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Upcoming WSOP 2015, general plans.

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hiems   United States. Apr 27 2015 19:06. Posts 2979
boinggg

I first came out here basically because I had nothing better to do having very little experience with actually playing poker for a living, and any sort of plans despite having been really interested in poker as a hobby. I actually started off playing 1-2 1-3 out here but switched to playing 2/5 per the advice of people and have done at okish at that for a while. I mostly play softer games at Bellagio, MGM Grand, and Venetian, have avoided the 1500 deep at Wynn, and dislike the lighting at Aria as it intimidates/throws me off my natural comfort zone. Right now I have around mid 40k to my name and am trying really hard to get better at managing my expenses, improve at poker, and get better at other aspects of life.

So I've been reading the old Matt Moore thread on twoplustwo a bit and I suppose he is a paragon of recent success in the livepoker scene out in Vegas. Since I am not a twoplustwo guy and I am a liquidpoker guy, I'm going to try and use my blog here to put myself out there by writing more, and take bettering and challenging myself to a new level. With the wsop coming around in a few weeks I think it is a great time to start. I am going to focus mainly on poker, but I'll try to actively blog about anything else interesting or noteworthy that I am doing, so nothing really is out of play.

WSOP 2015:

First order of business I guess, since it is one of the biggest events in poker of the year. I don't really have much to say about it actually and am planning to just do alot of really boring shit. For the WSOP I intend on playing strictly cash games and zero tournaments. So that means no Colossal, no Aria event, no millionaire maker, etc. I just don't see much of a reason to just punt away buy-ins when my tournament game isn't great and my hourly would probably be higher in cash games. I've been playing mostly cap 500NL but I think I'll venture a bit this series, try my best to zone in and my plan to start the series is to play the Venetian 2/5 1000cap and go from there. If I run good I'll play the Wynn 2/5 or Bellagio 5/10, and if there happens to be a great game I might hop into the Venetian 5/10. I'll also play a bit on wsop.com probably just 50NL and 100NL during the daytime.

Personal finance, Budgeting, Bankroll Building.

I guess this is boring stuff, but really its the way to keep score in poker and ultimately a big part of the reason we play and the ultimate way of keeping score.

Its simple really, save more than you spend. Right now I'm trying to reduce food expense from $600 to around $250. For just myself $600 is way too much. I also switched to a 49cc scooter a few months back which saves me alot on gas/insurance and I recently installed a trunk on that so I should be able to buy groceries and stop eating out. I might just chronicle this on a monthly basis, but I am not sure how great revealing income and expense information with 100% transparency will be from a legal perspective. I would however like to have a great deal of transparency in this regard and not just with my revenue but also spending. Rent is high for vegas at $1100+utilities but the location and facilities are just what I need (great location, no-roommates, nice/clean/secure, good community, no roaches or anything like that). I think right now total expenses I think if I am entirely GTO with my current set-up I can leave expenses at somewhere in the range of <$1,800 which I think is pretty reasonable.

Considering More Options:

Traveling for live poker.

-bay101, Commerce, MarylandLive! Florida, Parx/Sands, Borgata, Foxwoods, Winstar, etc
Not only is this a good idea to see the country, would be great for improving my game, meeting new people, and getting better at game selecting so as long as you can manage to keep expenses low. I do however think Vegas is probably the best home base overall if you are playing live poker. I would also like to venture somewhere like Playa del Carmen or Rosarito or just Latin America in general. Latin America offers low-cost of living that places like Vancouver simply does not imo. Also helps that women are probably a lot lower maintenance. I'd be going to just get better at poker probably and be able to play more varied game selection but long-term and overall the money in live poker is a lot easier for most people. Still think with traveling that its important to keep expenses low.

Fun Stuff

For the most part I kept things about "business" stuff only. Just happened to be that way I guess but I'll try to blog about more varied things as they occur while I am out here. Here's a pic of what I look like and my scooter thing for fun/in case you run into me somewhere.

