I am far from a donkament pro but 97s is a standard defend from the bb at least,no? And AJ is an open fold from MP,what?

Good Luck.

I think it is more likely he meant RFI then folding 97s to a 3b from the blinds. Agree folding AJo is pretty tight though.

I might play 97s multi-way from the blinds facing a raise… in the exact circumstance, the raise came from UTG+1 and folded to me in the SB and I folded.

And yes I really do open fold AJo first in from MP at a tight, squeezey, 3bet-y table

I agree on folding 97s from the SB. But AJ is a standard open from MP at almost any table imo. If people are out of line regards to 3 betting us alot,we can launch the 4 bet/ship.

Second break…. It was a good 4 levels for me. Sitting on 88.5k coming back to 600/1.2k/1.2k

The table is not playing as tight or as tough as I initially thought, AND I have position on two big stacks. Now I have enough to do some damage to them.

My first big hand was busting a guy KK > 55 all in preflop. Then a shorty shoved 9k, I reshipped to isolate, hoping to flip with 55, but he had 77 and held.

The big hand was at 500/1k. I open KK for 2.5k UTG+1 playing 48k, 3 calls including Villain playing 90k from SB. Flop Q-7-3 two diamonds, checks to me I bet 5k villain calls. Turn 5h, check, I bet 12k, call. River 6s, he leads out 18k.

Diamonds missed, I heavily discounted a slowplayed set based on my read on the guy. I’m only losing to junk 2 pairs or a random 4, which he could definitely have, but I’m not folding. I call, he says “you’ve probably got it” and am good vs J7o (lol).

The big stacks to my right are playing looser and calling all ins very light and getting there. I like the spot I’m in.

Let’s make it another good 4 levels!

gogogo!

all that for 81 bucks a night? that's really pretty good.
run good

Third break, 63k coming back to 1.5k/3k/3k. Some big stacks at my table… I think I’m the shortest, but still have enough that I get to choose when I send it in. Registration closes with almost 6k players! Last year was 5700something. Now the tournament really begins.

Only played one big hand…. Cutoff min raises, I flat JsTs from BB. Flop T-9-8 two diamonds, none of my suit. I check, he bets, I checkraise 3x, he calls. Turn Q putting a 2nd flush draw out, I lead, now he raises a committing amount. With both flush draws out there, I think all my options suck…. But I have the 2nd nuts. So I send it in, he snaps, and my heart sinks. He had QJ, no flush draw, and we chop. I was very fortunate not to run into the top of his range, because he could easily have KJ. I was fortunate not to be getting freerolled, and I was fortunate to hit the Q and not the 7. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do once he raises turn. I’ll have to think about it more.

Other than that, I never put more than half my stack at risk… lost some small pots. Didn’t get a ton of starting hands.

Four more levels, then dinner. Just gonna keep observing, and find the best spot I can.

Also, there’s apparently a well known poker vlogger at my table. Calls himself Pyzza, host of Poker with Pyzza. He’s the biggest stack at our table and one of the biggest in the tournament. Plays well, and obviously runs very well so far. A reporter from Pokernews came over to talk to him.

Got a double the last hand of level 13!

My stack is both workable and relevant now.

135k at 2k/4k/4k

Let’s goooooooo

good luck! I bet you slept so much better after the big cash win

also, that Yardbird chicken looks incredible and I'm definitely going there when I'm in town. Weighing up the mac & cheese vs cornbread sides but will be going with others so can hopefully get both

Lost a flip, TT > AQo, 80k now. Guess that means I’m due to win my next one.

Moving to the Paris ballroom now.

Made the dinner break! Got some work to do when I get back…. 103k coming back to 4K/8k/8k. About 200 people need to bust for the bubble to pop. A mincash is worth $960, and there’s $351k up top

Met up with prairiebreeze for dinner…. Confirmed good dude! I just wanted something quick, so we’re at the Horseshoe food court.

Who are you, Oliver Twist?

First hand back from break, UTG shoved 76k and I wake up with JJ.

Sigh.

Call.

Up against KQo…

AND HOLD!

209k now, less than 100 players left to bust before the money

The floor appears to have ****ed up counting where the bubble is. After 10 minutes of play, they’ve stopped play and sent us on ANOTHER 25 minute break while they get it sorted.

Gives me a chance to show y’all what I had on dinner break! Remember, I woke up late today and staggered over to the Horseshoe, so I haven’t eaten all day until the 7:30 pm dinner break.

There didn’t appear to be any cool or unique food options at the Horseshoe food court, and they were obviously busy with the dinner break rush. Prairiebreeze and I decided on Nathan’s, so I got a chili cheese dog, bacon New York cheesesteak, and fries, for $36.



It was every bit as lush and slovenly as it looked

Prairiebreeze is confirmed a great dude. We chatted about poker, NFL football, people we’ve interacted with on this forum… great times. We’re gonna try to do another meal together while we’re both in town… maybe some Italian at Esther’s Kitchen.

He’s at the Shoe playing cash, and I’m about to head back, for as long as it takes.

Let’s find a bag tonight!!

lfggggg

Hand for hand now

240k at 4/8

gogogogo!!

It's twice the size of the old room. It was typical for them to have 5 games running at night. When the new owners closed the Rio, Harrah's, and Flamingo poker rooms, it seemed like they hoped to funnel all the old traffic to Bally's and remodeled the poker room.

that's a lot of food to eat and expect to be able to think clearly into the night

thoughts and prayers my man!

edit: NVM - only one of the cheesesteaks is yours?

Spoiler alert: it worked. Room is packed.

Yeah, I don't like to play cash games when I'm there for the Series. Sometimes I do it anyway.

you have to do both....otherwise you can't head home saying 'well the tournaments didn't go well, but I made a ton of $$ in the cash games'