Hello awesome people,


I know that there are separate threads for both of these series' but I figured I would start my own instead of posting in both of them. I'll be in Vegas 6/28-7/5 and both of these tourneys interest me. They're at the top of my spending range so I doubt I will play both. Initially I planned on playing the GN ME because I didn't understand Aria's Featured event but after looking at it, it looks like the Featured Event will have a higher guarantee?

For what it's worth, I'm a very average MTT player who plans on drinking while playing. I'd be looking for the softer field of the two. Also, if anyone has any other tourney suggestions during that time frame, I'm all ears! I've scoured the Summer Tourney thread and it's awesome. I have some ideas of tourneys I'd like to play. Ideally, I'll play one tourney a day with a buyin between $100-300, figuring I'll throw in some daily deepstacks and I know GN offers some cheaper daily tourneys. Last year I min cashed in a ~$500 tourney at the Wynn but unless I get hot, I'll probably skip doing that in favor of either of the above referenced tourneys. Planning on grinding a lot of 1/2,1/3 NLHE but I figure anywhere on the strip will have joocy games running. Thanks again peeps!

I am playing both and changed my dates in order to do so again this year. GN is going to have more value structurally for the money but Aria will have the bigger prize pool. GN is held in a quiet ballroom and can one can only speculate Aria will be held on the smokey, noisy casino floor. Both had recognizable circuit grinders and pros and fileds were not as soft as you would expect. Did not see much drinking Day 1 or 2 of GN, did not play into the night at Aria and decided to only fire once since the playing conditions were not ideal.

If I had to guess Aria (or Rio/PH) would be more of your scene if you plan to drink. I would stay on the strip or play the daily Rio stuff as the downtown events during this time outside of the GN Main is not worth the travel time and expense.

Thanks! I've actually never been to the Aria. I've stayed downtown twice and this year will be my second year at the Linq. As you suggested, I think I'll spend most of my time on the Strip and sprinkle in the Rio and at least one day downtown if I don't play the GN ME. I love their uncapped 1/2 game.

Again, I've never been to Aria but I figured their tourney would be a bit tougher because it seems like their room draws more regular players. I'm glad I asked! Having played the GN series a couple of times, I do like the room where they play. Ahhh, decisions decisions. Maybe I'll go with the Aria strictly because I've never been there before and it would be fun to try a new room out!

I'm really hoping that a lot of people will be playing the $888 WSOP event that is running alongside these ones.

Golden Nugget and Planet Hollywood are the only ones with daily tournaments in your $100-$300 price range. Golden Nugget hasn't released structures yet, but Planet Hollywood's are going to be hard to beat.

Of course, intangibly, the proximity of Golden Nugget's pool to its tournament area is hard to put a value on. And, this might be a positive or negative for you, but being able to walk the freakshow that is Fremont on breaks is a bonus in my book. But then again, there's only 2 poker rooms down town for when you want to play cash.

Hahah that's a very fair point! Downtown holds a special place in my white trash heart. I wanted to set up my lodging so that I could do 5 nights on the strip and 2 downtown but for whatever reason it would have been more expensive. Either way, I'll definitely spend at least a day down there with muh people.

PH is a good suggestion. I really wish they had a bigger event running while I'm out there. Last year I played in a fun 3 day event and really enjoyed it. I'll have to check them out! Especially since it isn't far from the Linq.

As for 1/2 or 1/3, does it really matter where I'm playing? Ideally, I want a game that plays a bit smaller and again, is generally terrible. I've always been scared of the rooms that seem popular like Aria, Venetian, Caesars, and Bellagio because it just seems like these games ultimately draw in better players. I usually opt for Harrahs, GN, Flamingo to get my fix because I'm hoping those games are softer as well. Do you think there's any truth to this?

Guess that's why I fit in so well at the Nugget

I think there is truth to the better players tending to play in the more popular poker rooms on the strip. I have not played 1/2 or 1/3 in a while but it is wise to go with rooms outside of Aria, Bellagio, V, Encore and maybe CP. I think Bellagio does have a smaller cap on their game, softer in the summer and would try there over the others (Aria tends to be the toughest IMO). Sounds like you would get more enjoyment out of PH, Ballys, Flamingo, Harrahs, MGM, Mirage and the other 2nd tier rooms that tend to be softer/less serious/more fun.

You have some time to venture to the different rooms so find your comfort zone, all the rooms will be pretty busy that week. Good luck!

Thanks! I think you nailed it. I definitely don't want to go up against the best, I'd much rather try to win money off of tourists haha. I'll probably stick with Flamingo, Harrahs, and some of the other rooms you've mentioned. Ballys is one I've never been to that is reasonably close to The Linq

Hello! I'll be in town the same time as you mainly to play the 888 event at the WSOP. However, I too contemplated other events to play. I choose the GN ME as the other primary event i wanted to play for a couple of reasons....I do not like where they are probably going to play the ARIA Featured event at (in the casino) as compared to the ballroom where the GN Grand Poker series is being played. Second, I can play the GN ME and the 888 without any conflict should I advance in one or the other (or both) beyond day 1 by playing the GN ME on Friday and the 888 on Saturday.

Should I not advance in the GN ME, then I will consider my options once I see what happens with the 888 on Saturday. Finally, one issue with the Aria Featured event is the final day is to be played on July 5th, so if you made it that far you'd need to change your flight and hotel plans.....which I'm sure isn't too big an issue as you'd have a nice score in the Aria Featured Event. But, if you have plans back home and that is why you are leaving on the 5th, it is a consideration

Solid advice, mane! Now that I'm looking at it, I can play in one of the Day 1s and if I manage to make it to day 2, I'll still have the opportunity to play in a day 1 for the other event. Then, if I go on an awesome run, I'd be able to play in both day 2s. Not likely but that would still be a lot of fun. Having played events at GN in previous summers, I do like their set up in the ballroom. I'd also be able to jump in their cash game if I bust, which I plan on doing no matter what for at least part of a day during the trip. On the other hand, it would be fun to play in an Aria Event since I've never played over there.

