Trip Report - part 2 - Stick & Move
I don't know how she did it.
Here's what happens: I'm sitting at the 10/20 HE game, out of my element, as the 4th of only 8 aggressive players at the table. I'm in my 2nd hour, down around $190 & change, with no word of SuperGirl. In a way, I don't want to see her, in fear of her saying that she's already hit the negative 300$ mark (provision for one of us seeking the other out), but I'm still worried -- especially since I'm stuck.
Understand that with SuperGirl, her small frame and her pathological need to stay hydrated, we're pretty much assured of a bathroom break every sixty to ninety minutes. Now I know for damn sure that with all she's been drinking, a bathroom break is bloody certainty. I know also that she wouldn't pass-up an opportunity to come visit me on her way to/from the bathroom, if for no other reason than to embarrass me while I try to project my bad-ass poker image at 24 frames a second. I'd get up and check for myself how she's doing, but then again, I don't want her to think that I suspect the worse.
So, I continue to plug away, taking turns with 'Maniac Bob' in seat #3, pushing the Schnauzer owner and 22Handicapper into submission. Unfortunately, Schnauzer owners and bad golfers have made pacts with the Devil on this day, and I get down about $380. Realizing that this qualifies me -- nay -- requires me to go check-in with SuperGirl turned GreenChip Goblin, I stupidly play my puck position to false celebrity, then untriumphantly announce: "Deal me out for a while".
When I struggle to make my way through the Friday night crowd to SuperGirl's table, I find a herd of people watching the $100 minimum table she and some others have occupied. At the table are SuperGirl (in first position), an old-timer and an Asian lady (3rd base), each of whom smiles locked-in tight, and appearing absolutely drunk with exuberance, clapping and high-fiving each other.
Like I said, I don't know how she did it, but in front of SuperGirl are no fewer than 7 purple chips a handful of blacks and a menacing green tower of Babylon!! She sees me and gives me this great big hug, clearly proud and looking forward to my reaction. I instantly give her the "You've been a very good girl" speech, and forgive her for not coming to visit (she didn't want to miss even one hand after a shuffle in fear of "breaking the spell"). Totally understood -- begs the question though: How the hell did her bladder survive this when it can't survive 2 innings at the D-Backs games? I digress.
As she begins to explain how lucky this dark, American Indian looking man of a dealer has been for her, she coolly takes her mass of green chips and bets it all!! Before I can even gasp, the cards are out. The dealer didn't count the chips, he just let the delicate green tower hover in the betting square, like some kind of wicked Jenga exhibit; but I know from sickly experience that it's at least $800 ....
She's dealt a 14, dealer shows a Queen. She hits it and gets a 3 for a 17. She sticks. Old-timer stands pat on his $300 bet with a 19. Asian lady has a dreaded 16, but with (only) $100 at risk.
In my experience, there isn't anything more terrifying than an Asian lady (or man) playing 3rd base and dealt a stiff of a hand (12 through 16). I'm saying that in my experience, there are specific betting patterns and styles of play that can ascribed to cultural differences and occasionally classified in racial context. This is one of those times. Of course, the math doesn't at all support this superstition, but in the heat of battle, math is an afterthought.
Asian lady looks at SuperGirl and asks her for her thoughts (not such an unusual move considering SuperGirl's got the biggest bet in play). In a class move, SuperGirl nicely advises her that she should play her hand the way she best thinks it will win, gently stressing that a 16 will not beat anything but a bust. I swear sometimes I think SuperGirl reads my Amazon.com wish list, secretly buys some of the books listed therein, and reads them while at her hair dresser (the only place to where I'll never accompany SuperGirl).
If I've seen it once, I've seen it a million times. There are people out there who really believe that there are 26 monkeys in each deck as opposed to the 13 we delusional folks have been imbued into thinking. So naturally, she sticks.
Dealer turns over his hole card to reveal a 6, giving him a hitting hand of 16. Next card... The blood red cut card! Next card... A nauseating 4 of hearts for a stomach churning 20. I think I must have yelled so loud inside my head that the dealer heard me and showed the next card that would have followed had the Asian lady taken that 4 ............ Wouldn't you know it, a glorious 10 of hearts.
The bet turned out to be $925 and the only thing SuperGirl said while asking the dealer to consolidate her remaining chips was: "Good thing it wasn't a double-down hand".
Unbelievable.
So, she cashes out over $3500 and while she's at the cage, I'm told from the innocent bystanders that the dealer hadn't made a winning hand for the last 3 shoes; that the table limits had been raised shortly before "the run", and that SuperGirl, not realizing the limit change, had kept doubling her bet with each winning bet -- on advice from the American Indian dealer for which she enthusiastically tipped $300.
I immediately go to collect my remaining twenty some $5 chips from the game that was sure to bust me, and cash out behind SuperGirl. SuperGirl has alone, taken over 4K from the casino and recovered my losses to the wolves.
What to do now??
Next Up: Why go to Vegas when you can go to .... Atlanta ??
