Having made several attempts at playing poker full time in London over the past few years I had come to the conclusion that I was just not good enough. It has cost me a lot of money and ruined at least one relationship whilst contributing to the demise of another. In May this year my gf of 2 yrs broke up with me (non poker reasons) and having spent the last 7 yrs living in London busting my ass getting up at 5am working as a personal trainer I decided a change of scenery was needed. In June I came to Vegas to visit a poker playing buddy of mine, I spent a wk with him partying, checking out lots of nightclubs and pool parties and of course getting twisted on Molly at EDC. I had an amazing time and vowed to return for a longer stay as soon as possible.

Fast forward to the present and here I am back in Vegas, I've managed to rent my apartment in London so recieve a modest income from that and with a little money saved I'm ready for another run at it. Historically as a losing player at 1/2 and 1/3 live nl this no doubt sounds like an incredibly naive and poor decision, especially when you consider the fact I have no money set aside just for poker, no bank roll. The truth is I don't care I love playing poker and I love Vegas and surely my skills can only improve. Right?

The plan is to spin up a roll playing the 1/3 at the aria, the b and the Wynn, once I hit 7.5k I'm going start taking shots at the 2/5. Clearly I am a massive underdog to even turn a profit at the 1/3 given previous form and even if I'm able to do that it will probably take me quite some time to build to 7.5k, oh well I'm going to have fun trying. I will be posting hand histories after each session and am really looking to improve so would welcome any and all input. I've also made quite a lot of friends in Vegas so will be doing a fair bit of partying and will post details of any epic nights out.

Wish me luck, I'm off to get some wings and grind the aria!

In a perfect world this could be a new "Another kid, another dream" and I'm a sucker for happy endings (no pun intended) so I wish you good luck, OP!!

Hmmm - not sure how big "no roll" is to start with, but if you're going to take a shot, I'd certainly recommend at least a few $k to ensure you have a roof over your head & some food in your belly for at least 1-month. (Playing whilst being distracted by being tired and/or hungry probably ain't gonna stand you in best stead with your attempt at a new career). I'm also not too sure 7.5k will be sufficient to move-up and comfortably ride through a sucky few sessions @ 2/5.

I should point-out though, I'm not saying this as someone who's attempted life as a grinder - I'm in Vegas (from UK) a few times a year & play poker whilst I'm there (obv). There isn't the pressure on me psychologically, as this is more 'fun' money (as opposed to my single source of income), so perhaps I don't play my A-game, (and most times not even close to it!). I guess I'm trying to say be prepared for swings & read some of the blogs / threads from others on here that have gone before you. (In B4 someone says the Matt Moore thread (Ugh - too late!)).

Saying all the above though, you could start out on a massive heater & be surrounded by hookers & blow by Easter!


Best of British to ya (subb'd to the thread & if you're still in town next time I'm there, I'll be sure to give you a shout!)

This project seems to far fetched and doomed, that I really like it!

How are you planning to deal with the visa requirement? If you overstay you 3 months, and then go back to UK for some reason, US Immigration is not going to let you back in?

You don't tell his many hours of play that have left you in the red.

I've recently played £1-2 in London, and my impression was, that it was even softer there than here in Vegas.

It takes some pretty big leaks consistently to lose at these stakes over a significant number of hours, so I urge you to find somebody (a winning player) to review you game with and identify those leaks (unless they're caused by playing under the influence or not taking the game seriously).

FYI, at least one LV based and very regular poster in this forum offers excellent feed back for a very reasonable fee - you can find out who I'm thinking about by searching for my handle. Or you can ask you own friends to help out.

Anyway, good luck with this crazy project and hope to see you around

one word of advice for OP... if you are playing that close to the precipice, don't be the station wanker, learn to fold.

Wrong.

There is a great explanation of this in Miller's SSHE (unless its somewhere else and im misattributing). Ill paraphrase:

Take a game like tennis. you start playing, and you suck. You hit the ball into the net, or over the line all the time. You miss the ball when you swing at it.

As you play, and lose, you learn from your mistakes. You figure out "If i hit the ball this way, it goes into the net, but if i hit it this way, it doesnt", so you improve.

