And now...the end is near..and so I face...the final curtain...

Sorry. I was just singing to myself.

Today is the last hurrah, at least on the staked part of the trip. It's the final Wynn $550 event. No guarantee and only one start day but I'd still expect some good numbers player-wise. Kicking off soon. Updates to follow.

Midway into level 2 and not a lot to report with around 110 players at present. A few friendly faces, and a few who seem fairly adamant that they're absolutely not going to have too much fun today. I'm currently making it 325 almost every hand to loosen them up a little  bit.

Well they've certainly loosened up. In fact most raises by me are being called in 3 or 4 spots. This is OK, it's kind of what I want. We just need part two of the plan to fall into place now. 

Guess what? We just got our aces smashed by a gutshot. Then some fancy footwork got it all back again in 3 hands.

Starting stack again at the break after a turbulent 3 levels. A few people joining in with the good natured hi-jinks, and at least one determined to send the message that he has absolutely no sense of humour whatsoever specifically where I'm concerned. I guess it takes all sorts which is why we love the variety of the game. I try to rise above it and stay positive and upbeat.

"Gee buddy, you seem to get aces a lot!"

I think my problem is, I just don't know how to play them properly. I just shoved allin on a preflop 5-bet, and the guy with KK duly obliged with a call. He flopped a king immediately, and turned a boat just to show me I'm out of my class in a 28k pot. I'm reduced to dust and on the second bullet on a new table. I'm not a believer in luck per se, but the number of times I've lost with aces on this trip should pretty much guarantee me at least 2 WSOP bracelets later this summer if folklore is anything to go by.

Actually, that's not strictly true. I've had them three times already today so far, and the first time I won about 800 with them, and lost two huge pots, so I guess it's 1 in 3 discounting the actual chip win/loss amounts of course.


Poker's most certainly changed that's for sure. On my new table a guy's just called a pretty chunky preflop raise with Jc 4c. He flopped bottom pair (4's) and called down the guy with top set all the way, who bet the absolute living crap out of it on every street, only to see his opponent river a backdoor flush. It's good to see at the table when you're not the casualty, but reinforces my belief of the wonderful value to be had in even some of the bigger buy-in tournaments.

I most certainly don't subscribe to all this "he played that hand all wrong/he wasn't getting the odds/how could he call/he's a donkey/he should have bet 3.2x the bb" bullshit that the kids love to toss around to their friends at the table, normally within direct earshot of the guy who just made the play in the hand in question as if he isn't even there. It's rude,crass and classless, and shows a fundamental lack of understanding of almost everything about real poker, and behaving like a real human being. I'm clearly in the minority though, so I'll button my lip (I obviously don't say any of this at the table despite encountering it every single day) and let them just get on with it. Ultimately educating people in poker really isn't something I encourage, unless it's maybe teaching them how to wash or tip their servers properly.

Level 5 and I'm on 15k. Flopped a boat and got zero action. Marvellous.

Been up and down and up and down again, but just going into level 7 I'm on 19k. 156 players total and 90 left. Average says around 26k.

Despite being a bit low on the average, and doing the second bullet, and having a bad trip, and not cashing once, and getting my aces smashed a ridiculous amount of times, and witnessing some real poker unpleasantness, I'm feeling good. Yes. You heard me. Good.

I'm playing my natural game and doing my thing. getting people talking, inducing some bad decisions in others at the table, generally promoting a good vibe, and very much playing by feel totally, which to me is what poker really should be, and is why I feel  I've been successful at times in events like this. Awareness of what's going on is key, and reading the actual situation over what someone is trying to sell you at the time often means the difference between a big stack and being out. I'm writing this on the break in case you wondered, and my updates are sometimes sparse because I'm soaking up what's going on at the table to utilise later. Still going in this and of course I don't want to bust, but I'm very happy with where my mind and my game are right now. We'll just have to see what ideas fate has.

It's ye olde laugh riot.

Fate just had the idea for me to get KK and run it into 888 on a Jack high flop, 30k pot leaves me on 5k. 

Found AK and jammed to a small raise, got called...by AK, and we chop. People love to call with AK in these things which I always find somewhat baffling, but to be fair I was low chips so can't blame him for giving me a spin.

I've battled away like a trooper, only to fold a flopped low straight when the upward extensions came and 2 people went to war ahead of me, and had a small victory when my 88 induced a river bluff from 44, can't get over 6k after the KK disaster. Hanging in there. 

