Good question.

Last month on a big HHJ Sunday (3K/hr from 1:45 to9:00) I arrived at desk at 1:00 and found myself 32nd on the list for1/2 nlhe. The list for 2/5 was about the same. I wasn’t to concerned because about half the rooms tables hadn’t been opened.

At 3:08 they opened the third 1/2 table since I arrived at 1:00. Because someone did not report and I was next on the list, I got the seat. They had opened about the same number of 2/5 tables. At that time the list for 1/2 exceeded 60. There were still many unopened tables.

I noticed that at 3:00 there were a a number of dealers gathered around the floor’s desk. Shortly after 3:00 the pace of opening new tables seemed to pick up. I wondered if a new shift of dealers had reported for work.

One wonders what the SHRH PR managers are thinking. When there are many unopened tables and the lists are long, why delay opening new tables. Makes no sense and only frustrates and alienates those on the long lists.

Plain and Simple answer.

They have a serious shortage of staff.

They have a dealer shortage - a shortage of cocktail waitresses and I am sure there are shortages in other areas in the hotel.

Many dealers are working 10 plus hours a day - and they need more help.

Many experienced dealers did not come back after the period the room was closed.

Also the dealers that left recently to join to traveling dealers for WPT and WSOP. Tampa room lost some as well.

There's a nation wide dealer shortage right now. After a year off many people decided to retire or move on to a new profession.

I was there a couple of months ago and going back next week. I am excited and hope to play in a tournament or two. With all COVID restrictions being lifted in Florida, I expect it to be much busier.

Are they still requiring masks? If not, I feel some may opt to wear a mask to hide their facial expressions at the tables.

I consider myself to be an above average player, so I expect to do well. My cash game is much improved over the years, but don't yet have the bankroll to play 2/5, which I have been told is often softer than the 1/2 tables.

This is disappointing to hear about dealer shortages.

You can get your medical card fairly easily in Florida if you don't already have one, my mom even has one. It's easy to find a dispensary.

Masks not required and lolwut about the 1/2 2/5 comparison. 2/5 is not as juicy as it was precovid but still enough softer tables as long as you choose correctly.

How often do you play there?

Table selection is one of those 'improvements' in my game. I have learned to not waste my time at a table full of sold players.

Is collusion an issue there?(assuming you are a reg at Hard Rock)

I have seen obvious in the past at poker rooms around Florida.

Don't notice it by regs. I play plenty there.

My normal game is 2/5..... Sometimes I play 1/2 if it is deep.

1/2 games there are no good players. Sometimes you get someone competent but predictable but that's about it. It is not uncommon to have a tricky old man or a crazy player.

2/5 After the Isles went to crap all the tricky trappy old men went to Hard Rock. Then you have regs. Before Covid the games were fairly good. I only had to move a couple times because there were too many competent aggro players that made it difficult to play. But now you have to pick and choose your tables carefully. But still most of the "good regs" are qualitative players only. They don't take it to the proper level.

I was watching a 5/10 game this weekend from a distance while I waited for tables. All tight players, some playing for a living. I didn't understand why they were playing each other. A good 5/5 game is worth more than a tight 5/10 game. They all seemed to be playing a 2008 old school style. I was there for a while watching.

Sometimes I talk to these guys that play for money about advanced topics and I feel there is nobody home. Like they don't know what I am talking about.

There has been an influx of Spanish/euro good regs that have been there the last couple months as well . But yes, the 2/5 games not nearly filled with as many total spewtards during the week as pre-covid. I find maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of the games during the week to be worth playing in, and if I can't get on them then I don't have long session. Half my sessions had been less than 4 hours in the last few months due to these dynamics. Just not worth playing in lousy 2/5 games

Porky here is the deal with the aggro-reg backpacks..... If you study modern theory you will beat them. I can but I choose not to trade chips for a minor amount vs competent players.

I've been out for a while so I started back at the bottom to work my way back up.

Play late on Fri, Sat, Sun at the 1/2 you will get deep games with poor players. Well at least they will have $300 in front of them.

From my studies and comments from players better than I am most of the live backpack pros don't study solvers. They play more by feel with some math when they should be playing by math with some feel.

When I am waiting for tables I watch the 5/10 game. It's the same thing. Now while you can be better than these guys how much money you will make is what you need to question if it is worth it.

So say you can make $30 an hour at the 1/2 with $300 stacks. At 2/5 with a table of backpacks you probably can make the same amount. But is it worth the extra variance? I say no. I will wait till the room gets back the worse players.

If you really dominate the field you should make 10bb/hr every 100bb buyin average stack at the table. But when the table is full of backpacks you make less. While someone might be better it doesn't mean they will make as many mistakes as the poor players.

