My spring break is that week. Does anyone have experience in the poker action during that week, especially @ Tuesday when it starts?

IIRC in one year a number of people went to play against the sports bettors and found that the games were shark infested because the bettors were staying in the sports book. Is that usually the case?

It was for moi.

I was there last year and will be going again this year. There was lots of action going on at all the poker rooms, and what stakes do you plan on playing

1/2 to 2/5 and everything in between .

Going this year for the first time for the first two rounds. I'll be playing the 1/2 games too and it would seem to me pretty tough to have a table full of sharks at this limit. These games are always soft and I doubt it would be any different.

Games will be soft everywhere for those stakes. Half the time the players are watching the games and not even paying attention so they are usually splashing their money in for no reason. Where do you plan on staying/playing?

Following me? lol.

My Modus operandi is to stay at Stratosphere or of strip and rent a car. But for cost cutting may stay with friend for a night. If center strip had any cheap huts I would do that.

As for playing, I still have The Western Caesrina, Riviera, and Bill's on my list of places I have never played.

While some of the games may be 'soft' often in Vegas that means a group of regs who sit around waiting for the nuts. I think this is exagerrated if they are watching TV at say MGM and folding all of their junk.

You're joking, right? The SSNL games in Vegas during March Madness are generally really, really good. Sure, there are tough spots here and there, but on balance the games are quite beatable. I base this on my trips out to Vegas three of the last four years for MM. I liked the games at MGM, Wynn, and Caesar's best, but others were good too.

The last couple years that I went, it was mostly a bunch of 2p2'ers and p5'ers hoping to victimize NCAA fans. They hardly ever glanced at the tv's, didn't know who was playing even when there were two marquis teams playing, and generally barely even knew what a basketball looks like.

Fine and well, but lots of 2p2ers suck at poker. Hard. It may take a different strategy to beat them than a drunk LAG, but that doesn't mean it is necessarily harder to do so.

The above notwithstanding, I really haven't run into many serious players when I've been out there for NCAA weekend. Maybe a few at each table, but nowhere near a majority.

Hotel rates seem to be higher than the WSOP ME week last summer. That must draw a bunch of peopleto the city, during a recession.

Hey for vegas residents where is the best place to WATCH the games if you have bets already placed?

I went last year for the opening rounds, it was a lot of fun.
My experience was plenty of drunk guys kind of paying attention to poker and kind of watching bball on tv.
Then again I only played 1/2nl so that isnt too much different than usual.

I go every yr for opening weekend of March Madness. 1/2-2/5nl are all good. Play after the games are over if you think the bettors are just nitting up and watching their teams. After the game they are either stuck a bunch or have won a bunch. Both of which are good for you.

Dumb question: If it starts on a Tuesday, the opening weekend is the next one or the previous?

There's one game (the play-in game) on Tuesday, March 16th. The real first round is Thursday and Friday (18th and 19th), with the second round immediately following on Saturday and Sunday (20th, 21st). So, "the first weekend" will be those four days (or a portion of them).

I can't wait. Heading out there on the 17th for my 11th year in a row.

oops

Yea, my spring break is during that week too, so ill be there form mar15 to mar 18

See you all there then....hopefully you arent at my table

to conclude: here are steps in how not to book Vegas trip.

0. Mention on blog that you are an expert travel booker because you know how to use priceline.

1. Notice NCAA overlaps with spring break. Book flight on Expedia for Sat-Tuesday.

2. check rarely used email account to verify flight. Open email from priceline; see offer for flight+3days at golden nugget.

3. Get excited, call expedia to cancel. pay fee.

4. Book trip on Priceline for Sat-tuesday flight plus G. Nugget. pay 30$ for insurance

5. After purchased you get info. Notice that flight is Saturday night -- Tuesday morning, effectively cutting 2 days off of the 4 day trip.

6. Get curious about why price was so low for 4star hotel on NCAA weekend. Post on 4.

7. learn that the real opening weekend was the next one.

8. call priceline back. learn that fee's to change are 50% of package. 'Insurance' that you bought is only for illness, unexpected death and goes through a 3rd party company.

9. Assure yourself that they still play poker in Vegas the week before tournament.

10. Convince oneself that sports bettors are probably bettor players, hope LV nits are all resting up somewhere else next weekend.

11. C U There.

LOL

Sorry to hear Deadmoney.... maybe next time scope out some dates on the interwebs.

I'll be there March 18 (thur) thru 21st (sunday). Costing me 50k FF Miles for my ticket but Harrahs was nice enough to provide free lodging.

I also arrive 3/17....this will be year 16. I only sat down liquored at a poker table 1 time. Poker playing confined to arrival night and possibly 1 weekend evening. Too much basketball.

Questions for locals:

1. Venetian still good $2-5NL game (I will also check other threads)?

2. How is the theater at LV Hilton for sporting events? They've had NCAA hoops there in the past and also NFL games. Supposedly 5 huge TVs, seating, remote betting & drink/food specials.

Is the seating the round banquet tables (that can fit 8-10)? Or just chairs?

We're changing venues for 1st time and I've tried getting info but details like this for someone out of town can be difficult (despite calls & emails).

Thanks.....8 days!

I would definitely say Lagasse's Stadium at the Palazzo...it's also their sports book, so you can place bets there as well. Have fun.

+1

Leave 1 week from tomorrow, CAN.NOT.WAIT!