Vegas Day 2 recap

Went to The Mirage for lunch (Fin) and played some poker there.   Sat down at probably the only $2/$5 NL table ($500 max buy-in).  Had to wait 15-20 minutes for a seat (only full-ring available).  Bought in for $400 initially and was down 250 or so just within the first hour and a half, calling preflop raises (normally around 15-20 dollars) to see the flop and hopefully catch something. 

Only big pots that I got involved in first 4 hours:

1.  I’m holding 5c7c.  Flushd draw on the flop.  I bet out 3/4 the size of the pot.  I get 2 callers behind me.  Turn completes the flush.  I bet out about half the pot ($35).  The button raises me another $75.  I call (looking back, it was a bad call since 7 high flush in this situation isn’t that good).  River puts out another club.  I check and he goes all-in.  He shows A high flush.  Whew!  River card saves me 150 dollars or so. 

An hour or so later, the same guy who beat me on the above hand later took my stack after I bought in for another 200 more (had about 250-270 left around that point).  Still haven’t really won a big pot (3-4 hours have passed already).  I’m holding 10,8 offsuit and the flop comes 10, 10, 7.  I’m near the cutoff+1 and I check.  Everybody behind me checks.  On the turn, comes out a K with possible flush draw.  The big blind checks to me and I bet out 30.  He raises me for another 100 and I think about it and overeagerness on my part makes me call.  He goes all in for probably 90 more and I call.  He shows K,10…

Up to this point, I’m down $700 at the Mirage.  I buy-in for another $400.  There’s less players at the table now.  Admittedly, I was on semi-tilt for getting what seemed like an endless run of shit hands (i got 7,2 more often than I got overcards) and kept getting hands like J,3.  While it’s true that you’re playing the player(s) and not your cards, playing or raising with J3 frequently is usually a losing proposition, especially when there’s usually at least one other calling station in a hand. 

With only 5 other players at the table now, and law of averages kicking in (odds of getting cold cards continuously will then decrease over time), I was pretty optimistic.  The other players were either very aggressive or exhibited calling-station tendencies.  As long as there’s not another player with a similar style as mine, I’d be ok.  I’m not much of a full-ring player anymore and am most comfortable playing against 6 or less players (easier to read players).  I start getting KA (twice in a row)–one where I raised (i’m sure it got some people’s attention–I’m wearing my earphones so they think I’m listening to music when I’m really not–not plugged into anything! ) and the subsequent time I just limp.  I start winning and playing more aggressively.  I then get QJsuited (clubs) and raise 20 dollars preflop in mid-position.  I get 2 callers.  Flop comes out 3, 10, 8 rainbow.  I check the flop as everyone else checks.  The turn puts out a 9 (i hit my straight).  I check and one person bets out 25.  This girl who’s been playing overly aggressive and talking a lot of smack thinks for awhile and folds.  I then push in a $100 stack of chips.  He mutters to himself and says, “i know you don’t have the straight.  I think you’re trying to buy it.”  He calls.  The river puts out another 3.  He checks and I push in another stack of 100’s.  He immediately folds.  He claimed he was on a straight draw.  By the way he played it (and his pattern of betting on previous hands), I believe he’s actually telling the truth here.  After a couple more hands in the next hour or so, I built my stack from less than 400 to 790.  On one of the last hands, I’m holding A4 in the big blind and I call to see the flop.  The flop comes out Ah,4d,8d.  I check and another player behind me checks.  The button decides to bet out $25.  I push in a stack ($100).  He then moves all his chips in $170 on top.  I replay a few hands that I’d seen him play (a bad player who can’t fold) and knew that he could be holding Ak or even AQ or a flush draw.  I call.  He flips over two diamonds and luckily my hand holds up.  I end the night shortly after that hand and actually made $35 profit at Mirage after being down more than $700.   

Went to Bellagio The Buffet for dinner.  8.5 stars out of 10.