VEGAS TRIP REPORT JUNE 1-15

June 1
Out of Bellingham, WA at 9:40 AM direct on Allegiant Air, no bags, no assigned seating, no priority, $250 booked in April. Rates fell to ~$150 but with $50 cancellation fee each way, I was stuck.

Arrived at noon and cab ($17 fare + $3 tip) to Imperial Palace. Requested lower floor close to elevator and got room 226. Four doors from elevator. Smelled heavily of smoke and my smoking just added to it. Repeated periods of leaving the balcony door open don’t help.

Napped, listened to audio books on SanDisk and read on kindle.

Dinner at Harrah’s buffet $5 off coupon and Total Rewards points. Total cost $1 tip. Worth slightly more than that. The prime rib carver was a world-class slicer and you could almost see through the piece of meat. Four bites.

Went to Walgreen’s in the Palazzo to stock the room. Coffee-maker, Starbuck’s French Roast coffee, saltines, PB, sardines, Fig Newtons, potato chips, eye drops, bowl, coffee cup, etc., etc. $59.40.

Total time playing poker: 0 hours
Total poker winnings: $0

June 2
Poker at IP
Led out with Aces for $20, 3 callers, 887 on flop, EP (was new to table) bet $50, I called, turn K EP bet $125 and I folded. Later decided I should have shoved since he bet a lot on poor cards. Led out with Aces for $7 all fold.
1 hr Session -$170

2 hr Session -$82
2 hr Session $0

Went to Chipotle Between Harrah’s and Casino Royale for steak burrito $7 (good) Another Walgreen’s trip $12.56

Total time playing poker: 5 hours
Total poker winnings: -$252

June 3
Poker at IP
1 ½ hr Session -55

Decided to enjoy Bellagio buffet for dinner. While walking out of IP noticed fellow I met on last trip had arrived from London and saw an open ½ NL seat at his table. Made it to O’Shey’s and got in line for Burger King. Realized I wasn’t hungry. Returned to IP, got seated and he was gone.

2 ½ hr Session -133

Had a $3.50 coffee in the Venetian food court, sitting on a padded chair at a nice table using their free wifi.

Dinner at Burger King $6.02

Total time playing poker: 9 hours
Total poker winnings: -$440

June 4
Poker at IP
Started at 1:00AM. Drunks are missing but most players are here for the tournaments (WSOP, VDS, etc.). My pocket 3’s make a set on the 8, 3, K flop with 2 spades. First time my PP’s have hit this trip. EP leads out, short stack goes all in, I call and EP calls. EP glanced at me and I raise my arms so he can see my chips and he says he couldn’t have raised anyway. I ask if it’s because the all-in was less than a full raise and he says yes. EP bets $50 on the turn 8 that makes my full-house and I call. River is a spade and EP’s chips look to be under $100 so I bet $100. EP takes several minutes and says he ready to go to bed before calling. I start stacking $550+ pot.

Dude brings 2 stacks of red to the table and pulls out $100 bill for more chips. Plays a few hands and wins one then decides that some of his chips are missing. He recounts the play of the hands, the size of the pot, etc. and insists it’s not the money since he’s in a $2K WSOP event later that day and money means nothing to him. He gets louder and louder (earlier I’d endured a shouting German and a fellow with horrible breath) , the game slows even more than the normal snail pace and I cash out.

1 ½ hr Session +253

Returned to room and fell asleep listening to the audio book The Perfect Storm.
Earlier in the trip I listened to C.S. Forrester’s Ship of the Line, Annie Duke’s book about her life, wins at WSOP Omaha8 and the $2M Tournament of Champions, parts of COD, Choice Cuts and several others.

Back to the Venetian to check email and another stop at Walgreen’s for my second gallon of water and misc. $18.89.

I had mapped out a schedule, during pre-trip planning, to play a total of 140 hours and qualify for the platinum card on Harrah’s Total Reward Card enabling me to get in shorter buffet lines. I was going to play the Bally’s 9-noon Aces cracked for $200 each morning and the Harrah’s Brunch Club Sunday thru Thursday and possibly their bail-out promo.

