The Las Vegas Gambler
LINKS To Some of the
LAS VEGAS POKER ROOMS
In addition to links we also provide telephone numbers to various properties.
Instant Poker Chips - Poker chips and supplies.
BINION'S HORSESHOE (702) 366-7397, (800) 93-POKER
BOULDER STATION (702) 432-7777
MGM GRAND (702) 891-7434, (800) 94-POKER
THE PLAZA (702) 386-2249
The Plaza features 7-card stud: $1-3, Hold'em: $1-3-6, Omaha hi-lo split: $3-6, pan: 50 cents and up, pineapple hold'em hi-lo split: $1-4-8.
The Gambler's POKER Page
BASICS OF THE GAME and SOME ADVICE
Our POKER page will not make you a winner, but it will give the novice a basic understanding of the game. And if you are not too impatient, possibly a win or two.
No visit to Las Vegas should be considered complete without a visit to and some play time in one of the many poker rooms here in town.
The first thing that the new player in Las Vegas needs to remember is that the only thing that is the same as "kitchen table" poker back in Indianapolis and Las Vegas is the ranking of the hands.
The suites have their own ranking. This ranking is used to determine who is higher in the event of two identical hands and also in seven-card stud to determine who is to ante. Most poker rooms do not have an ante as such until the first three cards of the hand are dealt. In Seven-Card Stud where players are dealt Two down and the third up. The lowest card must play at least the table minimum. If two players have the same rank card up (two threes for instance), the one who has the lowest ranked three must play. Suites are ranked very simply in alphabetical order. Club, Diamond, Heart and Spade. With Club being the lowest. Therefore if the two threes were of Diamonds and Spades, the player with the 3 of diamonds would be required to play.
Poker hand ranking is as follows, The lowest hand is a hand with no matching cards, either as ranked (that is their numerical value), suited or sequenced.
"This is a High Card hand. Probably a loser
next is a Pair. This is where two cards of the same numerical value are held such as 7-clubs, 7-hearts.
Next is TWO Pair, Hopefully self-explanatory. THREE of A KIND is next (three same numerical ranked cards)
A STRAIGHT is next. This is where you have five cards that are sequenced regardless of suite. The highest straight is - 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. The lowest straight is the "wheel" - Ace, Two, Three, Four and Five. The wheel is so named because of the Ace. It is both the highest card in the highest straight and the lowest card in the lowest one. It traverses over the top so to speak. Of the high straight to become the lowest.
Next is a FLUSH. All five cards are of the same suite.
A FULL HOUSE beats a flush. A full house is a hand made up of, Three of a kind and a pair. The highest full house is three aces and two kings. This is a hand that would be hard to beat.
Except by FOUR-OF-A-KIND. Here you have four of five cards, which are the same numerical value.
, Four-of-a-kind is beaten by a STRAIGHT FLUSH. This hand consists of all five cards in numerical sequence of the same suite. The only hand that beats a straight flush is
A ROYAY STRAIGHT FLUSH. In this hand, all five cards are in sequence: 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. ALL cards must be the same suite. To summarize, hands are ranked as follows from best to least.
Royal Flush
Straight Flush
Four-of-a-Kind
Full House
Flush
Straight
Three-of-a-Kind
Two Pair
One Pair
High Card
BASIC STRATEGY & HOW to STAY in THE GAME
When you are in a game, remember, you should be playing for the long run. The only way to assure that you will be in for the long run is to play sensibly. In any poker game, You MUST have the luck to get cards that can be played. There is no shame in folding out of a hand when you do not have cards that should be played.
In Texas Holdem, a recognized good strategy is to only stay before the flop if you have a high pair, or sequential high cards. After the flop, remember, those three cards belong to everyone. If you do not have at LEAST a Pair equal to or above the highest card in the flop, or at least four to a straight or flush, Check or fold.
Seven Card Stud is played with much the same strategy, except now you can see your opponents "UP" cards. At the deal, most experienced players will fold if they do not have at least a high pair, or Three to a flush or straight. A great hand would be Aces in the hole with an ace up. Or three high sequenced cards either suited or out of suite. The hardest part of playing winning poker is to have the patience to wait for a hand that is worthwhile to play. More people lose by "Chasing" a "POSSIBLE" hand when they should have folded.
PLAYING THE GAMES
Click on these links for
This concludes our POKER Page. There are many variations on poker games that include Omaha, Pineapple and others, but almost all are played on the same premise. That is the player with the best five cards WINS. So when playing. Remember,
PLAY TO WIN
The Las Vegas Gambler
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We can only cover the bare basics of poker and all nuances associated with the game. To hone your skills, we strongly advise that the next time you are in Las Vegas, You purchase a book on the subject. The best selection of gambling books can be found at The Gambler's Book Shop. Or click here
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