All that Vegas has to offer...

Only played 2 events since then $1,500 Venetian Deepstack. The $350 Deepstack and the $1,000 Caesars Main Event. Both events didn't go very well, never really got a stack going in either, busted out the $350 with AK beaten by QQ and all in blind v blind with A8 v. KK in the Caesars.

After the Caesar's Event decided to give Poker a rest and enjoy everything else Vegas has to offer. Eaten in some awesome restaurants included Botero at the Wynn Encore, the Effiel Tower Restaurant at Paris (which has one of the best views of the strip in my opinion) Tao at the Venetian, (amazing food but pretty tilting service) and Morels at the Palazzo.

I'm not a huge clubber back home but the clubs here in Vegas are something else and even non clubbers can not resist. Been to XS at the Wynn, Pure at Caesars and the new club called Marquee at the Cosmopolitan which is probably one of the most incredible clubs I've ever been too. All incredible nights with great company.

It's my sixth time in Las Vegas and before this trip I had never been to a show. So far this trip I saw a hypnotist comedian, The Blue Man Group and Cirque Du Soleli's Criss Angel Believe. Completely different shows and were all entertaining but wouldn't say were any particularly mind blowing. Criss Angel's Vegas show is nothing in comparison to the bigger stunts you may of seen of his on TV, understandable of course but still a bit of a let down. Still 4 days left in Las Vegas and we're planning to see two more - 'Absinthe', which completes highly recommended and 'The Price is Right' Gameshow! Loved 'The Price is right' as a kid and if you know me, you know I'm a bit of a gameshow enthusiast...

In between all the amazing meals, shows and night's out I've also had time to climb Red Rock again, do some MAJOR shopping and put some dedicated time catching some rays at the pool. Only four days left so will try and catch the two shows above, try out the rest of the restaurants on our list and railing JP Kelly who's down to the last 142 in the Main Event!!

$1,500 Venetian Day 2

I was starting Day 2 with 57,000 and going back to the 1k/2k level, there were 50 players left and they were paying 27. The hour long blinds meant there was no rush to double up but definitely didn’t want to just blind away holding out for the money and hope to build up my stack.

My stack slipped down to 40,000 with around 40 left, although I had 20 bigs I was one of the shortest stacks, there were some really big stacks on my table using their chips aggressively. Danish guy on my right was opening around 70 – 80% of hands. I managed to double up to 100k when I pushed all in on SB with 78 suited v Danish guys open on button. He called with AT but the two 8’s on the flop helped…

Waiting for the bubble to burst was pretty horrendous, it lasted over  2 x hour long levels and my stack slipped from 100k to 65k. The big stacks were using their stacks aggressively and I simply wasn’t getting any hands to play back with. 27th place received $4,300 and 28th would leave with nothing so understandably the short stacks were holding on…

One guy on my table was opening a lot and playing aggressively like he was one of the big stacks but only just had me covered, he opened UTG +1 for the 4th time on my BB so thought it was about time I made a move. I had just over 20bb so enough to get him off a hand… Moved all-in with pocket 3’s and he snapped me off with AK. Unbelievably my 3’s held up despite the board pairing on the flop and I doubled up to 130k. Not long after the bubble burst, I was guaranteed $4,300 and it was time to relax!

I was literally getting no hands, I 3bet shoved against aggro players with any decent cards I was getting to keep me from blinding away. Once the bubbled burst players were busting left, right and centre and before I knew it I was down to 2 tables. I was sitting on 10 – 20bb but no one wanted to give me any action. Eventually when we were down to 13, blinds had just went up, I was down to 11bb and shoved on the button with A7. Actually thought I would double up this hand but I unfortunately the Big Blind woke up with a bigger Ace. Finished 13th and won $6,390. The pay jump went up to $8,500 when down to 12 and there were shorter stacks so was a little annoying but I can’t be too upset about it. I wasn’t getting any hands, never really got a chance to run up my stack so I guess I should be happy with the cash and the new Michael Kors watch I bought with it. Bit of Vegas bling :-).


Next event $350 Deepstack…

Half way through..

Can’t believe I’m already half way through my trip, it has flown by!

After the Ladies Event I decided to not to play the Big $1,000 WSOP and instead use that money to try and sat in to the Main. I played the $550 Mega Sat which brought in a massive field. Started with 4,000 chips and 20 minute clock. I was involved in a big hand when I flopped gutshot Royal Flush draw, ended up missing and bluffed on the river for all my chips. He made a hero call and I was out of that pretty quick, a pretty horrendous play by me and was really pissed with myself the rest of the day.

The next day I decided to use the remainder of the $500 and use it to try and sat in the Single Table Route. I funded my trip to Vegas last year by playing the Single Tables, of course you need to put in the volume but I was just hoping to spin this $500 up. Everyone else on the table was playing the correct SnG strategy so they definitely weren’t as soft as I had remembered from last year.  We were 5 handed and everyone had around 10bb. Shoved with A3 on the button and was called by a stronger Ace. Main Event 2011 Dream over.

