August 16th - September 2nd
Golden Gates Casino in Blackhawk, Colorado

http://thegoldengatescasino.com/site...ugSept2013.pdf

I'm interested to find out what this series is like. How were CPC's 1-6?

I see the daily structures are 30 min levels, so they are definitely built to move fast, but how are the turnouts?

Room availability / suggestions?

They also have a point system for cashing in a event with a
"Tournament of Champions" at the end of the series for those who
qualify, which is a bonus for those that are going to be up there for
the duration.

I know they do a spread limit for cash games in Colorado, I think up to
a $100 bet per street cap, so where's the action at during this
besides at Golden Gates?

I'm also interested in checking out the "420" scene post legalization.
I know it doesn't go into full effect until next January, but I heard
about some "Bring your own" cafe/bars in Denver...Boulder?
So any suggestions where a small group can go to partake would
be appreciated.

Me and two others are thinking about driving there from St.Louis
(10 Hours) on Thursday the 22nd and staying though the main if it's
worth it to make the trip. If any locals want to get together that
would be awesome.

Also forgot these structure links.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...YnZ4ekE#gid=26

Doesn't give exact structures for the dailies, but does say 30min levels for the Noons and 20 min levels for the nightly events. Also 60 min Main Event Levels with that structure in the link below.

http://thegoldengatescasino.com/site...cture-2013.pdf

Main event doesn't look too bad, but everything else is going to go fast.

How's the overall level of NL tournament play up there considering they play spread limit cash games, and had a $5max bet for many years?

First thing is CPC7 dates are adjusted to HPT's Stop 9/6 to 9/16. So if you guys are coming for the hole series, HPT is a must play. Prior to HPT's flights their is a lot of qualifiers, cash SNG's and of cours cash games.
Room numbers are limited so u might want to look at motels/hotels just outside of town. But the ISLE, the LODGE and ameristar all have some kind of poker rates and/or promo's. All the these casinos are within walkin distance. The only room that has 24/7 poker is ameristar.

Are you guys coming? Would love to read the trip report

+1 on what igga said. The HPT gets a greta turnout, with a mix of some really skilled locals and folks traveling "the circuit". Ameristar is where the cash action tends to be, especially during actual HPT event when almost all tables are being used for tournament.

Boulder is worth checking out, but the 420 scene is still not fully there. FYI smoking in public is still out, and will usually get you a ticket in Boulder.

$29,500 Prize Pool for the 1st Event #CPC7 $7100 up top

Thanks Igga, keep me posted on the next few events. Still debating on coming up for this next week or just waiting for the HPT a few weeks from now.

200 entries or so for this first event, so prob 100-150 during weekdays?

Found some places relatively cheap in Idaho Springs...didn't look to far away

I drive through Idaho Springs on my way to BH. It is about 10 min of relaxing drive. Will be there sun and mon. PROlly will be sporting my benz hat Say hi if u are in town.

[QUOTE=JT314pokerplaya;39657849]August 16th - September 2nd
Golden Gates Casino in Blackhawk, Colorado

http://thegoldengatescasino.com/site...ugSept2013.pdf

I'm interested to find out what this series is like. How were CPC's 1-6?

I see the daily structures are 30 min levels, so they are definitely built to move fast, but how are the turnouts?

Room availability / suggestions?

They also have a point system for cashing in a event with a
"Tournament of Champions" at the end of the series for those who
qualify, which is a bonus for those that are going to be up there for
the duration.

I know they do a spread limit for cash games in Colorado, I think up to
a $100 bet per street cap, so where's the action at during this
besides at Golden Gates?QUOTE]

I played the deep stack noon event on Tuesday and we had 149 players + re-entries. The 30 minute levels in the deep stack were actually really good. I busted in 8th for $600 and that was after 11 1/2 hours of play. If I had to guess, the final table probably went for another 1-3 hours.

across the street at the Ameristar (aka the deathstar)

2-5/100 spread and 30/60

up in central city cheap rooms at the 'reserve' hotel

otherwise, ameristar $59 weeknights $129+ on w/e

or down the street to lady luck/isle for $39 weeknight $79+ w/e

else, down the canyon to golden/lakewood (40 mins) for standard hotels

my concern is only ONE flight for the ME...place only has 19 tables, thus over 190 entries equals alternate list and wait, wait, wait, wait and wait some more......for a seat if you late reg. if you get stuck in traffic on saturday morning (standard lately w/ twin tunnel expand) then you won't sit until dinner break...WTF>>?

How bad has the traffic been in Clear Creek Canyon?

