Best 2-4 LH casino for a novice?

I'm not much of a poker player but would like to try it again this next trip. I read somewhere that the Flamingo 2-4 limit game is pretty much low pressure low skill players looking to have a few hours of fun. That is what I am mostly looking for. Any other rooms that tend to not attract "locals looking to prey"? I will be checking out several off-strip casinos this trip like Boulder Station and Orleans as well. What are their 2/4 LHE games like?

I've played twice, years ago, and didn't have great experiences.

Tried a "kitchen table" lesson/session at the Luxor ( I think it was like 1/2 LHE but then graduated to 2/4 after 30 mins or so) and while the lesson went fine ( mainly the theme was TIP TIP TIP ) and those at the lesson were fun folks and that 30 mins went fine; there were two locals that came to the tables after it - when they went to 2/4, that were obviously way too experienced. Like fancy chip shuffling and playing blind and just showing off moves. Ruined it. It became no fun for the newbies at the table like me. I keep reading that those types don't play the low limit games but they did that day!

The other time I played at TGN and it was better - no "slick" locals at least. I actually won $60 in about 2 hours but the guy next to me was really an ultra loose player just dumping and playing almost every hand, and the only hand he made that whole time was against me - quads no less. Just bad timing but it still kind of irked me - he then proceeded to whine about the jackpot he won being so low ( they had a 4ook and up one I think started at $250 and he won like $285 and was mad ) because someone else had just taken it down 2 hours earlier. The whining got to me and I bailed.

I'm not looking for some ultra soft table where my novice play will make a bundle, I just don't want to feel like a mark and don't want too slick and/or arrogant jerks at my table. I know YMMV but I imagine there are some rooms that locals just leave the minnows like me alone! LOL

 

I think that if you're concerned about locals, then Orleans and Boulder Station will not be the best places to go. 2-4 at a strip casino will be filled with casual players that are bad. In fact anyone, including locals, playing 2-4 are probably bad. Chip tricks are meaningless. You played twice and it's intimidating when the other players know the flow of playing. They know all the cute expressions and about chopping the blinds and all that stuff. But they are horrible. If they were good they would play a bigger game. If I were you, I'd read a beginners book like Lee Jones' Winning Low Limit Hold 'em. Another one is Small Stakes Hold 'em by Miller, Sklansky and Malmuth, but that is a deeper book. Lee Jones' book will help you avoid basic mistakes.

What do you mean by playing blind and showing off moves?

One thing that is frustrating is the bad beats. You raise your Aces and some drunk guy calls you with 7-2 because he thinks it would be fun, or because he was born in 1972. The flop is 7, 2, Q and it looks safe for you. You bet, he raises and you re-raise, and he re-raises. So now you check-call the rest of the hand and he shows 7-2 and laughs. This jerk's 7-2 beat your precious A-A. But you forget all the times A-A beat 7-2. I'm not judging, I've been there. But that is what is happening, bad players get lucky sometimes and it is frustrating. But none of them are good or slick.

Another thing to be aware of is that the choices for limit hold 'em are dwindling, so it is harder and harder to find a game, especially 2-4.

 

that sounds like good advice to me.

 

I am with you, parlayboy. I wish I was a better poker player, but the casinos, especially vegas are just full of sharks / predators. when I first started going to vegas 20 years ago I played a little bit of live poker but not much. back then it was pretty much 7 card stud, not hold 'em. I just felt like I had a target on my back, I am an easy read anyway.

 

3-6 limit at Mirage is a decent game. 30 minimum buy in, usually a friendly and fun game.

 

The first place I stayed in Vegas was at The Mirage and played the 3/6 and 6/12 limit games there. They were really laid back and there seemed to be more tourist types than at (my current home base) The Orleans where you get a large percentage of locals. I think if you stick to poker rooms on the strip then you find that there are more tourists that locals, but as johnvic said.. it is getting more difficult to find regular limit games than it was 10-15 years ago.

 

I have never seen a 2-4 game that had any pressure to it. this game is almost always full of players that are just looking to kill some time/have fun or are just inexperienced and want to stick to low limit. Whatever room you decide to play in, you will be fine! have fun!

 

Agreed, 2-4 games are usually fun games to chat and get free drinks. I think Flamingo is one of the few places that has steady 2-4 limit games on the strip.

 

Ha ha, funny people at the Luxor "tip tip tip" was the theme. I wouldn't tip if the pot is less than $10 and $20 if the dealer is hustling tips at a $2/4 limit game.

 

Add the Venetian to the list of poker rooms that have a constant 2-4 ( with half kill..game goes 3/6 for a hand if the same person wins 2 in a row) game. They recently changed their policy of no "high hands' or "bad beats". They now have both plus they run a constant 2-4 limit game w/half kill and 4/8 w/half kill. High hands every 15 mins ($150.00) from 10 am - 8 p.m. during the month of Jan! As we type, they have (2) 2-4 games and (2) 4/8 games. Flamingo, right now , has (2) 2/4 games going right now also! They are the only 2 rooms on the strip with a 2/4 going now (albeit the Venetian game is half kill)

 

Flamingo. Hands Down
Always 2-4 game
Watch for awhile
Do not announce newbie

 

Thanks everyone. Some good nuggets.

 

The only time I have played 2/4 was at MGM Grand and it was just painful to play there. People would raise with nothing just because "it's just a couple of bucks" and end up making a hand and acting like they were Phil Ivey. If you can play long enough and wait for those perfect hands, you can bust those guys out and be smug yourself, but damn is it annoying.

I like the 3/6 games at Mirage and Flamingo, but it's been several years since I've played at either one.

 

When I am in Vegas I play 2/4 at the Flamingo a lot during the day and I agree to the above said. I would also recommend you try the 2-6 Spread game at the Excalibur. (Will be there playing from tuesday til February 10th. Most dealers will know who the guy from Austria is. Say hello)

These games are usually very friendly. The Flamingo games may get a little rough after midnight, but not necessarily so.

At both locations there will be a couple of locals and you should not be too afraid of them. But some of them play pretty good poker, some do not, so do not be afraid of them.

 

I'm super excited to hear about the Venetian having 2/4. It used to be on the strip a lot more when I first started going to Vegas 10yrs ago, but in the past 5 years or so it has been limited to the Flamingo. Monte Carlo and Excalibur will run 2-6 spread, but that can play pretty high(for me) depending on how people are betting. It'll be nice to have another option on the strip. Thanks for the heads-up!

 

Johnvic's advice was very good. I'd recommend getting a book, with focus on playing tight/aggressive. Limit is very ABC poker, and with a decent foundation you can likely do alright. Locals playing 2-4 limit are terrible, even the 1-3 local no-limit players are bad. Don't be intimidated, especially by the chip twirling crowd - the best way to counter that feeling is selective aggression. More important in no-limit, but some of the lessons apply to both.

www.pokeratlas.com is a decent site with lists of the commonly run games. I'd also consider doing a tournament. You can find some fun ones for $40-$60 that will be fellow tourists. Again, a book would be invaluable - maybe the first Dan Harrington volume. Tournaments are a fun way to enjoy no-limit without risking $200 to $300. The more you play you'll also need to understand tournament play is a lot different than cash game no-limit, but it's still a fun intro, and exciting to say "all in"