Sometimes the game comes easy

I played a medium length session at Doc's after work on Monday. When I got there, 2 tables were running, with 8 players at each table. My table didn't look very difficult, with the only large stack being 2 seats to my right.

First winner

My stack was down about 40 from my original buy-in of $200, after a whiffed cbet with KQs, when this hand came up. I would normally have topped off my stack, but they were in the process of switching charities, so I decided to wait. Lady in EP raises to 12, and I have KsQs in MP. This may ordinarily be a fold to an early position raise, but my recollection was that the woman was a fish, and I decided I would call and evaluate on future streets, in hopes of making a big hand. There was one other caller. The flop came Q43 with one spade. She checked to me, I bet 25, one fold and she called. At this point I was pretty sure I was winning, as I think she leads any AQ or better here. My range for her is medium pairs up to JJ, and maybe AK or even AJ. The turn was the Js, giving me top pair second kicker and the second nut flush draw. She checked to me, I bet 50, and she again called, leaving me only 75 behind. Now I am starting to get a little more concerned that she may have AQ. The turn was a 5, she checked and I checked behind (I should probably bet here). She shows AKo and my hand is good.

Big pot

We were playing 5 handed at this point as both tables had dwindled down. This is right in my wheelhouse as I get to play more hands overall, and more hands with the woman fish, who at this point has gone through about 300. I open with Ts9s to 8, the button calls, SB calls, but only after first looking like he wants to re-raise (young guy with stack of 100 who I think is kind of aggressive, but also seems to be getting frustrated) and lady fish BB (175) calls. Flop is KsQs4s. I flop the 3rd nut flush, with a straight flush re-draw. Checked to me, I bet 16. Button folds, SB flats, and now BB fish check raises to 40. I am in a dilemma here, as I am trying to figure out the best way to extract from both players. I feel like I am 90% ahead here, and I am also willing to risk another spade coming off on the turn. I call, and the SB calls. Turn is a Qh, which isn't the best card if she has something like KQ or Q4. I think a hand like that would have led out, or raised larger on the flop, but it's still a concern. SB checks, BB fish bets 50, I call, now SB goes all-in for 53, and obviously both call. River is 5d, lady now checks, and I bet 50 (she has 80ish left), giving her about 7-1 pot odds. She folds, and kid asks if I have a Q, turning over AsKx. I show the flush and rake the pot.

I can get lucky

Playing 6 handed now, UTG straddles, lady fish limps, I raise to 25 with 88 on the button. SB now goes all-in for 37 (he was new to the table, and had just lost most of his stack to a 3 outer on the river). Folds to lady fish who calls, leaving herself only 33 LOL behind. I call as I can't reraise. The flop comes 9 high, she checks, I bet 33, she angrily folds. Guy says I think I need help and rolls over TT. I tell him, "No, I need help.", and I get the help I needed as the board runs out 95367, for a straight for me.

Semi-bluffing with best hand??

The table is now 7-8 handed. I am in the BB with 99. An EP limper, and button limps, and the SB, (Steve I believe from Northville. Plays pretty LAG, with slicked back hair, and glasses) raises to 12. He has been running really hot, working 100 into 450 in about 15 minutes. I don't really want to bloat a pot 200 BB deep with him by 3 betting, so I call, and the button also calls. Flop is 765, SB bets 20, I call, and button surprisingly calls. Button almost certainly has a draw here, as I would expect any sets or straights to raise this board, and if he had an overpair he would have likely raised pre-flop. The turn is a T, and SB bets out 20 again. This screams weakness to me, as he likes to bet big with big hands. The T didn't fill any draws, and I think I can rep the nuts here pretty credibly, especially as I have 2 nut blockers. I raise to 65, button folds, and SB folds. I think I probably had the best hand here, but I think I like this line better than raising the flop. By just calling the flop, I am able to get a lot more information to make the play on the turn. If the SB bets out larger on the turn, I am giving up on the hand.

Aftermath

It was a very easy session overall, walking away with a profit of 325. I thought I played pretty smart, and knew where I was at in most hands. I flopped the one flush, but never flopped a straight, never made trips, and rarely made any pairs on the flops. I had KK once, which I took down preflop with a small 3 bet, and also had JJ once which I took down pre-flop as well. Had AK which got 3 bet small from 10 to 25, and I folded to a flop bet.

2012 Kentucky Derby - Future Pool 1

Here's what I am looking at for the pool. I have never bet these before, but may for some fun, and to have some potential lottery tickets available.

