There's nothing like a good cash game, and Vegas never fails to disappoint. You can rest assured that you will find a game at any hour of the day or night - the key is: where to play?
Different cardrooms will of course suit different punters, so in this article I am going to offer a mini-review of some selected rooms to help you choose the right place for raking in those dollar bills. It is worth noting that you should bring your passport along on your first visit to any big casino, as you will need to sign up for a player's card first in order to register for any tournaments you may wish to play there.
The Venetian
Boasting 11,000 square feet of poker action, the Venetian houses undoubtedly one of the best cardooms in the world, and is right at the top of my list for places to play. You will find a lot of regulars frequent here; however, during the WSOP, there is no shortage of fish, particularly with the Venetian Deepstack Series pulling in 600 plus runners daily.
You will find Limit and No Limit Texas Hold'em, Stud and Omaha ranging from $1/2 up to $20/40 and beyond. Don't be put off by the often very long waiting lists; you won't be kept waiting for a game that long. The $2/5 NLH game, if you can draw the right table, can be extremely lucrative. Play a tight-aggressive game and you will be cashing out night after night.
If you are feeling peckish, you can't go wrong with the Si Jui Beef Noodles from Noodle Asia, located at the back of the cardroom just next to the Sportsbook (unless you're a vegetarian!) The Blue Man Group is unmissable. Be sure to get there with a few friends; or, if you and the other half are on a romantic one, Phantom always hits the spot.
The Mirage
If you fancy a pretty chilled, laid back game with plenty of touristy/drunken fish, then Mirage is definitely the place to be. There's something about the place, and though we don't play there anywhere near as much as we used to, I reckon it's joint top with the Venetian in my and Ben Meredith’s 'places to play cash in Vegas' list.
Lovers of the straddle bet will not be disappointed - this is the only card room in Vegas that I have come across where you can straddle for any amount you wish - up to your entire stack! My advice would be to not head in there drunk and swing buy-ins around in this fashion.
The standard of games can vary dramatically here - on some days all the tables will be full of total nits; on others (particularly at the weekends, obviously), you can fully expect a mix of middle-aged donkeys, drunken beefcakes trying to show you who's boss, and young kids that have come to play after being inspired by the latest WPT final table they watched earlier in the week. Again, the $2/5 game is often more value than the $1/2, although most of the time there won't be more than two or three of those tables running.
Terry Factor is unmatchable, unmissable and just about the most hilarious show on The Strip, and a great way to start a night out.
Cæsar’s Palace
Cæsar's is another beautiful cardroom, and if you are planning on playing there in the evenings, you will have the pleasure of strolling past a whole strip of blackjack tables featuring very scantily-clad young dealers (females, I hasten to add). If you don't spot the huge glowing red 'poker room’ sign, you will certainly notice the imposing Sportsbook that is cleverly located right at the exit/entrance to the poker room where one can freely chase their losses after a painful session at the poker tables.
It's a lovely cardroom, but the games aren't the softest in the world; there just seems to be a lot more solid players here than in most of the other cardrooms in Vegas. Of course, there are fish, but when you are not the only shark swimming in the room, it makes getting a satisfactory feed that little bit harder. If you like the cardroom, stick to playing the 'Mega-Stack' series of tournaments that run throughout the WSOP, which regularly feature fields softer than an Oil of Olay model's skin.
You'll find Pure - one of the trendiest clubs in Vegas right outside the poker room - but be sure to wear proper shoes or face being harassed by the bouncers for several hundred dollars to let you in. Ben has tired of me endlessly trying to drag him to Cæsar's to have dinner at Noodle No. 9, which, in my opinion, is home to some of the best Chinese cuisine in Las Vegas. If you like Chinese, this place is a must.
Planet Hollywood
Prime time for casting your net into the fish-infested rivers of Planet Hollywood are from the Witching Hour and beyond, daily. The value varies and sometimes you will find just a couple of tables full of short-stackers. Have the discipline to walk out and find a game elsewhere if this is the case, even if you have walked 20 minutes from the Venetian in the sticky evening heat.
On most nights, you won't be disappointed, particularly at the weekends. It's a trendy place that attracts the younger species of sea-life, and if you have the patience to listen to a couple of inebriated souls and wait for the right hands, you will be rewarded. Remember to look for tables that have a lot of money on; it's an obvious sign that the chips have been flying about.
The bar right next to the Sportsbook is a brilliant place to watch any high-profile sporting event. We watched most of the 2010 World Cup whilst massaging our hunger with selections from 'The Earl of Sandwich', located within visual range of the Sportsbook. Probably the best club sandwich you will ever eat.
MGM Grand
Another trendy hotspot for the young wannabe superstars. Unfortunately, it is let down by its location. It's perfect for anyone that might be keeping tabs on the budget and staying at The Excalibur, but it is not within walking distance of all the main centre-strip cardrooms.
