Arrived about 1/2 hour late into vegas on VS43 from LGW, had a good seat in economy near the exit door, this ensures you are near the front of 400 others trying to get through immigration, which can take up to 2 hours sometimes!!
Get outside and have my 1st smoke for more than 12 hrs, then cab it to the orleans, $25 inc tip. Check in is a breeze, room 1718 with strip view.
Shower and change and down to the poker room, by now it is about 6.15 pm, I had intended to play in the V deep stack, but I was tired,had had a few drinks, and did,nt know what time the V tourney started, so decided to enter the 7 pm at the orleans.
Normally this is a $70 buy in, but tonight they were trying something new, $105 buy in 5k in chips with 30 min rounds 25-50 blinds to start, sounds good to me!! Had 197 runners, so knew this was going to be no walkover!!!
I played a TAG game and made a few moves when I thought I could get away with it, the 197 runners were made up of (I would guess) about 50% locals and the rest being tourists, this was labour day holiday so the hotel was pretty busy.
No real memorable hands till we get down to the last 3 tables, they were paying 15 spots, so now I realise that getting to the money is a real possibillity.
I am in the cut off with average stack, blinds are 1/2k,with 200 ante, look down at A9s it is folded to me I raise to 5k, button calls,SB folds,BB completes,flop comes 99K rainbow, BB bets out for 5k, I smooth call, as does the button.
Turn brings Ad, BB pushes for his last 12k, I call, button re raises all in for 6k more, I call, and BB turns over AK for 2 pr, button turns over pocket jacks, the river is the case 9, I now have a big stack and cruise to the final table.
The final table was a bit uneventfull, bit of stealing here and there,the 2 short stacks doubled up, by now it is 2.30 in the morning, I am dead on my feet. the tourney manager comes over and says we can chop for $1400 each right now if we want, most wanted a chop, but the shortest stack said he did not want to do it, he only had 1 round of blinds left.....WTF!!!!, eventualy get rid of 2 more players inc the guy who did,nt want to chop, and we chop for $1897 for the last 8 players.
Go to bed VERY pleased with myself.......Life is good
Next day I am meeting up with a workmate of mine who lives out in Henderson, we go for a few beers in a few locals places, donk off some $ at video poker, go back to his place and have a barbie with a few of his nieghbors,he has a cool place overlooking vegas, with the usual pool jaccuzzzi etc. Had a real chilled evening, life is good.by the time I get back to the orleans it is 10.30 and I am drunk, decide wisely to hit the hay.
Did,nt wake up till 11.30.....WTF!!!cant believe I,ve slept so long, guess it must have been the jet lag/drink catching up with me.
Get up and head to the pool for a couple of hours, then have a reuben sandwich in the cafe at orleans, showered changed and catch the shuttle to the strip and head into ceasers and sign up for the 7 pm $150 buy in, 5k chips there are about 70 runners and I go out about midway through NOT WINNING A SINGLE HAND!!! I am down to about 2k in chips with blinds at 400/800 and find pocket kings, I am under the gun and push, would be quite happy just to pick up the blinds!!!, get called by the button (big stack) with A4 o/s, and you guessed it.....A on the flop and I am out in 30 something place.....Life is not so good as it was!!!....but still OK.
Back to ceasers on the Mon night for another crack at the 7pm, and get a cash in 8th for $380,Once we were at the final table, the tourney director comes accross and explains that any winnings over $600 will be subject to US tax, I explained that i was from the UK, he said no probs, we can apply for a ITIN number on your behalf if you win over $600, as it happend I only got the $380 but he said he would apply for ITIN number anyway in case I got a bigger cash in the future, his name is Matt and a cool guy.
I picked up my car today, chrysler 300 with the hemi in it.....cool
Next night I head to TI and play in the 7pm $65 buy in 3k chips 20 min levels, and cash for $230 in 4th. Also met lasvegasmichael (did,nt know it was him till he started talking about AVPers!!)here and another AVPer twentyone, who decided he did,nt want his heineken and proceded to drop it in the lobby beside the poker room, we all had a good laugh....
Also played there the next night, was sitting at a table with a guy who had his pic in bluff magazine (still have,nt manage to find out who he was)I cashed in 3rd for $300 ish. had a great laugh at the table when LVM was talking to his wife on the phone and giving here a running commentary on the game......good times, fun tourney.
I also played at the mirage, had just missed the tourney, but tried a $70 SnG donkfest, this is very beatable if you play tight, but I just could,nt get the hands, and if you try a bluff for sure you are geting called down.
Also played at Binions 10pm $70, I love this roon , but was dissapointed to find out that when i sat down there were only 19 players (had i known this I would have headed elsewhere, I bubbled here , called the other short stack (had me covered by 500) and his pocket 7s held up to my A 10, flop come A 3 7, and did,nt improve for me......such is life.
All in All I had a great time, and cant wait to get back.