2: Alpha - 15-1 or better
4: Creative Cause - 18-1 or better
6: Dullahan - 22-1 or better
10: Fed Biz - 18-1 or better
11: Gemologist - 22-1 or better
14: Junebugred - 25-1 or better
17: Midnight Transfer - 25-1 or better
19: Out of Bounds - 22-1 or better
22: Take Charge Indy - 20-1 or better

Las Vegas trip report (part 2)

Tuesday, January 17th addendum

After pissing away $500 in the QQ v KK hand, I walked over to Pai Gow poker, played 4 hands, lost 3 of them and pushed 1 of them, pissing away another $150. It was fairly ridiculous since the house made such monster hands, I never stood a chance.

Thursday, January 19th

It was a rough day at the show, considering I had only 2.5 hours of sleep, but I managed to hold it together. For dinner, we went to Maggiano's, which was phenomenal. The best parts were the fried cheese appetizer (as always), the lobster carbonara, and the filet medallions. Desserts were also excellent. They also gave us all of the extra food to go. Since none of us were going to eat it, I gave it to 3 homeless people on the bridge between Wynn and Palazzo. Figured some karma might do me some good.

After dinner, I went with Mark to roll some dice at Casino Royale ($3 min with 20X odds). I was playing $3 on the passline, only $10 odds, and establishing up to 2 additional $3 come bets with the same odds. The dice were ICE cold. None of the first 5-6 rollers hit a point, nor did any of my come bets win, unless it was the $3 variety. After my roll I decided to say goodnight to craps, down about $175, never standing a chance.

After craps, I played a very non-descript session of 1/2, breaking about even after 3 hours and change.

Friday, January 20th

Last day of the show, and I was able to get out at about 3:00. I headed over to the Rio to meet up with my buddy Joe who lives in Vegas, for dinner at the All American Grille, and then the $125 tourney at the Orleans. While waiting for Joe, I started a new table of 1/3. The two players at the opposite side of the table who seemed to know each other, had pretty deep pockets, and played woefully bad, though the Asian woman at least did it aggressively. The big hand I played at this table was as follows. I'm in EP and I raise to 12 with QsJs. Button bad player calls (about 150), asian lady calls (about 200), and new regular calls (about 300). Flop J32 with 2 clubs. They check to me, I bet 35 and they all call. The turn is an offsuit 4, check to me, and at this point I am comfortable getting it in with the two bad players, but not against the reg. I bet 75, button folds, woman now shoves for about 150. Reg tanks, but decides to fold what he said was Ac9c. I call. River is a blank, and she rolls over AQ and I take the pot. Hmm..... Walk away after about 2 hours ahead $100 at that game, but probably should have skipped dinner to play this table, as the woman started running good and built up a stack.

For dinner, I ordered the filet with mashed potatoes. Wasn't the best meal I've ever had there, but it was quick and pretty good.

Joe knew the tourney director at the Orleans, so they saved us seats, which was good because they were filled at 200 entries with a huge alternate list. They ended up getting 244 runners. I lasted about 2 hours, before losing AJ < A8, in a pretty standard spot. Unfortunately I had to lose as a big favorite. But in general after playing cash exclusively for some time, tournament play really bored me, and I didn't feel like playing anymore anyhow. Joe was knocked out within 30 minutes after an ugly mix of coolers (set into royal flush for starters).

We headed to MGM to play 1/2. I was up 100 after a while, but had lost a bit in standard spots when this hand came up. I'm in the BB with 9d7d and a bunch limp to me. I announce a "tilt raise" to 17, and only Joe calls me on the button. I'm not sure what I was trying to accomplish with this, but I was playing maniacally and just felt like it. Flop came 9h3h3x, and I bet 30 and Joe called, saying "Let's see if you bet the turn." The turn was a 6x, and for some reason I decided to "pot control" and checked, he bet 60, and I called (I debated calling or shoving here). The river was Jh, I checked, and he looked pained on what to do....finally he settled on 40, and I said "You MF'er, you got there with hearts??". I paid him off and he showed Ah6h, for the nut flush.

