LA Trip

I was in LA this week for business but manages to squeeze in a little poker as well. How could you not visit the best poker palace in the world. I love the Commerce. Full of great people and great action. I went on Sunday the 17th. Unfortunately I did not win much. I played a little 20/40, then 40/80 waiting to get into the 100/200 game. I finally got in about two hours later and stuck $1,000 but had enough time to make a little money before I went to sleep for the night. I started out getting absolutely nothing to play. The game was aggressive, and not many pots played without at least one raise and usually a three bet to isolate. I must have paid $1000 in blinds before I played a hand. At $150 a round that is not that tough to do. I then proceeded to get the short end of the stick on a few hands to get stuck over $4000 for the day before I made a comeback. Now I wanted to go to the hotel and get some sleep as I had to work on Monday, but I just could not leave the game. I managed to get some cards, play well and finally get AA's to hold and eked out a $400 win. Not much to brag about but hey a win is a win. Went to bed at 4 am and had to sleep walk through Monday, but it was worth it play some real cards for a change.

I then went to the Bike on Tuesday the 19th as they had a pot limit tournament that I wanted to play in. I started out just surviving and finally made a few hands, and bluffed a little to get some chips. The about 1/2 way through a field of 190 I made a stupid and fatal mistake. I was in the small bind playing 150/300 blinds. A late position short stacked player went all in for $400. I had about $1900 in chips, which was not great but by all means not in any imminent danger of being out. Instead of re-raising to isolate, I limped with Q,J off, and the bid blind called the $100 as he was getting 11 to one on the call. The flop came K,J,10, two clubs. I checked and the bb checked. The turn came the A of clubs. I bet $1,500 with my straight and got called. The river was a blank, and I bet my last chips and got called by the BB who had 9,3 of clubs. I was out because I did not raise. I would have chopped the pot with the late raiser as we both had a straight, but because of my stupidity we were both out.

I then went to sit in the biggest game they had, which was just 30/60. It was too late to drive to the Commerce and I was not ready to go home yet so I just played that game with my Friend who does not like to play any higher than that anyway. Great LA action game, all games at every casino must be like that in LA. I just don't know how all these bad players stay alive, but LA is a big city and they must just keep making new bad players down there. I played for about two hours and made $675. Not a bad two days, and always a great time in LA.

On a side note, Aaron got bounced from the $25,000 event on the first day. Hard to do as they only eliminated 48 players on the first day, but he said he did not win one pot all day. He took solace in the $2000/$4000 mixed game at the Bellagio and made $50,000. Not a bad outcome. I think he gave most of it back if not all and then some the next day, but I have not talked to him all day so I do not know the end result. I hope he got out with a little. Talk to you soon....SJ