, but our power came back about 10 minutes later. Upstate New York had an ice storm and lots of people lost power.

On the way back we went to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. That was fun too as Jenn is a baseball fan. All in all, it was a fun weekend.

[theghost]

Agreed the no booze thing sucks there.

It is by choice, not a liquor license thing.

[jively]

[ QUOTE ]
Agreed the no booze thing sucks there.

It is by choice, not a liquor license thing.

[/ QUOTE ]
Interesting. I wonder how much business they lose from it?

-Tom

[tarantulabob]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Agreed the no booze thing sucks there.

It is by choice, not a liquor license thing.

[/ QUOTE ]
Interesting. I wonder how much business they lose from it?

-Tom

[/ QUOTE ]

High level marketing person at the Stone once said that they make more money on the 18-20 yearold crowd than they would selling alchol. From what I've seen of the place, it's probably true...

tbob

[jively]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Agreed the no booze thing sucks there.

It is by choice, not a liquor license thing.

[/ QUOTE ]
Interesting. I wonder how much business they lose from it?

[/ QUOTE ]

High level marketing person at the Stone once said that they make more money on the 18-20 yearold crowd than they would selling alchol. From what I've seen of the place, it's probably true...

[/ QUOTE ]
Excellent point. There were lots of young poker players (under 21).

-Tom

[dedmoney]

I'm not sure if that's a choice thing or not. i'm pretty sure they agreed to not serve alchol as a way of getting favorable tax or infrastructure stuff. Either way it sucks.

[niss]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Agreed the no booze thing sucks there.

It is by choice, not a liquor license thing.

[/ QUOTE ]
Interesting. I wonder how much business they lose from it?

-Tom

[/ QUOTE ]

How much they lose from it? They're the only (legit) place to play live poker between Foxwoods, Niagara, and the place up by Massena.

[lewdjunglist]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Agreed the no booze thing sucks there.

It is by choice, not a liquor license thing.

[/ QUOTE ]
Interesting. I wonder how much business they lose from it?






-Tom

[/ QUOTE ]

High level marketing person at the Stone once said that they make more money on the 18-20 yearold crowd than they would selling alchol. From what I've seen of the place, it's probably true...

tbob

[/ QUOTE ]


I agree, the no liquor thing brings them more money than if they served it. There are tons of college students, and other young people that drive there from many many hours away just to play. Like you said, you can BYOB of whatever you want. I like playing there a lot and used to do well, and I'm not sure if it's because they don't serve there. I certainly enjoy it more when I'm drinking though.