MuckPls vs BigWhale - a WSOP June TR

Karma?

Sit down at Venetian, wanted to do a stack pic but more than doubled first hand:

The past few days have been rough as explain multiple times. I am not proud of it but I did hit and run Venetian after an hour:

Heading off strip to get a shave and then on to the third location of the day, Bellagio.

Third and probably final spot of the day, at the sportsbook at the Bellagio:

Had an absolutely awesome and inexpensive shave at this joint, although it’s super far from the strip, I can just recommend it:

Time for another update, and as those who have seen my spoiler might understand; the mood in the upcoming posts are going to be a bit different from my last one.

I headed Downtown to Golden Nugget, with the view to play cash for a couple of hours and then maaayyybe jump into their $150 6pm nighly tournament. That is exactly what happened, and after heading down there with an Uber we got an immediate seat in a game. I only bought in for $300 this time, and there was not really any need to add on as people were not playing super deep.

Table was generally passive in the beginning, so I open KJo from EP1 to $10 and get called by only the big blind. The flop comes K-Q-8 rainbow, and after he checks I bet $15. He calls, and we see 2c on turn which puts out a flush draw. He now donks for $20, and I decided to just call. I think my hand is slighty too inbetween to raise, and I have Jc in my hand which blocks a lot of his flush draw combos.

River comes the 4 of clubs, so a flush does fill. He now checks, and I don't think he is playing a flush like this almost ever. So we have to go for some value against lower Kx from BB or QJ or whatever. I bet $40, but he just quickly folds.

Then we get a couple of AK hands. In the first one I raise the one suited in clubs to $10 from cutoff, and get calls from button and BB. The flop comes K-Q-5 two spades, and after BB checks I bet $20. Button folds, but Big Blind calls. Turn is a red A, so we have top two now. He checks, I bet only $30 to keep worse hands in, but he folds.

In the second one we have an offsuit red AKo and make it $20 from UTG over a $5 button-straddle. An OMC in EP1 is the only caller, and we go heads-up to 2-2-7. I bet small for $15, thinking he might peel with some worse A highs. He calls, and we see another 7 on the turn. I check it over to him to see what he does, and when he quickly check backs I think he has a lot of Ace high here.

River comes with a T, so unless he has specifically AT this play should work; I bet $55 to try and force out folds from A high who are chopping with me. An overbet might be better (pot is $78), but I didn't think I needed to against this guy + I save a little bit of money if he somehow has run into Tx. He thinks for a few seconds, but then fold.

Then a tight OMC opens to $10 from UTG, there is one caller, and I have KQss in cutoff. Normally a good 3-bet hand but against this OMC I don't think it's the best idea. So I just call, and BB comes along. 4-ways to A-7-K and it actually checks to me. I considered betting, but apart from gutshots like QJ and JT I think I am only getting called by Ax here.

So I just check it back, and the river comes another K. We make trips, and the raiser now bets out for $15. Both the line and the sizing feels a bit weak, and maybe I could just call here. I did however raise it up to $55 to charge hands like AQ and AJ if they for some reason got scared on the flop. Everyone does however fold out quickly, so likely the OMC only had a pocket pair or something (JJ?).

Feeling happy about a good start, I take a quick break to find something small to eat + step out onto Fremont Street. Here is the logo for the oldest casino in Las Vegas:

And here is the newest one Downtown, with the owner's (Derek Stevens) truck in front of the entrance:

When I get back to the game we have a limp for $2, and then a middle-aged woman raise to $15. The guy to my right calls, and I have 99 on the button. I think for a little bit, but end up 3-betting to $65. She had been raising a bit too many hands the last 20 minutes to be super strong I thought, and in position I can control the pot if someone calls.

The limper then limp-jams his remaining $72 into the middle, but this is the second time in short succession I have seen him do this exact move. The woman thinks for a while and asks for a count, but then folds and the caller does the same. I obviously call quickly for just $7 more, and we see a runout of J-7-2-J-5. Opponent seems a bit unwilling to show, so I just flip over my hand and he nods and shows AQo for a pre-flop flip that went my way.

Have basically doubled up now through all these pots, and we increase our stack in the following weird spot. There is a limp for $2 and I find 87cc in MP. Obviously going to raise this versus a single limper, so I make it $12 but get no less than 4 callers. So we are off to the Q-7-2 two clubs flop. It checks to me, and I decided to check with view to maybe check-raise if any of the two players behind me was betting. No such luck though, it checks around. But I can probably just bet out here, simply because my hand is strong enough to withstand a check-raise.

