Ellen and Benzee "in the money"....!!

Flash bulletin!
Ellen comes in 3rd place at Showboat Casino Atlantic City poker tourney! ($544.00)

Benzee comes in 5th place $230.00)

Wed. June 6th
$50 buy in , plus $15 entree fee.
79 players showed up
No limit hold em !

We had both played the night before there, and got "knocked out" ,
with no payoff.

It felt so good to "make the money" this time!! It was a long one, though. I played from 7 pm till 1:30 am.
You would think we were at the final table of the World Series !
Intense!

Benzee was on vacation in AC with his wife and little boy.
He'll "report in" to Roadfood.com ASAP when he gets home.
Right Benzee?!? Great seeing you , Benzee! And it was "icing on the cake" to make some $$$ as well..

ellen

Congrats! You must feel great, and you should.
I enjoy a good poker game with buddies, but I don't enjoy casino gambling much. To hold on in that environment and come out a winner is a real achievement.
So- where are you going out to eat with the money??
Ron

Were you playing poker or that weird stuff they play on television?

Ellen, I'm surprised that dealers are allowed to play, even in other casino's?

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

Were you playing poker or that weird stuff they play on television?

It was REAL poker , cause you stuff you see on TV is the EDITED version!!! On TV , you just see the highlights, all the good parts, the Ace-King verses the Ace-deuce, and then the deuce comes on the river, etc..

One does not really see the GRUELING side of poker; most hands are one player saying "all in" and everyone else folding... (yawn)
lots of uneventful hands. Lots of throwing away the 2-4, and even throwing away the A-10 when someone makes a big raise. (as they probably have a better hand) Lots of tight play, espescially in the later rounds. Rarely is someone going real wild.
And being able to make a "good laydown" is very important
Every day we get more new players, who just turned 21, etc...
with the dark sunglasses and the I-pods, etc... they see just the glamorous side of poker on TV.

As the old saying goes "it's a tough way to make an easy living!"


Totally different style for tourneys compared to live games...
as one needs to look at chip stack sizes, etc If someone is down real low and goes all in, it may be worth it for you to call.
Plus the blinds went up every 20 minutes at this tourney...!!
For my final round, the blinds were $20,000-$40,000
...so suddenly the $100,000 I had in front of me did'nt mean so much!

What I love about being around the world of poker is that I consider it the great equalizer!! I love to see the "coming together" of people from all walks of life. The little old lady discussing strategy with the 22 year old college kid, etc.. Everyone is equal game at the poker table... it's great that one can "pony up" the money and play with the finest players in the world. Whereas , it would be very tough to sign up to play a round of golf with Tiger Woods!

I know that I am really in my comfort zone at a poker table.
When I do roadtrips and air trips, I often combine my food fun with casino poker fun.. the way some guys combine roadfood trips with baseball games.

My X wife's girlfriend won $250,000 in the Lotto Sat night.

quote:

Originally posted by John A

Ellen, I'm surprised that dealers are allowed to play, even in other casino's?

Very good question , John.
Here in Atlantic City one is just allowed to play in other casinos, not their own.

However, another big rule is that if you work at Harrahs, you cannot play at any other Harrahs owned property. (like the Showboat, Caesars, and Bally's) Since Harrahs owns about 5 of them now (out of 11 casinos!) they got the "monopoly"! Harrahs has really taken over the gambling world.
So also, if one gets fired at one place, that's 4 other places they may not be able to work at. )Or have a "5 year waiting period" to get back in, dependign)

Or if one works at Trump Marina, they cannot play at Trump Taj Mahal.

I can play anywhere but my Borgata.

quote:

Originally posted by jeepguy

My X wife's girlfriend won $250,000 in the Lotto Sat night.

really?! That's got my $544 beat by far!
Maybe she'll be your new wife ?! A girl with money is always nice, (and with a father that owns a liquor store)
(As the old saying goes!)

Congrats from the deep south, Ellen!

Darlene

Nice going, Ellen. It is always more fun to win.

quote:

Originally posted by ellen4641

quote:

Originally posted by jeepguy

My X wife's girlfriend won $250,000 in the Lotto Sat night.

really?! That's got my $544 beat by far!
Maybe she'll be your new wife ?! A girl with money is always nice, (and with a father that owns a liquor store)
(As the old saying goes!)

That doesn't work unless she's also a nymphomaniac.

quote:

Originally posted by ellen4641

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

Were you playing poker or that weird stuff they play on television?

It was REAL poker , cause you stuff you see on TV is the EDITED version!!! On TV , you just see the highlights, all the good parts, the Ace-King verses the Ace-deuce, and then the deuce comes on the river, etc..

