I got into Vegas on Monday (1/22) at 11am thanks to a required business trip. Beat from the East Coast flight and setting up to conduct training for the next 3 days, I knew my head wouldn't be into the game. So it was over 48 hours before I actually held cards in my hand!

My 1st stop was on Wednesday (after finishing class early) was at the 6pm MGM tourney. I've detailed that $125 session here.

My next stop was on Thursday (I'm now done with business) at the 7pm Caesars tourney. I've detailed that $220 session here. After a "close but no cigar" finish, I decided to hop into a $1/2 cash game, since they had a 2nd chance drawing that would net the winner a smooth $700. All you had to do was stick around for an hour after the tourney was completed and be sitting at a cash game...NO problem! 1st hand I catch QJo in the bb and call a small lp open-bet along with another player. Flop is queen-high and I check as the other 2 players look anxious to get money in the middle. As suspected the open-bettor leads out, next player pushes his small stack and I decide to smooth call, open-bettor calls as well. Turn and River are blanks as we check it down and I scoop a nice pot when my jack outkicks the shorties ten, bettor had wired jacks.The rest of the session wasn't nearly as fun as I lost trip kings to a river straight, aces to a flush and a busted steal attempt against a TIGHT shortie. Ended up $63 for the 3 hours played, I'll take the $20/hr.

Onward to Friday nite to play in the 7pm Sarhara tourney for $62. Parked at Caesars, my base of operations for the week but before I'm off I just HAVE to do a little shooping. For the sheer novelty of it all, I have to get a Pete Rose signed baseball with the inscription, "I'm sorry I bet on baseball." Phoned a colleague of mine earlier that day and he's a HUGE fan, so it was two balls! Also picked up a couple of Opus X sticks, a little strong for my taste but a nice cigar. Round it all off with a nifty Michael Goddard ornament and I was off to pack my swag away!

Now it was time for the bullet (monrail) right to the Sahara! Definitely an "old school" room compared to what I've seen so far. Tournament had just over 150 runners and I'm glad there wasn't any hay available, otherwise I don't know where they wouldn've stuck all the additional donkeys! My table had 2 players that had even the slightest clue but even one of them doubled me up when my "tight as a frog's arse" re-raised a couple of lipmpers and he decided to push from my left, his wired tens didn't hold up! Blinds go up every 20 minute but you get T5000 for your $62 bones, not a bad low-stakes deal. The tables were in bad shape and it was NOISY! Drink service was good and the dealers I encountered were friendly. I ended up busting when my "M" dictated pushing, hand didn't hold and I was on the "bullet back home."

I did ride the rollercoaster there as I'm an adreneline junkie, thouroughly enjoyable!

I then decided to take in some "Vegas Atmosphere" with an Opus, wandering around the strip checking out various rooms, starting at The Famingo. Followed up by a stop at Bally's, Paris and lastly, Bellagio to check out the frosted glass action, sadly there was none. "Funny" incident at the Paris as I wandered into the room about 11:15 and they were getting ready to start a tourney. Not familiar with the room, I asked the girl at the desk, "what's the structure?" And she had no clue until I asked about the starting chips, blind levels, etc...needless to say, I didn't play! I'd already planned on playing the deepstack tourney at the Venetian on Saturday so it was time to head back for some much needed rest.

I found myself back at my base of operations for parking and a short walk to the Venetian noon Deepstack. I arrived right at 11am and unfurled (?sp) my roll for the $550 buy-in. Needed to get a card 1st, so we got that outta the way and "Mark" tried to talk me into the last seat into the last satellite for the day. For my own reasons, I decided against the sat, bought directly in and headed up the escaltor for a gander around the place. After checking out the Tim Cotterill bronze artwork at the Regis Galley (VERY cool stuff) I headed across the way to pastry shop for some morning eats.

All I can say is, WHAT A ROOM!!! GREAT tables, awesome chairs, tableside service with good drink runners, once they got into gear. Dealers were extremely efficient, focused on their work at hand. I can't WAIT to play there again! Chatted up the young player on my left and turns out it's Shawn Green, a writer for Card Player who sat'd into the tourney. He and his friend both made it although they were talked into playing by a friend who didn't make it, irony eh?! Made some convo with another player on my left, Don, who just happens to own a gold-mine in Dawson City. What started the talk was his card protector, a 7oz gold bar dug out of the mine, VERY cool!

