The day had finally arrived to see me vacate Las Vegas for another year.
I packed what was left of my belongings before heading to the Premium Factory Outlets for one final time (I think this makes it four or five visits). I picked up some BOSE headphones for Kirsty while getting two-pairs of American basketball shorts . . . American you may ask? Well basically all our shorts back home don’t have pockets, while the ones purchased here have pockets as they are more for casual wear than play (unless you’re allowed to play with pockets in the States).
I returned to the Golden Nugget and ordered a shuttle to the airport to arrive nice and early at the United check-in. I had to pay a baggage fee, but was quickly on my way to Los Angeles.
* * * * * * * *
It took me a while to find the Virgin Australia terminal, and after they also slapped with a US$100 excess baggage fee I was finally through to our gate where I sat there twiddling my thumbs for several hours.
Like normal I fell asleep straight away after being granted my request of the centre row left aisle and was fortunate enough to have a spare seat between me and a striking 20-something brunette.
After snoring my way to Sydney I nearly (along with many others) nearly missed our connecting flight to Melbourne, but after packing a transfer bus and rushing through the terminal I was only one flight and one bus ride away from home.
* * * * * * * *
I rushed through Melbourne airport as I knew I only had a slim chance of catching the bus down to Geelong – otherwise I would have to wait over an hour for the next one.
I made it on time and was on my way home after another enjoyable stay in Las Vegas (and partly Lebanon) that lasted one day shy of two months.
Flying over the French countryside as the sun rose was an awe-inspiring sight!
Not only did it reinforce the feelings of wanting to head to Paris, but it also presented a strong case for hiring a car and driving round the countryside experience what France really has to offer – the food, the people and the beautiful landscape.
We touched down in Charles De Gaulle and flirted with the idea of making our way into the city to visit the Eiffel Tower, but after a very tilted Eric threw a tantrum we decided just to camp it out in the terminal for four hours instead of risking missing our flight.
With only a few Euro’s in our – well really Eric’s – possession we were unable to dine out on drinks to satisfy our travel dehydration, and instead just occupied ourselves by using the internet and relaxing before another long flight back to the States.
One of the things I always do when I travel is board last. First of all I hate standing in line for no reason, as there is no benefit to being on the plane early. Secondly if I’m going to be flying for hours, I might as well spend as little time as possible on the actual plane.
Following this philosophy both Eric and I made our way to the ticket ripper lady (insert actual job title here) and as Eric was cleared I was halted . . . this is how it all went down.
“Excuse me sir, do you have a return ticket?”
“Yes I do”
“Can I please see it?”
“No it’s in my other suitcase in the USA”
“Oh, ok, why?”
“Cause I didn’t feel the need to bring two suitcases with me”
“Well, I’m sorry sir, but you’re going to have to show us the ticket otherwise you cannot fly”
“Ummm . . . well why is it your issue here as I’m heading to the USA?”
“It’s just a procedure sir”
“Ok, well my flight is Virgin Australia Flight 2 at midnight on Wednesday”
“I’m sorry sir, but we need to actually see the ticket to let you on the plane”
“You gotta be f**king kidding me!”
“It is just procedure sir”
“Well do you have access to the internet for me?”
“No sir”
“Then how do you expect me to show you?”
“That is your problem sir”
A few minutes went by as I continued to argue with why they need to see my ticket as I wasn’t returning to Australia for a few days, before being hit with this one.
“Sir, if you don’t show me your ticket then these two people will be taking your seat . . . it’s ok, we have another flight in nine hours though”
“You f**king kidding me?”
I booted my laptop up, paid €30 to access the internet and showed them my e-ticket as the lady counted down to just five seconds.
Finally on the flight following the Charles De Gaulle hell!
* * * * * * * *
You would have expected everything that happened in Charles De Gaulle to be the end of my hassles for the day, but it would all happen again when we touched down in Salt Lake City.
Waiting to pass through immigration I began to notice that it was taking a little longer than expected. After waiting for five minutes the immigration officer asked me to take a seat while he called his supervisor.
Eventually I was called into an area closed off to normal access and was grilled by a security guard.
“What were you doing in Lebanon?”
“What are you doing in the USA?”
“Where are you staying?”
“How do you know that person?”
“How do you know the person you are travelling with?”
I got asked these question at least ten times each – no joke – and everytime the answer was the same.
Ten minutes into the questioning a few guards walked into the room and put on rubber gloves.
. . . GULP . . .
“Excuse me sir, can you please come in this room?”
The door opened, and all I could see from where I was seated was four white walls in a small room.
