Going to Vegas tomorrow until Monday, advice wanted..

[johnp158]

So I'm going to Vegas with my family for New Year's thanks to a high-rolling friend of the family who got us a room comped. For anybody who has spent any time out there, I was looking for some last minute advice. I've looked at allvegaspoker and plan on doing some more research on there tonight.

Another perk of having this friend is that he wants to stake me in a "big" tournament, up to $1000 buy-in. I think my 2 options are the $500 and $1000 that they run at the Bellagio. I also plan on having $1000 available from my bankroll to play cash games, probably mostly 1-2 NL. My main concern with the tournament is that I have almost no live experience, other than very small home games with friends maybe once a week.

I guess my plan is to try to just play some cash games for a while to get used to it before playing the tournament. I'm wondering if I should opt for the $500 since I might feel more comfortable with the smaller buy-in, knowing that it's not my money. Although I think this guy (he doesn't play poker) is perfectly ok with the idea of staking me and me not cashing. He's a gambler. He understands how it works.

Hmm. Maybe the $500 is just on Wednesdays. Anybody have any other tournament suggestions outside of Bellagio? I think I'll stay away from the smaller (<$100) ones. I could buy into those with my own money on my own time.

So anyway, all advice is appreciated.

[johnp158]

Bueller?

[Zybomb]

playing live is different from online play... i like it a lot more, you can really get a feel of opponents holdings and their strength imo.

Playing live dont really think about it much -- whichever tournament you decide to play in, PLAY YOUR GAME... dont think about the buy in, dont think about how its someone elses money and dont play any different because of anything --- play your game.

As far as cash tables go -- I have no vegas experience, but I have a ton (well enough) of Foxwoods and Atlantic City exp -- if they are anything similiar then with solid play you'll crush them-- CRUSH them

[greenbuckets]

I agree with Zybomb...just play your game, don't worry about anything else.

As for Vegas experience, I don't have a lot, but every time I go to Vegas, my first stop is the Excalibur. They have a $100 NL with only one $2 blind. The players are generally easy to read and I've made boatloads of dough at this table.

Also, the Bellagio's $1/$2 NL isn't bad. You get a lot of wannabe's in there that have been watching TV too much.

If you are just looking for some live game experience, I would highly recommend the Excalibur as a place to start.

[Talking Poker]

Zybomb's advice is good.

I believe the Bellagio's tourneys are the $500 on Wednesdays and the $1000 on Fridays. As for other tourneys, check CardPlayer for a pretty comprehensive list.

[Talking Poker]

Excalibur is where I played my very first EVER hand of live, legal, Texas Hold'Em. Way back in 2000, I believe.... actually, I think it was 99, now that I think about it.

[2Tone]

The Excalibur and Bellagio are at opposite ends of the poker room spectrums. Excalibur is very low rent – they have a 1-3 spread game, which is the lowest of any limits on the strip. I love the 2-6 spread game, and make sure I play it for a while on each trip. The dealers are ancient and sometimes a little slow, the game very friendly and casual. Seats are easy to get.

Bellagio is plush. It has a separate room for a high-limit action, and you can often find the pros playing there. Chips, chairs, tables – everything is top of the line. The lowest limit game they have is 4/8, and the big NL game has no maximum buy-in. Expect to wait for your seat.

Meanwhile, I’d also recommend the room at the MGM, which is relatively new. Spacious, comfortable, well-run (the wait list is all digital) and some tables have a view of the lion habitat, which is pretty cool.

Hot club right now is Pure at Ceasars, which I’m yet to visit, and can be difficult to get in to. Rain (Palms) and Body English (Hard Rock) are also off the hook.

I’ve been well over a dozen times, but never during New Years Eve. I’ve heard the strip is just crazy, with crowds everywhere. This year Kanye is performing at the Aladdin, which would be pretty amazing.

PS – That’s a nice friend you’ve got.

[Akverno]

Try to watch your facial reactions when playing. A buddy of mine who plays online all the time came into a home game I was playing in and the first four games went him 2, me 1. He couldn't control the fact that he was biting his lip on drawing hands, I'd pay to make him see the next few cards and he had another tick in his face after he hit the draw. Mostly I'd say play at a cheaper table before the tourney and try to remember if you're doing anything on certain hands (drawing, bluffing, etc.).

[johnp158]

I'm definitely planning on playing at MGM. They have a 1/2 NL with 200 max buyin that sounds really juicy from everything I've read.

Thanks for the advice people. We're about to leave. I'll have my computer in case I have any time for updates while I'm there.

[badblood44]

I second the vote for MGM, it's just a really nice card room.

The Aladdin $1/$2 $200NL game is nice too. The card room is smaller, but is still nice as well.

The Excalibur is where I go when I'm drunk and want to play like a donkey.

For tourneys, the Wynn has a nice structure for their $500 tourney. When I was there, first place was over $15k.

[Govman6767]

Statosphere has good 1/2 N/L with a sweet jackpot hand set up
Plaza downtown has a good 1/2 N/L (Nothing but pushovers) I mean this is the easiest place to make a buck playing poker in Vegas the problem is the plaza's NL games are hard to get started. (they also have a sweet jackpot hand set up)
If your looking to win the most money possible play at bininons 1/2 NL as there is no maximum buy in if you buy in for 200 you'll be sitting next to someone with 20000 in the long run sooner or later they gonna bust you but a few lucky double ups with make for a free vacation.
If you get busted and lose all your money go sit with the geezers down at the El Cortez If you don't die of lung cancer (i smoke but this is real bad) the limits are so low you can play super rock and make a run at building a new bankroll
I prefer playing downtown at the plaza and binions.
I think the hardest place to play is the Mirage (sharkcity)
and I agree that the Excalibur and circus circus and sahara are the easiest to beat on the strip Stay away from Mandalay bay , Mirage, And the Wynn.
As always my post are just opinions and if you think I'm wrong TELL ME DAMMIT (only way to learn is to question yourself)