Good morning all.
Its been a super long past couple of days, but it seems my insomnia has kicked in again at an inopportune time.

So, some catching up is in order I guess.

As of 3/18, I have absolutely killed the 1/2 games at MCC and various charity rooms. I've cashed out $1k+ about 5 or 6 times in the last month. Because of that, and other planning, I find myself sitting in Harrahs Atlantic City as we speak, paying $18/day for internet that will hopefully be comped off. BTW, I much prefer Caesars and Borgata over Harrahs, but I don't have enough comps for the Borgata and Caesars is on the Boardwalk and too far from the Borgata for my liking, whereas Harrahs is next door.
Anyway, I cashed out $1600 in a RxR game at the Electric Stick 3-4 weeks ago. I was in for $400 and ended up just crushing the game. I clearly ran like god, but nonetheless, $1200+ is a nice win.

So, before I go any further, I'll update my bankroll line:

3/17: $10600
3/17-4/12: +$6450
Bankroll as of 4/12: $17050

I had been planning another AC trip here for a while. I wanted to get in on a few Borgata Open tournaments. I missed out on playing in any of those events in September.
So, I booked a trip, 4/14-4/20. A little long, but you know what, I felt like I was going to crush it. So far, its been going well.

I drove out here on the 13th, leaving at 6p on the 12th. I stopped in Pittsburgh and played NL there. Nothing exciting happened, other than finding out they have the dumbest betting rules I have ever played with. I guess if you bring a stack across the betting line, its the first stack that you count out, not the entire amount across the line. Seems dumb, but whatever. That rule is even more dumb than the no headphones rule in Illinois. I thought that they had changed that rule, but I guess not. I lost $400 there, getting my flopped straight in versus a turned boat in a limped pot and flopping a set v a straight/flush draw.

I got to the Borgata around 7a. I couldnt check in to Harrahs until about noon. So, I get to the Borgata and play some 1/2NL. I presumed that if there was PLO going, the Borgata would have it. Turns out I was wrong, there wasn't a game going that early. Anyway, I hadn't slept in about 16 hours, but I felt pretty good considering. I got a table, but got hungry after the 12 hours in the car/Pittsburgh, so I went to a little place in the Borgata, but I cant remember the name. I get back to the table to find out that the table broke. After a few minutes with security getting my chips back, once we found out where they were moved to (the section i was in shut down), I was resat. About 3 hours later (1145a) I walked away with a $700 stack and a $200 winner when KK>AA>66 with $70 in pre and the rest of it in on a K6x flop. I thought it was funny.
Anyway, I go over to Harrahs, check in, shower, play about an hour of the 10/20OE game, lost $100 in the game, lost $100 more in craps, and went upstairs to sleep. I wake up around 7 and eat in Harrahs. It was meh, but whatever. I play a little 2/5 over at the Borgata, lose another $250 and go to Ballys to play craps. I end up running about as good as I have ever ran in craps. So, here is the breakdown. I placed the 6 for $24 and hit. Bump it to $36. Win, and bump it to $48 then $60 then $72. Then comes the 7 out. I'm happy. Next roll I place the 5 for 30. I go from 30 to 40 to 60 to 80 to 100 to 125 to 150 before he 7s out. I cash out a purple and change directly after. Best 2 rolls in a row I have ever had. I laughed and went back to Harrahs via Caesars.
I go to bed around 1130p happy that I am in AC, and happy that I went out for a late night beer at a place I dont particularly like to gamble at.
I wake up early yesterday (today) around 645a. I get to the Borgata and into a 1/2NL seat around 730. I take a break at 830 to start the 10/20 LHE game and get breakfast. Of all the casinos I have been to, I like the Borgata for food the best. I sit at the 10/20 game, win $80, recovering most of what I lost at NL, and join the newly opening 20/40 game. I buy in for $1000 at 1030a and cash out $2700 around 5p. I grab dinner and take my place at 1/2PLO. I buy in for $200 and cash out $900, in for $450. I played terribly and got lucky in my 40/60s. More like 30/70s, I played bad.
I had a really good day today.

I'm currently on the list to get a box at the Borgata, which is kind of cool. I could get one at Harrahs, but I have a room there so no need.

I don't understand what you mean here. If you push two stacks they only count one?

Sounds like you're having the time of your life. *cheer*

No, basically you have to call you bet. If you have $100 in your hand, and stack out the chips in $20 or $25, its only the first stack unless you call your raise out before hand.

