Gonna be out in Denver for a few and wanted to know if the poker action in Black Hawk warrants a visit? If so, what are the best days of the week to visit (when you don't need to wait hours for a seat or a game to start) and how are players in mid stakes games.

Unfortunately I only know how to play NLHE and PLO. I'm a live, mid stakes cash player who wants a break from the Hollywood intensity of LA and Carnival of Vegas for a few.

That's great to hear! It must have been broken last weekend, because they turned me down for a food order on account of the "length of the line" to place the order. (?)

Please don't do the bolded in the 30/60 game.


What investigation will you be doing that will help with your decision to sit in the game?

The cocktail service @ Ameristar is atrocious. Having them run food too, you'd never get a drink. Yet another perk to the Isle....

I hope they keep it to a simple system with just a floor/chips/etc. call button and not the one where they swipe everybody's card at the table and try to keep track of where everyone sits and all that crap. It's annoying to sit there and watch the dealer fight those things and have to sort through seat changes, wait for everyone to throw their card across the table, etc.

Word on the street is that Fortune Valley (Central City) is putting in a new poker room. Anyone have any information on that? I would assume they would do it up right and put in state-of-the-art equipment in a better location/space than they've had historically.

I'm not sure which table system they'll be using, but I would assume that they will be doing exactly that: having dealers swipe players in/out, etc. They say that there will be kiosk to put yourself on the board using your players card. It will be interesting to see how that works out.

What are the 12 people at the podium going to do?

Going to GG today, I hope they will have O8/ game going

Hey Matt,

How was the turn out for Saturday's trourney with the different structure? How long did it take to finish? My wife and I are looking to come up next weekend. Thanks.

great structure. 10 runners. 4 handed ,6 hrs in...chopped.

i will def play again..hope word gets out on this tourn

I think the only thing Ameristar needs to implement with the new card system is the ability to use the card instead of printed out comps for the different vendors in the casino. It's a hassle to get a $6 comp printed out instead of just swiping my card at Starbucks when I want a fancy coffee.

The Bravo system is where the dealers swipe players in and out at the table? Dealers can call for fills and show open seats from the table?

Has anyone played in a room where that system works beyond a couple months? I've played in numerous rooms where the system was installed on the tables but the room wasn't using it.

Most successful room with Bravo that ive seen is Venetian.

When will you be switching to 10 handed tables as well?

We have been using the Bravo system at the Lodge for about a year and a half. I admit that it was clunky at first but after the dealers and floor staff were accustomed to using it, it became a great tool for us.

Yes, dealers swipe players in/out at the table and open seats are shown on the podium computer. Also, it shows us how long a player has been away from the table, so we know excactly when to pick up someone who's been gone too long.

There are many tools in the system that are useful on the management end of things as well.

If you're talking about the Isle, Matt, please don't. Keep it at 9-handed!

Hey guys,
I'm in Denver for a few days and would love to play some cards while I'm here. Is Central City my best bet for weeknight small stakes limit or no limit hold em? There are no poker rooms in Denver, right? (I'm here with a friend who's using his car much of the time were here, so getting around may be tricky; I'd like to find something close by.)

(Haven't been on 2+2 for a while and for some reason can't find the edit feature to change my previous post.)

Okay, I just read most of this thread. It sounds like I ought to go to The Isle or Ameristar in Black Hawk if I want a weeknight 1-2-100 spread limit hold em game. Any other rooms to check out if I want that or low limit LHE? Do I need to call ahead? If I came from noon to midnight would I be able to play as soon as I arrived?

Thanks!

We won't be switching to 10-handed tables. 9-handed games simply provide more comfort for the players and a faster game overall. In line with SirFelixCat's comment here on 2+2, the majority of players really like the added comfort.

Best,
Matt

Matt,
Good job at promoting your room and listening to players. I really hope it continues to take off. The hotel promo can't be beat. I have some family in Colorado Springs and I am looking forward to playing at the Isle a few days soon.

On tounraments in Colorado, specifically at the Isle, I guess. What's the vig, most casinos in Colorado seem to take 15% or more off the top like it's nothing? How has the response been for the friday $100.00 Tourney? Can you beat 3 tables of 10 players or even 5 tables of 11 players? Did I see something about 9 players to a table? Do all your dealers hate tournaments too?

Our dealers don't hate tournaments because we do a $10 add-on that gives the player extra chips and goes toward their toke pool. Our first Friday tournament did not go. There were 6 players signed up and 6 more showed up between 2:15pm and 2:30pm asking what time it started (it was scheduled for 2pm). Those players and the original 6 all said they would return for this Friday. The VIG on the Friday tournament is 12.5% (or $10 on $80). The VIG on the Saturday $10K Guar. tournament is 2.08% (or $10 on $480). With those and other tournaments that we offer, we'll try to keep the VIG down as much as possible. Our tournament tables are 10-handed. Our cash games are 9-handed.

Hope that answers your questions on the tournaments and the VIG.

Best,
Matt

Hi Matt,

How many players do you need to run the Friday afternoon tourney? Do you need a minimum number to run it?

Thanks!

Anybody knows about limit games action in Blackhawk? Holdem and Omaha 8 up to 20/40?

Basically, we've submitted our payout structure to the state and the minimum number of players on that structure is 8. So as long as we have at least 8, we will run it.

Best,
Matt