Or not, as the case may be.
Today I'm going from the dizzy heights of the WSOP $1500, down to the reality of the Golden Nugget Grand Poker Series $125 event. This isn't on stake, and as such doesn't need updating, but I'll post what I can to fill the 2 day void before my next event.
The great Simon Galloway, who many years ago steered me in the right direction for my first trip to Las Vegas told me "there are a lot of bums in downtown Las Vegas, but they are generally bums having a good time!" he wasn't wrong, and to this day that still hold true.
The G-Nug, is, in mine any many others opinion, the best of the downtown hotels if you're going to stay downtown and not on the strip. The rooms are nice and clean, and recently a lot of money was spent on giving the place a major makeover, and removing the tired feel that most downtown casino hotels have. They did a great job, and it's clean, light and airy. Also every WSOP time they run the Grand Poker Series- a series of small buy in tournaments with a good structure and played in The Grand, a huge function room they commandeer for over a month. It's a really nice set of events if you've never played it before.
After running a few errands I arrived and sat to play. Delighted to find QQ first hand and hammer it all the way on a Q68 rainbow flop. Slightly less than happy when 45 offsuit got there on the river for his tournament to make a straight. Nothing to do but say well played good luck guys, then fire another bullet and get a new table.
Second table was good natured enough. Most people pretty jovial, even if they struggle with a real English accent. I've ran a huge bluff early on and got a woman twofold queens. I promised I'd show so duly did. She wasn't pleased that a pair of twos and busted draw had won the pot. It wasn't personal of course, but even though everyone else is laughing and having a good time, I get the impression she's most unamused with my line of patter, and would happily see me busted.
Today I'm going from the dizzy heights of the WSOP $1500, down to the reality of the Golden Nugget Grand Poker Series $125 event. This isn't on stake, and as such doesn't need updating, but I'll post what I can to fill the 2 day void before my next event.
The great Simon Galloway, who many years ago steered me in the right direction for my first trip to Las Vegas told me "there are a lot of bums in downtown Las Vegas, but they are generally bums having a good time!" he wasn't wrong, and to this day that still hold true.
The G-Nug, is, in mine any many others opinion, the best of the downtown hotels if you're going to stay downtown and not on the strip. The rooms are nice and clean, and recently a lot of money was spent on giving the place a major makeover, and removing the tired feel that most downtown casino hotels have. They did a great job, and it's clean, light and airy. Also every WSOP time they run the Grand Poker Series- a series of small buy in tournaments with a good structure and played in The Grand, a huge function room they commandeer for over a month. It's a really nice set of events if you've never played it before.
After running a few errands I arrived and sat to play. Delighted to find QQ first hand and hammer it all the way on a Q68 rainbow flop. Slightly less than happy when 45 offsuit got there on the river for his tournament to make a straight. Nothing to do but say well played good luck guys, then fire another bullet and get a new table.
Second table was good natured enough. Most people pretty jovial, even if they struggle with a real English accent. I've ran a huge bluff early on and got a woman twofold queens. I promised I'd show so duly did. She wasn't pleased that a pair of twos and busted draw had won the pot. It wasn't personal of course, but even though everyone else is laughing and having a good time, I get the impression she's most unamused with my line of patter, and would happily see me busted.
Interesting example how some people in poker really aren't happy unless they're making others miserable. New old guy moves to the table and immediately loses a hand to me, and the next hand I collect the antes as I have been doing for the past 2 hours, with no complaints from the dealers, the players or anyone. It speeds up the game, makes their job easier, and generally improves the flow, as long as it's right, which when I collect it, it always is, or I don't touch it.
"Hey, dealer, he's not supposed to handle the chips".
Marvellous. This old grunter decided that the table was having a good time and it was running smoothly, and he didn't want any of it. I, and a few others, gingerly tried pointing out it'd all been working out just fine, but he decided he was having none of it. The floor was called, I didn't know the floor man (which is rare), but he decided to listen patiently to everything I explained, then totally ignore it, and ask me not to touch the antes any more. Generally it's a dealers call whether to allow it, and with about 5 exceptions in all of Las Vegas they love it because it makes their job easier. However the floor I've seen today seem to be spending most of his time at the podium, and viewing having to actually do stuff at the tournament tables as a bit of an irritation.
