Best daily tourneys and general Vegas advice. (1 Viewer)

[doughboy63]

Going to Vegas second weekend in Feb with the wife, but since it’s for my bday there will be poker.

What venues have the best daily tourney structures?

We are likely staying at the Bellagio but their website only lists the cash games they spread.

Thinking lower buyin events <$200.

Also which poker rooms do I want to hit for 1/2 or 1/3?

Food recommendations?

 

[Highli99]

Aria has a great daily. Highly recommend.

 

[dmalhi1]

I hear the stratosphere has one of the best value for your dollar tournaments every night around 7:30?

 

[moose]

Bravo app is your friend. It lists the Bellagio daily tourney as $130 at 2pm.

Afaik Wynn>aria>caesars>planet Hollywood>Bally's

Just find the price range/location that suits you.

Don't personally know anyone who has played the bellagio

Best value imho is the pho $80 $1500 guaranteed. Runs multiple times daily

 

[Lemonzest]

Planet Hollywood is right across the road and has many daily tournies and good 1/2 games at night.

 

[celticnoel]

As mentioned PH has the best value run tourneys imho their cash games tend to be very soft aswell, have fun and happy bday when it comes!

 

[doughboy63]

PH doesn’t list the blind schedule. I am thinking short blinds since it runs 4 times daily. I like that arias weekend tourney is 30 min blinds with a relatively slow progression. I’ll check out the bravo app. Thank everyone so far.

What about food?

 

[Lemonzest]

PH doesn’t list the blind schedule. I am dining short blinds since it runs 4 times daily. I like that arias weekend tourney is 30 min blinds with a relatively slow progression. I’ll check out the bravo app. Thank everyone so far.

What about food?

The strip is expensive but that doesn't equate to quality. The best food in Vegas is off the strip IMO.

Original Lindo Michoacan (best Mexican I have had in my life with a fun environment)
https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaura...riginal_Lindo_Michoacan-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html

Ellis Island - Cheap and awesome steak or ribs
https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attracti...s_Island_Casino_Brewery-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html

My suggestion would be to eat burgers and sandwiches on the strip during the day and then go off strip in the evening for a nicer dinner.

Earl of Sandwich in PH is cheap and super good

There is also an In and Out burger in the the Linq Promenade which is close to Flamingo and Ballys. There is a Shake Shack for similar burger/shake/fries meal at NYNY.

If you want a good breakfast it is worth heading over to Cosmopolitan for Eggslut. It is not a sit down place but the food is really good. Be prepared for a line or get there early.

Also in Cosmo is Wicked Spoon which offers brunch or dinner all you can eat buffet. Of all the buffets in Vegas Wicked Spoon is my fave. I rank Wicked Spoon above both Bella and Aria buffets although Aria is close.

If you want to spend more and have a fine dining experience then Le Cirque is really good which is in Bella.

 

[Trihonda]

Best value is Ellis Island... it’s one block behind Bally’s. So a 10 min walk from the Bellagio. The food is not world class, but it’s way better than the price you pay... they have a $7.99 steak meal deal (but their well-known meals also include BBQ and breakfast food deals). They have an on-site microbrewery that puts out a great selection. I’ve raved about it for years, and every time I take a new friend, they’re surprized and thought I was exaggerating.

The casino is a bit of a dive, but it’s low cost ($5 blackjack, etc) and the staff wants you to play... had a pitboss buy my buddy a pack of cigarettes the last trip there... cuz he noticed he ran out of smokes... I mean, no other casinos do stuff like that anymore. It’s older, but feels like old Vegas... good food, cheap gamboling, etc... caveat there’s no poker room.

Here’s the steak meal.. and one of their ($2.50) microbrews (free if gamboling). Pro tip on the steak.. they have these things cook8mg en masse, so if you want a filet, order medium. If you want a sirloin or med-well or more.. the sirloins are thinner and cook faster... I always go for the filet. Meal includes potato and veggies.

 

[doughboy63]

That is excellent @Lemonzest thank you. Probably one really nice dinner out and more casual the rest of the time.

 

[doughboy63]

You too @Trihonda. All about the quality cheap eats!

 

[Lemonzest]

That is excellent @Lemonzest thank you. Probably one really nice dinner out and more casual the rest of the time.

