Having played a bit of poker online, decided on my visit to Las Vegas over the Easter weekend to try my hand at the real game.

Went to the Excalibur first (we were staying at NYNY) and joined a new 1-2 NLHE table when it opened. Played for about two hours, and thanks to flopping a straight twice when in from big blind with rubbish cards, was able to come away with a $100 profit. I played very tight so was able to bluff successfully on two occasions, the best one being getting a player with KK to fold when an ace and a possible flush was showing.

Next morning I played in the $35 NLHE tournament at 9am. There were only four full tables and was able to get quite easily to the final table. On the second hand I was dealt pocket queens and a queen came on the flop. I raised just more than the pot, was called by one hand and raised all in by another who had top pair only !!!!!!!!!!!

At the final table I bided my time with no cards to speak of as the others knocked each other out or got blinded out and was happy to get to heads up play. I offered a chop (I was slight chip leader) but it was declined, so we played for a while. Blinds were huge when I got middle pair on a flop and went all in only to be called by pocket aces. Still, $182 for my first tournament was very pleasing. I tipped the dealers at the end only to discover that no-one else, including the winner, had !!!!!!!!!

That evening I entered the $70 NLHE tournament at Caesars Palace, but wasn't successful at all. First of all I got pocket kings after about ten hands and raised preflop about six times the big blind (I was in early position). Some idiot with Q9 offsuit called me and got two pairs to take away about 3/4 of my stack.

Then three hands later I got AQ suited on the button, went all in, and got called by pocket aces in the small blind. No help from the cards, and I was out after 22 minutes !!!

Very enjoyable experience though. Excalibur seemed easy to win at, and I was lucky at the first tournament.

NYNY blackjack provided me with $3000 profit plus all my meals and drinks comped, so a very successful visit to my favourite city.

Thanks for all the trip reports I have seen here, certainly pointed me in the direction of the Excalibur.