Hey guys I'm a 26 year old cash game player from Canada and I'm in Vegas grinding live low stakes during the WSOP. Been here six weeks. Played about 150 hours of 1/2 and 120 hours of 1/3. It was a rough start, but with a bit of studying and run good I've been running hot after the second week. This is the graph so far.



A bit about my poker background. Got introduced to online poker in 2011. Played casually until 2013 then I took it seriously. Grinded 50NL for two years and played live occasionally then went back to school. It's the summer and I didn't look for an internship because this is my internship.

I keep a blog updated once a week (usually Wednesday or Thursday) you guys can check it out here.

http://expiredpotato.blogspot.com/

I also vlog! I used to upload videos once a week whenever I update my blog but now I've decided to just upload them whenever I finish making one. This is my latest video. I get into an enormous pot at the Wynn playing 1/3. It should not have been enormous at all but lololol live players...



If you like my videos make sure to subscribe to my channel! Hoping the heater continues! At the rate I'm going I'll be at 2/5 by July for sure!

Checked out the Rio today. Asides from the $2 promo drop, seems like a nice room. I absolutely LOVE how the BTN straddle forces the blinds to act first. Completely screws over the blinds while maximizing the BTN's position advantage preflop as well. Unless the table's short stacked and I need a table change, I'm straddling the BTN every time I play there.

Got into a verbal confrontation with a guy who refused to move his hand when I asked to see his stack, made a big deal out of it and started running his mouth. The floor had to be called. It was ugly. He got into an argument with a lady at the table shortly after. Super entertaining for me, evidently tilting for him. Got into two interesting hands with this guy.

H1:

BTN opens $10. Hero makes it $32 in the SB with TT. Villain cold calls in the BB with just over $200 effective. Cool play bro. BTN calls.

Flop: TT8 ($89)

Hero checks. Checked around.

Turn: 4 ($209)

Hero checks. Villain bets $60. BTN folds hero calls.

River: A ($209)

Hero checks. Villain checks.

Oh well. I'll take a medium pot along with the $100 for the high hand promo.

H2:

Hero opens $15 with 65. Villain calls on the BTN. BB calls.

Flop: 754 ($40)

Hero bets $30. Villain raises to $130. BB folds. At this point it's clear that villain has a hand he's not folding. At the time I wasn't sure exactly what my equity was vs a set or 86s but later on I find out it's 46% and 42%. I knew it was somewhere in that range. Hero shoves for about $200 more. Villain calls.

Turn: Q ($699)

River: 6 ($699)

Villain shows 44. Oh well. I think I played it fine. Shoving was definitely +EV even with 0 fold equity. Immediate pot odds are 2-1 for calling the raise but I would be OOP and I'd probably have to either shove turn if I hit or check fold if I miss. I think if the raise was smaller calling would be an option but if the raise was smaller that would mean I might actually have non zero fold equity and shoving would still probably be better.

The lady was rooting for me. Not a surprise. She seemed more disgusted that I lost than I did. Oh well. Sometimes the bad guys win.

Made the classic mistake of mucking the winning hand. Did not feel good about it. Good news is I'm up a ton since my last blog update a week ago.

http://expiredpotato.blogspot.com/20...un-goofed.html

Visited downtown again and checked out Freemont. Unfortunately Golden Nugget doesn't have 1/3 but their 1/2 is uncapped and there were many straddlers which made it a good game.

Went to treat myself at the Fashion Show today. Dropped a couple hundo on some clothes and some ghetto protein. Felt like indulging. So we went to the Sugar Factory opposite the Wynn. This happened.



The goblets were 60 oz of liquid sugar, plus candy in the goblets. I don't wanna think about how many calories I had in total.

Since the Wynn was across the street, and it was Friday night, had to head back there for more 1/3 action. Got into these spots. They were not too fun.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/17...-spot-1672777/

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/17...-fold-1672776/

Despite those hands happening, still managed to make almost the amount I spent thanks to flopping bottom two and rivering a boat when villain rivered trips.

Got rekt for almost 300bbs in the span of a gym session. I happened to have to go but it would've been a good time to rack up and take a break anyways. I come back later and get back to work, then decide to treat myself to a scenic drive. Managed to grind some of it back but more importantly was able to not obsess over being stuck a large amount. This is mental game progress that will prepare me for 2/5.

