Day 4 - Las Vegas
Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 11:43 am
Woke up around 11:30am with Brad still dead to the world and ventured downstairs to check out the poker at the Luxor.
Luxor Poker
$1/$2 NLHE
$50-$200 - Rebuy available once you drop below $200, for max $200. So basically you can start with up to $399, except you have to do the 2nd buy-in at the table. I know, I know, weird.
10% Rake capped at $4
5% Jackpot Rake capped at $2 (min $20 pot)
No Post
Rake free 5-handed or less
Live Straddle available
Jackpots:
$50 - Aces Full
$100 - Quads
$200 - Straight Flush
$500 - Royal Flush
Flop Quads 4's or 8's with a pocket pair and win $2000. It was part or a longer promo, all 13 quads were available at the start and had been hit. Once 4's are the 8's had been hit the other one would be the final option worth $7500.
Sat down at 12pm, picked up a nice pot with [9c2d], was sitting on around $325, then had this hand. It should be noted at this stage I didn't realise the straddle was live.
Key Players:
UTG (Straddle) $445
Cut-Off (Me) $325
I limp with [Jd 10c]. Folds to the straddle, who makes it $14. I was a bit confused, so I just called, half in a daze.
Flop. [qd 9s 8s] Why hello thar.
He bets $20. I flat.
Turn [3c].
He bets $35. I make it $90. He tanks then flats.
River. [7h].
He bets $55. This lead confused me, considering he only flatted the turn but regardless my $200ish went into the pot. The guy tanked for a good 5 minutes before folding the [qs], saying "I don't believe you."
I laughed, mucked, and said "Good read you have there." I asked him later on if I was avoiding another spade and he said he would've shipped the turn if he had a spade. So at best I think he had top/top, or top/straight draw.
I then had the tighted player on the table make it $14 from BB (3 hands played in 2 hours) after I had and 5 others had limped. 1 other called, a Canadian guy called Ian, so I called as well with [6c5c] from the button.
Flop. [jc 5d 5h].
BB leads $38. Ian tanks and folds, asking the dealer to keep his cards aside. Obviously a big hand. I flat the $38.
Turn [4s]
He bets $60. I put it all-in. He calls for another $50. He shows [ad ac] and the river bricks out. Ian cards are revealed to be [qhqs]. Instant respect right there.
By this stage I on $770 and loving it. Ian is the only other challenge on the table, and we seem to have a mutual respect to stay out eachothers way due to all the fish on the table (some were really bad) and all is good.
Until this.
I get [kd kc] UTG+1. I make it $11. Folds to button who shoves for $39. SB then raises to $90 with $150 behind. Folds to me. I tank. SB was a brand new player, he seemed like he knew what he was doing on a basic level, although he did say when he raised "i'll call the $39 and raise it to $90". The dealer allowed that.
I ran through my option thought about possible hands. JJ+ AQ+, most likely, but seen some crazy s*** in my time. I just came to the conclusion if he had Aces I'm paying him unless an Ace comes on the flop, so I might as well maximize my chances of winning the hand now. I shove and he calls off his $240 with his Aces, board runs out 9 high. All in player had A rag.
Typical. I lose with premiums and win with rags.
A few hands later I get a bit back, not from him, but from the old guy whose Aces I cracked earlier, who also added $100 to his stack before this very hand.
I button after 5 limpers to $16 with [7d5d]. On the BB he makes it $32. Folds to me and I call.
Flop [jd 7s 5h].
He bets $60. I shove. He calls of $175.
He shows [kc ks] and it brinks again. Poor guy just couldn't beat my rags.
At this stage it's around 6pm, Brad's finally got out bed and we are meeting the other boys for dinner over at the MGM Grand. I cash out for $675. We invited Ian along as well and end up have dinner at Wolfgang Pucks.
Gnocci is good. Calzone is awesome.
The boys are looking to have a REALLY big night tonight, not something I was looking to do, so I headed off with Ian to check out some other places. We cruised along the strip, being offered all kinds of weird and wonderful things.
I want Ian's job. He works for a company as a computer programmer, can work from anywhere as he does it all remotely on his laptop, travels around the world and makes around US$200,000. Considering his home town is Halifax, Canada, not a bad effort.
We end up at the Bellagio. OH MY GOD.
The place is incredible. It is properly beautiful. It's classy and jam-packed without feeling claustrophobic, until, that is, you get to the poker room.
I was a bit disappointed with it. It holds 25ish tables, has Bobby's Rom which holds 3 through opaque glass, and is just very cramped, loud and uncomfortable.
Bellagio Poker
$2/$4 LimitHE, $1/$2, $2/$5, $5/$10, $10/$20, $25/$50, $50/100 NLHE, $40/$80 PLO/NLHE, $60/$120 8-Game
Rake 10% at $4.