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I beat Loco!!! [img]https://i.imgur.com/wkwWj2d.png[/img]Last edit: 27/04/2015 19:47

bigredhoss   Cook Islands. Apr 27 2015 19:35. Posts 8646

man, $250 seems real low for food. i spend around $600/mo on food too, and i don't eat out a lot or have expensive taste by any means. i know it's doable, just feel like i'd rather try to make an extra $11-12/day by playing more or look for other ways to save it. just my opinion though, best of luck.

Truck-Crash Life 

hiems   United States. Apr 27 2015 21:03. Posts 2979

Well comps help a couple of meals a month (buffets, grandluxe/noodles/or deli stuff). I don't weigh a whole lot either though I eat a decent amount for my weight. It probably will take some time getting 250 down pat and I'll have to get my routine down but hopefully it'll work out as planned

I beat Loco!!! [img]https://i.imgur.com/wkwWj2d.png[/img] 

PoorUser    United States. Apr 28 2015 02:50. Posts 7471

didnt say how much you were playing but at 2/5 if you are looking to keep going up i hope you are playing 200h+ a month. agree that if you are disciplined about it and feel confident enough about your game, try taking shots at bellagio 5/10 as soon as you can. also, and this is really important, start making friends everywhere you play - regs and fish alike. as you get to 10/20+ this skill will probably be more important than actually being good at poker.

Gambler Emeritus 

careface_   Canada. Apr 28 2015 04:37. Posts 788

did you hang last year (wsop 2014) with another tiny asian and a asian girl?

 Last edit: 29/04/2015 06:09

Trav94   Canada. Apr 28 2015 06:10. Posts 1785


  On April 28 2015 01:50 PoorUser wrote:
also, and this is really important, start making friends everywhere you play - regs and fish alike. as you get to 10/20+ this skill will probably be more important than actually being good at poker.



Why is this exactly? Is it so that people will want you in their games/invite you to homegames or something? Because I assume 10/20+ doesn't run all the time in casinos, even in Vegas? Or it doesn't run everywhere, only at a few casinos or on weekends or something?


casinocasino   Canada. Apr 28 2015 21:40. Posts 3343

Aren't you getting comped for you food when playing? I had enough money to cover food except the nights I decided to go out with a girl


hiems   United States. Apr 28 2015 22:14. Posts 2979

Where were you using them? Personally I hate the lowest comp food options (snacks at bellagio). Ocassionally its fine but cant imagine living on that. Wynn has decent options but don't play there much. I try to either cash them in at breakfast or lunch buffets (healthy+lots of calories/$) during weekdays, use them for tournaments (venetian), or save them for the nicer places like craft steak.

I beat Loco!!! [img]https://i.imgur.com/wkwWj2d.png[/img]Last edit: 28/04/2015 22:14

hiems   United States. Apr 28 2015 22:35. Posts 2979


  On April 28 2015 01:50 PoorUser wrote:
didnt say how much you were playing but at 2/5 if you are looking to keep going up i hope you are playing 200h+ a month. agree that if you are disciplined about it and feel confident enough about your game, try taking shots at bellagio 5/10 as soon as you can. also, and this is really important, start making friends everywhere you play - regs and fish alike. as you get to 10/20+ this skill will probably be more important than actually being good at poker.



thanks PU! will keep this in mind as I go forward.

I beat Loco!!! [img]https://i.imgur.com/wkwWj2d.png[/img] 

casinocasino   Canada. Apr 28 2015 23:20. Posts 3343

I was playing almost exclusively at the Aria and I loved the food. I am sure if you talk to the poker host and they will let you use your comp for any of the MGM restaurants. I also heard that if you tip the floor accordingly, they will write you extra comps (anyone have any more information on this?).


NewbSaibot   United States. Apr 28 2015 23:50. Posts 4943


  On April 28 2015 05:10 Trav94 wrote:
Show nested quote +



Why is this exactly? Is it so that people will want you in their games/invite you to homegames or something? Because I assume 10/20+ doesn't run all the time in casinos, even in Vegas? Or it doesn't run everywhere, only at a few casinos or on weekends or something?


