TJ Plays a Ton of Poker in Vegas for WSOP! ...And Occasionally Eats
I started a new job a month before the World Series in 2022, so being the new guy I wasn’t able to make the annual pilgrimage to Vegas like I did in 2021 and 2019. Since that point, I’ve been saving my money, NOT taking a vacation, and banking all my PTO to make it a LEGENDARY trip for 2023. I’ll be in town for SEVENTEEN DAYS, June 2 - 19, going solo, with the goal of playing some WSOP events, and as much poker as possible!
When I’m in Vegas, I don’t go to shows. I burn too easily, so I don’t lay by the pool. I’ve never set foot in a spa in my life. I’m celebrating two years sober this month (!), so I don’t do clubs, edibles, or getting wasted on free cocktails (...well, “any more.”) If I’m in town with friends, or teaching casino newbies, I’ll dabble in craps, blackjack, and pai gow… but if I’m playing on money I worked for, with the goal of bringing home more than I brought, I stick to games I can beat. This live-blog/trip report will be heavy on poker content, so as always, I invite strategy discussion.
Vegas is truly a world-class food city if you know where to look. I have several favorite Vegas restaurants I’ll be hitting, and some new places I’m going to try, all inspired by years of lurking in the casual dining thread. It’s much easier to cross places off the list while traveling solo, but it’s also fun to share meals with friends. Like many of you that are still here, I’ve posted on this site for a long time. I could be down to meet up for a meal if you’re in town, shoot me a PM.
I’m staying at a 1 bedroom studio condo in the Arts district, from AirBnB. When you’re staying as long as I am, it doesn’t make economic sense to stay at even the budget options on the strip, let alone resorts. I got my place after all fees for about $81/night. No resort fee, full-sized fridge, kitchen, and a washer/dryer! I don’t plan on doing much in the room besides showering and sleeping, and there’s food options within walking distance. I won’t have a car, which means I won’t have to pay for parking anywhere, and will get around taking Uber everywhere.
The poker bankroll will start at $7k. I’ll be playing 1-3 and 2-5, as well as a handful of low-buyin WSOP events, and possibly some of the daily events around town. If I go busto, I have access to more in the bank, but the plan is not to go busto. I won’t be playing higher than 2-5, so I don’t need to travel with more. My budget for food and Uber for the 17 days is $2.5k, and that’s separate from the bankroll.
Next, poker!
Appreciate the update TJ. Had some time on my hands yesterday and re-read the thread from the beginning. Very enjoyable.
I suspect after a few 12 hour shifts your lust to play some pokers will return, recent results be damned. Please update if/when that happens.
This was starkly accurate!
Got a long weekend approved, and we're officially a GO for a little 4-day trip to play the $400 tournament in Cherokee on February 15-19!
The Econo Lodge is BOOKED 😃
I'll be bringing less money, and just sticking to 1/3 NLH for what cash game play I can find time for. It's a decision that lowers the wider top and bottom outcomes, but increases the % chance that I'll bring home more than I brought.
They juiced the guarantee from $500k to $750k... 😮😮
...One time!
Catch y'all again in mid-February!
looking forward to it TJ
run like the sun
Damn! If only I could prognosticate this well in SWAMI or PEEHS.
Enjoy yourself. You deserve it!
Nice!
I used to live in Atlanta and we drove to Cherokee a lot but back in 2011 they only had electronic poker tables.
GL TJ you poker playing long weekending son of a gun!
It’s finally getaway day!
This last day of work is just gonna BREEZE by, then we’re leaving straight from here to the Econo Lodge!
And cards in the air tomorrow morning!
go get em, eyeball guy
I don't know if you follow Rayz's thread but he's playing the $400 too. Say hi if you see him.
Which sub forum is it in?
GO TJ GO!
Have fun and run good! I am envious.
Arrived safe at the Econo Lodge, and checked in!
Now I’m gonna have a long, hot shower, shave, and bed… for what will hopefully be a very long day tomorrow!
Go get em TJ!
Got another GREAT night’s sleep with my BIPAP machine (seriously the biggest improvement in my quality of life in the last ten years! If you’re big or you snore, get a sleep study done).
I am nothing if not a creature of habit.
Waffle House hit the mark again!
Bought into the 11 am Flight B, now I’m in the poker room on the list for a cash game to kill time before the tournament starts.
Flight A yesterday “only” got 346 entries…. I seem to think that’s lower than it was in November. We got over 3100 entries total last time, so each of these successive flights should be much bigger.
They bumped the guarantee from $500k to $750k, so apparently they’re not concerned about the turnout. Guess we’ll see!
I forgot this was a Cherokee TR. First thing I thought was, "TJ's staying at the Vegas EconoLodge? Oh, my..."
GL, run well.
Waffle House, no waffles? No covered, smothered, chunked whatevered hash browns? Trip fail, right there.
I keed, I keed. Still in for the sweat, GL and run it up!
Waffle House, no waffles? No covered, smothered, chunked whatevered hash browns? Trip fail, right there.
I keed, I keed. Still in for the sweat, GL and run it up!
I started to say the same thing about the lack of scattered, smothered, covered but figured I'd keep my mouth shut as someone who's never tried grits. I always ask for my waffle to come later so it doesn't get cold, so maybe his waffle's coming...
There was a waffle too, it just didn’t come out with the rest so I didn’t get a pic.
I wanted to play 1/3, but the list for 2/5 started a new game so I sat in. I really didn’t want to play that high, because I didn’t bring enough to feel rolled for it,
But it went well for my 1 hour of play. I folded an overpair to a turn check/shove and was right, and got some good, thin value bets in on the river.
Finished +325… now I’m in the tournament, feeling observant, patient, and confident.
Let’s goooooo!
.
I wanted to play 1/3, but the list for 2/5 started a new game so I sat in. I really didn’t want to play that high, because I didn’t bring enough to feel rolled for it,
But it went well for my 1 hour of play. I folded an overpair to a turn check/shove and was right, and got some good, thin value bets in on the river.
Finished +325… now I’m in the tournament, feeling observant, patient, and confident.
Let’s goooooo!
you're practically freerolling!
gl gl gl
It's what looks like a slice of American cheese in the grits that upsets me. Love grits -- sliced American not so much.
Well done in the 2/5. Go, go, go!
glgl TJ 👍
First break, starting stack 20k, my stack…. 20.8k lol. And it was a roller coaster to get back there.
First big hand I get involved with, I folded 2pair when he woke up and shoved the 3rd club river. He was giving off live tells that showed strength, so I hemmed and hawed and got away from it. He did show one overcard club, so I think I made a good read.
Then I open QJs and was looking for a spot to get it in, and cbet a Ts-7-3 flop. The turn was the 6s, so I turned even more outs if my over cards were good, but he donk ripped and I wasn’t getting the right price, so I laid that down, too.
Got a couple preflop shortstack shoves through, then I got it in as a flip for my 11.1k with 77 vs KJs. King in the flop, but 7 on the river and I’m back in business.
There’s a pretty soft spot 2 to my right with 3x a starting stack, so I like my seat and my reads. Just need to make some hands now.
