Keeping Warm in Winter

[MintTrav]

Hello worlds greatest people

Hello

[Des]

Hello worlds greatest people

Hello

!

[Fatcatstu]

Can we just hurry up and talk about Vegas please?

[AAroddersAA]

Just for Stu..............

Right is is definately getting colder here in Wales. I have therefore decided that a trip to the desert is in order next month so will be heading off to the fabulous Las Vegas. It is in fact 4 weeks today that I will be making the journey, jumping on a train to Wimslow at around 11am before arriving at Manchester airport. I have booked into the Raddison Blu for the night and am planning to have a nice quite evening having a quick drink with some fine people such as Ger Smyth, Ger Smyth, The Ward Brothers, "Sneaky" Joe Ball, Phil Fryer. It is an excellent hotel so should be a good night. Unlikely to go crazy though as it will be and early start on Wednesday. Want to be at the airport and through security as early as possible really, then hopefully have time to grab some Breakfast before getting on board for the LONG flight to Sin City. I expect there will be a bit of open face chinese played on the plane and some food and drink served. We then land in Vegas at 12:15 local time. THe adrenaline usually kicks in when you hit Vegas so we should be good go for quite a while. Ger has already sorted transport to Harrahs for us all and after a quick check in and dropping bags off in rooms we should be good to hit Vegas. I would expect a drink in Harrahs maybe followed by a trip to a nearby casino such as the Linq or possibly even Venitian would not expect us to be going too far away from the hotel on the first night then again, it is Vegas. For all the build up and excitement stay tuned.

Just the one Poker hand today

http://www.boomplayer.com/en/poker-hands/Boom/21002544_09EFA6D389

I cannot decide if I have played this hand well or not. I raise under the gun with what is basically the bottom of my range for doing this. When the flop comes down it does not look like it has hit me and can hit a caller. He checks to me as expected and I check behind as I don"t think a bet is that great. My hand currently looks like what it is and I can get bluff raised and other silly things can happen so I thubk the flop is a check. Turn puts 3 spades out but does not really change my range. When he checks to me it basically now looks like he has nothing so I can now bet profitable I think. I expect to get quite a few calls but I can often win with another bet on the river. The river is an ace which should hit me more than him. However he COULD certainly have called the turn with the ace of spades. Then he bets out a strange amount (haf the pot) this seems weird to me to start with as an ace should check call in this hand I THINK (does not mean it will). I can"t really call with King high here as I don"t even beat many bluffs. His range feels really weak although above what I am actually holding. The bluff raise river is not an easy play to get right but this spot felt good at the tme reviewing it I am not so sure as the ace of spades may well be in his range. The thing is I also think he canm fold that as my hand suddenly looks very strong although he should be wondering why I did not bet the flop. My hand should reallly be a flush or nothing. Really not sure about this one. I suspect my river play is actually bad, and this kind of spot is why reviewing hands is important as I may well have got rewarded for bd play here which without looking back and working that out might lead to the mistake being repeated time and time again as you feel like what you are doing is good when it is actually bad.

Online cash games have been profitable again this month and my poker brain is clicking back into gear I am confident of that by the time I go to Vegas I will have my game in decent enough shape to at least have a chance of a score, obviously there are also other factors to consider.

This one has been posted a few times in the past but one of my favourites during a Vegas build up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-19RJslTtho

[AAroddersAA]

Hello worlds greatest people

Hello

Hello, it is an honor to have the greatest APATer of them all in my thread, as I have said to you at the events congrats on the massive run at the start of the year and retaking the top spot in the all time rankings, it is probably the right result (for now haha). That reminds me I still owe you $10 on Pokerstars too. :-)

[AAroddersAA]

For those of you who do not know, Stu has started his thread again, although it is obviously not as good as mine it is well worth a read. He tends to cost me £100 every November of course, last November there was the case of forgetting to close a bet on here. There is some rumour of him falling off the Stratosphere or something if he can raise some amount of money, pretty sure he should have set the bar higher.

http://www.apat.com/forum/index.php/topic,6748.630.html

So it is less than 4 weeks until Vegas now and the list of legends is just amazing. Apart from the afore mentioned we have Curly, Debbie Kimm, Tom Clark, Ian Thompson, Ken McBride and Family ect I have probably left some people out so sorry. ON the Friday no poker will be played as the plan it to watch the England Vs Scotland game somewhere. I am putting forward the case for The Crown and Anchor, then we are meeting up for a trip to get photos at the famous Las Vegas sign (we have hired a large Limo for this). We will do that then there are a few beers to be had and maybe cocktails at Frankies Tiki Bar and that could easily end in carnage. One think is for sure getting everybody together in Vegas will be a very good thing.