If you plan on 1 really nice meal then do some research and find something special. Le Cirque is based on French Cuisine so that may not be your thing. There are many outstanding Asian places as well as many good steakhouses. I am not that into Asian food but people say LV has some of the best Asian fusion places around. These places are fine dining not to be confused with the small town Asian restaurant dives.

 

[Trihonda]

There’s also a place in the miracle mile (can’t recall the name), but it’s an over the top sports bar (breastraunt) that has a breakfast deal 1/2 off between 10-11am? I got all that was shown here for like $3.99 or something ridiculous like that. It was served by hot girls in cheerleader outfits (the restaurant has a blue/white theme) so look for awnings outside the entrance that are blue/white. Food was actually pretty decent (like a cheap diner).

You too @Trihonda. All about the quality cheap eats!

No problem. Me too. More money for poker... we honestly eat at Ellis a lot... there’s enough variety that I’m not eating steak every meal... here’s an beef sandwich that was very yummy. And another better beer pic.

 

[Chris Manzoni]

My advice always goes against conventional wisdom. As a serious recreational tournament player I avoid the big and well structured dailies like Aria, Venetian, Wynn, etc. They are loaded with grumpy regulars who play every day. I stick to soft turbos like Mirage, Bally's, Harrah's, etc. They are horribly structured and heavily raked, but the field is drunken tourists who literally don't know how to play poker. I have tracked my results meticulously since 2012 and my tournament hourly at some of these venues approaches $200 an hour - at the bigger casinos with better structures, I'm around minimum wage.

If I'm given the choice between a good structure and terrible players, I'll pick the latter every single time.

 

[Trihonda]

My advice always goes against conventional wisdom. As a serious recreational tournament player I avoid the big and well structured dailies like Aria, Venetian, Wynn, etc. They are loaded with grumpy regulars who play every day. I stick to soft turbos like Mirage, Bally's, Harrah's, etc. They are horribly structured and heavily raked, but the field is drunken tourists who literally don't know how to play poker. I have tracked my results meticulously since 2012 and my tournament hourly at some of these venues approaches $200 an hour - at the bigger casinos with better structures, I'm around minimum wage.

If I'm given the choice between a good structure and terrible players, I'll pick the latter every single time.

Ya, this echos my feelings somewhat. I will dabble in small cheap Daily tourneys that run around 3 hours, but try to stick to cash games otherwise (where I have flexibility for game/table selection and can move about freely on a whim). I don’t want to grind a long multi-day tourney, which eats up all my Vegas time. When you hit those big tourneys it’s great, but the variance is greater...

 

[Lemonzest]

There’s also a place in the miracle mile (can’t recall the name), but it’s an over the top sports bar (breastraunt) that has a breakfast deal 1/2 off between 10-11am? I got all that was shown here for like $3.99 or something ridiculous like that. It was served by hot girls in cheerleader outfits (the restaurant has a blue/white theme) so look for awnings outside the entrance that are blue/white. Food was actually pretty decent (like a cheap diner).

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No problem. Me too. More money for poker... we honestly eat at Ellis a lot... there’s enough variety that I’m not eating steak every meal... here’s an beef sandwich that was very yummy. And another better beer pic.

View attachment 232913

View attachment 232912

I am pretty sure the Sports Bar in Planet Hollywood's Miracle Mile you are referring to is Blondies Sports Bar & Grill
https://www.blondieslasvegas.com/

Your pics are making me homesick for Vegas!

 

[Trihonda]

I am pretty sure the Sports Bar in Planet Hollywood's Miracle Mile you are referring to is Blondies Sports Bar & Grill
https://www.blondieslasvegas.com/

Your pics are making me homesick for Vegas!

Yup, that’s the name! Ahhh. I am heading back in two weeks.... though I distinctly recall our server being a redhead. Rawr!

 

[Lemonzest]

My advice always goes against conventional wisdom. As a serious recreational tournament player I avoid the big and well structured dailies like Aria, Venetian, Wynn, etc. They are loaded with grumpy regulars who play every day. I stick to soft turbos like Mirage, Bally's, Harrah's, etc. They are horribly structured and heavily raked, but the field is drunken tourists who literally don't know how to play poker. I have tracked my results meticulously since 2012 and my tournament hourly at some of these venues approaches $200 an hour - at the bigger casinos with better structures, I'm around minimum wage.

