Looseness of Belagio SSHE?
 

I was wondering on average how many people see the flop at a small-stakes limit hold'em table at Bellagio? Is it usually loose (i.e., 6-8 see the flop) or more tight (i.e., 3-5 to the flop).

Do you know if this seems to be a standard across the popular casinos on the Vegas strip?

People often talk of low-limit games where you get something like 7-8 people seeing a flop, and I don't see that often in any of the online games I play (even at Party you get 3-5 to a flop typically), although there are occasionally some looser tables. I'm wondering what the popular Vegas B&M rooms are like.

Re: Looseness of Belagio SSHE?
 

In the $4/8 games I've played at the Bellagio, I'd say it's somewhere in between. Maybe 4 to even 6 people seeing a flop.
But despite the seeming tightness, many of these people are inexperienced players, some of whom have never played poker before and end up playing $4/8 as their first game because it's the lowest limit at the Bellagio.
But Vegas B&M without a doubt is looser than most tables you'd find online, especially at a comparable limit. From time to time you get those "live" live tables where everybody is seeing the flop.
I'd say the standard on the Strip at low limit hold'em would be 1). loose play and 2). vast inexperience. Check-raises go far, for example. For many of the other players it means the nut and people fold to you accordingly. Or people will "gamble" and inappropriately call your raise.
I've yet to encounter a player in Vegas at one of these low limit tables who says he plays online who even knows what PokerTracker is, for example.

Re: Looseness of Belagio SSHE?
 

Thanks for the info. I can imagine that if you can get past the rake, these games must be quite wild (and juicy).

I usually tend to play about $1/$2 limit online and usually buy in for about 25xBB (and maybe reload if I take a couple of bad beats and my stack dips below 12BBs); is that a reasonable buy in for bricks and mortar play as well? (Since the games are looser, I expect that there will be more variance, and of course the B&M rake and other charges might take a bigger toll!)

Any idea if any of the well-known places offer a reasonable $2/$4 or $3/$6 game? I'm planning to be in Vegas with some friends who don't play much, and they'd be looking for a lighter game.

(I'll search the archives for this sort of info - but if you know it off hand -- definitely let me know; also, sometimes this type of info is time dependent).

Re: Looseness of Belagio SSHE?
 

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Any idea if any of the well-known places offer a reasonable $2/$4 or $3/$6 game?

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Relatively near the Bellagio there is Monte Carlo, Luxor and Excaliber, all of which have lower limit games that are quite soft. Haven't played in the new MGM room, but they may have something like this also.

Re: Looseness of Belagio SSHE?
 

If you're looking for a place that has 3/6 for your friends and higher limits for you, I'd recommend Mirage. I think MGM might also be an option but I haven't played there.

Re: Looseness of Belagio SSHE?
 

Any 4-8 or lower in Las Vegas will be loose and full of donkeys no matter where you play.

Re: Looseness of Belagio SSHE?
 

2/4 at Bally's should be your first stop. 2-6 at Excalibur should be your backup choice. Very loose.

Re: Looseness of Belagio SSHE?
 

Agreed on all points. I love the 4/8 at Bellagio.

A few additional observations. From 10am-3pm the games are tighter during the week. A lot of local retirees are there trying to pass the time and supplement social security with a bet an hour.

Once the late afternoon comes the early bird specials head home and the games get looser when the late night drinkers/partiers arrive. Lots of college age and late 20's "cool guys." They're loose and aggressive till they get stuck, then they're loose passive.

At night they get even jucier as the drunk guys stop by intermittently.

I'd say 4-5 to the flop mid-day. 5-6 late afternoon-early evening. 6+ late nights.

I don't enjoy the lower games at other places personally. Bellagio treats your right and the chairs are perfect.

Re: Looseness of Belagio SSHE?
 

I played the 4/8 and I think there are a lot more people to flop than the mirage 3/6 game. the mirage game is a lot better imo.

Re: Looseness of Belagio SSHE?
 

wynn 8/16 is all i have to say. oh so joooocey

Re: Looseness of Belagio SSHE?
 

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I don't enjoy the lower games at other places personally. Bellagio treats your right and the chairs are perfect.

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I'm gonna have to massively disagree with you on this one. Bellagio treats you terribly, especially compared to a place like Wynn. Also, the chairs are very pointy and you can get stabbed easily. The cockatil waitress's struggle to reach the back of the room.

Re: Looseness of Belagio SSHE?
 

The biggest difference in play of games in Vegas is not really by casino, but as others have pointed out, it is day vs. night and weekdays vs. weekends.

Tightest games are mon-friday days. Loosest games are Friday and Saturday nights, esp after midnight. Best selection of games(ie the most low limit games) are as follows in order: Mirage, MGM, Bellagio, Wynn, Luxor, Excalibur. If you will consider off strip games, Binions, Plaza, Sams Town, and Orleans also have quite a few games going. I have also played in good low limit games at Stardust, Sahara, IP, Harrahs. There are others as well

Re: Looseness of Belagio SSHE?
 

What level of playing ability do you think is appropriate for the Wynn 8/16 game? Do you need Ciaffone/Brier MLHE or SSHE/WLLH skills? I can imagine that weaker players tend to go for the smallest (or next smallest) game (i.e., from 2/4 up to 5/10). At 8/16 I can only imagine that the number of complete novices will be small compared to those who know something about what they're doing.