A List of the Best Overall Hold 'em Tournaments in Las Vegas

[bav]

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Top 11 places paid. First $3290, 11th $80 (It got third for $800).

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Which reminds me of one thing about the Sahara tourney I really don't like. It is SERIOUSLY top-heavy. >40% goes to 1st place. 20% to 2nd. 10% to 3rd. And then dribbles and drabs on down. $80 for 11th place out of >170 entrants sucks. I assume they do this to encourage deals, but when I've asked the answer they give is "you poor dumb fool, this is the industry standard payout structure".

[twonine29]

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Sahara
$62 total buy in including single RB/addon
20 min levels
5K Total chips
Avg # players: 70-110
11AM, 7PM, 11PM 7 days a week
<u>Details of this Tournament</u>


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What's the rake on this tourney? Is it 34%?

Edit: Read 'Sahara' part of this post. When you take into account RB/AO, it comes out to around a ~25% rake i believe.

[loosemmjan]

Hi All:

I'm just back from Las Veags and played the Sahara tourney twice.

Just a couple of notes. I had NO live casino experience prior to the tourney. I had played some live local NON casino tourneys. I held my own, no gross missteps, the dealars and other players kept me inline in a nice way.

The sandwich offered at the first break is a sandwich. The whole tourney rambles over and grabs a piece. If you don't like food being served that way, oh well, pass on the sandwich. I ate a piece, no problems to report.

Since I never played in a casino before, I wasn't used to the comp drinks. Tipping the waitress a buck or two instead of paying 5 for a beer was nice.

I finished 7th first time out of the gate, thank you 2p2. I started push/fold mode with an M ~10. Table looked at me funny and said "sir you won't get any action playing like that". Anyway I made the final table then KJ&lt;K10 against chip leader and gg loose.

The payout is top heavy 3300 for first the night I was there. 7'th paid 260.00.

Thanks for the info LVM, I should have looked you up and bought you dinner.

Regrets: For comparison purposes I wanted to play the Ceasers Palace &lt; 100 tourney listed.

~Loose

[LasVegasMichael]

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Thanks for the info LVM, I should have looked you up and bought you dinner.

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You're welcome! Glad I was able to assist. I'll take a raincheck on dinner [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I don't play it that often (when I came in 3rd for $800 it was on March 16th, 7PM), but I do when I can, as it is a fun tourney. I didn't jump at the sandwiches, but like you said, everyone flocks to them when the break starts, no doubt.

Aside from the tournaments, I don't play Sahara at all. Lack of autoshufflers, and general griminess of the room keeps me at TI instead. Like TI, they do have a $500 max on their 1/2 game (at TI its 1/3), which is nice, but in general, the tournies are definately the only reason to play poker there, IMO.

Congrats on your cash!

[NicksDad1970]

I guess I should thank LVM as well as others for talking about the noon Caesars tourney. I got 3rd for $1247.

thanks all

[LasVegasMichael]

Congrats on your cash! Glad we were able to assist/recommend it.

Despite my general dislike of the Caesars room, I have been meaning to check out their noon or 11PM again. I will eventually, I'm sure.

[raisydaisy]

Hi guys,
heard about 2+2 and since I'm heading to Vegas in a few weeks though I'd check you out. This is a great thread and I really appreciate all the advice.

Just wondering if there is anyone here who knows what kind of tax issues would there be for British players?

Also is there a similar thread regarding cash games. I realise that they are not as easy to list but I can't find any threads which rate the poker rooms on their cash games. And would tax be an issue in a cash game?

edit:
I guess I should have added its for low limit cash games (0.5/1 or 1/2).

[LasVegasMichael]

If you play at a Harrahs property (Caesars, Rio, Harrahs, Ballys, Paris, Flamingo, etc), and win a tournament with winnings over $599, you will be subject to a 30% withholding. MGM Mirage properties as well as Venetian do not require the withholding.

For cash games, the smallest limit game is 2/4. NL iis offered with 1/2 blinds, but it plays with $5 chips, and the average raise is usually $10-$15 preflop.

Good low limit cash games are everywhere in Vegas.

[llleisure]

Check out http://www.allvegaspoker.com/ for various room reviews.

My favorites are Bellagio, Ceasars and Venetian - I'm not terribly original. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[bav]

[ QUOTE ]
If you play at a Harrahs property (Caesars, Rio, Harrahs, Ballys, Paris, Flamingo, etc), and win a tournament with winnings over $599, you will be subject to a 30% withholding. MGM Mirage properties as well as Venetian do not require the withholding.

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I ain't a Brit but I'm about 90% sure that's false. Canadians are subject to the 28% or whatever witholding, but not our English brethren. That's what a couple Brits I regularly play tourneys with tell me, anyway.

So I don't think Brits have to worry about taxes on tourney wins. And taxes are never an issue on cash games.