Great updates guys! I agree with Canoe, a bit of sleep and sun will make everything seem much brighter. No point in grinding just for the sake of grinding. We do it to enjoy it, and if atm it ain't that, time to go poolside with a drink or 420.

Yeah my family is coming over for 3 nights tomorrow morning so taking a well needed rest then. Had my first full night sleep of the trip btw


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Much needed boost to motivation. We GII preflop against old lady with KK, board runs out clean and she mucks. Also a few smaller pots. In for $300, out for:




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Mauling some mules:


Will update with pit/cash/tourney details later this evening. Seems Fortuna's knocking on the door today.

/ J

Speaking of grinding, it's time for an update of my endeavors yesterday. Will include some TLDR at the end in case it ends up being too long.

Still sick unfortunately, which is annoying, but it's not the first time it has happened to me in Vegas. So will just fight through it as much as possible, and hope for some relatively quick improvement.

After I last posted yesterday, I felt pretty fine and went out for some Saturday evening grind. First met up with 'The Trooper' here at Harrah's and bought a "Go Gamble" hat from him. Really nice guy, who I think get way too much undeserved criticism here on 2+2. Anyway, I don't really like to play poker with a hat on, but will certainly wear it to shield my bald head a bit from the sun! Was super hot yesterday, and I assume the same today (still haven't been outside the hotel room).

I crossed the street and went into Ceasars, and got seated immediately in a $1-$2 game there. The room looks really nice I think, very bright and welcoming, but the game was nothing more than mediocre. I first lost a bit on what in hindsight was a way too risky bluff, but won it back with Q9ss after I made a flush on the river and got paid off on a river-raise.

Highlight of the session was getting it in with AKo against AJ on an A-6-3 board versus a very weak player who clearly hadn't played much live before. He limp-called my raise, lead out for 20 on the flop, and pushed over my raise (I made it 52). Unfortunately he only started the hand with around $100, and after losing another hundred he left the table.

Another guy, who was clearly on tilt towards the end, also left the game and it got much less good. The two players to my left were calling way too many raises, but were decent at putting pressure on post, and I was unable to hit any flops. So I left after 1 hour and 45 minutes, as I started to become a bit hungry and wanted to find a better game. Result: +$43 USD.

Took a taxi over to New York, New York, and from there went here:



It didn't disappoint, and after briefly checking out "The Park" and T-Mobile arena etc. I headed over to Excalibur. Hadn't played there before, but always wanted to try it out as I have read and heard many places the games can be good.

The game were good, but unfortunately I ended up -$64 USD after 2 hours and 45 minutes. And I really really feel that could have been avoided, and that I should have played some spots much better. Let's run though some of them.

Basically was even for a long time in the game, being card-dead, winning some small pots here and there. Then I won a nice pot when there was two limps, and I raised to $11 with TT in position. Short stacked shoved for $16 behind, one of the limpers flat-called, and I call (not allowed to raise).

Board runs out A-J-5-7-T, and I just checked it down until the river where the fun stars. My opponent bets out $20, and even though he could have KQ, there is no way I'm not raising here. As he only have around $75 more I just put it all-in. He does not snap-call, but mumbles something about "what the hell, it's been a bad night anyway", and calls it off with QQ ..

Up over $110 then, but that would soon diminish. I limped into a pot with KJo - yes I should raise, but the two limps before me were from UTG and EP1. It's a 6-way limped pot and flop comes A-T-6. It gets checked around, and turn is a Queen. Second limper leads out for $15, and I just call. River is another Ace, and he bets $25.

I consider just calling, but realize that is way too nitty in case he only has Ax. So I make it $57 to ensure I get a call from any A, only to see my opponent move all-in for $125. I really should fold here I think, but the nagging feeling of not knowing whether he could overplay AJ/A9 type of hands makes me call it off. He obviously have it, with ATo.

Still think I should be able to make the fold. When I raise for value and get such a clear answer, I should fold regardless of decent pot odds. It feels super nitty of course, and might not even be correct, but against an predictable player I should do it still.

Won a pot with 99 to get back to even, before I once again misplay a hand. Two limps to me, and I make it $11 with AJo. We go 4-way to the flop, which comes J-9-3 two diamonds. Checks to me, and I bet $22. Two callers, and turn is another 3. Now the SB leads for $30, the second guy folds, and I call. Could potentially raise here though, as he should never have a 3 from SB and I beat everything besides J9.

