It’s “only” 625 profit but yes run good overall continues!

At Caesars now, currently in a small profit after being down $150 early. Also playing with a 2+2'er who recognized me - nice meeting you

Great TR. Thanks for posting

I am officially homeless, RIP Las Vegas!

Bit dramatic I know, but checked out of Vdara an hour ago, dropped my bags, and room at Cesars will be ready at 4 pm. Until then:

I eventually made it out of my room, and eventually went over to this location for a game:



Observant readers will probably recognize this nice artwork close to the entrance of Caesars Palace. I immediately got seated in a $1/$3 game that looked to have a lot of OMCs in it. Many of them recognized each other, and was talking away like old buddies. Not the sign of a good game, but let's give it a go.

Started losing right of the bad when I raised QJo to $10 from 2nd pos (was lazy and didn't want to announce), and button and BB calls. Flop is J-2-2, and after BB check I bet $10 again. Thought was to keep lower pairs in, but on this non-threatening board I can easily make it $20 and they will likely stay in anyway. So that is something to keep in mind. Anyway, button calls and BB folds.

Turn is an A, and I think a bit and check it over to him. My low sizing might have yielded some Ace-high calls, but if he checks back I can easily bet for value on the river. He does not check back, but bets $25. I call, and the river is a 5. I check and he bets $60 this time.

It's a bit confusing as he should hardly ever have a 2, but I guess he just floated with AQ or something and got there. Although I was a bit thrown off by the somewhat big river sizing (into $101) - not what I am used to seeing from OMCs, who often bet $25 again or similar in this spot. But I eventually fold, as I had no reason to think this guy would turn 88 into a bluff or similar. He does not show.

I then raise ATo to $11 from 2nd position an orbit or two later, as we were only playing 7-handed and table was passive as sh*t. SB and BB both calls and we see 2-3-8 two diamonds. I have black cards, but still bet $15 as this board should not connect a ton with their ranges. My plans was to follow up on any card T and above, otherwise shut down. SB calls and BB folds.

Turn comes a 7, which is not ideal for my plan. So I just check back. River is another 3 and he now leads for $30. This opponent is the youngest at the table, probably early 30s, and in game I thought he maybe bluff with a missed flush or open ender like 45s (all combos). So I make a light call, only to get shown 87ss for top two.

Down $100 immediately then, so I add on to get close to $300 again. Then there is a raise to $6 from one of the OMCs (his usual sizing), cutoff calls, and I defend BB with Q8cc. Flop is K-9-4 two clubs, and it checks to cutoff who bets $15. I call and raiser fold.

Turn comes a red 5, I check and he bets $15 again. In game I just thought he was giving me a good price, and called again. River blanks with a 6, it goes check-check, and he wins with a 9 (didn't notice the kicker). As soon as I started to write down the hand however, it came to me - he used the same f*kcing bet on turn! I could have made it $60 and taken it down. Sigh. Obviously the same bet was weakness, also in this instance.

The young guy at the table then asks me where I am from, and tells me he is from Ireland. He then asks how long of a flight there is from Norway, but as soon as I said I didn't live there anymore, he was like 'wait, you live in Malta? If I say twoplustwo, does that mean anything to you?'. I confirmed, and it turned out he was a 2+2er who I definitely have seen in some threads in LVL. Unfortunately I am old and forgetful so I have forgot your username, but it was very nice meeting you - and thanks for reading

I then start winning some pots, first when I raise KTss to $12 from UTG. Only BTN calls (the 'same bet' guy), and we see A-K-J one spade. Reasonable, but I decided to check as there is not a ton of worse hands I can get value from. He checks behind. Turn is another A, and I bet $15 this time. He calls.

River comes a 5, and after thinking about it for a while I decided to bet $16; squarely to target a Jack. I will value own myself against KQ or a low Ace, but I really didn't think he would check back an Ace on the flop. He does however says that he cannot beat much, and folds.

Then a huge OMC raises button to $7, and I defend BB with 67dd. Flop comes A-5-6 two spades, no diamonds. After I check he bets $12, and with the wrap around on the five I think I have an easy call here (many turn-cards are good). Turn comes a K, and I am done with the hand if he bets again. He does however check back.

