"Business" 1 Week after a 9-Day Trip
Monday, Day1:
It was only a week ago that I spent 9 days here in the town of vice and greed yet I find myself back for a business trip :). I left Tampa around 10am, snagging a coveted exit row seat on Southwest despite boarding near the end of the “A group!” Several chapters of various poker books and the complete Beatles Love album and I “quickly” found myself at Mccarran airport headed for my rental car. The place was packed as there’s a high-school basketball something or other in town as well as the Harley convention at Mandalay. Thanks to Hertz Gold Club, I had my jeep and was jetting down Sunset towards our corporate office, arriving just around noon. I won’t bore you with the work details but I started doing what I needed to conduct my classes this week, had lunch with the local team at Sammy’s Wood Fired Pizza (had to avoid the pizza as I have a spot I want to try this week and didn’t want to have pizza twice) then went to Sam’s to pick up supplies for the week. By 4pm, I was set-up and ready to check-in to the hotel across the street at Valley Ridge and Sunset. By 5pm, I was out the door and looking for some card action….you didn’t think I’d put of playing with only 4 days in town did you? :D
I headed over to a favorite haunt, Casa Fuente in the Forum Shops at Caesars for a Pedro Bello smoke coupled with yet another west coast fave, a Fat Tire…or two :D The location is awesome for “site seeing” and an occasional conversation! And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the waitress dressed in sheer midriff toga with an ever-so-slight g-string just daring to be lit be floor lights! As it neared 6:30, I finished up what was now a stub of a cigar and headed towards the poker room to check out the action. 5 cash tables were in play with no one on the upper deck. When I inquired about the number of entrants for the 7pm tourney, 16 was the answer. I decided to opt out and head to TI. I didn’t need to play tonite and I always like the feel of the TI room, just so damn cozy, where I feel right at home! I took Frank Sinatra/Industrial to Mel Torme to avoid the strip and landed at my usual parking space on level 3, walking straight into the tunnel and down the escalator to the poker room.
They damn near had the same action in play as Caesars with 2 tables in the 7pm, I bought in for $65 and intended to have some fun trying out a bit of a new strategy along the way. Before too long, I had my table talking and laughing it up, just what I wanted; learning all I could as I played the part of “in-town business guy” :D At the end of level 3, first break, I had only slightly chipped up and I decided the best course of action was to obtain a Bahama Mamma at Kahunaville…:D. Being a fast tournament, 20 minutes and 3500 chips, I knew what I was in for and since only the top 3 would get paid, I figured my more aggressive approach would be well suited to try out. We made the final table, out of 20 people ;), sometime during the second hour and pushing with pocket aces twice I got no action. I didn’t have enough chips to raise/continuation bet so all in it was, over-bet or not. One of the best comments I heard all night was the guy next to me, Jeremy who misspoke when asking to hit a set, and came out, “come on, I need to hit a slut.” :shock: :D That was bested by a Brit who commented, “in the spirit of the game, you won the hand but that was a stupid play.” :D
He ended up on my left when the balanced tables, then on my right when we got to the final 10. He was just an arse and the entire table celebrated when he busted out in 7th position! There was much talk of a chop, but with so little money at stake, the 2 leaders were hesitant, as would I. I got it in from the sb with QQ and the bb called with pocket 7s; my hand held and I was sitting pretty. Jeremy, who was on my immediate right then open-pushed and when I looked down, I’d found pocket queens yet again. I made the easy call and when all black blanks fell, I was feeling much safer against with red king/queen. Another rag spade fell on the turn and I was counting my ducks until the ugliest king fell on the river. I was devastated once again by the river once again, until I noticed it was the king of spades and since my queens were both black, I raked a HUGE pot. With 6 players left most of the chips were in front of me and Nate, the player on my left. Talk of chopping began again, and the player who held most of the chips that was the hold-out earlier, Steve, was now short and willing….now Nate and I held out ;)
Jeremy went on a rush getting it with AK v AA and the board flopped a gut-shot, turning his straight. He was then all in with 97o against deuces and when the board double-paired on the turn followed by a rag on the river, his kicker played and he was back in pushing action. That was followed by a 3-way short stack all-in fest with the board flushing out, they chopped it up! He finally busted when his luck ran out, busting in 5th. He was a very smart player and it was a pleasure playing next to him! We then ran a deal when we were down to 4 players, making a save for fourth, instead of chopping it outright. Dwayne was the beneficiary of getting his money back and we were down the 3. The other early hold-out for a massive chop was Alan who was now “short” and looking for a deal. With blinds at 2k/4k, none of us, Nate nor I had more than about 5bb in front of us and after trading chips for an orbit or two, I piped up stating it was silly to flip for a winner. They both quickly agreed, and we chopped it up 3-way. After tipping out $10, too much but hey, I like the room and the staff (both other players also tossed in $10) and minus the save for third, I’d netted $200 for just about 3 hours of work.