Turn comes 4c, so we make a flush. It checks to me again, and I bet out for $35. The guy to my right (OMC-looking) calls, and we go heads-up to 4d river. So the board does pair, but I wasn't too concerned about that. I struggled with sizing here, as I am hoping he has A4 or 45 suited or something like that, but both would be slightly optimistic calls on turn IMO. So I try to target Qx mostly with a bet of $62 (into $130).

He then quickly announces 'hundred' and slides out a 20-stack of red chips. The dealer tells him that is not a legal raise, and he then sas 'ok, all-in then!', but it is deemed he must make it a minraise of $124 since he has put in more than 50% of a raise. WTF? The guy only has $50 back or so, but I just didn't think he would ever do this with a worse hand for value. There are not many worse flushes, but which full house can he have except 22? Q4 or 72 pre just doesn't seem very likely.

Regardless, can't fold for this price so I call somewhat quickly (20-30 sec) and he says 'you got it' and shows A9o with Ac. So he called the turn with just the naked flush draw and then decided to turn it into a bluff on the river. Interesting, but very poorly executed as he can never get a fold for that sizing. But to be fair, the guy didn't even know how much I bet on the river, so he is obviously not very sophisticated.

I then lose a few small pots, most significant one when a very short stack raises to $7 from EP with around $40 back. The guy to my right calls, and I have AJo in MP. Felt a bit borderline, no-one could probably fault me for getting it in versus the shortie, but I just decided to call as I assumed he might be fairly strong despite the small sizing.

Small Blind also calls, so we go 4-ways to A-9-6 two hearts. Everyone checks to me, and I obviously need to bet then for value. I make it $15, only to see original raiser check-raise all-in for $35. For only $20 more I obviously make the call, and we see 8 turn and 3 river. He announces 'Ace' and I just wait for his kicker which is a Q. AQ takes the pot, and I am left wondering if it was even worth calling pre (although I am probably overthinking it).

Then it's time to buckle up for the pot of the day. It starts with a raise to $5 from a Spanish-speaking player who had been playing a bit weird/erratic since sitting down an hour ago. A new guy to the table (huge guy who played decent, we will get back to him later) calls the $5, and I have 99 on the button. This is such a silly sizing pre that is hardly ever a good hand, so I 3-bet to $30 and only the original raiser calls.

T-8-8 two clubs come on the board (I have none) and after he checks I bet $30 again for some protection + value from smaller pairs. He then check-raises to $100, which surprised me a bit and I didn't quite buy it given how he had played so far. The small raise pre is so weak, and he didn't 4-bet pre so we can rule out very strong hands. So I decided to call in position to see what he does on the turn.

The turn comes 5c, and he now checks. I just don't think he ever plays a flush like this, and I considered betting small (30% pot) to then take the showdown at the river. But I ended up checking back, thinking my hand probably just wants to get to showdown as cheaply as possible. That said, I wouldn't hate a bet of $65 or something, just to fold out some hands in case he was making a move with just overcards.

The river comes a random 2, and he now bets out for $100 again. Interesting spot, he could obviously have ran into full houses with 55 and 22, or just had it the whole way with TT. But do people really raise the (almost) nuts on the flop like this? Most fishy players at $1/$2 and similar levels would likely just slow play. I am thinking it's way more likely he has a hand like maybe JT suited or AT or something like this, and even though I might beat the occasional weird bluff I didn't think calling was the best option.

That brings us over to option 2, which almost immediately popped into my head after he bets, which is to move all-in! He only has around $225 back maybe, so there is obviously not a lot of fold-equity. And I really wish I had a club in my hand just to rule out some weird flush combos like J9 suited or whatever. But I still thought there was just about enough behind to where he could find a fold, because how many people at this level bluff all-in on the river into a huge pot like this?

I know of one person who does that at least, because I did decide to move all-in. You never feel more alive in these situations, praying to avoid the snap call. And I do indeed fade the snap-call, which immediately makes me very at peace with my decision (although I can feel my heart racing like crazy). He goes into the tank, so that means he actually has something and was not just clicking button. But I can immediately tell he does not like the situation, and that he is about to fold. And after 30 seconds or so in the tank, he does indeed slide his card to the dealer face down.