River is a 7, so I now have trips. I lead for $40 into $39, simply to charge him if he pot-controlled an Ace on turn. I also remember Bart Hanson talking about this consept many years ago; that if you run into trips on the river you can often really blast upfront on A-high boards. The OMC does however fold quickly, so I guess he didn't have an Ace.

Then a new player sits down and limp for $3. I make it $15 on the button with J9ss (which seems fine). He calls, and we go heads-up to K-T-8 two diamonds. No spades, but I have a gutshot at least. He checks, and I bet $15 again. He calls, and turn comes a random 6 that does not fill a flush. He checks again, and I decided on the double barrell to hopefully get him off Tx. And if called, I still have the gutshot at least. I bet $45, and he folds.



Then an OMC raises to $7 from UTG, there are two callers, and I call with 77 on the button. SB and BB also calls, so we go 5-ways to 6-2-3 two spades. Blinds check, PFR checks, one more check, and cutoff bets $15. I call, and the rest fold out. Turn is a lovely 7, so we make top set. He bets again, this time for $20. Obviously time to fast play, so I raise to $75. He thinks about it for a bit, looks like he is considering jamming, but calls.

River is an A, and he has already checked blind. I was not too happy about the Ace landing in case he has like 99 or similar, but given the strong vibes on the turn I still think I can get paid by.. something. Pot is $238 or something, and I could jam for my remaining $230. Instead I settled on $155, but he just thinks for a while and then show JJ. He then says he would have called if the river was not an Ace, so that is a bit sad to hear. But still a decent pot.

My new friend from Ireland then left the game, but before doing so he came over for a fistbump + wished me good luck. He then leaned in to my ear and said 'because this game is dire'. And he is right, the game was indeed crusty and awful with this passive OMCs.

One more hand, there is a raise to $7 from another OMC, one call, before I find KK in SB. I raise it up to $37, and the original raiser does a bit of speech play before calling. I got a somewhat strong vibe from him, but wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Anyway, we go heads-up to Q-T-4 two spades. Not my absolute favorite as I could see this guy playing QQ passive, but still need to bet. I throw out $35, and he thinks for a bit before folding AKo face-up. In position he can easily call with that hand against my small-ish bet, but I am obviously not surprised that he folded.



But the game was terribly tight, and I knew there was no point to keep playing in it. So I just cashed out after 2 hours and 15 minutes, with a profit of $98 USD.

Now I have been chilling at the room a bit, but don't feel too terrible today, so it's time to find a lucrative Saturday evening game. Wish me luck.

On the way back to the hotel I saw this; apparently an invitational tournament for huge casino whales:



Took the tram from Bellagio to Park MGM for chance of scenery (usually faster now to just walk through Vdara), here is Palms in the distance:



Cash Games:

Hours played: 27h 45 min
Won/lost: +$202 USD
Hourly rate: +$7.3 USD

Tournaments:

Won/lost: -$200 USD (1 played)

Home for the next 3 nights. Apparently my room was not ready so this was an “upgrade”.

*waves*

T'was me at the table with BigWhale this morning.

Pleasure playing with you, and glad you managed to get some money from them, unlike this muppet who donated $200 to their cause.

Another day at my second home, another 12 hour day:

Nice meeting you too, it truly was a horrible, horrible game. Good luck the rest of your stay (if you survive one night at OYO )

After getting back from Caesars this morning and updating this TR etc., I was feeling much better than yesterday. I still had energy, and this was going to be the best day to find good games. So I headed to Bellagio for some $2/$5 ($500 cap).

When I got over there, it was a short list so I sat in a $1/$3 game for 15 minutes before getting called over to the $2/$5. I basically broke even at $1/$3 (won $2 USD) before moving over to my new table and adding on $200 more. At first glance the table looked pretty good, one old woman, some weird Asian players, and I saw some limping right from the get-go. So it clearly didn't look like a pro-heavy table.

I won the very first hand I was dealt as well, when there are two limps and I make it $25 from BB with AJo. They both folded.

Then it folds to the older woman who raises to $15 in the cutoff. I have AJo again (button), and although I would normally like to 3-bet here I wanted to see how she plays first. So I just called, and both blinds also call. Flop comes T-9-2, not much for me and I fold to a bet.



