Las Vegas 2011

This is a note about the recent trip to Las Vegas and is primarily from a “poker” perspective. I imagine there are only one or two people who even care at all about this and they probably don’t care enough to read it, but here goes…

The Venetian $150
After landing the night before and resting up, we went to the Venetian for their 12 pm tournament. I do not remember much about this tournament and I don’t really know why. Jet lag? The first beat I took was when I bought two mini bottles of Crown Royal so that my first two drinks could be actual Crown (aka Happy Juice.) I was an idiot because the casino serves Crown in the poker room. I was mocked for this at the first break.

I could see Lori and she was chatting it up with some guy next to her. This never bothers me but I mention it because I teased her about it and it comes up later in the trip.

I have never felt comfortable in the Venetian poker room and really don’t understand it. I went quietly shoving AKo from middle position to be snap-called by the button 1010. This left me brutally short-stacked. I had maybe two blinds. To add insult to injury, I was selected to move and had to (by tournament rules) load my pathetic stack in a plastic bin to go to the other table. The walk of shame. I was out two hands later.

Caesar’s Palace 3 pm Shove Fest
Mr. Hatley had busted out as well, so I chugged my drink and we ran over to Caesars to play an $85 turbo. The blinds move so quickly that soon thereafter I was all in with QQ on an 8 high board. Villain went into the tank only to eventually call with top set. I don’t think he was slow-rolling me but he was “nit rolling” me for sure. Meanwhile, Hatley gets quads and has a massive stack. I make another walk to of shame to the re-buy window and re-enter.

I made a mistake that really got me thinking. Perhaps it was one too many drinks, I don’t know. I failed to notice that my hand was good for a chop. I put the woman I was in the hand with on a bigger Q when the river A came. Since the board had paired, we were not using our kicker. This bothered me but what bothered me more is the gentleman to my right was trying to point out the chop by pointing out the A but all I kept saying “She didn’t have an A.” After four times, I got what he was saying. This disturbed me greatly as I knew I was not playing well at that point.

Soon I was all-in again with 99 only to be insta-called  by Mr. Hately. While he would call with some hands I am not crushed by, he called so quickly that I knew I was in trouble. He tables KK and knocks me out again. I thought it was poor form for him to yell “Seat Open!” to the floor manager. J

By this time, the wives had busted out of the Venetian and were a CP. We stood around and watch Hately fold his way to the money. J

Caesar’s Palace 7pm
At diner I was so tired and bothered by my lack of perception that I nearly did not play the 7 pm tournament. The group was playing so I decided to go ahead and play. I had a nice run of cards and had a decent stack when I picked up AQs on the button. I raised 3x and was called by the big blind. The flop comes AKx. I check (mistake) and villain checks. The turn is a Q. I lead out for $1,200 and am immediately three bet to $3,600. I call. Maybe this was the thing to do but I should have thought about it. As the dealer was about to deal the river I had the sick feeling that I was up against a broadway straight. I would not call with J10 pre-flop, but that guy sure would. The river, however, was a miracle 4-outer. The A on the river gave me aces full. When I shoved, the light-calling, Broadway-turning villain eventually called and doubled me up. I was VERY healthy now. I apologized for the suck-out.

Melina was at my table and really could never get anything going. She got short when she got into a pot with a very loose player. Her AQ on an Ace high board lost to villain’s AK. She thought she made a mistake but I watched the whole hand and he could have had ANYTHING. Any ace. 2^nd pair. Who knows. I didn’t think she made a mistake, I thought she got unlucky. The guy was a euro-lagtard who happened to have a hand. 

Melina ultimately shoved in with AQ when I had AK. I shoved in to isolate her so that either she or I would win the pot, not some clown calling with QJs. She flopped a Q but I turned a K and Melina was out.

