Hey LVL. I’m going to attempt a live TR for my trip Thursday, 3/28 - 3/31.

tl;dr:
• 20-year poker rec, first solo LV trip
•Planning to play WSOPC event #13 $1.1K mystery bounty
• Low stakes Cash and tournaments
• Good blackjack games
• Good food

I’m your typical late-30s guy who became obsessed with poker in the Moneymaker boom but never had the combo of talent, bankroll or commitment required to make it anything more than a hobby. But I do love the game, and I love the feeling of a long-booked LV trip finally arriving.

I’ve lived in Phoenix since 2010 and have made the quick trip north at least once a year since then, including almost every Labor Day weekend to meet up with my fantasy football league. This will be the first time that I am going solo and I really couldn’t be more ready for it. Rather than risk sounding ungrateful for what is a very nice life, I’ll just say I need a short break from work, dad duties, house maintenance, and just the daily grind.

I booked the trip because the hotel prices were relatively low at the time. I’ll be at Harrah’s for about $100 a night, all in. I was mainly interested in being around for March Madness, but I realized that the WSOP circuit will be at Horseshoe overlapping my stay, too. I’ve never played in a WSOP event, circuit or otherwise. Why not now? The only event that really makes sense for my stay is the 2-day mystery bounty - and maybe the $400 turbo on saturday. For anyone with experience playing in Horseshoe’s tournament area, I welcome any advice.

To be clear, those entry fees are well above my norm. I play the daily $100 - $200 MTTs at my local room once a month or so. So there will definitely be pressure, but I feel like taking a shot and lol donkaments and whatnot.

Other activities will include low level cash and tournaments, pits and sports. I’m hoping to visit a few restaurants based on reviews here, as well.

Have fun!

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Welcome to the forums. Looking forward to the TR!

The flight from PHX to LAS is always easy, less than an hour in the air.

I have to admit that the 5-hour car ride has a sort of romantic appeal about it, though. It’s just short enough to feel doable, and long enough to feel like a road trip. When made with good company, it can be as enjoyable as the time in LV, itself - and more enjoyable on those really tough stays. I suppose a root canal is more enjoyable than those ones. There’s something about driving through the American southwest with big plans that feels nostalgic and maybe a bit wistful.

I’ve made the solo drive before, which has its own meditative appeal, but this time opted for the quick flight. The scenery is nice from the sky, too. On the way to Harrah’s to drop off bag, grab a bite and play some cards until the room is ready.

Pictured: Camelback Mountain (foreground), Hoover Dam, tarmac view of the south strip









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I have great, nostalgic memories of making the drive from L.A. to Vegas with my family as a kid. We would always stop at this Hungarian sausage place on the way and somewhere that had some awesome bread we would just demolish in the car on the way. The drive back was, of course, always much worse.

I've made the drive a few times with others as an adult and agree it has its own appeal, too.

Good luck

Great start! Have a fantastic time.

Run good in the WSOPC event. Good luck, have fun!

Dropped luggage and walked to Venetian. Strip was quiet (9AM). It still hurts to walk past Casino Royale. It was such a unique spot years ago. Dimly lit with low ceilings, single deck, max odds craps, dealers with personalities, eager drink servers… The type of vibe the average Vegas visitor may not realize they enjoy until they experience it.

Venetian was quiet when I walked in but foot traffic definitely picked up around 10. Grand Lux was the breakfast choice. I ordered short rib Benedict, which was fine. Flavor and texture were there but I wonder if it sat off heat, because the temperature seemed too low. With coffee and a tip, was about $35 all in. 5/10.




Venetian only had 2 and a half cash games running so I opted to walk to Treasure Island in search of a good blackjack game. They had two $10 min, 2 deck 3/2 tables running. I played solo for about an hour, had a couple good shoes with a great dealer named Mark. My best run was after he gave me some coaching about adding $5 to your bet each consecutive win and I employed the strategy to great success. He seemed satisfied with himself in helping me win, which is always good.

BJ +$167

Sitting at Venetian 1/3 now.

Glad it worked out for you, but his "coaching" was designed to get you to bet more, which earns the house more in the long run. What makes Mark a great dealer is that he accomplished that while putting a smile on your face

Ha, yeah. It was sort of tongue-in-cheek. I am comfortable w BJ strat and reverse Martingale, etc. He told me early on that dealers share tips there. After I won 3 straight min bets he explained that if he were working for his own tips he would coach players (including his “add $5” strategy). I appreciated the effort so I ran with it for fun. Reverse Martingale would have printed but what can ya do.

Great start to your trip report. Love the memories you are sharing. Keep ‘em coming!

Good luck!

At first, the Venetian game was a good one, based on my recent experiences with Vegas and AZ cash. Not splashy, but not nitty. Good mix of rec players, some needing rule reminders, which seems more and more rare in today’s games.

I was pretty active for the first two hours, but hovering around buy in. I lost a chunk when I paid off a short player’s turn all in w AK on a K high board where he turned 2p. It was a SRP where I just called from early position and created a cascade multiway pot. I raised flop but it wasn’t enough to fold out K7. Good example of bad rec tendencies hurting me, need to be comfortable 3betting pf.

I called for backup.





It was ineffective.