Then the trouble starts. I raise ATo to $20 from EP1 (7-handed) and get no less than 3 callers. Flop comes A-K-J and I decided to check it as I am first to act. It folds to an Asian on the button, who was playing somewhat strangely. He makes it $25, and I considered raising as the T in my hand blocks the nuts and I have all the sets on this board. Instead I just called, and player behind me also calls.

Turn is another J, and checks around. River is a T, so any K now has a straight. I check, and the player who overcalled the flop now bets out $75. Button folds, and I do the same as he must have a straight here. In hindsight I should either have bet flop myself, or gone for a check-raise on the flop. I think both would have been better than what I did.

Then the weird Asian limps from UTG, and I find Q9ss on the button. I would obviously always open this hand on the button, thus I am going to open it versus a single limper as well (against 2 limpers I will either fold or limp along). A spewy guy calls in BB, before the Asian limp-reraises to $100. Not much to do then but fold.

I win blinds with 55 and JJ, and a bit later there are 3 limps to me in Big Blind. I look down at A5ss, way too good to not raise here, although I wish I had chosen a slightly bigger sizing than what I did ($30). All 3 limpers call, and we see the flop J-8-2 two diamonds, and no spades. Terrible for my hand, and against this many opponents it will be spew to bet here. So I check and give up.

Then the woman limps UTG, and I have 33 behind her. Could raise, but chose to limp along this time. Asian to my left makes it $40 (huge sizing), other Asian calls, woman folds, and I chose to call. This is very borderline as I only had around $400 in my stack, but I just couldn't resist the chance to flop a set. Flop does however come 9-2-5, and after I check there is a bet of $85 and a call. So I fold.

(turn was a 3, and they had QQ and JJ fwiw).

I add on another hundred, before a big pot comes up. It's a limped pot, I complete 56ss from SB and BB checks. Flop comes A-6-3 two hearts, and it checks to the old woman. She bets $15, and I make perhaps a too light call here? There are good turns for me, but I don't have a backdoor flush and any heart might be bad for me. Either way, I chose to call, and the UTG-limper also calls.

Turn comes a black 4, which is one of those cards I was looking for. It checks to the woman again who bets $30. Although she continues betting, I think an Ace is her most likely holding and that I can get her off that. So I make it $105 with my OESD and second pair. However, the spewy guy who limped in UTG cold-calls my raise, which has me really perplexed.

Woman fold, and we go heads up to 5h river. So I make two pair, which is the only thing in my head when I see that river. There is however 4 to a straight now, although he would have had to call the flop with a gutshot to get there. I check, and opponent (who was an arrogant f**k) moves all-in for my remaining $275-$300 or so (I didn't count my stack down).

I stupidly managed to talk myself into a call, although I couldn't find a hand I was beating. And even worse is that he shows up with K2hh for the nuts. He has a flush, and I didn't even register in my brain that there was a flush out there until now. Just beyond awful by me, to show up and make a mistake like that in the biggest game I will play this trip. And honestly, even without the flush coming in this should be a fold. This spewy donk was exactly the kind of player to have called the flop with a gutshot and get there.

Feeling frustrated, I reload and am now in for $1100. I do win a few pots shortly after though, first one when I raise KTo to $15 from cutoff. All 3 players behind call, and flop comes Q-T-9 two hearts. I decided to check it, as there is not a ton I can get value from. It checks around, and turn is another Q. Feeling better about my hand, I bet $25 when it comes to me and only BB calls. River is a 6, and he checks. Since 78 got in, I just check it back and I am good versus AJo.

Then an OMC-ish player raises to $20 from UTG, having just returned to the table. I am in 4th position and call with TT, could 3-bet but had no idea how this guy is playing. We go heads-up to T-5-6 two spades, and he bets $30. I have top set, but didn't want to slowplay as there are many draws I could play aggressively in this position. So I make it $105, but he folds very quickly. Maybe a spot to slowplay and let him catch up, but at the same time I will get action from an overpair.

A new younger Asian had joined the table and he was very active pre. He makes it $15 from 2nd position, and I have KThh on the button. Could call, could 3-bet, I went with the latter and raised it up to $45. He calls, and we see A-Q-A one heart. He checks, and I downbet to $20 thinking I will get a lot of folds here. He does however raise to $65, which is annoying as he could maybe just pick on my small sizing. But if he has an Ace I am drawing to three outs, and even in position it seemed a bit ambitious. So I fold.

