A few days ago Flynn and Ollie found themselves at the Muckleshoot Casino, in the temporary poker room. This in itself is an oddity, as the last time they were there the experience was not the best ~ very smokey, had to walk to the main cashier cage to get and cash out chips, disgruntled servers and dealers. Frankly, F&O had not intended to return until they had moved to wherever the new (permanent) digs landed. But, Flynn, drunk as usual, got a wild feather and determined that the Muck was the place to play that day (after a hike at Point Defiance). Off they went.
Construction at the property is in full swing. The place is a mess. We believe they are building a hotel, but frankly have not bothered to ask. They know its a mess: as a concession they have fee-free ATMs throughout the casino. The poker room is still in the old Galaxy club, which is still in the middle of the smoking section, ergo nearly negating the non-smoking policy of the room itself (think Orleans). Fortunately they have half-remedied the cash-> chip problem: they have a desk in the poker room where they sell chips. Sadly, they don’t cash them out ~ one still has to walk to the main cage.
A few other small differences: they are running a consistent 1/3 NLHE (really spread limit due to WA state law) game. In years past, this was not a regular thing. The smallest NL game in the old days was 2/5. Of this, F&O are appreciative, since 1/3 is Flynn’s game of choice. The staff is happier, and the room is running smoother. There were more poker players playing poker. Last change for those not there in a while: they have had a chip swap. Flynn attempted to slide in an old $1 chip into a pot and was told they had been changed out over a year ago and were no longer redeemable. Huh ~ don’t recall that, as F&O were there less than a year ago. No doubt the non-redeemable part is true, however the time-frame is off and we were certainly never notified last visit. Since it’s a buck, we shall let it slide this time.
F&O both wanted to play 1/3 when we arrived, but were wait-listed. Biding our time at 4/8 limit, Ollie increased his starting stack, while Flynn lost a rack slowly before finally being called to 1/3. Shortly thereafter, they started a new table of 1/3, so Ollie moved there ~ and ideal situation so F & O don’t battle it out at the same table and end up fighting in the car on the way home.
In reality, not so ideal for Ollie, who had a crazy loose table, and lost not only his profit but then some on flopped nut straights (raised a hefty sum) against runner-runner flushes calling all the way. So frustrating, but we all have those days. Sorry Ollie!
Flynn had the opposite result:
1st hand played: 3rd hand seen at the table: get AA & bet 4BB early position, got 2 callers. Flop Axx. Bet 1/2 pot. Player A calls, Player B folds. Turn is a K, bet $50, A calls. River is a nothing, no straight, no flush possibilities. Flynn bets 80, Player B snap shoves. Flynn (doing the “yippeeeeeeeee dance inside) snap calls for his remaining $40 or so. Player B triumphantly shows KK, for his set of Ks. Flynn tried to beat him to show, as he hates slow slow rolls, so it was about a tie. A didn’t even try to hide his disgust. 1 hand later, picked up his remaining $16 and went to the loose crazy table.
Now, we all know this is the absolute most perfect scenario possible. Flynn didn’t have to do any soul reading, had no decisions to make, and betting strategy was fairly straight-forward. What was fun about the experience (other than doubling up) was the table-talk after the hand. Other players relayed that A had not played a single hand in 2 hours, to which Flynn replied that he probably should have forewarned the table that he ‘only plays aces’. The usual banter ensued about this, and everyone had a good chuckle.
2nd hand played: Flash forward 15 minutes, and about 8 hands later. You guessed it: AA early position. Raise 4BB again. Can’t say Flynn didn’t warn them. 2 callers (different players than last time). Flop is garbage, bet 1/2 pot. Called by A, B folds <- deja vu. Turn, garbage ~ bet $40 (after all, no ace on the flop or turn this time). River was also nothing major, there may have been a runner runner straight option there, but that would have been a stretch for this game. Flynn can absolutely tell that A is gonna call, maybe even raise, but no guts no glory. He can’t help but wonder about 2 pair or a flopped set at this point, as A has not flinched getting his chips in to call previous bets. Flynn bets somewhere around 1/2 pot, maybe even only $40 again figuring if A misses, A is throwing it away, and if he hit, Flynn loses minimum. Oddly, A rapidly calls. Eh? Seems a clear raise or fold there, but.. okay. Flynn flips over AA, and Player A tosses em in face down in the muck. Obviously, the table goes crazy with the ‘only plays aces’ comments. Add another hundo to Flynn’s stack. In retrospect, A likely hit top pair (like a 10?) w/top kicker, or had a pocket pair like J’s or 9s.
