WSOP 2014 Overall Thoughts

1. Hero took a ton of notes on structure sheets to "stay engaged". It felt very much like my online poker playing.
1A. 2-4 sheets keeping notes on other players (think of chopping paper in 2 or 4 and taking notes on actions)
1B. Taking notes on hero's hands/reflections for later review

2. Food comps! Hero got 8 * $10/off. Some floors were nice and gave a ton, especially 1 after sympathizing with hero's losing 2 "flop time rake" spots.

3A. Timed pot rake - based on max size
3B. "Flop pot rake" - first card of flop is A-9, that player in particular seat pays; if card is T-K, look at 2nd card, etc...
3C. Sadly, hero had to pay 2x in a row in 5-5 PLO with A on 1st card, TA on 2nd :(

4. Hero got a quick cash game session in on Sunday before flight.

5. Hero thought about playing the WSOP 8 game. But, hero decided to stick with MTT "budget" and was also not 100% mentally prepared.

6. Hero need to learn to sleep earlier to get to big bet MTTs on time. It was troublesome for all the small stakes MTTs.

7. Monster stack madness was way more than anyone expected. It was sad because it directly affected me (no SNGs the night before, little/no cash gaming). On a positive, it was great to rail a friend in the PPC.

8. Dealer's Choice is a great MTT. Once I plug some leaks in Badeucy/Badacey, I would feel more comfortable playing in this MTT.
9. It was great to catch up with many friends and am happy for friends’ accomplishments during the WSOP.

1-2 PLO cash gaming at Rio

6/29/2014
1-2 with 5 bring in, $200 min, no max
Hero bought in for $500

Reads:
1 ?
2 ?
3 ?
4 ?
5 ?
6 ?
7 ?
8 ?
9 ?

It took 1+ hours to finally get another PLO/Big O game going. There was a 1-2 w/ 5 BI PLO and Big O, but no other games (5/5 PLO, 5/5 Big O) were able to get off before hero's flight.

Ironically,  hero was talking to players about whether to play or go to airport with ~1.5 hours to go. Hero decided to get 1 rotation in.

---------------
Dealt to Hero in CO: KK97 K7d

Preflop:
(2 players limped)
Hero: limped behind.
Vil1 (SB): calls
Vil2 (BB): checks

(4 players - ~25 in pot)
Flop: KJ5
Vil1: checks
(other players check)
Hero: bets ~20
Vil1: calls
(other players fold)

(2 players - 65 in pot)
Turn: KJ5Q (two diamonds)
Hero: bets 50
Vil?: raises to 200
Hero: calls

Decision: run board 2x
Boards:
KJ5Q7 (three flush)
KJ5Q4 (2 flush only)

Hero runs it 2x and chops with flushing river and brick.
Villain shows ATxx with Ax diamonds

Analysis:
Preflop: Bad KKxx in MW pot is ok.
Flop: hero bets for value w/ top set + 2nd nut flush draw.
Turn: Hero decides to bet/call. Hero is still an equity favorite against a straight.

5-5 PLO and Big O Cash Gaming at Rio

6/28/2014
5-5 PLO, $200 min, no max
Hero bought in for $1000

Reads:
1 ?
2 ?
3 ?
4 ?
5 ?
6 ?
7 ?
8 ?
9 ?

First hand
Hero dealt in BB: T987 (98 suited)

Preflop:
Button straddle to 10
Vil1: folds
Hero: raises to 30
Vil3 (~2.5k): raises to 100
(folds to hero)
Hero: calls

(2 players - ~205 in pot)
Flop: T82 r (hero has bdfd)
Hero: checks
Vil3: bets ~150
Hero: calls

(2 players - 555 in pot)
Turn: T82J two tone (hero does not have flush draw)
Hero: bets all in
Vil3: calls

Vil3: "Do you have a straight?"
Hero: "Yes."
Vil3: "Pair the board" and shows JJxx.

River: T82J4 (no flush completes)

Analysis:
Preflop: Super strong hand and hits ton of flops even OOP. Hero could have 4-bet to rep AAxx, but decides to just play post flop.
Flop: Hero doesn't have to increase variance because villain likely never folds to check raise on flop with shorter relative effective stacks.
Turn: Hero needs to donk and not be tricky when straight completes without flush. Some/most players (correctly) will check back turn when wrap straight completes.

---------------
Table switch:
5/5 Big O

1 middle aged person with Glasses
2 Russian Dmitry
3 younger male
4 hero
5 person from FL
6 another person from FL
7 another person from FL
8 M. B.

Hero's image was tight (compared to rest of table) playing ~6 hands in 2-3 rotations.
Hero dealt on button: 77632 (72? suited)

Preflop:
Hero button straddled to 10
SB: calls
BB: calls
Hero: checks

(5 players - 50 in pot)
Flop: 75A (rainbow)
checks to hero
Hero: bets 40
Vil6: calls

(2 players - 130 in pot)
75A9 (two tone, hero has no FD)
Vil6: checks
Hero: bets 105
Vil6: calls

(2 players - 340 in pot)
75A9K (flush draws miss)
Vil6: bets 250
Hero: reraises all in (~850 remaining)
Vil6: calls

Vil6: shows 32xxx and missed nut flush draw.

Hero gets 3/4.

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero could probably open in LP or limp behind at passive table. The hand really needs an A on flop to do well.
Flop: This sets up to be a "flip" if villain has 32xxx with back door flush draw.
Turn: Hero continues to bet with likely a freerolling hand, even though hero has 3rd nut high on turn. Hero's concerned about flush draw completing.
River: There's enough worse hi hands with nut low (or even high hands w/o best low) that will call a raise.

WSOP 3000 PLO8 MTT Day 2

9000 starting stack with 400/800 blinds

---------------
Day 2 Table Draws:
10 "Hero" "Hero's City, State, US" 15,500 Amazon / 407 / 2
11 Paul Volpe WEST CHESTER, PA, US 27,600 Amazon / 407 / 3
12 Woody Deck LAS VEGAS, NV, US 25,700 Amazon / 407 / 4
13 Brett Shaffer BELOIT, KS, US 97,900 Amazon / 407 / 5
14 Dmitri Motorov Saint Peterbury, , RU 24,400 Amazon / 407 / 6
15 Gregory Masterson CHICAGO, IL, US 35,900 Amazon / 407 / 7
16 Douglas O'neal BATTLE GROUND, WA, US 32,200 Amazon / 407 / 8
17 Maksim Fomin RU 42,200 Amazon / 407 / 9

Day 2 Table Reads:
Seat Reads
3 Paulgees81 - HS player, but not sure of PLO8 background
4 lots of PLO8 cashes
5 NLHE cashes, 1 5k PLO8 cash, may be aggressive
6 1500 PLO cash
7 PLO cashes
8 unknown
9 Russian - unknown

---------------
Hero's stack upon restart at level 9:
15500 at 400/800 blinds.

Because of the monster stack, this tournament only played 8 levels instead of the standard 10 levels.

---------------
Day 2 table draws were posted by the time hero woke up. Hero researched all the players at the table.

Research Algorithm:
1. Hero looked at each player's Hendon Mob (and other live MTT database records) to assess their previous cashes.
A. Do they have any stud/8 cashes?
B. Do they have any mixed game cashes?
C. Do they have any WSOP cashes?
D. How much MTT winnings do they have?
[If they have no mixed game cashes, they could be overly aggressive. If they have no WSOP cashes, they might be trying to squeak into the money and be nitty at the bubble.]
2. Do they have a twitter account?
3. Do they have any online screennames to gather info about their style of play or online MTT/cash game records?

---------------
Within 2 hands of day 1 starting, the first table broke.
After consulting the floor, my table was next to break.

Button started on the 10 seat, so hero had to pay blinds.
After 5 hands, my table broke.

Hero didn't play any hands before table broke.

---------------
Day 2 Table 2 Reads:
1 young male
2 Bart Hanson
3 younger male in tanktop and glasses
4 guy in Aria poker shirt (likely David Bach)
5 younger male with LA Dodgers cap
6 old guy
7 old guy
8 Kevin - young Asian player
9 hero

---------------
Reads: Hero saw players 1-3 were active.
Hero had sat down for ~10 hands and hadn't played any hands at this time.

Blinds: 400/800

Preflop:
Hero dealt in HJ: Ah Ks Jh 2d
3 folds
Hero: raises to 1700
(folds to seat 3)
Seat 3 asked for hero's stack size (hero obliges) before folding.
Vil4: folds
Vil5 (~7k): calls

(2 players - 3800 in pot)
Flop: As 9s 5h
Vil5: checks
Hero: thinks for a little bit, then checks behind

(2 players - 3800 in pot)
Turn: As 9s 5c 4d
Vil5: thinks for a couple seconds, then bets 2000
Hero: thinks for a while, then folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Min raise seems fine. Sometimes an early limp works too (depending on style of table/dynamics). A friend mentioned that early position players are now open-limping most of their ranges in MTTs.
Flop: Given how both hero and villain are short stacked (villain actually has fewer chips than hero), this probably should have been a bet/fold instead of check/reevaluate turn. It's not trying to be results oriented, but there's more fold equity if villain doesn't have axxx.
Turn: Unfortunately, hero can't continue hoping to get half with only a backdoor low and not much/any hope for high...

