I have been a long time lurker of the site for some time now and felt compelled to but my post my journey here for entertainment purpose for some and maybe to get advice from others. To start it out I am a 23 year old part time employee at a construction company in Kansas City (work in corporate office). I have been working at my place of work for about 9 months. I get paid $10 a hour and I do not receive any benefits, insurance etc... I know it sucks but I literally have no other opportunietys right now with no prospects once so ever and all I know is poker. I am on paper at my work as part time but usually average a 35+hour week. With all of these being said I do not have very many obligations either no girlfriend, no dog, the kids blah blah blah. But downsides I do not own a car and never have yeah I know it sucks. And I also have a hefty amount of dental work that needs to be done. other than that I have no other ogligations at all.Codizzle

So I Have made the decision to take my life roll in it's Entirety of $1200 (GL ME) plus 600 from next paycheck I will be receiving and fly out to Vegas with a backpack and all I need in my jean pockets well and well and 9 1/2 buy ins and a dream. I understand people have done this before and put up trip reports and updates etc. I have full intent of flying out to April 2nd . This is not my first time to Vegas I have been twice in the past 2 months did well playing 1/2 2/5 (have posted a live profit in 1/2-2/5 of 35k in past 2 years) got to see a lot of the city also liked it a lot. I have been playing poker since 2002 I played nearly everyday for 7 years. And I have not been able to play the amount of hours I have wanted to since I started working my job but in turn I would of had no money to play if it were not for my job. I have posted a consistent win rate through the years. But of course had leaks blackjack, Pai Gow etc. Went a nice 6 session run then finally stopped going to casino all together to save some money for my run at Las Vegas.

I will be arriving in Vegas Monday April 2nd and have yet to make any Accommodation for the first few days of my aviral but will get around to it.I have no plans of return at all. Only a single one way ticket and have my eyes set on a dream. Without a question this could seem very idiotic to many but based on my current life siutuation and my current prospects now is the time if any.Feel free to contact me etc when I touch down in town for drinks and what not. I will answer constructive critism any questions freely and update with any notes or updates at least everyday I am in action when I touch down in the city of sin

PS Sorry for the no spell check*

I'll ask it first: If you have a 35k profit in 2 years, why is your net worth $1200? I think you should save up a real roll and a little life roll before taking your shot, but that doesn't mean I won't be following the thread and rooting for you. Good luck!

1200 + Vegas = Bad Outcome.

Good Luck though, there are hostels between the strip and downtown on LV BLvd.

Like I said I had some bad leaks and had money going out for a lot of things (not drugs) had about 8k at my height a few years ago but never had a job. But I was not losing as much in the pits just cost of living and bad bankroll management did me in have since then swore off pit games though as a positive. had to get my little $10 a hour job now and trust me it was hard to save what I have now and my job is coming to a end soon really no more use for me.So I am staying out of all games till I get to Vegas but thanks I hope it goes as I wish. Right now I am trying to figure the best way to structure my roll when I get out there and game selection I see MGM has a tournament series coming up so I will probably look into that today.

I'd have to say, that tournament play is probably not the way to go. I think low limit cash play with extreme BR management and an extremely tight/aggressive playing style is probably your best bet.

1200 is a woefully thin margin for error... and if you combine this with no residence makes you a prime candidate for failure.

can't you play locally to where you live now?

There isn't any BRM that you can apply. Tournys would be lunacy though. 6 bullets in 1/2 and better run good from the gate, but impossible to get risk of ruin down to anything low.

Sounds like you are having a mid-life crisis about thirty years early.

With the opening of the Hollywood Casino in KCK, the OP has three places to play unless he has put himself on the banned list. Two of the three have $1/$2 NL as the lowest while the third (Hollywood) has $1/$3 and I have heard that Hollywood is pretty soft.

How can you possibly think that you are prepared to do this as a career when you fail at basic bankroll management? Still.

for the most part you are probably correct, but to be honest... he can probably do some small BR management.

Buying in for under the max will soften the exposure and increase max bullets to say 12 @ 100$. it also would have the somewhat insulating effect against better players by compressing the timeline because your decisions are closer to all in or fold.

Yes I can play locally but the play is very limited me to me.I live 40 minutes from the closest casino and over a hour and a half to the new Hollywood Casino I here has good action but is a small room and filled nonstop which I have no transportation to.I should have around 1800 when I set down in Vegas so I will be rolled 8 1/2 buy ins so roughly 12% of my roll will be in a play if I sit a full buy in 1/2 yeah does not sound very promising but I am doing what I am going to do and I am very motivated. The goal when I get in town is to find some soft 1/2 buy in range 100-160 and try to grind roll up to 4k+ then possibly try to find a good 2/5 and took a shot. Still unsure about a lot of things that are relevant to BR and game selection and how I will structure it which I am working on now and I am more than willing to take some advice on good soft 1/2 or anything for good value in town. but one thing I am sure on is I am going and making this happen.Thanks Codizzle

What you're doing is f-ing ridiculous, there is 0% chance anything good will come from this. Please re-evaluate and don't move to Vegas with lol $1200.