So now I was definitely steamed. A while later, loose player opens to 10, I flat in the CO with Kc6c after another (I was playing awfully at this point). Flop comes J64. Both players check to me and I bet 25. Only the original raiser calls. I start thinking "King, King, King"....and the turn is a K. Check to me and I bet 60. Now the original raiser goes all-in for 225ish. This kind of surprised me, and I started talking to him out loud. The only hand that scared me was JJ, since I felt 44 or 66 were not likely in his opening range. I did feel he would potentially play AK in this manner, so after debating it for another few seconds, I elected to call. He said "Good call" to me, and the river was inconsequential, then he turned over JJ??? Apparently "good call" meant good call on him having JJ, and not actually a good call on my call on the turn. After that hand I was pretty disgusted with many things, my play, the "good call", the shitty situation, etc.....so I called it a session down about $500.

Back at the Venetian, I stepped back into Pai Gow for another $125, again not winning a hand. I ran over to the Sportsbook at 2am to cash a winning round robin parlay ticket worth about $250, then headed back to Pai Gow with revenge (or degeneracy) on my mind. I ran that money into about $1K, and decided to cash out near $600.

Saturday, January 21st

I had to leave for the airport at 9:30, so I stubbornly sat down again in 2/5, and polished off about $350 with some pretty terrible play, and more bad situations.

Introspection

Looking at my play from the entire week, there was some definite spurts of good play, but there were some spurts of absolutely impatient and horrible play. The impatient play stems from trying to make things happen, instead of just letting the game come to me (to use a sports analogy).

The bad play is more troublesome. I was playing far too many hands. Most of the bad hands that I played stemmed from a bad call or raise pre-flop. Despite making what I knew were questionable calls (most of which were at least in position), I felt I could play well enough post-flop to eliminate any negative EV that I was establishing pre-flop. Instead of focusing on making big hands and trying to play for stacks, I was trying to fight for almost every pot, and playing bigger pots with marginal hands at best.

It's a slippery slope, because at the same time I notice that I am playing my best poker when I am picking good spots to make plays on pots, usually with floats or light 3 betting. A few successful hands, and you begin to feel invincible. That translates into playing more pots in marginal spots, which makes decisions very difficult.

So for my next few sessions, I plan on playing reasonably tight and straightforward, making sure that my fundamentals are where they need to be before I try to get overly creative.

Las Vegas trip report (part 1)

Sunday, January 15th

Flew out at about 8pm. There were some logistical issues that the airline decided they couldn't solve until on the plane that delayed the departure (they sold too many tickets....apparently waiting until people are seated on the plane seemed like a good time to solve it). Finally we were off a bit late. Making the flight much more palatable was the TV on the back of the seat in front of me, where I was able to watch satellite TV for free.

After checking in at the Venetian, I immediately went down to the poker room for some 1/2 action. I ran A7 into AT into 77 on an AT87 board, but got away with losing the minimum. My KK found an ace high flop and resistance as well. I ended the session down $125 after 4 hours, and it felt like it could have been a lot more.

Monday, January 16th

Setup day for the booth, in the morning I was able to get some play in. I started at about 830am, opening up a new game. What an amazing bunch of nits. I did get the fortune of running AA into another players KK. Unfortunately, he was the only short stack at the table, with only about $100 in front of him. I pissed away some money late, and ended up $37 ahead for the 1 hour.

After a trip to In N Out burger for some lunch, I had some more time to play, so I sat down in the 2/5 game. Most of the 2/5 games I play have a max buy-in of $500, but at the V the max buy in is $1K. This game was one of the more aggressive I have played in, with a lot of 3 betting, and players were making large bets, far larger than I am used to in the 2/5 games around Detroit. Typically bets were 3/4 pot to exceeding the pot. I had to fold AK post flop after being 3 bet when OOP against a guy who looked a little nitty. Probably should have just mucked pre-flop. I basically allowed myself to get run over to the tune of a $240 loss in an hour.

After booth setup, we headed to Smith and Wollensky's for dinner. I had heard great things, and ordered the filet with a full lobster. The lobster was good, but the filet was slightly overcooked, and was suprisingly devoid of flavor. I actually used the steak sauce that was on the table, which was not desired. I would give the meal a 4 out of a 10, considering the cost.

After dinner I headed over to MGM with Ben to play some 1/2. The difference in caliber of player was remarkable. I don't remember any remarkable hands, but I totally ran over the table, turning a profit of $490 in a little over 3 hours. Some of my tweets from the session "The game is much easier when flopping sets! Gonna be tough to make big money at this table, but humming along right now." and "Killing it at MGM. Maybe it's the booze, maybe it's the run good mojo I've got going on, but this group is easy.".