I'm pretty unflappable at the table, but this was irritating. Pretty much my only gripe with poker staff is when they either can't or don't do their jobs properly. Normally the staff I know at the Nugget do a fine job and are always on top of stuff, but today seems a bit lax which is a shame.
Mostly people playing here are good natured and having fun. Occasionally one old curmudgeon comes along who is the polar opposite of everything that enjoyable poker should be. It's not a high priority, but busting him would be satisfying, then he can go off and try to ruin someone else's day.
Got my wish. Old father death got busted and shuffled off into the next life. Good luck to him. Unpleasant things should happen more often to unpleasant people. We're back to having fun. 40 players remain from the original 92, so it's small beer up top but'd still be nice to get a cash on the board for the trip.
"Hey, dealer, he's not supposed to handle the chips".
Marvellous. This old grunter decided that the table was having a good time and it was running smoothly, and he didn't want any of it. I, and a few others, gingerly tried pointing out it'd all been working out just fine, but he decided he was having none of it. The floor was called, I didn't know the floor man (which is rare), but he decided to listen patiently to everything I explained, then totally ignore it, and ask me not to touch the antes any more. Generally it's a dealers call whether to allow it, and with about 5 exceptions in all of Las Vegas they love it because it makes their job easier. However the floor I've seen today seem to be spending most of his time at the podium, and viewing having to actually do stuff at the tournament tables as a bit of an irritation.
I'm pretty unflappable at the table, but this was irritating. Pretty much my only gripe with poker staff is when they either can't or don't do their jobs properly. Normally the staff I know at the Nugget do a fine job and are always on top of stuff, but today seems a bit lax which is a shame.
Mostly people playing here are good natured and having fun. Occasionally one old curmudgeon comes along who is the polar opposite of everything that enjoyable poker should be. It's not a high priority, but busting him would be satisfying, then he can go off and try to ruin someone else's day.
Got my wish. Old father death got busted and shuffled off into the next life. Good luck to him. Unpleasant things should happen more often to unpleasant people. We're back to having fun. 40 players remain from the original 92, so it's small beer up top but'd still be nice to get a cash on the board for the trip.
Dinner break. 81k, average 67k. 22 players left paying 9 spots.
Big gap between updates here. If I cash for something meaningful this trip, I may have to consider investing in a new iPad. The 2nd generation one I have works OK, but the battery life is awful. Maybe just new batteries. Who knows. Anyhow, the battery died mid-tournament, and unusually I'd not packed a charger. So you all had to wait until I'm hike again for the thrilling climax of today's story, which went along the lines of:
Lose 25k with JJ.
Double up with aces.
Walk into aces and get felted again to finish 12th with 9 spots paying.
The standard of play was OK but certainly not great compared with the Rio The atmosphere apart from a couple of people was generally extremely good. The old adage about poker tables with laughter always being better games certainly held true today. First cash of the trip still eludes me which is disappointing, but not catastrophic. I was certainly more aggressive today at the table, and won over my fair share of pots to enable me to splash around a bit more. Maybe that's something to try to bring to the next WSOP event to mix things up a bit.
Tomorrow I've decided will be total rest before the next event. Maybe some exercise, and doing a few bits and bobs, but definitely no poker at all. I'll maybe try to cover some more stuff in a post later today. Night for now.
Big gap between updates here. If I cash for something meaningful this trip, I may have to consider investing in a new iPad. The 2nd generation one I have works OK, but the battery life is awful. Maybe just new batteries. Who knows. Anyhow, the battery died mid-tournament, and unusually I'd not packed a charger. So you all had to wait until I'm hike again for the thrilling climax of today's story, which went along the lines of:
Lose 25k with JJ.
Double up with aces.
Walk into aces and get felted again to finish 12th with 9 spots paying.
The standard of play was OK but certainly not great compared with the Rio The atmosphere apart from a couple of people was generally extremely good. The old adage about poker tables with laughter always being better games certainly held true today. First cash of the trip still eludes me which is disappointing, but not catastrophic. I was certainly more aggressive today at the table, and won over my fair share of pots to enable me to splash around a bit more. Maybe that's something to try to bring to the next WSOP event to mix things up a bit.
Tomorrow I've decided will be total rest before the next event. Maybe some exercise, and doing a few bits and bobs, but definitely no poker at all. I'll maybe try to cover some more stuff in a post later today. Night for now.
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