First day in Vegas went really well.

I played two tournaments - first was a $60 buy in turbo style at the MGM Grand (not a huge fan of this format as blinds went up every 10 min). We had 17 players with two paid spots and I ended up chopping with 2 other guys equally at the end. They both had a slight chip edge on me so I was happy with it. Quality of players was lower than expected but I wouldn't recommend this tournament because of the format.

Second tournament I played was at Ceasers Palace. $125 buy in and we had 27 entries by the time it closed. 20 minute blind increases and started with slightly more chips (12 000). Alot more play at this one. I slowly built a chip lead and really never looked back. Play was way fishier than I expected. A few drunks that made poor decisions, several calling stations, all tourists, no pros.

I ended up chopping this 3 ways as well with a slight chip lead over the other two. No one had more than 10 big blinds left so I was happy with this decision. I got credit for the tourney win and the tournament winner card protector which was cool.

A few hands stick out but one fold in particular I was quite proud of. I was chip leader at the final table and raised double big blind (thank you internet poker for teaching me to control the pot) up with pocket 10. Small blind appeared tight and hadn't played a hand since we joined tables so no real read (about 1.5 cycles into the final table). He moved all in for over half my stack. I tanked. Ultimately folded the 10s face up and he showed the table Jack's. I already felt on my game and from that point on I owned the final table. People stayed out of my way and a few of them couldn't believe I folded. In hindsight it was an easy fold but damn that felt better than the big pot wins.

I'm guessing the chopping at the end of the tournaments is super common in Vegas or maybe everywhere?

I was quite tired last night after two 3-4 hour sessions and heavy thinking (that I'm not totally used to).

One thing I'll say is I truly believed I could win both tournaments and reminded myself of that constantly before the tournaments started, at the table, and on the breaks.* Positive thinking really seems to allude alot of poker players. I'm really happy with how I played, especially how patient and disciplined I remained throughout. Playing that way was not something I was capable of 10 years ago.

Another quick comment on the 2nd tournament. I was never all in for all my chips at the final table. At my starting table I was all in twice, once with the nuts and once with the second nuts where I was positive the other guy didn't have the nuts.

After dealer tips, entry fees, and bubble insurance, I'm up $935 for the day. Not too shabby.

No cash games yesterday, maybe today. Definitely another tournament or two.

3rd at the Hard Rock $80 buy in at 10am. Some tougher compitition here but not crazy, they have a $1500 guarantee. Had the chip lead 3 handed and tried to run a bluff. Ran into a set. Dissipointed on how it ended.

I played one more $65 buy in at the mirage and finished 7th out of 14. A bit card dead and had aces cracked on a critical pot with 8 players left. Money was all in preflop. Overall really happy with how I played just didn't go my way.

I was drained and decided to call it quits and bailed on the cash games. I wasn't thinking fast enough and wanted to leave a winner.

Total profit of $27 for day 2.

2 days playing in Vegas (4 tournaments) and have $962 USD to add to the bank roll (about $1250 CAD). Gotta say I'm pretty happy with it.

Time to get back to studying as I have a bunch of books waiting for me I'm the mail at home .

slightly off topic but...
I'm in vancouver area and looking to play NL. Are there any out of the ordinary rules up here that I should know?

Nice job on the tournies in Vegas - yes, I've found that chopping is very common once you get down to a few players. Trick is the negotiation using the equity that you have in chips (or negotiating away the villains equity if you're on the short end of the stick). Always remember that it only takes one "no" to keep playing. If you don't like the deal and truly believe you'll win more by playing don't be afraid to do that. But... realize that at very short stacks more luck is involved.

And yes... retired at 34 and pulling $15k for "fun" --- ugh! I hate you!

I don't think there is anything out of the ordinary but I haven't been playing live much yet so am a bit out date.

Found out today that new buy ins don't have to post the big blind in Langley (cascades casino), I remember posting every time I bought in 10 years ago but maybe I'm remembering wrong.

I'm sure you've probably figured this out by now, but as you can see by your Vegas trip, tournaments and cash games don't always mix.
A tournament takes up so much of your day.
Looking forward to more posts.

Quick update -

About 70 hour of play so far. I'm up $480 in real life and and $3 online.

