Not buying chips from dealer and cash not playing seems to be a standard rule in PA as you roll out your poker room. PA Sand has just started selling chips out of the well.

They were charging rake without a flop!!!!!

This is a huge problem!

It is raked - and they do take rake even pre-flop

BTW - for all you crazy 2/4 players, once the room expands, they will run a 2/4 game.

So do most AC casinos these days. At least, it seems that way.

Here's my trip report.

I arrived early, about 9:20 or so and was told by a security person that nobody could go upstairs until 10:00 when the room opens. I went over to the main building and got a really good breakfast sandwich from Foodies.

It became apparent, when I returned a bit later, that the guard was either misinformed or something - people were heading up the escalator, and I joined them. Arrived in the room itself about 9:45, and got on 3 different lists.

For those who haven't been there yet: There is a poker card (seperate from the regular Parx players cards) that one needs to get before playing. Breeze easy to do, no problem at all, but a different line from the one for signing up.

I was a little surprised not to see more dealers and players that I already knew. A couple of dealers from AC, and a couple of floor people that I recognized. That was it. Overall, the dealers were very good - with the only rust showing when they dealt stud and omaha. I'm sure that this will improve as they get more experienced in these games.

I also saw a certain AC poker room manager playing there. Checking out the competition, I'm sure. Actually, he just really likes to play poker and can't play in NJ.

A little more annoying to me, was how slow the cashiers were in counting out money. Especially the $2 chips. I'm not sure that they know how to count in 2s yet. I'm sure that this will improve with time as well.

The room itself is beautiful, with lots of space between the tables. Very comfy chairs that are height adjustable. As already noted, lots and lots of TVs.

Another really nice feature is that the waiting lists/interest lists are on several screens and can be easily seen throughout the room! I really appreciate this.

I did get to meet one 2+2 poster, who was kind enough to introduce himself. More were in the room, I've no doubt.

The chips are nice, new, sharp edged, clean. So are the cards.

By 3:00, there were only 2 or 3 empty tables (out of 24 currently in use). There was a 4/8 stud game going on, and a 4/8 O8 game with a half kill. That was a fun game to play in! There were, if I recall correctly, 5 2/5 NLHE games and 4 4/8 LHE games. The rest was all 1/2NLHE

Interest lists were there for several other games - and the 8/16 and 15/30 LHE games were called, but didn't go as of 3:45 when I left.

Yup - they were giving away free hats! And I noticed a couple of players trying to talk the floor into giving them as many as they could get.....

The chip carts look, to me at least, like hot dog carts. They'ld do a fortune in business if they were....

Cards were in the air at about 10:15 am! Ari made the announcement for dealers to "shuffle up and deal" - and the games were on. I was sitting in a 2/5 game, in the cut off seat. Under the gun was a gentleman who made it $10 in the dark. 2 people called in front of me, and I looked down at 10s9s. Somehow, I'm pretty sure that I'm supposed to raise here - but since this was the first hand, and I didn't have any idea how anyone played, I just called. So did the blinds. 6 of us to the flop. 984 rainbow. Blinds checked, UTG bet out $20, one caller, one fold - it's on me. $20? Gotta be weak. I put in a nice raise and took the pot down!

I can now claim, for all time, to have won the first hand of 2/5 NLHE played at Parx! Ok, it's a small claim to fame - but a guy doesn't get too many chances, does he. I ended up the day a small winner (if I hadn't tried the 4/8 stud game, I'ld have been a bigger winner. Oh, well, can't win 'em all.)

The floor did a really good job of keeping order. Sure, there were a few opening day jitters and whatnot - but they are to be expected. Overall, I'ld say that everyone who was waiting in hope that Parx will be an excellent poker facility will not be disappointed. They are doing a great job, even on the first day - and things can only get better from here.

I know that I'll be back a lot, with Parx being a regular place to play poker for me.

Lee

For players who like low LHE, this place has great potential. The 4/8 LHE was fine with two short-handed tables still going at 2am when I left. The 8/16 LHE interest list was very long so all we needed was a vacant table, which just wasn't available tonight. No complaints though, because if enough 8/16 LHE players get there early enough, we can get a table going. Maybe tomorrow night? Hope 8/16 O8 will go too!

