The poker gods were looking favorably on me (I thought) when I got the unexpected opportunity to visit Vegas for the second time in two months (note that usually Vegas is an annual affair). Anyway, I arrived at the Mirage on Thursday afternoon and after checkin walked straight to the poker room to play some 3-6. After a 6 hour session, I was $60 down from my original $100 buy in and drunk for sure (I was in town for a bachelor party), so it was off to bed.

On Friday I started at the Monte Carlo for some 2-4 (1/2 kill) action. Again, the cards were not coming my way and with three regulars at the table, there was never much action when the cards were my way. Down $40 from my original $100 buy in, we moved to Paris. I enjoy this room but have had some bad luck with cards there recently. Sat down at the 3-6 table and got flushed on the river three times before I learned my lesson, got up, and drank bourbon at Gustave's with only $20 of my original $100 buy-in. Around 9pm (certainly not in any condition to play poker) I sat down at a 3-6 at the Mirage. Quickly I was up $50 and was feeling bulletproof. With pocket aces I was feeling even more so and was reraising left and right. The river card was a 5. There was already a 6 and 7 on the board. It was me and one other person. Despite the incredible amount of betting that went on during that round (I had been getting reraised by some flush hunters), the one that held on had 3,4 off-suit and hit her straight on the river. I was crushed. I got up from the table. She apologized. I said to her, "don't apologize, it's poker." I went to bed.

On Saturday I woke up with a new attitude. I played 3-6 at the Mirage for two hours and was up $10. Not much but I will take it given the beating I got last two days. I ate breakfast and went straight to Monte Carlo. I love the MOnte Carlo. The dealers are friendly. You run into the same four or five locals grinding it out everyday, and Jim the poker room manager, is the best. Anyway, after two hours of 3-6 I was up $60 and decided to walk with some profit. By the way, I ran into this kid that I played against at the Mirage two years earlier. Didn't remember him until halfway through a hand when I had pocket kings with a third on the board and he was reraising me left and right. I then recalled that this guy wouldn't let go of hands, and in general played every hand he got, and I profited tremendously from that.

With that poker was over and it was time to party with the bachelor. Can't wait to go back.