Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

My apologies for misledding everyone - I think my correct words should have been "could have" rather than, effectively, "did".

apology accepted Tony, now will you please hurry up and tell us about the cash game

Shortly, have to go do some work right now. I'm recording a 25 second "Promo". The Studio has been scheduled from 4.15pm until 6.30pm........honest! They must know my acting skills well.

[Solver]

With 2 tables left I was chip leader and I call a raise when from UTG and im on the button with .

the flop comes  . The raiser bets out 5k and I insta move in. The dealer says allin and I say yes allin. Again she says allin and looks at the other player.


Then she deals the turn. before he makes any action.

A ruling is called and we are told that if he calls the deck will be reshuffled and the  will be back in the deck.

Ok i get another 2 chance to hit my flush but as a blank the 9 is a good card for me.

By the way he had the aces, he thought he was behind but had to call.

Good bunch in last night and a great amtosphere. As said the new guy Jeff was working with a softly softly approach taking it all in.

They have actually taken on 2 new managers with the other 1 starting next week so hopefully it will be good times again at Luton

It was little old me, was just scared of the set, no doubt I'd have called regardless.  Used chips as best I can came 4th.

Stu

[turny]

I had a really lovely "fun" starting table for the £75 Comp, including Dave Courteney & Expressman, both of whom were to tangle early in extraordinary fashion. I think Sicilian was in the hand too, I can't quite recall.

To set the scene, it was Friday night, & we were all smiley-wiley, just determined to laugh our way through a fun Comp. The Dealer was very pleasant, but slightly ill-at-ease. She was of Eastern European origin, & struggled slightly to cope with - understand - the banter & Grade One Speech-Play going off. We were mis-behaving in a behaving sort of way really, with theatrical Moodys in abundance. Not from me, I hasten to add. Well, maybe a few.

Then an odd thing happened, & it all happened so fast.

There's a 3 way Pot, involving Expressman, Sicilian (I think, sorry, awful at putting faces to Online names) & Dave Courteney.

A 400 Bet is made round the back, Expressman calls, tossing in a 1,000 Chip, as he had no change.

It then get's Raised all-in, & next it's re-raised all in by Dave Courteney.

Ian (Expressman) looks a bit bemused at all this, & clearly, can't quite decide what's going off. He had a big hand - something like A-K on a A high flop, but this was sussy, & he needed a bit of time to absorb what was going off. He was probably realising he had to let go, but not before having a bit of a think, to see where he was, pot odds, committed or not, da de da.

To help him see what was what, he asked for his change - he had 600 owing from the Pot. The Dealer misunderstands, & says "there's been a Raise, are you Passing?". "No, no, can I have my change please?", - he just wanted to get things straight before acting.

"It's been Raised" the Dealer repeats. "I know" repeats Ian, "can I have my change please?".

Now, the Dealer chucks him 600, & then, so fast nobody could react, she reached across the Table & pulled Ian's Cards into the Muck - & I do mean into the Muck, not under, or on top of - right in the bloody middle of.

Now, Ian's cards had been....

a) Behind the line

b) Protected by a card  protector

c) He had his hands covering his cards & card protector.

You can't "protect your cards" better than that, short of nailing them to the bloody table, or smacking the Dealer in the chops when she tried to take them. He was just so surprised when she grabbed them, his face was a picture, & everybody did a sharp intake of breath - "oh my God, it's all gonna go off"!

So, what to do now? His hand is in the Muck, & it was fully protected. I can imagine some follks getting seriously excited here - send for the police, consult solicitors, object to G's licence, but happily, all involved are grown-ups, no drama queens, & they sorted it quickly, & with no scowling, shouting, curly lips, bad blood, anything.

Ian decided that the sensible thing to do was to accept his hand was Passed, to save arguments, & Courteney immediately offered to give him the "lost" 400 chips back. He cannot do that, of course, & it did not happen, but the offer was genuine, & after the hand it was drinks all round. Respect to all of them, proper grown-ups.

Had this been for serious money, I wonder what the Ruling would be? Mucked cards are mucked, end of. And protected cards are protected, ditto. Interesting, but also proof that common-sense are (is?) the best set of Rules ever written if adults are involved.

Anyway, Ian Expressman sent me a picture of him leaning on his new Card-Protector. I like folks who learn fast.

great to see it was sorted with no hooha or fuss but was the error pointed out to the dealer and explained to her by the TD to stop this occuring again?

[Dingdell]

I had a really lovely "fun" starting table for the £75 Comp, including Dave Courteney & Expressman, both of whom were to tangle early in extraordinary fashion. I think Sicilian was in the hand too, I can't quite recall.

To set the scene, it was Friday night, & we were all smiley-wiley, just determined to laugh our way through a fun Comp. The Dealer was very pleasant, but slightly ill-at-ease. She was of Eastern European origin, & struggled slightly to cope with - understand - the banter & Grade One Speech-Play going off. We were mis-behaving in a behaving sort of way really, with theatrical Moodys in abundance. Not from me, I hasten to add. Well, maybe a few.

