summer getaway to the 702: TR 5/31 - 6/4
it's my second Vegas trip of 2026. This one was unplanned, maybe even unnecessary. expected to wait until November, but
we have arrived.
Allegiant now offers free water inflight. that doesn't sound like much (it isn't) but is a welcome change. beats airport water fountain water (when I actually remember to fill up).
downloaded a few episodes of Spider-Noir for the flight. I've tried a bunch of shows lately, usually not impressed. this one I really like. 3 episodes in and love it.
no surprises. got my rental car, which is an electric. never driven one before, hope I don't get in a pickle.
first stop is to Palms for free lunch and freeplay. got Send Noodles for some Singapore noodles.
turns out Singapore is the noodle variety that I don't really like. should have just stuck with pad thai. but was hungry enough and it had good shrimp and pork and all it cost was a few tip dollars. service was poor; I was probably too generous.
used my freeplay for VP and turned it into $30. we're off to a good start.
I read a lot of people that diss Fontainebleu because "it lacks character" or they yearn for the nostalgic themed resorts. I don't need a pirate ship hotel and you can stay at the dirty castle or the big pyramid or Circus Circus if you want a theme resort. FB is amazing. every time I come in here I'm blown away. hotel registration had a long line but they had a dozen desks open and it was a breeze. my registration clerk was awesome. the room is fabulous. the pool area is wonderful and the servers are very pleasant on the eyes. the resort is clean and beautiful.
I asked if the room had a fridge, she said no but they can bring one in complimentary. before I had unpacked I had a fridge in my room. don't think I will even need it (since there's no microwave, maybe I should have asked about one of those too) but it was such a nice touch.
cannot afford to stay at Wynn so can't compare, and FB doesn't have a poker room but for my money Fontainebleu is the best hotel on the Strip. or at least my favorite.
debating how to get from FB to V: don't want to mess with driving and then validating parking, decent walk in the sunny heat... decided on another new experience: took a Zoox.
In a recent episode of Thinking Poker Podcast, Andrew Brokos recommended to a listener with this problem that he play a session (or maybe more, I don't remember) practicing folding. In any situation where you only beat a bluff, fold. Period. Practice it to recondition your brain to recognize that folding is OK.I'm not saying to do this necessarily on this trip, but hey, it migh
The issue didn't come up last week. I played a satellite and a flight in the Mini Mystery Bounty, getting knocked out of both. They were both the typical exit, where I get blinded down and shove a flip, losing both. Practicing folding I can do if I play some cash. I usually don't like to play any cash once I'm in tournament mode, but in this case I can try it early on I think. Hopefully I can get some practice folding and only lose a few hundred. I head back to Vegas Friday.
I read a lot of people that diss Fontainebleu because "it lacks character" or they yearn for the nostalgic themed resorts. I don't need a pirate ship hotel and you can stay at the dirty castle or the big pyramid or Circus Circus if you want a theme resort. FB is amazing. every time I come in here I'm blown away. hotel registration had a long line but they had a dozen desks open
When outside temps reach triple digits, you'll love the fridge. Buy waters at a gift shop and store them in the fridge. Get some waters in those little bottles at the tables, keep the little empties. You can fill those from the bigger bottles you buy at the gift shop. Or take a trip to Walmart. Take a left onto Flamingo from the Palms. 7 or 8 blocks west, then take a right on Rainbow. Walmart is on the left in a block or two.
debating how to get from FB to V: don't want to mess with driving and then validating parking, decent walk in the sunny heat... decided on another new experience: took a Zoox.
Treasure Island still has free parking I think. There's a pedestrian bridge over to Venetian.
the Zoox dropoff is at Wynn, full disclosure. the ride was fine. took a while to get one, checked when I first arrived at FB and none were available, but after unpacking and a visit to the pool one was ready right when I was ready. and the ride was free.
got on poker waitlist before I left, immediate seating when I arrived.
Session 1a: Venetian 1/3
1 - first hand: won with JJ on a (king high) cbet
- next hand: I open KJ, turn a king, bet river, he calls with a paired 6 and I win.
- next hand, I call an open with KQ. I river 2 pair, I bet, he raises, I call and he has AT for Broadway.
losing one hand was all I could handle. name called for 2/3 and moved.
as I was leaving, the guy next to me says "hey, I can tell you're a good player. sorry to see you go." well okay thank you random stranger.
Session 1b: V 2/3
first hand I chopped a bomb pot.
dealer Ana, havent seen her before but wow she is beautiful.
2 - I open with 87, get raised, bunch of calls. I fold.
- next hand, I open with JT, get raised to $50, a call, I fold.
- next hand, I limp with T9, guy who kept raising me opens, I call. flop 873, checks, 6 turn for a straight. bet, I raise, he fold. is that learning?
3 - raise, I call with 99, another call.
flop is good, A93 all hearts. he cbets, I call
turn black 4. he bets I call.
please pair. river black K. he bets $125, I call, and I see the bad news of QThh.
don't think that's a bad call but was expensive.
saw some very loose play. for 4 hours. guys calling and opening with J6s, 64s, 86, 85, 82...
- I tried a bluff with JT, guy kept check calling, got to the river, he checked, I bet, he calls, and his 95 rivered the straight. I was winning all the way until the river.
- guy opens $25 with 8-2 and hits an 8 on the river to beat me.
I didn't lose to AA or KK or QQ or AK. I was losing to J6 and 82 and 95.
game broke at 7:30. I moved to another table down a bit.
short bald white guy with glasses from New York, we'll call him Joe
it continues. an open to $15, Joe calls. lots of chips went into the pot. Joe eventually won with 3-2 one pair.
4 - white guy with a Mariners hat, Mike, opens $20, I call on button with T8hh.
flop comes 973. he bets I call.
ace turn, checks
river is a Q or something, I missed everything. he checks. I bet $40. Mike shakes his head, cursing at his cards, points at the board and mucks. he must have had JJ. bluff successful.
5 - Joe limps, I open ATdd, Joe calls
flop 973cdc. I cbet $20, he raises to $110. wth
- limp pot, AK665, checks through turn, guy bets $10, Joe raises to $115. the pot is like $16.
- Joe limps, there's a raise to $30.
flop is like T53. 7 turn, he bets $25, call
river is whatever. Joe bets $120. splashy guy on tilt calls. Joe has 6-4 for a straight
- bomb pot, I bet like $20 with open ended + pair, Joe raises pot (like $115), I fold.
Pman JamesU playing the $400 tourney. wish him well. I did not get a creep stalker photo
6 - I finally hit a set of tens on an ace high board. river put a third heart, my bet did not get called by Mike but at least I won the pot.
won a pot later with T7s, rivered a flush, bet and got two calls!
7 - not sure how it started, Q96 flop, bets, raises, calls, goes all-in river, Joe has AQ for top-top but Mike's set of 9s takes it for like $900+ pot.
- couple hands later Joe goes all in on river thinking he has a straight, he doesn't, and loses to pair of kings. wish I could've caught a nice hand with Joe around.
starving so I had to go. not good results, no pictures, could never grow a stack, dropped a few hundred in nearly four hours. didn't play poorly but was just a ridiculous session. people playing so loose and hitting. I had nothing but junk every bomb pot (after the first, which wasn't much). probably being punished for playing poker on Sunday, that's what Mrs Langdon would say.
used my poker comps for Grand Lux, got the chicken fried chicken. so hungry and it tasted good. I'm a man of simple taste.
Zoox got me back. wish it was this instead
the Zoox dropoff is at Wynn, full disclosure. the ride was fine. took a while to get one, checked when I first arrived at FB and none were available, but after unpacking and a visit to the pool one was ready right when I was ready. and the ride was free.
Pman JamesU playing the $400 tourney. wish him well. I did not get a creep stalker photo.
Zoox waiting times are a bit long yes, but I love how many new stops they have added.
