Travelling & The Live Midstakes
08-20-2018
, 11:10 PM
Quote:
The music plays all around you as a misty scent pours from the ceiling. The minutes turned to hours, and weeks turned into months. The players still turn up, and the cards continue to fly. You haven’t been here for 53 days, but nothing has changed.
The feeling, the faces, and the facade are the same. Your routine also doesn’t change. You pick up a pot. It feels like it’s been years. The nerves ease. It feels like 5 minutes have gone by until another playable hand. In reality it had been 45, but that’s what the building does to you. It brings you to an alternate reality where not everything is as is seems.
Three missed value bets, a bad hero call, and four hours later, you’re up 400 and ready to go home. You were rusty, and played a C game at best. The win feels like a loss. But in the midst of a 5 figure downswing, and 5 session losing streak it’s a much needed victory. The facade of the situation is that this was not a victory. Poker gives off the illusion of victories to blind you from your mistakes.
Until the heater has worn off and you’ve seen the other side, you can’t reach the elite level. Having to go through the tough time to actually learn is important. It’s now time to combine your hard work, and practice and put the plan into motion.
The feeling, the faces, and the facade are the same. Your routine also doesn’t change. You pick up a pot. It feels like it’s been years. The nerves ease. It feels like 5 minutes have gone by until another playable hand. In reality it had been 45, but that’s what the building does to you. It brings you to an alternate reality where not everything is as is seems.
Three missed value bets, a bad hero call, and four hours later, you’re up 400 and ready to go home. You were rusty, and played a C game at best. The win feels like a loss. But in the midst of a 5 figure downswing, and 5 session losing streak it’s a much needed victory. The facade of the situation is that this was not a victory. Poker gives off the illusion of victories to blind you from your mistakes.
Until the heater has worn off and you’ve seen the other side, you can’t reach the elite level. Having to go through the tough time to actually learn is important. It’s now time to combine your hard work, and practice and put the plan into motion.
Love these posts btw, ****'s poetic af
08-31-2018
, 01:47 AM
Grand Opening Vibes
We weren’t the only ones headed to MGM Springfield. It was Friday, August 24th, otherwise known as the grand opening of the new casino. The city was ill-prepared for the chaos that was about to ensue that night.
Casino parking was full just hours after opening. The line to get off the exit and even into the casino area was an hour long. Nearby lots and businesses reaped the benefits of offering charged parking for casino guests.
Inside was no different. The casino floor filled with wide-eyed human beings; young and old, clueless and experienced. Even getting to the poker room was a challenge. Long, large clumps of bodies inhibited walking paths increasing journey times tenfold.
Eventually the voyage came to an end. A brand new poker room appeared and the energy was apparent from the get go. All 23 tables were full and what seemed like hundreds of people lingered around the front desk waiting for a seat at 9:00pm.
“Triple M, I called in for 2/5”. Just like that we were number one on the list. Less than 10 minutes later it was time for the action. What ensued for the first two hours was what we have been used to in the year 2018. Every flop was missed, and we had trouble taking down even the smallest of pots, save for a few preflop blind pickups.
Stuck about 300 and having faded even making ONE pair thus far, we see a limp, a CO open to 20 and a BTN call. K
Q gets peeled back and we make it a black chip to go. The BB who is steaming after losing multiple big pots over the last hour cold calls, and everyone else folds.
We go heads up to a flop of 852
.
Alright, we faded making a pair AGAIN, but at least we have some equity this time. Barring overpairs, a small bet should be able to take this down at least a fair amount of the time. We wager 80, and the BB quickly calls.
The turn comes the Q
.
Now with a pair to go along with our flush draw, we go ahead and check. Villain quickly cuts out a bet of 240 with 380 behind.
We make the call and see the Q
on the river.
Not the way we were expecting to win this hand, we go ahead and rep our actual hand (missed flush draw, obv) and jam for 380 eff. Villain does not snap call which effectively seals the hand for us. Now we pray for the call. 30 seconds later we tosses the call in and we are good.
3 hours later and an extra zero pots won, we call it a night only a slight winner.
We weren’t the only ones headed to MGM Springfield. It was Friday, August 24th, otherwise known as the grand opening of the new casino. The city was ill-prepared for the chaos that was about to ensue that night.
Casino parking was full just hours after opening. The line to get off the exit and even into the casino area was an hour long. Nearby lots and businesses reaped the benefits of offering charged parking for casino guests.
Inside was no different. The casino floor filled with wide-eyed human beings; young and old, clueless and experienced. Even getting to the poker room was a challenge. Long, large clumps of bodies inhibited walking paths increasing journey times tenfold.
