Day: Thursday Oct 26th

Total Cash: VERY LITTLE

Eric's Play: Not good

Shirley's Play: Not much better

We are alive!! Everyone and there Uncle has been writing asking if we are ok and why we are not updating the BLOG and when are we going to update the BLOG. Well here it goes!! :)

Well where did we leave off? hmmm... Has it really been a week? Holy! Well I here are the poker stats: (I know Joe I didn't follow your advice)

Friday Oct 20th - Mirage - 10/20: -1000

Friday Oct 20th - Bellagio- 30/60: -2800

Sunday Oct 22nd - Orleans- Tourney: -105

Sunday Oct 22nd - Orleans - 1/2NL: -300

Sunday Oct 22nd - Mandalay Bay - 4/8: +65

Monday Oct 23rd - Wynn - 8/16: -600

Tuesday Oct 23rd - Wynn - 4/8: -173

Tuesday Oct 23rd - Orleans - 4/8: +350

Wednesday Oct 24th - MGM - 4/8: +100

Yep it is Ugly! I don't know what to say. Well it is a no brainer, we might be heading home soon. What to say, what to say. We have decided to do up Vegas, and play a little less poker. We went to THE PRICE IS RIGHT on Tuesday. It was a lot of fun, we didn't get called up on stage, kind of good I guess cause we would have had to pay the 30% withholding tax on any prizes we won. I have no idea how we would have gotten a washer and dryer home?? LOL. The guy that hosts "BLIND DATE", Roger Lodge, was the guy that hosted the price is right. He did a good job. I would have some pictures for ya, but they didn't allow cameras in the show! On Wednesday, we went to the Ballys show, Jubilee.

Jubilee is an old time Vegas show, big color, big costumes, lots of dancing and singing and the best part of all, the show was TOPLESS. LOL To be honest I really didn't enjoy it that much. Shirley loved it. I found there to be a lack of story. It seemed like they were doing the same thing over and over, I don't know, I probably just didn't get it.

OK, Poker talk.

On Friday we went to the Mirage and played 10/20. I got stuck really quick, I bought in for a second time and shot off another 500. I was stuck 1000 and not happy about it. We left and I though how am I going to get that 1K back? That is when I had the GREAT idea of going to the Bellagio and playing 30/60 to get it back! Boy-o-boy was that a mistake! I went card dead! I played for 10 hours and only had KK once and I ran into AA . Then a couple hours later I picked up QQ and ran into AA. I never had AA, AQ. I had AK twice lost both times. I won 4 hands in 10 hours. The real kicker was 20 minutes after the KK vs AA. I'm in the small blind with J7 of clubs, there is 5 way action to me. I call. The board comes 89T. I flop a straight. I lead out and got 3 callers. Turn A. I lead out again. One caller and a raiser. I re-raise. The raiser, 4 bets. I call. River comes 2. I check. The guy bets. I call. He shows QJ. I lose. YUCK!!! I played until 10:00am. I knew that I was just going to have to take a big loss and move on. That day was the single biggest mistake I have made. It wasn't the way I played. I probably didn't play my best, but I didn't poorly. It was the conditions under which I played. I played over my bankroll. I played in a bigger game to try and save a loss. Big mistakes! I good friend of mine just reminded me that we all get the nuts an equal number of times. But good players don't shoot off there bankrolls when they are running bad!!! So true!

I then took Saturday off. I didn't do anything. But I did find a place that serves PUMPKIN icecream!!!! I'm addicted now. It is the BEST!!!!

On Sunday, I play in a tourney at the Orleans. More mistakes. But Poker Mistakes. There was 26 people left in a 100 man tourney. Avg stack is 9700. I have 21,000. Blinds are 500/1500 with a 200 ante. (500/1500 is an Orleans trade mark) Anyway, I'm one off the button and everyone folds to me. I raise to 4000 with 98s. I get called by the big blind. We have equal stacks. The board comes Ad 9c 3s. The BB bets out 3000. I think for awhile. I believe that my 9 might be good. So I call.... Man is that bad.... Turn comes 7d. The BB now checks. I bet out 3000..... Nice bet?!?!? Into a 15,000 chip pot. The big blind just calls! I'm sure he doesn't have an ace. River comes deuce. He checks..... and what do I do.... Check.... Nice check! He shows 9T. I'm out kicked and I lose 11,000 chips. If I had of put in a proper raise or pushed on the turn or later I would have had over 30,000 and cruised to the final table. Instead, I'm crippled.

We played some more over the next 3 days, you can see the stats. There are really no great stories to tell.

Poker Sucks!

Not really, I don't think that we are going to goto L.A. anymore. We are probably going to stay here for awhile. See if we can grind out a couple more weeks. Heading home is probably going to happening sooner then later. There is at least one more show in the near future.

