Overall I liked the tournament. I was impressed that they went and got blackjack dealers so they could seat all the alternates. There were 40 alternates and they had them all seated about 10 minutes into the second blind level.

The only thing I would change is to add a 150/300 level. The jump from 100/200 to 200/400 is pretty jarring and the only spot where blinds double (until 1000/2000 -> 2000/4000).

I'm not saying that they should have done anything else. Personally, I only went BECAUSE it was the bigger tournament. There were several people in line and at the table that commented that they didn't know it was the bigger buyin tourney. Someone else was wondering whether or not the higher buyin would discourage participants. This is at least some evidence that some people were willing to play even though the tourney was higher buyin than they were expecting.

In general, I also approve. I actually think I only saw four total penalties, two for one hand for folding out of turn and two for three hands for exposed card(s). Heard floor calls for several at other tables. For one of the folding-out-of-turn penalties, the player argued that the prior player had pump-faked a fold. I didn't see it, but I think I'd want to issue a warning instead of a penalty if that really happened. You comment that warnings weren't working, so maybe that's a little too soft of an approach. One of the exposed card penalties was, IMO, completely the dealer's fault. If the dealer bounced a card off my blind money and then I got dinged three hands because of it, I think I'd be a little peeved. I try to keep my hands away from the table when the cards are flying, so maybe it would be more clearly Not My Fault (tm) and thus no penalty, but I don't know.

Not an oversight. Players bugged the TD and various floors about it many times (to the point that they were visibly irritated). They just kept saying that they couldn't change the monitor. If it was a software change, then hopefully they will get it sorted out prior to the next big tourney series.

Headed to the wood tomorrow!

Anybody hear anything on the August series? I heard they were supposed to have a meeting last week, and the meeting got cancelled.

I heard the question asked yesterday during the 10k tournament, dealer said they don't know yet.

August series is a go pending igc approval. Will post details later

I talked to the tournament director about the August event. He said all of this is "unofficial" until they get approval back from the IGC, but here are their current plans. The tournament series will go on, but due to the staff reductions it will be shorter and have fewer events than previous tournaments. It was originally planned for August 2-12th but will now be the 2nd-7th.

They will still have the deepstack, but with some changes. There will still be two day 1's, but each day one will be split into two flights, a morning flight and evening flight. Each flight will be capped at 300 players but they will take alternates and seat them as tables break like always. They are still allowing re-entry and if you bust out of one flight you can also sign up for a later one. The TD said he expects the guarantee to be in the 150-200k range.

There will be still be a main event, but the buy-in will be lower than it was in the past. The TD said it will be about half of what is was, which was 1600. As for other tournaments he mentioned that they're still having the seniors event and the PLO event.

Thanks for the info, glad they're still having it but pretty disheartening that it won't be the same, those deepstacks tournaments that drew 1400 players were my favorite local tourneys of the year by far. Even though it sounds like they could still accommodate close to that many be splitting each day 1 I doubt it'll happen and it sounds like it could be a mess.

Yeah, wish they would just let it be. These series were great especially the main event.

I agree. With no info posted 3 1/2 weeks before the start of the series, and 3 major conflicting series (Tunica, Choctaw, & WPT in Philly) they should have skipped this one, and concentrated on having a full series in November. Once you start offering a lesser product, it will be difficult to get players to return at previous numbers.

In addition, at least according to a thread in MTTc, the Denny Crum at HSI will overlap the first weekend. With HSI being only a couple of hours from Cincy, the overlap will obviously have an effect.

Sounds like they are going to cut back their commitment to poker just like the rumors have said. With the Cinn Horseshoes coming on, that actully makes business sense. Not enough players to have both Casinos into it that big. Hollywood might drop to 20 tables or less and end the multiday tournaments entirely by next year. I am only guessing of course but the new situatuon really points to a major cutback coming. I am sure someone knows this for certain, but doesn't want to say it yet.

: / I'm thinking the same. As a hobby player this sucks and I wonder if they're heading toward something like Belterra.

Hollywood is by far my favorite Casino traveling from Central Ky and it would take consistent 1/2 PLO and good entertainment from the new Horseshoes to make me switch. The atmosphere in Hollywood is just 10x better than the rest. Everything being posted and the tournament being shortened just makes me think they are already conceding poker to the new casino.

