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12-04-2011 , 11:49 AM
what is the average/maximum buyin at the 2-2-5 games?
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12-04-2011 , 12:55 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by piedone
what is the average/maximum buyin at the 2-2-5 games?
6 of the 8 ppl at the table bought in for 1k when I was there a few weeks ago.
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01-06-2012 , 12:15 PM
I went to the Radisson last year and there was like only 1 table with a few people waiting... They said they would open a new table but they never did as I was waiting a half hour... So I left and went to the Holiday Inn which seemed like the only place that had activity. I am heading back to Aruba next week and would be interested in playing a tournament.

Does anyone know of any tournaments that occur weekly?
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02-07-2012 , 07:30 PM
Anyone actually stay at the Radison hotel? I have heard it is amazing. thanks
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02-18-2012 , 04:58 PM
Radisson = Collusion Central..... There is this couple who show each other their cards after folding... I ended up playing at the Excelsior the following night and they are both dealers there! lol...
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05-22-2012 , 01:47 PM
Radisson much much nicer Hotel than Holiday Inn- but Holiday inn much more action.
But only a 5 minute walk to each other.

It appears the Westin now also has poker as they recently ran a big Tourn.
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05-23-2012 , 05:13 PM
What games/limits are the Holiday Inn and Radisson spreading?
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05-30-2012 , 11:31 AM
Just about to leave Aruba now.

Radisson and excelsior are the only two places that have any poker action - games tend to start late here apparently. I was with my wife so I didn't get to play much.

Excelsior: 5/26 saw a 2/5 nl game w $100 min buyin running around 10 pm. They eventually started a 2nd table around 11pm. Seemed like a mix of tourists who suck horribly and some laggro Aruba regs.

5/27 wandered in w wife around 830pm, saw 1 nutty game of 4/8 lhe going. Lots of pre flop aggression, and banter in the local language. Didn't watch long, but I thought I saw ppl leading out on flops for $8, which seems weird for 4/8. Saw a local call a raise from ep, play aggro on a 986 flop, aggro on blank turn, and check-raise the river 9 vs a reg while talking smack. Then proceeded to spike his 75s like he scored a touchdown and high-five his buddy as the dealer pushed him the pot. I explained to my wife that this would typically be considered rude.

Radisson: 5/27 saw no games going around 8pm, but was intrigued by a "free tournament" held every monday (tomorrow) a 7.

5/28 show up w wife at 7 to play in the free tourney. First 25 players get 1k chips for free, $10 entry gets you 1k chips if you are late. Unlimited $20 rebuys gets u 2.5k til 1st break (just before lev 5 300/600 15 min blinds). $20 addon optional at break. Also 1 time "dealer appreciation" bonus for $5 gets u 1k in chips. Somehow, starting from a prize pool of $0, they end up w a pool of over $1.2k. I decided to play for free, got bounced at 50/100 when A2s<j9o after I shoved pre. Wife lasted longer til 200/400. People play about as well as you'd expect for a $20 buyin tourney.

5/29 played in the $40+20 bounty tourney w 7k to start. 1 $40 rebuy for 7k and 1 addon at break allowed. Saw raises to 600 at 25/50 getting pre flop calls, lol standard. Got bounced at 600/1200 when I shoved 10.6k w AJs and ran into QQ.

The poker rooms at both places are pretty small, and the atmosphere is more like someone's home game vs a by-the-rules full fledged casino operation. I personally witnessed players redrawing seats for the tournament and the TD and dealers allowing it. Also, it wasn't made clear at the time of entry, but the rebuy was allowed at ANY time, not just when you ran out of chips.

All in all, a fun trip. Aruba is a pretty awesome place to vacation.
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06-01-2012 , 08:33 AM
Played at the holiday inn in April (radisson didn't have any games going). had at least 2 2-5 games, a 5-5 PLO and a 4-8 lhe, as well as a tourney. Game was a mix of ****ty tourists and ****ty locals. Most players were loose passive or lag, with 1 or 2 unimaginative rocks. Got rip roaring drunk, to the point of having difficulty walking, and still thought the competition was loltastic.
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07-13-2012 , 10:56 AM
Just got back from Aruba and played a little poker there. Only two casinos offered live poker, Radisson and Excelsior. Radisson was where I played, looked in at Excelsior and was dead. Radisson had around 3 tables of 2/5 nl holdem, I think a 4/8 limit holdem and starting a Omaha game. It is nice they have a board where you can write down any game you would like to start. The game played like any low limit game, mostly bad players. It is weird going into casinos in Aruba, from the outside they look nice, once you are inside looks like a rundown minor leage casino. I would recommend playing at the Radisson, dealers were profesional and the action decent.
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09-24-2012 , 12:50 AM
I'm about to book a trip to Aruba and suppose I'll stay at the Radisson for ease of pokering.
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09-25-2012 , 01:39 PM
I have played in Aruba for 4 or 5 years. I played at the Radisson once, big 5-5-10 game, but never went back. It was the only table running, besides limit games, and I had to wait quite a bit for the game to take off.

