The four of us played in the Binion's deep-ish stack tourney last evening. 6000 chips, similar rounds to WSOP (missing a couple), 30 minutes, 75 people. Not great, but a decent amount of play without an all-day time commitment.
Jason crumbled, not sure what happened to Zack, and KP got fairly deep despite being two dozen sheets to the wind. I, however, brought my A game and mixed in a lot of new stuff to take it down. To be more specific, we chopped 5-way for second place money. Good for me, as by then it was a push-fest. Only one questionable move that ran into a slow-play, but I got lucky and tripled up my short stack to give me the boost to keep it rolling to the end, chip leader most of the way. I got everybody to kick in a healthy tip for dealers, leaving us each with $1100 to take home from a $125 buyin and six hours of work.
My attitude about live games has changed completely. I am utterly comfortable at the tables, intimidated by nobody (but respectful of some). By and large I try to work the energy to get it loose and friendly, but for the tournament I definitely went across the border into asshole territory from time to time. Whatever, it worked. I blame KP.
I think my biggest strength right now is in adaptation. I remain aware of how people are playing against me and I listen to everything they say. If you pay attention, people will tell you how to beat them. I've developed many new moves and have removed others.
The cash games are still insane. I love being able to play for a couple of hours, take a break to assess my play and the game itself, then move on and find another game around the corner (or in the same room). In California you need to specifically go to the casino, which makes you play longer, and also doesn't attract many tourists. This place is crazy go nuts with soft money. That said, every session is an education. Thankfully, they're mostly paying me to learn.
I'm still awake from finishing the tourney at 3am and partying it up, probably sleep in today, try some cash games, see what else is afoot this evening. I've been hearing so much about the MGM, I may need to make an evening of it there. We'll see. The best part about having a week in town is I can do whatever the hell I want when I want, and play poker from time to time to fund it.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Take it down, Big Pimp.
What a day. I woke up in what I thought was plenty of time to eat breakfast at my hotel downtown, take the deuce (a bus, not a movement) to Caesars, then the free shuttle to the Rio. The short of it is that everything on my end took longer than expected (who knew that Saturday would be busier than Thursday morning?), but those waiting for the shuttle had been there for almost as long as I had been in transit myself, so it hardly mattered.
Arrived at the front of the Rio, minutes to go to start time. The WSOP is in the convention center. The convention center is in the ass end of the Rio. Jogging time! I'm sure the security cameras have many amusing shots of me darting in and out of the meandering feedbaggers as I made my way to the tournament. Trotted in, hopped past Jason sitting a few tables over, and settled on down. Ten seconds later, shuffle up and deal!
While there are absent players at most tables, mine has the record at only five present. Look down at the first hand, pocket kings! I raise and take down the blinds. Second hand, pocket jacks! I raise and take down the blinds. All right, chip leader!
After a short while our entire table was taken out of the Brazillia room and into the main hall, and I was fortunate not to have my table broken down throughout. I pegged a couple of people as dangerous, one of whom turned out to be a pro. I didn't quite recognize her, but camera crews would stop by periodically and she seemed to know everybody there. I learned a lot listening to and watching her, that's for sure. She had a great attitude overall, very friendly, conscientious. She set a fine example of how one should conduct oneself.
Zack was the first out, on a sticky situation with a flush draw against a set that turned into a flush that turned into a boat. Jason, despite doubling up his short stack with quads, took a brutal tumble shortly thereafter, when his AK was bested by Q3 on KQ3 flop.
From there, KP and I plugged away, accumulating chips where we could. At one point I was up to 7000, and I was hardly showing down any hands. Ultimately, I was done shortly before the dinner break when my TT couldn't hold up against an AKo, finishing around 680th out of more than 2700 starting. Of those at my starting table, only the pro lasted longer than I did; every other seat was vacated twice (on average)
KP, however, made it through dinner only to return to a 600 BB as a short stack of 6k. After folding for two rounds he picked up pocket jacks and got it all in against pocket tens. Flop of J67 looked juicy, until he noticed that it was all clubs and his opponent held the ten of clubs. Turn 8 of diamonds, river 9 of spades. No flush, but KP's top set was felled by a running straight. The 15,000 pot would've given KP a healthy shot at making it to the money. 270 paid, and while KP finished in the lower 400s, several hours later they were still in the upper 300s, so it would've been a tough row to hoe regardless.
Overall the experience was a blast, though of course I'd like to still be playing. I feel my poker education has jumped up a level simply from having participated for as long as I did (almost six hours of play time). Next year, after I win a seat in our league, I'll likely buy in for one or two other events on my own (or try to win the seats elsewhere).
I'll post more thoughts about everything later, but for now there's more gambling and partying to do! Hopefully KP, Zack, and Jason will come on here and share their experiences as well.