---------------
Analysis:

Hero dealt in BB: Ad Ks Td 9d

Preflop:
(1 fold)
Vil2 (UTG+2): limps
5 folds
Vil8 (SB): calls
Hero (BB): checks

(3 players - 2400 in pot)
Flop: 3c 2h Js
All players check

(3 players - 2400 in pot)
Turn: 3c 2h Js Qs
Vil8: checks
Hero: bets 1500
Vil2: calls
Vil8: folds

(2 players - 5400 in pot)
River: 3c 2h Js Qs 6h
Hero: thinks for a little bit, then checks
Vil2: bets ~5100
Hero: folds

Preflop: BB special. If hero was deeper, hero could call raise.
Flop: Easy check (hero has no equity)
Turn: Hero bluffs turn as semi-bluff. Unfortunately, seat 2 calls.
River: Hero could continue firing. But, villain has so few draws that missed (likely lows that completed), that hero's fold equity is slim/non-existent. Villain has a lot of combo hands. Hero could try to bet out a naked flush draw, but villain's UTG+2 range (since hero's impression was likely competent) was 2 way hands with a low.
Villain's bet is likely a 1 way hand "looking to buy a chop". Villain seemed to bet fairly large on turn/rivers to try to push people out in other hands.

---------------
Hero dealt on button: AQQ3 (Q3 suited in spades)

Hero had ~6600
Villain had ~8000.

Preflop:
(folds to seat 8)
Vil8: raises to ~2200
Hero: raises all in
folds to Vil8
Vil8: "Ok, I'll gamble. I call."

Vil8: shows Ad Kx Td 9x

(2 players - 14700 in pot - 1 player all in)
Board: A6659 (rainbow on flop; 2 flush for neither player on turn; no flush on river)



Analysis:
Preflop: This is pretty standard across the board. Villain can't really fold in this spot...

---------------
Hero out in 114. 54 pay.

---------------
Summary:
1. The field seemed soft overall. Two players (including Grinder) dusted off chips pretty quickly.
2. It was sad to have wasted time researching the Day 2 draw...
3. There wasn't enough time while sitting at table to try to look up players and research their tendencies. There was wifi, but hero stuck with trying to be focused at table actions.

Monster Stack Madness

Meanwhile, a friend swho busted the LO8/Stud8 went to register for the WSOP Monster Stack.
Registration was so booked for the 2nd flight, that my friend (and numerous others) were flighted to start later.
The hope for some was an earlier start (say 9:20), but eventually....almost everyone was told to start their flights at 10:40 PST and play 3 levels.

Unfortunately, every table was being used for monster stack MTT. Thus, no cash games and no PLO8 sngs :(.

On the positive side, hero got to meet a bunch of new people and friends, plus rail a friend who was in the Poker Player's Championship final table.

hero thought about going to Venetian to grind, but decided against it. They were running cash games (PLO8, Big O) and maybe it would have been smarter to at least visited the Venetian. It was weird b/c this was first time hero didn't visit Venetian.


---

230 LO8-Stud8 Mix MTT at Golden Nugget

15000 starting chips at 100/200 limits and 30 min. levels.

---------------
Late Registration Table Reads (table 3, right by the TV):
1 middle aged player
2 Hero
3 young European guy, asked a lot of questions about Big O (as I had bumped into them at Rio day before
4 middle aged lady
5 woman with glasses
6 older guy?
7 older guy
8 middle aged guy (possibly with hat)

---------------
Hero arrived fairly late (as usual), but a little too late. After waiting 5 minutes for a seat to open, Hero started at the 400/800 limit (level 5). 18 bets is a little shallow, but definitely a playable stack.

---------------
LO8:
Hero dealt in MP: Ax 7d 3d 2x

Preflop:
2 players limp
Hero limps

Hero folds a high flop when facing bets.

Analysis:
Preflop: With a couple other players, this is an ok hand to peel in a MW pot (3+ wheel cards + counterfeit protection). Hero fit/folds on 2 high/3 high flop.

---------------
LO8:
New Reads: Vil1 annouced he's a fish in both games and was showing down/peeling light when drawing thin and getting half and/or scooping.

Hero dealt in UTG+1: Ax Ks 7x 2s

Preflop:
Vil1 (UTG): limps
Hero: raises
(folds to SB)
Vil7 (SB): calls
Vil8 (BB): calls

(4 players - 4 small bets in pot)
Flop: Jc Ts 8c Td
Vil7: checks
Vil8: checks
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets
Vil7: folds
Vil8: folds
Vil1: raises
Hero: calls

(2 players - 4 big bets in pot)
Turn: Jc Ts 8c Td
Vil1: bets
Hero: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard isolation play against fish.
Flop: This is a bet/call HU. Villain's range screams 2p-set-straight given Seat 1's tendencies.
Turn: Sadly, this card hits a ton of Vil1's range. Hero could try to bluff-raise and river bet with a gutshot to try to bluff a straight, but boats are never folding.

---------------
Stud 8:
Level 8: 800/1600 limits

Hero didn't write down dead cards, but they are likely neutral (mix of high/low cards and Hero didn't see any live flush draws)

3rd street:
Vil8: (Xx Xx) 3? __brings in____folds
Vil1: (Xx Xx) 4x __limps
Hero: (8x 2x) 8s __completes
Vil3: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Vil4: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Vil5: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Vil6: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Vil7: (Xx Xx) Qx __calls

(3 players - ~3.75 small bets)
4th street:
Vil1: (Xx Xx) 4x 4d 5x 6s (Xx) ____checks__calls
Hero: (8x 2x) 8s 7d 5h Td (2s) ____bets
Vil7: (Xx Xx) Qx Qx Jx 8x (Xx) __checks____calls

(3 players - ~3.875 big bets)
5th street
Vil1: (Xx Xx) 4x 4d 5x 6s (Xx) ____checks
Hero: (8x 2x) 8s 7d 5h Td (2s) ____checks
Vil7: (Xx Xx) Qx Qx Jx 8x (Xx) __checks

(3 players - ~3.875 big bets)
6th street
Vil1: (Xx Xx) 4x 4d 5x 6s (Xx) ____checks
Hero: (8x 2x) 8s 7d 5h Td (2s) ____checks
Vil7: (Xx Xx) Qx Qx Jx 8x (Xx) __checks

(3 players - ~3.875 big bets)
7th street
Vil1: (Xx Xx) 4x 4d 5x 6s (Xx) ____bets
Hero: (8x 2x) 8s 7d 5h Td (2s) ____calls
Vil7: (Xx Xx) Qx Qx Jx 8x (Xx) __checks____calls

Vil1: shows (Td Kd) (9d) for flush
Vil7: mucks
Hero: mucks

Analysis:
Note: 6th street was a high card, but not sure if it was a T.
3rd: Hero's ahead of villain has low draw or underpair. Unfortunately, high hand comes along.
4th: Standard bet to knock out low that may have bricked with pair. But, there probably wasn't much fold equity in this spot because villain's a loose passive calling station.
5th: Hero should have continued to bet on 5th, tbh.
6th: Hero can't bet brick on 6th
7th: Hero thinks villain may be betting a naked low. In reality, this is a thin call b/c vil1 is rarely betting anything less than 2p in this spot (even if they're horrible). Hero could see villain value betting worse 6s-4s up, but it's only a little bit of villain's range. Given pot size, it's close. If pot had a big bet or 2, then it's a sigh-call.

---------------
Hero's stack at break (level 9): 4200 @ 1000/2000 limits

---------------
Level 10:
Limits: 1200/2400

Hero didn't write down dead cards, but they are likely neutral (mix of high/low cards and Hero didn't see any live flush draws)

Stud8:
3rd street
Vil8: (Xx Xx) Lx?____Brings In__Fold
Vil1: (Xx Xx) Kh_____Limp_______Call
Hero: (Ac 6d) Ah_____Complete
Vil2: (Xx Xx) Xx?____Fold
Vil3: (Xx Xx) Xx?____Fold
Vil4: (Xx Xx) Xx?____Fold
Vil5: (Xx Xx) 7x_____Call
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx?____Fold
Vil8: (Xx Xx) Xx?____Fold

(3 players - 4.33 small bets)
4th street
Vil1: (Xx Xx) Kh 7d ____calls
Hero: (Ac 6d) Ah 8d __bets (all in)
Vil5: (Xx Xx) 7x 6x __calls

(3 players - ~3.67 big bets)
5th street
Vil1: (Xx Xx) Kh 7d Ts ____checks
Hero: (Ac 6d) Ah 8d Js __no action
Vil5: (Xx Xx) 7x 6x Qx __checks

(3 players - ~3.67 big bets)
6th street
Vil1: (Xx Xx) Kh 7d Ts Kc ____checks
Hero: (Ac 6d) Ah 8d Js 5h __no action
Vil5: (Xx Xx) 7x 6x Qx 5x __checks

(3 players - ~3.67 big bets)
7th street
Vil1: (Xx Xx) Kh 7d Ts Kc (Xx) ____checks
Hero: (Ac 6d) Ah 8d Js 5h (6d) __no action
Vil5: (Xx Xx) 7x 6x Qx 5x (3x) __checks

Vil1 shows trip kimgs
Vil5 shows 765xx low
Hero sweats out and gets 2 pair (aces up) since hero couldn't make better low. (Hero doesn't remember exact low cards or if it was the 5/6/8 that paired).