So far I haven’t played at Harrah’s, been further south on the strip than the Flamingo and am playing at a rate that will barely total 50 hours for the trip.
I’m having an enjoyable time but it seems I’m destined to stay in long buffet lines.

5PM Headed for Harrah’s dinner buffet. They often hand out $5 off coupons (expire at end of year) in the Carnaval Court between IP and Harrah’s. Scored a coupon, tore off the sign-up portion and while throwing it in the trash can noticed some that had been thrown away.

Good news: I now have 274 $5 off buffet coupons.
Bad news: They have to be used at either Harrah’s or Flamingo buffets.

I much prefer the Flamingo buffet but there is always a long line. There is rarely a wait at Harrah’s. I’m beginning to think line length is a popularity vote. I’ve been to the Flamingo twice and left each time due to long lines.

This time, I was ready for the Harrah’s prime rib carver and told him I wanted a thick slice. He didn’t care much for that and gave me the standard paper-thin slice with lots of fat. The trimmed piece yielded four bites. Nibbled on a variety of offerings and gave up. I have better desserts in my room than they offered.

6PM Back in IP poker room. A player I saw at 7AM this morning with $1,900+ at a 1/2NL table ($700 at 1pm) apparently still playing with $1,200 in chips.

Won a few small pots and went to room after an hour.

1 hour Session +$85

IP elevators are notoriously slow. There are two “secret” elevators behind the main bank accessed by a walkway by the Mai Tai bar that are usually faster. From the “secret” elevator to my room is 25 actual measured paces if you turn right. If you turn left it is somewhere between 1,546 and 18,934 paces.

Back in the poker room at 10:30PM. Play to midnight -$11

Total time playing poker: 13 hours
Total poker winnings: -$113

When I ride the main elevator down from the second floor, people already on it usually get off before I can enter thinking they are on the casino floor. If it’s a couple the female will exit, fail to immediately see slot machines, realize her mistake and blame the male for her blunder.

June 5
Continued in poker room until 7AM.

3-way $650 pot with two all-ins won by A high (he has AKs) when none of the three made their draws or paired the board.

Mostly card dead but did manage to lose $350 pot after being up $50 ($250 pot my QQ beat his JJ) by getting greedy. Led off for $20 with KK. EP who’s been fairly active and shown down some weak hands, calls. Flop K98 with 2 diamonds. I have no diamonds. EP with smaller stack bets $40, I call. Turn 6h, EP bets $50. I call. River 5s and I know my set is dead to his 7 but I call his last $80. He wins with a rivered str8. He was chasing a flush draw and told his buddy he “knew” I had AK. My bad for not raising earlier but he might have called to outdraw me anyway. Back to being card dead and ended the session -$109.

Hot Shower (IP has great showers with the shower head placed at about 6’ and tremendous water pressure.) and bed on an empty stomach. Knew a breakfast buffet would interfere with peaceful sleep.

Tonight the drunks should be out in force or at least I hope they are.

Headed for Flamingo buffet at 3:08PM. Good news: Don’t see a line. Bad News: They’re closed until 4PM. 0 for 3 trying to buffet here.

Back to room to dine on in-room gourmet selections. Sardines and cookies.

4:30 PM Down to poker room. 2 hrs best starting hand KQs. -75

Fell asleep listening to C.S. Forrester’s Lord Hornblower.

Total time playing poker: 22 hours
Total poker winnings: -$297

June 6 Woke at 1AM.

Took hot shower, took HP mini computer and headed for Venetian. Plan is to try Asian Nachos (I’d read many favorable Vegas forum comments about them) in their Grand Lux Café, use wifi in the food court, stop by Walgreen’s and return to IP to play cards. On the way out I saw four full tables of NL in the poker room with plenty of drunks so the pickings should be good.

