Genting Poker Room - REVIEW

The Poker Dream tournament series was recently held at Genting Resorts, however that is not what I am writing about today. On the other end of the resort inside SkyCasino's Gold Club is the Genting Cash Game Poker Room. 

Before we delve deeper into this, I want to clarify my understanding of the formation of this poker room. There is a bunch of people who love poker, love to see a legalized poker room in Malaysia, and has worked very hard to make it happen. Then there is the only casino in Malaysia, ever the monopoly, that doesn't understand poker nor care about it. And finally there is staff that is hired to work in this new poker room, some probably don't know poker either or care to learn, or know the difference between it and other table games. Now let's jump into the review.

The room itself is quite nice, inside the Gold Club area, so unless you have a Gold/Platinum card, there is an extra step of going to the service counter and getting your card verified for the day to allow access. The first day I went the service counter was closed. But I have voiced this to the management and hopefully they will rectify this. Once you get there you are greeted by the staff to register your interest and phone number so they can contact you when a seat is available. The staff are generally friendly and helpful except maybe one or two. 

When I got there at about noon, there were two full tables and 40+ people on the waiting list. However I was told they can only open new tables at 3pm. I understand they have staffing issues but it was frustrating to have to walk all the way up there again 3 hours later. Similar situation at 3am, even though there were 4 full tables running, they forced two tables to close because of their dealer shift arrangements. Any good poker player will tell you the best time to play is usually after midnight till early morning when players are tired, tilted and spewing. 

All games spread were ante games, meaning you have to post in every position to play. Stakes ranged from 10/20 up to 50/100. On weekdays I was told they run 5/10 as well. The tables are pretty soft. There were legitimately real newbies trying out the game. Caribbean stud players, baccarat players venturing into poker for the first time. There were also beginners who know a bit of poker but playing super badly. However on the flip side, the rake is relatively high. The higher the stakes the lower the cap, for example 10/20 cap was 7.5bb but 50/100 cap was 3bb. But being the only legal poker room in Malaysia I guess you pay for that premium. But what I didn't understand was the preflop rake and split pot rake. Most line ups I played were beatable, but the rake plus ante bleeds the stack really fast so unless you can adjust your playing style and range, it's going to be tough. They do offer insurance which I don't mind but it does slow the game down, and I don't like that they count out the pot so newbies make less sizing mistakes. There's no running twice nor straddling allowed. 

Most of the staff there were amazing. Good service, polite, funny, helpful, everything Mr this, Uncle that, sir here, madam there. Very well trained. Dealers were 50/50, some super experienced and fast, some still learning and shaky but understandable. Overall they were chatty and friendly though. There were one or two supervisors that I wasn't impressed with though but on the whole staff was top notch. 

All the luxuries we have come to expect from a poker room wasn't there though. No WiFi, no free water, no free food, no power banks or charging ports, no player points, no reward or loyalty system, no jackpot, no bonuses. If Singapore is a FINE country, then Genting is a NO casino. Then there's no shorts, no slippers, no backpacks, no photos, no hoods (can wear hoodie but can't put the hood on), no caps, no sunglasses, no vaping, no smoking. Genting sounds like a bitchy gold digger who just wants your money but says NO to everything else you want! 

Will I return? Yes because it is still a very good game. But sometimes I think about the hassle of going up this hill, to the most expensive "town" in the whole country, surround yourself with crowds of people, only to be raked so much and given so little, I am not so sure anymore. If the field remains this soft then I would, but if not, I rather go somewhere else. 

By now hopefully you should know which party is responsible for the positives and which for the negatives. As much as I want to support my friends who want the best for poker in Malaysia, I hate to support a money hungry monopoly family that doesn't care about ripping people off. I am sure some of the management as just as frustrated as I am and were bullied into accepting ridiculous terms by the casino and I feel bad for them, because they really have done a great job on the aspects within their control. 

Poker Dream Genting Malaysia Report

I was not planning on going to this event as I just returned from a two-week trip to Hanoi. But after meeting up with a couple of poker players Thursday evening, I had the spur of the moment idea to attend for the weekend. Got back home at about 1am, booked my flight and hotel and was off to the airport a few hours later.

