Hey everyone, I just turned 21 and want to get in on the 1/2 NLHE in Columbus. I was wondering if you all had any tips for a first-timer? Is Hollywood Casino any good vs. Shark Tank and other clubs in the area?

I've never played 1/2 live but am a winning player at NL2/NL4/NL5 online and have played quite a bit with college friends who are decent at the game. I heard that microstakes online is pretty similar to 1/2 live and was wondering if anyone had thoughts on this as well. In other words is this an actual description of what most the players are like

I'm sure the online experience has helped you with fundamentals which will put you way ahead of an average first time player. With that said, there is still going to be a big learning curve going from online to live. The difference between live and online is like "night and day".

The biggest difference is the raise sizes preflop live vs online. The other thing is getting used to playing most pots postflop multiway. You will be surprised at what some players will call a 6X+ raise with.

I would suggest playing weak/tight at first. Bet when value betting and keep bluffing to a minimum. You will learn that the typical 1/2 player will call too much which will make bluffing unprofitable in most cases.

Have fun and good luck.



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A very +1 above ... There are some other threads on this site that you can search for as well on this specific topic rather than post within a regional thread.

The live game is SLOWER and ranges are WIDER. Spend your time when not in a hand getting your images in place for the rest of the table ... 'card' player, 'poker' player or 'gambler' and adjust your play accordingly.

I'm not a big fan of playing 'your' style at a live game. You really want to pay attention and play the player as each hand dictates. This takes a lot of mental power so you may need to take a walk to 'reset' your brain a bit if you feel strained by a play or two that you see. There are players that I just wont give any action to because I know those chips aren't being put back into play. I'm fine with them making their 4bb/hour by taking down a pot PF or c-bet just to keep them out of 'my' pots.

You will be looking at stack sizes too much IMO and probably make some 'bad' folds due to this ... but in most cases you will find spots to make up the lost ground. Watch for when 66-99 (stack=$140) calls your $21-32 3-bet getting less than 5 to 1 on the set mine operation and you are holding AK/AQ. Out pops a 974 Board and you feel pot/stack committed. You will blank out and the player will go ... "New guys always have AK/AQ in that spot" and you will shake your head in disbelief before saying "CHIPS". GL

As far as the location of playing (Shark Tank Vs. Hollywood), both are good options. There's more volume at Hollywood, so if you have a bad table you can table change. The Shark Tank is rake free (you just pay a $20 daily fee), so that's awesome. The downside would be volume as most days they get 1-2 NLHE games, a few times a month they'll get a 3rd.

Personally, I like the games at the tank a little better but you can't go wrong either spot. I'd recommend giving both locations a try.

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Speaking from someone with 1000+ hours at both locations

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I'm posting so that somebody who represents Hollywood can respond. It is currently 3:45pm. Since 1pm, we have had 10 players waiting to play PLO. The floor has refused over and over to open the game, stating that they "are afraid to break another gam to start a new game." Basically, because players waiting for the PLO game were playing holdem at other tables throughout the room, we were not going to be able to play the game we actually wanted to play.

Here's my problem: 7 of us got up from other seats and sat down at the (usual) PLO table, and no games broke. They still wouldn't start. Multiple dealers were standing around at this time. They still wouldn't start. I gave them options, like playing heads up and paying time. They still wouldn't open it.

What do we have to do get reasonable customer service and get the game we want to play? Is organizing players and going to the Shark Tank or a private game the only choice to get service?

At this point, they are waiting to open it out of spite, specifically because I have been vocal with the floor. Absurd.

I’m really sorry if this is the wrong place to make this post and for not having exact recollection of the facts, rule explanation in question was almost 3 weeks ago.

I was playing 2/5 holdem or 5/5 plo during my last session and tried to raise $36 Preflop. The dealer said I could only raise in increments of $5 unless all-in. The dealer said it had to do with $5 being the betting unit of the table. She has dealt at room since it opened so I assume she knew what she was talking about but this does’t make any sense unless I’m not recollecting right or dealer miscounted pot and was covering for herself (doubt this very good dealer).

Does anyone know what rule I’m talking about possibly and is it a “house rule”? Sorry for being so vague I tried to explain it to a friend and he told me I’m crazy or she was making up a rule (doubtful).

this story is odd: were you playing hold'em or plo?

