Las Vegas -- The New World Order

Peace, through superior firepower.
-Point Break

LAS VEGAS -- Laura Prepon walks by as I sit at Table 7 at the MGM Grand's poker room, her stunning blonde hair and slender body unmistakable among the dozens of poker players there.

No one seems to notice the actress.

In the past, Table 7 was usually the site of a pretty donkish $4/8 limit hold'em game. But now it's $1/2 no-limit, the breakfast of toasters.

In fact this whole half of the poker room used to be limit. The other, less trafficked side was where the no-limit players played.

But no longer. In the new world order of poker, no-limit is king. The MGM's poker room has done the right thing, by putting the popular game on the most-trafficked side of the poker room, where hundreds if not thousands of people can see it and perhaps get into the game.

All this year, from Las Vegas to New Orleans to Seattle to San Jose to Tunica and back to Las Vegas again, I've really questioned whether it was worth it for me to go and take trips to brick-and-mortars.

After all, it costs money to fly or drive, you have to pay for a hotel room and the food prices are expensive. Then there's the rake and long waiting lists and only being able to play at a single table.

At home, I can eat what I want, my rent is already paid for, I can play off of two computers many tables at a time, I receive money in the form of bonuses or 100 percent rake return (at the World Poker Exhcange-yay!) for my play.

But the $2/5 NL games here in Las Vegas have changed my perspective.

They are totally profitable and super soft. I'm walking home with a grand in my pocket, thanks to two hands where a guy in the Mirage thought it was a good idea to call my pre-flop all-in with QQ (when I had AA) and at the MGM Grand when a tilty guy with AK re-raised me all in. I had AA.

Luckily the hands held up. I think you'd see a lot of folds from experienced online players in those same situations.

And because it's such a trendy game, you get a chance to play with people like Prepon or Full Tilt poker pro Perry Friedman and the like. Definitely a way to spice up your usual routine.

This year I've really wanted to cut back on trips but now can see myself coming back more and more.

I think it totally could be worth it.