Back in the saddle again

I arrived back in Vegas Sunday afternoon to test and improve my skills once again; gather material; and hopefully win some money. My focus this trip is on poker.

So far, poker has been terrific. Truly enjoyable. Yesterday, I was in a one day event, $150 entry, which ran for nine hours and got up to Level 14 blinds structure (usually this event finishes after 6 hours or so) Final table play alone was well over two hours. So many hands and stories - but they will be dealt with another time. I ended up third - cashed $1980 or so.

I was a strong second with three players left; gunning for the chip leader who had at one point $700,000 chips of a total in play of a bit over $900,000. Near the end I had around $370,000 and she had $430,000, and the third stack had around $70,000 and he was playing well, but hoping for a miracle. Blinds were $8,000 and $16,000, and antes $3,000. Fo perspective, we had begun the event each with only $7,500.

I picked up QQ on the button. Playing three handed, I was dealer and first to speak. I opened with a raise to $90,000. LHO folded, and villain came over top of me, all-in. That had been her style all day, with a wide range of hands - it's how I had chipped up off her stack. I knew I could fold, and safely wait for second place guaranteed money, but this was my chance to win the tournament right then and there (effectively I would cripple her stack if I win this hand)

I called. It was fun - we had a gallery of interested spectators - people who had been eliminated earlier; spouses and whatevers; poker room staff, etc.

Villain flipped over A10 offsuit, and we were in a race - with the edge being mine of course. Which is how it played out until the river card, when an ace hit the felt.

I took it really well, except I was likely a bit numb - after so much intensity, all of a sudden, I had no more hands to play.

(Second place was worth $800 more, and first place was around $4,500 - so that was a big swing)

The night before, I also went deep in a tournament. We got down to two tables from an original 97 players; entry fee $120, and I was comfortably above average stack size, around $45,000 and playing well. I had a great table placement - I had such a read on everyone and the three players to me left had blinds that were very easy to pick off.

With KJ suited in mid position I opened for $8,500 and the guy opposite me (who I had played at the same table with all night) came over top of me and shoved all in. I folded of course.

Two hands later, I picked up KK and the same thing happened. I was not looking for a fight (his stack had me covered after the prior hand) but I wasn't going to avoid it either. I called, and his face fell as he tabled 1010.

Except it was my face which exited the table when a ten fell on the flop and nothing material came thereafter. I came 15th, and I am sure I would have been top 3 if I had one that hand. (The guy who flopped the set in fact chopped first with two other players)

Only the final table paid in this event, so no cash there.

I have played sporadic short spurts of blackjack - winning four times, losing once.

I have played 8 short, modest sessions of slots - winning 8, losing none. All with a buy in of either $50 or $100. All a form of poker, called Spin Poker (5 cents minimum unit bet, up to nine hands and five units per hand)

Only person not happy is my casino host, as no blackjack play makes it very hard to rate me, and comp stuff like rooms and meals. I don't care - the room is already known to be free, and I don't eat much if I am involved in a tournament.

Apparently there is a big WPT event being held at the Bellagio this week - I might wonder over to check it out. (I highly doubt I will enter anything though)