Analysis:
3rd: standard isolation. Vil1's a fish so not surprised to see a call. Vil5 likely has a low draw.
4th: Hero's AI with likely best hand. Unfortunately for hero, villain never folds.

---------------
Hero out around 98th.

Side notes:
One of the dealers was a floor I had met briefly in Chinook Winds!
She was making a conversation with person in seat 5 regarding Big O in Portland area.

As we were playing, eventually figured out that seat 1 was a huge fish in both games and admitted to it too!

5-5 PLO Cash Gaming at Rio

6/25/2014
5-5 PLO, $200 min, no max
Hero bought in for $1000

Reads:
1 ?
2 ?
3 ?
4 ?
5 ?
6 ?
7 ?
8 ?
9 ?

Hero dealt in CO: AKJ9 (AJ suited)

Preflop:
Vil2 (But): straddle to 10
(3 players call)
Hero (seat 2): raises to 40
Vil2: checks

(4 players - ~200 in pot)
Flop: 9x 9x Jx (rainbow)

(4 players - ~50 in pot)
Turn: 9x 9x Jx Kx (2-flush on turn)
(checks to hero)
Hero: bets 100
2 folds
Vil9: raises to 250
Hero: calls

(2 players - ~550 in pot)
River: 9x 9x Jx Kx 5x (no flush completes on river)
Vil9: bets all in for 200
Hero: sigh calls

Vil9: shows KKxx
Hero: mucks

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero decided to speculate in loose-passive game with A-high flush draw.
Flop: Hero decided to check pot
Turn: Hero forgot to check villain's stack size. The raise size is scary (slightly larger than min raise). With villain's short stack and hero's 2nd bet, this could be an easy fold in a live game. Would villain raise a QTxx for value? Why so small?
River: Hero has blockers to hands, but does villain ever raise not boats here? Hero's boat is so low that this probably should be a fold on river.

---------------
On a negative note, hero had to pay time for table 2x based on "first card of flop - seat number corresponding to player pays time; if first card isn't a seat number, then 2nd (then 3rd) are used.

230 Big O8 MTT at Golden Nugget

15000 starting chips at 25/50 blinds and 30 min. levels.

---------------
Late Registration Table Reads (back of room - left or middle table):
1 middle aged person with sunglasses (likely aggressive player)
2 old guy (40s) with a Surface tablet and talked about the monster stack/bad food at the Rio (fruit salad)
3 hero
4 ?
5 ?
6 ?
7 ?
8 ?

Hero late registered at level 4 (blinds = 150/300).

---------------
Blinds: 150/300
Hero was dealt in unknown position and won with flop check/turn bet (board unknown): Ah Qh Tx Tx 3x

---------------
Blinds: 150/300
Hero dealt in unknown position: Ah Kc 8c 7x 2x

Preflop:
Unfortunately, hero doesn't remember exact preflop action. It was most likely a limped pot with 4 players.

(4 players - ~1350 in pot)
Flop: Qx 5h 4h
Vil?: checks
Hero: checks

(4 players - ~1350 in pot)
Turn: Qx 5h 4h Jh
Vil?: checks
Vil?: checks
Vil?: checks
Hero: bets 1000
Vil?: folds
Vil?: folds
Vil?: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: This is somewhat loose without suited ace. A suited king can get hero in trouble as it's best to fold against nits showing aggression.
Flop: Hero could bet here with nut flush blocker + nld in a MW pot, but hero decides to check flop.
Turn: Hero decides to bluff with nut flush blocker.

---------------
Hero's stack at level 4 break: 14600 @ 150/300

---------------
Blinds: 200/400

Hero dealt in MP?: Ac Kc 5s 3s 2x

Preflop:
Vil?: limps
Hero: raises to 1k
3 players call
Vil1: calls

(5 players - 5k in pot)
Flop: Tc Tx 8c
Vil1: bets 2k
all players fold

Analysis:
Preflop: Suited a23 with low cards = standard isolation play. Multiway pot is fine too.
Flop: This could be a spot to peel w/ nfd + backdoor lows, but hero decides to show respect to a small flop bet into a field of people.

---------------
Blinds: 200/400
Hero dealt: Ad Tx 8x 4d 3d

Preflop:
Hero (UTG): raises to 1000
(folds to SB)
Vil1 (SB): calls
Vil2 (BB): calls

(3 players - 3000 in pot)
Flop: Qx 4c Jx 2c 8x
Vil1: checks
Vil2: checks
Hero: checks

(3 players - 3000 in pot)
Turn: Qx 4c Jx 2c 8x
Vil1: checks
Vil2: bets 1700
Hero: calls
Vil1: calls

(3 players - 8100 in pot)
River: Qx 4c Jx 2c 8x
Vil1: checks
Vil2: checks
Hero: bets 6700
Vil1: folds
Vil2: calls

Vil2: shows QJ85x (2p/no low)

Analysis:
Preflop: This is ok to raise UTG with suited A43xx. A limp can work too.
Flop: Hero has bottom pair.
Turn: Hero doesn't have much for high in this spot and little fold equity to get villains to fold.
River: Hero rivers bad 2p + nut low and tries to bet to push off high hands + get called with worse A3xxx to get 3/4 of villain's bet.
Hero decides to bet a little less than pot.

---------------
2nd Table Reads (front of room, possibly table 5) (hero's guesses on table seating):
1 ?
2 ?
3 ?
4 older player who admitted to being a nit
5 ?
6 ?
7 hero
8 ?

---------------
300/600 blinds
Hero's stack: 11,400

About an orbit earlier - UTG+1 said that he's a nit.
This was about 15 hands into the table.

Hero: dealt Ax Kc 4c 3c 2x

Preflop:
UTG+1: raises to 2100
(folds to hero)
1 flat call
Hero: reraises to 8500
UTG+1: reraises all in
call: folds
Hero: calls

(2 players - 1 AI - ~23,700 in pot)
Board: Js 8d 4d 8h Qx

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero decides to squeeze. The comment could have actually swayed towards not squeezing.
Hero could easily try to play flop and flat call, but it's close with hero only having ~17BBs. Hero would have 1.5 SPR on flop.
Hero's equity isn't horrible shape against naked aces with 4 live low cards.

http://www.propokertools.com/simulations/show?g=o85&h1=as+kc+4c+3c+2d&h2=aa&s=generic
5-Card Omaha Hi/Lo Simulation ?
600,000 trials (Randomized) Hand Equity Scoops Wins Hi Ties Hi Wins Lo Ties Lo
as kc 4c 3c 2d 46.19% 169,868 195,007 12,990 249,255 60,583
aa 53.81% 211,584 392,003 12,990 6,669 60,583

---------------
Hero out around 126th.

Hero talked briefly with a couple friends (C. F., L. F., etc...) before sprinting to the Rio to contemplate playing 8 game and/or playing 8 game SNGs.

WSOP 1500 PLO8 MTT at Rio

4500 starting stack with 25/25 blinds and 60 min. levels

Table Reads by the time hero's first hand was played.

1 H. (Hispanic from Houston) - eventually figured out we played together in LAPC
2 Hero
3 Ceegee (late registrant) - younger guy
4 old guy with British accent
5 middle aged guy, seemed to be a tighter player
6 middle aged guy
7 younger guy?
8 middle aged Asian player from Binion's PLO8 the day before (seemed to be talkative, even with a little meh quality strategy).
9 "Joe" - a middle aged and likely competent player. Seat 1 mentioned he played SNGs with player.

---------------
Hero played 1 hand in first level.

---------------
Hero dealt in UTG: Ad Ts 5s 2d

Preflop:
Hero raises to 75
1 fold
Vil4: calls
other players fold

(2 players - 200 in pot)
Flop: Qd Td Ks As 8h
Hero: bets 125
Vil4: raises to 300
Hero: calls

(2 players - 800 in pot)
Turn: Qd Td Ks As 8h
Hero: checks
Vil4: bets 600
Hero: thinks for a while, then calls

(2 players - 2000 in pot)
River: Qd Td Ks As 8h
Hero: checks
Vil4: bets 1525
Hero: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard with strong two way hand with nut suit.
Flop: Bet/call seems best. Hero has gutshot to same broadway + nut flush draw.
Turn: Hero's equity is definitely ok to call, especially if villain's range is [broadway straight (80%), top/middle set, and some small straight+redraws]. Problem is that hero doesn't really have fold equity (plus table seemed soft at the time). Thus, is a flip really worth it just to increase variance and raise w/ zero fold equity? Not really...
River: Sigh, hero has to c/f as villain is repping nut straight the whole way.

PPT:
Unrolled Omaha Hi/Lo Simulation ?