Just busted $500 in a $1/$2 game at Harrahs.
Busted on a ****ed up hand.
Straddle to 5, raise to 25, I have J9dd OTB and call. 4 players. Effective stacks $450.
Flop is 10Qxdd.
Guy bombs out $150 with $700 behind. Folds to me ($420). I ship it in. He snap calls with AdJ. Turn is a K and I brick the river.
IDK what the **** happened. I just walked off.
Its close to the biggest pot I've ever lost at 1/2, just shy of 1k.


Taking a break as we speak, going to go and check out Revel later. Either that or back to the Borgata for a 20/40 game. I kind of want to go to Resorts to marvel at how many Baccarat tables they have and if their noodle bar is any good. O yea, Borgata 1k chips are ugly as ****. I forgot how nasty orange they are. I like the 500s, but not the 1k or 5ks. 25ks look cool, but I'm not going to have one of those any time soon.

I want to get hammered drunk right now. Thatd be fun I think. Okay, I'm off to go and eat, drink, get hammered and play some poker.

Going to go to PARX this week to play the 15/30 HOSE game that I hear they run. Never been there before, but I have heard good things. On top of that, I am going to play the $200 Re-Entry on Wednesday and either the $450 DeepStack Re-Entry on Tuesday or the Black Chip Bounty ($400) on Thursday.

I wish I could afford the $2500 BPO ME.

Looking for a place to buy a tailored suit. Prefer 3 piece/gray. Want to go to NYC when this is over and go buy one. Too pretentious?

Update later if I can still type/not busy playing.

[Going to go to PARX this week to play the 15/30 HOSE game that I hear they run. Never been there before, but I have heard good things.]

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs has a 15/30 HOSE game Tuesday's and Thursday's. Just thought I'd let you know.

Thanks for the advice, but thats about 3 hours away from AC.
I will probably just play here in the 20/40 HORSEBT game or 1/2PLO game here.

The 20/40 Mix isnt usually HORSEBT. It plays HOSE and Stud Hi-Lo no qualifier. Supposedly it rarely plays the full mix, which is okay. Sometimes the lowball games aren't added in. I tried to get a pink chip BT game going. Got 3 people on the list when it was deleted.
During the day yesterday, I got into a 1/2 game for 500 after being up 125 or so. Cashed out 700.
Played 2/5 last night and broke about even. Met up with someone that I met via 2+2 at Harrahs. On top of betting sports against each other, we played one of the most -EV games in the casino, Let it Ride.
We also played a variation of red flop black flop with the community cards until the douchey pit boss told us to stop passing chips back and forth. Black was not the way to go...
I have a reservation at Ruth Chris' for next Thursday.
Playing the 450 Semi Turbo tomorrow (GL All In). Also playing the 300+100 Black Chip Bounty on Thursday.
Playing the Midnight Harrahs $100 if it goes off.

I got a very interesting phone call today from a company that I applied to with bunches of openings based in Detroit.
I applied to a ton of jobs in case this didn't work out. Of course, I ran super hot right after applying.
In total, I applied for like 40 jobs, just by submitting my resume and clicking apply for this position. It was really easy. When I got the call back, it was for a position that I applied for in Scottsdale, AZ. I hear CAZ is nice.....
I'll go through the process when I get back, but I am not holding my breath, as it isn't that great of a job.

Last weekend was a +$3700 weekend.
Monday was a +$1200 day overall.
Tuesday was a -$1000 day overall, with a $200 rebate coming back from the tournament.
Wednesday was a +$600 day at 20/40.
Thursday was a +$75 day after I started +$800 at 2/5 and dropped most of it back at 20/40.
Today is my last day here. I just woke up and am about to go play 10/20 OE downstairs. Just looked at BravoPokerLive and there isn't a game going. Heading over to the Borgata to play some 10/20 and then get in the car around 2pm. I have like $3500 in Borgata chips to cash in, literally 2 racks of green/black/red and 1 purple. I'll get a picture of it and post it when I get back. Probably wont be getting home until 2-6am Saturday. Might stop in Pittsburgh, sleep/play, and then drive the rest of the way home Saturday night.

Total expenses for this trip are just under $1000 after gas, parking, tolls, and the ride home.

Just did some checking online, bankroll is north of $20k! I want to write a lot about how I feel lately; something along the lines of my previous posts. I feel elated about this! I would love to play a big session and bump the BR up to $25k!

I've decided that I am going to take a 2 bullet ($1500/per) shot at 5/10 when I get home. Probably going to wait until next weekend to do it, but nonetheless, I am going to do it. **** it, I wanted to do it here, but I can't really spend another night here... I am getting sick of all of the NYC attitude. Plus, I have been gambling about 85% of the time that I have been awake. That's not healthy.

Subbed, good luck with the shot taking, doing a similar challenge myself!

