This report covers my November 10 – 13, 2015 trip.

The day started off with a bad beat when, at 6:00 a.m. I retrieved a voicemail that my 10:00 a.m. nonstop from Chicago (arriving LV at noon) was cancelled, and I was rebooked on a flight with a connection in Los Angeles that would get me in to LV at 8:30 p.m. After calling the airline and doing a mad scramble to O’Hare I caught an 8:47 a.m. flight to LA, and thanks to a fortuitous connection that I wasn’t originally booked on I made it to LV around 1:45 p.m. Not ideal, but could have been worse. And I did arrive in time to make the 5:00 Bellagio tournament, which was the pre-trip plan I’d made with the buddy I was meeting up with.

This was my first experience with Bellagio poker, and I have to say, I’ve never before played a tournament where players were so anxious to give away chips. There must have been three players at my table who’d make crazy out-of-line bets, such as a pre-flop raise to 1,500 when blinds are 50/100, or all in post flop bets when they couldn’t possibly have the nuts or anything close. Unfortunately I was sitting out those hands and couldn’t take advantage of the largesse. I did final table the tournament, but that was hardly an impressive feat since it was only a three table tournament. I’ve read commentary about the room being cramped, but in all fairness I didn’t feel it, but I’ll also add that the room was not full and they set up the tournament along the perimeter. Aside from the knuckleheads the quality of play was decent, with some friendly people. One guy I remember was originally from Lithuania, and for whatever reason he kept calling another guy at the table The Frenchman, even though this other guy was from Austria. All good natured.

Next day was the noon tournament at Wynn. This was Veteran’s Day, and they had a nice turnout of approximately 100 players. During play I did not enjoy this experience at all. First, this was the toughest initial table I’ve ever played it. No fish (other than me, given the saying that if you can’t spot the fish at the table you’re it). Second, this was the scene of my question in the advice and strategy section about folding JJ preflop after a 4-bet, and I got a little tilty with the way the hand played out and my missed opportunity. Then there was the older (70s) gentleman who talked a lot about his poker exploits and wasn’t shy about name dropping some heavy hitters he’s played with and the side bets he’d made with them. At one point I thought I heard him say he played at the 2012 One Drop $1,000,000 buy in tournament, which I thought unlikely, but also a pretty silly thing to prevaricate. I found it all a bit distracting and basically tuned him out after a while. But post trip I did a little digging, and the raconteur turned out to be a guy named John Morgan, who has some poker chops and did indeed play in the One Drop, where he was involved in an amazing hand in which he got his opponent to fold quad eights. In retrospect I wish I’d been more chill, as I may have enjoyed the story telling. I certainly didn’t enjoy the poker, as I was card dead and got knocked out pretty early when, as a short stack, I tried to play tricky from the big blind and merely called the small blind (the only action) holding A4. I was hoping an ace would hit the board which the villain would never put me on. I got my wish with an A-10-x flop, and when he checked so did I. Turn a Q, he bet, I went all in, he called. He showed K-J for the straight, and it was the rail for me.

The next day my buddy wanted to play the 1:00 Aria, but I wasn’t feeling it and opted for something more low key, the 2:00 Treasure Island. In the past I’ve found the quality of play at the TI tournaments spotty at best. This time it was a little better. However, allow the cranky old man to come out (I’m in my 50s so I’m not really that old, but still). An absolute beginner was at my table, and while this may be a really good thing at a cash game, in a tournament, where the clock is running and people have to stop to explain everything from when to bet to string betting, it can be irritating. Okay, I’ve said it, I feel bad, we were all beginners once, but next time do it somewhere else. Anyway, another final table for me (even less of an accomplishment than Bellagio, this was a two table tourney), and I was in good shape about to get a lot better when I’m all in pre flop with QQ versus JJ. Alas, a J on the turn and I was essentially done. But in a sense all turned out well, as my buddy went on to win the Aria tournament, which needless to say wouldn’t have happened if I was playing there.

My final tournament was the next day. I had an afternoon plane to catch and the tournament that best fit the schedule was the 11:00 $45 shovefest at Linq. Which played out as expected and I made my flight. But I almost got involved in what would have been the hand of my life. I played Jc-9c, and after the turn the board was Kc, Qc, Qh, Qd. Lady bet all in, I was pretty sure she had the remaining Q, but I had a straight flush draw. Dare I call? It was such a cheap tournament, and the story would have been so great if I hit my 10c that I probably should have, but the number cruncher in me wouldn’t go for it. After my fold she showed a K so I was glad I folded; winning a straight flush over a full house isn’t nearly as cool as taking down quads. Anyway, the quality of the tournament was predictably crappy, but I give high marks to the very nice floor person, as she allowed me to sit at the table even after I was eliminated so I could watch my buddy without standing. (I couldn’t imagine the big rooms doing that.) Also the chairs and tables were new and comfortable, albeit in a kind of funky color scheme (aqua and tan as I recall). But if you’re looking for a fun, friendly, airy place, check it out.

I also played one 2-4 limit cash session at Flamingo. For whatever reason I’m a really bad limit player even though (or maybe because) I’m a numbers guy and don’t do a lot of –EV chasing and am fairly selective in my starting hands. But Flamingo is another fun place, and I especially enjoyed listening to a British woman at the table who sounded very much like Lily Allen the singer.

Funny thing was, the poker I most enjoyed on this trip was Pai Gow. Met some very nice people, broke even, and was totally relaxed. Whatever good can be said about tournament poker, relaxing it is not, at least for me.

Not sure when I’ll be back, but whenever it is, look for me at the Pai Gow table.