MuckPls and everyone else vs Vegas (10/4 to 10/20)

No shoes this trip, I’m currently 8k or so in the hole so no shopping until unstuck.

Probably playing at Aria, but not 100% sure yet. We might head downtown Friday night since it’s our only weekend left.

Pinged two numbers at $75 each on European roulette and we are back in business!!!

After the usual start to the day (gym + some VP), I went over here to play:

Before joining a game I also activated the 5x promotion they have at Ceasars properties these days, and cycled through a fair bit of Video Poker.

When I arrived at the poker room I got immediately seated in a new $1/$3 game that was just about to start. I got off to a reasonable start, first when there are two limps for $3 and I make it $16 on the button with A5hh. The second limper is the only caller, and we go heads-up to K-J-T no hearts. Despite this, I think it's a good board to bet, so after he checks I throw out $15. He thinks and calls.

Turn comes with a 6, and after he checks I decided to bet again. It's a bit risky with very few outs, but his limping range really shouldn't be all over this board too often. So I make it $45, and get the fold that I wanted.

Then there is a limped pot and I just check my K7o in BB. Flop comes K-7-5 two diamonds, and we are 4 players. I lead out for $7, and get two callers. The flush fills on the 8d turn, but I chose to bet again as I have one diamond in my hand (the seven), and I can still get called by hands like KT, K9 or 67. I make it $18, and only get one call this time around.

River is however a 6, putting 4 to a straight out there. I check, hoping to get to showdown and opponent obliges. He had limped in K2hh, but my two pair is obviously good.

A while later there are 2 limpers, and I chose to come along on the button with Q8hh on the button. Hand is probably not quite strong enough to raise, but the players in the blinds was very passive and not likely to raise. They did not, and we go 5-ways to T-7-5 two hearts. Not too bad. It checks to me, and I bet out $10. Surprisingly enough I get 3 callers, but we see a 9 on the turn. I am open ended with a flushdraw, pretty good spot.

It checks to me again, and I often like to overbet in these spots to get max fold-eq, but with plenty of outs and money in the middle should I get called. I settled on $45 this time (into $58), so not an overbet but still the same concept. Only a player in MP calls, which had seemed a bit active and sticky so far.

River comes the 3h so we do make our flush. He does however immediately go for chips and bet out $55 with $6 (!) behind. As a general concept I should take a quick look at the board to see which flushes are available, but I have the third nuts and there are still plenty of smaller ones he can have. And with him having only $6 behind it makes no sense to just call, so I obviously raise him all-in. He snap-calls and sadly has KJhh for the slightly higher flush.

Bit annoying, but nothing to do with that. The only adjustment I can (and maybe should) make in a spot like this is to stop limping and just raise or fold. I don't really mind the occasional limp given how seldom I do it, but it obviously ended up costing me this time around. Although I think I played the hand completely fine once we saw the flop.

A few hands later I raise JJ from EP1 to $12, and BB is the only caller. We see J-7-7, and he checks. This is the same opponent as in above hand, so I chose to make a small bet of $10 to try and entice him in with maybe hands that has a gutshot or similar. He does however quickly fold, and I table my hand to show the dealer I have a qualifying high hand.

(best full house of better wins $100 at Horseshoe every 15 minutes)

My hand is the best so far, and there are only 5 minutes left on the clock. It didn't help much though, as someone made Kings full of eights just a minute later. I honestly think I was a bit unlucky to not get the promo money here, as I saw smaller full houses win later in the day. Oh well.

I play a few small uninteresting pots, before there is a raise from an older woman UTG to $12. One player calls in the field, and I defend BB with K7hh. We get an T-2-6 two hearts flop, and after I check the woman bets $25. Fairly big sizing, but I call after the second player released his cards.

Turn is a 9, so I have a gutshot and 4-flush. Briefly considered leading, but I don't think it makes a ton of sense given her range is likely strong. So I check, but she just quickly checks it back. River comes a 3, and although I don't like the play in hindsight I bet out $35.

I like the sizing in general as a bluff, as I don't need to bet bigger to clear out hands like AQ and AK if they ever bet this flop. But with how tight she was playing overall, I think I should have just given up here. It's also not good to bluff when I am the one holding the hearts; as that makes it less likely she was on a flush draw herself.