Because I booked everything pretty late, and I took the luxury route of getting a private car to and from the airport, each ride taking almost 2 hours, I had to pay a premium for this trip. Not long after I arrived, with the help of a friend, I got a membership card, paid for the main event buy in, and off I go!

Historic photo

The turnout was amazing, although I had to contend with a tough table. On my table were a few recognizable Malaysian top players like Kar Hou, Peter Sim, Neil Lawrence, Eric Leong, Isaac Iz and a Triton dude. I was doing okay until the last few levels of the day. Calling a 16bb jam by Kar Hou from the sb with A5 on the bb. He had T9 but he couldn't hold. Jammed the rest with J7 into A7. 

However on the bright side it was great to see so many old faces, some of which I have known since 2014/2015, some even before when we used to play 1/1 some 20+ years ago. The poker community somehow feels like an extended family. We see each other during our trips, even when we lose, we like to see our friends win. For me it was a nice "reunion" of sorts. But now I am in a hole for the trip. So off to the cash game tables we go.

Got bored waiting for a session to start

The main game there was 10/20 with a 10 ante, but I briefly played 50/100 as well. Overall I found the field to be soft, many newbies literally playing the game for the first time. I had a lot of fun picking them off, but I also got bitten a few times when they couldn't fold to an overpot bet with just a draw etc. I had a couple of sessions I had to actually grind it out for a win. But to have a thriving poker industry, you need new players, and you need to let them win once in a while for them to stay interested in the game. So I don't mind the bad beats if it means sacrificing for the "greater good". There was an uncle, literally playing for the first time, sat down with about $1000, doubled up by yours truly on his first hand, later going on to get full doubles twice to run it up to $12000, only to donk half of it away later, and I got back more than what I lost in the double I gave him. 

I am not going to review the poker room, but maybe I will write a separate piece for those wanting more information about it. But I must say there were a lot of positives along with negatives as well. However do not be quick to point blame because there are a lot of people involved in the room and it's management. Some I must say have done really well, some are just their usually stingy self. 

Flights          - 556
Hotel            - 460
Expenses      - 226
Transport      - 291
Tournament  - 3000
Cash game    + 9425
Overall         + 4892
Experiencing Malaysia's first legitimate international tournament and cash game - PRICELESS

The trip was super tiring, and I probably ate something bad as I was suffering on the ride back to the airport. But to pick up a +4892 profit (approx $1100) for a couple days of play isn't too shabby. I will probably return to play more cash games there when my schedule allows. Until the next time, see you guys. 

APT Hanoi (VSOP) Report

Wasn't I just in Hanoi a month ago? Yes I was! That's how much I love Hanoi and the games there. And like I said, this time round I brought my secret weapon. Those who know me personally will know what that means. My last trip I felt I pushed myself too hard and put myself in bad situations where I made mistakes. This time round I was more controlled however the cash game stakes we slightly lower than last time. 

Previous trip I managed a deep run in a side event for a 2k+ cash, this time I managed a deepish run in the main even for a 2k+ cash. But overall still lost money on tourneys. I finished 45th in the Championship and wanted really badly to cash to make money for my backers but alas it wasn't meant to be. On the bright side I feel that I am playing better and better on tourneys. 

But my bread and butter is still cash games. After grinding for 3 full days in the Main event I made a whopping profit of about $1.5k. But on my best night in the cash games I was up $5k plus. Sure, there's no glory in cash games and no chance to 60x your money in a few days. But, still it is my forte and I really should stick to it more. I just wish some potential backer could have watched me play and be impressed enough to back me in high stake games. There were a few hands that I was very proud of for example:

- Only losing 4bb with AA
- Min click bluff with air twice
- Overbet pot for value at least 5 times
- Making correct hero folds (lost count)
- All in bluff with blockers twice

This time round I also limited my mistakes. I probably made 2-3 mistakes that cost me a total of about $1.5k but more than made up for them by winning some pots that I shouldn't have. 

