Scott Diamond

Well I Know I told all of you I would be going to Vegas today. I actually went Sunday Night and met my buddy Jim there. I got in about 7:00pm and he had just busted out of the Pot Limit event.

I went early because of something that occurred here at home and I needed to just get on the road out of town.

We actually entered the $340.00 NL event they hold in the Amazon room every evening. I was late to register but they do not blind any of your chips off,you get the whole 5,000.

There were 285 people entered and first place was just under $20,000.00, I couldn't get anything going won a few pots,but it seemed every time I raised or bet a flop,everyone folded. I cannot get involved in monster pots and come out ahead.

Again I played very good,no mistakes and I busted out 89th. I just did not have the chips to make a move and on a open ended straight draw on the flop I pushed and was called by AK on a flop of 9-10-4 when I had QJ. I only had 7,000 chips and the blinds were going up to 1,000.

So off to the satellite room to check it out. I wanted to hit the sack but Jim talked me and another friend of his we met there into trying one.

I entered a $175.00 satellite, you get (3) $500.00 tournament chips and $140.00 cash.

I used my strategy I have been working on and discussing with several friends. It seemed to work because my patience paid off and I had a commanding chip lead heads up with this Canadien guy. He seemed nice, so I offered him his buy in back and he said "NO".

Next hand he pushes his last 1800 chips into the pot and I call with A9h and he has Q-5 and an ace hit the flop. I tipped the dealer $40.00 and caught up with Jim who busted third in his $525.00 satellite and went to the All American Grill and had some dinner.

I slept until about 8:30 am which is very long for me. I am so used to getting up at 3:30 am my body has a hard time adjusting. Jim was still knocked out so I showered and went and got coffee and walked over to the Amazon room.

Now I know what Daniel meant in his blog about the huge empty room when he first saw it this year.It was early and there was one small cash game going on but the rest of the room was empty and it does give you a weird feeling as you look at the walls with the Banners of all the past champions. I can here in the back round a replay of ESPN's coverage of the 2005 Main Event. It kind of gives you goose bumps listening to the voice of Lon and Norm as you stand inside this enormous room with wall to wall Poker tables. You start to dream a little bit about what you want to accomplish in this room as you stand there in a daze.

At 11:00am Poker Road Radio has their live feed from the Rio and I hung out and watched them do there show. As usual the three didn't disappoint and Justin Bonomo was a guest and it was a very good show. The whole Poker Road team does an amazing job setting everything up and our own Justin Shronk is the man behind the scenes putting it altogether. Great Job Poker Road and thanks for giving us Poker fans some enjoyable pod casts and shows.

So I hear as the shows ending "One more seat left in a $175.00 satellite". I grab the ticket and go to the cage,pay my money and sit down at my second satellite. This table was a bunch of good guys and my strategy again worked and I ended up giving a guy his buy in back and the dealer $40.00 for another win and nice profit of $1400.00.

I again enter the 340.00 nightly go and meet Gary Wise and walk around the Amazon Room saying hello to numerous players I have met.

J.C. Tran--Chad Brown--Chris Bell--Hassan Habib--Quin Do--Michael Mizarachi--David Chiu--and David Pham. I always just give a short hello but Chris got up and did one of those guy hugs with no more than 3 pats. Chris is a great guy and I really enjoy talking to him. The others I do not want to bother too much because they are concentrating on what is going on at the table. This is for big money and bragging rights so Game faces are on.

I met Clonie Gowen who so graciously donated a 7 day cruise she won to my Fallen Heroes Poker tournament next year and was able to thank her in person. Gave a few shirts from my charity event out and I was off to play the nightly again.

I lasted to about 60th when I called an all in of a very aggressive player when I had AA. He had 22 and turned one so I was out after playing well again and surviving with a short stack. I was feeling I had a chance at a final table but Aces are overrated,huh!

When we got up this morning we headed home as I need to deal with a thing or two. I will be going back next week and trying to get into the $2500.00 NL event somehow.In the meantime I may head over to the Bike and play a 20/30 event.

Take Care and Be Safe...