The plan for tonight is to go find a good low limit game. Lots of drunks playing at 11:00pm. Hopefully be able to win a couple hundred. Then who knows.

-Eric

Day: Friday Oct 20th

Total Cash: 8154

Eric's Play: -819

Last 5 sessions:

Wed Oct 18 - Bellagio - 15/30: +616

Wed Oct 18 - Orleans - 4/8: +112

Thurs Oct 19 - Orleans - 1/2NL: +460

Thurs Oct 19 - Orleans - 6/12: +372

Thurs Oct 19 - Orleans - 6/12: +62

Well Finally I'm putting a little run together I have profited the last 6 times I have sat at the poker table. I've take the advice of one of my poker father figures and have decided to not put so much strain on my bankroll, Thanks JOE!

On Wednesday night after I wrote the last BLOG, I though I was going to crash. I couldn't sleep so I decided to play some cards. I didn't play long but I managed to make $112 in the 4/8 game here at the Orleans. Nothing interesting to talk about really. I made it back to the room around 12:00am and went to sleep

Thursday morning we woke up early 9:00am, I forgot that Thursday is "play at the ORLEANS day" for Shirley and I. They have a draw here every Thursday where they just give away free money. You collect these little ticket through out the week and they go in a barrel and they do a drawing of 20 names through out the day. If you get called you spin a wheel and can win between 1000 and 10,000. We had a lot of tickets, Shirley can really sweet talk the casino guys into giving her a whole lot of tickets.

During the day I played 3 poker sessions of 4 hours or so. In the morning when I got to the poker room the only game going was 1/2 no-limit. So I sat in, these guys were pretty bad. The table consisted of 3 old timers, 2 guys that had been there 24hrs and were still drinking beer. Two fresh guys that had just woken up (Both were in town on business but had no clue) and there was one lady at the table. It was an EXECELLENT table. They were all pretty weak. I have no Big hands to talk about I really made the 460, with well timed raises, and re-raises. I did have AA run into JJ and I won $230 pot on a Q high board.

After that session, Shirley got me and we headed to the buffet for dinner, I'm sure that I have talked about the buffet here at the Orleans before. It is probably the best value we have come across. After that we waited for the 2:00pm ticket drawing, 10 names were drawn and we didn't get called!! O-well back to work for an afternoon session.

In the afternoon I sat down 4-8 the biggest limit game they have going. I noticed that they had a 6/12 interest list going as well and it had 6 people on it. I went to the floor boss and ask him if he would start it short handed. Of course like EVERY floor guy in EVERY casino, he said no. I then proceeded to find all the people on the list and asked them if they would play short handed. Three of the six said yes. Three people plus me makes four!! LOL And I knew I could get Shirley to play in it, that makes 5. So I continued to bug the Floor man and finally he gave in and called the list. Well I thought that it was going to be 5 handed, but 8 people showed up. We played 8 handed on and off for the afternoon. I managed to scoop $372, After 4 hours I was starting to get hungry again, and it was getting close to the 8:00pm drawing. So Shirley and I went to get some food and wait for the drawing. NO LUCK again, they didn't call our names.

Anyway, we headed back to the hotel room. Shirley wanted to take a nap. I wanted to go pay the bill for the week. So I headed to the front desk, there was a long line but I had nothing going on. When standing in line there were these to young ladys standing at the front desk and one of of them was going off on the hotel staff. I guess that the company that they booked there hotel reservations through had messed-up the dates. She was sooooo pissed off. She was swearing F-this and F-that. It might have been the funniest thing I have seen in awhile! After that show I paid our bill, It is costing us $550 bucks a week to stay here. Not the best but I'm really not complaining about it either.

It was 8:30pm or so and Shirley was napping, so what is a guy to do? Night session! LOL, When I arrived to the poker room the 6/12 game was still going! So I sat in it. I got stuck quickly! I was in for $500 and I had $21 dollars left at one point. Anyway after 6 hours I crawled out of the hole and made a profit of $62, I was happy!

I didn't get to bed until like 5am. We slept in until 3:30 in the afternoon and here I am writing this BLOG. The plan for the rest of the day is to go to Balleys and get tickets for "THE PRICE IS RIGHT" they have the TV show there. It is Vegases own show. It doesn't have BOB, but it is the same thing. Shirley really wants to go. Then we are going to head over to the Mirage and buy some "LOVE" tickets for next week. At the Mirage I'm sure we will play poker. After that who knows!