Live tournaments - I'm playing live tournaments well. Probably feeling best about this format so far as I find it easier to be patient and also up against the softest opponents.

Live cash - I've had problems at my local casino cash game $1-$3 nlhe. I've only played about 3 hours and lost 3 buy ins. All 3 were mostly big pots where I got my money in with a set on the flop or turn and got called. Lost 2 to flush draws that hit on the river and one to a flopped flush (loose aggro I thought was bluffing or had top pair on the flopped flush). 1 time I lost my whole stack and the other 2 I donk'd off my remaining stack (under $100 both times). Prior to donking off after the bad beats I felt quite good about my game.

PokerStars - mostly $1.50 sngs, 2nl, and some fifty fifty $1.50 tables. Got up $20 and then couldn't place in the money on sngs, lost 6 straight. Decided it was a good idea to move up to $3.50 and get it back. Lost 3 and went back to $1.50. My slow grind lost quite quickly and I should have stopped playing that session. Definitely a leak that I'm working on. I'm struggling with patience at 2nl as I've been slightly losing cash games. I'm always looking for the double up when I should be content winning a bunch of small pots and getting out of the way when the nits decide to bump it up 3bb.

I've noticed there are mostly 3 types of players at my live casino:

1. Guys that only really want to play AA, KK, or see a cheap flop. They fold if they don't have close to the nuts on the flop. Fairly easy to exploit.

2. Guys that literally play any two cards. These are the guys that got me with 10c4c and 9h3h. Both raised pre flop to $15. These guys openly talk about cracking type 1s aces and Kings. I got a bit unlucky here and also believe these guys will pay me off in the long run but of course they are a bit more dangerous than the OMC's (some of the OMC's aren't old which is funny).

3. A few players that seem to know what they are doing and probably alot more experience and much better players than me at this point. I've only noticed 2 so far and I haven't had any big pots against them yet. It's coming.

So funny enough there was a 3k+ pot when I was there with 3 players all in (not my table). I heard an eruption and walked over to see the winning hand of A7o. The flop came 10 7 3 with two heads. A7 went all in and two guys called, both with flush draws. I don't know how much it was raised pre flop but does it really matter? A bit insane. I mention this pot to give you an idea about the play I've seen so far because it seems this game is going to be really high variance. Keep in mind my sample size is really small at 3 hours but I've been in the casino more like 30 hours (playing the daily tournament a few times and observing other times). A7o held for over 3k.

Leaks that I've noticed:

- My confidence live was a bit shot in the cash games even though I know I don't really have anything to he ashamed of
- When I make a mistake I focus on it too much at the table when live. I need to improve this. Action plan is to start taking notes a la Jonathan Little and evaluate the hand after the session. I also really like the idea of topping up to $300 every time I get down to $250 or less. I find I focus too much on trying to get back what I've lost. I only have this issue live and I think it's a mental / tangible thing with having the chips in front of me.
- I need to stay patient in the cash games and not have time deadlines when I'm playing live. It distracts my focus.
- Stay focused on my life time session and not individual sessions. This is harder for me than I thought it would be.

Going to work on the above and get back at the cash table next week. Taking the weekend off.

A nice update.

Are you still wanting to get proficient for live cash? or live tournament?

I ask because an online 1 table SnG has strategies needed to win that do not transfer well to live play.

Great point e1cnr. I prefer playing live but have also quickly become accustomed to the convenience of home play.

I've thought about this alot and totally realize that sngs and especially the fifty fifties don't translate well to cash games.

So far I've enjoyed the mtt the most and I think its more than just because I've been winning there. That said I'd also like to become proficient at cash and realize that there isn't always a tournament going on but there is always a cash game happening. I see value in working on both formats at this point.

Hey man, I also play a decent amount at cascades pretty cool to see a local on this forum. Currently in Ontario studying but have logged 500 hours + at cascades. Hit me up at xxx-xxx-xxxx and maybe we could study together/share insights.

Interesting read so far.

Re: 10s v JJ.

There are exceptions to every rule, but I wouldn't make a habit of folding face up. Gives away information for free, especially if your opponent doesn't reciprocate.

