Trip Report: Poker Room in Seabrook, NH (Sun. Nov. 25, 2007)

I played in the $250 November event at the Poker Room at Seabrook
Greyhound Track (http://www.seabrookpoker.com/) this past Sunday. For
those of you living in MA and live relatively close to the NH border,
the Poker Room at Seabrook offers a great alternative to the 2 hour
ride to Foxwoods. I live just north of Boston and it took 30 minutes
to get there. Let me clarify that these NH poker rooms offer a great
alternative to Foxwoods if you're looking for tournament action. Due
to NH law, these casinos only offer $1 - $2 Limit Cash games, which
are a joke. Don't be surprised to constantly have 7 way showdowns at
the river.

From what I can tell Seabrook Poker Room is about a year old, but
still looks brand new. Everything was first class, Tournament Staff,
Dealers, Waitress Service, Clean chips, brand new tables, very well
done. Overall I give it a 9/10. There is a separate room for
Tournaments (about 20 tables) and another room for sit-n-gos & limit
games. Every month Seabrook has a main event ($250 buyin), which a
portion of the prize goes to charity (how NH was able to offer
casinos). This month the tournament was hosted by a charity called
C.A.T.S. and Sully Erna, lead singer of Godsmack.

This was my first $250 event at Seabrook. You started with $7,000 in
chips, 30 minute levels, and blinds 25/50, 50/100, 75/150, 100/200/25,
etc. I thought it was odd that they jumped from 75/150 to 100/200/25
and not 100/200, then the next level with 100/200/25.

Anyway, play got underway on schedule. I was pretty happy with my
table. Everyone at the table played tight-aggressive, straight forward
poker. During the first 2 levels I built my chip stack up to about
$9,000. I hit trip 8's, while holding pocket 8's and took down a few
pots by betting out when everyone checked to me on the button. The
next 3 levels, were not as good to me. I went card dead and couldn't
get anything going these levels.

One interesting hand arose, when early in Level 3 the player second to
act min-raised to $300, another player called, I called with As3s in
the cutoff, the button called, then the SB pushes for $1,550 more. The
original raiser folds, Caller 1, thinks about it then makes the call.
I end up folding. Caller 1 had been playing very tight and I put him
on a higher Ace than mine. Then the Button makes the call. Flop comes
A 3 x. I feel sick inside. Both callers check it down to the river and
both flip up K Q suited and chop the pot.

I did make myself feel a little bit better when during the last hand
of level 3, before we took the first break. I found myself first to
act holding pocket 4's, I min raise and get 2 callers. Flop comes out
K J 8 rainbow. I check and both callers check. Turn is 10. I check my
4's again. Both callers check. River is 3. I check yet again, Caller 1
raises it $750. Caller 2 folds. Caller 1, just came to my table about
10 hands before this, but right away I could tell he was a loose
player. Out of those 10 hands he played 8 and bet when anyone showed
any sign of weakness. Being about 80% certain he's bluffing I make the
call. He flips up Q 2 for a missed straight draw and I take down the
pot with my pocket 4's.

After the break, I was hoping to hit a hand against the player I
described above and slowplay it and let him hang himself out to dry.
However, I had no such luck, but another player at the table used this
strategy early into to Level 4 and busted said player. I folded lots
of hands through Levels 4, 5, 6. I won 2 hands for the blinds/antes
with late pre-flop raises. But lost most of those chips back when I
had to fold when I got reraised after making a continuation bet on a
flop I missed.

Then late in level 7 I met my fate. I had about $7,000 in chips and
needed to get something going. (Warning: Bad Beat Story to follow)
Player first to act min raises to 800, gets 1 caller, then on the
button I look down at pocket J's, ugh!! Obviously having to play this
hand I push all-in. Original raiser folds and the caller goes into the
tank. He ends up calling, saying he'll gamble. He flips up KhJh. I'm
slightly ahead for about 2 seconds until the flop came, 2 K 2. Great
I'm now 2% to hit the case J. But those hopes went out the window when
the turn brought another K, and just to rub it in the river brought
the final K. My boat loses to his quads and I exit the building out of
the money.

Overall I had a great time and was happy with my play. I just hate
going all in with J's for my tournament life. I can't recall winning
many races with J's. Again, for anyone interested in playing at any of
the casinos in NH, try Seabrook first. I've been to a few others and
Seabrook is by far the best one available.
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