Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Haven't had any reason to blog since Online Poker was taken away on April 15, 2011.  But I have played some events in the WSOP Circuit.  I traveled to Vegas as written in my last BLOG in 2012 to play alot of cash games but also to play at WSOP Circuit event @ Caesar's.  I played about 7 hours that day and took a bad beat, losing KK to AK for an above average stack.

I have also played a few tournaments at Hollywood Casino near Cincinnati...cashing once at the final table...7th place I think in a $250 Bounty event.  Also played some cash games winning the biggest live pot at the time of about $3000.

The Horseshoe Southern Indiana is where I have played the most events but still only a handful of WSOP Circuit and Tournament Series events they host.

Typically my family and I go to Florida for our FALL BREAK from school, but they have moved up to High School and their athletic teams have practice and games during the Break.  I noticed the WSOP Circuit was being played that same week and I went up for the Day 1B start of the $365 Re-Entry event.  When registration was closed...there were 694 entries and a PURSE of almost $210,000.

I doubled up very early with a SET of 5's vs an unknown player that called my all-in bet at the river with the board reading...AQ5...7...10.  He mucked when he saw my hand and went back to the cage to Re-Enter.  After the double up...my stack ranged from 18k to 30k, but I could never get over the hump and chip up further.  Levels were 30 minutes in length and blinds had escalated to 50/250/500 and I had about 25k in chips.  I raised to 550 with AJo and get two callers.  FLOP  A 10 5 and I bet 1050 and get 1 caller.  Turn was a blank and I bet 2200 and my opponent moves ALL-IN...I tanked for a long time but finally folded.  My gut was to call but I talked myself out of it.  Left me plenty of chips to find a better opportunity to chip up.  But everything went cold as I folded bad hand after bad hand and was 3 bet a few times when I tried to steal and eventually at the end of level 13, I had 13,300 in chips and the blinds were 200/600/1200...I was very SHORT in chips.  Luckily I pick up AK and 3 bet all-in an early raiser.  The SB called all in for less and the original raiser called.

SB had - 88
Rasier had - AJo
Me - AKo

Flop was a blank but luckily I binked an A on the turn and held up.  Now I have about 37k (31bb) in chips and room to play again.  In a limped pot, I call with A6o in the SB and we see a flop...A6K with two hearts. Everyone checks around to late position who bets 4k and only I call.  Turn was a blank and I check...he bets 10k and I move all in for about 30k.  He tanks and relunctantly calls with K9...???.  So all I need to fade is a river K.  The 9 hits and but my two pair holds and now I have almost 80k in chips.

Level 14 begins and I steal a few pots as now I have chips to play with and I chip up over 90k.  They announce last hand of the night and I raise again with KK from mid position and the BB shoves his 65k stack and I call.  AQ vs KK and I hold to move into the Top 10 in chips with over 160k.  Coming back the next day at 1:00pm with 100bb and 79 players left...paying the top 72.

It's about 9:30pm...(9.5 hours of play) and I'm texting my buddies and my wife about the good position I'm in going to Day 2.  I drove the 1:45 hour drive home and researched (Googled) everyone at my table and the chip leaders going to Day2.  Only one player at my table stood out, but the tournament chip leader was two seats to my left with about 240k in chips I think.  One player had won several Circuit rings and was three seats to my right with about half my stack.

I tried to copy my routine from Saturday...I ate breakfast at the same location and arrived about an hour before play was to begin at 1:00pm.  It wasn't long before the money bubble busted and everyone was guaranteed 72nd place and $584 or so.  Just before the bubble...the good player had won a few uncontested pots and was open raising again and I pick up A3cc on the button and 3-bet to 11200...he opened to 4k.  He tanked folded and didn't open another pot while at that table.  I played fairly snug but stole a few blinds along the way and I have about 180k when I get KK in late position and 3 bet another player who shoves.  my KK vs his JJ and I bust him and his 100k stack.  Now I have over 280k chips in level 16 with blinds 300/1000/2000. (140bb)  Soon our table busts and I move to another table where I am chip leader along with another player.  With my stack and the cards I get now...I play several pots...most I win without showdown.  