I wonder how many percent Pman have of himself in a $400 tourney? 10% maybe?
slept not great. likely 80% due to eating a big meal late right before bed.
still annoyed about the results of the poker session yesterday. am generally a pretty tight player. don't like to limp, but most of my opens were re-raised to a stupid amount and I didn't catch enough premiums or bink the flop to make them pay. one of the rare sessions where limp-calling seemed to be the right play almost always. the only big pot I really got involved in was the flopped flush > flopped set, after that was lots of folds. yeah there were a few times that if I went along $40 preflop with J8s I would have hit the flush or Q4 hit trips. but I'm not that rich. I'm okay with how I played.
got a beautiful view of the Circus Circus complex
the view is nice, although the giant marquee is a bit distracting for my attempt to work-work with the shades open
took a quick break to the FB fitness center to check it out. didn't take pictures out of respect, but it is definitely the best hotel fitness center I've ever seen
While I think it's totally fine for people to say FB doesn't have character etc......and btw, I don't think that needs to mean it has to be pirate themed or any theme really - I feel the same way about Resorts World - I think it's just a nice giant mall, with no character, and I do think FB is a little "plain", there is absolutely no doubt it's an awesome hotel. The rooms are beautiful, the floor is beautiful and spacious, it has great restaurants, and gym etc - I am just a Wynn/Encore person through and through and I love the character of the WynnCore. FB is a gorgeous hotel, and it is typically very expensive (by vegas standards) as well, so it's great you are able to stay there. I know the food can be expensive, but if you like italian food, and you feel like splurging (depending on how your trip goes) - MotherWolf is an amazing spot. It's a little pretentious, and takes itself very seriously lol, but if you sit at the bar, you can have some great food. Not cheap obvs though.
While I think it's totally fine for people to say FB doesn't have character etc......and btw, I don't think that needs to mean it has to be pirate themed or any theme really - I feel the same way about Resorts World - I think it's just a nice giant mall, with no character, and I do think FB is a little "plain", there is absolutely no doubt it's an awesome hotel. The rooms are b
+1. Obviously FB and RW are nice hotels, but I think people saying they have no character is valid. It's also about personal preference. I don't like the Wynn that much even though it's obviously nice.
BTW, if I haven't said it, good luck Langdon! It looks like you are off and running!
+1. Obviously FB and RW are nice hotels, but I think people saying they have no character is valid. It's also about personal preference. I don't like the Wynn that much even though it's obviously nice.
Speaking of RW, one of my dealers in the Mini Mystery Bounty used to work there. She said there were rumors of money laundering.
you think food at FB is expensive? no lie.
$48 for a basic breakfast
spent an hour at the pool then got some pizza at Miami Slice
pretty good pizza. crust was a little too crispy.
then to play some pai gow
"should have played bonus" as my first 10 hands had trips, flush, full house and a straight. that's ok.
the other fellow on the table made a $130 bet. it lost. he bought $500 chips. he bet all of that and immediately lost. and left.
two others came and sat across from each other. the guy on my left was betting 10 green per hand plus side bets. didn't really know what he was doing, the joker always confused him. he seemed to be hitting quite a bit and stayed up. the lady on my right was down a little. both very friendly and social. they were also tipping generously so I felt no need. the dealer was the slowest pg dealer I've ever seen, it made for many fewer hands which is okay this time.
after getting down a little I made a little comeback and after 90 minutes I was up. in for $200, out for...
got my car and headed to Mandalay Bay. along the way I passed In-n-Out and made a detour. actually I saw one on the right, the GPS directed me to the Strip one on the left, I redirected and it took me to a different one on the south. Three In-n-Outs all right there. pretty good burger and shake for $8. the pizza slice was fine but no way it would carry me until dinner.
had called ahead and when I arrived there were 2 tables running and a seat ready for me.
after a few years MB Poker is back in their dedicated room. I liked the old spot by the tram but this feels more permanent and official so they are happy.
I loved dealer Dustin, he runs the game calling constant play-by-play and his energy is so relaxing to me. didn't see him, inquired and he left about a year ago. Dahlia is my new favorite at MB.
