A quick retrospective on my week in Vegas.
Railbird seems to rather like the place - she has stayed on for the last 3 nights at the Wynn - I hope she will be well behaved without me to keep an eye on her.
I tried a few table games - there were several different ones and got a couple of flukey wins to make me a $1000 winner on them overall.
I played a couple more tournaments - Thursday $550 at the Venetian - unfortunately my Aces were cracked by Jacks - so Aces 4 times this week. One time I picked up the blinds, once I tied with another pair of Aces and the other two times they were cracked. The other tournament was at the Wynn a $200 60 runner affair. I got trapped with a big blind special - one of those typical flops where my hand of A6 of diamonds looked like it had turned into a monster when the flop came 642 with 2 diamonds. However my opponent had limped with 53 and I did not improve. This knocked me down to 600 chips with the blinds at 200/400. I went all in with Q6 on the button after one limper - I was called by the BB and the limper. They had A7 and AT but I hit my 6. A round later I went all-in again on the button with J7 and the BB thought forever before calling with AK - and was suprised I has such a poor hand - clearly a cash game player. I got luck again to hit my jack. So now I had 3000 chips and when I limped with AK under the gun had 2 limpers followed by a raise from the cut off I was happy to go all-in. He called with 45 and got a straight - ironic.
So on poker tournaments I was $1000 down.
On my last night I decide to try a cash game - 2/5 no limit. Got KK quite early so was up to $700 after buying in for $500. However I got involved in a limped pot with 34 in the BB. When the flop came 34K with 2 clubs I led out for $20 pot bet and got 2 callers. Turn was a 7. I bet $75 and one caller. River was T, and now there was no flush. I bet $150 and he reraises me all-in. Oh s**t. I should have folded but somehow the word call escaped my lips - oh dear - he had turned a straight.
I was down to $250 and hoping to get involved with a crazy drunk Serbian who was raising everything and the very next hand I get AT spades in the SB. The serbian raises to $50 (his usual opening bet) in mid position. One call from beardy on the button who has had a few run-ins with the serb. I reraise all-in. The serbian of course shoves over the top for $500. Beardy thinks and calls eventually. I am not surprised to see the serb table T8 but when beardy shows 87 it is a bit of a shock. The dealer, of course, flops QJ9 and no get out for me. I should have reloaded but I had just had enough and slunk off to bed.
So my total gambling loss was $500 for the week - perfectly acceptable.
I would be very happy to return to the Wynn - but not sure whether I will be able to afford it.
...and finally a tip if you fly to Vegas - check in online a few hours before flying back and turn up at the airport about 1 hour and a quarter before your flight time and you won't have to queue for ages.
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
WSOP 2008 - Day 5 - a familiar story
This is becoming a bit of a habit.
When I had my first go at the main event in the WSOP I made it into the second day. In the first session I ended up in a big pot with my opponent needing to hit one of only 3 cards in the deck - he did.
This time I pick up pocket rockets (AA to those unfamliar with the jargon) on the button (last to act). I always peak at my cards straight away so as each player is deciding what to do I am thinking come on raise and joy of joys the man to my right raises to 1200 (blinds are 250/500/with 50 ante). I reraise to 2500 and then the BB, who has a massive stack goes all-in. The original raiser folds and I of course call - confirming the BB's question - do you have the Aces? He has KK but the m*therf*ng dealer flops him a third cowboy sending me to the rail.
I return to the Betfair lounge to discover I am not alone, there has been similar carnage elsewhere.
I rush off to the Venetian where there is a 600 runner deepstack event with buy-in of $300. I just get in before the first break. Unfortunately soon after I lose $2000 of my starting stack of $10000 after making a big raise with TT and continuing on a flop of Q98. With turn K I have to fold to a bet. With blinds 100/200 and 25 ante I call a raise all-in of a short stack who has about 5000 when holding AQs on the BB. His TT holds up. I then move all-in for my last 2500 from late position with KJd, but the BB wakes up with KQ and I am out.
So not a good day at the office....
When I had my first go at the main event in the WSOP I made it into the second day. In the first session I ended up in a big pot with my opponent needing to hit one of only 3 cards in the deck - he did.
