Wishes of Luck Appreciated!

[lightfungus]

I am about to go play some live poker for the first time at a real casino here in Phoenix. Wish me luck, and I will be sure to report back here when I am done.

[JDMcNugent7]

GL

[PShabi]

[Talking Poker]

I'm sure it's too lae now, but GL Looking forward to your report when you get back.

[lightfungus]

So I went to one casino, found out that they didn't even have poker and went to their sister casino about 2 miles up the road. Unfortunately, they only had 3/6, 4/8, and 8/16 Holdem, and no NL. They did have omaha, which looked soft from what I could see, and stud. Since I hate limit and didn't want to sit down with my $100 and piss it away learning how. I am thinking that omaha could be profitable, but that would require a little practice. Anyhoo, think I will have to do some more research into the various casinos to find some 1/2 NL or lower. Ah well, thanks for the well wishings. I made $2.50 at blackjack though and got a free coke out of it all.

[Reel Deal]

Did you find out whether they run an occasional NL tourney?

[lightfungus]

Yeah, but the majority of them are on weekdays...there is only one on the last saturday of each month. I just need to look at other casinos.

[Govman6767]

Sounds Like you went to the desert diamond ??

[lightfungus]

Casino Arizona actually, you live near Phoenix?

[lightfungus]

Another foray today. I called the casino and they said they have $350 max NL tables with $100 min buyin. They are NL, but the max bet is 350, while the min is 5...I didn't see this up on the wall the last time I went so I figured they didnt have it, anyhoo. Heres hoping I don't lose my roll, but I gotta try it.

[Talking Poker]

Actually, with a $350 "limit," that's not a No Limit game. It's more like a $5/$350 spread.

Weird. What are the blinds?

[lightfungus]

So, had a blast this afternoon playing some $5-150 NL variation. Essentially you can't bet more than $150 at any one time. The max buyin was 350 with min being 100, blinds were 3 and 5. Anyway, I ended up $102 down after 5 hours, but I learned a lot and popped my live cherry, so hopefully all the jitters are gone and I can start dominating that game . I must say I enjoyed that much more than 5 hours of online play...was tons o fun. The gameplay was pretty solid most of the time. Sometimes it was questionable, but otherwise with a little better table selection I should be just fine. I talked to a dude who plays there a lot and his primary game is omaha, and he says it is the softest in the land. So maybe I should practice up.

[lightfungus]

Went back again tonight, played not qutie 2 hours and made $299 smackers. Needless to say it was a walk in the park. Granted I doubled up once, but I still was able to make money just picking up pots here and there. It was like I was playing with limit holdem players, and that is an absolute gold mine for a NL player...at least in my opinion.

[lightfungus]

Funny how you always seem to lose right before you are planning on leaving...oh well, still up, and I encourage anyone who knows how to play NL to come play these limit people at the essentially PL tables at Casino Arizona, Indian Bend! No, seriously...you could pay for your plane ticket in one day.

[lightfungus]

Flopped a straight flush to the queen today. Heads up, small and big blind so no action....

Man if I minimize silly mistakes, and capitalize a little more I should be good to go, baring bad bad luck. I could estimate $100 every 2 hours at these tables.

[Talking Poker]

Long term... don't forget - long term.

ANYTHING can happen in the short term.

[lightfungus]

Ok, so exaggeration may exist. But seriously TP, when 4 people call you preflop for 5x big blind, and you have absolute control with a little aggression and proven hand strength...they don't raise NL wise, they min raise... its craptastic out there.

[lightfungus]

Sorry if I am turning this into my own little blog... I bought into a $130 NL tourney at the casino tonight, 170 entrants, I played well but busted out somewhere around 64 on an interesting hand.

But anyhoo, cash was where I dominated. I played really good poker, and made a lot of money against decent opponents without playing my cards, just the opponent. And then I had 2 monster hands that I was able to milk(I must say I played these hands exactly like I needed too against each opponent) for everything (double up). I ended up walking out with $775 more than I came in with. Good night...not that great for some, like JD, but there sure is a difference between holding Benjeesss and staring at a number in the cashier window. Now my real life roll is able to take a hit or two and is growing into something real nice!

Live is treating me well, and I have a lot more information at my disposal now reading actual people ...plus its a more social environment than sitting in front of the screen.

[JDMcNugent7]

man reading that made me wish i could play in casinos so bad.
Awesome job dude.

[Talking Poker]

Well done!

Live poker is great. IMO, it's definitely more fun and I play better too.... it's slower though (less hands per hour), you can't multi-table, and they generally rake more. But it definitely does have it's appeal. I'm looking forward to sitting at the tables in Vegas next month.

[lightfungus]

I'm looking forward to meeting you in person then!
You know, they haven't carded me once at this casino...and I look 21 but not like 28 or something, so I usually get carded. Whats the worst that could happen to you? They take your winnings? Or do they call the cops on underagers?

[lightfungus]

So I just got back from a weekend at the Grand Canyon, and it sure is Grand. I hope to post some pictures if the dipshit that sent my digital camera off of ebay sends me the USB cable he forgot..anyhoo, so Thursday and went to the casino, and after a couple of hours, 6ish or so, I found myself down $278 but still ok with my play. The only thing I was not happy about was the fact that it was light out when I left the casino, and I should have left with the fishies around 1 o clock. About 3 I look up and I am surrounded by regulars. Game selection! Anyhoo, I am going to Vegas for the Fourth of July weekend and decided to get my roll up for what I hear are juicy 1/2 NL games at many of the casinos. I will be going 4 times this week, Mon-Thurs to get the most out of it.

Anyway, I thought I would post a countdown of my roll till this weekend for entertainment and to track my progress with live poker.

I started off with $360 that I invested initially. Way above my bankroll, but I was willing to lose it completely as I had that online to transfer to replace it if I were to lose it, and my job pays well. So with this in mind, I headed to the casino. I will try to keep track of hours spent there better from now on. Anyway, root for a big roll going to vegas!

Initial Investment: $360
Trip1 [Jun10]:$-102
5 hours
Trip 2 :$299
2-4 hrs
Trip 3:$-146
3 hrs
Trip 4:$184
2-4 hrs
Trip 5:$175
12 man, $25 tourney win at coworkers house
Trip 6:$775
3 hours
Trip 7:$-278
6 hrs
Trip 8 [Jun 25]: (today) $970
2.5 hrs

Current roll: $2237

[Talking Poker]

nh. Keep it up!

[thrash1294]

I play there aat least once a year ,got some family there which location did you play at? there are 2 I play at the one just outside Scottsdale.

glad you cashed

[lightfungus]

Yeah, the one on Indian Bend, Casino Arizona. I have been told that is the best one, so I haven't ventured out. Dude, we like live an hour apart in GA, and then you have family out here. Small world.