She snaps my $35 bet with JJ, and she obviously lost a ton of value. She was short-ish, so I doubt I would have had fold-eq if she bet again. But if she had made a reasonable size I would for sure have called to try and hit my draws.

Then a tight player raises to $10 from early pos, and I am more than happy to call in the cutoff with A4cc. BB also calls, and we see J-6-3 all clubs. Nice to flop the nuts, but what is not so nice is that both check to me, and that they fold after I put out a bet of $15.

I do however keep losing some small pots here and there, like when I raise 88 to $15 over a limp, and get calls from SB and the limper. Flop comes A-7-3 and after SB checks the limper bets out $30. Seems a bit weird for him to lead here, but while I am thinking the SB actually folds out of turn. I chose to make the call then, knowing it will go heads-up. Maybe I should just fold though.

Turn comes another 3, and the opponent (who was a spitting image of Jamie Gold) quickly bets out $60. I fold immediately.

I have now had to add on $100 twice, and I am in the game for $500. Not ideal, but there are some value in the game and it's a pretty good atmosphere at least.

I then go card-dead for a while, although I do have a feeling that this guy knew a thing or two about playing unsusual cards (like Ten Deuce):

Eventually I pick up A6cc in BB after an OWC (Old Woman Coffee) have raised to $15 on the button. She had however already come in for a raise or two after sitting down 30 minutes ago, so I didn't think she was absurdly tight. I defend, and we go heads up to 3-5-7 one club. I check, and she throws out $25. Fairly big sizing, but I do think this board is too good to not attempt something. So I check-raise to $70, with the plan to continue on all straight cards wrapping around those already on the table, and obviously all clubs. She thinks for a bit, but folds.

In general though I am not winning many big pots, and I am bleeding a few chips here and there through some raises that doesn't work out or seeing flops from BB etc. So I am still stuck over $200, when there are two limps to me. I look down at nothing less than AA, and make it $17. A fishy guy on the button calls, before BB (tight player) jams his remaining $116 USD. I look over at button and see that he only has around $100 behind as well, so I ask for a count and take a little bit of time with it to not scare him off.

Eventually I call, and the button shrugs and puts his remaining chips in as well. I flip over the Aces, and the tight player bemoans his luck and announces Ace King. The button has KJ. We get a very safe runout with 7-7-3-J-8 and I take out both players to win a very healthy pot.

I lose a little bit back through raising KQdd and 97dd (we were playing 6-handed for this one), without connecting at all and having to give up.

I do however also get AA one more time, and make it $12. Older woman (with JJ from earlier) calls, and ultra-OMC also defends his BB. Flop comes 2-2-3 and I exploitively size up to $30 here. These two are very tight and can easily have pocket pairs here, and they are not gonna release it to someone like me - who has been a bit active. Both did however end up folding.

The ultra-tight OMC is btw a story in itself, as he won a good pot earlier by playing AA in the most obvious way. He raised pre, and got two callers. Flop was A-Q-7 two hearts, and he checked it. MP bet $15, and the old woman who I semi-bluffed earlier made it $45. It folds back to the OMC, and what does he do? The good old limp/4-bet/minraise to $90. As soon as I saw that I knew he had Aces, and I think I would have been good enough to fold the hand that the woman went broke with (AQ for top two). The OMC just couldn't play his hand any more face-up than what he did, and he still got paid. Crazy.

Either way, happy about being almost back to even I cashed out down $13 USD after 3 hours of play. Been relaxing in the room for an hour now (and by relaxing I mean updating this TR). Now it's time to find another game, and I think we are heading off-strip for this one.

Cash Games:

Hours played: 19h 30min
Won/lost: +$607 USD
Hourly rate: +$31.1 USD

Tournaments:

Won/lost: -$100 (1 tourney)

Unlucky? I don't think I've gotten a single full house to go up on the board in the two years they've been running that promo.

Are you sure it wasn't? I've seen rumors of him in 1/2 games.

I then go card-dead for a while, although I do have a feeling that this guy knew a thing or two about playing unsusual cards (like Ten Deuce):

That's not Jamie Gold.

Nice comeback.

How did the vp go while you were hunting tier credits?

Back to where I belong:

boom!

Funny thing is I reached my card limit yesterday morning and could only take out $600. Went from $600 to $6500 in 24 hours basically. Swings are real.