I cannot help but resist to show the 99, and the table goes crazy with comments like 'wow, bold move' and 'great play' etc. That hand did a lot for my confidence, because turning a pair into a bluff when you realize it likely cannot win at showdown is a fun move that I don't get to use that often. And even here, where both me and my opponent was playing deep, there was hardly enough stack size to attempt it. But I am happy that it worked out.

I win another small pot or two, before finding red Aces from UTG. I raise to $10, and see calls from a fishy cutoff and my nemesis from the previous hand, before SB (the hefty guy who plays decent) makes it $35. He came in with $400 to the table and I could tell he was a decent player, even though like most low-stakes Americans he uses terrible sizings (way too small).

It's a dream spot getting 3-bet with Aces, although it sucks a bit that this guy was away from the table when I ran that big bluff. So he has no idea that I am capable of being bat-s**t crazy on a few occasions. Regardless, I 4-bet to $125 which felt a bit small. But in my defence, I didn't want to make it so big that he has no fold-equity to come over the top again.

The first caller now jams in his short stack of $75 or so, the button folds and the raiser goes into the tank for a long time before sliding out a call. I am thinking that I don't want to see any flop containing a Q or a K, as these two pairs (Queens and Kings) are very likely holdings.

The flop comes A-9-2 with the latter two in diamonds. He checks, and in hindsight I think I should have just checked this back and given him the chance to improve. While he can have the nut flush draw with AK of diamonds or something, that is just one combo, and I doubt he has a hand like A5dd (that one would just fold to the 4-bet or jam itself, but probably not call).

In game I did however bet small for $70 to create a side-pot, but he just thinks for a bit and mumbles something before folding his cards a bit high into the air. I clearly see a King, so after the hand I asked him if he folded pocket Kings (I obviously won against the shortie on some random runout). He confirms, and while I can understand it given the action and the board I feel a bit unlucky that he wasn't around to see the big bluff. Then he would have gone all-in for sure preflop.

That said, I cannot do anything with how others play, so I think my mistake here was to not make an unusual slow play and give him the chance to catch up or bet the turn.

Stack is looking great now, and would get even better before the session ended. I win a lot of small pots, most interesting one was against the same guy from above who have now moved seats. I raise JJ to $12 over a limp, and get calls from button, SB (him) and the limper.

The flop comes T-4-5 two spades, and I bet $25 when it checked to me (unblocking top pair 3-ways I can go at least $30-$35). Small Blind is the only caller, and we see another T on the turn. Not my favorite card, so when he checks I just check it back. River is a 3, and he now leads for $40. Against some OMCs I could consider finding a fold, but this guy can even bet some worse hands (thinking I will call with A high) and find bluffs with missed flush draws. So after thinking for around 20 seconds, I call, and my hand is good. He announced 'just a pair', so I just flicked up my hand instead of forcing him to show.

After playing for a couple orbits more, I eventually cashed out after 4 hours and 15 minutes with a chill profit of $825 USD. It was around 5pm now, and I wanted to get something to eat before the tournament started at 6pm. In addition, I had a $75 voucher from Plaza that I had forgotten to cash out after I stayed there last week.

(that $75 voucher turned into $200 on a Buffalo slot machine, so suddenly we have the tournament buy-in covered as well).

I went over to Fremont Casino and their new-ish Food Hall for something to eat, and after that it was tournament time:

Feeling highly motivated after the big cash game win, I bought into the $150 6pm nightly 'deepstack' at the Golden Nugget Summer Series, and I also ran into 'TonySoprano' who was playing a $400 Mixed event. Unfortunately it seemed he had busted out of that one when I went to my first break later in the day.

The tournament had 20,000 starting chips and 20 minute levels, and I had a ton of interesting spots in the beginning. First one is when I raise K6cc to 500 (at 100-200-200) from cutoff, and get calls from button and BB. The flop comes Q-6-2 one club, and after BB checks I decided to check it. An older Asian on the button bets 1000, and I call.

