Played some 1/3 at Hard Rock Cincinnati this weekend. They had an hourly high hand with rollover that was up to $3k during my third hour of play, I probably got in a few too many pots hoping for a jackpot, but I still ended up doing well overall. (Some guy at the other 1/3 table hit it with quad tens).
Not too many interesting hands really, but got paid decent with 66 when I raised to 10, called a 3-bet to 30, and flopped a set. I went to the xc-xr-b line and got paid on all three streets. Won another good one with aces where I flopped the flush draw, turned flush, then got some thick value on the river from a guy with the Jack flush, which was third nuts.
Most satisfying hand of the day though I had 8-6 suited and called a raise from SB. Normally would have folded this but HH jackpot made me do it. Anyway I flopped a gutter and called another bet (this was def bad). Turn was a face card, and it checked through. River paired one of the low cards, so I felt like it was a good time to bluff. I went pot and it got through.
Overall bought in for 300 and left with 650ish. Not too shabby for a little weekend time killer.
Older son is home from college. He and I and the younger son have been playing poker on his breaks. Mostly NLHE. We used to play lots of mixed games, such as 7-card Low-Hole Pete, Deuce-to-seven triple draw, and a favorite was “Pass the Trash”.
Pass the Trash, everyone gets dealt 7 cards; you pass 3 to the left and receive 3 from the player on your right. Then you discard 2 to make your best 5-card hand. Place them in front of you, face down. Everyone reveals one card, round of betting. Continue until all cards are shown or everyone folds.
Well, we decided tonight to combine a couple of favorites to come up with “Hold the Trash”, where like Pass the Trash, you get dealt too many cards. 3, in fact. Pass 1 to the left, receive 1 from the player on your right, then discard 1. Then play NLHE as normal. This got a lot more interaction, because there’s additional information beyond just your hole cards and the tabled cards. Sometimes you have 3 good cards, and have to decide which one to give away to screw the next player. You also have to remember what you gave away and how it might be affecting his betting, what you received and how it might be indicating what your other opponent has (or doesn’t), and what you threw away in relation to what’s on the board.
Very fun, highly recommended if you don’t want to take it too seriously.
Went to the casino tonight for a last practice session before Vegas. I was intending to play their $80 daily tournament, but due to low interest (I think there were only 2 other than me who wanted to do that) it didn’t go. So I took the $265 that I had in my wallet and sat down at the 1/2 table.
Stood up 5 hours later with $975. I’ve hardly ever played cash before, but it was a good night. I did get lucky with one pair of 8s versus Queens that ended up hitting an 8 on the river. She shouldn’t have been in the pot, though, as the Kxx board + my open bet + my re-raise her raise should have scared her off, but I’ll take the 2-outer one time.
Won several pots, a couple of showdowns, several times just putting in bigger bets after multi-way limps or small pre-flop raises… Also lost several pots, several showdowns, and ended up bluffing a fair amount too. Felt like I played well, well enough that opponents couldn’t read me.
Had a good time. If this trip ends up +EV, I may try cash games again like once a week to see how it goes.
