Saturday, June 30, 2012

1-2-5 PLO8 Cash Game @ Venetian

Venetian runs a 1-2 PLO8 with 5 bringin. (Straddles as UTG or button = 10). Max buyin = 1000. Hero decided to play this after meeting up with friend playing 600 NLHE MTT.

---------------
1st hand:
about 20 hands into session

reads:
seat 1 - saw chasing naked nut 32 low and called it down; seemed to have high VPIP
seat 2 - "bugs" - for a little bit; played lots of PLO8 events
seat 3 – a friend from a lot of PLO8 MTTs for a little bit, then PS person
seat 4 - hero

hero did mississippi straddle on button

Effective stacks: 1k (200bb @ 5 bring in)
Reads:
UTG Villain seemed fishy and chased naked low.

preflop:
Hero: dealt aa44 (a4 suited)
hero had button straddle
3 limpers
Hero: raised pot to 50
hero raised pot when 3 players called straddle

(4 players to flop - 200/40bb in pot)
A3J rainbow
checks to hero
hero bets: 150
utg: calls
everyone else folds

(2 players - 500/100bb in pot)
A3J 7 (two tone)
utg: checks
hero: bets 300
utg: calls

(2 players - 1100 in pot/220bb)
A3J 7 4 (no flush on river)
utg: bets AI for (500)
hero: tanks/calls

villain: shows 33xx (no low)
hero: wins pot

Analysis:
Flop: Standard
Turn: It might be a little marginal as it brings a low (but no straights/flushes), but still getting value from tons of high hands.
After talking with friend about it, villain's continuing range could have some 24xx, but more likely lots of high hands (a7/aj, etc...)
River: was a tank/call. The pot was so huge that even if villain has low, hero doesn't have to be right a huge amount of time (~33%).
The only "straight" that got there was a gut shot (245x) wrap, which was not a huge part of calling range.

PPT: It looks like it's actually an easier call.
Omaha Hi/Lo Simulation ?
5,700 trials (Exhaustive)
board: Ad 3h Js 7s 4d
Hand  Equity      Scoops      Wins Hi     Ties Hi     Wins Lo     Ties Lo
33, aj, a2:ss, 245      42.89%      862   862   0     4,028 0
ahas4c4h    57.11%      1,672 4,838 0     0     0

---------------
2nd hand:
villain seemed to be playing really loose, but sounded like he understood the game AFAIK.

Effective stacks: 1k (200bb @ 5 bring in)
hero: dealt aj53 with no flush draw.

(2 players - $40/8bb)
Js 2x 6s 3x Qs
Hero: bets ($30/6bb)
Villain: calls
 
(2 players - 100/20bb)
Js 2x 6s 3x
hero checks
villain bets: $75 (15bb)
hero: calls

 (2 players - 250/50bb)
Js 2x 6s 3x Qs
hero: checks
villain: checks
villain: J3HH no spades

hero gets 3/4

Analysis:
Flop: Betting with TPTK tptk + nld to price out other hands with less equity and get money from villain who likely is equity underdog.
Turn: It might be close to bet/call versus check/call. The 3's a counterfeit card and hero likely has best high hand + 2nd nut low.
Thinking back, only really gutshots get there on turn. Hero probably should have just continued aggression.
River: Labored and thought it through before checking. There's arguments for bet/calling, bet/folding, and check/calling.
20:20 hindsight - maybe it's slightly better to donk bet/call here.

bet/call - This could be the best option as hero is rarely getting scooped. This may get value from many hands which hero could scoop (like: A5J, A53, etc...)
bet/call - problem: Hero calling raise when likely only raised by flushes. It’s tougher because guessing to see if hero's low is good enough (likely it is good, unless villain has something like a34 with spades).
bet/fold - If hero assumes villain will only raise nut flush + low...this seems kinda spewy b/c hero may fold 1/2 of pot.
check/call – This allows villain to continue bluff; Also, rarely getting scooped (a4 w/ flush or rare 2 pair/set). But, hero’s not sure if villain calls worse more often.

Villain mentions that after seeing me hero call earlier (in 1st hand), he didn't think I'd fold if he had bet.

Omaha Hi/Lo Simulation ?
600,000 trials (Randomized)
board: Js 2x 6s 3x
Hand  Equity      Scoops      Wins Hi     Ties Hi     Wins Lo     Ties Lo
a3, jj, j6, a$w$w:ss, a4      46.49%      86,126      254,616     20,211      267,920      50,479
ac jh 3s 5d 53.51%      114,518     325,173     20,211      281,601     50,479

Omaha Hi/Lo Simulation ?
54,369 trials (Exhaustive)
board: Js 2x 6s 3x Qs
Hand  Equity      Scoops      Wins Hi     Ties Hi     Wins Lo     Ties Lo
a3, jj, j6, a$w$w:ss, a4      55.24%      10,740      31,845      1,020 26,022      3,369
ac jh 3s 5d 44.76%      5,166 21,504      1,020 24,978      3,369

---------------
Hero drove to Rio, but 1-2 Big "O" games didn't seem that good.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Attempt to Satellite into WSOP 2.5k 10 game


After talking with table a ton, at least 1 or 2 guys (including the guy who was drawing very well) agreed with going and trying to satellite into 10-game.
Off the Rio...

After looking at the structure the night before, it actually seemed quite good for a ~480 MTT. Game changes every 4 hands, but levels are 20 minutes.

TBH, this probably should have been my priority over Badugi MTT. It may have been more profitable, although it would have been nice to lock up a Badugi MTT cash.