Sorry if people were hanging on my every word waiting for glorious news of a comeback. I played the button aggressively and got back to 8k, then lost a lump when I reraised with QQ preflop and the first card out was an ace, chopping me back to 4k. At 300/600 I decided to make a stand with 7h5h, and he decided that he wasn't folding his AK. ironically I flopped a gutshot draw and felt optimistic about winning something, and the board blanked and ace high won the pot. That's the end of that.

Disappointed with the results on the trip of course, but also philosophical about things and not overly upset with my play in any of the events. I'll write more on it later as I have more to write but for now that's that on the Wynn Classic. Once again I'd like to thank the people who've been very supportive of both the website and of this particular trip, for the messages and encouragement. Sorry it seemed to be against me this time, but hopefully I'm saving up the goods for June and the WSOP.

I'd decided that a degree of theatre would be nice for this trip for the audience. Give people some humorous comments to read, the odd tale of woe from the tables, and finally the flourish at the end when I win five figures near the close of the trip so everyone breathes easily again and has a good old laugh about it all.

Well, the end of said trip is a-comin'. Today is satellites for the $2k event and we're kicking off the first of two at noon with the second at 7pm. The bad news is even though they are structured OK (12k/30 min) they will most likely end up as a re-entry push-fest to generate seats. The good news for investors is that I can't count properly, and having priced them up originally as 2 x $225 sats, they are in fact, 2 x $250 with possible one extra bullet per event meaning they're possibly $100 more expensive than planned. Pretty minor, and obviously I'll not be moving any financial goalposts around mid-way in the trip, so this represents a tiny bit of extra value as I'll eat the shortfall myself, and try to get through and win a seat without firing the extra bullets just to spite you all. It just tickled me that I don't normally make calculation errors with staking, and it shows I'm human, stupid, or possibly both. The jury's out. 

Anyhoo. Updates to follow. 

Currently 81 players and 10 fell on their swords already before level 2 had finished. They're still seating people so hopefully it's ok numbers wise and tops 100. Currently played one pot, won one pot. Jet-set stuff.

Lost a pot and down to 9k. Not super concerned. Just got moved to a new table.

The structure for this is pretty fast to say the least, even with 10k start and 30 min blinds. It just went 75/150 to 100/200/25, and next level is 200/400/50! Not a complaint, it is after all a satellite,  it's just good to be aware of the steep climb, which sometimes favours playing tighter and more aggressively and conserving chips till the blinds go up.

Spite you guys I have in satellite one. Reached the break on one bullet, with 12k chips. Jesus the things I'll do just to save $25. 78 left from 116 players.

With some swash, buckle, and more than a dollop of flair, I'm cruising on  25k, with average at 15k. They're showing 12 seats for the $2k and currently 69 players left from an eventual 120, tick tock.

I should learn not to open my stupid mouth and say things are going well. Just played a 20k pot with AK with Kc versus AcQc. Got her allin preflop, and she then proceeded to then flop the nut flush to show me how it really should be done.

I got a triumphant "yes!", a loud hand-clap and a big fist pump for my trouble whilst the fairly sizeable pot was being shipped the other way down the table. I appear to have turned being completely unaffected by nasty beats and boorish displays of classlessness into an art form. I literally know about 3 people on the planet who remain as stoic as me. Down to 16k with 67 left.

Players remaining now number 58 at 400/800/100. I'm on 11k. The M.O in the room is currently move all the chips in if you have any part of the flop, or any two cards above a seven. I'm attempting to weather the storm and hang on until happier times prevail.

Good news. Or bad, depending on your perspective. 

I'm still in with 43 left, but crippled on 6k. With As10s on a flop of 10,2,2 and a chunk in the middle already, I led out into the blinds for 3500 hoping to get action from a ten. One raises me allin, the other reraised him allin. Pretty big pot compared to my stack, so I can't fold here right?

Of course I can, and do. They BOTH turn over a deuce, and one busts the other. Much merriment ensues, but now I need to jam and get a double up. And preferably another two after that.

Well we can't say I didn't try to achieve just that. Jammed with k9 with a micro stack and got lucky to get back to 8k at 600/1200/200. Immediately after jammed with 33 and got a call from AJ after I told him that he most likely had ace high whilst he was pondering a call for 70% of his chips. The AKQ flop didn't do me any favours, and it's now biding my time until the last hurrah at 7pm for the 2nd satellite. No complaints, other than busting in 37th/120 for no seat. Bite to eat and try again later tonight. Keep you posted.

7pm arrives. Currently 50 players though I'd expect it to hit around 100 again.