Then an odd thing happened, & it all happened so fast.

There's a 3 way Pot, involving Expressman, Sicilian (I think, sorry, awful at putting faces to Online names) & Dave Courteney.

A 400 Bet is made round the back, Expressman calls, tossing in a 1,000 Chip, as he had no change.

It then get's Raised all-in, & next it's re-raised all in by Dave Courteney.

Ian (Expressman) looks a bit bemused at all this, & clearly, can't quite decide what's going off. He had a big hand - something like A-K on a A high flop, but this was sussy, & he needed a bit of time to absorb what was going off. He was probably realising he had to let go, but not before having a bit of a think, to see where he was, pot odds, committed or not, da de da.

To help him see what was what, he asked for his change - he had 600 owing from the Pot. The Dealer misunderstands, & says "there's been a Raise, are you Passing?". "No, no, can I have my change please?", - he just wanted to get things straight before acting.

"It's been Raised" the Dealer repeats. "I know" repeats Ian, "can I have my change please?".

Now, the Dealer chucks him 600, & then, so fast nobody could react, she reached across the Table & pulled Ian's Cards into the Muck - & I do mean into the Muck, not under, or on top of - right in the bloody middle of.

Now, Ian's cards had been....

a) Behind the line

b) Protected by a card  protector

c) He had his hands covering his cards & card protector.

You can't "protect your cards" better than that, short of nailing them to the bloody table, or smacking the Dealer in the chops when she tried to take them. He was just so surprised when she grabbed them, his face was a picture, & everybody did a sharp intake of breath - "oh my God, it's all gonna go off"!

So, what to do now? His hand is in the Muck, & it was fully protected. I can imagine some follks getting seriously excited here - send for the police, consult solicitors, object to G's licence, but happily, all involved are grown-ups, no drama queens, & they sorted it quickly, & with no scowling, shouting, curly lips, bad blood, anything.

Ian decided that the sensible thing to do was to accept his hand was Passed, to save arguments, & Courteney immediately offered to give him the "lost" 400 chips back. He cannot do that, of course, & it did not happen, but the offer was genuine, & after the hand it was drinks all round. Respect to all of them, proper grown-ups.

Had this been for serious money, I wonder what the Ruling would be? Mucked cards are mucked, end of. And protected cards are protected, ditto. Interesting, but also proof that common-sense are (is?) the best set of Rules ever written if adults are involved.

Anyway, Ian Expressman sent me a picture of him leaning on his new Card-Protector. I like folks who learn fast.

great to see it was sorted with no hooha or fuss but was the error pointed out to the dealer and explained to her by the TD to stop this occuring again?

My understanding was that the TD may not yet be licensed/and or was just observing last night. He was watching the room and the staff but not getting involved in the running of the room much as far as I could see.

[turny]

so did the person running the room inform the dealer what she done was wrong?

[Solver]

The new cardroom manager had an interesting situation later in the evening.  Power goes and all the roof lights go out, side lights only left but no computers / clock.  Main casino is ok only effecting card room apparently.

Decision is made to carry on, nice and ambient for a few hands.  Couple of minutes later it goes completely and we are in complete dankness, and I mean complete.  I can't see a thing and just hold onto my chips and start the discussion about a chop.  Jokes ensue about checking in the dark etc and the fun they must have been having on the cash tables.

Couple of minutes later and normal lighting / action was resumed.  I went out next hand but it was interesting for a while.

Stu

[celtic]

so did the person running the room inform the dealer what she done was wrong?

think there would have been plenty of people at the table keen to advise her what she did was wrong!!!

[turny]

so did the person running the room inform the dealer what she done was wrong?

think there would have been plenty of people at the table keen to advise her what she did was wrong!!!

yes but by the way tony told it in his diary post it seems it was just laughed off.
she may not listen and should not listen to those at the table as they might give her false advice which may cause further problems in the future, the cardroom supervisor should have been called for a ruling and then she should of been informed of the correct precedure by him/her.

thats how half the mistakes are caused in the first place listening to mis informed players

[boldie]

Max Mosley and MI5 in the same story..how great is this?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3953837.ece

[tikay]

so did the person running the room inform the dealer what she done was wrong?

think there would have been plenty of people at the table keen to advise her what she did was wrong!!!

yes but by the way tony told it in his diary post it seems it was just laughed off.she may not listen and should not listen to those at the table as they might give her false advice which may cause further problems in the future, the cardroom supervisor should have been called for a ruling and then she should of been informed of the correct precedure by him/her.

thats how half the mistakes are caused in the first place listening to mis informed players

Exactly that - it was "just laughed off". The Dealer knew the Rules, she simply became flummoxed by various things, & her intercourse with Expressman - "you passing?" - "no I want my change" - "you passing?" - "no I want my change" - etc. Also, her grasp of English - with all the banter it can't be easy to understand the humorous nuances - momentarily failed her & she just got confused. I don't think it's necessary in these situations, (& the whole table thought the same seemingly) where someone has made a mistake - we all make them, & she knew she'd boobed - to rub peoples noses in it, or belittle them. It was just a mistake, & she well knew she'd messed up. Nobody got hurt. She was badly unsettled by the incident, but everyone on the table took the trouble to reassure her when she later left the Table, to ty & make her feel a little more comfortable.

