Day 5 in Las Vegas

The Coffee Bean, near Red Rock Casino

I have discovered I like it here, so far. The area around Town Center and Summerlin Parkway is especially nice. Close your eyes and you could be in northern Tucson, Scottsdale, or any number of nice suburbs around the southwest. Out here, you can easily forget that The Strip is located a few miles east. Look west toward Red Rock Canyon and the mountains and forget you are in the world's biggest playground.

I've met a few locals, including a Keller Williams real estate broker, a entrepreneur who sells DVDs and books online and is a distributer for SendOutCards.com. I've met a photographer/mountain climber/trail guide from Seattle who has a Nikon D300 I covet. Plus a few business owners who I've met while looking for a job. Looking for work in this economic recession is a challenge, but one I enjoy. Looking for a job helps you learn the city, meet some locals, and you get a sense of what's happening in the local market and economy.

Whenever I've entered a new city, knowing that I'm going to stay awhile, I immediately begin looking for a job. In Las Vegas, as in many cities, the unemployment rate has skyrocketed. But jobs are still available; it just takes some footwork and patience to find them. If you haven't hit the job-hunting trail in a while, understand this: most companies now take applications online and it can be a real pain in the neck. Many sites use questionaires to test your personality type and work ethic, and these drawn out sessions border on the ridiculous.

I long for the old days when you could walk in for a job interview on the spot, fill out an application, get hired or not, then leave. While many small retail stores in shopping strips may post a Help Wanted sign, most franchise companies will simply send you to their web site.

I've been in Las Vegas before, but never for five days straight. I'm beginning to develop some impressions of the place and people who live here. It's no mystery that the health of Las Vegas is tied to the gaming industry.

For reasons I can't comprehend, many leaders in the casino industry were unable to see the current economic crisis coming. As a real estate broker, I attended meetings in 2000 that predicted this very situation. The signs were all there. A housing and credit crisis was coming. (We were told in our meetings in 2000/2001 that the crisis would hit in 2010. Evidently the 9/11 attacks pushed the timetable forward a bit.) So I'm really amazed when I read in the local press that no one saw this downturn coming, or that they are shocked to see a drastic decline in tourism and gaming. The old myth was that gaming and entertainment here was "recession proof."

The MGM Mirage, for example, is near bankruptcy. If it were to fail, the effects on the local economy would be devistating, says the newspaper. So here comes help, probably a bail out of some kind, to help a leading employer stay afloat. The MGM is developing a new complex, CityCenter, and the timing of such a project was always in question. Now with the current ecomomic atmosphere, the MGM is in trouble. But since they are "probably too big to fail", help is likely on the way.

Harrah's on the other hand, may have been the smart ones by holding off on developing their own new toy, the so-called "Epicenter." Back in 2006, they may have seen the writing on the wall and felt the timing wasn't right. They slowed down on their development plans. For MGM, however, it was "if we build it, they will come."

So now we find Las Vegas a little shaky, and more than a little nervous about the coming months. Signs are good that things will turn around, probably next year. But until then, I get the feeling the local business owners and residents are going to be holding their collective breaths to see what continues to happen on The Strip.

As for me, I'll keep pounding the pavement to see what job I can find.

A Visit to the Bay 101 and the WPT

Last week I drove to San Jose to check out the Bay 101 Casino. The final table of the World Poker Tour was to begin Friday afternoon, so I made sure to drop in to check it out. After leaving the Bay 1o1 I drove across town to the Garden City Casino and watched a final table there from a daily tournament.

The Bay 101 is a nice enough place, and certainly one of the larger card rooms you will see in California. The WPT Shooting Stars tournament was wrapping up that evening with the taping of the the final table for the GSN Network. Kathy Liebert was the only name I recognized on the final table list of players, so I decided it was not worth hanging around to see the taping. I'm glad I didn't stay. It turned out to be one of the longest final table matches in WPT history...I would have been there all night. Instead I walked around for a bit and then left. Kathy finished second, by the way, but still took home a nice $550,000.

The Garden City Casino is located in a retail shopping area of north San Jose. The building itself looks like it was built in the 1980s. Inside the decor was right out of 1985, heavily paneled with wood, comfortable soft lighting placed throughout. I was thinking it looked like a steak house that had been converted into a gaming establishment. A tournament was finishing up when I arrived, with three players left at the final table. I watched the match for a few minutes, then it quickly ended when the low stack went all in, the other two players called, and the low stack sucked out a win. Since this put all three players relatively even in chips, they decided to chop the prize. They each received about $3,000. I later read that professional Gabriel Thaler cut his chops there before moving on to Los Angeles, then Las Vegas.

