7 Card Stud

My 1^st live poker experience was 10 years ago in Biloxi Mississippi at a casino called Isle of Capri. It was a Friday and I got my $300 check I made from working. A friend of mine said, " Lets go to the casino " I live in New Orleans and there wasn't casinos here at the time. Only poker I ever played was at home with friends. Well eventually I went with him. It was 1 hr 30minute drive. It was my 1st time at a casino. We walked towards the back where the poker room was located. I sat down, bought in for $100 in 1/5 stud limit. My 1^st three cards was A(h) J(h) and 10(h) was my up card. We were seven handed and the bet was capped with 6 players. My next card was Q(c). The pot already had over $50 in it so I made up my mind to chase for that K. My fifth card was 7(s).  Now that the pot was over $100 and capped, at this point we were four handed. One player showed pair 8's and was the aggressive better. I put him on a set. Another player showed three diamonds. I put him on flush draw. The other player showed 3 - 4 - 5 rainbow. I know he was on a straight draw. Sixth card came and it was Q (h). Not only did I make my straight, I also had flush redraw. A royal flush redraw and action was to me, my pair of Queens was high on board and I started the bet. I bet and the player with the 8's re-raised. I know for sure he had a set re-raising into my queens. His re-raise made the player with straight draw fold and the player with three diamonds stayed in. Now the pot is over $200 at this point. I check blind.

Player with eights bet and the other player with diamonds called. I sit there for brief moment looking at this huge pot. My first ever casino action and I am really excited. I take a peek at my card and can see it is a face card. Oh yea and it was red. I slowly moved my thumb to reveal the K (h). OMG, my heart was pounding fast. A royal flush, there is no way I can lose. That's the highest ranking hand in poker. I tried to hold my emotions down and said re-raise. The player with 8's re-raised and I capped it. We were still 3 handed and it was time to show. Player with diamond draw showed ace high flush. Player with 8's showed quads. Yes quad 8's. And I showed my hand which was a royal flush. The pot was over $300 and everyone was congratulating me saying nice hand. With a big grin I said "Thanks" My first ever royal flush and first time ever playing in a live casino.

I currently play poker at Harrah's Casino new Orleans for the past 5 years. I can remember when I had to wait hours for a stud seat. Once a week on Fridays we have a 5/10 limit stud. It was great action. Stud poker has lost interest and popularity at this casino in the past 8 months. You can't find a stud game here. 1/2 NL took over as the main game.