Quick trip, not a lot of poker, just a fun relaxing time.
Arrived at the Rio Saturday late morning, first time there, the rooms were free so we thought we’d try out a new spot. The people were very friendly and accommodating, and the hotel is nice. We loved everything about it, just one problem, which I’ll get to later.

Got checked into our room cleaned up showered and hit the casino, only one 1/3NL game going and there looked to be a couple local grinders so I decided to hang and watch some football and have a few beers. Hooked up with the wife for awhile and did the couples thing, then back to the poker room that evening. A lot more action after the tournament was over. I won’t bore you with hands just a general over view. I got onto a pretty aggressive table, was very card dead and missed a bunch of flops, and as I usually do, got myself is some tough spots playing hands out of boredom. This is a big leak in my game that I need to fix...
Made a little comeback and ended up down $100. Had some dinner and back for round two. A couple really tough players that I made note to stay away from, and some fish that looked like they were ready to be caught. The problem was that I was still supper card dead, and still missing flops.. very frustrating, which brings me to the one problem I have with the Rio. Location… when I go to Vegas and need a change of venue, I just walk next door, or across the street, very easy to change it up, here you feel (or I felt) stuck, and I hate that feeling. My wife and I talked about this, and we don’t understand why anyone would bring kids to Vegas, but if you did, this would be a pretty good place to stay. No card flickers, prostitutes or bums sleeping on the sidewalks. From what we could tell it seemed pretty kid friendly, for Vegas.
Anyway the next day we decided to change back to our normal stomping grounds, the Flamingo. I really like this place, the card room isn’t great, but I’ve always had pretty good luck, the location is perfect and we’ve always been treated very well there.

First stop O’Sheas for a Cigar, then back to the Flamingo pool with drink in hand. It was like hanging out in my back yard… now to the poker room, had a really good first session, up a few hundred. Pretty much played ABC poker, only one big hand when by flopped K high straight beats flopped J high straight. I spent the after noon early evening chilling with the wife and enjoying down town. Hit Caesars later that night played pretty well, again ABC, until I make a major mistake. I decide to smooth call 2 limpers in LP with pocket queens, button comes along too, ( I know, big mistake, and another leak) . This is not a normal play for me, 98% I raise in this spot, this is just one time I decided to limp. So flop is 9, T, 3 with two spades, I bet 15 and get min raised by button. I figure he’s making a play so I pop it up to 90 (60 back to him) so I have 100 invested and he puts me all in. I’m worried that he limped with small pair and hit a set, probably 3’s but I still put him on a draw flush and/or straight, I’m still ahead but still a dog to both a straight and flush. But if he only has one draw (straight) then I’m in much better shape. And with better than 3 to 1 odds I have to call. He show 9 T for two pair turns a T, river a blank and I’m done. Wow, if I pre flop raise to 15 I’m not in that situation.
So I head back to Flamingo licking my wounds. A good night sleep then off to the air port and back home.

One thing I’m trying to get better at, on and off the table is patients, relax, and focus. So many times I’ve gone to Vegas and just can’t wait to play, I jump in with both feet and go nuts. You see it all the time out their. This trip I didn’t worry about playing a ton of poker or long sessions, I just really made an effort to relax, breath, be patient so when I do sit down I can focus. Obviously I still need some work on the focus part because and being patient but hopefully it is a step in the right direction.