MuckPls and BigWhale vs Vegas (01/13-01/27)

I'm reading, obv. Nice hit! Avg is 2.something, so any time I get 2 or more I'm ok with it. Having been skunked on 10 play with dealt quads many times in my life (including quad aces, TWICE), I am acutely aware of how good it is sometimes to just "run average".

I STILL think about the time my buddy and I got dealt quad aces on UX, 3x multiplier everywhere, and only hit one kicker. Makes me so angry every time I think about it. I literally have hit several 80k, 30-40k and 200k, been dealt 4 aces w/kicker three times and a royal once since then. Still get angry lol

I have only played a very small sample size of VP of course but have never been dealt anything before except for the straight flush I shared which was like the only time ever I bet 5c instead of my usual 25c. Was obviously very tilting. UX is a high intensity/variance game and I just need to steer clear of it..

Sorry, was two sevens on the board, certainly not three. Even though I proofread after posting, I am clearly missing some mistakes.

Thanks for noticing!

While MuckPls hits $7k jackpots, I am taking a crack at the $100 10am Caesars-tournament now.

First buy-in went great, first got rivered with AK in a big pot against K3 on K-4-6-8-3. I valued river for 6100 and he just called.

Very next hand there is a raise to 700, and I just Jam my remaining 6k or so with TT. BB rejams and raiser calls:

Best hand in, 3rd place after. Seems standard.

Now on my second bullet, hopefully can spin up something.

Nope. JJ vs AA for around 20bb each. $200 gone in an hour.

Room at Vdara is absolutely amazing, 46th floor:

After busting the tournament at Caesars, I went straight over to Venetian to play some cash instead. Here is a cool sign outside of Harrahs on the way there:

And here is the destination mentioned above:

After waiting for 10 minutes I got a seat in a $1/$3 game, and it sure became an interesting one! Basically was card dead first 30 minutes and didn't play a hand, before starting to get some more cooperating cards. I had raised 2-3 times and taken down pots on the flop with KTo and AQo, and was about break even when the following hand comes up.

It folds to me in the Small Blind, and because of the high hand promotion they do not allow chopping at Venetian anymore. I find KJo and limp in for $2. In the BB is a new player to the table who had been super active preflop so far, and also continuating betting at a high frequency - but often forced to give up.

As expected, he raises my limp to $15. I had anticipated this, and 4-bet to $52 to take control of the pot with what is likely the best hand. He thinks for a while, before calling. Flop comes K-6-5 all spades, and I bet $35 with my top pair, no spade hand. He thinks for a bit, before folding. It would have been very interesting if he had jammed, but I actually think a call would have been in order against this specific player type.

A few hands later there is a raise to $10 and a call from a new short stacked woman. I find JJ on the button, and make it $50. They both fold.

Shortly after the woman limps from UTG, and a young-ish Spanish speaking player makes it $20 from EP1. I am right behind him with KQdd, and chose to make the call after checking out his stack (around $200). A chart that I have on my phone tells me that KQdd should be a 3-bet 75% of the time. I did consider it, but figured hand played fine enough in position instead of having to fold if he 4-bet jammed. Anyway, we went heads-up to 2-4-6 all black cards, and I have to fold to a bet of $25.

I then win two small pots in a row with the exact same hand (AQdd), before there once again is a limp from the woman, and the Spanish guy makes it $15. He is fairly short now, only around $70 behind or so. I look down at AA, and situation reminds me a lot of the one I had at Horseshoe yesterday. That said, still need to 3-bet to drive out players behind and not go 5-ways or something.

I make it $46, limper folds and he jams all-in. I obviously call, and he shows QJdd. Very light, but I had been very active the last 30 minutes and probably looked a bit like I was trying to run over the table. Either way, board runs out A-T-3-6-9, and I win the hand. Too bad the board didn't pair, as that would have given me a good chance to hold up in the high hand promotion.

A bit later I find QTcc from 2nd position. Good enough for a raise, so we make it $12. Only an OMC on the button calls, and we go heads-up to A-Q-3 with one club. I bet $15, and he does the standard OMC-thing with a min-raise to $30. I have seen so many minraises the last few days, it's pretty insane. And most of them have actually been fairly weak holdings, which is worthy of note.

Since it's only $15 more and there are some good turns, I make the call. One of them lands on the turn, the T. I check, and he instantly bets $50. Although I have a good hand, I don't think I should raise verus what he is representing, so I just call. River comes a 9, I check, and he checks quickly behind and shows AJo. That is no good, and I drag in the pot.

The very next hand I have 55 from UTG, and make it $12 as always. A hefty guy on the button reraises to $45, and it's back on me. He has a huge stack after getting AA vs KK either, and I also have close to $500 now after the last pot. So I chose to make the call, although only looking for a set obviously.

Set it is, as the flop comes J-6-5 two diamonds. I check, and he immediately blasts out $100 (!) into $94. Seems clear he has a monster, so let's get all the money in. I jam, and he looks perplexed for a while, looks over at my stack, and then decides to fold. He immediately claims KK, which I believe and is just really bad/frustrating. In one way I guess it's good that he folds, because I will on occasion have a couple of draws here that will play hard, but that prefer folds.