Nice work man, cultivate that mental toughness!

Thanks man! I will!

Just had one of my most frustrating sessions ever playing 1/3 Wynn. I had position on three megawhales who each had $1500+. One of them had $3k. It was CRAZY. These guys were raising anywhere from $15 to $40 pre and calling. I even 3 bet once to $85 and got called in FOUR spots!

Card dead for hours and was down over $600 at one point. I stayed patient and kept folding. Kept my stack at $500. Eventually I doubled up. Then I doubled up again.



Not tilting and staying patient proved to be very valuable! A night that was super frustrating had a very happy ending!

Took a 2/5 shot last weekend at Bellagio. It didn't go too well cause Saturday and Sunday I was card dead AF. Friday night was super fun though. I got into some big pots and jousted with a 5/10 guy. I'm gonna grind 1/3 until the weekend when the games are softer and try again.

Pretty fun thread, subbed and good luck

Sub wubwub!

Cheers guys! Went on a hike on the morning of the 4th of July at Mt. Charleston. We went up Cathedral Rock. It's basically a huge rock that's towers a thousand feet above the parking lot. Very nice view at the top. I need more cardio.



Wynn had their main event going on so there were hardly any cash games until late evening. Surprisingly Aria no longer had 50+ people on the list so it was possible to get a 1/3 seat there. Played about six hours and managed to get some hole cam footage before my battery was too low to record.

More hiking! This time to Griffith Peak on Mount Charleston. It made Cathedral Rock look like a walk in the park. The hike was three and a half times longer and had a 3500 feet elevation gain as opposed to a 1000 feet elevation gain. The altitude at Griffith Peak was over 11,000 feet. It was so high and steep in some places I was breathing heavy just walking slowly. This was better cardio than any silly treadmill work I did this summer.

The previous night, I had stayed up late taking another 2/5 shot. At first I decided to check out the 2/5 at Red Rock since Bellagio had a huge list. I got put on a must move table with mostly grinders. However the grinders got moved and soon the table was full of fish. Unfortunately I had to move to the main table not long after. Got there and again it was mostly grinders. I'm outta there!

Checked out the 2/5 action at the WSOP. I very much regret not playing there before. My table had one grinder and the rest were fish. Spent most of the night trying to get position on this 70 VPIP whale on my left.

The WSOP is winding down. Before the poker action here is doomed to slow to a crawl according to many people, I want to get as much soft 2/5 action as possible. Caesar's seems to be the place since it's a very touristy hotel. I played there three nights. All three nights were moderate winning sessions.



Not a lot of huge pots but many medium pots and it's fun to not be card dead! Still traumatized a little by how much I had to fold a couple weeks ago that was almost as tilting as losing $1500 if not more tilting.

Finally have five digit profits!

Tuesday night, kind of a throwaway night in terms of poker. I decided to have a chill session and actually drink and play poker. It looked fun I always wanted to try it. At 1/2 though. Anything higher I'd have to take fully seriously. Was in Summerlin already so I went to Red Rock. It worked out well.



Up $350 not even sober. I should do this more often. If athletes train at high altitude, maybe playing poker not sober is training for playing poker sober. Or maybe I just like beer too much.

Most interesting hand of the night:

V1 (EP): middle aged Asian woman, tight ish and doesn't bluff ($500)
V2 (BB): MAWG, typical LP fish ($400)
Hero (BTN): mid 20s Asian, TAG image ($500)

V1 limps. Two more limpers to hero who makes it $17 on the BTN with 98. Both villains call.

Flop: QQ6 ($51)

Checked to hero. Hero bets $21. Very small I know. But it's a paired flop and I really REALLY don't need to be balanced about sizing here. Both call.

Turn: T ($114)

Checked through.

River: 7 ($114)

V2 bets $40. V1 raises to $100. I think 3 betting even small would be overplaying my hand a bit. And what's the point in making it $175 when I can just cold call and hope V2 tank calls? Hero cold calls. V2 tank calls.

V1 flips over AQ. While V2 mucks I flip over my runner runner chicken dinner. She starts whining about it nonstop. I thought it was pretty funny. Seems like 1/2 players are the worst in terms of handling losing and the higher up you go the less people whine.

