Almost cracked $10-20 at Bellagio
I have visited this site frequently and decided to do a trip report. I enjoy reading these reports and I look forward to getting some feedback on this one. Any comments on individual hands are welcome. Especially Big Hand #1.
Every year I go out to Vegas at New Year's to play poker for a few days and enjoy the festivities. I'm a young attorney from Tennessee, and I love NL Hold' em. I am usually the best player at any table that I play at in my home town games and I usually hold my own in Vegas and then some.
I went out there with $3000 and the first few days all I played was 2-5 and 5-10 NL at Bellagio, where I was staying. There are some obviously good players in that game who regularly play there. It does not take very long to see the weak players (tourists) and target them. After two days, I had built my bankroll to over $6000 without really catching cards or going on a rush and thought about playing in some tournaments. I played a single table satelite for Bellagio's 2:00 p.m. tournament on Sunday and won that. I eliminated two players on one hand with pocket 6's and a flop of 6-A-K rainbow. Both players had A-K suited and for once the board did not pair.
In the 2:00 p.m. tourney there were over 90 players and I was running well. I flopped two straights and one nut flush in about 10 hands and at the first break I was probably fifth or so in chips. After we got down to three tables, I had JJ in the hole and smooth called a marginal raise. I don't like JJ and I am more likely to raise with AK or even Ax suited than JJ. Anyway, flop comes 9-6-2 rainbow. I am first to act, but before I can even check, the other player (out of turn) goes all-in. He had about 75% of my chips and I had put him on a medium pocket pair based on his initial raise. I thought for a minute that he might have hit a set, but his body language after the flop, and acting out of turn, also gave me the impression that maybe my jacks were ahead. I called and I was right -- he had pocket 10's. Unfortunately, the turn brought his third 10 and he took the pot. He celebrated like he was Havad Khan on blow and had never won a pot before. I was a little pissed, but I said "nice hand" and wasn't even sarcastic about it. Very next hand, I get AK suited and push. Same guy calls with AQ. Flop comes Q-A-Q and I am gone just like that. I found out later that the guy did not even make the final table. I was glad about that.
That night I played the 11:00 p.m. tournament at Caesar's. I like that room but I usually run cold there. First hand, and I'm not making this up, two black Aces on the button. I raise five times the big blind (250), one caller. Flop K-J-6 rainbow. Other guy bets 500, I raise 1500, he pushes. I'm afraid I've run into K-J, but I can't really get away from the hand, so I call. He has K-10. Turn brings another GD 10 and I'm out -- first hand. Idiot with the K-10 tells me I should never called his All-in and I deserved the suck out!! One of the other players at the table told the guy he was a f-cking idiot, so I got a laugh out of that. But I'm still steaming and walk back to Bellagio and promptly lose $1000 at the craps table. GD it!!!
The next morning I'm totally over it and it's New Year's Eve. I had played 2-5 with this guy named Bill (a local) and he said that the 10-20 NL game is actually softer during the holidays than the 2-5 game. I doubted it, but thought I would give it a shot. The minimum buy-in was $800, but I bought in around noon for $1600. After about three hours, I was up to about $5000 and most of that came with pocket sevens and a flop of Kh-Qh-7c. I was in late position and the other guy kept betting my hand for me and he never improved. He mucked his cards in disgust at the showdown so it was hard to tell whether he was on a heart draw or had AK or KQ in the hole, either way it added $1500 to my chip stack. I was at a must move table and when it was my turn to move, I was somewhat surprised to see that Orel Hershiser (the former major league pitcher) was at the other end of the table. He was nice enough and the table had a good vibe although it was clear that there were sharks in the water (and not just me).
