10/20 NL TR for those who asked...

Just came back from a 2-week trip at Encore. Chopped the Hyatt Place Medford with a buddy and it was about $1500 for each of us for the two weeks. Decent hotel but a little pricey compared to what I'm used to. Uber in/out as others stated was quick except during certain hours on the weekend.

Poker: I played about 70 hours with 90% of those hours at 10/20 NL, the rest at 5/10 NL (I'm a winning player at those stakes over couple k hours sample size). I'm quite disappointed at the games overall and honestly felt like the place was overhyped and either equal or worse compared to the games at home. (This is a TR just on the games and not dealers/waitresses/parking as those have been overdone already).
As everyone can imagine a lot of highstakes regs from all parts of the country have flooded there. There were a bunch European pros too. So the room looks busy but the numbers are inflated by all the out-of-town pros. I recognized several good pros from both east and west coasts sitting in the games pretty much every day. There were usually 1-2 10/20 games every day and (no exaggeration) no less than 6 players per table were grinder-type kids that opens to 2.5x preflop and don't put much money into the pot. You have maybe 2-3 rec-looking guys that sits with less than 100 bbs playing tight passive. To be fair, there have been a few some random players coming in and dumping few thousand but they get stacked pretty fast and leave. I don't blame them for not coming back as the game is very unfriendly/reggy and every pro seems to know each other very well. There are also many private games in the area from table banter so I believe most local whales play there instead.

25/50 NL ran a few times while I was there, but every time it was literally the ~4 same pros starting the game and playing shorthanded for a couple of hours before the game broke.

This TR isn't result-oriented as I ran decent in some cooler spots and won enough to cover my trip expenses. However, I foresee these games not lasting long and will cease to run as soon as the stream of random rec players coming to check out the new casino dies off.

Feel free to ask me more questions about the highstake games there but I don't think I will be returning unless they start running tournaments.

Yeahhh sureeee. You bully!
Don’t trust him guys, shark just want fishies money.
Run!
LOL

I’m a 1/3 2/5 player so I can’t speak for your experience, way diff than the lower stakes then.
I get at least 1 player per hour that sits and only seem the game on tv and call down with A high lol. I don’t get to stack them but others do most times. This happens daily at late night. Is amazing.
I had a guy donate $120 when his straight open ended didn’t hit. He had 79o
The river put a possible flush which I completed and he called my RIVER bet...
Then showed 9 high. He called $120 in the river... he put his whole 200 buyin on that hand.
I was in shocked but like a gentleman I told him, wow yeah you couldn’t fold. Open ended is great hand, those hit a lot. Unlucky!
Bought in 4 more times. 200 each and I got zero off him after that as others feasted lol. This happens often and I discussed why that is.
table games min are so high that blackjack and other table games players decide poker is a cheap alternative. Two players already confirmed this to me. either all tables were full or the 100$ min tables open were too high.
I seen this less at 2/5 but it happens also.

[B]Rangecheck: Good TR. Curious to where your “home” poker room is located, if you don’t mind sharing.

I second that. Loved the TR, and am curious which other rooms around the country have better games at 5/10 NL and above. My impression just from sweating games occasionally was that FW 5/10 games look pretty unfriendly but no idea about the Vegas or California rooms for examole.

I've played a lot less than 70 hours so far but I can see exactly what you mean. I played the 10/20 opening day, and from 2pm-midnight there was not a single limper. Mind you, I don't mean a limped pot, not a single person ever limped in. Now this doesn't always mean the game is super solid, but I've never played a single game, at any stakes, ever, that this happened. At midnight until 3am we had 2-3 players come in for between $1-3k and some of them were limping in pots here and there. I did decent in the game, but WAY too much of a grind and no obvious weak spots.

Fast forward a bit to a couple weeks ago on a Sat afternoon. I was about to sit in the 10/20 game, but heard it just got downgraded from a 25/50 game, and the game just didn't look good. For those playing for awhile at these stakes you know what I mean. So I told floor I'd rather play 5/10. Much different game. Some excellent players throughout the 10 hours of my play there, but some terrible ones, and some average ones. What you'd expect from a 5/10 on a Sat afternoon to night. Especially when 5 tables going.