But yes, it's pretty logical when you think about it; all bets are in $5 increments when the bb is $5.

Standard rule in most casinos, not just Hollywood Columbus.

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I've never thought about it in 2/5 NLHE, but it makes sense, I guess. I almost always make my bets in increments of $5 when I play 2/5, so it's never come up.

In PLO, it's definitely increments of $5, unless you are all in. That does make perfect sense. Imagine having to keep track of "pot" with the random +$1 bets thrown in.

Beat the dead horse ... This is very standard. There are casinos that may 'post' 1/2 PLO and yet the minimum open and then all other bets are in increments of $5. Some casinos don't even allow the $1s to play unless they are in $5 increments themselves.

At some casinos this allows them to call the game a 'red chip' game which opens up the door to RIT and 'match the stack' options that they don't want the 1/2 games to have. GL


PS .. Soaring Eagle in Michigan lets the $1 chips play and they lose many hands with the dealers needing to stack chips and take off shoes for the math.

Every 2/5 game I've ever played bets must be in increments of $5. The $1 are only for blinds and tipping


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I believe motor City allows the 1's to play and it was quite weird. Used to 1's only in $5 increments

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8:00 on a Saturday night and there are 15 players in line at the single cashier. This is one of the worst aspects of this room.

Context is missing....the big promo just ended and that's typical of many rooms when promos end and people leave


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I heard the great Rayz Rayl played there this week. Can anyone confirm?

So I figured this would be the best place to ask this question, so it will be seen by my fellow central Ohio regs. If posting this here is an issue, my apologies.

I've been hearing chatter about Scioto Downs expanding from Slots/horses only to incorporate a Poker room and other casino pit games. AKAIK, Scioto's original license was through the lottery commission as opposed to the gaming commission, and that the Ohio casinos were granted a 4-5 year "no compete" clause when they opened, which now has expired. Given the expiration of the supposed no-compete clause in the initial casino gaming licenses, rumors of this are starting to go around. Some people I've spoke to are claiming the end of this year or sometime in early 2019.

I was wondering if anyone else has heard anything about this, or has any concrete info regarding it? Obviously competition and options are a good thing for patrons, and as someone who's grown tired of a lot of the incompetencies and seemingly DGAF attitude that Hollywood's management has towards it's customers, I'd love to see another viable option open up in the Columbus area. Any info that anyone can share about this would be greatly appreciated, as I haven't found much on the topic via an internet search. Thanks!

There has been chatter for years about this. Even rumors swirling among Scioto Downs employees. There was never a no compete clause. There was an agreement by state officials not to pursue other companies which might be interested in operating a casino in Ohio. And that agreement was actually 10 years. The big issue is even if the state officials did pursue other companies they would have to get beyond the state constitution. The constitution only authorizes 4 specific casinos at 4 specific locations. Those casinos may offer "casino games as offered in surrounding states and Nevada". No other facility may offer those games. It is why the racinos (Scioto Downs....) do not offer slots. They offer video lottery terminals (VLTs). They used a technicality to get around the constitution. If there will ever be table games with dealers (including poker) at the racinos everyone will know because it will have to be voted on by the entire population of the state in order to change the constitution.

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it. Always have to take what your hear at a poker table with a grain of salt, and I didn't know too much about the topic myself; so I was hoping there would be someone in this region that could give me a more informed answer.

I thought the days of dealer shortages were over but here we are on a Tuesday night with 13 on the 1-2 NL, 16 on the 2-2 PLO, and 12 on a 10-20 Mix game list.

Been a long time since I've played locally. How is Hollywood and the Tank holding up?

Both are doing great. The casino currently has a promotion of $300 high hands every 30 minutes from 10 AM till 10 PM. Promotion runs through June 30th.

Yeah played at the tank tues & th in the PLO & O8 games. Plenty of players in the room both nights. Considering running the 10K guarantee today, despite not having played tournament poker in so long. Such a fish.

Did anyone participate in the Weekly Grinder promotion at Hollywood? Players were competing against each other to play the most hours in one week and the winner receives $5,000. I heard paramedics were called on more than one occasion to treat players who were exhausted from playing.