It's early for May, but Cinci this weekend!

Starting early because we are heading to Cincinnati this weekend to celebrate my birthday on Saturday with a little poker! Heading up Friday afternoon. Turns out the Cinci Open is this week (just realized this), so I’m going to play in the Ladies NLHE Friday: $300, $10,000 guarantee, 30,000 chips, 20-minute levels. Unfortunately, no PLO tourney until Monday, and we are leaving Sunday. I wish I were more comfortable in Razz and Stud, because there is an $1,100 HORSE on Sunday. Otherwise, we plan to play PLO. Last time did not go as planned. I was involved in two huge 5-5 five-card PLO hands, gii flop as favorite and lost them both. It happens, but both were more than $10,000 pots. First was AdAc6d4s5h vs QQ832 who limp/called a 4bet of $790, then called flop pot and hit a flush on the turn; the other was AAXXX ds vs KKXXX ds who called a 3bet, I potted w/ nut flush draw on the flop, and he hit a straight on the turn. I was in for only $1,000 both times, so it was a bit heartbreaking. Let’s hope it turns around this time! As for Vegas, we are heading out May 2 and returning May 9. My husband has a conference, so we are staying at the Hilton Grand behind Flamingo. This property is a little dated (many properties look dated compared to Elara, which is my favorite), but the rooms are nice and I love the location. Hate flying Derby Day, though, and I’ll definitely miss the big race. I’ll have to get my bets in early. More coming tomorrow!

The day did not start off well. My automatic horse water waiting to not be working, so we got off an hour late. We made it though. Had a bite to eat at the hotel and a glass of champagne and then headed to Hard Rock. The room is packed because of the tournaments. I was going okay in the beginning of the Ladies but I've been completely called dead. My best hand and almost 2 hours was AQ. I have not seen a pair in my hand. The woman at my table are all circuit players. They travel around this area and to Vegas. They all seem to know each other too. I'm really looking forward to the PLO! Sent from my SM-S921U using Tapatalk

The back of the room is empty because the Ladies tournament and the main are both on break.

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Won $100 at 2/5 NLHE, then got moved to 1/2/5 5 Card PLO pretty quickly. Sent from my SM-S921U using Tapatalk

Oh, a couple of hands after the break, I raise with QJhh, four callers, flop is J32 rainbow and I lose to 22. Oh, well. Sent from my SM-S921U using Tapatalk

The max buying and this game is only $500 which kind of sucks. I was playing a little too loose and got down to around 150 bucks or a little less. I called a raise from the button with a hand like 44679 when I was on the button and the big blind had potted it to $35 and the whole table had called. The flop was 4hQhQd. I shoved when it checked to me and the pre-flopraiser called. Nice little pot for me. No idea what he had. I hovered at around my starting stack and then my husband came over from the 5/5/10 5 card game and asked me for money. Oops. He was down a ton [emoji20] Headed back to the room to get a goid nights rest! TV in living area was broken, so free breakfast. Love this hotel, though. Hilton Netherlands.

