1-2 PLO, 1-3 NLHE, and 2-5 NLHE at Orleans/MGM Grand/Aria

I kinda wanted to keep going around to various casinos in LV as time permitted.

=================
Orleans

1-3 NLHE

4 limpers
hero limps with 87d

flop: 9d6h3d
hero - bets 80% pot
everyone folds

hand 2:
UTG: limps
hero (MP) - raises 6xbb with KK
button calls
limper - reraises
hero - calls
other player - calls

T96 2 spades
UTG (75 bb): bets 50 (about 3/4 pot)
hero (MP, 125 bb): tanks - folds
other player folds

Analysis:
99% of time, a UTG limp-reraise = aces. I could have peeled a street and saw a turn to see if 1) UTG fires 2nd barrel, 2) i *may* decide to bluff a spade (although I may not have much (if any) fold equity against typical 1-2 NLHE player).

-16 bets


I also checked out the Bowling Alley at the Orleans. It's very large (60 lanes)

-----------------------
mgm grand

play seemed to be weak overall
buyins at 2-5 - 100-1k (many buying in for 200)
played very much like 1-2 game - no 3 betting

1:
I was placed at a new 2-5 table

3 hands into session
folds to hero in MP
hero in MP: KQo - raises
villain 1: calls
button (older player) - reraises
everyone folds

2:
folds to hero in MP
Hero raises  Qjo
button - calls
sb (25 bb) - pushes
everyone folds

down 3.5 BB @ 2-5
--------
Aria

I wanted to check out the Aria and figure out where stuff was prior to the 8 game mix tournament on Friday.

1-2 PLO Hi
limped AcJc2c6h
flop: JTT
checked around 4 ways - i bet 80% pot
everyone folds

up 1.5 BB

I also participated in 2 $50 PLO Hi flips with 5-6 people (a couple people I had met previously at the Wynn's mixed game.) Unfortunately, I'm not a good cash game flipper and lost both...

Gigging at Open Jazz Mic Night at the Freakin' Frog!

My first gig in a number of months (it's been way too long...)
The place was about 5 minutes from UNLV (University of Las Vegas). I actually passed by UNLV's music building on the drive there...

I felt really rusty. This was the first time in my life I had not practiced piano in 2 weeks (there was no access to a piano...although, I guess there were random keyboards at the Golden Nugget).
Additionally, I could have asked if I could try to play on a piano at UNLV (University of Las Vegas), as my housing for the 2nd half of the trip was ~5 min. away from their music building....

One of the guys brought a lot of real books which contain the changes for a lot of tunes. Primarily, Real Book 1 was used.

I got there relatively early to ask how open mic night worked. In a nutshell:
1. Tell the "host" (guy running the show) you were interested in playing and what instrument.
2. Play a couple tunes...
3. Switch off with others as people request...

Set 1:
1. Have You Met Miss Jones

2. Mr. PC - first tune - fast blues w/ "guest tenor sax player" - bebop tune

3. Footprints - Wayne Shorter 6/8 piece

Another couple pianists showed up and I listened to a lot of them play. I kinda realized a lot of aspects that I sometimes neglect in my jazz piano playing (different melodic licks, chordal licks, etc...)...
My comping has always been in need of improvement since I never really get a chance to play with live musician much anymore (usually, I'm using the Jamey Aebersold play a long collection...my solo playing seems to have improved greatly, but no so much on the comping side).

I heard lots of standards including On Green Dolphin Street. There were also about 3 singers who sang some tunes as well. Overall, I heard of lot of great musicians. There was a group of Vegas regular/professionals, and a large "core group" of high school musicians. Their skill level was on par with Case's jazz ensembles and were very good, even at college level.

One of the other pianists realized that I hadn't played at all since the night opened, so he recommended I close out the show.

4. Four (Miles Davis)
5. St. Thomas

Overall, it was great experience to play with a lot of musicians and I learned a lot of things that I need to reincorporate/work on in my jazz piano playing

Freakin Frog Links
http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/muc/1818152323.html

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=132078323472875&index=1

Uli Geissendoerfer Latin Jazz Sextet - E-String Grill & Poker

E-String Grill & Poker
Uli Geissendoerfer Latin Jazz Sextet
latin influenced artist
He had a lot of various licks/styles that I can definitely try to emulate.
The latin percussion aspect was great (as it was in addition to the standard percussion).

Unfortunately, I showed up to only hear the second set...

http://evandavisjazz.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/e-string-june-28.jpg

1-2 or 1-3 NLHE cash game

After fast exit from the Caesar's MTT, I played some cash and wandered around the Strip....

caesar's palace

I played a round or 2 of 1-3 NLHE just to say "I played cash at Caesar's."

