Quality of Competition at 1/2 and 2/5 NL Post-Black Friday

Lawzag · **Joined:** Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:50 pm **Posts:** 9

With the increase of online players turning to live play since Black Friday, I was wondering if there has been a noticeable change to the level of competition at your average 1/2 and 2/5 NL games along the strip? As someone who has not played in any of these games for a couple of years, I'm curious if the influx of online players has changed how I should approach these games. For example, in Colorado, I've noticed that these games tend to run more aggressive and many of the players are now much more knowledgeable about poker strategy. I do not mean to suggest that your average players are "stronger" or even "good," but I do see a noticeable change in how I need to approach the game.

As I will be in Vegas in a couple of weeks to play mostly 1/2 and 2/5 NL, I just want to prepare myself for any type of changes. In the past when I played in Vegas (about 3 years ago), I would normally just play basic ABC positional poker and it was pretty easily to be successful. How have things changed, if at all?

Tucson Jim · **Joined:** Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:18 pm **Posts:** 613

That is probably the best stragedy. It's been said the bad players either get better or lose all their money. Last month on the strip the pros were still fleecing the sheep but the number of sheep was noticably lower.

I got caught between a husband and wife team (Venetian 1/2) with the second nut flush. He had the nut flush and when the board paired she made a boat. They could have got an Oscar with all their hemming and hawing about what to do. Was lucky to only lose $200 on that hand but I suspected something was up. Didn't realize they were together until the guy next to me pointed it out later.

At the lower limits it's all about the cards, bluff or check raise once in a while but if you make a habit of it they'll catch on pretty quick. Don't play weak cards from early position, raise in late once in a while and stick to the ABC mind set.

Good luck.

Ian · **Joined:** Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:16 am **Posts:** 1010

In my experience 2/5 games in Vegas became significantly tougher from black Friday until the end of the WSOP. Since August, however, the games have once again gone back to being soft. YMMV.

Lawzag · **Joined:** Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:50 pm **Posts:** 9

Thanks guys for the info.

kmumf · **Joined:** Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:25 pm **Posts:** 14

I see Lawzag is not doing a lot of work today. 22 days till Palazzo...

blue3715 · **Joined:** Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:16 am **Posts:** 189

Ian wrote:

In my experience 2/5 games in Vegas became significantly tougher from black Friday until the end of the WSOP. Since August, however, the games have once again gone back to being soft. YMMV.

Where are they (2/5nl) the softest on the strip? Note I will be mostly playing tues-fri and morning to late afternoon.

Between just Bellagio, Aria, Venetian, Caesars, and (others?) which is the place to avoid the sea of regulars?

vookenmeister · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2011 2:43 pm

blue3715 wrote:

Ian wrote:

In my experience 2/5 games in Vegas became significantly tougher from black Friday until the end of the WSOP. Since August, however, the games have once again gone back to being soft. YMMV.

Where are they (2/5nl) the softest on the strip? Note I will be mostly playing tues-fri and morning to late afternoon.

Between just Bellagio, Aria, Venetian, Caesars, and (others?) which is the place to avoid the sea of regulars?

I'd be interested in hearing this as well. Lately, I gravitate to scattered tourneys when in town. When I do play, I usually play the 2/5 cash at MGM and like it. I've also heard Aria is soft but only played cash there once. I've never played any cash at Bellagio. I've never played 2/5 at Caesars or Venetian.

I'd love to hear a 2/5 ranking from anybody who's played any of the rooms regularly. I have no real sample.

BentonBlakeman · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2011 8:09 pm **Posts:** 1631

Hands down 2/5 at Bellagio is softest. A few reasons why:
1) $500 max buy in- most 2/5 games have $1000-$1500 max buy ins so those are the games that the better players choose to play
2) 5/10 running at Bellagio- the 5/10 NL at Bellagio is a 1500 cap, so the better 2/5 players often move to that game when they are winning

Often at Venetian there is no 5/10 so the best NL players there have to play 2/5. At the Wynn the 5/10 is uncapped and plays very deep so the better 2/5 players still may not make the jump. Plus the 2/5 at Wynn is 1500 max. Arias 5/10 is 3k max buy in, which can be intimidating for the better 2/5 players, so they tend to stay in 2/5. 2/5 at Caesars is pretty much non existent. 2/5 at MGM is good when it goes which is normally weekends only.

blue3715 · **Joined:** Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:16 am **Posts:** 189

thx so much, exactly the info I was looking for!

vookenmeister · **Posted:** Wed Dec 28, 2011 8:22 am

I guess I will be checking out Bellagio in a couple weeks

Quality of Competition at 1/2 and 2/5 NL Post-Black Friday

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