Caesar's Classic, Vegas, Etc.
I booked the early Friday morning flight to Vegas because I wanted to play in the 1st event at the Caesar's Classic ($550 +50) that started at noon. Of course, I didn't get much sleep the night before because I was too excited. I landed about 9am, took a shuttle to Caesar's and jumped right into a satellite. I wasn't able to pick up any hands in the satellite and finished 4th. So I had to buy in to the event, Bummer! There wound up being about 500 people in the event and first place was about 80K. Very nice payout! However, I was never able to accumulate too many chips in the tournament. We started with 2500 in chips, 50 min levels, and I think my high was 6000. There really wasn't too many hands of interests or confrontations. I picked up AA/KK type hands maybe twice. I hit a set of nines once but it was on a 3 suit board so I had to play it fast. I lasted until the 6th level 200/400 50 ante when I pushed with K9 when it was folded to me on the button, only having 2500 left. The guy in the bb called me with A10 and the flop bricked out. I finished 150ish, top 50 cashed. I was happy with how I played and finishing in the top 3rd but dissappointed that I wasn't able to go deeper. Thats the thing with these tournaments. You HAVE TO find ways to accumulate chips. If you hit a spot where you go card dead, you gotta pick spots to make moves. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.
It was right around 6pm at this time and I called and met up with Rich (friend from the meetup group) who decided to come down with me on this trip. It was nice to have company and someone to share room costs with. He was planning on playing the nightly Venetian tourney so I walked over there and met up with him. It was a 175+20 and about 103 players. 4K starting chips, 30 min levels. I went into the first break with 12K in chips. I played really well and my cards cooperated. The hand that got me there was when I raised in early position with AcQh. I got one caller out of the bb. Flop J 2 3, 3 clubs. We got it all in on the flop and I outdrew the guy. Very lucky and took the chip lead right away. I maintained my chip stack really well. I wound up going pretty deep, getting knocked out 14th, top 9 got paid. I lost the majority of my stack when AQ couldn't hit against 99. I was getting about 3 to 1 on my money when I made the call but couldn't win that race. Then I stuck it in there with AQ and lost to AK. Bummer. AQ keeps killing me in these damn tournaments! Played well but couldn't win that last race. If I woulda won that, I'm pretty sure I would have been top 3 in chips at that time. Oh well, what can you do right? Rich was knocked out pretty early and was playing cash games, which he did pretty well in. By this time, it was around 2am so we decided to go back to our hotel because I wanted to be fresh for the 1K at Caesars. We were staying at the Super 8 off of the strip and theres a casino next door called Ellis Island. We made a quick stop there, played some blackjack, and won a quick $150. Went to bed booking a little win for the day.
On Saturday, Rich went to Planet Hollywood to play in there morning tournament and I headed to Caesar's. Grabbed a cup of coffee and a muffin on my way just so I would have something in my system. There wasn't nearly as many people in this tourney, only about 275, compared to 500 from yesterday. We start with 3K in chips, 60 min levels. Within the first 5 hands, I get involved in a decent sized pot. 25/25 blinds, early position raises to 100 and I call out of the bb with KQs. Flop K 10 7. I lead out for 150 and villian makes it 350 to go. I wasn't ready to give up on the hand so I call to see what would happen on the turn. Turn J. I check and he checks behind. At this point, I felt like I was way behind. AA/AK was a very good possibility and he was just playing slow because its so early in the tourney. The turn check was very suspicious in a lot of different ways. Luckily, the river brought a 9, giving me the straight. I went into value town and bet $600 which my opponent called begrudgingly. I went into the first break with about 5K. I didn't play very many hands in 3rd and 4th level and went into the 2nd break with about 4K. Things went downhill from there. I was moved to my 3rd table and played pretty tight for about 45 mins. I finally get a decent hand to play, AKo in the sb. Blinds 200/400 50 ante and I have about 4500. After about 3 limpers, the hijack seat makes it 1600 to go. Pretty much not having played a hand in forever, I felt like I could take the hand down right now. Also, I didn't want to just call and have to play AK out of position. I elected to push all in and the original raiser had KK. I felt like he would have laid down most hands besides JJ - AA. Bad timing. My only other option was to fold there. I really didn't like calling in that spot because if I miss, I check fold? I wasn't too proud of the play but I didn't see any other choices besides moving in or folding. I finished 110ish which is good enough for top 3rd, but again, no money.