3Bet other big stack when he opens and I have 99. He flats...flop comes Axx (don't remember)  and I continue bet and he folds.  Played several pots with young player to my left.  He was a tough opponent for me but I always seemed to hold cards over him when we go to showdown or we would raise each other causing the other to fold...he 3 bet me several times PreFlop.  When our table broke again to go to the final (3) tables and 27 players, I told him I hope we are at different tables...I hated having him on my left.  He said LIKEWISE!  Wished him luck but he apparently busted not long after.

But before they busted our table, I did play a huge pot for the tournament chip lead in level 18.  500/1500/3000.  An early raiser made it 8k...next player 22k and I have QQ on the button.  The 3 Bettor has about 200k in chips and the 1st raiser has about 90k.  I didn't want to take long making this decision and I 4-bet to 52k.  1st raiser folds and 3-bettor moves all in after looking at the tournament clock.  I called and we raced AK vs my QQ and I hold and now have about 550k and 180bb.

Soon after we went to the final three tables with Average chips at $255k  and I have over $550k...pretty sure I'm chip leader.  Prob the second hand I play at new table and I raise 24cc in early position and get two callers... flop comes Ac5c9x.  Huge draw for me and I continue bet for 22k...first caller raises to 75k and the second caller cold 4bets to 175k.  She was an old lady...prob 70-75 years old.  They have stacks of 350 and 450k respectively and I easily fold as I know there will be better spots than this to get chips.  He ends up shoving and she folded...???  why cant she flat and let me call and see the turn??? LOL

So now I have another big stack on my left and just play fairly snug and keep my stack pretty level until redraw for seats again at the final TWO TABLES (18 players).  Don't recall getting out of line much at this table...just catching a couple of bluffers and busting an All-In player with A10 from the BB.  Wound up chipping up to 940k or so going to the Final Table...10 players.

I play fairly snug start the final table but a few players ...especially the player to my rightt splashed around and he busted the first two players leaving us with 8 players and the chip leader coming to the final 10 a short stack.  The short stack moved All-In and I 3-bet to isolate him from the SB with 88.  The BB was an older man that talked constantly and he mumbled and groaned and called my raise fairly quick.  I'm pretty sure I am behind, but maybe he has a big Ace?  The flop comes 822 and now I am worried about nothing and I bet again.  He calls with some grumbles...turn is another 2 and I bet and he moves all-in...I snap call and hold the river and bust players in 8th and 7th place.  Final 6 players and I am second in chips with over 1.6 million and blinds at 5k/15k/30k.  Level 25 playing 50 minute levels.  

From here...everyone except myself and another solid older gentlemen just spazzed out and gave their chips away.  I prob only played 4-5 hands until we were 3-handed and I had 1.15 million chips at that point.  

Chip Lead - 4.19 million

Second - 1.6 Million

Me - 1.15 Million

Chip Leader spazzed away some pots and doubled up second place. Now they become very even around 2.7 million and I have 1.4 million.

We all play several small pots until I shoved on original raiser and caller with 25bb stack.  (A8cc) and get called by the original chipleader with A3...he bricks and after that hand, we all have about 2.2-2.3 million chips. (55bb)  Before you know it...he gets all in with (2) overs and a gutshot against other players top pair top kicker and bricks...now we are heads up and I am a 2-1 dog in chips.  So chipleader with three to play busts first and he had an almost 3-1 lead over second place.  

I have 50bb going heads up and he has 105bb.  My opponent was over 60 in age but played a very aggressive game...especially when were short-handed.  I had played fairly snug to this point and opened my game up...and I'm not sure he expected that as he folded his way to where I had a 3-1 chip lead on him.  I never limped a pot PF...always raised, 3-Bet liberally and 4 bet him a handful of times...most with marginal holdings.  He usually folded to my 3-bet PF but a couple of times he called and folded after my CB.