Hit me up when you're in AC too, im gonna be down there next week.

So have you actually ever played at the Heidelberg?

Yes, I have, though only a few times.
I have known Mike for a little while from back when he dealt at Northville
I also knew Reggie, though for several years less, when he dealt at Northville.

Got home around 4a yesterday and crashed until about 3p. Got up and checked all of my mail and paid some bills and stuff. Might take a sabbatical for a few days. IDK yet.

do you still live near Ann Arbor? Have any places that you recommend I should play? Preferably somewhere close to Ann Arbor. I enjoy playing at the Heidelberg but the tournaments there are too small and Im looking for a place with bigger tournament fields and more money. I play at the electric stick sometimes, but I've only cashed there once but their blind structure is horrendous. Also, Im only 20 so I cant play at big name casinos unless they are indian.

I hear that the end of the month tournament at Soaring Eagle is a well structured tournament. I think that that goes off next weekend, but I am not exactly sure.

Heidelburg tournaments are way too small to be profitable in the long run. In all fairness, I think that all of the tournaments in the area are too small/run poorly, so making sustainable money isn't something that is going to happen. That's just my opinion of it though. Of all places, Northville Downs has a nice mid-game structure. I like playing when I get out there. They have a really cool 6 max tournament on Mondays for $40.

Stick 1p tournaments are 40-55 people, about 450ish to first. I like those. Plus, I can show up at 1240, shoot some pool, play the 1p, win/bust, then play cash til 745, and jump into the tournament then. It covers the entire day with good action.

I can totally agree with you on that one. While the buy -ins are about right for my bankroll, it needs to be bigger tournament sizes.

As for the electric stick... lol. If you want to find hotspot for "Worst players in poker" you will find them there. I mean ive played there maybe like 8 or 9 times and I just could not believe how bad people play there its ridiculous. On top of that, their blind structure is terrible. I remember being at the final table on the friday night tourneys (about 200 ppl) it was down to 4 handed and I had 40% of the chips in play and had 10 bb... I might play at those stick tournaments at 1. I usually go at night because I am a student so I can't play during the day. But i'll be sticking around AA for spring so I might go. Is there any days in particular that I should go?

I haven't gone to northville yet, but I might check it out. I've heard bad stuff about it, but ill give it a try. What are their average tournament sizes? Also, ill be on the lookout for that Soaring Eagle tournament.

I usually spend half the 7p tournament at the cash table, which is funny.
IDK what the normal Northville tournament is, but they have a listing at charityholdemcalendar.com.
Eagle tournament in next weekend.
Where are you from originally?
Mon-Fri is the best way to go to for the 1p.. Though it turns into a shovefest at the FT, there is little play during the 3rd-4th hour into the FT, but a decent amount between the 1st and 2nd hour.

Im not much of a cash game player. I have little experience playing cash games. Primarily because when I first started playing poker I played $3/$6 LH cash games . Dumbest idea ever, still regret it to this very day but oh well. As I got more experience in poker I played tournaments where I was far more successful and just through learning poker, live tournaments were/are my bread and butter for poker.

Is that soaring eagle tournament a special event? Does it say it on their website?

Im originally from washington state, but Im living in Ann Arbor because Im a student at the U of M. But im planning on sticking around here for spring. I was originally planning on playing at the heartland poker tour at soaring but it got cancelled. Very disappointing. I like the atmosphere of the heidelberg but its just too small. I might consider playing at northville, but i've heard some bad stuff about that place. Got any other recommendations?

I'm curious what you've heard about Northville the has you so put off about it.
The eagle tournament is a end of the month event, and yes, it should be on their website.

Don't regret playing any hand of poker at any limit, there is always a purpose. ****, I have played a decent amount of 3/6 in my day. I even played the dreaded 2-4-6 at Ballys just last week. Granted, I was ****housed, but nonetheless, I still played.

Though unsolicited, my best advice is to get out there and play, whether it be 3/6 5/10o8, 1/2nl, 1/3nl, whatever. Sure, read the forum and books if you want (I haven't read any, so I can't help you there. There is a sub-forum specifically for it). But to be honest, best way to go is to just play, and play a lot.

Heartland is fun to be around, though I have never played it. I have read extensively on the FSG (Epic Poker) and HPT debacle and have concluded that once HPT's ownership is clarified, you will see more events on the schedule. Just be patient.

The only other recommendation is Snookers in Utica. Its 75 minutes(+) from AA. IDK if you have ever been to a Pistons home game, but it is east of there.

Great action, great tournaments, extremely well run. I've only been to 2 places that are better run (Horseshoe Hammond and the Borgata) and those are both casinos.

