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

After playing, I went over to Horseshoe to check out of my room there, and also got a 20 minute massage there (which felt awesome). As always, I did enjoy staying here; it's a cheap and convenient option with decent rooms.

After the massage I was really hungry, so before heading over to MGM Grand I stopped by the downstairs food court for some quick food. And while sitting there eating and minding my own business, I suddenly hear someone yelling about calling 911, and what seemed to be some commotion not too far from me. I turn around, and see an old black lady passed out on the floor next to a table, while her two daughters are panicking. A man in his 60s had however already rushed to the scene, and started doing CPR on her, while someone else was on the phone to get paramedics there.

I didn't see what I could contribue with in this situation, but it was a bit unnerving seeing this occur just a couple of feet away from me, and there was no immediate response on the CPR. I honestly thought she was dead, but suddenly after a minute or so I saw that she opened her eyes, and came to it again. And Horseshoe security + paramedics was on the scene just a minute or two after.

Very surreal scene overall, although I am happy it went well. And I guess it puts things into perspective; who am I to be annoyed over some poker sessions going mediocre when someone could have died ten feet away from me.

I then took the Monorail over to MGM Grand and walked over here:

My room wasn't ready when I arrived, but after storing the luggage at the bell desk + doing some clothes shopping at Marshalls across the street, the room was ready when I came back. I have a Two Queen Premier King room (much cheaper than a King), and it's a really spacious room:

I think I will enjoy it here for the remainder of the trip. Now it's time to find another game, and play more poker!

Don’t have too much interesting to post except for taking an Uber to BestBuy and picking up this beast:

Then went to Aria and currently in a 1/3 game and just won an 1100 pot with ace high like a boss:

nice
keep it up

Stats so far:

Chip porn (I need a new phone with a better camera…):

Some alternative programs tomorrow morning + work, will share more information tomorrow during the next update.

All in all a very very successful trip so far in terms of everything, I really hope that the run good continues and I am locking in the VP winnings this time. I’m also taking it much slower this time, don’t drink at all and just enjoying Vegas.

Paris is the best thing about the Horseshoe, besides the poker. Years ago Paris had a very fun poker room, especially the tournaments. Their vp doesn't have better pay tables than Horseshoe, there are just a lot more of them, and the good ones are easier to find. It has a 24 hour cafe, and much better restaurants in general. That's important if you're sick and don't want to go outside.

TDB on DSTP? That's got to be a money vacuum. Where was that? I have to try ten play on that, even if it's for quarters.

Yes was just messing around while talking to BigWhale and it was the only machine available next to him.

Muck you're killing it at the poker tables. what is your net on machines?

It’s a bit hazy but I should be up around 4500 total on gambling + the 2000 or so poker.

Oh. Wow. I thought madness was earlier. Cool! I just want to run like MuckPls when I get there!

(So funny, I know it's Muck Please, but I always say it in my head as Muck Pickles.)

For last night, I decided to head down(town) to a place where I have only one single losing session in my life: Golden Nugget. It's always fun arriving at Fremont Street and see all the sights and colors:

Immediately got seated into a $1-$2 game, and bought in for $400. I quickly noticed that one of the players at the table seemed to be a huge action player; often raising to $20 pre (10x) and generally blasting away in pots. In the first one I saw, he raised pre with 52s, flopped a flushdraw, and snap-called an all-in of $270 from a player with TP.

My first hand was when this guy straddled, and an OMC looking guy made it $25. I look down at TT, and decided to call. Could certainly 3-bet, but with being so new to the table and not knowing too much about the others I chose the more passive route. Straddle also calls. Flop comes A-Q-7, which is not quite what I was looking for. Thus I folded when the OMC bet out $65.

Then I find KK from UTG, which is a welcome sight. I make it $10, although in hindsight I should probably have raised higher in all hands pre, due to the willingness of the maniac to call anything. But that thought honestly didn't occur to me until right now when writing, which is not good enough. This table was perfect for increasing the raise size and get more money in pre with the best hand.

Either way, player to my left calls, a tight Asian player calls, and the maniac calls on the button. Floop comes 4-5-6 two clubs, and I am first to act. I decided to check, which is debatable. Often the best thing to do in these spots is just to bet, as very few players at this level are good enough to attack the board with range advantage.

