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Las Vegas Trip Report

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  • 13-09-2004 1:59pm
    #1
    MadsL
    Registered Users Posts: 20,299 ✭✭✭✭


    Just back from Vegas, so I thought I'd write up the trip for your salivations.

    I played in 4 tournies and a sat.

    All the tournies I played were the Luxor noon (limit) or 4pm (no-limit) tournies. Cheap buy in ($25) but a horrible rake from that (only $19 goes in the prize fund) for that you get $250 in chips with the blinds starting at 10-15. 15 min levels. You can also buy $50 in chips as a dealer bonus for $3.

    I hated the limit game. $300 in chips just doesn't allow you to play any hands - one mistake and you are screwed - the whole thing was really a crapshoot. Not really recommended, but they only spread the NL game on tuesdays and thursdays.

    The no-limit was better, I just got to play in one and managed an 8th place, on reflection I could have played a lot better as a lot of the players were very used to limit play (lots of limping) and intimidated by large raises (lots of mopping up limpers)

    The Luxor is nice enough, big 11 seat tables, friendly dealers. They spread a $1-$2 game after the free poker lessons and if I go again, I will certainly sign up for that as a 'beginner' - however the $300 stacks at the $2-$4 cash game were a bit intimidating - I passed on HCGA.

    My shot at glory was the $220 buyin at the Mirage. I opted to play the $55 STT with two tickets for the main event on offer. The Mirage poker room is just gorgeous, plush tables, brand new chips (the Luxor chips are about 1,000 years old) Poker doesn't get any better than this. I was motoring well having put out one guy with my TT (trips on flop), collected well on QQ - having had one guy compliment my trap with a 'nice check, son' so my table image (and ego) was growing.

    Then the inevitable madness. I'm in the big blind with J5. Flop comes down Jxx. I stay in for a 2x BB bet. Turn is a 5. I check. As does the rest of the table except one guy who goes all-in. Big stack of red (5) on top of five (25) greens. I think for a second and say "call" and start sorting my chips. Player to my left folds. Then I realise that the 'green' chips are grey not dark green, and are the 100 chips. The bet is in fact more than 3/5ths of my stack. I try and retract the bet, but the dealer presents me with "I'm sorry Sir, but this gentleman has already folded on your declaration. Your bet stands". I'm not happy, but can see that I'm screwed. I nod and throw my chips in. We turn over the cards. My jacks and fives against.....77 - phew! I'm saved. Guess what the river is...

    ....of course it's a seven.

    Now the lesson really is to ask "how much is that to me" before calling, but I can't help feeling that it is really dumb to have grey and dark green chips. Also the dealer should really have knocked down the stack. But one more thing to add to my 'lessons poker has taught me' book.

    All-in all great trip, great fun on the table games and a chance to play some poker with some new faces! But next time I'm gonna win something !!!!

    Viva!


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    #2
    Hectorjelly
    Registered Users Posts: 6,696 ✭✭✭Hectorjelly


    Sounds like you had a good time! Where did you stay?


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    #3
    dirkey_wynne
    Registered Users Posts: 799 ✭✭✭dirkey_wynne


    Sounds good MadsL. Thinking of heading over there myself. Who did you fly with? I've been there once before, but that was briefly - and we flew into LA.


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    #4
    MadsL
    Registered Users Posts: 20,299 ✭✭✭✭MadsL


    First part of the trip at the Mirage - really nice place (and 25c roulette/$2 BJ across the road at Casino Royale)

    Then..a road trip...route 66...Seligman...Grand Canyon...Cameron (Indian reservation)...Monument Valley..Telluride, Colorado...

    11 hour drive back to Vegas to stay at the Luxor (looks posh - isn't really, for the second largest hotel in the world - 4,000 rooms - it's a bit ordinary) but for $79 a night who cares.


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    #5
    MadsL
    Registered Users Posts: 20,299 ✭✭✭✭MadsL


    dirkey_wynne wrote:
    Sounds good MadsL. Thinking of heading over there myself. Who did you fly with? I've been there once before, but that was briefly - and we flew into LA.


    US Airways. They were OK (but I hate 767's - Airbus every time from now on)
    Dublin - Las Vegas (change at Philly)

    Careful tho' they have just gone into Chapter 11 (again) so may not be around forever. they are trying to shed pilots and other staff..


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    #6
    Evil Genius
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19 ✭Evil Genius


    I have been to Vegas on holiday for the last 5 years. I usually try to fly with Continetal, because its a nice flight(Dublin-Newark-Vegas), price can be anywhere from €600-€800 depending on the time of year.
    If you are going i would advise you to get in contact with the hotel direct, either via their website or by telephone, and booking it that way. The reason for this is if you play alot of poker in the hotel, you can get a room rate and get a pretty good discount on your bill(last year i got €300 knocked of the bill), plus the cost is usually half that of a travel agent.
    I usually stay in Excalibur, because i enjoy their poker room(bad beat bonus's,free food,free bet on monday night football, great dealers)
    The hotel rooms are pretty much the same all over the strip, and excalibur is very cheap for its location($39 a night midweek soemtimes).

    Anyway, if anyone has any questions fire away...if you do decide to go,you will have a great time, there is no where else like this place.


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