Unfortunately, the last 2 10 game satellites got off the ground ~20 min. before I got there.
There was a list of 3 names (including mine) to get the 6 handed satellite off the ground, but it was not meant to be.

On the upside, it was cool to catch up and rail a friend in the 5k NLHE for a little bit while waiting to see if the satellite would get off the ground.

240 Badugi MTT @ Golden Nugget


12000 starting chips at 50/100 level and 40 min. levels

The MTT structure honestly was kind of bad. Limits don't become significant unless level 4.
Hero late registered into MTT at about 1:40, about half way into level 3.
Fortunately, reviewed strat the night before, but haven't really played much badugi since 10-game MTT online at Full Tilt a year ago.

---------------
Lineup:

1 - unknown
2 - hero
3 - guy who just kept leaving and didn't really even play 1 or 2 hands
4 - seemed like competent person
5 - guy who kept drawing super well
6 - unknown

---------------
draw format:
villain draw / villain 2 draw / hero draw

folds to hero on button
hero opens button open with 5axx
1 call by bb

2 / 2
hero still has 5axx

villain check
hero check

2 / 2
villain bets
hero folds after bricking on 5axx draw

Analysis: Pot too small and villain shows aggression. With 2 card hand and 1 draw to go, easy fold.

---------------
hero was OOP against same villain from previous hand after calling raise with A2xx
villain draw / hero draw

2 / 2
bet / call

1 / 1
bet / raise / 3b
Ad 2c 2s th

0 /0
led river after patting river
villain called again

villain shows 8 badugi
hero mucks

Analysis:
Hero tried to snow in a seemingly good spot with blockers to 2s, but maybe it wasn't great spot to jam.

---------------
Unfortunately, lack of notes and not really wanting to commit stuff to memory means this report will be brief.

(2:30PM)
Pat 9862 badugi draw. Raised/3 bet predraw
Got outdrawn in multiway pot.

Then made bad call oop with queen badugi. Down to 7600     

2/1
Check/Bet
Call

1/1
Check/Bet
Raise/Call

0/0
Bet/Call

---------------
5:53PM: Bleeding. Blind defense. Do i fold 65a against guy betting 8 in previous bvb? 5900

In BvB, this seems fine to defend with 65a, but is definitely a lower tier hand to defend.
     
5:59P: Ok. Road to bust is on. Getting owned. Down to 2900 
6:06P: Another failed blind defense. 1700 at 200 400 

At this point, memory failure mainly b/c the hands themselves were just frustrating.
May have had ~meh 3 card hands (8 low 3 card hands), but villains were standing pat and hero bricked on 1st draw and had to fold when villain stood pat on 2nd draw.

---------------
150/300 (75/150 blinds)
hero: dealt 52ax
hero: CO

folds to seat 3
3: raises
hero: 3 bets
3: reraises
hero: caps (5 bets max)
3: calls

(1500 - 2 players)
1/1
hero: bets AI (150)
3: calls

1/1
1/1

Villain turns over last draw with 6xxx badugi
Hero has 6 outs
Hero turns over last card - J

---------------
Hero busts: 24/24!

Summary: Yup, first time I've ever been first to bust.
Only 24 players and it only took 2 hours! Yeah, there was some LOL draw variance, but I can also attribute it to spews/bad call downs.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

5-5 Big "O" Cash Game @ Rio



Two players overall seemed to be very gamble happy. EP player was not. Hero had position on both of them.
Effective stacks: 140bb

EP (500): flatted
HJ (2k): flatted
CO (2k): flatted
Hero raised on button with AKQ52 (A2 suited)
EP: called
HJ: called
CO: called

(4 players to flop – 160 in pot)
T53 two tone (hero has NFD)
EP: checks
HJ: checks
hero bet 4/5 pot
EP: folds
HJ: villain looks at my stack, then check raises pot
hero goes all in
HJ: calls

it's agreed to run it twice.
villain shows naked top set, no low (ex: TTAKQ)
Hero held nut flush + nut low draws.

Hero scooped first board with flush.
Hero chopped second board when low came on turn.

No really interesting hands otherwise.

+308 - 5/5 big o
~1 hour session

600 PLO MTT @ Venetian


12000 starting chips at 25/25 blinds with 40 min. levels and reentry

Hero late registered around 5:25PM (tourney started at 4:00PM) and missed first 2 levels.
It would have helped to remember/realize that it was taking place at the Palazzo. Unfortunately, parking at the Venetian meant an additional 5-10 minutes of trying to find it.

Hero saw 1 playable hand in the 1 rotation other than 1 player building up a stack.
There was the standard people gambling before the end of the reentry period and one person busted, but otherwise it was uneventful.

---------------
Hero's stack: around 14.3k at first break.

---------------
An interesting hand which eliminated 2 people in level 4:
4c 4h 2c
Sadly, I do not remember all the action, but I think it involved the following:

[unknown preflop action]
checks to CO who bets
SB raises
BB tanks/folds
CO raises all in
SB calls.

(2 players all in)
turn: 6c

BB (who tanked/folded) had an OESD (5c 3c x x) and was upset on seeing the turn
CO had a4xx with 2 other live over kickers
BB had 22xx and it held.

---------------
Hero was very quiet/tight (usually was PFR and hero folded junk).
Hero maybe played 1 hand in 2-3 levels (suited ace in limped pot) but was not in any profitable situations.
Thus, hero had tight table image.