Thank you everybody who participated in the league and allowed this to happen. I know we all played our best, so your investment wasn't completely pissed away. With some changes I think we can make next year's league both cheaper to enter and bigger overall, with more seats awarded. And as for me, I think I need to come back to this town on a regular basis. It speaks to me.
Arrived at the front of the Rio, minutes to go to start time. The WSOP is in the convention center. The convention center is in the ass end of the Rio. Jogging time! I'm sure the security cameras have many amusing shots of me darting in and out of the meandering feedbaggers as I made my way to the tournament. Trotted in, hopped past Jason sitting a few tables over, and settled on down. Ten seconds later, shuffle up and deal!
While there are absent players at most tables, mine has the record at only five present. Look down at the first hand, pocket kings! I raise and take down the blinds. Second hand, pocket jacks! I raise and take down the blinds. All right, chip leader!
After a short while our entire table was taken out of the Brazillia room and into the main hall, and I was fortunate not to have my table broken down throughout. I pegged a couple of people as dangerous, one of whom turned out to be a pro. I didn't quite recognize her, but camera crews would stop by periodically and she seemed to know everybody there. I learned a lot listening to and watching her, that's for sure. She had a great attitude overall, very friendly, conscientious. She set a fine example of how one should conduct oneself.
Zack was the first out, on a sticky situation with a flush draw against a set that turned into a flush that turned into a boat. Jason, despite doubling up his short stack with quads, took a brutal tumble shortly thereafter, when his AK was bested by Q3 on KQ3 flop.
From there, KP and I plugged away, accumulating chips where we could. At one point I was up to 7000, and I was hardly showing down any hands. Ultimately, I was done shortly before the dinner break when my TT couldn't hold up against an AKo, finishing around 680th out of more than 2700 starting. Of those at my starting table, only the pro lasted longer than I did; every other seat was vacated twice (on average)
KP, however, made it through dinner only to return to a 600 BB as a short stack of 6k. After folding for two rounds he picked up pocket jacks and got it all in against pocket tens. Flop of J67 looked juicy, until he noticed that it was all clubs and his opponent held the ten of clubs. Turn 8 of diamonds, river 9 of spades. No flush, but KP's top set was felled by a running straight. The 15,000 pot would've given KP a healthy shot at making it to the money. 270 paid, and while KP finished in the lower 400s, several hours later they were still in the upper 300s, so it would've been a tough row to hoe regardless.
Overall the experience was a blast, though of course I'd like to still be playing. I feel my poker education has jumped up a level simply from having participated for as long as I did (almost six hours of play time). Next year, after I win a seat in our league, I'll likely buy in for one or two other events on my own (or try to win the seats elsewhere).
I'll post more thoughts about everything later, but for now there's more gambling and partying to do! Hopefully KP, Zack, and Jason will come on here and share their experiences as well.
Thank you everybody who participated in the league and allowed this to happen. I know we all played our best, so your investment wasn't completely pissed away. With some changes I think we can make next year's league both cheaper to enter and bigger overall, with more seats awarded. And as for me, I think I need to come back to this town on a regular basis. It speaks to me.
Friday, June 27, 2008
All Registered (I think...)
In typical KP fashion, he was completely wrong about his flight time, so he ended up here about five hours after he told us all to meet him at the Tropicana. Happilly, it was no problem at all for me to simply say his name and then hand them my ID and ultimately Zack's credit card to get his room. I guess the casino figures they get paid regardless, who cares who checks in. I was thrown off and unable to pull the $20 trick so Zack stepped up and got us an upgrade to a mildly better room in a much better location. He's such a charmer.
I nervously handed off the rest of the WSOP roll to Zack (it's been in my possession for so long, hard to see it go), but he assures me that he and KP didn't stop off at roulette on the way to registration and that they're signed up and ready to go. Jason's also here, having received a partial backer (and using the money he won at our tourney last week), so I expect us to go 1-4 at the final table.
I just hope I can get some sleep tonight.
I nervously handed off the rest of the WSOP roll to Zack (it's been in my possession for so long, hard to see it go), but he assures me that he and KP didn't stop off at roulette on the way to registration and that they're signed up and ready to go. Jason's also here, having received a partial backer (and using the money he won at our tourney last week), so I expect us to go 1-4 at the final table.
I just hope I can get some sleep tonight.
Busy!
I'd be a genius if I weren't such an idiot.
Some briefs:
Lots of clothes shopping. Only a little buying. The "every brand in the world" outlet jeans store was being renovated, but at least I got four new pairs of shoes.
Tried some super-aggro 3/6, not so good. NL so far is holding well as long as I stop making mistakes. No big wins, but I'm holding steady. There are a crazy number of ridiculously bad players here, I love it. Played some 1/2NL at the Tropicana with Zack earlier. He straddled and turned the table into ultra stupid. It was glorious.
