What was supposed to be a trip with my wife to party (and most likely little poker) turned into a poker trip for me when she tore her calf muscle a few days prior to leaving, and she was unable to walk. As we were already on the hook for ½ of our MGM Signature condo, and I was able to get her flight back (used Southwest points, love Southwest) for the first win of the trip, a poker trip for me was in order. I flew into Vegas Saturday morning, arriving at about 9 am. Decided some 3/6 at the Mirage sounded good (I’ve always liked the Mirage room), so I headed directly there after dropping my bag at Signature. Had to wait just a bit, then they started a new table. I’ve always liked the Mirage early morning crowd, as it’s a fairly tight bunch of players and I’ve always found it easy to control the action. After a few hours, I had yet to show a losing hand, and played until about 3:30, cashing out +270. I did get to play the video poker promotion once when my aces were cracked, but made out with the minimum of $50. New promotion with aces cracked or high hand of the hour, players seemed to like it even though I only saw/heard of one spin winning more than the minimum. Went back, checked in, quick rest and dinner, and headed back to Venetian for some 4/8. About 1/3 of the table was some regulars that I recognized – I actually like seeing regulars as I have a very good memory of how they play. Unfortunately, the poker gods were not in my favor – first hand, bb I have 9/10s, raise and reraise, with one unknown guy calling, so pot was right for a call. Flop was jackpot – 678 rainbow. I check, bet/raise, unknown guy calls the 2 bets, I raise, one folder, 2 callers. Next card – 9: I bet, fold, unknown guy raises. I just call, thinking chop, river is a blank, he bets, I call – he shows j/10 off for the win. That summed up how the night went – nothing missed against me, to the tune of -$315. About midnight, I head over to Mirage – nothing happening for the first 3 hours in 3/6, then I start mashing, and leave about 6:30 up $170.

Sleep/Breakfast/Shower, and I’m back to Mirage at about noon. Wash/Rinse/Repeat of previous day session – super soft players plus some fun drinkers (love guys like that – keep the table loose and having a good time, while spewing chips to me), and I dominate to the tune of $320, with no jackpot hands in that. I figured I earned good karma, as there was a newer player to my left who had an obvious aces full hand, and was unaware of the high hand of the hour promo. I told him as the dealer was mucking, and he ended up winning it. I think this is where the Mirage can help new players understand the promos a bit better, as a constant reminder helps. Left about 7 to get some grub, and head back to meet up with my brother, who was able to get a flight in Sunday night to join up on the poker trip. We head to Bellagio (he likes 2/5 NL, I’m strictly Limit). I blah my way to +$25 in about 4 hours of 4/8, and he ends up getting smoked in 2/5.

We head back, get about 1.5 hours of sleep, and decide to head to the Planet Hollywood 10:00 am tourney, with the new guarantees. Ended up being about 34 buyins (couple of rebuys, which they let you do), so about a 2-300 overlay. I do nothing, but my brother ended up taking it down for a cool $1k. I head over to Mirage while he’s still in, and once again own the table – about +160 in 3 hours. I head back to PH for the 4:00 tourney to meet back up with my brother – once again, I do nothing, he finishes 3rd. Overall, I like the PH room (first time playing in), tourney with a small overlay is good but does turn into a shovefest (especially after THE single slowest dealer I have ever seen). After I busted, I get some dinner and a shower, and meet back up with him. We head back to Bellagio (mostly out of convenience – I’m not a fan of the guy who runs the limit desk at night – really sorry to bug him to play in the measly 4/8 game). Not much happening in the first few hours, then our table gets combined with some very soft players that I recognized (including the guy from Mirage where I earned some karma). Nothing first few orbits, then after a bunch of limping, I raise 9/10 off from the button – deciding if I’m going to play a pot, it’s a big one. Ended up tilting a good player when I river my straight against his top pair with an ace (not a great hand, but he was steamed). Next hand, I have KK, flop a set and get called down by 2 players. I just started steamrolling at that point, and the table got deflated after a guy to my right decided to throw his cards off the table when his pair of 3’s didn’t hold up on me (classic “muttering” guy, if you know what I mean) – ended up +230. My flight was leaving at 7:00 am Tuesday morning, and both my table and my brother’s broke at about 2:30. We didn’t want to go back to the room, so decide to head to PH for some Pai Gow. This was the first time I’ve played anything besides poker at PH, and I kind of like the casino – seems pretty lively, even though there weren’t many people there (décor, if that doesn’t make sense). After about 1.5 hours, up $200, my bro up about $400, I head back to the room, pack and fly home. My bro was staying one more day, and actually took down another PH tourney for another grand.

Gambling summary:
3/6: +920
4/8: -60
Tourney: -130
Pai Gow: +200
Cabs, Food: -80

Good news is I got comped 2 nights at Mirage, so my wife and I are heading back the Thursday-Sunday of the weekend before Labor Day – close enough to shopping for her so I might get some poker in :)