MGM Grand
6-10 August
Great Poker Room. Tables are spaced well apart. Tables are nice with automatic shufflers. Bar is right behind the room so drinks (including Red Bull) come fast. Dealers are very good.
Room is well managed and never a wait for action.

I played in 3 tournaments and played in 3 200 buyins at a 1-2 NL table.

When I go to casinos I play poker only as a change of pace from Craps, Slots and Blackjack. I play in home games at least 3 times a week and get all the poker I need without the rake. So when I go to a casino I like to get the action I am looking for mainly at craps. The trip itself was fantastic as all flights went as scheduled and stayed at the MGM (West Wing) without any issues with the room. After arriving Monday I was able to quickly go up 600 on the crap tables and slots. With this profit I quickly bought tickets for David Copperfield and KA at the MGM as this kept my wife very content as it showed her I we would be doing something other than gambling. Before retiring for a nap, I played poker at a 1-2 no limit game, got bored really quickly and left with a profit of $20.

Tuesday we headed early to the monorail. We wanted to see as many different Casinos as possible. So from MGM we proceeded to the following Casinos
Ballys (walked through)
Paris (walked through too early to go up the Eifel Tower)
Bellagio (lost 40 craps)
Ceasars (won 50 BJ also walked around the forum shops)
Mirage (lost 80 craps)
Treasure Island (won 50 BJ)
Venetian. (won 80 craps)
Harrah’s (walked through back to Monorail)
Sahara (walked though to get a cab to Fremont St.)
Plaza (won 20 in a slot machine)
Las Vegas Club (99 cent drinks and deep fried Twinkie)
Binions (broke even craps)
Golden Nugget (broke even craps)
Fremont (won 225 playing craps including my 2nd best roll of the week 27 numbers)
Four Queens (won 250 on craps and slots)
Went back to the Sahara to catch monorail to the MGM

Overall up around 450 from the 7 hours of Gambling in other Casinos. First time to Fremont St and loved the atmosphere of these casinos.

Later in the week also gambled in the following Casinos
New York +250 craps
Hard Rock +120 craps
Excalibur -100 craps
Tropicana - -60 craps.

Tuesday evening played in the $125 poker tourney at MGM (3000 chips 20 min blinds. ( my biggest gripe against tournaments at casinos is that the Vig the casino takes seems very excessive at 25 percent or greater)
Went out quickly before the break playing some of my worst poker.

My luck changed that night as the tables went cold and I went back to poker room to see if I could turn it around. I played 1-2 NL I was very tired at this point and should have went to bed. I quickly lost 300 when my over pairs were beat by nut flush and straight which I just could put the other player on. Went to bed at this point probably even for the trip.

Wednesday played in the 11am tournament $ 65 (15 for the casino). I played extremely tight for the first 3 blind periods. almost getting blinded off. On the last hand before the break I was in the big blind and already decided to go all in with any two cards. Got 1 raise and 1 call and I looked down at AK. Immediately called and caught a K on the flop which held up as I tripled up.

The next hour I went on a heater arriving at the final table of 9 in 3rd place. Finished in 3rd place as my TJ suited went down to KJ. Third place paid $593.

The tournament was very enjoyable and went out to the slots to enjoy a Cohiba and some Makers Mark at the slot machine.

On Thursday played in a 200 no limit before the tournament. Got bored after an hour and left up 60$. played in the tournament at 11 again. and went out quickly when my KK lost to a 68 nut straight.

I was down around 500 for the entire trip when I got up early and went out for some craps before the flight home. In these last 3 hours I lost another 500,
MGM picked up 2 nights of the hotel bill and a couple of meals and the rest of my bill was paid using Borgata Reward points. American Airlines picked up the first class tickets.

Just because the vacation seemed to be over I still won 100 at the airport slot machines. I made it home in time to make the usual Friday night 1-2 NL cash game and won 540. The second Saturday of the month was Poker league with the game this month was crazy pineapple. Went from a chip and chair to finish 3rd, pick up 90$ and improve my standing in the poker league to 3rd Place

A great week of Action. It couldn’t have been better. Saw two great shows, great food and most importantly the wife is already talking of returning soon.