MGM Grand Poker Room

Impressions: This room is very enjoyable. Living in Vegas, I have had an opportunity to play pretty much every room in town at all days and hours. MGM is a fun room with an interesting mix of players. I have brought many people from out of town to play here. It has always been a positive experience.
Atmosphere: The room is spacious and very modern. There is a video board for the wait list, pagers that can be used while waiting for a seat, and the dealers swipe your players' card at the table to track your time for comps. The one negative, and this is always mentioned, is that there is a lot of noise from the Centrifuge bar in the evenings. However, I believe the noise chases away the local rocks and brings in the Los Angeles silk shirt crowd on the weekend.... It's a theory anyway.
Dealers: Nearly every dealer there seems to be very experienced, friendly, and technically sound. They do a pretty good job of keeping the game moving and have always thanked me when they are tipped.
Food: Drink service is one of the best on the strip. If you like strawberry smoothies, they have one they make there. I have never had one, but people rave about them.
Service: Wait time is about standard. Weekends can be up to an hour, but any other good room in town will be the same. They make an effort with the video waiting list and the pagers.
Comps: Standard $1/hour, with your card swiped at the table.

Day4, 9/24:
Monday ended up being a light day, as will the next two most likely since I actually have to do some work this trip
Got some “sleep,” did some laundry and packed up so I could check out the corporate apartment and into the hotel. I did this because I hate being too far away from where I have to conduct classes, no need to add stress where it’s not needed
But I’m getting ahead of myself, before all that I’d decided to head over to Planet Hollywood to check out the filming of CSI. Photoc had passed along that they’d be filming and they might need extras, you just needed to show up by 8am The alarm went off, I hit snooze….the alarm went off, I hit snooze….the alarm went off, I hit the snooze, you get the idea! I finally drug my arse outta bed, got cleaned up, and headed on down to check out the potential action. I figured a few people would show up just to watch what was going on and a few more would be there hoping to be an extra. And that’s where my mindset was, I was hoping to fill a seat at one of the tables, mugging it up for my 15 seconds (love ya Andy). Nearing 8am, they still didn’t have any of the lighting, cameras, etc setup so I knew it’d be a long day. I was directed to where the extras where staging as they’d moved the location, so off I went. When I got up to the Extras Lounge, I was greeted with a sea of “pretty people” and just as easily and quickly as I’ve been able to size up tables lately, I KNEW I was outta my league. These people looked like this did this for a living and/or looking for their big break. I guess I could’ve slept in later, oh well.
After a quick stop at ‘Bucks for a mocha frap, I headed back downstairs to retrieve my car from valet. It wasn’t too busy but I was VERY impressed when the captain called me by name as I approached the stand. I wasn’t there long, but I was still impressed! I didn’t stay long at all so it’s probably not really a fair assessment, but I got an odd vibe from the casino itself. Maybe because it was early morning or the relative absence of players, the layout or the color scheme, but for some reason it just felt odd to me. I’ll have to visit again and give it a more fair shake, but for now it stands. Since I was on that side of town anyway, I decided to stop by our corporate office and see if my co-worker needed any help in setting up the classes this week. Thankfully he didn’t need anything from me, so I was free again until Tuesday It was still early but I decided if I could check into the hotel already and get that knocked outta the way. They weren’t busy at all, and I was able to check into my king-room early in the morning. A drive back to the northwest end of town to get my stuff, check out then drive back down to the Henderson area gobbled up the rest of the morning and early afternoon. After a quick bite, I got settled into the hotel, checked emails and returned phone calls, then caught a nap before deciding what to do with myself for the evening.
