What a week!

Wife and I enjoyed perhaps our 2nd best vacation of our life together--the first being our honeymoon. Vegas and Chicago was fantastic. We had a great time gambling, and hanging out with friends of ours that made the trip out west also.

Only bummer of the week--my father had to check into a hospital, but as of today, he is feeling 1000 times better, and could be going home as early as Friday. No clue what was wrong with him--he was coughing a bunch, and the product from the coughing was quite gross, but hey, he's better, and that's what matters.

OK, paragraph 3. Time for poker. Played in absolutely NO cash games in Vegas. Last year when I went, I played one session of 1-2 NL hold em at Binion's--bought in for 100, walked with 170. That was good enough for me. I prefer tournaments, and I am thankful that I did in Vegas. Played in 8 tournaments spread between Fitzgerald's on Fremont (LOVE the room and the staff there), Santa Fe Station (out by where my folks live. They have expanded their room, and entire casino--beautiful), and Planet Hollywood (6 months ago it was the "new" Aladdin, but no more. Thank goodness because the Aladdin was cheesy, and the dealers of all games were very unfriendly. New wave with the PH on the place, and it was quite good).

Started off slowly in the tournaments. Busted out 13th in one, made a final table but no cash in the next, 14th at PH, another FT but no money in 2 more. 0-5 was my record, but while I was cold there, I ran ok at the roulette wheel. Bought in for $40 at Four Queens, and walked with $470. That made up some buy-ins.

My heater started Thursday. Played at Santa Fe for the 2nd time (first time we played there, I bubbled in 5th). Got the chip lead, and had the table in command, when this hand came up. There were 3 of us left, blinds 2000-4000, all 3 of us are in the money.

Button (11K)

SB-Hero (49K) 2-5 off

BB-Villain (29K)

Button limps in, I call from the SB, BB checks

Flop:

6-4-3 with 2 hearts.

I flop 2nd nuts, and check. BB checks, Button shoves all in for his last 9K I call. BB goes all in over the top for 18K more.

If you are in my shoes, what do you do? Here I am with a made hand, a flopped 6 high straight. I put the button on a desperation move (like a pair on the board, perhaps an A kicker), and I have that hand crushed. The BB play made me think he wanted me to drop out since I called. I KNEW he was on the way with either a bigger straight or a flush draw. 2 cards to come, I have to dodge likely 9 outs max.

I call.

Reads were spot on. Button had A-3, BB had K-10 of hearts for the 2nd nut flush draw. My money went in ahead. All I can ask for.

Turn card: J of hearts.

Dammit. Villain wins the hand, and would end up winning the tournament, as he had me outchipped big time (I had 9500 left after the carnage). Still, a 2nd place finish was good by me for the cash. 20 minutes after the tournament is when I got the call about taking Pops to the doctor. Buzz kill.

Dad was settled in at the hospital that night--I did not play poker again that day, but had a nice roulette session that evening. Another 3 figure take from there (bought in for 100 and left with much more), and I was feeling alright heading to bed. Just one more day in Vegas was left for us, and I had a heck of a Friday.

Noon tournament at Fitzgerald's. 2nd place after my heads up opponent went runner-runner straight on me 3 times in heads up with the money on the line. Can't beat dumb luck sometimes, but it was another 2nd and a cash. Went and visited Pops Friday, knowing I was leaving Saturday, and after we left the hospital, it was back to Fitzgerald's. I was sitting 3rd or 4th in chips as we were 5 handed playing to the top 4. A voice from across the table said, "how about a 5-way chop?" I looked at the other stacks and saw we were all fairly close in chips, and after some table chatter, the chip leader said the only way he would chop is if all of the players toked the dealers $20.

Agreed.

We all walked with $347, and that ended my Vegas poker sessions for the trip. 8 tourneys, 5 FT's, 3 cashes with a pair of 2nd's. Not a bad week's work.

I have taken a couple days since getting home to just get readjusted to the home time zone, but will be ready when our July League event gets going on Saturday. Hope I can keep the momentum going. I came back from Vegas feeling (obviously) good about my game, but also a bit changed in my style. Of course, I won't go into HOW changed I am, since my league buds will peek in on this blog, but suffice to say, I feel like I played great poker in Vegas, and learned some things about my game, and how I can mix things up. Basically, I feel like I am a better player now, than when I left for my trip. Whether or not that is true, remains to be seen.

Oh, also, sorry there are no pics with this post, but my camera NEVER LEFT MY CARRY-ON BAG DURING THE ENTIRE TRIP. Sad, I know. Not one friggin picture. Vegas is still there, and I will get some next trip out.

Can I leave tomorrow?

~M