In this hand, PFR (HJ) seemed to be opening a lot of pots to 2-2.5x (maybe VPIP/PFR of 30/22 in FR which is loose). In about 4-5 rotations, saw this villain raise 6-8x.
CO: looser player, but seemed to be competent

effective stack sizes: ~13k @ 100/200

hero dealt: AK32 (A3)(K2) double suited
folds to player in HJ
HJ opens to 2.5x (standard opening raise size for this player) - ~500)
CO: calls
Hero 3b to 1750
HJ 4b to 5k
looser player calls in CO
hero flat calls 5k

(~15k in pot, hero has ~8k left)
flop: K82 (two tone, hero has flush draw)
HJ (PFR/4b): bets ~3k
CO calls
Hero: raises all in for 8k
villain calls
CO calls

(~39k in pot; hero is AI)
turn: K82J (two tone; hero has FD)
PFR/4b: bets enough to put other person all in
CO: folds

river: K82J5 (two tone; hero misses flush)
hero is out around level 5 (~280/362)

Analysis:
Not sure if played correctly. After talking it over with some other people, 5b jam might have been best.
It can be super exploitable to c/f on bad flops....
Ultimately, chips still got in on the flop, so nothing ultimately changed per se.

Other analysis:
Source 1: Vanessa Selbst talks about it in duck's dog days donkaments (episode 8: 25:20 time mark)
villain played it perfectly by betting small into hero (and other player), hero has to turn "hand face up" and/or fold super cheaply.

Source 2 - A friend's analysis:
It's a disaster if something like AK2* doesn't get it in.
It's very likely any of the following could happen (where hero has enough equity to get it in on most flops)
AK is "best hand" combo and wins when no one else gets pair.
Hero rarely doesn't flop pair/fd/straight draw/any sort of equity.
Ultimately, chips should go in preflop, but no harm no foul in this spot.

240 PLO/PLHE MTT @ Golden Nugget


12000 starting chips at 25/50 (PLO) with 40 min. levels.

table lineup:
1 - "HORSE" grinder?/wore headphones
2 - bet/jammed with tptk in plhe
3 - unknown
4 - unknown
5 - unknown person, then lady
6 - knew guy in seat 9; 3better?
7 - hero
8 - tightish/quiet guy
9 - canadian person; showed lots of hands face up often

This was ~30-40 min. into the MTT. Blinds 25/50
Hero dealt AAK4 with 1 suit (A4)

ep villain: raised
6: flat called
hero 3 bet
folds to original ep
ep: 4 bets
6: flats
Hero: flats (should have 5 bet jammed)

~8000 with 3 players
flop: QJ7 two tone (hero has no flush draw)
original PFR checks
player in seat 6 donk led pot
hero tanks/folds
original PFR folds

Analysis: Absolute mistake after 3 betting not to 5b/call it off.
Additionally, was actually trying to run up a big stack or bust to go the Venetian, yet I did the EXACT opposite.

Hero's stack: 9500
---------------
 
NLHE level 2

Tweet: Squeeze for value in small blind. Then have gotten 3 bet isoed by BB. Then 4 bet by co raise.
I don't remember my hand when I tweeted this (perhaps it was AQo).

Hero dealt AQo

folds to CO
5: she raises
6: button folds
7: hero 3b in SB
8: BB 4 bets
5: folds
hero folds

Analysis:
This was my 1st squeeze in PLHE. It seemed like it was for value, but easy fold.
BB shows KK

A little bit later on, Hero 3bet in LP against another player who 4b hero and hero folds…
[Running tally: I've 3b/folded 3x now in 2 rotations of PLHE]

---------------
effective stacks of ~7500 @ 100/200.
hero dealt: 77
UTG+2 raises
folds to hero on CO
hero 3b
villain thinks for a little bit, looks at my stack, then 4b

Analysis: Pretty sure my big bet (PLHE/NLHE) is super rusty, but looking back...should have flatted and decided to bluff some flops/turns instead of turning this into a 3b/4b war preflop.
It also sucks b/c my image was pretty bad and was turning hand into bluff for no reason and folding out hands which hero could be dominating.

---------------
During this entire time, there was a constant theme in hero's talk:
1. I'm not really sure why I registered for this MTT.
2. I'm trying to find a good spot to get it in and either double up or go to the Venetian.

---------------
Hero’s stack: around 5k
Folds to seat 5
seat 5 (older woman) raised in MP to 600
hero flat called with 87s

(2 players – 1500 in pot)
jt7 two tone
5: bets 1200
Hero: tanks, then quietly puts out a near PSB raise (with about 1/3 psb left behind)
5: villain thinks for a short while, then folds. she says she had AJo and said it looked extremely strong.

Analysis:
hero had fd+pair+gutshot?
Honestly, hero was gambling here in a really good spot (decent equity) with flush draw, pair, and gutshot straight draw.
It definitely seemed standard, and it's hard to know what villain thought...other than saying later that hero’s image was really tight at the time.

---------------
Hero’s stack: about 8k
PLO: 250/500

Seat 6 (who had donk led a couple times in previous PLO spots) raises in HJ.
Hero 3b with AKQ6 (AQ)
villain flat calls.
 
(2 players: 8k in pot)
flop: A29 two tone (hero has no flush draw)
villain checks
hero bets AI for 40% pot
villain calls
villain shows AKT5 w/ flush draw.

Villain hits flush on river and hero is out.
 
---------------
Hero busted around level 7. ~38/52.
After waiting 5-10 minutes, hero decides to drive quickly to the Venetian for the $600 PLO MTT (which was in late registration.)

