Legal drug dealer in Vegas!!

[Nilawina]

And ante small 5 chips in first ever wsop dealers choice event

[Tal]

420 seat 4 is Huck Seed. Another guy at the table, who I don't recognise, seems to be enjoying informing the dealer and anyone else in earshot how the games are played.

[Nilawina]

Back up to 4560 from a low of 2980. Started with 4.5k.

Donations from Huck Seed grately received whilst he tests my knowledge of the games!!

Thankfully he's in my right.

Will post hands later on 3 hands where I got 3/4

[Nilawina]

I've picked PLO8 each time as have the lowest antes at 25/25 on the blinds for first 2 levels before heading to 25/50. Gives me time to only play/draw to nuts whilst I try and figure how the table plays.

Everyone else picking draw games and table captain is sticking to limit.

[Nilawina]

Dealers choice report.

Worst draw possible. Was hoping for one tourist we could exploit but I was the tourist.

Seat 2 Paul Volpe (mixed game bracelet winner)
Seat 3 Scott Abrams (12th in 2012 main event)
Seat 4 Huck Seed (no intro needed)
Seat 5 UK #1 cash game fish

I had no idea who the guys in Seat 1 or Seat 6 were but they knew the others so this was going to be tough.

First choice game by Seat 1 was Badacey.

The aim for all split games is to scoop both sides of the pot. With Badacey half the pot goes to the lowest wheel hand and half goes to the best 4 card Badugi hand. Thus the nuts is A2345 with A234 being different suits.

As the draw games were all limit apart from 2-7 NL single draw I was only going to play pat hands or strong 1 or 2 card draws.

Scott Abrams came out betting and I called with A24 mixed suits. We both drew one card on all 3 draws and I got scooped with his 7432A against my 7642A. He had 73 Badugi against my 74 so not a good start.

I then got 3/4 on the next rotation when playing Baduecy.

This time it is lowball 2-7 triple draw with half the pot going to the best 2345 Badugi hand.

Now in the states they play Badugi different to the UK as if you don't have a Badugi the next 3 card Badugi (a Tri) gets the pot. In the UK if no one has a Badugi the 4 lowest cards (any suit) win with a flush!!

I was flat calling the button on all streets with a nut Tri 234 after hitting a 6 straight away for a decent low draw. I paired the 6 on the river and he 3/4 me with the same Tri but a K9 low hand to my 66.

I could've got him off his 9 draw on earlier streets but ultimately was unlucky to get 3/4 on the river where as I was drawing to nuts 2nd nuts for the lowball on all streets.

I got 3/4 twice more on split games before losing to Huck Seed when he drew one card and stayed pat on a nut nut scoop in Baduecy to take me down to just below 3k from a 4.5k starting stack.

I had the feeling Huck was putting me to the test and it payed off on 2-7NL single draw.

This was getting chosen as there was a ante as well as sb & bb. It also gave the chance of significant chips in the pot for them to exploit. I took one card on the sb from his button raise with a decent 86 draw.

He took 2 and I checked without looking at my hand. He seemed to bet double the pot very quickly which smelt of a missed draw.

I looked down and squeezed a 7 for a poor 876 but I'd already decided to call if I had a J or better.

I called and showed and after a few minutes he mucked. Turned out he did bet blind so all donations were greatly received.

I then made a great call Scott Abrams choice of limit hold em.

He was picking a variety of games in limit and Seat 1&2 got into a pre-flop raising duel. Being limit I stayed on the bb with 88.

234 board and I called one round of bets. Again on a 7 turn I called a round of bets. The river K was brutal to see but it got checked round and being first to act I showed and was good.

I had already decided my choice would be PLO8 as this had the lowest ante structure for the first 6 levels. It annoyed the other players a little but they left me alone after the call I made to Huck and it meant I could wait for strong starting hands and punish any callers.

Saying that I lost a pot folding on the river to calls all the way when I missed my draws (no change there then!!!)

I then managed to knock out Paul Volpe on my orbit. He had already called and folded on the bb the previous round on my flop board and I decided to raise his bb again with A234 (unsuited).

He only had about 2k and re-raised my flop bet on a 1085 board. I had the wrap on the low draw but if he had a pair with a low draw I wasn't in good shape.

The re-raise was Paul all in so as it wouldn't cost me anymore I called.

