In the first installment of this series, I shared my experiences from the 2014 Global Gaming Expo (G2E), which was the reason for my recent trip to Las Vegas.
This time, I’ll share with you my experiences outside the conference. Spoiler Alert: Not a drop of alcohol was consumed, so don’t anticipate any wild exploits, I’m not 22 anymore.
Monday evening arrival
I arrived in Vegas around 4:30 local time. Having spent approximately six to seven hours on two different planes and a total of 12 hours traveling from my home to the casino lobby, I was quite exhausted. However, I was in Vegas! There’s no time for sleep in Vegas!
Well, tired won.
I descended to the Aria poker room, but within a span of two minutes, I was already on the elevator ascending back to my room. I am absolutely certain that I would have incurred a loss had I engaged in a card game that night.
I found myself in Vegas, engaging in the typical activities of a first-time visitor in their late 30s. I ordered room service, prepared my clothes for the next day, and drifted off to sleep during the halftime of the Monday Night Football game.
Tuesday
On Tuesday, I woke up early, around 4:30 local time, due to the time difference. This was just in time to get my kids ready for their school bus. My day began with a visit to a charming little bakery called Jean Phillipe, situated just off the hotel elevators at Aria, renowned for its delightful breakfast spread. I couldn’t resist dining there each of the four mornings I was in the city, given the absence of cherry or blueberry Danishes anywhere near my residence. Plus, its location made it incredibly convenient.
Following my initial day at G2E, I made my way to the poker room and took a seat at the $9/$18 12-game mix that the Aria offers almost every evening.
Victory was beneficial, but regardless of the outcome, this was the most enjoyable poker game I’ve participated in for nearly ten years.
The game is flawless in every aspect.
The game utilizes $3 chips, which makes it a three and six chip game, resulting in the pots appearing substantially large. As a suggestion, every card room should cease offering $10/$20 and instead, implement $9/$18, as this makes the game instantly more relaxed. The use of $3 chips also disguises the actual amount of money you’re contributing, much like how an $18.95 price tag doesn’t immediately register as $20.
The regulars are amiable and recognize the significance of fostering a positive atmosphere, without which the game wouldn’t proceed. In fact, I discovered that the entire Aria poker room has a more cheerful and enjoyable ambiance compared to any other poker room I’ve previously visited.
As I discovered when Karina Jett took the seat Jimmy Fricke had left about an hour before on Wednesday night, the 12 games played are primarily extreme versions that even professional players are not familiar with.
You won’t find a specialist in this type of 12-game mix at these stakes.
Despite a few avoidable errors due to my confusion about the game being played and my overall lack of experience, I managed to perform well on Tuesday, securing a decent profit. I am still in the process of understanding the correct strategy for a couple of the games.
A quick note about the games played
I believe I had previously played four out of the 12 games (2-7 Triple Draw, Omaha 8, Badugi, and Five Card Omaha 8) at this table, making my performance rate .300.
The remainder were unconventional variations such as Pineapple RazzDacey, Ace to Five Triple Draw Badugi, Five Card Triple Draw 8 or Better, Pineapple Stud hi/lo without a Qualifier, Pineapple Holdem 8 or better, along with a number of other games that required three to four lines on a plaque for explanation.
The positive aspect is that you’ll be fine if you have experience in split pot games, which I do, and understand the fundamental principles of starting hand selection in games such as Badugi and Razz, which I also do.
Wednesday
On Wednesday night, I made my way back to the Aria poker room after placing several bets for my father at the sportsbook. Unfortunately, I lost every pot I participated in during the first hour. For the next hour, my losses fluctuated between $150 and breaking even. However, I managed to win a few significant pots later on, securing my second consecutive victory.
For those unfamiliar, in split pot games, winning just one or two large pots can make you the night’s big winner. This one was significantly larger.
On Wednesday, I played virtually without error and maintained a strong focus on the game – I was essentially “in the zone.”
Wednesday night was intriguing due to the presence of professional players, Fricke and Jett, in the game. Unlike Tuesday night, there wasn’t a particularly lively player. Many of the other players were attempting to switch seats to avoid being in a disadvantageous position against the known players. However, from my extensive experience in poker, I know having a disciplined professional player on your left isn’t always a disadvantage, especially in limit games. In fact, it can often be beneficial.
My strong belief that good players, except for those playing at high stakes, simply need to play poker in a tight/aggressive manner without making mistakes was further confirmed. Despite being out of practice, there is little disparity between my game and that of a regular winner at the stakes I play.
Thursday
On Thursday, I had the whole day to myself. I used this time to explore some of the other poker rooms in the city. I first visited the newly established poker room at Caesars Palace, branded by WSOP.com, where I had a brief chat with the manager. Afterward, I made my way to the Bellagio.
Caesars offers a pleasant room which is brand new, however, it mainly caters to low limit No Limit Holdem games. On the other hand, Bellagio provides a wide variety of tables, games, and stakes. Despite this, the room is beginning to look dated and the ambiance is more akin to Foxwoods rather than Aria.
I fully planned to partake in the $9/$18 game on Thursday evening, but by the time 6 PM approached, my patience with Vegas had worn thin. Additionally, I had concerns about how my back would react to sitting in a chair for several hours, especially on the eve of another cross-country flight. My back can be quite troublesome in that aspect.
I decided to save my winnings, which I later used to purchase a new laptop when I got back home. However, $50 was spent on a chair massage at the airport as a small apology to my back. Given the time differences, I thought it best to get a good night’s sleep. My flight schedule was such that I would be departing from McCarran Airport around 9 AM and would be reaching Boston around 9:30 PM.
In my unusual Las Vegas story, the comedian Eddie Griffin was in line behind me at Quiznos in the Vegas airport.