1-3 nlhe
limped pot
hero limps in mp with 6c6x

9x5c4c
4 players
checks around

9x5c4c8c
checks to hero
hero bets small pot
everyone else folds

raised pot

i raised in MP with QJo
2 callers (button + bb)

flop:
T94 (rainbow)
bb: checks
I cbet this flop
button: folds
bb: calls

turn: T945 (rainbow board)
bb: leads into me for 2/3 pot
hero: folds

Analysis: At the time, the table suspected I had an "internet player aggressive" image as I had stabbed at a bunch of pots (3-4) within 20 hands.


-28 BB
---------------
Mandalay Bay
1:
hero (UTG): kings
raises
2 callers behind

Kc8s4h
3 checks

Kc8s4h9s
hero leads 4/5 pot
everyone folds

2:
3 limpers
hero: raises AsJs in sb
flop: 9s4c2s
hero leads 18 bb into 28BB pot - everyone folds


+27 BB

----------------
Treasure Island
1-3 NLHE

AsTs in small blind
raised a couple limpers
everyone folds

QTs - HJ - raises 2 limpers
limpers - call

Q39
hero: bets 2/3 pot
villain 1: calls
villain 2: calls

Q394
hero: checks
villain 1: checks
villain 2: checks

hero: bets river
villain 1: raises all in
hero: folds

Analysis: Hero decided to use bet-fold line, instead of check/call line. The all in raise indicates 1 pair is likely no good at 1-3 NLHE.

-10 BB

---------------
Mirage

1/2 NLHE
9s - hero raises unopened pot in MP - no action

hero raises UTG with AQo - caller in MP.
Kd23d
hero cbets 2/3 pot
villain calls
Kd23dAs
hero checks
villain checks
Kd23dAsJc
hero bets 2/3 pot (value bet)
villain calls

villain shows: Kx (pair of kings)
hero shows; AQo (pair of aces)

+40 bb.

Analysis: With a small amount of deception (I am rarely getting outdrawn on this flop as I was already behind to someone with 2 pair/set/AK, I decide to check. I got additional value from a guy who thought his pair of kings were still good.

235 NLHE @ Caesar's Palace

Originally planned to play the Venetian Deep Stack, but couldn't get to sleep early enough to register in time (10:30AM is the safe time to register and not be late). (In hindsight, I could have registered the night before around 2:00AM, but didn't realize it at the time.)

-------------------
late registered about 20 min. into first level

villain 1: limps
hero: raises preflop with AdTd

Th3d3h
villain 1: checks
hero: bets 2/3 pot
villain 2: calls
villain 1: calls

Th3d3hJh
villain 1: checks
hero: bets 2/3 pot
villain 2: calls
villain 1: calls

river
Th3d3hJh8d
villain 1: leads 3/4 pot
hero: folds
villain 2: folds

Analysis:
Hero's double barrel may not have been smart as the board was relatively dry. Hero could have been representing 2 heart overs (ex) KQs)with double barreled bet, but it may have been a mistake to double barrel on the turn.
Lead on river made hero's hand unlikely to be best.

--------------
9.5k
level 3 - blinds 100/200

limp
hero: AQs
hero: raises to 675
sb calls
bb calls
limper calls

TdQd3h
3 checks
hero leads 3/4 pot
sb: calls
bb: folds
limper: reraises all in (PS Pro who "wants to gamble" after saying he probably earns more money playing SNG Satellites at Rio - he wasn't sure why he was playing this MTT)
hero tanks; hero calls
sb - calls

sb: J9o
villain: 8d5d (flush draw)
hero: TPTK

TdQd3h5c8s
PS pro loses 4/5 stack
sb - triples up
hero - out of tourney

With pot size so large, it's really hard to find a way to fold in this spot, even if PS pro (rarely) has a set.
Pot is too large (I have 1 pot sized bet left once sb calls).

-------
about 108 registrants
99/108 (i was the 6th person eliminated in actuality, but there were additional late registrations after I busted)

3-6 Mix Cash Game at IP

I read about this on allvegaspoker.com and 2+2 and wanted to put on the schedule of things to do. From all the reports I read, I kind of more "wanted to play it" then necessarily make money...
http://www.allvegaspoker.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6041&start=180&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/21/draw-other-poker/live-mixed-game-hell-imperial-palace-lv-586143/

------
mix includes 10 games (although there were 2 tables, my table started late - instead of starting at 7:00PM, it started around 8:40PM)...4.5 hours to get through whole rotation
order is at random

o/8
double flop omaha
razz
stud/8
badugi
2-7 triple draw
baduci
3-2-1 omaha
4 card ocean crazy pineapple
a-5 high low

game explanations:
http://www.allvegaspoker.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6041

As with most split pot games, try to scoop! (this applies to o/8, double flop omaha, s/8, baduci, 3-2-1 omaha, and a-5 high low)

Cody - guy playing 15/30 mix
said badacey, baduci, 2-7, but no badugi

played well in o8/s8

ran well in badugi again
drew 2 -> W8 badugi - got bets from players on 2 streets

folded every hand in baduci

up 3 1/6 bets...

