Just got back from a four day trip to Las Vegas. Every year I go out to stay with my brother when he is working at the National Finals Rodeo; you can't beat a free hotel room and rental car. Played 5 poker tournaments, with 3 cashes. The results?
Sun - Rio noon tourney - 3rd
Sun PM - Orleans HORSE tourney - 7th
Mon - Binions 10 am - 8th
Mon PM - Caesers 10 pm - 3rd $420
Tues - Rio 6 pm - chopped 1st $160
Weds - Mirage 11 am - 5th $196
I was beginning to doubt myself about my poker playing lately. It's been a while since I have cashed in a tournament, so I feel really good going forward. Made some great plays and great reads, and yes, got a little lucky here and there. Since when does luck not factor in the game? Everyone who goes deep in a tournament has to get lucky once or twice during the tournament. So I ain't complainin!
A few memorable hands:
Late in the Tuesday Rio tournament, we were down to 4. I'm getting short stacked and waiting to shove the rest of my chips in. I'm in the big blind with 95 offsuit, UTG called and SB just called. Flop was 9-2-9, with 2 hearts. I shove, UTG calls, SB goes all in. I figure someone is on a flush draw, but hold on a sec. UTG had 77, and SB had slow played AA. No hearts anywhere! I triple up, 3 minutes later I knock out 4th, and chop a little later. Lucky SB didn't raise with his aces. I never would have been in the hand.
At the Mirage, it's pretty early in the tournament. There are 3 or 4 Germans at my table, with 2 immediately to my left. Don't know what was going on, but I figured there were about 10 Germans there playing in the tournament. Anyway, I'm on the button with K5 of hearts, and it's 4 ways to the flop with the 2 German guys to my left in the blinds. The flop is Q-8-2 and two hearts. SB bets $500, BB calls, MP folds, then its to me. I had won several hands previous to this, and I could afford the 500, so I call. Turn is a 10 of hearts. Sweet! SB bets $500, BB calls, I go all in. I figured both would fold and I would get a nice pot. They both call!! SB has AQ, with top pair and the Ace of hearts for the nut flush redraw. BB flopped a set of 8's. All I have to do is dodge any heart or paired board. River is a blank, and I win a huge pot. That helps me get all the way to 5th. A great tournament!
At the Caesers, I'm in the SB with KQ of spades. 5 way unraised pot, we see a flop of A-J-4, with the AJ of spades. I have a Royal Flush draw and I'm sending out mental shouts, "DON'T BET"! As aggressive as this table has been, my jaw hits the felt when it gets checks around. The magical 10 of spades hits the turn, and I'm sending out mental shouts again. This time it's, "SOMEONE PLEASE BET"! No one bites, and the river is meaningless. I bite my lip and check. Aggressive players all around the table, someone has to bet, right? Finally someone bets $600. I raise to $1200, but everyone folds. I have to show, of course. Then everyone starts saying I get $500 bucks extra, but they were just kidding me. That's only in the cash games.
Overall had a great time. Now I have to wait 'til June...and the World Series!
