As you may well have heard, people are traveling once more. Though the pandemic is not fully behind us, 2021 travel data at CNBC showed clear upticks, with North Americans leading the way. And with vacation having been off the table for the better part of two years for many, a lot of people are taking the opportunity to go on long-planned “bucket list” trips.

This would seem to include a lot of Las Vegas getaways. While there are some long-term tourism forecasts indicating that travel to Vegas may start to wane over time, the latest numbers have represented an astonishing rebound from Covid. Estimations for 2021 were that Vegas would take in about 38 million visitors, as compared to 42 million in 2019. Clearly, Sin City has not lost its appeal.

Because of this, we wanted to post some guidance for those who might be eyeing that bucket list Vegas trip. And while there are countless elements of the city to focus on, we’re going to focus on what, to many, represents the core of Vegas: the poker scene.

Here are some ideas for how to navigate a poker trip in Las Vegas.

Watch Rounders First

Rounders might just be the most popular poker film out there. It may also be the best to watch before a trip to Vegas. Why? Because (spoiler alert) it ends with Matt Damon’s Mike McDermott hitting the road for Nevada to try his luck in the World Series of Poker. Of course, we don’t advise you get too caught up in the drama and expect to play as well as McDermott. But watching the film before you go will get you nice and pumped up to hit the Vegas tables.

Hit The Highlight Poker Rooms

Once you’re actually in Vegas, there’s no sense getting too inventive –– just hit the highlight poker rooms first. If you’re not familiar with the local casinos, the general consensus is that the best poker rooms in Vegas are those at the Aria, the Wynn, and the Bellagio. The Aria is a classy, modern establishment where the dealers have particularly good reputations; The Wynn offer a luxurious, opulent setting that may bet match your vision of a high-end casino poker room; and The Bellagio is known as a hot spot for high-stakes action. Other than these three, The Venetian, MGM Grand, and Caesars Palace are among the famous resorts known for excellent poker.

Study Texas Hold’em & Hand Rankings

As you might expect, you can find lots of different types of poker in Las Vegas. But the beating heart of the poker scene is Texas Hold’em –– so study up! You simply won’t enjoy your time if you don’t have a good handle on how this game is played. The basic process is simple:

• Each player receives two “hole cards,” then decides whether to match the “big blind” to stay in.

• Three cards (“the flop”) are dealt for universal use; players check to stay in the hand, bet to up the stakes, or fold.

• A fourth communal card (“the turn”) is dealt; players check, bet, or fold.

• A fifth card (“the river”) is dealt; players check, bet or fold.

• Remaining players show their hands.

Naturally you’ll want to read up on some strategies as well. But a firm grasp on the process of the game enables you to enjoy the Vegas tables.

The only other knowledge that’s absolutely essential is that of standard poker hand rankings (and a rough understanding of the probability of landing each one). From bottom to top –– in both ranking and probability –– the rankings go as follows: high card, pair, two-pair, three-of-a-kind, straight, flush, full house, four-of-a-kind, straight flush, royal flush. Anything higher than a full house (0.144% chance of hitting) is exceedingly rare.

Set Your Budget

Finally, remember to set a budget for your poker activity; losing more money than you can afford to sort of kills the fun. Remember that most players lose more than they win, and also that some tables (those at The Bellagio in particular) will be more challenging than others. The best strategy is to set an amount aside for poker during your trip, and then parse it into either an equal amount for each night, or amounts proportional to the buy-ins at each room you’re visiting (given that you’ll need more for a $100 minimum table at the Aria than the $4 Venetian tables).

Follow these tips and you’ll be in for a great time at the Vegas poker tables! We hope this serves you well, and please come back for more of our content soon.