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

240 PLO8 MTT @ Caesar's


15000 starting chips with 50/100 blinds and 30 min levels with reentry

1st table reads:
1 – unknown at first, then eventually large, young asian player sits here; see player later at 2.5k 10-game
2 - unknown
3 - mid-age asian player, seemed very aggressive but with high VPIP
4 - older guy with glasses, found out to be p5er too
5 - person seemed to overplay nut lows
6 - unknown
7 - hero
8 - pocket fiver (bigger guy)
9 - younger person

---------------
Twitter:
Someone already busted at my table. Standard though. Pretty sick. Also apparently in lag mode. Three pots won. "

Self note: My trip report quality has suffered post-twitter. This is a signal to stop posting on twitter and just write notes on paper. It makes trip report writing that much tougher.

Unfortunately, no notes on the bustout hand.
At this juncture, was getting really premium hands, hitting flops, but unfortunately not getting stacks.

---------------
level 3: 150/300 blinds
Twitter: 3/4 plo8 fish overvaluing naked a2 with turned straight and nut low. 15k to 27k.

hero: dealt a257 (a25)
5 - limps in MP
6 - hero raises to 1000
2 other players call behind hero

(pot: 4000 - 4 players)
flop: 6h 4h 7s
villain pots flop
hero calls
other 2 players fold

(pot: 12000 - 2 players)
turn: 6h 4h 7s 3s (two flush on turn, hero has no flush draw)
villain pots turn
hero raises all in
villain calls

villain shows a2q4 no suit for pair of 4s/nut low

turn: 6h 4h 7s 3s 9x
hero 3/4 villain
hero's stack: 15k -> 27k

Analysis: Seems pretty standard. Some argument for raising on flop, but would prefer to keep multiple people in.

---------------  
Twitter Side notes:

Pocket five people. I have never seen people from that community in person.
      It sounded like they were part of the OT community. It was kind of distracting to be honest as they were "railing" 2 people.

Lol live poker. Dealer mistakenly mixed up two all in stacks. Players guessed stack sizes rather than going to camera.
      Dealers apparently were really tired (working huge numbers of shifts and 30+ consecutive days)

---------------
Level 5 Chip Count (first break)
27k going to 300/600 level

---------------
Twitter:
I apparently forgot everything and check called squeeze against aahh with aq92 With suit. Back door low. Should have not been in to start.

(hero was in sb)

Hero dealt: aq92 (A9)
relevant stack sizes:
co: ~10k
hero: 40k
bb (seat 8): ~12k

1 limper
co: raises to 2400
hero: calls
bb: raises pot to 9900 (leaving 3k behind)

co: folds
hero: tanks/raises AI
bb: calls - shows AAHH (ex) AAQJ w/ suit)

board: QJ537
hero gets half

Analysis: Hero made (small-medium sized) mistake not folding, IMO. Villain seemed straight forward TAG, so squeeze is at least AAHH.
IDK, there's definitely some argument with just flipping, but hero's guess of edge on this table seemed fairly high at that point. Also, at this juncture w/ PLO8 structure, it's not mandatory to just "60/40 underdog" flip.

Prior to this trip, ran equity sims and knew that if villain's range was perceived as very tight, this is a leak given hero's actual hand against aaxx.

Omaha Hi/Lo Simulation ?
600,000 trials (Randomized)
Hand  Equity      Scoops      Wins Hi     Ties Hi     Wins Lo     Ties Lo
AA    60.57%      249,443     421,968     7,705 74,863      43,761
As Qh 9s 2c 39.43%      134,621     170,327     7,705 177,981     43,761

Omaha Hi/Lo Simulation ?
600,000 trials (Randomized)
Hand  Equity      Scoops      Wins Hi     Ties Hi     Wins Lo     Ties Lo
AA$w  62.28%      254,967     420,857     8,327 91,347      68,016
As Qh 9s 2c 37.72%      127,307     170,816     8,327 142,689     68,016

---------------
Villain seemed like younger player and competent PLO8 player from previous conversation.
Hero dealt A3Bx (A3 suited) - ex) AQT3
folds to hero in MP
hero raised in MP to 1000
villain calls on button

(2 players - 3000 in pot)
KQ5 (monotone; hero has nut flush)
hero bets 2/3 pot
villain called IP

(2 players - pot: 7k)
KQ57 (monotone - 3 to flush)
hero checked turn
villain checked behind

(2 players - pot: 7k)
KQ57T (4 flush)
hero bets river (6500)
villain says "if you h=ad flush, you would have bet turn for protection" and calls
hero shows nut flush
villain "says had a2" and mucks.

Hero’s stack up to 37.5k.

Analysis:
TBH, villain was probably lieing.
Slow play on turn is definitely not standard line (bet turn to price out naked lows), but seemed like good proposition because:
a) sometimes villain has worse low (and won't get 1/4 anyway)
b) sometimes villain will bet turn (floating hero/picked up low draw) and hero can check/raise AI

Downsides:
a) lose value from other flushes
It definitely worked out in this spot.

hero's stack: 37.5k

---------------
Twitter:
Bet size fail against aggro MTT player. Jj6 two tone.

Villain was seat 3 who had built up a fairly large stack, but had high VPIP/PFR.
TBH, Hero's cards don't really matter other than hero flopped air.

folds to hero in HJ
Hero has: ~15% hand (AQ73 with suit)     
hero raised in MP but was called by seat 3 in BB.
villain calls in BB

Flop: JJ6 two tone
villain checks
hero bets 3/4 pot
villain check raises about 2/3 pot
hero folds

Analysis:
Hero bet too large (3/4 pot) and was check raised.
Alternatives:
1. check flop; bet turn
2. bet closer to 1/2 pot would have done the same thing.
     
---------------  
Hero has 31k
Villain has 15k to start
villain: P5er to my left. Villain was talking about his WSOP PLO8 MTT experience yesterday.