Tournaments         - 31m (including my main event cash)
Buy action            - 9m
All expenses         - 40m (airfare + hotel + food + shopping + incidentals)
Cash games          + 243m (modest win considering it's roughly +8x buy ins)
Sold action 5%     - 12m

Overall                  + 151m (approx $6k)

Every time I can have a profitable trip I'm happy and thankful, that also means $600 will go towards charity ($450 left) But it's a modest profit considering the buy in sizes. I had 3 losing days and 3 sessions that I had to grind out from a big hole. But I'll take it. Plus all the amazing food we've had and the memories we've made. You bet I will return to Hanoi again soon. 

APT Hanoi (Grand Loyal) Report

It's been a while since my last post. Sorry I have been a bit lazy to post and I do have my reasons for not posting earlier. Reason being is I am actually flying back to Hanoi in two days for the next APT at VSOP. Yes Hanoi was that good that I am going back for the 2nd time in 2 months.

Juicy deep stack games

Let's start with tournaments. Vietnamese fields are typically softer than other Asian stops however that did not help my results too much. I played well in the opening event only to lose with A8 on a 88J flop to runner runner 9Q. Then in the second event I played I ran deep only to fall 4 spots from the money. I had a really bad table draw for the main with probably the toughest table in the whole tournament but I finally managed a deep run in one of the side events finishing 2nd for a modest score. This was my third 2nd place finish in tourneys so I am okay with that. However it could have been sweeter had I won any of the last two 47/53 flips, I would have taken down my 8th trophy of my career. 

When it was down to heads up, my opponent actually offered me to take first place money but conceding the trophy to him. I had a small chip lead, and I felt I was more experienced than he was, so I turned him down. I could have offered him the trophy for better than first place money and he would have taken it, but in my mind I wanted to win legitimately, and even if I lose, I rather lost from playing for it. Where is the integrity of the game if he basically "bought" the trophy from me? But I went home about $2000 poorer because of it. So much for having principles LOL. To be honest, overall I still lost money from tourneys but this deep run at least gave me back my sanity. I know I am not a top tourney player, but to get beat time and time again, mostly by players much worser than me really plays on my mind. Maybe now I've gotten the monkey off my back I can play freer and string some results together.

Poker and coffee

Cash game was a different story. The Hanoi game was amazing. Crazy maniacs tossing chips around, buying in deep, calling off light, bluffing often and sometimes without logic. However I made 3 major mistakes that cost me maybe about $6000. I think mentally I am not fit, my stamina is not what it used to be, I pushed for marginal spots and didn't sleep enough. Also I was in a couple of sick bad beat hands, AA lost to KK all in pre, two pairs got two outered for a $8000 pot, 15 out draws on the turn ran twice missed twice for $5000.... Had the cards gone my way a little I should have walked away from my last trip with a big profit. Instead after tallying all cash and tourneys I made a small loss. No point sugar coating it, it was just not good enough. But this time round I have a better game plan, going to be more focused and I am bringing my secret weapon 😆 This trip I had a scary episode in my hotel room. I will share this on a different post another day. 

Best duck noodles of my life

I've visited Hanoi twice before this trip and both times I wasn't impressed. This trip however I got to see a different side to Hanoi that I love. Food was awesome and I met a few really nice people. Something tells me Hanoi may become my favourite destination for the upcoming years. 

POKER GUIDE TO : Poker in Madrid (lots of photos)

Most of you are watching Triton Madrid so I thought I write a review about Poker in Madrid, specifically at the Gran Via Casino where Paul Phua won his first Triton title last night. Heartiest congratulations!

Typical Spanish colorful market

Retiro Park, 10 minute walk from Gran Via Casino

I've been to Madrid twice, both times I played at the Gran Via. It is right in the middle of the city, close to many famous attractions like Plaza Major, Retiro Park, Royal Palace, etc. The casino is within an old building so it has a James Bond type feel to it. The interior is classy and feels more like a private club than a casino. When I was there they were spreading €1/3, 2/5, 5/10, 10/20 games. I had a good session on one of the €10/20 games where I won €8500 making my month long trip to Spain a profitable one. You can read more about that trip here. The weird thing about this casino is the cash games are run counter clockwise. To this day I still don't know the real reason why they do that and it's the only room that I've played in that does that. 