Headed for the Venetian. Windy and sweater weather. Every 20-something in a three state area seemed to be on the strip and drunk. Everybody seemed to be having a good time and even the porn slappers were still doing their thing with a smile. Got seated in Grand Lux, saw the Asian Nachos on the menu for only $8.95 then realized that I needed to order from the after midnight part of the menu. No Asian Nachos. Ordered a $11.95 Carolina BBQ Sandwich and a $3.50 cup of coffee. Tried wifi and signal was weak but worked. Meal arrived and listened to more Lord Hornblower while enjoying an excellent meal with real silverware and a 20-something female passed out (or asleep) at the adjacent table. Bill came to $16.16, gave the waiter a twenty and he returned with four ones. Class joint. Tipped $5 and headed for Walgreen’s.

Bought a gallon of water for $1.99 (third this trip) Since it was Saturday in Vegas and time to party, I got a Butterfinger and an Almond Joy.

Returned to room, ate the Almond Joy while listening to Lord Hornblower with plans to head for the poker room in a few minutes.

June 6
Woke up at noon.
Finished listening to Lord Hornblower and started Stephen W. Seares’ Gettysburg. Showered and headed for the poker room at 5:30PM.

Played 2 hours. One fellow had $1,200, I had no decent starting hands. -$90.

Headed for the Flamingo buffet. No line….fourth times the charm. Or was it?
Prime rib needed steak knife to cut. Lamb was the same. Hake was too tough to chew, fried rice smelled like smoke and even the coconut shrimp were chewy.
Hit the desert area (much bigger selection than Harrah’s) but the carrot cake was frozen and the chocolate whatchamacallit was chalky. At least the oatmeal cookies were always great so I took four intending to take some back to the room. They were peanut butter cookies. At least the milk and coffee were drinkable.
I now have 273 worthless buffet coupons.

Another cloudy, cool day and since it’s Saturday; the drunks are out in full force. Latest rage seems to be 48 oz. plastic bottles of beer and the young hip guys were sporting them. One had a clear pitcher full of beer while another had a plastic guitar with 72 oz. of booze that they sell for only $75.

Back to room to listen to Gettysburg.

Total time playing poker: 24 hours
Total poker winnings: -$387

June 7
7AM headed for Paris buffet. Pedestrian bridge over Flamingo has the up escalator stopped for maintenance but nobody is working on it. Trudge up the stairs planning to rest on the down escalator. Nope. It’s stopped too.

No line at Paris and have a pretty good breakfast despite lousy coffee.

Stop in Bally’s at 7:45 for their 9-12 Ace’s cracked promotion. Don’t get A’s so don’t get cracked. I’m the smallest stack at the table with my measly $300 and the largest is over $1,500. Fold, fold, fold. Down to $250. Call the blind with 7,7 and a fellow bets $7 so I know I’m going to win the hand. Flop x,x,7. I bet $40, raised to $100, I go all-in and am called. Start stacking a $525 pot. Cash-out 3 hours later for a $200 profit.

Return to room and it’s made up so I’m all set for a nap. Fall asleep listening to COD.

Wake up and sit at computer. Noticed phone vibrating and it’s Joy telling me my younger brother Charlie has had a stroke and is in the hospital in stable and O.K. condition. We talk a bit and get on a tangent comparing notes on audio books.

Called Carol and asked her to send flowers.

Laid back down and listened to more COD.

Hungry at 6PM so headed for Bellagio buffet. Saw open seat in the IP poker room so sat down. My A’s cracked by AK with runner, runner flush. My set of K’s cracked by rivered 8 high straight. Re-bought additional $100 and was stuck about $200. All the progress I’d made to break even for the trip was wiped out.

At 8PM went to O’Shea’s for Subway but line was too long so bought a bean and cheese burrito at their Mexican joint. Threw it away after a few bites and got in line for the $5 cold cut foot long. Returned to my poker seat.

Won a few pots and got almost even. Stayed with my KK on a scary board against a fellow that kept betting out. My K’s beat his 8’s. Crazy play.

Cashed out at 11:30PM +$85.

To bed to listen to Gettysburg.

Total time playing poker: 32 ½ hours
Total poker winnings: -$102

Monday June 8
Woke at 10:30AM planning to goof around (even more) today.

