Money buys sunshine - Vegas trip report Part I

[Joe Tall]

I arrive in Las Vegas at midnight of Wednesday, June 28th to find a message on my phone from DeathDonkey. I call him right away and he says, “Yes, we are all here, playing Chinese Poker in the room”, that being my room. I had a comped room from the Frontier booked for two nights. I played some craps at the Frontier when I was in Vegas in April. I was really drunk but not drunk enough to forget a player card and they gave me two free nights in their “Atrium Suites”. The extent of my session was +$3300 at he craps table in April. I guess they wanted their money back. If things happen right, they may get their chance. My tally at the Frontier is +$3300 and now two nights free, running good!

I put DeathDonkey on the room as the boys were checking in early so it was no surprise. I arrive at the Frontier and check in. I head up to my room and enter into mayhem of Jack Daniels, some of the finest poker players on twoplustwo and a Chinese Poker game. The lineup is as follows: Josh (sthief), Rob (Entity), mike l., DeathDonkey, bugstud and bugstud’s two roommates (whom I forgot their posting names (lurkers)). I get settled and head back into the living room where Mike l. says, “Hey Joe Tall, what do you think of this hand?” as everyone looks up at me. Mike shows me: 4d5d6d7d8dTdTcTs2s2hAsQcJh, and I say,

“SHIP IT!”

I crash at 12:30AM intending to pull a “Tommy”. The boys stay up for a few more hours playing Chinese. I get up at 6:00AM, shower, shave, and head straight over to the Wynn. My Tommy works. There is a four handed 30/60 game going and they are stuck, tried, and playing stupid. I proceed to run horrifically getting cold decked and cracked. I leave at 11:00AM down $1500, running bad.

That night we head to Nobhill , a fine dining establishment at MGM Grand of Mike’s choice. I have a tough seat at the end of the table. Mike l. is on my immediate left and DeathDonkey is on my right. They both love to lag it up and I’m caught in the middle. At least Gabe came out and sat on DD’s right. It’s always nice seeing Gabe. I run great. The appetizers were amazing, sushi fantastic, wine splendid (nice job Cardsharkcook!) and the tuna steak was perfect. I run red-hot and tell the Fenway story. It’s a long story folks and it takes the right time and place, sorry. It comes out perfect and puts Mike l .in tears. Then I place the over/under on the tab (without tip) at $2100. DeathDonkey locks up the over for $20. It comes in at $2063 (no I did not know the price of the 10 wine bottles), running good!

The others decide to gamble up a bit. You can read that story here in DD’s Trip Report. We all ascend to the Wynn where we start up a 4/8 mix game. I run the table over for almost five racks of blues while drinking Newcastles like water. By the end I can barely see my cards. I remember owning budstud a few times in Triple Draw, he ran bad. I dragged a big scoop in Stud8. The boys didn’t know what hit them. I was handing the dealers piles of chips as tips, like candy at Halloween, running good. I vaguely remember heading back to the Frontier. However, I do remember playing craps. Suddenly, I’m sobering up. It’s 7AM and I’m up $2200 at a $5 craps table, running good! Talley at the Frontier: $5500 and two free nights, not bad for a place without a poker room, heh.

I sleep it off on Friday with a late check out. I pack my bags and head to the Bellagio where DD has a room booked for us. I play some 30/60 and run very bad, cold decked and cracked. I drop $1800. I’m starting to find that if I have a Red Sox shirt on and/or if the Red Sox game is on (which it was), I shouldn’t be playing poker. It runs through my mind but, bah, that’s nonsense.

I have a conversation with Mike l. about the tournament structures and after I learn about how poor the $1500 events at the WSOP are set up, I state they are “retahded”. Mike says, “what did you say? Retired?” I said no, “retahded, Mike”. Mikes a bit confused, looks at me and says,

“Joe Tall, you talk funny.”

We all assemble again to head to Delmonico's steak house. This will be my fourth trip to Delmonico’s and it will not be my last. Talking with Josh(sthief) on the way to Delmonico’s I find out that he is leaving after the meal. I ask him why. He explains to me that his girlfriend is giving him a little razzing for staying in Vegas. I tell him that he should cut her loose. He explains to me that they have been dating for a long time. I say, “No problem, Josh, we’ll head over to Tiffany’s and pick something out. Tell her you are staying another night.” He says, “I don’t think it’s that easy.” I reply,

“Money buys sunshine, Josh, money buys sunshine.”

We all assemble at the Delmonico’s bar. There are 16 of us on two tables. We head in and get seated. I have an excellent seat with Schneider to my immediate left, fudgenut after him, Josh, mike l., Entity, DD, and Newhizzle on my right. I’ve had Schneider on my left before and I think I can outplay him in this spot. Instantly, I’m up on Schneider as he passes on all the appetizers so I get to double up. I knew this was a good seat, running good! I sampled the Foie Gras and it was amazing. I order the wines with some help from the sommelier. We pick out a Pinot Noir, a Shiraz, and a Cabernet Sauvignon. I know the Shiraz was "The Fight" by Red Car. If I remember the others I will report back as all were excellent. I continue to run great ordering the Anguilla Salad with Strawberries to start, followed by the Sirloin tips and Scallops. I begin to set a tab over/under line when Mike l. throws me a curve ball by order 3 glasses of high-end scotch. I set the line at $1750 but it comes in at $1568 and DD takes the under and we push on the O/Us. Josh leaves early and I failed to bust his ball again but he’s a good kid and I’m sure she’s a great girl. I hope it goes well for him, seriously.

The meal was fantastic and I’m running good. We head out to the main casino where several of the boys get involved in –EV games again. I wait to play craps. I make a good roll and I’m up $350 and no time. I instantly color out. We head back to the Bellagio where I jump in a great 30/60 game and proceed to run horribly. I’m instantly down $1600 in less than 30 mins, running bad. I meet Matt Flynn late that night in the Bellagio poker room. I make some plans to meet up with him for some breakfast, pool side. You ever meet someone for the first time and think you know them already? Matt is one of those people, guess we are cut from some of the same felt. I hope to see Matt I the future and wish him all the best in his new, exciting, endeavors.
I crash about 5AM on Saturday morning, sleep all day as the boys are up and off to play. I feel I need to get back on my game as everything is happening very fast.

Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow.