The Aladdin likes to call itself "The Friendliest Poker Room in Las Vegas", and they certainly lived up to that reputation during my week there. The dealers and management were first class the whole way (unlike the Bellagio snobs), and I can only see this room getting better.

The location of the room is the first positive - right in the center of the casino floor, only about 100 feet from the entrance. There's no wandering around like Bell or Mirage. It's semi-enclosed so you don't have to listen to the constant slot noises or loud bar music (thanks MGM), well most of them anyway. Plus when you're done, the entrance to the best buffet in town is right next to the exit.

It looks like they're specializing in the low limit tourney market, during the week anyway (I was there Sun-Thu). They have tourneys daily at 10AM & 1PM, plus they're planning on adding a regular evening tournament as well. Sahara had better take notice, they have a real competitor on their hands.

Otherwise out of 12 tables, they usually only have 3-4 running low limit or 1/2 NL holdem. I'm guessing the ring games are more active on weekends.

The $40 10AM tourneys seem to be the best value, especially on Mondays when they attract the most dead money. You can expect around 80-120 players for most of these. It's definitely a younger crowd for both players and dealers, although you'll see a few 30 or 40 something locals & tourists. First place is around $1000 for the 10AM and $1500 for the 1PM, with the final 9 in the money.

Speaking of the field, about 30% is dead money and it's pretty obvious who they are. Couples where the wife or g/f figures they'll lose less than they would at an hour's worth of slots, timid limp-callers that will play any ace, etc.

Another 50% are loose-aggressive players, which makes these tourneys a LOT different than playing online. Bets on the flop are much more likely to get called or raised than folded. I do most of my bluffing on the flop and found it very difficult to pick up pots by default.

However, that makes these players very easily trapped when you hit the flop. Top pair, good kicker is usually good enough to double through, both against the loose players trying to muscle you out and the dead money that will check-call with weak kickers. If you're used to playing online, I think the best strategy is to play tighter than normal for the first three levels trying to trap, then let your short stack game take over as the blinds rise.

Those blinds do rise rather quickly - starting at 25/50, 50/100, 100/200, 200/400, 300/600, 400/800, 500/1000, 1000/2000, and on up to 5K/10K (no antes). 15 minute levels at the 10 AM, 20 mins at the 1 PM. Breaks after each hour.

Overall, if you can beat $10 or $20 Sit & Go's online, you can do well here. If you play a short stack well (i.e. Party SNGs), you probably have +EV in these tourneys. You'll need cards and some luck to win, but there's enough dead money to make it worthwhile.

This is especially true at the final table. Because of the blinds rising, even the chip leader doesn't have 10X the big blind at this point. It really becomes a game of all-in or fold decisions. Let others knock themselves out, steal if you can, and pick your spots carefully.

How do I know? I won the first tourney I played. $40 Mon 10AM, by 1:30 I made an even $1000. It was originally around $1190, but I made a deal when it got heads-up to flatten the payouts. Unfortunately I busted the guy on the first hand. Q7 vs. 10-9, flopped a 7 and got the money in, if you must know.

The main reason I won brings me to the best tip I can give you in these or any low limit Vegas tourneys: PLAY AK VERY STRONG PREFLOP. IF SOMEONE HAS AQ, THEY WILL GET ALL THE MONEY IN.

Early on I doubled through twice against dominated hands. The first time I reraised, I think I gave off a false tell by looking in my opponents eyes and then looking away really fast. Believe it or not, he called all his money off with K9. The second time I made a standard 3X big blind raise, and a maniac reraised me with his AQ. This chip lead gave me excellent insulation from the blinds for the first hour and a half.

Then at the final table, I made a limp-reraise play that paid off huge. I open call from early position, attract one caller and another moves in just in time for me to stack the chips and shove 'em. AK holds up against KJ and suddenly I've got the big stack.

Out of 5 tourneys I played, I got my AK vs AQ all-in at least three times before the flop. And most of the time, it was the AQ doing the reraising. By then they're pot committed and you can let the dealer finish them off.

Also, mix in some limp-reraise plays when you have AA or AK in early position. It seems there's always somebody who falls for it, especially when the other players think you're the dead money. Just have that look, I guess.

Anyways, the rest of the week didn't go as well. One I had absolutely no cards, another I busted early on a bad play that ran into AA, another I hit a couple hands but lost a coin flip to finish 35th.

I also stopped at Binion's Horseshoe for one tourney there. Fields are older and smaller - 40s & 50s for players & dealers, mostly locals. About 50 players, 7 spots paid. 20 minute levels and the blinds don't go up quite as fast. Got the AK vs AQ all in again, flop came KKJ, but my opponent hit a 10 for a river straight and it was downhill from there.

It's worth trying, especially if you're looking for a night tourney and don't want to hit the Sahara. Otherwise, stay out of downtown. It's dingy, depressed and looks like West Virginia. There is a free topless show near the Plaza with no cover, but that's about it.

Anyways, that's the show folks. Between the poker and the buffets, it was a great week for this first timer. And even when the money's spent, there's always that line on the poker resume. Not too many people around here can say they won a tournament in Las Vegas.

J.U. - Cleveland, OH