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solo poker trip - my way - part 3
Part 3
The day started off OK - Headed to Stratosphere to kill some time before meeting the only person I know in Vegas for dinner. Tourney in progress, no 1/2 seats available, and so grudgingly went to the 2/4 limit table for a bit. Made about $40 in 25 minutes, and went to eat at the seafood buffet. Excellent food (except for the sushi), but ate way too much.
Had my friend drop me off at the Bellagio since I hadn't been yet this week. It is Friday night now, and the whole city is seriously coming to life. Bellagio was packed - I had a hell of a time getting in the door and making my way to the poker room. The poker room was completely jam packed. I couldn't do it - first off, 2/5 was the lowest limit they had, and I wasn't ready for that yet after losing $300 or so yesterday. Secondly, the whole vibe of the entire resort was so ridiculously obnoxious I couldn't stand even being in there. The scents of the collective thousands of peoples' colognes and perfumes totally masked whatever flavored air was in there, and made me nauseous - both physically and psychologically. I left.
Stopped into Planet Hollywood.Very slick and modern atmosphere. Super sexy table dancers with full ass exposure dancing nonstop. I sat down to the 1/2 and bought in for $100. Proceeded to get as drunk as I could - the cocktail waitress was literally there every 10 minutes nonstop and complaining about how people weren't ordering enough drinks. Oddly they don't serve Red Bull there, only Sobe (Adrenaline Rush) to go with my vodka. And you know what? It's my new favorite drink. Waaaay better buzz then Red Bull, very impressed. I got loaded along with the guy to my left, and the two guys to my right, and we all played loose as hell and ran the table. The other 5 guys practically sat out the whole time we were there do to our retarded and unpredictable play. Guy to my left busted out $150, and reloaded $100. He was playing stupider then anyone I've seen so far. He gets down to $9, and can you believe it - over the next hour comes up to $650. I roller coaster endlessly and end up +$80. I leave, after the other 3 drunks, and head to Ballys. I play 1/2 with a buy-in of $120, immediately vault to over $200 when I get quad 2s (no jackpot), and dwindle. Many more drinks later, I'm down to $53, and push all in on the flop shooting for the nut flush I was drawing, which I was sure I would get. 2 callers, and the turn did indeed bring me that flush. But the river brought someone the boat, and busted out I was. Yuck. I had rebought an addtl $20, and was out -$140. Had several more drinks there as well. But for once, I am in that "really good" drunken state I rarely achieve.
Back to PH. Buy in for my usual $120, drink a few more Sobe/Red Bulls, play decently, but somewhat aggresitve. Start listening to the entirely wrong voice, and bust out within a few hands.
At this point I am rather pissed off and upset in a very serious way that I have no dollars in my pocket, when I had left the hotel with $320 ($60 of which was spent on dinner for my friend and I). I also had resumed putting money in slot machines, which I did at first do well, but ultimately didn't stop and went in the hole. I became very stern internally. It was now 4AM (My day started at 6:30PM), and I was very much seriously (and somewhat drunkenly, but again, in the good way) resolved to get all my money back.
I head back to the Bellagio - no crowds on the walk over, very few people left in the casino. But wouldn't you know it - the poker room was still packed. I withdraw $300 from the ATM, and buy in that amount for 2/5 NL. I'm ready, right? I sit down, and there are only 5 other players at this table. I am clearly outclassed by these people. Earlier when I looked in I was intimidated, but now I was so serious about getting my money back I wouldn't have any of that. They sized me up and read me accordingly. On the very first hand, one of the players stood up to me, and challenged with a $50 bet. I, with the look of pure death and stillness, perfectly re-challenged, and caused him to fold, gaining much needed respect at the table. For the next 90 minutes I waver from $220-$340 waiting for my opportunity, without appearing weak at any point in time. Finally it comes - Holding A 9 off, flop comes A 4 9 rainbow. 4 players. $30 bet, call call fold, I call. Turn comes 2. Check, $50 bet, I go all in for my remaining $240 or so, one fold, and one call by the big stack at the table, holding A Q. River is rag, and I am now at $565. I sit pretty for another 20 minutes, and vow to leave with at least $550. On the last round, I order another drink, and have to post blinds to wait for it. I now vow to leave with $547. But, a hand came, I don't even remember, and I took it down - now at $610. And that is what I left with at 6AM, totally recouping the days losses, plus $10. And it felt really good to do it against a table I would've normally been too intimidated to play against, but was in such a unique mood, I was able to project that hardcore image I needed to overcome my scruffy looking outward appearance. Overall, I was pretty pleased with the final outcome of the day.
I got on two different wrong busses, but finally made it home at 7:30, and yes, it is definitely time for bed. I expect tomorrow to be totally nuts.
Cheers,
Jason
By far my favorite trip report ever. It is good to know that there are still young. drunk, degenerates out there. I will be using your trip as a template for my solo trip in June.
Keep drinking and forget hands you won on, I know I will!
