Well technically from Madison first but I wanted the Gang Starr beat themed title.

Long short of it is I lived in Vegas 5 years from 2005 - 2010, playing full-time at mostly 2/5. Started at 10NL online and eventually took shots at 5/10 and a couple 10/20 until about 2009 realized I was just good enough to grind 2/5 for a not worth it amount (about 40K my last year, but i was def working more than 40 hours a week).

Went to school, got a wife, kids, job...and 8 years later am making my triumphant return to do battle in the 1/2, 1/3 streets while drinking and hopefully sneaking in a good meal or two.

But first...the wife, kids, and I are going to see an army buddy of mine in LA. Go to Santa Monica Pier, hopefully eat some good food, then I ditch them with the in-laws for Disney and grandparent time, while I fly out to adult Disneyland.

Shoe and 7 day bag pic:



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Good luck on your trip, sounds like it will be a lot of fun!

In case you’re shopping in Vegas, maybe consider getting some new shoes

Thanks for introducing shoe insecurity into my life.


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Ignore the haters.

There's a New Balance store at the south premium outlets.

Crush the drunk fish in the Planet Hollywood 1/2 then proceed immediately to the Shoe Palace at the entrance of the parking garage for a fresh pair of 993s with your winnings.

Subbed.

Kudos for this:". . . about 2009 realized I was just good enough to grind 2/5 for a not worth it amount (about 40K my last year, but i was def working more than 40 hours a week)."

There are a lot of "pros" out there who could benefit from your level of introspection - just saying.

Best of luck to you.

Just be sure to get at least a few blocks east of the pier if you actually do want to find some good food.

Happy to help suggest if you're looking for a good meal in/around Santa Monica.

Suggest away

What kind of places you looking for (lunch, dinner, fancy, not fancy, for the kids, etc) and are you geographically limited to that immediate area?

There's some great seafood about 100 feet west of the end of the pier.

But seriously, I second the recommendation of late night 1-2 at PH if you can stand the noise.

those shoes are fine, save your $ for fine food, 2/5 late night bum hunting, hookers and blow.

Lunch, not fancy, 3 kids (4,5, and 7)


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For casual stuff in the vicinity of SM Pier:

Blue Plate Oysterette/Blue Plate Taco - former for seafood, latter for, well, tacos

Plan Check

HiHo Cheeseburger

Sugarfish/Kazunori/Uovo - three different places, same company. Sugarfish is a set-menu sushi chain, very reliable (and VERY busy), Kazunori is an all hand rolls sushi bar, Uovo is a new pasta place they're doing. Haven't been to Kazunori or Uovo but I trust them.

if you want reliable chains (don't know if they're represented where you are), there's Seasalt, Tender Greens and Umami Burger all in the area.

And there's always Ye Olde King's Head, which ain't beachy in any way but is an institution.

Don't go to Water Grill.

Now if you want to take a drive up the coast, go to Malibu Seafood.

Didn’t see the recommendations in time to try any, but I’ll def put them on the list.

Instead we got some dirty Mexican food in Hawthorne (Dino’s), which was equal parts delicious and terrifying, further proving my theory that great cheap food needs to have “fear of food poisoning” as the final/secret ingredient.

We ended up hitting up Redondo Beach instead, it was a good time for the family.

Family:


Kids + friend


Chasing seagulls:





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Finished up the beach and took the wife and kids to their Disney hotel.

Mother in law arrived, and I was out the door on my way to Vegas.

Flight was short and sweet, but I was still able to get a rum and OJ down.

UberX was fluctuating up a bit tonight. Got a nice driver from LAS to TI for $19.

Checked in and did the $20 trick.

Tbh, I’m not sure if I got a legit upgrade, but booked the cheapest room and ended up with 5 nights in a strip view room, and a free bottle of champagne.

View:


Room:


Stuff:


Still debating if I’m going to put in a mini session or not. TI poker room looked....unfun, and I think I’m leaning towards washing the travel stench off and going to bed....degen level = disappointment


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In bed and asleep around 1am. Woke up at 730 Bc the kids have ruined my life and I can no longer sleep.

