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Bally's or Planet Hollywood

Discussion in 'The Poker Room' started by JCleary23, Jan 23, 2015.

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  1. JCleary23

    JCleary23 Tourist

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    Hey everyone! I'm new to the poker scene having only played a handful of times at our local casino and little online. Going to be in Vegas this upcoming April and will be staying at Paris for our first night. I wanted to get some opinions on whether Bally's, Planet Hollywood, or Flamingo would be a better option to play at. I'm looking for info on friendliness, experience levels, etc. Also, are the tournaments worth the buy-ins or is it better to sit at a 1/3 NL or 4/8 Limit game? Thanks!

    :beer:
     
  2. TheMotherOfAllDBs

    TheMotherOfAllDBs Tourist

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    I think finding your interests would be almost random. I look for a place where I can join a game quickly and then join a different game if I don't find what I want. I think finding friendliness, experience levels, etc. is probably the same.

    All three of the rooms you mentioned are CET, and thus will have a high rake, both cash game and tournament. If you prefer CET, my suggestion would be Caesars Palace. But my main suggestion would be to just cross LVB and then go up the stairs to the walkway to Bellagio and play there. You probably won't find $2 $4 limit at Bellagio, but I think it will meet all other requirements ably. You might even get an autograph from Doyle. If you want to play lower, I'd say Mirage.

    The problem with the lower priced games is that they're filled with local rocks who are there for the promotions. And Venetian is full of local rocks looking for the lowest rake. My guess is that you'll enjoy a $5 $10 NLH game as much as any, if you can afford it. Just buy a short stack and play it tight and aggressive. But that's a $500 short stack.
     
  3. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    Also PH does not have a true poker "room". It is basically open air in the casino. The PH casino is very loud and thus can be annoying to some.
     
  4. ezmoney74

    ezmoney74 Tourist

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    Of the three rooms you listed, Flamingo would be a good choice for what your looking for. Flamingo has both 2-4 limit and 1-2 nl (all the rooms you listed are 1-2nl) Bally's sometimes has 3-6 limit, but it rarely runs anymore. PH is 1-2nl only, with occasional 2-5nl. If your staying at Paris, I would just go to PH next door. It's not much of a room anymore, but still decent action. Flamingo is a bit of a walk from Paris.
    The best daily tournament would at Aria 1 or 7 pm. $125 buy-in, 10,000 starting chips, and a good structure. But, plan on playing up to 8 hrs if you make a deep run. Stay away from those low buy-in high rake tournaments everyone else has.
     
  5. guapoxxx

    guapoxxx High-Roller

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    I'd walk across the street and play at Aria's Poker Room. Think you'd like it there more than Bally's or PH's.
     
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  6. Champster1

    Champster1 VIP Whale

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  7. Sinatraatthesands

    Sinatraatthesands Low-Roller

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    Any of the three you mentioned are good for a newer player. I would say Bally's would be best. Stick to cash games. The $60 daily tournaments on the strip are awful structure and raked way to high although Ballys 1K gurantee can be a good deal if they don't get many players. Stay away from the other rooms the others are steering you towards. The best players play at non promo drop rooms such as Caesars Palace, Bellagio, Aria and Venetian. The guy who thinks Venetian is full of local rocks has rocks in his head! And LOL at min buying 5-10 NL and playing super tight.
     
  8. TheMotherOfAllDBs

    TheMotherOfAllDBs Tourist

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    The Venetian poker room is filled with local rocks looking for the lowest possible rake. The only worse room in that regard is The Orleans.

    And to recommend Bally's over Bellagio is just, well, I don't know…. STUPID??
     
  9. Sinatraatthesands

    Sinatraatthesands Low-Roller

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    Say's the guy who recommends to a new player looking for help to short stack 5-10NL.
     
  10. TheMotherOfAllDBs

    TheMotherOfAllDBs Tourist

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    Says the guy who can't spell the word "says."

    #1 He didn't ask for strategy advice, and if you bothered to read what I wrote, I suggested that he play high because it might be enjoyable. Winning a $700 pot might be one of the highlights of his trip.

    #2 Unless a person wants to invest 6 months developing advanced skills, playing a well considered short stack strategy is nearly as good as any other.

    #3 Your comment might have some value had I suggested that he play deep, rather than short.

    #4 What kind of person actually spends his time starting pissing contests in chat rooms? Oh, let me guess, the same kind of person that steers someone AWAY from Bellagio when they ask about getting a taste of poker in Las Vegas.
     
  11. Sinatraatthesands

    Sinatraatthesands Low-Roller

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    #1 Why don't you develop some reading comprehension skills and give the guy some advice on what he was asking for instead steering towards a game he can't win at. Is that enjoyable? Getting carved up like turkey.