River comes with a Q, and he quickly bets $75. I sigh, and fold way too fast without thinking about it thoroughly. I strongly thought QT/QJ were likely holdings, but is he really betting at least QT that strong on the river? He shouldn't really, so unless he has QJ or 99 I don't really think his bet makes a lot of sense. Especially when he tells me he only had a Jack (I made a random comment while folding). To me it makes no sense to bet KJ or JT like that, but maybe that's what he did? Maybe I should just call down more often?

Anyway, not a big loss at Excalibur, but I feel that I too often misplay the big pots and that hurts me in the long run. Generally when a game is fairly nitty, it's super important to be alert when a big pot comes up, to ensure you make the right decision.

I was getting pretty exhausted, but wanted to find another game before going to bed as it was still fairly early. I took the Monorail from MGM Grand over to Flamingo, and immediately got seated in an $1-$2 game there. I quickly realized this was a more active game, especially in the form of a young maniac directly to my right. He 3-bet my first open with T3o (I had A5hh and whiffed flop), and was opening around 60% of hands and straddleing both from button and UTG. His sizing was also huge; usually between $15-$45 pre.

When a seat opened up 3 to his left, I immediately claimed it, and then decided to go on a card-rush. I got QQ five times during the 2.5 hours I played, and made good use of those.

First I 3-bet the maniac's open to $16 (I made it $45), then I 4-bet after the maniac made it $6 pre (randomly small), and another semi-compentent player made it $19. I made it $60 and they both folded.

Next time I had Queens I also 3-bet the maniac in position, but this time he called. I actually don't remember the sizings, but the flop came 5-4-2 and I bet $32. He quickly made it $85, and I had a decision to make. Should we fold, and put him on a set or a better pair? .... NAH, just kidding Shoutout to Jeff Boski for that type of joke though.

The only decision is whether to call or raise, and with a draw-heavy board I didn't really want him to see the turn that 'easily'. I move all-in, and he snapcalls. J on turn and 4 on river, I show and he mucks. He mumbled something about double gutshot, which means 86 as his holding.

Won a few smaller pots, as the game quieted down a bit and the maniac eventually left after dusting off some more. Then I (obviously) got QQ again, and made it $10 over two limps. I get 3 callers, and flop comes 8-5-3. I c-bet $22 and one of the limpers make it $65. Bit unsure what to make of this, but the guy have seemed a bit tilted after losing to the maniac in an earlier hand and had to rebuy. I call, wanting to see what he does on the turn.

J is the card, and he immediately moves in for $192. I give it a few seconds, study him a bit (looked really uncomfortable), and don't really see a fold-button here. I call, and opponent slams his cards into the muck as soon as river hits, mumbles some profanities (not at me) and storms out of the room

So yeah, this looks rather .. favorable:



From a stack over $900 USD at one point I unfortunately cashed out $757 USD a while later, due to running A5hh into AJ on A-J-5-2. Opponent was young, short stacked, American, and clearly inexperienced. In other words, the type of player who would overvalue any Ace there. Unfortunately he had better two pair, but that's just a cooler I can't get away from.

Regardless, a profitable night, even though I'm not 100% happy with my play. I'll be more than happy to take some slaughtering from you guys, in case any of you have input on hands.

Now it's time to get ready for the day and find a game

Results-tracker:

Cash:

Hours played: 15:00 h
Amount won: $701 USD
Hourly rate: $46.7 USD

Tournaments:

Amount won: -$80 USD


TLDR; winning

In the Aria daily, super nice room and really great structure




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After first break, tourney is super easy so far



O. playing 1/3 here as well, while S. is working on becoming even more black. Not sure how that is possible tho.




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Did you guys end up in Trooper's vlog?

WRT the taxes on the VP score, can you get an ITIN at Caesars or Bally's do the form back at Harrah's and get your money back?

During break in tourney. In for $25 out for $515:




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O. will reply on that matter

Regarding taxes, the manager said that unfortunately another property can only fill out their own forms. Would not work for Harrahs.


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I did yes. Was super tired and not prepared for Trooper to pull out the camera, so looked fairly awkward imo.

At Aria now as well, up heaps in $1-$3 game. Winning pots without resistance + was also on the right side of a cooler. Will give details later.

Greyhounds have arrived and stacks are being built!




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Did he shove for $16 more (making it $27?) or do you mean his stack was $16 so he made it $16?

Just smashed some slicers & burgers at Gordon's in PH:


Good as expected.

