Back in New York

Hi guys. I arrived home on Wednesday after a fabulous week and a half in Vegas. It was wonderful. I had a great time with my sister and her friends at the bachelorette party. We went to fancy, delicious restaurants every night for dinner- including Nine at Psalms, Table 10 at Palazzo, Koi at Planet Hollywood, and a few others. We had dessert at Cut, Wolfgang's restaurant and that was great also- the desserts were fabulous.

Unfortunately, I returned with a terrible cold and cough. I have been sick for four days now and I cannot wait to get better! My legal business is becoming very very busy, I have court everyday next week and I just want to feel better. Last night, I broke my online dry spell with a 3rd place finish in the 10$ straight on ub. Unfortunately, I did not finish first, but I played well and I was happy with the result. 3rd out of 580 is no small feat, even for a weak buy in.

Back to Las Vegas. I played my cash games in a sick (sick = good, not sneezing, lol) and professional manner. I told you guys about the KJ dd hand in my last post. Very proud of that hand. I earned approximately $2500 in 7 out of 9 earning sessions at 2/5 NL, which is probably way above average, but I will take it. Below are some hands that I thought I played well, and a few that while I did not play well, luck allowed me to win the pot.

Bellagio 2-5 NL

I was preparing to pick up with about a $150 profit, because I had to go back to the hotel and get ready for dinner with the girls. 20 minutes before I pick up, these three novice players sat down and bought in for 200 each. Sometimes I think it is an act when players are like, "what do I do? how much can I bet?" but these three clearly did not know a check from a bet. So the following hand arose. I limped q4 sp in late pos. Two other players limped. The bb, novice player, raised to 30. So I gave him Aq, ak etc. I decided to call and see what develops. To be honest, I should've folded- a lot of novice players, even if they miss, will put all their money in with hi cards based upon what they see on tv. So I thought playing post flop wouldnot be easy, but by the same token, he was mr. novice, so lets see what develops. We took flop heads up. Flop is 2 3 5 with one spade. Of course. So he bet 55. I called because I figure if I hit straight with Ace he is paying me off and if spade comes on turn, i can determine where I am at. Pot is now close to 200$. Turn is 7 sp. Great. He bets 60$ with 110 behind. I decide that I can't push him off here, so I call, annoyed at myself for playing this hand. River is nine of diam and he checks really quick. I didnt even think, I just said "all in" and he folded so fast. My original read was correct and I am glad I followed my read on river. I really think if I pushed turn he may have called with Ace hi. I do not think I played that hand particularly well until the end. Once I call preflop though, I am kind of strung along by this dude and then he gives me opportunity to be aggressor on river. I thought I followed my read great on river. I showed the guy next to me my hand before I mucked, and I picked up 5 minutes later. He's like where are you going, there is free money here! LOL.

Venetian 2-5 NL

Another hand that arose right before I had to meet the girls for dinner was at 2-5 NL Venetian game. I decided to play a 1.5 hr short session before dinner. I was up about 100 15 min before I was going to pick up. A tight guy utg + 1 raises to 30$. I call with AJ dd. My instinct was to fold, he has a big hand, but I thought maybe a few other players would call and if I hit a big flop, I would win a nice pot before I left. We coincidentally take flop HU. Flop is A 2d Qc. Tight guy leads out for 60$. Bells went off in my head. Fold, he has AQ or QQ. But I ignore my instincts and Call. Admittedly a bad call. Turn is 5 diam. I am like, here we go in my head. LOL. Now tighty bets 140. I was goin to shove right there but I remembered my inclination on the flop and now I call. River is 6 diam. HE checks and I lead out for 250$. He insta folds top set of AA face up. Nice read sir, nice read. If I know he folding that hand, I be bluffing river a lot more in different hands. LOL

And yes, this is another example of hand I won, but did not play optimally. You all know, I play cash a bit looser than tournies.

Playing the Player Venetian 2-5 NL

I had a sick read on most of the players at my table. It was early morning around 1am and I was up 200$. But, while I am always playing for profit, I really enjoyed this game and my profit/loss didnt matter so much as I was using this session for practice. I decided that since I was doing well for the week in NL, this session was negligible and I should really abandon any fear or intimidation i may have. So these two hands signify,I think, the improvement in my NL game over last year.

QQ utg + 1. I raise to 35, one player calls, and tricky player who is having a good time, and obv a regular at Venetian, is on button, looks at his hand and gives me a great tell. He says, I dont know whether to reraise or call. I will just call. he says. Immediately I put him on 10s-qqs, or ak suited. bb calls, we take flop 4 way. I am second to act. Flop is 10 j 2 w/ two sp. I have two red queens. I decided that i need to find out where I am at against button. Pot is 140$. I lead out for 80$, which is small but forces a raiser to make a decent size raise. Guy in between folds. Now tricky guy on button makes it 250 on top. Whoa, huge bet. It folds to me, I think forever and there are only two hands I can put him on, 1os or jjs. So i Have two outs. He would raise AK sp but not that big. Secondly, he is not type to raise on draw. So i think for a minute, knowing I am going to fold. Then I said to him, will you show? And he said no. I insta mucked face up. Then he showed me pocket jj for top set. Thank you for virtually not letting me go broke on that hand. Felt like I won.

Second hand against same guy:

10 minutes later. I have K7 sp in bb. That guy is on button and he is big on the button raise. He makes it 30$ to go sb folds I call, and one limper calls. Flop comes out 3 5 6 with two sp. I decide I will check raise here. So I check, limp/caller checks and dude on button bets $50. I make it 110$ on top. It folds to him. He thinks forever and mucks. Begs me to show, so I show and he said, great play. I said thank u.

I think these two hands are pivotal in describing how I had been playing all week and where my reads were at.

Thats it for now dudes, take care and I will post again soon.

Good money and peace,
Lucky C and Ace.