Vegas Baby

I just returned from a conference in Vegas. The subject matter of the conference was CPA stuff, so I won't bore you with it (as if anyone actually reads this). I will just leave it that the conference was pretty good. I, of course, only attended this specific conference because of the location.

I landed on Sunday and was picked up by my friend Troy who was on his last day with his wife and sister-in-law. I spent Sunday afternoon in Old Vegas with them and watched the Steeler game. They dropped my off at 3:30 PM and I checked into Bally's. I played some poker and lost $65 (not a good start). During dinner, a Reuben and onion rings, I diangosed my play. I realized that live low-limit play was much different from on-line play. There were more people in each pot (typically 7) and most people were not aggressive. I then decided to make the following moves in my next session 1) limp with play any pair 2) limp with any suited connector or 2 gapper 3) raise with any pair 9 or higher 4) raise with any suited 2 ten-point cards. I played the Flamingo on Sunday night and won $91. I think I have it figured out.

On Monday I went to the pool and ran. I played poker again at Ballys. During the day I figured out that I needed 10:1 to take one off at the turn with two overcards ( I folded them on Sunday). I again booked a win. It was then off to Ellis Island for some black jack. I don't like that game anymore, now that I have a better understanding of odds and EV. So I went back to Bally's. There was a smoking hot girl from Vancouver at my table. She was so freaking hot, gorgeous face and nice body. She was a pretty bad player. I again booked a win.

The weather on Tuesday was cloudy and my legs hurt from Monday's run, so I went to lunch at a sports bar in the Alladin. I stopped in their poker room, but they only had tournaments at that time so I went back to Bally's. There was a very drunk player at the table. He was filled with Long Island Ice Tea's. He would raise every hand. Again people at the table did not know how to handle him. I continued my regular play, but on my premium hands, I got more aggressive and would cap more hands than normal. Towards the end of the session he was actually showing me respect and would back down. He even told me that I must be pretty smart. I was up $135 from that session. I went to dinner at 9 Fine Irishmen at NY NY and then went to the MGM cardroom. The room was very nice and the Admiral (an 86 year-old former British Navy Rear Admiral) was there. It was a very difficult night for me and I quickly found myself down $50. I managed to fight my way back up and ended with a positive $10 win, but it took almost 5 hours. I did have a heated exchange with the Admiral, he did not like a joke I made about how the Royal Navy counts that occurred after he misread the board thinking he had a str8.

Wednesday was my last day. I went to the Flamingo to play, but the wait was too long and I ended up back at Ballys. The Admiral was there as were many of the nice people that I had met thus far this week. It became a social atmosphere. I again was stuck around 50 by 8:01. I told the dealer and the table that I had 29 minutes to get my money back and to get four aces. Everyone had a good laugh and then, I got dealt pocket queens that held up, pocket kings that got busted, Ace King suited that didn't flop any help, pocket 8's flopped a set and won a big pot, pocket kings than flopped a set and didn't win much money, but I was certainly on a rush. At 8:29 I informed the dealer and the table that this was my last hand, and I wanted my 4 aces. The dealer dealt me a pair of aces. A player raised under the gun, there was one caller and I re-raised. UTG and the other player just called. The flop came AAK ( OMG, I just flopped 4 Aces) UTG came out betting and the middle player called. I asked the dealer how much was in the pot because I wanted to be sure that there was $20 so I could win the HH jackpot. He couldn't tell me, but the table now knew what I had and they assured that there indeed was 20 so I re-raised. Both players called. They both checked the turn and I bet. UTG folded and the middle player called (he was there for a Curves convention). River came and I bet, the middle player called and I flipped over my 4 aces. Everyone at the table erupted in cheers and we had a good time. The dealer called over the cardroom manager and he made me sign a form and he gave me a stack of red chips. I gave the dealer $10 and end up $85 ahead. Man what a hand.