He tabled AKQ9 so I was in pretty good shape. Just needed any low card for a free roll to a pair.

The turn was a 3 and a 7 river meant a scoop and Paul out.

I had just knocked out of the wsop a mixed event bracelet winner!!!

[Nilawina]

That was as good as it got as I made a big mistake on the player who took over from Paul.

Again everyone seemed to know him but I got the feeling he was a loose aggressive player.

I raised his bb with A245 double suited in my PLO8 rotation.

He called and we both checked the 88J flop. There was 2 spades and I had the nut flush draw but I wanted a low card to turn.

The King of spades turn was checked to me and I bet small.

I was min-raised which should've of set off alarm bells. I flat called wanting to represent just AA.

The river was a blank and he bet the flop. It had grown to 1700 and I had was the nut flush. He could've had a variety of full houses but I thought the bet stinked of a single 8.

I called and he showed KK trash/trash.

The King turn was brutal and I should've folded.

I then was free rolling to scoop 3 pots in a row in the split games but never got my river/3rd draw and just couldn't get all the chips.

Worse news was one orbit later our table split.

I've got a good read on all and now we break into level 5. That was worse then being drawn on the table to start with which before the PLO8 hand I was largest stack.

New seat and I recognised more famous faces but I very quickly put them into new pros and old school pros.

I then made my second biggest mistake.

I called on the sb with a 85 draw in 2-7NL single draw against the chip leader on my right on the button.

We both took one card.

This time I looked. I had already decided to call any bet if I hit as I did with Huck.

Peeking I sneaked a 6 for a 86 low. I only had 3k left so I bet 800 into the 1200 pot.

Thinking back I had planned to make a dummy bluff move if I hit all in to try and entice a call.

Chip leader thought for a bit then called reluctantly.

I tabled 86 and beat his near nut 98. He had been drawing very similar to me and admitted he had to call any bet.

I should've gone all in and that would've taken me up to near 8k but instead I was only just above starting stack.

I kept telling myself that any new players entering would have lower than me right now but there weren't many opportunities for me to accumulate chips and this was a big missed opportunity.

Everyone on the table was picking a variety of stud games (razz, stud and stud8) which I am more than comfortable with but you need to hit on 4&5th street otherwise you get anted out.

Long story short I nursed my stack then bet out on the button on my game choice PLO8. Even at level 6 the antes were small so I could get in cheap or aggressive in position.

A35Q was just what I was willing to stick it in with but the sb and bb both called.

The bb bet out on a 859 flop. I only had 1.2k left so stuck it in and called called by both blinds.

The 5 on the turn gave me outs to a full house to scoop if I was up against a straight and A2.

Sb folded to a all in bet from the bb.

He showed A268 for the nut low draw and flush draw.

Any non flush high I scoop along with a non heart 3.

Trips and second nut low draw was much better than I hoped but the river was a knife into the heart.

The standard of play was good but tbh I've played tougher hands on-line.

My understanding of Badacey and Baduecy considering I've never played them was brilliant and is actually a easy game to play at the low antes with strong hand selection.

Yes I made the mistake calling the full house with my flush but I would've been very comfortable if I had scooped one or all three of the pots I split when free rolling.

I picked up the betting rules quite quickly and adjusted to the limit nature and US Badugi very well.

If the event is ever on again I will definitely try and visit Vegas to play again but I guess there's loads more busted players thinking the same.

The structure was very good and apart from a typo on the structure sheet which I had to get the TD over for the dealers and whole tournament was spot on.

The only game I didn't get to play as no one chose at the 2 tables I was on, was PLO and Pot Limit draw and A-5 Triple draw.

If I could've got ahead I would've of switched to Stud8 or if old locals in Baduecy.

I gave it a shot and was part of history.

[Nilawina]

Well it's been a few days and tbh apart from tonight I've bricked big style.

Spent a great day by the Treasure Island pool as the Electric Daisy Carnival rode into town. Had a decent view from the hired cabana on Friday ready for something I've been thinking about for a while.

I wanted to play the 6pm mega-satellite to the 50k players championship. This is my dream event but there's no way I've got 50 large spare or for that fact not even close to the $2250 for the satellite.

The satellite was being played as 8-Game so I managed to get stacked to play as a roll up to the main with 5 backers.

