Tag: Casino Poker

Going Cold at Caesars Palace

Nick Momrik2 Comments

As mentioned before, I was in Las Vegas on Friday night and early Saturday morning on a layover coming back from San Francisco. One of my college friends picked us up at the airport and gave us a ride over to Caesars Palace. We checked our bags and headed for the poker room.

The Caesars Palace poker room is definitely one of the nicest rooms I’ve played in. Dave and I were seated at a 3-6 limit table in the back corner of the room behind a divider wall. This kind of sucked because cocktail service tended to forget we were there. It also seemed to be a prime spot for the air conditioner to blow on us all night. I’ve never been so cold in a casino in my life and I was wearing a hooded sweatshirt the whole time.

There’s really not a whole lot to say about my play at the table. I didn’t get many playable hands. On the hands I could play I usually missed the flop. If I’d hit top pair, either all scare cards would come on the turn and river or someone would suck out on me with their 3-4 out draw. After awhile I started to play hands I know I shouldn’t have played. We played from about midnight until 5:30 in the morning when our table was the last 3-6 limit game and we lost our 5th player. I ended up losing $96 on the night.

We walked around the casino a bit and had breakfast in a cafe by the reservation desks. Took a taxi and got back to the airport about 3 hours early for our flight. I’m not sure why we didn’t try and get on an earlier flight by standby, but that’s a whole other story.

One Week Until Las Vegas

Nick MomrikLeave a comment

At this time next week I’ll be on a flight from San Francisco to Las Vegas, coming back from MacWorld. I have a 10 or 11 hour layover in Vegas for the night. How convenient hey? The plan is to hit up Caesar’s poker room this year. I think the last time I played poker was during last year’s Vegas layover, so my game is definitely going to be rusty.

Quick Las Vegas Visit Planned

Nick Momrik1 Comment

Each year I attend the Macworld Conference and Expo in San Francisco, CA. On the flight home, we try and schedule a long layover in Las Vegas, NV. This year is no different. I’ll be landing in Vegas on Friday, January 18th at 10:16pm and flying out on Saturday, January 19th at 9:25am. The past two years we’ve played low limit hold’em at the MGM, but I think we are going to try Caesar’s this year. We’re looking for a card room that will stay relatively busy during the time we’ll be playing, so if you have other suggestions, let me know.

I think the last time I played poker was last year on the Vegas layover. My game is going to be a little rusty!

What Is Poker?

Nick Momrik2 Comments

Where have I been you ask? Shit…who am I asking? Does anyone even visit this “poker” blog anymore?

I haven’t written here in 5 or 6 months. I’ve played poker barely more than that. In mid-January on a flight back from San Francisco, I had a night long layover in Las Vegas. Hit up the MGM and about $180 playing $3/6 hold’em. It was fun and I wish I’d make time to do it a little more often. I made a few rookie mistakes, but that’s bound to happen when you haven’t played poker in months. I flopped a set of queens, turned a full house, and rivered quads all on the same hand. I was called all the way by two players, even after I check-raised the flop. They even called out my hand after the check-raise, but had to call me down. I was taking their money, so I was happy.

I don’t have money at any online poker sites and without checking my records, I’d bet I haven’t played a single hand of online poker in over 6 months. I still have a couple of hundred stuck in Neteller waiting for them to get their shit together and let US players withdraw. The online poker legislation or whatever you want to call it took away my interest in playing for the most part. I still like to play, but I’m making more productive use of the time I used to spend online playing poker.

I’ll still make posts here from time to time, but I doubt you’ll ever see the posting frequency of a year or two ago.

Until next time…head on over to Card Tricks and give me some suggestions!

Review: The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King

Nick Momrik4 Comments

The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King: Inside the Richest Poker Game of All TimeInside the Richest Poker Game of All Time

I’ve had this book sitting on my shelf since Christmas, when I received it as a gift. A few weeks ago I finally got around to reading it and finished it last week. It ranks right up near the top with some of the other poker related books I’ve read.

Before starting on the book I knew the general idea of what the book was about, but I really had no idea the events discussed in the book happened so recently. The “Richest Poker Game” was just before and around the time of Chris Moneymaker’s famous World Series of Poker win.

For those not familiar with everything, “The Professor” in the title refers to poker pro Howard Lederer, “The Banker” refers to Andy Beal, and “The Suicide King” is the King of Hearts because of his sword stabbing his own head. The “Richest Poker Game” was a limit hold’em heads-up match between Andy Beal and a group of poker professionals. The game was played at limits up to $100,000/$200,000, so swings of millions of dollars were not unusual.

Michael Craig did a great job telling the story by piecing together information from many different sources about the game. It’s really an insightful read into the high stakes poker world. I’d easily give it an A.

