Michael Greco finds that a summer in Vegas at the World Series of Poker can cost you your sanity, your game… and your bankroll if you’re not careful
Once upon a time there was a Big Beautiful Bankroll that lived in the deposit safe of Mr Greco, Room 2739, Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas.
The first week that it arrived at its temporary home it got so hungry for more that it kept growing until its belly was full. But then along came the Big Bad Vegas Monster to swallow it all up. And so, six weeks later, the Big Beautiful Bankroll was no more. The moral of this story is, don’t stay too long in Vegas!
Even though this has only been my third visit, I now know that if you outstay your welcome in this amazing city they call Sin, it will almost definitely drive you insane. Over the last two weeks I have gone absolutely stir crazy and this has badly affected my play.
It’s not all been doom and gloom though. I had the pleasure in meeting some great people. Lying by the pool next to me every day was Wayne Rooney and his lovely lady Coleen. He’s a real gent by the way, very unassuming and a real family man who was happy to chill. Across the pool was Vinnie Jones and his wife who had come to Vegas to renew their wedding vows. And then in early July the whole of the Chelsea team turned up to spend some time relaxing before starting their preseason training in LA.
Show and tell
There was one day in particular that I wished I’d stayed by the pool. I was playing in a cash game and lost all my money in a hand when an opponent showed me his cards before making a decision. On the turn I’d picked up a flush draw, an inside straight draw and a pair.Michael Greco My opponent made a big bet. I knew he was holding an overpair to the board but I also knew he could easily be re-raised off a hand if he didn’t have the absolute nuts. I stuck him all-in.
He went into the think tank for about two minutes, and then he turned over his cards in the middle as if conceding. So I then turned over my cards to show him my semibluff, but as I started to grab the chips he said, ‘I call.’ ‘What?’ I said. ‘I call,’ he said. I replied, ‘You can’t call, you’ve just shown me your hand. Your cards are dead.’ Wrong, Greco, you mug!
Apparently the rules are that if you’re heads-up you can turn over your cards to get a read on your opponent. He showed an overpair and I’ve never wanted to hit a river so much in all my life. I wasn’t in terrible shape as I had about 17 outs, but the river blanked me.
So remember, wherever you travel in the world to play poker, make sure you know the rules – you could save yourself a fortune.
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