If I'm given the choice between a good structure and terrible players, I'll pick the latter every single time.

I agree with this. My group of friends went to Vegas back in June and I think 4 of our group ended up final tabling the same small tourney at PH. A year or so ago my cousin binked a sunday morning tourney at Mandalay Bay.

Aria/Bellagio/Venetian are the poker hubs of Vegas. All the pros and pro try hards hang out in these spots. It applies to cash and tourney play. If you hit the road less traveled you might get better mileage.

 

[moose]

Me same. Previous trips spent all day at Aria, made final table and never cashed. Spent all day in a Venetian DSE, bubble finally broke about midnight and cashed for less than $800 in 30th place an hour later.

This most recent trip I played two Bally's, one Flamingo and one Harrah's. Won the Flamingo for about $600 in under 5 hours and won the Harrah's on a ICM chop in about 4 hours for several hundred.

 

[Trihonda]

Oh, I forgot... if you don’t use Uber yet, DO so... have a friend with the Uber app sent you an invite.. gives you a free or discounted first ride, and gives them a discount too.. Uber is THE way to get around..

Examples include:

Taxi from airport to Flamingo = $25-30 (including tip)
Uber = $11

Taxi from strip to Fremont Street = $25-30
Uber = $11-13

It adds up. And sometimes it’s quicker and easier to Uber from one property to another. I love walking, but sometimes an Uber is too easy and quick to pass up. Vegas time is precious. Dont waste it needlessly fighting pedestrian crowds

 

[Lemonzest]

Oh, I forgot... if you don’t use Uber yet, DO so... have a friend with the Uber app sent you an invite.. gives you a free or discounted first ride, and gives them a discount too.. Uber is THE way to get around..

Examples include:

Taxi from airport to Flamingo = $25-30 (including tip)
Uber = $11

Taxi from strip to Fremont Street = $25-30
Uber = $11-13

It adds up. And sometimes it’s quicker and easier to Uber from one property to another. I love walking, but sometimes an Uber is too easy and quick to pass up. Vegas time is precious. Dont waste it needlessly fighting pedestrian crowds

Great advice for sure. We don't have Uber where I live so using this was a treat. You can connect Uber directly with your Paypal and spend your chip funds on travel!!!

But seriously it is so convenient and fast. Uber makes heading off strip so much simpler/cheaper. It also comes in handy after a long walk when you don't want to turn around and walk back after being tired from a long day.

 

[Jimulacrum]

Oh, I forgot... if you don’t use Uber yet, DO so... have a friend with the Uber app sent you an invite.. gives you a free or discounted first ride, and gives them a discount too.. Uber is THE way to get around..

Examples include:

Taxi from airport to Flamingo = $25-30 (including tip)
Uber = $11

Taxi from strip to Fremont Street = $25-30
Uber = $11-13

It adds up. And sometimes it’s quicker and easier to Uber from one property to another. I love walking, but sometimes an Uber is too easy and quick to pass up. Vegas time is precious. Dont waste it needlessly fighting pedestrian crowds

Second this. Uber beats taxis basically everywhere IMO. In the case of Vegas, it's especially valuable in not only time/rate savings but also avoiding scumbag drivers who waste your time taking long routes to run up the meter.

 

[CantSpellPoker]

Great advice for sure. We don't have Uber where I live

You poor thing. That's a travesty. Not sure where you're from, but last summer I was in Vancouver and got thrown for a major loop when I realized that I would have to either take the SkyTrain or a cab to the airport from downtown. Being from just outside NYC, Uber/Lyft has been a game changer.

 

[Lemonzest]

You poor thing. That's a travesty. Not sure where you're from, but last summer I was in Vancouver and got thrown for a major loop when I realized that I would have to either take the SkyTrain or a cab to the airport from downtown. Being from just outside NYC, Uber/Lyft has been a game changer.

Yep. I am from the Vancouver area and it sucks pretty bad. It is basically just these old school cab companies that I guess (?) have political power enough to stop another company from doing business. I think it is ridiculous.

