Good luck to you. Knock em dead

3/23

By the time I finally landed, hooked up with my co-worker and got the car, it was well past 12:30p. He wanted to pick up the keys to the apartment and dump the stuff off, so that's just what we did. After getting all that crap outta the way, it was off to the strip. I HATE coming into a tournament late, so the Venetian was out. I had wanted to satellite into the 2pm $1060 at Belaggio but it was too late for that as well. I had the money for the game budgeted, so what the hell....

Belaggio
We parked at Caesars, my base of poker operations and setoff for Bellagio. When I get to the cage and buy-in it's 1:20 and really no time for lunch so we decide to split up and I'll get back to the apartment on my own. As we're walking out, one of the "suits" asks my buddy if he intends on playing, with just a little more than a hint of "hollier-than-thou" snooty attitude. Without missing a beat my buddy replies, "I'm his bodyguard." And without looking back or returning any other dialogue, we stroll out. Just for reference, I'm in my normal garb of jeans, tee-shirt and leather jacket, my buddy has on shorts and a cutoff tee. I guess at 6'5" and over 300lbs, there wasn't a need for anything else to be said My buddy has the car, and I'm ready for cards but I'm HUNGRY! I stroll around a bit and everywhere there's a line. I finally settle on the little shop close to the poker room for a $14 BLT/coke....

There's only 50 runners as we start promptly as 2pm (just to note, this costs $1080 and not $1060 as listed in the tourney details). With 40 minute levels and T5k to start, we should have some real manuvering room! But after calling a raise with AKo in late position and trying to wrestle the pot away from the continuation bettor who 3-bet me, I was down to around T3k. A bit later, still level1, the same player open-bets 300 in ep. It's folded around to me on the button with AA. I raise to 800 and he calls. Heads-up to a flop of QQJ, rainbow. He checks and I really don't think I have any other options. With only ~2100 left and the pot at ~1700 any bet leaves me with less than 1/2 me stack, and checking behind just isn't something I'm good enough to do yet, so I push and he insta-calls. He grimaces after I table the aces and I skip a beat as I think I'm about to take her down. But the grimace wasn't one of defeat, it was one of "I just cracked aces." And just like that, with under 3 hours in Vegas, I'm down $1080 already!

In shock, reeling from being busted before the end of level 1, I wander aimlessly out of the room, leaving my newly ordered Strawberry Julius to be gifted upon some other poor soul. Nothing was going on behind the frosted glass but in the "high level" area I did spot Shawn Sheikan (?sp), nothing much more to pass on.....the room was VERY busy and there was definitely a palpable air of snooty in the room. Overall, I didn't like it near as much as the Venetian. The chairs, the tables, the staff, etc are all MUCH better at the Venetian, now I see why all the "hate."

I've got 2 sticks that need to be cut and lit, and I need to shake it off so I head back over to Caesars to the Fuente cigar shop. I cop a squat, buy a cheap cutter and scoop up some wooden matches. Before ya know it, I'm smokin' a Cuban Cohiba, with a drink in one hand and an eye on the DROP DEAD, barely dressed server.... Great spot to people watch. Wondering what to do with myself now, I wander through the Peter Max gallery and have a nice discussion with Lisa, who really knows her art. After a bit more wandering I decide to play the Venetian 8pm but it's still way early, so I figure I'll hop into a cash game there, so off to the Venetian I trek.

Venetian
I get my name on a $1/2 list and am called within a matter of minutes. The carving station was setup and the beef was AMAZING! I buy-in for the max, $300 and settle in for some cards. I take a couple of early pots as I'm feeling out the table when a HUGE hand happens. 4-5 people are involved and there's raising, re-raising, pushing and calls of pushes. When the dust settles the rivered K-high flush beats the Q-high flush, which beat the flopped set....player scoops a pot, easily over $700. With a new player or 2, the table dynamics change and it's like a home game with 5-7 limping pf, but all the while, I', not getting much of anything playable. A few small pairs that never improve and nothing else of much mention. I end the session 10 minutes before the start of the tournament with a loss of $10. So counting the Belaggio tourney, that blt, the cash game session, and the $200 8pm tourney, I'm already out $1304

"Funny" thing happened when I first sat down, a player in seat 4 immediately looks over at me and asks if I'm from Tampa and if I play at the Hard Rock. I look over and sure enough, we've played together....small world! I was also impressed when I went to sign up for the tournament. There was a small line and many without a players card, I wanted to get back to my cash game. I asked one of the suits to take my card and my $200 and register me. He was a tad hesitant but happy to help. Within minutes I had my entry ticket delivered to the table

So, outta the cash game and into the tourney. The details aren't even listed under the main page, but it's a $10 bounty tournament. T4k and 30 minute levels for $200 total. I splashed around a bit in position with small connectors and pairs but again, nothing ever really materialized. I was getting reads on the table but if I don't chip up, it'll be worthless! I watch another HUGE hand when 3 players get involved all-in to the river. Amazingly, the player with 47d, got there on the river besting KK and QQ. I was really surprised at the verbal abuse the guy took especially considering how big and angry he looked

It was nearing the end of level2 and without much to speak of again, I was leaking chips. A player in ep, who I played with at the cash game, had open-pushed without being called twice already and he'd just done it again. The table folds to me in late position and I squeeze QQ, I just can't find a fold here realizing that I'm demolished by AA/KK, flipping with AK and good against all the rest. I make the call and he tables AKo. The Flop likes me, I'm loving the Turn but that GD BITCH of a River nails me yet again, and I'm ousted....

It's 9pm Vegas time but midnight "my" time, yet I still can't pack it in yet. I decide to check out the TI room based on all the talk from Michael, so a hoofin' I go. It's a smallish room tucked off the main floor in a corridor with tons of foot traffic but with a list going and me smoking my 2nd stick, it's a pass today. I then decide to check out Bally's, again based on Michael but when I get there, the list is long, and I don't feel like waiting, knowing that I probably shouldn't play any more tonite anyway. At some point I need to get back to Trop&Pecos but I don't want to waste money sitting on the Blvd in a taxi so I decide to pick one up a little more south. Before I know it, I find myself at MGM checking out the action, PACKED and like I said, I really shouldn't play any more, so off I go. Wanting to make the trip "home" as easy as possible I decide to bounce across the street to the Trop but cabs are slow and line long. So I walk down to Hooters, pick one right up and I'm back by 11:30.

Tired as hell and little more than disappointed at the outcomes the cards have decided to deal me, it's time to call it a nite. More to come on Saturday!

3/24 Saturday....either this is just too boring or it's tl;dr

Lighter fare was on the menu today. We ended up at Caesars sometime after noon. My buddy was STRAVING so we hit up the Cheesecake Factory for some eats and LI Ice Teas Said "hey" to Hef and the Girls, waved to Pete Rose and shook the hand of Peter Mayhew, not bad for a few minutes work! After some more wandering around, we departed ways, me for the 3:30 at Caesars and my buddy to the bar, drinking it up up before the Stevie Nicks show.

Caesars
What a GREAT tourney! T7500 for $330 and good blinds, 123 runners. I was able to grind up to 11k by the 2nd break, which happens after every 2 levels. Table changes and aggression had me on my heels though. Combine that with not seeing a pair over 8s the ENTIRE time, and AJo being the other best hand (easy to recall) and it was a downward spiral to survival. Trust me when I say that I was looking for spots to pick up chips but when table aggression and cards don't comply, what else is there to do

Just after 8pm we're down to 50 players and I've been looking for ANYTHING to push for SEVERAL orbits. At 400/800/100 with only 2500 behind after posting the sb, I decide to make my stand after a lp player open-bets and is raised all-in by the button. I decide there's plenty of money in the middle and I can make the call blind! We end up heads-up and it turns out, I have the 2nd best pair of the night, 7s. I'm up against AJo and when a Jack falls on the flop, but I am open-ended. It never materializes and with 2 hours before I have to pickup my buddy from the concert, I head over to Bally's for some 1/2.

Bally's
NOW I know why everyone likes this place so much!!! Drunk donators, TONS of tourist traffic and just plain overall bad play. After 90 minutes I'm squeaking out a $30 profit but have watched 3 players catch hands that keeps the drunkard pullling out 100s to reload...just never got the chance to stack. By now, it's time to head back to Caesars and pick up the 300lb drunk

I hoof it back and meet up at Slices for a beer or two, then we head back to "home."

"Funny" story about Sports Books and cell phones. My buddy is not a gambler and had no clue. So as he comes outta the bathroom by the poker room at Caesars, he heads back into the Book while talking with his wife on the cell. He gets stopped pretty quickly and he creates a scene asking where it's posted that he can't use the phone, etc. The back and forth continues with him getting told he has to leave. To which he repsonds, "you and what army?" As the guy goes to radio in the army, my buddy decides he's serious and it's time to bag arse! Funny to watch a 6'5" 320lb ape relate the story

Tomorrow is rollercoaster day then I plan on playing the Mirage $430 at 5pm. We also shift over to Circus for the conference on Monday and Tuesday.

The cards have to fall even sometime, don't they....

Stray,

Certainly hope the cards take a turn for you. But while you're waiting, keep posting the awsome trip report updates--they're great. You're like the sherwood Anderson of trip reports

OUTSTANDING REPORT!

Thanks for the day by day posting. I will comment on the specifics shortly, but for now, I just want to say thanks for contributing this as you go report. Love the details and the general trip info.

