Are there any other Live Poker players on the board here. Best odds in town if you ask me.

jm

Jeff,
We stick to our friendly/not so friendly home family games. I've never gotten up the nerve to try live poker in a casino.
Lee-PA

Jeff, about the time I started playing live poker, I was losing but having fun. Then I met a few seasoned poker players that intimidated the heck out of me. You might remember two of them. Claire H and Joe G. They didn't intimidate me by telling me that they were gonna take my money. They intimidated me by telling me how dilligently they worked to make a career out of it, how much they loved new players, how much they loved tourists, the shills, the shills who weren't technically shills, but in essence they really were, the regulars, the fakes, etc. At that time they did not know I was breaking into the game. I think I learned a lot from them, and could have probably (in time) started to enjoy the game and maybe make money. I felt so inferior that I never pursued the game. So I stuck to games where I knew what my odds of losing were.<g>

I had several nice discussions with Joe G. about playing poker. I think anyone wanting to learn can play in a low limit game and make out OK. For some reason I've never seen many live poker players on BB's.

jm

Jeff, I don't play live poker anymore because poker and Buds don't mix <g>. But I'd be happy to continue some discussion with you about live poker. Big Joe's a pro and we've played for years. So what should we talk about first <s>?

Gail, What's your opinion on buy-ins? I notice a lot of locals seem to play with little money on the table unless they've been winning. Maybe this is the degenerates and not the pros. I rarely play above a $10/$20 level in Vegas. I suppose most of the pros are playing above this level. I understand wanting to go all in on a marginal hand but what if they've got the nuts and can't bet it? I like to have enough money on the table to protect a hand when I get one.

jm

[This message has been edited by senatorjm (edited August 03, 1999).]

Jeff, I agree with you. But, everything a daily, local poker player does, there is a reason for it.

They do not want to invest too much money in a hand. They would rather play the pot. Most of the local "pro" players will also play this way to irritate the tourists or decent locals at the table.

There really isn't a good reason for doing this because most of them are "rocks" anyway so they are not going to continue to play the hand unless they've got the nuts going.

Protect a hand, I agree. But they also get a kick out of insulting people or asking, "Why on earth did you do that?" to further put everyone on edge at the table.

Will ask Joe what he thinks about this also.

[This message has been edited by gailsacco (edited August 03, 1999).]

Jeff, Another thing to remember is no matter what the local looks like (bummy or nicely dressed) many are pros. This is a daily job for them. They usually put in 8 hours a day, up and down, and all around. If they put the first bet in, they have a top starting hand. If they don't have the nut going on the flop, they drop out. If they are in until the end, they have it.

The house loves them and will not usually reprimand them for anything. Their daily presence keeps a lot of the games going. The dealers like them because they get a small tip for every hand they win, all day long, 6 days a week. Most dealers will not help read a hand against one of these players. These players are also very good at staying borderline on breaking any rules.

They get a couple of comp meals a day for putting in 8 hours. Most days, they will win a minimum of $80 in a small game. And once in awhile, they will score big and then walk around for the rest of the 8 hours and only play their blind. So don't ever plan on getting your money back from one of these players <g>.

It's the same players here for the past 11 years that I've been here. The bounce from the Mirage to Bellagio to Binions.

You've really got to be in the right frame of mind to play with these regulars. I've gotten myself thrown out of Binions for speaking my piece to a no good dealer.

I always thought I was a decent poker player. Last Feb at the Flamingo Hilton they were promoting a new, friendly poker area and I almost sat down to play but I did not. Then I saw the movie Rounders and I'm glad I did'nt sit down. I'm sure I would have been easy pickins for the regulars that Gail talks about. T.C.

Jeff,

It's true that live poker players have a low profile report on the Web, but the poker Usenet group is by far the most interesting and intellectual of the gambling groups on Usenet. A really impressive group.

Maybe that's why I don't play live poker <g>.

This is interesting to this VP player.

How low is a low limit table?

Are there limits to the number of raises?

At a $2 five card draw table what is the most I could put in to stay until the end of a hand?



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Brad in Indiana

Really Gail: thrown out? Did they take you to the cage first so you could cash in your chips?

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Brad in Indiana

Brad, None of the poker rooms in Vegas deal draw poker. The two common games are Texas Holdem and 7 card stud. YOu can find $1-$4 games in most card rooms except teh Mirage and Bellagio. They may even spread them during the day.
Excalibur is a good place for a beginner to play low stakes. You should be able to make $50 last several hours. Most games allow three raises unless you're heads up and then the raises are unlimited. They also play check/raise in Vegas.

jm

jm

[This message has been edited by senatorjm (edited August 03, 1999).]

Gail,

My favorite game to play in is a $4/8 HiLo Omaha with a half kill at the Orleans. I'd describe most of the players as either retirees who play everyday for recreation or labor type workers who are there gambling with the rent money. Whoever they are, I rarely have a problem holding my own with them and I'm far from a pro.

jm

HiLo Omaha with a half kill sounds like an Olympic pool dive to me.

Brad, They did not escort me. And they let me cash in my chips. I am not easily intimidated but this poker room is like playing with the "boys" in the olden days and the rules are not enforced with the "regulars".

There are too many nice poker rooms in LV to give this type anymore business.

Jan. 9 - 28, 2000, Harrah's is hosting the third annual Carnivale of Poker tournament with a total prize package of $4,000,000!
It's a $5,000 buy-in and includes tournament room rates of $79 (Sunday through Thursday) and $99 (Friday and Saturday).

Jeff, call (888)475-6661 to register <g>.

Senator, I played the Poker room at the Flamingo a few times over the past couple years. I remember thinking that I had no chance but after playing awhile, I found most players were like me and the stakes were too low for the "pros". I am heading out to Vegas tomorrow night and am going to give the Texas Hold'em tables a try. Have you had any luck?


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Seven Out

I happen to love live poker games. It's one of the most fun things to do in Vegas...if you can invest the time.

My dad has been a professional poker player for 40 years. He has taught me lots of skills. (And since I don't have the look of someone who "knows" the game, it makes it all the more fun.)

JMT--Do you ever hear from Joe Gamble? I sure miss him.

Debbie

Alan,I think you'll find most of the pros at the Mirage, Bellagio, Binions, and Orleans. The Stations casinos have good poker rooms with probably some pros but more what I'd call 'regulars'. In my opinion, a pro plays to make a living. A 'regular' is someone who likes to play poker, plays frequently and is probably pretty good but doesn't rely on poker to pay the bills.

My favorite poker room is at the Orleans.

Debbie,

You're right, you sure don't look like a poker player to me. It's the ones like you who always get the best of me in a poker game. [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img].

jm

Jeff, I always enjoyed playing seven cards in the early morning hours at the Rio

JOhn,
I stayed at te Ex several tiems after they first opened. PLayed a good deal of hold-em there. It was always a friendly game and at te time a good place for someone to start playing poker in Vegas.
jm