(sorry Im kind of drunk right now, but this guy is great!!)
Thanks Canoe! I think?
Last night was pretty interesting in many ways.
Started off playing the 7PM headhunter at TI. I generally dislike B&M tourneys in general due to the horrible odds of being paid, and was interested to see if I could at least get a $50 bounty while playing tight poker. The short answer is no lol. I made it past the first break, but not much longer - there were soooo many hands properly folded that would've hit big time on the flop. Of course, that's no excuse to start playing crappy poker, so I continued mostly TAG play, missed every time, and lost around 9:15 or so. So, -$125 to start the night.
I took the tram over to Mirage, a room I had totally forgotten about. This room is huge, and was completely packed. Waiting list for 1/2 of several people, but I was seated very quickly as there were so many tables going. Bought in for $120. There were a mix of people at the table, none of them pro or local like at all. Mr. Mysterious Aggro-donk was there, I watched him take down 10 pots in a row, I kid you not, with ridiculous raises each time. But nobody would call.
I made a few bad calls, and quickly dwindled down to only $15 chips. I gave the dealer $35 to make my stack $50. Someone raises to 10, one caller, Aggro-donk raises to 40, I look down to see J 10 suited and say "Let's gamble!" and go all in for 50. The other 2 fold, I get my flush, and now have 120. I take down another small pot, and then wake up to AA on the button. Aggro raises to 20, I smooth call as does guy to my left. Flop is good, Q high. I bet another 20, called by left, aggro-donk folded (he had been busted earlier, and was calming down. He ultimately busts out later). Turn is safe, I check, left bets 20. I raise to 40. He asks how much left, and puts me all in. I call, he has TPTK, and I now have something about 300 dollars, which is what I ultimately leave with.
Happy that I made back my tourney entry fee, I leave and head over to Ceasar's Palace, despite reading some horrible recent reviews on this site. It is also packed, and I buy in for $200 at the 1/3 table. There is a group of 4 guys form London, all inexperienced players, and a mix of other tourists here. Eventually an aggro-donk and local pro type sit down, but I manage to make over 100 bucks before they arrive. I give most of the 100 back when I flop the nut straight, and one of the London guys goes all in to catch a boat. Doh, down to $235. The table and players are all very friendly, and it is fun. Plus, the club is right outside, and every smoke break gives the opportunity to see all the super sexy Saturday night clubber chicks lined up to get in the club. Nice eye candy!
Plenty of mid-level action at the table for the next 1.5 hours, but I cannot catch any of it, and leave with exactly the 200 I started with. At least I drank for free right?
I head over to Planet Hollywood to catch the 2AM tourney, and get a little peeved at the guy running the desk. First, I ask who won the ticket drawing last night, and he says I don't know and immediately turns away to ignore me as if I am really bothering him and serves another player. Ok. When he turns back, I ask how many entries for the tournament, and he says he will not allow there to be more then 2 tables tonight. Wha??? I register anyways, he asks for my $65, takes it, and then says "Do you have a players card?" No. "Well, that's too bad because if you did you would get an additional 500 in chips for free." OK, I will go get one then. "No, it doesn't work like that. Once I've taken your money, the deal is final and non-refundable, you can't go get one now." WTF? If the point of the promotion is to increase membership, what sense does this possibly make? Like he is intentionally trying to frustrate me at this point. Nice guy, but the situation is just a little messed up.
A little flustered, I head off to earn back my tourney buy-in before it starts in 10 minutes. I go to my oh so lucky wheel of fortune slot, and promptly turn $20 into $118 utilizing my "play as many as possible" strategy. Weird how that keeps working.
I play through to the first break, maintaining, and then start dwindling. The structure is not too bad - 4000 chips (could be 4500 if you have that damn piece of plastic), and 20 minute levels. I continue dwindling until I have only $2200 chips left. I am dealt 66 in the big blind, and there are 7 callers in front of me for 200. I raise to 500, 6 of them call and the 7th goes all in. I call, one other guy calls, and I take it downtown for 9900!!! Feeling better now, I sit back and relax for awhile. Just before the second break, I take down 2 more pots and go from 7700 to 13200. Not bad, not bad. I continue maintaining, and playing smartly, and make it to the final table just. We take the third break, and now it's clearly crapshoot time with blinds at 1000/2000. Someone is going all in every hand out of desperation, 8 players remaining. OTG, I am dealt AA. I smooth call 2000 waiting for someone to go all-in. TWO players go all in, and I can't wait to call.
As soon as I see the other two cards, KK, and QQ I saw very loudly - "NOOOO!!! Just watch - queens are going to take it and my aces are guaranteed to lose" You guessed it - Q on the turn, and it's all over for me. Of course! But I had fun, and the people playing in the tournament were very fun to play with.
4:45 AM, and I figure, what the hell, let's try late-night Bellagio again! I walk across the street, and as I suspected, the poker room is still hopping with at least 10-12 tables, even at this hour! I buy-in for $300 at the 2/5 table, and some very interesting shit goes down, on two different levels.
