Vegas during the WSOP?

[WinBig]

I'm planning a Vegas trip during the WSOP this year and I am looking for some feedback on potential dates.

One option is June 30-July 3 (arrive Fri and depart Mon) and this would allow me to play in a $2000 NL event (#6) if I win a seat via a satellite.

The other option is August 2-6 (arrive Wed and depart Sun) and this would coincide with the days the Main Event plays down to 150 players. There is a $1000 NL Event (#39) on August 3 that I would try to win a seat in via a satellite as well.

My main question is for those that have been in Vegas for the WSOP - how are the cash games on the strip during the WSOP? Are they much different from when the WSOP isn't in town? Does the play change from the beginning of the WSOP to the end? I play low limit games like $3/$6 and $2/$5 NL so I would like to be in town when they games are at their best but to be honest I doubt it really matters at those stakes. Particularly if I am planning on playing at the MGM and other strip casinos rather than at the Rio. Any help would be appreciated. I am booking airfare now since the rates are going up. I did check out hotel rates and they are more expensive for the June/July period due to the July 4th weekend. Of course there may be more tourists in town that weekend.

[BoogerFace]

I was in vegas last June for a week prior to the ME.

For the limits you want to play, I don't think it's going to matter. When I was there, the side games at the Rio sucked and the games at Bellagio/Mirage/Wynn were a lot better.

The satelites at the Rio had horrible structures, so I didn't bother.

My guess is that it won't matter.

[highlife]

the cash games at those limits are always good in Vegas.

[KCFire105]

[ QUOTE ]
The satelites at the Rio had horrible structures, so I didn't bother.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are ALL the satelites at the WSOP of poor structure?

[rowdyclassmate]

I was in Vegas for the first week of the WSOP. As Booger pointed out, the satellites at the Rio sucked and the games at the Bellagio/Mirage/Wynn were much better. The Wynn had the largest concentration of Gus Hansen types thinking they could win every pot in NL. However annoying that was - the waitress staff was top-notch.

I witnessed a very sick $2/5 NL hand. I caught the action at the river. With about $700 in the pot and the board reading KQ954, EP bet $200. It was called in 4 spots. LP then pushes all in for about $800. EP called. LP was good with K10o.

[PocketAces]

I'm going to be in Vegas in early July during the WSOP and was planning to play in some satellites at the Rio.

Can you please describe what the satellite structure was at the Rio last year? Also, how was the action in the $30-$60 games during the WSOP at the Bellagio and Wynn?

[MicroBob]

the single-tabe WSOP satellites there are of a pretty fast structure.
But I thought the players were absolutely terrible for the most part.

In addition, when it gets down to 2 or 3 players you have the advantage of being able to turn-down or accept a 'deal' which is additional EV.

turn-down the bad deal, negotitate for a better deal...it's pretty easy to get an even-split deal even if you are down a little bit in chips.


I found the single-table satellites to be ridiculously profitable. As long as you aren't interested in going all-in with KTo from early-position in the opening level you stand a good chance to be in the upper echelon of players there.


But it is true that the structure of these doesn't exactly allow for much lengthy, sophisticated play.

read Kill Phil and have at it.


The 3/6 and 4/8 games at MGM and Bellagio and Wynn, etc were all quite juicy from June 27 - July 10 last year.
The rooms got pretty crowded though and sometimes there would be a lengthy wait-list (especially at Bellagio).

The 8/16 and 15/30 games were pretty good too...and I heard that games at limits higher than that were gold-mines as well.


Lots of total drunks who played terribly.
this wasn't very surprising of course.


I didn't play any of the cash-games at the Rio though. Only the single-table sats and a couple of the events.


There's more buzz around the rooms during the main-event of course. but it's pretty happening all throughout I suspect and I would also guess that the low-limit games will be juicy, drunk-fests whenever you go.

[surfinillini]

[ QUOTE ]
the cash games at those limits are always good in Vegas.

[/ QUOTE ]

uhhhhhhhhh, yea...I have to agree

[aphoward]

Buying airfare more than 6 weeks in advance = not good. Buying it 6 months in advance = horrible planning.

You're gonna get ripped off on rates if you are buying now. Wait till the summer time, or make sure you get a fare from the airline where they will refund the difference if the rate goes down.

[bav]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
the cash games at those limits are always good in Vegas.

[/ QUOTE ]

uhhhhhhhhh, yea...I have to agree

[/ QUOTE ]

It's more likely you're gonna run into some real gravy during the WSOP. The scene... it's the 2nd or 3rd day of the WSOP main event. Sahara NL1/2 is just starting up about 5:30pm and folks there are buying in for $100 or $200 each. Two kids (can't be more than 23) sit down and kidOne pulls an envelope stuffed at least 1" thick out of his pocket and counts out $500 for himself and $500 for his friend and stuffs the envelope back in his pocket. And they start talking even before the first hand is dealt...

kidOne: "I lost a $70,000 hand today"
Player: "No you didn't"
kidOne: "I did too!"
Player: "Nope...just don't believe you."
kidOne: "Did so! I went all-in during the WSOP main event for 70000 and lost!"

And on the very first hand one of the boys goes all-in for $500 into a pot of like $6. He gets called and loses to 99 and never shows his hand. Next hand, his friend is all-in for $500 into a pot of like $10. About 5 people at the table simultaneously look at each other and pull out $300 more to add to their $200 buy-ins.

Yes, this happens other times. But the WSOP will be when more folks with "found money" who stumbled into a $500 200-player tourney win who've never had $30,000 in their pocket will be walking around searching for some way to look like big shots.