Obviously the Horseshoe Cincinnati is going to take away a large portion of their business, and in all areas, not just poker. It kinda sucks for Hollywood, the whole reason they built it was that the Argosy was too small and frequently had lines to get in on Friday and Saturday night. Once Cincy opens they're going to have this giant casino which will be half empty even on the busiest of nights.

So I understand the need to downsize, I just don't understand why they're doing it now when Cincinnati won't be open for another nine months. You'd think they would wait until it was closer but they've already laid off a ton of people. It's very noticeable too, there are frequently long lines at the cage because they're understaffed. They can't have their full tournaments series for poker because they don't have enough dealers. The bar by the poker room used to be open every day and night, now it doesn't open at all on slow days and when it is busy only opens at night. I know the economy still sucks and all but it seems they've gone from being appropriately staffed to ridiculously understaffed in the last few months.

How is the cash game action lately? I've only been once in the past 6 months and it was almost completely dead at 2/5 and above. Is all the higher action PLO now?

Don't think that they will entirely give it away to Cinn HS, just a major rethinking from being THE major poker spot in the region to just another small poker room. Maybe smaller will be better ,IDK, for Hollywood due to the stiff comp' just a few months away.

Hollywood could still be the major poker option in the region if they would focus on growing their player base instead of trying to nickel and dime an increased profit margin on their current pool. I can think of numerous issues they have incorporated into the room that should have been nixed at 1st suggestion:

1) Implementing .50 chips to increase rake and slow games down.

2) Increasing % of tournament buyins that go to house instead of into payout pool.

3) Laying off multiple staff members bringing down the morale and attitude of current dealers and staff.

4) Refusing to embrace any type of promotions suggested to room (lower rake for limit games, high hand bonuses, pot splashes, etc.).

It's disappointing to me that Hollywood takes such a lazy arse attitude because I think the room is beautiful and have come to really appreciate having a nice casino facility and playing option available. I still think the room can be a destination spot but they don't even want to try; that's what is the most disheartening aspect.

Yeah, most of the higher action is at PLO. It runs Wednesday thru Saturday. 2/5 still runs sometimes but it's usually pretty dry. A lot of times half the players in it are just waiting to get in PLO.

I like Hollywood but I personally cant wait for Cincy to open. Instead of the 30 minute drive to Lawrenceburg I can be at the new Horseshoe in under 10 minutes. As long as they don't screw it up it should be an awesome room.

The schedule for the ISPC (8/2-8/8) has been posted on their website. Big reduction from previous series.

ISPC Schedule

Will miss the main event....no open events on the weekend either . Guess its all about the deepstack now.

This was my first thought as well. I think having the seniors and ladies events is fine if you're having a 10 day long 15 event series, but with only 6 events it seems a little odd to have two restricted events. If you're a male under 50 you're only eligible to play in 2/3 of the events.

Some other thoughts:
- I like the idea of having two flights per day for the deepstack. With the evening flights starting at 7:15, people with 9-5 M-F jobs can play without having to take off work.

- I'm kinda surprised to see that day 2 of the deepstack is starting at 11:15 am. It looks like people playing the 7:15 Friday flight won't be getting much sleep

- I'm glad to see PLO made the cut although I'd like it better if they put it on the weekend. I think they ought to switch it with the seniors event, most of those players are retired and can just as easily play during the week as on the weekend.

- I'm curious to see what kind of turnout they get for the main event. The lower buy-in should help but having it on Monday-Tuesday instead of the weekend will hurt. I also noticed they upped the starting chips from 10,000 to 20,000. With 60 minute levels this will make for a really good tournament with lots of play.

Thanks for posting the schedule. Can't tell whether Event 1 is a reentry, but am I right in assuming that it is?
My 2 cents:
-the room would make more money by running a different event on Sat morning, such as a $350 open event or even a $230 seniors event.
-Main event not at least starting on a weekend is a bad idea. Great structure, but for people who have to take time off from work to play, playing during the week effectively greatly increases the rake.
-think the lack of dealers played a big role in this lackluster schedule
-only saving grace is the guarantee on Event 1.

Lack of compeititon has made them lazy and greedy...more rooms in the area is a good thing for the player.

I'm going to Atlantic City for a poker weekend. Hopefully I can book a win so I can donate to the deepstack prizepool!