Commerce Teeming, But Big Games Struggling

Commerce is teeming with poker players as the L.A. Poker Classic hits its second week, with tables and tables of lower-level games and more and more higher-stakes games being spread.

There are tons of $10/20 NLHE and always $25/50 NLHE, along with a few $300/600 and $400/800 mixed games. I've avoided the early $350 and $550 buy-in tournaments, instead refocusing on the $300/600 and $400/800 LHE cash games.

Call this one lady's view, but it seems to me like the bigger games are struggling.

These big games used to run around the clock - they were 24-hour marathons that ran again and again with a core crew. I'm not sure exactly where the players and money have gone.

Players go bust or move on, but the big games normally suck cash upward in the poker economy as hot players take their shot at the biggest game around.

I tend to think it's a combination of some players spending more time online, some players going bust chasing tournaments, some players flaming out playing high-stakes PLO and some players just moving on.

Commerce Casino: Teeming with poker players as the L.A. Poker Classic moves into its second week.

I've been playing with a core group of the same players almost every day, a mix of Commerce regulars like Max, Cathleen, Sam, Jun, Tommy, and Hansu and top pros including J.C. Tran, Ted Forrest and Lee Salem.

I've had a couple losing sessions in my first six, down $20k and $21k in the down nights. But with all six sessions I've played combined, I'm still on the plus side. The edge is small in these games, and a hand like this doesn't help much.

We were seven-handed when I picked up A♠ 5♠ in the small blind. The button raised, and I made it three bets. The big blind and button both called.

The flop was beautiful for me: 2♠ 7♦ 3♠. I bet $400, the BB raised, I three-bet after the button dropped out and the BB called.

Lieu: Pretty numb to bad beats.

The 4♥ made my straight, and the same action went again - I bet, BB raised, I three-bet, he called. I of course kept thinking, "Don't pair the board! Don't pair the board!"

The 7♥ paired the board, I bet, the BB raised, and I called to see him turn over 7♣ 2♣.

I'm pretty numb to bad beats, especially in higher-stakes limit. Hands like that will definitely push a winning session to a losing one in a hurry.

I'll be jumping into more of the tournaments, although today's quick exit in the $1k NLHE event hopefully is the low point for the LAPC. I've won a tournament the last two years here, and hopefully the third time will be a charm.

Stop by www.lizlieu.net, and drop by www.ChiliPoker.com whenever you have a chance, or come by the Commerce. I'll be the little lady hoping no one catches 7-2 against me!

-- Liz Lieu

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