The Venetian Poker Room

<i>Cliff notes: Edmond plays the WBPT tournament at the Venetian. Busts out with A4o. Watches flight attendants play slots at the airport.</i>
<b>The event</b>
Last week, I was chatting online with one of the folks that run <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.thepokeratlas.com/country/united-states/">The Poker Atlas</a> and she mentioned the 4th Annual WPBT Holiday Classic at the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tworags.com/VenetianResortHotelCasino.html">Venetian</a> on Saturday and suggested I play it. The last blogger tournament I entered was a complete embarrassment <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=1063">documented by Swami54</a> so the thought of any kind of redemption was compelling. I brushed aside the notion that she might be trying to pull more dead money into the prize pool and told her to put me on the list. Besides what better opportunity to display my superior tournament skills than before a hundred or so scribes committed to documenting hee-haw moves?
The tournament was organized by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://pokerstage.blogspot.com">John "Falstaff" Hartness</a>, a popular blogger. He knew many of the participants and somehow managed to convince 110 entrants to pass on the other big blood sport events in town this weekend--the Bellagio Five Diamond series, the Hatten/Mayweather fight and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tworags.com/home/adanthar">Adanthar</a> and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tworags.com/home/SirWatts">SirWatts</a> were over at the $5K Bellagio event, of course, but my skills and bankroll were better suited to this kiddie game down the street so I had a look around.
The overall tone of the event was social—lots of hugs, inside jokes and references to drunken binges. These writers knew each other or all went through rehab together at one point. Entrants included such blogging notables as Dr. Pauly (Tao of), Amy (Aimlessly Chasing), Change100, The Rooster, Miami Don et al.
<a rel="nofollow" href="http://pokerstage.blogspot.com">Falstaff's blog</a> characterizes him as a poker player/redneck, but on Saturday he was sporting a kilt. I thought it was a fine choice for the event, but, however bold, it a little out of character given the description. I know a lot of rednecks and I’m confident that none would be caught dead in a skirt, albeit a leather on, and never at a poker tournament. “Poker player/barbarian” might be a more accurate description of Falstaff, but in any event, he was well-qualified to host this event.
<b>The Venetian</b>
After socializing a little bit, I got a Venetian player card and paid my entry fee. On a whim, I asked the staffer taking my player card info if he wanted my email address. He declined, “Nah…don’t need it.” and continued typing. I think the Venetian folks are more savvy than most, but his reaction was indicative of the gap in thinking about most casino marketers. Five years from now, most marketing will be web-based and the guys who prepare for it will have the advantage. For now, though, I’ll be getting direct mail not spam from the Venetian.
The <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tworags.com/VenetianResortHotelCasino.html">Venetian</a> is one of my favorite rooms in Las Vegas. It’s a large, elegant semi-enclosed space with 39 tables. The staff is friendly, wait-lists are automated, there’s a comfortable waiting area and the tables and chairs are in top-notch shape. There are about 26 or so flat screen TVs, 21 of which typically have sports running with the balance used to show wait-lists or tournament status. Here's a look at the room...

