It's about that time again for the pilgrimage from Chicagoland to Vegas. This year my wife and I will be going for 14 nights staying at the Tahiti Village timeshare (TS) down by the outlet mall. Our annual dues were $965/year so it comes out to $69/night total with no resort fees. The trip will be the same as the previous trips where my wife goes to the pool for the afternoon while I play. We will meet up for dinner and then find someplace to play cards. I am so thankful my wife enjoys playing poker as it allows for many poker themed vacations.

This is a much anticipated vacation as I am coming off rotator cuff and bicep surgery on my dominant arm in February, kidney stones in late April and the news that my job of 15 years is being eliminated in 1 year. Unfortunately, according to my Urologist I need to give up spinach, chocolate, tea, liquor and nuts. Setting my personal record in January with 23 pounds of chocolate (Pixies & Colonial Assortments) in 1 purchase should have set off warning signs Be thankful if you have never had stones and if you have, you know the excruciating pain I am speaking about. If anyone has any job leads in the Chicagoland area or NW suburbs, any help is appreciated.

I was planning on bringing the golf clubs out however my shoulder has not fully healed as I still have pain. The physical therapist said it's at 65% healed. Was planning on hitting balls daily at the TaylorMade golf center and helping other 2+2ers who wanted free help with their golf swings but that's going to have to wait till 2018.

Since last trip in 2016
Purchased subscription to Advanced Poker Training to work on NL
Have been considering signing up for some coaching sessions
Watched countless hours of training videos
I play in a regular home game with a poker vloger (will remain unnamed) who has been mentioned in LV Lifestyle thread
Continuing to build my eBay business
Have lost 20 pounds in weight

GRAPHS as of 1/2016
The only games that were played in the casino are the 3/6 limit, 4/8 limit and 10/20 limit. The rest of the games were local rake free home games.









PERSONAL GOALS for the trip
Exercise 1 hr at the gym in the morning doing cardio
Eat a nutritional breakfast at TS prior to heading to the strip
Mid day snacks
Portion control dinners and not get to out of line
Drink plenty of water (100+ ounces/day)
Minimal if any alcohol

POKER GOALS for the trip
Sweat some 20/40 or 40/80 limit holdem with hole cards . Did this 2 yrs ago with a limit holdem regular for an hour and found it helpful.
120 hrs of poker (average 8.5 hrs)
15 hrs NL (1-2/1-3) most likely at Excalibur/PH
I have not played no limit poker in a casino for over 10 years
105 hrs LH (4-8) Orleans/Bellagio/Red Rock
Table select when multiple games are running
Head over to WSOP at the Rio
UpSwing party
attended last year at the Wynn
I posted a small 4 tournament package on a staking website where I will play if 50% sells. The last tourney I played in Vegas was the first Colossus back in 2015.
6/25/17 $250 $50k in a day $50k GTD Planet Hollywood
6/30/17 $365 WSOP The Giant
7/1/17 $888 WSOP Crazy 8s $888k GTD for 1st place
7/2/17 $250 PHamous Low Roller $250k GTD Planet Hollywood

DINNER (poker room comps)
Cafe Orleans (comps)
Prime Rib Loft Orleans (comps)
Cafe Bellagio (comps)
Noodles Bellagio (comps)
Snacks Bellagio (comps)
Buffett Bellagio (comps)
Giordanos Ballys (2)
Carlos n Charlie's Flamingo (Restaurant.com)
In & Out Link
Musachi off the strip
PF Changs Planet Hollywood
Mirage Buffet (my Vegas)
Noodles Mandalay Bay (my Vegas)
Ellis Island

I will do my best to provide nightly recaps and photos. If anyone is around and wants to say hi, hit me up. I have met a handful of 2+2ers and have had enjoyed the camaraderie.

Feel free to ask any questions or leave comments.

Red Rock reportedly gets 6/12 going sometimes. Did you see it there last trip?

I like LHE, but the problem with playing on such a short trip is it's too easy to get buried and not have a chance to get unburied before the trip is over. I might try Red Rock anyway - I have a couple dollars comps from playing at Graton.

Why the NL at Excal and PHo?

I did not look off the strip last time for games. If we get a rental car, then I will check out the red rock. Have never played there but the idea of 6/12 sounds great.

