First night blurry recap...
So we got into town, and Michelle and I checked into the Westin and immediately headed to the Bellagio where our friends were going to the 'O' show. We planned on meeting them when they were through. Of course, to kill some time, we headed to the poker tables. =)
Walking in to the Bellagio poker room is somewhat of a surreal experience. With all the poker on TV these days and some of the top players becoming household names/faces, it's like walking into a breakroom on a Hollywood movie set for a big silver screen buff.
On this occasion, sitting directly in front of me was Scotty Nguyen with 4-5 others (probably big time players whom I just didn't know). Each had anywhere from $10-100k in front of them and were discussing what game they wanted to play. It seemed as though someone wanted to play Scotty heads up, most likely your typical story of someone wanting to beat a pro, but as it turned out, the whole table was in on a 150/300 Triple Draw Lowball game within minutes.
Not being completely familiar with this game, I watched a bit, but moved along putting my name on the list for a 2/5 NL seat. I got a couple chuckles as I waited. The first came from the guy whose name was on the list to sit just before I. He was a tall lanky guy, probably early 40s, scruffy beard, very sloppily dressed and a dirty old farm equipment hat. The conversation went something like this...
Redneck: "So, where ya from?"
Me: "Phoenix, how about yourself?"
Redneck: "Oh I'm from California but I travel all over the country to play poker."
Me: "Ah nice! There are a lot of places I'd like to play!"
Redneck: "Yeah, I've been everywhere. Wish I would have gotten up here earlier tonight. I wanted to play up there at the table I was at last night." (Pointing to the high stakes deck)
Me: "Oh yeah? Pretty busy tonight, eh?"
Redneck: "Yep but that's ok, I'll just take all the money off the low limit tables."
I just smiled and held it in... =) Not that he couldn't have taken "all the money off the low limit tables," I just found it quite humorous he felt the need to declare this to me, and as I would probably bet, were he actually a high stakes player, I doubt he'd forego the bigger games, even with a wait, for a 2/5 NL game!
My suspicions rang true later when were at the same table. I had pocket 10s with a 4-6-10 rainbow flop. I was out of position but came out for $30 into a $15 pot which had not been raised preflop. He raised me all in (about $150 more). Recognizing he'd earlier made a similar move with a small pocket pair, I called. His 5's didn't stand up. He immediately got up and gruffled something about having to use the restroom. One of the guys at the table said "Be sure to hit an ATM on the way back!" Ouch! =)
The other comedy was listening to some guy on the phone rambling to a friend something like this...
"Yeah man, I'm at the Bellagio. Dude, I played a satellite for this World Poker Tour tournament tomorrow. Check this shit out man, right after I sat down, fucking MONEYMAKER sits down right across from me. Dude you're not going to believe me, but I fucking knocked him out! Yeah man, I swear and I won the whole thing. Yep and I get a seat in the World Poker Tour, man, that's worth 10 Gs bro!"
Umm...
They were indeed running satellites.
Moneymaker was indeed there and playing in the satellites.
The only satellites going were for the $1000+60 event on Saturday not the $10k main event later in the month... This guy would have fit in well at Axis/Radius. Nuff said.
After only playing for about an hour, Michelle came in from losing a chunk on roulette and said our friends called and were meeting us at Caramel Lounge there in the Bellagio. I cashed in about $400 off of my $200 buy in, so I was pleased.
Caramel was interesting. Despite our friends objection to getting a bottle table, I've learned it's really the only way to go in Vegas. 6 people @ $10/drink is $75 a round (if you tip nicely). A bottle of Grey Goose at Caramel was $295. That's only 4 drinks a person at regular prices and with bottle service you can; A. Avoid the lines at the bar B. Pour a drink whenever you'd like C. Have a nice cozy place to sit if you don't want to be elbowed by all the people packed in the club and lastly D. Avoid the $25/head cover (saving another $150 for the 6 of us). Just makes sense to me, but then again, I like to act like a big ballah sometimes, so maybe that's it? =)
First bottle was Captain Morgan's. Second bottle was Bacardi 'O' Orange rum... Umm... I think I drank the second one myself. I don't remember most of the last part of the night. I know that we had a cool waitress who kept making us shots. I know I gave the busboy $100 for being so prompt and always having our mixers, glasses and ice stocked up. I know I was dancing with the girls here and there. I know I had a great time.
Next morning - I don't know where all my money is. I don't know where my AMEX is. I don't know why my left shin is completely scrapped up. I don't know why my right ankle feels like it's sprained.
Kids - Don't try this at home! =)
I'm sure I left the money on a blackjack table or something and luckily, after calling AMEX, they have a travel office at the mall and had a replacement card waiting for me!
