Reading poker strategy is not my thing, but I am really loving your photos. It is getting me excited for my upcoming trip!

$72 an hour feels good!

True, but I think you can still be a good player even if you throw in the occasional limps, depending on how the table plays.

Appreciate it I am not the best at taking photos, and could probably take even more than I do. But I do like to break up the text with the occasional picture here and there.

As always I started off the day (after updating this TR) with a trip the gym. Felt great as always. I then got ready and headed out. I first went over to NYNY to get a quick massage there, which was much needed. Then I checked Bravo, and saw that my original destination - Golden Nugget - had 12 players on the list. That means they likely don't have enough dealers, and thus it will be a long wait. So Downtown will have to wait. Instead I went over here:



After 10 minutes of waiting, they started up a new $1/$3 game and I bought in for my usual $400. Table didn't look amazing at first glance, but you never know. I sat back for a while and saw that most players came in for raises pre, with a couple of exception. Especially one middle eastern looking guy around my age looked like he was there to play.

He is involved in the first hand I play, when there is a straddle for $6 from UTG, he calls, and I have JTo in SB. I dont really love playing this hand, but I had been folding for 3 orbits now and threw in the extra $5 (I should rather raise). BB folds and straddle checks. Flop comes Q-T-5 two clubs. I check, straddle checks, and the middle eastern bets $15. I call and the straddle folds.

Turn comes an 8, so now I have a gutshot as well. I check, and he quickly checks back. River comes a 2, which as we know never changes anything. I check, and he throws out $15. I didn't really like it, but based on the good price, the check back on turn, and what I had seen from this guy so far, I chose to make the call. He does however show up with ATo for a better kicker, and I complimented him for a good value bet.

A few hands later this guy limps again. I have J9hh on button, and raise it up to $15. Like I said in a previous post, against one limper only I will raise my normal range and 'ignore' the limper - and this hand certainly qualifies from BTN. He calls, and we see Q-9-3 two clubs, no hearts. He checks, and I think a bit and check it back.

Turn comes an A, and after he checks, I check it back. This way I will see if he likes the Ace or not, depending on his river action. River comes a 5, and he checks again. Seems likely he doesn't have much, and maybe I could just check this one down. But I think it's better not having to show + just in case he has K9 and a better kicker. So I bet $21, and he quickly folds.

Then he straddles for $6, and I make it $20 from 2nd position (7-handed) with KJo. I get no less than two callers in the field however + straddle also calls. We go 4-ways to A-T-8 all spades, and I have none of those. It checks around, and another T lands on the turn. Straddle leads out, and I fold.

The active guy did however leave after only 30 minutes or so, so there will be no more hands involving him. He won a good pot when he called a $150 all-in pre with KQo and beat AQ, so he was probably happy with the result.

A bit later a tight player limps for $3, and I raise QTo from CO to $15 for the same reasons as explained above. SB calls, the limper calls, and we see K-9-2 spread out by the dealer. I have a gutshot at least, and a favorable board. So when they check to me, I bet $25 and get two quick folds.



An OWC (old woman) had sat down at the table, and she raises to $12 from early position. I have A7hh on the button, and decide to call. We are deep, so I didn't mind playing a suited Ace in position against what is likely a strong range. No one else gets involved, so we go heads-up to A-9-3 rainbow. She checks, and I bet out $11 to get value from hands like KK/QQ etc. She calls.

Turn comes a J, and she now leads for $20. I am getting a bit concerned about this unusual line, but didn't think I could fold just yet. So I call, and another Jack lands on the river. She assembles a bet of $60, and I quickly fold. My kicker plays, so I can so easily be outkicked here. She is kind enough to show me 99 for a flopped set and rivered boat.

Then we have another limp from a tight player to my direct right, and I raise it up from the button to $15 with AJo. He is the only caller, and we see Q-6-5 two diamonds. I have really nothing going on at this board, but after he checks I bet $15 again since he is tight and I can hopefully get him off something. He does however call.

Turn comes another 6, which I think is a very bad card for getting him to fold. So after he checks, I check behind. River comes a 4, and he now leads for $25. The flush draw missed, but another draw came in (78). In addition, he can easily just have a Queen. So I fold, and add on another $100 to my stack.

I had KK shortly after, and raise to $12 from UTG. EP1, who is a new player to the table, calls, and rest fold. T-9-6 two diamonds is the flop, but I have already (from a few things this player had said) noticed that he is very recreational. As of such I have a very easy bet since he will never find a raise with a hands like... JTo or 98s, hands that have equity and can put my overpair in misery. I bet $18, and he folds.

Then there is a limp for $3, and the woman raises to $11 from SB. I have AJo in BB, and wanted to 3-bet, but I still think she is fairly tight even though she comes in for a few raises. Also, her range from SB is likely strong. So I just call in position, and the limper actually folds.

A-T-2 two diamonds, and she bets $20. I have no diamond, but can certainly not go anywhere yet. So I call. Turn is a 9, putting two flushdraws out there. She fires out $50, and part of me wanted to fold right here and then. But instead I went for the good old "Fifth Street Chicken" approach that Bart Hanson teaches, and called the turn - daring her to bet again (I would fold if she did).

River comes a 4, she checks and I quickly check back although I expect to lose some of the time. She shows AK, which is not a surprise - neither the hand strength, nor that she was not good enough to find a value bet on the river.

I am down to just over $300 in my stack, and considering to add on another $100. I don't get that far however before I find QQ from UTG. I raise to $12, the inexperienced guy calls in EP1, and then EP2 makes it $45. This is a guy in his 50s, who have been extremely active so far, often coming in for raises, putting on the straddle every time UTG, and he had shown down one or two fairly loose opens.

In other words, I am not folding QQ against this guy. I raise to $125, prepared to call of if he jams. EP1 folds, and the 3-better puts the rest in. He did however do it with a motion that made me feel hopeful, as he sort of shrugged while doing it. He flips up AKo, which is hardly a surprise.

T-9-8-6-3

It felt very good to win that flip (I started with $306), and be back in profit. Obviously almost 50% of the time I will be stuck $500, and although that would not have been fun the hand was completely standard for both of us given stack sizes and overall image/playing styles so far.



I then go card-dead for a while before the inexperienced guy limps for $3 from UTG, a new Asian player raises to $11 from MP, button calls, and I call in BB with 64dd. Limper also calls, so we go 4-ways to K-6-4 two spades. Great stuff, and maybe I should lead here. Instead I check, and it checks around.