-Eric

Day: Wed Oct 18th
Total Cash: 8200
Eric Play: -1825

Well, I said that we were going to take 3 days off. We actually took only 2 days off. So this BLOG will really not have much to do with poker. Here are my last 6 sessions:

Sunday Oct 15th - WPT Satellite : -600

Sunday Oct 15th - Bellagio 15/30: -800

Sunday Oct 15th - Orleans MTT: -100

Sunday Oct 15th - Orleans 4/8: -200

Wednesday Oct 18th - Orleans 4/8: +325

Wednesday Oct 18th - Bellagio 15/30: +616

After the Sunday night session I knew it was time for a break. Sunday night after I wrote my last blog we headed to the bar for some cold beverages. I must say, I did have one Corona too many but what can I say it's Vegas and we're on vacation!. After stumbing to bed I slept for more hours then is required! LOL. When I woke up I didn't want to do anything, so we didn't! I basically played Civilizations all day! (civilizations is a computer game) LOL I had a diplomatic win after 6 hours on the Warlord setting LOL. (Only Rob, Jules and Jane will have any clue what that means lol) I know I know... I'm a geek!

After being locked up in the room for 8 hours we decided to go bowling. The Orleans has a bowling alley. It is really a very nice one too. We played 3 games, I won the first 2 then Shirley Bowled a 142 to win the 3rd game. I could tell she was heating up, so I knew it was time to quit! LOL I was surprised to see how well she bowls. It was really fun, I drank some more Coronas and we met a nice lady who was with her daughter in the lane next to us! After that we just lounged around. I looked up some of the Vegas Shows, It looks like you HAVE to book in advance. Show we were unable to find a show for Wednesday but we are going to go see "LOVE" at the Mirage. It is a beattles show, and I have heard that it is the best show in town right now. Anyway, we fell a sleep pretty late.

The next morning we got up and Shirley wanted to shopping. If the BOSS says she wants to go shopping, I have learned that we are going shopping. After looking around the internet I found a place about 45 minutes outside of Las Vegas. It was in a town called Primm. I have a buddie at Toyota that comes to Vegas every year to do some motorcrossing across the desert. I think that this is where he stays! (Johnny is this the town that you stay in?) Anyway, when we get there Shirley is ready to shop

Well Shirley had a GREAT time shopping. She found some designer jeans that she can't stop talking about, Michael Kors Jeans... I dunno, but she insists that they are the best! I didn't find anything as per the norm. Shirley tells me that I'm a poor substitute for her mother when it comes to shopping! Janet you should have gone with her! Anyway she picked up some more stuff, 2 pairs of pants, a jacket and 2 tops. She was in her element, but as you can see at the end of the shopping she was left looking for money

After shopping we headed back to the hotel. We decided to catch a movie, there is a theater at the Orleans. We saw the Gridiron Gang. It was a great movie. It was the newest movie with the ROCK. It is a true story based on a jail, where a group of inmates start a football team. The movie was over just after midnight, so we headed to bed.

I got up this morning, it was actually this afternoon and with nothing to do. I told the better half that I was going to play some cards. Shirley wasn't interested in playing poker so I told her that I would be back by 8:00pm to watch LOST. It is our favorite TV show BY FAR. So after a short time at the Orleans I headed to the Bellagio, I played a little 15/30 and the game was as soft as I have seen. I played for 4 hours and made $616. I would have made more by I missed A HUGE draw with a hand where all my outs were live! Anyway, there were no real hands of note. I thought it may have been my most solid session of the trip. I played very well.

I'm now back at the Hotel and we just watched LOST. I can't stand it in a good way, the show always leaves me wanting more! I think that I'm going to crash tonight and wake up early. I noticed that they Bellagio has daily $500 dollar tournaments. They also run $130 satellites into the $500. I think that I'm going to try and play a couple and get in to the $500. I might try and do this on a daily basis.

Well that is all for now, I will write again soon,

-Eric

Well I said that I would write an update on the satellitle and here it goes...

I played 3 hands: We started with 3000 chips 40 minutes levels, slow blinds

First hand of the tourney. I get AKs. Early position raises to 250 (blinds are 25/50). A guy cold calls and I cold call, I guess I could have put a raise out there but thank god I didn't. Board comes J74. First guy bets out and I fold. Guy shows JJ, Flopped top set.

Second hand, Half hour later blinds still 25/50

I have KTs, everyone folds to me in seat 6. I raise to 250. I get cold called by a FISH, and the Big Blind (solid player) calls as well. Board comes KJT. Big Blind checks, I bet 550. Fish goes all in 2500. Then the BB goes all-in 4700. I fold no delay. They both have AQ. Turn came K I would have won. I ask the fish if he would have bet the flop, and he say no. My MISTAKE I should have checked it through on the flop.

