500 HORSE MTT at Borgata

$500 HORSE MTT
20k starting chips. Limits start at 50/100.

---------------
Hero late registered and waited 10 minutes. Hero eventually started play at level 6 (end of registration at level 6). Since it was a new table, rotation started on LHE.

Reads:

(Late Registration Table)
1 hero
2 (older person, seemed to talk a lot)
3 Men the Master (late registrant)
4 "new player to HORSE" - primarily NLHE player, played a little HE and a little omaha; never played stud, asked me questions before start of play, then realized we'd sit at same table and asked me to not to tell anyone about his experience.
5 Amnon Filippi
6 unknown (likely middle aged guy)
7 unknown (likely middle aged guy)
8 guy with glasses (middle aged guy)?

---------------
Limits: 300/600

LHE
Hero dealt in MP: AKo

Preflop:
Folds to hero
Hero: raises in MP
One villain calls.

(2 players - 3.5 small bets)
Flop: Q83 rainbow
Hero cbets
Villain: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard
Flop: Standard. Villain is likely playing fit fold.

Hero's stack: 20500 300 600 limits.

Eventually, Men "The Master" Nguyen late registers and sits at my table (seat 3).

---------------
LHE
Hero dealt in BB: KTo

Preflop:
Vi1?: raise
Vi2?: calls
SB: folds
Hero: calls

(3 players - 6.5 small bets)
Flop: AJ4 rarinbow
Hero: checks
Vi1?: bets
Vi2?: calls
Hero: calls

(3 players - 4.75 big bets)
Turn: AJ4 6 two tone
Hero: checks
Vi1?: raise
Vi2?: calls
Hero: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: This is likely a standard defend.
Flop: With gutshot, hero has implied odds price to call.

---------------
LHE
Hero dealt in HJ: KK

Preflop:
Vil6: folds
Vil7: raises
Vil8: calls
Hero: re-raises
Vil2: folds
Vil3: folds
Vil4(SB): calls
Vil5(BB): calls
Vil7: calls
Vil8: calls

(5 players - 15 small bets)
Flop: K22 rainbow
Vil7: bets
Vil8: folds
Hero: calls
Vil4: calls
Vil5: folds

(3 players - 9 big bets)
Turn: K229 rainbow

(3 players - 9 big bets)
Turn: K2297 rainbow
Vil7: bets
Hero: calls
Vil4: folds

(2 players - 11 big bets)
Turn: K2297 rainbow
Vil7: bets
Hero: raises
Vil7: calls

Vil7: shows KQo
Hero scoops pot.

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard
Flop: This might have been a good spot to slowplay and raise a big bet street, but hero's not super great at LHE.
Turn: Hero was trying to keep SB on turn, but maybe hero should have deemed that SB's range was weak and should have really just raised for value against Vil7's range.
River: Standard

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LO8
Hero dealt in SB: A853r

Preflop:
Vil4: limps
2 other players limp
Hero (SB): calls
BB: checks

(5 players - 5 small bets)
Flop: 972 (rainbow)
Hero (SB): checks
Vil3 (BB): checks
Vil4: bets
all players call

(5 players - 5 big bets)
Turn: 9725 (two tone flush)
all players check

(5 players - 5 big bets)
River: 97254 (two tone flush misses)
Hero: bets
Vil4: calls

Vil4: mucks hand
Hero scoops

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard
Flop: This seemed like an easy c/c spot. Hero doesn't really have fold equity against field of 5 players.
Turn: Hero was trying to setup check raise field. Not many straights (other than 86) got there. It may be optimistic for Vil4 to double barrel...
River: Hero decides to bet for value. Most villains believed hero was nitty and immediately folded.
Vil4 seemed a bit inexperienced but called with 2nd nut low...

---------------
Chip Count: 31800 at 400 800 limits.

