Los Angeles Trip Report Part 4

by Nolan Dalla

This page is part of Ken's Poker Page

On 21 Oct 1998 21:34:43 GMT, in rec.gambling.poker nolandalla@aol.com
(NolanDalla) wrote:

Now, the trip really starts to get interesting. What you read before, was
fluff, pure and simple. Let's kick it up a notch and get it in gear..........

First thing I want to say during this break is something I forgot to
mention at the very beginning. As I said before, I made this trip to
build-up a bankroll.

During the planning phases, I had a "little help from my friends," who were
generous with their time and thoughts. One individual in particular went
beyond that. PETER SECOR, who is well-known and popular within the RGP
community heard of my plight and made me an extraordinary offer. PETER
made the offer to serve as my "backer" during this trip -- if I needed
money. Although I was not short of money, I still did not have the
bankroll necessary to play consistently at the $20-40 level without it
affecting my game (translation: playing with scared money in a $20-40
game, or anytime for that matter is a recipe for disaster). I could play
at assorted levels below $20-40 relatively free of risk and void of huge
bankroll swings -- but wanted to maximize my profits while in Los
Angeles. PETER understood this and offered to back me financially during
this trip. I did give this some serious consideration, but decided
against the idea for a number of reasons. However, it was THE IDEA THAT
SOMEONE FELT ENOUGH CONFIDENCE IN ME TO MAKE SUCH
AN OFFER THAT REALLY AFFECTED ME EMOTIONALLY.
Let me say that when you are running bad, or playing sub-par -- you
cannot help but start questioning your skills and frame of mind.
I have survived some shattering bad runs in my poker life.....but
have always come out of the experience stronger and more
self-reliant. Just the knowledge that someone was WILLING to put up cash
based on his assessment of my game made me regain a sense of composure
that I may have been losing to a certain degree. Although I rejected
PETER's very generous offer (splitting all profits), this very important
vote of confidence is something that stuck with me throughout this trip.
Something to think about. Thanks PETER, your kindness means more than I
can express.

Wake up at 8:00 am. I sit in a $10-20 game and order a bowl of cream of
wheat and a glass of OJ. By the time the stainless-steel spoon removes
the last chaff of wheat from the porcelain dish, I'm ahead $350. Nice way
to eat breakfast, holding the nuts. Result: PLUS $350 in one hour.

Now, comes the story you've (hopefully) been waiting for: HOW the LA RAIL
CRASH MADE ME $2400. After another short meeting downtown, I ride the
rail line (which is like a trolley, as it runs above ground on the street
in some parts). We are crossing through Watts, the gang-infested
epicenter of universe, when suddenly the train is hit with a hard jolt.
Since the train was packed, no one is thrown to the ground (no place to
fall with body pressed against body). Seems a car crashed into the back
of the train. Oh super! Now, I'm a marked man -- the only white guy in
the world crazy enough to be trapped in Watts. Gold rings and my
wristwatch that Marietta bought me for a wedding anniversary quietly find
their way into my pocket as we are forced to depart the train. The
conductor comes out and an argument ensues about who's fault the crash
was. Seems to me it's kind of' tough for the train to make a turn to avoid
the crash, however. The nut in the car is ranting in Espanol, using words
I sure as hell never learned in my high school Spanish class. The
conductor announces that he can't leave until the incident is reported --
which mean we will probably be here at least an hour. An hour! Screw
that. There's poker to be played, people! Cards to be dealt, and chips to
be won! Sorry, my poker road trip didn't include a side trip to Watts
listening to a ranting Mexican.

I see a taxi, almost as an answer to my prayers. My plan was to head back
to the CRYSTAL and meet JOHN BONETTI and GEORGE and go over to the
COMMERCE together. But, I'm already half way there, so I opt to go solo
(hey, what are friends for?). By 5:00 I'm sitting in a $15-30 at the
COMMERCE.

Before reporting on the game results, let me stop and give a report about
the COMMERCE CASINO, which is just off the freeway in COMMERCE. The
cardroom advertises itself as THE POKER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. My friends,
let me tell you something: It is just that. There is not a place in the
world that compares as favorably to the overall amenities and selection
of games as the COMMERCE. HOLLYWOOD PARK and now the CRYSTAL PARK
are certainly very fine rooms. But the COMMERCE is the finest poker room in
the world, in my view, bar none. That just my opinion.

