Well, now that Adam is out of town, I can get back down to business. As always, it was fun hanging out with Adam (and Mika and his buddy Rob), and of course this means blackjack, craps, drinking, and strippers!

I think the funniest moment is making a failed attempt to get Adam to go the strip club instead of playing cards (casino games) on the strip. Adam's response to my urges... "I'd rather spend money on something I don't feel guilty about..." You'd rather drop $400 playing without an edge instead of $100 to have boobies in your face?! C'mon man! But, it was our last weekend there, so I appeased. And of course I lost playing pai gow poker.

So, about a month ago, I'd been struggling to get everything going online, then I just took a break with Adam in town. I got back into action two days ago on the 1/2NL game at the Venetian. Crazy... I'd pulled out the biggest win in one session... $700 in about 5 hours. My biggest read in that night was when a complete donk sat at the table. This is the guy you dream about... I stacked him in one hand when I was holding and the flop came ... he'd raise $15 or so, and three or more would call. On that hand, I bet he raised, I call... the whole time he's talking about how you shouldn't call unless you have the full house. The turn was a and I pushed... he thinks and thinks then calls. River's a brick, and sure enough he can't beat a pair of 9s! I remember seeing him call this ridiculous hand... basically, someone moved in with queen,jack overcards, and he calls with 10 4... unbelievable!

Unfortunately, the next night I'd lost $400 of it back... basically my ace queen vs. an ace king & my flopped set lose allin on the flop to a turn card straight. Oh well. I think the hand I was most proud of though was against this one solid kid. Played good cards, but I did notice that he would fold on the river to a solid $40 or $50 bet, even if the pot was laying 3:1.

In one hand he basically had top pair of 8s with a two pair/flush draw. (He's holding 8-9 suited.) He calls a $40 bet from me, and my stack was something like $75 left. The river's a brick, and he checks to me. Now, I'm thinking I might not be able to push him off his hand... I think he had a pair. All I have though is . I ask him, "Are you on a draw?" He remains quiet. I figure with a pot already at $120, I can't stop him, so I tell him, "Well, I think I'll give you a free card, just in case." The river does not complete a flush. So, he checks, and I quickly bet $50. I figure he understands that I'm trying to get value out of an over pair if I have it. 8 is the highest card on the board. He keeps thinking and thinking and wondering why I didn't instead move in for the whole amount... I leave myself only $25. Looks like a value bet right?! Well, at one point, I do begin my banter, as we'd already been talking and bluffing and showing each other bluffs. Basically, I said I bet because I want a call and I give him the "bring it on hand motion"... it begs him to call... kind of looks like Keanu Reeves on the matrix motioning to Agent Smith to attack. I tell you...acting without acting in that spot is not easy. Of course, I don't want him to call, and for him to think this long means he has some kind of pair.

Well, he fold his eight and I show my . Oh, man! He was definitely steaming. I don't think he was mad at me, just mad that he didn't call my bluff. Nice guy that I am, I do make the greatest compliment I could make. I told him, "I wouldn't have made that play on the river if you weren't a very good player." It kind of eased him up a bit, but even then still, he would look at me (he's in seat 10 and I'm in seat 6... notice everyone's seeing what I'm capable of) and I could still feel him seething from the bluff. I still ended up stuck for the day, but still up $250 in two days play.