Turn comes a T, and I lead out for $28. Inexperienced guy calls, and the other two folds. River comes a Q, and I have no idea why I did what I did here (checked). In game I thought he could easily have better two pair, but that is a terrible thought process. My thought process should be that this guy is fishy, he will not come off any pair, and I should charge him. And if I value own myself a few times, then so be it.

As played, I made the stupid check, and he checks back and shows K2o - exactly the kind of hand that would have paid $45 on the river. Sigh.

I try to open a few more hands, without good result. First 65dd to $12 from MP, inexperienced guy calls, and then the active 50s guy 3-bets to $40 from button. I don't think I can call here OOP, so I fold. He showed TT after everyone had folded, FWIW.

Very next hand I raise AQo to $12, and inexperienced guy 3-bets to $25. This is obviously a monster, but for only $13 more I figured it was worth seeing if I could outflop him somehow. I did not, as it came J-6-4 all diamonds (I have black cards). I check, he bets $15 and fold. He shows QQ.

I steal a couple of blinds, fold a bit, and the game in general is a bit dull. Although the inexperienced guy is value, I have noticed he is also afraid to put in too much chips in the middle even with near nuts. So I decide to just play out my round, go back to the hotel and chill by the pool a bit, before heading out to find an evening game. I am up a little over $100, which is not too terrible.

Then I find KQhh my last hand from UTG, and raise to $12. The active guy is the only caller, and we go heads-up to A-Q-2 one heart. I bet $11 hoping to just take it down, or deny equity for pocket pairs. He calls.

Turn is the 8h, which gives me a flushdraw as well. However, I see no reason to build up the pot for Ax. So I check, content with keeping the pot smaller and/or let him start to bluff if he has any kind of bluffs on this board (hands like JT and KJ are possible at least). He bets $20, and I call.

River is a black 5, so I miss my draw and are left with second pair. I check, and he bets $65. Sigh. I know this is a fold, but my mind is clouded with how active this guy have been (way more than I have been able to describe here), and how he cannot have it all the time. Also, if he has any of the above bluffs, he will feel obliged to try given I checked turn and have shown weakness in that regard.

You all know where this road leads. I flick in the call, and he has 22 for a flopped set. Of course he has, the way he was running (except in the flip against me). I frustratingly cash out a tiny $27 profit (2.5 hours of play), which is obviously better than losing. But once again I am losing money on river calls I don't have to make.



I made my way back to Mandalay Bay on foot/tram, and went for a quick visit to the pool. Sun was on it's way down, but it was still warm and the water felt very refreshing. Now I will head out to find an evening game, and try to stick with it for a couple of hours.


Cash Games:

Hours played: 20h 30 min
Won/loss: +$1347 USD
Hourly rate: $65.7 USD

Tournaments:

Profit/loss: -$24 USD (2 played)

For the evening session yesterday, I decided to head to Venetian. Took an Uber over there, and quickly got a seat in a game.

I mess up the first hand I played due to a problem I sometimes have; being too passive. There are three limpers to me, and I have QJo in BB. Instead of bumping it up to $20 and take it down, I chose to just check it as I wasn't quite sure how everyone was playing yet. The flop comes 8-8-5 and checks around.

Turn is a J, so I make TP. I considered leading, but checks, and the UTG-limper (young Asian) makes it $10. I am the only caller, and we see a 2 on the river. I actually decided to lead here, as I think all his better Jx would raise pre, and I don't want it to go check-check. I make it $13 to try and target JT and J9 type of hands, but he instead min-clicks it to $26. Such a silly sizing, but for that prize I guess I just have to see it. He shows up with 86hh. Just goes to show I could probably have gotten to fold pre.

Then there is a limp ahead of me, and instead of raising I chose to limp along with 22 in cutoff. Same Asian as above makes it $13 from the button, and both the first limper and me call. We see 7-7-6 two spades, which is not quite what I had in mind. It does however checks around.

What I did have in mind is the 2 of spades on turn, giving me a full house. I assume I have a near lock here, so after the first limper checks I bet small ($13) to keep the others in. That gets the desired result as they both call - although I can probably easily make it $20 as well.

River comes the 4s, so there are 4 to a flush out there. I think this is great news, especially as the first limper suddenly looks interested and start to assemble a bet. He eventually makes it $50 (into $82), and I am near certain he has the Ace of spades here. I am also certain he will not fold it, so let's make it $185. In hindsight I could have just moved all-in though as I didn't have a ton behind.

Opponent goes into the tank for 15-20 seconds, mumbles something about a straight flush (85ss would that be), but announces call. I confidently flip my hand, only for opponent to flip up his own afterwards. 44 for a rivered higher full house. Ouch.

That said, nothing I can do there. Sure, I can bet higher on turn, but I mean - we want him in there with 44, drawing to two outs. I also really like my raise on the river, even if I have the lowest full house, simply because with the way the hand was played, him having As was way more likely than any full house combo.

In for $500 then, as I reload $200 more. I also continue to lose more, when there are 3 limps to me, and I check in BB with J8hh. The flop comes K-Q-5 one heart, and checks around. Turn comes the 6h, so now I suddenly have a flushdraw. I bet out $10, thinking I can take it down here or in worst case build up the pot. The Asian who limped UTG does however raise to $25, and it folds to me.

Weird one, as he checked the flop but now suddenly shows interest. I am very certain he raises KQ pre, so I guess that only leaves something like 56 suited. I was almost tempted to 4-bet the flop though, given how few 2 pair combos he can have limping from UTG. That said, I wasn't sure how much fold-eq I would have. So I just called, river is a black 2, and I have to check-fold when he bets.

Classic picture from outside of Venetian to break up the text incoming:



Eventually I had to reload once more and I am in for $600, before I finally managed to win a small pot. I raise 76dd to $12 from hijack, and get calls from SB and BB. The flop comes K-J-9 no diamonds, but although I have nothing here I kind of like the texture of the board. BB checks, and I bet $15 thinking that as long as I get past the Small Blind this one will be easy to win. And I will also consider a double barrel if he calls. It does not come to that however, as they both fold.

Eventually I had some big hands too, but sadly without much action. I raise KK to $12 from UTG, everyone folds. I raise AKo to $12 from UTG a round later, everyone folds.