The next day I had always planned to play the $1,500 Venetian Deepstack. I wanted to make sure I get one of the Venetians in to my Poker Playing Schedule so if gives me a chance to play a proper tourney with a decent structure. Although on the morning of day 1 I felt a little deflated by Poker especially after my play in the Mega Sat thought I should just give up altogether! At least I had Vegas to entertain me if I had another early exit.

The event bought in around 296 entrants, each starting off with 20k in chips and hour long levels. My starting table was super aggressive, the three most aggressive young European guys on my left. Felt massively out of my comfort zone, all the three guys were calling all my opening raises and the guy 2 to my left kept 3 betting to isolate me.  During the break I purchased a share-size bag of starburst and dished them out on the table, no help and they continued to bash me up…

First big hand on my starting table, I had pocket 3h 3d in the cut off and opened, button called and the young guy in the big blind also called. Since the guy on the big blind joined the table, he called all my raises and min-raised all of my continuation bets which I folded to every time.

Flop Ts 6s 5s

Big blind checked to me and I made a continuation bet of around ¾ the pot. The button folded and big bling min raised again, I decided to just flat here and either bet on turn or raise his turn bet. If he fired back then I just give up.

Turn 3s

This changes things slightly, I now have ten cards which could see me winning a massive pot. I want to control this pot from getting too big on the turn and missing. He checks on the turn and I check behind.

5h

Absolute dream card, he’s never going to put me on my hand here and I could easily get paid off with any spade. He checks again and I bet just over full pot, half my stack. He dwells for ages and eventually calls. Weeeeee!

I was so card dead Day 1, I built up my stack by taking down small pots or 3betting aggressive players position who were opening a lot. I was moved tables so many times, you really do realise what a disadvantage this can be. Again, luckily the structure was on my side and I was able to sit tight and observe the table before getting stuck in.

On my 4th table move of the day I had a rush of semi decent cards, was opening a lot and winning some small pots. We were playing 8 handed and I was dealt Aces UTG + 2. One caller in the Big blind and we saw a flop of Q T 2 rainbow. I made a continuation bet and he put me all in. I had like 30ish Big blinds at the time and despite little information he was clearly a very aggressive player and I’m never folding here anyway. I was up against AQ and my Aces held.

It was coming closer to the end of Day 1 and I was on about 20 big blinds, made some moves on what was then on my 5th table, reshoving on some late position openers praying this wasn’t the first time they opened all day. They all got through and I finished the day with 57,000 and only 50 players left.
27 paid and $100,000 up for first place. Had no idea we already this deep and so close to the money. Sleepless night was on the cards for me, I’m not the best sleeper at the best of the times but when I make a day 2, I lie awake going over all the hands I’ve played and my plan for tomorrow…

Day 2 coming soon….

Greetings from Vegas

Arrived on Wednesday evening, Karl and I went straight out to get some food, then headed over for some cocktails at the Bellagio and it was there were I was introduced to my latest addiction, PaiGow Poker. Woke up Thursday and was very ill thanks to the 3 glasses of complimentary wine. Karl was playing the PLO hi lo 8 or better and I wasn't sure what to do with myself especially with such a severe hungover.

Then Liv called me and asked me whether i fancied going hiking up Red Rock which is situated 30 minutes of Vegas. Definitely not usually top of my list of things to do on a hungover but thought it would be something different and how better to get rid of a hungover than sweat it out by climbing up a 800 ft rock?! Only one mild freak out 2/3s of the way up but apart from that was one of the best things i've ever done. Karl doesn't know it yet but I'm planning on climbing the even bigger on before i leave.

Third full day in Vegas (1.6.2011) and luckily I wasn't planning on walking much. I was playing Event 50 the Ladies $1,000. 3,000 Starting Stack, 1 hr clock and blinds start at 25/25. This structure is a bit of a crap-shoot and ideally you want to get a chip stack going early on. My table seemed pretty solid, especially for a Ladies Event, couple of weak players but 7/10 seemed like all competent players. I won 2 small pots within the first 20 minutes to then went down to 2,500 when I lost minimum w/ AT on T22K9 Rainbow board against KJ.

Unfortunately I didn't even make it to the end of the first level. Was all in with Aces on a board of 46JT, i knew i was behind more of the time by the turn but I had more than half of my chips in the middle and I couldn't find a fold. What was more frustrating was she had only hit her 2 outter on the Turn. Ah well...

The last two days of consisted of BBQs, a meal out at China Grill at the Mandalay Bay and last night went to see a Hypnotist comedian, which was ok but I'm sure there are better shows. Decided against playing the big $1,000 on the weekend and instead put it towards satting in to the Main Event. I'll let you know how i get on! If I don't win a seat then i'll be playing some of the Venetian events.