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My second time in Las Vegas
Hi there!
After loosing about one grand along my last vacation with playing poker tournaments at the Bellagio and the Caesars, i've decided to try the low limit live games this time.
I've started my vacation downtown. There are five places to play at. The Plaza, the Binion's, the Nugget, the Fitz, and the El Cortez.
At the Plaza they had only 2/4 games running with a very easy competition. The Nugget and the Binion's do have more educated players. Tougher people to beat. Not a recommendation for the first live games.
The Fitz had sometimes a good 1/2 NL game running and the dealers are very friendly. The friendliest i've seen in Vegas. I loved this place and i may stay at their hotel the next time.
I've played there a 3/6 kill game there too, but i'm not that into limit poker. Be beware of the locals that hang around there and target the 'tourists'.
You should also visit the El Cortez. The genral game is a 1-3 spread limit game with just one $1 blind. The competition is not that hard as well. Again be beware of the locals.
Maybe you'll have the privilege to have Jackie at your table. An opportunity to meet a guy of the Vegas history at a poker table.
Center strip i've played at the Imperial Palace, the O'Sheas and the Flamingo. If you dare to play between the strip and the bar it is the place to stay. Easy competition and always drunk people. A 1-5 spread limit game with just one $1 blind makes the game juicy. It can be loud and annoying there, but even drunk a cheap place to have fun.
The Imperial Palace is not a bad spot to play at as well. There's always a 2/4 limit game (not that easy then the Plaza game but good) and often a 1/2 NL game as well. Grigor is a very friendly dealer.
The flamingo had a tougher competition running, but i think it is a good game to play. You'll have to be a decent guy to be in business there. Always a 1/2 NL game running and a professional poker room crew.
Hope this helps. Greets :)
Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting.
I have read this a few times and I can't get the sense of it. "between the strip and the bar"?
Is this paragraph just on O'Shea's. Is that where the spread limit game happens. I was surprised at that spread limit game as I thought the El Cortez was the only spread limit in Vegas.
@dewey089
I have read this a few times and I can't get the sense of it. "between the strip and the bar"?
Is this paragraph just on O'Shea's. Is that where the spread limit game happens. I was surprised at that spread limit game as I thought the El Cortez was the only spread limit in Vegas.[/quote]
Yes, this is O'Shea's. I thought it was pretty cheesy at first, but after watching how much fun my buddy had playing there for 5 hours one day, I definitely plan on trying it out. Great for people watching.
Thanks. I will definitely try it. I love spread limit. So many options. One dollar blind is the way to play this game. One dollar, drink, and wait for cards. I have been playing it at El Cortez, but there the river is twice the other bets and so that means you can wait for people.
Dewey, you might like to know that the Excalibur poker room also runs a 2-6 spread limit game, though it's really not like the El Cortez 1-3-6 game. Also, you might like to know that much of the poker in Laughlin is spread limit format.
Of course, Excalibur takes a 4+1 rake, for a total drop which is twice the $2.50 cap at Jackie's downtown joint, and a peculiarity in Laughlin is that while it is common to only rake $3 for the house many of those rooms will drop $2 for the jackpot rake.
My apologies to the OP for getting off topic on his trip report.
All solid information Rock. Many thanks. I am going to Vegas and Laughlin in December. It is frustrating when rake limits are disguised by high hand extra rakes.
@dewey089 Dewey,
Feel free to PM me either here or on "whatbrianthinksaboutvegas" when your trip is closer. I can tell you where to find a soft game in Laughlin, but I'd rather not do it in public because the ponds there are small and could quickly get overfished. I could easily meet up in either place if you feel like it at that time, since my home is actually closer to Laughlin than Vegas, and you already know I'm downtown in Vegas often.
L.R. (aka "Mohave")
nice tr. thanks for posting