This time I pick up pocket rockets (AA to those unfamliar with the jargon) on the button (last to act). I always peak at my cards straight away so as each player is deciding what to do I am thinking come on raise and joy of joys the man to my right raises to 1200 (blinds are 250/500/with 50 ante). I reraise to 2500 and then the BB, who has a massive stack goes all-in. The original raiser folds and I of course call - confirming the BB's question - do you have the Aces? He has KK but the m*therf*ng dealer flops him a third cowboy sending me to the rail.
I return to the Betfair lounge to discover I am not alone, there has been similar carnage elsewhere.
I rush off to the Venetian where there is a 600 runner deepstack event with buy-in of $300. I just get in before the first break. Unfortunately soon after I lose $2000 of my starting stack of $10000 after making a big raise with TT and continuing on a flop of Q98. With turn K I have to fold to a bet. With blinds 100/200 and 25 ante I call a raise all-in of a short stack who has about 5000 when holding AQs on the BB. His TT holds up. I then move all-in for my last 2500 from late position with KJd, but the BB wakes up with KQ and I am out.
So not a good day at the office....
WSOP 2008 - Day 4 - Hugo nearly makes it
Fellow big game player and Betfair team member Hugo was down to only 3000 chips at the start of the second day. He managed to cling on until the penultimate hand of the day before being eliminated - a very good effort. I shall have to match his patience if I can.
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
WSOP 2008 - Day 3 - and Relax
Today is our day off - but no rest for us. We go off to the Las Vegas Outlet mall for cheap shopping and I manage to get 2 pairs of Levis for $60 - bargain. Without wishing to diss the RB this trips takes a bit longer than it has in the past.
Back to the Wynn for a party by the pool in some Cabanas hired by Betfair. RB reports that to hire a parasol here is $400 a pop so I suspect we will not be in one of these again on our own account.
Have got a few links for you:
Bluff magazine report on my day : http://www.bluffmagazine.com/poker-news/WSOP-Main-Event%3A-Day-1d-Recap-1486.htm
Official WSOP update page : http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/tourney/updates.asp
Betfair blog:http://betting.betfair.com/wsop/
After dinner we go to see Love - the Beatles show at the Mirage. I went to this last year but more than happy to go again - it really is excellent. In some ways the show itself is a bit irrelevant - just hearing the music properly is quite amazing - even for an old cynic like me.
Got to get to the Rio promptly at midday tomorrow to make sure we don't miss Hugo's start - he's only got 3,400 chips left!
Back to the Wynn for a party by the pool in some Cabanas hired by Betfair. RB reports that to hire a parasol here is $400 a pop so I suspect we will not be in one of these again on our own account.
Have got a few links for you:
Bluff magazine report on my day : http://www.bluffmagazine.com/poker-news/WSOP-Main-Event%3A-Day-1d-Recap-1486.htm
Official WSOP update page : http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/tourney/updates.asp
Betfair blog:http://betting.betfair.com/wsop/
After dinner we go to see Love - the Beatles show at the Mirage. I went to this last year but more than happy to go again - it really is excellent. In some ways the show itself is a bit irrelevant - just hearing the music properly is quite amazing - even for an old cynic like me.
Got to get to the Rio promptly at midday tomorrow to make sure we don't miss Hugo's start - he's only got 3,400 chips left!
Monday, 7 July 2008
WSOP 2008 - Day 2D - Rollercoaster
After dinner the blinds go up to 150/300 with a 25 ante.
Not much happens for an hour apart from reraising from the small blind with QQ after a standard button raise, which gets me 1500 - then I play a couple of hands with "the King".
Hand 1 - I am getting a bit bored so raise with KQ both clubs from mid position. Unfortunately the King calls from the cut-off and everyone else folds. Flop is Q75 with 2 hearts so I bet 2K - he calls. This makes me nervous. I think he is good enough to fold a heart draw, but may be he has Ah so fancies seeing another card. Turn is a 9. I am a bit of a wuss and check and he does too. When an A comes on the river I check again ready to fold, but he checks too - I show my KQ and he shows one queen too. Not sure if this is a moral victory.