He 3-bet PF late in our play and I have a small chip lead on him...I 4-bet with KK and he calls.  First time he defended the 4 bet.  Flop comes Q75 rainbow and I bet about 1/3 pot trying to induce a shove from him.  He folded after about 5 minutes of deliberation and now I had a commanding lead.

The Final Hand, I raise to 125k with 79o and he calls.  Blinds were 5k/25k/50k playing 60 minute levels.  He calls and we see a flop of J 10 2...he checks and I check.  Turn is magical 8x...he bets 175k...I raise to 575k...he moves all in...I insta-call...and fade his J8 for two pair and win the 1st place prize and  WSOP Circuit Ring!

Was a great ride and hope to be able to repeat this feat sometime in the near future!

Well I made it to Vegas and returned after a 5 day binge of poker. I think i will do this again next year, just not sure if i will do it by myself next time. It's awesome being able to up and go whenever ya want, but it's also nice to share the experience when ya go.

• Fly out at 6:05am Friday, January 27...Had a slight delay and almost missed connection in Atlanta. Man was I tired...no sleep the night before from late work and being amped to go on trip. Never was able to sleep on flight either.
• Arrive 10:20am...Flight arrived on time and baggage was waiting when I arrived to claim it. Short wait for a $20 cab ride to Bill's Gambling Hall.
• Check in to Hotel/Casino...I tried to check in early and use the $20 trick but they had no upgrade rooms available, so I decided to wait.
• Venetian Deep Stack $350 tournament - Day1b...Walked to Venetian and ate lunch at an oriental restaurant near the Sportsbook/Poker area. Walked to Pallazzo where the tournament was being played and registered and took my seat. I picked up some big starting hands early and played hyper-aggressive so the table didn't believe my image and finished level 3 below start stack after almost doubling after level 1. Been a while and can't remember how I busted, but it was around 4:30pm in the 6th level I believe.
• Cash at Venetian or Mirage if I bust...I didn't stay at the Venetian after busting, so I walked backed to Hotel and checked and the guy didn't know how to upgrade so I got my normal room. King no=smoking standard room. Was good and clean but nothing fancy. Going on about 36 hours of no sleep I decide to eat quick and play some 1/2nl at Bellagio. Bought in for $200 max and played very LAG as most were nitty except one good player across table from Europe and a loose kid from Israel about 3 seats to my left. Cards were awful but ran some bluffs, finally getting looked up all in on a combo draw on turn. I bricked and rebought $200. Playing hyper still (had too much money in my pocket I guess) and dwindled to about $130. When I get all in again with Flush draw and over card against two pair of good Euro player. I flushed turn and doubled to about $280. I was dog tired and decided to leave game for sleep. Sleep from 8:30pm to 4:00am and decide I'm ready to go.
• Day 2 of Venetian - Satellite WSOPC Caesar's Main Event...Walked to Caesar's expecting to try to satellite into the $1060 Main event, but get involved in a 1/3nl game at Caesars with a bunch of tards. Cards were still running bad but I was breaking even for 3-4 hours. I actually ordered my first drink of alcohol at 5am and kept drinking all day. I had a loose/tard 2 seats to my left with a big stack and he has been drinking all night. (Heineken) He overbet the pot, or moved all-in several times with lots of action behind him and each time everyone folded, but if he has a real hand...he doesnt get paid anything. He had 3-bet a few times, but they were all effectively min raises when I raise to $12 and he 3 bets to $25. I 4 bet one, I called a few and folded a few when there was no action between us. Finally after 4 hours I pick up AA and raise to $12 after a couple of limpers. He 3 bets to $25 and I one player calls between. I 4 bet to $77 and he moves all-in for $700. Other play folds and I snap call with about $300 behind. He shoved A7hh and bricked flop,turn, river and now I have almost $800. The player goes on to lose his entire stack within another 30 minutes and retires for the evening...It's about 10am and I have had about 5 bourbons. I cashed out about $650 so I make back my buyin from Venetian.