Blinds: 400/800
Folds to hero in SB
Hero raises with AQ65 with 4 to suit
Villain calls

(2 players - 4k in pot)
Flop: QJ4 with hero flush draw
Hero bets ~2.5k
Villain raises to ~10k
Hero 3bets all in
Villain calls

Villain shows AJ44

Hero bricks and is down to 16k.

Analysis:
Hero was kind of upset when hand initially played out.
Looking back:
Effective SPR = 4
Villain's jamming range could be wide in sb/bb, although villain seemed straight forward/tag.
With conservative villain jam range, definitely a bet/call seems right.

Omaha Hi/Lo Simulation ?
600,000 trials (Randomized)
board: qd js 4s
Hand  Equity      Scoops      Wins Hi     Ties Hi     Wins Lo     Ties Lo
as qs 6s 5s 40.75%      201,175     205,789     4,025 151,355     1,929
qq, jj, 44, aktss, qj   59.25%      312,844     390,186     4,025 8,898 1,929

---------------
Hero picked up some chips as a PFR before table broke.
Hero moved to new table with 21k.

Twitter note:
Lol. Drunk maniac just shipped with akq6 one suit versus tight player with aa69 one suit. Two pair suckout by villain.
Note: One player literally had no idea what they were doing (seat 6, as hero was in seat 8).

Hero picked up no hands and moved to level 9 break.

---------------
13.5k at 1k 2k. Short stack ninja mode at level 9

*Fun story:
I briefly did a multi-table and helped a friend I met at previous PLO8 MTTs start a 1-3 game while his girlfriend was still in the MTT (and at my table).
I bought in for 500 at 1/3 PLO8 and clocked 3 hands before going back to MTT.

---------------
Same villain (seat 6 maniac)

seat 6: raises
Hero flatted for 50% stack with A962 (A2)
BB: calls

(3 players - ~19k)
A27 two tone
hero checks
BB checks

(3 players - ~19k)
A27T two tone
all players check

(3 players - ~19k)
A27TA
Hero bets AI for 1/3 PSB
BB: folds
6: calls
6: shows A237 and scoops

Analysis:
Honestly, no complaints about being able to see flop with 1/3 PSB left.
It's a cooler to have walked into better boat, IMO. Only getting half from a low seemed more likely.

Hero busted in 95/236 entries.

---------------
After busting from MTT, hero wandered around, then went back and played the 1/3 PLO8 cash game for about 45 min. There were no interesting hands of note.
My friend mentioned the game was good while I was walking around (person dropped 2 buyins, then left), which was sad...

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

1500 PLO8 MTT @ Rio


1500 starting stack with 2 rebuys with 25/25 blinds and 60 min. levels

Table Reads:
1
super nitty
saw 1 bet at 1 pot in ~2 levels
2 (gl3 eventually, spewy player first 4 levels)
seemed to be not doing anything too out of the ordinary
does seem to stab some pots sometimes on turn when checked to
3
Unknown to start; eventually dead stack of person in 8 game but has been MIA
4
asian, maybe in late 20s
competent plo8 reg
seems kinda nitty

5 (tom franklin)
asked me which game are we playing?
I explained it's PLO8

5 (unknown, then lee Watkinson)
6 (rocky)
seems to know something
has barrelled once against me
has floated me ip in later rounds
hero didn't bet kjt 2 heart board though)

7 (rob)
does seem to understand short stack plo8 play
very wide jamming range
kind of loose though w/ qqt9 ds
8 (magnus)
very competent reg
can jam with medium hi + low potential
ex) 886 -> villain had a299

---------------
Mistake one at 12:14PM. Folding small blind in limped pot at 25 25...
First time hero is in small blind.
Hero motioned to throw hero’s cards in the muck. Hero realized that it was 25/25 and wanted them back. Dealer was going to call floor, but stopped after hero told them it wasn't worth it to call floor.
Unfortunately, not sure if hero was so focused on action that it was an easy thing to just check in sb in limped pot.

Mistake 2 was around 1:10PM.
I was ghost checked as small blind.
Hero had completed in sb.
On flop, dealer didn't notice hero’s "non-action" and 2 players checked before doing anything. Dealer told me to speak up next time.

***
IIRC, first pot was probably bet by hero on flop and took it down when flopped 2p/set on 2 low board.
The other ones was checked on all streets. Hero showed hand and won.

Capt. Tom Franklin showed up about 25 min. into the first level.
He played almost exactly like in PLO8 MTT in New Orleans.
He waved hi to me, then a little later asked me which game we were playing.
He tried to be aggressive early to build up stack, slowed down for a bit, then got active again before ultimately busting.
He also was toting around an iPad and headphones.

***

It took about 4-5 rotations to win first pot(s).
Unfortunately, there are no notes other than tweets for the 1st 2 won pots by hero.
1:11PM - Shipped first pot. Limped bb special. 100 chips.
1:33PM - 2 for 2 on big blind specials.

---------------
First Break:
1625 with 2 rebuy chips
50/100 blinds

---------------
hero dealt 7753 (7c5c) in bb

3 players limp in
hero checks

(4 players - 400 in pot)
9x Qc 4c
4 checks

(4 players - 400 in pot)
9x Qc 4c Ac
3 checks
button (seat 7): bets 300
hero: calls
2 others fold

(2 players - 1000 in pot)
9x Qc 4c Ac 2y
check
check

Analysis:
Check/call seems like best line with low flush + backdoor low draw.
Without knowing if other players are check calling worse flushes, it seemed like right play.

River seems like it should easily be value bet. Unfortunately, it's really hard to say if villain was going to even call bet (villain mucked).
Villain may have had Q32x (nut low draw + pair)?

