Do any of the MGM regs feel the $10 BTN straddles at $2/5 are ruining the game? Almost every time I go to play, people are straddling $10 OTB, the game gets much bigger with shallower eff stacks, and tends to play much tighter since the blinds go first.

To make it worse, I heard they’re going to start allowing Mississippi straddles soon.

I go to the casino to play $2/5, not $5/10.

A Player from Port Huron finished very well in the WSOP Colossus ..

I would assume the straddle is optional unless table agreement .. and then it would need to be posted on Bravo differently. This would allow you to 'change stakes' back to a normal 2/5 table. Hopefully you can adjust your game to take advantage of the table dynamic. 2/5 is so finicky, sometimes it's very splashy and then the next time it's very nitty .. table select for sure and/or just enjoy the 2x Player points, eh? Perhaps 'all' the action is in Vegas, golfing or on a boat somewhere right now. Typically Summer poker is different than Winter poker.

MS straddles typically loosen up the game. Depending on how they implement them the action may go 'normally' and then land on the Straddler rather than just start to the left of the Straddler. GL

This has basically been my approach too (be chill/quiet), but sure enough, every once in a while a rando will (unprompted) say to me “hey I haven’t seen you in a while” and in my head I’ll be “who the heck are you?”

You might’ve won a big hand against him a few months ago... he might still be kicking himself for calling you down with TPTK to lose to your set...but as said in Rounders, you’re less likely to remember the hands you won.

It happens, it’s all good.

Personally I don't like button or MS straddles but you just need to learn to adjust because they are not going anywhere.

I do disagree about straddle OTB or MS straddle loosening up the game. Button straddle defininitely makes the blinds play more correctly (i.e. tighter and folding more). MS straddle is potentially worse. I will "block" a MS straddle on my button USUALLY, especially if I am deep enough (or can buy in deep enough) to play an effective 5/10 game. Even more likely if the balance of the table isn't or won't be deep enough.

If they are going from button to MS straddle, I highly doubt they are skipping blinds and finishing OTB. I have never seen that method implemented with a MS straddle. Would make it interesting when the LowJack straddles.

The only place I've seen where the MS Straddle is 'ultimate' was at Planet Hollywood, which is no more. Otherwise the action just starts to the left of the MS and goes 'as normal' around the table .. similar to 'The Rock' games.

It's very possible that 'in position' Straddles slow down a Reg heavy 2/5 and most likely do in a 5/10, but that's where you'd expect some increased skill level 'per Player' to exist. When more chips are put into play at low stakes or in action filled high-population rooms, the game gets much looser. GL

Hey all:

Was over at MCC playing 1/2 the other night.

The room was about half full. Kind of surprised, as they used to be FULL with a wait list. MGM has simply taken most of the market share.

I got into a situation which I had never encountered in all my years of playing poker!

There is an older regular who is a "loud mouth" and a table captain. Many months ago, I really got into it with him. He lost a hand to a 4 of a kind. The person who beat him was a "youngish" good looking young woman who was playing for probably her 3rd or 4th time. When he lost to the 4 of a kind, he was kind of joking that she "could have warned him" so that he didn't get felted. OK, haha, sucks to get felted! So he is naturally hot headed....fine...

HOWEVER, after a few minutes, he simply can't let it go. It gets under his skin, and he goes from kind of joking, to simply getting nasty & a jerk. He simply won't let it go, and eventually the woman fires back at him. This ratchets him up even further and he truly gets ugly with her. The floor is called over, and he tells him to "simmer down" and "play poker". OK. A couple minutes after being chastised, he goes into it again. So the young woman says "F U", racks up, and leaves.

I was not in the and simply watched what unfolded. When the woman leaves with all her chips, I get into the old guy. I said something to the effect of "don't tap the glass" and now the chips are GONE, I can't get them, you ain't never going to get them either! Maybe worst of all, this young woman very possibly WON'T come back to play live poker. Poker needs all of the players it can get at this point!

A couple of other player side with me, the floor comes over again. Everybody is told to "simmer down" and to continue play. I say screw this, the old guy was warned once already. I'm leaving. A couple of other players also left, and the table broke.

Fast forward to the latest incident.

