I got off work at 4:30 am, arrived at the airport at 5:30 am, and shortly boarded the plane for an uneventful flight to Vegas. Of course, you can never check into rooms that early in Vegas, so I went to Hash House A GoGo for breakfast. Thanks, Minton, for the recommendation. I had the Hash House original Benedict. It was amazing, but way too much to eat. I managed to eat about half of it.

Afterwards, I decided to play poker, and was torn between Venetian (my favorite) or Bally's. I had never played Bally's so I decided to walk over there and check it out. There was one full table of mostly older gentlemen, and I was third on the list. I watched about 20 minutes, and over half of the hands were chopped, so I quickly decided this wasn't a table I wanted to play at. I walked back to my hotel and went up to find the maid who would be cleaning my room. I tipped her 20 bucks to clean my next, so I could get some sleep. That was a good move.

When I awoke later that evening, I decided that I'd like to play the Orleans Omaha tourney. I caught the shuttle over, and planned to get some Chinese food in the coffee shop. It sounds strange, I know, but they used to have some VERY good Chinese food. They no longer offered it in the coffee shop, but the hostess told me I could get the same stuff in Koji. It was a bit of a let down. I didn't enjoy it nearly as much, and I won't be back there.

The Omaha tourney was very nitty. I usually don't bluff much in limit Omaha, but it was pretty easy to tell when some of these guys only had a flush or straight draw. I scooped two pots that I bet aggressively with just one medium pair for high and the nut low simply because they missed their draw. I finished 3rd for a nice little profit to start the trip.

Friday I went back to Bally's. They were down to the final two tables of their tournament, and all but two other tables were full of a cash game. I played for a couple of hours, and lost $75 with no real hands to note, other that JJ twice. Both times, my raise got multiple callers, and the flop brought over cards.

I left there, and decided to head on over to TI and play in a game there till the AVP mixed tournament started. Played for a bit while waiting for the AVPers to start showing up. Not much difference in this cash game, just a different location. I was card dead and lost a little under $100.

The Mixed game tournament was amazing. I had so much fun. I'm sure all the tables were great, but I had the fortune to be seated with LVM, Yappy, Dmuz75 among others. World Series bracelet winner David Stucke was at my table, as well, and I got to check out his WSOP bracelet. Very cool. Unfortunately, I bubbled the final table, but I immediately got seated in the mixed cash game. We played quite a mix of games, including three I had never played before. I knew I was sitting in a game where I had absolutely no advantage, but I think it's relatively cheap entertainment for Vegas.

The TI room was very nice. It's small, comfortable, and located slightly away from the casino so it lessens the noise.

The AVP No Limit tournament was the next day. I caught AK or AQ about 8 times in the first level of play, but always whiffed the flop. I continuation bet and took down the pot a few times, but people started playing back at me when I whiffed. I was eventually knocked out as they got down to two tables by Clem when my AQ failed to improved against his 88.

I started a new cash game, and the play at my table was mixed with a couple of really bad players, and a couple of solid, tight players. Alaska Gal and Gravel eventually sat down at the table, and we had a good time for the evening. The mixed game finally got called, so I joined Yappy, Clem and Mrs. L for some Chinese poker while we waited on LVM and Cindy (sorry, I can't remember your AVP name) for the mixed game. I lost $100 playing Chinese poker, so there went most of my $150 profit from the cash game. I got down almost $100 after the mixed game started, but ended up getting a lot of it back.

If you ever get the chance to sit in a game with Yappy, Clem, and LVM, you must do it. I know Yappy gets a lot of crap on here for only being able to win at TI, but he is a very good mixed game player, as are the other two (actually I'd consider everyone at the table except me, to be very good at mixed games) This was the 3rd time since last June that I had the chance to play a mixed game with Yappy and LVM. It's always educational and very entertaining.

Also, this was about my 15th trip to Vegas, but my first time in the Mirage. I have to say, I really liked the poker room. It was very comfortable, with lots of room between tables. The bathrooms were close by. They had table side food service, and the cocktails came quickly. All in all, it's a very nice, well run room.