Third hand. Hour and 10 minutes in Blinds at 50/100

I am in 6th position. I have 1250 chips left. There are 2 callers in front of me, plus the blinds. I have AA. I push all in 1250. I guy behind me (TOTAL FISH) has 2400 chips. and he just calls. everyone else folds. He show 77. I have one of his suits. That makes me like a 81% favorite. Flop comes 768. I lose and I'm out. 20 minutes later I see the guy walking around the poker room!

We have decided to take the next 3 days off Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. We are probably going to goto the Grand Canyon, The Hover Dam and take in a show or 2. Shirley says she wants to tan and swim for 3 days but I think will get out and take some pictures to put on here.

If things don't shape up I think we might be headed towards a short stay in Vegas!!! LOL

Kathi, I might have to rename that book, "What not to do for 30 days in Vegas". No we are having fun!! Really we are!

-Eric

Day Oct 15
Total Cash: 9000
Eric's Play: -1066

ok this one is going to have to be Quick. I have a satellite to go play in. Yesterday started with a trip to the gym, It is the second time I have gone and I woke up sore this morning but it felt good. We then tried out the Orleans buffet it was probably the best value we have had so far in Vegas. It was only $8.00. We then headed the Bellagio, I wanted to check out the deal on the super satellite to the WPT main event. When I got there they were calling for $240 sub-satellites so I sat in one. I managed to win a seat into today's $1060 dollar Multi Table Super Satellite. It is happening at 1:00pm at the Bellagio. That's in about 3 hours. If I finish in the top 10% I will win a seat into the $10,000 main event.

After the Tourney we headed to the Mirage. We like the card room there and are probably going to spend most of our time there. Anyway I sat in the 20/40 game and Shirley played 10/20. It was almost the same line-up as the night before, when I lost 1900 but I really didn't think highly of any of the players. I cashed in for $1000 and 6 hours later I cashed out for $1820. I scooped $820. I was happy. We left and hit up McDee's. I came back to the room and fell asleep. I wanted to get some sleep, cause I wanna play in the WPT event pretty bad.

They have run 2 Super Satellite, on Friday and Saturday, and they have offered 26 and 28 seats. It would be a nice tourney to get into! Anyway I have to shower, eat and then make it over to the Bellagio. I'll do my best to write a BLOG tonight letting you all know how I did.

-Eric

Hello Everyone,

I'm just too tired to write a Blog right now! I have had I HORRIBLE run over the last 3 days

Total Cash: 9080 (Dad you were close)
Eric's Play: -1886

That is a BIG SWING from the last time I wrote. Here are my Sessions:

Tuesday Oct 10: Mirage 10/20: -400
Wednesday Oct 11: Caesars 1/2NL: +250
Wednesday Oct 11: Caesers Tourney: -130
Wednesday Oct 11: Caesers 1/2NL: -500
Wednesday Oct 11: Bellagio 30/60: -1037
Thursday Oct 12: Olreans 4/8: even
Friday Oct 13: Mirage 20/40: -1953

Needless to say I have not played well over the last 3 days. I'm not really going to go into any detail about any hands or bad beats but my play bad play combined with some untimely hands as really hurt the team.

Ok ok ok ... There is just one hand I have to talk about!

I took the advice of a buddie of mine (thanks Kev, aka CanadaKev) and went and tried out the Caesers daily tourney. GREAT structure, 4500 chips to start and 40 minute blinds. Anyway 70 started the tourney and with 16,000 chips I have more then the avgerage. There are 20 ppl left in the tourney and top 10 get paid. I am in middle position, a cannon that is short stacked pushes all in UTG+2 for 8,000. I look down and see AQ suited in Hearts, so I come over the top all-in 16,000. The Big stack for the tourney (35,000) thinks and thinks and calls so there are 3 of us all-in. I have AhQh the short stack has AdJs and the Chip Leader has QdJd

AhQh vs AdJs vs QdJd

Flop 9d6h4c

With AhQh I am now an 82% favorite to win the pot

Runner Runner diamonds. Big stack takes it down. I'm out

Anyway, I don't wanna talk poker!! And I don't really feel like writing. Shirley and I went to the movies and saw THE DEPARTED it was ok, a lot of stars were in it. It was nice to have a night out just doing something normal. Ohhh yeah I also paid for the room here at the Orleans so we owe nothing on the room. That is part of the reason the number is low. Anyway I think I'm going to sleep. Maybe I'll right somemore when I wake up!!

-Eric

Day: Oct 10
Total Cash: 14,104
Eric's Play: +1884
Shirley's Play: -959

I know it has been a couple days, but this should be a good one! Here are my session stats:

Sat - Orleans - Tourney: -80
Sat - Bellagio - 30/60: -1200
Sun - Orleans - Tourney: -75
Sun - Orleans - 1/2NL: +270
Sun - Mirage - 10/20: +260
Mon - Orleans - 1/2NL: -300
Mon - Orleans - 4/8: -75
Mon - Mirage - 20/40: +1400
Mon - Venetian - Tourney : -185
Mon - Mirage - Sit & Go: +385

So let's see, well there as been a lot of poker play going on but Where to start? hmmmm where did I leave off, ohhh I see we were heading to the Bellagio. Well as you can see from the stats I had a bad session, I dropped 1200 in a 30/60 game. No real big hands to talk about. I just couldn't win a hand!