It checks all the way to the maniac, who bets $20, and I think I missed a raise here. His range for betting will be very wide, and raising also forces out the other players - although they are likely not that strong since they checked after I did it. Instead I just call, and the other two call as well.

Still 4-ways to the turn, which comes another 5. Reasonable card, as it cuts down on combos of strong hands on the flop. I check, the other two checks, and maniac instantly slides out $80. I call, prepared to call down on most rivers, and the other two fold. River is however a 7, which is not a card I wanted to see. I check, and he checks back while tabeling K5o for trips. Sigh. That said, could not have gotten him off whatever I did at any point most likely. Still think that just betting flop, or check-raising it would have been a better play though.

Reload another $100 then, and soon find an opportunity to 3-bet the maniac. He raises to $20 as always, and I have AJdd in SB. I make it $75, and he folds, while stating that he must probably change his style now that 'this guy' is on to him. Spoiler: he did not change his style 😀

Then I find J9dd from 4th position and raise to $10 (we are only 7-handed at this point). Tight Asian player calls on button, SB calls and BB (maniac) calls. Flop comes Q-7-2 with two diamonds, so I flop a flushdraw. It checks to me, and I decided to check it. This is definitely an unusual line for me, but I thought it could be a bit deceptive if a flush comes in, and there are also some cards on the turn which will give me an additional draw. It checks to the tight Asian who bets $20, and I am the only caller.

Turn is the 6d, and I decided to lead for $55 with my flush. I did not want this card to go check-check, and I had decided that I would lead if I made the flush. He thinks about it for a bit and calls. River is another 7, which is not ideal, but I obviously still have a very strong hand. I bet $125 to target a Queen, although in hindsight I think I should have gone a bit smaller for that purpose.

The Asian player goes in the tank, before showing all-in. I groan loudly, as I have only left myself with around $200 back and in that regard I am fairly priced in. However, I am 99% certain that this is the same Asian I played with at Golden Nugget in September last year, who was crazy tight and who I folded top set to on a 3-flush board (and obviously was correct). There is just no way this player finds the all-in here with a lower flush, especially against my fairly big sizing ($125 into $190). So I think that I am either up against the nut flush or a boat.

I make a pained fold, although it hurts my soul to once again having to give up a big pot on the river with a strong hand. Maybe I should make some more pot-odds call just in case there are some random spazz factors in play at times? Bart Hanson often says that he don't like to fold hands high up in range at this level due to all the random sh*t that he have seen. At the same time, this player was very tight all the way through the session, so I do think in this instance I made the correct laydown.

I add on another $200 and am well buried now, however I didn't have time to well on that too long. Maniac raises to $20, the OMC calls, and I just call in BB with A4cc (probably another spot to 3-bet). The flop comes A-4-Q two hearts, which is pretty decent. I check, Maniac bets $35, OMC folds, and I check-raise to $105. He asks how much I have behind, before eventually making the call.

Turn is another A, so we have a full house. I have around $260 behind and pot is around the same. Could jam, but I decided to only bet $50, simply to either keep him in or to get him to spazz out in case he thought the bet was fishy. He calls. River is a Q, and although there are some hands I am losing to, I think he would jam turn if he had AJ or AQ. So I move all-in, but sadly he folds quickly. Maybe he was on the heart draw, as I strongly doubt he would manage to fold the case Ace.

Very next hand I am SB, and Maniac obviously makes it $20. There is one call behind, I call in SB with 77, and BB also calls. Flop comes 8-8-7, which is pretty great. I check, BB checks, maniac actually checks, and it checks around.

Turn is a T, and I lead out for $25. Very small, but should have a near lock here and I want someone to draw to a straight for example. BB calls, and the other two fold out. River is a J, and I really hope that he has a 9 in his hand. I don't think he will fold it if so, given how he have seen that I have been blasting in some pots. So I bet no less than $205 (into $130), but he just instantly folds and says he was on a flush draw.

Have actually recovered most of the losses by now, only down about a $100 or so. We do however run into more trouble with big pairs, when I raise AA to $10 from 3rd position. Maniac calls in SB and a new woman to the table calls in BB. Flop is T-8-5 two hearts, and after two checks to me I bet $17.

