BigWhale & brother does Vegas + World Cup 2026 (6th-20th June)

Great report as always! Was nice to see you again.

Thanks for the report. Shame we didn’t get the chance to meet

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Thanks for the TR and the always thoughtful HHs. As I said previously, it was nice to meet you. The desire to find more spots and keep improving seems healthy, but at the same time I think you are already a huge favorite in these 1/3 games and the corresponding tournament stakes.

I also enjoyed my cameo at the Nugget, which is a fun escape from the Strip in many ways. My big gripe is of course the ride share money that it costs to get places like South Point, Orleans, and Nugget. Can still be worth it for a special occasion, but definitely cuts into the ROI.

Really appreciate the great and detailed HH’s, they really invite strategy discussion!

Great to say hi to you this year 😀

Maybe research ways to get high card status in a particular system, CET, MGM, etc. If you can find even a way to keep from paying resort fees, that's $350 per week or more. Look into concentrating your play in fewer systems instead of spreading it all around. If you do decide to take another trip before next WSOP, consider doing it during a CET 10x multiplier period, or something like that. Another route to consider is staying in an ordinary motel, like Hampton Inn. No resort fees but also no casino, so maybe not as much fun. Also a longer walk to the Strip usually. Once you get CET Diamond you can get card status matching from Venetian, Wynn, and sometimes MGM.

Nice turnaround at the end! I think you may be selling yourself short on many aspects. Not many people can report the number of workouts or good thinking at the table that you do. Speaking for myself, I am quite a bit less balanced (in multiple ways) when I travel to Sin City.

Yes, this would be a good idea. When is the next 10x period? (too lazy to find out).

I will however point out that I already have quite decent offers from MGM, so it's not really the cost of hotel stays that is the worst hurdle. It's the flights that are the most expensive part of any trip, although I should be more structured on that front as well.

Thanks, I was very happy with getting a great last session and turning around the results to a small profit indeed 😀

I know I have a decent system for all things Vegas and in regards to thinking through hands, but I still need my thoughts to be clearer and more positively geared. Although I know it's not possible to win every hand, and that defense sometimes is the best kind of attack.

But I do think there is a lot to gain in regards to 'Ok, I think my opponent often have these types of hands. How can I put these hands in a miserable situation?'. I am not a naturally aggressive player, so making this switch in my mind can be a bit hard sometimes.

These are not many spots in a session or even a trip, but I still think it's a good mindset to develop. I am not talking about mindless bluffs of course, but the really good poker players seems to be more relentless and people hate having them at their table.

Great day at the Nugget!

Always liked that room, clearly the best place to play poker downtown.

Thanks for the excellent trip report, my friend.

Controversial statement!

isn't the Nugget the only poker room downtown?

Exactly 😀

8/31/26 - 9/6/26

There's usually also one in December or January. Read back the last 6 months of the "Diamond in a Day" thread. There is randomly tips on how to best play the multiplier days.

They are showing a lot of World Cup stuff on tv here about how much the Euros are impressed by Costco and Walmart. I imagine you've been to those places?

I saw on tv the boat-rowers won another soccer game. I assume this tournament is an elimination type and not a round-robin?

NORWAY

Capturing the hearts and minds of the world.

Still room on the bandwagon for casual fans like me!!

Go Vikings!

(Never thought I'd write that, having grown up in NW WI).

The first three games were the group stages, where the best teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage.

Norway got 2nd in their group (good enough to advance), and have now beat Ivory Coast and Brazil (!). On Saturday they are playing in the quarter final against England.

With a guy that scores at least a goal a game you have a chance to win

Obviously now you will probably have to go England, Argentina, France to win it…all of whom also have a goal a game scorer and probably better defences but stranger things have happened.

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Captain true!

Realistically, the Norwegian defense (the weakest link) will probably be exposed against Kane, Messi, Mbappe etc.

And there are probably better teams than Brazil out there, that will actually do a lot of pressing and not let Norway control the game with 60% + ball possession as they did in that game.

But other teams have weaknesses too, so anything is possible. Even when Norway fielded practically a B-team against France in the last group game, we created a good amount of chances.

Just out of curiosity, how much are tickets for that game?

It was like $2500 per ticket a couple of days ago, probably way more expensive now.

Ouch. For that you can buy a giant screen tv and your next Vegas flight.