Spent about a week in Vegas. Got into town on the 28th and didn't really hit the felt until midweek due to the girlfriend.

Started midweek at Caesars playing 1-3 NL, just trying to feel things out. Probably about 3 touritsts at the table and a couple of grinders. Not too many memorable hands, but I noticed there was a lot of overvaluing of top pair, top kicker, so a lot of my flush draws paid off. The one hand I do remember was having pocket 10s and raising to about $20. Three callers with a flop of K-10-5 rainbow. I checked the set in 2nd position. Guy to my left leads out for about $70, I min raised to $140 and he tanked for a bit and then pushed a remaining $250. I was able to survive turn and river for a considerable profit and that was the beginning of my tens being profitable. Left table after about 3 hours up $300.

Played the next night at Bally's (1-2 NL) and hit a flush on the turn while another guy made two pair. He kept betting into me and I just smooth called and I was up about $300 in 10 minutes. About 10 minutes later, I get AKh on the button. A couple of limpers, then a guy makes it $30 to go and he has about 200 behind. One more caller and then I raise him to $75, because I put him on A-overcard and feel good about my suited AK. Other caller is a calling station, so I am unconcerned about him. Original raiser tanks for a second and then pushes for the $200. I now believe he has a pair, but definitely not A-A or K-K. I usually don't enjoy races, but I wasn't about to fold for the money that was already in. Flop includes a King and before I have time to feel good, he turns a two outer on me. Made me pretty sick, but I got over it. The sickest part was the cards he pushed the $200 with; a pair of 5's. Anyway, I grind at Bally's for a while until I get involved in a hand where guy made a boat with K-6off after I made a $15 raise pre-flop with 10-Js. Needless to say, I make flush on the river and he makes a boat. Lose about $325 on the session.

-Another note about Bally's. It was about 4 in the morning that same night and I throw out my straddle right as the dealer is about to peel my first card off to deal it to me. He tells me it is not a legal straddle and I ask him if he is really serious? (I straddle this way ALL the time and never have anything said and I already had been doing it the whole night at Bally's already). He says yes and tells me I have to take it back. I pick up and leave in disgust. I tell poker room manager about it as I am cashing out and he tells me to go play in another room. What a joke Bally's is. I'm not sure the guy could be techically even considered a poker room manager as he wasn't even wearing a suit, even though his nametag said manager.

Played at the Wynn for a while and grinded for a 6 hour session with absolutely no memorable hands. Booked a profit of about $160. Loved the Wynn poker room though and would give it 5's across, especially the waitress outfits and the quick drink service.

Played my last day in a 12 hour session of 2-5 at Ceasars while the first round of the national heads up championship was going on. There was a lot of energy in the room and a good feel. Also a lot of fish around to see the poker stars. When I sat down at my newly formed 2-5 table, I sit next to Brad Garret, knowing he is from network TV and a comedian, but not really knowing his name. Everyone else is fawning over him and I think its pretty humorous. Anyway, I take a beating at my first table with one guy always barely having me outkicked or having a better two pair than me. I'm down $1000 in about 4 hours. Another note: Jamie Gold actually sat 5-10; I think just to humor everyone and promote a poker site which I will not promote. I watched the 5-10 table for a while and it was terrible play, but I didn't have the roll to sit.

After being down a G, I leave the room to reload and switch tables. I take a slightly different approach at my new table and play a little more LAG. I start out with a few sick hands Q-Q and A-A, catching a set with the Q-Q and having my A-A hold up. I am back to even at the new table in about 20 mins. I play tight for the next 2 hours until the table begins to break apart. I played 4 handed for a while with some true crazies that would not get off a hand for anything. I lost about $500 and when some others joined the hand, I was down a G again.

Two memorable hands after that. I get 10-10 in the small blind. Guy in fourth position makes it $25 to go. About 3 callers and me. Flop comes A-10-9 rainbow. I decide to make a confusing bet and lead out for $25 on the flop, fully expecting to get raised. Original raiser calls and rest of the table folds. Turn is a 8 and I am hoping original caller has A-K. He knows I am fully capable of bluffing as he has seen me get caught a few times. I decide to make it look like I am buying it and bet $200 and he has about $500 behind. He decides to push for all of it and I insta-call. He flips over A-K and I book a nice profit on the hand.

Next hand, I get A-Q clubs on the button. Last position before the button makes it $15 and I just smooth call and so does about 5 other players. Flop is K-9-8 of clubs. I'm hoping no one caught a set. Checks around to original better and he makes it $50. I call and everyone else folds. Turn comes a 2 of hearts and he checks. I decide I am happy to take it down, and bet $100. He tells me he doesn't believe me (probably thinks I'm drawing) and calls. River comes a 4 of spades, so I know I am sitting with the nuts. He checks and I put him all in for another $225. He tanks and regrettably calls and I take down the pot. After all the swings, I actually leave the session up $300 and hop a flight back the next day.

-Thanks for reading my story and just one last note: Cut at Palazzo is definitely the most expensive and best steak I have ever eaten and definitely worth a try to anyone that is a steak lover.