Bracelet Hunting - A WSOP 2026 Trip Report

It's a tiny dog... I'd be more tilted that she has two phones.

I'm an animal lover and this is still tilting. Jesus people allow for that fact that some people might not like canines as much as you do. Agreed on the two phones as well. At least she gave Tony some chips 😉

I mean, it's a poker table full of people that eat or go to the bathroom while not washing their hands and then handling chips. A dog that I wouldn't have noticed if it wasn't pointed out doesn't bother me. The only reason I don't bring my dog to Vegas is because his dumb ass would probably jump off the terrace chasing a bird/balloon/whatever.

When I lived in Cali there was a guy that brought his beagle-sized dog, and it's bed. He would just throw the bed on the floor next to him and the dog would just lie in it. I never heard that pup make a sound or be a pain.

[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

Day 12
Saturday June 6th

Very happy to have bagged the Big O yesterday which allowed me to take today off. This was one of the tournaments I had budgeted a 2nd bullet for, so if I didn’t bag yesterday I would be playing 1B today.

As it is it allowed me to take the day off and relax a little. I resisted the urge to play cash. Zero poker today.

We start with some pool time at Paris. Unfortunately the same god awful club music. I’m going to have to see if I can get back into the pool at Aria with my MGM gold card as that seems to be the only place where my ears don’t get bombarded with this **** music.

In the afternoon I went to get a haircut and decided to walk to Fino for Men, the place on Paradise I’ve been to before. Google Maps says it’s a 30 minute walk but at my pace only takes 20 minutes from the Horseshoe, but it took it out of me today in this heat which is now up to 105 degrees. (16,000+ total steps today according to my phone)

The barbershop is in a strip mall not too far from this place - the Silver Sevens. I didn’t go inside.

With a fresh new cut I walked back to the Horsehoe, put on my Golden Knights Jersey and headed to the arena for the hockey game.

My plan was to wait until the last minute and see what the prices dropped to. I did find a resale ticket on AXS for $376 and was going to fire but my stupid bank blocked my credit card. So then I went to the box office and they still had some tickets but the cheapest was $679 so I decided to pass.

They had a big screen set up outside and the atmosphere was good so I watched it here:

With Vegas winning 4-0 at the end of the 2nd period I thought it was over and made my way back to the Horseshoe to meet rppoker for drinks and to catch up.

I bumped into TJ Eckleberg as I was coming in and he was leaving. We said hello and agreed to catch up another time. He’d had his fill of the dealers at Paris.

It is a consideration. The cash games might be softer at Paris than at Aria or Wynn but you have to put up with sub-standard dealers. I’m not playing any cash games there this year for that reason.

I meet rppoker in the bar at Horseshoe but it’s quite busy and smoky so we walk over to the sportsbook at Paris where it’s quieter and with less smoke. I can spend my free drinks tickets that I get for sports betting at either place.

To my horror Carolina have come all the way back and tied it at 4-4 to force overtime. We have to watch it on a multi-screen as ABC has some dispute with the carrier they use here so they can’t put it on the big screen.

Vegas do eventually win it in the 2nd overtime period and I have a winner. No edge in this bet, no research, not +EV, purely a sweat bet to have something to cheer.

It was fun catching up with rppoker. We make use of my free drinks tickets and I feel we could chat all night but we call time around 11pm. He has an earlier start than me tomorrow. He’s playing the $500 freeze-out at 10am whereas my Big O re-start is not until 1pm

Just what the doctor ordered. A no-poker relaxing stress free day. Back to work tomorrow.

Sounds like an awesome day and very important if you’re going to stay fresh for the Summer

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I considered both but neither made the final cut for my two teams. I did have Ryan Hoenig and Josh Arieh going for me today in the $1,500 PLO8 but they came 10th and 3rd respectively. I might have to pick up the slack myself for my team!

Bah I looked for you this evening at Bellagio, of course you take today off!

nice hit on the VGK, I am going to the game Tuesday and will likely bet the same 500 !

