Bobby’s Room? What’s that?

Commerce Casino, Saturday night: The main event of the L.A. Poker Classic was well underway having started with more than 700 players and now nearing the money and the final 45. Even with so many people already knocked out of the tournament, it seemed no one had left.

The ballroom that hosted the tourney was only half filled, comprised of the surviving competitors and a couple dozen satellites on the side. But the main and top sections of the poker room were brimming…Boards for most games as long as I have ever seen. The top section, which normally runs 10-20 and 20-40 as its highest NLH games, was running all the way up to 50-100 no limit. The likes of Chip Jett and Phil Laak were sitting in on those with towers of chips and stacks of cash behind.

But it got even better than that. Across the room, I noticed Gus Hansen at a table. I’ve actually had the good fortune to play at a table with Gus before, in the 2003 Legends of Poker main event. (More on that some other time.) But I was still excited to go watch him play a cash game. When I got nearer the table, I found myself star struck. That is not something I usually experience. But, this time, I think it is understandable.

The game was, essentially, Bobby’s Room on tour. Doyle, Reese, Ivey, Benyamine, Elizra, Ly, and, of course Hansen. Barry Greenstein later joined in the fun…A real who’s who of the poker world. I told a friend who was hanging out with me, “Its pretty much Bobby’s Room.” She replied, “What’s that?” Funny thing is, several of them know her. She just never heard the name for their base of ops. Unfortunately, there were security guards shooing away all casual onlookers. Only friends or potential donators were allowed near enough to observe.

But that was alright. There were plenty of others to sweat. Like the Unabomber. And the Mouth, who was playing Chinese poker just a couple of tables over. High limit combo games o’ plenty. Ah, what the hell. I wasn’t there to watch anyway. I was there to play. To build my bankroll and continue to test myself…to see just how good I can be. Or figure out if I’ve even got what it takes.

I was actually already involved in a 5-10 NLH game in the bottom section. I was just taking a break from the grind to check out the walk of fame. Long story short, I played well and left winner. But I wasn’t thrilled with the fact that I didn’t pick up any tells. I know it’s important to not only know how to play a solid game but to read opponents, as well. I have to remind myself that some people just don’t have tells. Or maybe those with tells just aren’t playing many hands that night. So I can go for a couple sessions of just playing the cards.

In truth, I usually do pick up on something. This time, I did get alot out of the betting patterns of one particularly solid player. And that helped along the way. It was, overall, a good night.

While my friend and I were waiting for our cars from the valet, we noticed Chip Reese appeared to also be waiting. She asked Chip, “They make you wait, too?” “Just like everyone else,” he replied with a smile. Maybe the big players aren’t so different after all…..Nah.

SEEYa