TR SNIPPET THE PLAZA POKER

With four sons I drove down to the Plaza to play the video poker and live poker on the Pro Poker machines.

We found the poker room still only doing tournaments, not cash. It was Friday night and the tournament seven had been canceled due to no players. The next was to be in an hour, but two of us decided not to play, and to play video poker there and at Main Street Station instead.

We did find full pay video poker and that kept us happy for the hour wait.

VP fives story. Complained about them all day and then they hit. Dana hit quad fours on the Double Bonus. He was quite happy. He said you never break up a made hand. I told him exceptions. I'm certain he does not play three to the flush with a high card, think about flush penalties when playing Aces big or consider the changes in strategy caused by a nine as a penalty card.

No one won much money. Dana and Frank passed on playing the tournament and walked down to play JOB at Main Street Station. They had a grand time with an old guy they met down there who ended up being a bit of a racist, especially where Asians were concerned. That shocked them. They enjoyed him as an odd character, however.

They then were hungry and went for a bite at the Triple Seven. Frank was disappointed in his hot dog, but Dana liked the pot stickers.

The attendant at the tournament was a great fellow, very friendly and easy going.

Drinks now are limited to one free drink and afterwards all drinks are two dollars. I wondered how long they could offer free drinks on such a low stakes game.

He tossed in some free coupons.

I was the first to be eliminated and that took over an hour. I just did not get cards to play.

I am always surprised that there are not more aggressive players at this game, players who go all in often and either get in a serious game or are eliminated and play something else. While it was a twenty dollar tournament, it was played as seriously as a much higher stakes game except there was much more talking.

The table did a good bit of banter. There was a long discussion on whether there was any food whatsoever that could not be combined with bacon. Some had seen bacon iced cream. Some had tasted bacon milk shakes.

Most were young players but one Veteran was there in his cart. He was in interesting guy. He had driven trucks for a living, but would not drive in Vegas. Too many crazy drivers. He mentioned the number of pedestrian deaths and how amazing that seemed. He also told a great story of getting fined for jaywalking on his little scooter. He laughed a lot. I liked him.

He lived in Vegas because he had decided to go to Hawaii and this was as far as he got. He liked it so much that he decided to stay and had been there two years that felt like just a few weeks. He still had not seen all he wanted to see. He was a happy man.

Before Vegas he had been living in Niagara Falls in an old house that was built before the turn of the century with fine and solid old wood. He sold the house for dollar to a homeless guy he knew who really needed it and he came West.

We did not talk about his service.

A bit after eleven we headed home. It was to be a very confusing and frustrating drive. I kept missing the turns.

The first part was great, full of amazing raucus banter. When three brothers get together, they are great fun. It is amazing how a blended family like this could so fully bond with each other, enjoy each other, support each other. There are very few tensions between these men and I think they will age together joyfully, although they seldom manage a reunion.

This was special too because there were no women with us and no children.

The birthday boy was missing, off playing 2-5 no limit poker. That was a shame, but he does not like low stakes.

SECOND VISIT

I also played at the Plaza in a $40 tournament. I did well and thought I had a chance, but was eliminated. This tournament had $5 bounties, so at least I got one of those and reduced the price. With ten players they had a guaranteed payout of $500. One winner. The competition is a bit tough. There are regulars and two of the poker room managers and one girlfriend play there as well. Still, I did not feel they were formidible, just good players.

I have yet to win one of these tournaments, but I like them. They are great to play on a short bankroll. However, they are not popular.

Soon they will start a cash game. It will be 1-1 no limit with quarter and fifty cent blinds. That should be interesting. If they get any players regularly, there should be a game that can be joined with no minimum.