I posted details of my last 2 trips last month, and this trip we stuck more to the places we prefer to play. More details about the players this in this report...

We spent the first night playing 1/2 NL at Monte Carlo. My buddy cashed up $200 and I lost $80 after a few hours. The quality of play was pretty weak.

We spent nearly all day the 2nd day (Thursday) playing 1/2 NL at Monte Carlo again, this time I cashed out up about $250 and my buddy was near even. We ran into literally some of the worst action I've ever seen. Calling stations and just general idiots seemed to dominate the table, the key is identifying them quickly and taking advantage. There was an older woman who beat you to the pot with her call every single time regardless of how much you bet. Bluffing was impossible, but getting paid on your good ones was easy...Of course, the usual frustration with players like this can set in - she called my $40 bet on the flop when I held KK and the flop was Q-8-2 rainbow. She held A-6 offsuit and hit an Ace on the turn. Grrr.

We headed down to TI early Thursday night before going out that night. Spent 4-5 hours there playing 1/2 NL and cashed out up $550. I assessed the play hear to be a bit better, the crowd was younger, and I'll at least say they thought they were better. Picked up a few hands and they paid nicely. My buddy was about even again. While we played at TI, another buddy of ours, who has never played in a live game in a casino, won the 6:00PM tournament at Monte Carlo. I believe it paid something like $900, but he may have been exaggerating. That was hard for me to fathom, and I think it says a lot about the caliber of play. There are several locals at Monte Carlo, they are easy to spot, but I don't feel threatened by their action at all.

Our last day we played another long session, I was slightly down and my buddy won $400. The buy-in at Monte Carlo 1/2 NL is $100min/$200max, and they basically have it all the time. They tried to get together a 2/5 game based on interest, but there wasn't quite enough to get it started.

Lastly, our other buddy played 1/2 NL at the Hilton, said the action was pretty weak. He was up $500 or so last I heard, said the players were friendly and generally no good.

Monte Carlo's management is fantastic. I really like them a lot. The room is comfortable and relaxing, cocktail service is good, and the players are very friendly. If you're looking for laid-back enjoyable and likely profitable poker, its a great place to play. If you're looking for uptight, sunglasses, serious poker, try MGM, Caesars, etc.

This trip was a great one b/c it did not deliver the seemingly relentless barrage of disgustingly bad beats. My buddies and I all left the trip up around $1000 or more from poker. Best of luck to all, hope to see you in Vegas!