Baren Pep, Caesars $2-$5

Baren, a solid $2-$5 NLHE player around town whose been around for 20 or so years in Las Vegas has always been a guy who I could talk to when I need a little inspiration. While going to war one night over the green felt he said, "Kid... you got what it takes... just get the rest of your life in order and you'll do great."

After the night at the Bellagio, I'm in cloud 9 after running so well. I take the $5,000 I got in my pocket and decide to head over to Caesars palace to dump a little of it in the security deposit box I started over there. I had all intentions of just checking in with some friends at Caesars, putting my money in my box... and then playing over at the Mirage. That was the plan. Well, I got half way there but the Mirage was slammed and I couldn't get a seat. I head back over to Caesars and it was a Friday night. I take a seat in a $2-$5 game and the game is most definately below par. No ones giving any sort of action.

I sit with $500 and pick up AKo in MP and have not played a hand. I've been testing the waters and seeing how much players are paying attention and will OVER BET my first hand no matter what it is after not playing for 2 or even 3 rotations. One ipoded solid player up front limps. I make it $45 to go and, LOL... the cutoff calls, button calls and so does the up front limper. Flop is : J/4/6 rainbow and Mr. Ipod leads into the pot for $45. I know this is a very dangerous play with two players behind me, but that actually added to the deception. I wanted to represent AA/KK here so I re-bumped him to $145 and told myself if he calls this I'm done with the hand. Cutoff/button fold and he just smooth calls me? Turns a 7, he checks. I check. Rivers a brick, he fires $200 and I muck it. He put me on an over pair, had limp/called with a small pocket and played his set exactly like I woulda. Any bet on the turn/river commit me, and well, shit. I did the best I could do:(

It was Friday night and I was feeling good, specially after my Bellagio night. I order a drink and... that's such disaster. Me + drinking = Vegas disaster. If I'm gonna drink I need to 1) Decide that I'm just gonna party/drink/chase females/have fun. Or 2) set a certain amount of money that I'm not playing poorly on, but gambling with.

Alright so, I pick up 6/7o and raise it up to $40. Same ipoded kid re-raises to $100 straight and I take a flop with him. (Stacks at $500) Flop is 5/8/2 so I'm open ended. He bets $100, I move in for $300 more and he insta calls with 10/10. I brick out and he takes it down. Woops.

Re-buy for $500.

I'm playing VERY fast, 85% of my hands and this hand comes up. This dummy has been gambling with me with shitty hands like 9/2s out of position limp/calling and getting there.

I raise to $45 pr-flop with K/10s. He limp/calls and it comes down: J/10/8 two diamonds. (I flop the flush draw) he checks, I bet $100, he moves me in for around $500 straight and I call. He has A/Qo black for a double gut shot and an over to my flush draw. I'm a 71.92% to his 28.08 favorite in this spot, and the turn is a black K and I miss. Fuck.

Re-buy.

I mis play K/9s against an old regular who I've played with before on a K high board where I knew I was beat. Piss away a couple more hundred and find myself stuck -$1,300 and decide to walk.

Tell myself I'm not gonna let this effect my Vegas Friday and go on to meet a really cool chick:) No she wasn't working assholes. Yes she was a dancer assholes. Just one notch under the Vegas Hierchy of woman:) Either way, I got lucky enough for her to come back to my place for some wine... and I'll leave the rest up to your imagination. I posted awhile back how I was gonna start taking pictures of the beautiful girls who make there way into my pathway of life. I did, in fact get a picture of her... but would just feel like a chauvenistic pig putting it up here on this blog, and plus it's rude. She's way out of my league, and she's got my stomach upside down for some reason. I can't believe I'm actually, "In love with a stripper..." Well, not really in love;) But you get the idea:)


Oh, but the main reason for this post. I ran into Baren earlier in the night before meeting Chloe, he saw I was kinda distressed and was like, "Son... let me tell you something....the only thing you have in this game is your mind. That's your tool. You have to take care of it. Without your mind you got nothing, and you've been blessed with a damn sharp one."

He went on to say, "If you're gonna chase woman, that's fine, if you wanna go get fucked up, that's alright to... (within moderation of course) but DO NOT MIX THE TWO. They don't mix. Smoking/gambling, drinking/gambling, drugs/gambling, woman/gambling... NONE of them mix. Gambling is in it's own category, it's my job. While doing my job I must have a clear and sharp mind. Stop being a dumbass. Stop following up big wins with big losses because you feel you can afford a loss. It's just stupid. Also, don't lie to yourself. Telling yourself you're not gonna drink/smoke/spend money on woman/party/play 24 hour sessions is just stupid.

You're gonna do all those things, just do them all in balance.

Balance is key to my success....

When I look back at these years, I want to be able to say...win or lose : *I did the best I could, I gave it everything I had*

Not only did I work my ass off, but it was fun as hell:)

My last sessions look good:
+$5,440
-$1,320
+ $900
+$150


Continue to get your act together, and the skys the limit!

Alright, I'm all caught up blogging. I got the major hands down, and wrote out all hands mis played. My mind should be CLEAR. I am where I am. Work on building up all your security deposit box BR's outside of the Wynn, as that money sticks a lot better as you just don't enjoy playing at other casinos nearly as much. Though the change of scenerio definately steps up your game. It's not as mondain.

Keep a clear mind
Keep your emotions in check
Don't give anything away, and remember this is a dream, what you have chosen to do, and as long as you love what you do... you're on a never ending vacation.

I was just arriving in Las Vegas around this date a year ago, and I'm here, settled in with a TON of experience under my belt now. Use it to your advantage and apply what you know. It's all for nothing if you don't apply it. Remember again, that drinking = chaos. :)

I feel good, look good, smell good, and damn I love this shit!:)