Then old woman limps UTG, and I raise 88 to $25. She is the only caller, and we see a fairly safe 5-5-4 flop with two spades. To my surprise she leads for $30. I considered raising, but really only getting value from 66 and 77 (plus flush draws), so I chose to call. Turn comes a 7, so now 77 beats me as well.

She continues betting, this time for $100. I strongly considered folding here, but her line is so strange that I couldn't bring myself to it now that I have a gutshot as well. So I call, and we see a random Q on the river. She bets $100 again, and although this is 'same bet', I still don't think there is any kind of fold-equity here. I was tempted to call just because the line is so absurd, but at the same time she has no reason to expect that I am going to fold. So I chose to let it go, although I have honestly no idea what she could have had here. It would be utterly weird if she played 44 this way for example, instead of letting me bet at it.

(maybe 77 or slow played AA? Both would make sense).

More losing, she limps in again and I make it $20 with A7ss. This might be too wide though from same positions as last hand, although we were playing 7-handed. The arrogant spewtard call, the weird Asian calls, and woman calls. K-6-2 one spade, and after woman checks I decided on a bet of $35. Probably too optimistic 4-ways though, as although it's a very good board to bet I can really only continue on spades.

Arrogant guy calls, rest fold. Turn is the Tc, not what I wanted to see. I check and fold to a bet, and he shows 54o with one club. Obviously a horrible call on the flop by him with a gutshot and having 2 players behind, but that's what I get for putting myself in that situation in the first place.

I win some back though, first with AQdd (raise pre, two callers, A high flop, take it down), before the OMC raises to $15 from cutoff. I have AKo in SB and make it $65. He thinks about it and calls. Flop is J-8-7 rainbow, not great but let's go with the 1/3rd sizing the solvers talk about. I bet $45, and he thinks for a bit and calls.

Turn is a 4, and I check and give up. He does however check back, and we see a lovely K on the river. I bet $110 to hopefully get a call out of a Jack, but he folds immediately. So he cannot have been very strong, maybe something like 99 or TT.

Then a new younger Asian female raises to $15 from UTG (her first raise), the old woman calls in SB, and I defend BB with 55. Flop comes J-9-5 and sadly checks around. Turn is a T and SB now leads for $20. Although some straight possibilities out there now, I am still going to fastplay. I make it $65, and the original raiser actually cold-calls my raise. SB folds immediately.

I am not sure what to make of her cold-call, but I am not 100% certain I have the best hand anymore (thinking KQ is likely). At least until another 9 comes on the river. We make a full house, and I try to target a straight with the bet of $200 (pot-sized). She announces all-in, and I just got this sinking feeling in my stomach as people generally don't jam over pot-sized bets without the near nuts. But it's only $150 or so more, so I call almost immediately.

JJ for a better full house....

I have $72 USD left, and that is all I brought with me to Bellagio this evening (plan was obviously to not lose more than what I had in my pocket). Instead of cashing out I figured I might as well could try to spin it up. Weirder things have happened, and I knew I wasn't about to just give it away on tilt or something.

Fold for an orbit or so, before a new Asian raises to $15 from UTG. I have AQo and $65 left, and ship it in there. The active Asian who raised me when I had KT 3-bets to $145 or something, and I realize that I probably have ran into it here. Original raiser calls, and we see a runout of J-T-3-6-9. I believe TT was the winning hand, but I honestly got up from the table and wished everyone a good night as soon as I saw the river. So I only took a halfway glance back at the table on what was revealed. But I knew that Ace high was no good, so there was no point in hanging around (there had been betting postflop as well).

So that was a fun night, torching $1190 (weird amount) in a $2/$5 game, completely giving away the first buy-in and then getting coolered for the second one.

So, what to feel after my biggest losing session ever? My first thought is embarrasment. I didn't play my best, I made one gigantic mistake, and I probably took some risks that I didn't have to take in other hands.

And when I see my opponents play I see so many glaring mistakes that they do, mostly in regards to not value betting thinly and being scared of monsters under the bed. So I know that I have some parts of my game that they don't have, and that if you put me in some of these spots I would get massively paid compared to what they are doing.

