If they have a waiting list right now, they're not probably exactly hurting for business.

I understand why you don't like the shorter games and that's fine, but CP has no real incentive for change. If it ends up hurting their bottom line, they probably will switch back.

On the other issue, I understand the state laws, but when I was in town several years ago, CP had all the limit games and RA had the spread limit games. Sounds like CP started offering them, they got very popular for awhile, and now the players are going back to RA. It could be partially about the shorter tables, but this is a very common pattern for places that add NL games.

@amazinmets73 Great points about 8 vs 9 handed.



At least Canterbury has better weekly 250$ tournaments.

Thanks. I doubt it will lead to any changes, but the knee-jerk "good players win more short-handed" argument is just so frustrating, as those who espouse it clearly haven't put much thought into it.


Nice! Since rake is pre-paid in tournaments, 8-handed should be preferable for strong players.

For the most part, if a good player can adjust to the situation, he will win more short-handed. It is not a "knee-jerk" statement, and those believing that have almost certainly put more thought into it than you have. Of course, some bad players play better short handed, and rake can be a consideration, but I don't think it makes as much difference as you do. Your statement that players will play 10% more hands so they should win 10% more is likely an understatement; there is also more skill involved when fewer players are involved in each hand, so more money per hand could also be made.

I understand you don't like playing short-handed, and that is a legitimate preference. But there is no need to try to come up with a reason why you make less money at it anyway. There is literally no one to whom that matters; a poker room doesn't exist to put money in the pockets of winning players. If you did convince the poker room manager that good players win less 8 handed, that gives him more reason to keep things that way, or to consider making the games even shorter.

Up until last week the Canterbury logo appeared at the bottom of the MSPT website. It's gone now. GG

Lol you have no idea what you are talking about. RA and CP don’t compete with each other - you aren’t going to get CO mgmt to change anything based on the threat of people going to RA

Really? So who's their competitor?

They don’t have a competitor which is why they do whatever they want rake wise, game wise, etc

Playing shorter handed has no impact on winrate unless you or your opponents are playing differently merely because the game is shorter, or if somehow a substantial part of your edge is derived from playing in or playing against the 9-handed UTG seat.

The same rake is taken per hand. Yes, more money will come off the table each hour because more hands are played per hour. But there is no difference between this occurring because there is one fewer seat than, say, players simply playing faster.

More hands played per hour does mean that the negative-sum effects of a poker table are accelerated, and losers will lose more because they lose at a certain rate per hand. Winners will win more per hour.

So, Amazinmets, you're wrong that playing shorter handed is bad for winners. And although it may make losers lose more quickly, does that mean we should just all play super slow so that we only get 20 hands per hour and the losers will lose less?

There's been lots of games lately and most of them have been very good.

I don't think 8 handed is effecting much.

For me it's way nicer. I love having more space.

8 handed games play great, and even better is Mix that plays 7 max.

Do most of their tournaments still have 15 min blinds? Cash games still 8 handed? Thanks.

Cash games are still eight-handed. I don't know anything about tournaments.

15 - 30 minutes depending on buy-ins between $85 - $350

Does anyone know of any decent sized PLO games in the MSP area? Just moved to Rochester a couple years ago and looking to play a little more. Thanks.

Canterbury runs 2-100 and 5-100 omaha hi, that is the closest you will get to PLO. Folks that play those games say they are pretty juicy.

Is there any substance to the rumor that Mystic Lake is opening a poker room this year? What would be the impact on Canterbury Park?

I know it's more than just a rumor since the agreement between Canterbury and Mystic ended (No slots in exchange for no poker). The bigger question is whether they'll offer no-limit poker.

Just the $1s and $10s? Any other denominations being retired?

Isn't that illegal in Minnesota?

How much of a pain is it to drive to and park at Target Field? I'm about 6 hours south but have made 3 or 4 poker trips to Canterbury over the years but really never adventure out anywhere. Thinking of going up for 3 or 4 days in July and was thinking of catching a game. Thanks.

Probably hit pretty brutal traffic for a weeknight game (going from CP to Target Field), otherwise it’s maybe a 30 minute drive and parking is not bad. I use surface lots because the ramps are tough to get out of after a game.

Just got back from a 4 day trip. Think its my 3rd trip in last 10ish years. Not that anyone cares but here's a few observation from an outsider that's played poker at 20ish casinos across the Midwest. Small sample size of course.



Pros:

Way way above average dealers and floor people. Nice and very competent. Top 3 places I ever been to in that regard.
Easy close parking with plenty of it.
Plenty of games seem to go most all the time.
Nice to take a break and go watch and bet on the ponies in the same building.
Players love chasing their gutter straight draws and aren't afraid to pay to do it (Might be a fluke but really noticed it last time I was there too)
Most cash games and tourney tables were plenty soft.


Cons:

Way too much tourney soft playing between buddies. I mean its pretty noticeable. Just one example 2 buddies got heads up to the turn got checked down all the way with the last to act guy after the river having top 2 pair on the safest board in the world. Neither was nearly that passive with anyone else.

Place is almost too small when it fills up on the weekend after the races are over. Hard to walk around thru the sea of people.

Not really a con but never been in a room where so many people put a nickname up on the waiting list. Don't really matter just noticed it.