More Poker at Ballys

Up and out early Friday morning to play poker with some of the tourists who roll into LV on the weekends.

By 9 a.m. I was at Paris buying a money line hoops parlay on Ohio State, Baylor and Duke. OSU killed that one. But my friend Terry scored $131 when his $25 3-team hockey parlay came through for him. Way to go T!!!

By 930 I was at Ballys, playing video poker and waiting for a seat at the live poker tables. Soon I got called to join a new game, which was fun and I got up early by winning a couple of $20-30 pots. I had bought in for $100 and had a goal of leaving if I could double it. After 3-4 hours I was up about $70 when things went dry. I had over an hour where I played only two hands and didn't win a pot.

I usually play until around 4-4:15 and then head home. But today at 4 I was actually down about $30 so I called Helen and told her I'd be home about 6:30, giving me extra time to rally back.
The difference maker came about 6, just as I was mentally ready to suffer a $30 loss.

I was dealt 4-4 and raised the $2 blind to $7, getting a couple of callers. I'd been getting several small pocket pairs (2s, 5s, 7s twice and 8s) throughout the day never once managed to get trips. So I was really pleased to see a flop of A-8-4. I checked the trips and one guy bet $15. I assumed he had an ace. The only other played folded and I raised it to $30. My lone foe, a local who I've played against 3-4 times recently, went all it for his remaining $40 and I called.

The turn was a J of Diamonds. No help for me and probably little help for him.

The river was another 8, giving me a full house. My foe showed A-K and was visibly upset when I showed my 4-4. The pot put me up $29 in poker for the day. I had won $6 in video poker, but lost $20 on my hoops bet, so for the day my profit was $15. Not huge, but a real fun day and much better than losing.

Winning small is better than losing small...

Got home about 630 and made up some middle eastern food for dinner. Hummus, tabouli, pita bread, kalamata olives and lebne. Ice cream for dessert. While I was playing on the Strip, Helen was on the phone with Anna and her friend Gail.

She also emailed her brother Norm who has scored us 6 Dodgers tickets for when we visit them on April 17. Six seats along the third base line for our first visit to Dodger Stadium. I can almost taste those Dodger Dogs now...mustard only, please!

And so our adventure continues...