My friend Cindy called and suggested either the MGM at 6pm or Caesars at 7pm for a tourney. We ended up at MGM but with a less than stellar turnout, we’d decided on a cash game, thank you Tommy . I got on the list and it didn’t take long to get seated. Seems there were some table changes going on at the same time that lengthened my wait somewhat, but nothing too bad. Those table changes had opened up seats on the table I drew, hmmmmm. In no short order I clearly understood why. Let’s call him Colorado Lag, this guy was literally playing EVERY hand with an odd pre-flop fold mixed in every orbit or three I’d noted one other player that would be trouble and since both of these players were on my immediate left, this wasn’t going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination! Cash games are not my forte, not that I don’t understand the differences from tourneys but I just don’t get to play cash games nearly as often and I’ve played tourneys for so much longer. Do you know how to spell d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r? Now it’s hard to get into too much trouble with a $200 cap and being UNWILLING to dig in for buy-in after buy-in after buy-in, but I detest $200 lessons although not nearly as much as I dislike $29 mixed-game lessons! Onto the memorable hands…
I didn’t feel like playing 6s from early position so into the muck they went and of course the set making 6 was right in the window of the delivered flop, oh well. I did decide to play my pocket aces from late position, raising after a couple of limpers. All that did was encourage several callers, The flop came down Qxx, 2 clubs. Thankfully an early position player pushed all-in for his remaining $58. Folded to me and before I could act on my clearly visible capped cards, the sb proceeded to call. When we finally straightened out that mess, I decided not to play multi-way and over-pushed hoping to get heads up, it was successful. Villain tabled Q5o for top pair, what the f’kicker and I flipped over my red aces. Turn produced his 2-pair 5 and I was off to a rollicking start, until the board pairing 7 appeared on the river, making me a nice pot to start off the session. During the next orbit, I misplayed pocket kings about as bas as one possibly can. I don’t know what the hell was running through my head but I decided the best way to play ‘em was to flat-call the $10 raise from Colorado Lag as several others had done, leading to 6 of us seeing the flop I guess I’d decided to play for set value only, giving up control of the hand. The flop was a 2-suited, non connecting board with a lone jack, damn sure looked pretty safe even if I was playing for set value only. The table damn near checked around to me but just prior to being able to donk it up, the player on my immediate right led out into the $60 pot for $15. At this point, I figured anyone who already had a set would have HAD to lead out and the lone $15 bet just didn’t say “set” to me. So what do I do, of course I raise it up, making it $60 to go. The player on my immediate left, proceeds to push-in without missing a beat. The table folds around to the $15 bettor who also pushes. I guess I could’ve just mucked but I wanted to see how much more it was to call. $36 was the determination and to complete the utter donkification of the hand, I called. They flip their cards immediately and I hold onto mine. I’m facing a set of 7s and the flush draw. I get no help but the flush materializes on the river and my kings go flying into the muck. So much for being up early, now I’m down to $140 or so. I decide to move seats to get position on Colorado Lag and the sunglass wearing big stack. I wave off comments about the move saying I don’t like having the room to my back, yeah, that should through them off, you psycho fool
I had a plan for Colorado Lag but never got the chance to set the twigs and spring the trap (thanks Vince). I couldn’t ever really catch the cards to do it and a bluff would cost me my stack as he was calling down! I did call a few times in position with his straddles, taking down pots once or twice. The first time he commented about me having paired the boarded queen to which I responded, “I needed the queen when I was in seat 2, don’t need it any longer.” With the table dynamics being what they were I should have left long before I did. The good thing about cash games is you can wait for the nuts, but it doesn’t mean you’ll get paid off with the nuts and sometimes, you’ll simply get your nuts stomped on!
After treading shark-infested waters for longer than the downed sailors of the Indianapolis, I finally decided as others did, to call the straddle from Colorado Lag. At least I had 78s, the button and a plan. Just about regardless of the board, I’d decided to run a bluff. How could I not use my “tighter than Scrooge McDuck” image to take down a pot with napkins?! Turns out the flop transformed my complete bluff into a semi-bluff, when A56 came floating down to the felt. Colorado Lag led out for $15 and was flat-called by a player in seat 5. She’d been playing only high cards and as observed, I knew she was tight as well. Even if she had hit the ace, with plan in full effect, I was sure to be able to wrestle the pot into my stack. I raised to $60 and the table, including Colorado Lag, quickly folded back around to her. After some fumbling and not realizing exactly how much it was to call after she started calling, the dealer straightened it all out, forcing the extra $45 into the pot. Even with her call, I had outs and still thought I could take the pot down considering how she called the flop. When another 5 fell on the turn and she checked to me, there was only one way for me to win and that was to take it down without getting to the river. I put my last $70 or so putting her to the test. She hemmed and hawed, finally deciding on, “well, I guess I have to call now…” We held onto our cards awaiting the river. I didn’t get my nut wining straight card but I did pair my eight. The dealer asked for a winner and I tossed my 78s, face up onto the felt. And she studied the board…damn, am I going to take this down with a lone eight? Nope, she finally figures it out, tabling A6o for 2-pair. I doubt it was a purposely executed “slow-roll” but it damn sure did nothing to stem my absolute infuriatingly, mind-numbing anger. I got up from the table, leaving for good as I should’ve done long ago! I still think it was a great plan that just wasn’t timed well against an opponent playing nothing but their hand only.