I also flopped a set, when there is a limp and I make it $15 right behind him with 33 in cutoff. Button calls, SB calls, and the limper calls. Flop comes A-T-3, which is obviously a great sight. Both because I flop a set, but more importantly because I unblock top pair, and I assume one of them must have an Ace. It checks to me, I c-bet for $35 and... everyone folds. Meh.



Then I fold for a while, and observe some players leave the game and get replaced by others. For what it's worth, the guy who had 44 against me didn't even last 10 minutes (that's what she said?) after that hand before getting up from the table and cashing out. Standard.

One of the new players is a well-built guy in his 30s, who came in with over $600 after a table change. He immediately starts playing a lot of hands, and I clearly hear a Eastern European accent when he speaks (although he didn't say much).

With that as a backdrop, a fish from UTG limps in for $3. I have black 99 right behind him, and makes it $15. The Eastern European is in the BB and calls, while the limper folds out. So we are heads-up to 9-7-3 two hearts. He checks, and I am doing cartwheels inside as I smash a flop that he will likely think I have no piece of. I start with a bet of $15, and he calls.

Turn comes a 4, and after he checks I increase the sizing to $45. He goes into the tank, and then announces a huge raise to $170. I have no idea what he have, but I don't' particularly care. If I have to guess he might have some kind of combo draw, but he could also just be on a move where he is turning something into a bluff. Either way, I look down at my stack and see that I will only have like $130 more on top of his raise. So that makes it a very easy all-in - he's gonna be prized in almost regardless what he has.

Opponent snapcalls and turn over his hand, which I didn't even have time to register before another 7 lands on the river. So I have a full house, and only now do I see that he actually has 65o for the turned straight. Fishy call on the flop imo with a gutshot and no overcards, but what do I know about poker? It's regardless a huge relief to boat up and win this pot, as that takes me right out of stuckville and into a small profit.

Edit: I see now that he actually had a double gutshot on flop while proof-reading the text. Both 8 and 4 would give him a straight, which obviously makes the call on the flop very reasonable.

My hand also took the lead in the 'High Hand' promotion that Venetian runs ever 30 minutes, but with 28 minutes left on the clock I had no hope of winning that one. And indeed someone made quads around 10 minutes later at another table.

Speaking of players leaving btw, the Eastern European guy took a walk from his seat as soon as the hand was over, and then came back 10 minutes later, took his chips, and left.

Only 2 hands later I play maybe the most interesting hand of the trip. A young kid who replaced the Asian from the first hands, raises to $11. We have had a friendly tone since he sat down, but I can clearly tell that he is a good player. He gets two calls, and I make the call in the BB with A5o for $8 more. I want to point out that the only reason I am calling here is because I have A5o, if I had A6 or A7 it would be the easiest fold in the world. But A5 is the best of these low Aces, so I figured it was just about worth a call; even off-suit.

4-ways then to 3-2-7 with two hearts. I have the Ace of hearts, so I find this flop rather interesting. I check, the kid bets $16, the other two fold, and I make the call with plans to torture him if a heart lands. In addition, I obviously also have a fairly hidden gutshot draw.

Turn comes Th, so I make my imaginary flush. I check, and he checks it back. Plan was to bomb river pretty hard, but then it comes an Ace. I check, thinking that he will likely value bet if he hit an Ace, or at least try to represent it against my fairly weak line so far. And he indeed bets out for $45.

Now, I have plenty of showdown value here, and can easily just go for the call. However, I wasn't sure if my hand was good here, and I do think I have the perfect combination to turn into a bluff. I have Ah, I have a 5 in my hand (I could have defended with 45 suited), and I just didn't think I could win enough times at showdown to make this a just call.

So let's raise it up instead! I make it $150, which I regret as soon as I put it out there as I think it's a bit too small. But at the same time it at least has the illusion of looking value-ish. He goes into the tank for a long long time, which means he has something. He starts talking a bit to himself, asks out loud if I can have the flush here, and that he has a set (!).

As soon as he said that I was thinking 'Oh ****, I gave him too good of a prize, and no-one folds a set in these spots'. He continues to go through my possible holdings, wondering if I have a straight, or that I could even have flopped a higher set (which means he likely has 22). But eventually he comes to a decision, which is to fold. Phew.

I did not show, but told him that he could pick one card - which is a genious move if I am going to show him anything, because no matter what he picks it will indicate that he was beat. He chose the Ah, and seemed very relieved to see that one.



Although I have made a lot of small and medium mistakes this trip, I must say that the above hand is a real confidence boost to myself. I had a plan, executed it, and as soon as I saw the river I knew that check-raise would be my play (if he checks back, I will simply win the hand with top pair most likely, so no harm done either way). I also like that I went for it, just two hands after I got a huge double up that put me slightly ahead for the session. That shows that I can detach from the money at stake, and make the right play.

I played for a while longer, without too much exciting happening. I did play a few hands, but nothing too interesting until the very last one. I was going to leave after this round, but then found JJ from UTG. So we raise it up to $12, and get calls from MP and BB.

Flop comes A-9-5 two spades; certainly not my favorite but the caller had been very straight forward and BB was defending way too wide. So I thought a bet had a good chance at succeeding. I make it $16, only to see MP raise it up to $35.

In game I probably folded too quickly without thinking what he was raising with, but this guy had been very straight forward so I didn't even consider that he was bluffing. He was, as he turned up 88 afterwards. Seems more like button-clicking than a good bluff to me, but regardless it won him the pot.

I ended up winning $83 USD, which is not very significant but it felt good after being stuck probably close to $400 at one point. I took the scenic route back to MB, which means walking to Harrahs and taking this one to MGM Grand:



From there I walked through and over to NYNY, before walking towards Excalibur and taking the free tram to Mandalay Bay. Probably cheaper than taking an Uber at least.

Today is Tuesday, so we have 3 full days left in Vegas + most of Friday. So there is still plenty of time left for more fun stuff


Cash Games:

Hours played: 23h 30 min
Won/loss: +$1430 USD
Hourly rate: $60.9 USD

Tournaments:

Profit/loss: -$24 USD (2 played)

Subbing so I can read later. Cash profits looking good!

I think 65s is a call here. Active guy has likely shown that he is capable of 3-betting more than just KK-AA, and 65s is one of those hands that goes for it, even 4-betting sometimes when deep. Against a typical passive 1/3 player, easy fold, but against this guy, a call is more than reasonable.