At the same time, this is also where the embarrasment comes in. Because I should beat the games, but instead I am sitting here in my room at 10pm on a Saturday, down almost $1000 USD so far on Cash Games alone. My bankroll of USD (although I have infinite resources, sort-of), which I thought would be impossible to lose, is depleted, and I have to be seriously careful with it the remaining few days of the trip.

On a more positive note, I am nowhere near as sick as I was earlier in the week, and it feels like I am ever so slightly on the mend. That makes me hopeful to play a lot of hours the remaining days, although getting out of this hole will be nearly impossible.

And I am very angry at myself for once again not being able to go for a full trip without one hopeless mistake at the tables. I really thought I was past that, but clearly I am still prone to terrible plays.

But let's go to bed, get a good night of sleep, and try to do better tomorrow. The best time to plant a tree was after all 20 years ago, but the second best time is now.

Cash Games:

Hours played: 30h 00 min
Won/lost: -$988 USD
Hourly rate: -$32.9 USD

Tournaments:

Won/lost: -$200 USD (1 played)

It's all skill.

Sorry BigWhale that’s a bummer. Nothing like a multi-buyin loss to take the wind out of your sails on a trip to Vegas. Worst one for me was dropping 5 buyins at the Aria 1/2 PLO, the latter few of which due to sheer monkey tilt, while waiting for my room to be ready on the first day of a long trip.

Stats so far:



Feels absolutely amazing to be on the good side of a trip for once. I know, I’ve been lucky with VP and the 8k hit last trip, but we all know how that ended… now I’m actually up and keeping it.

Hope it turns for BigWhale, I’ve been in the same spot about a billion times and know how frustrating it is.

Sorry, BigWhale. I know it doesn't help, but most of us have been there -- I know I have. Just keep playing well and following your gut. Keep taking time to analyze what your opponents have because you are usually spot on. I do think you need to raise a bit higher and bet a bit more/bigger (I've never been a fan of the down-bet), and maybe tighten up a little pre or limp more since they are letting you and most of them seem to be loose/passive stations, but you're playing pretty well. (I know 2+2 flames limping, but in these types of games, it can really pay off.)

If you get in the groove of your A game, you should have no problem coming out ahead!

Feels like it was your pride and peer pressure from people on here to jump up to 2/5. moving up wasn't a magic elixir cure-all

Thanks. Yes, I am probably pushing the envelope a bit with some of the iso-raises and continuation bets. Should be even more disciplined and give up more when I get multiple callers.

my last time in Vegas I had a day like that where I bricked everything and burned my bankroll with days remaining. and also feeling the embarrassment and duty to report it on here, so I recognize and appreciate the honesty and courage. hope you get a chance to turn it around or still find something to cheer you up.

Don’t think it was peer pressure, he wanted to play 2/5 before going to Vegas.

hope he has better luck the next time

Enjoying the thread as well and the effort you guys puts into it.

Just wanna chime in on the big loss that Bigwhale experienced at Bellagio. Totally understand the feelings, its not fun those nights where you feel like you hit a brick wall. However, after a while you will be able to zoom out a bit and probably you will learn from it and become a better player.

Every single time ive had a record losing session, or feeling more down after a session on the drive home, it have made me a better/stronger player. You develope your risk tolerance, how much beat you can take and still keep going (Rocky yeah), and you learn to appreciate the winning sessions with good runs even more.

For example a couple of very bad losing sessions eventually got me to get rid of my 3 buyin stoploss a few years ago, simply because i didnt need it anymore. I can keep going after losing 5 buyins if the game is very good, or i simply make a decision to quit if/when i cant play +EV poker anymore.

Keep it up and you will bounce back stronger than ever.

Yes, I wrote even in one of the earliest post that I wanted to play some more $2/$5. Didn't work out as planned, but it's not because game was significantly tougher. Just made one terrible mistake + got a bit coolered in one of the last hands.

(Although with lowest full house on J95T9, I am not beating many proper value hands, TT is also a hand she could very well have played that way).

Today has been nothing but running around. Woke up super early as usual and headed to Bellagio 2/5 as I didn’t want to walk all the way to the Aria in the rain. Sat down at a fairly good table and 5th hand in got KJ in on QT23A vs a confused young girl holding A7o for a full double up. Game then broke a couple of minutes later, so nice quick profit.

