Hello noise and confusion. The Friday’s at Five Tournament hosted 100 players and went until late in the night. It’s big, check it out when you’re in town.

One of the $15-$30 Holdem games was like old home week for me. I met a guy named Mike that’s a steady reader here. He was singing because his daughter-in-law was in labor and he would become a grandpa for the first time, and because he met me. 🙂 He was cute. I dealt to him twice and the first time, he motioned to the high limit section and said he didn’t like those guys up there because they were mean to me. We both got a chuckle out of that one…yes, he was kidding!

In this same game, my long time friend, Tom L. was in the 5s. My friend, Frederick M. from the Congo was in the 10s, a woman I met in Aruba was in the 6s, and David, a youngster that’s always a pleasure to have in the game, was in the 9s. The whole table was talkative and fun. David asked, “You mean they let you dealt the final table.”

I exclaimed, “What do you mean, let me?” I slapped my hand down on the table for effect and continued with, “LET ME!”

Everyone laughed. A few minutes later, I looked at David and said, “Well…I had to pay them.”

I told all of them that the word was that UB would need 80 to 100 dealers for next year…if anyone was interested. David said he couldn’t deal like I did and I told him I’d teach him. Hey…I would but I don’t think he gives a damn. They were all fun.

I started in the perfect line up again tonight…no throat grabbing, dying, pain and agony, need to win players.

My last game was a $60-$120 Holdem and it was hysterical. They all goaded and taunted each other into calling or guessing what the other one had…no one had a fit or acted irritated, even when they took a beat. I laughed my butt off.
Jack G. was in the 1s and he started laughing over the whole insanity of this limit that played like a $1-$2 Holdem game.

Three of the players were locals, the rest were tourists, and no one seemed to mind the table talk or coaxing. I never intervened, they were doing such a good job with each other.

The only glitch came on the second to the last hand I dealt. The 2 and 10s ended up heads up with each other and a lot of raising pre-flop, flop, turn had gone on. On the River, the 10s bet $120, the 2s raised to $240, and the 10s only had $60 of the raise.

I gave the 2s back $60 and stated the 10s was all-in. The 2s had Jack high, no pair, and had a fit with me because I didn’t tell him the 10s was all-in. No sense in trying to explain but I gave it a shot, telling the 2s that the 10s wasn’t all-in until the 2s raised. It was like trying to put out a forest fire with a squirt gun. Needless to say, the 10s had the best hand and won the pot.

I got pushed. All in all, it was a game that one would have to write home to mom about, either for more money or to share the play of the game and the love of poker.

TGIF…after two days of work. Love this job!

*****
I was part of this project. Sweet!
Howard Lederer’s ‘Secrets of No Limit Holdem’