I can't say enough about this tourney, ESPECIALLY coming from the FL-SUX-the-HIGH-HOG poker scene! It's a $540 buy-in for T7500, and for an extra $10 spot, you get a cool T10k even! With VERY liberal blinds and 40 minute levels, there's TONS of play! Unfortuantely for me I ran into someone playing AQo like the nuts during the 100/200 level, cracking my wired kings. I've talked with several people about that hand and most agreed with the play; what can you do? I kept my short-stack afloat with a few positional jams but when push came to shove my K9o button didn't hold against the sb AKo call and the bb 44 call (same nutcase with the AQ from earlier). They checked it down and my time at the Venetian came to a sad and early walk of shame. I will DEFINITELY be back to play in the tourney! Loved EVERYTHING about the room, can't report a single negative thing!

OK, so call me a glutton for punishment but I came to Vegas to play and play I will. I took a cab to play in the Binions UPC tourney. Again, another deepstack tourney, starting with T10k for your $660 buy-in. 40 minute levels and great blinds made the ball busting 4pm-1am ride a fun one! Won't go into the hands here as there are way too many to discuss. But I was able to take down a nice pot against Celia Reyes (Carlos Mortensens' ex) when I check-raised her when my AQo hit the non-scary flop. I was also able to take down a nice pot from bb against Shawn Rice when my A8o hit 2 pair against his big ace. I talked to him on break about the hand and was interesting to hear his thought process. No being star-struck here, as I held my own the entire way!

What a DRAB room! Tables were in bad shape but the dealers were competent and Brad, the tourney director was very personable. The bathrooms were an ABSOLUTE mess! Tried getting something to eat at the coffee shop before the tourney start and even that was a tooth-puller! The 40-minute dinner break, which I thought would provide enough time for eats, didn't even come close, even that went to the wire. Crusty old Al working the fry-grill counter was just as curt as curt could be, but after thowing down a Binny Burger, I was happier for it but I know why/how some poker players become porkers....lmfao!

With only 38 runners, the final 7 would make the money and the tv table the next day at 4pm. Table agression and being CARD DEAD nearly sealed my fate as I fought to stay alive, trying to make a run to the final 7. Down to 2 tables, and I found myself seated across from Oklahoma Johnny Hale but that didn't last long as his AK (king on board) busted to AA, was great to watch him play and listen to his intimidating talk during the hand! We form up the final 10, then we're quickly down to 9. Celia busts in 9th and here we are, on the bubble! I'm short stacked with another player, a gentleman who also had his wife and son in the tourney, both gone at this point. He went heads up with A6 v a QJ call, and when a queen flopped, I was PUMPED! But it was all for naught as he went runner-runner straight to take down the pot. Shawn Rice had a chance to bust but the big-stack who'd been calling everything ALL NIGHT long, agonized over the EASY call, eventually laying it down. Then it came my turn. Table folded to another big stack in the sb and he raised me all-in. I peek at A6 and with so much money in the middle, I make the DOMINATING call to his A5...once again, I'm PUMPED! But once again, it's all for naught as there's a 5 in the window and I get no help. All I can do is wander off into the darkness as the final 7 are formed.

It's after 1am and I'm beat after 9 hours of cards. Drained and let down, I'm bubble boy in a cab....I slink on back to Sunset Station and the comfort of a nice bed to try and sleep off the beats!

You'd think that'd be enough cards over a 4-day run, but remember, I'm a glutton. Just kick me in the arse and tell me I SUCK at poker, lol! Although not happy with the results, I AM happy with my play and my decisions. And hell, this in Vegas; where's the closest tournament?

I make my way back to my base of operations for the Caesars Noon tourney for $130. T4500 in chips and 40 minute levels make this a nice tourney and with over 100 runners, it should be a good affair. The only drawback are the blinds, going from 200/400/50 to 400/800/100 then 600/1200/100....break-neck advancement! Once again, I find myself doing well early but after a table change, the cards go cold and it's all I can do looking for spots to push and stay afloat. Down to 3 tables (paying final 9), I'm looking for any shot at chips. Not being results focused but I feel I missed 2 spots at chip muching and eventually bust when I open push from late position with "any two" and get looked up by a legetimate hand, no real choice with blinds at 1000/2000/200.

