LVM and I met at Harrahs at 10pm to start our trip. Our first stop was Ceasar's Palace. We got seated around 10:30pm. Mike and I played 1-2 NL. I was seated at a friendly game and I had a good time, winning $458. I even got to see my old friend (acquaintance) Sam Grissel.

A couple of things bug me about Ceasars. The 5+1 rake I can live with. However, one dealer insisted that it's "the industry standard", that's a load of crap. You can charge whatever you want, but don't lie about it. I think it's petty of them not to serve top shelf alcohol to poker players. Also, I have always felt that music should be played in a poker room. It's like taking your SAT's there, just shuffling chips and silence.

We left Ceasars at about 11:30pm and walked to the Bellagio; gambling hall, trailer park & motel. For those of you not familiar with this local's hide-away, it's the little building with the faulty sprinklers across from the Paris.

After arriving, we had a nice meal at Noodles. I highly recommend it. It seats until 1:30am. After breakfast we went to the poker room and sat in a 1-2 NL hold'em game. It broke in 30 minutes, I lost $20.

I have mixed emotions about the Bellagio. My record in tournaments there is great and I enjoy playing 15-30 limit. I also have friends that work there. But I have this criticism, the tables on the low limit side are extremely cramped, I kept getting bumped by the guy behind me. The action was good. If you can find this gambling hall, you might want to try it out. On the way out LVM tried to take a picture and one of the Bellagio goons tried to stop him.

We then hopped in our cars and went to the MGM grand. We got into a 1-2 NL game at 1:30am. I did well, picked up $355. The action at the MGM was great, 9 1-2 NL games. I don't feel comfortable in this room due to the way it's laid out. It's like a big horseshoe, and when the bar is open the music is too loud. But the dealers are competent and the action is always loose.

After the MGM, I was on such a win streak that I felt I could beat the Omaha Hi game at Boulder. Clearly, I am an idiot. That game is my Kryptonite, Achilles Heel, and Weakest link all wrapped into one. My record in Omaha Hi is 1 - 9. The one win being $40. I lose one hundred at the Omaha game in 17 minutes. Then I went to NL and won $90 back. We played for another 2 hours at the NL game and then had lunch at the cafe to end the EA.

My total win for EA17 was $783. I enjoyed the trip. Obviously, you win almost $800 it's hard to be mad. We went to three "new" casinos we had never visited. I will be back to Boulder and probably the MGM, but I don't see myself going to Ceasars again. If I can find the Bellagio again, I might go back and play 15-30 limit.

Stay tuned kids EA18 is just around the corner!