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LO8:
limits: 400/800
Hero dealt in BB: AK42 (K2) ss

Vil3: raised UTG
folds to seat 8
Vil8: calls
BB (Hero): calls

(3 players - 6.5 small bets)
Flop: A7Q rainbow
hero: checks
Vil3: bets
Vil8: calls
hero: raises
Vil3: calls
Vil8: calls

(3 players - 6.25 big bets)
Turn: A7Q9 rainbow
hero: bets
Vil3: calls
Vil8: calls

(3 players - 9.25 big bets)
River: A7Q9T rainbow
Hero: bets
Vil3: folds
Vil8: thinks for a while, then calls

Analysis:
Preflop: There's some value to reraising preflop for likely value. As played, calling is ok too.
Flop: Hero tried to eliminate a lot of players in hopes of getting a scoop (TPTK + 3rd nut low).
Turn: Semibluff continues.
River: This seemed like showing a lot of aggresion (naked low folding). Hero was hoping to get worse 2p hands to fold. Unfortunately, the gutshot broadway completed.

---------------
Razz:
Vil4 = Men

Dead cards: 2343
BI: Xx Xx
3 folds
Hero: (7x 5x) 2x __completes
Vil2: (Xx Xx) Jx ____folds
Vil3: (Xx Xx) Tx ____folds
Vil4: (Xx Xx) 6x ____calls
BI: _________________folds

(2 players - ~1.33 small bets)
4th street
Hero: (7x 5x) 2x Ax __bets
Vil4: (Xx Xx) 4x 3x ____calls

(2 players - ~1.67 big bets)
5th street:
Hero: (7x 5x) 2x Ax Ax ____calls
Vil4: (Xx Xx) 4x 3x 2x __bets

(2 players - ~3.67 big bets)
Hero: (7x 5x) 2x Ax Ax 5x ______folds
Vil4: (Xx Xx) 4x 3x 2x 2x __bets

Vil4: shows Qx Qx in hole for QQ4322

Analysis:
3rd: This was standard
4th: Hero was betting multiple streets with best hand.
5th/6th: Vil4 was OOP on 5th/6th and kept barrelling
Vil4 easily could have thought hero was on steal in LP and playing the board. Thus, villain continued in position and ended up stealing pot on 6th.

---------------
518p
Twitter:
Stud Hi:
New player busted. Boat and boat. Non new player had boat. Villain had buried pair and paired board on 6
Villain already boat on 6 pairing his wired pair.

The new player (seat 4) seemed to play ok across the board. It was a cooler to run into a boat.

---------------
Stud Hi:

Hero was dealt a gutshot straight flush, but played slow and eventually folded on 4th street.
Stud
Dead cards: Qx Qx Xh Xh
Hero: (9h 8h) Jh

Vil6: (Xx Xx) Qx 8d 3d 5d
Vil4: (Xx Xx) 7c Jc 9c

---------------
Stud 8
Limits: 600/1200

3rd street:
Hero: (7c 2s) 3s __brings in__calls
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Qh __calls
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Qx __completes
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) 4x __calls
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds

(4 players - 6 small bets)
4th street:
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Qh Kh __checks__calls
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Qx 3d __bets
Vil?: (Xx Xx) 4x 8x ____calls
Hero: (7c 2s) 3s 5s ____calls

(4 players - 5 big bets)
5th street:
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Qh Kh Tx __checks__folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Qx 3d Td __checks__calls
Vil?: (Xx Xx) 4x 8x 4x __checks__calls
Hero: (7c 2s) 3s 5s 6s ____bets

(3 players - 8 big bets)
6th street:
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Qx 3d Td 8d __checks__calls
Vil?: (Xx Xx) 4x 8x 4x 5x __checks__calls
Hero: (7c 2s) 3s 5s 6s Ad ____bets

(3 players - 11 big bets)
7th street:
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Qx 3d Td 8d (Xx) __folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) 4x 8x 4x 5x (Xx) __bets
Hero: (7c 2s) 3s 5s 6s Ad (Ks) __calls

Vil?: shows (8x 4x) 4x 8x 4x 5x for boat
Hero chops pot

---------------
Limits: 600/1200
Stud 8

Dead cards: ????
BI: Xx Xx
3 folds
Hero: (Kx Kx) 4x __completes
Vil2: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil3: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil4: (Xx Xx) 5x ____calls
BI: _________________folds