Tuesday, January 17th

After a busy day at the show, we headed over to the Rio to catch the Seafood buffet for dinner. I went there with a plan, and that plan was to eat as many crab legs and gelato as possible, and to not allow any filler (prime rib, potatoes, etc...) into my system. I succeeded in my goal, making probably 6 trips in an hour. I also added some of their small lobster and sashimi in as well. Overall a great meal.

After dinner, went over to the 1/3 game at the Rio. The game was kind of nitty, and not very fun. I managed to turn it into a $200 loss with the following hand, among others. I raise PF to 12 with KK. See the flop heads up with a squirrelly young passive guy. Flop comes AdKx9d. He checks, I bet 17 and he calls. Turn is 7x. He checks, I bet 35 and he calls (slightly on the small side, I know). River is 8x. He leads out for 40 of his stack of 82. I don't really see too many JT's in his range here, so I shove for his last 42, and he calls, turning over JdTd.....yup, I guess that's the one JT that may have called two streets.

After leaving that boring game, I decided to play some 2/5 at the Venetian. I was intent on not getting run over this time around, which would prove to be my detriment. My 2nd hand I opened UTG+1 to 20 with QQ. UTG+2 called, and then UTG+3 re-raised to 80. Folds to me and I consider my options. Since it was my 2nd hand, I have no reads, except for UTG+2 looks likely to fold. The 3better was about 45-50 years old, quiet, and Asian. I decided to take the aggressive approach and 4bet to 190, and he called in position. If not done before the flop, I probably should be done with the hand at this point. I was actually kind of hoping for an Ace high flop, since I felt that KK was a huge part of his range. Instead, the flop came 632, and I shoved (he had 280 left and I covered), and he called with KK, and I missed on the turn and river.

Where was my patience??? Folding QQ absent any reads in this spot while OOP is kind of elementary, but I was so intent on not getting run over out of frustration that I let that get the better of me and pissed away almost $500.

Wednesday, January 18th

After another busy day at the show, we headed over to Paris to eat at Mon Ami Gabi, a very underrated French steakhouse. I had a delicious Filet o-Poivre, and the server even gave us all a free dessert after my boss had jokingly said that we had terrible service the last time we were there (not true to my recollection). For dessert I had the Creme Brulee, which along with the entree was delicious.

After eating, I decided to stop by the game at the Flamingo. I didn't have much cash on me, so bought in short for $160. As expected, the game was a bit of a nit fest, mixed in with bad players. The highlight of the time was when I made quad 2's in a pot of $14 to get a high hand bonus of $50. After about an hour or two, I cashed out ahead $100. Following that, we headed to the Mirage. Ben's flight was leaving at 6am, so he decided to not bother sleeping. Even though I had to be at the booth at 7:45am, I stayed up with him. At the Mirage, I started immediately getting hit by the deck.

The first big hand, I opened with 88 to 10, and got 2 callers. The flop came KJ8, and an aggressive fish check called my flop bet. The turn was another 8, and the fish led into me for about 1/2 of the pot. The river was inconsequential, and the fish shoved, which obviously I snapped and showed my quads. He "claimed" that I needed the 4th 8, which I don't buy for a second. That hand also got me my 2nd high hand bonus for the night, this one for $75. As they took my ID to process my bonus, the very next hand I called a raise in the BB with KcQc, and saw a flop of JcTc9x, flopping the nuts with a draw to a straight/royal flush. I actually played it passively, letting the fish bet the flop and turn, and I also checked the river, but unfortunately he checked behind. After that the fish rebought and moved immediately to my left.

A little while later I was rolling, up to about 900 in my stack (from my 300 buy-in). A few minutes before, a young pro who had been playing at TI earlier in the night sat directly to my right. He seemed to be a pro, as when he bought in he wrote it down in a planner, and had a rolodex full of players cards, and he also seemed to be grinding a $600 weekly bonus at the TI. On to the hand. Pro (stack of 280) opens UTG to 7, I 3bet to 22 with 99. Fish (stack of 225) cold calls immediately after me, which I dislike since his range is pretty wide, and I know it will invite the pro in with a wider range than he would normally play against me. The flop is 962 with 2 hearts. Pro checks, I elect to check as this seems like a very good spot to slowplay, and I also think there is almost a 50/50 chance the fish bets after I check. Unfortunately though, he checks. The turn is an offsuit 3, pro checks, I bet 35, fish immediately calls, and the pro immediately raises to 105. At this point there is only one hand that beats me, the 54, but I believe he has a lot more hands than just 54 possible. I think 66, 33, or 22 may play it the same exact way. I elect to shove, the fish folds and pro quickly calls, telling me he has the nuts. The river misses and I lose a monster pot.

