600 PLO MTT at Venetian

600 PLO MTT at Venetian
15000 starting chips at 50/100 blinds and 40 min. levels.

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First Table Reads (back of room - left or middle table):
1 old guy/glasses
2 young Asian (late register)
3 young white male (friends with young female Asian in Venetian PLO8 MTT)
4 mid aged guy
5 (late - 2nd level) - older Asian
6 hero
7 middle aged Asian
8 young/middle aged guy with cap
9 young guy with glasses/headphones

Level 2 - updated reads
2 new middle aged guy with grey hair

Level 3 - updated reads:
8 big, middle aged guy

Level 4 - updated reads:
3 mid aged African American guy with tattoos and Beats by Dre headphones. He seemed to be loose and open 7542ds towards end of registration period.
4 late registrant - large caucasian guy with glasses, noticed he 3 barrelled and seemed like NLHE player
7 moved to table - young European guy

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Hero dealt in BB: Ax As 9x 4s

Preflop:
(folds to Vil9)
Vil9 (CO): raises to 250
Vil1 (But): calls
Vil2 (SB): folds
Hero (BB): calls

(3 players - 800 in pot)
Flop: Ah 9d Td
all players check

(3 players - 800 in pot)
Turn: Ah 9d Td 4x
all players check

(3 players - 800 in pot)
River: Ah 9d Td 4x 5x
Vil2: checks
Hero: bets 450
Vil9: calls
Vil2: folds

Vil9: mucks

Analysis:
Preflop: Stack depth is too deep to 3-bet.
Flop: There could be merit in donk betting into PFR to setup b/3b scenario. However, it is a bit optimistic + still does not get the majority of hero's stack into the middle.
Turn: Hero should probably bet turn.
River: Hero makes smallish river value bet. Hero would probably bet/fold this hand.

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Level 2 - Blinds: 75/150
Hero dealt in BB: Kd Kx 4d 4x

Preflop:
Vil1 (HJ): raises to 350
Vil2: folds
Vil3 (But): calls
Vil5 (SB): folds
Hero (BB): calls

(3 players - 1125 in pot)
Flop: 6x 6x 2d
Hero: checks
Vil1: bets 600
Vil3: folds
Hero: calls

(2 players - 2325 in pot)
Turn: 6x 6x 2d Ad
Vil1: checks
Hero: checks

(2 players - 2325 in pot)
River: 6x 6x 2d Ad Td
Vil1: checks
Hero: bets 1000
Vil1: folds

Analysis:
Flop: Hero has overpair on board that does not likely hit villain. Hero would fold to raise or 2nd barrel.
Turn: Hero check and may call 2nd barrel with nut flush draw + overpair. Check is good though.
River: Hero goes for thin value with nut flush on paired board. Villain may call with a weirdly played 6xxx, but it's smaller part of range based on flop bet. Axxx might have called a thin value bet, but it's hard given the board was already paired and now a flush came in. There might be some thought to check/calling.

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Hero dealt in on button: Ks Kx 6s 2x

Preflop:
(folds to hero)
Hero (button): raises to 350
Vil7 (SB): folds
Vil9 (BB): calls

(2 players - 775 in pot)
Flop: 9x 5s 7s
Vil9: checks
Hero: checks

(2 players - 775 in pot)
Turn: 9x 5s 7s Tc
Vil9: checks
Hero: bets 350
Vil9: calls

(2 players - 1475 in pot)
River: 9x 5s 7s Tc Ax
Vil9: checks
Hero: checks

Vil9: Shows As Ax 8s Xx
Hero: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: standard
Flop: On a connected board, hero decides to play a small pot (deceptively) and check with 2nd nut flush draw + overpair and only 1 straight blocker.
Turn: Hero decides to bluff turn card and possibly fire many rivers.
River: Not a great card for hero, hero changes plan and decides to check.

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Hero dealt in HJ: Ad Kd 3h 2d

Preflop:
Vil4 (EP): raises to 350
Hero (HJ): calls
Vil7 (CO): calls
Vil1 (BB): calls

(4 players - ~1475 in pot)
Flop: Ax Ax 8x (rainbow)
all players check

(4 players - ~1475 in pot)
Turn: Ax Ax 8x Xx(rainbow)
Vil4: checks
Hero: bets 1000
all players fold

Analysis:
Preflop: standard
Flop: Hero could bet, but there are few Axxx & 88xx combinations. Hero also turns hand face up and may not balance check back range in MW pot
Turn: Hero decides to start trying to extract value.

