Rolled Up Aces Over Kings

Its been a while since I've been in Vegas. Since I've been gambling in Vegas, I've never arrived home a winner. I've partied hard and played hard with nothing to show for it ... not even a t-shirt. I believe the time has come for change. I plan to be in Vegas for Super Bowl XL, thanks to Southwest Airlines ($137 roundtrip). Hopefully, I'll be able to roll with a few hundo (thank you student aid) and come home with a stack or two of high society. Just have to be disciplined enough not to count my chickens before they hatch. Its just so damm exciting knowing that I'll be in Vegas within a few months. So exciting, I can't get to bed. I just finished watching "Rounders" for the 40th time. Truly an inspiring movie to watch before heading to Vegas. One of my favorite scenes of the movie is the heads up match with McDermott against Teddy KGB. Starts with $10k and leaves with over sixty. It ain't no kids game fo' sho!

Last night, I played a couple $20 tournaments. Single table at the Attic. 5 players ... $100 prize money. Finished 3rd the first game and 2nd the next. The second game ran me down ... good beats at the wrong time. Everytime I do get run down, I recall this scene ...

- You know what cheers me up when I'm feelin' shitty?
- What?
- Rolled up aces over kings.
- That right?
- Yeah.
- Check raising stupid tourists and taking huge pots off 'em.
- Yeah? - Stacks and towers of checks I can't even see over.
- Playin' all night, high-limit Hold' Em at the Taj. Where the sand turns to gold.
- Fuck it, let's go.
- Don't tease me.
- Let's play some fuckin' cards.

The poker room at the Mirage in Vegas is the center of the poker universe. Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Phil Helmuth, the legends consider it their office. Every couple of days a new millionaire shows up wanting to beat a world champion. Usually they go home with nothing but a story.