On my way back to Monterey I stopped off at Mortimer's Card Room in Marina. I was disappointed. The room was very small, only four to six tables. Two tables were running spread games and the rest of the room was cluttered and messy. The room is actually a backroom attached to Mortimer's Bar. The neighborhood is old downtown Marina, a little scary, and probably not the safest place to be at midnight on a Saturday.

It's In the Cards

One thing I've sorely missed the last few months is a good card game. I've asked around and no one has invited me to a local game, so I guess I'm not speaking to the right people. California and various local laws concerning card rooms and poker are difficult to figure out, but I'm learning.

The closest public card rooms are in Marina, just up the coast from Monterey. Mortimer's Card Room and the Marina Club are across the street from each other, though I can't personally prove it since I've never been there. According to PokerWiki, the rooms were there six months ago. Mortimer's is the largest of the two rooms and seems to cater to a higher stakes game.

If I want a larger room at a casino I'll have to drive to San Jose. The Garden City Casino and Bay 101 Casino have large poker rooms spreading numerous games and have enough tables to keep things moving along. It may be worth the extra drive to play in a larger room.

I suppose I'll have to visit all four locations and report on my experiences. There is no way to know where the best games are. Keeping in mind I'm near the ocean, I'm looking for juicy fish.

California West Coast Adventure

Day 291 on the road.
Firehouse Coffee Co., Laughlin

It's hot outside and so today's main goal is stay inside. The Firehouse Coffee Company is quiet today with just a few folks eating a light lunch. I'm enjoying the time trying to catch up on some planning, writing, reading, and resting.

I've put in more than 160 hours of poker this month in eight different poker rooms, including three trips to Las Vegas. I've had one tooth pulled, met four Canadians, changed the oil in my car, observed drunken college students on a late night river taxi ride, become intimate with the Las Vegas rail system, flopped a straight flush at the Red Rock, heard a country band play before a mob on Fremont street, discovered that blending cranberry juice and pineapple juice is a good idea, and laughed often with guys like Bruce, Lee, and Tim.

It's been an interesting month in the desert. But I'm ready to hit the road again.

I will drive to Las Vegas on Monday and stay there until Wednesday. On Wednesday I head west to Bakersfield, California. On Thursday I'll be in Solvang, a Dutch community founded in 1911. I've had many people talk about Solvang, so I'm going to check it out. Once in Solvang, I'm not sure of my plans. The Chumash Casino Resort is near Solvang, and so I'll be checking out the poker room there. I might decide to just hit the infamous coastal Highway 101 and drive north along the California coast until I run out of money for gas.

By this time next week, I'll be on the Pacific Ocean thinking about what to do next.

Vincent, the Fiesta, and a Horseshoe Trip

Day 280 on the road.
Firehouse Coffee Company, Laughlin
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I'm back in Laughlin for the week, after spending the weekend in Boulder City, Henderson, and Las Vegas. Mid-May weather in the area has become very hot. Today's temperature in Laughlin is expected to be 112 degrees. But a cold front is moving in mid-week and will drop the heat back to a more humane 82 degrees.
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This past Saturday morning I drove to Boulder City hoping that Vincent had an available room. I had reservations at the Fiesta Casino Hotel in Henderson for Sunday night. So when I left Laughlin I was hoping to get lucky and find a room in Boulder City for Saturday night.

Vincent owns a 16-room hotel in downtown Boulder City called the Western Inn. Each room has a small kitchen and the beds are comfortable enough. It's also a really quiet and easy-going place. When I first met Vincent a few weeks ago, he said, "I keep it quiet around here. Since I'm the owner, I can say who stays here and who doesn't." Guests also get free Internet access. For me it's a no-brainer to stay at the Western Inn unless I find a special at a casino and receive a nice room rate.

When I arrived in Boulder City I stopped for gas and then drove to the Western Inn. The office was closed and Vincent was nowhere in sight. So I left my business card on his office door with the note, "Vincent, if you have a room available give me a call. I'll be down the street at Starbucks." I had been at Starbucks for about 20 minutes when Vincent gave me a call. "Hey, Mitch, I've got a room for you. If I have to, I'll kick someone out."

So I checked into the Western Inn about 1 p.m. on Saturday and began thinking about where to play some poker for the evening. I decided to drive to downtown Las Vegas and play in the historic poker room at Binion's Gambling Hall and Casino, formerly Binion's Horseshoe Casino.


The Horseshoe is the place that first hosted the World Series of Poker in 1970 and was the birthplace of modern day poker, at least in Las Vegas. Harrah's Entertainment bought The Horseshoe, including rights to the WSOP. Harrah's subsequently sold the downtown casino hotel to MTR Gaming in 2004 but retained ownership of the "Horseshoe" name and all rights to the World Series of Poker. Thus, the WSOP main event and the series events are now played at Harrah's properties around the world.