I'm planning to drive up tomorrow from Boulder, is up Boulder Canyon a better way to drive or all the way to 70 to Idaho Springs?

You raise a great point. Do they not have a bigger room they host bigger tournaments in? I was thinking about playing the HPT, but I'm guessing/hoping they will have a big turnout. If it's bigger than 190, which is what I would hope for, playing in that one room would SUCK!

We only have 17 tables but for bigger events like HPT have 4 flights plus alternates and Re-Entry all day so we routinely get over 700 for the big ones like that.
As for CPC Main next Saturday we sell entries the entire day and with our structure going as slow as it does everyone should be able to get I relatively quick. But to guarantee entry I would get there early. We will start signing up at 9am that day

6 is at its worst friday and saturday nights and i haven't found weekend mornings to be too bad. even if there is traffic, it will be faster than going up boulder canyon and probably 70 as well. i've never had to sit in bumper to bumper traffic...it just slows down but doesn't come to a complete stop.

Tony, doesn't this still leave some entrants at a disadvantage if they are an alternate and have to wait for others to bust out? They then have to start when blinds have possibly gone up.

Why don't you guys open up more space for more tables in another room so that all entrants on any day can start on time?

Also, why is your rake so high compared to the norm? Why don't you lower it so that regular players have more incentive to play more? Also, your tournament fees are crazy high compared to the norm. Why is this?

but therein lies the problem tony,

your structures are so good that nobody gets knocked out until dinner break, therefore anyone wishing to late reg won't get a seat until it's too late.

why no second flight?

Our rake isn't worse than other places how do you figure that? We wanted to try just 1 flight this time because last CPC was a little slower with both flights getting around 100. It seemed much simpler to run 1 flight and pack people in. Also with the HPT coming right after we were thinking it might be a little slower (which has proven to be wrong). As for putting tables in another room we are very limited right now until we expand in the next few years there simply isn't any extra space unless they pull slots which they won't do.

Tony, please post a breakdown of the rake structure for your cash games and all of your tournaments. I will be happy to respond with several comparisons.

The cash game rake is pretty much standard at every casino in blackhawk with a badbeat.

For example, the 'near' universal standard is as follows:

bad beat rake at $6 and $20
house rake at $10, $20, $30, $40, and $50

there are slight variations in these from room to room.

some rooms will rake for bad beat at $10 and $20 instead of $6 and $20 while other may only rake a total $1 bad beat per hand and the amount at which the $1 is raked may vary.

there are also variations in the house rake. almost all have a max of $5 and a few may have max of $4. some rake if pot is less than $10 while others don't til pot reaches $10 or more.

as for tournament fees, the gates includes dealer tips in their buyins. $10 for each buyin. if you factor this in their rake percentage, then you're misleading yourself. while a forced 'tip' is conceivably never a good thing, it does mean you may tip substantially less when cashing. my rule is to tip 10% of profits. ALTHOUGH, with the forced $10 add-on, I'll reduce my tip to about 5% of profits. If a tournament gets 120 players, that's $1200 already in tips for the dealers to divy up based on # of tournament downs dealt. It's not enough alone of a tip, but part of the overall tip.

A typical rake percentage for blackhawk, NOT including add-ons/dealer bonus is in the range of 15% to 30% depending on buyin amount. Bigger buyins usually have smaller percentage.

Example, for the noon deepstack on satrudays, the buyin is $210. $170 +$30+10. This is $170 to prize pool, $30 house rake, and $10 dealer add-on. $30/$200 = 15% rake. For the 10am tournament, it's $40. $30 + $10. No dealer bonus. This is a 25% rake. Smaller buyins are bigger rakes %.

My suggestion is, if you don't like the rake structure, stick to the big buy tournaments elsewhere like the WSOP or WPT, where % range from 6% to 10%.

and back to maryland you go son....

so you didn't like that perfectly good explanation of rake in blackhawk? the problem is you have to be the alpha dog, and, you don't respect the fact that the information above came from me.

While I appreciate your input, I asked Tony for an official response. With that said, your response just supports what I said about their rake being high. In the end I know why they are higher. It's because they really don't have competition and they can charge more. They are obviously targeting the recreational players who don't understand rake at all and don't care how it affects their bottom line. As compared to someone who does and is wanting to put in a lot of hours. Add this on top of the $100 max bet and it doesn't make it inviting for a grinder.

I actually think you tip too much especially when they take out $10 per entry for tips. By your calculations, winning $5000 =$250 in an additional tip ($500 if no added tips). I hope you play and cash when I cash because I gave $200 for $10000 win a few years back. 2% is good for that amount. You will make the tip cup look really good with your generosity.