***Very long***

The trip was my fourth to Vegas to specifically play the TI room for a week, and my fifteenth overall to Vegas (for poker) from the midwest.

The quality of players at their 1/3 (really a 2/5) NL game is still below average. That's a good thing!! That allows me to play my favorite style, which is to see flops for almost nothing, and focus after the flop with pure aggression. There was always 1 or 2 locals at the table, and the rest tourists--most of which were staying at the hotel.

The reason I continue to go back to TI, (not only for the reason above), is due to the fact the combination of management and dealers remain my favorite anywhere in the country I have played. The same faces I saw when the room first opened, on both the management and dealer side of the house, are still there.

I spoke with a lot of people at tables throughout the week, and they were impressed (as first time tourists in the room), at the amount of attention they received when they came in, and when they sat down. I also noticed it, and I cannot tell you how welcoming the staff will make you feel--especially compared to other rooms. Keep in mind this room is on the smaller side, so personal attention is easier to dish out---but not all smaller rooms pay attention to customer service like this one does.

In addition, each dealer would always ask a new player if they had their MGM-Mirage players card with them. The $2 an hour earned in the poker room with that card adds up QUICK! Free food is free food no matter how you look at it with the comps. The fact the food in the hotel is great makes it that much more of a bonus.

A quick hello to the following:

Brian (Taz??)--Great to sit next to you for awhile. I hope you were entertained one night in particular when the money was flying.

LVM--The night you took down the maniac after manager Troy sat down was beautiful. Good job. The bad news for me was this--by that night when I was there with you--I was on 3 hours of sleep max the prior five nights. I was literally zoning in/out at your table due to serious sleep issues. I'm not a young guy anymore and my body was a train wreck. I remember very little!! I think we have all been there!!!

Yappy--Even though we only played a few minutes---you are still the man!! Because you are focused on the mixed game lately, I only had two people all week that reigned me in without you there!! I missed throwing $500 airballs back and forth like last trip!!! Our politics are possibly different, but I agree we need a man like Ron Paul very badly. Believe it or not the Constitution does still exist...for now!!

Annie--I was told to get to know you by Danette. I am glad I did. You are a great lady, and hope to see you again. By the way, my back hurts, I could use another maa-sahhh--ggeeee.

Ben B. from San Fran--Absolute calling station maniac who quickly got sick of me stealing all week. There is always one guy per trip I could not have played without, and this trip it was you. Aside from a French 'assassin' in the room for awhile, by far the best player all week.

Two hands of note to play along with...

#1=I look down at 5h/3s on the button. Three limpers, and I make it $10 to go. All call. (what, nobody respect my raise?). Flop 9c/qd/4h. Check, check, Ben makes it $30. I smooth call and others fold. Ben is highly aggressive like myself, and crafty enough to make any play. He knows I push constantly, with any two cards, from any position. He also knows I rarely just call. Turn=6c. I am now open ended. I have him on a weak nine at this point. We had never met before this trip, but already had 24 hours by then at the same tables. He makes it $30 again. I smooth call. I now am worried somewhat, because he has been playing a long time, and a $30 bet into a $160 pot is not normal on any level, much less by him. River hits another 6. He checks. What should I have done? I had $235 left and he had $360 left behind him.

#2=A very aggressive player in seat 9 was playing every pot, and pushing hard. He was up to +/- $1100, and I was at $950 prior to this hand. We had avoided one another until this hand, but our styles were very similar.
I look down at Ah/Qh. Three of us in for $13 pre-flop. The flop came down 8h/Jh/4c. Villain in seat 9 leads out $20, scared player between us two lunatics folds, and I make it $40 for the nut draw. He calls. Turn=Kh. Nut flush already! Wait, how much heart paint am I looking at right now?? Would a casual turn around to check the computerized board for the royal payout be a tell? I stay calm and throw out $50. As I had been slow playing big hands prior to this, he didn't believe my flush at all with that bet, and quickly called. What the ? did he have? The river came the 10h. WWWWWHHHHHHHOOOOOHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOO! He checked. Aside from hitting 'a bit of a jackpot' with the beautiful 10h, what would you have done on the river?

On a side note, the only two rooms on the strip I have never played are the Wynn and Venetian. I spent some time talking to floor personnel at both, and am looking forward to playing the 5/10 NL game at one or the other my next trip. I was very impressed with their willingness to talk to me, and with the atmosphere at both rooms. Any input from anyone on either game at those two rooms would be appreciated!!

Finally, thanks to TI Chris/Danette/Troy/Michelle/Perry/Jessica/etc and the great dealer staff. The $$$ was great again, but more importantly, I never wanted to leave!! Keep the good thing going!

AceTenGuy