(Photo right: I took this picture of the "signature board", containing the signatures of famous poker players and WSOP champions, etc. The "Poker Hall of Fame" is in another exhibit nearby, but I wasn't sure about taking photos in the poker room.)

But the old gambling hall still stands and is now known as Binion's Gambling Hall. It is coming under new ownership once again. This time, the new owners are promising upgrades and an expansion plan.

When I first walked in to the poker room at Binion's I immediately was struck by the history of the place. For one thing, the poker room was the sight of the final table for the World Series in 2003 when Chris Moneymaker won the Championship and became the catalyst for the so-called "poker boom" that has seen the game explode in popularity around the world. It was a very cool place to play poker.
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(Photo above, from left to right: Johnny Moss, Chill Wills, Amarillo Slim, Jack Binion, Puggy Pearson, at the 1974 World Series of Poker at The Horseshoe.)

I played at Binion's until 9:30 p.m., about 7 hours or so. I then walked out into the "Fremont Street Experience" to check out the country and western bands who were playing concerts. The Academy of Country Music Awards was scheduled for it's live broadcast from Caesar's Palace Las Vegas on Sunday night, but on Saturday night on Fremont Street many of the bands were scheduled to play. The crowd was enormous. The Freemont Street Experience is weird and crowded enough on a regular night with tourists and hookers. But when you add the bands, concerts, and celebrities on this particular night, what you get is a mass of humanity that is unbelievable. (See photos of the mayhem below.) I didn't stay long.
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On Sunday I moved from the Western Inn in Boulder City over to the Fiesta Casino Hotel in Henderson, about a ten-minute drive west on Hwy. 93 toward Las Vegas. I spent the afternoon playing poker at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson.

My room at the Fiesta was okay, but noisy. The bed was compfy and the plasma flat-screen TV was a nice upgrade. However, my room had a door leading the room next door and it was not sound-proofed at all. I could hear every movement from the family staying in the room beside me. Plus the AC fan was cutting on and off (no way to keep the fan on at all times...a real dumb design flaw) all night. So I doubt I'll be back to the Fiesta. The hotel and casino itself are topnotch. I watched "Iron Man" at the cinema (great movie) and ate at their buffet (not bad). But I didn't get much sleep.

On Monday morning I checked out at the Fiesta and drove to downtown Boulder City. I drank coffee and read the paper at the little country cafe in the downtown historic district and really liked the small-town environment. The small cafe was an old-style diner, complete with locals sitting on stools at the counter eating pancakes.

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I was back in Lauglin by 1 p.m. and playing poker at the River Palms, earning another free room comp.

Las Vegas Revisited

Day 273 on the road.

Firehouse Coffee Company, Laughlin

I'm back in Laughlin for another week. Last weekend's trip to Vegas was a successful. I played poker at the Bellagio, Mirage, and Red Rock casinos. I also utilized the monorail system on the Vegas strip to get around.

On Saturday I left Laughlin for the 90-minute drive to Vegas. I arrived at the Sahara Hotel and Casino on the northside of the Strip and checked. My room wasn't available until after 3 p.m., so I had about some time to kill. I decided to visit the Bellagio poker room for some afternoon gaming.

The Sahara has a Monorail Station at its location, so it was an easy walk to the rail. I paid $9 for a 24-hour unlimited ride ticket, and took the monorail to the Bally's Station. Bally's casino is located across the street from the Bellagio.

(Photo right: the Monorail at the Sahara.)

Once you depart from the train at Bally's you have long walk through the casino to a monorail walkway that provides an easy standing-ride to the street. From the front of Bally's, an escalator takes you to the bridge that crosses the street. After walking across the bridge, you enter the Bellagio and have an easy walk to Caesar's Palace.

(Photo left and below: the monorail walkway to the street from Bally's.)

I left the Sahara just after 12 o'clock noon, and it took about 30-40 minutes to arrive at the Bellagio using the rail system. The longest walk was making my way through the Bally's casino after exiting the monorail.

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(Photo left: looking south from the bridge crossing the street from Bally's to the Bellagio.)

(Photo above: The Bally's Monorail Station.)

Once inside the Bellagio, it's a nice stroll through their retail mall before entering the casino itself. The poker room was busy, not unusual for a Saturday afternoon. I waited about 30 minutes for a seat to open up for a $4-$8 Limit Holdem game.

I played poker at the Bellagio until 5:30 p.m., then cashed out and headed back to the Sahara via the monorail. I picked up my key at the Sahara and checked into my room for the evening. I stayed on the 23rd floor of the Alexandria Tower, giving me a nice view looking west over the city. The room itself was spacious, but outdated. The furniture was old, vintage 1970s, and well-worn. The carpet was clean, but stained and just about worn out. The bathroom fixtures worked, but were below average in condition.