I am so glad I am reading this and not experiencing for myself. Not sure my heart could hold out these swings.

Keep going Muck!

Obviously hindsight is 20/20 but think there were a couple of hands that you need to check back on the flop there Whale.

I mean you could have made quad Jacks FFS

Can’t sleep… back to the grind, then hike at 9 am.

It’s pretty damn degen but it’s Vegas, it’s what’s I’m here for.

Yesterday evening I decided to head down to Golden Nugget for some downtown action! Traffic was horrible when I went though, the Uber was very expensive and took at least 30-35 minutes. At least I could snap this decent picture of Excalibur while moving at a snail's pace:

Eventually made it to GN though, and they had immediate seating in a game as well. I bought in for $400 at what looked like a passive table, apart from one player (Mexican maybe?) who seem to be a bit of action. The first hand against him I did sadly play too passive though, when he straddles the button to $5 and it folds all the way to me in BB. I have QThh and just completes the straddle. He checks, and we see A-J-5 one heart. I check, and he bets $5. I call.

Turn comes the 8h so we have a gutshot and 4-flush. I check, and he bets $15. In game I only called because he didn't seem like a folding type, but I really think I should have raised here. He cannot have too many Ax since he just checked his straddle, and I can put a lot of pressure on Jx type of holdings. Instead river is just a random 4, it goes check-check, and he wins with 98o. In other words, I easily get him to fold if I check-raise the turn. In addition, I could have raised it pre or maybe lead the flop.

A few hands later this guy, who have complained about the table not being much action, opens for $8 after a limp to $2. One player calls the $8, and I have QJss on the button. Seemed too good to not squeeze against someone who is probably opening too wide, so I make it $30. Maybe a tad too small, but either way. SB, who looks like a real OMC, actually cold-calls the raise, and the opener also calls.

3 players then see the A-A-2 flop one spade. It checks to me, and I decided to just check it back. OMC cold-call worried me a bit, and with two Aces out there he is just not going to fold a hand like JJ or similar. Turn comes the 3s, so now I have actual equity. They check to me again, and I make a cheap attempt of $40. OMC does however call, and the active player folds.

River comes a red 9, and I think this is a bad spot to bluff. So I just give up, and he quickly checks behind and win the hand with 77. That is a hand that I could maybe have gotten off by betting $100 at the end, but after observing how he played later, I doubt it. He ended up being very sticky pre and post, although mostly had the goods if he stayed in until the end. Thinking about it now, I also think I could have considered a gigantic $200 bet on the river to put all pairs in a miserable spot.

I am down a quick $100 then, although did not bother to add on as most of the players didn't have a big stack. In general, I didn't take many stack pictures last night, so let's rather sprinkle in some pictures from Fremont Street instead.

A bit later I change seats to the #1, and then get an ok spot against the action guy. He was however playing quite short stacked, and was not having too much luck in most of his hands. He raises to $6 from early, the sticky OMC calls in cutoff, and I have QQ on the button. I make it $30, and action guy is the only caller.

Flop is J-T-5 two spades, and he have already checked dark. He has around $80 left, and I just decided to jam on him. There are so many hands that can call on this board, like any flushdraw, hands like KJ, QJ, maybe AT, KT, or KQ and 89. He doesn't think too long however, and just folds.

Then I fold for a while, before picking up AA from third position. The sticky OMC have already limped in for $2, so I make it $12 (could go even bigger - theme throughout the hand) and get no less than 4 callers, including the OMC. 9-3- 5 two hearts, and it checks to me. I bet $35 into $60, could maybe have increased a bit more but ok. I get 3 quick folds, before the sticky OMC puts in the quick call.

Turn comes a 4, and after he checks I bet $85 (into $130), as I didn't want to scare off a nine but still charge flush draws. He once again calls fairly quickly, and we see the 9h on the river. I was holding the Ah, so I had told myself to not be too scared to bet even if a flush did come in. However, I did not like this nine and it also appeared as if he was thinking for a few seconds before checking it over to me. I check back, and lose to 64hh. Sigh. He obviously had a lot of outs, but I think I charged him decently well at least to get there. Although I think I could have bet maybe $40 on flop and $110 on turn or something like that, and still have gotten the action.