Turn is the Jc so I have a flush draw now as well. I check again, and he now bets 3000 (quite big). I make a slightly optimistic call, as a K might not be a clean out for me but any 6 or club should be. The river is indeed a club, the 5c, and I cannot risk this checking through. I lead for 9500, get called, and my hand is obviously good:

Then we have a couple of limps for 300 (at 200-300-300) and I decided to come along from the button with 65hh (can also raise here). We go 5-ways to K-Q-9 all hearts, and it checks to me. I bet out 1200 into 1800, and only the first limper (spewy black guy from UK) calls. Turn is a harmless 5c, and after he checks I bet fairly big again (3700 into 4200), as there is a ton of stuff that can call me on this board that I have beat.

He calls again, and then decides to lead for 1100 on the 3d river. Very weird, but I cannot just call in case he is just trying to set his own price. So I raise it up to 8500, only to see him jam for 24700 after having thought about it for a few seconds. I didn't love the situation, but a lot of the high cards are out there, so unless exactly an Ace high flush I think I could be good here. He had seem wildy aggressive so far, and I am also thinking he could try to run a bluff with a stiff Ah blocker (AhTd or something?). So I call, only to get shown A7hh for the flopped nut flush.

That one hurt and our good start is evaporated. Down to around 8500 chips, and a few hands later we see a raise to 800 from UTG (200-400-400 now). An Italian calls in EP1, EP2 calls, and I make a slightly optimistic call next to act with KThh. BB also calls, so we go 5-ways to Q-J-7 one heart. It checks to EP2 who puts out a small 1200. While I could just jam here, I don't think I have much fold-equity this multiway, and I didn't think I was that short yet that I needed to. So I just call to try and hit my hand or turn a heart. Both UTG and EP1 also end up calling.

Turn is an 8 that is not a heart, and everyone now checks to me. While action doesn't feel super strong I still don't think I have fold-equity 4 ways, so I just check back to hit my hand. And that I do, when Ah lands on the river. Everyone checks to me again, and I jam for 6500. It folds back to the Italian in EP1 who calls, and my hand is obviously good. And just like that we are back slightly above starting stack again.

At 300-600-600, we have two limps before the aggro UK guy makes it 2000 (small raise). SB calls, and l call in BB with A8dd. The limper also call, so we go 5-ways to T-6-3 two diamonds. It checks to the raiser who makes it 5200, and it folds over to me. It's fairly strong that he bets into 4 players, but from this guy I didn't think it had to mean all that much. So I ship it in there for 22k or something, and he snap-calls.

He turns over A6o for middle pair only, which is pretty insane and not ideal for me to face as it blocks some of my outs. Turn is an A, and just as I am contemplating an early exit the 8 lands on the river giving me a better two pair. Whew.

Then at 500-1000-1000 a female player in her 60s jam for 12k from UTG. I find AQo on the button and decided to just call. The guy in BB had tripled up with Aces recently and covered me, so I wanted an escape hatch in case he suddenly jammed. He does not however, and we are up against K2hh. So many people just have no patience when they get short, and my hand holds up on T-8-8-6-5 with no hearts.

Then I play two hands which I should have done better, first one is when an active guy around 50 raises from MP to 2500 and I defend 52dd from BB. The flop comes A-5-4 one diamond, and I check-call a bet of 3500. Turn is Jd, so we now have a flush draw as well. I check, and he increases to 7500. I still think I have an easy call though with a lot of outs on the river (straight, two pair, trips, flush). Heck, I could even consider jamming, but on an Ace high board that might not be the best idea.

River improves everything for me with 3d and I check it over to him. This is a mistake, as I should lead here to prevent it from going check-check. In my defense I thought he was good enough to bet a good Ace on the river here, but he was not as he just checked back and showed AKo.

Blinds go up to 1000-1500-1500 and the same guy raises to 3000. He gets two callers, and I have AJo in BB. Normally a great squeeze spot, but this time I chose to just call. The flop comes A-8-K, and it checks to the first caller (a dealer who had an off-day). He bets out 7000, and I even considered raising but just called. The rest fold out, and we see a random 5 on the turn. I check, he bets 15k and I call again. I am really only losing to AQ and A8 here, and the guy seemed like an ok-ish play at least so he might not have AQ here all the time (sometimes he will 3-bet).

River comes a J, and again I think this is a spot to lead. But in game I just checked too quickly, and he just checked back saying I probably have him outkicked. I obviously do, as he shows A3dd. I should 100% lead this river here, simply because he doesn't have enough hands that can bet 3 times, but he has hands that will call a bet (AQ, AT) if I keep my sizing in check.