Be sure to post if you will be checking out TI, and maybe we can bump into each other. Chris has been meeting a lot of AVPers lately!

Thanks again for the report, and keep them coming!

Enjoying reading you're reports stray, keep bringing the noise..

Thanks guys, I saw a lot of views, good to know it's a decent read

And will do Michael, I'm looking forward to playing there at some point this week!

As for the cards, I know I'm making the right decisions, just not getting 'em to fall my way. But in true tourist fashion, I'm having a good time and most of the cash comes from my winnings in Tampa, the other is budgeted, so it's all good

Sunday:

We packed up the corporate apartment at Trop and Pecos, planning on relocating to Circus for the Conference on Monday and Tuesday. But before we checked in, we needed breakfast and it's was planned to be a coaster day! We headed over to Blueberry Hill for some grub, nothing much to note other than some decent biscuits&gravy Then we headed down to Primm for a ride or two on Desperado. I've ridden before so I knew what it had in store but it's the first time for my co-worker. He's a veteran of Beast and Son of Beast, etc so he had no worries....that was till we crested the 1st hill in the seat #1 We'd bought 2 tickets each but his 2nd one went unused He said after that ride, he's DONE with coasters, said that one actually scared him!

So outta Primm and back to the strip to ride the Manhattan Express at NYNY. Parked at my "passed along secret location" at the Trop and walked over. Chuck wasn't up for the ride, so he waited while I enjoyed! We hemmed and hawed over lunch but by now it's nearing 2pm and check-in time at Circus, so off we go. We get up there and checked-in and depart ways, as it's poker time...Mirage, here I come!

Mirage
Parked at Caesars and walked over to register for the $430 at 5pm. Nice room, but seemed to have more locals than anything else. Really liked the layout, chairs, staff, etc....nice room and a HUGE restroom close by, VERY However, it's located next to the noisy Book and with the ball games going, it was even more loud. Grabbed some lunch at Pizza Kitchen and then roamed around before the start of the tourney. Funny side note....it's been to hot to wear my jacket all week like I did on last trip. And it had plenty of room for all my stuff, cigars, cutter, matches, keys, phone, players cards, etc...I needed a man-purse, a "murse" if you will But I needed something manly I'm a HUGE Beatles fan and found the store outside Love. Low and behold they had a small "clutch" with a optional strap, now I'm in FULL ON tourist mode Maybe it'll help my image!

Good news, I finally made a final table! Bad news, there were only 23 runners to start I finally had a tad better run of cards and little better play on my part but I still went out in 10th position, but overall, I'm happy with my play! I had a good read on most of the table and was able to adjust my game to pick up pots and play position. A few notable hands:

I call a 2.5x lp raise from the bb with 68s. Flop a flush draw and I lead out. I'm mini-raised and with great odds, I call. Turn completes the draw and knowing my opponent will bet, I check. He does just as expected, betting out 1000. I try and call but 2 1000 chips fall off the bottom of my stack. Some thought it was a string, but both landed within a second of each other and past my capped cards. Floor is called and I related that I didn't intend to raise but both chips fell. He rules that it stands as a raise and opponnent makes the call. River is a blank and I don't figure I'll make any more $, so it goes check-check and I scoop a nice pot. Thankfully everyone was cool about it and know I wasn't angling, I ain't that good! VERY next hand, I pick up Aces and take it down uncontested

In a multi-way limped pot I find myself with JTs in the sb. I can't decide between raising or calling, end up just calling so it's a family pot to the Flop. I have an open-ended straight flush draw and check looking to tangle it up with any bettors. An ep player leads out, the lp player pushes and I got exactly what I wanted! The ep player calls and 3 of us are in as I look to complete my MONSTER draw! Turn and River are blanks and 2 pair takes it down. I'm stuck now with less than 2k in chips I stay alive open-pushing Q8s (which boats up, chopping between me and the better Q that called), QQ that got no action and 56s that straightened up on the River to bust 2 pair. We form up the final table with blinds at 200/400/25 and I'm the shortie along with 2-3 others. I push QQ again, no callers. I push from the bb after a series of limps with 23s and take it down When blinds moved to 300/600/50 a lp shortie pushes and I look down at AKo. A mucker had rolled his cards on the fold, and flashed an Ace for the table to see, but I still don't see how I can fold. I make the call and am racing against 99. No help and I'm sent packing with my "murse"

I walk out into the cool fresh air of early evening and strike up a fresh Cuban for my stroll over to Aladdin. I needed to pick up my tix to the Fab4 on Tuesday nite...did I mention I like the Beatles?!

I decide it's too early to head back to Circus, so Bally's, here I come

Bally's
I'm immediately seated into a 1/2 game and with 300 behind, I'm off and rolling. I gotta say, I LOVE this room! Not the greatest chairs, but the drinks come often, the staff (Curt) is friendly and some fo the best damn dealers I've seen in a long time, thanks Jeff and Loyd!!! The table is a mix, mostly out of towners, but 1-2 locals and they know what they're doing! About an orbit in, a great hand comes up! One of my "assumed" locals makes a live straddle and I know in my heart of hearts, that he's going to raise when it gets back to him. I plan before even looking at my cards, that if I have anything playable, I'll flat-call and re-raise his raise. Sure enough we get a couple of limpers, me included, and when it gets back to straddle-boy, he raises it up as expected, to 25. I have 78s and staying on plan, I make it 80! The drunk donator call, WTF as does the straddler....just damn, best laid plans and all, right Well, I couldn't ask for a better flop, I'm open-ended and flushing, easily over 50% to take it down...but there's a king on the flop as well. The straddler pushes ~300 into the 240 pot and it's on me. What would you do?

To me, it's a no-brainer. I make what I think is an easy call, and to may amazement, so does the drunkard! I hold my cards, as does drunkie. Any heart, any 6 or any jack and I'm golden! But the turn and river are blanks and I reaching into the front pocket for my rubber-banded wad to buy back back in....So with another 300 behind, we're off again to the races. I make half of that 300 loss back when I call a raise with AKo from the bb. Kxx with 2 diamonds is the flop and I check looking to raise. Sure enough the raiser leads out for 25 and I mini-pop it to 50. He pushes and I call. Turn and River are both diamonds but I didn't need it and I had his KQo CRUSHED! So my 1/2 cherry has been busted. I've been stacked and I've stacked someone else....the latter is a MUCH better feeling!!!

Just a side note, the drunkard buys back in and goes on a freakin' tear! He's playing nearly every hand and taking $100 buy-ins off the new player from Foxwoods. He's angry but keeps buying back in and verbally abusing drunkie. I let it go for a while, but not wanting to loose the possibility of a big score finally comment, "if you keep tapping the glass, it's going to finally break." He winked at my and slowed down the verbal assault, thankfully! He keeps taking down pots and stacks a guy with his 47 fills up on the Turn against KK....guy is just SUPER-PISSED and he wanders off, never to be seen again. Saw 3 jackpot hands while there, quad queens, quad 5s and a straight flush! I ended the session down $168 but it coulda been worse!

I make my way back to Circus and finally crash around 1am for a conference start time of 8am

Next report should be a tad shorter as I'm sure no one wants to hear about an abysmal HVAC conference

Monday:

I'm SURE no one wants to hear about conference hell....did I mention that Circus is a DUMP with some real interesting clientele

Sahara
It's a cheapo tourney but it was a long day and I really didn't feel like heading out anywhere at 6pm but I am in Vegas, and that means cards somewhere! I hoof it on over . It's T3000 for $42 and for another $20 you get an extra T2000, this can be done anytime before the break. The room is what it is, low cost, slow drinks, convention chairs, cheap but large tables...friendly enough dealers albeit slow.

Oddly enough my table has 5 locals on it and I recgonize 3 of 'em from my trip this past January...and all 3 know what they're doing! If you've played there, I'm sure you know Dwight and Pete. Dwight ALWAYS sits at table 15 in seat 3. We start at 25/25 just past 7pm, a total of 123 runners. Top 10 get paid, with 10 getting $80 and 1st around $2000...nice juice

For the life of me, I can't recall how I got there but I was up to about 6500 at the end of the 1st break. Not like me at all to not recall, but I guess it wasn't anything that stood out. With 25/25, 25/50 and 50/100 outta the way we were on to 100/200, 200/400 and 300/600. Here it got a tad more interesting...I complete from the sb behind 5 limpers with 44. Flop comes down K49 rainbow. It's checked around to a lp player who bets out 600. I flat-call, then an ep player who checked, now pushes. The bettor folds out and I make the easy call. Opponent tables K9 for 2-pair but gets no help and I rake a nice pot. A bit later I open from utg QQ and get called in ep, then a shorty pushes for his last 1200. A lp player flat-calls and it's back on me. I push to get out both callers and it works High water-mark was just over 15k but I end the break with ~13k But we're moving to 500/1k.

There are 70 players left at this point, so there's a long way to go and a short-stack to get there

I steal the blinds once and raise with AJs another time, just to stay ahead of the game, then "it" happens. There's 4 of us to a flop of 479, 2 hearts. Holding 47o, I just flopped 2-pair. I check, HOPING someone's caught a piece! Prayers answered...the ep limper pushes and it's folded back to me, you know what I did He tables A9o for top pair, but goes runner-runner flush and I'm down to 9k looking for my spot. I stay alive nursing the stack and I finally take a stand with blinds at 1k/2k with 2 others in the pot but my live cards get no help and I'm walkin' on back to Circus at 10:30p

Had a good time and me a real nice older gentleman named Don, who just happened to be the cousin of Oklahoma Johnny Hale....shared some great stories about the man, whom I played against in the Binions UPC last time I was in town....really nice guy Don!