Now, 1/3 at the Bellagio. Changed $300 and awaiting Greyhound for rungood:



/ J

He moved in for $16 total. Actually think my raise was $12 pre, because I remember now it was only $4 more. The fun part of this hand is the guy that gave me his chips, he only limp-called QQ pre

Quick report from the cashgame earlier today at Aria. I waited around for 10 minutes before getting a seat in a new $1-$3 game. I had expected the game to be somewhat competent, given that I saw one or two backpacks and the vibe at Aria sometimes seems a bit grinder-ish. However, I must say the game was super easy and gave me no problems at all.

Basically without winning any sizeable pots I built up from my original buy-in of $300 to around $500. I got a lot of respect for my c-bets, hit a few flops, and people generally seemed reluctant to play against me. That is a fun feeling, when poker is easy and you beast everything. On the other hand it is a bit funny as they really should salivate the opportunity to be in pots with me.

I also was on the right side of a nice cooler, when there is a raise to $10 from middle position, and he gets two callers behind him. I also call $7 more from the BB with K9hh. The flop comes Ah-Qh-7h. Fairly decent. I check, and the pre-flop raiser bets $25. I assume he is strong, betting into 3 others, and make it $68. He wastes no time in moving all-in, and I obviously snap-call. He has QQ, so certainly not dead, but turn and river blanks, and I win the pot. At this point my stack was up to



Trickled a little bit down after the high point of over $700 though, nothing spectacular, but I suddenly got a bit more resistance to my openings + saw a few flops without hitting. I eventually left the game after 2 hours and 15 minutes, up +$333 USD.

After that I went back to the hotel and have pretty much just been lazy. But I'm gonna go out and play now. Actually considering finding a tournament, although I don't want one that lasts all right. Will have a look at PokerAtlas and see what I can find.

Will update the stats tomorrow.

/O

Sitting in an extremely nitty game at the B, people are getting offended for raising and 3-betting everything. In for $300 and currently at:



Pays for burgers.

Side note: anyone able to explain to me the reasoning behind a chop preflop? One of these games I might be drunk and actually ask the player requesting a chop why the f.. he doesn’t just leave if he doesn’t want to actually play. Annoys me a lot. Did not fly half way across the world to chop blinds


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Glad to hear everyone's trip is looking good!

I read that and wasn't sure if you were referring to the drink or making a comment on the average American body shape.

That's offensive to mules (Was referring to the drink btw. Pool was mostly flocked by elders/permobil-mafia (I presume you're Swedish, so you'll get what I'm saying)).

/ J

We left Bellagio a while ago, S. being down some and me being berated at the table for raising and getting called out for “probably having Aces or Kings and is scared” when I 3-bet another guys flop c-bet with 4s2s on a 5s3s2h board. Closed with a cool and quick $130 profit. Walked back to the room to cool down a bit etc and now both of us are heading to the V to grind the promo. Will update as the night goes, usually bored in those games.


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Rungood/Fortuna f*cked me over - No huge amounts down but bit tilting when, on a nitty game as K was saying, you either "win" a family pot by raising pre with *any* sizing and/or beat by showdown by one rank higher (Two pair vs set/trips, straight vs flush & similar).

Recharging now at hotel before heading down to V for some pits.

/ J

the reasoning behind a chop is that as soon as yo see a flop, the rake gets taken and that can make it quite unprofitable to play a small pot vs each other. I'm not from the US and I find it annoying too, but some people there really do get annoyed if you don't chop.

If you don't want to chop, GTO is to tell both villains on your immediate left and right that you don't as soon as you sit down


Also...what happened in the MTT?

Thanks yeah that make sense. Just felt like there were awfully lot of people offering it.

Didn’t have time to write about the MTT yet. Chipped up nicely and got moved to a new table with 16 or 17 left. Got it in vs a maniac who was raising and 3-betting every hand. Unfortunately this time he had QQ and we did not get there with 88. Was a really fun tourney however.

Just back from the V, cash game was pretty disastrous. Picked up QQ in the straddle, and long story short we get it in vs BB on T high flop and he has KK. Struggled for a while more but ended up cashing out $320, for a total profit of -$280.

Still up for the day we hit our favorite game free bet blackjack. In for $210 and after about 1 hour going back and forth I start pressing and hit two split/split/double hands at $75/$25 bets. Cashed out for:



Venetian bounty series tomorrow at noon. Absolutely love bounty tourneys so it will be a ton of fun! Until then, time to crash.


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anther nice hit....what is your non poker gambol P&L?

Great TR, really enjoying it, thanks,

If chopping is happening enough to be annoying it means you should table change because that game sucks.

But the earlier explanation is the rationale. I never chop in a home game without rake but if others want it in a casino I’ll agree as long as we always do it. “Sometimes I chop is a angle shoot”.