Prepping for Vegas - Bankroll Challenge (3 Viewers)

[Perthmike]

So as many of you will know, yes ok I’ve set up a couple of threads about my trip already, I’m heading to Vegas in May for 7 days of wife-free degeneracy.

I have been playing 1/3 for about 15 months at my local and typically average 4-10 hours a week. I started with $200 and have run that up to $11,560 in that time.

In September, I went on my worst downswing and lost $2000 in 5 sessions. I set up a sample giveaway thread to see if chip karma could help. Fortunately it did and my last 9 sessions since that giveaway have been this.

Who knew chip karma was real. I really needed that, I was starting to doubt myself.

With the bankroll now at $11,500 my aim for the Vegas trip is to be at $16,000. I figured I’d set this thread up and document the journey to Vegas, as it were.

I need to get some practice in so that I can live up to the @Poker Zombie and @Mrs Poker Zombie Vegas trip report standards.

 

[Perthmike]

Quick 4 hour session today, whilst the wife was at work. I got a comment from one of the older and mostly losing lregs saying “oh no, here comes the destroyer”. Totally untrue, but a strangely satisfying ego boost nonetheless.

Nothing too noteworthy, except for a hand where pretty much the whole table called my $20 raise from the lojack with . I think we went about 6 ways to the flop with a pot of about $120. Flop was . It checked around and the turn was . An older gentleman bet $25 I called and so did one other player. River was a brick, checked to the old guy who took a bit of time and checked.

I expect him to most queens on the flop, and definitely on the river. His range at this point in my mind is mostly 9s with maybe some queens with low kickers, possibly even mid pocket pairs, since he’s a bit weird.

I decided to bet $80 into about $200, targeting maybe a worse nine, but hopefully even getting a fold from a low queen, since I’d only shown down with strong hands up to this point. In the end, both for folded and I took down a nice pot.

 

[200 Motels]

Sounds fun. While the idea of a $ goal is fun, an hours played goal is more within your control. The bankroll $ will follow.

Post some stack pr0n.

 

[Perthmike]

Sounds fun. While the idea of a $ goal is fun, an hours played goal is more within your control. The bankroll $ will follow.

Post some stack pr0n.

Usually I’d agree and I’m at an hourly of $22 from 550 live hours, so I’ve based it on that. I’ve picked a total figure because I’ll really want that amount for the trip, so I’ll up the hours if need be.

I didn’t take one today, but this was last weeks stack.

 

[Basmx]

Good luck on the trip!! And don't forget the pr0n

 

[dkersey]

Looking forward to your detailed trip reports!

Are you really bringing the entire bankroll? If so, are you planning on playing higher stakes like 5/10NL?

 

[moose]

Make sure you declare that $10k+ when you enter the US.

 

[Perthmike]

Looking forward to your detailed trip reports!

Are you really bringing the entire bankroll? If so, are you planning on playing higher stakes like 5/10NL?

No I will probably take $9000aud. I’ll start out at 1/2 and that’s still 20 buyins if I play 1/3 with 100bb.

1/3 will be a decent step up from my own 1/3 since the dollar is at about $0.70 right now.

 

[luv2breformed]

Quick 4 hour session today, whilst the wife was at work. I got a comment from one of the older and mostly losing lregs saying “oh no, here comes the destroyer”. Totally untrue, but a strangely satisfying ego boost nonetheless.

Nothing too noteworthy, except for a hand where pretty much the whole table called my $20 raise from the lojack with . I think we went about 6 ways to the flop with a pot of about $120. Flop was . It checked around and the turn was . An older gentleman bet $25 I called and so did one other player. River was a brick, checked to the old guy who took a bit of time and checked.

I expect him to most queens on the flop, and definitely on the river. His range at this point in my mind is mostly 9s with maybe some queens with low kickers, possibly even mid pocket pairs, since he’s a bit weird.

I decided to bet $80 into about $200, targeting maybe a worse nine, but hopefully even getting a fold from a low queen, since I’d only shown down with strong hands up to this point. In the end, both for folded and I took down a nice pot.

I like your line here. You fold to a raise? Although Bet/Fold often makes sense in theory, when the guy does raise me back I always struggle in practice.

 

[Lemonzest]

Man I really dislike the idea of a bankroll goal but that is probably just my personality. There is just so much variance. Make your goal to play every hand well and then count your roll when all the poker is done. I have a hard time seeing how a bankroll goal will make one play better but I can think of many ways it would make someone play worse.

Again, this is just my 2c and you sound like a much more winning player than me so to each his own.