(2 players - ~1.33 small bets)
4th street:
Hero: (Kx Kx) 4x Ax 3x 2x (2x) ____bets
Vil4: (Xx Xx) 5x 5x 4x 3x (Xx) __checks__calls

(2 players - ~1.67 big bets)
5th street:
Hero: (Kx Kx) 4x Ax 3x 2x (2x) ____bets
Vil4: (Xx Xx) 5x 5x 4x 3x (Xx) __checks__calls

(2 players - ~3.67 big bets)
6th street:
Hero: (Kx Kx) 4x Ax 3x 2x (2x) ____calls
Vil4: (Xx Xx) 5x 5x 4x 3x (Xx) __bets

(2 players - ~5.67 big bets)
7th street:
Hero: (Kx Kx) 4x Ax 3x 2x (2x) ____calls
Vil4: (Xx Xx) 5x 5x 4x 3x (Xx) __bets
Vil4: shows 7x 6x Ax and scoops w/ 7 high straight; 6 low

Analysis:
3rd street: standard
4th street: standard
5th street: This seems standard with overpair + good low + strong board. Hero does need to slow down on villain 6th street lows...
6th: When villain donks 6th street, hero could be getting freerolled. Hero may have best hand, but it doesn't seem like there's much value when villain donks.
7th: Huge pot and hero can't raise for value against a likely freerolling possible board. It's unlikely a raise would get paid by worse 2 pairs.

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Limits: 600/1200
LHE
Hero dealt UTG+1: AKo

Preflop:
UTG: folds
Hero: raises
Vil3: raises
Vil4: caps
(folds to hero)
Hero: thinks for a while/folds

Board:
Folded ak to cap. 3 bet with 99 old person. Other player capped qq. Mad and should have called.

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero should have called preflop instead of folding. It's not b/c of results oriented thinking even in live play (where ranges are tighter. Looking back and at starting hand charts, perhaps it might have been more prudent (with obvious peeling on flop possibly)...

---------------
(2 hands later)
LHE

Hero dealt in BB: J5o

Preflop:
(folds to SB)
Vil8 (SB): raises
Hero: calls

(2 players - 4 small bets)
Flop: Q83 (2 tone, hero has no flush draw)
Vil8: bets
Hero: calls

(2 players - 3 big bets)
Turn: Q835 (2 tone, hero has no flush draw)
Vil8: bets
Hero: calls

(2 players - 5 big bets)
River: Q8355 (2 tone)
Vil8: bets
Hero: raises
Vil8: calls

Vil8: mucks and berates hero

Analysis:
Preflop: This is pretty loose across most starting hand charts I see unless villain is total maniac (which is unlikely).
Flop: This is a fold w/o even overs to the board unless there's metagame involved.
Turn: Hero beats a couple bluffs now.
River: Hero is value raising and working off the new metagame!
Overall: Hero's blind defense was loose (read: bad) and hero did not realize villain's image was tight.

---------------
Twitter: Table change. Probably for best. Table was not soft.

Hero's stack: 23600 800 1600 limit w/ chip color up.

---------------
2nd table
1 middle aged player w/ CAP and "nice guy" from his demeanor
2 older player who seemed to know floor and talk about OE game near Bensalem, PA; eventually young guy around 1:00AM
3 quiet person with glasses, seemed tight player too
4 hero
5 guy with glasses and Orioles cap who kept talking/seemed a little bit annoying
6 eventually Mickey Appleman
7 young (late 20s) player - eventually person who said they actually liked to play LHE
8 middle aged/older person

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Twitter:
2014-01-18 06:43pm Missed value in stud in bring defense. Won stud hi pot. Then some small pots in stud8. 30k 800 1600

Hero doesn't remember any context regarding this tweet...