Thanks for the TR, I'm enjoying following along.

Thanks for the feedback. You might be right, as I am getting a decent price. And maybe the fish will also come along if I call.

Enjoying the hand analysis. Thought process seems solid.

In terms of being frustrated with some of those river payoffs, just remember that if we're playing correctly, we're going to be calling and losing sometimes.

We can't always be afraid of the monster under the bed, which is hard to remember during those bad streaks when the monster is actually always under the bed.

After updating the TR this morning, I started off with a visit to the Mandalay Bay pool. No pictures from it today, but water felt awesome and it was not super crowded either. I did however take this picture of a cool fountain with elephant heads.



Speaking of animals, let us go and find some fish & donkeys. And a good place to do that is often at the Golden Nugget downtown. I noticed they had a bit of a waitlist, but I took a gamble and headed out there. And indeed, as soon as I arrived they were in the process of starting up a new game. I bought in for this amount:



I fold for the first 4-5 hands, before posting the Big Blind of $2. There are two limps, before the button makes it $8. Pretty laughable sizing, and I have J3dd in BB. Seems good enough to call for such a cheap amount, so that is what I do. The first limper folds (!) and the second one calls.

J-3-7 two clubs seems reasonable, and I debated leading but decided to check. Unfortunately it checks around, and we see Ts on the turn, putting two flush draws out there now. I bet $17 and get called by only the preflop-raiser. I take a brief note of his range, and assume that it contains a lot of flush draws and KQ maybe as played.

River comes 3s, so the flush comes in but I boat up. I definitely need to target his flush-holdings, so I overbet and put out $80. Opponent asks how much that is, before verbally announcing $160. Ah, the good old min-raise. I look back at the board, and obviously notice that hands like TT and 77 beat me, but I also felt like there would be way more flushes here than full houses given how the hand was played. And if I only call and he shows me AK suited or something, I would hate life.

This situation is very similar to the one I had at Venetian yesterday, where I raise river with a bottom full house. I went for it here as well, and jammed all in. Opponent snap-calls so fast that I realize it could mean trouble. And sure enough, he has the ultimate nuts with JJ. That one stings.

There are so many things I could say about this spot, but in hindsight I might have overplayed it ever so slightly. If I had 77 I would have liked my play better, but there are some slow played hands that beat me. And for me to get paid here, I have to make some assumptions - both that an opponent that looks a bit OMC-ish would even find a raise on the river with a flush, and especially that he would pay off with it. I will run this spot through some more people and see what they think, but I should probably have thought more about the fact that he is raising despite me overbetting the river.

So yeah, I didn't get to enjoy the chips above for too long. I reload for $400 more, and soon get involved again. There is a limp for $2, before a short stacked black guy makes it $10. I have QJss in BB, and call. The limper also calls, so we go 3-ways to K-4-2 two spades.

I check, limper checks, and black guy bets $10 with only around $30 behind. I raise to $35 to just put him in, and the limper folds. He goes all-in, and we see K turn and J river. My rivered pair is good enough for the pot, and I never learned what he was holding.

He buys in again, and have been raising a fair bit of hands. He does it again when I am in Small Blind; making it $10 over a limper. I have KQo in SB, and decide to 3-bet to $36. Bit borderline in this game, but this guy seemed wide enough to where I could find a semi-light 3-bet. He calls.

The flop comes 5-T-7 two diamonds, not amazing but I think I can get him off unpaired hands like AQ or even AK. So I bet $30, only to see him call very quickly. Turn comes a Q, which is a welcome sight. I doubt he floated with AQ, so I should have the best hand here. He is halfway blocking his chip stack with his arm, but it looks like has a bit over $100 left. So I just slide out $100, which he once again snap-calls. I now see that he still has around $60 back.

River comes a 3 and I see he has already gripped the rest of his chips, ready to put them in. Not sure what to make of that, but we are in too deep already, so let's just put it in and hope he calls with worse. So I move him in, he says he has pocket Jacks and slides in the rest of his chips. Jacks are no good Sir, and we win a big pot to recover a lof the losses from earlier.

This picture was taken a bit later, when I had also won a small pot with A5o from the button.



A while later there is a limp for $2, and I raise to $12 with QQ right behind the tight limper. BB calls, and the limper also calls. We see K-9-4 rainbow, and they both check to me. I chose to bet $16, just because it makes hand a bit easier to play than checking back. That said, with how weak and passive these guys were, I could maybe check back and seek value later. BB folds, but the limper calls.

Turn comes a 2 and after he checks, I check behind. River is a 9, which I didn't like very much but he checks again. I almost checked it back, but the realize that my table image is probably a bit crazy (compared to how the others were playing, I was a maniac) and that he could convince himself to call down with a random pocket pair. So I bet $25. Opponent goes into the tank for a while, says "I'm gonna make a bad call" and throws in chips. I assume that is good news and show, but no - he flips over KJo. Lol. This one is again very thin, but if I am going to lose I don't mind it being due to value betting.

This game was overall extremely passive and dull, and people were playing super scared money - including the guy who I doubled up early. I saw people limping AK suited and maybe only get one street of value on A-high boards, or people flopping trips only calling small $10 river bets etc.

I tried to play a couple of hands and take advantage of their tightness, but kept losing a few small pots here and there. For example, the guy with JJ raised to $8 from MP and I called on the button with QJo. The way these guys were playing this call even felt borderline, but I figured on the button and for a cheap prize it was worth it. Flop comes J-2-3, and he quickly bets $15. I call.

Turn is a 6, and he bets $20. I notice that this is almost the same sizing, and makes me wonder if he is not 100% confident in his hand. So I call again. River comes an A, which is a really bad card for me. He bets out $45, and I just fold quickly. Although his line is a bit strange (would he really bet A high twice?), I still think that when this guy goes bet-bet-bet it means he has something good.

Another typical hand of how this game played is when I find KK after two limps (I only saw one of them, otherwise would have made it $15). My foe from above calls, and the other guy folds. K-7-2 two clubs, and after he checks I bet $10. He folds. I guess I could have checked it since I block top pair, but figured a small bet would still get called. But no such luck.

