Trip Report: 6/21 - 6/24
06-29-2017
, 03:23 PM
Because I've always enjoyed the slew of TRs in LVL, I thought I'd offer my own.
A little background:
Last year I joined the LLSNL crew for their 3rd year of shenanigans in the early portion of the WSOP. Everything went to ****. I tried a live, semi-interactive TR and busted it. Last minute financial needs meant I was underrolled and I was scared money the whole time. I made bad decisions like staying up so late that when I hit the tables at Harrah's at 4am, I stayed until 8 even though I was literally falling asleep in my chair. I did everything wrong.
This year I was determined to redeem myself. Not having played more than 1-2x/year for the past 3 years, I wanted to see if I was still able to beat 1/2-1/3, or if I'd just been on a heater for those 600 previous hours. Maybe Minnesota spread limit rules made things different enough from Vegas NL that I was just used to a different game. Regardless, I figured that even if I walked away busto, as long as I felt good about my play, I wouldn't worry about the results. Hopefully a shorter trip (3 nights instead of 5), a bigger roll, and higher focus would keep me profitable...
The obligatory pics:
A little background:
Last year I joined the LLSNL crew for their 3rd year of shenanigans in the early portion of the WSOP. Everything went to ****. I tried a live, semi-interactive TR and busted it. Last minute financial needs meant I was underrolled and I was scared money the whole time. I made bad decisions like staying up so late that when I hit the tables at Harrah's at 4am, I stayed until 8 even though I was literally falling asleep in my chair. I did everything wrong.
This year I was determined to redeem myself. Not having played more than 1-2x/year for the past 3 years, I wanted to see if I was still able to beat 1/2-1/3, or if I'd just been on a heater for those 600 previous hours. Maybe Minnesota spread limit rules made things different enough from Vegas NL that I was just used to a different game. Regardless, I figured that even if I walked away busto, as long as I felt good about my play, I wouldn't worry about the results. Hopefully a shorter trip (3 nights instead of 5), a bigger roll, and higher focus would keep me profitable...
The obligatory pics:
06-29-2017
, 03:38 PM
06-30-2017
, 03:11 PM
Day 1a
I wake up at 4:50 to get ready for my 8 AM flight. I’ve made the mistake of checking the weather forecast for this week and found out that the news is not good.
For three nights I had decided I wouldn’t check a bag, and instead packed everything into a single carry-on plus a backpack for returning with some cookies from the Honolulu Cookie Company, which happens to have a store in the Linq promenade. I’m staying in the Linq this year after changing from TI last year. TI was very nice, but I got a very good deal and I like the location a bit better. After checking and rebooking a few times, my grand total will be just under $264 for three nights, one of which is Friday.
I get to the airport, through TSA in no time, and decide to have a beer to start the morning right. I’m planning on maintaining some level of inebriation for the next 4 days…I should probably get started. A Summit EPA from neighboring St. Paul and I’m ready to fly.
I get to the gate about 2 minutes before they call my section. I like window seats, even though they’re more cramped, because I like seeing what’s around me. I take my seat and soon a woman comes up to me and asks if I want the window seat. I’m confused, since I’ve never had anyone ask if I liked my seat. I chose it, damn right I want it. She explains that she’s nursing a baby and will need to pump mid-flight and says she didn’t want me to be uncomfortable with it. I give no ****s. Do you, miss. So she takes the middle, her husband takes the aisle, and we’re off. See you later, Minneapolis. Later, in retelling this story to my girlfriend, she berates me for not giving the woman my seat. **** that. She just wanted a corner to herself. Since I wasn’t bothered by her need to stockpile milk on board, I wasn’t about to give up the seat I wanted.
After the initial strange encounter, we have a really nice flight. They both are teachers, as am I, so we discuss education and Vegas plans and all the general niceties. The rest of the flight is uneventful, although I’ve forgotten to bring the book I started, so I’m relegated to playing games on my phone and reading the in-flight materials when conversation lulls. Finally we arrive in Las Vegas, right on time at 9:20 AM, and I spy my home for the next few days.
I walk through McCarran and find my way to the Lyft pickup area. Walking outside into 111 degree heat is no joke, but last year’s 105 took my breath away at first, and this doesn’t have the same effect. I must be more prepared. My Lyft driver is friendly and all, but at one point I notice his nav telling him to turn around and realize he’s forgotten to drive to the Linq and is instead headed toward the Luxor. He apologizes roundly and makes sure I know his mistake won’t be affecting the price of my trip. A few minutes later and I’m at the front desk of the appropriate hotel. I’m told early check-in will cost me $30. I decide instead to drop my bags at the bell desk and come back later.
I jump on the GroupMe chat that we use to coordinate plans and mock those who aren’t here (and those that are, when needed) and head to Palazzo to meet 2 friends for lunch at Grand Luxe. A club sandwich sounds pretty awesome. And in fact, is.