I decide to start at the Wynn and work my way down the strip. 3 person wait on 1/3 NLHE, put me on the list.

I also jump on the PLO list, but by the time I get my red card, I’m up in 1/3.



In for $300




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Good luck at the tables!

Bad start. AQcc in the SB. UTG opens to 10, 3 callers and I 3! to 65.

1st caller calls, HU to the flop.

Flop 3h 5c 9h

I lead 100, he calls.

Turn 6c

I ship 145, he snaps with 66.




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A9o I the cutoff.

It’s opened to 7, 2 callers I make it 35. A little light obv but I’m a fish.

Button min raises to 65. I call, c/f.

A little later it’s opened to 9 from EP and the loose guy who beat me with the 6s makes it 30.

I’m OTB and make it 95 with AKo.

Opener folds, 3 bettor calls.

I flop an ace and he c/f.

Down a buyin still.


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Hey, you could be sitting in a cube reading about other people's woes.

Like me.

Appreciate the updates, rungood bound to happen!

I 3 street bluffed a counterfeited underpair into the bottom full house. 2 buyins down.

1/2 at Venetian, passive weak table.

A couple limps and I open 45o OTB to 18, two limpets call.

Flop 5d 6h 6d. Check to me, I fire 25, and both limpers calls.

Turn 10c. Check to me and I fire 60.

River 10s. Check to me. Well, let’s hope he was on a draw. Bet 90, he calls with 67o.

I only took two buyins for my morning, so taking a break in my room, hydrating Bc I’m a few drinks in and have a lot of days left.

Will probably head out for a small lunch and get back in action.

Also made plans for a party of 10 at the Grand Luxe tonight, consisting of some old friends and co-workers. Food porn to follow....hopefully chip porn too.


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+400 in 2.5 hours at the Wynn.

JsJc in EP, I open for 12.
Older guy who plays a bit like an old guy, but still too passive calls.
LAG MAWG makes it 45 OTB.
I call, older guy folds.

Flop Qs 6h 2s I check, LAG bets 45.

I think he’s sizing up a bit more with AA/KK, this feels like AK or QQ, or his bluff sc hands.

I make it 150 and he SNAP calls.

Generally this indicates a draw, but I think he’s shipping his NFD combos. So it’s weird. I was planning to fold to a shove, now I’ve gotten myself a bit lost.

Turn is 2h.

I decide I want to keep QQ in my range/allow him to bluff, since given the timing tell and line, I don’t think he has an overpair very often. I check.

Villain instantly checks.

River is an off suit 9.

I don’t want to turn JJ into a bluff here, so I check with the intention to lean call, but do some evaluating...or maybe he gives up sometimes.

Nope. He instantly ships 220.

I think it over a bit. He’s leaning away from the table a bit. That generally means disconnecting from the hand. So I decide to probe, “sigh, if I fold will you show?”

He a peps up instantly and says yes.

It felt legit, and not like a reverse tell.

I stick to plan and call.

He says, “You’re good.” And tabled 3h 4h for the turned SF draw that bricked.

Not quite chip porn pic worthy, but I nit 4 bet folded AKcc pre with 200bb effective stacks. So decided it was time to rack up and get ready for dinner with friends.

Didn’t take notes on the hands but dumped 300 back at the Venetian. Just kinda coolered stuff. Lost with trips and a set, but both were river sigh calls that could have easily been folds and saved me 175 total.

Went for dinner to meet friends and realized it’s not Friday...so that’s actually tomorrow.

Walked the strip and decided on dirt dog and a chicken shwarma.

Dirt dog:


Was really good. Will def hit it again before I leave.

Gyro was in the same area, and also really good, but I screwed up the pic.

Now back in the Wynn 1/3...let’s do this!


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Lol, I thought it was Friday all day yesterday. Even agreed with my wife last night that we have to drop off stuff at the post office before noon today because that’s when they close on Saturday.

Not sure if you want to have input on hands, but the AQ one looks pretty spewy?

Good luck today!

What didn’t you like about the AQ one?


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