When you mentioned her furry friend and I couldn't see the dog I was wondering if certain body parts were hanging out.

most likely it was caused by AXS garbage app and not your bank, I bet if you tried 10 different cards they'd be all denied

I recently had the same issue buying tickets for my daughter's favorite artist, tried many options - none worked

when I called support they told me the tickets I selected were long purchased by someone else, it just wasn't updated in the app (and if you read the reviews it happens all the time)

Day 13
Sunday June 7th

When I woke up this morning and checked the app the Big O prize pool was larger than I expected. Almost $400k for first! Today would be a good day to run good.

We re-started in the Paris Yellow section which is across the hall from the main ballroom.

I dont get anything playable in the first orbit and lose the blinds, then in the 2nd orbit I play a hand where there are a couple of limpers and It gets to me and I have AAT87ss.

I think for a while and do actually contemplate folding. I don’t like calling, so with 15 bigs elect to pot it. They’re not great aces but with the two limpers I figure a lot of low cards are in their hands so I could scoop with a high flop and they aren’t guaranteed to call anyway.

It folds round to the first limper who also folds. Just the 2nd limper to get through. He thinks for a while then goes all-in. He covers me so I put in the rest.

My AAT87 vs his A2359

The very definition of a coin flip.

We were still ahead and scooping on the flop:

But the board ran out 4-3 to give him a low and a straight. Should have gone with my first instinct to fold. Very disappointed to only min-cash for $3,020.

Back to the day job. I walk across to Bellagio and get the last seat in the 3rd $80 Mix game.

Not long after I sit down I lose a capped Big O pot and also lose this one in Badacey with a 5 dugi and 7 low to a better 5 dugi and 6 low

So stuck about $3k right out of the gate but we persevere and win a bet here and a bet there. We get moved to the 2nd game and eventually get unstuck. Just as I do hit the front It’s my turn to move to the main game which does not look appealing at all. It’s by far the worst of the 3 games so I decline and rack up instead. +$100 after 7 hours.

I walk back to the Horseshoe and sweat Allen for a little bit at the final table of the $10k Stud.

The money doesn’t mean anything to him, I know he desperately wants to win a bracelet. Unfortunately on this occasion the Japanese gentleman Naoya Kihara (who is the same guy we had problems with in the NL 2-7) is running super hot and makes two full houses against Allen to send him to the rail in 3rd place.

End of Week 2 Wellness Check

Still feel good and motivation levels are high. The 2nd week seems to have gone by quickly.

First of many cashes, though someone needs to tell the folks at ODB fantasy that you're on the board. They missed it.

On that note, I'm sorry Allen couldn't win. That's partially because he deserves it after grinding all these years and partially because the unstoppable $1 terminator Naoya Kihara is rapidly becoming the bane of my fantasy team. He can't keep getting away with this!

In honor of our hero, posting this while relaxing at the pool at Vdara before the $1500 LHE today. First time I think I’ve ever been to a pool in Vegas in 25 years of coming here.

by TonySoprano9 m

Day 12
Saturday June 6th

We start with some pool time at Paris. Unfortunately the same god awful club music. I’m going to have to see if I can get back into the pool at Aria with my MGM gold card as that seems to be the only place where my ears don’t get bombarded with this **** music.

I'm totally in agreement with you about the Vegas pools that have loud obnoxious music. I love to relax early at a pool before any tournament, but when the music starts thumping, my meditation ends. Sometimes, if you're lucky, the music doesn't start until later.

Glad you got some pool time in but cmon man, where’s the pool pic? [emoji3]

Good luck in the limit hold’em

Me neither. Of course, I don't swim, so why would I? Oh yeah, you don't swim in Vegas pools anyway, just stand in 3 feet of water and drink booze. The only booze I almost like is beer, so I'd have to keep getting out of the pool to take a whizz.

