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!
Gabagool!
I suppose I should wrap this trip up now.
After eating, I went back to the exhibition hall and played 1/3. I played about 5 or 6 hours, and lost about 100 bb.
So now it was about 9:30 pm, Sunday night, my last full day in town. I had my hotel room for 1 more night, with an 11 am checkout, and I’m stuck now.
So what could I do? Head over to the main poker room and try to get unstuck at 2/5!
It was a CRAZY game. I got a full double in my first 20 minutes, when I made a set of deuces on an A-Q-2 flop, and stacked AK. Suddenly, I’m about back to even for the trip!
Then I played longer, and had a close decision in a big pot, and made a ~$650 mistake. UTG opens, one call, I squeeze JJ from MP, both call. I bet the 2-3-4 rainbow flop, one call. I bet again on the 7 turn, he calls again. River T, and I go into the tank between checking and shoving. I click shove, he snaps with QQ and I value-owned myself :( Looking back, that river is definitely a check back.
So I’m back to starting over, and two new stacks over 2.5k get moved from another table. One is a total action player, came from a PLO game, and proceeds to play loose and bad.
I get another double through him by value betting TPTK and holding up. Then I get ANOTHER double when I river a gut shot with AQ on a T-K-9-2-J runout to stack a queen. And I’m about even for the trip again!
…Until it all ended in tears, with a tough cooler. EP opens over a straddle, I flat Th8h, SB squeezes, we both call. Flop Q-T-T, checked to me, I bet 200, call, call. Turn 8, check, original opener bets 400, I shove for about 1k total, squeezer cold flats ( :( ), bettor folds. I know before the cards are turned over that his QQ is good.
So now it’s 3:30 am…. I still have some money in my pocket, but I picked up my last $350, cashed out a loser, drove back to the Econo Lodge, checked out, and got on the road home at 4 am.
medium good overpairs on low boards are tricky
two weeks ago got owned for the max when the table donk blasted 3 streets with QQ and i called it off with JJ
last week i got 3bet from the sb, sb bets pot on low flop, bets pot again on turn so i folds the JJ and he proudly shows 99 with a "good fold AK no good"
Some closing thoughts…
The tournament got 3180 entries, and first place got up to $135k! It was a fun experience…. Just too bad I couldn’t have faded that 3-outer on the bubble. It would have put me in great shape after the bubble, maybe I could have even ridden it to a bag. Oh well, so it goes.
I don’t know how I feel about the differences between 1/3 and 2/5. 1/3 is definitely an easier, more passive game, yet I still lost at 1/3 on this trip. I had some wins, but the times I lost, I played too long and got too deep into a table with capped money-making upside. I guess the lesson is, table selecting is still very important.
I know I’m good enough to sit at 2/5 tables. The game I was in was good, and if it went better, I think I really had a chance for a multi-thousand dollar win. Those are the games I’m willing to sit in.
I think when I go back to Vegas this summer, the plan will be to make 1/3 the main game, and take shots with white meat into 2/5 or PLO.
…And also run like the sun and take down a tourney!
don't feel bad about the jj hand. if you don't value cut yourself time you're leaving a lot of money on the table long term.
So now it’s 3:30 am…. I still have some money in my pocket, but I picked up my last $350, cashed out a loser, drove back to the Econo Lodge, checked out, and got on the road home at 4 am.
this read to me like you enjoyed every second of it
without rushing to judge sure know i did
because tj dennis eckersley is anything but predictable
Sorry about the run bad, but glad you had fun. Good luck in Vegas. I'll be there in a month -- cannot wait. Sounds like a good plan, but if you are rolled for it and can find the right game, play the 2/5 -- or head to Golden Nugget. I'm addicted to PLO, so that's about all I'll play unless I'm waiting for PLO 😉
Booked my Airbnb for my WSOP trip this summer! Staying downtown this time.
The dates I’m looking at are June 14 - July 2. I’m down to meet up with any 2p2ers that are in town for a meal, or a rail sweat.
We have the potential to start the summer with a bang! I’m definitely gonna play the Monster Stack, the Deepstack Championship, and up to a couple bullets at the Colossus. If the Monster Stack goes well, I might fire the Millionaire Maker also the following weekend. If I don’t find a bag in the Deepstack Championship, there’s another Deepstack event the next day.
I’ll make a new thread when the time comes. Until then, just gonna keep working hard and dreaming big!
These 3 months are just gonna ZOOM by.
[emoji846][emoji846]
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Good luck buddy. Always great to book your wsop ticket months in advance so you’ve got a load of time to dream. I’m sad I can’t go this year
Only Gives Out Winners
Yeah TJ !!! Vegas !!!
can't wait
TJ your threads were soooo fun to read ! will wait for the update !!
I’ve been tracking flights for a month, and there was FINALLY a $30 price drop, so I pounced! My dates are June 14 - July 2, set in stone now.
I’ve already written the OP’s in a Google doc for the new thread.
I absolutely cannot contain my enthusiasm for this trip! Less than 3 months now!!
Whoop whoop [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]
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can not wait for epic trip report
well done on booking the trip early. The anticipation is such an important part of the enjoyment of the trip
TJ, you wrote “these 3 months are just gonna ZOOM by.”
For me, it feels like the opposite. Ever since I booked my WSOP trip, it feels like the days on the calendar are moving at a snail’s pace.
I share the excitement in which you wrote “I absolutely cannot contain my enthusiasm for this trip.” But for me, this excitement makes it feel like the WSOP is never going to get here. I wish I could fast forward in time so that I am at the table and playing my first hand.
Congrats on booking the trip, TJ.
TJ, you wrote “these 3 months are just gonna ZOOM by.”
For me, it feels like the opposite. Ever since I booked my WSOP trip, it feels like the days on the calendar are moving at a snail’s pace.
Same here. But I wouldn't want to fast-forward, not even a bit. As Feel said, the anticipation is an important part of the trip. As the date of departure comes closer, my excitement will only grow.
Great report! In late, saw you don't drink and allotted 2500$ for ubers......why did you not rent a car for ~~700 for 2 weeks instead? Curious...
Well that $2500 budget was for food AND Uber. I ended up spending ~$1350 on food, and $600 on Ubers for the 17 days I was there.
If I rented a car, I’d have to arrange and pay for a way to park it at places I’d go to on the strip. Getting dropped off at valet everywhere seemed much more convenient, and a shorter walk to where I’d be playing.
Thinking I might be in LV June 25-30, +/- 1 or 2 days. Park MGM. Would be happy to buy you a (root) beer if it works out.
Sure, I’ll be there all of those days!
I’m gonna make a new thread when the time comes, we can figure it out as we get closer.