Before the Flop 600,000 trials (Randomized) Hand Equity Scoops Wins Hi Ties Hi Wins Lo Ties Lo
ad ts 5s 2d 50.74% 197,783 242,163 16,749 240,940 41,488
aj 49.26% 191,142 341,088 16,749 43,574 41,488

On the Flop 7,880,200 trials (Exhaustive)
board: qdtdksHand Equity Scoops Wins Hi Ties Hi Wins Lo Ties Lo
ad ts 5s 2d 45.35% 3,285,137 3,285,137 576,322 0 0
aj 54.65% 4,018,741 4,018,741 576,322 0 0

On the Turn 249,840 trials (Exhaustive)
board: qdtdksasHand Equity Scoops Wins Hi Ties Hi Wins Lo Ties Lo
ad ts 5s 2d 47.10% 112,562 112,562 10,242 0 0
aj 52.90% 127,036 127,036 10,242 0 0

or

Unrolled Omaha Hi/Lo Simulation ?

Before the Flop 600,000 trials (Randomized) Hand Equity Scoops Wins Hi Ties Hi Wins Lo Ties Lo
ad ts 5s 2d 53.39% 222,730 252,067 9,119 276,003 23,204
aj, kk, qq 46.61% 183,496 338,814 9,119 30,315 23,204

On the Flop 12,118,780 trials (Exhaustive)
board: qdtdksHand Equity Scoops Wins Hi Ties Hi Wins Lo Ties Lo
ad ts 5s 2d 42.46% 4,830,178 4,830,178 632,114 0 0
aj, kk, qq 57.54% 6,656,488 6,656,488 632,114 0 0

On the Turn 447,640 trials (Exhaustive)
board: qdtdksasHand Equity Scoops Wins Hi Ties Hi Wins Lo Ties Lo
ad ts 5s 2d 45.75% 197,634 197,634 14,332 0 0
aj, kk, qq 54.25% 235,674 235,674 14,332 0 0

---------------
Hero limp/called a raise with Ah Ad Kd Qx, but folded on Qh 8h 7s flop.

---------------
Hero's stack: ~3150

Hero dealt in BB: As 8c 5c 2s

Preflop:
(folds to seat 7)
Vil7 (HJ): raises to 150
Vil8 (CO): calls
But: folds
SB: folds
Hero (BB): calls

(3 players - 475 in pot)
Flop: Kd Js 4s 3h 6c
Vil7: bets 400
Vil8: folds
Hero: calls

(2 players - 1275 in pot)
Turn: Kd Js 4s 3h 6c
Vil7: bets 1000
Hero: raises to 3050 total (all in)
Vil7: calls

Vil7: Shows JJxx (like JJ94)
River: Kd Js 4s 3h 6c

Hero doubles up to 6100

Analysis:
Preflop: This hand could be squeezed, but fold equity seemed low.
Flop: Hero has enough equity to call with naked flush draw and backdoor low draw against villain who might be c-betting too much.
Turn: Hero decides to let villain double barrel and c/r AI to hopefully maximize fold equity. Villain may fold some top pair hands (and other air hands) that villain was willing to bet/fold.

---------------
Hero dealt in LP: Ac Ad Qc Js

Preflop:
(folds to seat 7)
Vil7: raises to 150
(folds to hero)
Hero: calls

(2 players - 375 in pot)
Flop: Kc Qd 3h
Vil7: bets 300
Hero: calls

(2 players - 975 in pot)
Turn: Kc Qd 3h 3s
both players check

(2 players - in pot)
River: Kc Qd 3h 3s 7h
both players check

Villain shows AA88 and pot is chopped.

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero can flat and hope for a multiway pot. Reraising given both players have ~3k+ effective stacks is a bit spewy.
Flop: Hero doesn't fold overpair when villain could be c-betting A2x or naked top pairs.
Turn: Hero has best 2 pair on a locked down board. Hero tries to get to showdown cheaply.
River: Same plan as turn

---------------
Hero wins 2 pots uncontested on flop in MW pots.

Hero dealt in MP?: Ax Jh 5h 2x

Preflop:
1 player limps
hero limps behind
another player limps
BB: checks

(4 players - ~450 in pot)
Flop: J64 rainbow (hero does not have bdfd)
(checks to hero)
Hero: bets 300
(other players fold)

Analysis:
Preflop: A naked A2 w/ backup low is ok to limp behind.
Flop: TPTK, gutshot straight draw and ok low counterfeit protection. Easy bet for value/semi-bluff.

---------------
Hero dealt: 5x 4s 3x 2s

Preflop:
UTG: raises to 200
Hero: calls
SB: calls
BB: calls

(4 players - 800 in pot)
Flop: 7x 3d Ad
UTG: checks
Hero bets 600
(other players fold)

Analysis:
Preflop: A low rundown is a good hand to play a flop.
Flop: Dream flop (sans hero having flush draw). This is an easy bet w/ low wrap (hoping Axxx calls).

---------------
Observed hands against 2 tougher PLO8 players (seat 9 and 1) based on how they were playing (and their mentioning of playing PLO8 SNGs the day before).
1. 9/SB: raises to 200
1/BB: calls

Flop: Jh 8d 6d
9/SB: check
1/BB: bets 150
9/SB: call

Turn: (no board sadly :()
9/SB: check
1/BB: check

River: (no board sadly :()
9/SB: bet 400
1/BB: calls

9: shows A753 no flush draw to get money back with low/freeroll chances
1: shows pair

2. later on when button on seat 1 after seat 9 raised preflop/seat 1 calls
Flop: Tx Jd 3x
Vil9: checks
Vil1: checks

Turn: Tx Jd 3x Jh 4s
Vil9: bets 550
Vil1: calls

River: Tx Jd 3x Jh 4s
Vil9: bets 600
Vil1: folds
---------------
Hero dealt in LP: Ax Tx Ts 3s

Preflop:
(folds to Vil8)
Vil8 (MP): raises to 300
(folds to hero)
Hero: calls 300

(2 players - 750 in pot)
Flop: Ad 9d 4c
both players check

(2 players - 750 in pot)
Turn: Ad 9d 4c 2c
Vil8: checks
Hero: bets 350
Vil8: calls

(2 players - 1450 in pot)
River: Ad 9d 4c 2c 6c
Vil8: checks
Hero: bets 675
Vil8: calls

Vil8: shows AA3x
Hero shows A3xx

Hero gets quartered.

Analysis:
Preflop: This is an ok call behind PFR.
Flop: Hero checks here with anot a lot of equity, but looking to steal if needed.
Turn: Hero decided to barrel villain off pot since board was getting more scary for villain.
River: Hero fires second barrel. Hero can get villain to fold a ton of weak hands (top 2 p/no low, etc...). Unfortunately, villain calls with top set + live 3 (which is kinda leaky)...

---------------
Hero dealt in HJ: Ad Qd 9d 2x

Preflop:
Vil8 (UTG): limps
(folds to hero)
Hero: limps
(folds to SB)
SB: completes
BB: checks

(4 players - 400 in pot)
Flop: Qd 9h 3s Ah
(all players check)

(4 players - 400 in pot)
Turn: Qd 9h 3s Ah
Vil6: bets 225
Hero: raises to 900
Vil6: thinks for a while, then folds

Vil8: "Is this another big semi-bluff"? Then folds.

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard to limp A2 suited.
Flop: Honestly, this is probably a bet on the flop MW, but a slowplay could be ok sometimes. Hero had no reason to try to hope an aggressive player would bet.
Turn: As played, pretty straightforward turn raise for value with top 2 pair/no low. Seat 8 made comment from previous hand where raise = huge semi-bluff.

---------------
Hero limp folded on flop with 5432r on 8d 6d 6x in small blind.

Hero dealt in CO: 8632r.

Preflop:
(folds to hero)
Hero: raises to 225
(other players fold)
BB: calls

(2 players - 500 in pot)
Flop: Ah Ad 4d
BB: checks
Hero: bets 350
BB: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: A decent open in LP to steal blinds/play post-flop IP in raised pot
Flop: Hero bet/calls. has best semi-bluff draw & hero can rep an ace in this spot.

---------------
Hero develops read on player 5. Player 5 seems to be playing tight and folding a lot on turn/river.
Player 5 seemed to be looser preflop though.

6700 at 100 200. Most pots won w/o showdown.

---------------
Level 5:
Hero won blinds when raising preflop when folded to hero in HJ: Ah Jx 8x 3h
Hero won blinds when raising preflop when folded to hero in HJ+1: Ac Ax 8c 4x

Preflop:
Hero dealt: Ax As Ks 2x
Vil9 (Button): raises to 450
Vil1: folds
Hero: calls

(2 players - 1000 in pot)
Flop: 7h 9x 4h
both players check

(2 players - in pot)
Turn: 7h 9x 4h Th
both players check

(2 players - in pot)
River: 7h 9x 4h Th 5d
Hero: bets 750
Vil9: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: In blind/button battle, it's probably best to raise preflop with only 30BBs. But, since villain is likely thinking player...hero's hand is kind of face up as AAw or AK2/AK3/AQ2/AQ3 and hero will likely have to play turns (as stack won't be in completely). TBH, it's a probably a spew not to 3b one of the best PLO8 starting hands and play aggressively rather than "balance" and keep pot small even though hero has only ~30BBs.
Flop: Hero plans to c/c
Turn: Bad turn card for hero as flush completes. Hero probably isn't folding to a single turn bet though as villain likely would have bet flush draws on flop.
River: Hero bet/calls for value.

