Breaking the Maiden

Thursday saw me making another trip out to San Manuel Indian Casino. Or, as I call it: Waterloo.

Despite my scarring slow-roll experience last week playing 4/8, I again braved the elements–in the form of egregious use of Aqua Net–to tackle the low limits at the orange-felted room. The occasion was my young…well…young looking…protoge’s long-awaited return to The Pokah.

Before heading east to sling cards, however, we had a drink…

I thought that might calm down Betty-san, but it didn’t seem to work during the early orbits at our 2/4 table. She was suffering from sensory over-load and was trying to adapt to the pace of the game. It didn’t help that the 2/4 game uses 2/2 blinds because of the rake ($4, one of which goes to the bad beat jackpot), the same house take as the 4/8 game. This was one factor in why I walked away thinking that game was unbeatable long-term.

The $2 SB confused Betty who, like any good pupil, had been studying her “Winning Low Limit Hold ‘Em” and didn’t recall any mentions of these house rules. So she mucked her SB a couple times on her option, including one time where she claimed The Hammer. That particular hand ended up with two deuces on the board. Her confusion probably saved her a couple big bets donated to K2.

I kept reminding her to breathe, but I also was giving her tips, less about strategy than logistics and psychology. It was ground-breaking stuff. Mensa-esque