5/28-6/2 Vegas TR: Search for Serenity

Took care of some work and then headed downtown to Esther’s Kitchen for lunch.

Ordered the Chitarra Cacio E Pepe and a Ram Jam. Pasta was really good and a good portion. Would rate it an 8.0. Going to head to the Gamblers Bookstore next and then Golden Nugget for the 3pm $300 Mystery Bounty.

Gsmblers Genersl Store was interesting but a bit disappointing as I thought they’d have a larger book and memorabilia selection. They’re in a tough location without much foot traffic and a tough economic climate for such stores.

On the way to Golden Nugget to register for the tournament.

Am playing in the Golden Nugget $300 Mystery Bounty. The tournament has a $250K guaranty, so they have to clear ~833 players to not have an overlay. There are 9 day 1 flights (3/day today, tomorrow and Saturday) and so far they got ~64 for today’s 1st flight and only 31 so far my flight. Unless entries dramatically pick up, there should be a good overlay for this tournament.

Currently at 35,100 from the 25,000 starting stack.

Downsliding with each level unfortunately. Now on the 1st break.

End of Level 1: 22,800
End of Level 2: 31,500
End of Level 3: 25,900
End of Level 4: 15,400

We’ll see if I can utilize the saying, “chip and a chair.” Am down to 6800 at the end of level 8. Was mostly fluctuating between 15k-22k, but lost all but 800 when I lost AJ<K9. I normally wouldn’t have stacked off pre-flop with AJ, but it wasn’t against a guy that just lost a huge pot and seemed to be in double up or rebuy mode. Small solace that I was right.

Managed to double a couple times and am coming back from break in the SB at the 500-1500 level. To add further salt to the found, I lost the race for the 100 chips and my stack is at 6500.

And we’re out of the tournament, A8 < KK.

Just sat down at 4-8 limit while I wait for a 1-2 seat to open up.

They just opened up a new table of 1-2. In for $500. Let’s run this up!

Table has been nonstop action since the game started. I’m in the game for $700 and have lost a couple $400-$600 pots, including one with KK vs AA. Fortunately I’ve also had some big hands against the right guys who were chasing draws that missed. Am up over $900 and have my 1st chip porn pic of the trip!

Also took a short break to grab a couple slices from one of my favorite Vegas places, Pizza Rock. Was really good and would rate it an 8.8.

Game broke once the dude giving away his money lost it all and didn’t rebuy. He must have dumped $3k-$4k. Table eventually filled up with regs and they got the most of his money. They said the donator had previously lost $10k in sessions. I ended up winning $919.

Walking around a less crowded Fremont St. took a nice pic from the 2nd floor balcony of the D.

Nice stack! I love the Golden Nugget cash games, they are truly something special at times with very weird characters blasting off.

How was the energy and the level of play in the tournament area? Probably a bit dead with such small fields?

nice win at GN!

Love the Nugget. I remember my first time playing there 10 years ago, bought in for $4000, most of it cash. Loved it, true Vegas feeling [emoji846]

Hope that great win takes some of tourney sting away. Thank you for the great TR!

Great win!

That Golden Nugget uncapped game can be really good if the right people sit.

Curious to hear about your thoughts on the mood downtown. Like BigWhale said, early indications are the Nugget vastly overestimated their tournament interest, and they’re running huge overlays on their guarantees.

And I don’t think I’ve EVER seen Fremont Street that desolate.

I like the Downtown vibe, and the Nugget's summer series. It's been a couple of years, but I had a nice "summer saver" score there back in 2016...

Do you have to go out and get that? Or do they bring it to you?

Had a bit of a late start this morning and made it to the Orleans after the tournament started. Not doing great so far-am at 18,100 from a 25,000 starting stack in level 3. Good structure, so still over 40BB.

Yeah-table was great most of the night. Started with some guys from Hawaii who were celebrating a birthday. They were drinking a lot, so even though the game flow was slow, it was a lot of action. After they left, eventually a guy sat down that said he’s an LA based producer that apparently will drop thousands in the game.

Honestly, the tournament area was a very quiet sleepy vibe vs more of the fun and lively cash games. Maybe it was due to the smaller fields or because everyone was taking the tournament so seriously.

Thanks bro-cash is treating me good so far!

Definitely a great vibe with lots of drinking and people will to gamble. Agree with you-love that old Vegas feeling there!

I was around different parts of downtown yesterday. I had lunch in the Arts District, then walked to Fremont Street. There weren’t many people out and about as I was walking, but I chalked that up more to how hot it was outside and that part of town.

I was inside the Nugget most of the day until I stepped out before 10 to get pizza. At that time it was definitely packed and loud on Fremont St. not sure how it compares to most night out there, but it seemed like a lot of people.

Yeah-that picture was around 4am, so only the fellow degens were out. Definitely some interesting characters at that hour!

That is awesome-congrats on that win. Very cool memento!

I went out and got it as Pizza Rock was only 2 blocks from the Nugget.

There may be pizza places in the casino or closer on Fremont St, but for me Pizza Rock is worth the extra few steps.

Unfortunately I busted out of the Orleans tournament in level 4. I couldn’t really get anything going and played a few hands badly.

Grabbed a quick sandwich from Subway and sat down at a 1-3 game. Was in the game for $700 and had about $650 when I lost a $750 pot with trip Queens (K kicker) vs deuces full. Dude of course picked up after a couple hands. Will see if I can get back to even or pare the loss a bit. Else will head to center strip for more cash games.