Headed to the Venetian to check email. Bought a cup of coffee and found a table, got on-line and caught up on the Web. Checked my Total Rewards comp account. Started the trip with $187 and now have $152. Need 4,000 Tier Credits to move from a Gold to Platinum card and avoid long buffet lines (Diamond status at 10,000 gets you access to Diamond lounges, room upgrades, etc.). Started with 326 TC and now have 1,218. If I play poker 26 hours a day for the rest of the trip I should just make Platinum status before I board the return flight. Suspect I’ll return home with my same gold card.

Noon, back in room and chapter four of Gettysburg.
Fell asleep and woke at 3PM.

Decided to head for Wynn buffet using up my $20 poker comps I’d gotten when I played 20 hours in April to qualify for their Freeroll Tournament. I had lost $521 over the 20 hours of qualifying play and was knocked out of the tournament in less than ten minutes. The dinner buffet was an additional $17 in cash (or a total of $538 for the realists).

Wynn offers many selections and all are fresh, presented beautifully and in small portions. Where Harrah’s might have 30 selections and Flamingo 20; Wynn easily offered 100 and the dessert selections are fantastic. Of course you get what you pay for (if you’re lucky) and since I was getting $20 off (for only $521) I anticipated a great meal.

First pass included prime rib (thick and tender), split Alaskan King crab legs (I never enjoy them as much as when my sweetie is with me), chopped collard greens that accompanied pork chops, sea bass, salmon and bouillabaisse.

Second pass: more greens, Italian porgies, tuna ceviche, assorted cold cuts, a red olive, a pickle and a goat cheese salad in a glass.

Dessert pass: Chocolate cake, 3 colors of chocolate mousse in a class, crème puff, orange Grenache goodie and an oatmeal cookie. The cookie wasn’t as good as the ones at the Flamingo and I only ate a small portion. Since I’m a diabetic, I resolved to take a single bite from each of the other goodies. Fortunately, the portions were small enough that I was able to cram each of them in with a single push.

In my opinion, Wynn is still the top of the line for buffets. It is a 5, Bellagio is a 4, Planet Hollywood a 3-3 ½ and Harrah’s/Flamingo a 2. I plan to try the Bellagio later to see if it is still a 4.

Stopped by Walgreen’s for Starbuck’s French Roast coffee.

Back in the room and asleep until 5:30PM. Back asleep until 9:30PM. Asleep at 11:55PM. Look’s like I’ll end the day with no poker and still -$102 after 31 ½ hours of competition.

Tuesday June 9
7AM. Had Grand Slam at Denny’s. They had a sign on the door that they weren’t participating in the Grand Sla promotion. That’s Vegas-speak for “We have it but we charge double”. Fired up the computer and connected to wifi. It was the Mirage at only $15/day. No thanks.

Went to Venetian for free wifi. Did not go to Walgreen’s

8:30AM sat down at IP poker table.

They had an A’s cracked promotion for $100. That means they will give you $100 if you lose with a pair of Aces in your hand. The good news is I got my A’s cracked and won $100. The bad news is I lost $250 on the hand.

I got a Royal Flush in spades (only ten of spades in my hand and other four were on the board) and won ~$65 since the guy who called me was almost broke.

As the day wore on I had $600 in the game and only $70 left after chasing a couple of straight draws in big pots. Guess I was lucky to only finish three hundred down.

7PM went to room for supper. 10 ½ hrs -$302. Back where I started.

10:30PM back to poker. Flop straight with my 34, betting escalates, river pairs 9’s. Big bet to me, I have to fold. Play till midnight. -$74.

Total time playing poker: 44 ½ hours
Total poker winnings: -$478

Wednesday June 10

Play from midnight until 1AM. +$49.

To bed about 3AM. Woke at 5:30, 9:30, noon, five PM, 10PM. Managed to sleep the day away with only one awake period with Vienna sausages for nourishment and listening to audio books after 10PM.

