Lucky 7s
Thursday, December 15, 2005
I'm back from Seattle. I've got so much I want to write about, but I have so much to do. I'll do my best to zip through this.
I arrived in Seattle at 8:15pm (Seattle time; 11:15pm NY time), and hopped in a $40 cab ride to my posh hotel in downtown Seattle. My suite was a beaut. Best of all, it had free Internet. I hooked up my comp and got down to business, working off my Gaming Club bonus at 1/2. I left up $4.50 or so, a minor victory (and acually a loss after losing a $5 HU at Noble, which gave me a free $10). Meanwhile, I railbirded Weak Player, who took 2nd in a $40 MTT on UB, for a cool $2K+ payday. Congrats to him. After the little bit of poker, I headed to the sack, 11pm Seattle time, 2am NYC time.
The next morning, I received a phone call at 7:30am from room-service apologizing for being a little late with my breakfast. Thank god! My alarm clock, set for 7am didn't go off, so I guess luck was already on my side. I finally got my overpriced (but soon to be comped by the office) breakfast, wolfed it down, and checked out, leaving my bags with the conceirge for the day. A short walk later, and I was at my destination 20 minutes early. I can't help it folks. I'm nothing if not punctual. This gave me the time to walk around Seattle. It is a beautiful city from what I could see. There are a lot of steep streets (i.e., hills), so I worked my way down some and across until I could find an easier walk back. In the meanwhile, I left behind the posh stores and Starbucks for the homeless shelter and bus depots. Ah, both sides of the coin in 20 minutes. I could only imagine how I must've looked in my black power suit, white shirt and red power tie, along with my flowing overcoat.
Upon arrival at the firm, I made small talk with the other attorneys and finally got down to business. I won't bore you. Lord knows it bored me. Suffice it to say, several hours later we wrapped it up. Two of the attorneys were on the same flight back with me. One of them, an attorney from Pennsylvania, was questioning what he would do between our 5pm end time and the 10:15pm flight. I suggested, "Do you want to go to a casino?" He didn't even respond, as though such a concept was absurd. Well screw you buddy! I don't want to play with you either!
I took the 5 minute stroll back to the hotel and got my bags from the concierge. As he helped me out the door, I bit the bullet, "Do you know anything about the cardrooms?" He didn't, but it was a swank hotel that knows how to treat its customers...even the degenerate gambler customers. In 5 minutes, he was back with directions to the Silver Dollar casino. A cab picked me off and off we go, me with a laptop case, a briefcase, and a rolling suitcase, wearing a suit and going to a dingy poker room. On the ride, I made small talk with Don, my driver. I looked at the taxi window and saw it's number: 777. "This is cab 777?" "Yes, sir." "Looks like it is going to be my lucky day." Upon arrival, I saw three casinos. They looked like roadhouse bars, but poker is poker. Don dropped me off at the Great American Casino in Tukwila, WA. "This is the biggest one. I'll pick you up at 8:15, but if I'm not here, call this number." He handed me a card.
I stepped into the Great American, and it was anything but Great. No poker = sad Jordan. Fortunately, they were kind enough to direct me to the casinos across the street.
So there I was, running across the street, carrying three bags like a pack-mule, looking to kill time in a weird place with weird people. I hustled across and stepped into the Silver Dollar. "Sorry sir, no poker here." The pitboss suddenly got a grin. "Unless you want Pai Gow Poker!" "Sorry man, but nice try." 2 down, 1 to go. My hopes were dwindling.
Enter the Golden Nugget. As soon as I walked into this poor excuse for a casino, it felt like home. Picture a 3rd rate Vegas casino like Ellis Island. Now cut that in half. Welcome to the Golden Nugget! I put my name on the 3/6 list (two tables were going), and went to the bathroom. I think I hit bottom when I was desperately changing in the only stall in a dingy casino as fast as possible so I wouldn't miss being called to sit. I stepped into the bathroom in a suit. I stepped out in crappy jeans, a shitty t-shirt and a hooded sweat shirt, ready for poker.
I sat down a little while later with $150. Within an hour and a half, I was up $90+. Another hour later and I was up only $23. At that point, after playing from 5:30 to 8pm, I headed out, with $22 in winnings and a souvenir chip.
But let's go to the action. I was hit in the face with the deck early on, but I also made things happen. The table started fairly tight. One guy, a middle aged guy in a leather jacket that said "mid-life crisis" rather than "tough guy" was donking away, fortunately catching against other players. He caught against me once, rivering a straight to my two pair, but overall, I was making a profit on the guy. On my right (and later on my left, slightly further on my left, still further on my left, and then across the table) was the traveling granny Asian woman. Her and I had a great time. I bluffed her with 34c on an Ace high flop after everyone checked. I bet on the turn, narrowing the field to her and me. The river brought out a possible flush and I bet again. She laid it down and I showed. She then smacked my head. I looked at her with steely eyes, "Lady, if you and I didn't have such a good thing going I'd take exception to that." When I ordered a grilled cheese, traveling granny Asian came over with a napkin. She recommended the fries earlier. So she comes over, napkin in hand and says, "Give me some fries." "What? Hell no. No fries for you!" She looked back sternly. "Just kidding, just kidding. I filled her napkin. As she walked back to my seat, I joked with the young Asian on my right and the white dude left, "Good thing she's hot, otherwise I woulda told her to fuck off."
