Since most of the poker thread end up in MPSIMS, allow me to add mine.
First, this year’s main event winner was not worthy. Lucky, yes, and that’s good, but worthy, never.
Now, for the big questions:
I am going to be in Vegas for Christmas, staying at Mandalay. I have played poker for 30 years with mixed success. Where and for what limits should I play? Stipulate a bankroll of a grand.
1/3 Hold’em. I have the patience to wait for a hand. Can you make money at that level waiting for JJ or better?
5/10 Hold’em. Same question, but with a little more urgency?
10/20 ?
7 Stud - I have probably played more hands of this game than any other. Is there a limit that maximizes profits? I think I have the strategy for this one.
Rags - Do they play this a a regular game? We do in our home game, I feel I know the odds.
Omaha scares me still unless somebody can point me at a good strategy book.
My friend played in the $500 Casino Employees tourneyment at the World Series this year. He found his “live” home at the MGM which is just down the street from you.
From what I saw when I was there a year ago, most low limit games are easily beatable for the decent player. I’m an average player around here (though we have incredibly good competition around here) and I cleaned house when I was there. Ran a $60 buyin at a 2/4 game up to $350 after moving up to 3/6 then to 4/8 at the Golden Nugget. I would reccomend this method.
One games my friend noted…the largest NL game they have at the Luxor is a $50 buy-in. He says this is a PUSH FEST since $50 doesn’t really mean much to the people that tend to play it. Nutpeddle here (and have some bankroll for the suckouts) and you could probably make some coin.
If you prefer no-limit I’d play some low buy in NL (1/2NL 200MAX), build a bankroll and then move up to the higher game (usually 2/5). This also allows you to see if you’re in over your head with little damage. Tight then loosening up also allows you to buy some pots. (I’m assuming $1000 is your VEGAS bankroll and not your full poker bankroll).
I’d say any limit game you’re probably OK. Don’t play like a complete donkey and $1000 should be enough.
No info on the Stud games. I’d stay away from the Omaha games. Omaha from what I’ve seen is usually filled by novice players waiting for their Holdem seat. Where there are fish, there are sharks.
Good luck!
(I need to go again. Don’t know anybody who plays poker though.)
Just having read the book Hunting Fish, about how pro and semipro players make their $, confirmed my lack of interest in playing other than against my friends.
$1/$3 - I’m not sure if you are talking limit or no limit here. If NL, then I think $1/$2 (and $2/$5) is the game you’ll find spread in Vegas. If so, yes, you can make money if you wait for premium hands. You might want to loosen up, depending on the table.
If you mean Limit, then I think the lowest I’ve seen is $2/$4 and $3/$6 and it’s hard to beat the rake on these games. You might get lucky and make a bit of money, but I usually find myself grinding to stay even. The rake is a killer.
Going up in limits a bit is better, from $4/$8 up to $10/$20 should be ok with that bankroll, though you don’t say how many days you will be there. I’d guess that $1,000 is five $4/$8 buy-ins or two $10/$20 buy-ins, so you might be in trouble if you have a bad session or two at $10/$20. To actually double you money, I’d say $1/$2 NL played tight and aggressive is your best bet.
As for where, I’d say Mandalay if you can get a poker room rate, otherwise my favorites are MGM (a bit loud, but great drink service), Bellagio (a nice room, expect tougher players, but the drink service sucks), and my all time favorite room, Mirage. Monte Carlo also has a nice little room for low stakes HE and 7-stud.
Dag Otto, 1/3 was the baby stake at the Alladin when I was there last, and it’s been 5 years or so. It’s a 5 day stay, but 10/20 might be high enough to get the poseurs out. Thanks for that. And that was the poker budget, other games are on their own.
Duality72, imagine a guy 6’2" 260 pounds blushing. Shooting has harmed my hearing skills, and it shows in threads like this. Bad cards are called rags and my pathetic ears heard rags instead of razz when I first heard Vegas lowball described. Home game plays lowball, and the first time i watched on ESPN, I heard rags, not razz. It made sense, since bad cards are rags. So, kick me in the nuts, but can you really get a RAZZ game in Vegas?
Is it bad that I’d rather lose playing poker than another table game in Vegas?
I’m no Vegas expert, but since I razzed (hah!) you, thought I would take a look around online. This link seems to jibe with what I’ve read, The Mirage is the only place that spreads razz semi-regularly (emphasis on semi) starting at 15/30. Other places you might find it include the Wynn, Bellagio, and MGM, but it’s a long-shot and likely to be high limit.
You don’t make money in low limit poker by sticking to hands like JJ or better. I don’t think there’s a poker game in the world where that’s a viable strategy.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say you make money in low limit primarily from big draws, but I wouldn’t stray too far from that idea. Knowing how to get multiple bets from multiple people when you’re on the come is crucial. Knowing how to get the free card is crucial. Knowing how to get the bets when they double and you’re made, and how to save bets when they double and you’re not made are crucial.
Hands like 89s in late position with two callers, and the blinds still to act can be gold.
5/10 in AC isn’t too big a step up from their 3/6, but I haven’t played in Vegas. I assume it’s about the same.
Why do you want the poseurs out? I think you’d get eaten alive in a 10/20 game. If you’re not intimately familiar with “Theory of Poker” and “Hold 'Em Poker for Advanced Players”, as in being able to understand and apply every concept in each of those books, don’t even sit in a 10/20 game.
