Went to MGM Grand for the first time Friday night!

And walked away with an extra $250. Not bad considering i only took $300 up there with me.

I blew a few 20s on slots and video poker waiting for a holdem table to open up, but that was getting boring cause i really hate slots... id rather play something you at least have some control over what happens.

I found a new game that became a quick favorite... 3 card poker. Simple as it sounds and funnier that you think. Spent most of my money getting the feel for it, what cards to play and what is junk. Then with my last few chips i made a comeback that had everyone at the table shocked. I actually had to spend my second to last 20 on a few more chips just to have enough to play the hand. Caught 2 straights in a row followed by 2 flushes and then a high pair. Very quick couple hundred bucks. Cashed out of the table with $515 in chips, (figured i spent about $230 on chips after buying some for my girl to try a few hands) a $23 voucher from the video poker, and a lone $20 bill in my wallet. very fun time.

MGM Grand was the only place I played when I went to Vegas. I'd never been in a casino before, so when I plucked up the courage to sit down at the 1/2 NLH tables I guess I formed a bond with the place.

First $100 didn't last too long.

Second $100 went first hand when I had AQ, flopped AQK, reraised all-in to try and get the guy off his draw. He had J10

I really ground out a couple more sessions until I was pretty even, and finally pretty comfortable sitting there when I played my final session before leaving Vegas.

I got chatting the dealer, doubled with AA pretty early on, and was feeling so good with $250 in front of me I limped with KK under the gun to see if I could scoop a big one (whilst still innocently chatting away to the dealer of course, another Brit).

Flop came down six high, which I liked. Raised it. Got reraised all in. I was pretty worried about a set. But looking at the guy, who was a sweaty Ricky Gervais, and taking into account how I'd played my KK totally different to my AA, had otherwise been tight, and this was exactly the kind of situation I was looking for when I limped with KK, I was pretty sure I was ahead - so I called for all my money.

He turned and looked at me. "Can you beat a pair of sevens" he said, flipping over his pocket pair. "Er, yeah" I replied, showing him, to the general amazement of the table, my cowboys. That felt really good. I estimated I could tip my new best friend - the dealer - a good $20 from my monster pot.

That was until she turned over another 7 on the turn....

Possibly the most annoying thing about it though; my (all non-card playing) friends all asked me when I came back from Vegas if I lost money. I had to say yes, of course. But then when I tried to explain to them this story and how I was really unlucky, They just look at me with that, 'Yeah! That's what they all say when they come back from Vegas!' look.

But I was really unlucky! It was a great play! Still, despite being generally really disappointed by the selection of card rooms in Vegas, I really liked the Grand....

I must say MGM has a special place in my heart. The first and only time I went there was May last year for my bro's bachelor party. First of all, I love the tiger pit right near the poker room. Nice entertainment when you are bored. Second, I had the best weekend in the world there.


It was my first time going to a casino and playing poker, and when I got there they started up a new table and everyone bought in for $100. (1/2nl) I just observed for the first 20 mins getting the flow, and then I got AA. I doubled up with someone that had QQ on a flop of J 6 3 rainbow. Two hands later I get AA again and take down a decent stack. Long story short, in 3 1/2 hrs I got aces 7 times and won all seven. My favorite hand of the night was this one:

I am HUGE stack at the table, with about 700 in front of me and the next closest is this woman who sat down with 100, doubled up first hand with KK, then took down a big one in her second hand with AQ suited and flopped a nut flush. So I am sb with 9h9d, and after she limped UTG and it folded to me, I raised to $12. BB folds and she calls. Flop comes Qc 2c Qs. I bet out $22 and she calls. Turn comes 9c. I am just hoping she either has a flush or a Q and no way she paired her kicker yet. I bet out $40, and she smooth calls. River comes 4c!!!. I bet out $100, acting all cocky about it b/c I know she just hit an Ace high flush. I don't know why, but I knew it. She looks at me and goes, damn, i hope you didn't just hit the flush and waits another 10 seconds, then pops me all in. I insta-call and she goes "HAH, i HAVE THE ACE HIGH FLUSH!" I look at her and said "Thats a nice hand, but does it beat a boat? and flipped my boat over. Felt so nice.


I ended up leaving that session up $1300, the most amazing rush I have ever seen in 1/2. To cap off the night I played some .25cent video poker, and hit this!!

Attached Images

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wow very nice catch. A friend of mine went back up to MGM 2 weekends ago with $500, sat down at the perfect pairs game (never played it, so if someone here has feel free to chime in and explain) and after hours of play turns it into $5000! i was crazy impressed until i learned he only came home with $1200 lol. Not sure what he blew it all on, but i hear drinks, craps, and women were involved...

Who takes a picture of a machine like that! Is that even legal!? lol

Anway...nice job coming out ahead guys.. . .except for those few who got "unlucky"...