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Holdem Tournaments - Planet Hollywood or other suggestions?

Discussion in 'The Poker Room' started by PopsOLA, Sep 26, 2012.

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  1. PopsOLA

    PopsOLA Low-Roller

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    My trip will be Oct 9th-13th so I can attend the tourny on either tues, wed, thurs, fri. I prefer Tuesday since that is the night we will be staying at PH the first night there.

    I see the PH Tourney is $70 buy-in (53+12+5) and the structure doesn't look entirely too bad. I prefer to only spend 2-4 hours MAX playing. I don't want to waste my entire day playing. From what I read the PH Tourney pays out top 4 players and have a guaranteed $2.5k payout for each of their 4 (10a, 1p, 4p, 7p) daily tournaments. $1.5k is is guaranteed to first place. From what I have read most of the tournaments don't get enough players to match the pot (47+) so it seems like a pretty good deal. Now, with that being said, has anyone played this tourney? Of course, being that we probably wont get more then 47 players, I would like to play at a time that has the least amount of players so which time slot would you expect to have the least players on a Tuesday?

    Also, if anyone has played another tourney with a better structure or lower rake (PH is $17 Rake of $70 buyin so 24% rake)?


    Source: http://www.planethollywoodresort.com...K_Rackcard.pdf
     
  2. crussader

    crussader Low-Roller

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    From my perspective, these two goals are incompatible. The only way a tournament is going to finish in two or three hours is with a structure that turns into a shove-fest by level 5 or so.

    That being said, if I were going to play one it would be PH because of the extra prize pool pumped in from the cash game rake.
     
  3. KKB

    KKB VIP Whale

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    I notice they tweaked it from this summer.

    For me the concern is what the blinds start at, starting stack & how long blinds are.
    NO 15 min. blinds--they are going up too quick.
    Starting stack/blind structure are related. I have seen some that look decent, then notice the blinds start at 100/200--you would have to get a pretty solid starting stack to justify this.
    For instance, I play Harrahs 10AM/3PM which gives you $6K in chips, 20 min. blinds, starting at 25/50...antes at 4th level. Or TI which gives you $4500, 20 min. blinds, starting at 25/50, no antes (but does allow rebuy in first hour). These are solid tourneys in the $50-60 range.
    This summer I played PH, liking the guaranteed pot...but realized quickly the structure didn't allow me time to play my game...needless to say didn't cash one of those (I typically cash 1/3-1/2 of the tourneys I play in a trip).
    IF they lowered the blinds to 25/50 and your starting stack is at least $4k, I'd say it is worth the price. But if blinds start at 100/200, you are better off at my other 2 suggestions.
    I can't strongly recommend any other tourneys--either 15 min. blinds, short starting stacks, high rake or too high starting blinds/stack ratio.
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2012
  4. KKB

    KKB VIP Whale

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    I disagree with this quote. 5th level is typically only 1 hr. 40 min. into a tourney that could last 3-4 hrs. Yes, short stacks will often begin to shove--either out of impatience, or seeking their spot. But for those of us who spend most of our gambling time playing Hold Em tourneys, we have sought to create a decent stack that allows us to continue our play without needing to shove at that point.
    Two hour tourneys can be a VERY different animal to 4 hour tourneys--the only time a tourney lasts 2 hours is 15 min. blinds/short starting stacks or if you only have 1 table to begin with; and if the structure is solid, 1 table isn't all bad.
     
  5. PopsOLA

    PopsOLA Low-Roller

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    Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I am not really wanting to do Vegas long tourney because I do them in my local city with decent structure so I dont care to fly to vegas just to play something I can do here. With that being said I also dont wanna coin flip for $70, so I guess PH is maybe out of question.
     
  6. Steelers7

    Steelers7 Low-Roller

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    You can try AVP's (All Vegas Poker) website for a tournament listing and structure. I would call the casino to verify the info, although I have always found it to be pretty accurate, but I haven't been on that site in a while. Also, the Mirage may have some sit-n-go tourny's that are fun to play in when they have enough interest to start one. Weekends are generally your best shot at this.
     