I walked to through the Caesars Shops to the Mirage and each lunch at Nathan's deli i think. I watch some hoops and buy into a $1/2 game at Mirage. I played a couple of hours and won $115 but it might have been the nittiest game I have ever played in. Also drank 2 or 3 more bourbons. I left poker room and went back to Caesars and watched UK play LSU at sportsbook.

This report is about 6 weeks delayed and what I did after the UK game is a bit foggy. Not too much bourbon, but fatigue from no sleep and flight so I think I took a nap for 2-3 hours. I got up around and went to Aria to play in a 7:30 tourney. I played 1/3 for an hour and bought in late to the $100 tourney. I busted my $300 buyin after 4-bet jamming AQhh into KK and bricked every street.

Tourney was uneventful other than catching a lady on a bluff when she 3 bet me all in when I had 2nd Nut Flush. Board was 4-flushed with a K and I had Q9dd. I took forever to call, but couldn't fold after putting so much in pot. Structure seemed to get fast fairly quick and got all-in with 77 vs 1010 and bricked out.

The Aria casino was a labarynth and I never knew which direction was out. I left around 10:00 and went to the Bellagio. I found a 2/5 game and bought in for $500. Game was pretty good as there were mostly locals and only a couple that were very aggressive. I played a LAGGy game again and lose about $100 when I pick up AA in SB. A few players limp $5 and I raise to $35 and get 2 callers. Flop comes 10 Q K rainbow and I bet $60 and the one LAG local moves all in. Other player folds I have a little over $300 to call all in. His possible hands are 2 pair but more likely a combo straight draw. I called after a minute or so and the dealer bricks the turn and flips a 9 to give the guys KJ and straight. I left Bellagio with a -$500 session and went to Bills to watch some Karaoke and drink specials.

I drank a few more bourbons...had 2 at Bellagio...none at aria and after getting bored watching Karaoke, walked back to Bellagio to rebuy into the 2/5 game. A few new players were in and the game had nitted up pretty good and I lost another $150 or so. Day started great, but ended up a big loser by the time I went back to bed.

With a few sports bets I was stuck about $1100 now and only 1 good winning session.

Getting late...I'll post more of trip soon.

• Cash game at Bellagio if no tournament
• Day 3 Venetian Deep Stack - $350 if cash or tourney success so far
• Cash game at Bellagio/Aria
• Day 4 Cash game at Bellagio/Aria
• Fly out at 11:00pm
• Day 5 back home at 12:00pm (Noon)

Being busy at work leading up to Friday will help make the time go by quicker. Trying to scope out some good food to eat while I'm there. Flight cost $10...Room $215...hopefully poker make up for this and more.

It has been a while since I have played live away from Perryville. Probably created some bad habits so I will probably tighten up my play until I get settled in at each table.

My itenerary for Vegas is...

• Fly out at 6:05am Friday, January 27
• Arrive 10:20am
• Check in to Hotel/Casino
• Venetian Deep Stack $350 tournament - Day1b
• Cash at Venetian or Mirage if I bust
• Day 2 of Venetian - Satellite WSOPC Caesar's Main Event
• Cash game at Bellagio if no tournament
• Day 3 Venetian Deep Stack - $350 if cash or tourney success so far
• Cash game at Bellagio/Aria
• Day 4 Cash game at Bellagio/Aria
• Fly out at 11:00pm
• Day 5 back home at 12:00pm (Noon)

Being busy at work leading up to Friday will help make the time go by quicker. Trying to scope out some good food to eat while I'm there. Flight cost $10...Room $215...hopefully poker make up for this and more.

It has been a while since I have played live away from Perryville. Probably created some bad habits so I will probably tighten up my play until I get settled in at each table.

Another profitable night at Perryville on Thursday evening. Bought in for $300 and made a few plays to no avail and dwindled my stack to about $150. Pick up KK ...utg...and raise to $8. Loose player in late position makes it $38 after a few callers. Folds to me and I shove my stack. Quickly get a call by the 3 bettor and he wins with AA.