---------------
Level 6:

Hero dealt in CO: Ah Qh 5x 4x

Preflop:
(folds to hero in CO)
Hero: raises to 650
(folds to seat 5)
Vil5 (BB): calls

(2 players - 1450 in pot)
Flop: 6s 5s Kx
both players check

(2 players - 1450 in pot)
Turn: 6s 5s Kx Qx
(2 players - 3150 in pot)
River: 6s 5s Kx Qx 2s
Vil5: checks
Hero: bets 1900
Vil5: thinks for a while, then folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard open in late position
Flop: Hero's hand strength is weak. A check back is pretty standard (although it may have worked considering Seat 5 was nitty, although more on turn/river than flop.
Turn: Hero's betting 2p for value.
River: Hero's betting for value to get villain to call with worse 2p/no low, 3rd nut low/1p, etc...

---------------
Hero's stack starting level 7 (after dinner break):
7700 @ 200/400

---------------
Level 7:
Vil4: seemed to be tighter middle aged player and didn't seem to show any aggression in ~2 hours of play prior to dinner.

Two consecutive hands after dinner:

Preflop:
Hero dealt in HJ?: Ax 8h 5x 2h
(folds to hero)
Hero: raises to 900
Vil4: calls

(2 players - 2400 in pot)
Flop: Qx Jd 9d
both players check

(2 players - 2400 in pot)
Turn: Qx Jd 9d 4x
Hero bets 1700
Vil4: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard
Flop: Hero could bet, but decides to wait and try to get more info on the turn
Turn: Hero confirms weakness and bets. Villain folds. Bet size was probably too big (1400 does same purpose...)

---------------
Preflop:
Hero dealt in UTG+2?: Ax Kh 8h 2h
Hero: raises to 900
Vil4?: calls

(2 players - 2400 in pot)
Flop: Jx Jx Kx (rainbow)
both players check

(2 players - 2400 in pot)
Turn: Jx Jx Kx 5x (rainbow)
both players check

(2 players - 2400 in pot)
River: Jx Jx Kx 5x Jx
Hero: Bets 1200 on river
Vil4: calls

Vil4: shows AAQT

Hero decides to bluff and for smaller price

---------------
Hero is moved about 20 min. after dinner (there were 2-3 tables in the section after dinner).
Unfortunately, hero has to pay blinds immediately upon sitting down :(

---------------
2nd Table Reads (Blue section, Table 6)

1 Hero
2 originally, guy with super short stack and got quartered repeatedly before busting and was mad about players touching his cards
eventually quiet player - seemed a near/reserved player
3 rotated a couple different people; younger player reading book
4 young (20/30) something player with sunglasses & Texans hat; seemed to gather a bunch of chips towards latter half of MTT
5 younger/middle aged asian player - seemed tighter
6 "Steve" - a European guy who hero's played with a number of PLO8 MTTs in the past.
7 bigger European guy with an unusual chip tower
8 quiet Caucasian player with a hoodie
9 young/middle aged Asian player? non-professional; seemed to be quiet

---------------
Hero has ~4000 in chips.
This hand occurred about 10-12 hands into my new table.
Vil2: Quieter "nice guy" who got moved onto table. Vil2 has ~20-25k in chips.

Hero dealt in UTG+1: Ad Qd 8x 3x
(folds to hero)

Preflop:
Hero raised near pot: 2100
Vil2: calls

(2 players - ~5100 in pot)
Flop: 4x 9d Td
Hero: bets all in (~2000)
Vil2: calls

Vil2: shows Ac Qx Tx 5x

Board: 4x 9d Td Jx Kd

Hero scoops and doubles up on the freeroll.
Hero's stack: 10,500

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero's never sure if "potting" with short stack is ever right play. It's probably better to just keep raise sizes small and let unobservant opponents not realize hero is "short stacked" and "trying to get it in".
Flop: Hero's betting almost any flop with ~1/2 psb left.

---------------
About 1 rotation passes...
Hero lost some calling a preflop raise (multiway) with As Jx 8x 2s but folded on bad flop to turn aggression.

---------------
Dealt to Hero in HJ: AQ92 (A9 suited)

Preflop:
(folds to hero)
Hero (HJ): raises to 2100
(folds)
Vil6 (BB): reraises all in (~5000)
Hero: calls

Seat 6 shows AA66 single suited (no hearts)

(2 players - Seat 6 AI)
Board: 9x Th Qh 6x 4x

Analysis:
Preflop: This is ok to raise/call. Hero would prefer 3 low cards (A-Broadway-2/3), but this seemed fine too.

After the hand, seat 6 said "I don't think either of us can fold with 15BB."
Hero's stack: 1100

---------------
Dealt to hero in UTG+2: AQ22 (A2 suited)

Preflop:
(folds to hero)
Hero: raises all in to 1100
(folds to BB)
Vil7 (BB): calls

Vil7: shows AQ65 (A5 suited in diamonds)
Board: 3d 8d 9d Tx Tx
Analysis:
Preflop: An argument can be made for waiting 2-3 hands to see if hero can find a better spot. IE: 3 low cards...but, this may/can be ok.

---------------
Hero out around 250. 117 pay.

---------------
Summary:
1. The field seemed soft overall.
2. Hero should probably consider 3-betting more often in spots. Hero should also try to exploit players more often post-flop.
3. Reads were spot on for the most part.

200 PLO8 MTT at Binion's

20000 starting chips at 50/100 blinds and 30 min. levels.

---------------
Late Registration Table Reads:
1 hero
2 quiet younger male; quickly determined a loose/bad player
3 Asian (middle age) who seemed really talkative) - eventually see at Day 1 of $1500 PLO8? and also commented about dealer saying "hand's dead if you leave seat during deal"
4 ? middle aged guy
5 European male (30s?)
6 lady with a large "die" as a chip protector
7 European with soccer jersey?
8 middle aged guy
9 ? older guy

---------------
Side note: Hero got to MTT on time, but spent a lot of time trying to find cell phone. Hero eventually gave up searching car & parking lot and registered around 3:15 (level 3)

---------------
Hero dealt in CO: Kx Ks 3s 2x

Preflop:
(folds to hero)
Hero raises to 900
Vil4 (SB): calls

(2 players - 2100 in pot)
Flop: Ah 6h 5x 4s
Vil4: checks
Hero: bets 1500
Vil4: calls

(2 players - 5100 in pot)
Turn: Ah 6h 5x 4s
Vil4: checks
Hero: bets 3800
Vil4: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard open in LP
Flop: Hero's not really worried about freerolls and will bet to try to get villain to fold Axxx
Turn: Standard value bet.

---------------
Level 4 (blinds 200/400)
Hero dealt in EP: Ks Kx 9x 7s

Preflop:
Vil?: limps
Hero limps
Vil?: limps
(other players fold)
SB: folds
BB: checks

(3-4 players - 1600 in pot)
Flop: Qx Ts 2s
BB: checks
Hero: bets 1000
(other players fold)

Analysis:
Flop: Hero misread board and thought it was monotone!
Hero's not a huge fan of betting gutshot + 2nd nut flush draw in MW pot.

---------------
Hero's stack at first break: 23100 @ 300/600

---------------
Oddity: If hero leaves table (even just to walk 2 steps to grab a food table) during the deal, the hand is "declared dead". Hero was yelled at about it at an earlier table as it follows TDA rules.
Hero dealt in UTG+2: A842 rainbow

---------------
Preflop:
Vil8 (UTG - 25k): limps?
(folds to hero)
Hero: limps
(folds to BB)
BB: checks

(3 players - 2700 in pot)
Flop: Qs Ah 3s
Vil7: checks
Vil8: bets 2000
Hero: calls
Vil7: calls

(3 players - 8100 in pot)
Turn: Qs Ah 3s 5c
all players check turn

(3 players - in pot)
River: Qs Ah 3s 5c 3d
Vil8: bets 6000
Hero: reraises all in (~22k total)
Vil7: calls all in (~11k)
Vil8: calls (~25k)

Vil8: Shows QQxx (no low) - likely QQT4 (Q4 ss) (or something similar)
Vil7: Shows 42xx (no ace)

Hero gets quartered for main pot but chops main.
Hero's stack: ~14k

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard even without a suit.
Flop: Hero has some merit to semi-bluff raise flop with wrap + counterfeit low protection. A call is fine to keep other people in pot.
Turn: Without reads and OOP, hero decided to get tricky and get value on river
River: Hero's raise is most likely a spew. Hero could hope people are overplaying 62xx or non-boats, but what is hero getting value from on the river by raising? If board pair doesn't happen on river, hero can definitely jam and hope villains overplay sets poorly

---------------
Table 2/94 Reads (near the escalator - 2nd row back by podium):
1 younger male?
2 younger male with glasses?
3 hero
4 R. M. (from LA)
5 middle aged person, shown to fold MP/NLD
6 ? male?
7 ? male?
8 ? older male
9 ? older male?

