*** TJ's 2024 WSOP Trip! ...That Might Turn Into A Move?
“They all know me as a small-timer. But that’s about to change.”
It’s that time of year again!
This will be my 5th long trip to Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker. You can read about my trip last year, plus a couple bonus Harrah’s Cherokee trips, right here.
This will also be my longest trip yet, a massive 18 days! I’ll be in town June 14 - July 2. On the agenda: some WSOP bracelet events, lots of low stakes NLHE and PLO cash games, great food, and as much poker as I can possibly handle!
Tournaments I’m definitely playing:
6/15 $1,500 Monster Stack (Flight B)
6/19 $340 8-Game Mix, at the Golden Nugget
6/25 $600 Pokernews Deepstack Championship
6/28 $400 …Up to several bullets in the Colossus
Tournaments I’m possibly playing:
6/21 $1,500 Millionaire Maker (depending on how the Monster Stack, and my first week, goes)
6/18 $1,000 WSOP PLO event (If I bag, I’ll pass on the 8-game tournament)
6/26 $600 WSOP Deepstack Event (If I don’t bag in the Pokernews Deepstack Championship)
…And the Daily Deepstack Tournaments at the WSOP are always an option.
On my last two trips, I stayed at an Airbnb in the Arts District. This year, I’ll be staying at an Airbnb downtown. The factors that are most important to me are: walkable food options, on-site laundry facilities, and affordable cost. This year, a 1 bedroom studio condo downtown wins on all three, coming in at just under $84 a night, after all fees. I’ll be able to walk to Fremont Street, and the uncapped games at the Golden Nugget!
For cash games, I’ll be playing 1-3, 2-5, and 1-2-5 PLO in rooms around town. I’ve played in all the marquee, flagship Vegas card rooms, and that’s where I expect to spend most of my cash game hours. However, I’ve never been to Mandalay Bay, South Point, or the Orleans, so it’d be nice to pick up a chip for my collection.
In all likelihood, I’ll also do a bit of eating, while I’m in town. ‘Tis the season for Vegas trip reports, and we’ve got a lot of great ones going right now. If we want to cross the streams, combine our powers, and get a fantastic meal together, PM me! Here’s what I wrote last year, updated to be current for this year:
Sheesh, this is really getting discouraging. Busto in level 2, and again, I have not dragged a single pot, on two bullets in this thing.
I fold every hand for the first orbit and a half, open with QsJs, and get 3bet big by the guy next to me. Whatever, I fold.
Then I’m in BB, cutoff opens, SB calls, so I try squeezing with Ad3d. They both call, and I bet the As-Tc-7s flop. The opener ships over my raise… ok, I guess I fold.
Then in the small blind with KhTh. EP opens, 3 calls, so I try just calling this time. It comes Ks-Tc-8s, so I check, intending to ship over any cbet… but it checks around.
Turn is the 9c, which I don’t love, yet lead out anyway. I get raised a committing amount, but with two flush draws out, and all the worse two pairs, I go with it, and run into 76o.
Nh, gg, and gl everyone.
Gonna play 1/3 NL, now, and work on being patient, and serene, and focused.
Might fire the 4 pm flight today, we’ll see
1/3 went fine, it was a pretty soft game. I was between even and +200 for practically the entire session.
I did get my entire stack in good, with QT vs Q8 on Q-Q-4, but it ran out A-J for the chop. I picked up at +137, and now I’m firing the 4 pm flight.
It’ll be a long day if I bag, but I’m feeling good, and confident I can play well in long sessions.
AND I’ve already broken the seal, lifted the curse, and won my first small pot in this stupid thing! Surely the run good is imminent.
Made the first break, which feels like a noteworthy accomplishment, after how those first two bullets went. This one’s started much better, sitting on about 65k from the 20k starting stack.
I am not, however, the table chip leader. The guy who just has me covered is a guy I remember from playing in underground card games in Atlanta years ago. Good guy, and solid player. I’m three to his left, so I don’t need to mess around or do anything silly when we’re this deep effective.
Some hands… I cbet bottom pair, turned a flush draw and stayed in the lead, then ripped river when it came in. Another hand, UTG opens 800, I 3bet to 2500 with AQs, then button cold 4bet shoves for 8k. Don’t love the spot, but I don’t think I can fold, so I call. Up against QQ, but turn the A so I’m living a charmed life.
