I landed in Las Vegas at about 8:00 AM and waited for my wife who was comming in from another location and got there at 8:40. Leaving the airport and going to Ballys to drop off our bags and eat left us short on time to make the 11:00 AM $65.00 MGM Grand tourney. There were about 60 players in that tournament, we finnaly got to the final with me in the chip lead where a chop was done, they let me name my payout so I was happy. at this time blinds were 1500/3000 and I was at under 40K so it was shove and luck time. No suck-outs, no amazing hands, little excitment, a perfect start to the weekend I was happy to chop and start the weekend with a win right away! Quality dealers, no mistakes and good table control. They use shuffle machines so alot of hands per round.

Spent the evening with my wife we had not seen each other in a while and dinner at Delmonico's was great.

Saturday I had the invitational tourney @ 12:00(the reason for this trip in the first place). When I get there they had changed the rules somewhat, this was a shootout qualifier that was supposed to have 2 players from each table advancing to the next day. They dropped that number to 1 per table. 12 minute rounds starting at 25/50 then 50/100 then 100/200 with at 25 ante. Horible structure I'm all in blind every hand until busted out or doubled up. I busted of course. No need to try and play poker at a slot machine in my opinion.

We make the 7:00 PM (110 players) at Ceasar's where I played a strong game and was above average stack until about 9 from the money when my brain took a left turn and I played the situation totally wrong and it cost me the tourney. No sleep tonight to pissed at the way I played that hand. One expensive lesson learned.
As allways this is a great room, lots of action and great staff. Comfy chairs are a bonus!

Sunday morning up and out again. We make it downtown about 11:30 looking for a tourney. I didn't want to start as an alternate or late arrival so Binion's at 2:00 for the 65 + 40 was the choice (40 players). I got lucky and got a donk to my left that went all in right away on a 10,blank,blank rainbow flop with me holding A,10 for a quick double up. At the final table we are down to three I am the chip leader with about three times the other players. AK suited, I raise on the button to get an all in from the SB, BB folds, I insta-call just to see her AA. I am now only 10K up on them so we chop again. You could hang meat in this poker room, bring a jacket! Most of the dealers were above OK, a couple of them not so much. Staff was great though.

I've missed my flight by now so to dinner we go. While at dinner I bring up the tournament chart from AVP and see that Treasure Island has a 10:00 PM so we basicly sprint from the Paris (don't eat sushi at the place in the Paris, horrible) to TI and get there with 15 minutes to spare.

This is another $65 this time with only 20 players. some novice players showed up along with some real players. One hand worth mentioning: I am the chip leader with one player that could really dent me. I am in the SB he is on the button blinds 1,2K. Fold to him, he min raises, I have 6,6 and make a raise to 12K 2/3 of my 18K stack (stupid play I know but I was tired cut me some slack. I had been pushing the table around so long I got stupid). He delay calls the raise. When the dealer is bringing out the flop I start moving my chips to the middle and just before they make it across the line I see that I now have a set. Whew. he calls my all in bet and goes out with 10,10. A couple of hands later the other players decided that they would give me first place and chop the ramaining. This is a nice little room, not for the high limit player but clean, quiet and pretty well staffed. Kinda like your home town poker room feel.

All in all a great weekend.