As for getting buried, for some reason out trips always seem to start off with some loses early and towards the dig ourselves out of the hole.

Was thinking about places that would be more "touristy" to get my feet wet with 1/2 NL. Open for suggestions on places with newer/recreational players with a $200 preferable or $300 max buy in.

I will keep an eye on Bravo to see what games are going along with any promotions.

GL!

BTW you logged twice as many hours on limit then NL, NL still more profitable.
curious why you prefer Limit over NL?

I have always felt more comfortable with Limit in seeing more hands on the cheap and the "loss Limitness" on a per hand basis. The home game play consists of LAG players. It is not uncommon for multiple people to be in for 500-800 in a .50/1 game. This is because most play 1/2nl, 2/5nl or 20/40 LH in a casino setting. The only places in my area that run limit under 20/40 are Potowatami (Milwaukee) and Horseshoe (Hammond IN.). The poker games in Illinois have a very high rake ($8+$1 i think.)

Since limit is a dying game, I am working on the transition to NL. The only place I travel to that has 4/8 with the 1/2 kill is in the Vegas area.

Movado

I have enjoyed your trip reports in the past so I will definitely follow this one. I am still wanting to try a Bellagio cocktail based on your reports. Tough year with the rotator cuff and kidney stones, I have had both but not in the same year. Imo Venetian has the easiest NL games for 'beginners' although I don't like the room as much as I used to.

Thanks for the kind words and the info on Venetian. Hope all is well with your shoulder and stones as time has passed. I have not played there since they increased the rake to $5 + $1 and reduced comps to $1/hr. The BBJP would have helped out 2 yrs ago when my flopped quad 6s lost to a straight flush. Even though drinks will be to a minimum, I am sure the Bellagio Cocktail will get in the rotation.

T-11 days till we hit the felt for some pokerz. Looking forward to the grind and RunGood. Any low limit Holdem (4-8) grinders going to be in town? Anybody tried to grind out the Orleans promo $ promotion with the 75 hours of play during the early morning hours of 2am-8am (bonus 1.5/hr towards promo)? Any reviews on the Prime Rib Loft at the Orleans? My wife loves prime rib and have had a hard time finding a place locally here in the NW burbs of Chiraq. Open to other suggestions.
As much as I don't like to bonus whore, Orleans always had 4-8 games running around the clock. Was thinking about popping off a quick 50 or 75 hrs to start the trip and rake in some of that promo cash.

I might try meet up with a friend who's trying the Monster Stack, maybe I'll try a couple satties. I got beaten like a red-headed stepchild a week ago.

75 hours?? Sounds like torture. Hope it's worth it. I missed a room share when the hold 'em AND Omahaha BBJ's got hit within an hour, waiting for a seat. The Orleans NL is 1/3 and probably not the best for beginners, but not necessarily worse than any other place. I would suggest a cheap NL tournament to start, as your loss is limited going in. Then maybe try some low-key 1/2 cash afterward, maybe Bally's? A lot of casinos seemed to have cranked up the tournament entry prices for the WSOP. Check Bravo. Speaking of Bravo I've been watching Red Rock for 6/12, haven't seen it.

No idea on the prime rib place in the Orleans. Lots of buffets have it too. I don't like prime rib so can't advise.

Movado! Dude, sorry to hear of the bad news year so far; hope it turns around soon. I'll be out there the last few days of your trip. It's a great time to be out there: poker season, ufc international fight week, nba summer league, cosmoprof (if you're in the beauty industry, or just enjoy the eye candy). Hope you catch some sessions at the B with you. There's also a 9-18 limit game going on nowadays there. See you in a few weeks!
-Kim

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Good luck in the satellites. Do you sell the lammers or usually play the event?
Sitting out a hand or being in the room on a wait list when the BBJ hits is like kidney stones. Sorry to hear about the run bad on that.
We may rent a car to look at properties while in town. If so, will consider RR especially if they can get a 6-12 game going.
The 75 hr goal at the Orleans does actually sound like a bad idea. I find the games at Bellagio to be better despite my results there since I have started record keeping. Bravo has only been shooing 1 game as of late and I expect that until it clears out for WSOP ME. Thank you for the info on the 1/3 NL game as well. Send me a DM if your going to be around.