6-26-2010 - 2-5 NLHE + 8-16 mix cash game at Venetian

2-5 nlhe
(As I waitlisted onto the 8-16 mix).

I played about 2 rotations before a seat opened up at the 8-16 mix.

preflop - raise with ako
flat call from experienced player (he had 4 betted/got person to fold within 8 hands of me sitting down)
qq8 - check/check
8 - check/bet 30 into 47/call
9 - lead for 3/4 pot 75
called with ts, even though he said - i think you have a queen

nlhe: down 20 bets
-------
8/16 mix
mix included:
o/8
s/8
badugi
razz
2-7 triple draw

antes $2
blinds - $4/$8
limits: $8/16

--------
button - open with kq84 badugi
1 guy chased 3 streets and didn't get there

(With a pat badugi (although a KQ one is not really very good at all), it's a coin flip against a 1 card draw for 3 rounds). This may have been a candidate to fold if I was in EP (as I'm drawing very rough), but it's a standard open on the button...

743a - badugi
hero: capped predraw
only got 1 bet on 1st/2nd/3rd draw as opponents drew 1 for each of 3 draws

Analysis: Generally speaking, people *draw* to 6/7 badugis. Getting one pat is a monster.

8/16 mix - +16 bets

240 S/8 MTT @ Golden Nugget

late registered to tournament
11.7k when registered (stack had been blinded off)
(limits for many of the MTTs were so low in comparison to the starting stack sizes; even if you are running well in the first 3-6 levels did not really increase stack all that much.
additionally, showing up late doesn't really affect stack that much...)

In ideal world, limit tournaments should start out much shallower (20 big bets?) and limits move up slower; thus, penalize late people + allow the first couple hours to be non-trivial

level of 2
stack = 10.625k

-------------------
level 5

limped pot - 5 players

seat 1: (KK)KJ79(9)
seat 5: (2s2c)3hAd4h2d(2h)
seat 8: (8dJd)7d9dtd2c(8c) <---hero

4th street - 1 bet and 3 callers
5th street - 2 players fold once I raise.
i accidentally only raised once on 5th; one other player reraised after me; the dealer misheard my reraise as a call instead of capping that street

6th street - hero bets out and  got callers from other 2 players
river
hero bets
seat 1 raises
seat 5 calls
hero reraises
seat 1 reraises
seat 5 calls
hero caps
seat 1 calls
seat 5 calls

hero shows Jh straight flush
seat 5 shows quad deuces (had a234, but couldn't catch low on river)
seat 8 shows kings full of jacks (likely put first person on a low when capping every street)
boards:


We were wondering where the photographer was. Throughout most of the tournaments, there was a photographer taking shots of people and selling them in plaques. Well, at least I had my camera on my phone...

This was definitely a hand worth remembering! Unfortunately, this was not the Orleans casino, where a stud game could win the bad beat jackpot!

analysis:
can't really blame person with kings full; seat 5 may have just had a made low and I could have just had a flush instead of straight flush.


I did lose 4-6 bets of value since I could not jam 5th street

(I also took a photo of the hand)

end of level 6:
25.2k

-----------
scooped a pot 4 handed with (34)562xx

dinner break - level 9
27.85k
---------------------

limped pot
bet on 6th pot

(xx)jtjt
(xx)4242
(a4)aqq8
i fold aces up, thinking i was behind to a boat

analysis:
this was probably a mistake. the player with jtjt looked surprised and bet out. likely, player did not have a boat....

--------
level 12
villain: (xx)As8sQhJs(x)
hero: (3h4d)6d5h7d5d(3d)

action - heads up
villain raises
hero calls
4th: villain bets/hero calls
5th: villain bets/hero calls
6th: hero bets/villain raises/hero calls

villain shows: ace high flush + 8 low
hero shows: 7 high straight flush + 7 low
hero scoops!

analysis:
at the time, i don't think i even looked at my river card
dealer noticed i had a straight flush + 7 low and scooped the other guy with an ace high flush + 8 low

Hero slows down b/c he could get scooped with flush/better low on 6th
hero felt he had lock for low and didn't even look at river (ie: crying call b/c pot was so huge)
hero did not realize he had outs to straight flush, hero misread hand, nor did he know if he had a lock for low

hero has about 55k, but limits are fairly high (about 8 big bets left)

-------------------------
i did not have very many playable hands or stealing opportunities

possible stealing spot that i passed on:
(a6)4 with ace/6 dead - folded
this was a marginal fold, i probably should have raised...there were a couple low dead cards, but it could have been spot to get it in even with ace and 6 dead