One does not really see the GRUELING side of poker; most hands are one player saying "all in" and everyone else folding... (yawn)
lots of uneventful hands. Lots of throwing away the 2-4, and even throwing away the A-10 when someone makes a big raise. (as they probably have a better hand) Lots of tight play, espescially in the later rounds. Rarely is someone going real wild.
And being able to make a "good laydown" is very important
Every day we get more new players, who just turned 21, etc...
with the dark sunglasses and the I-pods, etc... they see just the glamorous side of poker on TV.

As the old saying goes "it's a tough way to make an easy living!"


Totally different style for tourneys compared to live games...
as one needs to look at chip stack sizes, etc If someone is down real low and goes all in, it may be worth it for you to call.
Plus the blinds went up every 20 minutes at this tourney...!!
For my final round, the blinds were $20,000-$40,000
...so suddenly the $100,000 I had in front of me did'nt mean so much!

What I love about being around the world of poker is that I consider it the great equalizer!! I love to see the "coming together" of people from all walks of life. The little old lady discussing strategy with the 22 year old college kid, etc.. Everyone is equal game at the poker table... it's great that one can "pony up" the money and play with the finest players in the world. Whereas , it would be very tough to sign up to play a round of golf with Tiger Woods!

I know that I am really in my comfort zone at a poker table.
When I do roadtrips and air trips, I often combine my food fun with casino poker fun.. the way some guys combine roadfood trips with baseball games.

OK. So, what you're saying is that it's that Texas Hold-em stuff instead of draw poker, or five and seven-card stud.

How much per hour is that.

yes, Michael H., it is definitely texas hold em!
Draw poker and five card stud are basically obsolete.. (I have'nt dealt a hand of 5 card stud since I was a new dealer in 1987. Even then it was just a heads up match)

and even 7 card stud has lost it's luster.
Let's put it this way; at the Borgata in AC, we have 85 poker tables. On weekdays there are about 30 tables going , usually none or maybe ONE is seven card stud. The others are texas hold em. ( either no limit or limit games)

On weekends, about 60 active tables, and maybe 4 of them are seven card stud, at best

Ah, well, I'm afraid I'm obsolete, too.

I guess I'd better go back to gin.

quote:

Originally posted by plb

How much per hour is that.

It came to about $73.00 an hour.
$544 prize money minus the $65.00 I spent to enter the tourney.
Divided by the 6.5 hours I spent playing it... (it lasted a good hour or so longer than typical...everyone was really hanging on tight to their chips!)

I also tipped out $40.00, that I did not include in my totals above.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

Ah, well, I'm afraid I'm obsolete, too.

I guess I'd better go back to gin.

no problem, Mike, I love to spread my poker "widsom"..

p.s. Now I can even rephrase my answer to your question. (now that I realize what you were getting at ) Here is my updated answer : "YES, it IS like the real poker you see on TV. It IS no-limit texas hold em. And with the right amount of editing ,we could look just as exciting as what you see on TV"

Nice going Ellen and Benzee.

Ellen, that should be enough to keep you in grocery money for a week or so. I've seen your eating habits and still say I'd rather clothe you than feed you.
It will also provide a few barkers for Benzee after he splits with his partner, his wife. Chow Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Jimeats

Nice going Ellen and Benzee.

Ellen, that should be enough to keep you in grocery money for a week or so. I've seen your eating habits and still say I'd rather clothe you than feed you.
It will also provide a few barkers for Benzee after he splits with his partner, his wife. Chow Jim

I don't see him spliting with his wife. He certainly acted like a very happily married man.

Many of you know Benzee from this website , as he is a frequent poster. Had'nt seen him in person since the NJ hot dog tour Sept. 2005

And YES, I DO tend to spend a disportionate amount of money on food!!
WELL, can you think of a better way to spend it?!? I sure can't!
food and traveling! Luckily, times are good ...

My old boyfriend jokes that the way to my heart is not through flowers. A steak dinner is what really gets me excited.

Ellen, I think that Jimeats was referring to the fact that he might be "splitting" his winnings with his wife! (as any good guy would do.)

I am so happy to hear of your good fortunes, Ellen and Benzee.

I have enjoyed your posts/pics and from a girl from NJ, love to hear about hot dogs and pizza from the Garden state, and NY!

Keep all the good news coming from back East!

PS My Mom lives in Howell, NJ (near Freehold) and when the Mets aren't playing, she takes the "senior" bus to AC!

So nice to hear of your good luck. Blessings.

Yes, I was refering to his wife. I should have made that a little clearer.