Only the Maniac calls, and we go heads-up to Kh on turn. Flush came in, but I am not too worried about that yet. He checks, and I bet $40. He seems to think about it for a bit, before calling. I was ready to go for value on the river as well, only to see 9h land. 4 hearts out there, he checks, and I just flip over my hand for the check back as I have black cards. It's not good, as he has Q4 of hearts for the turned flush. I guess I got lucky then, as I would for sure have gone for value on a black 9 for example.

Then I find AKo UTG only two hands later, and go to make it $10. I do however accidentally drop a third $5 chip out there from my hand, which makes it a raise to $15. Guy to my left just lost big pot vs Maniac, and moves all-in for $23. Tight Asian calls, Maniac calls, and since I made it $15 (and not my usual $10), I am sadly not allowed to reopen the betting.

Flop comes J-T-9 two spades, and I have Ks. I check, Asian checks, and Maniac bets $25. Definitely worth it to see another card, so I call and Asian folds. Turn is a red 6, and goes check check. River is the 7s, and he goes to bet $200. I obviously fold, and he shows A8ss for a rivered flush. Would I have gotten him off with a 4-bet to isolate pre, if I didn't make the sizing mistake? I honestly dont think so.

Very next hand there is a limp for $2, the Maniac makes it $25 and I find KK in BB. Beautiful sight, and I size significantly up to $105. Limper folds, and Maniac calls. Flop is 3-4-6 rainbow, and I bet $90. He folds quickly. Don't think I could have gone anwhere there though, if he wanted to play for more.

Then I make a stupid mistake, where there are two limps to me, and I call as well with K8cc. Asian on the button makes it $15, and after the other two call, I feel somewhat obliged to throw it in there as well. So we go 4-ways to T-4-6 two clubs, and Asian bets out $25 after everyone checks to him. I call, and we see a 7 on turn. I now have two draws, and my plan was to play this one hard if he bets again, as we were plenty deep. He does however check back.

River is a K, and I think about it for a second and check it over to him. Might not be a great card against his range, as there is no way he stops betting with QQ/JJ on turn I think. He bets $30, and for that small of a prize I have to call although I don't love it. And sure enough, he shows TT for top set on flop. I guess it's a good thing he didn't bet turn, since I was ready to play my K high and big draw fast. But I should just fold this junk pre, or raise it up in position against the limpers.

A bit later I raise 88 to $10 from EP, Maniac calls SB and woman calls BB. Flop comes A-4-2 two hearts, and after they check I take a stab for $15. Maniac obviously calls, while woman fold. Turn is another 4, and goes check-check. I am mostly trying to get to showdown now that I couldn't win it on the flop, but I know he will likely bet 99% of the time on the river.

He does that for $25, however the river is 8h. So the flush comes in, but I make an etremely hidden full house. I raise it up to $115, but sadly he just folds after thinking about it for 10 seconds. Too bad he does not have a flush there, as I think I could have gotten even more then (he was that kind of player).

Then it's time for a poorly played hand, which starts standard enough with me raising 99 to $10 from UTG. Maniac calls on button, and the OMC in BB calls. Flop is 3-4-5, which is coordinated but reasonable enough. It checks to me, and I bet $15. Maniac snap-calls while OMC tank-calls with what seemed like real uncertainty.

Turn comes a 2, and after OMC checks to me I decided to bet again. I can rep the Ace, pluss maybe still get value from 6x. I make it $40, but this was way too optimistic and I open myself up for trouble. Maniac delivers trouble, although only with a minraise to $80. It's a silly sizing, but he could easily have an Ace, and even if not - what cards are really good for me on the river? Even a 9 wouldn't help much against what he is representing. So I make the fold to avoid compounding the mistake.

Then I go into card-dead mode, while a new player has joined the table. This guy in his 50s turned out to be a maniac of sorts as well, and did not seem afraid to gamble + raised some weird huge amounts at times. He also 3-bet once with 63o and took it down.

