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Archive Oct 2007: StrayBullet
Vegas Trip - Last Day, part 3 (Fremont, Paris & Bally's)
by StrayBullet on 10/06/07
Day9, 9/29, the ride is over:
OK, so it’s 8:30pm and I want a cigar, except I’d already smoked the only one I brought with me. I talked with Cindy, who was still in the tournament like a good player should be, and guided me towards a small piano bar between Paris and Bally’s where I could buy and smoke ‘em in a nice atmosphere. Sounded like a good plan, but I wanted Cubans to complete that picture and since I knew where to score ‘em, it was only a matter of getting down there. In hindsight, a cab would’ve done the trick a little better, but I pulled the car out of TI and took 15N to 95S, exiting down-town, preparing to use Binions valet. Off the ramp, through the light and right onto Ogden then a left into the valet area. I was asked if I was a hotel guest and of course I said yes adding, “I may not be long as I just have to check-in then head back to the strip for a tournament.” I took my ticket, exchanging it for a $5 and was on my way to the shop :)
I had to weave my way through the crowd, down to 4th street, next to the Harley Shop, but it was an interesting walk :D When I got there, Andy and Luis were working their magic, the place was hopping! I picked up 2 more Cohibas, 2 Monte #2s and an H. Upman. Lit up the Upman at the shop and took a seat on the couch to soak in the ambience yet one more time before leaving town. It’s a wonderful way to cap a trip, a $25 stick, smoked from a front row seat onto the freak show called Fremont :D Some guy wandered in and freaked out that there were cops in the humidor and talk of Cubans were loud :D I later figured out why he was so jittery, as his glassy eyes, and slurred speech surely meant he was lit, and had I been his New Jersey arse woulda sucked the high right outta me. I took all any sane man could stand, making small talk and responding to inane comments regarding nothing about nothing. I did strike up an interesting biker attending the festival when I noticed a pin on his jacket. I asked him how long he’d been in the Navy and it just took off from there, I spent 6 years in myself.
So, forced off my vantage to the real Vegas thanks to blow-your-high-jersey-boy, I decided to hoof it back towards the car and figure out what to do for the remainder of my waking time in town. I could stay downtown somewhere, grabbing something to eat and playing in the 2am Binions tourney. But that would really eat up the time. Other options would be to head to that piano bar and fire up another Cuban. Then I could find a game from there, maybe the $1/2 at Bally’s or the 2am at TI, etc. I opted for the Piano Bar and headed for the Caesars parking garage, BIG MISTAKE!!! I should’ve just parked at TI and walked, but I’d already put tons of miles of the peds already and didn’t feel like making another “long” round trip trek. I’d forgot about ir being Fight Night and it was just letting out, the Strip was a MADHOUSE! When I finally was able to park, the elevators were jammed, so down the stairs I went, then out into the cool evening for a nice stroll down the boulevard. Not a bad follow up to the action Freemont has to offer and a nice addition to evening capper. The fountains are firing, the roads are jammed, and there’s electricity in the air. Lite another stick and I’m on my way.
I make my way into the walled off section at the back of the bar into a secluded area with plush chairs and the heavy air of fine aromas! I splurge on a $4 Pepsi and cop a squat. The music is all request by bribe and they’re really pretty good, I’m having a great time just sitting watching from my windowed vantage as people transition from Bally’s to Paris and back again. Coupled with the scene inside the bar, the cigar and the company, how can this be beat? Oh yeah, I COULDA WON AT SOME POINT! When the stogie runs its’ course, a new plan is what I need. I’ve had good luck at the Bally’s room on previous trips and although it’s a loud “room” I like the play, so I decide on a $1/2NL to cap off my Vegas trip. It took a while to get seated, maybe like 20 minutes as many people were changing tables (5 games were running), and I was 4th on the list as it was. Around 12:45am or so, I get into the game with $200 behind, and immediately see why all the seat changes were going down. I’m surrounded by big-stacks and people who look like they’ve stalked the room! How the hell did I wind up a the only table full of people feeding off people like me while I’m trying to nibble my way to poker ramen noodles!
It’s quickly apparent that I’m in the wrong game, but it’s only $200, and I’ve already waited to play, so what the hell? Let’s have a good time and see if we can learn something along the way while handling cards for the last few minutes of your card playing time in town!
I quickly assessed that I was in for a ride, when stuff like Q2s is out flopping top pairs, in raised pots. All I can do is control the bleeding. I win a few hands and just take in the atmosphere as I order caffeine laden drinks again and again. It’s all I can do help abate the yawns and drooping bloodshot eyes. I end down $100 with nothing much really to speak of, except it’s apparent that I suck at poker and I have a LOT to learn. I cash out my paltry lone bill and make my way back to Caesars to pick up the rental. It’s nearing 3am and the ride out of the garage is a much easier trip that earlier. I easily sail back to TI as the strip and settled down, there’s still plenty of life, but it’s changed, it’s subtle, but it’s there.
I wanted to stop back by the room and see who was still hanging around. Said my goodbyes to LVM and OD, what’s a trip it’s been! Like I said, it’s always a blast, it just hasn’t been profitable lately. Between this trip and the WSOP, I don’t need a rubber band any longer. It’s back to studying the game, to find and fix the leaks, or at the very least, make sure I’m working from a good base and really am making the right decisions! You always have to be open to honest assessment and to learn. I’ll be back and hopefully the better for it!
OK, so it’s 8:30pm and I want a cigar, except I’d already smoked the only one I brought with me. I talked with Cindy, who was still in the tournament like a good player should be, and guided me towards a small piano bar between Paris and Bally’s where I could buy and smoke ‘em in a nice atmosphere. Sounded like a good plan, but I wanted Cubans to complete that picture and since I knew where to score ‘em, it was only a matter of getting down there. In hindsight, a cab would’ve done the trick a little better, but I pulled the car out of TI and took 15N to 95S, exiting down-town, preparing to use Binions valet. Off the ramp, through the light and right onto Ogden then a left into the valet area. I was asked if I was a hotel guest and of course I said yes adding, “I may not be long as I just have to check-in then head back to the strip for a tournament.” I took my ticket, exchanging it for a $5 and was on my way to the shop :)
I had to weave my way through the crowd, down to 4th street, next to the Harley Shop, but it was an interesting walk :D When I got there, Andy and Luis were working their magic, the place was hopping! I picked up 2 more Cohibas, 2 Monte #2s and an H. Upman. Lit up the Upman at the shop and took a seat on the couch to soak in the ambience yet one more time before leaving town. It’s a wonderful way to cap a trip, a $25 stick, smoked from a front row seat onto the freak show called Fremont :D Some guy wandered in and freaked out that there were cops in the humidor and talk of Cubans were loud :D I later figured out why he was so jittery, as his glassy eyes, and slurred speech surely meant he was lit, and had I been his New Jersey arse woulda sucked the high right outta me. I took all any sane man could stand, making small talk and responding to inane comments regarding nothing about nothing. I did strike up an interesting biker attending the festival when I noticed a pin on his jacket. I asked him how long he’d been in the Navy and it just took off from there, I spent 6 years in myself.
So, forced off my vantage to the real Vegas thanks to blow-your-high-jersey-boy, I decided to hoof it back towards the car and figure out what to do for the remainder of my waking time in town. I could stay downtown somewhere, grabbing something to eat and playing in the 2am Binions tourney. But that would really eat up the time. Other options would be to head to that piano bar and fire up another Cuban. Then I could find a game from there, maybe the $1/2 at Bally’s or the 2am at TI, etc. I opted for the Piano Bar and headed for the Caesars parking garage, BIG MISTAKE!!! I should’ve just parked at TI and walked, but I’d already put tons of miles of the peds already and didn’t feel like making another “long” round trip trek. I’d forgot about ir being Fight Night and it was just letting out, the Strip was a MADHOUSE! When I finally was able to park, the elevators were jammed, so down the stairs I went, then out into the cool evening for a nice stroll down the boulevard. Not a bad follow up to the action Freemont has to offer and a nice addition to evening capper. The fountains are firing, the roads are jammed, and there’s electricity in the air. Lite another stick and I’m on my way.