I thought about the $888 as well as it's not too too far out of my price range. Any particular reason why you're playing in it?

Yah, playing in a true WSOP bracelet event is a bucket list type thing for me. So all this is more of a vacation and checking something off the list. With that said, the $1500 events are a bit out of my price range especially if I'm going to play other events, like At the Nugget. If I was to play a $1500 if like it to be the monster stack or milly maker, but I have scheduling conflicts with those. Same with the $1000 bracelet events.

So it came down to the Colossus or 888...I choose 888 bc the structure is slightly better with the extra 3K in starting chips, it is 8 handed and seems to be a bit less of a cluster-F than the Colossus. Additionally like being able to play in the GN Championship event and then I'll play a DSE at Venetian on Sunday if the GN main and 888 don't go well. I'm still considering the featured event at Aria, but....not sold on it. Also, like you I'd love to play a bigger event at PH, but nothing really works out with my schedule unless I switch to Colossus and I really don't want to do that. I also may have a conflict with colossus of my son advances in State Soccer tournament as the finals are that weekend.

My only other option is waiting another year....but I don't wanna do that either

For those considering the Aria event, be aware they play down to 5% of the field each day one. The remaining players do get ~4x their buy-in, which is pretty sweet, but between the cash bubble, pay jump bubbles, bagging chips, and cashing out, each day one flight tends to be really long. My recollection is it was nearly 3:00am before I got back to my hotel room across the street.

This is not meant as a knock on the Aria event, its just something for people to be aware of. I didn't make it to day 2 of the one GN ME I played, so I'm not sure at what time the day typically ends in that tourney.

Does anyone have any experiance with the GN multi flight events. So for the 200K guarantee with multiple starting times each day at 12pm 3pm and 7pm. What time would one expect each flight to end for the day?

Agreed! Waiting another year is never the answer! That's really cool though. If I have some big upswings in the next couple months, I might consider the $888, mainly for the same reasons as you. Here's to hoping we final table both of whatever events we play

Wow, that's pretty wild. It's nice that making it to day 2 at least gets you in the money I suppose. Any idea as to whether that is the same with the GN ME?

GN Main Day 1's last year ended at a reasonable time from what I remember, it was before 1am for sure, maybe closer to midnight.

From my experience (I'm a Vegas local), the Aria will DEFINITELY draw a large amount of named and lesser known pros firing multiple bullets. So it'll be the tougher field.
Comparing the GN and Aria, the Aria is much nicer and new(ish), so it's aesthetically pleasing to play there. It draws a large European audience year round, so they're sure to be there in force during the WSOP. Drink service is probably slower because of the large crowds (and the cocktail waitresses are union, so they don't cover beyond there assigned section). Playing on the casino floor is not ideal, I hate smoke too, but it's tolerable. Tournament chips are nice too. Wifi available, can't remember if it's free.

The GN has the big convention room, so nice and roomy. Not a big fan of the chairs or chips. Less "pros" are playing here, but you'll still see some. The price points for the buy ins are nice for beginners. Drink service is a little faster since they set up bars in the room. Not sure about Wifi. GN is by far the nicest property downtown.

Love Aria, but GN is definitely worth trying for the lower level buy ins.

I remember some people grumbling last year, but I had no problem accessing Wifi at GN. Don't think I tried at Aria.

The Aria is a "nicer" location, but the casino-floor location is not ideal. Its loud if you're situated anywhere near their speakers, and in years past, smoke was a major problem. I didn't last long enough last year to notice if they had improved over the situation two years ago, which was borderline atrocious. I like the Aria a lot, in general, but they need to step up their game.

Nugget wifi was fine, and password freely available last year during m/e.

What was the borderline atrocious situation from two years ago? Just the tourney location and outside stuff?

For me it was the smoke. I am not a smoker, and I don't have much against people who choose to smoke. However, the effects of their habit on other people ought to be limited as much as possible. Its a health concern, and I am not even talking about long-term health. Spend a couple hours in a vegas casino and you can tell.

Anyhow, I don't expect the indoor environment to be smoke-free (until they outlaw it, which will probably be never). However, the poker area is supposed to be smoke free, to as large an extent as possible. So, when they put a rope around the poker area, and then have dozens of people standing around the rope, blowing smoke into the poker area, it doesn't seem right. That's what it was like two years ago at Aria.

There was a similar situation at Venetian years back when most of their tournament area was out on the casino floor. They would have "No Smoking" signs right outside the tournament area, and at every break, there would be a handful of people gathered around those signs and smoking.

Please remember that ( so called) soft cash games dont always equal profitable times. You will be faced with horrendous bad beats and as well you will never ever be able to put them on a hand.That AK suited will be cracked by many A2os. Your raises preflop mean nothing its an ace is all they see.
I cringe when someone says "Ah the games are juicy against donks". This my freind is pure collective ignorance.
I`d rather be in there against average to above average competent players.

Agreed, very well said.

Interesting. I get what you're saying but I always figured the worst players made for the most profitable game. Fair enough!

Long-term, they generally do. However, not everyone has 'long term' with a particular table or trip. As such, swings just have to be accepted as part and parcel of playing 'tourists' when thinking they are all easy money...

TBH, it is the same sort of situation that prompts me to play the occasional low-entry women's events somewhere before playing larger buy-in events because there are too many that get it in their head that their ace or face is worth playing simply because ace/face...they do not even think about the kicker issues. Having an event where three or four at a starting table have that mindset forces me to refocus and tighten up, at least at the earlier levels of a tournament.