Brexit has interfered in this trip though as the price of the pound falls like a stone and Tesco are now only $1.19 per pound. I have already got my dollars but it is making the trip cost go up. Best thing is I was going to buy dollars before the vote but decided to wait as I was sure the price would be better after remain won. Glad we are going to the USA. Jaxie told me there was the Americans would make such a silly mistake in a vote, doubt that any vote of that type is happening any time soon there.

Right about the game with cards that is not Open Face Chinese

http://www.boomplayer.com/en/poker-hands/Boom/21075895_8500C1D886

Not sure how much of a fan I am off this hand. I do like my 3-bet against the buttons open although I can just call. I win it there often enough and can hit a set in a 3-bet pot. THe flop is OK for me. I bet hoping to take it down but I can get called with a worse hand often enough as well. I am not a fan of the call from him but I think I am ahead often enough at this point. The ten does not really hit him so I can call his bet on the turn but the King is a horrible card for me. I am pretty sure he should shove the river when I check, very lucky for me he makes a pretty bad error and checks behind and I take the pot. I should never have AK on the river there which should be the hand he is scared of.

http://www.boomplayer.com/en/poker-hands/Boom/21075878_E5653AE812

Think I am a bit too deep here to want to get it in and also not a fan of calling to try and hit as I don"t see that as being very profitable at all. Standard fold I think but happy that this kind of thing is now almost automatic. Obviously shorter stacked it would be an easy get it in.

http://www.boomplayer.com/en/poker-hands/Boom/21075794_09056BB466

Got lucky here but we are meant too sometimes, don"t mind how I played it.

The game is coming together nicely to be honest hopefully I will be OK to play in Vegas and not too drunk/tired most of the time. I am planning a nice little schedule so really looking forward to it. It is not the main focus of the trip though. Saturday is UFC 205 but might well play the Deep Stack at Aria anyway as Friday is a poker free day and Sunday is also likely to be due to watching the NFL. I will play some of the All Star games by the way just a bit busy with work and working on the basics of my game for Vegas at the moment.

So here is an audio book I listened to recently I read it years ago but thought it worth looking at again very enjoyable:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl4REOWdJSE

[pables]

So looking forward to my last day in Vegas and particularly with you guys in Franks Tiki bar,
If I remember it, things will have gone slightly awry

[AAroddersAA]

So looking forward to my last day in Vegas and particularly with you guys in Franks Tiki bar,
If I remember it, things will have gone slightly awry

Will be good to catch up mate, not had a beer with you for a while I don"t think.

[AAroddersAA]

Just a short update for today

With Vegas less than 4 weeks away it is hard not to think about it a lot now, just 3 more weeks in work. As I have said really looking forward to meeting up with everybody for the first time in Manchester. Then landing in Vegas and the journey to Harrahs. Its kind of in that time where it is sort of close but not close enough to be considered properly close, time will soon go by and it will get here though. I have a list of things that I have to do most of which are sorted:-

Hotel is booked and paid for
Flight is booked and paid for
Dollars are bought
Insurance is sorted
The night before the trip is sorted as are train tickets to  and from Manchester
I still have to do my ESTA
Everything needs to be printed and placed into a folder
Packing will be done the day before going

Played some poker today, lost a buyin doing a triple barrel in what I thought was a good spot but may not have been, I also lost the replay of the hand, he basically flopped a full house against me and check called all three streets in a 3-bet pot. The flop and turn bets are OK but I should really not shove the river in that spot I don"t think given the texture of the board. Although I am playing OK not sure I am that close to where my game needs to be. Not too sure exactly what is wrong but confidence for Vegas a bit lower than it was. I know I have the game but can"t seem to access it at the moment.

