Vegas Summary

A fantastic time all in all. I think I lost about $70 on the NL tables, but more than made that back at the tournaments.

I reckon I bought into the following:

Weds - Mirage - $125
Thurs - Caesars - $200
Thurs - Caesars - $65
Fri - Caesars - $65
Fri - Sahara - $62
Fri - PH - $70
Sat - PH - $70

Total buy-ins = $657
Total winning = $1123

Which is about right. I set off with $3000, returned with $2865 and I reckon with taxis, food, tips, presents and the small loss on the cash tables I got through the difference.


I've played one tourny online since I returned the 4.5k yesterday where I finished 6th. I started the FT as the chip leader and was dealt AA three times on the FT, but although I won three times I didn't make much with them. I then chose the odd bad spot for my aggression, and then re-raised a MP limper only to have the button wake up with 99. I can't believe I still haven't won this tournament. It was another weak FT as well ...

Vegas Day 4 - A win!

No, honestly.

I only played in 1 tournament today the 2pm $70 tourny at Planet Hollywood, where me and this woman made the last 2 and chopped it when we were virtually dead even in chips (she had a tiny amount more). I made 1123, and gave the dealers $100, which I think is a reasonable tip. Fantastic. I'm chuffed to bits. I can't remember how many runners there were, but there was an alternate list and some people rebought in. I guess 100 runners.

I started off well, winning a couple of small pots but doubled up when my 55 hit a board of QJ5 (or something - I find it really hard to remember details of the tourny even though it only started 5 hours ago). I slow played it. There was a pre-flop raiser and I called his raise and he had position. I hollywooded it, shaking my head and checking, pondering long and hard about calling his bets, and I think I check-raised the turn all-in which he calls with top pair.

After that I made some nice moves and bluffs until we reach crap-shoot time with about 30 of the runners remaining. The blinds are reasonable for a while (20 minute levels - 400 starting chips) and the BB goes 50-100-200-300-600-1000-2000-3000-4000-5000-6000-8000. Which is OK apart from the 600-1000-2000 jump which is a killer. I was lucky through this stage hitting cards when I needed to, not being called when I made a move and getting out of trouble with marginal hands when the action was steep before me. Particularly useful was seeing a free flop with QTs and flopping a straight against one player, who I busted.

I was really concentrating at this stage on the blinds, when they went up and my chip stack (which I had to keep recounting because it never seemed to stick in my mind). If you can get through this middle stage with a reasonable stack you are not doing so badly.

The play from my opponents was generally pretty bad, and the few decent players were eliminated early. I was definitely the best player at the FT (much better than the woman I chopped with) and possibly the best at the last 2.

As things got down I was judging my raising ranges well, and the couple of times I was re-raised I generally got out of the way as I don't think those players were playing back at me too light.

I really can't remember too much about the FT now. I was helped by my blinds not often being attacked, and the woman in my SB (who I split with) playing absolutely predictably. If it was folded round to us (which it was surprisingly often) she'd complete and I could usually take it away when I bet after the flop. If she bet post (which was rarely) I knew she had something.

I had a little run of luck in the final table to knock players out - I think I nearly always got my money in ahead and the hands held up.

As the FT progressed a handful of people started watching it, presumably friends of the participants - but there were a couple of people who had busted and were staying to watch. It was a bit strange playing poker with people watching, but I felt entirely comfortable.

If I played on I would probably have won, but I didn't because although the blinds were reasonably small there is still a reasonable amount of luck involved. Actually the motivation was also the fact that the winnings were more than $1k if I split, and I also felt a bit bad for the dealer dealing what could (unlikely) have been a long session with just the two of us. Anyway, we had an even chip stack and it just seemed right. I think the split would have been 1400 for first, 800 for second. I was surprised noone suggested a split earlier.

The dealers and poker room manager were very friendly and I asked how much they thought I should tip. He said "entirely up to you sir" (fair enough) I had a little chat and initially thought about giving them the 23, but a ton seemed fairer - these guys make a lot more money from the cash games. The dealer said we appreciate it, and the manager told the guy who gave me the money (I was paid in casino chip at the end) that I'd sorted out the dealers, so I feel happy with that.