This was very interesting to read, thank you for sharing this!

My question is this, do you think there is anything Encore itself can do to make this game better? Or is it out of their hands?

Locals with the money to play this game don't want to be surrounded by headphone wearing GTO wizards. As a matter of fact, no one wants to play with them.

Given the high cost of living here, I would expect those folks trying to make a living playing poker to give up sooner rather than later. At least we can hope..

3 straight days at Encore and finally have a little time to write. I have been in Vegas for the WSOP from Memorial Day until the Main Event ended. I met Timothy Su (8th place kid who lives in Boston) and I knew Alex Livingston (3rd) from playing with him in the Main and PLO cash games for a while so I stuck it out in Vegas a few extra days. Tim has been playing 10-20 at Encore.

Can't wait for Encore to have SNGs or Tournaments. I think they can/should use the Sportsbook/Side area (sliding door right of the cage/Red Card booth) for some SNGs. A $100 or $200 sng would be fun and they last like 90 mins max and that is only if you win. Make it $900/$1800 to the winner but people can make deals whenever they want HU or 3 handed etc... ICM/Chip Chop...

I played on opening day, Mon the next day and then Wed for a total of < 20 hours when I had to come back into town for some family and work stuff and it was mostly 1-3, 2-5, and 5-10. Games were super crazy and wild those first 4 days post opening. I saw some very good players at 1-3 and some very bad players at 5-10 but as usual most of the players at 5-10 were very good and at 1-3 they were mostly very bad. Just curious if these good players at 1-3 were just testing the waters or what.

I played this past Fri from 6pm - 3am, Sat from 4pm - 3am, and yesterday from 2pm - 7pm. I played 1-3, 2-5, 5-10 NL, 20-40 and 4-8 O8, and 2-2 PLO.

First three days when they opened I really didn't say or talk much as I was mostly just observing all the different things from dealers to chip runners to staff to food, cocktail, etc... and seeing what the atmosphere is like. I don't play professionally but I do take the game very seriously and I am just an avid competitor.

This time around since I'll be here a lot I introduced myself and talked to everyone, especially the guys at 20-40 O8. I own a business that helps people get into colleges and that evolved into helping the kids who got in move into their dorms then eventually off-campus then eventually to their jobs etc... and once the a dealer or two figured that out the word literally spread like wildfire. Every single person was coming up to me on tips on how to find an apt, help them with getting their kids into a good school system in the fall, where to buy this or that (furniture, car, etc...). I usually charge for this info but I was happy to provide it and it is a fine line when a hot cocktail waitresses or massage girls ask I don't give them more than say a middle aged dealer to show favoritism and to spread word that I want anything more from them as that is bad business for poker.

The games are just buck wild crazy from people who have never played poker to super tight rocks who never give any action. When I was much younger I would have an ego problem and be very annoyed if some guy who hasn't played a hand in 2 hours raises me but these days I can fold the 2nd nuts after paying them off for years I learned my lessons.

I spent a lot of time talking to everyone who came in/out of VIP who play these high stakes game and I think it is very true that there are a lot of super good pros in these games. Most of them are these young GTO wizards drinking hot green tea with no sugar and have optimal temperature and tell hiding headphones, sunglasses, and hoodies on. They don't engage the recreational players or the dealers/staff and just want everyone to feed them money when they misplay a poker hand. This can't be good for the games. It is not the Encore's job to recruit or attract big whales that will join a 10-20 or 25-50 NL game, it is what the players do to help make the game fun. Chip Reese was the best at this, RIP.