---------------
These were dealt hands that hero voluntarily entered into pot (VPIP).
1. limp 6532 rainbow UTG+1, fold when bricked
2. in bb, hero called button raise with 8632 (double suited - cddc), but check/folded on high only flop
3. with 5 other players in pot, hero completed in sb with JJ77 (jc 7c)
This may have been a loose call, tbh even though bb had only raised 1x in 3 hours.

---------------
Hero (875 chips) and button has more chips
hero: dealt AQ52
folds to player 7

button: raises
hero (BB): 3 bets AI
button: calls
button shows: AJJ2

Analysis:
This seemed pretty standard given button/bb dynamics. hero had folded blinds often, although this was first button/bb dynamic.
Often times, hero's nitty image might get villain to fold preflop rarely.

Hero didn’t write down board, but was calling dealer to use a rebuy chip after the hand.

---------------
blinds: 50/100
Limp utg+1 a862. 5 way to flop. Aa8. Pot flop one call. Get in on 9 turn. Villain show a6 4 3. 5 river. A double up plus.

Hero limps with A862 (no suit)

(5 players to flop)
AA8 rainbow
hero bets near pot
seat 2 calls
everyone else folds

AA89
hero is all in
seat 2 calls

2: shows A643
AA895

Hero increases stack from 1500 -> ~3300

Analysis:
Easy jam and really awesome to have huge equity in heads up pot. It's rare to be hugely dominating.
Omaha Hi/Lo Simulation ?
600,000 trials (Randomized)
board: aa8
Hand Equity Scoops Wins Hi Ties Hi Wins Lo Ties Lo
a862 76.64% 319,834 599,867 0 150,739 0
a643 23.36% 133 133 0 280,166 0
Edit · Link · 2+2 · Deuces Cracked · LeggoPoker

board: aa89
Hand Equity Scoops Wins Hi Ties Hi Wins Lo Ties Lo
a862 83.74% 404,904 600,000 0 90,063 0
a643 16.26% 0 0 0 195,096 0

---------------
hero: dealt AQ64 (64)
6 - raised in CO to 375 at 75/150

(3 players - 975 in pot)
AT5 (rainbow; hero has bdfd)
check
6: bets 600
button: folds
hero calls

(2 players - 2175 in pot)
Ax Ty 5c 3c
hero leads 1700 (leaving 800 behind)
6: tanks/folds

Analysis:
Simulation: TP2k + bad low draw + redraw to better 2 pair.
Omaha Hi/Lo Simulation ?
4,136,900 trials (Exhaustive)
board: ac th 5s
Hand Equity Scoops Wins Hi Ties Hi Wins Lo Ties Lo
at 58.16% 1,413,253 3,257,785 65,880 376,224 87,264
ad qs 6c 4c 41.84% 757,652 813,235 65,880 2,202,824 87,264

Hero's equity is ok, but playability could be problematic.

On turn, hero has decently strong 2-way hand + strong draw. Hero lead seems to be ok.
But, there's merit with check/raise AI (which would be small raise for hero) to hopefully get more money in via possible freeroll w/ clubs.
But, not sure how often villain bets low turn where villain could just be hoping to get money back.

Omaha Hi/Lo Simulation ?
320,920 trials (Exhaustive)
board: ac th 5s 3c
Hand Equity Scoops Wins Hi Ties Hi Wins Lo Ties Lo
at, aa, 55 37.72% 14,220 218,099 1,404 16,584 13,440
ad qs 6c 4c 62.28% 94,193 101,417 1,404 290,896 13,440
Edit · Link · 2+2 · Deuces Cracked · LeggoPoker

hero's stack approaches 5300.

---------------
At this point, hero reads that players in seats 5-8 seem to be competent PLO8 players for the most part.

CO raises
button calls
SB: reraises (effectively all in)
CO folds
button calls

SB: AAQ3 (AQ)
Button: AK72 (AK)

Omaha Hi/Lo Simulation ?
600,000 trials (Randomized)
Hand Equity Scoops Wins Hi Ties Hi Wins Lo Ties Lo
A Ad Qd 3 61.23% 259,718 430,771 4,470 82,999 14,123
Ac Kc 7 2 38.77% 124,775 164,759 4,470 217,637 14,123

This illustrates that 3 low cards can help in spots against likely AAW for counterfeit protection (and 3-5% of equity). In game, it’s really hard to fold for sure.

---------------
Side note:
Lots of pairs of events. 2 odd chips. High hand oop. Oop got both odd chips.
This happened in the span of 1 dealer down to boot! Dealer commented that "well, we've just had this happen, so this should be quick."

Both times, it occurred when person was quartered.
Example: 1575 in pot; person wins 3/4 of pot and was OOP
775 - high hand: (775 + 25) -> 800
775 - low chopped
400 - OOP low hand gets odd chip (25): 375 + 25 = 400
375 - IP low hand only gets 375

One of the situations happened in this hand:
Board: 3h Jh 7d 8c 7h
Pot was raised preflop, but unsure of how many players were in pot on flop (it may have been heads up).
flop: check/check
turn: check/check
river: bet/raise/
3b/call

IIRC players
seat 5: raise/call had A432 (Ah 2h)
seat 8: b/3b bet with A752 (5d 2d)

---------------
Other small notes:

1. Hero stole a limped pot on a 4s47s IP when checked to hero as last to act.
2. Hero flatted PFR with AK85 (A5) (don't remember who raised)
Flop (2 players):
Q63 (2 tone; hero has NFD)
Analysis:
Hero deiced to check IP, but there is merit to betting here.
Villain donk led high, offsuit turn card (like T) and hero folded.