Tomorrow the conference wraps up and I have tix to the Fab4 at 6pm. Might head over to Bally's after that for some 1/2, who knows....

Tuesday:

The conference finished up around 4:30 and after finishing up business and saying goodbyes, I was off to the strip. I did the usual and parked at Caesars then hoofed it on over to the Aladdin for the 6pm Fab4 show I was still a little early but not enough time for any food, so a wandering I go. I love looking at art, not that I can afford anything that I REALLY like but hell, looking is good, right? Just think red-light district

I stumble into the Wyland Gallery, directly across from the Goddard Gallery. Wyland really has some amazing pieces, very vibrant art and sculptures. Had an interesting discussion with Mark about all things, other than art. Odd that I ran into him and that specific time and even more odd on how it all ties different ways to think and how I can apply it to my game…strangely intriguing! We then walked across to the way to Goddard so he could show me another artist that was on display. Again, amazing stuff and a bit more within my range, I just need a few good cashes After Mark and I parted ways, I looked around at the new displays a bit then made my way back to get seated for the show.

Fab4 at Aladdin

I’d ponied up a couple of extra bones for prime seats and was front row, right. I was a bit caught off by the facility. Don’t know what I really expected but it wasn’t what I’d pictured. It was fairly large setting with a 3-4ft stage but the seats were non-fixed, conference-style chairs, centered on mini-circle tables, for drinks I guess. They had a bar in the back as well, but I wasn’t in the mood for drinking. I’ve never smiled so much, for so long in my entire life! This so was simply amazing! Obviously you have to like the Beatles, but if you do, you HAVE to check out this show. It started off with “Ed Sullivan” introducing the boys. They came out in black suits and played early hits. Their next set found them playing from Sgt. Peppers, garb and all :8 They capped it off with another change, with “Lennon” in white and the rest dressed as they did near the end, playing stuff like “Imagine” and “Eleanor Rigby.” Would’ve loved to hear stuff like Rocky Raccoon, Blackbird or even While My Guitar Gently Weeps….but beggars can’t be choosers! Only 75 minutes or so, but all in all, a highly recommended show!

I made my way back to the Goddard Gallery to one more fix. There are a few new, unpublished pieces, originals that are actually pretty reasonable. Several white canvas pieces that run $3k and black canvas pieces that are $5k or so. He’s also doing small commissions, gold pen on black 12x12 paper for $2k. You provide the “theme” and he does the rest. It may sound steep, but I just about popped for it while I stood there. Better judgment kicked in, but if I can cash well in one of these upcoming tourneys…;). Talked with Matt at the store about cards, turned out he plays and we had a nice talk about various games around town, etc.

To early to head back, so you know what time it is It’s time to find a game! Ooops, almost forgot to mention that I stopped on my way out of Aladdin at the little t-shirt shop, hoping to pick up a white, CSI tee. I know, I know...Unfortunatley, instead of picking up a tee, I almost get picked up by the young male attendandt Oh, and I saw a REMARKABLE Jack Sparrow look-alike that was getting TONS of attention from the ladies!

I check out Bally’s but there’s only one ½ game going and there’s a list. As much as I like the room and the game, I decide to head out. I make my way over to Caesars but it’s much of the same and there’s not much action in the room, it is Tuesday nite after all. Can I really drop a day in Vegas and not play? HELL NO! I get the car and head over to TI, it’s time to see what Michael’s been raving about .

Treasure Island

Parking in the garage was pretty easy, right up to the 3rd floor and found plenty of spaces. Easy signage led to the bridge over and as I crest the down-escalator, what do I spy? You guessed, the room! No wonder he likes this place so much. Only 2 tables are going, one 1/2 and don’t recall the other but it was limit. The 7pm tourney was down to the last few people. The 1/2 list was 4 deep but I got on anyhow. I asked for Chris but met some “resistance” when I was asked what his last name was then being told they don’t have any “Chris” there. After dropping the “AVP” and “Michael” name, I finally get a glint of recognition and am told that “Chris” is more of a morning person. I cop a squat on the “sofa” and spy the Chan line of jewelry….do we have a “throwing up” smiley on this board? .

It was taking a while to get into the game but Troy introduced himself and made me feel right at home. Really nice guy! The list nearly keeps getting enough to open up a new table but every time, a seat opens and we’re back down to 5. I watch the game for a bit picking up what I can. I finally get seated after a HUGE hit&run! Turns out that a REAL loose player is making some WILD plays. The hand in question, he blind raises to 50, then calls a re-raise blind. Flop comes down QQx and all the money goes into the middle. It was Q6 v KK and that table MADE some noise! He racked up and my name gets called. There’s some funny talk as soon as I sit down about whether or not I can be as big a fish and apparently, I just about can Funny side, the kid on my right has a poker hand chart on the table and I ask if he has an extra one I can use It gets a couple of laughs, I know we’re in for a good time!

I’d bought in for $300 as the table wasn’t that deep and I wanted to feel things out before getting too committed. Most of time, I’m under the “right decision, wrong results” modus operandi. But on this hand, I fished it up the best I could! Instead of the norm, it was “wrong decision, right result.” After what I think are 2 limpers, I bet 15 with AKs in late position. The sb raises to 45 and what I thought was the 1st limper (who turned out to be the bb) re-raises all-in, ~ $150. It’s folded back to me and not putting much stock into what I thought was a limp-push after a bet, then raise, I push all-in, covering the sb who only had ~$150 behind. He doesn’t take much time in calling and I know I’ve gotten myself into it deep. We all hold our cards and the Flop comes down Kxx, 2 suited. Turn and River are both blanks and I assume my hand is good and flip it up assuming as much. It is, and I’ve doubled up within 15 minutes of sitting down. A DONKEY play all the way around and internally I feel like an idiot but I might as well use the image!

I get AK again and take it down on the flop, as well as a few other hands here and there using position and that “gambling image.” There are some real characters in the game and I’m having a blast as most of the table is yucking it up There’s a Brit on my right named Mick or Mitch, character number 1, then there’s the young Asian kid from Queens to his right. The young kid buys in WAY short but his laggy image serves him well and after a few hands, he’s worked his stack up to a very nice level. Much of which comes when he stacks the Brit, hitting his gut-shot on the river, cracking KK. He then plays a hand pre-flop and post-flop “blind.” And he takes down a nice pot when on the river he finally turns over his cards, only to find out that he’s sitting with AA….OMG! Brit goes for a smoke and never comes back!

The only other hand worth mentioning is when I picked up KK in position. I raise to 15 again after 1-2 limpers and get heads-up. Flop smacks the board, QJx, rainbow…not too bad. He checks, I bet 45 and he calls. Turn is a Ten, and that’s not looking good for me. He wants to bet bad, but finally decides against it. I check behind, might be a little weak-tight but da hell with it River is a blank. And after checking I flip up the Kings, they’re good. Had I hit my set, it woulda been UGLY as he held AQ…

I play till a little after midnight, racking up$670. Finally a winning session but it’s mostly attributed to that early fishy play….so come on, lemme have it

I make my way back to Circus and get packed up, ready for an early check-out so I get shifted over to the corporate apartment. More to come on my Wednesday exploits that have consisted of breakfast at Peppermill, picking up Penn&Teller tix at Rio, getting situated into the apartment and doing laundry prior to heading out for the nite .

Don’t know where I’ll play tonite but for some reason, I think I’ll find myself back at TI to check out the action

Thanks for continuing to post.

Glad you had a successful run at TI. Sorry I couldn't have met you there and that Chris wasn't there (it is true that when I see him, it is usually before 5PM, as he does normally work days). Not sure who you got at the desk that would question who Chris is, buit that is pretty funny.

Happy that Troy introduced himself and made you feel comfortable. If it was Troy Horning, he just recently joined the boards. Very nice guy all around.

Really enjoying rading about your ongoing exploits in our fine city! Thank you for keeping it up!

@LasVegasMichael

It takes up the down-time slack Although I wonder if people are getting tired of it all

I can't recall the guy who I initially talked to but he was a little shoter and a tad heavy. The "Troy" I dealt with was thin and very personable. All around a good time, but like I said, I think I really fished up that AK hand

@StrayBullet

I'm not getting tired of it. I keep checking back to see if you have more to report!!! Keep the installments coming!

@StrayBullet

It takes up the down-time slack Although I wonder if people are getting tired of it all
[/quote]

Keep up the great reports, I am living through you until I get there in June. Good luck

I know its early, and you are probably not even awake yet, but if you are, you are totally keeping us in suspense!!!

Even if you don't have time to write it all out, where did you end up playing last night? All night session or a quickie!

I love the ongoing aspect of your report. I live here, and yet I am still thoroughly enjoying your Vegas travels, which makes me an even bigger dork, but oh well.