6-8 cash game tables almost every day

Ran good on €10/20

They serve free drinking water and pre-COVID even had free finger food and snacks but understandably now it has been removed. However the casino is close to many nice restaurants that are just minutes away. The higher stakes games are pretty tough but the PLO was quite soft in my opinion. I didn't play any of the lower stakes but they seem okay to play. I'm not sure about rake but I remembered it being quite reasonable compared to typical Asian rake systems. Dealers all speak fluent English but knowing some Spanish does help you make friends on the table. They have an effective queuing system and for €50 deposit they will give you a buzzer to let you know your seat is available. Staff are friendly and fast and tipping is welcomed and encouraged. 

I spent the whole month traveling to 8 cities in Spain. Madrid is a cosmopolitan city with deep history, beautiful architecture and wonderful food. Food in Spain can be on the salty side but still yummy nonetheless. I went to a restaurant that was featured in the late-Anthony Bourdain's show and his table and photos were displayed there proudly. Another must have is the Churros with chocolate and after trying most of the shops our favorite is still Las Farolas. For the famous Spanish breakfast tortillas head for Casa Dani for yummy egg and potatoes. 

Anthony Bourdain - GOAT food & travel host

Yummy yummy

Great food everywhere

Overall Spain is an affordable destination. Food, hotel, transportation are quite reasonably priced compared to most European cities. If you run well on €5/10 you should comfortably cover your expenses. Ours was on the high side as we did a lot of last minute travel and hotel bookings, mostly stayed in 4-star hotels and ate at nice restaurants. It is not unreasonable to spend €50 or less a day for everything. The people are mostly nice but some do not speak English. If you have the time you should visit nearby towns Segovia and Toledo. Unfortunately we had to choose one and didn't make it to Toledo but will definitely do so on our next visit. 

Segovia is breathtaking

Famous aqueduct still intact

APT Manila Cash Games Report

Ah well, I guess I am a cash game player after all. I have a love-hate relationship with tournament poker but cash game is like my best friend telling me to break up with tournaments 🤣 get out of an abusive relationship. But when tournaments are good, they are so so so good. But when they hurt, they hurt bad too. 

First session after just landing in hectic Manila I was off to a good start. Won enough to freeroll my first main event bullet. Was pretty happy about it but after firing three bullets in the main I was back in the red. So this time I was looking for bigger pots, bigger payouts. Playing 100/200 mp opens to 700, CO calls, I am on the button with 87hh I call. Local uncle in sb 3b to 2500, bb, mp, co calls so I called as well. Pot is now 12500. Flop comes K62hhx, uncle cbets 5000, mp folds, co calls, I call. Turn 9x. I got my open ended straight and flush draw. Uncle bets 10000 with about 40000 behind, CO now jams for 46000 total. The pot is now 83500 and now me with a decision. I don't think CO has a flush draw cause uncle's range is capped with not much fold equity, what kind of flush draws would CO jam with now? A9hh? 29hh? So my heart and straight outs are live. And I am getting greedy here. If I win this hand I am back in the black for the trip. I call hoping uncle calls behind giving me the best price for my draw, or if he folds, CO will run it twice with me. The latter happens but both rivers bricked out.

My stack before the hand

Couple of days later I visited a private game in town. When I got there the game switched to 100/200/500. I obliged wanting to have a big night if possible. The lineup was decent but the whales were all on my left and the grinders on my right. It didn't matter because I ran quite well. Hand of the night I had 55 and called the aggressor's open. Flop was AA5 I check raised the flop. Villain and the boss called. Turn blank I lead for a much bigger size to play for stacks boss folds villain calls. River another blank I jammed for his last 31k and he calls. Ended the session getting a freeroll for my championships event. 

