Ender
02-17-2006, 01:52 PM
I was in the Berkeley area Wed and decided to stop by Casino San Pablo to check out the action (Exit San Pablo Dam Rd. from I-80). Having never been there and hearing nothing of this place, I had no idea what to expect. The area itself is a little ghetto, but the casino is actually pretty nice and safe looking.
Half of the casino is slots, the other half is poker, with a small area for Pai Gow and BJ. Probably 20 poker tables, in a large room. No smoking, but smoke comes in from the slot area.
Step up to the giant waiting list wall, and see that they only had 3/6 and 6/12 going, with 2 tables of each and 1 table of 1-4 stud. Sat down at the 3/6 while I waited for 6/12, but after seeing the blind structure I opted out of the game. $3 BB, $2 SB, $2 button. Yech... this is as bad as Capitol.
6/12 comes up soon, and I buy in for a rack and check it out. $6 BB, $2 SB, $2 button. Still kinda crappy, but I came to play. Nothing to exciting to report, other than super loose action. Something interesting that I noticed is that when I raised early position, it actually made MORE people call! Raised pots usually ended up capped with 5 or more players, where other times there would just be 4 or so limpers... interested. Went down a quick rack when my 99 lost to AA when the flop came KK9, turn 2, river A. Oh well.
Then I notice that they are taking sign ups for 12/24 hold em, which is only on Wed nights. Sweet! That's just about the level that I'm currently playing at, so I sign up. Play 6/12 another hour, cash out $40 down from a $400 buyin, and sit down to a 10 handed (all the games are 10 handed) 12/24. For all the NL players out there, they also had 2 NL games going at this point, both 2/2/1 on button blinds, with no max buyin... they only use $1 chips though! YUCK.
So the 12/24 blnds are much better. $12 BB, $6 SB, nothing else. Jackpot still qualifies, but they don't rake for it here. nice!
The table is pretty good. Solid players, with a couple loose action types, but overall a good and beatable game. I start of hot, hitting everything and quickly go up $500 or so. Then cold for a few hours. Have some dinner (good food, but not free, nothing is, even water or soda), and get back into the action.
Under the gun, look down to the "brokeback boys" KK and raise it up. Middle position 3 bets it, folded to the button who calls 3 cold (put him on JJish), I cap it, they call. Flop is an ugly A79, but I keep the aggression and bet out. Both call. Turn another A, I bet, seat 4 raises, button folds. I think for a bit, then just call. River, a wonderful card for me, the case Ace! Ok, so it's a capper pot with a board of AAA97. I've got the qualifying low hand (AAAJJ beat), so all he needs is the ace! I bet, saying, dude, you got the ace we are $10,000 richer! He just calls, I flip my big boat, he shows me A5o!!!??? and drags a bit pot. Damn, he 3 betted it before the flop, i put him on at least AJs or something. GRR. Oh well.
Not much else interesting to report. Lots of action if you like it, and I was hitting cards all night and cashed out +$1100 in 7 hours.
Overall, probably wouldn't go back again unless I'm in the area, then I'd probably take the drive to Bay 101 or something, but it's still fun to check out a new place every once in awhile. At the end of the night I had like 2 1/2 racks of blue ($3), and close to 3 stacks of black ($20 at this place). Looove having $1400 in front of me.
Any games this weekned? My plans fell through.
-Kid
Half of the casino is slots, the other half is poker, with a small area for Pai Gow and BJ. Probably 20 poker tables, in a large room. No smoking, but smoke comes in from the slot area.
Step up to the giant waiting list wall, and see that they only had 3/6 and 6/12 going, with 2 tables of each and 1 table of 1-4 stud. Sat down at the 3/6 while I waited for 6/12, but after seeing the blind structure I opted out of the game. $3 BB, $2 SB, $2 button. Yech... this is as bad as Capitol.
6/12 comes up soon, and I buy in for a rack and check it out. $6 BB, $2 SB, $2 button. Still kinda crappy, but I came to play. Nothing to exciting to report, other than super loose action. Something interesting that I noticed is that when I raised early position, it actually made MORE people call! Raised pots usually ended up capped with 5 or more players, where other times there would just be 4 or so limpers... interested. Went down a quick rack when my 99 lost to AA when the flop came KK9, turn 2, river A. Oh well.
Then I notice that they are taking sign ups for 12/24 hold em, which is only on Wed nights. Sweet! That's just about the level that I'm currently playing at, so I sign up. Play 6/12 another hour, cash out $40 down from a $400 buyin, and sit down to a 10 handed (all the games are 10 handed) 12/24. For all the NL players out there, they also had 2 NL games going at this point, both 2/2/1 on button blinds, with no max buyin... they only use $1 chips though! YUCK.
So the 12/24 blnds are much better. $12 BB, $6 SB, nothing else. Jackpot still qualifies, but they don't rake for it here. nice!
The table is pretty good. Solid players, with a couple loose action types, but overall a good and beatable game. I start of hot, hitting everything and quickly go up $500 or so. Then cold for a few hours. Have some dinner (good food, but not free, nothing is, even water or soda), and get back into the action.
Under the gun, look down to the "brokeback boys" KK and raise it up. Middle position 3 bets it, folded to the button who calls 3 cold (put him on JJish), I cap it, they call. Flop is an ugly A79, but I keep the aggression and bet out. Both call. Turn another A, I bet, seat 4 raises, button folds. I think for a bit, then just call. River, a wonderful card for me, the case Ace! Ok, so it's a capper pot with a board of AAA97. I've got the qualifying low hand (AAAJJ beat), so all he needs is the ace! I bet, saying, dude, you got the ace we are $10,000 richer! He just calls, I flip my big boat, he shows me A5o!!!??? and drags a bit pot. Damn, he 3 betted it before the flop, i put him on at least AJs or something. GRR. Oh well.
Not much else interesting to report. Lots of action if you like it, and I was hitting cards all night and cashed out +$1100 in 7 hours.
Overall, probably wouldn't go back again unless I'm in the area, then I'd probably take the drive to Bay 101 or something, but it's still fun to check out a new place every once in awhile. At the end of the night I had like 2 1/2 racks of blue ($3), and close to 3 stacks of black ($20 at this place). Looove having $1400 in front of me.
Any games this weekned? My plans fell through.
-Kid