Playin Vegas Poker

Okay for those inclined..This is my lil strategy guide for playing poker in Vegas. 3 Months ago I got to tour 4 Poker Rooms. Excaliber(Where I played mostly), Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Mirage(My Favorite). Here's some of the best advice I can give.

1. Go to the casino website and get a feel for what you will be playing. Most of the time you can get a 2/4 Limit game and up.

2. 85% of all the poker I saw (Side Games) was limit holdem. You can play NL but expect around $100 buy ins and up. Limit Holdem is the tourists game so brush up on that.

3. The players suck. I'll put it this way. I'm terrible at limit holdem. Recently I dropped around $70 in 2 hours playing 3/6 Limit on Full Tilt. I was able to beat the games without a whole lot of difficulty. I had a guy call me down to the river with King High. I flashed 2 pair and scooped on him.

4. Use a very tight strategy. I'll use Excaliber as an example. Say it's a 9 handed game. You only have to post one $1 blind once a round(As opposed to a $1 Small/ $3 Big) The pace of play is also slower than online. It's a cash game so don't worry about trying to get every chip in play. Play your good hands, you will get some action.

5. People are more willing to gamble. These guys aren't poker pros. The guys playing low limit holdem are there because 1. They believe poker is purely luck. 2. They feel that bluffing is the only aspect of the game and what better story than to run some kind of crazy bluff on someone. 3. They are drunk and aren't focused. 4. Probably come from the slots, roulette, blackjack tables and want action right away. 5. Are there just for fun and aren't there to make money. Be patient and it will pay you.


6. Don't drink heavily. When I went I did take advantage of the free drinks. I sipped a few brews on the green felt, but didn't get full blitzed till I was well away from the table. One of my easiest targets was an opponent who was just about to pass out from being drunk. This is King High Boy. Find the drunks and extract as much cash as you can. It's the difference between Mike Tyson fighting an 8th grader and Mike Tyson fighting an 8th grader with a broken leg.

7. Do not bluff. First it's limit so bluffing is pretty stupid since people will call you down to the end on 2-7 with an A-K-2-Q-J board. I ran only one bluff the entire trip and it was only because I had a very good read on my opponent. People don't give two craps that their King High hand sucks and can't win for shit. They just are willing to dump money to you. Wait for the right spot to make them look like the idiots they are.

8. Stick to cash games. I mostly play cash games anyway, but most people think that Tournaments are the bread and butter. They see Joe Pro on TV playing and think they can do it too. While it is true that you do stand a shot, the Tournaments in Vegas are more like the lotto than actual play. I played 3 hands only because I had too. Every other hand sucked. I doubled through on 7-7. Called a guys all in on K-Q and lost and busted with 3-3 and not many chips. You get rushed in the tournaments. Blind structures suck. Play cash games. It's a lot less pressure, you can play any style you feel is most comfortable, and it's more profitable.

I'm going back this October or Next March. Havent decided, but I'm gonna get some cash. Keep in mind though this works for the low limit games. The players in the 10/20 games, 15/30, and so on are amongst the best in town and by town I mean in the world. If you have 400 dimes and wanna roll with Chau Giang in 4k/8k good luck. But if you want to beat 2/4 holdem, Roll at Mandalay Bay or Excaliber. If you're looking to beat some geezers in 7-Stud, go to Mirage and beat them as I did for about $40 in 1-5. Orleans(Though I never went there) is the spot for Omaha 8/b and Bellagio for Mixed(Didn't play there either, but saw the game)

Good luck.