At 12:30p on Saturday, they had the following games running…
5 tables of 1/2 NL
2 tables of 2/5 NL
1 table of 25/50 NL
1 table 4/8
There was a list for 5/10 and 50/100; the 5/10 NL game got down later in the day.
The poker room is located directly across from the sportsbook (Patriots – 10.5, obv) and adjacent to the NoodleAsia restaurant (good food, slow service; try the moo shu chicken). In any event, it was a good choice for this event—nice room, plenty of space and a staff that seemed happy to have the added activity. I’d recommend the room to another group looking to have a private tournament in Las Vegas.
<b>And they’re off!</b>
At 3p, the 110 entrants were cut loose with 6000 chips, 25/50 blinds and 30-minute levels. I was seated at table 14, seat 3. On my left was Amy from <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.aimlesslychasing.com/">Aimlessly Chasing</a> fame and on my direct right was an Asian guy in a saber tooth lime tee-shirt. Amy’s a successful poker writer (Bluff, PokerNews, PokerPages et al.) and is now in the process of writing a book on Mike Matusow.
Over the course of our conversation/table time, I learned that Amy lives in Austin, TX (see also, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tworags.com/home/nath">nath</a>), she has one of the few known photos of Andy Beal, recently performed a radio duet with Barbara Enright, is a tight player but will shove second pair top kicker to a button raiser and Matusow owns three cats. I’m just a sponge at the table, obv.
I also had one active player wearing Full Tilt garb two to my left. Within a few hands of the starting gun, he lost most of his stack when he played 5[s]2[s] from the small blind to a stiff MP raise and got it all in with turned trips against a turned boat.
After the hand, he complained about how “horribly he runs.” Yes, it’s amazing how poorly you can run when you play a 2-gap suited connector, 5-high, out-of-position. But as is often the case when someone “runs bad”, I stepped in to get him back on track.
<b>Edmond helps a player in need</b>
A few hands later, FT guy had doubled up but was still pretty short. With the blinds still at 25/50, he raised from EP to 150. There was one caller to me on the dealer button with 5[h]5[s]. I called and we saw a flop. Pot was 500-ish.
Flop was A[h]K[h]5[c]. Nothing wrong with that, obv.
The shorty/raiser checked and the caller behind bet 300. I begged the gods to please let one of these guys have a big ace and raised to 1000. Short-stack called (WTF?) and the other guy folded.
The turn blanked and shorty shoved all-in for 750. I called with bottom set, of course, and he flipped up a set of aces. Oh, nifty. The first hand I play is set over set confrontation with the guy I’ve pegged as an indiscriminate donkey. I’m now sitting with about 4000 chips. Excellent.
Shortly, thereafter, a player at my table was the first out from the tournament and was awarded a DVD of Gigli for his ill-timed semi-bluff, flush draw shove. Not sure if it was the full or wide-screen version.
<b>It’s about giving back</b>
We moved on to level 2 and with the blinds at 50/100, I was on the DB with 33. Three players limped to me, I called and the big blind (my set v set nemesis) checked his option. Call the pot 600.
The flop was K[c]3[h]6[c]. Cool. My nemesis (the BB here) bet out 400. Oh, really? It folded around to me and I re-raised to 1200. He shoved (uh oh…here we go again) and I called expecting a set of sixes or a 4[c]5[c] draw. My people reading skills need some work—he showed KTo drawing pretty much dead. Blank, blank and he was on fumes and again, beefing about how poorly he runs.
<b>Overbetting, it’s what I do</b>
A few hands later I had A[d]J[d] in middle position and raised to 350. The DB called and we had an 8500 pot. The flop came A[h]K[d]J[h] and I opted to bet out 750. He folded before I could even get the chips out. Bah…I guess it’s better than seeing action from a flopped straight.
After an uneventful level, we took a 10-minute break and came back to 100/200/25 ante. I was comfortable with 8000 chips but it was gonna start sorting out here pretty quickly.
Still at 100/200/25, a EP guy raised UTG to 650. I called from the CO with 8[c]8[s].
Flop was JA5, two hearts. He checked to me. I bet 1200 and took the pot. What? Of course I hit that flop…
A couple of hands later, a short-stack limped to me with AKo. I raised to 650 expecting to see a shove but he folded. Can someone please have a hand?
<b>My end game reveals itself yet again</b>
I treaded water throughout the remainder of the level and had 9000 chips when the blinds spiked to 200/400/25. Within moments I managed to bleed off a quarter of my chips with the following hand.
Limped to me with 8[s]7[s] on the DB and unwilling to fold or raise like someone that’s read <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=986">Bond18's tournament series</a>, I called and saw an A75 flop with two other players. They both checked to me and I took this as an invitation to bet 1500 into a 2500-ish pot. Both quickly called. Ok, gross…done with this suited POS. Next card was a blank…check, check, check. Ok, please let me show down my eights. No such luck…one of the other players potted the river and I bailed.
After that shameful mess, I was down to 6000 chips and found myself in middle position with A[d]7[d]. I raised to 1200 and the player two to my left made the “Well, I guess this is where I go home” speech which, based on his breezy confidence moving his chips in, I translated “I have A8o+” and folded. Down to 4000 chips. Crap.
The blinds worked around to me…no spot to shove…J2 with a raise in front…53s UTG…now I was in the big blind. The table folded to the SB who’d given me a walk at least twice in the last level. No such luck now…he raised. I looked down at A[d]4[c], shoved and he insta-called called with K[h]9[h].
55/45…I’ll take it.
Q22KT. Ok, great…nice playing with you guys. I shook everyone’s hand and packed up my stuff. I briefly contemplated beating on a cash game but knew it would just culminate in a bad hangover and odd sports bets. I opted instead to head back to the airport and catch the 9p flight home.
<b>Fleeing the scene</b>
I’m pretty sure there’s nothing more depressing than waiting for a plane in the Las Vegas airport on a Saturday night after busting out of a tournament. The gate area was deserted except for four flight attendants playing slots and one-by-one some stragglers showed up to catch the flight. And as I was recapping the day on my laptop it occurred to me, what’s more depressing…playing airport slots on a Saturday night or observing and writing about it? I’m gonna go with the latter. Whatever, it’s material…
Edmond
<i>Afterword: You can read a brief recap of the final table here...<a rel="nofollow" href="http://taopoker.blogspot.com/">Tao of Poker</a></i>

