Independance Day

Dealers break out of your old mold and feel free to become a professional. Dealing may just be a job to you but consider making it a profession!

I wrote about the players with bad attitudes but there is also the other side of the table. Many dealers that I have worked with have had attitudes that a portion of the pot was owed to them because they delivered it. Many of these dealers are terrible tippers themselves. They are , as most of the players are, non professionals. I do believe that it is not the amount of time you put in but the knowledge, finesse & attitude you bring to the table. Some dealers are good at it and some dealers just pass out the cards. I think that dealers should be rewarded (tipped) or toked for their professionalism and the control of the game and protection of the players. If a dealer is argumentative and doesn't say thank you after a tip, I get up from the table or stiff the dealer. If I get lucky, I would rather save up my tips and over tip the good dealers. In a perfect world this would happen.

To these dealers, if I could speak to them, I say; Leave your attitudes at home when you come to work. Keep your head down and deal, say thank you every time you make a toke and look that person in the eye. If you make your living from tips then you should have the attitude that every player there is paying your rent. Also in these times, be thankful that you have a job where you make cash everyday. Some people don't have this luxury and have to wait two weeks to get paid. Dealers have good jobs in general. Learn to take the good with the bad but don't let your players cross the line. Good contol keeps the game pleassant and fair for everyone. Call your floorman when you see a problem arising and let them take the heat.

I have gone through the births of three children and raised them on a poker dealers salary. Living and working in resort towns all over California, Nevada and Arizona, I have been called a vagabond dealer. The truth is that the action changes and you go where the money is. I went trough divorces and was able to move to a new area in casinos all over the country. When I first started their were not that many choices of places to deal poker. Now there is and I am thankful for the profession that got my kids through high school and one with a college degree. My kids are happy and I am grateful for the education that I recieved in the casino business, through all these years.

A change is coming

When are you too old to cry? When you can dress yourself and drive a car you are past the whining stage. Most times when a player cries to change the dealer, he is really the one who needs to be changed, I mean with a diaper! You are apparently requiring attention.

I know that the people that read my blog will agree because you guys are not the problem. It is one thing in gambling that has never changed. The players that feel some sort of entitlement or that they are the best and deserve to win every pot or at least all the big ones that they are in are the big cry babies. Everyone gets a huge bad beat every now and then. Face the facts, the runner runner straight or catching the case card to beat you is going to happen somewhere in your play. I could tell bad beat stories all day long but nobody that is a regular player really wants to hear your bad beats unless they had an investment in you.

I very rarely tell beat stories because they are so boorish. I do tell one story of the first time I played Hold-em. It was in Las Vegas 1974, No Limit Hold-em. I had watched & dealt to Puggy, Doyle, Slim, Moss and other world famous players for a couple of years. My friend talked me into playing in a soft game and went partners with me $250 each. He said just play tight. I waited for over an hour before I played my first hand. A K suited in first position. I raised to $80. I got two calls. The flop: Q J 10 rainbow. I bet $200 & got called in one spot. Next card 3, I went all in and was called by pocket Jacks and a J was the final card. Not really that bad of a beat because there were several cards he could catch to fill up. It was however a very bad beat to me. There was no way that I could have changed my way of betting or playing to win this hand. I didn't play Hold-em again for 14 years. Everyone now a days wants to play no limit and I prefer to stick with limit so I can't go broke in one hand. A small limit game is dangerous because too many players are in the pot.

A great example of players and their attitudes is the assumption that the ideal player would be a loose drunk who is flush! O.K. The loose drunk buys in with a huge bankroll AND he plays badly! Best case scenario, you stay out of his way! I've seen it happen a million times, maybe more, that the drunk gets a rush. He has no respect for money at this moment although he still desires to beat the players. If he has a long shot, he will ride that puppy to the end. He is slow and discombobulates some of the players. He changes the entire momentum of the game. The only thing you can do, unless you are beating him, is not to shoot at him. Play your best and you have to make a couple of long calls but you may be playing his game. He may have taken control and really is not that drunk at all. Sometimes when the game changes it is a good time to take a walk around the building or up & down the hall. Breaks help you to get away from the whole situation and regroup and change gears. Not advice, just experience.

If the drunk loses then everyone laughs at him in the front and/or behind his back. BUT if he wins you will see the personalities of the players who are not quite a "professional", as they may like to think. Turning into Phil Helmouth isn't an act to aspire to. Instead look to Doyle Brunson to be your mentor. He still has moxie and carries himself as a truly classy player.

