Sunday Night, Monday and trip home
I'm back home, with a decent keyboard and screen. Ready to complete the daily parts of this TR, then fill in some details.
Sunday night. after pool time, freshened up cocktails and headed over to MGM for happy hour snacks at Emeril's. Had a couple of BAM! cocktails, Classic shrimp cocktail, and Junk Chips (I think that's what they were called) All solid. Next post will feature food pics from this time. After eating, some slot and roulette play at MGM without any exceptional results other than a $200 hit on that machine with the gold coins in the bowl. Minus a hundred on roulette, as my numbers just wouldn't hit.
We went over to the M & M store for gifts for home, then back to Aria where roulette caught up with me again. I have been playing 29 consistently, with 10 on the nose, then another ten on the corners around it. When it hits, it's good, and it did during this session. $400 + payout got me into the black for roulette for the trip.
After relaxing in the room for a couple of hours, we headed out "for a bit" that turned into about 8 hours on the strip with many interesting ups and downs.
First, to Holstiens for burgers and shakes. We shared a Gold Standard Burger, Ahi sliders, rings, Fries, and a strawberry shake. Ahi in sliders--9/10. Slider buns--0/10. Burger was solid, and fries and rings were both fine. Strawberry shake was really good--9/10. There may have been a beer or two in there, as well. I was pretty faded at that point, so it's hard to be clear.
From Holstiens, we walked across the bridge to Planet Hollywood, where I played a few slots while waiting for a 1-2 seat. I played the "firecracker string" slot--two machines side by side with firecrackers that were both fully lit. (this part will become important later). Kicked the jackpot bonus on both machines, but only managed mini jackpots for about $11. Doubled my first 40 in, though, so had a bit extra headed to poker table.
And what a table it was. Basically, it turned into a $10/20 no limit game, as three players were taking turns straddling to $20 from any position other than the button, and $10 on those. There was a lot of money moving around this table, and it took me awhile to find a hand that was playable. I called a $10 button straddle with J8 off, just to get into the game, flopped trip Jacks on JJ9, three-bet jammed and called. He rolls J10 and I'm in trouble, but running AK ends up as a chop. Raised AA to 22 on a rare non-straddled pot and everyone folded.
Mostly up and down between $200 and $350 for an hour or two, when I wake up with two black kings in the big blind. $10 button straddle, so I'm second to act. SB raises to 30, I 3-bet to $75, one MP call, then button jams for $225 ish. Small blind tank jams for $185, and I call for my last $160. MP folds, and we all decide to turn up for the run-out. (Never folding kings in this position, no matter what)
Cards face-up and I'm up against 99 and JJ (all but one suit covered) Good times. Flop comes 610Q, turn 3, river A, and I drag one of my best cash pots ever--just under $800. We had a guy at the table who went a little nuts when someone took a pic, so I didn't bother to take one then.
Shortly thereafter, I called $50 pre with tens, smells like AK. Flop comes 6 J 10 off. He bets $75 with another $100 behind. I jam and he calls. 2 turn and I'm looking good, then the dealer peels off the Q on the river and villain drags a nice pot. Things escalated for most of the guys at the table at that point, with continuous blind all-in bets for big stacks and other silliness. Very fun group, and I would have joined in with decent hands, but my cards went completely dead. Cashed out around 1:30 for $600, then headed back toward Aria. MDM says she's going to bed, so I get a seat for 1/3 at Aria.
Totally different table. In for $300. We are outside of the main room in the tourney area, and there are maybe 5 Russians/Czechs/etc at the table. all drunk, but not the good poker kind of drunk. Table was very nitty, grumpy, and yet another guy actually tried to get a player thrown out of the room for taking a pic of his own chips. A couple of the guys at the other end were tanking 2 minutes over $10 bets hand after hand. They were stubborn, too. Very hard to raise them off pots. Mostly just boring. I dragged a nice pot with unimproved Jacks, lost another with turned straight to rivered flush and drank several bourbons. Cashed out at 3:30 for $280. I made about five table change requests, and was promised a move, but nothing materialized.
**Aria poker room management was disappointing to me this trip. I know it's crowded, lots of movement and confusion, but the list manipulation was ridiculous. MDM was right behind me on the list Friday night, and 45 min after I got called, still had not been sat. She watched them move ten people to the top of the list, then was blown off completely by the manager when she asked WTF was going on.
That's it for Sunday. Pics to be posted momentarily. I will finish later with the last day blues and a very nice surprise.
Cheers!