11/11/99 thursday
fort mcdowell, just outside phoenix, used to be *the* place to play poker in that area; however, salt river has taken all of the high-limit action, and most of the rest of the action, too.
the room has about 35-40 tables, about half of which were in action when david trinidad and i arrived about 3 pm. they've got stud at 1-5, hold 'em at 3/6 and 4/8, and an omaha 4/8 game. in addition, they have a 5/10 stud game that runs like this: it's a one dollar ante (twice the "standard" ante you'll find in vegas, atlantic city, and connecticut); one dollar goes to the bad beat jackpot drop and three go into the rake slot. the bring-in is $2, and the rest of the structure is standard. stud is played eight-handed.
we're greeted as soon as we walk in, and almost immediately help crank up a new 4/8 hold 'em game with a full kill that goes into effect when one player wins two consecutive pots, the second of which is $40. the killer has last action.
the room has high ceilings and seems to be well-ventilated, and i'll hazard a guess that smoke is't too much of a problem. the place is roomy and spacious. they've got high hand giveaways for a straight or better. they use the forward moving button rule. they've got various tourneys and give- aways, but we didn't stay long enough for me to make notes about them.
we're playing with "doc" whose real name is lee. i mention to david some- thing that had happened the night before at salt river in a 4/8 hold 'em game. he had flopped a set and was the aggressor in the pot. on the river, a straight became possible. david bet, and an old man raised. the geezer had his chips stacked neatly, and had three or four stacks of 20 chips, and a few extra chips in front. after david bet, the geezer (with shaking hands) took one of his complete stacks, placed it into the pot, and removed the top four chips with a flourish, leaving 16 chips (a bet and a raise). notwith- standing the shaking hands, i have found this to be a nearly absolutely reliable tell at any 4/8 game: when an old man does this (and *especially* if he takes the tube of 20 chips out of a rack!), he's got the nuts! doc is listening carefully, but doesn't say anything. a few minutes later, doc is in a hand with the table maniac and a clueless geezer. on the river, doc makes his hand; he picks up a stack of 20 chips, places it in the pot, and removes the top four chips with a flourish! david and i laugh so hard that we almost fall off our chairs! the geezer, who wasn't even listening to our earlier conversation, calls. doc exclaims, "i've been waiting 20 years to do that!" and he starts to laugh, too! :)
[ tiger moves on to the Gila River Casino in Chandler, AZ ]
Published with the permission of the author.
Reproduction without the author's permission prohibited.
Contact Us
© Copyright 1999
Kenneth R. Churilla