Today's Results- $317 in 7.5 hrs

I wandered over to the Rio after a short session at Bellagio. They had about 15 1/3 and 15 2/5 tables going. The table I sat at was really deep most stacks were over 1k. I am in kind of an awkward spot as far as bankroll goes it is at 6600. I feel overrolled for 1/2 but underrolled for the 2/5 games which play really deep. I have just been buying in for 100bb in the 2/5 games. I am going to have to leave or switch tables if I double up because I am not that comfortable playing with 1k+ on the table it's too big a percentage of my bankroll.

I spotted an Oaks prop player at one of the tables at wsop so I went to shake his hand.

I am feeling really good about my play so far. My reads have been spot on and I haven't made any big mistakes. I have been focusing intently on every hand I am in and most that I'm not. I still need to work on my endurance. I would like to be able to play 10 hr sessions with 3 or 4 breaks thrown in.

Hey thanks! I am paying 169/wk so about 720/mo. There are dozens of places just like where I stay lining the streets around here.

June

Total hours played- 17.5
Average hourly winrate- $41
Winnings- $731

2012 YTD

Total hours played- 583.5
Average hourly winrate- $19
Winnings- $11182

since you're really playing for a living man Id stick to a 30bi brm rule.

30bi is rolled and then go from there when table selecting. 1bi is 100bs.

glglgl my friend!

Agree with ^^^. 6500 is def too risky for deep 2/5 games. Pad the bankroll a little more then take shots after.

I see nothing wrong with a 2 buy in shot at 2/5 as long as he drops down if need be.

Also, the bellagio has a 100bb buyin cap, which means the stacks are smaller and the players weaker (the good players want to play deeper). If you take a shot, that's the spot you should use.

Take advantage of 2/5 man! Your should be looking to make that your main game from now on.

Im in the same situation, i have about $6500 and I keep talking myself out of 2/5, the truth is $6600 is more than enough as long as you set like a 1 or 2 buyin stop loss then its fine. Who knows maybe you wont ever look back to 1/2.

That is completely fine imo. Some people might give you **** for ratholing etc. but you need to do what is best for you.

Are the 1/3 games $500 deep? I'd just stick to those with your roll.
GL

Playing with 20% of your roll on the table WILL eat at you and cause you to play sub par, it's never worth it. Play where you are comfortable.

yeah, why not play $1/$3 deeper than 100 bb at a place like caesar's? buyin is at least $500 if not uncapped.

If you're going to play 2/5 with the roll you've got I would BI for $200 and if you get up to $1000 cash out. Keep doing this until you're BR gets to 10k. If you're roll gets down to 5k I would start playing 1/2 again.

Today's Results- -$27 in 4 hrs

tl;dr warning... no cliffs

Today was a ****ing headache. I randomly decided to take a bus journey out to Green Valley Ranch in Henderson. I should have called in because the wait was like 40 mins, they had 2 tables of 1/2 going. I end up getting in a disagreement about a rule and the dealer is being uncooperative and I say I'll do whatever to keep the game moving but I want clarification for future situations. Basically the floor was very vague, so I asked to see where the rule is written. He said it is not a written rule it is common practice, which apparently it is not. Basically he could make up any rule and I have to take his word for it? That's bull****.

I was tilted so I cash out. The dealer is on break and we are still discussing it and he asks me (paraphrase) "why are you being such a nit". I admitted that poker is my job and he is trying to **** me out of EV. He of course snickers that I'm a pro playing 1/2 but that should explain why I am a complete nit. It really makes me not want to tip dealers. This is the first room I have decided to never go back.

Anyways I start walking to the bus stop. I am waiting at a light there is a cop stopped at the light too. At the green I start walking and realize I'm holding half a beer. The cop pauses at the green then drives past me, rolls 1 block then flips a bitch. **** I'm about to get pulled over. Spot light on me "put your hands on the hood". **** I'm going to get searched and I'm going to jail. Luckly he just ran my id and never searched me because I could have really gotten ****ed. I kissed his ass ending every response with sir, he made be pick up the half beer I had ditched and pour it out then throw it away then let me go.

