The Summer Wind - A WSOP Trip Report …… and beyond!

Oof, sounds annoying af re visas.

What are your options for getting the $$ back to Columbia? Is it easy enough to get the casino/a bank’s help to transfer electronically or are there cash shenanigans to manage?

Regarding the money it would be easy if the app was working, then I could PayPal and Crypto it out, but it's not currently working for withdrawals. They say theres a chance it will be working before I leave but if not I have to get the casino to wire it to me.

WSOP missing a trick I feel as the Tournament Accounts (TA) in the app are specific to each individual tournament, so I can't just leave it in there to use at the WSOP in the summer or a circuit stop.

I'll probably take some of it in cash to Vegas and see if I can get a box at Bellagio and just leave it there for future use.

WSOP Paradise
Day Eight - Tuesday December 9th

Here I go again on my own, going down the only road I’ve ever known …..

With the family dispatched to the airport early morning I’m back to flying solo again. I had envisioned a relaxing day by the pool getting some rays and finishing John Grisham’s ‘The Widow’ but the weather put a spanner in the works.

A cold, blustery, rainy day. Not pool weather. This photo doesn’t do it justice. It was really windy and the light rain turned to heavy rain in the afternoon, so much so that they had to cancel the party for the GG qualifiers that was meant to be held outdoors with a drone show.

So onto plan B. Let’s check out the cash game action. The cash games run from 12pm to 4am, fixed hours I guess because of casino laws here.

We were there shortly after midday and didn’t have to wait long before there was enough players to start a $5-$5-$10 PLO game.

This is the cash game room with 12 tables. I took this pic early on when there was only 3 tables running but by the time I left there was 8 tables in action.

To my surprise the game was really good. Lots of action and multi-way pots.

I bought in for $1,000 and had it up to about $2,000 when I got it in 3-ways with QJTx on a A-K-2 flop. I was in good shape against KKxx and AKxx as neither of them had any of the cards I needed to make the straight. The set of kings guy only wanted to go once and his hand held as we couldn’t hit the straight.

Rebuy!

I bought in for $1,000 again and had it up to about $1,500 when we played the following hand.

Someone opened and another player 3-bet to $150 and there was already 2 other callers when it got to me on the button, so I joined the party with 5789 and we were 5-ways to the flop.
Flop: 3-6-7 with two diamonds.
It’s checked round to me on the button. I only have one diamond, one blocker, top pair and open-ended but I decide to take a stab at it.
I pot it for $750.
Only the guy who 3-bet pre calls.
Turn: T my gin card but now there’s two flush draws on board and I have neither.
Villain checks and I go all-in for about another $700
Villain calls.
He doesn’t ask for terms and I don’t offer. One time.
River: K completing the back door flush.
‘Straight’ I say. He nods, we show and he mucks.
Not sure what he had. Maybe AA with diamonds or Ax diamonds, but if that was me I’d have bet the flop.

I decide to call it a day not long after. In for $2,000, out for $3,100. +$1,100 after 7 hours.

I think the cash games were good today as there are a lot of GG qualifiers here for the Super Main which starts tomorrow.

I forgot to mention in the bounty tournament the $25k bounties could be exchanged for a Super Main package which they valued at $32k ($26k buy-in, plus accommodation and food allowance until the 18th) but I wasn’t tempted and just took the cash.

On Deck Tomorrow: some pool time (hopefully) and PLO cash again.

Has there ever been a better time to be a live tournament poker player?

So I was looking at the tournaments coming up in January last night, and to my surprise, as a mixed game, player I’m spoilt for choice, so I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like for a hold’em player.

Hard Rock Hollywood, Borgata, Planet Hollywood and Thunder Valley all with great schedules including mixed games in January. Choctaw is a very popular stop as well, but with no mixed games.

And all this after competing huge events in December with WSOP Paradise, WPT World Championship, PokerStars NAPT and EPT Prague.

At first I thought this was a bad thing. All these big tournaments clashing on the same dates, but now that I think about it again it’s actually great for the players.

