Losing Streak Broken

Monday morning we started the day with toast and coffee, plus the morning news on TV.

Helen planned on cleaning the apt in preparation for Thursday's arrival of Katie, so I was told to get down to the Strip and make money playing poker. So I headed off to Ballys, arriving about 10 a.m. and I was immediately seated in a newly-started $1-2 no limit game.

I won the third hand with a straight, scooping up a pot of about $15. After that I played quite conservatively, patiently waiting for good starting hands. After about an hour, I played the most interesting hand of the day. I was dealt Q-10 of clubs and decided to see a flop, calling the $2 big blind. The flop came K, 9 and 3 of clubs! SWEEEEET. I flopped a flush and needed only the J of clubs for a straight flush, which woould pay a bonus of $384.

The turn was yet another club - the 7. I bet $25 and all folded except 1 guy who called the bet. The river was a 3 of diamonds and I bet another $25. He didn't hesitate, but folded his cards and showed a 6-8 of clubs. We both had shots at straight flushes - I needed the Jack and he needed the 5 of clubs. I scooped the pot of about $100, my biggest win of the day.

I played for about 3 hours before cashing out $82 ahead and going to the Nosh snack bar where I enjoyed a comped chicken salad sandwich for lunch. When you play poker at Ballys you earn $1 in comps for each hour you play. I've built up enough comp $ to have free lunches there for quite a while, I think. For example, yesterday I earned $3 in comps and lunch cost me $9 in comps. Sometimes I play 4-5 hours and don't eat lunch, so I just bank the comps. Poker profits and a free lunch - pretty good day!

While I was grinding out poker profits, Helen dusted and wiped down the apt. Then for dinner I ran out to Del Taco and we enjoyed some Mexican takeout - soft tacos for Helen and a burrito for me. Then it was a quiet night watching TV and talking with Katie about her upcoming trip.

Today I head off to the grocery store to stock up for Katie's visit and then do some vacuuming around the apt. Always an adventure here in LV...