The Sahara is an aged, musty, smelly, crowded, and nostalgic casino dating back to the vintage days of old Vegas when the Rat Pack performed and Hollywood stars walked the floor. Old photographs throughout the property reflect its history: there's Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis performing in the nightclub, and a photo hanging behind the registration desk shows Cary Grant and Alan Ladd with their wives standing in one of the Sahara's courtyards. Elvis also performed here.

While the Sahara has a history and nostalgia that permeates the place, and I'm sure many ghosts and old Hollywood spirits live throughout the place, the hotel needs a facelift. The rooms are cheap enough on certain nights, especially condsidering its location on the Strip. But the condition of the place is below average.

After resting for a while, that night I took the monorail to the Mirage for dinner and some late night poker. I ate at the California Pizza Kitchen located inside the Mirage, next to the poker room. After playing cards for a couple of hours I was ready to return to the Sahara for some sleep. The view I had of the Vegas skyline at night was the best feature of my room at the Sahara. (See photos below.)

(Above: Day time view from my room at the Sahara.)

(Above: Night time view from my room at the Sahara.)

(Above: View from the bed.)

On Sunday morning I moved about a mile west, off the Strip, to the Palace Station. The Palace was the first casino that began the Station Casinos empire, being built back in the 1970s. The Palace is a nice hotel and casino, a definite improvement over the Sahara in condition and amenities. I stayed in the Courtyard, which is an area surrounding the pool. Although these rooms are among the oldest at the hotel, my room was remodeled and updated to an above average condition. The bathroom had ceramic tile and new fixtures. The TV and furniture were all new, and the king-sized bed was comfortable. The room was small, but that was no concern.

After checking in Sunday at noon, I left the Palace and drove west toward Summerlin and the Red Rock Casino. The Red Rock is another Station casino (like the Palace and Green Valley Ranch) and it's a great place. I'll be back to the Red Rock for sure. I played poker until 6 p.m., then ate a Mother's Day dinner at the Feast Buffet, located inside the casino. I "feasted" on BBQ, turkey and dressing, shrimp, mashed potatos, corn, macoroni and cheese, green beans, salad, soup, breads of all kinds, apple cobbler, ice cream, and pecan pie.

After a peaceful night at the Palace, I checked out and drove to Boulder City for a quick visit before returning to Laughlin.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Day 255 on the road.
Starbucks, near UNLV, Las Vegas

When Hunter S. Thompson first visited Sin City, he was drunk and remained drunk for most of his trip. I arrived entirely sober yesterday to begin a three day visit before returning to Laughlin on Sunday.

I'm aware of how Thompson felt about this place. My "fear" is having car trouble in the middle of the Strip where traffic is non-stop not-moving. I also "loathe" the tourists, the thousands of tourists bumping into each other like robotic, mindless, drones. But how can you resist the fun of it all? Las Vegas is unique; there is no other town on earth like it.

My room at The Orleans Casino and Resort (above) is fine. I don't have a view of the Strip, but that's okay. After I checked in yesterday afternoon, I went to work. The poker room at The Orleans was spreading Omaha Hi Lo and Hold'em, so I sat down and played Omaha for a few hours. I then hit the buffet and ate too much steak and mashed potatoes. The food was okay, about average for a casino. I grabbed a couple of local tourist magazines and ripped out a good map. Today I'll spend the day on the Strip. I'm going to ride the trolley system and monorail to get around.

Day 238 on the road.
Starbucks at the Aquarius Casino, Laughlin

Yesterday I played cards at the River Plams and earned two more free nights, so now I'm paid up through Monday, April 14. I may decide to extend my stay even longer. I'm not sure yet. As long as I'm having fun, making a little money, and have free room and board, it's tempting to just hang around for a while.

Last night after "work" (if you can call playing Omaha Hi Lo for seven hours "work"), I walked down the River Walk along the Colorado River to the Colorado Belle Casino to check out their poker room. I played for a couple hours and had a nice time. I met an 86-year-old World War II veteran who was captured by the Germans after he stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. He spent the remainder of the war in a prison camp until being liberated by the Russians. You can read about an interesting poker hand we played heads up on my poker web site at http://www.7seat.com/ .

After I left the Belle, I hit the River Walk on my way back to the River Palms and stopped off at Joe's Crab Shack for a nice dinner. I dined at a table on the patio overlooking the river, watching the ducks and fish play with each other below me. The air was cool, the sky was clear, and I was thankful for having a such a fun day.

Below is a silly video clip I made while taking a morning trip to Starbucks at the Aquarius Casino for a cup of coffee.

Day 233 on the road.
Firehouse Coffee Company, Bullhead City, Arizona

I left Prescott Monday morning and drove north and caught I-40. Then a few miles west I took the scenic and historic Route 66 to Seligman, the beginning place of Route 66. A strange little town…I need to read up on the history of Route 66 and see just how Seligman fits in to the story.

