Yea mostly set over set

I don't really get it, why did it seem like both of you should have really big hands there?

Passive players usually expect big hands from big bets

Card dead and bleeding chips:

Played at a deep stacked and tough table at Mohegan. Won a few hands early on but then lost pot after pot for the next 3 hours. I also couldn't play a lot of hands due to the pre-flop aggression at the table. Was a frustrating day overall and it is days like these that makes me hate poker. Sitting there hour after hour only to lose hand after hand or not being able to play hands because the table is so aggro.

I booked my loss after 5 hours and left dejected and defeated (monetarily and emotionally). A solid reminder that I cannot cut it as a poker pro and life is much better with a normal career.

Why didn't you just change tables

Good point, out of the 3 main games

Table 1 Super action (but has two of the top 2/5 players at this casino)

Table 2 Some regs, some unknowns

Table 3 (my table): sLag crusher (also top player), solid tag, some nits, deep stacked Asian fish, super aggro whale (also deep stacked), 1 station/abc fish

I knew I could get good value if I just made a couple of hands in key spots. Unfortunately that didn't happen.

Lol

Played some 1/3 (2.5 hours) and 2/5 (4.5 hours) at Mohegan. I think I ran pretty well and the room was pretty busy despite the rain and snow. I opted to play more aggro than usual with some success.

Hand 32: did I overplay my hand?

V1 (EP): MAWG, no reads

V2 (MP): straight forward Asian player, doesn't really make plays, a bit of a nut peddler

I have 800, both villains cover

Pre: V1 limps, EP limps, V2 limps, SB limps, I check T8 in the BB

Flop (25): K86
I chk, V1 bets 25, EP calls, V2 calls, SB folds, I call

Turn (125): T
I chk, V1 bets 75, EP folds, V2 calls, I raise to 275 , V1 calls, V2 folds

River (750): 6
I chk, V1 jams, I fold

Played for 4 hours of 2/5 at foxwoods. Lost a buy-in in my first hand when my TPGK was no match vs. deceptively played aces. I intended to play longer but something came up last minute. I also met gangip, that was pretty cool.

A look into the life of a grinder

I have played 4 sessions (and 33 hours) in the past 5 days at Foxwoods. This by far the most amount of hours I have put into poker in that time span. I was 4/4 in big hero calls but also lost my biggest pot ever (2.5 k pot 99 < QQ on 59QQ6 board). I met some pretty cool people along the way but also some not so nice regs and rec players.

hear are some observations I have made during my trip:

1. The 2/5 game can be super nitty during the weekday:
I am talking about 3+ grinders, regs who are really tight, and recreational players who are also tight. I found that experience quite painful and mind numbing. I also let myself go into autopilot until the action picked up. It's hours like these that make $50/hr so hard to obtain on a full time basis.

2. Most of the 2/5 players think the 5/T game is unbeatable:
Don't take this as absolute fact I am just repeating some things I heard.

i. "Everyone is solid at 5/T they are basically just trading stacks, one player takes 2K today and the other player takes it back tomorrow"

ii. "They are basically just paying $14/hr rake and not making any money"

iii. "The 5/T use to be good, now it is impossible to make money"

3. Bum-hunting exists and players are borderline shameless about it:
Witnessed this one whale get hunted relentlessly by at least 5 grinders. Players going up to the floor and asking for a transfer as soon as the whale sits down. Changing seats to get better position on the whale. Regulars berating the whale over his play (I mean wtf? why why why!). Players opening talking about the whale while he is still within earshot.

4. There are some genuinely awesome people who player poker:
I was actually complimented on my conduct at the tables by someone and that made me feel appreciated. I had a fun time talking about books, food, and movies with intelligent people. I emphasized with players who take horrendous beats/coolers but are still able to laugh it off. I feel like it is experiences like these that make poker meaningful (besides the money).

Got position on super deep stacked solid lag and deep stacked fish. Been trying to iso fish but solid lag keeps calling in between us. Doesn't help that I keep bricking in these inflated pots.

My 2/5 session at Mohegan on Saturday was definitely memorable. I decided against using good game selection and played at the toughest table in the room. My decision was based on wanting the experience and challenge of playing the best players in the room rather than making money.

I was fortunate enough to turn a flush and get paid off on the river. A little bit later I flop top set and GII in a 1.6 K pot (MHIG). Half the table leaves (including the best players) to go to dinner and we get new players.

