The fields are usually weak, like 50 or less so not even paying the whole final table.
With all the qualifiers this week, next week should see a pop. A few months ago when they did this you could not sell the ticket and the fields went to 125-150 players each week, but Im guessing alot will sell them so maybe 75-100 players a week starting next week.

a group of limit holdem players have organized and will be playing on Thursday nights at Derby Lane starting September 8th, beginning at 6PM. 5-10 and 10-20 limit holdem games will be spread. Right now there are enough players for 2 to 3 tables. There will be atleast one table of each limit to begin with. The games are open to anybody that wants to play.

5/10 is $500-$5000 but iirc the dedicated 5/10/20 is either $10k max or uncapped. But it has been a while since I've played here so I could be wrong.

Its the 10/25NL that is Uncapped and it was actually running over the holiday weekend.

Does anyone know if there is any plan to expand the poker room?

Doesn't look like it. Not anytime soon.

The last several days its been 10/20nl instead of 5/10/20nl.
I think that is the new daily game now. I am pretty sure its $1000-$5000 and they time rake it.

We had a good 5-10 limit holdem game this evening at Derby Lane. The table stayed full the majority of the game. Since it was considered a private game, we were all fed dinner on the house. We are playing again next Thursday night at 6:00 PM. We plan on making this a weekly game. As interest picks up each week, we'll get higher limit games going also. This game is open to everybody. Come and play next Thursday.

We need to play 10/20 next time IMO, game was fun but hard to win much unless we raise stakes or find more fish.

Does Hard Rock Tampa host any large tournaments and if so,where do they have them?

It can be arranged if we have the interest. I enjoy playing 10/20 also.

Im at HR now grinding 2/5, built stack from 600 to 1350 in 2hrs, all three fish left. Sitting here waiting for nits to bust out praying for dead money to show up. Debating on whether to change tables or wait it out....this always happens to me when I am running well. I wanna meet parisron since he is the man with all the answers on this thread. I am at 27-3 come say Hi.

Any PLO games running?

Yes. 1/2plo

I'm sure this has been covered, but I'm not interested in slogging through a 185 page thread.

Can anyone tell me where the cheapest hotels in the Tampa area are?
Keep in mind that I will not have a car and need areas that are within the city limits and accessible by public transportation.

The cheapest 2 options within .5 miles are motel 6 on US 301 for about $200/week plus tax or like $40/night or East lake Inn on hillsborough ave. for $50/night.
There is cheaper places farther west on hillsborough but not very good areas.

200 a week sounds good. And walking distance, even better.

If you don't mind, tell me about the cheaper places. I'm used to shabby neighborhoods and have no problem roughing it.

I don't know the names they are just cheap motels on Hillsborough ave between 56th st and nebraska. Hookers and drug dealer type places.
Then you would have to take the bus which shuts down between 10pm and 6am approx.

Try using google maps if you still want to find them.

Thanks, will do. Another question.. how's the area around the Hard Rock? Someone I spoke to said it was pretty seedy. Would it not be a good idea to walk or bicycle to and from the casino, particular at late hours?

pretty seedy is an understatement for the area surrounding the Hard Rock Casino

I wouldnt want to walk South on Orient but walking a half mile either way on hillsborough ave is no biggie. There won't be anyone walking around there.

hey everyone, I am thinking of becoming a reg at THR... I currently play 10-30 hours at The Silks and after having a horrible month in August I am convinced all the regs there have learned my game (or just looking for an excuse to go to THR)

It seems that a lot of people here think 1/2 is easily beatable. I am one who prefers to play during the day, but I need to learn to play when is most profitable. I am wondering what days/hours during the week are generally decent enough to play?

Also, I am trying to take poker more seriously now. I don't have any friends that play cards seriously to 1. talk strategy with or 2. play with so I wouldn't mind some friendly replies.

- Sean

You should be fine, listen to what Ron said. Just be more aware at night. This is from someone who has firsthand experience walking back and forth all hours. Never once done I feel uncomfortable walking the wee hours. A bike would be better for obv reasons.

1. You have no friends
2. Nobody will play with you, sad..

Haha. Friendly enough? I am joking. Friday night through Saturday night is the span that is best in terms if number of players and more of whom would be recreational.

In general, for any other day of the week, evenings after a typical workday is better (say after 5:30pm).

1/2 is beatable. I ran well over 180 hours of play this summer with an hourly that was high for a game that initially starts at $100 (50 BB). I am saying I ran well too just so I don't get excited and keep in check with reality. The reality is rake is high if your table is full of $40 buy-ins you better find another table (unless they are all shipping whole $40 ATC preflop which isn't the case usually).

Add in the promos that hourly got bumped nicely for the stakes I played at (if you play 2-5 I don't even consider the promo because the typical swing could result in promo being a tiny percentage of your loss/profit). So at 2-5 focus solely on playing well and leaving when it's time, # of hours be damned.

Back to $1-2, playing during the day may mean more straightforward play, more logical play, perhaps add a mix of more aggression and a very small touch of "cuteness"/deception in your play. Note only if the table seems full of regs who seem to "know what they're doing" and everybody at the table is ABC, a touch nitty, etc. Some nights I literally play 1-2 hands an hour voluntarily because most people are drunk/totally recreational and not noticing anything and I play 100% nitty ABC. Again it all depend on table and how others think you play.

I would love to talk strategy if I go back there any time over the next couple of months, or here on 2+2 or via PM. Your game will gain so many dimensions simply by opening your mind to new ideas, even if you only implement 1% of what your hear, knowledge and experience are huge in every aspect of life.

Recap of best times to play:
1a. Saturday night
1b. Friday night
2. Saturday day
3. Sunday
4a. Sunday night
4b. Thursday night
5. Any other weeknight
6. Any other weekday

*Note* these are only my OPINIONS and I am NOT a super sophisticated player with decades under my belt. I am a relative novice trying my hand at my hobby and taking it more seriously (especially since I don't have a job right now! Lol...actually no lol big !!!!).

I would love to see somebody else's input in here, even yours Sean, the more we talk the more we can process!

-Andrei-

I'll be in town next weekend to visit family in New Port Richey. Looking for advice on where to play poker. From what I gather Hard Rock has the best room.

Is Hard Rock the best option based on where I'll be?

Thanks