I know it’s not a big win by any stretch of the imagination and most cash game players could pick that up in no time short, but after the cards beat me up all last week despite playing some of the best poker I’ve played in some time, the “win” felt good. I cashed in my chips, thanked Troy for the great customer service and was on my way back to the hotel. End of day one, not a bad day at all :).
Tuesday, Day 2:
After getting back to the hotel around 10:30pm, tired as hell, I hit the sheets around 11pm and promptly popped up at 5am, still firmly stuck on east coast time
. I tossed and turned for an hour, finally decided to get up and prepare for a long day of conducting classes. After getting out of work, I was totally dragging arse and decided it wasn’t in the best interest of my bankroll to hit the tables. I nearly felt ashamed to be back at the hotel with the day being lit by the rays of the still shining sun but I needed rest and knowing what was in store for Wednesday classes, I knew I could play another day.
I’d mapped out a few restaurants that I’ve been wanting to try and since I was hoping to hook up with a local poker buddy for some sushi and card talk, I put off trying out Sumo Sushi until Wednesday, opting out instead for the “VPN” rated pizza place off Horizon Ridge called Settebello’s. I’m a pizza hound but with my newfound health kick, it’s just one more item on long list that I’ve cut WAY back on. If you’re looking for Chicago deep-dish, NY style, Boston/East Coast style, then this is not the place for you. However, if you’ve ever wanted to try out a Napoletana certified, non run-of-the-mill pizzeria, then it just may well be worth the drive to check out. This is only the 12th restaurant in the country to receive such a certification and is well deserved. The service however left something to be desired as it was the typical “I don’t care, teenage angst, why are you interrupting my day” service. Maybe that’s a little harsh but it was funny that my “server” couldn’t even deliver my beer, due to being underage would be my guess. Slacking service aside, the price was right and the wood-oven baked pizza Margherita was very tasty and just the right size. All in all, I think I’d say give it a try.
Back at the hotel, disappointed to see that ESPN was airing WSOP 08 apparently on east coast time I decided to keep up with my bike riding and headed down to the “gym” for a 10 mile ride. That completed, I wussed out and decided to stay in as I needed good rest to gear up for the EPA course I had to deliver on Wednesday, followed by smoking cigars, drinking, sushi and cards….not most likely in that order
. Hope it’s worth the read!
Random thoughts:
When you dream that you had a job offer at the TI poker room AND you accepted it, it may mean you’re spending too much time in Vegas.
When you dream about meeting Tom Colicchio of Top Chef/CraftSteak fame, it may mean that it’s been too long since your last trip for good steak
.
While driving up the strip from the south end, it’s amazing how the Trump Tower dominates your field of vision.
Are there really professional $2/4 limit players?
Fashion is dead but carrying around a gallon jug of water with a platic bag tied to your belt loop and sporting a "popped" collar just isn't keen
It's nice to be recognized, even is she's not into guys
Damn Napoletana certified pizza I have to give that place a try!!!
Oh and there is nothing wrong with dreaming of job offers in vegas, I had a dream I auditioned to be a dealertainer (that is several rungs below a TI job).
come on out for the Sab's Invitational tonight if you are interested.
@StrayBullet
Got it. Next week I will change out the plastic bag for a cloth bag. Thanks for the heads up.
Wednesday, Day 3:
I had an extremely long day conducting an EPA certification class on refrigerant handling, starting at 8:30 and finishing up right at 5:30pm. Not that it’s difficult work but I don’t know how well suited I’d be playing cards in that frame of mind. I was pretty hungry by this point and not having sushi for at least a couple of days, I’d pretty much decided what I wanted to have
. That plan changed though several times as I approached the strip. CraftSteak was running through my brain but I kept reminding myself to not do the same thing over and over. That also knocked Social House out of the running due to eating there on my last trip. I loved the place and the food was amazing but I wanted to try something new to me. I’d heard great things about Nobu and since I hadn’t dipped into my per-diem as yet, I figured I’d have a good dinner on the company.