Thanks AlaskaGal and Michael, I enjoy the reads too from my Tampa Den, but obviously haven't read any on the trip, time and all

Wednesday:

I got outta Circus around 11am and was STARVING!!! I seem to lose weight when I'm in Vegas for 3 reasons; LOTS of walking, water at the table (for the most part) and I don't eat much due to not wanting to get away from the tables, either tourney or cash

Anywho, I'd spied the Peppermill on the way back Tuesday nite and decided to give it a shot. I thought it was kinda overrated...service was slow and uninspiring (is that even a word?) They were busy but not slammed, so no excuse. The portions were pretty big but still pricey in my mind, I think I'll stick to Blueberry Hill

After that, it was time to get settled into the corporate apartment. Our company has an annual awards ceremony to recognize it's employees and the regional version for Vegas was held today, which means everything was shut down, but would be back open around 1:30p. So I went back out to kill a few minutes. I ran to the store for some essentials then down to the corporate office hoping to find the Venetian comp that was sent out, but they were closed and would not be reopening till Thursday, so that was out. I got back to the community about 2:15 but still no open Thankfully the staff wasn't far behind, I was soon washing clothes, checking emails and getting prepped for the nite.

Penn&Teller

I had 9pm tix for Penn&Teller so I headed out around 7pm to the Rio. Parked in my secret location and headed in for a bite to eat. Not wanting to blow my "per diem" money quite yet, I opted out for the cheap sandwich as the Sports Book then made my way to get seated. Again, I spent a couple of extra bucks for good seats, not that there are any bad ones! I was stage left, 4th row back. I'd also put on an eye-catching dress shirt (if I do say so myself) in hopes of getting picked for one of the bits, but no such luck. DAMN....what a great show! Great magic and funny as hell, HIGHLY recommended! As soon as the show was over they ran out and did and greeting with departing audience members. Got my program signed and thanked them for a great show....well worth the cabbage for a ~90 minute show!

Treasue Island

I got over to TI a little after 11p and with the list 3 players deep, I wasn't into the game until midnight. I watched the table from the rail to see what I could pick up as I passed the time. This time, the table was playing MUCH deeper than the night before so I bought in for the max. There were several stacks between $800-1000, JOY!

Let me start by repeating that if you're going to play, make sure you're mentally ready, not tired, able to focus, etc. I know it sounds basic, but sometimes, I think we just kid ourselves, especially us "out of towners" that want to get in as much play as possible. I really wasn't in shape for playing but how could I let a day pass without playing I'll also add that at least for me, I don't get to play$1/2 at all, I don't play it on-line so this is a learning curve too, but one where you can keep yourself outta too much trouble.

The table wasn't near as much fun as the previous nite, nothing jovial, just a lot of focus - shoulda been another indicator to get outta the game! I tried to lighten it up a couple of times but I didn't get much repsonse, expect from Mindy who was directly to my right. Seriously, how can you beat being attractive and having a poker mind? I'm in LOVE

I was catching some decent cards but combine fatigue, lack of focus and "Mindy" and I was well on my way to giving back what I gained last nite! I won my 1st hand, limping behind 2 others in position with AJo. Flop was QTx rainbow. The bb led out betting $10 and with only one other caller, I felt I could float in position and take it away on the Turn. I hit the best card I possibly could, the King completed my straight. Again the bb led out and Mindy called again. I raised (STUPID) about 2.5x and got no actions....FARKING IDIOT! It was all downhill after that!

I had to get away from pocket jacks after raising pf, due to a NASTY board! Did I mention fatigue? From the cutoff, I think I raise a limper with my QQ but it'd already been raised and I hadn't put out enough chips...LMFAO! The button calls and 3 of us see a flop of 2-suited rags. The original bettor leads out, I raise and the button flat-calls Bettor folds out and the 3rd spade falls on the Turn. My nose was still working, considering the possible flush and straight hands, I decided to check. Button checks behind and we see the river together. It's a blank but I still don't feel the pair is any good so I check. Button makes a nice bet and there's no way in the world I'm paying if off...call me weak-tight but I'm not going down drowning with top pair.

I get involved in a hand a bit later on from the blinds I believe and flop a double-gutted draw. I check and call a modest bet. The Turn puts a back-door flush draw on the board and this time, I check-raise but am called. The River makes the flush I lead out, missing my draw but hoping he'll buy my story. He doesn't asking if I have the flush as he makes the call. I wait till he turns over the 2-pair he couldn't get away from and reply with a "no" as I muck my cards, shaking my head...guess I wasn't a good salesman!

Down nearly $200 from my initial buy-in, I'm stuck but not going anywhere. We get a few new players in as a couple of the 2-rack giants cash out. Table dynamics change with the new players and to top off my poor play, bad concentration the cards have turned on me We continue to cycle through a few players but the table is thinning out BIG TIME and it's LATE! We get a "convention badged" player buying in for the max, I change seats for a bit better stack position and amazing enough, I able to grind it back to a $20 loss before the table breaks at 3am Helluva game this No Limit, and I'm still a learning newb! Met a couple of really interesting characters again and had a great time despite my play.

Thankfully Troy makes up in spades for what Perry is lacking, what a strangely non-customer focused manager....

One interesting side note - If you've read my logs, you know that when I sat in the Venetian cash game earlier in the week, I had a player recognize me from Tampa, we'd played together at the Hard Rock. Well, against ALL ODDS, it happened again!!! As soon as I sat dowm, I looked at the player on my left, and he looked familar. I was trying to figure out if I'd played with him earlier in the week. Before I could even ask the question, he says to me, "you're from Tampa, right?" And of course the recognition bells went off again. We'd played against each other at the Dog Tracks as well as the Hard Rock. Amazing, 2 different rooms, 2 different players and both times, players that recognized me from Tampa card rooms....anyone have a similar experience? I still can't get over it!

So there it is...I was looking to play a noon tourney today but I think we all know how that worked out. I need food 1st, the run by the corporate office for that Venetian voucher, then it's off the strip. Probably TI just to introduce myself to Chris and to check out the action. Not sure what's on tap for tonite but I know I want to play the Venetian deep stack tomorrow and I'll be trying to sat in, so I won't be out late tonite. Man this is a long trip....I love this town and I LOVE getting a chance to play some real cards but I miss my dogs and my wife!

Awesome!

P&T are indeed a great show. Saw them a couple years ago, and like you, sat very close to the front. Did they do the shooting finale?

They used to make fun of Lance Burton and Sigfried and Roy, which was hilarious (though that was before the Roy incident).

The jazz in the beginning is a nice touch (if they still do that), with Penn on the bass. I think the greatest mark of a good Vegss entertainers is willingness to shake hands with the audience after the show. Highest praise to them for doing that every night.

Sorry the TI game wasn's as juicy as the previous nights, but at least you were able to cut your losses very short. Amazing how small the poker world is, that you would bump into someone from TAMPA! Pretty funny.

I have never met Perry, as I don't play late, so we never crossed paths. I think that since you have posted this that it will be looked into. TI takes feedback from this site very seriously, since it has really added to their customer base. They definately need to keep up the good work they have done to keep my loyalty, and thankfully they have, so far.

As always, thank you for your play by play. Glad you are enjoying our fine city, and I wholly understand how you can get a little homesick after being here for several days without the wife. Next time, bring her!

Yeah, the still made a few jokes about other entertainers around town, even Roy

The did finish with the Magic Bullets trick, amazing stuff!!! And yup, they still do the Jazz, nice touch while waiting.

And I thought running into another Tampa local once was odd enough, let alone twice, 2 different players, 2 different rooms....the odds alone are staggering

Cleaned up and HUNGRY....time to head out, hopefully we'll cross paths over the next couple of days before I head back. Thanks again for all the feedback and site, GREAT place!

While in Vegas, I have run into players from Alaska before. It's always strange when that happens.

I am still waiting to see Penn and Teller, I have told myself that I was going to see them this time for the last 5 trips, next time I am going to see them and the amazing johnatan.

It weird who you will run into in vegas, every trip I have ran into someone from my alma matar, a small DII school in Kansas, then again it's not too hard to spot the gorilla apparrel.

Keep the reports coming, it makes work that much more bearable, and makes me want to hop a flight tomorrow and head out there.

Good luck in the deep stack, and may you catch cards like forrest gump caught shrimp (post hurricane)

Got back a little while ago from a nice 5 hour session alongside Stray at TI! (though he did dissapear for a bit when he went to check out Caesars.)

Had a great time, despite only winning fifty bucks for the night.

Stray is as entertaining in person as he is on this forum, desite haveing a card capper that kept flipping me off!

Anyways, it was very nice to meet you, Stray, and good luck in the tournament tomorrow!

PS: I can't believe I laid down JJ to you. What the hell was I thinking?

Just got back from a later nite than I'd planned, but itsn't that how it always is

And I hear y'all about meeting people from the home town, but toss in the fact that we've played against each in that home town, just adds to the oddity of it all!

Thursday:

After a LATE nite, or early morning, whichever you prefer, sleep was in order and I didn't rise and get going till after noon...standard for the grinders I guess After that business was settled, you know what was in store...POKER!

I headed down to the strip, aiming for TI I landed around 2:30 and introduced myself to Chris, very nice gentleman but still no LVMike. Chris was nice enough to let me know his typical playing hours, so I decided to waste some time as all that running was 2 tables of 2/4 limit. I had planned on playing the noon tourney at Wynn, but after the late nite, that was out the door. I still wanted to check out the room/etc, so off I headed. After a short walk, I arrived at a simply amazing casino, what a place! Nice looking poker room and plenty of action! Seemed a bit crowded for space though. I wasn't ready to play so I wandered around then found the Ferarri dealership. Yup, I coughed up the $10 to goggle the eye-candy and I thought it was well worth it. After doing a little window shopping and a stop by Starbucks, I figured I'd wasted enough time and strolled on back to TI.