I make my way into the walled off section at the back of the bar into a secluded area with plush chairs and the heavy air of fine aromas! I splurge on a $4 Pepsi and cop a squat. The music is all request by bribe and they’re really pretty good, I’m having a great time just sitting watching from my windowed vantage as people transition from Bally’s to Paris and back again. Coupled with the scene inside the bar, the cigar and the company, how can this be beat? Oh yeah, I COULDA WON AT SOME POINT! When the stogie runs its’ course, a new plan is what I need. I’ve had good luck at the Bally’s room on previous trips and although it’s a loud “room” I like the play, so I decide on a $1/2NL to cap off my Vegas trip. It took a while to get seated, maybe like 20 minutes as many people were changing tables (5 games were running), and I was 4th on the list as it was. Around 12:45am or so, I get into the game with $200 behind, and immediately see why all the seat changes were going down. I’m surrounded by big-stacks and people who look like they’ve stalked the room! How the hell did I wind up a the only table full of people feeding off people like me while I’m trying to nibble my way to poker ramen noodles!
It’s quickly apparent that I’m in the wrong game, but it’s only $200, and I’ve already waited to play, so what the hell? Let’s have a good time and see if we can learn something along the way while handling cards for the last few minutes of your card playing time in town!
I quickly assessed that I was in for a ride, when stuff like Q2s is out flopping top pairs, in raised pots. All I can do is control the bleeding. I win a few hands and just take in the atmosphere as I order caffeine laden drinks again and again. It’s all I can do help abate the yawns and drooping bloodshot eyes. I end down $100 with nothing much really to speak of, except it’s apparent that I suck at poker and I have a LOT to learn. I cash out my paltry lone bill and make my way back to Caesars to pick up the rental. It’s nearing 3am and the ride out of the garage is a much easier trip that earlier. I easily sail back to TI as the strip and settled down, there’s still plenty of life, but it’s changed, it’s subtle, but it’s there.
I wanted to stop back by the room and see who was still hanging around. Said my goodbyes to LVM and OD, what’s a trip it’s been! Like I said, it’s always a blast, it just hasn’t been profitable lately. Between this trip and the WSOP, I don’t need a rubber band any longer. It’s back to studying the game, to find and fix the leaks, or at the very least, make sure I’m working from a good base and really am making the right decisions! You always have to be open to honest assessment and to learn. I’ll be back and hopefully the better for it!
Vegas Trip - Last Day, part 2 (TI Big Kahuna)
by StrayBullet on 10/06/07
Day9, 9/29: continued:
But it’s only one-thirty in the afternoon and it’s my last day in Vegas. I still need to mentally recover from the cooler, so there’s no need to find a game right away. I decide to head back to the apartment for a bit, getting ready to depart for tomorrow and to form up a game-plan. Note to self: once on the strip, STAY ON THE STRIP! 15N was STACKED so I decided to hop off at Sahara and hunt down the “Welcome to Paradise” sign that LVM had mentioned in the Vegas trivia thread. I’m not going to spoil the fun, but it’s not in the exact location mentioned, you’ll have to find it for yourself :). Once found, I took Sahara back to Decatur and it too was ass-packed with cars galore! I don’t what’s up with the traffic but damned if it didn’t take over 90 minutes to get back :shock: By this time, I needed food again, and the traffic was hurting my brain, so I made a top into Pop’s that made the traffic look like light-speed! I’d already decided to play the 7pm Big Kahuna at TI for $125, you get 5k in chips and 30 minute levels with a good structure (no antes) so at least that decision was out of the way.
After chowing down, doing laundry, emptying trash, packing up and relaxing a bit, I took another steam-cleansing shower ;) and headed back to TI. Thankfully, the trip back was MUCH easier than the trip leaving. I still got there pretty early so I decided to register, then went wandering. First walking over to the Fashion Mall, then meandering outside the Wynn, through all the lush greenery, all the while pulling on a Fuente Gran Reserve :). Along the way, I spied people talking to “Bill” and surprisingly, nothing much else to note. I got back in time so make a score at ‘Bucks and grab my seat, #3 this time around. We wound up with 3 full tables and some alternates waiting in the wings. It’s top heavy, but there’s nothing wrong with that, 50% went to first :D I’d ended up chatting up a nice lady from LA (who plays at HG, Commerce and Hustler) while waiting on the couch, she ended up at my table in seat #8. At 7pm, we’re underway and once again, I get a good sense of the table and in no time at all, it’s easy to spot that I’ve got a LAG once again, seated directly on my left! Early on he busts 2 players and garners chips galore calling down with flush and straight draws that miraculously materialize on the river or suited 8-gappers that flop 2-pair against pocket aces.
During 25/50, I’m able to chip up fairly well, taking down pots post flop being aggressive against a targeted opponent. One time, check-calling the flop looking to take it down with a leading bet on a blank turn, which is what happened (I held 99) and the other time taking it down with two napkins :). Nearing the end of the level, I catch pocket aces in early position and make a bet of T150. It’s folded around to the lady I’d talked to earlier (Linda from LA) who raises to T450 total from the sb. The bb also calls and it’s back to me. I guess there’s case that could be made for flat-calling here, but I’d like to hear it ;) I raise an additional T1000, making it T1450 total. Linda calls, the bb folds and we finally get to a flop, there’s now a pot of T3350. Heads-up, the flop comes down KQx, rainbow and she leads out for T1800 without missing a beat. Action’s on you what’s your line? What do you do? I think flat-calling is out of the question, so it’s either push or fold? What would she have raised with from the blinds after my initial bet? What could she have to call my 1000 chip re-raise out of position and action behind her? I didn’t make an instant decision; I really did take my time. So, what would you do? What does she have?
I could make a “Helmuthian” lay-down here and go back to work with about T4k in chips left heading into 50/100. There can’t be monsters under the bed every time, right? I mean it’s not like I’ve already busted from "major" tournaments with kings cracked by a set of queens, and a cooler of kings against aces. It’s not always going to be that harsh, right? So, you decide yet? I pushed, she called and my worst fears were realized, she held pocket kings and yet again, I went down in flames that would make a kamikaze fighter shed a tear of joy! I had her covered, barely and was left with approximately 800 chips. I doubled up against my earlier target when my top-pair, top-kicker held up against his open-ended straight and flush draws. I then busted when, against a new player, and facing the same situation as before, lost on the river completed his flush draw. BAM, and that was that. However, all the listed alternates had been seated and I could buy right back-in for another $125. With blinds at 75/150 and another T5k stack (33 blinds), that’s not a bad deal. I’d have to be seated back at my same table but with 2 seats open, I asked to be seated with position my tripled-up LAG friend, which was directly to the right of Linda. If they’d said no, it wouldn’t have been a big deal, I just wouldn’t have bought back in. They didn’t see anything wrong, so I peeled another buy-in off the now rubber-band crushed dwindling bankroll :D and settle back in acting as if I’d just been late for the start.
I take down a small pot or two then get involved with the aggressive player who’d already tripled up, then some. He’s a smart player and known by most of the staff, most likely a local. Anywho, he min-raises from early position and I flat-call with QJs on the button. We’re heads-up to the flop, that is all rags, 3-suited. He leads out for T600 and I make it T1200, looking to take it down right there, or he’ll give up control on the turn and I can steal it there. He’d been observant so it’s not like he thinks I’m playing poorly. After some thought, he finally makes the call. The turn pairs the board, making it 22xx, 3-suited. He checks, exactly as I suspected, and although that’s obviously not a card that would help me, there’s only one way to take the pot down, and that’s to follow through with the plan and bet. There’s T3225 in the middle and probably have about a pot sized bet left behind. I take control of the hand and bet out for T1900 (in hindsight, with half my stack, I should’ve pushed). He went into the tank for a long time. I was sure at times, that he was going to fold and at other times, I was just as sure he was going to call. Well, I guess I was wrong on all counts, because he pushed and it was back on me for a decision. I really feel I was beat at this point and don’t really know if my queen or jacks are really pure outs, and even if they are, I only have 6 cards that’ll help and only 1 pull to do it. I’ve got about 20% odds if he doesn’t already hold a deuce, but even so, with what I would be left with, it’s probably an auto-call. I wimp out and fold, trying to grind it back and he comments about not believing I can fold there…well, f’me, I felt I was beat there….narf!