On a different note I read this morning that Hurrahs has banned the inventor of Microsoft word from playing in any of their casinos.
It seems he is too lucky.
www.networkworld.com
Chow Jim

Helo all ,

Great job Ellen on 3rd Wed. night .
Thats right folks Benzee got 5th on Wed. night at the Showboat Texas Hold Em tourney . I believe I was low stack going into final table of 10 , so I was happy for that . Had one opportunity at Ellen when she went all in with I think 7 left . Stayed away from the call and it benefitted both of us . Ellen would never believe what I folded . Had to be there though , tight , tight tourney .
We were trying to chop the pot all the way through the final table but between the stack leader one time , and another , it did not come to be .

The previous night I finished 9th out of 59 . Another final table but the payout was only for the top 5 .

I loved the tourneys as we received $10000 in chips , blinds at 50/100 , 20 minute rounds . No antes and rebuys . Perfect for my tight agressive style .

It was a pleasure seeing Ellen again , what a great gal and I'm glad she got third . If I remember she was late and almost did not make it in the tourney.

My winnings did go to the wife and 2 year old as we visited Story Book Land during the day Wed. and then off to Sesame Place yesterday .
Room for 2 nights at Showboat $0 Comped
3 Tickets to Storybook land -$60
3 Passes to Sesame Place $0 ( season pass special from last year)
Wife on the slots - $50
Poker Tourneys + $ 100 after buy in and dealer tips
Room service dinner 2 nights $0 Reward credits
Scratcher ticket Lottery +$20
Hot Dogs at Galloping Hill Inn - $10
Cost of the trip $0

Well its pretty close . I did not add in gas and other meals and souvenirs at parks but it was pretty close to even on the three days

I'm playing tommorrow night in a local tourney again . will let you all know how I do

Benzee

HI Benzee,
So nice to read your trip report, with all your little antecdotes, poker and otherwise.
And that's what I call a pretty reasonable ($$ vacation! Way to go!

I got so excited about our poker escapades, that I jump started this thread! (hope you did'nt mind)

I ,too, like the no rebuys and no "add-ons" structure. (As well as the no antes.)
I like a "true" freezeout tourney, instead of the kind where the first hour does'nt mean that much cause people with deep pockets can keep re-buying.

That was a very nice gesture when you folded to my "all-in" raise.
Did you have A-K, Benzee?
I had the A-K when you raised "all in" the round before from early position. It just did'nt feel right to go up against you. I'd rather just find another spot to put my money. (Cause one of us would've gotten crippled, unless we had the same hand.) Plus it would have made it THAT much harder for you and I to split that 1st and 2nd place prize money!! (which would've have been a fantasy come true for me!)


Yes, I was about 15 minutes "fashionable late" for that tourney, as I was coming from work. The cashier told me I got the last seat... (then they were going to take names for alternates). He said he felt lucky for me...


I'm still recuperating, and that was 2 days ago! Hopefully tonight I'll sleep good!

I hope to hear about your first place finish in the tourney you are playing in tomorrow, Sat...
GO Benzee, GO!

ellen

quote:

Originally posted by morningglory

I am so happy to hear of your good fortunes, Ellen and Benzee.

I have enjoyed your posts/pics and from a girl from NJ, love to hear about hot dogs and pizza from the Garden state, and NY!

Keep all the good news coming from back East!

PS My Mom lives in Howell, NJ (near Freehold) and when the Mets aren't playing, she takes the "senior" bus to AC!

So nice to hear of your good luck. Blessings.

thanks so much for the kind words, Morningglory!
My sister lives by Freehold, just like your mom.
Sis is in Manalapan. (90 miles north of me)

So I make roadfood stops coming and going to visit her.
Sometimes I'll get a chargrilled burger from the Windmill Hot Dog place on Route 9 (right there in Howell area)
Or I'll drive up even further to Harolds deli in Edison.
I like Emilio's pizza, (Manalapan, I think). My sis sends out for pizza from there, and it's so good. I like a soft, doughy crust...
not overly thick, though...(I know I'm in the minority, but I just don't like those "cracker" crusts , like at Federici's in downtown Freehold... even though Bruce Springsteen seems to like it there)

ellen

Hello Ellen ,

Yes it was A K not suited . I felt the same that I could find a better spot to get my money in . I got knocked out with A J against a A 9 . At least I went in with the best hand all you can ask for .

Got knocked out last night 26th out of 95 . Down to three tables .
Antes were killing me as were the blinds and wentr in with a K Q suited .
Chip leader calls me with a A 5 off and a five comes up on the turn.
Thats poker baby !!
Local firedept tourney fundraiser so I made my donation.

Serously considering the satellites for the Borgata Summer Open
Will let you know if we make the trip

Benzee