Poker Pit – 39 tables, Fontana – 18 tables…from what I can remember and what I’ve heard. Remember it’s Friday and I got the ‘magic’ E/O so maybe I’m not paying as much attention as I should be. Dealt a whole half of an hour and I was out the door.
I did cruise over to The Fontana Lounge to check out the area with poker tables in it instead of drinks and food, and see where I would go if I’m on a break out of Table 39 when I come in on Monday.
On Thursday night, slots were moved out of the Poker Pit area and more poker tables were installed. Tonight those same tables were up and running. Mostly full with a few down especially Table 16 – that’s where Royalty meets to try and beat each other’s brains out. Table 16 is in the middle of the Poker Pit and right beside the center podium, protected from the rest of the Poker Pit by velvet ropes when a big game is running.
There are a kazillion tales cirulating right now. Rooms are opening all over town in the next few weeks – some have already opened – hoping to take up some of the mortar between the bricks. (Bellagio is one of the BRICKS.)
Rumor is out that when Wynn opens, it will take the $200-400 to $300-600 Mixed Game. I say, “Woo Hoo! And hell yes,” please do.
I love those little $4-8, $8-16, $15-30, and $2-5 NLH players, their shorts aren’t bound too tight and they came to play…not to start a war with the dealer. *don’t start on dealers right now…not because I’m defending them but there are too many openings and not enough dealers with any skill so it’s going to be a war*
The nice part about some of these games is that the players don’t know anything about dealers and dealer skills. They came to have fun and as long as a dealer is alive, with a pulse, dealing the cards, and can make some noise when spoken to, these players are happy. *I excel here…hooray, whoopee*
I can only say that poker is going to get better…and better…and better. As a player, you need to reevaluate your play and attitude and decide if you can ‘cut the mustard’.
The next month at Bellagio will be very difficult from the dealer POV.
- First, there are a lot of new dealers that know nothing about the fine art of poker dealing. Following them will either make me a lot of money or people will just think all dealers are stupid and punish me no matter how hard I try.
- The California players will be here and they are allowed to abuse everyone on the face of the Earth so it will be difficult to deal to them without wanting to rip their heads off and shit down their throats.
- Some players will come with the thought that they will win and within a few days they are broke and are haggling for deals and stakes and quite unhappy…some of them focus on the dealer because it’s always the dealer’s fault…right?
- High limit will take over most of the Poker Pit and it’s a lot of hard work, humble dealer attitude, and less money than the normal room atmosphere.
- Did I ever tell you how much I truly hate big tournaments?????
On another note…while dealing to Jimmy T. – $10-20 NLH…yup, the one I had the major altercation with recently…was in my line-up. He stopped everything when it came to him and he wanted to raise, giving me eye contact, “I raise.”
Each time, I said, “Raise,” and waited for him to complete his action.
It was as if he was waiting for me to queer his game. I find this to be quite strange because I’m always professional when I’m in the box. Even if you are a retard or bonehead creep, I still give you my best.
He stiffed me on each pot he won – I expected this – after all, I usurped his authority when I challenged him and dealt him out…a previous post.
But…this was hysterical. Jimmy gets a zillion phone calls in a down. His cell rings, he answers, blah, blah, blah…usually in a foreign language.
The 1s raised it pre-flop. Jimmy called.
It was heads-up. On the Flop, the 1s bet $320.
Jimmy’s phone rang. He answered, “Hello!”
The 1s grabbed up his cell phone and said, “FOLD!”
I cracked up. So did several other players at the table.
Jimmy was oblivious to it all. He called the $320.
I burned and turned. The 1s checked, Jimmy bet, the 1s folded. The game went on.
On another note.
One of our high limit players has passed on. Curtis Bibb. I wish I could report that I will miss him at the tables – I won’t. I hate this part of myself. But I can’t help but remember all the times that he tortured a lot of us dealers – me included – in the last few years of his life. I do feel much sympathy for the people he left behind. Maribelle, his wife, was one of our $4-8, $8-16 players and she is a gem. A beautiful child with a lot of heart.
Poker breaks even…just like life.