It hasn't started off quite the way I'd like. I won the first two hands with little resistance, then on the 3rd I flopped an up and down straight flush draw on a non-paired flop, and 4 bet shoved allin hoping for the fold or the early punt for a double up.

He felt the same way with bottom set, which held to reduce me to ashes instantly. The remainder of my ashes followed 2 hands later when I jammed AK vs 88 on a king high flop. Nothing funner than runner-runner to river him a straight. Grr.

Satellite shell number 2 has been fired nice and early, which is becoming a trend on this trip sadly. New table, new bunch of non-folders. Watch this space.

64/73 left and my new approach on this table is "stop trying to get anyone to fold anything".

This realisation came about after burning 2k of my 10k stack on the river betting heavily into an Asian guy when there was a straight and a flush both on the board. I had neither but showed a bit of strength. He had one middle pair so he wasn't prepared to surrender. I don't blame him.

This is a pretty crazy table since a few new guys sat down. AA got shredded by KK( not me for a change), and a loose Asian guy (a different one) called a 10k allin preflop with 76 to bust one guy who was clearly disgusted at the call when the 76 had put nothing in the pot up to this point. It did look odd, and a lot of muttering and shaking of heads ensued in the aftermath, but as I always say and truly I mean it....LET PEOPLE PLAY HOWEVER THEY WANT! If they win, so be it, normally they'll lose, so stop tapping the goddamn glass.

Limped to the first break on 6k. 61/93 players left.

Down to 50 players, and I've shoved once and got it through, hard going however. The 76 Asian has just called another 10k shove, this time with J8 suited versuse AK. The AK then flops two pair, but his smile evaporates when the board runs out AKQ3.....10 to send him packing. I guess the aggressive Asian is my ticket chance.

Yes. He was my chance, we did play a pot together, yes...he had aces vs my AJ, and another hapless soul who had JJ. I didn't make a straight. And that's me not playing tomorrow's $2k.

It all appears to boil down to the last event for me...the $550 in two days time. I can't say I'm not disappointed with the lack of cashes on the trip, but also I can't say I'm totally shocked given the sample size of tournaments. Never say die. More on all that later on. 

Rest tomorrow, some work around the house, buy in for the last event, and try to get out and do some cycling in the ever-warming Las Vegas weather. My head is fine, but my rungood isn't. I've been here before, the key is how you deal with it.

To be continued, thanks for the views and messages.

OK, I'll be honest. I just spent 15 minutes or so trying to photoshop my head onto this picture. I decided Gerard Butler carries off those abs better than I could in the end and gave up.

Today is.... oddly enough, the 300. Who says irony is dead?  Last time I played this format, it was, as my buddy Sojoe would put it "a complete changofest". Top pair, any pair, any draw, any backdoor draw, basically if you've got two cards. lets get the dough in the middle and have a spin. during the re-entry period that seemed to be the general consensus of the room. No bad thing if you can get on, but expensive and frustrating if you're playing every pot 6 way and getting violated more times than Katie Price during her high school years.

Kicks off later today at noon, and I've already registered. I'll dig out my crash helmet.

Away we go, won a few, lost a few so far. Nice friendly table with a mix of locals, tourists and unpredictable Frenchmen who slowplay top set. Nothing of note thus far.

Something of note. Flopped a set. He rivered a gutshot. Blood everywhere. On we soldier.

We ran our somewhat depleted army into JJ when we had 1010 to lose another battalion, and then with KQ losing to 55 when I flopped a Queen and he flopped a set, and then with 10 mins for re-entry left the coup-de-grace was losing a 6/4 shot to try to accumulate something, or fire shell no 2. Shell no 2 has now landed me on a new table with a full stack and the desire to get busy. The re-entry period is done and  we have around 160 players in total signed up. Updates to follow and hopefully some better news for my little clay army of troopers.

My new table brings some fireworks. Some pretty and fun to see, some that exploded in my face with most unhappy results.

I pushed kings on a rag flop and found a short stacked caller to go up to 15k.

Then tens vs my AK when neither of us improved to bounce me back down to 10k. Table playing pretty fast.

I just flopped a flush with a gutshot straight flush draw... Bet out strong with 2 callers. 4th horrible heart on the turn, and a big bet and a call on the river with me folding. One has the bare Qh for a flush and I'm looking at 6500 now at level 6.

Throw another brick at the English guy.

I decided that Ad10d on a 457 two diamond flop was the right time and place to make a stand with around 7 k in the middle, and me with 5500 left, check-raising the 1200 flop bet, and the second players call of 1200 to move myself all-in. I'll take the pot or the spin there, I'd rather a fold but don't mind the action.