---------------
Hero limped with other players AK97 (Ax suited) and folded to flop bet
Hero also flatted raise with Qx 4s 3s 2x against CO open (seat 6) but c/f high? flop.

Hero was only at table about 1/2 an hour before getting moved.

---------------
Table 3/83 Reads (near the escalator - 2nd row back by podium):
1 quiet Hispanic young person
2 old guy with "Seniors Poker Tour" patch
3 older guy
4 young/middle aged guy; seemed to be short stacked and tried to make sure pot was correct
5 middle aged male
6 young/20-30s lady from Oregon
7 young male with headphones; eventually R. M.
8 hero
9 older gentleman from Michigan

---------------
Hero stole small pots:
Hero dealt in UTG+2: Ah 5x 5x 3h and stole blinds

Hero dealt in UTG+1: Ah 7x 7h 3x
Hero was called by 1 player who folded to hero flop cbet on Ts Tx 4s flop

---------------
Blinds: 500/1000
Hero's stack: ~20k

Hero dealt in MP?: Ad Kx 5d 2d

Preflop:
Vil4: limps
Vil6: calls
Hero: raises to 3000
Vil3 (BB): calls
Vil4: calls
Vil6: calls

(4 players - 12500 in pot)
Flop: Qx 7c 5c
Hero: bets ~10000
Vil4: calls AI for less
Vil4: shows AT32 (no suit)

Hero gets 3/4 and is up to 26k

Analysis:
Preflop: hero has a fairly strong 2 way hand and should raise for value and to isolate 1-2 players.
Flop: As PFR, hero decided to cbet/call. It's not a really great bet given it's MW though. Hero's thrilled to see short stack with a weak hand and gets 3/4.

---------------
Hero dealt in HJ: A922 (no suit)

Preflop:
(folds to Vil6)
Vil6 (UTG+2): limps
Hero (HJ): limps
Vil3 (BB): checks

(3 players - 3500 in pot)
Flop: 5x 7s Ks
all players check

(3 players - 3500 in pot)
Turn: 5x 7s Ks Kx
Vil3: checks
Vil6: bets 2200
Hero: calls
Vil3: raises to 14000 (all in)
Vil6: folds

Hero: tanks for a while, then reluctantly calls

River: 5x 7s Ks Kx Tx (not completing flush)
Hero down to ~14k

Analysis:
Preflop: It's a little loose, but hero decided to limp behind and try to steal pots.
Flop: Hero has little/no fold equity.
Turn: My mind was trying to think about scoop outs and equity, but clearly messed up.
At best, hero has ~20% equity. Hero's not getting that price to call.
Looking at it another way, even if hero assumes villain has KKxx, hero's only calling to hope to get half...

Honestly, hero thought the math was closer to call b/c it wasn't that close to a full PSB.

---------------
Hero's stack at Level 9 break: 14000 @ 1k/1.5k

---------------
Blinds: 1k/1.5k

Preflop:
Hero dealt in : Ad Kd 4d 3x
(folds to hero)
Hero: raises to 4000
Vil? (MP): calls
Vil? (BB): calls

(3 players - 13000 in pot)
Flop: Ax Qx 5c (rainbow) 2c
all players check

Turn: Ax Qx 5c (rainbow) 2c
Vil?: checks
Hero: bets all in
(all other players fold)

Analysis:
Preflop: This is a pretty standard open.
Flop: There's some fold equity in betting flop (and get value from bad aces/no lo draw), but hero decides to check it back.
Turn: Easy bet for value

Hero's stack: ~22k

---------------
Hero dealt in SB: Ad Qx 7x 2d

Preflop:
Vil2 (UTG+1): raises to 5500
Vil7 (Button): calls
Hero (SB): calls

(3 players - 18000 in pot)
Flop: 3 high cards (no pair for hero)
Hero folds to flop bet

Hero folds to bet from Vil2.

Hero also limped and saw flop with Ah 5x 4h 3h but folded to flop bet.

---------------
More tables break and R. M. sits to hero's right (seat 7). This is a coincidence since R.M. was at table 2 and seated to hero's left. R. M. is fairly competent in PLO8.

---------------
Blinds: 1k/2k
Hero has 16000

Hero dealt in SB: AK54r

Preflop:
(folds to button)
Vil7: raises to 4000
Hero: raises AI to 16000
Vil9 (BB): folds

Vil7: shows A983 rainbow

AK54 < A983
Board: Hero doesn't remember board. It might have been 93QJ5.

---------------
Hero out around ~60th. 161 entries.
Field was generally soft in this MTT as well.

230 PLO8 MTT at Golden Nugget

15000 starting chips at 25/50 blinds and 30 min. levels.

---------------
Late Registration Table Reads:
1 ?
2 older guy with a Surface tablet and talked about the monster stack
3 hero
4 ?
5 D. C.
6 middle aged guy
7 middle aged guy with longer hair/ponytail
8 another person who busted quickly
9 guy busted/reentered somewhere else

---------------
Blinds: 100/200
Hero dealt in UTG+2: Ah Jx 8x 5h

Preflop:
(folds to hero)
Hero: limps
Vil?: limps
Button: raises to 800
Hero: calls

(3 players - ~2700 in pot)
Flop: Jx 8d 2d

Hero: checks
Vil?: checks
Button: bets 2500
Hero: raises to 10500
Vil?: folds
Button: calls

Button: shows Ax Xx 6x 4x (no pair)
Hero and villain chop

Analysis:
Preflop: Limp/Call is fine. It's a little loose with A5xx and suited ace in EP, but the looser low limit live games can allow it w/o getting punished too often.
Flop: There's a chance Button folds A2xx to a check raise. Hero has great equity to c/r all in on this spot.

---------------
Hero also limp/folded Kx Ks Ts 8c

---------------
Hero's stack at level 4 break: 13750 @ 150/300

---------------
Hero's not sure when this hand happened. Possibly at 150/300 blind level, but may have been at 200/400.
Blinds: 150/300
Hero dealt in HJ?: AQJT (ATs)?

Preflop:
(folds to hero in HJ)
Hero (HJ): raises 750
Vil? (SB): calls
Vil? (BB): calls

(3 players - 2250 in pot)
Flop: J43 rainbow (may have been two tone, but definitely no hero flush draw)
Vil?: checks
Vil?: checks
Hero: bets 1500
Vil?: calls
Vil?: calls

(3 players - 7750 in pot)
Turn: J433K (two tone, hero has no flush draw)
Vil?: checks
Vil?: checks
Hero: bets ~4000
Vil?: folds
Vil?: calls

(2 players - 15750 in pot)
River: J433K
Vil?: checks
Hero: bets all in (~8k)
Vil?: folds

Analysis:
Flop: Hero's betting to with a high 1 way only hand. However, most times this should be a check/fold unless high card comes on turn.
Turn: Hero decides to continue aggression since villains may have low draw/1p that could fold to turn barrel
River: Every draw misses and hero can bluff off fish. In reality, this is probably a check though since most hands that would fold are hands that hero beats (missed low/flush draws)

---------------
Blinds: 200/400
Hero made marginal call after UTG raised with Kx 5s 3s 2s. Hero folded on flop.

---------------
Blinds: 200/400
Hero's stack: ~12000
BB's stack: ~15000

[Notes from scrap piece of paper and not in original notes, so some details are not exact :( ]
Hero dealt in : Ax Kx 7x 3x rainbow? (Hero doesn't remember exact hand)

Preflop:
Hero: raises to 1000
Vil6 (BB): calls

(2 players - 2200 in pot)
Flop: Kx 2s Js
Vil6: checks
Hero: bets 1500
Vil6: calls

(2 players - 5200 in pot)
Turn: Kx 2s Js 5x
Vil6: checks
Hero: bets 2725
Vil6: calls

(2 players - 10650 in pot)
River: Kx 2s Js 5x 9h
Vil6: bets all in (~7000)
Hero: tanks/folds

Vil6 says after hand that he had 22xx and didn't want to see low card on the river.

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard raise
Flop: Hero's hand isn't very strong, but it likely doesn't help villain too much. This is probably a bet fold as villains would probably raise sets, top 2p, nfd, and/or wraps w/ flush draws
Turn: Hero can try to barrel off fish with wraps or bad flush draws by turn bluff.
River: Hero has 1 pair/no high. It smelled like a bluffy line though, but it's hard to hero call with 1 pair.

Hero's stack: ~3500

---------------
Reentry period ends about 4 hands later with hero not being able to find a spot to get chips in.
After talking with friend, it seemed best to just get all chips in and muck hand w/o showdown.

Twitter:
Hero won first pot on blind steal. 4100
New table. 3200 300 600 blinds.

---------------
Hero gets moved to new table (table 13):

2nd Table Reads:

1 ?
2 Gavin Smith
3 ?
4 T. M. (friends with L. F.)
5 old guy?
6 older (30s) guy, husband of N. from Big O MTT.
7 hero
8 Asian person? (younger male)
9 older male from GN Big O MTT who made some crazy folds with < 1 PSB for MTT life
With 3600 in pot and 1600 to call, villain folded 943 rainbow.
Villain had made horrible fold in big o MTT for small stack. Normally jammed pre with 4 BB but stop and go works against fish.

