Looks like I'm headed off to Vegas again, for what is now transforming before my very eyes into a TWICE a year tradition!
February, and now October. Sounds good to me.
Here is my tentative schedule.
-Thursday, October 21-
My super cheap flight arrives at 945am.
Pickup my super cheap rental car at 10am.
I know, I know, why rent a car in Vegas? Simple, do the math - a cab ride, if you're lucky and they don't take the tunnel is $20 minimum. That's $40 roundtrip. I booked a car that comes to just over twice that amount for four days. So I get complete freedom to go when and where I want - without relying on the time consuming, and potentially smelly hassle of cabs or shuttles. If I get the urge to play in Binion's downtown, it's a snap. If I'm at the Venetian and need to get to the MGM quickly, it's a done deal. I can still take long walks on the strip, in fact I plan to, but after the sun goes down there's no reason to risk life and limb anywhere off the strip - or for that matter risk getting puked on or punched out anywhere on the strip.
Arrive at the super cheap (less than $200 for four days) Orleans and sign up for the $75 NLHE nooner with time to spare.
The Orleans is my dump of choice - slightly nicer than the Imperial Palace or Tropicana, but still easy on the wallet. The poker room itself is run really well and has fantastic tournaments, probably the best structured for a low entry in all of Vegas. The room's downfall is it's clientele - a grumpy mix of swarthy blingers and crusty old codgers that have been around as long as the increasingly worn out furniture. I'm not saying this gang isn't beatable - but in the half dozen or so tournaments I've played at the Orleans, I've never cashed once. Still, this trip is not about making money first and foremost - it's about having fun!
After I stack off with bottom set in the third hour, my room will likely be ready. I'll check out the pron and take a nap (in that order) before heading back down to register for the Omaha/8 tournament. That's right, an Omaha/8 tournament!
This is the main reason I picked the Orleans - nowhere else in town spreads fixed limit tournaments. Again, as with the NLHE crowd here, I'm basically dead money. But it is a thrill to splash around in Omaha land! Plus I can take it easy and not worry about going anywhere - the food at the Orleans is pretty decent and not too painfully expensive as I recall.
I should get about 4 hours of play, and probably not be anywhere near the money when I get blinded off - but I'm so excited to be in an Omaha tournament. I'll likely grab some ice cream, hopefully nothing too calorically disastrous, before heading off to bed.
-Friday, October 22-
The next morning - it's off campus - to the Friday Nooner at Venetian! $150 brings me the best structured regular tournament in all of Vegas. Again - the competition is a bit stiffer, lots of locals (though not as incestuous as the Orleans) but the room is first rate. Here is my first real chance to cash - tight ABC will actually do the job (or at least get me close to the bubble) barring any massive coolers - if I get lucky and get hit with the deck I need to hunker down and play for first place; bet, raise, re-raise!
Hopefully I won't get felted early on - but if I do I must stay disciplined and refrain from rushing off to register for another tournament right away. I need to take a walk, maybe grab a bite, enjoy myself and not beat myself up too bad if I misplayed a hand or two, or six or seven.
Need to stay strong and hold out until 7pm, when I'll stroll on over to the Mirage for some boisterous bounty action! At $150, the Friday night tournament is quite a bit steeper than their usual $80 donk fest, but it is sooooo much fun! Plus as a bounty event, you only need to bust 1 player to get back $50. It makes for a lot of action and is very fun to play.
The Mirage is by far the softest poker room I have ever played in. It is typically full of tourists. It is the site of the one tournament I ever played in where I was a truly dominating table captain. I will always love playing at the Mirage.
Hopefully I'll be tired and exhilarated from chopping final table money - so I can head back to bed. More than likely though, on a Friday night in Vegas - I'll be ready to stroll on over to Treasure Island and sign up for their spectacularly bad structured $50 turbo tournament at 10pm.
This room is an absolute blast to play in. Truly smoke free, fantastic dealers and even the locals (which are outnumbered at least 4 to 1 by tourists) are about as fishy as they come. Believe it or not, I've won two tournaments here (chopped for first with the chip lead) - though I really believe the structure makes this virtually a "no skill required" event. The main reason I keep coming back, is because this is probably the most fun room in Vegas.
-Saturday, October 23-
Saturday morning - I will awake to either the comforting thought that I've cashed at least once, or the slightly melancholy realization that I've dropped $450 in entry fees with no return on my investment.
