- All In Poker -
I have always loved playing checkers, chess, crossword puzzles and other game challenges. As an adult, I have also enjoyed playing 21 Blackjack and other casino games for entertainment. Although Blackjack has always fascinated me due to its betting odds and mathematical probabilities, it has also been an enjoyable form of entertainment when going to places like Las Vegas, Nevada.
Yet gambling games like Blackjack can be rewarding enough for some to make a living playing these gambling games. Blackjack is a card game that has some of the best odds for the players, and if a skilled enough player can learn some of the higher skills like card counting and money management, then such a skilled player can actually turn the odds in their favor over the house (casino) and make some money.
Then there are games like poker, with the most popular version of poker being No Limit Texas Hold'em. This is the version of poker games you might see televised on late night TV or on some cable channels. In Texas Hold'em Poker, you don't play against the dealer (casino) but rather against the other players seated at the table. Typically there are 9 players to a table.
I learned to play Texas Hold'em No Limit poker with family and friends. Then as the game became more and more popular, eventually landing on TV and cable channels, I became more interested in the game because it had both the element of mathematical probabilities along with the unpredictable human psyche. I then began learning about poker both by studying as well as playing. I also watched poker on TV or cable whenever I could.
I finally felt comfortable enough to play a real life Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament after countless hours of reading and practicing online on websites like Pokerstars. In that tournament there were 72 players across 8 tables. I felt both nervous and excited and eventually settled into a nice groove. After several hours of play I was still playing on one of the last two tables left. I wound up placing 11th of 72 players and just 1 seat shy of placing in the money. I felt vindicated since their were some naysayers thinking I was wasting my time.
That tournament took place several years ago. I have since played a few cash games in Las Vegas whenever I have gone there. I have also played online, most recently on the Zynga Poker app. I have taken up reading up on some poker strategy as well as perfecting my game on Zynga Poker. I have played enough games online, and done well enough that I finally decided to try another live poker tournament at a local casino.
So a few nights ago I went for a late nite tournament on a weeknight, figuring that there would be less players. Fortunately for me, there were only 16 players, with a total of 26 buy-ins and rebuys, that showed up for this tournament. The bad thing was that they were all pretty good players, so this would take a while.
Cutting to the highlights, my night actually almost ended early about half way through the tournament. I had pockets Jacks when I called. A few other players called then another went All In. It was now my turn, and since I was one of the shorter chip stacks figured I'd go all in too. So I called out "All in." Everyone else folded and it was head to head. The other player quickly turned over his pair of Kings, dominating my pair of Jacks.
The flop came like a sharp dagger, King, 3, 7. Now the other player had a set of Kings, and my night was done. Or so I thought, because on the turn came a Jack. Now, it was 3 Kings vs. 3 Jacks, which meant I was still beat with only one card left. At this point, there was only one card in the whole deck that could save me. And that was another Jack.
The River card was turned and it was Quad Jacks for me. The other player with Three Kings muttered a few choice words and practically ran away from the table. I was in total disbelief as much as the rest of the table. This win practically insured me a place at the final table, although that was not a guarantee to place in the money. So I would still have to play well to place in the money.
Nothing to dramatic happened until the sixth player left. Now it was just five of us left, and we were all in the money. I was feeling pretty good entering the fifth hour of the tournament. I looked around to size up everyones' chip stack and then the cards were dealt.
I peered at pocket Ace's and waited for the action. The first player to call goes All In. I have no choice but to go all in with my two Aces. Everyone including the blinds fold. It is now head to head. So I turn over my pockets Aces to oohs and aahhs, and the other player turns over Ace with a four off-suit. So I am feeling pretty good but with a sense of foreboding as well. So I contain the excitement of seeing my dominant hand.
The flop comes Ace, two, and three. I gulp seeing the two and three, completely ignoring the fact that I now had three aces. Yes I was winning but the river had been brutal several times tonight, including when I hit my quad Jacks on the river earlier in the night. So knowing this I contained my excitement again.
The river did not disappoint, and it cracked my pocket Aces. A five on the river gave the other player a straight, killing my set of Aces. Now I was only left with a few blinds and ante's worth of chips. Two or three hands later I was all in, and out. I lost and placed 5th in the tournament, putting me in the money.
Although I did not win the tournament, I did gain a lot of experience and confidence. I plan to play on a few more tournaments, so I will post on those tournament experiences when they happen.
A Side Note - NoLimitCoin
While I was at the casino, I noticed on one of the large TV displays was a game of poker. I also noticed on that on the upper right of the screen was a small add for NoLimitCoin. Now I do not know much about NoLimitCoin, it just surprised me to see an ad for cryptocurrency next to a live poker game.
NoLimitCoin (NLC2) is listed on Coinmarketcap.com at number 471 with a market capitalization of around $12.5
million dollars. It is supposed to be listed on the Hitbtc exchange soon, while currently trading on some smaller exchanges. It seems they will be offering a poker game soon as well. This might be a coin to pay attention to as well.
Img Src: