Long Ass Post

This is going to be a long post because I’m going to cover two events in one post. One, the second day in Vegas where I hit my Royal Flush for 800.00 and two, I’m going to cover the Boathouse party which was an experience.

Vegas Day II and III:

I walked into the room about 7:00 am to get some sleep for the next day of poker. There was going to be some football and boxing going on so I was rather excited. Not to mention, from the Mandalay you can kind of catch the two while you play poker and watch the TV at the sports book. I know, I know, you are supposed to concentrate on the game at hand. So I woke up at 10:00 am and headed to the poker room. Only in Vegas can you sleep for three hours and feel ready for another full day of poker.

I was sitting in the six seat when the two seat hit a straight flush on me to win the accumulated jackpot worth 400.00. I wasn’t mad at the old man, because I seen him as a calling station and I knew soon enough I would have those chips in front of me. Then the six seat hit a four of a kind on me for another 500.00 buck jackpot and I wasn’t mad, I knew my time would come. I had only lost a bit at this soft table.

THEN THE HAND

I’m in the six seat and limp in with 10sJs. I don’t tend to play this hand but it was a calling fest so I figured that I could play this hand. The only problem is that every one folded except the Eight Seat. So there is only like seven dollars in the pot. I’m hoping for a Jack to hit…three Jacks if possible…nope…the flop came: QsKsAs. I HIT THE ROYAL FLUSH!!! Now how to get some money in the pot as one can only take it down when you have at least 20 dollars in the pot. I check and the 8 seat checks. Turn is a rag and I look over at the lady and say, “you might have me beat but I need to find out.” Then I fire out 8 dollars and she raises to 20 bucks. As you know, I suck at no-limit - I was just sitting here until something at the 4/8 game opened up. I call. I put her on maybe A-10 or something of the sorts. The turn is a rag and I check and she fires out 50.00 and I ponder and ponder. I’m not sandbagging, I’m just trying to get her all in someway. I play strong and push all in and she quickly calls with QQ. I flop my ROYAL FLUSH and she smiles and says good hand…but I think she is in shock. I contain my excitement and ask what the prize for the Spade Royal was…600.00 bucks plus what I won in the hand…Sa-weet!!! I was quick to win another all-in race and I’m up about 1,000.00 in a three hour period. They come up to me again and ask if I still wanted to wait for another 2/4 game…things were going good at the no-limit table so I didn’t want to leave. Then I lost a 150.00 dollar pot and I’m gone to the 2/4.

I was a bit in shell shock after the Royal to be honest. I think it’s like the third or fourth I’ve ever gotten so it was nice. I went after playing poker and purchased some nice Italian shoes. I figured I needed them for work.

The General was off with friends from LA at the Venetian so I just hung with myself. It was fun and relaxing and I met one really cool couple that was watching the fight and we started talking and having a few drinks together. Young couple from LA who are Mexican…heehee! Yes, we are clannish. I also saw some people from UCLA and chatted with them for a bit. It was a nice night and one that wouldn’t stop there.

I went back to playing poker and met up with The General and we headed to the Wynn. We were sitting with a bunch of locals who talked and talked. Then the dealer started to talk and talk. I didn’t even want to be there so I told The General I was out….after I lost my 100.00 buy in of course. Then I went back to the Mandalay and played for a while then I just crashed out at about 6:00 am.

Sunday:

My last day in Vegas and I had a lot on my list of things to do. I put some money on my Cowboys, which was my only football bet. I then went to the Cabana to get some sun. I had forgotten how hot it gets out in Vegas. Seriously, it hurts. I then decided to walk around the strip a bit and ended up at the Monte Carlo’s single deck blackjack table. I was happy to take a seat for 30.00 bucks. Since The General had won a nice amount of money I decided to do give it a try. The General had left on a plane back to NYC so I was solo and had nobody to guide me. I was on an island all by my lonesome…shed a tear for the kid. I hit and hit again…then I hit again…I was up and was trying to find a way to walk away. I finally found that point at 130.00 bucks…sa-weet.

I then took off to the Bellagio. I played at the 4/8 table and ended up like 140.00 bucks in 45 minutes. Yes, it was a run I was on. I was happy at the final results for the weekend as I came out like 1,000+ up.

In closing, I wanted to thank John “The General” Lee and Big F for the weekend. I had a blast and hope I get the invite for the following year.

BOATHOUSE:

Mike and I speak about how we are going to meet to hit the Boathouse. These conversations are funny in NYC. It’s like your aren’t 100% sure it’s going to happen but you are sure. Phone conversation:

Me: So how do I get to your pad?
Mike: Catch the N or F train to Park Slope
Me: OK
Mike: Get off at such and such a station and walk up three blocks and turn left.
Me: See you tomorrow!
Hang-up

I pick up John “The General” Lee at his place and we are off to Park Slope. We get to Mike's place that is awesome because the elevator opens up into the living room…very cool in my eyes. The General and I hit McDonalds for breakfast and we are off. The ride is smooth and I take note of the racket the V-Bridge has in charging people 11.00 bucks to get to Staten Island. What a rip off. I yell FOUL…but the V-Bridge doesn’t raise its hand in showing that it’s committed the foul. Reminds me of the 80’s Celtics.

