I spent the bulk of last week in Vegas; we stayed at the Bellagio, which is definitely up there with the Wynn for my favorite casino.
I ended up playing between 3-6 hours for the 4 days we were there. I started off quite well, consistently winning (albeit modest amounts) at $1/$3 and $2/$5 no-limit tables, at the Bellagio and Madalay Bay.
I suffered a serious setback, however in a game at the Wynn. It was a good, tough table with a lot of all-in action--surprisingly strong for a $1/$3 table.
There was a (not famous) pro from L.A. at the far end of the table who won a nearly-$1,000 pot when he pushed the kid beside me all-in. The kid turned over KK. The pro had an open-ended straight: 8 outs, two times. And he'd pushed the kid all-in! Well you can guess what happened next: the pro rivered the straight, and the kid went ballistic, splashing his chips all over the table. The floor manager had to be called over, and it took a good 10 minutes until we were playing again.
Once we got going, it was my turn for a whole lotta' fun. I had about $180 and was in middle position. I looked down and saw pocket QQ--my nemisis--queens always seem to be a disaster for me! There was a straddle on, so it was $6 to call. But I wasn't going to call: I bet the pot, making it $20 to go. To my surprise, I had two callers in late position--including the pro.
The flop came 7,8,10--a rainbow. A straight was possible, but would be fairly unusual for someone to call a big raise with a 6,9 or a 9,J. That said, I wasn't going to sit around and let my two opponents draw out on me. The pot was now about $80, and I was first to act. I bet $60. The first opponent folded. So far, so good. The pro looks at me. "How much you got back there?" I tell him I have $100 remaining, figuring he is trying to intimidate me. But Badger will most certainly not be knocked off his overpair.
"I put you all-in," he declares.
I ponder his push: I had seen him make a semi-bluff all-in before. If he was drawing to the straight, I was a definitive favorite. Then I looked at the odds: I was having to put $100 into a $240 pot: nearly 2:7 odds.
I call. Since I am all-in, I turn over the queens. And he, you guessed, it turns over the nuts: 9,J!
That was the start of a mini-Vegas slump for me. I had a poor session later that evening, but then the next--and final--night I had a good, late $2/$5 session at the Bellagio, which put me back in black for the trip.
Overall, it was a great experience. I "graduated" to the $2/$5 game, which I find a lot more fun: the $1/$3's tend to have a couple players at each table who really don't know what they are doing--it doesn't feel great winning money from them. And there are so many small pots. But at a $2/$5, even the modest pots have my full attention!
Looking back, I am not certain whether to look at the experience as very cheap entertainment (with free drinks!)...or as sweat-shop wages (about $2/hour). I suppose I'll have to tell you next time I get back from Vegas!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Badger: March Meekness
Well, I've been back in North America for a couple weeks, and have been playing online more frequently--to sadly very mixed results.
My low-stakes cash games are going well, but my tourneys (generally 1-table sit-n-gos) have been far less successful. In terms of making $, I should be sticking to the cash games, but I am a stubborn badger who genuinely loves the competitive elements of tourneys. Tourneys seem to be where my heart lies. But, alas (not yet) my talent.
In an effort to improve my tourney play, I have been spending some time with the FullTilt tourney guide. It is far better than I expected--on par with Harrington (and them's some big boots to fill). In a nutshell, gents like "Jesus" Ferguson and Howard Lederer focus a lot more on NOT limping into pots and disguising your play. This echoes advice that both Herr and D'bag have given me (especially about not limping into pots). I now realize that even in cash games, I have done a poor job at disguising the strength of my hands--both my starting hand and the extent to which the flop hit/missed me.
I have been playing this way for the last couple days--basically not allowing myself to limp in, unless someone has before me, as well as disguising my hands. I don't know if I fully agree with the no-limp rule (what if you have, say, A-4? J-10? I am not inclined to raise with these types of hands...but on the other hand, I am not thrilled about throwing them away).
Bottom line, I am learning to raise more--and to limp far less. Another leak in my (especially tourney) game is that I probably have not been aggressive enough with my mid-pocket pairs (say 6,6 through 10,10). Heads-up, these are great hands; and if I let too many callers in against them, I am doomed to defeat--except in the unlikely event (1:7.5) that I hit a set on the flop. So I am pushing these (pocket pairs) harder now. Deep down, I know that a 5-5 is favored against A-K...I just seem to have had trouble playing on that basis!
In the two weeks that I've been back, I have cycled between the low-$100s and the mid-$100s. A pretty meek range, but at least I am holding my own. The strange thing is that I have made a total (profit) of about $350 in my two brief appearances at the local casino. Granted, I had some cards. But this just gives me more cause to think I am a better cash player than tourney player.
Anyhoo, I am disappointed to report a meek balance of $113.03 (I should really go back to cash game and build it up).
On a brighter note, I am off to Vegas tomorrow. I anticipate playing a fair amount of low-stakes cash games (few, if any tourneys 'til I get my game in gear). Wish me luck--I probably need it!
My low-stakes cash games are going well, but my tourneys (generally 1-table sit-n-gos) have been far less successful. In terms of making $, I should be sticking to the cash games, but I am a stubborn badger who genuinely loves the competitive elements of tourneys. Tourneys seem to be where my heart lies. But, alas (not yet) my talent.
In an effort to improve my tourney play, I have been spending some time with the FullTilt tourney guide. It is far better than I expected--on par with Harrington (and them's some big boots to fill). In a nutshell, gents like "Jesus" Ferguson and Howard Lederer focus a lot more on NOT limping into pots and disguising your play. This echoes advice that both Herr and D'bag have given me (especially about not limping into pots). I now realize that even in cash games, I have done a poor job at disguising the strength of my hands--both my starting hand and the extent to which the flop hit/missed me.
I have been playing this way for the last couple days--basically not allowing myself to limp in, unless someone has before me, as well as disguising my hands. I don't know if I fully agree with the no-limp rule (what if you have, say, A-4? J-10? I am not inclined to raise with these types of hands...but on the other hand, I am not thrilled about throwing them away).
Bottom line, I am learning to raise more--and to limp far less. Another leak in my (especially tourney) game is that I probably have not been aggressive enough with my mid-pocket pairs (say 6,6 through 10,10). Heads-up, these are great hands; and if I let too many callers in against them, I am doomed to defeat--except in the unlikely event (1:7.5) that I hit a set on the flop. So I am pushing these (pocket pairs) harder now. Deep down, I know that a 5-5 is favored against A-K...I just seem to have had trouble playing on that basis!
In the two weeks that I've been back, I have cycled between the low-$100s and the mid-$100s. A pretty meek range, but at least I am holding my own. The strange thing is that I have made a total (profit) of about $350 in my two brief appearances at the local casino. Granted, I had some cards. But this just gives me more cause to think I am a better cash player than tourney player.
Anyhoo, I am disappointed to report a meek balance of $113.03 (I should really go back to cash game and build it up).
On a brighter note, I am off to Vegas tomorrow. I anticipate playing a fair amount of low-stakes cash games (few, if any tourneys 'til I get my game in gear). Wish me luck--I probably need it!
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