Out!

487th, $25,000, out on the last hand of the night...the crippling blow came much earlier, when the first to act raised to $15,000 and I found myself with two Kings in the big blind. While I was contemplating what to do, he said "I'll give anyone who doubles me up one percent of my action." This obviously meant that he would call, so I moved in and he called with A K. At the time, I was about a 70% favorite, looing like a 91% favorite when the first four cards were J J 3 J. Unfortunately, an Ace came on the river and the dealer shoved the $225,000 pot to him. Ouch!

I had only $65,000 left, about one fourth of the average stack, but played it carefully and shrewdly and worked it up to $150,000 again. I then lost three successive coin flips,finally busting out on the very last hand of the night to the A K guy when I had 8 8 and he had A K again. Once I was out, everyone erupted in cheers, as they were all moving on to day 4. There were so many bustouts it was going to take a tortuous hour of standing in various lines to get paid. I wisely bolted, but now have to wait until they re-open at 1 pm.

There are no words to describe the sadness I feel, hopes and dreams crushed. A couple drinks, a late meal, and a sleeping pill are the best I can do. Tomorrow, perhaps, I will have some appreciation for my Vegas trips this year, which have now been not only a wild ride, but also a modest financial success.

A few memories from today: seeing Forest Griffin, who just won a huge upset Ultimate Fighting championship victory and played in the world series of poker with cuts on his face and a black eye. An attractive woman in a modern burkha (otherwise you couldn't tell) on the rail at the table next to me, reading the Koran out loud as she roots for her partner. Evelyn Ng and Shannon Elizabeth at the same table. A man who misread his A 4 as A A -- you can see from the typefont how they can easily be confused--and went all in for $90,000 against an opponent who had the real A A. "I have A A too," he said, and rolled over A 4. Ooops! No problem, the flop comes 4 4 4 and the A A is drawing completely dead.

My brother is fond of saying "That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger." I believe this will be true about my Vegas trip.

I just would have liked to have lasted a little while longer.