Day 2, 9/22:
Saturday started out like any other day....any other day that smacks you upside the head at the CRACK OF DAWN! I'm on a typical vegas-poker diet. You know the one where you play so much and go past "normal meal" times then end up not eating at all. Since I don't like eating late at nite, I'd skipped a meal on Friday which ended up leading to a pounding headache promptly at 6:30am Saturday morning. Resolved not to get any more sleep, I dashed out to one of my favorite breakfast places, Blueberry Hill. These things are all over town, nothing really special about 'em 'cept good food at good prices. For what would end up being the 1st of two times I was "mistaken" for a local. I guess not many tourists make it out to North Decatur at 7am for grub Snag a counter seat and people watch, you won't be disappointed! After some biscuits&gravy, it's back to home base to get ready for the day. By 10am, I was on my way to TI so say hello to the gang in the 9am mixed-game.
When I got to TI, the game was going strong with LVM, Yappy, Mrs Lederer and J20. It was nice to watch the game and talk shop with fellow cards fiends Try as he might, Mike kept trying to get me to join the game, "we'll teach ya" he pleaded....but my standard response was, "I don't even know how to spell Badugi." Besides, I was playing in the Venetian Deep-stack and needed to get going. Off I hoofed over the walkway and down into one the best poker rooms around! I got registered then went up to the little Italian Cafe for a drink and pastry and some more people watching before heading down for what I'd hope to be a marathon poker session....final table visions danced in my head!
We got kicked-off just after noon with a surprisingly low number of entrants, at least to me. A paltry 4 tables had been enrolled for a total of 36 entrants. 5 would be paid with 1st-3rd locking up 80% of the $17,460 prize pool. 10k chips, 40 minute blinds and just about the best structure I’ve seen keeps me coming back to this tourney time and time again! I’d vowed to myself to be observant, be more aggressive, think through hands better and just play plain ‘ole good poker. And if I can break my own arm I have to say, I played some of the best poker I’ve EVER played in my short poker playing life! In quick order I was able to peg players, take advantage of my image and lighten the mood with some harmless frivolity.
I was stuck in the 10-seat, one of my least favorite and had already identified trouble sitting 2 to my left. He was a VERY serious player who didn’t crack a smile the entire time. And since we all know that chip flow clockwise, I’d need a plan. This guy was playing poker and playing it well. Using position, open raising with “ATC” and making calls so he could take pots away if you showed weakness. He could also make lay downs and that would fit nicely within my plan and my eventual tight image! It’s always good to keep your eyes and ears open as you never know what you’ll pick up. Things like who are friends at the table, how they just played the last hand they’re rehashing, as well as who the local “pros” are . It’s simply AMAZING what you can pick up! Had I not been observant I woulda been racking my brain all day to figure out why the player seated on my right looked familiar. But since I was able to glance at his registration card, it was easy to come up with an answer. It was none other that John Strzemp. Now of course, he’s not a Doyle or Daniel but I’d recognized him from “tv poker” and knew he knew his game. All it meant was I had another piece of the puzzle. Turns out he’s a pretty damn tight player and that’s saying a lot coming from someone like me. He’s also a very grumpy person, thankfully he didn’t last too long, going out on a “bad beat” and not taking it well to boot!
[I’ll detail some of the more interesting hands in the next post for those actually interested]
By the 1st break, we were down to 3 tables and I’d been able to chip to around 18k. Not too bad considering I hadn’t seen a pocket pair better than 7s and no AK connecting post-flop. Levels 5&6 killed me! Combined with the escalating blinds and trying to take a pot off a loon cutting his relatively new chops (during level 1, this guy flopped quad queens holding pockets then not an orbit later turned a straight flush and got paid off on both), I was promptly smacked back down to around 11k. We went into our 2nd break with 2 tables left. Our table stayed in tact with new players rotating in, good for observation. But beware, as every time a new player is added, the table dynamics change! As mentioned, it’s always nice to be friendly as you can really reap some benefits, some better for poker than others. I was completely floored when a local (who thought I was local - I need to work on my image) actually started soft-playing me. I’m not condoning the action, and would certainly never do it myself but I’m going to take advantage of all that’s offered me….
Thanks to some real “lucky” hands (2 to be precise); by the end of level 3, I’d chipped up to 45k, enough to be a table leader at this point! We headed into level 10, 1k/2k/300 with 6 players at our table and 5 at the other. One more bust and we form up the final. Not that it means a DAMN thing as we all know where the money’s at With 9 players left, the hand that would end my night came up. 3 of us got it all-n pre-flop and when the dust settled, I’d experienced my 1st bad-beat of the day. A crushing blow for sure but nothing I could do about it ‘cept say, “nice hand, good luck y’all” then stroll out of the casino as there’s no reason for the 7th place finisher to stick around. That was a "$6,000 hand," and had it held up; I would’ve held 1/3rd the chips in play and been a “near lock to go deep! As it stood, all I could do was haul my depressed arse over to TI, hoping to find commiserating souls to share my story of “bad luck.”
Thankfully I found several, including LVM and my friend Cindy. I shared my “bad beat” and they took it in as gracefully as any player who’s heard it all before possibly can I needed to eat and clear my head. Cindy was nice enough to “lend me some comp dollars” and off to the coffee shop I headed. After a nice meal, allowing enough time for digestion of the meal and the tournament, I headed back to the poker room. Cindy was in the tournament and I’d decided to hang around to wait for a friend of ours that was also in town. Time quickly passed and before I knew it 10pm was rolling around. I knew I shouldn’t play and more cards, since after 7&1/2 hours of play at the Venetian, my poker playing mind was mush. We can all see where this is heading, right?
Not only did I play more cards, I got talked into joining the mixed-game You’re an EVIL, EVIL person LVM Mike would teach us newbies the ropes as we started up a 2/4 mixer and off it went! We had a great time with several AVPers (Mrs Lederer, Motorcycle John, OtherDave and a lurker) as well as those looking for more than just another Hold ‘Em game. I only bought in for $100 and ended up having a GREAT time. When 1am rolled around, it was time to call it quits. I was up and down all session, getting back to “even” a couple of times. When I cashed out, I was down $30 for my lesson. Not too bad for NEVER having played the games in rotation prior to sitting down.
All in all, it was a great day and I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. And since I don’t leave for another 7 days, I’m sure I’ll have a chance to repeat!

So played again the next day and again got up to $60k in chips.
Early on got very lucky when all in with 44 vs. 99 and flopped a set. Flopped a set of 6's on a T high board vs. QQ and won a big pot.
On the button, i get Q3 suited and with 4 limpers in front of me, I call. Flop comes Q99 adn everyony checks to me and I bet, folds around to last player who thinks for a while and shoves all in for about $10K (I bet $2K). I thought for a while, asked him if he hit the 9. obv. this is a great bluffing board and a great move if he doens't put me on the 9. I fold and turn my Q face up.
2 hands later, same scenario. Bunch of limpers and I call with AT, flop comes Txx, and it's checked around to me again and I bet. Folds around to the same player who just went all in, and again he thinks. I am talking up a storm. "Cmon.. you hit the T?" "no way you hit that" "you serious, you really hit the T?", he goes all in and I call, he turns over A9 and I win the pot.
So tht point here is that I did well both days and then 1 hand wrecked me..
In the BB I have 33, folds around to the SB who raises to $2K and I went all in instantly (mistake#1) without really thinking about it. He calls and shows JJ, and i lose a bit less than half my stack.
Mistake #2 - playing too tight after that beat and getting away from my normal game. In late position didn't call a raise with 76 suited (2 callers) and flop came K66. I normally would have played that with my stack and position.
ended up going all in with decent ace and losing a race.
I played both days very well and built a huge stack early. I need to not let a beat get me down and stay focused. It was just that that loss yesterday (Deep Stack #1) got to me cause I was thinking that if I won it, I have a HUGE stack and in great position.

