Grosvenor Casino Luton

This was my second experience of playing in the UK.

The event was a £200 freezeout as part of the UK open. I believe Willie Tann won in the end.

The Casino itself has a gaming floor slightly larger than the downstairs of the Fitz… But there is only one floor which means the venue can only take a maximum 140 entries. Luckily I pre-registered. The poker tables were set on a slightly raised area and was non-smoking… But smokers could smoke in the main part of the casino which of course drifted over – Amazing how you get used to the smoke free environment – my eyes were stinging after only half an hour. But this [and my own play] were the only drawbacks. The staff were excellent and friendly – one dealer in particular was stunning… I had to wear sun glasses just to look at her. The players too seemed more friendly and more skilful than those I came up against at the Gutshot [But of course this is just the luck of the table draw] I played well enough for the first four hours and then hit a wall of tiredness and ragged cards. I had a meeting the following morning [the purpose of my visit] and became aware of some of the very large chipstacks on other tables. If I was to return the next day I needed to make an impression. We started with 5K in chips… I built my stack up to around 16k and decided to play 69 suited on the button for a call of the BB at around 400. I flopped two pair and it was checked around to me by BB and one caller. I raised to 1K. BB folds… caller goes all in. I call – he’s flopped a set. I’m down to 10k. Got a little card dead, and getting very tired… It’s a long way from Mayo. Get A 10 suited UTG. Something strange happens… I’m going to call but a guy sat opposite me says raise – as in: he thinks that’s what I’m going to say. Certainly I was considering it. It caused a little confusion with the dealer… and it sounded like he was fed up because it seemed like every time he had a playable hand in late position I had a hand in early position – but there was no problem with this player it was just odd. Anyway as the hand goes round there’s quite a few callers, and it comes back to the lady on the BB. She’s not been on the table long, and she’s only played one hand raising on a flop with an ace – which she took uncontested. I mentally mark her down as tight… she raises to 3k – it looks like small PP – doesn’t want caller. If I’m right I figure she may well fold, as I have her covered… It’s risky but I decide to go all in. Sure enough it folds around to her and she calls. Pocket rockets… I’m surprised because surely the play with aces would be to have a smaller raise to eliminate connectors and rags and try and get action. I realise in hindsight that she was trying to get the one loose player all in who had previously raised mid-pos pre flop with 10 8os got re-raised by KK [who went all in for half of 10 8’s stack.] 10 8 called and sucked out the kings. I almost suck out the aces but now I’m down to 5K. I get moved to a new table. Get AK straight away in early pos do a minimum raise no callers. Bah! A few hands later I decide to go all in with J 10 as opposed to being blinded out correctly guessing a small pair raise but I fail to hit.

All in all a good experience – I’d recommend the place.