---------------
Blinds: 400/800
Hero's stack: 4800
Other players had ~20k+

Hero dealt in CO: Qx 7h 3h 2x

Preflop:
(folds to hero)
Hero (CO): raises to 1700
(folds to SB)
Vil9 (SB): calls
Vil1 (BB): calls

(3 players - 5100 in pot)
Flop: Qx Tx 7x (rainbow)
Vil9: checks
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets all in (3100)
Vil9: calls

Board: Qx Tx 7x 3x Ax (rainbow)

Vil9: Shows QJ9x

Hero scoops:
Hero's stack: 10500

Analysis:
Preflop: This is a standard raising hand in LP. Hero has 3 low cards and is a decent favorite to stay alive in the MTT and pick up some chips.
Flop: 1 PSB + top/bottom pair = AI

---------------
Twitter note:
Hero could have folded for min raise with kqjj pre in bb, but fold equity was definitely there.

---------------
Table breaks and hero gets moved to table 2 (by front of room)
Last Table Reads:
1 ?
2 ?
3 ?
4 ?
5 older male?
6 ?
7 hero
8 T. M.
9 L. F.

---------------
Blinds: 600/1200
Hero's stack: ~9000
This hand was about ~5 hands into table
Hero dealt in HJ: Ah Qh Js Ts

Preflop:
Vil5 (UTG+1)  raise to ~3000
Hero: calls

(2 players - 7800 in pot)
Flop: Qc Jx 3c
Vil5: bets 4000
Hero: raises all in
Vil5: calls

Villain: shows Ax Ac 5c 3x
Board: Qc Jx 3c 5x 7c

Analysis:
Preflop: Without reads, sometimes a live player may have a super narrow raising range in EP. Is it just AAxx (some live players follow this philosophy)?
Hero's hand doesn't have much hot/cold equity against a nit's opening range (ie: AAxx) and it could possibly be a fold with a high only hand. It's close though.
Flop: Hero has decent equity even against a flush draw to call. Naked AA may call in this spot.

---------------
Hero out around 112th.

230 8 Game MTT at Golden Nugget

15000 starting chips at 25/50 blinds and 30 min. levels.

---------------
Late Registration Table Reads:
1 old guy
2 younger guy with glasses
3 Asian young guy with hoodie
4 John from 7 game at Horseshoe Hammond
5 middle aged guy
7 African American
8 hero

First level for NLHE and PLO had single 25 BB.

Level 5:
Limits: 400/800
Big Bet Game Blinds: 50/100

---------------
Stud Hi:
Limits: 400/800

Hero doesn't have any boards or dead cards.

3rd street = ?
Hero guesses that he completed and Vil4 called, bring in folded. (Hero had highest up card, but no idea about flush draws on board.)

Hero's guessed hole cards - buried 88-99 or split JJ

(2 players - ~1.94 sb in pot)
4th street:
Vil4: (Xx Xx) Tx Ks __checks__calls
Hero: (Xx Xx) Jx Ax __bets

(2 players - ~1.97 bb in pot)
5th street:
Vil4: (Xx Xx) Tx Ks 8s __checks__calls
Hero: (Xx Xx) Jx Ax Qx __bets

(2 players - ~3.97 bb in pot)
6th street:
Vil4: (Xx Xx) Tx Ks 8s 9s __checks
Hero: (Xx Xx) Jx Ax Qx Kx __checks

(2 players - ~3.97 bb in pot)
7th street:
Vil4: (Xx Xx) Tx Ks 8s 9s (Xx) __checks
Hero: (Xx Xx) Jx Ax Qx Kx (Xx) __checks

Hero loses (Hero likely shows 1p (JJ?) and Vil4 shows 2p (Tens up?)

Analysis:
4th Street: Hero continues aggression.
5th Street: Hero is bet/folding often, but perhaps hero should check/fold.
6th Street: Villain's board is scary and hero still doesn't have a hand IIRC.
7th Street: Hero has 1p and villain likely isn't folding against hero's scary board.

---------------
Stud8:
Limits: 400/800
Hero needs to get better at writing down all up cards :(

Dead Cards: Unknown :(
3rd Street:
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil7: (Xx Xx) 5x 7x 8x Jx (Xx)
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____brings in__folds
Hero: (3c 6c) Ax 4c 5x Jx (Ax)

(2 players - ~1.93 sb in pot)
4th Street:
Vil7: (Xx Xx) 5x 7x __checks__calls
Hero: (3c 6c) Ax 4c __bets

(2 players - ~1.97 bb in pot)
5th Street:
Vil7: (Xx Xx) 5x 7x 8x __checks__calls
Hero: (3c 6c) Ax 4c 5x __bets

(2 players - ~3.97 bb in pot)
6th Street:
Vil7: (Xx Xx) 5x 7x 8x Jx __checks__calls
Hero: (3c 6c) Ax 4c 5x Jx __bets

(2 players - ~5.97 bb in pot)
7th Street:
Vil7: (Xx Xx) 5x 7x 8x Jx (Xx) __checks__calls
Hero: (3c 6c) Ax 4c 5x Jx (Ax) __bets

Hero scoops!
Vil7: mucks

Analysis:
3rd Street: Hero has relatively strong draw in vacuum without knowing other up cards.
4th Street: Hero's betting for value with huge amount of equity against 75o board.
5th Street: Hero has huge equity and a lock low.
6th Street: Nothing change, so hero's equity increases more.
7th Street: Hero has chance to scoop with pair of aces. Hero's still board locking for low, so this is an automatic bet for value.

---------------
Table 2 - the next 1 to break

1 ?
2 ?
3 woman
4 hero
5 ?
6 older male
7 ?
8 ?

---------------
PLO:
Blinds: 100/200

Hero dealt UTG: Js Ts 9x 7x

Preflop:
Hero: raised to 500
Vil5: folds
Vil6: calls
Vil7: folds
Vil8: calls
Vil1: folds
Vil2 (SB): folds
Vil3 (BB): calls

(4 players - ~2100 in pot)
Flop: Ac 4d 4h
Vil3: checks
Hero: bets ~1100
Vil6: raises to 4000
Vil3: reraises all in (~15000)
Hero: thinks/folds
Vil6: calls

Vil3: Shows AAxx
Vil6: Shows Ah 2h 4s Xx

Board: Ac 4d 4h 4c Qs
Analysis:
Preflop: Standard open UTG.
Flop: This might have been a bad spot to bluff even in a 4 way pot even ignoring the results.

Vil6: Said he was telling his wife that he was in MTT. He said this was the "hand of the trip".
After this hand, hero mentioned that he had a couple running outs for steel wheel.

---------------
2-7 TD:
Limits: 800/1600

Hero dealt: 532xx (no blockers)

Vil3: raises
Hero: calls

Vil3 pat b pat x pat x/c
Hero 2 c 1 x 1 b

Hero's hand after 1st draw: 6532x (hero doesn't remember if he got a blocker)
Hero's hand after 1st draw: 6532x (hero doesn't remember if he got a blocker)
Hero's hand after 1st draw: 86532

Vil3: Says they misread hand and showed 86553
Hero: scoops anyway with 86532

Hero's stack: 22500

Analysis:
Predraw: No reason to inflate pot with 3 wheel cards + 2.
1st Draw: Hero keeps 8 or better.
Betting after 1st Draw: standard to call and try to improve on 1 card draw. It's a fold if hero doesn't improve by 2nd draw to 1 card draw.
2nd Draw: Hero keeps 86 or better.
Betting after 2nd Draw: Vil3 not betting is a spew. Vil3 turned hand face up to weak 86 hand (which is likely anyway given villain was pat).
3rd Draw: Same as 2nd draw.
Betting after 3rd Draw: Standard value bet. Villain can call with any 87, maybe even some bad 9s.

---------------
Hero is moved to new table (again) after this table breaks.

---------------
Table 3 Reads:

1 older player (male)
2 ?
3 ?
4 ?
5 ?
6 ?
7 ?
8 hero

---------------
2-7 TD:
Limits: 800/1600

Hero dealt in BB: 85KQJ

Pre-Draw:
Vil1: limps
(folds to hero)
Hero (BB): checks

1D 1B 2D 2B 3D 3B
Hero: 3 x/c 2 x 2 b
Vil1: 1 b 1 x 1 c
Hero's hand after 1st draw: 85xxx
Hero's hand after 2nd draw: 852xx
Hero's hand after 3rd draw: 85432

Villain mucks

Analysis:
Betting after 1st Draw: Hero decides to peel lightly in small pot. Honestly, this is probably a mistake.
Betting after 2nd Draw: Hero is c/f often. Not sure why villain didn't just bet
Betting after 3rd Draw: Easy value bet as hero's perceived range is pretty wide to be betting into player drawing 1.

