Flew in ,3 hours late ,from London on Virgin on Wed 10th June.
Scammed right away by the cab driver who took me to the MGM via the tunnell !Anyway i'm trying to get some good Karma so i tip him and wish him a good day -$30(the return journey to the airport was $9.80 + tip.
Things get better, i tell the young Asian guy on reception that i really need to be in The West Wing as the lifts come out near the poker room.He was very helpful and said that he could get me that comp upgrade.I insisted, still happy to be in Vegas,that he take a $20 for his trouble.Great result, floor 12 room 554 fantastic view of The Strip in a very nice "boutique" style
room.
I played 5 tournaments for zero cashes.I got unlucky a couple of times,but really i just didn't have the patience.I wanted to be in the middle of the cash action at my home base.V 7pm $120 twice MGM 11.05am $65 twice and The AVP at Balleys.
I met and played with some very interesting, some very solid and a couple of very skilled cash players.
On the 13th i was sat next to one of the 2 or 3 best players of the entire trip..I buy in for the full $200.Second hand UTG i get QQ and raise it up to $25 hoping to isolate most of the table.BB shoves.I have no read but i reccon AK and push back.He flips JJ, my Qs hold up.That was it for atleast 2 hours.
Then the big hand of the day.In EP i get QcKc and make it $12,2 callers and flop comes 3c9*`10*
$25 to go 3 players(i'm in hoping for an overcard)turn 8c.$50 to go everyone is still in.River a small c thankyou.I shove $120 and the guy next to me had value bet his turned straight, now says he has to call and if i've hit my flush then so be it.Nice pot and a nice attitude by the guy next to me who reloaded and went on to rebuild a very nice stack.He told me that hes making a living playing poker and i could see why.He mentioned that his best week was June 2008 during the WSOP when he scored $10000.
Well the most entertaining period of the trip was MGM Sunday morning ,when i had built up my $200 into $600 when a guy,who i now know was Toni Ojala(google him and you'll see he picked $80+k for 11th in the $1000 WSOP event No.4)),moves tables and brings about $850.Straight off he makes it atleast $15 to go from whatever position.2 old guys leave immediately and i know that my $600 is either going to double up or Toni was going to get it.Heres the hand
3 handed raised pot at $20 to each to see the flop.I have Ac 4c...flop comes 4d 3c 5c.First guy shoves for $300 Toni is next to act and makes an exellent read on the $300 bet guy and goes allin behind.Well even though its for my entire stack i have to call for two reasons.
1.I have so many outs.
2.This is exactly the action i was looking for
Turn*
River*
Tonis' pocket 77 hold up against my missed 16(?)outer and the other guys AK.
I reccon that pot was about $1550.
I take a walk,reload and get a different table.Toni spots me gets a table move next to me and we go at it again with my JJs and pocket 8hJh getting some of my $$$s back off Toni.

Heres a few tips.

1.Work out who the local guys are at your table and remember that when they put some chips in the pot they have a hand.Simple as that.
2.At top end of the Strip head to The Grand Lux Cafe in The Palazzo NOT the one in The V.The Palazzo is much nicer( maybe only a year old so still very shiny)
3.Tip well ,everywhere,you will get good vibes

Numbers, i reccon i lost about $1k.I'll get it back next time.
Fially the AVP tournament allowed me to put some faces to all these familiar names.I got sat by Yappy just as he got knocked out.Mrs AVP knows her onions.Boover sent me packing and i stood and talked bank rolls with TBC at the break.He seemed fazed by the $100 buy in ( He thought it was $50)