Alright, I have totally gotten hooked watching the World Series of Poker on ESPN this summer.

I am going to Vegas in a couple of weeks and I was wondering if there are any low limit tables on the strip. Where are the best places to go? I have heard the Bellagio and Mirage but do they have low limit stakes.

I have searched the threads and nothing really informative comes up.


Thanks

Excalibur, Monte Carlo are probably best for low limit newcomers.

take it from someone who plays on the strip all the time. avoid bellagio and merage -- they'll see you coming. at bellagio, they have a 4-8 game, but there are a lot of people who know what they're doing. a good place to start would be luxor, which as a $1-2 structured game. forget everything you've seen on ESPN. Low limit hold'em isn't played that way. if you play that way you will be guaranteed to lose all your money! my suggestion is to read up on the game, gary carson's winning low limit hold em is one of the best. for a reveiw of all the strip properties' poker rooms go to cheapovegas.com. for an excellent website check out lowlimitholdem.com something fun to do also would be to get into a tournament. mandalay has one, and it's fun. it'll cost you $25 or so, but you will have fun going all in like they do on TV!

Hey Flop,

Thanks for the advice. I have played 2-4 and 1-3 in AC a couple of times. I did mean to imply that I have never played sorry. Just meant the World Series has gotten me hooked. I like the idea of a tournament. Could be a lot of fun.

oh, good that you're familiar with the way it's played in casinos versus WSOP. A good book to read on the topic of tournaments is Anthony Holden's book "Big Deal, One Year in the Life of a Professional Poker Player." I also enjoyed Andy Bellin's book Poker Nation. I know that Mirage has tournaments, Mandalay does, too. GL and most importantly, have fun. most of the people you see in casinos look absolutely miserable.

Believe me, I am always there for fun. I have won a couple of times but overall I am down, but, saying that I am just there for entertainment value. I lose alittle, get a few drinks, meet some interesting people and have a great time at the tables. Winning makes it that more entertaining.

Short story. I was in boats in Gary a few months back and a buddy and I were at the blackjack tables. My buddy was playing third base and made a mistake by playing a hunch that didn't work out. One guy at the table gets all PO. My buddy says he made a mistake and he was sorry and if he can't take a loss than he shouldn't be gambling.

Honest to god this is what the dealer says "Some people try to depend on this money as a second income." I kid you not. Needless to say the boats in Gary are not like Disneyland - the happiest place on earth.

i had a similar experience here in colorado, in black hawk. i took a hit at first base, the lady at third base shook her head and told me i was "stupid". my hit was on a 12 with the dealer showing an 8 or 9, i don't remember. anyway, i hit the 9, and she busted, but i said gimme a break lady, are all my decisions going to be under a microscope? there are plenty of other tables to play at. she got up and told me again i was stupid. anyway, i think the $5 bet meant a whole lot more than just entertainment to her -- I imagine where you are its the same way. that's one reason i hardly ever play bj, and if i do i NEVER sit at 3b.

you get angry people at the poker table as well, i can remember when i was in vegas i was on the button with AQ offsuit, there was an early position raise and about 4 callers before the flop, which came in rainbow at JTQ, so i'm now on a pretty powerful straight draw, no flush, with a million outs, any queen gives me trips, an ace gives me top pair, and a king gives me the nut straight. Well, the turn was a king, and i'm betting, getting raised and re-raising 4 players. the pot was huge, so all i'm hoping is that the river doesnt pair the board, because that's the only way im beat. river comes 3, a blank. I'm now heads-up against a guy, im figuring for a high pocket pair or 2 pair. turns out he shows KQ, 2 pair. when i show broadway, he gets all mad saying i shouldnt have played AQ!! and i shouldnt have gone all the way to the river! Gimme a break. Anyway, rather than educate him on how to play poker and not give up all your chips, i just smiled, raked in the $200 pot and stacked my chips way up high. That's all you can do. the guy was muttering to himself all night!

have fun. you're correct to want to have fun, and you'll make the most money at tables where everyone is loose and laughing and having a good time.

flopmeister made some good points, however I wouldn't rule out the Bellagio. True, the 4/8 game has some sharks, but if you play smart and get a few lucky breaks you can win some huge pots. I found the games at Luxor and Excalibur a little slow. Lots of locals just sitting back waiting for the nuts.
Oh, and heres a trick I use when some "expert" at the blackjack table gets pissed when I take a proper hit and it happens to not work out in their favor. I split 10's the next chance I get. They go nuts!!!! then leave.

Ranger,

Awesome idea on splitting 10's, I love it if the dealer calls "splitting 10's" to the pit. Flop, you were totally in the right hitting that hand. That lady's a stupid moron if she's staying on a 12 against a dealers 7+

i know, but it makes me uptight so i don't play bj anymore. poker is more relaxing.

Ranger,


Great call on splitting tens. I'll have to remember that sometime. I am sure that will drive a $5 flea nuts.