I hit the casino again on Wednesday night. This time I finished work at a reasonable hour and managed to get the to poker room around 9.15pm. There was a £50 re-buy taking place and the cash tables were not open. I now realise the cash tables only open once the dealers have been released from tourney duty. As it was a re-buy, less players had been knocked out and I guessed I’d have to wait a lot longer. Therefore I put my name on the waiting list and went and sat down in the bar to watch the end of the Chelsea – Everton game.

Once this finished I decided to watch the PL £1-£2 HE & Omaha (alternates every rotation) table. There was a heated discussion between a few smokers about when they should go for cigarette breaks. Apparently, there were two players already outside having a break when another player gets up to go. A fourth player starts moaning because he had been waiting to leave for a break, but felt he should wait until one of the other players got back first. The other guy said he didn’t care and if he wanted a break he would simply get up and walk out. A few others then join in saying the game a shambles when so many players leave.
Someone else then decides that he wants to make a statement by folding every hand until he’s ‘allowed’ to go for a break. It was very exciting and in all-fairness, better than the football!

At around 10.50 they open a £0.25-£0.50 NLHE cash table and I am one of the first to sit down.

Just like last week it becomes apparent the level isn’t too difficult to beat. Most players, (and I mean most players) like to see the flop. Last week this meant I limped a lot of hands pf with connectors, miss-one-connectors, and any pocket pair. At the time I thought this was the best tactic as I got fantastic odds to see the flop. However after thinking about it during the week, I realized I was leaking too much money and decided to tighten up.

Within minutes it was pretty much ‘business as usual’. Ten players sat around a table and most were throwing chips into the centre quicker than the dealer could scoop them in.

Just in case you are not convinced by the standard, may be an example would help. It was around 10 minutes into the game when one of the players raises to £5 pre-flop. So far every flop had at least 4 participants, this one was no exception. The flop is K93, the turn a 6 and the river a 2. There’s betting on all three streets. At the showdown, the guy who initially raises to £5 preflop shows pocket aces. Another guy shows 39 giving him two-pair.

So I knew it was a pretty shit standard and that it would be hard to push anyone off a hand. I waited 15 minutes to play a hand and when it arrived I was in position. Ace-Jack of diamonds on the button with 6 limpers would usually be a good position to raise. However knowing the form, I was expecting at least three callers, so decided to limp and see a cheap flop. I hit a Jack on the flop giving me top pair top kicker; one of the cards was a diamond. There’s a bit of betting, I flat call. The turn is another diamond and the river another Jack. One guy bets a bit, a few others fold, I raise he calls. I show my trips, he mucks.

Over the next hour I limp a few times, I miss the flop every time and fold to small bets.

My final money making hand of the night comes around midnight. I get dealt 56 hearts on the cut off. Once again there are around 7 limpers. I limp too. The flop is AJ7 with two hearts everyone checks. The turn is a 4 giving me a straight and flush draw. The guy to my right bets pretty big, I call, everyone else folds. The river is a heart. The other guy pushes all in, for a pretty small amount and I don’t even need to think about calling.

I push my money into the middle. He declares “I have Ace-King giving me top pair top kicker”. I tell him I have the flush. He immediately looks at the board, says “There’s a flush?”

I pick up a £30 pot.

Shortly afterwards I leave £31 up.

I felt a lot more comfortable this time and can’t wait until next week.