I was in Vegas staying at the Orleans from 27 - 30. I was staying at families house 5 minutes from Red Rock on Saturday. Even though I didn't play poker at Red Rock, I did pass by to check out the action at 3 AM. A few tables going 1 2-5 NLHE, 2 1-2 NLHE, 1 2-4 LHE, & 1 3-6 LHE. (I think) Room was quite and sorta empty. I then arrived at the Orleans on Sunday! I played 3 sessions while I was there, all 1-2 NLHE. The 1st one was not even worth bringing up. I was drinking and having fun for 4 hours and slowly celled off my $200 buy-in. The next night I played sober and quite well. I started with my same $200 buy-in. When I left I cashed in for more then $1100. I mainly busted aggressive players early in my session. One asian guy was straight from the Commerce Casino in LA. 100% aggressive and fast in his actions. He was raising with hands like K-T off and J-9 off too $21! He had about $100 and I had about $300. So I waited a few hands the the following hand came up. I was in the cut off, my friend was UTG. He makes his standard agg. raise to $21 and gets one caller. I look down at pocket 3s and smooth call. The button calls and we take the flop 4 handed. 5-3-2, the 5-2 was suited clubs. Not a great flop for me but with a $21 raise and 2 callers I thought I was good! My friend bets $30 into a $45 pot. Middle position player folds, I call, button folds. The turn was a high card blank. He quickly bets $50 and I push. He calls. River is a club. I think crap but he doesn't table his cards. So I table my set and he says "your good" and mucks his cards. Another hand I remember, I limp in a multi-limped pot already from the button with J-T off. Crazy aggressive lady 2 to my left raises her option to $11. I and a few others call. Flop hits J-T-8 rainbow. I'm again thinking "great, another connected flop for my good hand". She bets $20, everyone folds to me. I decide to play a small pot and just call as I don't like the 8! So it's heads up going into the turn. Bingo! A J hits! But now there are 2 clubs on board. I study her as she picks her teeth with a toothpick. She bets $40! At this point, I got the NUTZ so I want to drag her along. I flat call after some "Hollywooding". The river was low card 3 of clubs, putting a flush out there. She makes a weird bet of around $35 with $70 or more behind her. I got her covered and grab all my chips and push them past that commit line saying "all in". She quickly calls me with the A-J off!
Mu 3rd session went bad. One hand I had As 6d and river the nut flush only to lose to a guy holding the Ts for the straight flush on a board of Ks-Ts-2.. 9s.. Qs.. I lost my 2 C notes and moved to craps.
The competition at the Orleans seems average. All kinds and types of players here. Watch for a weak play and pounce. Sometimes I got caught with A high but I was complimented on my play several times by players which makes me feel great! One thing is that I only played late at night not during the day with the "rocks". A lot of the players were regulars however.
The staff was overall pretty good. Stuck to the rules and I only saw 2 accidentally overturn by the dealer hitting someone's hand.. twice! It was the same dealer and was not a miss deal but hit the felt first, dealer! One of the ladies that work the desk there needs some basic customer service skillz. Very short and rude. Like she had more important things to do then get me into a game.
The cocktail waitress are the bomb here at the Orleans. Like I said I was drinking 1 of the nights while playing and I didn't have an empty glass all night. The other nights I was drinking water and Pepsi and those weren't empty for long either. AND they are very easy on the eyes! =)