[Treasure Island, Session 1

When I get back, it's around 4:30 and there's already a full table of 1/2 going but a nice list too, I get my name on it and what do I notice? None other than "LVMike" is listed and I inquire with Chris. He says Michael phoned it in, and should be there shortly...finally, the man, the myth, the legend! They open up a new table and 5 of the 7 players listed show. I buy in for the max, and we're off. The table fills in slowly and as we're playing, I hear from behind me, "is there a StrayBullet here?" The others at the table are thoroughly confused but I know the scoop, and I finally meet Michael. VERY nice guy!!! Can't say enough about our time together, it was really fun to play at the same table, great time!

We settle into a full table (9 handed) and I'm looking to make some money. I get AK twice early on, once I had to get away and the 2nd time, a standard continuation bet, heads-up was enough to take it down. I get QQ, flop a set on a flushing king-high board and take it down without a battle . The hand that put me up though was played from the sb. I complete after several limpers with A3s. I flop and flush draw that fills on the Turn. After check-calling we see the River heads-up. I lead out with a bet of $20 announcing that I'm blocking so I don't have to call a big bet The Ace that fell couldn't have been better as it makes my opponent Aces-up and he pushes for an additional $80 or so. I make the easy call and table the nuts

Michael and I tangle in only 1 pot, when I limp behind 2 others with TT on the button. Michael makes it $15 to go from the sb. It's folded to me and I make the call, feeling that he's perfectly capable of making the move with air, as well as a good hand. He'd also just lost a hand...so I felt I could float it. Board comes down KQx, 2-suited. I think it went check-check. Then on a blank turn, Michael checks to me again, and I fire out, he mucks JJ, face up. We talk about it later, neither of us wanting to tangle, no harm, no foul

After 90 minutes I'm up $156 and I'd wanted to play in the Caesars tourney at 7pm, so off I go I high-tail to the car and get over to Caesars as quickly as I can since I stayed around for 1 orbit more than I should've. I also felt in the groove at the cash game and serioulsy considered staying but I like tournaments, so what the hell. When I get to the room, it's quieter than I would've thought. I ask how many are registered and find out that only 37 are entered....it's 6:50, starts at 7p. I don't what you'd do but I know what I did....I headed back to TI, where I never shoulda left!

Treasure Island, Session 2

I get back shortly after 7p and there's an open seat at the same table, and with no list I quickly buy back in for $500 and we're off and running once again

I'd half expected Michael to be gone as I know he doesn't play long sessions, but he was still there

I wish I'd just stayed as I got off on the wrong foot paying off a poorly played AQ (top pair) when my bb opponent rivered a back-door flush. I did however, get a nice read on him . I take down pots with AK and an open-ended draw bet. I'm still down but climbing back, then it happened! Remember when I mentioned about keeping your head in the game, well don't let that little nugget slip on past, take it to heart!

Heads-up and I'm in the bb. I check with J5s. The flop is all diamonds and I have the 4th nuts. Check-call a $10 bet. Turn is another diamond and I know I'm in trouble but I check-call another $10. Yet another diamond falls on the River and all I'm paying attention to is the fact that my Jack-high is most likely been countered. I check and my new opponent bets $25. I tell him I'm going to pay him off and sure enough he's got the queen. I flash my jack and muck the hand, the players to my left though, see my other card when I flashed the jack. Had I had my head in the hand, I woulda been concentrating on more than just the one card. Can you guess it? No? Yes? Well, call me a FARKING IDIOT 'cause I not only mucked the winning hand, but the high-hand of the day....a straight flush! Board went runner-runner and all I could do was think about the jack....just damn

I make my money back and then some, from the same opponent when from the bb I check A2s. I flop a straight and check-call. Blank turn and the same happens. River is an Ace and hoping he'll lead out again, I check a 3rd time. But this time, I mini-raise his bet and take down a nice pot. I hit a set of queens again and take down a few other pots minor pots. Knowing I wanted it to be an "early nite" I finally decide to call it quits about 10p, which was shortly after Michael left. I cashed out $99 ahead, not too bad a climb back after being down $100.

So both sessions together, roughly 4 1/2 hours of play, I ended up to the tune of $255. Hmmmmm, maybe I like this cash game stuff afterall

I had a great time, yucking it up with players and trying to loosen the mood at the table, which I'm sure Michael will attest to All in all, another good day and I'm making some of that tourney buy-in money back.

Tomorrow (Friday) is Venetian deepstack and will be heading over early to attempt to satellite in, but if not, I'm still playing. Thanks for the wishes Minton, hopefully it'll go better than last time, although I don't regret the play that made me short at all, I'd play it the same way every time! Until Friday....see ya!

@LasVegasMichael

Thank you Sir and right back at ya And thanks, it'd really be nice to make a nice score while in town!

@LasVegasMichael

I was a little suprised at that hand too, but as you said, wasn't a good board at all for jacks! I had the quiet gentleman ask me about a similar hand, he mucked 2-pair to me leading out on the turn with TPTK-flush draw

Friday (part 1):

Even after planning an early evening on Thursday so I could get up for satellites at Venetian, morning still came as a shock to the system. After I ousted myself from that warm and comfortable bed, I made my way to Blueberry Hill for some breakfast grub then I high-tailed it over the Venetian, hoping to get into the 1st satellite of the day.

Venetian Satellite

I parked at TI and made the easy walk over to casino. I got on the list, 7th spot and within a matter of minutes, we were underway! 10-handed, 15 minute levels and 1500 chips, all for $130. Top 2 would get seats plus $30. A player floated the idea of all of us coughing up an extra $50 so third would also get a seat but two obvious friends stated they didn’t have the $50 (WTF?) and so that was quashed! I doubled up early when a player got froggy pre-flop holding KJ…I had AJ Players were dropping pretty quickly but not a quickly as the table that started after we did. They were dropping players twice as fast as us, including Kenna James! I kept up with the blinds abusing position and limpers. We got down to 4-handed at 200/400 and felt good about my chances, with 3 of us about evenly matched with 1 “short-stack.” Then the defining hand occurred….

UTG folds and the button pushes with the sb folding to me. I look and pocket tens. From the play, I suspected the button wasn’t making a play so I’m either flipping or dominated but with blinds advancing quickly and 2 getting “paid” I just couldn’t find the muck. I make the call, and he tables AQo. There’s a queen right in the window. I turn open-ended but I get no help on the river. I’m left with a single 100 chip and am ousted from the sb on the very next hand

I’d fully planned on buying directly in if the satellite didn’t work but for the second time this week, I deviate from my plans and head over to Caesars for the noon tourney…I figure I can spread my play out a bit today, equaling the Venetian buy-in and just play the deep-stack on Saturday.

Caesars

I get registered about 10 minutes before the start and take my seat, making the re-buy right away. Don’t know where the dealers head was out but we didn’t have a card in the air until 2 minutes had ticked off the clock, moran! (internet spelling, if you don’t know, don’t ask)

I LOVE playing cards but I hate making STUPID mistakes. If anything let this lesson reflect, “Listen to what the other player is telling you.”

Early on, I and most of the other players had gotten a good read on a loose idiot in seat 2. I catch AKo in early position and limp in, hoping he’ll make his silly little raise, as he’s been doing with absolute JUNK. To my glee, he does just that. But my plans are thwarted when a player from the blinds raises before I can, making it 600 to go. Now I know he’s seen the same thing the rest of us have and I think he’s capable of making the move with air. I re-raise to 1500 total and the non-smart lag drops out, it’s back on the bb. He thinks it over for a bit and pushes all-in over my re-raise. I wish I knew why I didn’t “listen” but like an IDIOT, I call the push, knowing in my heart of hearts that I’m crushed. And sure enough, as he tables QQ, my fears are materialized! Flop is all rags, no hope of nothing. The turn is another blank and I’m gathering up my stuff and pushing in my chair when the most beautiful, donkified king falls on the river and now the table thinks, rightly so, that I’m the head-donkey!

I go into lockdown mode as I’m not going to give anyone the satisfaction of living up the label, or at least that was the plan! During the next level, I limp behind 2 others in position with AQo (I can’t tell you how much I HATE this hand!) 4 of us see a flop, Q47 rainbow. The ep limper leads out for 300 and gets flat-called by the other limper. I hear this little voice in the back of my head but I drown it out, I have TPTK, I’m golden! DONKEY!

I raise to 1300 total and squeeze out the ep player. My now lone opponent pushes all-in but do I make the EASY laydown? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I have TPTK, I’m golden, HEEHAW. I push ‘em all in and we can all guess within 2 hands what he had, right?!

I have about 900 left and we go on break….

When we get back, the table folds to me on the button and I push K9, picking up the blinds and antes. The very next hand, the same thing happens, but I push this time with AJs. I get looked up by the bb who makes the call with 66, of course I don’t get any respect, why should I? I get no help and am sent packing for the second time within 5 hours.

I decide to head back to home base after picking up a pie at Metro Pizza. After a quick bite and some afternoon emails, it’s back to the grind, I am after all in Vegas to play cards right? I plan on playing at Binions, in the 8pm tourney but before that, I’ll settle for some 1/2NL at TI, as the room has been good to me, heaven knows the tourneys haven’t. More to come later….

Nice playing with you again tonight, Stray!

The AK vs Set of jacks was a little harsh, but the AK on a scary board (versus AJ, WTF?) was solid.

Never went HU against you tonight, but had a good time nonetheless. Those Caesars dealers (playing at TI) were good times.

Thanks Bonzer, appreciate it!

Friday part 2/Saturday:

LONG story short, for now....I finally busted through!!!

