My wife and I flew into Vegas Feb. 20th. We got to the MGM around 10:30AM and were able to get an early check-in. I was curious to check out the MGM’s beds as many posts on here had claimed they were very comfortable, well they were all right. I’d have to say they are the best hotel bed I’ve ever slept in.

We decide to check out the MGM, and of course the poker room. It’s big, luckily our room was fairly close the elevators, as requested, so our walks were never too bad. I didn’t stop to play in the poker room, just checked it out. It’s just as described by everyone on this site. Very big and roomy, nice tables, electronic seating and card swiping at the tables is impressive. The rails on the tables seem to be a common theme at the MGM/Mirage properties. They don’t bother me as much as some, but I prefer a table with just felt and a good drink holder.

The common theme of my trip was not enough poker, but a lot of good times with my wife and many good friends. This was my good friends' wedding trip, so we spent a lot of time hanging out with him and his family. We had many drinks playing Blackjack and Pai Gow poker at the Riviera, Flamingo, where he got married. I loved the $1.75 Stella Artois at Slots of Fun and we had one hell of a night downtown on Fremont Street. My friends and I sat down at Pai Gow table in the Golden Nugget. The bar had a decent band playing and our wife’s loved it. We played Pai Gow for 6-7 hours and I left down $10 after a last hand bet of $60, the dealer split two pair so I went from $50 winner to -$10 loser there, but the 20+ Crown and Coke’s made up for it. We also saw the Cirque show KA at the MGM. It was an amazing show, I don’t want to give anything away, just go see it. Not a bad seat in the house, so if you don’t want to spend a lot of $$, the cheaper seats are just fine.

I was only able to play in four poker rooms this trip; The MGM, Monte Carlo, Planet Hollywood and the Flamingo. We did walk the strip and check out every casino, besides Caesars and the Mirage. Visually the Bellagio, Venetian and the Wynn are amazing. I can’t wait to get back and play at these rooms. Out of the rooms I played in the Monte Carlo and PH were my favorites. The MGM is very nice, but I only played a short session here, so I didn’t get a real feel for the room or competition. I know what you’re thinking “he stayed at the MGM and only played there once”, believe me that will change on the next trip. The Flamingo was just average, it seems all the Harrah’s rooms fail in comparison to the rest of the poker rooms on the strip. I also checked out TI when my wife and I were shopping at the Fashion Show Mall. I decided it was time for some new kicks after walking the strip from the PH miracle miles shops all the way up to Venetian and Wynn. I dropped a C-note on some Nike Shox, great pair of shoes. I really liked TI’s room and wish I would’ve had time to play there. It’s a very nice, secluded room. I believe it was Michelle working the desk that kindly answered all of my questions and instantly know I was an AVP’r from what I already knew about the room. She is very attractive and pleasant can’t wait to get back and spend some time in this poker room.

Here are my results and key hands:

MGM…… First Vegas poker session, I played TAG poker for the first hour winning some small pots, run $200 buy-in up to $260. My wife comes down to the room and is ready to go meet our friends. I say “one more round, then will go”, should’ve just left. I get A5h in the big blind, MP Player limps in, folds to small blind who also limps. Flop is 8h4hJs. SB checks, I check, MP bets pot $6, SB folds, I raise to $12, MP calls. Turn is Qh, I check, MP bets $20, I pop it to $45, he calls. I put him on AJ, QJ, J10, maybe J8suited. River brings the 8d, little bit of a scared card for me, but my read is he has a J decent kicker. I put him all in for the $60 he has left and he beats me into the pot and rolls over 8s4c for the rivered full house. I don’t think I could’ve bet him off his hand, just a bad river for me. What do you think?

PH 10AM tourney…… Got to say I love this room and the tourneys are run well, decent structure, good dealers. Played decent for the first 3 levels knocking one player out and then get K5 in the big blind one limper, SB folds. Flop is JJ5, I bet the pot, villain calls. Turn is another Jack. Villain laughs and say “well neither one of has a jack I’m sure”, I just say I don’t need one and bet the pot again. He calls, I’ve him got him on AK, AQ A10 with a pocket pair he would’ve raised, fairly tight player. The river is a Q. I should bet, but I think I’m beat. He checks and shows AQ, he caught up on the river. It was a strange hand not sure how keeps calling my flop and turn bets. 10 minutes later I’m all in with A8d on a Ks4d6d flop, villain show AK, turn and river blank I’m out 23 of 30. Go watch De Le Hoya introduce Hopkins/Calzeghe then watch them do the face-off.

PH 7PM tourney…….Played pretty good, got AA early and raised older guy goes all-in with AK, I double up and coast to the final 3 tables out 63 entries. Last hand before break I’m sitting about 7.5k, look down at AJc UTG, blinds are 200-400, I make it 1200, folds to the cut-off he go all-in for 4k total. I’m thinking fold, and almost do but the guy is staring me down and looks nervous and then he just has a little twitch. I call he shows A6off boards blanks out and I up to 11.5k. Make it down to two tables, deck goes really cold and there are all in’s every other hand. Blinds are 2k-4k and I’m UTG with 33 go all in for 10k, button wakes up with pocket 10’s and I’m out in 12th place, paid top 6. Disappointed in the result, but liked the way I played.

Monte Carlo……Watched the end of a tourney while I waited for 1-2 game to start. Finally got a game going although it was 6 handed. Middle-aged guy to my left buys in for 100 and gets busted twice in 15 minutes, unfortunately not by me. We play for about an hour and a half, my 200 is only up to about 235. The guy to my left raised UTG to $10, I put him on AK or AQ, folds to me in the big blind, I call with 55. Flop is A5A. I check, he bets 10, raise to 25, he’s all for the $65 he has left. I call hoping to see AK, he tables AA….ouch!!!! Oh well, at least he was short stacked. The room here is nice and secluded, floor guy was cool and worked hard to get a game going for us.

Flamingo…..Nothing exciting, played here while waiting for some friends. No reason to play here for me, just too many other nice rooms on the strip.

Overall it was a great trip, left down about $650 between cash games, two tourney buy-ins and too much Blackjack, Pai Gow and Roulette. I’ll be back later this year for a solo trip and poker will be the only game for me. MGM, PH, Monte Carlo and TI will be my home away from home on that trip.