Thanks Mackenn. I normally don't fold face up. In that situation I'd been raising alot pre flop to start the final table and when I decided to fold the 10s I thought it would be a good idea to show the goods as in 'I'm raising with monsters so keep folding'. Probably still a questionable call.

I sent you a PM. Number was already blocked before I saw it.

Hi OP,

Reading your post I could have written it myself. In pretty much the exact same situation apart from a few differences. 46 instead of 35, $10k instead of $15k and in Perth Australia instead of Vancouver.

I travel a lot and am going to be playing a mix of tournaments and cash. If the $10k goes, it goes. I am not playing online at all as it's banned here in Aus.

Couple of questions for you:

How many hours a week do you plan on playing?

How are you going to track results?

Have you had issues with gambling in the past (asking because that's why I am sharing my numbers with the wife openly)

Is there an end-game?

Good luck at the tables. Looking forward to following your journey.

Cheers

Hi and thanks for the comment. Interesting to see such similarities.

1. I've been playing about 4-5 hours a day almost every day. I don't mind this number and gradually increased to it over the last month. I started at 2-3 hours. I found myself getting mentally tired and still do after 5 hours. It's definitely like a muscle for me. I know I can get to 12 hour sessions when I want to but have to build the muscle (not that I want to play 12 hours a day, I don't). So I've recently been playing about 30 hours for the last couple weeks. I like that number but may look to go to 40-50 depending on the week and my family life. May stay at 30 but I'm open to to either.

2. I've been tracking live and internet seperately. Live I've been using my phone (notepad) and a basic app. Internet I'm tracking old school with a pen and paper. Basically treating them like 2 seperately bank rolls for now. Had a good couple days online and am now up 10 percent. Still break even live.

3. End game - this is a great question. I have a personal goal to double my bank roll. As long as I'm enjoying it, winning over the long run, and it's not negatively affecting me or my family then I'd like to play indefinitely or until I get bored / more interested in something else.

It's strange but in a weird way I feel like I was born to do something unorthodox like this. Time will tell if I'm good enough to make it work. I'm amazed at how much I don't know about the game right now and I'm just trying to soak up as much as I can.

I'm also taking a 2 week break that started yesterday. I'm driving to Sedona with my family and will only read about poker a couple hours a day and not play at all. I think the breaks are important and am trying to be disciplined about it.

When I get back I'll add a book update on what I thought about the ones I've read so far.

Hey OP.

I'm Moving to Vancouver (unsure on exact location atm) in early June this year.
What do you suggest for live play?? Is there much of a scene up there? I'm From Australia.

I've only played at cascades (Langley) recently. I'm going to try the cash games in Vancouver / Richmond /Coquitlam / Burnaby when I get back.

I've read that the poker life in Vancouver is all but dead. Most rooms run under 10 tables and it appears to be a shadow of its former glory from a decade ago. I plan to play alot in April and will have a better idea.

OP blew thru $15K BR already and had to un-retire?

Gupdates?G

Hi there freedom 101, I am also from vancouver , burnaby actually, Ive been grinding the villa on and off for last 5 years, just started tracking stats for about 14 months now, $15k is a nice bankroll to have to start with for sure,


some thoughts my good man :


- good idea tracking everything, you should be able to come out with a somewhat accurate starting rate per hour after 500 hours or so, took me 14 months and about 100 sessions to get to 445 hours, so it will take some time depending on how often you play etc,,

- I honestly believe actually 1000 hours or more is alot more reliable as there are alot of variance in the villa 1-3 game, dont get too down or high on yourself, as having an accurate rate wont be likely until 1000 hours I would imagine,

- I would not advise on having the wife included in your poker journey but what the hell your wife seems to like you playing ! wish I had that, , it can be like pulling teeth sometimes,

- 3- 5 hours per day studying poker is amazing and I could not even begin to imagine how difficult that would be to do, how do you study by what methods if I may ask,

- the tournies in town are almost non-existent mickey mouse small buyins, I guess if your looking to just " play live tournies " then its okay , but they are not setup properly for a proper MTT, vegas is better for live large tournies by far,

- just re reading your post , noticed its from 2018 ! not 2019 ,,,lolll, ****tt, how is your poker journey going so far, if youve been playing at villa at all we have probably battled in some pots together,



anyhow Im also looking to chat all good things about poker and learn more about the game and those who persist at it ,



hit me up or text me your digits if you ever wanna get together at the villa sometime,



cheers and good luck

adummmmmm

Oh hey, a Vancouver thread! Oops, old thread is old. Hope you are doing all right OP! Cascades doesn't have tourneys right now and Hard Rock doesn't even have poker anymore. I'd love to hear how that bankroll is doing and if you found your niche here in the community!

