So I decided to a make a trip out to Vegas by myself. I wanted to get a lot of poker in and visit my godson. I planned my trip a couple of days before Christmas. MLK weekend seemed right because it was a three day weekend. So back to Vegas.

I arrived at San Francisco Int'l at 12:45pm for my 1:45pm flight. This time I took US Airways. (pretty good deals if you can find them on Priceline) I actually arrive in Vegas a little over an hour later, super fast flight. I get into the airport, and I thought the airport would be empty because of other reviews on AVP, but the airport was actually really busy. Maybe because of the NFL playoff games and also because of the three day weekend. My girlfriend's sister picked me up from the airport, and we go to her house. I play with my godson for a while, eat carne asada fries from Roberto's(bomb by the way), and just chill.

Around 9pm, I get dropped off at Imperial Palace. I booked my room on the actual Imperial site. $81 for two nights. Not bad for center strip. After walking all the way in the back to my sketchy looking room, I just drop off my stuff and head to Bally's. I've had past success at this casino because of the very beatable competition. My plan was to win as much money on the first night, so I would be able to hopefully play ahead the rest of the trip. I sit down to a new table that starts a little after 10. I buy-in for the $300 max buy-in. I play for about 5 hours. Only one memorable hand. Around 2:15, I'm up about $175, and I get KQ off suit. Preflop raise of $15 by an early position player. I, along with 3 players, call. There is roughly $75 in the pot. The flop is Q,9,5 rainbow. A couple checks in front, and I bet $40. All fold except one in front of me. This player is left with $125 after calling my bet. The turn is a king of clubs, putting two on the board. I put him all in, and he reluctantly calls. I'm pretty sure I'm ahead. I'm thinking about the $350 pot already. The river is a club, and he turns over A8 of clubs. Play for another 45 minutes and leave $17 up. By the way, '83 World Champ Tom McEvoy sat down at my table and played for 2 hrs. Pretty cool.

Wake up around 10:30am after a pretty peaceful night of sleep. I walk over to the Bellagio and grab a Philly Cheesesteak at Snacks. (worth buying again) I head over to the Bellagio poker room and start playing at 12:30pm. Played with this guy Ruben, from London, and his buddy. Pretty good fun. Normal session with good play. Thanks Phil for the quad 7's. Leave at 9:30pm up $450.over to Chipotle and grab a burrito and chips. After that quick meal, I head over to the Venetian. Play for 4hrs, card dead the entire time and lose $100.

Wake up around 9:30am and head back over to the Bellagio. 45 minutes in I have jacks. I raise to $15, guy next to me raises to $30, and his buddy next to me calls the $30. Flop is 10,9,5. I check, next guy checks, and the last position guy bets $100. I tank. I decide to go all in for about $90 more. The original reraiser calls with only $75 left, and the player calls. I think I'm dead. Original reraiser has aces. I lift my jacks up, saying I have jacks and muck. A couple guys quickly say, "What about the side pot?" At the same time when they asked that questio, the other player flipped over KQ clubs with a flush draw on the flop. The dealer then says that my hand isn't mucked if I didn't remember the side pot. Bellagio has a tourist type rule on mucked cards. As long as the cards didn't touching the muck pile, they're technically still live. The dealer flips up my jacks and awards me the pot.
The player with KQ is upset. I wasn't even arguing. I knew I had made a mistake. I was just going by the floor's ruling. I was card dead for the next 6 hours. I raise to $15 with 25 clubs. I get two callers. There is $50 in the pot. The flop is 8,7,3 one club. The player in front checks, I check, and the button checks. The ace of clubs comes on the turn. Player in front checks, I bet $25 and the button calls. The river is the 4 of clubs. I bet $55, and the button go insta-all-in. I tank for a minute because I have no idea what he has. I end up calling and he flopped a set of 7's. He walks away disgusted. I played another 45 minutes. Leave up $240.

I get picked up by my girlfriend's sister and hang out at her house and eat fajitas. Go back to the airport at 8:45 for my 9:45 flight. Success on my first trip to Vegas by myself.

Pros: Playing in Vegas by myself
Profit: $600 in 26 hours of play

Cons: No calamari basket at Caesars, Didn't get to watch the Fountain show at Bellagio, and that mucked jacks which I was fortunate to still win the side pot

Be back in Vegas next month...Good luck at the tables!...Thanks for reading!