Big Hand #1: After about a half hour, I'm at $6,200, when I get the following hand: AsKh. I am the SB seat 2 and it there are no raises (somewhat rare at that table). I raise to $100 and get three callers, including Hershiser in seat 8. Flop comes Ks8s5s. So I have top pair, top kicker and the nut flush draw. I lead off with $300, folds around to Hershiser who raises to $800. At this point, I look at my cards again to make sure that I have the As. I do. I am dumbfounded at the raise and figure he either has a set (Kings unlikely because I have one) and thinks I am bluffing the flush, or that he has Qs-xs and has already made his flush. Either way, I believe that I probably take down the pot by coming over the top, as he knows he doesn't have the As. I raise $2500. He has more chips than I do (all of which he likely bought in with) and he puts me all-in. I was not expecting this. Now I believe he has the flush made because it would be crazy to make that move with the board unpaired and all spades without the flush. I ponder for about ten seconds and realize that even in the worst case I still have several outs. He turns over 8-5o. Now I know why the guy was a baseball player and not a poker player. Unfortunately, the turn brought a 9d and the river was 6h and he won with bottom two pair. That was not easy to stomach. I tapped the table, said nice hand and walked away. It was hard to get away from that hand and I am sure that I would make the same play again. It just sucks when you don't get there against a fish. I hated his play against a flush board. I would be interested in other players thoughts about this hand. I have wondered whether I should have simply called the $800 bet and tried to improve.
Oh well, I thought easy come, easy go. I got a bite in the cafe and stared replaying the session and my game and decided that I would buy back in for another $1000 and see what happened. Well, what happened is I got hit by the deck and within an hour I was up over $8,000. I had pocket AA, KK, AA within fifteen minutes and won big pots each time. I folded QQ with a flop of J-10-8 when one pushed and one called. Saved money there, one guy had a set (8's), the other flopped low straight.
Big Hand #2: By 10 p.m. I was at $8,500 and was about to leave when I got AsQs in late position. By this time, I was sitting in seat 9, directly to the left of Leonardo DiCaprio (who is surprisingly good at cards and seemed like a nice guy). Seat 2 SB, raises to $200 and five call before me (but not Leo). I call as well, so it's a big pot already. I almost cannot believe my eyes when the flop comes Ks8s5s. Same flop as before, only this time, I'm already home. SB checks, BB checks and seat 5 bets $1000. I smooth call and everybody else folds. Turn brings Ad and seat 5 pushes all-in. He has over $30k in chips and I start looking around for some empty racks. I start thing about how incredibly lucky I am to be in a position to take down such a huge pot. I call after about fifteen seconds and show him the bad news. There is approximately $20,000 in this pot and he shows Kd-5h, after almost mucking his cards. Unbelievably sloppy play on his part and to my absolute horror, he rivers the 5c. Several players audibly gasped. DiCaprio muttered something like, "Oh my God, I folded A-5." If so, the river was the case 5. I could not speak. I just wandered away from the table in a daze. Suffice it to say, my New Year's Eve celebration was not quite the same after that beat. $20K is a lot of money for me and to lose two hands like that just defies understanding. Oh well, maybe next year.
Nice report. Sorry about the bad beats; I get that glazed feeling after a bad beat for $50, so I can only imagine how you feel.
From what I hear, Orel Hersheiser is a regular at the Red Rock poker room, and the people who have told me this say he is always a really nice guy.
Great report, sorry about the coolers. Not sure you could play either of the two Big Hands any better. On Big Hand #1, calling really doesn't help, as villain will probably push the turn and you still have the same tough decision. Also, if villain is on the small flush, he really has to be afraid you have Ac-Xc, so your raise was well-thought out. Just tough cards. Big Hand #2, you got it all in way ahead, so I think you already know you played it correctly, and just got seriously unlucky. But, sounds like you know you can play in that level game now, so next trip out, hopefully the variance swings back in your favor.
Great report, some unlucky cards, but a great report.
Now whenever you watch Baseball Tonight you can say "I bought that guy a nice dinner.....damn bottom 2 pair"
I am not really a great hand analyst, but I would have probably played the hands the same way you have (granted my play would have been for considerably less), but you got your money in the right places, you can't put OH on a hand like that, and on hand 2 the river just hated you.
Man I feel your pain. I guess we all have, at one point or another.
April 2007 WPT Championship at the Bellagio. I venture accross the street to play cash games at the Venetian in between the WPT events.
On the THIRD hand of a newly opened 5-10 nlhe table at the Venetian I (K-K) flopped a full house K's over 7's (or some medium card, I can't remember now) and went to the felt. THIRD FREAKING HAND with a flop of K-7-7 and I am run over by a truck. My opponent was holding 7-7 for flopped quads.
It's brutal. I remember saying nice hand, shaking my head, shaking his hand, walking out of the door, and came out of my daze somewhere near MGM at the other end of the strip...lol. The only good news I can see, is that at least I didn't turn right when I stepped out of the V and end up in a rough part of Vegas, because I was walking unconcious.
