Bellagio 100-200 Trip Report (long)
sgt...@my-deja.com
fifth 10-days-or-so visit this year. Been pretty much
loving the 30-60 HE games, but on our last visit (during
WSOP), I had ventured into the 60-120 HE, my highest limit ever,
and and really liked that too. Was hoping to play it again, but
was told that they had not spread any 60-120 since the WSOP, but
that a 100-200 HE seat was open. I was tempted, but declined, thinking
"No way. I could blow my whole trip-bank in one session."
$100-200 Texas Hold 'Em. Holy shit. While playing 3-6 at the
Stardust in '94-'95, we felt majorly intimidated by our perception
that the Mirage 10-20 and 20-40 would be filled with tough players
who would eat us alive. We did step up to that level in late
'95, when our local reservation casino started spreading it, then
played it in Vegas too, and did pretty OK. Repeating now
what I said in my Jan '98* Mirage trip report: We're still feel that
we're not particularly good, but can still win because so much of
the opposition plays really badly.
(* I'm now up to posting an average of 4 times/yr on RGP. Think
I'll change my screen name to "Spammer")
30-60 to 100-200 is a big step! I longed for some waystation,
say 50-100, but the Bellagio staff was disinterested. So, I formed
this plan: Win enough at 30-60 for a strong 100-200 buy-in, and take
a shot. My horse fell coming out of the gate. Over four days I instead
blew half of my trip-bank in the 30-60. I may have suffered some PTMH,
CTMR and/or TMC (please see below.) Now, I ONLY HAD ENOUGH LEFT for
one strong 100-200 buy-in. Plan B: Take a shot anyway.
So, Weds nite, Jun 2, Sergeant Rock put on the camouflage and thought of
that ridiculous line in Rounders: "Gimme two stacks of high society..."
when he told floorlady Carmen "Two racks, please." Of Green. Gulp.
The butterflies settled down within 15 minutes or so after I sat down.
One nice thing I noticed right away is that, as you're counting small
bets for figuring pot-odds, you automatically know the pot-size
in dollars without any more math. How convenient.
Anyway, I played the 1-2 game for about 50 hours over the next 6 days.
There is a *very strong* local player in the game. Scary.
There is a mystery man in the game. Here's a guy who will
cold-call a pre-flop raise with K-T off, but who is widely reputed to
have won a lot of money at these games for some years. He shows down
some really weird stuff, but *seems* to have a strong talent for knowing
where he's at most of the time. Scary. I long for the day when a player
like this will be less of a mystery to me.
There are a couple of Mega-fish in the game. Thank you, Lord.
There are a couple of semi-tough and very (overly?) aggesssive players.
They're also a mystery to me; I dunno how they survive.
There are a couple of fishy tourists in the game who, like me, normally
play a lower limit at home, but are stepping up because, hey, what the
hell, this is Vegas, and I might make a big score.
It's a safe bet that *everyone* in the game is better bankrolled
than I am. That's why I bought two racks. I don't want them to
know that my wallet is empty. (I can always look to Mrs. Rock
for help there. That's what I love about her: she always
has her own buy-in, and will even give me one now and then.
Usually when man thinks of his woman as "my little money-maker,"
like I do, it has a somewhat seedier connotation. )
Except for the very strong local player, all these folks seemed
to be afflicted with both PTMH (Playing too many hands) and CTMR
(Calling too many raises,) not to mention just plain-old TMC
(Too much calling) in general.
It was surprising how many players with big tournament, no limit,
or pot limit reputations seemed to exhibit "calling-station"
behavior.
It was sad to see how much more dealer abuse occurs at this level.
Those dealers take a lot of crap from some really obnoxious people.
Still, they seemed to realize that the biggest jerks tend to also
be the biggest producers, and they kept their cool very well.
I carefully played the best game I possibly could. Several times I
found myself playing "better" than I might have in a smaller
game. Example: I get 99 UTG. The current personality of the game
is: 8 players dealt in. Usually a raise (or two) and usually 2-4
players see a flop, often having called that raise with "trouble
hands." Most of them will go to the river with any big or semi-big
flopped pair, kicker be damned, hoping the orig. raiser/leader is
bluffing.