This is not true in poker. Because doing it wrong works out in your favor sometimes, and doing it right works against you sometimes. For example, the "right" mive might be the one that wins us a pot 20% more often than the wrong move. Or it might be the move that losesus the pot 20% more of the time, but saves us enough money when we do that its worth it.

In poker, you can't learn by hitting the ball into the net.

Read, watch vids, even get coaching. Get a grasp of the fundamentals. THats the first step to becoming a winning player.

Or don't. If your goal is just to hang out in vegas and play poker avocationally, then by all means, do what you want. But don't do it laboring the major misconception that donating at SSNL for X number of months will somehow transform you into a winning player. And don't do it laboring under the major misconception that there is a geographic cure to bad poker. If you were a loser in the UK, youll be a loser in vegas, for essentially the same reason -- youre not good at poker.

THe only difference is, youll be losing checks instead of cheques.

^ exactly... actually the tendency when loosing, such as yourself, is to loose faster because of steam or tilt. your game changes in anticipation of getting the losses back... eg: sell everything and move to las vegas

in all actuality, what you need to do is reevaluate your skills and situation and stay in jolly old England, where you are at least comfortable, until such time as you can build that bank roll and skill sets to compete here in las vegas at levels high enough to sustain your self comfortably.

To the OP, you may very well find that your play improves as a single man. Caring for a woman--be it wife or girlfriend--is a huge challenge for a poker player for so many reasons. Now that you only have yourself to answer to--as far as poker goes--there is a decent chance you could gain some insight into what you need to do to become a winning player over an extended period of time.

A few tips from someone who has spent a period of several months in Vegas grinding low-limit NLHE (albeit six years ago):

-Always "clock in" with your players club card when you play in a room. The comps you get may only be $2 or even $1 per hour, but it is nice to build that base income and use it to feed yourself. A few of the card rooms even have a freeroll tournament for grinders who play a certain number of hours there.

-Don't be afraid to try new poker rooms, even those off-strip. Red Rock, for example, is a pleasant room to play in that offers solid comps and freerolls for qualified grinders. Excellent drink service as well. The regulars at these places are often just playing to accumulate hours for the freeroll and peddling the nuts--they can be taken advantage of!

-Be in town and ready to play when the WSOP comes to town in late May. It may be the best chance you have to grind your bankroll up.

-Don't be afraid to move up to 2/5 NLHE, the bad players are still bad and it isn't that hard to stay out of the way of players who outclass you. Like MSchu18 advised, just learn how to fold. And stop limping pre-flop.

-Knowing you'll play 1/2 or 1/3 to get started, again, stop limping pre-flop. Want to limp OOP with a premium hand? Just make real sure there is someone left to act who will raise for sure so you can isolate them. Playing a limped pot five-ways with pocket Kings is a great way to lose money.

-Lean on your friends to critique your play, or even sweat your cards for periods of time. And in turn, sweat a friend's cards and make notes of what works for them and what does not vs what they should have done or how you would have played the hand.


What you are doing, OP, is far from impossible. Just like opening a restaurant isn't impossible for someone who has been in food and beverage for awhile. It's just that the odds are stacked heavily against you. Just be up for the challenge and learn from every session you play.

Good luck!

First session

Thanks guys to everyone who has followed my thread and offered their views and opinions good or bad, they are all welcome. Here is the report from last night, any feedback is greatly appreciated!

I arrived at the aria at 3.40 am having smashed some delicious grilled wings whilst shooting the **** with the friendly bar tender at bj's. Although I had borrowed my gf's car I elected to walk as I'm not insured and I'm looking to take less needless risks in my life game as well as my poker game.

I was seated immediately at a 5 handed 1/3 game, where my fellow players were comprised of a drunk fish, a drunk local couple who were dealers at another casino, a sober local and a middle age black man sporting a beanie hat. I was seated opposite the local couple. The chick was a little annoying but she had an awesome rack which kind of made up for it, generally I'm more of an arse man but her cans were bloody massive and they definitely gave me a twitch in my nutsack. This may have been responsible for me donking off 200 bucks in the first 30 mins, trying to get involved in the action with marginal holdings.

