Then why is the player pool so small in Blackhawk for a metropolitan area of almost 3 million people? It's the same pool of regulars interspersed with some newbies, infrequent players, and out of towners. How many more people would play if the casinos were located down in town. Only the regs and hardcore gamblers make the frequent trips, not the average players, which is what we want up there. They say playing in Colorado is difficult, and there is a reason for that.

Man... DIA would be great.

Sorry for the newb question about the 100 spread limit game, but I only get up to Blackhawk twice a year and when I do, I try to play limit. I'm going to be forced to play that 1-1-100 spread game at the Isle (3 hours gets the $39 hotel room), so I had a question about bet size.

What's the usual pre-flop raise? Is it your typical $12 you see in $200 NL games?

Also, do these games play small? Or are there $100 bets and raises seen? I realize this is a very general question that is dependant upon a multitude of factors, but I'm OK with generalizations for now.

One other thing: the Isle says they provide players with free bar food. Is this like nachos and wings and stuff?

Thank you.

What's the usual pre-flop raise? Is it your typical $12 you see in $200 NL games?
Usually a little less, avg 7-10 ish

Also, do these games play small? Or are there $100 bets and raises seen? I realize this is a very general question that is dependant upon a multitude of factors, but I'm OK with generalizations for now.
Stack dependant. If there are 400BB stacks in a pot together, there will be $100 bets and raises. Much bigger than I had expected, especially considerin the minimum buy in is only $20.

One other thing: the Isle says they provide players with free bar food. Is this like nachos and wings and stuff?
Nachos aren't great but the free pizza is... Paul can hook you up with soup (decent) and hot digs and brats (good if they aren't too old). Plus $2 comps so you could get a burger and fries downtairs with the $8 you'll get playing for the 4 hours to get the room (great deal btw).

Thanks Raptor. Last year the Isle poker room was dead the two times I tried to play. With their very generous promotions, I can see why it seem they're gaining some traction. (Tonight, at about 10 p.m. Bravo says they've got 5 tables running).

I'm not sure if I can use all of their promotions at once, but I'm trying for this:

$39 hotel room (Sun-Thursday) with 3 hours of play

$10/hour new player promotion (good for those that haven't played there in 6 months), up to $50.

Free pizza plus the $2 hour food comps you mentioned.

Without the poker room hotel rate, we would have to pay $89 for a Sunday night, so there's $50 in savings right there. Add the $50 new player bonus and food comps; it's like they're paying you to play. And that's not even counting the $5 early bird bonus.

It reminds me of the old bonus whoring days online.

Looks like The Lodge combined all three of their bad beats to form a super bad beat. $443,000. Yes, it's not like the haydays of the Ameristar's triple $750Ks but it's better than the others right now.

With the Lodge's friendly dealers, quick drink service, big bad beat, and amazing ambiance, I know I'll be there! It's my first choice for winning.

Oh and their secret weapon to top it all off is their new poker room manager. He's their ace in the hole. He's got charm, grace, a penchant for friendly banter and sarcasm, and moves like Bruce Lee. Here's to the new Lodge poker room manager!

Off to the Lodge! Ciao

ltbc, give it up son....before you get BANNED!

Where's the best place to play in Blackhawk? Ameristar? Lodge? Other? How many tables, how is the action, noise, etc.?

BTW: if you make it to Detroit, Motor City has the best games, action, selection (1-2, 2-5, 2-5 RxR, & 5-10, occasionally PLO). MGM has the nicest room, but no food anywhere near it.

Oh goodness, absolutely no. I am simply a fan of The Lodge Casino and will shout to the hills.

What is your basic description and where do you hang out in Blackhawk?

Lemme guess, you also enjoy playing on the busiest street in Saigon?

Hey guys,

I moved to the springs a few months ago & have been trying to establish a roll before I try hitting the casinos out here. I've read most of this thread to try to get information about the different casinos as my goal is to eventually become a daily grinder. I understand there's a $100 cap on all the games regardless of stakes, correct? Is the rake much different than anywhere else? I'm used to Vegas & AC being $4 max.