Both WSOP / GG and WPT (and to a lessor extent PokerStars and BetMGM) are throwing lots of money at their tournaments and trying to build their brand and brand loyalty.

For players the choice may be overwhelming at times, but in the fight for our patronage comes lots of +EV opportunities.

Players now have more choice than ever before as to where and how they want to spend their poker budgets. They can cherry-pick the best opportunities.

Who is giving the most free-rolls or added value?
Who has the lowest rake?
Who has the biggest guarantees?
Who has the best locations?
Who has the cheapest accommodations?

We might not be in another boom but I think it’s a pretty good time to be a poker player. Interested to hear other thoughts on this?

As to where I’ll go in January. I’d already decided to skip Hard Rock and had Borgata pencilled in, but now that the WSOP has announced they’re doing the Ticket to Paradise promotion again for circuit ring winners I think Planet Hollywood might be the winner.

I’ve really enjoyed my time here in Paradise (even without the bounties) and seeing how much my kids enjoyed it, I think I will give priority to WSOP circuit stops with mixed events in an effort to win my way back here next year.

So well done WSOP and GG. Your promotion has influenced where I will be spending my tournament dollars.

While I am very happy to hear about the growth of mixed games (which I love to play) I think it may be about to hit a major bump (for Americans) due to the new tax law taking effect on January 1. In short, under the new law only 90% of gambling losses will be tax deductible (instead of the current 100%). Thus a player who wins $100K in tourneys and also loses $100K to breakeven will still owe tax on $10K. There is talk of repealing it, but no luck so far. Here is Seidel's take:

https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/16...

Yes I’d heard about it. I suspect most players will just carry on regardless hoping it gets repealed sometime next year.

WSOP Paradise
Day Nine - Wednesday December 10th

Happy to report that normal service has resumed after yesterday’s storm and I awoke to another beautiful day here in paradise.

So Plan A today then. A relaxing morning by the pool with the my book.

It did cloud over after lunch and start raining which I took as a sign that I should go and do some work.

A lot quieter cash game room today as all the GG qualifiers were playing Day 1A of the Super Main.

Nonetheless there was a $5/$5/$10 PLO game running and I didn’t have to wait long for a seat. While the game wasn’t as good as yesterday, it certainly wasn’t bad and there was one good action player.

I bought in for $1,000 again and was soon down to about $600 from getting good hands but whiffing the flops.

I finally did connect with a flop and got it in with a full wrap vs top two. We hit the straight on the turn and doubled to over $1,000

I then got it in with the action player on the flop where we were both drawing. (My draws better than his) He likes to go twice so I obliged. I made a flush on top and a straight on bottom to scoop.

Unfortunately the action player eventually left and the game wasn’t really good anymore so I racked up. In for $1,000. Out for $2,600. +$1,600 after 4 hours.

On Deck Tomorrow: Our main event. $10,500 Eight Game.

When I checked the app I saw this message that the start time has been pushed back to 5pm.

I would rather have started at 2pm as originally scheduled but it is what it is. Nothing I can do about it.

So now Day 1 starts at 5pm and will play 7 x 1 hour levels.
Day 2 restarts at 6pm with late reg still open until the end of level 10.

I’m not sure of the reason but I think they just have too much going on.

They have the $25k Super Main with the $60 million guarantee going on and also two Triton’s, a $100k and a $150k.

I think this might actually work to our advantage as a lot of the pros will be otherwise occupied with the bigger buy-in events and when they do bust they’ll probably late reg on day two and maybe not be 100% focused if they’ve just busted a $100k or a $150k

Meanwhile we’ll be laser focused and accumulating chips from the start.

My only worry with this change is it will now probably become a 3 day event and I’ll have to change my flight to Vegas when I make the final table, but that will be a good problem to have.

Let’s go !!!

Just fly private with your bracelet?

Surely D Negs will have a seat open on his PJ?

Good luck today!

Good luck!