Hand 2 - This costs me a ton of chips - perhaps I could have played it better. I am dealt AK both diamonds in late position and I raise a limper to 2k and the king calls from the button. The limper folds so the pot is about 5k. Flop is AQT with 2 spades. I am pretty sure the king will bet so I check and when he bets 2k I reraise a further 5k on top. He then goes back over the top for another 10k. This is pretty much 2/3 of my stack so I am going to have to go all-in or fold. I dwell for a bit and decide to fold - was this wise or weak - I don't know.
Anyway this means I only have 12k at the final break and when we resume with 200/400 blinds with a 50 ante I am struggling. I manage to limp with KQc and when the flop comes 467 all clubs I call a 1.5k bet hoping to catch a break on the turn - but it is 9d and when he bets 5k I have to give it up. I am now down to 8k and looking for an all-in spot.
At last I get that quality hand K7s and decide to reraise Chris Lee who has limped from late position. I pile all my chips in the middle, everyone else folds and he thinks for a bit then folds saying that he does not think I would not make the move without a strong hand. All that tight play earlier pays off.
A few hands later I get 92 in the BB and when there is a min raise plus call from the SB I decide to take the substantial pot odds and call. The flop comes 876 with 2 diamonds and the gifted amateur bets a derisory 2k. He does not have many more chips than me, so I figure him for a draw, so decide to go all-in. The original raiser folds and he thinks forever before folding.
I am starting to claw my way back when I pick up QQ in the big blind. I decide to just call a 2k raise from GA - I think he is pretty much pot committed so he won't be folding to a raise, so I'd like to see a flop. Sure enough when an A comes he bets out and I make a pretty easy lay down.
Then with 30 mins to go I catch my big break. I have AQ in the big blind and the Milwaukee kid makes a standard raise from mid position of 1500 to go. Chris Lee just calls, so when it comes round to me I decide to push. MK starts thinking and I am pretty sure he must have AQ AJ or a lower pair than QQ - because by now he has a big stack so does not really need to get involved. He mutters a lot and then folds. However when CL calls instantly I know I am in trouble - and he flips AK. I can't believe he just called with that hand given how aggressive he had been all day. However a beautiful laydee appears on the flop for me to suck out horribly and pull in a stack of chips. This is slight justice because he inflicted a similar beat on the king earlier.
I keep out of trouble and on the very last hand of the night I pick up AJ both hearts. I raise and get 2 callers and the dealer flops me a nut flush. Rather stupidly I bet 1500 and everyone folds in a hurry - but never mind I have 32,000 chips to take into Wednesday - yippeee!
Not much happens for an hour apart from reraising from the small blind with QQ after a standard button raise, which gets me 1500 - then I play a couple of hands with "the King".
Hand 1 - I am getting a bit bored so raise with KQ both clubs from mid position. Unfortunately the King calls from the cut-off and everyone else folds. Flop is Q75 with 2 hearts so I bet 2K - he calls. This makes me nervous. I think he is good enough to fold a heart draw, but may be he has Ah so fancies seeing another card. Turn is a 9. I am a bit of a wuss and check and he does too. When an A comes on the river I check again ready to fold, but he checks too - I show my KQ and he shows one queen too. Not sure if this is a moral victory.
Hand 2 - This costs me a ton of chips - perhaps I could have played it better. I am dealt AK both diamonds in late position and I raise a limper to 2k and the king calls from the button. The limper folds so the pot is about 5k. Flop is AQT with 2 spades. I am pretty sure the king will bet so I check and when he bets 2k I reraise a further 5k on top. He then goes back over the top for another 10k. This is pretty much 2/3 of my stack so I am going to have to go all-in or fold. I dwell for a bit and decide to fold - was this wise or weak - I don't know.
Anyway this means I only have 12k at the final break and when we resume with 200/400 blinds with a 50 ante I am struggling. I manage to limp with KQc and when the flop comes 467 all clubs I call a 1.5k bet hoping to catch a break on the turn - but it is 9d and when he bets 5k I have to give it up. I am now down to 8k and looking for an all-in spot.
At last I get that quality hand K7s and decide to reraise Chris Lee who has limped from late position. I pile all my chips in the middle, everyone else folds and he thinks for a bit then folds saying that he does not think I would not make the move without a strong hand. All that tight play earlier pays off.