This old guy has had a mild stroke and rides a motorized scooter through the casino. He parks it at the edge of the room, and can then walk to his table. He parked his scooter near my table at the edge of the floor. A couple of hours later, he comes back to his scooter. Somebody had placed some empty chip trays on it's chair or basket. I'm not sure, other than they were on his scooter. He looks at the scooter for a moment, and then says something incredibly racist and derogatory to the couple of young black men sitting on that side of the table. Something to the effect of which one of you punk N****s put these empty trays to break my luck and give me bad juju? The young black guys are confused and perplexed and didn't even initially realize he was talking to them. He then takes the empty trays (3-4) and literally throws them onto our table and says "F U" to my table! I was not in the hand, and wasn't paying attention at first, but when he throws the trays, they miss the pot, but everybody goes nuts.

I don't think anybody from my table put empty trays on his cart. I certainly don't think whoever did it was to break his luck. It was near the cage, who knows how they got on the cart?

Floor comes over, and gives him a warning. Things go back to normal in a minute....but everybody at my table is angry with the guy and telling their unpleasant stories of his behavior. Many simply won't play at any table he is at.

So I go up and talk with the floor and complain. The nature of my complain is this:

A). Words are one thing...but when you do something PHYSICAL (throwing the trays), that escalates it another level. He should have been ejected over this.

B). This guy is probably in his late 60's and possibly 70's even? He is there almost every time I am, so he plays a LOT. He knows the rules of the room. He should NOT have to be warned about things like this. Heck, he is frequently getting warnings. He is taking advantage of the floor's poor decision making ability and actually HARMING MCC's business. That young woman from several months ago probably won't be back because of him. What about these young black guys?

C). He should NOT be using derogatory racial terms! He should not be using such vile profanities?

D). The floor said there is a "file" on him, and they are aware of his bad/disruptive behavior.

So I left after voicing my complaint to the floor.

In the end, I think I am going to curtail my play at MCC. This guy is disruptive. Even when he isn't "acting the fool" he is very boisterous and loud mouthed. A little of that is to be expected, but he goes all night...I have a choice, so I'll go to MGM or Greektown, charity rooms, or Toledo.

Anybody else ever had something thrown onto their table disrupting the game?

Good post. Bigger rooms, lots of tables, it's possible to keep visiting room and avoid a few jerks. Smaller rooms, no chance, can't avoid them. Then, there is Vegas where there are many poker rooms from which to choose.
No personal ruminating today. I could go on, for a long time on subject and experiences. Thrown on table? Money, chips, that's about it.

Straddles are great in any position. Learn to deal with it. Anytime someone wants to put more money in the middle without looking at their cards they shouldn't be discouraged.

so, i dindtn play cards much this year and I only played MGM detroit , but I got a free trip to Vegas and when I called detroit they said they do that sometimes... anyone else get it? its like 4 free nights and I literally played 1-3 PLO and 1-2 NL for maybe 33 hrs total - going to see Katy Perry end of July who's coming w me!!!

Sounds like someone's wife is a high roller on the slots.

Poker seems a little sleepy this morning .. only two 'total' tables going in the Detroit area.

1) FKeepers has $1K HH bonus today .. $500 HH bonus in two weeks .. $500 tournament on 31st .. (If you're looking to get out of town)

2) SEagle is set to reopen next Thursday. I've heard some Players are getting rooms comped for Wed night

3) HHammond will go 7-days a week starting the first weekend in August

4) WSOP set to wrap up this weekend .. so once those Players take a week or two to rest local poker should get back to normal .. pending too much good weather!

5) I've heard (and seen) great things about the charity room in Lansing with PLO being stressed on Sat nights

Please be happy/blessed that Detroit is not among the 'regular' headlines that I've seen nationally or even regionally with BC and Kzoo having lots of issues almost daily. GL

if anyone wants to go the Vegas with me (im super chill to travel with) i got afree trip from BetMGM , and i want to see Katy Perry's new show... im just single no kids never married all my friends got like teenagers and ... yeah... hmu 3139691790 or my insta /fka.frosty https://www.instagram.com/fka.frosty/ Sessions 0574685af77b5fe3ffdf0a3bb26c11ed8d094d61f2ec91c30f 64a67c0c53a11614

Reminders and FYIs .. from Firekeepers

1) $500 30 minute HH this Friday 11-8pm .. They had 5/10 PLO going last Friday night along side their 2/5 MTS NL

2) $500 5th Sunday tournament, starts at Noon (Online tournament registration coming soon!)

3A) $250 hourly HH Mon-Thur all of August, 11-8pm
3B) $1300 hourly HH Sat all of August, 11-8pm .. to celebrate their 13th anniversay

4) Their weekly Sat PM green chip bounty is a great little tournament as well

5) Royal in Hearts lands you $12K as of today .. All Royals are on a progressive payout


Poker in general seems slow this week on Bravo, but that's probably to be expected post-WSOP and Summer .. GL

Lots of poker this weekend as the weather wasn't the best and football is back!