Rich went out on the bubble at Planet Hollywood's tourney and stayed there and played some cash. He came over to Caesar's and we went and ate at Cheesecake Factory. Delicious! Now we were debating what to do. We decided to go over to Harrah's, because the play is usually pretty weak and we've both had sucess there. Apparently, I wasn't ready to play a cash session yet. I wasn't really focused and donked off $300 right off the bat. I lost to a suckout early which then lead to TERRIBLE play. I finally overplayed a hand where I had two pair but made a move on a lady who I KNEW wouldn't lay down anyway and she wound up calling. She had As5s and was on the nut flush draw but wound up winning with the wheel. F me! So instead of playing more stupid poker, we went and played craps at Casino Royale, and lost. Came back to Harrah's and put in a blackjack session while watching the Red Sox get hammered (costing me more $). Luckily blackjack treated me well, cashing up $500. Decided to leave around 3am, put in another gambling session at Ellis Island and called it a night.
Sunday, October 14th
I really didn't feel like getting up today. Rich, of course, was up bright and early. I was finally able to roll out of bed about 11:30, checkout was at noon. I missed all my morning NFL bets. Kinda sucked because I woulda went 3-1. I really didn't like much in the afternoon. Cardinals but they lost. I was determined to put in a good session in poker today before going home. I met up with Rich and we decided on Harrah's. I immediately bought in for $300 at the 1/2 game. The very first hand I saw when I sat down: two guys called an all in on the turn. One had A2, another had Q8, they had no draw. The winner had two pair, basically drawing dead. Nice, we have easy money at the table. Sure enough, I get involved with one of these guys pretty early. He raised UTG to $10 and I rr to $40 with QQ. He thinks for a bit so I'm pretty sure he didn't have KK or AA. I say "you really can't just call here, if you're going to play, might as well go all in." He reluctantly calls. Flop came 10 high and he goes all in. I call. Turn A, River 8. I said if you have AK, you're good. He tabled 108off. HUH? Good hand sir.
I was able to maintain pretty well. Picking spots here and there. One hand, I raised with QQ to $13 in EP. Guy to my immediate left RR to $40. Rich, RR to $100. Ya, terrible. I knew I was beat. I laid it down and guy to my left pushed and showed KK. Rich called and obviously had AA. About a $300 pot. Nice lay down TK.
I played another hand with QhJh on the button and flopped two hearts, 3 way action. The heart hit on the river and after the 1st player bet, middle position raised. I somehow felt like I was beat in this spot but she min raised. The night before in this spot, I reraised. This time, I elected to just call with the 2nd nuts. She did have the Ace high flush. I lost but I got away cheap. Well, cheaper I guess.
I did have to make a move on a guy with A5o. Flop was A 2 7 and I was in the BB. I lead out for 10 and a guy raised to $20 and was called behind. Normally, I'm done here but I felt I had a good idea of the player at this point. I had him on about A8 - AJ range. Turn 6. I check, he bets $25, lady calls, and I raise to $100. I can tell he's disgusted. He likes his hand, but is not in love with it. The hand was limped preflop and me being in the BB, I could really have anything. He reluctantly calls and lady folds. I didn't care what the river was. I KNEW I had to make a move to win the hand. I know I preferred to see a low card come out. River 7 and I push for $320 and he had about $250 behind. HE HATED IT. But I knew that he couldn't call here unless he had a monster. Theres no way he can put me on a hand. Not the way the action went. He laid it down. Thank god because I knew he was good but I didn't want to give up.
I went on to play really well for 6 hours. Move some good timed moves, laid down monsters. Played a lot of small ball. I'd call the session successful. Cashed out +421. FINALLY a good session.
I'd say overall, the trip went well. I wasn't able to cash in the 3 tourneys I played in but I would grade my play at B+/B range. I was able to finish in the top 30% of the field which isn't bad. Obviously I need to finish in the top 10%. I didn't feel like the competition was any tougher. Some situations didn't go my way and if they would have, I have have gone deeper. I look forward to playing more of these 500 - 1000 tourneys and I will make a splash in one of them soon enough.