 

[Perthmike]

I like your line here. You fold to a raise? Although Bet/Fold often makes sense in theory, when the guy does raise me back I always struggle in practice.

I’ve been working on the bet fold line a lot, I crying called far too many times when facing the check jam and lost. When so much is in the pot, it’s tough to lay it down, but recently I’ve been looking for spots to try it and have made the lay down.

In this exact spot, I’d never expected a raise from either of these two, they are too face up.

 

[Perthmike]

Man I really dislike the idea of a bankroll goal but that is probably just my personality. There is just so much variance. Make your goal to play every hand well and then count your roll when all the poker is done. I have a hard time seeing how a bankroll goal will make one play better but I can think of many ways it would make someone play worse.

Again, this is just my 2c and you sound like a much more winning player than me so to each his own.

I definitely see your point, but I have that personality type where I do need a very specific target to aim towards. Also, I’m a numbers guy and I like to plan everything out lol.

Other than cashing out early sometimes when I’m a decent way ahead, I don’t really think about it at the table. I try to play as optimally as I am capable and am happy to lose, as long as I feel like I played well.

Where the bankroll challenge does come into play is session planning. It’s just an easier indicator of how many extra hours I’m likely going to need to put in as the time for the trip gets closer.

 

[Trihonda]

That’s a lot of moola for Vegas... seriously, I go for 4 days, and bring 2k... I play 1/2 and 1/3, and have my share of variance, but typically come away with more than enough to pay for the trip.

 

[Lemonzest]

Other than cashing out early sometimes when I’m a decent way ahead

This remind me of an interview I watched with Barry Greenstein. He basically fired someone he was staking because they cashed out early when they were ahead. Long story short Barry went on to explain how when we are up we should usually keep playing because even if our opponents are good they are likely tilting to some degree.

From my experience and from listening to pros it seems to be a common mistake we can make. We play to long when losing and play too short when winning.

Just curious do you have a stop loss?

If I was going to get serious about playing live again I would make my stop loss 2 buy ins. I just tilt too hard.

 

[dmalhi1]

interesting theory and kind of makes me step back and analyze the way i play even. when i'm up i at times find myself starting to defend when truth be told, i should continue to play in the same way i had before having won some pots.

 

[Perthmike]

It’s something I’ve talked to friends about and they tell me off for doing it.

My issue is that I don’t like losing and I do stew on things, especially when I’ve made a mistake.

Because I don’t play often enough, a decent downswing can take me 3-4 weeks to get out of, if I don’t have time to get back in.

I’ve decided it’s better for my mental state sometimes to just book the win and leave with a profit. Although as you correctly point out, on an easy table I’d keep playing most times. I tend to do it when I feel like the table is tough or super nitty. We don’t get many tables open at my local so you can often sit at a bad table for hours.

I usually take 2.5 buyins and leave after that. I can walk away losing that much and not be annoyed. If I have a longer session planned, I’ll sometimes take an extra buyin, but I would have to be really sure that im not tilted before putting down that third buyin though.

 

[saleen121212]

Wow, 200 to 11k? I need you to tutor me. 11k buys lots of chips! Wishing you the best of luck in Vegas. Keep us updated and have fun.

 

[Perthmike]

Wow, 200 to 11k? I need you to tutor me. 11k buys lots of chips! Wishing you the best of luck in Vegas. Keep us updated and have fun.

Don’t worry some of the bankroll went through this transformation.
It’s a liquid asset so it still counts as bankroll.

 

[Lemonzest]

Don’t worry some of the bankroll went through this transformation.
It’s a liquid asset so it still counts as bankroll.
View attachment 217585

Great set!!!

 

[dmalhi1]

Don’t worry some of the bankroll went through this transformation.
It’s a liquid asset so it still counts as bankroll.
View attachment 217585

woah mama.... those are some tasty looking chips.

 

[Perthmike]

I totally forgot that I had this thread, but it’s time for an update.

@Lemonzest @200 Motels were right and the $ goal was a bad one. So it’s an hours played goal from here on out.

After starting this I went on to have an even worse downswing than before and lost $2900 over a 4 week period. Definitely a lot of serious run bad in there (including losing with a 2 card straight flush, and getting multiple lots of kk and aa cracked for large all-in pre flop pots) but also some bad play mixed in there too.

The bankroll went from $11,500 down to a bottom of $8800. I took some time to study some more, chatted a bunch with some of the good players at my local casino and I think ive made the necessary adjustments to plug a few of my leaks and hopefully continue to improve as I lead into the Vegas trip.