Not to be too selfish, but when you get PM enabled (i think at 10 posts) lets take the conversation there...

Thursday April 12th
I make the late decision to book a few days at Harrahs and go from there.
I head to the bank to withdraw a little over 5k.
Do about 5 loads of laundry so that when I got home I had clean clothes.
Take care of some car maintenance, clean the living quarters, and pack the car.
I leave around 515ish on Thursday night, stopping in Toledo to get dinner with an old friend of mine.
I get to Pittsburgh about 11pm. I get in a ½ game and get stuck $400 and leave. Nothing special, according to my records it was a flopped straight v turned boat and flopped set v straight flush draw. There was nothing to be stressed about in terms of play. Only thing I could have done is not bet the river with my straight. I don’t know that I get called with anything less than trips there, but more likely only a boat. I don’t like to check call very often, but I think that that is the best option. I’ll delve into the hand a bit more.

Table is playing pretty loose passive. The villain in this hand seemed to be more on the tighter side, not really getting out of line, but overvaluing some of his hands. He seemed to run into people wanting to give their money away or the middle/bottom of people’s ranges. He is sitting about 700. I’m on 240ish when the hand starts. 6 limpers into my BB and I look at 75xx. I check my option, choose to take a flop. I’ve been pretty LAG, but not anything out of line post-turn. Flop is comes 864ssx. I check villain checks, random bets out 10. I pop to 35, villain and random call. Turn is 6x. Pot is around $110 or so. I don’t particularly like the turn, but I have been playing fast all day, and I figured I should continue. I lead for 70 on the turn with just the villain calling. River is 2x. Pot is $250 and I have about $140 back. I ship and he snaps with 88. I feel like that is a cooler given my table image, but I don’t know what I really expected to beat against him.

The more I think about it, even now, two weeks later, I like the following line:
Check BB, check raise to $35 on the flop, $50-$90 on the turn, check/re-evaluate the river. I know that this is a ½ game and everything, but the guy played his hands pretty simply as there was no need for him to crank the creativity up. I like a ½ pot bet on the turn because I think that he makes a move there without a boat. I think that he flats with a full house and a flush draw (and 97) but shoves a random 6 to protect against my drawing hands. I think that my range on the flop would be a top pair/flush draw, flush draw, open ended straight draw most of the time, with sets and flopped straights thrown in there with low frequency, just based on the way I have played in the hour I had been sitting.

On the turn, my top pair becomes nothing against him, so I would only bet as a bluff, which isn’t something I would do here. Flush/open enders are usually checked here for pot control even though I feel like I turn over my hand a lot of the time (and may have to check-raise the river if I hit to make up for the value I lose by checking there). Sometimes I am betting here if I feel he has a single pair hand. Sets and straights are played the same way, firing the turn. I think that I fire closer to $50 if I think he has a naked 6, but closer to $90 if I think he has a draw. If I error on my read and he has a made hand, I think that I would read it closer to the naked 6, therefore betting closer to $50. Too bad that I was off there and bet $70.

Nothing important comes on the river, so all I have to deal with is his $70 call on the turn. At this point, I think that I put my blinders on and was just betting because I had a straight. Usually I don’t do this, but I failed to analyze the hand any further than the turn. It’s annoying not just because it cost me the $140ish left, but because I think that I can get some sick value out of my check there (with his bluff/naked 6 betting/occasional bluff). I think that he is calling my turn bet 100% of the time with any 6. Sure, he could have binked his boat on the turn with hands like 64, but those weren’t hands that he was playing. If it was a 6, it was going to be 65, 67, 66, or A6.

I think that if I slow down on the river, it disguises my hand pretty well, looking like a busted draw or just an 8. Looking back at it, I think that it is 50/50 that he has a full house, with the other 50% split 40% at a naked 6 and 10% at a busted draw. No matter what, he shoves the river, and I have a really tough decision. I still call 75% of the time there, winning a decent amount of the time with my straight.
I would prefer to call off there instead of shoving the river. I don’t really beat anything that is calling, other than a really good 6. I don’t know if he calls off with just a 6 there though, he played decently well. I feel that he shoves over my check on the river with a 6 more times than he calls my shove with a 6. If I sit there for a minute longer or so, I figure that out, check, and then probably call off anyway.

Friday April 13th
So, I play about 2 hours in Pittsburgh and move on around 1am. I have always like that casino, and will continue to visit every time that I drive to AC. I get back on the road and pull into the Borgata around 7am. I can’t get over to Harrah’s for a few hours, so why not play more. I have my log that shows I got stuck $500 in a ½ game, but was a $200 winner. Only main hand I have from that session is KK>66>AA on a K6x board. According to my past post and notes, $70 went in preflop and the rest (about $200 per) on the flop.
I get up around noon +$200. Still stuck $200 from Pittsburgh and bunches on expenses, but it’s not a bad start.

