Pilgramage to The Holy Land

July 31, 2007 – Las Vegas, Binions

On the way back from our trip, we stayed in downtown Vegas, and decided that we just had to play at least once at Binions while we were there… We got to see the WSOP wall with everyone's photos (no 2006 or 2007 champion photo yet though), took a $1 chip home as a souvenir, and we got to play some poker (woo-hoo).

Amy & Ted decided that they were done with NL (after the Hilton adventure), so they played 2/4 limit and I sat at the 1/2 NL table – seat 2, of course. 3 hands stand out:

1) I’d been at the table for about 45 minutes and hadn’t played much (~$75 in chips), when I picked up Ad7d in the SB – and limped with it. Flop was Ac, 6s, 7s, and I check. It’s checked around to the CO who bet $10, I called and everyone folded. Turn was the 8h which I checked – he conveniently bet $20 and I raised all-in (~$45 more), which he called. River was the 7h for a boat (which I didn't need - 2 pair were good enough to win against his bigger ace) and I scooped a nice pot.

2) Against the same player as hand #1, I pick up Qc3c in the BB and check my option after he and 3 other players limp. Flop is Kc, Jd, 6c. I check and call this players $10 bet after everyone else folds. Turn is the 8c, and I check-raise his $10 bet to $50. He ponders and moves in for another $69. I pause to double-check & make sure I think I’m still good – and call. He assumes I’ve got the bare Ace of clubs and flips over the Tc9c – I show my hand and he’s calling for the 7c. I forgot what the river was but it wasn’t the 7c – and that’s all that I cared about at the moment.

3) I picked up QQ from the BB and raised it to $15 after 5 people limped – and all but 1 called my bet (crap). Flop was 5c, 8h, Th to which I bet $20, and got called by seat 5 (a youngish guy whom I hadn’t seen play too much yet) – everyone else folded. Turn is Jd and I bet another $20 – which he raises to $45. Now I’m going over hands that he could have and wondering if he’s got a flush-draw or 79, but I can’t see him calling my raise with 79… 2 pair maybe? Anyway, the river is the Qd putting 4 parts of the straight out there and I consider a defensive bet, but decide to check, and he bets $75. I still look back over the way the hand has played out and figure him for 2 pair (like JT) – I don’t think he’s got a 9… I call, and he grimaces as he flips over Th7d for a weak-handed bluff – I show the set and scoop my biggest pot of the night.

I'm getting better at taking my time to review the action of each step in the hand to put my opponents on their likely-holdings - and I'm getting much better at it. I just need to stop and make sure I do this all the time, and take the time (if needed) without feeling guilty about holding up the game.

Net = $380

Poker Drawer = $1200