All in all, it was a good first night in Vegas filled with all that Vegas has to offer.
More to come...
Walking in to the Bellagio poker room is somewhat of a surreal experience. With all the poker on TV these days and some of the top players becoming household names/faces, it's like walking into a breakroom on a Hollywood movie set for a big silver screen buff.
On this occasion, sitting directly in front of me was Scotty Nguyen with 4-5 others (probably big time players whom I just didn't know). Each had anywhere from $10-100k in front of them and were discussing what game they wanted to play. It seemed as though someone wanted to play Scotty heads up, most likely your typical story of someone wanting to beat a pro, but as it turned out, the whole table was in on a 150/300 Triple Draw Lowball game within minutes.
Not being completely familiar with this game, I watched a bit, but moved along putting my name on the list for a 2/5 NL seat. I got a couple chuckles as I waited. The first came from the guy whose name was on the list to sit just before I. He was a tall lanky guy, probably early 40s, scruffy beard, very sloppily dressed and a dirty old farm equipment hat. The conversation went something like this...
Redneck: "So, where ya from?"
Me: "Phoenix, how about yourself?"
Redneck: "Oh I'm from California but I travel all over the country to play poker."
Me: "Ah nice! There are a lot of places I'd like to play!"
Redneck: "Yeah, I've been everywhere. Wish I would have gotten up here earlier tonight. I wanted to play up there at the table I was at last night." (Pointing to the high stakes deck)
Me: "Oh yeah? Pretty busy tonight, eh?"
Redneck: "Yep but that's ok, I'll just take all the money off the low limit tables."
I just smiled and held it in... =) Not that he couldn't have taken "all the money off the low limit tables," I just found it quite humorous he felt the need to declare this to me, and as I would probably bet, were he actually a high stakes player, I doubt he'd forego the bigger games, even with a wait, for a 2/5 NL game!
My suspicions rang true later when were at the same table. I had pocket 10s with a 4-6-10 rainbow flop. I was out of position but came out for $30 into a $15 pot which had not been raised preflop. He raised me all in (about $150 more). Recognizing he'd earlier made a similar move with a small pocket pair, I called. His 5's didn't stand up. He immediately got up and gruffled something about having to use the restroom. One of the guys at the table said "Be sure to hit an ATM on the way back!" Ouch! =)
The other comedy was listening to some guy on the phone rambling to a friend something like this...
"Yeah man, I'm at the Bellagio. Dude, I played a satellite for this World Poker Tour tournament tomorrow. Check this shit out man, right after I sat down, fucking MONEYMAKER sits down right across from me. Dude you're not going to believe me, but I fucking knocked him out! Yeah man, I swear and I won the whole thing. Yep and I get a seat in the World Poker Tour, man, that's worth 10 Gs bro!"
Umm...
They were indeed running satellites.
Moneymaker was indeed there and playing in the satellites.
The only satellites going were for the
After only playing for about an hour, Michelle came in from losing a chunk on roulette and said our friends called and were meeting us at Caramel Lounge there in the Bellagio. I cashed in about $400 off of my $200 buy in, so I was pleased.
Caramel was interesting. Despite our friends objection to getting a bottle table, I've learned it's really the only way to go in Vegas. 6 people @ $10/drink is $75 a round (if you tip nicely). A bottle of Grey Goose at Caramel was $295. That's only 4 drinks a person at regular prices and with bottle service you can; A. Avoid the lines at the bar B. Pour a drink whenever you'd like C. Have a nice cozy place to sit if you don't want to be elbowed by all the people packed in the club and lastly D. Avoid the $25/head cover (saving another $150 for the 6 of us). Just makes sense to me, but then again, I like to act like a big ballah sometimes, so maybe that's it? =)
First bottle was Captain Morgan's. Second bottle was Bacardi 'O' Orange rum... Umm... I think I drank the second one myself. I don't remember most of the last part of the night. I know that we had a cool waitress who kept making us shots. I know I gave the busboy $100 for being so prompt and always having our mixers, glasses and ice stocked up. I know I was dancing with the girls here and there. I know I had a great time.
Next morning - I don't know where all my money is. I don't know where my AMEX is. I don't know why my left shin is completely scrapped up. I don't know why my right ankle feels like it's sprained.
Kids - Don't try this at home! =)
I'm sure I left the money on a blackjack table or something and luckily, after calling AMEX, they have a travel office at the mall and had a replacement card waiting for me!
All in all, it was a good first night in Vegas filled with all that Vegas has to offer.
More to come...
posted by Daniel Hoerr at 11:37 AM
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