That makes sense. A lot of folks on the lists don't stick around and never intend to take the seat. If they have to wait 5 minutes for each person to show up before calling the next on the list, it's taking too long to fill seats at already short-handed tables. I actually think this is a good move to keep players happy.

Anyone know why the 2/5 Big-O game doesn't run anymore?

Nitty old men don't play as much poker during a pandemic?

Anybody plays 500$ Saturday tournament. How is the field(original entries, reentries?). Any out of town players? Do you think such buying is sustainable weekly? When reentry ends(approximate time)?

Really curious what structure Ameristar offers starting May 1:

My vote: 100-300 1/3 NL
300-1k 2/5 NL
500-1500 5/10 NL
1k+ 10/20 NL
100-400 1/2 PLO

I’m just excited for no limit period. Finally be able to apply max pressure

Your 2/5 and 5/10 will be too similar in size imo, would suggest:

1/3 100-300
2/5 200-1000
5/10 500-3000

1/2 PLO should have to be 200-1000. If you ever played 1/2 PLO you should know it plays with 5$ increments, so limp is 5$ and pot in unraised is 15$, so basically it plays as 2/5.

That is not universal. IDK if that is how the Colorado casinos do it, as I've never played PLO in one, but I've played 1/2 PLO with $5 increments and $1 increments in different car rooms around the country. The first time I came across that $5 bring-in, I quickly got out of the game, as it played so much bigger than my expectation.

You guys really think PLO will play out here?

seems unlikely

Anybody know if they are going to go more than six-handed before they switch to no limit? Or what are the requirements they need to meet to be able to add more people to the table? I saw there was a change in the past few days were level green counties can go to 100% capacity indoors if people are seated. Does that apply to poker?

Please please please do not go back to more than 7 handed ever. Poker is so much more fun when you can actually play hands. I don’t understand the lust for 9 handed poker- folding is boring!

Worst advice ever. 6-handed is taking up too much poker room real estate, and the wait lists are ridiculous. The Ameristar has 11 tables and can only sit 66 players at present levels. Going back to 9-handed allows 99 players, 50% more. Even the Gates' wait lists are off the chain. On the weekend they're regularly 25 to 40 deep because most of the tables are unavailable because of the tournaments.

I understand 6-handed is profitable and involves much more play than sitting back at 9-handed, but it's just not convenient for most players who come up on weekends and don't want to wait around to play for a couple hours +

Most recreational players prefer 9 handed. Yes there are some that prefer shorthanded, but they are not the norm. You can guarantee that if 6 max were more popular live, casinos would run it. They don't, because its not more popular. I want to play with the most amount of recreational players possible. And if ameristar went back to 22 tables, 22*9 is alot more than 22*6. A larger player pool is always better. Also, the way they run 6 max is terrible. With 60 player deep lists, when names actually do get called, those people are no longer around. They give each one time to show up, so it takes forever to fill seats. Id say most of my time playing 6 max games at ameristar, my table had 4 players average.

Tomorrow the Colorado state covid dial gets taken away, and restaraunts are allowed 100% capacity. What about the casinos? Anybody heard anything?

No doubt Ameristar is completely awful at starting games, running lists, or caring about poker in general. But, they have no competition. I don’t get why Gates won’t offer a bad beat jackpot since that is what all the fish seem to care about. Ameristar clearly makes more $$$ off everything but poker which is why they don’t care- but there is definitely room for a poker venue that actually cares, starts games, takes call ins, and has a BBJ (which is extra rake but fish love)- the no call ins is truly awful for regular players- maybe Monarch will do it right? Ameristar has nice dealers and untrained floor/managers who make awful rulings and awful decisions re list management and game starting- which is why I’m expecting awful structure options on May 1. Would be so nice if one of these rooms poached a floor from Wynn or Gardens and let them run a proper room!

My question to all of the Colorado observers- Do you notice a lot of dealers sitting around doing nothing, waiting for a table to open, working the floor between downs, or being there somewhere on another break?.........perhaps not.

Has the casino been able to actually rehire enough poker dealers to staff the busy periods? Are the busy periods still "swingy" as far as hiring more dealers to a 40Hr work week? Is the casino one to "take a chance" that having adequate staff will pay off in the present moment? If the answers to these and other questions the average customer doesn't think about are the wrong answers, then the room will not do much about the present situ.

Rooms out here in California are facing the same issues. The government is still willing to pay people unemployment, and THEN pay a bonus, to NOT work. So there is that. Perhaps they've left the workforce, gone elsewhere, changed jobs, got married to a millionaire, etc.

Where is poker in a full swing? Las Vegas and Florida. Two places that have tried to remain as open as possible.

I'm hoping my June XC drive, which probably hits Colorado, includes an open room in Black Hawk. Peace- D

There are 80ish tables going in Philly area. They opted to not call people back. So not everyone is leeching off system. The days waits are insane are a casino issue, wanting to be short staffed.


Any word on when they'll bump up from 6max?

i dont really believe most recreational players prefer 9 to 6, or almost every online site wouldnt have almost entirely 6 max tables online. unless maybe u are making the argument online players in the microstakes $2 buyin games are serious pros, and the live cash players in the casino buying in $300 are only playing for fun. but wouldnt that be a tough argument to make?

also if i see one more post in this thread talking about issues other than someone making a trip report of the new poker room in the Monarch that we are all wondering about who dont live in the area, i think ill have a serious breakdown. i dont know why no one will post a trip report.

What? If most recreational players prefer 6 max why has live poker been 9 or 10 max, forever? LItereally forever?

they do it primarily because they want to please the older players over the younger players. and old people like playing with the maximum amount of people.

....and/or.....

"I didn't drive an hour to fold"

changed to

"I didn't drive an hour to sit on the sidelines for two hours waiting for a seat to open up"

*UPDATE ON POKER ROOM CAPACITIES*

From what I've gathered after reading through this new public health order (21-02), effective April 16, 2021, full capacities will resume in Blackhawk and Central City on May 16th, 2021. The county will move to level clear (normal) with no capacity limits or mitigation requirements. Face masks may still be required, but 100% capacities go back into effect.

Skip to Section 5, paragraph 1b in the public health order linked below

http://www.gilpincounty.org/common/p...temId=17618657

This concludes my Covid-19 pandemic updates. It has been a pleasure serving all of you in these times of uncertainty. May the no-limit and pot limit games treat you well!

Anyone interested in pot limit 1-2-5 Big O once Black hawk switches?

how can it be 3 days since i last posted, and still no one has written a trip report of the poker room in the monarch yet? i would if i lived there instead of florida.