Played another interesting multi-way hand with AQ, where I was in the BB and elected to flat, instead of 3bet. It was a multi-way spot, flop A high, and chose to play it passively, being out of position. I got two streets when the PFR valuetowned himself 3way, the river checked through, and my hand was good.
So yep, just gonna try to stay on schedule.
never fake a back door cut
Gogogo
Second break, I was cruising right along at about 90k, when I made a bad read in a medium sized spot. Sitting at 55k now, which is slightly above average, coming back to 1k/1.5k.
A weak player limps for 1k, I raise to 3.5k with AQo, a loose player calls from SB, fish calls. It comes 6d-6h-7d, check check to me and I decide to pot control, and check back. Turn is the Ah, SB checks, fish bets 6k. I just want to get to showdown, so I flat, and now SB shoves for 33k. Fish folds.
I’m thinking about it, and utilizing a pretty reliable live tell that when someone stares at their opponent, they usually don’t want a call. With two flush draws, and all the worse aces I’m beating, and how underrepped my hand is, I click call. I didn’t think he’d check a 6 twice, but that’s exactly what he did, with the monstrous 6c3c.
Then doubled up another shortstack when his 55 beat my 44 aipf. But I also made a set in a 3bet pot, so we’re swonging all over the place.
I like my table, there are at least three players whose games I think are rather weak, and they all have chips.
Keep grinding!
Just closed registration for this flight. 556 entries, currently 171 left, bubble at 84, playing 19 levels or down to 28 players tonight, whichever comes first.
I stacked one of the fishy players, so I’m sitting back on about 90k.
Feels good, man.
Sigh. Busto in level 11. We were less than 30 players from the bubble. So deflating.
I won a nice three way all in, AcKc > JsTs > 77 to put me up to about 130k. That would prove to be my high water mark, as it went all wrong from there.
UTG chipleader opens to 4.5k, one call, I make it 16k from HJ with AQs. Then the tightest player at the table cold 4bet shoves from the button for 52k. UTG folds, I agonize a bit, and fold. UTG said he folded JJ but was worried about what I’d do. Based on my read of that player, I think I made a good laydown.
Later I open 5.5k with AQo, and BB shoves for 40k. I think partially because of the other AQ hand, I make the call, but can’t run down AK.
Then there was a big blind defense that went bad, when I called a raise with A9o, and call/call/folded on an A-3-7-T-8 runout. He later said he had a big ace. Correct to fold the river, but I need to find a fold sooner, before it gets to that point.
I went broke flatting QTs from the button vs a HJ open. I shoved over the cbet on a T high flop, but got my stack in bad against ATo.
I thought I generally played pretty well today, but I made some serious lapses in judgment that last hour or so. It’s tough, to undo all that good play with a few choice bad plays.
That’s tournament poker, though.
One last flight tomorrow. Do I really want to fire a 4th bullet? As it stands tonight, I haven’t made up my mind. I’ll sleep on it and reevaluate.
Really digging your updates. But it my professional coaching opinion, when you look down at AQ, you should fold and move on to the next hand. :p
Fire another bullet. You'll regret it if you don't while lamenting it on your next 12 hour shift. It's only money. You can't take it with you when you die. Might as well enjoy it doing something you love while you can.
Yes, rereading today’s updates, lots of AQ.
It can be very tricky to play marginal hands well.
Fire another bullet. You'll regret it if you don't while lamenting it on your next 12 hour shift. It's only money. You can't take it with you when you die. Might as well enjoy it doing something you love while you can.
After sleeping on it, you know what, you’re right. This is my LAST chance to play meaningful tournament poker, for at least 3 months.
Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose (more often lately grrr…😉, but playing poker is an activity I truly enjoy.
This will be the biggest flight by far, of the four. I can confirm that by how long the reg line was to get in.
Off to a fast start, already stacked a guy when he slowplayed flopped trip queens, but I turned 3’s full.
It’s been a great weekend so far, let’s make it even better by winning some money.
Atta Boy!
And don't go broke with AQ! 😃
Made the first break, but we backslid after that early knockout, to below a starting stack at 16.3k.
Played a few interesting hands I’m still thinking about, all against the same opponent. I open 66, he’s the only caller from the blinds. Flop J-7-2 rainbow, and he checks to me. I could cbet because it’s HU, conceivably for thin value and a pretty dry flop, but I play to pot control and get to showdown, so I check back. Turn is another deuce, now he leads. I call, because he could be stabbing with air, and I want to keep his bluffs in. River is an ace, and he leads again.
