Ms. Lucky Duck and I arrived at Green Valley Ranch July 16th for 5 days of fun and relaxation. After unpacking and lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, we headed over to the Rio to check out the WSOP.

The Amazon Room is aptly named with over 200 tables in the room. Single table satelites begin at $125 where you can win $500 chips that are only good for WSOP entry fees. Should you win one and not want to use it, they are not hard to sell for full value. Sightings included Andy Bloch (who had just had a 2nd place finish in the $50,000 HORSE tournament the day before. A $1,000,000+ payday), Evelyn Ng, Freedy Deeb, David Singer, Men the Master, Gavin Smith, Todd Brunson, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson and the Godfather himself, Doyle Brunson. If you're in town before the WSOP ends, go by and check it out!

On Monday I headed over to Caesars for some "strip" poker at their $130 noon tournament I've heard so much about on this site. All the accolades are true! Blinds start at $25-50 with $4,500 in chips to start and 40 minute levels. It's by far the best tournament I played. The dealers were good and kept the game running smoothly. There were 139 players, 10 spots paid with first bringing $5,200. Two decks are alternated, with one in the automatic shuffler, while the second deck is in play. One of the cards from the green deck (Ace of hearts)was mixed into the blue deck and ended up on the board. The pot was significant and the mistake wasn't discovered until after the hand was completed and the pot awarded. The tournament director ruled the hand would stand even though the foreign card had been part of the hand. Another interesting hand later in the tournament happened when the short stack at our table raised 3X the big blind from UTG. A Phil Hellmuth wanna-be called and everyone else folded to me. I looked at my A-J offsuit and called. Flop comes J-J-rag and small stack goes all-in for $4,000. Phil calls and I re-raise all in for $8,500. Phil calls and turns over pocket queens and starts the whinefest! He can't believe I would call with a trash hand like A-J. At least I think that's what he said, I was destracted while stacking his chips! After 4 hours of play, I busted out in 35th after running into pocket aces, kings, and jacks in four hands. A great time and a great tournament.

I moved over to the Imperial Palace for some 2-4 limit. A lot of limping and chasing with mostly tourists playing. Although its a bit loud due to casino noise, I like it better than their upstairs room. There's money to be made at this game. Drinks came early and often with nice some hot waitresses.

Tuesday was moving day as we left GVR and checked into TI. They upgraded us to a suite (nice) and made us feel like true high rollers (which we're not)! I headed over to Harrahs for the 11am tournament ($100 buy in). The blind structure was like most in Vegas tournaments (not good), with 20 minute levels, but I hung on and made the final table, busting out in eighth (they paid six). I like Harrah's poker room, as it is separated from the main casino and you don't have the noise to contend with. Drinks were easy to come by and the dealers were friendly and competent. Harrah's is known for their great customer service and the poker room is no exception.

Wednesday morning I played the ($60) 11 am tournament at TI. The room is small (8 tables) and is in the shopping area of the resort. It is nicely furnished, with comfortabe chairs and several plasma TVs to keep up with the ballgame of your choice. The tournament structure was 20 minute levels that increased rapidly. Again, the dealers kept the game moving and made no mistakes. Once again, I made the final table, but got busted in 9th (they paid 6). There was only one 2-4 game going on while I was in their poker room.

Later that afternoon Ms. Duck and I drove out to the South Coast casino. A nice room that is open to the casino, but it's large enough that the casino noise wasn't a concern. They have several plasma screeen TVs and a friendly and competent staff. The dealers here were probably my favorite as they all had good personalities and seemed to enjoy working at the South Coast. The drinks came often and the waitress outfits were nice! They have some nice high hand jackpots, with a player at another table ($1-2 no limit) winning over $1,700 for a diamond royal flush while I was there! I played $2-4 limit for a couple hours. Mostly locals and dealers from other casinos which makes for a tougher game than most. One hand I played was pocket kings, but ran into AA and lost a nice pot. It's a little out of the way, but worth the drive.

After dinner, we headed to the Aladdin for the $60 buy-in 7pm tourney. I've played in a few tournaments at the Aladdin and found the room enjoyable, but it's one to stay away from until they finish the casino renovations. It's a crowded, loud, roped off area in the casino. The structure was 20 minute levels with not many starting chips. I was card dead the whole night, only playing two hands K,Q offsuit (split pot) and all-in with pocket 7's. I was called by a 10-9 offsuit that paired on the turn and my night was done. I will try the Aladdin again, but not until the construction is complete.

Thursday we drove back to GVR to play. I played in a $1-2 no limit ring game. Mostly locals and dealers with generally solid poker played. I was card dead for almost an hour before picking up pocket cowboys. I had played tight all day, but my $15 preflop raise was called by the worst player at the table (a local dealer). The queen high flop was checked to me and my $20 bet was called. We got it all-in after the turn (a rag) and Ms. dealer turns over K,Q offsuit. Nothing on the river and I take down a nice pot. The very next hand, I get pocket queens and raise the standard $15. This time everyone folds, but it was nice to finally get some decent cards! The GVR poker room is very nice, with auto shufflers, comfortable chairs and good drink service. They had several games going while I was there. If you get out to Henderson (10 minutes off the strip) give Green Valley a try.

A fun week in Vegas. Although I didn't cash in any of my four tournaments, I was pleased to make the final table in two of them and to last as long as I did at the Caesar's tourney. My worst session in ring games was at Green Valley, where I came away +$11, so that helped pay for some of my entry fees. Also won a few coins at video poker, pai gow poker and craps. Can't wait to go back!

Thanks to all who have contributed trip reports, they really helped me plan my trip. Good luck to all at All Vegas Poker!