Why Vegas?

To start with ... this trip comes as some kind of surprise to me and all the people I know ...

But I should start chronologically ...

As I played Poker for some time, it happened that I opened an account at a Poker Provider called Mansion, (although they are supporting Tottenham, the worst club in Premier League history) and started to play there. In week One there I managed to win a satellite and got a ticket for the Mansion Poker Dome Rebuy Qualifier Tournament - with one guaranteed seat at the Mansion Poker Dome Seat attached to it ...

I was not even aware, what this Poker Dome thing was all about (although Riverlucker told me, that he almost qualified for it) - but there was a Poker tournament, and prize money as well ...
so I sat down, played the tournament - and suddently I was at the final table and in the money!

GREAT .. so what now? Keep cool and look at this other people - are they better than you??? Some of them definitely were, but I felt quite comfortable and I had already reached the main goal ... to win some money. As the final table action progresses, more and more people drop out - and I am in great shape. For some time I am the Chip leader and put some pressure on the table ... getting beaten only by one guy "'Entrecot", who is all in against me once - and gets very lucky on the river (he would have gone out 9th). This guy hits a lot and gets lucky some times, too. I just can´t get no hold on him - he always outdraws me somehow. Finally it is just the two of us - and I got uncertain ... a trip to Vegas or safe money?

Trip to Vegas - never been there before, being there on my own, quite probably going home without any winnings.
Safe money: If I come in second I´ll have a USD1500+ on my bank account in some days ...
My girlfriend is a little worried as well ... won´t I blow my whole savings if I am in Vegas - way out of her control ... + this City must be called Sin City for a reason.

First Hand in the Heads up and I am still uncertain and got a decent, but not impressive hand ... I´ll think about it and push "All In" - get called and lose to a better hand ...

Bye, bye Vegas

I thought!

Next day ... I receive a mailing "We need an alternate - will you come to Vegas on November 5th???"
First I do not even get it and forward the mailing to langboy, me julie and riverlucker telling them that I might go to Vegas if someone gets ill ... Minutes later I get a call from riverlucker, who tells me that this is the real deal ... I am going to Vegas!!!

So here I am - going to Vegas on cost of someone else (apparently an indonesian tobacco mogul) + my girlfriend, who was to afraid to let me go on my own and uses her last Frequent Flyer Miles to come as well (I wanted to have a shared cost deal with her - the miles came as a very welcome surprise)

Margret will post soon, too ... so if your interested check out this site in the next days, as we´ll provide you with updates on our trip!

Gernot