Vegas...three weeks, three trips

[mb227]

Poker season is upon us, at least for those who are big into tournaments. The end of May into mid-July sees major series going on not just at the Rio (WSOP) but also Aria, Wynn, Venetian, Golden Nugget, Binions and Planet Hollywood.

I dipped my toes into the WSOP waters last year, playing the 8-game mix plus some of the daily deepstack events at the Rio. I've also hit some of the Circuit events through the year, emphasizing those locations that have non-no limit hold'em events (ie. HORSE or Omaha 8/B).

Trying to balance work and poker this month is a challenge, hence three trips across the three week window of time. The first was a flight last Wednesday that saw me return early Saturday morning. In the office today and tomorrow and then back to LAS tomorrow (Monday) night...staying until Friday morning. Since I turn 50 this year on the day cards go in the air for the WSOP Seniors event, I qualify and am going back out the following Thursday for what amounts to Seniors Week.

Part of my early travel has been to play the locations spreading draw and events that are NOT no-limit hold'em. Not that I don't like NLHE, but I feel an obligation to play the draw and other events if they are spread or the various sites will be able to justify NOT holding them in the future.

In the first three days, I posted a final table in an O8/B at the Venetian and a 13th place finish at the Nugget in the Triple Draw Mix event (A-5, 2-7 and badugi). The O8/B at PHo was horrid...dealers didn't even know the game and it was more than three minutes into the first level before I even got my first card. It was honestly the first time where I was happy to bust out early. I will probably forego any of their other events...comments on other forums have had many confirming that my experience with crappy dealers was not unique.

The first two trips have me staying downtown...elected for the Four Queens on price and the lack of resort fees. My per-night is less than the resort fee charged at many of the Strip properties. On the third trip, I still have to figure out the first three nights, but the last two nights will be at the Aria (have never stayed there). Airfare was done with a series of one-way bookings, and were all amazingly reasonable, including one of the return flights for $29.

Oh...and I must confess...in my travels to the sportsbook, I made money on the land thieves. WilliamHill (includes Four Queens and Binions) had lines on the WCWS (softball). I saw it too late to bet against aggy, but took the land thieves in a parlay against BailBonds and the over. Took the land thieves against Washington and the under. Both paid off. I've also got a ticket now for the win total for Texas football...Venetian had the over/under at 7.5 -I took the over. I am undecided on conference championship, although the top two picks in the book are the land thieves and then Texas.

Anyone else traveling to LAS for poker this month? Or any other poker aficionados even if you don't travel?

 

[mb227]

Second trip done and in the books...blackjack and cash games bailed me out since I went oh-fer-three in tournament cashes.

Back out Thursday night for Seniors week (each Series tends to have their Senior events around EDC weekend). Penthouse at Vdara for the first three nights and then over to the Aria for the final two nights of the trip.

 

[iatrogenic]

I understood about half of what you wrote, but it sounds f'n fun. You ever have sponsors in the WSOP?

 

[mb227]

I understood about half of what you wrote, but it sounds f'n fun. You ever have sponsors in the WSOP?

I have had percentages of a top-name that some would recognize that paid well for me in the past, but I don't try to sell percentages of myself. They were a PokerStars sponsored pro but PS wasn't paying their entries into the High Roller events ($100K buy-in), so they sold some of their action. Some of the reason I don't sell is that I don't have the lengthy tournament track record to justify doing so and some of it is that I prefer not to deal with the tax headaches that can come from the splits...and, if I keep it to myself, I can have more fun

That being said...when next year rolls around, I would certainly not be averse to some HornFans sponsorship LOL!

But yes, fun was had...more fun would have been had with another final table or two, but I'll be back As long as I can basically break even, then it combines a vacation with one of the things I enjoy...obviously better than breaking even is a goal, but so is not coming home with little more than pocket lint.

 

[iatrogenic]

I have had percentages of a top-name that some would recognize that paid well for me in the past, but I don't try to sell percentages of myself. They were a PokerStars sponsored pro but PS wasn't paying their entries into the High Roller events ($100K buy-in), so they sold some of their action. Some of the reason I don't sell is that I don't have the lengthy tournament track record to justify doing so and some of it is that I prefer not to deal with the tax headaches that can come from the splits...and, if I keep it to myself, I can have more fun

That being said...when next year rolls around, I would certainly not be averse to some HornFans sponsorship LOL!

But yes, fun was had...more fun would have been had with another final table or two, but I'll be back As long as I can basically break even, then it combines a vacation with one of the things I enjoy...obviously better than breaking even is a goal, but so is not coming home with little more than pocket lint.

