Texas Hold'em 1/2 or 1/3 limit hold'em cash games on the Strip?

Sometimes I prefer to play limit hold 'em cash games instead of no limit. Is this still available in the casinos on the Strip?

 

Flamingo has 3/6 limit. Only place on the strip

 

I don’t know anyone who spreads limit poker that low.

Golden Nugget does 2/4
South point does 3/6 and 4/8
Orleans does 2/4 and 4/8
Flamingo does 3/6
Red Rock does 3/6

remember that the blinds of a limit game are half of the bets

a 2/4 game has a big blind of 2 and a small blind of 1
A 3/6 game has a big blind of 3 and a small blind of 1

 

Oops, maybe I have to rethink my strategy. If I already not know the basic rules, I better not play at all.

I'm just scared to play no limit tbh. But I don't want to enter with a tiny bankroll either.

Every trip I run into this problem, that I'm too intimidated and scared to play.

 

There's so much you can try to learn on paper. Then you just have to jump in and try it and learn by experience. Being bad at something is the first step to becoming good at it. At least by being bad, you're doing it, ya know?

This post and the thread that follows may be useful to you. https://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/index.php?threads/poker-lessons.181520/#post-2177480. @Basil's response - https://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/index.php?posts/2177736/ - covers a lot of things that I missed.

In person, I think that it's best for new players to start with limit. Not no-limit. Mistakes are far less costly and you get to play more hands and you get to play those hands deeper than you would in no-limit. If you get interested in no-limit, you can make the pivot from what you learned in limit.

Another option is that you may wish to look at a tournament. You buy in to a tournament with a fixed amount of money. For that, everyone gets the same amount of chips to play with. If you run out of chips - "bust out" - you're only out your initial buy in. Tournaments are (almost) always no-limit hold'em.

20 years ago, I was in your shoes. I probably lost the first half-dozen times or so I played. Then I had a break-even session. A small win, even. I got the hang of things. Over the next few years, I was chumming it up with all the senior citizens of Atlantic City playing $3/6 at Borgata or the $7.50/$15 pinks game at Tropicana. 7 years later, I tried my hand at no-limit. Again, lost the first 8-10 times. Badly. Then I started figuring that out. Now it's a hobby that I love doing. I probably play 200 hours/year. I'd love to play more, but family and work come first.

But it starts with being bad. You'll never be good if you don't be bad first.

 

I agree that you should find a limit game.
And not just because the poker is easier.
Also, the social ambiance is much more friendly. Last trip in that 2-4 game downtown at the Golden Nugget, I had a grand time with the other players. Plenty of laughter and fun. Even with masks and that plastic we could have a good time. Especially exciting was to play with a fellow from Hawaii who had taught Hawaiian language and customs for 40 years. We shared our teaching experiences. At that same table years back I met a young Eskimo girl from a small village who explained how they prepared the salmon. No limit is either very quiet or rather macho. Players are more serious and if there is any conversation, it is about poker.
Here is the sense of the social aspect from my last visit.
Vegas Adventures: TRIP REPORT SNIPPET LIVE POKER (vegasbirthdaybash.blogspot.com)

 

Just got back from playing at Bellagio. They actually had limit poker 20-40 and 40-80, my friend only plays those games. I told him he better learn to like No Limit since Limit is rapidly disappearing from the Strip (and I'm getting tired of the Bellagio). I played 2 nights at 1-3NL and 1 night was with a great cast of friendly chatty characters while the other was All Business, just depends on the table - I'll change tables if the vibe is too serious (unless I'm killing it of course). Check the Bravo app to see who's offering what games.

 

Thank you very much, Dan!