OP, did you already book the ticket? If there is no chance in talking you out of it...

Be a super nit. Think of the biggest nit you know and your level of nittiness (is that a word?) should make him look like durr.

Buyin for 150 instead of 200. I know I'm gonna get flamed for this but being able to squeeze 3 extra buyins out of your roll will help lower ROR.

Leave the table when you have 500+ in front of you. With your roll you absolutely cannot afford to get coolered for 1k+ pots.

With that being said I still think its a terrible idea to try this with only 1800. GL if you decide to go through with it. I'll be flying in on the 5th if you want to meet up and have a beer.

If you do this, please set aside enough money to get out of Vegas if it does not work out. Even if it is just enough to purchase a bust ticket back home.

You do not want to be stuck in Vegas with $0.

I usually don't jump in these too often, but this legit worries me. What's keeping you from getting transportation? I think your best bet is to buy a pos car or borrow one (assuming you are capable of driving/getting a license) and grind your somewhat local casinos while looking for another job (hopefully with some benefits so you can get your dental problems taken care of)

Vegas isn't a place where you want to be looking for a place to stay at the end of the night, as in most places, the cheaper the stay usually equals bad part of town.

I am all about the underdog dream, and everything, but you have virtually zero margin for error. Plenty of great poker players have lost 9 buy-in's in just two or three sessions, but most of them also have a place to go at the end of the night.

I hope I'm not insulting you in any way. I am by no means a nit, but this is just scary to me.

Everyone thank you for your concern thus far I understand this is a -EV but I am putting everything I have mentally and physically so I have a chance one thing I can assure you is I am a quality card player.And yes I have a one way ticket and my mind was made before I bought the ticket.There has been a lot of thought that has went into this.With regards to saving more money I have x amount going out and attempting to save more with my setup, job right now will not save me much more in the next few months but if something negative was to happen in between that time it would be a calamity type situation for my petty roll so the time is right for me.As for the transportation I just have never bought a car-yeah lame I know. I do have a drivers license and as I have stated above I am 23 years old. I am really not looking to play in any .50/1 games in town Bills, Mirage or if they still do spread .50/1 unless my roll gets in danger zone. and JZ I am sure I will work up some backup plan at some point in time. And zomg Might be interested in that. If anybody has any questions feel free Codizzle

You've already bought the tickets for Monday? You could have significantly helped your chances by going on a Friday. Even though there's always good 1/2 games, they are noticeably easier on the weekend. Play very tight til weekend, on friday night, go to bellagio 1/2, buy in 150 and you have a good shot of significantly increasing your roll if you don't run bad that weekend. Or go to wynn, take a shot at their 1/3 with 200. Good luck. The odds are against you, but it can be done, and if you do, it will be a great accomplishment!

Please op. Do not do this. You will end up broke. Maybe you jump off a bridge (you will be homeless) by 2 weeks. Don't come here. This town is unforgiving, and your plan is LOL.

remember... youth hostel on LV blvd half way between strat and down town.

Save money for a costume.

I thought about coming at the end of the week for the better games. But I decided I wanted to work up my roll before the weekend. Keeping a positive view on the venture. I do not plan to play any pit games at all only 1/2 till BR is sufficient to take a shot or two at 2/5. If you have any more questions feel free to ask and I will answer.

PS.This is not a trip report this is a relocation by means of poker funding report

California has better weather... and better games.

LOL +1

You said no .50/1, but I mean that may not be the worst thing ever. I may need advice from others on this, but Bills has an aces cracked promotion (or did when I lived there) where you get 100 for busted aces from like 10am to 2pm, then Flamingo did something 2pm to 4 or 5, I knew of people who would just play both of those. Though I'm not sure it's -ev for you to high hand/aces cracked hunt, though like I said would like more opinions on this. Also, Bills is the highest rake in town, but it's also one of the biggest fish ponds in Vegas..90 percent of the people playing there are doing it to get drunk. Like I said, torn at this because most people buy-in for 20 here. So lol at my entire post.

Obviously this is a very bad idea but if there is no way you are changing your mind then I guess I'll give you a couple of tips. You're gonna need more money.

Your first stop should be the Cosmopolitan $100 free roll. Maybe you can make some extra BR money off of it.

Also try to find a soft LHE game to boost your BR. I have had friends that were pretty low and they've boosted themselves up playing 4/8 at the bellagio.

Good Luck, you're gonna need it.