Operation Viva Las Vegas

Well, in light of all the "operations" going on, I'm thinking that it might be a good idea to set some goals for myself. Here's my thought, but I'm not sure if it's really along the right lines. Let me know what you think.

I'm going to Vegas in about 2 weeks, and I'd like to have some money to play with. To my knowledge, there are some casinos that have $1/2 limit games, which is probably about the most my bankroll can handle at this point. What I'd really like is to be able to play purely on money cashed out of my online poker bankroll.

First, would taking $100 be enough? If I started off with a bad swing, that could essentially bust me out for the whole trip, but I'm not sure I want to put up any more than that.

Assuming that I take only $100 for the trip, I would need to hit a certain amount in my online bankroll to be comfortable cashing out that much. I am about $90-ish from that mark right now. So, how unreasonable is it to plan to make $90 in 2+ weeks? (Given that I usually play $5 SNG or $10 buy-in NL).

This might be silly, unattainable, and/or unrealistic, but some feedback on the whole plan would be awesome.

I've never planned a Vegas trip, but my first thought is that if you plan to do 1/2 limit there, then you should build up your stack playing exactly that.

If you have $200 or so in account now, you can handle some 1/2, refine your skills, and theoretically make your 90 in a week. Open up two tables and play TABTA* for awhile.

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* see http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...pic.php?t=4104
(paragraph 4)

I guess it's not that I really WANT to play Limit. It's more that I don't want to risk the bankroll for my entire trip in a NL game. I know that's not a winning attitude, but I don't want to sit down in a NL game and be playing scared, either.

Go sit at the $50NL game at the Luxor.

Originally Posted by gutshot

Go sit at the $50NL game at the Luxor.

Nice tip...problem solved!!

So what do you guys think of my goal of bankrolling myself to $100 over the next 2 weeks? Realistic/useful/attainable?

Hmm I think you could do it in 1 day of SNG's. well maybe, i used to play 3-4 sngs at a time for something like that dunno if thats your thing. Though i've very sure you can do it, good luck Ty

Originally Posted by Radashack

Hmm I think you could do it in 1 day of SNG's. well maybe, i used to play 3-4 sngs at a time for something like that dunno if thats your thing. Though i've very sure you can do it, good luck Ty

You severely overestimate me, sir!

No you just severly underestimate yourself . Confidence will take you far . Humbleness will take you farther, but doubt will bring you down.

- Buddashack

Well, it's gotta get done one way or another, or else I'm going to have to play with the money I already have!

Originally Posted by TylerK

First, would taking $100 be enough? If I started off with a bad swing, that could essentially bust me out for the whole trip, but I'm not sure I want to put up any more than that.

Well first, if I'm going to Vegas, I'm gonna want to take more than $100 to gamble. I have been telling myself that I want to have about $500-$1,000 to gamble when I go to Vegas. Since I can't afford that now, I'm postponing my trip for a few years.

But if you are playing a $1/2 table, you want to sit down with $40. Bringing $100 means that you can sit down twice with $50 each time. If sitting down twice is OK with you, than you are good on money.

Originally Posted by TylerK

Assuming that I take only $100 for the trip, I would need to hit a certain amount in my online bankroll to be comfortable cashing out that much. I am about $90-ish from that mark right now. So, how unreasonable is it to plan to make $90 in 2+ weeks? (Given that I usually play $5 SNG or $10 buy-in NL).

Here is what I hear, "I have $10 in my online account. :P (j/k)[/quote]

Originally Posted by Humphrind

Originally Posted by TylerK

Assuming that I take only $100 for the trip, I would need to hit a certain amount in my online bankroll to be comfortable cashing out that much. I am about $90-ish from that mark right now. So, how unreasonable is it to plan to make $90 in 2+ weeks? (Given that I usually play $5 SNG or $10 buy-in NL).

Here is what I hear, "I have $10 in my online account. :P (j/k)

*grin*

At worst, I will take money out of my online account even if my goal does not end up being met. But the amount that I have right now I consider to be dedicated to online play.

Have you considered joining every freeroll you can for the next 16 days? No risk whatsoever, so you can put 'em in the background for the first half hour-45 minutes before paying any attention.

Le'ts say you manage 4 a day, and end ITM for $10 1/8 times.
4 X 16 X 10 X 1/8
$80

Those are pretty optimistic finishes for freerolls, but like I said you don't have to focus very hard on 'em since they're you know free. Also you'd have to be unemployed or something.

Originally Posted by LeFou

Those are pretty optimistic finishes for freerolls, but like I said you don't have to focus very hard on 'em since they're you know free. Also you'd have to be unemployed or something.

Hmm...I long for the days when I had that kind of free time.

But, a good idea nonetheless, and I think it's probably worth getting into every freeroll (or cheaproll - $1-3) I can spare some time for.

