Poker With Ice Pick, Dipstick and Madame X

 The new year has started off calmly here in Las Vegas. 

All is well with Helen and me, though she goes for a doctor's visit tomorrow. It's her first "good to meet ya" session with a general practitioner out here. We thought it would be good to establish that type of relationship for her, just in case. So tomorrow we look forward to that routine medical visit. 

No real excitement at the gaming tables either, though I did play some poker this morning at Red Rock. I got over there early, about 9 a.m., hoping to get into a game. But the lone game was full and I was placed at the top of the waiting list. 

For those unfamiliar with casino poker rooms, they use an electronic board that shows the waiting list. I was at the top of the list as "Alan." They use that because that's the name on my player club card,which was created from my driver's license. So out here playing poker, I'm known as Alan, not Al. 

Anyway, I was on the list for over an hour, but while waiting I saw others checking in and their names were, I assume, not as official as mine. For example, shortly after I signed in, a guy named "Ice Pick" went on the list. He (I assume it was a he) was followed by "Dipstick" and "Madame X." Always an interesting crowd at the poker room...ha!

I only played for an hour or so, but managed to eke out a $34 profit. Mostly on one hand. I was dealt 7-7 and joined three others in the pot. The flop came 10-7-5, giving me trip 7s. I bet $15 and got called by one other guy. The turn card was a 3 and I bet $20 and got called again. Finally the river card was another 3, giving me a full house of 7s over 3s. I was leery that the guy might have a pair of tens, giving him a bigger full house, so I bet only $25 figuring if he raised me he had 10s, but if he just called, I probably had the best hand. He called, then showed pocket 5s, a smaller full house. That was the biggest pot I won during the hour of play, but I took down 5 or 6 smaller pots to keep the chips coming my way. It was a fun session. 

While I was waiting to get into the game, I went to the nearby sports book and picked up info on the upcoming nfl playoff games. I'll list some of that data on the next entry. 

Last night we had chili for dinner and tonight I'll be making chili-and cheese-topped baked potatoes. 

And so out adventure continues...