I just signed up for crush live poker, since my upswing subscription ran out.

I’ve been playing well for the last few sessions again and have clawed back to $10,100 bankroll after 4 winning sessions in a row.

I even managed a hero call yesterday, which I don’t get to do too often as there aren’t many thinking players or anyone that bluffs much at my local.

Utg opened to $20, 2 calls and I closed the action with 22 in the Bb. $81 in the pot.
Flop qq8 rainbow, checked around,
Turn 6, checked around.
River 3, utg bet $45, 2 other players folded and I thought about it for a bit and called. He announced ace high and I showed my pocket twos much to his surprise.

Final hand of my session yesterday night was amazing. I was meant to leave, but the rapper nelly was apparently turning up to play $25/$25 plo so I hung around for a bit longer.

I called a $6 straddle in the big blind with offsuit and it checked to the flop of , which was pretty favourable.

I checked, straddler bet $30, I min-clicked him and he 4 bet to $200 so I jammed for about another $160 and he called. I showed my hand, he opted not to. Turn was a , but I expected his likely holdings with that action are sets and occasionally 2 pair. He’s not the type to be playing draws that way.

River blank and he mucked.

Nelly never did show up, but I thank him nonetheless.

$10,100 and counting. 14 weeks to Vegas

 

[Perthmike]

Oh and I’ve revised my plan and will be taking about $4000 usd ($5500aud) on the trip. That should be plenty for 7 days of poker.

 

[Lemonzest]

Sorry to hear about the down swing. I dont really play poker for real money anymore as it is just too frustrating. I sometimes log a few hours in Vegas but thats it.

Make sure you have fun in Vegas and dont let how you run dictate whether you have fun or not. Just my 2c.

 

[Perthmike]

Sorry to hear about the down swing. I dont really play poker for real money anymore as it is just too frustrating. I sometimes log a few hours in Vegas but thats it.

Make sure you have fun in Vegas and dont let how you run dictate whether you have fun or not. Just my 2c.

Thanks. It certainly can get frustrating. The bankroll is play money for me anyway, and mostly a way for me to buy more sets of chips. The wife won’t allow it otherwise.

I’d rather go on a swing now than just before the trip. I want to go to Vegas in a positive mental state regarding poker.

The idea of running up the roll, is really so that I can go there and lose a chunk of cash without really caring.

My plan is to spend 7 days enjoying poker and harvesting chips. As long as I’m having fun there I won’t really care whether I’m up or down.

If the kings crown set isn’t sold by then (god knows how it hasn’t), then @Rhodeman77 will be the biggest benefactor to any of my potential rungood.

 

[MatB]

take the advice of declaring that much money when entering the US seriously. There are some horror stories out there.

Im looking forward to a mini blog of your exploits in Vegas !

 

[Perthmike]

take the advice of declaring that much money when entering the US seriously. There are some horror stories out there.

Im looking forward to a mini blog of your exploits in Vegas !

Even if it’s only $4000-5000usd?

 

[MatB]

Even if it’s only $4000-5000usd?

Not sure. Someone more knowledgable can advise. $10,000 or more . yes for sure.

 

[Perthmike]

Oh and @MatB dont expect it to be a mini blog lol. I’m going to be spamming Pcf with updates.

The wife thinks I’m super excited about the whole trip, which I am, but it’s mostly Vegas haha.

Ever since I watched a certain movie at the tender age of 14 in 2001 when I began playing poker; I’ve been dreaming of Vegas and the fucking mirage.

 

[MatB]

Oh and @MatB dont expect it to be a mini blog lol. I’m going to be spamming Pcf with updates.

The wife thinks I’m super excited about the whole trip, which I am, but it’s mostly Vegas haha.

Ever since I watched a certain movie at the tender age of 14 in 2001 when I began playing poker; I’ve been dreaming of Vegas and the fucking mirage.

Just constant updates are fine.

I've never been to Vegas myself. One day, i'm sure. Id love to play some big event there.

 

[Lemonzest]

Pretty sure limit to declare is 10k USD.

re poker. Harvesting is a good fallback. If you lose 1 or 2 buyins you can change gears and harvest instead of forcing more poker while your mindset is bad. Go back and play the next night.

There are juicy games to be had so dont be shy to table change and table select even if that means going to a different casino.

Also games are much better at night and more specifically Fridays and Saturdays when people party hard.

Cheers and I AM jealous!!!!

Flights are like 80 bucks now direct to Vegas from my town so I dont know what that means but probably trouble.