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Yes, we did get crushed on my birthday, but that’s not why I’ve been away for so long. I’ve just been too busy with work! Back to Cincinnati. Started my birthday with a petit dejeuner of Crémant de Bordeaux, which was delicious. I prefer it to champagne. It has less of a yeasty flavor. Yada yada yada. I could not decide where to have a late lunch and for some reason looked at the Yard House menu – it looked great. Unfortunately, it was the Reds opening weekend, so they were packed, but we found one chair at the bar. They had a blue Chimay on tap and a their own triple, which were great. We don’t get to spoil ourselves with those very often. As always, played cards while we waited for our food – and the people next to us left early, so we both got a seat. The poke nachos were delicious! We got the aioli and the truffle sauce on the side because my husband is picky – the truffle sauce was really good. Also had calamari. Normally don’t like tartar sauce, but the jalapeno tartar was very good. My husband wanted onion rings, so we ordered those, too. Way too much food, and I would have preferred more ahi or shiitake garlic noodles – or fried cheese curds! – but I like to make him happy. We tried to walk to the casino, but his back hurt too much so we stopped at a corner and ordered an Uber. Saw that Andrew Bird is touring and will be in Cincy in August, but I’ll be in Saratoga Springs for a concert. On to poker. Again, we got crushed. Started off well. I played 2/5 while waiting for PLO and make a few hundred. Raised w/ A9cc, bet the two club flop, bet the turn, bet the club river and had a straight shove – thank you very much. Also defended my BTN w/ 62cc to a small raise w/ a few callers. Flop was K54, turn was a 3, and got it in vs. K3cc – I’ll take it. Then on to 1/2/5 5-card PLO. This went well, too. I was up a bit, then lost this hand: I raise MP w/ 98765 ds. Flop is 866 w/ two spades. I bet and get two callers. Turn is As, I bet, he shoves for not much more, and I sigh call. Yes, he had limped w/ AA. Oh, well. Then I moved to 5/5 5-card PLO w/ a $10 straddle. This was a stupid game and I should have stayed at 1/2/5. Basically, the two guys to my left were just gambling. They would re-straddle, blind raise, etc. With only a $1, 000 buy in, if you don’t get lucky, you don’t win. Early on, I call a raise pre w/ AKJ33ds from the BTN – there are six of us. Flop is 322. OR pots flop, I shove, he calls. Turn is an A and his AA wins. Two other big hands: I am the BTN straddle w/ AQJT2 ds w/ AJh. One pot, call, call, I call, SB calls, crazy guy in BB pots, everyone calls (six of us). Board runs out 2278T w/ three hearts. I’m pretty happy until the BB turns over KK752. He didn’t even realize he had the 72. A little while later a similar hand happens while I’m on the BTN w/ AdQsJsJc3c ds – again it’s ~$1, 000 pre w/ five players in before it gets to me. I river the nut straight, but the luckbox in the nine seat (this guy couldn’t miss a hand if he was in it) hits a Q-high diamond flush. Second best was about as good as I could do. The two guys to my left were in for >$7, 000 each – they just kept pulling out pumpkins. Eventually they each built up a stack, though. This was one of my favorites: I pot my BTN w/ AQJT9 ds, SB calls and maybe one other caller. Flop is QT3. I pot and only SB calls. Turn is a 5 (giving me a flush draw). He checks, I pot, he shoves, I call. River is a blank, and SB has KJ55X rainbow and I’m done. Sat at 1/2/5 NLHE for a while, but was definitely not on my A game and lost another couple of hundred. Oh, well. It was a fun, if expensive, birthday weekend. I make some back this past weekend ($65 Friday night and $600 Saturday) in my local game, but I have a long way to go to make up for my birthday. Let’s see what the next few weeks bring – then it’s Vegas, baby!

by Javanewt m (https://www.twoplustwo.com/post?postId=59277627#post59277627)

Two other big hands: I am the BTN straddle w/ AQJT2 ds w/ AJh. One pot, call, call, I call, SB calls, crazy guy in BB pots, everyone calls (six of us). Board runs out 2278T w/ three hearts. I’m pretty happy until the BB turns over KK752. He didn’t even realize he had the 72.

If you had T2 and he had 72, isn't your full house bigger?

LOL. I wish. Got the board wrong :( Must have been looking at my hand when I typed. River was a blank for me, but it was a heart. Glad to see someone's actually reading! It was a soul-crushing run.

