Making this thread to hopefully help stay motivated, vent at the craziness of live poker in the Philippines, and get some advice on hands.

So far I've played poker in Manila, Angeles City and Cebu. What kind of craziness may you ask? At one casino in Angeles they allow rabbit hunts, and I'm not particularly opposed to it if it's on rare occasion. However you will sometimes get tables with people consistently requesting rabbit hunts after they fold to a 3 bet PRE FLOP!

Insurance is another plague on the game here. Most card rooms/casinos offer insurance on all ins, of course they are taking a healthy cut. This leads to often 5+ minutes on all ins, insurance needs to be recalculated on the turn as well...confusion over outs. They often need to document it with photos. Gets even more fun when side pots are involved.

"English only" at the tables but never followed. This doesn't bother me that much as I've yet to see any situations where collusion looked likely. What does get annoying is the amount of yelling back and forth between typically Filipino players. I've seen them drive away foreign rec players on multiple occasions. Generally ignoring any requests for English only or perhaps taking it easy for 10-15 minutes before resuming.

House players, this one is the one that by far affects the game most negatively. At some casinos close to half the players are house players, probably getting a significant portion of their estimated rake in an hourly wage. This wouldn't amount to much in the USA, but here in the Philippines if you can just play nitty break even or slightly winning poker along with the rakeback you are making more money than 90-95% of the population. This of course leads to terrible games.

My goals are to make a bit of extra cash, play good poker without tilting, and try to have fun.

Starting bankroll of 500,000 pesos (56 pesos to 1 dollar). Daily stop loss of 10% of the bankroll.

Feel free to ask me any questions about the Philippines or offer your own insight.

I've been in Malaybalay for almost a month now so haven't played at all. Don't think there are any poker games here. Will be headed to Manila in a few days and then likely on to Angeles after a short stay in Manila.

Some pics from Malaybalay

Subbed! Looks good...

Flew into Manila (from Davao) at 12.30 PM, after getting settled in at my hotel and eating decided I felt up for the trip to Okada, pokerstars runs their poker room and there is always a solid selection of NLH.

The only thing that might of been a bigger shitshow than my play was the dealers we had. Turned out to be a tourney series ongoing and seemed like they picked up some people off the street with zero experience based on the quality of dealing received throughout the night.

Immediately got a seat at 50/100 (which is just slightly smaller than $1/$2). Lowest limit here is 25/50. Some places in Philippines spread 10/20 pesos, possibly the lowest stake live games in the world? Comes out to about $0.18/$0.36.

Bought in for 12k and folded 2 orbits till receiving 9c 8c in the BB. Early position raise to 300, 3 callers and I close the action in the BB. Flop As 9s 6c. Checks to button who bets 800. He'd been playing the most aggressive of anyone at the table, had raised 5-6 times and vpip 60%+ on an admittedly tiny sample.

I call with 3 players behind to act, they all fold turn comes 8 of spade. Making the board As 9s 6c 8s. Pot is 3100 before rake, and I lead for 2100. He calls. River 3 of hearts I check he bets 4200 I call he shows me the Q6 of spades for the flush.

In hindsight I think the flop is a probably a fold? 3 players behind to act so at least possible I get blasted off the hand. I think I'm OK with my turn and river. On the turn I think I'm getting value from top pair and maybe he has some pure bluffs with high spades after everyone checked to him on the flop that are also calling.

Maybe the river is a fold as the only bluffs are those high spades or maybe 78 w/7 of spades. But who knows if he even has those type of hands when it was 5 way on the flop.

So lost about 7500 there, added on 17k more putting me at a little over 21k.

Nothing much till a few orbits later As Ah first position. Make it 400, 3 callers. Flop Js 5s 5c. BB checks to me I bet 800, two calls before BB makes it 3k. I call other two fold. Turn 9h. He bets 6k I call. River 6c he bets 7k I call. Of course I'm shown the 5, he has 54. Not a big sample size but this guy so far had seemed like your run of the mill passive live player.

