Posted Thu Jan 25, 2007 1:23 am GMT by Gogie
Just got back from Vegas. I had a great time at the poker tables. Stayed at Bellagio and played 8-16 limit 3 nights (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday). I came out ahead $1300 for the 3 sessions, never suffering a loss for a single session (my daily profits were +564, +464 and +288). I played approximately 13 hours in total, so I made about 6 BB's per hour.
The play was extremely loose, especially Tuesday night, with most hands going to a showdown. It seemed that almost every hand had one or two players chasing draws. Most times they never caught. Tuesday night was my roughest. I sat down around 5:30 pm with the expectation that I would play until the wee hours of the morning, since this was my last night in Vegas. I was getting sucked out on like crazy early on and was down about $450 by 10:00. I had about $150 left on the table and when that was gone I was leaving. I proceeded to get a little luck after that as the table changed somewhat (many new players moving in). I managed to work up to about $350 and then I hit a rush. Basically in two hands I went from being down to getting ahead. The first hand I was dealt pocket 5's. There was one raise preflop, which I called (and 4 of us saw the flop). The flop gave me a set, with an A on the board as well. Since all night anyone with an A was seeing the flop, I figured this could get interesting. I was in EP, so I checked, had a bet after with 2 callers, so I check-raised, with two players calling my check raise (making me pretty sure I didn't have to fear pocket A's as I was pretty positive I would have been reraised if they were out there). The turn gave me my fourth 5. I bet out, was raised by one guy and had the other player fold. I reraised and was called (confirming that I wasn't up against pocket AA's, which obviously wouldn't have bothered me at this stage anyway). The river produced another A. Since I knew the villain didn't have pocket A's, I bet out, he raised (he obviously figured his boat was golden) and I reraised, which, unfortunately, put him all in. I flipped over my pocket 5's and the villain smacked his cards on the table and called it a night. That pot was over $300.
Two hands later I look down and see AA. It was checked around to me in MP and of course I raised. There were 4 or 5 callers (I told you they were loose). The flop was 3 rags, but all diamonds (I had the A of diamonds, so I was quite happy with the flop). It was checked around to me so I bet out and again was called by 3 players. The flop was a brick, so I bet out and was called by 2. The river produced a fourth diamond, giving me the nuts. To my surprise, the first to act bet out! I raised and had two callers to my raise. I turn over my AA's, showing the nut flush and one guy mucks while the other turns over the Q of diamonds! He didn't even have the 2nd nuts and he was in there like a dirty shirt! That pot sent over $250 my way. Those two hands alone netted me around $350!.
I played for a couple of hours after that, working my way up to about $900 (having put $600 on the table) and called it a night around 2:30 am.
I also played a couple of tournaments while I was in Vegas, with no success on that front. I played in a $120 +$100 rebuy at Caesar's on Saturday night. There were 81 players, with the top 9 making the money. I was pretty much card dead all night but managed to hang around for 14th place. The other tournament I played in was the $330 noon tournament at the Wynn. This one only had 31 players, with the top 5 getting paid. I busted out in 24th, seeing my pocket K's get sucked out by pocket Q's when the turn gave him a Q high flush.
All in all I had a great time. I found that getting players for 8-16 at Bellagio has become difficult. They only had one table open the nights I was there and the first two nights they couldn't keep it full after midnight. It seems that everyone plays 4-8 (and that game's a real joke) or they move up to 15-30 (which seems just a little rich for me, although I'm starting to think about trying it out next time I'm in Vegas). The players at the 8-16 table generally were pleasant and I enjoyed chatting it up with a number of them. The good players generally were smart enough to suck it up when the fish sucked out on them, knowing they'd get paid back in spades eventually. There were very few cases of players ragging on the fish, so they tended to stick around. I watched a number of people go through several hundred dollars in no time, continually reaching for their wallets and chasing that dream card that always seemed to elude them. There were lots of players limping with any two overcards, suited cards and connectors, hoping to hit the flop (and occasionally doing so). Any A warranted calling preflop, even if there was a raise. I saw one hand where the betting was capped preflop ($40) and there were 4 players seeing the flop. It turned out not one of them had AA or even KK. The best hand preflop was JJ, with one guy actually calling with AQos!!! I think one other guy had something like pocket 7's and ended up winning the hand when he flopped his set.
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Posted Wed Feb 07, 2007 10:13 am GMT by raisebot
Nice trip report.
Yeah the Bellagio 8/16 game is usually pretty loose, I'd say a little too loose for my liking. It's good when you're running well since you can make a lot of money with that action, but when you're catching borderline break-even cards (TPTK, low straights and small flushes, etc), the excessive action will usually run you (me?) into the ground.
Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 12:23 pm GMT by lwestatbus
Very nice report and also congrats on the win. Nothing like a multi-session win to reinforce the old ego.
I really appreciated your insights into the 'tone' of the tables. The exciting hand histories were also interesting.
Posted Sat Feb 24, 2007 5:47 pm GMT by LCFC17
Ahh the Bellagio, when I go to Vegas I am heading there (big oceans eleven fan  )
Congratulations on your win, is it a nice place to play?
Posted Sat Feb 24, 2007 6:40 pm GMT by Dave B
The dealers are good and the action is fine, but the service stinks. The guy running the NL list wont help fill the limit seats and if you ask a question about something, you get an answer 1/4 of the time.
If you get to Vegas, you should definately stop in. It is the best place to see big time pros and monster stacks of chips.
Not to mention the hotties walking all over that place.
Posted Sat Feb 24, 2007 11:36 pm GMT by raisebot
| Dave B wrote: |
Not to mention the hotties walking all over that place. |
MGM Grand = Hottie Central
a recent medical report by a popular journal cited more cases of whiplash occuring in the MGM Grand than auto accidents, and plane crashes, combined 
Posted Sun Feb 25, 2007 2:27 am GMT by ninetensuited
im heading out that way in 2 months, cant wait
Posted Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:35 am GMT by groton
| raisebot wrote: | | Dave B wrote: |
Not to mention the hotties walking all over that place. |
MGM Grand = Hottie Central
a recent medical report by a popular journal cited more cases of whiplash occuring in the MGM Grand than auto accidents, and plane crashes, combined |
wow im most likly hitting vegas end of next mounth and ether staying at the MGM or at the Excalber but will be playing at the MGM ETHER WAY 
Posted Sun Feb 25, 2007 8:00 am GMT by raisebot
| ninetensuited wrote: | | im heading out that way in 2 months, cant wait |
Make sure to stop by caesars palace. I just got a job dealing poker there, so stop by to say hello and leave me a big tip
Posted Sun Feb 25, 2007 8:42 am GMT by General Sal
Good job. Let us know the next time you're in town. I have a vacation to pay for. 
Posted Mon Feb 26, 2007 1:51 pm GMT by Gogie
| General Sal wrote: | | Good job. Let us know the next time you're in town. I have a vacation to pay for. |
I'll try to remember to let you know - I'd like to pay for my vacation too!
I should be there sometime later this year.
Posted Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:28 pm GMT by nicthestick
im gonna be in town march 24 to march 30
Posted Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:07 am GMT by groton
| nicthestick wrote: | | im gonna be in town march 24 to march 30 |
24th hmm going to any Concerts at the MGM dude?
Posted Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:06 pm GMT by nicthestick
I AM NOW!!!!!!
WHOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!
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