6 or 7 smallish (some smaller than others) tourneys, 3 wins. Win as in 1st place. Well, sorta. Read on...

Travel from Phoenix to Vegas Friday day. I'm itching to leave, co-pilot is taking his own sweet time. Travel is uneventful. Arrive at the Rio by 4:00pm local time.

Friday night, small $150 (?) tournament at Harrah's 8pm. I don't think it was $150, might have been $100. Must be time to update the tournament page. Deep stack format, I like it. Co-pilot's first live poker tournament. He busts out early, I chop 1st/2nd place for even split. (+$400)

Saturday, play Planet Hollywood, bust out ($-60). Play Caesar's Palace, bust out ($-80). Play Imperial Palace, bust out ($-40) Play Treasure Island, chop 1st/2nd place for even split. ($+300)

Sunday, play Planet Hollywood, bust out ($-60). Play Caesar's Palace, after six hours, chip-chop for majority share (win!) with 4 remaining. ($+1200).

Chip chop is where they calculate who has what percentage of the chips in play, and pay out the remaining spots based on those percentages. I was chip lead, with %40 of the chips. Remaining 3 players had other 60% between 'em. We all got 4th place money ($398) then split the rest of the money based on the stack sizes. 1st and 2nd places lose a little, 3rd and 4th gain money. Supposedly, the most equitable way to chop, even though 1st place would have payed more if I won it outright. I was more then happy to take the majority share and call it a win, though!

Have many stories of woe and suck-out-edness, donkey calls and asshat players. But, the weekend was well worth it!

I've played either live poker or tournaments at all the rooms prior to this trip, so I was familiar with the staff, tournament structure, etc. I was most surprised at the Harrah's Friday night tournament format. I like Deep Stack tournaments, feels like I have more room to maneuver and set an image. No shove fest's here, and the good players have time to collect chips.

I always have liked the PH 10:00am tournament, too bad about the unfortunate location of the poker room. It was better near the front of the casino.

Caesar's is still my favorite poker room (never having played or even visited the Bellagio or the Venetian, yet). This noon tournament is one of my favorites, as well.

And there's something quaint about the IP. What a great mix of Vegas locals, practicing 'table captains', newbies and tourists. A true melting pot of poker. Always fun, and what the heck, it's only $40!

The staff at the TI get the biggest thumbs up. Very nice folks, happy dealers, etc.

Overall for the weekend, up over 1 large, including covering food, cab fare and craps losses. (down $300 at dice)

Travel back from LV -> Phx again uneventful. Home by 4:00pm local time.