I double up with AKo against a draw that never got there. Then after the break, at 100/200, I got it in with pocket 7s against AJs and when a jack spiked the turn, that was all she wrote. I just want to puke! So now it’s 8:30pm and I’ve been trounced from 2 good tournaments in the same day, the last day I can play cards. I’ve been beat down, chewed up then spit out, and I still want to play. I’m a sick human, but it’s got to fall my way at some point, right?!
But it’s only one-thirty in the afternoon and it’s my last day in Vegas. I still need to mentally recover from the cooler, so there’s no need to find a game right away. I decide to head back to the apartment for a bit, getting ready to depart for tomorrow and to form up a game-plan. Note to self: once on the strip, STAY ON THE STRIP! 15N was STACKED so I decided to hop off at Sahara and hunt down the “Welcome to Paradise” sign that LVM had mentioned in the Vegas trivia thread. I’m not going to spoil the fun, but it’s not in the exact location mentioned, you’ll have to find it for yourself :). Once found, I took Sahara back to Decatur and it too was ass-packed with cars galore! I don’t what’s up with the traffic but damned if it didn’t take over 90 minutes to get back :shock: By this time, I needed food again, and the traffic was hurting my brain, so I made a top into Pop’s that made the traffic look like light-speed! I’d already decided to play the 7pm Big Kahuna at TI for $125, you get 5k in chips and 30 minute levels with a good structure (no antes) so at least that decision was out of the way.
After chowing down, doing laundry, emptying trash, packing up and relaxing a bit, I took another steam-cleansing shower ;) and headed back to TI. Thankfully, the trip back was MUCH easier than the trip leaving. I still got there pretty early so I decided to register, then went wandering. First walking over to the Fashion Mall, then meandering outside the Wynn, through all the lush greenery, all the while pulling on a Fuente Gran Reserve :). Along the way, I spied people talking to “Bill” and surprisingly, nothing much else to note. I got back in time so make a score at ‘Bucks and grab my seat, #3 this time around. We wound up with 3 full tables and some alternates waiting in the wings. It’s top heavy, but there’s nothing wrong with that, 50% went to first :D I’d ended up chatting up a nice lady from LA (who plays at HG, Commerce and Hustler) while waiting on the couch, she ended up at my table in seat #8. At 7pm, we’re underway and once again, I get a good sense of the table and in no time at all, it’s easy to spot that I’ve got a LAG once again, seated directly on my left! Early on he busts 2 players and garners chips galore calling down with flush and straight draws that miraculously materialize on the river or suited 8-gappers that flop 2-pair against pocket aces.
During 25/50, I’m able to chip up fairly well, taking down pots post flop being aggressive against a targeted opponent. One time, check-calling the flop looking to take it down with a leading bet on a blank turn, which is what happened (I held 99) and the other time taking it down with two napkins :). Nearing the end of the level, I catch pocket aces in early position and make a bet of T150. It’s folded around to the lady I’d talked to earlier (Linda from LA) who raises to T450 total from the sb. The bb also calls and it’s back to me. I guess there’s case that could be made for flat-calling here, but I’d like to hear it ;) I raise an additional T1000, making it T1450 total. Linda calls, the bb folds and we finally get to a flop, there’s now a pot of T3350. Heads-up, the flop comes down KQx, rainbow and she leads out for T1800 without missing a beat. Action’s on you what’s your line? What do you do? I think flat-calling is out of the question, so it’s either push or fold? What would she have raised with from the blinds after my initial bet? What could she have to call my 1000 chip re-raise out of position and action behind her? I didn’t make an instant decision; I really did take my time. So, what would you do? What does she have?
I could make a “Helmuthian” lay-down here and go back to work with about T4k in chips left heading into 50/100. There can’t be monsters under the bed every time, right? I mean it’s not like I’ve already busted from "major" tournaments with kings cracked by a set of queens, and a cooler of kings against aces. It’s not always going to be that harsh, right? So, you decide yet? I pushed, she called and my worst fears were realized, she held pocket kings and yet again, I went down in flames that would make a kamikaze fighter shed a tear of joy! I had her covered, barely and was left with approximately 800 chips. I doubled up against my earlier target when my top-pair, top-kicker held up against his open-ended straight and flush draws. I then busted when, against a new player, and facing the same situation as before, lost on the river completed his flush draw. BAM, and that was that. However, all the listed alternates had been seated and I could buy right back-in for another $125. With blinds at 75/150 and another T5k stack (33 blinds), that’s not a bad deal. I’d have to be seated back at my same table but with 2 seats open, I asked to be seated with position my tripled-up LAG friend, which was directly to the right of Linda. If they’d said no, it wouldn’t have been a big deal, I just wouldn’t have bought back in. They didn’t see anything wrong, so I peeled another buy-in off the now rubber-band crushed dwindling bankroll :D and settle back in acting as if I’d just been late for the start.
I take down a small pot or two then get involved with the aggressive player who’d already tripled up, then some. He’s a smart player and known by most of the staff, most likely a local. Anywho, he min-raises from early position and I flat-call with QJs on the button. We’re heads-up to the flop, that is all rags, 3-suited. He leads out for T600 and I make it T1200, looking to take it down right there, or he’ll give up control on the turn and I can steal it there. He’d been observant so it’s not like he thinks I’m playing poorly. After some thought, he finally makes the call. The turn pairs the board, making it 22xx, 3-suited. He checks, exactly as I suspected, and although that’s obviously not a card that would help me, there’s only one way to take the pot down, and that’s to follow through with the plan and bet. There’s T3225 in the middle and probably have about a pot sized bet left behind. I take control of the hand and bet out for T1900 (in hindsight, with half my stack, I should’ve pushed). He went into the tank for a long time. I was sure at times, that he was going to fold and at other times, I was just as sure he was going to call. Well, I guess I was wrong on all counts, because he pushed and it was back on me for a decision. I really feel I was beat at this point and don’t really know if my queen or jacks are really pure outs, and even if they are, I only have 6 cards that’ll help and only 1 pull to do it. I’ve got about 20% odds if he doesn’t already hold a deuce, but even so, with what I would be left with, it’s probably an auto-call. I wimp out and fold, trying to grind it back and he comments about not believing I can fold there…well, f’me, I felt I was beat there….narf!
I double up with AKo against a draw that never got there. Then after the break, at 100/200, I got it in with pocket 7s against AJs and when a jack spiked the turn, that was all she wrote. I just want to puke! So now it’s 8:30pm and I’ve been trounced from 2 good tournaments in the same day, the last day I can play cards. I’ve been beat down, chewed up then spit out, and I still want to play. I’m a sick human, but it’s got to fall my way at some point, right?!
Vegas Trip - Last Day, part 1 (Venetian Deep-stack)
by StrayBullet on 10/06/07
Day9, 9/29:
F’variance, F’the poker gods, F’karma….f’em all Now don’t get me wrong here, I ALWAYS have fun when I visit Vegas, it’d just be nice to run down the odds and little more than the bitch has been crushing me I believe I’m playing good poker, making the right decisions, staying focused, etc but I just need ‘em to fall my way. I’m always open to discussion on the hands, and would love to hear thoughts, good or bad.
I indeed got some much needed good sleep and kicked off the day as any other would to prepare to greet the poker playing world. I parked the rental at my preferred home-base location the TI parking garage, then leisurely strolled over to the Venetian. I stopped by the registration desk inquiring about the number of entrants. I got a very nice “political-esque” reply from Andrew He said, “we expect anywhere from 40-60 players today.” I thanked him and decided to come back closer to the start to survey the action; it was about 11:20am at that point. It’s not like I wasn’t going to play, as there weren’t too many other options at that point. I did my “normal” routine and head up to Tintoretto, the little Italian Bakery for a quick bite/drink and a sidewalk seat to spy on the gawkers parade. I grabbed a ham and cheese croissant and an iced-coffee, then settled in for my morning eyeful. I got back down to the poker room just a few minutes before noon, finding nearly 38 players spread over 5 tables. I coughed up the $550 for the 2nd time within the week and drew seat 10, ohhhhhhh my favorite.