I reload for $200 more and feel a bit like I should join this guy, preferably with a rope around my neck:

Kidding obviously, it was not that big of a pot and I think I played it ok at least. Just felt a bit unfortunate, especially when he is in there with a rather poor hand and gets to win it instead. But that's poker.

I win a few small pots with KQdd and A4cc after raising pre over limps and taking it down on the flop. Then we play another big one against the OMC, and this one I am very unsure about.

There are two limps to me, and I have KJss in BB. I raise it up to $18 (too small) and get 3 callers. With so many flops going multi-way I should have sized up even more. I even had that thought earlier in the evening, but then sort-of just forgot about it.

Either way, we see Q-T-3 all clubs. I have an open ender, and in hindsight think I should have just bet and comfortably folded to a raise. Instead I check, and it checks to an OWC (older woman) who bets $20. Sticky OMC calls $20, and I also call.

A red Ace on the turn, and this is the biggest mistake I think. I should lead here to charge draws and prevent it from checking around, but instead I just check and the other two follow suit. Ks on the river, so no further flushing cards but any Jack now has a straight.

The sticky OMC now blasts out for $105 into $115 or so, and I go deep in the tank for over a minute. Again an annoying spot, which I should have played better and now I am only calling to chop. Will this guy think a Jack is the nuts here? Maybe, but for that sizing? I wasn't entirely sure, and I still have the woman behind me to act. Furthermore, now that I know how sticky this guy is pre, I think about all of the flushes are available. For example, earlier in the session he had limp-called a raise with 72 suited. So I make a tight fold, and the woman also folds.

I win a few small pots here and there, one where a fairly active short stack from Atlanta (who said he liked my humor, so thankfully I was in a decent mood at the table) raises to $12 from EP1. I have 88 in BB and call, and we see 5-5-4 two hearts. I check, and he makes it $15. He only has around $70 back, so I decide to jam on him. I can still actually get value from 66 and 77 (they are likely not folding), and I also force out all his overcards. The latter happened, as he said 'nice bet' and folded ATo face-up.

Also lost some however, like when I raise QJhh to $10 from UTG (6-handed for this one), and get 3 callers. See what I mean about using a bigger sizing? Anyway, it folds to BB who is new to the table and he makes it $32. Fairly small sizing, and knowing all the others are going to call as well, I couldn't resist the prize. I call, and two others call behind. Flop is however A-5-2 no hearts, so that was no fun. I obviously fold.

More limping, as 3 players make it $2 and I have AJo in SB. I raise to $18, and a short stack with a Plaza Hotel & Casino button-shirt (and only one leg) is the only caller. A-9-3 two clubs, I bet $20 and he calls. Turn is another 9, and he has $60 back. He has been very passive so far, so I don't think he has 9x too often. And he shouldn't have better Aces, so I just jam on him to get value from worse Ax. He ends up folding quickly, so maybe he was only on a flush draw.

Then we find TT from UTG and make it $10, a short stack moves in for $11 right behind me, and a couple of other players call behind, including BB. I obviously can't raise here (legally), so I flick in the $1 extra and get a 5-3-2 flop. There are two clubs out there, and BB leads for $12. Looks like a hand trying to set his own price, most likely a flush draw. I raise to $40 (should have gone $50 at least), and he calls (everyone else folded).

Turn is the 6, and he checks. Although board is a bit straighty, he shouldn't have many 3x even from BB. So I think a flush draw is by far the most likely holding. I bet $55 to charge draws, only to hear him announce $255 almost immediately. I frustratingly fold face-up, and he has 43o to win the hand. I still like the way I played the hand, it's just a bit unlucky that he is in there with such a crap hand from BB - even if he was getting a decent price preflop.

Had AA again a bit later, but could only win a tiny pot with a 3-bet pre. The game in general had started to become much more boring (less fun people) and tight (splashy OMC had left and the action guy from early went broke and never returned), so I didn't feel like hanging around much longer. I cashed out with an annoying loss of $341 USD after 3 hours of play.

Today is Thursday, so I have still two full days left + some of Saturday before I go home. Not happy with the results so far, but as always I am slacking a bit on the hours and LOL sample size. I also think I am playing quite well, and I see so many weird mistakes that my opponents are doing. So even though I should be better at thinking on the fly and coming up with adjustments, I still think my strategy should be super profitable against the competition. Hopefully that will materialize within the next 48 hours, where I need to put in more volume.

