That Was Fast

 

Ms. Duck and I flew out of Love Field in Dallas Saturday, the first time we have used this particular airport. Our ducklings drove and dropped us, so we didn't have to battle for a parking spot while they build a new parking garage.

The flight to Las Vegas was a little bumpy, but not a "white knuckler" by any means. Things slowed down once we landed at McCarren. It took quite a while for the bags to arrive and then the wait for a rent car at Alamo was 30-35 minutes. That's unusual for them, as the longest we have waited in the past has been less than 5 minutes.

Once we got our rent car it was off to the Luxor for a couple nights. Ms. Duck and I had built up enough points on our VegasSlots game we play on Facebook to get one of the nights comped. Nice!

We had never stayed in the pyramid, and had a difficult time finding our room. So many turns just to find the elevator. It must have been a designing nightmare for the engineers. The room was nice, but a little noisy and the property was extremely crowded. We never felt totally comfortable there and will probably look for another property on our next visit.

Once we were settled Saturday evening, we drove to the Rio so I could register for Event 57 of the WSOP. Once we got that chore done, we went next door to the Gold Coast and had a nice dinner at TGIFridays.

Sunday morning we were up-n-at-'em and took the short drive to the Rio. We were a little early, so Ms. Duck and I sat down in front of a couple video poker machines to try our luck. After dropping a few bucks there, we walked down to the tournament area and I took my seat.

When I begin a tournament, I almost hope my first few hands aren't playable so I can get reads on some of the other players, particularly those to my left. That wasn't to be on this day. My second hand was pocket jacks and I open raised from middle position, only to be 3 bet by the big blind.

Crap.

I called and we saw a 9 high board. I called his decent-sized bet and we saw an 8 on the turn. My opponent bet again and I tossed my overpair. I just didn't have a read and was afraid I had run into a bigger pocket pair. As play continued he showed down nothing but strong hands, so I think my fold was probably a good one.

The very next hand was A-K, so once again I raised. I received a call from the button and ended up losing to my opponent's A-J when he paired his J on the flop.

So, three hands in and my starting stack of $5000 is down to $3500. Not the start I envisioned.

Later in the first level, I once again get J-J. I raise it and get called by the same player that beat me earlier with A-J. The 6-5 T flop looks harmless, so I bet 1/3 pot, which seemed to be the popular amount. My opponent calls.

A two on the turn and I bet again, only to get 3 bet. My opponent had been very loose-aggressive, so his re-raise didn't cause a lot of concern. We both checked the river and he showed my 6-5 soooted, flopping two pair.

Damn.

I won my first hand near the end of the first level, checking my soooted 4-5 from the big blind. I was heads up with the SB and we saw a king high flop, but it gave me a flush draw, so I bet and received a call. The flush came on the turn, so I bet 2/3 pot and the SB folded.

Finally!

By the first break I was down to $2500 and getting close to push mode.

The first decent hand I got was pocket tens, so I pushed from middle position and stole the blinds. A little while later I pushed with A-Q. The UTG player had open raised and was a fairly tight player, so I knew he had a decent hand, but A-Q with 12BB is a no-brainer. He called and turned over pocket eights.

Whew. I was afraid I might run into a hand that had me dominated and was pleased to be flipping.

An 8 on the flop sealed my doom and just that fast, it was over. By far my worst showing at the WSOP.

But, as we all know, there are days where nothing works. You just hope it's not at a big event like this one.

I've got much more to report on our trip, but Ms. Duck is about ready, so I'll save it for another day.

We're staying at the Vdara for the remainder of the week. We caught a break at check-in when we were upgraded to an executive suite! Yeah bay-bee!

Pull for the Rays over the Indians today. That's where I'm putting my money!

Till next time, win the flips.