Rumors that Five Star Bowling will (or has) ended charity poker in lieu of a different use for that part of the building.

MSPT $70 (12:15pm) Qualifiers and $165 (6:15pm) Satellites start this weekend at FKeepers and run through the October $1100 ME .. full schedule is now @ msptpoker.com

GL

WSOP.com to allow Pennsylvania and Michigan players to join some Nevada/New Jersey tournaments in the fall.

That's definitely a gamechanger.

I would assume that 'any' joining would be all or nothing .. not just select events. But perhaps MI or PA is being hard headed about revenue sharing on the cash side. GL

hey all:

I finally went back to Greektown to play poker. This is the first time I've done that in over a year.

The poker room has moved back upstair into the corner where it first started. There is only about 1/2 the space, as the other half is a sportsbook.

While I won a bit of money, I had a rather unpleasant interaction with the Penn National Gaming casino & it's workers.

I went at about 10 PM on a Friday night. At that point in time, I am not aware of ANY event going on in downtown Detroit. The parking garage was busy, but not packed. When I pulled in, there is a $10 charge if you don't have a player's card. I have/had a card. Unfortunately, it didn't work, so I flagged down the attendant. He said my card is either damaged or expired. I need to just pay the $10, get my card re-newed, and then show the receipt to the cage, and I'll be reimbursed for the expense. OK, sound reasonable.

I then go to the poker room. I called in, and my name was not on the list. I was there in less than an hour....another guy was arguing with the manager, as his name was also not on the list. The desk didn't have any chips available to sell to the new players! So now you've got empty seats, you can't buy at the table, and there are no chips to be sold. The room manager was desperately calling to the main cage to get replenished with chips. I've never seen this happen at ANY room I've played in. I managed to get a spot, as I bought chips directly from a leaving player.

As the night progressed, I won a few chips. I played for 4-5 hours, until our table broke. The floor gave me a new player's card. They also informed me that I played 10 hours, I would get $10 to reimbursement my parking fee. I could use this at ANY of their restaurants, even in the food court! I was not happy about this....I would get $10 comps for 10 hours of play EVEN if I didn't pay for parking. I told the room manager this was NOT what I was told in the parking structure. He was flustered and couldn't help or do anything.

At the end of the night, I went to the main cashier. They had to get a manager, and he couldn't do anything either. He said they had to charge for parking to keep ruffians out. He also said that every casino in Las Vegas charges for parking and that MGM is going to start charging for parking any day now. I countered that this is DETROIT, nobody pays for parking here. He also said that all I had to do was play a bit more, jump up a player's level and I will get free parking.

While the $10 is not a huge amount of money. I am steamed because different employees told me different things. I was told the wrong thing to get the $10, and get me in the door. I definitely will not be giving them any action at the table games OR video poker. If the games weren't so crazy & juicy, I would swear off poker also. I definitely won't pay $10 again. I would rather pay the Orthodox church or a small lot than pay the casino. I just have a mental block of PAYING $10 to get into the casino!

Finally, there were very few people in the casino for that time of night on a Friday. I think the new parking fee is going to keep a lot of people out.

Sir,
I hate when I get different information/rulings at a Casino (and it always seems to cost me money, not the Casino). Also, I live in Las Vegas and play poker often when I am home, and that Manager who told you that every Casino in Las Vegas charges for Parking is wrong and/or lying. I know for a 100% fact that Wynn/Encore, Venetian, Resorts World, and a few others do not charge for parking. In fairness, the majority do, but at MGM and Caesar's Properties you do get free parking if you have an upgraded player's card. Like you said though, this is Detroit not Las Vegas (or San Francisco, New York, New Orleans, etc.) and it is very short sided to charge for parking there when it is not the norm in the area in my opinion. I used to play in Cleveland at Jack's and their parking structure was used during baseball games, basketball games, and concerts at those two venues and even though they would charge up to $100 to park on those evenings, it was always comped if you played either 3-4 hours in the poker room or 1 hour in the pit/machines otherwise I believe it would have greatly impacted their customer traffic on those evenings.
Racetrack

Racetrack:

Thank you for the input on Vegas.

Greektown in Detroit is located in a prime location, and people absolutely would park there IF there is a baseball/football/large concert going on. HOWEVER, the night I was there, nothing was going on, and even if it were, at 10 PM, everything has either concluded OR it is well underway, and nobody would be looking to park in the 4th quarter of a football game or the 8th inning of a baseball game.

