Day 1:

My girlfriend Celeste and I were schedule to leave on Sunday, July 9, one day after my 21st, to drive to Las Vegas. The plan was to get to Vegas before the start of the World Cup game, so I could sit and watch it. Well, 4 days before we left, Celeste’s mom says she can’t get the 3 nights comped room for us unless she is physically present to check us in. Sigh. She only stayed one night, but, it was a little inconvenient. No worries, we get to Vegas in 4.5 hours, with me driving 85 the whole way. Check-in and grab a bite to eat at a little sandwich place in the Wynn, total cost about $25. Grade: B+.

Wynn rooms: A+, beds were ohhhh so comfortable, pillows fluffy, Egyptian-sheets cradled like a glove, huge tub, huge bathroom, yadda yadda yadda. Cost: Free Grade A+

No poker, we plays some slots (-EV) and get some free drinks (+EV) and go to sleep relatively early.

Day 2:

We drop off Celeste’s mom at the airport at 5:15 in the morning (-EV, ok I’ll stop with the EV stuff). From there we go back to sleep for a few hours. Wake up and head over to the mall, buy some shoes and a new shirt, the girl gets a new bikini and we eat at California Pizza Kitchen.

That night we head out and start walking the strip south, cruising, eventually trying to head to the Aladdin’s buffet (we heard it was good). I guess we didn’t count on it being ungodly hot at 7 PM. I don’t know what temperature it was, but probably 115 from reports of around that time. Not fun. And my new shoes gave me a blister starting and the Mirage.

Walk through the Venetian poker room (nice), saw Minh Ly, Doyle, Barry Greenstein and maybe Gus Hansen playing in a back room. Minh Ly checked out my girlfriend while he smoked, I just gawked, because well, what the Hell are you supposed to do when Minh Ly checks out your girlfriend? He would probably slap me in the face with 100’s if I go within 5 feet of him.

We walked through the Mirage and Bellagio poker rooms, saw Freddy Deeb sitting outside the Bellagio poker room at a bar. Bellagio seemed real cramped and was definitely the most packed room on the strip when I was there. Eventually decided to head back to Caesar’s buffet because we didn’t want to walk any further. Cost: $48 plus tip Grade: B+ they had a small selection but some really good steak, prime rib, and delic pasta made-to-order.

I sit at the Wynn poker room at about 11:30 at their 4/8 table. Seated to my right is a real talkative Canadian, left is super-tight local, and the rest are the usual assortment of loose passive old men, asian gamblers, and tight/aggressive asian ladies.

First big hand I get is KK, I raise, one caller, I bet the flop and the pot is mine. This would be the only time in Vegas my KK holds up, little did I know. The story of the night was big hands making expensive second best hands. I raise with AK and we go 3 or 4 to the flop of AKQ, I end up losing to TJ who flopped the straight. Replay that hand, but I have AQ, I lose to TJ for the flopped straight. I would get KK, QQ, QQ, JJ, JJ, losing them all except only winning a small pot with JJ once. Eeeeshh.

Another notable hand: I get Q4 of spades on the button, everyone limps to me except one so I call. Flop comes 234 with one spade. Action is bet, call, call, call, call, fold, I call. Turn brings the 8 of spades. Action is bet, call, call, fold, call, I call. River brings the beautiful 6 of spades. Action is check, bet, fold, call, I raise, one folds, original lady thinks and folds, Canadian guy makes a crying call and flashes the 5 as I table the runner-runner straight for about a $150 pot.

Last hand I get AJ and raise, loose small blind 3 bets, and I call. Board comes A T 4, two clubs. He bets I call. I really thought he had a bigger Ace, KK, QQ, TT, or a smaller pair maybe. I decided that I would take the way ahead/way behind line and call down, letting him bluff his worse hands and losing the least on his better hands. Turn 8 of clubs, I have the A of clubs. He bets, I call. River brings a beautiful red jack. He bets, I raise, he calls. I table AJ, he shows TT. At least the third club saved me a bet. Ohhhhh well, story of the night. I cash out -$220.
Wynn poker room: A-, good floor, good dealers, a tad cramped, nice chairs. Don’t have those electronic card swipers that tell the floor when seats are empty, I think.