----------------
with 3 tables to go
moved to same table as Barbara Enright
----------------

anted off at the end as there were no playable situations and/or steal situations as my stack dwindled below 1 L (4.5 BB)

was down to 10 antes (1 big bet)

anted 500 of 5k
2 bring in at 1k each

was all in as ante

sweated - didn't turn up any down cards until after showdown (to make things amusing)
ksas|t883(9d)

1 of 2 other players had pair of kings
hero is out

---------------------
out in 16th/67? (maybe 63)
bustout time: approximately 12:00AM

I definitely missed a LOT of value in spots (specifically, the 2 straight flush hands, probably the spot with one board with 2 pair showing etc...). This was definitely a great candidate to cash as many of the players were playing like stud hi and/or had no idea what they were doing. There were a good chunk of players who played high limits online and/or the WSOP Stud/8 event.

summary 1: lol straight flushes (*2)
why couldn't this be a cash game so I could have a piece of the Bad Beat jackpot!

1/2 NLHE/PLO Mix at Hard Rock

brief 1/2 nlhe/plo mix
played 2 rotations

plo - a couple players had no idea how to play plo
a couple slowplayed nut flush by checking when it came in
very transparent play
(folded all of my hands)
many multiway pots

stole 1 pot k4s on co
cbet q88 flop (5 hands into NLHE)

nlhe
aqo - cbet k95
check 8
a on river
checked behind

not sure if i missed value here
(weak kings call b/c i might be bluffing? 2 pairs (aces up) call?

overall - +10 bets

Power Outage at the Rio!

I was literally standing up from the 5-5 PLO8 game (I was about to post the BB) at the Rio when the power outage occurred at the Rio and on the LV strip...

Needless to say, the Rio was in somewhat of a panic. Additionally, the floor yelled to everyone "Cover your chips!" 

A lot of cash game players immediately cashed out once the lights were on. Someone was kind enough to buy out the majority of my chips while I was waiting in line...

http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2010-wsop/event-41/day2/post.153722.htm

5-5 PLO8 Cash at the Rio Day 2

1 - rotated around - 2/4 plo8 grinder initially
2 - solid player
3 - john - canadian - played gn tourney where i doubled up big on the end when 2 counterfeited his low (after doubling through Leif 3x)
4 - hero
5 - tight solid player
6 - random people who may not have understood holdem at all
7 - random people who may not have understood holdem at all
8 - ditto
[9 hole - somewhat aggressive player]
10 - holdem player transitioning - only seemed to raise with aces/kings


----------------
hero - preflop raiser with akjw no suits (w = 2-5) after 2 limpers
kj49t (turn - 3rd of suit for flush)

flop:
2 checks
hero bets flop
2 callers

Turn:
3 checks

river:
2 checks
hero: bets 4/5 pot on river
got fold from other 2 players

analysis:
Hand could be ahead. With 3 flush and broadway straight draw on board, this may be a very thin value bet (or turning a made hand into a bluff), if a value bet at all. Retroactively, I think I had decent showdown value with 2 pair that I did not need to bet it as most players would call with straights and low flushes

---------------
board: a35t4
hero: pfr
aa4k ss to ace

tight/solid player calls behind

hero: bets 4/5 pot on flop
villain: calls

turn:
hero: checks
villain: checks

river:
hero: checks
villain: checks

analysis:
Hero essentially has a bluff catcher. Without reads on opponent's ranges, can only beat a bluff at this point.
Any hand with 2 wheel cards that include a 2 (ex) A2) has a straight. 26xx (such as 2356) could 3/4 someone easily.
Hero may have thought about bluffing....but, villain does not look like type that would have folded even if getting quartered...


-----
board: 25qj4

hero pfr aqq5
hero: flops top set queens, no low draw

betting:
flop:
hero: bets 4/5 pot
villain: calls

turn:
hero: bets 3/4 pot
villain: calls

river
hero checks OOP
villain (seemed to be very tight/solid): bets pot
hero: folds

Analysis: When hero checks on end, hero rarely has a3xx.
strong possibility villain could bluff here and represent a3xx

------------------
------------------
collecting time (7 per 1/2 hour - more expensive than the standard rake - fyi - b/c fewer hands per hour (10-12)
just as i was about to stand up b/c they were collecting time
lights go out everywhere -

dealers were told to keep their bodies over the chips

http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2010-wsop/event-41/post.153722.htm

