Made $300. The Bellagio poker room is a disaster. Way too crowded, they need to expand and/or remove tables. Dealers were slow and generally not good. Other players generally unpleasant, shades of Commerce. But the game was good. The 5/10 was better than the Wynn 2/5; limited sample obviously but way more recs. My table was one spewtard, 2-3 weak tight recs, 2-3 meh pros, 1-2 good pros and me.
Just stuffed my face at AYCE sushi. Strip mall scene didn't make me feel great about the $8k in my pocket but now safely in the Uber.
Some poker related thoughts while fresh in my mind:
1. I know we're not covering new ground here but JFC the hyper serious earphones backpack types are just cancer for poker games. I had one of these guys call clock on a rec and chase him from the game. I am quite certain this nonsense will never really change; I suspect what draws many of these people to poker in the first place is that, on the surface, it doesn't require any social skills or ability to interact with other humans in a normal way. Also, poker pros, discussing hands at the table is terrible for the game.
2. Most 2/5 and 5/10 pros are not good. They are just nits. Hence, at Wynn, the same 20 guys were bouncing around constantly asking for table changes among the 4 games. They can't make money unless they are playing against terrible players. They never 3-bet light, many are incapable of ever bluffing, they announce their hands with bet sizing, and many simply never call bets of more than a few hundred dollars without a nutted hand. Many are terrible hand readers beyond obvious draws hitting or not. And they don't value bet enough.
3. Being a poker pro would be a really tough way to make a living. I think you have to absolutely love the game to have any chance. I like it ok, a lot even, and I am pretty burnt out after just 2.5 days of playing (and I ran pretty well and won a decent amount). Maybe the reason for #2 above is that so many pros go on autopilot trying to get in their hours. You can tell a lot of these guys feel entitled to winning, which creates a terrible atmosphere for recs. Also, the best games seem to happen when normal people are sleeping, so with a family or any kind of other responsibilities you necessarily miss good games.
4. Wynn is by far the best room and the best run room in town. Most of the time I was there the manager was a woman named Sharon who was superb. Drink service is fantastic, table side food comes quickly and tastes good, and the scenery in and out of the pool and nightclub are A+. Also nice to be steps from the Encore drop off.
5. They way to win recs money is to...wait for it...play pots with them! Most people just wait for big pairs and hope the fish pays them off. This will win you a little money, but in many cases you'll just watch him lose to other players, often other bad players who are just less bad than the fish. If you're 1500+ deep, play all sorts of hands! You can hand read, they can't, you have to be in to use that advantage.
Will be back at Encore in 2 weeks after the 4th. Thanks for reading.
Booked for 1/11 - 1/14 for the NFL Divisional Round. Staying at WynnCore obviously.
Have also booked SW, Cut and Sinatra for dinners. Will be joined by a confirmed baller for this trip, degeneracy factor unknown, though he is a very good poker player.
I know, pics! I'll try.
Have been for the NFL playoffs before and the sports books were pure insanity. Hope that may not be the case at Encore?
One limp, Hoodie (LAGtard) raises to 15 in MP, I call on button with KJss, both blinds and limper call. Flop KJ10 two clubs, raiser bets 60, my move? Blinds have about 250 each, raiser has me covered (600 effective).
Decided to go for cheap comfort dinner at maggianos. Don’t hate, 7.5/10 on the chicken parm. Back on the grind. I find when I get in 1/3 I’m too lazy to switch to 2/5 later. Meh, I’m on vacay.
