Made a quick trip to vegas last week. I like when the WSOPC at Caesars and the deep stack at the Venetian are going on at the same time. I drove this time from Colo, 9 ½ hours so with transportation I didn’t stay at my normal spot of the Quad (IP). Last time I had to move rooms, the construction noise was so bad. It’s a breeze to walk to C or V so when the construction is over I’ll be back. I look for the cheapest room so went back to Circus though I said I never would. To their credit my room had been remodeled and the place appears to be getting a much needed face lift. 5 hours a night is all I need a room for.

When I started going to play tourneys in Vegas I used AVP for my tournament list. I would print it up by times, if I got knocked out, just look at the next starting time and go to that tournament. I don’t do a lot of hand analysis, but I do think I’m getting a good feel on the best tournaments in town. (for my level) I’m up to 3 or 4 trips a year now.

Started with WSOPC event #5 , $365 buy in. I was there in time for the $1165 event but that’s over my bankroll. 337 runners, the weird thing is I have never started a two day event at 5:00 pm before. Gave us a dinner break around 9, bubble was approaching at 5:00 am! 36 get in the money and we played hand for hand for quite a while. Short stack on my left pushed, folds around to my big blind, have to make a call with K 10 against his AK, flop two 10’s turn the K for a boat. Only time all tourney I got it in behind. (except the last hand) I bagged 91k chips for the day at 5:45 AM. Average starting day 2 of 98k. Completely card dead on day two and never really made a run at it. Just never had those opportunities to even try and buy a nice pot. Out with A2 suited against A Q. Two on the turn gave me hope, Q on the river ended it for 13th. $1450 good start.

I manage to cash a lot so I thought my style would work well in a Survivor tourney at the Venetian Deep Stack. It’s a forced chop with $2500 to all the finishers. Had like 130 or so runners, 13 in the money, went out in 22. Next day I decided to try the Aria 1:00. Great tournament. I love the room, lighting is perfect, comfortable chairs. I think we had around 135 or so. I was a bit late so they added a table and moved us to the elevated section. There were two high stakes tables going so one was seated by us. It was cool to watch Doyle B and the other big wigs next to us play. Long story short we chip chopped at 6 I was in 5th position at the time and took between 3-4 money at $1200. I will be back

Trip was downhill after that. Played the MGM, fun tourney, worst players of the week, went out when she hit her straight draw on the river. The one negative I saw at the WSOPC was the satellite. They ran a $250 sat to the main event, I was again a bit late on registration, sat down to only 3k in starting chips. That’s just not a good structure. I busted on my worst move of the week, pushed with AJ suited on a raise, AQ later pos calls and original raiser wins with 66. I decided the better structure was to just play the $300 survivor at the V for my satellite, with 10k starting chips and $2500 to all in the money. Raised early pos with 33 flop of Kd Qd 3c. I bet big, V pushes, not a big favorite here, I call. Ad 9d, diamond on the turn don’t get my river I done. Nothing else of consequence, a nice cash session at the Flamingo, and played the Fri night at the Orleans. (another great tourney with a great structure) Got there 45 min early because they turn out for this one. At the end of registration there was still a line, I think they went over 300 players. Hit my A high flush on the turn, check check, blank on the river, she pushes I call, that turn also brought her the straight flush. Ouch. I’m actually mad I didn’t see it, because I love a 4 6 of hearts. If you’re in town you have to play that tournament. Since it was only 9:00 I decide to get to Mesquite, no rooms, 50 miles to St George, same thing, Cedar City same thing. Ended up sleeping a 3:00 AM at a rest stop, I will plan better next time. Great trip, WSOPC is visiting Blackhawk CO in March, final table on ESPN 3 live, it will draw big crowds.