Hi all. I've done this a few times now, and it entertains me, so I'm doing it again. I admit that the last one never got finished, but I don't think anyone was reading it anyway. I'm leaving on Thursday 6/14 and staying for 10 days of shot-taking, donkament playing, and shennanigans-er-ing. I always try to kick off with a few days of backround and lead-up stuff, so here it goes. If you like the report, let me know. If it sucks, let em know that too; I'm not proud...or tired.

A year ago a baby girl was added to our family, so along with the 4 year old boy, I haven't had as much time to play. I have been doing pretty well though, so after a year away from Vegas I'm really chomping at the bit to get out there. I'm planning to play the $400 DS at the V, plus a few of the Rio daily tourneys, and play cash apart from that.

Over the last couple of years I've transitioned to 2/5 NLHE and am comfortable and profitable there. So, as is my custom on Vegas trips, if I do reasonably well over the first few sessions I plan on pushing my comfort zone by taking a shot or 3 at 5/10 NLHE. I've never played that high so while I know this is no great shakes when we've all been reading Matt's epic accounts of life at the B, it's still a big deal to me to try it. Also, I've been working on my PLO over the last 18 months or so, so if I find some good 1/2 PLO I might spend time there as well.

I know that lots of people who read these either live in town or will be there during this time, so let me know if you want to have a beer or go bum hunti...er...sit together and play somewhere for a bit.

I'm going out in a little while to play...might go to a very good 1/2 PLO, or may go to my old standby downtown 1/2 NLHE (plays very deep...this last week has seen multiple people win or lose over $3000). I'll post up later on or tomorrow with "Day -4" report.

Oh...a question for you guys...

I've never really used Twitter at all for anything, but I do have an account. I was thinking that I'd post up here from my phone if I ever get in a crazy/fun(ny) game that I'll be tweeting in real time so people can check it out. Is this a good idea, or is it lame? Let me know. Maybe I'll try it tonight just to get the feel for doing it or whatever. It's so ridiculous that I'm a career computer nerd and yet I'm a Twitter n00b.

Did I mention that I'm old? Anyway...

Thanks for reading!

Just do twitter style updates in this thread.

Pics always add huge value to any TR.

As someone who bailed on a 'live' trip report, my advice is dont get drunk because you will forget to post.

Post your twitter handle I'll follow along

Day -4

So I ended up at "Jimmy's" game down town. This is a 1/2 NLHE game, but it typically plays more like a 2/5, with a typical pfr being $20 min. I've been playing with Jimmy for maybe 5 years now, and he's always treated me right. I've been at his games when they were busted twice (?!), and he continues to get players. The location now is _almost_ impervious to Imperial Entanglement for reasons that I won't detail here, but it's a good, secure location. I enjoy playing in the underground games around town, but goddam I'd be soooo happy is there were casinos in Nashville. I have to think that with all of the young people and money (and 2 pro sports teams in a small city) here the games would be silly good. Someday...

Some of you might remember my TR from a couple of years ago where I spent the spring digging myself a pretty deep hole vis a vis getting on the books in my local game, then digging out just in a nick of time. Well, no such histrionics this year. I ended 2011 nicely positive, and I'm approaching five figures in the black for 2012. Like I said earlier, I know that this is small potatoes in the grand scheme of things, but after a lifetime of hobbies that _cost_ me tens of thousands of dollars (most recently, racing motorcycles) it's pretty f#@king awesome to have one that actually makes money.

I bought in for $300, and within 45 min. I manage to get into a decent spot.

I get AdKd otb w/ $340 or so behind, and the pot is straddled by the CO for $10. I make it $35, and utg guy (can be solid, is often Gambl0r) makes it $90. Middle position young typically solid, but currently tilty guy who has been flatting everywhere and generally flailing (honestly I'm not sure what was going on with him tonight) calls. CO folds, I decide that I'm so far ahead here that flatting and then punishing the inevitable c-bet from utg is better than coming back over the top. Flop comes Kc6h3d. UTB bets $160, and Mr. Tilty ships for $400 more (I have $250 behind). I know that this situation can be frought with peril but I've played with both of these guys for years, and I am maybe 88.5% sure that I'm way ahead with my top pair, so I call. CO folds (obv), board bricks, and Tilty mucks. EZ game.

About an hour later, I've got maybe $650, and I get Ad6d in the CO. HJ straddles $10 and I call, expecting an isolation 3 bet somewhere that never comes...go to the flop 6 handed, and it comes 3d5h6s with one diamond. Tighty-Tight Fitorfold leads out of the BB for $50, and it folds to me. I'm pretty sure I'm behind here, but with a few extra % of equity w. back-door diamonds, plus what I'm reasonably sure are 5 more outs to make the best hand (a 6 or an A). Knowing him, he's got a middle overpair like 8's or so, or a set some of the time...that's about it. I'm pretty sure I can bet and win with any broadway as well, so I call, and the turn is the Ac. He bets $50 again (this is what he does when he has a big hand) and I make it $70 more. He takes approximately 0 time, and raises to $225. I tank for about 2.5 seconds, and muck my Aces-up face up...no way he is raising here w/o a set. He turns over two black 5's.

The only other notable hand saw Mr. Tilty call my $30 pfr (JcJs) from the button with Kh8h in ep. He saw an 8 high flop and shipped his remaining $140, which I of course called. 8 on the turn, gg me.

I ended up +225 on the night...not fantastic but I'll take it.

More to come, and thanks for reading.

My twitter is dietDrThunder . I'll try it and see how it goes. I'm not sure if I'll figure out how to make it interesting or not, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

Ya I don't drink and play, so that won't be an issue. I will try to get some pics in here...haven't done that before, and I know I always enjoy the reports more with them.

Great read so far! Is that 1/2 downtown atop a restaurant? Anyways I'll be following intently and rooting for some epic $5/10 sessions. Good luck brother.

get me in that game...

How do you post pictures? It asks me for the web address for a pic that I try to insert...

Nope, not on a restaurant...I don't play in that game.

The picture has to be hosted somewhere on the Intertubes, so that the forum here can point at it and show the pic w/o having to store it locally on 2p2 servers.

Enjoying this. Keep er goin.

but after a lifetime of hobbies that _cost_ me tens of thousands of dollars (most recently, racing motorcycles) it's pretty f#@king awesome to have one that actually makes money.

So very true.

Winning money is so much sweeter than earning money..

Enjoying the TR so far.

With a 1 yo girl and a 5 yo son, you can't really be that old. Therefore the question of the day is..........How fat are you?

45 in July
6'3" 280

Wait, are you hitting on me?

LOL!