Here's what happens: I'm sitting at the 10/20 HE game, out of my element, as the 4th of only 8 aggressive players at the table. I'm in my 2nd hour, down around $190 & change, with no word of SuperGirl. In a way, I don't want to see her, in fear of her saying that she's already hit the negative 300$ mark (provision for one of us seeking the other out), but I'm still worried -- especially since I'm stuck.
Understand that with SuperGirl, her small frame and her pathological need to stay hydrated, we're pretty much assured of a bathroom break every sixty to ninety minutes. Now I know for damn sure that with all she's been drinking, a bathroom break is bloody certainty. I know also that she wouldn't pass-up an opportunity to come visit me on her way to/from the bathroom, if for no other reason than to embarrass me while I try to project my bad-ass poker image at 24 frames a second. I'd get up and check for myself how she's doing, but then again, I don't want her to think that I suspect the worse.
So, I continue to plug away, taking turns with 'Maniac Bob' in seat #3, pushing the Schnauzer owner and 22Handicapper into submission. Unfortunately, Schnauzer owners and bad golfers have made pacts with the Devil on this day, and I get down about $380. Realizing that this qualifies me -- nay -- requires me to go check-in with SuperGirl turned GreenChip Goblin, I stupidly play my puck position to false celebrity, then untriumphantly announce: "Deal me out for a while".
When I struggle to make my way through the Friday night crowd to SuperGirl's table, I find a herd of people watching the $100 minimum table she and some others have occupied. At the table are SuperGirl (in first position), an old-timer and an Asian lady (3rd base), each of whom smiles locked-in tight, and appearing absolutely drunk with exuberance, clapping and high-fiving each other.
Like I said, I don't know how she did it, but in front of SuperGirl are no fewer than 7 purple chips a handful of blacks and a menacing green tower of Babylon!! She sees me and gives me this great big hug, clearly proud and looking forward to my reaction. I instantly give her the "You've been a very good girl" speech, and forgive her for not coming to visit (she didn't want to miss even one hand after a shuffle in fear of "breaking the spell"). Totally understood -- begs the question though: How the hell did her bladder survive this when it can't survive 2 innings at the D-Backs games? I digress.
As she begins to explain how lucky this dark, American Indian looking man of a dealer has been for her, she coolly takes her mass of green chips and bets it all!! Before I can even gasp, the cards are out. The dealer didn't count the chips, he just let the delicate green tower hover in the betting square, like some kind of wicked Jenga exhibit; but I know from sickly experience that it's at least $800 ....
She's dealt a 14, dealer shows a Queen. She hits it and gets a 3 for a 17. She sticks. Old-timer stands pat on his $300 bet with a 19. Asian lady has a dreaded 16, but with (only) $100 at risk.
In my experience, there isn't anything more terrifying than an Asian lady (or man) playing 3rd base and dealt a stiff of a hand (12 through 16). I'm saying that in my experience, there are specific betting patterns and styles of play that can ascribed to cultural differences and occasionally classified in racial context. This is one of those times. Of course, the math doesn't at all support this superstition, but in the heat of battle, math is an afterthought.
Asian lady looks at SuperGirl and asks her for her thoughts (not such an unusual move considering SuperGirl's got the biggest bet in play). In a class move, SuperGirl nicely advises her that she should play her hand the way she best thinks it will win, gently stressing that a 16 will not beat anything but a bust. I swear sometimes I think SuperGirl reads my Amazon.com wish list, secretly buys some of the books listed therein, and reads them while at her hair dresser (the only place to where I'll never accompany SuperGirl).
If I've seen it once, I've seen it a million times. There are people out there who really believe that there are 26 monkeys in each deck as opposed to the 13 we delusional folks have been imbued into thinking. So naturally, she sticks.
Dealer turns over his hole card to reveal a 6, giving him a hitting hand of 16. Next card... The blood red cut card! Next card... A nauseating 4 of hearts for a stomach churning 20. I think I must have yelled so loud inside my head that the dealer heard me and showed the next card that would have followed had the Asian lady taken that 4 ............ Wouldn't you know it, a glorious 10 of hearts.
The bet turned out to be $925 and the only thing SuperGirl said while asking the dealer to consolidate her remaining chips was: "Good thing it wasn't a double-down hand".
Unbelievable.
So, she cashes out over $3500 and while she's at the cage, I'm told from the innocent bystanders that the dealer hadn't made a winning hand for the last 3 shoes; that the table limits had been raised shortly before "the run", and that SuperGirl, not realizing the limit change, had kept doubling her bet with each winning bet -- on advice from the American Indian dealer for which she enthusiastically tipped $300.
I immediately go to collect my remaining twenty some $5 chips from the game that was sure to bust me, and cash out behind SuperGirl. SuperGirl has alone, taken over 4K from the casino and recovered my losses to the wolves.
What to do now??
Next Up: Why go to Vegas when you can go to .... Atlanta ??
posted by stefNfloyd | 3:51 PM
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