Okay that was nice rant I feel a little better

Yeah 30 bi would be very comfortable.

I have been buying in for 100bb at 2/5 for 2 months now. They biggest downswing I've had is 2 buyins which is fortunate. I plan to buy in shorter if the roll gets down below 5k.

Yeah the key is to drop back down If I am losing and not go on crazy monkey tilt and put my whole roll on the table at 10/20 haha.

I have noticed both the 1/2 and 2/5 at Bellagio are a little softer than other places.

That is pretty much how I feel right now, there are so many 2/5 games running it won't too hard to find a good table. These next few weeks are my chance to really grind without any distractions and hopefully build a comfortable roll and win enough to buy a car. I don't want to have to take any steps backward but I know the reality is that I am going to have to weather long periods of running bad.

I really don't care if people don't like me "hitting and running" as far as I am concerned in cash games you are in a 1 hand contract and have obligation to stay after beating someone in a pot. I don't mind when a recreational player stacks me and snap cashes out, there are many fish in the sea.

The Hard Rock has 1/3 500 cap that I might play sometimes but I don't like paying the $2 per pot to the promotion funds. That's why I prefer mgm mirage over CET rooms. (I'm a huge nit ) I actually think my style is more suited to 50bb-100bb effective stacks as I am not that experienced playing 200-300bb deep.

When I first started playing 2/5 I was buying in for 50bb, I could go back to halfstacking is the roll gets thin. If things really go south it's back to 1/2 to rebuild.

June

Total hours played- 21.5
Average hourly winrate- $41
Winnings- $704

2012 YTD

Total hours played- 587.5
Average hourly winrate- $19
Winnings- $11155

Nits gonna frickin nit


Feiw u can be happy u have dealers that know the rules. Live poker in Germany is so tilting. Like every other hand some incompetent dealer will come begging for tips despite overseeing that u have a hand last to act holding a boat thus costing u $$$

Congrats on the move to Vegas. I moved there as a lark in 2005 for the summer and stayed for almost 6 years. it's a great town and you'll love it as long as you stay away from drugs and strippers. I agree with your bankroll that 1/3 & 2/5 Bellagio should be your games of choice. I'd recommend these options for you:

- Casesar's 1/3 (500 cap)
- Wynn 1/3 (500 cap)
- Aria 1/3 (300 cap but great action)
- Bellagio 2/5 (500 cap & weakest competition)

If you feel compelled to play 1/2 stick with MGM. Good luck this summer and maybe we'll see you at the WSOP.

Today's Results- $264 in 4 hrs

I played short handed at Hard Rock which was fun because it moved faster. 9 handed games can get slow and boring especially when card dead. There seemed to be less soft spots playing but I guess that it is to be expect on most weekdays.

Dealers are the closest thing at the table to an alli in poker, it sucks when they are your enemy too.

Hey thanks! I am really happy to be here, the poker rooms are 5x as nice as the Oaks.

I will probably play the 1/3 at Aria if the 2/5 lineups are too tough. I like Wynn too but it is a little farther walk, they have good rake structure with the 500 cap. I don't think I'll play much at CET properties because of the promo drop. Bellagio has a great room too and they always have multiple games going. MGM is close and usually has a lot of games going.

June

Total hours played- 26
Average hourly winrate- $37
Winnings- $968

2012 YTD

Total hours played- 591.5
Average hourly winrate- $19
Winnings- $11419

Great Vegas start! Keep it up.

Today's Results- $315 in 3 hrs

I've be running pretty good since that -800 session, I haven't gotten coolered even once. I have made a few big folds but no complete set ups. I am finding it easier to get paid off. Some of the tables are so passive with infrequent raising and 3bets are always KK+.

Thanks Dan!

June

Total hours played- 29
Average hourly winrate- $44
Winnings- $1283

2012 YTD

Total hours played- 594.5
Average hourly winrate- $20
Winnings- $11734

Love your thread man. Keep up the good work!

Just wondering I read in your OP that you played online before switching to live. NOt sure if youve already answered this as I havent read every page but what are some of teh differences you notice between online and live? I have been almost strictly an online player and want to start playing live a bit too to mix it up.