All these pots took me up to around 130k in stack, and although I dropped back a little from being very card-dead I still had a healthy stack when late reg closed. We ended up with 130 players in total, and top 17 would get paid.

Unfortunately I was very card-dead for a long time after this, and trickled down to average stack while blinds increased. My original table broke, and I had been moved to a very fishy table with a lot of OMCs who was limping a ton. But I had almost nothing to punish them with, especially since they were quite sticky pre as well - thus I couldn't raise random junk and expect a ton of folds.

To be honest, it's all a bit of a blur from here. I went to a break with around 85k before 3000-6000-6000, but then eliminated a short stack when I raised A9o from button to 12000, and he jammed 26000 from SB. I called and won against his KQo.

The blinds got very high as the night went on, and as bubble was approaching I was doing my best just to keep my head above water. But I managed to get one jam through from SB versus BB (I had A9ss), and also got a walk one time with 18 left. Eventually someone busted from the other table and we were all in the money.

I did my usual thing of being a patient short stack, occasionally picking up the blinds, and although I got very short at times I never felt highly at risk. Then with 12 players left I get moved to the other table, and a guy in MP moves in for 250k or so. I have 230k left at 15000-3000-30000, and find TT in SB. I call all-in, and my hand holds up against A8o. That was a huge win for me as I now had over 500k, and I also managed to win the blinds 2-3 times after this. Before I knew it, we were at the final table and I had probably the biggest stack, with around 600,000 at 20k-40k-40k.

One guy busts almost immediately, and then I take out a 200k stack when he jams from UTG and I call in EP2 with 99. He had KJo, but the flips went my way today and the board ran out safe (something like Q-8-6-8-5. With 7 left I am now the overwhelming chip leader.

I then run into some bad fortune however, as it folds to button who limps for 60k with only around 200k behind. I have AJdd in SB, and BB has a little over 400k left after just doubling up. I raise to 300k to get it all-in against the limper (although he could be limping strong, I can afford to take the hit and I obviously block Aces). But then BB jams all-in behind me, and the limper actually folds.

After letting out a frustrated sigh and getting a count, I obviously call as I am priced in. But he has JJ, and I cannot improve (a Jack on the turn did technically improve me, but not against his hand).

That sucks, but I still have 400k left and there are still other short stacks around so I am not out of it. Another guy gets eliminated a bit later, and we are down to 6. Blinds go up to 40k-80-80k, and it's complete mayhem with even the chip leader only having around 10 big blinds. Two shorties double up, and we find ourselves quite even in stacks.

The chip leader then starts talking about a deal, and eventually we all agree to have a look at ICM-numbers. The payouts were extremely top-heavy with 6th place only getting like $580 and the winner $3800.

Stacks are super even, and the floor tells us the various ICM payouts with around $1250 for the shortie and around $1970 for the chip leader. I am the 4th biggest stack and will get $1726 USD.

Seems like a no-brainer for me to take this deal given the even stacks and the pure bingo nature of the tournament. Although I obviously think I will play the short stack better than some of these guys, there is no point in risking going out 6th for such a small payout. So we all quickly agree to the deal, and the payouts are faciliated.

What an exhausting and amazing day! I won over $800 in Cash Games, and almost $1500 from the tournament, and we are suddenly now in profit on everything. These are the days when you just love Vegas more than anything and wish that you could stay here forever!

That is not the case for me though, as this is my last full day (flight home on Friday evening). It's already 1pm now, so it's time to get out there although I have no rush today. I will just chill and play some cash games, and not fire any more tournaments this trip.

Awesome stuff, let's see what today will bring!

Cash Games:

Hours played: 27h 30min
Won/lost: -$333 USD
Hourly rate: -$12.1 USD

Tournaments:

Won/lost: +$424 USD (7 played)

Well done!

Soaked up some sun at the pool for a little bit. Now it's time to head out of the room:

Fantastic run in the tournament. Congrats!

Congrats Whale. Nice job on the 99 cash hand. Turning value into a bluff is always spicy!

The pig to which you refer is a completely different kind of pig.

Nice cash! Thanks for the great write-up and analysis of hands.

Nice score! I am still amazed at how much detail you can recall in your tournament hand histories.

Great run!!

That's the way to win tournaments. You should always try to win the flips.