Sorry but youre wrong (imo) thinking the 1/2 game there is worth considering. I have to walk by those tables to go to the bathroom obv and I just glance as I'm walking past, not because I'm scoping the games but just eyes wandering, and there's hardly ever a time I've seen tables with more than a couple stacks north of 250bb. That coupled with the rake it's a joke. Yes technically if you're broke and need to build up a roll sure but a low capped game with high rake is a waste
Move to TX for 1/2 lol

Proof is in the pudding of my spreadsheet man or I wouldn't post it. I table pick also. My winrate has been improving for the last 7 years at 1/2. As I get better it goes up. I play for fun but study more than many backpack pros do.

Last 7 years of 2/5 I am only at $16 an hour. But 2018 I got destroyed by severe negative variance. Hand results that would make your head explode. But I haven't played 2/5 since 2019. $1,000 on the table makes me feel uncomfortable still. I am sure it affects my play.

Do you guys know if there is public transportation or shuttles that run to and from the casino? I might get an Airbnb in Hollywood when the tournaments series comes up

$30 per hour on 1/2 300 max over 1000s of hours is nearly impossible. I've seen it done on 1/3 300 max, but that's from players who changes tables non-stop, go north regularly, play late nights only, and in games where bad regs often have 1k+ stacks.

This is the formula I use based on the mathematical work I did and comparing it to excellent players I know....

If you are an excellent player that can use all your tools vs a table of bad loose and tight players...
10bb/hr per 100bb stacks.
less than 100bb stacks winrate drops off quickly and into negatives based on rake/drop

The 1/2 games in some drop casinos in California are literally unbeatable no matter what you do. No one buys in for more than $100.

But Hard Rock has a rake not a drop which is reasonable. You can beat the 1/2 for $30 an hour table selecting during night time only because it has a $300 cap. It can be done.

If I told you want I make online at full ring low stacks you'd call me a liar. But the best player I know puts me to shame playing 6max online. Younger guy with a lot more time than I have.

Is the 2-2 PLO game still running with juicy action? Haven't been here since 2019.

You should play 2/5 and start crippling people. You could take on an 80s wrestling persona of being a real heel like King Kong Bundy, and Bobby the Brain Heenan. Become a true NL super villain!

Eventually I will move to 2/5. I have a lot of anxiety putting $500 or $1000 to play 2/5. I guess it comes from growing up middle class and the family living paycheck to paycheck.

I need to play 1/2 and rebuild my bankroll naturally look at that money as throw away money. I have made a lot of poker money in the last decade (all paid taxes on too). But family issues wiped it all out. Just one medical catastrophe after another happening. We'd be broke if it wasn't for poker money. Otherwise I would be easily rolled for 5/10.

Later this year I will make it to 2/5. Looking forward to it. Mostly I play an hour online a night. During one of the years where the medical bills pilled up I had to dump out all my cash from online to pay for them. Then I started back up at $0 using poker points to play SNGs. Now I have an online bankroll again. But I only play Full Ring when it is available. 6 max requires quite a bit of time to get a read on the players which I don't have. I also play on Ignition which is anonymous. But full ring I can quickly get a read on the players. Ranges are narrower and it becomes obvious who is who in 20m.

As for the 2-2 Omaha comment above yes it is juicy at the right table. A have a friend that plays it and he destroys the game when the players are bad. He is trying to get me to play play it but I don't like the game. It's too slow, boring, and the swings I couldn't handle. 2-2 pots can get huge. He can lose $1000 a night or make $2000 in a night. I know how to play it well enough. I have seen players call down with some hands that were just flat NO's from the books.

Yes, there is public transportation. Check the Broward County transit app or use Google Maps. The 18 bus goes to the casino connecting Lauderhill (North) to Miami Gardens (South).

I am very confident that you are wrong. However, it would be quite hard to find people who have accomplished something of this sort since if you have a winrate of $30/hr in 1/2, you would almost certainly move up before reaching 1000s of hours. It would make much more sense to start playing 2/5 and try to win there.

I see the July 150$ big stack special is this week. Can anyone tell me or find out if and when the August and September big stack special will take place. I want to come down for one but they dont really but the dates for future big stack specials out too early

Great, thanks for the response!

Was able to time a work trip and will be able to stay down in South Florida next weekend. Looking forward to playing 2/5 NLH and some PLO. I take it the games are pretty juicy during the weekend? Also does PLO run pretty much all the time or just in the evenings/nights? Thanks!

PLO always runs. Off season weekends will have most tables - but not necessary best action - you get some nits that come out on weekends.

Random weekday night will have more visiting rec's visiting getting away from spouse and bombing off stacks.

Also public transport blows in FL. I always just uber/lyft during off times can be cheap
But im an inpatient bastard so thats just me