Not only am I running horrible, but I seem to be getting stuck with good loose-aggressive players on my left the whole week, and today was no different. But this time, I had the joy of being sandwiched, with another on my direct right, just damn! I’d decided to play “faster” as I didn’t want to limp into the money or even worse (like last week) work for 7 1/2 hours only to get a $10 comp for my efforts! I stand by my decisions; I was just trying to adjust for looser players around me and my own aggression factor. It wasn’t too difficult to assess the rest of the table, so all I needed were the cards to fall my way to marry up with my executable plan. It’s 10k chips and 40 minute levels with a GREAT structure. I order up a Fiji water and settle in for some cards, my last playing day in town.
I catch pocket queens early on and open-raise to 125 with blinds at 25/50. I get2 callers and we see a flop that is king-high with 2 hearts. It’s checked to me and I make a standard continuation bet and get called from the bb. Turn blanks with the same action ensuing. A heart hits the river, completing the flush draw and he immediately leads out. I elect not to call, he wasn’t making a move on me, I was beat and not going to pay him off…down 700 right off the bat. I then play QJs from the button by raising a gaggle of limpers. I thin the field down to 3 of us seeing the set of cards hitting the felt. The board is pretty inconsequential as when it’s checked to me, I make a standard continuation bet. Now it’s down to me and the LAG on my immediate right, quiet-bearded-old-guy, (GBOC). The turn is dealt and he immediately leads out and I have to fold, once again bleeding chips on my way to game adjustment! Lost another 800 or so during that hand, so now I’m down to T8500 I then play pocket 3s from the sb for a raise hoping to snag a stack-breaking set. I check-call a modest flop bet looking for the turn to bail me out but all it does is succeed in drawing more chips away from my stack and into others. Let’s play a game, can you say, “down to 8,000 chips in under 40 minutes?” what a goober! I still really don’t mind the plays, especially considering how deep we are but it’d be nice to scoop a damn pot! We drive right on through into L2, 50/100 and I’ve watched the LAG two to my left, young-grinder-splasher-“kid” (YGSK) nearly triple up when opponents just can’t stop paying off holding 2nd or more times than not, worse than 2nd best hands! GBOC has also been on a tear, topping it off with, getting paid when he turned quads, holding A5o.
I play ATo from the bb, calling a raise from GBOC when the table folded to him in the sb. We saw a flop that connected my ace with little concern of anything else. He leads out and I flat-call. He checks the blank turn and this time he checks and I bet; he makes the call. The river action takes the same course and once again, it’s not me taking in the chips as he’s holding AKo allowing me to feed him all the way. In hindsight, checking behind on the river would’ve been the most prudent as he was adept at calling very thin. That hand really took its toll, cutting my original starting stack of 10k chips damn near in half! When GBOC open-bets again from late position, I raise from the button with pocket 4s. The table folds around, as does the villain. WOW, I can get pushed chips, HOLY CRAP Batdude!!! I find a turtle shell to crawl into for the rest of level 2 and most of L3, 100/200.
When I play the next hand blinds are still at 100/200 and I have 5,700 chips. I open-bet to T600 from early position with pocket kings and it’s folded around to a player that’s just been recently seated at our player busting table, so no real reads. When the action gets to the villain, he raises, making it a total of T2k to go. It’s an additional T1400 for me to call which would leave me with a pot sized bet behind for the flop. There’d be T4,300 when we saw the flop and I’d have T3,700 left, he had me covered. So, I could flat-call and hope for a non-ace flop, leaving some SERIOUS work to be done. Or I could push all-in with no folding equity at all hoping I’m good ‘till show-down. What would you do, call or push? Folding is out of question here. If you decide on flat-calling the raise, how do you play a flop of Qxx, rainbow? Quick now, all eyes are on you
I’d rather not punk-out and play kings for a flat-call and hope to see a non-ace board. I mean, I can’t always be up against monsters under the bed, right? I push, he calls, and yup….you see it every tournament, at least once. It was his pocket aces against my kings. I didn’t get any help and shocked as I am, I can’t believe I’ve busted without even making to the first break, good gawd y’all?!?!?! One more deciding factor, it was in fact the last hand of the level and when coming back the cost of an orbit would’ve been T550, and had I called, then folded the flop, I’d been left with about 6 rounds to double up, more than likely going into 200/400/50 short-stacked. Anyway, comments are welcome of course!
If you’ve Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (and if you haven’t, why ) then you know how I felt. The hero in the movie gets staked in a high-stakes cash game with money that can’t be lost. Turns out the game is “fixed” and when he eventually loses the entire roll, the room and more accurately the world, swirls by. Shocked and stunned, it’s all I can do to keep my cool and pack up to take the stroll of shame. I skulk out of the Venetian for what will most likely be my last time on this trip, dejected and left wondering if it’s really in the cards for me to be playing cards. Damn it sucks to lose! So I start off my trip with a deep run in the same tourney eventually getting my pocket kings getting cracked by pocket queens after 7 1/2 hours of play instead of tripling me up and making a nice run to a $6k score and finish it all up with the overrated and hum drum, kings versus aces after a scant 120 minutes into the match.
F’variance, F’the poker gods, F’karma….f’em all Now don’t get me wrong here, I ALWAYS have fun when I visit Vegas, it’d just be nice to run down the odds and little more than the bitch has been crushing me I believe I’m playing good poker, making the right decisions, staying focused, etc but I just need ‘em to fall my way. I’m always open to discussion on the hands, and would love to hear thoughts, good or bad.
I indeed got some much needed good sleep and kicked off the day as any other would to prepare to greet the poker playing world. I parked the rental at my preferred home-base location the TI parking garage, then leisurely strolled over to the Venetian. I stopped by the registration desk inquiring about the number of entrants. I got a very nice “political-esque” reply from Andrew He said, “we expect anywhere from 40-60 players today.” I thanked him and decided to come back closer to the start to survey the action; it was about 11:20am at that point. It’s not like I wasn’t going to play, as there weren’t too many other options at that point. I did my “normal” routine and head up to Tintoretto, the little Italian Bakery for a quick bite/drink and a sidewalk seat to spy on the gawkers parade. I grabbed a ham and cheese croissant and an iced-coffee, then settled in for my morning eyeful. I got back down to the poker room just a few minutes before noon, finding nearly 38 players spread over 5 tables. I coughed up the $550 for the 2nd time within the week and drew seat 10, ohhhhhhh my favorite.
Not only am I running horrible, but I seem to be getting stuck with good loose-aggressive players on my left the whole week, and today was no different. But this time, I had the joy of being sandwiched, with another on my direct right, just damn! I’d decided to play “faster” as I didn’t want to limp into the money or even worse (like last week) work for 7 1/2 hours only to get a $10 comp for my efforts! I stand by my decisions; I was just trying to adjust for looser players around me and my own aggression factor. It wasn’t too difficult to assess the rest of the table, so all I needed were the cards to fall my way to marry up with my executable plan. It’s 10k chips and 40 minute levels with a GREAT structure. I order up a Fiji water and settle in for some cards, my last playing day in town.
I catch pocket queens early on and open-raise to 125 with blinds at 25/50. I get2 callers and we see a flop that is king-high with 2 hearts. It’s checked to me and I make a standard continuation bet and get called from the bb. Turn blanks with the same action ensuing. A heart hits the river, completing the flush draw and he immediately leads out. I elect not to call, he wasn’t making a move on me, I was beat and not going to pay him off…down 700 right off the bat. I then play QJs from the button by raising a gaggle of limpers. I thin the field down to 3 of us seeing the set of cards hitting the felt. The board is pretty inconsequential as when it’s checked to me, I make a standard continuation bet. Now it’s down to me and the LAG on my immediate right, quiet-bearded-old-guy, (GBOC). The turn is dealt and he immediately leads out and I have to fold, once again bleeding chips on my way to game adjustment! Lost another 800 or so during that hand, so now I’m down to T8500 I then play pocket 3s from the sb for a raise hoping to snag a stack-breaking set. I check-call a modest flop bet looking for the turn to bail me out but all it does is succeed in drawing more chips away from my stack and into others. Let’s play a game, can you say, “down to 8,000 chips in under 40 minutes?” what a goober! I still really don’t mind the plays, especially considering how deep we are but it’d be nice to scoop a damn pot! We drive right on through into L2, 50/100 and I’ve watched the LAG two to my left, young-grinder-splasher-“kid” (YGSK) nearly triple up when opponents just can’t stop paying off holding 2nd or more times than not, worse than 2nd best hands! GBOC has also been on a tear, topping it off with, getting paid when he turned quads, holding A5o.