That said, maybe there are alternative ways to play it here. I am so used to just fastplay to the max and get paid here, but we were quite deep in this hand and he probably got scared off (he put me on Jacks, he said). MuckPls actually said I should have raised to $250 when I asked him about the hand, and I agree that something like that would be an option. Just make a silly raise to $225 or something, get him to call, and then I can jam turn when he is very much committed.

Nice looking stack now, and I hover around $600 or a bit more for a few orbits. Then a new Asian player makes it $7 from UTG, and I have AQss right behind him. Bit of a silly sizing, and I think a 3-bet to drive out other opponents and play the hand in position is the way to go. That said, I do think this player is very tight based on a previous hand he had with QQ, and some of the things he said afterwards.

It folds back to him, and he 4-bets to $75. Sigh. I look over at his stack, and he doesn't have a ton behind, but over $100 at least. So I chose to make the call, even though it's very debatable on what the best option here is. But he is representing a lot of strength, and I thought that if the flop is completely terrible we can just get out of there.

The flop is not terrible, as it comes A-J-3 with the latter two in spades. He instantly bets $75, and on this flop we just have to play for it. I go all-in, and he snap-calls (not that much behind). He actually has JJ, but I still have a decent amount of outs. I do not hit however, and have to give away a lot of my profits ($142 + the $75 pre).

Very next hand I am UTG and find TT. I obviously announce 'tilt-raise' and make it $12. An OMC right behind me calls, and BB (same Asian) calls. Flop is awesome, with T-8-7. BB checks, I bet $20, and the OMC immediately says 'raise' and makes it $50.

He has around $200 left, but in this spot I think it's best to just move all-in. Obviously hoping that he has two pair or a lower set, and if he has a straight (not that likely), we still have a good amount of outs. Plus, with me recently losing a massive pot and announcing a tilt-raise, I really thought that I could get called lighter here.

But no, once again I get a fold although he thought about it for a while. Afterwards he claimed 78s for bottom two pair, but I just don't see any way how that can be true. If true, it's obviously very sad as I have that hand almost drawing dead. But I simply cannot imagine that he would fold a hand like that, when he blocks a lot of sets and the board doesn't really hit my UTG-range super hard. So I think he was lying, and maybe just making a move since he thought I was full of it.

That was pretty much the last interesting hand, I lost a little bit in another hand with a flush draw, but nothing too exciting. As I was getting very exhausted, I cashed out after 3 hours with a profit of $131 USD.

A win is a win, but I think this should have easily been a $500+ session or more. I think that I got a bit unlucky with finding a guy who is willing to fold KK post-flop, and also if I had gotten lucky in the AQ-hand it could have been a really huge win. But I can't do much with other people's decisions, so just gotta make better ones for myself.

Honestly not sure if I will play anymore tonight, as I definitely don't feel 100%. Currently have a headache, and might just have to rest up for tomorrow. Frustrating, but such is life.

Cash Games:

Hours played: 13h 00 min
Won/lost: +$318 USD
Hourly rate: +$18.7 USD

Tournaments:

Won/lost: -$200 USD (1 played)

Viking name, right?

Very nice hit! $50 per push? Wow.

Yes, WAAAAAY above my limit. Took a shot and it worked. Do not recommend.

Late night grind:

Probably true. It's a very traditional/old name in my native country of Norway.

While MuckPls is crushing all games, I was completely crushed last night. Took a nap after Venetian, woke up and updated TR, and then went straight back to bed again and slep around the clock until now (4am-ish).

Super frustrating to get sick and not being able to enjoy Vegas as much as I had planned. But not much to do with it now, have gotten hold of some medicine and feel slightly better this morning.

On a more uplifting note, here are some nice pictures from Paris (briefly went in there yesterday to have a look, believe it's the first time ever!).

BigWhale you should go play 2/5 at Bellagio. Move up to where they won’t respect your raises.

How have I only just seen this thread!!

Subbed and GL both. Making me miss Vegas so badly

I know the feeling, I already miss Vegas and I’m here for another 1.5 weeks haha.

Dealt quads number two, “only” for $625. Also scammed on the multi haha.

Sorry, where are these BP machines? I don't really play, but will sit down occasionally for fun.

Love this thread -- and all you guys' TRs. Living vicariously until March for my B-day. Cannot wait! (Also can't believe we aren't going before then:( )

Pretty sure you know about it already, but March Madness in Vegas is... Mad.

Yes, been there before for the madness. Unfortunately, we are going to miss it. We'll be there March 27 through April 2.

subbed and following, coming in late.
hope you have a fantastic Wednesday

Sounds like Final Four weekend!

Some $2/$5 this weekend is very likely, yes 😀

After waking up early today I eventually made my way out. I love the Vegas-look early in the morning with not that many people around. Here is Bellagio:

However, my actual destination was this one:

When I got to the poker room they said that they only had seats in a short handed game that had just started. People were playing 3-handed, and I joined as the 4th player. I could immediately tell that a young kid to my right was out to gamble a lot, as he was in there with straddles and raising almost every hand. One of the opponents actually racked up and left quickly, and muttered something about this not being a game for him.