I just got back from poker heaven and its name is Parx...OK not quite, but I'm VERY pleased with my first experience there. I arrived there at around 7:30pm and joined the 15/30 lhe game as it was just starting. I left at 2am and the game ran strong the entire time with a healthy list. The time charge was $6 per half, and there was no problem running time pots, which we did almost every half.

My thoughts: Before I list some complaints, I have to say that everything ran unfathomably smoothly for a first day--really kudos to Ari and everyone there. One of my favorite things about the room was the amazingly comfortable and supportive chairs--yeah they don't have a slot in back that can fit a chip tray, but they are really nice! But yes, the tables are too small...the wheels of the chairs bang against one another and get tangled when you try to slide your chair back or forward.

Many folks on here are saying the smoking is a non-issue, but I have to disagree. Even when I first walked in I could smell the smoky stale air...you do get used to it to some degree, but it was still unpleasant to me the entire time. As others mentioned, not a dealbreaker, but really annoying.

I got food from the circle bar smoke factory. An italian hoagie for me and a chicken caesar salad for the wifey. They don't let you eat at the tables, but there is a simulcast area with tables where you can eat outside of the poker room and away from the smoke. Unfortunately, the sandwich was basically frozen and the salad was too cold as well--maybe they can work on that. I think there is supposed to be a good grill downstairs, but I'm not sure what its hours are. I think there are also plans for a noodle bar downstairs, along with asian gambling games. I'm not sure why, but I have a strange feeling that having this in the same building as the poker room will be good for poker.

There are definitely some good dealers, but there are also some painstakingly slowwwww dealers--it seemed as if they'd been shot with some slowmotion ray gun that made them move verrrrry slowly. I'm sure it will get better, but it was particularly annoying when you are stuck and in a time-collection game. In any event, they are in general MUCH better than the dealers were at the opening of Chester, and I'm sure it will be a non-issue with a little time. (One dealer didn't know how to deal with a boxed card as opposed to an exposed card, but I guess that's to be expected. They also tend to chop the $5 chips into 2 $2's and 1 $1, as has been mentioned. We got in the habit of just telling them "DO NOT USE THE $2 CHIPS AT ALL", when a new dealer sat down. Also, dealers were mistakenly setting us as AWAY in the Bravo system when we'd walk away from the table, which they are not supposed to do in the time collection games--this was confirmed very quickly by Ari. Of course for y'all in the regular rake games, I'm sorry to say that you won't be earning comps when you walk away from the table, ala Venetian style.)

They do run out of tables quickly. For instance, there were over 20 people on the 8/16 lhe list but no tables to run the game. So I guess we gotta get there early and start shorthanded to lock up the space if we want a special game. Which reminds me, let's try to get 30/60 running tomorrow (Thursday), and Friday!

Ye godz, man. Just worry about getting the games going regularly and skip the angst about short-handed. You'll have PLENTY of opportunity to play sh, if the game gets seated consistently.

No it isn't- isn't this fairly standard in AC, or has it changed recently there with the competition?

I'm guessing that you are talking about NL tables/hands where there is a raise and a largish re-raise and everyone folds? I made an unscheduled trip to the Taj on Friday afternoon, played some 3/6 LHE and the one or two times that there wasn't a flop they didn't rake.

Will this apply to the 4/8 (and higher) LHE games I wonder? I have to run up to Bensalem this morning to "take some measurements for a job" and will check the room out and ask this question. Hopefully they have some hats left.

This all sounds pretty solid - will gladly play 8/16 LHE or O8 on Saturday if they can get a table going.

As someone who's never been to Parx, what's the parking situation like and any specifics (if it's not painfully obvious) to getting to the Parx East and/or the poker room would be appreciated (will be coming east on turnpike from valley forge exit)

My bad i meant 08 limit.2 way games esp. with a kill or 1/2 kill seem to be the most profitable at the lower limits.

Parking situation: there is way more parking than you will ever need. To get there, when you come in the entrace, head towards the big building on the left, not the big building on the right.

I knew there had to be some other reason non poker related to make them change the no-smoking policy of the building.If the OP was right and asian table games are to be offered in this building thats the reason.If you ever ventured into the asian room at a casino you will know what I mean.

