Just got back from 8 nights at the Riviera, decent remodeled room, comped room and food due to wife's slot and video poker play. I got a chance to play several of their $50 buy-in tournaments, held at 11am, 2pm and 7pm daily. Usually played the 11 am, finished second twice, about 20-24 runners, and on Weds am this hand came up, which will make me fear the river forever:
Final table, 1st hand, blinds are 200-400, I have about $2400 left after posting big blind, a couple of callers and then a raise to $2200. I look down at QQ, raise all in, it's folded to the raiser, and I say "you could fold" confidently, of course he makes the automatic call, and turns over 55. The flop is JJ5, I start to stand up, the turn is a Q, I sit down again and pump my fist, the river is a 5, and I am stunned and out. That's poker. The dealers were all very good, no mistakes that I saw, very friendly and entertaining. The Riv Italian restaurant was very good, and I had the best steak I've ever tasted at Austin's at the Texas Station. Don't miss this big pan seared ribeye. Expensive, but awesome.
The Riv has a $50,000 freeroll in December for anyone who has cashed in any of their daily tournaments in 2008. I'll be back. Good luck, all.