**** TJ's Summer 2025 Quest for Poker Glory ****

Beans is a brave choice before a poker tourney.

GL!

First break, people are playing fast, and I’ve received a couple punts. Sitting on 108.5k, from the 30k starting stack.

I open Q8s from button, and a middle-aged, tourist looking player 3bets small. I defend, it comes K-K-8, and he continues. I made a live read in the moment, and didn’t think he had a king, so I called. Turn was another 8, and he bets bigger. Again, I trust my gut, and I call. River is a Q, which is meaningless to me as I’m 8’s full of K. He shoves, I call, and AQ is no good.

Get moved to a new table, this time I have the AQo, and open from the HJ. CO 3bets me, and I usually snap muck AQ when facing a 3bet OOP, but this time I called. It came Q-8-5, two clubs. I check, he bets smaller than the amount of the 3bet, and I c/r about the pot. He thinks and calls. Turn is another 5, and I move in for the rest of it. He thinks a moment, and calls, with 98o (?!?). I fade the river. He was full of courage, 3betting me with 98o. Don’t tug on Superman’s cape, playboy.

So I’m off to a great start. I’ve gotta be a top ten stack right now, maybe top 5. Like I said, people are playing much faster than they were in the shallower Millionaire Maker last night, it’s a stark contrast. I’m going to screw down and tighten up, and only get involved when I think I have a clear edge.

If the field is playing like above, one might argue you have a clear advantage just by showing up.

Second break, still above average, with 60k, but definitely headed in the wrong direction. I got lost in a couple 3bet pots.

First hand of note that I played was defending my BB vs an open from CO, heads up with 8s7s. Flop came Qs-8c-3s, so I checkraised the cbet a healthy amount, planning to keep barreling if I miss, or stack off if I hit.

The turn was the 9c, and I stuck to the plan, betting 8.5k, but my opponent ships on me, for 43k more… which was unexpected.

I thought about it, and how he could have all the monsters, including sets, overpairs, or JT for the nuts. I figured I’d need to hit to win, and I wasn’t getting the right price, so I folded. He shows KcTc, for the turned gutshot and flush draw, with two overs. I never even considered the possibility I was already ahead. Would have been a huge pot, in a very high variance spot.

A little later, there’s an open to 2.5k, one call, and I decide to squeeze to 9k in position with AJo. I prefer 3betting over calling in that spot, to wield position, and leverage my chip advantage.

Original raiser folds, late reg calls. It comes 8-4-3 rainbow, he checks, I bet 8k, and then he raises to 24k, with only about 15k behind it. I guess I release.

A similar spot came up a little later, an EP open to 2.5k, one call, and this time I have TT, so I go to 9k again. Original raiser folds, caller calls, and this flop comes Q-7-3, two hearts, and I don’t have one. He checks to me.

Given that I’d shown I could squeeze, and fold to a check raise, I checked back this time, to play for showdown value. Turn is a 3rd heart, the 8. He checks, I … guess I check? River is the 4th heart, the king, now he bets smallish. I hate everything about this hand, and this runout, and I fold.

Still in fine shape. Let’s adapt from what I’ve seen, and make it 4 more good levels.

Big double up, through a nemesis from an earlier 3bet pot. That one felt good.

Back to being the chip leader at my table.

Time to focus.

Go go go!

Made the third break, with 110k. 100k is average, there’s 171 players left, bubble at 70 players left.

$75k up top. Not too shabby at all, for an $800 one day event.

It’s very much a preflop game right now. Got a stack in good, my QQ vs 66, and I felt great when I flopped the set… but the board ran out broadway for the chop.

That same guy later doubled through me on a flip, A7o > 33. What can you do.

Picking my spots with purpose. Going to continue to do so.

A wise man once told me to play well and run even better. You should do that!

I’ve git the playing well part reasonably down, it’s the tuning well part I still need to work on.

UTG+1 raises, big stack in the SB moved in to cover him, I look down at AKs.

