OK, so me and a couple of my buddies from college decided to take a road trip to a Indian Casino here in NY thats about five hours away. It's called the Turning Stone Casino. It was a brisk four hour drive with about two pit stops but once we got there it was great.
This place was in the middle of nowhere yet it was pretty packed on a thursday late afternoon. The casino itself was really nice and had a tropical theme to it.
We decided to get lunch and ate at the 13$ all you can eat buffet. It was pleasant and had some decent food, alot better then what I expected. We had a smoke, a drink, some food and we were ready to hit the tables.
Starting off, we hit the roulette tables. Lost a little, won a little, very fun experience. About an hour in it was time to hit the poker room. When we entered it seemed very nice and clean. The only thing was that the tables were a bit too close together, but it was still decent.
Their smallest NL game was 1/2 with 100$ buyin max and 50$ min. I didn't have alot of money with me but I just was itching to play live again. I went ahead and bought in with 60$ to the 100$NL Max table.
After about fifteen minutes of sitting there I had already figured out who were the donks and who were the decent players. A guy to my left with headphones on reading CardPlayer magazine was the only guy I thought could possibly bust me.
After the blinds orbited around I caught AKo on the button. About 5 limpers, I elect to raise of course to 7$. Everyone called except for the blinds, I expected that though.
Flop came, K48. Not a scary flop for me since it was rainbow. I could only be worried about sets. Guy on the cutoff bet 10$ after everyone checked. I raised to 25$ and he flat called.
Turn was a 9. He checked and I put it all in, he said, "You have me beat but I'm going to call". He flipped over K10 after a swift call. I was delighted. I raked in a nice 80$ pot.
At this point I'm sitting pretty with about 125$. Couple of hands later a new guy sits in to my left. Pretty big guy, glasses, didn't think he knew what he was doing.
I get dealt KK in the SB. Alot of limpers. I decide to raise, and raise big. I put in a 20$ raise. Thats 10xBB. The BB called?! I was amazed lol, even the dealer said "Whoa, big raise". Everyone else folded.
Flop came 763. Not a great flop for me, but it was rainbow. I elected to bet in about 30$. Guy flat calls. Now I'm kind of worried. I'm not liking the flat call.
Turn comes 8. Terrible card, puts a possible straight on the board. I check, showing weakness. He goes all-in for his last 50$ (He bought in with about 100$). I had the worst feeling in my gut. I didn't want to lose the pot to QQ or JJ or 1010 or anything, so in desperation, I counted my chips, called, and asked him what he had.
"I only have a pair" he said. I was so freakin happy. He flipped over 89o.
Eight Nine Off-Suit. How could he call my raise with THAT? I'm feelin pretty good now.
As the river come's I know he's got outs but I also know I've got the best hand going in.
Dealer throws the river card down in disgust, I was surprised that he showed emotion as he nodded his head from left to right in disbelief as another 8 came on the river. He obviously felt bad for me, and the whole table went dead silent.
I thought it was kinda funny until all my chips were raked back to this guy on my left. I asked him why he called with 89o. He said "My wife gave me 50 bucks as a gift, might as well gamble".
I'm down to about 25$ now and ready to go all-in with any PP. I get 77 in mid-position and elect just to call. Someone raises on the button, small raise, 5$. I flat call.
Three guys in the pot including me. Flop comes K64 two clubs. Guy in SB checks and I go all-in for my last 20$.
Button guy calls. SB Folds. Button guy flips over A4. Great I think! I just have to dodge an ace or a four.
Turn is a 9. River is an Ace. With a crappy feeling in my gut, the guy looks at me and says sorry as I leave the table.
By dinner time I realized that my play wasn't bad. The only mistake I might've made was not going all-in on the flop with Kings, so I didn't really feel down. I felt as if I didn't really have to Bankroll to stomach those kinds of beats. I heard later on from the guy reading cardplayer that he took all of that donks money and that gave me a better feeling.
From playing 25$NL online to 1/2$ live, was a scary adrenaline rush but definatley fun.
Cya at the tables.
My Second Live Experience - Long Read. 
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