First of all, thank you to All Vegas Poker and to the many people who contribute to this site. A one-stop place for all information needed for Vegas Poker is a blessing. Kudos!

This report actually discusses 2 recent trips to Vegas, one in August, one in September. All poker on the first, very little on the 2nd. I will start with my opinions on the rooms and then tell a couple of stories for those who care to keep reading...

I consider myself a good poker player, not great. I do think I can make money consistently over the long-run at 1/2 NL and probably tournaments (though I've played none) as well.

Bally's

It's pretty small, right off the main casino floor, and generally pretty loud. I don't mind it because noise doesn't bother me much, but others may not like that. The players are average, nothing special, but I did find a few donkeys. Had KcJc pre-flop, no raises, so I checked it in middle position. Flop is 10-9-5, 2 clubs. One guy bets out $15 I call with two draws and two over cards. Another call behind me. Turn is an offsuit Q giving me the nuts and the 2nd nut flush draw. Guy bets out $25 this time and I say make it $50. Guy behind folds and original bettor calls. River is 2 of clubs, taking away the nuts, but not worrying me too much. I saw the way his eyes lit up when the Q fell on the turn, so I figured he probably made 2 pair. He bet $50, I raised him all-in another $100, he calls, turns over Q-10 the proudest I've ever seen a man. I flip over the flush (and straight) and it took the dealer 5 minutes to explain to the guy how 2 pair wasn't good. I love it...Broke another guy when I flopped a set of 8's and he made 2 pair on the turn. Overall, I like the Bally's room for level of play and the management is great.

I did have one infurating experience with a player and dealer, however. I get dealt KK and someone raises ahead of me to $20. As its folded around to me, I LOUDLY announce, "raise." I start getting chips from my stack and put them in both hands. I begin to stack two piles of 10 reds each for $100. While I'm stacking the 2nd one, the original bettor says I'm string betting. I told him it clearly wasn't, and I had already announced raise anyway. The dealer, who wasn't even watching, took his side for no reason. I argued quite heavily but settled for a raise to $50 instead of $100. He called me, a no-ace rainbow flop fell and I put the other guy all in. He called me with A-K and an Ace fell on the river. I proceed to rip the dealer a new one and walk out before they could kick me out. A young, inexperienced dealer who wasn't paying attention shouldn't be doing that...

MGM Grand

This is a fantastic poker room. Very big, with plenty of open space as well. It's right at the front of the casino. Some may be bothered by the noise at night, as it is right next to a bar. Lots of big screens with the games and waiting lists. Well-managed.

I think the play here is above average and there are a fair number of locals. However, there are also plenty of people with too much money and not enough skill.

Flamingo

Made one stop in this room, found it to be about average, similar to Bally's although bigger. Not noisy at all. The players were average to poor.

Monte Carlo

This is probably my favorite of these few casinos because I like the feel of the room. It's quiet, set back from the casino in its own room. The level of play is average at best. You can tell there are several locals who know all the dealers and each other, but interestingly, I took the most money off some of them. I think some of the locals are a little too sure of their own ability and can be easy marks (not all of them). I turned my $200 buy-in into $1250 in a few hours playing $1/2. I'm not sure why, but I find this room inviting. Maybe it's because I won the most money there!



That's it for the rooms, I'll tell a couple of quick bad beat stories for those who care to read on.

At Monte Carlo, a guy at my table has won TWO high hand jackpots already today with quads and a straight flush. I have about $120 in my stack, he has a few hundred. I get AK clubs and raise to $25. He is only player to call me. Flop is A-9-3 rainbow. I bet $35 and he calls. Turn is an 8 of clubs, giving me the nut flush draw and top pair-top kicker. I bet my last $60 or so, he calls, and says, "well I'll need some help to beat you." I think he's got the flush draw and laugh. Instead, he turns over 2-5 offsuit, a gutshot straight draw. Everyone at the table laughs and before I can prepare myself, you guessed it, the dealer turns over an offsuit 4. I felt my head start to explode, so I got up and stormed out without saying a word. Don't ask me how.

This next one hurt b/c it was more money. After the turn, the board is A-A-9. I hold A-J. There is quite a bit in the pot and a player on the end bets $50, I raise to $150, he raises my last $100. I flinch and then call b/c of the big pot. He turns over A-2. You guessed it, river is a deuce filling him up for the huge pot.

Last story, I've got my last $120, get dealt AA. Get an all-in for $60 in front of me, I raise my $120 all-in and get a call behind me for his last $90. Original better has AK, guy after me shows K-3. Flop is K-3-2 and guy behind me takes down the $280 pot with a K-3.

I know guys like this are good for me in the long-run, but the short-run sure is a bitch!!!