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LHE
Hero dealt in UTG: AKo

Hero: raises
(5 folds)
SB: calls
BB: calls

(3 players - 6 small bets)
Flop: Th 9x 7h (no hero flush draw)
SB: checks
BB: checks
Hero: checks

(3 players - 3 big bets)
Turn: Th 9x 7h 3h
SB: checks
BB: checks
Hero: checks

(3 players - 3 big bets)
River: Th 9x 7h 3h 8c
SB: checks
BB: checks
Hero: checks

SB?: Shows JJ
Vil?: Shows K8s (pair of 8s)

Analysis:
Flop: This seemed like a horrible board to "cbet as bluff" since it's a wet board. In retrospect, maybe this doesn't really hit LHE cold calling ranges as much because it's more broadway heavy ranges.
Turn: Flush completes and hero has air.

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Twitter:
2014-01-18 07:27pm A626a flush on turn. One had 22, aa, and one had nut flush. Bet flop and capped river.
Interesting LHE hand (hero was not involved) but 3 villains were involved. Unfortunately, hero does not have relative positions of players

Preflop:
Not sure how many bets went in.
Flop: A62 (two tone)
2 bets went in on this street
Turn: A626 (flush complets)
2 bets went in on this street
River: A626A
Betting capped on river

One player: Shows AA
One player: Shows 22
One player: Shows Kx Xx suited (nut flush)

---------------
Hero's stack at dinner break:
21900 1200 2400.

Hero also talked with Amnon Filippi (from first table). He mentioned that it was important to just try to maximize value and get value in as many spots as possible. (This was really referring to thin value bets in numerous spots) as he felt he's missed a ton of value.

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Twitter: 2014-01-18 08:51pm Razz. Won ante then folded brick on fifth on next hand.

(Hero doesn't have exact remembrance of hand...action is approximate)
Razz

Dead cards: 2x 3x 4x
BI: Xx Xx
2 folds
Hero: (Kx Kx) 4x __completes
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____calls
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____calls
Vil?: (Xx Xx) 7x ____calls
BI: _________________Folds

(4 players - ~2.33 small bets)
4th street:
Hero: (2x 3x) 6x 7x ____raises
Vil?: (Xx Xx) 5? J? ____folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) 4? T? ____folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) 7x Ax __bets____calls

(2 players - ~3.17 big bets)
5th street:
Hero: (2x 3x) 6x 7x 9x  ____folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) 7x Ax 5x  __bets

Analysis:
3rd: Complete because there are so many dead cards and folded to hero
4th: Because of so many dead cards, hero was raising
5th: This probably was a mistake due to pot size. Without any reads, this might be call 5th/fold on 6th street brick (T+ or pair)

---------------
Stud Hi rounds:
Hero also noticed Mickey Appleman was open stealing and giving up almost always on stud hi steals.

---------------
Stud 8

Hero's board: (3c 5x) Ac 2x 6x 2x Xx

Hero gets 1/2 pot with this board run out

---------------
Stud 8

3rd street:
Hero: (8x 5x) 2x __brings in____call
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Tx __complete
Vil?: (Xx Xx) 6x __call

(3 players - ~4.25 small bets)
4th street:
Hero: (8x 5x) 2x 6x ____call
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Tx 9x __bet
Vil?: (Xx Xx) 6x 8x __call

(3 players - ~3.75 big bets)
5th street:
Hero: (8x 5x) 2x 6x 8x ____check____call
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Tx 9x 7x ____bet
Vil?: (Xx Xx) 6x 8x Qx __check___fold

(2 players - ~5.75 big bets)
6th street:
Hero: (8x 5x) 2x 6x 8x Ax __bet
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Tx 9x 7x 3x __fold

Hero scoops

---------------
Stud 8
Dialogue (since there's no HH)
Dead cards: 1 low card
Hero dealt: (Ax Jx) Jx ___hero has highest door card

Pot gets jammed on 3rd with short stack.
Hero eventually folds on 5th street after not improving to aces up.
Non-short stacked villain with 5 or 6 door card eventually shows buried kings.
Short stacked villain is eliminated

Analysis: From hero's recollection, when villain jams with low door card, it's usually a strong low drawing hand (432r, 3 suited low cards, etc...) or a buried pair. Thankfully, hero doesn't get caught in a reverse implied odds situation.

