Back to Paradice...

I went back to my local poker room, the Paradice Casino in East Peoria, IL, on the 2nd Saturday in January.  The Seattle-Carolina game hadn't quite finished up yet, and Seattle would go on to win 31-17. This was big for me as I now have money on all 4 remaining teams to win the Super Bowl (I had no $ on Carolina or Baltimore, but they both lost their divisional weekend matchups).  I had called ahead to get my name on the list, and was 1st up.  As luck would have it, a seat had opened up just as I walked in and I was seated immediately.

The table was full of really terrible play.  Unfortunately, the terrible play was rewarded a lot.  Q5o playing preflop and hitting 2 pair to win, K5 hitting 3 5's to win, calling raises preflop with those types of hands, lots of limping and then calling any raises.  I started out well, playing tight and emphasizing position as part of a new year, new me poker style.  It didn't last as I got frustrated not hitting my draws and getting outdrawn a lot.  That's a major leak for me, as well as my lack of patience at the poker table. Somehow, I need to get those under control.  Any suggestions?  Another thing I decided to do is start buying in for $100, until I get a feel for a table.  I can always add on if I think I'm in a good spot, but it limits me early on the mistakes I can make.  I started out strong and then ended up losing 2 $100 buy-ins, and knowing I wasn't playing well, decided to call it a night.

One hand of note:

5th hand in, I look down at AcAs, 3rd to act.  I have the entire $100 in front of me still.  UTG calls, I raise to $12, get 4 callers including UTG.  Flop comes 4h-7h-4s.  Not a great flop, but I should be ahead. If I can only fade the possible draws...UTG leads for $20, I call, as do 2 others.  Hmmmm.....flush draw?  Straight draw?  Trip 4's?  I know, I have no clue where I'm at, the pot is big, and I'm OOP.  Terribly played so far.  But, I decided I was shoving any turn card at this point.  Too much in the pot to let it go, and no one has shown signs of being ahead.  The turn is the 5c.  UTG leads again for $20, I shove for $68, it folds to UTG who calls.  River is a blank, he shows JJ, and I scoop a nice pot.  It was all downhill from there....lol

My wife and her best friend went to a casino about an hour and a half away, in Bettendorf, IA, the Isle of Capri.  She had a nice start to her night....

It was the 2nd machine she had played.  The spin before this, she hit the Oompa Loompa bonus at 120 credits for about $35, switched to playing 200 credits, and then hit this!  She had a good night, gave some back, but came back ahead about $500.  Glad she had a good time, she's always saying she never wins when she plays slots, so she was due.