My wife was meeting some high school friends in Vegas for a bridal shower. We all had lunch, then the girls went off to do their girlie spa stuff at Mandalay Bay, then we got back together for dinner.

We had lunch at the Border Grill at Mandalay Bay. The food wasn't bad, but a little too fancy for me. I ordered a chicken quesadilla, and it used cheeses that I had never heard of! The guacamole was excellent, however.

Had dinner at Canaletto in the canal shops at the Venetian. Everyone agreed that the food was good.

Stayed at the JW Marriott in Summerlin. My wife likes this hotel since it's off-strip and therefore less crowded and less smoky. Had a nice room on the first floor off the lobby of the Spa Tower. No complaints.

Since we were just spending one night and we were out in Summerlin, I decided I would just hit the poker room at Suncoast rather than drive to the strip. After tucking my wife and daughter into bed, I head over around 10:30.

The room is off to the side from the sports book. I believe this is a new location. Basically, go in the main entrance, make a sharp left and head straight down. The room is not totally closed off from the rest of the casino, but only the tables right up front would get any smoke or noise. They had four 2-4, one 4-8, and one 2-5 table going. They had open seats at the limit tables, a list of about 4 names for the 2-5, and an interest list of about 6 names for a 1-2 table. The list is just a piece of paper, no electronic board.

I put my name on the lists for NL. I would prefer the 1-2, but don't mind the 2-5. After waiting about 20 minutes and not seeing anyone leave the 2-5, I asked about how much turnover it usually has. They said that after about 3-4 hours from the table opening, which was about 3 hours ago at this point, a good number of players will call it a night. So, I stick it out and ask to be seated at a 2-4 limit table. The guy, I think his name was Ronald, actually sends me to the one 4-8 table running. It doens't bother me too much, and I start playing with $100 behind. I hit some good hands. The one memorable one was where 2 guys flopped a straight to my flush draw. I hit it on the river and raked a nice pot. A little after midnight, I get called to the 2-5. I cash out up $150!

I sit down at the 2-5 and add $200 to my stack, so I have about $450 behind. I quickly realize that of the 10 players at the table, 8 of them seem to know each other very well. They, as well as the dealers, all call each other by name. Great. At least it was a friendly table. Lots of limps and limp/calls. Flops are generally seen by 3-8 people regardless of the preflop action.

I try to play my usual TAG game. A couple of hands of note. It's limped to me in the BB with A 10. I just check. Flop comes 10 J A. A few checks including mine then a late position player bets out $15. Next guy raises to $45. Folds to me and I make it $145. Folds around to the raiser who goes all in. I am pretty sure that I'm beat and will fold, but as I'm thinking the guy tells me he has it and will show me. Then he offers to show me now. I say sure and he shows the KQ and I of course fold. Friendly game!

Just a couple of hands later, UTG LAG player raises to $15. A couple of calls and folds around to me on the cutoff with A8. I call and the flop comes 3 5 8. UTG bets out $25 and everyone folds to me. I feel like I have the best hand right now, but I just call. Turn is a 2. UTG bets about $30. I raise him to $80 and he calls. Turn is a 7. UTG bets out $100. There is about $360 or so in the pot and just as I start to reach for a stack of red, he says he'll show me his aces if I fold. I start overanalyzing the hand and end up folding. He tables QJ. He gives me a $5 refund which apparently he does when someone calls him with a worse hand??? Again, friendly game! In hindsight, I think if I made a good raise on the flop, I would have take the pot right there.

Cards go very dead for quite awhile. I keep treading around $200. Then a little after 2 am, I get 8h9h in late position and call a small raise. Flop comes 8 9 K. A couple of checks and then the original raisers bets out. I smooth call and the rest fold. Turn comes an 8! OR again bets out and I call. After a blank on the river, OR bets out for $40. I try and sell it. Check my cards, ask the dealer to spread the pot, and finally min-raise it. I don't think I could have gone higher. OR makes the crying call and mucks. This gets me up over $300.

Final big hand was limping with 44. Flop comes 4 9 J with 2 clubs. One player bets $25. I raise it to $125. PLayer to my left just calls with about $100 behind? Everyone else folds. Turn is a blank and I go all in. Get a call and the river is another blank. I rake the pot and am at about $600. I think the guy was on some sort of draw.

Cash out around 2:30 as we're driving home later that day. Finish with a $270 profit. Glad I waited out the cards and got paid off on my good flops. The people at the table were good spririted, but I really don't think I'd play there again. I think there are much more profitable games to be found on the strip. I'll be going back for my wife's medical convention in late October and staying at the Venetian. Looking forward to playing in a big strip room for the first time.