It was certainly well outside of my comfort zone as well, but I thought it could be value so I stayed. We did however only get to play 3-handed for around 10 minutes before the young aggro was called to the $2/$5 game. Should perhaps have followed him there?

Only one hand of note during this time period; he raises button to $10, and I 3-bet KJo to $40 from SB. He calls, and we see J-5-6 rainbow. Pretty good flop. I bet $30, and he just quickly folds.

The remaining two of us them drew for an available seat, which I won and could take place in a full ring $1/$3 game. Lost my first pot when there was two limps for $3 and I make it $16 on the button with QTo. Borderline for sure, but I have the button so why not. BB does however come along, and same with the two limpers. K-8-5 on the flop, and first limper jams for $81 when it's checked to him. Second limper calls (with K3o fwiw), and win the hand. I obviously folded.

Won a small pot from BB after turning TP, then make another light raise to $12 with 54ss from 3rd position. The respect was not quite there, as we get no less than 4 callers. Flop comes K-T-3 one spade, and although I do have two backdoors I think it would be way too optimistic to start a bet here versus 4 other players. So I check and give up.

Then there are 4 limpers to me, and I find AQo on the button. I make it $22 and everyone folds except a new older Asian female. Flop is K-T-9 two spades, and I do have the Ace of spades. She checks, I bet $25, and she folds.

Then the most interesting hand of the session comes up. I raise KQhh (beautiful cards) to $12 from MP and get one call right behind me + both blinds. We see Q-4-3 with two clubs on the board, and after the blinds check to me I make it $27. Only the Small Blind calls, a black guy who has been fairly straight forward so far.

Turn is a K, giving me top two pair. He checks, and I decide on $60 (into $102). I obviously want to charge draws, but I also don't want to make it too expensive for a Queen to call one more time. He snap-calls, which makes me think a draw is his likely holding. If he had a set, he would surely have considered raising by now.

River comes the Jc, and he snap-checks. I ask how much he has left (around $250), and my first thought was to bet $75 and then fold if he jams. But then I started thinking about which hands can really call me? QJ maybe, or some weird Q4s from SB or something. But those would have likely raised flop or turn, and his instant call on the turn really made me think a draw was his most likely holding. So I announced a very tight check back, and he immediately goes 'damn', and flips up the nut flush (think A6cc, but didn't quite see).

Annoying being outdrawn, but I actually think my check back on the river has a sound logic to it. I also ran the hand by someone I know from the 'Crush Live Poker' Discord group, and he agreed that checking was a good play here.

Bit down then after having been up probably around $70 earlier. I do however win two quick hands with AJ and AQo (both flopped top pair) to get some chips back. Random stack picture here, in for $400 as I am a nit ($500 max at Aria these days):

I then made what I think is a small mistake, when I found JTdd UTG and raised to $12. I got two callers behind, before a tight older Asian woman with a face mask made it $60 from SB. I folded way too quickly here, because in hindsight we both had around $350 and I have a very good hand against her strong range + I am in position. So I do think this was a call I could have made, especially since the other two are likely going to fold out behind.

A bit later there is a raise to $12 from a middle aged player with a big stack (AA vs KK earlier for him), the black guy calls, and I call in SB with A7cc. Maybe I should squeeze here, but I think having A3-A5 would be better for it + some higher cards like ATs. Flop comes K-8-6 one club, so I am working on something at least. It actually checks around.

Turn is another 8, and I think this is a good spot to try and win this pot. I bet $20, original raiser folds, but black guy calls. River is a T, and I ponder my options. 97 came in, but how many 97s does he really have calling a raise from early position? Plus, I have a seven in my hand. Sure, I will run into an 8 on occasion here, but I still think I am way more likely to have one than he is. So I bet $55, and thankfully get the snap-fold.

After this pot I was only around $30 down, but then lost a few small pots in uninteresting fashion (I didn't even write them down), and was down around $65 when this hand came up.

I raise to $12 pre with A3cc from 4th position, a new black player calls, and both blinds (middle aged + other black guy) calls. So we go 4-ways to A-8-3 all hearts. Interesting. Blinds check, and I bet $25 - in hindsight too small. New black guy calls, and other black guy from BB calls.

Turn is a J, which does not fill the flush. It's essentially a blank, although I guess one of them could have AJ. But the first caller is fairly short, so I am more than happy to get it in against him. I bet $65, he calls all-in for less ($50 maybe?), and BB also calls. River is the 8h, putting 4 hearts out there. So I know I am ****ed.

Short stack shows KThh for a flopped nut flush, and BB shows QTo with Q of hearts (lol), ensuring that I don't even win the small side pot. Sure, I was behind from the flop onwards, but it feels like I have no luck in these bigger pots so far.

I cashed out a few minutes later, down $169 USD after 2h45min of play. Stats below + one more post coming.

Cash Games:

Hours played: 15h 45 min
Won/lost: +$149 USD
Hourly rate: +$9.5 USD

Tournaments:

Won/lost: -$200 USD (1 played)