That buck that bought a bottle could've struck the lotto

Returned from Vegas a week ago or so, played the $1K donkulus or whatever it’s being called. Best, trip, ever, even though I have no money left. Came into town with $2500, by day 4 was paying for meals with the credit card. Ah well, can’t take it with you amirite?

I love Vegas, second time I’ve been and the town just has this general buzz to it that’s very addictive. Every time I mentioned I’m from Michigan I got to hear how shitty our economy is. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t pull up the craigslist for LV and browse the job ads.

Played two satellites to get in the tourney feel, a $65 and $125, play was surprisingly not awful. Each time I ended up losing a big pot then shoving a little later with some trash with ~3-4 BBs and running into jacks each time with no help. After that, I sucked it up and bought straight in.

The day of the 1k I felt good, got about 6 hours sleep in which is like 12 in Vegas. First table had no recognizable names, I watched every single showdown and felt I had a pretty good read on everyone. The 7 seat was this strange looking guy with green leather gloves, a bright yellow construction jacket, weird mismatched clothes, and a Phil Hellmeuth card protector. Someone asked him about his outfit early on but I didn’t hear what he said. Anyway, in level two he somehow casually mentions he is Grant Hinkle and won a bracelet last year. I gave up all TV poker except HSP and didn’t recognize him. Shortly after that he loosened up considerably and was attempting to play a lot of pots. Oddly enough he was getting 3 bet quite a bit and was raising or bet/folding a lot. I suspect people just kept picking up hands against him as eventually he did pick up a few pots in later levels.

I played two hands against the bracelet winner. One, I flatted KK to his EP raise. I think I would have 3-bet this 1 hour afterward but it was early on (level 2?) and I had a tight image. Flop came down QJx rainbow, he bet 2/3’s pot and I called again. Turn was an Ace, and I’m still kicking myself because I try to stare at the center of the table live but for some reason I just flashed him a look after that Ace came off. Anyway, he bet 2/3’s pot again and I folded as with two kings out of the deck I can’t put him on a hand I’m really ahead of, except a bluff.

I doubled through someone with a set to his top top AK and had about 5100 going into break from the starting 3k. He immediately left to go smoke down most likely, he had a weed leaf with “home grown” on his shirt and was gone for about 20 minutes. He still had chips and it was the middle of the level, tilt control I guess.

A few hands after the break we are at 50/100 and I raise in MP with AA to 300. One person flats on the button and Hinkle shoves for ~1500 more if I remember right. I tank re-shove to attempt to make it look like I’m isolating but get no more action. So we have a ~4k pot, I table AA, Hinkle tables J7 s00000ted. On some, I can squeeze here I won a bracelet even though my image sucks after raise/folding 3-4 hands last level. Standard board of T938x and I smile while thinking “so that’s what it takes to win a bracelet.”

Down to a little less than 3k, nothing consequential happens over the next hour or so. Eventually Marcel Luske shows up, nods to a few people at my table and sits down with a little over 1K. I believe it was 75/150 at this point. I raise JJ in MP to 400, he flats in the BB. Before the flop comes he mentions “You look nervous” in that unmistakable voice. I smile inside but say nothing as talking live is something I don’t do during hands. Board comes out A64 or something similar, he checks I check. He checks the T on the turn and I bet 300. He calls, the river is a 8 for a board of A64T8, he checks again, I almost positive I have the best hand but don’t think he can call with the last of his chips. So I sheepishly table my jacks and rake in the pot.

My fold equity is diminishing rapidly in level 5 at 100/200. I have a little over 1K without no pots or hands going my way. I pick out a big blind to shove on and do so blind. I get called two spots to my left by KQs which I was surprised to see. I table 53s and the dealer slow rolls me with a squeeze of the flop, door card is the 3, middle card is the Q. We both end up with a pair and I’m out.

I walk around the Rio see a bunch of pros and think of funny/annoying/dumb/appreciative comments to make to them. Of course I say nothing as I’m not that type of guy. I call up my friend and apparently he knocked out Chino Rheem on the 2nd hand. He held QQ and Chino shoved the river with what I can only imagine was either a missed straight draw or some type of pair turned into a bluff. He got a little blog post on poker news and was all hyped up.

Wow, this is way longer than I thought it would be and I’m sick of typing but it’s fun to re-live. Bullet-point time:

-We missed our flight out (F U NWA) so my clock said it was beer and margarita time until our next flight 4 hours later. We played Chinese poker in the restaurant. I was a little tipsy and walked into the Women’s bathroom. I figured it out when there were no urinals even though I passed by 3 women.
-There were two complete attention whores on the flight out who talked about their families, their husbands, aaaaand how they just bought disposable cell phones for their Vegas trip. Now that’s dirty.
-Cash games are definitely my thing. I felt very at home in a 2/5 game at the Bellagio, the players are easy to read and it’s deep enough to be fun. I ran more bluffs here than I would have expected.
-Walking from Bellagio to the Rio is way further than it seems.
-Doing dramatic things on the Roulette table after thinking you are going to bet the min. and be up 4-5 Red Bull and vodkas never works out well.
-In ‘n Out, Bellagio buffet both small letdowns :(
-Dry heat is my favorite heat
-Apparently as a mid 20’s white guy,w/ blonde hair who is dressed in jeans and polo/button down it looks like I do a lot of coke. I was offered to buy it no less than 4 times but I stuck with my Sugar Free Red Bull for stimulants. Which, oddly enough is probably worse health wise.
-I’m awful at Sports betting but NBA playoffs+gambling+drinking is way up there for me.

After coming back I have so much motivation to play as I didn’t get enough poker in. I have around $1K on Full-Tilt and grind on my mind (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTFQc_9S2FM). This should be entertaining to read in a year as I plan on going back. Less of the rest and more poker next time.