Apparently there was some good 2/5 action at Caesar's Wednesday but I wanted to drink and play 1/2 again. This time I went back to the Mirage. I can't believe I thought it was a tough game back in May when I first came to Vegas. It was one of the softest most passive games I've played in this whole summer! Here's one of the hands. You won't believe what villain was thinking of calling me down with.

Villain (MP): MAWG, LP fish ($600)
Hero (BTN): mid 20s Asian, LAG image (covers)

Two limpers to hero including villain. Hero makes it $15 with Q7. Villain calls.

Flop: Q72 ($44)

Checked to hero. Hero bets $25. Villain calls. Other limper folds.

Turn: 2 ($93)

Checked to hero. Hero bets $65. Villain calls.

River: T ($223)

Checked to hero. Hero bets $140. Villain tanks forever and folds, claiming to have 66.

I remember now why bluffing at 1/2 is so hard. Was up almost $400 but then after some alcohol-induced poor play which included bluffing at 1/2 I lost half the profits. Oh well. Two for two for my 1/2 drinking fun. Next time I'll check out Mandalay Bay cause I haven't been there yet.

Started the weekend 2/5 grind early at Caesar's last night. Was just one table. Didn't get into two many big pots. A lot of my recent 2/5 sessions have been very low variance and my stack has never played even though I buy in short ($500 or $600). Right before I left, I saw Gus Hansen playing some high stakes OFC. Just a casual $200 per point. Nothing crazy.

Very entertaining, gl!

tyty

Not sure about sizing this hand last night...

Villain (SB): 40s brown guy, no reads other than not a 95 VPIP whale but giving off rec vibe (covers)
Hero (EP): mid 20s Asian, just sat an orbit ago ($600)

One limper. Hero makes it $25 with AQ. Villain calls limper folds.

Flop: AQ9 ($57)

Villain checks. Hero bets $50. Villain calls.

Turn: J ($156)

Villain checks. Hero bets $125. Villain calls.

River: 7 ($406)

Villain checks. Very tempted to shove here but given the possible straights out there I don't think villain is calling just an ace too often. When the jack fell I bet fairly big since it definitely improved his range and likely either gave him two pair or gave him a straight draw with his pair or flush draw if not already giving him a straight. The turn call and river check convinced me that I should be good the vast majority of the time.

I decided to bet smaller. I made it $250. Villain thinks for a while and ended up letting it go unfortunately. Oh well. A $400 pot is a $400 pot.

Made a river call with ten high. Kind of. I open TT in EP to $20. Two callers including a guy in position who is very aggro and spewy. It gets checked around all the way to the river and the board is AAJ J 9. Aggro spewtard bets $25, other guy folds and I call playing two pair with a ten kicker. He flips over 96. Not a big pot or anything at all but definitely one of my prouder bluff catches.

There was a spot tonight where I got some scary thin value on the river.

Villain (BB): 50s white guy, tight player who tilts easily ($550)
Hero (MP): mid 20s Asian, TAG image (covers)

Hero opens $15 with QQ. BTN calls as does villain.

Flop: J85 ($45)

Checked to hero. Hero bets $30. Both call.

Turn: 3 ($133)

Villain bets out $50. Hero raises to $175. IP caller folds villain calls.

River: 8 ($483)

Villain checks. Given how he capped his range by flatting the turn raise and didn't lead out on the river, I think I'm good here almost always. I hardly ever see villains getting trappy on rivers. If villain had a flush he would probably be afraid of me checking back a hand like this. I decide to hopefully get max value and shove for the rest of his $300 ish. He looks frustrated, shrugs and says "there's so much in the pot already" as he tosses in a call. I flip over QQ. He nods and mucks.

Giraffe update.



Not a lot of huge wins. But also very few losses and very mild and short downswings. Only had two real downswings during the last 400 hours and they were no worse than $1500. That standard deviation per session is shockingly low. Perhaps I'm playing a little too nitty and I can open up my range more in late position as well as push thin value more aggressively and figure out some more marginal but +EV bluff spots.

Got caught in the rain on a Mount Charleston hike. It was FREEZING! Thought I was gonna die of hypothermia. I then try to play drunk poker at The Mirage.



No more messing around. For now. Back to the 2/5 grind.

Just like people said, poker is slowing to a crawl post WSOP. It's hard to find a 2/5 on a weeknight outside of Bellagio, Aria, Wynn or Venetian. Played at Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock. Both places have very nice rake and were reasonably soft. Tonight dropped $240 real quick sitting at 1/2 sobering up before playing 2/5. Didn't even drink that much but I wouldn't play 2/5 with any alcohol in me. Didn't get into any big pots...until the end of the night.

4 handed

Villain (SB): 30s white guy, TAG ($800)
Hero (BTN): mid 20s Asian, TAG image (covers)

Hero opens $15 with JJ. Blinds call.

Flop: KJ2 ($42)

Checked to hero. Hero bets $30. Villain makes it $95. BB folds. Hero makes it $265. Villain shoves. Snap call.

Turn: 3 (~$1610)

River: 6 (~$1610)

I show my set of jacks. A not so happy look on villain and a muck. Up over a grand in the 2/5 tonight. Up until now my variance in 2/5 has been lower than the variance in 1/3. Glad that's changed and I'm on the good side of it.

My first night at Green Valley Ranch. Couldn't get around to editing the video until last night. Stacked for $500 then grinded back to break even.



Weekend grind didn't go too well. Not even close to a disaster (just down a buy in total) but disappointing to have two losing nights on the most +EV nights to play. Was too busy to play yesterday. Went hiking on Mount Charleston but again had to turn back cause of storms. This time only fifteen minutes in. Good thing I wore the hat which not only protected me from the rain but also from the hail. The hail was actually big enough to hurt my arms a little bit! We went cliff jumping at Nelson's Landing by the Colorado River. Almost chickened out but I did the 30 foot cliff. Smacked my balls real good.

With August being the worst month to play poker in Las Vegas, I'm chilling a bit on the volume. Last Friday was my first Friday or Saturday not playing a single minute of poker. Will be heading to LA next Monday. Games should be much better there. In the meantime, climbed Charleston Peak finally. It was long and painful, but the feeling of accomplishment alone makes it worth it. Didn't feel like going home for a nap after. The felt was calling my name.

Went to Caesar's just now. Was a fun night. Still a little buzzed from all that action and can't really sleep. Night started out poorly. Flopped a king high flush, triple barreled it but then got raised when the river paired. It's never a made hand turned into a bluff from the kind of villain in the hand.

Villain (MP): 40s Asian, tightish ($650)
Hero (BTN): mid 20s Asian, TAG image (covers)

Villain limps. Hero makes it $20 with K7. BB calls and villain calls.

Flop: T96 ($59)

Checked to hero. Hero bets $40. Both call.

Turn: K ($178)

Checked to hero. Hero bets $105. BB folds. Villain calls.

River: 9 ($388)

Villain checks. Hero bets $155. Villain thinks for a while and announces all in.



That sucked. But then a huge whale sat with $1000 and this happened.

Someone raises to $20 in EP. Whale calls. Villain from above hand squeezes to $65 on BTN. EP folds. Whale makes it $400 (wtf). BTN shoves for $1100 total. Whale says "damn bad timing." He asked for a count then he calls. Whole table is watching intently and definitely silently rooting for the whale. The river is flipped over and BTN tables aces. Aces are good. Whale shows someone 85s then says "good night guys".

I have to admit, I was super jelly that BTN got a huge gift and all I got from this guy was a check raise with 8 high which made me fold air that I was cbetting.

Game got pretty bad, was debating leaving then a middle aged overweight guy sits with $1000. Sometimes you look at someone then you just know he's gonna be a big fish/whale cause they got the degen look, and they're usually overweight cause degens are less likely to care about their looks/health compared to your average American. He plays five hands in a row right after sitting. Since I'm going to LA in less than a week, I waste no time seat changing to his left like a shameless bumhunter. Got a little bit of money off of him, but nothing huge.

Games really tend to get good in the early AM hours. But I was starting to lose focus and I know I wasn't playing my A game anymore so I just left. Oh well. Took down enough small to medium pots to turn a several hundred dollar loss into a tiny win. I'm OK with that.

good fold