I started to isolate a bit wider, which lead to me raising 54ss to $12 over a limp. A new short stacked player calls on the button, and the limper once again folds. I smash the flop with A-4-4 and bet out $10, thinking this guy will have a lot of Ax in his range. He moves all-in for $40 or something, and I snap. He was not too pleased upon seeing my hand, as he clearly had an Ace.

There was quite a few more small hands I could have written about, but most were very insignificant and not highly interesting. But overall the game was just so tame that I couldn't see where the next big pot would come from. So although I could have sat there winning small pots, I figured I would find better games on The Strip instead. So I just cashed out after 2.5 hours, down $190 USD. Not ideal, but certainly better than losing $400.





As above pictures show, I wandered around Fremont for a little bit before finding an Uber back to Mandalay Bay. Now I'm gonna go for a very quick trip to the gym, and then find what is hopefully a better game for tonight.

Cash Games:

Hours played: 26h 00 min
Won/loss: +$1240 USD
Hourly rate: $47.7 USD

Tournaments:

Profit/loss: -$24 USD (2 played)

Nice write up.

I like how you played the J3ss hand post flop but I think even for $6 more it’s a fold pre flop. Such a RIO hand in so many ways…shitty flushes, shitty two pairs etc

I was about to say that I'm pretty impressed by your continued and consistent successful sessions. finally took a loss but not too catastrophic.
my last visit to Vegas I enjoyed like 5 winning sessions in a row and then I got crushed one morning at Venetian for -$715

This thread should be called "Thinking man's poker." You go beyond thinking about how to just win the pot. Whereas some people might just be content to have won a hand, you dig deeper to consider whether there was more value to have been gotten on a winning hand. When you bet and someone folds, you wonder if you could have won more by having just checked in order to get paid on a later street. It's a joy to watch your process.

I see now that it's a 100% call on the app I have on my phone, but that's HU. Since it's harder to realize multiway, it might be a fold. But against such small sizing I honestly don't mind the call.

Thanks! But as you can see, that leads to me getting too greedy at times 😀 Poker is easy on paper, but sometimes hard to execute in real life.

Yesterday evening I decided to head over to Bellagio, as I saw the had a fairly short list. And indeed, they had a seat for me as soon as I arrived.

At first glance the game looked ok, with two semi-drunk English friends, one pretty girl (who didn't say much and left after an hour), and also two friends from Israel who were completely terrible. Later in the session a father/son duo of Asian descent also joined the game, and the latter was playing his first ever poker session and didn't seem to know or understand much of the game.

First hand of note is when one of the UK guys makes it $10. He has a very short stack, and I find AKcc right behind him. I make it $31, and he ends up calling with only about $60 or so behind. Flop comes 9-6-6 one club, not amazing but not terrible. It shouldn't connect much with his range, so after he checks I bet $25. He folds quickly.



I had AK a bit later as well, this time without success however. There are 4 limps to me, and I am in BB and raise it up to $21. I do however get no less than 3 callers, and we see Q-9-6. Not really what I was looking for, and though they originally limped they have likely many hand types that are all over this board (Q9, JT, QT and such). So I just check and give up. Turn comes a 7, and it checks to the button who bets. I fold.

After that I go super card dead for at least 45 minutes; having no chance to get involved in any pots. Table is mostly passive and fishy, but I don't even have hands to limp along and see flops with. So let us watch this pretty waterfall outside of Bellagio while we wait for something playable:



Ok, that helped. Finally we find a a fun spot when there are two limps for $3, and I have JTcc in SB. I bump it up to $20, the first limper folds but button calls. He is one of the Israelian players, and took this seat after one of the UK players decided to move to the other side of the table. Generally, this guy is limping at least 50% of hands, and I have also observed some very obvious live tells and lots of min-raising when he has a hand.

Anyway, flop comes Q-8-3 all clubs. What a dream, and I even have the straight flush draw. He tries to check out of turn, but still calls after I bet out $20. Turn comes another club, the 6c. Not my favorite card, so I check it over to him. He bets $25, and I am obviously not folding for that prize. I call.

River is a red 4, and after he checks he sighs loudly for a second or two, before announcing all-in. The good old 'oh, I don't like this situation but lets go all-in' act. It's 100% obvious to me that he has the Ace of clubs, and I fold almost instantly, showing my hand. He responds as I hoped he would, by showing AcTd for the nut flush. Annoying pot to lose, but a very easy fold in the end.

Then back to being super card dead for at least an hour, while the table gets more and more fishy. The UK guys (who were mostly passive, but a bit unpredictable) eventually left, and got replaced by the Asian duo I mentioned above. Some more limp-happy players also joined along the way, and being at this table was a bit frustrating/surreal. I knew this was a table I should annhilate most of the times, but when I am only getting 93o, K5o, T6o etc., then I am not good enough to do so. I didn't even get hands I could limp along (a standard pot would be 4-7 way limped), just utter crap from the bottom of the card distribution scale.

Eventually I got so tired of it that I raised 22 from UTG to $12, although it has to be said we were only 6-handed at this point. I get a call from MP and also a call from the fishy Israelian in BB. Flop comes A-Q-5 two hearts, and although the Israelian have shown himself to be a gigantic 'Ace Magnet' (plays anything containing an Ace), I still chose to bet $13 after he checked. Board should be really good for me, after all.

They both end up calling however, and we see a 3 on the turn. Against other types of opponents I could consider blasting multiple barrels on this board, but these guys didn't have much of a fold button and wouldn't fold any Ace. So with two players showing interest on the flop, I just gave up and checked. Player in position also checks however, and I am thinking that hitting a 4 here would be nice.

And what do you know, the 4 comes out and I have a very unlikeliy backdoor straight. Israel checks, and I decide on $50 (into $79) as I strongly doubt these guys will fold an Ace if they have one. I do however get two folds, which was a bit sad.

I stole some blinds and limps once with A7cc, but apart from that went back to folding, folding, and more folding. Then we see a raise to $12 from a fairly new player to the table from UTG, EP1 calls, and I have AKo in cutoff. This is probably not a 100% 3-bet, but I chose to do it this time and bumped it up to $50.

The original raiser makes a comment that sort-of gives away his hand strength, looks a bit like he wants to fold, but then ends up calling. Third player folds, and we go heads-up to Q-3-9 all diamonds. I do have the King of Diamonds, so overall a fairly decent flop. He checks, and I make it $46. He thinks for a bit and calls.