I play ATo from the bb, calling a raise from GBOC when the table folded to him in the sb. We saw a flop that connected my ace with little concern of anything else. He leads out and I flat-call. He checks the blank turn and this time he checks and I bet; he makes the call. The river action takes the same course and once again, it’s not me taking in the chips as he’s holding AKo allowing me to feed him all the way. In hindsight, checking behind on the river would’ve been the most prudent as he was adept at calling very thin. That hand really took its toll, cutting my original starting stack of 10k chips damn near in half! When GBOC open-bets again from late position, I raise from the button with pocket 4s. The table folds around, as does the villain. WOW, I can get pushed chips, HOLY CRAP Batdude!!! I find a turtle shell to crawl into for the rest of level 2 and most of L3, 100/200.
When I play the next hand blinds are still at 100/200 and I have 5,700 chips. I open-bet to T600 from early position with pocket kings and it’s folded around to a player that’s just been recently seated at our player busting table, so no real reads. When the action gets to the villain, he raises, making it a total of T2k to go. It’s an additional T1400 for me to call which would leave me with a pot sized bet behind for the flop. There’d be T4,300 when we saw the flop and I’d have T3,700 left, he had me covered. So, I could flat-call and hope for a non-ace flop, leaving some SERIOUS work to be done. Or I could push all-in with no folding equity at all hoping I’m good ‘till show-down. What would you do, call or push? Folding is out of question here. If you decide on flat-calling the raise, how do you play a flop of Qxx, rainbow? Quick now, all eyes are on you
I’d rather not punk-out and play kings for a flat-call and hope to see a non-ace board. I mean, I can’t always be up against monsters under the bed, right? I push, he calls, and yup….you see it every tournament, at least once. It was his pocket aces against my kings. I didn’t get any help and shocked as I am, I can’t believe I’ve busted without even making to the first break, good gawd y’all?!?!?! One more deciding factor, it was in fact the last hand of the level and when coming back the cost of an orbit would’ve been T550, and had I called, then folded the flop, I’d been left with about 6 rounds to double up, more than likely going into 200/400/50 short-stacked. Anyway, comments are welcome of course!
If you’ve Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (and if you haven’t, why ) then you know how I felt. The hero in the movie gets staked in a high-stakes cash game with money that can’t be lost. Turns out the game is “fixed” and when he eventually loses the entire roll, the room and more accurately the world, swirls by. Shocked and stunned, it’s all I can do to keep my cool and pack up to take the stroll of shame. I skulk out of the Venetian for what will most likely be my last time on this trip, dejected and left wondering if it’s really in the cards for me to be playing cards. Damn it sucks to lose! So I start off my trip with a deep run in the same tourney eventually getting my pocket kings getting cracked by pocket queens after 7 1/2 hours of play instead of tripling me up and making a nice run to a $6k score and finish it all up with the overrated and hum drum, kings versus aces after a scant 120 minutes into the match.
Vegas Trip - Caesars and Binions Tournaments
by StrayBullet on 10/06/07
Day8, 9/28:
Is anyone getting sick of this yet? I think I’ve “talked” more to you folks than I have my own wife, but then again, she doesn’t care about the cards or losing!
Thursday’s marathon session of rum runners hit me harder than I’d thought and Friday morning came crashing down on me like a ton of bricks. At 6:30am a most obnoxious headache pulled me from bed, begging to be handled. A swig of coke and a packet of BC Powder did the trick, and I was back down for another couple of hours. I won’t bore you with the leftover breakfast of pizza from Grimaldi’s and a half-eaten cannoli
I got myself woken up, semi-fed, showered, and then headed down to Caesars. About 11:20am the noon tourney had only 16 players registered. I’m sure that’d change but I held off to see the turnout. I went over to the Cypress Street Café for a little something to add to me Italian breakfast! Orange juice was probably a poor choice considering all the citric acid contained in my nemesis drinks from the prior evening but I just wasn’t in the mood for coffee, add a bagel and a couch, I was golden.
I got back to the room a few minutes prior to the noon kick-off and with 6 tables filling up, I ponied up the $330, said hello to Adam (again, someone who recognizes me after months of absence!) and settled into my seat. A quick evaluation of the table and I knew it was going to be rough waters. It seemed like everyone knew each other, the dealers, etc. All they were talking about was how they did in the Series, the WPT, who won what last nite, and on and on…I do like this tournament, same 10k chips and 40 minutes levels as the Venetian but a slightly worse structure. There’s a jump from L2 to L3, from 50/100 to 100/200/25. The cost of a round jumps from 150 to 550 and they seated 10 players per table where they used to be 9-handed. I was also VERY unimpressed by most of the dealers. This hadn’t been an issue/concern in the past but this time around, it was pretty sub-standard. Not to bash wholesale, as we did get a dealer during L3 that blew me away, even other dealers dropped by to watch the pitch and learn!
I watched a hand early-on and was just blown away by what had ensued. The table had already pegged the limp monkey/calling station and that created action! A few players see the raised pre-flop action and go to a flop of K9x, 2 clubs. After some betting, it gets heads-up. On a blank turn, they both check. The river produces the 9c, completing all sorts of hands, many of which I was churning through, tying to put them on their hands based on the action. For as early as it was, the pot was massive, but ended with the one player “mucking” after the other had tabled his rivered nut-flush. The other player was pretty disgusted as he threw his cards into the middle, attempting to show ‘em, with one landing face up and the other face down, it had cart-wheeled the table. The pot is being pushed to the flush when the “mucker” says to show the other card, and when it was turned over, it matched other king he’d tabled. It just happened to be the nut-boat He’ damn near mucked his hand, not being able to read it correctly. Minor fireworks occurred, we got a ruling and the flush guy handled it EXTREMELY well…what a farked up hand!
For some reason, I’ve never really done well at Caesars. I saw more 8-gappers that I ever care to see again in my card playing lifetime, but I know that’s not reasonable. K5, J2, Q4 and coupled with multiples of 92 and 94, etc. it just wasn’t in the cards for me. And as I mentioned, it was a tough table. I made a play from the bb with KQs and coupled with my “image” I thought the continuation bet would take it down without resistance…no such luck! I got a called, checked the turn and gave up the non-connected hand. I was resigned to sit back and watch as others caught all the cards that balanced out my crap. I’d decided to raise on the next orbit from utg with whatever I held, and I did just that. At 100/200/25, I made the table standard to 750 and when the last person folded, I showed my napkins, 85o. Maybe out of ego, frustration, etc but I had to let ‘em know I was catching crap cards but I could still play. Probably not the smartest thing in the world to do, but I felt a little better raking in some chips, instead of constantly whittling down me stack
I caught KK a few hands later, again from early position but got no action. With blinds now at 200/400/50, I would’ve loved a caller but I’ll take the chips. On the next orbit, I find AcKs and after a touch player who’d been catching rivers well limped in from utg, I made a standard raise to 2k. It was folded around to the bb, who made the call. The limper announced he had odds, and made the call as well. The board was produced and all I could do was stare in horror when I saw 9dTdQh. The bb pushed all-in, an over-bet in my mind that just didn’t mesh. The limper folded and it was on me. I’d started the hand with about 8k in chips, so my initial raise, I was left with a pot sized bet. The bet from the bb laid me odds of 2-1. This was the last hand of the level, with blinds going to 300/600/75 and I’d have to pay ‘em first when we got back. I know I’ve used the phrase before but the bb’s bet just didn’t seem right. I know it’s a scary board but he doesn’t seem to be protecting a made hand, he seems to be betting on a semi-bluff and if that’s the case, I’m still a dog, but I’m getting the right odds. I just don’t think he’s connected with the board. After some thinking, and I did take my time, I made the call which the bb didn’t like. He tabled 7d8d for the open-ended straight flush draw and I tabled my “winning right now” hand. Pokerstove later told me I was a 60/40 dog but like I’d said, I already knew when I was at when I made the call. The turn was red, but a heart and all I had to do was fade the river and I’d be back in fighting shape. The jack fell on the river completing both our straights, but mine was higher! Had it not been the jack of diamonds completing his straight flush, I would’ve been set for a haul. Oh well, I just need variance to catch up with my knowledge and ability…
What took me 20 minutes in the morning, took nearly 90 minutes in the afternoon. Man, this town is LOCKED up starting at 2:30pm till about 7 or so I made a pit-stop at Pop’s for a late lunch, then back to the apartment to make plans for the evening. I decided to play in the Binions 8pm tourney for $150 with a one-time $50 rebuy. I’d arrived downtown, dropping the car off at Binions valet around 6:15pm, plenty of time to gawk and walk. BikeFest 2007 was in FULL swing and it was GREAT!!! Unleashed boobs were flying everywhere, it was a spectacle that can only be seen on Fremont! Also packing the area were cops of all degrees, from swat-type camos, horseback, K9s, and uniformed patrols at nearly every casino entrance. I took in the sights and sounds and unlike on the strip, I avoided eye contact and didn’t bump anyone when they “walked like they drove.”