And the run-bad continues. I hope it's just getting out of my way before Vegas. Playing ROE in my normal game last night. These guys are good old boys. Most barely know how to play NLHE, let alone PLO. One or two can bluff and have some grasp, but that's it. Mostly tight fit/fold players playing their hand strength. First PLO: BTN staddles to $10. This guy actually knows how to play and is a big gambler. He has been raising his straddle 90%. I limp SB w/ AAQJ one suit. Three limps and the BTN checks. Oh, well. Flop is Ad7c6c (not my suits). I pot $50, one MP caller -- tight player who plays his hand. I put him on clubs, two pair, or a smaller set -- maybe a straight draw. Turn Ad7c6c Jh. I pot for $150. He calls leaving $75 behind. LOL. River Ad7c6cJh 8h. I bet and he calls. He says, "Trips, " and flips over 7795 -- one club -- not realizing he has the straight :( Then I gii pre-flop for ~$800 vs the BTN straddle from my SB w/ AcAsKcJd vs JsJc2s2d. I potted pre, he re-potted, I gii and he called. Not only does the flop have a 2, but it also has a J. No help for me. Then, vs the same player in NLHE. I call $10 straddle from SB w/ KJo, again expecting straddle to raise. A few callers. Straddle checks. Ugh. I assume it's because a few of the players who limped are the type to limp/shove w/ AK, AA, KK, etc. Flop is J23dd. I bet, folds to straddle who raises. He is doing this with tons of hands. I re-raise and we gii for my last $300, lol. Turn is a 2, river is a T. He has JTo. Vegas can't come soon enough.

OK, Vegas has got to be better to me than my dinky little game has been. Starting off winning four out of the first five hands Friday night, and it was downhill from there. Hands like this all night: Raise NLHE w/ KJs, get one caller, flop is QT7, c-bet and get a call. Brick turn and river, he has Q9. Raise NLHE w/ ATs, K high flop, V has KT. Raise PLO on BTN after two limps w/ 899Ads, shorty in BB all-in, one limper calls, I repot to iso and limper calls w/ 338Qss and flops a 3 -- I fold to his bet, at least. (BB had AATT and flopped a T.) I raise PLO BTN w/ 89JQds, different tilted short-stack calls, flop is 983, he pots, I put him in for slightly more, tun is 7, river 3 -- he's got 37JAss. Oh, well. At least the weather has been beautiful and Vegas is less than two weeks away! I also found out that the local card room in the city where I work (it's 45 minutes from my house; work is 30) has 4 and 5 card PLO on Wednesday nights and it's supposed to be incredible action and bad players. I'm going to try to make it this week or next. I haven't bothered even going to the room because I thought it was mostly NLHE.

You are getting all the run bad out of the way before your Vegas trip. Am sure you will crush it and be posting lots of chip stacks pics from Vegas! Looking forward to following another of your fun TRs!

Thank you! I hope you are a fortune teller in your spare time 😉

This is for my own benefit, but I'm definitely trying the pork belly bowl from the ramen place in Venetian. We'll also hit Kimchi for AYCE sushi, again, even though it's a walk from this Hilton. If we go off strip, it will probably be for Thai, but not sure which one.

Friday night went a little better until one hand toward the end. I ended up $170, but it should have been closer to $500. No more poker until Saturday night in Vegas! Lots of work to do this weekend because a friend is camping at our house Saturday, May 9, and I need to get everything ready for her and her boyfriend and his kids. Also, I hate coming home to a messy house 😉

It's amazing how much Hilton Grand want us to sit in on timeshare spiels, even though we've only upgraded once -- and last time we got in an argument with the sales rep. LOL. This time we get all you can eat meats and sides with an open bar at GEN Korean BBQ and a $50 Visa gift card on Thursday night. Starts at 5:30, so plenty of time for poker after. We have to spend about 1.5 hours Friday morning, but they have coffee, soft drinks, and snacks. Totally worth it -- especially considering how much we can eat and drink 😉 I used to live in South Korea, so I love the food. I always have a tub of gochujang in my fridge. Can't wait for a little kimchi and other banchan. Not to mention bulgogi and pork belly.

And there is a full sushi bar! My favorite food 😀

Roll pic. Shoes come tonight. We fly out tomorrow morning (not too early, thank goodness) and land at about 3:30, so plenty of time to enjoy the evening/night. Our 2-hour layover in Atlanta will be spent in the Delta lounge with champagne and a little food. Hopefully we land on time so that I can watch the Derby -- at least on my phone. I will have to post some social media about it, too -- let's hope they all run safe and swift!