I shot this video in Seligman. It's posted on YouTube.



I made it to Laughlin around 2 p.m., checked in with no problems and settled into my room on the 16th floor…Room 1656. A very nice room. So far, I’m pleased with the visit here.

Last night I was uploading photo and video clips from my Route 66 adventure but my laptop ran out of disc space…not a surprise. So this morning I went to WalMart and bought an external hard drive with 320 GB…that should last a while. Video clips and photos take a lot of space, creating huge file sizes. My laptop is not equipped for a lot of video and picture editing. But the WD My Book drive is so far working great. I’ve spent the last hour backing up my files and cleaning up my laptop hard drive.

The best place to work in the Laughlin area is across the river in Bullhead City (dumb name). The Firehouse Coffee Company has internet access and enough room to spread out and work. All the Starbucks locations are in the casinos, and it's too noisy to get any work done there. So I'm glad I found this place.

After settling in yesterday I walked the northern half of Casino Drive and visited the poker rooms at various casinos along the river front. The poker rooms are small and there was very little action going on. You can read more about my poker playing adventures on my poker blog at www.7Seat.com. Part of the fun of playing poker is writing about the characters I meet and the poker rooms I visit.

A total of 13 casinos are lined up in a row along the Colorado River. I'm staying until Friday at the Tropicana Express. For the weekend I will move to the River Palms where I have a free room thanks to the kind folks in the River Palms poker room. As long as I play for a while each day in their poker room, my room is free.


The Tropicana is the tall one in the back. I'm on the 16th floor. The room is above average, very nice, and the hotel/casino is also very nice (not smoke-filled at all as some had written on the TripAdvisor.com forums).

A look at Casino Drive to the northeast from the Tropicana parking garage.

I like the location of the Tropicana. It's right in the middle of the strip, so you can walk to many of the other casinos without a problem. The Outlet Center (see below) is just two blocks away and has numerous retail stores plus a McDonald's. There are plenty of cheap eating places if you are watching your budget (like me). With free rooms comped by the poker room and eating cheaply, I should be able to get by here with very little out of pocket expenses.

A Visit to a Timeshare Near Sedona and March Madness

Day 229 on the road.
Starbucks on Iron Springs Rd., Prescott, AZ

I drove northeast from Prescott yesterday morning to check out the poker room at the Cliff Castle Casino on I-17 near Sedona. A local man told me the casino was only about 40 minutes away. I drove east on Hwy. 69 out of Prescott, then turned northeast on Hwy. 260 with the idea of catching I-17 just south of Sedona.

Once on I-17, I headed north looking for the casino. When I arrived at the cutoff, I noticed a Starbucks, a couple of motels, some retail shops and gas stations. Of course I had to stop at Starbucks for a cup of coffee. Next door to the Starbucks was a "Tourist Information Center," so I went there first.

In the tourist shop I met Michael. He told me about a resort nearby that was giving tours (to sell timeshares), so I took him up on his offer of a gift ($100 cash "to help me play at the casino") and decided to take the tour.

The clip below is a glimpse of my visit to the Highlands Resort at Verde Valley and the Verde Santa Fe Golf Course.




After the tour I went back to Starbucks for a while, then made it to the casino around 3 p.m. I played cards for about four hours and had a great time. I won $400 in a March Madness pool (my numbers matched the final score of the Xavier and UNC game) and so I was glad I made the trip. I drove back to Prescott to spend the night and plan to take today (Sunday) off and do nothing but do some writing, reading, and hanging out in beautiful Prescott.

Tomorrow I plan on heading west toward Laughlin in the southeast corner of Nevada.

When a Dealer Plays at Your Table

He sat down two places to my right and immediately began talking. He didn't stop talking until the table broke about an hour later. I noticed he was a dealer at the casino, off duty and looking to kill some time.

It's not unusual to find dealers playing at the casino in which they work. In Las Vegas, especially in the old days, playing at the table was part of their regular shift as dealers. They filled in the empty seats to keep live ones in the seats. The dealers would play until they were needed for work, or if business was slow, they would play awhile and then go home.

So when this dealer-talker sat down in the one seat it wasn't an issue. I must admit I feel a little uncomfortable about it, being naturally suspicious about cheating and collusion. Will the dealer be treated to some nice cards by his pal who is currently dealing the game? Does the dealer/player have an edge over the regulars at the table because he has seen them play for months, even years, and thus knows their tendencies and style?

When a dealer sits down to play, my radar goes up. I become more attentive to his play and if I get a sense that he has killed what was once a good table, then I'll get up and leave or change tables. It would be rare and very unusual for any collusion between dealers, but it's always a possibility. For the most part, casinos don't care about me--I have to look out for myself. So if I get any hint of collusion or cheating, I'll simple get up and leave.