We make small talk and poker talk until we get to the Ghost Town…I mean the Boathouse. We arrived 10 minutes before anyone. Eva and the crew got there soon enough with Blood and Otis. Sorry, but I get confused when people call these guys by their names. So we are off to the back to help the house set up a bit…nothing big, just spreading out chairs. But when moving the pool tables I catch Mr. Sangre (or Mr. Blood) sitting at the bar eating. Geez…we needed a guy with guns and he was sitting eating.

We are standing around and Mike says, how about some cards. Then Otis says, I can do that and the cards are in the air. I’m sitting at the table with: The General, Mike, Bobby Bracelet, Steve, Otis, Blood and Helixx and myself. I suck at no-limit so when Otis raises the question…what are we playing? I quickly say, HORSE. I figure I can play most games o.k. I suck at no-limit, which was being played at the other table with Pauly and the crew, I figured I would be o.k. here at the 2/4 table.

Off the bat there are yells and screams coming from the other no-limit table as the ladies lay the smack down on the boys. I see Derek, Pauly and Spaceman get out of their seats for a little walk a few times. I figure bad beats and that’s why I hate no-limit. Nuff said.

Al is walking by here and there and I can tell he’s not impressed with the poker action taking place until I see him lurking and I yell, “STRATTLE!” his ears perk up like a deer who has just heard a mountain lion roar.

I proceed to peck away (I stole that from Otis) at people’s stacks here and there. When Omaha was being dealt I was kind of excited. After all, Bobby Bracelet was at my table and last time in NYC he seen me go on Tilt in this game. I think he felt really bad about last time and looked at me with some pity. Nonetheless, I was ready this time and won a few hands here and there. I know, I know, everyone can learn from BB about how to play poker, after all, he was in the WSOP. But in all seriousness, the one thing I learned from BB (besides to bet five bucks on him…never doubt the power of the junk…heehee!) is that you have to fold a lot in Omaha, and only start with premium hands. So when I seen BB in an Omaha hand I folded…not always, but most of the time.

I try and learn even in friendly games and the one thing that really got me was the read that Blood had on me. The whole day I couldn’t shake him on getting a read on me. I have to really review my look or something because he just had it all day. I’m not sure if it was the expression on my face, but it really bothers me just writing about it. I suppose there are just those people that you have a read on. Every single pot that I had a good starting hand that I was going to raise he would fold. I don’t know, he just looked over and seemed to know what my bet was going to be. And as much as I hate to say this, I think The General knows when I'm BSing, too.

Otis had a good read on me, too, but he loves to gamble and just needs to see the cards. Plus, it’s hard for people to go down in limits and get away from hands I’ve noticed. The reason is that when you are playing 30/60 how can you not say, “ahhhh 4 bucks more won’t hurt me in a 2/4 game, I can get that pot back in one bet at 30/60.” But yes, I did crush Otis in one Stud hand. I had two pairs and both my pairs were live and I had a flush draw. Thus, I couldn’t lay it down, so when I hit my full-casa on the river, well…that’s poker.

I really enjoyed tossing the cards with Helixx…does that guy ever stop smiling? Serious, he was just cracking up the whole time and it was great sitting next to someone who was just having such a great time. I was hitting cards and he mentioned that he didn’t like sitting to my right, next time you can sit to my left, buddy.

I had a few beers and then I had to get up from the table. I don’t like to drink and play so F-Train took my place and he was already flying high. The Jack and Cokes (in the huge glasses) started to go down like water on a hot sweltering humid day in NYC.

NUFF SAID!

In closing, I’m glad that everyone knew that this night was about the fundraiser. I know several bloggers who purchased a lot of tickets with their wins and losing stacks. I wanted to thank EVERYONE in Philly involved with event. And the people of PA are just good people with good hearts. Everyone I met was really cool for talking to a drunk guy like myself. Also, if you are ever looking for some MILtF go to the local WAWA!

AL: Thank you for everything! Even leading up to the event you made sure that everything was in order on my behalf. Thank you so much for your hospitality and if you ever want to come to the city you have a spot at my place. See you in AC sometime soon. And don’t forget….GOOOOOO COWBOYS and ARSENAL!!!!!!

EVA: Thanks for keeping an eye on everyone and making sure everyone was enjoying their time at the Boathouse.

BIG MIKE: I think everyone has said so many great things about you. But I don’t think that anyone has said you have a heart of gold. Thus, I will use that one. I had such a great time hanging at the Boat and next time I’m going to pick-up the bill…No matter what you say…check out my guns and you will agree.

More to come....the little details that is.

posted by Joaquin "The Rooster" Ochoa @ 8:38 AM