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Looking forward to reading/following along! Sorry I won't be there to meet up.

Good luck! Looking forward to following along.

For the run good. All comfort for me in Vegas!

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Good luck! How long are you staying? PLO friend who I mentioned a bunch of times from previous TRs is arriving on the 4th of May and will be a permanent instalment of the Aria 1/2 PLO tables for the next 2 months for 14 hours a day.

Staying until next Saturday. Have him look me up. One of the few older women who play PLO. Long brownish hair. Glasses to read. Blue green eyes. 5'7". Usually drinking champagne or wine! On plane now! Sent from my SM-S921U using Tapatalk

Cheers from Atlanta!

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On our way. Playing poker on phone to pass the time. Hubby is working his side gig to pay for poker in Vegas [emoji6] Sent from my SM-S921U using Tapatalk

On our way. Playing poker on phone to pass the time. Hubby is working his side gig to pay for poker in Vegas [emoji6] Sent from my SM-S921U using Tapatalk

Pictures don't do it justice. It is hard to tell the snow capped mountains the clouds. Somewhere out there is Taos.

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Slightly different landscape as we get within an hour of Vegas.

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15 minutes (start off Lake Mead) to 5 minutes out. Beautiful.

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We made it. The room is nice, what we are used to at this place. It is great to have a little kitchen, especially since we'll be here for a full week and I am working in the mornings. The pool is insanely loud, but closes at 6. Time to christen the room with a little sparkly!

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It looks like they left someone's head in your microwave. 😀 Best wishes on the trip!!!

I have wanted to eat a Batista's for years. It was worth the wait. Wish we had come sooner. Linguine and clams with white wine sauce was delicious. Hubby said lasagna was OK. Wine was mediocre at best, but who cares? Garlic bread was very good. Meeting the tables next to us with a blast. Sitting at Aria 2/5 NLHE waiting for PLO. Vernon is doing well!

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I did not run well last night. Lost two buy ins, but one was to my husband. My KK vs his AA -- we both flopped overs, a pair, and club draws. I could have gone away from it, but I just didn't believe him. Heading to Ellis Island now for breakfast. That is if my husband can make the walk. He had back surgery recently and has a couple other problems, so this is tough for him. If he weren't speaking at the conference I don't think we would have come. Sent from my SM-S921U using Tapatalk

I did not feel great this morning because we were up until 3:00 a.m. my time and I didn't sleep as well as I would have liked. We did sleep in until around 10:00. It really helped my husband. He had extra pillows and he could actually sleep for once. I'm sure it helped not having 100 lb worth of dogs in the bed too! We went to the gym and then walked to Ellis Island. I still wasn't feeling great, but a couple of ibuprofen and coffee helped. I snacked on his potatoes and toast. The food was great. He loved his omelette. Bacon was perfect. After breakfast we played $10 blackjack. It pays three to two. We actually both won. He was up $200 and I was up $125. He did blow $100 in a Buffalo slot machine [emoji6] Feeling much better now! His conference starts soon and I will head to the tables.

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Been playing at Aria for a few hours. Up and down. Playing a little weak. Need to get over that. Missed snapping off a bluff for $300. Felt it, but scary river and literally chickened out. Terrible. Sent from my SM-S921U using Tapatalk

Virgil, not Vernon! That's what I get for speaking into my phone. It never understands me. Still hovering. Having fun. Getting tired, though. Sent from my SM-S921U using Tapatalk

Back at Aria. Playing 1-3 No Limit Hold'em waiting for PLO. Raised btn w 22, sb and bb call. Xx, bet A high flop, bb calls, xx turn, x K river, i bet $45, he folds. I raise next hand w/ 6c7c, all fold. I raise next hand w/ JcTc, one call, same guy from above makes it $65, I call, one fold. Flop is Th8s2h, I check, he bets $65, I shove, he calls all in for ~$150 more, turn low card no heart, river Kc. MHIG [emoji6]