As we can see from my sig, I have had a bad couple of days. On the plus side, because I am paying such close attention to my progress, it's forcing me to really think critically about my game.

Getting better...seems like playing the Gauntlet always starts me back in the right direction.

Changed post title. I'm not sure if the reason it wasn't sticky was the title or because it just sucks.

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I was just recently in Vegas and I must say that playing $1/$2 Limit or a $50 NL game is going to basically be a crap shoot there. There are way too many horrible players at those limits. I found a couple of decent players at the $2/$4 game at the horseshoe on a Friday afternoon, but didn't see another decent player my time there. Also, $100 is nothing in Vegas, absolutely nothing. Humphrind is right, if you plan to gamble in Vegas, you need $500-$1,000, probably more. I stayed for 3 nights, ran into horrible luck playing blackjack and craps, and probably lost $600 in a matter of 3 hours of total play, and this is only playing $5 or $10 / hand blackjack. Never seen the dealer hit to 20 and 21 so many times.

I'm not sure if the horseshoe has a $1-$2 game, but that was definately my favorite place to play. Their atmosphere is just amazing.

Originally Posted by davfagan

I was just recently in Vegas and I must say that playing $1/$2 Limit or a $50 NL game is going to basically be a crap shoot there. There are way too many horrible players at those limits. I found a couple of decent players at the $2/$4 game at the horseshoe on a Friday afternoon, but didn't see another decent player my time there. Also, $100 is nothing in Vegas, absolutely nothing. Humphrind is right, if you plan to gamble in Vegas, you need $500-$1,000, probably more. I stayed for 3 nights, ran into horrible luck playing blackjack and craps, and probably lost $600 in a matter of 3 hours of total play, and this is only playing $5 or $10 / hand blackjack. Never seen the dealer hit to 20 and 21 so many times.

I'm not sure if the horseshoe has a $1-$2 game, but that was definately my favorite place to play. Their atmosphere is just amazing.

Sounds like a good opportunity to tighten way up and get paid off on premium hands, then?

Originally Posted by davfagan

I was just recently in Vegas and I must say that playing $1/$2 Limit or a $50 NL game is going to basically be a crap shoot there. There are way too many horrible players at those limits.

And this is bad, how? These are the games I long to play when I go to Vegas at New Years.

Because, what happens is you run into a horrible string of luck, and bet your top pair with ace kicker and people call and call and call and catch two pair 3s and 5s on the river.

I don't like playing in crap shoots where people stay in with anything, and I have to have a monster to win. I'm sorry, monster hands just don't come up that often.

Most of the play I saw was very loose passive. Just call, call, call. "Oh...I flopped trips, check-raise on any street? Nope, I'll just check-call every street" That's the kind of play I was facing most of the time.

All of the games I witnessed, very very very few people folded to a raise, and even fewer re-raised, so the only time to raise is when you have the nuts because you can never be sure that you have the top hand.

I have played many different times in Vegas over the past 6 months, and have found at least on the Strip, you can find games comperable to $25NL on Party, playing the different NL games. I have found playing 2/4 the variance is very high because the "tourist" do chase all the way to the end, sometimes having 4 or 5 seeing the river. Which is great if you played for 6 hrs straight and finally made them pay for the bad chases, ie won more with the good hand than lost to the chasers. I'd much rather play the NL game if you only have limited time playing. You can make them pay for chasing in NL. Just a couple of thoughts.
There are not a lot of low NL games. $50nl @ Luxor, $100nl @ a couple of different places, and $300NL @ Mirage, Flamingo, MGM?

After 3 days of horrendous losses, I am taking a break from online poker. I'll still likely play in Vegas, but it remains to be seen whether I will redeposit for online play when I return.

Tyler,
I have been where you are. I've taken month long breaks or even longer a couple times after hitting bad runs and busting out.

Have fun in Vegas and remember, there will always be a chair to sit in when you are ready to play again. Take the time off and don't rush back into it while your headspace is scrambled. Good luck, dude.

I am from vegas, .. vegas is expensive.. I was home for the weekend and dropped 1k gambling on non-poker games ( just having fun w/ my friends).. That being said, I play live NL there and in AC all the time, $100 is no where NEAR enough money to cover the swings @ a $50 or $100 table. That could be gone in two bad hands in a row. I would say you want at least 8-10 X the buyin to be comfortable for an extended trip, but thats just me. And if you plan on playing any house games (i played mostly carrib stud) plan on having a lot more. The minimum bets at most places are at least $10 + 1 progressive, I usually play the 10 or 20 tables, whether it be carib, bj, etc

Hmm, I didn't see a ton of the horrible play you guys described. The games I played in were maybe a little loose, but mostly solid. I did sit in a $2/4 limit game that was a little passive, but still fairly solid. Overall I killed it though...I'm back, baby!

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