Why can’t you let me have my dreams!?!

Good stuff.

I love this thread. Showing that there's still $$ to be made in Vegas at the low stakes, despite the dozens of 2+2'ers (*who don't even play regularly in Vegas*) saying that it's not.

I'm looking forward to the next update.

A kid with a dream ! Nice stuff.

poker strat seems on point. Truck parking strat seems quite fishy imo

Sure blame the victim

I am enjoying the read. Thank you.

This thread must be good if Mumph is using his once-per-week post to comment on it.

I agree, generally, and with foatie.

please post some hands as well!

Anyone can go on a massive heater regardless of game quality. I won't be surprised to see OPs results cool off substantially as he gets in more hours.

Considering OP just said that choppy waters are ahead, I don't think this is that bold of a prediction, but do agree with your post as it would be correct for most people in this situation.

Enjoying the thread, thanks OP
I would probably be one of those Debbie Downers. The point is not that there's no money to be made at low stakes poker, but that if one can be successful at low stakes poker, one could be equally or more successful at other endeavors. If the only measure is dollars, $30k in 3 months is great, but would this move to Vegas even happen if OP started from $60k/year instead of 25?

I hear rough waters ahead, there be dragons.
Parking mishaps had me legit laughing out loud. Looking forward to future installments, GL OP

Considering the time frame of this thread I would speculate things getting tougher around WSOP when the player pools are tougher overall. LLSNL in Vegas is super soft, but like you said, the ceiling is extremely low with poker as the only income source. The OP is doing things right so far with a great attitude.

Getting restless for next instalment

+1

WSOP is the best time of year for cash games. The amount of fish that come pouring in to Vegas significantly outweighs the pros that are there. Also, IME, the pros play very spewy and gambly in these games as well. Either because they are playing lower stakes compared to their bankroll or they are playing a tournament strategy 250 BBs deep.

Theoretically, OP should make more money this time of year. But the variance involved in deeper games can make this his worst run of the year. Tilt can also be a factor if OP is used to running like God and then starts running cold.

Sweet thread. Looking forward to next update. Agree that this could use a hand history or two thrown in the mix. Just the big ones.

*** June 2018 ***

An exciting time of year to be playing poker in Vegas. People from all over gather in the desert heat to battle it out on the felt in search of riches and glory, and camaraderie with like minded peers.

Last month ended with me starting to play some PLO now that the WSOP is up and running. I had some early success and now my plan for this month is to play a lot of PLO while still playing NLHE also, in order to keep my game sharp. The theme for this month will be running great at PLO and running pretty foul at NLHE.

Back in my original post I mentioned that I like to play Rocket League on the XBox. Basically its a game where you control a rocket-powered car and play soccer with a very large ball. I've been playing for about a year and a half now, always trying to improve my ranking.

Imagine my surprise when I'm walking through the Pavilion room at the Rio and I see this on stage.



After some inquiry I learn that I can go up there and play anytime I want. How bizarre and awesome!



In the second week of June I have to take a break from my newfound hobby of crushing PLO games. I fly back home to Kentucky for a week in a long-planned trip to handle some matters and attend some events. I'm a bit sad at the timing with the WSOP in full throes, however its nice to see family and friends and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city for awhile.

Peaceful creek near my grandparents' house in rural Kentucky



While I'm back in the mid-west I put in a couple sessions at the nearby casinos. The closest one is Horseshoe Southern Indiana, which is where I cut my teeth in the live poker world. I also drove up to Jack Casino in Cincinnati for some PLO. I remember that session specifically because I was being berated the whole time by this one guy. He had a big stack and he was upset that I bought in for $100 and played tight. As I lost hundred after hundred he was having the time of his life. I was kind of having fun too because it was so over the top. Eventually he started losing (he played every hand) and I started winning. Five bullets deep, I finally run it up over $850. Meanwhile, he's already rebought after blowing through his big stack. He bleeds down to a couple hundred and looks miserable. I rack up and leave him with his crumbs.

When I get back to Vegas I continue to run hot in PLO but the same can not be said for NLHE. I had a session earlier in the month where I lost $1000 in two hours at the Rio and now I have a stretch where I lose close to $2000 straight at the Venetian over two short sessions. Lots of coolers going on but life is still good.

I did have one nice NLHE session at the Bellagio. I showed up and the place was packed. The lowest game in the main room was 5/10 and there were MANY of them. All lower games had been moved to the sportsbook. The list for 2/5 was enormous but 5/10 was much shorter. So what the hell I decide I'll play 5/10. I have $1900 in my pocket and I buy in for $1000. It dwindles to $850 and then I bluff it all off into top set. I rebuy for $900 and end up running it up to almost $3000 and cashing out. Haven't played 5/10 since.




June results:





PLO vs NLHE results

PLO: +$4500
NLH: -$1500

Bonus pic

Shaun deeb on stage

'...Meanwhile, he's already rebought after blowing through his big stack. He bleeds down to a couple hundred and looks miserable. I rack up and leave him with his crumbs...'


To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women

"So what the hell I decide I'll play 5/10. I have $1900 in my pocket and I buy in for $1000. It dwindles to $850 and then I bluff it all off into top set. I rebuy for $900 and end up running it up to almost $3000 and cashing out. Haven't played 5/10 since."

Shades of Dashiell Hammett, good succinct writing style.

Keep going.

I'm looking for coaching. What do you recommend

*** July & August 2018 ***

At the end of June I was on the precipice of a downswing and now in July I'm on my way down the hill. I call it summer skiing.

Here's a graph from June 22nd until July 17th



I'm not in a good mental state right now. It's HOT as hell in Vegas and my apartment isn't cooled well and my truck's a/c isn't very good. I'm not getting much sleep and I'm getting plowed every time I play poker. After some deliberation I decide to leave Vegas and drive back home to Kentucky to wait out the summer and get my mind back in focus. My stepdad (an avid gambler) comes out for a weekend of fun and then we start the roadtrip.



I recently got a nice insurance check ($2400) from when my truck got hit and one of the first things I do when we get back is make a few upgrades.

Before:



After:



The new ride cost me about $6500 and I still have the ol' truck that I'm going to sell one day but its gonna stay with my parents.

Now that I'm back in Kentucky my poker playing options are limited and I'm not looking to put in a whole lot of hours anyway while I'm back. I do climb out of the hole a good bit but July ends up as a losing month.

July results:





At the beginning of August I make a poker trip up to Columbus, Ohio for a weekend. On the first day I'm losing and miserable and then I run up a large stack to get a couple hundred ahead. I'm feeling good about the recovery but I end up losing everything in idiotic fashion. Instead of booking a win at 2am when the game was breaking, I agreed to play 3-handed. I played uberly aggressive and it went horribly. This leaves me sour for the rest of the trip and I don't get much going on the other days. I lose about $1000 overall.

I didn't play for about a week after Columbus and then I started going up to Cincinnati and Southern Indiana. I got my grind on and started booking some small wins. I got one nice $1000 score playing 2/5 in Cincy.

Towards the end of the month I'm planning my trip back to Vegas. I'm looking through all my pictures and thinking about my journey thus far. I decide to start a thread on TwoPlusTwo documenting it. Mostly for therapy.

August results:





Well I guess this concludes my seven month trip report. I'm writing this update from my Vegas apartment, having made it back out west. I appreciate everyone's interest and support. Once I live out more of the story I may return for a similar thread.

Overall results:

Much respect OP. You seem very grounded and logical. The two prerequisites for success in anything.

Best of luck,

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Need OP to hit $40K.