I made the stroll of the walking dead over to my friend Cindy for some poker commiseration before heading out into the night, letting the steam roll off like sheets of rain. I decided to drown my sorrows with a Fat Tire and a pie from Metro Pizza, yummy! Tales of a cash game moran, you just gotta love it!

Impressions: This room is very nice with the best tables in Vegas. The management is also among the best. The only thing i don't care for is the load night club adjacent to the poker room. Its hard to hear anything in the evening when they're playing load music.
Atmosphere: The room itself is nice and spacious. I love the tables with the auto shufflers and the marble ring (for stacking chips) between the felt and the rail. The rails have nice cup holders. The tables feel solid. The chairs are very good. The night club next door is a negative.
Dealers: They seem very good to me.
Food: Better than average service.
Service: I have played 1/2 nl cash here many times and I dont think I've ever waited more than 5 minutes to get a seat. The last time I was there, there were 14 people ahead of me on the 1/2 list. I walked around for 5 minutes and they had a seat for me at that point. Excellent job!
The tourneys are well run too, although the rake is too high ($125 game, $25 goes to the house and $100 to the pot).
Comps: Don't know, didn't ask.

First two hands, her KK hold up, then she hits a flush on the river. After 10 minutes she’s up about 140 and I’m telling her to warn me if she’s gonna play a hand so I can fold. She replies “oh come on, I’m friendly” with a touch to my arm. She starts showing me her cards when I’m out of the hand, small talk about the Dave show, where we’re from, how long we’re in town (it’s her last night), she tells me I have nice eyes, I return the comp, blah blah blah, and with each blah she’s either touching my arm or my knee. Giggity.
Nate and Jon are wandering around the poker room and come over to watch my table, but really her, and I slip Jon my phone so he can take a front view picture (who wanted a picture two paragraphs ago, I know). Notice those… chips.

I get distracted by poker for a little while, and flop a set, top two pair, and a flush almost consecutively. Then hottie starts racking her chips and I’m all “awww you’re leaving?” and she’s all “yeah my boyfriend’s on his way”. They call my name for 4-8 and I bounce, up $94 after an hour.
My first hand I get red88 in the BB. I raise and get 3 callers. Flop comes as raggedy as can be, with no face cards, and just two clubs to worry about. I lead out with a bet and everyone calls. The turn is a glorious 8s, and I check, next check, bet, fold, I raise, bettor calls and shakes his head like he knows he shouldn’t be in the hand. River is a 2c, I bet, he raises, I call, and he apologizes for playing Qc 6c.
Just like Crasian the night before, this guy would be my nemesis at this table. For a while at least. He’s cleaning up and barely can look at his cards with a wall of chips in front of him. I go about an hour without playing outside my blinds, and when I play those, Nemesis takes them on the flop.
Finally something: KK in late position. I’m re-raising, but someone else caps it at $20 with FIVE callers. Come on cowboys. Flop comes 5c 6h 9h. A loose guy bets out, call, call, I raise, loose re-raises and goes all-in for his last few chips; I just call that re-raise and two others call as well. River’s a 5h. Not exactly a good card for me, but it gets checked around and I bet it to see where I’m standing. Two callers and nemesis folds. Looks good. River looks fantastic: Kh, giving me the 3rd-nuts, a boat. A caller from before now bets out, and I raise, and he re-raises. I pause and for a second get scared that he has either 7h8h, for the absolute nuts, or pocket 55. Those thoughts make me just call, and Steve shakes his head at me for not re-raising. Other guy shows Ah9c, so top pair that became a flush on the river with that beautiful Kh.
Two hands later I’m on the button with AdQd. Nemesis raises; I re-raise; he calls, and everyone else folds. Flop is Q Q X. He checks; I bet; he calls. Turn’s an A. He checks; I bet; he calls. River’s a T. He checks; I bet; he calls and mucks. Thanks for that.
