Scott Diamond

This third blog is the final in my vacation experience. It was a wonderful time and I hope at least one of my five readers has enjoyed it. It may be my last blog for awhile because tournament Poker has been so very cruel to me and I am utterly disappointed how I can be beat so many times. It really is beginning to wear on me and I have hung in there but there comes a time when one can only take so much abuse.

Monday morning we met Jim Pittman and Jon Mcneely for breakfast about 10:00am. Jim was playing the Main Event at noon so after breakfast the girls and my wife went to the pool at the Rio.

Jon and I sat down at a three card poker game and Jon took a small hit so we got up to leave. We came across this game called the WSOP where you get two cards and bet every street if you want trying to beat the dealer.

It is a fun game and at a $15.00 minimum bet it can get expensive. Jon took about 400.00 and gave me 100.00 and we pooled our winnings together.After awhile of playing I got on a hot streak and before you knew it we had amassed a $1400.00 profit.

By now it was 3pm and the girls had enough of the pool and we went over to see how Jim was doing. On a flop of 6h-9h-3d a player to Jims left went all in for about 9,000 and the other player went all in for 18,000. Jim was stunned and showed me his hand ,66. HE FOLDED A SET OF SIXES. As the other two players turned their cards over the first guy had 6-9 for two pair and the other guy had 99 for a set. Jim made an incredible lay down when most others would have gone broke with that hand.

Jon came over and we went to the Tournament Registration booth and entered the $340.00 nightly NL tournament the WSOP has been offering since day one. Jon paid both our ways in with the winnings we had from the WSOP game and the tournament was going to start at 7:00pm

There were 116 entries and first place was $9,000.00 and the top 18 were going to get paid, bottom pay was $560.00.

I played very well...AGAIN... made some nice lay downs and only once did I make a big bet on the button with 5-4 hearts to steal the blinds and antes when they were at 300-600.

I had built my stack up to 30,000 after starting with 5,000 when I had KK and a short stack who was on tilt went all in for his last 4,000. The player from France to my left re-raised all in for 8,000 so I called. First player had 8-4 off and the French guy had AK. The board flopped the case King and I made a full house on the turn.

There were only 30 players left at this point and the average stack was around 21,000.

Now Jon went on a mad rush.. Called QQ with QJ and hit runner runner Jack to win. Slowed played Aces with two big raises in front of him and won that pot and he was up to about 40,000 in chips when we hit 27 players. The hand that was most impressive though, Jon called an all in with QJ clubs when the blinds were at 1600-800 for about 18,000 chips. The guy turned over QQ and the flop came 8c-9-c-10c a flopped straight FLUSH!!! Jon was now the massive chip leader with close to 80,000.

Now here comes my fall from grace. This young kid went all in when he was the small blind when there was about 13,000 in the pot, he roughly had 23,000 and I was at 29,000. I looked down at KK in the Big Blind and I just knew he didn't have AA. I was correct he turned over A-6 off after I thought for about a minute be fore calling and giving him the Phil Hilm Stare down.

The flop A-6-3 and I did not catch a King and was crippled to 6,000 in chips with the Blinds at 2000-1000 300 ante.

There were 21 players left and I didn't make the money. I pushed with A-9 and had 2 callers, AQ and 10-8 hearts. The 10 won and I was done for the evening AGAIN.

I win the hand and I have a great chance at winning this event. I had played so well and to have it snatched like this at the END as usual is why I am so frustrated.

Jon went on to chop with another player from France for about 7,000.00 after losing a pot that gave the Frenchman the chip lead.

It was a very well run Tournament by the director, a nice guy name Lloyd and the dealers also were enjoying themselves which speaks a lot due to all the hands they have dealt this year.

My wife had come down to witness my demise again and she knows I was very disappointed. The Main Event was over for the Evening and Jim came by to watch the Final few hands. He had a tough day and ended with around 54,000 in chips. He took us to the Rio bar where we had a few too many drinks and finally made it to bed about 5:30 am.

The girls were up at 9:30 and after a long shower we headed down to the Amazon Room to watch the live Broadcast of Poker Road. I have always talked about the twins to Joe and the guys however they had never met them. After the Show we went to the Rio buffet with Jim and Jon and as we said our goodbyes the girls begged me to take them to the Castle.."Excalibur" There second favorite place in Vegas next to the Rio.

We played a few games and were on the road home by 3:00pm.

So that is the Diamonds 2008 Family vacation. First time I have ever shared one with my five readers. Please leave me your thoughts of my three part story. Jim bet me I do not even have 5 readers!!

I am not disappointed in my play as a Poker Player..But as you know we need a certain amount of luck in these tournaments and I have NEVER been a lucky person other than the birth of my twins..So I bid you a farewell for awhile until the Bug hits me again.

Legends starts here in Los Angeles on July 30th and they are big buy in events. I may or may not try some satellites at the end of the month, but as I sit here and say goodbye to you, I doubt it.

Congratulations on your marriage Josh Nichols...and to you Jon for a great evening of Poker...Thanks...

Take Care...Be Safe...

It was a great vacation!! The money spent was worth every penny to see the smiles the Girls had each morning when they awoke. They were so excited to just Go ......