How to Pick Out a Fish in a Poker Room

Much attention is given to the quality of play in Las Vegas poker rooms. These rooms, which hide in conspicuous enclaves of big time casinos, have long been home to some of the world's finest players. These days, the overall level of play has dropped dramatically. With ESPN and other networks giving poker more mainstream coverage, average Joes everywhere are learning to play the game. While they learn to play games on the internet and against their below average friends, they also want to test their skill against the "real" poker players out in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, many of these players lack the skill to compete at a high level. That's where you and I come in. For experienced poker players, it is our job to find these relative new players and to take their money. As 19th century poker player Canada Bill Jones said, "It's immoral to let a sucker keep his money."

How do you find these players, though? What separates a good player from a bad one? Often times, good poker players will have to sit down and play a few hands in order to figure out who is a potential candidate for bankroll dumping. Using some simple tips and clues, the savvy gambler can eye his or her prey before ever sitting down at the table.

In general, experienced poker players come in two forms. They are either frequent visitors of Las Vegas who have plenty of poker expertise or Las Vegas locals who make a living out of playing poker. That's not to say that these players are any better or worse than the average Joe, but they are much less likely to get drunk and dump their hundred dollar bills into the table's coffers. These guys are generally playing by themselves. You won't see them chatting it up or messing around at the tables. If you see a player who is extremely friendly with the dealer and the dealer seems to know that player personally, it's a good indication that he or she is a Las Vegas regular.

It's hard to simply eye a person and judge their poker skill on that look alone. Las Vegas natives seem to be less concerned with flash, though. They are dressed as if they're ready to grind away at the tables. Tourists, on the other hand, look dressed for vacation. They will have that wide-eyed look of excitement while the experienced player will look completely content with the situation at the casino.

In addition to their flashy dress and wide eyes, tourists and new players tend to stick to the trendy hotels. Places like the MGM Grand will attract much of this. More times than not, they will be drunk and ready for action. If you notice a drunk, boisterous, and seemingly careless person at a late-night table, that's your target. Along those same lines, late night sessions are the best time to take advantage of these folks. Alcohol is their enemy as it makes their already shaky decision making that much worse.

Winning at the poker tables in Las Vegas is not as difficult as it may seem. In reality, it's all about choosing your battles correctly. There is no reason to butt heads with the best poker players that Las Vegas has to offer. Use these tips to identify the weak players and go after them. At the end of the day, your bankroll will thank you for it.