California / Vegas 2007 - Trip Report - Cactus Kev

Just got back from a short Cali/Vegas vacation.

I was planning on playing at the new Wynn, but wound up at MGM Grand due to time constraints and location.

Anyway, they only had 2-4 and 3-6 limit hold'em games while I was there. Sat down at 2-4, but got to move to 3-6 about ten minutes after sitting down. They also had some NLHE tables, but as most of you know, i'm not a big fan of no-limit ring games. however, after my many bad beats, I may change my mind :) Read on.

Anyway, table was typical of low limit games. many callers, impossible to bluff, lots of clueless drunks.

About 1/2 hour in, I get dealt AsAd. I raise to 6, and it is re-raised, and re-raised again back to me!?!? I ask the dealer if it is capped, and he says I can cap it at 15. So 15 it is. FIVE callers. Flop is all low cards with two spades. I think we all put in 9 that round. Turn brings a spade, and righty gets excited. Now I figure I'm losing to a spade flush, but I have to pay for the river since another spade will give me the nut flush and beat righty. Sadly, no spade. Down $40 on Aces.

The next hand is dreck, but IMMEDIATELY the following hand I get pocket Aces again!?! I raise, and AGAIN there is a raising war with lots of callers. Flop is KT3. I'm still raising. Turn is J. Now I'm worried about someone holding AQ, so I just call. River is a Ace. That gives me trips, but now ANYBODY with a Queen has a straight. Sure enough, lefty was holding QQ. I had everyone beat until the river. Down another $40.

It went pretty much downhill after that. Everyone other than me was the suckout king. Finally packed it in after about two hours, down $150.

However, poker was just a short excursion this time. The real reason for the vacation was for the two manly events we planned of indoor skydiving in Perris, California, and dune buggies in the Vegas desert. Great fun!!

--cactus kev