Anyway the next morning (Sunday) My buddie Bob calls and says he is looking for a Tourney to play in. I told him that they have a good one here at the Orleans at noon. So I went and picked him up and we played in it. I didn't do very well. I was out like 30th or so. I played some 1/2NL while I was waiting for him. I scooped 300 then Shirley comes down from her nap and Bob get knocked out of the tourney. We decide that we should all go out for dinner, Me, Shirley Bob and his wife Hannah. We decided to go to the Aladdin Buffet, as it was supposed to be the best in town. When we got there we noticed that it was being remodeled and they were serving the buffet is a temporary location. We thought we would give it a try anyway! MISTAKE. The selection was very limited and the food was cold and the chicken was dry. I could go on but there is no point really.

After dinner we head out on the town for some CHEAP one dollar margaritas. Me and Bob thought we would give the dice a roll at the 3 dollar craps table, while Shirley and Hannah headed off to find some 1 cent slots. I don't ever really play any of the table games, but we were out on the town just having some fun and drinks with friends. It was a good night! After we left Bob and Hannah it was only 11:00pm or so. Shirley had slept all day and I didn't get up until 11:00am so we decided to go check out some of the other poker rooms on the strip, to see where we might wanna play in the future.

We went to the Monte Carlo, checked it out. Nice room no action. 1/2NL and 2/4 limit. We then headed to the Mirage. Execellent game selection 6-12, 10-20, 20-40. It was a good spot for us. We sat and played until 1:00am or so. We played 10-20, we each made money. Shirley found her game, and since that session she has had 4 wins in a row. She is on her way now! After that is was back to the Orleans to bed.

The next morning I talk with Bob, and told him that we are going to be heading to the Mirage, after we get some time in at the Orleans. I lose 300 in the 1/2 NL game. I have AA vs. JJ and lose. Then I have AA vs. TT and lose. I got pissed off and told Shirley that it was time to leave, and that I wanted to go to the Mirage.

We got to the Mirage around 1:00pm or so and there was a 20/40 game going so I sat in. It was an EXECELLENT game. Very live with lots of action! I ended up making 1400. Only one real hand of note. I have 88 in middle position. I raised, 2 callers and a wild Asian woman re-raised. I called and it went to the flop 5 handed. Flop came 684 with 2 hearts. I check raise the Asian woman and she 3 bets. I raise again and she calls. We go to the turn 3 way. The turn pairs the 4 but brings the 3 heart. I KNOW she has flush. So I check raise again and she 3 bets. There is another guy still in the hand so I call, hoping to get his bet. But he folded. River is a King I just bet and she calls showing AQ flush. I show 88 for the full house!!! WINNER WINNER!!!!

At 7:00pm we leave the Mirage, cause I want to play in a tourney at the Venetian. It was a $185 Multi table Tourney. Unfortunately I didn't do very well so it was back to the Mirage!

The highlight of all the poker play happened when we headed back tot he Mirage and I am dying to tell the story. On our way into the Mirage poker room last night Shirley says,"hey look there is Greg Raymer." Sure enough there was Greg Raymer (2003 World Series of poker Champ). He was playing 2/5NL, I couldn't figure out why? And I still can't! Anyway I noticed the he put his name on a list for a $115 Sit and Go, For those non-poker pros a SIT & GO is a one table poker tourney of 10 people. I immediately put my name on the same list. Once Greg put his name on the list it filled up right away. So there I am play poker with Greg Raymer at the Mirage. LOL it was GREAT

Anyway we played the Sit and Go! It was a bit of a crap shoot starting with 1500 chip and the blinds go up every 15 minutes but we were playing with the 2003 champ!! It started out VERY tight, I think the fact that Greg was in the game made everyone try to play there best, but it didn't take me long to figure out that I was playing with a VERY weak field. They were all golf pros and buddies of Raymers. The first hand I play was A3s in late position. It was on Raymers big blind. Everyone folds to me and I notice that Raymer was playing very tight as well. I hadn't played a hand in the first 15, I was sure that he noticed so I though it was a good place for a steal. I raise to 400, 4 times the BB. The Button called me YUCK! Small Blind folds and Raymer says to me," I was going to call ya but I'll let the button take care of ya!" LOL Anyway I make NUT FLUSH, but do not have to show my cards. So I become a slight chip leader early.

