In Vegas with the family Dec 16 - 19, so the poker was somewhat limited, but got in two tournaments and three short 3/6 limit sessions.

The theme of this trip: I saw a lot of bad play, worse than I remember. A few examples.
1. Ten high board on the turn, short stack goes all in (which I'm fine with). Player calls, with K-J! Amazingly, the shover also had K-J, for a split pot.
2. Player calls all the way to the river with pocket jacks, despite two overcards on the board. In this case the bad play failed.
3. Queen high board on turn, player goes all in, second player goes all in, third player calls. First play has AQ for TPTK, so a shove isn't totally out of line. Second player has pocket Aces; good play by him to go AI. Third player has a straight draw (I believe an inside straight draw at that). Guess who wins the pot? Yup, the straight draw.
4. Short stack (me) goes all in from middle position. Big blind (who of course is already invested in the pot) hems and haws before folding. I have Q-10. Folder shows A-10! How do you fold that? But thanks.

Also saw plenty of players calling thin and hitting their outs, much more than I remember from past trips. Don't remember details, but I recall thinking these players were crazy lucky.

As for my particulars. Played the Friday noon Casaers $85 tournay, 50 players. I finished somehwere around 20th. I always like the Caesars tournament, as the structure is decent (7,500 starting chip) and the room comfortable. As I mentioned, not impressed with the play. Dealers were adequate, although one middle aged dealer did not seem very adept at dealing the actual cards. He kind of did it the way I do. Not a big deal, but it caught my eye. Also, I've seen others complain about the drink service. I ordered my usual poker room "lunch", bloody mary mix with two celery sticks (got to keep up with my veggies). No celery sticks here. Really? It wasn't a problem at Mirage. Again, not a big deal, but kind of surprising from a four star hotel.

Saturday played the 11 a.m. $80 tournament at Mirage. Turnout was 32 players, a bit lower than I expected, and I finished in the middle. Like the structure (again 7,500 chips, but blinds start at 50/100 vs 25/50 at CP) and the room. Play was uneven. Woman player would consistently min raise pre flop, which I think an amateurish play, but she took a pot from me when her eight kicker beat my kicker on a K high board and we both paired our Ks. (I was big blind, so pardon my playing junk, but I actually thought I was good and value bet the river. My mistake for reading a bad player the way I'd read a good one.) Also experienced the most politely obnoxious player I've ever had at a poker table. Every other word was please, thank you, or sorry. It got so annoying that one of the dealers actually told him to knock it off, that we were there to have fun, not to be obsequious (my word, not his). Anyway, this player made every newbie mistake possible; string bet, single chip bet intending a raise, announcing raise when he's first to act, betting less than the BB. Maybe it was all an act. Because guess who was one of the big stacks? As far as the dealers go, most were competent if seemingly disinterested. But one guy (Steve from MA?) seemend intent on setting the land speed record for dealing, in the process exposing cards in each of his first two deals. Dude, what's the hurry? It's a tournament; getting in a couple extra hands isn't netting the house any additional rakes (or you any additional tips).

Played two cash sessions at Ballys, one at Mirage. Basically broke even. Played with the same guy at both Ballys sessions, and remembered him from an earlier trip, so he's obviously a local, but mostly a tourist crowd, some better than others. Had the usual extremes, one player seeing every flop, another hardly any and betting big whenever he was in. Ballys on Sunday night was virtually full, on Thursday night about half. All the sessions were enjoyable with a nice group of players. Kudos to dealer Gene at Ballys, who forcefully stepped in to enforce the English only rule. Unfortunately the target of his ire left the table after that, and he was a bit of an ATM, but I appreciate the dealer doing his job where many others would ignore what was happening.

A few other observations. I was in Flamingo on Sunday about 9 a.m. hoping to get in a quick 2/4 session, but there were four or five names on the wait list, and no indication that another table would start. Stopped by Aria just to look. Nice looking room, and I didn't need to sit in the chairs to know they were comfotable, just from their looks. The only downside is that the layout had a bit of the Bellagio look about it, a little cramped. Hope to have the chance to play in their afternoon tournament next time I was there.

Also checked out the new Cosmopolitan (which regretably doesn't have a poker room), across the street from Planet Hollywood. Now that is one sharp looking place! Have a drink at the Bond lounge and check out the strip action. The place actually has windows! Not to mention some smokin' cocktail waitresses.

For dining, I recommend Fiamma, Noodles (in Bellagio) and La Burger Brasserie. BLT Burger was disappointing; have eaten there in the past, but this time it wasn't up to standard, and service was underwhelming.

Not sure when I'll make it back, but hopefully this summer.