I visited The Venetian and Caesar's - of the large Poker Rooms.....

The Venetian was by far the most beautiful - and stylish Poker Room. Mgmt was superb, and ran the room and the games very well.

All players were treated very respectfully - no matter what games they were playing.

The Room is large, "open" concept with lots of spaces between tables. It was well-lit, and easy to see the Board from any seating position.

Drink holders were large - and easily fit any drink, including the Fiji Water bottles that they serve at The Venetian (very nice). Drink service was decent. Servers were very good looking. Only complaint was that the beer was not ICE cold. I like cold beer - so I was disappointed.

It was the "World of Cement" convention during my stay of the week of Jan 21/2008. That meant 85,000 cement industry people from around the Globe were in Las Vegas. Go figure - a lot of them liked to play Poker (and most of them were fishy, in nature - no offense to any AVP member who is in the cement business).

OK - the Week's Report

Day One (Caesar's Poker Room)

I land at the Airport - and take a $6 shuttle to Caesar's - I get there in 15 minutes - sweet deal !

I check my bag with a Bellhop - as my room is not ready yet - and head to the Poker Room right away.

It is about 12:00 noon - and the Room is slow. Mgmt was polite - but the players were boring and unfriendly - and most were not very good - so of course I had some "fish" take my money on a hand that I should win more times than not.

I am playing $1/$2 No Limit - Max $300 behind. I made a bet that he should have not called (no pot odds - and I have the current nuts before the River). My high end nut straight is called on the Turn - and the Flush comes on the River.

OK - down $300 (first two hours). Bad vibes are permeating....

Of course, I proceed to get intoxicated and lose another $300 (just more slowly) over the next ten hours. I go to bed at midnight. I had been up about 24 hours at that point.

Due to this experience, I will not be visiting Caesar's Poker Room anytime soon (or maybe even never again).

End of Day One - Down $600 (One Bad Beat + One Drunken Fiasco)

Day Two (The Venetian)

I had heard so much about the Venetian (on AVP), I had to check it out. Also, I read about how great their well-run Tournaments are. So, I played the 12:00 noon $150 Tournament. I make it to Round 4 - but many poor [local players included here] players are playing recklessly (I know that that is supposed to be a "good thing" but of course, they can "suck out" just as easily. See my Caesar's experience above - same thing. I have nut high end straight - and get called by some local fish who flushes me on the River. Enough said - no more Tourneys for me this trip - I want more cash games.

I start playing $1/$2 No Limit - Max $300 behind.

Now this game is interesting - because you need to assess each player accordingly - as you will probably be playing with them for several hours in one sitting. I notice very quickly that there are Venetian Dealers in the Game - plus other locals. Then there are some tourists like myself.

Therefore, I try and stay away from the locals (who have the largest stacks - and obviously play the tightest) - and go after only the "Wild" Dealers - and the fishy tourists. No offense again to anyone :-)

I have my ups and downs - with no major hands to tell you about. I win $200 by Day's end.

Best situation for Day Two is that players were betting into my nut Full Houses - twice. It does not get better than that.

End of Day Two - Up $200 (Steady Play, watching who I go to battle with - but win based on weak players mistakes)

Day Three (The Venetian)

I LOVE the Venetian. This place has CLASS. I now know the Chip Runner (who I tip every time) - and I know the Managers (all very polite and helpful). They also seat you very quickly. They will open up a short-seated game (say 7 people) just so you can start playing. Very smart Team there.

I stick with the same game $1/$2 NL. What a coincidence - some of the same players from yesterday are playing..... hmmmm. Of course I pick on the fishy tourists and take them down on their weak play - they all overbet their A-K when they missed the Flop, and then slow-played their sets after the Flop (like with $10 raises). But other than that - pretty card dead until this hand. Here's how it all came about. I am playing with a local - who is complaining that he has seen 9-2 for hole cards - six hands in a row. So I say - why not just play it in your blind for $1 more if you are the small blind - "you know - just for fun". He says he never does that. I tell him that if I ever get those two cards during my vacation in Vegas this week - that I will play them "no matter what" - because it seems like "destiny". Most of the tables are so tight at the Venetian that the pre-flop action is usually a limp for $2 - and that's all. Most people are folding - anyway. You have to wait for more tourists (who are drinking preferably) to arrive for the action to loosen up.

I changed seats and tables A LOT for two reasons - First, some tables were just too tight - and Second, sometimes I was just too card dead.

Anyway - "the hand".

I had just moved tables. This new table had huge stacks on it - and looked tight after the first few hands I played. So, I am in the BB with 9c-2c and someone raises to $10 - so after I hesitate for a minute, I throw in the extra $8 to see a flop (as I promised myself - and the local at the previous table).

Four callers in total.

Preflop action was:

EP raised to $10, MP called $10, LP called $10, I called $10 (BB).

Are you ready.............

FLOP comes 3c-2d-2s rainbow. YAHTZEE !!!

Of course, I check to the inital raiser in EP who makes it $25. MP makes it $50. LP folds.

I hesitate - and then CALL $50.

EP calls additional $25 - so 3-way action to the Turn with a $190 pot.

TURN is 8c.

EP raises $45, MP calls $45, I make it $120.

EP folds. MP goes ALL IN basically matching my raise to $120.

River is 7d.

He turns over pocket 10's.

I am embarassed - but throw over my 9-2 to take the Pot with trips 2's. The table refrains, "Is that how they play poker in Canada".......I smile - and tell the story from the previous table.

I change my game to tight - and maintain my stack until I leave.

End of Day Three - Up $200 (Steady Play, watching who I go to battle with - but win based on dumb luck of 9-2 (but it was SOOOOOOTED).

Day Four (Final Day of Trip) at Venetian

Arrive for about 12:00 noon after having delicious breakfast with my Poker Room comps (about $1 per hour) for the week. I ate at the Grand Cafe (buffet) - including omellette station - very nice.

A lot of dealers playing again....but especially one guy who appears to be a little fast and loose with his bets. And this guy LOVES the Button (raises no matter what).

The Hand. He makes it $20 on the Button. I call with Pocket 8's in MP with two other callers.

FLOP 2c-9h-Qh

We all check to the Button (and initial raiser). He bets $7. Now what is that ?!!?

So we all call. And I put him on HEARTS - of course.

Turn 8s

YAHTZEE !!! Trip Eights and no one knows.

Check it around. Button makes it $25.

I make it $75. He pauses a long time - and then calls. All others fold (of course).

River 2h

He FLUSHES...........SUPER YAHTZEE............
I smell victory.

I value bet $60. He calls - thinking that I have two pair at most - or maybe only A-Q.

I throw over the boat - and he nearly faints.

It made my whole trip worth while - because I am usually on the RECEIVING side of those hands :-)

End of Day Four (and my Trip) - Up $200 (Steady Play, watching who I go to battle with - but win based on sweet Turn-River to fill-up).

TOTAL WIN/LOSS for the Trip = $0 (Breakeven)

As I catch my flight, I throw $20 in Wheel of Fortune slot machine at the Airport before boarding. I don't play slots - just Poker - so I don't know what I hit, but it paid me $500 - and I left :-)

I will be back as soon as time permits.

I love Vegas.