Vegas 12 step programme (for small Limit Holdem games)

Here are some “notes to self” that I wrote up during my 2003 trip. Played mostly 3-6 and 6-12 at the Mirage, 4-8 at the Horseshoe etc. Warning - some of this advice is not very advanced:-

1. Don’t play weak starting hands

2. Almost any suited cards are good when 6 or 7 players are seeing every flop

3. Don’t wait till the turn to check-raise when your hand was actually not very strong anyway on the flop

4. Don’t play for 18 hours straight when you have just arrived

5. Don’t play when 90% of the table is old rocks

6. Mornings and afternoon are full of tough players. Prime time is 7pm-1am

7. Do some reading on playing against maniacs before your next trip

8. Rake is proportionately less severe in 6-12 than 3-6

9. Be aware that some weak players will cost you money by raising with 3rd best hands against your 2nd best hand - get over it.

10. Don’t call so much with losing hands

11. Only bluff against players capable of folding a hand

12. Don’t check-raise semi-bluff tough experienced opponents on the turn when the pot is already huge, they’ve been making aggressive action on every street, and they are nursing personal animosity towards you