It is actually really silly, I have practised hours and hours online for years, sometimes days after each other from waking up to going to bed. I mainly play no limit and have done many tournaments where I make it till last table or even win. The problem is that I'm scared to play live, I feel very intimidated. First of all the hand signals that you need to know and what will give away that I'm a newbie and makes me an easy target in their eyes. And even though I know I play a decent game and I should take advantage of the fact that they think I'm a fish, I just want to stay low profile and not anybody noticing me. At least until I feel a bit more comfortable and brave. And another thing that I'm really embarrassed about... sometimes when I win a huge hand or get caught on a major bluf or something, I totally freeze and cannot move anymore (tilt!). Then I have to use my left hand to bring my right hand to the mouse and put myself on a break quickly, before the next hand is dealt. Honestly it's that bad, so stupid. At a live table I just feel so naked and so vulnerable. I'm trying to find ways to overcome that. That's why I was thinking about playing limit. Because you can feel the water a little, without too much risk of losing all your money. With no limit, when they smell my fear, they can put me all in every time and I will only be able to call when I have the nuts. You know what I mean? And cash games instead of tournaments, so your not stuck for hours and can leave at any moment, preferably when I'm up.

But I sure will check out those links! Also before every trip, I always prepare really well, go through the books I have and practise as much as possible. I don't want to give up and will try again this year. I really hope I can overcome my fear!!

 

@Lady Fortuna, virtually all poker players felt the way you do the first time we played poker in a casino.

Suggestions and ideas: play 2-4 or 3-6 and be right up from that it is your first time in a live game. People will assuredly be kind, helpful, and understanding, especially at these levels. Strike up a conversation with someone sitting next to you. If you are traveling with a friend, see if they might play in the same game or at least watch you. Heck, when you're ready to play, get on the board and ask if someone here might sit in the same game or watch you for a bit. I know that I would for a bit. Personally, I would like to see more women play live poker. They are good for the game and the game is just plain fun.

After you do play, post here about your experience. Like @Dewey089. half of my fun playing poker is the camaraderie developed with your fellow players.

 

Dear Dewey, thank you very much! I'm looking forward to check out your report.

Do you remember years ago, when you helped me with my fear and took me to a casino where they had limt Hold'm with low limits? I enjoyed it very much and that is what I had in mind, when I posted my question here.

 

Thank you very much! I will get that app and check it out, I'd never heard of it.

With limits as high as those at Bellagio, I would just slowly bleed out haha.

 

Thank you!! You already made me so excited for it. I'm sure going to give it a try.
I will just have 1 or 2 drinks before the game, but don't drink anymore during, to not get overconfident.

Bring it on!!

 

I think that was the Flamingo. My brother-in-law Jim came in from California and there was one other woman with us, perhaps Jenn? and we all had a good visit. It is such a treat to have you back on this board. I've missed you.

 

I definitely agree with you that real-world newness and the numbers in a real-world NL game are vulnerabilities that can be exploited.

Wanna know some secrets?

I still get worked up when I win a big pot to the point that I have to get up and walk a lap around the casino to cool off. It’s bad form to fist pump taking someone’s money, after all.

I’ve choked at the table because I held my breath so long.

I’ve knocked over more drinks than I can remember being so tense on a big move.

And here are some not-so-secrets.

With apologies to anyone here this does not apply to, it is a fair assumption that at least 6 people at an 8-handed 2/4 limit table are terrible at poker. I have absolutely seen 5-way pots go to the river and 3 people have A-high and called the final bet. if you are even a marginal online player, you will get more frustrated at people chasing and occasionally hitting back door inside straights heads up than anything else.

But, like @booker said, they’re a friendly lot. Out for a few drinks and some friendly conversation.

it’s nearly impossible to win at 2/4 limit. The pots don’t get big enough to get past the rake cap. So you’re basically paying a 6-8% tax on your winnings but when you lose you lose all of it. Very few people can beat that in the moderate- or long-term. Add in the above point and everybody is just passing money around somewhat equally and the house takes some every turn. Stil, it’s the cheapest drinks in the casino, by far!

Take $100-140 and light it on fire in your mind. It’s gone. Like committing to buying a nice outfit or a good meal out or something. Once it’s gone in your mind, don’t worry about it. Have an experience.

20 years in, I’ve yet to see anybody get up and point and laugh at the new player. Especially at this level people are super accommodating.

The easy part is that you already know how to play. You were holding out on us

 

As many have said, most people playing 1/3 or 2/5 are terrible. Saying you have played online poker already puts you in the top 50% of live 1/3 players.