. . . GULP . . .
I stood up in preparation to be defiled, only to see that the room contained a desk and a computer. No glove was needed as I was grilled with a few more questions before being let go.
Both Eric and I raced to catch our flight back to Las Vegas, and we made it just in time!
After capturing second in the Golden Nugget charity tournament a couple of days ago, I also received a seat into the $1,080 Golden Nugget Grand Poker Series Grand Finale.
The last two years have seen pretty terrible numbers, and on a day when the Venetian is having a $1,070 NLH event I was very surprised to see 108 players take to the felt.
Starting with a 25,000-chip starting bank and blinds at 25-50 with hour-long levels , I took down a few pots to chip up, before losing a few near the end of the level to finish just below my starting stack.
My first real notable hand didn’t come to the 100-200-25 level where I re-raised to 1,600 over a 600 open from a fairly tight player holding
A♦
K♣. He made the call before checking the
2♠
4♦
5♠ flop to see me fire 2,100 at him. He however check-raised to 6,200 to put me to a real decision. I felt that I definitely had two over’s or we were chopping to go along with my gut-shot straight-draw, but I could most likely make him fold a small overpair. Consequently I moved all in for 18,275 more to force an eventual fold and a new 28,100 stack for myself.
I then dropped a lot of chips before running a bluff from the button during the 150-300-25 level when I opened to 750 holding
Q♣
J♥ with only the big blind coming along for the ride. He checked-called 1,000 on the
3♠
3♣
5♣ board before donk-leading for 2,000 when the
7♣ landed on the turn. I re-raised to 7,000, and when he made the call I had given up on the hand. However when the
A♣ peeled on the river he check-called my 8,000 all in and I was back to over 33,800 in chips. I ended up finishing the level on over 40,000 after taking down some decent pots with Ace-Jack, Kings and Ace-King.
During the 200-400-50 level I opened to 1,000 from the cutoff with
7♠
7♦ and had a Norwegian cash game LAG defend his big blind with
J♥
4♥ . He check-raised to 3,300 over my 1,300 flop bet on the
10♥
7♥
5♥ board, and after I called, I also called 10,000 when the turn dropped the
2♠. The
3♥ was checked down on the river, and just like that I was back to 21,500 in chips.
Later in the level, I would chip back up to over 47,000 when I opened to 1,000 with
J♥
J♠ and managed to find three callers, with two of them coming along for 1,600 on the
J♣
6♥
2♠ flop. The turn landed the
A♣ and after firing 5,500, I was raised to 15,000. I moved in for 19,050, and after being called by an underset of sixes, I was back ahead of average and finished the level on 55,550.
I couldn’t catch a break during the next two levels, and just kept slipping and slipping until I managed to steal twice in a row to recover back to 37,200 in chips. Coming into the 500-1,000-100 level there was 62 players left and my 38,500 stack would finish the level on just over 34,000 before doubling with Jacks against Ace-King at the end of the next level to recover to 47,200 as we headed into the 800-1,600-200 level with 43 remaining.
That would be the last level of the night as I folded my way down to bagging 44,200 in chips with only 39 players left to fight it our for the $36,660 first prize or $1,840 for the min-cash in 12th.
* * * * * * * *
Returning the following day, play would start fast with people falling quickly as our table broke. I raised a limper with Aces, and then three-bet another with Aces again to push to 60,000 as I finished the level on just over 50,000 after having to fold Ace-King following my open, a re-raise, and then another re-raise.
With 31 left we began the 1,500-3,000-400 level and my stack just kept slipping and slipping until my final hand where I looked down at
K♦
7♦ in the cutoff.
I had previously folded in many spots when it was folded to me, and consequently thought I had a fairly tight image. The button and small blind were very tight, and the Skandi in the big blind was my only worry; but he had just taken a pot down to gather most of the chips he had lost earlier. I therefore think that moving all in for my last 38,200 in this spot is definitely the right move, but when the small blind in Shawn Rice woke up with
10♣
10♥ I was unable to improve on the
A♥
Q♦
3♦
5♠
7♣ board and I was out the door in 25th place.
Golden Nugget Grand Series Grand Finale – $1,080 Main Event Chip Stack Graph
* * * * * * * *
Looking back at my tournament, I thought I played as well as I could have apart from donking round too much in the earlier levels.
There were a few spots where I should have accumulated more chips, but yet again it was those middle levels were I was unable to build my stack.
Just like my other three main tournaments I’ve played since touching down, I ran deep again, but was unable to bring home the goods!
