A couple of people that I really trust informed me that the side games at the Rio were extremely juicy. I figured I had better find out for myself because it's possible they are just huge luckboxes or could be trying to "fleece" me (He knows who he is, he may even blog on this site) Typically, you can find LA Mike slinging virtual chips around on Full Tilt somewhere in the range of $2-$4 and $3-$6 no limit hold'em. It simply depends on the day and how well I feel like I'm playing/running etc.
But today was the day to give LA Mike's fans a chance to play with him live. Play, chat and get berated by LA Mike. I ventured down to the Amazon Room. Joey Stapes, the host of Pokerwire Radio, asked if he could get a percentage of me. Usually I play solely with my own money in cash games but what the hell, he's a great guy. (Even though, he ditched me for lunch earlier in the day and forced me to eat all alone with a small child) I proceeded to the cash game area and put my initials on the list. The list was 7432093209 people long but the lady who wrote them down said a new game would likely be starting soon. LA Mike waited patiently and then waited some more. Finally, a couple of new $2-$5 tables opened so I jumped into one. Chips please!
After I secured my $500 in chips I was ready to go. Typically, I don't like to get too involved or crazy until I see how the table is playing. I waited one hand and took my big blind. Everyone folded around to the cutoff position who made it $20 and started a parade of callers. The button and small blind called so there was no way in hell I was dropping my J
9. The flop came J
9
2
and I had visions of raking a monster pot. So much for not getting too involved early on. Everyone checked around to the button who bet $65. The small blind immediately mucked and I decided to raise to $165. Before it was even the button's turn to act, he starts asking "how much, how much?" I seriously thought he was going to have a heart attack. The cutoff mucked and the button said "I'm all in". His actions alone allowed me to keep from being stacked off. I knew he had a set of some sort. I mucked my hand and he couldn't show me 22 quick enough. Thanks to his behavior at the table I only lost $185 on the hand instead of $500. Obviously, not the start we were looking for but I felt fortunate to only be down about $200.
I play pretty tight for the next hour or so, getting a bunch of crap for the most part. I took one pot down with the A9 when the flop brought two clubs. A relatively small pot but a step in the right direction. This is about the time when my grilled cheese sandwich began to really upset my stomach. The pain was getting worse and worse. It was go time! (Note: LA Mike is OCD and hates the filth of public restrooms) The haul to the privacy of my own bathroom is miles away or at least it seems. Meanwhile, the pain is getting more and more intense. I'm positive I'm not going to make it. But I'm OCD so I suck it up. Ahhh, finally the relief of my own bathroom.
After about a 30-minute break, I return to my table to a dealer "push". For the love of god, what a terrible dealer push it happened to be. I was sitting in the nine seat and this dealer had serious body odor. Bad Beat Sir! I mean, this guy smelled like he'd bathed in puke. He did deal me a one monster hand with KQ and I doubled up when I made trip queens. My opponent had the queen as well but only an eight kicker. LA Mike's fans began chanting at that point.
(At this point, I took a break to sweat Pokerwire Radio's Gavin Smith, as he was heads-up for a bracelet in the $1500 PL Hold'em event.) He ended up losing a race on the final hand when his 55 ran into A10 all in preflop. Good game, great start to the series! You'll get that bracelet soon enough.
I returned to my table and played one more hand of consequence. The guy under the gun decided to "live straddle" to $10, it folded around to me and I looked down at KK. I popped it up to $30 and got called in two spots. The flop came KQ10, it checked around to me and I bet $60. I was immediately min-raised to $120. The third guy mucked and after seeing the guy had about $350 total, I went ahead and pushed in. He called but wouldn't flip over his hand. The turn and river came 77 and my kings full won me a very nice pot.
That was essentially the end of my session. Personally, I saw a few strange plays but nothing too horrible. Definitely a few people who couldn't for the life of them lay down a draw no matter how much you bet. No pot odds...who cares!
Everyone's favorite writer, Alex Henriquez is waiting for me to post this and nobody keeps the "DA" waiting. Although, he might keep you waiting from time to time.
PS...Before you ask, yes I gave Joey Stapes his cut after I cashed out, he made a few bucks too. No fleece job from LA Mike!
-LA Mike for Pokerwire.com
