Finally, in the money!

First day back in Vegas on my second trip. I thought I was refreshed, but a couple of hours into today's 1500 No Limit Hold'em tournament I realize I have yet again arrived exhausted. My first table is a total dream...eight tight and predictably passive players waiting for the nuts. I rob them again and again and just when I know I can't possibly get away with anything else I get Aces. Some guy makes a brave stand with a pair of 5s and is gone. The best part is I finally get to show a hand and it's Aces--so now they think I really have it when I re-raise bluff. Later, I am moved to several harder tables but I somehow preserve my image as a "basically sound tight old guy" while I rob the youngsters blind.

2158 players entered the tournament today and all but 198 will walk away empty-handed. After coming so close twice on my first trip and having to blog about everything it's really important not to blow it near the money, so when we are down to 250 or so I try to tighten up. Unfortunately everyone else is playing super-tight except for the chip leader who is at our table, so whenever he folds I steal.

Bottom line, with more self-aggrandizing comments about how well I played to come, at the end of the evening we are down to 165 or so out of 2158 and I have a slightly better than average stack of $45,000. We don't have to play until 2:00 tomorrow afternoon so I have a real opportunity to get some sleep. I am guaranteed a paltry 2800, a mere 80% return on my investment, but if I make it to the final table I will get at least $50,000 and winning would be a cool $570,000! A long way off, but suddenly not quite so far off as yesterday.

Wish me luck tomorrow!