Headed for the Venetian at 11:30pm, passed 34 small Ecuadorian porn slappers in front of Harrah’s. Checked email etc. and headed back. Comp dollars now at $163 and I have 1,506 Tier Credits (need 4,000 to go to the head of the line). Passed 3 relatively sober tall white guys with grins on their faces trying to hand out porn cards they’d gotten earlier from the Ecuadorians. Only in Vegas.
Total time playing poker: 45 ½ hours
Total poker winnings: -$429

Thursday June 11

Stopped in Harrah’s Café at 12:30 AM for their steak and eggs $6 special. “Sirloin steak”, 2 eggs, hash browns and a slice of toast. Either my steak knife was dull or the sirloin was tough. At least it was small. Still for $7 in comp point and a $1 tip it was a good value.

Got a seat at IP poker room at 1:20AM. Played until 2:45AM. No real big pots of note and headed to room. 1 hr session +$7.

Down at 6PM and played 1 ½ hours. +$28

Headed for Venetian. Checked email. Went to Grand Lux café for Wiener Schnitzel and coffee. Three large pieces of meat, red cabbage and mashed potatoes. Ate the cabbage and half of the meat and potatoes. Delicious. $25.65 +$5tip. Bargain.

Stopped by Walgreen’s for my fourth (and hopefully last) gallon of water. $1.99.

I always wear my Google hat and am often asked if I work there. Anybody asking that obviously doesn’t know much about Google employees since I’m about the combined age of three Googleites.

Total time playing poker: 48 hours
Total poker winnings: -$394

Friday June 12
I’ve noticed that all the drunks, with their drinks in hand, laugh at me when I walk the strip. Finally realized it’s because I’m the only sober one. So, I’ve started retrieving a beer bottle from the trash can by the IP’s exit and carrying it when I go out.

Seems to be working pretty good. I was asked by three separate scantily dressed females on my last venture if I wanted to party. When I replied, “Sure” and asked them which audio books they wanted to listen to they seemed to suddenly have other plans. I think it’s because they noticed my beer bottle was empty.

Down to IP poker room at 12:45AM. I was down $100 at one point, called a $25 bet by the button straddle with AcJc and flopped a Broadway straight. Straddler bet on the turn with three hearts showing and I called. We both checked the river and I beat his two pair. The dealer pushed the pot to him and it took a while to sort out the chips and finally push the pot to me. Played 4 hours. +$8.

Total time playing poker: 52 hours
Total poker winnings: -$386

I always stick to poker in Vegas. No table games or slots. The last time I talked to my wife she asked me to play “Gold Fish” slots for her. I put in $20 the “Gold Fish” and a drunk next to me said you’ll never win on the machine. I assumed he was right.
I stayed around $22 to $20, playing 20 lines at a penny a line, for awhile and was going to stop several times but said; “Just one more time.” Broke below $20 and increased to 2 cents a line at $15. Increased to 3 cents a line at $6.75 and hit the bonus the next pull. When it’s all over, there was one fish left and all turtles. I ended at $35.33 and cashed out at $33.35. The last slot play for me this trip. If only I were that lucky at poker.

I’ve discovered a neat way to spot my room as soon as I enter the corridor. Ten days ago I placed a room service tray in front of my door. I know I’m home as soon as soon as I reach the tray without even having to look at the room number.

To IP poker room at 4PM. Pick up TT. Small stack bets $15. Not enough implied odds to call. Two others big stacks call $15 and now I have the odds and I do too.
Flop T, 8, x. Small stack bets $25, fold, fold and I call with my TTT. Turn 8, small stack bets his last $7 and I call. I turn over TT for a full house. He turns over QQ and the river is a Q giving him a bigger full house. 2 hours -$155.

I’m becoming convinced that my dear sainted Mother is looking down from heaven and arranging things so that I’ll get discouraged enough to quit gambling, which, she never approved of. Her influence is apparently enough that poker, for me, is gambling and not skill-based.

Head to Bellagio or their buffet. Stood in line for twenty minutes and paid $38.74 for:
Coffee, milk, thick slice of tender prime rib, two types of sea bass, Yorkshire pudding, baked tofu, white beans, creamed spinach, potato, salmon romalide, scallop salad, Beef Wellington with béarnaise sauce, Rack of lamb with mint jelly, venison with cranberries, Kobe steak with BBQ sauce that was as tender (and tasted like) as a well-done pot roast, brie, sugar-free cheese cake, chocolate cake, Neapolitan, and a strawberry tart.

