Las Vegas - Game Selection

Game Selection is a skill we don't get to practice very much here in town. It may come into play a little in St Louis or Tunica, but its very critical in Las Vegas.

The classic case is the Bellagio 15-30 game. They usually have 3 to 5 tables of this game running and the quality varies wildly. One table can be overly tight local nits, another filled with very aggressive skilled players, another mostly loose passive tourists.

Game Selection is much more important in Las Vegas because there are so many more poker rooms, games, tables, and limits. These tables can be filled with locals or tourists. Tables can be filled with excellent players or poor ones. Games vary between all quadrants of; loose-tight-passive-aggressive. At WSOP time, there is the added feature of all the tourney players in town.

Here are some of the Game Selection skills that I use:

First off, when you are just arriving and looking at the list of games, have the brush put you on the list for more than one game or limit. (Its always funny seeing the young kids come in and say they only want to play 1-2 NL -- thats all they know) In many of the Las Vegas casinos, I was able to initially sign up for different limits of Holdem, an Omaha game and a Mixed game.

Then go look at a table of a game you are NOT likely to be called for first. Is this game any good? Go look at another table and another if you have time. Two or three hands at each table is probably enough. Are there lots of callers? Are there lots of chips on the table? Are the players happy and talking or are they sullen and cranky?

When you are called for a game, go take it. Sit and play in that game and quickly evaluate it. Is this a great game, an OK game or a poor game? If you don't like this particular table, but its a limit that you may want to play, ask the brush to put you down for a "Table Change". When the next seat opens at another table of the same game/limit, you will have first choice. You won't have time to compare the other game. If your existing table is not great, then move. You can repeat this cycle over and over in a large poker room. Never stay in a bad game.

When you are called for a different game/limit that you do want to play, go to it unless your current table is great. Just tell the brush that you'll stay where you are. You can ask to be "rolled" -- thats put at the bottom of that list again.

Maybe you don't find any table or game thats real good. Just go across the street to the next poker room and try there. I say again----never stay in a bad game!


Game Selection Stories from this Las Vegas trip:

Venetian --On the list for 3 limits of Holdem. Got in a 3-6 and its pretty good. Get called for 6-12, I move and its not as good a game. Went to look at the 9-18 and its filled with desperados. Next limit up was 40-80 (I wasn't on that list) Called for 9-18 and passed. 6-12 game is really no good, so I got back into a nice 3-6 game.

Caesars Palace --On the list for 3-6 and 6-12 Holdem. On the interest list for Omaha and Mixed Game. Called for 3-6 and its an ok game. Called for 6-12 and I move and its a GREAT game. Loose passive happy tourists with lots of chips on the table.

Mirage -- On Holdem list for 3-6, 6-12, and 10-20. Called for 10-20 and its an ok game. Mostly tight locals, but they don't seem very good. I'm a little winner and my buddy calls me over to the 20-40 game. Says "Open Seat". Earlier thay had been playing this game with a Full Kill and a Rock -- Yow. Now it was just regular 20-40 and the table looked happy and mostly tourists. So I moved. Turns out to be the very best loosest Mirage Day Shift 20-40 that I have ever played. Have a nice win and then a free buffet.

Wynn -- On the list for 4-8, 8-16, and 15-30. (Again, I passed on the 40-80, haha) Get called to the 8-16 and its a great game. Asked my buddy in 15-30 how that game was and she says not very good. Person on list in front of me is Jim Brier (poker author and good/tight player) --so this game is going to get worse. I am called for the 15-30 and pass. Stay in a Great 8-16 and book a nice win.