[AAroddersAA]

Right first thing to address is to congratulate Warren on a great run at the recent Grand Prix event at DTD. Most people know that Warren is, in my personal opinion, the best player (Holdem) of all the APAT regulars (and there are some VERY good players amongst them so that is no mean feat). I am sure this is not the last big score Warren will have in the near future and it just backs up how tough of a player he is. There are honestly not many players I think I really struggle against when I sit at an APAT table but Warren is one of them, he always seems to make the correct decision against me. Texts to try and convince Warren to use some of his winnings to join us in Vegas have already been sent. Very Well Done Warren - as usual.

Starting to run out of things to say about Vegas. I might have to start planning the June trip just to keep the vibe going *lol*. It is three weeks today that we fly to bright light city. In fact this time in 3 weeks we will be in the air playing OFC or whatever we do. List of things I am looking forward too:-

1) Going to Manchester - planning on staying in Newport overnight so will be getting a Wetherspoons Breakfast before jumping on the 11:04 train to Wimslow to hopefully make my connection to Manchester Airport. I only have a 10 minute window so I have researched nearby pubs as I don"t fancy waiting in the cold for an hour if I miss it, won"t be a problem either way as I am planning to arrive nice and early.

2) Meeting up in the bar of Radisson Blu. Certainly not going to be having a late one (no really it is NOT happening) sometimes it is really good to have a relaxed evening with a bit of food and a few beers and this sounds like one of those times - the flight to Vegas is LONG but it will be an enjoyable night whatever.

3) Then going to the airport going through security and having a drink and breakfast before getting on board the plan. The anticipation is always at it"s greatest at this point

4) Walking into Vegas for the first time - seeing the slot machines at Mccarren and knowing that we are FINALLY in Vegas - it"s gonna be a LONG 3 weeks

It will almost be like having a holiday before the holiday - keep an eye on social media if you want to know what is going on. It will be reported. What I do need to something to watch on the plane, I am accepting recommendations - what are good films to download to watch ona  flight to Vegas???

Poker is up and down, some days I think I am doing pretty well, some days I am not too confident and keep making pretty silly mistakes. Overall think I will do OK in Vegas. I have done pretty well there in the past but the last trip was pretty bad so want to put that right. Not doing any betting or matched betting now all my gambling time is being put into working on poker to get ready for Vegas so here are some hands I have played lately that I have reviewed

http://www.boomplayer.com/en/poker-hands/Boom/21129887_8B606A900A

Really unsure if I like how I played this hand. Can"t decide if 4-betting pre with QQ here is better, problem is when you get shoved on QQ is never in great shape and is strong enough to play a flop with and pick up extra bets. I think I have to call the flop but the turn call might be questionable (maybe it is likely OK) but I should fold the river here. This line is actually very rarely a bluff and it is all I beat here.

http://www.boomplayer.com/en/poker-hands/Boom/21151597_308A77D26E

This hand MIGHT be close to standard although I almost folded the turn, not sure that is the right play though. I have to call the flop with the overpair especially with the bet size.

http://www.boomplayer.com/en/poker-hands/Boom/21151576_99A6854CC3

That is aces beating Kings. I quite like this line. I know that he has KK a lot there ut I don"t want to 6-bet shove as it really turns my hand face up and I may let him get away the times he has 5-bet with QQ or AK or some other silly hand. Obviously all those hands should be betting the flop so I can let him commit himself. THink this is OK.

Will keep working on my game am making some notes trying to get the leaks to a minimum and putting together a schedule for Vegas. I am definately playing the 11am Aria Deepstack on November 12th and most likely the Binions or Golden Nuggett game on November 10th.

The Offical Countdown will begin soon

[pokerpops]

Will you STFU about Vegas!  

[AAroddersAA]

Will you STFU about Vegas!  

Probably on November 16th until June at least.

[pokerpops]

Will you STFU about Vegas!  

Probably on November 16th until June at least.

GeRnEvEyN

Looking forward to the trip reports.