I rebuy another $300 and in the SB I pick up 99 and call a mid-position raise ($12) with a few callers in between. Flop was 983 with 2 hearts and everyone checks past original raiser and the button bets $50. I raise to $130 from the SB and all fold except button....he calls. Turn is Q of hearts which completes straight and flush but I can't fold with half my stack in pot, so I shove all-in ($150) and he deliberates for 30-40 seconds before calling.

River was an off suit 7. And I show the set of 9's. He shows 94 off suit with the 4 of hearts. Nice pot so now I'm back to even. I made the nut flush after playing a hand passively as 5 others were involved and I hoped someone else would flush as I led river. Got one caller for a 40% pot bet and now I'm ahead $250 and play even the rest of the night.

Off to Vegas next Friday!

Graph of my play over the last year. Big spike was my weekend at Hollywood Casino in August.

Forgot to add I am going to Vegas on the 27th and return home February 1st. The Venetian has it's Deep Stack series going on and I plan to play the Friday, 27th event. It's day 1b of a $345 buyin NL event. Should be a big purse...hope to run good.

The rest of the time I epect to play cash at Venetian, Bellagio, Mirage and maybe Caesars and Aria. Ill be staying at Bill's gamblin Hall where the drinking and eating is cheap. Still trying to convince my wife to go, but it looks like a solo trip as of now.

Game at local American Legion still remains a juicy game as I review my year from 2011. For a 1/2NL game it plays a little bigger as there are frequent straddles from $6-$15. The Mississippi straddle is allowed and is used almost exclusively on the button.

I profited $3660 in a little over 121 hours for a win rate of $30.23/hr. I had 3 losing months with the most being $975 in June and 9 winning months and the most $1535 in December. My largest winning session was $1245 on March 3rd and the largest losing session was $500 on June 16th.

The players have adjusted very little over the last couple of years other than they do 3 bet more PF when I open raise almost every pot I enter. With no straddle, my normal PF raise is to $7 or $8 and CBet $21 or $22. Cbet% is probably 50% or so and typically only when I flop equity or I'm playing post-flop versus 1-2 opponents. Very rarely do I have air and Cbet into a bunch of PF callers.

This past week I did get put into an awkward spot when someone 5Bet shoved effective $315 after I 4Bet KK to $73. He normally is very ABC and I have folded KK to him preflop on another occasion, but he has opened up his game in recent weeks versus me and our metagame has changed. I made the call and the flop was Q78...turn 10...river 4. He tabled AQ suited. Nice!!!

I was only able to play a little less than 2 hours this week and won $695 in that time. The game played short-handed the last hour or so and I just ran over the table. Probably won 40-50% of the pots and owned most of the $1 chips on the table at the end of the night. Lost fairly big pot at the end when I folded the nut flush at the river on a paired board. He showed KJ on a JJ5K7 board. He gave a speech on my turn bet and insta-raised my river bet. Pretty easy fold, but he showed me just to confirm.

Not sure why they show?

Long time no post! The feds have taken away online poker which has left me little to write about. Despite not being able to play online I have been able to play a little more live than I had previously. We still have a local game that is very juicy and a few other local games in a nearby town. The casinos are 1.5-2 hours away and made a few more trips than usual to them...especially Hollywood Casino in Indiana.

Also played alot more 2/5 live than I have in the past as I have gained a new level of confidence ans look for more challenges and profits on the felt. The highlight of the year was a trip to Hollywood for the Indiana State Poker championships. I traveled up on a Sunday evening and planned to play Sunday night and a $265 Bounty tournament on Monday.

This event was in August and its now January so my recollection of most of the hands will be vague except for the last which I will remember for a long time. Upon arrival I put myself on the 1/2, 1/3 and 2/5 holdem lists. The 1/2 came open first and lost a little before my name was called for 2/5. I bought in for $1000 and in my third hand, I am dealt QQ and raise to $20. I get a few callers including the SB. Flop was below Q and the SB leads for $50 and I raise to $130. He 3 bets to $330 and I fold expecting to way behind. He never shows, so I'm down $150 pretty quick.

