Jun 11 2004
Poker And Beer
TEXAS HOLD ‘EM. Anyone ever play it? It goes good with beer.
This Saturday I’m playing Texas Hold ‘Em with a bunch of guys I know, with at least 6 guys playing, $20 to play.
It works like this: Everyone puts in their $20 and receives “$10,000″ in chips. So with 6 guys playing, that’s $120 in the pot. Play goes on until all but 2 players are eliminated. They then play for another 20-30mins, whatever was agreed on, and whoever has the most chips at the end wins $100 of the pot. The guy in second place gets his $20 back.
If we have more than 6 people playing, we might throw in a third prize too. Third prize wins $10 less than he started with, 2nd prize wins $10 more than he started with, and first prize wins the rest. Something like that. Either way, whoever wins first prize will be doing okay.
We plan to start around supper time and play two games, another $20 for the second game later in the evening. If no one gets elminated, we may set a time limit and whoever has the most chips at a certain time wins. Or maybe we’ll just play one long game all night.
I generally do well when I play regular poker, basic 3 or 5 card draw, but only recently have I tried Texas Hold ‘Em, and I’ve never played with people who play only one game and no wild cards. I prefer this set up; I’ve just never played it before.
I’ll be happy to break even, but even to break I’d have to beat most of the people at the table. Either way, I think it’ll be fun.
Anyone here play poker?
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Tags: poker, texas hold em
Just doing a little technorati search on poker and stumbled across your blog. I’m guessing you’ll be playing No Limit Hold ‘Em. If you follow the link to my poker blog (Up For Poker), you’ll find links to dozens of other poker blogs with plenty of advice on No Limit tourneys. Just remember… fold a lot!!! Pick premium starting hands and run with them (pairs 9’s and above, AJ, AQ, AK).
I’m a big poker fan, but I haven’t managed to get a group of guys together that are interested in it.
That an invitation to the WORLD WIDE Web?
I hear that, Ryan. And even if you do know people who are interested in playing, trying to get them all together at the same time, I don’t know why, but most of the time it’s just a big pain in the ass.
CJ, I’ll check out your blog. Thanks. As for playing No Limit Hold ‘Em, that hasn’t been decided yet. What experience I do have with Texas Hold ‘Em has been with a minimum open bet, a maximum bet and no limit raise; then min and max increase as each player is eliminated. I have a pretty good feel for the game when it’s played like that… I was praticing last night on my computer and literally took notes on every hand that was played, every hand that won and how it won (bluff, etc.) Playing with real people is different situation, but still, I’m curious to find out if all my pratice and research will pay off.
Stay tuned for part two of my Texas Hold ‘Em adventures…
P.S., I don’t plan to drink any alcohol while I’m playing, definitely no more than one drink anyway. I don’t think getting a buzz on will be of any benefit to me.
I’m so jealous. I could go for a little Hold ‘Em tonight.
The Texas Hold ‘Em night wasn’t the best, for several reasons. One. A couple guys bailed on us, so we ended up with only 5 guys playing, which is okay, but Texas Hold ‘Em is usually more interesting with 6 or more people. Two. The action on the table was pitiful. We all agreed that we’d never seen such garbage dealt out before. The cards were junk. No one was controlling the board because there was nothing to get the ball rolling. Statistically, that’s the way it works sometimes, but I’ve never seen such shitty cards in my life. All night long. About 80% of the bets were checks. It was a joke. After awhile, just for something to do, I played out some shitty hands, trying to bluff a little, anything, but it didn’t work, and… Three. I was the first one out. I don’t think at any point I had more chips than I began with. I had three half-decent hands the whole night. I did what I could with the crap I had, but I was out about 90mins before one guy finally won it all.
I can’t say I got much from the whole thing. If Texas Hold ‘Em was like that all the time, I’d never play. I know I’m still learning the ropes of Texas Hold ‘Em, but that was the most boring poker night I’ve experienced, ever. The action on the table was terrible. There were no showdowns, no close calls, no great hands, nothing. Just the way it goes sometimes, I guess.
I’d like to play again sometime, but for less money, at least while I’m still learning. I still think poker is the most exciting card I’ve ever played.
Did you stick to your one beer rule, or did you break down along the way as a result of all the frustration & anger built up inside you?
I had one beer about every 90mins. After I got knocked out, I downed one every 20 minutes.