I basically did not play a pot again until we were down to two tables. I was short, maybe 12 blinds when the hand that I am most proud of occurred. The big stack was to my right and I was in the BB. The pot was nearly 25% of my stack. It folded around to the SB and I expected him to raise me. He did by shoving all-in. However, something about it did not feel “standard.” I looked down at AQ. I should have called. I should have snap-called. But I was bothered. This guy had not been leaning on me like he should have and had not said all-in for hours. I decided I was up against a monster I asked the dealer if I could show my hand and he said that it was against the rules but since we were heads-up, he didn’t care. I decided to just fold it and mucked my hand face up. The Asian guy to my left screamed “How you fold that?” It sounded so much like Leslie Chow from the Hangover that I chuckled. The big stack had mercy and flipped over AK. I was dominated and had somehow not called when the math said I should insta-call. The Asian guy said “I like you, you go to final table with me.” I survived another all-in when my AJs held up vs 52o. (yikes.) I was so tired, I did not even watch the board play out and knew I had won only when the dealer pushed me the pot.

There were ten of us at the final table and seven got paid. Usually the table chips in to give the bubble-boy some cash to loosen up the game so after the big stack coolered someone, I really only need to last one more person to win some cash. I picked up 99 and shoved my pathetic stack of 7 blinds in the middle to be called by AJ. As always happens, an Ace flops and I am gone. Five hours, final table, no cash.

 I decide that by that time, everyone in my group is back at the condo and sound asleep so I walk down to the Aria for my first visit. I was blown away. The poker room was packed. I saw several pro players playing a mixed game. I decided that I wanted to play their 1 pm tournament the next day. Everyone else wanted to as well, so that was the plan….

Aria 1 pm Monday
There is not much poker to discuss in this one. I have never, ever had such bad cards. I am thankful that they were so bad as to keep me out of trouble. I didn’t even have many QJs type of hands that could get me in trouble. It was fold, fold, fold, fold all the way down to three tables. There was a regular at our table, an Israeli who was probably the most professional player I have ever encountered. He was polite, congratulatory when he lost and even gracious when other players were somewhat abrasive to him. I watched him just steam roll the table and build a massive stack. However, I folded so long that I outlast him. Poker is a funny game. AT the break just before we consolidated down to two tables, Hatley bought some chicken fingers. He handed me one as he passed by on his way to his seat. As I was wiping the grease off my fingers, I noticed I had AK. I nearly launched my chips into the middle and was called by some rag ace and doubled up. The next hand I was dealt AQ and in they go again but this time no callers. One guy said “Coming out swinging now, huh?” and another said “I forgot he was down there.” It was a long day of folding. In several hours, I probably played five hands. To be honest, I don’t even remember what hand busted me out but I do remember I was drawing dead after the turn.

Hatley was still playing as they approached the final table. If I remember correctly, he was hurt significantly when his JJ ran into a shorter-stack’s KK. At one point, Mr. Fold Monkey was down to less than 2 blinds when he finally (J) shipped it. He won a few hands in a row and ultimately finished in the money at eighth. We were at Diablo’s eating and drinking while he finished. Hatley was in the money twice now.

One thing that I totally missed during the day was that the tournament director did not know that Lori was my wife and took a strong liking to my lovely wife. While I was clueless at the other table, he was reportedly flirting with/hitting on Lori all afternoon. How I missed this, I have no idea. Interestingly enough, when he saw me with her after Lori and I busted, he quit. J Lori’s charm did pay off later as he hooked us up for a good deal on a night’s stay at the Aria.

Aria 1 pm Tuesday
We enjoyed the Aria so much that we were back the next day – the Hatley’s last day. I was still frustrated from Monday and vowed to play more “open” today. I did. I opened right up and was soon down to half my stack when I picked up AA. I raised of course and was re-entering the tournament when the guy to my left flopped a set on an otherwise dry board. Of course, if we had been deeper or not in the re-entry phase of the tournament, I might have gotten away from it. As it was, I was not folding.