Just read your whole thread, nice progress & nice read. Keep it up.

Today's Results- -$440 in 7.5 hrs

I guess I totally jinxed myself. The first couple rounds I run QJ into A7 on a K105 board but only for like 200, the guy c/r 5x they turn but I couldn't give him credit. Then a couple hands later he min-3bet/5bet ships from the big blind for about 400 and I tank call with AK. I was thinking this guy can't have the nuts twice can he? He shows up with AA leaving me with 12% equity at least I'm drawing more live than the last tangle. I think flatting the 3bet would have been better or 4b/f.

I was down over 1k at one point but managed to get some of it back. I was at this table at Aria in a section I've never played at, I guess it is a tourney area. There was a drunk guy with a mountain of chips slopply stacked. He is getting a massage at raising or reraising every pot, never folding pf. He would call 3bets to 250 with 62o haha it was amazing. Best table I've been at all week unfortunately I never made a hand against him.

There are a lot of physical tells that can keep you out of trouble when playing live if you look for them. Recreational players play looser live, folding 80% of your starting hands is extremely boring because you see so few hands per hr.

Instead of 16 tabling I can focus on picking up reads on only a single table. You can really size up every opponent you encounter much more easily.

It was a little odd going from using a hud to having to keep a mental record of past hands I've seen villains play. I think my poker memory is pretty good now after so many hrs spent at the table.

ty!

June

Total hours played- 39.5
Average hourly winrate- $21
Winnings- $841

2012 YTD

Total hours played- 605
Average hourly winrate- $19
Winnings- $11292

Welcome to Vegas!

It's dry here, takes the body a while to adjust. Get humidifier at home to help keep your immune system working correctly or you'll get the "vegas crud" often! People bringing germs from all over the world mingling at the tables, wash your hands a lot. You'll notice places like Aria usually have cleaner chips than older places on the strip.

I live about 3 miles from the strip on the West side, in a safe little complex, $800/month for 2 bedroom, A/C, Fireplace, Pool & HotTub, WorkOut room. PM me if you want details.

If you do ride the bus, it's $5 for a 24 hour pass, you can go pretty much anywhere in Vegas on that. I make it a point to always save Taxi money no matter what, because there are times you'll play too long and not want to wait for the bus, or when it's just safer to do so, like after a big win in the late hours. I have 3 favorite taxi drivers I use as my regulars, tip them well, and they go out of their way to get me fast service.

The Rio is only busy this much because of the WSOP. Other times, you are likely to find 4 or less tables running for cash games, and rarely above the minimum (on weekdays).

Bill's has the smallest game in town, $0.50 / $1.00 , max buyin $200. Very relaxed & social atmosphere.
Venetian, Bellagio and Aria have the nicest rooms, chairs, chips, service, dealers, etc..
Flamingo, Bally's, Mirage, I've barely played at, but hear good things from fellow poker players as far as fun games.
Planet Hollywood, Orleans, Tropicana, and MGM I've had good success at.

You'll find some places are better certain times of day, and the number of grinders will vary based on what's going on in Vegas. You'll play alongside pros and movie stars even at the 1/3 tables. Game selection = profit. Pace yourself. Breaks are good. Get yourself a group of friends you can talk poker with, this will keep you sharp, and keep you learning, it never ends. If you stop learning, you are falling behind, or about to retire!

Keep posting here

Good Luck and I'll see you at the tables. ~ @TheWookieWay

Today's Results- -$323 in 8.5 hrs

It was another rough day, down over 1k again at one point.

Here are a couple hands I played-

I pick up JJ in the bb, lp makes it 20 over a limp, 1 lp caller, I call limper calls. I have 500 all cover except lp who has 300.

Flop- 975
I check, pfr bets 50 lp calls. I c/r to 200. pfr jams for 280 more, lp calls. I sigh and call. Pfr has KKand takes the side, lp takes down the main after hitting a queen on the river with Q7. I was pretty sure lp was drawing and pfr had been losing a lot of big pots and was tilted so I think I ran into the top of his range there. 3bet jamming the flop seemed strong but with the way the table had been playing I couldn't find a fold.