As we played on I build my stack fairly well to about 3000. Then with 6 people left I make a raise to 700 when the blinds are 100/200 with AQs. A guy with 1400 chips pushes all in. Stinkin', I call and he shows 88 Board comes QKK, turn 8, River J. I lose, but am not crippled.

Anyway I make it to 4 handed. It is Raymer, a golf pro, another guy, and I left when I play this hand. Raymer is in the Big Blind and I have the button. The blinds are now 200/400. I am short stacked 1225 chips. I look down at KK, I think how can I get Raymer to double me up. I just smooth call, and he checks the board comes J73 and he pushes and I call as fast as I can!!! Double up! My KK vs. His JT holds up and I'm at almost 3000 chips! Raymer was now short stacked, and after a couple steals off the other 2 guys. I found myself with the chip lead.

At this point Raymer has now become short stacked and when I'm in the small blind, he pushes for 1225. I have 4500 chips I look down to see A9s it is 925 more to me, so I push all-in to avoid the Big blind coming in (he only had 2000 chips). BB folds and Raymer shows A5o. My hand holds and I take out RAYMER!! BOOOOOO YEAH!!!!

Anyway I go on to scoop 1st place and take home 500 bucks! It was AWESOME!

Then the weirdest thing happened. Shirley was playing 10/20 with this 50 something year old, and he told her that we had to celebrate my big win. He wanted to know if we would join him for a bottle of Champagne. We said sure. So off we headed to the HIGH LIMIT LOUNGE, he was a really nice guy. He was a lawyer from Chicago, and he bought us a $100 bottle of "Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin" Champagne. We sat and talked for awhile, he didn't even drink. I found out he doesn't drink. He had water. It was the weirdest thing. A nice guy, looking to make someone else smile. He left shortly, and Shirley and I sat around the highrollers room for awhile sipping on Champagne. It was nice. We then head back to the Orleans and went to bed!!

Today I think that we are going to take a day off from poker and meet up with Bob and Hannah for dinner. We are then going to see a movie or go Bowling. There are bowling lanes here in the Orleans casino! I'm going to try and write more frequently as it as taken my almost 3 hours to write this entry!!!!!

-Eric

Day: Oct 6th
Total: 14,546
Eric's Play: +1524
Shirley's Play: -504

Well yesterday wound up pretty good! Sorry I didn't update it last night I was just too tried! Let's see what happened. Well, we started the day here at the Orleans, have to get the hours in!! Anyway I played 4/8 for 4 hours and made a whopping 23 dollars. Shirley played as well, she lost a little, she is having problems beating all those old men in the 4/8 game LOL. Anyway after I was finished I came to the room and logged on to the internet and Jer (ComaU) reminded me about the WPT event going on at the Bellagio this week. Of course I want to find I way to play in it, so I told Shirley that I wanted to go to the Bellagio. She really wasn't interested in going there, Shirley really doesn't like the Bellagio. She wanted to have a nap and told me to go there by myself. So away I went. The Bellagio is hosting the "Festa Al Lago" poker tournament this week and next. Anyway I went to the lounge were the tourneys are being held and found out the scoop on the satellite. They run satellite for the next days events all day. The are single table tourneys were the top 2 get a seat in the following days event. So they were running $350 STT. Well since I didn't want to reduce the bankroll by $350, I headed to the poker room to find a way to make $350. There were seats open in the 15/30 game so I sat in. After almost 2 hours I found myself up $390. No real interesting hands to talk about. None of the big name pros were around! Anyway I cashed out and went and signed up for the $350 STT.

I had to wait about 45 minutes before there was enough people to start. I was seated in seat number 5. I didn't really do enough research before I sat down, you only start with 1500 chips and the blinds were bumped up every 15 minutes, a bit of a crap shoot. Anyway, I folded for the first 2 orbits then with 9 people left, I make a move with pocket 7's. I raise 3 times the big blind to 150. I guy in later position re-raise it to 500. I was sure that he was trying to re-steal and I had him covered by 1 green chip. I thought that if I push I might just take it down right there but at worst I would have a coin-flip situation, so I push. He calls as fast as Phill Helmuth did on High Stakes poker when he had KQ vs QQ. Anyway the guy had AKs, it was a race and I lost!! Ace on the flop! SO I had one chip left. And this happens:

I'm all-in with T6 vs A6. I win. Ten on the flop I now have 100 chips

I'm all-in with Q7 vs A7. I win. Queen on the turn. I now have 250 chips

I fold my small blind down to 200 Chips

fold the next 3 hands

I push with A2s, and get 4 callers board comes Q47. Another short stack pushes all-in the other 3 guys fold (one folds a 4 and another folds a 7) The guy that pushes all-in says I have a Queen and flips over J6. HE HAS NO PAIR!!!!! My Ace holds and wins!!!!! I now have 900 chips!!!!