If you like fish and chips for breakfast and are in the area, you can actually quite often find a lively and lucrative game from around 8am onwards, but there's no guarantee, so don't make a special trip at that hour. Late afternoon/early evening is when the action really heats up. The players here often remind me of the sea urchins I come across in Macau - play tight, but when you hit a big flop and suspect someone is in the mix with a decent hand, soak up as much value as possible with juicy overbets. Rinse, repeat.
It can be really tilty if you go out of your way looking for a game at the MGM and can't find one, so dash over to New York New York and jump on the rollercoaster that winds its way around the hotel exterior. New York New York is also home to Gallagher's steak house, which for steak lovers is an absolute must. It matches the reputation of the original Gallagher's, which you will find on West 52nd street if you are ever in New York, too! Don't leave the MGM without visiting the Rainforest Cafe and trying the 'Volcano'. It's a brownie-based dessert; I'll say no more.
Wynn
There is something about the Wynn's cardroom that makes you feel one almost wouldn't be out of place wearing a smoking jacket, puffing on a fine Cuban cigar and holding a glass of Quinta do Noval. Ferrari is located right next door, in case you wanted to place an order for a little run-around to ship back to the UK.
In all honesty, the $1/3 game confused the hell out of me, particularly because we were playing with $3 denomination chips too. I'm probably not very good at maths, but when I wanted to make an odd-sized raise (or an even one, for that matter!) I found it took me a little more time to make sure I wasn't betting too little or too much. I've dipped my toe in the cash on a couple of occasions since, but, in all honesty, there is more value to be had elsewhere, so this room wouldn't be on the top of my list.
It's a lovely place to play tournaments; they usually have a $200/300 deepstack running once or twice daily, but if you want to make a decent living playing cash at the Wynn, visit its Asian twin in Macau.
Bellagio
The epitome of class; if there were anywhere you would find James Bond sipping on a Martini (shaken or otherwise) and riffling a stack of Cranberries, The Bellagio cardroom would be it. I felt this room had to be included in the list, although I haven't played a great deal there, so take my analysis with a pinch of salt:
It's a little too serious for my liking, if I'm honest. Though I come to Vegas to make money, I also come to have a good time away from the daily grind, and I can't fail to think that all I see when I walk into the Bellagio cardroom is a bunch of boring grinders. I've only ever played $5/10 here, and though I made a few hundred, it really didn't seem that soft a game. Those that want to go star-spotting will often come across the likes of Tom Dwan, Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Johnny Chan, Patrik Antonius and Barry Greenstein playing in the world famous 'Bobby's Room' of an evening, where those with less than seven-figure rolls can peek through the glass from the outside, at a distance.
My suggestion would be: if you plan to visit the Bellagio's cardroom, let it be just a fleeting visit on the way to the buffet - undoubtedly the best buffet you will find in Las Vegas.
Rio
During the WSOP, you certainly won't be short of a game at the Rio. Every room that is utilised for poker is literally a sea of poker tables as far as the eye can see. It's actually one of my least favourite places to play cash games, and the only reason I would frequent the action here would be in search of a bracelet. There is a distinctive 'cattle-call' feel to the whole experience.
The Rio itself is also a little way out and stands alone, with The Palms its closest neighbour, so if you are with a group and decide you've had enough, you can't just stroll off to another casino nearby and come back again a short while later. My advice would be to use the Rio purely for playing World Series events alone.
On a side note, the Rio is home to the Voodoo Lounge, one of my favourite bars in Vegas and I'd highly recommend it. It's located on the 51st floor, and you can go outside and literally be dancing on the roof of the Rio with an absolutely stunning view over the whole of Vegas. That view gets progressively more interesting as you take full advantage of the 'open bar' (between $75 to $110, depending on the day of the week). The VIP packages are also brilliant value, and to fully ensure a good stumble back to the hotel, partake of the elusively named 'Witch Doctor', their signature cocktail.
Small Rooms, Big Value
Under this final heading, I'll give a selection of cardrooms for those that are in search of soft value but don't mind taking advantage of it in small rooms boasting less-than-elegant surroundings. All these rooms share the following factors in common:
Pros:
* Rarely a shark in sight.
* Most players are pretty laid back which makes for a friendly game.
* Most players are pretty ABC, which makes for a low-variance game and means you can make money slow and steady, but you won't be donated stack after stack.
* Weekends attract a lot of young drinkers that will sit with a half-stack but pull up several times.
Cons:
* Small cardroom, no more than 6 to10 tables which will rarely be full.
* No tournament value, with most rooms hosting $40 to $60 crapshoots, often once in the morning and once in the evening.
* Rarely a game over $1/2, and only ever No Limit Hold’em.
* A distinctive 'run-down' feel, not ideally the kind of place you would want to spend most of your time in Vegas.
The best of this bunch would be: Treasure Island, Imperial Palace, Excalibur, O'Shea's, Hooters (bad location, only pop in if you are staying around the 'MGM' end of The Strip), and Binions Horseshoe (Downtown Las Vegas).
I hope this list will help assist you in making your stay in Las Vegas a profitable one!
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