I've been doing quite well at 1/2 at the Sands and am thinking about moving up to 2/5. From the above it seems like there's very little difference in play. Any thoughts/advice on making the move?

Just make sure you have the proper bankroll scared money never play optimally. Some would say you need 10k others 5k. Most depends on your risk tolerance. If you drop a few BI's at 2/5 are you willing to drop back down and grind up?

Thanks for the reply. I think I'd stop loss at 1 BI and move down to 1/2 to grind back up. What is the max BI for 2/5? Are the games generally more aggressive than 1/2 or do they play more or less the same as 1/2?

Define quite well... How many hours and sessions do you have logged in there? Have you been playing strictly weekends/holidays or have you been playing during the weekdays as well? If you are gonna try the 2/5 I suggest going on the weekends and trying to join a table that is just starting. If you join a table that has all stacks of 1-2K you will not be off to a good start. IMO 5-10K is low to be bankrolled to play 2/5. I think a more adequate number if you plan on buying in at max(500) would be something like $20-30,000. Keep in mind, variance is a bitch, 5K will get you nowhere if you hit a bad run. Also, if you see any players soft playing one another, ask to move to another table immediately. If none are open, sit out until one opens or drop down in stakes. Better yet, get the omaha list going.

So what you are saying is if you have on cooler or one suckout you are going to drop down? If that is the case, you are better off building your roll so that you can play optimally when you do take shots.

10k is more than adaquate to take shots.

If you need to have 20-30k roll for 2/5 what kind of roll do you think you need to play 5/5 or 5/10?

I know these numbers are subjective. I never asked if he was using this money to pay bills, which changes the equation.

I don't use my BR for anything other than poker.

70 cents per hr comp

lol

Thanks all for the replies. By "quite well" I mean typically winning about a BI every weekend with the exception of one losing session where I left half a BI lighter. I know this doesn't mean much since weekends at the Sands are full of lolbad players. My poker roll is only around $1500 but I make a good income in my day job and wouldn't be devastated by a losing 2/5 session. I hear what everyone's saying about being properly rolled for 2/5 but seems I'd be playing forever at 1/2 before having the proper roll to take a shot at 2/5. I think for now I'll stick to 1/2 unless conditions seem good for a 2/5 shot- seems like last weekend when the 1/2 list was 90 deep would have been a good one to go for 2/5 (i.e., more 1/2 players playing 2/5 because the 1/2 list was so long). I'll be around most all day/night tomorrow playing 1/2, hope none of you are at my table.

The list at 2/5 was and is short, just keep in mind there are more tables at 1/2 so the line drops faster. There are also players that are on wait list for both. 2/5's are usually seated at 1/2 table waiting for a spot on 2/5. Impatience is the wrong reason to play at a higher limit. Good luck with your grind!!

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I don't

Will the Omaha 5/10 go off tonight and about what time?

My logic behind the roll of about 30,000 for 2/5 is this. Suppose you plan on stop lossing at 3 BIs of 500 each(max at 2/5 at Sands). This would equal 1,500 for one session. 1,500 is 5% of 30,000 if 30K would be your bankroll. I have never risked more than 5% of my bankroll at any one given session. I have read this is a proper bankroll management rule of thumb as well as been told by several friends that do play for a living. I think if you are gonna try 2/5 and only be able to play one BI you are not gonna play optimally especially with how deep they play at Sands after the game goes for awhile. 10K is definitely underrolled for this game IMO. Who knows though, maybe you will run in god mode first time you play and cash out for 5K. Have seen it done many times. Good luck with whatever you choose and keep us posted.

I'd suggest grinding at $1/$2 until you have ~17-20 BIs (@ 100 bbs), set aside 3 BIs for $2/$5 and take a shot. You may also want to consider buying-in short, 60-80 bbs, to help with decision-making.

FWIW, I'm in a similar spot and hope to do the same later in the year.

I mentioned in an earlier post that this changes the equation. I'm a rec player I don't play for a living and never plan on it so my BI requirements are different.

Can anybody who is currently at the Sands, give me a update on the lists. Contemplating making a trip.

Thanks!

Waits aren't bad got a 1/2 seat in about 10 mins. Don't seem too long for other games either.

You can call the main operator and they will give you the games and wait list.

Any recommendations or horror stories on the different restaurant offerings in the casino? I usually just grab a piece of pizza or a burger at the Market Place when I do eat at the Sands. But I would like to give some of the different restaurants a try with the comps I have built up (it adds up fast at 70 cents an hour ). Any thoughts on Emeril's Italian Table? The buffet at the Cobalt Cafe?

I played an 8-hour session Saturday night into Sunday morning. I was kinda surprised that the waits for all games seemed pretty minimal for a Saturday night.

I haven't checked out the Italian place yet...but one of my favorite spots is the Burger joint. One of the best burgers I've had anywhere, and that's saying something...they're something like $13-14, but well worth it imo...I like to get one with a beer before I start the grind (comes to exactly $20), quick and easy, and wayyy better than anything you'll get in the marketplace. Looking forward to trying the Italian place tho.

+1

+2

In the back of the Market Place is a stand that sells wraps and salads. The wraps are excellent and a good value. For like 7 bucks you get a decent sized wrap of which there are I think 6 different types, a bag of chips, and a pickle. You mentioned about .70 an hour for poker comps, I was told by a operator at call center that the poker comps are now 1.00 an hour. Not that it is a huge difference, but it is a little something extra.
I heard that Emeril's is not as great as it is hyped up to be. You can also easily drop 100+ per person there on a regular night's dinner menu with the dinner/drink/desert costs. I do not mind spending a lot of money for a good meal, but 4 people I spoke to said they would not go back again. Calling it Emeril's is a little bit of a stretch as well. I mean the guy was there on opening day and I do not know if he was ever back again. He is not even in the area nor does he cook there ever. By this logic, they should of had Johnny Chan play in the poker room opening day, cut him a check, and named the poker room Chan's place. Cobalt Cafe has a decent spread for their buffets, I have ate there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and was always happy with the food quality and service.
In unrelated news, O8 went on Friday and surprisingly on Saturday. Was told Saturday it went from about 3PM to 7AM Sunday morning. Called on Sunday, but they took down the interest list at some point in the day to probably not give it a chance with all the NLHE people. I do understand the logic behind this given the NLHE list was off the chart and it would not have made sense to open a O8 table if it ran short. The list for that game at the time I called was around 90+ for NLHE 1/2.
On a sidenote, what is up with the restrooms at this place? Do people try to urinate on the floor on purpose instead of in the urinals?? Why do the attendants not constantly mop up in front of these things? I have went home on several occasions thinking I was gonna have to make a pit stop just to avoid standing in urine at the casino. The restrooms at the Market Place, by St. James, and by the security podium are all disgusting like 90% of the time.

I should have added, you can always get an egg & cheese sandwich w/fries and drink at the bar in the buffet area anytime for about $12.