Played the $550 deepstack at Venetian on 6/13 and did well. Started with $10K in chips and my table was very aggressive and lots of good players (1 made final table, 1 made final 2 tables).
Player that made final table was very agressive and bet at every flop no matter what. I didn't get any cards of note the first two levels so I was able to observe the table. I knew that if I hit a flop and checked to the agressive player (3 to my left), he would bet and I could check raise and get some extra $$$ from him.
I win some uneventful and small pots but nothing to write about. We are up to the 4th level and I am getting short stacked ($5K in chips). I go on a sick run, and by the dinner break I have $60K chips and the avg stack is $25K. Again, no really interesting hands or any hard decisions. AA vs. QQ and won, AK vs. AQ and won.
After the break, here is the hand that crushed me, and know I played wrong. Not 100% on the blinds, but I beleive they were either 200/400 or 300/600 + antes.
UTG+2 goes all in for $11K
I look down at 99 and rasie to $25K to isolate.
Folds around to BB who goes all in for an additional $12K to me. Obviously I have to call, getting 6-1.
short stack turns over AQ, BB turns over AK to my 99.
Player to my left says "I folded an Ace", player to his left says "I folded a K".
Of course an A hits the flop and I am down to around $20K, am on major tilt since he hit his one outer, and shove a bit later with a suited A and lose to a bigger Ace.
Looking back, I should have just called the All-in, then when the BB goes all in for $37K, I can get away from the hand.

Impressions: The room is clean, new, big, spacious, quiet enough, luxurious and well run. I can't think of anything bad about this room.
I like this room better than any other I have ever played in.
Atmosphere: The tables are among the best in Vegas. The chairs are as good as any I've sat in at any poker room. The tables are spread apart far enough. The room is far enough away from the main casino so there is no smoke odor, and it is very quiet compared to many other card rooms. Only Caesar's poker room is more secluded in my opinion.
The players at 1/2 and at the SNG seemed soft mostly. It seemed like it was mostly tourists who were inexperienced.
Dealers: The dealers seemed very good.
Food: The drink service was quick and I think you can get whatever you want. The waitresses looked pretty nice too.
Service: The sign up process was easy and they seemed very well organized. I played 1/2 nl there twice and played a $90 sit and go once. The first time I was with a friend. We requested to sit at the same table and play 1/2 nl and there was no wait on a weeknight. The second time I was alone and waited about 10 minutes for a 1/2 game on a Friday afternoon. They announced there was one seat left in a sit and go tourney while I was playing 1/2 so I took it.
Comps: Don't know, didn't ask.

It's Monday, late morning and I head to the V to meet Alex & Steve. I’ll play any limit up to 8-16 at this point, but of course there’s no game going at the V. Steve & I are on an interest list that never goes more than five deep. Alex sits down for NL, and Steve & I are about to head for the Bellagio, but then what to my wondrous eyes should appear but some workers setting up a lunch buffet in the poker room. It’s a free lunch for poker players that V offers MWF 11a-1p and 5-7pm all through March? Today’s prime rib sandwiches. Steve & I aren’t even playing though, so I ask the floor if it’s okay for interest-listers to partake and he says go right ahead. Ship it. While we eat lunch, Alex wins $200-something at the 1-2, then joins us and we go to Bellagio for one last session before the airport.

After my Hawaiin Gardens experience, I ditched the weekend plan, mapped out the route to Vegas and early Saturday morning, I was on my way to the Venetian! I "landed" at TI right around 10:30am, making the drive in about 3 1/2 hours. I got registered then wandered off for some wake-up juice and eats. I've said it before and I'll say it again, man do I LOVE this room and I LOVE this tourney!
Cards in the air at noon and when all was said and done, there were 81 total entrants. It was a true rollercoaster ride as I went into the 1st break at around the starting stack of T10k, not great by any stretch of the imagination but not bad either considering the structure. I was able to chip up twice catching QQ and AA in the bb against an agressive lp player, but both times I was short and all it did was get back in the chip hunt. Bad for me but good for Binion's, I busted early enough to head downtown for the 8pm tourney. I'd pushed from the sb with 34 and got looked up by the bb who put more than 1/2 his stack in the middle with pockets 5s....WTF? I flopped a str8 draw but I needed him to hit a set which didn't happen, and off I set for Freemont Street.

Friday morning I wake up and head for the 4-8 (half-kill) game. As with other times I’ve been to GC, it’s full of gamboooooling Asians. Awesome. I rock it, winning 3 kill pots in a row at one point and leave +$200 after 2 hours.
One win of note: I’m in middle position with pocket red Kings. I raise pre-flop, and am called by the button - a super loose Asian guy who had been hemorrhaging chips since Steve was at the table last night. Flop: Ks 9s 2s. I bet; he raises; I re-raise; he calls and shows his buddy standing behind him his cards. Buddy shrugs. Umm, OK, thanks for that. Let’s not see another spade come. Turn is not a spade, river is not a spade, but he calls my bets at both, then mucks when he sees my set.
Lunchtime at the Port-o-Call buffet means it’s budget-balla time again, and the 5 of us eat for $4.95 each with coups. 6/9 for food/service. None of us sampled the delicacy below:

Jon & Ubaldo arrive Friday afternoon and meet us at Bally’s, where we’re staying for the weekend. We had heard that the north tower was way better, but the place was packed, so we got south tower. Our view is below. No complaints.

