Adam,

Can you please answer a simple question: is your betting line active or is it not? (Related: I was told by someone who has seen your rule book in writing that the line is a "courtesy line only" for NL games. can you please comment in this as well?)

Thanks.

How can you possibly back both rulings when they're internally inconsistent? The idea of an "active betting line" is stupid and the first ruling is pretty clearly correct and the second ruling pretty clearly incorrect, but regardless of your policies, you can't have two completely inconsistent rulings. Either shoving chips forward constitutes a bet or it doesn't.

As far as I know, the line is considered a courtesy line in NL games. I don't know what that means for PLO, but I would assume it is the same.

In Hand 1, how were you holding the chips? If your hand was over the chips (ie in position to begin cutting them) then it's unclear how much you wish to bet and holding you to a $100 bet would be a poor decision. Players frequently grab many chips, make a forward motion, but then only bet a few chips and that is perfectly fine. If your hand was not over the chips (thus indicating that you are sliding out the whole stack as a bet), then I think the decision is more reasonable, especially if you had slid the chips a decent way forwards (ie if you're in the 8 seat, the line could be quite a ways from your chips).

In Hand 2, I'm kind of confused as to what you did. If you slid the chips up to the line, then grabbed the $25 and flipped it over the line, then holding you to a call seems pretty reasonable.

Each cardroom has a rule (or should have) as to whether the line plays or not. It can't change from hand to hand. In my local room, the line plays for NL, with all the problems that implies. But it plays, by rule. It's beginning to sound like Aria poker managers don't know whether it plays or not.

fink,

my hand was over the chips, as if to grab and cut. I did not slide the stack as if I were betting the entire thing.

Does playing poker earn tier credits or help us get discounted rooms here? Or is the $2 per hour WYSIWYG?

In that case, it sounds to me like your action was not complete, and you should be held to a bet anywhere from $5 to $100 and possibly anywhere from $5 to all-in depending on what Aria's rules are for announcing a bet greater than what is in your hand, and that your opponent should be forced to call any amount. He acted out of turn so it's his problem, not yours.

This exact situation happened a couple weeks ago on the broadcasted WSOP coverage, where Allen Cunningham was allowed to bet whatever amount he wanted when his opponent called out of turn, and Cunningham pondered before deciding on an amount significantly less than what he would have originally bet.

Hey Kat, hope your well, just wondering how often pot limit omaha games have been running in the past month and what stakes etc, thinking of moving bak for about 2 months and would be great if you guys had plo on offer

Anyone know the answer to this? Leaving for Vegas tomorrow and staying near Venetian. Don't want to make the trek down to Aria if I can't play mixed games.

Still seems to run very frequently; as far as I know they play a lot of badeucey type games.

How does the comp system work for pokerplayers.
Ive played many hours @ aria this summer and september, but on my last day I checked my Mlife card at Skybox. They said there was only $7 on it.

How can i check my balance and where can i spend it?

Pretty sure the poker comps don't show up when you look it up via the slots. You need to talk to the person at the open desk located around the corner of the poker cashier area.

You should be able to use it at the Sky Box snack shop, Lemongrass, the Buffet and Room Service ( having food delivered to you while you play ). There may be more but one of the regulars would have to answer that.

Also, if you happen to use the comp outside of the poker room, they will ask you how much of a comp you want. So, figure out the prices and set the comp value accordingly. Don't go over.

Hi Adam:

I don't know if you know this, but Donna Harris and I addressed this issue in a paper we wrote called "Cardroom Theory -- A Two Way Street" (that also appears in my book Poker Essays Volume II. You have done exactly what we recommended and for exactly the reason that we gave. I wish more poker rooms were this well run.

Best wishes,
Mason

Here's exactly what we wrote in our original paper:

Best wishes,
Mason

Already salivating for my trip back to the Aria in April(Arrgh long ways off). Stayed at 5 different places my 1st 5 trips. Now Aria is home base for good.

Mason,

What percentage of Aria 5/10 players do you think see the game on the rail and say, "ooh I want to play that" that would not play the game if it was in the back and they didn't see it?

And what percentage of the total play-time do they represent?

I'd figure a guess at something like 8%/3%.

I'd take the under.

Coming out to stay at the Aria in a couple weeks. I'm primarily a NL Holdem player. I think I've gathered that you spread 1-3 NL as your smallest stakes.

What about Fixed Limit Omaha hi/lo. Do you have $4/8? If so, is there a regularly a table for this?

Venetian has a pretty regular 4/8 O8 I think. Not sure about Aria.

Seconded.

Despite a tiny handful of players who are wackos and attention whores and who like to whine about everything and create their little scenes, Aria is an exceptionally well-run room.

Just spent the last few days at Aria. Very well run room. Happy that there was a relatively healthy food option (veggie fried rice from lemongrass). Sufficient space around tables so didn't feel cramped. Staff was extremely courteous and professional. Only neg was that 'event' that required Hellmuth to have a mic and give commentary for his table over the pa for the whole room for several hours.
looking forward to my next trip out.

Fried rice is healthy?

lol. relative to the stuff I usually find myself eating in poker rooms ie cheese burgers/deep fried stuff. At least some leafy greens in the rice.

lol with healthy fried rice

Hi Kat,

I am planning a Vegas trip from dec 5th-12th and I was wondering if there was a poker rate...my friend and I will be playing 5/10nl-10/20nl

Thanks