Summer of Tournaments – Day 41
Most the time when I write these reports each day, I’m simply recalling things that happened that day. I write some things down when I know it’s complicated or names and things like that, but mostly just recollection. This can play havoc at times with my facts. If there’s one thing I can count on from my readers, it’s the authenticity of my reports and when I’m wrong, they have no problem with correcting me. I appreciate this. For example, in earlier reports I said we went to the movies at the Silverton (who doesn’t have any theaters) when I meant to write the Orleans; or when I wrote the Rampage casino instead of the Rampart. When you alert me to these mistakes, I try to back and change them so that when I go back to these reports months or years from now, I’ll know they’re correct.
This brings me to my point. It seems I reported something yesterday that didn’t turn out to be correct. I had written that the Paris coffee and pastries shop had closed for a new Italian style restaurant. As I walked from the breakfast buffet this morning, I saw it was still there. I had just somehow missed it before. So what was in the spot where the restaurant is being added, I have no idea. The breakfast buffet at the Paris ($22.95 but paid with reward points) is good, but like all buffets, you’re paying for the vast variety, but can only eat so much. If I weren’t paying it with my reward points, I’d probably not eat here.
I enjoy reading the paper when I’m alone and eating breakfast and today’s Sunday Las Vegas Journal had an article on Dotty’s casinos. They’ve recently bought the River Palms in Laughlin and the Hacienda at Boulder Dam. What caught my ear is the owner of Dotty’s was explaining how much they rent their machines, something I’ve always wondered about. He said that his houses only lease the “traditional favorites” (lingo for older and cheaper) for his customers. Most of these cost $250 annually. In addition, there’s an $81 for the first five machines and $141 for each additional machine. Therefore, a tavern with 15 machines coast $1,815 per quarter. The very old machines, such as “I Dream of Jeannie” can be bought outright, but didn’t mention how much they would cost. He doesn’t deal in any of the themed machines such as Wizard of Oz and others because the machines simply cost too much to lease for the smaller retailers. (I don’t know why I’m interested in the business side of the casino business, but I always find it interesting)
The Paris buffet remains has one of the nicest looks and atmosphere
After breakfast I walked around the casino, I still had my $40 free play to use and if I do cash today in the tournament, the points will still be put in the same day, so I went ahead and sat down at a 3/5 play and played three play for quarters. The second dealt hand was exciting. I was dealt four-to-the-royal in clubs. I’ve heard many stories of people catching royals on free play, so I hit my dealt button and up popped three small hearts—nada—not even a pair. Oh well. However, I went on a small quad run hitting four of them upping my balance to over $150. I told myself to cash out at either $200 or $100. I then hit a cold streak and cashed out $100. Now, if I could only get that quad streak to happen in today’s final video poker tournament session.
The Paris this morning
The Linq this morning—not looking very busy
This pic is for my friends, the Andersons
Before the third session, they hung up the preliminary scores and I was in the $200 win range. I would need to score a thousand or more to stay there. However, the session was a bust. I couldn’t catch any quads and only a couple full houses. I end up with 735 points. So, now it’s just a matter of did I at least qualify for the $100? I’ll have to wait until 7 PM to find out.
I walked over to the Flamingo to play some live 2/4 poker. I bought in for $60 and today things didn’t go well. There were two seats that were simply winning every hand. On one hand, I had K/K and raised pre-flop, the player on my right I later found out had A/A and re-raised. The guy in the 2-seat, who had won the last five hands called. The flop was 4/8/10 rainbow. I bet; everyone called. The turn was a 9. I bet; everyone called. The river was another 4. I bet; everyone called. I turned over my K/K, the guy on the right turned over his A/A, and the guy in seat-2 turned over 6/4 off suit. One of the players not even in the hand got angry this guy called a raise and a re-raise with such a bad hand. He said he was on a rush, and was prepared to play anything, which he did, and won. It was just one of those days.