  7. KKB

    KKB VIP Whale

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    I agree with Steelers suggestion

    AVP is a good place to get general info, knowing it might be slightly different than you see online.
    We have done Mirage SNGs...and have always cashed. Not sure why--the structure is horrid.
     
  8. mjames1229

    mjames1229 # of visits includes only trips w/ hotel stays

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    I just called 29 Vegas casinos (too much inconsistency between All Vegas Poker and the casinos own web sites... call me anal) for this weekend and a couple look quite interesting. We try to stay under $100 buy in.

    Mirage at 11:00 AM Saturday - $120 entry and $50,000 in chips (30 minute levels, blinds start at 500/1000). We could be there all day playing this.

    Binions at 2:00 PM on Sat and Sun - $105 and $20,000 chips, guaranteed $5K prize pool. Levels are 20 min for the first three, then go to 30 min.

    Stratosphere at multiple times - $65 entry and $8,000 in chips. 20 min levels.

    Aliente Station at 7:00 PM Monday - A very intriguing $70 for $10,500 in chips. 20 min levels. My only concern is if anyone drives that far north, and would enough people go to make a game?

    There are five of us, trying to get 10 tournaments (and a Packers game from Rum Runners on Tropicana) between Saturday morning and Tuesday afternoon. There will be a lot of consensus building, but it should be an AWESOME time.
     
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  9. KKB

    KKB VIP Whale

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    WOW!

    How long did it take you to make those calls?:nworthy:

    One reason I dumped that Mirage tourney off my list...starting blinds are 2% of your starting stack; Binions is .25%, Aria is .5% if you want to stay on the strip--much better structure than Mirage. (for those who need clarification, the lower % your blinds are in comparison to your starting stack, the greater the chance your playing skill will have time to overcome luck) Yes, these tourneys last 7-9 hours+ to cash.

    Stratosphere doesn't make my list as their rake is HORRID--35%!!!

    Aliente probably goes, mostly with locals.
     
  10. mjames1229

    mjames1229 # of visits includes only trips w/ hotel stays

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    Only 2-3 hours... Not as long as it would seem.

    I am in the promised land now, and I am disgusted. We played three tournaments today.

    Stratosphere at 11:00 AM only had 18 entries.
    Flamingo at 2:00 PM had only 14 entries.
    Hard Rock at 8:00 PM also had only 14 entries.

    Mind you, we were 5 entries in each of those games.

    On a Saturday night. I don't get it.
     
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  11. PopsOLA

    PopsOLA Low-Roller

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    Ouch!!! Maybe you should try somme of the guaranteed tourneys. Even though the structure stinks, if you end up with only 25 people I am sure you still have a decent shot at skill outplaying luck.
     
  12. mjames1229

    mjames1229 # of visits includes only trips w/ hotel stays

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    Yesterday, hit the following...

    South Point at 10:00 AM with 23 entries.
    Golden Nugget at 7:00 PM with 22 entries.

    All five of us played South Point, we lost two guys to partying while watching the Packers game.

    Very afraid of the quality of game today as scads of tourists go home. Looks like we'll be on the Strip most of the day to get whatever tourists we can and try to avoid locals games.

    Our entire group is struggling for a cash, as except for the Golden Nugget's $105 tournament paying 4 spots, the rest have payed only 2. I was the bubble at the Hard Rock, 6th (busted while trying to make a move into the cashing spots) at the Golden Nugget.
     
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  13. mjames1229

    mjames1229 # of visits includes only trips w/ hotel stays

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    Our last full day in the desert brought tournaments with better participation, but I was completely uncompetitive.

    10:00 AM Monday at Planet Hollywood with 38 entries.
    2:00 PM at Monte Carlo with 22 entries
    6:00 PM at M Resort with 35 entries
    10:00 PM at Golden Nugget had fewer than 8 and was not held.