---------------
Other players accumulating chips: seats 5 & 8 got into this battle in LP/BB action.

seat 5: in CO and was PFR
seat 8: calls in BB

(flop: 2 players)
886 rainbow board
8: checked
5: bet ~3/4 pot
8: reraised an amount near pot
5: 3bet AI
8: called

8: showed A992
5: showed AAJ7

2. A player (possibly seat 2) got stacked on a Kh 8h 6x 9s 2d board
(seat 5) who won showed: Ah Kx 7h 5y

During level 4 as some more players busted, seat 2 was replaced with George Lind III (of PS Team Online).

---------------
WSOP update 2: 3700 + 1500 = 5200. The table seems really tough and we are probably not breaking tonight. GL3 among others.

I bumped into a friend (Leif) during the break. I asked him if he knew anything about George Lind III's game. He said he didn't think he had much experience at PLO8 (he had played a bunch of NLHE/PLO with him).
This information was useful at the time.

---------------
Twitter notes: 4:52p Comment about aaw continues.

To anyone who hasn't played PLO8 MTTs, it's weird to say squeezes rarely happen...but they sure seem like it because people "wait" AAW in PLO8 just like AA in NLHE. The frequency of being dealt it is the same too (~1:220).

Twitter notes: 4:54p Hero 3b light opener. Fold pre by other player

This goes with statement 1. Since hero's image is nitty, this seems pretty standard. TBH, I think I 3b seat 6.

---------------
folds to player in seat 4

CO (seat 4, 3k): raises 2x to 400
button (): folds
sb (seat 6, ~10k): calls
bb (seat 7, 4.5k): calls

(1200 in pot; 3 players)
5s ah 4c
3 players check

(1200 in pot; 3 players)
5s ah 4c 9c
sb bets 800
bb calls 800
co - raises AI
sb: tanks, calls
bb: folds

sb: shows 9y 6c 4c 2x (2 pair + flush draw, bad low)
co: shows 2357 (7h5h) (wheel, no redraw)

5s ah 4c 9c Js
co: doubles up

Omaha Hi/Lo Simulation ?
51,840 trials (Exhaustive)
board: 5s ah 4c 9c
Hand Equity Scoops Wins Hi Ties Hi Wins Lo Ties Lo
2357 81.17% 34,182 34,263 0 47,952 3,888
9 4 6c 2c 18.83% 0 17,577 0 0 3,888

Analysis: It felt like sb made a loose call, and if villain has exactly 23, it's a pretty bad call.

---------------
Twitter: 5:04p For the love of 50 chips. [...]

hero's stack: 5500 at 100/200
villain (Lee W.) has ~7k

Hero dealt aa3t (no suit)
hero raises in MP to 500
villain calls in BB.

(2 players - 1100 in pot)
flop: K86 2 hearts
villain checks
hero bets 750
villain raises to 3600
hero jams
villain calls

villain shows: AK75 w/ 2 hearts.
turn/river: K8692 rainbow

Chop pot: Hero gets 50 chips

Omaha Hi/Lo Simulation ?
820 trials (Exhaustive)
board: kh 8h 6s
Hand Equity Scoops Wins Hi Ties Hi Wins Lo Ties Lo
ah ks 7c 5h 55.85% 248 595 0 148 0
ad as 3h td 44.15% 152 225 0 419 0

Analysis:
It seems standard to get it in, but is definitely one of the few hands hero does not want to see. Thankfully hero stays alive...and all for +50 chips!

---------------
At this point, min raises are the standard! It played exactly like a mid-high stakes PLO8 MTT. Min-raises help to encourage post-flop play.

dealt to hero: AAW (I don't remember exact hand, but I think it was in the shape of AA4T (A4 suited))
folds to seat 6
6: min raises to 600
but: folds
sb: folds
hero: 3 bets to 1700
6: calls

(2 players - 3550 in pot)
Q83 (two tone, hero has bdfd)
hero: bets almost AI (3000 of 3550)
6: raises
hero: calls

6: shows AQ2x

Qc 8c 3s Ad 7s
hero ends up chopping

Analysis:
Mistake on 3b bet size. It may have worked out to get call from villain though.

---------------
Dinner/Nap Time:
Hero's stack: 5725 at 200/400.

Overall, hero's image was pretty nitty. There weren't really many showed down pots where hero didn't have a nutty hand.

---------------
Reads after dinner break:

1: super-nitty player (he had sat down in level 4-5, and seemed sick (and was asking for tissues, so actually brought a spare for him)
2: George Lind III: seemed to play nitty, so probably has some PLO8 MTT experience
3: dead stack: eventually found out to be person playing the 50k 8 game and sat down during his dinner break (eventually busted)
4: 20-30 something asian male who seemed to be thinking PLO8 MTTer
5: Lee Watkinson - varies raise sizes PFR
6: Roch Cousineau - I didn't see him do anything really weird per se, but was definitely looser than normal PLO8 player
7: Rob - seemed to at least know what to talk about, seemed to mix it up as stack dwindled
8: Magnus - seemed very bright, PLO8 MTT reg
9: hero

We only lost 1 player through level 5, then 2 more right before dinner.
To be clear, players 6-9 had been at same table all day, while 4 came in around level 3-4.

---------------
200/400 blinds

UTG limped
UTG+1 (hero) limped
sb called
bb checked

(1600 in pot; 4 players)
T92 2 tone
sb/bb/UTG check
hero bet 1100
all players fold

Analysis:
This was an ok place to bet. IMO in general for a limped pot, villains will play more straightforward.
This was a confidence boost given hero's nitty image from prior to dinner break.
Coincidentally, a similar thing happened right after dinner break last year when hero 3b a light opener and villain open folded.

