by Tom Schneider, Apr 16, 2007 | 11:08 pm

I was at the Bellagio the past four days or so. I came in 24th in one of the events … just 23 players away from more than $300,000…almost enough to get Dan some new sex toys a personality a haircut and a new wardrobe.

Anyway, I was playing in this $25/$50 no-limit hold’em cash game when it happened. The Bellagio’s poker tables have a yellow betting line. If while placing a bet, the chips or money do not cross this line, it is not considered part of the bet. That would have been nice to know. However, anyone who plays the game with good intentions doesn’t take advantage of such things and wouldn’t call it on another player when it’s obvious they intended to raise.

The guy to my right was in the big blind. This is a reference few people know, but he looked and dressed like Leon Redbone, a strange old singer. I picked up two $100 chips to raise, to make it $200 to go. I just happened to be sitting in the 2 seat. The line is much farther away from the end seats requiring the 2 and 8 seat players to lean way over to get the money within the line. (And who says poker players aren’t athletes?) It just happened that one chip made it inside the line and the other one was just low and outside. Immediately, the guy in the big blind says, “both chips didn’t go over the line, so that’s not $200”. I said, “Are you kidding me? I made a forward motion and intended to raise. Fine, then it’s only a call.”

The one seat said, “No, it’s a raise to $100.”

I was getting a little irritated and replied, “Listen, it’s either one chip or two chips, two chips is a raise, and everyone knows that one chip is only a call if I don’t announce raise.”

He had the floor-man come over to make a decision and he made the right one. He stated that he was going to use some common sense and judgment. Tom intended to raise, therefore it stands.

Here is the dumb part. It gets folded around to the idiot and he now makes it $1,000 to go. Why would he make such a big deal about it and then raise? There are several reasons, but I made the call, because I thought he might be steaming some vegetables. The flop comes 10-10-4 rainbow. Not bad for my little holding of J-10 suited. He bets out $2,000, and I raise him his remaining $3,500. He calls and turns over two kings. I’ve always wanted to felt Leon Redbone.

I’m sure several questions come to mind. Why did I call his raise with that piece of crap? At the poker table, I almost always receive instant Kardma…yes Dan I know its spelled Carma, Camera, Carmen. Oh and maybe I was a little steamy too and wanted to bust his ass. Why was I raising to begin with? I don’t know. Read someone else’s blog if you want to hear about guys starting with premium hands. Right Dan?