Strategy to Play Good Poker and Cash in on Free Drinks?

[KramerTM]

I suppose this may only work at 4/8 limits and below, but here is the challenge. How can you play your normal session of live poker while on vacation in Vegas, and still utilize the casino's offering of free alcoholic beverages?

Well, unless you're Scotty Nguyen, most people can't play their A-game while chugging a Michelob. But who wants to pay 5$-$6 per beer in order to get a good buzz for when you hit the clubs/bars later?

So how much EV do you think is sacirifed by sitting for an extra orbit or two and ordering drinks like it's your job? Simply tighten up your hand requirements slightly to avoid marginal situations where you set yourself up for a big error later in the hand. I suppose it depends on the player, and how disciplined you are both sober and slightly inebriated, but c'mon... who here can't crush these low-limit Vegas games while buzzed?

Just a thought...

It depends on what your definition of a good time in Vegas is:

If winning at poker is important to you, drink water (or soda) at the poker table.

If drinking free drinks is important to you, drink up and consider any losses the price of a good time.

You can always sit at the penny slots and get loaded on free drinks if you don't want to lose much while drinking. (Just make sure to tip, or good luck getting seconds.)

[Superfluous Man]

I find that the drinks are so watered down and get delivered so infrequently that I can go a dozen drinks during a session (granted, an 8+ hour session) while not getting buzzed enough to really affect my play. Now, this is 6/12 LHE, where my B game (I doubt I even have an A game for limit) is more than enough to be +EV. If anything, downing drinks gives me a good image that will keep the game fun and keep the donks paying me off. Fatigue is definitely more of a problem than drunkenness.

The bottom line is, if you actually want to get drunk, either get a lower tolerance or make sure you get stronger drinks, or something.

[KramerTM]

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I find that the drinks are so watered down...

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This is true. This is why I make sure to order bottled beers. I guess it depends on the casino, but the Flamingo had no problem bringing Coronas to the table.

Good point about the drinks helping your image. Didn't even consider that.

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I find that the drinks are so watered down...

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This is true.

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Hint: Tip the cocktail waitress. NEVER had a problem with frequency, strength or quality of booze in Vegas.

[KramerTM]

I always tip the standard white chip. I take it this isn't enough to have any effect on the strength of my drinks?

BTW, do you just tip well, or do you make a special request and explicitly say that you will tip well in return?

[StevieG]

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I find that the drinks are so watered down and get delivered so infrequently

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I'm with Ignignokt on this. You're either not playing in the right place, not trying hard enough, or both.

On my penultimate Vegas trip, the bourbon rocks delivered to me at MGM Grand were in a standard lowball glass yet more booze than ice. I had to decline a couple times as the evening went on.

Back in December of last year on another jaunt, we got a round of tequila shots for the table, with beer chasers (or whatever), at Harrah's of all places.

[Sponger15SB]

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I find that the drinks are so watered down...

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This is true.

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Hint: Tip the cocktail waitress. NEVER had a problem with frequency, strength or quality of booze in Vegas.

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Exactly.

When me and Thatpfunk were playing (btw, you can only order 1 drink at a time at most places), we would order a beer and when we'd get it, we would immediatly order another one. We'd would basically drink it quick and be just finishing up as she handed our next round to us.

You will have no problem getting drinks especially when you you start tip $2 a beer each.

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I always tip the standard white chip. I take it this isn't enough to have any effect on the strength of my drinks?

BTW, do you just tip well, or do you make a special request and explicitly say that you will tip well in return?

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As said above, $2 per round should do the job. For top shelf hooch you may want to go higher.

Just tip when she brings the first round. (I've never tipped in advance, but I can't see how that could hurt either.)