Cash game wise, it went like I thought it would. There are some really bad players at these 1/2 tables. Minus the one session where my head really wasn't in it. I honestly think if you bring your A game everytime, you should be able to make 100 - 200 easily. There are going to be times where you just get colddecked but overall, the game should be profitable, even with such a high rake.
Theres another tourney coming up in the beginning of November at Pendleton, OR. Hyde's been talking about it so I might go up there. If I can get Wil or Dave to commit. Maybe Ing, Kyto and those guys wanna roll? Well, if we roll World Series instead, I doubt I'll have money to make the tourney. We'll see. Better start making some money at these weekly cash games!
Go Rockies!
TK
It was right around 6pm at this time and I called and met up with Rich (friend from the meetup group) who decided to come down with me on this trip. It was nice to have company and someone to share room costs with. He was planning on playing the nightly Venetian tourney so I walked over there and met up with him. It was a 175+20 and about 103 players. 4K starting chips, 30 min levels. I went into the first break with 12K in chips. I played really well and my cards cooperated. The hand that got me there was when I raised in early position with AcQh. I got one caller out of the bb. Flop J 2 3, 3 clubs. We got it all in on the flop and I outdrew the guy. Very lucky and took the chip lead right away. I maintained my chip stack really well. I wound up going pretty deep, getting knocked out 14th, top 9 got paid. I lost the majority of my stack when AQ couldn't hit against 99. I was getting about 3 to 1 on my money when I made the call but couldn't win that race. Then I stuck it in there with AQ and lost to AK. Bummer. AQ keeps killing me in these damn tournaments! Played well but couldn't win that last race. If I woulda won that, I'm pretty sure I would have been top 3 in chips at that time. Oh well, what can you do right? Rich was knocked out pretty early and was playing cash games, which he did pretty well in. By this time, it was around 2am so we decided to go back to our hotel because I wanted to be fresh for the 1K at Caesars. We were staying at the Super 8 off of the strip and theres a casino next door called Ellis Island. We made a quick stop there, played some blackjack, and won a quick $150. Went to bed booking a little win for the day.
On Saturday, Rich went to Planet Hollywood to play in there morning tournament and I headed to Caesar's. Grabbed a cup of coffee and a muffin on my way just so I would have something in my system. There wasn't nearly as many people in this tourney, only about 275, compared to 500 from yesterday. We start with 3K in chips, 60 min levels. Within the first 5 hands, I get involved in a decent sized pot. 25/25 blinds, early position raises to 100 and I call out of the bb with KQs. Flop K 10 7. I lead out for 150 and villian makes it 350 to go. I wasn't ready to give up on the hand so I call to see what would happen on the turn. Turn J. I check and he checks behind. At this point, I felt like I was way behind. AA/AK was a very good possibility and he was just playing slow because its so early in the tourney. The turn check was very suspicious in a lot of different ways. Luckily, the river brought a 9, giving me the straight. I went into value town and bet $600 which my opponent called begrudgingly. I went into the first break with about 5K. I didn't play very many hands in 3rd and 4th level and went into the 2nd break with about 4K. Things went downhill from there. I was moved to my 3rd table and played pretty tight for about 45 mins. I finally get a decent hand to play, AKo in the sb. Blinds 200/400 50 ante and I have about 4500. After about 3 limpers, the hijack seat makes it 1600 to go. Pretty much not having played a hand in forever, I felt like I could take the hand down right now. Also, I didn't want to just call and have to play AK out of position. I elected to push all in and the original raiser had KK. I felt like he would have laid down most hands besides JJ - AA. Bad timing. My only other option was to fold there. I really didn't like calling in that spot because if I miss, I check fold? I wasn't too proud of the play but I didn't see any other choices besides moving in or folding. I finished 110ish which is good enough for top 3rd, but again, no money.
Rich went out on the bubble at Planet Hollywood's tourney and stayed there and played some cash. He came over to Caesar's and we went and ate at Cheesecake Factory. Delicious! Now we were debating what to do. We decided to go over to Harrah's, because the play is usually pretty weak and we've both had sucess there. Apparently, I wasn't ready to play a cash session yet. I wasn't really focused and donked off $300 right off the bat. I lost to a suckout early which then lead to TERRIBLE play. I finally overplayed a hand where I had two pair but made a move on a lady who I KNEW wouldn't lay down anyway and she wound up calling. She had As5s and was on the nut flush draw but wound up winning with the wheel. F me! So instead of playing more stupid poker, we went and played craps at Casino Royale, and lost. Came back to Harrah's and put in a blackjack session while watching the Red Sox get hammered (costing me more $). Luckily blackjack treated me well, cashing up $500. Decided to leave around 3am, put in another gambling session at Ellis Island and called it a night.
