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.
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.
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.
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