---------------
2-7 TD:
Limits: 800/1600

Hero dealt in SB: 98763

Pre-Draw:
(folds to hero)
Hero (SB): raises
Vil1 (BB): reraises
Hero (SB): calls

1D 1B 2D 2B 3D 3B
Hero: 1 x/c 1 x/f
Vil1: 1 b 1 x

Hero's hand after 1st draw: 8763x
Hero's hand after 2nd draw: 87663

Analysis:
1st Draw: Hero decided to break rough 9 after first draw.
Betting after 1st Draw: Standard c/c.
2nd Draw: Hero's hand is rough and hero decides to give it up.
Betting after 2nd Draw: Hero could continue drawing, but there's huge RIO and hero is OOP.

---------------
2-7 TD:
Limits: 800/1600

Hero dealt in CO: 7652x (no wheel, 6, or 8 blocker IIRC)

Pre-Draw:
(folds to hero)
Hero (CO): raises
Vil1 (But): calls
(other players fold)

1D 1B 2D 2B 3D 3B
Hero: 1 b 1 x 1 x
Vil1: 1 c 1 x 1 x

Hero's hand after 1st draw: 7652x
Hero's hand after 2nd draw: 7652x (Q)?
Hero's hand after 3rd draw: T7652

Analysis:
1st Draw: Keep drawing smooth.
Betting after 1st Draw: Hero has positive implied odds and continues to bet
2nd Draw: Same as 1st draw.
Betting after 2nd Draw: Hero may be bet/calling often behind and guessing if ahead/behind OOP. Hero checks/villain checks back is fine. Villain likely doesn't have strong hand.
3rd Draw: Hero dumps Q since Q is not favorite over 1 card draw + hero has huge positive implied odds with 3/4.
Betting after 3rd Draw: Hero's hand is a bluff catcher at best. There's no value in betting.

---------------
Table breaks and hero moves again.

---------------
Table 4 Reads:

1 ?
2 female (middle aged) player?
3 Hero
4 E. T.
5 ?
6 ?
7 ?
8 ?

---------------
Hero's stack at level 9 break: 18000
Limits: 1000/2000
Big Bet Game Blinds: 100/250

---------------
Razz:
Limits: 1000/2000
(right after the level 8 break)

Dead cards: No other 5/6 dead and maybe 1-2 other wheel cards.
3rd street:
Vil1: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil2: (Xx Xx) 5x ____complete____call
Hero: (5x 8x) 6x ____raise
Vil4: (Xx Xx) 6x ____call
Vil5: (Xx Xx) Xx __brings in__folds
Vil6: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Vil7: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Vil8: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds

(3 players - 7.375 sb in pot)
4th street:
Vil2: (Xx Xx) 5x 9x __bet
Hero: (5x 8x) 6x Qx __call
Vil4: (Xx Xx) 6x Jx __call

(3 players - 3.6875 bb in pot)
5th street:
Vil2: (Xx Xx) 5x 9x Jx __check
Hero: (5x 8x) 6x Qx 7x __check
Vil4: (Xx Xx) 6x Jx 8x __check

(3 players - 3.6875 bb in pot)
6th street:
Vil2: (Xx Xx) 5x 9x Jx Tx _____call____fold
Hero: (5x 8x) 6x Qx 7x 2x _____raise
Vil4: (Xx Xx) 6x Jx 8x Tx __bet____tank/fold

Analysis:
3rd Street: Hero raises for value and isolation. There are a lot of hero's dead cards, but hero's hand is objectively "weak" from an absolute value perspective.
4th Street: Bloated pot = hero peel.
5th Street: Hero has the worst hand and a questionable, possibly not best draw.
6th street: Hero makes a hand and raises for value to price out Vil4 who actually has the best hand (and possibly best draw). Hero's fortunate to get fold as Vil4 is likely very live.

Hero's stack: 28250 @ 1200/2400 limits

---------------
Stud Hi
Limits: 1200/2400

Hero dealt: (Js 7c) As (hero's hand may not be exact).

dead TT92
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil5: (Xx Xx) 9x ____completes__calls
Hero: (Js 7c) Ax ____reraises
Vil7: (Xx Xx) Xx ____folds
Vil8: (Xx Xx) 2x __brings in

(2 players - 4.33 sb in pot)
Vil5: (Xx Xx) 9x 9x ____double bet
Hero: (Js 7c) Ax Kx ____fold

Analysis:
3rd street: Hero tries to over-represent an Ace since villain raised with dead 9
4th street: Hero easily folds. Villain likely has 2p and is way ahead of top of hero's range anyway (Split AA).

---------------
PLO
Blinds: 150/300

Hero dealt UTG: Ad Kc Jd 7c

Preflop:
Hero (UTG, ~7k): raises to 700
Vil4 (UTG+1, ~10k): calls
Vil7 (CO, ~7k): calls

(3 players - 2550 in pot)
Flop: Ax 9c 8x
all players check

(3 players - 2550 in pot)
Turn: Ax 9c 8x Tc
Hero: bets 1400
Vil4: folds
Vil7: calls

(3 players - 5350 in pot)
River: Ax 9c 8x Tc Qx
Hero: shoves
Vil7: calls

Vil7: shows KKJTr and chops pot

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero can limp or raise for value.
Flop: Hero decides to check back flop as hero's hand strength is ok. Hero also would be guessing many turn cards that complete broadway wraps.
Turn: Although a broadway straight completes, hero can semi-bluff (bet/call) the turn.
River: Hero's can bet to get AAxx or TTxx to call. Would villain be more likely to bluff missed draws?
Sigh, maybe this is c/r.

---------------
Table 5 Reads:

1 ?
2 E. T.
3 hero
4 C. "Fox" W. (sharkoptics card and from MN)
5 older male
6 another middle aged male from MN
7 ?
8 ?

---------------
LHE:
Limits: (likely) 1500/3000

Dealt to hero in SB: Ts 7s

Preflop:
Folds to hero
Hero: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: In cash game, hero would open.
In an MTT, Hero doesn't have to VPIP and can play tight.

---------------
LHE: Hero opened A9o in CO (players before hero had folded).

---------------
LHE:
Limits: (likely) 1500/3000

Dealt to hero in LP: AJo

Vil1 (UTG+1): raises
Hero (HJ): 3b
(other players fold)
Vil1: calls

(2 players - 7.5 sb)
Flop:
Kx 6x 2x (rainbow)
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets
Vil1: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: This might have been a mistake w/o knowing villain's opening range. Live villains generally don't 3b (gap concept) in LHE.
Hero is basically turning hand into bluff with blocker value...
Flop: Hero has crazy amounts of FE and barrel cards.

---------------
Razz
Limits: 2000/4000
Dead Cards: A7443

Vil?: (Xx Xx) Xx __brings in____folds
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Ax __completes
Hero: (Ax 4x) 7x __raises

(2 players - 5.5 sb in pot)
4th street:
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Ax 3x __bets
Hero: (Ax 4x) 7x Jx __calls

(2 players - 3.75 bb in pot)
5th street:
Vil?: (Xx Xx) Ax 3x 4x __bets
Hero: (Ax 4x) 7x Jx Qx __folds

Analysis:
3rd Street: Although there are slight reverse implied odds with 7 door, hero raises for value with so many dead hero cards.
4th Street: Bloated pot on 3rd (reraised pot) = peel
5th Street: Peeling stops here.

---------------
Hero's stack at dinner break (level 13): 13100
Limits: 3000/6000
Big Bet Game Blinds: 300/600

---------------
Stud:
Limits: 3000/6000

Dead cards: No diamonds
Hero: (7d 6d) 5s ____completes
Vil4: (Xx Xx) 4x ____folds
Vil5: (Xx Xx) 3h __brings in__calls
[other players fold]

(2 players - 3.33 sb in pot)
4th street:
Hero: (7d 6d) 5s Th 8c ____checks
Vil5: (Xx Xx) 3h 3s 9d __checks

(2 players - 1.67 bb in pot)
5th street:
Hero: (7d 6d) 5s Th 2c ______folds
Vil5: (Xx Xx) 3h 3s 9d __bets

Analysis:
3rd Street: Ante steal. Hero has overs to bring and can be aggressive even though other some of hero's straight cards are dead.
4th Street: Villain pairs and hero bricks. Hero checks back as some villains do weird things when pairing door card.
5th Street: Villain donks (likely on steal but actually has best hand). Hero gives up on steal.

---------------
Stud: Hero was bring in 2x
Stud8: Hero folded (8x 3s) 4s with QA2 behind hero

---------------
Stud8:
Limits: 3000/6000

Dead up cards: 652 (no A on board)

3rd street:
Vil1: (Xx Xx) 2x __brings in
Vil2: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Hero: (4x 5x) 5x __completes (all in)
Vil4: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Vil5: (Xx Xx) 5x __calls
Vil6: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Vil7: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds
Vil8: (Xx Xx) Xx __folds

Vil5: shows (8s 6s) 5x

Hero: (4x 5x) 5x Tx Jx Qx (4x)
Vil5: (8s 6s) 5x 9x Jx 7x (Qx)

Analysis:
3rd Street: On ante steal, hero steals and is ok happy seeing 865.

---------------
Hero out around 34th (9 places pay because copied NLHE payout sheets.)
Field was very soft for most part. There were seemingly only a handful of competent players.