A few hands later I get 92 in the BB and when there is a min raise plus call from the SB I decide to take the substantial pot odds and call. The flop comes 876 with 2 diamonds and the gifted amateur bets a derisory 2k. He does not have many more chips than me, so I figure him for a draw, so decide to go all-in. The original raiser folds and he thinks forever before folding.
I am starting to claw my way back when I pick up QQ in the big blind. I decide to just call a 2k raise from GA - I think he is pretty much pot committed so he won't be folding to a raise, so I'd like to see a flop. Sure enough when an A comes he bets out and I make a pretty easy lay down.
Then with 30 mins to go I catch my big break. I have AQ in the big blind and the Milwaukee kid makes a standard raise from mid position of 1500 to go. Chris Lee just calls, so when it comes round to me I decide to push. MK starts thinking and I am pretty sure he must have AQ AJ or a lower pair than QQ - because by now he has a big stack so does not really need to get involved. He mutters a lot and then folds. However when CL calls instantly I know I am in trouble - and he flips AK. I can't believe he just called with that hand given how aggressive he had been all day. However a beautiful laydee appears on the flop for me to suck out horribly and pull in a stack of chips. This is slight justice because he inflicted a similar beat on the king earlier.
I keep out of trouble and on the very last hand of the night I pick up AJ both hearts. I raise and get 2 callers and the dealer flops me a nut flush. Rather stupidly I bet 1500 and everyone folds in a hurry - but never mind I have 32,000 chips to take into Wednesday - yippeee!
Sunday, 6 July 2008
WSOP 2008 - Day 2C - Too much Corona at Dinner
Level 2 - Blinds 100/200
I work my stack up to 24k by the second break. This is mainly down to one hand where I raised with 2 red kings from mid position and then just called a pretty big reraise from tight girl rather than recklessly move all-in. When the flop comes 579 with 2 spades I check raise her 2,500 bet with a further 5,000 on top to give her the wrong odds to call if she has the plausible AKs. She folded.
Level 3 - Blinds 150/300
After the excitement of Aces and Kings I get little action in this session. The Milwaukee kid is drinking more and more beer and has one epic hand where he manages not to do his entire stack when holding a Q into a board of AAQ7Q. After this good laydown he gets JJ vs Amir's AQ and they hold up which doubles him up from 6k. He then goes on a bit of a tear up to work his way up to 50k at the end of the day.
I fold AJ twice under the gun and a pair of 8's in the small blind after a reraise - move over Gareth I am now the tight play king. Towards the end of the session I reraise the gifted amateur with AK both spades. So what flop do I not want to see? something like QJ6 with 2 diamonds. He bets 4k into the 6k pot and I make an easy laydown. Given his preflop play and the fact he is playing tighter than me there is no way he could have raised preflop with the only hand I am beating of AT.
At the end of this level we are on dinner break and I dutifully report to the Betfair scorer my stack of 18,000 and they put this on their whiteboard. This is not too bad but I think I am going to have to make a move after dinner so I chose to have a couple of Coronas to wash down the excellent meatballs we are served in the Betfair room as suitable preparation. RB is tucking into the white wine and has been doing good subversive work chatting to the other WAGs on the rail just before the break - hopefully their other halves will be tilting after dinner.
I work my stack up to 24k by the second break. This is mainly down to one hand where I raised with 2 red kings from mid position and then just called a pretty big reraise from tight girl rather than recklessly move all-in. When the flop comes 579 with 2 spades I check raise her 2,500 bet with a further 5,000 on top to give her the wrong odds to call if she has the plausible AKs. She folded.
Level 3 - Blinds 150/300
After the excitement of Aces and Kings I get little action in this session. The Milwaukee kid is drinking more and more beer and has one epic hand where he manages not to do his entire stack when holding a Q into a board of AAQ7Q. After this good laydown he gets JJ vs Amir's AQ and they hold up which doubles him up from 6k. He then goes on a bit of a tear up to work his way up to 50k at the end of the day.