I made a stop at the 4Qs to pick up a stick that Milton had suggested, the Mike Ditka double corona. Not a bad smoke at all. I checked out the emptiness they call the Necropolis and wandered around checking out the old neon signs that were part of the “museum.” They have nice plaques detailing the information but I wish they were numbered or something so you get a point of reference as to where you were at in the crawl. I had even strolled all the way down to East Fremont, which is probably not a good idea for most, but with the added police presence, it was ok, for a bit. Hey Minton, that hand-rolled shop is down there and they have some AWESOME smokes, even producing house sticks for Arnold and Sly! I also found another shop next to the Harley store called Bad Habits. ANY cigar smoker HAS TO make this shop a stopping point! Luis and Andy are great and all it takes is a little talk to find out what kind of specials they have I left a little lighter in the wallet, but two DAMN FINE sticks that you’d be hard pressed to get inside the country anywhere, especially real ones
I made my way back to Binions in time to find out that we’d have 3 whole tables for the 8pm tourney, which I found strange considering all the additional people in town, ah well. Once again, I found myself sitting in a home game dealt at a casino with me being the lone interloper. No one at our table had re-bought at the start, instead, holding their cards if they busted. This happened to 2 players right off the bat, tripling up the played on immediate left on 2 separate hands. With the table dynamics being what they were, as tired as I was and taking into account the obnoxious of the table captain (who I’ve played against before there) I’d decided to play it like a freezeout and see where it led. Captain was one the players stacked early, making his rebuy. I limped behind several other limpers in late position with pocket tens and when Captain pushed, I knew I was flipping but I decided to gamble and called his push. He held AJo and caught the flop, whereas I didn’t get any help and was down to about 1100 chips. At 50/100, I made a flipping choice again against a blind pusher with QJs and his non improved ace didn’t need any help to bounce me. As I got up to leave, I was “helpfully” informed I still had my rebuy card to which I replied, “I know, thanks….good luck y’all.” Probably just about my WORST outing ever in a LONG time but considering the factors I listed, I didn’t regret either move I made or my leaving without the rebuy….besides, that $50 was had been converted into 2 wonderful sticks of island goodness!!!
Then is was back to the smoke shop, lit up the Ditka and took a seat on the couch. “The Transporter” was playing on a very sharp screen over the counter and since Luis had invited me to stay, I took him up on the offer. If you smoke, make this a stop!!! I watched the last 45 minutes of the flick, talked it up with wandering bikers then bid my adieu. I made the quick trip back up north 95 to home base but was STRAVING by this point. I HATE eating late at nite, but the neon sign of In-N-Out beckoned me and like a bug drawn to the zapper I was in line before I knew it! Full stomach and no alcohol should lead to a decent sleep, see y’all on the backside of Saturday!
Is anyone getting sick of this yet? I think I’ve “talked” more to you folks than I have my own wife, but then again, she doesn’t care about the cards or losing!
Thursday’s marathon session of rum runners hit me harder than I’d thought and Friday morning came crashing down on me like a ton of bricks. At 6:30am a most obnoxious headache pulled me from bed, begging to be handled. A swig of coke and a packet of BC Powder did the trick, and I was back down for another couple of hours. I won’t bore you with the leftover breakfast of pizza from Grimaldi’s and a half-eaten cannoli
I got myself woken up, semi-fed, showered, and then headed down to Caesars. About 11:20am the noon tourney had only 16 players registered. I’m sure that’d change but I held off to see the turnout. I went over to the Cypress Street Café for a little something to add to me Italian breakfast! Orange juice was probably a poor choice considering all the citric acid contained in my nemesis drinks from the prior evening but I just wasn’t in the mood for coffee, add a bagel and a couch, I was golden.
I got back to the room a few minutes prior to the noon kick-off and with 6 tables filling up, I ponied up the $330, said hello to Adam (again, someone who recognizes me after months of absence!) and settled into my seat. A quick evaluation of the table and I knew it was going to be rough waters. It seemed like everyone knew each other, the dealers, etc. All they were talking about was how they did in the Series, the WPT, who won what last nite, and on and on…I do like this tournament, same 10k chips and 40 minutes levels as the Venetian but a slightly worse structure. There’s a jump from L2 to L3, from 50/100 to 100/200/25. The cost of a round jumps from 150 to 550 and they seated 10 players per table where they used to be 9-handed. I was also VERY unimpressed by most of the dealers. This hadn’t been an issue/concern in the past but this time around, it was pretty sub-standard. Not to bash wholesale, as we did get a dealer during L3 that blew me away, even other dealers dropped by to watch the pitch and learn!
I watched a hand early-on and was just blown away by what had ensued. The table had already pegged the limp monkey/calling station and that created action! A few players see the raised pre-flop action and go to a flop of K9x, 2 clubs. After some betting, it gets heads-up. On a blank turn, they both check. The river produces the 9c, completing all sorts of hands, many of which I was churning through, tying to put them on their hands based on the action. For as early as it was, the pot was massive, but ended with the one player “mucking” after the other had tabled his rivered nut-flush. The other player was pretty disgusted as he threw his cards into the middle, attempting to show ‘em, with one landing face up and the other face down, it had cart-wheeled the table. The pot is being pushed to the flush when the “mucker” says to show the other card, and when it was turned over, it matched other king he’d tabled. It just happened to be the nut-boat He’ damn near mucked his hand, not being able to read it correctly. Minor fireworks occurred, we got a ruling and the flush guy handled it EXTREMELY well…what a farked up hand!