Ubaldo, Alex, Matt, & I want to work out, and head for the Bally’s spa, despite the $22 non-budget-balla price. On the way, I put $60 on Butler (+10) to cover against Florida. I’m from Indianapolis originally and know Butler plays that old-school Indiana farmer type of ball that Florida won’t be able to handle.
We get to the spa at 4 and find out it’s $15 after 5:30. The manager rounds up the clock and we’re in for 15. I just stick with dumbbells, but the place is way decent for a hotel gym, and that’s before we wander into the spa side. The attendant hands us robes, towels, & sandals and we do a steam room -> cold tub -> hot tub -> sauna cycle. We wear towels around our waists the whole time (including in water) to avoid seeing each other’s junk, but a few cat brains get exposed when sitting down. We clean up in time to see Butler lose only by 8. Totally refreshed and me +$54 from Butler, we meet up with the rest of the group to walk to our Friday night dinner spot, the budget-ballin’ paradise Ellis Island. That is, after we pass by this pick-up truck in the Bally’s parking garage:
It’s an easy walk to EI from the back of Bally’s. Here’s Steve and Alex leading the pack, then Dave, Ubaldo, Nate, and Matt trailing.
They told us it would be at least an hour wait for a table at the Ellis restaurant, so what better time to make use of some unlimited-drinks-for-2-for-one-hour coupons from the POV? I shared mine with my brother, and Steve shared his with Ubaldo. We gave the other guys a couple of 4-free-cocktails coups and we were good to go. I don’t remember much of that next hour or so except running to bar every 5-10 minutes in between blackjack and craps. We had all these blackjack match-plays but somehow I still dropped 40, and then 20 or 40 at craps, which I’d never played before. Yeah that was smart.
Finally, we sit, and it’s $4.95 steak dinner (always that price at Ellis, no coup needed) time. Steve & I bust out the buy-one-get-one-free coups for some appetizers, and wings & chicken fingers are on the way. If you haven’t had the EI steak dinner, you need to. Food/Service = 8/10.

Here a couple endorsement pics. Steve & I with the POVs:
And one for Ellis:

Being the budget balla that I am, I cover dinner for our group, which was a whopping….

The guys throw on a $20 tip, and we’re outta there. (let me clarify that even though we were budget ballin’, we never skimped on tips)
Back to Bally’s, we meet up with Sam, and decide on courses of action. The poker players of the group want to go to the Venetian, and the other guys come along. Finally some more poker action.
The V is packed but there’s only one 4-8 on a Friday night. Steve, Dave, and I eventually get spots at the table, and my first hand, BB, 63off. 3 limpers, no raise, I check. Flop is J 7 2, gets checked around. Turn 6. I bet, call, call, fold. River 3. I bet, call, call. I show two pair, and an Asian woman next to Steve scolds me for playing it. Okay, if that makes you feel better for not betting your jack on the flop. The guy next to me told me she was crafty, so she’ll be known as Crasian in this story. Here’s a blurry picture of her (to Steve’s left):

Two hands later, I have AdQd on button. Folders, then Crasian raises, fold, fold, I re-raise, Crasian calls. Flop is Ah Ks X. She checks, I bet, she check-raises. I’m thinking if she had AA, KK, or AK, she would have re-raised pre-flop, so I call the check-raise. Turn is a Qh. She bets, I raise, she calls. River’s a 2c. She bets and I just call because she’s got me all confused now. Of course, she shows AK for a better two-pair.
A few hands later, I raise in MP with QQ. Crasian’s in SB and calls, BB calls. Flop’s K J T. She checks, BB checks, I bet, they both call. Turn’s an 8. Check-check-I bet- Crasian calls, BB folds. River’s X. Crasian checks, and I just check, again all confused by her. She shows pocket Kings; I ask why she never raised, and she says she thought I had AQ again. I say, if so, you should’ve folded. She shrugs.
Any commentary on the above two hands is appreciated. I feel like I played them pretty decently?
So with those hands and some stupid limping, I’m down like 120 after 30 minutes, then things get a little better. I hit a set & boat and happen to not be involved in pots against Crasian, and end the session down 75. At one point a group of hot girls walks by our table, and one of them waves and says “hi boys”. The whole table turns their heads. One end of the table is whispering and I can’t hear it, then later Dave tells me it was Nicky Hilton. We had the obligatory Johnny Chan sighting too, who walked by Matt & Alex’s NL table.
On the way out I put a buck in the nickel salmon-n-bear slot by the bathroom, and it starts spinning itself for about 2 minutes, and I cash at $50. I’ll take it.
Back to Bally’s and half-sleep from 4 to 8am.
--end of part 2--
Summary: Morning gambooling w. loose Asians @ Gold Coast 4-8 table = +$200. Move to Bally's. Work-out/spa visit at Bally's. No, we're not gay. Ellis Island $4.95 steaks + unlimited drinks = -$80 at blackjack & craps. But that's not the point, is it? Confusion against Crasian @ Venetian 4-8 table = -$75. Salmon + bears = +$49.

