Friday night fun....and misery!

Friday, March 6th, I went to Springfield, IL, to play in a trivia night contest.  I was invited by one of the guys I had met at the Cubs Convention, the same one I played Blackjack with previously at my local casino. See Here.  It was a charity benefit for a man who had recently passed away unexpectedly, to help cover his funeral costs for his family.  It was a Cubs vs. Cardinals theme, although the questions were typical trivia aside from 1 round of Cubs/Cardinals baseball trivia.  Out of 35 teams, we finished 2nd, 1 point behind 1st place, and 1 point ahead of 3rd place.  The entry fee was $15 per person, and our 2nd place prize was $150 for our table of 10, the equivalent of our entry fee back.  Of course, everyone was pressured into donating it back.  I've never understood pressuring people into doing that.  If they want to donate it back of their own accord, that's great.  If not, that's their right.  I've been to benefits for people I know, and for people I don't know, the latter of which was the case tonight.  I realize the burden of the family, but at the same time, if I'm out supporting the benefit and buying 50/50 tickets, spending money in other ways, what's the harm in getting my entry fee back?  I just don't understand the people who feel it's ok to pressure others into giving even more, and making you feel like a jerk if you don't.  Our group decided to save $30 for a few beers at the bar and donate back the rest.  I left, as I knew Lightning36 was playing poker back at the Paradice Casino, and I intended to play a bit as well.

I arrived at the Paradice and was seated immediately.  They had 3 tables going, and Lightning was at a different table than I was seated at.  I requested a table change, and took my seat.  I recognized a few faces, including Raven, from the post I wrote here.  There were 7 other players at the table, and 6 of them had stacks well over the $200 I started with.  My first hand was folded immediately.  The next hand, I see 4h5h UTG +1.  I limp in, along with a few others, and the button raises to $10.  I call, as do 2 others.  The flop is AxJx7x, rainbow.  I check, and it checks around.  The turn is a 6, completing the rainbow board.  I decide to lead out with my draw, and bet $15.  There is 1 caller.  He is a player I am familiar with, a younger Asian player we'll call "Phil". Phil is solid but can get reckless once he accumulates chips, likes to try to push other players around and use his chip stack to his advantage.  The river is a beautiful 3, giving me the nuts.  I bet out $35, and Phil min-raises to $70.  He could be doing this with a wide range, from top pair to a set to a bluff.  I decide to just put all my chips in right there and announce all-in.  Phil contemplates for a few seconds and calls, and I announce my hand as the nuts and then show it.He shakes his head, and mucks.  I double up in less than 5 minutes!  Unfortunately, I get very few playable hands from there.

Eventually, the table breaks, and I get seated at the table with Lightning.  I start there card dead as well, but shortly after the move, I look down to find AcAd in the SB.  I have roughly $400 still.  With 4 limpers ahead of me, I rais to $16.  The BB and 1 other player call.  The flop is Ah9c3h.  Interesting....I lead out for $30.  The BB calls, and the third player pushes all in for about $125  I think for a moment, and then reraise.  The BB makes the call.  I show my top set, the third player shows bottom set, and I suspect that the BB has the flush draw.  The turn is a third heart, and the BB shows 6h9h.  The river doesn't pair the board and I lose a $750ish pot.  I can see the call on the flop, but calling that much preflop, possibly playing heads up with that hand?  The players at that casino really are that bad.  I play another orbit, winning a few small pots and losing a little back, and see AA again, this time on the button.  I raise to $20, getting 2 callers.  I intend to shove any flop.  The flop is a harmless looking 2-6-8, rainbow.  First player checks, 2nd player bets $100, which is more than I have behind.  I am sure I'm behind here, as this player has shown a tendency to overbet the pot when he has a strong but vulnerable hand, such as 2 pair, while checking draws and weaker hands.  I call and he shows 6-8o, and I don't improve and decide to call it a night.

I'm hoping that my trip to Vegas sees my big hands hold up, otherwise it might be a long, disappointing trip...