Turning Stone Report

 

My first visit to Turning Stone Resort, in central New York was memorable, to say the least. The casino is beautiful and the poker room, awesome. It is big, at least 30

tables.

 

 

My first High Heels Poker Academy was well received, again, to say the least. I had five students, Holly, Donna, Marilyn, Jodi (who came all the way from Florida), and Leslie. There is not much more rewarding for a teacher, coach, tutor, instructor, whatever you want to call me, the poker teacher, than to see a student "get it". The skill level of my fabulous five was about the same and by the end of the day, I believe they all had advanced as was proven to me in the High Heels Poker Tour Tournament the following day. Teacher didn't do so well, but both Donna and Leslie made the money! Leslie came in third for a nice payday and I am happy to say, she gave me a lot of credit. The following is from an email I received from her:

 

 

Susie,

 

My thanks goes to you. Boy did I learn a lot, especially in changing up my game. Not only has it paid off in the tournament but in the two local games I have played since the class. You will love this - one of the guys noticed my change in play and said what did Susie teach you - you are more dangerous than you were before.

 

Leslie

 

Some other noteworthy points from the seminar: Donna's husband (newlyweds), who she met online, gave her the seminar for her birthday. Donna was delighted when her X-sister and brother-in-law came to Turning Stone to spend some time with her. She had not seen them in 20 years but does keep in touch. "I divorced him," she explained, not his family!"

 

Leslie brags that her husband cost her $19.99 and was worth every penny. (She too met him online and had only paid for one month - $19.99!)

 

Marilyn's nickname prior to the seminar was the "Black Widow". My guess is because she put many a bad beat on many a guy with some bad play. Now she is even more dangerous because she is putting beats on them with her great play.

 

Holly Wilson's father came into our seminar several times during the day to "check on the pretty girls" and to flirt a little. The rest of the time, he spent in the poker room. Holly had given him a satellite for the Heartland Poker Tour for his birthday, which he won. He didn't win the tournament but he was interviewed on TV during the tournament. Did I mention he was 98 years-young, making him the oldest player ever in the Heartland Poker Tour! He was adorable.

 

I met some delightful ladies at the HHPT tournament. One, Theresa Baker has three kids. They, Alexa, 13, Cody, 16 and Wyatt, 10, pooled their resources and gave the poker seminar to their Mom for Mother's Day. BTW: their names all came from romance novels their Mom had read prior to their births.

 

I know the seminar helped my fab five with their game and interestingly, it also helped me. I must have listened to myself. Teaching often brings a lot of what I know to the forefront, when sometimes it's in the back of my mind and I don't put it to use. I played well, just didn't quite make the money.

 

During the tournament, an overly aggressive player (who didn't last long) made a bet that was entirely too big for the size of the pot. The way she had been playing, I felt sure I had the best hand with an under-pair and she didn't want me to call. As I thought about how she had been playing and how this hand came down, I needed to feel certain as the call would put me all-in and going broke to a weak player is a point of embarrassment to me. So, I contemplated. Finally, she said, "You must have read some poker books, with all your thinking." Most of the girls at the table laughed and one mumbled, "Are you kidding, she wrote the books!" I did call her big bet and I did win the pot and I did double up!

 

There was one rude player at the table. There usually is one unless you get real lucky. I figure this one was a heavy smoker (the way she smelled almost assures my assumption is correct.) In lieu of puffing away, she was chewing gum. No, she was chomping, smacking, slurping, popping and blowing bubbles. This is one of my BIG pet peeves, right up there with chewing tobacco and spitting at the table. I politely asked her if she could please lighten up on the chewing gum sound effects. She said something ugly and continued her assault on the gum. And then I realized, every now and then, she stopped chewing all together. At first I thought her jaws just needed a rest and then I realized, when she stopped chewing, she was bluffing or holding a weak hand, when she continued her gum sound effects, she had the goods. About the time I figured out her tell, she was broke and gone.

 

The next High Heels Poker Tour Academy will be in Las Vegas June 5 and 6. Five pros will be on hand to help you take your game to the next level. Please join us. See my May 11 blog for further information.