Ranma4703 - We're working on getting everyone on the same page with the Straddle. It was submitted to the state that the worst position (under the gun) gets priority. If we have a majority of players that would like it to be the button - I have to resubmit to state and have it approved...which I'll do, not a problem. I'll reaffirm that our dealers are clocking players out. We do have some new dealers that were already working at SugarHouse and went to poker dealing school. We are monitoring them closely. I appreciate hearing the good AND the areas we can improve. It's like instant feedback daily. Raye

I support the straddle. It makes the games more fun and increases the action. If you don't like to straddle find a table where nobody is talking, I'll bet you they won't be straddling. Don't get rid of the straddle because a few nits can't figure out how to make more money off of it.

Mississippi is intercoursing genius. My table played like Sat night on a Tues afternoon.

Heeynoow - We are working on submitting a tournament schedule. In the meantime to celebrate Poker in Philadelphia, Personalities from Philly's favorite TV stations, radio programs and newspapers will play for a charity of their choice in a media poker tournament. The top tournament winner receives $5000 for the charity of their choice. That might generate some buzz...Raye

Anybody know of a way to get there via public transportation from NYC and how long it will take? Are there busses or train options? Would love to come check it out

I would rather play with people who straddle out of position. Why give them the option to straddle in position when they already straddle under the gun?

Amtrak from Penn Station to Philly takes around an hour twenty (Acela is faster obviously). Plenty of buses, Mega, Bolt, and Greyhound, which take around 2 hours. Once you get here it's a cheap cab to the casino, should be less than 10 bucks.

For what it's worth, I would love to see Sugarhouse stay BBJ free. I will be shocked if a BBJ doesn't eventually happen. If players demand to pay a higher rake poker room managers are gonna make it happen.

I am curious about this as well and also haven't made the trip here just yet.

Seems like taking a Greyhound from Port Authority to Philly then catching the MFL around the corner at 11th & Market is the simplest inexpensive way to go. 2 hour bus ride, 5 stops on the train, a 10 minute walk and you're there. This would cost less than $20 roundtrip.

To avoid SEPTA and the walking, you could take an Uber X ride to/from Sugarhouse and the Greyhound in Philly for about $10 each way

And if you don't mind spending more, you can get to Philly from Midtown a half hour faster on Amtrak vs. Greyhound (Amtrak Acela would be closer to an hour faster)

And this is a bad thing because....

Excellent. I can confirm that it was back to the 'Philadelphia Straddle' (really like this term) today. It is definitely better than Mississippi straddle since it encourages people to straddle out of position to take it away from you, instead of in position to take it away. Had several people who wouldn't normally straddle doing it.
People straddle more when they can do it in position, especially bad aggro players.So much more straddling happens with the Mississippi, and 9 handed straddling is always -EV.

He's saying he supports it I believe, he thinks it is genius

This Philadelphia Straddle sounds great, hope it is here to stay!

Raye,

I just got home from my first time there. All I can say is, "Wow!"

I was expecting the worst with it being a temporary room, but i was wrong. Everything that Chester does wrong, you guys did right.

From the chargers at the table, the wifi, the snack bar, the lighting and mostly the room between the tables. In my 3.5 hours there I only saw one dealer that was obviously new and he wasn't bad, he just lacked the confidence that I'm sure he'll get soon.

Yeah, it's going to be a little difficult in bad weather and the bathroom situation isn't the best, but for a room that will likely only be in place for a year I was really impressed with everything you put into it.

I can't imagine ever going to Chester again.

I guess I'll reserve judgment on the straddle until I've played more. More straddling makes a better game.

What is the Sugar House Rule for "Straddle"?

Is there a published Sugar House Rule Book? If not, there should be.

"Roberts Rules of Poker" is the normal guideline with "local rules" added. Using this as a guide makes it easy for new players and old players alike to crossover from other poker rooms, and have at least a general guideline at what is and is not acceptable.

http://www.pokercoach.us/robspkrrules4.htm

On Bravo right now I see this:

2-6 Holdem 1
1-3 N/L Holdem 1
1-3 No Limit Holdem 2
1-2 N/L Holdem 6
2-5 No Limit Holdem 1

What's the difference in the two line items for 1-3? Different min/max buyins?

N/L vs No Limit.

Prob just a config issue

People are liking the "Philadelphia" or "Sugarhouse" straddle more than not liking it at Sugarhouse. I've played about 56 hours of the first 115 hours Sugarhouse has been opened. Sometimes an invention or idea happens by mistake or accident. Think penicillin. Lol. I think Sugarhouse needs to keep the straddle for branding purposes. Imagine in 5 years when people speak globally about the "Sugarhouse" or "philadelphia" straddle. The only issue players I see are having with the straddle is the sometimes inconsistent ruling or misunderstanding of the straddle rules by a small # of floor members. I personally got the few floor members on the same page. I've seen more straddles in 4 days than Ive seen in Chester in 2 months. Also the ability for an early position player to steal the straddle from button straddlers is one of the most hilarious and also action inducing moves in the game. Action for Tuesday is more reminsicient of a weekend and the action blows away Chesters.

I can't think of a single good reason to switch the straddle anyways. One argument was people are use to the Mississippi straddle. That is untrue. People in PA are use to the UTG straddle. People in Delaware are use to the Mississippi straddle. Also no one would ever say Mississippi in the north if it wasnt for poker or racism.

