Just got back from three days in Nassau to play some events in the World Poker Showdown at the Wyndham Cable Beach Resort.
I played three events and won the first one. Actually, chopped with a Canadian player but I had the chip lead so was listed as the winner. Whatever....it was fun.
The tournaments were a good format: not many chips (1,500), but long levels (35 minutes) and good blind structure: 25/25, 25/50, etc. so there was time to play right. I really chipped up during the first hour, then lost half my stack when my pocket AA were cracked by AK suited who flopped a flush. Flopped! Didn't even have to wait for the turn. I maintained a good attitude and still had chips which I managed to rebuild. I came to the final table as the short stack, but took the lead after some good calls.
First, a woman I never played but who had lots of chips, made a big raise UTG. I had QQ. She hadn't played a hand yet, and I thought she might have KK or AA, but I was here to win at this point. At the showdown, she showed J10 and I was so glad I was aggressive. I later called an all-in by the short stack when I had KQs and it was pretty much smooth sailing from there on. I went from just being glad to getting into the money, to thinking, "I can win this thing."
The event was well run and fun, but the other poker action at the hotel was awful. Their small poker room of about 6 tables, never had more than 2 open...and for awhile on Saturday night 3. Even with a big waiting list, they had no more than three dealers although they DID have three people at the podium who were basically ignoring the waiting players. Also, the "poker room" was only open from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m., and there was smoking, so considering all of those factors, I'd never go there to play poker and I don't think there's any other action on the island. The only reason for poker in the Bahamas is if there's a good event, which the World Poker Showdown was