2006 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Results

Nick MomrikLeave a comment

A list of the winners so far in the 2006 World Series of Poker.

  1. $500 No-Limit Hold’em Casino Employee – Chris Gros
  2. $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em – Brandon Cantu
  3. $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold’em – Rafe Furst
  4. $1,500 Limit Hold’em – Kianoush Abolfathi
  5. $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em Short Handed 6/Table – Russ Boyd (Dutch Boyd)
  6. $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Mark Vos
  7. $3,000 Limit Hold’em – William Chen
  8. $2,000 Omaha High-Low 8/OB – Jack Zwerner
  9. $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Jeff Cabanillas
  10. $1,500 Seven Card Stud – David Williams
  11. $5,000 Omaha High-Low 8/OB – Sam Farha
  12. $1,500 Limit Hold’em – Bob Chalmers
  13. $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em – Max Pescatori
  14. $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em w/ Rebuys – Allen Cunningham
  15. $1,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold’em – Mary Jones
  16. $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha – Lee Watkinson
  17. $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Jon Friedberg
  18. $2,000 Pot-Limit Hold’em – Eric Kesselman
  19. $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em Seniors – Clare Miller
  20. $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. – David Reese (Chip Reese)
  21. $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em Short Handed 6/Table – William Chen
  22. $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Jeff Madsen
  23. $3,000 Limit Hold’em – Ian Johns
  24. $3,000 Omaha High-Low 8/OB – Scott Clements
  25. $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout – David Pham
  26. $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha w/ Rebuys – Eric Froehlich
  27. $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha – Rafael Perry
  28. $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em – Mats Rahmn
  29. $5,000 Seven Card Stud – Benjamin Lin
  30. $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold’em – John Gale
  31. $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em Short Handed 6/Table – Jeff Madsen
  32. $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Justin Scott
  33. $1,500 Seven Card Razz – James Richburg
  34. $5,000 Pot-Limit Hold’em – Jason Lester
  35. $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Phil Hellmuth Jr.
  36. $1,000 Seven Card Stud High-Low 8/OB – Patrick Poels
  37. $5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball – Daniel Alaei

The $10,000 No-Limit Main Event starts tomorrow and it’s scheduled to run through August 10, 2006 when we’ll have another world champion crowned.

The WSOP Player of the Year race is still wide open. Jeff Madsen, a 21-year-old college student, is currently in the lead with 4 final table appearances, 2 bracelets, and over $1.4 million in winnings. After winning his record tying 10th golf bracelet the other night at his 3rd final table, Phil Hellmuth sits in 2nd, and has won over $1.1 million. Hellmuth also ranks #1 in career cashes at the WSOP with 55.

List compiled from results at CardPlayer.

First Trip to Las Vegas: Day 6

Nick MomrikLeave a comment

First Trip to Las Vegas: Day 1

First Trip to Las Vegas: Day 2

First Trip to Las Vegas: Day 3

First Trip to Las Vegas: Day 4

First Trip to Las Vegas: Day 5

Wednesday, July 5, 2006

Woke up around 9am. Showered and packed up the hotel room. Borrowed a key from Jere and stored our bags in his room. Walked the strip thinking maybe I could catch the Bellagio water show, but they were doing some kind of maintenance on the fountains. Jumped on the free shuttle to the Rio from Caesar’s. Much better than taking any bus! Putzed around the Rio for a bit and then took off looking for the World Series of Poker (WSOP). It’s quite a walk from the casino floor.

Doyle and Todd Brunson at WSOPI walked into the largest poker room I’ve ever seen and was in awe. Started snapping photos. I had left my camera at the hotel, so was borrowing Lindsay’s and not quite sure how to use it. Got yelled at by security within 2 minutes of being in the room because the flash was on. Whoops!

I was quite surprised how close I was able to get to all of the players and how few tourists/fans were in the room. I saw the Brunsons, Phil Hellmuth, Annie Duke, Dutch Boyd, John Juanda, Clonie Gowen, Johnny “Fucking” Chan, and the list goes on. I can’t wait to get the pictures and see how they turned out, but not quite sure how long that will take since it wasn’t my camera. I imagine the enjoyment of being around all the top poker players in the world would grow old, but I was floating as I walked through the room. It was pretty damn cool.

Met up with the girls and checked out to see if there was a line yet for the seafood buffet. There wasn’t, so I blew some money on video poker. An old lady sat to my left just after I sat down and hit quad twos with an ace right away for a big win. Bitch! The seafood buffet was beyond words. We ate stuffed our faces for an hour and a half before finally calling it quits. There were so many choices, but I have to say the tortellini was the best I’ve ever had. I could have been satisfied simply filling up on those cheese-filled noodles. I’ve always wanted to try out different kinds of sushi to see if I’d like it and that’s exactly what I did. It was edible, but not something I’d ever order up on my own. I’ll stick to lobster, crab legs, shrimp, clam strips, etc for my seafood fix.