I don't know about you, but I'm not forgetting that one for a long time. And the bitch of it is that there is frankly nothing to learn. You play the cards right and every once in a while, you get your head handed to you. Call it an occupational hazard I guess, but frankly it sounds like you got your money in with the best of it.
The good news is that there really isn't anything much worse, that is likely to happen to you in poker. You've now been there and gotten the t-shirt. In my case, it's made me a hellofalot less emotional about people sucking out on me, and I cant really remember the last time I went on tilt, becasue I always think about that one hand at the V.
I will be back this coming April for the WPT Championship again, and you can bet your last freaking dollar where you will find me playing my cash games during those two weeks!! If you have confidence in your game, you can't let those couple of hands push you off of your strategy. I'm sure you will have the pendulem of justice and luck swing back in your favor on the next trip out there.
Good Luck!!
OMG. Ouch.
I just had two similar bad beats, but I lost only $170 in a home game -- a lot to me for a home game, but nothing to most of you.
It sounds so much worse when it's for so much money!!!
Of course, misery loves company, so it makes me feel better. I wish my losing $170 could do the same for you. LOL.
Good report, though. Thanks for sharing. I hope your next report brings better news.
dude, reading that second big hand, I think I threw up a little in my own mouth. feel your pain. its even worse when a) you are stepping up a level, and b) you get felted by a donk (or quasi-donk)
Thanks for the great report.
Tough, tough beats. Not much really else to say. You can obviously play at these levels and next time you will get the breaks...at least that is what you have to tell yourself!
Pretty crazy about playing with Orel and Leo.
To share in your misery, I experienced something simliar at Caesar's Windsor on New Year's Eve here in Ontario, Canada (just south of Detroit).
My LAST hand of the night before picking up the wife for dinner out on the town.........I am even for the day playing a 1/2 NLHE table .........so I agree that I will call with anything (as it is my last hand - and table is loose).
BB raises to $15, two callers including myself. I have picked up 6s7s.
Flop comes 8h5c4d (I am already counting my net gain for the session) - and I do not hesitate on a loose table to take it down EARLY.
BB (original preflop raiser) makes it $60, next guy calls, I push ALL IN for $285..........BB hums and haws.........and CALLS with AA.......other guy folds (declaring he folded 89o).
Now what do you think happened.................S.O.A.B !!!
Turn is 8, River is Case 8 .............. and I go home broke.
I will be in Vegas for Jan 22/23/24/25 staying at Caesar's and I am hoping for none of the above nonsense (working against me).
I need the Poker gods to shine on me. Please good karma, visit me
I give you credit for not cracking...but on hand number one I guess I would of just called to see if I improved...I hate draws for big bucks...but you gambled and lost...Now hand number two I would have pushed all in after the flop since at that point you had the nuts but I have also done this so many times just smooth call and let them catch up....maybe the guy would of folded but you will never know....I learned last time I was in Vegas in November...bet the Nuts...or they will get you because you never know what they have....Thanks for the report...Good Luck...
I wanted to cry reading your post. I one time vowed never to play monetary no limit again after I lost 6k in one hand- you, Sir, take it with much more dignity that I... i still play though- LOL.
PS- you could have asked Leo for an autograph and sold it on E-Bay in the attempt to recapture some of your losses.... after that bad beat I would assume he'd do it for you.
thanx for sharing your poker trip details
Tough luck fella, but what you have to realize is that $20K is nothing to players at that level....I know, I deal to them on a reguar basis. Most of them will call you in a heartbeat (especially if they haven't played against you before) just to see how you play. Also, you actually didn't lose $20K, that amount is still fair play while on the table, what you lost was the amount that you bought in with.
And yes, unlike many players at that level, Orel is a pleasant person to deal to........thus far.
OWCH ! Really tough lucky, I feel for you. Tis a sick sick game
Hand #1
I lose more money to donkeys who get more than their fair share of luck than I do to good players. A good player in his position would have folded.
I probably would have played the hand slightly differently.
I'd of lead out for $300 on the spade flop with the draw but just flat called the raise of $500 and seen what the turn brought. You can still get away from the hand at this point and limit the damage to $900.
