I'm no writer but here is what I am sharing with my friends ...

2013 WSOP Event #20 $1500 Limit Omaha High Low Split 8 or better (LO8)
I made it down to Las Vegas on Saturday June 8 to play in the LO8 tourney on Monday. It was 112 degrees when I got there. A bit much for a Kid from Seattle!

I picked up my rental car and made way up Las Vegas Blvd to the Gold Coast, which is right next to the Rio and fit my budget well. After checking in I made my way Downtown via LV blvd past what appears to be a Trillion$ worth of Casinos to Binions. I played a $200 LO8 tourney there. I don't recall all the details other than turning a 6 high straight flush with a wheel, getting no action . I busted out after some 8 hours or so having outlasted about half the field.

I stepped outside into the cool of the evening , maybe 95, on to Fremont Street. The Fremont Street experience was on! Too much for me. Seemed that every third person was falling down drunk. I left as soon as I could get out of there . Traffic sucked as bad as getting to the parking garage. No more self parking. Kind of funny, I didn't even know how to turn the lights on in the rental. Some one clued me in. I also missed the exit to 15 south and took the long way back to the Gold Coast. I got off on an exit where I could see the Rio and just headed that direction.

The next day, Sunday June 9 I played a $75 NLHE satellite at the Rio. These are quick with 10 minute levels. In the 5th level with blinds at 200/400 and around 2800 in chips, I looked at Qd10d in the Big Blind. The flop came Ax Kd 9d. I went all in and got called in 2 spots , UTG with AK and the last fellow who was also all in with Ad 10x . About as good as I could hope for, but no diamond and no jack. So, off to the $230 LO8 tourney at Golden Nugget. Nice newer place Downtown. My result was about the same, I outlasted roughly half the field.

Monday and my big event! I bought in pretty early as I heard the lines could be tough. Not this morning. I got right in. Got obligatory souvenir sweat shirt and waited for the start. I got to my table and on the very first hand I flopped a wheel! Bet and all folded. I was chip leader! I didn't really get any memorable hands after that except one near the end. The most amazing thing to me was the number of famous players I ran into. I was in seat 4 and next to me to start was Chad Brown. He went out late at the end of level 4. After the break the seat was taken by Vanessa Selbst, the winningest female tourney player of all time. She was eager to get home and play with her dogs on the dinner break. She busted right at the break. During the break I called my Dad. He said he hadn't realized that the tourney I was in was kind of a big deal as he recognized names Like Phil Helmuth, Daniel Negreanu and the like. And just like that the seat to my right is taken by Daniel. Also at the table was Carlos Mortenson, 2001 Main Event Champion and kind of there was Jason Mercier, one of the best players around. He was also playing in another tournament and was pretty deep there.

Near the end for me (maybe 2800) , (level 7 blinds 200/400) I was holding 10d9d7d5h in the small blind. UTG BIg Stack like 40k called, folds to me , I fold thinking DN will most likely raise as he had been doing. He calls and the flop comes 10h9h5d . DOOH! Daniel bets, and is called. Of course the turn is a black 10. Daniel bets and the big stack folds. I still wonder if I played that right.

Before I busted I got DN's autograph. I probably should of got more, but I didn't want to look like the cracker I am .

I did manage to have a couple of winning days. I played pretty small, LO8 $4/8 with a half kill. I also won a bit playing Black Jack but didn't spend much time at it.

Las Vegas is amazing. And HOT. I didn't spend much time out of A/C. I drove around enough to kind of get an idea where things were at. I played a few other tournaments around town. Orleans and Caesar's Big O. It seemed I made it through half of the field in each.

I think I really blew it in a hand in the Big O. Again with blinds and 200/400, in the Big Blind with around 8000 I have Ah2h3x ? ? and call a raise from the small blind to 1200 with one caller behind. The flop comes Qh3h3s. Small blind bets something like 2700. I tank and eventually fold. I think I probably should have potted it , going all in. Of all the hands I played while in LV, that one bothers me most. I think I am too attached to my money sometimes.

I had a great time in LV. Maybe I will do better next time.

Thats way cool you got to look those guys in the face with cards in your hand.. good for you for following that dream Jeffe!

Cool! Sounds like a fun trip. I've only been to Vegas once. It was fun, but I lost more than I could stomach my first night, so I stopped gambling after that. Hot does strike accord with my memory....