So I'm stuck 200 as the drunk fish opens for 35, local girl repops it for 120, on the btn I peer down at ak os, now although this chick was clearly playing very aggressively and 3 betting light Preflop I didn't feel comfortable with the situation and decided to fold. Drunk fish shoves for the rest of his stack and the chest monster calls. Jj v kk, kings hold, the girl with the cans takes down the pot and nemo needs a rebuy.

About an hour of being card dead and I pick up 66 in the hj I raise to 15 and get a call from the btn and another from the local girls bf in mp. Flop is kq2 dd, checks around. Turn is the 2d, bf leads out for 35, I flat and the btn folds. River is another q, the bf bets 45 and I insta announce 120 throwing 2 bills into the pot. Now I don't put the kid on a flush here more likely a pp like mine, probably a little stronger but even if he does have the flush the second q is a monstrous scare card. Sure enough after tanking for a couple of mins he folds and I table my 66 and take down the pot. Great, I'm coming back!

After about 20 mins the bf returns from the bathroom and announces to he table that he had to go to the restroom to cry a little about my sixes. An orbit later and I'm getting it on with his gf ( not like that). Drunk fish raises to 45, local girl rr for 140 and I look down at ak dd smiling back at me. Now since I'd had some more playing time to observe this chick I'd seen her throw it in with aq or worst on 2 occasions so I'm not going anywhere this time. I shove for about 400 she thinks for 30 seconds then makes the call. Flop, turn and river avoid me like the plague but I'm still quietly confident and sure enough when I announce ak she mucks her hand and I double up. Yeeha!

Now I'm up a couple of hundred and in a much better place. I play tight for the next hour and a half not picking up any real hands. I decide to call it a night at about 6am up around 200 bucks, I neck a corona and watch some tool get ejected from the card room before jumping in a cab and heading back to me casa.

I played a session a little earlier in the day and turned another small profit. There was one hand early on during this session that really got me; I'm in the bb with qq and an Asian chick in mp raises to 15, I 3 bet to 40 she tanks for a bit then calls. Flop is Q 2 9 cc and I deliberately underbet about 30 bucks to try and show weakness she calls and the turn is 10c I bet 2/3 pot she calls. River is a blank and its upto me, now I know there is probably only one hand in her range that she is winning with akcc but I also think she could have aa, kk or a set of 10's, when I think a little deeper I feel that aa and kk would be unlikely because of her hesitancy in calling my 3-bet pre flop but by the same token I have no history with her and this could just be acting on her part. My plan here is to blocker bet and if she comes over the top I'll fold, that was the plan anyway. I bet 100 she Hollywoods for a bit and to my horror but obviously not total surprise she announces all in . I definitely do not think she is capable of a bluff in this spot and I know I should fold but I don't, I call like the fuc*tard that I am and sure enough she tables akcc. Other than not calling her raise on the river what could I have done differently here?

Any views and feedback are welcome, I am really trying to improve as a player so it is all appreciated.

Thanks guys I'll be back with my next update soon.

Awesome

Sub'd

Thanks mate, I basically have enough money to live off be a few k for poker so I do have at least some roll. Definitely give me a shout when you're in Vegas. Cheers

In all actuality it's too late as I'm already in Vegas. Oh well, only time will tell if I've got the skills to succeed.

Thanks for the tips bud, much appreciated.

Rug burns and a bad liquid cheese experience


So Tuesday night I drove to the airport to pick up my girl who had been in Seattle visiting her family for a week. I took her out for something to eat in the Paris, I really wanted some French food but the restaurant we went to wasn't great ( if anybody can recommend a good French restaurant that would be great). I ordered some cheese to start expecting to get a cheese board or something, instead they served me up a cheese fondue with bread, fruit and granola to dip in it. Note to self: fruit and granola dipped in hot liquid cheese does not taste good, ever! My steak was pretty good though if a little heavily seasoned. We had a decent bottle of red which kind of made up for the cheese experience.

Next we headed to the sugar factory for a jolly rancher martini, for anybody who hasn't tried one of these I definitely recommend you do, they taste so good, could literally drink these babies all day and not get sick of the taste, perfectly balanced. Afterwards we went back to mine and smoked some weed, before long we were banging on the floor and I have some pretty nasty carpet burns on my knees as a result. I knew there was a reason I hadn't done that for so long!

