Commerce Casino

So I made it to Commerce last night. It's as big as I've been told. Seemed as big as a medium size Vegas casino, with almost all of it dedicated to poker! I played 40/80 for about 4 hours and took a 1k loss. Battled my way back after being down 2 racks. Big, noisy, dirty were my first impressions of the place. Game selection was finally available as when I was there on a Wednesday night, there was 5 40/80 games running and 2 60/120 games going, along with a 100/200 game.

Nothing extraordinary in terms of players. I saw some tight play, but for the most part, the table was loose and not too aggressive. Lots of players, playing any two suited, any two paint. Lots of people cold-calling 2 or 3 bets with hands that should have hit the muck. Only two real "bad" beats I took. I called a raise out of the big blind with A5c, 4 way action. Flop comes 2c 4c rag. Ends up capped on the flop. Turn is a rag, called all around. River is a red queen. I check-fold the river. Pre-flop raiser, and river bettor had KQc, for a rivered top-pair that took it down! Come on club! For sure I get 2, maybe even 3 bets out of her! Other beat I took, I ended up chopping the pot. I raise UTG with pocket kings. Get called by the small blind with AQo. Flop comes 6 7 9. check-bet-call. Turn comes an 8. check-check. River 5. Check-check. Bad flop call by her, but with the way she was playing all night it was not totally unexpected by me. I just wish she would have rivered a pair, instead of a chop. Lots of women playing at my table. At one time, I think we had 5 women and 4 men playing. Highly unusual for me. At Oceans-11, at most there's usually only one or two women in the game.

While I was checking the place out, I saw Tuan Le playing a 400/800 mixed game. In real life, he's much buffer and more ripped than you see on TV. Didn't really stick around to see how he was doing. Other than that I didn't run into any other "famous" poker players, nor anyone I know from San Diego.

All in all, I would say Commerce was just okay. If I happened to be in the area, had some bankroll and free time, I might stop in and play. Don't think I'd make a special trip for Commerce.

Itching to Play

Just checked in to my hotel here in Beverly Hills. Family is getting settled down, and I am getting ready to go out to play at Commerce Casino!

Pilgramage

I'm going to the poker Mecca of the world. Yep, that's right Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, California. Home to world's best, up-and comers, wannabes, scum, hos, and other dregs of life. And oh yeah, they have the biggest poker room in the U.S. and the most poker action anywhere. At least, so I've been told. I've never set foot in Commere casino yet, in all my poker playing. But I will be in LA December 26-28 with my family and my wife has already said that I can go out and play at least one night, if not both.

I'm juiced up and ready to go as well, as I've been running pretty well the last month or so. Let's hope it stays that way at Commerce. Wish me luck. I'll be sure to pray to the poker Gods!

Running over the Table

Played in the 75/150 last night at Oceans-11. It was a weird night. I got there about 9:30pm, a little later than usual since my kids didn't want to go to sleep. When I arrived there was a short-handed 40/80, 2 full 20/40, and a full 75/150. I got seated in the 40/80 and only played like 45 minutes before the game broke. I then got in a 20/40 game where I only played for 30 minutes, and the only hand I played was pocket aces that got cracked by pocket eights. The original lineup in the 75/150 looked super juicy, but by the time my name got called the lineup wasn't as good any more. I was debating not taking it, but David T convinced me to play since he wanted my seat in the 20/40.

I ended up owning that table. I made $5650 in 4.5 hours. My big hands held up, and all my bluffs seemed to work, and more than my share of draws got there.

I made one masterful bluff (in my opinion) on Jamie. Jaime is a very loose aggressive player. 6-handed he raises under the gun, all folds to me. I call in the big blind with 45c. Flop is 4 6 7 all spades. bet-raise-call. Turn is king of hearts. check-bet-raise-call. River is 9 spades. I bet, Jaime hems and haws and starts complaining. He mucks 2 red jacks face up, and I take it down. Pretty good move, huh?