It was my first "family vacation" to Las Vegas, so I was not quite sure what to expect as far as my typical time on the tables. I've been there previously a few times, playing in the 2006 World Series of Poker, and taking a couple of trips with my lady-friend. I did manage to find time away from the shops, and golf courses to play some cards.

At any rate, we were staying at the Tropicana, which is pretty much smack in the middle of everything on the strip. However, it's also the home of one of the worst poker rooms I have ever had to play in. You'd think that they would really try to carve out something, but sadly, no real effort had been made to compete with the other rooms in Vegas. I played the late-night tournament there the night we got in, and was disgusted by the horrid play. There were a few euro-trash players at the table who continued to speak in another language, and were not reprimanded one time until I had to finally speak up and tell the dealer that it was not appropriate.

The saving grace from that was the Excalibur right next door. If you want a well-run low-limit room on the strip, this is where you need to go. I banked between 100 and 200 dollars a night at a 2-6 spread limit hold em game there. I also cashed in one of the morning tournaments there. They have a really good blind structure for a fast 2 hour tourney, so it worked out really well. Around 40 players, top 6 were paid, and I finished in the money a couple of times. Even better is the bad-beat/high-hand wheel. For every time you had aces cracked, or ever time you were dealt quads or better, you got to spin this money wheel - winning the dollar amound (between $20 and $100). However they also had double and triple spins, which made the total possible payoff 600 dollars per spin. I won around 250 dollars on the wheel itself for my two spins (one for cracked aces, one for quad 9's)

The tournament play was bad pretty much everywhere that I played. I was interested in playing at Planet Hollywood's "Grinder" tournament, where there was a 300 bounty on "The Grinder", and was actually doing quite well. I had around 6,000 in chips when I had A-9 Suited in the cutoff. Blinds were 100/200. I brought it up to 700, and was called by the button and the BB. Flop comes A-9-6 rainbow, so I feel pretty good here. Checked to me, and I fire out around 1,800 - A little small, but I'm hoping to get someone else in there with another ace who is behind me. I get a fold and a call. The turn card is a Jack. BB Checks to me, and I push in the remaining 3k or so that I have. He calls. I can only put him on A-J, and cursed my bad luck for him getting out on the turn... He rolls over pocket JACKS... He called of 3,000 chips (about 1/2 his stack) with the ace on the board, and nothing but a two-outer to get me.

Again, great play from the guys there. The tourney was run well, but the play was so bad that it really made it a crapshoot.

Caesar's was great because the Classic was going on, so some of the best players in the world were there. I saw Ming Ly, and a few others coming out while I was playing in there. Great side games, but the action was a bit too high-altitude for me, so I headed over to the Mirage.

GREAT poker room there, aside from the place being a bit bigger. I played at a 5/10 Limit Omaha Full Kill 8/OB game, and ended up drilling it for about 700 bucks. Simply playing 1-2-3 poker here was enough to beat the game quite easily. Check out that game if you have any Omaha knowledge whatsoever.

Mandalay Bay's room had to be designed by someone who enjoys sardines, because that is how it was laid out. On the fun side, I was playing at a 5/10 Limit 1/2 Kill table with Larry The Cable Guy. He was in town for some big PBR Bull Riding championship that was being held there. He doesn't talk like he does on TV, but he sure plays poker like a redneck. I won a bit there, but wasn't too impresed with the room.

I stayed away from downtown because it's all rocks and locals. I wouldn't recommend playing there if you don't have to, especially with how soft most of the rooms are on the strip.

I plan on going back soon! If anyone has any questions, suggestions, or pointers, please so not hesitate to contact me. I hope this proves useful!

Sean