The thing that drove me so crazy was that I was told that I would be comped/reimbursed when I renewed my players card AND played for a while (which I most certainly did).

If they want to keep out freeloaders, easy to do, charge for parking. IF you have a player's card AND it is used for a few hours at poker OR 1 hour+ at video machines or table games, then you get reimbursed. You also SHOULD NOT be reimbursed with a $10 credit at the food court. If they give you $10 in normal chips, that is fine.

I just don't see how this new policy benefits the company. I am NEVER going to give them action at table games OR video poker OR slots. I am probably not going to play poker...but they do have a good action game that Friday night. I am telling/warning my friends and family....many of whom have not been back since the pandemic, but probably will be going back soon.

I also am going to warn other poker players and anybody who will listen.

There is an old story that a happy customer tells 2 people, but a MAD customer will tell 20. That is the case here!

Hey all:

I finally have some good news to report!

I was playing the other day at Motorcity Casino. They have brought back food into the poker room. They also allow food to be eaten in the room.

There is not as much food as previously offered. The food is apples, potato chips, sandwiches (corned beef is exceptionally good), and side salads (potato, pasta, cole slaw). No pizza or other hot dishes at this point.

This is definitely a good development, as you no longer have to go up to the food court if you are hungry.

Perhaps MGM & Greektown might also offer food in the near future?

Kudos to Motorcity for bringing back food.

1) Parking at GT has always been a bit of a puzzle .. but in reality it's only 2 hands of rake at poker and over a 3-6 hour session that's pretty easy to forget about. It can be a crap shoot as far as when staff are trying to collect and the day of the week and/or as you said about what events are going on .. it's not just sports in D. I'm not saying that GT isn't a s-storm when it comes to varied policy and enforcement, but if you feel the game is to your benefit then don't let these issues ruin your mindset for the session. What if there was an unbelievable whale dumping in Windsor? Would you not go because you have to use the bridge/tunnel to get there?

2) Good for MCC with the food .. could've been spurred on because SEagle is now open, but probably not .. it's just time to get back to 'normal' They should be doing what they can do to get more games going there in the shadow of MGM right now. I've heard good things about their Saturday tournament as well.

Keep us up to date on your sessions .. it's nice to see some posts in here again. GL

While I am not happy about paying $10 for parking, and that is not a tremendous amount of money....the thing that pisses me off and makes me crazy is that EVERY employee of the casino tells me a different thing/policy statement. ALSO, the parking lot attendant told me I would be reimbursed, that was not the case. When everybody at a business tells me a different thing, it does not give me confidence in their organization. If there is a problem like this that can't be taken care of, what happens with something more serious?

If I were a shareholder of Penn Gaming, I would be absolutely bananas. The damage they are doing to their brand is way more than the $10 they got from me AND I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I have since played poker twice, and I speak about this every session to see other player's experiences at Greek Town. Most don't play there. Most who do, don't have problems, as they are "gold"+ player's club members. HOWEVER, a few have had similar experiences as I have had. NOBODY has a positive experience/view of the parking situation at Greek Town. A few people said that as they are not rated players, they are NOT going to go to Greek Town as they don't want to deal with the parking hassles.

In the end, I will probably go back to Greek Town. HOWEVER, I will NEVER give them any action on table games or video poker. Live poker only. I'll also get out ASAP if the game(s) are not loose.

##################################

Was back at Motor City the other night, as I had to go downtown earlier for business. I had one monster hand that I got paid off on, and had a nice winning session.

The room was well stocked with food. Appears that everything is back EXCEPT for the hot food (pizza, food court leftovers at midnight). I had 1/2 a chicken salad sandwich, not that good. The best option is the corned beef sandwich, which is surprisingly good. Also nice that they have trail mix and M&M's in small, sealed cups. Great to get a jolt of sugar late at night.

All the players were reasonably calm. The old trouble maker that I mentioned in an earlier post has not been there while I have. Maybe he is at MGM or taking a break.

It is indeed good that things are getting back to normal.

HUGE tournament series at Motor City the first week of October .. 7 events with $770k in guarantees .. NL, RxR, PLO, seniors .. GL

I read this post and visited 5 Star to see if this rumor was true. I used to play here every soo often after work and it IS true. 5 Star ended all charity poker in early July. Not sure what they will use the space for. It wasn't the best place to play, but I had a few decent memories.

Also, Ciccarelli's SUCKS as far as getting a seat, but the PLO game is pretty good.