Cool beans! End your trip as a tournament net winner. Very difficult to do.

brilliant stuff - well done!

As you probably saw when we sat next to each other, I always went to my phone after each hand I played. I write down quick details there, otherwise I would have no chance to remember all of this 😀

Thanks 😊 Spicy for sure, but I think this was the right player type to do it against.

Also thanks to everyone else who has posted positive messages 😀

This evening I eventually made my way over to Venetian, and got a quick massage there before heading to the poker room. I had already put myself on the list through PokerAtlas, so even though it was a long list for all games I still had a seat within 15-20 minutes in a new $1/$3 game.

I lost around $40 the very first hand (Double Board Bomb Pot) when I had a open ended straight flush draw on the bottom bord and got to the river cheaply in a multi-way pot. I did however not improve and had to fold there.

Then I was card-dead for 30 minutes straight before another dealer sat down. This bomb-pot went better, as I ended up with Trips on the top (also had a flush draw there on turn) and 2 pair on the bottom. As expected there was a straight that won on the bottom, but my trips was good for the top board and a short stack was not able to win any of the boards. So me and the opponent scooped him up, and I was up around $40 bucks.

I then go back to folding again, before there is a limped pot and I complete K2o from SB (should be a fold I think, I just got impatient) and BB checks. We see A-2-2 two diamonds, and I decided to check instead of lead as I assumed someone had limped with an Ace. It checks to a weirdly playing Asian in early pos, who seemed deathly afraid to play postflop and often blasted way over pot when he had something.

He follows that M.O in this hand as well, by betting $35 into $15. It folds to me, and although I considered slow playing he wasn't really the folding type. So I make it $100 to go, only to see BB move all-in for around $30 more. The Asian tank-folds (I think he said he had an Ace afterwards), and I obviously call. We are up against 92o, and seal the deal with a K on the turn. The river was a 9 for what it's worth, so it's a good thing I boated up on the turn.

Up almost $200 then, although I lost a little back in a bomb pot where I actually misread my hand on the flop, and then ended up with two pair on the turn and a straight (although not the nuts) on the bottom. I decided to see the river, but could not improve on either and my straight got demoted as a flush came in on the bottom. So it was a fairly easy fold at the end, but if I hadn't misread my hand on the flop I would have just folded there.

Then I finally get something playable, in the form of QJcc, although I ended up misplaying it a bit. I raise to $12 from UTG and get no less than 3 callers. The flop comes K-6-2 one club, and with no overcards and just backdoor possibilities I decided to check it. It actually checks around, and I am thinking that Tc would be a fun turncard.

That was indeed the turn, and I think I should bet here but instead decided to check to go for a check-raise. To be honest, it's not a terrible idea as any turn-bet here will likely be a fairly weak range. And I can then raise and likely take down the pot with Queen high, which would be a fine result. As played however, it checks around again and the 7c lands on the river. So we make our flush, and after BB checks I make it $41 into $46 - just hoping that someone will find it suspicious that I am now betting almost pot after checking twice. But obviously no one cared, and they all just folded quickly.

Then a very tight woman raises to $10 from mid-pos over a limp, and I have T9dd in BB. I call (not a good 3-bet candidate against her tight range), and the limper also calls. We see K-8-3 all diamonds, which is a nice sight. The OMC-limper now bets out $10, the woman calls the $10 and I have to raise here. I chose to make it fairly big ($70), which is around a pot sized raise. The limper calls but the woman tank-calls.

Turn is a black 8, and she has around $150 left in her stack. I decided to just ship it all-in here, because I think she has at least TP when she calls the raise. And I also think she is the kind of player who will not get away from AK or similar here. She goes into the tank for a while, but sadly ends up folding. No idea what she had to be honest, as although she was a bit scared money I don't think she would fold a really big hand here.

With this hand we are up around $300, but that would not last. First there is a limp from a fishy young Brazilian UTG, and I make it $15 next to act with AJdd. A young Asian is in EP2, and makes a 3-bet to $55. Everyone else folds out, and it's back to me. While he is young and Asian, this is the first time I have seen him 3-bet and I have been playing absurdly tight (this was one of the best hands I saw all evening). So I thought his range would be fairly strong and he also didn't size it super small. I made a very tight fold here, although it's certainly debatable. But I just didn't feel like playing the hand OOP against someone who could potentially put me into a tough spot.

