The Summer Wind - A WSOP Trip Report …… and beyond!

That's the kind of dedication we like 😀 Vegas FTW!

There is a chance I will go to Vegas the week before F1. Can anyone tell me just how bad it is in regards to road closures? Will Uber rides take twice as long etc.? I know it will probably be a cluster f..k walking as well, since the entire side in front of Bellagio will be full of grandstands.

Haven't been there on race weekend or the weekend before,but when they were still doing construction. It's better if you can do all your traveling either "inside" or "outside" of the track. As you noted, the construction in front of Bellagio really effs up that intersection because they reduce the Strip by 1 or 2 lanes, and you know what happens when they squeeze a busy street down.

Do you have rooms already? Consider the transit routes - for example, if you like to play the Wynn a lot, but also Bellagio, staying at a place like TI is a fairly easy walk to WynnCore, but also has easy access to Bellagio north entrance, which is relatively close to the poker room, and still outside of the track.

This. So fun to see your decision.

Someone did a trip report last year during the F1 race I think. Can’t remember which it is, you might have to search for it. If I remember correctly they managed okay, but they were going to see the race as well so probably wouldn’t mind any inconveniences.

I've been there while the tracks were up (NAPT 2023). It was a little weird getting around (Bellagio fountain area became a big bleacher structure), but overall it didn't impact my stay much. I'll add that I'm a walker when I'm in LV. I never drive and only rarely use ride share, so can't comment too much on that piece.

If you just want to stay and play on the strip then I don't imagine it will be a huge problem.

If you are going to be in a vehicle then it will probably add a layer of inconvenience.

WSOP-C Thunder Valley
Day Eight - Friday October 3rd

This is what my morning swim should look like. Clear blue skies, not a cloud to be seen, and the temperature in the mid eighties.

Doing lengths in the pool is also where I do my best thinking and I came up with a cunning plan, but more on that another time.

We almost didn’t have a game today. There was only 6 of us and 2 people had to leave at 4pm but we agreed to play in the hope that we might get a walk-in or two.

4 of us the same from yesterday with 2 additions, a guy called Garth who I don’t know and Caroline who organizes the game and is a good player.

The cards are being unkind early. I’m making good hands but running into monsters. An 8-8 in Baduecy scooped by a 7-7 for example. I’m quickly in a -4k hole.

Then I finally get the nuts in A-5 and think I’m going to win a big pot until villain raises me for the 3rd time after the 2nd draw and I know the nuts is only good for a chop [emoji30]

Caroline and Peter leave at 4pm as announced, and Garth leaves shortly after, but we’re joined by an attractive Vietnamese lady and continue 4-handed.

Turns out she likes to gamble and insists on everyone straddling which we all oblige. She also likes to drink and soon we’re all drinking wine, not the cheap stuff, but Silver Oak which is really good and I think about $200 a bottle.

So now is not the time to take a break for dinner and we order steaks from Prime to go with the wine and eat while we play.

The Israelí guy only takes one glass and refuses any more. Douche. He’s super tight and nitty as well. I vow not to give him any action.

More wine for the rest of us.

I mean I don’t really want to get drunk but sometimes you have to do what’s good for the game, especially if it keeps your customers happy.

The Vietnamese lady is actually not really a fish. She can play. She just likes action and to have fun. My kind of girl. She’s also got a giant rock on her ring finger and her husband is playing 300 / 600.

With the straddles and the wine taking effect the game is really loose and every pot is a big one.

More wine.

I go from -4k to +1k and back down to -4k before I have a good round of Big O scooping a capped pot and getting 3/4 of another.

More wine.

Both of those pots were against the guy on my right who is definitely now the worse for wear as he was drinking beer earlier before we started on the wine.

Cue double straddles and blind raises! Now it’s really a blood game.

It’s almost 1am when the guy on my right goes broke and the game breaks. We were playing 4 handed for over 7 hours.

Exhausted, and more than a little buzzed from the wine I rack up $12,300 which represents a profit of +$2,300 from 13 hours of play. After being stuck 4k on two occasions I’ll definitely take it.

Walking back to the hotel.

On deck tomorrow: I have an early flight back to Sacramento to play the main, although not sure I’ll be in a good state to play it (not from the wine, but lack of sleep) so might skip it.

Brilliant! What a fun day and great to have a good collect again.

Fantastic! I'm incredibly envious of that game -- I drink wine all day while playing poker (and not)! Silver Oak and steak -- delicious!!! I feel sorry for the beer guy, though. Beer before wine is brutal!

I've been to Vegas just before F1, and the only issue was the trip from the airport -- took forever. Walking around can be a little difficult because some areas are cut off. For instance, walking to Ellis Island was tricky, but that's off strip.

We'll actually be there during the races this year (not attending, though), so I'll report on it in my trip report. Ditto urbanwaste and his report, but I think he'll attend some of the racing.

Yea Bellagio was pretty dead both days. We were the only game going in the high limit section and there was plenty of empty tables on the main floor as well.

WSOP-C Thunder Valley
Day Nine - Saturday October 4th

I got back to Thunder Valley this morning at 8am without having had any sleep so went straight to bed and slept right through until 2:30pm.

I could have still late-reg’d the main but with the messed up sleep schedule I really didn’t feel like I could play my best game and would benefit more from a rest day, especially as my cunning plan that I conceived yesterday while I was swimming involves extending the trip and going back to Vegas on Monday to play some events in the Wynn Fall Classic.

The decision to extend the trip meant I had to do some laundry. The other side of life on the road. It’s not all steak dinners and bottles of wine!