Then moved over to Vdara where I had a 50 minute massage booked. I arrived 30 minutes early and had the entire spa for myself which was amazing (especially since I slipped on my way into the jacuzzi and fell face first into the water hahaha). Massage was amazing and much needed

Then Aria and Cesars Palace for some shopping, and now just chilling and gathering energy for tonight’s game.

Aria NFL display:




Also picked up these bad boys at Urban Necessities:




Some of you may remember the exact same shoes from a TR a couple of years ago. Sadly I left them out and my dog ate them:m/destroyed them so needed to buy a new pair as I absolutely loved them. But damn, $700…

Some VP while waiting for 1/3. Sadly broke dead even.

Woke up today much later than MuckPls as always, and after a lazy morning I made my way over to Aria. The plan was to play quite a long session if possible.

Accidentally deleted my hand history notes from the game, but I do remember the most important ones very well. First a cool hand where I raise QTss to $12 and get calls from BTN and BB. Flop comes 3-8-8 one spade, and BB checks. Seems good enough to start a bet on, so I make it $16. They both do however call.

Turn is a red K, and it checks to me again. I want to represent this card, however I don't need to do it on the turn. So I check, with the plan that if BTN checks back (surely has no 8 or K then) and BB checks river (same applies), then I can bet it. First part was accomplished when button checks back.

River is a red 5, and BB checks. They have both capped themselves, and I have an easy bet. I make it $55 and they both fold. Obviously if button bets turn or BB leads river, I will just fold. But it played out exactly as I hoped, which made it a great bluffing opportunity.



(bought in for $400 since I am busto)

Then I raise A3ss to $12 from cutoff, and get calls from both blinds. Flop is K-7-8 two spades, and after it checks to me I bet $15. Small Blind calls, before Big Blind check-raises to $45. He only has around $150 back, and I briefly debated reraising. However, he has to be fairly strong to check-raise this board. I went with a call instead, and SB folds.

Turn comes a 2, which is not a spade, and he bets $50. Getting an ok price, but not really good enough - especially as only $100 left to win on the river. So I have to fold.

Then I find AJhh in cutoff a round or two later, and obviously make it $12 again. A fishy/loose Indian calls on the button, and same guy from last hand calls in BB. Flop is Q-7-4 two hearts, and BB surprisingly leads for $30. As he only started hand around $200, I thought my hand was good enough to get all-in against him. After all, these leads are often just a draw or some kind of top pair. So I raise to $105.

The Indian on the button then goes into the box for a long time. I was in seat 9 and he in seat 1, so I can't see his face but he seems very unsure on what to do. Finally he announces 'call', and BB folds after having thought about it for a little bit.

Turn is a black 5, so no improvement at all for me. I had seen this player show up with some very speculative hands pre, so two pair is not out of the question. However, surely he would have jammed those on the flop? So I am hoping he was just being sticky with a Queen (he was likely the type to), or maybe some kind of straight or flush-draw. So I jam all-in, only to get snap-called. River is not a heart (a black 9), and he shows 74ss for two pair. Interesting call pre I guess.

I honestly think I played the hand ok, but it certainly didn't result in any profit for me (turn-bet was for his remaining $205). I am down over $300, and can feel the negative thoughts from yesterday creep in. It's a risky play, sure, but to hit once in a while would be nice.

Then there are two limps for $3, and I make it $18 from the button with AKo. Only first limper calls, a very fishy Asian player. Flop is A-9-3 two hearts, and he leads into me for $25. I raise it up to $75, as he doesn't have a ton behind and he is bad enough to where I think can get called by worse. He thinks and calls.

Turn is a 8, putting two flush draws out there. He jams in front for $110, and although he surely could have some two pair Ax-combos I still snap-call. River is a J, and he shows A6o for just one pair. That is a huge donation coming my way, and helps to recover the losses from the previous hand a lot.



Indian cashed out one hand after he doubled against me (great etiquette), and the fishy Asian left after I stacked him. In their place a couple of grinder-looking guys came in instead, and table was suddenly much worse. That said, I managed to win some small pots and are suddenly only down $80 or so.

