Two Plus Two Newer Archives - Trip report

I had some business to take care of in Phoenix and southern Arizona, so I decided to drive from the S.F. Bay area rather than take multiple flights. I also needed to bring more crap than I usually take on a trip, which would be a hassle to fly with. I planned stops in Vegas, Phoenix, and possibly L.A. on the way back.

Tuesday 11/28 10 AM:
I finally get rolling out of town on the 550 mile drive to Vegas. My intinerary isn't cast in stone, but I have a room at the Orleans for two nights at $25 per, after the discount coupon I got from the Stardust thanking me for past patronage. Since I'm going to spend a week in hotels, I'm going the budget route.
Tuesday 11/28 3:30 PM:
On I-15 just past Barstow. Damn, these L.A. drivers suck. They remind me how much I hate driving in L.A. and a visit to the Commerce is now very unlikely.
Tuesday 11/28 10:30 PM:
Got settled in and showered and rested a bit. Playing tonight after driving 550 miles when tired as hell is probably a bad idea, so I head straight to Ballys. I am a low limit player, 3/6 to 6/12 and occasionally 1/2 or 1/3 NL and I'm not all that great at those games. All the limit games have lists so I sit down to 1/2 NL. I always buy in short despite everyone's advice to the contrary. I'd rather do that than play with scared money. The players were not horrible but just tended to overvalue their hands. One hand I had top pair but crappy kicker so I wasn't aggro with it. Two others stayed to the river, betting like $10, 20, $30 on each round but didn't even have top pair. I was up over $100 at one point and dribbled some of it back, then quit for the night.
BUY IN: $100 Played: 2 hours Result: +$61

Wednesday 11/29 Noon:
Entered the Caesars tournament. Played my usual crappy game and finished about 25th out of 60. On a previous visit there was an "incident" with a cocktail waitress, and the cardroom management said they would take care of me. I got a dinner comp and chowed down at the Augustus Cafe. Be warned - go there hungry, because they really load up the plate. An appetizer is enough for a full meal by itself. After pigging out I thought I should at least throw some rake back to the poker room so I put my name on the 3/6 list and sat down at an open 1/2 NL seat to wait. The table was tight as a banjo string, and I never got up more than $40. After 45 minutes I got called for my 3/6 seat but I decided to look for greener pastures.
BUY IN: $100 Played: 1 hour Result: - $12

Wednesday 11/29 7 PM:
I go to the MGM in search of the mythical soft Vegas game. I find it... sort of. It was a challenge just finding the poker room. They have done a lot of remodelling since I stayed there a couple years ago. The casino now feels very cramped and congested. I don't like it at all. I finally find the poker room and they have an open 4/8 seat. At last! The crazy loose Vegas game! Unfortunately the chief donator goes bust about 7 hands later and leaves. They said he left several hundred dollars there. Those chips are mostly in the hands of two big stacks just to my left. Great. I get lucky with a few hands and get up almost a rack, then start dribbling them back with unimproved draws, etc. I want to get back to the Orleans before it gets too late so I leave while I'm still ahead.
BUY IN: $100 Played: 2 hours Result: +$48

Wednesday 11/29 9 PM:
The Seamless strip club is right across the street from the Orleans, so I decide to get some free booze playing 2/4 to get in the proper frame of mind. For some reason I have never been able to win at the Orleans, no matter how bad the play. Tonight is no different, but the 7 Heinies I drink just about offset my loss.
BUY IN: $60 Played: 1.5 hours Result: -$48

Seamless was a disappointment. Dark and weird inside and the talent was very average. That didn't stop them from pushing the upsell to the VIP room though.
Cover: $20 Lapdance: $20 Result: -$40

Thursday 11/30 3 PM:
It was a really stupid idea getting drunk last night considering I have to drive to Phoenix today. I'm being stupid on this trip and getting hardly any sleep. I want to stop by the Wynn before my 5 hour drive to Phoenix because I've had good luck there in the past. All the low limits have lists, but 5/10 NL has an open seat. That would be a huge step up in class for me, but I've set aside $800 for "taking shots". I did okay in a Bell 15/30 game on an earlier trip. So I go up to the high limit area to look over the game, and I see Joe Awada playing. Not only would it be cool to play with a celebrity but I'm curious to see how these guys play without tv editing, and maybe I can learn something. While I'm thinking about it I get called to 4/8. Ugh, what a rotten table. A couple local grinders, and even the tourist husband and wife are tight as a drum. Nobody says a word as the button revolves other than check, raise, or call. I can't take it anymore and get on the 5/10 NL list.

My seat opens up and I cash in for $8 profit. I had asked ealier what the buy-in was and she said "$200". They play with $10 chips so I decide I'm going to be baller and buy in for two stacks. The floor comes over to get my cash and I proudly proclaim "$400". He says "another hundred, sir, the minimum is $500". Apparently I had asked what the 2/5 buy-in was. Hmm, I doubt the table is impressed much. I resist the temptation to commit my second faux pas by asking Joe Awada for his autograph. As what often happens to clueless newbies, I get hit by the deck pretty good for 3 or 4 hands.

On one hand I have QKo with the board showing Q high, and call down to the river and win. On another I have Q9s UTG and limp. Two others limp and it's raised to $40. BB calls and I figure everyone else will because the pot is getting big so I call too. Flop comes two spades with a queen, so I have top pair and a good flush draw. It goes check, I bet out $60, and it's folded back to the BB, who calls. Turn is a blank, BB checks, I bet $100, and he calls. River is king of spades and I know I'm good with second nuts or the BB would have raised me by now. He checks, and I get overly excited and quickly bet $200 and he insta-mucks. I'm sure I also gave off a huge tell on the river as well. I'm usually more controlled, but I'm all excited playing with the grown-ups for the first time. I dribble back some chips on unimproved hands until it's past 5 pm, and I've got to hit the road.
BUY IN: $500 Played: 2 hours Result: +$336

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