Whilst it would be easy to whine about the unfairness of life, and bemoan the fact that people play terribly and can't fold a hand etc, etc, let's assume that the best approach is to leave that to everyone else and just move on and try to win something. Had a swim and a sweat this morning, and ready to smash the arse out of today's 1B of the Venetian $600 DSE event. As suggested, I unregistered from the upcoming WSOP 1K in favour of a punt or two in this instead. I'm in an oddly good mood. Only 95 players so far but with three day ones I fully expect that to spiral upwards.
This table after two orbits is already feeling like crash bang wallop. Calling stations abound and people are woefully overplaying one pair. I have decided this is a very good thing!
Level 2 and now at a full table of mutants. My 20K starting stack is looking like 19K, but I'm playing plenty of pots. Thee's certainly the potential to run this up to something meaningful early on here, and that's the plan.
One guy is wearing some kind of poker branded apparel which seems to have become popular with people who have more money than sense. He's pat of the company that produce it, so good luck to him. I tell him I play so bad I can barely afford to buy regular t-shirts, much less poker branded ones. He gives a wry smile. He just made a filthy gutshot against some old rock who couldn't put down his aces on the scariest board imaginable. That's not good, I feel like he's probably the guy I want to avoid going to war with too early on.
Up to 22K afte playing 222 very cute and letting the guy spack off a few chips. no real danger on this table. The poker apparel guy likes to see lots of flops and can play a bit, but everyone else largely are playing their cards face up at the moment. I think chipping slowly is better than trying to smash the lot in early doors, however based on my recent predictions maybe that's what will end up happening...
Nearing the end of level 3 and cruising on 26K. 151 entrants and rising.
Level 4 and I'm seeing a few flops, just got called down by a raggy ace. It was almost worth the price of admission for the information, but it bumped me back to 19K again. I then lost a small pot with 10 10 and dropped to 15K. Still liking the table.
OK, I was.
I just raised with Ac5c, Long short, I got two callers, made the nut flush on the turn, bet it strong, and 6c6h just called me down all the way. I'm feeling good until the 8c falls on the river, now making the board 10c 9c 4h 7c 8c...and rivering him a straight flush. I'd like a bucket please.
I can return tomorrow and stab again, but I'm here, and it's not late so I re-enter for my first second bullet of the trip (if that makes sense). Grit my teeth and get back to it.
Level 2 and now at a full table of mutants. My 20K starting stack is looking like 19K, but I'm playing plenty of pots. Thee's certainly the potential to run this up to something meaningful early on here, and that's the plan.
One guy is wearing some kind of poker branded apparel which seems to have become popular with people who have more money than sense. He's pat of the company that produce it, so good luck to him. I tell him I play so bad I can barely afford to buy regular t-shirts, much less poker branded ones. He gives a wry smile. He just made a filthy gutshot against some old rock who couldn't put down his aces on the scariest board imaginable. That's not good, I feel like he's probably the guy I want to avoid going to war with too early on.
Up to 22K afte playing 222 very cute and letting the guy spack off a few chips. no real danger on this table. The poker apparel guy likes to see lots of flops and can play a bit, but everyone else largely are playing their cards face up at the moment. I think chipping slowly is better than trying to smash the lot in early doors, however based on my recent predictions maybe that's what will end up happening...
Nearing the end of level 3 and cruising on 26K. 151 entrants and rising.
Level 4 and I'm seeing a few flops, just got called down by a raggy ace. It was almost worth the price of admission for the information, but it bumped me back to 19K again. I then lost a small pot with 10 10 and dropped to 15K. Still liking the table.
OK, I was.
I just raised with Ac5c, Long short, I got two callers, made the nut flush on the turn, bet it strong, and 6c6h just called me down all the way. I'm feeling good until the 8c falls on the river, now making the board 10c 9c 4h 7c 8c...and rivering him a straight flush. I'd like a bucket please.
I can return tomorrow and stab again, but I'm here, and it's not late so I re-enter for my first second bullet of the trip (if that makes sense). Grit my teeth and get back to it.
New table and a few familiar faces here. Tougher line up but I get off to an OK start, and run my new 20K up to 29k fairly quickly. Let's try to avoid a blow up this time...
A couple of players on the table are yakking to one another incessantly. Of course I've no problem with this, chatting is part of the game and particularly mine. However it does somewhat neutralize my normal dynamic, so for now I'm in my shell a bit, letting others run the table. This is probably no bad thing sometimes.
I dodged a MAJOR bullet when a DSE regular on the table who is normally spectacularly un-flamboyant in her play just repopped a 900 bet to 2900. I folded 33, she had 10 10, and the other woman in the pot had AcKc. The flop came out 3c 10c Qh, and I would have likely smashed the next bullet after they got in all the marbles, and the 10 10 would have tripled up when no further clubs materialized, busting me in the process. Almost at the second break, and I'm back to 22K with 135/200 players remaining.
The guy on my left speaks zero English, and plays very few hands. However the ones he does play it looks like he wants to get every chip in front of him in the middle. He just made it almost 6k preflop at 50/200/400.
Break time. Ten minutes of sunshine.