Probably just to get invited to degen filled high stakes games. I play 1/2 homegames which really run like 2/5 with stacks and preflop action. There is this one private 5/10 game that a few of the 1/2 regs have "advanced to", and by advanced I mean these were the 1/2 guys reloading for 1k a pop 3-4x in a row who decided they'd rather play 5/10 PLO.

bye now 

hiems   United States. Apr 28 2015 23:52. Posts 2979


  On April 28 2015 22:20 casinocasino wrote:
I was playing almost exclusively at the Aria and I loved the food. I am sure if you talk to the poker host and they will let you use your comp for any of the MGM restaurants. I also heard that if you tip the floor accordingly, they will write you extra comps (anyone have any more information on this?).



I mean I guess that's relevant...if you're playing high stakes or something...at least 10/20+ Not sure how that applies here didn't realize you were a las vegas baller.

I beat Loco!!! [img]https://i.imgur.com/wkwWj2d.png[/img] 

thewh00sel    United States. Apr 29 2015 21:27. Posts 2734

Ive seen you at bellagio. Asian john lennon in those glasse. I would say venetian is the best place to grind midstakes with regard to comps. You can use them on tourney buyins so that's gotta be the best value. Glgl

A government is the most dangerous threat to man’s rights: it holds a legal monopoly on the use of physical force against legally disarmed victims. - Ayn Rand 

hiems   United States. Apr 30 2015 04:38. Posts 2979


  On April 29 2015 20:27 thewh00sel wrote:
Ive seen you at bellagio. Asian john lennon in those glasse. I would say venetian is the best place to grind midstakes with regard to comps. You can use them on tourney buyins so that's gotta be the best value. Glgl



thanks. And yeah, I get that a fair bit. I guess Im a pretty easy person to spot. I've seen you as well at the bellagio too as I've seen your face from liquidpoker. Just didn't really want to come up to you and have nothing to say but "Oh Hai wh00sel" or whatever lol.

also +1 I'm def saving my stuff there for tournaments.

I beat Loco!!! [img]https://i.imgur.com/wkwWj2d.png[/img] 

PoorUser    United States. Apr 30 2015 05:03. Posts 7471

respect the lp brotherhood. say hey if you ever see me at aria

Gambler Emeritus 

hiems   United States. Apr 30 2015 06:35. Posts 2979


  On April 30 2015 04:03 PoorUser wrote:
respect the lp brotherhood. say hey if you ever see me at aria



haha ok I'll do that. tho, I'm going to try to recognize you from a picture from some old school johnny cosmo blog from 2007 so I am likely going to go approach you with squinty eyes while I do that. I'm pretty observant tho so hopefully I can deduce well enough.

I beat Loco!!! [img]https://i.imgur.com/wkwWj2d.png[/img] 

hiems   United States. May 16 2015 06:09. Posts 2979



Awful session today. Got to an early +$300 and end up down close to $900...real disaster. some tilt, bad play, bad run, game selection, etc. Might play $500 Cap tomorrow to de-tilt a bit and get back on track. A random FYI I reactivated facebook the night before today as a tool to perhaps network better with Poker Players around Vegas/build some life here going forward. I guess that re-opened some doors to the lives old accounts of people I knew before from High School and College and such and I am wondering whether or not mentally that played into some type of performance today at poker. Coincidentally I find myself making blog posts after sessions like this. I don't know I guess it is whining in a way. But in general I have gotten way better at dealing with the negative aspects of losing sessions and I am thinking there isn't that much wrong about blogging as a way to vent steam and gain outside perspective when you are having a bad day or stretch of poker.

May: Hours, 95. $2,719.00. $28.89. Cash %: 20/24 sessions (74%). Comps ~$190.

I played short sessions at the start of the month, but have been putting in around 7 hour days so I'm on track for 200 hours. This is in my mind the biggest improvement I have made and I am pretty confident in my ability to play respectable volume month after month. Cash % is high but I'm wondering whether I am giving up equity in some way by playing a low-variance style. Suspect I am tightening up near the end of a session, while playing to get even while I am losing? The only losing session over ~$30 before today was a $200 loss in 10/20 Fixed Limit Holdem, which I should definitely stay away from in the future. However, my wins typically aren't that huge and when they are it's from some really bad players that end up basically donating me the money.

