Family Weekend in Vegas
Got to the Monte Carlo in the early evening Friday to check in. I thought about playing poker, but even though I'm from the Seattle area only had a short flight, airports really wear me out. I didn't think I was in the best state of mind for poker. Also, this was the first time my brother had been here since becoming legal, so I had to show him around. Let's do the math: Tired + a bit delusional from the crazy Seattle airport + being in Vegas + a professional drinking little brother/college student at Washington State = GET WASTED!!
We departed from the Monte Carlo around 8 and strolled down the strip toward Bellagio and ended up in O'Shea's of all places so my bro could play beer pong! I'm not much of a beer pong player myself, so I grabbed an open seat in the 2-5 spread limit game right by the front door while he played in back. Despite the rowdy, drunken atmosphere in O'Shea's, the poker action wasn't overly crazy. The players were all young and mostly friendly with each other. I played for about 40 minutes and won $8. Yahoo! The only hand I saw was JJ and no one really played back at me. After that I got tanked on $1 margaritas and don't remember much more after that.
The next morning I went downstairs to the Monte Carlo poker room for their 9am tourney (I know, I know, 9am in Vegas? Hey, I love poker!). I called my Dad's room and he was pretty hungover and didn't want to play at all, but I convinced him to come down for some "father-son time." What I didn't say was that I know how much of a softie he is. As soon as he got down he offered to buy me in. Freerollin! Unfortunately, and I swear to God this is true, I busted out in 5 minutes when A8 vs my AK all in preflop sucked out 8 on the turn, and pops won the friggin' thing! LOL, good game, Dad! I should be down $42 on the trip, but thanks to dad I'm still +$8.
Next stop was Binion's because I had never played poker downtown and was determined to get some poker history this trip. And history I did get. The dealer's at Binion's look like they've been around since Amarillo Slim and Puggy Pearson ruled Vegas. But the poker was great! Lots of players and my 4-8 game had a TON of action. I lost a rack in about 3 hours and rebought for another $100 and things started to go my way. I made some hands, won my rack plus another $60 back in about 5 total hours of play. Total so far: +$68
**Later that night get drunk lose $40 playing craps**
Total so far +$28.
Sunday was the best day for me poker-wise. I sat down in the 1/2 no limit game at Monte Carlo with $200. Played SUPER-tight for the first couple hours and was about to get up even when I got 67 diamonds in the big blind. Three callers around to the small blind who completed. I checked, happy to see a free flop. Flop comes 456 with two diamonds. BINGO, top pair, flush draw and open-eneded straight flush draw. I $6 to start spiking the pot. First guy folds, second guy folds and the third guy says "I know from experience that I should raise here." OK, that's a weird thing to say but whatever He makes it $20 to go and I smooth call. Turn comes 3 and I make the nuts (so far). I check and he immediately bets $80. I think about my options. I only have about $120 left so I just reraise all in and he calls with pocket kings. Thank you! I doubled up plus a little more to end my trip + about $300. I'm going back January 13th and staying at the luxor. I'll let you all know how it goes!
That 3 on the turn did not give you the nuts. Think about it.
Hey, i'm going to Vegas in February for U.F.C and Superbowl weekend with the boys and are interested in this Beer Pong. Heard of it but never played it. Exactly how is it played and is there a wait time to play it? Any info is appreciated.
Oh ya I guess it didn't make the nuts! Thinking back on the hand I put the guy on exactly what he had so it seemed like the nuts. Oh well I'm normally not that terrible of a board-reader lol.
"True" beer pong is played with paddles and cups at each corner of the table. However the traditional form is really called "Beirut" and that's what was being played at O'Shea's. It's a team game with two partners at each end of a ping-pong size table. Each end of the table has a triangle of keg cups (usually 4, 3, 2 1), each with about 3-4 inches of beer. Players take turns throwing their ball across the table trying to land in a cup. If you get it in the cup, the opposing team must drink the beer. First team to eliminate all the cups wins! Most games have varying rules, some of the most popular are:
You may bounce the ball, but once it bounces the other team is allowed to swat it away.
After you have eliminated an agreed-upon amount of cups, you may ask for a "re-rack" before you throw. This required the other team to rearrange the cups so there aren't any gaps.
The point is to make friends and get wasted, not blow the other team away with your amazing tossing skills. Besides, the best players are alcoholics anyway and who wants to be labeled that?
As for wait times, you kind of have to just get in where you fit in. This requires some social maneuvering. Offer to buy a couple guys/gals a pitcher if they will engage you in a match. I think there were four tables and LOTS of people around. So much drinking everywhere it was hard to tell who was playing and who was watching. Lucky for me my little bro is a pro at cozying up to the drinkers (he gets lots of practice at Washington State and I don't remember much from my days at UW).