I really don't know what I can add about this room that hasn't already been said 8) . It's very well run, thanks Anthony! The dealers are extremely competent and know how to move a game along. The tables and chairs are great. Cocktail service is above board, being able to order GOOD water and top-shelf liquors; and what I really like is that the servers ask each player individually what they want, nice! Oh, and let's not forget the carving station, scrumptious! Plush waiting area with plenty of reading material.
After sleeping in late, I headed down to the strip, parking at TI and making the easy walkway trudge over to the Venetian. I bought in direct and headed upstairs to the little Italian coffee/pastry shop for a quick pick-me-up prior to the commencement of cards. After polishing off "breakfast" I made my way back down to the room and settled in for some deep-stack poker. It's T10,000 for a total of $550, they take the $10 add-on as you buy-in. The field was shorter than I'd expected, MUCH shorter. With cards in the air, there were only 55 runners, eventually making it up to 72 total before the cut-off. They'd pay the final 9, if you could get there Rough totals, but $11k for 1st, $7k for 2nd, $5k for 3rd then 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4% and 3%.
L1-3, 25/50, 50/100, 100/200, break
I have 56o in the bb and 3 of us, lp limper and sb, see a flop of K74 - 2 hearts. The sb and I check, then call a 150 bet. I'm not too worried about the flush but with 6 outs, I just about have the right odds to draw. The Turn is red and my heart skips a beat, but it's a diamond, and an 8 at that . I check behind the sb with a well-disguised straight. The lp player leads out for 500 and the sb smooth calls. Gotta make a move now. I check-raise it 2000 total and the lp player folds but the sb goes into think-mode, eventually folding. She said she had 2-pair as she wonders out loud about my hand, mentioning a better 2-pair and even a straight...??? I reply that I was on the flush draw and didn't feel that they were that strong.
I then get AA with 4-way action on a non-threatening board. I lead the flop and get heads-up with the same player from the hand above. She check-calls my Turn bet and with nothing to worry about on the River, I make a small value-bet after she checked. She folds out and I take down another nice pot.
I'm making my normal small talk with the table and find out that we have Tony Korfman with us at the table. Apparently we has a web-site and is writing a poker book, isn't everyone Nice enough guy and a good player from what I obsevre. He I get tangled up on the next hand. I raise utg with pocket jacks and Tony is the only caller. I make a standard continuation bet on a rags-rainbow flop and Tony smooth calls. The Turn is a nasty ace and after some contemplation, I check as does Tony. The river is another blank, and the only way I think I can win, is to make a strong bet, hoping he'll buy my story. He mulls it over and finally mucks his cards, and I take down another nice pot!
I'm in early position with 77 and the utg player, the same lady from the 1st hand, throws out a single 500 chip without announcing raise, so it stands as a call. Knowing she wanted to raise, I'm getting it good to hit my set and stack her if she can't get away from her big pair or AK, etc. I call and the bb checks. 3 to the flop and the most beautiful of beautiful cards falls in the middle of the board, my 3rd 7. The bb checks, she leads out for 300 and we gets heads-up when I smooth-call. A king falls on the Turn and she leads out again for 300. I raise to 1300 total and without hesitation she pushes! I have her covered and now I’m wondering if I’ve just been out-set’d. If I have, then so be it. I make the call and she’s drawing dead as she tables AKo. The last hand I get is QQ utg, and take it down on the flop.
We’ve off for our first 15 minute break and I’m sitting with 23k in chips. We’ve lost maybe one or two players and I’m feeling GOOD!
L4-6, 100/200/25, 200/400/25, 300/600/50, break
I get KQo twice and lose once with it making a standard continuation bet and win with it the other time, when I flop top-pair. I also take down 2 bb v sb hands against Blake, a player I recognize from my last trip, we’d played against each other in the $660 Binions UPC, a very solid player, who happens to know Shawn Rice. We talk a bit about that tourney and other stuff. He warns me the 2nd time, we tangle from the blinds I take down a small pot with AKo. Then I get moved to a new table.
The VERY first hand I see is KK in late position against a single limper. I raise to 800 and get flat-called. Board spikes an Ace and I know I’m toast. He leads out, betting the pot and I muck my hand face up….image established, either I can be run over or I can make a smart lay-down, he flashes the ace Thank you Sir!
At 200/400/25, utg pushes for 4200, it’s folded to me in the bb with AQs. I mull over the possibilities and make the call, knowing we’re racing. I get no help as his 8s hold up. Turns out, he’s from Tampa also, thankfully we haven’t played against each other, 3 times in one week would be just too much! I’m down know but nowhere near dire straights.
I’d been talking with a very nice lady about playing aces and how she hates to get ‘em cracked, how she doesn’t even want a call with ‘em. Several times in a row, when folded to her, she makes a lp bet and takes down pots without a showdown. She’s around 5k in chips, and I’m getting tired of getting pushed off my blinds. I make a plan that next time it happens, regardless of my hand, I’m going to re-raise her. Doesn’t take but an orbit or two and sure enough she leads out when it’s folded to her but instead of her normal raise, she just min-raises to 1200 (300/600/50). Alarm bells shoulda been going off, but I had a plan, :lol: I raise to 5k straight, per the plan, but I’m thwarted when she inst-pushes. I have to call as it’s only a couple more chips to call and sure enough, she tables pocket aces. I don’t even want to show my cards, but most at the table know what I was doing, so I don’t feel too bad I turn over J7o, and we’re off to the races :lol: I get some flop help when I spike a jack, she looks like she’s going to puke! I cut out the rest of chips getting ready to push to her, doubling her up when I make the suck-out of the day! Unbelievably enough, another jack falls on the turn and with no help, I bust her. We head into the second break and I’m back up to 23k after 4 hours of play! 3 tables are left, 27 players. We’re a LONG way from cashing, let alone the real money for 1-3, time to settle in for the long haul!
L7-9, 400/800/75, 600/1200/100, 800/1600/200, break
I take down pots with JJ utg and AKo, uncontested. I have to fold pocket 8s twice to heavy pf action before it gets to me, and strangely enough, I open fold pocket 9s due to physical tells from a lp player, thankfully I was right
I open-raise from the sb and take it down with 92s I raise with KK utg, then push against a late-position re-raise of 8k. He thinks it over before finally folding. I then push AQs from the bb against a lp raiser, hoping he’s raising light and I was correct and he folds the pot to me. As you can tell, it was all I could do to stay ahead of the blinds, for 2 hours of play, I damn sure didn’t have a lot to work with! We go into break and I’m sitting on 29k, a short stack at this point considering all the brown stacks I’m spying. Only 2 tables left, 15 players. We’re getting close, but that only counts in horse-shoes, hand grenades, and teenage sex….’cause if you got close, you tell everyone you did it anyway
L10-12, 1k/2k/300, 1,500/3000/500, 2k/4k/500, break
I do all I can to stay ahead of the blinds, but it ain’t an easy task. I wasn’t looking to just cash, but finally making a final table after a week of playing would be nice! I keep Harrington’s “M” FIRMLY in mind, and after coming back from break, I know I only have 3 orbits before I go down in flames, losing all folding equity! At a cost of 5100/orbit this is going to be difficult if not impossible, but anything can happen, right? I pick my spots and stay ahead of the blinds open-pushing with 56s and AQs, there’s no more “real” raises for me, it’s fold or all-in. I also push pocket aces, as I didn’t want to alert anyone to my hands, alas, I get no action. Players are dropping off, but again, I’m not looking to just make the final table. I don’t even bother looking at the other table, I’d firmly made up my mind to play as needed to chip up and if “M” dictated pushing, the push I would!
Amazingly enough there are a couple of big hands that knock out players and a bit before going on break, during the 2k/4k/500 level, we form up the final table. Remember though, only 9 get paid. A player brought it up before I could as our table broke about making a “save for 10th” but we had to wait for all players. As we did the re-draw for seats and the button, Anthony, the tourney director brought it up and everyone agreed without too much prodding. We all take out $50 from our pockets for 10th place. They won’t make money, but it’ll reduce to the buy-in by $500, so instead of costing $600 ($550 + $50 save) it’ll end up costing 10th place $100 for the tourney, not a bad deal.
I’m making friendly with the new players at the table, getting names, making jokes and having fun, after all, we’re at the final table, right The kid with hat, sunglasses and headphones, busts when his top-pair is rivered by a straight, ugly, but at least we’re in the money, donkey money, but money nonetheless!
There were a few other memorable hands, like the bubble boy busting when his QJ didn’t hold up against A7, even though he’d paired his jack on the river….too bad it was spades completing the opponent’s ace-high flush. Just happened to be the same player, I had to lay down Kings against earlier!
9-handed, I know all the players names, and am making nice-nice, you never know when it might come in handy I also get a read on why they’re there. Like Frank in seat 1, who was just happy to cash, GOOD info; or Stan in seat 5 who doesn’t care about the money. I’m short, along with one other. With 720,000 chips in play, I only have 30k of them, and that puts me in a bad shape! We’re just about on the next break and I find myself utg with 99. I make an easy push. I get a “good luck” outta seat 1, Frank and right in step, Perry says, “f*** that, bad luck” It’s folded around to Tony, same gentleman from earlier, in late position. He takes his time cutting out my push and finally makes the call. For a slim moment, I think I might be racing, or even ahead, but no such luck. He pushes in the chips and tables pocket aces, just damn! Flop provides no outs, and I’m looking for 2 cards. Turn is another blank and I’m standing up, putting my card protector in my jacket and grabbing my Amstel. But I’m SAVED when the most beautiful of cards hits the river, it’s the 9 I needed and I’m chipped up!
We’d lost 2 players during this time, Frank, the guy that was happy to cash and Mike, a young local who looks about 16, black hair with streaks of blond. Don’t really recall how they went, but I know we were down to 7 as I was hoping to get my blinds in before the break!
I post my 2k sb and it’s 3 way, against a lp limper, Jay and the bb, Perry, a cowboy from Canada who bred and broke horses for 30 years. I’m sitting with 87o and make the extra 2k call now that I have some chips to work with. The bb checks and the 3 of us see a flop. I can’t believe my eyes and do my best to keep my heart from jumping outta my chest when I see the board, 878 all I can do is hope against hope that it hit one of the other players or let them catch up! It gets checked around. The turn doesn’t change a thing, and it’s checked around again! The river completes straight draws and now I have to do my own betting. I lead out for 10k and the bb folds, but FINALLY, I’m going to get action. The lone player left raises to 35k straight and I only have about 45k total, so I stick it in and he makes the crying call, tabling the river’d straight. I roll over the flopped boat and chip up to 109k 2 different players congratulated me on the play, NEVER putting me anywhere near that strong
So with 7 left, everyone is around 100k. There are however 2 players under that mark by several thousand, with 2 players above that mark by just as much. We head off to break and Anthony, the Director, stops the clock as he and Tony start figuring out a chip-chop. It takes a while to figure out, and thankfully in the process, get a bit longer break with the frozen clock. When all is said and done, the figures have us essentially locking up 3rd place money, with some a little more and some a little less. We’re all in agreement, save for one lone hold-out. There aren’t any monster stacks but the holdout does and closer to 150k. He says that we’ve played this long, why not just finish it…I offer him a Cuban cigar, he doesn’t smoke. I offer him my card protector and get a few laughs. I even state that I need to eat to maintain my blood sugars but replies that he just had a granola bar. There’s no convincing him and the table mood has taken a down-turn. I fully understand wanting to play it out, he even stated the money didn’t mean anything to him but after nearly 10 1/2 hours of play, a chop REALLY sounded good! Anthony lets us know, that it’s the last time the clock will be stopped to figure out chop totals, so with no consensus, we start up level 13, 3k/6k/1k.
Ironically enough, the lone hold-out, Stan was nearly busted earlier when he got it all-in against Tony, 77 v AA, and Stan river’d a 7 to take down a nice pot. Both players on my left, Perry and Frank are muttering about busting Stan We play exactly one orbit before KARMA comes back to bite Stan right in the ARSE as he busts in 7th, taking home 5%, roughly $1700 for his 10+ hours of work! As soon as he stands up, I prompt the table to open up chip-chop discussions again and although Tony and Jay have a bit more than the rest of us now, with yours truly at 94k, the figures are tallied with the clock running. At about the 23 minute mark, all figures are out and the 6 of us agree I walk out the door onto the strip, lighting up a Cuban with $4324 in my pocket after tipping out.