After a horrendous cash session at TI, where I essentialy came out even after 5 hours of play I decided to pack it in and call Saturday a new day.

I played in the $550 Venetian today and we ended up chopping when it got down to 6 players, essentially locking up 3rd place money for each of us. Cashed out $4324 I know it's not "baller" money, but it damn sure feels good to get a decent sized cash behind me! I took notes on key hands during the tourney and will detail them later, I just had to share....I'm PUMPED!!!

stray,

nice job on the cashing in. i'd gladly take $4k! keep up the fine reporting! i feel as if i am able to tell what kind of players i will be facing in a little under 3 weeks (and counting!!!).

Bullet - great reports. I'm just glad I won't be facing you at the tables, sounds like you have a VERY solid game. Appreciate the "hints/reminders" on not playing donkey style when other players are silently screaming their hands. TPTK is normally good - except in limped hands where people are "shotgunning" their chips into the pot. I'll be playing the cash games as my money will almost certainly be dead in tourny's. My game plan is TI, V, and MGM. Would you suggest hitting any other NL games (lower level 1/2 - 1/3)?

@StrayBullet

CONGRATULATIONS!

I KNEW you would come out on top in the deep stack. I actually met one of the other runners, AVPer SplashHappy, that said that she thinks she saw you, but as she was knocked out, was unable to say hello.

She mentioned that it was about 75 runners or so, which surprised me.

Congrats again! Sorry you had a bad session at TI. Last night at TI, we had a ball with Splash, a guy that came in 74th in the 2005 WSOP, and a bunch of calling stations. It was choice times.

Looking forward to the tourney details!

Thanks y'all, really appreciate it!!! I'm still pumped, tired, but pumped

Loose Cannon - thanks and as for the 1/2-3 games, I think your plan is right on. As others have said, they all play about the same but be prepared to change tables if you want, don't be "scared" to do so. I saw some very different table dymanics even at TI. As for my game, honestly, it's nothing special. Just like anyone, I had to get lucky once or twice, even with a MASSIVE suckout that woulda made me short. But with good sense, and Harrington talking to me in the back of my head, I was able to keep my wits about me. Observe players and adjust, keys in my book

Michael - Thanks Sir

I replied to Splash's thread stating I'd be there, but never did run into each other. I almost thought about walking around the tables as asking for "Splash" I hope I wasn't the one who knocked her out, as I put a BAD beat on a lady with pocket aces

I know you and maybe others are interested in hearing the details, but I'm need to clean up, get some grub and head out for the noon Caesars. Will most likely end up at MGM for their 6pm if I bust early then TI just to check in one more time. I'll definitely write up the details, as there were some interesting hands, and people too

OK, THAT was a quick outting at Caesars, time for some updates

Friday, Part 2:

Treasure Island, Friday Nite

As mentioned, I had a horrendous session, at least in my mind. I got to TI around 5pm and saw Michael right away, but the table was full. Thankfully they were opening up a new one and within minutes, I sitting with a full rack in front of me, covering the entire table. Michael made the move over minutes later and we were yucking it up as we got underway. As LVM mentioned, I paid off a couple of hands AK (TPTK) against a set and once again with an underpair to the opponent but overpair to the board. Stuck $200, I made my way back when I made a crying call, again with AK, again TPTK against a loose cannon playing AJo. It was nearing 7pm and lots of players were moving ove rthe tourney which made our table fairly short. We played a bit but it eventually broke. Only 3 of us left fighting over a single seat at the other 1/3 table. The other 2 were Caesars dealers and they let me have the open seat.

I got sandwiched between 2 locals who'd I seen and noted play all week long. These guys knew their caca and I wasn't happy about my situation. The table dynamics were drastically different than the last table and when a player at the other end got stacked by one of the locals, it took a turn for the worse. The stacked player went nuts! Our end of the table had been laughing it up, generally having a good time, but this dude was PISSED. So much so, that the dealer had to ask him to calm down several times, as he hurled insults at not only the local, but our entire end of the table. Even trying to insult me by calling me Carrot Top, for laughing and having fun...thanks Pedro, I hope you lost your burro

After a bit of tight-nit play, getting thrown off by all the anger and being sandwiched between 2 players that actually know what they're doing, I made the shift to a new table they were opening, thankfully! My local poker-buddy and her friend showed up shortly afterwards and we were having fun yet again

I had wanted to play in the 8pm tourney at Binions but it was too late for that. I also wasn't feeling too well, sore throat and coughing, I shoulda packed it in at least 2 hours before I did. I think there's some truth to the "Vegas Creep." After 5 days or so in town, you start to get sick, it's something the city does to keep the transplants to a minimum

I don't recall specific hands but I found myself stuck for $200 again, and ended up grinding my way back up to even just about midnight. I packed up my rack, said my goodbyes and made my way for home base with my tail between my legs. I know it's an "easy" game but there's a LOT more to it than meets the eye, ESPECIALLY when you have players in the game. Beware, have fun, and keep your wits about yourself and you'll do fine.

It's Sunday now and I may try one more session at TI. Fo the week, I'm up over $400 at TI, so I can't complain. And thanks to the Venetian cash last night, I've wiped out all my tourney entries, racking up a sweet profit of nearly $2k

Saturday:

LONG recap of the tourney play. Short version; after 10+ hours of play we chip-chop 6 way and I walk out with $4324 to the plus side

Venetian

I really don't know what I can add about this room that hasn't already been said . It's very well run, thanks Anthony! The dealers are extremely competent and know how to move a game along. The tables and chairs are great. Cocktail service is above board, being able to order GOOD water and top-shelf liquors; and what I really like is that the servers ask each player individually what they want, nice! Oh, and let's not forget the carving station, scrumptious! Plush waiting area with plenty of reading material.

After sleeping in late, I headed down to the strip, parking at TI and making the easy walkway trudge over to the Venetian. I bought in direct and headed upstairs to the little Italian coffee/pastry shop for a quick pick-me-up prior to the commencement of cards. After polishing off "breakfast" I made my way back down to the room and settled in for some deep-stack poker. It's T10, 000 for a total of $550, they take the $10 add-on as you buy-in. The field was shorter than I'd expected, MUCH shorter. With cards in the air, there were only 55 runners, eventually making it up to 72 total before the cut-off. They'd pay the final 9, if you could get there Rough totals, but $11k for 1st, $7k for 2nd, $4k for 3rd then 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4% and 3%.

L1-3, 25/50, 50/100, 100/200, break

I have 56o in the bb and 3 of us, lp limper and sb, see a flop of K74 - 2 hearts. The sb and I check, then call a 150 bet. I'm not too worried about the flush but with 6 outs, I just about have the right odds to draw. The Turn is red and my heart skips a beat, but it's a diamond, and an 8 at that . I check behind the sb with a well-disguised straight. The lp player leads out for 500 and the sb smooth calls. Gotta make a move now. I check-raise it 2000 total and the lp player folds but the sb goes into think-mode, eventually folding. She said she had 2-pair as she wonders out loud about my hand, mentioning a better 2-pair and even a straight...??? I reply that I was on the flush draw and didn't feel that they were that strong

I then get AA with 4-way action on a non-threatening board. I lead the flop and get heads-up with the same player from the hand above. She check-calls my Turn bet and with nothing to worry about on the River, I make a small value-bet after she checked. She folds out and I take down another nice pot.

I'm making my normal small talk with the table and find out that we have Tony Korfman with us at the table. Apparently we has a web-site and is writing a poker book, isn't everyone Nice enough guy and a good player from what I obsevre. He I get tangled up on the next hand. I raise utg with pocket jacks and Tony is the only caller. I make a standard continuation bet on a rags-rainbow flop and Tony smooth calls. The Turn is a nasty ace and after some contemplation, I check as does Tony. The river is another blank, and the only way I think I can win, is to make a strong bet, hoping he'll buy my story. He mulls it over and finally mucks his cards, and I take down another nice pot!

I'm in early position with 77 and the utg player, the same lady from the 1st hand, throws out a single 500 chip without announcing raise, so it stands as a call. Knowing she wanted to raise, I'm getting it good to hit my set and stack her if she can't get away from her big pair or AK, etc. I call and the bb checks. 3 to the flop and the most beautiful of beautiful cards falls in the middle of the board, my 3rd 7 The bb checks, she leads out for 300 and we gets heads-up when I smooth-call. A king falls on the Turn and she leads out again for 300. I raise to 1300 total and without hesitation she pushes :shocked: I have her covered and now I’m wondering if I’ve just been out-set’d. If I have, then so be it. I make the crying call and she’s drawing dead as she tables AKo. The last hand I get is QQ utg, and take it down on the flop.

We’ve off for our first 15 minute break and I’m sitting with 23k in chips. We’ve lost maybe one or two players and I’m feeling GOOD!

L4-6, 100/200/25, 200/400/25, 300/600/50, break

I get KQo twice and lose once with it making a standard continuation bet and win with it the other time, when I flop top-pair. I also take down 2 bb v sb hands against Blake, a player I recognize from my last trip, we’d played against each other in the $660 Binions UPC, a very solid player, who happens to know Shawn Rice. We talk a bit about that tourney and other stuff. He warns me the 2nd time, we tangle from the blinds I take down a small pot with AKo. Then I get moved to a new table.

The VERY first hand I see is KK in late position against a single limper. I raise to 800 and get flat-called. Board spikes an Ace and I know I’m toast. He leads out, betting the pot and I muck my hand face up….image established, either I can be run over or I can make a smart lay-down, he flashes the ace Thank you Sir!