The rule in PA is that you must have 3 table games for each poker table. They are opening a table pit on the first floor in a little while, and that is when the expansion of the poker room will take place.

I believe it will be just under 50 tables by the end of the year.

So can you call-in to get on a list?

No - not yet anyways.

I went last night for some 2/5 NL. I played terribly, and that's all I'll say about that.

Overall, it's a pretty nice room. Got right on a 2/5 without a problem. Not sure about the comment that you need a "poker card," as I used my player's card just fine to get swiped into the Bravo system. I didn't see anyone on the first floor of the building there to create new cards either, but I could be wrong on that. Here are my other observations:

Tables are smaller than most of us are used to, as some people have already said. It's tough to slide your chair all the way in when there are 10 people at the table.

Nice decor, ambience, plenty of TV's all easy to see. I personally thought the lighting was fine. I also appreciated that the room was a pleasant temperature and not freezing cold like most other casinos I've been to.

Agree with others that the $2 chips are annoying and too similar to the $5 chips in design. Texture of the chips was like tournament chips--very light, at least compared to Borgata. Fortunately they don't stick together.

I was sitting as far away from the bar as possible and there was a faint smell of smoke. As someone else said not enough to make your clothes smell, but it's there. I guess I can live with it but it's mildly irritating.

Restrooms were close by, plenty of stalls, and clean.

People at the table mentioned the need for a valet for Parx East. I can see why people would want one because depending on where you're parked, you may have a Delaware Park-like walk back to your car. Parking is definitely abundant and free, but it can be a hike. It's not especially well-lit either.

Water was $1 last night but someone at the table said it will be free starting today. Hopefully someone will post and let us know if it's free or not.

Nice big cage with more than one worker going, which was good to keep the lines going. However because you can't buy chips at the table, things can get a little busy at the table with the chip runners coming around. One of the runners spilled a rack of chips behind me, which slowed the game down.

Dealers overall were solid, some of them clearly seasoned pros. A couple of slow ones but nothing horrendous.

Rake without a flop SUCKS. I won a pot of $27 without a flop and had $2 taken away. Yet another reason a time charge is the better way to go for the players.

Floor personnel were very nice. One guy came over to our table, asked how we were doing, and asked for feedback on the room. He also told us that the ultimate goal is for the poker room to be inside the main casino in 3 years, and that this is just "temporary" for the next 3 years. Said that they want to have over 100 tables in that time, and that Greenwood Gaming wants the entire Parx complex built up to the point where it exceeds Foxwoods in land area! Again, this is years away though. Also, for right now they are adding pit games to Parx East and when they do, they can use all 60 poker tables. Right now the other tables are partitioned off by temporary wall-like structures.

Not that I care because I only play 2/5 NL, but they had quite a variety of game offerings going on. The list for 8/16 limit hold 'em was at least 20 people deep too, so I think claims of the death of limit hold 'em are premature.

My verdict--they're off to a good start and I get the feeling they're going to work things out. They clearly care about this room and want to make it first class. As of right now I can't say I prefer this room over Borgata or Delaware Park, but they're moving in the right direction. They're certainly off to a far better debut than Harrah's Chester. The two biggest negatives are the no-flop rake and the smoke scent. Maybe they could pump in some fresh, scented air to overcome the smoke? As it stands, will I go back there, yes.

That's a bit of a downer given the limited tables. By the time they get 50 tables they'll be less of a need for it.
Thanks though.

Once they expand, I'm sure they will. They had 60+ ppl on wait for 1/2 and 40 or so for 2/5, so taking call ins at this point would create too many headaches. I'm afraid how insane it will be there this weekend.

How long was the wait to go through 60+ people?

Ahhh, my first post is so heartfelt and inciteful

One thing about 2/5 last night was that they kept calling names and people weren't showing up to the tables. My table and another table next to mine were operating short-handed for awhile despite the list being miles long. So I wouldn't be deterred by a seemingly long list because half those people probably aren't coming back or are on other lists.

You know what - the wait list was long, but there were seats. I would just 'wander' around the room, and if there is a seat open for your game, just take it

Our 2/5 game had 2 seats open most of the night, and it wasn't being filled, even though there were like 40 people on the list.

Same thing - which table were you playing at? I was right next to the 1/2 PLO table.