Feb 7th & 8th (Played 2 different sessions on the 8th)
1-2 No Limit
Hours: 18
Profit: + $1400
Well they say sometimes a change of scenery is good, that has been the case with the Monte Carlo. I am playing here because they are doing a $100,000 free roll tournament. Players can qualify for the tournament by playing 40 hours before Feb 28th. The games have been good, I make my hand, I bet, I get paid off. Now this is the way it is suppose to happen. It also helps when you catch some cards.
The second session on the 8th I played with Highwaytime, and a friend of ours Todd. This session was crazy, it made me look like I was a card catching machine. But really I only played hands against certain players. One player in particular, I was able to get him to pay me off in a few different hands. I had made an earlier play when he folded a hand where I smooth called the flop then raised the turn when I had flopped a set against him. He folded but you could tell he was frustrated that he had to fold, he made a good play, but this hand set me up to be able to play big pots against him, when he had just top pair.
The next hand I played against him I was in middle position and raised to $12 with the Qs 6s. I had determined that if I was gonna play a hand like this, then I wanted to dictate the action, so I would raise. A calling station behind me called, as well as our 'Friend' (as we will call him from here out) did from the small blind. I knew he was looking to play pots against me and would call with a large range of hands here. The flop of Js 9s 6c came down. Our Friend checked and I thought for a minute and realized, if I bet here, the calling station having position may call with a J or even a 9, but if I check it was less likely the calling station would lead out unless he had a monster. So I decided to check and as I thought the calling station checked. This was a great check cause the turn was the 6d, yeah I turned bottom pair and a flush draw into the perpetual powerhouse it now was. Our Friend gave me a look like he had just won the lottery and lead out for $25, I knew right then he had flopped top pair and that he liked to board pairing, he figured that he had the best hand for sure. Without hesitation, as I did on the turn when I had hit my set prior I raised to $80, I knew this would make him call, since in his mind he was thinking his hand was good from the time before. The calling station folded and of course our Friend called. The river was the 5s, now I had made my flush, I was afraid this would slow him down, no spade and he check raises me all in for sure here. He checks and I bet $75, he insta-called me, and I showed him my hand. He was in disbelief, he showed J - 9 off, I scooped the pot and he immediately went on tilt. Other players started taking advantage of this, as he started paying people off at the rate of $100 per hand.
About 15Min's later, our Friend limped in middle position, Highwaytime Mike limped. I was in the Big Blind looked down and I had QQ, usually I would raise, but knowing that I want to raise to thin the field, three way action was good, plus if Mike out flopped me I would know pretty quickly and be able to let this go. The flop of 8c 6s 4h came down. I checked as I wanted to see if our friend caught any part. He bet $15, I put him on A - 8 as he liked playing this type of hand in middle position. Mike folded and I just called. The turn was the 4s, and I lead out with a bet of $40, I knew he was frustrated and thought he might go all in. He got upset when I bet, looked at me as though I had just kicked his dog and called. The river was the 3d, I bet $70, and he insta-called me once again, I said "A - 8 no good, and rolled over my hand to show him QQ. He said "I can't put you on that, how can I put you on pocket Queens." All I could think is, 'That's right, how can you put me on that, that is exactly why I played it that way' it was great having an opponent, that you could just tell where he was. He had hands where he bet and I folded, I tried to play it smart. I never gave him action when he was ahead, but was able to force him to give me action every time I did. I tried not to get too crazy with him unless I had the goods and he would pay me off. Finally Todd busted him when Todd limped in the Small Blind with pocket Aces, Todd and our Friend ended up flopping set over set and both turning a full house. After this hand our Friend got up after he had just received a beat down for over $600.
So far my Monte Carlo experience has been good, I do enjoy the room, I know after the free roll the games will be even better without all the locals. I do feel I have been making a little better choices in my play and have been able to change gears pretty easy against certain players. I have made plays against the tight players where they have raised pots and I have played back at them, I think I have kept a good unpredictable style that has made it hard for people to put me on a hand.
I will resume playing on Monday, and hopefully will get my hours in that I need to qualify for the free roll. I have a lot going on this weekend, but I am glad I can report, that I am now up for the month, not a whole lot, but after my beat downs at the Aladdin, it is nice to be in the black. I will try to write the first installment of "Playing with The Gamblin Duke" while I am not playing this weekend. Good luck and thanks for reading.
El Diablo
"Roosters may rise in the morning, but the best Chickens fight at night"
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