Eventually the voyage came to an end. A brand new poker room appeared and the energy was apparent from the get go. All 23 tables were full and what seemed like hundreds of people lingered around the front desk waiting for a seat at 9:00pm.
“Triple M, I called in for 2/5”. Just like that we were number one on the list. Less than 10 minutes later it was time for the action. What ensued for the first two hours was what we have been used to in the year 2018. Every flop was missed, and we had trouble taking down even the smallest of pots, save for a few preflop blind pickups.
Stuck about 300 and having faded even making ONE pair thus far, we see a limp, a CO open to 20 and a BTN call. K
Q gets peeled back and we make it a black chip to go. The BB who is steaming after losing multiple big pots over the last hour cold calls, and everyone else folds. We go heads up to a flop of 8
52. Alright, we faded making a pair AGAIN, but at least we have some equity this time. Barring overpairs, a small bet should be able to take this down at least a fair amount of the time. We wager 80, and the BB quickly calls.
The turn comes the Q
. Now with a pair to go along with our flush draw, we go ahead and check. Villain quickly cuts out a bet of 240 with 380 behind.
We make the call and see the Q
on the river. Not the way we were expecting to win this hand, we go ahead and rep our actual hand (missed flush draw, obv) and jam for 380 eff. Villain does not snap call which effectively seals the hand for us. Now we pray for the call. 30 seconds later we tosses the call in and we are good.
3 hours later and an extra zero pots won, we call it a night only a slight winner.
Last edited by tellypl; 08-31-2018 at 01:56 AM.
08-31-2018
, 11:47 AM
Part II
The return trip had a hometime arrival of 4:00. Most mere mortals would take some extra time to recover and be ready for another long day ahead.
However, anticipation, excitement and passion wake you up just 4 and a half hours later ready to go. Not to mention, after learning a lesson from day one, it was clear the correct option was to not wait until nighttime to make the 90 minute trek.
By noon it was game time. This time only 6 tables were opened, but a 7th was just opening up upon our arrival and it was the second 2/5 game. We hop in, and take our seat.
Two hours later we make our first pair. We end up taking the pot down on the flop and are now only stuck 250. A few blind steals later and we’re stuck slightly less, when this hand happens.
There are 2 limps, and we limp the CO with 7
7
. BTN, SB, BB come along and we go 6 way to a flop of
K7
3.
It checks around to us and we toss in one green. The SB, and one of the limpers make the call.
The turn is the K.
Both players check to us and this time we wager 80. The SB quickly calls and the limper folds. Villains hand is now face up a Kx.
The river is the best card in the deck, the 3. Villain checks and we frustratingly check back our counterfeited full house. Before he even tosses over one card, the K we know we are beat. We take the loss in stride as we have learned how to do all too well. 10 hours of weekend play and a small loss, we prepare mentally once again for the next weekend.
The return trip had a hometime arrival of 4:00. Most mere mortals would take some extra time to recover and be ready for another long day ahead.
However, anticipation, excitement and passion wake you up just 4 and a half hours later ready to go. Not to mention, after learning a lesson from day one, it was clear the correct option was to not wait until nighttime to make the 90 minute trek.
By noon it was game time. This time only 6 tables were opened, but a 7th was just opening up upon our arrival and it was the second 2/5 game. We hop in, and take our seat.
Two hours later we make our first pair. We end up taking the pot down on the flop and are now only stuck 250. A few blind steals later and we’re stuck slightly less, when this hand happens.
There are 2 limps, and we limp the CO with 7
7. BTN, SB, BB come along and we go 6 way to a flop ofK
73. It checks around to us and we toss in one green. The SB, and one of the limpers make the call.
The turn is the K
. Both players check to us and this time we wager 80. The SB quickly calls and the limper folds. Villains hand is now face up a Kx.
The river is the best card in the deck, the 3
. Villain checks and we frustratingly check back our counterfeited full house. Before he even tosses over one card, the K we know we are beat. We take the loss in stride as we have learned how to do all too well. 10 hours of weekend play and a small loss, we prepare mentally once again for the next weekend. 
04-19-2019
, 10:13 AM
Where have you been?
LIFE:
As I mentioned a while ago, about 6 months ago my partner and I purchased our first apartment. Here’s some progress
I think everything came out alright for a couple of novices (+family labor - thanks fam!) We’ll have the place paid off within the next two years, and decide how to proceed from there.
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
Yesterday I put in my two weeks at my current job. My last day will be 4/30. I feel great about the professional experience I’ve gained over the last 2.5 years and am excited to see what the future holds. Started to feel burnt out, and had to get out of the situation. I was also underpaid for my title (imo) and felt like I could use this as a good stepping stone.
