I played and stayed at Bellagio Sep 14-17. I mostly played 2-5 NL cash and tried a few satellites and the Friday 2 pm tourney. I really liked the Bellagio room and people. I did get the poker room rate as seen here on AVP. Easy to make the minimum.

The tourneys were pretty well run and the blind structure was reasonable. I think there were 48 people in the 2 pm event and I was put out in third level when my K-K was busted by A-K. Not a good showing at all, but I got my money in ahead and the A came on the turn. The satellites were popular with locals and you could take cash or a seat. I did play next to Celine’s husband/manager in the tournament. LOL.

Cash games were good. I am form Texas and play in Oklahoma casinos a few times a month. I enjoy the action type games and just don’t enjoy the raising on the button 3x BB only to have everyone fold their blinds. I would say the game typically had 2-3 local rocks, 2-3 average tourists (me) and a few internet “kids” raising on their draws. Not too many sharks at this level. I got drawn out on a few times, but you don’t want to hear all of those stories.

Ok, 2-5 NL I have pocket 3’s and call $20 raise from the cutoff by UTG (he has been at table 20 minutes and has bought in for $800), SB calls too. Flop comes 3-5-6 rainbow. SB checks, UTG bets $50. I don’t think he has 4-7 so I decide to make it $100. SB folds and UTG all in ($450). I call him with my set and he shows 8-8. Well you guessed it, turn is 4 and river is 7. I had to meet wife so I could not stick around to get it back.

I did play Mirage 1-2 NL for about 2 hours and on my first hand from BB get K-J off. I call $15 raise and it is 3 to flop. Flop comes K-J-8. Raiser in 4 position bets $30, next one a call and I raise to $60. Raiser all in, caller calls off his last money and i wonder does one of these guys have set of 8’s? I think Raiser was at best A-K and other caller only had a few dollars so I think I am ahead and call all in with my $200 buy in. Just as I thought A-K and the turn is a blank, river an A. The guy says “sweet justice”. Sweet justice? I had the best hand when the money went in, but that is poker. The guy apologized later, but clearly he was excited to slip out of that. Unfortunately, he dribbled off my money to everyone else before I could catch cards again. Mirage is pretty poor room compared to Bellagio, MGM, etc….

Thanks to AVP for all the ratings because I read them all.