So I headed into the Rio with everyone so as to scam a ride to the Rumble Nowhere Near The Rio . . . and Garry willingly obliged!
During the drive over to Barry’s Boxing Center I was informed that I would be (after a very annoying yes and no battle over the past day or so) participating in the charity tournament at the Golden Nugget in the afternoon. However there was a more important thing at hand . . . female boxing!
The fight was a charity match between Melissa Castello and Liv Boeree, and after many hours in the gym, both girls were ready to battle it out.
Liv Boeree and Melissa Castello preparing to battle it out
Side bets were taken left, right and centre; with most of the money heading to Liv’s side due to the physical shape she was in and the fact that Melissa looked scared out of her gloves.
Three rounds took place with Liv clearly winning round one before Melissa took it right to her in round two. Round three was fairly even, and in the end it would be Liv awarded the title by a slim two-point decision.
Words can’t really describe the fight, so check out the video here . . . you won’t be disappointed!
* * * * * * * *
With the dust settled at Barry’s Boxing Centre we made our way to the Golden Nugget to represent PokerNews in the Howard and Suzie Lederer Celebrity Charity Tournament for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas.
Haley Hintze, Martin Harris, Jonno Boncek, GG and myself were representing thanks to some added funds from Tony G himself and with a few rebuys in our pockets action was always going to be . . . interesting!
GG and Jonno chipped up early as I was forced to rebuy early when my
9♣
9♠ was no good against
4♣
3♣ and
K♦
10♠. Forced to rebuy, I more than tripled up when my Kings held up, and once at the add-on period I was convinced by the other’s to top up my lowly stack.
After a while I was moved tables and encountered a double before GG joined me . . . and then the real action kicked off! David Singer moved to my right and I won a four way all in holding
Q♥
Q♦ vs
A♦
K♠,
A♠
Q♠ and
10♣10h
before finding another double holding Queens again.
Keith Sexton replaced David Singer as we all limped into the money. GG busted when he made a move dark over a button raise, and it was just left to me to carry the ship for PokerNews. We broke for dinner and fireworks with only twelve remaining and my short-stack looking very, very, very vulnerable!
However people around me would fall, and a double helped as well as I limped to the final table where I joined Howard Lederer and Dennis Phillips for the final nine as we played for the first prize of a $20,000 seat on Poker After Dark.
My goal now was to play tight and try and creep up the pay ladder as Apple MacBook Pro’s were up for grabs for the top spots. First hand I woke up with Aces under the gun and took the blinds and antes before a few players fell in the first orbit. Players continued to drop as I grinded my short-stack to four handed play and a guaranteed new laptop!
Lederer would fall next and with two friends holding 80% of the chips I was bound to bust in third. However both players suffered a brain glitch when Stephen John Bartlett shoved from the small blind with deuces and was snapped off by King-Jack. The board bricked out and I was heads up with 150,000 to 750,000 at the 10,000-20,000 (3,000) level.
I stepped away from the table and took a few deep breath’s knowing that I had reached another poker crossroad after the 2007 WSOP Main Event, 2007 Vic Champs, 2008 Aussie Millions and a deep stack both this and last year . . . and it was squarely on me to pick which road I took.
I limp-raised here and check-raised here to keep myself steady before seeing a potential double snapped away when my
9♣
9♠ chopped against
6♥
6♣ when the board ran out Broadway.
The crowd had really gathered by now, and I knew I had Stephen if I got some chips, as he seemed to struggle against me. I called him down real lightly in one spot to take the pot, and he just looked at his rail with an expression of man this is going to be tough.
With blinds now at 15,000-30,000 (3,000) I looked down at
A♦
5♥ and tried the old limp-to-trap plan and just called from the button. Immediately he slid a stack of 10,000-denomination chips into the pot and I insta-snap shoved for my last 220,000. He sighed and called and turned over
Q♠
10♦.
The board ran out
10♥
8♥
4♥
Q♣
8♦ and I collected my new Apple MacBook Pro and other goodies as Stephen won a $20,000 seat on Poker After Dark.
* * * * * * * *
I kindly shook his hand, along with saying many thanks to Suzie and Howard for coordinating a great event, and quietly vacated the room.
I had about five people come up to me and say that I played so well heads-up (and I felt I smashed this guy in all honesty) and that I was unlucky to not take down the tournament.
Nothing can really describe how I was feeling apart from the word dejection coming to mind a lot. Yeah, the WSOP bubble hurt, and so did the Vic Champs final table bubble but coming second here is so far the worst beat I’ve copped in terms of poker!
