Just returned from a long weekend in Vegas over the 4th of July. On previous trips I've enjoyed playing in the tournaments at Sahara, but after reading the reviews on here, I decided to also try the Caesers noon tournaments.

Arrived early Saturday morning and after checking in to our hotel (LV Hilton on a great package from USAir vacations), went over to Caesers for their noon tourney. For $80+$50, the 4500 in chips is the best starting stack I've had in Vegas. 40 minute blinds also made this less of a lottery than many of the Strip tournaments. Didn't get many cards and went out a little after the 1st break. There were just over 120 players and the pool was over $14k. Played a little 1-2 NL after busting out, and won about $60 at the least action NL team I've ever played.

Saturday night I played in the Sahara 7pm tourney ($42+20). Caeser's buyin of 120+100 is a little more than I want to pay. I've played the Sahara tourney several times before and think the 20 minute blinds and structure has been my favorite in Vegas. Didn't get cards and only made it a little past the 1st break. Sat down at a 1-2 NL table and won nearly $100 in about 15 minutes while waiting for a friend to bust out. Played a little 1-2NL at Hilton before going to sleep - only thing memorable was someone flopping a royal flush. He managed to get all his money in on it with a caller and also took a measly $36 on a high hand progressive jackpot.

Sunday I played in the noon Caesers tourney again. Better cards and lasted about 4 hours, busting out in 25th out of about 135 (payed the top 10). Was a medium stack, but need more chips to have a chance to make the final table. Went all in on AQ to a big stack who had KKs which held up.

Monday morning played in the Sahara tourney. About 55 players. Wild play at my initial table with a lot of really big hands. Saw several full houses and a few quads in the first hour. Got short stacked when I got heads up as BB against SB. With J8, flopped J high and went all in only to be out-kicked. Which dropped me to 1 chip. Quadruppled up on the next hand with AJ, and just before being the big blind got pocket KKs. Went all in only to have someone pick up AAs, which held up. Beginning to hate KKs...

Monday night played the Sahara tourney again. Once again played for about 4 hours and finished 14th, just out of the money. Was a solid middle stack after doubling up a few times when hands held up on races (holding JJs and then QQs against non-paired over cards). Player before me UTG went all in for 9k (blinds at 3k-6k), I'm next with about 26k in chips, and find KKs. I raise to 15k expecting to end up heads up. Next player re-raises all-in and one other player considers it seriously for a few minutes before folding. I call and find the player after me has AAs (the other fold was QQs). AAs hold and I am out.

Tuesday I play a bit of 1-2NL at the Hilton. Lose a big pot on KKs with 2 other players - first better had A2, and other caller had 99s. A on the flop and I lose almost a $200 pot. Once again, KKs not helping me. Left to play at MGM. Played well, but hit an unlucky streak where my QQs lost to JJs when he hit 2 runners to make a flush. Next hand I flop trip Js with A kicker only to have someone make a full house on 4th street, and then the next hand I flop trip Qs with A kicker and someone makes their flush on the river. Guess I should play the flop stronger on trips, but then I may not make any money on it. Oh well.

Looking forward to my next trip. Highly recommend both the Caesers and Sahara tourneys. 1-2NL is generally pretty weak competition, and playing conservatively I generally do quite well barring getting unlucky.