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Hero dealt in ?: Ah Jh 9d 7d

Preflop:
(folds to Vil3)
Vil3 (EP): raises to ~350
Vil4: calls
Hero (HJ): calls
(all other players fold)

(3 players - 1275 in pot)
Flop: 7s 5x 5s
Vil4: bets ????
Hero: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard call.
Flop: Hero does not have any real equity and check/folds to bet.

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Hero dealt in UTG+2: Kd Kx 4d 4x

Preflop:
Vil4 (UTG): raises to 300
Vil5: folds
Hero: calls
Vil7: calls
Vil8: folds
Vil9: folds
Vil1: calls
Vil2 (SB): folds
Vil3: calls

(5 players - 1575 in pot)
Flop: Ah Ax 2h
all players check

(5 players - 1575 in pot)
Turn: Ah Ax 2h 9x
Vil?: bets
all players fold

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard.
Flop: Standard. Hero has no equity or blockers to bluff.
Turn: Standard fold.

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Hero dealt UTG+1: Qx Tc 9x 7c

Preflop:
Vil5: folds
Hero: raises to 350
(folds to Vil1)
Vil1: calls

(2 players - 925 in pot)
Flop: Ax Td 8d
both players check

(2 players - 925 in pot)
Turn: Ax Td 8d Xx Xx (doesn't complete flush or straight draw)
both players check

(2 players - 925 in pot)
River: Ax Td 8d Xx Xx (doesn't complete flush or straight draw)
both players check

Vil1: shows Qx Js Ts 9x
Vil1: wins pot

Analysis;
Preflop:  Standard raise with rundown.
Flop: Hero has weak hand and draw and decides to check.
Turn: There could be merit in trying to bet this street and price out naked flush draws, but hero has some showdown value against random hands and decides to check.
River: There could be value in turning hand into bluff, but board did not have any draws complete.

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Level 3 - Blinds: 100/200
Hero dealt in BB: As Kh Th 6x

Reads: Vil9 seemed to be a bit competent in spots.

Preflop:
Vil9 (UTG+2): raises to 500
Vil1: calls
(folds to hero)
Hero (BB): calls

(3 players - 1600 in pot)
Flop: Ah 3h 3x
Hero: checks
Vil9: bets 500
Vil1: folds
Hero: calls

(2 players - 2600 in pot)
Turn: Ah 3h 3x Kh
Hero: checks
Vil9: checks

River: Ah 3h 3x Kh Kx
Hero: bets 2500
Vil6: thinks for 10 seconds, then raises to 6500
Hero: thinks for a while, then calls

Vil9: shows AJxx
Hero: wins pot

Analysis:
Preflop: Suited A + 3 broadway = call MW.
Flop: Hero plays pot control. Villain's betting range could be anything.
Turn: Hero may or may not fold to turn bet. It is a little close as hero has some outs if up against a 3xxx.
River; Hero decides to go for value against a random 3xxx hand. When hero is raised, what should hero do?
Vil9's range consists of {AAxx, 33xx, AKxx, some bluffs}. There's not really value in raise/folding, because only 33xx and AAxx would call. AAxx might even fold once in a while.

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Hero limp/folded preflop with QJJx on button limp once UTG limp/reraised a SB (or BB) raise.
Hero made nitty fold in BB with Ks Kx 5s 5x against Vil3's loose open.

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Twitter: Venetian PLO. 22375 150 300 after break. Played and ran well early.

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Level 4 - Blinds: 150/300

Hero dealt in BB: Xx Xx Xx Xx (hand was random weak hand).

Preflop:
Vil1: limps
(folds to SB)
Vil5 (SB): limps
Hero (BB): checks

(3 players - 900 in pot)
Flop: 9x 9c 7c
Vil5: checks
Hero: bets 500
Vil1: calls
Vil5: folds

(2 players - 1900 in pot)
Turn: 9x 9c 7c 3s
Hero: bets 1200
Vil5: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero had bad hand and checks option.
Flop: This is a little bit of a wet flop given paired nature, but hero decides to barrel twice. It looks a bit strong in limped pot, and one player already checked (with one player behind) to make it profitable.
Turn: A brick turn = hero bets. Hero takes down pot.

