Friday

Heard about the Tangerine Mixer (Mixed limit game of Holdem, Omaha Hi, and Crazy Pineapple) being spread at Treasure Island so I made this my first spot on a 3 day, 4 night excursion…When I got to TI, I saw that it wasn’t the Tangerine Mixer (the no longer spread that game), but a selection of $2-4 limit mixed games (allegedly by a group of Texans who were there before me) of “Double Flop” games where there are two boards of 5 cards that the players use. Dealer would burn a card and turn 3 cards on the top and another 3 on the bottom and the turn and river would work the same. Games provided a different strategy and I had trouble adjusting my play to these new games. I know I missed opportunities, but it was fun to learn…never a dull moment. The Double flop games we played were: Aviator (Dealt four cards, discard 1 after flop, can’t play 3 cards, played just like Holdem; Omaha Hi and Omaha hi/lo (the best high and the best low won); and Pineapple. Played with several TI employees including Robert and Michelle who were a blast to play with and quite honestly kept the dealers in line (making sure the rake was not so steep in a short-handed game, told the dealers how to deal some of these strange games). As people left the game and we got to a 6-handed game, we took out some of the double-flop games and started playing:

2-7 Triple Draw
Badugi
7-card Stud hi-lo (dealer brings in ante of $2, low card brings in for $1)
Razz
Omaha Hi-Lo, double flop

This is the most fun I would have during my trip first because I think all of us were learning as we were going along and second it was refreshing to be playing games other than Holdem…The highest limit poker games in the world (for instance, the $4000-8000 at Bellagio) play a selection of mixed games, I think it is so important to get your feet wet and learn how to play games other than Holdem. It will help you become a more well-rounded poker player. There is nowhere, I repeat, nowhere in Las Vegas that you will have the opportunity to play mixed games at such a low limit. The lowest mixed game I saw on my trip was a $6/12 at the Venetian. Robert mentioned that they pride themselves because they will spread any game in the mixed game. Only the highest praise to the management in the poker room for providing this mixed game for poker players.

The room itself is good, a little off from the rest of the casino, but the room is done very nice. Perhaps the most attentive cocktail waitresses in town, every 5 minutes, she would be there. The dealers were a little green with some of the poker games, but it kept them on their toes. It really helped that we had off-duty TI employees there with us. I played from 11pm-5am and was down $65, but had a blast. I would have played there more that weekend, but I was with friends who wanted to check out other rooms. When I go back, I will definitely play at Treasure Island.

Saturday

I woke up and met my wife at the Bally’s pool (where we were staying) had a few drinks and stayed cool in the 106 degree heat. At 4pm, I met some friends at Harrah’s to play $3-6 Holdem. I have always liked the room and it was nice to see some of the same dealers still working there. Played for 3.5 hours only down $15. Some locals but saw more suckouts there as people played their 7-9 suited in early position and then hit runner runner to make their flush. Harrah’s, as many have mentioned, has the best high hand, aces cracked, and quad payouts on the strip. Later in the trip, I saw someone hit quad 6’s and win $300. I like the room set up and I have always felt comfortable there. It can get a little crazy during tournaments, but all in all a room I will always visit.

We all met for dinner (there was a total of 8 of us) at the Monte Carlo Pub and Brewery. A nice cheap place to get some good bar food…After dinner, we all decided to play some 2-4 at Monte Carlo. They opened a table just for us with a ½ kill. While it seemed like a home game to us, we had a few people jump in the game as well. The dealers were the best I have seen. Very proficient and extremely fast. They made the games fun without being annoying and kept the action going. Very enjoyable time. They have high hand jackpots as well which are advertised on the TV screens around the room. The room is nice, but a little cramped.

After people left to go back to the hotel, 4 of us headed to the Venetian to play 3-6 there. The room is huge and at 1am is JUMPING! It was pure chaos as we tried to put our names on the list. At one point, I was told to got to a table that didn’t have any empty seat, when I returned, I was told my name would be put back on the list, but it was not. After I pointed out the error, I was given a free seat right away. The chairs are very comfortable and the tables are very nicely spread out. The chip runners and electronic communication devices, kept things flowing all night. Very high class, in my opinion, although the drunken patrons of Tao can be heard right outside the room in the early morning hours. The table I sat at was a very good table and had a nice mix of locals. The room is anything but intimate. It oozed high class, though. Cocktail waitresses were attentive, although a little too perky at 3am for my taste. After seeing Wynn and Bellagio’s poker rooms, I have to say that this was the classiest room and most respectful towards poker players. One example, they use their own Kem cards with the Venetian name on there, it is the little things like that class the place up. Again, I posted just a small loss but, as with the whole trip in general, the cards were not coming my way…I was happy to walk away with small little losses than what it could have been…a blood bath.

Sunday

Went walking to see the Venetian and the Wynn casino with my wife and friend…Wynn is absolutely gorgeous. I would pay the extra money to stay there. After the tour in the extreme heat, I headed to play with some friends back at Harrah’s. Before our dinner at Circo (at the Bellagio), I met my wife and played 2-4 Holdem at Bally’s. Picture playing poker at your neighborhood Bennigan’s and you will get an idea of the ambience of the “room”. Very loud and right next to Sullys Bar and the smoking patrons there. I had a hard time hearing players at the table and with the lighting and cards (they were using Copag) made it very hard to see the board (and I was sitting in the 8 seat). It was extremely fishy there and it was somewhat satisfying to take a large pot of an arrogant drunk guy (talked on his cell phone at the table and yelled at the dealer when the dealer told him he couldn’t be at the table). He thought he had the best hand and said “sorry” to me at the showdown and I took down with the better hand (which had to be pointed out to him). I saw one of the more huge pots happen at the table. Pocket kings against pocket queens against 98 unsuited (drunk guy). Flop came KK9, bets all around, Q on the turn just made it insane, with capped pots on both streets…and yes, drunk guy went all the way to the river to see his two pair lose to quad kings (and the queens full). Irish guy (all right, he was originally from Kansas but lives in Ireland now) took the loss very well…It can be very distracting, but with the right mix of drunk folks, I can imagine you can do very well there. After dinner, we played our last session at Harrah’s where I saw the aforementioned quads get the payout. I really like that room no matter what time of the day.

All in all, a wonderful trip. My wife and I played for a combined 28 hours and we were only down $90…Not the best, but not the worst. Looking forward to going back and playing more of the mixed game!