Vegas Day 7

Got up and headed over to Caesars Palace for their noon tournament. This is a 80 dollar buy in that gives you 5000 in chips and for an extra 5 dollars you get an additional 2500 in chips which everybody takes. There was 51 entrants in tournament. Before the tourney started I strolled around in their back tournament room looking at all the great pictures they had up on the wall. People like Ivey, Brunson, Negraneau and Hellmuth. Truly a special place to play. I got seated at my table and checked out who I was playing. There was young French Canadian who spoke very broken English and a very attractive older lady who at first I thought was from England but turned out she was from Vancouver. The rest of the players were a mix of young and old. Early on I got dealt pocket 7's in the SB and decided to limp in with 3 others. Flop comes AA2. Action on me I put a bet of 300 out there, two guys folded and the player to my right raised to 600. Hmmm . Did he have an Ace? I decided to call and see what the turn brought. It was a 7........ YES. I decided to check and he bet 1200. HMM Just call or raise?? Knowing only 2 hands would beat me right now that being Pocket Aces or A7. I thought for awhile feigning weakness and decided to push. He was startled I could tell. I honestly expected him to fold but he called and had me covered by a bit. He turned over AJ for trip Aces and was floored when I turned over pocket 7's for the Full house. He still had outs though but the river was 6 and suddenly I had a huge chip stack.

Not a lot of memorable hands after that but one comes to mind. Again in the SB I got dealt 3,8 off suit. Just me and the BB. Flop comes 3,8,K. Two pair. I decided to check to see what he did. He bet and I just called. Turn was a 6. We both checked. River was a 2. I decided to bet and he took a long time calling but he did and flipped over KQ. My 3,8 took it much to his disgust but I just smiled and said Small Blind special.

We were down to 23 players when two hands settled my fate. I got dealt AQ. I raised and French guy calls. Flop comes down Q65. I bet and French guy decides to go all in. He had been pushing a lot and I was questioning what he had. I had him covered but only by around 3000 chips or so. I decided to call. He flipped over Pocket 4's. Yes. Well sort of Yes. The turn brought a 3 and the river brought a 7. Yep he got his straight. I was crushed. But that's poker. Not sure how I could have played that hand different except I guess by folding but I was the favourite going in.

The very next hand what do I get dealt but Pocket 4's. Being somewhat on tilt and now short stacked I decided to push. Everyone folded but Vancouver lady who called and flipped over AK. Big slick had not won all day in 3 previous times as all of us at the table noted. This time I wasn't so lucky as the flop comes 963, turn was 2 and the river brought the killer Ace. I was out in 23rd and very disappointed. Vancouver lady smiled and said sorry but hey she made the right move by calling. I suddenly hated pocket 4s!!!

I loved the tournament and will definitely go back and play again. For the money the structure was good and its a great room with excellent dealers and waitresses. Highly recommend.

For dinner went to the Outback restaurant and had an excellent meal and great friendly service from the waitress. Spent our last night down at the Paris Piano lounge and listened to the guys again.. Great as always

Flew home the next morning. Great flight. We were both sad at the airport though as a week goes too fast but we are already planning our next trip in the spring.