Latest Macau Trip

Macau is always a tough trip because I finish work on Friday, I would rush to the ferry terminal, get there, check in, go to the casino and grind for 8-12 hours, then go back to sleep and repeat until I come back and go back to work.

This trip is especially tough, because I had a brutal day on Saturday.
1. I missed 7 combo draws in a row. Combo draws usually mean I am ahead or flipping. The pots ranged from HKD10k to 40k each time.
2. I ran QQ into KK for my entire stack
3. I got drawn out a few times for majority of my stack
4. I won 4 big pots with 46 and 56 off suit (that's how desperate I got)

Two hands in particular I want to share. One was a hand that I should have folded. Preflop I am UTG with AQ suited. I just doubled up not long ago, winning with a set. Feeling good I thought I lay a trap. Limping and raising. Button raised to 300 and I made it 900. (first mistake, too little) Then he called. Flop comes QT9 rainbow. Villain has a big stack so I proceeded cautiously. I checked my top pair to him. He bets another 900. I must call with top top and a back door flush draw. Turn a rainbow 7. I checked again. He bets 2000. By now I should have been aware something is really wrong. Somehow I keep thinking he has something like JT, QJ, J9. So I called. River blank and he shoves all in 6600. I tanked and called.

I regretted this hand so much that I really hated myself for making such a stupid call. What could he have called my 3b pre with? AQ, JJ, TT, 99, maybe JT, QJ, J9 suited. Flop I checked he bet. Maybe all of the above would have bet. Turn he bet again. Would JT, J9 and JJ continue? I don't think so. River shove. AQ, JJ, JT, QJ, J9 definitely won't shove. So I am left with TT or 99. He flips over 99. What a bad call on turn and river. Could have saved me 8600 and that point I was up 13k for the session. Instead I lost all my profit and ended up losing 5k that session. Key turning point. Bad mistake.

Last day, I thought I might stay away from poker, but then I changed my mind. I was waiting for a seat on 25/50 because I saw the 50/100 was very sharky, but I was tired of waiting so I played, and I bought in 20k! 5 hands in I won a couple of pots and was feeling good. No showdowns yet so I guess they think I might have been bluffing. Some of the players were waiting for bigger tables to open so they were just killing time and was very loose.

Straddle on to 200, 2 players posted blinds for joining the game, 4 limped the straddle so came to me on the cut off with KJ off. I thought I take a stab and made it 1400. Straddler calls, mid-post calls. I didn't like that. Flop 556 two hearts. Both checked. I thought to myself if I cbet somebody will check raise for sure and I can't call. So I played it safe and checked back. Pot was already around 5.5k mind you. Turn J (not heart), bingo! Top pair! Loving it! UTG leads out 2700, not cool. Mid-post calls! What could they have? I just flat. River comes another J! Cha-ching!

Both of them checked to me, and the pot is now 13.5k. I have 3rd nuts, and I doubt anyone can call me anyways. I bet 4700. UTG jams all in 15000!!! mid post folds and comes to me. I lose to 55, J6 and chops with any Jack. I think to myself, I have to call. If I lose, then it's a sick cooler. He flips over T high! Happy birthday to me :) I guess he didn't put me on a Jack when I flat the turn. River bet was so small maybe it looked like I was thin value betting my over pair. So a jam could get me to fold. I guess one of the rare times my passiveness got me a gift!