As we usually do this time of year, my sweetie and I flew South for the holidays. We’re not quite snowbirds…yet…but she’s from Dixie and a dose of the South every now and again keeps things smooth. Since she knows – and actively supports, bless her – my passion for poker, I enjoy a stop on the way to ply my avocation at the tables. As long as we’ve been doing this, I’ve been able to pay for the entire trip roughly two out of three times.
This time we stopped in Tunica, Miss., just 16 miles south of Memphis, Tenn., and right on the “Big Muddy” – the Mississippi River. Not much else around Tunica, however, lots of farming and some of the flattest land I’ve ever seen. But the folks are friendly and helpful. We chose to stay at Binion’s Horseshoe and were not disappointed. They have a clean, well-lit poker room of 12 – 14 tables and spread games from $1-2 and up No Limit, $4-8 Limit up to $20-40 Limit, as well. There are tournaments every day, however, what was offered during our stay was different than what I read in Card Player magazine.
We arrived on a Friday and after the bag-drag from the airport and up to our hotel room (they have friendly and quick bell service, btw) we decided to celebrate the beginnings of our vacation at the steakhouse restaurant inside the casino. This restaurant is truly fine dining – the steaks were perfectly done and the accompaniments were delicious. With drinks and a generous tip we got out of there for a C-note; but again we were beginning our vacation and – but of course – we’re worth it.
The next morning around 11 a.m., I wandered down to the poker room for a little live action before the 4 p.m. tournament. We had just opened up a table in a $4-8 Limit game while I waited for a $2-5 No Limit to open up when the following hand came down. I’m in the cut-off seat – 1 seat to the right of the button – and had folded some rags when the button raised before the flop, getting two callers. The flop came down 3-4-5 of hearts; the player in the 3-seat bet out, the 5-seat folded and the button reraised, getting a call from the 3-seat. The turn did not coordinate the board any further…and then the war began. Bet, raise, reraise, re-reraise and back and forth it went. The fellow sitting to my right stood up and said “This is gonna be interestin’” and it was only then I realized just what was possibly occurring.
When the 3-seat ran out of chips the war was over and the river card was displayed. Doesn’t matter what it was and we didn’t care when the 3-seat turned over his Ace-Deuce of hearts for a straight flush and the button revealed his 6-7 of hearts for a higher straight flush. The table erupted, action at other tables ceased temporarily as others came to look at the hands, the dealer began to count the deck down and surveillance was called to verify the bad-beat. That all took about 20 minutes, so when the word came down it was indeed a legitimate jackpot, the cheering began anew…and the calculators came out of nowhere to figure out who got what.
At the Horseshoe, it seems as when a jackpot occurs, the losing hand gets 30 percent, the winner receives 20 percent – and the pot, of course – and the rest of the room playing the same game all get a table share. After some mighty mathematical “figgerin’ an’ such,” it turned out that each of us playing the same game received $1,278 just for being at the right place at the right time. I was given $278 in assorted regular chips and one oversized $1,000 chip. Now, I’ve handled chips of various denominations right up to $100,000, but they were tournament chips – poker points chips – not for real actual cash money chips, so this was a thrill. Most of the other players cashed right in after receiving theirs but I wanted to enjoy the rich feeling for a while. I keep it in my pocket the entire day, cashing out only when headed back to my room. Kind of a neat feeling AND right then and there the trip was paid for.
Happy Holidays to all the Colorado poker players, families and friends! May 2012 be a safe and prosperous one for all!