Dealer give me 100 in chips, I post. Same time as me, two other players are seated. One is given 100 red, and 4 greens, the other has 300 behind as dealer is out of chips. Remember this for later, it is important. Both post, and old Asian guy who just got to the table right before us starts griping about where the button is and who is big blind. (He gripes many times throughout the night and is wrong every time). The guy to his right who thought he was the big blind says, ok then I will straddle instead. Asian guy gets really upset and says he can't do that over and over. Of course, he does anyways. 2 callers to the straddle, I call, and a guy in front calls. Asian guy makes the pissed off raise to 75 total. The others fold, and I am looking at KQ suited. My read on this guy is that the raise was purely emotional, I think for awhile. He says "C'mon lets gamble!" and that's all I needed to hear. I quickly say OK! and call. Flop come K rag rag rainbow. He is first to act and insta bets 90. I think for all of 2 seconds and say OK, I'm all in then. He tanks, and folds, and I nearly double up in the first hand. I get a great run of cards, and get up to about $560 in the first 5 minutes.
I would leave, but it would be such poor etiquette and I am at the perfect table - Asian donk is clearly an idiot based on everything he says, and how wrong it always turns out to be. There are two boyfriend/girlfriend couples at the table, two really drunk guys, and a guy from London that doesn't play much at all. Over $3000 at the table, what more could one ask for????
Very interesting incident - When they sat the 3 of down and called for chips, dealer grabbed London guy's 4 greens, and gave them to the runner to change for red. 2 or 3 minutes later, London guy asks dealer - why exactly did you take my chips away earlier? Dealer says they are being changed to red, you'll get them back don't worry. 5 minutes later, girl at far side of table puts London guy all in for the 40 dollars she sees in front of him - she wasn't even here earlier to know he was 100 behind. He says all in 140, and all hell breaks loose. She says, what are you talking about? Dealer says what are you talking about? London guy says you never gave me my chips! All of us at his end know this to be true. FLOOR! 3 floor people and the chip runner and all 8 of us are talking over each other for like 5 minutes. Total chaos. Being friendly, all involved to let in ride all-in at 40, and they are going to pull the tapes to see what happened. It take them OVER 45 MINUTES to get this guy his chips - which were ultimately discovered in the cage. But it was kind of nuts.
Getting to be 5:30 now, and the table starts going crazy. I think I saw at least 5 or 6 pots valued at 300-500 dollars. Every. Single. Flop. Was a MONSTER FLOP. Like the auto shuffler was smoking some serious crack or something. Every board had flush, straight, and full house possibilities, and every time at least 2 players held different versions of the three. Serious action. I almost get suckered with 10 10 on a 2 2 2 flop, when I remember the tournament earlier. I get out after investing 75 dollars, other players had KK and JJ with turn and river being J and K. Totally nuts I tell you!
I pick up and leave around 6:30 AM with $400, happy to be up $100 for the day. All in all an exciting and fun night.
But boy am I going to be hurting come Tuesday when it'll be time to be at work at 8AM instead of just getting to sleep...yikes.
Enjoyed the report you drunken donkey you!
2 things I wanted to ask quick. You said PH has a $65 buy in, did they change it recently? I was aware of a $60 buy in for all tourneys as listed in the database.
Also, we have posted about the players card promotion and you in fact do have to have it at sign up to get the extra T500. I believe they are moving towards the same type of signup system that is in use by many rooms that you'll need to get a card to sign into any tournament but you also risk that tournament being full by the time you get back with the card.
As for the 2 tables, I'm under the impression that is normal for a weekend night over there because it's quite busy at that time of evening/night.
As for the Bellagio incident, omfg that's insane. The standard procedure is to put a lammer for 100 in front of the player, announce 100 Behind Seat # and go get the chips. The lammer proves that a runner is getting said chips and there should be no question about it.
Yup, lackasleepodrunkasaurus syndrome resulted in a typo there, it was indeed only $60.
as for the the Bellagio - no such thing was done. Despite 4 players unrelated to the guy telling floor that guy was right, they refused to make a call. So we could only treat him as "maybe $100 behind." This got terribly confusing once the third dealer showed up, and we had to keep telling the story. He eventually walked away for 20 minutes, and when he came back with fresh cash, they just happened to show up with his 100. Another player tried to spot him the $100, since it was owed by house, but dealer 2 wouldn't allow it naturally as it would technically be taking cash off table at that point. That's what upset the guy so much into leaving for 20 minutes. Go fig.
I know many people love the Bellagio - but I have never gone there once and not had something major bad happen. I'll never go there unless I am with someone who wants to "experience" the place, or gawk at Bobby's Room
that is hardly standard procedure. In fact i doubt I ever saw it done in any room.
Thanks for the enjoyable rundown of your poker run here in Vegas. I live here and play at least once a week so I'm pretty spoiled. Sometimes I wish I could do what you guys do...fly in, check in, hit the tables...really adds to the experience.