Very next hand, 6c7c that I feel gambly with and call a 4-way cap pre-flop. Flop is 3c 4h Jd. I feel like I have the right odds with a gutshot and backdoor flush draw after a bet-call-call before my turn to act, and I call. Turn is a 3h. Check, check, bet, I try to represent the 3 and raise. Fold, fold, bettor re-raises, I call (yeah stupidly here but the pot was humongous and I was feeling gambly). River is another 4 and no straight for me. He bets and I muck. He shows JTo for just top pair. Oh well, so I drop 60 on that hand after +240 on the previous two.
I win a few small pots, and a while later, an African-American woman sits down, plays every hand she gets, and 80% of the time angrily mucks her hand at the showdown but doesn’t say a word. She will be known as Angry Black Woman (ABW) from this point forward. ABW gets into a heads-up raising war with Nemesis, who gets her to go all-in eventually and shows the nut straight.
ABW re-buys and now I get to play against her in my last hand before heading back. I raise UTG with Ac7c, and she’s the only caller. Flop A 2 T. I bet; she calls. Turn’s a 7. I hesitatingly check; she bets; I raise; she calls and glares at me. River’s a 4. I bet; she calls and mucks. She’s down to less than 10 chips again, and wants to re-buy, but the dealer’s out of chips because she’s been dispensing them so fast. I offer to sell her a rack or two and the dealer approves, but ABW’s having none of that, and mumbles something in my direction. Whatevs. I rack up and cash at $504, +$310 from that table, and we walk back to Bally’s at 4:30 to sleep.

Wednesday nite and after being in town for 48 hours, I've finally held cards in me wee hands
I knew I'd finish my "all day" class early and since I only have 1 class to conduct on Thursday, it was prime time to hit the tables. After being on my feet, literally ALL DAY, the last thing I wanted to do was walk, so allow me a small suggestion, PLAN YOUR PARKING! The drive from Sunset Station isn't bad at all, and I used Trop and Koval but the parking garage was sheer chaos. After finally finding a spot, the walk thru the garage to the entrance and all the way to the back of the joint was just plain silly!
I didn't know if I needed a players card or not, so I decided to stop off and get one before heading back to the room, got a "nice" key chain for my troubles but not needed for play in the room, cest la vie...I left the Station around 4:30, leaving myself ample time, unfortuantely, too ample. I was registered and wandering aimlessly just after 5pm. I was suprised to see how empty the room was but it was early and mid-week, guess I shouldn't be shocked.
I found myself out on the strip, north of MGM...MORE WALKING Didn't go far but I did check out the Coca-Cola store, some pretty cool stuff in there if you're into "Coke" but I damn sure wasn't trying Black! Scoped out the 1/2 Price Ticket place, didn't know it existed and will defintely have to see if it's worth the last minute wait on my next trip. Spied some "strangess" as I as passed a water jet massage and oxygen bar storefront on my way back...just plain odd. Made the nightly call to the wife before the 3 hour time difference caught up to me and I was ready for cards.
Waddled my way back to the room just in time to hook up with my local poker buddy (we have a corporate office out here) and her friend, will be looking forward to talking cards and playing more with 'em!
Tourney kicked off just after 6pm, 32 whole runners (capped at 60), $125 ($100 in the pool) for T3k and 30min blinds, 4 get paid. This tourney definitely wasn't on my list to play but Cindy likes the room and suggested playing there, so what the hell, right They take alternates for the 1st 3 levels, if you bust out, you can essentially buy back in but with only 4 paying, doesn't seem too logical.
More tourists/convention'rs than regulars for sure but still not my idea of a "good tourney." Cindy's friend John and I end up at the same table, should be interesting.
1st hand the table folds to me on the button and I raise to 150 with QTo. Old Man Australia calls from the SB and we're heads up. Flop is rags, 2 suited and I make a 250 continuation bet and get called. Blank turn and he checks to me again, I just feel like I'm getting called down, so I check behind, don't think I can shake 'em. River is an Ace and he thinks long and hard about betting out, but decides the better of it. I don't think for too long and check behind as well, he tables his T3o and scoops....we're off the races!
I decide to "fall back" and feel out the table, nothing much but info gathering for the next orbit. Guy on my right is yacking it up and turns out he's on his way to CA to play in the big tourney at the Commerce. Guy to his left is a local and tighter than a frog's arse Seat 5 and 9 are QUIET and serious, oh well. John is in 9 and a young, aggressive Esfandiari (?sp) look-alike is in seat 8. I'm in 3 and Old Man Australia is in 4.
