I never would have predicted my first experience with "bar poker" back in April, but as soon as I knew I was going to Denver in October, I knew another similar foray was on the menu. My co-worker Mike, who guided me around last time, runs a game twice a week at a bar a few miles from the office, and he had mentioned a while back that I'd have to come play next time I was in town.
"Next time" was last week, and as soon as we met up on Tuesday morning, we made plans - Thursday it was. The big surprise? Our boss decided to come along, originally even saying she wanted to play only to change her mind when we arrived. No matter, she still had a good time.
The game got started just after seven. The set up was very similar to Texas - a sign up sheet, and a cash payout to the winner, with late entries on a waiting list to get in as people were knocked out. This was a logistical concession rather than a tournament-setup one; there were only three dealers counting Mike, though there was at least one more table that could have been set up.
That right there was the biggest change from Texas, and a good one - no dealing ourselves, which meant I wouldn't have a chance to screw things up and embarrass myself. I only had to worry about my play and my mouth doing that. Fortunately, neither did, though the former didn't give the latter much of a chance.
I think I ended up seeing about 15 hands in total, making it only through the second blind level (they were pretty slow levels, now that I think about it). Like last time, two hands stick out, with the rest being either pre-flop folds or limps where I caught nothing and folded to subsequent raises.
The first saw me raise pre with A/10 diamonds, get two callers, and the flop come K/8/9 all hearts. I c-betted as a bluff, got a call, and the other guy came way over top. I tanked for a few seconds just for show but it was an easy fold. The other guy called and they ended up in a showdown; both hands had me beat including the nut flush.
The last had saw me raise pre again with Q/J off, get three callers, and catch two pair with a rag in the middle. This time I was second to act after a check, again c-betted, and two callers. The turn was an ace, I raised again, and was re-raised by the third player to act. I put him on a flush draw as there were now two diamonds, and went all-in. The second guy folded but the original raiser called and flipped K/10 for a straight. Damn it. I still had hope if I could spike a Q or J, but it was a 6 and that was it for my night.
Still, not a bad play, and as I explained it to Mike afterward, he agreed. Perhaps if I had bet higher after the flop he would have folded; that's the only way I can think of that I should have played it differently.
Though it was only half an hour, it was still a good experience, and it was good to get my hands on the cards again after such a long absence.
Tournament hours: 0.50 hours
Total Tournament hours: 8
Running Total: 275.5 hours
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