Casino Limits vs On-line Limits
OK Everyone,
I'm headed to Vegas in a couple of weeks for some poker action. I'm a consistent winner at 1-2 on stars and party. What sorts of limits should I try my hand at in Vegas? Is there a big difference (skill-wise) between these limits on-line and live?
Thanks,
Young Grimmm
I'm headed to Vegas in a couple of weeks for some poker action. I'm a consistent winner at 1-2 on stars and party. What sorts of limits should I try my hand at in Vegas? Is there a big difference (skill-wise) between these limits on-line and live?
Thanks,
Young Grimmm
Comments
Heading out in a couple of weeks (finally!) and I did well last year grinding it out at 1/2 NL on Stars. I've only played the 5/5 NL at Fallsview twice where most of my premium hands get me HU preflop and take it down. First time in Vegas.
All comments appreciated.
You will not see a huge difference in skill moving from 1-2 to 4-8 (which is what i did)
In fact, the 1-2 tables are much tougher on party b/c of all the bonus grinders
There are so many shooters in vegas that are just there to have fun and think a $10-20 game is nothing because theyre playing $25/hand at blackjack....
I've played a big of 10/20 live, it's a nice game, but I don't have the roll for it yet They are my best friend.
Take a game you have a 45% chance to win at 25$ a hand, bring it to hold'em where they're at best a 30% chance to win ...
I like those odds.
But as someone already mentioned, bankroll should always be your first concern when deciding on a limit to play. Theres no point sitting in a soft 30/60 game with only $200...you just dont have enough play in your money...nor is it worth it to sit with $1000 if you really cant afford to lose that $1000.
I would suggest figure how much you are willing to lose (a maximum cap) on the trip then decide on a limit based on that which will give you some play.
If you can afford to lose $1000, find a nice 10/20 or 15/30. If you can only afford to take a hit of $300...you probably want to stay around 3/6 or 4/8.
Hey literation - what dates are you gonna be there? Where u staying? I'll be there also..maybe we should all hook up for a pint. I'll even buy (must be playing to take advantage of this offer
I'm going with a group of friends (4 of us) and 2 my friends have never played poker in person (and very little on line) before :fish:
I heard the Luxor has 1 -2 so I'm going to check it out, I figure I'll take a few bad beats but hopefully my skill will win out in the long run.
I was in Vegas during WSOP time...I went to the Luxor for a tourney, it was in the morning...starts off limit and then moves to no limit...very weak players there, made it to the final table when I took some bad beats...but eh thats poker. 1-2 NL games are good, look for a good table draw, there are some sharks looking to feed on tourists, try to find those tourists. Especially the ones who drink heavily while they play. Tons of poker action in Vegas, it's almost overwhleming, have a good time!
Hey BigChris,
If you are staying at Luxor, you may also want to check out poker room at Excalibur. It is geared towards first-time players so your buddies won't feel out of place at all. It is low limit (1 - 3 spread limit - which takes a bit to get used to but should be manageable). I have heard the games here described as "kitchen-table poker" - no bullshit no intimidation by other players tolerated. Very friendly atmosphere and they have a "wheel" you get to spin for certain things.. i.e. if your aces get cracked in the 2-6 game (or higher) you get to spin the wheel where u can win a cash prize up to $100 I think.
If you do check it out, please post a report as soon as u get back - I am headed down with YoungGrimmm in a couple weeks and we are also taking 2 relative newbies with us.
Cheers,
NH
It was funny (looking back) as there was always about 5 to 7 people to see the flop, and the table all hated it if some one raised pre-flop.
I remember one game where an old lady and a young guy were playing, the young guy bet out of the river and the old lady (very reluctantly) called. The young guy had 3 of a kind and the old lady had a full house. People asked her why she didn't re-raise and she said that she didn't want the young to get angry at her and was afraid that she didn't have the best hand.
Hey Nurse, sure I can meet up sometime down there while the lady is off shopping.
Wolffhound, on return I'll definitely post my observations.
Cool - we are there 29th Aug - Sept. 2 and planning to play the 11 am freezeout at the MGM on Tuesday Aug 30th. I will send you a pm with my cell #. Will you have a cell also?
NH
The spread limit game was generally fairly friendly, with plenty of fish. I ended up really liking it. Only one blind, generally you can limp into pots cheaply with very good implied odds if you hit something big, as well you can make a preflop raise with some teeth (although most players figure if they're in for 1 they're in for 4). In general, LPLLHE at it's best.
