LAS VEGAS–I just took my worst beat of the WSOP. I won’t even bother to recount it, because the bad beat stories — while not as ubiquitous as last year when you could smoke in the halls here — are really more bad people stories, generally by the folks telling them.

But I will say this … I guess I can accept his calling my small raise pre-flop with those shit cards in the big blind. I even understand his check-reraise, thinking I was bluffing. But calling another couple hundred on my re-reraise?

I stood up from the $2/$5 NL table literally wanting to walk up to the guy — who was previously a solid player before going on tilt about an orbit-and-a-half earlier — and punch him hard and square in the side of the head. Yeah, that would make me feel better! And everyone at the table would know he had it coming. But alas, I’ve got other good stuff in life going on, so violence is probably not the answer. Still, I wanna. Mix in a slow-roll and you can understand why I would shrug my shoulders if major harm came this human’s way in the near future.

Terry K was at the table. Perhaps he can fill you in on the details.

Buy-in(s): $600 (2)
Cash out: $0
Net: -$600

Lessons: Maybe it doesn’t work so well to play silly with your first buy-in, knowing you’ll get the calls you need with your second buy-in and beyond. Might need to rethink that strategy … as it seems to invite these sorts of bad beats. That, or violence is the answer.

LAS VEGAS–A few people have asked how my own poker is going here at the WSOP. All I can say with certainty is that I’ve misplayed a lot of hands. Having been here less than a week, I’ve played eight sessions:

Red Rock – 1/2 NL
Buy-in(s): $420 (3)
Cash out: $421
Synopsis: When down all night, you rock if you can get away anywhere near even.

Rio – second chance tourney (reg. req.)
B: $225
C: $0
S: Bad chip selection proves costly. Out in level 3.

Rio – single-table satellite
B: $125
C: $0
S: 5th place. Shaking off the rust.

Rio – 2/5 NL
B: $600 (2)
C: $1,473
S: I am smart. S-M-R-T.

Rio – single-table satellite
B: $125
C: $0
S: 3rd place. Old Texas cowboy threatens to beat the crap out of hyper-talky obnoxious guy with his cane. One bad call in the end, but I think I’m getting the hang of it.

Rio – single-table satellite
B: $175
C: $500
S: 2nd place chop. I become dominant chip leader by flopping quads early and playing the 27o with power late. “That’s how you play the hammer!” I shout. But then I get totally outplayed heads-up, and bust out re-raising all-in with the hammer vs. pocket 3s. Oops. (Cursing of all bloggers ensues.)

Rio – single-table satellite
B: $175
C: $0
S: One very bad play early — trying to get clever with 7-8o — leaves me unable to recuperate.

Rio – 2/5 NL
B: $600 (2)
C: $968
S: Very roller-coastery. Get below average cards and play them slightly below average (failing to capitalize on two monsters).

Dan’s WSOP Net: +$917

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LAS VEGAS–So pretty much everything at the WSOP this year is an improvement. Except for the media rules … and the cash game board. Last year, if you recall, they used a fancy computer system which seemed plenty easy to read, and now is pretty much standard at all Vegas poker rooms. Yet, for whatever reason, this year they have gone back to a handwritten white board.

Another difference at the cash tables … this year the dealers can play. They have to be off-duty and out of uniform of course — they’re not even allowed to wear white shirts. But they can play at the Rio.

I learned all this while sitting down for some $2/$5 NLHE action. Played kinda well, but made two costly mistakes: 1) failing to bet the nut flush in early position (the other guy had a jack-high flush, and the player behind him had a straight — easily coulda gotten paid off by both of them with a value bet into an already very large pot), and 2) calling an overbet on the river with 4th pair. Still, not too shabby …

Buy-in(s): $600 (2)
Cash out: $1,473
Net: +$873

Highlight: Almost re-raising one of the CardPlayer kids with two overcards … only to think better of it and muck, whereupon he revealed his flopped quads.

LAS VEGAS–Was killing some time here, er … doing investigative reporting on the Second Chance tourney system. These are great events in terms of payout, but tough because you start with only 1,000 chips. My very first hand was KK. They worked out OK for me. My next hand didn’t go so well … On the turn I meant to make a feeler-stealer bet of 200 … but I accidentally threw in a purple and black … 600. Oops. I had to call the re-raise all-in for 125 more, right? But still, terrible terrible physical chip handling.

The next hand I would get pocket 2s. (Limp-folded.) And then two hands later I’d get pocket 9s … would take down a small pot. And then two hands after that I was looking at — and eventually had to let go of — pocket jacks.

Four pocket pairs in the first orbit. Left me with about 2/3 of my a starting stack.

Hung in there barely playing for a few more orbits, and moved in for 500 chips with A-10. It was a really smart place to make the move — blinds at 25/50, and two limpers in front of me — but then I lost the psychology game when a reasonably stacked and pleasant enough loudmouth (think JJ Evans from Good Times) asked me, “How much you likez yo hand?”

In retrospect I know what I shoulda done (do you?) … but instead I answered with, “I like it enough to go all-in.” That told him all he needed to know, and he called with AJ.

Overall, I got pretty good cards … played them about dead average … Made some clearly fine plays (and laydowns) and a few very obvious mistakes … the results of which have me here … typing to you, instead of still shuffling chips.

Buy-in: $200+25
Cash out: $0
Net: -$225

LAS VEGAS–Door-to-door the trip took 24 hours. That includes a nap in New Mexico, a snail’s crawl across the Hoover Dam, and briefly getting lost in Summerlin. By the time I showed up at Rounder Club West (home to Dr. Steve and The Don, oft-frequented by one or more Dulys, and where I’ll be staying my first two weeks in Vegas) I was tired and stinky … and itchin’ to play. After exchanging some pleasantries and getting my internet hooked up, I eventually made way to the new Red Rock Casino, where I sat down for some $1/$2 NL action.

Nice place. Comfy poker room — 20 tables … and let me just say, I bet Doyle Brunson, even two or three years ago, never coulda imagined a day where low-stakes players would be crowding around tables with marble racetracks. Anyhow, on the first hand I get pocket 5s in late position. I limp, no-set no-bet, and eventually I have to fold. Two hands later I get them again. This time I raise, get a couple callers … the flop = check, check, check … I bet on the turn and take it down. Cool. Straight-forward poker, pretty much, until I get them for the third time.

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