AVP Tournament and my 1st NL Experience
Arrived Thursday, Sept. 20 for a planned 5-night pokerfest. Played my standard 2/4 and occasional 3/6 limit at various casinos, including TI, Excalibur, MGM and Monte Carlo. It was my first visit to the MC, and it was actually a very nice little room, as others have mentioned on AVP. The goofy old-fashioned poker artwork made me chuckle, but the rest of the atmosphere and staff were quite nice.
Myself, LVM, Yappy Dave, Boofer and another AVPer (Mike?) played a 2/4 mixed game at TI on Saturday morning, and up to that point it was my only winning session. Couldn’t talk StrayBullet into playing (yet!). I even scooped the pot on one double flop Omaha hand. I walked away with a $53 profit playing games I had never tried before. Played limit hold ‘em most of the rest of the day, then returned for the mixed game late that night. StrayBullet joined us this time, along with veterans Motorcycle John and the OD, and few others who had never played before. This time I lost nearly all my $200 buy-in, but still had fun. On Saturday, I logged a total of 14 hours at the TI poker tables, easily earning my poker room rate.
Oh, I did hit a royal flush on a nickel video poker machine at TI for $200. It was my only big win of the trip.
Sunday was more 2/4 limit followed by the raucous AVP tourney at night. You’ve read the threads…what more can I say? My table, which included StrayBullet, Joel1968, LVM, The OD and other fun folks was definitely the wild one of the group. Jaeger bombs all around, but I skipped it when I was chided for asking for whipped cream on mine, and stuck with the yummy Rum Runners. (Thanks for the suggestion, Stray!) Didn’t get many good cards, though I did call a player’s (Jeff?) all-in for $950 when I had pocket queens and won my only half way decent pot of the tournament. Went out early, but was having such a great time that I sat at the table for quite a while watching the action.
On Monday morning, I headed over to Planet Hollywood since Photoc had mentioned that CSI was taping that morning. I was able to watch a bit of the action and saw actor Anthony DiPaglia (Without a Trace--guest starring on CSI?) "punch" a bad guy while standing at a Texas Tea slot machine. But it was a slooooowwwww process so I meandered around the place and played some video poker. Eventually I made my way to the PH poker room which was packed with extras to tape a scene. I tried to find Photoc in the crowd, but no luck. They weren't actually taping as I stood there, but DiPaglia was smoking in the middle of the poker room in between takes. Doesn't he know 99% of Vegas poker rooms are nonsmoking! LOL I majored in TV production in college, so I'm always interested in that behind-the-scenes stuff, but it was so slow and I just couldn't waste my vacation time looking at crew guys hauling around light filters. That night I played in the Sirens of TI tournament, but was perhaps the 3rd or 4th one out.
On Tuesday, I was scheduled to fly home at 6 p.m. I had promised myself that I would try at least one NL game this trip, but had yet to get up the nerve. Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. I finally do it and help start a new game of 1/3 NL at the Excalibur. I bought in for the $200 max, as did all but one of the other 4 or so people. One guy bought in for only $100. I was nervous and played super tight. To be fair, I really didn’t get good cards (par for the course this trip) but even when I got mid pocket pairs, I just limped. I coasted for quite a while, winning few, losing a few more. Finally, I’m dealt pocket aces, but don’t raise preflop because I knew people would fold since I’d been so conservative. I think there were a couple other limpers. Flop came K high, no real straight or flush possibilities. Guy on my right (GOR) checks, I think I bet $15, one guy folds and GOR calls. Next card was maybe a queen, GOR checks, I bet $15, GOR calls. Last card is a jack. GOR bets $15. (ARGH!) I call and he shows two pair, Kings and Jacks. Looking back, I should’ve bet more, as I knew he had a king and I let him catch up with too small of bets. Luckily, this being Excalibur I got to spin the prize wheel since my aces were cracked. It landed on the highest amount: $100! So I was able to play a bit more, but left for the airport after about 4 1/2 hours of play and was down only $106. I felt pretty good for my first time.
I get to the airport, line up in the Southwest “A” line, and soon an announcement is made that our plane just left Nashville and would be at least 3 hours late, meaning I would not arrive back home until 4 or 5 a.m. I had lost a lot of money playing poker, not to mention 3 Card Poker, Caribbean Stud and video poker, so what do I do? I decide to stay one more night and get my butt back to the Strip.
That night, I played in the Planet Hollywood Ladies tournament. It was a lighter atmosphere than TI's ladies tournament, and I did knock 2 players out, made the final table, but went out in about 8th place.
I headed back to Excalibur, where I was staying, and again bought in for $200 at a NL table. This time loosened up a bit. I was surprised at how often I was able to see a flop after just limping for $3. I always imagined big raises every hand, but it wasn’t that way at my two sessions. One of the players was a re-buying calling station, and I immediately understood why NL players are hesitant to leave a cash cow table, even when they’re very tired, hungry, etc. At one point, I was up $135, which I was pleased with because it meant I made up for the cost of my extra hotel stay. New players arrived at the game who were more aggressive than I wanted, so I ended up heading to bed after 3 1/2 hours with a $115 profit.
