Vegas Trip Report

I wish I could say great things about our Vegas trip, but I cannot. Unfortunately it was a very unprofitable trip, gambling wise. Business was excellent on the other hand, and it was a ton of fun to be there with Mo. But, since this here blog has absolutely nothing to do with work, i'll have to focus on the negative!

The trip started out pretty normal for me. When I say "normal" I mean that whenever I go on a big trip, I always have some kind of fiasco. Well, as soon as we went to check our bags in at Treasure Island, I went to give the bell man a tip. I reach into my pocket and freak out because I cannot find my bankroll. I had all of my CASH folded up in an envelope in my pocket, and I was SURE that I was pick-pocketed in the airport. So my family is frantically looking all over the floor of the lobby searching for an envelope, that if anyone saw, was most definitely gone. I looked all over my carry on bag and found nothing. Then, my father says, "well, where is your wallet?". I reach into my pocket to show him that my wallet is there, but that my money was not in it, but was in an envelope. Sure enough, the folded envelope was stuck inside the flap of my wallet. Pretty stupid of me to have that much cash on me in the first place, but...ehh...live and learn.

I did not get to play any poker until the second night (Wednesday). I just could not figure out where I wanted to play, and for what kind of stakes. I finally decided on the new room at MGM. I remembered seeing an article on it in ALL IN or BLUFF. It was a pretty nice room. I also decided on the $3/6 limit game to get myself in tune. It was actually quite a nice table. I had some good hands that I showed down, and I played pretty standard (TAA). I had probably the biggest hand at the table and the biggest pot pushed to me the whole time I was seated when I held 66 in the CO. A very aggressive guy had just come to the table and he had been raising just about every hand. Another player who I had become "friendly" with actually said beforehand, "this guy is going to play ultra-aggressive". So "aggressive guy" raises in EP and a MP player calls, I call, and both the SB and BB call. The flop brings a 6 J 4 rainbow. ADRENALINE!! SB comes out firing and everyone calls, as do I. I may have been able to pop it up, but I was comfortable slowplaying on an uncoordinated board. The turn is a T. Again the SB fires away $6 and everyone calls except here, I raise it. I get two callers and then "aggressive guy" says "I have JT should I call?"...yeah right buddy, I'm sure that's what you have...I just stare into space and he of course calls. The river pairs the T and everyone checks to me...now the T scared me just a bit because of the guys statement, but I wasn't checking my gin card, so I went ahead and bet it...unfortunately, EVERYONE FOLDED!! HUH?? I think, that if I had raised the flop I would have possibly lost bets on the turn, but may have induced a call on the river...who knows. Later on, just before I left the table, I had a loose call in MP with J9 of diamonds and flopped a inside straight flush draw. Neither the straight nor the flush got there on the river and I lost one silly bet where I thought I might be able to pick up the pot on the river. I played the hand perfectly though, raising on the flop (buying the free card), got the free turn card, but misplayed the river. Oh well! So i won $53 in two hours. I was just happy to have a win.

Unfortunately, that was the first and only winning day! Thursday, Mo and I played some blackjack and essentially broke even for the day. I did get to go over and check out "Doyle's Room" at The Bellagio and saw pro's, Barry Greenstein, Eli Elezra, Daniel Negreanu, and Phil Ivey. I was sure that there was one or two others, but I could not see who they were. Also, earlier that day, sprstoner (Shawn from +1) came over to the booth at the convention and we talked for a while. My first +1 meet! That was very cool, and he was a real nice guy, and in the same business (sort of) ta boot!

Friday I had wanted to play in some kind of tournament, and I really liked Binions structure. Plus just getting to play in that room was very cool. I did not do to well against the locals there, but I do feel I played ok, just made one or two bad moves. That tournament ended up costing me a little over $100. I then lost a little in a cash game (3/6 again) and thought, "hey, i'll just recoup it playing blackjack". DUH...that didn't work out as planned, and I was down just under $200 for the day. Mo and I went out and had a great time that night, checking out all the usual sites and getting some great pictures that I'll add later tonight. We finally sat down for some more BJ after midnight on Friday and proceeded to lose another $150 or so.

Saturday, my final day in Vegas had me itching to play some more poker. I really couldn't just play anywhere since we had our bags checked at our hotel and had to be within walking distance to get back to a taxi and head out to the airport. I set my eyes on The Mirage's $3/6 game. I had about 2-3 hours to play. This was special to me since it was the first casino I ever played live poker at. Too bad the players there again took my money. I played everything right, but an example of the horrendous play there was this hand. I have KTs OTB. I raise on the CO. The button calls, as does the SB and BB. Flop comes 9 K 4. BB bets out and I raise to see if he really has a good K. Everyone folds and he flat calls. Turn is a blank and he checks to me. I fire out $6. He calls. River is a 9 and he comes out firing. I say to the guy next to me, "I guess he hit his third 9, huh?". I call and he shows J9o. Nice Hand Sir. That hand really pissed me off, but what could I expect, as that was the way the whole table was playing.

We got on our plane and got into town just before midnight. I have been on Vegas time for the last two days and I feel like I might be coming down with a cold or some kind of illness. I think that always happens after this trip anyway. The most important thing about the Vegas trip was how much fun I had with Mo. It was awesome to be back there with her 5 years later. I am a little spoiled because I get to go every year. But, it is much more fun to have a partner in crime!

Oh yeah, the food is also a great perk with this trip. Tuesday night - Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Wednesday night - Spago (Wolfgang Puck), Thursday night - Top of the World (Stratosphere restaurant that spins - but not as good as last time I ate there), Friday night - Sushi Roko (sp?) - an AWESOME sushi restaurant in Caesars, Saturday day - FATBURGER - HELL YEAH, now that's the way to end the week!!