PCA ‘23 mini-TR if anybody cares or is curious or here

[SinglesHitter]

Got here yesterday and played a lot of blackjack, with decent results. Saw a couple poker buddies but bc it’s mostly NL mtts, I don’t really know that many people here, compared to wsop.

There is an 1,100 HORSE starting at 3pm today. It’s a 2 day event w 3 re-entries allowed, so I’ll play it, since it’s only 1k+ mix mtt and field should be weak enough for me to be profitable. Hot blonde on PS live staff Maria said theres some cash mix. Looking forward to playing that stuff.

Baha Mar is newer and nicer than Atlantis. Something pretty messed up happened last night w a cabbie who drove me from Atlantis to Baha Mar. I stupidly walked away after paying for the fare without my suitcase. Security did a great job in getting his plate from video surveillance and calling his company. When he finally came back, 90 minutes later, I was too relieved to check my suitcase for missing valuables. But sure enough, 3 of my 9 1k Baha mar chips were stolen before he returned it. Although casino can’t do anything to compensate me, they noted that bc locals are forbidden from gambling in the casinos, those 3 chips are worthless to him. Maybe I’m theory, but he’ll find a way to sell em I figure. Gonna put in a little lobbying for Druff to get some recognition/opportunities (maybe through Stars? but I don’t have extremely high hopes. Looking forward to trolling as many young NL prodigies as possible

[Daly]

Im interested.

Lot of the players who were in south florida said they were going to the bahamas

[SinglesHitter]

About to walk to convention center where everything poker is. Here at the pool, Matusow just rolled by and I’m pretty sure Bryn K is on a couch, above the level where the pool is. Only friend I’ve seen is Benny Glaser. Wherever I’ve traveled for poker in last half dozen years, I seem to see him frequently. He won his first bracelet on a day 3 where I was 1/16 to start and I like to joke that if I’d closed it out, it might’ve catapulted me to the amazing career he’s made for himself, in mostly mix mtts. No basis in reality but a guy can dream. Met a hot blonde from Ottawa and a decent looking real estate agent from Toronto. So Canada’s definitely in the house (my gf realized 6 hours before the trip that she didn’t know where her passport is). Obv decent amount of attractive curvy dark-skinned ladies - it can be funny to watch them walk past a group of young white guys and see their jaws drop when they’re laser locked on said curves. Time to head to the poker. I can absolutely guarantee if I see poker bunny, I’ll get a funny selfie

[simpdog]

Any further updates?

[Daly]

Is it still set up where the only poker is tournament poker and no cash games?

[SinglesHitter]

Plenty of updates incoming. Enough to fill a long magazine article or a book short enough for even me to read. Could use some instructions on how to post pics (if that’s possible). You always hear that no matter how bad things can get, there’s always someone worse off. Well right now, I’m that guy who’s definitely worse off lol

[SinglesHitter]

Is it still set up where the only poker is tournament poker and no cash games?

There were cash games but no mix cash, only plo and nlhe. I think staked ran as high as 10/25 or so. I only played one session (tournament). Bbl tonight to do the hard work of writing stuff that’s probably easier to say than write but no biggie either way. Druff knows some of the story

[SinglesHitter]

The Nassau Shuffle

I went from the airport to Baha Mar, on the way to Atlantis. Saw some friends, played a little, checked out the poker scene. Aesthetics were nice but the lack of cash games other than plo/NL was disappointing, if not surprising. Then I go to Atlantis to check in at night.

During the 15-20 minute drive, I made good conversation w the cabbie. I travel a fair amount and usually find them to be chock full of info I might not get from the state tourism website. They can be helpful in odd situations and it’s never a bad thing to have as many local #s as possible. And this was a youngish guy I could talk to. Everything is great, he drops me off, and I head upstairs after checking in. With my messenger bag but not my suitcase. Because my suitcase was obviously left behind in the taxi while I was yucking it up like a tourist. I’m freaking out - mostly because my prescribed controlled meds were in the suitcase, along with 9 1k yellow/blue Baha mar chips. Again, mostly because of the meds.