Thanks for the well wishes. We are long overdue and unlike the past, going to have to play somewhere besides the Venetian like last time. Will have to plan a few sessions at the B for sure. I would even be open to getting a game started at Wynn or Aria if possible to mix it up. Maybe send out some tweets/social media and get a game going. As much as I like Bellagio, a change of scenery and food choices would be nice. There is another player from Chicago who I met in LV a few years back coming in for some 4/8 as well.

If we can get you, Pig4Bill, Paul (Chicago) my wife and myself we are at 5 players and a strong interest list for a game. I will try to twist Gobboboy's arm as well over dinner to get us to a solid 6.

DM me when you get in town and we will try to get a game going outside of the B. Have a safe trip in.

Not that many places even run limit holdem anymore, plus since the pots are smaller than NL and you play more pots the rake is even more destructive to the game. I do wish it was still a viable game though.

Good luck Mo! I always look forward to your annual summer trip report of grinding limit pokerz! Couldn't get the wife to sign off this year for a solo trip to sin city while she's stuck with the kiddo. Maybe I can convince her later this year or definitely next year I'll push.

Can't believe I missed your original post back in May. Seems like a cruddy year but hopefully you've put all the run bad behind you. You're a sharp cookie, I believe you'll find a job just as good as the one your currently holding and likely better.

Hasn't been anything I need to worry about this year, lol. Usually if I'm running or feeling good I'll play the event if I have enough time just in case I make it to Day 2, otherwise I try to sell them so I don't feel like a total loser for the trip.

I didn't realize the promo that the Orleans was running was for $300. As long as you're playing somewhere, might as well get the bonus, so that makes sense. Especially if the list at Bellagio is long. Plus your comps have more value at the Orleans. I notice the 4/8 player pool is very diverse at the Orleans, with some super aggro types, so table shopping is probably a good idea.

That is also true of the 1/2 or /3 NL at the WSOP. I've played on some pretty rough tables but I hear that some are really good, so it might be worth a try. No comps though.

That might work, although at times I'll be tied up (I hope) with long runs in the Daily Deepstacks and possibly Monster Stack.

FWIW just about any room will spread a limit game if you ask them and can put enough warm bodies in the seats to play. Not at Bellagio or aria obv because they are full. But Bally's, etc would, and although it would be less visible to others possibly looking for a LH game, TI could be a great choice. Good location, decent casino, and FREE parking.

Lol thats the hat I made for Avoidthe9to5

I'm in. Will text you when I get there. Aria is a fun room that used to spread limit years ago - I'm up for trying to bring it back.

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Dang. Was hoping you could make it out and we could coupon whore it up together all over town 1 day and finish the night off at Musachi for some hibachi. Thanks for the well wishes and hope all is well on your end. Will keep you updated on any future Vegas trips this fall.

I reached out to a contact at Mirage and she (AG) said that they would set up a 4-8 limit game for the group. Is there a weeknight that works best for everyone? Was thinking Thursday 6/29, Monday 7/3 or Monday 7/5? If this sounds like something you want to play, please DM me what date works best and we can try to get the game off the ground. Wouldn't mind putting a 7-2 payout IF it can win a hand.

Definitely need to whore it up I know a stretch of N. LV Blvd by Jerry's Nugget with plenty to pick from. Before that we can crush free play and BJ coupons.

Ha

38 Hours till touch down

Shirt for the trip #maskoff


Feeling good about the trip. Took care of a few things prior to the trip.
If you remember, previous haircuts were $5 and they recently increased to $8.


Drove by the local casino GVC. Have only played here 1 time despite it being 15 minutes from me. The rake is unbeatable $7+1 or $8+1.


Continuing to pay it forward in life. There is something about the feeling of giving back when people are in need. Visited my Moms at the cemetery and stopped at the cemetery across the street to see Al Capones gravesite. I was actually disappointed as i thought it would be much bigger considering the position he was in mob.





Left three fidy for the OG.


The TR will contain mostly pictures going forward. Looking fwd to posting and meeting up with the 2+2rs I have met on previous trips and new people.

What a ripoff! I guess you have to put up with that nonsense when you live in the big city.

Photobucket no bueno from the app....

Can't you just upload here from your phone using tapatalk?

Need to show this to my barber.

I

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Running pure
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The Village $965 for 2 weeks
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