Then I find KQdd from UTG, and raise to $12. One of the new grinder-guys call in EP1, before SB (a young guy) makes it $41. He immediately says that he didn't see the call, and would have made it bigger if he did. Either way, I think this hand is way too pretty to fold in position, so I call. Grinder-guy folds.

(I checked this against a chart later, and KQs is actually only a 25% call and 75% fold in this spot - pretty surprising to me).

Flop is T-9-4 one diamond, and he bets $55. I considered floating in position, and maybe I should have given I have two overs and three outs to the nuts. I ended up folding, but I think this was too nitty. Honestly, I could even see raising here as an option, although probably better to call to not get blown off equity. So if I could have this back, I would for sure call.

Then one of the grinders makes it $8 pre (he made a lot of these small raises) in Hijack, I call on the button with 33, and both blinds call as well. Flop is 3-6-2 two clubs, pretty nice. It checks to me, and I bet $20 which is a tad bit too small I think. Only BB calls, and we go heads-up to an 8 on the turn.

He surprisingly leads for $35, and I have to raise this bet as the board is way too coordinated to slowplay. Sure, he could have 45s or something from BB, but then so be it. I make it $130, and he starts talking out loud (never a good sign, always leads to folds). He says it smells like a draw, but that he will wait for a better spot - and flips up TT. Very passive line pre with that hand, he should definitely have squeezed it pre. But I guess most people are getting too good these days to stack off with just one pair, although he is very underrepresented and he had seen me push a draw very hard in a previous hand.

After that hand I was only down $50 bucks, and that was also the end result after 2 hours and 45 minutes. The game was just way too grinder-heavy for me to stay in it, I thought.

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After grabbing some quick & unhealty food at Posh Burger next to the poker room, I decided on a whim to head out to a random location. This is a good hint of where we are going:



I made it over to Mandalay Bay, who actually have moved their poker room right to the front of the casino when you come down the escalator from the tram. Interesting. They had 3 games going, no list, and I immediately jumped into one that was very OMC-ish. Not ideal, but I always enjoy trying to give the OMCs fits with raising pre and not letting them limp every single hand.

Not many interesting hands, but will run through three of them. I was a bit down in the beginning through seeing some cheap flops, but nothing crazy. Then I find 9Thh from UTG and raise to $10 (this is a $1/$2 game). I will note that we were only playing 6-handed this hand, but the table filled up shortly after. I would be much more restrictive with this hand from UTG in a full ring game.

BB is the only caller, and we see 2-7-8 one heart. He checks, I bet $11 and he calls. Turn comes 3h, so we finally have one of my favorite spots; overbetting with huge draws but no showdown-value. He checks, I bet $47 into $43, and he folds.

Then a while later there are two limps and I find A5cc on the button. We make it $12, and both limpers call. A-Q-6 two spades, and after first limper checks the second one bets $15. Bit weird, but my hand is not strong enough to raise. I call, and the third player folds.

Turn is a 9 not filling any flush, and he checks it to me. One of these weird spots where I can check behind, but just in case he was leading with a flush draw (setting his own price), I didn't want to check back and let him realize. Betting also makes it easier for me to get to showdown on the river - I can just check back instead of facing a bet in front. So I make it $26, and he calls fairly quickly.

Plan was to check back river, except it was a 5. He checks, and I really hope he has a decent Ace that he was playing passively pre. I slide out $100 (into $111), and he tanks and calls with ATo. No good Sir, and although I got lucky on the river I like my line and plan here as well.



One fun limped pot as well; I am in SB and throw out one extra dollar with 56o. 5-way limped pot, with Q-7-6 on the flop. It checks around, and another 6 lands on the turn. I have trips, but decided to check it once more as clearly no one has much here. It checks around again, and river comes an A. Perfect card, as these OMCs love to limp Ax. So I bet out $15 into $10, and the most OMC of all of them snap-calls so fast that I wish I had bet $30. He has A2o that he had limped in, and my trips obviously beats that.

Game was so OMC-ish and passive though, that I decided to just take a profit of $135 (2 hours play) and go back to the room to relax a bit and update this thread. I can certainly find better games on a Sunday evening, which is what I will do shortly.

The Castle:



Home base:



Cash Games:

Hours played: 34h 45 min
Won/lost: -$903 USD
Hourly rate: -$26.0 USD

Tournaments:

Won/lost: -$200 USD (1 played)