On Wednesday I played my next session of poker at the aria. I arrived at about 5pm and picked up my obligatory slice of pizza from 550, if you haven't tried their pizza I highly recommend you do, the Gotham is an awesome feast of meat, cheese and bread and really hits the spot.

I was seated at a 1/3 table where stacks were pretty deep. About 20 mins in and I get involved in my first meaningful pot of the night.

I get dealt 10 9 ss in mp, utg+1 raises to 10 and we have 5 callers, the btn gives some real thought to 3 betting here but instead just flats, this will come to haunt him later in the hand. Flop is q 5 2 ss it checks around and the turn is a j giving me an up and down draw aswell as the flush draw, it checks to the btn and he over bets to 100, folds to me and I make the call. At this point I'm thinking maybe he slow played a set of q's but upon further reflection surely he wouldn't have bet as much and I think he 3 bets the btn pre with a big pair. River is another q no spade i miss my draw but the second q adds more weight to my argument and now I'm thinking this kid has air, he has ak for sure. It's on me and unless I bluff with my 10 high I'm losing this pot, I glance at his stack and see he only has another 60 behind, even though I can't see him making the call with ace high. I shove and he makes out he's in a tough spot with a real decision to make, I know he's folding and sure enough he does. I table my 10 high and am applauded by several of the players which felt pretty good. :0)

About an hr after folding aa to somebody's trip kings I get 85dd in mp, co raises to 15 btn calls, I call.
Flop 855, easy game! I check co bets 30 btn calls, I call. Turn is a 2 I check and the co leads out for 80, btn calls, which is amazing and I call too. River is a 7 and I shove for another 300 announcing to the guy in the co his kk is no good, this always seems to work with fish because he takes about 20 seconds before making the call.

The last noteworthy hand I played involved a crazy Chinese guy, he was the guy on the btn for the previous hand. I get dealt 99 utg+2, utg+1 opens for 15 I call and the crazy Chinese guy on the btn calls. The flop is q73cc it goes check, check and the btn leads for 45, utg+1 folds I call. Turn is a 2 and I check, the btn shoves for 85 more and I call, no way he has the q here in my book I'm putting him on a flush draw. The river is a club and another 7, I tell him his flush is good and he tables 87 os to scoop the pot with his trips. Oh well, my read was still pretty good.

I end the session up a buy in and really pleased with the way I played. My reads were good and I was focused the entire session. I feel like my game has developed some what already and although this may sound premature I do feel like I was clearly the strongest player at the table but that could just be the ego talking.

Peace and love people and please do give any constructive feedback regarding the session. Writing these posts is proving to be rather challenging as I am doing it all on a crappy iPhone and I have gorilla hands, give me a keyboard any day of the wk, going to get a laptop when I can afford it!

that would tilt me so hard I might pick up the fondue and fling it across the restaurant.

I know, what the fu*k are they thinking dipping fruit in fricking cheese! Mental!

I play at the Aria all the time, OP. Let me know what table you're at and I'll, um, "help" you along on your quest.

Thanks mate, that would be amazing! I'm probably going to play a bit later so will let you know. Thanks again.

By "help," I meant "take your money."

Haha, not the kind of help i'm looking for but I'm not afraid of a challenge so you're more than welcome to try

Stop showing your bluffs! Youre giving away free information. Who cares if these people give you applause, you're here to take their money, not have some stranger tell you "nice play"

True but I'm also trying to get action when I do have a genuine hand, I think you're right though, of late I have been showing more than I would usually. Thanks

I don't know about that. A bluff like that could easily put someone on tilt, and watching your opponent get applause after he bluffs you like that could be very tilting. Also, a lot of people won't respond to that new information in the right way anyway.

I think this is a really interesting thread. The OP is honest about his sessions and I'm interested to see how each session goes.

It becomes more important when youre becoming a regular in a room. It seems like youll spend most of your time at Aria so other regulars in that room will remember your previous sessions and already have assumptions of you when you sit down. Its just adds another variable to poker that can make it tougher. If youre just visiting a different casino and dont plan on returning, show some bluffs and get some extra action