Arrived in Vegas 11.50am today, got the VIP treatment from the Bellagio, Limosine at the aiport, my Host waiting for me at hotel entrance, fantastic suite overlooking strip...................but it's all false - they only want to get even for the battering I gave them on Blackjack a few months ago.
Getting the red carpet treatment in Vegas is great, you get everything compted, ring side tickets for the best shows, VIP passes to all the restaurants and big smiles from everyone...........but I always feel like a little fluffy sheep, lost in a dark forest full of packs of wolves (the wolves being my "personal host", "the pit bosses watching me play blackjack" and the "waitresses giving me unlimited free booze and fags at the tables"). We all exist together for the duration of the Vegas stay, but we never actually be totally honest about eachothers motives, which are basically:
- I am trying to get through the trip on a total freeroll, staying in the best room, eating their food, using their facilities WHILE not losing at their blackjack tables
- They want me to lose more than it costs them to keep me in this luxury (and make sure I am not counting cards at Blackjack, which is all but impossible on a 6 deck and 10 sets of eyes on you).
It's a little game that I have playing for the last 10 years when visiting Las Vegas, and I've managed to keep my head above water. I can't remember the last trip I went home losing to "them".....................but no need to temp fate.
Anyway, I managed to get hold of the Poker TD, Jack Mclellen, and part with my $25,500 for the buy-in to the big one. I don't really know him but without prompting he said "Okay Rob, you're in on Wednesday.you got yer buy-in?". These guys are so good, they never forget a name or a face, its their job, and they always make you feel so welcome.
I was wandering aimlesly and jetlagged around the Bellagio poker room trying to find Lawrence Gosney, when someone tugged my arm, it was El Blondie. His table looked a tough one, but he had 80k. He pointed towards a cash game 25-50 NL which he had been battering over last couple of days..........I appreciated the tip at the time, as NL cash is my stongest game (yes - a lot better than my tournament play before anyone sniggers). I sat down with 20k and the following 4 hands sent me to the felt in 45 minutes:
Hand 1: 4 way pot, I call a raise on button with 6h 6c. Flop Ks 6s 2d, every checks, I bet $1000, UTG guy moves all-in for $5000, I call hoping (he has 22) and he hits his spade flush on river with 8s 9s in his hand ($6k down).
Hand 2: I limp UTG with Ad Ah. 2 callers and button raises to $300. I RR to $1200 but noone ever belives me - he smooth calls - heads-up pot. Flop Jc 5d 2s - lovely (if he has JJ - good luck to him). I put a $1400 weak bet representing a missed AK and he moves all-in for $4000. I call, and he has Ks Js, river Jh ..........damn ($11k down).
Hand 3: I raise on button with Qh Th, BB calls. Flop 3h 5h Td (what a flop!), he checks, I bet $400, he RR to $1200, I move him all-in for his last $3k. He dwells and then calls with Kh 9h, flush comes but he wins with K flush (15k down).
Hand 4: I raise Ad Qh in cut-off, BB calls, Flop Ac Qd 2s, I bet 500, he smooth calls, turn 7s, he bets 800, I move all-in, he has 2c 2h ...........- could have avoided that one really, its an obvious set and a stupid all-in by me.
So, an excellent start in Vegas.......................... but I don't mind (much) really losing at NL cash, as I know that in the long term things even themselves out in cash games and I played these hands a big too aggressively cause I was tired from the plane journey.
I'd really love to do well tomorrow in the big one, especially as I let myself down so badly in Dublin. I haven't played at the Bellagio since my nightmare at the 2004 WPT 5 Diamonds when I had over triple average chips on the bubble and decided to move in against the chip leader on a Ac As 5h board (I had with no A...............but he had). For the 2005 5 Diamonds I came over to Vegas, but could not bring myself to play again as memories were still too clear. Anyway, I have written a list of things to do tomorrow to make sure I get through Day 1, and I'll read them at each break. I've been a real waste of space at tournament poker so far in my poker career, and it bugs me a lot more than I let on, it must bug my girlfriend Louise even more, as she gets all the bad beat and poker stories at 5am in the morning.
I'll try and post some updates on the Bellagio BP thread at the breaks, and put on any interesting hands and famous players I see. Will be nice to write a bit about poker, although the $25k buy-in seems a bit steep..................well I guess its nearer $45k now for me, after my "friend", DC, forced me to play in that damn cash game....