It’s a dream spot. I shove, original raiser folds, my opponent has AQo. Perfect time for a 70/30.

K in the window,

…With a J and a T underneath.

Brick, brick.

Soooo sick.

The board said 117 were left when I busted. Played almost 8 hours, to get it in as a favorite, and lose near the bubble.

I really do enjoy playing poker all day. But these results are starting to get frustrating.

It’s still Friday night in Vegas, so I’m sitting in a PLO game, for as long as I still feel like I’m playing well.

After busting the tournament, I put myself on the list for PLO, then went upstairs to grab food. I got the Korean fried chicken sandwich, some fries, and kimchi. Didn’t think to snap a pic, I think it was about $43.

Then I went back downstairs, and played alllllll night in a 1/2 PLO game. It wasn’t a great game, and I really shouldn’t have stayed as long as I did, because I didn’t quit until the game broke at 4:30 am, and went home with the Sun starting to come up.

I did win, (a massive +$60, woohoo), so it wasn’t a tilting degen situation brought about by my tourney busting. But I definitely shouldn’t have stayed that long, because now I can’t play a tournament today. I told myself I’d sleep til as long as I feel like it, then make Saturday a cash game day.

I think I’ll play the $800 NLH Grand Finale at the MGM tomorrow. It’s a 2-day event, with a $400k guarantee.

For today, first some food, then I think I’ll head over to the WSOP to play PLO.

I don’t know what you call the first meal of the day when you sleep til 3 pm, but anyway, for THAT meal, I walked to Main Street Provisions. It’s a cool spot, known for its seafood and great dishes.

I was torn between the scallops and the short rib, but after talking to the bartender, I went with the short rib.

It’s got a super tasty Korean sauce, over a bed of finely grained riced cauliflower, with radishes. It was really good!

After dinner I was still a bit hungry, so I added the chocolate cake for dessert.

It’s got a chocolate mousse, raspberry garnish, and this raspberry whip on the side. It really complemented the flavor of the dark chocolate.

The one entree and dessert was $58.

Now it’s Saturday night, let’s play some cards.

At 3pm for your first meal it’s either:

Linner
Dunch

Breakfast. Definitionally, you're breaking the fast.

Doesn't have to be cereal or eggs or whatever.

[QUOTE=TJ Eckleburg12;59020707]I don’t know what you call the first meal of the day when you sleep til 3 pm, but anyway, for THAT meal, I walked to Main Street Provisions. It’s a cool spot, known for its seafood and great dishes.

Let's call THAT meal - Linner!

And it isn't a hangover meal just a late meal!

Gotta catch this thread back up… which is hard to find the motivation, when I have nothing but more bad news to report.

PLO last night was just meh. I was plus or minus 500 of even all 5 hours I played, never played a big hand, until the end. I flopped middle set of jacks, potted flop, potted turn when I also turned a spades draw, and then got checkraised. I stacked it down, and ran into a slowplayed top set of aces. River paired the board, and I made a second place boat. My spades were live, though.

I didn’t reload. Went downstairs and got a burger from Johnny Rockets, then went back to my place and went to bed.

I tried to wake up in time for the start of the MGM Grand Finale today, a 2-flight, 2-day $800 tournament with $400k guaranteed, which started at 10.

I didn’t sleep great, and didn’t get moving early, so I made it over to MGM by about 12. Late reg’ed the tourney, and played a little more than three levels.

Went broke with an overpair vs a set. I try to see the positives in everything, but it speaks to my mindset right now that I’m thankful it ONLY happened an hour in, and not closer to the bubble, for the same result.

Now oh-fer 9 tournament bullets, of various sizes, on this trip. These things happen. I’m still in action, and I’m trying my best not to let these results affect my mindset. I’m still playing the Main Event in two weeks.

But I’d like to have some positive results, and turn around the momentum, heading into it.