----
summary:
lost about 40 bets

5-5 PLO8 Cash at the Rio Day 1

side note: there were 4-5 tables going all WSOP for the Big "O". Essentially, it's 5 card PLO8. From what i heard, the game was very action driven early in the series, but had become nitty by the time I was cash gaming at the Rio.
-----

woman in 1 seat - seemed to be giving lots of action
chased nut low draws, et al
hero's hand: aqj3

she limped
i pot raised
everyone else folded
she calls

j42q7

flop
villain: checks
hero: bets 3/4 pot
villain: calls

turn
villain: checks
hero: bets 2/3 pot
villain: calls

river
villain: instapotted me all in on river (2/3 pot sized bet)
she thought she had a straight
hero: calls

hero scoops and double up (villain was 160bb+ deep, hero was around 100bb)

analysis: I think she would have probably ended up calling anyway thinking 2 pair may be good

she had earlier kept betting pot when i check/called with low draw (and some outs to scoop); hit it with counterfeit protection, and she kept betting 2 pair w/ no chance of scooping; I freerolled her - any diamond or pair for my hand gave me trips

---------------------
another example hand:

she seemed to only bet high hands
board on turn: 47d9d6
hero's hand: a24d5d
villain's hand: 8tbb (b = [TJQKA])

villain only started betting on turn with straight (no low, only getting freerolled here)

analysis:
hero is freerolling for diamonds for scoop; against villain's hand, hero already locked up low (with counterfeit protection)
unfortunately, no diamond came and pot was chopped

-----------------
a235 2 suited to ace (ie: ah2h3d5s)
straddle existed ($10)

woman - raises (pot) preflop in early position
i flat call
youngish kid (he had been playing the 5-10 Big "O" (5 card PLO8) - repopped on button for 27bb (i originally played the 325 PLO8 sat with him)
call
call

qjt rainbow flop
she pots - everyone folds...

-----
up about 70 bets

WSOP PLO8 1.5k satellites at the Rio

sat 1/2 - $175 pays $1620 (3 $500 chips + 120 cash)
sat 3 - $325 pays $3120 (6 $500 chips + 120 cash)

chops happen very often when it gets down to 2-3 players
structure is very shallow and fast

15 min. levels at $175; 1k starting chips (25/25, 25/50, 50/100, 100/200, 150/300)
20 min. levels at $325; 1.5k starting chips (same blind amounts)

---------------
sat 1
"crazy cuban" to my left - very action oriented

i won 1 pot with a preflop raise/cbet

jammed ak62
high board - got scooped and was out

"crazy cuban" won first sat
----------------
sat 2

slow table
first hand - i raised utg w/ ak64 - flopped pair + low draw
bet - no action

also got scooped for tournament life with ahwx hand - high board with no pair for me
--------
sat 3

there were a lot of players who I later saw playing the 5-10 "Big O" (5 card plo8) or went deep in the WSOP 1.5k event.

checked flop (5 way, limped pot) - utg + 2
q753
a255 -> 3/4 someone
a246

not a lot of action/playable hands/stealing opportunities

doubled up short stack when i couldn't backdoor half

qq34 - jam preflop
on t946
vs. qt82
j -> drawing dead

-----
unfortunately, i had not kept up with the WSOP and missed watching Ivey win his 8th braclet in $3k horse

210 PLO8 @ Binion's

starting stack: 15k

level 3 - 20.3k
had 2 aawx hands (aaw - aa2, aa3, aa4, etc..), but did not win any large pots

(limped pot - 3 players)
q8x
i lead on flop
made small bet on turn with boat
got crying call from trip queens

before the break at level 3:
I was preflop raiser with AK63 (no suit).

I double barreled (bet flop and turn) on a high board (Ks9c5J) against an unknown player and got player off the hand.

end of level 3: approximately 20k

---------------
level 4:

won a small pot to move to up to 22k

ended up bluffing off a lot of chips on a 289t9 board

stack fell to about 18k

------
moved to new table

I opened for standard raise (at this level - 600/1200 - 3k), i get repopped by short stack all in, and was forced to call

hero's stack: about 24k
villain's stack: 18k

hero: A4JJ
villain: AKT7

A king high board with no low lowered my stack to about 6.5k.
-------
6.5k (somewhat "short stacked" with blinds at 600/1200)
open raised and was repopped by villain - decided to call
A58K vs.  AA52 (double suited to both aces)

out of tournament when I didn't win high and there was no low on board

-------
~103/179 runners

1-3 PLO8 Cash at Binion's

didn't realize it existed until i looked on 2+2 and they said the game was running on saturday called poker room - found out it was going
The game likely was in force because of the PLO8 MTT at same location the next day. In addition, PLO8 WSOP week "unofficially" started...

buyins were uncapped!
table seemed very "gambly".
-----------------------
limped with a842 ds
kqt 2 hearts - someone pots it - not priced in to call

session length: about 2.4 hours

a3kt ds
hero raised preflop/gets called by 1 player

flop: 529 (one of my suit to ace)
villain 1: checks
hero cbets flop
villain 2: calls


529k
analysis:
turn: picked up nut flush draw + top pair -
villain 1: small lead from someone else -
hero: repots
villain 2 who said he plays nlo8): calls
villain 1: folds
river
529ka
a counterfeits hero's hand
hero:  checks
villain:  bets
hero: forced to fold

-----------
unraised pot, I limp with
my hand: 6432 - freeroll

flop: 52a
(don't remember number of players to flop; likely 3 total)

Analysis: With a nut low wrap, made wheel, and redraws to a better straight, this is a "jam and hope to get other

players to call to get quartered" situation.

