Another summer in Las Vegas in the books. If you’re like me and are unwinding after a busy two months playing poker in the desert then you understand. The World Series of Poker — and all the series that go along with it — the ARIA Poker Classic and it’s BetMGM Poker Championship, and others constitute the most dense stretch of the year for poker tournaments.

From late May until mid July, there is poker to be played at nearly every venue in Las Vegas. The offerings are vast and varied, with different levels of buy-ins for all different types of poker players and their bankrolls. The game types are the most diverse we will see all year, as mixed game players are offered an opportunity to showcase their skills in their best variants. So how do we navigate such a stretch of poker without losing our mind (and our money)?

Advice To Avoid Summer Poker Tournament Burnout

While I can only speak from experience and what has been most effective for me, I’ll share what I’ve learned in nearly 20 summers in Las Vegas. My first piece of advice would be to know yourself. Know your tolerance and threshold for how much poker you can play, how long you can play your A-game for, and how winning or losing will affect your mindset.

There is a large range with these traits even among professional players. I know high-volume players that can play 14 hours a day every day for months, win or lose, bouncing venue to venue playing multiple tournaments in the same day without batting an eye. I know other players that circle a few events on the calendar and only play a handful of events all summer, devoting more energy to preparation and bringing their absolute best to a few events.

I’ve also found myself on the lower volume end of this spectrum, but only introspection can give you the answer for your own situation. Some players like myself also have families, jobs, or other intensive non-poker commitments that limit their schedule. Ultimately, understanding your own tolerance and expectations for the summer grind before you build your schedule is key.

Regardless of whether you’re a high or low volume player, I recommend looking ahead at the summer schedules from the major poker venues and finding the must-play events. While those events may look different from player to player and their preference in price point, this is a great starting point in building your own schedule. 

What To Remember

The other major concept we cannot forget is that poker is supposed to be fun. While making money is obviously a goal, it is not the only goal at the sacrifice of everything else. If you live your life in a constant chase of the highest ROI and every penny, then the fun is often sucked out of the game. In the context of surviving the summer grind, this manifests as utilizing your choice in venue.

When I am looking at schedules and tournaments, not only am I considering the buy-in, potential field size, field composition, etc., but also where is the tournament played? How long are the days? Do I enjoy playing at this casino? Is it a comfortable playing environment? How are the dealers, floor people, and staff? How am I treated? All these factors also go into my choice of where to play poker as they ultimately contribute to how much I enjoy my experience.

The good news is that during this busy summer season, the offerings are vast. If we don’t like playing at one venue, there’s often a similar option at another venue. I’ve found that players have discovered and embraced this idea over the last few years as we’ve seen numbers surge at venues like the ARIA and Wynn, where quality of product is put first. Not to say there isn’t still a little magic left walking into the World Series of Poker, but it’s difficult not to be pleased with the evolution of other venues’ offerings. 

Either way, whether you’re a loyal WSOP grinder, a daily casino-hopper, high stakes professional, low stakes recreational, or anything in between, you can find what you are looking for during the summer in Las Vegas. Until next year, stay cool, stay sane, and best of luck.