I have a potential job on the horizon I’m hoping comes through, but if not, I will be putting more hours into the poker grind until I start somewhere new. Either way, I’m good with it.
Over Christmas we got to babysit this BEAST (sweetest dog ever) for three weeks. She’s our favorite. Except when she steals the whole bed.
POKER:
Admittedly I’ve felt down about my poker game ever since my so-so shot at 5/10. Playing a game where you keep track of results on the go, it always ****s with me mentally when the balance goes down. Couple that with life expenses (worth it!) and it can get to be a bit much.
Regardless, over the last few months I’ve put in more time working on my game by studying and playing online. (75/25 PLO/NLH). As well as dropping down in stakes live, I feel ready to get back in the live mix and game select not only based on table but game variant now. Excited what’s to come.
(More updates soon!)
TRAVEL:
In March I had a great trip down to Miami again. Played a little less poker than I would have liked, but had an amazing time.
We have a trip to Dallas planned for the second week of May. I’ve never been to Winstar so I plan to add another chip to my collection from there!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
LIFE:
As I mentioned a while ago, about 6 months ago my partner and I purchased our first apartment. Here’s some progress
I think everything came out alright for a couple of novices (+family labor - thanks fam!) We’ll have the place paid off within the next two years, and decide how to proceed from there.
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
Yesterday I put in my two weeks at my current job. My last day will be 4/30. I feel great about the professional experience I’ve gained over the last 2.5 years and am excited to see what the future holds. Started to feel burnt out, and had to get out of the situation. I was also underpaid for my title (imo) and felt like I could use this as a good stepping stone.
I have a potential job on the horizon I’m hoping comes through, but if not, I will be putting more hours into the poker grind until I start somewhere new. Either way, I’m good with it.
Over Christmas we got to babysit this BEAST (sweetest dog ever) for three weeks. She’s our favorite. Except when she steals the whole bed.
POKER:
Admittedly I’ve felt down about my poker game ever since my so-so shot at 5/10. Playing a game where you keep track of results on the go, it always ****s with me mentally when the balance goes down. Couple that with life expenses (worth it!) and it can get to be a bit much.
Regardless, over the last few months I’ve put in more time working on my game by studying and playing online. (75/25 PLO/NLH). As well as dropping down in stakes live, I feel ready to get back in the live mix and game select not only based on table but game variant now. Excited what’s to come.
(More updates soon!)
TRAVEL:
In March I had a great trip down to Miami again. Played a little less poker than I would have liked, but had an amazing time.
We have a trip to Dallas planned for the second week of May. I’ve never been to Winstar so I plan to add another chip to my collection from there!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited by tellypl; 04-19-2019 at 10:32 AM.
04-22-2019
, 08:04 AM
Appreciate this! Fun thugs to come.
——
Alright everyone. I’m a bit rusty. Please help me out with sizing in this hand below!
EP limp
MP limp
Villain (loose recreational) raise to $30 OTB
Hero (SB) raise $110 A
A
limpers fold
Villain call
Flop ($230) Q
74Hero has $330 behind.
V can have ~any two. Just played a 3b pot and GII on flop with 53o on A53r two hands ago
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited by tellypl; 04-22-2019 at 08:10 AM.
04-22-2019
, 03:55 PM
Just noticed I messed up the formatting of that hand. Report below.
EP limp
MP limp
Villain (loose recreational) raise to $30 OTB
Hero (SB) raise $110 A
A limpers fold
Villain call
Flop ($230) Q
7 4Hero has $330 behind.
V can have ~any two. Just played a 3b pot and GII on flop with 53o on A53r two hands ago
04-22-2019
, 04:05 PM
Quote:
Good to hear from you bro! I'll certainly hit you up again when I'm in your neck of the woods 8)
Just noticed I messed up the formatting of that hand. Report below.
EP limp
MP limp
Villain (loose recreational) raise to $30 OTB
Hero (SB) raise $110 A A
limpers fold
Villain call
Flop ($230) Q7 4
Hero has $330 behind.
V can have ~any two. Just played a 3b pot and GII on flop with 53o on A53r two hands ago
Just noticed I messed up the formatting of that hand. Report below.
EP limp
MP limp
Villain (loose recreational) raise to $30 OTB
Hero (SB) raise $110 A
A limpers fold
Villain call
Flop ($230) Q
7 4Hero has $330 behind.
V can have ~any two. Just played a 3b pot and GII on flop with 53o on A53r two hands ago
Bet half pot otf shove turn
