-145 @ The Commerce Caisno

Guy has always maintained that spending time at the Commerce Casino is like playing with carnies, but tonight it came true. I was at a table with a fat man (two actually), a dwarf, a bearded lady and a pinhead. Truth be told, he wasn't a pinhead in the strictest definition, but he was brain damaged. The dwarf insisted that it was acting, but I'm not so sure; string raises, calling "time" every time it got to him, mis-betting, etc. The Russian guys (solid players) at the table started hassling him and that was pretty funny: "Everyone checked and now you want to bet? Just check!" Of course he won some miracle hands. The very entertaining table helped make me feel better about losing money, but I would rather have had a winning night.

• With K,Q in early position I called and the flop came 2,8,K. I bet it and the turn was another 8. After a little consideration, I again bet and the rest of the table folded.
• 7,8 suited in middle position. The flop was A,A,7 and when I bet most of the table called. The turn was a blank and I kept betting, and when I bet on the blank river everyone folded.
• 10,7 suited in late position. The flop came 5,4,7. Bets all-round except for a fellow behind me who raised. He got a fair number of callers, but I mucked my hand. The turn was a 9 and the river was a Q. The pot was taken by the raiser who showed a 7,8. Crap.
• 8,9 suited in middle position. The flop gave another of my suit, but also gave a straight draw (but not for me.) The turn gave me a straight and flush draw, but possibly completed the straight for someone else. It was checked to me and I bet the turn in anticipation of the river. To my surprise not only were there no raises but everyone folded, one guy muttering "so you made your straight huh?" as he did so.
• Pocket 2s and the flop was 7,A,A. I bet it and half the table called. Another A on the turn was pretty exciting and I again bet and got two callers. The final card of an 8 didn't excite anyone, so I bet again and got a caller. He turned over 7,10 and took the pot. If only he had had a pocket pair...jackpot!

Guy has informed me that this wouldn't have been a jackpot hand, despite the mummerings of the floorman who was hovering nearby and watching at that point. At the Commerce Casino you need Aces full beaten by 4 of a kind or better.