At 200/400/25, utg pushes for 4200, it’s folded to me in the bb with AQs. I mull over the possibilities and make the call, knowing we’re racing. I get no help as his 8s hold up. Turns out, he’s from Tampa also, thankfully we haven’t played against each other, 3 times in one week would be just too much! I’m down know but nowhere near dire straights.

I’d been talking with a very nice lady about playing aces and how she hates to get ‘em cracked, how she doesn’t even want a call with ‘em. Several times in a row, when folded to her, she makes a lp bet and takes down pots without a showdown. She’s around 5k in chips, and I’m getting tired of getting pushed off my blinds. I make a plan that next time it happens, regardless of my hand, I’m going to re-raise her. Doesn’t take but an orbit or two and sure enough she leads out when it’s folded to her but instead of her normal raise, she just min-raises to 1200 (300/600/50). Alarm bells shoulda been going off, but I had a plan, I get some flop help when I spike a jack, she looks like she’s going to puke! I cut out the rest of chips getting ready to push to her, doubling her up when I make the suck-out of the day! Unbelievably enough, another jack falls on the turn and with no help, I bust her. We head into the second break and I’m back up to 23k after 4 hours of play! 3 tables are left, 27 players. We’re a LONG way from cashing, let alone the real money for 1-3, time to settle in for the long haul!

L7-9, 400/800/75, 600/1200/100, 800/1600/200, break

I take down pots with JJ utg and AKo, uncontested. I have to fold pocket 8s twice to heavy pf action before it gets to me, and strangely enough, I open fold pocket 9s due to physical tells from a lp player, thankfully I was right

I open-raise from the sb and take it down with 92s I raise with KK utg, then push against a late-position re-raise of 8k. He thinks it over before finally folding. I then push AQs from the bb against a lp raiser, hoping he’s raising light and I was correct and he folds the pot to me. As you can tell, it was all I could do to stay ahead of the blinds, for 2 hours of play, I damn sure didn’t have a lot to work with! We go into break and I’m sitting on 29k, a short stack at this point considering all the brown stacks I’m spying. Only 2 tables left, 15 players. We’re getting close, but that only counts in horse-shoes, hand grenades, and teenage sex….’cause if you got close, you tell everyone you did it anyway

L10-12, 1k/2k/300, 1,500/3000/500, 2k/4k/500, break

I do all I can to stay ahead of the blinds, but it ain’t an easy task. I wasn’t looking to just cash, but finally making a final table after a week of playing would be nice! I keep Harrington’s “M” FIRMLY in mind, and after coming back from break, I know I only have 3 orbits before I go down in flames, losing all folding equity! At a cost of 5100/orbit this is going to be difficult if not impossible, but anything can happen, right? I pick my spots and stay ahead of the blinds open-pushing with 56s and AQs, there’s no more “real” raises for me, it’s fold or all-in. I also push pocket aces, as I didn’t want to alert anyone to my hands, alas, I get no action. Players are dropping off, but again, I’m not looking to just make the final table. I don’t even bother looking at the other table, I’d firmly made up my mind to play as needed to chip up and if “M” dictated pushing, the push I would!

Amazingly enough there are a couple of big hands that knock out players and a bit before going on break, during the 2k/4k/500 level, we form up the final table. Remember though, only 9 get paid. A player brought it up before I could as our table broke about making a “save for 10th” but we had to wait for all players. As we did the re-draw for seats and the button, Anthony, the tourney director brought it up and everyone agreed without too much prodding. We all take out $50 from our pockets for 10th place. They won’t make money, but it’ll reduce to the buy-in by $500, so instead of costing $600 ($550 + $50 save) it’ll end up costing 10th place $100 for the tourney, not a bad deal.

I’m making friendly with the new players at the table, getting names, making jokes and having fun, after all, we’re at the final table, right The kid with hat, sunglasses and headphones, busts when his top-pair is rivered by a straight, ugly, but at least we’re in the money, donkey money, but money nonetheless!

There were a few other memorable hands, like the bubble boy busting when his QJ didn’t hold up against A7, even though he’d paired his jack on the river….too bad it was spades completing the opponent’s ace-high flush. Just happened to be the same player, I had to lay down Kings against earlier!

9-handed, I know all the players names, and am making nice-nice, you never know when it might come in handy I also get a read on why they’re there. Like Frank in seat 1, who was just happy to cash, GOOD info; or Stan in seat 5 who doesn’t care about the money. I’m short, along with one other. With 720,000 chips in play, I only have 30k of them, and that puts me in a bad shape! We’re just about on the next break and I find myself utg with 99. I make an easy push. I get a “good luck” outta seat 1, Frank and right in step, Perry says, “f*** that, bad luck” It’s folded around to Tony, same gentleman from earlier, in late position. He takes his time cutting out my push and finally makes the call. For a slim moment, I think I might be racing, or even ahead, but no such luck. He pushes in the chips and tables pocket aces, just damn! Flop provides no outs, and I’m looking for 2 cards. Turn is another blank and I’m standing up, putting my card protector in my jacket and grabbing my Amstel. But I’m SAVED when the most beautiful of cards hits the river, it’s the 9 I needed and I’m chipped up!

We’d lost 2 players during this time, Frank, the guy that was happy to cash and Mike, a young local who looks about 16, black hair with streaks of blond. Don’t really recall how they went, but I know we were down to 7 as I was hoping to get my blinds in before the break!

I post my 2k sb and it’s 3 way, against a lp limper, Jay and the bb, Perry, a cowboy from Canada who bred and broke horses for 30 years. I’m sitting with 87o and make the extra 2k call now that I have some chips to work with. The bb checks and the 3 of us see a flop. I can’t believe my eyes and do my best to keep my heart from jumping outta my chest when I see the board, 878

So with 7 left, everyone is around 100k. There are however 2 players under that mark by several thousand, with 2 players above that mark by just as much. We head off to break and Anthony, the Director, stops the clock as he and Tony start figuring out a chip-chop. It takes a while to figure out, and thankfully in the process, get a bit longer break with the frozen clock. When all is said and done, the figures have us essentially locking up 3rd place money, with some a little more and some a little less. We’re all in agreement, save for one lone hold-out. There aren’t any monster stacks but the holdout does and closer to 150k. He says that we’ve played this long, why not just finish it…I offer him a Cuban cigar, he doesn’t smoke. I offer him my card protector and get a few laughs. I even state that I need to eat to maintain my blood sugars but replies that he just had a granola bar. There’s no convincing him and the table mood has taken a down-turn. I fully understand wanting to play it out, he even stated the money didn’t mean anything to him but after nearly 10 1/2 hours of play, a chop REALLY sounded good! Anthony lets us know, that it’s the last time the clock will be stopped to figure out chop totals, so with no consensus, we start up level 13, 3k/6k/1k.

Ironically enough, the lone hold-out, Stan was nearly busted earlier when he got it all-in against Tony, 77 v AA, and Stan river’d a 7 to take down a nice pot. Both players on my left, Perry and Frank are muttering about busting Stan We play exactly one orbit before KARMA comes back to bite Stan right in the ARSE as he busts in 7th, taking home 5%, roughly $1700 for his 10+ hours of work! As soon as he stands up, I prompt the table to open up chip-chop discussions again and although Tony and Jay have a bit more than the rest of us now, with yours truly at 94k, the figures are tallied with the clock running. At about the 23 minute mark, all figures are out and the 6 of us agree I walk out the door onto the strip, lighting up a Cuban with $4324 in my pocket after tipping out.

The cash gets me back to even, actually a slight profit, over this and my last trip at the end of January. I’m pumped as I call my poker-buddy Cindy, her and John are over at TI. So I head over to share the news with someone, anyone who’ll listen After I finish up dinner, I check back in with Cindy and John, and then make the trip back to home base for a sleep that doesn’t come for several hours. Man, what a session!

Sunday:

Last day of poker in Vegas, it’s April 1st and I’ve been in town since March 23rd, it’s been a great trip but I’m looking forward to getting home tomorrow. My plans for the day are the noon Caesars ($130 total) and if that’s a wash, it’ll be followed up with the 6pm MGM tourney for another $125.

Caesars

I arrive at Caesars about 11:30 and get registered for the game, then I wander over to the coffee shop for some wake up goods With “breakfast” thrown down my throat, I wander back to the poker room and settle in for some cards. I make the rebuy right away as does about half of the table. I ended up getting seated with my poker-buddy, Cindy and she’s got position on me. I make some position calls with good drawing hands but nothing materializes. Still in level 1, I make a call from the bb with T8s when the utg player raises to 200. A late position does the same and 3 of us see the flop. It comes down 8Q8, 1 suited. Hitting gin, I check, utg leads out for 300, lp player mucks and I check-raise to 1300 total, utg smooth-calls. My plan was to push any blank on the turn and I follow through when the 6c hits. UTG insta-calls and although I know I’m behind 3 hands, it’s devastating when he rolls the only one that fits, pocket queens for the flopped boat. I’m unceremoniously ousted and I can only shake my head as I wander out of the room and back to home base to start getting packed up for the trip home, and some updates.

Plans were still on for the 6pm at MGM and that’s just what I did.

