Only got to play one tourney while in Vegas, and it was the daily NLHE at the Aladdin. $60 gets you T2000 to start, and you have the option of one $40 rebuy for T1000 more.

There were 61 players, and the room (see my trip report in Anything Goes) is very nice. Cool dealers, the players were a mix of kids, retirees, and wannabees with Oakleys. Pretty much what I figured on.

I started off playing pretty tight and had only seen 2 flops by the time the blinds were up to 50/100 (started at 25/50). I got 22o in the cutoff and put in a raise to 300. BB (Asian dude with an IPOD) reraises it 200 more and I call. Not sure if he has a hand or is just defending. I figure I'll see what the flop brings and go from there.

Flop comes 337 with 2 spades. There is 1050 in the pot and I have 1300 or so left. He has me covered, but barely (I was in seat 8 and he was in 2, so I was guestimating on his stack). He bets out 500 which just reeks of a high ace probe bet so I push in. I know the flop missed him and I will take my chances if he has 2 spades or AJ/AQ etc.

Damn, that was dumb. He calls and flips over AA. Well, I was right about the flop not hitting him. Rebuy time, let's try this again.

I get QQ about 5 or 6 hands after I rebuy, guy to my right moves all in and has me covered. I call him and everyone else folds. He shows 88 and I double up. Whew.

A couple of guys bust out and we get some transfers from another table. First hand after they sit down I have QQ again and one of them moves all in. He has me covered, but only by about 500. I call and he flips over JJ. Now I'm up to almost 5k and feeling pretty good. I steal a couple of pots and lose a few when a middle pair/flush draw misses.

They break up our table when it gets down to 20 players. Paying top 7, I am about somewhere in the middle I think with T6000 or so. I then get to be the beneficiary of a run of total crap cards. Nothing playable for the entire round and then I lose a thou when I call a small all in with AK. He had 66 and it held up.

I try a steal with a raise to 1600 (blinds are 300/600) with A4s on the button but the SB had AQ and moves in. It only cost me another 500 to call, but ended up being a pretty pricey hand when I don't catch a 4.

We are down to 18 and I get KsJs UTG. I have around 3000 and seriously consider moving in with it. Almost any other position I would, but I didn't like only being able to push with 4x the BB from there so I passed. Flop came all spades and I just about jumped out of my seat. That is one I'd really like to have back.

In the next round it folds to me on the button with 8c6c. I figure now is as good a time as any and push in. BB calls, then proceeds to slowroll AA (he was a real dildo). I got a flop of 67T, so I defintely had outs, but didn't hit any and I'm out in 18th. Bummer.