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Pocket Guide to Cash Games During the WSOP

Headed to Las Vegas this summer for the World Series of Poker, or just for a little poker vacation? If you haven’t been to Sin City in a while we’ve prepared a primer on Vegas poker games to help you find the proper game for your preferred game format and limit/stakes. No matter what game you prefer you should be able to find it during your stay.

The Rio, of course, will be running a veritable buffet of cash games, but if you prefer something a bit more intimate (and much faster, as the cash games at the Rio aren’t automatically shuffled), here’s where you should head, organized by game / limit.

.50-$1 NLHE – This level of No-Limit Hold’em is about the only game found in Bill’s Gambling Hall, where the average stacks are $20-$50. The competition in this game is unsurprisingly weak, but the rake on this small stakes game is tough to beat. MGM Grand also began running a game at these stakes in recent months with a $50 maximum buy-in. If you want to dip your toes in the Vegas NLHE poker waters give either of these games a try, but try to move up to $1-$2 if you really want to win some money.

$1-$2 NLHE – Where can’t you play this game? Almost all poker rooms in Vegas offer $1-$2 NLHE, so choosing the best place to play is rather arbitrary. If this is your game and you’ve never played in Vegas before hit the most famous poker rooms, like Bellagio and The Venetian. You can also try the $1-$3 NLHE game at Aria if you have yet to visit this new casino. Vegas regulars report that some of the softer games can be found at MGM Grand and Bally’s. Personal observation confirms this is true, but in reality weak spots can be found at practically any $1-$2 game in the city.

$2-$5 NLHE – This step up from $1-$2 is easily found at many major Strip and off-Strip poker rooms. It will be the game du jour in the World Series of Poker tournament area at the Rio this summer, as usual. Strip rooms that have $2-$5 game going most of the time include Bellagio, The Venetian, MGM Grand, Aria and Wynn. Use the same advice listed above for $1-$2 NLHE in choosing your game.

$5-$10 NLHE – The Venetian and Bellagio – considered by most serious poker players as the two best poker rooms in Vegas – are the only two locations that regularly have this game running on multiple tables. Wynn also has a game running at times.

$10-$20 NLHE or higher – Well past the bankroll of recreational players, games at these stakes are only found regularly at Bellagio and Wynn, with Bellagio being your best bet. Soft spots? Heh.

$2-$4/$3-6/$4-$8 LHE – Among these small stakes limit Hold’em games $2-$4 is by far the most common, and the rake may not be beatable at this level. The best place to find small stakes limit Hold’em games is The Orleans, which offers several tables of both $2-$4 and $4-$8 and actually deals more limit games than no limit. The quality of play at any limit game in Vegas at these stakes doesn’t vary much from location to location.

$8-$16 LHE and higher – Head to Bellagio and The Venetian for these games. Mirage was once the king of limit games at this level, but now only offers $3-$6. The Venetian focuses on $8-$16 while Bellagio offers $15-$30 and $30-$60.

Omaha Hi-Lo – Two properties dominate the O8 scene – The Orleans and The Venetian. The Orleans was once the undisputed leader in both O8 cash games and tournaments, but The Venetian has cornered much of the market in recent years. For smaller stakes $4-$8 O8 games, The Orleans is your best bet (if rather rock filled) while The Venetian regularly runs at least two games of $8-$16 O8 and sometimes offers a $15-$30 game.

Stud – Once among the most popular of poker games, Stud cash games have nearly gone the way of the dodo in recent years – and recreational limits have disappeared. Bellagio and The Venetian are the only two Vegas poker rooms currently spreading Stud with any regularity, with stakes of $20-$40 or $30-$60.

HORSE – This rotation of Limit Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Stud and Stud High-Lo is offered at smaller stakes around the city. The Venetian is the most likely place to find a game in the $4-$8 range. Harrah’s and Imperial Palace have spread the game at smaller stakes, as well. Bellagio sometimes offers a $30-$60 HORSE game.

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