#5 Flamingo - Las Vegas

April 2009 was the 2nd time we went to Las Vegas. We stayed at the Flamingo. Its a bit more tired looking than some of its newer neighbours but, its a nice enough place.
We got off the plane after some 20 odd hours of flying and whilst Mrs Neacail went off to bed I went down for a bit of cash pokering. By the end of the first night I had managed to scoop about a $300 dollar profit. Therefore I reckoned that as we were staying for another 6 nights, that would mean $1800 - $2000 dollar profit for the week, everythings free and we could go back 1st class to boot..
In the end I scraped a $100 dollar profit for the entire trip....still could be worse!..anyway...

I was at the card table and people were coming and going as they do at the cash games - a drunk guy came and sat down at the table, his mates were sitting at some of the other ones and shouting to each other across the room so you couldn't help but listen in on the conversation.
Turned out they were US marines back from Afghanistan and out on a big bender. There was an older guy at our table who was clearly very patriotic and as the night went on he paid for a round of drinks for the guy and his pals, and told him how proud he was what the guys were doing for his country.
They ended up in involved in a hand where 3 or 4 players were involved in a huge pot, the turn card had brought out a third diamond and the betting had reduced the field to the old guy and the marine. There were three diamonds out and the marine was first to go. He was lining up his chips to put in a big pet and the old guy says to him "Don't bet son - you can't win. I've got the Royal flush - I don't want your money". The marine looks completely baffled, but everyone just totally knew the old guy wasn't bluffing. The marine checks his Ace High Nut Flush (good enough to win the hand99.99% of the time) and right enough the old guy turns over his 649,739 to 1 shot Royal Flush. You'll be lucky if you get this hand more than once in your life.
The marine saved himself a few hundred dollars, and the old guy scooped the pot. It was a nice moment in what can be quite a cut throat environment.


Venue: Flamingo, Las Vegas
Year: 2009
Tournament Success: Yes (Won tournament there in 2011)
Cash Game Success: Yes
Summary: Nice casino, my favourite place in the world, roasting hot, 24hr cards what more is there to say? This place is awesome.