I came out with some buddies on Feb 28th for two nights. My plan was to mostly play poker, their plan was to drink cheap booze and lose money...needless to say it was fun to watch. We get to TI around noon after a crazy sixty year old cab driver told us about his love for fake breasts on the way over, but got us there pretty fast. We drink some cheap whiskey and coke's and they then decide to play blackjack. The dealer runs them over for about two hours and we decide to head to Bill's so they can play 5 dollar craps.

At Bills they play for a bit, I sit at the poker table for like 30 minutes then decide to go to Bally's. I'd never played there previously but enjoyed it. Sat with some fun people, but also with two maniacs who both went on pretty sick heaters. For instance, one guy three bet a 10 dollar raise to 27 straight with 104s and hits two pair on the flop. I run AQ into AK but don't pay it off after the turn...then I get into a hand with one of the maniacs. I'm on the button with AA and there are 3 limpers, I have ~180 behind and all have me covered. I make it 10 to go and get two callers. Flop comes A27 rainbow. Checked to me and I bet 15 and get one caller. Turn comes 3 and it goes check, I bet 25, villain stares at my stack and says all in. I call and he has 45o...ouch...He yells for a face card, I tell the dealer to pair the board and she obliges with a deuce on the river. Maniac heater=over...but not in the fashion I wanted.

I head back to TI and grab some food on the way, end up in the poker room for about 2 hours in which I run a king high flush into an ace high flush, and AK into KK (folded preflop after a 4 bet). I then steam off another hundred and decide it's time to leave. Loved the room though as I was very comfy the entire time.

I go back to the room and my friends are down and out, but after a nap they want to head north. We stop in the Wynn to see some other friends in town, one of which went on a 400 dollar run in 10 dollar a hand black jack. We walk to the Riv, then Circus Circus. I play 3/6 at CC just to pass the time while they play bj (No 1/2 at 1am) and win twenty bucks, but mostly was just there to drink.

Next day we go out to walk around, check out some spots, and I tell my friends to sign up for a total rewards card at caesar's just because it's good at all Harrah's properties. Turns out they are giving a 20 dollar food comp just for signing up, so we go eat at the Augustus cafe for breakfast and it was easily the best meal I had on the trip.

End up back at Bill's, this time I decide I'll try and run over the table. No real hands of note, but I end up about 70 dollars up after an hour and decide to play their sng. Played that terribly and get busted in the second level. Oh well. That night we go to the stratosphere after hanging out at the TI pool all afternoon. I'm pleasantly surprised with the chairs/tables there but I had to correct the dealers a couple times with button placement. I pick off a bluff and end up entering the midnight tourney with the winnings from that. Ran terribly in the tournament and admittedly didn't play too well and bust in the 4th level.

Next morning we at at the TI buffet which was a surprisingly good meal, especially if you're into asian food. The sushi was acceptable, and the whole spread was pretty good for $16. Go over to the Venetian to hopefully find an Omaha H/L game but not hoping for much due to it being 1pm on a Monday. Get on the list and hang around for a bit, then sit 1/2 for about two hours. One hand of note, I have AA two behind the button, it's folded to me and I make it $6 to go. This was a pretty big mistake in retrospect as I forgot how loose the games in Vegas are compared to Missouri. Anyways everyone calls (5 players total) and flop is 8h9h10d. I bet 15 and get two callers, both with position, and villain OTB considered raising. I have a pretty bad feeling and check the 8d turn, next guy check and button bets like 30. I think for about a minute and fold. Next guy calls. River was a deuce, first guy checks, otb bets 50, other guy folds. All of his bets seemed like straight value bets to me, and up to this point has been pretty tight overall. Pretty sure I laid it down correctly but would gladly welcome some help here. Maybe I should have made a blocking bet on the turn for pot control...? and then if I get raised I know where I'm at. End soon thereafter down about 7 bucks or so, but enjoyed playing at such a classy joint.

Overall on the trip I lost about 230 on poker total, this includes the two tourney buy-ins. I feel alright about my play but can definitely see some leaks. Also, the room at TI was great! Twenty dollar tricked into a strip view where we could also see the pirate show. Bed was very comfortable. Sorry this was so long but I hope you enjoyed it :)