It's a Straight. It's a Flush. It's a Straight Flush!

Trying to compile hours for the free roll poker tourney, Saturday found me once again at Ballys.

I had been there about an hour when I was involved in a memorable hand. I was the big blind and put in my $2 before looking down to see 2-4, both diamonds. If anyone raised, I would ditch these two, but no one raised, so I got to see the flop, which came 5-6-8 - ALL DIAMONDS!

I had flopped a flush! A tourist at the other end of the table bet $25 and everyone folded except me. I just called, a risky move since he could have had a big diamond, and if another diamond hit the board he'd have a bigger flush. The turn card was another 6 and my foe bet $35.

I decided it was time to get aggressive and went ALL IN - pushing my final $130 over the betting line. Without hesitation my foe called and flipped over his cards shouting "full house." He had a 5-6 and hit two pair on the flop and the full house on the turn.

Aaargh.  I was a sure loser, having only a LOOOOOONG shot. If the 3 or 7 of diamonds hit on the river, I would have a straight flush. But the odds are soooooo against it. The dealer was Frank, a native Detroiter who I've talked to a lot in the past about both of us going to Wayne State. He turned the river card and slapped it into its place

7 OF DIAMONDS!!!!!!

My straight flush took down this huge pot, worth almost $500. And for hitting the straight flush, I collected another $100 bonus from Ballys. A sweet win! I played for 3 hours, winning $370 and left to watch some basketball. Then I played a little blackjack, winning another $125 before heading home.

I've had a great poker run recently at Ballys. My records show that since Feb. 1, I have played 6 sessions there, winning just over $1,800.  I've won each of the 6 sessions with profits ranging from $200 to $425. I don't include the $512 I got from the Feb. 2 tourney, since we didn't really play the tournament. Each of the 40 who qualified were given $512, so I didn't count that. It's been a great run!

When I arrived home, Helen was on the phone with her cousin Gail who lives in Chicago. She had also been talking with her sister Susan and other family while I was gone. I made a quick dinner of chicken salad wraps and we watched some TV before calling it a night.

And so our adventure continues...