Beleive in Forever

In the wake of Micheal Jackson's passing it is a sad time for music lovers everywhere. There was no greater music mentor in this generation. He was an icon of music just as Chip Reese was to cash games of any size. I knew Chip outside of the poker rooms and he did love music. The other tragedy was that Chips' son, Casey, died in 2009 after only 20 yrs. of life. They will not be forgotten and will surely be missed.

So many of my friends are gone now which pushes me to get my book finished before I join them. I recently read an article about Eric Drache who is also an icon of poker but from the inside. He has certainly been instrumental in the way that The World Series of Poker is run to this very day. He was dating my best friend in Las Vegas in the 70's. They were both from New Jersey. Patty was her name and she was a very beautiful girl who was murdered in her prime. She was one of the reasons that I could not live in Las Vegas anymore.

I met my first husband in Las Vegas who passed on in 2007. He was also a figure in the halls of Vegas history. In some circles he was NUMBER ONE! I miss all the dear souls who no longer travel the earth with me so I shall honor your memories and speak of you often.

If you believe in forever and there really is a rock 'n roll heaven, then you know some really wonderful spirits are enjoying a hell of a band. See ya when I see ya, but it may be a while :)

New York, New York

The City that never sleeps is an awesome place for people of any age to visit. The Grayline hop on and off tour buses were the greatest. We didn't do any Broadway shows or go shopping only because we just didn't have enough time. We toured for 2 days and nights, ate simply at deli's and pizzerias and stopped in a couple of night spots for libations. I think the most fun we had was in a little pub in Greenwich Village. The people were real and the beer was $2 until 9p.m. The hamburgers were the BEST ever and only $4. Our main transportation was on tour buses except for a couple of taxi rides. We never did the subway but we did take a peek. We will go back and try to see a few things that we just didn't have time for but we will stay in the same hotel at The Hilton Garden Inn. It was quiet yet still in the middle of the action. We were 10 minutes away from the train station and a couple of blocks from Times Square. We traveled by Amtrack and New Jersey Transit to Philly where we caught our plane back home. The transit system was clean with easy to follow schedules. It was a blast and we spent less than $2,000 (for two) on our 6 day trip from San Diego to Philly to Atlantic City to New York & back. We want to try it at Christmas next:)

Atlantic City

My husband and I went for a wedding of a very dear friend's son who is a poker dealer at The Borgota. We didn't play cards but Borgota was where all the Hold-em action was. The groomsmen where poker dealers too and what a nice clean cut bunch of young men. They knew their business and took their jobs very seriously. Unlike some of the dealers in San Diego who just go through the motions. The boardwalk was full of inexpensive tourist shops and the doors to the casinos. Our favorite was Bally's. It was small with a western motif and a snack bar with a relaxed atmosphere. Across the boardwalk was The Bally's Bikini Beach Bar, where we spent the better part of a beautiful day. The waitresses had the cutest costumes ( bikinis with sarongs) and the bar was an island hut inches from the sand. Although they bring the whole thing in when September comes, we were there at the perfect time.

The surrounding area was a little run down but not really scary (daytime). We visited the city a little more the next day and stopped for breakfast in Longport. This was the greatest beach city I have ever been to.

After the wedding, which was perfect, we took the train to NYC. Will blog about New York next :)

Salute to Annie Duke The Peoples Choice Award for Celebraty Apprentece

You have got to be kidding! Of course it is just t.v. but we would like a little fairness in our reality shows. Annie Duke was clearly the winner of the show. Joan Rivers was clearly a friend or at least premeditated winner, of Donald Trump. If these two think like they look then reality has never set in. They may be rich but what do you think they're going to look like in another 5 years? Annie Duke will still be smart and normal. They will still be a couple of rich freaks. Criticizing someones looks is not my forte' BUT, give me a break. These people are in the limelight and they are both downright scary looking. The more I watched the show with Joan Rivers throwing her drink all over the room and herself, walking out of the show behind her spoiled brat daughter and calling one contestant a whore and one white trash, was good t.v. Good drama but not very good for your image Joan. Annie took charge and tried to do everything herself. That was where she failed, she needed to use her team more even if it was the freakish daughter of the monster.

This blog is just the ravings of an unsatisfied reality show watcher. By the way that was and will be the first and last time I watch that show.

Annie you are a great player with good marketing skills all the while taking care of 4 children. I salute you!

Sin City? Tijiana?

Why would anyone want to take their children to a place called SIN CITY? Because there are roller coasters? Because you can leave (dump) them at the arcade while you gamble? Because they will grow up wanting to go back where their parents took them when they were young. Young parents really need to think about that! I can't even imagine the gambling world in the next 10 years.

