The city is filling with poker players and it’s a bit out of hand. As the main event comes closer the town and it’s hotels are filled with poker players, virtually all of them here to play the main event next week. Last night i met up with a half a dozen South Africans, part of a group of at least 20 who are here to play the main event. These guys are hardcore. I stepped into their room at the Wynn and one was online at Full Tilt trying to win some $$$, while 2 more where playing heads up, on the bed, for $100 a pop. I’d call that hard core!

Here at the rio, the poker room was still half full at 11:30pm, with a ton of folks playing satellites and in the 2nd chance tournament. There are at least double the number of players that were here when i played earlier in the month. Poker fever has hit vegas. Hell, every cabbie in town is talking poker and is either a prospective player or just a big fan of poker on TV. On Wall Street, they often say “when your cabbie is talking about the top stocks to play, the bull market has peaked.” Well, i don’t think poker has peaked yet, in fact it seems that every day it’s getting bigger and with the anticipation of the largest WSOP main event in history (over 8000 players are being predicted by some), poker may grow even larger over the next year as men (and some women) from around the world watch this year’s WSOP games on TV.

I’ve bought into tomorrow’s Limit Shoot-out and am looking forward at making my 3rd WSOP tournament of the year, my best finish ever. In the meantime, i’m off to the strip for some craps, blackjack and the new Cirque “Beatles” show tonight. I’ll try to post again before the start and hopefully late last night, that i’ve won my table.

Till then, don’t play any crappy hands!

Yes, I’ve gone and done it again! I’ve reserved a flight to Vegas and a room at the Rio and I’m buying into Monday’s Limit Shoot-Out. Undetered by my previous failures to win a bracelet, I shall try again.

If you are unfamiliar with what a Shoot-Out is, you are not alone. Which ever side you take on gun control, don’t let it color your feelings about the Shoot-Out format: No Guns Are Involved! Simply put, a Shoot-Out tournament is one where tables aren’t broken and players aren’t moved, until a single player remains at each table. Much like “Mad Max - Thunderdome” - 10 (maybe 11) go in, but only 1 come out. So, at the end of the first day of the shootout, the winners of each table are assigned to new tables, given the same number of chips and left to play day 2. The 3rd day, final table, involves the table winners from day 2, once again, starting the final table with the same number of chips.

Haven’t I learned my lesson yet? No! I’m going to keep playing until it becomes clear that I don’t stand a chance. I want a WSOP Bracelet and my game is Limit and i’m pretty sure the Shoot-Out format is the best for me.

I’ll report in from the tournament and will hopefully have some interviews with the folks from Party Poker and one of the Poker magazines.

Have a great weekend, I intend to!

Kianoush Abolfath has won this week’s $1500 limit event, and with it the $335,000 prize (less than last years winner). The top finishing “famous” pro was Phil Ivey, who finished 21st and walked away with almoste $9500 in prized money. You can see the final results at: WSOP Event 4 Results.

Fortunately, the list doesn’t go past 34th place so my horrible performance is not visisb le (yet) on the WSOP site.

Now i really never made it back to watch, on Friday and Saturday, rather i played some No Limit tournaments at Caesars Palace and the Venetian. Both casinos sport nice rooms, but Ceasars, with literally dozens of tables is one of the nicest and a most convenient rooms on the strip. Caesars’ features multi-table tournaments every day at Noon and 6 pm. It’s now my favorite room.

You Heard Me Right: F L O P!

 Linda Johnson is truly - The First Lady Of Poker. As the Lead Partner at Card Player Cruises (if you love poker and/or love cruising Try a Poker Cruise! ) Linda Johnson is the face of the cruise event itself. Throughout the cruise, if she’s not speaking to the crowd, she is meeting people individually or involved in helping manage the largest poker rooms ever to set sail. On the final evening of the cruise, the Party Gaming prizes for their Poker, Blackjack and Slots tournaments were handed out. I then learned a bit more about the Party Poker Millions Tournament cruise and the people involved. At the first PPM Cruise, and award, in honor of long time amateur player Brian Saltus, who was onboard playing, despite his declining health. Then it was time for the 2006 award, who would it be? Only Linda and a few other members of her team knew had been chosen. Linda stood next to Mike Sexton (poker legend and Party Poker Host) aa she was in the process of announce the name…. but it would not be allowed to happen. Mike Sexton grabbed the microphone and annonnce “The First Lady of Poker: Linda Johson”! Talk about catching her off guard - a great laugh for everyone and a nice honor for someone who was playing poker before there was an internet, let alone an online room. Well the whole trip is over and i’ve nearly gotten everything back in the swing of things. The cruise was fun, it was my first, i’ll likely go back. The best part was the poker, dozens of tables every night and a lot of great fun. My plans are to play more live poker, including the first week’s Limit games at the World Series of Poker. I’ll have a final wrap up of the Party Poker Tournament and my experiences at the tournament in the next few days.