In this particular case, the dealer was a big mouth. He would give running commentary after every hand, commenting on his reasoning for the plays he made. To make matters worse, he got on a rush and won numerous hands in a row. In one span, he showed AA, AQ, KQ, KK, QQ, flopped a straight and two-pair, and almost doubled his money in about 20 minutes. It wasn't long before the players at the table left, one after one, until there were only three of us left alone with this dealer-talker.

I was the next one to leave, then the table busted. Looking back on it, it was pretty obvious this guy destroyed the nice game we had going. I'm not saying he was cheating. More than likely, he got lucky. And since he was an employee at the casino, a dealer, and a big mouth, I understand why the players abandoned the table.

As I move up to the higher limits, when more money is at stake, these kinds of issues are going to become more important. Part of my education as a poker player is to consider more than the cards I play. I must also evaluate the players and the "texture" and "environment" of the game.

I've been playing a bit more this month, not only here in Tucson, but also visiting the poker rooms at the Wild Horse Pass Casino and Casino Arizona. The Wild Horse is located just south of Phoenix off Interstate 10. Casino Arizona has two locations (I saw two anyway) and the one I played in was located on Indian Bend Road at Loop 101 in Scottsdale.

The poker room at the Casino Arizona is huge. I played on a Saturday night and they had over 50 tables going, spreading every game imaginable at various stakes. It's a non-smoking room, a plus, and very roomy. The Wild Horse is a smoke-fest, however. I signed a petition to turn the room smoke-free, so I imagine it will become a non-smoking room soon. I played on a Friday night and coughed my way through a haze of smoke to make some nice money (the players at my particular table were horrible).

I was going over my recent play and trying to figure out the leaks I have in my game. What I came up with was this:

1. I try to buy too many pots, hoping my opponents will fold. I've got to remember that at the lower limits most players are either a.) too poor a player to know they are supposed to fold, or b.) don't mind spending a small amount of money chasing after a miracle. I've been too aggressive trying to buy pots from bad players. Therefore, to correct the leak, I will check or fold on the river when I'm beaten rather than try to aggressively buy the pot.

2. This is related to number one above: I've got to know when I'm beaten and be willing to fold. I don't "chase" after miracle cards. I use pot odds, implied odds, and pot equity help determine when to seek a river card. However, I sometimes try to push my luck and think my hand is stronger than it really is. I need to do a reality check on the turn and river and ask myself, "Is this hand really that strong?"

3. I need to count the number of bets in a hand more consistently. Sometimes I get lazy and generally know how much money is in the pot, but I need to accurately count the number of bets and pay more attention to pot size. Counting bets (instead of figuring dollar amounts) is the best approach because this skill can easily be transferred to higher limit games without any trouble. I count the number of small bets preflop and on the flop. Then convert them (divide by two) into the number of big bets for the turn and river. When I'm not in a hand, I practice accurately counting the bets and congratulate myself by telling the winner, "Hey, nice pot...you just won $74!"

4. This leak is probably my worst: I have a big mouth. I've got to watch my attitude and mouth, especially when I lose to a bad player who has just sucked out to crack my Aces. I must control my emotions and my tongue. No one likes a sore loser or sour attitude. I don't want to be a Phil Hellmuth disciple and have people despise me. Most people don't mind losing to someone they like. I want to be liked so bad players will continue to give me money and not feel bad about it.

5. In general, I need to be more aggressive with raises preflop. The value you receive by raising rather than calling makes aggresive play more profitable. Most limpers will call a raise, so you can easily double the preflop pot size by just raising one bet. The one problem to avoid, however, is to build such a huge pot that you price players in who have straight and flush draws. There's a balance to be found there, somewhere. For example, if I've got suited cards and want to justify chasing a flush, a preflop raise may be a good idea. Raising for one bet with six limpers automatically guarantees that you have seven big bets in the pot preflop. On the other hand, if I have KK or AA, I may want to just call rather than raise. Playing "small" preflop with monsters will delay the pot odds for anyone looking to hit a straight or flush with their connectors and suited cards. With position postflop, maybe you can force players with draws out of the hand with a two bet reraise.

A Snapshot Update, Christmas to January 20

Time to update my blog and get back on my regular schedule after a month of goofing off. I've not updated my blog since the middle of December...so, it's time to get back on track. Here we go...A Snapshot Update in Pictures.

Tombstone, Arizona Territory

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 2007

I thought about flying back to Texas for the Holidays, but decided I didn't want to fight the crowds at the airport. So, instead, I went back to the Old West and drove to Tombstone in the "Arizona Territory."

