Episode #125: Biloxi poker report

MAIN TOPIC

Scott jets off to Biloxi and New Orleans for a weekend of poker and more, and reports back on just how great Biloxi is as a poker destination now post-Katrina. Click here to listen to the show, and click here to read Scott's earlier post about the trip, which deals with non-poker stuff.

Before Hurricane Katrina, Biloxi proper has just two poker rooms (with two more in Gulfport). But now, you'll find poker at five rooms in Biloxi: IP, Boomtown, Isle of Capri, Hard Rock and Beau Rivage, as well as some rooms on the way to New Orleans: Hollywood and Silver Slipper in Bay St. Louis and, of course, Harrah's in New Orleans. In Biloxi, the best action seems to be at IP (which is moving to a new room soon) and Beau Rivage. Harrah's in New Orleans always seems to be rockin'.

OTHER TOPICS

What's this razz game? Scott loses to trips in razz. Twice. Wonder why we hate this game.

AIPS/satellites: Reminder about the last two AIPS events, and Scott's in deep for the Main Event, taking at least five satellites to win his $26 seat. Ouch. But here's the thing - how deep do you get yourself in with satellites before you buy yourself into the event? What do you think?

What would you have done? Scott had this situation in a $1-$5 stud game at the Hard Rock. On 5th Street, he completes his Broadway, and raises an initial bettor who had a pair of 9s on 4th Street. Four players see 6th Street, including a player in between the 9s and Scott who has three diamonds on board. On 6th Street, the 3-diamond dude picks up his fourth, and bets out after the 9s check. Do you throw your Broadway away like Scott did?

Reserve your seat: If you don't want to get off your rump and sign yourself up for a live tournament, ptseats.com will do it for you. It'll cost you 3-6 percent of the entry fee.

Hilton room closes: The poker room at the Las Vegas Hilton is no more. Sign of the beginning of a poker downturn, or just a symptom of bad location?

WPT wants your opinion: The World Poker Tour is surveying its viewers. We were underwhelmed by the depth in what appears to be a survey more about gaining marketing information.

High Stakes Poker/Golf: Chris was less than impressed with the degree of difficulty on the course on the High Stakes Entertainment Golf Tour, but he's giddy as all get out over $500,000 buy-in week on High Stakes Poker.

Hotline: Jesse from Virginia shares some good news about Lee Childs.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: The people have spoken, and One-Eyed Jack's in Sarasota has switched from a timed rake to a pot rake on its no-limit games. Also, the Battle of the Bay - a tournament pitting the best players from One-Eyed Jack's, Tampa Bay Downs' Silks and Tampa Greyhound Track's Lucky's - is on tap.

OMM: The conclusion of the One Minute Mystery shows that we shouldn't have been scared of the straight and bet those trip 10s.

HAND OF THE WEEK

Michael from Australia sends us a hand that's worth considering as much on the merits of the tournament situation as it is for the actual hand. He's in a winner-take-all, 372-player satellite of a live pub poker event. (Winner gets a seat in the Aussie Millions Main Event).

Players start with only 2,500 in chips, and we're in the second, 20-minute level (50/100). Michael has 3,300 in chips and, with two black kings, opens the pot in middle position for 500. The small blind, with 3,800 in chips, is the only caller. The SB checks the rainbow flop of 2-4-6, and Michael bets about half of the pot (500) and is called. The turn brings a dreaded Ace, and the SB again checks. Michael now bets 1,000 and the SB calls.

The river is a Queen, and now the SB puts Michael all-in for his last 1,500. Michael, figuring he didn't have enough chips remaining to fight in this top-heavy prize structure, calls and loses to A-6 - two pair.

While we roundly criticize the play of our hero's opponent (calling a preflop raise from the SB with what is essentially a flush draw hand will make you go broke), we disagreed on Michael's play. Scott would have bet big on the flop, reasoning that you need to chip up quickly in a winner-take-all MTT. Chris would have played it much like Michael, though he would have pushed on the turn.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW

Chris calls in from Connecticut, Foxwoods and the World Poker Tour.

- SCOTT

Comments

[Mike F.]

Just satellited into the AIPS main event in my first try with an $8+0.70 two-table SNG. First time in a while I have been able to "fold into the money." Picked up KK early and ended up all-in against 66 (he didn't improve). A little later I get A3 in the blind, flop two pair and get all-in after the turn brings a K. He of course has AK, but I river a 3. I will never complain about bad beats again.From there, I played ONE more hand. I had 99 and doubled up a guy whose AQ outflopped me. After that, with about 6K in chips, I shut it down for the remainder of the tourney, folding 88, 44, AQ and every other hand till we got to token time. I would have played AA, KK, or QQ, but that's it. I didn't call an extra 400 from the blinds when a short stack shoved and I was holding T4. NO MORE DOUBLE UPS FROM ME, BOYS.As to the question Scott posed, if I didn't cash in my first try I'd probably just buy in directly.

[Rasputin]

How did y'all get Hannibal Lecter to narrate the one minute mystery?

[Chris Cosenza]

We have connections. Actually, we had the perfect impressionist lined up but Hanibal ate him. So we had to give him the job.

[Paboo]

Silks room at Tampa Downs also got rid of their timed rake as well. Yes!

Paboo

[Chris Cosenza]

ARMS RAISED IN A V!

[Blazman]

So, you are looking forward to taking my money... I wish you luck with that, you're going to need it. I am going on Tuesday to play some satellites. If all goes well I won't even be there on Friday.

-Blaz

[Marky]

Are people not taking advantage of the FTP free satellites for 600 FTP points? I was able to satellite in for free, basically by winning this one table SNG. It wasn't the best played tournament in the world considering nobody had paid to enter, but who can argue with free?? So I'm freerollin' in the main event now!

[Rant2112]

I'm saving my FTP points to get poker books so no FTP point sats for me.

How many satellites before just buying in?
If I think I'm +EV in the satellites then I'll keep doing them. You have to be careful not to trick yourself into thinking you are +EV when you really aren't of course.

If you really are +EV, and the +EV is worth the time you spend playing the sat, then keep on playing the sats. It doesn't matter if you just lost the last 10 you entered.

[Slickcity]

Been travelling, but had to get back to the boards ASAP. Yes, yes, yes to the daily show!!!!!! I go through DTs all week waiting for the show to be posted on Friday. Work Friday dragsssss... on forever waiting for the posting. If you guys can do it, let the nation know how we can support you to make it happen.

Yahoo!!!!!

[n00bzor]

That would most likely be Guy Laliberté, owner of Circque de Soleil, who would only be interested in playing in the $500k buy-in version of High Stakes Poker.