Friday starts off with brunch with J at The Peppermill. Opened in 1972, it’s a combo 50s-style diner in front, and neon-encrusted lounge in back. It’s a throwback to the old days, and while it may still be something special in the late nights with its 64-oz Scorpions, at least at noon it’s a normal brunch spot...if your idea of normal is an omelette made with about 14 eggs. But it was tasty, I got the Margerhita cuz I can’t ever say no to fresh basil. Even if I only had 2/3 of it. The blueberry muffin it comes with was pretty good as well. Barely touched the hash browns. A Syrian refugee camp could have fed off of this meal for a week.
Then it was off to, you’ll never guess it, the Aria. I will not be vanquished! Friday at 2pm and the room was packed, with wait lists 10-20 deep for most games. I take the first seat they offer, at a newly opened 2/5 game. Lineup isn’t too bad, 2 Euro-pros, plus one jag off with a tablet AND 2 cell phones, AND mirror sunglasses. (Someday poker will embrace a Survivor model, where every hour players get to vote one ****er off the table. God we’ll all be better for it.) The rest are mostly MAWGs and frankly look like cannon fodder.
The play is standard 2/5 fare. Most everyone bought in for the full 1K (no one under 800) which made me happy. None of this nit **** with 300. I chip up to about 1100 when the only hand worth discussing happens.
Mr. Mirror sunglasses opens utg+1 to 20. MAAG rec calls in MP, he’s 3! 3 times in the last 2 orbits so I feel confident saying he’s capped. I look down at AQcc in CO and bump it up to 85. No one believes me (it’s the Jesus hair, or maybe the fact that I have a clown on top of my cards), they both call. Flop (260) comes 9xx with 2 clubs. Checked to me, I bet 125, maybe could have even gone a bit smaller like 110. Anyway, jag off folds, MAAG c/r to 275. I call, the turn is the glorious Tc, he shoves, I call, boom. Poor shlep had KJcc for an old-fashioned mob hit. Bugsy Siegel with his tumbling dwarves doing handstands on the carpet.
After about 1.5 hours they call my name for PLO, and now I’m faced with another decision. I’ve got over $2100, very solid image, the biggest stack at the table, and most important, an excellent seat. After a couple of other people moved/left, I’ve got MAWGs in all 3 seats to my left. I can do whatever I want, and with a bunch of chips, I can really start to open up and put the hurt on the table. This is how big sessions and epic LVL threads are made!
You know damn well I said yes to the PLO seat and booked the win. Hero needed it! +1165.
I also like taking pictures of Bluffy on a mountain of chips...except I forgot until I was mostly racked up! Oh well, he doesn’t mind....
Watermelon juice ftw. Thank you to LVL for introducing me to it!