I think I'm in profit for the tournies now (I'll do the maths later). I'm also marginally up for the cash games too. I won about $6 at the IP yesterday (terribly - I pushed with AQ over a rag board and was called my KK and turned an A), won about 25 at Paris at an immensely tough table (I was fortunate enough to double up with KKvQQ and its the only way I got out of there with much money - there were 3, possibly 4 players who were very very strong), and then before the tournament today I won about $70 at PH. I sat down as they were starting a new table, and one fellow cam over from the limit game with about $80. First hand I'm dealt AA from EP. I raise, and there are 2 caller. I bet $20 into the pot, this fellow raises to $40, and I don't like the idea of him holding QJ, but go over the top and he calls with AQ. Poor guy - been playing for ages at limit and then busted first hand.

An amazing day. Its now 7:40pm, and I haven't eaten a mouthful since my Caesars breakfast buffet this morning (very good BTW). So as the adrenaline wears off and I calm down I feel very hungry. I may well not play any more poker now. I'm kinda zonked and I don't want to lose my winnings at the cash game.

Frankly I just feel like getting drunk, but I won't. I might have a beer with my meal this evening though!

For the record my best recollection of the tournaments I played in is:
Yesterday [Friday]
Caesars 9am $70
Sahara 11am $62
PH 3pm $70

Today [Saturday]
PH 2pm $70

So thinking about it I should be comfortably in profit for the trip. We'll see when I add all my money up! A fantastic day though. My first live cash, and live win at the same time.

Vegas day 3

Well I had a session at the Excalibur playing 1/2 NL which ended pretty badly. When I arrived I took the seat of someone who was requesting a table change - which was probably a bad sign - so I played pretty tight early.

There were a couple of people who knew what they were doing - and about 5 Brits at the table but there was a few donkeys, as you'd expect. I bought in for $200 and was soon up to somewhere between $270 and $210 as my stack jumped around. I was getting tired when some new guy sat in on my left and immediately (apparently) started attacking my raises. It was very strange, much more like a tournament. I never saw what he had, so he may have had the goods. Anyway on the penultimate hand of the evening for me I see a call a LP raise with with 44, and the flop comes 762. Its checked around. The turn is a 4.

The BB bets $50 into a pot of about $40 and I'm stumped. This guy has played really badly since he's been at the table. He could be bluffing but I've got a feeling he's got 58 for the straight. He seems the only person who would call a raise with that.

I think for ages and flat call, only for the fellow to my left (who has been picking on me) to come over the top all in for another $65. The BB folds and I'm now sure I'm ahead and insta-call. Unfortunately its this idiot who called a raise with 85o and has the straight and I need the board to pair on the river - which it doesn't. I fold the next hand and leave $70 down. I was gutted at the time, and still am really, but it was only £35 in real money.

Today I've played a couple of tournaments, cheap ones. Again buying in for the $65 at Caesars, and then playing at the Sahara.

At Caesars you have to make moves early to stay ahead of the game, and I did, really well. One of the things I'm best at at poker is knowing where I am in a game and I'm sure I'm the best player at that table by some way. Anyway I nearly doubles my starting stack to 4000, possibly without showing a hand down. In one move there was a free flop to 4 players and the button bet into a 852r flop. I've got nothing, but I don't think he has much and so I decide to call and bluff the turn. The turn is a T, again I've got nothing and I bet and he folds, showing the 8. Really, really good play. Very happy.

There was one fellow who was startlingly terrrible calling with bottom pair, and hitting cards who called my pfr. I held AT. The board comes A87 and he bets the flop, turn and river. I call each time and he turns over A7 for 2 pair. Its a tough way to lose chips, but I think he's betting A2 there also and I'm not raising with one pair.