Serious seat 8 raises to 150 and in the bb, I look down at AKo, I decide to flat call. Flop is King-rags, 2-suited. I fully expect him to cbet so I check and as expected, he leads out. Not too worried about the flush but I check-raise and he's none too happy but lays it down. John gives me a nod.
Next orbit (50/100) and it's just me and talkie-mc-talk talk, my bb v sb. Flop is Ace-rags but I've connected with my 3. He checks to me, no raise pf so I need to find out where I'm at and fire out 150. I get flat-called. Turn is a blank and I check behind this time. River is a beautfiul 3 and he wakes up, firing out 300. I raise another 500 and get paid off with his pocket 9s.
Our table is pretty damn active and people are busting left and right. At one -point we're down to 6 players with 9 and 9 at the other 2 tables. It took a bit of time for us to get Bob's (nice guy) attention but once we finally do, it's balanced out.
John busts out calling the young magician, queen-high flush is no good, the magician has a king-high, ouch....maybe it was the sunglasses, sorry John
Seat is filled by a PokerStars jacketed youngin' and promptly busts out when he open pushes with A2o, getting called by another replacement player who tables pocket 3s, taking it down with a flopped set.....young ps is none too happy....
With all the action at the table, I don't get a chance to do too much, taking down a pot open raising with KQs and open raising from the button with garbage, thanks Old Man Australia and Young Magician!
Nearly 90 minutes in, just about at 1st break, blinds moving to 200/400 and I'm under 4k in chips. From EP1, I look down to find AKs and make a standard raise to 600. Table folds around to tight-local in the bb and he's cutting chips for a raise. Figuring it's a good shot at doubling up and coupled with the blinds going up, I'd pretty much made up my mind to play out the hand. I move my hand to my chips as he's thinking about the raise to see if he'll pick up on my attempt at letting him know I'm coming along for the ride.
Guess it didn't matter...he raises, I push and he's obviously calling as he announces he's behind. He tables Jacks and we're outta the blocks. I don't get any help and my arse is bounced and the remaining players take their break. Oh well, I'm happy with the play
I talk with Cindy a bit about plans for the rest of the week, say goodbye to John who's at the limit tables and slink on back to the Station.
I liked the room, plenty of space between the tables, close restroom, and nice staff, drinks we're coming around VERY quickly. I didn't like the marble ring around the table, found it to be very odd and a tad uncomfortable. Chairs were ok and the dealers were nice and very efficient, but all I have to compare is FL poker, so you make the call.
Hope ya enjoyed it, I did and can't wait to hit the games tomorrow!

Impressions: I visited a few poker rooms during my last trip, a few weeks ago, and kind of liked this one as much as any other. There is a bar right next to the room, and it is close to a night club, so expect some noise and music, but I liked the hip, modern feel to it. It is a terrific room, and I would highly recommend it to my friends. Picked up some good games, very competitive. Players at my table seemed to know what they were doing, by and large, and I came out on the plus side. It is nice to have some patsies to play with, but I get satisfaction in besting better players.
Atmosphere: Plenty of space between tables, with very comfortable chairs, which is most important to me, as I have back problems and get thrown off if I am hurting. The many large plasma screens in view can be distracting to some players, but I find it relaxing in between hands, or when I have folded and want to get my head away for a few minutes.
Dealers: No complaints here. The best description would be professional. They ran their games well and fast, and I noticed that they were polite with the few new players, not lording it over them, and correcting them if they failed to know the rules. Basically, keeping the chatter down, handling pots and change easily are what I look for in a dealer, and I found them at the Grand.
Food: The ladies were quick with the drink service and pretty friendly. My table mates seemed to be happy, particularly when our server turned out to be very pretty. I was not into food, so did not pay attention to food service. I carry some health bars around with me, and do not care for poker room food anyways. There are always good restaurants around most of these hotels, and I would rather enjoy a relaxing meal away from the poker.
Service: They really know how to manage tables here. Seat availability is tracked on a panel of buttons in front of the dealers, so seating is fairly quick. The wait list was visible from anywhere on big screens. I rarely had to wait longer than ten minutes. Chips were promptly brought to your table, and you could get right into the game. In short, the staff was very helpful and did not lord it over you, like in some other Vegas rooms. You felt that you were welcome here.
Comps: I'm not familiar with the comps here. In fact I never am interested, because they never amount to much, so why bother?