Windsor Trip

[Invigilator]

Well, we hooked up at Casino Windsor with no problems. Finding each other was easy (you'll have to wait for the pictures to see why).

On a whole I had great time. It was fun to finally meet people from the forum. Mayhem, Robbie Rob, Nikita, De-coder and Mrs. Invig made up the party.

The waiting lists were long, but we started a SNG list around 3 (tournament started at 8:15 because they were waiting for a new shift of dealers). Much more sitting than going.

De-coder, Mahem and I got in on different 1/2 games and I don't think any of us posted a profit. (don't hold me to that, but I know I was down). The play at my table was psychotic, but I was card dead the entire time.

We hit the buffet, which I liked but I am easy to please. Prime rib, sushi, kabobs, chinese, and all-you can eat soft serve ice cream.

When we finally got into the tournament it was $50+10. All of us were in and drew seats a row. The shuffler was down, so the 15 minute levels with doubling blinds kind of felt like a turbo. Top 3 paid (300-150-50) which kind of sucks for 3rd b/c cashing becomes a net loss.

I'll let others tell their favourite hands, but I ended up winning and Mrs. Invig finished third.

I could not get callers with AK or KK, but crippled the Mrs. with 88 when I shoved a 333 flop. She put me on a bluff (I tend play like a maniac against her), and called with A9 and did not improve.

Heads up, the guy wanted to chop but I really wanted to play it out, having never been heads up at a casino before.

I doubled him up when I ran into his AK on a K high flop against my KQ. A few hands later I crippled him when my KJ rivered a K high straight. He had less than 2 BB after posting for the next hand, so I pushed from the SB with Jh8h, and he reluctantly called with J4 off. no 4 came

This is my first casino SNG and first casino tournament cash. I was pretty happy.

Nikki, Robbie and I played some slots after that, and the party broke up from there.

Thanks again for coming guys and gals. Sorry the action wasn't better, but I had a great time. The Mrs. and I really enjoyed getting to spend some time with you.

Robbie, I owe you a beer bud. Let me know what you drink, and I'll bring some up in August.

Toodles

Edit: at dinner I revealed some of my secret strategies for Swingball. I am going to play around with the video feature and try to make a swingball movie.

[Talking Poker]

Nice report. Glad to hear Mayhem sobered up and you guys had fun.

As for swingball, I'd love to see a video - cool idea! Whop says our videos need to be about poker only? Maybe I'll teach you girls how to play Tetris sometime. BTW - there are other "Cureveball" games out there - basically the same game, but slightly different. Would you like me to install another for you? Maybe the original with the black background and green lines that show the 3D? I found that one after Swingball, but I know I like it better, and there's no reason you can't dominate that game too!

[Invigilator]

I don't really find and serious difference in game play between the versions. Curving the serve on this one is a lttle bit harder, so I like that. I wouldn't bother with another version, but thanks.

[Invigilator]

Forgot to tell this one earlier. When we got down to about 5 or 6 handed, the guy I eventually got heads up with asked me if I knew Mrs. Invig. I said "yeah, we're married". Then he asked the Mrs. if Mayhem was our son. She said no, I said yes, Mayhem just shook his head.

[Invigilator]

I call this one "SOMEBODY didnt' get memo!

Edit: If you don't already know these people, play the who's who game in this thread.

[Robbie Robb]

Well, my favourite hand of the trip was my last one. Blinds are at 200/400 at this point and I'm on the button with 625 behind. Mayhem's UTG with 600 in chips and Nikki's the BB. Mayhem sticks his 600 in. I'd already pretty much decided I was going in with any paint/PP/connector/1gapper/etc. Folds to me and I see KQo. Works for me. I "re-raise" all-in for the whopping extra 25 chips. Nikki hasn't even looked at her cards and calls, creating a 50 side pot. Mayhem flips over T2o, I flip the KQo and Nikki flips....25o. Flop helps no one (indirectly helping me of course) but naturally the turn is a deuce. River's a blank and Mayhem triples up and Nikki knocks me out of the tourney.

The second most satisfying hand of the game was one I wasn't even involved in. This grumpy old guy was to Mayhem's left and was constantly griping about calling with QTo. When he left a sense of peace and silence came over the table.

That was actually the only poker we played as some unexpected expenses this past week seriously cut down on our ready cash so while the others managed to get in some cash games we passed on that this trip but I'm definitely looking forward to playing some $100NL on the next trip.


While, as Invig, wrote, there was definitely more sitting than going we had a great time, getting back into London around 1:30 and quickly hitting the sack.

Now we've got the August home game to look forward to where it looks like Invig and the Mrs. are going to be making the trip up to join us. Anyone else in the Ontario region is more than welcome to come play as well! (well, TECHNICALLY, ANYONE on the forum has a standing invitation to come play but I think it would be a little ridiculous to fly up to London for a $10 home game...)

[Invigilator]

I imagine that "ridiculous" is not a barrier for some people. London has an international airport donesn't it?

[de-coder]

depending on when in August it is (I'm going to Nova Scotia for a week) I may be able to pop out for this.

[Talking Poker]

That's fantastic.

[de-coder]

OK, so here's a picture of the whole gang.

From left to right:
Mayhem, me, Invigilator, Robbie Robb, N1kita, and Mrs. Invigilator (who should be joining the forum any minute - nudge-nudge...)

[Invigilator]

None of my group pics came out very well. Could I PM someone my email and get theirs?

[MAYHEM45]

Haha, you guys are old.

[de-coder]

Between being card dead and running into flopped sets the actual poker was a bust for me, but it was great to meet ppl from the forum. You guys are awesome - anytime you're dropping by Toronto let me know.

The play at my 1/2 table was - well - incomprehensible most of the time. I had a real donkey just to my left (oh to have been on his left!) - and to be honest I don't know if I've ever seen play this bad before anywhere at any level! I guess my favourite hand (and least favourite actually) would be:

I'm in the cutoff with a number of limpers with AJs - I bump it to $17 thinking to just pick up the limper tax but I get 1 caller. My read on this guy was perfect b/c I could tell when he looked at his cards he didn't like them, but limping was a part-time job for this guy... Anyway, flop comes out K72 rainbow - he checks, I bet, he thinks - looks at what I have left and raises me all in. I call (completely read based - he turns out to be the table bluffer) and he flips over T4o and says "nice call" - of course he hits a 4 and I'm reloading.

Before I started playing online I used to really enjoy playing live - and I still enjoy the home games and fun that goes along with it - but I find that I may never play live poker again in a casino (doesn't mean I won't go and rail my friends though!). It's slow, expensive, slow and the people weren't very nice really - no chatting, no fun... I will try to get to the world series next year because I really want to do that for the experience, but that might be it for me.

I have some pictures that I'll post up tomorrow after I fix the light levels a bit.