Vegas as a Shy 21 Year Old Part 1

I arrived in Vegas 5 days ago with really not a clue about what to expect with hearing people’s different opinions but overall I would say it is quite an amazing place that you can’t really describe to anyone because it is so vast and you just have to experience it for yourself.

Flew direct with Virgin Atlantic, had some hour bursts of kip to pass the long flight. Got some seats in the middle at the back next to the toilets on the left side so had a view of the strip on the way in. Virgin are OK but not great, I think the new BA flight will be better and hopefully bring the costs down.

I didn’t really have a plan of action for when I got here with it being my first time I just wanted to take the place in and see some of the sights.  I’m not very outgoing and don’t drink much so no plans for hitting any clubs or anything.

Checked in to the Palazzo and with my own suite which is quite impressive, massive bed, lounge area 3 HD TVs, massive bathroom etc but with a completely naff shower. View over the Wynn golf course is nice too although it looks in quite poor condition.  Had a wander around caesars and stuff to get a feel for where things are and headed back for an early night.

I wandered a bit further on day 2 down to planet hollywood via some of other hotels only to be disappointed that there wasn’t even a full show at the fountains at that time of day. Came back just to see my dad get knocked out of the Venetian noon.  Decided i’d play some 1/2 at the Venetian but don’t really like palying cash and quite inexperienced. Sat with $200 and took ages to get comfy, most of the table seemed solid with a few short stackers and a few were straddling.  Lost $40 early on with 89 which I sort of didn’t really want to be in after the $10 raise. Hit top pair 8 and checked to me so I bet and called by the blind.  Then I was insta shoved on the turn so passed.  Got mostly shit late on then picked up aces, just me and the guy on my left in the pot + the blind called. Flop is quite raggy but a low straight draw and the pot ends up 3 betted by me which is flatted.  Turn brings a scary card which make 4 cards to the straight and decide to tank before shipping the rest of my tank.  I felt he was weak and had been playing weird so took a lot of balls, he tanked and eventually called, didn’t see what he had but had a million outs and missed so thank fuck for that.  Cashed out about $70 up and went to play the 7pm $120 with 90 runners.  Grinded that out with no cards and a very standard tournament.  Very quickly noticed that the standard was so much better than home, every player was solid and no donkeys but no tough opponents.  Like over half the table was drinking water.  Busted in 17th after button shoving J10 with 5bbs, insta called by the blind with K9 that held.  I’d been short stacked so much in the tourney and no one was calling without a hand.

After browsing most of the casinos and seeing their cardrooms I would say that the Venetian is the best here.  The smaller cardrooms are ok but lack the technology of the bigger ones like waiting lists on the screen for cash games.  Generally, things are ran so much better here than back in England and would like to see some things adopted.  Dealers are such an absolute requirement that improves the game and I really think things can be done for the casinos at home to be able to afford them.  Yeah most of the tourneys are higher buy in but even the smaller games have them albeit with a sick rake.

Structures aren’t as good but shows how spoilt we are at home for standard tournaments.  The venetian is perfect for their daily tournaments and gets the game finished within 7 hours for 80 runners.  The rest are just plain rediculous but actually work because they don’t get many runners and doesn’t need to be deep.  The wynn is the most expensive buy in regular tournament and although you get lots of chips and 30 min blinds, their blind structure is just terrible with crazy jumps late on.

Overall, Vegas shows how retarted some British casinos are and if the management just seen how things were ran here they’d increase profits and benefit everyone.