    Tomorrow will either fund us at the Mandalay Bay at 9:00 AM or back at P Ho for the one at 10:00, then we head back home.

    Dammit.
     
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  14. PopsOLA

    PopsOLA Low-Roller

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    How was the PH? That is the one with a guaranteed $2500 payout and $1500 1st place I believe right?
     
  15. mjames1229

    mjames1229 # of visits includes only trips w/ hotel stays

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    Killing time on the plane... Ain't technology grand?

    P Ho GTD $1200 for first, $2000 overall.
     
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  16. KKB

    KKB VIP Whale

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    Interesting to hear of your experiences

    I think the off strip properties struggle unless they have a strong local following ( hard rock, strat--not officially off strip but may as well be)
    Flamingo structure pretty bad.
    Clearly the ph game is working!
    I too have not seen as much success in the last year or two. (used to cash about half the time...lately 25-35 percent) Worse structures? Change in typical players. Dunno. I keep evaluating my game...picking best structures...still figuring its a blip in my luck....
     
  17. mjames1229

    mjames1229 # of visits includes only trips w/ hotel stays

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    Back now...

    I posted a similar topic on the Five Hundy FB page and there was some good discussion, too.

    I played nine tournaments and cashed in none. I think some of the factors are that although I probably was no more than a hair above average as a player, now that below-average players aren't participating any more, the definition of "average" has changed and I am probably now below that line.

    I also think that when only two spots cash, even in a small tournament if two guys amass a large chip stack, they stop playing and everyone else gets blinded out (that's what happened to me when I neared the finals at Hard Rock).

    Finally, the fortune of "races" that define the end of every game play a part, too. Personally, I had my two worst beats both in separate Planet Hollywood games (and I know that everyone has their bad beat stories, but those aren't as important as MINE are). :rolleyes: In Tuesday morning's game, I was in the final seven (four cashed) and I had pocket 8s. The short-stack went all-in and I figured that it was a desperation push, so I called. Surprisingly, another short-stack also went all-in. The cards were flipped and the flop included an 8, giving me a set and had me counting my money already... then the dealer put out a runner-runner flush to one of the other guys. It left me with only three blinds left and I was done before getting to a cashing spot.
     
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  18. KKB

    KKB VIP Whale

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    I always appreciate others' insight...

    I have rarely had people acquire big chip stacks then sit back...rarely encounter anyone getting that big of a stack that they can afford to do that; though I have seen some who have the theory they need a huge stack (perhaps to do the above?)...or they just donk out. I never feel the need to be big stacked (always NICE, but not necessary). I could see this happening more in cheap tourneys or those with small starting stacks more often.

    I still see many poor players in Vegas...plenty of donking out, in tourneys everywhere. (last trip I saw the biggest donk move I have ever seen anywhere--I don't think even our loosest bar poker players would have made the move I saw)

    But you certainly have given me food for thought. I am going to evaluate my opponents more closely next month & see if perhaps you are true. May even begin keeping a notebook (as advised by several poker pros books I have perused...)

    My next trip was going to essentially be a solo trip (re: POKER POKER POKER). DH is going w/ a bunch of guys; I booked the same flights so I could get a ride to the airport & avoid parking fees.:ssst: Won't even be at the same hotel! BUT a bunch of girls from his work are looking to come along--could be fun! 2 newbies, one likes to gamble/play poker alot. A wide range...1 in 20s, 1 in 30s, 1 in 40s (me) & 1 in 50s--all fun loving. SOOOOOO we shall see...
     
  19. Champster1

    Champster1 VIP Whale

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    I'll be in Vegas from 10/10-16th (double booked at Ballys/Flamingo - for the kids and GVR and Red Rock - for me and missus). Interesting post that I'll be watching (although my budget is a little lower... $70.00 or less).

    Maybe our paths will cross!
     
  20. PopsOLA

    PopsOLA Low-Roller

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    For sure!!! :) Ill year my VMB shirt LOL. JK. Maybe.
     
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