IIIRC John Hennigan said he called a lot of stud hi when he won a DC. It’s been a long time but 20-25 years ago the level if play in stud 8 was shockingly bad. Too bad there isn’t a way to sim the last three ME fields playing NL27SD PLO8 & Stud8 with two hour levels.

I thought about it but it was too busy when I was there and it seems like you appropriately don’t include people in your pics.

I quietly exited the tourney before the 2nd break and was all ready to re-enter when someone I play with a lot also said he busted and informed me there aren’t any reentries. Probably for the best so I went to Bellagio and won more than a mincash in less than 4 hours of 40/80

Day 14
Monday June 8th

Opted for the Horseshoe pool again this morning. There’s some cloud cover and the temperature is a little more forgiving than previous days.

I had today’s $600 NLH / PLO pencilled in as a maybe when I made my original schedule and did decide to play it as a late reg after the 2nd break.

I had the 30k starting stack up to almost 100k when I played the following hand just before the end of late reg.

Playing NLH at 1,500/2,500/2,500

There’s a limp and a raise to 7,500
I have A-4 of diamonds in the BB and call and so does the limper. 3 ways to the flop.
Flop: T-4-2 with two diamonds.
It’s checked to the original raiser who bets 20k.
We shove all-in for 80k and change.
The limper folds and the raiser thinks for a while before eventually calling with Q-Q
Any Ace, Four or Diamond will do.
Nope
No help on the turn or the river.
GG.

Happy with the way I played it. Ran into the top of opponents range and still had a lot of outs. Could have had a 200k stack but it wasn’t to be.

We head over to the office, but not before getting a little action down on game 3. Many old school pros will always bet the team trailing 0-2 in this spot and I guess I’m old school.

The Spurs start fast and race out to a 12 point lead. Not so fast my friend! A 42 point 2nd quarter from the Knicks has them ahead at the half. The game is in doubt right until the end but the Spurs do manage to get the win.

All the while I’m in the 3rd $80 Mix game on table 3 right in front of the cashier.

The first game when I sit down is PLO. In a raised pot I flop top set and the nut flush draw on a 9-8-6 board. I get it all-in with Jeff and we go twice. He gets a clean runout on both boards and his straight is good. Why do I always have to start out stuck?

Not having had any lunch I order my first steak of the trip from Prime and eat at the table.

Properly fueled I go on a Razz rush including winning a big 3-way pot.
There’s been a completion and a raise and I look down at A-2 | 5 and 3-bet it. A 7 comes along and the original raiser 4-bets with a 4 up. I just call as does the 7.
On 4th street they both catch an 8 while I catch a King. Bet-call-call.
Don’t remember the cards exactly on 5th but we get a 6 and call a bet and a raise. Still 3-ways.
On 6th we get a Queen which is a brick but we’re not going anywhere with a A256 draw and the best either opponent can have is a 7.
We catch the dream 3 on 7th and bet when checked to and get 1 call and we are of course good for the ~$2k pot

I give some back in Badacey making 2nd best a couple of times and decide to rack up as the game is no longer good. We recovered to book a +$600 win after 4 hours.

I go back to the Horseshoe and cash my Spurs ticket but as it’s still early-ish I decide to check out the Paris cash game action.

There’s a $50-$100 OE with about 6 people on the list and there’s also a $5-$5-$10 Big O with an open seat and I can’t resist.

I buy in for $1,000 and have about $1,200 in front of me when I play the following pot.

There’s been a pre-flop raise to $80 (everyone is straddling the bottom for $20) and we’re 5-ways to the flop.
Flop: 2-5-T with two hearts.
I have A223x, am first to speak and pot it for $400.
Original raiser re-pots it to $1,600
3rd guy tank calls all-in for $1,500 and we put our last $800 in all-in as well.
Turn: 5
River: K

Can we scoop the $5k pot with deuces full?
Original raiser has only Aces up. He had AA with but flush draw.
3rd guy has a five and a Ten in his hand and has a bigger full house. (He also had A-3 do the low draw)
Aaaaarrgggghhhh

So again we start out losing. Why does it always have to be the hard way?