[AAroddersAA]

I have noticed there is nothing like a trip abroad to get the forum buzzing again. Noticed Ger, Stu and Curly are all back nice to see these people posting again and look forward to reading there threads again, Ger"s last post might end up being POTY. Shame that Ger and the Chezger guy"s are not going to be in Manchester on the 8th but they live pretty close so I guess there is no point in them booking a hotel room.

I went to a wedding last Saturday, it was a small affair at a registry office in Newport. After the wedding we went to a pub and basically all sat around and drank beer, ate a buffet and did some toasts to the bride and groom, then some of us went on into Newport after. It was not exactly a traditional wedding but I have to say it was far more enjoyable than the church weddings followed by sit down meals and speeches (which I really don"t like going too) everybody seemed to agree as well.

I finished work at about 5pm yesterday and drove home and decided to go for a walk around Swansea. It is quite nice at this time of year as it starts to get dark, went for about an hours walk and then got some food and played poker for a bit. Only played 150 hands this was the biggest pot

http://www.boomplayer.com/en/poker-hands/Boom/21170776_1A778D1190

Quite happy with how I am playing MOST of the time but do make too many little mistakes that can be costly. I am up about 2 buyins this month which is not awful but a couple of really poor sessions (which should not have been poor) are making the difference. I still believe that beating the $25nl Zoom game is a good indication you are doing OK.

Bit of a boring post today I suppose I have not really done anything interesting this week and the poker is not exactly thrilling either. One thing I am looking forward too is railing the Irish APAT. Normally I would be there but can"t be this year however lots of heros are playing and travelling over. I have named JP Round as my pick for the final table based on how well he played in Belgium. I suspect there will be some GREAT days over there with that group of hero"s, there is not much that would merit missing it but we can all only have so much time away from work each year. Hopefully they will be keeping us up to date on social media so we can catch a bit of the atmosphere.

Off work today as working tomorrow so going to be doing some work on the poker game and will do an update on here with some hand reviews.

PAI GOW

[AAroddersAA]

Trying to do 120 hand sessions at the moment as that is likely to be the length of most Vegas cash sessions (about 30 minutes on Zoom but between 3 and 4 hours in Vegas)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW8GgG5Ygwg&feature=youtu.be

Here are a couple of hands from that session and another

http://www.boomplayer.com/en/poker-hands/Boom/21179704_4D2953B6B9

Happy enough with this hand. My raise pre flop is clearly standard and I get two callers. The early position player leads into me. He is not playing a full stack and has ber about a third of the pot. I therefore suspect that he is pretty weak and has a worse King or a flush draw of some kind. I quite like my raise here. The third player folds and we get a call from the early position player which backs up my thoughts of flush draw or King. I think I would have folded out most smaller pairs there. When the turn is then a seven I am not concerned he could be holding a seven. His check backs up my thoughts he could be on a King or a flush draw. It is therefore an easy bet for me hoping to get a call with his poor odds. If he has a set of threes I expect to here about it about now. My bet size of about half pot seems OK here. The river hits the flush draw. I hope he checks so that I can check behind but when he bets half pot I think I have to get away. I doubt he has suddenly lead out with a King and he has played it like a flush draw that got there. That seems like a routine fold tbh. Need to be making it though.

http://www.boomplayer.com/en/poker-hands/Boom/21179751_D1F7EF99CC

This hand is very similar except I am out of position which makes the hand much harder to play. Again I make a normal raise preflop. This time I get a call from the button I hit top pair and top kicker on a wet flop. I have to bet the flop and he calls. I was a bit worried about a raise with all the draws out there as it would have been a tough spot but I have to bet. The turn is a blank and I bet again and he calls I am now pretty sure he is on a draw. The river is probably the worst card in the desk for me as it completes almost every draw and even KQ now beats me. The only problem is the check looks weak and invites a bet but not a lot I can do about that. It looks like I am beaten.

http://www.boomplayer.com/en/poker-hands/Boom/21179636_20D6408544

This is a nice BvB hand, pretty straight forward this one probably plays itself but I think he should fold to my 4-bet so think his shove is a mistake - that"s what poker is about making less mistakes than your opponents I guess.

I think I am starting to feel quite good about my poker game now. Have an online APAT to play before Vegas so will have a chance to do something in that too. Will keep working on it.