Impressions: I was really looking forward to playing this room after reading about it online, but was not overly impressed. It's not really a room at all, it's an area off of the main casino floor and is separated by a low wall. It is actually a bit too large. I played a few times during the week and each time I played only 10% or so of the tables were in use. The tables are very far apart so it feels even more empty then it should.
In terms of the play, I played in only the $1/2 game because my wife wanted to play with me -- or let me say better, I wanted her to play with me! There is a $200 max, which is a bit low AND two things that I didn't like were that they made you post if you didn't want to wait for your blind (some casinos do not make you post) and they do not let you reload if you fall a bit below $200 unless you want to reload back to exactly $200. They are very strict about this. Many casinos are more reasonable, even if they do have a cap. Also, cash does not play here which is a bit unusual. All rooms I have played at let you use $100 bills. Perhaps the higher-limit games are more reasonable.
Atmosphere: Because there is no wall separating this room from the casino floor, it gets very noisey. There are plenty of flat screen TV's and the tables are all nice. My one complaint about the tables is that they use a light cream color felt. The felt on all of the tables I played on was stained.
As I mentioned above, there is almost too much room here. It feel very empty and the action and excitement is missing a bit because of it. If you are an NBA center however and need tons of leg room, this is the place for you!
There is a nice waiting area off to the side with fancy leather coaches which is very nice.
Dealers: The dealers were all very friendly and professional. I normally play in a $2/5 or $5/10 NL game but I was playing with my wife who is a beginner so we played the $1/2 NL game. Most of the people were very new to the game and the dealers were very helpful and inviting to these new players.
Food: They serve top shelf liquor and the very attractive waitresses are quick to bring over drinks. They have two menus and you can eat at the table. With one menu you can have the food delivered to you. You can also order from a nearby restuarant and the food is a bit better -- however you need to walk across the room to pick it up.
Service: I initially wanted to be seated at the $2/5 table, but there was no seat so they sat me at a $1/2 table. However, they never came and got me when a seat did open up. They said later on that they paged me, but in most rooms they will note where I was sitting and come and get me.
They were accomodating a few days later when my wife and I wanted to sit together and they worked it out for us.