Two decades ago it was an electrifying , exciting and an elaborate neon land of enchantment transporting us to a mesmerizing, sorta wild showplace. Big shows and the introduction to very exciting visual simulations with an emphases on adult entertainment.

Going back to over three decades showed us a mob influenced Vegas when it wasn't what you knew but who. There was always a glamours kind of a red carpet feeling everywhere on the strip. There were no baby strollers in sight ANYWHERE near a casino. Food was cheap and you could get a $2 steak dinner at Binions Horseshoe, downtown. Casino rates for players were very good and meals were complimentary or very inexpensive. No administrator was needed to look at your players card. Your time spent gambling wasn't tracked. In those days the players face was all that was needed. It was known as a place for adults in a gambling town with free liqueur and legal prostitution (in the state) . Although the town was started with mobsters, hustlers, loan sharks, bookies, prostitutes, drug users and sellers and entertainers, it was an adult town for adults. They knew it was not a place for children and it wasn't marketed as such. It was a town that was a business that supplied all the needs of the gambler in this industry; gambling.

Now, the conglomerates have thrown kids into the mix. Why not, you know there is a market. Not only did Las Vegas thrive, it grew and grew. You have to dance through baby strollers around every corner of your hotel and if you make it to the outside of the building you must be prepared to cartwheel through the parade of clickers on the street. These are guys and gals who look like illegals, who flood the streets with girlie flyer's. They get close to you and slap the flyer's on the backs of their arms and hands to make a snapping noise. This should then make you want to stop and receive this flier and of course, make tracks to find this seedy establishment. Right! They are not allowed, by law, to speak or bark at you so they just snap to get your attention.

Never again will we walk the strip. It was close to being in TJ. The feeling was creepy and uncomfortable, trying to avoid lines of these people on every block.

My advice is to stay in the hotel you reserved and only venture to the other casinos that are connected within yours. Cabs are crazy with a line outside every casino for them and the traffic is always terrible.

Other than that Vegas is a hoot!!!

Old girl in New Las Vegas

Just got back from Las Vegas and was very disappointed. Not because I lost money, I didn't. We stayed at The Luxor, thought the pyramid power would make us lucky. The card room there was very slow and the dealers came from another world then mine. One live game during the day and 6 or 7 after midnight. They had 1 & 2 table shootouts every couple of hours all day long. It was more a house of sit & go's, which is not what I came to Vegas to play. There was a connection to The Mandalay Bay where I wandered over to check out their card room. They had 2 or 3 games, early in the day. The staff there was better and a little friendly. My husband, mother (known to others as Jeff) and I decided to play in a real card room and went over to The Bellagio. When we found the card room my mother said "now this is a card room". She is after all, used to playing in places like The Commerce in L.A. and Casino Arizona in Arizona, where she lives. The 1-3 no limit game was very dull and I wasn't getting anything to play so I moved to a 4-8 limit game. I won a couple of hundred and my husband lost and went back to our hotel. Jeff and I were hungry but there was no food service (except for the game in the glass room) for the card room. I asked the floor manager but he just directed me to the restaurants. The dealer was sharp enough to tell me about Noodles, an Asian restaurant that had take-out. As I got up to investigate, the dealer told me that he would get me a menu. He called the porter and a menu arrived quickly. The dealer wanted to keep us in the game and was very accommodating. The noodle dishes arrived on side tables in go boxes and were $20 each. I guess I didn't check out the prices because I thought he was collecting for the three of us who ordered. So I paid for all three because the other player who ordered and I were going to pot out for our dinner. Whoever won the next pot would pay. I won and it cost me $75 for 3 take-out orders & tip. Oh well, I am in Vegas. I am a good tipper because I make my living from tips and Vegas is a tip oriented city. This porter went out of his way, making several trips back and forth, saving us all the aggravation so I gave him $5 for ea. order. By the way the food was only o.k. But like I said, the service was excellent. The dealer was smarter than the house in this situation. One perk was that Doyle Brunson was in the glass enclosed room for high rollers. I got to see him and send him a note. He waved at my husband like he had remembered him from years ago. He has looked better than any magazine I had seen him in for several years. He looked well and much thinner than I had seen him last. He is truly the Grand Gentleman of Poker for many decades now. He fits well within my twelve steps of the perfect player (see last blog) to a tee. He would most certainly enjoy having One Eyed Jax at any game he was in.

I asked my mom if she would like to try another card room, although I was quite happy where I was. She was loosing and was happy to move on.

So our next stop was the card room at Caesars Palace. After walking through the pit with go go dancers, pole dancing above them, (next to The Pussy Cat Dolls showroom) we found the poker room. The action was good and Jeff played 4-8 limit and I played 1-3 N/L. I won one pot with 5 way action. I was all in on the flop drawing to a A high flush and made it. I quit and didn't care that as I was leaving I heard them speaking of some hit & run accident! LOL!