One hand was an odd one. There is a royal flush bonus of about $2300. I had KhQh and the flop was JhTh. I bet, both players folded and I showed my cards face up. The table went nuts. A black guy who was very friendly overall, looked pissed. "You had two chances to make the royal flush!" "So what? I'd miss it and lose the hand. I wanted the pot." At this point, I thought the bonus was only $50 (which was actually for straight flushes), but I still stood by my answer, sorta. I mean, I did mention that if I knew it was $2300 I might've played it differently. But fuck these Washington locals. To their defense, traveling granny Asian and a couple of other players said that they should let me play my game. Oh well oh well.
So, I left the place and ran across the street to the Great American. When my taxi failed to show, I called the card he gave me. I got picked up in 15 minutes or so and was at the airport by 8:45pm. Here is where I go uber-lucky. I usually avoid dealing with human beings if a computer can help me out. However, I avoided the computer check in terminals because I wanted to change my seat from a middle of the row seat to just about anything else. When I got to the counter, the guy asked me, "Would you like to take the 9:25pm flight and get home a little earlier?" Now, I knew that there was no 9:25 direct to NY, so I told him I didn't want to transfer. But, as it turned out, it was a delayed direct flight....delayed from 3:40 pm!
When I arrived at the gate, everyone around me was miserable. They had been waiting more than 5 hours. Meanwhile, I strolled in with 15 minutes to take off, expecting over an hour wait. To make matters better, I got an aisle seat. When I sat down, a family of 3 came up to me. "Excuse me sir, but we have seats E and F (the two inside seats)." "Well, where is your third seat?" "C." (right across the aisle from me) "Would you like to switch with me so you could sit together?" I'm a good samaritan. They were enthused. I sit down, and soon an old dude comes by and takes the A seat. But...get this...no one took the B.
So, to recap...I get in cab 777, find a poker room in a random city, win $23, get an earlier flight, get an aisle seat, and get room to move about when I voluntarily change my seat. What the hell am I doing typing this? I need to go play some poker!
It's 5:23pm now, and I'm soon off to my work holiday party. Wifey Kim looks doubly amazing, as opposed to her usual single amazingness. I'm looking forward to some free food and a light amount of alcohol (I'm no fool!). Tomorrow, if all goes well, the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Association) will strike, shutting down the busses and subways, essentially the veins that keep this city alive. I'll walk to Court in the morning and spend the rest of the day working from home.
Saturday afternoon at 3pm I'll be at Genoa in their $40 no fee, $300 added tourney. Damn! An illegal cardroom with overlay? How can I say no. I may be there again for the same deal on Sunday.
Happy Poker Everyone!
You're gonna eat suckouts and you're gonna crap Aces!
posted by Jordan @ 2:57 PM,
7 Comments:
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At 8:34 AM,
said...
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"Good thing she's hot, otherwise I woulda told her to fuck off."
That is some funny shit there dude. Keep up the good work! -
At 8:50 AM,
said...
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Glad to see you back and glad you enjoyed your trip to Seattle. I always enjoy your write-ups, J, good stuff.
Two things about this post:
1."they looked more like roadhouse bars" referring to the Casinos in Seattle. You are in for a rude awakening when you come to Okie-Vegas, because Seattle can't spell roadhouse bar, compared to Oklahoma.
2."a middle-aged guy in a leather jacket that screamed mid-life crisis" You really know how to hurt a guy don't you? BTW, I wore my leather jacket to work today. Doh!
G -
At 10:37 AM,
said...
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Oh, G! Trust me, even if you tried, you couldn't be as pathetic as this middle-aged, gray haired mess. Not even close.
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At 10:43 AM,
said...
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Hilllllarious. Well played, sir.
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At 1:29 PM,
said...
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What is it with these Seattle Asians? A few days ago (this happens often actually) one of the 'not-so-hot' Asian ladies I play with often started eating off my plate too! The f'ing nerve of some people!
You thought the Golden Nugget was a shit hole? Ya, tis a shit hole to be sure. Silver Dollar owns the Nugget as well... I think they have a dozen or so joints around the Puget Sound.
Next time you come out, have a bit more time and I can show you some of the *real* card rooms we have out here.
Nice blog sir, I read everyday.
SeattleGarth -
At 2:37 PM,
said...
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Interestingly, I didn't get an email notifying me of Seattle Garth's posting, but I'm glad I found it.
I loved that shithole. There is something great about a shithole. It is both unintimidating, and casual. The lady was more than welcome to eat off of my plate.
It is only at a poker table that i can make "friends" with utter strangers. Elsewhere, I just am not open enough, nor do I have the ability to be so damn wise-assy without succumbing to the negative feedback.
Seattle was great. 25 hours in Seattle and I miss it already. It's interesting. I love traveling. There is something about being somewhere where you know no one and nothing. The possibilities are endless and everything is exciting.
Seattle Garth, I'm glad you enjoy the blog. Moreso than anything, it makes me happy and proud when someone I do not know reads this here thing we like to call a blog and gets it, and, by extension, gets me. It's a huge compliment, and I can't thank you enough.
Now, sign up for VPP or PSO! Hahaha! Just kidding...kinda. -
At 6:14 PM,
said...
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hey man you should check out the site vegas007.com. great new all 3D poker site. amazing graphics! great fun