By re-raising to $2500 you are more or less asking to be put all in for another what, $3,200 ? With nothing more than top pair and ok, the nut flush draw, it is still a drawing hand but now you are pot committed and you are getting what, less than 2:1 on your money for the draw?
All said and done, you were miles ahead and got VERY unlucky. I just wouldn't of put myself in the position of having to commit all my money and left myself the opportunity to get away from the hand.
Pertaining to hand #1.....let me first off say that I'm NOT saying that you played it wrong and he played it right NOR vice versa. I just want to point out some things that I observed thru the times that I've dealt to these players.
You probably started on table #26 which is the table downstairs next to the sportsbook. You bought in for $1600 which is 2X the min. buy-in. You ran it up to approx. $6K, most of which came from a hand that you flopped a set of 7's against a player that probably had KQ 2-pair but didn't show. Then you moved upstairs to the main game on table #15 after 3hours. During this 3 hours, did you happen to notice any of the players from upstairs walking by your table every now and then? If so, they were probably eyeballing your chip stack and finding out what your buy-in was and what kind of hands you played etc.
So back to hand #1, I'm NOT saying that this is what he WAS thinking, but I wouldn't put it pass him (or any of the others at that table). He probably knew what your buy-in was (which to them is "scared-money"), and most of your chip stack came from one hand, so he was probably willing to test you......I'm sure during your session, you probably saw several hands with good actions between players that at showdown had a small pair or even at best Ace High......what they were doing were testing each other's play and ego. You pre-flopped raised to $100, which at that table usually means A/rag suited or A/face off-suit (A/face suited usually around $250/$300) . You had 3 callers (pot at $400 or $420 if BB folded). Flop comes K85 spades.....you fire $300, players put you on As/Kx or As/Xs for your flush already. Two players fold, one or both probably had an Ace. He raises to see where you're at, you looked at your cards AGAIN!!!!!
and only raise $2500, he put you on a draw and decided to test you and make you pay for a flush draw against his 2 pair/ boat draw.
WOW ihatestiffs sure shed some light on things i never considered....thanks for the insight......
Wow that first hand sucked but that second hand was crazy. The AK suited was about 50/50 on the flop and the usual 2 live cards preflop so its hard to say that he put a "horrible" beat on you but man, those situations always suck. I feel ya buddy, been there, done it got f-ed too =(
@Vegas Poker Junkie
I think small mistakes made you compound them into big mistakes.
1. PF raise with AKo in SB. You mentioned a raise to $100. This is way too small. It simply gives away information about your hand, while allowing your opponents to play perfectly against you in position with the proper implied odds. Raise to $100 + ($20 for each limper) minimum, but $200 is better. Make it a mistake to call your raise with 85s, don't help your opponents play correctly. Either that, or limp is better than pot-sweetening to $100 oop.
2. Why lead $300? while this is a small problem, you have TPTK and the nut flush draw. Why bet? C/R or C/C conceals the strength of your hand, and gives you the opportunity of seeing what the limpers do on this board. If I was in position on this board, I would bet if checked to, but in the SB I prefer a C/R or C/C for pot control etc. Other than someone spiking a 2outer, you have little to worry about if it checks through. You would also confirm that you have the best hand, to a high degree of probability. As played, I as well don't like the re-raise to $2500, especially given description of villain. Do you think he's a thinking player? Do you think he'd fold a small flush (he didn't even fold 2pair lol). By RRing, you turned your strong draw into an all-in bluff, completely unnecessary.
3. In hand 2, I don't like a flop smooth call. Your opponent led $1000 on flop, you don't need to slowplay. He clearly is representing a strong hand, this could be three things:
1. 2pair/set. Not only do you want to get the money in, but imagine if a 4th flush card came. You would lose all your action.
2. Small flush. Imagine if the board paired/4th flush card came.
3. Bluff. Again, he'd prob. shut it down on turn anyways, read dependant.
So many cards could come which would kill your action, whereas your opponent would've commited on the flop when he was drawing thin. I see no need to slowplay here, indeed, i think in an aggressive 10/20 game it's completely uneccessary and unwise.
But, with the nuts, it's never a big mistake to play as you did.
Sick, Sick hands and too bad you were on the wrong end. ty for the report!
I NEVER EVER check back at my cards unless I know exactly what I've got, and what I've got is the nuts.