I can't believe that I only been in Vegas for 36 hours. Arriving from London on Thursday afternoon, by Friday night I had clocked up six cash sessions and two tournaments.

Bally's. Headed here after reading reports on this forum. Glad I did! On every table there appears to be around three locals and six drunk tourists. The locals play an incredibly conservative game. It really hasn't moved on in the eight years I have been coming to Vegas. There is lots of limping, a 3-bet is always massive, and on one table the locals always seemed to raise $12 when they had QQ KK or AA, which is helpful to know!

On Friday morning, the jetlag hit and I woke at 3:30 AM, so I headed back to Bally's. It looked intimidating at first with several big stacks ($1,000) on the 1-2 table, but soon it was clear that they weren't using the big stacks well and just calling big bets. Happy days!

My best hand 99 in the pocket with a rainbow A95 flop. UTG bets $20, I call. Flop 2, he bets $50, I min-raise to $100; he thinks and shoves (I know he hasn't got 34 for unlikely straight) I call in an instant tabling the 99, he says "you're good" and tables A7, drawing dead!

In another session got all-in pre with QQ v AJ, but he spiked an ace. I know we should focus on making correct decisions not good outcomes, but it still hurts when you have $0 when you should have $400 in front of you.

Monte Carlo was my introduction to Las Vegas Poker eight years ago and I love to return. There have been some changes: Susan Sandberg has moved on to manage the Mirage, with Ron taking over here. It was also Jim's last day before retirement, so I am glad I caught him. Happy retirement Jim!

A a few decent players here, but a big raise was always a big hand and I don't think I saw one big bluff all day. In my second session here we were joined by a maniac who, I am afraid rather tilted me. Because of his massive bets I laid down 99 in one hand with one over card, and KJs in another (pre-flop) which would have flopped a flush. I realised I was playing poorly and left.

Caesar's is a beautiful poker room and I played 1-3 here. The standard here was not as high as I had expected. There were two or three locals (the dealers hug them, so you always know!), plus businessman staying in Caesar's for conferences. I ran a very surprising bluff on one businessman, check-raising his continuation bets on an ace high flop, he then folds showing me an ace!

The Aria is another lovely room, and I headed to play the $125 tournament reputed to be the best structure in town with 10 K chips and 30 minute blind levels. There was a good mixture at my table, from a cowboy playing everything including 72 suited, to the expensively dressed people who could obviously afford to stay in the Aria. I ran a couple of bluffs which didn't get through, reducing my stack, and finally wall went out when my JJ came up against both KK and AA! I will be back!

For info on Friday the 1 PM tournament had 168 runners with $4900 the first place, the 7 PM had 70 runners with $2300 for coming first.

So after 36 hours in town, I am $200 down on tournaments, but $450 up in cash, despite the busted QQ. Good start.