To those who, like me, are nervous to graduate to No Limit (I know I’ve read about others on this site who felt the same): I must say I really enjoyed it and will probably play it much more, if not exclusively, from now on. In low limit games, if you lose $100 it could take a long time to grind back up to even, but in NL, if you’re patient you can make it back plus more on one good hand/pot. There is definitely more advantage to getting in on the right table, reading players, and leaving when the atmosphere changes to something you’re not comfortable with. And as I said, many times I was able to see a flop after just a $3 limp.
Overall, I am very disappointed with my playing (lost over $1,000 altogether...got to stay away from the video poker and pit games), but was very happy to discover how much I enjoyed NL.
I’ve already got my eye on a quick trip around Christmas or first week on January. We shall see!
Hi Kris!!
Glad to hear that you took a stab at NLH!!! It's a FAR better game for a player like yourself than the low 'Limit' games that you have been playing. You definately hit the nail on the head when you state that you can lose a quick $100 easily in a $2-$4 game and it would take you forever to grind it back, however, in a NLH game, if you pick your spots, you have the potential to make so much more in such a shorter amount of time. There are a lot of nuances to the game that are learned with time and experience, but it's a fun learning experience for the most part. I remember having to make the change from $10-$20 Stud to NLH because the stud game had died and I refused to continue to play limit holdem. I really enjoy the game as well...and another good way for you to experience it, albeit different than cash games, is by playing in NLH tournaments. It's safer, as you are only risking your buy in rather than a significant amount of your bankroll...when you are starting out anyway.
We enjoyed having your around every morning and are already looking forward to your winter return!! Take Care!
Hello again!
Thank you for the PM message. I am very proud of you for tipping your toes into NL!
It was a real pleasure to play alongside you the few times that we did.
That dayshift mixed game was a ball on many levels. The mixed rarely to EVER spreads on dayshift, and to have it be the "main game" at that hour was hilarious. Glad you faired well in that game.
Also, thank you so much for participating in our AVP tournament. It was really a joy to have you at the table, and I do look forward to your return!
Hopefully, the next trip will be on the plus side. Thank you for your honesty in your report!
Are you a NL convert now? Maybe on your next trip, we can be alongside each other in the red chip game at TI. That would be a blast, and of course, after you call my all in bluff and take me down with third pair, we can start up another mixed game.
Hi Kris
I was there, was in the back corner of the PH poker room for a bit, then I got moved to a table in the imediate background for the final few shots. Who knows how much will make it to TV though.
Glad you had a fun trip. Last night I had a short stint in a 2-4 game and have vowed never again. You will find a patient aggressive style in NL will be a lot more fun and profitable. Good luck at NL in the future. I don't think I introduced myself to you at the tournament but saw that you and your Rum-Runners were having a good time. Thank you for posting the trip report.
Hey Kris,
I'm glad you had a good time, that tourney was a blast! And the rum runners keep flowing for another 2 days
Thanx for the replies!
I wanted to add something about my first NL session. The guy who bought in for just $100 (let's call him Cowboy) was pretty aggressive and built his stack up to at least $500. He won one big pot when he was heads up against another player (Jose) who I could tell had very little idea about poker in general, and perhaps didn't even speak English too well. After the flop which contained a3 and a 6, one of them bet, and the other called (I actually don't remember who). The turn paired threes on the board, bet and call. On the river, a 9, there was a bet and call (again, I forgot who did what. I need to remember this stuff!) I'm not sure exactly what happened, but Cowboy showed his hand (pocket 6s for a boat), Jose showed Cowboy his cards, then mucked. The players on my end of the table, though not me, asked the dealer to see Jose's cards and Cowboy protested, but lost the battle. Turns out that Jose mucked pocket 9s! He would've won with a higher boat, but didn't get it.
After a while, Cowboy protested the dealer on another matter, lost a big pot and quietly but distinctly went on tilt. Within very few hands -- maybe 4 or 5 -- his entire $500-$600 stack was gone, though I wasn't one of the beneficiaries.
This was all very interesting to me... to see how emotions can control someone's play, as this doesn't really come into play much in 2/4 and 3/6 games.
(Edited to add what Cowboy's cards were)
It was fun to meet you. I enjoyed the mixed 2/4 game, it was my first time playing it. You really have to control your emotions in a nl game, otherwise you might just go all in on a hand that you know is a loser. I am still learning the nuances of nl, hope my money holds out until I can be a good player instead of a fish.
Hey Kris!
It was great to meet you at the AVP tourney! Why don't you shoot for the third week of January for Vegas? I'm out there Jan 20-24 would love to try dippin' into no limit with you! I've yet to venture into those unchartered waters. I still believe I'm a much better tourney player...but I'd give NL a go with some encouragement!
Michele
@Pleasingal
That sounds fun, but I'm hoping that my dear husband could join me on the next trip, so it would have to jive with our son's Christmas break so my in-laws could watch him. We'll see.
But you need to try NL! I can see why NL players find limit boring. It's a much more exciting game.
You also need to test yourself out in a higher limit game, 6/12 at mirage or 8/16 at many places on the strip.....