While I haven’t been dealing it, I’ve been playing it, mostly NLH tournaments – close to every other day – for the last few weeks. It’s brutal. I’m so tired when I finish an eight or so hour session that I feel as if my face is going to slide off onto the floor. I haven’t made the money, not even close really, from 80 or so players down the last 23 or 24, and it’s not a heart breaker, it’s just poker. I’ve played Caesar’s Palace, the Venetian, and the Orleans. Every place in town has a tournament now, some are just a little better than others when it comes to the juice and what’s offered. Dan (son) has picked the Venetian for the best tournament deal for us and that’s where we’ll be parked for awhile.

I played the 8:00 tournament at the Venetian last night and picked up very few playable hands – stole a few blinds and antes – and managed to make it to the $100 ante $600-1200 limit. Not much hope there since I didn’t have a stack and I was at the point that I couldn’t make a move with 6-4 and blow anyone out of the pot. I finally picked K-10H to make my stand with and was up against J-J. I was out. This is one hand I almost played early on, anyone interested in giving a reply in the forum? I’d really appreciate it.

Out of seven tournaments I’ve played in, I’ve only witnessed one dealer that asked for the antes as they pulled the deck together and prepared to open the shuffle master. All of the rest of them wait until they have the fresh deck in front of them, ready to cut and deal, before they even start to look around and tell people they have to ante. Yes, the players should be able to figure it out but what’s wrong with the dealer saying, “Antes please,” as they pull in the muck and move the button? Anything to slow the game down – right? They do…not all but most of them do. I try not to watch most of them, it’s painful. ‘Nuff said there.

Dan was still in town, holding over from the WSOP and was at the Venetian also. He played the $2-5 NLH game. I didn’t check back on him as I left.

Marie is back for a few brief days. Wehad dinner at the Black Angus in Henderson and then headed to the Palms for a few hours of poker. Wayne was there – dressed in dealer togs. We played $2-4L and $4-8L – UGH! I had the perfect trap hands, flop a pairand a four flush with suited connectors and have three people throwing their money into the pots with scoop shovels. Anybody got a cure for theumbrella problem? *laughing now – not then* Instead of being the trapper, I was the trappee.

Marie met me at the Venetian and while I played in the tournament, she played the $4-8. I was her taxi driver and when I got bumped out of the tourney, she had to go too. I dropped her off with a’maybe see you for lunch this week’. If not she’ll be back in October from her Ohio summer ventures.

Please read this article, make a stand for online poker.