The next day my wife and I decide to play the $2-4 a bit. This game was the worse I have ever played. There were 2 drunk guys at the table and they would raise anything....the worse thing about it was I was not getting the cards and the drunk guys were catching turn and rivers like crazy. The best hand I had was a pair Jacks and lucky me one drunk guys chased me all the way to see if their King 4 off suit would hold up. We only played for 2 hours and I walked about down $30 (Had to catch up with out friends). My wife on the other hand got the cards and they paid her like no tomorrow.
The most memorable able hand was when she was on the button. By this time one of the drunken guys was gone and replaced by a girl who was playing for her first time. The cards were dealt and the other drunken guy was under the gun and raise, most people fold, new girl calls, my wife calls, and both blinds call. Flop comes KÂ :d: QÂ :d: 2
The next day I saw they had a 30+3 tournament that started at 10:00 am so I decided to try it. There were approx. 80 people in the tournament
This tournament had the most insane blind structure I have every seen. Every one start with 250 in chips and the blinds started at 10 -15 and doubled every 15 minutes and the first 6 levels were all limit before it switched to no-limit. The whole thing was done in about 2 hours
Through skill and some luck I made it to 5th which had a payout of $70, First was $500.
Some memorable hands were on the first table, just before I got moved I ended up with Aces on the button. Some one raised I re-raised and every one folded except the original raiser. Who called. The Flop came 3,3,5 rainbow. Raiser bet out, I re-raised, he called. Turn was another 3, raiser bet out, I re-raised, raiser re-raised and was all in. I called. He has A,K and was out.
Shortly after that I got moved. When I got to the new table I was UTG and had a 3,3, I just called with it and had about 3 others in with me when the table can 3, 5, and 8. I bet had one person re-raise me, I re-raised it back they cap it and were all-in, which I called. Show down they had Ace, King and I knocked them out. While at this table I took some bad beats doubling people up and cutting my stack down to size, because the blind structure was so aggressive it was very easy for people to go all-in pre-flop by a few raises and re-raises. I had K, K vs. A, J and an Ace fell on the river. Also had A, K suited vs. A, 10 and K, Q, J came on the flop. So my stack took a huge hit and I was seriously short stacked.Â
Blinds by that time were 200, 400 and I had 800 chips and I was the button. Every one folded except for the person on the button who called. I had a bit of a read on her as she started at the first table with me and I knew she would call any high card. (Actually I was surprised she was still in because she had made some bad calls earlier). The small blind called. I looked down and had 10, 5 suited and decided to take a stab at it so I raised. (Hoping my table image of always raising with good cards would hold up, or maybe getting luck if I get called and could double up). Well the button thought about it for a long time, checking her cards and looking at me, then said the words I really didn’t want to here “What the hell, why not?â€. The small blind folded. I flipped over my card, she hers and I say K,6. Flop come 10, 5, J, Turn and river produce nothing so I double up plus a bit. The right after that hand I get moved and the blinds go up.
The worse thing about the move is that the table I moved to has only 5 people and I’m the SB at the new level (500-1000 no-limit), plus every one at the table has more then $2000 in chips. avg. $3000 making me real short stacked. Nothing happens until I’m the button. I have Q, Q and with my 1300 I go all-in, get one caller with Ace high, nothing hits and I double up.
Just as the BB comes to me the other table breaks down. 8 players left and top 7 pay. I’m on the BB with Ace :d: , 2 :d:, every one folds to the small blind who I know as a good player that will use chips and position to his advantage. He looks at his cards, then looks at my chips and calls the rest of my chips (1600 plus my 1000 already for the blind) with out a thought I go all in. He has King high and I connect an Ace off the flop to double up.
Next hand UTG fires all-in, every one folds except the BB who call. UTG has A,7 BB has A, J, nothing comes out to help them and he goes out. The table cheers as we are all in the money. 2 more players go out right away (I called a flop or 2 but folded after it) and it comes to me. 10,5 suited again. UTG goes all-in for 3000, every one folds and it comes to me. I have him covered (Blinds are 1000-2000 and I just over 4000). I figure I’m in the money and no matter what happens I won’t make it through the next set of blind (being that almost %50 of my chips are in the middle) so I call. He has Ace, Jack, Flop comes K, Q, rag. River gives a 10 making his straight.
Next hand I fire all-in (regardless of the cards) The BB calls me and I get busted out in 5th.
Overall I say the tournament was fun but the blinds compared to the chips are insane.
As for the limit tables they are very beatable games but you have to follow Lee Jones Low Limit book. I did and yeah I took some bad beats but on the opposite site my wife played the same way and walked away a winner.Â
One funny thing happen while in the tournament, while at my second table a player got moved to it and he was wearing dark sunglasses. The player 2 seats to my right said to the player on my right “Is it sunny in here? or is it just me? Man I wish I had my sunglasses? Because it must be bright in here!â€. Everyone laughs and the player with the sunglasses takes them off.