Session 2: Mandalay Bay 1/2
serious table, more traditional game. an old white guy knocked out a player with KK, gave him a nice stack. another guy knocked out a fishy looking player. we were a bit shorthanded for a bit but despite max buy-in of $300, the table was relatively deep. lots of straddles.
Cisco conference happening, there were at least 4 attendees at my table during the session. very good players. one of them, black guy from Atlanta, retired from Cisco but onto another company, we'll call him George. big stacks, chatty, quite aggressive, been playing a lot the last few days. sometimes distracted.
another attendee, white guy in a suit, we'll call him Ted.
non-attendee, middle eastern guy in his 30s. busted quick but rebought and recovered his losses soon. we'll call him Gus.
lots of hands to share.
1 - straddle, I call with K7. flopped a king. I check call. turned another K.
innocuous river, or so I thought. I bet $35, he fumbled his chips a little, and called with nut flush. from where I was I didn't see the backdoor diamonds. would I have called a raise? glad I didn't have to find out.
- QTss, turned a straight. he also had QT.
2 - straddle, calls, I look down at Ad, then As. I raise, bunch of calls.
flop 875ss. Ted donks for $40. nervous as plenty of space here for a set, but of course I call.
turn is 9s. pocket 6s also possible. but he checks. I bet $50, and he folds. happy my aces held up.
3 - button straddle, Ted raises $15, I double it to $30. a few calls.
flop T53. Ted raises to $50. missed my set so I fold.
a short stack guy went limp call call, check call, all in on the turn. I'm assuming some monsters.
Ted showed pocket 6s and won. I couldn't believe it.
4 - utg I limp with 54hh. Gus opens, I call.
flop K63hxx. I check, he bets $20, I call.
come on, 7 or 2 and I get paid.
turn is Jh giving me combo draw. he bets $30 I call.
river is a brick, don't remember what. know he has a K and there's no way I can bluff him off it. I give up and he checks back his king.
5 - I'm bleeding down. see AK. don't remember all the action on this one, but me vs Ted.
board A96 7 8
on the river I bet like $60, show him I have like $70 behind. he shoves.
I make the call, and it's AK v AQ for the much needed double up. thought I was good the whole way despite the open-ender on board. still down some but relieved to be alive.
6 - Gus opens, I call in blind with A6
flop J65hh. he bets $15, call
turn 9h, he bets $20, I call
river is a K. a lot has happened here. think he has a J. flush on board and the river K should scare him. I lead for $40, and he folds. happy with that one all the way around.
7 - straddle, raise, call T7hh, many calls
654hxx 8h 9d.
I bet $40, George asks out loud "were you the preflop raiser?" no answer of course. he tossed in the call with two low pair and my straight is good.
8 - small open, I call 4-4, Gus raises in sb, I call
flop yahtzee: 664. he has about $140 left. he bets $25, I tank call, others fold.
turn 9, he bets $50. I consider raising but he has just $65 left anyway so I call.
river J. check, bet, fold. shame I couldn't get the rest.
9 - I open button with 88, get a call.
flop 985. been a long time since I've flopped so many sets. check bet call.
turn 7, check bet call.
flop is J putting a double-gutter. he checks I check back and my set is good.
I'm up! holy cow, took awhile but I forgot how it feels to not suck at poker.
10 - I call an open with T8cc
flop flush draw, turn may have given me a straight draw too. Kc on river gives me T-high flush.
I bet $40, new guy pushes a stack forward raise. I assume he hit the front door nut flush. I fold face up.
looking back that may have been a mistake as could have been two pair or a straight. but my goal is no bad calls and if I suspect he has a better flush and still call that's a bad call.
I later asked him and he said he had the flush A2. I believe him. good fold.
11 - Q8cc sb
AdKc4c 8h 3c. got my flush.
I bet $80, George raises $200, I snap and he shows the Ace high flush.
I suck again.
- flopped a set of 2s, no action.
I run my flush into a higher flush twice and then can't get a bite when I flop a set. all in one orbit.
