Vegas December 2016

Day 2 - Aria, Aria

Last Updated: 2016-12-14 13:22:38

Met up with Jim after finishing up yesterday's entry. Breakfast at Serendipity outside of Caesar's and I would eat there again. Part of the purpose of eating there was to stall until stores opened in the mall so I could do some quick Xmas shopping...

Then it was on to Aria for the 11am.

20k starting stack and 30 minute levels, good format for the money!

I was hoping if we bought in at the same time we would be less likely to be at the same table. That didn't work out very well. Jim got the 4 seat and I the 9 seat at table 11.

In the first round I flopped a straight and caught pocket kings. I ended the round down at 17k and was lucky to have that I think...

Guy in the 7 seat was playing a lot of hands. He was the guy I flopped sets of 8s against twice the night before. That made it tough for me to try and steal blinds once in a while. But one time he folds and I look down at 8-6 of diamonds late to act and decide to raise out. Get 4 callers including the BB.

Flop comes 7-9-10 two clubs.

I lead out, it folds to the BB who goes over the top. All the chips go in and he rolls over...8-6.

8-6 of clubs that is. I'm being freerolled...board runs out no more clubs, chop it up.

Had to give up the kings after getting check-raised on a 3-4-10 flop, I called that bet but 10 on the turn drove me out.

Jim meanwhile wasn't faring much better. He flopped a set of jacks only to see the board 4-flush but actually lose to a top pair that turned into a straight. Not long after taking that hit yours truly took another big bite out of his stack.

I was in the big blind, dunno if I called a raise or if it was a limped pot but I had Q-8 off.

Flop comes K-8-8.

I check, other guy checks, Jim leads out. Uh-oh.

I check raise. I really hope Jim gets the hint. Nope. He calls...

8 on the turn. Quads. Check-check.

Q on the river. I lead out for a little less than half Jim's remaining stack and he calls, later telling me he had a king.

Jim milked the short stack for quite a while after that. I couldn't get much going, ended up going to break with a starting stack.

After the break more of the same. Jim ended up getting all in with an ace and ran into a better ace. I went card dead, couldn't play many hands and couldn't hit when I did play. Seemed like every raise I had 4-5 callers including at least two with position on me...and the flops just never hit me.

Eventually I got all in on a flip (my AK of clubs vs 77) and doubled up to about 25k, but within three hands I was back down around 16k. Worst one was where I am absolutely positive I had an "any ace" guy betting into me and me having pocket 10s...but an ace on the river and I saw his hand start shaking, had to give it up. I'm positive my read was right, dammit, no doubt in my mind he had flopped a small pair with a weak ace and hit the river.

Eventually I get all in with QQ, run into KK and I was done.

Beer and a snack at Tom's Urban, hang out for a little while and on to the 7pm.

For me, even worse. Early on raised out under the gun with QQ and get three callers. Flop A-rag-rag. Check around, K turn. Check around again. Q on the river. I lead out with my rivered set, guy goes over the top, I know he has J-10 but I call in case I'm wrong. Nope.

Later flop a set of 9s and get no action.

First break I'm down to 4700 from 10k starting stack. Go all in with J-10 suited soon after break, called by A-K, flop a gutshot and still have two live cards...but no help, done.

When I left Jim was still above starting stack. Dunno how he did yet.

Couple of slices, a little dessert and I'm done early for the day.

Sunday we can watch a quarter or so of the Eagles before we head to Aria for the 11am.

UPDATE: In case you missed it on FB, Jim 3-bet all in with A-Q and ran into aces just before the color-up. 36th of 84