A couple of players on the table are yakking to one another incessantly. Of course I've no problem with this, chatting is part of the game and particularly mine. However it does somewhat neutralize my normal dynamic, so for now I'm in my shell a bit, letting others run the table. This is probably no bad thing sometimes.
I dodged a MAJOR bullet when a DSE regular on the table who is normally spectacularly un-flamboyant in her play just repopped a 900 bet to 2900. I folded 33, she had 10 10, and the other woman in the pot had AcKc. The flop came out 3c 10c Qh, and I would have likely smashed the next bullet after they got in all the marbles, and the 10 10 would have tripled up when no further clubs materialized, busting me in the process. Almost at the second break, and I'm back to 22K with 135/200 players remaining.
The guy on my left speaks zero English, and plays very few hands. However the ones he does play it looks like he wants to get every chip in front of him in the middle. He just made it almost 6k preflop at 50/200/400.
Break time. Ten minutes of sunshine.
Tablet power died so a small lull, but I'm on 20K at 75/300/600. It's been tough. French guy who is a tidy player has been making straight flushes for fun and busting people. DSE reg is gone, and screen shows 112 players from 213 remain. Keeping it tight for now, quite a few big stacks all around.
New playes move to the table and we are again 10 handed. I've dropped a bit, but shoved AQ versus a small raise and a bunch of limpers, and I'm still OK at around 17K. Level 9 now, just before dinner break, and limits are 100/400/800. Not tons of wiggle room, but I have enough chips to make a call something to think about if I had to ship.
Just lost with JJ in a 3 way pot with an ace on board. They had AQ and AJ respectively. 13K.
I obtained a timely double up when my QQ beat AK and I peak at 26K. The action is fairly thick and fast, and I drop to 23 again without doing anything. More players join the table, and I'll be happy to see the break and start fresh in 30 minutes. Yes...30 minutes is a pretty woeful dinner break, however, being fairly canny, I phoned through a food order 15 minutes ago. It always pays to have the restaurants on speed dial here.
Lost another with 77. 20K at the penultimate hand before break. It's not great but I'll take it. Let's play the last hand.
Great, look down at 22. I make it 2200 hoping to get it through, but the french guy with a huge stack has other ideas. He raises to 5100. I really don't like it but I'm invested so I take a flop and hope for some love.
2 3 10 rainbow. Maybe someone up there loves me after all. He tries to bully and drops a stack of blue 5K chips over the line. I beat him to the middle and he looks miffed, flipping over AK. Our hero is on 43K, which feels much nicer than 20K. Chicken fried rice awaits.
New playes move to the table and we are again 10 handed. I've dropped a bit, but shoved AQ versus a small raise and a bunch of limpers, and I'm still OK at around 17K. Level 9 now, just before dinner break, and limits are 100/400/800. Not tons of wiggle room, but I have enough chips to make a call something to think about if I had to ship.
Just lost with JJ in a 3 way pot with an ace on board. They had AQ and AJ respectively. 13K.
I obtained a timely double up when my QQ beat AK and I peak at 26K. The action is fairly thick and fast, and I drop to 23 again without doing anything. More players join the table, and I'll be happy to see the break and start fresh in 30 minutes. Yes...30 minutes is a pretty woeful dinner break, however, being fairly canny, I phoned through a food order 15 minutes ago. It always pays to have the restaurants on speed dial here.
Lost another with 77. 20K at the penultimate hand before break. It's not great but I'll take it. Let's play the last hand.
Great, look down at 22. I make it 2200 hoping to get it through, but the french guy with a huge stack has other ideas. He raises to 5100. I really don't like it but I'm invested so I take a flop and hope for some love.
2 3 10 rainbow. Maybe someone up there loves me after all. He tries to bully and drops a stack of blue 5K chips over the line. I beat him to the middle and he looks miffed, flipping over AK. Our hero is on 43K, which feels much nicer than 20K. Chicken fried rice awaits.
Back we are and straight into the thick of it. The first five hands on return have been all-ins. Not from yours truly of course, but it's fun to watch the A9's and KJ's spacking off their money when there's no need to. 90 remain from the final number today of 221.
French guy is getting pummelled. His 88 ran into J5 on a JJ5 flop and he smashed up 30K. I now have more chips than him, which I kin of feel is the way things ought to be.
Still climbing and I float a dealer who is playing, and rise to 63K. Average is 55K. Cocktails please.
Play hots up as a few new players fill the table. We're at 100/500/1000 and 76 now remain.
It appears to be national dipshit day in the Venetian, as Q6 shoves on my blind and I find 44 and call for 20% of my stack. He hits a six. Great stuff. lose a few more and I find myself on 28K. It rises and falls fast at this stage.
Shit, the way this is going it doesn't take long to bleed down again. Back to 21K without playing any big pots at all.
One guy has suffered a couple of suckouts courtesy of an Irish dealer I know, and is being a bit of a dick about it. It started out good naturedly, but one player shipped with 10 9 (not ideal but he got in first), this guy CALLS 15K+ with...QJ offsuit. The flop is 10 9 9 and the short stack doubles, and this guy stats raging about what a shitty dealer he is. I always try to stick up for dealers in spots like this, so I rib him a little and tell him of course it's personal. Dealers always do that if you act like a jerk to them.