Before I left the table, I witnessed one of the sexiest hands of poker ever. Mr. Hatley re-raised an uber-aggressive player who had frustrated me several times by making massive over-bets and forcing me to sheepishly fold. This clown thought he’d call Hatley’s 3-bet and blow him off the hand later. He did not know Mr. Hatley’s 3-bet range there at all. I was convinced it was AA or KK only. The flop comes A high. Brilliantly, Hatley toss out a very small, feeler-looking, weak bet. I, having played thousands of hands with him, immediately knew he had the nuts. Lagtard took the bait and said “all in.” As we often say, “that works every time but the last time.” Lagtard was gone. When Hatley said call, I said aloud ‘Set of aces?” and was correct

.

Everyone else was still playing so I re-entered the tournament. I was assigned a different seat. This table was terrible but I could never get any traction. Without losing or gaining many chips, I soon found myself at 25 blinds. Not short, but not great. It was at this time I played a hand I have not stopped thinking about. A very good player raised from under the gun to 800 (blinds 100/200 with 25 ante.) I looked down at AJ of diamonds and immediately decided to fold. However, before the action got to me, three players (two “bad” players) called. I wanted to fold, maybe should have folded but the pot had nearly $4K chips and it only cost 600 to see a flop. I called. The flop comes down Q high but with two diamonds. I checked hoping to shove over any bet. The good player was on to this and bet the pot. The other players fold. It is on me with a pot of $8K. I have $5K in my stack. Effectively, it costs me $5K to win $10K. I am getting just at 2:1. Obviously, I know my hand is not good but I am just under 40% to make my flush and maybe if I hit an Ace it is good. I decided the chance that hitting an ace would win the put made may chances just over 40%. To me, I am getting the right price. I shove, he calls and groans when he sees my hand. The one thing he did not want to see. He had AA. I, as I tend to do, bricked off and was once again on the rail.

I did not see any of Lori’s hands but she apparently played well and ended up cashing in eighth place. When she was done, we were both so tired that we decided to go out for drinks and dinner and not play the 7 pm tourney. The Hatleys were leaving the next morning so they played it and Melina made it to the final table but busted before reaching the money.

Aria 7 pm Wednesday
We saw the Hatley’s off Wed morning and while drinking a Starbucks in the desert breeze were trying to decide what to do. I had the brilliant idea of calling the Aria and seeing if we could get a good deal on a one night stay. Lori had the tournament direct under her spell and he gave us the name of the “poker host.” Lori called and got us a room for night at a great price. Better yet, we could check in right away and did not have to check out until 5 pm Thursday. Pool, here we come!

After a day at the pool, we showered and went down for the 7pm. This tournament had two interesting hand that I witnessed but did not participate in. First a guy had a failed bluff attempt leave him with one single 25 chip. He was all in blind for the next hand. He picked up AA and tripled up to 75. Then a woman later folded to an all-in bet of 600 into a pot of 12K. She acted like were we all idiots for chuckling about it. It was so bad, a player called the floor manager about possible collusion. This uneventful tournament ended when I called Lori’s shove blind with 84o. Turns out, I had one over but failed to get there and Lori’s 55 held up. She went on to make the final table but busted just before the cash. Thankfully we had a room Thursday night at the Aria so I was not stuck standing around waiting.

We spent the day Thursday at the pool and did not play.

Aria 1 pm Friday

This is the last chance to score in Vegas. I was not feeling great and decided to not have any alcohol.  For a while, I was playing pretty solid poker. I had a few reads on the folks at my table and trusted them for a change. The first read came after I watched a woman fire a huge river bet only to muck without showing her hand. She did this to another player that seemed to fall into my trap and play “weak / tight.” I raised in middle position with A10s (Spades) and was called by two people. This is a bit of a loose open for me but I was ready to play a hand and figured I knew enough about the folks at the table to get a little out of line. The flop came 10-high, two spades. I believe the flop was 10-9-2. I had top pair with a draw to the nuts so I was ready to ship it over a bet so I checked. To my surprise, no one bet. The turn was a non-spade 7. The straight was brewing, so I bet strong. One guy folded but the elder woman called. The river was a non-spade 6 leaving four to a straight on the board. I made a mistake here, in my opinion, and checked. As I expected she fired a huge river bet. The bet smelled of a bluff but I didn’t beat much. I thought for a minute or two and finally flipped chips in the pot. She had to be bluffing. If he had the 8 she’d want to get value from it and she did not appear to be on a level where should could make an over-bet trying to look like a bluff. She grimaced and tried to muck without showing. However, I held my cards until she showed. QJo. Maybe this no-booze thing is working? J