Edit: Also saw that the YouTube channel 'Show Me Vegas' (check it out, guys) was live streaming from Fremont Street last evening when I was there. So I stopped by for a minute before I went back to The Strip to say hello and that I enjoy their contect. Always fun doing stuff like that, and I have actually ran into quite a few Vegas YouTubers through the years now.

Cash Games:

Hours played: 22h 30min
Won/lost: +$266 USD
Hourly rate: +$11.8 USD

Tournaments:

Won/lost: -$100 (1 tourney)

'Murika. *** yeh.

Some “fun” pics for Leon, this happened in 20 or so hands. Hit 0/5.

Nice comeback, MuckPls, but ouch on the last video poker.

Whale, it sucks to go to the GN and not get a good, deep game :(

BTW min ease by OMC AA was $45 + ($45-$15)= $75 not $90. But agree was playing face up. OTOH once he goes for the check raise and gets a bet and raise in front of him any check re-raise looks fishy but a flat let’s $15 to come along. If there are any draws that could be uncomfortable. So he seemingly screws himself with some FPS but still gets her stack. So not horribad.

This morning, I decided to head out here for a crack at a decent tournament score:

This was one of the most absurd tournaments I have played, at least it feels that way right now. So let's do a tournament hand history post, although I will try not make it too long.

For clarity, we are talking about the South Point $100 10:05am tournament. 20,000 chips and 20 minute blind levels. This one always get a lot of entires, and today was no exception - 115 players entered, with top 15 making the money. It was around $2100 for first place.

First level, I raise QQ from UTG to 600 (100-200) and get 3 callers. The flop is favorable, with K-9-Q two hearts. A lot of stuff that can call me here, so I bet 1500, and only an OMC calls. Turn is a 6 that does not fill the flush. I bet 4500, and he calls. River comes an Ace, and if he has JT then so be it. I jam for value, hoping he has something like KQ or maybe AQ (although not many combos left). He calls for slightly less (I jammed 11500), and I am good versus a very passively played AKo.

Lose a bit back but still have well over 30k when there is a limp from a tight OMC for 400 (200-400-400). I have A3hh, and chose to limp along from cutoff. Could isolate, but probably not mandatory. Either way, SB completes and BB checks. 9-4-5 one heart comes on the flop, and BB leads for 1300. The first limper calls, and I chose to overcall in position here with many good turn-cards.

2h qualifies as a good turn-card, as I make the straight and turn the nut flush draw. The OMC bets 2500, the limper calls again, and although I briefly considered slow playing (not a card to fear on the river and I have position), these guys clearly like their hands. So I make it 8500, the OMC looks a bit pained but calls, and the third guy folds

Q of clubs on the river, a total blank. The OMC checks, and has already gripped his stack like he was ready to go with it. So I see no need to disappoint him, and jam for my remaining 20k or so (covering him). For what it's worth, this is the guy who I already have knocked out once in the QQ-hand.

He thinks about it for a long time, looks pained, but puts the chips in with 94o for two pair. Off to an amazing start then, with close to 60k or something like that:

At 300-600-600 now, and I find 99 from UTG. I raise to 1500, and get 3 callers. Flop is a dream with 9-6-3 two clubs, and the pot is 6600 chips. So what does the small blind do? He jams for 40k in front. BB folds, I obviously call and the last guy folds out. We are up against 96o for two pair and have him practically drawing dead. No idea what the opponent was thinking about here, although to be fair I would have called his jam with QQ or something as well.

I then lose a few pots but manage to maintain a stack of around 90k or so while being card dead. Then an OMC that was a bit active makes it 3500 (we are now at 800-1600-1600), and I have JJ in BB. I 3-bet it up to 13500, only to hear him insta-announce an all-in! I did not love it, but the jam is for 60k (less than 40 bb), we are in late position and I still have 30k left if it's a cooler. So I call, and get the good news in him flipping over 66. I hold, and have a gigantic stack:

After 8 levels of play were done (and late registration over), I went to break with 142,000, and blinds would be 1000-2000-2000 after. Am OMC next to me commented to me when we got back that I was probably the chip leader, and that he had been looking at the stacks at the other tables. I replied something like "there's still a lot of poker to be played, so I am not taking anything for granted, that's for sure". And man, was I right.