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Up $450 in 1/3. PLO just starting. Lost a little on first bomb pot [emoji20] Sent from my SM-S921U using Tapatalk

Getting my ass kicked. Only a few playable hands. Nothing I could raise with. Have won two small pots since I sat down. Just got quartered in DBBP - a pair of 2s won the top. Lol. Sent from my SM-S921U using Tapatalk

AwI some to see that you’ve landed in Vegas and have gotten the TR going! Sorry to read that you’re a bit under the weather and not running great in Omaha. Hope you start feeling better soon and the cards also turn in your favor. Any good meals planned?

Gen Korean AYCE and pork belly rice at Venetian. Otherwise Lemongrass at Aria [emoji6] Down to ~$300 from $1,000 buy in. Worked it back up a bit. Then guy who chased my AAA with a gutshot and hit river called me down then bet diamond river for my last $450. I x called with Q-high to beat his T-high. Let's go!

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Virgil’s looking… the same as he ever has! Keep grinding on that felt! I hope the hubby’s back improves

I jinxed myself. I don't think I won another pot after that picture. Just dwindled down. I was playing tighter than most pre (not the tightest, thought) -- choosing suited hands, run downs, etc. Occasionally calling in position w/ hands like Ac2cJs9s, 4s5d5c6c, etc., but just never hit. Dwindled down to ~$1, 200, then three from our table moved to another, and nothing changed. I lost my stack to two hands that happened almost back to back toward the end of my night (I set a time to leave). First was AdKsJd5s. I limp/call a raise from the guy to my left after a straddle, so $65. Amazingly everyone else folds. He's from my other table and has been raising every hand at this table because he's tilted. Flop is QhJs4c, I x/call $35. Turn is the As and he pots it. I figure he has the straight, but I almost have the odds to call w/ my gutshot, two pair, and nut flush draw, so I call. River is 8c and it goes x/x. Sure enough, he has the straight and all of my outs were good. Then I raise pre w/ KKJTds. He calls and one other from my old table. Flop is 4s6cJs. I pot (no spades). They both call. Turn is a 4h. I wrongly assume that they would raise w/ sets or two pairs and are probably on spade draws or straight draws, so I pot, one fold and one call. He's got AJ64 single suited. GG me :( I did get a 20-minute massage that was awesome! Dinner again at Lemongrass -- beef basil. Sunday night was drunken noodles with seafood. Both a 3 and were very spicy!

A few pics from gym, which I've been to twice, and the walk yesterday to Aria from Caesar's where my husband's conference is. I rode over with him in a cab. Poor guy is in pain.

() () () Played at Aria again. It's closer to this location and definitely has more PLO going. Might make it to Wynncore one day this trip. Maybe tonight. Again could not get hands to hold. Flopped set of Js lost to a straight. Top two lost to a straight. Flopped straight lost to a flush. You know how it goes. Get my last ~$300 in w/ a double-gutter, pair, and two BDFDs vs two other players. One is the same luckbox from the other night who won w/ a pair of 7s (Th7h7sXc): Raise pre from semi-tight reg, I call w/ 3399ds, luckbox calls. Flop is Ah6c2h (or something like that), reg pots, I fold, luckbox calls. Turn is a 9s :( They gii for like $1, 000 each. River is an A and 77 wins. Back to my hand. We gii, I hit a straight on the turn, but the river pairs the K (also hits my flush), and luckbox wins w/ bottom set (7s, of course). Don't know what the other player had. However, I took a walk, bought back in, and won most of it back. I let another reg just keep betting into me when I had sets, etc. Won twice w/ sets of 7s, which felt good 😉 Was back down a bit then won about $500 in my last two hands. Had the chopped salad from Money Line for dinner -- not bad, but not worth $20. Working now and will head out in about an hour.

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Great comeback! Way to clear your head with the walk and come back for blood! How are you finding the crowds there? Reading so many articles about Vegas travel volume being down. Hope your husband starts to feel better and he enjoys his conference.