I had planned to likely jam many turns, as I didn't think he was super strong, but then we see 2d. I make a flush, but there is no point in putting in more money now. He either has Ad or he won't call anything. So after he checks, I check it back.

River is another 2, so a fairly bad runout - although I doubt he has a set too often here. He does however come out and lead for $50, and I hate it. I know he's gonna show me the Ad when he takes that sizing, and I really should just fold. That said, I have to call $50 into $255 or somwhere around there, so it's a great prize. But ultimately I felt a bit frustrated with the situation, and wasn't able to get away from it. I flick in the call, and he obviously have it with AJdd. Very frustrating how I dominated him pre, but he gets to win a big pot from me instead. That said, had the turn been a blank I would have likely jammed and had zero outs.

I reload $200 more, visibly frustrated while doing so (unfortunately). Then we see 3 limps, and I chose to come along with 86dd. We go 6-ways to J-8-6 two hearts. It checks all the way to the Israelian, who bets out $10. I raise it to $45, as this player is incapable of folding much and could be liable to have AJ or KJ here.

He calls, and we see a T on the turn. Obviously he could have turned better two pair, but overall I thought the card was relatively safe even though 97 comes in. He checks, and I bet $55 - likely to bet-fold if he jams or similar. He does however fold after having thought about it for a while.

More folding ensues, before I find 66 in 3rd position after young fishy Asian + Israel have limped. I make it $17 in position, get one caller in the field, and the two limpers also calls. So we go 4-ways to 5-3-3 two clubs. Could definitely be worse, so after it checks to me I bet $35. Israel is the only caller, and we see Tc on the turn. Flush comes in, so after he checks I just check it back.

River comes another T, and he checks again. I was very tempted to value bet here, and kinda wish I had thrown out something silly like $15. But I then remembered that this guy had shown up limping stuff like TT and AK, thus he can also have the pocket pairs that beats me. So I just check it back, and win against A6dd, which had no pair no draw on the flop. See what I mean about this game being good?



The game was highly beatable and I wanted to keep playing. However, I got super tired and could hardly keep my eyes open. So I eventually decided to just take the small loss of $71 USD, and live to fight another day.

Bit of a frustrating day with two losing sessions, but as you can see from the few hands described above I was incredibly card dead at Bellagio. I even played for 4 hours and 15 minutes, but never had much to work with. And in two of my biggest hands (JTcc and AK), I got somewhat unlucky with opponents improving.

Having said that, I know that there are players that would kill that game, even with the cards that I have. So I need to improve in that area; thinking on the fly and coming up with what kind of strategy is best for facing extemely inexperienced and limp-happy opponents. I am decently good at memorizing strategies and implementing those, but not really at coming up with a good strategy to exploit very inexperienced and limp-happy opponents.

Either way, it's a new day in Vegas and we need to get out there playing.




Cash Games:

Hours played: 30h 15 min
Won/loss: +$1169 USD
Hourly rate: $29.0 USD

Tournaments:

Profit/loss: -$24 USD (2 played)

Despite waking up at 9:30am this morning, less than an hour later I found myself here for the 10:05am $100 tournament:



South Point was hugely popular as always, as this tournament got no less than 131 entires when all was said and done. The top 18 places would get paid.

I ended up having to fire two bullets in this one as the first one didn't go well. It starts with me raising KQo from 3rd position to 600, and getting 3 callers. Flop comes Q-5-5 and after BB checks I throw out 1000. An OMC to my left calls, before a short stacked fish moves in for 6500. Could be a number of flush draws and worse Qx, so I call and figure the OMC will fold out. He does however also call.

Turn comes an 8 and I decided to check. The OMC immediately bets 8000, and I briefly considered folding. But it just seemed too weak, although he is certainly the type of player who could have AQ here. I make the call without having much behind at all, and the river comes a J. I check, and the OMC checks behind with his 65o that he deemed worthy of a call pre. The all-in guy also had KQ fwiw. It's so laughable how the OMC doesn't want to go for my remaining 4k or whatever it was, but I'll take it.

After that I was very short and the blinds went up. So I was just looking for a spot to get it in, and eventually push QTo for only like 5 bb over a limp from UTG. Both BB and the limper call, and we see Q-9-3 two hearts. BB bets and UTG calls. Turn is a 5, and once again it goes bet-call. River comes a K, and again we have a bet and a call.

I assume that is bad news, and it was - although not quite how I expected. BB only had QTo as well, but the UTG-limper had K8hh and rivered TP.

Oh, well we try again. Second bullet went much better, and I quickly won a good pot with JJ to take me up to 27k or so at my new table. I then play two fun hands against an OMC, owning him in both spots.

First one is when he raises to 800 (minraise) from UTG, and I call in cutoff with QJhh. BB also calls, and we see A-Q-T no hearts. BB checks, and the OMC bets 800. Definitely not folding for that sizing, so I call, and BB does the same. Turn comes a random 2, and after BB checks the OMC bets 800 again. Ah, my old friend "same bet", we meet again.

Seems obviously by now he has a rather weak Ace that he is unsure of, so instead of just calling and trying to hit my hand I raise it up to 4100. BB folds, and the OMC thinks for a bit before folding as well. Always nice to win pots like that, where you recognize patterns and likely get a better hand to fold.

More fun, when I raise 77 from UTG to 900, and get calls from the same OMC + another old player in BB. The flop comes A-K-J, and I am getting devilish plans in my head. BB checks, and I start off with a small bet of 1100. The OMC calls, and BB fold. Turn comes a 6, and I increase the sizing to 3100 this time. The OMC calls fairly quickly again, although I feel that if he had two pair or a straight I would have heard from him by now.

River is a 2, and I look over at his stack and see he has around 11k left. Should we empty the clip against an OMC and hope that he is able to fold a weak TP? Of course we are! I put out enough to set him all-in, and he goes into the tank for 30-40 seconds before eventually releasing his cards. Whew. I even resist the temptation to show a seven, and just drag in the chips.

I really like my play here, where I read the situation correctly and use a board that's favorable for me as the UTG-raiser to pull off a huge triple barrel bluff. It's obviously risky, but given the way the hand was played I really thought he could have one pair at best.



I did however lose some back after that table broke, after I called a raise to 3000 from another OMC with my 88 on the button. An early position limper also calls, and we go 3-ways to Q-5-5. They both check to me, and I bet 3500 with what I assume is the best hand. Limper folds, but the OMC calls.

