Various Vegas questions!!

[DanS]

Please feel free to answer all, some, or none of these!

1) It's my impression that in the games I am willing/able to play (4-8 to 20-40), there are three rake structures:

a) 5% to $4, no jackpot (Mirage, Bellagio)
b) 5% to $3, $1 jackpot (Orleans, Monte Carlo, etc.)
c) 5% to $3, no jackpot *YAY!* (Binion's) *UGGGH*

2) Which rooms have the best chairs? No, seriously. I'll be reffing hockey for 8 hours a day, and I don't want my back to wreck me.

3) If I choose to take a free room, it's going to have to *unfortunately* be at Terrible's or Santa Fe Station. Which is less crappy/more accessible to the strip?

Thanks,
Dan

[HDPM]

Santa Fe station is where the hockey is at I take it? I have stayed there and it is OK, but it is a drive to the strip. Kinda nice to walk in the rink during the summer too. It is pretty far northwest. So if you have no car you are screwed IMO. I have not stayed at Terrible's. It is pretty close to the strip. I would guess it is crappier than Santa Fe, but the location is better. Will the hockey all be @ Santa Fe, and if so, how do you get there from Terribles?

I like the chairs at Bellagio. I may be the only one. Others have complained about back pain from them.

[Dynasty]

1) Your rake information is right except the Flamingo has just a $0.50 jackpot rake.

Clarkmeister made an interesting observation. The recent rake increases at the Bellagio and Mirage clearly make it better to play low limits at a place like the Monte Carlo or Mandalay Bay. With the same total rake, you essentially have a free roll with their high hand bonuses.

2)The only observation I've made about chairs is that I don't like the Bellagio chairs.

3)Terrible's is one mile east of the center of the Strip. If a one mile walk in warm weather doesn't bother you, it's a great choice as far as location goes. I've never stayed in the hotel, but it seems decent from the outside.

[DanS]

Thank you both for the replies. The Ice Gardens, which had two rinks, apparently closed. If Santa Fe Station is decent, I might as well make that my 'base of operations.' At least that way I'll only be singly screwed (i.e., getting to the Strip), rather than be all the way around screwed.

I really wish more places than Binion's were 5% to $3, no jackpot. Are there any places other than Circus Circus that rake to 10% so I can stay the hell away from them?

Dan

P.S. I'm going to be in town March 13-16. It'll be my first time other than a 'stranded for 36 hours with $10 living on Big Gulps' incident which was thanks to the utter stupidity of a good friend (long story). I know I'm not a big name poster and I can't buy anyone a steak dinner, but if anyone wants to take in a semi-pro hockey game (my friend plays for the Las Vegas Royals) or play some 3-6 to 6-12 with me, that would be cool.

[GOODBEATGUY2001]

Try Mandalay Bay. In its 4-8 HE games, the blinds are $1&2. The chairs are comfortable. Soft games and courteous staff.

[PokerBabe(aka)]

Dan- Santa Fe Station is very, very far from the strip. Unless you have a car, forget it. Babe

[DanS]

Thanks Babe,
Good point. Besides, what the hell's the point of LGPG'ing if the only people there to see it are the 85 year old retirees play 1-3 stud? /forums/images/icons/wink.gif /forums/images/icons/tongue.gif /forums/images/icons/smirk.gif

Dan

[GOODBEATGUY2001]

Played HE and Omaha 8 at the Binions and contrary to what some posters on this forum has said, I did'nt find it "run down". When I played there 3 weeks ago, there were 4 tables of low limit games going on at 10PM. The atmosphere in the room itself was about average. The chairs were okay while the dealers were friendly and acted professional.During the 3 -4hours that I played, I really couldnt find anything to complain about. The games were a little bit tougher than at the other poker rooms at the strip but didnt have any problems. Also, heard the same kind of complaints that I read on this forum about its owner from the locals but just wondered what's it all about. On that Wednesday evening, the place was full of other gamblers- slot machines and other table games. Although, it is not in the same classy ambience as that of the Mirage ,Bellagio or Mandalay Bay, my first impression of it is that it is not that bad.

[Howard Burroughs]

Dan,

You know Santa Fe has not had a poker room in a few years don't you?

BTW, I love the Babe but she just does not like to drive!


If you rent a car, what's a little drive? The Sante Fe is a way nicer hotel in my opinion. And the Memphis BBQ is to die for. They sometimes have blues bands at the Memphis BBQ also. They have the best food court in all of Las Vegas IMHO. You can also walk right next door to the movie complex.
You can play poker a mile (or so) down the road at Texas Station, where you will also find another movie complex (in case they are not showing what you like up the street).

You would also be at the doorstep of Mt. Charleston. If you decide to see a little more of Nevada then free beer, big pots, beautiful cocktail waitress',etc.



Where ever you stay, Good luck & have some fun!


H.B.

[Howard Burroughs]

BTW, If you have time for Mt. Charleston. You may want to visit Mary Jane Falls and/or Robber's Roost.

Good Luck

H.B.

[HDPM]

I stayed @ the Santa Fe when they were in transition and didn't have the new stuff in. It sounds better. When I worked there over a summer the Santa fe was new, and I didn't think it was that great. Sounds like it has improved. I forgot to mention the Texas Station, which you brought up. I stayed there too one time when I couldn't get anything closer to town and really liked it. I thought the poker room was a good low-limit locals type room with good action. Nice free food for the players too. So check out Texas Station if at the Santa Fe. I would still rent a car probably. Find a dirt cheap rental place and take the free room at Santa Fe maybe?

[HDPM]

I stayed @ the Santa Fe when they were in transition and didn't have the new stuff in. It sounds better. When I worked there over a summer the Santa fe was new, and I didn't think it was that great. Sounds like it has improved. I forgot to mention the Texas Station, which you brought up. I stayed there too one time when I couldn't get anything closer to town and really liked it. I thought the poker room was a good low-limit locals type room with good action. Nice free food for the players too. So check out Texas Station if at the Santa Fe. I would still rent a car probably. Find a dirt cheap car rental place and take the free room at Santa Fe maybe?

[DanS]

Hey Howard and HDPM.
Good advice. I think Santa Fe is out on 95 (?), so I take it I just continue that way to Mt. Charleston. I think that the better part of the 3.5 days is going to be hockey, poker, friends, booze, etc. But if I manage to get my girlfriend to go to Vegas this summer, Mt. Charleston it shall be!

I thought all the Station casinos have poker, I guess Santa Fe is the exception. Thanks for the heads up on food and music, Howard.

Rental car wise, the Enterprise(s) out here (S.F. Bay Area) have a deal that for a 3-day weekend, you get a compact with limited mileage for $9.99 a day. I drove to Seattle, and ended up with a midsize, CD player, and unlimited mileage for $26.99. They never knew what hit'em when the (new) car's odometer went from 27 miles to 2127 miles in three days.

Dan

[SlyR]

3 of us, all avid players, just spent a week at Binion's and we didn't play a ring game anywhere else. The 4-8 Holdem and Omaha games are okay as far as I could tell.

[Howard Burroughs]

Yes, out on 95, Mt. Charleston.

Santa Fe, right off 95, is a ways from the strip as Babe said, but Texas Station is right down the road (Rancho).

Sante Fe used to have a poker room.
When Stations took over the hotel, they shut down the card room. I believe because it is too close to Texas Station that they did not want to compete with themselves (as far as poker goes that is).


The last time I got a royal in a live game was at the Santa Fe. Dinner for two, $300 bonus in cash, a jacket, plus I won the pot. Most rooms give you a keychain. No wonder the room closed down. :-)


Best of Luck

H.B.