Las Vegas Poker Room Reviews: Aria

I've logged hundreds of hours of poker at Aria since 2011, mostly playing $2-$5 NLH, $1-$3 NLH, and the $125 daily tournaments. And I must say, there is a lot to like and not a lot to dislike about this poker room that is arguably one of the best...in the world.

Aria Poker Room Basics:

• Comps: $2 per hour ($3 from 5-10 AM)
• Daily Tournaments: $125 (Daily, 1:00 and 7:00 PM)
• Free Drinks?: Yes (alcohol, sodas, coffee, juices, fruit smoothies, etc.)
• Number of Tables: 24 (plus separate tournament room available if main room is full)
• Aria Location: Center of Strip at CityCenter

Aria's poker room is only a few years old but has quickly become one of the most popular poker rooms in Las Vegas. Between the hours of 12:00 PM and 2:00 AM, Aria's poker room will be packed on any given day. Don't expect to show up for a cash game in the evening and get into a game right away. There's almost always a waiting list unless you arrive early in the morning. 

The 1:00 and 7:00 PM $125 buy-in tournaments Aria has daily are very profitable if you're a good player. The 1:00 tournament generally gets between 80 and 110 players. The 7:00 gets between 50 and 70 players on most nights. The blind structures for these tournaments are favorable to good players. Your starting stack is 10,000 and the blinds increase every 30 minutes. Aria's poker room became popular mainly because of these great daily tournaments. Well, that and because of Ivey's Room, which attracts top poker pros such as Johnny Chan, Jean Robert-Bellande, Ted Forrest, Jason Mercier, etc. on a daily basis.

Aria Poker Room Ratings (1-10):

• Room Comfort Level: 10
• Comps: 10
• Quality of Action: 8
• Daily Tournament Quality: 9
• Cocktail Waitress Attractiveness: 8
• Overall Rating: 9

There's plenty of action at Aria but there's also as many quality poker players there as there are anywhere. There are at least 3-4 donkeys at every table, regardless of the game you play. Aria Hotel Resort & Casino attracts clientele with money so most players staying in the hotel can afford maximum buy-ins. That's good news for you because that's more money for you to win. The best way to play at Aria is to spot the good poker players and avoid playing hands with them and pounce on the donkeys with money. That's how you'll make your money.

Your First Trip to a Casino Poker Room: How to Conduct Yourself and What to Expect

I'll never forget it. In fact, it seems just like yesterday. It was September of 2003. I was in Davenport, Iowa visiting my brother whom worked for a local casino there. While in Davenport, I went to the Isle of Capri casino to play poker for the first time for money. They had a small, smoky poker room and I had at least an hour wait to get in a 4-8 limit hold 'em game. I saw down with about $80, which I thought was a lot of money at the time. I hopped right into the big blind and didn't even know I was required to post $4 right off the bat. I did and then was dealt Q-7 my very first hand. I took down the pot with a bluff and then flipped it over and showed it proudly. It felt so good because my goal was to bluff someone out of a pot early on. I didn't win another hand that day and busted an hour or so later.

Hopefully your first crack at a poker game in a casino will go better, but don't focus on winning and losing. Focus on gaining experience and becoming comfortable sitting at a poker table. It can be a bit intimidating for the noob. So here is some great advice to help calm your nerves and make your first trip to a casino poker room a successful one.

How to Conduct Yourself

First off, never let anyone know it's your first time playing. Any time I know someone is new to the game, I take advantage of them. Act like you've been there many times. Don't ask what blinds are. Don't constantly ask if it's your turn or how much the bet is. This will set off the "he's a donkey" alarm to the good players. Know what the blinds are and when to bet prior to joining the game. If it's a $1-$2 no-limit game, the blinds are $2 for the big blind and $1 for the small blind. Those in the blind are the 2 players directly to the left of the button. The bet is on you when all players to your right have acted. Pay attention to what the players before you have bet so you aren't acting clueless when the action is on you.

What You Should Expect

Unfortunately, you should expect to lose on your first trip. If you get lucky and hit some hands, that's great. Just don't expect it. Use your first few trips as a way to gain some experience. Don't focus on winning and losing. Get comfortable playing at a casino and work on improving your game. If you do those things, you will start winning before long.

Remaining Level Headed in a Game of Ups and Downs

Before I started playing poker for a living, I guess I sort of envisioned the "job" as all fun and games. It's far from that. Don't get me wrong, poker is a fun game whether you're playing for a living or a hobby. But it's a TOUGH gig. There are so many ups and downs. As much as I wish it was easy to not get excited when I win a big pot or angry when I lose a big pot, neither are true. It's human nature to be enthusiastic after winning large sums of money and upset when losing large sums of money.

However, every successful professional poker player will tell you that you have to do as good of a job of fighting off those emotions. Like I said, there are tons of ups and downs. If you get too down after a rough session it will effect your game the next time out. If you get too excited when you win, it will make the losing sessions difficult to withstand emotionally.

So how do you find some balance? This starts away from the table. You should NEVER attempt to play professionally until you have a sizable bankroll. If you have very little money in the bank, the losses are going to sting more than if you have enough money to withstand bad runs of cards. And the wins won't feel as awesome if you have money. Let's say you have $50k in the bank and some random guy hands you a $10 bill. Big deal, right? Now let's say you're homeless and starving and that same guy hands you a $10 bill. You'd probably feel like you just hit the jackpot. Wins and losses feel less amazing or frustrating when you have the proper bankroll.

You should also lead a healthy lifestyle. That means get plenty of exercise and eat healthy. You'll feel better about yourself. Don't play poker when you're feeling down. You shouldn't show up for a game of poker hoping for a big win to help get your mind off the chick that just dumped you. Playing winning poker starts away from the table.