---
miscellaneous problems:
i tended not to remember the pot size, so i ended up "saying overbets", which i think caused one of the players to

just keep folding

-------
results:
-15 bets @ 1/3

1-3 NLHE + 4-8-1-2 mix cash game at Wynn

sat in on the wynn

played small amount of 1-3 nlhe (1.5 rotations)-

won small pot with aces (hero raised preflop, got 1 caller, betted a dry board on flop, and won)

+~10 bb
--------------
4-8 mix
friendly game, where the other 5 players knew each other
2 played 10-20+ limit regularly at the wynn; so, it was a "friendly game" at these stakes.


played 5 game mix
originally
LHE
LO (hi)
2-7 TD
O8
Badugi

2-7 td first rotation
joked with guy about snowing previous hand because he had lots of blockers (34345)

345 first draw -> 27
bet/call from one opponent
stood pat/opponent drew 1 - bet, opponent called
stood pat/opponent drew 1 - bet, opponent called
"is #1 good?" - i said as i showed down the winning hand

on second rotation - rotation changed to
PL5cd - pot limit 5 card draw
PLO
limit 2-7 TD
PLO8
limit Badugi

PL games are 1-2 blinds
limit games are 4-8 limits

table broke

i lost some money in an raised pot in PLO and didn't draw well in either 2-7 TD/badugi, so i was down about 10 "limit" bets for the night.

-----------------
lost about 12 big bets (4-8 limits)

240 LO8 MTT @ Golden Nugget

levels 1-3
i had 2 aawx hands - one was aa25 single suited to once of the aces
built up a somewhat a couple chips at end of level 3 (12.3k, starting stack was 12k)


bluffed paired board - ended up calling - lost 2k chips (level 5)


a447 board
23BBB board (b = card 9 or higher)
i ended up "value bluffing" person who was OOP - "bluffed" out a224 (pair of 2s, no low)
i bet every street in position

----------
kkxx
k97 (2 h)
42 (3rd heart)
lucky no one had hearts
stack -> 5k -> 7500
------------------
just before the 2nd break (level 6), an interesting hand came up

limp in ep
a39k - i raise
old player calls behind me (on button)

flop - 2h8s9d
villain 1: checks
hero: bets
villain 2: calls
villain 1: calls
turn - 2h8s9d7h
villain 1: bets
hero: calls
villain 2: raises
villain 1: raises
hero: tanks, calls <---
villain 2: raises
villain 1: raises <--- 5 bets max
hero: tanks, calls <---
river - 2h8s9d7h9c
villain 1: checks
hero: bets
villain 2: calls
villain 1: calls

villain 1: shows jtxx - jack high straight
villain 2: shows ah3xxhxh - had nut low and nut flush draw
hero: shows nut low + trip 9s

villain 1 - older player (who I later played at Binion's PLO8 MTT) was mad at me because i got him quartered. He missed flush outs to scoop
he ended up saying to me - i was just betting my cards; when villain 1 raises, he has nut straight
villain 2 - told me after hand that he was scared i had a boat, so that's why he check/called the river

-------------------
moved to table 1
2.2k (blinds 500/1k, limits 1k/2k)
celebrity sighting: phil hellmuth stops by and talks to guy in seat 1 (i'm in seat 8)

ak62 ds
got money in preflop
no low came up - i was out

-------
96/143
18 places pay out

235 PLO8 MTT @ Golden Nugget

1 player (at my 2nd table) took an extraordinary amount of time to act; he was also not paying attention that much to the game or understand what was going on
he ran extremely hot and had a chip leader stack
however, he ended up doubling up same player 3x times before busting just before dinner break
he called off stack with overpair on 3 low board


another person said that he had plans at 8:00PM
he came back for 10 min. after the dinner break, played some hands, left, and never came back
he blinded off in 39th place (he had about ~25-26k at level 9 - blinds 500/1000)


-----------
starting stack: 12k
level 4
13.125k

i had bet 2 pair on 3 low board - got everyone to fold

moved to different table

had kq33
3c38c5 in bb
bet with set + flush draw


lost good chunk of stack in level 6
ran aa34 into kk54 (money got all in preflop)
board ran: 2a6k3
I was scooped with a 6 high straight/wheel for low

level 7
15.6k

-----------
tournament life

as my M became ~ 1, I came into an interesting hand (I have about 3.5k left after posting BB)

blinds 1.2k/2.4k

folds to sb
sb - limps
bb - i have a567
checks on flop (2 players)
2q8 board
he bets into me for tournament life
I tell the table - i don't think a low card is coming - and fold