1. Solid lag: comes into the table with 3.5 K

2. Loose/action Asian whale comes in with 500-600

Solid lag is to my direction right and asian whale is on solid lag's direct right. Solid lag stacks asian whale in the first hand they play and is up to >4k. The table has an interesting dynamic.

Asian whale limps 90% of hands, solid lag iso raises pretty much every time (even in EP with hands like A7), AND everyone at the table pretty much FOLDS unless they have a premium hand.

Asian whale will call pretty much any raise preflop, and check all flops. Solid lag will bet all flops AND turns. Asian whale will either fold on the turn/river or get value owned by hands as weak as third pair .

The rest of table of course does nothing to adjust and is playing fit/fold poker. I attempted to ISO the asian fish for myself with hands like 87 and QJ but to not avail.

How my isolation raises usually played out
Asian whale would limp, solid lag would limp, I'd raise to 30-50, rest of the table folds, and I they BOTH call. Of course I bricked hard in these spots and my c-bet was usually called. So that was pretty frustrating as well.

I played till like 3 am that day. In that time period;

1. Hero called asian whale with AQ-hi on 7322T board was shown 47

2. Hero called solid lag with AJo on JQ26A and lost to 22

3. GII with JJ vs. a nitty player for 350 eff in a straddled pot and lost to QQ

I think my hand vs. solid lag was played terribly since I was not beating any value bets and he was unlikely to bluff in that spot.

Solid lag leaves with 6k and asian whale busts at the end of the night.

I think these are pretty good posts overall. I like to look at performances a bit like other types of gaming where you usually get owned by better players with the caveat that, in poker, variance can skew perceptions to either side of the pendulum--sometimes even for a sustained period. It's great to keep hammering at the tough tables as its basically the only way to improve your game (hopefully coming out alive...), but a great night vs a solid player doesn't mean you are better than him, or a poor night against a solid player doesn't necessarily mean he's actually that solid.

I really like the focus on adjusting perspectives.

Played for 17 hours Yesterday, went on a 2.1 k downswing mid session. I wanted to leave so bad but the action was really good. I would have to say I felt pretty degenerate and probably played my C game overall.

At a hotel room party surrounded by pretty girls. Would say I am Def running better today.

You gotta prove yourself each and every time you play because nothing is guaranteed in this game. lost -1,520 last night, easily my biggest lost ever. Part running bad and part because I was rusty from not playing for 3 weeks.

Got stopped by the police on my way home and couldn't pull into my driveway because of the snow.

When it rains it pours

At Mohegan, 2/5 has 5 tables with a 24 long waitlist. I guess I should've called ahead

There was a record 6 tables of 2/5 at Mohegan last night. This is probably a combination of the Chinese new year and the 100k tournament. I have never seen the room with so many people, felt really good to see the room so busy.

Thought about playing 5/T but didn't want to play vs. 4 of the better players in the room and a few others that look like grinders.

Ended up playing 2/5 (800 max), won a total of 3 significant hands, and made some money.

Nice Rebound



Michael Jordan's Bar



Bobby Flay's Burger Palace

San Diego pt 1

landed in SD just before 11 am



Picked up my rent-a-car



Played Some Poker At Palomar



Ate Dinner



Checked ocean's 11 and got owned obviously


at least I got some free food without paying some ridiculous rake

Round 2 at the ocean's 11 5/5, here we go!

in.

nice thread.

GL !

San Diego Pt 2

My second session at Ocean's 11 went a lot like my first session except I lost much more money. The game on was not very good on a Monday night (regs and nitty players). I also got into a lot of crummy spots where the best play was to fold. I would say the food here is top notch.



Decided to be a tourist after losing a bundle.
La Jolla Beach



The Restaurant that inspired 2+2 legend Fogo De Chao



Only the second best sushi restaurant I've been to (delicious)





Best Ramen and Yakitori Restaurant Ever!





Sea Lion Cove





Everyone is so chill and nice here. I would be too if I got to enjoy perfect weather all year round. The food here is also top notch, way better than CT and on par with NYC in some places. Sad to going back to cold and grumpy New England.

San Diego is definitely the nuts in terms of lifestyle. Too bad that you ran badly at the pokers.

Are you still staying in the area for 1-2 more days? And are you going to check out Orange County or Los Angeles before you return to New England?

If you happen to come through the OC/LA area before heading back to the East Coast, PM me for poker and non-poker tips.

Thanks for the offer ATsai!

Unfortunately I am leaving tonight. I wish I could stay longer but the real world is waiting for me. I will definitely be back in the future.