Had to check out this site since I was fortunate enough to be on the profitable side of the aforementioned MGM poker session. I ended up to the right of ALLVEGASPOKER himself. After a seat change, I was between him and his friend with the BIG SLICK hat. (Don't wanna mention any names to protect the innocent)

I had shown up at the table after buying in for $100 at a previous $1/$2 game and arrived with around $400. Several players immediately began grumbling at the sight of my sizable stack and the dealer had to explain that I came from a broken game and wasn't buying in for more than the max.

The game was truly a perfect storm. Just enough solid/predictable players with a smattering of completely clueless players. MIKE the MANIAC arrived and took us all for a wild ride. I thought he'd manage to last about 10-15 hands with his "make it $100 to go" betting style on basically every preflop hand. He ran into KK, QQ, and AA within 6 hands and was busted. His stay at the table was far too short, but I think we were all pretty happy that we didn't suffer a brutal beat from the WILD MAN himself.

The game then got a bit hostile as I was berated for my PokerStars.com shirt and my "questionable" slow play on a small blind hand that I limped in on with 5d6d. After flopping bottom pair and turning trip 5's, I decided to check from 1st position in hopes of getting some action from the drunk/loose contingency on the other end of the table. No takers and a J on the river changed the landscape a bit. I checked again and failed to induce action. After taking down the small pot with my MONSTER trip 5's, the smack talk started. The funniest part was that although I was doing very well on the game, I hadn't won a penny from either of the pseudo-pros that decided to give a constant critique of my game the rest of the way.

The game eventually cooled off a bit and a retired, very "VEGAS" looking, older gentleman was keeping the action going. I was able to take him down with KK against his flopped pair and straight draw. This put me over $1,000 for the night. Not bad at all for a $100 buy in. About 4 hands later and I pick up King Kong again and make it $10 to go. 2 callers see a ragged flop (2,7,10 rainbow) and I decide I'm going to let someone with KQ or QJ catch up. I check, "Old Vegas" bets out $20, player in between folds and I smooth call. Turn brings an 8 and I again check to the aggressor. He bets out $35 and I make it $100 more. I figure if he has a 10, I'm going to get re-raised and he's in bad shape and if that card gave him a draw, which was what I read him for, he's going to pay to chase. He just calls my $100 raise and this confirmed my thought that he was on the draw so I was convinced it was 9x, probably Q9 or A9. The dealer puts out a J on the river which was DOOM for me if my read was right. I check again and OLD VEGAS moved in for about $200 more. Without much hesitation, I folded KK face up and said nice hand. My opponent tried to impress the table and convince me that he made a play on me by showing an A of diamonds only. I asked, "Can we see the 9 now?" and since we had become buddies, he obliged and confirmed that his straight was made. I patted myself on the back for making a great laydown and moved on to the next hand.

I can confirm that ALL VEGAS POKER did in fact get in with the best of it on multiple occassions and seeing him go down with AA against QQ on his final hand of the night was a bit disheartening. But somebody's gotta suffer the Bad Beats right?

My first session at the MGM poker room was quite the memorable one. Great action, good environment and a profitable session makes a return very likely. Looking forward to sitting at the low limit HORSE game they are spreading these days.