More later.

Cool thread; I would love to do what you're doing. Looking forward to the rest of the TR.

Not sure how good you think villain is here, but this line is giving him way too much credit I think. If you do believe it's true however, then he should think his 87o hands are just as good as 76o on the turn when you bet. Again it's dependent on your read of villain but I think lots of players are calling on the turn here with something like 87o.

Also there are some important details here. What position is villain in, and what do you think of his limp with 88?

Lesser important, but specific suits of cards matter too. If he has top pair + flush draw with like A8ss he'll probably call much more often than bottom pair + flush draw with A4ss.

I think you played it fine overall. Regarding the river, you said you've been playing LAG, if villain realizes this he might put you on a missed flush draw and call with 8x on the river. This is more likely than villain having the flush draw himself IMO due to the paired board + size of your turn bet.

Villain was straightforward but decent. Off the felt, I am sure he is of higher than average intelligence, which leads me to think that logic overrules his gut instinct, evident by his play. Probably makes a small profit, nothing more. The fact that I hadn't seen him play a hand past the turn without huge equity/the nuts. On the flop, 87o might be in the lower half of his range. On the turn, 87 is out of his range, he has a player behind him to act. 76o is so much stronger there than 87. The only 8 i see him playing there is 88, which he had, or A8ss like you mentioned.


Villain is in MP and the random was in LP. I really like his limp there. He raises, most people are going to just muck mediocre hands. He limps $2 and he can flop an 8, like he did, he can play for a much bigger pot without really exposing his hand as much as raising would. Personally, I would raise 88 there, but that is just my style. For him, limping pre is a good play.

Board was 8x6s4s. So, yes, A8ss was in the range. For him, the most logical way I could see him playing A8ss is to check call the flop, check call the turn, and then most likely check behind on the river. Sure, it's super passive, but that's just the way he played a lot of the hands without the figurative/literal nuts.

I doubt he bets or calls any 8 non boated 8 on the river. Theres no point in betting there, as if he thinks I missed my draw, he can't get me to stack off. I am only going to call with a weaker 8 about 5% of the time, a naked 6 a lot of the time, and maybe an overpair very rarely, though I would have raised 99+ preflop. So, him betting an 8 there is a really bad bet, since he is closing action with a mediocre hand and only getting called by a better hand 90%+ of the time. With an 8 there, it would be a terrible bet, and I think that he knows it. As for calling, he is flushing money away with an 8 there. I don't follow through there with an 8, I have lots of showdown value there. If he is calling it is with 6x+, maybe A8ss. Also, I think that he is smart enough to shove on a scary card there with a flush draw, especially with A8ss. It would eliminate a lot worse 8s and straight draws at the very least.

Friday April 13th Continued
I get over to Harrahs around 1215, smelling like ****, exhausted, but excited to be there. So, I check in to the room, which was in the Harbour Tower, right above the poker room. I grab a shower, come downstairs to find that the 7.5/15 OE game is now the 10/20 OE game. It's about 1p at this time and I am coming down from a lot of adderall (perscribed, of coruse). I get into the game a few minutes after getting on the list. I play about an hour and was a small winner until my J high flush and 7 low was scooped on. That hurt. Totally didn't see that coming. I left when it came back to Omaha 8, down about $100. I ordered a drink (Capt and coke, no lime, one of my favorites) and move on to play craps. I lose $100 pretty quickly and decide that it is time to go to bed (215p).
I'm up around 7p, shower, and eat at the burger place in Harrahs. It's Friday night, so I expect the Borgata to be packed. I take a cab over as I don't want to move my car. I'd rather go door to door via taxi with the money I'm carrying than room to Harrahs Garage to Borgata Garage and back again, paying $5 per entry into each garage. Cab with tip is about $15 dollars, a pittance compared to the safety I feel.
I get over to the Borgata around 8ish and sit 2/5. I lose $250 in one of the nittiest tables I have ever sat at. I wasn't feeling so great, as I hadn't treated myself very well. I take the Jitney (I know, I'm concerned about safety yet I ride the Jitney) over to Ballys to shoot some dice. Realistically I wanted to end up at Caesars, but I didn't feel like walking that far. I put $200 on the table and run it up to over $700 within 2 shooters by placing one number each role and increasing the units as I hit the numbers.
Its about midnight when I get back (cab this time lol) to Harrahs. I crash.
So, on the day I was +$50.
For the trip: -$150+expenses.