In the early days of the Arizona/New Mexico territory, Tombstone was a thriving mining town and center of government for the expanding territory. The capital was later relocated to Phoenix after Tombstone fell on hard times, having suffered two devistating fires that nearly destroyed every building in town. In addition, the mines played out and the town was all but abandoned. Then the Earp brothers came to town. The fight at the OK Corral became a celebrated duel in the streets of Tombstone and Boot Hill Cemetery became a tourist attraction. Tombstone now survives soley on tourism. The "town too tough to die" lives on for those of us who treasure the Old West and want to feel what it must have been like to live in the days of Doc Holiday and Wyatt Earp.

I stayed in a hotel on Fremont Street two blocks south of the OK Corral. I checked in on Christmas Eve and stayed two nights. On Christmas Day, the town was quiet except for me and few other tourists. We had the streets of Tombstone to ourselves. The ghosts of dead cowboys and Apaches were present as we walked the streets.

Here's an exerpt from my personal journal:

"I left Tucson yesterday morning, drove to Benson, then on to Tombstone and arrived before noon. My first stop was Boot Hill Cemetery just north of town. The cemetery is on a hill, overlooking a beautiful view of the mountains to the east and a valley below.

I then drove on to Tombstone and walked around the old western town before deciding to get a room at the Adobe Lodge on Fremont, a block east of the famous Allen Street where all the saloons gunfights took place in the 1880s. It’s a great location to stay, with all the attractions within easy walking distance. I ate lunch at the Longhorn Restaurant, walked the town, attended a reenactment of the shootout at the OK Corral, and bought some jewelry. The weather was cool, but very pleasant with a warm sun. I ate a light supper, just a “Tombstone Club” sandwich at the Cashman Café, a historic site across from the old mine, on Toughtnut Street. The old lady who runs the place was a character, with a deep German accent, and a very friendly and funny demeanor.

This morning, being Christmas Day, I wasn’t sure if any place would be open. Luckily, the Circle K gas station on the edge of town was open, so I bought some cereal, milk, and donuts for breakfast. I also bought a sandwich from Cashman’s last night and have it yet to eat.

I just walked for about an hour and half through the deserted streets of Tombstone. A few tourists joined me in walking around the town unmolested by the usual tourists you see here on a daily basis. No businesses were open, but for the old mine. Remarkably, they were offering tours of the mine today. While sitting on a bench resting myself, a Mexican gentleman rode up on his bike passing out flyers. He said he opened his Mexican restaurant today because he knew everyone else was going to be closed. I wished him luck, and will pass on the opportunity to eat there.

My impressions? The OK Corral is all about western myth and history. It is fun to think about what happened on that October day in 1881. More than 25 shots fired in less than 30 seconds, ending up in the death of three men and the wounding of a couple more. Wyatt Earp was the only one who came away without a scratch. The stage play/reenactment was like something you would find at a Six Flags or other tourist park: a mixture of bad acting, humor, playing with the audience, and cheesy entertainment. Walking through the corral where the actual fight took place was rather eerie. I enjoyed the Fly’s Photo Shop, located next to the corral. Doc Holiday was staying in a room provided by the Fly’s when the fight broke out just outside his window in the corral. The “HIstorama”, a cheesy and outdated multimedia presentation on the history of Tombstone was a little silly. Narrated by Vincent Price, you’d thing they would have updated the presentation by now. The show is in a small theater and is included in the $7.50 price you pay for the shootout reenactment and tour of the OK Corral.

Tombstone itself, is the real attraction. The three or four blocks of Allen Street running north and south look like an old western town. You can take a stage ride tour, eat in historic locations like the Longhorn Restaurant or Big Nose Kate’s Saloon. Numerous retail stores selling everything from jewelry to Stetson hats line both sides of the street. Plaques located throughout the town designate the places where historic events took place."

Boot Hill (or is it Boothill?) Cemetery was my first stop just north of Tombstone. I walked among the graves of various Apache indians, criminals, children, and of course those who died at the O.K. Corral.

I took this photo of a painting that was hanging in the window of an art gallery in downtown Tombstone. Handlebar mustaches were common, I guess.

Christmas Eve day in Tombstone. The horses evidently don't like working on holidays. The hotel is the famous "Crystal Palace" where an Earp brother (I can't remember which one) was shot weeks after the OK Corral gunfight.

Looking east from Allen Street toward the mountains on Christmas Eve day.

I attended the last show of the day that was a reenactment of the famous OK Corral gunfight. I took this photo just as Doc Holiday takes aim at one of the Clantons. Doc was grazed by a bullet in the hip; Wyatt Earp was the only one to come out of the fight without a scratch.

The entrance to the Good Enough Mine, the large and prosperous silver mine that made Tombstone one of the most thriving mining towns of the late 1880s. Unfortunately, the mine gave out due to technical problems (something to do with water pumps and other mining stuff I really don't understand). Tombstone was all but dead after most people abandoned the place. At one time there were more than 18 mines operating in the area.