I fold AJ twice under the gun and a pair of 8's in the small blind after a reraise - move over Gareth I am now the tight play king. Towards the end of the session I reraise the gifted amateur with AK both spades. So what flop do I not want to see? something like QJ6 with 2 diamonds. He bets 4k into the 6k pot and I make an easy laydown. Given his preflop play and the fact he is playing tighter than me there is no way he could have raised preflop with the only hand I am beating of AT.
At the end of this level we are on dinner break and I dutifully report to the Betfair scorer my stack of 18,000 and they put this on their whiteboard. This is not too bad but I think I am going to have to make a move after dinner so I chose to have a couple of Coronas to wash down the excellent meatballs we are served in the Betfair room as suitable preparation. RB is tucking into the white wine and has been doing good subversive work chatting to the other WAGs on the rail just before the break - hopefully their other halves will be tilting after dinner.
WSOP 2008 - Day 2B - A tale of 8 Aces
Ok this is the part for the nerdy mathematicians out there (apparently mathematicians are now hot according to Cosmo - so here is your chance).
Dealers work in 30 minute shifts on each table and probaby deal around 15 hands in that time. This dealer manages to deal AA to 2 players in a single hand not once, but twice. How likely is that? References to "more likely than Elvis being the dealer", "England getting a decent rugby team together" etc. etc. appreciated.
Anyway I got to the break with 20,000 chips - the same as we started with. We play each session for 2 hours, followed by 15 minutes off. The first session has blinds of 50/100.
I have decided to play tighter than a tight thing and early I fold to a raise and reraise holding AK suited (I know you would find this easy Gareth but I don't).
We then get the first AA vs AA between tight lady and Chris Lee. Somehow they only get about half their chips in pre flop but they are all in the middle when the flop come Q96 with 2 spades. Dealer makes it interesting when he turns another spade to give Chris a draw to a flush, but luckily no spade comes on the river and they split.
Then about 15 minutes later I pick up AA in mid position. I raise to 300. The button reraises to 1200 - I think Christmas - this guy has KK or AK and I am going to get him. I reraise to 2500 but when he goes all-in and I call flipping my cards over we are all loling (sorry laughing out loud) when we see AA vs AA again. The crowd goes wild - and we split 150 chips between us.
Rather annoyingly I get AA about 30 minutes later and everyone folds to my reraise. It's a funny old game.
Dealers work in 30 minute shifts on each table and probaby deal around 15 hands in that time. This dealer manages to deal AA to 2 players in a single hand not once, but twice. How likely is that? References to "more likely than Elvis being the dealer", "England getting a decent rugby team together" etc. etc. appreciated.
Anyway I got to the break with 20,000 chips - the same as we started with. We play each session for 2 hours, followed by 15 minutes off. The first session has blinds of 50/100.
I have decided to play tighter than a tight thing and early I fold to a raise and reraise holding AK suited (I know you would find this easy Gareth but I don't).
We then get the first AA vs AA between tight lady and Chris Lee. Somehow they only get about half their chips in pre flop but they are all in the middle when the flop come Q96 with 2 spades. Dealer makes it interesting when he turns another spade to give Chris a draw to a flush, but luckily no spade comes on the river and they split.
Then about 15 minutes later I pick up AA in mid position. I raise to 300. The button reraises to 1200 - I think Christmas - this guy has KK or AK and I am going to get him. I reraise to 2500 but when he goes all-in and I call flipping my cards over we are all loling (sorry laughing out loud) when we see AA vs AA again. The crowd goes wild - and we split 150 chips between us.
Rather annoyingly I get AA about 30 minutes later and everyone folds to my reraise. It's a funny old game.
WSOP 2008 - Day 2A - Shuffle Up and Deal
Today was the big day. Had breakfast in Venice where RB discovered the joys of scrambled egg with onion - we thought that was basically an omelette...
Headed for the Rio and had a look around the poker show before kick off. Much more up market than last year - no Dunk the Stripper this time instead a load of speedboats (?). The Aussie millions boys were there but no particular deals for the tournament next January in Melbourne.
Got to my table in plenty of time - I am in an overflow room (the Brasilia) off the main one, but thankfully they have dispensed with the big tent from last year.
