Back from the Binions Poker Classic - Home Poker Tourney Forums

Back from Vegas, played in 2 events at the Binion's Poker Classic, plus their 11pm daily event.

First off, much love to the Binion's staff. The events are well run and the dealers were very, very good (along with personable, not robotic drones), and veteran players must know it because the BPC got players from the WSOP. The only knock on the structures is that they got a little jumpy in the middle (NLHE going from 300/600 to 500/1000 to 800/1600 in the 11pm event). But they have a $125 daily at 6pm that starts with a 10k stack and 25/50 blinds that goes up gradually (but works in antes). At times there's four tournaments going on in the same room at the same time. For those who have been there, the tournament room is the big area by the registration desk. The cash games are now in the downstairs area behind the snack bar where the sports book was years ago. The old tournament room that had the WSOP events before 2005 is now a cold, empty banquet room.

My tourney report:

Monday, 11pm event, $75 buy in but for me this was a freeroll, I won the buy in at blackjack an hour earlier. I didn't intend to play this, was going to get in a cash game at Venetian, a room I've been wanting to play in, but it was a madhouse (the Deepstack events were going on) and I figured a cash game would hinder my tournament game. Anyway, I played strong and well, and had a big lead on my table (thanks to flopping quads with Q-Q against A-A when I should've been crippled) before things turned on me, went card dead and when I tried to steal and pressure smaller stacks, they played back at me. Late in the event I had about 7 big blinds, looking to push if I could get in the pot first. Saw Ad-Jd and pushed, only to see the SB wake up with 10-10 and the BB (who had us both covered) find J-J. Game over, 8th outta 45. (5 got paid)

Tuesday, BPC $160 NLHE. Got off to a lousy start, called a couple times with 2nd best, and the last hand before the 1st break, I raised with Q-Q ... and got 2 callers. Did I mention I was barely playing any hands? Flop is J-10-9, best of all worlds for me so I push. I get a call from a shorter stack ... with J-10. I added a 4-flush on the turn but didn't improve despite having 1/3 of the deck. It dented me bad, but the sicker part is that Mr. J-10 went on to win the tournament. I rallied a bit but an hour later I got knocked out with my 5-5 against 8-8 in 70th out of 240. After 2 days of play I've learned that J-10 is the new A-A.

Wednesday, BPC $210 HORSE. You read right, HORSE. Since they didn't have a Stud High tournament I gave this a whirl. Was strong in the Hold'em and Razz portions, and pulled down one really huge Stud pot when 2 guys with sets put me on Aces up and I had a well concealed straight. But Omaha absolutely murdered me, kept getting the opposite of what I needed on the flop. My tourney ended in Omaha when I made a stand with A-2 and 10s-Js, and was looking good on the river, had the high and would nut the low with a 8 or less on the end, but the river was a 6, pairing the board and giving my opponent a flush. He'd go on to finish 5th and win ~$2,400. I made it to the dinner break (Binion's gives those who do a $10 food voucher) and was 55th out of 238.

So 3 tourneys and no cashes, but I'm not down much because I rallied back at blackjack an awful lot. Not bad considering with my daughter growing up, it's probably my last Vegas trip for a couple years.

Side note: if you get to the downtown/Fremont Street area, the 7-7-7 Brewery at Main Street Station is a can't miss. I had a huge meal and got my drink on (3 pints) for $23+tip.