I went back and picked up my car at the Bally’s valet. Even though I’m staying at the Paris, I leave my car at Bally’s because the Paris valet is a mess and takes forever getting your car when picking it up. I drove to the Town Square shopping mall as I heard that the Game Works has opened there after years at the M&M complex on the Strip. It was hot today and it was muggy as it’s monsoon season here with flash flood warnings coming on the radio over and over again. I was disappointed to get there only to find that the grand opening isn’t until this Thursday. I drove over to the Outlet Mall by Sunset and Las Vegas Blvd. It’s Sunday and this place is jammed. It’s hard walking between the swarms of people. I managed to find a sports store as I wanted to buy a new Charger’s shirt for the upcoming season. I found what I wanted and then headed back to the hotel.
I took it easy and watched BEARS on TV, one of the few in-room movies I haven’t seen. At 7 PM, I went down to see if I managed to cash and it turns out I placed 205, which was good for $100 in free play. I walked over to the 3/5 plays and played it through before cashing out $101. I walked into the Paris Diamond Lounge where Sal made me a drink he’s working on (he’s always trying to find new drinks) that was a berry martini. It was really good.
Sal introduced to Chuck, who it turns out has been following my reports for years. Living a few miles north of San Francisco, Chuck comes to Las Vegas often. Retired and ten years my senior, Chuck had a bank of information for me. He’s a table player and a high level 7 Star member and was nice enough to answer a lot of questions. After our little chat, I realized just how much I didn’t know and can only hope to keep running into people like him and to continue to learn.
I drove over to the Gold Coast because David (timberwolf) talked me into joining the ECLVA (East Coast Las Vegas Advisor) gang for bowling. Though I’m a really bad bowler and it’s way past my bedtime, it was good to hang out and throw the ball at some pins. My first game was as expected, a 92. But my second game was a surprising fluke as I threw four strikes (three in a row) and bowled 137. The third game was back to real me and an 81. We had a really fun time and I’m glad I went.
My one good game
Dave, Bob, and Harv with Dennis in the background going to bowl
Catherine, Judy, and Lydia
Monday is the MPT and we’re going to be meeting in a suite at the Mirage. It’s the eighth year that I’ve been involved and is certainly one of the highlights of my annual summer trip to Las Vegas.
More tomorrow
Totals:
Tournaments: 24 Cost: $336 Won: $2250 Balance: $1914
Most the time when I write these reports each day, I’m simply recalling things that happened that day. I write some things down when I know it’s complicated or names and things like that, but mostly just recollection. This can play havoc at times with my facts. If there’s one thing I can count on from my readers, it’s the authenticity of my reports and when I’m wrong, they have no problem with correcting me. I appreciate this. For example, in earlier reports I said we went to the movies at the Silverton (who doesn’t have any theaters) when I meant to write the Orleans; or when I wrote the Rampage casino instead of the Rampart. When you alert me to these mistakes, I try to back and change them so that when I go back to these reports months or years from now, I’ll know they’re correct.
This brings me to my point. It seems I reported something yesterday that didn’t turn out to be correct. I had written that the Paris coffee and pastries shop had closed for a new Italian style restaurant. As I walked from the breakfast buffet this morning, I saw it was still there. I had just somehow missed it before. So what was in the spot where the restaurant is being added, I have no idea. The breakfast buffet at the Paris ($22.95 but paid with reward points) is good, but like all buffets, you’re paying for the vast variety, but can only eat so much. If I weren’t paying it with my reward points, I’d probably not eat here.
I enjoy reading the paper when I’m alone and eating breakfast and today’s Sunday Las Vegas Journal had an article on Dotty’s casinos. They’ve recently bought the River Palms in Laughlin and the Hacienda at Boulder Dam. What caught my ear is the owner of Dotty’s was explaining how much they rent their machines, something I’ve always wondered about. He said that his houses only lease the “traditional favorites” (lingo for older and cheaper) for his customers. Most of these cost $250 annually. In addition, there’s an $81 for the first five machines and $141 for each additional machine. Therefore, a tavern with 15 machines coast $1,815 per quarter. The very old machines, such as “I Dream of Jeannie” can be bought outright, but didn’t mention how much they would cost. He doesn’t deal in any of the themed machines such as Wizard of Oz and others because the machines simply cost too much to lease for the smaller retailers. (I don’t know why I’m interested in the business side of the casino business, but I always find it interesting)
The Paris buffet remains has one of the nicest looks and atmosphere
After breakfast I walked around the casino, I still had my $40 free play to use and if I do cash today in the tournament, the points will still be put in the same day, so I went ahead and sat down at a 3/5 play and played three play for quarters. The second dealt hand was exciting. I was dealt four-to-the-royal in clubs. I’ve heard many stories of people catching royals on free play, so I hit my dealt button and up popped three small hearts—nada—not even a pair. Oh well. However, I went on a small quad run hitting four of them upping my balance to over $150. I told myself to cash out at either $200 or $100. I then hit a cold streak and cashed out $100. Now, if I could only get that quad streak to happen in today’s final video poker tournament session.