Because after the speedy start...

The second half of the tournament was nothing but. It starts innocently enough with a limped pot, and I check T5ss in BB. We go 3-ways to 9-7-6 two spades, so I flop a huge combo-draw. I decide to go for the check-raise here, and check it over to an OMC who limped in. He bets something like 3000, before SB (tight Asian) jams all-in for 37500 (!). A bit more action than I anticipated, but obviously not going anywhere. The OMC has around 70k behind, so I just rejam and get the fold from him.

We are up against T8o for a flopped straight though, and he also have 8s in his hand. That is a really bad hand to be up against, and I was not able to make my flush (to win outright) or a straight (to chop).

A few hands later I make a mental mistake when it folds to me on the button and I raise AJcc to 4000. Both blinds fold, however an OMC had limped in from EP1 that I didn't see. He now makes it 17000, and although this looks strong I had seen him pull this move with 99 once earlier. Maybe I could have considered jamming, but he still had around 70k and I was down to 100k, so that didn't particularly appeal. I call in position, and we see an 9-9-8 flop with one club.

He jams in front for a huge overbet, and I can't do much but fold. What does he show? 99 again, lol WTF. He could have trapped me so hard here and get me to start betting on many turns, but instead he just jams for something like 1.5 pot with the essential nuts. Gotta love poker 😀

Then there are two limps to me and I check K9o in BB. K-9-6, and after SB checks I lead for 6000 (this was at 1500-3000-3000). Limper folds but SB calls. Turn is another 6, and after he checks I check behind. I didn't particularly like this card, although maybe I should have continued to bet to charge Kx holdings.

River is a J, and the opponent (tight Asian from T5ss-hand) jams for a gigantic overbet, covering me. I sigh and fold fairly quickly, pretty confident he has a six here. He also indicated this in conversation afterwards. I should probably bet the turn, but as played I have no issues with my fold. It's exploitative, but against huge nits you just have to fold sometimes.

Then I find QQ from 2nd position and raise up to 6000. A good Asian player, who was now short stacked, moves all-in for 15k and I obviously call. He has A5o, and board runs out J-8-3-2... A. Sigh. Winning a pot like that would be very significant for my now rather meager stack.

Then a few hands later UTG moves all-in for 29000, and it folds to me in BB with KQdd. I only have around 45k now, but I can't imagine this not being a call. I'm just gonna be up against so many pairs or maybe even dominate him on a few occasions. So I call, and he has A8dd. Not ideal with him having diamonds as well, but we still have a chance. However, despite flopping an open ender on J-T-5, I cannot hit anything on turn or river.

Descimated then with around 16k left, but we don't give up. I get AK and get a push through, I get another push through with A5s, and just about manages to stay alive.

Then the good Asian player jams for 35k (2000-4000-4000 now) from MP and I pick up JJ in SB. I call all-in for less, and beat his 22. Now we suddenly have a chance again with 27 players left.

Then the fishy OMC who likes to limp-reraise 99 comes in for his usual limp (4000). It folds all the way to me in BB with a bit under 60k, and I have AJo. I see no point in raise/folding 15 bb here against someone who can limp-reraise pairs, and he's just gonna have so much sh*t that he limps in with in general. So let's just take the pot down pre. I move all-in, and he snapcalls with.. AA obviously. Sigh.

8c-2c-3c in flop, and I have Ac in my hand. But of course I am never gonna suck out on someone to win a super important pot just before the money, of course not. The board blanks out and I am also OUT in 25th place.

Obviously it was a bit frustrating, but I honestly don't see what I could have done differently here? I think I played it pretty damn well, but it didn't help to run well in the beginning if I was going to lose (almost) every hand after the break. It's just very unlucky with card distribution, runouts, and stuff like that.

Now I'm gonna head to the gym to energize myself, and then I am going to plant myself in a cash game seat at *location I won't reveal*, and play as long as possible. Will update the stats tonight or tomorrow morning, nothing has really changed except $100 more lost in tournaments.

All good in the hood!!

Where is that?

Looks like Park MGM.

Dam! A multiplier on a royal!

Aha, I've only been in there once since the conversion, and it was only for a minute. Thanks.

where did you go?

We went to Red Rock and then to Spring Mountain ranch state park.