Play good, run even better

WSOP Paradise
Day Ten - Thursday December 11th

Same preparation today as I did for the Mystery Bounty. An early morning walk along the beach. Did someone say superstitious? [emoji23]

Angry looking sky today though and rough sea with a pretty strong wind.

Had Salmon for lunch at Anthony’s across the street.

No matter where you go, it’s pretty expensive, and 15% gratuity is automatically included on everything.

Onto the tournament. Eight-Game is HORSE + NLH, PLO and 2-7 triple draw, played in this order:

1. No Limit Hold’em
2. Stud
3. Omaha 8
4. Razz
5. PLO
6. Limit Hold’em
7. Stud 8
8. 2-7

There’s only a handful of players at the scheduled start time of 5pm and they start with just one table. (I’m registered but haven’t sat in yet) Scott Seiver means business. He’s in his seat for hand #1

I wait half an hour until there are 4 tables going and jump in halfway through the first level. This is my table:

Xixiang Luo gets high-carded off to open a new table and is replaced by Aaron Kupin.

In the early going it feels like I’m playing heads up against Chad Eveslage. He’s being super aggressive and I’m finding hands to tangle with him.
It’s not going according to plan though. I lose 3 Razz pots in a row to him, each time having started better. On one of them he run me down with a Jack up against my A-2 | 7

Then in limit Holdem he opens and I just call in position with AKo
Flop: A-7-3 all spades (I have king of spades)
He bets, I call.
Turn: T
He bets. Normally I would expect him to slow down here if he hasn’t got anything but his bet shows strength so I just call.
River: 8
He bets, we call.
Top pair top kicker no good. He has 9-6 spades for a flopped flush. Lost the absolute minimum here.

I do eventually get him in a 2-7 hand.
He opens, I 3-bet, he calls:
1st draw: 2-2
He checks, I bet, he calls.
2nd draw: 1 for him, 2 for us.
He leads out, we call.
3rd draw: 1 for him, we pat with a 9-8
He bets, we call. You’re good, he says showing a pair of eights.

1st break: 120,000

Level 3: 2,500 - 5,000

Lose a Stud pot vs Noah Boeken with buried Jacks vs his buried Queens after neither of us improve.

Then in PLO Aaron Kupin opens, I call on the button with AJT8 and both blinds call.
Flop: T-8-5
Aaron continues and we all call.
Turn: A
Aaron bets the pot which is now 30k
The board is draw heavy and I have the top 3 pair so I think I have the best hand.
I push all-in for 90k and change.
The blinds fold but when Aaron calls quickly I know I’m in trouble.
He has TT65 which is a strange hand to open but it worked out for him as his set has me dead to an Ace which doesn’t come.
A bit of a cooler and our race is run [emoji22]

I wasn’t due to leave until Saturday but I might see if I can change my flight and head to Vegas tomorrow instead.

Cool, you had Lon McEachern at your table. That's Norm Chad's old broadcast partner.

Unlucky mate, nasty spot.

In general, how did you rate the standard of play vs your smaller buy in mixed events?

UL, but when the backup-option is 'oh well, guess I'll go Vegas a few days early' it's hard to feel too bad for you 😀

Yea couldn’t sleep thinking about that spot so I had to run it.

First I gave him a top 25% range which I think is about right, (probably not wide enough in fact) and sure enough I should have had 72% equity against his range on the turn.

Even when I gave him a top 10% range my equity would still have been 70%

So no two ways about it, it was a cooler.

As for the general standard of play. It could be said that I wasn’t there long enough to comment [emoji23]

But in all seriousness, it was obviously a stacked field but I didn’t feel outmatched. The aggression level was a lot higher than in a $600. In a $600 I’m probably one of the most aggressive players in the field, but here pretty much everyone is very aggressive and even more so, so that’s the main difference.

The event allowed two re-buys so the pros with deep pockets play it uber-aggressive to try and get a stack and if it doesn’t work out they just fire again.

