Ok, every forum needs a poll and this seems like a logical one. I've been back and forth on women's tourneys for quite a while and want to hear what some of the other opinions are on here.

I played a number of women only tournaments when I was really starting to get into live tournament poker and felt that it was a bit more comfortable environment than open tourneys. As time went on, I started playing more open events and really don't do the women's circuit anymore. I think that it's a great social gathering, , but I enjoy playing open events much more now.

I am not crazy about women only touranments personally, I almost feel like it is saying "since you can't compete with the men" but I think they are good for some women. For example, my mother would never play in a regular tournament, but she said if she goes to a casino that offers a womens only one she would try it.

In a way I feel like it is having a female only gym, some women wouldn't be comfortable going to a coed one.

I think that they are great for the recreational or newbie player who would like to play in a tourney and not feel intimidated but for good players who are not intimidated and are playing for "real" they suck.
I have played in 1 such tourney. It was at Foxwoods. It was a 300+30 buyin and 30 minute levels. I would have gladly paid double that for 1 hour levels. There was little play after level 5 and the average chip stack in level 6 was less than 10bbs.
Complete waste of time

I've never played in one, personally. Would have played the WSOP one last year had we gone out that week.

I think it's necessary while attempting to get more women into the game.

I have played in one ladies event (WSOP Ladies Event 2006) and have vowed that I will never do so again.

I turned down a full stake offer for last year's WSOP Ladies Event and encouraged my boyfriend to play it in protest (he elected to not play after several discussions with friends in the poker community / media). I have also written a couple of blog posts about my views on this subject.

I wrote this snippet after the 2010 WSOP Ladies Event: "I don't believe that there is anything inherent about the game of poker that should lead to gender-based distinctions about its participants. Poker is a game that requires the use of one's mental capabilities. While I can understand that some women may feel intimidated by being in a predominantly male environment, separation of men and women isn't the means through which to allay that concern."

However, I think I can get behind the idea of smaller buy-in beginners' tournaments that are marketed toward women. But the goal should be to transition women players to open events as quickly as possible. The longer we perpetuate the view that men and women can / should play in separate tournaments (particularly in high profile series such as WSOP and PCA), the more damage I think we do to the perception of women poker players.

What was the starting stack for the tourney when you played it? The upcoming FPC one seems like a great value tournament: 15k starting chips/30 minute levels for $260+40 (although the vig is a fairly high).

10k chips. I dont recall the exact levels but several levels were skipped. Antes started early as well, level 5, I believe

I've played in so many tournaments, but never a women's only. I have always assumed that they aren't very popular. I'd like to play in one.

Foxwoods Poker Classic WPT
Saturday, March 26 1pm @ Foxwoods
$260+40 entry
15k starting stack/30 minute levels

I see no reason whatsoever to have women only tourneys when there is absolutely no reason that women can't compete with men on equal footing in this game. It's utter crap, imo.

we are allowed in all the tournaments men play in..what's the big deal?!

I just consider it another tournament. I don't think it's bad for the game and I consider these "women only" events to be comparable to league events, for example, women bowling against other women or woman's equestrian. I feel like they were designed for women to feel like they were among friends and give it a ladies night/girls night out feel. It's not like every single poker tournament is deemed as women only or men only - these events are special and low in number. I don't think the intention was ever to make it seem that women and men aren't on an equal playing field.

I guess. I definitely agree that there's a good argument to be made for these tourneys existing, but it rubs me the wrong way. I don't like it, so I vote with my bankroll and don't play them.

I think it's all in the perspective of how you look at it. I don't look at it in a negative light and I certainly don't think it exists because of an uneven playing field. I just look at it as a unique twist on something that might make it more appealing to a different crowd.

I agree with this.
I dont see it as saying that we are not good enough to compete with men, it is just a fun diversion. It was nice looking around the room and seeing 200 other women(and 1 transvestite

how many women usually play in these tournaments at foxwoods?

The problem with women's tournaments imo is that, despite the fact that it is a good idea to introduce women who otherwise wouldn't play into the game and to provide a more comfortable surrounding for people who may otherwise be intimidated with the idea of playing in casino, some men will still see it as "proof" that there is a skill difference between men and women in poker, and not understand the real reason they exist. So while they might be a good thing in principle, there are negative effects in the way other people perceive them and women in poker as a whole because of it.

I'm not entirely sure that thought came out coherently.

welp. that's just because men are silly.

duh

good thing some of them are sexy

I have a question for women, what would you ladies think about a "mens only" poker tournament?

sausage fest.

in b4 ban

I think cds0699 makes an interesting point.

If there was another poker tournament that was [insert underrepresented group] only, you'd probably question why that group felt the need to have its own event. You might even think it's because people from that group have a disadvantage against the field.

If there was another poker tournament that was [insert overrepresented group] only, I think you'd find that there would be extreme backlash against such an event.

In the case of gender (and other protected classes), keep in mind that it is illegal in many states to have ladies-only events in the first place. This is because of broad anti-discrimination protections. While some events (e.g., WSOP ladies event) are marketed to women, operators of those events would be breaking the law if they barred participation by men. Many of you may not be aware of this, but Caesars Entertainment Corp. / WSOP were walking a very fine line given their reaction to mens' participation in last year's WSOP ladies event.

While ladies-only events may currently be few and far between relative to open events, do we want them to become so pervasive that participation by women starts to become cannibalized and % representation in open events decreases?

Assuming the same series had a women's only event, I wouldn't care.

I mean, I look at women's events kind of like the seniors event: a gimmick to bring people in. If others choose to view it as a skill difference and form opinions on that basis, I'd say LOL them, really.