I plan on playing at least 1 tournament... not sure where or at what time though. Depends partly on where I am when the wife is shopping.

You got any recommendations on best poker rooms? I'd like to get to Caesars but not sure if their tourneys will fit my schedule. Plus I've never played in a real tourney, just on-line... so maybe a smaller, more touristy place would be better.

Read this thread on the twoplustwo poker forums.
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/108/l ... es-903989/

There are some good food deals mentioned in that thread too. Search those forums for anything you want to know about vegas.

When I was there last year, I played a tourny at the MGM Grand. It was a $65 buy-in I think. 1st place was something like $2000. I busted with AJ offsuit. Flop came 8 A J. I raised 1/4 of my stack. Everyone folded except this older woman. Turn showed a 3 or something useless and I shoved all in. She snap called and showed pocked aces. I got up and walked away with my tail between my legs, all hunched over and pouty like a disappointed kid who didn't get what he wanted for christmas.

Ok, I played my first live Vegas poker tournament today. 10:00am at the Flamingo, $65 buy-in. There were only 18 entered, 2 tables. 1st paid $550, 2nd $350 (I think.) I played pretty well, but made some lucky draws too. We got down to 4 people, and I easily had the chip lead. I resolved to play safe and muck everything... then got pocket jacks. ended up losing 3/4 of the stack to a preflop all in KQ that made trips on the river.

After that, I went into shock mode, and almost blinded myself out - managed to get a chance to triple up with suited A-6 but missed.

I should feel great to make it so far first try, but damn that was disappointing.

Not sure anyone would have played that any differently... it is damn hard to take when you do everything right and lose anyway. But that's poker, as they say.

so you finished 4th? nice! how much did you win?

And did you end up going with the 24 hour buffet pass?

since there was only 18 entered, it only paid 1st and 2nd.

Yes, we did the 24hour buffet pass yesterday.It was $39.99 if you signed up for the total rewards program (those cards you plug into slotmachines, etc) and $45.99 if you didn't. We hit the buffet three times - we planned on going 4, but never made it for a late dinner... neither of us are big eaters, quantity wise anyway.

We purchased it for breakfast at the Flamingo (where we're staying) around 9:00am, which worked out well - we were able to get breakfast again this morning at 7:30am. If I was to do it again, I'd have gone to a different hotel for breakfast the first time - even though most of the food seems pretty similar. We ate at the Paris buffet for a late lunch, 3:00pm-ish. the line was very long, and very slow moving. The food was pretty good, but not great. a lot of things were dry or overcooked.

Craftsteak was phenomenal. Service, food, ambiance, everything. Had the 18 oz dry aged T-Bone roasted, as well the Yukon pureed potatoes w/chives. Also, their dinner rolls are insanely delicious.

Burger Bar tonight before The Beatles Cirque.

Thanks a lot for the recommendations.

Craftsteak was phenomenal. Service, food, ambiance, everything. Had the 18 oz dry aged T-Bone roasted, as well the Yukon pureed potatoes w/chives. Also, their dinner rolls are insanely delicious.

Burger Bar tonight before The Beatles Cirque.

Thanks a lot for the recommendations.