Back from Vegas

Back from Vegas after a 3 day trip there that was a segment of a 2,5 weeks US vacation. Got to play some poker but when the lady is coming as well, there is a limit to how long I can sit at the tables .

The games I played:

1) Cash (1/2) at Hooters.

Didnt like it, they dont have a poker room but have set up 3 tables in the corner of their Casino. The Casino has kind of a party poker atmosphere with a lot of yelling and god knows what, so hard to concentrate. 2 dealers were working shift on the one table they had going and at the end of the session 3 friends sat down and seemed like they were not interesting in playing each other. I bought in for 60 and withdrew with 30 some 3 hours later. Wont play there again.

2) Cash (1/2) at MGM.

Only one problem with that room. The AC was turned up. I was actually shaking a bit at times and Im wondering if the others took it for me being nervous or not. Apart from that I thought it was a very good room. Good layout, many tables, and enough room between them, professional dealers, and last but not least a game I could beat . I bought in for 100USD for sessions of around 3 hours each day, first day cashed out 207 and second day 180, and Im still annoyed at the odd badbeat that lowered my winnings. I dont even remember handing out any badbeats myself (although I could have supressed it already ). I would absolutely play there again.

3) Tournament at binions.

Only tournament I played, was a 55Dollar Buyin and 29 players on a 10am start. Tough game, average age of the field must have been close to 50 and clearly many regulars and locals. Maybe more tourists and softer games at later starts. Also, as usual with low buyin tournaments in Vegas, the structure make it hard. Blinds go up fast, you dont have that many starting chips and if you loose a hand you are very quickly in an all inn/fold mode. I busted a little bit before the final table after almost 1,5 hours of play.

But anyway, I loved playing at Binions, history is in the walls there, the dealers are veterans, very relaxed and very professional and contribute to a great atmosphere at the table and you immidiatly sense that the staff knows how to run tournaments. I would play there again, if not for anything else for the chance of getting the "I won a tournament at Binions" t-shirt that every winner gets .

Its a long trip from Norway to vegas and Im not sure if I can make it last year but I will try..I miss the tables already!

I have played about a dozen tournaments at Binions over the last several months.

I too REALLY wanted the T-shirt. Almost as much as the money.

The evening Deepstack is my favourite tournament there..I believe the Buy in was $125. I made the final table and they moved us to the featured elevated table..very cool. There was as many as 50-60 people watching us play at one time. I felt like Phil Ivey.

Even though it is no longer the Horseshoe, you can't help but feel the history there..especially in the main Poker Room which is away from the tournament tables. Pictures of all the WSOP Main Event Champs adorn the walls.

Binions certainly does things right. Glad to see they are still the Kings of Poker, downtown, despite the several ownership changes.