A view of the boardwalk looking north in downtown, on Allen Street. Tombstone was rather quiet on Christmas Eve day. Normally, these sidewalks would be full of tourists.

Christmas Day, Tombstone. The town is totally abandoned except for me and a handful of tourists. I walked alone down Allen Street and tried to imagine what it was like during the day when the Earps and Clantons were in town.

The Oriental Saloon, home of Wyatt Earp and his clan. Wyatt ran a card game and spent most of his time here.

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Around Town in Tucson
Bringing in the New Year, early January

The Cowboys had just clinched the playoffs and home-field advantage, so I was a happy guy when I took this photo. I had just left the Fox and Hound Sports Grille and tossed my hat on the seat next to me. Why did I take this photo? I have no idea.

Showing off my new sunglasses bought at the local Goodwill Store for 79 cents. They are Ohio State glasses and are very cool.

My favorite hangout is the Starbucks on University Drive, one block west of the University of Arizona main campus. The building used to be someone's home: wooden floors still intact.

The fireplace (there are two) in the Starbucks back room. Back in the day, this was someone's bedroom. It's a very nice place to hang out, relax, and visit with UA students.

A mural on the wall in the Starbucks...reminds me of a girl I once dated. She also was flat, cold, and expressionless.

The Casino del Sol, located west and south of downtown Tucson on the Pascua Yaqui indian reservation.

The east entrance to the Casino del Sol. The poker room is located just inside those doors beyond the trees. I spend 20-30 hours a week here, trying to become a card player like Doc Holiday, who was known as a real card shark and was regularly threatened by gun-toting losers who couldn't play very well. Luckily, guns are no longer allowed inside the poker room (at least not this one!)

A "Moment of Zin" at a Motel 6. As you can tell, I sometimes get bored.

My supplies for a stay at the motel: cell phone, plastic utensils, fresh fruit, and junk food. Living in motels can be ruiness to one's diet, so I've learned to buy fruit instead of Hostess Twinkies. I rarely eat junk food any more, choosing to eat from a grocery store or at a restaurant.

I have a beautiful drive to work, traveling along the foothills of the mountains on Sunset Road. I took this photo on the morning after a cold and rainy day...the sky was blue and the air was crisp and very clear. I never tire of the scenery here.

Homes along the foothills. One day I would like to own a home in this area of Tucson (we can only dream, of course.)

Inside the Fox and Hound Sports Grille on the day the Cowboys lost to the New York Giants. I was sick for days. This room in the Fox has huge TV screens along the wall.

My Two-Day Trip to Phoenix/Scottsdale

Carefree Arts Festival, weekend of January 18-20

These bikers were headed north on Hwy. 51 toward the little town of Carefree. There is a six mile "scenic route" from Scottsdale.

These mountains overlook Carefree. If you look hard, you can see a house on the very top of the mountain.

Looking north toward downtown Carefree.

The views around Carefree are just beautiful. I took this photo looking northeast just outside of town.

Downtown square, Carefree, Arizona. The downtown area is imaculate, landscaped, with brick streets, quaint offices, retail shops and a very cool atmosphere.

Early morning view of the Arts Festival, featuring artists from around the nation. The crowds began to slowly arrive and by noon the streets were packed. I was early, so I had breakfast at a cafe called "The Sundial."

After three hours of walking around looking at art, I sat on a bench for a break. This was my view looking west.

Some art pieces via my Nikon digital camera. A rather artistic shot, I must say.

This artisan makes indian clothing, blankets, quilts. She was working on a piece outside her booth at the festival. Some of the artists were demonstrating their techniques at their booths.

The wine tasting pavilion was a popular hangout at the festival. I was a little tipsy when I took this shot.

The Wild Holly Gallery. I took this photo primarily because I liked the art piece; the girl looking at the woman in the brown shirt as if to say, "why don't you take me home with you?".

The wine tasting pavillion also featured live music. A guitarist, Patrick Ki, played while I was there.

The art festival in Carefree is offered by a group of artists called The Thunderbird Artists, and they set up their booths here four times a year. The Thunderbirds offer festivals throughout Arizona, providing one way the artists can sell and promote their works.

I took this self-portrait looking at some mirrors encased in glass and ceramic. Moments after I left, the mirror was sold for hundreds of dollars.

McDonald's Car Show, Scottsdale

I was headed for my motel on Saturday after leaving Carefree and I ran into a car show in Scottsdale. The car show was sponsored by McDonald's, and there were hundreds of vintage cars strewn across acres of a shopping center parking lot.

I love the palm trees sticking up in the air like paint brushes overlooking hundreds of very expensive cars.

This is a red 1952 Corvette with only 15,000 original miles. It can be yours for only $150,000.

This 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air two-door sedan is canary yellow and decorated with enough chrome to make your eyes hurt.

Check out this paint job.