67 Playes left. 18K as we hit 200/800/1600.
Now 55 left, and I've won a few small ones and busted a micro stack. 24,500. Next break in 2 minutes.
The guy who was being a bit of an ass to the previous dealer has been jamming a lot and steaming. He just won a huge pot with a King high diamond flush versus a smaller flush and a flopped set. Personally I thought when he said on the three way all-in on the flop to the guy who tabled the second nut flush "oh, you have a flush???" and THEN turned over the nut flush himself (and then said "sorry" to the guy when he was leaving the table) it just shows a lack of class or etiquette. Honestly, I think I'm probably the only person with whom it even registered, but it cements the occasional belief that there's not a lot of justice in poker sometimes. Now the guy who insults people and shows terrible form has a huge stack, and the guys who are polite and did everything correctly are out.
Break time, I'm on 23K and we come back at 200/1000/2000. Time for some love.
Sigh. Not an "I'm out" sigh, but a sigh nonetheless. I just missed my golden ticket moment. I have 10 10 on the button, the Frenchman who is on similar to me now jams, and I decide I will be calling if it's folded round. however, now a big stack just flat calls as well.
I'm sure I'm supposed to play as bad as some of the guys I've mentioned today, but in this spot 10 10 for my tournament versus two players is a fold, plain and simple. I muck. They flip 44 (France) and AK (big stack). A King flops and of course I river a Ten. Cast it aside and move on. 46 players left as we near the end of level 13. I'm still on 24K.
Horrible play is again taking over the room. I'm trying to avoid it but I'm going to need to start swinging any second before the blinds and antes eat me alive.
Found my swing spot, and the fun of the Las Vegas summer continues.
10 hours, $1200, out in 44/221 for...zero dollars.
I jam an Ace (as it transpires A7) for 15K at 300/1200/2400, all fold to the big blind. He has 88 and I'm gone. It's not easy, but as always I'll just shrug it off and move onward.
French guy is getting pummelled. His 88 ran into J5 on a JJ5 flop and he smashed up 30K. I now have more chips than him, which I kin of feel is the way things ought to be.
Still climbing and I float a dealer who is playing, and rise to 63K. Average is 55K. Cocktails please.
Play hots up as a few new players fill the table. We're at 100/500/1000 and 76 now remain.
It appears to be national dipshit day in the Venetian, as Q6 shoves on my blind and I find 44 and call for 20% of my stack. He hits a six. Great stuff. lose a few more and I find myself on 28K. It rises and falls fast at this stage.
Shit, the way this is going it doesn't take long to bleed down again. Back to 21K without playing any big pots at all.
One guy has suffered a couple of suckouts courtesy of an Irish dealer I know, and is being a bit of a dick about it. It started out good naturedly, but one player shipped with 10 9 (not ideal but he got in first), this guy CALLS 15K+ with...QJ offsuit. The flop is 10 9 9 and the short stack doubles, and this guy stats raging about what a shitty dealer he is. I always try to stick up for dealers in spots like this, so I rib him a little and tell him of course it's personal. Dealers always do that if you act like a jerk to them.
67 Playes left. 18K as we hit 200/800/1600.
Now 55 left, and I've won a few small ones and busted a micro stack. 24,500. Next break in 2 minutes.
The guy who was being a bit of an ass to the previous dealer has been jamming a lot and steaming. He just won a huge pot with a King high diamond flush versus a smaller flush and a flopped set. Personally I thought when he said on the three way all-in on the flop to the guy who tabled the second nut flush "oh, you have a flush???" and THEN turned over the nut flush himself (and then said "sorry" to the guy when he was leaving the table) it just shows a lack of class or etiquette. Honestly, I think I'm probably the only person with whom it even registered, but it cements the occasional belief that there's not a lot of justice in poker sometimes. Now the guy who insults people and shows terrible form has a huge stack, and the guys who are polite and did everything correctly are out.
Break time, I'm on 23K and we come back at 200/1000/2000. Time for some love.
Sigh. Not an "I'm out" sigh, but a sigh nonetheless. I just missed my golden ticket moment. I have 10 10 on the button, the Frenchman who is on similar to me now jams, and I decide I will be calling if it's folded round. however, now a big stack just flat calls as well.
I'm sure I'm supposed to play as bad as some of the guys I've mentioned today, but in this spot 10 10 for my tournament versus two players is a fold, plain and simple. I muck. They flip 44 (France) and AK (big stack). A King flops and of course I river a Ten. Cast it aside and move on. 46 players left as we near the end of level 13. I'm still on 24K.
Horrible play is again taking over the room. I'm trying to avoid it but I'm going to need to start swinging any second before the blinds and antes eat me alive.
Found my swing spot, and the fun of the Las Vegas summer continues.
10 hours, $1200, out in 44/221 for...zero dollars.
I jam an Ace (as it transpires A7) for 15K at 300/1200/2400, all fold to the big blind. He has 88 and I'm gone. It's not easy, but as always I'll just shrug it off and move onward.
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