Hero's stack: 13900

---------------
Stud8

Hero doesn't remember hand context, but it may have folded to hero in last position (before folding to bring - immediately right of the bring in).

3rd street:
(6 folds)
Hero: (7s 2s) 9s
BI  : (Xx Xx) Xx

Analysis:
3rd street: It seems really bad to get in reverse implied odds spot by raising with 9 door, but maybe it's best anyway because villain may fold trash anyway even with ability to likely play in position against hero.

---------------
LHE
Tweets:
2014-01-18 09:38pm Have to complain... But i had to play an extra BB in LHE. Not good only with 5 big bets. Dealer started with second hand.
2014-01-18 09:39pm Cutoff open. Villain not maniac. Does hero defend j9o in BB

Hero dealt in BB: J9o
Vil1 (CO) was playing fairly normal and assumed to be opening a little wider. Villain was 40s something male. He seemed to play pretty straightforward and not show too much out of the ordinary (bluffing too much, etc...)

Vil1 (CO): raises
But: folds

Analysis/Questions:
Preflop: Against non-maniac villain, does hero call in BB with J9o?

---------------
Hero's stack: 12k @ 2k/4k limits entering new level and razz.

---------------
Stud

Dead cards: Unknown

3rd street:
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Ax ____completes
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Hero: (Kx Ax) Kx ____calls
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx __Brings In_____folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds

(2 players - 3 small bets)
4th street:
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Ax Tx __bets
Hero: (Kx Ah) Kh 2h __calls

(2 players - 2.5 big bets)
5th street:
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Ax Tx 3x 5x (Xx) ____calls
Hero: (Kx Ah) Kh 2h Ax Tx (9x) __bets

(2 players - 4.5 big bets)
6th street:
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Ax Tx 3x 5x (Xx) ____calls
Hero: (Kx Ah) Kh 2h Ax Tx (9x) __bets

(2 players - 6.5 big bets)
7th street:
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Ax Tx 3x 5x (Xx) ____calls
Hero: (Kx Ah) Kh 2h Ax Tx (9x) __bets

Vil?: mucks

Analysis:
3rd street: Hero decides to be more deceptive since hero blocks Villain's Ace.
4th street: This probably should have been a raise to rep a 4-flush and get more money in the pot. Hero's board would represent it.
5th-7th street: Hero decides to bet for value OOP. Villain may have been drawing to aces up (which would have villain drawing dead).

---------------
Hero's stack:
Stud 8: 17k @ 2k/4k (1030p)
Stud 8: 15.2k @ 2.5k/5k (1039p)
Hero won 2 small pots in Stud 8, but overall gain in stack was minimal due to bring in defends.

---------------
LHE
Limits: 2.5k/5k
Hero's stack: 14.5k

Hero dealt in MP: QJs

Preflop:
(1-2 folds)
Vil8: limps
Vil2: raises
Hero: calls
(other players fold)
SB: folds
BB: calls
limper: calls

(4 players - 8 small bets)
Flop: KQ725 (two tone on flop)
all players check

(4 players - 4 big bets)
Turn: KQ725 (two tone on flop)
Vil8: checks
Vil2: bets
Hero: calls
SB: folds
Vil8: folds

(2 players - 6 big bets)
River: KQ725 (two tone on flop)
Vil8: checks
Hero: checks behind

Villain: shows 88
Hero: wins pot

Analysis:
Preflop: This seemed fine to call MW and not isolate raise.
Flop: Hero's bet on flop may not get worse hands to call with 2 players to act behind.
Turn: It seems ok to flat here.
River: This was an easy value bet that hero missed due to inexperience and not thinking about ranges.
What's villain's betting range on turn: bluffs, maybe hands with some showdown value.
Villain's river betting range is monsters and top/middle pair plus.
Villain's check call range includes lots of pairs...

Hero's stack: 37k

---------------
LO8:
Twitter:
2014-01-18 11:26pm Turn semi bluff in lo8 after pfr failed. Hero semi bluffed flush draw after raise j77t4. Hero only bluffed turn.