Just imagine the exposure I could have got when I sat down with Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, Patrik Antonius, Mike Matusow and Erick Lindgren (well that’s who I had in mind anyway!). Not only for Tilted Behaviour, but also for PokerNews, PokerNetwork and most importantly myself as both a poker player and journalist!
A beautiful Sunday in Las Vegas and it was time to hit the shops with Mat.
We caught a lift with Eric into the Rio and took a cab straight downtown to the Premium Factory Outlets. Once there we hit every store from Adidas to Nike to Polo Ralph Lauren to FCUK.
I picked up two US$39 Polo Ralph Lauren polo tops for Mum and Dad, while picking up a pair of FCUK patterned shorts, Adidas Samba’s and some cool glasses for myself before heading to lunch. After Mat ticked off a few items on his shopping list we ventured over to Fremont Street so that he could taste the Downtown experience first hand!
We walked round scoping a few of the casinos before taking a seat on a Pai Gow table at the Golden Nugget to fill in time before watching the Fremont Street light show after the sun went down.
Mat eventually called it quits to play a $65 tournament while I continued to grind Pai Gow. Two young ladies took up seats to my left while two Cougars took the empty ones on my right.
One Cougar left while the rest of us started to chat and get to know each other while winning a few hands here and there. Eventually one of the younger ladies had to return to her family while I decided to make way with my $130 profit for the long session.
However both Shay and the remaining Cougar wouldn’t let me leave as I was bringing them ‘good luck’ . . . consequently it would be three hours later before I actually left the table and a further $50-odd had been added to my profit tally thanks to a few bonuses I had picked up from both the girls.
Mat and I checked out the light show before I donked off $100 at Binion’s on a $1 roulette table in four spins before returning to the Golden Nugget and a $10 Craps table.
11 minutes later, following a hot roll, I had pocketed $205 profit and we were off home after a great day Downtown.
Well I busted the tourney and headed straight to the Rio while listening to 30 Seconds To Mars looped (really emo, self-hating, wanna slit your wrist stuff) with the volume booming so loudly my BOSE headphones were close to bursting!
Once back at the Rio I moped round telling anyone I could my bad beat story, and after coping the frankly I don’t give a damn expression from GG he asked me if I wanted to head Downtown to be wing-man for Dave King. I choose to join the fight to get DK hooked up, and Donnie also joined us.
We arrived at the Golden Nugget and walked through the carpark, pass the pool and then to the middle of the casino floor to hit a crossroad of what to do. Donnie wanted to play BlackJack, GG wanted to play Craps and I (obviously) wanted to play Baccarat. Since Donnie didn’t want to play craps, and either didn’t know how to play baccarat we all sat down at our own blackjack table.
I have no idea why I even sat down at the table because it is definitely –EV for me as I have no clue on any strategy. Donnie and GG just told me what to do and I followed; eventually returning to even after an early down swing. I quit, Donnie continued to grind and GG got stacked.
Over to Craps we went.
Me and GG started our roll pretty well with us both banking some profit before meeting up with some friends as DK had messaged that he would have to ditch us because the girl wanted to ‘stay in’.
We met up with Melissa (our camera girl) and her boyfriend Eddy at the roulette tables and I grinded a small profit before we threw $2 each on the number ten as Donnie quickly slammed down $75 on black.
”Number 10 for the PokerNews crew!”
Bang! The ball bobbled into the ten and we all banked a nice win while we headed back to the Baccarat room so that I could grind the $10 shoe as GG went back to BlackJack. He won what he was losing all back . . . and then lost it all again while I pushed my profits up to the $200 mark. Donnie and GG decided it was time for some old fashioned poker and they sat down at an uncapped $1-2 No Limit Holdem table.
Donnie and GG in action
I railed them for a while before returning to Craps to take my profit up to $350 for the night as we rolled past 4am. Back to poker I returned to see GG playing like a complete nutter as Donnie grinded a steady profit. After GG pushed all in dark for around the 100 bb mark and won some and lost some he cashed out to head to craps. I sat with Donnie for a little bit more before heading to join GG.
We stood near the craps table for nearly three minutes waiting before GG walked over to us.
”I’m done”
“Ok, craps it is then”
“No . . . I mean I’m done!”
With GG dropping the last of what he had in just eight hands of Blackjack we made our way home just as the sun was starting to rise. I booked a $350 win, Donnie was even to up and GG . . . well GG advised me not to repeat how much he had dropped . . . so let’s just say it was between $5 and $5000 . . . I’ll let you be the judge!