Now there are some out there that think I may not be impartial because of
what I'm about to report. Sure enough, a good score makes you see your
surroundings in an entirely different manner than the way they really are.
Anyway, I am in a $15-30 hold'em game that has just formed. It composed
almost entirely of people just getting off of work. There are a few
Asians to make things interesting, but generally the play of this crowd is
extremely passive and predictable. Add this to the fact that the deck
just obliterates me. I mean it just blows me away with great hands, great
flops, and everything. I mean I am dealt so many Class 1 hands that I'm
beginning to get embarrassed to show my hand every time. In the first hour
I make close to $1000. By the time the smoke clears about four hours
later -- I'm up $2400, which is a monster score at this level. Afterward,
I meet with the shift manager, TIM, who is very kind and give me a tour of
the COMMERCE. I also meet a few other notables who give me some insights
into the "California Games" section. Surprisingly, about 65 percent of the
Commerce's revenue actually comes not from poker, but from the Asian,
errrr, I mean California Games section. I had two meals while I was
there, made $2400, and met the head of operations. Not a bad "day at the
office." I vow to return to the COMMERCE the same time the following day.

Next, it's a $10 taxi ride over to the Bicycle Club. As I stated previously,
I haven't been to The Bike since 1994 -- which seems like eternity.
Almost immediately, I can see that this room is not what it once was.
Everyone from the concierge to the cashier in the gift shop seems to take
a total disinterest in his/her job. The lady who checks my bag finishes
her conversation before assisting me. There is none of the sparkle that I
have seen at the CRYSTAL and the COMMERCE. This place looks like it's on
its last leg. Which is not to say it has a shortage of games. Far from
it. The Asian, errrrr (there I go again) I mean "California games"
section is bustling with activity, as is the lower limit section. But,
here it is 11:00 p.m. and there are only three games on the high-end
section. One side note: The older gentleman running the board over in
the high section is a real jewel -- the only person in the place who
impressed me as someone who was customer-oriented.
He's probably been at The Bike many years and is seeing it's demise
firsthand. It's a sad thing to see. If this club got a facelift and relocated
itself anywhere else in the country -- it would be a monstrous cardroom,
instead of a run-down joint full of dope peddlers, which is the impression I get
(Note: I'm sure I'm going to get blasted for that last remark -- but I'm
just conveying my honest impressions).

I sit in a $20-40 stud game, which some interesting results. Fresh after
my COMMERCE windfall, there isn't much that can go wrong tonight. Even if
I drop $1,000 it's not going to be a sweat. There's a woman to my
immediate left, who impresses me as the type who plays poker 90 hours a
week and makes $25K a year living on greasy cheeseburgers. Problem is,
she has about $2K in front and is raising indiscriminately on every hand
-- which does serve to create somewhat of a hazard for me. I'm dealt
garbage most of the next hour but do get a nice hand once when I start
with A-K-Q suited, with the King on top. I raise to $40 and the woman
plays back at me, making it $60 (I forgot what she had, but it was a
medium card). I cap the pot as if to advise that I have Queens, now get
out of my way!. I catch an off suit ten and she catches what appears to be
a complete blank. I bet out, hoping to show some confidence and she
raises! I smooth call ( I considered re-raising but now fear she may have
a high pair in the hole). On the next two rounds I catch complete blanks
and must give up the hand. By this time I'm down about $400. Another
half hour elapses and I manage to win a nice pot with two pair, Aces over
something, and get to where I am actually ahead in the game about $75.
This seems like a good time to leave. I cash out and wave bye-bye to what
was once the center of the poker universe. Short of a major tournament
at The Bike, I see nothing that would cause me to visit this room again.

Another annoyance comes when I go outside and find that there are no taxis
in service. I mean, this is a casino with probably 1,000 people inside
and yet there are no taxis anywhere to be found. I call up the local cab
company and have to wait 45 minutes for the taxi to arrive. Again, this
just leaves another bad taste in my mouth and causes me to realize that my
decision to base my operations out of Crystal Park, instead of The Bike,
was wise.

More to come.........

NOLAN DALLA

Continue to Part 5

Published with the permission of the author.
Reproduction without the author's permission prohibited.

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