Hey again, just got back from my trip up to Reno for the Summer Pot of Gold tourney. I went up Friday afternoon with intent of playing Sat $500 tourney and playing some cash games too.

The Grand Sierra (old Hilton) hosts like 4 Pot of Gold tourneys a year (Spring,Summer is a new one, Fall then the Winter). I usually go up each year for the spring and fall, winter has too much snow for my liking up there to drive in since you have to drive over the sierra nevada's to get there which means crap weather conditions in the winter.

Went up on Friday afternoon, checked into the hotel with wife, son and nephew. They were going to hang out at pool, arcade and such while I played poker for 2 days. It was very slow for the tournament time, they only had like 4 tables going which included (4/8 omaha, 1/2Nl and a 3/5nl). Every other time I go up to these tourneys there is the same bunch of locals that get a 10/20nl game and usually about 10-20 tables running with other games. The usual higher stakes guys were no where to be found on this trip. Not sure why...I get into the 3/5nl game and play for about 4 hours getting up about $700 which was enough to cover my Saturday tourney entry...nothing note worthy to post about hands, just played solid and occasionally bluffed plus straddled a few times just to show I wasnt too tight and it helped pay off a couple hands when I hit.

Saturday $500 tourney...start with 5k in chips 40 minute levels. I get going really good the first 2 levels and get to about 12k in chips through good hands\value betting and punishing the blinds when I was in the cutoff and button. Suffice it to say didnt last when going into the 5 level. Our table gets 2 big stacks moved over and they proceed to push all over. On one hand I get my JJ and raise it 4x and get 2 callers...flop comes 238 with 2 clubs, I put in bet get 2 calls turn comes a 10hearts, I bet out again, 1 person folds the other big stack says all in...I call and he turns over 10clubs, 6clubs which gives him a pair plus flush draw...K clubs on river gives him the winner and cripples me...I go in few hands later with AKos get called by pocket 6's and I am out when I dont hit. You have to win some flips, avoid getting beat like I did to make it to final table of the tourneys...I did place 3rd in a 189 man tourney the last trip to the spring pot of gold this year, so I know I can play and make money

Saturday after tourney still no sign of regular higher stakes guys, so I get back into the 3/5nl game going and end up making another $900 over 6 hours of play, so ended up pretty good over the short 2 day visit of poker since I just got home (sunday). I also like to play craps so just before going to bed early sunday at 2am, I buy in for $200 and rally it up to plus $200 then call it a night and trip.

I hope the fall pot of gold in Sept turns out to have more people show up and also the regulars for our 10/20nl game