Difference in Style between 1/2 and 2/5 NLHE in Vegas

[canis582]

I am going to be in Vegas for superbowl weekend at the Monte Carlo. I only have limited no limit experience in card rooms and was wondering if any of you old heads had some tips. Based on allvegaspoker.com I think I am going to try the 1/2 and 2/5 games at Ballys and Excalibur and possibly Monte Carlo, the Flamingo and Aladdin’s. What do you all think the difference in style is between the 1/2 games and the 2/5 games?

I saw in a recent post Al Capone Jr. said he doesn't need to bluff in these games to win. Care to expand?

Id like to try to advertise at one of the tables and make people think I’m a gambler before slowing down. If I can get to the showdown with 95s or Q8o I bet I can take some people out. Anyone else do this?

[Bremen]

What he means is that many people at these limits are unbluffable. I had one guy yesterday who called most of my preflop raises in an effort to hit two pair with his dominated hand (at least I assume thats what he was doing, since he knew I was a tight raiser.. I assume). Just bet your legitamate hands. You'll do fine.

A word of warning; be ready for massive suckouts. Yesterday I twice had opponents allin on the turn only to have them hit three outers on the river :-(

I played in AC btw, but from whats said the players in vegas are just as bad.

[JKratzer]

I have limited experience in vegas....
I was there a couple weeks ago and I played only NL at several different casinos, mostly 2/4 or 2/5. You don't need to "advertise" at all. I never did, people would even comment occasionally on how I was tight and yet my good hands ALWAYS got paid off.

[rdu $teve]

These smaller stakes are vitually just like the party 25 NL games. Idiots calling with anything, no matter who is betting. They probably wouldnt even remember your 85o bluff.

You will run into some good players in the 2/5 games, but not many. My friend played against Huck Seed (`95 WSOP champ), at the Bellagio, and said Huck wasnt even as good as you would expect. Even these good players aren't worth bluffing against, you just need to play against the fish.

[PhatCasino]

heres a rule i go by...
AC = tougher competition 24/7
LV = tougher competition non-holiday weekdays
= easy competition on the strip weekends

superbowl weekend coming up should be free money in vegas!
but not so much in AC...

[Don Olney]

1/2 has more poeple here in Las Vegas on vacation, wanting to play as many hands as they can before going home -- you will get called with some VERY STRANGE HANDS now and then --- do not forget, they have it in thier mind that it is only a $100 bucks-- it is not big deal to bust -----
2/5 you will get better players who will not call as many hands if the raise is right ----
the EXCALIBER has more vacation players, same as the Monte Carlo and Mandalay Bay --- as you move down the strip you have tougher players getting intothe game ---
you can make a good hit by not bluffing at a pot and lpaying a very tight-aggresive game --- good luck and have fun

[lucas9000]

[ QUOTE ]
A word of warning; be ready for massive suckouts. Yesterday I twice had opponents allin on the turn only to have them hit three outers on the river :-(

[/ QUOTE ]

i played in many of the vegas 2/5 and 1/2 nl games in november while i was there. he's not kidding. be prepared for HORRIBLE players who will stay in with anything. thus, be prepared for big swings (up and down).

[Photoc]

Key to winning NL 1/2 and 2/5 games in LV.

VALUE BET the [censored] out the hands. These people will check and call with any pair. Value bet, do it again, and again. Semi bluff raise scares the [censored] out of them as well.

[canis582]

[ QUOTE ]
Key to winning NL 1/2 and 2/5 games in LV.

VALUE BET the [censored] out the hands. These people will check and call with any pair. Value bet, do it again, and again. Semi bluff raise scares the [censored] out of them as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Whats a semi bluff raise?

[bhp374]

A semi-bluff raise is raising with a draw. It's a bluff because you haven't made your hand, but it's not a total bluff because you have a chance to make the best hand if one of your outs hits.