That lost me most of my chips and then I push JT when the blinds go up, and am called by the button with AKs. The flop comes Jxx, the turn T, but the river is a Q. The fellow apologised and said he had to call (durr).

After that I hot footed it over to the Sahara where there were a few decent players in a much tougher field. I can't think of a single occasion where the blinds were taken by one raise - although there were a few re-raises.

I had two very laggy players to my right, and managed to get plenty of the chips from one player who called a raise from me, and a flop bet only to fold to my turn bet. He's obviously not got much and is planning a river bluff if I don't bet. As it was I had nothing but an OESD, but I'd committed enough to call if he comes over the top of me.

My luck runs out after a while though, and I chop a couple of pots and bleed chips with a couple of loose calls. I end up open limping from MP with KJo (debatable - I rarely do this) and the flop comes KTT. I bet and am check-min-raised by the SB, who clearly had a K. I pushed over him and of course he calls, and I'm dead. Its poor play all round really. If I raise pf I've got a chance of him folding his hand which wasn't great and I should probably have checked the flop, aiming to play a small flop.

I'm enjoying these cheap tournaments though. I think I'll play in a few more of these rather than buying into the bigger tournies. The Caesars one is something of a crap-shoot, but the play is so bad I've still got a decent edge.

Vegas Day 2 - A Final Table!!

I made a final table (but didn't cash).

Two tournaments today. I bought into the "big" $200 game at Caesars at noon, which gives you 7500 chips and blinds start at 25/50. There's loads of play here, and the first time I've played anything approaching a deep-stack tournament. Unfortunately I hit nothing early and had no hands. I lost a fair chunk of my chips when I see a free flop with 82 and the flop comes A8x. Checked round. The turn is a 2 and I bet out and am raised. I call and check-call on the river and the fellow has A8 for a higher 2-pair.
After that it doesn't get much better and although I win a couple of very small pots I'm in trouble. My last hand I ended up bluffing (I had second pair - but I new that wasn't good) against a player who had turned a straight and it was good night.

I was a bit annoyed so bought in fairly quickly to the 3pm tournament for $65. Only 50 runners allowed. This you only get 2000 chips, so I knew I had to get aggressive - and did! I really played well early bluffing quite a bit and taking down a lot of pots uncontested. I did have a nice hand where my 55 saw a flop of AQ5 and I busted a fellow with AQ. After that I did pretty well until we were down to 2 tables. Unfortunately I was moved from the table where I was at when we were about 12 handed. I knew pretty much where I stood with those players so I was at a disadvantage. I quickly figured out the fellow to my right, so was able to steal off him when he completed his SB - but I hit no hands.

I was short stacked when the tables broke for the final table and was probably in 6th or 7th of the 9 of us who started. Unfortunately having just posted my BB on the table that broke, I walked into the BB on the final table. 5 hands later I have the first playable hand - 88 in MP. A lady min-raised UTG and it was folded around to me. I'm playing 5100, she's raised the 1200 BB to 2400. I haven't seen much of her play to know how light she is raising UTG. My guess was she wasn't that strong a player and she had certainly hit cards. She had had aces 3 times - each time they stood up - and cracked AA herself holding QJ. Anyway I pushed and she turns over A9. I'm ahead until the river which was a 9.

I was pleased with how I played. I thought I'd probably go out before the final table defending my blinds with air - but I was actually picking up the odd physical tell on people and so ended up folding the few opportunities I had - and then it was too late because I didn't have enough chips.

I like this tournament, and I think I'll play at Caesars a fair bit more over the course of the holiday.

Anyway, I'm using this time away from the table to calm down - but I'll play some cash this evening, probably on the South end of the strip in the MGM or the Excalibur.

Tournament = -$395
Cash = -$126

Vegas day one

Arrived, scouted a couple of the local casinos, and then played some poker.

First up was a $125 tourny at the Mirage, which had a gentle structure allowing a decent amount of play. I played reasonably well in this, with some nice bluffs early, and some decent laydowns. I folded 99 on the button when the SB raised all in - and I think I was behind, although he was rather evasive about his actual holding.