20/40 Stud and 20/40 Hold'em both broke around 9pm on Sat night which is insane. They ran 20/40 O8 after I left yesterday and it became OE and we are working with a lot of the stud and hold'em regulars to make the game HOS at 20/40 and hopefully get one table around the clock and maybe 2 when it is busy. There just doesn't seem to be enough players for 3 different 20/40 games. There are a lot of players would play a 40/80 mix with draw games but 20/40 is too small for them so maybe 30/60 would be full but the 20/40 HOS players dislike draw games.

Food post. I am a wannabe foodie so here are my takes:

Dunkin - nicest DD I've ever seen with the usual stuff. Sucks can't use points there but whatever, it is prob the cheapest place in the joint by a mile.

Red 8 - it is very solid and authentic but of course super overpriced like all the other sit down restaurants. I totally understand the Encore is a classy high end joint but some of these prices are just downright ridiculous. The seafood is world class but also you have to really appreciate how well it is prepared using the best ingredients. The hostesses in the little short dresses are super disorganized.

Garden Cafe - solid but ultra-slow.

Mystique - dress code kept out a few poker playing buddies but food is not that great and it might be the worst value in the place. Just because it is sushi I think some places decide they should quadruple the price. 2x and 3x at airports or hotels or casinos happen all the time but 4x is quite astonishing.

Waterfront - might be best value in the place and ideal for beer lovers.

Oyster Bar - never busy for some reason but everything is super fresh, shooters are incredible but at $27/3 I don't want to make this a habit.

On Deck Burger - never seen a place so slow/mis-managed and no one seems to care. It is a quick run from the poker room along the balcony and ideal if it wasn't so bad.

Fratelli - haven't been but heard decent things so far

Sinatra - haven't been but I've been to Vegas one a few times and hope it is as good

Rare - nice and solid but nothing special, I can pay about $20/ounce for the same Kobe in Vegas vs $55/ounce here, everything else is like any nice upscale steakhouse.

Bru - haven't been but heard great things.

Buffet - missing quite a few things they have on the menu and some things that are available are very slow to be replaced when out. I think they put all the rookies here because some have never refilled a soda and most have definitely not bused tables or brought a check but I hear this is already an improvement from when they first opened by poker buddies who have been 5+ time. I've been twice and both times just as bad in terms of basic operational issues.

Poker Grill - I guess I've been lucky every time I order the bill comes right away and the food comes shortly after. The Fries are called Seashore Fries and they're like steak fries, very well done and they give you enough. Chicken fingers are very dry, Clam Chowder and Chicken Noodle Soups are ok. The sandwiches look big but I don't like others at my table to use their hands that touch chips/cards to be eating anything that requires using their hands and they should remove those items. I've seen most things except the pizza slices. It has been almost a months so I figure the food/drinks would be ironed out but it is still super hit or miss.

Wow, that was also very interesting to read, thank you for sharing that!

Any thoughts on $2/$5?

I played the 80 mix and it was a good lineup: BTHOSE

I'm glad to see some more interest in smaller mix games. This will help introduce players as well as give us more options to move up/down when a game is good or bad.

I was just looking at the Waterfront menu. I want to say yikes on the prices, but relative to the other places on property I agree it seems like the "best" value.

Any idea what the Reg and Large sizes are for the draft beer? Menu doesn't say, but I would guess 16 and 24 oz.

Parking - They kept re-iterating that it is 3+ hours of play but since I was mostly in the 2-5 area behind the sign in desk or the mid-stakes area left of the sign in desk or the 2-2 PLO area in front of the sign in desk if I left right after playing the floor would just give waive or wink or the 'he's ok' to the sign in desk person to ok my parking. Otherwise they would scan my red card or just ask and I would just say yes I did play 3+ hours. They mentioned the you gotta use it within 30 mins thing every time this past weekend.

IT - a joke that the wireless sucks, no systems are integrated for Poker Atlas, points (you have points for pit games/slot play and then poker), the website tells you nothing, I can't even see a hotel reservation I made or points or anything else. It just seems the Encore website is horrific from an informational perspective even the Las Vegas Wynn is the same. I can't believe no word has travelled to the big bosses about this.