Not long thereafter, I was in a four-way limped pot out of the BB. I had K10. The flop came something like K79. It checked around. Top pair, no kicker in a four-way pot was not worth going to war over. The turn was brick. This time I bet and was called by another woman and a very aggressive play with a massive stack. The river was a 10. Two pair. I felt a little better. However, when the big stack checked something was wrong. The woman checked too. Do I bet? I decided that I was getting called or worse by all better hands and would not be called by a weaker hand. I checked and flipped up my cards. The dealer says “pair of kings” then looks oddly at me as says “no, kings and tens” as if to say, “why didn’t you bet that?” The agro player flipped over the 68 for a rivered straight. There are two points here, IMO. This is why I should have bet the flop. He was going to call, but I let him get there for nearly free. However, I was starting to trust my reads and this was good.

I won another pot when I flopped aces up against what I am pretty sure was AJ. Then, my reads got me in trouble. Not because they were wrong but because I reacted incorrectly to them (I think.) To my right was a stereo-typical Interent player who was playing live now because of the damn DOJ. He used terms like “liked the math,”  “bottom of my range” and “re-steal.” These are all concepts that live players know well but the Internet guys have terms for everything. These terms give you away. He was a trained Internet player and that helps to know. He also had a chip stack that was just unreal.

He raised my blind every time. As the tourney got later and later, standing up to this became very important. My mistake? I stood up to him by calling him, not re-stealing. When he was in the cutoff, button AND small blind, he raised. Each time I had AQ or AQs. I should have jammed them in on him. I called. I missed the flop. I even called his c-bet once. In the end, my stack was down to 20 blinds and I was furious at myself. Maybe calling is correct but against a stack like that, you are totally screwed if you miss the flop. I gave many of the chips I had won earlier away and was feeling sick. Here we go again.

Now, I was getting short. However, with 20 blinds I could make someone fold. I shoved over a raise and a flat call with 77 and got two folds. The one hand that tanked before folding showed 66. I was wanting him to fold…until I saw his hand. Finally, big stack raised from button like he was programmed to do and I shoved in with the 97s. He should fold, his raising range was just about anything. He counted the chips and decided he didn’t have odds and folded. Did I just add a re-steal to my game? I hope so.

When the tables combined to two, the blinds jumped dramatically. I now had 9 blinds. When it folded around to me in the SB, I shoved 108o. The guy thought for a bit and made the correct call with A4o. I spiked a 10 on the river but he had flopped an ace, and I was gone. I think the math says to make that shove even if I know his hand. It was the right move, but it didn’t work.

Lori and I went to dinner and then to a piano bar for some drinks and great music. Our week in Vegas was complete and it was a blast. I can’t adequately express how truly blessed I am to have such a great wife. I think most men would doubt my sincerity here, but I would much rather travel to Vegas with my wife than without my wife. Even this weekend, guys were giving me a hard time about my wife being better than me at poker. I understand this, I guess, I would do the same. However, it does not suck to be me. My wife asks to go to Vegas while most guys have to beg. Most of the guys who do go have to pile into one room. Room full of sweaty guys sharing beds or sharing a King-sized bed with my wife? Easy decision.  She’s a great player which means she has an expectation of winning! It is amazingly cool to be able to tell my wife “I got called by some euro-trash lagtard with a gutter and he spiked the turn on me” and have her know what I mean. Tease me all you want and feel free to come with us next time, if you wife will let you! Lori is planning a late summer trip already. I love that woman!