Then there are many limps to me and I have A2dd on the button. I decided to limp along, as I think the hand is slightly too weak to raise. We go something like 6-ways to J-8-4 two diamonds, and it checks to a guy in MP. He throws out $15, and I am the only caller. Turn is an A and he now jams for his remaining $38. I honestly did not realize he was that short (I need to pay better attention), but regardless I have an easy call now with TP and 4-flush. He had however flopped a set with 88, and I could not hit my flush at the end. It was a fairly passive game overall, as illustrated by this guy limping along with a hand he definitely should raise pre.

I lose a bit more on Bomb Pots without really connecting well enough to stay in the hands. Once I even folded a set on the top board and a flush draw on the bottom board, but it went bet-bet-raise in front of me, and I could be drawing dead on the top to a hand like 77 (board was 5-7-5). Furthermore, my flush draw on the bottom was only T high and I had three spades in my hand; blocking some of my own outs.

Another woman around 50 had joined the game (the previous one had left), and she was also playing very snug. So when she opens to $10 from early pos, I decided to just call in MP with A8dd. BB also calls, and we see 2-9-9 one diamond. It checks to me, but I decided to just check it back (maybe too passive, I can have a lot of 98s, 9Ts, J9s, A9s here). Turn is the 6d, so we now have a flush draw. BB comes out and bet $20, and after the woman fold I just make the call. I do however brick the river (7s), and have to fold to a bet of $25. Way too easy for him to have 9x here out of the Big Blinds, so I didn't even consider raising at any point in the hand.

Here is a random WPT Throphy Case at Venetian for variety:

This was a 5 hour session, but there was just not many interesting hands. For the most part I just folded, folded, folded, and the game in itself was also playing quite passively at times. I then find 65cc in MP, which looked like Aces to me after all the folding, so I bump it up to $12. Only BB calls, and he has been playing very snug as well. Flop comes Q-J-4 no clubs, but after he checks I still bet $15 as I thought he would be defending a bit too wide and likely have a lot of misses here.

He does however call, and we see a 5 on the turn. I have a pair now, and after he checks it I just check it back. River is an A, and although I have slight showdown value (I beat 4x and 9To) I thought I could also easily get this player type to fold a J if I bet. It doesn't even have to be a big bet, so I throw out $25 (into $55) only to see him raise to $70. Sigh, I just ran into it then I guess. I could probably just check behind here to be honest, but with how straight forward this guy was I really thought I could get him off maybe even some Qx here on this river.

I finally got a very playable hand in AA the very next hand, and raise to $12. After having just been caught in what was clearly a bluff, I hoped someone would give me action. But obviously no one cared, and I just won the blinds.

Really sluggish game, extremely card dead, and from a high point of up almost $300 I trickled down to a profit of $129 USD. That said, I can definitely not complain about such a win given how few good spots I have. It beats losing, that's for sure.

Here is Treasure Island on the way back:

Time flies way too fast in Vegas, both tonight and also in general since I am flying home tomorrow evening. Not even sure if I will play any poker tomorrow, but I'll see what I feel like.

Cash Games:

Hours played: 32h 30min
Won/lost: -$462 USD
Hourly rate: +$14.4 USD

Tournaments:

Won/lost: +$424 USD (7 played)

It’s been fun watching the big swings in profit/loss from afar, I’m sure less fun experiencing it.

Down $38 on the trip? There’s no situation where I’m not finding a $1/$3 table and trying to end in the black.

Vegas has a really funny way of sticking it to me this trip hahaha.

Put some loose change into a VP, got these back to back:

I missed both, for 20 hands total.

Anyway cashed out a tiny profit, bought myself a coffee at Starbucks and planted my ass at the worst game you can imagine:

Continuous shuffle 8 deck 6:5 blackjack, dealer hits on 17. Yeah we are that far down…

Anyway it doesn’t matter, I turned $60 into:

This means I’ll be playing the daily deepstack at WSOP today at 13:00. Fountainblue will have to wait until tomorrow!

Wrong pic, here is the second trip aces:

How is that possible??!? I've never won more than 3 hands at a row in blackjack, and that was maybe once in my lifetime.

What's the secret?

Muck, you actually found vp you can put quarters into? I thought they only took bills now.

Loose change as in not $100 bills