For some reason, I’ve never really done well at Caesars. I saw more 8-gappers that I ever care to see again in my card playing lifetime, but I know that’s not reasonable. K5, J2, Q4 and coupled with multiples of 92 and 94, etc. it just wasn’t in the cards for me. And as I mentioned, it was a tough table. I made a play from the bb with KQs and coupled with my “image” I thought the continuation bet would take it down without resistance…no such luck! I got a called, checked the turn and gave up the non-connected hand. I was resigned to sit back and watch as others caught all the cards that balanced out my crap. I’d decided to raise on the next orbit from utg with whatever I held, and I did just that. At 100/200/25, I made the table standard to 750 and when the last person folded, I showed my napkins, 85o. Maybe out of ego, frustration, etc but I had to let ‘em know I was catching crap cards but I could still play. Probably not the smartest thing in the world to do, but I felt a little better raking in some chips, instead of constantly whittling down me stack
I caught KK a few hands later, again from early position but got no action. With blinds now at 200/400/50, I would’ve loved a caller but I’ll take the chips. On the next orbit, I find AcKs and after a touch player who’d been catching rivers well limped in from utg, I made a standard raise to 2k. It was folded around to the bb, who made the call. The limper announced he had odds, and made the call as well. The board was produced and all I could do was stare in horror when I saw 9dTdQh. The bb pushed all-in, an over-bet in my mind that just didn’t mesh. The limper folded and it was on me. I’d started the hand with about 8k in chips, so my initial raise, I was left with a pot sized bet. The bet from the bb laid me odds of 2-1. This was the last hand of the level, with blinds going to 300/600/75 and I’d have to pay ‘em first when we got back. I know I’ve used the phrase before but the bb’s bet just didn’t seem right. I know it’s a scary board but he doesn’t seem to be protecting a made hand, he seems to be betting on a semi-bluff and if that’s the case, I’m still a dog, but I’m getting the right odds. I just don’t think he’s connected with the board. After some thinking, and I did take my time, I made the call which the bb didn’t like. He tabled 7d8d for the open-ended straight flush draw and I tabled my “winning right now” hand. Pokerstove later told me I was a 60/40 dog but like I’d said, I already knew when I was at when I made the call. The turn was red, but a heart and all I had to do was fade the river and I’d be back in fighting shape. The jack fell on the river completing both our straights, but mine was higher! Had it not been the jack of diamonds completing his straight flush, I would’ve been set for a haul. Oh well, I just need variance to catch up with my knowledge and ability…
What took me 20 minutes in the morning, took nearly 90 minutes in the afternoon. Man, this town is LOCKED up starting at 2:30pm till about 7 or so I made a pit-stop at Pop’s for a late lunch, then back to the apartment to make plans for the evening. I decided to play in the Binions 8pm tourney for $150 with a one-time $50 rebuy. I’d arrived downtown, dropping the car off at Binions valet around 6:15pm, plenty of time to gawk and walk. BikeFest 2007 was in FULL swing and it was GREAT!!! Unleashed boobs were flying everywhere, it was a spectacle that can only be seen on Fremont! Also packing the area were cops of all degrees, from swat-type camos, horseback, K9s, and uniformed patrols at nearly every casino entrance. I took in the sights and sounds and unlike on the strip, I avoided eye contact and didn’t bump anyone when they “walked like they drove.”
I made a stop at the 4Qs to pick up a stick that Milton had suggested, the Mike Ditka double corona. Not a bad smoke at all. I checked out the emptiness they call the Necropolis and wandered around checking out the old neon signs that were part of the “museum.” They have nice plaques detailing the information but I wish they were numbered or something so you get a point of reference as to where you were at in the crawl. I had even strolled all the way down to East Fremont, which is probably not a good idea for most, but with the added police presence, it was ok, for a bit. Hey Minton, that hand-rolled shop is down there and they have some AWESOME smokes, even producing house sticks for Arnold and Sly! I also found another shop next to the Harley store called Bad Habits. ANY cigar smoker HAS TO make this shop a stopping point! Luis and Andy are great and all it takes is a little talk to find out what kind of specials they have I left a little lighter in the wallet, but two DAMN FINE sticks that you’d be hard pressed to get inside the country anywhere, especially real ones
I made my way back to Binions in time to find out that we’d have 3 whole tables for the 8pm tourney, which I found strange considering all the additional people in town, ah well. Once again, I found myself sitting in a home game dealt at a casino with me being the lone interloper. No one at our table had re-bought at the start, instead, holding their cards if they busted. This happened to 2 players right off the bat, tripling up the played on immediate left on 2 separate hands. With the table dynamics being what they were, as tired as I was and taking into account the obnoxious of the table captain (who I’ve played against before there) I’d decided to play it like a freezeout and see where it led. Captain was one the players stacked early, making his rebuy. I limped behind several other limpers in late position with pocket tens and when Captain pushed, I knew I was flipping but I decided to gamble and called his push. He held AJo and caught the flop, whereas I didn’t get any help and was down to about 1100 chips. At 50/100, I made a flipping choice again against a blind pusher with QJs and his non improved ace didn’t need any help to bounce me. As I got up to leave, I was “helpfully” informed I still had my rebuy card to which I replied, “I know, thanks….good luck y’all.” Probably just about my WORST outing ever in a LONG time but considering the factors I listed, I didn’t regret either move I made or my leaving without the rebuy….besides, that $50 was had been converted into 2 wonderful sticks of island goodness!!!
Then is was back to the smoke shop, lit up the Ditka and took a seat on the couch. “The Transporter” was playing on a very sharp screen over the counter and since Luis had invited me to stay, I took him up on the offer. If you smoke, make this a stop!!! I watched the last 45 minutes of the flick, talked it up with wandering bikers then bid my adieu. I made the quick trip back up north 95 to home base but was STRAVING by this point. I HATE eating late at nite, but the neon sign of In-N-Out beckoned me and like a bug drawn to the zapper I was in line before I knew it! Full stomach and no alcohol should lead to a decent sleep, see y’all on the backside of Saturday!
Vegas Trip - Come, Take a Walk with Me!
by StrayBullet on 10/06/07
Day7, Thursday continued:
Damn, all I can taste is fruit juice from whatever umbrella’d concoction I was throwing down my gullet last nite (hey Mrs Lederer ) and cigar smoke Not that indecisiveness is necessarily bad but it does lead to doing things on the cuff and that’s exactly what happened!
I’ve kinda had in the back of my head that I’d like to take in the show, “Love” and I went into ticket hunting mode. Of course the only seat available last nite was an obstructed view for the 10pm show, not really my idea of fun and since poker was firmly on the schedule for Friday and Saturday, that was now a wash. I finally decided to just head down to the strip and meander from there. I parked at TI and made my way to the Fashion Mall to check out the half-price ticket outlet. Couldn’t really find anything that tickled my fancy, ‘cept for the Fab4 show at PH, but since it was already 5:35pm, there was no way I’d make the show. What to do with myself now? What the hell, I’ll wander down the strip and see what kind of action I can find.
With no real destination in mind, I started my strip casino crawl I hung out at the Mirage for a bit just watching the city go by as I emptied my loose coins into the water. I thought about heading back to TI for the 7pm tourney but I wanted to spread out my play a bit, so southward it was. I crossed the street and made stops at Venetian, Imperial Palace, Harrah’s and Flamingo. Nothing much to note, except for the “ladies” grooving it up to the lip-synched gyrations of “La Vida Loca.” Then my walk took a turn as my trip had transformed into a game of “spot the hooker.” I HIGHLY recommend playing on your next trip; it can be a real blast! I ended up at Margaritaville and picked up my first rum runner of the evening I hung out there for a while just watching the world go about their business, also highly recommended! By this time, I’d gotten the proverbial wild hair and wanted a cigar. So I snagged another drink and hit the pavement. I knew I could get some at Caesars but I’d already been the Fuente shop once so again, I decided to spread my “play” a bit. The target destination, Partargas, which is just north of MGM After making my target, I picked up a couple of sticks, fired one up and started the trek back north. On my way back to TI, I made stops at PH, Paris and Bally’s. Of course when I crossed paths with Margaritaville again, I picked up another rum runner. I’m FIRMLY convinced that you can’t get drunk in this town unless you’re standing still I also popped my head into Bellagio and Caesars before heading back into TI to finally play some cards
When I finally landed at home base, I was warmly greeted by Troy, who hasn’t seen me in months, but instantly recognized me and even recalled my name. Now you may ask why that even makes it into a trip report, but it’s significant to me! This year, I’ve played several times at the Venetian and while it’s only been for tournaments, it’s been several $550 deep-stack events, including a $1060 event during the World Series. I don’t mention this to brag but by comparison, it’s much less than what I’ve dropped at TI. Now I know the rooms are drastically different in size and number of players, I’d expect to be treated as I’ve been at TI. I’ve talked to Anthony and Andrew several times at Venetian during my tournament play, even discussing AVP but when I greeted Anthony last nite, I was met with a look of, “who the hell are you and why are you bothering me?” Everyone’s opinion is valid but when faced with the comment along the lines of AVP and 2+2 being “worthless” that was the cue to take my leave, “take care.” I’m still shaking my head about it this morning. I also let Troy know last nite, how much I appreciate the way the players are treated in their poker room, it goes a LONG way! And since it’s a customer service business, at some get it Pretty sad in my opinion but I guess when you have the business that Venetian and Bellagio does, you can “afford” to not give a damn! THANKS AGAIN Troy!!!!
