Details? Too top heavy?

At Casino Arizona? No way!!!!!!!! They never make top-heavy tournaments just for the publicity. I'm shocked and appalled! lol

If you want details (complete with solution of course), just dial up Allen Kessler. I noticed he wasn't here this year, and I'd be pretty certain it was structure-related or payout-related.

i wanted to play this tournament this year, and i live in NY. If you are going to call something an Arizona state poker championship, need longer than 40 minute levels. That is barely a step up from a turbo.

I agree. 40 minute levels are a joke. Also a joke is that they didn't increase the levels from day to day. Day 2 should have been at least 50 minutes, etc. Also, antes shouldn't start until at least the 4th level if they are only giving you 40 minute levels. People should voice their concerns to the poker room director if they want changes for next year.

The room has gotten better over the years, but they're still stubborn and clearly have no motivation to become any sort of "premiere poker destination". They've refused to bring in Heartland Poker Tour, and WSOP Circuit is going to be held at Ak-Chin, which in my opinion is an embarassment. Talking Stick could be, and should be, THE place for tournament poker in Arizona... but they just don't seem to want that. I don't get it, never did understand their attitude, but then again my priorities as a tournament player are likely quite different from the Casino's priorities as a profit-making business. I already pointed out the $189,800 gross, basically as soon as they have it, they want the room cleared so they can go back to that nice steady cash table rake revenue stream.

WSOP events are in CET casinos.


The answer to all these points is...

greed

And they call Day 2 "semifinals" and they call everyone who cashes "winners" Both those non poker terms really tilt me.

i agree. pretty stupid.lol

I would prefer talking stick to be the place for cash game poker in arizona, which is clearly is. The fact that you and other tourney grinders expect the casino to cater to your specific nitch because thst will result in you making the most money is a ridiculas expectation. Rather than focusing your energy on getting them to change the structure to one thst best fits you, I would try and use my time to change my game to a style that best crushes existing structures (perhaps this means putting time and effort into cash).


When I play tourneys I like fast structures and antes as early as possible, why should the stuctures have long levels and no sntes just because thst benefits the better players at the expense of the recreational or break even tourney players.

although longer levels and a slower structure benefits regs over recreational players, recreational players still prefer longer levels and a slower structure. Just look at WSOP monster stack if you would like proof of same.

I would bet they could increase the field by 30% if they went to hour long levels day 1 and start antes in level 6.

stick to the cash games. you are obviously not a regular or experienced tournament player so please don't try to speak on their behalf. Also, please learn how to spell the word "RIDICULAS" before you use it again.

40 min levels are fine I think. They played a decent amount of time each day and got a good field.

If all the fish go broke, what happens?

Then all the Pros have to get real jobs, then the fish get money again, then there is only fish left and then I get all the money.

Im confused, I thought he spelled ridiculas correctly?

And LOL at you knowing as much about tournaments or any other type of poker as him.

As he.

please describe a scenario in which all the fish go broke?

being a recreational player, by definition, means you play when you can and for fun. recreational players have traditional jobs and make a traditional income. Unless a player loses their underlying job, all the recreational fish are not "going broke."

I will concede that fish can be turned off from the game and decide that they do not want to play. And an effort should be made to keep the game fun and recreational player friendly.

Does anyone know what level of points/time frame the various player reward tiers are? I could never find any information on how that works

Do they have a bag check at Caz if I want to stop there from the airport before going to my hotel/meetings elsewhere?

Pretty sure they do to the left right when you enter the hotel lobby (right off of main entrance/valet)

Caz is part of a hotel?

No, Casino Arizona is not a part of a hotel.

"CAZ" is now solely the facility at McKellips/101 and they do not have poker nor a hotel.

"Talking Stick Resort" is the old "tent" up the 101 a short ways, they sold the tent and built a big brick-and-mortar casino complete with 15 (?) story hotel and very nice poker room. They don't call it CAZ anymore, it's now known as "Talking Stick". Confusing if you've been away, no doubt.

I call it CAZ because I have no use for a casino without a poker room. (Went in there once for the buffet, that was all).

Yeah a lot of people (myself included) still find ourselves reflexively calling it "CAZ", but they've really seemed to try to make a clean break and give it its own identity (to match the pre-existing 36-hole golf facility that was always named "Talking Stick"). The only problem they have is us older regs who just won't adapt to the modern game, er, name.

Me too - my first time there I went to the slot machine parlor by accident got the right directions and never been back to the "CAZ" slot room. CAZ is a lot easier to type than Talking Stick. And anyone who plays poker knows which facility we are talking about.