Vegas in August, Part 1...

This past Friday, August 28th, I flew out to Las Vegas for the weekend.  I've come to enjoy getting away for a quick trip to Sin City, even if it is too short sometimes.  I have noticed, however, that it takes a little longer to recover, as I usually get very little sleep while in town for a short weekend.

Friday started with a slight delay at the airport, due to a dust storm in Las Vegas.  We eventually boarded and took off, arriving about half an hour later than scheduled.  Flying Allegiant as often as I have has led me to expect delays, and I wasn't surprised.  When I finally got a ride from the airport and got to Bally's, I realized I'd been long-hauled!!  However, I wasn't in a cab, as Chris had offered to give me a ride!  We chatted a bit on the way to Bally's, talking about bloggers, tweeps, and other mutual friends.  I got checked in, dropped off my bag in my room, and we headed to the Flamingo to play the midnight tournament.  We signed up, and heard that Alysia would be joining us eventually.  I had some success early, including a hand from the BB in a limped pot.  I was holding 45o, and the flop was a pleasant 4-5-4.  Bingo!  I checked, and called a bet from another player, and we went to the turn heads up.  The turn was a Q, I again checked, he again bet, and I called.  The river was a K, I checked, he bet, I shoved, and he snap-called with pocket 6's!  I was in shock but happy.  The tournament progressed to the first break, and I had only 10 BB's left due to the rapidly progressing blinds.  A few hands after the break, I see 77, and shove, only to have the woman to my right call with A4o.  She rivered an A, and I was out.

I waited around for awhile until they called my name to start a new cash game table.  All of the players but 1 bought in for the minimum, so I did the same.  I figured I'd get a feel for the table and not miss a lot of value as there wasn't a ton of money on the table.  It didn't take long to start getting some hands and picking up chips.  I was dealt KK twice.  Once I 3-bet after an open of $6 and 2 callers, and had on one call.  Another time I 3-bet and got 1 caller.  The flop was Q high, all clubs.  My Kings were both red, but I C-bet and took down the pot.  After another raise to $6, and 3 callers, I looked down at JJ and re-raised to $27.  No one called.  The biggest hand of the night was when I had approx. $200 behind, and called a raise to $8 preflop with 55.  4 of us saw a flop of 3-4-6.  Not the flop I was looking for, but not terrible.  The preflop raiser lead out for $15, I raised to $40, and he called.  The turn was a nice, yet ugly, 5.  The preflop raiser bet, I raised, he shoved, and I called.  He had me covered.  The river was a 4, and my full house beat his turned straight.  He had raised preflop with A7 offsuit!  He had been raising a lot of pots to $6-8, and apparently he had been doing so with marginal (at best) hands.  I was sitting on $400 at this point, all from my original $100 buy-in.  After Chris and Alysia chopped the tournament 4-ways, Chris joined the cash game while Alysia headed home.  Chris and I played until about 3:30am, and I cashed out +$400.  Not a bad first night!

Saturday morning I had breakfast at the buffet at Paris, and then headed to Planet Hollywood.  I figured I'd get a little cash game play in before meeting Chris and Alysia at the Aria for the 1pm tournament.  There was nearly $4500 on the table when I sat, including 2 players with about $1300 each.  One of the big stacks was directly to my right, and she claimed to have been playing for 24 hours.  She was the stereotypical "Crasian", raising often, playing nearly any 2 cards, and hitting a lot!  She stacked one player 4 times while I was there, and they must have had a history from before I got there as well.  He kept saying that he was paying her mortgage, car payment, and kids' tuition with all the money she had won off of him!  One hand in particular she had raised preflop, and he had called.  The flop was 2-4-5, rainbow.  She bet, he raised, she called.  The turn was a 9, they got it all in, and the river was a 2.  She showed 5-2 for the rivered full house, while he held A-3 for the flopped wheel!  I had only a few playable hands, missed flops with AK and AQ a couple of times after raising or calling preflop raises, and finished down $100 after an hour.

I left to meet Chris and Alysia, and found out that Koala would be there as well. Some of you may recognize Koala from the TBC saga.  We had conversed on twitter and other forums occasionally, and I had heard that he was a good dude.  We had a little lunch from the café near the Aria poker room, and all 4 of us went to register for the 1pm tournament.  Alysia had suggested that half of any winnings we received less the buy-in go the family of my friend who had passed away, and everyone agreed.  Unfortunately, none of us cashed, although Alysia did bubble.  Chris had 3 hands go against him that doomed him early, I was card dead most of the time, eventually shoving with 66 on an 8 high flop, only to be called by AQ who rivered an A.....2 tournaments played, 2 knockouts by an A on the river...Crazy!  Chris had already sat at a 1-3NL game, and I got on the list for the 1-3PLO.  I don't get to play it often, and I'm trying to learn so that I can play more of it while in Vegas.  I've read a little on it and play a rather tight style, as compared to my NLHE style which is more loose, as anyone who's sat at a table with me will tell you.  I waited awhile as there was a long list, but finally was seated.  The 2nd hand I was dealt in, I looked down at AsKdQh10s.  I recall it being a solid starting hand, and I called the preflop raise to $12.  The flop was Ax-7s-Ks.  Nice, a flush draw and straight draw, both nut draws.  There was a bet, and I called.  The turn was a J, completing Broadway for me.  There was a bet, and I raised the pot, leaving me with $120 behind.  The bet was called, and we were heads up to the river.  The river was another 7, and my opponent bet enough to put me all in.  I tanked for about 3 minutes.  I was trying to find a fold.  I had a bad feeling that my opponent had a full house.  I finally called.  My reasoning was the amount that I had in the pot compared to what I had left, as well as the overall pot amount compared to what I had left.  My opponent showed an AKxx for top 2, and my straight was good for a double up!  I played for another hour or so, missing a few huge draws and taking down some small pots, ending the session +100.

Chris, Koala, and I headed to Planet Hollywood to grab a bite to eat at Earl of Sandwich, and watch the NFL preseason games.  Chris had bet on Houston, and I had bet on Houston, Minnesota, and the under in the KC/AZ game.  Chris had also put some money on the Astros, and I had bet the Cubs.  Chris went 1-1, while I was 3-1.  I had put 2 units on the Cubs as well as Minnesota, and 1 unit on each of the other 2 games.  That was it for my sportsbetting this trip.  We were joined for awhile by Catfish, the boyfriend of Kristi.  He regaled us with some stories.  I was particularly interested in stories involving Todd Brunson and Andy Beal.  Catfish is good friends with Todd Brunson, and had many stories to tell involving Todd as well as other professional poker players..  I won't repeat them here, but I assure you, it was very interesting to listen to what he had to say!

Next post will feature a trip downtown, cash game action at the Golden Nugget and Bally's, and Sunday morning blackjack before leaving!