---------------
My guesses that this was an online mid-high stakes PLO8 MTT were confirmed in this hand:
twitter: Confirm internet MTT. Short stack all in. Min raise on button. Solid player pots in small blind.
Pretty much, very tight play by most players and min raises were the standard.

folds to seat 3 in MP
3: raises AI
7 (seemed to have looser PLO8 image): min raises button
8 (solid, thinking PLO8 MTTer who was tight):  repots
7: gets it all in with AK53 (A3)(K5) ds
8: AA4x with suit

5: busts, 8 doubles through 7

---------------
It's always fun to be on a table where you see it actually unfold.
Reporter came to the table to watch the action after noticing Lee was in the hand. Specifically, the reporter asked for person's name who jammed QQxx (Rob).
The funny part: They edited the post once Lee returned.

The "unknown" player is player in seat 4.

http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2012-world-series-of-poker/event-47-pot-limit-omaha-hi-low-split-8-or-better/post.206731.htm

The floor had to do the following when Lee came back (upon realizing he should still be in the MTT):
1. They reviewed the hand and realized Lee should have some chips.
2. They had to fix the ChipTic system and ensure the player that was supposed to get moved went back to their original place.

---------------
Shortly thereafter, hero is dealt AQQ3 (A3).
hero is UTG

Hero minraises to 800
UTG+1 raises pot
folds back to hero
hero tanks for a little bit, then folds.

Analysis:
This player had played ~2 hands in 3 hours. If this isn't AAwx, it would be extremely surprising.
In theory, hero could easily play OOP, but felt the risk wasn't worthwhile to risk 30-40% stack to try to hit few good flops. (There are only a couple flops really would be good for hero...)

---------------
hero in bb: dealt 7532 (753)

villain's stack: around 5k
hero's stack: around ~7k

folds to button (seat 7)
7: raises 2x to 800
8 (sb): folds
9: hero calls

(2 players - 1800 in pot)
flop: 875 (2 tone, hero has no fd)
hero checks
villain bets ~1400
hero: raises to ~7k
villain calls:
Villain shows shows a35t no suit

turn/river: 875 A 6 (no flush)
chop/chop

Analysis:
Defending with 3 wheel cards + suit seems ok. Villain was opening a little bit wider than most.
C/R AI on this flop was the best play.
a. There aren't too many hands where hero is getting scooped (bottom 2 + 3rd nut low)
b. hero may have (very small) fold equity.

---------------
Level change: 300/600 blinds
A rotation (10 hands) pass. Hero still has around 7k in chips.

Hero dealt A255 (A25 suited)
folds to hero in MP
hero (MP): raises 2x
3 (button): calls
6 (BB): calls

(3 players - 3900 in pot)
kqt rainbow (hero has nut bdfd)
6 (BB): checks
hero: bets 2400
3 (button): thinks for a bit, then folds
6: thinks for a little bit as well, then calls

kqt 8 (hero picks up nut flush draw)
6 (BB): checks
hero: tanks for a long time, then checks behind

kqt8 5
6 (BB): checks
hero: tanks for less time, then checks behind

villain shows ktxx (no flush draw)
hero quickly mucks

Analysis:
Not sure if villain calls 2x (hero bets all in) by repping AQxx, J9xx, some KKxx/QQxx.
Villain could have been trapping there, but ...not sure if hero should have fired that AI shell.
Unfortunately, hero forgot the last time where donk led and got villain to fold.
Also, because villain didn't lead turn when flush draw came out, it's less likely villain has nuttish hand like straight to protect.

---------------
After that hand, it was tough and hero reviewed short stack strategy to find spot to get it in.
blinds pass and hero's down to 2300 @ 300/600

Hero: dealt AK64 (a4)(k6)

folds to seat 5 (EP)
EP: raises to 2000
hero: calls AI for 1700
everyone else folds

(2 players, 1 all in)
Lee turns over a7 53 with spades.

Flop: 6s Qs 9s monotone spades
Turn: 6s Qs 9s Jh
Turn: 6s Qs 9s Jh 5c

Hero busts around 280th/978 (117 places paid out).

---------------
Summary:
1. After some early jitters (which was weird b/c this was my 2nd, not first WSOP event) and some overall nittiness, it felt comfortable to be in this MTT.
2. Honestly, it was a pretty tough table draw. Even the "soft spots" weren't that soft. My table draw from last year definitely had a number of soft spots. It felt like mid-high stakes online PLO8 MTT. Min-raising was the standard and decent amounts of pre-flop folds and/or lots of post-flop play. Sadly, sitting at a low table number means being stuck at the same table all day.
3. No one took rebuy chips at my table unless they busted.
4. It was good to really prep by playing multiple $33+ PLO8 MTTs prior to LV, as it provided a lot of experience in mid-stakes MTTs.

5. It was cool to actually be at same table that Lee Watkinson got moved to where he "busted and came back": http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2012-world-series-of-poker/event-47-pot-limit-omaha-hi-low-split-8-or-better/post.206731.htm

6. Unfortunately, declining to double barrel in a spot on a high only board (KQT) as PFR with turned flush draw led to hero’s demise. I twas crippling blow, which forced AI call w/ AK64 ds < A753 ss in level 8 against Lee. Lee flopped nut flush and couldn't backdoor low to stay alive ...
Busted somewhere in the 280 range (117 cash).

Other notes:
Lee Watkinson (who "busted" and came back) ended up getting 25th.
Roch Cousineau ended up getting 3rd in the 1500 PLO8, then 2nd in the 3000 PLO8.