Montana, Day 1

Yesterday, Diana and I woke up at around 4:30am to get up and ready for our 6:15am flight. Ugh. But everything was pretty uneventful during the travel. We flew through Salt Lake City, which is fun. It's neat to see the subtle and not so subtle Mormon influence, even in the airport. We found a local paper and I was interested to see how pervasive the religion was in lots of aspects (letters to the editor, particularly). I've obviously never spent much time in Utah.

We eventually made it to Kalispell, where we were picked up by a nice guy running a shuttle service. He dropped us off at the door of the house my parents built (named "Emily" by me, and some point, in a complete fit of randomness).

The house is in great shape. We wandered around, checking all the bits and so forth. We called my parents and checked in, and they were able to help make sure some important things were set up (ie, hot water heater was turned on, which it wasn't).

We hung around for the afternoon, just reading and relaxing and getting over the weariness of travel. It was a nice day, and I set up the hammock on the back porch and tested it out for a while. I'm not sure if the weather is going to hold up to keep it up, but it was nice to sit there.

After a brief discussion of what we wanted to accomplish during our stay, we headed out for dinner, and the plan was to hit the grocery store on the way back. We went out for pizza, which was nice, and then walked around the little town of Whitefish for a bit.

We passed by two different bars, both advertising Poker. We actually walked through and checked out the games. Each bar had a single poker table set up in the back, both playing the same games, either Hold'em or Tahoe (more later). Both were $1-$5 spread limit, which means that on any round you can bet/raise anywhere from $1 to $5. Each had a single $1 blind, as well.

We watched for a while, and then headed towards the car. Diana asked if I wanted to play, and I was sort of once the fence. It was pretty intimidating, to wander into the back of a bar and play cards. She sounded on the fence as well, and we decided spur of the moment to just go for it.

The table in the first bar we stopped in was really smoky, so we headed next door. There were some folks sitting around the table, not playing, but we said we were interested, and that gave enough players to start. We cashed in for $50 each, and were given a $10 bonus that would be forfeit unless we went broke or played for longer than two hours.

In spite of the intimidation, it was really a lot of fun. There was me and Diana, and the dealer Joanne, who was an ex-Vegas dealer who'd dealt at the WSOP at one point. Jim, who we found out shortly later was a house player, and somehow connected with the bar (hell, maybe owned the place), and two other locals. Everyone was REALLY nice, and asked us where we were from, how long we were in town, and so forth. We openly joked about how they were the locals and we were the touristy fish. It was all pretty light hearted and had a fun small-town feel to it.

Diana and I both started off by quickly dropping about $25 each, and then tightened up a bit and hung on for the ride.

I want to go over a couple hands for my own memory, just 'cause I've found they're fun to read about later.

There was a local at the table, Nick, who was a really funny guy, but he'd beat me pretty good a couple times. He'd caught me chasing a flush draw once or twice (stupid, stupid!). At one point, though, I had pocket 8's, and the flop came with some pretty big overcards, two of them suited. I checked, he bet, I called. The third of the suit came out, and I was pretty sure I was beat with an overpair, but I bet out $5 and he thought for a sec and folded. Total stone bluff, and the beginning of my luck change.

A bit later, I had pocket jacks, and I raised pretty good pre-flop and got some callers. Flop came nothing higher than a 9, so I bet out big and was called by Nick and maybe one other. Turn wasn't a help, so I bet out $5 and got called by Nick again. River comes 10. I re-check the board, and see a 7-8-9-10, and I've got two jacks. I bet big, and Nick calls, going all in. I flip over a jack for a straight, and he shows pocket Kings. He had be beat from the start, and I just got completely lucky on the river to get the straight. I felt pretty bad, and told him so. He took off pretty quick, and I said something again about what a bad beat that was. Someone at the table said "Hey, if he had done that to you, he wouldn't feel too bad about it." That made me not feel so bad.

At some point a drunk retiree joined us, who proceeded to get drunker and drunker as the game went on. He won big, and then gave it all back. I don't think anyone was sorry to see him go.

Also, at some point, it was stated that if you won with a 2-7, you'd win a free drink. Soon after, I was on the button with a 2-7 suited, and called for $1 to see it. Flop came 27x, and I bet and was folded to. I showed my 2-7, not knowing if the drink thing was real or not, and was offered a drink, but declined. But it was another fun moment.

At this point, the Canadians arrived. Yeah, you heard me. There was a huge group of Canadian 20-somethings, part of a 400 group tour or something. After a group got more and more intoxicated, they decided to give this poker thing a try. This is when my "luck" really changed.

I had a couple good hands that made a ton of money, making up for the money thrown to the locals earlier and then some. At one point, I had 6-9 diamonds and snuck in for $1 to see the flop, which came two diamonds. Some small betting, and I stayed in. Turn was another diamond, giving me a small flush, and also, I discovered, an inside straight flush draw. More betting, and I'm still in it. River comes an eight of diamonds. I've made my straight flush. I knee Diana under the table, and mutter "watch this". Two drunk Canadians bet, I raise, and I think one calls, and I flip over my straight flush. I don't really remember much after that. The dealer gave me a high-five, and told me I'd won a free t-shirt or cap, which I retrieved after the game. It was an awesome, heart-pounding moment.

We played a couple more hands, including a game called Tahoe, which is exactly like Hold'em, except you get three hole cards instead of two (you can only play up to two of those cards, though, just like HE). I was dealt 665, and asked Diana quietly what she'd do with a small pocket pair. She laughed and said to fold 'em, but I could see a cheap flop, and had just won a ton, so I called. Flop comes 652. I bet big and get one or two callers. Turn comes something like 8. I bet $5 and get at least one caller. River comes another two, making me a full house but not the nuts. Some bets $4 into me. I raise to $8, and someone behind me REraises to $12. Other guy folds, I call, and beat his straight (I think he had a 3-4, so was winning from the start) with my full boat. Another bad beat with me on the good side of it. Oh well.

At this point, the place is getting pretty rowdy. Diana, throughout the night, was staying even at about $15 or $20, and having a good time playing and watching and chatting.

We picked up my free shirt and bailed out of there. Combined total cashout for $132 and a lot of fun. The +$32 paid for our dinner beforehand, so there it is.

It was a very fun atmosphere. A lot different to player poker in a bar than a casino. LOTS of drunkards buying in for the minimum to see how this poker thing works. If I lived around here, I think I'd probably make it a regular habit to win money from the tourists. Drinking and poker do NOT mix well, in spite of the surroundings.

The game was run very professionally and friendly, though, by Jim and Joanne, and I'd highly recommend stopping by the Bulldog saloon if you're ever in Whitefish, and playing a hand or two. Your have your choice of friendly locals early in the evening who will take your money, or later, touristy yahoos who will give it away for free. Both have their pros and cons. :)