Las Vegas Strip from Voodoo Lounge at the RioAfter eating we headed up to check out the sites from the Voodoo Lounge. Some storms were rolling in off the mountains so the view was pretty neat. Nothing like being on top of the Stratosphere at night, but still something to see and experience.

We caught a cab back to Excalibur, changed our clothes and headed out back to wait for our shuttle to the airport at 7:30. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 10:20pm and arrive back in Detroit after 5am local time. During checkin I noticed there were exit seats open all over the place, so I grabbed the three right by the door for us and I was in heaven with all the leg room. Got a good hour or two of sleep in on the plane. Got back to Detroit on time, were picked up by Rose, drove back to Lindsay’s place, and I was on the road back to Saginaw. Made it back around 8am. HOME SWEET HOME!

First Trip to Las Vegas: Final Thoughts

2006 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Winners

Nick MomrikLeave a comment

The 2006 World Series of Poker (WSOP) has been going on since June 26, 2006. A lot of new poker players are making names for themselves and a lot of professionals are adding to their poker resumes. Following is a list of those players who have taken home bracelets so far.

  1. $500 No-Limit Hold’em Casino Employee – Chris Gros
  2. $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em – Brandon Cantu
  3. $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold’em – Rafe Furst
  4. $1,500 Limit Hold’em – Kianoush Abolfathi
  5. $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em Short Handed 6/Table – Russ Boyd (Dutch Boyd)
  6. $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Mark Vos
  7. $3,000 Limit Hold’em – William Chen
  8. $2,000 Omaha High-Low 8/OB – Jack Zwerner
  9. $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Jeff Cabanillas
  10. $1,500 Seven Card Stud – David Williams
  11. $5,000 Omaha High-Low 8/OB – Sam Farha
  12. $1,500 Limit Hold’em – Bob Chalmers
  13. $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em – Max Pescatori
  14. $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em w/ Rebuys – Allen Cunningham
  15. $1,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold’em – Mary Jones
  16. $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha – Lee Watkinson
  17. $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Jon Friedberg
  18. $2,000 Pot-Limit Hold’em – Eric Kesselman
  19. $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em Seniors – Clare Miller
  20. $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. – David Reese (Chip Reese)
  21. $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em Short Handed 6/Table – William Chen
  22. $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Jeff Madsen

There are many more events to go before the $10,000 No-Limit Main Event even gets started on July 28, 2006. It’s scheduled to run through August 10, 2006 when we’ll have another world champion crowned.

List compiled from results at CardPlayer.

First Trip to Las Vegas: Day 4

Nick Momrik2 Comments

First Trip to Las Vegas: Day 1

First Trip to Las Vegas: Day 2

First Trip to Las Vegas: Day 3

Monday, July 3, 2006

I think I woke up around 9:30 or 10am. Grabbed some overpriced drugs from the hotel and headed to the pool. Start off with a large Bailey’s Irish Cream and coffee. After about 2 hours I head back to the room, shower, and nap for over an hour. I’m definitely coming down with something and coughing up a storm. Off to the poker room. Open seat at $4/8 so I take it. Juicy game but as has been the case the entire trip, I can’t get any cards. Plan was to meet the girls at 5:30 and head over to the Rio, but I can’t leave this game. They go, I stay.

I call pots I know I’ve lost. Donk away chips. Table turns to a full kill. I pick up Big Slick UTG on the first kill pot and raise. One caller in late position. On the Ace-high flop she says she wants to check it down, but I’m not having any part of that. I bet the entire way and she calls me down with Ace-Ten. Wow, I finally won a big pot!

Video Poker Straight FlushTalk to Jere at some point and plan is to meet him downtown at 8. I catch a cab and he’s waiting for the bus somewhere. Forgot to warn him the bus sucks. I grab the 99 cent shrimp cocktail at Golden Gate again. Sit at a nickle video poker machine and I get dealt a King-high straight flush. Jere arrives and I cash out. A full bucket of nickles spit out. Old school machine. $27 and change for a $7 profit.

We putz around since they’ve never been to Fremont Street and end up eating at a buffet somewhere for about $13. I’m the least hungry, but eat the most. I’m sick and need some energy. Five of us jump in a cab back to Excalibur and they all head off to bed by midnight since they have a wedding the next day. I head back to the poker room and play more $4/8. Lose more and head back to the room around 2:30 sick as a dog.

First Trip to Las Vegas: Day 5

First Trip to Las Vegas: Day 6

First Trip to Las Vegas: Final Thoughts