With this in mind, it folds to me on the button. AJo seems good, so I raise to $10. This new maniac immediately raises to $25, and BB (a new younger guy) cold-calls the $25. This sets it up for me to use this hand as a 4-bet bluff, given the money from the 'dead' cold-caller. While I do think he is somewhat strong, he would have 4-bet his very best hands. And the guy in SB could have a lot of random junk given his playing style.

I raise it up to $115, only to see SB almost immediately match the bet. BB then starts thinking and muttering out loud, and clearly is uncomfortable with his decision. Finally he decided to move all-in for $205 or so. Bit of a crazy spot, but SB has around $250 back and I dont think he is insanely strong. So in lack of better options, I move all-in to force him out and hopefully have a flip against BB.

It works as SB folds (he said after I had him dominated), and the board runs out A-7-4-K-8. The Big Blind immediately said 'oh, you got me' when he saw the flop, so I assume he had something like 99 or TT. Strange hand overall, very rare that I would find myself in a spot where I put in 100 bb pre with AJo. But it seemed ok for this situation.

That hand actually took me back in profit, and although I played for a bit longer the game got very short (as lots of players busted), and eventually broke. I could have gone on the list for another table, but decided to just take the $144 profit after 2 hours and 45 minutes. Pretty crazy session, as is often the case at Golden Nugget. Looking at the hand histories I am not entirely happy with how I played, and I always find it a bit difficult to adjust to having a crazy player at the table.

Afterwards I just wandered around Fremont Street for a little bit, but quickly got tired and found an Uber to go back to NYNY. Here is some cool artwork next to the elevator:

I am taking some NyQuil for the flu-symptoms I have, and it sure knocked me out good last night. Slept from 11pm to 9am; getting 10 hours in a row is very unheard of for me in Vegas. But the sun is shining and it's time to start the day. So let's get out there and see what we can find. Hopefully can win some more money as the week progresses, so that my hourly is not as bad as a certain person being discussed a lot in the Poker Vlogger thread 😀

Cash Games:

Hours played: 18h 30 min
Won/lost: +$293 USD
Hourly rate: +$15.8 USD

Tournaments:

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

I like the 4b with AJ, because your range is uncapped, and theirs isn’t.

Great stuff!!

I'm really glad you had another winning session at Golden Nugget!

Some random pics from today.

After a super early morning meeting I went over to the Mandalay Bay shark reef/aquarium for a private guided tour before it opened and holy **** it was absolutely amazing. There were only three of us + the two guides and they showed us everything while it was empty and we ended the tour with a half hour stingray feed, where you get to feed the rays from your hand. It was worth every penny ($65 total), highly recommend if you are in Vegas.

Then met up with BigWhale at Aria, put 200 into a VP machine and was rewarded with:

The run good continues!

I've stayed at Mandalay Bay half dozen times and never visited the shark reef. appreciate your recommendation, I might have to check it out now

i assumed it was part of an offer you got and didn't realize aquarium was open to everyone unti the end

$65 feels really cheap for what that is

BigWhale,
Your hand writeups are really great. Enjoying the joint trip report as usual.

AA

I went to Shark Reef many years ago, second the recommendation.

Had a pretty terrible session at Aria where I got two outered twice for a 1k loss and then blew off some steam at UX which resulted in another 1.5k loss. Not ideal but it’s whatever, variance. Time to take a break until tomorrow/early morning and battle with renewed energy.

Until then some chip porn before it all went away:

On a side note, almost all of my tables at Aria plays significantly larger now that the cap has increased to $500. Had several sessions where average stacks were $1500+. Game plays bigger than the Bellagio 2/5 but with more fish.

Btw does anyone know what is happening around Aria? Hundreds of people dressed up and running around in like alien costumes and stuff like that.

Bellagio? Aria?

Ditto the shark reef. I did catch a stingray once. How close are they when you feed them? Did they remove the stingers?

You are next to a tank that is up to your elbows. The handlers bring out shrimp, you put shrimp in your hand and lower your hand and stingrays come up and eat it right out of your hand. They obviously don’t remove stingers, but these are tiny rays ranging from hand sized to a little bit larger and used to humans so zero chance of anything happening.

Aria.

Sleep is for the weak.

Go, go, go. Love the Aria. Glad the NLHE are playing bigger -- I sit at those tables waiting for PLO 😉