UTG on the first orbit and I limp with 55 and a late position raise to $25 gets 3 calls including me. Flop comes 55x and it gets checked around. Blank on turn and I check again and the guy who 3 bet me in the QQ hand bets $60. All fold to me and raise to $160. He flats and another blank on river and I bet $225 or so and he folded after much deliberation. I showed the quads and he opens up and lets me know he had a set in the earlier hand.

It's probably about midnight now and players are beginning to drop as we are the must move table. We get down to 5 and 6 handed and I take down some nice pots and lost one in mostly cooler situations. I lost a flush over flush situation where I raised PF and bet,bet, bet each street versus a short stack. Stack was about $700 at this point and raise AQ on button. SB called with AK and flop comes AQx and I bet each street with him calling me down each time for a big pot to put me back ahead for the night. (~$1100 stack)

About this time a younger player sits at the table 2-3 positions to my left with a full buyin of $1000. He quickly tried to become table captain but the deck continued to hit me in the head. We had moved the game to a $2/5 mandatory $10 straddle. I raised 76 from the button and the new guy calls with one other. Flop was 97x, they check and I bet $50-60 and the young guy calls. Turn was and over card and we both check. River was a 7...he checks I bet $100 and he raises to $250 and I quickly call. Not sure a raise would be profitable as I only get called by worse. He shows a bluff trying to rep the 7 and says, "nice hand!"

Another aggressive player sits with $1000, making us 6 handed and he on the left of the young aggressive player. The new player and I get locked up in a pot where I have the betting lead and make a small flush on the turn. The river is a blank and he check raises me with the naked A and I call. Advanced play by him in a short-handed game so I know I'm probably in a little over my head, but only because I'm not used to playing live at this level, but i love short-handed and want to keep testing myself since I'm ahead.

A few players come and go and we end up being 4-handed when the hand of the night goes down. I'm SB(~$1800)...Young guy has ~$1400in the BB and the other good player is CO with ~1500. The other player was the weakest at the table and had about ~$800 but played no part in this hand. CO raised to $30...button calls...I call with 78dd in SB and BB calls. $120 in pot and flop comes4c 5h 6c. I check, BB checks and CO continue bets $60...button folds...I raise to $170...BB raises to $400 and the CO goes nuts saying we are "bullying" and reluctantly folds after a 2 minute tirade. He slams his cards to table and walks about 10 feet away. I look down at my chips, do a count and announce all-in afterr about 30 seconds. BB asked the dealer if the casino allowed it to be run twice and the dealer said no. He reluctantly called off his stack and with no hesitation the dealer slams out the turn and river....6.....4. No clubs. My assumption with the way he called was that he was drawing but I still didnt like the board pairing twice. He mucks his cards and I take down a $3000 pot putting my stack around $3400.

Funny part was the CO folded 65 and would have made the nuts with the turn card. If the young guy in BB doesnt make raise...I get stuck some on this hand...buy I doubt I lose my whole stack.

So now we have a tilted guy because he folds...another player stuck $1000 and I have the biggest stack in the room playing NL. Taking down a few other pots I build up to $3800 when the floor comes to our saying I must move to the other table as they aren't full. They probably had $6000 on table combined, so I decided to leave as it was 2:30am and I planned on playing noon tournament the next day and i didnt have a hotel room yet. I finally get a room and go to sleep around 3.

The tournament is a $265 Bounty tournament with 130 or so runners. I make the final table with a short stack, but the funny part is I sit next to the young guy I busted the night before for a bout 3 hours toward the end off the tourney. Turns out he was and online cash player that now travels with a group of other players and he is the backer of the group.

He wound up making a min cash and two of his horses cashed with one makig the final 6. I busted 7th so I dont know what the horse's actual finish was. I had a big day at work on Tuesday and it was 1:00am on Tuesday...100 miles from home and the we have 7 players left. The TD says we can continue play or come back tomorrow at 2:00pm. All players must agree to continue though...and the damn chip leader wants to go to bed!!!

I somehow made it back the next day despite my needs at work and busted in 10 minutes as I was very short. Cashed in $1800 including bounties making it a very profitable trip!