Having been tee-total all day I was all psyched to play get when I arrived only 3 had registered!!!

I decided to give it a miss and even though the satellite drew about 22 players, the money was just short of a seat so would've been given in lamers.

I ended up late reg for a deep stack and after turning the stack into the chip leader 1hr in I somehow again donated it all back and was out. I had already decided to play it hyper-aggressive as I didn't want to min-cash and wanted the top 3 money.

Then sat in only my 2nd cash game of week. Big PLO8 1-2 and the swings were huge as I had drunk guy on my left. He cleaned out a few players but donated to 2 others and I couldn't get any of the cake. I had just recovered a $700 loss when he was about to pass out and the manager had to instruct the dealer to deal him out as he disappeared to the toilet to probably heave.

The money on the table was deep so I cut my losses ($300) and left at 5.30am.

Saturday was probably my worse poker session ever. I somehow re-entered twice in the Golden Nugget 8-game. 1st time I lost a huge pot with 76532 into a 76432 in triple draw with mine coming on the 2nd draw and the villain on the last draw.

2nd time I managed to get it all in pre-flop against a medium stack with AAK9 in PLO and a fellow big stack came along for a gamble with J823. The other AA hand hit the flush and J8 scooped the side pot with a straight!!!

Having had enough of the mixed games (no cashes in any tourneys or profit from 2 cash games) I late reg'd the 1.5k Hold em at the Rio and lasted 4 hands!!! Fella didn't believe my story and called my all in bluff on the K high flop with a flush draw and hit on the river. I had decided to re-raise pre-flop in the cutoff. I swear my A3 looked like AK but it didn't matter anyway.

To wrap it up I was still early enough to late reg for the $235 deep stack and having got a little ahead lost to another flush on the river to my pocket pair.

I was more angry by myself as I could've used the funds (which I returned to my backers) to play the Mega as this time it generated 3 seats and I would've loved to have given it a go as the structure was so damn good with a cool 10k starting stack. I hear a Brit won a seat as is doing well in the main game so good luck to him.

I wasn't the only one to exit early so I met up with a few fellas at Famous Dave's BBQ for my first proper meal in 7 days. The place was full of trophies but I swear he must've bought them himself as the food was ok at best. Why don't the yanks bring out food piping hot???

I did finish the meal (like I said first main meal of the week) but it wasn't the taste and portions size I was expecting. It was great to be with other Brits though and we even managed a one table sit and go between us back at TI. Again I double up early but then threw my QQ's away to a river bet on a KKK9A board only to be shown 77. This was bragging rights and I couldn't even score in that!!!

Sunday I somehow found myself back at the Golden Nugget for a PLO8 tourney. This time I lasted 9 levels before busting out with AA1010 on a AK4 flop. 10 on the river meant I got scooped both ways after a 8 on the turn meant a free roll for my adversary.

So it was a full week with a small or big tourney every day and 2 cash sessions and a total return of zilch.

I somehow fell asleep at 5.30pm in my hotel room and awoke at 12.30am. Couldn't get back to bed so packed up and booked into the Venetian for the last week to see a different hotel.

I late reg'd for the Aria 2-7 TD event. This was well run and I love having space around me as we could only play this game 6 handed.

Another up and down and then out again. I stood pat after a one card draw on the first discard in position with 10-7. Villain drew 2, 2 then 1 and got there with a 876 as I was short stacked all in on the first draw.

I felt good though as I had to get chips after level 6 as the blinds were 500/1k and I was down to 4.5k.

Back to the Venetian and I slept through meeting a friend so joined for a few drinks later. After trying to stop another Brit (no friend) getting thrown out or arrested for harassing a couple I grabbed some food and decided to sit down for Big PLO8 cash.

Finally a positive play as I won enough to cover another wsop event after finally hitting some cards and more importantly some turn and rivers.

So dependent on how I feel in a few hours I may just give the Rio another shot.

[Nilawina]

PLO8. Brasilia bronze table 47 seat 3. Barry Greeenstein in seat 1

[Nilawina]

Rivered KKKK against Barry Greeenstein. I called with a AK34 on a flushed KK turn board and got paid off when 3rd K arrived. Up to 5875.

[Nilawina]

6275 at first break end of level 2 after another small donation from Barry Greenstein.

