I disagree about guarantees/business models. Without the poker community the shark tank would be nothing. They owe it to the people to create a buzz around the tournament to get the most people in the door. If they get cracked on a guarantee once, it is good long term business because people will anticipate or expect overlay in the future that likely will not happen because management will have adjusted there guarantees. Just my two cents IÂ’m a reasonable person and understand that reasomable minds may vary but I think itÂ’s shortsighted thinking to avoid overlays at all costs and makes guarantees illusory - Especially given the language that is at the bottom of every tournament that warns players that the guarantee is at the discretion of the club and may be withdrawn for weather and things of that nature. I know they have cancelled at least two in my memory for weather so itÂ’s not there isnÂ’t precedent for it.

I never interject in disputes or issues between players where IÂ’m not involved. Some people agree or disagree with this mentality but one of my first times playing live poker a disinterested party cost me a $500 pot (which in those days was huge money to me) and I have never wanted to do that to someone else.

I do know that I showed a couple people the gender neutral cards as a suggestion the other day and they pretty much laughed me off so I donÂ’t think you guys are as open to ideas as you think you are.

Why have a guarantee at all then?

Exactly!!! Especially when they have fine print that says they can (and do) rescind it if they want to. May as well just say every $100 tournament is a million dollar guarantee lol

Would you play a tournament without one? For whatever reason, poker players like the security of some sort of guarantee. It’s a base starting point for the prize pool. If it grows beyond it that’s great.

We run a 15-20K guarantee and it doubles in size regularly. Having a conservative guarantee doesn’t hinder the numbers at all. And I’d see no tangible advantage to making it 30k except for the risk of potentially losing money.

I wouldn’t play a tournament without one but I also wouldn’t play one at a place like yours that can just say nah, we don’t have to honor it.

Come on pal - tons of tournaments donÂ’t have guarantees. If you guaranteed 30k or 40k, youÂ’d attract tons more folks out. IÂ’d definitely drive to Cincy or Cleveland, maybe even Toledo or Detroit a good 50k or 100k. I donÂ’t think IÂ’d drive very far for a 10k. Certainly others think the same.

IÂ’m not trying to just rip on you guys and gals. Obviously this place isnÂ’t backed up by the money or name of casino operators. No one is expecting it to be the Borgata or Hard Rock Tampa but youÂ’re going to hurt yourself with these reaches.

I would disagree .... they just recently expanded and seem to have plenty of business.

Zero chance they would do that. Business is booming they are probably printing money, and very well respected in the local poker community. Not honoring a guarantee would instantly destroy their reputation and kill everything they've built for years. You don't have to worry.

As far as I can recall, pretty much every tournament with a guarantee has some sort of fine print about how management cancel it. A well managed room would only use this clause in cases of extreme weather, power outages, civil unrest, or the like. So unless a room has a history of shady decisions, I would say you can ignore this fine print. Or, stay with what you said, and never play any tournament with a guarantee.

Cheers, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

So, FossilNab, when you gonna play at the Shark Tank? LOL

He actually has many times.

How do I miss that?

Hopefully, once we're past the pandemic, I can come back there again and do another seminar. MHE, if you don't want to wait that long, I also do private lessons via zoom. Only $100 for an hour, quite the value. ;-)

PM link please.

Rumor has it, Hollywood opening back up in a couple of weeks, emails went out to dealers.

I wonder how adversely the casinos opening will impact the card clubs.

I think overall the clubs will be in a better spot than they were pre-pandemic as you had plenty of people (like me) who never went to the clubs because the casino was available. Even with the casino re-open, I'll keep the Tank in my rotation once in a while.

Are people still playing at Shark Tank now that Hollywood is open?

3 cash games currently. 14:40

I’d just rather play 8 handed then 6.

The 6 handed plo at hollywood is a lot better for my bankroll than playing the plo at the tank. I’ve won and lost 4k so many times at the tank. Played 2-2 on Saturday last week at hwood on the same $500 for hours. 6 max is so much better even with the stupid button straddle.

I’ve been cleaning up there. Had two $1,000 plus winning sessions

Do you have to pay the club fee on rebuys in tournaments? I haven’t rebought in a tourney in 15-20 years because i tilt really bad but was going to try this weekend for the wsop league.

No you don't have to repay the club fee.

Where have all the games been the last 7-10 days? Did warm weather kill everything? I figured the casino and tank would have a lot of people in for the memorial or who got drunk at muirfield and were in a gambling mood. I don’t think I saw a plo or 2/5 game run all week.