No Jackpots
Live Straddle.
I get sat down at a cramped table with some not very nice people and proceed to face one of the worst tables I've ever played on. Everyone there was a superstar (in their own mind). I don't really know how to describe the table apart from tight/calling station. They wouldn't put money in, but would call down. Usually I would love this, but I was card dead for 3 hours. The players frustrated me, the dealers frustrated, the surroundings were annoying. I had one hand of note.
[AdAc] UTG. I make it $14. I get 4 callers.
Flop [As 10d 7d]
I check first to act. All check behind.
Turn [3d]
I bet $25. Fold to button (SUPERSTAR) who snap calls.
River [9h]
I stare him down and check. He thinks and checks behind.
I roll, thinking I must be good. He shows [Kd Qd].
When the table asked him why he didn't bet the river he said, "I just KNEW he had the Ace of diamonds and he only needed one more to have bigger flush, so equity wise it was a good check behind." Whatever. Tool.
I was actually happy when I busted. I wander over to see Ian who sat down 5 mins before me and he's on $1200. Luck of the draw I guess.
We leave bellagio around 2am and wander back towards MGM, stopping off to check out New York New York for a while. We find a seat at MGM poker room, right next to the Lion enclosure.
MGM Grand Poker
$2/$4 LimitHE, $1/$2, $2/$5
Rake 10% at $4.
No Jackpots
Live Straddle.
I get seated at $1/$2 while Ian all of a sudden becomes very sick and has to leave. The table I was on was a lot of fun. I was card dead most of the time, getting down to $75 at one stage, getting it with middle pair on the flop against a draw and holding.
Best hand of the night.
Cutoff with [ac 10d]
Mid makes it $14 (tight player).
I call as does BB.
Flop [ad 10h 3h]
BB checks
Mid bets $30
I flat, BB folds.
Turn [9c]
Mid checks
I bet $70
He calls
River [9h]
He tanks for a while, then shoves for $125, I have him covered by $15.
I had read him as being stubborn with a PP, but this is a really weird play if that's the case. I don't really see a way to fold, i had just been grinding my ass off for 4 hours so I didn't want to make a bad decision that would cost me a nights work. I take a few minutes and then call.
He instantly says "Your Ace is good", flashes Queens and walks away.
I play at MGM until around 8:30am when the action dies right down, then head back to Luxor for bed, via Krispy Kream for breakfast.
Mmmmmm, krispy kream.
Luxor Poker
$1/$2 NLHE
$50-$200 - Rebuy available once you drop below $200, for max $200. So basically you can start with up to $399, except you have to do the 2nd buy-in at the table. I know, I know, weird.
10% Rake capped at $4
5% Jackpot Rake capped at $2 (min $20 pot)
No Post
Rake free 5-handed or less
Live Straddle available
Jackpots:
$50 - Aces Full
$100 - Quads
$200 - Straight Flush
$500 - Royal Flush
Flop Quads 4's or 8's with a pocket pair and win $2000. It was part or a longer promo, all 13 quads were available at the start and had been hit. Once 4's are the 8's had been hit the other one would be the final option worth $7500.
Sat down at 12pm, picked up a nice pot with [9c2d], was sitting on around $325, then had this hand. It should be noted at this stage I didn't realise the straddle was live.
Key Players:
UTG (Straddle) $445
Cut-Off (Me) $325
I limp with [Jd 10c]. Folds to the straddle, who makes it $14. I was a bit confused, so I just called, half in a daze.
Flop. [qd 9s 8s] Why hello thar.
He bets $20. I flat.
Turn [3c].
He bets $35. I make it $90. He tanks then flats.
River. [7h].
He bets $55. This lead confused me, considering he only flatted the turn but regardless my $200ish went into the pot. The guy tanked for a good 5 minutes before folding the [qs], saying "I don't believe you."
I laughed, mucked, and said "Good read you have there." I asked him later on if I was avoiding another spade and he said he would've shipped the turn if he had a spade. So at best I think he had top/top, or top/straight draw.
I then had the tighted player on the table make it $14 from BB (3 hands played in 2 hours) after I had and 5 others had limped. 1 other called, a Canadian guy called Ian, so I called as well with [6c5c] from the button.
Flop. [jc 5d 5h].
BB leads $38. Ian tanks and folds, asking the dealer to keep his cards aside. Obviously a big hand. I flat the $38.
Turn [4s]
He bets $60. I put it all-in. He calls for another $50. He shows [ad ac] and the river bricks out. Ian cards are revealed to be [qhqs]. Instant respect right there.
By this stage I on $770 and loving it. Ian is the only other challenge on the table, and we seem to have a mutual respect to stay out eachothers way due to all the fish on the table (some were really bad) and all is good.
