1. 2008-07-08 09:44:15

   The Elks Lodge Part 1

   The game and the Setting

   This will be another installment in my blog adventures as I plan on playing in this game twice a month. The game is 1/2 blinds and $25 max bet which works out well for this game. The place is in downtown Hood River, after walking up the stairs where they have there table it looks like a scene straight out of Rounders. Where they get there asses kicked by the cops, in the dark room with 1 light type of thing it felt like that which I thought was cool.

   Flopping the nuts

   I pick up in the big blind. Someone made it 7 to go and with 3 others in the pot I most definitely called. The flop came out giving me the absolute nuts. I checked and the raiser bet out 7 the 1 other person called and I called. The turn brought a I checked again he bet 20 I raised the max of 25 and he called. The river brings a pairing the board I bet out 25 and he called and won a very nice pot to start out.

   Bluffs didn't Work

   Soon after that big pot I was seeing very bad cards and decided to call a small raise with . I was heads up with the tightest player at the table. The flop comes out I bet out 12 he calls. The turn brings the I check ( Intending to check raise) and he checks. The river brings a I bet out the max and he called with a 9 so that didn't work. Later after seeing awful cards, I tried to bluff with with having a gutshot to the river to catch. Missed my draw and was called by 3rd pair so I was bleeding chips like a mother. What a bad combo of awful cards and nobody beliveing me which was a big ball of frustration at this point I was down to just under 100.

   The End

   After being down to the resperator, my all in was not called with me holding I won a small pot then proceeded to flop trips twice in 10 minutes one of them cracking kings with . I was up to about 150 and looking to cash out when I said "This is my last hand" I pick up and just call the stradle. The flop comes out I bet out 13 and had 1 caller which was a loose aggressive player. The turn brings a blank and I fire out 20 bucks and was called once again. The river brings the I checked to showdown, and he fired out the max bet I called he ended up rivering the open ender. Sending me back down to 95 upon which I cashed out immediately after the hand.

   Food for Thought

   With this loss of 105 of because I bought in for 200. After talking with Kalib on the way home I realized that since my big end of season 1 win in March. That I have not played the way I built my bankroll on with a little bit looser style. Compared to the tight agressive I have seen a decline. Saturday night at this game was my slap in the face on how I should go back to my playing style, I have now tumbled down to 685 in the roll and getting a bit discouraged about it. But I have to get back off the canvas and go back to the way I know how to play. I think this game will be great to go to for my " Big game" and play with the guys for my smaller game I think that is a happy medium with having fun and playing serious at the sametime. Stay tuned for more posts as I plan on playing here about once every other weekend play well and may all your pots be monster.

   Posted by Nick L at 2008-07-08 09:44:15

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Comments on “The Elks Lodge Part 1”

1. • Posted by Jason M g 2008-07-09 17:29:26
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   • Yeah, the place sounds cool. Just don't get beat up - make sure you play those kings.

2. • Posted by Nick L g 2008-07-09 09:10:44
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   • Thanks for the support it is discouraging to see your bankroll drop on your watch. I will be back in this game and play, I will be playing with Jonas and the guys on Thursday. I will keep everyone informed about future games and hope you liked my Rounders description about the place.

3. • Posted by Jason M g 2008-07-09 00:21:57
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   • It's 25 total. I agree with both your assessments. You can play big draws, especially on the turn, because you can't mathematically get bet out. However, you aren't going to get into situations where you hit your gut-shot and take somebody's stack. Tight/aggro is definitely the way to go all the time. It's a lot easier to loosen up (only a bit!) if everybody else is too tight.

4. • Posted by Graham g 2008-07-08 23:25:40
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   • How is this game compared to the 4-40 spread at La Center? As you found out, in a 2-25 spread it will be hard to pull off a bluff. Tight/aggro is the way to go in that game. Make them pay to see it and then show down a premium hand. If you find you are getting too much respect, only then try to run a bluff. And only against players who will fold. Sounds obvious, but a guy who calls to the river with third pair isn't a good guy to bluff.

5. • Posted by K (unverified) g 2008-07-08 22:35:18
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   • So is 24$ max bet any street?
     Or is it a cap on amount you can bet on all streets combined?

     If it is capped (total) then it is only 12BB each hand. You can play push/fold an optimal range base don number of players left to act and their calling ranges.

     But if it is 25$ per street then you can play several tight but play draws very often.

6. • Posted by Kalib g 2008-07-08 19:02:47
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   • Good to hear your going to go back to what works. That one guy was loose enough for the whole table.. down the road sometime I'll head back over there with you. Loved the rounders feel, very cool.

7. • Posted by Jason M g 2008-07-08 18:02:31
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   • Those "last hand" hands are always killer :/ This seems like a good game - they even straddle! Although a $4 straddle and max bet of $25 seems a bit silly... I like the return to the tight/aggressive style you built the roll with. When people are straddling and calling max bets on draws, tight and aggressive is money.

     I bet that hour long car ride home helped you figure that out. I always hated and loved the long drive back from La Center when I would go up with Graham. We'd be forced to talk about what mistakes we made and how to fix our game, which wasn't fun to do after losing.