Hero dealt in MP: Ac 2c Xx Xx
Folds to hero
Hero: raises
(folds to BB)
BB: calls

(2 players - 5 small bets)
Flop: Jx 7x 7x
Vil?: checks
Hero: checks

(2 players - 2.5 big bets)
Turn: Jc 7x 7x Tc
Vil?: checks
Hero: bets
Vil?: calls

(2 players - 4.5 big bets)
River: Jc 7x 7x Tc 4x
Vil?: checks
Hero: checks

Hero loses pot. Hero doesn't remember villain's hand (a pair).

Analysis:
Flop: HU, villain may fold, but hero probably has just as much fold equity (maybe moreso because of smaller pot).
Turn: Hero semi-bluffs. This seems somewhat credible.
River: Hero probably should have considered a double barrel on a "blank" river...

---------------
LO8:
Hero dealt in UTG: A642r

Preflop:
Hero: calls
Vil5: calls
3 folds
Vil1 (But): calls
Vil2 (SB): calls
Vil3 (BB): checks

(5 players - 5 small bets)
Flop: AK2 (two tone, hero has no flush draw)
Vil2: checks
Vil3: bets
Hero: calls
Vil5: calls
Vil1: calls
Vil2: calls

(5 players - big bets)
Turn: AK27 (two tone)
Vil2: checks
Vil3: checks
Hero: checks
Vil5: bets
Vil1: calls
Vil2: calls
Vil3: calls
Hero: thinks/folds

(4 players - big bets)
River: AK275 (two tone, no flush completes)
all players check

Vil3: shows Axxx (top pair)
Vil5: shows 32xx

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero could have raised UTG, but hero wanted to encourage action with weak A2 hand.
Flop: Hero wants to play small pot OOP. Hero really doesn't want to bet with so few bets (< 5 big bets) and fold many bad turn cards. This may be a leak.
Turn: At time in hand, hero thought he's rarely ahead for high.
But, this was actually flawed reasoning. This should have been a call. The turn bet is likely a nut low since no other draws really got there. Other 2p/sets seem less likely.
If same villain who had bet flop then bet the turn, then it would be much easier to weigh someone to having a hand stronger than top+bottom pair.
Hero's low would rarely win pot unless hero can knock players out.
Ultimately, hero's top + bottom pair was a hand hero should have called down due to different player betting turn...

---------------
Hero's stack:
26k 3k 6k. Razz.

Hero's stack at break:
21900 @ 4k/8k

---------------
Stud 8
Hero: (2x 2x) 5x Ax Ax 3x (7x)
Vil?: (7x 6x) Ax 5x 4x 5x (Qx)

Hero doesn't remember action, but hero stays alive.

---------------
LHE
Hero has ~3 bets (~15k @ 4k/8k)
Villain in seat 2 seemed to be raising and playing a bunch of hands during first 4-5 hands after sitting down in LHE section. Villain also showed a ton of hands at showdown and most were premium (88, AJo, etc...)

Against someone playing ~75% of hands, what should hero do?

Hero dealt in CO: ATo
Hero dealt on Button: A4s

Analysis:
Preflop: Perhaps hero should have strongly considered raising for value in both spots? It seems to be inducing variance though and (except for seat 5), players were seemingly a little tighter in general.

---------------
Limits: 4k/8k
Hero's stack: ~11k

LHE
Vil2: Replaced by younger guy who had won a bunch of LHE pots.

Hero dealt in MP: KQo

Preflop:
(1 fold)
Vil2: raises
Vil3: folds
Hero: reraises all in
(folds to Vil2)
Vil2: calls

Vil2: Shows T9o

Board: T3325.

Analysis:
Preflop: Villain seemed to be opening very wide while on this heater during LHE irregardless of position. Hero decided to 3b isolate and partially for value.

---------------
Hero out in 31st. 18 pay.
This is very weird because HORSE tables are 8 handed.

Overall Thoughts:
There are definitely spots for improvement and improving on getting value in turn/river spots.
Hero was happy to have met Amnon Filippi and gain some advice.

500 PLO8 MTT at Borgata

$500 PLO8 MTT
15k starting chips. Blinds start at 25/50.

