This Old Vegas Family

First off, mentioning that this is only day 1 is a good thing.  Means I’m moving on two day 2!

Things went well on Monday, and after a long day of poker, I survived and moved onto day 2 with 24,025 chips (start with 10,000).  How does that rank?  Well, it’s a little less than average, but I am ranked #382 out of the remaining 875 players from my pool (4 pools total).  Here’s the link to the official chip count site that actually has my name on there!  So, here’s the rundown of what happened:  (long, so if you don’t see it yet, it’s because I’m typing it…)

Level 1:  Start 10,000 - Blinds 25/50

I started at Table 130, Seat 2 which was directly adjacent to the ESPN film table.  I literally was leaning on the velvet ropes that separated the two.  It was kinda cool to be able to check things out although the table area was awfully warm with all the equipment, lights, and cameras.  So if you see the back of a guy’s head, it could be me!

 As far as hands went… nothing special.  Folded the evil Ace-10 of hearts before the flop only to see a 10 and 2 hearts come out.  Not sure how it would’ve ended up, but it’s cool.  Raised and won my first baby pot with two 10s.  Raised with an Ace-King offsuit and won a decent pot.  Stole one other pot with Queen-Jack offsuit and that was about it…

Okay, here’s poker typing lingo because I can’t type the words anymore:

A=Ace, K=King, Q=Queen, you get it… #s are #s obviously, if I say AKs, it’s suited, AKo, it’s not.  Pocket Ts=two tens, etc.  I’m sure there’s more, if you have questions, feel free to ask.

Ended the level at 9750.

Level 2:  50/100 blinds.  Had JT flop J77, raised a bettor and won an okay pot after limping in.  Limped with KTs and flop came TT2 which was huge.  Couple of bettors, I raised after the turn and won a good sized pot.  Made a couple of bluffs once with QJ again where I stole a pot, and and AT where the flop came KJ3, he bet, I raised, he folded.  Ended the level at 13,575.

Level 3:  100/200 Blinds.  Didn’t have many cards this level at all.  Had A4s and limped in.  Flop came AT4 with two diamonds.  Guy bet, I raised, he re-raised, and I thought for a while, and then folded.  He ended up showing pocket tens (three of a kind) so I made a good fold.  Later, I had 22 in the big blind.  Flop was like AT4 again.  It checks around, turn is a lovely 2.  I bet, 2 callers.  River is a 3, so that makes anyone with a 5 having a straight.  I make a medium sized bet, and they fold (whew…).  So that got me near where I started the level, ending at 12,625.

Level 4:  100/200 Blinds with 25 ante.  Back from a 90 minute (needed) dinner break.  Got some food with Lorey which was nice and then got back to the room.   First hand back I had JJ in the small blind.  Everyone folds to me and I raise, the big blind folds.   So much for my big pocket pair.  I later have AT, and play it poorly trying to buy a pot.  I had KK also in this level which got me a small pot.  Also AK raised won me a pot.  I gave back some chips right before the break with Q7 (blind hand) where the guy hit 2 pair on the turn.  I ended the level exactly where I started, 10,000.

Level 5:  150/300, 25 ante.  This is where I made my one move of the night.  I had AA for the first time of the night.  I raised, got no action.  The one had I did hit went like this.  I had gone down to around 8k or so when I had 77.  One guy called, one raised to 900, I called the 900, as did the original limper.  Flop came 734 with two spades and 1 diamond.   A beautiful flop for me.. so I thought.  They check to me, I bet 1500 into like a 3000 or so pot.  First guy folds (said he had 55), other guy raises to 5000.  I didn’t have any intention of folding, but I thought for a bit, and then finally went all-in (the only time of the day.. and it’s not fun).  It was only like 2000 more, so he called.  He had 3/4 of diamonds for bottom two-pair.  He was in really bad shape until the Jd (jack of diamonds…) hit the turn.  I nearly had a heart attack because he had a chance for a flush, but was relieved when a black 6 hit the river.  Whew.  Doubled up to around 20k.  I believe I ended the level at 20,625.

Level 6:  Final level of the day, 200/400 blinds, 50 ante.  Had pretty sorry cards again (basic theme of the day), but did end up making some chips.  Had AK in the big blind.  It was folded to the small blind who raised me to 1600.  I considered raising, but only called.  Flop came J75, and he bet 2000.  Something seemed a little weak so I raised to 4100 in strange style (8-500 chips and 4-25 chips ).  He thought for a while and finally folded 44 (he said).  I told him he made a good laydown (that I flopped 3 of a kind), and took down the pot.  Our side of the table was pretty friendly, so I wanted to make him think I was friendly too .  Had AA again which didn’t win me anything but blinds and antes, and I think I re-raised with AKs one time as well.  Ended up right where I stand now at 24,025.

That’s about it!  I’ll try to keep better notes as this jibberish I’m reading isn’t giving me too much to go with.  Alright, I’ll try to get back on Thursday with Wednesday’s results!