I had tuna sushi, California, lobster and shrimp tempura rolls as well as tuna tataki. The meal was amazing, service was awesome and the setting exuded coolness. When I compare the experience to Social House, I have to give the nod to Social House. Obviously Nobu is extremely good but if I was pressed to return to either restaurant and had to make a choice, it’d be Social House, hands down. Keeping with my “try something new” modus operandi, I decided to seek out the Havana Cigar Bar. I eventually found the place right across from Del Frisco’s and in the same plaza as Ruth Chris’ and Firefly on Paradise. I don’t know if I’d built the place up in my mind or had different expectations, but it wasn’t what I had pictured so after a quick walk-thru, I decided to head elsewhere.
I ended up capping off the evening with familiarity, landing at TI, grabbing a drink at Kahunaville and plopping my arse down in the Breeze bar to light up a stick and enjoy my drink as I watched the world go by! The same waitress who had served me numerous times on previous trips without ever indicating that she recognized me, actually recognized me this time. She commented about me looking different (I was still in work attire) since I had no hat on and was sporting a weak beard
. She also commented about recalling my drink order, the fact that I tended to pour new drinks in my old plastic cup and of course, the cigars. Not that anything was going to happen, but it’s nice to be recognized, especially since I’ve been there so many times. Thanks Anicia!
For some strange reason and against my earlier thoughts against playing, I ended up in the TI poker room, sitting short in a $1/3 game. I took and early hit with pocket jacks, losing to queen on the river which knocked my stack all the way down to $75 or so. Over the next 3 hours or so, I crawled my way back to eek out a $4 profit as well as banking several tickets for the Friday drawing and of course those great $2/hr comps
I’d gotten back to “even” doubling through twice; once with AK and the other time with AA. Well past when I should’ve picked up, I finally departed around 1am only to find the strip closed down due to a bomb scare at Bellagio. After re-routing to N15 I finally got back to the hotel at 2am and had to be at work to be able to conduct the EPA Certification Test at 8:30am 
Thursday, Day 4:
After finishing up testing 11 employees, I headed down to strip with the intention of playing in the 2pm Wynn. I decided to check into IP later in the day as I didn’t think I had enough time before the tourney. I had 2 comp’d nites due to a bad experience during my March trip. My new motto is: If you have enough money to play poker, then you have enough for a nice hotel. I’ll never stay here again, I don’t care how cheap it is or how well located! I parked at TI, dropped off my tickets, the hoofed it over to the Venetian for a walk though the Canal Shop and Palazzo on my way to the Wynn. I needed to walk off that dinner from last night and I enjoy strolls anyway. Of course I had to pick up a $30 margarita for the walk; hey, it was hot
.
On my way, I discovered a new store to me, a rare book store that had some really amazing pieces, all for sale. Not that I could afford anything, but it was really cool slowly walking through the store checking everything out. I even came across a signed Beatles photo display and as it was being shown to me, Norwegian Wood started playing over the speaker system, synchronicity! It was still pretty early by the time I got over to the poker room and there were only 3 people currently signed up with 45 minutes before chips hit the air. I sat in the Parasol Bar and of course did some people watching as I enjoyed yet another cigar. At 2pm, I was back at the poker room only to find 19 total runners in the tourney (by comparison, Venetian had 65 left when I passed by at 3pm) so I decided to head elsewhere. On my way back I picked up another margarita, he my other was empty by this point
. I decided it was time to check in at IP and after dropping the car off at valet, it was a scant 45 minute wait in line before being checked in….never again! The elevators are atrocious, the showers scald you with intermittent bursts of hot water heated by the depths of hell and I’m still not sure how or why they refer to the rooms as remodeled as they’re still stuck in the 70s with a mirror mounted directly over the bed.
After dropping things off, a quick rest and getting cleaned up I headed back out onto the strip to find some eats and hook up with the Yapster. My walk across the boulevard found me in Mirage and walking past BLT Bar with no line. I’ve always seen this place PACKED so I decided to give it a try. I had a great time and a great burger, coupled with 2 fat Tire drafts! I then found Dave over at TI preparing for the single-table game that was the 7pm tourney. I met Adam, “Silent Bod” on AVP and we sweated Dave as he worked his usual magic! It was pretty cool to watch him play but also to talk about the how and why behind his moves. By the time he’d busted out we (Dave, Adam and I) decided to play a hole at the Sabs Invitational and met the wandering crew at Excal, thanks for driving Dave! I think we had a Kamikaze but I’m really not too sure, as I’m still a bit fuzzy! Oddly enough, hunger was setting in about this time and since we were close to the Burger Bar and none of us had eaten there previously, we figured the best course of action was to give it a try! The burgers were awesome and nowhere near the exorbitant prices oft mentioned. Dave provided curb-side service back at IP and I promptly “passed out” after recalling what floor I was on and room I was in
Friday is just around the corner and the Venetian nooner and sushi with Motorcycle John is on deck!