The original bettor folded, and player 2 with around 30k calls with 88 and no diamonds. Happy days, as long as I hit. Back to 17k on level 7 will do nicely thank you.

I'm posting this update  from my SUV in the parking lot, so first one to guess if I made an ace, ten or diamond on turn or river wins a prize. That prize may be watching me throw myself into Lake Mead this afternoon.

Today is $1k day at the Wynn Classic. Normally I'd be fired up about this. Great structure, enough room to make moves and accumulate chips, and of course, the wonderful environment in which to play that is the Wynn poker room.
However I'm faced with a choice today. I'm not someone who simply rolls up and plays any event regardless of the number of total entrants, the value to be had, or any number of other factors. Fine, you might sit down and get hand after hand ruined (thus far this trip has been a good illustrator of that), but the intelligent choice sometimes is whether to sit down at all.
 A number of wealthy/sponsored/backed/simply unconcerned individuals will just turn up and play, even if there are 12 players, and that of course is their prerogative. For some guys, playing Champagne Charlie in poker with other people's money is second nature. I won't. Some events like the 1/4 million guaranteed $550's are no-brainers based on past experience, as of course are every WSOP event in the summer, where the fields are always huge and the value is effectively guaranteed. But with a $1k out of season I'll take it on its merits once I arrive. I don't like to think I'm giving myself or any investors bad value by just diving into anything, and as I've always stated, out in the field as it were, people simply have to trust my judgement that I'll do the right thing based on the situation. I think that say, $1k invested with a total prize pool of $30-$50k isn't terribly great value with a condensed field of better players all fighting over maybe a 12-15x return on their money, but hopefully the numbers today will be a lot better, and my decision far easier to make. The main factor for me currently is number of players, and I really hope they do well but I'm just unsure right now... I really don't know. The $1k is a 1pm start as opposed to the normal noon. Currently they have only 24 signed up, so I'm holding off right now. To be continued.

OK, this is me continuing.

I've decided not to play it. It's possible that another 125 players will filter in during the next few hours, or the bustouts from the $550 still being played in the room might sign up, making the prize pool more attractive, but my gut feeling is that the $1k numbers are going to be low so I've decided against putting $1070 of mine and investors money into this. There's another $300 tomorrow, plus a $550, plus some sats for the $2k which is certainly worth playing on a cheap ticket so still things to play. I just don't think today is going to be good value for us. Of course any investment  money including mark-up for this event is returned in full. Some may agree with my decision not to play, some will rather I had, but I hope all will respect the reasoning behind me not taking part. Feel free to let me know either way.

Roll on tomorrow.

Footnote: they ended up with 71 players, paying just 7 places. Obviously winning it would have been nice. For me the decision not to play ended up being the right one. Others may disagree.

Two days of no poker at all. Not normally my preferred way of operating when in Las Vegas, especially on a 24 day trip which for me is somewhat on the short side. Some people will measure every day here by how much they've either won or lost, but sometimes if I'm not feeling the love, I'll measure the days more by how I'm feeling deep down inside, and if, like after the last few events I'm feeling distinctly like it ain't happening, then I'll just come off the gas, and start over hopefully a bit refreshed and energised,and feeling more positive after a short break.

Tomorrow is day 1c of the second Wynn Classic $550 event. I just bought in, as if you buy your ticket the day before, you're far more likely to get a table that doesn't break early, plus you avoid the scrum of the great poker unwashed in the morning who've just stumbled out of bed and shuffled over to buy in at the last minute.

A good friend of mine recently commented on my Wynn trip thus far, and asked me if I thought I was playing any more cautiously than normal, because I'd like to get a result for the first outing on the website, and also for both myself and the stakers. He was of the impression that knowing my game and past results that any backers would want me to play my natural style, which can sometimes be shall we say, unconventional bordering on swashbuckling at certain moments in tournaments.

 The answer is no. Though I can certainly see why he asked. The basic fact of it is that so far this trip I don't feel I've caught much of a run to get any real momentum going in the events I've played. When it reads "AA lost, AA got cracked, KK lost" it could certainly seem like I'm just sitting back and waiting for the Crown Jewels, but given the right scenario, I can promise I'm still the Kevin you all know and love, who can jam the river with six high because I think my opponent can lay down his set of kings to a scary shove. I just need the situation to arise.

Tomorrow will tell. Watch this space in about 14 hours.