The next day, I went to the Venetian to play some Omaha. I sat in a $1/2 game while waiting for my Omaha seat, and won about $60. I moved to the Omaha table, and was extremely card dead. Every time I got a good hi/low hand, the flop would be all face cards. If I played a good hi hand, the flop would be all wheel cards. I decided I needed a change of scenery, so I registered for the 7:00 pm tourney.

I ended up finishing 6th in the tournament. It paid $550, but they chopped for $1500 each after I went out. Pam Brunson was at the final table, so that was kind of cool. One really odd thing about this tournament – I outlasted 97 people, and only showed down four hands during the whole tournament. One was when I was all in at the end, and the other three was when I called other's allins. All in all, a very good tournament with good starting chips and 20 minute levels. I think the noon tourney starts with the same chips, and has 30 minute levels.

Monday was my last full day in Vegas. I wanted to check out the Aria, so I walked over to Bellagio to catch the tram to Aria. If you are just going to play poker, take the tram to the second stop. If you want to shop or get the full experience of Aria, take the first stop.

I registered for the tourney at Aria, but should have just stayed away. I was tired, and played badly. I only lasted about five levels into the tournament. I am glad I went though. The Aria poker room is so beautiful. It won't pass Venetian as my favorite room in Vegas, but it definitely moves up the list, probably number two, and I'd have to put Mirage in number three now. The word that kept coming to mind was sexy, not only for the poker room, but the whole casino. I will definitely be back there.

Even though I know I shouldn't have played any more because I was tired, it was my last day, and I wanted to spend it playing poker. I headed to Venetian and put my name on the Omaha list. I played $1/2 while I waited, and won $250 in about an hour. I pulled off one big bluff, and also got the table captain to bet into me on the river while holding QQ on a Q33 board. He did fold to my raise, though. Conveniently, a few minutes after that hand, they called my Omaha seat.

I had an up and down session at Omaha. It's $4/8 limit, and I won $60 in the first hour or so, then went card dead. The recurring theme for this session was I'd get down $30 or $40, flop or turn quads, and get back up. I had quads four times during this 6 hour session, and managed to get paid each time. Unfortunately, I didn't make many other hands.

The next morning, as we are boarding the plane, they start pulling us off because they have found a crack in the windshield. That might be the luckiest thing that happened to me the whole trip. I'm glad they found that before we took off. I got rebooked on a flight leaving later that evening, so being the degenerate that I am, I took a cab to MGM to play poker. I got seated in a game after about 30 minutes. I made $9 playing poker, and was card dead, so I moved to the Pai Gow table, and made another $35. I covered the cab fare to and from the airport. Barely.

Overall, I had a great time, and this was my first AVP meet up. I plan on being back in June.

I made money at $1/2 hold 'em and tournaments, but lost money in the mixed games. I guess I now know what my weaknesses are.

One other thing – there has been some discussion in the past on this site whether it's possible to make a living playing $1/2 in Vegas. Some people believe that $20 – 30 per hour is an impossible hourly rate. I saw things this weekend that made me believe that it is quite possible. I am not at all saying what the Vegas regulars do is easy, but these three things made me a believer.

1.I saw a lady who played every hand for any amount preflop, even if it was all in. And kept rebuying.
2.I saw a guy bet $25 with QJ on an A63 rainbow flop, and get raised to $75 by the preflop raiser who was holding AK. QJ then shipped it for $15 more, and couldn't figure out why AK called his reraise with just one pair. Yes, that was $15 more, not $150.
3.I saw a guy raise under the gun with A9, and get one caller. The flop brought an A. UTG bet, and got called. The turn brought an A, UTG bet and got called. The river brought a blank with no straight or flush possible. UTG checked, and fold A9 faceup to a $40 river bet with about $70 in the pot. He said, 'I put you on A10.'

Thanks to everyone who made AVP possible from LVM coordinating, Alaska Gal with the name tags, to TI Poker and Mirage Poker who ran great tournaments. I can't wait to see you all again in June.