Proven Fact, Winning Helps You Sleep...

Writing this one right away, as I have an early day with the Venetian DSE event on Thurday.

Finally, 7 hours of sleep consecutively!!!! I literally forgot what this feels like. After my 3am dinner with Chip, I came back, turned on the music, and fell right to sleep. I still haven't turned the TV on once, and I've actually spent a good deal of time in my room (I can only imagine it goes: O's lose, ESPN reports that Lebron is scheming with Greece to bring he and MJ over there to play on the same team and somehow stimulate their economy, O's lose, Captain Phil (R.I.P) is probably dead now on his show, O's lose, Stephen Strasburg is first pitcher to stike out 20 and hit for the cycle, and O's lose). When I woke at 11am, I was a completely different person. I don't know at this point if it's a transformation back to myself, or a Vegas poker player. I'm not sure which one I want it to be. I am totally refreshed regardless. I got to talk to my wife, who I miss a ton, my dad, my grandmom, and a lot of friends. I took another 2.5 hike, but walked it this time (I actually walked 2.5 miles up the strip and had to take a taxi back to IP, because it 4pm and about 316 degrees out).

I'm still feeling good about last nights play, and really can't wait to get back to the Venetian. It's a very nice property without the pretentiousness that usually comes with a place as nice as it is. I even like the weird smell they pump throughout the place...I think Chip told me it was called "Summer Seduction" or something of the sort. I left the $1K chip they gave me the night before in my room. I'm going to use the hundred and a little cash and try to bring home more chips and build up my home stack(The V pays tournament winnings in Casino chips, not cash...shocker). I confidently walk to the tournament registration table and tell the guy, "please don't give me the 1 or the 10 and I'll be ok today sir". He takes the slip and hands it to me. "Sorry Mr. Cook. It's the computer, not me" as he hands me the 10 seat. The 1 and 10 seats have the dealer in between them and as a relatively small person, it eliminates just about 2 people from my peripheral and I have a tendency to lose track of them. It's really hard to get a read or detect a pattern on someone you can't see. I walk to find my table thinking that the evening may not go my way. I get nothing for the first couple of levels....nothing. Not even an option to make one of my plays because people were shoving preflop for no reason, just picking up 25/50 blinds...stupid in other words.

A funny thing did happen during the second level. A woman (who when she was coming to the table I was 90% sure was Kim Catrell...until she sat at the table) had been calling out of turn and just shoving inexplicably, had accidentally called an All In from the guy next to her. She's forced to put her chips in and beats him, having him covered. She's so excited she screams, turns to him and grabs his arm with both hands and says, "Oh my God! I'm so glad I called you!" I led, and everyone at the table began cracking up. The poor guy was trying to leave after being accidentally sent to the rail, and she was trying to celebrate her victory with him...I may have called her a busted Kim Catrell if it were me. She never did realize why we were all laughing.

Anyway to the first break, and I only have about 5700 in chips. Not terrible, but it's been a slow start. Other than fake KC, there was an old Asian lady that was more of a wild card than Charlie from Alway Sunny. I tend to shutter up in those situations because it's not poker, you and sometimes they, have no idea what they have, so how can you beat them? I let other people tangle with them unless I'm super premium and able to get it in preflop. With the blinds at 200/400 25 ante, I pick up AA in the BB (hey-O), and a very strong player on the button min raises to 800. I try to make it seen like "I'm not going to just roll over the BB for a min raise because I'm short and haven't played a bit", and throw out a raise to 2K. He considers shoving, but flat calls instead. Flop is A103, with 2 diamonds. I fake pine for a second and finally shove. In this spot, I think he can put me on a mid pair, but I don't believe he has an A type of situation. I'm committed after his call really if I have anything, so he doesn't know what I have. He pines for a long time, then folds. He put me on QQ and can't understand why I would bet an Ace flop. Just then the director comes over and racks us to break the table. I wanted him know what I did in case we met later, and I quietly told him AA. He again couldn't believe I would bet the flop with top set. I said I knew he didn't put me on an A or AA, so it really could've just been a Cbet. Also, in case he calls with a suited connecter and position, I'd be screwed if he hits the turn or river. If my money is in good, that's all I can ask for, but I don't want to get caught betting or calling a tun/river drawing dead. He agrees and we move onto new tables. I'm up to about 8-8.5K at the new table. Across from me is the guy that was in the 1 seat at my other table...which means I never really saw him. Blinds are 400/800 50a at this point. About four hands in I pick up 910 suited. Former seat 1 raises in mid position to 2200, button calls, so I decide to flat call and represent on the flop if it misses or I'm on a draw. Flop comes KJ3, no hearts. I lead out for 2600, raiser calls, button folds. Turn is the Q to make my straight. I'm positive I'm good here and I'm already committed any way, so when I shove he insta-calls with JJ, for a set. Just as I'm saying, "don't pair the b....", the dealer drops a 3 on the river for the old 10 percenter on me. Disgusted, I smack the table and walk away. I'm generally a very good sport about losing in this game, but those hurt. I make a great play that actually pays off for me, only to smack me in the sack on the way to the rail. If I win that hand, I'm about to go the break with what I had at the same point yesterday, and that's already proven to be enough to cash. That'll teach me to get out of my game and try to be tricky...maybe.

