I have no experience playing live poker. Zip. Zero. Zilch. (Who knew there were so many words starting with Z?) Since several of my friends expressed an interest in starting a home game, this weekend seemed it would finally prove to be the beginning of a beautiful thing.

Alas, it’s not in the stars. “Life” somehow managed to take priority over poker and so the home game has been postponed. I was pretty disappointed until I remembered that after a mere three-hour drive, I could play LIVE CASINO poker! Make room for this fish! I have a lot of research to do. I need to learn about appropriate tipping and the suggested buy-in. I don’t even know if the game is limit or no limit! Hopefully, Maudie will fill me in on the details I can’t find on the web

Last night playing .10/.25 NLHE on UB, I was dealt AK, KK and QQ three hands in a row. AK, took a small pot when nobody wanted to call my preflop raise. KK won a sweet pot when I caught my set on the flop. QQ though! Ah, the ladies. I realize why so many people hate the Hilton sisters. Since this was my third $2 preflop raise in a row, I expected people to think I was bluffing and call. Several players did call, and I rubbed my hands together and thought, “Here kitty, kitty!” Flop comes J62 rainbow. Check to me, and I bet a 1/3 of the pot. 2 callers. The turn is a lovely Q. “Yes!”� I shout, and cackle madly. Bets around, and when the smoke clears, I’m left in the pot with the big stack. This guy is sitting at a $25 max buy in table with $100 in front of him. The river falls, and I see dollar signs: 6! With no over cards on the board, this is one sexy boat and I can hardly sit still. I put this guy on something like AJ or even J6. When the hand started, I was up 3x my initial buy in on that table and so I made a pot sized bet. He raises me the minimum. I reraise, pushing all in and start dreaming of where I’ll spend the money. He calls and I get ready to take a screen shot of the biggest single pot I’ve ever won.

Suddenly, I notice “Winner” is flashing in the wrong place - above his name! Surely there is a mistake! But no, the computer was right. His cards? 66. He won my $100 pot.

(your fish status has increased by 1)
(your fish status has increased by 1)

Ouch. Undaunted, I played a bit more and when I shut down for the evening, I’d made up my losses and then some. I came away from the session with a lesson more important that money: Fold QQ preflop.

I’m headed to Google my fingers off and get ready for my live poker initiation this weekend! Make way! Here comes dead money!

Posted by Jaxia in Poker