---------------
Hero was the last late registration table. We started play ~5 handed. Due to a number of reasons, hero arrived about 1 hour into the MTT, and the table didn't start for 10-15 minutes after arrival.
Hero also got to say hi to a couple friends who were in the field and tour the Borgata event center.

Player Reads:
Late Registration Table
(First 5 seats were initially used when we started. * indicates late registrant)
1 middle aged caucasian man?
2 * Indian, senior citizen older male player
3 hero
4 * male/middle aged
5 * looser male player
6 ? older/tighter talking nut low
7 * older man, also seemed to be quiet
8 late reg; talkative African American guy; didn't want to see soap operas on TV
9 * older male, no glasses

Let's say the action was slow to start for everyone. It got to the point that I went to talk to floor to ask them to change the TV channel for 1 of the back TVs for another player, just to stand up.
The table eventually got talkative and action oriented.

Hero won a small pot before first break.
The table was very talkative

---------
Hero's stack size at first break:
15525 @ 100/200

---------
Positive: The table seemed to be rather loose and soft. Some players were gambling it up.
Unfortunately, the table broke shortly after the break.

---------
2nd table
1 hero
2 Indian, senior citizen older male player (from previous table, seat 2)
3 bigger guy - bumped into him at dinner
4 old man?
5 foreigner/European? -
6 younger/middle aged man
7 Asian female?; eventually someone else
8 youngish PLO8 player who seemed to be smart - with 1 AI 3 way, surprised to see no one with A
9 young Asian player

---------
Won small pot at new table. Quiet otherwise. Trying to maintain concentration at this point.
Weird scoop. 93743 rainbow. Two villains. One bet turn and river all in. A877 > 8432

---------
Hero's stack at 2nd break:
15500 @ 300/600

---------
200/400 level
Hero had played fairly tight. Hero wasn't entering any pots over 2-3 rotations.
Hero dealt on button: AA65 r
3 limps
hero limps
SB: calls
BB: calls

(6 players - 2400 in pot)
Flop: A43 rainbow
5 checks to hero
hero bets 1500
all players fold

Analysis:
First pot in this new table.
Preflop: Hero could have considered raising preflop, but villains would assign AAxx to hero's range. On flops where there is no A, it becomes impossible to get value as players didn't seem completely horrible..
Flop: This could/should have been a spot to actually consider slowplaying. There's not really bad turn/river card since the low is already out there and hero has 2nd nut high/3rd nut low.

---------
(2nd table)
blinds: 400/800
Hero has ~11k
Vil3 has ~35k (semi-loose player, didn't seem to do anything crazy post flop)
Vil4 has ~15k (older nit)

Hero dealt in SB: AAJJ (AJ suited)

Vil3: limps
Vil4: raises to 2400
folds to hero
SB (hero): calls
BB: calls
Vil3: calls

(3 players - 8000 in pot)
Flop: KJ7 rainbow

(3 players - 8000 in pot)
Flop: KJ7 rainbow
Turn: KJ7Q (2 flush, hero does not have flush draw)
Hero: checks
Vil3: checks
Vil4: bets 4000
Hero: tanks for a while, then folds
Vil3: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard to call. Hero could 3-bet as well, but hero wants to play small pot against tighter raiser.
Flop: This is an absolute donk bet/call in general. Hero thought villain was going to c-bet often in a 3 way pot (and hero can c/r). But unfortunately, that did not happen. It also looks a little bit weaker than a c/r.
Turn: Hero actually thought about calling or raising.
Positives to raising: Hero has nut blockers (2 A)
Negatives to raising: Vil4 is an old nit who hadn't played many hands...

Hero's stack: ~9k

--------
twitter:
Lol low hand math. Got a couple thousand all in pre with 8632
(15 min. after the hand) - So far there have been 2 3 way all ins where no player had an ace. Once included me.