Either way - I will do the same on this trip that I have on the others - REFUSE to let my results, which are over a teeny tiny sample of hands, color my trip enjoyment level beyond a very small amount. People run hot, people run cold - when I'm only playing 10 tournaments in 4 days, I can't get hung up on the showdown. I need to relax and enjoy 3rd and 4th street - because that's where the major fun is. Besides, I always play better and win more when I try my best not to worry about results.
Having said that - my Saturday schedule is actually dependent on my results.
First things first, no matter if I am up or down, I will start with the $50 9am tournament at the fabulous Monte Carlo.
The tournament here is another $50 donkament - with an even worse structure than T.I. But I absolutely love the vibe of this room at 9am. With an unbeatable house entry fee, this tournament is populated on any given morning by 80 to 100 percent tourists. The dealers are slow, but super friendly, they explain the rules thoroughly before we start as there are truly people sitting around the table who have literally never played poker before - this is my kind of place. The structure is terrible - but this has to be even softer than the Mirage.
Afterwards, if I am up at all (even a few dollars) I'll head on down to the 2pm $225 big weekend event at Caesar's.
I really, really, really want to play in this one. 15,000 chips, 30 minute levels - very nice. My poker compatriots have long told me that this room is soft - in the few times I've played here, I found that to be anything but true. Still, I look forward to stumbling across that miracle table someday. Even if I don't, it would be a great privilege to play in the third best weekly in Vegas (the better two being the Venetian and Bellagio, which at $330 and $540 apiece respectively, are a bit much for me even if I've happened to cash).
If I haven't made any profit - meaning I haven't cashed, or have cashed and not booked more than $450 - then I'll wander on down to the 1pm tournament at Aria.
For only $125, this is a fantastically structured event with 30 minute levels. Plus, unlike Venetian or Orleans, the room is typically loaded with tourists - and these are the best kind of tourists! Moderate to serious recreational players like me, who have been known to think through a hand and are actually capable of folding a fairly strong cards once in awhile. There are some locals to watch out for of the maniac (or is it manic) kind - but easily detectable and avoidable.
For the 7pm tournament - it's a toss up. Depending on how soft the Mirage was on Friday night, I'll either head there again (for their $80 version of a bounty tournament) or head on over to the $125 Venetian for it's superb structure and starting stack.
If I started the day at Aria I'm unlikely to remain there for the 7pm tournament, only because I'm going to need a change of scenery. However, if I played at Caesar's at 2pm - then I'll make a bee-line for the Aria.
Finally, if I'm winning a lot - I'll likely crash into T.I. for the 10pm push and pray. Or, if I'm 0 for 7 at this point - I'll... likely crash into T.I. for the 10pm push and pray. Only if I've cashed a bit, and am exhausted, will I pass on the late night merriment and head back to the ranch.
-Sunday, October 24-
Sunday - will be the 11am $80 bounty at Mirage. Gotta love these tourist-aments.
After, I may hit an afternoon turbo at Planet Hollywood or T.I. if I have time or inclination.
At 7pm I will be back home at Orleans, for what is sure to be a highlight - a $75 H.O.R.S.E. tournament. Dead money. Good times.
Because I'll already be back in my hotel, I will have already gassed up the rental and can go straight to bed so I can be up and out for an early morning departure. Very nice.
By the way, this entire schedule is subject to change - it is potentially very hypothetical, but as of now it's where I'm inclined to play. Like I alluded to, I might get the impulse to go downtown - I've never played at Binion's or the Nugget, so that has always been in the back of my mind.
In any event, as if you couldn't tell - I am SUPER excited about this trip.
-Objective-
My main goal, believe it or not - is not to make money.
My main goal is to push myself poker-wise. To really focus and play my hardest, expanding my game and losing my fear of the dollars attached to the chips. In my mind, the money is already spent - I'm not counting on it coming back. I don't care about the cash. I care about bringing my A-game and leaving my anxiety at the door. The biggest component this equation will be having fun.
I still plan to play "mum" poker at the table - but at the same time, I'll be eager to socialize about any other subject. I'm here to get loaded on diet cokes, and maybe enjoy a table massage or two. I plan to show a busted bluff - and get paid later. I hit quads last trip - and checked to the better, who checked behind with a full house! This time if I get quads and it's 5th street - I'm a shovin'.
I want very much to talk poker - away from the tables and with my traveling companions. The venerable Dr. Dave (my brother) and good friend Fishman, who is anything but.
I am also very much looking forward to some good ass meals. I don't need to stuff myself till I'm sick - but I definitely want to savor some culinary goodness. Long walks through City Center should help alleviate some of this indulgence.
I hope I can convince more folks to come between now and then - until then, I'll be biding my time, pre-visualizing my chip splashing and river hitting.
Can't.
Wait.
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