Day 1:

We flew from Toronto to Vegas, and arrived at about 3pm on Saturday May 12. I was going with my wife, so I knew playing poker 24/7 wasn't going to be an option.

We checked in at around 4pm - after taking a shuttle from the airport (trying to save a couple bucks)- cost $5 each for the one-way trip - tipped the guy $2 when we arrived.

I go to check in - and try the "20 trick". Alas, no luck - the lady tells me they are "full" - her manager was standing behind her, so i have a feeling that was the reason. She says try again tommorrow.

We make our way up to our room on the 4th floor - and open our blinds to our wonderful view - a WALL! But not all is lost, we open one of drawers, to find a bottle of ....lubricant! Finally, we call down, and let the front desk know what we found in our drawer - she is appalled, upgrades us to the 24th floor, strip view, and a free dinner buffet ($60 value).

We spend the rest of the night walking around town - and ate that night at Gallghers steak house in NY NY - i liked this property, good steak! We go to bed early tired from the night.

Day 2:

This night, we have a Cirque show at TI - so again, i know i won't get any poker in... and i'm still kinda tired from the flight (and time change). Poker is coming, I promise!

We spend the day , again, walking the strip - walk from MGM, all the way to the Stratosphere, and back. Decide we don't want to do that again, and with a $8 coupon off monorail, we buy a 10 ride pass for $27 (good deal i thought!).

Day 2 is just spent lounging around, etc.

Day 3:

Let the poker begin! We spend the day sightseeing, a helicopter tour to grand canyon (was wonderful! absolutely amazing), and a couple nice restaruants.

I finally convince my wife that i have to play poker - so, at 9pm, i get on a waiting list (7th name) for a 1/2 NL game - i get seated in about 10 minutes - they had 8 tables going.

I buy in for $200 (max), and play exteremly tight. I finally get A/K suited in position, and raise to $12 (seemed about average). Get 3-4 callers. Flop comes K / 9 / 4 - i bet out about $25 - get 1 caller. Turn comes a rag - i bet out $40 and he calls. I check the river, and he checks behind me - and shows trip 4's. I'm down about $100 now - and i rebuy to $200 again.

It's a little slow for a little while - I see peopled stacking off with Top pair, no kicker- people calling huge raises with K/3 offsuit, people stacking off with pair of jacks with J/8 - unebelievably bad play.

Finally, i catch pocket 7's - button raises to 12, i call. Flop comes 6/7/8 off suits - button bets out, i call. Button bets, i re-raise him all in, he calls with Pocket Aces, and my trip 7's hold out. I'm immediately up to about $400.

Couple hands later, I have Q/Q - someone re-raises to $12, i re-raise to $25, they call. Flop comes 10/7/2 - i bet out, he calls. Nothing comes on Turn, i bet out, he folds- i'm now up to about $500.

The last memorable hand - i Have Q/10 - i flop a straight, and get all in against A/k - my straight holds up - and i'm up to about $700 - i cash out at $790 chips, make about $590 for hte night - not bad!

I have to say the play was VERY bad - a tight aggressive game is definately a winning game - stacking off with top pair is normal - so if you just set hunt, or straight hunt, you will get paid off.

I played till about 3am - not a bad earning for 6 hrs!

Day 4:

Last day in Vegas, we spend the day eating at nice restaurants, and again, i play poker from about 9pm - 4AM - i end up up only $100 after some horrible play from myself (calling with second best hands - was TIRED! and last day, i wanted action) - anyways, at the end of the night, i tip the dealer $100 - because i had a blast the two nights.

Couple stories:
A drunk guy sits at our table - with about $1000 in his wallet - he goes all in preflop every time without even looking at his cards - eventually, he's down to $0 - i'm suprised they even let him play. Then, to my surprise, he goes to play 2/5 NL - ha! (unfortunately, i didn't catch any hands when playing against this guy, and didn't want to risk $200 for nothing).

Day 5: (checkout)

I eventually go out to checkout, and ask if they can comp me anything. My bill is $178 (we charged most things to the room). The lady says "let me check" and calls someone (who is she calling)? Anyways, at the end of it - she says she can comp us $68 - i thought it was pretty good deal! Apparently we earned 700 points at the MGM property (playing slows), and i had 13 hrs of poker - so does that seem about right? I was happy!

That's about it - had a great time - play was terrible in the poker room - and i'm debating moving to vegas and make a good living playing 1/2 NL....

Andrew.