Redemption in Concord (Thank You Stevie Wonder)

I had absolutely no desire to go to Concord for any reason last night. I dropped off "xxxxx" at the Stevie Wonder concert at the Concord Pavilion and drove off to find something to do. I was on my way to the movies when I thought "Hey, isn't the California Grand Casino around here somewhere?" My poker degenerate instincts guided me past the strip malls, Pep Boys and Bowling alleys of East Concord to the small card room on Pacheco Blvd. I found a parking space and with a little trepidation walked into the casino to see if there was room at a No Limit table. There was a few seats at the 2-3-3 No limit table.

I bought in for $100 (That's another $100 from my winnings from last Tuesday...I'm down to $200 now). I am folding hand after hand until I get into the blinds and finally on the button I catch pocket Aces. I hear "all-in" from the other side of the table...folding to me. I call and my hands are shaking I must look like such a donkey. I double up and from there I do not look back...for the next hour...yes that's 60 minutes...I build my stack to nearly $580. I decide that quintupling my initial stake is fine so I cash out and go see a movie.

After the movie I pick up "xxxxx" from the concert and we're off...I make some money and have some fun playing some poker, "xxxxx" has a great time at Stevie Wonder, and all is well with the world for now.

Here's my table: to my left is spikey head floor manager (ok player, nice guy), then there's nose-pickin motorcyclist (maniac), then there's business suit (Agressive-solid), then Mexican Dude (donkey), Asian Chip Tower (Aggressive), Blackshirt Asian Guy, and finally Flanders (Gamblers Annonymous Candidate---loose).

Key Hands

Key Hand #1:
After bleeding out chips for the first 10 minutes I have bullets on the button. UTG (Blacksirt Asian Guy) goes all-in. Everyone folds and I call. He sees my hand and immediately goes for his wallet to re-load. He has 8-rag???? not sure what he even has. I double up.

Key Hand #2:
I am in BB with A-4. 2 or 3 callers and the flop comes 9-4-9. UTG (Flanders) checks and I raise $15...folds all around to UTG and he goes all-in for $45. I think awhile and call,...he as Q-10. WTF??? Another 9 comes on the river so I take down the pot with a full house and he has ziltch...I am nearly tripled up...25 minutes into game.

Key Hand #3:
SB I have J-10. Mexican calls. Flop comes J-9-3. Mexican goes all-in. I call and he shows Ad-4d...there's one diamond on the board. No more diamonds come. Top pair holds up and I win another $50 bucks.

Key Hand #4:
In BB I have K-7. Three callers. Flop comes 3-K-8. I bet $25 and the hyper-aggressive motorcyclist calls. A seven comes on the turn. I check and the Motorcyclist goes all-in. I call and he shows K-Q. River brings a rag and I win with 2-pair...after he wipes some snot on his shirt he reloads. I am now around $400. Wahoo!!!

Key Hand #5:
I have Q-7 in the BB. All fold to the button (Flanders) and he just calls. I check and flop comes 10-Q-10. I bet $30 and Flanders goes all-in for a total of $75...I call for time...think about it and decide to call after about 30 seconds. He shows A-8...again WTF???? I get another Queen on the turn and bust Flanders out again. He gets up to blow off steam. I am now around $500

Key Hand #6:
Two new players come to the table. Middle-Eastern hipster and a black dude who looks like Mark Curry from Hanging with Mr Cooper. I have K-Q in SB. Middle Eastern Guy is BB and Mr Cooper is Button. All fold to Mr Cooper and he calls. Flop comes, 10-Q-Q. I bet $35 and Middle Eastern Guy folds Button calls. Turn comes 8. I bet $50 and Mr Cooper calls. River comes a blank but I check as does Mr Cooper. He shows A-K. I win big pot. I am now around $600 so i rack my chips and take hike.

I had a really good session so the poker bankroll is now around $900. Hopefully I continue to play well. It'd be nice to have a nice roll when I go to Reno and Vegas this year.