All this from one 25 dollar chip!!! Unfortunately that is as far as the story goes I folded for awhile then was forced to push with A8s and lost to AQ. It really would have been I great story if I would have won a seat to the next days 1500 event but I went out 5th.

So after that I wanted to try and do the same thing again, make 350 then play in another STT. So I headed back to the poker room and saw there was a waiting list for 15-30 but open seats for 30-60. I sat down 30-60. The table was a strong one there really was only one true "FISH" and at least 4 pros. And one cannon, but a very smart cannon, it took me awhile to realize it but he knew exactly what he was doing. I cashed in for $1600, after 3 hours I was only up to 1900. I was playing very tight and everyone at the table knew it, but it was working. I then ran into a huge hand where I had AA another guy had TT and the fish had a flush draw or straight draw. It got capped 4 way pre-flop, the flop came 9JJ with 2 hearts. I bet TT raised and Fish goes 3 bets I was worried that he might have the Jack, So I 4 bet and no one capped, they both call (5 Bets is the cap in Vegas). At that point I now that I'm good. The 2 bettor must have pocket pair and the FISH must have flush draw or up and down. 9 on the turn. YUCK! I bet it out anyway, I get a called in both spots. YUCK! The river is a deuce. I check, they both check. I show AA, TT shows TT and Fish mucks! I win a HUGE pot. I cash out right away(up 1185), planning to play in the STT but I look outside and it is dark! Yikes it is 9:00pm! What about Shirley? I decided to head back to the Orleans and see what she is up too.

I found her shooting 4/8 in the poker room, she likes it there is has met all the regulars and enjoys playing with them. She also had a couple coronas. I could tell cause I could hear her before I could see her. Shirley gets quite chatty after a couple drinks! Anyway I sit with her and we play for a little while, we each make like 30 bucks and head to bed.

Here are my Vegas Stats so far:

Oct 5th - 4/8: +250

Oct 6th - 4/8: +23

Oct 6th - 15/30: +390

Oct 6th - STT: -350

Oct 6th - 30/60: +1183

Oct 6th - 4/8: +30

Oct 7th - Tourney: -80

When we woke up my buddie Bob, called he had arrived in Vegas and was wondering what we were up too. It looks like we are going to hook up tomorrow (Sunday) and shoot. Then Shirley woke up and said that there was a $75 limit tourney downstairs and she wanted to try it out. So I said sure! We registered and there was 70 ppl or so entered. It was one of the best structures I have seen. You started with 3000 chips the blind started 25-25 and went up every 20 minutes. Anyway, they paid the top 7 players. Shirley went out around 30th and I finished 11th, 4 off the money. But I think I will play in it again!

And that brings us to right now, Shirley is having a nap and I'm writing this BLOG. I think that we are going to head to the Bellagio, I want to play in the WPT event pretty bad so I think I'm going to try some more satellites! I'll try and write something before I go to bed but no promises.

-Eric

Day: Oct 5, 2006
Total Cash : 13,582
Eric's Play: +248
Shirley's Play: -294

Well it has been 2 days, and we are now in Vegas! Arrived at the Orleans after 4028kms at 7:00pm local time. I have lots of stuff to talk about so where should I start.

OK, where did I leave off? The 5-5 limit game in Denver. I did good on Tuesday night making $455. But Wednesday was a little different. I lost $333 over 10 hours of play broken up over the day. I though that the action created by the 5-5 limit was going to be a good thing but the longer I played it, I realized that it only makes the game more and more of a big game of bingo. I was in a hand where I had JhTs. It was capped 8 way at 6 bets (1 bet and 5 raises in the state of CO). That makes 48 bets in the pot. Flop comes 8h 9d Qh. I have flopped the nuts, and I have the Jh so I know no one can be free rolling on me with JhTh. Anyway, if you look at the size of the pot no one can fold even if they think they have 1 out. Well sure enough runner runner diamond comes and I lose. But with 48 to 1 on their money, they can call. And the odds are only better on the turn for them to call. It is a game where mathematics only helps bad play. I think this is why Shirley did not far so well. It was a game where Aces and kings loose a lot of value and suited connectors are prime hands. Anyway, I don't think I will ever go back to that casino.

I must say that they did have the best dealers I have ever come across. I have played poker in 22 casinos now, and the dealers there are second to none.