The 7pm was still in full force with no cash game going as yet when I finally settled in around 8:30pm. But in the meantime I chatted it up with OD and ILikeCheese . We didn’t have to wait long, a game got underway shortly with about 6-7 players and a splash pot to kick things off. Limped around by everyone until the bb had to go and ruin it all by raising, and of course we all came along for the ride. It was a king-high board, non-flushing and non-connected. The bb lead out for about a pot sized bet and it’s folded to me in late position. The bet just didn’t smell right to me, so I pushed. I’d only bought in for $145, the chips I’d won from placing 4th in the AVP tourney, so it wasn’t a massive over-raise. The bb just about insta-call and we hold our cards till the rest of the board is dealt. When it settled, I immediately turned over my KTo for top-pair, no kicker, he tabled his cards, leading me to think I was beat. When I saw that all he had was AJo, the pot was pushed my way and it was time to find out what the splash would add. It was another $25, I threw a $5 in for Issac and I went into card dead lockdown Once again, I’m not an adept cash game player, so I’d decided to jump into the 10pm tourney, cashing out $300 from my original $145 buy-in, I’m happy! Thanks for stacking my chips Troy
I drew seat 10, and went to work. I was chatting up my side of the table, generally having fun. And of course, the rum runners kept flowing, with an addition or two from Kahunaville I was able to steal a few orphaned pots and semi-bluff once or twice. But I ended up giving back 1k chips on a steal gone bad. With no cards to really speak of, it was all I could do to acquire chips. When we come back from the first break, I’m in the bb, 200/400. I probably have about 4k in chips after posting. UTG limps with UTG+1 as well as another player and the sb all coming along for the ride. With the pot building, I feel it’s a prime opportunity to pick up all that dead money. Surely if someone had a REAL hand, they would’ve raised somewhere along the limp-fest. I raise, adding an additional 2200 chips if anyone cares to play. Without thought, both ep players push and it’s back on me. I have to call for the additional 300 chips and table my 83o I’m up against KTo and JTo, WTF?!?!?! Well, at least I’m live On the very next hand, I have AQ in the now short-stacked sb and it’s an auto-call against the late position bettor. I have him dominated as he tables KJo, but when he spikes his jack on the flop, I’m drawing thin. I don’t get there, so it’s, “nice hand, good luck y’all” and I’m homeward bound. It seems like that phrase is too engrained into my poker language lately. I need to be hearing that more, and speaking it less!
Well, you’re as caught up as I am. Today it’s Caesars for the noon tourney then a possible trip downtown to play at Binions later this evening. Should be interesting considering the Bike convention is in town!
Damn, all I can taste is fruit juice from whatever umbrella’d concoction I was throwing down my gullet last nite (hey Mrs Lederer ) and cigar smoke Not that indecisiveness is necessarily bad but it does lead to doing things on the cuff and that’s exactly what happened!
I’ve kinda had in the back of my head that I’d like to take in the show, “Love” and I went into ticket hunting mode. Of course the only seat available last nite was an obstructed view for the 10pm show, not really my idea of fun and since poker was firmly on the schedule for Friday and Saturday, that was now a wash. I finally decided to just head down to the strip and meander from there. I parked at TI and made my way to the Fashion Mall to check out the half-price ticket outlet. Couldn’t really find anything that tickled my fancy, ‘cept for the Fab4 show at PH, but since it was already 5:35pm, there was no way I’d make the show. What to do with myself now? What the hell, I’ll wander down the strip and see what kind of action I can find.
With no real destination in mind, I started my strip casino crawl I hung out at the Mirage for a bit just watching the city go by as I emptied my loose coins into the water. I thought about heading back to TI for the 7pm tourney but I wanted to spread out my play a bit, so southward it was. I crossed the street and made stops at Venetian, Imperial Palace, Harrah’s and Flamingo. Nothing much to note, except for the “ladies” grooving it up to the lip-synched gyrations of “La Vida Loca.” Then my walk took a turn as my trip had transformed into a game of “spot the hooker.” I HIGHLY recommend playing on your next trip; it can be a real blast! I ended up at Margaritaville and picked up my first rum runner of the evening I hung out there for a while just watching the world go about their business, also highly recommended! By this time, I’d gotten the proverbial wild hair and wanted a cigar. So I snagged another drink and hit the pavement. I knew I could get some at Caesars but I’d already been the Fuente shop once so again, I decided to spread my “play” a bit. The target destination, Partargas, which is just north of MGM After making my target, I picked up a couple of sticks, fired one up and started the trek back north. On my way back to TI, I made stops at PH, Paris and Bally’s. Of course when I crossed paths with Margaritaville again, I picked up another rum runner. I’m FIRMLY convinced that you can’t get drunk in this town unless you’re standing still I also popped my head into Bellagio and Caesars before heading back into TI to finally play some cards
When I finally landed at home base, I was warmly greeted by Troy, who hasn’t seen me in months, but instantly recognized me and even recalled my name. Now you may ask why that even makes it into a trip report, but it’s significant to me! This year, I’ve played several times at the Venetian and while it’s only been for tournaments, it’s been several $550 deep-stack events, including a $1060 event during the World Series. I don’t mention this to brag but by comparison, it’s much less than what I’ve dropped at TI. Now I know the rooms are drastically different in size and number of players, I’d expect to be treated as I’ve been at TI. I’ve talked to Anthony and Andrew several times at Venetian during my tournament play, even discussing AVP but when I greeted Anthony last nite, I was met with a look of, “who the hell are you and why are you bothering me?” Everyone’s opinion is valid but when faced with the comment along the lines of AVP and 2+2 being “worthless” that was the cue to take my leave, “take care.” I’m still shaking my head about it this morning. I also let Troy know last nite, how much I appreciate the way the players are treated in their poker room, it goes a LONG way! And since it’s a customer service business, at some get it Pretty sad in my opinion but I guess when you have the business that Venetian and Bellagio does, you can “afford” to not give a damn! THANKS AGAIN Troy!!!!
The 7pm was still in full force with no cash game going as yet when I finally settled in around 8:30pm. But in the meantime I chatted it up with OD and ILikeCheese . We didn’t have to wait long, a game got underway shortly with about 6-7 players and a splash pot to kick things off. Limped around by everyone until the bb had to go and ruin it all by raising, and of course we all came along for the ride. It was a king-high board, non-flushing and non-connected. The bb lead out for about a pot sized bet and it’s folded to me in late position. The bet just didn’t smell right to me, so I pushed. I’d only bought in for $145, the chips I’d won from placing 4th in the AVP tourney, so it wasn’t a massive over-raise. The bb just about insta-call and we hold our cards till the rest of the board is dealt. When it settled, I immediately turned over my KTo for top-pair, no kicker, he tabled his cards, leading me to think I was beat. When I saw that all he had was AJo, the pot was pushed my way and it was time to find out what the splash would add. It was another $25, I threw a $5 in for Issac and I went into card dead lockdown Once again, I’m not an adept cash game player, so I’d decided to jump into the 10pm tourney, cashing out $300 from my original $145 buy-in, I’m happy! Thanks for stacking my chips Troy
I drew seat 10, and went to work. I was chatting up my side of the table, generally having fun. And of course, the rum runners kept flowing, with an addition or two from Kahunaville I was able to steal a few orphaned pots and semi-bluff once or twice. But I ended up giving back 1k chips on a steal gone bad. With no cards to really speak of, it was all I could do to acquire chips. When we come back from the first break, I’m in the bb, 200/400. I probably have about 4k in chips after posting. UTG limps with UTG+1 as well as another player and the sb all coming along for the ride. With the pot building, I feel it’s a prime opportunity to pick up all that dead money. Surely if someone had a REAL hand, they would’ve raised somewhere along the limp-fest. I raise, adding an additional 2200 chips if anyone cares to play. Without thought, both ep players push and it’s back on me. I have to call for the additional 300 chips and table my 83o I’m up against KTo and JTo, WTF?!?!?! Well, at least I’m live On the very next hand, I have AQ in the now short-stacked sb and it’s an auto-call against the late position bettor. I have him dominated as he tables KJo, but when he spikes his jack on the flop, I’m drawing thin. I don’t get there, so it’s, “nice hand, good luck y’all” and I’m homeward bound. It seems like that phrase is too engrained into my poker language lately. I need to be hearing that more, and speaking it less!
Well, you’re as caught up as I am. Today it’s Caesars for the noon tourney then a possible trip downtown to play at Binions later this evening. Should be interesting considering the Bike convention is in town!
