Wynn classic $600 day 1c

Looked at my schedule and decided at least from a poker perspective that what doesn't kill you theoretically makes you stronger. I woke up today refreshed, and (save for an extremely weird dream about an ex from about 9 years ago) I discovered that life moves onward and I'm still alive, so have opted to go with my gameplan and try to jump into days 2 or 3 of the big guarantee events.

Screen shows 176 players so far in today's flight of the Wynn Classic $250k gtd day 1c.

First table on level 1 has a few people exercising the right to make the scabby min-raise that has become commonplace in poker tournaments nowadays. Luckily most of them are also seriously overplaying their hands, and I've already seen two 15k pots at 50/100.

One guy on my table insists on making these horrid little raises 2/3 hands. I let him do it a few times, then when it's 75/150 and he again makes its 500, I stick 2200 in after limping and he says "oh, the old limp-raise. Do people still do that?" I inform him that guys over 40 like to actually play poker so it's pretty commonplace, and that he probably shouldn't be raising every hand. Maybe that's why he's on 7000 instead of 15k right now.

The guy next to me decided that 12.30 in the afternoon was a good time to tuck into stuffed mushrooms and meatballs at the table. As a result everything in a 20ft radius now reeks of garlic.

Onto level 3 (40 min levels) and people still horribly overplaying stuff. I'm just sitting by and watching the chaos.

Slight staff turnaround at the Wynn. My old pal Aaron is back and running tournaments, and the new poker director is a good guy called Ryan who I'm pretty sure I've met in the past, who has previously spent a lot of time in Macau running poker. The bigger rooms in Las Vegas (Wynn,Venetian etc) all run great events, and the directors all know and TALK to each other about the best way to schedule events to both make them profitable for the casinos, and also offer the best choice and value to the players who come into town. Some of the other casinos however, don't seem to care about working together for the common good. As a result today in Las Vegas there are no less than THREE seniors events all being run in different casinos at the same time, which obviously diluted the playing fields and caused scheduling problems and confusion for those who wanted to play such tournaments. Pretty retarded.

Luckily I'm still technically a baby and too young to worry.

First break and I'm currently just below starting stack on 14k. No great shakes. Garlic-breath is no longer in the building, his AK vs 44 on a K42 flop being impossible to play for less than the full 15k. The 44 seems happy enough with the eventual outcome.

Back from 15 min break and now up to 17k. Table still playing kind of weird but I'm leaving them to it.

Clock currently shows 239 players in today's flight alone and still going up.

Level 5 and I'm still around 17k at 150/300/25. Plenty of time for shenanigans in due course.

Now 19k after busting an older guy who was short stacked when I flopped a set and he flopped top pair. If he'd have been richer I'd be on 25k by now but I'm not grumbling.

Not grumbling seems to be the way forward. I am now actually on 25k after a little fancy footwork just as we near level 6.

System going well so far. Now on 34k. Quite like the table. It's settled down a bit but some people clearly still love one pair a bit too much for their own good. I'm not about to point out the error of their ways, I'll leave 'em to it.

Maybe a bit old school for some but I still think the Wynn and Encore are stunning buildings inside and out.

Back from break and I'm still feeling pretty good as I win another pot and am up to 37k at 250/500/50. This table will break soon and we'll be moved over into the Encore to join the rest of the herd that are playing in the tournament area there. Worry about all that as and when it happens.

Moved into Encore and now on level 8, 300/600/75. Screen says 135/262 left in today's flight. I'm on 33k. For the first 10 minutes here, literally no one has said a word...not even the dealer. Marvellous.

New table and we're at the colour-up break. I'm on 33k which is bang on average.

Dynamic of my newest table is a little different. Most are friendly enough but I haven't seen one single preflop raise get through yet in 30 minutes. A mixture of older stubborn players and younger hot shots who are brimming with testosterone makes me think it's better to hang back a bit for now and just play more solid.

Clock says 108 players still left and 13 min till the 75 minute dinner break. Happy to get there on this stack and return refreshed.

Dinner break.

I'm in 28k, average is 36k. Bad news is my table broke. I was loving it, and gave now been moved to a much tougher table with much bigger stacks. I think every pot will be opened and it's probably going to be stand up for yourself and play back, or play pretty tight and aggressive when the hand comes up. Not ideal as I'm likely the shortest stack there and a few of the players I know to be very aggressive 3 & 4 bettors. Worry about it when it happens.

For now I'm going to soothe my always troubled mind with one of my loves...food. A lychee martini, chicken satay, and crispy roasted pork belly in the Chinese restaurant in the Wynn, Red 8. Yum.

Back from break. My previous theory was proved right. Came back to find A2 and AK playing a 50k pot all in preflop. Obviously the A2 won. Sigh.

Now 91players left. People shoving over 20k for fun. I'm on 24k.

Squeaky bum time. I decided I was going to play a hand hard if I hit the flop. Luckily I was in pretty good shape with KJ vs QJ on a JJ9 flop. It all shipped on the turn. Up to 54k with 82 players left. Average 47k.

Sorry for lack of updates but we've actually been having a good time on this table. Everyone has a sense of humour and we're bullshitting and having fun. The way poker should be played.

Level 12 and I'm on a healthy 69k with average at 67k. 58 players left.

15 min break and 54 players left. I'm on 70k.

Still motoring nearing the end of level 13. Up to 90k. Feeling and playing good.Getting quad deuces undoubtedly helped a bit. Last level of the day and 42 players left.

Played the last 5 hands of the day and bagged up 88k. Happy with the day and the result. All three flights converge at noon tomorrow with updated chip counts on site later. Off to sleep, thanks for support, will write more later x