The game turned into a more traditional nitty 1/3 game as players churned through. I also went card dead and just don’t have the creativity to navigate those runs. I was probably playing too weak tight in general, but no one was really showing down out of line. Eventually I punted my last $100 with AJo on a QT6 board. HJ was an active player and raised to 10 after 2 limpers. I 3b to $25 from the button attempting to get HU vs him and hopefully find a flop to jam but instead the two limpers called and HJ folded. Checked to me so I shoved and one called w 66. Gg

Out -$300.

Overall experience with Venetian room was okay. We had the room manager dealing our game for about a half hour due to bad planning, apparently. He was cool (and couldn’t accept tips) but service was slow, in general. The drink server was working hard but covering a lot of ground working alone. Chip runners were notably slow. But the vibes were pretty good for the first 2 hours, less so the last 2. They have a “mystery” high hand every half hour where winner can pick an envelope (max $10k) and if they want to risk it, choose to pick for a $50k, $25k, etc but the second round has “$0” envelopes and they make up like 90%.

I walked to Tacos el Gordo and had a few asada tacos, which were great. 9/10. First time here, would come again. Room should be ready now so I’m gonna regroup and make a plan for tonight.

GL GL nice to have you here! thanks for sharing

Mobile check in went smoothly, no waiting in line. My room looks directly out to the pool from a floor up. I’m in the Mountain tower at Harrah’s and the room seems new. No complaints other than no coffee maker.

I passed out for an hour then checked on my two sports bets - both bricked (Bucks -1.5 and SDSU +12). -$50

With the tournament planned for tomorrow and, if I’m lucky, Saturday, I don’t know how much time I’ll have left for destination meals. So I put on my nice clothes and took the monorail to MGM, then hiked to Park MGM for a meal at Bavette’s. I had an old fashioned, the goat cheese starter, 10 oz filet and side of buttery mashed potatoes. The reviews did not oversell the potatoes. Service was excellent. Bartender, Benny is great at his job. Really enjoyed the vibe of the place, in general. 10/10.





I walked all the way back to Harrah’s, absolutely stuffed. I debated playing poker at Bellagio or blackjack somewhere along the way, but I am just exhausted. Back in the room now, tomorrow is another day.

Day 1 totals
Poker: -$300
BJ: +$167
Sports: -$50

Total: -$183

For a first TR, nice job. Shoes, BR, and greyhound!

Run and play well in the tournament.

Day 2:

Breakfast choice today was mon Ami gabi. Corned beef hash and a coffee, $35 with tip. Food and service were good enough. One egg was overcooked and the other wasn’t, which raised an eyebrow but overall it was fine. 6/10.



From there I walked to Bellagio and tried to decide what I wanted to play between poker and blackjack. I opted for blackjack instead of joining a list and it was an unprofitable decision. -$400 after about 2 hours playing a $25 min 3/2 6-deck.

I walked over to Linq and lit some more money on fire at a craps table this time. -$300 after 8 shooters.

Having a rough go of it across all games, but that’s the way it goes. I am planning to play the $1.1k bounty tonight and maybe my luck will turn around.

Good luck in the tourney!

Score a few bounties

during my last trip, one day I had my biggest session lost followed immediately by my biggest tourney win, hopefully your luck can turn too and you can make it a good day

Pregame meal was Yardbird chicken tenders and Brussels sprouts. The chicken was as good as advertised and the three sauces were good, too. Brussels were enjoyable and provided some needed veggie intake and. I prefer fries with more potato substance, these were a bit too crunchy for my taste. Service was good. 7/10.



I’m at horseshoe now. I’m planning to register around the end of level 3. I’m trying to balance having a good starting BB with the knowledge that I’m likely a pretty big dog to bag tonight. I’ll probably sit down and watch the Marquette game for an hour or so.

I registered for the tournament in early level 3. I’m trying not to assume every other player is a pro, or at least better than me. Tournament poker has always been my most comfortable format. I’ve told myself for years that I could play higher stakes than I do, simply because NLH tournaments are what they are.

It didn’t take long for that confidence to take a few body blows. First hand I see is 55 in late position. With blinds at 200/300/300, I open for 700. Button calls and BB calls. Flop 627 rainbow. BB checks and I continue for 1000. Button calls and BB x/r to 2500 and I fold.

Table is very active. Lots of 3betting and few show downs. I am feeling the pressure, folding pre a lot and looking around and trying to figure out which players are weaker. Eventually I find AhQh w ~36k on the button at 2/4/400 level. I open to 1k and get snap 3b to 4k from SB. BB fold, I call, and flop is a black 66Q flop. He bets 2500. I call. Turn 7. He bets 15k. I think for a minute then fold. I know this sucks. It feels bad. But I’m looking at my 27k stack and envisioning my all in getting snapped by AA, KK.

I later find A7 in the BB, call a small raise in big multiway pot, flop 7 high and end up calling a turn bet and being good on river. Dragging a pot calmed the nerves.

35.8k off the 40k starting stack at first break. Coming back to 300/500/500.


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Great thread so far. Keep er goin

SmittyM. I know what you’re talking about. 5 years ago I played a $1k WSOP Senior event. In that tournament the blinds and antes escalate pretty quickly. I didn’t find a bag…it was fun, and the lesson I walked away with is to play your game. You got it-hang in there

I don't know if I would have the balls to fold AQ on a Q667 board. you may just be better than me.

always feels good to scoop that first pot. Good luck and do your best