Ha! Not excatly. I spent two months grinding and stopped enjoying it. My back hurt and I was getting fat. I was spending less time with my kids and regretting that.

I also found that Cascades was a dreary place to play; uncomfortable chairs, dark, surrounded by slots, and just kind of depressing overall. So I stopped. Bank role finished up $520 after two months. Not the best return but it was a fun experiment.

It's interesting to re-read this thread over a year later.

The good news is that I recently got the bug back to play. I went to Parq Vancouver for the first time on Tuesday after reading they changed some of their tournaments structure (longer blind levels and bigger starting stack, which I like). It's a bit of a hike for me to get to Parq as I live in the Vancouver suburbs but the tournament was too tempting. I ended up chopping three ways for $920 on a $120 buy in plus $30 for the bubble (double bubble).

I'm going to take my time this go around and not dive into the grind so hard. More of a hobby for now that may turn into something more serious. I'll still track my wins/losses but I'm going to take the pressure off and try to enjoy the process rather than try to be a professional right away. I burnt myself out and it wasn't fun. This has to be fun or it's just not worth doing.

Another key to this is I'm going to focus on live tournaments. It was mentioned in the thread but I was definitely playing too many game types and the skills don't translate well.

Live tournaments seem to be my strength (probably because the competition is easier) and I enjoy playing them. Focus, I'm going to remind myself to focus.

I'm going to try to play in 1 or 2 live tournaments a week and see how we roll. I'll be at Parq tomorrow (Saturday October 5th, 2019) if anyone from here is also playing in the tournament. Cheers.

Thanks for the thoughts and I am back. Are you still playing at Villa? Ever go to Parq?

I quite liked the atmosphere at Parq - bright, new, comfortable chairs, 11 tables. Overall it seems way better than Cascades. I'll send you a PM in case you're still interested.

Thanks Doctrix. Still looking for the 'niche' and am going to try playing regularly in the Parq tournaments new format for a while. I'm back into studying at home and focusing on tournaments. They seem to be the softest and I enjoy playing in them. I'll definitely be taking some shots in some of the bigger Sunday Parq tournaments and will be there tomorrow.

You do know for a $120 mtt your expected only to win $60 for each $120 mtt you play. Playing 100 mtts a year your going to win on average $6000. Might pay the grocery bill. Some players might be able to achieve a higher rate on investment or maybe not. Even with a 100% roi it's 12 grand which pays for your wifes food too.

Buy-in for 100 mtts = $12K
Win = $18K (net win $6K)

Sounds like a nice hobby.

I guess what I am asking.... what's your point, 7onriver?

Thanks this is exactly it. A hobby for now with no expectations or pressure. I didn't enjoy the grind and I am fortunate enough to be in a position where I don't have to grind. So I stopped. But I still love playing poker. So I'm going to do it in a more manageable way and try to continue to improve my game.

There are some $200-300 tournaments as well at this casino and once a month there is a $600 tournament. I'll take some shots in those as well.

I'm the kind of person that generally jumps full barrel into something, like 110 percent or I don't do anything with it at all. It's one of my best traits and can be one of my biggest flaws. Sounds cliché but I'm trying to get better at finding a balance and enjoying the process/journey. This is an experiment with exactly that.

Two years into retieing at 34 years old is still an adjustment. I understand why so many people that I used to work with retired only to come back six months later. A man needs a purpose. I'm continuously seeking more purpose.

There's only so much traveling we can do with two kids and home commitments. Then there ends up being alot of day to day downtime with minimal adult interaction during that time. I've been searching for things to do that I enjoy and have tried several new things over the last 1.5 years (started jiu jitsu, keto diet, running half marathons, cold therapy, deep breathing exercises, boating etc.).

Just arrived at the Parq Casino on a beautiful fall Vancouver morning. I'm really looking forward to todays tournament.