Really bad decision to jump in the tournament without eating breakfast. So after I busted, I went to Tap, then sports tavern next to the poker room at MGM.

I was pretty hungry, so I ordered the pesto chicken sandwich, and an appetizer of the baked macaroni and cheese.

It was ENTIRELY too much food, I didn’t finish it all.

But it was good, for $47.

Gonna change venues again, and try PLO at the Wynn. Let’s see if we can activate some strawberry Julius and watermelon juice rungood!

And I can’t wait to watch this Game 7 of the NBA Finals tonight.

Time to unleash the full power and fury of the TJ rush.

Hell yeah. 6 color chip stack. Suits you sir.

Registered for the Venetian Ultimate Stack! It’s a one-day, $1100 event, with 200k guaranteed.

Let’s gooooo!

you got this dude!

First break, still basically on the 40k starting stack, with 37k and change.

One hand I thought I played well, open QQ to 1.1k at 200/300, the button 3bets to 2.5k. I think a moment and 4bet to 7.5k, button calls.

Flop is an above average Q-8-5 two spades. As the PFR and having the initiative, but having the deck crippled with top set, I downbet to 4k. Villain calls.

Turn is an also above average 4th queen for quads. I check, my opponent bets 10k, I call.

River is the 3h, and here I decide to shove, for 15k and change, hoping to get a crying call from any pocket pair. Villain tanks a moment, then folds.

I thought about it more after the hand. I think I like open shoving river if the spade flush came, but I think I prefer checking to keep his bluffs in if the spade didn’t come, which it didn’t. I just really didn’t want him to check back TT or something. Oh well.

Then I lost a bit, in a cautionary tale of what can happen to 2pair on some bad runouts.

I flat a PFR continuing on an A-Q-8 flop with A4s, then turn the 4. He two barrels on the turn, and I just call, because he has all the better 2pairs and sets. River counterfeits me with another 8, be bets again, and I fold. He shows one ace, so I suppose it was correct.

Another time, I check my option with A6s from BB with 3 limps, and it comes A-8-5 two hearts. I start a bet, SB and UTG limper calls. Turn is the 6h, SB checks, and I guess I need to bet again here. UTG flats, then SB check raises pretty large. I suppose I’m beat, so I fold.

My table draw is pretty fine, mostly older gentlemen who look like guests of the resort. One guy is rockin a hat from his country club in Florida, bless his heart. It’s a mixture of tight/passive and loose/passive opponents, so I don’t see them putting me in a bunch of tough spots.

Got to say hi to MuckPls, who’s playing cash across the room! I hope we both win ALL the monies in the room today.

Busto near the end of level 8. Went pretty card dead, then I think I made a clear mistake, and played my bust out hand poorly.

Literally did not VP$PIP a single hand in all of level 5, and 20 minutes in to level 6.

That got me short, to about 24k, then I open KTs from HJ to 3.5k. Button 3bets to 8k, and I was going to just fold to the 3bet, but then the BB cold flats. For the price, and the odds, I make the questionable decision that I can see the flop, and plan to open ship any pair or draw I might make.

I get my wish, as the flop comes T-9-4 two tone, none of my suit. I shove for 15k and change, the 3bettor reshoves. I’m up against JJ, and I do not improve. Simply HAVE to fold dominated broadways to any reasonable 3bet range.

Then I went downstairs, to eat.

A big reason why Venetian/Palazzo is my favorite Vegas resort is that I like the food options here the most. I checked out the new food court on the Venetian casino floor, but nothing grabbed my fancy. Yardbird was closed for a private event, with lots of conventioneers with name badges.

So I went with a steady favorite, Grand Lux Cafe.

Started with a Caesar salad, which was fine:

For my entree, I went with the pasta carbonara, which is chicken, bacon, and peas over spaghettini in a garlic cream Parmesan sauce.

It was really good, for $45.

Now I’m back upstairs in the poker room, on the list for 1/2 PLO.