[drake]

This average guy has been running a 1/2 NL with a 200 dollar buy in for about 6 months. It was raked game. Anyway, Everything had been going great until last night. I have been going to this game about every other week. Some of the new players had plenty of money and made me question what they did for a living. I suspect a couple of guys might be drug dealers.

On to last night. I have not played in a live game for almost three weeks and was able to sweet talk the wife into letting me go play. I arrive about 9 and take a seat with $200. Only one of the possible drug dealers is at the game and he is waiting for a seat and is out on the back porch on his cell phone. I pick up Aces and win about 100 and then pick up a set of sixes for about another 130. A couple of guys leave and then the cell phone guy takes a seat. He plays about 20 hands and them gets another call and is on the cell outiside for about another 45 minutes...he comes back and starts playing. At 2 am, two very nice G.I.'s get up to leave. When they open up the door of the apartment to walk out..... Three guys comes in with stockings over their heads pointing guns saying "This is not a joke....Everybody get face down with your hands on top of your head and nobody will get hurt. We just want the money!"

I've lived a pretty sheltered life and this is my first time being robbed. The houseman was a little slow laying down and one of the robbers hit him over the head with a gun putting a gash in his head requiring staples at the hospital. They flipped us over one at a time and made us give up all of our money and any jewerly. Everybody at the game feels like it was an inside job. They walked out with about 10 grand.

I've learned a very valuable lesson. I will not be playing an any games with people I do not know. I really enjoy live play but internet poker has a lot of advantages.

[Wedge Rock]

That is a crappy story.

Were any of the guys wearing pink fuzzy hats? Was it Yeltzen?

Sorry, drake, trying to bring a little levity to what was a dark night for you.

[BigKyle]

May I ask what area the game was in, because something very similar happened to a friend of mine?

[drake]

I live in Savannah, Ga.

[BigKyle]

okay, different states. Some of the details of your story were eerily similar to his. I am always weary of games that have new players time and again, as any of these new players could be scouting out plans for a robbery. Very sorry to hear this. It seems to occur in low-quality neighborhoods from the few stories that I have heard. I would try to play in your home whenever possible or in another nice neighborhood where crime is less of an issue. For what it's worth, the one my friend experienced he is basically sure that another player was involved. Downright scary.

[dajebriza]

Sorry to say this, but you should have seen the risk involved in attending your game. With poker becomming more and more popular and cash games like these springing up all over the place, they are ripe targets for robbery. And in most cases, the crime can't be reported after the fact because gambing is illegal and the people playing the game would be admitting their crime. Perfectly low-risk high payoff arena for the robbers, since most of the prime targets are middle class folks who arn't expecting it. Playing in a game with that much cash around, with players you don't know is dangerous. Don't put yourself in that situation. These games will be targetted by robbers whenever they are found. If you want to gamble with that much cash - go to a casino.

Sorry that happened to you, sounds like it was a scary situation but the signs were there. You even stated you had feelings as to the shady nature of some of the characters at the table. Huge warning sign. Trust your gut, there's a reason it didn't feel right.

[drake]

Lesson Learned. Glad it was only money.

[Brewster]

I'm glad no one was seriously hurt (or worse). There are a few establishments in town that offer similar stakes every night of the week but you will not catch me there due to the neigbourhood.

Of course this had to happen when you were having a good night at the tables too.

[PTjvs]

Originally Posted by dajebriza

And in most cases, the crime can't be reported after the fact because gambing is illegal and the people playing the game would be admitting their crime.

If most (all?) places in the U.S., this simply isn't true. Running a raked game is very illegal, and you may get prosecuted for doing so. PLAYING in one is not illegal, or the authorities just don't care.

[Nexttime]

Something very similar happened in my area last year. Lucky I wasn't there when it happened. I wasn't a huge fan of this particular place and only went there a couple of times. It gave off bad vibes and the security was terrible. It was located in an office building that had no access control. The bathrooms were down the hall so people forgot to lock the door going in and out. I don't know if I sensed something was coming or if it just didn't seem like the fish were worth the risk.
I won't say it was an inside job, but damn, it was funny how it went down and how much money they got.


Then and now, I keep an eye out for how well security is run, the use of video cameras, how secure is the door, etc. If that type of place is not willing to invest in security cameras I'd avoid them just for that reason alone. The only people not worried about security cameras are police and very serious bad guys and, well, that won't stop either from 'visiting'. And, quite honestly, LEO have never been much of a concern. When they visit, the took a look around for "drugs, guns, and hookers". And have said directly to us "We don't care if you play cards, have a good night gentlemen and keep it clean."

Of course, your milage may vary.