Had I bet the flop for $35, if the fish called, I'd say there was a reasonable chance that the pro would have peeled with his gutshot as well, so I am trying not to be too upset with the result. But it was painful to have a great chance at being up $900+, but instead being up about $300. I managed to chip up for a few more minutes, and eventually walked away up about $375 at the Mirage, and nearly $500 for the night.

Next up: Thursday and Friday's action and some introspection

Personal record session at Northville

I set a personal record for profit at 1/2 at Northville on Sunday, 11/27. I played for only 5 hours and 15 minutes, and turned a profit of 1002. It was a combination of playing well, and running phenominally. I would say that I was able to extract the max out of my good hands in this session.

Quick start

Playing 6-7 handed, I open in CO for 8 with 77, and tight middle aged guy (I actually saw him flat the turn and the river with the nuts) calls on button. Flop K87. I cbet 15, and he calls. Turn 10, I bet 30 and he calls. River K, I bet 60 and he calls, and MHIG. I didn't see what he had, but I am guessing it is trip K's.

Luckbox

There is a button straddle, and after 1 call, I raise to 25 with AdQh. Guy after me with a bit over 100 in his stack smooth calls (he's a guy that I really hate from an incident I had with him at Doc's when he was all-in, and I was taking my time in the same pot trying to determine if I was going to call on the river after a bet into the sidepot, where he called the clock on me). I remember thinking that he had a really strong hand there to just call. One of the blinds calls and the pot is 80. Flop is Tc6x2c. Blind checks, I cbet 40 (totally forgetting/ignoring my earlier read), smooth caller shoves for 80, blind folds and I feel I am priced in and call. Turn Jc, river K and he rolls over KK, I roll over runner runner broadway. He actually takes it remarkably well.

The roll ends

I have just picked off a few bluffs, and I am about +500. I pick up QsQx in the BB, and after about 4-5 limpers, I raise to 15. I get 3 callers, however at the time I only thought there were 2 callers. Flop is Ts4s2s. I actually look back at my cards and say "Just have to do a spade check", and then bet 25. One player folds, and then the fat thinking regular (FTR), raises to 75, with 175 back. Folds to me. I think he has a lot of semi-bluffs in his range here, especially considering my un-intentional small bet may have induced a raise, and I decide to shove. He calls fairly quickly, asking if I flopped a flush. Obviously he did and he turns over 8s5s. Turn is a red K, and the river is the Jc, giving me a quick tease, since it looked like the spade, and I lose a big pot.

The very next hand

Suddenly I am only up about 250-300, and thinking about leaving and locking in a winner. Aggressive young kid (AYK) raises in EP to 12. For a stretch he was sitting 2 to my right, and was opening a lot of pots, forcing me to alter my game. I don't think I 3 bet him any in that stretch, as a good opportunity didn't seem to present itself. He moved about 4 seats to my left after I got some chips, not sure if that was a coincidence or not. FTR is still stacking chips and calls the 12. Fold to me in the SB and I have QQ again. I elect to 3 bet to 48. Young spewy regular (YSR) cold-calls with about 150 behind. AYK calls (425 behind), and FTR calls (500 behind). I cover all.
Pot is about 190 and the flop is Q42r. I decide to check, with the hope that one of them will stab at the pot, but it gets checked around. Turn is another 4, and my plan was to bet the turn, but now that I am full I elect to check again. Checked to AYK, and he bets 99. FTR thinks for a bit and looks pained, finally he says "oh man" and then folds. I ask AYK how much he has behind, though I know exactly, as a plan is starting to formulate in my head. He has 325, and I decide to almost min-raise it to 200, hoping to give him the impression that I am messing around, and he has some fold equity. YSR folds, and then AYK thinks for about 30 seconds, and then says "All-in". I snap and he says "Do you have queens?" I say yes and roll them over and he mucks his cards before the river is even dealt. Good thing he didn't have KK as the inconsequential river is a K.
I don't think I get his stack taking a conventional bet 80 on flop, bet turn, shove river line, though I could be wrong. Obviously I got the max.

Running good

Now I am just running over the table. LP player (playing about 250) raises to 7, I flat with 88 in the CO, button calls (100 behind). Flop is 7s5s2x. LP bets 10. I raise to 35, button calls the 35, LP folds. Turn is Qx. I shove, button says "Let's gamble", and calls with AsKs. River bricks and I pick up the pot.