About the glasses: my girlfriend runs the social media for an optical shop in Minneapolis, and I told her I’d take some product shots that she could use if she liked. This is the only pic I had of that sandwich.
After lunch, time to hit the tables. 2p2er BigSkip and I head to Harrah’s, as our other lunch member is hitting a Venetian Deepstack event that morning. I buy in full at 1-2…
…and spend the next couple of hours playing fairly tight at a table that has a few aggressive openers, but few callers and even fewer people seeing more than a flop without solid holdings. I’m chipping up here and there…unfortunately, Skip’s hands can’t hold to save his life. AA<99 AIPF, 9 in the window. K7 in the BB, flop K77. Rag turn, 10 river, opponent holds 1010. It seems like he hits every flop or turn, but is killed on the river. He’s frustrated beyond belief, and down a full BI. He decides to get up and I figure it’s a good time to check in.
In for 300, out for 579. +279 to start.
Looks like this is getting long, so I’ll stop here and finish the day later.
I wake up at 4:50 to get ready for my 8 AM flight. I’ve made the mistake of checking the weather forecast for this week and found out that the news is not good.
For three nights I had decided I wouldn’t check a bag, and instead packed everything into a single carry-on plus a backpack for returning with some cookies from the Honolulu Cookie Company, which happens to have a store in the Linq promenade. I’m staying in the Linq this year after changing from TI last year. TI was very nice, but I got a very good deal and I like the location a bit better. After checking and rebooking a few times, my grand total will be just under $264 for three nights, one of which is Friday.
I get to the airport, through TSA in no time, and decide to have a beer to start the morning right. I’m planning on maintaining some level of inebriation for the next 4 days…I should probably get started. A Summit EPA from neighboring St. Paul and I’m ready to fly.
I get to the gate about 2 minutes before they call my section. I like window seats, even though they’re more cramped, because I like seeing what’s around me. I take my seat and soon a woman comes up to me and asks if I want the window seat. I’m confused, since I’ve never had anyone ask if I liked my seat. I chose it, damn right I want it. She explains that she’s nursing a baby and will need to pump mid-flight and says she didn’t want me to be uncomfortable with it. I give no ****s. Do you, miss. So she takes the middle, her husband takes the aisle, and we’re off. See you later, Minneapolis. Later, in retelling this story to my girlfriend, she berates me for not giving the woman my seat. **** that. She just wanted a corner to herself. Since I wasn’t bothered by her need to stockpile milk on board, I wasn’t about to give up the seat I wanted.
After the initial strange encounter, we have a really nice flight. They both are teachers, as am I, so we discuss education and Vegas plans and all the general niceties. The rest of the flight is uneventful, although I’ve forgotten to bring the book I started, so I’m relegated to playing games on my phone and reading the in-flight materials when conversation lulls. Finally we arrive in Las Vegas, right on time at 9:20 AM, and I spy my home for the next few days.
I walk through McCarran and find my way to the Lyft pickup area. Walking outside into 111 degree heat is no joke, but last year’s 105 took my breath away at first, and this doesn’t have the same effect. I must be more prepared. My Lyft driver is friendly and all, but at one point I notice his nav telling him to turn around and realize he’s forgotten to drive to the Linq and is instead headed toward the Luxor. He apologizes roundly and makes sure I know his mistake won’t be affecting the price of my trip. A few minutes later and I’m at the front desk of the appropriate hotel. I’m told early check-in will cost me $30. I decide instead to drop my bags at the bell desk and come back later.
I jump on the GroupMe chat that we use to coordinate plans and mock those who aren’t here (and those that are, when needed) and head to Palazzo to meet 2 friends for lunch at Grand Luxe. A club sandwich sounds pretty awesome. And in fact, is.
About the glasses: my girlfriend runs the social media for an optical shop in Minneapolis, and I told her I’d take some product shots that she could use if she liked. This is the only pic I had of that sandwich.
After lunch, time to hit the tables. 2p2er BigSkip and I head to Harrah’s, as our other lunch member is hitting a Venetian Deepstack event that morning. I buy in full at 1-2…
…and spend the next couple of hours playing fairly tight at a table that has a few aggressive openers, but few callers and even fewer people seeing more than a flop without solid holdings. I’m chipping up here and there…unfortunately, Skip’s hands can’t hold to save his life. AA<99 AIPF, 9 in the window. K7 in the BB, flop K77. Rag turn, 10 river, opponent holds 1010. It seems like he hits every flop or turn, but is killed on the river. He’s frustrated beyond belief, and down a full BI. He decides to get up and I figure it’s a good time to check in.
In for 300, out for 579. +279 to start.
Looks like this is getting long, so I’ll stop here and finish the day later.
07-01-2017
, 11:46 AM