I talk myself into a call, and lose to 9c7c. After the hand I thought about it some, and decided raising river (or turn) is so much better than calling. I can believably rep an ace, and while I DO have showdown value, raising gets better hands to fold.
An orbit later, I open Ac5c to 800, a fish calls behind me, Villain calls from BB, and a limper calls. Flop Ks-Tc-3s, check check to me so I take a stab for 1300. Maybe not great, to cbet 3 people there, but whatever. Fish calls, Villain calls.
Catch a great turn, the 4c, which gives me back door nut clubs draw and a wheel draw. I have initiative, so I stay in the lead, and barrel 2700. Fish folds, Villain calls. River is the 3rd spade that pairs the ten, so I miss and Villain checks.
Can I rep spades or a ten? Would he check spades to me, intending to call vs a board pair? Is he folding a king if I triple barrel large-ish? These thoughts swirl in my head, but I chicken out and check back. He shows K9, no spades, and I muck without showing. A very dynamic board texture and runout.
I guess checking back the loser is ok… maybe he calls river anyway. I don’t know.
The weakest player at the table just won a 3 way all in last hand before break, so I like to see him with lots of chips.
At my stack depth, though, I have no margin for error.
Let’s find some good spots!
Just battling. Made the second break, at 26k.
Other than some raise/take-its and missed flops, I basically only went to 2 showdowns the last 4 levels. Got down as low as 6.3k, and shove over a raise with Ad5d. Called in two spots, and I actually started with the best hand, up against KJo and K8s. Ace in the flop and I hold for the triple up.
Then I shove 55 from the small blind over a button open, and I have just enough to make him fold.
A little later, UTG opens and I shove CowboyCold’s favorite, the AdQd. I’m in great shape against QcJc, and hold for the double.
So I’m not in great shape, below average. I think I have a good feel for my opponents that have some money. Still need to proceed cautiously, with very little margin for error.
Let’s make it 4 more great levels.
👍 Oh. And take any advice I give with a large grain of salt. I haven't played a large buy in multi-day tournament since the 2007 WSOP. And no I never cashed in a WSOP Event.
But I am playing the Sunday 2pm $120 donkament tomorrow in Ruidoso NM. It's the only tournament they offer all week. Structure should be horrible which is the way I like it. One level to feel out the table, then push fold. 
Busto in level 11 again, about 100 players from the bubble.
Won one flip to put me at risk, 55 > AJo, then lost one flip vs the same guy, TT < AQo. I guess that’s how flips work.
Got my last 4bb in from the CO over a limp with Q9s, and the SB woke up with JJ.
I fired 4 bullets, and I went 0-4… so that’s discouraging. The first two bullets never had a chance, not dragging a single pot and out before the first break. I feel like I got my money’s worth for the last two, though.
I’ve got one more night at the Econo Lodge tonight, as I can watch Day 2 of this thing pass me by tomorrow.
So it’ll be 1/2 PLO, until I feel like driving back tomorrow.
unlucky. Always miserable to bust mtts, particularly multiple ones
So it goes. 0-for-4 streaks are going to happen a lot even when making good decisions, which it seems like you did.
Control what you can control and don't fret about the rest.
Have fun with the PLO.
PLO is a crazy game.
I swung up to about +300 to start, then it went south and I couldn’t make a hand. It was still a great game, with several players drinking lots and being rambunctious… and it was INFURIATING watching it all because I just couldn’t make a hand. If I did, it wouldn’t hold up, or became second best.
I swung all the way back down to -800, and then I find myself sitting with everything left that I brought for this trip in front of me. If I busted it, I was gonna go back to the hotel, go to sleep, and drive home. I thought about picking up and having some to try again tomorrow on my way out of town… but I was already in a great game. This is the spot my bankroll management is for.
Then, it finally turned.
I started making hands, and catching these awful players with better hands. I was playing determined, and focused, and some good run outs definitely helped.
Slowly but surely, I swung all the way back up, to pick up at +1345 when I broke the game at 3:30 am. It was a ten hour session.
Again I return to the thought that I play too long sometimes. And it was definitely a slog in the middle of it, when I was card dead and mostly folding, for long stretches. But the point of long sessions is that I have the confidence in my game that I can stay focused and make better decisions than my opponents. I made most of my money after midnight.
So that was redeeming. I’m still stuck on the trip, but if I run well tomorrow, getting unstuck is possibly in range. That didn’t seem possible after how I felt just after I bricked my 4th bullet.