Poker Atlas does alert me when there is a seat for me via text, it would be nice if I could reply back when I don't want the seat to save them time to just move onto the next player. Ideally there will eventually be a way to tie it all into the swipe system too so they can alert people when they're about to be picked up. I saw so many people getting picked up this weekend it was getting comical and the floor hates all the paper work.

Waitresses - a lot of them were spending time talking to me because of me helping people re-locating to Boston and everyone thinks incorrectly that I know some kinda of magical trick to get a cheap apartment when in reality I know mostly how you can not get ripped off or screwed with a dump is more like it. I feel their trays are way too small. They're mostly holding them wrong and they have no better system than a notepad and pencil for their own organization of who ordered what but I don't even think it is that hard 10 mins later to go back to the same few tables you are in charge of and be like who ordered this Corona. Almost all were definitely trying as hard as they can to get drinks out fast. I did notice at 2-2 PLO which has a staff entrance/exit to the kitchen area by the men's room that they come around much quicker than in the mid-stakes area. Friends at 2-5 NL say their drinks come fast too. I guess the 1-3 NL area is the farthest and might have the worst service.

Cashiers - didn't seem too bad. Sign in never had more then 2-5 people in line. Once directed to a floor seating happens very fast in all areas. I talked to a few people playing by the balcony and we prob had to yell to communicate it was so loud but def a great place to people watch on Fri + Sat nights.

Bags - true that they don't seem to care about backpacks or bigger bags anymore. I have a messenger or a smaller satchel type bag (remember Hangover? Is that a man purse? No it's a satchel like Indiana Jones) I use because I thought that they still care but I saw a ton of backpacks.

I didn't get beer at Waterfront because it was free at poker room and I was having a Corona, Angry Orchard, etc... for tips so that is great but I would assume it is 16/24oz like most places. The food is prob the best value. I think it is much better food than the Garden Cafe and GC > WF in prices.

2/5 NL is pretty much where I have the most info. I have 3 friends who have been playing that almost every day since they opened and about a dozen random acquaintances from poker who have put in some time and they all agree it is very good. There are not too many GTO wizards drinking green tea with headphones hoodie scarf and sunglasses and everyone is pretty social and there are so many levels of experiences. The key is to figure out what level they are thinking on and try to see who actually plays fit or fold or who plays situations.

From my few hours at 2/5 I did see many all in pre-flop pots with 150+ bb each with people flipping over AK like they're short stacked in a tournament. I also see people folding two pairs when there is a lot of heat on the turn too so there is everything.

One of my very first hands at 1-3 I flop a flush with 9Tss and I bet and got raised, re-raised and shoved on and I folded and the best hand was top pair with As, one guy had an open ended straight draw and another had top pair no spade. I am so bad. Turned out another spade came but this is how wild it is out there.

I think we just need to understand this is a huge metropolitan area and 95% of the people you play with at 2/5 you'll never play with again for the most part.

Funniest moment - someone obviously drove past the McDonalds 30 seconds away and went drive-thru and just stuffed it in their bag and they pulled it out at a 2-2 PLO table and were about to eat when there was some kinda big stir about no outside food (which I just assumed was standard policy in most places), but there is actually a sign in the poker room by the North Elevators that says no outside food allowed. He had to stuff that back in his bag. I guess it has to be that way or Mike's Roast Beef would be delivering to the poker room every 15 minutes.

For me, I play 1/3 2/5 5/10

When I am dealt 2 cards, I no longer look at them. When it folds to me, I raise. If I get 1 caller, I have a 50% chance of winning. If I get 3 callers, I have a 33% chance of winning and so on.

So I see a flop and c-bet 100%... Some nights I lose a little, other nights I lose a lot.


I ordered a book called "Degenology".... Hoping to become a Degenologist. Nickname: Dr. D


PS: Encore is literally the greatest poker room in a 100 mile radius of where I live. Hands down! The variety of games is there all day and all night. There is maybe a few hour window at 5am-10am where there are a few games but you can easily play 48 hours straight and not worry about going table dead. Not many casinos can say the same thing. Will it stay like that? I hope...

