good place to play poker for a beginner

[gmen7]

so what casino has a good poker room for beginner's. i mean i play the once every month or 2 texas hold em poker game with the guys but i'm not a die hard. i've always wanted to go get in a game in vegas but i'm not looking to get caught up in a high stakes get eaten alive table. somewhere with a lower buy in just to get my feet wet for poker in vegas and not at my buddys house with 5 other guys. any suggestions?

[WiscoBrad]

I've only been to vegas maybe 15 times, so please take my advice with a grain of salt...

It's been my own personal experience that alot of the 'pros' tend to hang out up on Fremont St. I've played against some pretty cut-throat (albeit nice guys) up there. The Rio is so-so, depending on the night, some nights its rough, other nights its not bad.

[sidewalk]

Any of the 1/2 games around should be fine. I'd recommend a nicer hotel that attracts a large variety of players. You're going to encounter a few good players at 1/2, but they aren't going to be sharks waiting to feed on average poker players. Really, average poker is probably good enough to break even at most Vegas 1/2 games.

MGM spreads a lot of 1/2 tables, as does Venetian. I'd go with a nicer casino because it's a more pleasant experience and they tend to have better service. I've played 1/2 at Excaliber before and it was a real bore. No action and most of the players were over 60. You could win a bunch of small pots and bluff people off of medium/small hands that would call at other places, but you're not going to be mixing around in any big pots unless you're either in a cooler or got someone in a cooler, and that's not much fun to me.

[Brontes_Muse]

Mirage is my bet

The mirage would be my bet. They even have a "first time playing poker class on saturdays." That's where I played the first time.

My ex boyfriend would tell you to start with small tournaments, because you can only lose that set amount. I thinks that's good advice if your comfortable playing home games. Most casinos have daily tournaments for less then $100

It'll take over two hours so give your lady some shopping money, or buy her a day bed at the pool.

[a2kboy]

Bally's doesn't seem like a bad choice

[Van]

I'd recommend any of the quieter rooms which offer low stakes limit games (where your money will last longer) or 1-2NL games. Luxor and Mandalay Bay are good examples.

Keep in mind, learning NL at Vegas casinos tends to be expensive... ;-)

[sidewalk]

the games at excaliber don't get too aggressive.

at aria last week, the 1/2 table i was sitting out was super aggro. too bad i couldn't get the cards to cash in. i'd say at least 6 of the people at the table were playing with $600+ stacks with 2 or 3 1k+ stacks and flops were going 3-4 handed with $30-50 preflop raises fairly often.

[Guest]

Luxor - Ive played here 6 or 7 times in the last month. they have a 50 min buy in, which is very low (palms has 20, but luxor is on strip). there doesnt seem to be the sharks here because its a lower lvl casino. I have cleaned up very nice 4 out of the 6 or 7 times

[21togamble]

Luxor - Ive played here 6 or 7 times in the last month. they have a 50 min buy in, which is very low (palms has 20, but luxor is on strip). there doesnt seem to be the sharks here because its a lower lvl casino. I have cleaned up very nice 4 out of the 6 or 7 times

Is that a 24 hour poker room?

[PokeringCanuck]

You'll want to consider MGM and Luxor probably.

Luxor is probably the best beginners room but theres also very little action. Small bets / pot control. You can lose less and win less... might be a good fit.

Head over to MGM if you want to get some people calling you all-in and paying off more of your good hands. Don't be too upset when someone calls you off with a weak hand and sucks out though... poker can suck like that but overall this is a good place to get paid off but the risk is of course higher.

Whatever you do, do not go take lessons and sit down to play in the same casino... Low stakes grinders make their tour at lesson times and when the lessons end they conveniently sit down to play... every single hand against you until you have nothing left...

If you know the basics of the game and a little bit about tight-aggressive play, its a great way to play in Las Vegas at $1/$2 limits. Above that, you will be known to be a beginner and could win but likely you will be a losing player.

Even on a 1 - 2 table you'll be known to a few people probably, but MANY of the people who play 1 - 2 at a big room are in the same boat as you. If you watch them closely your gut feel should tell you whos who. Stay away from people you feel are smart and play alot, its very unlikely you will win much off them, unless you have a sweet hand and they absolutely cant fold.

[Chuck]

I used to play lots of home games, local tourneys, and local casinos a few years ago and thought i was good. Then I went to vegas and played. I dont play poker anymore...

[gambler01]

I used to play lots of home games, local tourneys, and local casinos a few years ago and thought i was good. Then I went to vegas and played. I dont play poker anymore...

There are a lot more people in Vegas who think they are good at Hold Em than those who actually are. Find the right table, and you will pay for your next two nights on the town. Last time I was there, Hard Rock was good to me.

[Jhaulotte]

The mirage would be my bet. They even have a "first time playing poker class on saturdays." That's where I played the first time.

My ex boyfriend would tell you to start with small tournaments, because you can only lose that set amount. I thinks that's good advice if your comfortable playing home games. Most casinos have daily tournaments for less then $100

It'll take over two hours so give your lady some shopping money, or buy her a day bed at the pool.

Mirage has a nice daily tournament as well. Think it was around 100, but good because it starts pretty early and blinds go up a little quicker than most tournys I have played/seen.

[gambler01]

I've played at the Mirage. Had more talent than I wanted to deal with.

[Jhaulotte]

I've played at the Mirage. Had more talent than I wanted to deal with.

In cash games youre probably right. There seemed to be early 20 year olds losing money to late 60 year olds on a regular basis. Guessing the 60 year olds now a thing or two. Least that is what I noticed.