Considering the train wreck I heard about in Houston, I doubt Mark has the ability to hit up the Sabs INV....
@Clem2754
It wasn't tooooo bad... just remind him to close a tab and pick up his credit card if he opens one!!!
Friday, Day 5:
When faced with a tourney decision, I’ll more often that not opt for the Venetian and today was the noon for $150. We ended up with 137 runners paying top 18, not a bad turnout considering how “slow” Vegas is right now. It’s a decent tourney with 7500 chips and 30 minute levels. I was able to chip up during the first 3 levels fairly well, nearly doubling my stack. The turnabout came as we lost player, introduced new blood and the table dynamics changed. I had good reads on the remaining players but I was catching cards that would make Moses look young and couple that with aggressive play, I just couldn’t get traction. With blinds at 300/600/75 and only 10k behind, I made what I thought was a good play against a stupid loose player but apparently my end game needs work as evidenced by the severe beating I took over my play from Yappy, OD and MotorcycleJohn
It’s become obvious that I’m taking end-game aggression to an extreme when it’s not needed, so I may need to reevaluate that part of my game along with several other aspects.
I shook off playing like a monkey the only way I know how, and that’s with a cigar and Patron/Grand Marnier Margaritas at Breeze. After getting a call from Yappy, I decided the best course of action was to donk off another $150 in the Head Hunters tourney at TI. Once again I played like a monkey and OD and Yappy wouldn’t let me hear the end of it
. I discussed several hands with the “trio of knowledge” but it was quickly surmised that I need to find another pastime, or at the very least sit in a cash game with the 3 of them 
. I made some good moves that got “oh, that’s standard” comments which I thought were brilliant and some donkalishish moves that were berated by all involved. In the end, I went out pushing during 300/600, 7-handed to yet another 1800 chip opener by the same player with KQo. He made the auto-call with AQ and being blocked and getting no help, I was yet again sent to the sushi-rail, looking for eats!
After busting yet again without a cash, MotorcycleJohn and I went to Rainbow Sushi off Rainbow and Spring Mountain for a late night dinner. It wasn’t bad although I don’t think they enjoyed us walking in 5 minutes before closing, except for the drunk chef! We racked up a near $70 bill with 4 rolls, tuna nigiri and tuna tataki. All in all not a bad place but nowhere near the level of Social House or Nobu. Afterwards, John dropped me back at TI and with him deciding not to play and it being my last night in Vegas, I decided to play a $2/4 until leaving for IP
I can’t reiterate this enough, IP is a TOTAL DUMP!!! The valet was full and a paying hotel guest had NO SPACE in the parking garage, WTF?!?!?!….NEVER again!!! My room was an “upgraded room” as previously mentioned but it was still in no way worth the price of the comp. I wouldn’t stay there again if my Grandma was terminal and it was her dying wish that I spend her last days before passing onto the promised land accompanying her on a stay at their accommodations! The shower, regardless of the setting still scalded intermittently and the mirror over the bed would’ve been a nice touch if it was the 70’s. Couple that with that absolute atrocity that is their clientele and the parking situation, and I’ll never step foot in that place EVER AGAIN unless being paid to do so; which leads to me the industry conference that is scheduled for March 8-10 at IP. I have to attend and I’d never pass up a free ride to Vegas, especially over my 41st birthday, but no way in the world I’m booking a room there, they can my “pompous arse!”
Oh, and lest I forget, at the end my evening I watched SilentBod decide to partake of stack flipping exercises as I witnessed him being talked into a call after a massive opening push. He held AQo and was up against 7s, he rivered a queen to rake it all
Saturday, Day 6:
I got up earlier than I wanted but I needed the smell of IP off my body, so I got out of there around 10 and dropped by the corporate office to leave the keys I used during the week as well as checking email, etc. Then I hightailed it to Girmaldi’s at 9595 S Eastern for a genuine coal fired pie and a couple of Fat Tires. If you’re into pizza as I am, this place HAS TO BE on your list of places to try! That was followed by a quick stop downtown to pick up a couple of Cubans from Bad Habits before dropping back in at TI for one last hurrah at the $1/3 tables.