So... if I limp, I'll likely get raised by a "cutoff" move, lack
position, and be trying to flop a set for (on average) 3-way action
in a raised pot. If the flop is all undercards, I'm just
as likely to be facing a straight or straight-draw. No thanks.
If I raise, I'll likely get called by a couple players who likely will
call (or raise) me on most flops, and call to the river as descr.
above. No thanks.
The chance that my raise would win the blinds is very small.
So, I muck 99 UTG, because I'm paying careful attention to the game's
mood swings. Later, when that changes, I get 88 UTG, and raise.
All the time I'm thinking to myself "Hey, dummy, why would you EVER
play less-optimally than this at ANY level?" I guess my point
is that playing at a level that- well it didn't quite scare me, or I
wouldn't/couldn't have played it- let's say a level where you have
extreme respect for the stakes, causes you to play "better," and
then causes you to realize that you should always "play better."
It was fich (remember fich?) who said that "I don't need to study any
more poker theory; I already know how to play much better than I do."
And it was Mr. Caro who understated that "It's OK to always play your
best game."
The players I faced almost all had way more experience than me. More
moves than me. More bankroll than me. If I had any advantage over
them, it was patience, resolve, a greater desire to make good decisions
than to "win the pot," and emotional stability (tilt avoidance.)
I don't get angry when I lose a pot. I do like to brag about victories,
but I've never told a bad beat story, thrown cards, cursed (or blamed)
a dealer or asked for a new deck in my (short) poker playing career.
Truth be told, I love to "suffer" bad beats; the badder the better.
Lay them on me.
Probably the most common OTBS (Opportunity to be stupid) in the 1-2
(or any?) game was the temptation to try to run over a loose player
who isn't going anywhere. I faced this (and other) OTBS many times
in the 100-200, but thankfully, passed on most of them. In six days
of play, I ran exactly two bluffs, having picked the spots carefully,
and both took down the pots. It would certainly be necessary to
bluff more often in other games, but not this one!
Over six days I won some and lost some. It was absolutely the most
excitement I've ever experienced while fully clothed. I woke up on
Monday June 7, the last day, even for 1-2 but still way down for 30-60
(I seized too many OTBS there! Why?)
Lady Luck smiled upon me. Our flight was 7 pm. They started a 100-200
at 3 pm. The strong local and the mystery man took the day off, and the
the game was the softest we'd seen. Even though we'd agreed the night
before that I was done with 1-2 until I won a few 1-2 buy-ins at 30-60,
Mrs. Rock urged me to get in. I got in. At 4:30pm Mrs. Rock SHOCKED me
by asking "Can we take a later flight?" God, I love that woman. It's
usually ME who lobbies HER for a trip exension. Anyway, I called Alaska
Air, and switched us to the midnight flight.
Then the mini-rush I had been on became a Mega-Rush. I played far, far
fewer hands than anyone else in the game (wasn't hard; they played any
damn thing) but nearly everything I did play held up. The weakest hand
I showed down all day was 88, which flopped a set and rivered a boat to
beat (apparently) a turned straight. (I also played a 55 multi way,
which also flopped a set and rivered a boat- but no show.)
My other plays were all real premium hands, but they held up at a
way-better-than-usual rate. Like nearly 100%. I think I lost one
showdown all day. By 10:30pm, I had sold many chips to other
players and had my orig. buy-in (and then some) in front of me in
cash, but still had so many chips that I couldn't cash them all without
filling out paperwork. So... I colored up to one white "Flag" (5K)
chip, cashed the rest, and we ran to the airport, now with serious
trip sugar, and me with a new session-win record.
I'm back home, again intranet webmastering for your favorite
aerospace giant. Took the flag chip to work today and showed it
off to the boss, to lend credibility to my story about why I was a
day late getting back. She bought it. How could she not?
My heart and soul are still in Vegas. My discorporate body (and
the flag chip) will join them on July 3. Can't wait.
Sgt Rock
aka WoodRack
If Bill Gates had a nickel for every time Windows ever
crashed, then he could... Oh. Wait a minute. He
does. Never mind.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Holdemguy
(snipped long trip report on 100-200 game.)
I love it when a fish gets lucky.
Amalie Lewis Tuffin
to go, Rock.
Amalie Tuffin
Holdemguy wrote:
> (snipped long trip report on 100-200 game.)