Cool to see some pics of Batistas. It’s somewhere I’ve never been but always wanted to go. Couldn’t help but notice the cards on the table. Were you playing while you waited for your food? [emoji3]

We play cards everywhere we go! I keep a deck in my purse, both cars, etc. 😉 We are just a little competitive -- plus we love it. Much better than sitting on our phones, which is what I see so many couples doing these days. Headed to Venetian to try the pork belly rice. It was fantastic -- great recommendation from the cheap dining thread. So were the gyoza and tacos. Also enjoyed a little sake to prepare for tonight's AYCE/D.

() () ( NLHE -- won $300 -- then lost it all in PLO. Started off great as usual, but then dwindled down. My last hand (~$225 left, we are leaving soon) I finally have AAKs5s. I raise a $10 straddle w/ a few callers, two callers of my raise. I shove my last ~$100 blind. Flop is 2s6s7d. Cool. Runs out diamonds and small cards. The caller has 379T and hits an 8 on the river. Of course, her 7 would have won. It was a great table. I lost $600 for the night. Also, had the chicken tenders and quesadillas at the table -- decent for poker food. Way better value than the salad 😉 Next time I'll try the lasagna bites. My husband was in too much pain to wait for a taxi (long lines because of the sphere -- beware), so we paid a fortune for a private car. Worked this morning and now headed to the gym.

by TonySoprano9 m (https://www.twoplustwo.com/post?postId=59298150#post59298150)

Cool to see some pics of Batistas. It’s somewhere I’ve never been but always wanted to go. Couldn’t help but notice the cards on the table. Were you playing while you waited for your food? [emoji3]

It seems like slightly fewer people in general, but not too bad. Definitely still a lot of interest in coming to Vegas. We have met people from everywhere -- including our state. Also, I will add that the players at the Venetian were much friendlier and more fun than most players at Aria. Only a couple of regs at the PLO table -- most were conventioners.

Happy that you found the pork belly place, it probably ranks as my top 5 best foods in Vegas overall. Did you find the glory wine too?

by MuckPls m (https://www.twoplustwo.com/post?postId=59298792#post59298792)

Happy that you found the pork belly place, it probably ranks as my top 5 best foods in Vegas overall. Did you find the glory wine too?

Shoot -- I forgot to look for Glory Wine! Thanks for the reminder in case we go back.

by Javanewt m (https://www.twoplustwo.com/post?postId=59298781#post59298781)

Headed to Venetian to try the pork belly rice. It was fantastic -- great recommendation from the cheap dining thread. So were the gyoza and tacos. Also enjoyed a little sake to prepare for tonight's AYCE/D.

Hey! it's the "casual" dining thread.

by Randall Stevens m (https://www.twoplustwo.com/post?postId=59299302#post59299302)

Hey! it's the "casual" dining thread.

Ha, ha, ha. That's the one 😉 Gen Korean was pretty good. Prefer Bi Won (sp?) and for sushi will go back to Kimchi, but for free it was great! Met a nice couple from Minnesota and a family from Vermont/Atlanta. I like meeting new people, which is weird because I dislike people in general -- hard to explain. Another terrible night of PLO at Aria. Started off great, and then downhill again. Missing everything. Gambling a bit too much. Calling down a little light. Mostly my fault this time, but I did run bad. Example: Knew a guy was completely tilted. It's his first hand after losing a huge pot (with $250 of my money that he won the hand before) and rebuying for $300. Straddle on, I pot to $50 w/ 7s9hQhQc. He repots and we gii. He has 89KAss and wins both boards.

What are you doing in Vegas 4 weeks early? LOL Hope things are improving.

How did the rest of your trip go? Hopefully your fortunes at the PLO tables turned around!

No activity on her account since May 5th. I hope you're safe out there, Newt!

Have a feeling that she had bad variance and needed to take a break from poker - maybe revisit 2 cards for awhile!

Same. Miss her posts.