Feel like I botched this bad and should of folded the turn, especially as I'm blocking the nut flush draw although even if I wasn't I think its still a fold. Hard to see someone bluffing here after the flop action, and then once he follows through on the turn I think its time to give it up.

After playing like a complete donk and stuck around 24k I was rewarded with some run good the rest of the session picking up a few mostly medium size pots. Top pair holding vs presumably a draw and a couple bluffs getting through. Was getting pretty exhausted by 10.15 PM after having gotten up at 6AM and flying which I hate so called it a night as I was getting close to even (and the game had gotten a lot worse, the action players had left/busted. One guy for example called a 3 bet with 32 off)

4 hr 40 min session netted a -1125 loss.

Bankroll= 500,000 -1125 = 498,875
Hours logged= 4 hour 40 min

I might try and upload the hands in a replayer in the future I'm sure that isn't great to read but I'm exhausted and gonna try to get some sleep shortly. Any and all advice on the hands is appreciated.

does davao have live pokers?

Do you do degen ****?

Davao has a card room I read, probably a bunch of grinders and OMC nits if it was anything like Cebu though. Was only there for a night, took a bus from Malaybalay (no airport) yesterday. Took over 5 hours and was uncomfortable, views were pretty damn nice though.

I used to do some degen **** on occasion. For example binked a low 5 figure tourney then donked it off at high stakes cash games in a couple days. (Over 10 years ago, this was online)

Used to play the pits when I got stuck at poker but told myself I ever got to pits again I'm done with casinos entirely and have stuck to that for 5+ years.

I still don't really trust myself playing online, self control seems worse there.

Climbing back to even tree fiddy at a time. Sat for 2 orbits and played one hand, AK which I took down after c betting the flop.

Afternoon game and it was uninspiring to say the least so not much reason to stick around. (The rake is rough as well, 10% up to 400 pesos + an additonal 50 for bad beat comes out to $8 per hand) More rake is better though?

Picked up a bottle of Jack Daniel's on the way out and will have a few drinks before heading back to see if there's any action to be had on a Friday night.

Okada seems to be styled after Bellagio, has a fountain as well and somewhat similar architecture.



Bankroll= 498875 + 350= 499,225
Hours played= 4 hr 40 min + 20 min= 5 hours

Let me know when u have a big winning session and we can go celebrate at burgos street.

You spend any time in Angeles?

Will be in Manila for just a few more days. I've yet to party here in Manila, city intimidates me. Is burgos street a pretty good time? How does it compare to walking street Angeles?

Have had some fun when in Angeles, think I'm finally going to get a condo/apartment there as I've been wasting a lot of money on hotels and haven't had any luck finding cheap + decent quality. Been here over 5 months besides a 3 week trip to Pattaya. (I assume you probably been to Thailand as well?)

Prefer Pattaya but have had a Filipina girlfriend for around 3 months now which is why ive stuck around this long. Thai food and the cheap seafood of Pattaya I love whereas can't stand most Filipino dishes, nor have I had any luck finding decent seafood. Prefer the more laid back night life/bar scene in Pattaya, minimal security, don't feel like anyone's trying to rob me/take advantage. (Maybe walking street in Pattaya but I avoid that completely so many better places to go imo)

Fell asleep tonight after a few drinks and eating so no evening session, thought about still going when I woke up at 1.30 AM but didn't feel that motivated to play.

Thank you!

Think I'm headed off to Okada again in a bit. Might even go crazy and play a tournament, especially if the cash isn't any good or a big list.

Don't think I've played any tournament in a few years. Had a little stretch where I did well on WPN playing pretty much only micros, $3-$11 buyins and won 17 tournaments (small fields) think my roi was somewhere in the neighborhood of a 100%.

