One winning streak has remained and that’s winning bunches while out of town. Recent travels took me back to Las Vegas, land of the poker backpackers.  I met with Persuadeo at the Golden Nugget, both out of curiosity for their uncapped 1/2 game and also wanting a layup.  On this night though, the Nugget had a 5/5/5 game running.  5/5 is certainly a game I regularly play in.  I figured this one had a third blind as seen in California.  Nope, that third 5 is an ante from everyone at the table, for a cash game!

Interesting, but I decided I’d start at 1/2 and go from there.  That game went well, especially after some old guy decided to 4b me with KJo while I had AA.  Alright, it was time for this 5/5/5.

I sat in with just over a grand.  There were piles of Benjamins on the table giving the appearance of a drug dealer or mobster game.  Oh, and a mandatory straddle of 25, putting up to 80 in the pot preflop. There were also three confirmed pros.  This was easily the worst game selection by me ever. I figured I’d top off a bit after observing a couple orbits, but there’s no rest for the wicked as I picked up JJ UTG and raised to 100 (the standard for the table somehow).  I got 2 callers including an Asian lady on the button.  The flop came 667ss.  I checked with the intention of crai.  The lady fired 300 and I put in all 900+.  She called.  The turn J really took the edge off and the river was another 7.  I fast rolled J’s full then watched her arm extend to reveal her hand.  It was a split second of disbelief at being shown another loss somehow, but she only held AA.  Whew!

This game also had “bomb pots” in which every half hour, each player puts in $100 preflop, creating a blind $900 9 way pot that plays out normally post flop.  I was in late position for the first one I participated in.  It was 8 way and the flop came QQ4cc.  It checked to me and I looked down at… Ace fucking queen.  I bet $300 into 800.  “C’mon guys I’m finding out where I’m at with a 4”.  They all folded.  Back home I would’ve had a decent chance to stack a player with 4x.  I won nearly 3k on the night and celebrated at a bar with Persuadeo.

The next day took me to the Wynn and their elegant school cafeteria looking poker room for some matinee 2/5.  One player waiting for a game to start was NBA superstar and great dresser, Russell Westbrook.  See, the floor had to text and wake up the pros so they could play 100/200 PLO with him.  The game began early afternoon and a 20 person waitlist developed.  If I were floor manager, I would’ve trolled everyone and announced that “we’re starting a new 100/200 PLO game on table 10.  It will be a must move”.  Then watch the poker hunger games as players try to kill off each other’s bankrolls while waiting to get to Westbrook.

Our 2/5 table had a guy who decided to tell everyone about how effective pick-up artist (PUA) schools are and that he started one of his own.  Soon an attractive French woman would sit down next to him, but he failed to attempt to get her number and show the table how it’s done.  As for the poker, this was a soft soft game, probably the softest I’ve ever played in Vegas for these stakes.  The primary fish straddled, our alpha PUA limped as did a bunch of others, then I made it 75 with QQ.  PUA made it 225 and I decided he had enough 99-JJ and AK so I shoved.  He had AK and found the ace on the river.  One buy in down.  Not long after I shove almost 300 with 33 on a turn 7 with a board of 4567.  PUA snap called and fast rolled 55 for a set.  No matter, the river brought another 4. I tell the chip runner who brings me my next 500 that I don’t want to see him again.  Again I pick up QQ and decide to just call a fish’s raise to 25.  It goes 4 way to J74cc and I raise the fish from 50-175.  He called.  He checked a blank turn and I shoved 300.  He tank called then said he got me when a 9c fell on the river.  He had…99.

Meanwhile, our pick-up artist took a picture of his 2k stack and picked up and left.  A true “pick-up” artist. I’d normally say he did the right thing since he was outclassed, but this was our table:

The good UTG German player opened, got 3b, two players cold called the 60, then the German player 4b to 260, which was actually on the small side given game dynamics.  Everyone called creating a four way 4b pot clusterfuck.  The flop came JT8r.  German shoved and EVERYONE FOLDED.  There are no words.  I would go on to lose 2k at this game.  All skill baby!

So, what to take from this other than the fact that I lose a shit ton with queens?  It’s not as much about skill, hard work, or even game selection.  Variance rules all.

Later that night I returned with Persuadeo to the Wynn for some 1/2 PLO.  I spewed early, got stuck 600 and nearly wiped out all profit from a night ago.  Then I buckled down and the game got good.  Two Asian guys with suits on sat down and spewed chips everywhere.  One potted then another guy 3b blind.  I had good Kings and a high variance decision.  The table in front of us had something I never saw before: A dog in the poker room.  I asked the owner if she was a tilt service dog.  He told me to call her over and she’d respond.  I got all the money in with the KKxxss, called the pup over and won everything.

I finally found a solution to my tilt!

Incidentally, one of the suit wearing players asked me twice if I wanted to play 50/100 with him and he’d have to go upstairs first to get money.  Nah, you’re not in the NBA and I’m not interested.  This same player would eventually correctly fold a full house so always be aware when someone is trying to hustle you.