(This was likely a mistake, running equities and scoop percentages post flop.)
http://www.propokertools.com/simulations/show?b=qh8c2d&g=o8&h1=a567&h2=qs%2A%2A%2A

It could be argued that I should have raised preflop, but it looks really suspicious that sb didn't raise into me.
I'm only really crushed (not getting correct pot odds) when up against pair + better low draw (43+). In those scenarios, I'm not getting the right price to call.
http://www.propokertools.com/simulations/show?b=2cjh8s&g=o8&h1=a567&h2=8%2AA4

against tp (with possible lows that beat me, designated by ***), i'm scooped only 30% of time w/ about 43% equity.
if i had no low potential or there was only 1 low card on the flop, this is an easy fold

Against a random hand, a hand with a high and no low, or a better low draw and no pair, I have enough equity to call. But, I could still get scooped.
overs and no low (hero = 45% equity; scooped ~25%):
http://www.propokertools.com/simulations/show?b=2cjh8s&g=o8&h1=a567&h2=8BAB

better low draw, no hand
(38% equity versus 43**)
http://www.propokertools.com/simulations/show?b=2cjh8s&g=o8&h1=a567&h2=43%2A%2A


-----------------------------
tournament life was saved
i was all in preflop with a8qk

board was similar to - j5397 (low came on river)
checks on 2 streets
a small bet into dry side pot with low potential got other guy (Leif) to fold
player had 2 pair for high/no low
he pushed out person who had a backdoor 6-5 low
i end up getting half the pot - still had tournament life

--------
i ended up shoving a couple times with abwx (ie: AJ54 or AQJ4 for example) hands and scooped same person 3 times within 2 rotations (Leif)!
stack was less than 1M prior to double ups
now up to ~3M (approximately ~8k at 1k/2k blinds)
This is not as critical as say in a NLHE tournament due to split pot nature + no antes.

---------
reraised early position raiser with akq2 rainbow
versus aa68 (a canadian person who i played cash games with later)
board ran: xx2x2 (I think the board was J5292, but i don't remember exactly)

i double up again
around level 11/12 - (M = ~5) up to about 15-16k

------
level 14
short stack pots - all in
i repotted all in - akj2 (abbw shape) - (I don't recall the exact bust out hand unfortunately.)
3rd person called - has both players covered

was out when no low hit and i did not win high
example board: K59Q8 (2 pair won)

out in 22nd - 13 were paid
22/137 total entrants
13 paid

overall, field was 1/2 internet pros (specializing in PLO8), other half were random people that had no idea how to play

-------------
-------------
other funny story (from person I spoke with in LO8 tourney that had played this tournament the day before) - omahamike


7x3x3d
(hero was guy in bb - flopped nut boat - 77xx ie: 7735 or 77t8)
flop: bet/raise/[hero in hand calls]
turn: bet/raise/[hero in hand calls]
river: bet/raise/[hero in hand calls]

7x3x3d4d5d
river - completes straight flush
one player shows straight flush (6d7dxx)
other player shows nut low (a2xx)

the player was out in less than 1 hour, even with ~15k prior to hand starting in level 4 (100/200 blinds)

240 HORSE MTT @ Golden Nugget

late regged to tournament - 15 min. late - 2 hands of limit hold'em
20 min. levels; game changes every level

-----------------
(level 2)
2 hands into o8 -
i folded in sb
i joked that i had 4 of a kind
(i had mucked adkx6d6x)
board runs out
Td8d5d

if played, i had flopped nut flush - the guy i joked too ended up having txxx for quads (seat 2)!
the guy eventually ended up placing 3rd in this event

-------
(level 4) stud hi

seat 1 - an older man (20-30 years of experience) - was teaching me how to properly flip up my up card when folding in stud
basically - flip on the long side of the card to fold

(flip here)
---------
| |
| |
---------
(flip here)

strangely enough, he also got quads in a stud hi hand


hero: had 3 flush with highest door card

[8h5h]kh
got 2 hearts on 4th/5th

one lady alertly folded when i bet 5th, but i got 1 caller and got 5.5-6 bets.

