Thanks - nice to see some people still reading it after this time.

On the chip pics though, I didn't take any offence (I assumed he meant it in a tongue in cheek way) - I know I am/was a bit of a shortstacker.

If the toughest games are clearly in the big rooms then I'd expect the better players to notice this and they might play in the other rooms more often than you think. If someone is good enough then they are also more likely to play 2/5 or higher in the bigger rooms, and not 1/2 or 1/3.

I think even the tourists are more likely to play in the bigger rooms. How many people stay at Aria and only end up playing at Luxor and Excalibur? I could see someone staying at Excalibur and playing at a place like Aria.

I think there are other types of players you're overlooking. There are people who seek out the bigger rooms because they think they're awesome at poker when the reality is they suck. There are players that seek out the smaller rooms and even rooms with higher rake because they think those rooms have the best games. I see people on this forum constantly asking which rooms have the softest games because they're looking for fish. Certain rooms will have more of those players. There are also players (both fish and regulars) that are intimidated by the bigger rooms because they think the games are tougher there.

It's possible that the bigger rooms do have tougher games but I'm skeptical. When people ask which room has the toughest games, I always tell them not to worry about it, try out the rooms themselves (they could always leave if they don't like the table), and just play where they feel comfortable.

Table select and Casino select. The beauty of Las Vegas being walking distance to a new environment.

At 1/2 you should be at least the 3rd best player if not the best player at the table. If your not than table change or casino change.

That said, on very very general, broad strokes, Wynn for me seems like the toughest 1/3 casino. It plays deep and generally plays more like a 2/5 game. Aria is probably the most reg infested and has the youngest crowds. Planet Hollywood seems to have the most loosest games with plenty of drunk spewy players.

One other thing about the Venetian is some of the Internet players are avoiding it because of their anger at Sheldon Adelson. Some might conclude that this makes the games softer there.

Maybe this isn't the best place for it, but how do you go about "table selecting"?
Do you go to the front desk or the dealer?
Do you just say "table change" or can you even choose which table you move to?
Does it cause offence to the other players at the table?

I tried it once at the Venetian - I went to the front desk and they had a spare seat elsewhere but I wasn't sure this was the "right" way to do it.

Just go to the front and ask for one. Say your name and table x to table y please. Assuming they have bravo, your name should appear on the bravo board with your name and table x to table y.

I personally don't care about people table changing and I bet you 99% people don't care or even notice.

But for sure don't just walk up and move to a new table without telling the floor.

In Vegas, I watch for what people are drinking, beer and alcohol over water and tea. If the table is loud or generally laughing and having a good time id insta change to that table.

Pretty weak attempt to bump my thread, but...
...I have finally managed to get a pic of >$1000 in chips.
This afternoon in London - in for £160, cashed out just after this (£682 ~$1100):


I wish London would give you more £5 chips - the prevalence of £25 makes the stacks much less interesting.

Your stack looks a lot more interesting to me! Love the pastel-ness of it.
Better than the typical stuck together worn out bug infested chips in LV rooms

I agree that the smaller rooms tend to have more recs/fish. The Planet Hollywood I found to be a pretty fishy room. However, I think recently it has picked up a reputation as a fishy room so you have to watch out for grinders that specifically target it because of that reputation.

As someone said before, good players will seek out the rooms that are well built/run, have comps, low/no JP drop, etc. while fish just play where they're staying.

When fish come in from out of town and are thinking of putting some hours of poker in, why would they bother with Monte Carlo or Excalibur when they can play at a "cool" place like Aria or Bellagio? I would think a trip to Vegas seems less exciting when someone only plays in the smaller rooms. I don't think I see as many sunglasses when I play in the smaller rooms.

As a local, I used to avoid the big rooms most of the time and played at places like Planet Hollywood because I was seeking out softer games. I can't be the only local that was doing this.

Good players are also more likely to play 2/5 or higher so even when they are in the bigger rooms, they tend to not play 1/2 or 1/3 NL anyway.

I also think that the fancier rooms could be more intimidating to some of the nits. To a nit, a place like Monte Carlo could seem like a safer place to play.

Cliff notes: I think there is a lot more to this than people realize. When people talk about the rooms with softest games, it looks like speculation at best to me.

LOL, avoiding the sunglasses at night crowd can only be a good thing.

Meh, I don't really find the people with sunglasses to be annoying. And they tend to be really bad players. I don't see any reason to prefer a table with nobody wearing sunglasses over a table with 1 or 2 guys wearing them.

Nice trip report and very nice pictures.

My only problem is that the few times I saw you with a beer at the table, it was a Newcastle? Why not venture out of your comfort zone a bit!

You did have the Coronado Brewing IPA bomber while she was shopping, so thumbs up to that!

I am keen to have other ales but when I tried (e.g. "Fat tire?" or "What ales do you have?") the waitresses were annoyed or confused, so I gave up and ordered a Newcastle since they always understood that.
I am going back in December and am keen for advice...