>
> I love it when a fish gets lucky.
val...@banet.net
>
> And I love it when a self-annointed expert makes an ass of himself. Way
> to go, Rock.
>
> Amalie Tuffin
>
> Holdemguy wrote:
>
> > (snipped long trip report on 100-200 game.)
> >
Thanks for the post. I've seen the game when at the Bellagio. Never
had the guts to join in the "fun". After this report I most likely will
on my next trip in July. Hey, Its a very short trip for me, only three
days. What can go wrong.
Lawrence Stultz
Tuffin, have you ever played 30/60 againt Mark (Sgt. Rock)? I have and will
again, if the creek doesn't rise. And I find Mark and especially his wife
to be very tough competition. Why don't you two come play at the Bellagio
around the 3rd of July and then file a report on your "opinion" of Sgt.
Rock's play? ok?
May the flop be with you
Nevadalarry
<sgt...@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:7jng1o$85v$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
Raise2much
>Tuffin, have you ever played 30/60 againt Mark (Sgt. Rock)?
Yes, many times. Here fishy fishy.
Mkebrooks
Mike B.
John Zwiers
Zwierdo
TKatsulos
read every word of yours. Glad you had such a good experience in the 1-2 game
... I'm well, well below that ... still trying to muster up the nerve to sit at
a 20-40 ... usually play 10-20. Anyway, thanks again for the insight. It was
a quick and fun read.
tony
HOSH113
Matt Treasure
>
> Mrs. Rock and I arrived at the Bellagio on Sat May 29, for our
> fifth 10-days-or-so visit this year.
Great trip report
Thanks for taking the time to post it.
Matt Treasure
Abdul Jalib
> There is a *very strong* local player in the game. Scary.
A red haired Russian? Some say he is the best or almost best
hold'em player in Vegas, and I've seen nothing to dissuade me
from that.
> There is a mystery man in the game. Here's a guy who will
> cold-call a pre-flop raise with K-T off, but who is widely reputed to
> have won a lot of money at these games for some years. He shows down
> some really weird stuff, but *seems* to have a strong talent for knowing
> where he's at most of the time. Scary. I long for the day when a player
> like this will be less of a mystery to me.
This is almost certainly Mickey, a white guy with almost white hair.
I don't know that Mickey will cold call a preflop raise with KT off,
but he'll 3-bet in early position with 55, and he'll open raise
early with 75s, and yet he is so good at reading that he seems to
do extremely well. He baffles me too. Don't underestimate him,
but don't give his bets and raises much respect either. I think
he mostly tries to get the pot when neither of you have anything,
which is of course proper heads up strategy. He may also make
some money by putting people on tilt. You have to call him down
with some very weak hands, and bluff with a lot of hands that
you can't call with. You might use your wife to practice playing
heads up, in preparation with your next confrontation with this
player.
In the 30-60 limits in Vegas, you've probably played against Cissy
(straight hair, funky glasses), who was mentioned in one of Roy's
columns. Her style is similar.
--
Abdul
RazzO
JBK
Abdul Jalib wrote in message ...
>hold'em player in Vegas, and I've seen nothing to dissuade me
>from that.
>
>> cold-call a pre-flop raise with K-T off, but who is widely reputed to
>> have won a lot of money at these games for some years. He shows down
>> some really weird stuff, but *seems* to have a strong talent for
knowing
>> where he's at most of the time. Scary. I long for the day when a
player
>> like this will be less of a mystery to me.
>
>I don't know that Mickey will cold call a preflop raise with KT off,
>but he'll 3-bet in early position with 55, and he'll open raise
>early with 75s, and yet he is so good at reading that he seems to
>do extremely well. He baffles me too. Don't underestimate him,
I know what you guys are referring to. I have seen
two players, with what is probably a similar approach.
Whatever they are doing, would not be easy to articulate.
You cannot articulate, what you cannot figure-out,
and it would be a mistake to jump to conclusions about
"what you believe", they are doing. I do know this.
What they are doing is VERY SOPHISTED, perhaps
on the level of, for example a chess master. It is way
beyond S&M. One odd thing I've noticed. Those
people can beat Holdem, across limits. As a matter,
of fact, the only person I have observed kick-but in 3/6,
is such a person. I have been playing for over ten years,
and have only seen two such persons. This thread is
the first time, I have heard someone describe what is
probably the same phenomenon.