Two Cards Are Not Enough - A WSOP Trip Report 6/3/24 - 6/13/24

1.5 million. We were playing 120,000 - 240,000 at the time so it was 6 big bets plus the small blind.

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Part Two - Day Ten - Monday July 15th

I get up early to ring the IRS. It’s okay cashing for a nice score but now we get to the logistics of getting paid, and preferably without taxes.
I’m still a UK citizen where gambling winnings aren’t taxable and we have a tax treaty with USA but as I’ve been on a hiatus from playing poker I’ve forgotten my ITIN number.
After an hour on hold I finally get through to someone only to be told that my ITIN has expired and I’ll have to apply to renew it.
I tell that to the nice people in player services in the WSOP payouts area and they give me an appointment to come back tomorrow and they’ll do the paperwork for me then they can process the payout without tax withholding. Sweet.

Next I have to walk over to the Tuscany to pick up my Colombia winnings from the good folks at Circa.

After that my usual pool time before today’s tournament. But disaster strikes:

There’s no water! Well we are in the desert [emoji2519] [emoji266] [emoji248]

No the water hasn’t all dried up, it’s closed for maintenance until Wednesday I’m told. Bad beat. The family pool does still have water but it’s a lot smaller and by the time I get there it’s a zoo. There’s not even any room on the floor and zero space in the pool. I give it a miss.

On deck today is my last tournament of the trip. $3k 6 max PLO. In theory one of my better games.

I arrive on time and DNegs is on the next table. Seems like we’re the only two on time as he’s doing a bit for his vlog crying out for people to come and play him.
I see myself in the background when I watch it the next day. 2nd time I’ve caught a glimpse of myself in the background on his vlogs.

Poker wise nothing is clicking. I think it’s hard after you’ve gone really deep in a tournament to do the same next time out.
I’m a little surprised at my exit hand though as I pot it all in on the turn with a straight possible on board (I had the blockers) and am called by a French player with just middle two pair. WTF ?
I had outs to a flush but when it didn’t come I decide not to fire another bullet and thus ends my tournaments for this trip.

With no cash games now at the WSOP I walk over to Bellagio and get a seat quickly in the 40 / 80 Mix. It’s a decent game but getting #2 hands and running up against #1 hands will cost you in this game, like this one in ace to five triple draw.

I’m stuck a rack quickly but slowly build back up before making some nice hands in the baduecy round just before the game broke.
I come out a small $400 winner and call it a night.

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Part Two - Day Eleven - Tuesday July 16th

Got my tax paperwork sorted with Player Services who were very helpful and then it was time for the payout. “How would you like to be paid?” I think for a second how nice it would be to hold $60k cash in my hand, but not very practical. I fold to common sense. “Bank wire” I say.

I peek into the Paris ballroom on my way out.

First time I’ve been here right at the end of the Series. Kinda sad to see them dismantling all the tables.

In the afternoon we play the 40 / 80 Mix again at Bellagio. It didn’t look a good game and it wasn’t. Very nitty and also not a good mix with too many games for my liking and also some obscure varients. I’m angry at myself for playing in it as long as I did. I lose a rack and a half (-$1,500) before waving the white flag.

Need some comfort food …. And drink. [emoji485]

Soy garlic glazed New York Stripper with a side of gratin dauphinois washed down with a couple of glasses of Merlot. Really enjoyed the meal.

No more poker tonight. I degen a little at the pai gow table with a nice Japanese gentleman. We both have a couple of cocktails and both manage to come out winners. He wins $1,500 but he is betting $500 a hand. I come out a more modest $300 winner at $100 a hand but a pleasant stress free evening.

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Loved this phrase. Well played, sir.

Part Two - Day Twelve - Wednesday July 17th

It’s my last day and all is right with the world again as there’s water in the pool [emoji474][emoji3]

We have an extended pool session in the morning to make up for the two lost days then head over to the Bellagio.

The 40 / 80 Mix is just about to start and as one of the players to start the game I can have a say in the mix. Good news.

That’s the mix we come up with for today. We start 3 handed but the game is soon full and it’s a good game with people gambling and chips flying everywhere.