The very first time I got done for speeding I was just fuming at my stupidity, absolutely beside myself with anger. I knew I'd been daft. I went home & told my lady-of-the-moment  & she said "well that was bloody stupid, wasent it".....As Statements of the bleeding obvious go, it was horrendous, & completely un-necessary. That was 20 odd years ago, & I've never forgiven her, or forgotten her stupid comment. So much un-necessary conflict in life emenates from poor people skills & an inability to grasp basic human psychology.
 
I just thought it was interesting. Here we have two inviolable Rules clashing - "mucked cards are dead cards" & "protected hands are protected come what may". Just shows that in some cases, common-sense is the best & only solution.

By the way, almost all TD's & wannabee TD's can recite, parrot-fashion, the Rules on Mucked Cards, & Protected Hands. They just need a memory. It takes one with brains to make a logical decision when two rules clash.

Respect to those involved for handling it so sensibly.

[tikay]

Off to DTD tonight, after meeting up with Red a little earlier, I'm taking him across to see an Aviary in Nottingham I've "dscovered". It's only been there since 1852, I've lived, worked or played in & around Nottingham for 30 years, & never knew it existed.

I spent two wonderful hours today by a lovely pond, studying, at close quarters, mallards, waterfowl, mallard chicks, magpies, starlings, & even a Heron being harassed by a rook or crow. The most wonderful few hours. More of which later.

I need a result at DTD tonight. My form of late has been dire, & the worse my "form" is, the worse I suspect I play.

But there have been moments of magic amid the constant defeats. Hitting the case 5 for a wheel against trip fives in Super-Stud was a near miracle.

That was reversed 2 nights later in DTD when I needed a jack, for broadway straight, against three players all chasing lows. The first, on 5th street, drew "my" jack. The second then also drew a jack. Andf then guess what the third player got?......Meanwhile, I drew a 6!

I played terrific at DTD on Tuesday, & with 6 left, 5 paid, I was cruising, for my first Tourney cash in a fortnight, & one I wanted & needed badly. Then I found KK, got looked up by 8-8. Taxi!

At Luton last night, I knew I couild cash, but was less than thrilled to find Dave Courteney on my table. Both he & Expressman decided to show me their party pieces early, & bluff the TV bloke off winning hands, then give me some (humorous) grief. "Call yourself an expert?. Any jobs going at Sky?"....sigh.

Sure enough, I found two black Aces early, & Courteney busted them good & proper. The flop came all diamonds, I bet to see what the score was, Courteney moved all-in to represent the bare A, or a draw. He suckered me a treat, & he'd flopped the K flush. I could & should have got off so much cheaper, but his image is "at-it", & I fell for it a treat. That left me "thin".

I pushed with 6-3, & UTG Dave Colton, who was busy eating his dinner, never even looked at me, just said "call". When someone is eating a meal & nonchalantly calls, you know you are dead, & I stood up, ready to depart. His hand? 2-2! I was Racing - with 6-3! Not sure that's ever happened to me before.

But I'll never forget that Board. 6-3, v 2-2, & it comes......

3-2-6-6-9........

After that little miracle, I played myself up to nearly average, but then one of things you just can't explain happened. With 4 limpers, I'm holding 8-8 in he BB, & decide to squeeze. UTG (a good player, too) snap-calls - damn! - he's trapped me with Aces or Kings I'm thinking. His hand? 8-T. Of course, it's a beaut of a call, & I liked it. Until......

Ah well, tonight its no bluffing, no dancing, & fingers crossed. It's a real test of character siometimes, this game, & the tougher it is, the better I relish the challenge.

Bring it on boys.

Thewy will be there, too, & possibly - I'm working on him - Karabiner. Sadly, Jim McShane can't make it.

[redsimon]

tbh Tony the only time I've seen players ask for "change" in that situation is when they've decided to pass and don't want to be forgotten in all the fuss of an all in.

[tikay]

tbh Tony the only time I've seen players ask for "change" in that situation is when they've decided to pass and don't want to be forgotten in all the fuss of an all in.

Yes - & that's what confused the poor Dealer.

But Expressman asked for change because he wanted to better assess what exactly was in the middle, & what he had left behind.

It was onw of those mish-mash situations, & the Dealer had everyone's sympathy.

[tikay]

You can't make these things up.

Only the olders amongst you will get this one.

I was discussing with a certain female & very popular blonde-ess something in Luton the other night. 1930's films we were talking, "Lullaby on Broadway" (find me a clip of that, please, it's stunning, & always makes me happy, all those dancing pianos & girls tip-tap dancing). It was sort of choreographed synchronised dancing, lovely stuff, made by one of the most famous Film Producers ever.

"Ahh, you mean Betty Berkeley" says she.

Name that blonde.

[Rookie (Rodney)]

AlexMartin