I did check-raise and EP raised on a 344 board when holding 66, which was a very nice move. He folded, but I suspect he folded the better hand.

I did ok in the very early stagees, but got whittled down a bit and then went broke with AA. I'd had to fold a couple of hands to bets I believed, so I thought that people would attack me - so limped AA UTG. 5 callers. D'oh. I check a Q98 flop - debatable - and its checked round to a fellow in late position who has been betting quite a bit. I decide I might be ahead, push, and he turns over 89. Boom. Disappointing way to go out really. I don't usually slow-play aces, but thought there was a good chance of a raise. Ho Hum.

I then wander back to the Imperial Palace and play some 1/2 NL buying in for $200. I go up and down, several times promising myself that I'd get up and leave when I hit the BB, but I probably played there for 3 hours in all. This was from 8.30-11.30 (which my body thought of as 4.30am to 7.30 am). I made some nice moves, being taggish, although trying to see cheap flops in position. I'd lose $50 then win it back again, once flopping a flush holding 34s. I bet the flop and turn into one player, and when the river didn't come a 4th of the suit checked, guessing he was drawing, and trying to induce a bluff. He had 2 pair and would have called a bet!

I ended up quite a bit down though. Last hand I see a flop from LP with KJs, flop comes K78 with 2 spades. Once player bets $6 and I raise to $20. He calls. The turn is an off-suit 9. He bets $6 again, which really confuses me. I end up guessing this is a blocking bet and raise to $30. He calls. The river is an off-suit Ace which he bets for $60. I think for a couple of minutes genuinely unsure what to do. I decide he's bluffing a missed flush with the ace as a scare-card enough to warrant a call. Its a highly dubious call - and he turns over 65s, for the missed flush but the turned straight.


What could I have done differently - well call the turn for pot control really, but it was only his really small bet that made me raise. If he bets a sensible amount I'm folding.

So Tournaments -S125
Cash -$126

Not the best of starts. On the plus side though I'm now entirely comfortable making moves in B&M games. Whether other players can read me I don't know, but I'm quite happy with how I do it.

So its now 11:55 (7.55am in England) I haven't slept in 25 hours, and I feel wide awake. Amazing thing this poker lark.

Caesars tomorrow - I'm not going to play a sat to the venetian. The field looked pretty tough from my brief visit today.

The Plan

The bags are packed, the dollars are ready, the passport has been checked and I'm ready to go. I'm staying at a hotel near Gatwick tomorrow night, and flying out Weds am.

The plan is:

Weds:
Arrive.
Play Satellite to Thursday's tourny at the Venetian
Play in MGM/Mirage evening tourny.

Thurs:
Play Satellite to Thursday's tourny at the Venetian
Play Caesars lunchtime tourny assuming I haven't qualified at the Venetian
Play Sahara evening tourny

Fri:
Play Caesars/Sahara lunchtime tourny
Play Binions Evening tourny

Sat:
Play Orleans lunchtime tourny
Play TI Evening tourny

Sunday:
No poker. Recover and catch the flight home.

And when I'm not doing that play cash at the Excalibur/Bally's/MGM/Planet Hollywood/Imperial Palace or wherever takes my fancy.

I'll see how the bankroll is doing midweek and how the cash games are going and adjust appropriately.

Wish me luck ...

Still playing well - can I do it in Vegas?

I've entered the 9.30pm £20 tourny twice more, coming in 16th, and 4th. On both occasions I played very well. Keeping out of the way of trouble effectively, not getting into problems with my mediocre hands, and making well timed bluffs.

Funnily enough in the last game I'm sure every time I went all in (or called an all in) the better hand won at the end. Every time. I'm also pretty sure that this happened to all the big confrontations I saw (except for virtual coin-flips - AQv55). The chances of that!

The real question is that I'm clearly able to sense weakness in people pre-flop betting/calling and their play after the flop. Online I am able to take advantage of this by making appropriately timed bets. Will I have the cojones to make the same move live? Only time will tell.