The only time I left the room today was when I went down to eat at the cafe. This evening I watched the Miami - Florida State game in the room. Here I am with a Miami bet but doing the tomahawk chop and humming along to Florida State’s war song [emoji23] It is very catchy.

On deck tomorrow: My last tournament here. $600 Big O which starts at 12pm, but before that they’ll be a 6am alarm call for the NFL game in London.

WSOP-C Thunder Valley
Day Ten - Sunday October 5th

Up bright and early for the London NFL game. Vikings -3 was barely a winner there, but Arizona killed me later. These guys that release the ball when they’re crossing the goal line want shooting. No, shooting is too good for them, hung, drawn and quartered would be a more appropriate punishment. Should have been an easy winner but it eliminated all my remaining Survivor entries and killed all my teasers today so bad day on the NFL overall.

Lunch at Fatburger in the food court.

Never really got going in the Big O tournament. I didn’t get above stating stack on either of the 2 bullets I fired and didn’t win any pots of note.

The only bright point of the day was winning $500 from Ari Engel at props.
We played the prop where we each pick a card and if 1 or them came on the flop you won $100, 2 of them $200 and 3 of them $300.
We did red or black to see who picked first. He got first pick and chose Nines. I would have chosen the same. Obviously you want to choose a card that isn’t generally going to be in people’s hands when they see a flop.
I went with Eights. It was either Eights or Tens. I don’t think there’s much in it.
The first flop brought two nines and more followed and he was quickly up 4 units, but it swung back my way and by the time he got knocked out I was 5 units to the good.

Final Results

Tournaments Played: 6
Bullets Fired: 8
Total Buy-Ins: $4,400
Cashes: 4
Final Tables: 2
Wins: 1
Total Prize Money: $18,100
Net Profit: $13,700

Expenses

Flights: $774
Hotel: $1,183

Add to that the cash game interlude at Bellagio where we won $3,700 at a cost of $200 for the flights and $290 for the hotel.

So a total profit after expenses of $15,000 makes for a decent trip.

Hopefully we can continue in the same fashion as we move on, back to Vegas tomorrow for the Wynn Fall Classic.

Very nice trip results. Well done

[emoji857][emoji857][emoji846][emoji846][emoji106][emoji106]

Strong trip. Congrats. Love the updates.

Wynn Fall Classic
Day One - Monday October 6th

There wasn’t a Spirit flight this morning from Sacramento to Las Vegas for some reason so had to fly Southwest. It was my first time flying with them. What’s the deal with no assigned seats? I was one of the last people to board and of course there’s only middle seats left right at the back on a completely full flight. [emoji30]

Rooms seemed to be expensive this week in Vegas, not sure why, so I’m having to hotel hop like I did in the summer. Far from ideal but works out the most economical. Tonight it’s MGM Grand.
I checked-in just after 10am and I thought I’d try it without the $20 this time to see what happened.

I’m sorry sir we don’t have any rooms available right now. We’ll ring you when something’s ready
How about now? (Holding a $20 out)
Let me see what I can do ……………
You’re in luck. One just opened up.
(Yes I bet it did) Perfect, thank you (I push the $20 her way)

I get a King this time.

I shower and change and head to the office. We have a full game to start today at 12pm

I’ve played with everyone in the line-up before. It’s not great but it’s not the worst. I guess at these limits you rarely get a fishy line-up. Guy (the nitty Israeli) and Peter the main ones to be wary of.

Again the poker room is pretty dead. We’re the only game in high limit and the main floor has lots of empty tables. A far cry from what you usually see in summer when the circus is in town.

Unfortunately the game only lasts for 5 hours. One person left at 2:30pm, another couple at 4pm and another couple at 5pm and no-one wanted to continue short handed. There’s some regular players out of town which is why the game is struggling a bit at the moment.

Time to rack up. Nothing memorable. Won some, lost some, but importantly won more than we lost. +$1,500 after 5 hours.

We actually did get a walk-in today. Poor guy sat down with 3k (which isn’t really enough) didn’t win a pot and left broke an hour later. He took a weird agro line in a Stud 8 pot that was very strange. At showdown he had no low and couldn’t beat two pair. I didn’t get it of course. These games at these limits will chew you up and spit you out in short order if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Now high limit is empty as well.

Unfortunately I put most of the profit on the Chiefs -3. Been a bad week for me in NFL. I watched the first half at the B before going to get something to eat at halftime. I resisted the urge to go with old reliable (Prime) and instead walked to Bavette’s in Park MGM.

Branzino with mashed potatoes was really good. I ate at the bar.

On deck tomorrow: $600 HORSE at Wynn

Good luck in the HORSE tourney!!

Glgl in the Horse

I'm curious, on your NFL sports betting, do you go with your gut, or do you do a lot of research?

I'm sure you know that Bellagio and Wynn both offer poker room rates, or at least they used to. I can't believe how long it's been since I've been to Vegas!

FYI on SWA, Tony. They are going to assigned seating. I thought they already had; if not, very soon.

That and free checked bags used to be what set them apart. Not sure on the latter, but I think they've decided to become just another airline.

I still get a lot of information from my contacts at the sportsbooks so normally know which side the sharps are on and go with that, depending on the number. Then I’ll bet my own stuff live or at halftime.

Yes but that still works out more expensive than going through MGM rewards or Caesars rewards.

Wynn poker rate last time I checked was $139 or $199 depending on the night with $50 resort fee on top. Not sure what Bellagio is, will ask next time I’m there.

When I go through MGM or Caesars rewards I can normally average out at around $90 per night including resort fees and taxes.

Did you look for a cash game at Wynn? Maybe with the event, the players are there.

They run a $20/$40 mix at Wynn but I’d rather play the bigger game at Bellagio.