Having played mostly ring games at various casinos, I have been trying some tournaments. Aladdin tourney is as advertised, and seems a good value. The 2000 chips to start is enough, and freeze out limits crazy play some. First 2 times around table went fast with tight play. Mainly blinds and anyone with a hand playing. First hand I had was A-10 spades and player before me throws in 600 chips. I call and see 2-4-7 all red on flop. He bets 1000 and I fold. Hit next hand I played to get back to 1900 chips. Then shortly before 1st break I get pocket 9's. Same guy that threw in 600 on my A-10 throws in 600 again, so I go all in; he calls (over half his stack) with A-9. Long story short, he rivers an ace. That's poker!

Played in $120 tourney at Mirage a few months ago and got trip aces on third hand and went all in. Got called with K-2 since guy thought I was bluffing, so doubled up and made it thru 2nd break. Being a rebuy tourney (and one of first tourneys I played in Vegas), K-2 guy threw out $100 for rebuy (and did so four more times). On that one table at Mirage there was at least $1500 in rebuys in first hour, so lesson learned on value of freeze out tourneys. You need at least initial buy-in, the add-on, and a cuple good hands to start, to do well in that tournament setting. And like others have said, Luxor is a crap shoot for the money (to compare 2 other tournqment settings).

MGM was a bit slow, probably due to time of year. After 20 minute wait, I ended up on 2-4 limit table (just playing to have fun). After tips to waitress and dealers, ended up dead even on money, so it was 3 hours of free entertainment...and it was fun.

Guy next to me had 5 full houses in 2 hours and 3 guys on other end of table (drinking a lot) were calling or raising everything. A couple had ace high flushes, but kept betting despite a pair on the board, so FH guy was up probably $300.

Nice thing was fun mix of people and nobody got ticked off by losing - all were just having a good time which is how it should be on a 2-4 table. Friendly bantering, but nothing serious.

MGM is pretty much as advertised from other reports with good management, nice tables and chairs, and on this night drink service was good (but room was barely half full). Bar noise didn't see to loud on this night, but my table was as far as you can get from bar. No dealing errors or unfriendly dealers, so will certainly play there again.