[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

Yeah, I'm curious to hear your thoughts on playing with Lon. Seems like a really nice guy.

Yes he was a nice guy. I’d seen a tweet from him earlier in the day of him playing golf and making a great recovery shot from the beach. I asked him how he ended up on the beach in the first place and he laughed.

WSOP Paradise
Post Game

I guess I came to the Bahamas a little begrudgingly, having already booked travel plans to go to the Wynn, knowing how expensive everything would be and how unaffordable all the tournaments were. In a way I didn’t want to like it, but that didn’t last and I was quickly won over.

I really enjoyed it here. The resort is absolutely spectacular, the weather good, the people friendly, even normally uptight poker players were relaxed, spending time with their families and having fun.

I found it to be the perfect mix of poker and vacation and would highly recommend it to anyone thinking of going next year.

Final Results

Expenses

As I brought my family the flights totaled $1,477

This was my final hotel bill for 10 nights, with 6 of them (3rd-8th) included in the package I won.
It’s a completely cashless resort so you have to charge everything to the room.
In the end they didn’t charge any extra for the kids so maybe WSOP had the information wrong.

Hotel bill: $1,729

We did it quite frugally only really having the one expensive dinner in the resort and the players buffet in the evening saved us a lot. It would have been very easy to 3x this, which I’m sure some players did.

Total Expenses: $3,206

Tournaments

Played: 2
Bullets Fired: 2
Total Buy-Ins: $10,500
Cashes: 1
Total Prize Money: $58,900 (including bounties)
Net: $48,400

Obviously a great result as we turned the Mystery Bounty freeroll into an almost $60,000 payday and the 2nd largest of my career so far.

Cash Games

Hours Played: 11
Net: $2,700

Only played two sessions due to having my family there.

Not that many sports bets for the same reason but still picked up another dime there.

So all in all a very profitable and enjoyable trip and I hope to have to chance to go back next year.

From Paradise Island, Bahamas straight to paradise of a different kind, Paradise, Las Vegas.

Travel day. Nassau - Houston - Las Vegas

Long lines in the airport in Nassau and they actually had US immigration there at the airport which was actually better for me as the immigration officers seemed more relaxed and I declared the currency I was carrying and filled out the paperwork without any hassle.

The flight from Nassau to Houston was 3.5 hours. I’d originally booked the later connection onto Las Vegas as I thought I’d have to do customs and immigration in Houston but having done it in Nassau already I had plenty of time to make the earlier connection so I went to the gate and as it wasn’t a full flight they were happy to change my ticket.

We’re at the Magic Castle just for tonight before moving to Harrah’s for the rest of my stay.

Royal Tower Twin

With a view of the Luxor

Supper at Canes

On Deck Tomorrow: Cash. $80 Mix at Bellagio

Where can I buy a cowboy hat? (Serious question)

Congrats on the successful trip! This is the first TR I've seen from WSOP Paradise, so it was nice to get a window into that universe.

There's a hat shop in the Venetian by the canals. Coming from the direction of Harrah's, go up the people mover past Madame Tussauds. Enter the property through the first set of double doors. Continue on the second floor, past the tattoo shop and SW steakhouse. Hug the wall to the left side and you should see a hat shop not too much further. Never been in there, but I've walked past it a million times. They have many types of stylish hats. I'm assuming they have some cowboy hats, though I don't know for certain.

If the huge rodeo thing is still going on in Vegas, you could try checking the back of the Horseshoe where the WSOP events are held in summer. I recall that area being converted into a cowboy apparel vending space on a previous Nov-Dec Vegas trip during the rodeo. I walked back there out of curiosity and was amused by the stark contrast to the typical June-July vibes.

Take a nice pot off one of the NFR guys, offer to chop it for his hat?

Fashion Show Mall across the street from Wynn, or maybe the Miracle Mile? A high quality one like a Stetson is freakin' expensive.

I found an Ariat store just outside Crystals but ultimately decided against what would have been a very impulse buy.