I know that when I play poker I have to get lucky to win. I am not a stay all day and wait for a hand player. My strategy in a tournament is of course different. I checked on Jeff, who never wants to leave, and she was willing to go. We took a taxi back to the The Luxor and I walked mom to her room. I found Tommy in the card room where he was getting even from The Bellagio.

The next day we played a little on the poker machines, which my husband enjoys. We played about $80 because we were getting ready to go to the airport and didn't want to get involved in a live poker game. Yeah, I hit the Royal Flush and hour before we left. First time ever, of course I really don't play the slots. Perfect timing to hit the door, winner! Just about everyone I know says they left Vegas about even for the trip or they won a little. I don't believe it. Most people loose their value for money when they hit sin city. Poker players are in a slightly different category. Of course most of them have go offs (leaks) when they come to town and hit the sports book, craps tables, blackjack tables and slots. They still have a better than most chance to make money if they stick to poker. Although poker is not that much FUN when you play A B C. Most people come to Vegas to have fun. These are the people that my poker friends like to play with.

This blog is a little long so I will finish about my disdain about the city in my next blog. Until then, watch out for the RIVER.

One Eyed Jax

I have met sooooo many poker players in my lifetime but only the best and the worst still stick out in my mind. Poker players live in two worlds. The real one with family and friends and the subterranean life at the table. If you are a player and you disagree then you don't play that much or you are new. The people and the conversations go way beyond your normal dinner conversation with your own family. It seems in a card room that no subject is shocking or unusual. Anything out of the ordinary seems to be all right in a card room. Two of the players that stick out in my mind are "Texas Dolly" & "One Eyed Jack". Everyone knows Doyle but not everyone knows Jack. He is a local player in San Diego whom I believe is "The Perfect Player". I speak not of his personal style of play but his demeanor in the game. He is the player that every dealer would like to have a table full of. Yes, you have your wild players who are gambling and throwing money to the dealer while they are showing off to the table. That is great for any dealer but they are not in the game everyday.

Your perfect player is one you can depend on to start the game, stay at the table and tip you every hand. This type of player pays your rent! Without your steady regulars there would be no crazy, generous over tippers, because there would be no game. Of course Jack is not the only perfect player in the business but he is the one that comes to mind. He follows the old school book and just comes in to play cards. That is his only agenda. He is not as common a player as you might think. If I had to make a list of what the perfect player would be like it would go like this:

* Does not whine or cry when he loses a hand, even a huge beat

* Never holds up the game to be the center of attention

* Will play in a short game to start it up

* Never curses or harasses others

* Doesn't smell (cigarettes, booze, b.o., rotten breath, etc.)

* No hygiene adjustments at table (nose picking, foot scratching, ear cleaning, nail clipping)

* Pays attention to the action

* Treats and respects a dealer and other workers as an employee just doing their job

* Never asks the dealer to look at his/her cards

* Doesn't go rabbit hunting

* Never destroys or throws cards

* Tips a percentage of the jackpot & tips every hand with profit

It may be easier to follow the above set of dream standards if you are a winning player. So if you want to live on in the minds of others when they think about a perfect card game then look for Jack. He is the player you should emulate and play your game to win. He does!

Sounds like a joke...

You've heard the one about the guy that sold so many pieces of himself that he couldn't afford to win. It is true and I have seen it happen. Back in the day just as now, people have partners or people that stake them in a game. In the 70's the late "Bones" had a reputation of being a good hold-em player. When he was broke he used his reputation to sell pieces of himself in local tournaments in Las Vegas. In one particular tourney he sold more than 100% of his action. Let's say the tournament buy-in was $200, well he collected $600 worth of partners. He played wild and planned to dump the tournament off but he COULDN'T. He got lucky and made it to the last table. To his demise he did cash 4th place and then ran out the door. The investors? Well when they caught up with him, he told them he blew the $ betting sports and he was sorry. He would pay them back when he made a score. Maybe this sounds like someone you know???

Another guy I knew when I was working at Lake Elsinore, had a great deal for cigarettes. He had been playing in the club for several months and was a easy going guy that most people liked. He was taking orders (& money) for cartons of cigarettes for half of the store price. He must have made $1,000 because most people bought (ordered) several cartons. He did this over a period of 2 weeks. Guess what? When he left to make the purchase, nobody ever laid eyes on him again.

If it seems to good to be true it is, especially around a card table. Remember the guys that are going to make a move on you are always "Nice Guys".