My wife and I decide 3 months earlier to spend spring break in Vegas. She needed to attend to her parents on the east coast, so the plan was to link up on Tuesday evening around 10PM -with me arriving I day early. (SWEET!) My plane was to leave Houston at 7:30 and land 8:30PM Vegas Time. Unfortunately, the pilot spotted a malfunction just before take-off which resulted in us being delayed for 2 hours. (Thanks Continental! {Insert rolling of eyes.}) Arrived on Monday March 15th at 11PM! The plan to play the 10PM Treasure Island tourney is blown completely out of the water. I have 23 hours before my wife and son get here, and I plan to maximize it for as much poker as possible!!

Tourney 1: Ceasars Palace 1AM $70 ~9 Entries
There were only 9 players for this tournament. (Hey, it's Tuesday morning!) Played super tight for my 1st tourney. Get down to 4 players. One guy gets the unusual idea of chopping 4 ways with the guy that wins the next hand getting an extra $50. We all say OK, and my AJ suited holds up when an A hits the board. First tournament in Vegas and I'm in the black! (+150)

Tourney 2: Excalibur 9AM $35 ~24 Entries
Did not catch anything at all in this tournament! The one time in which I felt a good hand was due, the dealer accidently flips over my Ad. The whole table groans. "Just kill me now!!" I say to nobody in particular. Bust out about 5 minutes later. (0)

Tourney 3: Mandalay Bay 10AM $40 ~ 35 Entries
Played OK. Was crippled when the straight I made runs into a flush that I didn't believe my opponent had. I go all in later on with K7 -and survived when a K hit the board. Kept grinding and being patient, and although being short-stacked in put in all-in situations on 3 different occasions, I'm still at the table! Wind up taking 3rd place, good for $130! (+130)

Tourney 4: Excalibur 1PM $40 ~ 37 Entries
Still kicking myself for not winning this one! First hand, I'm dealt A5s in middle position, Cool guy raises in late position and I call. Flop comes AA5. I check, he bets around 200. I call. Turn is another 5. He bets 1500. I slowly call. The river is another 5. I stupidly bet a small piece of the pot, and Cool Guy folds. Several hands later me and Cool Guy are heads up again with me holding pocket 5s. The flop comes with a 5. I check. He bets around 2K. For the LIFE of me, I don't know why the words, "All in" float out of my mouth. (I know! cuz I'm a rookie at this and need to control myself at the board.) Cool guy folds. DRAT! Dumbest move: I make final table with a substantial amount of chips. To the left of me was the chipleader. I made a mental note to myself saying, "Do NOT tangle with this guy!" Well, I'm in SB and chip leader is in the BB. everyone folds to me and I look down at A9o. There are only FIVE people at the table. Like a dummy, I raise all in. Now, I could have just called and see what could happen on the flop, but I wasn't thinking about chip safety like I should. He deliberates, then calls -with Q2o. As you might expect, a Q hits the turn, and I'm gone. The winners chopped with each getting about $450. OUCH!! This trip report does get better. (TO BE CONTINUED...)