Vegas in August, Part 2...

Part 1 of this story can be found here.

After we left PH, Chris, Koala, and I headed back to Aria.  Chris had left his car there, he and I both had sports bet tickets to cash in, and we had heard from a certain blogger who was downtown at the El Cortez playing VBJ.  We decided to head down there to meet up with him, and possibly play some poker at the Golden Nugget.  I had never been downtown, so I was excited to witness the "Fremont Street Experience".  We ended up parking at The D and walking to the El Cortez.  We walked inside to the Dealers Angel VBJ, and sure enough, our hero was sitting there.  He was playing 2 spots with a count of +5 as we walked in.  We stood there talking to him and watching him play for a few minutes, and then Chris and I headed to the Golden Nugget, with Koala and TBC expected to follow eventually.  Chris and I walked through the Fremont Street Experience and made it to the Golden Nugget.  There was a small list, and we put our names on it as we waited and watched.  The Nugget has an uncapped 1/2NLHE game.  It's definitely a different experience.  They are also one of a select few rooms that still allow cash in the form of $100 bills to play.

We waited around for a bit, and then Chris was called to a table.  About 15 minutes later, I was called to a table.  I immediately asked for a table change to the table Chris was at, partially so we could sit and talk, and partially due to a drunk player at his table who looked like someone good to have at your poker table.  After I was seated, I bought in for my typical $200.  There was definitely plenty of money on the table.  I watched for a bit, and then limped in with Ah10h in early position.  There was a raise to $10, 3 callers ahead of me, and I called.  The flop was 8 high, with 2 hearts.  I checked, there was a bet of $25, and a call.  With one player left to act after me still, I decided to raise to $75.  2 overcards and the nut flush draw had me wanting to build the pot.  Everyone folded and I claimed the pot.  Shortly after that, I was called for my table change.  I didn't yet know it, but the night was about to get interesting!

The drunk kid was in seat 2, with a stack of about $1000.  I was in seat 4, and Chris was in seat 8 I believe.  I sat and watched with few playable hands for a bit. The drunk kid was raising 95% of hands preflop to $10.  He was betting aggressively after the flop, and showing down a lot of trashy hands.  2-5, J-4 suited, and other random hands.  He was hitting, and even occasionally had solid starting hands.  I was able to win a few pots from him with selective play, and even hit a junk hand of my own against him with 6-2 when I flopped 2 pair!  I had worked my stack up to nearly $400 when the following hand occurred.  I had Jh10h, drunk kid raised to $10 pre as usual, and there were about 4 callers.  The flop was 7h-8x-2h.  I lead out, there was a raise, and a shove by the player in the 1 seat.  I put one player on a set, and one on an overpair.  The drunk kid had folded.  I called with my flush and straight draws.  The turn was a J, the river was a third heart.  I showed my hand proudly, expecting to claim a near triple up, when to my surprise, the 2nd player who had shoved turned over his hand, which was Ah6h for the nut flush!  The original had KK for the overpair.  I bought back in for $200, and again slowly worked it up.  I was around $420 when the following hand occurred.  Chris had moved to the 5 seat, my direct left.  There was a raise to $10, I raised to $25 with AA, Chris called, and the player in the 1 seat raised to $60.  I put him on a big pair, maybe AK, but that seemed unlikely for a 4-bet.  I debated raising to isolate, but felt that another raise would basically turn my hand face up.  I therefore elected to call the $60.  Much to my surprise, Chris called also!  The flop was somewhat scary, 7-8-J, rainbow.  Chris checked, the 1 seat bet $100.  I thought for a moment, and then shoved.  I wasn't folding, and I certainly wasn't just calling the bet.  Chris folded (he mentioned after the hand that he had a pocket pair under the board).  Seat 1 thought for a bit, and called.  The turn and river were blanks, and I showed my hand.  AA was good for a double up plus!  After stacking my chips, I was at around $900.  Not bad for being in for $400.  The drunk kid in seat busted out eventually, giving away his entire stack.  At one point he was taking a long time after the flop to make his bets, and was berated by some idiot at the other end of the table.  The guy had bought in for $2100, and had at least another $10,000 on him judging by the stack of bills he flashed when buying in. The drunk kid busted out shortly after that, and elected not to rebuy.  TBC then joined our table.  TBC was the recipient of a double up on a hand where he raised preflop.  The flop was 4-4-x, the turn was a 4, and they got it all in on the river, a 7.  Seat 1 showed a small full house (7-9 perhaps?), and Tony excitedly flipped over KK!  He was legitimately worried that seat 1 had either the case 4 or 77.  After winning the hand, Tony started babbling about being able to take a cab to deposit money because he had so much on him.  Um, Tony, don't rub it in to the guy that you just beat him, and stop talking about how much money you are carrying on you.

After the 1 seat left, the next guy who sat was felted by Chris on his first hand.  Chris had AA on a Q-J-J flop, they ended up all in, and the other guy didn't show.  I'm guessing he had KQ.  Chris went on a run and cashed out up $800.  I had gone card dead, winning a few small pots, and eventually cashed out for $800, for a $400 win.  While walking back to the D with Tony, we passed a couple of nice looking young ladies.  They had literally just passed us when Tony says "I don't think they were hookers".  While I agree with his assessment, it might be better to wait until they're not able to hear you when saying something like that!  Tony continued walking to the El Cortez, and Chris and I headed back to Bally's.  We went down to the food court around 3am and grabbed some pizza.  We walked around for a bit.  I considered playing blackjack, but the lowest table they had going was $15.  Chris decided to take off, and I headed to the poker room.  I sat down, and bought in for $200.  I took a loss on a hand where I rivered a disguised straight on a paired board, only to see a short stack river a full house!  I had about $120 when our table broke and I moved to a new table.  My first hand was in the cutoff, and I look at 10-10.  I raise to $15, and get 3 callers.  The flop was Ah10h7h.  Hmmm....a set on a monochrome board.  It checks to me, and I bet $30, and only the player to my direct right calls.  The turn is a 7.  Yahtze!  He checks, I check.  The river is a blank, and he bets $25.  I shove for about $50 more, and he snap calls and shows Kh3h.  Interesting hand to call my raise with sir.  I play until about 4:30, and cash out up $100.  Makes up for the $100 I put into a slot machine earlier!

After a few hours of sleep, I wake up and get ready to head out.  I play a little blackjack at a $10 table, and cash out up $125 after 15 minutes.  I meet Alysia for breakfast at the food court, we head back to the room to grab my bag, and we get on the monorail to her place.  She had offered to give me a ride to the airport.  She gave me the grand tour of her place, including the pool and the weight room.  We head to the airport, and I get home safe and sound, with about a 30 minute delay (typical for Allegiant).

I finished the weekend up $800 in Poker/Blackjack/Sports Betting.  I spent around $100 on food and drinks, so all in all, it was a profitable weekend.  I will be back in 2 weeks to put in some NFL win total wagers, as well as add to my World Series and Super Bowl Future bets!