Now I play at the Excelsior Casino attached to the Holiday Inn. Definitely not as nice of a room, but much more action. Usually 2-2-5 games, and occasionally 5-5-10 or 5-10 games, and sometimes 5-5 PLO. They spread limit also.

They have some small buy-in tourneys early most nights, but good prizes with the rebuy funds. Tournament play is very weak.

Tourneys usually start around 7pm, and cash games closer to 8:30/9:00pm. Time of year and day of week may influence start times during busy season, weekends and holidays.

Cash games play is a mix of locals and tourists. The tourists vary in strength with many enjoying the "happy island". The regulars have some strong players and many ABC players and rocks, with a few LAGS. Overall, I have found the games to be enjoyable and profitable, despite the $10 max rake. A few of the regular PLO players are very good, but there are also many PLO players making donations.

Depending on the night, games will run up to 4am, when they lock the doors, but I've played until the sun has come up.

At times, especially in the early am hours, no one speaks English, except the dealers, floor, or others when you ask them a question. In general however, I have found most of the locals to be very friendly, and no one to be unfriendly. Tourists usually come in and out throughout the morning. When no one else is speaking English, it can get lonely, but often there is someone to speak with. You can also request that foreign language not be spoken during the hand, and about the hands afterwards, if you see it happening.

While it does have the feel of a home game, I have always felt very safe, both in the casino, and walking back to my hotel room afterwards. I have never noticed any collusion, except for soft playing friends. I have even had a local back me up when I felt there was a bad ruling on the table. OK, its not perfect, but I've seen problems inside US Casinos also.

The Radisson is hosting November tourneys: http://www.arubapokeropen.com/. I played in a few last year and was amazed at how weak the tournament players were. The Excelsior hosted this event last year. I would expect the Radisson to get more cash game action during, and possible after, this event, but numbers are still limited.
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09-25-2012 , 02:35 PM
oh really? thanks. when does the PLO run at the Excelsior?
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09-25-2012 , 02:58 PM
The PLO game runs sporadically. There's a group of locals that like to play. If they show up, the game will usually go. Occaisonally, on a slow night, they will not spread PLO if it may jeopardize the last NLHE table or two. One night, PLO was the only game going. I sign up every night for PLO when I arrive, and sometimes it goes. If it does run, there are usually vacationers around that also like to play PLO.

You can ask Marta or Nick, the poker room managers, if they think it might go that night. They are both very friendly, and may even make a few calls.
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10-08-2012 , 10:04 AM
For all Aruba poker players, PPC Aruba is excited to announce we will be returning in May of 2013 at the Westin Aruba. Tournament information, dates and schedule below. We will spread any cash game on request. Look forward to seeing you there.

PPC Aruba - Players Poker Championship (http://ppcaruba.com) is proud to announce that it has partnered with the Deepstacks Poker Tour (http://deepstacks.com) to present the 2013 DeepStacks Poker Tour - PPC Aruba. The event will run May 2-9th, at the Westin Aruba, 7 events including the $2,500 buy-in Main Event which features a $200,000 guaranteed prize pool. The tournament already has commitments in place from DeepStacks Pros, Michael Mizrachi, Michael Matasow, Tristan Wade and Randal Flowers.

http://www.pokernews.com/news/2012/0...ruba-13409.htm

Tournament tournament schedule.

http://www.playerspokerchampionship....of-events.html
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10-22-2012 , 02:05 PM
I played at the Excelsior a few nights last week and it was a nice little room. the $2/$5 game ran every night even though October is the slower season. Floor said that the action picks up around/after Christmas. The game would start around 9pm each night. Rake is punitive, $10, with $2 also occasionally dropped. I wasn't there long enough to inquire about everything as I was confused about the occasional $2 drop, but there's a $50k BBJ (AAATT or better loses to quads or better) and some other promos like aces cracked always gets $50, $50 for quads and other high hand bonuses, etc.

The game actually seemed a little tight at times, but people were playing really poorly, and occasionally you'd have people who would just dump off their stacks. This one lady folded AK for $140 more vs. a short stack all-in after calling like a $40 raise in what had become a $350 pot because "ace king doesn't always win" and something else about not wanting to get involved or hassle with it or something lulz.

I heard there is a new poker room at the Occidental hotel, but I didn't check it out. They'd had a "big" $500 tournament the week before with $50k guaranteed.
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01-23-2013 , 06:06 PM
Anyone know if there are any other hotels with poker?

My last time down (May 2011)- Hyatt & Occidental had a few tables,
but both were closed the week I was there.( only Rad & HI were open)

With Westin running a Deep Stack Tourn Series in May- do they have a year round room ?

I thought I read somewhere that Occidental was open & very active ?
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01-25-2013 , 03:55 PM
I was back down to the Excelsior on Thanksgiving weekend. They had 1 or 2 tables running, depending on the night, and very small stakes tournaments posted, but they did not run. We played $2/$5 NLHE, starting after 9pm. One night, there maybe have also be a $4/$8 LHE table. In the past, they've had more action, but it was slow this weekend.