It took about 25 minutes or so but we got a new table opened up as the 10am tourney finished and the 2pm started. I bought in for $250, having the table covered including players asking questions like when they could leave, what a straddle was and my personal favorite, what’s a chop when it’s folded to the sb…:shock: Having nearly all the players figured out I set out to play them and not my cards, but the “poker gods” were against me, giving me hands like I’ve never seen in my life! I played 6s9s from the button for a min-raise and flopped an open-ended straight-flush draw. I check-called a $10 bet looking to stack the “I’ve played in home games, calling-station newbie.” The turn was a most beautiful Ks and I led out for $15, but knowing his tendencies, I should’ve bet more, knowing damn well I’d get paid off with any decent holding he had. I was concerned about another spade falling and rightly so, albeit a slight issue. To my utter dismay, that’s exactly what happened, another spade fell on the river and I figured this is just karma catching up with me for all the bad stuff I’ve done up till now! But when I glanced again, I noticed it was the Ts making me the nut straight-flush. I led out for $25 and was promptly called and as he proudly tabled with rivered 2-pair, no spade, I turned over the mortal nuggets and not only got paid off but also snagged another $250 for my efforts as well as 20 tickets into the weekly $2500 drawing
The very next hand, I picked up pocket aces in late position and thankfully was facing the exact action I wanted when we had 4 early limpers followed by a solid player I recognized sitting on my immediate right who raised to $18 protecting the pot. I could’ve flat-called but I was concerned with getting mutli-way action so I popped it up to $45. The table folded except for the raiser who flat-called. The board came down AJx, rainbow and sitting on the prefect hand, I checked behind after some contemplation figuring I have the current nuts and he’s not getting out of line with something stupid considering his raise and my previous knowledge. I thought my best course of action was to let him catch up and take the rest of his stack or I’d take down the pot that now contained nearly $100. An off-suit ten fell on the turn, putting a potential straight out there but given the action, that was highly unlikely. He promptly moved in and I insta-called with my set. He tabled a set of jacks and I raked another nice pot. I took another decent pot with AK 3-way on a final board of AQTxT.
After a mere 90 minutes into the game I was up to $705 and forced to leave for the airport as it was 3pm and my flight departed at 4:45. I’d gotten back to even for the week, making up my losses which mostly came from total monkey play all day Friday, just ask OD and Yappy, they’ll tell you
. Someday I’ll be able to afford one the $2500 piece and maybe an original 
All in all it was a great week, like you can have a bad time in Vegas, but I’m definitely learning more about myself and my play, I know I still have major leaks to plug. I’m looking forward to my yet unscheduled next trip and hope you’ve enjoyed the ride along with me!
I'm back home now with the same amount of money I left with and I can't wait to sleep in my own bed again!
Either I must be getting boring in my recounts or this fell under the category of tl;dr
@PiJuice15
It wasn't tooooo bad... just remind him to close a tab and pick up his credit card if he opens one!!![/quote]
Thanks for the report, I had a good time reading this and that was some luck hitting the straight flush and AA back to back! Any word on the $2500 drawing?? lol
@StrayBullet
I'm with you here Stray; I had a stogie over there last Wednesday afternoon and Adriana, the lady you mention, is a total knock-out in that toga-type outfit. She alone must drag in $$$ of business
@StrayBullet
Yeah, if you can afford a $30 margarita then you'll most definitely NOT be satisfied with the IP's accommodations! I like cheap rooms because I love being able to tell my husband, "It's only $200 for 4 nights! Can't I please go to Vegas for the 6th time this year?!"
I've mentioned it before Mrs Lederer but I'm no prima donna and I like value just as much as the next person; hell I still shop with coupons
I understand the draw for IP and it's location is awesome; while I don't need to stay in a room that costs $300+ dollars a nite, I do like to have have accomodations that don't make me feel dirty. For that and several other reasons (parking, scaulding showers, elevators, etc), I'll be hard pressed to find any reason to make a conscious choice to step foot in there again...except of course when required to do so on business this March 
@rasty
Happy to provide a modicum of enjoyment
As for the cards, yeah they smacked me right in the face and I took full advantage!