I'm starting to take better records to meet my volume goals+have a budget/income projection. The sample size is limited but after today running at around ~$30 an hour. I'm doing great meeting my volume goals, but I am doubting that I am in the top tier or ever will be in the top tier of regulars at the Venetian 2/5 hourly wise. Anyone else feel pressured by water-cooler talk about hourly rates? I certainly do, and I don't want to let some low sample hourly define me as a poker player and my ability to increase that hourly in the future. I've been using excel to project what type of hourly I need to meet my bankroll/financial goals based on a 200-210 hour monthly projection. The conclusion was that swings from $20-$25-$30-$35-$40 seem to have very significant impacts on the bottom line bankroll. According to the budget, an hourly of $15 is going to mean that I pretty much stay even after expenses net-worth wise in a calendar year, having no life playing 200+ hours a month. An hourly of $40 is going to mean that I have $110k+ net worth 12 months from now. A $25 hourly will net me $70k total net worth and $30 will net me $90k. That's not crazy money at all but for me, that will really put me in a good spot and get me over some life plateau I've been on for awhile now.



I beat Loco!!! [img]https://i.imgur.com/wkwWj2d.png[/img]Last edit: 16/05/2015 07:14

hiems   United States. May 21 2015 06:09. Posts 2979

Started off at the Venetian today but the games were pretty awful so I left after 1 orbit and headed North to check out if the Wynn 2/5 was any better. It was. I started off getting into an insanely good must-move game that managed to keep the huge fish and turned into a main game. I quickly moved to the fish's direct left when they took a player out with the added bonus of having a local lady and a very tight regular to my two left seats so it was the gin seat on all fronts. I bought in for the full 1.5k and ended with 3.7k for a 2.2k day. It's not crazy or anything but obv a solid session for 2/5.

Hands were all played against huge fish. Button Straddles, some EP, MP completions of straddle, Regular on the Hijack opens to 60ish, Call from asian recreational player who was very very good for the game, I 3bet QQ from SB to a small sizing, around 175ish, limpers and opener fold, Asian Calls. I have a bit over 1500 and Asian covers by a small amount. Flop comes some low card board 635 I think. embarrassed to say I forget whether it was double suited or not. I think about it for awhile and decide my plan for the hand or at least what the correct flop play is based on just theoretical considerations, and decide to c-bet a sizing of 185. Asian min-raises to 370. I think about it for a bit,decide to jam all-in. No snap call, so I'm of course pretty happy about that. Asian thinks it over and calls, runout J and 7. I show my Queens and asian mucks. 3k+ pot. Later on in the day he claims he had JJ but apparently forgot that a Jack came on the turn so obviously he was lying.

Another recreational player heavy set white male joins the game later in the session and is stuck a bit. Similar spot this recreational player limps EP along with some other limps same regular from the hijack opens to around 60(forget exactly), I think the Asian from hand 1 calls, I wake up with KK and squeeze to something a bit larger, I think 185, recreational player cold calls from EP, everyone else folds. Flops JTx(forget if it was a 7 or another card). Anyway he has over 600 behind. Really not going too much into strategy I decided my best option was to check. Anyway he bets a bit over the size of the pot with another bet behind. It's a pretty huge bet. I think about what my options are and whether he has it or not, decide it's go time and announce all in. Just like last time, no snap call so I'm obviously really happy about that. He thinks for a bit and decides to call. The runout wasn't great, forget exactly how it went but I flip over my Kings and he mucks.

It was a rocky week overall, but obviously had a great session for playing 2/5 and on track for a solid month. Past week or so I haven't been getting great volume in so I'm upset about that but in the other fronts I have been doing a great job. I'm doing a decent job getting better at poker away from the tables, and I'm keeping expenses low. Including rent on track to spend around 1.5k in May without really compromising quality of life.

Also, apparently activating/deactivating facebook is the secret to poker. Activated that thing after close to 2 years off of it and was -882(6:12), -500(1 hour) the following two days. I deactivate and proceed to win 1k the following session.


I beat Loco!!! [img]https://i.imgur.com/wkwWj2d.png[/img]Last edit: 21/05/2015 07:19

 



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