Dave Nagler - Home Game Assassin

When i booked my recent vacation to Vegas i looked for a hotel with large, comfortable rooms - the Aladdin fit the bill. Fortunately, the 1/2 no limit cash game at the Aladdin almost foot the bill for the whole trip.

Aladdin's poker room is located up an escalator in a room seperate from the main casino. Because of this, i feared that the tourists who normally drop into a poker room --simply because they walk by it on the main casino floor-- would not bother to sit down and give away their cash. Fortunately, i was dead wrong.

After watching five hands go by with no pre-flop raises i knew it would be a good night. Eight weak-tight players and one clueless calling station with a roll of $100 bills made my vacation. It's a shame there aren't more games in which you can see every hand for $2 against players who can't get off top pair.

Another good place to play 1/2 no limit is Tropicana. I assume locals wouldn't bother playing there because the room is so small and pathetic looking. The rakes are also somewhat higher. However, the Trop poker room seems to be a magnet for drunk tourists. After watching one guy in a designer suit piss away $300 (all the while slurring his words, hitting on the waitress, and trying to order burritos for the table) i knew this game was gold. After he raised to $40 pre-flop i looked down to find QQ on the button. After re-raising to $100 he called and showed down J8 offsuit??? After busting out again, the guy pulled out a 6 inch knife and stabbed it into the table! Security was called, but fortunately Crocodile Dundee left without wounding anyone.

Next time you're in Vegas and want to make some easy cash, drop by Aladdin or Tropicana between 12am-5am. Play tight and aggressive and pay for your trip. Cirque du Soleil, filet mignon and lobster are much more enjoyable when you know some yahoo with a knife payed for them.