Las Vegas December 07

Playing deuces wild video poker, a four deuces hand doesn't happen very often but it's very nice when it does.  It pays off $250 for a $1.25 spin - second only to a $1000 royal flush.

So when Claire and I both hit four deuces within seconds of each other on adjacent machines, it was pretty special and much hi-fiving ensued.

What's more, I still can't believe it came in after I decided to record the redraw.  It's crappy cellphone video, but still...

All the excitement of having my next three trips all booked up turned out to be a little premature, following the announcement on Christmas Eve that MaxJet has filed for bankruptcy.

They're trying to make arrangements to get anyone who is half way through a round-trip back home, but their own flights are all suspended.  I wouldn't be surprised if the planes were on eBay by now.

Three of my four flights booked for 2008 are cancelled, and the freebie return with BMI is useless without an outbound flight to match.  Every one-way ticket I looked at was more expensive than buying a round trip and throwing away the return half.  It cost £25 per ticket to cancel the miles award booking and have the remaining money and all the miles recredited to my account.

MaxJet's recorded message says to contact your travel agent or credit card company for a refund and I've spoken to MBNA who told me there shouldn't be a problem but it could take some time to get the money back.  They said MaxJet should write to confirm that they don't intend to provide the flight, and then there will be strong claim that can be made against their bank (they still have money, we hope) which is virtually impossible to dispute.

Otherwise I'll have to wait for the travel dates to pass and not fly, and then apply for the chargeback.  It could be getting on for next Christmas before I get the money back if that's the case!  It should all be a formality, but I haven't even had an email from MaxJet yet - I only found out when I stumbled on a post on openvegas.com.

So given how popular the summer flights are, I already panic-booked replacements today.  Well, a little thought did go into it as I actually ended up on a £1400 business-class fare.  Compared to the £800 I expected to pay for MaxJet, it's a little steep but that extra £600 should help to secure some extra value for the future.

As well as the nice big flat-bed seat I was so looking forward to and a chance that the food will be edible (the sausage crap I had on the way out last week was the worst yet; how hard is it to warm up a sausage?) the double miles award for business-class will bump me up to Diamond Club Gold status which opens the door for free upgrades on future flights and the ability to put your name on a waiting list to book seats on the flights you actually want to redeem your miles for.  Given that Claire and I now have enough miles for nearly five return USA trips between us, that's got to be a good thing!

It took me a while to realise, but last night at Binions I was playing $1/$2 NL with Sam O'Connor, apparently one of the first men to ever be seated in a Texas Hold'em game when it arrived in Las Vegas.

In fact I only realised when he started recounting a story about being on the set of Lucky You and being asked for an autograph by someone who didn't know who he was.  Well really, why would they?  Although he was a poker advisor for the movie, his part on screen is credited only as "Old Man".  But he was in a movie with Drew Barrymore and that, apparently, is enough to make you a celebrity.

I was sure I'd heard the same story told the same way, it just took me a few minutes to remember where: an episode of the Gamblers' Book Club podcast.  I posted a clip of that interview here.  A stroppy local woman ran her queens into aces and left the table moaning that "Sam is always bad luck for me", even though he wasn't involved in that hand, and the penny dropped.

He wore a cracking Christmas jumper.  Although very popular with the ladies over here, you don't see so many worn by men so I was pretty impressed.  Almost impressed enough to pretend I was a fan of Drew Barrymore myself and whip out the camera phone to take my picture with him.  But not quite, so I'll just have to describe it: blueish with many large white snowflakes.  I'd wear it for sure.

Now that I know that O'Connor actually plays $1/$2 live games I have a little more respect for his book, which contains some of the tightest poker strategy advice you'll ever read.  Fold all draws and most pairs btw, just try to flop the stone cold nuts.  Perhaps it's suited to the ultra-tight game at Binions, which is usually comprised of at least half a table of rock-tight locals looking for just one big pot before they turn in for the night.  If it's not a strategy for beating them (wouldn't that be rude?) it's going to be a guide to joining them, so I'll attempt to read it again with this context in mind.

My second career royal flush came yesterday morning, and not before time!  I was so owed!

My only other video poker jackpot came several years ago now, and all I held to get it was one ace.  This time I actually had to hold two cards before the miracle happened.

If you look closely you can see the top of my head reflecting in the paytable.

Photos from the Ethel M chocolate factory and cactus garden, in full holiday costume.  I couldn't have timed this better - I had no idea if the lights would still be on at 6am but they were, it was just getting light and there wasn't a soul about except for one security guard, who wouldn't let me walk around inside but didn't seem to care about taking photos from the roadside.

Palazzo already delayed its soft opening until December 28th.  That means it's supposed to be opening in three days time.  It doesn't quite look ready just yet though... (photos taken Christmas morning).

EDIT: 28 Dec 8.30am - the TV news just pretty much said that nobody knows if Palazzo will actually open today.  They still need a final inspection and to obtain permits.

EDIT: Later same day - according to the RJ they're not opening today, and nobody still knows quite when.

This week is meant to be the quietest time of year in Las Vegas, but you wouldn't know it.

The special Christmas Day buffet menu at Wynn was meant to start serving at 11am and we thought it would be a good idea to be there early to try to beat the rush.  After all, who else that wasn't jet-lagged would be ready to give themselves a traditional stuffing at that time?

We arrived at 10.45 and it was packed, and by 2pm we'd just about been seated - apparently the entire world had the same idea, and the $45.95 per person price tag hadn't put many people off.  Fortunately it didn't cost us a penny, as the two-buffet signup comp Claire earned in the summer was still valid.  That's stunning bonus value, as a regular dinner buffet is only $34.99.  I'd be pissed off to wait over two hours to pay for it, but for free you know it makes sense!

I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't actually find the Elk (it's on the menu!) but I munched my way through a truly festive pile of meat and seafood: ham, pork, tandori chicken, veal, shrimp, crab, sturgeon and anchovies.  And then five different puddings.  They're quite small, honest!