- George has a million chips. he opens with 5-2, turns a straight. here we go again.
at 4.5 hours I'm getting tired and hungry. still want a nice dinner while there's still time. up and down, I rack up for -$170. considering I ran into nut flush at least three times and didn't go bust I'd say played well. that's two in a row where I could say "happy with how I played!" and still took a significant loss.
I hate poker.
It’s sooooo hard to leave at the top. You can drive yourself crazy thinking about what could have been. I know I do.
Slice looks good, and I love some In N Out!
Nice session recap - looked like mostly straightforward spots, and you seemed to pick your spots and navigate well.
On hand #2, especially with the straddle on, on the that flop multi way I think we can raise for value. A lot of times a lead like this in this spot is somone trying to protect a weaker one pair holding feeling the board hits their range better, and or it's a lot of combo draws. I know this approach could be seen as a bit more high variance approach which maybe you would prefer to avoid but I think there are too many hands we are ahead of that we want to get value you from that can continue to a raise. Id make it about 110 to go, and if oyu get called, you leave yourself maybe a pot sized bet on the turn to crush with on a reasonable/brickish turn card.
don't want poor results to ruin my trip and I've been eating pretty conservatively so headed back to FB and went to KYU.
came here a couple years ago with Mrs Langdon and had my favorite Vegas meal ever so a return trip has been on my mind.
I walked in to the host desk. I smile and put up one finger to indicate just me. she asks "can I help you?" um, yeah I'd like to eat here? why else would I walk in? I get a table. feels like five minutes before anyone else talks to me. we are not off to a good start.
eventually my server arrives. I order the duck. don't really want a side but would be odd to just order the meat plain so order bok choy.
changed my mind back and forth a few times but think I would regret not getting the dessert.
the duck breast was as good as remembered. perfect texture, taste, sauce and seasoning. veggies had a lot of garlic and chili oil but still pretty mild. way too much for one person. dark chocolate s'mores cake with banana bourbon ice cream was also just as good as remembered. I don't drink and the boozy ice cream is as close as I ever get. may be my favorite dessert ever.
dinner was just under $100 pre-tip, making it literally the most I've ever spent on my own meal. did not regret it.
once again it's probably my bedtime but just ate a big meal. decided to feed $40 into a slot machine and sat down at a Mrs Wong Spicy Pots.
triggered the spicy bonus twice and got some pretty good hits!
it's actually a fun game but is totally dependent on the bonus, as the line wins are like 15 cents max.
the two features got me to $130. played down to $60 and booked the small win.
headed over to the pai gow table for the second time today. dealer always say "why you no play bonus bet?" especially at FB it's a terrible idea where the min is $5 each (even for the progressive) so we are talking +$10 extra every hand. but sure enough, one of my first hands I hit quad 9s (plus ace), first time I've ever done that.
I got up early and hung in there for a while. another player finally came to the table, very chatty Asian guy with a poodle in a dog cart came to the table. guess he has been there earlier. playing two spots, after being with a silent dealer it was a stark change as he talked nonstop. those two spots were not working so he moved to the other side of me. one of those two spots wasn't working so he switched to just one spot. not winning enough there so he went to the other spot. announcing the board, reading my hand before I even read it.
pretty soon I won like 4 bets in a row and colored up. the other player obviously said "hey well if you're going I want to play your spot"
just under an hour: in for $200, out for...
the night session of slots and pg covered my poker loss. went to bed feeling better.
I think FB is top notch too, anytime I get comps there, I take advantage as well.
Great to have a late night comeback!
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for those interested, bottle filling machine sighting at FB
a little quirk about my stay: at registration she asked if I preferred near the elevator or not. I said near. she said "okay I found you a room on 26th floor close to but not adjacent to the elevators."
it was 2 doors away from the very end of the hall, about 20 doors from the elevator, around a turn
God only knows where you would have ended up if you had said not near the elevator. 😀
At the Rio?
Nice work at PAI GOW - I love playing that game - if you do like to drink, playing the face up one, where A-high is a push or whatever, I find that one you can just get FACED UP with drinks without a ton of risk just winning some, losing some, pushing a lot, - it's a good value game for the entertainment and drinking potential IMO