Food-wise, Bellagio was as good as Wynn’s. Wynn has a little nicer atmosphere and costs about $5 more. Bellagio has better silverware but only had snow crab. All in all I have to revise my rating to a 5 for BOTH Bellagio and Wynn. Planet Hollywood slides to a 3 and Harrah’s/Flamingo are 2’s. Of course I can use my Total Reward comp dollars at H & F so they require no cash other than a tip.

The plan now (7:30PM) is to listen to audio books, nap and play poker after midnight. Hopefully Mom will be asleep. We shall see.

Total time playing poker: 54 hours
Total poker winnings: -$541

Saturday June 13

At 1AM I called out to Mother and she didn’t answer or give me a sign so I headed out to play poker.

No seats open in the IP poker room so I go to Bally’s and get seated shortly. After the first hour I win a small pot and get back to even holding a pair of 6’s with a 6 on the flop for a set.

At about the second hour I’m about ready to leave when I’m dealt KK. Three players bet $25 each and I call. Flop is 7K7 and I’ve flopped a full house. I’m golden! Check, check and the third player goes all-in and I call. The other two players fold and I turn over my K’s for the full house and he shows AA. Only two cards will save him. The turn is an A giving him a higher full house and now only two cards will save me. To add insult to injury the river is the last A and he not only sucks out on me but wins a high hand bonus.

Session time: 2 hours
Session winnings -$243

I rack up and leave. I can hear Mom laughing at me all the way back to my room.
Total time playing poker: 56 hours
Total poker winnings: -$784

7PM at Bally’s I played in the AVP VIII poker tournament.
We got down to 4 tables and I busted on a desperation all-in with crappy cards and T5000 to a fellow with AK. His Ace was good.

Back to the room at 10PM. The strip from Bally’s to IP was solid people and one of four escalators were working but none in the direction I was traveling.

Laid down to listen to audio book.

Total time playing poker: 56 hours
Total poker winnings: -$784
Total tournament time: 2 hours
Total tournament winnings: -$100

Sunday June 14

3:45AM Scored the Venetian table with the power outlet. Maybe I wasn’t so lucky since no one else is in this area. Strip was still alive with party-goers.

4:30AM The strip is clearing and most still up are heading to eat and those without temporary soul-mates are giving up.

The IP poker room has three tables going but I hear Mama asking if I’ve learned my lesson yet, so I head up to my room.

To the Venetian at 3PM and scored the table with the electrical outlet again. Read emails (now have 1,902 Tier Credits and $171 comp dollars) and headed back. Stopped at Harrah’s buffet: $5 off coupon, $16 comps, $1 tip. Carver must be on vacation since I got a very thick piece of good prime rib.

Passed the IP poker room, heard Mom so up to room.

Requested 8AM wake-up call. HOME TOMORROW !!!

10:40PM Fire alarm sounds off and on for twenty minutes and we’re told to stay in our rooms and we will be informed. We’re never informed.

Total time playing poker: 56 hours
Total poker winnings: -$784
Total tournament time: 2 hours
Total tournament winnings: -$100

Monday June 15
2AM Fire alarm sounds for ten minutes and we’re told to stay in our rooms and we will be informed. We’re never informed.

2:40AM Fire alarm sounds for ten minutes and we’re told to stay in our rooms and we will be informed. We’re never informed.

I have trouble sleeping and drop off just before my wake-up call at 8AM.

Checkout and leave carry-on and backpack in baggage storage.

Harrah’s breakfast buffet $5 off coupon rest comp points.

I’m tired but play 10AM to 1PM at Harrah’s +$56
Even more tired and play 1-4PM at IP +$90

Stop by Margaritaville to get a birthday present for my favorite son-in-law.

Head to airport for return flight. Free wifi at the airport and a power outlet.

Home at 10:05PM.

Total time playing poker: 62 hours
Total poker winnings: -$638
Total tournament time: 2 hours
Total tournament winnings: -$100

IP Room rates (booked in April over internet) prior to taxes, etc.
40, 35, 35, 35, 49, 59, 35, 30, 30, 30, 35, 60, 60, 30