Now is the time for Philadelphia to become the leader in poker for Pennsylvania. Chester and Bensalem try and act like they are Philadelphia but everyone knows that one is a suburb and the other is something else entirely. The only way Philadelphia becomes the heart of poker in Pennnsylvania is for Sugarhouse to become the leader. Sugarhouse keeping their unique straddle is a move in the right direction. It shows vision and innovation and makes poker in Philadelphia truly unique. So, Raye, let's keep our straddle and not become like one of the "other guys". Also, we have the two hardest part's accomplished already. 1 approval by PGC and 2 players are use to it already and some love it

Billboards are up on bridge and I-95 about Sugarhouse poker. Also Sugarhouse is averaging 25% of total tables going in Philadelphia area between 6pm-midnight After 230am Sugarhouse has been the casino leader in games going. Chester has been doin well with their loyal 10am-6pm crowd. Those players at Chester during those hours are super loyal and it's almost reminiscent of a 50 year anniversary for a high school. It's the standard OMC crowd. Lol. Parx has been killing it still due to them being Parx and their New York crowd. They are the state leader for poker in PA with everybody else competing for #2.
Sugarhouse can and will keep improving until they are #2 in state and will be in a good position to compete w Parx for #1 when Sugarhouse moves into their permanent room later next year. With New York getting poker at a later date and Sugarhouse growing and moving into their location, Sugarhouse has a chance to be #1 statewide in a couple of years. Good luck Raye!!!! You have a ton of positive momentum and your success shall be impressive.

Listen to the poster above, he knows what he is talking about and spends a lot of time in the games so he knows what's good for them. I've now been to the room twice, opening day and Tuesday night. Both times the action was considerably better than Harrahs. On Tuesday night we even got a 1/3 table to straight up convert to a 2/5 game. I've never seen that happen in my hundreds of hours in the games at Harrahs. Nothing like seeing a 1/3 player pool just say F it and up the stakes, even if the stacks were a bit shorter than usual.

Embrace that straddle!!!! Call it the Philly straddle, make it yours and own it. Put it on posters and all around the room with instructions and how it works. That's all people are talking about in the room, when they can straddle, who missed their straddle, who acts first. Straddle discussion has replaced the "how high is the BBJ" talk that we usually hear.

On that note, hold out on the BBJ as long as possible. Yes it will bring in some recreational players and give you the ability to offer the same promos that PARX and Harrahs are offering right now, but not having one is currently a differentiator for you. Players who play high stakes realize BBJ is bad for their games, especially since their stakes run less tables and thus are less likely to hit the BBJ. When you do give in, try getting approved for a mini BBJ. Spreading the money out as much as possible across the room is important. Having 2 players hit for 200k and never come back is bad for business, that's 200k out of our economy.

Dealers were rough on Tuesday. I'm pulling for the newbies because I know they're trying to make a living and I give them props for getting out there and trying something new. Hopefully they can get up to speed quickly because some of them are dealing 8 hands during their rotation. Also, if a floor sees 8 players giving instructions at the dealer on how much change, who needs cards, etc., you may want to ask players to let them work it out on their own. I think all the directions and instructions for players can be just as bad for the dealer since it adds to their confusion listening to 2-3 people at once. I was one of the people barking at one point and realized I was just making the problem worse.

I used the free valet last night, it was awesome. Car was picked up immediately after drop off. I texted the number when I was ready to leave, car was ready in less than 5 mins and I go outside after the text message and it's waiting right by the door.

Love the room, keep up the good work. Can't wait to get back.

I wish there was a way for rec players to understand how fundamentally stupid it is to fund their own "promos" and flock back to a room to try to get a piece of their money they handed over.

Having a "philly straddle" is a great idea. Own it, and use it.

How safe is the room? I have heard a number of horror stories about Sugarhouse that are largely responsible for my decision not to go here so far. Is it safe to carry cash for 1/3 or 2/5?

Valet park.. it's free and right next to the poker room. Every bad story I've ever heard was in the far reaches of the parking lot, and to be honest I haven't heard any in awhile.

Some of the cab and Uber estimates are wrong.

If you come by Amtrak (cheapest trains are now $54 each way) a cab ride from 30th St. Station to SH is not $10, it's more like $15 plus tip. Best bet is to take the Market-Frankford El (station is outside of 30th Street), cost is $2.25 for a ride; just follow the signs inside 30th Street to SEPTA Blue Line - East to Frankford - and get off at Spring Garden Street. When you leave Spring Garden Street station, travel east (a right turn) on foot towards the river, away from Center City skyline, and walk to Delaware Ave/Columbus Blvd (street has two names); turn left AFTER you cross the street. Walk about 10 minutes and SugarHouse is on the right.

If you take the Greyhound to the Philly Bus terminal, take the same Market-Frankford Line (blue line) from 11th Street to Spring Garden and follow walking directions. From bus station, a cab would be much less expensive than from 30th Street.

If you take Megabus, get off at 5th and Market (not 30th Street) and grab the MF El at 5th to Spring Garden, same walking deal. Cab even cheaper from 5th and Market.

You can take Uber but the base fee is $15 from bus station or 6th and Market (we use it all the time). Also, you can get off the Megabus at 5th and Market and get the Sugarhouse Shuttle. In fact, check the SH Shuttle for rides and see where it matches up with the stops I mentioned. I think it's free (check SH website).

Sorry for all the options, but I know my way around the city and go to NYC often via both Amtrak and buses. If you go Greyhound, make sure to book an e-ticket for round-trip, much cheaper than paying at the Port Authority via regular fare (used to be half price, in fact).

With good timing, lowest time traveling is about 2 hours or less (using Amtrak), highest is about 2:30-3 hours, depending on NJ Turnpike traffic.

So far pretty safe. I don't use the free valet and have not experienced anything shadiness or safety issues In the parking lot so far. I am usually very aware of surroundings and have a good radar for people that have nefarious intentions. Haven't seen anyone other than security looking intimidating. Which is a good thing

2AM and on my way to Sugar House, home of the PHILLY STRADDLE!!!

Come get a piece of me in the 2/5 game.

-RJ