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Hero dealt on button: Ac Jc 6x 5x

Preflop:
Vil3 (HJ): raises to ~700
Hero: calls
Vil6 (SB): folds
Vil7 (BB): repots
Vil3: folds
Hero: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: This is an ok hand to peel flop in likely MW pot in position, but has very poor equity against AAxx/KKxx (most likely AAxx given unknown villain read).

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2nd Table (due to table change)

1 [empty], eventually younger guy with beard and blue reflective sunglasses
2 hero
3 Colin (Cleveland poker player regular) - young/middle aged guy
4 middle aged African American (black clover symbol on hat)
5 Munn - young/middle aged Asian
6 [empty]
7 young Asian with OKC cap (later - old guy, balding)
8 European - young male
9 old guy with glasses (level 6 - young guy, later young guy with long hair and headphones)

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Level 4 - Blinds: 200/400

Hero dealt in CO: Tc 9c 8s 6c (Hero is not sure of hand, but likely a decent rundown with 1+ suit and possibly 1-2 gaps.)

Preflop:
(folds to Vil1)
Vil1 (HJ): raises to 1400
Hero (CO): calls
Vil3 (But): raises to 5500
(folds to Vil1)
Vil1: calls
Hero: calls

(3 players - 18300 in pot)
Flop: Jx Jh 5h
all players check

(3 players - 18300 in pot)
Turn: Jx Jh 5h 3h
all players check

(3 players - 18300 in pot)
River: Jx Jh 5h 3h Xx (not board pair, likely under card like 8x)

Analysis:
Preflop: IIRC, hero has rundown and really should never fold even when facing a 3 bet.
Flop: In a 3 bet pot, hero is trying to get to showdown cheaply. Hero does not have overpair, J, or any pair. Thus, hero is likely folding to any bet.
Turn: Same as flop.
River; Hero does not really beat anything but bluff. Hero decides to fold.

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Hero dealt in : Kh Qh Td 8s

Preflop:
(folds to Vil5)
Vil5: limps
(folds to Vil8)
Vil8: limps
Vil1 (~6-7k): raises to 2k
Hero (CO, 12k): raises to 8k
(all other players fold)
Vil5: folds
Vil8: folds

Vil1: shows Ac 5c 4x 3x

Board: 4x Jx 6s Ks 8s

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero decides to isolate short stack with good rundown. There is merit to calling and seeing a flop though.

Hero's stack: 23100

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Hero dealt in HJ?: Ah Kc 9h 5c

Preflop:
(folds to hero)
Hero: raises to 1100
(folds to Vil9)
Vil9: calls

(2 players - ~2950 in pot)
Flop: Qx 8x 5x (two tone)
both players check

(2 players - ~2950 in pot)
Turn: Qx 8x 5x 8x (two tone)
Vil9: bets ?? (1500-2000?)
Hero: folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Standard raise in HJ
Flop: Hero decides to check a wet board
Turn: Villain bets. Hero notes villain's willingness to stab on board.

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Level 6 - Blinds: 250/500
Effective stacks; 25000 (50 BB)

Hero dealt in HJ: Ax Ax 9x 4x (rainbow)

Preflop:
Vil9: raises to 1100
Vil1: calls
Hero: calls
Vil3: calls
Vil4: folds
Vil5: folds
Vil6 (BB): calls

(5 players - 5500 in pot)
Flop: Ax Kx Tx (rainbow)
Vil9: checks
Vil1: bets pot (5500)
Hero: tanks, then folds

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero is unable to put in enough of stakc (~33+%) to leave 1 PSB on flop. Hero plays small pot.
Flop: Vil9 "betting pot" screams broadway. Player seemed like old person.
While hero does have enough equity to call and "boat mine", hero may never see turn card and have to risk MTT life unnecessarily especially OOP with other players left behind. This is a "lessen variance in an MTT and fold" spot with a probable edge against the field.

