[johnp158]

Well I just got back from spending New Year's in Vegas, courtesy a friend who got my family a room comped for the weekend at Paris. Did a few things like seeing a Vince Vaughn comedy show, fireworks on the strip to ring in the New Year (didn't reallly go out because I wasn't there with any friends), but mostly poker.

Got there Thursday afternoon and played 1/2 NL for a couple hours at Paris before dinner. We ate at Olive's at Bellagio, out on the patio in front of the fountain. What a great way to start the trip. After dinner I checked out the poker room. Too serious for me, but it was cool to look in Bobby's room and see Doyle, Jennifer Harman, David Benyamine, Gus Hansen, et al. On the way out I saw Sammy Farha sitting at a high limit blackjack table. What a gambler.

Played 1/2 NL at MGM Thursday night. I really like the room there. It didn't seem nearly as soft as I had heard though. My table wasn't great but nobody was really throwing any money around. I managed to make about $75 in 6 hours or so. One hand that had me questioning myself: I'm in the BB with A4c. Flop comes 223, it's checked around. Turn is 5, I check as do a couple of other players, guy in CO bets 10, I raise to 30, solid player UTG+1 smooth calls. This sort of sets of alarms in my head. I really don't think he would cold-call with just a flush draw (turn was 2nd heart). Original bettor folds, and river comes a 3rd heart. I bet 40 hoping to block a big bluff. He starts talking: "I know you don't have anything, you're just stealing, etc." and he raises to 100. I think for a minute and fold my straight face up. This guy, with whom I had been having pretty friendly conversation, just goes off. "I can't believe you laid down a straight!!" and proceeded to call his friends over and tell them loudly that he bluffed me off a straight with ace high. Except that he didn't show his cards. I almost tilted, but I really felt like he was very strong and just trying to get under my skin because I hadn't ever played live NL. Anyway, the dealer looked at me and told me it was a good laydown.

If you read my thread asking for advice I said this guy we went with was gonna stake me in a tournament. I opted for a 540 at the Wynn. 78 entered, 3000 starting chips with 45 minute levels, starting at 25/50. Had to be the best structure out of anything I saw. I felt that I played pretty well, but ended up busting out 12th when I pushed 4500 chips with 86s at 800/1600/75 level and got called by K5. 9 cashed, so I just missed it. It was a good experience though. The one big hand that sticks out is right after it got down to 2 tables. I had about 13,000 chips at the 300/600/50 level. This was above average. 1 limper and I looked down to find AKo, 1 hand after I won a pot without showing down AKs. I raised to 1800. In retrospect should have made it 2400. The UTG limper called and the flop came AJJ. He checks, I bet 2500. He thinks for a minute and calls. Turn is a blank and he checks. I smell a Jack, so I check too. River brings the 3rd Jack. Only 1 card beats me. He counts out 1200 and bets it. Ugh. Obviously he was screaming for a call. I called and he turned over KJo. Even though I think I lost as few chips as possible after the flop, I should have taken it down with a bigger raise preflop and been in decent position to make the money.

Despite the disappointing finish, it was a good experience. There wasn't much obviously terrible play, and there was some strong players, but I definitely didn't feel outclassed. I think I gained some confidence for future live play.

I didn't play any more tournaments, just a lot of 1/2 NL. More later on playing at the new room at Caesar's, Mandalay Bay, and the craziest game I've ever been a part of at Paris.