Last time I played a live tournament I hated it cause it was 10 handed, no room and next to dirty smelly degenerates. But if cash is afternoon nits and the dealers are bad might be the lesser of two evils. It's shocking how bad tourney players can be and you can actually punish the nits for being nitty with real blinds+ antes

Hey WPNdonk,

I'm currently in Manila putting in super light volume. I retired from playing poker professionally after transitioning to passive income. Feel free to send me a PM if you'd like to meetup. Cheers!

Let me know if you're ever in Angeles and if so I'm down for a meet up (or if youll be at Okada in the next 3 days). Will only be here a few more days, Manila traffic drives me nuts. I'm staying walking distance from Okada right now to avoid it.

Passive income sounds like the ticket, cause it sure isn't easy these days in poker. (Unless your in Texas maybe)

You put your light volume in at Okada or elsewhere?

Had one of my least memorable sessions tonight, started 50/100, switched to 100/200 hoping for a better table but was all grinders, switched back to 50/100.

Don't have a single noteworthy hand to report. Played 4 hrs 45 min highest pocket was 99, zero AK, zero sets. I was 2 for 2 successful on bluffs so that's something I guess. Lost 2400 pesos on the night.

Bankroll 499,225 - 2400 = 496,825
Hours played= 9 hr 45 min

Sat at 100/200 as they were starting a new game. Won a solid pot two pair vs top pair.

Didn't see any player who I thought seemed weak, games have been awful and not even worth playing.

So went to 50/100, but game was also pretty awful for a low stakes live game. Missed a few flops finished up with 4600 profit and off to dinner. May give it a go later if I feel up to it.

Pretty boring stuff but going to Angeles in a few days, hopefully better poker action to report and maybe some non poker action as well.

Bankroll 496825+4600= 501,425 (+1425)

Hours played: 9 hr 45 min + 2 30= 12 hr 15 min

Just a quick update as want to keep the bankroll up to date.

Got into Angeles today, played some 25/50 omaha. Lost 7k over 4.5 hours. Wasn't any super interesting hands. Last pot I lost before leaving had Ah Kc 9c 8h flop 9s 6c 5c. All in on flop vs a reasonably aggressive opponent. He had 9632 (with 23 of clubs). Blanks on turn and river and he ships it, was curious my equity so looked it up had 55%.


Bankroll= 494,425 (-5,675)
Hours played= 16.75 hours

3 hr 15 min session at 100/200

Made a questionable river call with KK. Ran a 3 street bluff which got through. Didn't flop top pair all session let alone a set.

Games have me depressed as it really feels like they aren't worth playing but think I'm going to try and battle through and get in some hours to see if that's truly the case or not.

Not a lot of players making big obvious mistakes like you'd hope in a relatively low stakes live game where you get 30 hands per hour so it has me questioning whether it's worth the time. I've also been playing far from flawless.

5k loss for the session

Bankroll: 489,425 (-10,575)
Hours played: 20 hours

Playing 50/100, game usually moves to an auto straddle later on but I got there at the start of the game.

Raise 400 with AJ flop J75, contin bet 500 he raises to 1200 I calll. Turn 7 he bets 2200 I call river 6 he bets 3200 I call he has 43 off nice hand sir

Ac Kc in big blind middle position raiser makes it 400, button goes 1700 I make it 6k (too small out of position I think should of gone 7 or 7.5?) with a 30k stack they both have me covered. Both call flop T 7 4 rainbow one club. Pots 18k I have 24k I shove. Punt? Losing play? Bet quarter pot? Check/fold? No real reads on either but suspected middle position might be more of a rec. I figured I'd maximize my fold equity but not sure what's best. Seems like a feasible play to make with overpairs as well.

Snap called by middle position (he didn't even do a little bit of acting with a player behind) he has TT, nice hand and no miracle runners for me.

40,000 loss in 30 minutes and out of cash as I just got an apartment and had to put up a decent chunk for that. Oh well I was close to my stop loss limit too.