 

[dmalhi1]

Yep. I am from the Vancouver area and it sucks pretty bad. It is basically just these old school cab companies that I guess (?) have political power enough to stop another company from doing business. I think it is ridiculous.

theres more to it than this, its also our monopoly of an insurance company jamming things up by requiring ridiculous types of insurance coverage for vehicles being used in such a service. the entire landscape is setup to not allow such a service to work without some major governmental involvement requiring these corporations (insurance and taxi mafia) to deal with it or this very governmental body opening up the market to allow others to enter the insurance avenue and create competition.

of course the taxi owners are also miffed cuz the taxi mafia is requiring them to pay millions for a single taxi license yet an uber driver is supposedly going to be allowed to do the same job with almost no restrictions. I'm sure if you were a taxi driver/owner you too would feel your livelihood is under attack and there's not much you can do about recuperating the millions you've paid for a taxi medallion from these schmucks who own the companies.

I worked in the car service industry for a short while and the restrictions on limos and town cars are even more so than cabs in that you can't even pull over and pickup a fare as those cars don't have a "for hire" plate. They can only pickup from the airport terminal or from other locations via prescheduled/requested appointments etc. Taxi's are still allowed to be hailed but they're not super easy to get a hold of outside of downtown Vancouver. Sucks for all of us on the east of the river.

That all being said, I'm all for uber in BC but this entire province needs to get their shit together.

 

[doughboy63]

My advice always goes against conventional wisdom. As a serious recreational tournament player I avoid the big and well structured dailies like Aria, Venetian, Wynn, etc. They are loaded with grumpy regulars who play every day. I stick to soft turbos like Mirage, Bally's, Harrah's, etc. They are horribly structured and heavily raked, but the field is drunken tourists who literally don't know how to play poker. I have tracked my results meticulously since 2012 and my tournament hourly at some of these venues approaches $200 an hour - at the bigger casinos with better structures, I'm around minimum wage.

If I'm given the choice between a good structure and terrible players, I'll pick the latter every single time.

This is an interesting school of thought, as I usually like slower blinds to give you time to be patient and pick your spots. I would rather play a turbo against fish as opposed to a good structure against sharks though.

 

[Jimulacrum]

My advice always goes against conventional wisdom. As a serious recreational tournament player I avoid the big and well structured dailies like Aria, Venetian, Wynn, etc. They are loaded with grumpy regulars who play every day. I stick to soft turbos like Mirage, Bally's, Harrah's, etc. They are horribly structured and heavily raked, but the field is drunken tourists who literally don't know how to play poker. I have tracked my results meticulously since 2012 and my tournament hourly at some of these venues approaches $200 an hour - at the bigger casinos with better structures, I'm around minimum wage.

If I'm given the choice between a good structure and terrible players, I'll pick the latter every single time.

This is probably the best advice in this thread. As much as I prefer a slower structure with more room for "playing poker," it's not worth it money-wise if the game is populated mostly by sharks and nitty regs (and grumpy ones at that). Donkaments have a lot of variance, but at least there's a lot of potential profit under the fluctuations.

 

[DoubleEagle]

A good resource is Poker Atlas. You can sort and view all the dailies by date, time, hotel, buy-in, and rake. Very helpful.

Won't help you identify the sharks and nitty/grumpy regulars. Your on your own for that.

Good luck!

 

[Poker Zombie]

+1 to Poker Atlas.

I prefer to play in the daily tournaments, and Poker Atlas has been my go-to for years when planning my Vegas trips. They sometimes have the blind structures linked as well, so you know exactly what you are looking at before you go. Sometimes, the information is a little out of date because poker room managers
don't seem to care about advertising, so I will supplement Poker Atlas information with Bravo Poker (app or BravoPokerlive.com) - but Bravo poker is only useful for rooms that use the Bravo Poker system.

As a general rule, the greater the rake percentage, the worse the players. The worse the player, the more friendly and social they are. As such, I prefer the same rooms that @Chris Manzoni indicated. I'm in Vegas to have fun, and I have more fun laughing and joking than I do grinding. YMMV.

 

[GIANTDustySquid]

Eat every meal at ocean one, inside planet Hollywood.
And play the daily $140 at the wynn.
Also prefered the MGM tourneys to the planet hollywood tourneys