    #2 He doesn't have a "well considered short stack strategy"!!! Not for that game.

    #3 The kind of person who wants to help this guy. A lower key room is the place he should start. The dealers, players and games are much better for what he's looking for to start. You lost all credibility when you said Venetian is full of locals, it isn't unless your playing 4-8 limit. You went off the deep end when you read what this guy asked for and told him to play 5-10NL. I didn't start a pissing match. I wasn't even talking to you. I saying to him what needed to be said. You gave him horrible advice that needed to be ignored. Now go to Bellagio and ask "Doyle" to sign your Full Tilt satin jacket.
     
  12. chess

    chess VIP Whale

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    Agreed...Ballys is open air too, but sorta tucked away, and isnt nearly as loud LOL
     
  13. TheMotherOfAllDBs

    TheMotherOfAllDBs Tourist

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    He specifically asked about 4-8 limit. And you can't spell the word "you're," either. Really, what rock do you live under? Is this really what you do with your time? Bally's poker room is a dump with notoriously high rake, and that's where you direct someone? My God.
     
  14. JCleary23

    JCleary23 Tourist

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  15. WichitaMuskie

    WichitaMuskie VIP Whale

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    I used to be what I would consider a very average poker player (I haven't played much lately so I am now surely worse than average). Back in those days, I was staying at the Mandalay Bay, and I spent quite a bit of time in their poker room on that trip. There was a guy in there who was just giving money away. It was AMAZING. If you bluffed, he folded. If you had a hand, he called with nothing (just to "see what you had"). It was otherwise an okay, but not particularly strong, game. If it's still anything like it was back then (maybe 6 or 7 years ago), Mandalay Bay would be an excellent choice. And maybe you'll get lucky and run into a tourist like the one that I was so lucky to encounter on my trip!
     
  16. WichitaMuskie

    WichitaMuskie VIP Whale

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    Also, I would point out that on my next trip to Vegas I was at Orleans for a wedding and confidently strolled into their poker room given the success I'd had at Mandalay Bay the previous trip. Those guys ate me for breakfast. That's definitely a place for you to avoid.
     
  17. sybgal

    sybgal VIP Whale

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    My hubby is a very good poker player. Plays 2-3 times a week in home games that usually have 25-50 players each game. When we are in LV, he wants a game that is not loaded with local low-level pros seeking to ruin the vacation of visitors. He usually sticks with Bally's but will sometime go to Flamingo. They seem to have more decent, respectful players that he really enjoys playing with. He has never lost money in those 2 rooms...will play for hours of 1-2 or 2-4 poker and walk away with a small-medium win. The main thing to him is to have a good time and while-away hours doing what he loves....oh - & it keeps him from loosing so much on slots....lol
     
  18. JCleary23

    JCleary23 Tourist

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    Thanks everyone! Loving all of the feedback. What would you all recommend buying in with at a 1-2 or 1-3 NL game or even a 2-4, 4-8 Fixed Limit game? I like to buy in with short stacks so that I don't lose more than I want to and if I win early I have some wiggle room. Thanks!
     
  19. KKB

    KKB VIP Whale

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    Planet Hollywood is the busiest & best, imo--both cash & tourney. The tournament has the best structure of the 3 rooms.
    Flamingo is typically a tad busier than Ballys, but has the worst tournament structure of the 3--I do not advise the tournament.
    I have played all the tournaments, & only cash at PH.
    All games are fairly soft.
    Can't comment on the limit v. NL games--I hated the one time I played limit, so no interest in going back.
    I would not recommend Aria, Bellagio or Venetian with your experience level--softer smaller games would be more fitting. Additionally their tournaments are generally 8+ hour fetes. Aria is my fav tourney, but it does require a considerable time commitment, which doesn't fit into everyone's schedule.
    Regarding tournament rakes--the higher the price of the the tourney, the lower the rake (generally)--and the longer the tourney. As far as structure goes, my minimum is $5K chips, 20 min. blinds, starting at 25/50 & rake of less than 25%. This is my MINIMUM, certainly not my ideal. I refuse to play in tournaments where the blinds are 15 min., chip stacks are ridiculously small or the rake is ridiculously high (seems Strat's was 43% at one time--no idea if it still is)
     
  20. bigpatpunisher

    bigpatpunisher Tourist

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    Agreed. PH is soft and winnable. It's typically a casual and talkative crowd with friendly dealers. I've won more there than all other places combined.

    The only downsides are that it's always 1/2 NL (sometimes 2/5) since you mentioned limit, and it's not a true poker room, instead a roped off area on the casino floor.
     
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