After the disappointment of the $1500 exit had subsided a little, I headed back to The Venetian with a plan to win some back in the very soft cash games. The place was heaving with a list 100-long for the $2/5 game, even though they had 15 tables of it (and another 25 tables of other games). I put my name down for $5/10 as well, kind of hoping not to have to take that seat, but then was tempted into playing a $240 satellite.

That was a little more than I really wanted to throw at a single table crapshoot, but that was the game on offer at that moment. Turned out it was effectively $340 as seat6 was arranging for $100 from each player to allow 3rd place to get $1000.His pitch went like "everyone else is doing it ......." so I didn't want to be the spoilsport.

So, 20minutes later I am out 10th of 10 but the upside is I am now 4th on the $2/5 list and my $5/10 seat has been given away, so in a few moments I am sat down in another Venetian special - the deep/loose/ passive $2/5 NLH.

In these games, a solid player would find it basically impossible to lose money. Obviously I am not a solid player, but even so it was a fun and profitable game. I actually made some good lay-downs with big hands which enabled me to stick around and cash in nicely with some monsters (eg when I flat called a raise to $35 with AK-suited heads-up with a Norwegian fella, and the flop came QJT rainbow. He had T8o, and with a Ten on the turn as well it was quite nasty for him by the end !)

I did lose concentation (and quite a bit money) towards then end when my friend, gutshot regular and ex-colleague Oli came by to fill me in on his seat-win in a $550 mega at the Rio (wp Oli - hope I can do the business in the $1060 mega on Wednesday) but still finished up several hundred.

Still not been dealt Aces a single time, and powerhouses very thin on the ground as well but I had a nice coup with the "Powerhouse Plus" - that's 6-3 obviously.

It's 2/5 with a 10 straddle. It's been raised to $35 as usual, called in one spot. I call on the cut-off. The button calls and now the SB makes it $150. The BB (who never folds) calls. Folded round to me and I can see the button is going to muck so I know I can close the betting here, so I call as well with 6d3d. Flop J63 with two clubs. Both blinds check to me.

I only have $400 behind so I bang it in. The SB folds (he can sense the power !) but our friendly station in the BB calls. Obviously I think I risk being counterfeited, or flushed out on and indeed the flush comes on the turn - but it is the 3 of clubs!

BOOOOOMMMM !