Bankroll: 449,425 (-50,575)
Hours played: 20.5

100/200, nothing big for the first 3 hours then get Kh Kc. 4 limpers I'm in the BB and make it 1400. They all call �� flop Qh 9h 7s

I'm approx 30k deep to start the hand so I figure I'm just betting and stacking off on this flop. I want to charge the draws so I bet 6k nearly pot. First limper makes it 21k everyone else folds and i get it in.

He flips over A7 of hearts so pretty much a flip? I might even be behind a little. House asks me if I want insurance, no thank you! Think I'd probably lose a decent chunk of money insuring both the turn and the river on his 13 outs.

I ask opponent if he'll run it twice though and he agrees, turn immediately 2 of hearts and he's a little disappointed he agreed. I win the 2nd run which is big as I can't even rebuy as atm maxxed for the day.

Ac4c in BB, we are doing a round of straddles and there is a double straddle on so its 100/200/400/800.

A few limps around to me and I feel like I want to play it aggressive but not sure there's a sizing that makes sense. If I go 5-6k almost certainly getting called in a couple spots if not more. I had a fairly tight image so thought about just shoving approx 33k, I think that'd get folds unless someone had a real hand and I'd pick up 5k, probably worth it?

But in the end I just limp along and it's 7 ways to a flop of 9c 7c 6h. I check middle position bets 2500, 2 callers again I think about just ripping it in but decide against, I call and only 1 fold we have 6 players to the turn. Yahtzee!! Qc. I check and everyone checks to button who bets 8k and is the most aggressive player at the table.

I think its a pretty easy call here with 4 players behind me I all want in. River 5c so bringing in the 4 flush. I check to him he bets 10k I shove (for only about maybe 10k more) he instantly folds.

Ac Kc on SB, hijack makes it 800 I go to 3200 big blind cold calls hijack folds.

Flop As Th 3d, down bet 2k he calls. Turn 5c I bet 6k he calls. River 4 I bet 9k he calls.

I show AK he has A3 off, nice hand sir nice hand. He was very passive I didn't want him finding a fold on the river so I only bet around 35-40% pot. Targeting AJ-AQ but apparently he's capable of having any Ax

Had maybe the craziest stretch of getting a pocket pair that I can remember at least, had TT five times over about 25 hands. No sets, no overpair to the board won 2 of 5, breakeven or a slight profit with them.

Finished up 32,800 over 8.5 hours. Feels good to finally book an actual win.

Bankroll: 482,225 (-17,775)
Hours played: 29

Happy with my new apartment so far which is a relief since I went ahead and agreed to a 6 month lease. No bugs, no problems with anything (definitely can't take this for granted in philippines).

Not the cheapest by philippine standards paying $530 per month + whatever utilities come out to. (They warned me they were expensive in philippines) but I think a decent price for the area. Lots of foreigners and Koreans particularly in Angeles so they can ask and receive higher prices.

Went out Monday night drank way too much on an empty stomach, got in a fight with the gf but everything was fine again by morning. She says it was my fault which I'm skeptical of but i was more fked up then I've been in some time so I can't rule it out.

Started drinking at 3 or so, didn't eat any dinner, blacked out drunk by around 11. Played some of the best pool of my life before hitting the blacked out stage.

Apparently I was flirting with some girl at the bar, so my gf stormed off I followed her forgot to pay the bar tab. (Think this was the only time in my life ive ran out on a bar/resto bill)

Went back and paid it yesterday took a little while for them to sort out who I was etc. Was only 430 pesos as we'd been drinking elsewhere earlier.

Nice read! Don't hesitate to post more photos, always appreciated.

Are you actually from Philippines?

Hey OP, gl! I've been living in the Philippines for a while, it's pretty great here.

Do you know if there is any PLO played in casinos? Specifically in Cebu / Negros?

Thanks! I need to take more photos I'm awful at remembering.

