There are a fair amount of locals that play the soft games. Of course, if I were a local, heading to the MGM Grand to make some money can be a little annoying time and time again. I mean it's a huge place, it's at a busy intersection on the strip, and there are some donks that will get lucky and win a two outer. Best time for the most drunk tourists is after 8pm. I've been there at that time and there are people just going in left and right with crap.

As for TVs, there's 10 or so with the sportbook being a few feet away.

If you are worried about donks hitting 2 outers, you really shouldn't play poker anywhere to be honest.

Wait... the best hand doesn't always win?

Can I join your newsletter?

also, it's pretty easy to spot the rocks. generally, they're pretty chummy with the dealers, and have that distinctive "vegas" smell. You know the smell, 2 day old cocktail sauce and $0.99 hot dogs. MMM..

But as has been said many times before on this forum, just because one is a local, doesn't necessarily make them good.

The MGM overall seems to have pretty friendly games, and draws celebs occasionally (I played last time with one of the Dancing With the Stars dancers (the one who got to dance with Stacy Keibler... lucky bastard)), and I've spotted Moneymaker there at least once.

GL, HF

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Go Ahead, have a rub...

I am heading out in April for three days of cards. From earlier posts it appears that the best time to hit the poker rooms is after 8:00 pm. Is that mainly becuase more people are lubricated or becuase the locals have headed home? I don't care about the locals as I play in very competitive games in Chicago but I am curious for the reasoning.

Also, with regards to MGM tournaments how is the general skill level and flow of those games. I like to play the occasional tourney but not if they are full of TV junkies looking to recreate the final table from the WSOP.

Thanks for the input.

Based on this reading I will give MGM a try since its near the Excal anyway and I am looking ot shark out donks and tourists.

I have a plane to catch at 6:30 am and plan on playing NL after my last MTT at 7 pm. Assuming I win or go deep into the MTT and want late night action.

Where would you recommend I play 1/2 NL on the SOuth strip. MGM or Excal or somewhere else?

Both of those rooms are great action for $1/2 NL. The MGM will be busier and will have more tables going. And there will be plenty of fish swimming. The Excal might only have one game going late at night, but it's the softest competition I've seen anywhere.

I also really liked the room at Mandalay Bay. It's about a 15 minute walk through the Luxor Casino and shopping area. But many on here have expressed thier displeasure in the room.

hi lvmike

do you ever play nl in this room, i just have not seen any reports from you about this room.

i played here in march and august of last year and this was very fishy in the limit tables. of course you have to endure some suckouts but in the long run i always came out ahead (6 times).

thanks for all your comments about the different rooms, it has been very helpful.
is website has always been my stop for the last 3 years to find out the going ons in vegas.

pokerflip

I have visited the room in the past, but I do not play there.

There are many reasons why I do not like the MGM room.

1. Too inconvenient for a local. I come from the Northwest, and MGM is proably the most pain in the ass poker room to get to, next to Aladdin. Parking/valet is a pain, and once you get inside, you need to trek through the whole damn casino. I like a place where valet is quick, easy, and guarnateed, and there is a relatively short walk to the poker room. I play short sessions of 2-3 hours most of the time, so I am looking for a place that is uber convenient and easy to get in and out of. MGM is not it.

2. Their NL game has a $200 max. Since they spread 1/2 and 2/5, the 2/5 has a $500 max and better players overall. Their 1/2 game may be very soft, but with a low $200 max, many people buy in short, for $100, so the money on the table is often low overall.

3. It is a very noisy poker room. The noise from Centerfuge is fine if your're a 21 year old, but for me, it just gives me a headache.

4. Nitty complaint: I don't like tables with racetracks.

5. I like playing with the mid 30s and older crowd. MGM is a lot of early 20s punks. True, they are usually horrendous players, but I play recreationally for fun and profit, so I look for places to have a good time, with the average Soccer Mom or Dad, not their kids.

There are some of the reasons why I personally don't care for MGM. Of course, that is just me, and your mileage will vary.

Presently, I have been playing at TI. Here is how TI compares when related to the above points:

At TI, conversely, as an example:

1. Very easy to get in and out of. I valet there, and they have never once refused to park my car. Self parking leads directly to the poker room as well. Coming from the NW, it is very easy to get to overall from Racho/Highland/Industrial/and crossing over Spring Mountain.

2. TI's lowest and only NL is 1/3 with a $500 max. There is no lower game, so it is the best and softest seats available. They rarely spread 2/5, so all the fish end up at the same 1/3NL table as me. Many buy in for $100-300, so there is more money on the table in general.

3. TI pipes in good 80s/90s music. It is away from the slots and nowhere near a bar or lounge, so you hear poker and music only, with no big distractions at all.

4. No racetracks.

5. Mid 30s and older is TI's base.

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I've heard it suggested to valet at the Tropicana and just walk across the overpass to the MGM. You enter right by the poker room. Just make sure you actually enter the Trop when you arrive and leave through the doors a bit to the right of the valet entrance.