My trip to Las Vegas
It is already a week since we returned, and the impression of disorientation and unreality, and the jet lag, begin to finally fade for good. Returning to Europe with the resumption of work, all contribute to dive into the limbo of memories that take the patina of the past.
I am surprised that contrary to what I thought before going, two weeks in Las Vegas have not generated more saturation, due to staying all the time in a noisy environment, locked inside building because of the infernal temperatures outside (44 ° C during the day for most of our time anyway). In fact, I could have stayed a little longer to enjoy more of our really exceptional hotel, or the talk shows and restaurants. For poker, as it is hard to get tired of this pleasure of playing in the rooms of Vegas, so far superior to that found in most of Europe.
I finished slightly down at the low tables ($1/$2 at the Venetian and Bellagio, or $1/$3 at the Wynn or Caesars), with the impression of playing only average and not having good runners. Yet I know that two weeks is a bit more significant than two days, so I have serious leaks that I cannot fix. Probably a lack of aggressiveness (I do not remember semi-bluff cases for example, even if I do not remember opportunity to do so), and difficult to read my opponents live.
I tried one time to play at the $1/$2/$5 PLO table (say equivalent to a $2/$5) at the Venetian, but I fell on young sharks premises, and the sums involved were too important to me . On the last day, I tried a $4/$8 LO8 Kill, and it was fun to play with the ‘old school’ atmosphere with lots of local grandpa. I will never understand those who are content to only play Hold’em when there are so many other poker variations available.
Fortunately the shot to $2/$5 has been very profitable and I finish the trip up around $800, which will at least pay the bulk of current spending (counting the + $300 at blackjack). To play at Las Vegas, it’s the nuts and returning to Spain at this point is very difficult. Finally, it is a trip I recommend to any enthusiast grinder. I think I will do it again at least once, to finish doing what I failed to do this year: shopping extensively at the beginning of the holiday, many Cirque du Soleil shows, fine restaurants and exotic cuisine, and marathon sessions of exotic poker.
After, it may be time to look elsewhere. Vegas suffers from defects in its particularity. Besides the fact that many places have little food for thought, while easily leading to overeating and drinking too much, the atmosphere built exclusively around the stimulation and satisfaction of the desires of wealthy men can sometimes be seen as rather drab. Vegas is a city oppressive in every sense.
Now when you have the chance to see the Sin City in a group of people also passionate about it and meaning to enjoy it, it makes for a trip that will long be remembered.