We get 3/4 of this nice super razz duecy pot with the nut low 7-5 vs 7-6 and the same 6-4-3-2 dugi

We need some sustenance to keep our good run going and take a quick break to eat dinner at prime again.

We go for the filet tonight. Lauren is my server again and remembers me from last night.
“Welcome back love” “here’s your wine love” she says and she reminds me of the girls in Medellin who also use the term ‘love’ a lot when referring to someone, or in their case - mi amor, amor, or just ‘mor’ for short.
Anyway, I tell Lauren I’m in a good game and would appreciate a fast service. I don’t even have time to eat half a bread roll before my steak arrives perfectly cooked. “Gracias mi amor” extra tips for Lauren.

Back in the game and we’re constantly acquiring chips for my builders to work with but as it’s been a while I think they’re a bit confused as to what they’re building. Not sure if it’s a pyramid or a star destroyer.

Time finally comes when I have to rack up as I still have to go back to my room and pack before heading to the airport. I actually lose my last hand in duece to seven when my 8-6 is no match for a wheel made on the first change after drawing 3!
That takes us under 2 full racks of profit but we’ll still take it +$1,800

And that’s all folks. One of my better decisions to return for a 2nd trip this year. I hope you all enjoyed the reports as much as I enjoyed writing them and thanks for all the comments.

A portion of the winnings will be set aside for next years trip. So until then.

Ciao pues y dios lo bendiga [emoji120]

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Thanks for the great TR! Safe travels.

Fun times. Congrats on the success.

What do you do to get experience in mixed games besides these trips? Do you play online?

I spent a few hours in the 8-16 mix at RW and they love anything drawmaha or badugi related. Looks like the Bellagio game was also heavy on the badugi. I'm guessing people pick it less because it's fun and more because they assume everyone else plays it badly.

I started off playing mixed games, or dealers choice as we called it, when I was 18. That was our regular game all around the north west of England - Blackpool, Manchester, Liverpool, Stockport, Salford - every night for many years and I think it still goes today.
So that was how I got experience and it has stood me in good stead.
I don’t play online but that could be one way to go to gain experience.
And lastly you’re right, it’s not so much what you play well, but what others play badly. Badugi is a popular one, not just on its own, but it makes up half of a lot of other games as well so that’s one to learn to play well.

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great trip report - thank you and congratulations on the big win.

lurker here but wanted to say Congrats on making a WSOP final table and hitting a nice pay day!

Amazing result and great TR. TY

Great thread, and loving that you wore a Millionairos shirt on the FT!

After a short time back home I decided to take another trip before football season starts in earnest.

Link for my trip report to the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open here for anyone interested

Can confirm the TR above is worth a read.

Wow. 4 months after the Series and still 6 months to go until next years Series.

With the goal of trying to keep my game sharp I’m taking another trip to the Hard Rock for their Rock ‘n’ Roll Poker Open.

I’ll be documenting the trip of course. Same link as above in case anyone wants to follow along in this slow season for LVL trip reports.

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hey tony,

stumbled on your trip report (little late, i know :-) but really enjoy reading it, great job.

i'm also interested in your living situation, can you say a little more about medellin?
sounds super interesting, wanna go visit for 4 weeks at least to get a better picture, but anything you could say upfront would obv help a lot. Thx again man.

Hey. The post you quoted says it all really. There’s a bit of a poker scene as well and the nightlife is good. You can take Spanish or dance classes or you can go sightseeing and there’s lots of little towns close by you can visit if you’re into that.
Shoot me a PM if you have more specific questions.
I also have some rental apartments so let me know if/when you come down and I can hook you up and would be happy to show you around.

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will def. do that when i come over, thx a lot.
did a little research, sounds like there's no real winter/summer, meaning the weather is nice almost all year long, is that right? (re. best time to visit)

and one more thing:
how good do you get along with only english there? or is spanish a must?

Yes the weather is good the whole year. Temperature doesn’t change, just some months there’s more rain than others. Like now for example, November is the wettest month.
December and August are probably the peak tourist months when there’s lots of things going on.

Yes you do need some Spanish as not many people speak English. If you don’t have any you can always take classes here.

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These two sentences together seem like an oxymoron.