I know it's early, but anyone have an ETA for when the Shoe's WSOPC schedule will be finalized/posted? I know it's 10/16-10/25.

I want to visit the Shoe from out of state for the WSOP-C but don't really want to have to rent a car and pay ~$100 a night at Ramada. I'm guessing my best option is to take the trolley from Chinatown. Is there lodging available near the trolley stop in Chinatown? If not, is there a public transportation option that I can use to get to the stop from wherever I stay? I'd like to know about the trolley and the nearby area as much as possible.

Thanks everyone in advance!

don't stay in chinatown..

Okay, easy question. If I take the train and get off at the Hammond Station, how do I get to the casino? Just today I took the Wolverine east from Chicago and at the Hammend stop the casino is Right There, but getting across the tracks and all seems pretty imposing. Will the casino send a car or do I need to hope a cab will be close by? Close though it may be, walking does not look like like an option.

People think Chinatown is a bad neighborhood and so on...I don't think its that bad. I've never had any problems -- that being said, this is Chicago, and recently we've had brutul muggings in even what are considered "the safest neighborhoods". If you find something there it might be ok, but I'd probably stick with a bigger name hotel. You'd be a 20 minute shuttle ride from the casino if you stayed there. Just don't walk alone at night if possible or stick to lighted areas.

Or get something in a small town in Indiana (not Gary) and drive there everyday. Hotels in Indiana should be way cheaper than Cook Co.

Also keep in mind if you stay in Cook Co., we will take our highest in the nation 11.5% sales tax thank you very much. If you stay in surrounding counties its more like 6-8.

Good luck and PM if you would like suggestions regarding food, non-poker stuff to do. Yeah you'll be playing poker a lot, but if you don't get here too much, you have to get out and eat somewhere. This city has thousands of amazing restaurants!

Getting hit by an Amtrak going 70 is generally -EV. What part of the city are you coming from? If you are coming from Chicago itself just take the Chinatown fun bus and avoid spreading your entrails across Indiana.

Keep in mind there are a lot of other free trolleys from downtown, Wrigley Field area, Uptown, etc. The problem is they run every 4 hours instead of 1, and I think their last pick up is pretty early. Check out their website under transportation and they give you all the options.

Kind of sucks about the every 4 hours thing for the Uptown one -- if it ran more often I could get dropped off 1/2 block from my house!

Everyone seems to be intent on making this difficult. Take the South Shore line from Randolf Station at the corner of Michigan and Randolf straight to the Hammond station. Call a cab company based out of either East Chicago or Hammond and tell them what time you arrive and they will meet you at the station. It is a $10 cab ride (not even) and a $5(?) train ride and is by far the easiest option. You can stay right in the city and get to the shoe in 45 minutes.

Will be out at the Shoe the next 3 nights. Any promotions/events running right now, aside from BBJ? I usually take the shuttle, but will be driving in from downtown Chi - so any info re: cost of parking is appreciated.

Parking is $5 for < 6 hours, $10 6 hours or more. Cars left in the lot longer than 24 hours will be towed at the owner's expense.

You don't have to pay to park at HS. I'm not sure where illini43 got this info.

Drive past the first parking garage and then take the next left towards valet. Stay in the left lane and go up the spiral ramp to the garage that is closer to the poker room.

I know you pay for valet (unless you're Diamond+).

A few weeks ago on a Saturday the Shoe had a LHE 4-8 w/ full kill game going that I played for a bit. Has this game been going regularly? I'll be there this Saturday and will try to start it if it's not already going. Join the list if you see it!

I'd play this but I have a busy weekend and don't know if I'm going to make it down there.

sorry i dont remember you. how'd i play?

Planning on going to the Horseshoe in the near future, however it would be my first real live poker experience. Is 1/2NL the lowest limit at horseshoe? Any comments, tips, hints? Should I sign up for anything at the casino, ex...rewards program?

The first thing you want to do is sign up for the Rewards Card. The poker room awards players $1 per hour for food purchases. The lowest no limit games are on the PokerTek tables just outside the poker room. Minimum buy-in is $20 with .50/1.00 blinds.

I would suggest starting with the 1-2 no limit games. I would buy-in for $100 and play very tight. I would also let the dealer know that this is your first time. After about an hour you should start to get a feel for the game. GOOD LUCK!

What is the max at the table? A friend of mine said it is usually $300 and you don't want to come to the table with $100 because others will just out bet you to take your money.

Max is $200. You should buy in for $200.

I lost count of the new players I seen losing their bankroll within the first few hours. Its best that he plays tight being short stacked until he feels comfortable at the table. Even buying in for $50 is not a bad idea. Once he gets a feel for the game than I agree having the $200 max is best.

I just heard that that somebody hit the $240,000 bad beat.

Details please.

I ended up playing 5 hours Friday night and did ok. $3 beers got to me near the end so I only walked away with around 40 bb (was up well over 100).

Anyway I was table talking more than usual on Friday night and was enjoying it until finally I got warned by the dealer because the pot was multi-way. I'd never heard of that before. Someone said it was a norm at most casinos. I can kind of see why, but when I asked the dealer, he said because it could "influence the hand". Isn't that the point?

Almost talked someone into a call with bottom 2 vs my flush on a board 3d4h5cKd7d. That was fun watching the player tank more and more with everything I said.

Edit: When warned, I didn't announce "I have a pair of kings" or anything like that. To be honest I don't remember what I said but it was nothing blatent like that.

The reason the dealer brought this rule up was because of collusion. I can understand players having an enjoyable time thinking this is an odd rule. There have been cases where players working as a team drill other players for information. Once heads up can talk all you want until the clock runs out.

1-2game...flop JJ7 TURN BRICK RIVER 7 ...JJ VS 77 104Kto 77 52kto jj 18k to 6 other players...After some debate they reset the bad beat at 40k

I can confirm this. Went tonight and played with one of the guys who had a table share.

lol i love playing 1/2 at the shoe, so fun