MGM

Tommy is the tourney man, running a pretty good ship. They cap the entrants at 60, but accept alternates, of which, I think they seated 15 or more. During the 1st 3 levels, I’m on an absolute tear of cards, getting AKo 4 times, winning nice pots 3 times. Once with a standard continuation bet. Once with a check-raise on a king-high board against pocket queens and again with a continuation bet. The 4th time, I mucked ‘em facing an ep raise and smooth-call before it got to me. I shoulda known better, flop was king-high and my hand woulda been good, oh well. I make my final chip up when I check from the bb with pocket 4s. I flop a set and call the 500 bet from the sb. A STUNNING new player seated a few minutes ago was playing extremely fast pushing 2 hands already, I only hoped she’d do it again. To my amazement, she does just that, the sb pushes as well, and with both players covered, I make the easy call. My hand holds up with both players drawing dead and knock ‘em both out. The table is more than a tad upset with me and she really was HOT, and with a loose, v-neck blouse and no bra, we were all a bit disappointed at the departure of the eye-candy! We have a good laugh as seat 3, Bodie was trying to make moves on her, I end the level with the chips needed to make a deep run in this FAST tourney! Blinds double EVERY level and although it’s 30 minute levels, the blinds are atrocious at the end. We’ve gone through 25/50, 50/100 and 100/200 over 90 minutes of play. I have over 20k at this point. My only complaint about the room is the club, Centrifuge, which goes off every 30 minutes with the bartenders dancing on the bar to LOUD music!

I get moved to a new table and have to start my shtick all over again. I’d been carrying a “poker hand chart card” with me and putting it on the table. Twice I got asked if I was serious Combine that with my “bird flipping” card protector and the fun was on!

I’m moved to a new table for the remainder of the 200/400 level and what follows is, 400/800/100 and 800/1600/200 :shocked:

I watch a few hands go by, sizing up the table and stacks, then find myself in late position with 89s and make it 2400 to go. The bb, who is serious and having none of my frivolity, min-raises me to 5k. I insta-push thinking he’s making a statement about his blinds, but I make my own statement with my stack, that just about out-chips him. He mucks and I take it down! The very next hand, I make the same raise with KK and get called by the bb, leaving 1200 behind. The flop is ace high, and he checks. I’m not letting it go for a such a small amount. At the speed he called with, I was sure he had an ace, but no such luck for him, and the kings hold up, as I take another nice pot down.

We form up the last 2 tables, but we’re still a ways away from the cash as the tourney only pays the final 6. Players are dropping out left and right as the blinds are insanely ridiculous. We head off to another break and when we get back it’ll be 1500/3000/300, then 3k/6/k/500. If I recall correctly, our table was 6 handed and the other 6 handed as it turned into a push fest of gargantuan proportions!

Table folded to me in the sb and spying an ace, I push. The bb wakes up with a hand, pockets jacks and makes the easy short-stacked call. The flop and turn are no help and I’m lamenting the fact that I won’t get there when an ace falls on the river and we’re 11-handed. I’ve got a good stack at this point, but there’s no poker left to play. The table folds to the button who pushes. I wake up with pocket tens in the bb and make the easy call. He tables Ax and the flop kills me dreams as I ship 10k his way. ON the very next hand, I push AQs from the sb and the bb, another shortie, makes the call tabling A9. I escape the flop but the turn is misery as a 9 drops. But it opens up doors and it makes my flush draw. No queen and no diamond, means I’m shipping another 5k outta my stack, just DAMN!

At that point, 2 players bust from the other table and Tommy calls us over as we form up the final table. But remember, only 6 people get paid. No one has a huge lead but there are 2 players with good sized stacks and several people in the open-push range. As we all get settled in drawing new seats and dealing for the button, we’re still at 1500/3000/500 and I immediately start the chop talk. Tommy is right there and provides the straight-chop numbers. It’s $860 for each of us. I poll the table lobbying as best I can and amazingly enough, they all agree! Tommy breaks out the chips and we all cash. Talk about some happy tourists! Several players thank me for taking on the “captain” role, getting us all a decent payday for 4 hours of “work.”

After tipping, it’s a net score of $700 even, not too shabby. Two final tables in 2 days for total cash of nearly $5500. That makes net for the trip, nearly $2500, and I couldn’t be a happier unit

I fly home on Monday at 4pm, so the daily log is ovah!

Hope y’all have enjoyed, I know I have

Well, I thought is was over...I'm stuck in AIRPORT HELL with my flight delayed indefinitely....FARK ME!

Just thought I'd share....

stray, glad u had a profitable trip! thanks so much for keeping us in the loop. sorry u are stuck at the airport...so spend some of that $$$ in the airport slots

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip. We are very happy to have assisted you in your success, even if only in a small way. It was a pleasure to play with you, and thank you again for your wonderful reports over the past week and a half.

Still at the airport, but there's a baller story to share

Michael, thanks again Sir, you and this site MADE my trip! I definitely wouldn't have had near the time, win or lose, without it!!! TI was a blast and I ended up +$400 or so there for the hours I played and considering I don't play NL on line and it's not spread in Florida, I feel good about it. I'm definitely more of a tourney player (for now) and thankfully I was able to bust through making final tables twice, that can't be a bad thing!

My original flight kept getting put back, hour by hour so I finally made the decision to change to the 11pm flight (even though the original one set off finally at 8pm). I HATE the red-eye but I felt I had no choice! Thankfully, I had a great time at Chilli's (report later as we're preparing to board) and as I walk up to the gate, they're announcing they have ONE last seat in 1st class for an extra $150, you KNOW who snapped that up

So all in all, it worked out....taking an extra vacation day tomorrow and by the time I get home, my in-laws will have been on the road for an hour or two on their way home, how can a man be any happier?!

I'm sure the daily logs for too long for some to read but it helped me keep account of the trip and I know more than one or two enjoyed the read! Maybe one of these days I'll get a reply from Photoc

Thanks Stray, I think there are many of us who have enjoyed all of your reports, especially the happy ending Congrats!

John

Thanks for the excellent reporting!

It made the work day a little more bearable knowing that someone was livin' it up in vegas, and I couldn't think of a better ending, poker karma at work, do something good for the message board, chop a deepstack....

@StrayBullet

I wanted to try and help out when I read this portion of the TR. Last month in Vegas I typed a list of phone #'s for various rooms I might play. You could even program them in on your cellphone. I called Caesar's and they put my name on the board (no list, but I was first seated when I walked into the room).

I realize many people want to experience Vegas & the different rooms. You went from 9pm to 11:30pm and hit 3 different rooms w/out playing a hand. Didn't sound like you were too bummed, but phoning first would help. Don't think Bellagio (shocker?) takes phone in for lists, but at least you can find out how long the lists are and save some time & headaches.

Thanks again y'all and thank for the advice droopy. You did guess right, I wasn't disappointed as it was more of a scoping out tour, and like I said, I was tired.

The "baller" story wasn't about the 1st class ugrade but what happened at Chilli's....a wrap up if you will, it's been this long anyway, right?!

After being at the airport since 3pm, for a 4pm flight, we kept getting put off hour by hour. Finally at 7pm, I say ta hell wid it and ask to be put on the 11pm out. I was at least able to snag some food then. In the foulest of foul moods I made my way to Chilli's, really the only thing that was close without going back through security. I'd already caught grief once when the scanner guy thought my bc powder was cocaine Like I'd be carying that there, hell, I don't make cocaine money

I get seated out on the "patio" in the far corner, quiet and I can watch people for the next 3 hours while I wait

What first start to tuen things around was my server, she had a good personality, keyed in on the situation and steered me towards heavily mixed, tasty drinks!

Soon after settling in, a table of 6 women geat seated driectly across from me, 4 younger and 2 apparently mothers. I'm immediatley lamenting my situation as they're already increasing the chatter/noise level exponentially. Somehow we exhange some banter back and firth as they were delayed too. They really helped turn my evening around as well. We were joking, exchanging names, etc, just generally having a good time. Before they're were finished with their meal, I asked the server to put their bill on my tab. She replied, "the whole thing?"

I said sure, knowing it wasn't that much and hell, I'd had a good week of cards When their check came, she said it'd already been taking care of. They were VERY gracious about my offer but objected. But the reason was, because they had airline couchers that would cover it, so I was off the hook but had scored MAJOR points with the mothers and one of the daughters, at least

They were so taken by the offer, that they left me enough vouchers to cover my meal, so how's that for a deal?! It doesn't end there though!

A bit earlier, 3 younger guys had came in and were seated while watching all this goes on. Turns out they're card players from Portland. We talk cards a bit and what not. I pass along information about the site and my cashes

After the girls are out of site, I pass along the vouchers to the guys as I still haven't used my per-diem from the company travel time, and I need to burn that up. I'm covered, so what not spread the wealth?!

After I finish up, I head for the gate and just as I'm walking up, they announce one last seat for 1st class, an extra $150. I make it to the counter just in time, and plop my wallet down on the counter, securing an plush ride home

AND thinking it couldn't get any better...when the cab dropped me off at home, 6:30am local time, my in-laws had already hit the road! They stayed for 2 weeks, and I only saw 'em for 1 day....winner for EVERYONE! NOw that is the end, once again, thanks for the replies, appreciate 'em! I may work on a shortened version, a recap if you will for another site, who knows....

Thank you so much for the blow by blow report during your trip in Vegas Stray.

Glad to hear is was profitable trip for you and thanks for sharing the wealth. Guys like you make peoples day by picking up a small meal or something like that.

Thanks again

I have been working way to hard the last 2 weeks and just got around to reading this awesome report. Thanks for taking the time.

ZZZ