From your experiences, with me being located in the springs & not wanting to stay overnight, what's the best place for daily 1/2 & 2/5 games? For those that live in CO, what are your favorite places when you factor in proximity, comps/rewards, availability of games & staff friendliness?

Most of the people I've met from here seem to go to Cripple Creek but they're not poker players. The feedback I've received from them is that they just go there due to proximity but they don't really care for the casino as it's out in the middle of nowhere & there's no added perks as there are at BlackHawk. But these are really the only two places I've heard feedback on. I can find some of this information via their websites but I prefer hearing from people who've actually been there to get a good picture of everything.

My apologies if this is a redundant question.

Redundant. Well-covered in previous pages of this forum.

Avez un bon jour! Ne Trouvez pas lire.

Surprise, surprise... LTBC is being a colossal douche.

Yeah, it's a redundant question, but it's why we have this thread. It's unrealistic to expect every newbie to read every post in this thread.

I've never been to Cripple Creek, so I can't really give any input on there. From what I've heard though, Black Hawk in exponentially better if you wanna play poker. Better rooms, better games, more action, better perks. The list goes on.

The Isle is $2 / hour, Ameristar I believe is $1 / hour...not sure on the others. Ameristar is biggest for cash games $1/$2, $2/$5, $4/$8 limit, $30/$60 limit...the Isle has $1/$1 sometimes higher and omaha games but generally lower stakes hold 'em...Golden Gates has a few $1/$2 and $2/$5 but they are known for tournaments and run I believe 4 per day @ 10am, 12pm, 3pm and 7pm. I wouldn't go to Lady Luck because the games are like $2 w/ $5 MAX BET or $2 w/ $10 MAX BET which is a pretty easy way to lose money quick. Also most have some kind of new comp player rewards but it varies. I wouldn't plan on doing much except for playing or eating when you go up there...it's basically like a mini Vegas without things that don't involve gambling...terrible town.

If you have a smartphone you can download the Bravo Poker app and see current table and waitlist counts.

Thanks for your input & putting up with a newbie asking a redundant question. I read the first 20 or so pages before I asked & it's alot easier to just ask the direct questions instead of sifting through everyone's opinions on everything while trying to find information on what people think is the best room with the best comps for grinders.

Thanks again, this really helps.

Bad Beat hit tonight at the Lodge, exactly 2 weeks after they combined all three tiers of the bad beat. Table 4, dealt by "B-Money"

1-2 100 SL

Straight flush 6h7h8h9h10h vs 8888

$443,000 total, of which $44,300 went to the room
$778 room share ---> Moi
$14951 table share
$119,610 winner share
$159,480 loser share

That'll kill that game.

Ameristar, table 7, seat 9, Anyone else?

Anyone active in home games in Colorado Springs or Denver? PM me if you have to.

Ditto, please.

just found this:

Colorado Poker Championship 6
Golden Gates Poker Room

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...2bFlkMFE#gid=0

COLORADO POKER CHAMPIONSHIP 6
MAY 10th - MAY 27th, 2013

Event # Day Date Time Game Buy-In Chips
1 FRI May 10th 12PM No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack $240 20,000
2 FRI May 10th 6PM No Limit Hold'em $160 15,000
3 SAT May 11th 12PM No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack $240 20,000
4 SAT May 11th 6PM No Limit Holdem 6 Handed $300 20,000
5 SUN May 12th 12PM No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack $240 20,000
6 SUN May 12th 6PM No Limit Hold'em $130 13,000
7 MON May 13th 12PM No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack $130 20,000
8 MON May 13th 6PM No Limit Hold'em $100 10,000
9 TUE May 14th 12PM No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack $130 20,000
10 TUE May 14th 6PM No Limit Omaha Hi Only $100 10,000
11 WED May 15th 12PM No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack $130 20,000
12 WED May 15th 6PM No Limit Hold'em $130 13,000
13 THUR May 16th 12PM No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack $130 20,000
14 THUR May 16th 6PM No Limit Hold'em Turbo $100 10,000
15 FRI May 17th 12PM No Limit Hold'em "Escalator" Day 1A $500 30,000
16 FRI May 17th 6PM No Limit Hold'em $160 15,000
SAT May 18th 12PM No Limit Hold'em "Escalator" Day 1B $500 30,000
17 SAT May 18th 6PM No Limit Hold'em $160 15,000
18 SUN May 19th 12PM No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack $240 20,000
SUN May 19th 1PM No Limit Hold'em "Escalator" Day 2 N/A N/A
19 SUN May 19th 6PM No Limit Hold'em $130 13,000
20 MON May 20th 12pm No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack $130 20,000
Q MON May 20th 6PM $1000 Main Event Qualifier (10% Qualify) $130 13,000
21 TUE May 21st 12PM No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack $130 20,000
Q TUE May 21st 6PM $1000 Main Event Qualifier (10% Qualify) $130 13,000
22 TUE May 21st 7PM Limit Omaha 8 or Better $200 17,000
23 WED May 22nd 12PM No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack $240 20,000
Q WED May 22nd 6PM $1000 Main Event Qualifier (20% Qualify) $240 15,000
Q THUR May 23rd 12PM $1000 Main Event Qualifier (20% Qualify) $240 15,000
Q THUR May 23rd 3PM $1000 Main Event Qualifier (10% Qualify) $130 13,000
Q THUR May 23rd 6PM $1000 Main Event Qualifier (20% Qualify) $240 15,000
24 FRI May 24th 11AM No Limit Hold'em Main Event Day 1A $1,000 40,000
25 FRI May 24th 6PM No Limit Hold'em $160 15,000
SAT May 25th 11AM No Limit Hold'em Main Event Day 1B $1,000 40,000
26 SAT May 25th 6PM No Limit Hold'em $160 15,000
SUN May 26th 12PM No Limit Hold'em Main Event Day 2 $1,000 40,000
27 SUN May 26th 6PM No Limit Hold'em $130 13,000
28 MON May 27th 12PM No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack $130 20,000
MON May 27th 3PM No Limit Hold'em Main Event Day 3 N/A N/A

TUES May 28th 6PM Top 20 in Points "Tournament of Champions" N/A 15,000

Tournaments will have 20 Minute Levels, Deep Stacks 30 Minute Levels, Main Event 60 Minute Levels

Regular Tournaments Every Day @ 10am for $40 with 3,000 in Chips, 3pm for $80 with 8,000 in Chips (space permitting)

All Buy-Ins Include $10 Dealer Appreciation Add-On

There are multiple tabs on that Google document that have all the structures, Tournament of Champions points, and $20,000 in prizes for ToC including $10k WSOP Main Event seat.

Was there at that time taking my shot at $30/60, table 3, seat 5. I'm a $4/8 player, so this is obviously a ridiculous jump, but I was there only one night. And after seeing Wizzard50's pick in the chip stack thread, I had visions of a 100 BB night.

I Bought in for $540 (I'm poor white trash) and was pretty nervous. It probably showed as I've never engaged in pre-flop raises in a limit game for $90. I kept screwing up the number of reds I needed. The four Coronas probably didn't help either.

Anyway, played loose passive with scared money, but ran well and cashed out for $1,500 in 2 hours. The play at the table was incredibly aggressive, but not nearly as solid as I thought it would be. I did find the sucker at the table and it wasn't me, although I may have been a close second.

Can someone tell me if they ever enforce the "English only" rule at the Ameristar? I've heard the collusion rumors before and didn't see any evidence of that, but the Vietnamese or whatever it is constantly going back and forth doesn't inspire confidence in the integrity of the game.

Good luck with that. I wish this would be enforced.

While we're on the topic of inconsistent rules and (non-)enforcement thereof, if they're going to ban phones at the table, I wish they would just disallow any electronics altogether ("they" being any card room, not just A*). It's pretty ridiculous that you can't be on the phone, yet there are all kinds of people with an earbud (sometimes even with the inline phone mic) in their ears, connected to the phone. Presumably, there are at least two reasons you can't be on the phone, 1) eliminate at least that distraction and keep the game moving, and 2) combat collusion/cheating through use of the phone. Earbuds in a phone short circuits both.

I agree, and I'd also be in support of banning hoodies, sunglasses, and young cocky attitudes and excessive whining from players.

There is no need for any of these at the poker table.