Sunday, October 14th
I really didn't feel like getting up today. Rich, of course, was up bright and early. I was finally able to roll out of bed about 11:30, checkout was at noon. I missed all my morning NFL bets. Kinda sucked because I woulda went 3-1. I really didn't like much in the afternoon. Cardinals but they lost. I was determined to put in a good session in poker today before going home. I met up with Rich and we decided on Harrah's. I immediately bought in for $300 at the 1/2 game. The very first hand I saw when I sat down: two guys called an all in on the turn. One had A2, another had Q8, they had no draw. The winner had two pair, basically drawing dead. Nice, we have easy money at the table. Sure enough, I get involved with one of these guys pretty early. He raised UTG to $10 and I rr to $40 with QQ. He thinks for a bit so I'm pretty sure he didn't have KK or AA. I say "you really can't just call here, if you're going to play, might as well go all in." He reluctantly calls. Flop came 10 high and he goes all in. I call. Turn A, River 8. I said if you have AK, you're good. He tabled 108off. HUH? Good hand sir.
I was able to maintain pretty well. Picking spots here and there. One hand, I raised with QQ to $13 in EP. Guy to my immediate left RR to $40. Rich, RR to $100. Ya, terrible. I knew I was beat. I laid it down and guy to my left pushed and showed KK. Rich called and obviously had AA. About a $300 pot. Nice lay down TK.
I played another hand with QhJh on the button and flopped two hearts, 3 way action. The heart hit on the river and after the 1st player bet, middle position raised. I somehow felt like I was beat in this spot but she min raised. The night before in this spot, I reraised. This time, I elected to just call with the 2nd nuts. She did have the Ace high flush. I lost but I got away cheap. Well, cheaper I guess.
I did have to make a move on a guy with A5o. Flop was A 2 7 and I was in the BB. I lead out for 10 and a guy raised to $20 and was called behind. Normally, I'm done here but I felt I had a good idea of the player at this point. I had him on about A8 - AJ range. Turn 6. I check, he bets $25, lady calls, and I raise to $100. I can tell he's disgusted. He likes his hand, but is not in love with it. The hand was limped preflop and me being in the BB, I could really have anything. He reluctantly calls and lady folds. I didn't care what the river was. I KNEW I had to make a move to win the hand. I know I preferred to see a low card come out. River 7 and I push for $320 and he had about $250 behind. HE HATED IT. But I knew that he couldn't call here unless he had a monster. Theres no way he can put me on a hand. Not the way the action went. He laid it down. Thank god because I knew he was good but I didn't want to give up.
I went on to play really well for 6 hours. Move some good timed moves, laid down monsters. Played a lot of small ball. I'd call the session successful. Cashed out +421. FINALLY a good session.
I'd say overall, the trip went well. I wasn't able to cash in the 3 tourneys I played in but I would grade my play at B+/B range. I was able to finish in the top 30% of the field which isn't bad. Obviously I need to finish in the top 10%. I didn't feel like the competition was any tougher. Some situations didn't go my way and if they would have, I have have gone deeper. I look forward to playing more of these 500 - 1000 tourneys and I will make a splash in one of them soon enough.
Cash game wise, it went like I thought it would. There are some really bad players at these 1/2 tables. Minus the one session where my head really wasn't in it. I honestly think if you bring your A game everytime, you should be able to make 100 - 200 easily. There are going to be times where you just get colddecked but overall, the game should be profitable, even with such a high rake.
Theres another tourney coming up in the beginning of November at Pendleton, OR. Hyde's been talking about it so I might go up there. If I can get Wil or Dave to commit. Maybe Ing, Kyto and those guys wanna roll? Well, if we roll World Series instead, I doubt I'll have money to make the tourney. We'll see. Better start making some money at these weekly cash games!
Go Rockies!
TK
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