Bankroll and planning a Vegas Trip
 

Hi guys,
this is probably asked here a lot but Im planning a vegas/poker holiday for next year and would like some general advice. I also have a couple of questions some of you might be able to answer:

I usually play 1/2 and 2/4 NLH online with a bankroll usually between $5k and $10k. What limits should I be looking to play at Vegas, and with what kind of bankroll? I have heard games are supersoft compared to online. I want to spend a lot of time at the tables but also have a girlfriend to amuse. Im thinking about $3k as a seperate poker roll to play for a week. I dont really think usual bankroll rules apply as im on holiday but is this about realistic? Is it worth spending more to play at higher limits?
secondly, what kind of rake do you get at Vegas tables. I have heard the rake at 1/2 is horrible, and its worth playing higher limits to avoid such a harsh rake. Is this true?

Besides poker and casino spending, what kind of money shall I be looking to take for a week? I am from Scotland so I imagine besides nightclubs, costs will be relatively cheap. Any other suggestions, help, or references to websites would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Re: Bankroll and planning a Vegas Trip
 

check allvegaspoker.com

if you can beat the 1/2 and 2/4 online games you can easily beat the 2/5 and 5/10 NL live ring games. even higher if your bankroll allows. there are alot of uncapped buyin games in vegas. play those if you run well.

Re: Bankroll and planning a Vegas Trip
 

Thanks, im tempted...
I can imagine if the players are that bad, the varience must be big. I never play live poker besides home games, so what kind of bankroll should I be looking to take if im playing say 5/10 for say 25 hours worth of poker?

Re: Bankroll and planning a Vegas Trip
 

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks, im tempted...
I can imagine if the players are that bad, the varience must be big. I never play live poker besides home games, so what kind of bankroll should I be looking to take if im playing say 5/10 for say 25 hours worth of poker?

[/ QUOTE ]

You ask that question as though you expect to lose.

Re: Bankroll and planning a Vegas Trip
 

8-10 buyins would probably be a safe amount. It also depends on your style of play. some people are very tight so they have less variance. Others are very loose and have higher variance.

Re: Bankroll and planning a Vegas Trip
 

if you never play live other than with friends, donk it up at the Ceasars Palace 1/3 game before moving up to 5/10. its very soft. just dont bother making moves on other players in LLNL, most wont even recognise it. play solid, fundamental, positional poker, and you WILL win in these games.

i have never moved up enough to play the 5/10 at the Belaggio but i know its a capped 1K buyin and if it plays like the 2/5 there... cha-ching!

Re: Bankroll and planning a Vegas Trip
 

5/10 is a different animal, depending on where you play. In some places, it's the biggest game in the room and you may see some faces you've seen on tv before.

Re: Bankroll and planning a Vegas Trip
 

definitely don't play the 1/2. it'll prolly be the softest game u've ever seen, but the rake is horrible. if u r a decent player u will beat it regardless of the rake but for the amount one can consistently beat it i never consider it worthy of sittin down. u will definitely be better off playin the $2/$5. the level of play will be somewhere close to the $1/$2 online, sometimes even worse. of course there could be a VERY good player @ ur table. i've seen them at these tables every now and then. if ur unlucky enough to get that one good player @ ur table just avoid him unless u've got the goods and try to be in position against him when u r both in the hand. the other 7 or 8 players at the table should be weak enough to make a profit w/out confrontin that one good player.

as for the bankroll u would need, it depends. if u r a tight player u shouldn't take more than 4 buy-ins for the 25 hrs u plan on playin. just buy in for 100 BBs and play ur solid game. if u r aggressive, like to mix it up, and see a lot of flops then things change. u can still take the 4 buy-ins w/ u but make them 150BBs-200BBs. or if u still wanna just buy-in for 100BBs then take 6-8 buy-ins w/ u. so anywhere from $2k to $4k should be sufficient.

another thing. i know u wanna make some money @ the tables, but u mention that it'll be a vacation trip w/ ur woman. have that in mind all the time and don't spend more money @ poker than the bankroll u have for it. otherwise u will not enjoy anythin else thinkin about ur loses and ur woman won't have a good time either b/c of ur mood. if u r a winnin player @ $1/$2 online u will prolly take them down @ the live $2/$5, but if u lose then there's always next time. good luck @ the tables and enjoy sin city.

Re: Bankroll and planning a Vegas Trip
 

[ QUOTE ]
5/10 is a different animal, depending on where you play.

[/ QUOTE ]

i've got to agree w/ this. i've been in places where i get my ass whooped in the 5/10. still up to this day i can't figure out what hit me those times. a lot of solid impressive play.
on the other hand, i've played a few 5/10 live tables that r not that much different from the 10NL online.

Re: Bankroll and planning a Vegas Trip
 

It really does depend on how tight/loose you play. For example, I play micro-NL full ring online, and found the games in Vegas during the WSOP really weak, even for someone who can barely break even at NL$50/NL$100 online (because I'm too much of a nit).

I played 18 hours on the equivalent of 2 buy-ins at $2/$5 (Caesar's, Rio and Bellagio), and was never in any risk of losing a full buy-in for the entire time. My local casino is just as bad at $1/$2 (max $500) ... I can't believe how *bad* the play is in comparison to online play.

As Julio partially suggested, play some NL$10/NL$25 full-ring before you go to play live just to get reacquainted with the sort of play that you'll be up against at most tables up to $2/$5 NL.