This past week/end I sat in Las Vegas poker rooms for the first time. I played a number of the 100NL tables available at the strip casinos and had a very enjoyable time. Unfortunately my cards were not running very well and I think I was a bit intimidated by the newness of the experience as well as the fact that I did not truly have the bankroll for 100NL... the net result being I went down a couple of buyins.

Regardless, this isn't a results post. This is a post about the craziest game I have played in my life at the Excalibur 100NL. There are two maniacs in the two and four seats that played every last pot for a raise. Whenever the two seat raised -- and he made it as must as $22 to go with hands as good as KJo -- the four seat was guaranteed to reraise the kid to isolate him. They took turns busting each other up and basically having a contest of who could bet the most until the four seat was about 8 buyins into the table. This guy tilted so badly that he literally was still putting his wallet back in his pocket after receiving his checks, the two seat raised the pot, and he was pushing his stack in out of turn of the three seat. His holdings: the 75 of clubs. Needless to say he was reaching back into his wallet again shortly thereafter.

This game (which wasn't even a game, really) was so juicy, I was ecstatic to be taking part. I even got my friend to come over from the 2-5 spread limit 7 Stud rockpile to play the game. It was just a test of patience for the rest of us that didn't have a 400-600 stack because it was going to cost a lot to get to showdown with these guys, every time. I was looking to call their inevitable raises with any hand that was able to make a nut, like a suited ace or suited connector -- and to re-raise them with AA and KK to get them more committed before the flop.

But if it was going to cost 1/2 my stack to get to showdown, why play a hand like KQ or KJ or AJ against them? Sure, it's probably the best hand before the flop, but the cost to find out was just too much.

Anyway, I had about $120 in front of me when the following hand came up:
I have [Kc] in the BB and it's actually limped in this time -- the four seat is not even in the hand. I make it $12 to go which is a weak raise in this particular game. The two seat who has abour $400 smooth calls and we take the flop heads up.

The pot is about $25. I get a beauty flop -- [Jc][Ts]. I check it and he fires $30 at the pot. I decide that if he has a worse straight draw here I should go ahead and try to get my money all in now with the nuts and see if he pays me off. If he wants to call me with a drawing hand then I want him to commit to it now instead of waiting to see if he hits his draw on the turn where he can choose to drop it if he misses. I consider that he is also possible of firing that hard with a spade draw, which is his best chance of beating me. Even though I have the A of spades, these maniacs had demonstrated they were capable of firing at the pot hard with less quality than a nut draw. I checkraise it all in to about $90 and he thinks and calls. He shows the [9c] and is drawing dead already.

Later another hand came up -- I have about $200 and am dealt [6h] in the BB. This pot isn't raised literally only because the four seat is using the restroom and I get one of my very few free looks with a junk hand.

The pot is $10 and the flop comes [Ks][5s]. Obviously nice for me. I know that I can check and slowplay anything at this table and be guaranteed action, so I do. An MP limper checks and the button bets $20. Yes, $20. I smooth call and so does the MP. I know the MP is not a very good player and would continue with a hand such as [8d] here so I have little concern about him but I'm worried someone might have a better King.

The pot is now $70 and the turn is the . Now I'm not concerned about kicker anymore and I check it again. Again the button makes it $20 and both me and the MP smooth call.

The pot is $130 and the river is . I am happy with this pot and don't expect a real bet to be called unless I am beat by K9 so I check it. The MP checks. The button suddenly goes all-in for $160. He has me covered by about $40. I think for about 1 second and call expecting a chop. I could see the blood drain from the kid's face as soon as I said the word. He turns up his 5 and I drag.

Why in the world would anyone make this play with the 5? Only a K will call your bet when you are beat. It was truly an awful bet by him. Had I known he was the type of player who would have gone that far with the sucker boat I certainly would have bet it myself on the river. The kid was still talking to me about how he couldn't believe I had a king about an hour later. I just simply said "When you bet on the flop, what do you think I could possibly be calling you with?"

*sigh*

Altogether I was very happy with the trip, I played well most of the time, and as I desensitise myself to the stakes I'm sure I will be able to play better and better.

A very entertaining and well written post. I for one look forward to the next instalment.

Wonderful post. Thanks!

I have only one complaint about the way you played. You explained yourself afterwards, in an intelligent and comprehensible way! What were you thinking?

Please, don't educate the fish ... err, I mean "customers."