3rd hand played: Hang out a bit, lose some blinds, keep the table talking and 30 mins later see As10c. It’s a small raise to stay in, under $10. Since both cards are black, it’s like having suited cards in Flynn’s brain. So, he calls, and is the only one to do so. 3 spades on the flop. Flynn, 1st to act, checks. Villain bets about $15 ish. Flynn, drunk as always, can’t remember which is a spade and which is a club, so he looks at his cards, thinks about 5 seconds, and then calls. Now, anyone who knows anything about poker knows this means A) Flynn is double-reverse-tricky-upside-down giving off fake tells, or B) he can’t remember which of his cards are a club. <-the right answer. Turn is a club. Villain bets another $15 ish, Flynn sighs and “reluctantly” calls. Seriously folks, since he is drunk, Flynn has a hard time pulling this one off without laughing. Anyway, river is a non club. Flynn bets about $15 to get the call, villain complies and throws his cards in the muck face down when he sees the Ac. Add another $50 or so to the stack.
4th hand played: Flynn continues to make jokes about only playing aces for the next hour a while losing blinds, not calling any pre-flop raises, and limping one or two times with marginal cards then throwing them away. Eventually he sees 77. Well, gotta play for realz sometime, so he called a small pre-flop raise, it’s heads up & flop comes 8 10 10. Opponent bets about $15, but like a good reader of souls, Flynn calls. You know, cause there is a pair on the board, all over-cards and there was a raise… that’s why. Turn is a Q. Opponent bets ~ likely in neighborhood of $30 if memory serves. Since Flynn is so good at this game ~ what can he beat? A-x or lower pocket pair? No way this guy is betting out thinking he is beat by Flynn, but the dumb drunk bird calls anyway. River is a pretty 7. Opponent shoves instantly. No brainer, right? Well, this is a bird brain in this hand. Flynn freezes. Was he beat the whole way? Did the villain have 8’s or 10’s or even Qs? He sorta played like he did. Think, bird, think. The story fit. Flynn asks Villain flat out “do you have 8 8 “? Villain slowly smiles. Thank you! Flynn may be drunk, but he’s read the books. Just as Flynn is cutting the right # of chips out to call (had V covered by a mile), the dealer calls the floor. Flynn freezes again. Eh, what’s up? Floor shows up and says Flynn has 30 seconds to act. Mind you, no one at the table called the clock. Flynn instantly throws out one chip to call. Villain says ‘if you have a full house, you win”. Flynn shows, villain shows J 9 for the straight on the turn. Add another hundo to the stack. Guy should have never smiled.
Alright, boys and girls. Flynn has NEVER had a clock called on him. Okay, once a long time ago @ the Orleans, but that was a cheap shot by an opponent. What is up, dealer? Turns out they use a shot clock on every decision, for one minute with a 30 second extension countdown by the floor. Tanking is dumb in a low stakes game, and F&O wholeheartedly support this. Flynn did not ask, but it can be assumed that this has to do with preventing players from stalling for the 20 minute high-hands. The ‘off’ part of this is that a) the clock had not been utilized the entire time F&O were there that we observed (no one ever tanked?), and b) the dealer told Flynn that he had actually given Flynn 2 minutes prior to calling the floor. Generous of him, but several other players chimed in unsolicited that the clock was called prematurely (Flynn didn’t complain nor argue when it happened). Even they didn’t believe a single minute had passed. Whatever the situation, it was unexpected and initially unnerving to having a floor called when you don’t know why. Especially when you are drunk and crushing it.
The moral of the story is that in 4 hands, and about an hour and half, Flynn cashed out $400+ to the good. He scooped up Ollie, patted him consolingly on the shoulder, and they headed off to Frugal’s for a mushroom Swiss burger before heading home.
One question for the readers: Hand histories, yes or no? Too much? Should it be two different articles? Want poker room reviews separate from the actual play? If you don’t respond with feedback, the Chronicle will continue to fumble around in the dark.
Fin
Flynn