My table turns out to be pretty much fish free which helps keep me focused for the day. There is one well known pro - Amir Vahedi - http://www.pokerpages.com/players/profiles/13456/amir-vahedi.htm. I play a couple of hands with him later. There are a couple of big internet players - the guy who I get my dose of good fortune against is Chris Lee http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2007/01/2007-pca-day-1b-ends.html.
I am in seat 9, immediately to the right of the dealer - considered by some to be the worse seat. But actually I quite like it - you can look at your cards with no danger of anyone else sneaking a peek.
I categorise the rest of the table as follows:
Seat 1 - the quiet man - never said a word all day - think he was a Lithuanian
Seat 2 - Amir "the King" Vahedi.
Seat 3 - tight girl - a scots born jewess (as she delights in telling us) who acts absolutely according to the stereotype
Seat 4 - 24 tables - a pokerstars pro - is attempting to become a pokerstars "super elite" player by playing 24 tables at a time on-line - surely this can't be possible!!! I have a freaky hand with him later.
Seat 5 - the Milwaukee kid - drinks impressive amounts of beer during the afternoon - clearly knows what he is doing beneath the drunken bum exterior
Seat 6 - the agressive oriental - Chris Lee - a well known online player
Seat 7 - surfer dude - an old boy of 70 from california - he is an aspiring actor - well voice-over anway
Seat 8 - the gifted amateur - he had made it to a final table a couple of weeks ago and was well happy with his appearance on ESPN. He is a cardiologist from florida - could have needed him at several times during the day
Seat 9 - the actuary - don't mess with him
Headed for the Rio and had a look around the poker show before kick off. Much more up market than last year - no Dunk the Stripper this time instead a load of speedboats (?). The Aussie millions boys were there but no particular deals for the tournament next January in Melbourne.
Got to my table in plenty of time - I am in an overflow room (the Brasilia) off the main one, but thankfully they have dispensed with the big tent from last year.
My table turns out to be pretty much fish free which helps keep me focused for the day. There is one well known pro - Amir Vahedi - http://www.pokerpages.com/players/profiles/13456/amir-vahedi.htm. I play a couple of hands with him later. There are a couple of big internet players - the guy who I get my dose of good fortune against is Chris Lee http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2007/01/2007-pca-day-1b-ends.html.
I am in seat 9, immediately to the right of the dealer - considered by some to be the worse seat. But actually I quite like it - you can look at your cards with no danger of anyone else sneaking a peek.
I categorise the rest of the table as follows:
Seat 1 - the quiet man - never said a word all day - think he was a Lithuanian
Seat 2 - Amir "the King" Vahedi.
Seat 3 - tight girl - a scots born jewess (as she delights in telling us) who acts absolutely according to the stereotype
Seat 4 - 24 tables - a pokerstars pro - is attempting to become a pokerstars "super elite" player by playing 24 tables at a time on-line - surely this can't be possible!!! I have a freaky hand with him later.
Seat 5 - the Milwaukee kid - drinks impressive amounts of beer during the afternoon - clearly knows what he is doing beneath the drunken bum exterior
Seat 6 - the agressive oriental - Chris Lee - a well known online player
Seat 7 - surfer dude - an old boy of 70 from california - he is an aspiring actor - well voice-over anway
Seat 8 - the gifted amateur - he had made it to a final table a couple of weeks ago and was well happy with his appearance on ESPN. He is a cardiologist from florida - could have needed him at several times during the day
Seat 9 - the actuary - don't mess with him
Saturday, 5 July 2008
WSOP 2008 - Day 1 - Drop the pilot
Had a pretty good journey despite the delayed take-off at Gatwick. We were all ready to go when our chief trolley dolly said we were waiting for one more person to arrive - the bloody captain of the ship. We speculated he was still in the bar...
Remarkably the plane was not full so me and the railbird (as my wingwoman Jo Scott will be referred to for this trip) had the luxury of a spare seat in our 3. Even better was the absence of a major queue at customs. RB was somewhat delayed as the person in front of her was pulled off for a full body search, but she resisted the temptation to run through the empty channel in a desperate bid for freedom which could have sent her straight back to blighty.
RB had been speculating about the weather but luckily she had her sweater ready as we emerged into the 41 degree centigrade heat.