From the USA, minnesota and Wisconsin. Been traveling since April of last year went to Thailand first, planned on staying 1 maybe 2 months and ended up staying 6 months. (Longest you can stay without a special visa, education, retirement (not old enough), volunteer

Went home in late October and hated it. Missing the beautiful Asian women , warm weather, everything affordable. so decided what the fk I'm going back to Southeast Asia as soon as I can. Didn't want to wait too long so overpaid a bit for a 1 way ticket to Manila was around 1300. My 1 way flights to and from Bangkok were 800 and 740 (got a legit 10% discount on the 740 one).

Im liking it more with time at first it was a bit tough for me, still missing thai food and the incredible prices/solid quality of the seafood there.

I didn't see any PLO being played in Cebu, I went to Voyager Poker room and Nustar Casino. I heard another card room opened there in the last couple months but not sure about PLO.

Angeles actually has a couple PLO games going occasionally but haven't seen anything high stakes, 25/50 or 50/100 typically.

Okada in Manila runs a list for 100/200/500 PLO game was running occasionally when I was there in December but I didn't see it run at all or even have a decent list on my most recent visit.

I heard there was a consistent 100/200 omaha game at a different card room in Manila though recently. I'm sure there's probably almost always a game or 2 to be found somewhere in Manila.

Got on the list for the 100/200 game at around 9 PM Friday night. Didn't get the call for the seat until 11 PM and they let me know i had a spot at midnight. Alright I'm already a few drinks in but why not. Typically as long as I'm not hammered it doesn't seem to affect my play negatively.

Bought in for 50k almost immediately lose around 12k with a bluff catcher after all the draws brick. Maybe should of folded but it also can't of been that bad either.

Get AK make it 6 BBs but still get 4 callers. Flop is king high, two call me on flop. Turn is a complete blank I bet and they both fold so back to near starting 50k.

Get Kd Jd late position make it 1200 3 callers. Flop Qd 9s 8d I bet 2800 get raised to 6k I call. Turn 7d I bet 11k he calls. River is a beautiful inconsequential 4h I go all in for about 30k he takes about a minute and calls. Maybe JT or a set? I guess most players in this game would call Q9 Q8 suited pre too. Not sure if he'd stack off with those or not.

Ac Kh make it 1200 think there were 2 or 3 callers we have position on all. Flop Ks Td 6d. I contin bet he makes it 8k I call. Turn Tc he bets 13k I call. River Ah he bets 30k.....decisions decisions. Don't have any read on this player only about 45 minute into the session and don't think I've played with him before although I am terrible at recognizing Koreans.

QJ got there but diamonds missed. Is he raising many hands with a T on the flop? That seems a bit strange but people do a lot of strange things.

It's a decent card for him to keep bluffing in case I have KQ/KJ? If he had the Ace high flush draw would he ever consider actually going for value/block bet when he pairs on the river? I'm thinking not.

His likely value is QJ, 66? Bluffs diamonds particularly combo draws like 78 89 J9.

Well anyways I tank call. He looks reluctant to show always a good sign and flips over 99... I'll take it.

I'm feeling good and continuing the drinking, long Island ice tea. There's a bar attached to the poker room, they have really high prices by philippine standards for some reason. Not sure why but there's usually almost no one in there. I get the long Island since it feels like a relatively good value compared to everything else. I ordered captain Morgan or something like that before and they give you exactly 1 shot for the same price as the long Island. 245 pesos so pay 300 with the tip included. Feels like a fortune here but I'd consider it a not bad deal back home.

I think I could even bring my own bottle if I wanted here but that'd be toying a dangerous line as I think I'd be too susceptible to over indulging.

Ended up having 4 or 5 drinks throughout the session was pushing it a bit.....between that and the drinking before I got there. ( probably the equivalent of 4 or so beforehand)

Felt in the zone and playing well (always helps when you are running well).

There were a few more mid size pots some for me some against nothing super noteworthy. A player open shoved 14k, i had JJ called praying no one behind me wakes up with anything to reshove as thatd put me in a filthy spot. Everyone else folded and he had K2 off, I held and the run good continues.