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Hero's stack at level 7 (dinner break): ~23000 @ 300/600

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Level 7 - Blinds: 300/600
Third hand after dinner

Reads; Vil9 had been very aggressive.

Hero dealt in BB: Ks Kx 5s 5x

Preflop:
Vil3 (~40k): limps
Vil5 (23k): limps
Vil9 (~30-40k): limps
(2 other players also limp)
Hero: checks

(6 players - 3600 in pot)
Flop: Qx 5s 3s
Hero: checks
Vil3: bets 1400
(3 players fold)
Vil9: calls
Hero: calls

(3 players - 7800 in pot)
Turn: Qx 5s 3s 6s
Hero: checks
Vil3: checks
Vil9: thinks for a little bit, then bets 5000
Hero: thinks for a while, then calls
Vil3: calls

(3 players - 22800 in pot)
River: Qx 5s 3s 6s 4x
Hero: checks
Vil3: checks
Vil9: thinks for a little while (as on turn), then bets 12000
Hero: thinks for a while, then calls
Vil3: folds

Vil9: shows As Xs Xx Xx
Hero: mucks

Analysis:
Preflop: Hero is unable to get significant portion of stack in middle with KKxx, so hero checks.
Flop: Hero tries to pot control in this spot. Hero has a deep stack in relation to pot and bet size. Hero thought about raise size, but hero could not raise and get 75+% of stack in. Hero decides to continue standard strategy to check call and redetermine on turn.
Turn: A decent turn card. Hero thinks for a while before calling. It is possible villain is bluffing with naked ace flush blocker or even betting a worse hand. Hero likely needs to call 2 bets to get to river.
River: The river barrel further eliminates medium flushes and turns it into the classic PLO/PLO8 scenario: nut flush or nut flush blocker. Hero still thinks there is enough chance given the aggressive nature of villain.
Vil9: Would an aggressive villain continue to barrel repeatedly given the number of players in pot?

In hindsight, villains will more likely play straightforward in a 3+ MW pot. Hero should more easily consider a fold, although it is somewhat close.

Afterwards, Vil3 says he had QQxx.
Additionally, hero said if Vil3 had raised flop, hero would reraise with set+flush draw as a favorite against a lot of things.
Hero's tweet: Lost a big multiway pot. Second second is not just found in multiway split pot games. Sigh. 3900 300 600.

Hero's stack: 3900 @ 300/600

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Hero dealt in HJ: Ac Jx Tx 2c

Preflop:
(folds to Hero)
Hero (HJ): raises to 2100
Vil5 (SB): calls
Vil6 (BB): calls

(3 players - 6300 in pot)
Flop: 4x 6d 7d
all players check

(3 players - 6300 in pot)
Turn: 4x 6d 7d 8x
Vil5: bets 900
Vil6: folds
Hero: thinks for a long time since it is tournament life, then calls

Vil5: shows 84xx

(2 players - 8100 in pot, 1 player all in)
River: 4x 6d 7d 8x 3x

Analysis:
Preflop: This was a loose open with ~4-5 BBs as it's not JJxx+ or AKxx. AJxx with a suit is a bit loose. Also, there's no reason to raise to 2100. 1500 would probably get same amount of fold equity and not "set alarm bells off" considering no other player raised pot.
Flop: Hero hopes to see free turn card in position. There might be some fold equity, but it is very unlikely.
Turn: Math says this is a marginal call at best. Hero could grind short stack better with more equity and try to flip. 900 to win 7200 = ~12.5% equity :(

Hero projected only gutshot - 9-10% equity.
http://propokertools.com/simulations/show?b=4h+6d+7d+8h&g=oh&h1=84kq&h2=js+ts+ac+2c&s=generic
Omaha Hi Simulation ?
5,760 trials (Exhaustive)
board: 4h 6d 7d 8h
Hand Equity Wins Ties
84kq 90.99% 5,241 0
js ts ac 2c 9.01% 519 0
2+2 · Deuces Cracked · LeggoPoker

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Overall Thoughts: There were a couple questionable plays (last 2 hands). Hand analysis was a bit tricky without becoming "results oriented".
Perhaps hero should have preserved chips especially in last "stand" with 3k chips (5BB) by just raising to 1500.

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Hero out in 93rd. 287 total entries and 34 play.