Off we went to our luxurious hotel the Wynn and we managed not to mention the war once in conversation with our taxi driver. I am not sure whether we will pull this off for the many rides to come.
After freshening up in a shower with a seating area within a bathroom containing an lcd tv and his and her washbasins, RB declared herself satisfied with the room and the view from 25 floors up.
We headed to the Rio so I could sign in and pick up my Betfair goodies and our VIP passes entitling us to entry into the betfair lounge for free booze, snacks and wii playing. Spotted my first poker celebrity - Annette Oberwhatsit - she is tiny - but wields a big stack.
Found that my aussie poker mate Steve is already here and he is "coaching" a poker babe Lacey Jones http://www.bankrollboost.com/lacey-jones.php. I will now shamelessly name drop the other poker celeb who joined me, RB, Steve and Lacey for an attempted fast food meal during the dinner break - none other than the flying dutchman Marcel Luske. Did not have time for small talk as we wolfed down some rapidly griddled Tapinaki - rather spoiled by the guy cleaning the griddle as we ate with lemon and vinegar and copious amounts of steam engulfing us.
Spotted Gareth's bird (Clownie) - she was looking pretty well stacked.
Saw an absurd hand at Laceys table. Board is showing 77AA3. Bet on the river of 5k raised to 15k which is called. Raiser shows A for full house and caller shows 77...wtf. If you don't go all in with quad 4's you might as well through yourself off the Voodoo Lounge balcony.
Anyway time to snooze at 6.00 am UK time, ready for the big day tomorrow.
Remarkably the plane was not full so me and the railbird (as my wingwoman Jo Scott will be referred to for this trip) had the luxury of a spare seat in our 3. Even better was the absence of a major queue at customs. RB was somewhat delayed as the person in front of her was pulled off for a full body search, but she resisted the temptation to run through the empty channel in a desperate bid for freedom which could have sent her straight back to blighty.
RB had been speculating about the weather but luckily she had her sweater ready as we emerged into the 41 degree centigrade heat.
Off we went to our luxurious hotel the Wynn and we managed not to mention the war once in conversation with our taxi driver. I am not sure whether we will pull this off for the many rides to come.
After freshening up in a shower with a seating area within a bathroom containing an lcd tv and his and her washbasins, RB declared herself satisfied with the room and the view from 25 floors up.
We headed to the Rio so I could sign in and pick up my Betfair goodies and our VIP passes entitling us to entry into the betfair lounge for free booze, snacks and wii playing. Spotted my first poker celebrity - Annette Oberwhatsit - she is tiny - but wields a big stack.
Found that my aussie poker mate Steve is already here and he is "coaching" a poker babe Lacey Jones http://www.bankrollboost.com/lacey-jones.php. I will now shamelessly name drop the other poker celeb who joined me, RB, Steve and Lacey for an attempted fast food meal during the dinner break - none other than the flying dutchman Marcel Luske. Did not have time for small talk as we wolfed down some rapidly griddled Tapinaki - rather spoiled by the guy cleaning the griddle as we ate with lemon and vinegar and copious amounts of steam engulfing us.
Spotted Gareth's bird (Clownie) - she was looking pretty well stacked.
Saw an absurd hand at Laceys table. Board is showing 77AA3. Bet on the river of 5k raised to 15k which is called. Raiser shows A for full house and caller shows 77...wtf. If you don't go all in with quad 4's you might as well through yourself off the Voodoo Lounge balcony.
Anyway time to snooze at 6.00 am UK time, ready for the big day tomorrow.
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Going to Vegas - thanks to Betfair
As you can tell from the absence of posts, I never quite got round to the disciplined approach to qualifying.
Instead after several attempts on Pokerstars and Ladbrokes, I finally got lucky on Befair's $500 buy-in satellite for the WSOPE where the fourth prize was a Las Vegas seat.
I shall be flying tomorrow and here is hoping the trip will be rather cheaper than the stag weekend I went to earlier this year.
Instead after several attempts on Pokerstars and Ladbrokes, I finally got lucky on Befair's $500 buy-in satellite for the WSOPE where the fourth prize was a Las Vegas seat.
I shall be flying tomorrow and here is hoping the trip will be rather cheaper than the stag weekend I went to earlier this year.
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