An hour and a half after alerting security, the cabbie comes back with my bag and I give him a 50. I had also previously told every valet on duty they’d get a hundo if I got my suitcase back. I was elated to pass out another 4 blue notes to the locals and they weren’t thirsty, but definitely appreciative. I just didn’t want to take any chances w my meds and luggage. I gave the head of Atlantis security a hundo during and a hundo after the return of suitcase. So I was like 650 deep bc of my mistake. Why not compound the mistake?

Bahamians are not allowed to gamble in those two casinos. It’s a good law, all in all, I figure. So the chips are technically “worthless” to them. Unless they know someone who knows a tourist etc. When I finally do check my luggage, there are only 6 chips remaining and my cologne gf gave me was also missing. So this mf went thru my shit and took out 3 chips. I waited all night out there for him to come back to do a pick up. He never came back.

Now here’s where the Nassau Shuffle kicks into high gear. The head of security, who will remain nameless publicly (but not privately, if any non-LE wants to know bc they’re going down there) then calls me the next night and tells me that some tourist left him a 1k chip tip and asking if I’d like to buy it. I told him sure, for 600. And I told him to stay in touch, but every time after that when he called me, it was bad timing and I never saw him again.

Yes, I know this and that. The opportunity fell into his lap and he made the most of it. It’s two separate transactions - first his comeup conspiring w the taxi driver. And second, his efforts to get some legal tender for his “share” of the score - to my benefit. I can’t hate on him. Once I left the door open by leaving my suitcase inside, I could only hope to contain, not stop, any unlawful withdrawals from my luggage. I greased the right palms and made it well known what I had in there. But I knew that besides the meds, I’d be lucky to see any of those chips. Well, I guess if not for the fact that Bahamians can’t legally gamble or possess chips from the big two casinos on the island.

I received a couple more calls from the guy, but only did the one transaction. As I’ll get to it, there were many challenges and obstacles I threw my own way. From then on, there’s 2-3 more noteworthy stories, including some actual (limit) poker content from the one tourney I played.

[Dan Druff]

Great trip reports so far. Enjoying it.

While you are fucked when at the mercy of third world countries to do you a favor, I would have not bought back the chips from this shitty head of security. I probably would have set him up, by informing the hotel manager what was going on, and then done the transaction in view of the cameras.

They make a lot of money from the PCA there. It just came back. Pokerstars could apply pressure on them to do the right thing. If I didn't get satisfaction from the hotel manager, I would have gone to Pokerstars and asked for their assistance.

I really hate giving scammers what they want.

I still remember when my dad sold our family car in the mid-80s. The transaction seemed fine, and everything was standard. 18 months later, the dude calls my dad and says the car broke down, and he wants his money back. LOL!! That's not how used cars work, obviously. It's not like it broke down the next day and the guy suspected problems having been covered up. This was 18 fucking months later, on a car the guy knew was already old. Anyway, the guy wouldn't listen to reason, and then sued my dad. The asshole tried to demand tens of thousands of dollars in damages for his inability to drive to work, and lots of lol stuff which would never work. My dad finally hired a lawyer to defend the whole thing.

At one point, the opposing lawyer said, "This whole thing is going to cost you $20,000 by the time you defend it, even if you win. We're offering to drop the entire thing for $2,000."

My dad said back, "I'd rather give $20,000 to my attorney than $2,000 to your client who is trying to rip me off."

They ended up dropping the suit.

[SinglesHitter]

That’s a good car buy/sell story and I like the line your father took there. And I’d recommend pretty much anybody else in my position to do as you suggest. I guess different paths can still lead to the same end road.

I reckon we both do alright from gambling and that we aren’t among the easiest to scam, people pay us when they owe etc. But perhaps different means to reach a similar end game? That nobody will have to worry about the law, due to my cooperation, is too hard for me to change now, after all these years doing things one way. I’m as stubborn as I am stupid, as next night in Bahamas will illustrate lol.

Here’s a little “would you rather?” game anybody can chime in to:

Would you rather sleep in a piss-covered cell on this trip? Or finish day 1 of your tourney as the chip leader, only to never play another hand (but still bust itm)? Can bring out the supersized facepalm for this one haha

[Dan Druff]

That’s a good car buy/sell story and I like the line your father took there. And I’d recommend pretty much anybody else in my position to do as you suggest. I guess different paths can still lead to the same end road.

