slamdunkpro
02-23-2004, 04:41 PM
Flew out to Vegas as a tag along spouse to enjoy a week of JBAFH (just*being*away*from*home)
First to all who hate flying – flying on Valentine’s Day was great! No one in the Airport, planes that were half full, no lines. The only draw back was the full parking at the airport. Oh well.
Got to the Luxor about 8pm to check in only to find out that we had been dumped in a tower room that had not been cleaned. One angry phone call later and we trudged all the back to the lobby for a different room. Upon arrival back in the lobby we find out that because it’s a full house we would have to move again to get the room we were promised. Oh, the disadvantages of checking in late. Grabbed a quick dinner at the Japanese place in the Luxor and crashed.
Sunday; Wife to convention – me to poker tables.
Wandered down the strip for a bit and ended up at the Mirage in a 6/12 game. Pretty wild 6/12 with pots larger than most 10/20 games. Sat for about 3 hrs and ended up + 17BB’s. Not a bad start. Met the wife for the champagne dinner buffet at Mandalay Bay (highly recommended!). Ended up back at the Luxor playing 2/4 for a bit with the wife. The Luxor room, while small is very friendly and soft. Finished up +20 BB’s. Wife went to bed, I went down town.
Freemont Street was a sad sight to see with the Horseshoe dark. All the other casinos seemed deserted as well with the only action coming at the 4 Queens. Played a little nickel blackjack at the Queens then cabbed back to the Luxor.
Monday – Poker at the Mirage
Straight to the Mirage today to play some ring and the NLHE tournament only to find about 1/3 of the room walled off in order to wire tables for the auto shufflers and replace the carpet. Was told by the brush that the tournament was canceled- Oh well. Sat down in a 10/20 that was just formed and went on a wild run. Up 65 BB’s in under 3 hours; finished out the day +55 BB’s. Wife met me at Paris for a light dinner at Napoleon’s champagne bar. This is one of the best-kept secrets in Vegas. Napoleon’s has a 4-7 pm happy hour complete with a carving chef that is free as long as you are drinking; and the champagne flights are reasonably priced and excellent.
We ended up stopping by the Monte Carlo and playing a little 2/4 where she went on a tear and I dropped 50BB’s.
Tuesday – Revenge of the Rock!
Back to the Mirage to try and repeat my 10/20 success. ERROR! Crushed for 30BB’s in under 2 hours – every hand just seemed to end up second best. Hit my stop gap and went in search of lunch to lick my wounds. Ended up at the Bellagio in a fairly loose 8/16 game where I managed to gain back 18BB’s until the Wife showed up for dinner. We ended up eating in NYNY at 9 Fine Irishmen . This had to have been one of the WORST meals I’ve ever had in Vegas. Avoid this place at all costs.
Wife still wants to play so we go back to the Bellagio and get in the 1/2 NLHE Must move game. This ends up being a pretty wild shoot out with someone being all in every other hand. I’ve posted my thoughts on this game elsewhere, so I won’t repeat them here except to say that the format is terrible. Wife got hot on a pair of pocket aces and went up over $300. I was moved to the main game, busted out, and waited for the wife to get moved. She was smart and upon being moved just cashed out..
Wednesday – 2+ 2 day!
Started out by playing the Luxor $25 12 noon tournament. It’s an odd mix of limit/ no limit with a starting chip count of 300 and blinds of 15/30; it’s a real crapshoot but it’s fun. Busted out when a guy caught a runner runner flush to beat my 3 kings.
Went to the poker meeting and met several 2+2 posters. Had a great time and got some good information. I highly recommend this to anyone in town over a Wednesday. Special thanks to Ed Miller for riding me back to the Mirage.
Sat down at the 6/12 table for a bit while I waited for my wife to meet me. 2 hours + 6BB’s but hey – free drinks!
Out for a delayed Valentine’s Day dinner at Lawry’s for the best prime rib in Vegas.
Thursday – Crack the Rock!
Played the Luxor 12 noon again – didn’t make the money
Back to the Mirage - got into a very soft 10/20 game that lasted all afternoon. Finished up +70BB’s for the day – most of it on one hand where I was delt 5d 7d in the BB. Called around to me. I check and the flop comes 9d 6d 8d. I stare and try not to drool!!. EP bets, folded around to the CO who raises, SB calls, I call. The Turn is Ad. CO bets, SB raises, I 3 bet, CO 4 bets and SB caps. (at this point my knees are shaking) The River is As. CO bets, SB raises, I 3 bet, CO folds (flush?) SB re-raises, I re-raise. SB calls the floor, wants to bet all in. Floor asks me – I say I will call any bet he makes. Floor looks at the board then at SB and asks “are you sure” SB says yes. Floors says “Make your bet” He pushes in about $450 and I call. SB flips over pocket aces for 4 aces, I flip over my 9 high straight flush. SB can’t believe it, walks off.
Wife met me at the Mirage and we decide to try the Bellagio buffet for dinner. This is the best buffet in Vegas IMHO. After dinner we wander over to Mandalay Bay for some 4/8.
The 4/8 half kill at Mandalay Bay is a VERY soft game – easy to beat. I highly recommend this game over the 3/6 at the Mirage, the 4/8 at the Bellagio and the 1/4/8/8 at the Luxor. We played for a few hours. I ended up +12BB’s and my wife ended up +25BB’s.
Friday – Leaving Las Vegas
My wife wants another crack at Mandalay By so we get up early, pack up and head for the 4/8 game. We sit for a bit and end up +15 BB’s. It’s a nice way to end the trip.