[Nilawina]

Brutal 3 way all in on 5610 flop. I have A223 on button. Got 3/4 and now down to 3400.

[Nilawina]

A few hand later I get re-raised by sb and guy that 3/4 me. I decide to go all in with AA47 against his AAKQ.

Flop was a floptastic 568 and a 4 and 7 river meant a double up and back up to 6150

[Nilawina]

Break end of level 4 and on a steady 8400

[Nilawina]

A poor call by me on river. Raised min pre-flop with AA69 hoping short stacked Greenstein would re-raise all in. Another short stacked called as did the button. Greenstein folded. Flop was 35Q and it was checked around. Turn was the 8 and I bet small and got one caller. River 10. I checked and short stacked went all in for 2000.

I knew my A6 was trash but I felt my AA would be good for half.

He had the nut low and rivered 10's & 3's.

A few hands later Barry goes all in for 575 on the cutoff with blinds 100/200.

I have A37J and re-raise as I want to be heads up with him.

Bb calls!!!!

Flop is JQ7 with one spade. I go all in and bb calls with AKQ2 and two spades.

Cards on their backs Barry also has a Q with his low cards. Need to dodge the bb pairing up to at least win a side pot and still might get it all.

I  didn't expect to get called by the bb and hoped he would table AAxx.

Turn was a excruciating Q of spades and I need to fill out with 2 remaining Jacks or 2 remaining 7's.

River was a spade giving the bb the pot with the nut flush taking Greenetein and me out.

I was chugging away nicely reaching nearly 9k but the error call on river earlier damaged my stack so I had no moves left.

I guess I was in bad shape on the flop with bottom 2 but I didn't dodge the outs.

Heading off back to hotel and maybe see if I can spin up another entry fee.

Tomorrow is the 8-game which is what I delayed my stay to play in.

[Nilawina]

I promise I'll finish the Vegas diary but you know work/family etc... But I've got time sat at the poker table to type this!!!!

Simon Trumper Bounty.

So in only my 3rd tournament after Vegas I decide to enter the local Thursday night tourney in Liverpool dubbed the Simon Trumper GPS Bounty Night.

I don't play weekday tournaments due to early starts in work the next day but as I was planning on picking the Mrs up from the airport in the early hours this was a possible quick way of trying to win a bounty and not being late to pick her up. 64 entries and my usual late reg meant I'd be lucky to get to play him. Although I sat at a different table I noticed there were single seats free at some tables so I was hopeful he'd be moved around then join my table. Move he did but to my immediate left!!

He didn't know that I hadn't played many hands when he sat down so I just called and called again hoping he would play and I could hit a flop. He'd got way a few hands earlier when I turned trips and heads up I shoved on the river blank. He didn't call with his K on the king high flop and said I should have let him raise.

So I started the banter that he was the only reason I played and how I had a plane to meet!!!

I tested the waters with a bluff 2 hands later. Simon must've thought I was reckless but the others I believe thought I was still tight.

I still had to figure out how with Simon on my left I would get all his chips in the middle. So I decided my best option was in the blinds out if position.

My first time in the bb Simon flat calls utg and I'd already decided to make a play with any connectors or 2 gappers.

5 players called him incl the sb. J9 suited would do me fine and the fact they were spades made the hand look so much prettier. I raised just short of the pot and Simon called. Even better was everyone slowly folded around and then the banter started. I repeated I had to meet the Mrs and kept calm as the dealer revealed a orgasmic 8 10s for the flopped straight and redraw to the flush and straight flush.

I nonchalantly bet 2/3 the pot with 1k chips and after looking me up and down Simon raised with some black 5k chips.

With a slight delay I shoved hopefully representing a over pair which I wasn't going to fold. Ever the professional he checked his cards and the flop then called the overbet confidently turning over pocket 8's for a flopped set. A sick cooler of a hand and he was so gracious on the blank turn and river. Point is though 6 handed I wouldn't have got his chips as flat calling on the bb I would have been the only player in the hand with him come the river and he's too good a player to lose with bottom set on that board.

The table was stopped for the obligatory photo and hand shake with the bounty bar (which had gone way over my head when he sat down with it!!).

Simon you made my night and this small role play was the highlight of my year. It wasn't just the final hand but the build up to it and I couldn't have written the script better myself!