Marta, who used to run the Excelsior poker room, is now running the Occidental, so I heard. I checked out the Occidental early one evening, and they have maybe 8 tables, but only one was in use, for a very small stakes tourney. They said the cash games would be starting later. A bunch of the tables were covered and new. I'm guessing they have hopes for more capacity, but it was not yet happening. The place looked nice, but quiet.

a year ago, I did play a few tourneys. The tournament play is very very weak.

You can stay anyway on the strip, and walk to the poker rooms. they are all close by. I also feel very safe walking around afterwards, even very late at night getting towards sunrise.
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01-25-2013 , 04:59 PM
I'm going in late May and staying at the Westin. I'm wondering if this is the high season. I went last year in mid May and the Excelsior had 1-2 4/8 limit games running at 6, and at 9 1-2 2/5 no limit games. I'm wondering if Excelsior is still the place to go for the action.
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04-02-2013 , 07:34 PM
2013 South America Poker Classic at the Radisson Aruba - May 4-9, 2013
http://ppcaruba.com/south-america-po...assic/#more-52

Satellites at the Radisson Aruba Poker Room start next Monday April 8th!
http://ppcaruba.com/ppc-aruba-satellites/
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08-06-2013 , 07:58 PM
Aruba poker is back again!

The PPC Poker Tour (http://PPCPokerTour.com) heads back to Radisson Aruba in October for the PPC Aruba World Championship.

***PPC Aruba Full Schedule***

The PPC Aruba World Championship, which features a $2,500 buy-in, $200,000 Main Event, is the premier stop on the PPC Poker Tour.

The PPC Aruba World Championship which runs October 2-9, will open with a $550 buy-in, $40,000 guaranteed event and close out with a $350 buy-in, $100 player bounty $10,000 guarantee event. All events start at 3pm so players can enjoy the beautiful Aruba beach.

Defending Main Event Champion and 2012 WPT Player of the Year, Joe Serock will be the featured pro. Serock aka “Floes” has over $2 million in career earnings.

The $2,500 Main Event will run from October 5 through 9 and garner a $200,000 guarantee.
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09-11-2013 , 12:12 AM
First time going to Aruba and staying at the Rennasaince Marriott...are games currently running at these 2 casinos in the Marina? I'm not expecting much, but would be curious if anyone has any trip reports from Aruba recently?
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11-25-2013 , 06:29 AM
I am going to Aruba for a week in mid-December this year. Staying at Occidental Grand Aruba. I've read the posts earlier in the thread, but they seemed quite old.
If any of you have played in Aruba in the last couple months, where did you find the best games? I play mostly 2 5 and some 5 10 in US btw.
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11-26-2013 , 05:41 PM
Just came back from 9 days in Aruba- update !

Occidental is now the most active poker room on the Island.
(Occidental is between the Radisson & Hyatt.)

Very small ($25-80) rebuy tournaments (2-3 tables) almost every night 8pm.

But 2-5NL starts around 9pm every night, with 2-3 tables going most nights.
Rake 10% to $10(plus $2 bad beat) but very beatable. Action is crazy-
Get an Occidental "aura" card 1st day- Rakeback $3/hr paid in cash.

Radisson hurting- the 2 nights I passed by- no games going.

Holiday Inn (Excelsior) had 2 tables of 4-8 Limit because of a promo,
plus 1 2/5 nl game when I was there.

Hyatt, Riu, Marriot, Westin, Renaissance &(brand new) Ritz all do not have poker

Last edited by SteveP502; 11-26-2013 at 05:52 PM.
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12-26-2013 , 01:27 AM
I played in Aruba from 18th to 23rd (a few twoplustwo types were also at the tables, so say hi!)

5 out of 6 nights I played in Aura @ Occidental, where I incidentally (pun intended!) happened to stay. On 3 out of 5 nights, there was just one 2 5 NL table. On 2 other nights a PLO game with $500 min-buyin started later in the night. The games were very wild. Here are couple examples:
1) A certain action local player is UTG + 2. We have an UTG straddle for $20. UTG+1 opens to $75. UTG + 2 calls for half of his stack with 62s and naturally wins a 3-way pot to triple up.
2) A tourist opens to $20, another action local player calls with 600 effective, short stack shoves for $180, action local player is preparing to muck his cards, but when initial raises calls he can't help himself and calls as well with KTo seeing that the pot got quite juicy.

The two unfortunate parts about the games is the $10+2 rake and the fact that the games usually only go 3-4 hours (which is understandable, cauz with only 1 table running and mostly same guys playing, they would all go broke with that rake if the games ran longer than they did). The rake is $10+2 even when the table goes short, so I had to actually adjust my play and start playing a lot nittier than I usually do. Nevertheless, I never had problems finding action and ended up doing pretty well.
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