-------
(level 8) razz:
led out on every street
villain: [xx]42aa[x]
hero: [87]2485[4]

villain: had wheel
lost

--------------------

stud hi
tried to steal with king up
door cards behind me
(xx)a
(xx)7
(xx)2


-----------------------
level 12
o/8
checked option with Ad 4d 6h 8s
led every street on this board
board: qd2x3d6xtd

3/4 one player and bet every street

stack at level 12: 10.775k


------------------------
level 15
stud/8
100
300/600
limits: 600/1.2k

(xx)
(22)2 <--- bringin

just brought in with 2 - 5 other players

()ja8j
(xx)aq

5 players
()ja
()aq
()xx
()xx
2h2d2sts
bet by ace (who acted first)
2 calls
i raise with t up because the secret is out i can't draw
betting is raised -> i reraise
capped on 4th

3 players left

i was all in by 5th street (2 bets left)
I was very happy with my situation - going with rolled up 2s

villain 1: (xx)ja8j(x)
villain 2: (xx)ahqs6h7h(x)
hero: (2h2d)2sts9d9h

6th street - capped action by other 2 players
i told the 2 other people (seats 1 and 2) - iam probably drawing to 1 out - they agreed with my assessment
(likely holding of villain: jacks full of aces)

2h2d2sts9d9h(3s)
very close to scoop

as suspected, villain 1 had jacks full of aces
villain 2 was probably fishy - likely 2 pair (aces up b/c he capped action)


-----
138/152

summary: lol quadaments

235 PLO MTT @ Golden Nugget

i had played 2 pots - i was pfr (pre flop raiser), i cbetted and took down both pots
ex 1) raised with qqxx in MP - 2 callers (button + sb)
got called by 2 players OOP
bet jtx monotone flop and got no callers.

----------------
level 3:
qj98 single suited to queen (spades)
i raised preflop in MP/got called by player directly after me
button was aggressive player who seemed to stab at a lot of pots

tc7h4c
hero: bet 2/3 pot
villain: called
tc7h4c7d
hero: bet 2/3 pot
villain called
tc7h4c7das
hero: check
villain: check

villian shows a7xx
hero mucks

analysis: I bet a 20 out wrap, although I'm not sure if any club would help since i did not have a club. I'm a

favorite (61/39) against any non-flush hands depending on specific side cards which may take away some of my

straight outs.
http://www.propokertools.com/simulations/show?b=tc7h4c&g=oh&h1=ac7s5d3h&h2=qsjs9h8d

board pairs - I represent a made hand with a bet-fold line
once called, i would try to check and luckily checks behind me for showdown

villain later says he was afraid i was betting aaxx, which is why villain checked

-----------------
100/200 - 4 players
limped to me in BB
hero: 4375 (approximate)
hero: BB - Khjs7h5c

pot = 800
board - [8h6c4h]
sb: check
hero: check
co: bet 600
button: raise to 1200
hero: pot raise - all in
co: fold
button: calls
button shows: 8h8s9d2h

board - 8h6c4h5d4d

hero: out

analysis: flopped straight with 2nd nut flush redraw
up against top set w/ 2 blockers
equity link to propokertools: http://www.propokertools.com/simulations/show?b=8h6c4h&g=oh&h1=KhJs7h5c&h2=9h8c8s2h
61/38 when the money got in

-----
74 runners
final 9 paid out

had 2 fairly experienced players sandwiching me
one guy was playing a lot of WSOP events (Kevin) - CA - 2+2 poster
another (Jim? from Houston) - got 2nd in a VDS, et al...

lesson learned from the day -
i seem to like betting when the board pairs; although sometimes effective, it may not be all the time

depending on the situation


68/74
out level 4 - probably one of the first couple of players out of the tournament

Welcome to LV - The grind begins tomorrow...

The journey begins anew. I wonder how my body will react to the time change...

No problems getting to LV, getting a rental car, or finding the GN for the first week+ of the 3 week trip.
I plan to meet a college friend (who is just turning 21), but am pretty much running solo for the next couple weeks. Although other people were interested in coming, timing didn't work out...

I have historically played a whole lot of PLO8 (first MTTs, then cash) in my online career. I basically planned the trip around the WSOP's PLO8 week. I then added length on either side of the trip to play in other MTTs (such as the PLO Hi tomorrow). My primary goal is NOT to play that much NLHE. Outside of the occasional home game dealer's choice and online poker, it's pretty much NLHE live in the Cleveland, OH area and vicinity...

Over the past year, I had previously played 3x at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY (45 min. east of Syracuse, NY) with some college friends (some of whom aren't 21). I really liked the structures that Turning Stone has for their MTTs. I've played a 440 (June 09) and 225 (Aug 09) NLHE MTT, but no cashes and always seemed to bust right before a break (out in level 3 in June 09, out in level 9 in Aug 09). For cash games, I played the 5-10 LO8 (after being disappointed that they don't spread PLO8 or NLO8) + 1-2/2-5 NLHE.

To refresh my live poker skills (outside of the weekly home game), I traveled with some college friends to Mountaineer Casino in WV (2 hours away) during Memorial Day weekend to play some 3-6 LO8 (full kill) and a little 1-2 NLHE cash. The full kill was something new to me...