Anywho. We got up this morning around 8:00am or so and we're on the road by 9:00am. I found the drive from Denver to Vegas a tuff one. It started out pretty nice, going through the mountains, nice scenery and stuff. But after winding and twisting, going up and down, it made you start to feel sick! It was a good trip for Shirley who slept for 80% of the ride. After we got out of the State of Colorado, it was into Utah. OH MY GOD, we drove 2 hours and 200kms and we didn't see ANY sign of civilization anywhere, no houses, no stores, no gas stations, no people nothing!! Only other cars on the road. Just Barron waste land with the odd mountain. It was bad!

Well after 11 hours we arrived at the Orleans. Got our room, I was disappointed to find out that the internet is $10.99 for a 24 hr period. I wasn't happy. Then Shirley found out that the gym cost $10 per day to use! She was going to whip me into shape, forcing me to work out everyday (which I welcome). I guess we are going to have to reevaluate the gym thing.

Anyway, after getting set-up in the room with our stuff, we headed to the poker room to see what kind of deal we could get on the room. It turns out that if you play 4 hours of poker a day they will give you the room at a rate of 55 bucks a night on the weekdays and 105 a night on the weekend. That means we can get the hotel room for $450 a week if we play for 4 hours a day. So I think now the plan will be to play 4 hours in the morning here then hit the bigger games at the other casinos at night or go out and hit the town! The only problem is that the big game is 4-8. It is really not a game that we can make enough, to cover our day to day spending. Even though most of our cost will drop now that we are not traveling.

We decided to play some poker to get our 4 hours in for today. We played the big game, 4-8, I made 250, and Shirley made 20. The thing is that we spent 340 today on the hotel room in Denver, the gas to get to Vegas and food along the way! LOL It shouldn't be a problem, has we will hit the Bellagio tomorrow. Well I should go, it takes me forever to write this things. It is 2:00 am and Shirley is already sleeping. I'll try and drop a line tomorrow.

-Eric

Hello everyone,

I have had a couple people ask me about the numbers at the start of every BLOG. This is what they are:

Total cash is the amount of money on hand right now (or at the giving time of the BLOG entry). We started with $15,000. All Hotels, gas, food and entertainment comes out of this money. The goal is it survive with a $15000 bankroll. If we can maintain this number I will be SUPER happy.

Eric's Play: This number is my accumulative total on my play. To see how we have done on any given day you will have to actually read the BLOG entry! LOL

Shirley's Play: This is the same

Anyway I'm in the middle of session for the day. I will write later tonight before I go to bed on how the day ends up, but I'm stuck like $400 for the day right now. We'll see how it goes.

-Eric

Tuesday Oct 3, 2006

Day: Oct 3
Total Cash: 14,400
Eric's play: +331
Shirley's play: +56

Well we arrived just outside Denver around 5:00pm local time. Driving through the rockies is pretty amazing. The hotel we are staying at is actually in the mountains, we have some pictures but I can't put them on this hotel lobby computer. We are actually in a town call Rock Falls, CO the whole town is like a mini-vegas. It is just like 8-9 casino's inbedded in the Rockies.

The poker action here is EXCELLENT. The only problem is that the big game is 5-5 limit. Like I said in a BLOG entry a couple days ago, the maxium bet in the state is $5. But When playing holdem they have 1 bet and 5 raises, so you can make it to $30 bucks on every street. Something alittle different but it is good! For the poker players out there, I was wondering what your thoughts were on having the PF, Flop, turn and river bets the same. It is nuts cause if you think you have the proper odds to call the flop, you have to call the turn!

Anyway we played for awhile after we got here probably for 4 hours or so. I did pretty good made $475, and Shirley did ok as well, making $85. I went to bed around 11:00 and crashed pretty hard. We just got up and it is 9:00am. Once I'm finished this BLOG entry we are going to check out the "strip" then probably play some more. The poker room doesn't open until 10:00am so we have an hour to kill.

Well Shirley just showed up and is ready to go, I'll try to write another entry tonight after our day of poker. Then it is on to Vegas!

-Eric

Well this one has to be short,

I'm on a hotel lobby computer in Denver, CO. The reason there has not been any daily BLOG over the last 2 days is that the last hotel didn't have internet.

But here are the stats:

Day: Sunday Oct 1
Total cash : 14,511
Eric's Play : -105
Shirley's Play : +221

I had one session, the casino only offered 4/8 holdem and 5/10 limit High/Low split omaha. I played omaha. It was the First time I'd ever played Omaha. I made 300 so it was ok I guess. Shirley played 4/8 limit is lost 17 big ones

Day: Monday Oct 2
Total cash : 14,100
Eric's play: -124
Shirley's Play: -29

I played in a 47 man tourney for 30 bucks, and chopped it 7 ways... what a deal!! I was the short stack and I got an even 7 way chop!! I only profited 100 bucks. but it was $100. Anyway I can't stay on this computer too long so I'll have to wrap it up. It could be hard to get post on here untill we get to Vegas.

-Eric