Funny story about "joe cool poker prodigy kid" who comes into seat 3 a tad late. He starts off raising utg and when everyone folds, he scowls and tables Q3o...thank you VERY MUCH, lmfao! Kid Poker Wannabe doesn't know how to slow down and the table is FULLY AWARE of how to adjust and he's busted inside 2 levels. My shot comes when I call his late position open-bet from the sb with the bb coming along as well. I check my 25o in the dark and watch the kid. The bb leads out for 200, the kid flat-calls and the board has straightened me out, so I raise. Both drop unexpectedly and I show the 2 card only for the gut-shot and the kid stomps off...ROFL.

It's late Sunday afternoon and I have less than 24 hours left in Vegas, and I do what any respectable poker player wannabe would do, I head over for the MGM 6pm tourney for $125. T3000 and 30 minute blinds, with alternates thru the 1st 3 levels. It's capped at 60 players and filled with tourists, YUMMY! A LOOSE calling station from Germany is on my left and it seems the better players at the table each take turns taking his chips as he buys back into the tournament a total of 3 times!I haven't seen AA ALL WEEK LONG and during this tourney, during a period of 30 minutes I catch 'em 4 times! I'll save the details for another post but the 3rd time I'm in the blinds against 2 players, 1 all-in pf. I push the non-threatening flop and get insta-called by KK and things are looking GREAT....until the case king falls on the river, and I'm left crippled instead of being upwards of 20k in chips....

Moved to a new table and catch 'em for the 4th time on the button, I push hoping one of 'em wakes up with a hand, but no such luck. VERY next hand, it's folded around to me again and I push with AKs, getting called by QQ on the button. I flop an Ace but you know what's coming, he goes runner-runner for the spade flush and that's all she wrote! A few minutes later the final table forms and my friend Cindy is smack dab in the middle talking up a chop of the 7k prize pool....AND SHE GETS IT! Damn guilable guys....LOL!

OK, that's it, I'm done! I depart tomorrow at 4pm and I'm exhausted from the poker-week! I pack sand back to the Station and get my carry-on stuffed for the trip back. Before I do, I stop by the front desk to print out a boarding pass and NOW my luck changes....I'm able to upgrade and snag a 1st class ticket for the ride home. 'Least I can slink on home in style and comfort! Checked-in and packed up, I hit the sack. Ok, I lied, I check out the Stations' poker room before sleepy time, and find out they have a 10am 2-table limit tourney and since I need to kill time till about 2pm, it just seems fitting....LOL!

I check out in the morning, pack up my $125/wk ride and head over to the room to get signed up. Stop by 'Bucks for a Mint Mocha, then onto some free donuts courtesy of the poker room. Small place where everyone knows each other but my suave charm lightens things up and I fit right in. Competent dealers but one guy stands out, JT...he's a riot and knows how to run a table! The guy we had for the next down was an outright grouch, what a way to kill the mood! I catch 2 boats early and chip up, extracting extra bets with check-raises on 4th street. But once again, it's all for naught as I bust in 6th position with the top 3 getting paid, fitting end to a GREAT trip!

It was noon and still had some time to kill, so I headed over to the Rio for some WSOP swag and and a couple of requested tees for the wife. Headed over to Metro Pizza on Trop and Maryland for some lunch and to kill a little more time. good stuff and nice wait-staff, will be stopping back by on my next trip. I pay the bill and off to the airport I go.

As I'm sitting in the airport, I'm reading a copy of Bluff and run across my poker horoscope. Maybe I shoulda read it on my way to Vegas and not on the way home!

"Jeez, you're straight up f'd this month! Cards, dice, sports....Mentally you'll be out of it, thinking about playing cards; but to give in to temptation will only result in a losing streak of the worst degree."

LMFAO!

Had a KILLER time and wouldn't have played my cards ANY differently, I just need luck to even out for my next tournament run! I'll mix in more NL cash games on my next trip, either Bally's or TI....can't wait to get back in March!