PS: Encore is literally the greatest poker room in a 100 mile radius of where I live. Hands down! The variety of games is there all day and all night. There is maybe a few hour window at 5am-10am where there are a few games but you can easily play 48 hours straight and not worry about going table dead. Not many casinos can say the same thing. Will it stay like that? I hope...


Now you have piqued my curiosity. I would say Encore has to be the greatest poker room in a 300 mile radius, minimum.

What other room comes close to variety, table count, demographics, etc?

Good point

Interestingly enough I had been disagreeing with all the posts about the bad WiFi and cell reception until recently. Every time I had played I had run videos with no buffering and perfect clarity and the room was running 60-70 tables so it wasn't volume related. So I couldn't understand why players were complaining. Then last week I got sat at the very back of the room (looking over the table games area) and it was absolutely terrible. Had 3G cell reception if any at all and despite a strong WiFi signal, the connectivity was garbage so it kept hanging up, disconnecting, and reconnecting. Maybe one (or a couple) bad routers?

You can see points and free credit (not comp dollars) on their website but it isn't easy to find. You go to the Encore Boston Harbor front page, tap the drop-down menu lines at top left, select Red Card which will bring you to your profile. Then you have to tap the drop-down menu lines at the top left, tap the < arrow at the top left and tap "Casino Account". It is the clumsiest website I've ever seen. Alternatively you can plug your card into a slot machine and see all 3 comps (when they get the poker comps to finally show up).

I like the text, also. And the reply idea is great (and/or use the PA app to indicate your preference). Hopefully now that PA got this huge customer they will do some intelligent design enhancements. I would love to see Bravo either eliminated or forced to make their own vast improvements to be more like PA.

I would rather not see a player texted that they are getting picked up. I hate when players take a seat and then leave it vacant for long stretches of time. Since they are 9 handed tables, you get one guy who disappears for 20 minutes or more at a time and then a couple guys who leave to smoke together every hour, with one seat empty now you're playing 5 handed. Happened a few days ago where this one guy would literally disappear for an hour, they didn't want to pick him up because there was no list and shorter tables elsewhere. Then we lost two players, two guys went to smoke, and we tried to break the game only to be given one player, have the ghost come back for two hands and disappearing again. Eventually they did pick him up and we got a good full table going. But it was miserable for two hours. I'd rather they just enforced a hard 30 minute rule and have a "dinner list", where if you get up to go eat you take your stack and come back at the top of the list.

I would have just got in the elevator and eaten it in there then came back out.

There's no third man walking or anything?

Off topic: Anyone have any GOOD mobile games to play at the table? I'm not into the completely idle games but I also don't want a game that needs 100% attention. Anyone?

On topic: Tonight I'm going to try a new strategy at PLO. I'm going to limp any hand I deem playable. I will only raise preflop if I can isolate. Opening for 15$ at 2/2 PLO doesn't isolate... So a spot where its like limp limp limp (me) limp and then pot and call call.... I will UBER JAM ULTRA EQUITY COLLECT THE CURRENCY AND LEVEL UP!

I am so sick of being dealt AcKcKhAh and opening for 15$ and I get 9 callers.... Flop: 6dQs2d and your like... HMMMM Guarenteed flush draw, guarenteed set, guarenteed donkey straight draw............ And my mentality is: I am in for 15$... do I really wanna play a 500$ hand when the fish pond found the river? There are two ways to combat this... Do what I said above and just wait for spots to super isolate for stacks preflop OR buy-in for the minimum (200$) and just jam jam jam jam....

I have yet to play deepstack PLO... I have watched it and it def. plays a lot different than 40bb-100bb games... In short stack PLO, if you catch anything, feels like you are commited or maybe my perspective is messed up.

You might benefit from reading/posting in the 2 PLO forums that are on this site (this isn't a strategy forum and such discussions should go over there).

We didn't ask other than the guy who disappeared. Usually 3rd man doesn't apply if there is no list either.