Vegas vs. Poker

It looks like I can either go to Vegas for 3 wks july-aug or use the $ to replenish my poker bankroll.

A few years ago my bankrolls were depleted and in the summer I'll have about $2k. I haven't played poker (w/real $) in 4yrs I know I'm rusty but comfortable w/$2k bankroll.

Any advice? Who am I kidding I'm posting here of course I'll get advice!

IMO, bankroll it if you have regular soft games to play in. If there are enough games, and you have the drive, you could grow your roll - which is probably better than going to Vegas w/o a roll to play with, IMO. But keep in mind that from what I hear, games are much tougher than they used to be.

But that's coming from a poker player, who wouldn't really enjoy playing -EV games in Vegas.

With the small budget I can't play much in vegas. If my # stay the same Trip costs $1200 witch leaves me $800 to play.
Without playing I don't know how the tougher tables will treat me.

If you're comfortable with it, and you think you play winning Poker, take your 2k BR and try to win $1,200, then take that $1,200 and go to Vegas with the 2k BR to play.

Quote: Mission146

If you're comfortable with it, and you think you play winning Poker, take your 2k BR and try to win $1,200, then take that $1,200 and go to Vegas with the 2k BR to play.

This, although, know that you are probably just slightly under rolled for your average 1/2 live game.

Try to find a couple real soft games and help your bankroll out.

So if you went to Vegas are you playing other table games? If you're going to just play poker I don't see any special reason to go to Vegas. Just curious what state do you live in?

Quote: Beardgoat

So if you went to Vegas are you playing other table games? If you're going to just play poker I don't see any special reason to go to Vegas. Just curious what state do you live in?

Yeah, where you are geographically is a big deal. If you are in a bad poker market, you might be better off playing poker in Vegas if you can get cheap travel/hotel and are able to avoid the money suck that is Vegas. If you are in LA, stay in LA...lol

Quote: Boney526

This, although, know that you are probably just slightly under rolled for your average 1/2 live game.

Try to find a couple real soft games and help your bankroll out.

I've seen that the bankroll should be 20x buy-in this puts my bankroll 1/3 of where it should be.

live in NYC, yes I can go to a local underground room but don't want to for various reasons.

I was not planning on playing any particular game in Vegas, It's just I don't think I will be able to go for a few years and will need an extra 2k for the same trip.

On Friday I chirped @ a table WOW for 3hrs pre-flop the pot was at least $100. The good news it took me about 10min to get a read on all the players, I find that I get a better read when I'm not playing.

I have decided to play poker. I won't cancel Vegas rooms till I have to.

The first time I played @ a casino I didn't care about the bankroll and had a steady source of income this time is different (scary) so I need to setup my rules such as only buy in once per day, cash out if up by x or down by y, 40% of winnings go back to the bankroll, etc.

Any thoughts?

I hear underground games are usually super soft as long as it doesn't get robbed or busted. Vegas post-WSOP would likely be the tougher game.

Quote: whatme

I've seen that the bankroll should be 20x buy-in this puts my bankroll 1/3 of where it should be.

It's quite a bit more complicated than that, although 20x buy in is a good rule of thumb for cash games.

The problem is that since bankroll management deals with your expected edge and variance, you can only approximate it in poker. If you play in soft enough games, a 10 buy in roll could suffice, but I don't think too many games are that soft. (The only times I've seen games that soft were .25/.50 home games, although they presumably could exist at bigger games.) Other games you should never buy into, simply because the skill level of the other players is too high (better than yours or your skill cannot overcome rake.)

IMO, if you have games available that are pretty soft you've got a good chance of winning a decent amount of money playing.

You could try to find almost aggro games whereever you play and play simple TAG poker to lower your variance, while maintaining profitability until your bankroll is 20+ buy ins.

An $800 bankroll for 3 weeks is pretty small. My head says to cancel the Vegas plans and save up so you can have a good time when you make it out there. But my heart says go to Las Vegas. Las Vegas is my favorite place in the whole world so I would never pass up the chance if I had an opportunity!

$800 3wks I can have a good time.

Head V. Heart thats the problem.