I pick up AK in mp and open for 20, sb 3bets to 60, bb calls, I call. 540 effective stacks

Flop- KJ8
checked to me I bet 120 into 176, sb calls bb folds.

Turn- Q
checked to me, I jam for 360. I felt like villain didn't like that card. I thought he could have AK as well or aces and it would be a tough call. If he has a set I guess I'm getting snapped off. He tank calls with AA.

I guess I could've checked back and evaluated the river.

After those 2 hands I took a break, did a work out and cleared my head. It is going to take a little while to get used to the bigger swings, but I can already feel myself getting used to it. Anyways I went back out and won back 800. I really didn't feel much like playing after those beats but I knew I need to be playing long sessions fri-sun because the games are so much softer.

Hey thank you very much for the advice, all good points. Table selection is super important, there are a lot of tough players out here. There is no need to play in a bad game, as soon as I recognize the table is solid I have to table change. Poker can be so futile if you don't have an edge.

The permanent poker room at Rio is pathetic compared to the big rooms.

June

Total hours played- 48
Average hourly winrate- $11
Winnings- $518

2012 YTD

Total hours played- 613.5
Average hourly winrate- $18
Winnings- $10969

Today's Results- -$20 in 5 hrs

Well I've been playing pretty bad the last few days. I've made a lot of big mistakes. I just made the worst call of my life today. I'm such a fish...

Here it is feel free to laugh-

I'm in mp and pick up AK, utg opened for 15, mp calls, I call (usually 3bet here of course but decided to mix it up and play multiway) lp calls Effective stacks are 870 (I was sitting on 1k be should be changing tables to avoid spots like this but the table was good and I had the best seat so decided to stay)

Flop- A94
pfr leads for 40 into 63, I raise to 120, he thinks it over for a second then makes the call, I'm pretty sure he has like AQ or AJ

Turn- 7
He checks, I bet 200 into 303 he tanks for a min or so then makes a reluctant call, I could tell he was concerned and wasn't hollywooding so I am convinced he doesn't have a set or 2p

River- 2
Villain jams for 550 into 703... ugh. I think it over and I was just so confident in my read that he had a big ace I couldn't put him on a backdoor flush. I would think he calls the turn quicker with a fd. I groan and call. He flips A10 nice hand sir. I didn't take enough time to think it through, is villain really capable of bluffing in this spot, not that likely. I am expecting him to check back river with AQ after tanking so long on the turn. $1800 That's the biggest pot I've ever played, felt about the same as lighting $100 bills on fire.

I think I should take tomorrow off and recharge. I want to play like I was playing 5 days ago and stop donking off chips on turns and rivers drawing slim/dead like I've been doing the last few days.

June

Total hours played- 48
Average hourly winrate- $9
Winnings- $498

2012 YTD

Total hours played- 618.5
Average hourly winrate- $18
Winnings- $10949

That's pretty good only losing 20 For the session after that pot. I too feel like I've been playing bad lately but running bad doesn't help I guess. My KK lost 3/4times I've had it twice to jj and once to aa.

This thread rocks.. I was in Vegas memorial day week and played about 10 sessions. It's crazy how much the action picks up at night 10pm And later...u should check out the Wynn sometime awesome room and I really enjoyed the 1-3 game. Good luck man u seem very determined I have a lot of respect for that . Keep up the good work.

I 3-bet to $55 IP here all day. I would rather get this heads up vs one of these villains. As played, you should'nt be raising this flop. You're not getting called by much worse and you want to keep all his air and TT-KK type hands in. If he's got Ax you're way ahead and want him to continue so you can get more value OTT and OTR. Calling OTF also controls the size of the pot the few times he's out flopped you. This deep if you raise the flop with TPTK and get re-raised or shoved on your hand is pretty much turned into a bluff and you've got to puke-fold.

The JJ hand is a fold once you c/r. Fwiw, Im not a huge fan of c./r there vs PFR as he only continues with hands that we beat, with TT being the exception.,

When he 3b shoves flop its always a hand that beats JJ.

glglgl