Mid-December used to mean a significant lull in the poker action in Las Vegas. There were a few games in most empty rooms. Now, with the Bellagio tournament in town coupled with the poker boom, poker rooms are humming. Wynn, Mirage and Bellagio are all spreading middle limit games and Caesar’s is scheduled to open its huge room December 20. In mid-week, Bellagio was spreading three 15-30 games, five 30-60, two 80-160 and one 200-400 with a list, and that’s just limit hold’em. Plenty of no-limit, high limit mixed games and even some rare stud games were going. It’s a wonderful time to be a poker player here (even though a lot of pros, even in Las Vegas, are staying home and plying their trade on-line).

I want to say a few words about the Las Vegas home field advantage. I’m not sure it fits into one week’s worth of words, but let’s get started.

Las Vegas professional poker players have a series of advantages, some of which are found in other clubs but many are not.

First, Las Vegas attracts tourists from all over the world, something most cardrooms don’t. So we play with strangers every day of the week, and get used to sizing up players and their games very quickly. We know to expect the unexpected. Many players play with the same crowd and same styles every day, and can’t adapt well to new people and strange play.

Next, we are there for the long run. We do not have to play a hand today if we don’t feel it’s a winner. We will be here tomorrow. Many players from out of town, even if they know better, have a sense of urgency about gambling and getting involved. They are only in for a few days and they want action, even if they know it’s not the best course.

Similarly, many visitors, even those who play in other cardrooms around the country, play immediately when they get to town (some even before they check in!). They are jet-lagged, tired, and their judgment is not at its best. But there they are playing poker with some of the toughest players in the country. And many professionals are well rested and ready for a day’s work. For example, I always nap before I go in to play. I sleep from 5 PM until wake up, typically between 9 and 10 PM. Then I get ready and come in refreshed and in a proper frame of mind (at least I try to). I am playing with conventioneers who have been working all day, family men who have taken their wives to dinner and a show and now can finally play some poker, and other nice folks who are at the end of their day (and some occasional losing day shift “pros” who can’t get themselves to leave stuck).

As I suspected, this is running long. I will talk more about this next week.