The Paris this morning
The Linq this morning—not looking very busy
This pic is for my friends, the Andersons
Before the third session, they hung up the preliminary scores and I was in the $200 win range. I would need to score a thousand or more to stay there. However, the session was a bust. I couldn’t catch any quads and only a couple full houses. I end up with 735 points. So, now it’s just a matter of did I at least qualify for the $100? I’ll have to wait until 7 PM to find out.
I walked over to the Flamingo to play some live 2/4 poker. I bought in for $60 and today things didn’t go well. There were two seats that were simply winning every hand. On one hand, I had K/K and raised pre-flop, the player on my right I later found out had A/A and re-raised. The guy in the 2-seat, who had won the last five hands called. The flop was 4/8/10 rainbow. I bet; everyone called. The turn was a 9. I bet; everyone called. The river was another 4. I bet; everyone called. I turned over my K/K, the guy on the right turned over his A/A, and the guy in seat-2 turned over 6/4 off suit. One of the players not even in the hand got angry this guy called a raise and a re-raise with such a bad hand. He said he was on a rush, and was prepared to play anything, which he did, and won. It was just one of those days.
I went back and picked up my car at the Bally’s valet. Even though I’m staying at the Paris, I leave my car at Bally’s because the Paris valet is a mess and takes forever getting your car when picking it up. I drove to the Town Square shopping mall as I heard that the Game Works has opened there after years at the M&M complex on the Strip. It was hot today and it was muggy as it’s monsoon season here with flash flood warnings coming on the radio over and over again. I was disappointed to get there only to find that the grand opening isn’t until this Thursday. I drove over to the Outlet Mall by Sunset and Las Vegas Blvd. It’s Sunday and this place is jammed. It’s hard walking between the swarms of people. I managed to find a sports store as I wanted to buy a new Charger’s shirt for the upcoming season. I found what I wanted and then headed back to the hotel.
I took it easy and watched BEARS on TV, one of the few in-room movies I haven’t seen. At 7 PM, I went down to see if I managed to cash and it turns out I placed 205, which was good for $100 in free play. I walked over to the 3/5 plays and played it through before cashing out $101. I walked into the Paris Diamond Lounge where Sal made me a drink he’s working on (he’s always trying to find new drinks) that was a berry martini. It was really good.
Sal introduced to Chuck, who it turns out has been following my reports for years. Living a few miles north of San Francisco, Chuck comes to Las Vegas often. Retired and ten years my senior, Chuck had a bank of information for me. He’s a table player and a high level 7 Star member and was nice enough to answer a lot of questions. After our little chat, I realized just how much I didn’t know and can only hope to keep running into people like him and to continue to learn.
I drove over to the Gold Coast because David (timberwolf) talked me into joining the ECLVA (East Coast Las Vegas Advisor) gang for bowling. Though I’m a really bad bowler and it’s way past my bedtime, it was good to hang out and throw the ball at some pins. My first game was as expected, a 92. But my second game was a surprising fluke as I threw four strikes (three in a row) and bowled 137. The third game was back to real me and an 81. We had a really fun time and I’m glad I went.
My one good game
Dave, Bob, and Harv with Dennis in the background going to bowl
Catherine, Judy, and Lydia
Monday is the MPT and we’re going to be meeting in a suite at the Mirage. It’s the eighth year that I’ve been involved and is certainly one of the highlights of my annual summer trip to Las Vegas.
More tomorrow
Totals:
Tournaments: 24 Cost: $336 Won: $2250 Balance: $1914