Turn comes a 4, and he checks again. His line doesn't seem super strong, and in game I didn't want to give him a free card if he was just chasing with AK or similar. So I decided to bet very small (4200) with plans to check back river if he calls again. Instead he pretends to think for a bit before announcing all-in. It's only like 13k or so, but it seems very obvious I have been trapped. I fold quickly, and he shows QQ for quads. Should have known, really.

Down to starting stack again then and I sit tight for a while, being pretty card dead. When late registration closes, I only had 12500 and blinds were going to be 1000-1500-1500 after the break.

I immediately double up after the break however, with QJo against a limper who made the call with QTo. That gave me a bit more breathing room, and there was only around 60 players left or so.

After that I basically hung around 30-40k as blinds continued to increase, and players dropping like flies. I got a few pushes through (A3dd from BB after SB limped, and AJdd for 16 bb over three limpers), and generally never felt super short.

We are down to 34 players when there is a raise to 7000 from a new player at the table, who looked a bit annoying. The SB - a huge calling station OMC - makes the call as well, and I have AKo in BB. I ship it in there for 37500, and the raiser asks for a count. After thinking for a bit he makes the call, and shows 77.

Flop comes Q-T-7 two spades, turn is a 5s so I have a 4-flush as well now, but everything bricks out on an 8h river. So instead of having 90k and a great spot close to the money, I am out of the $100 South Point daily 10am tournament. Very frustrating, as I thought I played really well (on the second bullet). But ultimately all that it got me was $200 USD poorer. That's tournaments for you.

Back at Mandalay Bay now, and it's time to eventually find a cash game and put in a good session. But first I will go to the gym and get a decent workout in.

I will update the stats after next update.

Good reads. Wondering how much weight/consideration you give to your estimation of the opponent being able to understand ranges.

Many players I play with (small home games and bar-poker, so understandable) are the "I have a hand" variety, so it's tough to get them off hands. Have to actually make value (then , of course, pound them).

I do obviously give it some consideration, but as much as an OMC doesn't like to fold what they deem as 'big hands', they also hate going broke even more than that. In that 77-bluff I just thought the conditions were ripe for moving him off something like AT, A9 etc. (might be hard to get him to fold AQ, although he doesn't really beat much).

These South Point tournaments (and dailies in Vegas in general) are an interesting animal, where you meet very constrating player styles and people who at times show up with stronger holdings than you expect, even though their line is passive. But with some people being fairly easy to run over, and some just spewing away their chips (like the guy who jammed 26 bb at Ceasars against my QQ last weak), the value in these tourneys are huge in my experience.

OMC always has a 5 here. It's a bet, call, all-in, call and then OMC calls. Even if he has AQ he's not going to like it as one of you could have a 5.

Good morning from Mandalay Bay, for my last full day in Vegas for this trip. It feels a bit sad, but at the same time it also feels like I have been here a long time.



But before we can think about today we must recap yesterday. After going to the gym for a quick workout (where the above picture was taken), I headed outside to find a cash game. First through NYNY:



Then Park MGM:



And I made it to Aria, as I saw they didn't have a long wait list and I could hopefully get a seat quickly. They indeed had one ready for me, but within 5 minutes of sitting down at that table I realized this was not a good game. Tons of grinder looking guys, many seemingly local who seemed to know each other and talked about hands etc. That said, there was also a very fishy Asian woman there, so it was not completely devoid of value. But I wish I had followed my instinct and asked for a table change, which I strongly considered just 15-20 minutes into the session.

The Asian woman was limping a lot, so my first spot is when one of the pro-looking guy actually limps, she limps button, and I have ATo in SB. I raise it up to $20, only to see BB, and both limper call. Flop comes Q-9-4, and I always find these spots difficult. I could represent a lot of strength by betting here, but I am out of position versus everyone and don't have too many amazing turns. So I check, and give up when the Asian woman bets $40 after it's checked to her.

I fold for a while and it gets even more noticeable that this is a fairly aggressive game. So when we see a raise to $15 from the most aggressive one in hijack, and a 3-bet from another good player in cutoff to $35, I decide to put on the 4-bet from SB. I have KQss, which I think is a good hand to do it with as it has some playability if I should get called. I wanted to make it $96, but live-misclicked and only put out $91. BB went into the thank for a long time before folding, and the raiser immediately folded. The 3-bettor did however quickly jam when it got back to him, and I have to fold. Maybe a bit unnecessary, but what I had seen so far it seemed like an ok spot - albeit high variance.

Then I find KJcc from UTG, and make it $12. EP1, a douchey looking guy with sunglasses who was very active, makes it $35 and it folds back to me. In game I considered 4-betting, but ended up calling (I looked up the spot at my app afterwards, and KJs is a fold here). Flop comes 9-6-2 all red cards. I check, and he actually checks it back. Turn comes a K, which could be good or bad news. I check, and he once again checks behind.

River is a Q, and since this was a tough table I decided to not bet here but protect my checking range by having some strong hands there. I will obviously 100% call any bet he puts out there, given how hand was played. He does however just check it back and I win, so I have no idea what he could have had there.

Then it folds to me in SB and the same guy is in BB. I ask 'chop?' and he says 'I just like to play, man'. I reply that it's no problem, and complete my option with QJo. He makes it $12, and I call. For what it's worth, I would likely limp 100% here.

Flop comes A-T-5 two hearts, and after I check he bets $16. I have Qh, and blind vs blind against an aggressive player I thought I should see turn at least. It comes another T, which I think is better for my range than his. I check, and he doesn't seem to love the card as he checks behind.

River is a 4, and it's time to put an Ace in a tough spot. Maybe a bit optimistic blind vs blind, and I don't love that I have a heart in my hand. However, if I had Tx here I would overbet for max value to get calls from Ax, so that is what I should do with a bluff as well. I make it $75 (into $56), and he goes into the tank for a long time, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. But finally he flicks in the call. I show my hand like it's the nuts, and he reveals 42cc for rivered bottom pair. Lol. I had already seen this guy was loose, and now I know just how crazy he is.

On some level I understand his call once he gets there like that, but it felt annoying to play the hand fairly well (in my opinion) and just be unlucky with him running into a small pair and being a gigantic station with it.

