Player's Stories

Trip Report: The British Invade Las Vegas!
By Ray Morris-Hill

I have just returned from a 4 day visit to Las Vegas. It was my first experience of playing poker in America and my report is written to entertain and encourage more British players to visit. I also hope the American readers find it interesting.

Some Background

I have been playing poker for 18 months, primarily in a monthly home game (big bet of 40 pence - 60 cents, doubling after midnight!). We play Hold 'em, Draw and Stud in both High and Low versions. I also play at the Ladbroke Casino in Russell Square, London on a Friday night when they have a £5 ($7.50) beginners pot limit hold 'em tournament and to my knowledge, the only Limit Game in town of £2-£4 ($3-$6). I consider myself a beginner, having only logged 32 hours of live ring game experience.

I've read Lee Jones and Lou Krieger and follow the news group. I watched Channel 4 television's "Late Night Poker" with great interest and this was to prove very useful on the trip.

So back in April, I managed to persuade (with little difficulty) a pal of mine from the Casino, Gavin to join me on my Las Vegas adventure. We agreed to visit for 4 days, 1 June to 4 June and play as much poker as we could, in tournaments and cash games. I had 4 goals : to get in the money at a tournament, to have a winning cash game session, to emerge with a plus cash score at the end and to have fun. I set myself a stop loss limit of $250 per day, just in case things got crazy. This is our story.