I have been a lurker on 2+2 for almost a decade, and have decided to give a little back to the community. I have tried this once be fore many years ago, but Vegas got the best of me.
For the last decade I have been making it out to Vegas about 2× per year. I usually go in June for the WSOP, and then get the itch again another random time or so.
While I feel like the Vegas rush has started to fade throughout the years, it is a pleasant surprise that she can still give you those first date butterflies from touching down and seeing those glistening buildings.
Over the years, many Vegas stories stand out, from a large WC wager on France in the 1st half and regulation, with a sweat that was textbook degen, aria high limit room while playing three hands of blackjack. Memories of moving a good friend in 115 degree heat into a 2 bedroom apt, and last but not least, the first time at spearmint rhino, of course with the pals and girlfriend
.
This trip should be more tame, as the plan is logging as much high stakes poker action as possible, plus dinners, shows, and pool time at the cosmo. There is the outside chance of surprises, as Vegas always seems deliver when asked.
I am 33 yr old from the midwest, who plays locally at one of the nicest rooms outside of each coast. I started like all of us, playing $5-10 dollars sng's in high school, to having a $10,000 roll on stars and winning a Main event seat in college. I used to clean up the $3/6 omaha 8/b on paradise poker, allowing me some financial freedom at a young age. The best was the full tilt days, were I would play for 3 days straight and run up a 5 figure roll, only dumping it all hours later.
My transition to live came slowly, with a plane ticket to LA and a stay at the Ramada Inn, across the street from the Bicycle Casino, for my 21st birthday of course. For those who remember it or stayed there, I am glad we all made it out alive. Looking back on it, I can't believe how i only got robbed of $1,000, from one of so cal's many finest players of course, and thankfully I made it back healthy, but with a bankroll that had been depleted.
On that trip, I took my first leap into the limit waters, playing 20/40 Holdem and 8/b mix game. Wanting more, I decide to hop into the 30/60 mix, never having played a single hand of these weird "so cal" games, Badugi or Triple Draw. It was one of the most eye opening, humbling and greatest experiences of my life. 21 years old playing high stakes with the likes of Kelly Kim and Chau Giang, and others of course. Kelly actually taught me, at the table, how to play those above mentioned games. It was cool seeing him make a deep final table run years later. While he would never know me from anyone else, its a memory that lives on to this day. From that moment on, my addiction to the mix games arena was solidified.
Fast forward to today, I have a roll $30,000, ready to be first on the list, and the famous 80/160 mix will be my Vegas escort this weekend. I have a great work environment where I can afford time off. This is not my first dance, as last year I was at the WSOP for about 2 weeks, playing the converted 100/200 mix that always seems to pop up over summer. While the games are tough to master, it is one of the most enjoyable forms of poker in my opinion.
We (gf will be along) will be staying at the Cosmo for 4 nights. I will be meeting my sister/her bf, and then a few others friends. We have dinner at Momofuku booked for Thursday night, Rose.Rabbit.Lie for Friday Night, and then making it over to Marquee. Everyone will be leaving on Sunday while I will be staying by myself for 3 more nights which will consist of a ton of poker and BJ.
My goal is to update this as much as possible, with any random event, thought, or poker hand (I will try to post some high limit mixed game hands!). I have my fair share of Vegas leaks in the pits, so look out for that also. Hope everyone finds this enjoyable, and feel free to ask any questions.
Cheers!
Dueces02