100+15 at the Mirage

[Tweetle]

Hey everyone, I decided it was time for me to stop lurking and start posting. This marks my first actual post... Hopefully this isn't off topic even though it took place in a B&M casino. I apologize ahead of time for the lack of details. As this was my first live event of this sort and my head was buzzing and my memory is sketchy.

I was in Vegas last weekend and, as the clever ones amongst you already know, I played a 100+15 at the Mirage. This was my first weekend of live poker and my first live SNG. I sat down at the table ready to wade through a rock garden of crafty veterans... wow I couldn't have been more wrong.

1500 starting chips with 15 minute levels. Top 2 spots pay. That's important. Unfortunately. 700/300 maybe.

On maybe the third hand I picked up a couple Cowboys UTG+2. UTG+1 minraised and I smoothcalled with the intention of jamming to any kind of a reraise. (This was based on the action in the first two hands which can best be described as maniacal.) Sure enough, the button complied and bumped it to maybe 600. UTG+1 calls and I insta-shove. The button seems to be in a total quandry and ends up calling. UTG+1 calls quickly as well. Hummmmm am I in trouble? NOPE! button rolls over AJo and UTG+1 proudly shows his Q9 soooted. AJo guy (bahaha) then explains why he "had to call there." All I heard was heeeee haaawwwwww. My hand held up and I had the early triple up. Right here things start to go wrong. The dealer looks at me and says "make sure you tip the dealer when you win this." Why don't you just put me on the cover of SI already. I just replied with "let's not get the cart before the horse." After that I picked up a few small pots while the entire table proceeded to gift their stacks to grandma in the 8 seat. Finally, it got three handed with Grandma, a friendly Asian man, and myself. Grams had the chip lead and I had a few more than the other guy. With the blinds and anties getting up there I was playing pushbot party SNG style with most Aces. The lady informed me at one point that I "better watch out, someone is going to call me eventually." REALLY?!? Is that how these things end? Eventually I picked up A10 on the button, jammed and the Asian fellow called with 88. I didn't improve and was crippled. After that they folded way too much to let me creep back into it. A bit later, I was in the BB with KJ, they limp/complete (standard, they were serious limptards.) I jam with the KJ. Grams calls with A2. Board comes A Q x, K, x. No river miracles and I'm out in third. At that point I congratulate them both and leave while quietly wishing horrible tragedy on them. Just kidding. Kind of. After walking outside to get some air I came back in to find them finishing the chop. DAMN YOU and your chop!

I really, really, really wanted to win that thing but it just didn't happen. Despite all my steals, I know for one thing that I was playing my button poorly. Folded some hands I should have at least made a small raise with.

I play 22s to 55s on party and can honestly say the play at this thing was well below the 22s. To sum it up, if you guys are in Vegas, hit those Mirage SNGs.

[pergesu]

I would have been pissed that the dealer told me to tip him. I mean I'm a really good tipper so it's not that I'm trying to be stingy, I'm just not going to be told by someone I should tip him.

How much do you tip dealers? You can't tip them with t$ right? Do you keep chips w/ cashvalue and tip them with that?

How often do you tip them in an SNG? I would think just if you won at the end.

[Tweetle]

If you cash you should tip them. I was going to ask what the standard amount was if it became an issue...

In all fairness, I did inform the table early on it was my first time playing live and that prompted the dealer's comment. The dealers were rotated every level as well so she wasn't just looking out for herself. Regardless, I didn't take any offense.

[Nick M]

I just read the first few sentences of this, and saw you smooth called a min raise from the UTG player when you held KK. This isn't a good idea. You're letting the whole table have a go at a pot that's rightfully yours. You need to shut all those guys out. There is bound to be a guy with say 56s, or even a one gapper or two. I have no interest in letting them see a flop. If you were on the button and the CO min raised I MIGHT flat call to mix it up, once in a blue moon. But not at a BM game in vegas where I'll never see these people again for as long as I live. Even on the button I would be really scared that the BB would call the extra bet with any 2 cards that work together.

another interesting point. if this thing pays 2 spots, proper stategy would be to gamble a little to try and get chips. sooooooo here is another reason that shutting out a suited connector is important. I doubt you could rely on the theory that since we know suited connecotrs are absolute crap in SNGs, that they know this incredibly helpful piece of information, and won't play them.

[ClockWyze]

StaticShock

What limits do they have for SNG's at the mirage?

I will be there in 2 weeks..

anything higher then 115?

[Elektrik]

[ QUOTE ]
I just read the first few sentences of this, and saw you smooth called a min raise from the UTG player when you held KK. This isn't a good idea. You're letting the whole table have a go at a pot that's rightfully yours. You need to shut all those guys out. There is bound to be a guy with say 56s, or even a one gapper or two. I have no interest in letting them see a flop. If you were on the button and the CO min raised I MIGHT flat call to mix it up, once in a blue moon. But not at a BM game in vegas where I'll never see these people again for as long as I live. Even on the button I would be really scared that the BB would call the extra bet with any 2 cards that work together.

[/ QUOTE ]

You missed his reason for the flat call, and it was a very good one. He was almost certain from the first two hands that it would be reraised preflop, allowing him to shove. Which it was. Which he did. Which is a very nice play for the situation. In a more passive SNG, it would indeed be a bad play.

I would never tip a vegas dealer. That seems just dumb. They get paid a certain amount by the casino, if they don't like it they can get a different higher paying job. I don't get tipped for doing my job. I hate how everytime I go to vegas everyone is looking for a handout. In every other city I have been to, the cab drivers are greatful for a normal tip. In vegas I get yelled at if its not at least $5. Ridiculous. We need to reign in this overtipping. They get used to it and then come to expect it. If a dealer is cool and has a good personality, makes you laugh, go ahead and tip him, but if he's just doing his job, F him.

[ClockWyze]

[ QUOTE ]
I would never tip a vegas dealer. That seems just dumb. They get paid a certain amount by the casino, if they don't like it they can get a different higher paying job. I don't get tipped for doing my job. I hate how everytime I go to vegas everyone is looking for a handout. In every other city I have been to, the cab drivers are greatful for a normal tip. In vegas I get yelled at if its not at least $5. Ridiculous. We need to reign in this overtipping. They get used to it and then come to expect it. If a dealer is cool and has a good personality, makes you laugh, go ahead and tip him, but if he's just doing his job, F him.

[/ QUOTE ]

Most casinos outside of vegas split the tips (tokes) between all the dealers

In vegas most of the dealers keep their individual tips.

You get the best dealers, and the best service. This is what Vegas is known for.

Don't be a cheap [censored].. it's christmas - TIP!

I'll save my tips for the drink girls. Its not like the dealers going to stop dealing if I don't tip him. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]