I posted questions in the drinsk thread, but didn't get much help:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/10...-room-1473259/

So if you know what else to ask for then please let me know.

Thanks for your comment on the TR, if I do a TR for December I'll take on board what most people have said and keep the pics but do a little bit less of the text (TLDR).

Most Muricans (myself included) don't know from ales or pilsners or stouts. We just know "beer".

I have just got back from a week in Vegas with my other half (now my wife!). I'll do a slightly briefer trip report than last time.

Itinerary
First 4 nights (Mon-Thurs) at Aria, using a deal from smartervegas (about $130 per night including the dreaded "resort fee" but also gives you $50 to spend at Aria every day).
Last 3 nights at (Fri-Sun) Mandarin Oriental. It's just next to Aria and comes out as the #1 rated hotel on TripAdvisor so I thought I'd give it a go as there was a decent deal (3rd night free, same price on weekend as weekday).

After recommendations on 2+2 I decided to try MyVegas Facebook game to get some free stuff. I got:
1) 2 premium tickets to Ka
2) Free beer and pizza from Five50
3) Free whisk(e)y tasting at Monte Carlo
Although these are all decent, I did spend hours and hours and hours on this game. In hindsight I'm not sure it's worth the effort and I don't think I'll do it again.

Other than that the plan is lots of poker and some food.

Day 1
Arrived in Aria in the late afternoon.
For some reason Aria is the one casino I hadn't been to in Vegas so that was part of the reason for trying it.

Pics from the room:






Room was pretty good, although it was slightly dirty relative to other ones I have stayed at (couple of hairs in the sink + quite a lot of dust in the room).

Tried the Chinese restaurant in Aria, Blossom:

Soup of the day


Mains:


This was a bit pricey but really good. Nice atmosphere, good service and really good food. Bill was about $100 for the two of us in total (no drinks and only one starter).
Fortunately the $50 resort credit cut that in half.

That was it for day 1 - both of us were pretty happy to crash after the long-haul flight and early start.

Day 2 report coming in a couple of days time...

Looking forward to more OP!

For some reason I laugh every time I read the title.

Yep, that 1/3 move up can be rough.

It will be easier because they will respect his raises

Thanks for the comments!

Day 2

Breakfast: something which was about 90% sugar from the patisserie at the bottom of the Aria lifts.




After that we walked over to the Venetian since that is my wife's favourite poker room. Before the poker we grabbed some lunch from the Mexican there (Canonita). I think that's the 5th time I've been there in 4 trips to Vegas... always good and not too expensive. Also got 15% off the bill by showing them my Venetian loyalty card. I try to get something with the reward card whenever I eat in Vegas and never know what I'm going to get!

As for the poker, bought in for $150:



Out for $429 after about 2.5 hours:



(For the avoidance of doubt, that's not the same can of beer in both pictures!)

Very nice start to the trip for me. Can't remember any interesting hands - I think I had some big hands which held up.
Unfortunately my wife didn't have as much luck. She was about $150 up on her $100 buy-in until someone chased down her set with a gut shot on the river in a huge pot.

After that we did some shopping at Venetian and on the way back at Caesar's.
For the evening meal we went to the Thai restaurant in Aria, Lemongrass.
Not bad - cheaper than Blossom but not half as nice.
Sadly the jetlag was getting to me after the meal so I called it a night.

I haven't been to Vegas since the bottle ban on the strip, are casinos now simply giving cans of beer instead of bottles?

I thought that at the Venetian (which was giving cans) but other casinos were still giving bottles.
Also, I still drank bottles on the strip and no-one said anything - I would imagine they just warn you or would it be worse than that?

Day 3 part 1

Since we were going to Ka in the evening, we used our resort credit at the Aria Café for brunch.
It doesn't have great reviews but I was pretty happy with it. Nice view, relaxing atmosphere and good service.





I had the steak and eggs which was good, and the fruit was really fresh.
Coffee and toast were predictably nice too. Total was $80 including tip and tax (so $30 after using the credit).

After that we decided to play in different rooms - she stayed in Aria and I walked over to Caesar's to try their room for the first time since it changed to $1/$2.

In for $150 and out for $203 for a welcome little profit.



Table was OK, no amazing players but no droolers either.
I got dealt my first pair of aces for the trip, which I will describe below:

Folded to me on the button (AA).
I raise to $7 and both blinds call.
Flop is J84 rainbow.
Blinds check and I bet $13. SB folds and BB calls.
Turn is a 5 (board is J845).
I notice the BB look at his chips but then he checks.
I bet $20 and he raises to $60.
I wish I had just checked after seeing his chip look!
I fold, he shows a 5.

Thoughts?
I am thinking two pair... maybe 555 or maybe 56 or 57 for the pair plus gutshot?
(Didn't have any specific reads on the BB at this stage. He didn't seem too unusual.)

Whether or not I actually was beaten, I'm quite pleased with the fold as I think one of my main leaks is calling/reraising in these sort of spots instead of remaining patient.

When I get the chance I'll write up part 2 (Ka, Hakkasan, Aria).