Nov 25th

Hello Vegas

If you want pictures and stories outside of the poker table go to my other journal at www.xanga.com/kennyg9

I didn't play too much poker in vegas. I went with the intention of putting in tons of hours but it didn't happen. Live poker isn't as seductive when you play online poker every freaking day. I just felt I had better things I could be doing.

Anyway, if I recall correctly I started my first session at the Bellagio $1080 tournament. There was about 80-90 entrants (quite a bit more than usual) and I was pretty excited. Tournaments are a different breed of poker and it gives me some time away from the cash games I can enjoy.

It was pretty uneventful until I was dealt [Jd] on the button. There was a couple of limpers. I put in a substantial raise and only the CO called. The CO was fairly donkish but was getting hit by the deck. He had Aces down 4 times already and limped in each time. Perhaps I should have considered that more in this particular hand, but I don't think I could get away.

FLOP T2000
[5c][2c]

He checks. I bet 1500. He calls.

TURN T5000
[5c][2c]

He pushes for like $1500 more. Pot was so big and the guy was donkish enough... I thought there was a good chance I was ahead. I called and he showed [Kc] for the nut flush.

I was terribly shortstacked and busted with KQ soon after.

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I played some donkish 1/2 NL and busted. Played some 5/10 at the Wynn with nothing special to report. Went back to Ceasar's after I found out my inexperienced poker playing friend Brian was Heads-up in a tourney. He placed second for $1900. Very sweet.

After that I played some 5/10 while the other BTP guys were playing the tourney. The table was very tight for the most part. People were not getting paid off.

Dealt [5s] in the BB. Family pot and I check.

FLOP$ 60
[7h][6d]

Checks around to button who bets $50. I decide this is a perfect hand to steal and raise it to $200. UTG takes a long time and folds in disgust. Rest of the table folds quickly.

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Table breaks up to 4 or 5 handed.

Dealt [Qh]. I raise to 40 from the SB. button and BB call.

FLOP$ 90
[3d][9s]

Checks around.

TURN $90
[3d][9s]

I lead for $70. BB folds. Button makes it another $70. I look at it... I just know he's knows I'm full of shite. I call.

RIVER $230
[3d][9s]

I liked that river card. I checked... but he was already betting and the dealer actually calls him out for acting out of turn. So I check again and he bets $250. I call after a few moments of thought.

I wait for him to flip over his cards... he won't flip him. All of a sudden I realize Twelver is behind me and he says something to the effect of "He called you, flip over your cards dumbass." lol. He flipped over Q4 and I took it down with ace high.

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Still SH. I raise ATo from the button. BB calls.

FLOP$ 65
[6h][2c]

I bet $50 he calls.

TURN$165
[6h][2c]

Check, Check.

RIVER$ 165
[7h][2c]

Ugly. He bets $150. However, I noticed something on a previous hand. Earlier He had bet strongly with a good hand and looked away from the table and started playing with his phone. This time he wouldn't move. Alrighty then. Call.

He open mucks and I muck behind him taking the pot.

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Dealt [Qc] full ring. I limp UTG or UTG +1. Guy limps behind me and it become a family pot.

FLOP $50
[Jh][8h]

I lead for $40. Guy that limped behind me raises to $120. Folded back around to me. I'm debating on what to do with the guy. He seems pretty strong. He says, "I beat your KQ." Oddly enough I believed him.. but I thought we may have the same hand or maybe he really did have KQ.

I decide to make it $300 more to go. I figure if he can call that I must be beat. He folds Aces face up. Oppsie. The table tells him nice fold.


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The classic:

Dealt [Qh] in the BB. Pretty much the whole tables limps to the SB who makes it $80 to go. I make it $300. Folds back around to him and he reraises another $500. This is the same guy I beat with the AT and we both mucked. I was convinced I had him. Still I took 5 minutes to make the decison. I almost threw my hand away 2 or 3 times. He asked me if I was "showboating." Finally I say the magic words. I say "allin" for like $1500 more.

He responds, "Damnt, I have to call. Show me the aces." He flips over KK and I flip over AQ. I shrug my shoulders and think oh well. Next thing I know the table erupts as I flop the ace. I didn't even bother to look at the flop as I have been running so badly. The pair of aces hold.

"I can never beat bad players." To his credit he managed to get out, "Nice hand." He walked away towards the cashier window with disdain. I can't say I blame him.

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I didn't get any hands after that and lost some back. Got a headache and left. That was to be my last session of the trip.

I'm still happy with my AQ hand. I understand it was bad. But at least I had it in me to put all my money in there on my instincts.

On a better note CJ told me some encouraging things. I'm paraphrasing but he said something like all the players would make their standard bets and raises, then the whole table would focus on what "I" would do. I had some freakish control of the table apparently.

My brother also says he sees the Doyle Brunson in me. I'm willing to put my chips in at any point and it scares the hell out of the opposition.

In my mind, though, it all comes down to sucking out like the awesome fish I am!

Freakish control of the table. I like that dream...I'm going to add it to my others.

You might have been the only person at the table with a comfort level.

December 11th 3am

Mood: Thoughtful

After a rough losing session, on the last day of November, I had what some may call an epiphany. I'm not entirely sure that's the correct word to describe what came over me.

"That's it!"

"I'm done!"

"Finished."

"No more."




The money is wonderful. The hours are few.

A dream?

-I don't want to live like this-

Life is stagnant
Poker has

Piano - no improvement
Writing - ill
Lesiure - wasted

Blowjobs - plentiful

Whining - ill conceived

Envy - Of so many fvcking grinders it isn't funny

Back in the saddle? - HOO RAH GO USA BIYATCHES MAALLIN.

Crisis - over