This was my 2nd trip to Vegas for a few days of unadulterated, uninterrupted poker. Went on a Weds and Thurdsay, leaving Friday morning. I had decided that based upon room reviews and the new twice daily tournaments that I wanted to spend a lot of time at the MGM. I got a room at the Tropicana for only $45/night. Anyone wanting to spend a lot of time at the MGM poker room should REALLY consider the Tropicana. It's cheap, close to the airport and if you get in the front tower, it's actually CLOSER to the MGM poker room than if you stayed in the MGM itself. You walk across the walkway over Tropicana Blvd, through a door, down an escalator and you are THERE!

I started with MGM's $60 11:00am tourney. Six tables plus alternates. Ended up with 75 players. The tournament is run just fine. The levels don't jump TOO fast so you don't have to make a huge move right away. But if you don't make a move by the middle levels you are sunk. I caught an aggressive player betting at the pot a couple of times to build a respectable stack. Later I got a little lucky when I turned a 2-pair to beat someone's KK and doubled up. Ended up finishing 2nd to take down $945 right out of the shoot.

Went to one of MGM's 1-2 NL games and sadly lost $200 pretty quick - my last $100 when someone rivered a flush vs. my flopped set. The MGM room was pretty dead on that Wednesday afternoon, but I suppose that's not uncommon. They had 3 tables going and later in the afternoon more tables filled up. Their Sit-N-Go's weren't filling up very fast either.

Came back for their $125 evening tourney. Not as big a turnout, 35 players I think. I placed 7th but needed to be 4th to cash. I slowed it down a little for the evening by playing some 4-8 limit. They had 7 or 8 limit tables going on one side of the room to go along with 1-2 and 2-5 NL games on the other side of the room. As noted in most reviews, the chairs are great, all tables have auto shufflers and service is okay. Broke even on my limit play.

Played the $60 tourney again the next morning. Busted out with about 30 left when my AA got cracked by 77 and he turned a set.

Went back to the hotel and decided I'd stop by the Tropicana's room. The room is pretty weak. For the most part had trouble keeping a full table for their 1-2 NL game. I will say that with only 1 table going though that the room manager stays involved. Vincent was very friendly and helpful and increased my enjoyment. Table was a mixture of young aggressives, some locals and some idiots. A dealer from the MGM came over and I gave him a hard time by pointing him out loudly "Don't mess with this guy, he's a dealer!" kind of thing. He kinda wanted me to be quiet about it so I chilled out and let him play.

I had a pretty decent run of cards. It seemed like most times when I was in a hand I was leading the betting. This was good when people called but I sensed people setting traps so started to slow down. Hand of the night had me limping in with J7 suited with 3 others. Flop comes 77Q. Big blind bets $20 (!), one fold, one call....and I slow play and call. Turn is a brick - first guy bets $30, one call and I'm putting at least 1 of these guys on a 7 with maybe a better kicker, so I just call. River is an 8 so there is a straight possibility but it would've been a gutshot. No flush possibility. The first guy, an aggressive young guy, fires all-in for $95 and the other guy folds. I count out the chips and look at my remaining stack. I had built my $200 buy in up to like $500, so if I called and lost I'd still be up over $100, so I call. He immediately shakes his head and turns over something weak like Q8 for a pair of 8's and I take down the pot with my trips.

I rolled my $200 up to $900 before taking a couple of sick beats. Had AKs and fired a raise to $17 and get 2 calls. One guy had AQ and the other had A5 off suit. Guess what flops? A58 so the donkey gets 2 pair in a hand he never should have called. I bet $30, he raised to $60 and he only had $30 behind so I put him all in. Guy with AQ called too so I lost a big one there. I left with $500 so still up $300 for the night.

Overall basically won the $900 from the tourney and broke even on cash games. A great couple of days. If you want to go to the MGM the Trop is a great cheap place and well located for going to the MGM room.