ES
yuck
Yuck. At airport now after 4 days of poker tournaments. With only a few exceptions, the level of play and ability of players was extremely low. The plan was to play in 3 - 4 tourneys a day, and, after soliciting much input from users of this site (which was very helpful), we chose a few and figured we would see where those took us. First day we arrived around 3, got settled, and headed to the 6 p.m. at Bally's. I have played in this tournament before, and have had some success, so we figured we would give it a shot. I was card dead most of the tourney, and busted out in 7 (out of around 30). My buddy made a good run at the end, and took 1st. Level of play was fair. We did see a few angry losers, and a few f-bombs ads a result, but, not too bad of a tourney. We headed down the strip and stumbled into O'Sheas (when a midget leprechaun tells you to enter a casino, you are rendered helpless). We played in a tourney there (10 p.m.?) and the level of play was horrible, but what would you expect from poker at O'Sheas? The music was good, the scene was fun, and they were serving up Guiness on tap, so I can't really complain. We played back to back tourneys there, and my buddy chopped in both. Wednesday we started with the noon at Caesers. This was, by far, the best tournament we played in. The room was great, the competition was solid, etc. After building a solid chip stack prior to the break, I went card dead and busted out. However, I really enjoyed this tourney. Next Tourney - 7 p.m. at Rio. This was FRUSTRATING. Lots of card chasers, calling big raises to catch their straight or flush. When I busted out (in 6th), the chip leader wax by far the worst player at the table. My buddy busted out shortly after. Went downtown on Thursday. Just happened to wander into fitzgeralds as the noon tourney was starting. Friendly group, but play was fairly poor. I busted out when I raised to 3x BB with pocket Q. Fold around to the guy to my right. he calls. flop comes A rag rag. I push. he calls with A rag (only a pair). Was surprised he called big raise with A rag pre and post flop, as he had to believe he would be outkicked, but he may have not known enough to fold. Last tourney was 7 p.m. at Rio on Thursday. Competition a little better than the night before. Not a bad field, with the exception of a few idiots, but not bad. Other than tourneys, a little other gambling, but non successful. I live in TX, and we have a few Indian Casinos close. the level of play in those tournaments has been better than what I saw this week, but I guess that is what deserve for playing in low dollar tourneys in LV. Will not be in a hurry to come back to LV, and, when I do, will be far more selective on what tourneys I play in. Many thanks to all on this site that provide input on what Tourneys to play in...I wish I would have listened...
Thanks for the report. Glad your friend was able to cash a few times.
@dsmithxxl
Yes the level of play isn't very good in small buy-in tournaments, especially in the places you played. Pure level 1 players -- I have an ace, I'll call a raise; I hit an ace I'll call/go all-in. These also tend to be push fests pretty quickly. Meaning one bad hand and you're done. I think you'd enjoy yourself more if you played some of the better structured tournaments that would be recommended to you.
Hope you come back soon and consider cash games. Tournaments are high variance -- you can play well and not cash many times in a row.
@dsmithxxl
True. So true.
does the gaming commission even ALLOW midget leprechans with magical powers to force folks into casinos!? This proves the casino owners have the legislative branch in their pocket.
This post helped me choose which tourny to play, I prefer cash games so I can come and go as I please and hit/run, but the Noon Caesar's sounds good if I'm going to play one during the upcoming weekend.
You simply picked the wrong tourneys for the most part. If you want to play "real" tourney poker, you will have to play the $150+ buyin tourneys at Venetian, Caesars, etc. I do believe that the Harrah's big stack and mega stack tourneys are excellent choices to play true deepstack tourney poker in the under $150 buyin budget level. For cheaper tourneys, the only ones worth anything are the Planet Hollywood tourneys (4,500 in starting chips, 20 minute blinds)...at least you have some time and chips to outwait the tourist/drunk players. I love O'Sheas, I always have a good time there, and I generally will play their cheap tourneys as well as their $1/$5 spread limit game (a blast to play it in front of the open casino with the great crowds walking the strip just feet from your table and all of the players drunk and roudy.) But, to expect to play anything but slot machine poker in their tourneys (2,000 starting chips, 15 minute blinds) is to have unrealistic expectations (imho). The cheaper buyin tourneys at Caesars ($65 buyin, 3,000 chips, 20 minute blinds) are not as good as the Planet Hollywood ones particularly since they have antes kick in fairly early and your starting stack is 1/3 less.
Not to sound like a "know it all", but it is critical to do your research before you go, pick the right tourneys that give you the most bang for your buck. Otherwise, you set yourself up for disappointment and losses. Believe me, there is "real" poker to be had in Las Vegas both on the strip, downtown and off strip...but you have to choose your games and tourney's wisely just like you should do in your home casinos.
good comments by all - much appreciated. I have played in the PH tourneys before, and enjoyed them. As stated in some of the replies, there is a higher level of poker in many of the cash games, and I have found some success there as well in previous trips. Please pardon what might have sounded like a negative tone in my trip report. I was literally at the airport after 4 days of frustration. Will certainly be a bit more selective next time in Vegas, but in the meantime, will find some tournaments at nearby casinos to keep my vice in check...
In my experience, the level of play whether cash games or tourneys is most impacted by the dollar level of play, not whether it is a cash game or a tourney. If playing a $2/4 limit game or a $1/2 no limit game or a tourney with a buyin under $150...then the tables are going to be full of tourists, drunks and people simply playing for fun. Simple as that. On the other hand...if playing $30/60 limit, $2/5 or higher no limit or tourneys with buyins above $150, then the overall skill at the tables tends toward the higher side (though virtually any game will have their share of suckers). As the previous poster said, playing the correct style, based on the other players at the tabl, is the most important thing. Obviously, when playing against donks one has to be more aware of the wide range of hands that they may be against and adjust one's game accordingly.
No offence, but playing the Bally's, O'Sheas and Fitz tourneys are awful! The structures stink and it becomes a shove fest. The Ceasars tourney is a best bet for me.....
You should have gone downtown for BInions 6p ($150) or the Golden Nugget at Noon ($200)....you get a deep stack and about 20-30 min levels.
Avoid those low buy-in tourneys or yo too will be writing poker reports that have the title of "yuck."
This is not to say that playing in higher buy-ins guarantees you a cash, but you get to play more hands, be more patient and observe the action a bit more than you normally would.
how many tables does that deep stack (noon tourney) of GN get? So much better deal than their 11 tourney
No offense taken. I actually solicited input pre-trip on this site and should have listened to the advice I received. Next time around I will seek out more cash games and be more selective in my tournament entries. Many thanks to all for your feedback. Lesson learned...
Pretty good T.R.
Sorry things didnt work out better.
Hope we get another T.R. on next trip and hope you have better results.
next trip try some 1-2 or 2-5 NL live play