It’s been a busy week but now that I’m back from Vegas I wanted to share some updates on my poker and dining experiences. This trip coincided with the start of the WSOP, though I wasn’t there to specifically play it. For my wife and I, we make this annual trip so that we can have fun, so sometimes our trip is during the WSOP, and sometimes it’s not. It’s not a poker junket, but rather a true vacation where we do fun stuff together and I also get to play some low stakes 1/3 NLHE on the side.
Quickly, I’ll note that my previously posted thread on possibly playing 1 session with a move up to 2/5 was a “no-go”. All 2/5 games were playing much bigger with an almost constant $10 UTG straddle and huge stacks ($2500-$5000). There was no way my functionally 70bb ($700) buy in could have any chance vs that… so I stuck to my usual and comfortable 1/3 game with the max $500 buy in and a $200 top up in pocket, as needed.
Sunday, 5/24
We checked in to the Park MGM on Sunday about 4pm, and had a great, casual dinner off-Strip at Shàng Artisan Noodle in Chinatown (highly recommended!). It’s walk-in only with a self-sign in waitlist, so be prepared for a wait depending on the day and time. Let the host know if you want to sit at the bar to get a close up view of the noodles being hand-pulled. After dinner I was feeling a bit wired, so I headed off for some first-night poker instead of going to bed.
Aria 1/3 evening session
9:45p-12:45a = 3.0 hrs
In $500, Out $700 = +$200
-a good game with friendly players and enjoyable
-nothing really of note here… just off to a good start!
Monday, 5/25
Aria only had one 1/3 table and a huge waitlist so I headed to the Bellagio who had instant seating for my morning session after spending a few hours poolside.
Bellagio 1/3 morning session
12:50p-3:20p = 2.5 hrs
In $500, Out $500 = $0
-a weak game with little action, but very friendly
-lots of OMCs and nitty players easy to exploit by folding to their big bets, but no real money to be made
-this was my second experience of this kind of game here… I decided not to come back
Dinner at China Poblano (at the Cosmopolitan), one of our favorites. If you make reservations, request to sit at the small “tortilla bar” on the right and watch the ladies make fresh tortillas right before your eyes. My favorite is the pulpo (octopus) taco and the chips + guacamole prepared fresh tableside. There is also a very good selection of Chinese dishes if that’s more your preference. Good beer and cocktail selections round out the meal.
Aria 1/3 evening session
8:45p-11:45p = 3.0 hrs
In $500 + $200, Out $805 = +$105
-things def picked up tonight so I called in to get on the waitlist early
-first table was filled with sullen, quiet players… not my scene so I got a table change
-second table was great; lively conversation with friendly players
-a mix of tourists and “California locals” in for the WSOP
-an early loss or two put me down, but eventually I figured out the table and booked a small grinding win
-I’ll take it!
Running total = +$305
To be continued….
Quickly, I’ll note that my previously posted thread on possibly playing 1 session with a move up to 2/5 was a “no-go”. All 2/5 games were playing much bigger with an almost constant $10 UTG straddle and huge stacks ($2500-$5000). There was no way my functionally 70bb ($700) buy in could have any chance vs that… so I stuck to my usual and comfortable 1/3 game with the max $500 buy in and a $200 top up in pocket, as needed.
Sunday, 5/24
We checked in to the Park MGM on Sunday about 4pm, and had a great, casual dinner off-Strip at Shàng Artisan Noodle in Chinatown (highly recommended!). It’s walk-in only with a self-sign in waitlist, so be prepared for a wait depending on the day and time. Let the host know if you want to sit at the bar to get a close up view of the noodles being hand-pulled. After dinner I was feeling a bit wired, so I headed off for some first-night poker instead of going to bed.
Aria 1/3 evening session
9:45p-12:45a = 3.0 hrs
In $500, Out $700 = +$200
-a good game with friendly players and enjoyable
-nothing really of note here… just off to a good start!
Monday, 5/25
Aria only had one 1/3 table and a huge waitlist so I headed to the Bellagio who had instant seating for my morning session after spending a few hours poolside.
Bellagio 1/3 morning session
12:50p-3:20p = 2.5 hrs
In $500, Out $500 = $0
-a weak game with little action, but very friendly
-lots of OMCs and nitty players easy to exploit by folding to their big bets, but no real money to be made
-this was my second experience of this kind of game here… I decided not to come back
Dinner at China Poblano (at the Cosmopolitan), one of our favorites. If you make reservations, request to sit at the small “tortilla bar” on the right and watch the ladies make fresh tortillas right before your eyes. My favorite is the pulpo (octopus) taco and the chips + guacamole prepared fresh tableside. There is also a very good selection of Chinese dishes if that’s more your preference. Good beer and cocktail selections round out the meal.
Aria 1/3 evening session
8:45p-11:45p = 3.0 hrs
In $500 + $200, Out $805 = +$105
-things def picked up tonight so I called in to get on the waitlist early
-first table was filled with sullen, quiet players… not my scene so I got a table change
-second table was great; lively conversation with friendly players
-a mix of tourists and “California locals” in for the WSOP
-an early loss or two put me down, but eventually I figured out the table and booked a small grinding win
-I’ll take it!
Running total = +$305
To be continued….
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. If you like the Wick Universe, do this… it was a blast!
