My first solo trip to LV. The plan was to play 4 or 5 tournaments (with the 8:00 p.m. $100 Harrah's being the one tournament I really wanted to try), some limit hold 'em (starting at 2/4, then graduating to 4/8 as I gained more experience and confidence), and maybe some 1/2 NL. Well, that's not quite how things went down.

First, a little about me. I'm basically a low-cost tourney player, and have had some good results. I'd like to branch out into cash games, but I'm not real comfortable risking a lot of money on a single hand. I guess I'm more competitor than gambler.

Flew Southwest out of Milwaukee. First time on Southwest and its open seating policy. Scored an aisle seat, my preference. A good start.

Arrived on time in LV, checked in to the IP at 12:30 p.m. Room was ready despite my early arrival. This was my first time at IP, and while I've read mixed things, I found it perfectly adequate. Not luxurious by any means, but clean and comfortable. Add the great location and the low cost and I'd recommend it if you don't need posh and luxury.

On to the poker. First stop was Flamingo for 2/4 limit. For some reason I like the Flamingo casino. Maybe it's the Vegas tackiness of the place, or it might be the air freshener which I noticed I liked (in contrast to the Venetian freshener which practically sickens me). I played there on an earlier trip and enjoyed the room. Pretty basic place, kind of low key. They had seven tables going on a Monday afternoon, which was busier than I would have expected. About half the players at my table were local rocks, the others tourists. Not great quality of play, except for one older local, an Asian gentleman who had some game in him. I play tight aggressive and tend to play only quality hands. Even so I was down $44 after two hours. I don't have a ton of limit experience, and I made some mistakes, like folding on the turn to a $4 bet with an OESD (which hit on the river). I also lost trips to the typical limit flush chaser. Dealers were fine, but not a good start.

My original plan was to play a tourney that night. But I was feeling the effects of being up since 5:00 a.m. central time (3:00 a.m. Vegas time), and didn't relish playing in a tourney which could last 4-5 hours. So I opted for more 2/4 limit, this time at Imperial Palace. But first I stopped by Harrahs, and was unpleasantly surprised that only 23 players were playing in the 8:00 p.m. tournament. I thought the field would be at least twice that size.

At IP my table seemed to be all tourists, and a friendly bunch. One lady, who was older than old dust, ran her stack down a few times but would win that final hand before busting, and we kind of cheered her on. Actually the whole table was pretty old; I'm 52 and I'd say I was second or third youngest. The room wasn't much, but a pretty low stress place. Notable hand was when I was dealt AA and it was four bet on the flop before my opponent slowed down on the later streets. He had KK, and my aces held up. This contributed to my $44 winning sessions. That's right, I won exactly the same amount as I lost earlier in the day.

Next morning I played the $60 10:00 a.m tournament at Planet Hollywood. My first Vegas tournament was at PH a few years ago, and I had my first cash there too, so I have a bit of a soft spot for it, even though the poker room's present location isn't as nice as its earlier location near the main entrance. Only 22 players, which was kind of disappointing. The usual mix of players, some poor, others decent. Example of a poor player; a lady stuck it out with trip aces even though a third suited card hit the river and it was obvious from the betting that her opponent hit his flush. I made the final table, and the quality of player there was pretty strong. We got down to five players, and four paid. Me and another guy were basically swapping fourth and fifth position but we kept doing enough to stick around. Eventually a chop was agreed upon; the big chip leader got first place money, and the remaining four split second through fourth. Cashing in the first tournament is always sweet. Won $135. One notable hand when were down to five, I went all in preflop with A9, got called by A2. A 2 on the flop and I was not pleased. But the river brought my 9 and continued life. The dealers were fine, and while I'm not real picky, I did notice that the chairs were pretty worn. Might be time to replace.

Next was the 7:00 p.m. Mirage $80 buy in. I really liked the room. Spacious, comfortable chairs, good drink service. Unfortunately I wasn't around very long to enjoy, as I badly overplayer TPTK during the second blind level. A female player in early position raised, I called with AQ, and two or three others called as well. Flop was Q73 rainbow. Female bets, I put in a healthy raise, players behind fold, female goes all in. I thought I had a read on her and that she had KQ or QJ, or maybe AQ like me. I called, and she turned over 33 for trips. I probably should have suspected this, or played small ball at this point. Turn and river bricked. After losing the hand I was crippled, and shortly thereafter pushed all in with K10 suited. Four callers, so I had a quintuple up possiblity. Flop Jxx, and guy makes a big bet which knocks out the other three players (thank you very much). He has AJ. So I have chances, but turn and river don't deliver the K or the runner runner I needed. Tourney had 27 players. Definitely some dead money at the table (not including me), but also some players that seemed pretty sharp.

So it was back to Flamingo for 2/4 limit. At night this place was a total fish tank. Too bad I had neither bait nor net. The play was terrible, but my fortune was worse. Couldn't get people off their hands, when twice I had a pocket pair higher than any card on the board and people stuck around to hit their trips or straight on the river. I suppose that's the nature of limit, especially 2/4, but still it's aggravating. Oh, and there was a lady at the table who would not shut up. I'm used to tournaments, where it's unlikely you'll be sitting next to your friend and chatting away the whole game. I like the social aspect of limit, but this woman was too much. Down about $45.

Next day brought me to Caesars for their noon $85 tournament. 54 runners. I really like this room for tournaments. I know it gets a bad rap by cash players, but for tournaments the room is very spacious (maybe too spacious) and drink service is attentive. Again, a mixed quality of player. I busted out in the middle of the field, about 2 1/2 hours in. But an interesting thing happened earlier. I'm dealt AK in middle position and get a couple of callers. Flop is Kxx, two suited. I bet, female player raises. Deja vu from my Mirage experience! I get freaked and fold, even though a flush draw seemed more likely than trips, so this time I think I really was ahead. Anyway, I played well in the first session, but after the break I went totally card dead. I won only one had during the second session, and that was a small pot. You get 7,500 starting chips, but one thing I don't like is antes starting after the first break. I suppose they're needed to move the game along, but maybe they could start later in the tournament. As it was I couldn't really ride out my dead streak, so by the beginning of the third session I'd been blinded and anted down to less that 10x the big blind. I'm UTG + 1. UTG raises, I go all in with A6 suited. All fold to UTG, who's priced in and calls. Imagine my surprise when he shows J10 offsuit! Imagine my consternation when a J hits the river.

By now I was feeling pokered out. I know many of you play many more hours and enjoy it, but tournaments take a lot out of me. But I really wanted to at least try NL. Where better than Bill's and their .50/1 game? Sat down around 6:00 p.m. and bought in for $50. An hour later left with $38. Only six players at the table. And boy, were they bad! One lady I'll forgive because she was an absolute beginner (mucking a hand on the river when there was no bet made, that kind of thing). But the others who seemed to fancy themselves as players had no clue. Example; I raise to $5 from the button with 77, BB raises to $10, I call. Flop is AAK. He goes all in. Gee, I wonder who caught his A? Is there a player on this site who wouldn't check this, or maybe bet small to look weak and entice a raise? I folded, and sure enough he showed his A. As bad as the players were, I didn't catch the hands to profit. And I really didn't enjoy the no limit aspect. At least for now this game is not for me.

Never did make it to the Harrahs tournament. Just wasn't up to playing it my last night. Kind of soured on limit hold em so never played a larger game. But I did profit at three card poker, which may not really be poker (can it be poker if you can't bluff?) but proved an enjoyable diversion.

That was it for me. First time I've played multiple tournament in LV without showing a profit. Then again, my tourney loss was only $30, and where can you get hours of entertainment for that price? I'll be back, hopefully wiser.