Until this.
I get [kd kc] UTG+1. I make it $11. Folds to button who shoves for $39. SB then raises to $90 with $150 behind. Folds to me. I tank. SB was a brand new player, he seemed like he knew what he was doing on a basic level, although he did say when he raised "i'll call the $39 and raise it to $90". The dealer allowed that.
I ran through my option thought about possible hands. JJ+ AQ+, most likely, but seen some crazy s*** in my time. I just came to the conclusion if he had Aces I'm paying him unless an Ace comes on the flop, so I might as well maximize my chances of winning the hand now. I shove and he calls off his $240 with his Aces, board runs out 9 high. All in player had A rag.
Typical. I lose with premiums and win with rags.
A few hands later I get a bit back, not from him, but from the old guy whose Aces I cracked earlier, who also added $100 to his stack before this very hand.
I button after 5 limpers to $16 with [7d5d]. On the BB he makes it $32. Folds to me and I call.
Flop [jd 7s 5h].
He bets $60. I shove. He calls of $175.
He shows [kc ks] and it brinks again. Poor guy just couldn't beat my rags.
At this stage it's around 6pm, Brad's finally got out bed and we are meeting the other boys for dinner over at the MGM Grand. I cash out for $675. We invited Ian along as well and end up have dinner at Wolfgang Pucks.
Gnocci is good. Calzone is awesome.
The boys are looking to have a REALLY big night tonight, not something I was looking to do, so I headed off with Ian to check out some other places. We cruised along the strip, being offered all kinds of weird and wonderful things.
I want Ian's job. He works for a company as a computer programmer, can work from anywhere as he does it all remotely on his laptop, travels around the world and makes around US$200,000. Considering his home town is Halifax, Canada, not a bad effort.
We end up at the Bellagio. OH MY GOD.
The place is incredible. It is properly beautiful. It's classy and jam-packed without feeling claustrophobic, until, that is, you get to the poker room.
I was a bit disappointed with it. It holds 25ish tables, has Bobby's Rom which holds 3 through opaque glass, and is just very cramped, loud and uncomfortable.
Bellagio Poker
$2/$4 LimitHE, $1/$2, $2/$5, $5/$10, $10/$20, $25/$50, $50/100 NLHE, $40/$80 PLO/NLHE, $60/$120 8-Game
Rake 10% at $4.
No Jackpots
Live Straddle.
I get sat down at a cramped table with some not very nice people and proceed to face one of the worst tables I've ever played on. Everyone there was a superstar (in their own mind). I don't really know how to describe the table apart from tight/calling station. They wouldn't put money in, but would call down. Usually I would love this, but I was card dead for 3 hours. The players frustrated me, the dealers frustrated, the surroundings were annoying. I had one hand of note.
[AdAc] UTG. I make it $14. I get 4 callers.
Flop [As 10d 7d]
I check first to act. All check behind.
Turn [3d]
I bet $25. Fold to button (SUPERSTAR) who snap calls.
River [9h]
I stare him down and check. He thinks and checks behind.
I roll, thinking I must be good. He shows [Kd Qd].
When the table asked him why he didn't bet the river he said, "I just KNEW he had the Ace of diamonds and he only needed one more to have bigger flush, so equity wise it was a good check behind." Whatever. Tool.
I was actually happy when I busted. I wander over to see Ian who sat down 5 mins before me and he's on $1200. Luck of the draw I guess.
We leave bellagio around 2am and wander back towards MGM, stopping off to check out New York New York for a while. We find a seat at MGM poker room, right next to the Lion enclosure.
MGM Grand Poker
$2/$4 LimitHE, $1/$2, $2/$5
Rake 10% at $4.
No Jackpots
Live Straddle.
I get seated at $1/$2 while Ian all of a sudden becomes very sick and has to leave. The table I was on was a lot of fun. I was card dead most of the time, getting down to $75 at one stage, getting it with middle pair on the flop against a draw and holding.
Best hand of the night.
Cutoff with [ac 10d]
Mid makes it $14 (tight player).
I call as does BB.
Flop [ad 10h 3h]
BB checks
Mid bets $30
I flat, BB folds.
Turn [9c]
Mid checks
I bet $70
He calls
River [9h]
He tanks for a while, then shoves for $125, I have him covered by $15.
I had read him as being stubborn with a PP, but this is a really weird play if that's the case. I don't really see a way to fold, i had just been grinding my ass off for 4 hours so I didn't want to make a bad decision that would cost me a nights work. I take a few minutes and then call.
He instantly says "Your Ace is good", flashes Queens and walks away.
I play at MGM until around 8:30am when the action dies right down, then head back to Luxor for bed, via Krispy Kream for breakfast.
Mmmmmm, krispy kream.
