Taking the plunge!!!

[rokwell]

Hello,
I have been playing poker as a second form of income for a number of years now. I have had remarkable success in the smaller ($200-$500) no limit brick and mortar cash games. I have made approximately $13000 year to date with a minimal (avg. 2 sessions per week) amount of play. I am a consistent winner in these smaller tables. I have ventured up as high as 5-10 forced 20 blinds with some success. I have not lost in my few trips to this limit but i have not enjoyed that same type of success mainly because its too big for my roll and i play too tight and dont play as well i should. Anyways, i have decided that i want to move to Las Vegas this winter and play full time. I will obviously start at the small tables and hopefully work my way up.

In limit holdem players hope to average 1-2 big bets per hour over the long run. My question is assumining that i am a winning player what should my hourly expectation be in a 200max or 500max game. I have about 15k for my roll and another 30k in emergency funds. I have found a condo just off the strip that i will rent from a friend for $750/month. I have no car note, no credit card debt, and my only recurring expenses are insurance, $140/mo student loan, and a cell phone.

I am not a partier and should not become distracted by the allure of vegas, i am just going to play poker.

I am trying to figure out if i start in the smaller games will i be starving or will moderate success provide enough income. I have NO idea what winning percentage one would shoot for nor do i know what hourly rate i might average over the long run in these games.


Any other advice would be helpful as well.

Thanks,

Rokwell

'I am coming after those stacks'

[mollila]

As an online player I cannot advice on live games.

But check out the comp programs of the casinos, and join their player programs. I have heard that it is possible to live free in a casino hotel if you clock in a certain amount of hours per month at the hotel casino. Anyone have more knowledge ont his?

[liladypokerpro]

Yep Mollila that is correct. When I lived in Vegas my ex had such a huge gambling addiction that she didn't even NEED to have Comp points on her card to get free stuff LOL She just went to one of the pit bosses (all of whom she knew by name) and said "I need such and such" and voila! It was like "Ask and Ye shall receive" LOL

So definitely getting affiliated with a casino's comps system is a great way to go to reap many rewards, like free food, free lodging, and many other freebees........but make sure you check their terms and conditions, because some of the casinos do NOT comp Poker players, unless they play a certain limit.

If you want to know which places are good to play at and which to steer clear of, feel free to ask....I don't mind sharing helpful information.

Best wishes!