I can pretty much guarantee you that there will be some hammered idiot at whatever game you sit at anyway who knows less or makes bigger fax pas in terms of gameplay or etiquette.

transitioning to live is an adjustment but buy in short $1-200at one of the less smaller games in town (Bally’s, flamingo, mgm) and I’m sure within an hour or two you’ll feel comfortable enough.

alternatively play a small daily tournament, it’s pretty much the same and you’ll figure all the live foibles people have.

Good luck,

 

I have really bad memory (and love it haha!), especially in Vegas where's a lot of drinking involved. But..., didn't we go play poker once, at a casino outside of the Strip and Downtown? Maybe Sam's Town or Green Valley Range? I don't remember, because I was pretty new still then. But you especially suggested it, because they had limit / low limit Hold'm and a nice vibe. I think we took a bus from Downtown. Or maybe we went to Sam's Town first and took a bus from there to the other casino. My brain hurts from trying to remember hahaha. I think it was in 2013 or 2014.

 

@LuckyDuckyDan : I love everything you say! It's good to know I'm not alone and I feel really encouraged. Thank you!

I didn't know this. When will that 6-8% tax be charged? When you cash out or during the game? And does that also apply to foreigners?
I don't have to pay tax on my slot handpays, but that is maybe something totally different?
About a possible win, if I walk away $60 up, I will probably feel like I won the WSOP hahaha.

 

Thank you very much, Jim! The funny thing is, I find it harder to play against bad players. Because they go in every hand, but you cannot just assume they have nothing, they might just have a major hand at any time, you just don't know. But I feel truely encouraged. I will be there for 2 weeks, so I have a lot of chance to overcome my reservations. My plan now is to find a casino where I enjoy the vibe, for example the Bally's pokerroom I know already and I liked. The hardest part is to walk up to the counter and be seated. After that, once I sit, I can just fold a few hands to feel the vibe of the table and to get settled. Don't laugh, but once, I think it was my first ever live poker, a small tournament, it had just started. I was so tense my hands were shaking and the first hand I got dealt was AA. I folded. So lame, but I just couldn't hahaha.

 

I don't think we did pay poker anywhere except Flamingo. I would not have taken you to Sam's Town as a beginner because it was a more difficult game, a 2-6 spread limit with all local, experienced players. I might have mentioned the daily tournament there, which was very cheap and collected all sorts of players.
Below is my blog entry for the two days we enjoyed some outings together. Sorry, that there is extraneous stuff and people before I get to you, but you can skim more easily than I can try to edit something out. Anyway, here is the entry from May 2013
Vegas Adventures: TR SNIPPET MEETUPS (vegasbirthdaybash.blogspot.com)

I may have suggested the downtown old El Cortez game with very low limits and just a dollar blind and tips that might be in quarters, and Jackie Gaughn splashing the pot almost every afternoon. However, we did not go together. That would have been downtown. I love that game, knew many of the players and dealers, and could play for days and not lose much at all. I especially loved Action Jackson and we had a few meals together and told old tales. He had once taught school.
I have never played at Green Valley Ranch.

 

Sorry - I was talking about the rake.

In cash games, every pot has $1 taken for every $10 in the pot, up to $4 (so up to $40 in the pot). In each hand one person wins. That person has effectively paid the rake for that hand because it came out of the pot they won.

If a pot is exactly $10, $20, $30 or $40, the rake is 10%*. If the pot is $19, you still only pay $1 rake, so about 5.2%.

If the pot is $20, it’s now $2 or 10% again. $29.. still $2 for 6.9%.

It’s always the winner who gets shorted in that they win 90-something% of all the bets made that hand. People who put into the pot and lose lose 100% of their wagers.

By the by, if the pot is $300, you still only pay $4 rake. One of the reasons NL players can win more on the whole is that by winning and losing more large pots, they pay a lower rake overall relative to the pot sizes they play for. Granted, they need to be able to work through a whole lot more variance.

Everyone pays the rake. Domestic. International. Man and Woman.

* yes, I know it’s slightly different. But let’s keep the numbers easy, yeah?