First to all who hate flying – flying on Valentine’s Day was great! No one in the Airport, planes that were half full, no lines. The only draw back was the full parking at the airport. Oh well.
Got to the Luxor about 8pm to check in only to find out that we had been dumped in a tower room that had not been cleaned. One angry phone call later and we trudged all the back to the lobby for a different room. Upon arrival back in the lobby we find out that because it’s a full house we would have to move again to get the room we were promised. Oh, the disadvantages of checking in late. Grabbed a quick dinner at the Japanese place in the Luxor and crashed.
Sunday; Wife to convention – me to poker tables.
Wandered down the strip for a bit and ended up at the Mirage in a 6/12 game. Pretty wild 6/12 with pots larger than most 10/20 games. Sat for about 3 hrs and ended up + 17BB’s. Not a bad start. Met the wife for the champagne dinner buffet at Mandalay Bay (highly recommended!). Ended up back at the Luxor playing 2/4 for a bit with the wife. The Luxor room, while small is very friendly and soft. Finished up +20 BB’s. Wife went to bed, I went down town.
Freemont Street was a sad sight to see with the Horseshoe dark. All the other casinos seemed deserted as well with the only action coming at the 4 Queens. Played a little nickel blackjack at the Queens then cabbed back to the Luxor.
Monday – Poker at the Mirage
Straight to the Mirage today to play some ring and the NLHE tournament only to find about 1/3 of the room walled off in order to wire tables for the auto shufflers and replace the carpet. Was told by the brush that the tournament was canceled- Oh well. Sat down in a 10/20 that was just formed and went on a wild run. Up 65 BB’s in under 3 hours; finished out the day +55 BB’s. Wife met me at Paris for a light dinner at Napoleon’s champagne bar. This is one of the best-kept secrets in Vegas. Napoleon’s has a 4-7 pm happy hour complete with a carving chef that is free as long as you are drinking; and the champagne flights are reasonably priced and excellent.
We ended up stopping by the Monte Carlo and playing a little 2/4 where she went on a tear and I dropped 50BB’s.
Tuesday – Revenge of the Rock!
Back to the Mirage to try and repeat my 10/20 success. ERROR! Crushed for 30BB’s in under 2 hours – every hand just seemed to end up second best. Hit my stop gap and went in search of lunch to lick my wounds. Ended up at the Bellagio in a fairly loose 8/16 game where I managed to gain back 18BB’s until the Wife showed up for dinner. We ended up eating in NYNY at 9 Fine Irishmen . This had to have been one of the WORST meals I’ve ever had in Vegas. Avoid this place at all costs.
Wife still wants to play so we go back to the Bellagio and get in the 1/2 NLHE Must move game. This ends up being a pretty wild shoot out with someone being all in every other hand. I’ve posted my thoughts on this game elsewhere, so I won’t repeat them here except to say that the format is terrible. Wife got hot on a pair of pocket aces and went up over $300. I was moved to the main game, busted out, and waited for the wife to get moved. She was smart and upon being moved just cashed out..
Wednesday – 2+ 2 day!
Started out by playing the Luxor $25 12 noon tournament. It’s an odd mix of limit/ no limit with a starting chip count of 300 and blinds of 15/30; it’s a real crapshoot but it’s fun. Busted out when a guy caught a runner runner flush to beat my 3 kings.
Went to the poker meeting and met several 2+2 posters. Had a great time and got some good information. I highly recommend this to anyone in town over a Wednesday. Special thanks to Ed Miller for riding me back to the Mirage.
Sat down at the 6/12 table for a bit while I waited for my wife to meet me. 2 hours + 6BB’s but hey – free drinks!
Out for a delayed Valentine’s Day dinner at Lawry’s for the best prime rib in Vegas.
Thursday – Crack the Rock!
Played the Luxor 12 noon again – didn’t make the money
Back to the Mirage - got into a very soft 10/20 game that lasted all afternoon. Finished up +70BB’s for the day – most of it on one hand where I was delt 5d 7d in the BB. Called around to me. I check and the flop comes 9d 6d 8d. I stare and try not to drool!!. EP bets, folded around to the CO who raises, SB calls, I call. The Turn is Ad. CO bets, SB raises, I 3 bet, CO 4 bets and SB caps. (at this point my knees are shaking) The River is As. CO bets, SB raises, I 3 bet, CO folds (flush?) SB re-raises, I re-raise. SB calls the floor, wants to bet all in. Floor asks me – I say I will call any bet he makes. Floor looks at the board then at SB and asks “are you sure” SB says yes. Floors says “Make your bet” He pushes in about $450 and I call. SB flips over pocket aces for 4 aces, I flip over my 9 high straight flush. SB can’t believe it, walks off.
Wife met me at the Mirage and we decide to try the Bellagio buffet for dinner. This is the best buffet in Vegas IMHO. After dinner we wander over to Mandalay Bay for some 4/8.
The 4/8 half kill at Mandalay Bay is a VERY soft game – easy to beat. I highly recommend this game over the 3/6 at the Mirage, the 4/8 at the Bellagio and the 1/4/8/8 at the Luxor. We played for a few hours. I ended up +12BB’s and my wife ended up +25BB’s.
Friday – Leaving Las Vegas
My wife wants another crack at Mandalay By so we get up early, pack up and head for the 4/8 game. We sit for a bit and end up +15 BB’s. It’s a nice way to end the trip.