Impressions: This room has moved up to the top of my list of favorites. They put a lot of thought into the design, a reflection of this beautiful hotel. The chairs are most comfortable, and the tables are spaced out from each other. I liked the comfortable waiting area, and, of course, a non smoking room is a must for most of us. My friends and I will make this a must stop.
Atmosphere: As pointed out above, this is a comfortable room in every respect and very conducive to a good playing experience. The positioning of all those TV screens around the room seems to be very popular with the typical sporting public.
Dealers: I look for dealers who are professional, which means moving the game along, keeping out of the way, not trying to be other than pleasant. That is what I have found the few times I have played this room. My table mates did not give any trouble, which helps also, because sometimes an inexperienced player might bring out the bad side of a dealer.
Food: I do not drink, so this was not something I paid attention to very carefully, but there were attractive servers around and people were ordering and receiving drinks and food at the table.
Service: I was lucky to be seated within 15 minutes every time I have played at the Venetian, lucky I guess. The managers seemed to have control of the room. I have been told by others that there can be a wait, because of the growing popularity of the room, but there are lists kept, and managers manage to get you a table within a reasonable amount of time. Basically, they treat their customers very well here. It is a first class operation.
Comps: I rarely pay attention to comps, because they do not amount to much, but there seems to be $1 or so, for each hour of play, but don't go by me.

Impressions: Wow. What more can I say. This place is beautiful and so spacious. There is tons of room between tables and they also have a few players lounges that are very comforable to hang out while you wait. Also, if you're interested in plasma screen they have close to 2 dozen of them showing all the sports events.
Atmosphere: Beautiful, roomy, very expensive feel, new tables with light color felt, great lighting, computerized wait list. It's great!
Dealers: They are professional for the most part and know what they are doing. I had one guy who was a bit abnoxious to a few people who were new and a bit drunk, but for the most part very good.
Food: Fantastic. Beautiful servers and they offer top shelf liquor and plenty of frozen drinks. They also serve food at the tables.
Service: Because it so good and getting more known by the minute, the wait can be fairly long. They do have a list on the computer screen which is good. The managers are pretty friendly.
Comps: They have a big bad beat jackpot and I believe they give $3 per hour for their comp program which is really good.