I asked for a late checkout, and I’m gonna play tomorrow… but not to the point of mental exhaustion, because I have a 4 hour drive waiting for me whenever I call it a trip.
For the first time this weekend, I feel encouraged by my recent results.
Nice comeback!
An orbit later, I open Ac5c to 800, a fish calls behind me, Villain calls from BB, and a limper calls. Flop Ks-Tc-3s, check check to me so I take a stab for 1300. Maybe not great, to cbet 3 people there, but whatever. Fish calls, Villain calls.
Catch a great turn, the 4c, which gives me back door nut clubs draw and a wheel draw. I have initiative, so I stay in the lead, and barrel 2700. Fish folds, Villain calls. River is the 3rd spade that pairs the ten, so I miss and Villain checks.
Not sure how much you had behind here, but I believe pot size is 7500 on the turn. I think 2700 is way too small here, and doesn't accomplish anything besides building up the pot a bit if you hit. Maybe you can get a Tx to fold from the player stuck in the middle here, but that's about it.
Anything from 7k-10k seems like a good turn size, and then just give up river unimproved. Definitely not a tournament expect, but we should try to put Kx in a tough spot here on this street with all our equity.
Woke up, had a shower and a shave, packed up, and checked out of the Econo Lodge just before noon. Then I headed over to the casino, for one last 1/2 PLO session before I head back.
For my last day in town, I decided splurge a little for lunch today, going to Brio, the Tuscan Italian place in the casino. I was going to go here anyway, but it definitely tasted much better after the big win yesterday, instead of consoling myself with comfort food from being busto.
They must have had a big weekend, because they were 86 all salads and flatbreads. I started with the shrimp and crispy eggplant app, which comes in a black pepper cream sauce.
The sauce was INCREDIBLE, and the crispy eggplant had the texture of a veal or chicken cutlet. Very tasty.
For my entree, I finally got to try the Gorgonzola-crusted filet medallions.
It was also very good. The sharp Gorgonzola was a really nice complement to the flavors of the steak and the mushroom gravy.
It was so good, I couldn’t finish the green beans. Ate everything else, though.
Now I’m in the poker room, playing PLO until I feel like driving home.
Achievement unlocked: get UNSTUCK!
I brought 40 one hundred dollar bills with me to Cherokee. Even after bricking 4 bullets in the donkament, and a bad, nearly disastrous first session of PLO, I’m now driving home with 47. That covers the hotel.
A couple hands: open KKxx, 5 calls, flop Kh-Jh-9h. I bet the flop, and get potted by a guy playing 500ish. I call, and the turn is another 9. I lead pot, he calls. River clean, I shove, he calls.
It was a sick setup. He had AhJxTh9x. So he flopped the nut flush, with the gutter to the royal, AND bottom two pair, that made a 2nd place boat he couldn’t get away from. Nice to be on this end of something like that.
The big hand, however, was one of those spots you dream about. I open JT87 with one suit, 6 calls. Flop Jc-6c-Jd, I pot and get two calls. Turn is the Tc, which makes me the nut boat and puts three clubs out. I pot it again, a shortstack calls all in for less, and the guy I’m deep with check/pots it back to me.
Well, I have the stone nuts on the turn, and we’re $1300 effective. It’s one of those moments in life where you go with it, sacrifice to the gods of poker and variance, and come what may. I shove, he snaps, and I just want to see any river smaller than a ten.
I get my wish, another T, and I’m good. The shortstack had the case J, with one over card kicker A that was live, but missed. The guy I was deep with just had ace high clubs, so he got $1300 in drawing completely dead. Didn’t even have a live overpair. Must be nice, for me to be living such a charmed life.
This goes to my larger point, about how in this day and age, if you’re playing cash game poker, PLO is MUCH better action than NL. You just have to accept, for the higher variance that keeps the fish coming back, you could have to fight through a long, dark, cold spell. For any meaningful stakes, you just won’t see this kind of gamble, or people making HUGE mistakes, like this at NL.
I had been determined in my belief that learning PLO was the right choice. It tested my faith in that decision early, but I was redeemed to see that runs like this were possible. Like, winning over 2,000 big blinds in two long sessions kind of a run.
So it’s been real, Cherokee. Let’s do this again soon.
…that most definitely was NOT how I was feeling about it when I had the last of my 4k roll for this trip on the table.