Something odd that happened tonight during this tournament. A guy that was at the final table with me last night watched me play at three different tables tonight. He wasn't playing, never said anything to me, but stood across from me at each table. It wasn't creepy or intimidating or anything, I just didn't know what he was doing. A lot of people knew him and would talk to him, but he watched me all the way until I was busted. Chip seems to think he was scouting me, or was going to kill me. I can't imagine why he would be doing that; I never even talked to him at any point. Maybe more on this later...unless I'm dead or he hits on me. Perhaps we'll see tomorrow when the pink shirt comes out for a big event.

Not content with what just happened, and loving the opportunity of playing tomorrow's tourney on the cheap. I decide to play a $130, 10 person sit and go. Start with 2K, 15 min blinds. Top 2 each get a $500 tournament voucher and $70 cash. I ask around and a couple people said they've been chopping at 3 people. That's good to know, as I don't really have to be a chip leader to finish 3rd. One guy out pretty quickly. I pick up QQ in mid position and shove. Two callers behind me, I have them both covered, but one only be a little. First caller shows KK, the other A9. Blank flop and turn, Q on the river...I'm a little luckbox and knock out 2 players. With 5 players, I make a gigantic mistake that (spoiler alert) cost me the tournament. I'm on the button with AK off. There's a mid position shove that is easily a pair, and the hijack calls, probably a big A also. I insta fold, as I don't want to be behind in a race preflop. I make that laydown 99 times out of 100 in a big field tourney, but with 5 guys left in a SNG, that's an easy call. First guy has 1010, next has AQ...my read is dead on and I'm happy with myself. Flop is a Q, blank turn, river K. I would've eliminated two players, and one of the 3 guys left was super short. I do get down to the final 3, where I ask if we're chopping. I have about 5K, they have 15 between them, it's not like I was overwhelmingly dominated, but they offer me the $140 cash....no chance I'm taking that deal, I'm not here to win $10. It's a shove/fold fest between the 3 of us for about 10 minutes until I shove with KJ from the SB with the blinds at 400/800 and still about 5K in chips. I get called by the BB with A8 off. He hits an unnecessary 8 on the turn and I'm out. Now I'm into the Deepstack tourney tomorrow for $450, and I have to do well. That's the risk you take with SNG's if you don't suceed. Terrible mistake I think. I really have to reevaluate my SNG play before I do that again. I can't make snap folds in that situation. I don't really think SNG's are good for my game right now anyway, as I am in big field mentality, not single table play.

Some things I haven't been writing about but need to be said...

I haven't eaten a ton, but Hash House A Go Go is the stone cold nipples around these parts. Think Ms. Shirley's if they gave you, no joke, about 5 times more food. It's ridiculous. I've had an Ahi Tuna Melt over biscuits and a salad, Grilled Salmon Salad, and some Chorizo Scrambler and I bet I ate 25-30% of the total meals. Everything is about 12 bucks.
Asian Noodle in the V is an awesome casual noodle place and it is legit. Open air bistro kitchen shows the cooks constantly churning out delicious Japanese, Chinese, and Thai dishes. Their Dan Dan noodle is insanely delicious. You get a ton, it'll be ready in about 3 minutes, and again, it's about 12 bucks. Think an Asian spicy bolognese.

I've basically just been listening to music while in my room and when i write. I'm giving the new LCD Soundsystem a second rotation now that it's been out for a month or so and it's every bit as great as when I first listened to it. Steetsweeper with Mos Def, off the new Gorillaz album is a nasty song. Another sleeper that has been getting a lot of Play is the Little Joy debut. I've listened to it a lot in general over the last year or so, but for some reason the beauty of that album has really struck me out here. One, by Mic Geronimo is a hot track. I don't know anything about him, but I dig that song. A good friend recommended The High Road by Broken Bells. I hate the Shins, and don't really care for Danger Mouse, but this is in fact a primo tune. Eminem stopped rapping like Triumph the Insult Dog on his new album, and I think it's hot as well. As always recently, Los Campesinos!, Fleet Foxes, and Bob Marley are in heavy rotation also.

Hopefully there won't be an update tomorrow as I'll be on a deep run in the DSE...