Went down to the Wynn to pamper myself. Manicure and massage was all I could do today as a walk-in. Sadly no pedicure or facial, but I can always do that next week. Played a little 1/3NL there, great room, broke even after donking off a double-up.
There have been a few other adventures, but those are probably best left unposted. Too bad, cuz they're more entertaining than this drivel.
Tonight it's Tea Leaf Green at Jillian's downtown (that, and that I know an employee and have a super cheap rate, is partly why I'm staying so far from the Rio). Tomorrow... WSOP!
Some briefs:
Lots of clothes shopping. Only a little buying. The "every brand in the world" outlet jeans store was being renovated, but at least I got four new pairs of shoes.
Tried some super-aggro 3/6, not so good. NL so far is holding well as long as I stop making mistakes. No big wins, but I'm holding steady. There are a crazy number of ridiculously bad players here, I love it. Played some 1/2NL at the Tropicana with Zack earlier. He straddled and turned the table into ultra stupid. It was glorious.
Went down to the Wynn to pamper myself. Manicure and massage was all I could do today as a walk-in. Sadly no pedicure or facial, but I can always do that next week. Played a little 1/3NL there, great room, broke even after donking off a double-up.
There have been a few other adventures, but those are probably best left unposted. Too bad, cuz they're more entertaining than this drivel.
Tonight it's Tea Leaf Green at Jillian's downtown (that, and that I know an employee and have a super cheap rate, is partly why I'm staying so far from the Rio). Tomorrow... WSOP!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Should Leave Now
After a full shift of work this morning I spent the morning finishing up paperwork and packing and cleaning and generally being antsy and excited about my trip. Got a few minutes sleep in the airport and another hour on the plane, then a $40 cab ride and I was in my 31st floor hotel room downtown. Well, okay, I stopped in the lobby first.
Since I was so tired I decided to get some sleep and start fresh tomorrow, but then I realized I wanted to play some friggin' POKER, so off I went. I'm staying at the Fitz, which has a 1/2 No Limit... perfect!
Most of my poker experience has been in California. I had no IDEA it was so easy out here. I may need to come here more often. I made one bad call and one suspect call, but after a few hours I was up a couple hundred. Sleep now.
When I wake, time to get Tea Leaf Green tickets and then head to the Rio for WSOP registration. Someone at my table today said he tried to sign up for Saturday's event and was told it was a $2000 buyin. The site has said $1500 all this time, so here's hoping it's not more. I'm playin' regardless, but I'd rather save that $500 for hookers and blow.
Since I was so tired I decided to get some sleep and start fresh tomorrow, but then I realized I wanted to play some friggin' POKER, so off I went. I'm staying at the Fitz, which has a 1/2 No Limit... perfect!
Most of my poker experience has been in California. I had no IDEA it was so easy out here. I may need to come here more often. I made one bad call and one suspect call, but after a few hours I was up a couple hundred. Sleep now.
When I wake, time to get Tea Leaf Green tickets and then head to the Rio for WSOP registration. Someone at my table today said he tried to sign up for Saturday's event and was told it was a $2000 buyin. The site has said $1500 all this time, so here's hoping it's not more. I'm playin' regardless, but I'd rather save that $500 for hookers and blow.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Awwwwww
Sadly, Rob has busted out, 700th out of over 2400. Almost there, buddy, you'll get it next time.
Rob's in the action!
Got an update from Rob from a couple hours ago, said he was down to 1700 chips (from 3000 starting). I expect he's at least gained control of himself and hasn't busted out, as I've had no updates for a few hours. If he makes it through tonight, he'll likely already be in the money. Final table is in two days (Saturday).
Stay focused, Rob!
EDIT: A few minutes later, got an update that he was back up to 2300! Woot!
Stay focused, Rob!
EDIT: A few minutes later, got an update that he was back up to 2300! Woot!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
WSOP 2008
After a couple of years of drunken stoned shenanigans in the garage, we finally decided to pool our resources for a shot at big money oh yeah baby needs a new pair of shoes. An 11-tournament league winnowed 24 hopefuls down to four elite, all of whom have won entry into $1500 World Series of Poker bracelet events.
The time is upon us, and the first of our four lucky contestants (Rob) is off to Vegas this very day to take part in Event 36 this Thursday-Saturday. The rest of us (Zack, KP, yours truly) leave next week for Event 49 starting on June 28.
Here we be updating with tournament progress as well as general Vegas regrets-in-the-making.
-p.
The time is upon us, and the first of our four lucky contestants (Rob) is off to Vegas this very day to take part in Event 36 this Thursday-Saturday. The rest of us (Zack, KP, yours truly) leave next week for Event 49 starting on June 28.
Here we be updating with tournament progress as well as general Vegas regrets-in-the-making.
-p.
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