Some days M&Ms melt in your hand

Above: Some of the 220 runners in Event No. 4 (the Seniors) at the Gulf Coast Poker Championships.

Things didn't go very well for me in Monday's poker event. The second level (blinds 50/100) a player raised to 300 and two called to me on the button. I had ♥J ♦10 and also called. The flop was 10-X-X and the original raiser made a CB of 800. The other two folded and I called. The turn was great: ♣J!

The villain bet 1200 and I called. He seemed confident, but I had a little surprise for him. The river was a rag that couldn't have helped either of us and he bet 3000! I shrugged and (cautiously) only called. He turned over ♣10 ♠10 for a flopped top set.

It was unfortunate that not only did he have a strong hand, but the turn hit me. Thinking about it later, I wondered if I should have raised the turn. Even so, I'll still end up losing about half my stack.

My ex-wife plays poker, and when I discussed it with her later, she thought I made a loose call pre-flop. Do you agree with her? I was on the button and we were deep-stacked, so I thought it was a normal call, but maybe not.

I built my stack back up, but several other unfortunate hands left me short-stacked during level 6 and I shoved with 7-7 and got a call from a big stack with ♠J ♠9 and he hit a 9 to take me out.

Geezers: They wore headphones, sun glasses and ballcaps, just like the young guns. I did think they were a friendly bunch -- lots of joking around and having fun. One guy spotted a Tournament Director who was female.

"Massage lady, over her," he called out jokingly.

"F**K you," she mouthed. Apparently they knew each other and she was smiling.

"Yes, that works!" he exclaimed. "My day is getting better and better!"


There were vendors including a crew, shown above, who took photos for the players to purchase.


Above: I believe I read that the Beau Rivage (they call it "The Beau") was originally a Wynn property. No wonder it's so gorgeous.


They sold sun glasses and the guy above is trying on a $100 pair. Maybe if I had won, I would have splurged and bought a pair? Nah, probably not.