Well, I'll take that as a maybe! When that time comes....

 

[mb227]

New season upon us...Schedules are out but are still being 'tweaked' by some of the properties.

Changes to antes have taken the desire to play some of the No-Limit Hold'em events since many of the tournament directors caved into the nosebleed players and went to the Big Blind Ante (where big blind posts a set amount instead of each player posting the antes once you reached that point of the event). I've voiced my displeasure but was basically ignored. Players are overlooking the inequities that the BBA creates when tables are unbalanced. It also creates some major changes to strategies and offers more incentive for people to sit on their hands doing nothing except waiting for aces.

On the bright side, there are lots of non-NLHE events on the calendar this year.

And...I did kick the season into gear with a cash last week at the Wynn Seniors event. Finished 10th. Had hoped for better with the way I ran earlier in the event but had a hand that brought me back close to chip average (AK losing to 99). Still, 10th is better than nothing. I made sure the TD knew the reason I flew out there for it was specifically because they were running with a traditional ante format.

 

[iatrogenic]

10th sounds damn good to me. I'm not much of a gambler, at least when it comes to games of chance, but I did try a 20/40 game for the first time at the Bellagio last time in sin city. First time in a casino card game. Beaten all-in by a straight flush! Bummer. Had fun but would not want to try to make a living off of the game.
Edit: I can understand why letting big blind call the ante would not be appealing in a no limit game.

 

[mb227]

10th sounds damn good to me. I'm not much of a gambler, at least when it comes to games of chance, but I did try a 20/40 game for the first time at the Bellagio last time in sin city. First time in a casino card game. Beaten all-in by a straight flush! Bummer. Had fun but would not want to try to make a living off of the game.
Edit: I can understand why letting big blind call the ante would not be appealing in a no limit game.

Don't get me wrong...I was happy to cash. It broke a streak that was far too long of getting within sight of the money bubble (or worse, BEING the stone bubble). And it wasn't a bad payday for a day's work. The cash games were ALSO good on this trip (was only out there for a total of about 36 hours). But when you are close to (if not) the chip lead after ten or eleven levels and feeling like you win every flip, it is still a letdown...

I made the decision that I was not inclined to play in any events using the Big Blind Ante. If they ever get around to fixing the inequities, then I could reconsider that position, but it was a solution in search of a problem.

The loss to a straight flush would sting...but, then again, you play long enough and you will put that sort of a beat on someone else. It absolutely can be a brutal way to make a living, although there is certainly money to be had...you just have to make sure you can survive the inevitable cold spells. In the meantime, I still do actually enjoy doing what I do in my day job, so poker is something that fits in where I can make it happen.

 

[iatrogenic]

Do you have any recommendation for quality reading material on the game? I guess something like Poker for Dummies, but more strategy oriented.

 

[mb227]

Do you have any recommendation for quality reading material on the game? I guess something like Poker for Dummies, but more strategy oriented.

There are so many out there that it is hard to say what would be the best on the recommended list. There are some tailored to online with others for live, then there are ones tailored to cash games instead of tournament play. And then we get the fun of moving into the variants beyond just limit and no-limit hold'em...

I have copies of SuperSystem I and II on the shelf (II was really redundant and did not have the section with a lot of the percentages). I also have some of the Harrington on Hold'em series. Some will tell you those are too dated to have use in the present game, and to some extent they are. However, they remain good starting points, especially since SS discusses the stud games in addition to flop games...and Doyle is STILL Doyle

Another interesting one was a Gus Hansen book from when he won the Aussie Millions where he literally took notes on every hand he played and describes what he was thinking. Again, it is several years old. However, I still believe that there are enough nuggets of wisdom there to make it worth looking at.

To be honest, I don't get into the whole strategy book stuff...I take a little of this and a little of that and play the players and gut instinct. Is it ideal? Nah. But I don't know that it hurts me since, at the same time, my opponents are not expecting old school play coming back at them...

 

[iatrogenic]

Cool. Thanks!

 

[mb227]

Cool. Thanks!

From 2P2, a thread in the Beginners Questions sub-forum with some other suggested reading. https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/...k-modern-live-small-stakes-cash-game-1709345/

You will find a lot of good information buried over there in the different threads, but you have to be careful to separate whether it is discussion surround the grinding of micro-stakes online versus playing live. They are two distinctly different approaches and I very quickly get out of the thread if I realize they are discussing micro-stakes games. While I know they have their place for the people trying to 20-table online, it isn't my style and I cannot get into strategy when there is less than two buck in play.