Trip report: Cripple Creek, Colorado

This week I played at the Gold Creek Casino in Cripple Creek, CO, just outside Colorado Springs. Also known as the Double Eagle Casino. The place is a full fledged casino with the table gaming pit just a few steps away. There are a whole bunch of casinos in Cripple Creek, but Gold Creek is one of only 2-3 offering poker cash games.

On the night I played (a Wednesday, unfortunately), they only had one cash game going: $2-$10 spread limit holdem. I had missed the 7:30 p.m. $50 buy-in tournament. I think they had 3 tables total.

The game was soft and profitable. I had never played spread limit holdem (played with a single $2 blind), but it required very little adjustment. Just bet your hand, don't bluff, and call down the bluff-o-matics. It was mostly locals plus a few tourists. All were loose. I was the only tight player at the table. I still got plenty of action when I hit a hand.

On this night, there were only 2 dealers rotating in and out. The one named Craig was awesome. Funny and cool. Of course I could be biased by the fact that he flopped me several monsters in the big blind.

Management was very friendly, handing out lots of comps and tickets for the Saturday drawing. I got free drinks and a ham and swiss sandwich, which was delicious. Some other regulars got room comps. There is a progressive bad beat jackpot as well as high hand bonuses for hitting quads with a black or red pocket pair. Don't know how much they were raking, but they did agree to cut the rake to $2 whenever we went shorthanded.

The game broke around 1 a.m. and I was pretty much the last person to leave the entire casino. I was told the Midnight Rose Casino up the street actually has more poker tables and games than the Gold Creek, with long wait lists. But by the time I got there, it was shutting down, too. In addition to being midweek, it was also snowing, so that must have kept many folks home. To get to Cripple Creek, you have to drive over a steep mountain pass -- no fun at night, and downright scary with snow.

Overall, I give Gold Creek a thumbs up for the good atmosphere and fine fishing. I'm sure it is a rocking good time on weekends.

ChezJ

Oh yeah, here is an example of how fishy the table was.

Two women (one tourist, one local) get heads up on an ace-high, monotone flop after one bets and the other raises.

Turn is the 7, putting 4 spades out there.

The women get into a raising war, re-raising each other about 5 times in $10 increments.

The river is another 7.

One woman bets and the other goes all in with her last $5. The pot is close to $200.

The felted lady shows the Q for the second best flush.

The other shows... A7o. She had jammed 2 pr on the turn against a 4flush and caught a 4-outer for the win.

I was so shocked I nearly went on tilt myself!

ChezJ