The losing continues, first when the Asian woman limps $3 and I make it $15 with ATdd from early pos. The maniac guy from last hand 3-bets to $30 and get cold called by SB. Woman folds, and I considered 4-betting but I didn't think I would have much credibility as I had twice been caught bluffing at this table. So I just called, and we see A-2-7 all clubs. I check, raiser bets $25 and then SB makes it $75 behind him. Not much to do then but fold, even though I have top pair.

I continue trying to iso the fishy Asian woman, and this time I have 87ss in mid-pos. I make it $15, the crazy guy calls behind me, and then the best player at the table makes it $80 from BB. Yet again I have to fold.



It's looking a bit dark, and it will be darker through a hand I probably misplayed on the flop. As always the woman limps, and as always I isolate to $15. This time with AhJs, and I get calls from crazy guy, BB and the woman. Flop comes A-T-3 all spades, not too bad as I have TP and a decent flush draw. In game I wasn't quite sure what to do if I got check-raised, and thus decided to check it. But in hindsight this is a bad mistake, as I can bet and get calls from hands like Ks, and QJ or KJ with one spade etc. And it's $60 bucks out there, which I don't mind coming to my stack either.

It checks around, and a red 5 comes on river. BB now bets out $25, the Asian woman calls, I call and crazy guy actually also call. River is a K that does not fill the flush. BB checks, woman checks, and I think a bit and check. I think this is a good check, as I have a maniac-ish guy behind me who likely won't resist a bet in position. Furthermore, with me having a spade (blocking flush) and a Jack (blocking straight), I have the perfect bluff-catcher. And if it goes check back, I will likely win anyway.

So I check, and as expected he bets $75. The other two folds and I snap-call. Despite all the above, he obviously just shows up with the goods in QJo. Sigh. Even though I like my thought process on the river, I am clearly losing this hand due to not betting the flop. And that is not good enough.

I am now in for $600 and do what I should have done 90 minutes ago; I ask for a table change. I get one immediately, and my new table is - although not super soft - way better than the one I left.

I add on another $100 to get my stack back up a bit, and then finally experience some good fortune. I raise Q9ss to $12 from cutoff, before a black woman in her 50s makes it $25. The good old min-raise. She seems a bit inexperienced, and I pretty sure this is a monster. But I am in position and getting a good price, so I obviously call.

Flop comes Q-4-2 one spade, which is decent at least. She checks, and although I could bet I decide to check it back. Not that many scare cards on turn, and I do think there is a chance she is trapping. Turn is a 6 and she now leads for $55, which is full pot. I didn't love it, but with TP I obviously have to call once and see what she does.

River comes a sweet looking 9, and she immediately bets out $100. I am loving life and knowing she has an overpair by this action, so I jam it in for her remaining $80 or so. She actually does not like it, but call within 5 seconds and shows her obvious Aces. They are no good this time, and I drag in a healthy pot.



I lose a little bit back through some small pots, before there are three limps for $3 in front of me. I have QJo on button, which is good enough to iso. I make it $21, the woman calls in BB, the first limper call and the second limper call. The third limper however is a friendly young Asian with a short stack, and he says "well, I might as well go all-in then" and pushes for his remaining $45.

My decision is very simple here; he clearly is not super strong given he only limped pre and there are a ton of dead money out there. So I make it $150 to get heads-up with overlay against the short stack. It works as everyone folds out, and we agree to show our cards. He has A4dd.

Flop comes A-T-9, turn is a 3, but river is a great looking K to give me the straight and the win. I am in for $700 in this game, and now I am actually almost breaking even.



The Asian buys in again, and after he limps I make it $15 behind him with 76dd. Big Blind, who is new to the table but who saw the previous hand, calls. Limper folds, and we go heads-up to J-6-2. He checks, and I should probably bet here for equity protection, but I check behind.

Turn is a K, and he checks again. I will obviously represent this card, but we don't need to do it on the turn. Instead we wait to see if he checks the river as well, at which point we will have a green light to bet. So I check back, and river comes an 8. He checks, and maybe I should go to showdown here. He doesn't look very strong after all, but I decide to stick with the plan. I reach for chips, and he says "I'm likely not going to believe you, no matter what you bet". All the more reason to bet I guess, so I throw it out there and he immediately calls. I show my hand, which is good against ATo. Fun spot where I actually got more value than expected, although I could probably just take my showdown value there.

I did play a couple of more small hands, but will just quickly run through two spots. First one is when Asian limps again, and I make it $15 with JThh in cutoff. Button, who is a young guy with a beautiful girlfriend sitting behind him, makes the call. BB does the same, as well as the Asian limper.

K-J-8 one heart. It checks to me, and this one felt borderline. I could check, but I also thought that if I just got through button I would likely win the pot. And there are many really good turn cards to give me more equity. So I bet $30, only to see button make it $70. The other two folds, and although I don't love the spot it's only $40 more and we both are $600-ish deep. So I decided to make the call, even though it sucks to have to play OOP.

Turn is the 6d, and after I check he announces $120. With no additional equity picked up, I have to fold. Maybe I should have check-called the flop instead.

A while later a fairly tight guy who occasionally came in for raises makes it $17 from UTG. Fairly big raise, and I find black Aces in cutoff. I 3-bet to $55, and he thinks about it for a bit but sadly folds. He also claims a tight fold, which is good to know given I can 3-bet way more than AA there.

I could have played even longer, but table was not amazing and ultimately I was happy with having gotten back a lot of my losses. So I just booked it after 4 hours and 15 minutes, down $83 USD.

It's been a couple of losing sessions in a row now, and I am well aware that I haven't played my best in all of the spots. But at least the losses aren't huge, and although I got a bit lucky in two spots at the last table yesterday they both seem very standard to me. I do however think I should have just folded the KQss 4-bet at the first table, as well as betting flop on that AJ hand that I ended up losing.

Now I'm gonna head to the pool (likely for the last time this trip), and then eventually find a game. With this being the last full day, the goal is to try and put in a lot of hours.


Cash Games:

Hours played: 34h 30 min
Won/loss: +$1086 USD
Hourly rate: $31.5 USD

Tournaments:

Profit/loss: -$224 USD (3 played)

Wp imo.

How does one go about this in Vegas? Do you just walk over to the floor? (I don't play live a lot.)

yes, you just walk up and talk to the desk or floor manager and tell them you are interested in a table change and they will call you when one is ready (or point you to one if it is already available)

Did you ever get over to the Wynn to play?