Was about to quit at 5 AM, we were down to 5 players and the booze was starting to wear off. None of the 4 giving away free money or anything either but then two new players sat down one of them a 100k deep.

He pulled off a series of bluffs in quick succession

The new 100k guy pulled off a series of bluffs in quick succession including a couple good sized pots. He was quickly up 70-80k (including about 10-15 from me, mostly from a hand he rivered a flush but I thought he played it well throughout) he showed at least 3-4 bluffs and some like T3 and 92 with zero equity but he did seem to have solid intuition for who and when to bluff.

I stuck around to see if it looked like he was going to punt off but he started tightening up considerably. Between that and the booze wearing off, and the fact he could put me in some gross spots for my 150k stack I figured it was time to call it a night at 6.30 AM

Cashed out for 158,275 but spent at least 1700+ on drink and non dealer tips so for purposes of bankroll will use 160k figure. ( I don't count food, drink, non dealer tips at least if it's anything significant like tonight)

110k win on the night feels good man!

Bankroll: 592,275 (+92,275)
Hours played: 35.5

Bought in for 30k at 100/200 first hand I play of session i have KQ suited on the button. There are a few limpers cut off who likes to attack limpers makes it 2200, I make it 7600 big blind cold calls everyone else folds back to cut off who seems to somewhat reluctantly call. Big blind started hand with maybe 32-33 and cut off is a 100k approx.

Flop is rainbow 865 I think I have backdoor flush draw. Checks to me and I decide to check as well (i assume this is pretty standard?). I'm thinking the cold call range is heavily weighted to mid pocket pairs and maybe AA that I can see making at least some sense to slowplay..

Turn is a 5, BB leads out for 11k and cut off shoves pretty quickly. (I fold ofc) BB deliberates a little before calling with QQ. Cut off has 79 suited for the flopped str8. Not an ideal start.

Ac Qc in SB I made it 6 or 7 BB after a couple limpers and it goes 3 or 4 ways to the flop. 7c 5s 2d I decide to continuation bet maybe a bit ambitious? Get called by two players. Turn is K of clubs, i figure this is a great card to continue I bet close to 3/4 pot which commits my small stack if they raise given my outs but since I want folds in this situation I think it looks stronger to not over bet the pot all in? It works and both fold.

Again KQ suited on the button and again cut off was the raiser, but much smaller this time as I don't think there were any limpers. He made it 800 I went to 3k. SB cold calls and he calls.

Flop 982 rainbow with backdoor flush draw. Checks through. Turn Q, sb leads for 5k, cut off calls I call. Don't think there was any flush draw but could be wrong. River 2. SB bets 12k cut off folds and I'm in a rough spot.

I hate folding and my inclination is to call but I take my time and think it over. AQ makes some sense as do 88 and 99, maybe JT suited? Can't rule it out in these live games. Would he turn TT or JJ into a bluff? That seems a bit strange to me as it'd be optimistic to get many better hands to fold. I can't figure out many logical bluffs unless he's just go crazy with something weird.

Definitely interested in thoughts on this one if anyone has any. I hadn't played with the guy before and he hadn't done anything weird in a very limited 60-90 min sample size and had a reasonable vpip.

I try to not go with my gut too much but on close decisions nothing else to go with. Felt valuey to me betting into two players who had just called on the turn as did his approx half pot sizing. I folded and didn't find out what he had. Later on I seen him make some plays that were spewy so think I'd call in future against him.

Get 66 on button and have approx 36k. Cut off seems to be steaming significantly of recent. He makes it 900 I call one other caller. Flop 552 rainbow he bets 2300 I call. Turn is a 3 bringing a club flush draw. He bets 5400 I call. River is the 4 of clubs. He bets 8k I shove all in for around 27.5, 19.5 for him to call. He deliberates a bit and folds. I don't think he's folding an Ace but I could be wrong.