Starting stack

Ending stack

We all know how that event went from my last post so now I am back to the grind. This time it was the best table I've seen on the casino 100/200 game. There were 4 Chinese guys on the table speaking Chinese but funny thing was they assumed I couldn't understand them! They were making comments about their hands (after the hands of course) but I just soaked in all the info and used it against them to outplay them. One hand I called a river bluff with 3rd pair and it was good. The guy complained to his friend and I tried my best to hold my poker face and not laugh. Lesson to all, never assume the players do not understand your language. I caught some hands pre so I played super aggressively and I guess they assumed I was a maniac fish. Best hand of the game came vs a solid reg though. Preflop utg1 limp HJ opens to 700, I am on the sb with 67o I called, bb and utg1 completes. Flop is 985ddx. HJ cbets 1000, I check raised to 2800, utg1 cold calls, HJ folds. My read on him is he has a good 9. Turn is a blank I bet 4000 he calls. River is another 9 but flush misses. I bet 14000 and he snap calls. My straight was good. 

Overall I won from cash games but not enough to cover my tournament losses. The last game of the trip was the most fun I had this visit. Unfortunately I don't know when my next cash game session will be nor where my next income stream will come from. Hope that you guys will also survive this recession that we are faced with and see you all again next time. 

APT Manila Tournament Report

The last time I played in a APT series was May 2019, almost 3 years ago. So when the schedule came out and COVID travel rules relaxed, I jumped at the opportunity to play. 

I played in the main event (3 bullets), PLO (2 bullets), NLH (2 bullets), Championships (1 bullet), Monster Stack (2 bullets) and I cashed in none of them. 😢 I have to be honest with myself, I played poorly in some events and spots but I played good in others. I also lacked the stamina I used to have. When I was grinding full time, I played 8-12 hours of poker a day and can jump into any session fresh and clear headed. Nowadays I play 8 hours every two weeks, so my mental strength isn't what it used to be. 

My "one-time" gorilla didn't work LOL

Some key hands could have meant a much different result if they went my way. Main event bullet 2 pre flop I 4b all in vs Mike Takayama my button vs his sb A7<K7. He thought I opened the button light and I thought he 3b the sb light, got it in good but King on the flop. 

PLO event I 4b all in preflop with AA98 got a tilt call by KJT3 flop JTx. NLH I made two 3b both times with A5 both times running into AK with ace high wet flops. 

Mid series I took a pause and told myself I didn't play the way I want to. I wasn't good enough. I prepared well before the Championships and went in playing really solid poker. I made day 2 with a very good stack but fizzled out. I had all preflop jamming hands when I had 50+bb. AK, AQ, AJ, 99, 88 at least 15 times but I could only open and only to be out flopped every time. When my stack dropped to less than 17bb I did not have a hand I could play with for the longest time. By the time I had 12bb left I had to jam with 66. One French guy tanked for a while and mucked. Chip leader called with QJ. The Frenchman announced that he had the same hand. But alas, flop was JJx. 

2 levels away from making Day 3

The final event I played was the monster stack. First bullet I squeezed with AJs to 30bb only to be overcalled by KTo. Flop was T high, I jam he called. Second bullet I managed to create a good stack 20 players in the money, when it was 28 left I 4b jammed with AK to be called by Japanese lady with A5. I did not win the hand. It would have given me a very good stack going into 7 players from ITM, instead I was now 20bb deep. She ended up finishing 5th by the way. Final hand was again 66 and called by KQ and Q on the flop and I busted 24th. 

Side note: I made a few new friends and it was fun seeing old ones. Some of them took home trophies, others going deep and cashing. Congrats guys and gals! Happy for you all. 

Of course I am disappointed and frustrated but I am proud of how I played in the end. I made some sick bluffs during this series too. One I was most proud of was I 3b commit myself OOP on the flop against a LAG with ten high no equity. I will write a post mortem on my cash games for this trip and there's more to be happy about from those. Tournament poker is tough. You can play perfectly for 3 days and one cooler you go home with nothing. But I have to be open and honest with myself, but also with those who follow my blog. Wish I had better news to report but that's okay. It is part of my journey and I will take it in stride.