This room is getting great traffic, especially on the weekends. 89 for the $500 + 50 tournament on Saturday. Sunday had 6-8 1-3 NL games going in the middle of the afternoon. There was also some 4-8 limit, not sure how many. And, a 2-5 PLO got going.

Played the 550 on saturday and chopped heads up. I enjoyed it but they really need to look at this structure a little bit more. 1K-2K to 2K-4K to 4K-8k? really? I understand it can't become an 18 hour tournament but if you eliminate the 25/50 level in level one you can begin to add in a few much needed levels at the end. Starting with 25K in chips 25/50 is just a waste of everyones time, and id say 98% of the field would much rather have deeper play at the back end of the event.

All in all though, great turnout, enjoyed the event but can be even better with a few minor adjustments.

I agree with your overall assessment. However, they added a 1500-3000 level this time. I was the bubble. Finished 11th and noticed they had added that level this time. But overall, it would be better if it was a better structure at the end. Going to 45-60 minute levels late would help too.

There's no more must-move table for the limit games as of this weekend.

This is how the Mountaineer Casino was when it 1st opened.
Usually had 3 2/5NL games running, 1 5/10NL, and on occasion a 10/25NL. Then the fish ran out of money.
Now finding a 2/5 game is like looking for a needle in a haystack.


The Rivers is heading the same way.


Once Cleveland's Horseshoe opens, these big games will be running every night. (for awhile)
In time, they will disappear from there too. Just the nature of the beast.

Thanks. Obviously all of this is completely foreign to me, being only 20 years old. I'm just trying to get some perspective on if I can play some semi-serious live poker to complement the online grind come June. I'm just surprised there aren't more folks looking to drop money at the poker tables in the 'Burgh. I know it's not a huge city, but still...

All people in this city want to do is sit in front of a slot machine and drink alcohol. Pittsburgh's a horrible poker city. For a casino basically a short walk from a major city to not even have a 2/5 running during the week is pathetic and frustrating.

And people aren't intelligent enough to realize that that 1/3 is unbeatable long term with the $6 rake (w/ BBJ) and move up to 2/5. I wish I lived near PARX.

Lol @ 1-3 being unbeatable. Its the most beatable games I have ever played in. I havent been there for a few months but I doubt the action has changed much. 1-3 games at rivers aren't that different than 2-5 if what I heard is true and they capped it to 100bbs buy-in. When you could buy in upto the largest stack made much different

I think it's beatable w/ the rake, though I have no hard data to back it up other than what I've seen (i.e. many terrible players). I think the game is unbeatable for most people (~70%) in the long-term simply because they are bad players.

I am a regular 2-5 player when the game is available. The major issue thats hurting the availability of the game is the PLO game thaTs been going frequently. Alot of the "action" players are going to that game instead. In the past two weeks ive been at good 2-5 games thT broke when the PLO got going.

One suggestion I have is to start a list whenever u walk in. Majority of 2-5 players call ahead to see how many people are on the list and if its worth making a trip out.

The 1-3 is definitely a beatable game. But the main problem in my mind is that 40% of the table is only buying in for a hundred dollars. They almost play cash games like late stages of tournaments where thwy are simply looking to get their money in and double up. It takes alot of the fun and skill out of the game.

You don't know what your talking about. 1/3 and 2/5 aren't even close to being the same. I consistently win at 2/5 and 5/10 when they had it and struggle to break even at 1/3. The pots in 1/3 are way too small to overcome the $5 rake + $1 BBJ + $1-$3 dealer tip which basically makes it a $7-$8 rake.
Say you win four $60 pots. Your losing roughly $30 of the $240 assuming you only tip $1 per hand. Compound that over time and it is NOT beatable.

I know three people there that are making 18-20 bucks an hour over a large sample size. i agree that 2/5 is more profitable, but to say that 1/3 is unprofitable is untrue. The rake is not much/if any different than vegas casinos and there are a bunch of players there that also make a living out there.

I am not claiming to know how the rivers 2-5 plays........i have never played 2-5 here simplt because the 1-3 tables are infested with mad fish. Like I said I havent been there for a few months but I played regularly at the 1-3 from the day they opened thru september 2011 In my experiences most tables got pretty deep and played similar to a 2-5 game in terms of $ value of stack sizes. Not an uncapped 2-5 but a 100bb capped 2-5. I didnt see all the $100 buy in guys that rosta speaks of though they are def there and very annoying to play with I agree most peeps bought for atleast $200. If u beat 2-5 and 5-10 like u say and are " struggling to break even at 1-3" that means only two things are possible ur not adjusting correctly and doing things that are big no nos at rivers 1-3 like bluffing the stations or 3 betting fishies that dont understand poker. Or. U suck. I doubt u suck so just take em to value town. U can give me as many theories as u want but I KNOW 1-3 is beatable. Very much so

Regardless of whether or not 1-3 is beatable or unbeatable a $6 rake (factoring in BBJ) is absurd for such a low stakes game. I know it's never gonna happen but it should be $4 max and no bad beat jackpot. To take $100k off of low stakes poker tables where each player only has a couple hundred and give it to a few lucky saps is terrible for serious poker players.

1-3 tables have ACTION in this room ,more so than a lot of other card rooms theres always players tryin to make scores, with your mix of grinders some good some not,the reason you dont see 5-5 down there is probably 1-3 has way more ACTION and with a lower risk you can win more money,i play 5-5 games but usually where 1-2 is spread with nitty ass freerollers, thats when ill play 5-5 when its a game with more action .

LMAO I DISAGREE with your assesment pal,pittsburgh's not the only spot they like to get buzzed and play slots,and being intelligent is one thing but whats in your wallet is another in refrence to 1-3 not being beatable

i wouldnt say 40% of table is short stackers but to me this can be an advantage they can be exploited

Does anyone have a contact there? I want to see if I can get the tournament structure improved for the next $555.

Please do. The dropped the blinds from 40 min to 30 min last month. There's no 500/1000 level it jumps from 400/800 to 600/1200 right in the heart of the tournament. Also no 3000/6000, it jumps from 2000/4000 to 4000/8000. Ridiculous for a $550. They need to get rid of the pointless 25/50 level and at at least one of those levels, preferably both.

Played the $225 Deepstack yesterday and I agree that the structures need some tweeking. Went from 2000/4000 to 3000/6000 to 5000/10,000 to 6000/12,000. At least make the jumps uniform. And I agree that the 25/50 level is pointless.

Try beating the rooms in Florida. All the casino's are pushing High Hand promotions and taking a $2 rake per hand. Bummer.

+1. If you can't beat the 1/3 game at the Rivers you are doing something wrong.

Obviously the BBJ is bad for serious players (and really, it's bad for all players). People ITT have discussed how awesome it would be if there was no BBJ but it's not going to change anything. Bad beat jackpots are ****ing stupid but dumb people love them and dumb people are obviously the target demographic for casinos.

I play poker maybe 3 times a month and I never am there to make money. This is my entertainment for the evening. When I lose its no big deal and when I win it just allows me to add another session on for the month. That being said I do not mind the bbj. I guess it sucks that I have probably donated thousands to it but if I ever won 50k that would be life changing money so I am ok with doing it. This does not make me a dumb person it just gives me an opinion.

If "pro" poker players complain about the BBJ, look for a new job.

grunching so not reading alot but the 1/3 at the rivers is very mistake-filled. If you dont how to exploit the all the obv livepoker mistakes, then i thank you for playing.

its the easiest live game you will find for hundreds of squaremiles imo.