I reckon we both do alright from gambling and that we aren’t among the easiest to scam, people pay us when they owe etc. But perhaps different means to reach a similar end game? That nobody will have to worry about the law, due to my cooperation, is too hard for me to change now, after all these years doing things one way. I’m as stubborn as I am stupid, as next night in Bahamas will illustrate lol.

Here’s a little “would you rather?” game anybody can chime in to:

Would you rather sleep in a piss-covered cell on this trip? Or finish day 1 of your tourney as the chip leader, only to never play another hand (but still bust itm)? Can bring out the supersized facepalm for this one haha

Now let's hear the rest

[SinglesHitter]

Horsing Around

After playing blackjack most of the next night and guaranteed not to sleep much before this 1,100 HORSE w 3 re-entries tourney - only mix tourney at 4 figs+ price point - I’m looking forward to catching up w some old friends and possibly make new friends and/or some money. There were some very tough players like Benny, who’s probably best mix tourney player; and he’s coming off a 2nd for 2.8 in December at the Wynn (which I didn’t realize at the time). There was an interesting all or nothing 500k Ft on pokergo that I just didn’t have energy to find out how the thing worked. Pleasure to play w Ant Zinno and a player I didn’t know at all, but was solid and aggressive and had good energy, Scott bohlman. Philip Hui I’ve played with before and he’s very good and focused.

This was my 15th live tourney (all in the 1,100-1,500 range except a 560 and a 10k) and despite paltry winnings, my roi is ok and my results have been decent. Playing a mix tourney at wsop against some great players and some recs is fun and rewarding a few times a year. Horse isn’t played as cash game hardly ever. This 2 day event started off pretty well. I hovered near the chip lead most of the day, finishing as the chip leader. 9 of us are coming back, with 6 paid and small 1st place of 13k due to 37 entries. I felt like I had a big edge against all but the aforementioned players and I wasn’t giving up much, if anything to most of them either. Bluffraising 6th in stud hi w a non-threatening board against decent players was 2 for 2 and both big pots. Besides that just ran solid.

I walked back to the hotel w Benny and learned about this massive Wynn event in December and some of his recent travels. And this is when things started to get ugly. Quite ugly indeed. In hindsight, I wished I’d done what the good pro player does and get some rest before the final day. It had been a good trip overall, despite getting burgled of 3k chips by the cabbie. But nope, I decided to play a little blackjack first and we parted ways. I didn’t even tell him I was going to play iirc - I think I just pretended I was going back to the room too lol. Have to go, will bbl to finish

[SinglesHitter]

Don’t Cry Spilt Jack

The chips were burning a hole in my pocket. So I did what any good degen with the chip lead and a restart in 12 hours would do. I let a few of them go, and after we parted ways at blackjack table, I began trudging through the casino. By this time, I had a room at Baha mar as well. Walking from the casino and through the hallway towards the elevator to my room, a group of 8-9 people were walking towards the casino. It was a mix of male/female - typical late 20s tourist crowd, not looking for trouble, but all with a drink in hand at the troublesome hour of 5am.

The pack was led by 3 women, sloppy drunk and swaying as they bumped into each other trying to show each other their Insta-ready pics on their phones. I got skinny and tried to slide thru unnoticed. It was not to be. One young lady walked into me and bounced off my left shoulder. The nasty mixed drink covered my ankle and doused my shirt. It was a fitting costume for a clown who should’ve already been in bed. I mustered up the auto-gentleman reaction, “Oh, I’m sorry. Are you ok?” The response came with an unfriendly and unfocused glare, “Actually, no. I’m not ok.” Her drink also spilt on her long and thick legs. I removed my filter.