We re-buy and chip away here and there. Can’t really remember anything memorable and end up +$200 after 3 hours when I call it a night.

I was a little worried about the dealers there but I have to say the dealers we had were all pretty good.

On Deck Tomorrow: I know I said I was only going to play WSOP tournaments but there’s nothing really to play here tomorrow so I’m calling an audible and will play the $1,100 TOE at Wynn.

Tony making a comeback in the cash session again to get back into the green! Impressive

Yeah there definitely are some good dealers in the Paris cash room. But when you get a run of bad ones, it’s just excruciating.

The games there are unquestionably good. And it’s never a long wait to get into a game.

Day 15
Tuesday June 9th

Last night was the first night I’ve slept poorly so far this trip. Was tossing and turning and didn’t get to sleep until around 5am and then I woke at 10am.

Undeterred we stick with the plan and head to the Wynn for the TOE tournament. Some sights from the strip along the way.

Caesar says Go Knights Go! Today is game 4.

A close up view of the guitar.

And from the other side.

Nice morning for a gondola ride.

And we finally arrive at our destination.

Playing a tournament at the Wynn for a poker player must be like the equivalent of having a spa day if you’re a woman. (Or so I would imagine) It’s just pure pampering. Everything is as it should be.

The chairs, the tables, the chips, the dealers, the floors, the TD, the structure, the cocktail waitresses, the drinks choice, the food options, the tournament area, the ambience. Everything first class.

We have a very good first two hours increasing the 40k starting stack to 60k at the first break, but after the break it’s the opposite and we slide back down to 29k at the end of late reg.

The 29k doesn’t last long when play starts again. We brick a couple of wheel draws in 2-7 and that’s that. In this mix 2-7 plays much bigger than the other two games so that’s the one you want to run well in. We didn’t.

We bust just before the hockey is about to start and despite the fact that I’m wearing a Golden Knights T-shirt I can’t bring myself to bet on them this time as Carolina is clearly the sharp side today.

It’s a winner, which means I’ll have to go all the way back to the Wynn to cash it.

We walk to Bellagio to play cash, passing Caesars on the way.

We have to wait a while but eventually get a seat.

Stud high is the first game and I win a nice pot. The same goes for the next game which is O8. Nice to start off on the right foot, but it doesn’t last. We make some 2nd best hands in the games that follow and get stuck a rack.

At least I don’t lose the cap in a big bet game today. I did have to gold the turn in one PLO pot after calling 35 chips on the flop hit that was as bad as it got.

We’re chipping away and are almost back to even when we play the following Badacey pot.
(Badacey is a triple draw game with half the pot for the best A-5 low hand and half the pot for the best badugi)

We’re in the small blind.
Jeff opens the cutoff.
Peter R 3-bets the botton.
We 4-bet with a 3-card dugi of A23
Pizza calls as does Jeff and Peter.
Everyone takes 2 on the 1st draw.

We catch gin and make a 5 dugi and 6 low.
We bet and everyone calls.

I don’t remember what the draws were for the remaining rounds. Obviously we were pat, but we get called by everyone after both the 2nd draw and the 3rd draw.

5-6 we proudly declare and show.
Pizza Tim also has a 5 dugi but we beat his 542A with our 532A.
Jeff and Peter muck and we scoop about a ~$2,500 pot.

Our stack looking healthy again.

As we were discussing chips stacks and towers earlier in the thread. This is the boring alternative. Seats 4 and 5 playing out of racks:

Each to their own I guess but building towers and pyramids is part of the fun of playing limit poker for me.

As the clock ticks past midnight it’s our turn to move to the main game which doesn’t look all that appealing so we decide to call it a night.
In for $6,000, out for $7,900 for a +$1,900 profit after 6 hours.

Back across the road we go.

On deck tomorrow: $1,500 HORSE