Hero dealt in HJ: 8632 (65 suited)
Hero had ~8k
Vil5: ~18k
Vil6: ~4k

400/800 blinds

Folds to hero in HJ
Hero: raises to 2000
Vil5: flat calls
Vil6: raises all in for 5000
Hero: thinks for 30-45 seconds, then raises all in for ~9k
Vil5: Tanks, eventually calls

Vil5: shows KK54 ds (not covering hero's suit)
Vil6: shows 9652 (92 suited, not hero's suit)

Board: 87QA4

Hero chops with low. Vil5 chops main. Vil6 loses ~4k.

Analysis:
Hero's tight image almost payed off. Villain 5 tanked for about 90 seconds before calling.

Preflop: With 3 low cards, hero's odds of being scooped out of the tournament aren't that high. Survival odds with 3rd hand makes it worse though...but, definitely an unexpected hand for Vil6 to jam. Vil6 may have thought same thing to get rid of big stack...but, maybe hero's giving too much credit to Vil6.

Hero's stack: ~12k

--------
400/800 blinds
Hero dealt in SB: A972 (a2)(97) double suited.
2 limps
new player: pots
Hero: calls
2 limpers call

(4 players - 14400 in pot)
Flop: K98 two tone (hero has no suit)
Hero checks
2 limpers checks
PFR bets ~10k
Hero folds ...

Analysis:
Preflop/Flop: Completely standard. Hero only has backdoor equity.

Hero's stack: 7900 @ 500/1000

--------
500/1000 blinds
Hero had been playing fairly tight, playing 2-3 hands for the past couple levels.
Hero's stack: ~4500

Hero dealt in HJ: AQ95 (A5 suited)

Hero: raises to 3500
BB: calls

(2 players - 8500 in pot)
Flop: K93 (two tone, hero has backdoor flush draw)

Villain: checks
Hero bets all in for 3k
Villain: calls

Vil: Shows AQ33

Board: K9374 no flush
Hero backs into half.

Analysis: This seemed ok to try to steal the blinds. Hero had an OK hand to steal in CO.
Hero's stack: ~6200

--------
Hero dealt in UTG+3: AK42 (AK suited)

1 fold
Vil8: limps
folds to hero
Hero: Raises to 4500
Vil8: Thinks for a little bit, raises all in
Hero: calls

Board: 8h 4d 2d 5c 6d

Hero out.
Analysis: Pretty standard here to jam preflop.

--------
Hero out in ~85th of 145 runners.
Analysis: The field had varying levels of quality. The starting table was soft, but 2nd table was not as soft.

Bovada Start

1. The bonuses on Bovada seem to be much easier to clear playing 2/4 limit games b/c of how points are given (which are used to clear the bonus).
2. It's been tough to get "back into shape" + play multiple games that I might be leaking in (LO8/Stud8/Stud). It could just be variance...but, I am doubtful.
3. I've played some 100PLO8 too, and it feels decent and soft. Unfortunately, I'll have to deposit more to stop my "shot taking".
4. 50PLO & 50PLO8 are really soft.

MTTs are soft too. It's great to book my first PLO8 MTT win, but it's not on OPR b/c of anonymity. I've been fortunate to book wins in most of the major disciplines (NLHE, PLO, PLO8, stud/8, stud). HORSE is the last "beast to conquer" and bigger wins too, but it's great to get a bunch of "monkeys" off my back.
1. Live PLO MTT cash
2. Online PLO8 win.

I also got 4th in my first LHE MTT ever on Bovada, but same problem :(

Here's hoping I can continue to play well & let time rebuild things!

Trip Reports Finished & General Updates

1. It took a while, but I finally finished trip reports for the month of November. 4 different venues and hopefully not too many typos or weird situations that were wrong. I hope that the quality did not suffer too much. I feel like I try to remember too much about the hands and it may have caused me to lose focus at the tables...hopefully, they're still ok.
2. TBH, I felt like I actually didn't play too well in any MTTs (probably felt the best at Vancouver, but it decreased...)

I'm prepping for a bunch of live MTTs over the next month. If I could have anticipated the "delta price mistake" for airfares, I would have 3 trips booked in the future, but 2 trips w/ 2 MTTs a piece are a great preparation...

Here's hoping that I can find steady confidence (not overconfidence, not underconfidence), to stop having intellectual laziness, and to realize I have much to learn.