“Ok, well I was trying to be nice about you walking into me. You walked into me right? But if you’re going to be a cunt about it, then go fuck yourself.” I looked not at the woman who had beef with me, but at the group of fellas accompanying their lady friends. They didn’t look happy but they also looked confused. The girl’s two female friends were not as cowed. They rushed me, loudly yelling at me to “get the fuck outta here!!”, which, even if their father owned the casino, might not be within her purview. After their aggression and hands in my face were close enough, I forehanded a drink out of one of the ladies’ hands like I was Marin Cilic. Then I ran right to the biggest dude and squared up, just assuming it was going to pop off. He slurred out “Fuck you!” But he didn’t drop his drink or even bend his knees. He didn’t want no smoke. Out of my peripheral I see the 3 girls coming back for more. Backpedaling like a cornerback, I threw out a couple jabs that landed on the button, knocking one girl in her ass. The next one got a quick check hook with the same results. It has been a while since I’d hit a live target, but I still possessed the natural hand speed and coordination that got me to a title fight in an ISKA cruiserweight bout, years ago. One of the smaller guys came at me and I got him with a glancing cross. He decided to change the protest from violent to non-violent, and merely yelled obscenities as I fast walked away.

Before I got to the elevators, security grabbed me and brought me back to where this group was now trying to file charges. I was detained but let go, after they told me they’d find me if they needed more info. I remained calm throughout. It wasn’t my first time in trouble at 5am. Not even my first time in a Caribbean nation beginning w the letter B. I thought I knew what to do. I grabbed my stuff and moved back to Atlantis, scurrying out a side door to the valet stand where the safety of a cab was a welcome sight. By the time I got to my room it was light out and the adrenaline dump hadn’t really started. I showered off the night and went to sleep.

Fwiw, I had never before put my hands on a woman before that night. And I have ZERO REGRETS about my actions on that morning. More to come . . .

[Daly]

Well this story took a turn i wasnt expecting.

Sucks you got put in that position

[SinglesHitter]

Chipleader Going Into Final Day of 1,100 Horse - Which Stu Ungar will show, The ‘97 or ‘98 version?

After finally getting to bed, hours after the perky tourists had eaten their breakfast and headed out for a day of healthy, active fun, I knew I was going to show up late. My chiplead was small and with guys like Benny (7mm in winnings) and Zinno (11mm) and Phil Hui (4mm), I knew I had my work cut out for me, even if I showed up on time. So I didn’t bother setting an alarm clock.

One would’ve thought that taking Xanax at 10am on no sleep wouldn’t be best before a final table. But my adrenaline dump was too slow cuz of all the adderall and the smile that kept crossing my face thinking about my check hook to the WNBA cutout. When her fat ass hit the floor, she had a look on her face like she’d just asked a loser to go to prom and he’d told her he already had a date. It was a mix of shock and embarrassment; just as she deserved. But when the benzos kicked in, I was out.

Upon groggily waking up and scrolling thru my messages, I realized both what time it was and what place I had finished in the tourney. I also realized what a class act and how unintentionally funny Zinno was. It was a bittersweet news. The conversation went like this:

2:37 Yo
2:38 buddy
2:38 we’re about to start

6:01 Well good news for you; you made the $
6:01 I hope you’re ok
6:02 You got 5th for $3,250 (pound emoji)

To recap this amazing human’s texts. To his opponent. He tried to get me up and sacrificed his own EV in doing so. But the second round of texts were truly a treasure. Keep in mind that of the 9 of us coming back for Day 2, only 6 would make the money and Ant had decent chips. By 6pm, he had already busted out of the money. Yet, he was still considerate enough to follow the tourney and report my “results”. By far the funniest moment of the trip this far, though, was his unabashed delight in congratulating me, via a 👊 emoji. Like I had been his designated driver, or brought him food or Starbucks without being asked. Generous with his time and spirit, leaving me to study the meaning of the 👊 emoji, until I finally lold for a good 3 minutes straight. I mean, who congratulates the chipleader who doesn’t show up, for finishing ITM? Ant Zinno, that’s who. I can only imagine how many gofundmes he’s donated to.

I sheepishly made my way over to get paid and contemplated whether or not I gained life EV by locking up 5th and not finishing out of the money and been tilted, as a result. Or would I have slayed some of these top pros (though Benny was only player that was better than me in this particular mix) and won the 13+ up top. It’s close. By now, I’d had enough of the Bahamas and the Bahamas had had enough of me (so I thought). I decided to stay in and leave a couple days early, changing my flight plans to leave for Logan on the 31st. Smooth sailing from here, right guys? Right??