Those of you still intently watching this space will be overjoyed to know that we've kicked off today, and the room is buzzing with 170 players plus alternates already, making this most likely the biggest turn-out of the Wynn Classic so far.

Seemingly the break has done me some good, my 15k start stack is already up to a healthy 20k.

Having moved a few features on the site around a bit, I'm finding the iPad doesn't like me updating as smoothly as it originally did with the old format. Bear with me, they'll appear.

Coming up on the end of level 2, I'm on 23k, and have reached several conclusions thus far:

A preflop raise on this table simply doesn't get a fold-whatever the size of the bet. I've yet to try the all-in, but am oddly reluctant to do so.

One kind soul on my table will call any bet at all with any hand, and isn't going away at any point through the streets. This is OK, because I believe people can play however they want, but is always worth being aware of.

Previously mentioned kind soul just busted yet another player, and is probably up to 35k already. I consider this almost as good news as if I had the 35k myself.


It's a good mix of recreational players and pros. I like this table and am hopefully here for the long haul.

15 minute break.

Level 3 just ended and I'm on a non-life-changing but very healthy 26k. One more level for entry/re-entry and they're still seating new players minute by minute. Thus far I'm pretty happy with the way the day is proceeding

Level 4 just ended. Good news for me and the investment posse is that we're through the entry period today on a single shell. Not a major factor in my poker, but still something good. I'm currently still around 26k which is 6k over average chips.

Nearing the start of level 6 and tournament director Gary and the guys are crunching the numbers. Looking like around 258 players for today, and about 615 overall on the three flights. This adds up to a nice overall number and a good size prize pool for a $550 tournament.

My stack's dropped down a bit to about 21k, putting me more on the average, and back in line with the rest of the pack. No big concern right now.

The guy that I had pegged to gift his chips to the table just did exactly that, calling off one pair for around a 20k stack versus a set. Sometimes it pains me to be right about stuff. He's busted now but no doubt will pop up another day.

So far just purring along on auto. A few players on this table can get a bit frisky in certain spots. Luckily, I'm one of them.

Just got wounded with A3s vs A10 on an ace-ten-three flop. Not ideal but there you have it. Swashbuckled a few back in the following hands.

Swashbuckle is probably a term you should get used to seeing in my update postings.

They just called alternates 86,87 and 88 some 4 hours after start of today's tournament. They don't have the same capacity they normally have when they run this in the Encore side of the casino, but they're still packing them in. As long as you entered during the first 4 levels they'll make sure you get a seat.

Level 7, I'm on 22k.

15 min break, I'm back to 23k. My tables tightened up and become a bit more aggressive. The loose passive money's been replaced by some more useful faces. No major concerns.

Just avoided a potential car crash moment. Top 2 on the turn with the nut flush draw, ran into bottom set. We both had chips behind and I missed the draw but still lost.

Basically when I lose a pot I seem to be raising the next 2 or 3 pots and getting the chips back. Still around 21k  with average of 25k at 250/500/50.
148/256 left currently.

Argh. AQ on a Queen high flop just ran into bottom set. Recurring theme today. Some pot control kept me on 16k.

Sigh.com. Just reluctantly doubled up a short stack so he's on 6k and I'm now on 13k. I'm very aware of the table dynamic and also the way it's playing. Not liking the downward slide, but certainly won't be bled down to nothing. I'll be swinging at a few pots long before then. Die with your boots on and all that. 122 left and next break (end of level 8) in 6 minutes.

This theory seems to have just been proved when the button decided to press my big blind and I opted to jam on him with 85 suited. He went away with a grumble after some deliberation. Not spewing off but certainly sending a message.

15 min break. Still 13k. Coming back at 400/800/100.

It's all over. Busted about 105/256 10 mins before the dinner break. Not happy to bust of course, but not unhappy with my game today at all. On 11k I found a spot to jam and hoover up the reasonable amount of dead money in the middle with AJs. A stack 4 times mine decided to give me a spin with 99 and the board ran out blank for me. Meh.

May write something a little bit later. Tomorrow is the $1k event with a great 20k stack/one hour level structure. I'd consider not playing it if the numbers were particularly low, and thus, I won't buy in tonight. Keep you posted. Thanks for the comments and private messages, feel free to chip in using the comments link on this page.



 

First of two days off from the madness. Home-stuff, regrouping, and cooking for good American friends. Harissa chicken thighs, with pork-rib ragu and tagliatelle to follow. Who says my posts can't just be short and snappy?

Yeah, I know. Form an orderly queue.