Back from Foxwoods

Well, I spent the weekend at Foxwoods, and except for getting a flat tire on my rental car, I had a terrific time (as always).

On a dare from my co-worker Jon (who wasn't able to come down with me after all), I joined 37 others in playing the $560 buy-in Saturday afternoon tournament.  The tournament lasted about six hours!  But unfortunately, for me it only lasted about three.  Even though I made it through over half the field and played good poker, I didn't get the helping of luck I need to make it into the money.  My last hand happened when I shoved my short stack from middle position with Queen/Eight offsuit.  I was called by a pair of sixes, so with two overcards my chances were just under 50%.  But another six flopped, and I was down to less than 5% to win.  The last two cards were blanks, so it was off to the cash games for me.

A couple of hands will illustrate how I did playing cash poker.  Both times I had pocket queens.

The first time, I bet big against a guy who had flopped a flush and consequently donked off way too many chips.  I don't know what made me think my hand was any good . . . I know better than that!

The second time, I put my opponent all-in after the flop came three low cards (I had him covered).  He had pocket kings!  The board was a five-card straight, so we ended up splitting the pot.  Whew!

One more hand stands out and it is truly pretty sick.  I had six/five offsuit on the button, and joined six other limpers.  The flop came nine-eight-seven with two spades.  I had flopped a straight!  Now, I think straights are really vulnerable hands.  The big blind bet out and got two callers, and when it came to me I popped it up big.  The big blind now re-raised all-in (he had me covered), and I called.  He had two spades, Jack high, and roughly a one in three chance to win.  Do I need to say what happened next?  The flush card came on the river, and I was felted.

Foxwoods is such a fun place to play.  It was not very busy, however.  Folks attributed the small crowd to the fact that there is a big tournament going on at the Borgata right now, so a lot of players are going there.  Also, college has started up again so a lot of the kids are back in school.

The people who play in the poker room at Foxwoods are a total hoot, at least to this kid from Nebraska.  They are basically a caricature of the East Coast tough guy, like they just stepped out of an episode of The Sopranos.  One guy literally referred to his cousin Vinny.  Another guy was directed to "fuhgettaboutit"!  All I needed was for somebody to say "Badda-boom, badda-bing" and the picture would have been complete.

And of course, each hand was a macho contest, with nobody able to back down from anybody else.  Now for me -- who years ago gave up any pretense of being macho -- it was no problem at all for me to fold my blinds or call a bet without raising.  But for the other players, what can I say?  The standard pre-flop raise was anywhere between $30 and $50 (in a 2/5 game!), and five or six players would stay in.  Pots routinely came close to the $1000 point by showdown.  It was a very unusual environment for me, and while I never really got frustrated with this style I was baffled most of the time on how to adjust.

Later this month, I will be in Minneapolis so I'll have a chance to check out the Canterbury Park club.  I've been there before and it is a really nice, fun poker room.  Really bad players, which is the most important element of course!  I'll be there with my co-worker Steve, and I'm sure it will be a great time.